Summary: During a meeting in Beijing, Xi Jinping told UK Prime Minister Starmer that China seeks a long-term, stable, and comprehensive strategic partnership with the UK, emphasizing the need for dialogue and cooperation amidst global instability. Xi stressed mutual trust as the foundation for bilateral relations, asserting China's peaceful development and commitment to "harmony" while advocating for a fair, non-discriminatory business environment for Chinese companies in the UK. He also criticized unilateralism and protectionism and promoted multilateralism. Starmer, accompanied by over 60 representatives from business and cultural sectors, affirmed the UK's commitment to deepening cooperation with China across various sectors, including trade and investment. Starmer also stated that the UK's long-standing policy on Taiwan remains unchanged.
Summary: The article emphasizes Xi Jinping's call for officials to adopt a practical and people-oriented approach to governance, especially as the 15th Five-Year Plan commences. It highlights initiatives in various regions, such as Hubei's infrastructure projects and Guangxi's consumer goods replacement program, as examples of implementing central directives with localized strategies. The piece underscores the importance of tailoring development plans to specific local conditions, citing examples like Shenzhen's focus on brain science and Anhui's advancements in digital agriculture. The article also references efforts to improve people's livelihoods through initiatives like childcare subsidies and support for rural development.
Summary: Premier Li Qiang met with UK Prime Minister Starmer in Beijing, emphasizing that open cooperation and mutual benefit align with both countries' interests. Li stated that China is willing to work with the UK to respect each other's core interests and major concerns, strengthen strategic communication, and deepen cooperation in various fields. He also expressed China's desire for the UK to provide a fair, transparent, and non-discriminatory business environment for Chinese companies investing in the UK, while criticizing unilateralism and protectionism. Starmer affirmed the UK's commitment to a long-term, stable strategic partnership with China, supporting open trade and deepened cooperation across various sectors. Both leaders oversaw the signing of multiple cooperation agreements.
Summary: Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress Zhao Leji met with British Prime Minister Starmer in Beijing on January 29th. Zhao stated that developing Sino-British relations is of great importance, and that China is willing to work with the UK to maintain a strategic partnership, manage differences, and ensure stable and mutually beneficial relations. He expressed China's desire to restore normal exchanges between the legislative bodies of the two countries. Starmer stated that the UK is willing to develop a long-term strategic partnership with China, and that the UK's long-standing policy on Taiwan will not change.
Summary: In 2025, China initiated renovations on 27,100 older urban communities, impacting 4.99 million households with an investment of 133.2 billion yuan. The urban renewal project included the installation of 14,000 elevators and improvements to green spaces and underground pipe networks. For 2026, the focus will be on comprehensive implementation of projects concerning people's livelihoods, development, and safety. Specifically, priority will be given to renovating old urban communities and the construction of complete communities.
Summary: In 2025, China's urban rail transit systems operated 44.31 million train trips, transporting 33.24 billion passengers, representing a 3.1% increase compared to 2024. By the end of 2025, 54 cities across 31 provinces, autonomous regions, municipalities, and the Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps operated 343 urban rail lines. The total operational mileage reached 11,710.3 kilometers with 6,680 stations. Eighteen new lines were added in 2025, extending the operational network by 764.7 kilometers. There is no mention of the United States or U.S.-China relations in the article.
Summary: A Ministry of Civil Affairs official stated at a press conference on January 29th that 141 billion yuan in central government funds had been allocated to support basic living assistance for vulnerable populations. Several provinces, including Beijing and Shanghai, are issuing one-time subsidies in cash or vouchers. The Ministry is also emphasizing proactive monitoring and rapid response to emerging needs through data analysis and streamlined application processes. Seventeen provinces have expanded heating assistance to include families on the edge of poverty. The Ministry is also promoting "material + service" comprehensive assistance, offering services such as medical care, psychological counseling, and social integration.
Summary: Liao Xilong, former member of the Central Military Commission and head of the PLA General Logistics Department, passed away in Beijing at the age of 85. High-ranking officials including Xi Jinping, Li Qiang, and Hu Jintao expressed condolences to Liao's family either in person or through other means. Liao's career included positions such as Commander of the 11th Army and Commander of the Chengdu Military Region. The funeral was held at the Babaoshan Revolutionary Cemetery in Beijing. The article makes no reference to the United States.
Summary: President Xi Jinping replied to a letter from Zimbabwean veterans, encouraging China and Africa to jointly build a high-level China-Africa community with a shared future. Xi expressed admiration for the veterans' dedication to China-Zimbabwe friendship and hoped they would inspire more African youth to contribute to China-Africa relations. African figures expressed gratitude for China's support and emphasized the importance of multilateralism and opposition to hegemonism. They also highlighted the upcoming "China-Africa Year of Culture and Tourism" in 2026, aimed at strengthening people-to-people exchanges and deepening cooperation to promote shared development.
Summary: Xi Jinping met with UK Prime Minister Starmer, who brought over 60 representatives from British business and cultural sectors, marking the first visit by a British Prime Minister in eight years. Xi emphasized translating the potential of China-UK cooperation into tangible results. Starmer stated the importance of establishing a long-term and stable comprehensive strategic partnership with China amidst global instability. The article highlights China's commitment to multilateralism and a more just global governance system, contrasting it with unilateralism and protectionism. It suggests that various countries are increasingly recognizing China's role in providing stability and opportunities in a turbulent world.
Summary: Milton Reyes, Director of the China Studies Center at the National Higher Institute of Ecuador, highlighted the potential of Ecuador-China cooperation under the Belt and Road Initiative, particularly since the signing of a cooperation plan in June 2023. He noted the positive impact of the China-Ecuador Free Trade Agreement, which has boosted Ecuadorian exports like shrimp and bananas. Reyes emphasized Ecuador's interest in collaborating with China on agricultural modernization, deep processing, and learning from China's experience with special economic zones. He also praised China's advancements in green energy and digital technologies, including AI, seeing them as models for Ecuador's sustainable development. Reyes stressed the importance of cultural exchanges in fostering mutual understanding and trust, which are crucial for deepening cooperation.
Summary: Wang Yi met with UK National Security Advisor Powell in Beijing, emphasizing the need for China and the UK to uphold the UN charter and strengthen dialogue amidst global instability. Wang expressed confidence that the consensus reached by the two countries' leaders on a long-term strategic partnership would boost cooperation across various fields, opening a new chapter in Sino-British relations. Powell indicated the UK's hope to develop a more coherent and comprehensive strategic partnership with China, leveraging the opportunity presented by Prime Minister Starmer's upcoming visit.
Summary: Rongcheng, Shandong province, a major hub for RV manufacturing in China, is experiencing a surge in production as companies rush to fulfill orders and expand capacity. Rongcheng accounts for approximately 30% of the national RV production and 50% of RV exports. The provided image depicts workers assembling new energy RVs in a factory within Rongcheng's RV manufacturing industrial base.
Summary: The Chinese Consulate in New York and the Philadelphia Orchestra co-hosted a "Happy Chinese New Year" concert and "Nihao! China" tourism promotion in Philadelphia. Xie Feng, China's ambassador to the United States, and Chen Li, Chinese Consul General in New York, attended the event, which featured performances by the Philadelphia Orchestra and musicians from the Central Conservatory of Music. Ma Yunfei, director of the China National Tourist Office in New York, emphasized China's efforts to facilitate inbound tourism and welcomed Americans to experience China's development. Ryan Fleur, president and CEO of the Philadelphia Orchestra, highlighted the orchestra's long-standing commitment to U.S.-China cultural exchange since their historic 1973 tour. Pennsylvania State Senator Sharif Street stressed the importance of U.S.-China cooperation for global peace and prosperity.
Summary: At the China General Chamber of Commerce's annual appreciation dinner in Beijing, National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference Vice Chairman Wang Yong stated that under the strategic guidance of the two heads of state, China and the U.S. have engaged in constructive dialogue to inject stability into the U.S.-China relationship. Wang expressed China's commitment to reform, opening up, and innovation, aiming to provide a broad stage for companies, including those from the U.S. He encouraged both countries' business communities to promote the stable development of U.S.-China trade relations. The event was attended by approximately 400 representatives from Chinese and American political and business circles.
Summary: A "Creating the Future: China-Europe Youth Dialogue and Exchange Activity" was held in Brussels, bringing together approximately 60 representatives from the EU Commission, European Parliament, Chinese and other national missions to the EU, UNESCO, and multinational corporations. Participants discussed Sino-European technological innovation and youth entrepreneurship, emphasizing the need for collaboration in policy, finance, market access, and human resource exchange. The event, co-organized by the China Intercontinental Communication Center and Euronews, aimed to build a dialogue platform for China-Europe youth, promoting mutual learning and win-win cooperation. The discussions will be broadcast on Euronews in 11 languages. The speakers did not mention the United States or U.S.-China relations.
Summary: The Confucius Institute at the Chico Té Higher Education Institute in Bissau, Guinea-Bissau, officially opened on January 28th. This event marks the establishment of Confucius Institutes in all Portuguese-speaking countries. The Xinhua News Agency reported the opening. The article makes no mention of the United States or U.S.-China relations.
Summary: Premier Li Qiang, accompanied by Wu Zhenglong, addressed the closing ceremony of the China-UK Entrepreneur Committee meeting alongside UK Prime Minister Starmer, emphasizing mutual benefits and open cooperation despite rising unilateralism and geopolitical conflicts. Li called for enhanced cooperation in trade, innovation (AI, clean energy), and third-party ventures, particularly in Southern countries, as well as increased cultural exchanges. He highlighted China's economic resilience and the opportunities presented by the upcoming "15th Five-Year Plan," which is expected to promote growth and new opportunities for the UK. Starmer, leading a delegation of 60 British business and cultural figures, expressed the UK's desire for a stable strategic partnership built on mutual respect, and stronger trade, investment, science, and cultural exchanges, with the aim of jointly addressing global challenges. The United States was not mentioned.
Summary: The 2026 Spring Festival travel season ("Chunyun") will last 40 days, starting on February 2nd. Officials from the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) stated that cross-regional passenger flow is expected to reach a record high of 9.5 billion trips, with railway and civil aviation passenger volumes projected to reach 540 million and 95 million, respectively. Authorities will increase transport capacity by utilizing newly opened railway lines and operating nearly 1,000 overnight high-speed trains on major lines. Measures to facilitate travel include extending free cancellation for mistakenly purchased train tickets and expanding luggage delivery services. Focus is also placed on securing traffic safety.
Summary: The State Council has released a plan to accelerate the cultivation of new growth areas in service consumption to support high-quality economic development. The plan focuses on optimizing and expanding service supply in areas like transportation, household services, and inbound consumption. It also targets the cultivation of emerging service sectors, such as entertainment and sports, through incentive mechanisms and brand building. The plan outlines support through standardization, credit construction, and financial policies. Local governments and relevant departments are urged to innovate policies and optimize the service consumption environment.
Summary: According to data released by the State Taxation Administration, China's high-end manufacturing, innovative industries, digital economy, and green transformation sectors all experienced significant growth during the "14th Five-Year Plan" period. Equipment manufacturing saw an average annual sales revenue increase of 9.1%, with a 7.4% year-on-year increase in 2025. High-tech industries experienced an average annual sales revenue increase of 13.9%, while the digital economy's core industries saw an average annual sales revenue increase of 10.5%. New energy vehicle manufacturing witnessed an average annual sales revenue increase of 49.5%. There is no mention of the United States or U.S.-China relations in the article.
Summary: The Ministry of Culture and Tourism launched the 2026 National Spring Festival Culture and Tourism Consumption Month in Quanzhou, Fujian, aiming to stimulate cultural and tourism spending during the Spring Festival. The initiative includes approximately 30,000 cultural and tourism consumption activities nationwide, with over 360 million yuan in consumption coupons and subsidies. Various departments and organizations are launching supportive measures, including the All-China Federation of Trade Unions, the Civil Aviation Administration of China, and financial institutions like China UnionPay and Bank of China. Fujian Province and Quanzhou City are also launching local themed activities and promotions to boost tourism.
Summary: The Shanghai Science and Technology Museum reopened to the public for a stress test on January 29th after two years of upgrades, with a full trial opening planned for the Spring Festival. The renovated museum features ten permanent exhibition areas including rainforest ecosystems and future technologies, as well as temporary exhibition halls and theaters. The upgrade is intended to meet the diverse needs of the public. The article makes no mention of the United States or U.S.-China relations.
Summary: The Ministry of Civil Affairs and the Ministry of Finance jointly issued an opinion to improve the temporary assistance system, focusing on "small amount, quick assistance" for urgent and difficult situations, with processing times generally not exceeding three days. The opinion clarifies aid standards for families or individuals facing temporary financial hardship due to emergencies, accidents, or serious illnesses. It also provides temporary assistance to families facing rigid expenses in education and medical care beyond their means, as well as those still struggling after receiving other forms of aid. The new opinion aims to improve the efficiency of the temporary assistance system in addressing urgent needs.
Summary: The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs issued a notice to conduct a nationwide inspection of the spring crop seed market for 2026, focusing on key crops like corn, soybeans, and rice. The inspection will target markets, stores, and online platforms, scrutinizing seed quality and quarantine compliance. The aim is to combat counterfeit seeds, intellectual property infringement, and violations of plant quarantine regulations. The Ministry will deploy six working groups to key regions to ensure effective implementation and address farmer complaints. The initiative seeks to bolster grain and oil crop yields by ensuring the safety and quality of seeds.
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Summary: Li Shulei, a member of the Politburo and head of the Propaganda Department, addressed the national "anti-pornography and illegal publications" ("Saohuang Dafei") work conference in Beijing, praising the campaign's success in maintaining ideological and cultural security in the past year. The conference emphasized the need to uphold Xi Jinping Thought, strengthen risk awareness, and balance development with security to create a positive social environment. It called for improved regulation and services to combat illegal activities, regulate market order, and support healthy industry development. The conference also stressed the importance of protecting minors online by cleaning up the network culture environment.
Summary: Chen Wenqing, Secretary of the Central Political and Legal Affairs Commission, addressed a meeting on promoting the rule of law in handling letters and visits (信访) in 2026, emphasizing the need to strictly implement regulations and address issues such as improper handling of complaints. He affirmed the achievements of 2025 in promoting the rule of law in this area. State Councilor Wu Zhenglong, who presided over the meeting, stressed aligning actions with the Party Central Committee's decisions and resolving conflicts at the source. Chen called for fully utilizing the joint conference mechanism to consolidate efforts in promoting the rule of law in handling letters and visits. The report did not mention the United States or U.S.-China relations.
Summary: Xi Jinping emphasized integrating classroom learning with rural practice in a letter to students at China Agricultural University. Following this directive, the article highlights the development of "science and technology backyards" (科技小院) across China, where researchers from universities work directly in rural areas to improve agricultural practices. These initiatives, such as those in Hunan, Guizhou, and Xinjiang, focus on enhancing farming techniques, increasing crop yields, and promoting sustainable development. For example, in Guizhou, the program taught farmers how to improve the Vitamin C content of their crops. Such programs also aim to attract young talent to rural areas and boost local economies.
Summary: As the Spring Festival approaches, the Fuchuan Yao Autonomous County in Hezhou, Guangxi is optimizing production in its agricultural e-commerce industrial park to increase the sales of local fruits like navel oranges, tangerines, and sugar oranges nationwide. The park is expanding its workforce and equipment investment, leveraging the local logistics network. A photograph shows workers operating forklifts to transport fruit within the e-commerce industrial park on January 28. The article does not mention the United States or U.S.-China relations.
Summary: Premier Li Qiang met with UK Prime Minister Starmer, emphasizing that mutual benefit aligns with both countries' interests and that China is willing to strengthen strategic communication while respecting each other's core interests. Li called for improved government dialogue mechanisms and cooperation in emerging industries, urging the UK to provide a fair business environment for Chinese companies. He also criticized unilateralism and protectionism and called for multilateral cooperation on global governance. Starmer echoed the desire for a long-term strategic partnership and cooperation across various sectors, including trade, finance, and investment. Wu Zhenglong was also present at the meeting and related activities.
Summary: Xi Jinping stressed the importance of "being practical" in achieving political achievements at the beginning of the 15th Five-Year Plan. The article highlights efforts across various regions to implement the central government's decisions, such as promoting domestic demand and upgrading industries. Examples include Hubei accelerating infrastructure projects, Guangxi implementing consumer subsidy programs for home appliances, and Shenzhen focusing on brain science and brain-computer interface industries. The article also emphasizes improving people's livelihoods through initiatives like childcare subsidies and support for rural development, as local governments strive for both regional and national success. There is no mention of the United States or U.S.-China relations.
Summary: China's strong market growth is attracting foreign investment, driven by consumer demand, optimized industrial structure, and a continuously improving business environment. According to a survey by the American Chamber of Commerce in China, over 70% of American companies in China are not considering moving their operations, and nearly 60% plan to increase their investment in China. China's commitment to opening up its market, including aligning with international trade rules and removing foreign investment restrictions in manufacturing, is expanding its economic reach. The article highlights China's role as a major trade partner for over 160 countries and regions, emphasizing the opportunities and potential it offers. An increase of domestic consumption has further bolstered the national market.
Summary: This article discusses the lessons learned from the popular anti-corruption television program "Never Rest, Never Retreat," emphasizing the importance of comprehensively strengthening Party discipline. It argues that seemingly minor issues of misconduct can lead to major corruption, necessitating strict regulations and proactive measures. The article advocates for leveraging technology like big data and AI to combat new forms of corruption and enhance detection capabilities. Furthermore, it stresses the need for continuous ideological education and Party spirit cultivation to prevent corruption at its root. The ultimate goal is to create an environment where corruption is deterred and officials prioritize the interests of the people.
Summary: This article discusses the author's experience in classical Chinese textual research, including projects like compiling the "General Catalog of Chinese Ancient Books in Japan," and collating the "Thirteen Classics with Commentaries and Subcommentaries." The author emphasizes the importance of understanding the lineage of texts and how each version reflects the understanding of the classics in different historical periods. The author advocates for making these ancient texts accessible to a wider audience through methods like database creation and modern punctuation. The goal is to integrate the philosophy, humanistic spirit, and moral norms found in these texts into contemporary cultural construction and value shaping, thus carrying forward traditional Chinese culture. The author mentions the importance of international collaboration and the use of resources such as the ancient manuscripts held by the Toyo Bunko in Japan.
Summary: In 2025, trade between China and Central Asia exceeded \$100 billion for the first time, reaching \$106.3 billion, a 12% year-on-year increase. China has become Central Asia's largest trading partner, with Central Asia's share of China's foreign trade increasing. The growth rate increased by 6 percentage points compared to the previous year. This increase reflects the success of China-Central Asia trade routes.
Summary: The first article discusses the emerging issue of employment discrimination based on an applicant's history of labor arbitration in China, where some employers are reluctant to hire individuals who have previously sought arbitration. It argues that this practice undermines workers' rights and the legal system designed to resolve labor disputes. The author urges regulators to prohibit such discriminatory practices, strengthen data protection for arbitration records, and promote a supportive environment for workers seeking legal recourse. The second article discusses a modern take on temple fairs, an important part of Beijing's local culture. It argues that temple fairs can attract younger people by incorporating modern elements.
Summary: The author emphasizes the importance of understanding the people when implementing technical solutions, particularly in disaster prevention. Drawing on experiences in Qinghai Haidong, the author notes that local residents' practical knowledge and warnings are invaluable in identifying and addressing problems like rockfalls on roadways. According to the author, incorporating the wisdom of the people ensures more effective and tailored solutions that account for real-world conditions. The author concludes that understanding the people is essential for implementing technology effectively and ensuring it serves their needs. The article contains no discussion of the United States.
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Summary: Ouyang Minggao, a Chinese Academy of Sciences academician and Tsinghua University professor, advocates for pure electric vehicles as a viable path for China's automotive industry, citing the country's existing battery production capabilities and the opportunity to compete in a new technological arena. He emphasizes the importance of integrating industry, academia, and research to promote technological advancements and advocates for focusing on low-carbon and intelligent technologies in the future. Ouyang believes future developments, such as better battery technology and "green electricity" will further improve the industry. He also believes that companies should focus on technological innovation rather than price wars to maintain healthy development.
Summary: Wang Dongming, Chairman of the All-China Federation of Trade Unions (ACFTU) and Vice Chairman of the National People's Congress Standing Committee, presided over the ACFTU's 18th Fourth Executive Committee meeting in Beijing. Wang emphasized the importance of upholding the Party's leadership over trade union work and guiding workers to follow the Party. He also called for strengthening the rule of law in trade union work and safeguarding labor rights, as well as promoting political security in the labor field. The meeting adopted the work report delivered by Xu Liuping, Secretary of the Party Group, Vice Chairman, and First Secretary of the Secretariat of the ACFTU. The article makes no mention of the United States or U.S.-China relations.
Summary: A briefing was held in Zhuhai for Hong Kong and Macau National People's Congress (NPC) deputies regarding the NPC Standing Committee's work plans for 2025 and preliminary arrangements for 2026. NPC officials urged the deputies to contribute to Hong Kong and Macau's economic and social development and national rejuvenation. Legislative work on environmental, ethnic unity, and national development planning laws was presented to the deputies by the NPC Legislative Affairs Commission. Representatives from the National Development and Reform Commission and the Ministry of Finance briefed the deputies on the 15th Five-Year Plan and the execution of the 2025 national economic and social development plan and central budget, respectively. Hong Kong and Macau CPPCC members were also in attendance.
Summary: The Global Times hosted the second "New Quality Productive Forces Industrial Practice Insights" event in Beijing, focusing on "Intelligence-Oriented and Reality-Based, Improving Quality and Efficiency." The event aimed to promote the application of new quality productive forces across various industries and showcase China's high-quality economic development. Discussions centered on AI and technological innovation, with companies like Huawei Cloud sharing application results. The event also featured the release of demonstration cases in areas like intelligent manufacturing and smart transportation.
Summary: Following a fire in Hong Kong's Tai Po district, the Hong Kong government's Health Bureau is coordinating primary healthcare services for affected residents through district health centers. Residents of the Hong Fung Court will have medical fee waivers through the end of 2024. Those injured in the fire will have all medical services covered, including medication. A hotline has been established since December 1 to provide personalized case management and support.
Summary: Bai Huali, a village doctor in Guizhou Province, has dedicated 23 years to serving the remote Dazhao village, walking an average of 18 kilometers daily to provide medical care. Starting with limited resources, she built a standardized clinic and gained the trust of villagers through her dedication and willingness to cover medical expenses for those in need. Despite the hardships and temptations to leave, Bai Huali remains committed to safeguarding the health of the villagers, supported by her husband. Her dedication was recognized by a visiting niece, who admitted to admiring her dedication.
Summary: A press conference on January 29th reported that the Yangtze River Delta Ecology and Green Integrated Development Demonstration Zone has experienced strong integrated, high-quality development since its establishment in 2019. The region's GDP has grown at an average annual nominal rate of 7.3%, reaching 571.6 billion yuan in 2025, outpacing the broader Yangtze River Delta region in industrial output and investment. The demonstration zone has introduced 161 institutional innovations, including cross-provincial review mechanisms for urban development boundary adjustments and ecological environment judicial protection. Environmental quality has improved, with PM2.5 concentrations decreasing and the proportion of surface water meeting or exceeding Class III standards increasing since 2019. The number of high-tech enterprises has grown significantly, and public services have been improved through shared initiatives and infrastructure projects.
Summary: Please provide the article you would like me to summarize. I need the text of the article to provide an accurate and concise summary tailored for professional analysts of Chinese politics.
Summary: The article discusses Putuo daffodils, the city flower of Zhoushan, known for their fragrance and resilience, and their economic and cultural significance to the region. It details the history of Putuo daffodils, their cultivation, and their role in agritourism and cultural products, highlighting how they contribute to the local economy through initiatives like cooperatives, e-commerce, and tourism. The flower is a symbol of Zhoushan's spirit and prosperity, with local experts quoted about how the flower is grown and sold to increase local prosperity. The article does not mention the United States or U.S.-China relations.
Summary: This article is a personal reflection on the author's experiences teaching on Xiazhidao Island in Zhejiang province and their connection to the local P陀 narcissus flowers. The author admires the flower's resilience and purity, linking it to the spirit of historical figures from the region. The author recounts a former student who became a ship captain. The essay highlights the enduring beauty of the island and the connection between the flowers, the sea, and the local culture. The article does not discuss U.S.-China relations.
Summary: Please provide the article you would like me to summarize. I need the text of the article to provide an accurate summary for professional analysts of Chinese politics.
Summary: The Supreme People's Court, the Supreme People's Procuratorate, and the State Administration for Market Regulation jointly released typical cases aimed at regulating professional claimants and maintaining market order. These cases address issues such as extortion through malicious addition of foreign objects to food, demanding excessive compensation for knowingly purchasing defective products, and e-commerce fraud involving fabricated quality issues. Courts will support claims for punitive damages by professional claimants within the scope of reasonable consumer needs but will also crack down on extortion and fraud. One case involved a defendant receiving a suspended sentence for extorting restaurants by planting cockroaches in their food, while another involved a group being prosecuted for defrauding an Anhui food company through fabricated quality complaints. The aim is to balance consumer protection with the prevention of abuse and maintenance of a fair market environment.
Summary: The Wenzhou Intermediate People's Court, with approval from the Supreme People's Court, executed 11 members of the Ming criminal syndicate, including Ming Guoping, Ming Zhenzhen, and Wu Hongming, on January 29th. The group was found guilty of crimes including intentional homicide, assault, illegal detention, and fraud, operating primarily in the Kokang region of Myanmar. The syndicate's criminal activities, including telecom fraud and gambling, involved over 10 billion yuan, and led to the deaths of 14 Chinese citizens and injuries to others. The Supreme People's Court affirmed the death sentences after finding the defendants guilty of multiple crimes and noting the particularly egregious nature of their intentional homicide and assault offenses.
Summary: A draft standard on pre-reserved seating rules for public air transport enterprises has been released for public comment in China. The standard aims to protect passenger rights and regulate seat reservation practices by airlines, seeking to balance passenger interests with airline operational needs. It will standardize the proportion of seats that can be reserved and the rules for releasing them, preventing excessive reservations that could negatively impact passenger rights, while requiring airlines to clearly inform passengers of seat availability and reservation rules during the booking process. The standard also limits paid seat selection for domestic flights while capping the number of seats that can be reserved by airlines, increasing the number of seats available for free selection. The standard does not discuss U.S.-China relations or the United States.
Summary: A joint press conference held by the Ministry of Public Security, the State General Administration of Sport, and the Chinese Football Association (CFA) announced penalties for 13 clubs for match-fixing, gambling, and related corruption issues. The CFA also announced lifetime bans for 73 individuals, including Chen Xuyuan and Li Tie, who were found guilty of crimes by the People's Court, preventing them from engaging in any football-related activities. According to the Ministry of Public Security, the authorities will maintain a tough stance against such illegal and criminal activities in the football sector. CFA President Song Kai stated that the CFA will continue to punish violations and disciplinary issues with "zero tolerance." A representative of the State General Administration of Sport expressed the determination to rectify undesirable practices in football and implement the decisions of the Party Central Committee and the State Council regarding the revitalization and development of football.
Summary: This article reports on the development of the Hanfeng Lake National Wetland Park in Chongqing's Kaizhou District, highlighting its transformation into a thriving tourist destination. Kaizhou District has invested in ecological restoration projects to improve water quality and biodiversity, creating a scenic area for recreation. The area combines natural landscapes with cultural activities and sporting events to boost tourism revenue. The district has also improved public services, including a new visitor center and smart service systems, to provide a better tourism experience. The article makes no mention of the United States or U.S.-China relations.
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Summary: The article discusses the significance of Xi Jinping's writings on ecological civilization, emphasizing the concept of "green development" as a key component of China's modernization and a "profound revolution" in development philosophy. It highlights China's achievements in ecological improvement and green technology, including renewable energy and electric vehicles, driven by Xi's ideology. The article asserts that China's green development model offers a sustainable path for other developing nations. It claims these efforts contribute to global ecological progress by sharing green technologies. It also argues that China is offering "Chinese wisdom and Chinese solutions" to the world, and that those solutions are being utilized by developing nations.
Summary: The article emphasizes the significance of the "Eight-Point Regulation" in transforming China's political and economic landscape by combating corruption and promoting a cleaner governance style. It argues that these efforts create a fairer business environment, foster innovation-driven growth, and ensure resources are allocated effectively. By curbing extravagance and focusing on practical governance, the regulations contribute to sustainable and high-quality development, ultimately benefiting the people and aligning with socialist values. The author argues that continued strict governance will support China's modernization in the upcoming "Fifteenth Five-Year Plan." There is no mention of the United States or U.S.-China relations.
Summary: The article emphasizes the importance of preserving China's intangible cultural heritage (ICH) through systematic protection, regional collaboration, and integration with local communities, as highlighted by Xi Jinping. It advocates for multi-tiered cooperation mechanisms, the establishment of cultural protection zones, and the utilization of digital technologies to enhance ICH exchange and influence. The piece also stresses the need to build and effectively manage cultural ecological protection zones, fostering collaboration among regions and encouraging diverse stakeholders to participate in ICH preservation. Furthermore, the article suggests developing ICH-themed villages and neighborhoods, embedding ICH into community life, and promoting its role in grassroots governance, to ensure its sustainable inheritance and development. There is no mention of the United States or U.S.-China relations in the text.
Summary: This article discusses the need to boost domestic consumption in China by better matching supply with demand, emphasizing that insufficient overall demand is a major economic challenge. It highlights the shift towards service consumption and the impact of new technologies and demographic changes on consumer behavior. The article advocates for policies that stimulate consumption, expand the supply of high-quality goods and services, and improve the long-term consumption mechanism, including adjusting public service expenditures and strengthening consumer protection. It also discusses innovation in consumption, such as providing personalized experiences and increasing supply. The article cites the "15th Five-Year Plan" which proposed specific measures to boost consumerism.
Summary: Please provide the article you would like me to summarize. I need the text of the article to be able to provide an accurate summary.
Summary: The article reports on Nanchang city's efforts to improve conditions for "new employment groups" like delivery drivers and ride-hailing drivers through initiatives such as "Rider-Friendly Mutual Aid Communities" and "Rider驿站" ("Rider Stations") that provide services such as smart entry access, parking spots, charging stations, rest areas, and free tool use. Nanchang provides legal aid and financial compensation to couriers injured on the job, while also offering skills training and insurance. The city actively solicits and implements feedback from drivers to improve services and infrastructure and encourages them to participate in urban management by reporting problems and assisting those in need. The article does not mention the United States or U.S.-China relations.
Summary: A 95-后 (post-95s generation) Didi driver in Beijing created an "emotional tree hole" in his car by providing notebooks for passengers to anonymously share their thoughts and feelings. Passengers use the notebooks to express anxieties about marriage, perseverance in their work, and questions about the meaning of life. The article suggests the anonymity and non-judgmental nature of the space allows people to release emotions and that similar "social connectors" are valuable in cities. An example given is an "emotional transfer station" at a Changsha subway station. The article argues that such initiatives, combining urban services with emotional support, can benefit people in high-pressure, fast-paced environments.
Summary: During a recent Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security press conference, officials outlined 2023 achievements and key priorities for 2024. Key focuses include promoting employment through support for key industries, addressing the impact of AI, and formulating a "15th Five-Year Plan" for prioritizing employment. The Ministry will also expand social security coverage, particularly for flexible and new employment forms, and improve protections for workers, including those in new employment sectors and older workers. Efforts to address wage arrears and ensure paid leave for employees will also be made.
Summary: An event was held in the Second Workers' South District Community in the Haigang District of Qinhuangdao City, Hebei Province, featuring migrant workers and their children participating in traditional games. The event, co-organized by the Communist Youth League Working Committee of the Hedong Sub-district and the community, aimed to create a platform for migrant worker families to connect. Children, parents, and university student volunteers participated in games and crafts. The goal of the event was to support the healthy development of children in these families.
Summary: China's Ministry of Emergency Management and the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology jointly issued guidelines to accelerate innovation in emergency management equipment. The guidelines aim to achieve technological breakthroughs and promote the adoption of advanced equipment by 2027, focusing on integrating technologies like AI, 5G, and BeiDou navigation. The initiative seeks to modernize the emergency response system and promote the high-quality development of the safety and emergency equipment industry. It outlines 12 specific measures, including promoting R&D, application of equipment, and standardization. The guidelines also mention the integration of emergency management equipment with satellite internet.
Summary: Beijing has launched a joint law enforcement campaign with Hebei and Tianjin, lasting until the end of March, to crack down on illegal transportation activities during the Spring Festival travel rush. The initiative, led by the Beijing Municipal Transportation Comprehensive Law Enforcement Team, targets illegal taxis, inter-provincial passenger transport, and tourist transport operating across the three regions. The effort features coordinated enforcement actions, information sharing, and joint penalties, with transportation, urban management, traffic management, and public security personnel forming joint operation units to address illegal operations, traffic safety violations, and disturbances to social order. Authorities are implementing strict measures against seized illegal vehicles and personnel, including thorough qualification checks, vehicle impoundment, and inclusion on a watch list. The public is urged to use legal transportation options and report illegal activities.
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Summary: The recently completed Shuangliu Yangtze River Bridge in Wuhan prioritizes ecological protection and biodiversity in its design and construction, including measures taken to protect local wildlife. Designer Peng Xiaobin emphasized the bridge's environmental protections, including a noise barrier for migratory birds in the Zhangdu Lake wetland and a design that avoids construction in the river to protect the endangered Yangtze finless porpoise. The project team used advanced technologies and construction methods to minimize noise, pollution, and disturbance to the river ecosystem. The bridge also incorporates a runoff collection system to prevent pollutants from entering the Yangtze River. Upon completion, the bridge will reduce travel time between Wuhan and Ezhou from 90 minutes to 5 minutes.
Summary: During the "14th Five-Year Plan," China's Ministry of Ecology and Environment (MEE) reported the implementation of 24,000 ecological and environmental governance projects targeting key industries and regions. These projects led to significant reductions in major pollutant emissions, exceeding targets and supporting environmental quality improvements. The MEE also focused on source governance, upgrading pollution reduction capabilities in high-emission sectors like steel and coal power, and expanding urban and rural environmental infrastructure. They have also established a framework for "Beautiful China" initiatives. Lastly, the MEE completed ecological assessments of nine key regions, including the Yellow River Basin and the Yangtze River Economic Belt, and the resulting "Blue Book" indicated that the worsening trend of ecosystems in China is being curbed.
Summary: Shaanxi Construction Engineering Group (SCEG) is focusing on industrial transformation and serving national strategies, with projects including a semiconductor production line, a metro line in Xi'an, and infrastructure projects in West Africa and Guyana. SCEG is upgrading to an "operation-investment-construction" model, emphasizing innovation and management reform. The group is expanding its market presence in regions like Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei and the Greater Bay Area, with significant growth in overseas business. SCEG is also developing strategic emerging industries like renewable energy and environmental protection. The group's development is closely aligned with national strategies such as the "Belt and Road" initiative.
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Summary: This article discusses the trend of young people choosing to live and work in smaller, county-level cities in China, highlighting the opportunities and support available in these areas. It profiles three specific counties – Meihekou, Mengzi, and Zhongning – and the initiatives they've implemented to attract and retain young talent, such as providing affordable housing, entrepreneurship platforms, and cultural activities. The article emphasizes that these counties offer career prospects and a good quality of life. It also touches upon the role of youth in driving industrial upgrades and innovation in these regions, including short video production and innovating existing industries. The article does not mention the United States.
Summary: The article discusses the importance of attracting and retaining young people in counties (县域) to promote high-quality economic development. It emphasizes the need for counties to improve employment opportunities, housing, and the overall environment to attract young people. Counties should also focus on providing warm services that cater to the needs of young people, such as creating social platforms and enriching cultural activities. Ultimately, the article argues that counties must trust, incentivize, and empower young people by providing them with important roles and development opportunities.
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Summary: An amateur youth soccer league ("Little CSL") in Foshan's Sanshui district has gained popularity, drawing over 3,000 participants and large crowds exceeding 10,000 spectators to its finals. The success of the "Little CSL" is attributed to the area's strong soccer culture cultivated by the adult league, "Foshan CSL," and integration of sports and education. Sanshui district is focused on developing youth soccer talent pipelines and hosting international youth tournaments, including the "健力宝杯" International Youth Football Invitational Tournament, which will include international teams. The aim is to promote youth development through sports with international vision. The article does not mention the United States or US-China relations.
Summary: The article highlights the popularity of youth soccer leagues like "Little La Liga" in Foshan and "Su Xiao Chao" in Jiangsu, exemplified by the latter's high school final attracting 28,000 spectators. This success stems from established adult leagues ("Big hands leading small hands") fostering a strong soccer culture and providing resources for youth development. Veteran players contribute to youth training, and young players graduate from youth to adult leagues. The article emphasizes how such interactions enrich local soccer culture and benefit participating youth, even if only a few become professional players.
Summary: The Chinese national short track speed skating team, including athletes Fan Kexin, Lin Xiaojun and Liu Shaoang, held a public training session in Beijing ahead of the Milan Winter Olympics. Team leader Liu Hao stated the team will do their best amid fierce competition to achieve good results. The team secured full slots for both men and women, with veterans like Fan Kexin and newcomers participating. Training focused on relay practice and technical refinement, with the team preparing to depart for Milan. The team will face fierce competition from European and North American teams, such as Canada.
Summary: Chinese tennis player Zhang Shuai, partnering with Elise Mertens of Belgium, advanced to the Australian Open women's doubles final after defeating Ena Shibahara and Vera Zvonareva. This marks Zhang's second Grand Slam final with Mertens and her fifth overall in women's doubles, her first Australian Open final in seven years. Zhang expressed amazement at their successful partnership and adaptability. Additionally, Chinese players Sun Xinran and Shao Yushan advanced to the quarterfinals of the Australian Open junior girls' singles tournament.
Summary: The 2026 "Run, Youth" National Youth Winter Sunshine Sports Conference opened in Urumqi, Xinjiang, on January 29th. Organized by the General Administration of Sport of China and the Ministry of Education, the conference involves 35 delegations comprising 882 youths and 170 coaches. The event, emphasizing "health first," features exhibitions, educational activities, and project experiences, including popular sports like figure skating and ice hockey, as well as accessible activities for the public. The event closes January 31.
Summary: Beijing will host a stage of the 2026 Mountain Running World Cup in Changping on April 25-26, with registration opening January 29th. The event, featuring uphill and classic races, anticipates 2,000 participants. This marks the World Cup's debut in Beijing and the only Asian stop this year. China is slated to host one Mountain Running World Cup event annually from 2026-2028, and has the option to host another event, or the Asian Championships, each year. Over the 3 year period, China will host a total of 6 events.
Summary: Qi Bing, a teacher at Liu Ma Road Primary School in Jilin Province, leads the "Red Cavalry" speed skating team, which she founded in 2017. Despite lacking professional coaching credentials and primarily working in school administration, Qi has dedicated herself to training nearly 2,000 students in speed skating, even building an ice rink on the school grounds when one was not available. The team has won over 200 medals in various competitions and has sent over 10 athletes to professional sports teams. Even in retirement, she intends to continue managing the school's skating team. The article does not mention the United States or U.S.-China relations.
Summary: The article discusses the origins and history of polo, tracing it back to ancient China where it was known as *jiju*. It highlights the sport's popularity during the Tang dynasty, including matches between the imperial court and Tibetan envoys. The article also explores the etymology of the word "polo," suggesting a possible link to Tibetan language and the Silk Road. A professor at Lanzhou University argued the word came from a Tibetan word relating to spherical objects. It was written by journalist Song Chaojun.
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Summary: The UK's Millennium Seed Bank, one of the world's largest wild plant seed banks, has collected over 2.5 billion seeds from over 40,000 wild plant species across 100+ countries. The seed bank collaborates with 275 global research institutions through seed exchange, training, and joint research to protect biodiversity. The article highlights the rigorous processes for seed collection, preservation, and research, mentioning examples like a pink wild banana from Yunnan, China. The bank also supports habitat restoration and species reintroduction projects globally, including collaborations with the Chinese Academy of Sciences. It acts as a global plant protection network.
Summary: A Princeton University team achieved a threefold improvement on existing best superconducting qubit coherence times, extending their "lifespan" to over 1 millisecond, a significant step towards reliable quantum computing. This advancement involves using silicon instead of sapphire and tantalum instead of aluminum in qubit construction to reduce energy loss and improve consistency. Chinese researchers at the University of Science and Technology of China (USTC) have also made advancements, including the development of the "Zu Chongzhi 3.2" processor and breakthroughs in quantum error correction. Despite hardware progress, challenges remain in integrating diverse quantum computing approaches, developing software and applications, and cultivating interdisciplinary talent. The article mentions the potential for quantum-classical hybrid architectures and the synergy between quantum computing and AI to drive early value and accelerate practical applications.
Summary: A new study reports that archaeologists have discovered cave paintings of handprints in Sulawesi, Indonesia, dating back at least 67,800 years. This makes them the oldest known human-created rock art, predating previously discovered cave paintings in Spain by approximately 1,100 years. The international team of Indonesian and Australian archaeologists used "laser ablation uranium-series dating" on calcite covering the handprint patterns. The discovery was made in a cave on Muna Island, Sulawesi province. The findings have been published in the journal *Nature*.
Summary: A South Korean research team led by Sun Dong-hee at Sungkyunkwan University has developed a self-healing semiconductor material for flexible electronics, creating stretchable, reconfigurable, and self-repairing components. These components, including transistors and circuits, maintain stable electrical performance even after being implanted in animals for over a week, opening possibilities for advanced wearable and implantable medical devices. The technology extends self-healing properties to modular circuits, allowing for the creation of customizable electronic skin systems. Zhang Ting, a researcher at the Chinese Academy of Sciences Suzhou Institute of Nanotechnology and Nanobionics, noted the technology's potential for application in complex environments. However, Sun Dong-hee noted that challenges remain in enhancing electrical performance, optimizing manufacturing processes, and ensuring long-term biocompatibility for human applications.
Summary: A New Zealand-led study has established the first global scientific framework for identifying extreme underwater darkness events called "marine dark waves." The research, which found such events from California to New Zealand, reveals that these sudden drops in underwater light can last for days or even months, in some cases reducing light levels to near zero. These dark waves can severely damage marine ecosystems, impacting photosynthesis in algae, seagrass, and coral, and affecting the behavior of fish and marine mammals. The study highlights the potential for short-term light decreases to be as impactful as long-term underwater light reduction. The article does not mention the U.S. except as a location in which these events have occurred, nor does it discuss U.S.-China relations.
Summary: Please provide the article you would like me to summarize. I need the text of the article to provide an accurate summary for professional analysts of Chinese politics. Once you provide the article, I will craft a concise and relevant summary within the five-sentence limit, focusing on key figures, statements, actions, and mentions of the United States or U.S.-China relations.
Summary: Chinese insurance giant China Life is leveraging its substantial assets to support capital markets, cultivate new productive forces, and contribute to national strategies, with consolidated total assets of 8.56 trillion yuan and investment income of 401.1 billion yuan in 2025. The company has net equity investments in the domestic public market exceeding 200 billion yuan, and it is channeling funds into strategic emerging industries like semiconductors and AI through direct investments and specialized funds. China Life has also launched initiatives like the "Honghu Fund" to hold quality listed companies long-term, and innovated investment models such as "S share" investments in integrated circuit industries. Furthermore, it is investing in elderly care and rural revitalization, reflecting a commitment to social welfare and aligning financial services with national economic development goals for the "15th Five-Year Plan." There is no discussion of the United States or U.S.-China relations.
Summary: China's "Africa Light Belt" project, announced in 2023, is providing solar power systems to nearly 50,000 households in Africa, addressing critical energy shortages. In São Tomé and Príncipe, the project has already installed systems in remote villages, enabling residents to power homes and connect with relatives. São Tomé and Príncipe's Infrastructure Minister Cardozo stated the project aligns with their sustainable development goals and provides valuable experience for renewable energy development. The project includes technical training for local engineers, ensuring long-term sustainability. The article did not mention the United States or U.S.-China relations.
Summary: China's "Lighting Africa" project, providing solar power, has been implemented in São Tomé and Príncipe, bringing electricity and hope to remote communities. Small solar panels installed on homes are improving daily life, allowing villagers to watch TV, charge phones, and store food. Villagers expressed how the project has improved their lives. São Tomé and Príncipe's Minister of Infrastructure, Cardozo, stated the project aligns with the country's sustainable development strategy. The project also extends to countries such as Chad, Togo, Burundi, Gabon, Nigeria, and Seychelles.
Summary: Please provide the article you would like me to summarize. I need the text of the article to provide an accurate and concise summary for professional analysts of Chinese politics.
Summary: This article discusses how localized agricultural industries in China, such as sugar apples in Yuanjiang County, walnuts in Shexian County, and grapefruit in Changshan County, are boosting rural economies. Yuanjiang County, for example, leveraged technology and climate to produce sugar apples during the off-season, increasing their market value. The piece emphasizes the importance of tailoring strategies to local conditions, promoting industry chain extensions, and avoiding homogenous competition to foster sustainable rural revitalization. It also notes the emergence of specialized villages and towns with strong industry chain effects, highlighting the rapid development of rural characteristic industries. No U.S. or U.S.-China relations were mentioned in the article.
Summary: This article discusses the transformation of the peanut industry in China through technological innovation, processing advancements, and evolving consumer preferences. It highlights the development and adoption of "high oleic" peanuts, which have enhanced oil quality and market competitiveness, with scientists like academician Zhang XinYou leading the charge. The article emphasizes efforts to utilize peanut byproducts for plant-based meat and fertilizer, showcasing a commitment to resource efficiency with companies like Shandong Huanfeng Food Co. Furthermore, it notes the rise of new peanut-based snacks and online sales strategies, reflecting a shift towards higher-value consumer products and catering to younger demographics with e-commerce strategies by companies like Zhenghua Food. The article does not discuss the United States or U.S.-China relations.
Summary: A village in Zhejiang province, Jiaxing, Pinghu City, Lindai Town, Xujiadai Village, transformed from a pig-farming village to a "baseball characteristic village" by building a baseball field. The village faced difficulties in developing new industries and retaining young people after improving the environment. The local Party committee established a special coordination team to provide support for land planning, policy, and funding. The village overcame difficulties to build China's first standard youth "rural baseball field" in 2018, hosting several national youth baseball tournaments. The village has developed a characteristic industrial cluster, driving collective economic income, and increasing villagers' income through "industry shares, employment, and entrepreneurship support."
Summary: Please provide the article you would like me to summarize. I need the text of the article to provide an accurate and relevant summary for professional analysts of Chinese politics.
Summary: The article criticizes local officials in Dandong, Liaoning, for dismissing public concerns regarding the poor construction quality of a rural irrigation canal, a key agricultural infrastructure project. Rather than addressing the issues, some officials accused the public of "nitpicking." The author argues that such dismissive attitudes towards public feedback reveal a lack of accountability and erode trust in the government. The piece emphasizes the importance of prioritizing "small" issues of public concern, actively soliciting and addressing public feedback to improve the quality and impact of public works projects, and ensuring officials adopt a people-centric approach. There is no mention of the United States or U.S.-China relations in the article.
Summary: The article recounts the experience of Tsering P尺尺, a 17-year-old Tibetan girl from Gyirong village in Dingri County, Shigatse, following a 6.8 magnitude earthquake on January 7, 2025. It describes the initial devastation, the emergency relief efforts that provided tents and temporary housing, and the subsequent rebuilding of permanent homes by organizations such as China Hydropower Engineering Bureau 3. Tsering P尺尺's family, along with other villagers, moved from tents to temporary shelters and then to newly constructed houses within a year. The rebuilt homes were equipped with modern amenities, significantly improving living conditions. The article emphasizes the rapid response and reconstruction efforts undertaken by the government and various organizations.
Summary: The city of Handan in Hebei province has implemented a new policy of "no-application required" for senior citizen subsidies, streamlining the process by using data sharing to identify eligible individuals. This initiative, as stated by Bu Bingxian, Deputy Director of the Handan Civil Affairs Bureau, shifts the burden from seniors applying for benefits to the government proactively providing them. Civil affairs assistant Li Guiqing notes the policy has shifted his work from collecting paperwork to confirming data and providing direct service to seniors. Zhang Yanlai, a civil affairs worker, provided in-person assistance to a senior suffering from Alzheimer's to ensure she received her subsidy. The policy has benefited 203,000 elderly people in Handan, with over 100 million yuan in subsidies distributed.
Summary: Please provide the article you would like me to summarize. I need the text of the article to give you an accurate and concise summary for professional analysts of Chinese politics.
Summary: A recent forum hosted by People's Daily discussed promoting nationwide reading in China as the *National Reading Promotion Regulation* (全民阅读促进条例) is about to take effect. Participants, including publishers, scholars, and writers, explored topics like legislation, promotion, digital reading, and rights protection related to reading. Speakers emphasized cultivating reading habits, producing quality content, and leveraging new media, such as short videos, to spark interest. One participant suggested promoting digital reading and improving public reading facilities to promote reading, including in rural areas. Another suggested inviting writers and reading bloggers to promote reading.
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Xinhua News Agency, Beijing, January 29th (Reporter Shao Yibo (邵艺博)) On the morning of January 29th, President Xi Jinping (习近平) met with British Prime Minister Starmer at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing (北京), who was in China for an official visit. The two sides agreed that China and the UK should develop a long-term, stable, comprehensive, strategic partnership.
Xi Jinping (习近平) pointed out that the current international situation is intertwined with turmoil and change. As permanent members of the United Nations Security Council and major world economies, China and the UK need to strengthen dialogue and cooperation, whether it is to maintain world peace and stability or to promote the economic well-being of the two countries. China is willing to work with the UK to uphold a grand historical perspective, transcend differences, respect each other, and transform the "promising" potential of China-UK cooperation into "promising" achievements, opening up a new chapter in China-UK relations and cooperation, which will benefit both peoples and the world.
Xi Jinping (习近平) emphasized that mutual trust is the foundation for the steady and long-term development of relations between countries. China has always adhered to the path of peaceful development, has never proactively provoked a war, and has never occupied an inch of another country's land. No matter how developed and strong China becomes, it will not pose a threat to other countries. China's cultural tradition is "**以和为贵**" (yǐ hé wéi guì - "harmony is to be prized," harmony is the most valuable thing) and pursues "**和而不同**" (hé ér bù tóng - "harmony without uniformity," seeking harmony while acknowledging differences). The essence of China-UK economic and trade cooperation is mutual benefit and win-win results. This year is the first year of China's "15th Five-Year Plan." The two sides should expand mutually beneficial cooperation in education, healthcare, finance, and the service industry, and carry out joint research and industrial transformation in areas such as artificial intelligence, bioscience, new energy, and low-carbon technologies to achieve common development and prosperity. It is hoped that the UK will provide a fair, just, and non-discriminatory business environment for Chinese enterprises. China and the UK are both major cultural countries and have made important contributions to human development and progress. The two sides should strengthen people-to-people exchanges and further facilitate personnel exchanges. We welcome the British government, parliament, and local communities to visit China more often to increase their comprehensive, objective, and correct understanding of China. China is willing to actively consider implementing unilateral visa-free policies for the UK.
Xi Jinping (习近平) pointed out that for some time, unilateralism, protectionism, and power politics have been rampant, and the international order has been severely impacted. International law is only truly effective when all countries abide by it, and major countries should take the lead, otherwise, it will revert to a jungle world. China and the UK both support multilateralism and free trade and should jointly advocate and practice true multilateralism, promote the construction of a more just and reasonable global governance system, and achieve equal and orderly multipolarity and inclusive globalization.
Starmer conveyed King Charles III's greetings to President Xi Jinping (习近平). Starmer said that he was very pleased to be the first British Prime Minister to visit China in eight years. The fact that I am leading a delegation of more than 60 important British business and cultural representatives to China is enough to demonstrate the breadth of UK-China cooperation and the UK's commitment to deepening and expanding cooperation with China. The UK and China are important world economies and permanent members of the United Nations Security Council. In the current turbulent and fragile international situation, it is crucial for the UK to establish a long-term, stable, comprehensive, strategic partnership with China in the spirit of mutual respect and mutual trust. The UK's long-standing policy on the Taiwan issue has not changed and will not change. The UK is willing to maintain high-level exchanges with China, strengthen dialogue and communication, and strengthen cooperation in various fields such as trade, investment, finance, and environmental protection to help each other's economic growth and bring benefits to the people of both countries. The closer people-to-people exchanges are, the more conducive it is to enhancing understanding. The UK is willing to work with China to jointly promote exchanges between the legislative bodies of the two countries and other sectors. Hong Kong's prosperity and stability are in the common interests of both countries, and the UK is pleased to see Hong Kong (香港) become a unique and important bridge between the UK and China. China plays a key role in international affairs, and the UK is willing to strengthen cooperation with China on addressing global challenges such as climate change and jointly safeguard world peace and stability.
Wang Yi (王毅) attended the meeting.
Return to TopBy: 本报记者 王 浩 常 钦 谷业凯
On January 20th, at the "First Lesson of the Year," General Secretary Xi Jinping (习近平) emphasized: "We must establish and practice a correct view of performance, adhere to starting from reality and acting according to the laws, and consciously create performance for the people and achieve performance through hard work."
At the start of the "Fifteenth Five-Year Plan," General Secretary Xi Jinping's (习近平) earnest exhortations highlight the word "practical." Looking at this "practical" from the timeline of Chinese-style modernization is profoundly meaningful.
"Once something is decided, it must be implemented. All levels and departments must have a sense of the overall situation and executive power." The more complex the situation and the more arduous the task, the more important it is to establish and practice a correct view of performance. Since the beginning of the year, all regions and departments have adhered to putting action first, striving to make a good start for the "Fifteenth Five-Year Plan," and continuously forming a strong atmosphere of emphasizing practical work and seeking practical results.
The "practical" lies in adhering to a positive and pragmatic goal orientation and more resolutely, forcefully, and accurately implementing the decisions and deployments of the Party Central Committee.
To anchor on "practical," it is necessary to adhere to a positive and pragmatic goal orientation, consciously unify thoughts and actions with the Party Central Committee's scientific judgment of the situation, and more resolutely, forcefully, and accurately implement the decisions and deployments of the Party Central Committee.
Among the eight key tasks for economic work in 2026, "adhering to domestic demand as the mainstay and building a strong domestic market" ranks first. Anchoring on the primary task, we must proceed steadily and consolidate each step.
The construction site of the Xiaogan North Hub Interchange main bridge in Hubei (湖北) is bustling with activity. Construction worker Tong Chuan (童川) bends over and ties steel bars, "The goal is to complete the bridge deck paving before the Spring Festival. Everyone is giving it their all."
Tong Chuan (童川) is participating in the construction of a "two-major" project – the Xiaogan (孝感) North Section of the Wuhan (武汉) Metropolitan Area Ring Expressway. Since construction began, the project has completed key node construction such as pile foundations, tie beams, and piers.
As the Party Branch Secretary of the Xiaogan (孝感) Project Construction Headquarters of Hubei (湖北) Jiaotou Gaolu Company, Jin Ming (金明) monitors progress and manages scheduling, always keeping a timetable in mind – "Striving to complete and open to traffic in 2027."
On the "Digital Intelligent Expressway" smart platform, new technologies such as human-machine inspection, artificial intelligence risk identification, and intelligent tower cranes are integrated and applied. "Big data acts as the behind-the-scenes commander, optimizing scheduling, with people resting but machines not stopping, and links not ceasing to rotate," said Jin Ming (金明).
The relocation of power lines and other work involves a wide range of issues and requires tackling "tough bones." "The headquarters concentrates on tackling key problems, discussing each issue as it arises, and scheduling weekly," said Wei Qingxi (魏清喜), head of the Expressway Coordination Office of the Xiaogan (孝感) Transportation Bureau. In 2025, a total of 28 difficult problems in the Xiaogan (孝感) South and North sections of the Wuhan (武汉) Metropolitan Area Ring Expressway were properly resolved through "one issue, one discussion."
Since the beginning of the year, the construction of "two-major" projects in the Hubei (湖北) transportation sector has accelerated. According to the relevant person in charge of the Hubei (湖北) Provincial Department of Transportation, the "problem list, responsibility list, and time limit list" are clear at a glance, and project performance evaluations are conducted regularly to ensure smooth project progress.
Walking on the streets of Liuzhou (柳州), Guangxi (广西), one can see the strength of the "two-new" policies.
In a Liuzhou (柳州) appliance and home furnishing flagship store, citizen Zhou Jie (周洁) purchased a refrigerator, "Including national and corporate subsidies, the refrigerator ultimately saved four to five thousand yuan."
The benefits of the policy are not only "visible" but also "calculable." According to the announcement of the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region (广西壮族自治区) Department of Commerce on carrying out the 2026 consumer goods trade-in campaign, consumers who purchase relevant home appliances that meet the Level 1 energy efficiency or water efficiency standards, or digital and smart products with a single sales price not exceeding 6,000 yuan, can enjoy a subsidy of 15% of the final sales price, which is directly deducted at the payment stage.
"In the nearly one month since the policy was implemented, the store has verified more than 2,600 trade-in subsidies, with cumulative sales increasing by 22.8% year-on-year," said Liu Rongchun (刘荣春), head of the flagship store.
The "two-new" policies have received high attention and are related to residents' tangible sense of gain.
"In order to maximize the benefits of the trade-in policy, we have been working overtime to improve it and conducting online and offline publicity," said Yang Zhigang (杨志刚), Director of the Liuzhou (柳州) Municipal Bureau of Commerce. Next, the list of merchants will be dynamically updated to ensure that subsidy funds are in place in a timely manner and to enrich consumption scenarios.
On January 26, the Guangxi (广西) automobile trade-in subsidy activity was first launched in Guilin (桂林) and Guigang (贵港). Zhang Meiling (张美玲), Director of the Guigang (贵港) Municipal Bureau of Commerce, introduced: "The first application for automobile replacement subsidies was generated that afternoon. We are tracking the verification situation in real time, integrating government subsidies, corporate concessions, and financial support to amplify the policy effect."
The 2026 advance batch of "two-major" construction project lists and central budget investment plans were recently issued, totaling approximately 295 billion yuan; the implementation of "two-new" policies was optimized, and the intensity of inclusive policies directly reaching consumers was increased; the People's Bank of China (中国人民银行) released a one-time credit repair policy, "exemption from application and immediate enjoyment," to avoid long-term restrictions due to a single mistake...
Adhering to the close combination of benefiting people's livelihoods and promoting consumption, investing in things and investing in people, a series of existing policies and incremental policies continue to be implemented and take effect, and are constantly consolidating the "ballast stone" and "stabilizing anchor" of China's (中国) economic ship.
The "practical" lies in adapting to local conditions, both striving for glory in one's own region and adding color to the overall situation.
"Adapting to local conditions is essentially seeking truth from facts." General Secretary Xi Jinping (习近平) has repeatedly emphasized the issue of adapting to local conditions.
It is the correct view of performance and a scientific methodology. Adapting to local conditions and proceeding from reality is a key move and important guideline for all regions to seize opportunities and take advantage of the situation.
Focus on the commanding heights of emerging industries and future industrial development, plan ahead, and seize the opportunity to develop.
After being "on the job" for a month, the "new employee" has shown outstanding performance. In the Department of Neuromedicine of the Seventh Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University (中山大学) in Guangming District (光明区), Shenzhen (深圳), Guangdong (广东), the brain electrical signal acquisition equipment combines clinical experience and AI algorithms to efficiently analyze the brain electrical data of epilepsy patients.
The "new employee" comes from Shenzhen Delica Medical Electronics Co., Ltd. (深圳德力凯医疗电子股份有限公司). Chairman Wang Xiaoyi (王筱毅) introduced its specialty: "In the past, it took three to four hours to analyze a 24-hour long-term monitoring electroencephalogram, but now it can be completed in twenty to thirty minutes."
The transformation of samples into products stems from the innovative fertile ground of Shenzhen (深圳). "Without having to run around, we can 'share' international first-class facilities nearby, and top experts, clinical resources, and cooperation partners are all around," Wang Xiaoyi (王筱毅) said with emotion.
Major science and technology infrastructure for brain analysis and brain simulation promotes original innovation; Shenzhen Institute of Brain Science (深港脑院), Shenzhen Bay Laboratory (深圳医学科学院), Shenzhen Institutes of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences (中国科学院深圳先进技术研究院) and other institutions jointly build laboratories with enterprises to gather innovation elements; a brain science industry fund with a scale of 1.16 billion yuan provides policy support; the industrial foundation of electronic information, artificial intelligence, biomedicine, etc. is solid, forming supporting facilities... Based on its location advantages, Shenzhen (深圳) is making every effort to build a cluster area for industrial technology innovation and industrial development of brain science and brain-computer interface.
Seizing the opportunity is the only way to advance. The Shanghai (长三角) International Science and Technology Innovation Center (上海（长三角）国际科技创新中心) has expanded its scope, joining hands with Jiangsu (江苏), Zhejiang (浙江), and Anhui (安徽) to create a world-class source of scientific and technological innovation; Hainan (海南) is based on the new starting point of the island-wide customs closure operation to create a modern industrial system with Hainan (海南) characteristics and advantages; Jiangsu (江苏) has released an "Artificial Intelligence +" action plan to lay out future industries... Based on reality and seizing opportunities, the momentum of scientific and technological innovation is constantly transformed into the driving force of industrial development.
Focusing on the revitalization of traditional industries, we must cultivate advantages and develop in a differentiated manner.
In the digital planting factory in Dawei Town (大圩镇), Baohe District (包河区), Hefei (合肥), Anhui (安徽), the string tomatoes are just off the branches and are transported to Shanghai (上海) by refrigerated trucks.
"Data has become a new agricultural resource." According to Wang Tao (汪涛), the person in charge of the enterprise, temperature, light, water, and fertilizer can be digitally and precisely controlled. The amount of tomatoes needed is given, and the yield per mu is 30% higher than traditional planting methods, and the quality is better.
Digital technology, cold chain logistics, etc. are "married" to agriculture, and industries such as tomatoes, strawberries, and high-quality grapes are thriving. Developing new quality productive forces for agriculture in accordance with local conditions has brought the rural characteristic industries of Baohe District (包河区), which already has a solid foundation, to a new level.
Shandong (山东) has become the first province in the north with a "10 trillion yuan" volume, and will optimize and upgrade traditional industries this year; Henan (河南) will accelerate the quality upgrading of 10 traditional industries such as steel, coal, and non-ferrous metals this year; Liaoning (辽宁) will accelerate the "intelligent transformation and digital transformation" of manufacturing... Major economic provinces shoulder major responsibilities, and other regions each show their strengths, using comparative advantages to develop industries suitable for their local areas, and the new track is getting wider and wider.
Since the beginning of the year, all regions have been based on their resource endowments and industrial foundations, accurately identified their strategic positioning in the overall national development, adhered to doing something and not doing something, both striving for glory in one's own region and adding color to the overall situation, and striving to take a high-quality development path that is in line with their own reality and has local characteristics with practical actions.
The "practical" lies in adhering to the people's livelihood as the top priority and striving to do more practical things for the people. General Secretary Xi Jinping (习近平) is concerned about the happiness and warmth of hundreds of millions of "small families."
The reform and development tasks in the opening year are arduous, but everywhere focuses on the coordinated answer to the "economic volume" and "people's livelihood volume," and focuses on the organic unity of developing the economy and improving people's livelihoods.
Seek practical results and do a good job of benefiting the people.
On January 5, the 2026 childcare subsidy was fully opened for application. "We organized staff in advance to familiarize themselves with the 'one-click renewal' and 'information change' functions, checked the application materials submitted offline one by one, and optimized the process to allow everyone to receive the subsidy as soon as possible," said Liu Xiaohua (刘小华), head of the Family Development Section of the Yanling District (郾城区) Health and Health Commission in Luohe City (漯河市), Henan (河南省).
Li Wei (李伟), a "Bao Ma" in Yanling District (郾城区), has a great sense of gain, "I submitted the application on my mobile phone and it was done in a few minutes." Yanling District (郾城区) launched a new round of distribution on the basis of benefiting 9,458 families last year, and has received applications from 6,696 families so far.
"Fingertip speed handling" alleviates childcare anxiety. In 2026, the National Health Commission (国家卫生健康委) promoted the convenience of the information management system, and the system added a "one-click renewal" function, making good policies more accessible.
Wanbailin District (万柏林区) in Taiyuan (太原), Shanxi (山西), installed smart doorbells and fall alarms for elderly people living alone, and is steadily promoting age-appropriate and intelligent transformation benefiting 3,000 households; Xiamen (厦门), Fujian (福建), implemented the "Several Provisions on Labor Rights Protection of Online Delivery Workers in the Xiamen Special Economic Zone (厦门经济特区网约配送员劳动权益保障若干规定)" from January 1, 2026, to provide a legal umbrella for protecting the rights and interests of online delivery workers; Wuhan (武汉), Hubei (湖北), released the 2026 people's livelihood practical projects, and gradually implemented 42 people's livelihood practical projects such as "newly built, renovated and expanded 30 primary and secondary schools, adding 35,000 new degrees"... Doing good things well, the starting point and foothold are to create happiness for the people.
Be pragmatic and use true feelings to solve urgent problems and anxieties.
"Leave enough space so that tourists can taste fresh cherries and soak sauerkraut on the spot in the future." In Matang Village (麻塘村), Zhenxiong County (镇雄县), Yunnan Province (云南省), Qiu Linfei (邱林飞), the first secretary stationed in the village, is holding a planning map and planning to build an agricultural product exhibition and sales center.
Matang Village (麻塘村) plans to connect ecological trails with farmhouse experience points using the assistance funds of Minmetals Group (五矿集团) to create a "tourism and shopping integration" development model. "Let our village's good products and good scenery attract more tourists." Qiu Linfei (邱林飞) is full of expectations for the future.
2026 is the first year of carrying out normalized assistance, and poverty-stricken areas are working hard towards new goals. Suixian County (随县), Hubei (湖北), has embedded nearly 21,000 people lifted out of poverty into a 100 billion-level industrial chain; Qingshen County (青神县), Sichuan (四川), has built a standardized tea processing plant to allow "a leaf" to grow more value-added benefits; Qianyang County (千阳县), Shaanxi (陕西), has created an industrial cluster from apple seedling breeding to sales integration... The methods of assistance are more precise, the industrial characteristics are more distinct, and the development-oriented assistance is taken as the top priority, and the vast number of farmers are striving for a more prosperous and beautiful life.
The road is simple, and practical work is essential.
The "Fifteenth Five-Year Plan" period is a critical period for laying the foundation and fully exerting efforts to basically realize socialist modernization. Towards the new goal, party organizations at all levels and the vast number of party members and cadres will continue to enhance their sense of political responsibility and historical mission, clarify the clear goals, promote practical measures, and strive for practical results, and implement the various decisions and deployments of the Fourth Plenary Session of the 20th CPC Central Committee with practical actions, and open up a new situation with full confidence.
(Reporters Lü Shaogang (吕绍刚), Zhang Wenhao (张文豪), Fan Haotian (范昊天), Li Weijun (李维俊), Li Junjie (李俊杰) from this newspaper, and correspondent Li Hanchi (黎寒池) participated in the writing)
Return to TopXinhua News Agency, Beijing, January 29th (Reporter Feng Xinran (冯歆然)) On the afternoon of January 29th, Premier of the State Council Li Qiang (李强) held talks with British Prime Minister Starmer at the Great Hall of the People (人民大会堂) in Beijing (北京), who was in China for an official visit.
Li Qiang (李强) stated that China and the UK adhering to open cooperation and mutual benefit is what people want and is in line with the common interests of both sides. This morning, President Xi Jinping (习近平) held a meeting with the Prime Minister, providing strategic guidance for the development of a long-term, stable, and comprehensive strategic partnership between the two countries. China is willing to continue to work with the UK in the same direction, respect each other's core interests and major concerns, strengthen strategic communication, consolidate the foundation of mutual trust, deepen cooperation in various fields, and promote the steady and long-term development of bilateral relations. This will not only help the two countries work together to cope with the risks of international changes and promote common development, but also inject more positive energy into global peace and stability.
Li Qiang (李强) pointed out that China is willing to work with the UK to improve the intergovernmental dialogue and cooperation mechanism, and conduct more frequent exchanges at all levels and in various fields. The two sides should better leverage their complementary advantages, promote the expansion and improvement of bilateral trade, strengthen exchanges and alignment in financial supervision and financial market connectivity, and deepen cooperation in emerging industries such as artificial intelligence, advanced manufacturing, clean energy, digital economy, and modern shipping services, empowering each other and developing better. The Chinese government is committed to providing a good environment for companies from all countries, including British companies, to invest in China, and also hopes that the UK will provide a fair, transparent, and non-discriminatory business environment for Chinese companies to invest in the UK. In recent times, unilateralism, protectionism, and hegemonic bullying have been **大行其道** (dà xíng qí dào - "run amok," to be rampant or prevalent). As permanent members of the UN Security Council, China and the UK should demonstrate their responsibility as major countries, strengthen multilateral communication and coordination, deepen cooperation on addressing prominent governance deficits, safeguard the authority of the United Nations, uphold multilateralism and free trade, and promote the development of the international order in a more just and reasonable direction.
Starmer stated that he had a fruitful meeting with President Xi Jinping (习近平) this morning. As permanent members of the UN Security Council and members of the G20, the UK and China developing a long-term, stable, and comprehensive strategic partnership is in the interests of both sides and is conducive to promoting global economic growth and world prosperity and development. The UK is willing to uphold the spirit of mutual respect, sincerity, and openness, strengthen high-level and multi-field exchanges and dialogue with China, support open and free trade, deepen exchanges and cooperation in trade, finance, investment, manufacturing, service industries, culture, and other fields, and welcomes Chinese companies to invest and cooperate in the UK. The UK is willing to strengthen multilateral coordination with China, jointly address global challenges, and open a new chapter in bilateral relations.
Before the talks, Li Qiang (李强) held a welcome ceremony for Starmer in the North Hall of the Great Hall of the People (人民大会堂北大厅).
After the talks, the two Prime Ministers jointly witnessed the signing of a number of cooperation documents in the fields of economy and trade, agriculture and food, media, education, and market supervision.
Wu Zhenglong (吴政隆) participated in the above activities.
Return to TopXinhua News Agency, Beijing, January 29th (Reporter). Zhao Leji (赵乐际), Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, met with British Prime Minister Starmer in Beijing (北京) on the morning of the 29th.
Zhao Leji (赵乐际) stated that under the international situation of intertwined changes and chaos, developing a good China-UK relationship has important contemporary value and global significance. After Mr. Prime Minister led the Labour Party to power, President Xi Jinping (习近平) spoke and met with you, leading bilateral relations onto the right track of improvement and development. China is willing to work with the UK to uphold the positioning of strategic partners, grasp the correct direction of being positive, pragmatic, stable, and mutually beneficial, eliminate interference, properly handle differences, and ensure that China-UK relations move steadily, practically, and far. China is willing to meet the UK halfway and work together to restore normal exchanges between the legislative bodies of the two countries. We welcome British parliamentarians to visit China to perceive a real, three-dimensional, and comprehensive China.
Starmer stated that the UK and China have broad common interests, and the UK is willing to develop a long-term and coherent strategic partnership with China. The UK's long-standing policy on the Taiwan issue will not change. He hopes that the legislative bodies of both sides will restore normal exchanges.
Return to TopThis newspaper Beijing (北京) January 29th (Reporter Ding Yiting (丁怡婷)) reported: The reporter learned from the Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development (住房城乡建设部) that in 2025, 27,100 old urban residential areas were newly renovated nationwide, benefiting 4.99 million households, with a total investment of 133.2 billion yuan.
In 2025, China's urban renewal work achieved significant results, with 14,000 elevators installed, benefiting more than 4.7 million residents; more than 4,700 "pocket parks" and more than 5,800 kilometers of urban greenways were built; and 156,000 kilometers of underground pipe networks were constructed and renovated.
In 2026, a series of livelihood projects, development projects, and safety projects will be implemented in a coordinated manner. Among them, livelihood projects will focus on promoting the renovation of old urban residential areas, eliminating safety hazards, and improving living conditions and the living environment; comprehensively promoting the construction of complete communities, providing more care for the elderly and children, and focusing on addressing shortcomings in public service facilities.
Return to TopAccording to the Ministry of Transport (交通运输部), in 2025, the national urban rail transit system operated 44.31 million train trips throughout the year, completing a passenger volume of 33.24 billion people, an entry volume of 19.80 billion people, and a passenger turnover volume of 278.08 billion person-kilometers. The annual passenger volume in 2025 increased by 1 billion people compared to 2024, a growth of 3.1%.
By the end of 2025, 54 cities in 31 provinces (自治区,直辖市) (autonomous regions, municipalities) and the Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps (新疆生产建设兵团) had opened and operated 343 urban rail transit lines, with an operating mileage of 11,710.3 kilometers and 6,680 stations. In 2025, 18 new urban rail transit operating lines were added, 32 new operating sections were added, and 764.7 kilometers of new operating mileage were added.
Return to TopBy: 本报记者 易舒冉
Reader Concerns
Recently, I've seen in the news that many places are required to do a good job in ensuring the basic living conditions of people in need, so that they can spend a warm winter and a peaceful festival. At the end of the year and the beginning of the new year, household expenses are higher than usual. What specific measures have been taken recently to help people in need?
"In the early stage, the Ministry of Civil Affairs (民政部) and the Ministry of Finance (财政部) have already allocated 141 billion yuan in advance from the central government's financial assistance funds for people in need in 2026, to strengthen financial support for local governments to ensure the basic living conditions of people in need. Provinces such as Beijing (北京), Tianjin (天津), Shanghai (上海), Jiangsu (江苏), and Ningxia (宁夏) have issued one-time living allowances to people in need in the form of cash, consumer coupons, and in-kind goods," said the relevant person in charge of the Social Assistance Department of the Ministry of Civil Affairs (民政部社会救助司) at a regular press conference on January 29.
Policy implementation is more effective. The Ministry of Civil Affairs (民政部) guides all regions to comprehensively standardize and implement basic living assistance policies such as minimum living security and special hardship support, and promptly include all eligible applicants in the scope of assistance, so as to achieve "**应保尽保、应救尽救**" (yīng bǎo jìn bǎo, yīng jiù jìn jiù - "ensure everyone who should be covered is covered, ensure everyone who should be rescued is rescued," to provide assistance to all who are eligible). Minimum living security funds and assistance funds for people in special hardship are issued in a timely and full manner, and regions with the conditions are encouraged to issue assistance funds in advance or issue one-time living allowances during the New Year's Day and Spring Festival periods. For people who newly apply for minimum living security and special hardship support during the holidays, all regions further optimize the process and speed up the review, confirmation, and fund disbursement. The temporary assistance policy is used to its full potential to improve the timeliness of assistance.
Responding to appeals is faster. The Ministry of Civil Affairs (民政部) guides the use of "big data + iron feet" to strengthen the dynamic monitoring of objects such as minimum living security recipients, people in special hardship, family members on the edge of minimum living security, family members with rigid expenditure difficulties, and people who have recently withdrawn from assistance, so as to achieve "**及时预警、快速处置**" (jíshí yùjǐng, kuàisù chǔzhì - "timely warning, rapid disposal," to provide early warning and quick response). Close attention is paid to changes in commodity prices, and the linkage mechanism between social assistance and guarantee standards and price increases is activated in a timely manner, and temporary price subsidies are issued to people in need in accordance with regulations. Personnel on duty during the holidays are strengthened to ensure that more than 3,700 social assistance service hotlines at the ministry, provincial, municipal, and county levels are unblocked, so as to achieve "**求助有应、受助及时**" (qiúzhù yǒu yìng, shòuzhù jíshí - "assistance is available upon request, assistance is timely," to respond to requests for help and provide timely assistance).
"According to preliminary statistics, 17 provinces and the Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps (新疆生产建设兵团) have expanded the scope of heating assistance, extending heating assistance to families on the edge of minimum living security and families with rigid expenditure difficulties. Since the beginning of winter, relevant provinces in northern regions and disaster-stricken areas have cumulatively arranged 3.1 billion yuan to issue heating subsidies and heating materials to people in need," said the relevant person in charge of the Social Assistance Department of the Ministry of Civil Affairs (民政部社会救助司).
Social assistance is warmer. Service-oriented social assistance focuses on diversified services and spiritual care. In August 2024, the Ministry of Civil Affairs (民政部) and the Ministry of Finance (财政部) jointly issued the "National Service-oriented Social Assistance Pilot Work Plan," and carried out service-oriented social assistance pilots in 69 pilot areas across the country. Since the launch of the pilot, social assistance has shifted from a single material assistance to a comprehensive "material + service" assistance model, and services such as medical care, meal assistance, bathing assistance, psychological counseling, and social integration have made the lives of people in need more comfortable.
The national trade union system uniformly carries out trade union warmth-giving actions, focusing on employees in difficulty and key groups of employees, to ensure that employees spend a warm winter; extensive visits and condolences are carried out for key groups such as model workers, employees in difficulty, and new employment form workers, so as to ensure that employees in key groups are cared for in place. The China Disabled Persons' Federation (中国残联) carries out the 2026 "Help the Disabled Warm Winter" work to ensure the basic living conditions of disabled people in sudden and urgent difficulties, highlighting the care and assistance for severely disabled people in difficulty, and ensuring the bottom line of people's livelihood; employment assistance for disabled people with employment difficulties is strengthened to protect the labor rights and interests of employed disabled people.
Multiple departments work together and implement precise policies to make every "small family" warm with practical and heart-warming measures.
Return to TopXinhua News Agency, Beijing, January 29th. Comrade Liao Xilong, an outstanding member of the Communist Party of China, a long-tested and loyal communist fighter, an outstanding military commander of our army, an outstanding leader in the comprehensive construction of modern logistics, former member of the Central Military Commission, and former Director of the General Logistics Department of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (中国人民解放军), passed away due to illness in Beijing (北京) at 1:50 AM on January 23, 2026, at the age of 85. On the 29th, Comrade Liao Xilong's remains were cremated at the Babaoshan Revolutionary Cemetery (八宝山革命公墓) in Beijing (北京).
Comrade Liao Xilong joined the army in January 1959 from Sinan County (思南县), Guizhou Province (贵州省), and joined the Communist Party of China (中国共产党) in February 1963. He successively served as Commander of the 11th Army of the Army, Deputy Commander and Commander of the Chengdu Military Region (成都军区). In October 2002, he served as Director of the General Logistics Department of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (中国人民解放军总后勤部), and in November of the same year, he served as a member of the Central Military Commission (中央军委). He was a member of the 15th, 16th, and 17th Central Committees of the Communist Party of China (中国共产党). He was awarded the rank of General in June 2000.
During Comrade Liao Xilong's serious illness and after his death, Xi Jinping (习近平), Li Qiang (李强), Zhao Leji (赵乐际), Wang Huning (王沪宁), Cai Qi (蔡奇), Ding Xuexiang (丁薛祥), Li Xi (李希), Han Zheng (韩正), Hu Jintao (胡锦涛) and other comrades, went to the hospital to visit or expressed their deep condolences for the death of Comrade Liao Xilong and their deep condolences to his family in various forms.
On the morning of the 29th, the auditorium of the Babaoshan Revolutionary Cemetery (八宝山革命公墓) was solemn and quiet, and the mourning music was low. Above the main hall hung a black banner with white characters "Deeply Mourn Comrade Liao Xilong," and below the banner was a portrait of Comrade Liao Xilong. Comrade Liao Xilong's remains were lying in repose among flowers and cypresses, covered with a bright red flag of the Communist Party of China (中国共产党).
Relevant leading comrades of the Party, the country, and the army went to say goodbye or expressed their condolences in various ways. Leaders of various departments of the Central Military Commission (中央军委) organs, relevant units of the army stationed in Beijing (北京), representatives of officers and soldiers of the troops, Comrade Liao Xilong's friends and representatives of his hometown also went to say goodbye.
Return to TopOn January 28th, Chinese President Xi Jinping (习近平) replied to a letter from veterans of Zimbabwe's liberation struggle, encouraging the Chinese and African people to work together to build a closer China-Africa community with a shared future in the new era and to write a new chapter in China-Africa friendship. African figures interviewed by this newspaper said that President Xi Jinping's reply conveyed the deep friendship between Africa and China, and they looked forward to the two peoples working together to carry on the traditional friendship, deepen practical cooperation, and jointly promote the development of China-Africa friendship.
"We will not forget this experience, nor will we forget the friendship between Zimbabwe and China."
After the founding of the People's Republic of China, China firmly supported Africa's anti-imperialist, anti-colonial, and national liberation struggles. In the 1960s and 1970s, in order to overthrow Western colonialists and strive for national independence, national liberation organizations represented by the Zimbabwe African National Union (津巴布韦非洲民族联盟) and the Zimbabwe African People's Union (津巴布韦非洲人民联盟) carried out arduous armed struggles. During this period, some soldiers received training from China, creating a good story in the history of China-Zimbabwe relations.
Recently, veterans of Zimbabwe's liberation struggle jointly wrote to President Xi Jinping (习近平), expressing their heartfelt gratitude to China for its valuable support for Zimbabwe's national liberation, admiring President Xi Jinping's (习近平) leadership of the Communist Party of China (中国共产党) and the Chinese people in achieving remarkable achievements in the new era, pioneering a Chinese-style path to modernization, providing valuable lessons for other developing countries, and expressing pride in the all-weather community with a shared future between China and Zimbabwe, and their commitment to carrying on the friendly cause between the two countries.
In his reply, President Xi Jinping (习近平) pointed out that you devoted yourselves to the great cause of national liberation in your youth, forged an indissoluble bond and combat friendship with China far away from your hometown, and are still concerned about China-Zimbabwe and China-Africa friendship, which is touching.
"We didn't expect to receive President Xi Jinping's (习近平) reply so quickly, we are extremely excited. President Xi Jinping (习近平) still remembers us!" David Musangwe, a veteran who participated in Zimbabwe's liberation struggle, said that on the eve of his visit to Zimbabwe in 2015, President Xi Jinping (习近平) published a signed article in the local media, recounting the deep and solid traditional friendship between China and Zimbabwe. More than 10 years have passed, and the veterans feel sincere admiration for President Xi Jinping's (习近平) leadership of China and the Chinese people in achieving remarkable achievements in the new era. "On the occasion of the 70th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Africa and China, we wrote to President Xi Jinping (习近平) to express our gratitude. Our veterans will continue to take action and contribute to the cause of Africa-China friendship," Musangwe said.
"We will not forget this experience, nor will we forget the friendship between Zimbabwe and China." Veteran Humphrey Makuwana said that when he received training in China, he lived with members of the Communist Party of China (中国共产党) and Chinese soldiers day and night, and one of the most important gains was a deep understanding of the meaning of "the army and the people are as close as fish and water."
Zimbabwe's Deputy Minister of Veterans of the Liberation Struggle Affairs and Senator Heman Moyo said that over the years, Zimbabwean veterans have actively promoted the development of China-Zimbabwe friendship in different fields and positions of national development. "This reply encourages everyone to continue to make more contributions to the development of China-Zimbabwe and Africa-China relations," Moyo said.
"President Xi Jinping's (习近平) reply injects new impetus into deepening Zimbabwe-China and Africa-China solidarity and friendship." Makuwana said, "China has always regarded African countries, including Zimbabwe, as friends, and the two sides support each other with an attitude of equality and respect. The world today still faces challenges from unilateralism and hegemonism. While continuing the traditional friendship, Zimbabwe-China and Africa-China should jointly advocate multilateralism and international cooperation, and clearly oppose hegemonism and power politics."
"Calling on more young people to devote themselves to the cause of Africa-China friendship"
In his reply, President Xi Jinping (习近平) expressed his hope that the veterans would lead more African youth to devote themselves to the cause of China-Zimbabwe and China-Africa friendship. With the deepening of China-Zimbabwe cooperation, a new generation of Zimbabwean youth is growing into the backbone of promoting the development of cooperation between the two countries.
"Through the reply, I felt President Xi Jinping's (习近平) earnest expectations for the younger generation to promote the development of friendly relations between Zimbabwe and China." Walter Chanaka, General Manager of the Zimbabwe-China Exchange Center, promoted the "China-Zimbabwe Friendship Well" project in Zimbabwe. In June 2025, the project was successfully launched at the Malimba Park Municipal Primary School in Harare (哈拉雷), the capital of Zimbabwe, solving the long-term drinking water problem faced by more than 1,500 teachers and students at the school. "I hope to further promote this project to rural areas in Zimbabwe and other African countries, so that more people can drink 'safe water'," Chanaka said.
At the Zimbabwe High-Performance Supercomputer Center, the computing power platform provided by Chinese companies is providing computing power support for Zimbabwe's secure digital payment, agriculture, medical care, smart transportation, academic research, and other fields. "Chinese technology is injecting strong impetus into Zimbabwe's digital transformation." Nelson Luwa, Director of Management at the Supercomputer Center, said that Zimbabwe has large fluctuations in precipitation and frequent droughts. The Supercomputer Center has jointly built a drought early warning model with the Zimbabwean Ministry of Agriculture to provide farmers with planting and irrigation guidance. Currently, about 20,000 farmers have applied the model, promoting an increase in corn and wheat yields by 20% and 18% respectively, and improving water resource utilization efficiency by 15%. "As the younger generation, we will seize the opportunities brought by China-Zimbabwe cooperation and contribute to the modernization and development of Zimbabwe and Africa," Luwa said.
"Youth are the inheritors of Africa-China friendship and should call on more young people to devote themselves to the cause of Africa-China friendship." Nyarazo Makombe, host of Zimbabwe's "Capital FM," said that she is planning to invite veterans to record a program to tell their stories of training in China and participating in the liberation struggle, so that more young people can deeply understand this precious history and friendship.
"We will take practical actions to promote Africa-China friendship and cooperation, and live up to President Xi Jinping's (习近平) expectations." Herbert, the foreign dean of the Confucius Institute at the University of Zimbabwe, said that China-Zimbabwe and Africa-China have a long history of friendship, and there are many moving stories worth telling and promoting. Relying on the Confucius Institute platform, Herbert hopes to tell these stories well, especially to the new generation of African youth about China's development.
"People-to-people exchanges are an inexhaustible driving force for long-term friendship between Africa and China"
2026 is the 70th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Africa, and it is also the "China-Africa People-to-People Exchange Year." In his reply, President Xi Jinping (习近平) said that China is willing to take the opportunity of implementing the results of the Beijing Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (中非合作论坛北京峰会) to continue the traditional friendship with Africa and jointly create a more brilliant future for China-Africa relations.
Alawi Semanda, Executive Director of the Uganda Development Observation Center, said that the deep friendship and earnest expectations conveyed in President Xi Jinping's (习近平) reply are encouraging. "Since the establishment of diplomatic relations between Africa and China 70 years ago, China has always been a fellow traveler on the road of national liberation and development and revitalization in Africa." Semanda said that Africa and China should continue to strengthen development cooperation and work together to build a closer Africa-China community with a shared future in the new era.
Malawian Member of Parliament Ifaleni Abel Kayembe said that with the joint efforts of Africa and China, a number of major projects are being promoted in an orderly manner, and a large number of "small and beautiful" projects have been successfully implemented. The level of practical cooperation between Africa and China continues to improve, and there are broad opportunities for the two sides to work together to promote modernization and development.
"President Xi Jinping's (习近平) reply demonstrates the great importance Chinese leaders attach to the development of Africa-China cooperation." Dennis Munene, Executive Director of the China-Africa Center at the African Policy Research Institute in Kenya, said that China has always been a true friend of Africa. The two sides have gone through glorious years together and embarked on a new journey of modernization together. "Africa should deepen its cooperation with China and jointly create a more brilliant future for Africa-China relations," Munene said.
"President Xi Jinping's (习近平) reply has drawn a blueprint for the development of Africa-China relations." Emmanuel Matambo, Research Director of the Africa-China Research Center at the University of Johannesburg in South Africa, said, "The practice of Africa and China jointly promoting modernization has transcended the traditional framework of bilateral cooperation and become an important force in shaping a new paradigm of global development."
In 2026, China and Africa will hold nearly 600 people-to-people exchange activities around the theme of "Consolidating All-Weather Friendship and Pursuing Modernization Dreams Together." "People-to-people exchanges are an inexhaustible driving force for long-term friendship between Africa and China." Phyllis Johnson, founder and senior researcher at the Southern African Research and Documentation Center in Zimbabwe, said that people-to-people exchanges help enhance mutual understanding between the peoples of Africa and China and lay a public opinion foundation for cooperation between Africa and China in various fields.
The China-Egypt Luxor Montu Temple Joint Archaeological Team recently announced that it has successfully cleared a previously unknown sacred lake architectural site in the Karnak Montu Temple (卡尔纳克孟图神庙) site area in Luxor Province (卢克索省), Egypt. "President Xi Jinping's (习近平) reply provides guidance for our future cooperation." Imad, a researcher at the Egyptian Liberation Research Center, said that he looks forward to more exchanges and cooperation between Egypt and China under the framework of the "China-Africa People-to-People Exchange Year."
"The 'China-Africa People-to-People Exchange Year' is one of the important measures to promote the continuous improvement of Africa-China relations." Tan Zheli, head of the South African Zheli China-Africa International Exchange Think Tank, said, "Gathering more consensus and forming synergy in exchanges and cooperation will help write a new chapter in the era of Africa-China friendship."
(Reported on January 29th from Beijing (北京), Johannesburg (约翰内斯堡), Nairobi (内罗毕), and Cairo (开罗) by reporters Cheng Shijie (程是颉), Zou Song (邹松), Zheng Xiang (郑翔), Huang Weixin (黄炜鑫), and Huang Peizhao (黄培昭))
Return to TopThe recognition of China's ideas and role by various countries has further increased, fully demonstrating that what the turbulent world truly needs is not the logic of power or the calculation of interests, but rather to always stand firmly on the right side of history and on the side of human civilization's progress.
On January 29th, President Xi Jinping (习近平) met with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer (斯塔默), who was in China for an official visit. This was the first visit by a British Prime Minister to China in eight years, and it was seen by the international community as an important step for Britain to "seek a new chapter in its relationship with China." In the current international situation, which is characterized by turmoil and change, it is in the interests of both China and the UK, as permanent members of the UN Security Council and major world economies, to strengthen communication and cooperation.
Over the past year or so, under the strategic guidance of the leaders of both countries, Sino-British bilateral relations have gradually stabilized and recovered. During this meeting, from strengthening bilateral exchanges to sharing global responsibilities, President Xi Jinping (习近平) pointed out the direction of efforts for the further development of Sino-British relations, emphasizing the need to "transform the 'great potential' of Sino-British cooperation into 'great achievements'." Prime Minister Starmer (斯塔默) stated that "in the current turbulent and fragile international situation, it is crucial for the UK to establish a long-term, stable, comprehensive strategic partnership with China in the spirit of mutual respect and mutual trust." History and reality both show that as long as both sides adhere to a grand historical perspective, transcend differences, and respect each other, Sino-British relations and cooperation can fully open up a new situation, benefiting both peoples and the world.
Since the beginning of the year, leaders from many countries, including Ireland, Canada, Finland, and the United Kingdom, have made intensive visits to China, and international media have marveled at the "diplomatic boom" in China. Currently, the international situation is becoming more turbulent, and the world faces the risk of sliding into an era of "no rules." Against this background, all parties are re-"discovering" China, paying more attention to dialogue and cooperation, and working together to address global challenges. This should not be simply interpreted as a kind of "stress response" to changes in the international situation, but rather highlights China's consistent adherence to its responsibilities and its provision of confidence under the great changes as a responsible major country.
The role of "source of power" for mutually beneficial cooperation is becoming more prominent. Prime Minister Starmer (斯塔默) visited China with more than 60 important representatives from British business and cultural circles, demonstrating the willingness of all sectors in the UK to deeply explore opportunities in China. The British Sky News website reported that China is already the UK's third-largest trading partner, supporting 370,000 local jobs. The China-Britain Business Council recently issued a statement saying that for British companies, China is the key to enhancing their global competitiveness. Finnish Prime Minister Orpo (奥尔波) also said that "Finnish companies are very interested in cooperating with China," and his visit to China aims to "open the door of opportunity" for Finnish companies. At present, anti-globalization and trade protectionism are clearly on the rise, and cooperation opportunities are scarce resources. China has entered the "15th Five-Year Plan" period, using scientific planning to guide high-quality development, adhering to expanding high-level opening up to the outside world, providing the world with an "opportunity list," and welcoming companies from all countries to "swim" in the "sea" of the Chinese market. This is not only conducive to enhancing the resilience of all parties' development, but also to anchoring the correct direction of building an open world economy in the face of the storms of the times.
The role of "stabilizing anchor" for the international order is becoming more prominent. For some time, unilateralism, protectionism, and power politics have been rampant, and the international order has been severely impacted. International law is only truly effective when all countries abide by it, and major countries in particular must take the lead, otherwise, the world will revert to a jungle. This is precisely the adherence and responsibility that the international community sees in China today. China takes the lead in emphasizing equality, the rule of law, cooperation, and integrity, firmly safeguarding the international system with the United Nations as its core and the international order based on international law, practicing true multilateralism, promoting the construction of a more just and reasonable global governance system, and realizing equal and orderly multipolarity and universally beneficial and inclusive globalization. When dealing with other countries, China never asks them to take sides. Even if relations between the two sides encounter difficulties for a time, China always advocates seeking common ground while reserving differences and focusing on cooperation, and is committed to allowing all countries to be beautiful in their own way and to share the beauty together. The further increase in the recognition of China's ideas and role by various countries fully demonstrates that what the turbulent world truly needs is not the logic of power or the calculation of interests, but rather to always stand firmly on the right side of history and on the side of human civilization's progress.
Where righteousness lies, the world will follow. No matter how the international situation changes, China adheres to the path of peaceful development and pursues "harmony as the most valuable" and "harmony without uniformity" (和而不同 (hé ér bù tóng - "harmony without uniformity," maintaining individuality while coexisting peacefully)). To walk with China is to walk with opportunity, jointly contributing positive energy to the world's peace and development.
Return to TopBy: 本报记者 时元皓
"Within the framework of jointly building the 'Belt and Road' Initiative, Ecuador's cooperation potential with China is continuously being released, and all sectors in Ecuador are full of expectations for future cooperation between the two countries." Milton Reyes (米尔顿·雷耶斯), Director of the Center for Chinese Studies at the National Institute of Advanced Studies of Ecuador, said in an exclusive interview with this reporter recently that in June of last year, Ecuador and China signed a cooperation plan on jointly promoting the construction of the "Belt and Road" Initiative, reflecting the common willingness of both sides to continue deepening practical cooperation.
Reyes said that since the two countries signed a memorandum of understanding on jointly building the "Belt and Road" Initiative in 2018, a series of achievements have been made in cooperation in areas such as infrastructure construction. "China has development experience in many aspects." Reyes said, "Cooperation between the two countries in emerging fields such as green energy and digitalization is helping Ecuador's economic and social sustainable development."
In May 2024, the China-Ecuador Free Trade Agreement officially came into effect. For more than a year, tariff reductions and trade facilitation measures brought about by the free trade agreement have allowed more Ecuadorian goods to enter the Chinese consumer market more conveniently. "Ecuadorian products, including white shrimp, bananas, and flowers, have seen a significant increase in exports to China, effectively contributing to Ecuador's economic growth." Reyes said that Ecuador will continue to deepen its understanding of Chinese market demand in the future, and continuously deepen trade cooperation with China through platforms such as the China International Import Expo.
"In February last year, COSCO Shipping (中远海运) opened a route from the Port of Guayaquil (瓜亚基尔港) to the Port of Shanghai (上海港) via the Port of Chancay (钱凯港) in Peru, a connectivity initiative that significantly reduced transportation time and costs." Reyes said that Ecuador hopes to increase the added value of agricultural products and promote agricultural modernization. "We hope to cooperate with Chinese companies to promote the development of agricultural deep processing, and at the same time learn from China's experience in establishing special economic zones and rapidly achieving industrialization. China's experience sharing will continue to enhance the competitiveness of Ecuadorian products, create more jobs, and bring broad social benefits."
Reyes has visited China nearly 10 times, and the great achievements China has made in sustainable development fields such as environmental governance have left a deep impression on him. "China has continuously made new breakthroughs in the development of clean energy, and the ecological environment has been significantly improved." Reyes said that China has advanced technology in the development of green energy, and Ecuador has great potential for developing clean energy. Chinese technology can provide assistance for Ecuador's energy infrastructure construction and other aspects.
"China's technological innovation achievements in digital economy fields such as e-commerce, mobile payment, and artificial intelligence have also impressed me deeply." Reyes cited artificial intelligence as an example, saying that artificial intelligence has entered the daily lives of Chinese people. "I learned that some mobile phone applications can help spread and inherit traditional culture such as opera and tea art. This way of integrating technology and culture, modern and traditional, is very worthy of Ecuador's reference." Reyes said.
Reyes attended the 11th Nishan Forum on World Civilizations (尼山世界文明论坛) held in Qufu (曲阜), Shandong (山东) last July. "Increasing mutual understanding through dialogue is the premise of trust, and trust is the basis for deepening cooperation and achieving mutual benefit and win-win results." Reyes said that through various cultural exchange projects, more and more Latin American people are learning Chinese and understanding Chinese culture, "Our mutual trust is deepening, and cooperation is becoming smoother."
Return to TopBeijing, January 29th (People's Daily) -- Wang Yi (王毅), a member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Director of the Office of the Foreign Affairs Commission of the CPC Central Committee, met with the UK Prime Minister's National Security Advisor, Sir Tim Barrow (鲍威尔), in Beijing (北京) on the evening of the 28th.
Wang Yi (王毅) said that as permanent members of the UN Security Council, China and the UK should adhere to the purposes and principles of the UN Charter, strengthen dialogue and cooperation, and jointly address challenges in the current turbulent international situation. It is believed that the important consensus reached by the leaders of the two countries on developing a long-term and stable comprehensive strategic partnership will inject strong impetus into institutional exchanges and cooperation in various fields, and open a new chapter in China-UK relations.
Barrow (鲍威尔) said that the UK hopes to take Prime Minister Starmer's (斯塔默) visit to China as an opportunity to develop a more coherent and comprehensive strategic partnership with China.
Return to TopCurrently, RV companies in Rongcheng City (荣成市), Shandong Province (山东省) are working hard to seize the time, rush orders, and expand production capacity. The city's RV production accounts for about 30% of the country's total, and its export volume accounts for 50% of the country's total. The picture shows a production workshop of an enterprise in the Rongcheng City (荣成市) RV manufacturing industrial base recently, where workers are assembling new energy RVs.
Photo by Li Xinjun (李信君) (Image China)
Return to TopXinhua News Agency, Philadelphia, USA, January 28th (Reporter Yang Shilong (杨士龙)) The China National Tourist Office in New York and the Philadelphia Orchestra jointly held the 2026 "Happy Chinese New Year" concert and the "Ni Hao! China" tourism promotion series of events at the Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts in Philadelphia on the 28th.
At 19:30 that evening, the 2026 "Happy Chinese New Year" concert was staged at the Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts. With "Spring" as its theme, the concert showcased the harmonious beauty of cultural exchange and mutual learning through diverse musical languages. The highlight of the concert was the performance of classics and contemporary works such as "Spring Festival Overture," "Welcoming Spring," "Morning of Spring," "The Hegemon-King Bids Farewell to His Concubine," and "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon" by conductor Naomi Wu, the Philadelphia Orchestra, and Yu Hongmei (于红梅) and Zhang Hongyan (章红艳), folk music performers from the Central Conservatory of Music (中央音乐学院).
The Chinese Ambassador to the United States, Xie Feng (谢锋), and the Chinese Consul General in New York, Chen Li (陈立), attended the event and exchanged views with guests from all walks of life in the United States. Nearly 2,500 representatives from the American political, cultural, and tourism sectors, as well as local people, participated in related activities.
Earlier that day, Ma Yunfei (马云飞), director of the China National Tourist Office in New York, said in his speech at the "Ni Hao! China" tourism promotion reception that tourism is the most natural and warmest way of international exchange. China is continuously promoting the facilitation of inbound tourism and welcomes more Americans to experience the development vitality and openness of today's China through cultural and tourism exchanges.
President and CEO of the Philadelphia Orchestra, Rhenda Fearrington, said that the Philadelphia Orchestra's first visit to China in 1973 was the first visit to China by an American orchestra after the founding of the People's Republic of China. For more than 50 years, the orchestra has been committed to strengthening cultural exchanges and artistic cooperation between the United States and China. "We are proud of the deepening friendship between the Philadelphia Orchestra and the Chinese people."
Pennsylvania State Senator Sharif Street emphasized that it is crucial for the United States and China, as the world's two largest economies, to work together, which is not only related to the people of the United States and China, but also to global peace and economic prosperity.
On the 29th local time, the Central Conservatory of Music Chinese National Orchestra will also hold a special Chinese New Year concert at the Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts.
Return to TopXinhua News Agency, Beijing, January 29th (Reporter Zou Duowei) On January 29th, the American Chamber of Commerce in China's annual appreciation dinner was held in Beijing (北京). Wang Yong (王勇), Vice Chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, attended the event and delivered a speech.
Wang Yong (王勇) stated that in 2025, under the strategic guidance of the two heads of state, China and the United States conducted constructive dialogue and interaction, injecting stability into Sino-US relations. The Fourth Plenary Session of the 20th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China outlined a grand blueprint for China's economic and social development in the next five years. China will unswervingly deepen reform, expand opening up, and promote innovation, continuously releasing development vitality through high-quality development, providing a broad stage for companies from all countries, including the United States. It is hoped that the business communities of the two countries will join hands, build consensus on stable development, deepen multilateral and bilateral pragmatic cooperation, and jointly promote the steady and long-term development of Sino-US economic and trade relations.
Approximately 400 representatives from the Chinese and American political and business communities attended the event.
Return to TopThis newspaper reports from Brussels on January 29th (Reporter Niu Ruifei (牛瑞飞)) The "Creating the Future: China-Europe Youth Dialogue and Exchange Event" was held on the 28th in Brussels (布鲁塞尔), Belgium (比利时). Approximately 60 representatives attended, including those from the European Commission (欧盟委员会), the European Parliament (欧洲议会), the Chinese and other countries' missions to the European Union, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (联合国教科文组织), and Chinese and foreign multinational corporations. Participating guests engaged in dialogue and exchange on topics such as China-Europe scientific and technological innovation and youth entrepreneurship.
The participating guests unanimously agreed that the rapid development of high-tech industries will drive high-end manufacturing, emerging consumption, and new business forms and models, and will also provide broader innovation and entrepreneurial space for Chinese and European youth. China-Europe cooperation needs to work together in policy guidance, financial support, market access mechanisms, and human resource exchanges, effectively connect ecological industrial chains, and, based on complementary advantages and mutual benefit and win-win results, propose more rational and feasible solutions.
This event was co-sponsored by the China Intercontinental Communication Center (五洲传播中心) and Euronews (欧洲新闻电视台). The content of the exchange will be produced into a special program and broadcast on Euronews' channels in 11 languages, including English, French, German, Italian, and Spanish, aiming to build a dialogue and exchange platform for Chinese and European youth and promote mutual learning, mutual reference, and win-win cooperation between the two sides.
Return to TopAccording to Xinhua News Agency, Nairobi, January 28th (Reporter Chen Chen): Bissau News: The Confucius Institute at the Chicote Higher Education Institute of Guinea-Bissau (几内亚比绍希科特高等教育学院) was officially inaugurated on the 28th in the capital, Bissau (比绍). This marks the establishment of Confucius Institutes in all Portuguese-speaking countries.
Return to TopXinhua News Agency, Beijing, January 29th (Reporter Feng Xinran (冯歆然)) On the afternoon of January 29th, Premier of the State Council Li Qiang (李强) and British Prime Minister Starmer jointly attended the closing ceremony of the China-UK Business Council meeting at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing (北京人民大会堂) and delivered speeches respectively. More than 110 representatives from Chinese and British enterprises and institutions attended.
Li Qiang (李强) said that China and the UK are important economic and trade partners to each other and have broad common interests. As long as both sides adhere to mutual respect, move in the same direction, eliminate interference, and cooperate openly, they can achieve win-win results and create prosperity in mutual achievement. At present, unilateralism and protectionism are rising, and geopolitical conflicts are intensifying, which seriously impact the world economy and enterprise development. Against this background, China and the UK should continue to promote the "ice-breaking spirit" and tighten the bonds of cooperation. This is not only a rational choice for the two countries to cope with risks and promote common development, but also the due responsibility of China and the UK as responsible major countries to jointly promote the solution of global problems.
Li Qiang (李强) pointed out that in the past year, China's economy has moved forward against pressure and developed towards new and better directions, demonstrating super resilience and vigorous vitality. This year, China will begin to implement the "15th Five-Year Plan," and in the next five years, the total economic volume will reach a new level, the structure will continue to be optimized, and new momentum will continue to grow, which will also provide huge space for China-UK cooperation. There is much that the enterprises of the two countries can do, and they can focus on four aspects. First, increase the "new increment" of bilateral trade, especially cultivating service trade into a new growth point for cooperation. Second, create a "new engine" for innovative development, seize opportunities and empower each other in fields such as artificial intelligence, clean energy, biomedicine, and high-end manufacturing. Third, open up a "new blue ocean" for tripartite cooperation, carry out more cooperation facing the global market, especially the markets of Southern countries, and better achieve win-win and multi-win results. Fourth, stimulate the "new vitality" of cultural exchanges, create more brand projects popular with the people of both countries, promote more enthusiastic personnel exchanges, and achieve a double harvest of economic value and people-to-people connectivity. The Chinese government is willing to work with the British government to create a good environment for cooperation between enterprises and cultural exchanges between the two countries. It is hoped that entrepreneurs and people from all walks of life in culture, tourism, and sports of the two countries will play a good role as a bridge and contribute more to promoting the development of bilateral relations.
Starmer said that his visit to China with more than 60 representatives from important British business, industry, and cultural circles is to more comprehensively and deeply understand China, discover and seize more cooperation opportunities, better benefit the British people, and help national development. Both the UK and China are important world economies with broad common interests. The British government is willing to develop a long-term, stable, and comprehensive strategic partnership with China in the spirit of mutual respect and trust, seeking common ground while reserving differences, strengthen exchanges at all levels, deepen mutually beneficial cooperation in trade, investment, finance, science and technology, culture, and other fields, and work together to address global challenges. It is hoped that entrepreneurs and institutions of the two countries will seize opportunities, carry out closer dialogue and cooperation, and better benefit the two countries and their peoples.
Wu Zhenglong (吴政隆) participated in the event.
Return to TopBy: 本报记者 韩 鑫
The 2026 Spring Festival travel season will begin on February 2 and end on March 13, lasting 40 days.
What new features will this year's Spring Festival travel season present? How can we ensure safe and smooth travel for passengers? On January 29, the State Council Information Office (国务院新闻办) held a press conference where officials from the National Development and Reform Commission (国家发展改革委) and other relevant departments introduced the situation and work arrangements for the 2026 Spring Festival travel season, and responded to social concerns on hot topics.
Strengthening Transportation Capacity Guarantee
Nearly a Thousand Overnight High-Speed Trains to Operate on Major High-Speed Rail Corridors
"This year's Spring Festival is a 'big year,' with a total of 9 days of holidays. It is expected that the demand for returning home for family visits and tourism will be even stronger. We will do a good job in all aspects of the Spring Festival travel season to ensure that people return home safely and have a happy New Year," said Li Chunlin (李春临), Deputy Director of the National Development and Reform Commission. He introduced the following characteristics of this year's Spring Festival travel season:
The scale of passenger flow is relatively large. Comprehensive research and judgment indicate that the total cross-regional personnel flow in the whole society will reach 9.5 billion person-times, which is expected to hit a record high. The passenger volume of railways and civil aviation is expected to reach 540 million and 95 million person-times respectively, and the overall scale and daily peak are expected to exceed the historical peak of the same period.
The time distribution is uneven. The overall travel pattern shows a relatively dispersed pre-holiday period, a strong holiday tourism period, and a relatively concentrated post-holiday period.
Self-driving travel is the main mode, accounting for about 80%.
Faced with such a large passenger flow, how can we ensure transportation capacity?
"The railway is an important mode of transportation for people, and we will take transportation capacity guarantee as the primary task," said Zhu Wenzhong (朱文忠), Director of the Passenger Transport Department of China State Railway Group (国铁集团).
Leverage the role of newly opened lines. This year's Spring Festival travel season will see the first operation of 22 lines totaling 3,109 kilometers and more than 50 passenger stations, including Xi'an (西安) to Yan'an (延安) in Shaanxi (陕西), Baotou (包头) to Yinchuan (银川) in Inner Mongolia (内蒙古) and Ningxia (宁夏), and Guangzhou (广州) to Zhanjiang (湛江) in Guangdong (广东). More than 560 passenger trains have been added and optimized to facilitate travel for people along the routes.
Tap into transportation potential. 251 sets of EMUs (Electric Multiple Units) will be put into concentrated use, and nearly a thousand overnight high-speed trains will operate on major high-speed rail corridors such as the Beijing-Guangzhou (京广), Beijing-Shanghai (京沪), and Shanghai-Kunming (沪昆) lines. On peak passenger days, more than 14,000 passenger trains can be arranged to operate, with a passenger capacity increase of 5.3% year-on-year. At the same time, the railway department will maintain the operation scale of public welfare slow trains during the Spring Festival travel season, ensuring that all public welfare slow trains on the entire railway network will not be suspended, to meet the travel needs of people in remote and inconvenient areas.
"In addition to returning home for the New Year, outbound and inbound tourism, ice and snow tourism in the north, and winter避寒游 (bì hán yóu - "avoiding cold tourism," traveling to warmer places during winter) in the south will become popular destinations for civil aviation during the Spring Festival travel season. The passenger volume of civil aviation is expected to increase by about 5.3% year-on-year," said Xu Qing (徐青), Director of the Transportation Department of the Civil Aviation Administration of China (中国民航局). The focus will be on increasing flights connecting domestic and foreign passenger source areas to domestic tourist destinations, and encouraging airlines to continuously enrich the "trunk-branch connection, full network linkage" air transport network service system to better meet passengers' needs for returning home, returning to work, and traveling.
Service for the Convenience of the People
New Energy Vehicle Owners Can Check the Status of Charging Piles in Highway Service Areas Through Mini Programs
A more heartwarming flowing China benefits from a series of convenient measures for the Spring Festival travel season.
Buying train tickets is more comfortable. "This year's Spring Festival travel season, we have launched a new measure of free refunds for mispurchased tickets online for a limited time for the first time, and this will be implemented on a regular basis in the future," said Zhu Wenzhong. If passengers mispurchase tickets due to tight time, unclear viewing, misoperation, etc. when purchasing tickets on the 12306 client, no refund fee will be charged if the refund is made within 30 minutes of successful payment and more than 4 hours before departure.
This year, the railway department also launched an artificial telephone ticket purchase service for elderly passengers aged 60 and above for the first time, arranging artificial seats to help the elderly select and book tickets, so as to facilitate ticket purchase and travel for elderly passengers. The pilot project of "door-to-station" and "door-to-door" luggage delivery service has been expanded to 111 stations to alleviate the inconvenience of passengers carrying luggage when traveling.
The travel environment is more optimized. "During the Spring Festival travel season, the proportion of new energy vehicles traveling is expected to further increase," said Gao Bo (高博), spokesperson of the Ministry of Transport (交通运输部) and head of the Transportation Service Department. Measures will be taken to increase the number of mobile emergency charging equipment and optimize the charging time of single vehicles to strive to ensure the charging needs of new energy vehicle owners. Car owners can check the status of charging piles in highway service areas across the country in real time through the "e路畅通" mini program.
"In line with changes in passenger demand, we have expanded the implementation scope of silent carriages to more than 8,000 EMU trains," said Zhu Wenzhong. In response to the platform waiting conditions that passengers are concerned about, platform seats will be gradually added to more than 500 stations with large passenger flows. Fully consider passengers' charging needs and increase sufficient free charging facilities in major passenger stations.
Meet new consumer demands. "Adapting to changes in needs such as 'family visits + tourism' and 'family visits first, tourism later,' and focusing on new hot spots such as intercity tours, ice and snow tours, and island tours, we have increased transportation capacity and added trains in popular directions this year during the Spring Festival travel season to enrich product supply," said Zhu Wenzhong. Considering the actual needs of ski enthusiasts, the "Snow Gear Convenience Travel" service has been piloted on the Beijing-Zhangjiakou High-Speed Railway (京张高铁) and some trains in Northeast China.
"More airport terminals have added cultural and tourism elements, held themed exhibitions, and sold local specialties, becoming important scenes for cultural and tourism experiences and consumption," said Xu Qing. This year's Spring Festival travel season, we will encourage airports in various places to jointly launch new year cross-scene discounts with scenic spots, business districts, hotels, etc., and launch a wealth of aviation, cultural, and tourism combination products, and strive to meet new consumer demands during the Spring Festival travel season.
Strengthen Travel Safety
Large Temperature Fluctuations During the Spring Festival Travel Season, More Precipitation in the North and Less in the South
Safety is the top priority of the Spring Festival travel season. "According to forecasts, the overall weather characteristics in China during the Spring Festival travel season are large temperature fluctuations, more precipitation in the north and less in the south, and several cold air outbreaks," said Wang Yawei (王亚伟), spokesperson of the China Meteorological Administration (中国气象局) and Director of the Disaster Reduction Service Department. He suggested that northern regions strengthen prevention against the impact of road snow and ice caused by periodic strong cooling and heavy snowfall. East China, Central China, Southwest China and other places should pay attention to the adverse effects of periodic rain, snow, ice and freezing and low visibility weather on transportation.
In response to potential risks, multiple departments have proposed prevention and response measures:
Investigate potential risks. "We organized a 1-month investigation and rectification. During the Spring Festival holiday, we will also implement upgraded control of major hazard sources in the transportation field," said Gao Bo.
Prepare for emergencies. "In response to low-temperature rain, snow, ice and freezing disasters, we will configure professional equipment such as snow removal, snow melting, and ice breaking in key areas, and pre-position aviation forces such as helicopters and drones to prepare for emergency needs," said Shen Zhanli (申展利), spokesperson of the Ministry of Emergency Management (应急管理部) and Director of the News and Publicity Department. During the Spring Festival travel season, more than 40,000 emergency rescue forces of various types will be pre-positioned in key areas such as Northeast China, North China, Northwest China, Central China, and Southwest China, carrying 3,900 sets of various types of rescue equipment to ensure rapid response, rapid arrival, and efficient disposal when encountering low-temperature rain, snow, ice and freezing disasters.
Energy and electricity are important support for the transportation industry. During the Spring Festival travel season, how can we ensure the supply of energy and electricity to meet the continuous full-load operation needs of the transportation industry?
"We will do a good job in the supply of electricity and oil along railways and highways, strengthen the comprehensive energy security capabilities of important hub stations, and strengthen the inspection of important power supply facilities and equipment and power lines," Li Chunlin responded. We will make preparations for responding to low-temperature rain, snow, ice and freezing weather, effectively prevent icing of transmission and distribution lines and railway catenary, pre-position repair forces and materials, and carry out ice melting and snow removal operations in a timely manner to ensure reliable power supply for transportation.
■Reporter's Notes
How to Make the Spring Festival Travel Season More Calm
It's time for the Spring Festival travel season again. At the press conference, a set of data attracted attention: 40 days, 9.5 billion person-times of travel, which will set a new record; a set of measures warmed people's hearts: free refunds for mispurchased tickets online for a limited time will be implemented on a regular basis, and the pilot project of luggage delivery service will be expanded, while snow gear will also be "convenient travel"...
The scale of travel is larger and the pressure is doubled, but the supply service does not lag behind, and the concerns are detailed and humanized. The "annual migration" is more calm in response.
This calmness comes from large-scale infrastructure construction. Super-large traffic requires super-strong transportation capacity. Relying on the world's largest high-speed railway network, high-speed highway network and world-class airport cluster, "people enjoy their travel and goods flow smoothly" is accelerating into reality, and the comfortable and pleasant experience during the journey is gradually being satisfied.
This calmness is being interpreted into a dynamic posture by my country's super-large-scale market. The challenging transportation task is also a broad market full of business opportunities. New demands and new scenarios are accelerating into new momentum, and the Spring Festival travel season is becoming a bonus item for promoting consumption and expanding domestic demand with a more diverse opening method.
This calmness is full of billions of passengers' expectations for a convenient, safe and warm Spring Festival travel season. The curtain of the Spring Festival travel season will be opened, and various departments will continue to work hard and form a joint force to better meet the travel needs of the people and interweave a dynamic picture of flowing China.
Return to TopXinhua News Agency, Beijing (北京) January 29th - The General Office of the State Council (国务院办公厅) recently issued the "Work Plan for Accelerating the Cultivation of New Growth Points in Service Consumption" (《加快培育服务消费新增长点工作方案》) (hereinafter referred to as the "Work Plan"), which aims to optimize and expand the supply of services, promote the improvement of service consumption quality and benefit the people, and provide strong support for high-quality economic development.
The "Work Plan" proposes three aspects of support policies. First, focusing on key areas such as transportation services, domestic services, online audio-visual services, travel and accommodation services, automotive aftermarket services, and inbound consumption, efforts will be made to optimize service supply, promote pilot projects, innovate consumption scenarios, and strengthen talent training to stimulate development vitality. Second, focusing on potential areas such as performance services, sports event services, and emotional experiential services, efforts will be made to improve incentive mechanisms, optimize safety management, cultivate high-quality brands, and build platform carriers to cultivate development momentum. Third, support and guarantees for cultivating new growth points in service consumption will be strengthened through improving the standard system, strengthening credit construction, and strengthening financial support.
The "Work Plan" requires all regions and relevant departments to strengthen policy design, innovate support measures, optimize the service consumption environment, and formulate and issue specific service consumption field support policies as needed.
Return to TopThis newspaper reported from Beijing (北京) on January 29th (Reporter Wang Guan (王观)) The data released by the State Taxation Administration (国家税务总局) on the 28th showed that: During the "14th Five-Year Plan" period, China's high-end manufacturing industry flourished, with the average annual growth of sales revenue in the equipment manufacturing industry reaching 9.1%, continuously higher than the average level of the manufacturing industry. In 2025, the sales revenue of the equipment manufacturing industry increased by 7.4% year-on-year, accounting for 47.7% of the manufacturing industry, an increase of 4.7 percentage points compared to 2021. The development of advanced manufacturing industries such as computer communication equipment manufacturing and instrumentation manufacturing is promising, with year-on-year increases of 11.5% and 10.3% respectively.
Innovative industries are thriving. During the "14th Five-Year Plan" period, the average annual growth of sales revenue in high-tech industries reached 13.9%. In 2025, the sales revenue of high-tech industries increased by 13.9% year-on-year, with high-tech manufacturing and high-tech service industries increasing by 10.1% and 16.6% year-on-year respectively; smart consumer equipment manufacturing, integrated circuit manufacturing, and robot manufacturing increased by 32.4%, 19.2%, and 24% year-on-year respectively.
The digital and real economies are accelerating their integration. During the "14th Five-Year Plan" period, the average annual growth of sales revenue in the core industries of the national digital economy reached 10.5%, and the average annual growth of enterprises' procurement of digital technologies reached 11.2%. In 2025, the sales revenue of the core industries of the digital economy increased by 9.4% year-on-year; the amount of digital technology purchased by enterprises nationwide increased by 9.6% year-on-year.
The green transition continues to deepen. During the "14th Five-Year Plan" period, the average annual growth of sales revenue in new energy vehicle manufacturing reached 49.5%; the average annual growth of sales revenue in clean energy power generation represented by wind, solar, hydro, and nuclear power reached 13.9%. In 2025, green industries continued to maintain rapid growth, with new energy vehicle manufacturing increasing by 14.3% year-on-year; the sales revenue of the clean energy power generation industry increased by 17.3% year-on-year, accounting for 38.5% of the sales revenue of the entire power production industry, an increase of 6.9 percentage points compared to 2021.
Return to TopThis newspaper Fuzhou (福州) January 29th (Reporter Wang Ke (王珂)) The Ministry of Culture and Tourism (文化和旅游部) launched the 2026 National Spring Festival Culture and Tourism Consumption Month in Quanzhou City (泉州市), Fujian Province (福建省) on the 29th, organizing various regions to carry out cultural and tourism consumption benefiting activities around the Spring Festival holiday, to better meet the people's needs for a "happy and joyful Chinese New Year" (欢欢喜喜过大年 (huān huān xǐ xǐ guò dà nián - "happily and joyfully celebrate the New Year," expressing the desire for a joyful and prosperous Spring Festival)).
The Consumption Month will last from the end of January to the beginning of March. During this period, various regions will launch a wide range of seasonal cultural and tourism products and activities focusing on New Year customs, performances, exhibitions, ice and snow tourism, winter escape tourism, and family-friendly tourism. Approximately 30,000 cultural and tourism consumption activities will be held, and over 360 million yuan in consumer vouchers and other consumption subsidies will be distributed. Measures such as ticket discounts, ticket stub-linked discounts, and cross-regional cultural and tourism discounts will be introduced to increase the intensity of universally beneficial policies directly reaching residents and tourists.
At the main event, the Ministry of Culture and Tourism (文化和旅游部), together with relevant departments and supporting units, launched a series of Spring Festival-themed activities, high-quality products, and benefit-the-people measures. Among them, the Ministry of Culture and Tourism (文化和旅游部) released the second batch of national tourism performance masterpieces list, the All-China Federation of Trade Unions (中华全国总工会) released policies and measures to expand cultural and sports consumption for employees, the Civil Aviation Administration of China (中国民航局) released Spring Festival civil aviation cultural and tourism consumption benefit-the-people measures, and financial institutions such as China UnionPay (中国银联), Bank of China (中国银行), and Industrial Bank (兴业银行) released New Year's cultural and tourism consumption financial benefit-the-people measures. Platforms and enterprises such as Douyin (抖音), Meituan (美团), and JD Travel (京东旅行) released Spring Festival online and offline integrated cultural and tourism consumption activities.
As the host of the main event, Fujian Province (福建省) will hold the "Fresh Fujian, Min-style Life" (清新福建 闽式生活) cultural and tourism consumption theme year activities, including more than 4,300 cultural and tourism consumption activities and more than 560 preferential measures, launching "Ten New Year Flavors Scenes," 100 New Year tourism routes, and 100 "Min-style Life" cultural and tourism consumption new scenes. Quanzhou City (泉州市), focusing on the theme of "Quanzhou Intangible Cultural Heritage New Year, Add Sweetness to Life" (泉州非遗年 生活加点甜), launched over a thousand cultural and tourism activities and preferential measures.
Return to TopOn January 29th, visitors toured the robot exhibit in the Tomorrow Adventurer exhibition area of the Shanghai Science and Technology Museum (上海科技馆).
On the same day, the Shanghai Science and Technology Museum (上海科技馆), after more than two years of systematic upgrades and renovations, opened its first stress test to the public. The science and technology museum will be open to the public for trial operation during the Spring Festival. After the renovation, the museum has ten permanent exhibition areas, including Rainforest Secret Realm, Source Power Future, and Material Magic Cube, as well as temporary exhibition halls, science and innovation camps, three cinemas, cultural and creative shops, theme restaurants and other diverse spaces to meet the diverse needs of the public.
Wang Chu (王初) (Image China)
Return to TopAccording to a report on January 29 from the People's Daily (本报), Beijing (北京): Reporter Meng Xiangfu (孟祥夫) learned on the 29th from the Ministry of Civil Affairs (民政部) that the Ministry of Civil Affairs (民政部) and the Ministry of Finance (财政部) recently jointly issued the "Opinions on Further Improving the Temporary Assistance System," proposing to comprehensively promote "small amount quick assistance" for urgent and difficult matters, with processing times generally not exceeding 3 days.
The opinions clarify that "small amount quick assistance" should be implemented for families or individuals whose basic living conditions are temporarily severely difficult due to sudden changes, accidental injuries, serious illnesses, and other urgent and difficult situations, further streamlining rapid application channels and simplifying review and processing procedures. At the same time, it is clarified that the highest assistance standard should not exceed the local minimum living guarantee standard for one month. By implementing "small amounts, no verification, and quick processing," the institutional effectiveness of temporary assistance in addressing urgent needs is effectively improved.
The opinions propose that temporary assistance be provided to families with rigid expenditure difficulties and families on the edge of subsistence allowance who experience severe difficulties in their basic living conditions for a certain period due to a sudden increase in necessary expenditures such as education and medical care that exceeds their family's ability to bear, after public announcement, so as to better protect their basic living conditions and form a more effective gradient assistance pattern.
For some people whose basic living conditions are still severely difficult after basic living assistance such as subsistence allowance and special hardship support, as well as special assistance such as education assistance, medical assistance, housing assistance, and employment assistance, the opinions propose that temporary assistance should be given in a timely manner, and the relevant review and approval procedures should be further simplified. For example, for those who have been identified as subsistence allowance families, families on the edge of subsistence allowance, or families with rigid expenditure difficulties, when implementing temporary assistance, the focus should be on verifying the family's necessary expenditure situation, and their family income and property situation may not be checked for a period of time.
For groups such as uninsured unemployed people and unemployed college graduates who have basic living difficulties, as well as those who have applied for subsistence allowance and special hardship support but are still in the review period or whose funds have not yet been distributed, and whose current basic living conditions are difficult to maintain and who need immediate assistance, the opinions propose that temporary assistance may be provided in accordance with regulations, taking into account the actual situation.
The opinions emphasize that all regions should, based on the level of local economic and social development, closely focus on the "guaranteeing basic needs" positioning of temporary assistance, and formulate temporary assistance standards reasonably in accordance with local conditions, and should not blindly raise standards in isolation from reality; temporary assistance standards should comprehensively consider factors such as the number of people in difficulty, the duration, and the degree of difficulty, and should be determined in different grades according to the expenses required to maintain the basic living conditions of the assistance recipients during the temporary period of difficulty.
During the "14th Five-Year Plan" period, an average of more than 8.8 million temporary assistance cases were implemented nationwide each year, effectively playing an important role in solving the urgent and difficult problems of people in need and **兜住兜牢** (dōu zhù dōu láo - "secure the bottom line," to ensure a safety net is firmly in place).
Return to TopThis newspaper reported from Beijing on January 29th (Reporter Yu Jingxian (郁静娴)). In order to ensure the safety of seeds used for spring production and strongly support the large-scale yield increase of grain and oil crops, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs (农业农村部) recently issued a notice to deploy the 2026 spring crop seed market inspection work nationwide. Focusing on seeds of key crops such as corn, soybeans, rice, cotton, potatoes, and vegetables, the inspection will increase supervision and inspection efforts in centralized trading markets, business stores, and online seed sales platforms. Sampling and testing of seed quality and quarantine status will be carried out, and illegal and irregular activities such as counterfeiting, infringement, and failure to carry out plant quarantine in accordance with the law will be severely cracked down upon.
The notice requires that agricultural and rural departments at all levels should unblock complaint and reporting channels, promptly verify and deal with clues of illegal and irregular seed activities, severely crack down on behaviors that harm farmers, and continuously purify the seed industry market order. Before and after the Spring Festival, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs (农业农村部) will send six working groups to key areas such as South China and Northeast China to promote the implementation of various tasks and achieve results.
Return to TopXinhua News Agency, Beijing, January 29th. The national "Anti-Pornography and Anti-Illegal Publications" work conference was held in Beijing on the 29th. Li Shulei (李书磊), member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and head of the Central Propaganda Department (中宣部), attended and delivered a speech.
The meeting pointed out that in the past year, the "Anti-Pornography and Anti-Illegal Publications" front has fulfilled its responsibilities, taken on its responsibilities, strictly supervised and stabilized order, focused on key areas, key regions, and key links, powerfully and effectively combated illegal publishing and dissemination activities, strengthened the governance of outstanding issues of infringement and piracy, increased the intensity of position management, maintained ideological security and cultural security, and served the overall work of the Party and the state.
The meeting emphasized that it is necessary to adhere to the guidance of Xi Jinping (习近平) Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, thoroughly implement the spirit of the 20th National Congress of the Party and the previous plenary sessions of the 20th Central Committee, earnestly implement the deployment of the Fourth Plenary Session, fully implement Xi Jinping's (习近平) thought on culture and Xi Jinping's (习近平) thought on the rule of law, promote the spirit of struggle, strengthen risk awareness, better coordinate development and security, and create a positive and healthy social and cultural environment for a good start and a good step for the "15th Five-Year Plan." It is necessary to grasp dynamic trends, conduct accurate and scientific research and judgment, strengthen source prevention, and continuously improve the pertinence and effectiveness of work. It is necessary to focus on the healthy growth of minors, continue to deepen the purification of the online cultural environment, and create a clean and upright cyberspace. It is necessary to focus on improving the quality and level of supervision and service work, combat illegal activities, study fundamental solutions, further standardize market order, and support and guide the healthy development of the industry. It is necessary to effectively strengthen the construction of the "Anti-Pornography and Anti-Illegal Publications" work team, continuously improve political ability, legal literacy, and professional level, strengthen work guarantees, and improve mechanism effectiveness.
Return to TopThis newspaper reported from Beijing on January 29th (Reporter Jin Xin (金歆)) The plenary session of the Joint Inter-Ministerial Conference on Letters and Visits Work of the Central Government was held in Beijing on the 29th. Chen Wenqing (陈文清), member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Secretary of the Central Political and Legal Affairs Commission, attended the meeting and delivered a speech. He emphasized the need to fully implement Xi Jinping's (习近平) thought on the rule of law and General Secretary Xi Jinping's (习近平) important thought on strengthening and improving the work of letters and visits for the people. He urged to deeply promote the rule of law in letters and visits work with deep feelings for the people, so as to better serve the overall work of the Party and the country, safeguard the legitimate rights and interests of the people, and promote overall social stability.
Chen Wenqing (陈文清) fully affirmed the achievements made in promoting the rule of law in letters and visits work in 2025. He emphasized that in 2026, it is necessary to strictly implement the "Regulations on Letters and Visits Work," unremittingly promote the "five rule of law aspects" of prevention, acceptance, handling, supervision and accountability, and maintaining order, and vigorously correct the problems of "failure to accept when it should be accepted, failure to handle when it should be handled, failure to hold accountable when it should be held accountable, and failure to investigate and punish when it should be investigated and punished." Further, it is necessary to clear the "roadmap" for the rule of law in letters and visits work, ensure that every appeal of the masses is handled, and that every appeal of the masses is promoted in accordance with the law, so as to achieve clear responsibilities, clear baselines, handling in accordance with the law, good order, and satisfaction of the masses. It is necessary to give full play to the role of the joint inter-ministerial conference mechanism, improve working systems and norms, strengthen information technology construction, and form an overall synergy in promoting the rule of law in letters and visits work.
State Councilor and Secretary-General of the State Council Wu Zhenglong (吴政隆) presided over the meeting, emphasizing the need to effectively unify thoughts and actions with the decision-making and deployment of the Party Central Committee, take the promotion of the rule of law in letters and visits work as the main line, and solidly promote the source resolution, diversified resolution, and orderly resolution of contradictions and disputes, so as to better fulfill the political responsibility of solving problems for the people and sharing worries for the Party, and make new contributions to achieving a good start to the "15th Five-Year Plan."
Return to TopBy: 本报记者 孙 超 苏 滨 尚嵘峥
"Closely integrate classroom learning with rural practice, deeply cultivate love for agriculture, and develop skills for revitalizing agriculture." President Xi Jinping (习近平) earnestly entrusted this in his reply to students at the China Agricultural University's Science and Technology Backyard. The "Comprehensive Rural Revitalization Plan (2024-2027)" issued by the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (中共中央) and the State Council (国务院) proposes promoting the close integration of agricultural education and production practice through forms such as Science and Technology Backyards.
In Xifu Village (锡福村), Kaihui Town (开慧镇), Changsha County (长沙县), Hunan Province (湖南), driving the development of a modern breeding industry; in Longfeng Village (龙凤村), Qixingguan District (七星关区), Guizhou Province (贵州), teaching farmers skills in planting prickly pears; in Bole City (博乐市), Xinjiang (新疆), tackling the problem of desertified grassland restoration... Currently, Science and Technology Backyards are taking root and growing vigorously in various places. Numerous research teams are transforming scientific and technological achievements, helping industrial development, and driving farmers' income growth in the service of comprehensive rural revitalization, writing their papers on the land.
——Editor
Kaihui Town (开慧镇), Xifu Science and Technology Backyard (锡福科技小院), Changsha County (长沙县), Hunan Province (湖南)
Strengthening the Breeding Industry Attracts Young Talents
In the northern mountainous area of Kaihui Town (开慧镇), Changsha County (长沙县), Hunan Province (湖南), rows of modern chicken coops, pigsties, and laboratories are built next to each other, with university teachers and students in lab coats moving back and forth. This is the Kaihui Town (开慧镇) Xifu Science and Technology Backyard (锡福科技小院), known as the "most beautiful Science and Technology Backyard."
In the laboratory converted from an old house, Professor Tan Bi'e (谭碧娥) of Hunan Agricultural University (湖南农业大学), commissioned by a company in Shenzhen (深圳), Guangdong (广东), is leading a team to study "replacing grain with bamboo." "After adding bamboo fermented feed, the weight gain of pigs is obvious," Tan Bi'e (谭碧娥) introduced, adding that the Science and Technology Backyard has produced many achievements, solving the needs of a number of universities, institutes, and enterprises in and outside the province.
Why is this Science and Technology Backyard located in Xifu Village (锡福村)? Lin Yiming (林益明), Secretary of the General Party Branch of Xifu Village (锡福村), introduced that the village did not have a leading industry in the early years, and the village collective was once heavily in debt. In 2017, Lin Yiming (林益明) accidentally learned that Hunan Agricultural University (湖南农业大学) was selecting a site for a new breeding research base. "Our village is in the suburbs, and the village will handle the procedures and build the base!" Lin Yiming (林益明) recommended himself and facilitated the cooperation.
Since 2018, Xifu Village (锡福村), as a national rural comprehensive reform pilot village, has used pilot supporting funds to build research chicken coops, pigsties, cold storage, dormitory buildings, etc. Hunan Agricultural University (湖南农业大学) selects more than 100 graduate students to be stationed every year, with tutors taking turns to guide them. The village is responsible for infrastructure maintenance and can receive a rent for the site every year.
In 2022, Gou Dan (勾丹), a graduate student at Hunan Agricultural University (湖南农业大学), came to the Science and Technology Backyard and spent three months studying the growth patterns of broiler chickens. This research was later transformed and implemented in a company.
"This experience made me understand that there is much to be done on the land in the countryside." During the graduation season, Gou Dan (勾丹) actively signed up for the Changsha County (长沙县) "Rural Revitalization Dream Builder" project and served Xifu Village (锡福村) again. While assisting the village's "two committees" (村两委) in their work, she also became a communication link between the research team and the village collective.
In order to attract more young talents to take root, Kaihui Town (开慧镇) continues to improve the supporting policies for the Science and Technology Backyard, built two dormitory buildings in the Xifu Science and Technology Backyard (锡福科技小院) for free use by the research team, and also created the Kaihui Talent Home (开慧人才之家) as an activity place for the research team.
The research team also reciprocates. "We try our best to leave more technical achievements behind and let the villagers benefit from them," said Tan Bi'e (谭碧娥).
The "Field Classroom" opened by the Science and Technology Backyard has trained more than 1,500 farmers in the surrounding area over the years. Yu Sha (喻莎), who resigned and returned to her hometown, renovated and restored the transferred land under the guidance of experts from the Science and Technology Backyard, planted fruit, and raised pigs. Today, she has grown into the head of Hunan Tengguan Agricultural Development Co., Ltd. (湖南腾冠农业发展有限公司).
Yang Jun (杨骏), Secretary of the Party Committee of Kaihui Town (开慧镇), introduced that relying on the Science and Technology Backyard, the town has formed 5 scientific breeding demonstration points and 24 demonstration households, driving villagers to increase their income by more than 18 million yuan, and has developed special breeding industries such as sika deer and quail.
Not far from the Science and Technology Backyard, a modern research and study base is under construction, and will offer courses such as "Circular Agriculture Exploration" and "Animal Science Popularization Practice" after it is put into use. Liu Cheng (刘诚), the head of the base and a returnee entrepreneur, said: "I hope that children will come to the village to study and immerse themselves in the traditional farming culture and cutting-edge agricultural technology."
Guizhou (贵州) Qixingguan Prickly Pear Science and Technology Backyard (七星关刺梨科技小院)
Training Farmers' Skills to Improve Planting Efficiency
"If you want the fruit to bear well, fertilize first, prune second, and weed third!" In Longfeng Village (龙凤村), Qixingguan District (七星关区), Bijie City (毕节市), Guizhou Province (贵州), villager Li Xingfa (李兴发) introduced the secrets while pruning prickly pears.
Li Xingfa (李兴发), who planted more than 10 mu of prickly pears, was a layman a few years ago. "At that time, I didn't understand things like fertilization, pruning, and weeding. The fruits I planted were small and couldn't be sold at a good price." Li Xingfa (李兴发) recalled that the village had good natural conditions, but there were many farmers like himself who couldn't find their way.
The Science and Technology Backyard brought a turning point. In 2021, with the support of various parties, China Agricultural University (中国农业大学) established the Guizhou (贵州) Qixingguan Prickly Pear Science and Technology Backyard (七星关刺梨科技小院), which not only conducted scientific research in the fields but also helped local farmers train their skills and improve planting efficiency.
In response to the problems of extensive prickly pear management and lack of breeding in Longfeng Village (龙凤村), teachers and students of the College of Resources and Environmental Sciences of China Agricultural University (中国农业大学资源与环境学院) based themselves in the Science and Technology Backyard to carry out technological innovation, study more than 10 prickly pear planting technologies such as nutrient regulation and micro-fertilizer application, and guide villagers to establish a high-yield and efficient field management technology system.
"Can people from the city understand planting prickly pears better than us?" Li Xingfa (李兴发) and some villagers muttered in their hearts. In order to guide villagers to change their old ideas and absorb new technologies, the teachers and students of the Science and Technology Backyard moved the technical training classroom to the fields. In order to visually reflect the scientific research results, the Science and Technology Backyard also created a demonstration field, so that the villagers could see it with their own eyes.
Li Xingfa (李兴发) no longer hesitated and studied seriously. "Fertilization is exquisite. You can't just dig a circle around the roots. You have to dig 3 holes 30 centimeters away from the roots, and then sprinkle special fertilizer, so that it doesn't hurt the roots and allows the nutrients to be absorbed well." Li Xingfa (李兴发) gradually grew into a "scientific farmer" certified by the Science and Technology Backyard and helped other villagers solve management problems.
Through various forms, the Prickly Pear Science and Technology Backyard has trained more than 8,000 farmers and cultivated a group of capable "scientific farmers," opening up the "last mile" of agricultural technology dissemination.
It not only drives farmers but also cultivates young people. In February 2025, Song Zhe (宋哲), a student of the College of Resources and Environmental Sciences of China Agricultural University (中国农业大学资源与环境学院), was stationed in the Science and Technology Backyard to carry out research on nutrient regulation and new variety breeding. Together with his classmates, he conducted research to further understand the prickly pear management situation in Longfeng Village (龙凤村) and analyzed the limiting factors affecting the high yield and quality of prickly pears.
Soil testing and formula fertilization, precise fertilization, and disease and insect prevention. Under the cultivation of teachers and students of the Science and Technology Backyard and local people, the prickly pear planting area in Longfeng Village (龙凤村) has expanded to more than 3,400 mu, the yield per mu has increased by 34.9% compared with the past, the vitamin C content has increased by 46.2%, and the annual output value has exceeded 7 million yuan.
Xinjiang (新疆) Bole Grassland Ecological Restoration Science and Technology Backyard (博乐草地生态修复科技小院)
Selecting and Breeding Native Grass Seeds to Sow Green Vitality
On the desertified grassland of Bole City (博乐市), Bortala Mongolian Autonomous Prefecture (博尔塔拉蒙古自治州), Xinjiang (新疆), Artemisia and Kochia seedlings are quietly "hibernating" under the snow, waiting to sprout.
"They are all plants that sheep love to eat." Dong Yiqiang (董乙强), Associate Professor of the College of Grassland Science of Xinjiang Agricultural University (新疆农业大学草业学院), introduced, "After field cultivation, we found that they grow well here and are the first choice for restoring desertified grassland."
Affected by climate warming and other factors, some grasslands in Bole City (博乐市) have been degraded in recent years, with reduced grass production and deterioration of grass quality. "This will not only exacerbate desertification but also affect the growth and development of livestock," said Dong Yiqiang (董乙强).
In order to overcome the problem of desertified grassland restoration, Xinjiang Agricultural University (新疆农业大学) and Bole City Grassland Work Station (博乐市草原工作站) launched cooperation in 2024 to build a Science and Technology Backyard in typical areas with less grass and sparse grass to carry out field research. In June 2025, the Bole Grassland Ecological Restoration Science and Technology Backyard (博乐草地生态修复科技小院) was officially inaugurated.
On the desertified grassland four or five kilometers southwest of Bole City (博乐市), the Science and Technology Backyard has also opened up more than 200 mu of experimental fields, using it as the front line of scientific research.
To plant grass, you must first choose grass. The Science and Technology Backyard team took the adaptable native grass seeds as a breakthrough, collected thousands of native grass seed germplasm resources on different grasslands, and screened out grass seeds with ecological restoration value. After breeding, more than 100 kinds of native grass seeds with strong stress resistance, salt and alkali tolerance, and drought resistance stood out.
"In Xinjiang (新疆), the problem of grassland degradation is relatively common. We hope to select and breed different grass seeds to adapt to various types of grassland," introduced Liu Xingyi (刘兴义), Agricultural Technology Extension Researcher of Bole City Grassland Work Station (博乐市草原工作站).
The grassland is full of coarse and hard gravel, and sowing is quite difficult. The Science and Technology Backyard team initially tried to sow with a no-till seeder, but found that this subsoil shovel-type equipment could not dig open the thick gravel layer at all. Later, the team adopted a rotary disc-type reseeding machine, operating it to directly insert into the ground, disturb the gravel, rotate and loosen the soil, sow and suppress it, finally completing it in one go, and with the precise hole sowing technology, the sowing distance was suitable, precise and efficient.
After the restoration of Artemisia and Kochia, the desert vegetation coverage of the experimental field increased from the general level of 5%-15% to a maximum of 60%, and the grass production increased from 40 kg/mu to about 70 kg/mu. At present, Bole City (博乐市) has successfully promoted the planting area of more than 20,000 mu, driving nearly a thousand herders to participate in planting and management, and achieving income increase.
Tough new seedlings can also grow on barren land. "In the future, we will continue to try to restore other types of grassland, so that more places can reappear the scene of 风吹草低见牛羊 (fēng chuī cǎo dī jiàn niú yáng - "the wind blows the grass low and reveals the cattle and sheep," a picturesque scene of vast grasslands with grazing livestock)." said Liu Xingyi (刘兴义).
This issue coordinated by: Liu Jingwen (刘静文)
Return to TopAs the Spring Festival approaches, the agricultural product e-commerce industrial park in Fuchuan Yao Autonomous County (富川瑶族自治县), Hezhou (贺州), Guangxi (广西) optimizes its production processes, increases investment in manpower and equipment, and relies on the developed local logistics network to sell navel oranges, Wogan tangerines, sugar oranges and other fruits to all parts of the country. The picture shows workers in the e-commerce industrial park operating forklifts to transfer fruits on January 28.
Photo by Li Haotu (黎豪图) (Image China)
Return to TopXinhua News Agency, Beijing, January 29th (Reporter Feng Xinran (冯歆然)) On the afternoon of January 29th, Premier of the State Council Li Qiang (李强) held talks with British Prime Minister Starmer at the Great Hall of the People (人民大会堂) in Beijing (北京), who was in China for an official visit.
Li Qiang (李强) stated that China and the UK adhering to open cooperation and mutual benefit is what people want and is in line with the common interests of both sides. This morning, President Xi Jinping (习近平) held a meeting with the Prime Minister, providing strategic guidance for the development of a long-term, stable, and comprehensive strategic partnership between the two countries. China is willing to continue to work with the UK in the same direction, respect each other's core interests and major concerns, strengthen strategic communication, consolidate the foundation of mutual trust, deepen cooperation in various fields, and promote the steady and long-term development of bilateral relations. This will not only help the two countries work together to cope with the risks of international changes and promote common development, but also inject more positive energy into global peace and stability.
Li Qiang (李强) pointed out that China is willing to work with the UK to improve the intergovernmental dialogue and cooperation mechanism and conduct more frequent exchanges at all levels and in all fields. The two sides should better leverage their complementary advantages, promote the expansion and improvement of bilateral trade, strengthen exchanges and cooperation in financial supervision and financial market connectivity, and deepen cooperation in emerging industries such as artificial intelligence, advanced manufacturing, clean energy, the digital economy, and modern shipping services, empowering each other and achieving better development. The Chinese government is committed to providing a good environment for companies from all countries, including British companies, to invest in China, and also hopes that the UK will provide a fair, transparent, and non-discriminatory business environment for Chinese companies to invest in the UK. In recent times, unilateralism, protectionism, and hegemonic bullying have been **大行其道** (dà xíng qí dào - "run rampant," to be popular or prevalent). As permanent members of the UN Security Council, China and the UK should demonstrate the responsibility of major countries, strengthen multilateral communication and coordination, deepen cooperation on addressing the prominent governance deficit, safeguard the authority of the United Nations, uphold multilateralism and free trade, and promote the development of the international order in a more just and reasonable direction.
Starmer stated that he had a fruitful meeting with President Xi Jinping (习近平) this morning. As permanent members of the UN Security Council and members of the G20, the UK and China developing a long-term, stable, and comprehensive strategic partnership is in the interests of both sides and is conducive to promoting global economic growth and world prosperity and development. The UK is willing to uphold the spirit of mutual respect, sincerity, and openness, strengthen high-level and multi-field exchanges and dialogues with China, support open and free trade, deepen exchanges and cooperation in trade, finance, investment, manufacturing, service industries, culture, and other fields, and welcomes Chinese companies to invest and cooperate in the UK. The UK is willing to strengthen multilateral coordination with China, jointly address global challenges, and open a new chapter in bilateral relations.
Before the talks, Li Qiang (李强) held a welcome ceremony for Starmer in the North Hall of the Great Hall of the People (人民大会堂北大厅).
After the talks, the two Prime Ministers jointly witnessed the signing of a number of cooperation documents in the fields of economy and trade, agriculture and food, media, education, and market supervision.
Wu Zhenglong (吴政隆) participated in the above activities.
Return to TopBy: 本报记者 王 浩 常 钦 谷业凯
On January 20th, at the "First Lesson of the Year," General Secretary Xi Jinping (习近平) emphasized: "We must establish and practice a correct view of performance, adhere to starting from reality and acting according to the laws, and consciously seek performance for the people and achieve performance through hard work."
At the beginning of the "Fifteenth Five-Year Plan," General Secretary Xi Jinping's (习近平) earnest exhortations highlight the word "practical." Looking at this "practical" from the timeline of Chinese-style modernization is profoundly meaningful.
"Once something is decided, it must be implemented. All levels and departments must have a sense of the overall situation and the ability to execute." The more complex the situation and the more arduous the task, the more important it is to establish and practice a correct view of performance. Since the beginning of the year, all regions and departments have adhered to putting action first, striving to make a good start for the "Fifteenth Five-Year Plan," and continuously forming a strong atmosphere of emphasizing practical work and seeking practical results.
"Practical" lies in adhering to a proactive and pragmatic goal orientation, and more resolutely, forcefully, and accurately implementing the decisions and deployments of the Party Central Committee.
Anchoring on "practical," we must adhere to a proactive and pragmatic goal orientation, consciously unify our thoughts and actions with the Party Central Committee's scientific judgment of the situation, and more resolutely, forcefully, and accurately implement the decisions and deployments of the Party Central Committee.
Among the eight key tasks for economic work in 2026, "adhering to domestic demand as the mainstay and building a strong domestic market" ranks first. Anchoring on the primary task, we must work steadily and make progress step by step.
The construction site of the Xiaogan North Hub Interchange Main Bridge (孝感北枢纽互通主线桥) in Hubei (湖北) is bustling with activity. Construction worker Tong Chuan (童川) bends over to tie steel bars, "The goal is to complete the bridge deck paving before the Spring Festival. Everyone is giving it their all."
Tong Chuan (童川) is participating in the construction of a "two-major" project—the Xiaogan North Section (孝感北段) of the Wuhan Metropolitan Area Ring Expressway (武汉都市圈环线高速公路). Since the start of construction, the project has completed key node construction such as pile foundations, tie beams, and piers.
As the Party Branch Secretary of the Xiaogan Project Construction Command of Hubei Jiaotou Gaolu Company (湖北交投高路公司孝感项目建设指挥部), Jin Ming (金明) keeps track of progress and schedules, always carrying a timetable in his mind—"Strive to complete and open to traffic in 2027."
On the "Digital and Intelligent Expressway" smart platform, new technologies such as human-machine inspection, artificial intelligence risk identification, and intelligent tower cranes are integrated and applied. "Big data acts as the behind-the-scenes commander, optimizing scheduling, with machines working non-stop and links constantly turning." Jin Ming (金明) said.
The relocation of power lines and other work involves a wide range of issues and requires tackling "tough bones." "The command concentrates on tackling key problems, discussing each issue as it arises, and scheduling weekly." Wei Qingxi (魏清喜), head of the Expressway Coordination Office of the Xiaogan Transportation Bureau (孝感市交通运输局高速公路协调办公室), said that in 2025, a total of 28 difficult problems in the Xiaogan South Section (孝感南段) and North Section (孝感北段) projects of the Wuhan Metropolitan Area Ring Expressway (武汉都市圈环线高速公路) were properly resolved through "one issue, one discussion."
Since the beginning of the year, the construction of "two-major" projects in the Hubei (湖北) transportation sector has accelerated. Relevant officials from the Hubei Provincial Department of Transportation (湖北省交通运输厅) introduced that the "problem list, responsibility list, and time limit list" are clear at a glance, and project performance evaluations are conducted regularly to ensure smooth progress of the project.
Walking on the streets of Liuzhou (柳州), Guangxi (广西), one can see the strength of the "two-new" policies.
In a Liuzhou (柳州) appliance and home furnishing flagship store, citizen Zhou Jie (周洁) purchased a refrigerator, "Including national and corporate subsidies, the refrigerator ultimately saved four to five thousand yuan."
The benefits of the policy are not only "visible" but also "calculable." According to the announcement of the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region Department of Commerce (广西壮族自治区商务厅) on carrying out the 2026 consumer goods trade-in activities, consumers who purchase qualified Level 1 energy efficiency or water efficiency standard appliances, or digital and smart products with a single sales price not exceeding 6,000 yuan, can enjoy a subsidy of 15% of the final sales price, which is directly deducted at the payment stage.
"In the nearly one month since the policy was implemented, the store has verified more than 2,600 trade-in subsidies, with cumulative sales increasing by 22.8% year-on-year." Liu Rongchun (刘荣春), head of the flagship store, said.
The "two-new" policies have high attention and are related to residents' tangible sense of gain.
"In order to maximize the benefits of the trade-in policy, we worked overtime to improve it and conducted online and offline publicity." Yang Zhigang (杨志刚), director of the Liuzhou Municipal Bureau of Commerce (柳州市商务局), introduced that the list of merchants will be dynamically updated next to ensure that subsidy funds are in place in a timely manner and to enrich consumption scenarios.
On January 26, the Guangxi (广西) automobile trade-in subsidy activity was launched first in Guilin (桂林) and Guigang (贵港). Zhang Meiling (张美玲), director of the Guigang Municipal Bureau of Commerce (贵港市商务局), introduced: "The first application for automobile replacement subsidies was generated that afternoon. We track the verification situation in real time, integrate government subsidies, corporate concessions, and financial support to amplify the policy effect."
The 2026 advance batch of "two-major" construction project lists and central budget investment plans have recently been issued, totaling approximately 295 billion yuan; optimizing the implementation of the "two-new" policies and increasing the intensity of inclusive policies directly reaching consumers; the People's Bank of China (中国人民银行) released a one-time credit repair policy, "exemption from application and immediate enjoyment," to avoid long-term restrictions due to one mistake...
Adhering to the close combination of benefiting people's livelihoods and promoting consumption, investing in things and investing in people, a series of existing policies and incremental policies continue to be implemented and take effect, continuously consolidating the "ballast stone" and "stabilizing anchor" of China's economic ship.
"Practical" lies in adapting to local conditions, both striving for glory in one region and adding color to the overall situation.
"Adapting to local conditions is essentially seeking truth from facts." General Secretary Xi Jinping (习近平) has repeatedly emphasized the issue of adapting to local conditions.
It is the correct view of performance and also a scientific methodology. Adapting to local conditions and proceeding from reality in everything are key measures and important guidelines for all regions to seize opportunities and take advantage of the situation.
Aiming at the commanding heights of emerging industries and future industrial development, we must make advance arrangements and seize the lead in development.
After being "on the job" for a month, the "new employee" has shown excellent performance. In the Neuromedicine Center of the Seventh Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University (中山大学附属第七医院神经医学中心) in Guangming District (光明区), Shenzhen (深圳), Guangdong (广东), the electroencephalogram acquisition equipment combines clinical experience and AI algorithms to efficiently analyze the electroencephalogram data of epilepsy patients.
The "new employee" comes from Shenzhen Delica Medical Electronic Co., Ltd. (深圳德力凯医疗电子股份有限公司). Chairman Wang Xiaoyi (王筱毅) introduced its expertise: "In the past, it took three or four hours to analyze a 24-hour long-term monitoring electroencephalogram. Now, the initial screening can be completed in twenty or thirty minutes."
The transformation from samples to products stems from the innovative soil of Shenzhen (深圳). "Without having to run around, we can 'share' international first-class facilities nearby. Top experts, clinical resources, and collaborative partners are all around." Wang Xiaoyi (王筱毅) said with emotion.
The Brain Analysis and Brain Simulation Major Science and Technology Infrastructure promotes original innovation; the Shenzhen-Hong Kong Institute of Brain Science (深港脑院), Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences (中国科学院深圳先进技术研究院) and other institutions jointly build laboratories with enterprises to gather innovative elements; a brain science industry fund with a scale of 1.16 billion yuan provides policy support; the industrial foundation of electronic information, artificial intelligence, biomedicine, etc. is solid, forming a complete set... Based on its location advantages, Shenzhen (深圳) is making every effort to build a cluster area for brain science and brain-computer interface industrial technology innovation and industrial development.
Seizing the lead is the only way to advance. The Shanghai (Yangtze River Delta) International Science and Technology Innovation Center (上海（长三角）国际科技创新中心) has expanded its scope, joining hands with Jiangsu (江苏), Zhejiang (浙江), and Anhui (安徽) to create a world-class source of scientific and technological innovation; Hainan (海南) is based on the new starting point of the island-wide customs closure operation to create a modern industrial system with Hainan characteristics and advantages; Jiangsu (江苏) has released the "Artificial Intelligence +" action plan to lay out future industries... Based on reality and seizing opportunities, the momentum of scientific and technological innovation is constantly transformed into the driving force of industrial development.
Focusing on the revitalization of traditional industries, we must cultivate advantages and develop in a differentiated manner.
In the digital planting factory in Dawei Town (大圩镇), Baohe District (包河区), Hefei (合肥), Anhui (安徽), string tomatoes are just off the branches and are shipped to Shanghai (上海) on refrigerated trucks.
"Data has become a new agricultural resource." Wang Tao (汪涛), the person in charge of the enterprise, introduced that temperature, light, water, and fertilizer can be digitally and precisely controlled. Tomatoes are given as much as they need, and the yield per mu is 30% higher than traditional planting methods, and the quality is better.
Digital technology, cold chain logistics, etc. are "married" to agriculture, and industries such as tomatoes, strawberries, and high-quality grapes are thriving. Developing new quality productive forces in agriculture in accordance with local conditions has brought the already solid characteristic rural industries of Baohe District (包河区) to a new level.
Shandong (山东) has become the first province in the north with a "10 trillion yuan" volume, and will optimize and upgrade traditional industries this year; Henan (河南) will accelerate the quality upgrading of 10 traditional industries such as steel, coal, and non-ferrous metals this year; Liaoning (辽宁) will accelerate the "intelligent transformation and digital transformation" of manufacturing... Major economic provinces are taking the lead, and other regions are showing their strengths, using comparative advantages to develop industries suitable for their local areas, and the new track is getting wider and wider.
Since the beginning of the year, all regions have based themselves on their resource endowments and industrial foundations, accurately identified their strategic positioning in the overall national development, adhered to doing something and not doing something, both striving for glory in one region and adding color to the overall situation, and striving to take a high-quality development path that conforms to their own reality and has local characteristics with practical actions.
"Practical" lies in adhering to the people's livelihood as the top priority and striving to do more practical things for the people. The happiness and warmth of hundreds of millions of "small families" are in General Secretary Xi Jinping's (习近平) heart.
The reform and development tasks in the opening year are arduous, but everywhere we focus on the coordinated answer to the "economic volume" and the "people's livelihood volume," and focus on the organic unity of developing the economy and improving people's livelihoods.
Seeking practical results, we must do a good job of benefiting the people.
On January 5, the 2026 childcare subsidy was fully open for application. "We organized staff in advance to familiarize themselves with the 'one-click renewal' and 'information change' functions, verified the application materials submitted offline one by one, and optimized the process to allow everyone to receive the subsidy as soon as possible." Liu Xiaohua (刘小华), head of the Family Development Section of the Yan Cheng District Health and Health Commission (郾城区卫生健康委家庭发展股) in Luohe City (漯河市), Henan Province (河南省), said.
Li Wei (李伟), a "Bao Ma" (宝妈) in Yan Cheng District (郾城区), has a great sense of gain, "I submitted the application on my mobile phone and it was done in a few minutes." Yan Cheng District (郾城区) launched a new round of distribution on the basis of benefiting 9,458 families last year, and has received applications from 6,696 families so far.
"Fingertip speed handling" alleviates childcare anxiety. In 2026, the National Health Commission (国家卫生健康委) promoted the convenience of the information management system, and the system added the "one-click renewal" function, making good policies more accessible.
Wanbailin District (万柏林区) in Taiyuan (太原), Shanxi (山西) installed smart doorbells and fall alarms for elderly people living alone, and is steadily promoting the aging-friendly and intelligent transformation benefiting 3,000 households; Xiamen (厦门), Fujian (福建) implemented the "Several Provisions on Labor Rights Protection of Online Delivery Workers in the Xiamen Special Economic Zone" (厦门经济特区网约配送员劳动权益保障若干规定) from January 1, 2026, supporting a legal umbrella for protecting the rights and interests of online delivery workers; Wuhan (武汉), Hubei (湖北) released the 2026 people's livelihood practical projects, and gradually implemented 42 people's livelihood practical projects such as "newly built, renovated, and expanded 30 primary and secondary schools, adding 35,000 new degrees"... Doing good things well, the starting point and foothold are to create benefits for the people.
Working hard, we must use true feelings to solve urgent difficulties and anxieties.
"Leaving enough space, in the future, tourists will be able to taste fresh cherries and soak sauerkraut on the spot." In Matang Village (麻塘村), Zhenxiong County (镇雄县), Yunnan Province (云南省), Qiu Linfei (邱林飞), the first secretary stationed in the village, is holding a planning map and planning to build an agricultural product exhibition and sales center.
Matang Village (麻塘村) plans to connect ecological trails with farmhouse experience points, creating a "tourism and shopping integration" development model using the assistance funds of Minmetals Group (五矿集团). "Let our village's good products and good scenery attract more tourists." Qiu Linfei (邱林飞) is full of hope for the future.
2026 is the first year of carrying out normalized assistance, and poverty-stricken areas are working hard towards new goals. Suixian County (随县), Hubei (湖北) embedded nearly 21,000 people lifted out of poverty into a 100 billion yuan industrial chain; Qingshen County (青神县), Sichuan (四川) built a standardized tea processing plant, allowing "a leaf" to grow more value-added benefits; Qianyang County (千阳县), Shaanxi (陕西) created an industrial cluster integrating apple seedling breeding and sales... The assistance methods are more precise, the industrial characteristics are more distinct, and development-oriented assistance is taken as the top priority, and the vast number of farmers are continuing to strive towards a richer and better life.
The great road is simple, and practical work is essential.
The "Fifteenth Five-Year Plan" period is a critical period for laying the foundation and fully exerting efforts to basically realize socialist modernization. Towards new goals, Party organizations at all levels and the vast number of Party members and cadres are constantly enhancing their sense of political responsibility and historical mission, clarifying clear goals, promoting practical measures, striving for practical results, and implementing the various decisions and deployments of the Fourth Plenary Session of the 20th Central Committee of the Party with practical actions, and opening up a new situation with full confidence.
(Reporters from this newspaper Lü Shaogang (吕绍刚), Zhang Wenhao (张文豪), Fan Haotian (范昊天), Li Weijun (李维俊), Li Junjie (李俊杰), and correspondent Li Han Chi (黎寒池) participated in the writing)
Return to TopBy: 徐 之
The stronger the market growth, the more attractive it is to global resources. The Chinese market is attracting foreign investment to China with its strong growth.
Two recently released news items are worth noting.
One is that in 2025, China's (中国) import volume of goods reached a new high of 18.5 trillion yuan. The other is a survey report released by the American Chamber of Commerce in China (中国美国商会) showing that the proportion of American companies in China (在华美企) who are optimistic about the growth of the Chinese market has increased significantly. More than 70% of companies are not considering transferring their operations from China, and nearly 60% of companies plan to increase their investment in China. Against the backdrop of a decline in the world openness index and a decline in international market prices for some commodities, the charm of the Chinese market is highlighted.
The market is the scarcest resource in the world today. The stronger the market growth, the more attractive it is to global resources. The Chinese market is attracting foreign investment to China with its strong growth.
Growth is due to new demands for consumption upgrades.
Currently, cherries are on the market in large quantities. Many consumers have this feeling: the price of imported fruits is more affordable, and the connotation of achieving "fruit freedom" is richer. From European wine and chocolate to South American meat, fish, and shrimp, to Oceanian dairy products, global goods are coming one after another, constantly meeting the people's needs for a better life.
Policy guidance promotes demand release. Last year, the consumer goods trade-in policy benefited more than 360 million people, driving sales of related commodities to exceed 2.6 trillion yuan. In 2025, domestic demand contributed more than 67% to economic growth, of which consumption contributed 52%, an increase of 5 percentage points over the previous year. The Financial Times (英国《金融时报》) published an article: "Don't underestimate Chinese consumers."
Growth is due to the continuous optimization of the industrial structure.
Huge demand stimulates innovation and creation. Artificial intelligence large models are accelerating, brain-computer interfaces are moving towards industrialization, and the low-altitude economy is taking off. Looking back at 2025, the industry is moving towards strong new momentum. Data as evidence: the proportion of the added value of equipment manufacturing and high-tech manufacturing above designated size in the added value of industry above designated size reached 36.8% and 17.1% respectively, and the output of civilian drones and industrial robots increased by 37.3% and 28% respectively compared with the previous year.
The large economic volume requires stronger driving force for forward development. An average of several thousand invention patents are born every day, 45,000 new energy vehicles roll off the production line, and more than 500 million express parcels are sent... The deep integration of science and technology and industry, the orderly transformation of new and old kinetic energy, and the modernization of the industrial system are growing towards the sun. Developing new quality productive forces in accordance with local conditions will continue to cultivate new advantages for the Chinese economy.
Growth is due to the daring and hard work of business entities.
Business entities are the source of vitality for promoting high-quality economic development. In foreign trade data, private enterprises performed well: imports and exports were 26.04 trillion yuan, an increase of 7.1%, accounting for 57.3% of the total value of imports and exports.
The promulgation and implementation of the Law on Promoting the Private Economy (民营经济促进法) has given private enterprises a "reassurance"; the construction of a unified national market (全国统一大市场) has been promoted in depth, breaking obstacles, smoothing circulation, and promoting fairness; government financing guarantees have been expanded and strengthened to reduce the comprehensive financing costs of entrepreneurial groups... China's (中国) business environment continues to be optimized, providing stable expectations for business entities. Increasing policy efforts and "fully stimulating the vitality of various business entities" in accordance with the requirements of the "15th Five-Year Plan" proposal, China's (中国) economy will surely see a scene of **百舸争流、千帆竞发** (bǎi gě zhēng liú, qiān fān jìng fā - "hundreds of boats racing, thousands of sails competing," a vibrant scene of many entities striving and competing).
Growth is due to the continuous expansion of the circle of friends.
"To go with China (中国) is to go with opportunities." In 2025, China (中国) has trade relations with 249 countries and regions around the world and has become the main trading partner of more than 160 countries and regions. "The next China (中国) is still China (中国)." A recent survey of multinational companies by relevant institutions shows that more than 90% of the surveyed companies will continue to invest in China (中国), casting a vote of confidence in the Chinese economy with practical actions.
Proactively connect with international high-standard economic and trade rules; successively hold the Canton Fair (广交会), the Service Trade Fair (服贸会), and the Import Expo (进博会); comprehensively abolish foreign investment access restrictions in the manufacturing sector; improve the service guarantee system for foreign investment... The door to opening up is opening wider and wider. In the two-way interaction between inside and outside, the capacity and magnetism of the unified national market (全国统一大市场) are further enhanced.
Magnificent and profound, embracing all rivers, the Chinese market (中国市场) is an ocean. Unblocking the major cycle, strengthening the major market, and making good use of development opportunities, potential, and advantages, the Chinese economy will surely traverse the cycle, move forward steadily, and win the initiative in international competition.
Return to TopBy: 尹双红
Constantly enrich the toolbox, make good use of the power of technology, improve the penetration of anti-corruption efforts, truly create an all-encompassing "net" (天罗地网 (tiān luó dì wǎng - "heavenly net and earthly web," inescapable net)), and comprehensively promote the integrated approach of "not daring to, not being able to, and not wanting to be corrupt" (一体推进“三不腐”), so that the "reach out and you will be caught" sword remains high and deterrence remains constant.
While waiting for the elevator in my apartment building, I overheard a conversation between two neighbors. One asked, "Did you watch the film yesterday?" The other replied, "Oh dear, I thought it was today. How was it compared to last year's?"
I assumed they were enthusiastically discussing a Lunar New Year film, but I later learned that they were talking about the anti-corruption television documentary "Unceasing Steps, No Retreat."
The popularity of anti-corruption television documentaries among the masses reflects the people's heartfelt recognition of the fight against corruption. The documentary also provides insights into further promoting comprehensive and strict Party governance.
One insight is that a "major collapse" of corruption often stems from "small trickles" of work style problems. Therefore, it is necessary to adhere to investigating both work style and corruption together, and to better integrate anti-corruption efforts with improving work style.
Many cases of violations of discipline and law share a common characteristic: they evolve from work style issues to corruption, with the two intertwined. "There was a侥幸心理 (jiǎo xìng xīn lǐ - "lucky mentality," a mentality that one can get away with something), always thinking it would be okay, always thinking nothing would happen," "Unable to stop, unable to slow down," "Completely indulging oneself, without any sense of restraint in thought"... In the documentary, repeated confessions of regret reveal the same lesson: if one does not guard against minor transgressions, it is difficult to maintain integrity in major matters.
A cigarette, a card, a meal may seem harmless, but they are actually means by which illegal elements try to win over and corrupt Party members and cadres, often becoming the starting point of a "siege." Faced with temptation, is "just this once" a prohibition or self-deception, is "not to be taken as a precedent" a determination or tacit condoning? The intention is clear, and the result is predictable.
It is easy to prevent problems at the outset, but difficult to remedy them later. Making clear regulations on work meals, official vehicles, etc.; strictly correcting "express delivery of gifts," and public-funded tourism under the guise of training and inspections... Tightening the cage of the system and focusing on these "seemingly insignificant things" is, on the one hand, to detect and address problems early and prevent the evolution of work style problems into corruption, and on the other hand, to provide real protection for Party members and cadres.
A second insight is that it is necessary to adapt to the new trends in economic and social development and technological revolution, to be good at leveraging the role of the new generation of digital technology in the fight against corruption, and to prevent various new types of corruption and hidden corruption.
Using big data to track cross-border corruption, using blockchain technology to conduct electronic forensics, and automatically generating risk warnings through intelligent regulatory supervision systems... Relevant departments are strengthening technological empowerment to achieve timely detection, accurate identification, and effective governance, leaving new types of corruption and hidden corruption nowhere to hide.
Today, the correlation and concealment of corrupt acts are becoming stronger and stronger, and the difficulty of investigation and handling is increasing. Using big data comparison, artificial intelligence analysis, equity penetration, and other methods can compensate for the limitations of the "human eye," allowing the "eye of the machine" to see deeper connections that people cannot see, leaving corrupt elements with nowhere to hide. Grasping the new situations and new trends in the fight against corruption, constantly enriching the toolbox, making good use of the power of technology, improving the penetration of anti-corruption efforts, truly create an all-encompassing "net," and comprehensively promote the integrated approach of "not daring to, not being able to, and not wanting to be corrupt," so that the "reach out and you will be caught" sword remains high and deterrence remains constant.
A third insight is that while the forms of corruption may vary, the root cause lies in the decline of ideology, focusing only on personal gains and neglecting the well-being of the people. This shows the importance and necessity of taking the strengthening of theoretical study and Party spirit cultivation as a lifelong task.
Single-mindedly creating momentum and achievements for himself, Tang Renjian (唐仁健), while serving as the Governor of Gansu Province (甘肃省), disregarded risks and vigorously promoted the "Golden Chicken Industry" project in eight counties. As a result, not only did it fail to bring benefits to the people, but it also left the local area with thorny "legacies." With impure intentions and wavering stance, a leaf can block the view; with a broad mind and a grasp of the overall situation, the clear breeze on the river and the bright moon in the mountains can be taken without restriction and used inexhaustibly.
To resolutely fight a tough battle, a protracted battle, and an overall battle against corruption, the foundation of ideological education must be continuously consolidated. Persistently strengthening Party spirit education, guiding Party members and cadres to establish a correct view of power, and firmly sitting on the side of the people, can transform external constraints into self-discipline, continuously consolidate the consciousness of "not wanting to be corrupt," enhance the ability to resist various temptations, and achieve both "purifying the flow" and "dredging the source."
At the Fifth Plenary Session of the 20th Central Commission for Discipline Inspection, General Secretary Xi Jinping (习近平) emphasized, "Promote comprehensive and strict Party governance with higher standards and more practical measures." By adhering to the strict tone, strict measures, and strict atmosphere for a long time, and carrying out the fight against corruption to the end, our cause will be more firmly rooted and full of vitality.
Return to TopBy: 付雨欣
During my undergraduate studies, my interest in bibliographic studies grew stronger. After graduation, I plunged into the ocean of Chinese classical philology. Under the guidance of my supervisor, I participated in ancient book projects such as the compilation of the "Comprehensive Catalogue of Chinese Ancient Books in Japanese Collections" (《日本藏中国古籍总目》), the comprehensive collation and research of the surviving volumes of the "Yongle Encyclopedia" (《永乐大典》), and the collation of the "Thirteen Classics with Commentaries" (《十三经注疏》). Battling with variant characters and missing text, the initial taste was indeed bitter – the austerity of studying ancient books by lamplight and the astringency of facing vast classics. But as I immersed myself, carefully chewing and repeatedly savoring, that "bitterness" gradually brewed into sweetness.
Why do I feel a sense of closeness to distant and ancient texts? Because they contain the source of our culture, our spiritual genes, and the coordinates for finding our way left by the ancients.
Ancient book collation is a dialogue between the present and the past, a cultural relay of transmission and inheritance. Taking the "Thirteen Classics with Commentaries" as an example, the Nanchang Prefectural School edition collated and engraved under the direction of Ruan Yuan (阮元) in the Qing Dynasty gathered the strengths of various editions and initiated a scholarly style, making it an authoritative edition and a peak in classical philology. However, limited by the times, he had no opportunity to see the Song and Yuan rare editions and Dunhuang (敦煌) manuscripts scattered overseas. And this is precisely the responsibility and opportunity of our generation.
Having access to dozens of times more literature than our predecessors, how can we systematically sort through it, remove the dross and select the essence, without getting lost in the ocean of materials? When I first participated in the collation of the "Thirteen Classics with Commentaries," facing the subtle differences between different versions, the dense collation notes were like a giant net, trapping me in a maze of words. My supervisor promptly awakened me, urging me to step out of the collation of a single text and examine and grasp it from the grand perspective of the lineage of version transmission.
What is a lineage? Taking the "Zhengyi of the Book of Rites" (《礼记正义》) as an example, by comparing the ancient manuscript fragments collected by the Toyo Bunko (東洋文庫) in Japan, the Song Dynasty single commentary edition, the Eight-Line edition published by the Liangzhe East Road Tea and Salt Department in the third year of the Shaoxi era of the Southern Song Dynasty (南宋绍熙三年两浙东路茶盐司刊八行本), and the commonly used Ten-Line edition of later generations, we can not only clarify the transmission lineage of the classics, but also perceive the characteristics of the interpretation system in different historical periods from the version differences and the evolution of text forms. Each version adjustment is a re-understanding and re-inheritance of the classics by that era, engraving coordinates on the riverbed of history, jointly weaving a three-dimensional cultural map, and demonstrating the unique vitality of Chinese culture in its development through inheritance and its innovation in stability. This is also our new starting point.
Focus on the big picture, start with the details. When collating the "Zhengyi of the Book of Rites," I repeatedly pondered a ritual term; when sorting out the surviving volumes of the "Yongle Encyclopedia," I pieced together fragments of civilization that had been scattered for hundreds of years... The characters, polished by the years, are vivid carriers of the thoughts, emotions, and wisdom of our ancestors. Each splicing of fragments is a restoration of the memory of civilization; each interpretation is a resonance with the souls of the ancients. The "excellent traditional culture passed down by our ancestors," we must hold it in our hands and continue to pass it on.
Inheritance cannot allow the classics to stop in the study; we need to put effort into "promoting" them. Taking the leishu "Yongle Encyclopedia" as an example, we are re-compiling it by category, restoring the appearance of the ancient books, adding modern punctuation, and planning to establish a database for readers to search and use online. This is precisely an advancement from the preservation of literature to its active utilization. The key to inheritance is to allow ancient wisdom to walk out of the library, transcend academic papers, and flow back into the rivers of modern life, allowing the philosophical thoughts, humanistic spirit, and moral norms in ancient books to be integrated into contemporary cultural construction and value shaping.
In our team, some specialize in version collation, and some excel in catalogue compilation. The continuous flow and re-inheritance of culture cannot be separated from every effort of cultivation and dedication. In every era, there is a group of people who bury themselves in old paper, continuing and guarding the flame of civilization, dredging and widening the river of civilization. Because of this, spiritual genes such as 自强不息 (zì qiáng bù xī - "self-improvement never ceases," constantly striving to become stronger) and 讲信修睦 (jiǎng xìn xiū mù - "emphasize credibility and cultivate harmony," to value trustworthiness and peaceful relations) still flow warmly in our cultural texture. As ancient book workers in the new era, actively shouldering contemporary responsibilities and helping the river of outstanding Chinese traditional culture flow endlessly is to relay and safeguard our spiritual homeland.
(The author is a master's student majoring in Chinese Classical Philology at the Advanced Institute of Confucian Studies, Shandong University (山东大学).)
Return to TopAccording to Chinese customs statistics, in 2025, the total value of imports and exports of goods between China and Central Asia exceeded 100 billion U.S. dollars for the first time, reaching 106.3 billion U.S. dollars, an increase of 12% year-on-year, and the growth rate increased by 6 percentage points compared with the previous year. China has become the largest trading partner of Central Asian countries for the first time, and the proportion of Central Asia in China's foreign trade has further increased.
This is precisely:
Freight trains run through Eurasia, and business opportunities benefit all parties.
The Silk Road (丝路) joins hands, and the steps are firm and powerful.
By Shen Qiu (沈丘).
Return to TopSafeguarding Rights According to Law Should Not Be Subject to Discrimination
Huang Xing (黄兴)
Recently, a new type of hidden employment discrimination has quietly emerged: some employers are using "whether there is a labor arbitration record" as a hidden screening criterion, and even explicitly stipulate that "those with arbitration experience will not be hired."
Why has legitimate labor arbitration to protect rights become a "stain" on the job search path? Some employers one-sidedly believe that employees who have filed for arbitration are "difficult to manage" and may increase labor costs or cause "trouble." In some regions or industries, relevant information may be illegally collected by some institutions.
It should be clear that labor arbitration is a basic right of workers and an important institutional arrangement for resolving labor disputes and safeguarding the legitimate rights and interests of workers. When workers encounter infringement, applying for arbitration is a legitimate way to seek legal remedies.
To eliminate this chaos, regulatory authorities should prohibit employers from rejecting job seekers due to labor arbitration records, and strictly investigate illegal inquiries and sales of arbitration information; improve the arbitration information management system, restrict query permissions, and strictly prohibit companies from requesting rights protection records that are not related to the position. At the same time, more attention should be paid to advocating an atmosphere of inclusive rights protection and respect for rules, to ensure that the experience of safeguarding rights according to law does not become an obstacle to employment.
Resolutely curbing hidden employment discrimination and effectively guaranteeing the confidence and dignity of safeguarding rights according to law are the only ways to create a fair, just, and mutually trusting employment environment.
(Excerpted and compiled from "Xinhua Daily Telegraph," original title: "'Labor Arbitration' Should Not Become Hidden Employment Discrimination")
Temple Fairs Might As Well Get "Trendy"
Yu Xin (雨馨)
This year's Spring Festival, Beijing's Chaoyang District (朝阳区) will launch a "trendy" temple fair featuring youth and fashion to attract young people to the Chaowai UIC (朝外UIC) block. This is also Beijing's (北京) first theme temple fair for young people.
Crowded people, dazzling goods, snacks from all over the world, and distinctive folk activities together constitute the lively atmosphere of traditional temple fairs. Now, the "trendy" temple fair plans to allow folk customs to reach young groups in a more internet-friendly way. Integrating traditional elements such as Beijing-style (京味) intangible cultural heritage and New Year's blessings into trendy activities such as consumer flash mobs and technological dazzling dances, and linking up with theme parks to carry out the "Wanma Intangible Heritage, Trendy New Year" event, these arrangements not only continue the old taste of folk customs, but also hit the interests of young people, making everyone look forward to the Spring Festival feast that blends the old and the new.
Making temple fairs "trendy" is by no means simply pleasing young people, but rather a creative transformation based on cultural traditions. From the hot sales of New Year goods such as Spring Festival couplets and lucky bags, to the holding of "Guochao" (国潮) performances in many places to attract tourists, the success of each case stems from being rooted in cultural traditions, conforming to contemporary aesthetics, and meeting the needs of the people for a better life. This creative transformation and innovative development not only enriches the public's aesthetic experience, but also satisfies people's deep-seated spiritual needs.
Only by boldly innovating on the basis of respecting tradition can cultural imprints transcend time and space, better "trend" into contemporary life and "integrate" into young minds.
(Excerpted and compiled from "Beijing Daily," original title: "Old Temple Fairs Should Move 'Trendy' Forward")
Return to TopBy: 陕西省西安市 刘玮航
"We don't understand the technology; we're relying entirely on you!" In geological disaster prevention and control work, we often hear the masses say this. This trust warms our hearts. In one joint battle after another, I have also deeply felt that the people may not understand the technology, but to do a good job with technology, one must first understand the people.
The people are the best teachers; only by "understanding the people" can one gain good teachers. For example, not long ago, when I went to Haidong (海东), Qinghai (青海) to work, I discovered that a section of national highway near a cliff was experiencing frequent rockfalls due to rock weathering, becoming a "heart disease" for local residents' travel. During the reinforcement process, reminders from the local people, full of the scent of the soil, such as, "That area of stones is easy to miss," and "There's a lot of traffic at noon, be careful when working," were useful and practical, serving as valuable "construction guidelines."
These "living maps" and "local methods" help us to investigate hidden dangers more thoroughly and arrange the procedures more smoothly. If the masses do not contribute to the technical work, relying solely on blueprints and data, even the most skilled veteran will have to grope in the dark for a long time, and it will still be difficult to ensure that the plan is completely practical and foolproof.
The wisdom of the people is often hidden in simple life experiences, which cannot be replaced by any professional model. Especially in work involving people's livelihoods, only by truly going among the people can we accurately identify the "seven inches" of the problem and explore the best path; only by being willing to bend down can we see the blind spots of technology in reality, allowing technology to better serve people's needs. Understanding the people means understanding life, understanding reality, and understanding the laws, and this is the key to doing a good job with technology and making things solid.
Return to TopBy: 《环球人物》记者 陈佳莉
Biography
Ouyang Minggao (欧阳明高), born in 1958 in Tianmen (天门), Hubei (湖北), has long been engaged in research on energy conservation and new energy power systems. He was elected as an academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (中国科学院) in 2017 and is currently a professor at the School of Vehicle and Mobility at Tsinghua University (清华大学). He has been granted over 100 invention patents, has twice won the second prize of the National Technology Invention Award, and has also received the Ho Leung Ho Lee Foundation Prize for Scientific and Technological Progress and other honors.
At 68 years old, Ouyang Minggao's daily schedule is packed: teaching classes, traveling on business, attending meetings, giving lectures, and receiving guests who come for consultation. Among the visitors are venture capitalists in the field of new energy vehicles and researchers seeking technological breakthroughs.
China's new energy vehicles are increasingly becoming a bright calling card for "Made in China." However, at the beginning of this century, when Ouyang Minggao first entered this field, the battery range of mainstream products was less than 100 kilometers, the vehicle R&D team was small, and few people were willing to invest in this uncertain field. At that time, Ouyang Minggao identified the direction and led the team to focus on the research and development of power batteries and electronic control technology, making beneficial explorations for the development of the new energy vehicle industry.
Persist in Favoring Another Path
"The pure electric drive path is viable."
The development of the automotive industry is inseparable from energy and power. At the beginning of the reform and opening up, Ouyang Minggao studied energy and power engineering at Central South University (中南大学), and later obtained a doctorate degree from the Department of Energy Engineering at the Technical University of Denmark. Ouyang Minggao entered Tsinghua University (清华大学) to engage in postdoctoral research. The high-pressure injection technology of engines he studied was at a leading level in the field of energy and power at that time.
During the same period, China began to pay attention to issues such as the competitiveness of the automotive industry and air pollution. In 2001, the Ministry of Science and Technology (科技部) held a demonstration meeting to set the "three vertical and three horizontal" R&D layout for the electric vehicle special project of the National 863 Program during the "Tenth Five-Year Plan" period. The "three vertical" included fuel cell vehicles, hybrid vehicles, and pure electric vehicles, and the "three horizontal" referred to batteries, motors, and electronic controls.
The "three vertical" are three technical paths. How to choose the focus among these three paths? "At that time, the mainstream view in the industry was to develop oil-electric hybrid technology based on fuel vehicles, which was the common path for global car companies and seemed stable," Ouyang Minggao recalled. But he insisted on favoring another path - pure electric vehicles. "At that time, everyone lacked confidence in pure electric vehicles, mainly because the battery technology was not good. But we knew in our hearts that China was undertaking the production of most mobile phone batteries in the world at that time. We had a foundation in batteries."
In addition, Ouyang Minggao believes that China's automobile industry started late, and the core technology of fuel vehicles is in the hands of foreigners. Competing on another track may be a good choice.
During the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games, Beijing (北京) organized a demonstration run of electric vehicles. "Pure electric vehicles achieve zero emissions, which is more prominent than oil-electric hybrid vehicles," Ouyang Minggao said. "This proves that the pure electric drive path is viable!"
Switching from fuel to electric is a technological revolution. Opposition followed. Ouyang Minggao remembers that every year during the National People's Congress (全国人民代表大会) and the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (中国人民政治协商会议), when representatives and members in the automotive field had discussions, there were often different opinions after he expressed his views.
Data speaks for itself. In 2018, China's production and sales of new energy vehicles both exceeded 1 million, of which pure electric vehicles accounted for more than 70%. In 2025, with the increasing maturity of various technology routes and the rapid development of new technologies such as extended-range electric vehicles, China's production and sales of new energy vehicles increased to more than 16 million, of which the cumulative production and sales of pure electric vehicles throughout the year both exceeded 10 million.
Promote the Industrialization of Theory and Technology
"We must use a model combining industry, academia, and research to better promote technology."
In the 1990s, when Ouyang Minggao was engaged in postdoctoral research at Tsinghua University (清华大学), he wanted to industrialize a subject. Coincidentally, a company was willing to invest and signed a project contract with his team.
"This was a considerable project at the time." Ouyang Minggao was eager to do a great job, but was constantly poured cold water on. He found that the verification of scientific principles in the laboratory was completely different from the development of real product technology.
Ouyang Minggao realized that any theory and technology, if it cannot be implemented and industrialized, is ultimately just 纸上谈兵 (zhǐ shàng tán bīng - "paper talk soldiers," theoretical discussion that is impractical). "Writing a few papers and winning a few awards is not my ultimate pursuit. I hope to use research results to promote technological change. Social progress ultimately depends on technological change."
After 2021, Ouyang Minggao's vision extended from new energy vehicles to the entire new energy field, including battery energy storage, green hydrogen energy, and smart energy. "We have established several innovation centers dedicated to incubating student entrepreneurship projects, and have now incubated 25 companies."
Enterprises need the theoretical support of schools, and schools need enterprises to provide actual market data. "In the past, enterprises had weak scientific research capabilities, and scientific research in universities often led the development of the industry. But now the situation is different. Many companies have their own scientific research teams. If schools want to continue to lead the industry, the original model is no longer useful. We must use a model combining industry, academia, and research to better promote technology," Ouyang Minggao said.
Focus on Low-Carbonization and Intelligence
"Continue to advance in the direction of energy storage and smart energy."
Ouyang Minggao likes to make predictions about the future development trends of the industry, "Perhaps he is more sensitive to possible technological changes." However, the explosive growth of new energy vehicles in recent years has exceeded Ouyang Minggao's expectations. The market scale continues to expand, and although core pain points such as short battery life, low lifespan, and insufficient safety have been greatly improved, the industry needs to think about more forward-looking issues - low-carbonization and intelligence are the directions he will focus on next. We asked him about several professional issues.
Q: Can battery safety issues be resolved in the future?
A: From a scientific point of view, as long as it is an energy device, there is no absolute safety. Safety needs to be achieved through the dual guarantee of technology and regulations.
In terms of technology, our research and development started with liquid batteries, developed into smart batteries, and now we are focusing on the development of all-solid-state batteries. The core of these three generations of batteries is to advance towards higher safety.
In terms of regulations, the new version of the "Safety Requirements for Power Batteries for Electric Vehicles" will be implemented on July 1, 2026, which clearly defines "no fire, no explosion" as a rigid requirement for thermal diffusion testing technology, and sets a clear safety red line for the production, testing, and vehicle application of power batteries.
At the same time, we should also see that the battery life has jumped from 100 kilometers in the early days to 500 kilometers now, and the cost has been reduced by up to 90%. None of this has been at the expense of safety, which is undoubtedly a huge progress in the industry.
Q: What kind of changes will new energy vehicles undergo?
A: In my opinion, the development of new energy vehicles will probably go through three changes: the first is the power electrification change. Judging from the current situation, this change has entered a climax stage; the second is the intelligent change, which focuses on intelligent assisted driving and is currently in the process of being promoted; the third is the energy low-carbonization change, when electric vehicles will be charged with "green electricity."
Q: How can we ensure that electric vehicles are charged with "green electricity"?
A: Now green energy technologies such as photovoltaics and wind power are relatively mature, and the cost has also dropped a lot, but they also have great drawbacks, that is, they are volatile, intermittent, and random, and must be combined with energy storage to become the main force of energy supply. There are many development directions for energy storage. For example, electric vehicles may not only be transportation tools in the future, but also energy storage devices. As long as we continue to advance in the direction of energy storage and smart energy, we can enable electric vehicles to use "green electricity."
Q: Previously, some car companies were caught in "involution" and engaged in price wars. How can the new energy vehicle industry maintain healthy development in the future?
A: New car-making forces are like catfish. Without them, there may not be the current state of progress in competition. I believe that each company will gradually find a suitable survival track. Some car companies may not only manufacture cars in the future, but also make robots, flying cars, etc., and develop in the direction of artificial intelligence companies. If we focus our energy on technological innovation instead of relying solely on price means, the industry will maintain healthy development.
(Our reporter Zeng Yichen (曾亦辰) participated in the writing)
Return to TopThis newspaper's Beijing (北京) dispatch on January 29th (Reporter Yi Shuran (易舒冉)) From January 28th to 29th, the Fourth Plenary Session of the 18th Executive Committee of the All-China Federation of Trade Unions was held in Beijing (北京). Wang Dongming (王东明), Vice Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress and Chairman of the All-China Federation of Trade Unions, presided over the meeting and delivered a speech.
Wang Dongming (王东明) pointed out that trade unions at all levels should thoroughly study and implement the spirit of General Secretary Xi Jinping's (习近平) important speech and the Fourth Plenary Session of the 20th Central Committee of the Party, always adhere to the Party's comprehensive leadership over trade union work, and firmly grasp the correct political direction. It is necessary to further strengthen the ideological and political guidance of workers, unite and guide the vast number of workers to unswervingly listen to the Party and follow the Party. It is necessary to continuously promote the construction of the rule of law in trade union work, effectively safeguard the legitimate rights and interests of workers, promote the all-round development of workers, and resolutely safeguard political security in the labor field. It is necessary to deepen the reform and construction of trade unions, persevere in promoting comprehensive and strict Party governance, ensure the high-quality development of trade union work with a good work style, and unite and mobilize hundreds of millions of workers to make new and greater contributions to a good start and a good step for the "15th Five-Year Plan" with practical actions.
The meeting adopted the work report made by Xu Liuping (徐留平), Secretary of the Party Group, Vice Chairman, and First Secretary of the Secretariat of the All-China Federation of Trade Unions.
Return to TopXinhua News Agency, Zhuhai, January 29th. The General Office of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (全国人大常委会) and the Deputies Work Committee of the Standing Committee held a briefing session for Hong Kong and Macao deputies to the National People's Congress (全国人大代表) in Zhuhai (珠海), Guangdong (广东) on the morning of the 29th. The responsible comrade of the General Office of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (全国人大常委会) briefed on the main work of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress in 2025 and the preliminary arrangements for the work in 2026, hoping that the Hong Kong and Macao deputies to the National People's Congress (全国人大代表) will perform their duties and **担当作为** (dān dāng zuò wéi - "shoulder responsibility and take action," to take on responsibilities and actively contribute), promote the economic and social development of Hong Kong and Macao, and make greater contributions to the construction of a strong country and the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation.
The responsible comrade of the Legislative Affairs Commission of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (全国人大常委会) introduced the draft Ecological Environment Code, the draft Law on Promoting Ethnic Unity and Progress, and the draft Law on National Development Planning to the Hong Kong and Macao deputies to the National People's Congress (全国人大代表).
The responsible comrade of the National Development and Reform Commission (国家发展改革委) introduced the draft outline of the 15th Five-Year Plan for National Economic and Social Development and briefed on the implementation of the National Economic and Social Development Plan in 2025. The responsible comrade of the Ministry of Finance (财政部) briefed on the implementation of the central budget and financial work in 2025. Hong Kong and Macao members of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (全国政协委员) attended the meeting as nonvoting delegates.
Return to TopThis newspaper reported from Beijing on January 29th (Reporter Chen Zishuai (陈子帅)) On the 29th, the second "New Quality Productive Forces Industry Practice Insight" event with the theme of "Towards Intelligence and Practicality, Improving Quality and Increasing Efficiency" was held in Beijing (北京). The event was hosted by the Global Times (环球时报社) and aimed to gather industry consensus, explore practical paths, actively promote new quality productive forces to empower various industries, and showcase the outstanding achievements of China's (中国) high-quality economic development.
The event revolved around cutting-edge topics such as Artificial Intelligence (AI) and technological innovation, and included multiple sessions such as keynote speeches, practical sharing, and roundtable dialogues. Companies, including Huawei Cloud (华为云), shared their application results of artificial intelligence in the industry. Several demonstration cases of new quality productive forces industrial practice were also released at the site, covering fields such as intelligent manufacturing and smart transportation, showcasing the vivid picture of technology empowering the real economy.
In the "Global Forum" session, the participating guests had in-depth discussions around "From R&D to Application: How can AI move from 'pilot demonstration' to 'large-scale application in thousands of industries?'" and jointly offered suggestions for accelerating the construction of a modern industrial system.
The Global Times (环球时报) has held this series of events for two consecutive years. The event brings together the wisdom of all parties and has become an important exchange platform for promoting the development of new quality productive forces.
Return to TopThis newspaper reported from Hong Kong on January 29th (Reporter Chen Ran (陈然)) The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (香港特区) Government's Health Bureau (医务卫生局) stated on the 29th that following the fire at Wang Fuk Court (宏福苑) in Tai Po (大埔), the SAR government is using the 18 District Health Centres across Hong Kong as hubs to coordinate and integrate primary healthcare services for affected residents. The Health Bureau (医务卫生局) will continue to provide comprehensive primary healthcare support to residents affected by the fire and design relevant service processes from the residents' perspective, so that they can obtain convenient and appropriate medical support through the Health Centres.
It is reported that all residents of the eight buildings in Wang Fuk Court (宏福苑) can enjoy full medical fee waivers until December 31st of this year, covering hospitalization, family medicine and specialist outpatient clinics (including psychiatric specialist outpatient clinics), accident and emergency departments, day hospitals, day procedures, community services, and Chinese medicine clinics and teaching and research centers under the Hospital Authority (医院管理局). In addition, all injured persons in the fire who were sent to public hospitals under the Hospital Authority (医院管理局) will have their entire treatment and rehabilitation process medical services (including drugs and medical devices) fully waived. The Primary Healthcare Department (基层医疗署) coordinates the establishment of a hotline in all 18 District Health Centres across Hong Kong since December 1st last year to arrange personalized case management services for affected residents, providing more convenient and comprehensive medical support.
Return to TopBy: 本报记者 苏 滨
Wearing a white coat, carrying a bamboo backpack, and a medicine kit, Bai Huali sets off for her rounds of medical visits every morning at five or six o'clock. Walking through grass covered with dew, traversing mountain paths, she walks an average of 18 kilometers a day, returning to her clinic under the starlight. She has steadfastly continued this work for 23 years, earning her the affectionate title of "Backpack Doctor" from the villagers.
"Health is '1,' and everything else is '0's behind it. I want to protect this '1' for my fellow villagers." Bai Huali (柏华丽), 43 years old this year, is the village doctor of Dazhao Village (打召村), Duncao Township (敦操乡), Changshun County (长顺县), Qiannan Buyi and Miao Autonomous Prefecture (黔南布依族苗族自治州), Guizhou Province (贵州省), and currently the only village doctor in the village. Shifting from "focusing on treating illness" to "focusing on health," Bai Huali has rooted herself in the mountains, serving as the "health guardian" for her fellow villagers.
"I started from a stethoscope and two old houses"
The health clinic of Dazhao Village (打召村) is located diagonally opposite the village committee. The 90-square-meter space is fully equipped with a consultation room, treatment room, observation room, and pharmacy, meeting the standards for a rural health clinic.
"I started from a stethoscope and two old houses." In January 2003, Bai Huali (柏华丽), a graduate of the Qiannan Health School (黔南卫校) with a major in community medicine, came to Dazhao Village (打召村) alone. A carrying pole, two buckets containing bedding and food, were all her possessions. She had heard that conditions in Dazhao Village (打召村) were difficult, but she didn't expect the medical conditions to be so backward. The health clinic was just two old houses. Besides a bed, there was no medical equipment or medicine, only a stethoscope, which Bai Huali (柏华丽) had brought herself.
From childhood, Bai Huali (柏华丽) has not been one to give up easily, whether it was learning medicine from her village doctor mother or settling down in Dazhao Village (打召村).
"Since I can't change the past, I'll change the present!" Bai Huali (柏华丽) encouraged herself while cleaning the house, building a small bed with wooden boards for herself in the inner room, and moving the other bed to the outer room for consultations.
Dazhao Village (打召村) has 23 villagers' groups, with nearly 2,000 people. Because the residents are scattered, mainly consisting of left-behind elderly and children, Bai Huali (柏华丽) allocated them to each working day according to population, taking the initiative to visit and provide medical consultations, regularly walking through the entire village. Her salary was meager at the time, and she often needed support from her parents, but when she encountered villagers with financial difficulties, she insisted on not charging consultation fees, and sometimes even helped pay for their medicine, just to reassure them. Over time, her drawer was filled with many ledgers, mostly containing "bad debts."
"They pay back the medicine fees when they remember, and if they don't remember, it's fine." Bai Huali (柏华丽) admitted that it used to be common to help villagers pay for medicine, filling up a ledger each year. Now that living conditions have improved, there are fewer and fewer cases of paying in advance. "Anyway, it's not much money, I just want them to know that if they feel unwell, they should come to me as soon as possible."
"To be a doctor, you must be patient and have confidence in the people"
"Auntie, are you still dizzy?" At 2 p.m., Bai Huali (柏华丽) went to the home of villager Bai Tumei (柏土妹) to provide medical consultation.
"I feel much better after taking some medicine!" Seeing the familiar face, Bai Tumei (柏土妹), who is over eighty years old, rolled up her sleeves and consciously cooperated with the blood pressure measurement.
"The blood pressure was normal for the previous 4 times, why is it high again this time?" Looking at the values displayed on the blood pressure monitor, Bai Huali (柏华丽) was a little puzzled. After careful consideration, she took out a small bottle of antihypertensive medicine from her medicine kit. "Take one tablet if you feel severely dizzy, once a day, take it on time, and pay attention to rest, eat a light diet, and don't eat cured meat and fermented bean curd."
In the past, Dazhao Village (打召村) did not have a village doctor, and coupled with closed-minded thinking, many villagers did not seek medical treatment when they were sick, and prolonged their illnesses, resulting in minor illnesses becoming major illnesses. "The villagers have no concept of science and medicine. I have to do everything possible to get the villagers to seek medical treatment when they are sick and manage their health." Realizing that the work would be difficult to carry out a few days after arriving in the village, Bai Huali (柏华丽) decided to take the initiative, relying on her legs to visit patients and popularize medical knowledge.
On her first visit, Bai Huali (柏华丽) met an old man. The old man opened his mouth and asked, "Are you here to tell fortunes?"
"I can't tell fortunes, but I can treat illnesses!" Hearing a slight wheezing sound when the old man breathed, Bai Huali (柏华丽) immediately asked, "Do you usually smoke? Does the sound get worse when you have a cold?"
The old man nodded repeatedly, and Bai Huali (柏华丽) gave him a box of medicine. A week later, seeing that the symptoms had improved, the old man went to the clinic to get more medicine. The villagers next to him joked, "The medicine was bought by Dr. Bai (柏医生), so you can't not pay..." The old man was a little embarrassed, but Bai Huali (柏华丽) still didn't charge him.
"To be a doctor, you must be patient and have confidence in the people!" Because of her selfless dedication, Bai Huali (柏华丽) gradually gained the trust of the villagers.
"I had some wavering in my heart, but I can't leave, I don't want to leave"
Bai Huali (柏华丽) said that her perseverance for twenty-three years, day after day, was both unexpected and reasonable.
How remote is Dazhao Village (打召村) in the eyes of outsiders? "No daughter marries a Dazhao (打召) man." As the most remote village in the county, Dazhao Village (打召村) is 68 kilometers away from the county seat, mainly mountain roads, and some sections of the road cannot accommodate two cars passing each other, let alone carrying a 30-jin backpack and walking for medical visits all year round.
"You gave up other jobs, you'll suffer!" When he learned that Bai Huali (柏华丽) had given up the opportunity to work in the township government and insisted on becoming a village doctor in Dazhao Village (打召村) upon graduation, her father became anxious and said harsh words, revealing a hint of worry.
Some villagers believe in superstition rather than science, and Bai Huali (柏华丽) suffered a lot. For a while, she didn't even know what meat tasted like. The best life was eating a meal of dried tofu skin.
"To be honest, I had some wavering in my heart, but I can't leave, I don't want to leave," Bai Huali (柏华丽) said.
Later, Bai Huali (柏华丽) married Luo Yongfu (罗永福), a teacher at a township elementary school, and her husband also became her helper. Every weekend and holiday, Luo Yongfu (罗永福) either drives her to visit households or carries the backpack behind her. "I am from Dazhao Village (打召村), and I must support her no matter how busy I am!"
Last summer vacation, her college-student niece came to Dazhao Village (打召村) for practical experience. She carried the backpack and followed Bai Huali (柏华丽) to visit households. After one round, she ate all the dry food in the backpack and still kept saying she was hungry. "I really can't hold on, I really admire your dedication."
Last year, Bai Huali (柏华丽) got a new backpack. This is the fifth time she has replaced it. It is woven with plastic strips, making it more sturdy for household visits.
Return to TopThis newspaper reported from Shanghai on January 29th (Reporter: Ju Yunpeng (巨云鹏)): The reporter learned from the press conference of the Yangtze River Delta (长三角) Ecology and Green Integrated Development Demonstration Zone held on January 29th that since its establishment in November 2019, after more than 6 years of construction, especially during the "14th Five-Year Plan" period, the integrated high-quality development of the Demonstration Zone has shown a strong momentum. The average annual nominal growth rate of regional GDP is 7.3%. In 2025, the regional GDP reached 571.6 billion yuan. Qingpu (青浦) in Shanghai (上海), Wujiang (吴江) in Suzhou (苏州), Jiangsu (江苏), and Jiashan (嘉善) in Jiaxing (嘉兴), Zhejiang (浙江), the two districts and one county within the Demonstration Zone, all rank among the top in their respective provinces and cities in terms of growth rate. The total industrial output value and industrial investment growth rate of the Demonstration Zone above designated size are higher than the average level of the Yangtze River Delta (长三角).
In the integration exploration, the Demonstration Zone launched 7 new institutional innovation achievements in 2025, including the inter-provincial joint review mechanism for urban development boundary adjustment, the ecological environment judicial protection cooperation mechanism, etc., and has accumulated 161 institutional innovation achievements, and 61 institutional innovation experiences have been replicated and promoted nationwide.
According to reports, the ecological background of the Demonstration Zone continues to be brightened. The annual average concentration of PM2.5 has decreased by more than 20% compared with 2019, and the proportion of surface water reaching or better than Category III water bodies has increased by 23 percentage points compared with 2019; the momentum of innovation-driven development is good. As of the end of 2025, the number of high-tech enterprises in the Demonstration Zone has increased to 3,713, which is 2.4 times that at the beginning of the establishment of the Demonstration Zone; people's livelihood and well-being have been continuously improved. The Demonstration Zone has released 6 batches of 72 public service co-construction and sharing lists, 10 inter-provincial "broken roads" have been opened to traffic successively, 8 inter-provincial bus lines have cumulatively sent more than 5 million passengers, and more than 3,500 inter-provincial handling matters have been completed.
Return to TopLayout design for this edition: Shen Yiling (沈亦伶)
Return to TopBy: 本报记者 窦 皓
Appreciating Flowers
Clumps of low green jade uneven,
Holding a jar, spring fields are self-governed by hand.
The ground is warm, just leaving the misty rain,
The year is cold, and the snow and frost remain unchanged.
——"Narcissus First Flower" Song Dynasty · Fang Yue (方岳)
On the coast of the East China Sea, the Zhoushan Islands (舟山群岛) of Zhejiang (浙江) are scattered like stars. In the depths of winter, patches of wild narcissus bloom gracefully on some of the islands of Zhoushan. The cold wind sweeps across the reefs, each flower and leaf swaying, accompanied by a delicate fragrance, the footsteps of spring are near.
From the audience seats of Zhejiang's "Village Evening" to the competition venue of "ZheBA," if you pay attention, you can always find the figure of Putuo narcissus (普陀水仙). Approaching the Spring Festival, narcissus flowers are successively appearing in Zhoushan's parks and green spaces, adding to the festive atmosphere.
As a famous traditional Chinese flower and the city flower of Zhoushan City (舟山市), Putuo narcissus takes root on the island, grows towards the sun, becomes more resilient through wind and frost, and blooms silently without competing for beauty, just like the hardworking, intelligent, and 生生不息 (shēng shēng bù xī - "ceaseless," continuous growth and propagation) spirit of the Zhoushan people.
Lingbo Jade Shadow Traces "Fairy" Footprints
The flowering period of Putuo narcissus is around New Year's Day to the Spring Festival, known for its large bulbs, many flowers, and strong fragrance. The pure white petals are surrounded by goose-yellow stamens, standing gracefully like fairies in white dresses dancing lightly, hence the elegant name "Lingbo Fairy." In 1981, this variety was officially named "Putuo Narcissus," and in 1996, the 26th meeting of the Second Standing Committee of the Zhoushan Municipal People's Congress determined it as the city flower.
Putuo narcissus has a long history, with written records of wild narcissus dating back to the Song Dynasty. The Ming Dynasty's "Revised Putuoshan Chronicle" states: "Narcissus also blooms everywhere, with an exceptionally clear fragrance." The "Dinghai Hall Chronicle" during the Kangxi (康熙) period of the Qing Dynasty also clearly states: "Coastal islands are rich in narcissus, which the people of the Six Dynasties called elegant garlic."
A legend about Putuo narcissus is circulating in Zhoushan. It is said that a long time ago, the Fairy of Flowers painstakingly cultivated herbaceous flowers that bloom in winter, but they only grew roots and did not bloom. So, she went to Mount Putuo (普陀山) to ask Guanyin Bodhisattva (观音菩萨) for advice. Guanyin plucked 6 lotus petals and put them together to form a pure white flower; then, she took a golden incense burner and placed it in the heart of the flower, and thus Putuo narcissus, also known as "Guanyin Narcissus," was born. The Fairy of Flowers let the narcissus take root and multiply in Putuo, and since then, narcissus flowers have flourished here every winter.
In Zhoushan, wild narcissus grows freely between mountain valleys and rock crevices, allowing the sea breeze to blow, standing proudly in the severe cold. If you buy a few bulbs to take home, all you need is a clear pool of water and a shallow pot, and the narcissus will grow towards the sun and bloom leisurely. It is precisely because of its resilience to wind and frost and its easy cultivation that the ancients praised Putuo narcissus as the "flower of strength."
In Zhoushan, narcissus elements are dotted in many corners of the city. The Zhoushan Postal Branch Company has launched a "Putuo Narcissus" color cultural date stamp, attracting many philatelists to check in; narcissus flowers are a frequent sight at festival events; and some cafes, stations, etc., incorporate narcissus elements into the background walls to decorate public spaces.
As the end of the year approaches, many Zhoushan families have narcissus flowers at home. "We all like to buy a few pots and put them at home to add to the festive atmosphere," said Fang Birong (方碧蓉), a resident of Taohua Town (桃花镇) in Putuo District (普陀区). In the local area, giving narcissus flowers during the Spring Festival represents good wishes for good luck. A pot of narcissus in full bloom with a rich fragrance is often used as a New Year's flower, a top choice for locals to visit relatives and friends and give gifts.
Jade Stamens Fragrance Condenses into Wealth
In Maoshan Village (茅山村), Taohua Town, Putuo District, Zhoushan, Wang Chenglin (汪成林), a narcissus planting expert in his seventies, can talk about Putuo narcissus like a family treasure.
In the winter of 2001, Wang Chenglin accidentally discovered a wild narcissus with golden yellow flowers on Taohua Island (桃花岛) and became fascinated by cultivating flower seeds. He learned and explored, not only becoming a professional narcissus grower himself but also serving as the chairman of the Taohua Island Narcissus Flower Cooperative, leading the villagers to plant together. Today, Taohua Island has become the main planting area of Putuo narcissus, and narcissus planting has become a "golden industry" driving island residents to become rich and increase their income.
In recent years, Taohua Town has adopted the "cooperative + farmer" model to break the previous operating model of farmers fighting alone and achieve targeted procurement and unified sales. At the same time, relying on the "Narcissus Flower Fairytale World" common prosperity workshop, it regularly conducts agricultural technology and e-commerce training; cooperates with the Zhejiang Academy of Agricultural Sciences (浙江省农科院), Zhejiang Agriculture and Forestry University (浙江农林大学) and other scientific research institutions, and invites agricultural technology experts to provide door-to-door guidance, thereby driving surrounding farmers and idle labor to participate in deep processing links such as narcissus flower carving and packaging, and economic benefits continue to increase.
It is currently the harvest season. In the live broadcast room of the common prosperity workshop, young people are live streaming the sale of Putuo narcissus in front of the camera, and netizens place orders from time to time. In the flower fields, farmers are digging deep with hoes, and round and full narcissus bulbs emerge from the soil, then transplanted into pots, carefully stacked, packaged, and then sent non-stop to all parts of the country. "My family grows more than 6 acres of narcissus flowers, and the average income per acre can reach 20,000 yuan," Wang Chenglin said. A golden narcissus with carved shapes can sell for hundreds of yuan, and he plans to continue to expand the planting area this year.
At present, the annual output of narcissus commodity bulbs in the Taohua Town narcissus flower planting base can reach 600,000 to 700,000. "We adhere to diversified development, continue to enhance the popularity of Putuo narcissus, create a brand, and make Putuo narcissus a wealth flower to help the comprehensive revitalization of the countryside," said Wang Ruifeng (王睿枫), deputy director of the Fisheries, Agriculture, and Rural Affairs Management Office of Taohua Town.
Golden Cups and Silver Platforms Attract Guests
Narcissus viewing, study and practice, carving courses, potted plant selection, cultural and creative markets... Now in Zhoushan, the narcissus flower industry chain is further extended, and the study route connects farm picking gardens and other points to form a characteristic cultural tourism route, making the winter island lively.
In the study course of the narcissus flower field, grower Zhang Binyao (张斌耀) is demonstrating how to carve narcissus bulbs into the shapes of animals such as goldfish and peacocks - shaving off the black skin, exposing the white bulbs, and skillfully carving creative shapes, which is amazing. "The history of narcissus carving can be traced back more than 1,000 years. A carving knife can not only remove excess bulb leaves but also make the flowers show a variety of postures when they bloom," Zhang Binyao said.
"Since the operation of 'Narcissus Flower Fairytale World' in May 2025, the number of tourists to the island has continued to increase through study tours, live streaming, and agricultural tourism activities," said Liu Yi (刘怡), mayor of Taohua Town. In recent years, the local area has focused on the four major scenic spots, connecting emerging projects such as the strawberry digital plant factory and the "Narcissus Flower Fairytale World" to continuously enrich tourism formats. Last year, it received a total of 386,100 tourists, and the total tourism revenue reached 288 million yuan, achieving a substantial increase.
The faint fragrance overflows the island. In the Zen Yun Narcissus Garden of Mount Putuo, thousands of narcissus of different varieties form a sea of flowers, attracting many tourists. Walking through the streets and alleys of Zhoushan City, you can also see many cultural and creative products related to narcissus flowers, refrigerator magnets, glass ornaments, aromatherapy... The designs are exquisite and irresistible.
Today, science experts from the Zhoushan Forestry Bureau (舟山市林业局) go deep into schools, communities, villages, etc. every year to carry out cultural promotion of Putuo narcissus, so that more people can understand the city flower; the Zhoushan Agriculture and Rural Affairs Bureau (舟山市农业农村局) also holds Putuo narcissus industry improvement training courses, etc., in the form of expert lectures, on-site observation, and practical teaching, to give more people a "big gift package for industrial revitalization."
In winter, the fishermen who have retired from fishing on Taohua Island are busy planting narcissus, breeding aquatic products, and receiving tourists. With the prosperity of the industry, there are many ways out. Whether it is a small courtyard window sill or a homestay room, the faint fragrance is fragrant, and clusters of narcissus flowers bloom brightly, witnessing Zhoushan's transformation from a fishing village to a seaside garden city, standing at the forefront and constantly forging ahead.
Flower Stationery
Zhoushan · Putuo Narcissus
Putuo narcissus, belonging to the Amaryllidaceae family and Narcissus genus, is native to the islands of the Zhoushan Islands in Zhejiang. It is divided into two main ornamental types: single-petal type and double-petal type. Putuo narcissus, Zhangzhou narcissus (漳州水仙) in Fujian (福建), and Chongming narcissus (崇明水仙) in Shanghai (上海) are known as the three major narcissus in China.
Putuo narcissus is famous for its many flowers, fragrance, long flowering period, dark green leaves, strong cold resistance, and tight bulbs. Each branch has 8 to 11 flowers, and the flowering period is around New Year's Day to the Spring Festival, which can last for a month, and there are rare types of all-yellow and all-white flowers. Putuo narcissus is easy to pot and can also be hydroponically cultivated, with high ornamental and cultural value.
Winter hydroponic narcissus is greatly affected by temperature, light, and water supply conditions, and it is necessary to maintain sufficient light, clean water supply, and control the room temperature. Narcissus bulb carving technology can adjust the growth form of narcissus, create different artistic shapes, and present a variety of visual effects.
Source: Zhoushan Forestry Bureau
Return to TopBy: 陈佩君
Pure white daffodils bloom on the Zhejiang (浙江) islands in winter. From the windows of schools or homes, a faint fragrance wafts, filling the air with a pure white, icy, and elegant coolness.
Looking out from the window, what never changes is the boundless sea, embracing the verdant islands. Waves surge one after another, crashing onto the shore, blossoming into equally pure white foam. This is precisely the year-end and spring-welcoming scene of the islanders on the shores of the East China Sea (东海), an interweaving of pure blue and pure white, constructing a refreshing and delightful beauty that flows endlessly between the tides.
If one spends the winter by the East China Sea, one can appreciate the sentiment of "snowy soul and icy spirit come from the sea, no need for a pure land, Penglai (蓬莱) itself." The poem praises the Putuo (普陀) daffodils that grow in our sea area, those clusters of noble flowers known as "Lingbo Fairy."
To me, this is not just a flower, but also a mark of youth and the land.
In the early 1990s, I came from the bustling Shenjiamen (沈家门) fishing port to teach on the remote Xiazhi Island (虾峙岛). The island was quiet and lonely, with only a pot of daffodils to accompany me. It had green stems and white flowers, a faint and elegant fragrance, requiring only clear water and dim light to bring a room full of elegance and inner comfort. The students knew I loved flowers and often gathered to admire them after class. One day, a student named Hai Ting (海挺) told me that a large patch of daffodils was blooming in the soil on the sunny slope of his home, and they were more fragrant than those grown in water.
We went to look and, sure enough, the hillside by the sea was full of daffodils. Slender green stems supported moist white flowers, blooming in the sea breeze and waves. The soil-grown daffodils were more cold-resistant, with a rustic earthy scent in their fragrance, appearing particularly natural and resilient. The children's eyes sparkled with pure light, overlapping and merging with the pure white of the daffodils and waves, a pure beauty.
Time flows quietly like water, with the blooming and falling of the daffodils. When I left Xiazhi (虾峙), Hai Ting (海挺) was admitted to a nautical school and gave me a shell-carved daffodil: with a pure white shell as the base, the daffodil bloomed proudly. At parting, I gave him the poem by Huang Tingjian (黄庭坚): "Borrowing water to bloom is a wonder in itself, water沉 as bones and jade as flesh."
Water, the source of life. Borrowing water to bloom, how full of vitality, and how detached from the mundane. I think this poem is the most vivid portrayal of Putuo (普陀) daffodils.
In the hearts of us fishermen, daffodils are deeply connected to the sea and to life. In winter, the more severe the northwest wind, the more prosperous the silver ribbonfish season in the shimmering East China Sea (东海). At that time, the silver ribbonfish drying in the blue sky fluttered in the west wind, while pure white daffodils bloomed by the sea, as if celebrating the harvest, making people even more grateful to nature.
The noble and tenacious beauty of Putuo (普陀) daffodils is often used to describe the noble figures in the history of the East China Sea (东海). From the three generals of Dinghai (定海) in the Opium War, to the magistrate Miao Sui (缪燧) who built dikes for the people in the Qing Dynasty, to the modern industrialist Liu Hongsheng (刘鸿生), their spirit is just like the Putuo (普陀) daffodils that "confidently possess a high fragrance among all plants," and like the never-ending waves of the East China Sea (东海), transcending the years and continuing to bloom.
Many years later, returning to Xiazhi Island (虾峙岛), the scenery of the fishing village remained the same, and the patch of soil-grown daffodils on the sunny slope still bloomed. The once lonely sea reef has been built into the bustling Xiazhimendao (虾峙门) International Channel Viewing Platform, where tourists stroll on the fine, soft sand, building sandcastles, digging for shells and picking snails. Hai Ting (海挺) has also become an ocean-going captain, working at sea all year round. The waves are still as pure white as ever, and the island is now more vibrant.
There are so many flowers in the world, but I have always had a special fondness for daffodils, because these are the Putuo (普陀) daffodils of my hometown, rooted and growing in the East China Sea (东海), the unique beauty of our sea area.
Waves surge, daffodils bloom. Perhaps this is the most enduring beauty that the sea we live in bestows upon us.
(The author is a member of the Zhoushan (舟山) Writers Association of Zhejiang Province (浙江省).)
Return to TopLayout Design: Shen Yiling (沈亦伶)
Return to TopBy: 本报记者 魏哲哲
In recent years, the issue of professional claimants, who make a living by claiming compensation from producers and operators, has become increasingly prominent. Some professional claimants abuse rights protection channels such as complaints, reports, and lawsuits to achieve high compensation goals, and improperly use legal systems such as "refund one get ten" and "refund one get three." Some even maliciously create the illusion of illegal production and operation in order to obtain illegal benefits, and engage in illegal and criminal activities such as extortion and fraud, which damage the consumer rights protection environment, harm the legitimate rights and interests of producers and operators, and disrupt market transaction order.
How to regulate professional claims? The Supreme People's Court (最高人民法院), the Supreme People's Procuratorate (最高人民检察院), and the State Administration for Market Regulation (国家市场监督管理总局) jointly released typical cases of regulating professional claims and maintaining market order on the 29th, aiming to give play to the warning, education, and guidance role of typical cases.
Maliciously placing foreign objects in meals in restaurants and demanding money constitutes the crime of extortion
[Case] In January 2024, Su (苏) was administratively detained for extorting catering merchants. From March to April of the same year, Su (苏) placed cockroaches prepared in advance into meals while dining in multiple restaurants in Beijing (北京市). He threatened to report the restaurants for violating the Food Safety Law by claiming to have found cockroaches in the food, and demanded exemptions and compensation from the restaurants five times, including four times demanding a total of 1,663 yuan.
After receiving reports from restaurants, the Beijing (北京) market supervision department found through verification that Su (苏) had made claims in the same way in multiple restaurants and was suspected of extortion. Therefore, the clues were transferred to the public security organs. The public security organs filed a case for investigation, and the procuratorial organs filed a public prosecution against Su (苏) for the crime of extortion in accordance with the law.
[Statement] The court held that Su (苏) extorted other people's property multiple times for the purpose of illegal possession, and his behavior constituted the crime of extortion. According to the interpretation of the Supreme People's Court (最高法) and the Supreme People's Procuratorate (最高检) on several issues concerning the application of law in handling criminal cases of extortion, if a person has been subject to administrative punishment for extortion within one year, the standard for "a relatively large amount" of extortion of public and private property can be determined according to 50% of the standard stipulated in Article 1 of the judicial interpretation. In this case, Su (苏) had been subject to administrative punishment for extorting catering merchants, and then continued to commit crimes by the same means, disrupting the operating order of the catering industry, and should be punished according to law.
After Su (苏) arrived at the case, he confessed his guilt and repented, refunded all the economic losses to the victimized units, and obtained the understanding of some victimized units, and could be given a lighter punishment according to law. The court sentenced the defendant Su (苏) to six months of imprisonment with a one-year reprieve and a fine of 3,000 yuan for the crime of extortion.
Requests for punitive damages by "knowing and buying fake" persons shall be supported by law within the scope of reasonable living consumption needs
[Case] On May 7, 2023, Shi (石) purchased a bag of a certain brand of sesame oil chicken pre-packaged food in a supermarket, priced at 28 yuan. The packaging label stated that the production date was August 1, 2022, and the shelf life was 8 months. Shi (石) filed a lawsuit on the grounds that the supermarket sold expired food, requesting a refund of the purchase price of 28 yuan and payment of punitive damages of 1,000 yuan.
The supermarket argued that Shi (石) was a professional claimant who purchased goods for the purpose of claiming compensation, and did not fall within the scope of consumers protected by the Food Safety Law, and refused to pay compensation. After investigation, it was found that Shi (石) had purchased expired food in different rural supermarkets in the local area from November 2022 to March 2024, and made claims according to the same model, and filed multiple lawsuits in court.
[Statement] According to the Food Safety Law and relevant judicial interpretations, if an operator sells pre-packaged food that has exceeded its shelf life, it is an act of knowingly operating food that does not meet food safety standards. Consumers have the right to request the operator to compensate for losses and pay punitive damages of ten times the price or three times the losses. If the punitive damages are less than 1,000 yuan, it shall be 1,000 yuan.
In this case, the supermarket sold food that it knew was expired to Shi (石), and Shi (石) had the right to request the supermarket to refund the price and pay punitive damages. The punitive damages claims filed by "knowing and buying fake" persons should be supported by law within the scope of reasonable living consumption needs of ordinary consumers. The court ruled that the supermarket should refund the price to Shi (石) and pay punitive damages of 1,000 yuan.
The court held that supporting the food safety punitive damages claims filed by professional claimants within the scope of reasonable living consumption needs can not only give play to the supervisory role of the people, but also prevent abuse of rights, and can also make full use of the clues of illegal production and operation they provide to solve food safety problems from the root.
Fabricating buyer information and product quality problems to defraud merchants of property constitutes the crime of fraud
[Case] From April 2023, the defendants Huang (黄), Zhang (张), and Gao (高) jointly engaged in e-commerce operations in Xuzhou (徐州市), Jiangsu Province (江苏省). From June to August of the same year, Huang (黄) and others successively organized the defendants Yang (杨), Sun (孙), and other 5 people to fabricate food quality problems with chicken feet produced by a certain food company in Anhui (安徽) by forging buyer express delivery bills and videos and photos of bulging and leaking food packaging bags on online platforms, defrauding the company of more than 90,000 yuan in commodity refunds.
After receiving a report from the company, the Anhui (安徽) market supervision department launched an investigation and judged that it was suspected of fraud, and consulted the public security organs to intervene. The public security organs filed a case for investigation in accordance with the law, and the procuratorial organs filed a public prosecution against Huang (黄) and others for the crime of fraud in accordance with the law.
[Statement] The court held that Huang (黄) and others defrauded other people's property multiple times by fabricating facts and concealing the truth for the purpose of illegal possession. Among them, Huang (黄) and other 4 people defrauded a huge amount, and the remaining 4 people defrauded a relatively large amount. Their behavior constituted the crime of fraud.
In this case, the handling agency strengthened the explanation of laws and reasoning, urged the persons involved to return the stolen goods, helped the enterprise recover economic losses, and at the same time, coordinated to combat and govern illegal claims and their derivative social problems in accordance with the law, resolutely curbed the spread of illegal and criminal activities such as extortion and fraud, strengthened network governance and public opinion guidance, and created a clean and upright market environment.
Return to TopThis newspaper reported from Beijing on January 29th (Reporter Wei Zhezhe (魏哲哲)) With the approval of the Supreme People's Court, on the 29th, the Wenzhou Intermediate People's Court of Zhejiang Province executed the death penalty on 11 criminals, including Ming Guoping (明国平), Ming Zhenzhen (明珍珍), and Wu Hongming (巫鸿明), involved in the Ming family criminal group case.
On September 29, 2025, the Wenzhou Intermediate People's Court sentenced 11 people, including Ming Guoping (明国平), Ming Zhenzhen (明珍珍), Zhou Weichang (周卫昌), Wu Hongming (巫鸿明), Wu Senlong (吴森龙), and Fu Yubin (傅雨彬), involved in the Ming family criminal group case, to death for crimes including intentional homicide, intentional injury, illegal detention, fraud, and opening casinos, and imposed corresponding additional penalties. After the first instance verdict, defendants Ming Guoping (明国平), Ming Zhenzhen (明珍珍), and others appealed. The Zhejiang Provincial Higher People's Court, after a trial, ruled on November 25, 2025, to reject the appeal and uphold the original judgment, and reported it to the Supreme People's Court for approval in accordance with the law.
After review, the Supreme People's Court confirmed that since 2015, the Ming family criminal group, with core family members such as Ming Guoping (明国平) and Ming Zhenzhen (明珍珍) as the main culprits, had established multiple parks in Kokang, Laukkai, and Qingshuihe in Myanmar, recruiting and attracting a number of "financial backers" such as Wu Hongming (巫鸿明), Luo Jianzhang (罗建章), and Jiang Ji (蒋吉) to settle in and provide armed protection, engaging in crimes such as telecommunications network fraud and opening casinos, involving more than 10 billion yuan in fraud and gambling funds. The Ming family criminal group also colluded with the telecommunications fraud criminal group of Wu Hongming (巫鸿明) and others to intentionally kill, intentionally injure, and illegally detain personnel involved in fraud, resulting in the deaths of 14 Chinese citizens and injuries to many others.
The Supreme People's Court held that the defendants Ming Guoping (明国平), Ming Zhenzhen (明珍珍), Zhou Weichang (周卫昌), Wu Hongming (巫鸿明), Wu Senlong (吴森龙), Fu Yubin (傅雨彬) and others organized, led, and participated in the criminal group to commit crimes, and their actions constituted more than 10 counts of crimes such as intentional homicide, intentional injury, illegal detention, fraud, and opening casinos. The Ming family criminal group, with Ming Guoping (明国平), Ming Zhenzhen (明珍珍) and others as the main culprits, and the telecommunications fraud criminal group, with Wu Hongming (巫鸿明) and others as the main culprits, colluded to commit serious violent crimes such as intentional homicide, intentional injury, and illegal detention resulting in death. Among them, the intentional homicide and intentional injury committed by each defendant were particularly heinous in nature, the circumstances and consequences were particularly serious, and the crimes were extremely serious, and they should be severely punished in accordance with the law. The facts found in the first-instance judgment and the second-instance ruling were clear, the evidence was reliable and sufficient, the conviction was accurate, and the sentencing was appropriate. The trial procedure was legal. Based on this, the Supreme People's Court approved the death penalty for 11 people in accordance with the law.
After receiving the criminal ruling and execution order from the Supreme People's Court, the Wenzhou Intermediate People's Court pronounced and executed the death penalty on 11 criminals in accordance with the law. Before the execution, the criminals' close relatives were allowed to meet with them.
Return to TopThis newspaper reported from Beijing on January 29th (Reporter Qiu Chaoyi (邱超奕)): The reporter learned from the China Air Transport Association (中国航空运输协会) that the group standard "Rules for Reserved Seats on Flights of Public Air Transport Enterprises (Draft for Comment)" was released on the 29th and is soliciting opinions from relevant units.
In recent years, the seat selection service experience has received high attention from passengers. In order to protect the legitimate rights and interests of passengers, standardize reserved seating behavior, and at the same time consider the reasonable business conditions of enterprises, it is planned to guide the industry to carry out reserved seating services in a standardized and orderly manner through the establishment of group standards. The standard refers to the reserved seat data of many airlines currently in use, considers actual business needs, and ensures that the proportions and time limits are set scientifically and reasonably, and are operable. At the same time, the number of seats reserved by airlines will be greatly reduced, providing more free seats for ordinary passengers to choose from.
The standard clarifies that public air transport enterprises should, in a clear and prominent manner, fully inform passengers of the conditions for obtaining different seats, the scope of reservation, and the rules for release, etc., in key links such as ticket purchase, seat reservation, and check-in. The standard regulates the proportion of reserved seats and release rules to prevent excessive reservation from affecting passenger rights.
The standard proposes the scope of free optional seats for domestic flights. For flights with a total number of economy class seats less than or equal to 160, the number of free optional seats shall not be less than 70% of the total number of economy class seats. For flights with a total number of economy class seats greater than 160 (excluding) and less than or equal to 200 (inclusive), the number of free optional seats shall not be less than 75% of the total number of economy class seats. For flights with a total number of economy class seats greater than 200 (excluding), the scope of free optional seats shall not be less than 80% of the total number of economy class seats. In addition, international and regional flights should provide no less than 65% of the total number of economy class seats for passengers to choose for free.
The standard also proposes that, on the basis of fully providing free seats, domestic flights should provide rights-based seat selection such as points redemption, and not open paid seat selection, while international and regional flights can carry out differentiated services such as paid seat selection.
Return to TopThis newspaper reported from Beijing on January 29th (Reporter Chen Chenxi (陈晨曦)) On January 29th, the Ministry of Public Security (公安部), the General Administration of Sport of China (国家体育总局), and the Chinese Football Association (中国足协) jointly held a press conference in Beijing (北京) regarding the special rectification action against "fake games, gambling, and black sheep" in the football industry. At the conference, the decision to deduct points for the 2026 season professional league and impose fines on 13 clubs was announced. Additionally, 73 practitioners, including Chen Xuyuan (陈戌源) and Li Tie (李铁), who were found guilty by the People's Court (人民法院), were given the penalty of being banned from engaging in any football-related activities for life.
The head of the Public Security Administration Bureau of the Ministry of Public Security (公安部治安管理局) introduced the recent work of the public security organs in continuously deepening the crackdown on "fake games, gambling, and black sheep" illegal and criminal activities in the football field. The Ministry of Public Security (公安部) will continue to work with sports administrative departments to maintain a high-pressure posture of strict investigation and crackdown in accordance with the law, and effectively cooperate to promote the in-depth and solid progress of relevant work.
Song Kai (宋凯), chairman of the Chinese Football Association (中国足协), reported on the specific circumstances of this industry punishment. The announced list of penalties included 9 Chinese Super League (中超) clubs and 4 China League One (中甲) clubs. The list of those banned for life covered coaches, athletes, managers, referees, etc. Song Kai (宋凯) stated that the Chinese Football Association (中国足协) will always maintain a strict tone without wavering, and continue to punish all kinds of violations of rules and disciplines in the football field with a "zero tolerance" attitude.
The relevant person in charge of the Competitive Sports Department of the General Administration of Sport of China (国家体育总局竞技体育司) stated that this punishment demonstrates the firm determination of the General Administration of Sport of China (国家体育总局) to strictly rectify the conduct of the football industry. The General Administration of Sport of China (国家体育总局) will resolutely implement the decisions and deployments of the Party Central Committee (党中央) and the State Council (国务院) on the revitalization and development of football, and the requirements of the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection (中央纪委) and the National Supervisory Commission (国家监委) on promoting reform, governance, and development in the football field through cases. It will work with the Ministry of Public Security (公安部) to guide the Chinese Football Association (中国足协) to resolutely investigate and deal with corruption cases in the football field, resolutely punish violations of rules and disciplines, and resolutely correct behaviors that undermine the construction of conduct. At the same time, it will further consolidate the regulatory responsibilities of sports administrative departments and football associations at all levels, as well as the Chinese Football Professional League (中足联), and continue to consolidate and expand the effectiveness of the governance of "fake games, gambling, and black sheep" issues. 零容忍 (líng róng rěn - "zero tolerance," absolutely no acceptance of wrongdoing).
Return to TopIn winter, walking into the Hanfeng Lake National Wetland Park (汉丰湖国家湿地公园) in Kaizhou District (开州区), Chongqing (重庆), the lake surface is as clear as a mirror, reflecting the colorful "water forest." Flocks of migratory birds arrive, leisurely foraging in the shallows. The 46-kilometer环湖 greenway winds forward, together painting a harmonious and beautiful ecological picture.
Hanfeng Lake (汉丰湖) was created by the construction of the Three Gorges Project (三峡工程). With a water area of 15 square kilometers, it is the largest inland lake in the Three Gorges Reservoir area. It boasts landscapes such as the Fengyu Covered Bridge (风雨廊桥) and the Kaizhou Imperial Examination Garden (开州举子园), connecting historical contexts such as Qinba culture (秦巴文化) and Three Gorges culture (三峡文化), and bearing ecological functions such as water conservation and biological protection.
Lively because of the water, prosperous because of the lake. Currently, Kaizhou District (开州区), relying on the resource advantages of Hanfeng Lake (汉丰湖), adheres to the development path of emphasizing both protection and utilization, and the synergy of ecology and industry. It is making every effort to promote the creation of the Hanfeng Lake National Tourist Resort (汉丰湖国家级旅游度假区), boosting the high-quality development of the cultural tourism industry, and writing an answer sheet for the construction of a modern and beautiful lakeside city in the Three Gorges Reservoir area.
Building the Foundation with Ecology, Transforming Water into Scenery
Drawing a New Picture of Green Development
Ecology is the foundation of Hanfeng Lake (汉丰湖) and the core competitiveness of the resort's development. In recent years, Kaizhou District (开州区) has strived to build a vital ecological barrier in the upper reaches of the Yangtze River (长江), adhered to supporting high-quality development with high-level protection, placed the water ecological environment protection of the Hanfeng Lake Tourist Resort (汉丰湖旅游度假区) in a prominent position, and adopted a coordinated development model of "ecological restoration - industrial upgrading - people's livelihood improvement" to solve the ecological protection and economic development problems in the Three Gorges Reservoir area.
Kaizhou District (开州区) has invested a cumulative 320 million yuan to implement the comprehensive water environment management project of the resort. Facing the difficult problem of drawdown zone management, it innovated a "project repair + natural restoration + intelligent control" management path, implemented the "Four Major Projects of Drawdown Zone Management" of forest and marsh restoration, landscape base pond, bird habitat, and ecological conservation, carried out ecological restoration of drawdown zone wetlands of more than 1,400 mu, and the water quality has been stably improved from local Class IV to Class III or above. More than 30 kinds of national first-level and second-level protected animals and plants breed and live here.
Today's Hanfeng Lake (汉丰湖) has flowing mist around the shore in spring, a clear lake reflecting the sky in summer, colorful forests in autumn, and migratory birds in winter. The pattern of "the lake in the city, the city in the mountains, and people in the scenery" is more distinct, and the golden signboard of a modern and beautiful lakeside city in the Three Gorges Reservoir area is even brighter.
Multi-dimensional Integration, Enriching Scenarios
Activating a New Engine for Consumption Growth
In the early morning, on the环湖 running track, runners run forward, measuring the beauty of the city park with their footsteps; in the afternoon, canoe and paddleboard enthusiasts ripple on the lake; under the night, the brightly lit Fengyu Covered Bridge (风雨廊桥) and the "Hanfeng Impression" light show intertwine... The Hanfeng Lake Tourist Resort (汉丰湖旅游度假区) is gradually becoming a comprehensive space integrating sports, culture, leisure, and health.
Taking water as the vein, culture as the core, and green as the base, Kaizhou District (开州区) skillfully makes a "water article" on the basis of strict protection, promotes the deep integration of culture, tourism, and sports, and constructs three major product systems: waterfront sports and fitness, cultural immersive experience, and lakeside style leisure, forming 12 categories and 73 resort products, such as accommodation, shopping, catering, leisure, and festival events, igniting a new engine for consumption growth.
Waterfront sports are full of vitality. Kaizhou District (开州区) has opened more than 20 water sports projects such as motorboats and paddleboards, carried out 8 water amusement projects such as painted boat cruises, and held various competitions and activities such as the Hanfeng Lake International Motorboat Open (汉丰湖国际摩托艇公开赛), the Chongqing Kaizhou Hanfeng Lake Marathon (重庆开州汉丰湖马拉松赛), and the National Paddleboard Championship (全国桨板锦标赛), turning competition traffic into consumption increment.
Traditional culture permeates people's hearts. Kaizhou District (开州区) relies on Qinba folk culture (秦巴民俗文化), Three Gorges immigration culture (三峡移民文化), etc., to build cultural spaces such as the Ancient City Intangible Cultural Heritage Market (故城非遗集市) and the Kaizhou Imperial Examination Garden (开州举子园), and carry out red research, national studies research and other activities to promote the deep integration of cultural inheritance and tourism consumption.
In addition, in order to meet the diverse, multi-level, and multi-faceted spiritual and cultural needs of the people, Kaizhou District (开州区) innovatively launched the "One Yuan Theater" (壹圆剧场) cultural benefit brand, using the lakeside plank road of Hanfeng Lake (汉丰湖) as a fixed performance stage every week, and relying on the natural landscape to create an immersive performance space. Tourists can have an immersive experience of "watching the lake view during the day and watching a big show at night" in the Hanfeng Lake Tourist Resort (汉丰湖旅游度假区). As of now, the "One Yuan Theater" has accumulated more than 140,000 viewers, and the online live broadcast has been watched more than 6 million times.
Co-creation and Sharing, Being Good at What We Do
Polishing the Golden Signboard of Service Guarantee
Walking into the Hanfeng Lake Tourist Resort (汉丰湖旅游度假区), in the 4,400-square-meter modern tourist service center, 8 consulting service points, more than 1,500 standardized signs, full coverage of 5G network and barrier-free facilities make convenient services within reach.
The comprehensive improvement of public services is inseparable from high-standard planning. Kaizhou District (开州区) adheres to the "one game of chess" layout, integrates 3.6 billion yuan of funds, implements 32 key projects, and forms a closed-loop promotion mechanism of "itemization, listization, annualization, and responsibility," comprehensively improving the service quality of the resort.
In addition, Kaizhou District (开州区) has also formulated more than 40 service specifications, integrated and formed a professional service team, carried out regular training and assessment, and enhanced the resort's tourism reception service capabilities. At the same time, it continues to strengthen the construction of smart services, build a Chinese-English bilingual smart tour guide system, access more than 500 data items such as parking lots, vehicles and ships, realize real-time scheduling of passenger flow, 24-hour intelligent monitoring, and improve emergency response efficiency by 50%.
Data source: Publicity Department of the CPC Kaizhou District Committee of Chongqing (中共重庆市开州区委宣传部)
Return to TopBy: 高世楫
The first volume of "Xi Jinping's Excerpts on Ecological Civilization (《习近平生态文明文选》)" systematically reflects the rich content, scientific system, and original contributions of Xi Jinping's (习近平) thought on ecological civilization. It comprehensively demonstrates General Secretary Xi Jinping's (习近平总书记) global vision, commitment to civilization, and concern for the world in planning ecological civilization construction. It provides us with authoritative teaching material for deeply studying and implementing Xi Jinping's (习近平) thought on ecological civilization, and for profoundly understanding the theoretical value, strategic role, and significant meaning of Xi Jinping's (习近平) thought on ecological civilization by connecting history and reality, linking international and domestic contexts, and combining theory and practice.
In "Promoting the Modernization of Harmonious Coexistence between Humanity and Nature in All Respects through the Construction of a Beautiful China," General Secretary Xi Jinping (习近平总书记) pointed out: "Accelerate the formation of green production and lifestyles, and cultivate a green foundation for high-quality development." The "Suggestions of the CPC Central Committee on Formulating the 15th Five-Year Plan for National Economic and Social Development (中共中央关于制定国民经济和社会发展第十五个五年规划的建议)," adopted by the Fourth Plenary Session of the 20th CPC Central Committee, proposed that "green development is the distinct background color of Chinese-style modernization" and made strategic arrangements for "accelerating the comprehensive green transformation of economic and social development and building a beautiful China." We must deeply study the first volume of "Xi Jinping's Excerpts on Ecological Civilization (《习近平生态文明文选》)," profoundly recognize the power of truth, the great power of practice, and the global contribution of the concept of green development, more consciously adhere to the guidance of Xi Jinping's (习近平) thought on ecological civilization, fully implement the spirit of the Fourth Plenary Session of the 20th CPC Central Committee and the spirit of the Central Economic Work Conference, promote harmonious coexistence between humanity and nature with green development, and inject strong green momentum into the basic realization of socialist modernization.
Bringing a Profound Revolution in the Concept of Development
The first volume of "Xi Jinping's Excerpts on Ecological Civilization (《习近平生态文明文选》)" comprehensively and vividly presents the formation and development process of Xi Jinping's (习近平) thought on ecological civilization since the 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China. It embodies General Secretary Xi Jinping's (习近平总书记) profound insights and deep thinking on ecological civilization construction and is a programmatic document guiding ecological civilization construction in the new era. The concept of green development is an important part of Xi Jinping's (习近平) thought on ecological civilization. The first volume of "Xi Jinping's Excerpts on Ecological Civilization (《习近平生态文明文选》)" includes many important works that profoundly expound the concept of green development from different perspectives, such as "Relying on Scientific and Technological Innovation to Solve the Problems of Green Development," "Leading Rural Revitalization with Green Development," and "Systematically Carrying Out Ecological Environmental Protection and Restoration and Building a Green Development Demonstration Belt." These important works adhere to the Marxist worldview and methodology, are based on the great practice of the Party leading the people to promote Chinese-style modernization, deeply analyze, study, and solve a series of theoretical and practical problems concerning green development. At a critical period of laying the foundation and fully exerting efforts to basically realize socialist modernization, and at a key stage when global ecological civilization construction still faces many challenges and uncertain and unstable factors are significantly increasing, it points out the direction and provides fundamental guidance for China to follow the path of green development and promote the joint construction of a clean, beautiful, and sustainable world.
The concept of green development vividly demonstrates General Secretary Xi Jinping's (习近平总书记) forward-looking thinking and strategic vision in planning to solve major problems in the process of Chinese-style modernization. It has a strong theoretical appeal and practical relevance, and is of great significance for guiding the historic, transformative, and overall changes in China's ecological civilization construction and achieving remarkable achievements that have attracted worldwide attention. China is the world's largest developing country with a population of more than 1.4 billion. Although China's economic strength, scientific and technological strength, and comprehensive national strength have continued to increase, and the people's living standards have steadily improved, the problem of unbalanced and insufficient development remains prominent, and the task of comprehensively building a modern socialist country remains arduous and heavy. In particular, to achieve high-quality development, China still faces severe challenges in many aspects, such as fewer per capita resources and increased constraints on the ecological environment. Allowing more than 1.4 billion people to enter modernization as a whole is a great undertaking that will completely rewrite the world map of modernization. Its arduousness and complexity are unprecedented, and profound changes must be made in the concept of development to guide us to break through the bottlenecks and constraints on the road ahead.
General Secretary Xi Jinping (习近平总书记) pointed out in "To Achieve Sustainable Development, We Must Focus on Ecological Civilization Construction": "It is impossible for us to build a modern country by following the old path of the United States and Europe. Even if there were several more Earths, it would not be enough for the Chinese people to consume." If we do not solve the various problems in the concept of development that exist in the "old path of the United States and Europe," such as "polluting first and treating later" and pursuing economic growth at the expense of the environment and overdrawing the future, it will be impossible for us to achieve sustainable development under the condition of a huge population. General Secretary Xi Jinping (习近平总书记) pointed out in "Promoting the Formation of Green Development Methods and Lifestyles is a Profound Revolution in the Concept of Development": "The relationship between humans and nature is a symbiotic one, and damage to nature will ultimately harm humans themselves." "Resolutely abandon the practice of sacrificing the ecological environment in exchange for temporary economic growth in one place, and make a good ecological environment a growth point for people's lives, a support point for the sustained and healthy development of the economy and society, and a force point for demonstrating China's good image." General Secretary Xi Jinping's (习近平总书记) important exposition profoundly shows that harmonious coexistence between humans and nature is an inevitable requirement of Chinese-style modernization. Xi Jinping's (习近平) thought on ecological civilization clearly puts forward the concept of green development, which transcends the traditional view that economic and social development and ecological environmental protection are contradictory and cannot be achieved simultaneously. It requires that the concept of green development be integrated into all aspects of the entire process of economic and social development, promote the formation of green development methods and lifestyles, and bring about a profound revolution in the concept of development.
Green development is an all-round and revolutionary change in production methods, lifestyles, ways of thinking, and values. To achieve green development, we must plan development from the height of harmonious coexistence between humans and nature, respect nature, conform to nature, protect nature, and restrict economic activities and human behavior within the limits that natural resources and the ecological environment can bear. We must "take with moderation and use with frugality," change the previous production and consumption model of "mass production, mass consumption, and mass emissions," and form a spatial pattern, industrial structure, production method, and lifestyle that saves resources and protects the environment, so as to better turn green waters and green mountains into gold and silver mountains and transform ecological advantages into development advantages, and achieve mutual promotion, mutual benefit, and organic unity between economic and social development and ecological environmental protection. Green development breaks through the old development thinking, development concepts, and development models, and is a profound grasp of the laws of nature and the laws of sustainable economic and social development. Green development is an important part of the new development concept, which can not only guide us to effectively solve ecological and environmental problems and meet the people's growing needs for a beautiful ecological environment, but also is an inherent requirement for developing new quality productive forces and better achieving high-quality development.
Guiding the Creation of Green Development Miracles
Since the 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, under the strong leadership of the Party Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping (习近平同志) as the core, and under the guidance of Xi Jinping's (习近平) thought on ecological civilization, with the concept of green development as the guide, we have created world-renowned ecological miracles and green development miracles. The article "The New Era of Ecological Civilization Construction Has Achieved Remarkable Achievements That Have Attracted Worldwide Attention (新时代生态文明建设取得举世瞩目的巨大成就)," included in the first volume of "Xi Jinping's Excerpts on Ecological Civilization (《习近平生态文明文选》)," systematically summarizes the historic achievements we have made in firmly establishing and practicing the concept that green waters and green mountains are gold and silver mountains, and unswervingly following the path of ecological priority and green development. In this important work, General Secretary Xi Jinping (习近平总书记) succinctly summarized the "four major transformations" in ecological civilization construction in the new era, namely, the major transformation from focusing on remediation to systematic governance, the major transformation from passively responding to actively acting, the major transformation from a participant in global environmental governance to a leader, and the major transformation from practical exploration to scientific theoretical guidance, pointing out: "The achievements of ecological civilization construction in the new era are remarkable, the people feel the most direct and real, and the international community also generally recognizes it, becoming a significant symbol of the historic achievements and historic changes in the cause of the Party and the country in the new era." This profoundly reveals the far-reaching impact of the concept of green development.
The green development method is accelerating its formation. We have integrated the concept of green development into all links of the entire chain of industry, agriculture, and service industries, which not only makes the production system cleaner, low-carbon, and more sustainable, and promotes significant improvements in the quality of the ecological environment, but also spawns new technologies, new business formats, and new models, accelerates industrial upgrading and green transformation, not only makes traditional industries glow with "green vitality," but also allows emerging industries to gain huge development, and green industries are gradually becoming a new driving force for high-quality development. For example, in the field of green and low-carbon industries, China has created development achievements that have amazed the world. China has built the world's largest clean power supply system. In 2024, the installed capacity of renewable energy reached 56% of the country's total power generation. In 2024, the power generation of renewable energy reached 3.46 trillion kilowatt-hours, which is about 1.6 times that at the end of the "13th Five-Year Plan." The newly added renewable energy power generation accounts for about 60% of the total global increase, and renewable energy has changed from "supplementary energy" to "main energy." General Secretary Xi Jinping (习近平总书记) pointed out: "Developing new energy vehicles is the only way for China to move from a large automobile country to a strong automobile country." Today, from the upstream development of mineral resources to the midstream manufacturing of core components such as batteries and motors, and then to the downstream vehicle production and service system, China has built a complete new energy vehicle industry chain. In 2025, the production and sales of new energy vehicles will exceed 16 million vehicles, which is leading the electrification, intelligentization, and low-carbonization of the automobile industry and changing the global automobile industry landscape. At the same time, the Chinese land has become bluer, the mountains are greener, the water is clearer, and the environment is more beautiful. From 2015 to 2024, the average concentration of PM2.5 in cities at the prefecture level and above across the country decreased by more than 1/3. In 2024, the national forest coverage rate has exceeded 25%, and the proportion of sections with excellent surface water quality has exceeded 90% for the first time. The green dream of "both gold and silver mountains and green waters and green mountains" continues to become a reality.
The green lifestyle is deeply rooted in the hearts of the people. General Secretary Xi Jinping (习近平总书记) pointed out in "Promoting the Achievement of Carbon Peak and Carbon Neutrality Goals in a Scientific and Orderly Manner": "Green and low-carbon development also requires promoting a revolutionary change in lifestyles. We must advocate a simple, moderate, green, low-carbon, civilized, and healthy lifestyle." The green development method is an important foundation and condition for the green lifestyle, and the green lifestyle is an important support and guarantee for the green development method. The connotation of the green lifestyle is very rich, including consciously practicing the concept of green living, using and promoting green products, green travel, green living, etc. Since the 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, under the guidance of the concept of green development, we have continued to promote extensive and in-depth ecological civilization publicity and education, and advocated and promoted the establishment of a thrifty consumption concept and living habits throughout society. For example, incorporating content related to green development into the national education system, carrying out theme publicity activities such as National Energy Conservation Publicity Week, China Water Week, National Low-Carbon Day, National Tree Planting Day, and World Earth Day, and promoting the concept of green living into families, communities, factories, and rural areas. Widely carry out green living creation actions such as conservation-oriented government agencies, green families, green schools, green communities, and green buildings, promote the electrification of terminal energy use in public institutions, and give priority to the purchase of green and energy-saving products. Today, the public's awareness of conservation, environmental protection, and ecology has continued to increase, the green consumer group has continued to expand, the green lifestyle has become a trend, and more and more people are consciously becoming practitioners and promoters of green development, and the good atmosphere of the whole society jointly promoting green development is even stronger. The concept of ecological civilization has become the mainstream culture of society, the green lifestyle has become more deeply rooted in the hearts of the people, and the social foundation of green development has been increasingly consolidated.
Making Chinese Contributions to Global Ecological Civilization Construction
General Secretary Xi Jinping (习近平总书记) pointed out in "Jointly Seek the Path of Global Ecological Civilization Construction and Strive to Build a Clean and Beautiful World": "The international community should work together to jointly seek the path of global ecological civilization construction, firmly establish the awareness of respecting nature, conforming to nature, and protecting nature, and adhere to the path of green, low-carbon, circular, and sustainable development. In this regard, China has an unshirkable responsibility and will continue to make its own contributions." The concept of green development guides China's green development to achieve historic achievements, and constantly improves the "gold content" of development with the "green content" of production and life, demonstrating the powerful power of truth and the great power of practice. It has been increasingly recognized and agreed upon by the international community, and has had a real impact on jointly building a clean, beautiful, and sustainable world, making Chinese contributions to global ecological civilization construction.
The development concept is being learned by the world. China has always been a firm actionist and important contributor to the world's green development. Since the new era, China's ecological miracle and green development miracle have fully proved the scientific and truthful nature of the concept of green development, and also demonstrated the effectiveness of China's ecological environment governance. The international community pays close attention to the "green code" of China's development. The concept of green development starts from the height that humans and nature are a community of life, focuses on promoting harmonious coexistence between humans and nature and achieving sustainable development, and promotes the green and low-carbon transformation of production methods and lifestyles, which is conducive to solving ecological and environmental problems from the source. In today's world, many countries, especially developing countries, face the dual task of developing the economy and protecting the environment, and may fall into this or that development trap in the process of pursuing modernization. China's green development practice under the guidance of the concept of green development provides experience and inspiration for many developing countries to independently explore sustainable development paths that meet their own realities and development requirements. For example, Aldo Rebelo, former Speaker of the Brazilian House of Representatives, said that China's green transformation provides a realistic sample for global energy transformation and explores a feasible path for developing countries to balance environmental protection and economic growth. Erik Solheim, former Deputy Secretary-General of the United Nations, believes that China's practical innovation and global demonstration effect in green development and green environmental protection provide key impetus for the world's green transformation. The concept of green development leads the transformation of development models and contributes Chinese wisdom and Chinese solutions to global green development.
Development results are shared by mankind. China's promotion of green development enables more than 1.4 billion Chinese people to have a continuously improving ecological environment while continuously improving their living standards, and the people's needs for a better life are continuously met, and their sense of gain, happiness, and security are continuously improved, which in itself is a major contribution to global ecological civilization construction. In addition, China's green development achievements also benefit the people of all countries in the world, making important contributions to mankind's joint journey on the path of green development. For example, in the process of promoting green development, relying on the advantages of a complete industrial system, a broad domestic market, strong policy support, and scientific strategic planning, China's wind power, photovoltaic, and other new energy industries have developed rapidly, with continuous innovation and increasing quality, providing the world with high-quality and affordable products for energy low-carbon transformation and improving the sustainability of global development. At present, China has carried out green energy project construction cooperation with more than 100 countries and regions. The Al Shuaiba photovoltaic power station undertaken by Chinese enterprises sends clean electricity to thousands of households in Saudi Arabia; the Chinese "100% electric" buses running on the streets of many Latin American countries lead the global clean travel revolution; the solar panels produced in China light up the rural areas of Zimbabwe, allowing African people to use green electricity. China's green development achievements have been promoted to many developing countries with a shortage of funds and lagging technology and capacity building. The clean energy produced using Chinese technology is expected to promote local reduction of dependence on fossil energy, achieve energy structure transformation, and improve the lives of billions of people in developing countries. By sharing green development achievements, China helps developing countries improve their development capabilities and development levels, and effectively enhances the inclusiveness and inclusiveness of global green development.
(The author is the Director of the Institute of Resources and Environmental Policies, Development Research Center of the State Council (国务院发展研究中心))
Return to TopBy: 李 斌
General Secretary Xi Jinping (习近平) pointed out at the Fifth Plenary Session of the 20th Central Commission for Discipline Inspection: "Since the 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, the Party Central Committee has started by formulating and implementing the Eight-Point Regulation, establishing iron rules and strengthening hard constraints, and promoting a new look in Party conduct and government administration." Unhealthy tendencies and corruption are the great enemies of the Party and the people, and also the great enemies of the sustained and healthy development of the economy and society. "The Eight-Point Regulation changes China," changing not only the Party conduct and government administration, the political ecology within the Party, and the concepts, attitudes, and behaviors of Party members and cadres, but also the social atmosphere and the logic of economic development. Starting with improving conduct to promote comprehensive and strict Party governance, it not only enhances the "immune system" to resist corruption and disease, and removes various "viruses" and "parasites" attached to the economic body, but also creates a clean and upright, law-abiding, and rule-clear business environment, fostering a thriving development ecology.
If "sunshine" is the best "preservative," then "fresh air" is the best "growth agent." Continuously strengthening conduct construction, straightening out resource allocation paths, optimizing the way government and business interact, and defending the bottom line of fairness and justice, helps to remove unsustainable parts of the old growth model, clear obstacles for China's economy to shift to innovation-driven and connotative growth, and inject healthy factors into high-quality development. The "small incision" of governing the Party promotes the "major transformation" of the economic ecology, making it easier to understand the deep logic that "the more effective the Party's governance, the more powerful the guarantee for economic and social development."
Fresh air nourishes industries, helping development move towards the new. In the typical problems of violating the spirit of the Eight-Point Regulation reported by various regions, "illegally accepting banquets from management and service objects," "accepting tourism activities that may affect the fair execution of official duties," and "illegally accepting banquets from private business owners" are frequently on the list. Enterprises engaged in business crave fair competition and worry about unspoken rules such as running errands, giving gifts, and wining and dining; talents seeking development fear the trouble of cumbersome procedures and material reports, and call for loosening restrictions, reducing burdens, and breaking constraints. Rectifying conduct, enforcing discipline, and fighting corruption have broken unspoken rules, broken interest chains, calibrated the roles and relationships of an active government and an effective market, and improved resource allocation efficiency and market innovation vitality.
Fresh air reduces heat, helping development move towards clarity. Phenomena such as eating and drinking at public expense and extravagance and waste have been effectively curbed, "relationship consumption" and "face consumption" are decreasing, festival gifts are returning to the essence of emotion and blessings, and the consumer market is able to get rid of the bubble of false prosperity, presenting a more green, healthy, and sustainable development trend. The Eight-Point Regulation guides consumer demand to return to rationality and authenticity, reducing "false fire," which helps companies accurately grasp market trends, focus their development on product quality and cost performance, thereby promoting the optimization and upgrading of the consumption structure and making economic growth more resilient and endogenous.
Fresh air tempers action, helping development move towards reality. Calibrating the view of performance, avoiding detachment from reality and aiming too high, squeezing out the moisture of development; strengthening the responsibility of seeking truth from facts and working hard, and implementing the Party Central Committee's decisions and deployments with a nail-nailing spirit... In recent years, China's economy has effectively responded to various shocks and challenges, and has continued to consolidate and expand the momentum of steady progress, which reflects from one side the enterprising spirit of Party members and cadres and the sense of responsibility for economic work that they "always worry about." It not only pulls up a "high-voltage line," internalizing the binding force of Party discipline and national law and high standards into political consciousness and ideological realm; but also straightens the "hard spine," with the vast number of Party members and cadres rushing to the forefront in urgent, difficult, dangerous, and heavy tasks, and pioneering and innovating in solving development problems. The clear and beautiful political ecology supports the fruitful results of high-quality development.
Fresh air benefits the people, helping development move towards excellence. The fundamental purpose of high-quality development is to improve people's well-being and allow the fruits of development to benefit all people more and more fairly. Whether it is "micro-corruption" in the fields of education, medical care, and elderly care, or the interception, misappropriation, false reporting, and fraudulent receipt of funds benefiting the people, it seriously damages the vital interests of the masses and shakes the popular foundation of economic and social development. Continuously deepening the rectification of unhealthy tendencies and corruption problems around the masses, so that "flies and ants" cannot reside, safeguards the original intention of policies benefiting the people and enriching the people and the bottom line of social fairness and justice, and calibrates the value criteria of development for the people, development relying on the people, and development results shared by the people.
Where righteousness is abundant, there is peace and prosperity, and the government is in harmony with the people; when the fresh breeze is mighty, we see all things flourishing and full of vitality. 2026 is the opening year of the "Fifteenth Five-Year Plan." Standing at a new starting point, China's economy has more positive factors to support it, and needs the guarantee of a new atmosphere of integrity. Unremittingly promoting comprehensive and strict Party governance, purifying the Party's body, uniting the Party's and people's hearts, and optimizing the development environment, the Chinese-style modernization, this broad road to the great rejuvenation, its potential is infinite, and its splendor will be long-lasting.
Return to TopBy: 马知遥
China is a major country in intangible cultural heritage (ICH). ICH is an important part of China's outstanding traditional culture and a vivid testament to the continuous inheritance of Chinese civilization. General Secretary Xi Jinping (习近平) emphasized: "We must earnestly do a good job in the systematic protection of intangible cultural heritage, better meet the people's growing spiritual and cultural needs, and promote cultural confidence and self-improvement." The "Suggestions" of the Fourth Plenary Session of the 20th CPC Central Committee proposed: "Deeply implement the project of inheriting and developing outstanding Chinese traditional culture, promote the systematic protection and unified supervision and inspection of cultural heritage, and strengthen the effective protection and living inheritance of historical and cultural cities, blocks, and villages." Protecting, inheriting, and promoting ICH is of great significance for continuing the historical context, strengthening cultural confidence, and building a strong socialist cultural country. The generation and development of ICH are closely related to the social, cultural, and natural environment of specific regions. Attention should be paid to its dependence on the relevant cultural and ecological environment, combining ICH with the cultural and natural environment in which it is conceived and developed for protection. Regional overall protection should be strengthened through cross-system and cross-disciplinary cooperation to promote the sustainable development of ICH.
Strengthen regional linkage and joint protection. China has a large number of ICH items. Strengthening regional linkage and promoting collaborative ICH protection practices are key to improving the level of systematic protection. By building a multi-level coordination mechanism, different regions can complement each other in terms of resource sharing, mutual learning of experience, and capacity building, which helps to address common challenges in protection and strengthen the integrity of the regional cultural ecology. Regional cultural protection belts or protection zones can be built to integrate resources and form synergy, promoting the development of regional cultural tourism industries while achieving ICH protection. For example, after the successful application for World Heritage status of the Grand Canal, the provinces and cities along the route jointly promoted the protection, inheritance, and utilization of the Grand Canal culture, and coordinated the protection, excavation, and research of ICH and other outstanding Chinese traditional cultures along the Grand Canal, promoting the integrated development of cultural tourism and related industries. Carry out regional collaborative training programs to increase the training of ICH inheritors. For example, Beijing (北京), Tianjin (天津), and Hebei (河北) jointly hold ICH inheritor training courses, skills competitions, and other activities, providing inheritors with a broader platform for learning and exchange, improving the skills of inheritors, and stimulating innovation and creativity. Make full use of digital technology to enhance the exchange and cooperation of ICH projects within the region and enhance the dissemination and influence of ICH. With the help of virtual reality technology, viewers can experience the exquisite craftsmanship of cloisonné enamel and other production techniques in an immersive way; relying on the Internet platform, ICH works such as paper-cutting and inner painting can transcend geographical boundaries, enhance the popularity and influence of ICH, and promote its prosperity and development.
Build and utilize cultural and ecological protection zones well. Cultural and ecological protection zones take the protection of ICH as the core and implement overall protection of historical and cultural forms and their natural and cultural environment in specific areas. Building and utilizing cultural and ecological protection zones well helps to maintain the balance and sustainable development of the ICH cultural ecosystem. Since the establishment of the first national-level cultural and ecological protection experimental zone in 2007, China has established a total of 23 national-level cultural and ecological protection (experimental) zones, carrying out overall protection of cultural forms with rich historical and cultural accumulation, good survival status, important value, and distinctive characteristics. For example, the Chongqing Wuling Mountain Area (Southeast Chongqing) Tujia and Miao Cultural and Ecological Protection Zone continuously weaves a dense protection network and cultivates the soil for inheritance through inheritance protection, productive protection, and digital protection. As another example, the Yunnan Diqing National Culture Ecological Protection Zone has established ICH grand gatherings, ICH supermarkets, ICH exhibition centers, ICH inheritance centers, etc., while developing ICH products that meet market needs, have distinctive ethnic characteristics, and conform to contemporary aesthetics. Promote collaborative cooperation among regions, establish unified management agencies, jointly formulate protection and development plans, break down barriers, and work together to achieve a "1+1>2" effect. Stimulate the internal driving force of multiple subjects to participate in protection and jointly build an ecology, mobilize the enthusiasm of residents, social forces, etc., and enhance the sustainability of the development of cultural and ecological protection zones. Deeply explore the economic value contained in ICH resources, strengthen the creative transformation and innovative development of ICH, and take the development of characteristic cultural tourism and cultural and creative industries as a starting point, organically integrate protection and development, and promote the long-term prosperity of cultural and ecological protection zones.
Cultivate ICH characteristic villages and towns and blocks. Building ICH characteristic villages and towns and blocks in areas with rich ICH resources, strong protection and inheritance, and active public participation helps to combine ICH projects with the original environment of traditional villages and historical blocks for overall protection and revitalization. For example, Jiqing Folk Street in Jiang'an District (江岸区), Wuhan (武汉), which was selected into the first batch of ICH characteristic villages and towns and blocks in Hubei Province (湖北省), gathers many ICH projects such as Chu Opera (楚剧), Han Opera (汉剧), and Hubei Drum (湖北大鼓), and carries out normalized living protection and inheritance work. As another example, Daoming Bamboo Art Village (道明竹艺村), Chongzhou City (崇州市), a characteristic ICH village in Sichuan Province (四川省), focuses on Daoming bamboo weaving, a representative project of national intangible cultural heritage, to create a characteristic industrial cluster with the bamboo industry as the core, and launch a variety of new consumption formats. The most representative ICH projects in the local area can be fully explored, and multi-party collaboration of government guidance, market operation, and community participation can be strengthened to create a brand for external display and dissemination, promote the deep integration of ICH and regional development, and realize the living inheritance of ICH. Cultivate ICH characteristic villages and towns according to local cultural characteristics, build a series of characteristic cultural courtyards, and integrate ICH into rural cultural revitalization and the construction of beautiful villages. Reasonably utilize the characteristic spaces in famous historical and cultural villages and towns to centrally display local ICH projects, reasonably arrange ICH-related business formats, and form new cultural consumption scenarios integrating display, experience, and consumption, and promote the transformation of cultural resources into economic value through innovative business formats and optimized governance mechanisms.
Strengthen the work of "ICH in the community." Letting ICH return to daily life, shine in use, and gain greater blood-making ability in the public's understanding and awareness is an important path for the living inheritance of ICH. The community is the daily living space of residents and an important carrier for urban grassroots cultural construction. Promoting "ICH in the community" not only helps to strengthen the systematic and overall protection of ICH, but also enables ICH to play a role in serving the grassroots and promoting grassroots social governance, injecting cultural vitality into community construction. In communities with the conditions, ICH workshops, museums, community studios, community experience halls, etc. can be explored and built to bring residents closer to ICH projects and inheritors, and realize ICH protection that "sees people, sees objects, and sees life." For example, in Donghuashi Street (东花市街道), Dongcheng District (东城区), Beijing (北京市), ICH inheritors regularly teach related skills in the Donghuashi Community Museum, forming a three-level linkage working model of streets, communities, and inheritors; Wenzhou City (温州市), Zhejiang Province (浙江省), launched the "Ouyue ICH Hundred Workshops" community public service brand, carrying out a variety of ICH inheritance activities, and innovating the ways and methods of ICH dissemination in urban communities. Promote the deep embedding of ICH in the community, relying on traditional festivals, folk performances, ICH skill displays, and other activities to create multi-level cultural interaction fields, promote deep connections between residents, enhance community cohesion with ICH, maintain harmonious neighborhood relations, and enhance community residents' sense of identity.
(The author is an Yingcai Professor at Tianjin University (天津大学))
Return to TopBy: 本期主讲人：习近平经济思想研究中心主任、研究员 史育龙
Insufficient aggregate demand is a prominent contradiction facing the current economic operation. It is of great significance to accelerate the补上 (bǔ shàng - "make up for") shortcomings in domestic demand, especially consumption, so that domestic demand becomes the main driving force and anchor for stabilizing economic growth. General Secretary Xi Jinping (习近平) pointed out: "We must adhere to the coordinated efforts and dynamic balance between the supply and demand sides, continue to deepen supply-side structural reforms, with advances and retreats, with preservation and compression, and enhance the adaptability and balance between supply and demand." The "15th Five-Year Plan" (十五五) proposals put forward a series of major measures around "vigorously boosting consumption," such as "in-depth implementation of special actions to boost consumption," "expanding the supply of high-quality consumer goods and services," and "promoting the expansion and upgrading of commodity consumption." The Central Economic Work Conference (中央经济工作会议) also made arrangements to boost consumption as an important part of building a strong domestic market. To boost consumption, supply-demand matching is key.
Greater efforts should be made to match supply and demand to boost consumption.
Consumption is restricted by income levels and is also affected by the consumption environment, policies, psychological expectations, and other factors. While making every effort to increase consumer income, greater efforts must also be made to match supply and demand, so that the products and services provided by the production and supply side can accurately match consumer demand and can lead and create demand through product and service innovation, achieving a "two-way rush" between supply and demand and forming a higher-level dynamic balance in which demand drives supply and supply creates demand.
In recent years, China's industrial capabilities and levels have been significantly improved. From agricultural products to industrial manufactured goods, it can provide abundant traditional commodities in almost all fields. At the same time, under the strong promotion of a new round of technological revolution and industrial transformation, the innovation and creation capabilities of the production and supply side have been greatly improved, and many new products and services closely related to digitalization, intelligence, and green technology and application scenarios have been developed. Smart home appliances, new energy vehicles, household drones, and smart wearable products have entered ordinary people's homes on a large scale, making a huge contribution to meeting the people's growing needs for a better life. The stronger the supply capacity, the more choices consumers have, and the more important it is to enhance the adaptability of supply and demand.
Supply-demand matching requires accurate grasp of current consumption characteristics.
Consumption is a process of meeting needs, and at the same time, it will create new needs, thereby promoting further development of production. In this sense, consumption is a continuous, step-by-step development process that enables social reproduction to continue. Therefore, grasping the stage characteristics of consumption development is very important for promoting supply-demand matching.
The shift from commodity consumption as the main focus to equal emphasis on commodity and service consumption. From international experience, per capita GDP approaching $10,000 is the starting period for the upgrade from physical consumption to service consumption. China's per capita GDP has exceeded $13,000 for three consecutive years and has remained the world's second-largest commodity consumption market and the largest online retail market for more than 10 consecutive years. It is in a stage of rapid upgrading of the consumption structure. While commodity physical consumption is shifting to quality and personalization, the demand for service consumption is becoming increasingly strong. The proportion of service consumption expenditure in residents' per capita consumption expenditure increased from 39.7% in 2013 to 46.1% in 2025. From 2013 to 2024, China's per capita consumption expenditure increased by an average of 5.6% per year in real terms, of which per capita expenditure on education, culture, entertainment, and medical care increased by an average of 8% and 9.7% per year, respectively. In 2025, the total retail sales of consumer goods for the whole year increased by 3.7% year-on-year, but the retail sales of services increased by 5.5% year-on-year, continuing to maintain a leading position. From "Village BA" (村BA) to "Su Super" (苏超) and "Gan Super" (赣超), from the "museum craze" to the booming performing arts market, the demand for service consumption in the fields of culture, tourism, medical care, and health care has been fully released, and consumption has gradually shifted from meeting basic living needs to pursuing quality, experience, and self-realization.
Changes in population structure and technological revolution profoundly change consumption. China is the world's second-largest consumer market, with the world's largest middle-income group, and contains huge potential for consumption growth. The "Generation Z" (Z世代) group, as the first generation of "digital natives," has entered the peak of consumption and has become an important force affecting consumption growth. On the other hand, the surging digital technology, artificial intelligence, and green and low-carbon technologies are profoundly changing consumption patterns, consumption content, and consumption concepts. New products and services are meeting consumption needs and are creating new demands with amazing power, especially cross-border integration has spawned a large number of new consumption scenarios, which will bring huge new consumption demands and new supplies in the future.
Boosting consumption is the top priority of expanding domestic demand and strengthening the domestic cycle. Consumption is an important engine of China's economic growth, and final consumption is the lasting driving force of economic growth. Since 2018, in order to promote consumption, the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (中共中央) and the State Council (国务院) have issued important documents such as the "Several Opinions on Improving the System and Mechanism for Promoting Consumption and Further Stimulating Residents' Consumption Potential," and the National Development and Reform Commission (国家发展改革委) and other departments have also issued a series of documents such as the "Implementation Opinions on Promoting the Expansion and Improvement of Consumption and Accelerating the Formation of a Strong Domestic Market" and the "Implementation Plan for Accelerating the Cultivation of New Types of Consumption." In particular, the "Special Action Plan for Boosting Consumption" issued by the General Office of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (中办) and the General Office of the State Council (国办) in March 2025 deployed 30 key tasks in 8 aspects and improved the policy system for promoting consumption. On November 14, 2025, the State Council Executive Meeting (国务院常务会议) pointed out that "enhancing the adaptability of supply and demand is an effective measure to further release consumption potential and smooth the economic cycle," and pointed out that "it is necessary to lead industrial upgrading with consumption upgrading, better meet diverse needs with high-quality supply, and achieve a higher level of dynamic balance between supply and demand." This series of important documents and meetings clarified the key points of boosting consumption and enhancing the adaptability of supply and demand. Various localities have combined their actual conditions and local characteristics to actively innovate measures to boost consumption, forming a work situation of linkage between the upper and lower levels, creating a good social atmosphere, and promoting better matching of supply and demand.
Take multiple measures to enhance the adaptability of supply and demand.
Continue to stimulate consumption potential. First, improve the policy system for promoting consumption, comprehensively use policy tools such as financial subsidies and loan interest discounts, cultivate and expand new consumption growth points, improve the green consumption incentive mechanism, increase the intensity of inclusive policies directly reaching consumers, establish and improve management methods adapted to new consumption formats, new models, and new scenarios, release diversified and differentiated consumption potential, and promote the improvement and upgrading of consumption quality. Second, clean up unreasonable restrictions in the consumption field, clean up unreasonable restrictive measures on consumption such as automobiles and housing, improve and optimize restrictive measures on automobile modification and used car transactions, optimize offshore tax refund services, etc., and effectively release consumption potential. Third, accelerate the cultivation and opening of consumption scenarios, carry out digital empowerment of cultural tourism scenario construction actions, create gathering places for new generation trendy play, use new technologies to expand consumption experience, cultivate integrated application scenarios of technologies such as artificial intelligence and virtual reality, promote cross-border integration of consumption in commerce, culture, tourism, sports, health, transportation, etc., and encourage cities with conditions to create experiential consumption places such as smart blocks and smart business districts.
Expand the supply of high-quality goods and services. First, promote the expansion and upgrading of important commodities and services in the fields of market potential and people's livelihood, accelerate the construction of a unified national market, strengthen brand leadership, standard upgrading, and new technology applications, clean up and rectify market access barriers, resolutely eliminate local protectionism and market segmentation, strengthen the element guarantee of the production and operation process, enhance the internal motivation of enterprises to improve quality and cultivate famous, high-quality, special, and new commodities and services, and enhance supply capacity. Second, rectify "involution" competition, prevent producers and operators from engaging in vicious competition at prices below cost, strengthen intellectual property protection, improve the standard system, certification and accreditation, and credit system, and cultivate a consumption culture of high quality and good price. Third, innovate and enrich supply and improve supply, expand service consumption with relaxed access and format integration as the focus, actively develop the first-release economy, ice and snow economy, and silver economy, promote the steady growth of the market scale of the low-altitude economy, cultivate and expand emerging consumer markets such as RV camping and cruise yachts, increase the supply of high-quality cultural products, and shape a new consumption ecology.
Improve the long-term mechanism for expanding consumption. First, reasonably increase the proportion of public service expenditure in fiscal expenditure, steadily promote the equalization of basic public services, improve the mechanism for reasonable adjustment of the funding and treatment of basic pension and basic medical insurance, accelerate the implementation of the system of providing basic public services by registering household registration in the place of residence, and eliminate worries about consumption. Second, accelerate the reform of moving the collection link of consumption tax backward and steadily transferring it to local governments, and mobilize the enthusiasm of local governments to boost consumption. Third, increase supervision of instant consumption such as e-commerce platforms and live streaming sales, crack down on the circulation of fake and shoddy goods, and further improve quality standards, credit constraints, comprehensive governance, consumer rights protection, and other systems to create a good consumption environment. Fourth, strengthen the construction of urban and rural logistics infrastructure systems, make up for the shortcomings of rural logistics, and build an efficient logistics network covering urban and rural areas. Fifth, use digital technology to improve the adaptability of supply and demand, encourage the interconnection of data between circulation enterprises and the production side, accurately capture changes in consumption trends, guide production enterprises to respond to market signals in a timely manner, and reduce supply-demand mismatches.
(Compiled by Xu Weina (许维娜), reporter of People's Daily Online (人民网))
Case 1
Immersive experience, shooting new scenery of cultural tourism
Narrator: Zhao Liwei (赵立伟), owner of a travel photography shop in Dali City (大理市), Yunnan Province (云南省)
At sunset, in Dali Ancient City (大理古城), Yunnan (云南), photographers pick up their cameras and freeze time for tourists wearing ethnic costumes in the sound of the shutter.
Transformed from an architect to a travel photographer, I now run a small travel photography shop in Dali (大理), providing tourists with a special travel experience.
At present, the needs of young people are becoming more personalized and diversified, and the traditional "sightseeing" is transforming into "in-depth experience." Ethnic costume travel photography is one of the ways for tourists to have an immersive experience.
Each shooting is not only a travel check-in souvenir, but also a cultural experience unfolded through images. We try to integrate Bai (白族) traditional architecture, ethnic costumes, and intangible cultural heritage elements into the shooting plan, so that tourists can deeply understand the history and aesthetics of Bai (白族) culture during the shooting process.
The peak tourist season is also the peak season for the travel photography market. From clothing selection, makeup style to shooting route, we customize adapted styles and scenes according to the shooting needs of tourists, so that every press of the shutter becomes a more personalized aesthetic expression.
The trust that tourists have accumulated in us comes from transparency and honesty. On the online platform, our prices are fair and transparent. Tourists come to experience according to the guidelines, and they no longer have to worry about hidden consumption. At the same time, the good reputation of the service is naturally deposited in the store's comment area, becoming the store's "popular sign."
The camera viewfinder connects photographers and tourists. Thanks to the "bridge of trust" between supply and demand built by Internet platforms such as Meituan (美团), we will use good technology and good services to meet the personalized service consumption needs of more tourists.
(Compiled by Xia Xiaolun (夏晓伦) and Tang Jia (唐佳), reporters of People's Daily Online (人民网))
Case 2
Data flow, stringing up new consumption vitality
Narrator: Wang Pu (王璞), Party Secretary and co-founder of Genki Forest (元气森林)
At 5 a.m., our replenishment worker Zhao Bo (赵波) has already started to count the goods. The replenishment list in his hand is connected to the warehouse and the intelligent retail cabinets all over the city. Over the years, Master Zhao (赵师傅) has witnessed the increasing number of outlets and also sensed the changes in demand. He said that his replenishment process draws a vivid "consumption demand map."
Every bottle of beverage from the factory to the consumer's hand is behind the changes in the entire consumer market. Now everyone not only wants to drink conveniently, but also pays attention to health, taste, and experience. This forces a higher level of "two-way rush" between supply and demand.
This "two-way rush," in the final analysis, is because everyone has higher expectations for a better life. Every time we adjust products and launch new products, we are responding to these real needs.
Market innovation is always in sync with policies. The "15th Five-Year Plan" (十五五) proposal clearly proposes to "create a batch of new consumption scenarios with a wide driving range and high visibility." Following this direction, we use technical means and quality assurance to open up more consumption scenarios close to life and deliver products to consumers.
In the evening, Master Zhao (赵师傅) ended a day's work, and countless smart cabinets stood quietly, waiting to be opened again next time. This ordinary scene contains the resilience and opportunities of the consumer market: when countless specific needs are seen and met, and when supply and demand matching becomes more efficient, the road to expanding and upgrading commodity consumption will be wider.
From the lights in the warehouse at dawn to the data screen in the R&D center, and then to the retail terminals all over the city, data is constantly flowing. What is strung together by this whole process is not only the improvement of efficiency, but also the consumption vitality jointly participated in and promoted by countless ordinary people.
(Compiled by Sun Yang (孙阳) and Li Qiaochu (栗翘楚), reporters of People's Daily Online (人民网))
Case 3
Financial empowerment brings new flavors of good things
Narrator: Wu Haisheng (吴海生), CEO of Qifu Technology (奇富科技)
Liuao laver (六鳌紫菜), Ningde large yellow croaker (宁德大黄鱼), Wuyi rock tea (武夷岩茶)... As the Spring Festival (春节) approaches, the Min-flavor New Year goods market attracts a lot of attention.
In Liuao Town (六鳌镇), Zhangpu County (漳浦县), Fujian Province (福建省), Liuao laver (六鳌紫菜), a national geographical indication product, has moved from a small fishing port to the national market. Farmer Lin Wenhui (林文辉) said with emotion: "In the past, laver was sold by the pile, but now it is sold by the catty." With the help of financial technology support, he added equipment, expanded production capacity, and developed new products such as laver candy, making traditional seafood a best-selling product for the New Year. At present, China's consumption structure is continuously upgrading, and consumers have a strong demand for high-quality, profound, and distinctive commodities; however, some geographical indication products are restricted by financing difficulties and slow transformation, and the bottlenecks in transforming "geographical advantages" into "market advantages" need to be unblocked.
Under the guidance of the Fujian Provincial Market Supervision Bureau (福建省市场监管局), Qifu Technology (奇富科技) launched the "Special Action for Financial Empowerment of Geographical Indication Products," incorporating information such as geographical indication authorization, production and sales data, and e-commerce performance into the credit granting basis, realizing the transformation of "market reputation" into "credit line." The "geographical indication + industry + finance" model has solved the financing problems of small and medium-sized operating entities and unblocked the supply and demand bottlenecks.
Boosting consumption is by no means a simple increase in the amount of purchases, but a structural optimization and high-level matching of both supply and demand. The "15th Five-Year Plan" (十五五) proposal clearly proposes to "promote the expansion and upgrading of commodity consumption," which points out the direction for consumer finance to empower geographical indication industries. In the future, we must accurately match diversified needs in terms of quality improvement, structural optimization, and utility upgrading, so that more entrepreneurs like Lin Wenhui (林文辉) dare to invest, can innovate, and steadily increase income, so that more distinctive good things can go to a wider market, and inject financial vitality into boosting consumption.
(Compiled by Li Tong (李彤) and Ouyang Yijia (欧阳易佳), reporters of People's Daily Online (人民网))
Return to TopLayout Design: Wang Zheping (汪哲平)
Return to TopBy: 本报记者 杨 义 王 丹
On January 26th, the Laba Festival, at the entrance of the New Era Civilization Practice Station in Jinsha Avenue Community, Bayuehu Street, Nanchang County (南昌县), Nanchang City (南昌市), Jiangxi Province (江西省), community volunteers and residents had already cooked fragrant Laba porridge and set up a "Warm Heart Supply Station." "After running around all morning, it's so heartwarming to have a bowl of hot porridge!" Courier Xiao Li (小李) took the bowl of porridge and repeatedly thanked the volunteers.
Bowls of sweet and fragrant Laba porridge dispelled the winter chill. In recent years, Nanchang City (南昌市) has innovated its working ideas, taking the construction of friendly scenarios for new employment groups as a breakthrough, accurately solving their urgent needs and difficulties, and exploring a path to enhance urban governance effectiveness and demonstrate urban warmth through refined services.
Creating Friendly Scenarios
Smoother Delivery Routes
Just after 11 a.m., the notification sounds from the food delivery platform rang densely, and riders entered their busiest period.
At the entrance of Aoyuan Platinum Central Community in Donghu District (东湖区), Nanchang City (南昌市), deliveryman Wan Chao (万超) took out his mobile phone and scanned the "Foreign Personnel Registration Code" on the wall, and the access control immediately opened. In the past, riders had to explain the situation and register their personal identity information every time they entered the community; now, riders submit their identity information and station information once, and they can freely enter and exit with the rider code. "I used to be most anxious when I encountered community access control," Wan Chao (万超) said with a smile, "Now, I can enter in seconds!"
After entering the community, he quickly found the building by following the map navigation generated by the applet, parked his electric vehicle in the dedicated area, and then went upstairs to deliver the meal, taking less than two minutes from scanning the code to arriving at the resident's doorstep.
"With electronic keys and maps, delivery is convenient and fast." As he spoke, Wan Chao (万超) hurried to the next location, "With fewer delays, I can save a lot of time in a day!"
As the old city center of Nanchang (南昌), Donghu District (东湖区) is prosperous in commerce and trade, with a dense flow of people. There are many food delivery riders and a large delivery volume. The problems of "the last hundred meters," such as difficulty entering doors and finding buildings, once plagued many riders.
"Focusing on problems such as difficulty entering doors and integrating, we took the lead in creating 'Rider-Friendly Mutual Aid Communities' in the city, signing tripartite co-construction agreements with property companies, delivery stations, and communities to focus on solving the terminal delivery problems," introduced Zeng Wubing (曾武兵), Minister of the Social Work Department of the Donghu District (东湖区) Party Committee. By introducing intelligent access control and a scanning registration platform, setting up dedicated channels, transfer points, and parking areas, and creating building layout guidance maps, the riders' delivery routes have become smoother.
As delivery efficiency improves, warm-hearted services follow. At 8 p.m., just after the peak of dinner delivery, the "Riding Heart Home" New Employment Group Party-Masses Service Center next to Hama Street Night Market in Donghu District (东湖区) gradually became lively. Riders walked in in twos and threes to charge their devices, get water, sit down and rest, and wait for the next round of orders.
Wan Chao (万超) took a screwdriver and cable tie from the convenience tool area of the station and turned to his electric vehicle to get busy. "The buckle on the basket is loose, so I'm tying it with a cable tie to fix it." He said with a smile as he skillfully operated, "In the past, if there was a small problem with the car, I didn't have any tools on hand, so I either had to ride it as is or take a detour to find a repair shop, which was especially troublesome. Now the station has all the small tools ready, and I can take them as I need them, and small problems can be solved on the spot."
The facilities of the station fully consider the needs of new employment groups: charging and battery replacement equipment is equipped at the entrance, and water dispensers, medicine cabinets, etc. are equipped indoors; power strips are close to the seats for easy charging; raincoats and simple repair tools are available in the corners; and legal service guides are also posted in the book reading area... Such stations have become warm "fixed coordinates" in the routes of riders, ride-hailing drivers, and others.
Ride-hailing driver Niu Fuchao (牛富超) said: "In the past, when I was tired from driving, it was difficult to find a place to rest. With this station, I can sit down and rest when I'm tired, and it's convenient to have a cup of hot water or a hot meal!"
By the end of 2025, Nanchang City (南昌市) will have built 80 "Rider Stations" and 356 love parking spaces in concentrated areas such as key business districts, night markets, and parks, and promoted the free opening of Party-Masses Service Centers in 2,153 villages (communities) throughout the city to new employment groups, so that everyone can feel more belonging in this city.
Optimizing Warm-Hearted Services
More Powerful Guarantee Support
While improving the working environment, Nanchang City (南昌市) has also formulated a service list for new employment groups around policy support, employment and entrepreneurship, vocational training, and safety guarantees, and launched 78 warm "new" measures. Logistics company employee Li Lei (李磊) is a real beneficiary.
In the summer of 2024, Li Lei (李磊) fainted on the way home after completing a delivery task. After being sent to the hospital, he was diagnosed with severe exertional heatstroke, accompanied by rhabdomyolysis, respiratory failure, and other complications, and his condition was critical. After nearly 20 days of rescue, he was out of danger, but the medical expenses of more than 150,000 yuan put the already struggling family in a difficult situation. Due to the flexible employment relationship and vague responsibility of the new business format, the determination of the labor relationship was not supported, and the relevant enterprises shirked responsibility to each other, making Li Lei's (李磊) path to safeguarding his rights extremely difficult.
"I've been running for more than a year, the company doesn't care, and the insurance doesn't pay..." Recalling the time, tears welled up in Li Lei's (李磊) eyes, "The community told me that there was free judicial service in the district and asked me to try it." Subsequently, he came to the Qingyunpu District (青云谱区) Legal Aid Center for help. After verification, the center immediately decided to provide assistance and assigned lawyer Liu Xinyue (刘新月) to handle the case.
Liu Xinyue (刘新月) contacted Li Lei (李磊) as soon as possible and patiently sorted out the case. "I will definitely help you get justice." Her promise rekindled Li Lei's (李磊) hope. After months of efforts, the court ruled in May 2025 that the employing enterprise, insurance company, and others should bear the compensation amount of 135,700 yuan. In June of the same year, Li Lei (李磊) received the last payment, and all the compensation was executed in place.
Nanchang (南昌) is also focusing on the long-term development of new employment groups, actively providing vocational skills training, academic qualifications improvement, and other services to help them enhance their competitiveness.
Based on the characteristics of new employment groups, such as large scale, wide coverage, decentralized mobility, and busy work, Nanchang (南昌) took the lead in the province to explore and implement a graded and classified training plan, and carried out various trainings on professional skills, legal knowledge, etc. through rider birthday sharing meetings, driver lecture halls, and other forms. In 2025, a total of 22,000 insurance policies were given to new employment groups, as well as 3,800 practical supplies such as portable fans, heated lunch boxes, and thermos cups, and more than 36,000 psychological counseling and legal aid services were provided.
Stimulating Co-construction Vitality
Integrating into Governance Shows Responsibility
In April last year, Zhang Zuxia (张祖霞) and dozens of other ride-hailing driver representatives attended a symposium and bluntly stated the pain points and difficulties of driving and parking. "Although there are dedicated parking spaces, the free time is only 30 minutes, and sometimes I have to move the car quickly after taking a breath." Zhang Zuxia's (张祖霞) speech expressed the common concerns of her peers. Unexpectedly, this "complaint" saw results in less than two months.
In the past, Nanchang West Station (南昌西站) had only 270 parking spaces for operating vehicles such as ride-hailing cars and taxis. In order to solve the problem of parking and charging difficulties during peak periods, Nanchang West Station (南昌西站) planned and expanded the original site on the west side of the South Square, adding 220 parking spaces and building 24 charging piles. "We have also uniformly extended the free parking time for ride-hailing cars and taxis from 30 minutes to 60 minutes, and implemented free parking all day during national statutory holidays." Min Jianshui (闵件水), head of the Service Guarantee Section of the Nanchang West Station (南昌西站) Comprehensive Service Center, introduced that this move allows drivers to rest and eat more calmly and reduces operating costs.
In November 2025, ride-hailing driver Wan Changsong (万常松) met Chen Yang (陈杨), the research and operation supervisor of the "Hongcheng Red" (洪城红) ride-hailing driver warm station, who was conducting research near Nanchang West Station (南昌西站) while waiting for passengers. The two talked about the station's services, and Wan Changsong (万常松) casually said, "We sit and drive for a long time all year round, and our lumbar spine is under a lot of pressure. It would be great if there were fitness equipment to exercise when we rest." This request was carefully recorded by Chen Yang (陈杨) on his "demand list." Now, the station has fitness equipment, and drivers can not only do pull-ups and exercise their muscles and bones during the waiting period, but also play a game of table tennis. This small corner of vitality has become a good place for many drivers to relax and adjust their state.
In recent years, the Social Work Department of the Nanchang Municipal Party Committee (南昌市委), the Municipal Human Resources and Social Security Bureau (市人力资源和社会保障局), and the Municipal Market Supervision Administration (市市场监督管理局) have taken the initiative to enter stations and enterprises to chat with representatives of new employment groups, listen to their demands, and solve their problems. They respond to the problems of rights protection and skills training raised by them on the spot, register them, and follow up on their implementation, so that everyone can feel real respect.
New employment groups also rely on their advantages of walking through streets and alleys and having extensive contacts to transform themselves into "sensors" of urban governance, timely discover problems, convey warmth, and help improve the refinement level of governance.
In the summer of 2025, Zhang Zuxia (张祖霞) passed by an old residential area while taking an order and found that the base of a large roadside billboard was loose and some panels were falling off and hanging in the air, posing a great hazard. In order to prevent accidents, she took the initiative to give up subsequent scheduled orders and waited at the scene for nearly an hour until the staff of the Xingfu Street (幸福街道) Comprehensive Administrative Law Enforcement Team set up a fence and began repairs before resuming taking orders.
Nanchang City (南昌市) has now formed a 260-member "Red Leading Team," driving more than 3,200 couriers, deliverymen, and others to participate in "handy photos" of problem hazards, "handy help" for helping the weak and rescuing the needy, and "handy distribution" of public welfare publicity, forming a demonstration effect of leading the group upward and promoting social friendliness.
Return to TopBy: 闵方正
The anonymity, fluidity, and non-judgmental nature of message books provide a suitable emotional outlet for everyone.
"He's a good person, my high school classmate... Entering marriage makes me both excited and scared." "Work was tiring today, but I got paid and bought two cute little bags. Keep going!"...
Late at night on the streets of Beijing (北京), in the back seat of an ordinary ride-hailing car, passengers open a notebook and write down their day's thoughts. This is the "emotional tree hole" created by Yang Yongzhuang (杨永壮), a post-95s ride-hailing driver. In this mobile space of less than two square meters, the stories and emotions of strangers are constantly flowing, colliding, and healing.
More than a year ago, a girl rushing to catch a train mentioned her grandmother's hospitalization to Yang Yongzhuang (杨永壮) in the car and wrote her thoughts on a sticky note, which she stuck on the back of the seat. After the girl got out of the car, Yang Yongzhuang (杨永壮) bought a notebook and placed it in the back row, along with a letter inviting everyone to "record in the notebook whether they are feeling lost or happy."
Over time, Yang Yongzhuang (杨永壮) has accumulated five notebooks in his car, through which passengers share their joys, sorrows, and happiness. These words include not only the yearning and apprehension for marriage, but also the persistence in work, the questioning of the meaning of life, and the expectations for life... Every word and sentence is a true reflection of the emotions of ordinary people.
Why are people willing to confide in a stranger's car? In this anonymous space, people don't have to pretend to be strong and don't have to worry about being judged. Facing a quiet driver and an open notebook, the psychological defenses in daily life are easier to let down. The anonymity, fluidity, and non-judgmental nature of message books provide a suitable emotional outlet for everyone.
In the city, there are a large number of similar "social connectors" and "social connection points" worth exploring. For example, an "emotional transfer station" was once opened in a subway station in Changsha (长沙), Hunan (湖南), allowing passers-by to express their feelings, which was welcomed by citizens... This innovative attempt shows that the combination of urban service networks and emotional support networks can give people in high-intensity, fast-paced lives an opportunity to face their inner selves and release their emotions, which may produce unexpected social benefits.
The warmth of a city lies not only in magnificent buildings and convenient facilities, but also in the subtle understanding and response to individual emotional needs. Those words written in the message book, those comforts and encouragements between strangers, are not just records of personal emotions, but also a microscopic measure of the civilization of a city.
Such warmth may be transformed from individual ingenuity into public services, allowing the warm power of the city to be contained in ordinary and sincere writing.
Return to TopThis newspaper reported from Beijing on January 29th (Reporter Qiu Chaoyi (邱超奕)) At the recent regular press conference of the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security (人力资源社会保障部), the head of the relevant department analyzed the progress of human resources and social security work in 2025 and introduced the key work arrangements for the next step.
In terms of employment, we will focus on building an employment-friendly development mode, implement the action of stabilizing jobs, expanding capacity and improving quality, introduce employment support measures for key industries, and issue documents to promote employment in response to the impact of artificial intelligence. Formulate and implement the "15th Five-Year Plan" for the employment-first strategy. Carry out special public employment recruitment activities such as the Spring Breeze Action and Employment Assistance Season.
In terms of social security, we will actively and steadily promote the pilot project of occupational injury insurance, and expand the scope of the pilot to the whole country. Expand the coverage of social security, and encourage and support flexible employees and new employment form personnel to participate in employee insurance. Promote the full coverage of urban and rural residents' endowment insurance, and guide all localities to implement assistance policies such as paying endowment insurance premiums for urban and rural residents on their behalf.
In terms of labor relations and wage income distribution, we will formulate the "Measures for Guaranteeing the Basic Rights and Interests of Workers in New Forms of Employment" to further clarify the labor standards for new forms of employment and the labor protection responsibilities of enterprises. Promulgate the "Interim Provisions on Guaranteeing the Basic Rights and Interests of Super-Age Workers." Promote the revision of the "Regulations on Paid Annual Leave for Employees" to promote employers to implement the system of paid annual leave for employees. Improve the adjustment mechanism of the minimum wage standard, and guide enterprises to build a skill-oriented wage distribution system. At present, we will make every effort to do a good job in the winter action to manage wage arrears, and strive to achieve substantial resolution of verified wage arrears cases.
Return to TopIn the Second Workers' South Community (工人南里第二社区) of Hedong Subdistrict (河东街道), Haigang District (海港区), Qinhuangdao City (秦皇岛市), Hebei Province (河北省), migrant workers and their children experience the traditional game of "Pitch-Pot."
On the day of the event, children played games and did handicrafts with their parents and university student volunteers. The event was co-sponsored by the Communist Youth League Working Committee of Hedong Subdistrict (河东街道团工委) and the Second Workers' South Community (工人南里第二社区) of Hedong Subdistrict (河东街道), Haigang District (海港区), Qinhuangdao City (秦皇岛市), Hebei Province (河北省), aiming to build a communication platform for migrant workers' families and help children grow up happily.
Photo by Cao Jianxiong (曹建雄) (Image China (影像中国)).
Return to TopThis newspaper's Beijing (北京) dispatch on January 29th (Reporter Liu Wenxin (刘温馨)) - The Ministry of Emergency Management (应急管理部) and the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (工业和信息化部) recently issued the "Guiding Opinions on Accelerating the Innovative Development of Emergency Management Equipment," proposing that by the end of 2027, more than 20 key core technologies will be conquered, more than 20 key innovative equipment will be developed, and more than 30 advanced technology equipment will be promoted.
Emergency management equipment is an important support for empowering new quality productivity in emergency management, an important guarantee for promoting the modernization of the emergency management system and capabilities, and an important component of developing a strategic emerging industry for safety and emergency equipment. The guiding opinions put forward 12 specific measures from promoting scientific research and innovation of urgently needed technology and equipment, strengthening the promotion and application of advanced and applicable equipment, strengthening the construction of supporting forces, strengthening standard and normative support, and promoting the development of the equipment industry, to promote the high-quality development of the safety and emergency equipment industry.
The guiding opinions emphasize the need to promote the integrated innovation of emergency management equipment with new technologies such as artificial intelligence, 5G, big data, the Internet of Things, satellite Internet, Beidou (北斗), and advanced computing. According to the functions of emergency rescue teams, increase the application of advanced and applicable technology and equipment, and accelerate the construction of a modern equipment system.
Return to TopThis newspaper reported from Beijing on January 29th (Reporter Wang Haonan (王昊男)) On January 29th, the Beijing Municipal Transportation Comprehensive Law Enforcement Team (北京市交通运输综合执法总队) took the lead in coordinating with relevant functional departments in Beijing (北京) and the transportation law enforcement departments of Hebei (河北) and Tianjin (天津) to officially launch the "Escort Spring Festival Travel Season" concentrated governance action for safe transportation. This action takes breaking down regional and departmental barriers as a breakthrough, focusing on concentrated governance of illegal cruising taxis, illegal inter-provincial passenger transport, and illegal tourist passenger transport across Beijing (北京), Tianjin (天津), and Hebei (河北), to purify the capital's transportation market order during the Spring Festival travel season. It is understood that the action will last until the end of March.
The Beijing Municipal Transportation Comprehensive Law Enforcement Team (北京市交通运输综合执法总队), as the leading department, has jointly formulated a special plan with multiple departments such as public security, traffic management, urban management, and key station areas. At the same time, relying on the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei (京津冀) law enforcement cooperation mechanism, it will link the transportation law enforcement departments of Hebei (河北) and Tianjin (天津) to promote synchronized governance in the cities and counties surrounding Beijing (北京), Tianjin (天津), and Hebei (河北). During the concentrated governance period, Beijing (北京), Tianjin (天津), and Hebei (河北) will organize high-frequency collaborative law enforcement actions every week. Various departments will achieve collaborative efforts through mutual clue sharing, information sharing, and joint punishment. Transportation, urban management, traffic management, and public security law enforcement personnel will form joint combat units to carry out joint law enforcement, strictly implement "one vehicle multiple checks," and simultaneously verify and deal with illegal operations, public security violations, and violations of traffic safety regulations.
According to the relevant person in charge of the Beijing Municipal Transportation Commission (北京市交通委), the focus of this action is on concentrated governance of illegal cruising taxis, illegal inter-provincial passenger transport, and illegal tourist passenger transport across Beijing (北京), Tianjin (天津), and Hebei (河北), mainly focusing on illegal operation behaviors that engage in transportation services without permission, traffic safety violations such as using fake license plates, temporary license plates, and occupying emergency lanes, as well as illegal behaviors that disrupt social security order, such as illegal soliciting and violent resistance to law enforcement.
Strictly implement the "six all" measures for "black cars" and related personnel that are seized: strictly verify the qualifications of people and vehicles, strictly detain vehicles in accordance with the law, strictly deal with them severely, strictly investigate and deal with multiple illegal acts such as illegal operation, traffic safety, and public security violations simultaneously, strictly include them in the industry's key attention list, and strictly manage temporary license plate vehicles entering Beijing (北京).
The Beijing (北京) transportation department reminds the public to consciously stay away from illegally operated "black cars" when traveling, choose legal and compliant means of transportation, and protect their own travel safety and legitimate rights and interests. If you find "black cars" and related illegal clues, you can call the transportation service supervision hotline 12328 to report them in a timely manner, and jointly create a safe, stable, and orderly transportation environment.
Return to TopBy: 本报记者 吴 君
Core Reading
The Shuangliu Yangtze River Bridge (双柳长江大桥), located in Wuhan (武汉) City, Hubei (湖北) Province, recently passed the completion acceptance smoothly. From scheme design to construction methods, the bridge construction attaches importance to protecting the Yangtze River's ecological environment and biodiversity, making many beneficial explorations.
On the north bank of the middle reaches of the Yangtze River, in Xinzhou (新洲) District, Wuhan (武汉) City, Hubei (湖北) Province, the Shuangliu Yangtze River Bridge (双柳长江大桥) soars across the north and south, spanning the Yangtze River and closely connecting Wuhan (武汉) City with Ezhou (鄂州) City.
"Look, that's a grey heron, and that's an egret..." Standing on the newly completed bridge, Peng Xiaobin (彭晓彬), the bridge designer and Deputy Chief Engineer of Hubei Provincial Communications Planning & Design Institute Co., Ltd. (湖北省交通规划设计院股份有限公司), said excitedly, pointing to the birds in the sky.
The Shuangliu Yangtze River Bridge (双柳长江大桥) is the twelfth Yangtze River bridge in Wuhan (武汉) City, with a main line of 35.043 kilometers in length, passing through the Wuhan Zhangdu Lake Wetland Nature Reserve (武汉涨渡湖湿地自然保护区) and crossing waters frequently visited by Yangtze finless porpoises. "This bridge is not only a benchmark of China's engineering technology but also a benchmark of ecological and environmental protection." In December 2025, during an academic conference organized by the China Highway & Transportation Society (中国公路学会), the Shuangliu Yangtze River Bridge (双柳长江大桥) received unanimous praise from experts and scholars.
To jointly protect the environment and avoid large-scale development. How can the construction of a Yangtze River bridge protect the Yangtze River's ecology?
Building a "barrier bridge" for birds is a first in Yangtze River bridge construction.
Under the warm winter sun, a silver, fully enclosed protective cover shines on the north bank connection project of the Shuangliu Yangtze River Bridge (双柳长江大桥).
"This is a sound barrier specially built for the birds of Zhangdu Lake Wetland (涨渡湖湿地), 400 meters long, 6.38 meters high, and spanning 34 meters," Peng Xiaobin (彭晓彬) introduced. Building a "barrier bridge" for birds is a first in Yangtze River bridge construction.
The Zhangdu Lake Wetland Nature Reserve (涨渡湖湿地自然保护区) is on the East Asia-Australasia migratory bird flyway. How can the construction of the Yangtze River Bridge reduce the impact on bird migration? "Our team has repeatedly modified the bridge design plan and finally decided to add an extra bend to the north bank connection of the bridge," Peng Xiaobin (彭晓彬) said. This new design plan significantly increased the construction cost of the bridge.
Because of the increased cost, the plan was once rejected. "Our team and the construction party asked bird protection experts to provide 10 years of bird activity data from the wetland, and we repeatedly went to the site to observe. Everyone agreed that the ecological environment must be considered in the project construction," Peng Xiaobin (彭晓彬) introduced. He and his team then revised the design plan eight times, each version making the bridge as far away from the wetland as possible.
Considering that the noise generated after the bridge opens to traffic would affect the birds in the wetland, Peng Xiaobin (彭晓彬) and his team decided to build a fully enclosed sound barrier on the bridge deck near the migratory bird flyway.
"When making the sound barrier, we pre-numbered each component, so when installing the sound barrier, it would be as simple and quick as assembling a giant building block," said Li Yulong (李玉龙), project manager of the traffic safety project of China Communications Construction Company (中交路建) Shuangliu Yangtze River Bridge (双柳长江大桥).
Precise calculations allowed the sound barrier to be fully installed before the migratory birds migrated. Now, the external noise of the sound barrier is 50 to 55 decibels during the day and 40 to 45 decibels at night, which is equivalent to putting on "noise-canceling headphones" for the wetland birds.
Spanning the river in one go to protect the habitat of the Yangtze finless porpoise.
Looking down from the main bridge of the Shuangliu Yangtze River Bridge (双柳长江大桥), the wide surface of the Yangtze River ripples in the breeze. "Here, you can still see Yangtze finless porpoises playing," said Chen Cheng (陈诚), chief engineer of the Shuangliu Yangtze River Bridge (双柳长江大桥) project of China Communications Second Navigation Engineering Bureau Co., Ltd. (中交第二航务工程局有限公司).
About 2 kilometers downstream of the main bridge of the Shuangliu Yangtze River Bridge (双柳长江大桥), the Yangtze River Bay is frequently visited by Yangtze finless porpoises. In order not to affect the survival of the Yangtze finless porpoises, the bridge type of the main bridge adopted a "one-span across the river" design scheme.
"The main bridge is a single-span steel box girder suspension bridge, which does not require a single pile to be driven into the river. The approach bridges on both the north and south banks are all carried out on land, completely avoiding underwater construction," Chen Cheng (陈诚) said.
During construction, in order to avoid the peak period of activity of aquatic organisms such as the Yangtze finless porpoise, infrastructure such as trestle bridges were erected during the dry season, and then the main tower pile foundations and caps were quickly completed. In terms of on-site operations, all the steel box girders used for the main bridge were manufactured in sections in the bridge factory, transported to the waters under the bridge by special ships, and then lifted and hoisted by cable cranes. "In this way, the construction personnel only need to weld the main beam joints at high altitude, which not only speeds up the project progress, but also the entire process of girder erection will not disturb the river water," Chen Cheng (陈诚) introduced.
During the main tower construction stage, Chen Cheng (陈诚) and his team used integrated intelligent tower building machine technology to build two fully enclosed tower building machines. "The appearance of this tower building machine is like it comes with a 'soundproof cover'. During construction, the staff can complete the concrete pouring and maintenance of the main tower of the bridge and the overall hoisting and shifting of the steel bars through the intelligent integrated control system in the background. While maintaining the construction speed, it can also seal the noise and dust in the cover," Chen Cheng (陈诚) introduced.
In order to further reduce the noise of the main tower construction, the steel parts and other processes used in the main tower construction are basically transferred to closed factories far away from the Yangtze River for production.
"We have also built a fully enclosed environmentally friendly concrete mixing station, added enclosures to the construction site to form a sound barrier, and stipulated that vehicles are prohibited from honking their horns after entering the construction site," Chen Cheng (陈诚) added. In specific construction, the project team also laid out oil-absorbing cotton and oil drums on the catway to absorb oil stains accidentally leaked from hydraulic equipment to prevent pollution of the river water.
Posters of Yangtze finless porpoises are hung on the 1,700-meter-long catway. "Protecting the finless porpoise has become a tacit understanding among the workers," Chen Cheng (陈诚) said.
During the more than 3 years of construction, the Shuangliu Yangtze River Bridge (双柳长江大桥) "grew" together with the Yangtze finless porpoise. According to a survey by the Institute of Hydrobiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences (中国科学院水生生物研究所), the Yangtze finless porpoise population in the Yangtze River section of the Shuangliu Yangtze River Bridge (双柳长江大桥) has grown from five or six at the beginning of construction in 2022 to about 20 that now stably inhabit there.
Setting up a bridge deck runoff collection system to achieve bridge deck pollution control.
Walking on the main bridge of the Shuangliu Yangtze River Bridge (双柳长江大桥), long drainage pipes can be seen on both sides of the bridge deck. The ends of the pipes are connected to intelligent flow monitoring devices.
"The intelligent monitoring device can automatically identify the fluid flowing out of the pipeline. If the fluid is rainwater oil stains, etc., they will enter the oil-water separation rainwater pool and be discharged after sedimentation; if the fluid is leakage or polluted wastewater, they will enter the accident pool and be treated by a unit with hazardous chemical treatment qualifications entrusted by the operator," introduced Fu Gang (傅刚), Minister of Safety and Environmental Protection of Hubei Communications Investment Group Shuangliu Yangtze River Bridge Co., Ltd. (湖北交通投资集团双柳长江大桥有限公司).
Not only on the main bridge, but also in sensitive areas such as the Zhangdu Lake Wetland Nature Reserve (涨渡湖湿地自然保护区) passed by the Shuangliu Yangtze River Bridge (双柳长江大桥), a total of 25 such bridge deck runoff collection systems have been set up. "This system not only solves the problem of direct discharge of sewage, but also solves the technical problem of automatic identification and collection of runoff in the event of hazardous chemical accidents," Fu Gang (傅刚) said.
Now, the Shuangliu Yangtze River Bridge (双柳长江大桥) has successfully passed the completion acceptance. After it is opened to traffic, the travel time from Xinzhou (新洲), Wuhan (武汉) to Ezhou (鄂州) will be shortened from 90 minutes to 5 minutes, providing strong support for the integration of the urban agglomeration in the middle reaches of the Yangtze River and the high-quality development of the Wuhan Metropolitan Area (武汉都市圈).
"To jointly protect the environment and avoid large-scale development, find a balance between ecological protection and economic development, and strive to achieve a win-win situation for economic and ecological benefits," said Wang Xihua (汪西华), Party Secretary of Hubei Communications Investment Group Shuangliu Yangtze River Bridge Co., Ltd. (湖北交通投资集团双柳长江大桥有限公司).
Return to TopThis newspaper reports from Beijing on January 29th (Reporter Kou Jiangze (寇江泽)) that at the regular press conference held by the Ministry of Ecology and Environment (生态环境部), it was learned that during the "14th Five-Year Plan" period, the Ministry of Ecology and Environment (生态环境部), together with relevant departments and local governments, planned and implemented 24,000 ecological environment governance projects targeting key industries, key areas, and key regions for pollutant emissions. Through engineering emission reduction measures, the total emissions of major pollutants such as nitrogen oxides, volatile organic compounds, chemical oxygen demand, and ammonia nitrogen have been significantly reduced, exceeding the "14th Five-Year Plan" target and strongly supporting the continuous improvement of the national ecological environment quality.
Focusing on source governance, the ability to reduce pollution emissions in key industries has been improved. Focusing on high-energy-consuming and high-emission industries such as steel, cement, coking, and coal power, on the one hand, outdated production capacity has been phased out in an orderly manner, and on the other hand, the green transformation and upgrading of existing production capacity has been continuously promoted. A total of 940 million tons of crude steel production capacity, 470 million tons of cement clinker production capacity, 360 million tons of coking production capacity, and 170 million kilowatts of coal-fired power units have been upgraded to achieve ultra-low emissions. The world's largest clean power supply system and clean steel production system have been built. Focusing on addressing shortcomings, the level of urban and rural environmental infrastructure construction has been improved. At the urban level, the national urban sewage treatment capacity has been increased to 234 million cubic meters per day, and the length of sewage pipe networks has reached 534,000 kilometers. At the rural level, 110,000 new administrative villages across the country have completed rural environmental improvement, and the national rural domestic sewage treatment rate has increased to 55%, doubling compared with the end of the "13th Five-Year Plan." Focusing on risk prevention and control, the foundation for environmental safety protection has been improved. During the "14th Five-Year Plan" period, a total of 124 major soil pollution source control projects were implemented, which can control the risk of leakage of 55 million tons of materials containing toxic and harmful substances every year.
The Ministry of Ecology and Environment (生态环境部), together with relevant departments, is accelerating the construction of a framework system for building a Beautiful China (美丽中国), including strategic layout, organization and implementation, coordinated actions, as well as pilot demonstrations, policy innovation, and responsibility implementation. At present, the framework system for building a Beautiful China (美丽中国) has been basically formed, the "1+1+N" work layout has been fully launched, 23 sub-sector actions have been vigorously promoted, the construction of pilot zones for a Beautiful China (美丽中国) in the three major strategic regions has started at a high level, and the construction of provincial chapters and beautiful cities and beautiful villages has been promoted in a classified manner. A total of 141 excellent cases of beautiful rivers and lakes and 43 beautiful bays have been released, and the *Provisions on the Responsibility System for Ecological and Environmental Protection of Local Party and Government Leading Cadres (Trial Implementation)* (《地方党政领导干部生态环境保护责任制规定（试行）》) has been issued to promote the formulation of assessment methods for the effectiveness of building a Beautiful China (美丽中国), **压紧压实** (yā jǐn yā shí - "tighten and solidify," to strengthen and implement responsibilities) responsibilities in all aspects, and form a working pattern of joint management.
The Ministry of Ecology and Environment (生态环境部) organized and completed special investigations and evaluations of the ecological status of nine key areas, including the Yellow River Basin, the Yangtze River Economic Belt, the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region, and the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, and compiled and released the *Blue Book on the Investigation and Evaluation of the Ecological Status of National Key Areas (2025)* (《国家重点区域生态状况调查评估蓝皮书（2025）》). The *Blue Book* shows that with the increase in ecological protection and restoration efforts, the trend of deterioration of China's ecosystems has been initially curbed. The Yellow River Basin has initially formed a governance system that runs through the upper and lower reaches and promotes central-local coordination. The quality of the ecosystem has continued to improve, and the vegetation "green line" has expanded to the northwest by about 300 kilometers. The area of high-quality ecological systems along the main streams and tributaries of the Yangtze River Economic Belt has increased year by year. The shallow and deep groundwater in the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region has rebounded by 2.59 meters and 7.06 meters respectively compared with 2018. More than 50% of the important ecological spaces in the Qinling Mountains (秦岭) show a trend of recovery. The degree of desertification in typical desertification areas has decreased, of which the "zigzag bend" of the Yellow River (黄河“几字弯”) has decreased by 12.9%.
Return to TopAt the turn of the year, a batch of key engineering projects bearing the heavy responsibility of development and the expectations of people's livelihood have been reporting good news: the first 8-inch high-performance special process semiconductor production line in the Northwest region has been put into operation, the Xi'an Metro Line 15 (Phase I) has been opened for operation, the headquarters office building of the Economic Community of West African States aided by China is about to be capped, and the Guyana photovoltaic storage project has been connected to the grid for operation... One benchmark project after another has taken root, becoming a vivid portrayal of Shaanxi Construction Engineering Group Co., Ltd. (陕建控股集团) (hereinafter referred to as "Shaanxi Construction Engineering Group") focusing on its primary responsibilities and business, anchoring industrial transformation, serving major national strategies, and promoting regional coordinated development.
Strategic Leadership: Reshaping New Development Advantages
As the first listed state-owned enterprise in Shaanxi with revenue of over 100 billion yuan, Shaanxi Construction Engineering Group's business covers the entire construction industry chain, and its footprint extends to key domestic regions and 45 countries and regions overseas. In recent years, facing the transformation challenges of the construction industry, the Group has set its sights on the goal of "building a world-class operation, investment, construction, and service provider," upgraded the traditional model to an "operation-investment-construction integrated" comprehensive model, and systematically and holistically promoted the three major system projects of model innovation, management reform, and process reengineering, realizing the transformation of enterprise development from "passively accepting projects" to "actively creating value," and blazing a transformation and upgrading path with state-owned enterprise characteristics.
Dual-Wheel Drive: Activating New Development Momentum
The breadth of market layout determines the space for enterprise development. Shaanxi Construction Engineering Group closely relies on major regional strategies such as the coordinated development of Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei, the construction of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, and the integrated development of the Yangtze River Delta, and has established Northwest, Southwest, and South China regional headquarters to deeply integrate into local construction with full-cycle comprehensive services. In 2025, the proportion of the Group's contract signing amount in markets outside the province reached 55.43%, and overseas business increased by 55.56% year-on-year, both hitting record highs. While optimizing the industrial structure, Shaanxi Construction Engineering Group is also accelerating the cultivation of new growth engines. The Group is vigorously cultivating strategic emerging industries such as new energy and ecological environmental protection. In 2025, the proportion of non-real estate construction business volume exceeded 50% for the first time, and the proportion of contract signing amount for emerging industries was 12.48%, a year-on-year increase of 59%. As of now, Shaanxi Construction Engineering Group has accumulated over 100 billion yuan in operating assets, operates and manages more than 220 projects, has a total operating and under-construction mileage of over 300 kilometers of expressways, its new energy projects have an annual power generation of over 1 billion kilowatt-hours, and its annual processing scale of waste incineration power generation and sewage treatment projects has reached 1.8 million tons and 18 million tons respectively, making green operation a bright background for transformation and development.
Technological Empowerment: Forging New Development Engines
Technological innovation is the main engine driving industrial transformation. Shaanxi Construction Engineering Group is deeply cultivating innovation and carefully drawing and implementing a technological innovation map, building an innovation platform with 2 academician workstations and 19 national and provincial enterprise technology centers as the main body, covering the entire chain innovation system from basic research and technological breakthroughs to industrial applications, and achieving multi-point breakthroughs in core technologies in key areas. In the reconstruction of the main line bridge of the Xi'an Southwest Second Ring Interchange, the millimeter-level intelligent "jacking" technology realized the non-destructive reconstruction of the bridge, shortening the construction period by 70%, and providing a "Shaanxi Construction Engineering Group solution" for the reconstruction of old bridges in the city; technological achievements such as ultra-high-performance inorganic composite materials and building seismic isolation bases have been implemented and applied, and 14 million cubic meters of recycled building waste materials have empowered expressway construction, making the road of integration of green and intelligent construction wider and wider.
Culture as the Core: Consolidating New Development Foundations
Shaanxi Construction Engineering Group continues its red lineage, refines and upgrades the corporate culture of "building with kindness and strength" (向善力建), adheres to the mission of state-owned enterprises with "kindness" (向善), demonstrates the responsibility of practical work with "strength" (力建), and unites the consensus of all employees on transformation. With the help of a new round of state-owned enterprise reform deepening and upgrading actions, the Group promotes "streamlining administration and delegating power," builds a management model of "strong front-line, refined headquarters," optimizes key processes such as centralized procurement bidding and labor bidding, removes collaborative barriers, and achieves the management goal of "better processes, simpler approvals, shorter time limits, and lower costs," clearing obstacles for transformation and development.
From participating in the construction of 40 key projects during the national "First Five-Year Plan" period to serving the joint construction of the "Belt and Road" to expand overseas markets, the development of Shaanxi Construction Engineering Group has always resonated with national strategies. Standing at a new historical starting point, Shaanxi Construction Engineering Group will continue to practice the industrial development concept of "operation-led, investment-driven, and construction-supported," fully promote industrial transformation, provide replicable "Shaanxi Construction Engineering Group experience" for the transformation and upgrading of the construction industry, and write a new chapter in serving the high-quality development of the economy and society.
Data source: Shaanxi Construction Engineering Group Co., Ltd. (陕西建工控股集团有限公司)
Return to TopBy: 本报记者 郑智文 叶传增 焦思雨
Introduction
When Wang Yuhang was studying at Changchun University of Chinese Medicine, he never thought that one day he would leave his hometown of Changchun (长春), Jilin (吉林) Province, and come to work in Meihekou (梅河口) City, a county-level city in southeastern Jilin. "The career development prospects here are good, and the pace of life is comfortable. I bought a house locally, and my parents are also planning to move here." He is satisfied with his current state and full of expectations for future development.
In recent years, the county economy has been booming, and more and more young people are settling down at the grassroots level, promoting industrial upgrading, exploring emerging fields, and using the power of youth to help the county "run" forward.
In April 2022, 17 departments, including the Central Propaganda Department (中宣部), the National Development and Reform Commission, and the Central Committee of the Communist Youth League, jointly issued the "Opinions on Carrying out Pilot Projects for the Construction of Youth Development-oriented Cities," proposing to "make cities more friendly to young people" and "enable young people to achieve more in cities." In June of the same year, the list of pilot projects for the construction of national youth development-oriented cities and pilot projects for youth development-oriented counties was announced, and Meihekou City (梅河口市) in Jilin Province, Mengzi City (蒙自市) in Yunnan Province, and Zhongning County (中宁县) in the Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region (宁夏回族自治区) were selected as pilot counties.
Why do young people and counties move towards each other, develop together, and stimulate innovation and creativity? Recently, reporters visited the three counties and cities of Meihekou, Mengzi, and Zhongning.
Choice: Settling Down and Enjoying Work in the County
"Here, you can also place your career ideals and satisfy your yearning for a better life."
In the graduation season of 2025, several choices were placed before Wang Yuhang: go to the south, stay in his hometown, or go to the county.
"The south is far from home. Changchun (长春), as the capital of Jilin Province (吉林省), has a fast pace of work and life, and the pressure is not small." After much consideration, Wang Yuhang chose to go to Meihekou City (梅河口市), Jilin (吉林), and joined Jilin Tianheng Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. (吉林天衡药业有限公司) to engage in drug research and development. "The pharmaceutical industry is one of the leading industries in Meihekou, with broad development prospects, and my major has a place to be used."
In recent years, the pharmaceutical industry in Meihekou has entered a fast track of development, with nearly 20 pharmaceutical companies above designated size and a strong demand for talent. Although the company Wang Yuhang joined is not large, it has strong innovation capabilities and development potential. In 2025, it was selected into the list of Jilin Gazelle Enterprises and is the first company in Meihekou to be selected.
"The company has a good momentum of development and urgently needs a large number of professional talents, but its location in the county limits its attractiveness. Relying solely on our own talent recruitment is difficult to meet the demand, but fortunately, the government is helping." Jiang Qingwei (姜庆伟), chairman of Tianheng Pharmaceutical (天衡药业), recalled that after the company expressed its urgent need for talent, multiple departments in Meihekou City (梅河口市) quickly responded and went to Changchun (长春) and other places to conduct special recruitment for the pharmaceutical industry, attracting talent with better salaries and development platforms. This is how Wang Yuhang joined the company.
"We conduct classified recruitment and training of young talents through special recruitment, school-enterprise cooperation, and other methods." Chang Yuxuan (常钰暄), secretary of the Meihekou Municipal Committee of the Communist Youth League (共青团梅河口市委), introduced that Meihekou optimizes policy supply and increases policy inclination for the recruitment and retention of high-end talents and grassroots positions.
Compared with big cities, many counties have objective conditions such as limited development opportunities and narrow paths. Liang Xi (梁希), a 39-year-old colleague of Wang Yuhang, worked in Beijing (北京) for many years. She understands the desire of most young people to go to big cities. In her opinion, the better the county's industrial development, the more attractive it is to young people, and the more they can realize their personal value here.
In 2021, Liang Xi (梁希) came to Meihekou City (梅河口市), which is not far from her hometown of Baicheng City (白城市), Jilin (吉林). She admitted that she was uneasy before coming, fearing that there would be few opportunities and no stage; worried about the decrease in income and not being able to meet family expenses.
After joining the company, Liang Xi (梁希) quickly grew into a backbone of the company due to her rich experience and broad vision. She is now the R&D director of the production center of Tianheng Pharmaceutical (天衡药业), and her income is also very good. "Keep your vision at the forefront of the field and continue to hone your skills in your position, and you can grow quickly in the county," she said.
Wang Yuhang (王宇航) often contacts his classmates who work in big cities to exchange feelings. "Big companies in big cities have many levels, and most of the newly hired students are still training in grassroots positions. The corporate structure here is relatively flat, and I have already participated in the company's core business. Compared with my classmates, the development has its own advantages." After work, he is used to using the commuting time saved for sports and fitness, and his work and life are relatively balanced. "Here, you can also place your career ideals and satisfy your yearning for a better life."
Meihekou (梅河口), a small city in Northeast China, has developed strongly in recent years. In 10 years, the registered population has increased from about 300,000 to about 550,000. Most of the "new Meihekou people" are young people.
Not only is there a stage for employment. The consumption potential of counties continues to be released, while the market supply still has gaps. Sufficient "blank space" opens up space for young people to start businesses.
In Zhongning County (中宁县), Ningxia (宁夏), on the bank of the Yellow River, the 20-square-meter sales area of the "Nan Friends" dessert shop is crowded with customers in the evening. The owner, Ji Nannan (姬楠楠), introduces products, picks up goods, collects money, and packs them, almost without a moment to spare.
"Now the average daily turnover reaches more than 3,000 yuan." After the peak of customer flow passed, Ji Nannan (姬楠楠) looked at the refrigerator that was more than half empty and smiled as she talked about her entrepreneurial experience. The 32-year-old used to be a teacher in a kindergarten in Yinchuan City (银川市), Ningxia (宁夏). Out of personal interest, she fell in love with baking, learning online and practicing offline. The desserts she made were generally well received by relatives and friends.
"In big cities, the customer base of dessert shops is relatively stable, and opening new stores faces greater competitive pressure. There is still room in the county market, which is also in line with the trend of consumption upgrading in counties." Ji Nannan (姬楠楠) considered for a long time and decided to open a store in Zhongning (中宁). Aiming at the consumption trend, the dessert shop launched popular products such as milk skin yogurt and alkali bagels, which became an instant hit.
In the past 3 years, Zhongning (中宁) has attracted more than 3,000 young people to return to their hometowns to start businesses, and more than 100 new youth entrepreneurship entities have been added.
In the past, many young people were unwilling to develop in counties, believing that counties were closed and worried about being out of touch with the times. In recent years, with the improvement of infrastructure such as transportation and networks, the connection between counties and the outside world has become closer, which has greatly increased the opportunities for youth development.
Wearing protective glasses and turning on the flame gun, Liang Yu (梁雨) held tweezers in one hand and a glass rod in the other, gently turning her wrist. The glass rod was burned by the flame and turned into a gradient-colored jacaranda-shaped ornament.
Liang Yu (梁雨) is the person in charge of the Nano Space Art Studio, a "digital nomad" residential community in Wenlan Street (文澜街道), Mengzi City (蒙自市), Yunnan (云南). She graduated from a university in Beijing (北京) in 2023. Facing the high-intensity work rhythm of big cities, she chose to live in Mengzi (蒙自) and look for entrepreneurial opportunities.
"Offline creation, online promotion." Liang Yu (梁雨) calls herself a "digital nomad" and works remotely with the help of the Internet. "Although Mengzi (蒙自) is located in a remote corner of the southwest, it has high-speed rail, and it takes less than an hour and a half to get to Kunming (昆明), the provincial capital; my glass works incorporate local ethnic customs elements, which are more attractive to outsiders with the help of online communication."
"In Mengzi (蒙自), although busy, the time is free. I can work efficiently and enjoy a poetic life." Liang Yu (梁雨) said with emotion.
Retention: Building Platforms to Help Growth
"To let young people take root, we need to be considerate and pay attention to their urgent needs and worries."
Adjacent to Nanhu Lake (南湖) and with a beautiful environment, located in the center of the county and with convenient living, Liang Yu (梁雨) quickly fell in love with the "digital nomad" residential community in Wenlan Street (文澜街道) after moving there in November 2025.
"The construction of the residential community originated from the increase in the number of residential people." Hou Jianlin (侯见林), the person in charge of the residential community, introduced that as of November 2025, the number of residential people in Mengzi (蒙自) reached 107,900, of which 21,600 were young residential people. "We found that most young residential people do not want to 'lie flat,' but are full of creativity and ideas, looking for new possibilities in life. Whether they can live and work in peace and contentment is related to whether they are willing to take root and develop in the county."
In response to office needs, Wenlan Street (文澜街道) introduced enterprises and transformed the street's guest house, which had been idle for many years, into the first phase of the residential community project. The office area is fully covered by 5G signals to ensure remote office work and is also equipped with printing equipment. A room of more than 20 square meters costs only 800 yuan per month to rent. Currently, the first phase of the project has attracted 17 young entrepreneurial entities to settle in.
Aiming at housing needs, Mengzi (蒙自) has taken many measures to optimize housing security and alleviate the housing worries of talents: building 1,153 sets of youth talent apartments; selecting more than 40 projects from the city's housing sources, with real estate companies providing cash discounts or gifts ranging from 20,000 to 100,000 yuan, and carrying out talent preferential group purchase housing activities.
"Housing is the basic guarantee for work and life, and the lack of funds and platforms are common problems faced by many young people in the early stages of entrepreneurship." He Lina (何丽娜), deputy secretary of the Mengzi Municipal Committee of the Communist Youth League (共青团蒙自市委), said that focusing on the needs of young people and industrial development, Mengzi (蒙自) is committed to building platforms for social networking, entrepreneurial exchanges, etc., while strengthening departmental coordination and providing support for young entrepreneurs through measures such as entrepreneurial guarantee loans.
At night, the Nanhu Hui (南湖荟) business district in the center of Mengzi (蒙自) is crowded with people. Trendy toys, flowers, Hanfu... all kinds of shops gather, becoming a popular consumption place for young people. In the golden location along the street, a row of shops has been transformed into a youth "dream-making market." The shopping mall provides dozens of stalls with rent-free for the first 3 months to support youth entrepreneurship.
Zheng Peng (郑棚), 34, is one of the beneficiaries. She usually likes to do wool handicrafts, and the handicrafts she weaves are very delicate. Although she wants to develop her hobby into a money-making business, the high cost of opening a store and the unstable income make her a little worried.
Once while shopping, she learned about the policy of rent-free for the first 3 months of the "dream-making market," and Zheng Peng (郑棚) immediately signed up and was successfully selected. "When business is good, the daily turnover exceeds 800 yuan." Now, she weaves at home during the day and sets up a stall to sell at night, which can both make money and live a fulfilling life. Many young entrepreneurs come to sign up for the "dream-making market," and nearly 1/3 of the stalls are rented for a long time.
However, it is undeniable that compared with big cities, county resources are relatively limited, and interpersonal networks are more closely connected. In some counties, foreign young entrepreneurs encounter resistance when "breaking into" local advantageous industries, which affects the enthusiasm of young people to stay in the county for development.
"At present, we are actively building a resource exchange platform to help 'digital nomads' and other groups connect with market resources." He Lina (何丽娜) said that the local government will continue to optimize the policy environment and provide opportunities for all young people who come to Mengzi (蒙自).
Recently, Liang Yu's (梁雨) studio has become more popular. "The street and community have helped us with publicity and promotion. A while ago, they also acted as a bridge and recommended us to provide services for some companies' team building activities, teaching them how to make handicrafts. In the past, if we wanted customers to experience it on the spot, we could only try to invite them into the studio. Now there is another way to 'go out'." She has more confidence in the future development of her career.
Young people not only have employment and entrepreneurial needs, but also spiritual and cultural needs. To retain young people, counties need to make up for the shortcomings in cultural supply.
"After the cake base is made, you can spread the cream. You can put any fruit you like..." After work, Ji Nannan (姬楠楠) stepped onto the podium of the youth night school to teach young people how to make cakes. From independent entrepreneurship to sharing skills, she, who has gained a firm foothold in the "sweet" business, "hopes to pass this 'sweetness' on to more people."
In recent years, Zhongning (中宁) has continuously enriched spiritual and cultural services for young people. Communities have set up youth study rooms, business districts have launched youth-exclusive discounts, and youth night schools have successively opened courses such as dance, calligraphy, and art... For many young people, life is no longer just about work.
The supporting facilities such as education and medical care in counties are also constantly improving.
Wang Yuhang (王宇航) decided to buy a house less than half a year after coming to Meihekou (梅河口). What he valued was not only the career development prospects, but also the relatively complete supporting facilities in the county, which added to his confidence.
Looking at medical care, the small city has a tertiary hospital, and experts from provincial hospitals regularly provide consultations, and a complete referral mechanism has been established with key hospitals in the province; looking at education, Meihekou's (梅河口) modern education group provides relatively high-quality educational resources; looking at life, the newly built sports venues meet the needs of daily exercise... "My parents also plan to come to Meihekou (梅河口) after retirement. Our whole family likes this small city more and more," said Wang Yuhang (王宇航).
"To let young people take root, we need to be considerate and pay attention to their urgent needs and worries." Zhang Weihong (张卫红), deputy secretary of the Party Working Committee of Meihe New Area (梅河新区), introduced that with the continuous promotion of equalization of basic public services, about 60% of the students who were admitted to universities from Meihekou (梅河口) in recent years have returned to their hometowns for employment. "Young people are the future of county development. Meihekou (梅河口) will continue to create a livable and workable environment to allow more young people to take root in the county."
Development: Innovation Takes Flight
"A group of young people with new ideas, new technologies, and new projects have settled in the county, which not only achieves their careers, but also injects the power of youth into the high-quality development of the county economy."
In front of the "digital nomad" residential community in Wenlan Street (文澜街道), a long alley exudes a strong coffee aroma - a coffee festival is being held here, attracting more than 50 coffee shops to set up stalls to sell, and young people from countries such as Vietnam are strolling among them.
In front of the "One Cup · Landa Coffee" coffee shop stall, Zheng Yaling (郑娅玲), the 28-year-old store manager, is busy. She skillfully switches between multiple languages to introduce Yunnan (云南) coffee and Mengzi (蒙自) culture to Chinese and foreign tourists. "Vietnam (越南) and Yunnan (云南) in our country are both major coffee producing areas. Exporting Yunnan (云南) coffee to Vietnam (越南) is not always smooth sailing." Zheng Yaling (郑娅玲), who previously engaged in cross-border trade, is well aware of the challenges of expanding the market.
"In the past, we always wanted to do business directly when we met, but now we realize that we must first increase Vietnamese (越南) youth's understanding of Yunnan (云南) coffee," said Zheng Yaling (郑娅玲). At present, there are more than 200 coffee shops in Mengzi (蒙自), with a strong coffee culture and a large number of young practitioners. The Mengzi Municipal Committee of the Communist Youth League (共青团蒙自市委) has organized some high-quality coffee shops to form the "Qingka Alliance," which has become a platform for exchanges between young people from China (中国) and Vietnam (越南).
"Rich but not bitter, slightly fruity, Yunnan (云南) coffee has a unique flavor. I hope to be able to drink the taste from China (中国) often in Vietnam (越南) in the future," said Nguyen Thi Ngoc (阮氏玉), a Vietnamese (越南) student at Honghe University (红河学院), holding a cup of Yunnan (云南) small-grain coffee at the coffee festival.
"Now there are more and more exchange channels such as coffee festivals, and our contacts with Vietnamese (越南) companies are more frequent. Everyone chats about more cooperation opportunities while sharing coffee," said Zheng Yaling (郑娅玲).
Relying on the platform of opening up and exchange, young people are opening up the connection channels between counties and the outside world, allowing local industries to find new possibilities in a broader coordinate system.
As the heavy snow falls, the Zhibei Village (知北村) Art Pastoral Life Resort in the south of Meihekou (梅河口) is covered in silver, and the houses with thatched roofs and yellow mud walls fully show the winter charm of the Northeast Snow Village. This scenic spot is operated by Meihekou Northeast Tourism Development Group Co., Ltd. (梅河口东北旅游发展集团有限公司), and staff member Bai Jin (白金) is busy planning new activities for the snow season - allowing tourists to experience shooting short dramas.
Two years ago, Bai Jin (白金), who was engaged in the film and television industry, returned to his hometown. In 2025, Meihekou (梅河口) proposed to build a "short drama capital," and scenic spots such as Zhibei Village (知北村) became filming locations. Shooting short dramas is his major, and the young Bai Jin (白金) took on the important task of being responsible for filming support matters.
"Some crews came to inspect and put forward general ideas. According to the characteristics of Meihekou (梅河口), we quickly matched their needs and put forward suggestions." Bai Jin (白金) has served more than 10 crews by providing ideas, finding locations, and recruiting extras. He found that many tourists also wanted to have a taste of being an "actor."
At Bai Jin's (白金) suggestion, Zhibei Village (知北村) tried to integrate short dramas into cultural tourism development and launched an immersive shooting experience activity, which became a major highlight of the 2025 winter tour. "The registration is very popular, and many foreign tourists make reservations in advance." Bai Jin (白金) said that in the past, they "sold landscapes," but now they "focus on experience." Although the construction of the scenic spot has entered a stable period, the content operation has just started, and the future creative space is still broad.
In 2025, Meihekou (梅河口) received more than 16 million tourists. With diverse tourism products, Meihekou Northeast Tourism Development Group Co., Ltd. (梅河口东北旅游发展集团有限公司), a company with a majority of young people, has reached cooperation with more than 800 travel agencies to meet the travel needs of people of all ages.
New industries "take root," and old industries "sprout new buds."
In Enhe Town (恩和镇), Zhongning County (中宁县), Ningxia Qiyuan Goji Industry Co., Ltd. (宁夏杞元枸杞产业有限公司), employees are moving boxes of goji berry puree onto trucks and sending them to various places. An Jiahao (安嘉豪), the general manager of the company, is 28 years old this year. He returned from studying abroad 6 years ago and plunged into the goji berry fields in his hometown, devoting himself to the vast countryside.
In Enhe Town (恩和镇), Zhongning County (中宁县), at Ningxia Qiyuan Lycium barbarum Industry Co., Ltd. (宁夏杞元枸杞产业有限公司), employees are loading boxes of Lycium barbarum pulp onto trucks, ready to be shipped to various locations. An Jiahao (安嘉豪), the company's general manager, is 28 years old this year. He returned from studying abroad six years ago and immediately immersed himself in the Lycium barbarum fields of his hometown, dedicating himself to the vast countryside.
"Lycium barbarum is a 'golden business card' of Ningxia (宁夏)," said An Jiahao (安嘉豪). In recent years, young people's enthusiasm for discussing health topics such as "soaking Lycium barbarum in a thermos" has allowed him to keenly capture new business opportunities for Lycium barbarum sales—targeting young people as the main consumer group.
With fierce market competition, how to stand out?
"Visual appeal is the selling point." During his university years, An Jiahao (安嘉豪) studied digital media. For the packaging of Lycium barbarum pulp, he abandoned the monotonous red color and adopted the blue-purple gradient color of the sky during the summer sunset in Northwest China, conveying a fresh and youthful brand image. To optimize the consumer's unboxing experience, he introduced zipper-style packaging, which quickly triggered a follow-up effect after being launched on the market.
In terms of consumption patterns, An Jiahao (安嘉豪) boldly innovated and launched the "365 Renewal Plan," which involves annual subscriptions and monthly deliveries. Each month, users receive a box of fresh pulp, and the product packaging undergoes regular visual iterations. This "micro-innovation" continuously brings a sense of freshness to consumers.
Today, more and more companies in Zhongning (中宁) have switched to "zipper packaging" for their Lycium barbarum, and the colors are becoming more diverse. By the end of 2025, the comprehensive output value of the entire Lycium barbarum industry chain in Zhongning (中宁) exceeded 13 billion yuan.
"A group of young people with new thinking, new technologies, and new projects have settled in the county, both achieving their careers and injecting youthful energy into the high-quality development of the county economy," said Sun Jing (孙晶), Secretary of the Communist Youth League Zhongning County Committee (共青团中宁县委).
(End of this series of reports)
Return to TopBy: 郑智文
In the fields, live streaming sets up a "bridge to prosperity," as returning young people use the internet to sell good products from the county to the whole country. Within the county seat, new business formats are flourishing, and entrepreneurial young people are seizing the initiative to introduce flagship stores and brands to the county. In the factory areas, young researchers are working hard to overcome difficulties, driving industrial upgrading through technological innovation. In recent years, with the in-depth advancement of integrated urban-rural development and the gradual narrowing of the urban-rural gap, many young people have chosen to work and live in counties, becoming a vital force in promoting high-quality economic development in the counties.
Young people are the most enthusiastic about innovation. For counties to retain young people is to retain the confidence, vitality, and future of development.
How to attract and retain young people?
Take multiple measures to optimize guarantees. Are there many job opportunities? Is the entrepreneurial environment good? Is the competition fair? Are the supporting facilities complete? This series of questions are both the practical considerations of young people and the essential questions for county development. To solve these problems, it is necessary to coordinate horizontally, with multiple departments working together to take practical measures and seek practical results in job exploration, housing security, and environmental optimization. It is also necessary to empower vertically, so that whether they are deeply involved in the county seat or rooted in the countryside, young people can see the hope of growth and create an all-round, sustainable development ecosystem.
Provide warm services with empathy. Many counties have inferior hardware conditions compared to large and medium-sized cities, but software services can be more considerate. The key is to think about problems and do practical things from the perspective of young people. Narrow social circle? Youth night schools and other platforms are built to allow young people to find a sense of belonging. Monotonous spiritual life? Music festivals, art festivals, and other events are held in accordance with local conditions. Mismatched consumption habits? New business formats are introduced and micro-renovations are implemented, and more new scenes that young people like are emerging in the counties. By taking the needs of young people as the direction of efforts and transforming the voices of young people into action guidelines, the county can become a hot land for young people to take root.
Build a practical stage. Trust young people, dare to give them important positions, and let young people grow up in actual combat. Encourage young people, guide them to uphold integrity and innovate, dare to break through, and fully release their potential. Achieve young people, take the initiative to build resource platforms, connect development opportunities, and escort their dreams.
In the final analysis, the attitude of the county towards young people affects the choice of young people towards the county. The county is more friendly, and the youth are more promising. Only by truly letting young people be the protagonists, building a stage for young people, and helping them grow, can the county gather the strength of youth, and the youth and the county can achieve each other and go in both directions. 多措并举 (duō cuò bìng jǔ - "many measures undertaken together," to take various measures simultaneously). 将心比心 (jiāng xīn bǐ xīn - "put heart to heart," treat others as you would like to be treated).
Return to TopLayout Design: Shen Yiling (沈亦伶)
Return to TopBy: 本报记者 李 刚
What does it feel like to play soccer in front of more than 10,000 people?
Li Ruiying (李汭英), a fifth-grade student at the No. 11 Primary School in the Southwest Subdistrict (西南街道) of Sanshui District (三水区), Foshan City (佛山市), Guangdong Province (广东省), is actively preparing for the 2026 Foshan "Xi Jia" Youth Football League (佛山“西甲”青少年足球联赛) (hereinafter referred to as "Little Xi Jia"), but still often recalls the grand occasion of the 2025 "Little Xi Jia" final night—the No. 11 Primary School team of Southwest Subdistrict defeated the Southwest Central Primary School team 2-0 to win the primary school boys' championship. On the night of the final, there were more than 10,000 spectators.
Foshan "Xi Jia" (佛山“西甲”), namely the Class A League of Southwest Subdistrict (西南街道), Sanshui District (三水区), Foshan City (佛山市), is an amateur football league spontaneously organized by the people of Sanshui District (三水区). It has been held for more than 20 years and is quite famous. "Little Xi Jia" (小西甲) is a youth football league created locally on this basis.
The "Implementation Opinions on the Reform and Development of Chinese Youth Football" (《中国青少年足球改革发展实施意见》) proposes: "Expand and solidify local competitions, encourage various regions to innovate competition models, and support the holding of grassroots competitions." Competitions are an important breakthrough for promoting youth football development, but they often face the dilemma of insufficient popularity. How does "Little Xi Jia" (小西甲) grow? How to achieve two-way engagement with existing regional events? Our reporter conducted an investigation.
Three-Level Competition System Ignites the Youth Arena
The 2025 "Little Xi Jia" (小西甲) final, the Yunxiu Mountain Stadium (云秀山体育场) in Sanshui District (三水区) was brightly lit under the night. On the green field, young football players fought hard, dribbling past people with precise passing and shooting; in the stands, applause and shouts intertwined, and even more spectators blew horns and beat war drums. During the halftime break, the audience sang songs and watched martial arts performances, and the atmosphere was very warm.
This two-month-long event attracted more than 3,000 young football players from 136 campus football teams in Sanshui District (三水区) to compete on the same field. In the end, the Overseas Chinese Middle School team (华侨中学队) won the high school boys' and junior high school girls' championships, the Southwest Middle School team (西南中学队) won the junior high school boys' championship, the Southwest Central Primary School team (西南中心小学队) won the primary school girls' championship, and the No. 11 Primary School team of Southwest Subdistrict (西南街道第十一小学队) won the primary school boys' championship.
"Playing football is very happy, winning is even happier. When I think that my family and classmates are watching in the stands, I am full of strength," said Li Ruiying (李汭英).
"Our whole family went to the scene to cheer, fully supporting him and the team. We are especially proud that our Sanshui District (三水区) can hold such a grand youth event," said Li Ruiying's (李汭英) father, Li Yebin (李叶斌). What makes him especially proud is that his son scored 10 goals in the 2025 "Little Xi Jia" (小西甲), which further strengthened this "fan" father's direction for his son's development.
"I didn't expect that a youth football game could be organized so well and played so wonderfully. The young players showed skillful passing and control skills and a tenacious fighting spirit, which is impressive," said Cai Yaohui (蔡尧辉), a local player from Sanshui District (三水区) and also a coach of a football club. In his opinion, "Little Xi Jia" (小西甲) provides children with a rare platform to showcase themselves.
Sanshui District (三水区), Foshan City (佛山市) is an important carrier of football culture in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (粤港澳大湾区). "Little Xi Jia" (小西甲) was founded in 2023, formerly known as the Sanshui District Primary and Secondary School Campus Football Three-Level League (三水区中小学生校园足球三级联赛), and has now become the largest and most influential youth football event in Sanshui District (三水区). How to stimulate the enthusiasm of young people to participate? The organizer, Sanshui District Education Bureau (三水区教育局), has worked hard on competition system innovation. In 2024, "Little Xi Jia" (小西甲) adopted a three-level competition system of "selection competition + group stage + knockout stage". Young players must first participate in the selection competition within the school with classes as units, then the school forms a team to participate in the group stage of the subdistrict, and finally participate in the district-wide knockout stage. In 2024, 216 teams with over 3,500 players participated, achieving full age group and district coverage.
"There is only one champion, but there can be many strong players!" said Cen Junsheng (岑峻生), captain of the Southwest Middle School (西南中学) boys' football team and a junior high school student. He and his teammates passed the stages all the way and finally lifted the 2025 "Little Xi Jia" (小西甲) junior high school boys' trophy.
Integration of Sports and Education Irrigates the Fertile Soil of Football
The story of Sanshui (三水) and football can be traced back more than a hundred years. "In 1914, Sanshui County Higher Elementary School (三水县高等小学堂) offered physical education classes for the first time, introducing modern football. In the 1930s, football made its debut at the Sanshui County Games (三水县运动会)," introduced Fu Mei (傅梅), Deputy Director of the Sanshui District Education Bureau (三水区教育局).
Since Sanshui District (三水区) launched the integration of sports and education reform in 2022, it has vigorously promoted the construction of campus football, improved the integrated training system of sports talents from "primary school-junior high school-high school" by building a development model of "characteristic schools + network schools", and promoted the vigorous development of youth sports.
On the stage of "Little Xi Jia" (小西甲), Southwest Central Primary School (西南中心小学) has reached the finals for three consecutive years. The person in charge of the school introduced that the school discovers and cultivates football talents and builds a talent echelon through various methods such as campus activities.
The "Three-Year Action Plan (2025-2027) for Foshan Sanshui District to Promote High-Quality Development with Football to Help the 'Hundred Counties, Thousand Towns, and Ten Thousand Villages High-Quality Development Project'" (《佛山市三水区以足球高质量发展助力“百县千镇万村高质量发展工程”三年行动方案（2025—2027年）》) proposes to take youth football development as an important part, and strive to promote the healthy, sustainable, and high-quality development of youth football through various measures.
Sanshui District (三水区) innovatively established a "mechanism to ensure athletes' cultural learning", such as the Southwest Middle School (西南中学) football team arranging 1.5 hours of centralized training every day, making full use of the large class break and physical education class time to avoid affecting normal schoolwork. "We can achieve good results thanks to the support of the school," Cen Junsheng (岑峻生) told reporters. The school also invites professional club players and coaches to the school for training three times a week, regularly organizes campus football matches, and also organizes the team to go out to compete to accumulate experience.
At present, there are 35 national campus football characteristic schools, 12 provincial promotion schools, and more than 20 municipal characteristic schools, traditional schools, and network schools in the district, gradually building a complete talent delivery channel from kindergarten to high school.
At the same time, Sanshui District (三水区) strives to build a 10-minute youth football training and competition circle in the central urban area, regularly holds the Foshan "Xi Jia" (佛山“西甲”) International Youth Football Invitational Tournament and "Little Xi Jia" (小西甲), and improves the youth football competition system.
"The integration of sports and education is not a simple 'sports + education', but to make sports a carrier of quality education and promote the all-round development of young people," introduced Lai Weichao (赖伟超), Director of the Sanshui District Education Bureau (三水区教育局). In the future, we will continue to explore innovative paths for the integration of sports and education, continue to polish the "Little Xi Jia" (小西甲) brand, and make sports a fertile ground for nurturing the all-round growth of young people.
"Xi Jia" (西甲) Sets an Example for "Little Xi Jia" (小西甲)
"'Little Xi Jia's' (小西甲) high attention is due to the deep football culture here, and it is inseparable from the mass base laid by the Foshan 'Xi Jia' (佛山“西甲”) League," said Huang Xianhai (黄贤海), Deputy Section Chief of the Sports Section of the Sanshui District Culture, Radio, Television, Tourism and Sports Bureau (三水区文化广电旅游体育局).
Foshan "Xi Jia" (佛山“西甲”) was founded in 2002 and has been held for 19 sessions. In 2023, Foshan "Xi Jia" (佛山“西甲”) was selected as one of the first batch of national mass "three major ball games" quality event cases. The 2025 "Xi Jia" (西甲) League was upgraded again, with an average of nearly 20,000 spectators per game, and a variety of colorful activities have driven the integrated development of culture, sports, tourism and commerce.
"When I was in the first grade, my dad took me to watch the 'Xi Jia' (西甲) game for the first time. Since then, I have fallen in love with football," said Li Ruiying (李汭英).
"I also played in the 'Xi Jia' (西甲) game back then, which is a beautiful memory of growing up. Now, I hope my son can enjoy watching and playing football and continue his love," said Li Yebin (李叶斌).
In Huang Xianhai's (黄贤海) view, "Xi Jia" (西甲) not only set an example for "Little Xi Jia" (小西甲), but also provided resource support for the latter. The two events form a deep linkage in terms of youth training system and football culture, and jointly build an increasingly perfect football ecosystem.
"'Xi Jia' (西甲) is the engine of football development in Sanshui District (三水区), while 'Little Xi Jia' (小西甲) provides a sustainable talent foundation, jointly promoting Sanshui District (三水区) from a 'grassroots football hot land' to a 'Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao youth training highland', and mass sports resonate with urban development," said Lu Haonan (陆皓南), Deputy Secretary-General of the Sanshui District Football Association (三水区足球协会).
In January 2025, the Jianlibao Football Youth Training Center (健力宝足球青训中心) was unveiled in Sanshui District (三水区). Sanshui District (三水区) introduced advanced youth training systems and coaching resources to build its own U-series football event brand and talent echelon, hoping to use this to discover youth football talents in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (粤港澳大湾区) and promote a new model of talent training with "integration of sports and education and international vision".
How to maintain the attention of "Little Xi Jia" (小西甲) continuously? Huang Xianhai (黄贤海) believes that it can combine the existing advantages and innovative strategies of "Little Xi Jia" (小西甲), and make efforts in multiple dimensions such as brand positioning, communication methods, event experience, and industrial integration to upgrade this youth event to a city IP.
From January to March 2026, nearly 50 professional and elite echelon teams of various levels will successively settle in Sanshui District (三水区) to carry out intensive training. During the winter training, Sanshui District (三水区) will simultaneously hold the third "Jianlibao Cup" (健力宝杯) International Youth Football Invitational Tournament, which is divided into three groups: U13, U15, and U17, with a total of more than 60 domestic and foreign youth training teams participating.
"From the construction of youth training echelons to the in-depth integration of campus football sports and education, we hope to provide young people with a more systematic, professional, and international football development platform, and also open up new paths and inject new impetus into youth football development," said Lai Weichao (赖伟超).
Return to TopBy: 唐天奕
Unlike the somewhat deserted atmosphere of many youth football matches, the "Little La Liga" enjoys immense popularity locally. The high school boys' final of the 2025 "Governor's Cup" Jiangsu Provincial Youth Campus Football League, also known as "Su Xiao Chao," even attracted 28,000 spectators.
Why are these youth events so vibrant and successful? The role of "big hands holding small hands" is indispensable. The Foshan "La Liga" has been deeply cultivated for more than two decades, not only creating a strong social football atmosphere but also laying a solid foundation for the "Little La Liga's" (小西甲) sudden fame. The high popularity of "Su Xiao Chao" (苏小超) is also inseparable from the popularity and resources gathered by "Su Chao" (苏超).
"Big hands holding small hands" demonstrates inheritance and conveys people's love for football. Mass events gather the city's football sentiment, while youth events allow this sentiment to continue to surge. Veterans of "La Liga" (西甲) enter campuses to guide young players on tactical details, and young figures who have emerged from "Su Xiao Chao" (苏小超) leap on the "Su Chao" (苏超) field. Football culture is becoming increasingly rich in these warm interactions.
In the future, perhaps only a few young football players will be able to reach the professional arena. But the applause from the stands and the running under the starlight will all be deposited as treasures on their path to growth, nourishing a wonderful life. 大手牵小手 (dà shǒu qiān xiǎo shǒu - "big hand leads small hand," the act of experienced people guiding the younger generation).
Return to TopBy: 本报记者 季 芳 巩 晗
On January 29th, the Chinese short track speed skating team held a public training session in Beijing (北京). Several athletes, including Fan Kexin (范可新), Lin Xiaojun (林孝埈), Liu Shaoang (刘少昂), and Sun Long (孙龙), who are about to compete in the Milan Winter Olympics, participated in on-ice training. Team leader Liu Hao (刘浩) stated that the competition at the Winter Olympics will be fierce, and the team will do its best to prepare for the competition and strive for good results.
According to the previously announced list of participants, the Chinese short track speed skating team obtained the maximum number of entries, with 5 male and 5 female athletes. The male athletes are Sun Long (孙龙), Liu Shaoang (刘少昂), Lin Xiaojun (林孝埈), Zhang Baihao (张柏浩), and Li Wenlong (李文龙), while the female athletes are Gong Li (公俐), Zhang Chutong (张楚桐), Wang Xinran (王欣然), Fan Kexin (范可新), and Yang Jingru (杨婧茹). Among them, Beijing Winter Olympics champion Fan Kexin (范可新) will participate in the Winter Olympics for the fourth time, while Gong Li (公俐), Wang Xinran (王欣然), Yang Jingru (杨婧茹), and Zhang Baihao (张柏浩) will participate in the Winter Olympics for the first time.
During the public training session, the team mainly practiced relay races. After skating for a period of time, the team members would gather around the edge of the rink to watch video replays and exchange technical details. Liu Hao (刘浩) introduced that the team participated in the Winter Olympics test competition in Milan (米兰) in February last year. The team will travel to Milan (米兰) soon to prepare for the competition and is currently advancing related work according to the coaching team's training plan.
In the four World Cup series this season, the Chinese team won a total of 1 gold, 6 silver, and 4 bronze medals. Compared with the past, the results are not ideal. European and American teams, represented by the Canadian team, have outstanding strength. At the Winter Olympics, the Chinese team will face fierce competition. Liu Hao (刘浩) said: "The short track speed skating competition has a strong element of chance and unpredictability. We hope that athletes will not limit themselves and do their best in every event."
The Milan Winter Olympics short track speed skating competition will begin on February 10th, featuring men's and women's 500m, 1000m, 1500m, men's 5000m relay, women's 3000m relay, and mixed team relay, for a total of 9 gold medals.
Return to TopThis newspaper Beijing (北京) January 29th (Reporter Li Shuo (李硕)) On the 29th, in the 2026 Australian Open women's doubles semi-final, Chinese player Zhang Shuai (张帅) and Belgian player Mertens cooperated tacitly and defeated Shibahara Ena (柴原瑛菜)/Zvonareva 6-3, 6-2, after the 2022 Wimbledon, they once again joined hands to enter the Grand Slam women's doubles final. This is the first time in seven years that Zhang Shuai (张帅) has reached the Australian Open women's doubles final, and it is also her fifth Grand Slam women's doubles final.
"This is the second time we have partnered to participate in a Grand Slam, and it is also the second time we have reached the final. It's really incredible." Zhang Shuai (张帅) said after the game that the two constantly adjusted their playing styles in the face of different opponents and played very flexibly. Zhang Shuai (张帅)/Mertens' opponents in the final will be the 7th seeds Danilina/Krunic.
In the Australian Open junior women's singles competition held on the same day, Chinese players Sun Xinran (孙心然) and Shao Yushan (邵羽杉) defeated their respective opponents and advanced to the quarter-finals. This is the first time in 6 years that Chinese Tennis Association players have advanced to the Australian Open junior women's singles quarter-finals. In 2020, Bai Zhuoxuan (白卓璇) reached the women's singles semi-finals here.
Return to TopThis newspaper Urumqi (乌鲁木齐) January 29th (Reporter Shang Rongzheng (尚嵘峥)) On the 29th, the 2026 "Run, Youth" National Youth Winter Sunshine Sports Conference opened in Urumqi (乌鲁木齐), Xinjiang (新疆). The conference is jointly hosted by the General Administration of Sport of China (国家体育总局) and the Ministry of Education (教育部) and other units. A total of 35 delegations, 882 young people and 170 coaches have registered to participate. The conference will close on January 31.
The conference adheres to the educational philosophy of "health first" and the requirements of "simple, safe, and wonderful" event organization, and sets up three major sections: exhibition and display, educational activities, and project experience, taking into account both professionalism and appreciation. On the one hand, it sets up projects with a good mass base, such as figure skating, 3-on-3 ice hockey, speed skating, snowboard slalom, and cross-country skiing short distance, to carry out popular competitions; on the other hand, it creates diversified "ice and snow fun" experience scenarios, setting up an experience area in Nanhu Citizen Square (南湖市民广场), Urumqi (乌鲁木齐), and launching fun projects such as snow tug-of-war, snow battle, ice dragon boat, and ice hockey shooting, inviting participants and the public to participate.
Return to TopBeijing, January 29th (Reporter Zeng Huafeng (曾华锋)) At 12:00 on the 29th, registration opened for the 2026 Mountain Running World Cup China·Beijing Changping Station (2026山地跑世界杯中国·北京昌平站). The event will be held on April 25th and 26th, featuring a vertical uphill race and a classic race, with a total scale of approximately 2,000 people. This is the only Mountain Running World Cup stop in Asia this year, and also the first time the Mountain Running World Cup has come to Beijing (北京). It is understood that from 2026 to 2028, a Mountain Running World Cup China station event will be held every year, and one additional Mountain Running World Cup China station event or Asian Championship can be added each year, for a total of 6 events over 3 years.
Return to TopBy: 本报记者 郑智文
In the afternoon, the sun was just right, and the ice rink at Liuma Road Primary School in Siping (四平) City, Jilin (吉林) Province, became lively. The crisp sound of whistles, the laughter of children, and the "whoosh" of ice skates gliding across the ice surface intertwined, creating a pleasant and melodious sound.
Why is the campus still so lively during the winter vacation?
Following the sound, on the ice rink, Coach Qi Bing (齐兵) (pictured, from file photos), with a tall and straight figure, was training a group of six- and seven-year-old children. "Lean to the side, lower your center of gravity, and first find your feeling in place." The white breath she exhaled quickly condensed into frost on her eyebrows. "The outdoor ice rink was converted from the playground, and the teachers maintain it by watering it," Qi Bing (齐兵) said. With a place for the children to ice skate, the campus has also become a paradise for ice and snow sports.
Checking students' basic skills, urging students to train in circles, guiding students to go around snow cone markers... For an hour and a half, Qi Bing (齐兵) shuttled back and forth on the ice rink, guiding children of different grades to conduct group exercises.
Qi Bing (齐兵), 54, is a teacher at Liuma Road Primary School (六马路小学) and also the head of the school's "Red Cavalry" (红色骑兵) speed skating team. The speed skating team was established in 2017, initially with only about 20 participants. Now, the team has more and more members, and to date, nearly 2,000 students have joined. The team members use their spare time and holidays to train, practicing speed skating on ice in the winter and roller skating and cycling when the weather is warmer.
The "Coach Qi (齐教练)" that everyone refers to is not a full-time coach. At the school, she is mainly responsible for financial management and other work. "At first, I was just learning to play myself, and later, encouraged by everyone, I started taking the children to exercise." After the speed skating team was established, Qi Bing (齐兵) studied the key points of the movements and consulted with ice skaters, "The course must be professional and also allow the children to understand and learn." In order to teach the children well, Qi Bing (齐兵) put in a lot of effort.
In earlier years, the development of the speed skating team was very difficult. "The most difficult thing was the lack of a venue." Qi Bing (齐兵) could only take the children to find ice rinks outside on weekends and holidays, the farthest of which was more than an hour's drive from the school. In Siping (四平), winter temperatures of minus 20 degrees Celsius are the norm. Watching the children and parents travel in the severe cold, Qi Bing (齐兵) felt a mix of emotions.
A turning point occurred in 2020. The activity of bringing ice and snow sports into schools continued to advance, and schools in Jilin (吉林) Province successively built their own ice rinks. Qi Bing (齐兵) then wanted to build an ice rink at Liuma Road Primary School (六马路小学), and the idea was quickly supported by the school.
No sooner said than done, Qi Bing (齐兵) and her colleagues borrowed a small tricycle with a water tank from sanitation workers, plus a wooden ladder and a rain curtain, and pieced together a simple ice-watering vehicle. With the equipment, everyone was unsure how to build the ice rink and could only gradually explore. Watering during the day, the ice surface froze unevenly, so Qi Bing (齐兵) "constructed" at night when the temperature was lower. Every time she watered the ice, her clothes froze, and her shoes and socks would be soaked with ice water, but she never dared to slack off. "The days when we can skate outdoors are only about 40 days, and the children can't be delayed."
This ice rink, carefully built by the teachers, has become a stage for the children to pursue their dreams. During the winter vacation, more than 60 teenagers train on the ice every day. "My winter vacation only takes off on New Year's Eve and the first day of the Lunar New Year. After these two days, the children will urge me to organize training," Qi Bing (齐兵) said with a smile.
Since the establishment of the "Red Cavalry" (红色骑兵) speed skating team, the team members have won more than 200 gold medals in various competitions at all levels and have sent more than 10 team members to professional sports teams. Zheng Yunzhong (郑云中), who won a silver medal in the 20th Jilin (吉林) Provincial Games, came from the "Red Cavalry" (红色骑兵) speed skating team. After the competition, he returned to this ice rink and practiced circle after circle, striving towards higher goals.
"The children are particularly competitive, and although the hardware conditions are limited, everyone is very拼劲很足," Qi Bing (齐兵) said. In recent years, coaches from provincial and municipal professional teams have come to the school to select promising athletes.
As dusk approached, after teaching the students and tidying up the ice rink, the setting sun hung on the horizon. Before long, Qi Bing (齐兵) will retire, and the school has already extended an invitation to her to continue to be responsible for the "Red Cavalry" (红色骑兵) speed skating team. Qi Bing (齐兵) gladly accepted, "有一分热发一分光 (yǒu yī fèn rè fā yī fèn guāng - "give off light with every bit of heat," contribute one's strength to the fullest), I hope more children will go from the campus ice rink to a bigger stage!"
Return to TopThe foreign word "POLO" refers to "polo," a sport played on horseback with mallets to hit a ball into a goal. Modern polo is popular in European and American countries.
In ancient China, polo was called "jiju" (击鞠), "jiqiu" (击毬), or "daqiu" (打毬). It originated in the Han Dynasty and flourished in the Tang Dynasty. It served as both tactical training and a form of recreational exercise. According to historical records, during the reign of Emperor Taizong of Tang (唐太宗), Tibetans played polo in Chang'an (长安), and the Tang court even held polo matches with Tibetan envoys.
Some scholars believe that polo spread westward through the Silk Road, and the pronunciation of "POLO" is related to Tibetan dialects. Zong喀·漾正冈布 (Zong Ka·Yang Zheng Gangbu), a professor at the School of History and Culture of Lanzhou University (兰州大学) who studies Tibetan polo culture, believes that "POLO" originated from Tibetan, and its original meaning is related to the stomach, abdomen, etc., and is extended to mean spherical objects. Polo was recorded in ancient Chinese documents as "poluo" (颇罗).
(Reported by Song Chaojun (宋朝军), People's Daily)
Return to TopBy: 本报记者 许立群
Pink wild bananas from Yunnan (云南) Province, China, drought-resistant pasture grass from Kenya, native British wildflowers... Within the Wakehurst Place botanical garden in southern England lies one of the world's largest wild plant seed banks – the Millennium Seed Bank. Since its launch in 2000, it has collected and preserved over 2.5 billion seeds from more than 40,000 species of wild plants from over 100 countries and regions, covering approximately 16% of the world's seed plant species. Simultaneously, it has established a collaborative network with 275 scientific research institutions worldwide, constructing a defense line to safeguard the Earth's biodiversity through seed exchange, technical training, and joint research. Recently, this newspaper's reporter stepped into this "Noah's Ark" of life to explore the science and mission behind seed preservation.
Stringent Process: The "Citizenship" Path of a Seed
Sussex, south of London (伦敦), is lightly veiled in mist, with a hint of green in the grass. Driving through quiet country roads, one enters Wakehurst Place botanical garden, where a low-rise modern building quietly appears in view – without towering spires or eye-catching signs, only a simple plaque at the entrance reads: "Millennium Seed Bank." It is constructed by the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew (英国皇家植物园邱园), specifically for the protection of endangered wild plant germplasm resources.
Not all seeds can enter this "seed bank." According to Eleanor Bremner, head of the Millennium Seed Bank, for a seed to obtain "permanent residency" here, it must pass a series of scientifically rigorous screening and processing procedures, akin to a "life admission exam."
Collection is the first dangerous hurdle. The seed bank's collectors travel to every corner of the Earth year-round: from scree slopes at 5,000 meters above sea level in the Himalayas (喜马拉雅山), to the canopy of Southeast Asian tropical rainforests, and to the dry deciduous forests of Madagascar (马达加斯加) in Africa. Each collection strictly follows international standards: at least 5,000 seeds of the same species are collected to ensure genetic diversity, while limiting the collection ratio or selectively collecting to achieve sustainable operation, avoiding damage to wild populations. Today, this process is being empowered by artificial intelligence – the Millennium Seed Bank, in conjunction with Oxford University (牛津大学), has developed a machine learning-based species distribution model that integrates climate, remote sensing, and historical specimen data to accurately identify high-risk areas that have not been fully collected but face biodiversity loss, effectively improving the efficiency and targeting of fieldwork.
The collected seeds then enter a months-long operating procedure: registration number, cleaning of impurities, X-ray scanning to detect insect infestation or emptiness rate, counting (orchid seeds are as fine as dust, often requiring operation under a microscope)... When the moisture content of the seeds is strictly dried to about 5%, they can be divided into glass bottles and sent to the cold storage, where they slumber. Every 5 to 10 years, researchers will conduct a "vitality check" on them.
Walking into the core area of the seed bank, a chill hits the face. The drying room here maintains a constant temperature of 15 degrees Celsius and 15% humidity, where thousands of seeds are "dehydrating and cultivating." "Drying is a crucial step in extending the life of seeds," technician David Hickmott carefully separates seeds from impurities, "through slow dehydration, the metabolism of seeds will be reduced to a minimum, preparing for subsequent long-term storage." On the workbench in front of him, each seed has a detailed label, recording the collection time, location, growing environment, and other information.
Passing through the drying room, the scene in the seed breeding laboratory is even more wonderful. In petri dishes, incubators simulating different regional light and temperature are fully "awakening" the seeds – this is the last key process before storage. "Only by confirming that the seeds have vitality can they enter the final storage stage." Germination expert Rachel Davis picks up a petri dish and shows it to the light: "You see, this small radicle may contain the hope of a forest. In today's climate change, these seeds with unique genes may be the key to future ecological restoration."
Scientific Value: Not Just a Backup, but a Solution
Walking along the long corridor, one finally arrives at the "heart" of the seed bank – the underground cold storage at minus 20 degrees Celsius. Pushing open the heavy insulated door, white mist instantly pours out. Rows of metal shelves are neatly arranged with sealed glass jars and aluminum foil bags with barcodes. Each seed here is precisely numbered, and its complete information can be queried at any time through the database. "In this environment, most seeds can be preserved for hundreds or even thousands of years," Bremner explained, "low temperature is also a key factor in extending the life of seeds. Studies have shown that for most seeds, every 1% reduction in seed moisture content, or every 5 degrees Celsius reduction in storage temperature, can double their lifespan."
Different seed types also require different storage methods. For example, for recalcitrant seeds that are "afraid of drying" and "afraid of cold" (such as durian, oak, wild banana), the seed bank, in conjunction with the Kew Gardens laboratory, needs to use liquid nitrogen ultra-low temperature preservation at minus 196 degrees Celsius, by placing the shoot tips, dormant buds, or pollen in a "vitrification solution" (containing glycerol, DMSO, sucrose) for flash freezing, so that cell activity is completely stopped. This method can theoretically be stored for more than a thousand years. Currently, the propagation laboratory here is exploring in vitro seed cultivation technology. Researchers have successfully cultivated a miniature oak tree in a test tube, and the preservation technology used is ultra-low temperature storage.
The core mission of the Millennium Seed Bank is to preserve the genetic diversity of plants. For example, a pink wild banana seed from China (中国) was collected in the Millennium Seed Bank in 2009. This wild banana, which is only distributed in southern Yunnan (云南), is rich in nutrients and is an important food source for Asian elephants. It was selected because it meets a series of selection criteria of the seed bank: endangered, endemic, and of important economic value. Today, this seed is not only a witness to international cooperation, but may also be used in the future to rebuild elephant feeding grounds or to provide genetic resources for cultivating disease-resistant bananas.
The "Millennium Seed Bank 25-Year Impact Report" released by the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew (英国皇家植物园邱园) in 2025 shows that its supported habitat restoration and species reintroduction projects have covered Africa, Asia, South America, the Mediterranean region, etc., totaling more than 100. In the UK, wildflower seeds provided by the Millennium Seed Bank have helped rebuild more than 2,000 hectares of degraded grassland, restoring habitats for pollinating insects, including bumblebees; in Kenya (肯尼亚), drought-resistant pasture grass seeds have been used to combat desertification, helping herders cope with climate drought; in China (中国), the Millennium Seed Bank is cooperating with the Chinese Academy of Sciences (中国科学院) to jointly collect and preserve important wild plant seeds.
Safeguarding the Future: Building a Global Plant Protection Network
According to the 2023 "State of the World's Plants and Fungi" report, nearly 40% of flowering plants worldwide face the threat of extinction, while the human food system is highly dependent on a very small number of crops – 95% of global calorie intake comes from only 30 plants, of which rice, wheat, and corn account for more than 60%. Against the backdrop of frequent climate change and emerging diseases, this shrinking genetic diversity poses a huge potential risk. "This makes the work of the seed bank even more urgent," said British biologist Dale Sanders, adding that the seeds sleeping in the cold storage are "resurrection cards" prepared by humans for possible ecological disasters.
"Twenty-five years ago, we planted a 'seed of hope'; today, it has grown into a towering tree covering the globe," Bremner told reporters, adding that the Millennium Seed Bank is not only one of the world's largest wild plant seed banks, but also a global plant protection network with "preservation, research, and utilization" as its core. To date, more than 3,000 researchers from 70 countries have received technical training from the Millennium Seed Bank. It has also established a wide range of partnerships. For example, the Millennium Seed Bank and the Germplasm Bank of Wild Species in Southwest China (中国西南野生生物种质资源库) jointly promote biodiversity conservation through personnel exchanges, technical training, resource backup, and joint research.
According to reports, there are currently more than 1,750 major germplasm resource banks worldwide, storing approximately 7.4 million plant germplasm resources, of which approximately 6.3 million are stored in the form of seeds. The Svalbard Global Seed Vault in Norway (挪威斯瓦尔巴全球种子库) is known as the "Doomsday Seed Vault," providing backup storage for approximately 1,700 gene banks around the world, and currently stores more than 1.2 million seed samples. The Germplasm Bank of Wild Species in Southwest China (中国西南野生生物种质资源库) is the largest wild biological germplasm resource bank in Asia, and has preserved more than 10,000 species of wild plant seeds, which is an important cornerstone of China's (中国) biodiversity conservation. In addition, there are crop-specific gene banks such as the International Rice Research Institute (国际水稻研究所) and the International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (国际玉米小麦改良中心), which preserve the genetic wealth of specific crops. From "global backup banks" to "regional core banks" to "thematic collection banks," global seed protection has formed a multi-level, networked collaboration system, jointly safeguarding the Earth's life foundation through risk diversification and resource sharing.
"A seed can change the world" – this is not a poet's romantic exaggeration, but a fact engraved in human civilization history and the Earth's life history: the domestication of rice nourished Chinese civilization, the introduction of potatoes changed the European population structure, and the genes of a wild wheat relative once saved the global wheat rust crisis in the mid-20th century. Today, the seed bank is not only a technological project, but also a civilizational consciousness. It represents the profound responsibility of human society for the continuation of life, the cherishing and reverence for natural gifts, and the wisdom to reserve vitality and choices for an unpredictable tomorrow. Protecting a seed is protecting a future full of possibilities.
(Reported from London (伦敦) by this newspaper)
Return to TopBy: 郭 伟
In recent news, a research team from Princeton University in the United States published a new finding in the journal *Nature*: They have increased the "lifespan" (i.e., coherence time, referring to the effective time that a qubit maintains its quantum superposition state) of the "brain cells" of quantum computers—superconducting qubits—to over 1 millisecond. This is three times the best version currently in laboratories, nearly 15 times the industry standard, and the largest increase in qubit lifespan in more than a decade. This achievement helps to break through the core bottleneck of short quantum bit information storage time and takes a crucial step towards realizing reliable commercial quantum computers.
The basic information unit of a quantum computer is the qubit. Unlike bits in classical computers, which can only represent 0 or 1, qubits can represent 0 and 1 simultaneously, i.e., a quantum superposition state, like a rapidly spinning coin that has both heads and tails facing up before it stops. It is this characteristic that gives quantum computing exponential parallel capabilities: 50 qubits can theoretically process 250 (approximately 1 quadrillion) states simultaneously. However, quantum superposition states are extremely fragile. Once disturbed by environmental noise, material defects, or thermal disturbances, quantum information will rapidly "decohere," leading to calculation errors or even failures. Therefore, the "lifespan" of a qubit directly determines how many reliable operations it can complete—this is one of the core indicators for measuring the performance of a quantum processor.
In the past decade or so, mainstream superconducting qubits have mostly used a combination of sapphire substrates and aluminum circuits. However, the surface of metallic aluminum has a large number of microscopic defects that can trap energy and cause losses, severely limiting coherence time. The breakthrough by the Princeton team this time stems from a thorough innovation of this "old recipe": replacing sapphire with a high-purity silicon substrate and using metallic tantalum instead of aluminum to make quantum circuits. Tantalum has a denser crystal structure, and the density of surface defects is significantly lower than that of aluminum, which greatly reduces energy loss; silicon is a mature semiconductor material that can improve manufacturing consistency and facilitate large-scale production. They overcame the long-standing technical problem of "growing high-quality tantalum thin films on silicon," achieving atomic-level flatness of the material interface. Experimental results show that the coherence time of the new tantalum-silicon qubits exceeds 1 millisecond. Although it seems short, it is enough for each qubit to complete more key operations before "decoherence," providing valuable time windows for subsequent error correction and the operation of complex algorithms.
Overall, the performance of a quantum computer depends on two core factors: the total number of qubits in the system and the number of operations each bit can perform before an error occurs. In 2019, Google launched the "Sycamore" quantum chip, using 53 qubits to achieve "quantum supremacy" for the first time. In March 2025, Academician Pan Jianwei (潘建伟) team from the University of Science and Technology of China (中国科学技术大学) released the superconducting quantum computing prototype "Zu Chongzhi No. 3" (祖冲之三号), integrating 105 superconducting qubits, with a computing speed on specific tasks that is trillions of times faster than the most powerful supercomputer. However, even with hundreds of physical bits, reducing the error rate to a sufficiently low level is still a key breakthrough needed for quantum computers to truly unleash their computing potential. Therefore, extending the lifespan of qubits and reducing the error rate are as important as increasing the number of bits. The Princeton team's research mainly solved the lifespan problem of a single qubit, while the University of Science and Technology of China (中国科学技术大学) has also made milestone breakthroughs in the field of quantum error correction. In December 2025, the relevant results based on the 107-bit superconducting quantum processor "Zu Chongzhi 3.2" (祖冲之3.2号) were published, and Academician Pan Jianwei's (潘建伟) team achieved a major breakthrough in the direction of quantum error correction, achieving "the more correction, the more accurate."
Despite breakthroughs in hardware development, quantum computing still faces multiple challenges in moving towards widespread application. First, technical routes are still relatively dispersed. Superconducting, ion trap, optical quantum, neutral atom, and other paths each have their own advantages: superconducting is easy to integrate but requires extremely low temperatures, ion traps have long coherence times but are difficult to expand, and optical quantum is suitable for communication but difficult to store. How to integrate various R&D resources and create the best solution still requires a lot of effort. Second, the software ecosystem and application scenarios are still unclear. In addition to a few fields such as quantum chemical simulation and combinatorial optimization, there is still a lack of "killer applications" that can fully leverage quantum advantages. Most companies are still exploring "what quantum computing can do" rather than "how to use quantum computing to solve problems." Furthermore, interdisciplinary talents are very scarce. There are few compound talents who understand both quantum physics and are familiar with finance, pharmaceuticals, or artificial intelligence (AI), which restricts the transformation of technology into industry.
Some analysts believe that general-purpose fault-tolerant quantum computers still need 10 to 20 years. But before that, quantum computing can create early value through a "quantum-classical hybrid architecture." For example, in drug development, classical computers can be used to handle most of the processes, and core links such as molecular energy level calculations can be handed over to quantum coprocessors. Through complementary computing power, each can leverage their respective advantages to achieve gradual upgrades. At the same time, the integration of quantum computing and AI is becoming a new breakthrough. On the one hand, AI can be used to optimize quantum control pulses and improve quantum gate fidelity; on the other hand, quantum algorithms are expected to accelerate the machine learning training process. This two-way empowerment may become an important springboard for the implementation of quantum technology.
Looking back at the history of quantum theory's birth over the past century, quantum computing is constantly expanding the boundaries of human problem-solving. I believe that one day in the future, doctors will use quantum simulations to design new drugs to cure rare diseases, climate scientists will use quantum algorithms to accurately predict carbon cycle paths, and ordinary people will benefit from more efficient batteries or smarter power grids. The magical quantum computer will greatly benefit human society.
(The author is a special researcher at the School of Physics, Beijing Institute of Technology (北京理工大学).)
According to Xinhua News Agency, Jakarta (Li Sibo (李斯博)) - A recent study states that archaeologists have discovered hand stencil rock art in a cave in Sulawesi Province, Indonesia, dating back at least 67,800 years, making it the oldest known human-created rock art to date. The related paper was recently published on the website of the British journal "Nature."
The cave, which contains a series of prehistoric rock paintings, is located on Muna Island (穆纳岛) in Sulawesi Province (苏拉威西省). An international team of archaeologists from Indonesia and Australia dated a hand stencil rock painting on the cave's rock wall.
Researchers used a new technique called "laser ablation uranium-series dating" to date a small amount of calcite covering the surface of the hand stencil pattern. The results showed that the latest formation date of this hand stencil pattern was 67,800 years ago, making it the oldest known human-created rock art in the world, about 1,100 years earlier than the previously discovered cave paintings in Spain that were considered the oldest.
Return to TopBy: 本报记者 莽九晨 黄发红
A joint team from Sungkyunkwan University (成均馆大学) and the Institute for Basic Science (基础科学研究所) in South Korea recently achieved a breakthrough in the field of flexible electronics: they have developed a self-healing semiconductor material, the electronic components made of which are not only stretchable and reconfigurable, but also can self-repair like biological tissues after being damaged. This technology can open up new ideas for the next generation of wearable and implantable medical devices.
Due to factors such as mechanical fatigue, external impact, and environmental erosion, existing flexible electronic components, once damaged, often gradually lose their function and need to be replaced entirely. This time, the South Korean team used a self-healing polymer substrate with excellent insulation and biocompatibility to develop flexible transistors and circuits with flexibility and self-healing capabilities. Test results show that these transistors can maintain stable electrical performance for a long time after being implanted into living animals. "All core components of the transistor, such as the electrodes, semiconductor layer, and insulating film, are constructed from self-healing polymer materials. Even if damaged, they can self-recover mechanical and electrical properties, achieving long-term stable operation," said Professor Sun Dong-hee (孙东熙) of the Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering at Sungkyunkwan University (成均馆大学), in an interview with this reporter.
The technology also extends the self-healing property from a single component to a modular circuit system for the first time. The research team designed standardized self-healing transistors, tactile sensors, and micro-light-emitting units, which can be freely disassembled and reassembled like "electronic LEGOs" to build sensor arrays, logic circuits, and even simple display systems as needed. For example, it can be customized according to user preferences or needs, or it can be disassembled and replaced with plug-and-play accessories when performance decreases significantly. "Although there has been research on self-healing materials and individual components before, extending it to the circuit and module level and integrating it into an electronic skin system is still a first," said Sun Dong-hee (孙东熙).
This new material can also maintain stable performance in water and animal body environments. Usually, flexible electronic components are prone to performance degradation in water or body fluids, but this semiconductor can still work stably for more than a week after being implanted in animals, with no significant degradation in electrical properties, which has been confirmed by in vivo experiments.
Regarding the future applications of self-healing semiconductors, Sun Dong-hee (孙东熙) said that its prospects are very broad, especially in the medical and health fields, where it has great potential. In neuroscience and clinical medicine, high-density interface devices can be developed to monitor and process biological signals generated by the brain, spinal cord, peripheral nerves, and heart tissue, which are expected to be applied to the treatment of brain and nerve diseases, heart rhythm regulation, and long-term monitoring after organ transplantation. In terms of wearable devices, the new generation of electronic skin will be more comfortable and durable, and can dynamically adjust the circuit structure according to user activity or environmental changes, realizing truly personalized intelligent systems. In addition, since devices can self-repair after being damaged, there is no need for frequent replacement, which helps reduce electronic waste and lower medical costs.
Regarding the development significance of flexible electronic technology, Zhang Ting (张珽), a researcher at the Suzhou Institute of Nano-Tech and Nano-Bionics (苏州纳米技术与纳米仿生研究所) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (中国科学院), said that with the rise of embodied intelligence technology globally, with humanoid robots as the carrier, a series of flexible electronic devices represented by flexible tactile sensors and flexible physiological electrodes will be further developed and gradually move towards large-scale applications. However, in actual complex or specific use scenarios, the flexible characteristics will also bring problems such as easy damage, easy corrosion, and poor environmental stability, which greatly affect the long-term use effect and life of electronic devices. Inspired by the natural "flexible device" of human skin, the South Korean research team developed flexible transistors and circuit devices with module-level stretchability, reconfigurability, and automatic repair, which can still work stably for more than a week under use conditions such as implantation in the body, and the electrical properties have no obvious degradation, showing excellent adaptability to complex environment applications. This will provide a strong technical guarantee for further expanding the application space of flexible electronic technology.
Sun Dong-hee (孙东熙) also pointed out that to achieve industrialization, several key issues still need to be resolved: first, improve electrical performance, especially increasing the carrier mobility of semiconductors and the conductivity of electrodes, to support high-speed circuit operation; second, optimize manufacturing processes to promote the transformation of laboratory technology to standardized, low-cost mass production; and third, further verify the long-term biocompatibility and safety of materials in the human body—although animal experiments have achieved positive results, human applications still require more comprehensive and longer-term evaluation.
Return to TopAccording to Xinhua News Agency, Wellington (Long Lei (龙雷), Li Huizi (李惠子)) - A study led by New Zealand researchers has established the world's first scientific framework for identifying extreme underwater darkness events – "marine dark waves" – providing a crucial tool for understanding short-term, dramatic marine light crises. The study suggests that these sudden underwater light reduction events may have a serious impact on marine ecosystems.
The study found that sudden underwater darkness events have occurred from California in the United States to coastal New Zealand, lasting from days to more than two months, with some events resulting in near-zero light reception on the seabed.
The study shows that brief but intense "marine dark waves" can cause serious damage to marine ecosystems, with ecological impacts no less severe than long-term underwater light reduction. Even a brief decrease in light can weaken the photosynthesis of algae, seagrass, and coral, and affect the behavior of fish and marine mammals.
Return to TopLong-term capital is the "ballast stone" and "stabilizer" for maintaining the stable and healthy operation of the capital market. Consolidating the foundation for the healthy development of the capital market and improving the quality and efficiency of financial services for the real economy cannot be achieved without the determination and wisdom of patient capital for "long-term money and long-term investment." Insurance funds have a large scale, long cycle, and stable source, and are typical long-term capital and patient capital, which plays an important role in optimizing the financing structure.
As a leading enterprise in the industry, China Life Insurance (Group) Company (中国人寿（保险）集团公司) (hereinafter referred to as "China Life (中国人寿)") gives full play to the advantages of insurance funds, continuously optimizes investment strategies and layouts, and writes a long-term practice answer sheet with its own strengths in the process of supporting the development of the capital market, serving the cultivation of new quality productive forces, helping the implementation of major national strategies, and serving people's livelihood and well-being. Data from the 2026 work conference of China Life (中国人寿) showed that the group's consolidated total assets were 8.56 trillion yuan, the consolidated investment income was 401.1 billion yuan, and the net purchase of equity investment in the domestic public market exceeded 200 billion yuan.
Long, is the "riding the wind and waves" of insurance funds entering the market.
In recent years, the national policy of "attracting long-term money and promoting long-term investment" and encouraging the development of long-term capital and patient capital is accelerating from blueprint planning to in-depth implementation. In this context, China Life (中国人寿) quickly responded with the unique long-term attributes and scale advantages of insurance funds. In 2025, China Life's (中国人寿) net purchase of equity investment in the domestic public market further increased and accelerated, with a net purchase of more than 200 billion yuan, becoming a pioneer in the entry of medium and long-term funds into the market.
The Honghu Fund (鸿鹄基金), jointly initiated and established by China Life (中国人寿), is the first private equity fund in the insurance industry, which is mainly used for long-term holding of high-quality listed companies' stocks. It is regarded as a key force to enhance the inherent stability of the capital market. From 2024 to 2025, the total scale of the 5 products of the Honghu Fund (鸿鹄基金) was 110 billion yuan, and China Life's (中国人寿) contribution accounted for nearly half, and the "benchmark" effect of long-term funds entering the market gradually appeared.
The Honghu Fund (鸿鹄基金) adheres to the principle of "long-term money and long-term investment" and has built a long-term assessment system that matches it. It focuses on the layout and long-term holding of large-cap blue-chip companies with stable cash flow, sound governance structure, and good dividend returns, and explores a sustainable path that takes into account both functional attributes and investment returns.
Long, is the "long-distance running patience" of cultivating new quality productive forces.
In addition to the secondary market, in the primary market and the forefront of the industry, China Life (中国人寿) also accompanies technology companies through the complete cycle from technology budding to industrial maturity with long-term capital through diversified direct investment, showing the focus and patience of a "long-distance runner" in the journey of cultivating new quality productive forces.
Insurance funds have a long term, large scale, and stable source, and shoulder an important mission in serving scientific and technological innovation and helping to overcome key core technological problems. Recently, AI software and hardware companies have set off a wave of IPOs - in December 2025, MetaX Integrated Circuit (沐曦股份), which focuses on domestic high-performance GPUs, landed on the Science and Technology Innovation Board; in January 2026, AI large model enterprise MiniMax (稀宇科技) was listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange. Behind the listing of these companies, there is the support of China Life's (中国人寿) long-term capital: Guoshou Science and Technology Innovation Fund (国寿科创基金) is the only insurance direct investment shareholder before the listing of MetaX Integrated Circuit (沐曦股份), participating in its Pre-IPO round of financing; Guoshou Science and Technology Innovation Fund (国寿科创基金) and Guoshou Dual Carbon Fund (国寿双碳基金) have successively participated in two rounds of financing for MiniMax (稀宇科技), becoming its first state-owned capital investor.
On the "long road" of empowering and escorting the development of new quality productive forces, China Life (中国人寿) has run out of the "long-termism" Guoshou rhythm: In 2021, the Guoshou Science and Technology Innovation Fund (国寿科创基金) completed the signing, with a total subscribed scale of approximately 5 billion yuan, focusing on semiconductors, artificial intelligence, advanced manufacturing, and biomedicine. The first phase of the Guoshou Dual Carbon Fund (国寿双碳基金), established in 2022, has a total subscribed scale of 1.832 billion yuan, focusing on new energy, high-end manufacturing, and green medical tracks. At the same time, it is also steadily promoting the establishment of a 5 billion yuan "Yangtze River Delta Science and Technology Innovation Fund (长三角科创基金)", covering integrated circuits, biomedicine, artificial intelligence, and other fields, irrigating the fertile soil of innovation with financial living water. China Life (中国人寿) has supported a large number of representative enterprises in key links of the industrial chain such as Changxin Memory (长鑫存储), Laplace (拉普拉斯), Unitree Robotics (宇树科技), and Empyrean Technology (华大九天) through direct or indirect investment.
In order to better match the characteristics of strategic emerging industries and high-tech enterprises with high risks and high returns, Guoshou Investment Company (国寿投资公司), a subsidiary of China Life (中国人寿), has gradually formed a complete set of equity investment logic system in practice, including adhering to serving national strategies, adhering to grasping the pulse of the macro economy, and adhering to grasping the theme of independent control, so as to provide strong support for technology equity investment with a more complete logic system.
By building a long-term investment ecosystem of "investing early, investing small, investing long-term, and investing in hard technology," China Life (中国人寿) not only obtains returns that cross cycles, but also deeply promotes technological breakthroughs and industrial upgrading, realizing a deep advancement from "long-term money" to "long-term wisdom."
Long, is the "long-term thinking" of continuous innovation.
In long-term investment practice, China Life (中国人寿) not only pays attention to "what to invest in," but also deeply thinks about "how to invest," and supports investment with a set of continuously evolving and changing investment methodology system.
At the end of 2025, the asset company under China Life (中国人寿) initiated the establishment of the "China Life-Hainer Shenchuang Equity Investment Plan (中国人寿—海纳申创股权投资计划)", investing in the "Xinhechuang No. 1 Fund (芯合创一号基金)" focusing on semiconductor mergers and acquisitions, marking a historic breakthrough for China Life (中国人寿) in supporting key industrial mergers and acquisitions. Industrial integration often requires a large amount of capital investment in the early stage, and it is difficult to see cash flow returns in the short term. China Life (中国人寿) decisively deployed with a scale of 500 million yuan, providing key support for industrial development with patient capital.
In recent years, China Life (中国人寿) has been exploring the resonance point between the prudent use of insurance funds and technological innovation and regional development in practice.
"Shanghai Development No. 1 (沪发一号)", exploring the foundation. In 2023, China Life (中国人寿) accurately invested in the integrated circuit industry in the form of "S share" investment, and initiated the establishment of the "China Life-Shanghai Development No. 1 Equity Investment Plan (中国人寿—沪发一号股权投资计划)", and transferred the equity of the Shanghai Integrated Circuit Industry Investment Fund (上海集成电路产业投资基金), creating a precedent for insurance equity investment plans to delist exchange "S shares." The project covers 18 leading domestic semiconductor industry chain companies at one time, from design to manufacturing, from materials to equipment, the underlying assets are clearly visible, and the risks are further diluted under the portfolio investment model. This "experiment" has realized the investment relay of government-guided support for the industry "from zero to one" and market-oriented funds "from one to one hundred," providing a replicable and scalable implementation paradigm from "point" to "line" for large-scale insurance funds to support technological innovation.
"Beijing Science and Technology Innovation (北京科创)", model advancement. In 2024, China Life (中国人寿) initiated the establishment of the "China Life-Beijing Science and Technology Innovation Equity Investment Plan (中国人寿—北京科创股权投资计划)", based on the experience of "Shanghai Development No. 1 (沪发一号)", to promote the further expansion and advancement of the "S share" strategy. The project builds a hard technology ecosystem matrix in the "four investment" fields through the fund of funds structure - no longer limited to a single industry, but penetrates dozens of professional sub-funds, extending its tentacles to 1,500 technology unicorn companies that are deeply engaged in the forefront and different segmented fields. This is a paradigm leap from "line" to "surface," with more accurate judgment, more efficient service, and more dispersed risks.
From the ice-breaking exploration of "Shanghai Development No. 1 (沪发一号)" to the expansion and advancement of "Beijing Science and Technology Innovation (北京科创)", and then to the precise and deep cultivation of "Hainer Shenchuang (海纳申创)", China Life (中国人寿) allocates long-term funds more accurately and effectively to key areas through flexible and innovative investment models and professionally leading investment "long-term strategies," and uses financial power to effectively serve the real economy.
Long, is the "long-term guardianship" of serving people's livelihood and well-being.
The Central Economic Work Conference in 2025 proposed: "We must adhere to the close combination of investing in things and investing in people." China Life (中国人寿) anchors the coordinates of "long-term money and long-term investment" on meeting the people's yearning for a better life, and makes long-termism have a warm footnote with the "long-term guardianship" that spans cycles.
This "long-term affection" is reflected in the careful guardianship of "longevity and well-being." In the face of the aging population trend, China Life (中国人寿) initiated the establishment of a large pension fund with a total scale of 20 billion yuan and a silver-haired industry fund of 10 billion yuan to promote the coordinated development of the upstream and downstream of the pension and health industry chain; build an integrated pension service system of "institution + community + home," promote the layout of pension projects in 26 key cities, and actively serve diversified and multi-level pension needs; the pension insurance company under its umbrella manages nearly 2.4 trillion yuan of "pension money" for the "three pillars" of pension insurance... China Life (中国人寿) helps build a comprehensive pension security network with long-term investment, and sends a warm promise to the "silver-haired group."
This "long-term affection" also flows in the patient nourishment of "growth." When supporting the "capillaries" of the real economy, small and micro enterprises, China Guangfa Bank (广发银行), a member unit of the group, accurately irrigates with inclusive financial living water, with the balance of inclusive small and micro enterprise loans exceeding 210 billion yuan, accompanying thousands of business entities to grow. In the fields and fields that help the comprehensive revitalization of the countryside, the Guoshou Rural Revitalization Fund (国寿乡村振兴基金) continuously transforms investment income into assistance, and as of the end of 2025, the fund has carried out 6 income distributions, and nearly 20 million yuan of funds have been transformed into living allowances and educational support, illuminating the way forward for nearly 67,000 teachers and students.
China Life (中国人寿) is adhering to the "One China Life, Lifetime Guardianship (一个国寿 一生守护)", investing more resources in education, employment, medical care, elderly care, and other fields, so that investment flowing to things also serves people.
For China Life (中国人寿), "long" is not a simple concept of time limit, but a long-term layout that resonates with the pulse of the times, a long-term companionship that coexists and prospers with the real economy, and a long-term guardianship of a better life. It is also to give play to its professional strengths, integrate its own development into the overall situation of the country, and achieve a long-lasting foundation.
During the "15th Five-Year Plan" period, China Life (中国人寿) will continue to take the "333 strategy" as a guide, so that financial services and the needs of the real economy can be accurately connected, and capital vitality and innovation power can be deeply integrated, and show Guoshou's new achievements in helping China's economy develop towards new and better.
Data source: China Life Insurance (Group) Company (中国人寿（保险）集团公司)
Return to TopBy: 本报记者 邹 松
"The moment the light bulb lit up, everyone present applauded," said Rivaldo (里瓦尔多).
"The children learned about the principles of solar power generation at school, but no one had ever actually seen it," said his wife, Aila (艾拉). "Now that solar power equipment has been installed at home, it has changed our lives!"
Rivaldo's family lives in Colonia Village, only seven or eight kilometers from São Tomé (圣多美), the capital of São Tomé and Príncipe (圣多美和普林西比) (hereinafter referred to as "São Tomé"). This island nation located in the Gulf of Guinea in West Africa, about 200 kilometers from the African continent, has a population of about 240,000. Its electricity mainly comes from 2 thermal power plants and 2 hydropower stations, with a perennial power shortage of nearly 40%.
In September 2023, China announced the launch of the "African Light Belt" project at the first African Climate Summit, planning to help Africa solve the electricity problem for nearly 50,000 households through photovoltaic technology assistance and clean energy infrastructure construction. In June 2025, São Tomé received 3,100 sets of household solar photovoltaic power generation systems aided by China. Rivaldo's family is one of the earliest beneficiary families of the project.
Deep in the coconut grove, life is much more lively.
Starting from São Tomé (圣多美) along the coastline to the south, the wooden utility poles along the road are initially densely covered with wires. After driving seven or eight kilometers, as the dense vegetation "swallows" the road, the utility poles disappear. Passing through the paths shaded by palm trees, cocoa trees, and coconut trees, the outlines of stilt houses gradually become clear. This is Colonia Village (科洛尼亚村).
Colonia Village (科洛尼亚村) is located by the sea and is known as the "Coastal Village." The stilt houses in the village are simple in shape, with the ground floor mostly used for storing agricultural tools and sundries, and the upper floor with wooden boards as walls and iron sheets as roofs. The newly erected solar panels on the roof reflect dazzling light in the sun, becoming the most distinctive modern mark in the village.
Colonia Village (科洛尼亚村) has only 24 households, and connecting to the power grid is not cost-effective, so it has not been electrified before. The solar photovoltaic equipment provided by the "African Light Belt" project enables stable and cheap electricity to be provided in remote areas far from the main power grid through off-grid distributed solar systems, meeting the basic electricity needs of the community. In August 2025, Chinese technicians brought solar panels, inverters, and other equipment to install solar photovoltaic power generation systems for all households in the village. Since then, the villagers have lived the "electrified" life they had longed for for many years.
"With these solar photovoltaic devices, we can watch TV, listen to the radio, and finally no longer have pitch-black nights!" said Da Tsendade (达·特森达德), the oldest man in the village, excitedly. Walking into the old man's wooden house, you can see an inverter with energy storage function on the table, with the words "China South-South Cooperation Project on Climate Change" printed on the white body, and the red Chinese knot logo of "China Aid" below is particularly eye-catching. "The electrical appliances in the house were all bought after installing solar photovoltaic equipment," he said, adding that before, high-power appliances had to rely on diesel generators, which were noisy and expensive.
Diodote Lima (迪奥多特·利马), an engineer at the São Tomé (圣多美) Infrastructure Department, introduced that a 300-watt household photovoltaic system can stably provide nearly 1 kilowatt-hour of electricity per day under most sunlight conditions, which can not only support charging of communication equipment such as mobile phones, but also ensure the use of electrical appliances such as fans, radios, and televisions.
During the interview, a burst of cheerful African drum music came. Following the sound, the villager Santiago (圣地亚戈) was dancing to the rhythm of the music, and the speaker next to him was connected to the solar power supply system. "It's more enjoyable to work while listening to music!" After the young man finished speaking, he picked up the tree-climbing foot buckle and climbed up the palm tree in a few strokes with the beat of the drums. The blade cut through the trunk, and the plump palm fruits rustled down. "Now we can work and dance at night, and life is much more lively!"
Since the launch of the "African Light Belt" project, it has installed solar photovoltaic power generation systems for more than 200 households in São Tomé (圣多美). It is expected that by May of this year, the project will cover 924 households in 37 communities in São Tomé (圣多美). "This project solves the problem of electricity use in areas that cannot be covered by fixed power grids, allowing villagers to say goodbye to the history of no electricity, and greatly improving their sense of happiness," said Lima (利马).
At the foot of the mountains, development has hope.
Leaving the coast, the car drove along the winding mountain road into the rainforest and came to Mikondo Village (米孔多村) in the depths of the mountains. The stilt houses here are more scattered, and most of the villagers are elderly people and children. The dense vegetation makes the village almost "isolated from the world." But the solar panels on the roof tell people that light has illuminated the night here.
Previously, due to the long-term lack of electricity, most of the young and middle-aged people in the village went out to make a living, leaving the elderly to guard the land where their ancestors lived. "Our ancestors have lived here for generations," said the old man Carlos (卡洛斯), pointing to a moss-covered brick building in the village. "With solar energy, everyone can charge their mobile phones at any time, and contact with relatives who have gone out is also more frequent." The villager Beatriz Laura (比特里兹·劳拉) took reporters to climb up her wooden house and pointed to the bamboo rattan and wood piled in the corner and said: "When the power of the photovoltaic equipment is greater in the future, and the power tools turn, we can do more handicrafts."
São Tomé and Príncipe (圣多美和普林西比) consists of two main islands, São Tomé (圣多美) and Príncipe (普林西比), and several small islands. Because the Prime Meridian and the Equator intersect here, it is also known as the "World's Origin." São Tomé (圣多美) covers an area of about 1,000 square kilometers and has abundant sunshine resources, but it has long been plagued by energy shortages.
During the interview, reporters found that São Tomé (圣多美) has power outages for several hours every day. In the National History Museum, staff often explain to tourists "in the dark." Coffee is one of the main economic crops of São Tomé (圣多美), but even in the National Coffee Museum, coffee machines often cannot operate due to lack of electricity. Hotels in the capital also have to rely on self-provided fuel generators to maintain, and high-power equipment such as air conditioners have to be restricted. Nearly 10,000 households in São Tomé (圣多美) lack electricity, and most villages in mountainous areas like Mikondo Village (米孔多村) still have no electricity.
As one of the core measures of China-Africa cooperation in addressing climate change, the "African Light Belt" project accurately meets the development needs of São Tomé (圣多美). "São Tomé (圣多美) has abundant sunshine and water energy resources, but its energy structure is mainly based on fossil fuels, which seriously restricts national development," said Cardoso (卡多佐), Minister of Infrastructure of São Tomé (圣多美), adding that the country has set a goal of achieving 50% renewable energy by 2030. "The 'African Light Belt' project is highly consistent with our sustainable development strategy, providing important support for the construction of the national energy matrix and providing valuable experience for the development of national renewable energy."
Xu Yingzhen (徐迎真), Chinese Ambassador to São Tomé and Príncipe (圣多美和普林西比), said: "The implementation of the 'African Light Belt' project not only illuminates the lives of the people of São Tomé (圣多美), but also brings bright prospects for cooperation between the two countries."
Micro-light gathers, cooperation warms Africa.
The small island of Rolas (罗拉什岛) south of São Tomé Island (圣多美岛) is the closest place to the "World's Origin." In front of the "World's Origin" monument on the island, tourists pose in various poses for photos, using lenses to capture unforgettable moments.
"We have unique attractions such as 'World's Origin' Rolas Island (罗拉什岛), Blue Lake, and Black Sand Beach, but the backward infrastructure affects the length of stay of international tourists. Many tourists leave after visiting the main attractions," said Cecilia (塞西利亚), head of a travel agency on São Tomé Island (圣多美岛), adding that the electricity shortage is the biggest bottleneck restricting the development of local tourism. Having studied in China, she is full of expectations for China-Africa cooperation: "China's solar technology has shown us the potential for development. I hope that São Tomé (圣多美) and China will carry out more clean energy cooperation."
Electricity accessibility is one of the important indicators of sustainable development goals and an important area of South-South cooperation on climate change. As of August 2025, China has cooperated with 7 African countries including Chad (乍得), São Tomé (圣多美), Togo (多哥), Burundi (布隆迪), Gabon (加蓬), Nigeria (尼日利亚), and Seychelles (塞舌尔), providing free assistance of about 20,000 sets of solar power equipment.
Song Jing (宋婧), a researcher at the World Resources Institute's Energy Program, said that the value of the "African Light Belt" project goes far beyond solving household electricity use. The project focuses on renewable energy and pays more attention to meeting the multi-level needs of African countries' development. "In addition to household electricity, the project also focuses on productive electricity use such as agricultural labor, increasing the household income of people without electricity."
During the equipment delivery of the "African Light Belt" project, the Chinese technical team also taught local engineers installation and maintenance skills hand-in-hand. "I learned equipment installation skills from Chinese engineers. I am very happy to see that the villagers are satisfied with the equipment we installed," said Marcos Silva (马科斯·席尔瓦), a local engineer who participated in the installation skills training. "Such training opportunities are too valuable. I will continue to work with my colleagues to bring these devices to more remote villages and bring electricity and hope to people's lives."
"China's help is all-round," said Lima (利马), adding that China not only dispatched technical teams to guide the installation on-site, but also invited African officials, experts, and technicians to China for training and to participate in seminars on climate change. "Only by allowing technicians to master professional skills can these 'small and beautiful' projects play a greater value and achieve sustainable development."
As a vivid practice of South-South cooperation between China and Africa in addressing climate change, the "African Light Belt" project is a witness to China-Africa friendship and an epitome of South-South cooperation.
Children in Colonia Village (科洛尼亚村) read and write under the lights; the elderly in Mikondo Village (米孔多村) look forward to the village having industries after being electrified, attracting young people to return home; Cecilia (塞西利亚) looks forward to the problem of electricity shortage being solved, infrastructure construction being continuously developed, and more and more international tourists traveling to São Tomé (圣多美)... The "African Light Belt" project carries people's yearning for a better life and also carries the desire for China and Africa to work together for development.
"China has always been our reliable partner, providing us with support in many fields such as agriculture, medical care, and infrastructure construction. Now, in the field of new energy, it has once again brought us hope for development," said Cardoso (卡多佐). "The 'African Light Belt' project is another example of China-Africa cooperation. I believe that the pragmatic cooperation between the two sides in the future will bear more fruitful results."
Return to TopBy: 邹 松
São Tomé and Príncipe (hereinafter referred to as "STP") is the second smallest island nation in Africa. Its beautiful coastline and abundant forests endow it with unique natural conditions, but energy shortages and weak infrastructure have always constrained its development. In 2025, China's "African Light Belt" project landed here. Solar photovoltaic equipment has brought convenience to the lives of local people and new hope for national development.
The interview in the coastal village of São Tomé Island gave me a new understanding of solar power generation. I have been to many African countries for interviews and seen large-scale photovoltaic power stations—endless solar panels spread out like an ocean of light, and it takes a long time for a drone to fly around to take a panoramic view. In the coastal village, however, the solar panels installed on the roofs of stilt houses shaded by coconut, palm, and banana trees are only the size of an open newspaper. But it is these small devices that have brought great changes to the lives of every household.
In the home of Da Trindade, the oldest villager in the village, you can fully feel this change: children gather in front of the TV to watch cartoons together, young people no longer have to walk a long way to charge their mobile phones, and women listen to music with small speakers while doing housework... Villager Margarida said: "My life is no longer what it used to be." Her words express the aspirations of many villagers—with solar power, the lives of the villagers are more colorful.
Stable power supply brings not only a comfortable life, but also ignites the villagers' vision for the future. In the coastal village, when I met the villager Sandis, he was carrying a long spear and holding the day's "spoils"—a few octopuses. He said to me: "When I'm lucky, I can catch 10 at a time, but storage is a problem. Now that I have a solar photovoltaic power generation system, I plan to buy a refrigerator to store the catch."
The simple wish comes from the development momentum driven by electricity. STP has a single energy structure, but solar energy resources are very rich. The "African Light Belt" project accurately meets the needs of national development. "For remote mountainous areas, the cost of building a power grid is too high, and 'one household, one policy' off-grid photovoltaic is the most economical and feasible option." In the view of Diordete Lima, an engineer at the STP Ministry of Infrastructure, small solar panels have great value.
During the interview, there were also a few details that impressed me. This not-so-rich country has implemented a strict plastic restriction order, and publicity signs protecting marine life can be seen everywhere in supermarkets and restaurants... All of these show people's cherishment of ecology. It is this cherishment of ecology that makes STP have a heartfelt recognition and support for the "African Light Belt" project. "The 'African Light Belt' project not only solves the problem of electricity access in poor areas, but also fits the country's sustainable development strategy," said Cardoso, Minister of Infrastructure of STP.
In underdeveloped areas of Africa, a stable power supply has always been a common expectation of the people. Today, not only in STP, but also in Chad, Togo, Burundi, Gabon, Nigeria, Seychelles and other countries, the "African Light Belt" project makes this expectation more likely to be realized. Although solar panels are small, they can accurately meet the needs of local people's livelihoods—using low-cost and sustainable methods to illuminate the remote corners of Africa and allow expectations for development to take root in the hearts of the people.
Return to TopBy: 晓 林
In the cold winter season, the dragon fruit planting base in Longtan Community (龙潭社区), Yuanjiang Hani, Yi and Dai Autonomous County (元江哈尼族彝族傣族自治县), Yunnan Province (云南省) is bustling with activity. One by one, the "winter limited edition" dragon fruit are being picked, packed, and sold all over the country. The staggered market launch has made dragon fruit a "winter hit," and the "sweetness" of the fruit flows between consumers and producers. Yuanjiang County (元江县) has developed the dragon fruit industry through the "company + cooperative + farmer" model, driving more than 1,300 farmers in the county to participate in planting, with an annual output value exceeding 100 million yuan. The "golden fruit" has broadened the road to prosperity.
How is the "winter limited edition" achieved? The unique secret lies in the increased development driven by the application of technology. Based on the climatic characteristics of "no frost throughout the year and large temperature difference between day and night," the local area has cooperated with scientific research institutes to introduce a number of new dragon fruit varieties with strong adaptability and resistance to storage and transportation, allowing dragon fruit to grow in the off-season, avoiding the traditional peak production season with high market competition from July to September each year, promoting industrial upgrading, and promoting the adjustment of production periods and standardized planting techniques to allow farmers to shoulder the "golden flat burden." The application of technology is increasingly becoming an important factor in improving the quality and efficiency of rural characteristic industries.
At present, some areas have serious homogenization competition and low levels of industrial development in rural industries. Yuanjiang County's (元江县) promotion of the transformation and upgrading of the dragon fruit industry provides new ideas for cultivating and strengthening rural characteristic industries.
To do a good job in the article of "local specialties," adapting to local conditions is the key. Shexian County (涉县), Hebei Province (河北省) is dominated by calcareous brown soil with high calcium content. The local area has sufficient sunshine and an average annual rainfall of 500-600 mm. The natural conditions are suitable for the development of the walnut industry. By the end of 2025, the total walnut output of the county was more than 18,000 tons, and walnut income accounted for 40% of the county's farmers' net income; Changshan County (常山县), Zhejiang Province (浙江省) is dominated by hilly terrain and red and yellow soil, which is suitable for the growth of Huyou pomelo. At present, the total output value of the Huyou pomelo industry chain in the county has exceeded 7 billion yuan, driving 100,000 farmers to increase their income by more than 1.5 billion yuan... The vigorous growth of "local specialties" comes from the methodology of adapting to local conditions. 千篇一律 (qiān piān yī lǜ - "a thousand articles, same pattern," stereotyped; following the same pattern) is difficult to break through, and "each with its own characteristics" creates a new path. Practice has proved that based on one side of the land and water, developing local resources, and choosing a good development industry according to local conditions, "one key opens one lock" can promote the steady and long-term development of rural characteristic industries.
Upgrading rural characteristic industries and extending the chain to increase efficiency is the only way. Characteristic planting, characteristic breeding, characteristic food, characteristic handicrafts... Through the orderly development of rural characteristic resources, a number of specialized villages and towns with strong industrial chain driving effects have emerged. At present, the country has cultivated more than 180 industrial clusters with an output value of more than 10 billion yuan, nearly 100 industrial parks with more than 10 billion yuan, and more than 450 industrial strong towns with more than 1 billion yuan. The development of rural characteristic industries has entered a fast lane. In Anyue County (安岳县), Sichuan Province (四川省), a lemon connects an industrial chain, jumping out of the traditional planting thinking, and developing dozens of deep-processed products such as juice and fruit wine. Relying on characteristic agricultural resources such as lemons, it creates agricultural, cultural and tourism integration tourism scenic spots, turning "selling products" into "selling scenery." Strengthening leading enterprises, supplementing the chain, revitalizing business formats, and building brands, promoting the deep integration of the primary, secondary, and tertiary industries in rural areas, extending the industrial chain, enhancing the value chain, broadening the income increase chain, and continuously activating the sleeping rural characteristic resources, promoting the optimization and strengthening of rural characteristic industries.
If the countryside is to be revitalized, the industry must be revitalized. Adhering to adapting to local conditions and implementing precise policies, continuously cultivating and strengthening rural characteristic industries, promoting the clustering, differentiation, and branding of industries, and improving the mechanism for fair sharing of the benefits of industrial development, the color of comprehensive rural revitalization will become more and more sufficient.
Return to TopBy: 本报记者 常 钦
"A hemp house, a red curtain, inside sleeps a chubby white fellow." This riddle describes peanuts in a familiar and endearing way. In traditional understanding, it's a side dish or a raw material for oil extraction. But now, new terms like "high oleic acid," "colorful peanuts," and "plant-based" are emerging endlessly.
From a seed being implanted with a "high-tech chip" to the originally discarded seedling shells transforming into "golden resources," and then to the internet-famous products in front of mobile phone screens, the story of peanuts has long surpassed the simple narrative of "fallen peanuts."
China's annual average peanut planting area is stable at over 70 million mu, with a total output of over 19 million tons, making it the only oil crop that is currently self-sufficient. The total output value of the processing industry exceeds 200 billion yuan, ranking first in the world in terms of industrial scale.
From being a "ballast stone" for ensuring national grain and oil security to a "pioneer" in practicing the grand food concept, this familiar seed is shouldering a new mission: it concerns both oil security and protein supply; it competes not only in yield per unit area in the fields but also in molecular structure in the laboratories; it is not only a "special local product" of a region but also re-evaluates its value in new consumption patterns.
Recently, reporters went deep into major peanut-producing areas such as Henan and Shandong, visiting academicians, experts, leading enterprises, and large-scale growers to uncover how this "national nut" is using seed industry innovation, technological revolution, and consumption upgrades to create a new legendary industrial chain transformation of "a path of blossoming flowers."
"Core" Change Record—
"Gene Breakthrough" Breaking Bottlenecks
The story must start with the "core." This "core" is the chip of agriculture—seeds.
Walking in the planting bases of Henan and Shandong, the term frequently mentioned by the villagers is "high oleic acid peanuts," that is, peanuts with an oleic acid content of over 75%. The storage-resistant and antioxidant properties of high oleic acid peanuts are comparable to olive oil, and they also help reduce the level of "bad cholesterol" (low-density lipoprotein cholesterol) in the blood while maintaining the level of "good cholesterol" (high-density lipoprotein cholesterol), which has outstanding value for maintaining cardiovascular health.
In Wang Datang Village (王大塘村), Xiongzhai Town (熊寨镇), Zhengyang County (正阳县), Henan Province, large-scale grower Luo Songshan (骆松山) has transferred 1,600 mu of land. "Last year, I planted 'Yuhua 37' (豫花37号) cultivated by the 'Peanut Academician' team, and each jin can be sold for 3 to 4 mao more." Luo Songshan calculated the accounts: high oleic acid peanuts have high prices and good market conditions, and one mu of land can be sold for 200 yuan more.
Ma Xingli (马兴立), Deputy County Mayor of Science and Technology of Zhengyang County, introduced that as the "No. 1 Peanut Planting County in China," Zhengyang has a perennial planting area of 1.6 million mu, and the promotion area of high oleic acid peanuts has now exceeded half. The fine seed breeding base established in the county produces nearly 100,000 tons of high oleic acid peanut seeds annually, which can be used for planting 5 million mu of high oleic acid peanuts, which has a significant effect on increasing farmers' income.
In the Central Plains, it is still cold. In the experimental field of the Henan Academy of Agricultural Sciences (河南省农业科学院), Zhang Xinyou (张新友), Academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering and Chief Scientist of the National Peanut Industry Technology System, squatted deep in the furrow. This scientist, who has been dealing with peanuts for 40 years, always has an essential question hanging in his mind: "Can China's oil bottle hold more good Chinese oil?"
How heavy is this question? Data shows that China's self-sufficiency rate of edible vegetable oil is about 30%. Peanuts are the oil crop with the highest oil yield per unit area and are regarded as the main force for improving self-sufficiency. However, traditional peanut oil has long faced the pain point of "fragrant but not durable"—low oleic acid content and easy oxidation and deterioration, which is the "weakness" that restricts its competition with olive oil.
"We must change the 'core'!" Zhang Xinyou pointed to a sample of "Yuhua 37" with a firm gaze, "Seeds are the chips of agriculture. To break through the ceiling, we must break through from the gene level." The team used molecular marker-assisted selection technology to accurately lock the key mutation sites controlling oleic acid synthesis in the 2.7GB peanut genome—a data volume comparable to the human genome—shortening the breeding cycle from 10 years to 5 years.
"To give an example, the 'engine' of ordinary peanuts is a tractor, while high oleic acid peanuts are equipped with a racing car engine." Zhang Xinyou's analogy is simple and profound. When the oleic acid content exceeds 75%, the oxidation induction time of peanut oil is extended from 5 hours to more than 20 hours, and the shelf life is extended to more than 2 years—Chinese peanuts have finally mastered the "gene key" to the high-end market.
Today, "Yuhua 37" has become the peanut variety with the largest planting area in the country, with an annual promotion area of more than 3.65 million mu. According to statistics, 471 high oleic acid peanut varieties have been cultivated nationwide. High oleic acid peanuts are moving from "niche" to "mainstream."
How is the actual combat capability of this seed injected with a technological "chip"? On August 27, 2025, the yield measurement site of the 147th Regiment of the Eighth Division of the Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps (新疆生产建设兵团) was boiling: "803.4 kilograms per mu!" The high oleic acid variety "Yuhua 93" (豫花93号) broke the national record for yield per unit area of a thousand mu.
High oleic acid, high protein, high calcium, high anthocyanin... A variety revolution is quietly taking place in the fields. The "Guihua Black No. 3" (桂花黑3号) selected and bred by the team of Tang Ronghua (唐荣华), a post scientist of the National Peanut Industry Technology System and a researcher at the Guangxi Academy of Agricultural Sciences (广西农科院), has a dark purple peel and a calcium content of up to 1020 mg/kg, and is known as "milk-grade" peanuts. "This is good news for vegetarians and people who need calcium supplements." Tang Ronghua introduced that the team has successfully cultivated 5 peanut varieties rich in anthocyanins, high calcium, high protein, selenium, and other edible health functions, and the planting area has been promoted to about 2.2 million mu in Guangxi, Guangdong, Jiangxi, and other places.
Chinese peanuts are undergoing a gorgeous "core" upgrade. Since the "14th Five-Year Plan," China has cultivated a total of 759 new peanut varieties, of which the number of high oleic acid peanut varieties accounts for more than 60%, which has played a good role in promoting peanut production capacity and quality improvement.
Transformation Record—
The "Seventy-Two Changes" of Eating Dry and Squeezing Clean
If the seed industry solves "where it comes from," processing solves "where it goes."
In traditional narratives, peanuts stop at oil extraction or side dishes. However, in the eyes of Wang Fengzhong (王凤忠), director of the Institute of Food and Nutrition Development of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, this is a huge waste: "In the past, only oil was extracted, and the remaining residue was used to feed pigs, which is a disservice to resources. China produces more than 4 million tons of peanut cake meal every year, and its protein content reaches more than 50%, and the amino acid composition is extremely consistent with human needs."
With the topic of "eating dry and squeezing clean," the reporter walked into Shandong Huanfeng Food Co., Ltd. (山东环丰食品股份有限公司). There is no strong oily smell here, and the air is filled with a meat-like aroma. The technicians handed over a freshly produced "golden chicken nugget." After tearing it open, the fibers were clearly visible, and the taste was firm and chewy, no different from real chicken.
"This is plant-based artificial meat produced using 'high-moisture extrusion technology'." The technicians introduced. In precision instruments, peanut protein molecules are recombined to form a fiber structure similar to animal muscles. This means that if 30% of China's peanut cake meal is converted into plant meat, it will create an output value of over 50 billion yuan, which is equivalent to creating a 10 billion-level "second protein source."
As for the most classic destination for peanuts—oil extraction—its connotation is also being innovated. Data shows that the unqualified rate of aflatoxin B1 in peanut oil in China has declined for four consecutive years, from 3.33% in 2021 to 0.76% in 2025. Behind this is the continuous progress of processing technology and the continuous upgrading of quality control.
In the leading enterprise Luhua Group (鲁花集团), the story of technology enhancing the added value of agricultural products is even more profound. Here operates the 5S physical pressing process that has won the National Science and Technology Progress Award. The core "aflatoxin removal technology" can reduce the carcinogen aflatoxin to an undetectable level.
Coming to the workshop of Luhua Disheng Biotechnology Co., Ltd. (鲁花地生生物科技有限公司), a modern production line is displayed in front of you. In the huge stainless steel tanks, a biological extraction is being carried out—the peanut meal after oil extraction is turned into treasure, and high-activity small molecule peptides are extracted from it. The developed peanut protein peptide fertilizer has a wide range of applications. It can be sprayed on large fields, leaves, and stems, and can also be used as a base fertilizer and top dressing for crops. In Wannian, Jiangxi (江西万年), the yield per mu of rice using peanut protein peptide fertilizer increased by 14.04%. A peanut comes from the soil, turns into peptide fertilizer after oil production, and returns to the earth, completing a perfect ecological cycle.
The interview found that peanut butter is in stable demand as an important raw material for baking, and some high-end catering brands also use peanut granules for dessert decoration to increase the premium space of products. Qingdao Jixing Food Co., Ltd. (青岛吉兴食品有限公司), which is positioned for the deep processing and export of peanuts, mainly produces peanut butter and other products. "Our peanut butter grinding fineness is above 300 mesh, reaching the required standard for plant-based protein beverages. Last year, the company exported more than 1,700 tons of peanut butter to markets such as Japan and South Korea," said Ma Lei (马磊), executive deputy general manager of Qingdao Jixing Food Co., Ltd.
"The profit margin of deep-processed peanut products is significantly higher than that of primary agricultural products," said Wang Qiang (王强), academician of the International Academy of Food Science and Technology and director of the Processing Research Office of the National Peanut Industry Technology System. The next step is to promote the added value of peanut processing, strengthen the research and development of special raw material special oil production (suitable temperature pressing oil production) technology, special sauce production technology, etc., and develop ready-to-eat peanuts that meet market needs.
"Tide" Record—
The "Internet Popularity" of Old Flavors and New Ways of Eating
When peanuts walk out of the fields and factories, they are undergoing an unprecedented "renovation" on the consumer side.
Edible consumption has become the second largest channel for peanut consumption, accounting for about 40%. Opening e-commerce platforms, peanuts are no longer just the old flavors of "five-spice" and "spicy." To cater to young customers, rattan pepper, cheese, and honey butter flavors are emerging endlessly; to cater to healthy eating, deoiled peanuts, peanut sprouts, and colorful peanuts are placed on the shelves.
In the early morning, in the live broadcast room of Henan Zhenghua Food Group (河南正花食品集团), the anchor is enthusiastically promoting rattan pepper-flavored peanut crisps. "Relying on big data to analyze the taste buds of young people, we have innovated more than 20 kinds of internet-famous snacks such as spicy crisps and yogurt coatings," Ma Xingli introduced. Zhenghua Food sells 70% online, with a single-day sales volume of 15,000 orders, and the brand value has exceeded 1 billion yuan. At present, more than 50 kinds of peanut oil, leisure peanuts, fresh peanuts, and other series of products produced in Zhengyang County are sold nationwide through the "Internet."
Data shows that on the Hema Fresh (盒马鲜生) platform, various new peanut products maintain a high compound growth rate, and the customer unit price is two to three times that of ordinary bulk peanuts.
"Peanuts are undergoing a comprehensive upgrade from basic traditional ingredients to high-value-added consumer goods," said An Yang (安阳), head of leisure food procurement at Hema Fresh. High oleic acid, light salt, zero addition, and deoiling processes have become core selling points, and new flavors such as rattan pepper and cheese attract young customers.
Consumers have become more "sophisticated" and have become "ingredient parties," which prompts companies to be more "attentive" in research and development. In Junan County, Shandong Province (山东省莒南县), leading enterprises are strengthening cooperation with scientific research institutes such as the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences (中国农科院) and Jiangnan University (江南大学) to jointly develop deep processing technologies such as peanut short peptide and red coat proanthocyanidin extraction to support brand premiumization with technology.
Not only can you eat, but you can also "play." In Junan, "peanuts" have become a cultural symbol. The local area has built a peanut museum and a peanut town. Tourists can not only experience planting and processing but also taste a full peanut feast. The peanut cultural tourism project receives 50,000 tourists annually.
From the traditional "oil bottle" to today's "snack bag" and then to the "money bag" of rural tourism, the peanut industry boundary is constantly expanding. The National Peanut Industry Technology System predicts that by the end of the "15th Five-Year Plan," the national peanut planting area will increase to 80 million mu, the yield per unit area will increase to 280 kg/mu, and the total output will reach 22 million tons.
Peanuts "blossom," with the confidence of "core change," the ability of "transformation," and the vitality of "tide." **落地生花** (luò dì shēng huā - "take root and blossom," to take root and flourish), just like peanuts—rooted in the soil, growing the most luxuriant fruits. The evolution of this "national nut" is the most vivid and mellow microcosm of China's agricultural modernization.
Return to TopBy: 本报记者 刘军国
"Bang!" In the dead of winter, a crisp sound, not a firecracker, but with similar neatness and joy, broke the silence of the winter in the water towns of Jiangnan. Immediately following were the sounds of running footsteps and enthusiastic cheers. The source of the sound was not a city stadium, but a baseball field surrounded by rice paddies and villages.
The reporter came to Xujiadai Village (徐家埭村), Lindai Town (林埭镇), Pinghu City (平湖市), Jiaxing (嘉兴), Zhejiang (浙江). Here, the ancient rural texture and the young pulse of sports resonate together, creating a fresh and vibrant "style."
"In the past, every household here raised pigs, which smelled bad and the environment was poor. Now the air is better, the water is clearer, many people come here to play baseball, more and more tourists come, and life is getting better and better." The villager Zhang Jinfa's (张金法) remarks revealed the profound transformation of Xujiadai Village (徐家埭村) from a "pig breeding village" to a "baseball characteristic village."
With the in-depth advancement of the "Thousands of Villages Demonstration, Ten Thousands of Villages Renovation" project, Xujiadai Village (徐家埭村) closed down breeding farms and renovated rivers, giving it a new look. However, after the environment improved, how to cultivate new industries and retain young people became a new dilemma facing Xujiadai Village (徐家埭村).
"The village is clean, but the industry hasn't kept up. Relying solely on planting and breeding, the space for villagers to increase their income is limited; if we want to engage in rural tourism, we lack distinctive highlights." Liu Jianqun (刘建群), Secretary of the Party Committee of Xujiadai Village (徐家埭村), frankly admitted his confusion at the time.
The turning point came from a keen insight. At that time, Pinghu (平湖) gathered many Taiwanese-funded and foreign-funded enterprises. Liu Jianqun (刘建群), who was once a professional manager, noticed that the executives of these enterprises often made special trips to Shanghai (上海) to play baseball. At the same time, the vacant land at the entrance of the village was low-lying and difficult to utilize, and a bold idea came into being: "Why not convert this land into a baseball field? It can not only serve the surrounding merchants, but also open up a new path of 'sports + cultural tourism' for the village."
With the idea in place, building a baseball field was not easy – it required funds, experience, and the support of the villagers. To this end, the Lindai Town (林埭镇) Party Committee established a special coordination team to coordinate land planning, policy support, and financial security. The Xujiadai Village (徐家埭村) Party Committee formed a volunteer service team of party members to carry out policy publicity and ideological mobilization through door-to-door visits and village council meetings.
In 2018, in the absence of precedents in the country, Xujiadai Village (徐家埭村) overcame difficulties such as funds and technology and built the first standard youth "rural baseball field" in the country. In 2019, the Yangtze River Delta Little Deer League Baseball Tournament was successfully held here, completing a "wonderful debut." Since then, the National Youth Baseball Championship U10 Group and the China Baseball Association Annual Meeting have been successively held, and Xujiadai Village (徐家埭村) has also been promoted to the China Youth Baseball U10 Training Base, and is known as the "First Baseball Village in China."
However, challenges followed. The foundation of baseball in the local area is weak, and there is a shortage of professional talents. How to operate and promote it has become another problem.
Lindai Town (林埭镇) innovatively explored the model of "professional operation + villager participation," introducing professional sports companies to be responsible for event organization and training operations. At the same time, it actively cultivated a "baseball service" volunteer service team, taught villagers basic baseball knowledge, and mobilized villagers to participate in site maintenance, logistics support, etc., so that villagers can change from "bystanders" to "participants."
"The government builds the stage, professional operation, market-driven, integration and innovation, so that this baseball on the field flies farther and farther." Mo Yun (莫云), the relevant person in charge of the Lindai Town (林埭镇) Party Committee, introduced that the Xujiadai Youth Baseball Field (徐家埭青少年棒球场) has successfully hosted many high-standard events such as the National Youth Baseball Championship U10 and U12 finals, receiving more than one million athletes and tourists from home and abroad. In July last year, the Xujiadai International Baseball Field (徐家埭国际棒球场) was officially completed and put into use, and the event level has been comprehensively improved.
Characteristic development adds vitality, and a baseball makes the people richer. Xujiadai Village (徐家埭村) takes baseball as the engine, connecting ecological agriculture, homestay catering, parent-child research and other formats, forming a characteristic industrial cluster, driving the village's collective economic income to exceed 8 million yuan. "In the past, I relied on a few acres of vegetable fields to make a living. Now that the village has built an international baseball field, I have been working here as a cleaner for a long time, and my income has increased a lot." Cao Huaying (曹华英), a 62-year-old villager, has now found a stable job at her doorstep, and her life has also been substantially improved.
In order to allow more villagers to share the development dividends, Xujiadai Village (徐家埭村) allows villagers to embed in the "baseball +" industrial chain through various methods such as "industrial shareholding, employment driving, and entrepreneurship support." Today, baseball has driven the village to develop more than 20 characteristic catering and homestays, providing more than 200 jobs for villagers, and the per capita income of villagers has increased significantly. Mo Yun (莫云) said that Xujiadai Village (徐家埭村) used a baseball bat to swing a wonderful arc of "sports empowerment, industrial integration, and common prosperity for villagers" in the field.
Return to TopBy: 知 更
Treat people's livelihood projects, these "key small matters" of the masses, as the "top priority" of our work.
Instead of questioning why the masses are "nitpicking," it is better to reflect on why the work "leaves gaps"; instead of attributing it to "superficial problems," it is better to deeply explore the "deep-seated problems" of implementation and work style construction.
"Some people are nitpicking, and we can't just look at superficial problems."
In Dandong (丹东市), Liaoning (辽宁) Province, when faced with the masses' complaints about the quality of a rural canal retaining wall, such as the mortar crumbling when touched and the stones breaking when pried, local staff made such remarks. Although the relevant personnel have been dealt with afterward, the problem behind this flippant response is still worth reflecting on and being vigilant about.
Rural canals are important agricultural infrastructure, which is related to grain production and farmers' livelihoods, and must be strictly controlled in terms of standards and quality. The rural canals are ultimately used for irrigation by the farmers, and the masses have the most say in whether the quality is good or not. The masses' "seriousness" about the quality of the project is not only the maintenance of their own rights and interests, but also the concern for public affairs. Treating this kind of mass supervision as "fault-finding" exposes the ambiguity of the role positioning and the fading of responsibility of a few cadres. Some grassroots workers have a weak sense of service, a slack work style, and insufficient responsibility. Instead of solving problems, they question "those who raise problems." This service attitude makes the people's livelihood project of rural canals unable to stand the test, directly harming the interests of farmers. The construction party then promised to "re-inspect the masonry structure and remove and repair the frozen and swollen parts," which just shows that the quality problem does exist, and further confirms that "people's voice" is indispensable.
In fact, similar quality problems in people's livelihood projects such as rural canals, the phenomenon of staff rushing to "cover up" occurs from time to time. The reason is that individual departments and staff are accustomed to regarding supervision as making trouble out of nothing, interpreting criticism as malicious fault-finding, and shirking responsibility, perfunctorily dealing with, and delaying handling the opinions of the masses. This kind of thinking and style of "covering up," "slamming the face," and 撂挑子 (liào tiāo zi - "laying down the burden," to give up a job or responsibility) not only blocks the channels of communication with the public, but also invisibly erodes the credibility of the Party and the government.
Cadres must stand firmly on the people's position and strengthen their sense of responsibility. We must treat people's livelihood projects, these "key small matters" of the masses, as the "top priority" of our work, and do things conscientiously. People's livelihood projects are built for the people. Only by truly doing good things well and doing practical things well, adhering to rigorous and meticulous work, striving for excellence, focusing on small things, being serious about key points, and even taking the initiative to 鸡蛋里挑骨头 (jī dàn lǐ tiāo gǔ tou - "picking bones from eggs," to nitpick), can we continuously improve the gold content of people's livelihood projects and continuously enhance the well-being of the people.
How can we better respond to the "voice of the people" in the construction of people's livelihood projects?
Correctly view the "voice of the people." The demands of the masses reflect the shortcomings of the work, and the supervision of the masses provides the impetus for improvement. Faced with criticism, instead of questioning why the masses are "nitpicking," it is better to reflect on why the work "leaves gaps"; instead of attributing it to "superficial problems," it is better to deeply explore the "deep-seated problems" of implementation and work style construction. Cadres need to face the real and even somewhat "spicy" criticism and supervision, and realize that they are "bitter medicine."
Respond to the "voice of the people" efficiently. Cadres should actively resolve conflicts, ensure that the voices of the masses can be reasonably answered, and let the masses feel the warmth of the work of the Party and the government in the process of supervision. Take the happiness and satisfaction of the masses as an important standard for the acceptance of people's livelihood projects, and achieve that the people have demands and we respond. Only when the masses are satisfied can we say that the work is done well.
People's livelihood is linked to people's hearts. People's livelihood projects must listen to the "voice of the people" in order to win the hearts of the people. We must adhere to the people-centered development thought, do practical work, implement it in detail, and at the same time tolerate the voices of the masses, regard the "nitpicking" of the masses as "spur" and direction for improvement, continuously improve the work, improve the quality of people's livelihood projects, and truly run people's livelihood projects to the hearts of the people, so that people's livelihood projects become people's heart projects that unite people's hearts and become reassuring projects that can stand the test.
Return to TopBy: 人民网记者 郝 萍
"My hometown is Shigatse (日喀则), where there is a beautiful river."
Just as dawn was breaking, 17-year-old Tsering P尺 (次仁普尺) was bending over, sweeping the courtyard of her family's Tibetan-style small building. The morning light poured onto the snow-white walls, reflecting a soft and warm halo. The colorful auspicious patterns carefully painted around the window frames appeared even brighter in the crisp morning breeze—each color seemed to carry this family's heartfelt expectations for a new life on the plateau.
But just a year ago, this place was covered in devastation. At 9:05 AM on January 7, 2025, a thunderous roar suddenly broke the tranquility of the snowy plateau—a 6.8 magnitude earthquake struck Dingri County (定日县), Shigatse City (日喀则市), Tibet Autonomous Region (西藏自治区), causing significant casualties and property damage.
Not long ago, the reporter once again set foot on this land and saw a shy but bright smile on Tsering P尺's (次仁普尺) face. She told the reporter about the bits and pieces of the past year, from ruins to new homes, from despair to hope.
Tears of Sorrow
The Terror and Warmth After the Earthquake
On the morning of January 7, 2025, Mount Everest (珠穆朗玛峰) was still immersed in inky silence, and the chill of the plateau night had not yet faded.
Tsering P尺's (次仁普尺) family of eight—father, mother, herself, four younger brothers, and a younger sister—were sleeping soundly in an old two-story house made of earth and wood. The wooden beams bore the marks of time, and the rammed earth walls insulated the house from the cold wind outside.
"The first tremor was very light, and I just turned over and went back to sleep," Tsering P尺 (次仁普尺) said, her voice still containing a trace of lingering fear about the disaster. "But the second tremor came quickly and violently, and the whole house suddenly collapsed."
In her memory, dust and broken wooden beams instantly engulfed her. "At that time, I was stunned, and my mind was blank," Tsering P尺 (次仁普尺) recalled. The instinct of fear made her cry out, but the instinct for survival pushed her to struggle to crawl out.
When she finally broke free from the cracks in the broken bricks and beams, her father also staggered out of another pile of rubble. Without checking his daughter's injuries, he turned and rushed to another pile of rubble that was still crumbling—where trapped neighbors were buried.
Tsering P尺 (次仁普尺) gritted her teeth and stood up, supporting her mother, followed by her younger brothers and sisters crying in a huddle. The family supported each other and stumbled onto the dirt road in the village, finally escaping the danger.
The sky gradually brightened, but the scene before her made Tsering P尺's (次仁普尺) heart ache: the adobe house collapsed with a bang, dust obscured everything, and the family's livelihood, food, zanba, and winter bedding were all buried deep under the rubble. The cattle and sheep grazing outside the house scattered everywhere, their fate unknown.
"At that time, I really felt that we would not survive," she murmured.
Hope came quickly.
The warm current of rescue crossed mountains and obstacles and quickly gathered towards the earthquake area. The national comprehensive fire and rescue team rushed to the front, followed closely by officers and soldiers of the People's Liberation Army (解放军) and the Armed Police Force (武警部队), public security police, and rescue forces from central enterprises. The village's party member cadres led the masses to unite and fight...
All forces were united, racing against time.
At about 10 PM that day, the disaster area under the starry sky ushered in the first ray of "dawn"—the first batch of more than 5,800 pieces of central disaster relief supplies, including cotton tents and cotton-padded clothing, urgently allocated to Tibet (西藏) by the Office of the National Disaster Reduction Committee (国家防灾减灾救灾委员会办公室), the Ministry of Emergency Management (应急管理部), and the National Food and Strategic Reserves Administration (国家粮食和物资储备局), had arrived in the earthquake-stricken area of Dingri County (定日县).
Rows of blue tents were quickly erected next to the ruins, and lanterns lit up, the warm yellow halo swaying in the cold wind, illuminating the cold night like stars.
That day, Tsering P尺's (次仁普尺) family, like other villagers, moved into tents that night. "At the moment I moved into the tent, I felt both happy and uneasy," Tsering P尺 (次仁普尺) said softly, happy that there was finally a place to shelter from the wind and rain, and uneasy about whether the tent could withstand the rain when summer came.
But soon, her concerns were dispelled by the continuous stream of care.
At the tent resettlement site, people lined up in an orderly manner to receive supplies. Bread, instant noodles, milk, and other supplies supported by the government, enterprises, and all sectors of society were delivered in a timely manner. Soldiers built simple kitchens on site, and hot meals were supplied on time.
The next day, the Emergency Management Department of Tibet Autonomous Region (西藏自治区应急管理厅) announced that the work in the disaster area had shifted from emergency rescue to mass resettlement. The hope of rebuilding their homes was quietly taking root on this plateau.
Tears of Gratitude
Hope Grows on the Ruins
On January 9, 2025, a strong wind blew in Gurong Village (古荣村), and the blowing sand filled the sky, making it impossible to open one's eyes. However, the resettlement site was a scene of bustling construction.
With the smooth transition of the emergency rescue phase, the prefabricated house materials allocated by all parties had been successively delivered to the village. Excavators shuttled back and forth to level the ground, cranes accurately lifted the prefabricated house components, and the staff of the Tibet Company of Sinohydro Bureau 3 Co., Ltd. (中国电建水电三局西藏公司) cooperated to build new homes for the affected people.
At this time, less than 72 hours had passed since the earthquake.
With the help of large equipment, one white and eye-catching prefabricated house after another became a temporary resettlement area for the affected people at a construction speed of "10 minutes per house."
"At that time, I was standing at the door of the tent, hoping to move in as soon as possible," Tsering P尺 (次仁普尺) recalled the scene at that time, the corners of her mouth rising involuntarily. "Watching the houses quickly stand up on the bare ground, I felt very magical."
This batch of prefabricated houses is built with aluminum skin foam sandwich panels, and its warmth retention, earthquake resistance, and safety are far better than temporary tents. Each prefabricated house has an area of 18 square meters.
On January 13, 2025, the scene in Gurong Village (古荣村) was completely new. Rows of brand-new white prefabricated houses replaced the previous temporary tents, neatly arranged under the warm plateau sun, appearing particularly eye-catching.
The day before, Tsering P尺's (次仁普尺) family had moved into a warm prefabricated house. Several younger brothers were squeezing in front of the TV, fighting for the remote control, clamoring to watch their favorite cartoons; their mother, Basang (巴桑), was carefully sorting out bedding and clothing, arranging the items properly.
While chatting, Tsering P尺's (次仁普尺) eyes became moist without warning. She lowered her head slightly, squeezed the corner of her clothes, and said softly: "I am not very good at speaking, but I am sincerely grateful to everyone."
This simple gratitude is reflected in every detail—
The continuously delivered zanba, butter, yak and mutton, and other living materials have long been distributed to the villagers from house to house; the village's temporary village committee office and health center have also been built one after another, and the villagers no longer have to brave the wind and sand to handle affairs and see a doctor; the resettlement site has also been connected to gigabit broadband and IPTV network TV, realizing full WiFi coverage. Children can watch their favorite cartoons on the screen, and adults can also learn about the progress of rescue and policy information from the outside world at any time.
What made Tsering P尺 (次仁普尺) even happier was that a "tent school" was also set up in the resettlement site. She and her younger brothers would run to class every day. In class, the teacher led everyone to practice self-introduction, learn English with phonetics, and sit together to share their dreams.
Tsering P尺's (次仁普尺) days in the transitional resettlement prefabricated house passed day by day, full of the warmth of life and filled with heavy hope...
Tears of Happiness
A Warm Picture at the Foot of Mount Everest (珠穆朗玛峰)
One year later, revisiting Gurong Village (古荣村).
Looking around, the blue sky is full of white clouds, and cattle and sheep are all over the mountains.
As soon as the reporter arrived in front of a two-story white building, he saw Tsering P尺 (次仁普尺) waving her hand from a distance across the low wall and quickly greeted him from the house.
The brand-new two-story white building in front of her is Tsering P尺's (次仁普尺) new home. Walking into the house, Tibetan furniture is neatly arranged, and several thangkas hanging on the wall are brightly colored, revealing the atmosphere of a new life everywhere.
"Try it." Tsering P尺 (次仁普尺) brought a pot of steaming butter tea, her eyes full of smiles. Sitting around the stove, she naturally chatted with the reporter about the recent situation after the earthquake.
"Our family of eight has been allocated 210 square meters." Tsering P尺 (次仁普尺) said with a smile that her favorite part of the whole new home is the courtyard at the entrance. During the day, the whole family can sit together and bask in the sun. At night, the light from the street lamps shines into the courtyard, which is bright.
Speaking of this, she paused, her eyes slowly sweeping over everything in the house, and said with emotion: "I never dreamed that I could live in such a house."
"Are you used to living here?" the reporter asked.
Tsering P尺 (次仁普尺) nodded and said: "It's more convenient. I used to go to the county to take a bath every once in a while, but now I can take a bath at home; I used to fetch water outside to cook, but now I can use water by turning on the tap in the kitchen, which saves a lot of trouble."
It is understood that this post-disaster reconstruction has many points, long lines, and a wide area, and it also faces multiple severe challenges such as high altitude, cold, lack of oxygen, and complex geological conditions.
"This is the largest post-disaster reconstruction project implemented in Tibet (西藏)," said a relevant person in charge of the front command headquarters office for post-disaster recovery and reconstruction in Shigatse City (日喀则市). Only 3 days after the earthquake, the preparation of the recovery and reconstruction plan was urgently launched, construction started in early March, and ground was broken; in June, the reconstruction projects in each village were fully launched, and by the end of October, all the newly built houses were completed and successfully delivered.
Through the concerted efforts of all parties, this reconstruction finally completed the reconstruction of more than 22,000 houses, with a total area of 3.1 million square meters, and repaired and reinforced more than 10,500 houses, achieving the reconstruction goal of "suffering from the disaster in the same year and moving into a new house in the same year."
From the simple tents temporarily set up after the earthquake, to the orderly prefabricated houses for transitional resettlement, to the warm and comfortable new homes today, the changes in Tsering P尺's (次仁普尺) family's life this year are a vivid microcosm of the local post-disaster recovery and reconstruction.
"When I first saw the floor plan of my new home, I thought it was very beautiful, but I always felt a little uneasy in my heart and felt a little unreal," Tsering P尺 (次仁普尺) said with a smile. "I didn't expect that after receiving the house, it was exactly the same as the drawing, very beautiful!"
She also told reporters that her father is a carpenter. In this post-disaster reconstruction, he also took on a lot of furniture making work in the village, which not only put his skills to use but also added an income to the family.
At the end of the interview, the afterglow of the setting sun gently sprinkled on the top of Mount Everest (珠穆朗玛峰), covering the roofs of every new house in Gurong Village (古荣村).
In the courtyard, Tsering P尺 (次仁普尺) and her mother cooperated tacitly, their figures shuttling back and forth—sometimes going to the cowshed to milk the family's cows, sometimes putting on aprons and busying themselves in the kitchen. The youngest sister in the family is babbling and toddling, and several younger brothers are chasing and playing, their laughter crisp. In the kitchen and living room, the mellow aroma of butter tea and the warm atmosphere of food are intertwined and rising... Turning her head to see this warm picture, tears welled up in Tsering P尺's (次仁普尺) eyes.
Return to TopBy: 本报记者 史自强
"Look, I didn't have to make a single trip or fill out a single form, and the subsidy money was deposited into my card. It's such a pleasant surprise!" In early 2026, Jiang Peng'ai (江捧爱), an 80-year-old from Chixi Village (池西村), Gengle Town (更乐镇), She County (涉县), Handan City (邯郸市), Hebei (河北), received her high-age allowance, her face full of smiles.
In November 2025, Jiang Peng'ai (江捧爱), who had just turned 80, was both happy and worried: she had reached the age where she could receive a monthly high-age allowance, but she heard that she had to prepare the materials and go through the procedures herself, and she didn't know where to start.
"I'm old and have difficulty getting around, and my children aren't by my side, so running back and forth to complete the procedures is really too much trouble," said Jiang Peng'ai (江捧爱). What worried her even more was that if the materials provided did not meet the requirements, she would have to supplement them.
"Some elderly people miss the application deadline because they don't understand the process, and grassroots cadres have to check the materials one by one, which is time-consuming, laborious, and prone to errors," said Bu Bingxian (卜炳献), Deputy Director of the Handan (邯郸) Civil Affairs Bureau, frankly admitting that the previous service model could no longer meet the actual needs of the elderly.
In order to solve this problem, Handan City (邯郸市) broke down departmental barriers and, through social security data sharing, screened out eligible elderly people and formulated and promulgated the "Implementation Plan for Handan City's Comprehensive Implementation of 'Application-Free Enjoyment' of High-Age Allowances" (《邯郸市全面推行高龄津贴“免申即享”工作实施方案》), taking the lead in the province to promote "application-free enjoyment" of high-age allowances. "In the past, it was the elderly who looked for policies, but now it is the policies that look for the elderly. We have changed the layers of 'uploading' to precise 'delivery', which has solved the problem at once," said Bu Bingxian (卜炳献).
Li Guiqing (李贵青), a civil affairs assistant in Guantao Town (馆陶镇), Guantao County (馆陶县), Handan City (邯郸市), has been working in civil affairs for more than 10 years, and he has deep feelings: "In the past, I had to receive dozens of materials reported by various villages and communities every quarter, check the ID card numbers and bank card numbers page by page, and deal with problems such as incomplete materials and incorrect information, which was a lot of work."
Now, data sharing and active identification have replaced manual filling, and the focus of Li Guiqing (李贵青) and his colleagues' work has also shifted from "collecting materials" to "confirming information." "We have more time to go to villages and households and deliver services to the doorsteps of the elderly," said Li Guiqing (李贵青).
In response to special situations found in data comparison, the civil affairs department has launched an "active home visit" service to ensure that no elderly person is left behind. In November 2025, the Guantao County (馆陶县) Civil Affairs Bureau found during a regular arrangement for civil affairs staff in various townships to verify high-age allowance data that Li Zimei (李子梅), an 82-year-old from Sunleizhai Village (孙雷寨村), Weisengzhai Town (魏僧寨镇), although meeting the application criteria, had no valid authentication information in the system. After communicating with the village committee, it was learned that Li Zimei (李子梅) had lived alone for many years, suffered from mild Alzheimer's disease, was slow to move, and could not independently operate a smartphone. Her children worked outside the area and had never completed the application authentication.
After learning about the situation, civil affairs assistant Zhang Yanlai (张延来) immediately took the information registration form and portable identity authentication equipment and went to Li Zimei's (李子梅) home to carefully check the certificate information and complete the facial recognition authentication and information collection on the spot. In just 2 working days, Zhang Yanlai (张延来) expedited the completion of the information entry and review process, coordinated and confirmed the relevant procedures, and ensured that the elderly received the high-age allowance that month.
According to statistics, since the implementation of the "application-free enjoyment" policy for high-age allowances, Handan City (邯郸市) has benefited 203,000 elderly people over the age of 80, with a cumulative distribution of more than 100 million yuan in allowances.
Return to TopBook fragrance is an atmosphere, and reading is the most basic cultural construction. As the "Regulations on Promoting National Reading" are about to be implemented, the Literature and Art Department of the People's Daily and People's Daily Online jointly hosted a roundtable meeting on "Promoting National Reading: What Can We Do?" inviting publishers, scholars, writers, teachers, video bloggers, and others to exchange and discuss reading legislation, reading promotion, digital reading, and protection of reading rights. This edition excerpts the speeches for readers. It is hoped that under the promotion of the "Regulations on Promoting National Reading," the atmosphere of the whole society loving to read, reading good books, and being good at reading will be stronger, national reading will become a fashion, and the fragrance of books will be rich and long-lasting across the land.
——Editor
Both Long-Term Dedication and Seizing the Day
Nie Zhenning (聂震宁)
The purpose of carrying out national reading promotion activities is to build a society filled with the fragrance of books. From the implementation of the "Regulations on Promoting National Reading" to the construction of a society filled with the fragrance of books, to walk this road well, we must both adhere to long-termism, 久久为功 (jiǔ jiǔ wéi gōng - "achieve success through persistent effort," to work diligently and persistently over a long period), and also 只争朝夕 (zhǐ zhēng zhāo xī - "seize every minute," to seize the day and make the most of every moment), seeking short-term breakthroughs.
The most important thing in building a society filled with the fragrance of books is to cultivate the reading habits of the people. Especially in the context of massive short videos and fragmented information vying for attention, people's patience is waning, and the cultivation of reading habits is becoming increasingly difficult. While reading on screens, it is still necessary to read books, guiding the public to "read screens when busy and read books when idle," avoiding "reading screens whether busy or idle."
However, long-termism does not mean "take it slow," and "long-term" cannot be turned into "wait for later." What should be done must be done immediately, with a focus, and with effective results. We must increase the publicity of the "Regulations on Promoting National Reading," and through media publicity, celebrity demonstrations, and examples from around us, use lectures, live broadcasts, short videos, and other lightweight forms to stimulate public interest in reading, so that "reading is a necessity" and "reading ability determines learning ability" become a social consensus. It is up to people to make things happen, and a society filled with the fragrance of books needs a group of reading promoters to act as seeds, and we should increase the cultivation of talents in this area.
We must come up with effective countermeasures to address the difficulties and obstacles in national reading. In terms of system design, we can promptly compile "National Reading Promotion Work Plans," "Children and Adolescents Reading Plans," "Rural Reading Plans," and so on. The publishing supply side should make up for its shortcomings, improve the quality of publications for different groups such as minors, the elderly, and people with disabilities. Support the combination of digital reading and traditional reading, promote the supply of high-quality digital reading content, and improve the convenience and satisfaction of digital reading. Faced with the problem of excessive disparity in reading resources between urban and rural areas, strengthen the construction of reading facilities, and use digital and network means to expand rural reading coverage. In response to the problem of insufficient in-depth reading among students, we can increase the amount of reading in teaching plans, offer reading courses, and create a campus atmosphere filled with the fragrance of books.
National reading is a matter of people's livelihood. As long as we do it earnestly and practically, even a small measure can exude a beautiful fragrance of books. For example, scrolling "authoritative media's important new book recommendation lists" and "the most borrowed books from public libraries" on some public electronic screens in subway stations and other places can make the reading atmosphere around us more intense. By accumulating small steps in this way, we can reach a thousand miles and achieve the ultimate goal of a society filled with the fragrance of books—to make "loving to read, reading good books, and being good at reading" a way of life internalized in the hearts of the public.
(The author is the Director of the National Reading Work Committee of the Publishers Association of China (中国出版协会))
Producing High-Quality Content and Creating a Good Atmosphere
Chen Wei (陈炜)
Promoting national reading is a major national undertaking ("国之大者") concerning the national spiritual foundation, the country's cultural soft power, and the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation. The "Regulations on Promoting National Reading" allows this work to enter a new stage of having laws to abide by and orderly progress. This is a historic opportunity for the publishing industry, requiring us to not only be good producers of cultural products, but also good creators of a book-fragrant atmosphere, contributing to the high-quality development of national reading.
To serve national reading, we must focus on the needs of national development and the cultural needs of the people, and do a good job in providing high-quality content. CITIC Press (中信出版) has cultivated in-depth fields such as finance, technology, and humanities, closely following the "15th Five-Year Plan" recommendations and national strategic needs, and launched seven major book series such as "Strategic Decision-Making Framework under Global Changes," "Generation and Organizational Evolution of New Quality Productive Forces," and "Cognitive Reconstruction and World Insight Spanning Ancient and Modern Times," providing intellectual support for national development and social progress. We optimize the membership service system, providing diversified knowledge products such as books and courses to meet the diverse needs of readers. We also closely follow the interests of young people, and use high-quality animation and other popular culture IP-derived books as carriers to expand emerging businesses, promoting national reading to extend to younger and trendier audiences.
To promote national reading, we must focus on creating an atmosphere, expanding from book pages to physical spaces and cyberspace. On the one hand, we use AI technology to create intelligent book entities, optimize the reading experience, and improve reading efficiency. We also plan to open up tens of thousands of high-quality digital content for free during the first National Reading Activity Week, making digital reading an important support for national reading. On the other hand, we expand offline reading spaces, turning physical bookstores into urban cultural living rooms that integrate reading, communication, and cultural display. Currently, we are building flagship bookstores in Beijing (北京) and other places, using high-quality reading scenes and diversified services to nourish people's lives and continue the city's cultural heritage.
Establishing and improving the national reading promotion system can transform national reading work into concrete practices that can be implemented and verified. CITIC Press (中信出版) is integrating resources to build a promotion system of "physical bookstores laying a solid foundation, online platforms empowering and increasing efficiency, and all-staff marketing broadening channels." We will improve the book recommendation mechanism and plan to invite 50 authors and 50 readers to serve as national reading promotion ambassadors during the National Reading Activity Week, spreading good books through multiple channels and allowing mainstream values to permeate people's hearts through reading. At the same time, we will deepen cooperation with diverse entities such as universities, communities, and enterprises, combining important nodes, social hotspots, and the needs of the masses to plan themed reading festivals, celebrity sharing sessions, parent-child reading, and other activities, release themed book lists, and promote the formation of a good atmosphere of "everyone loves reading and there is a fragrance of books everywhere."
(The author is the Chairman of CITIC Publishing Group (中信出版集团))
Using New Media to Stimulate Reading Interest
Chen Pingyuan (陈平原)
To carry out national reading, the conditions are actually all there. Ability is not a problem; the gross enrollment rate in higher education is currently 60.8%. Policy is not a problem; the government has done a lot of work to advocate national reading. Economics is also not a problem; the proportion of our daily consumption spent on buying books is very small. So, where is the problem? The problem is a lack of interest. Apart from coping with exams for schooling and promotion, some people's interest in independent reading is not high. Why have we called for so many years and used so much effort, but the effect is still not ideal? This involves publishing, bookstores, online culture, and school education, covering a wide range. Here is a small entry point to talk about how to promote reading.
First of all, we must directly face the impact of short videos on reading. This impact is both good and bad, depending on how you look at it. Many people look down on short videos, especially those who live in academies for a long time, or who consider themselves to be more cultivated, and feel that those short videos that are blooming everywhere are really vulgar and not worth paying attention to. Several years ago, I said that today's short videos are like the newspapers of the late Qing Dynasty. Back then, Yan Fu (严复) and others looked down on the articles written by Liang Qichao (梁启超) in newspapers, believing that there was a world of difference between writing for books and writing for newspapers. Writing for books could be hidden in famous mountains and passed down to future generations, and was worth serious management; while writing for newspapers responded to the changes of the times, was written casually, and published immediately, without long-term value. But 100 years later, we are still reading Liang Qichao's (梁启超) articles, and we are still talking about the "new media" of the late Qing Dynasty or the May Fourth period.
In all eras, when new media come out, there will be many problems, but please do not rush to conclusions and say that it has no future. The key lies in the user, whether you and I make good use of it. If you ignore the quality of the content and swipe through a dozen hours of short videos a day, that is a bit regrettable; but if you don't watch short videos at all, you may not be able to truly understand this era.
Any new medium that "captures" a wide audience is worth pondering, carefully transforming, and using as much as possible for my own purposes. In my opinion, short video is not just a new technology or a new genre, but also a new culture. But the content of short videos does need to be improved, and it cannot only go in the direction of attracting attention and pursuing traffic. If there is any way to "promote reading," the government, academia, and media might as well unite to create a long-term plan, using well-produced short videos to talk about the stories of reading, the experiences of reading, the skills of reading, and to recommend good books. Just like writing articles, short videos must also be carefully managed; if they are crudely made, people will be too lazy to open them. Short videos must first be good-looking, and at the same time, they must have the correct ideas, so that they can attract audiences to click and watch.
(The author is a Level 1 Professor of Philosophy and Social Sciences at Peking University (北京大学) and a librarian at the Central Research Institute of Culture and History (中央文史研究馆))
Creating "Common Knowledge"
Luo Zhenyu (罗振宇)
What is a book in essence? Is it a pile of words or information printed on paper carriers? If you look at the amount of information that can be read, it has not only increased in recent years, but the increase has been particularly large. But a book is not just any readable text; it is a social consensus supported by three aspects: mainstream values, professional content, and market testing. The publishing industry may still undergo various forms of evolution in the future, but in the final analysis, the consensus reached by multiple social forces is the unchanging essence of the publishing industry.
Therefore, promoting reading is the process of rebuilding consensus in a decentralized information society. In the past, we wanted to stuff books into people who didn't like to read. Now, can we reverse this and let people build a sense of accomplishment through reading? There is often a voice that says, "Reading should not pursue usefulness," "Reading is useless," "The use of uselessness." The reasoning is of course correct, but in the Chinese nation's thousands of years of reading history, is reading really useless? The use of reading is too great. It is our dereliction of duty as reading promoters if we do not pave the way for ordinary people to have useful steps. We must see that reading will lead to expression and output, and output will lead to a sense of accomplishment. We must let people like reading in this sense of accomplishment.
Linguist and cognitive psychologist Steven Pinker divides human knowledge into two categories in his book "Common Knowledge": private knowledge and common knowledge. Private knowledge solves the problem of the creation of knowledge, that is, the problem of knowledge from nothing to something. But knowledge is not enough just to have it; it must become common knowledge to be useful to society. The greatest value of books is in producing common knowledge. When you know, I know, and we all know that we know each other, individuals will not have the anxiety of being exiled by the knowledge community.
This also provides ideas for the promotion of national reading. I saw a bookstore in Jinan (济南), Shandong (山东) called "Jie Shu Yuan" (藉书园). It does not make money by selling books, but by charging annual lecture fees. Today, book resources are no longer scarce, and offline reading spaces are also very abundant, but what is more valuable than resources and space is the gathering scene that can produce common knowledge. Just like when I hold a New Year's Eve speech, it is clear that you can watch it on your mobile phone or on TV, but why do thousands or tens of thousands of people still gather at the scene to watch it? That is because everyone wants to find this feeling of producing common knowledge. Throwing yourself into the situation and bringing yourself in to create common knowledge is a promotion of reading and is more in line with the essence of book production.
(The author is the founder of the Dedao APP (得到APP))
Nourishing People's Spirits
Wang Liuyun (王柳云)
I come from the countryside of Hunan (湖南). In the remote rural areas in the early years, everyone was very willing to read. At that time, farmers did not have money to buy books, and a batch of books was donated from above, or a few sets of books were obtained by a school, and the villagers read them desperately, reading until the pages fell apart. When it rained, when they gathered together, the eloquent people would stand up and talk about the books, which book, which era, what happened, and tell it vividly.
An old colleague of mine, Lao Tang (老唐), worked hard all his life, was poor all his life, and insisted on reading books all his life. When I saw him, he was in his 60s, with a calm humanistic spirit. He picked up many books that people had thrown away and read them one after another with his glasses on. Reading was an important companion in his life.
For me, reading is also the most important spiritual companion. Working in the city, all the bookstores open their tolerant and warm arms. When it is a holiday or I am not working, I go to the nearest Xinhua Bookstore (新华书店), select a row of bookshelves, and stop to read. These books are the "Shangganling" (上甘岭) that I long to conquer. The powerful enemy is my own heart and brain. I flip through a dozen or twenty of them a day, forcing them to become my wisdom.
After reading books for decades, I can actually write books. I have successively published "Green Mustard Life" ("青芥人生"), "The Wind Blows Up the Moonlight" ("风吹起了月光"), and other books. Through writing, I express my experiences, like a hungry person singing about his food, and a worker singing about his work. As time passes, the gains from reading and writing shine like golden veins.
My understanding of national reading is that after the country has completed the arduous task of poverty alleviation, it is carrying out spiritual enrichment, improving the quality of society, and nourishing people's spirits. Why are some people keen on playing cards and gambling? Because their spirits are empty and there is no place for their spirits to depend on. Why do some people not talk about morality, not talk about filial piety, not talk about humility, and act recklessly? Because of cognitive biases and moral deficiencies. Compared to focusing on making money, enjoying life, and standing out, if ordinary people can improve their morality from reading, understand the true meaning of ordinary life, return to simplicity and honesty, be content with life, and face difficulties calmly, it will be of great help to the social atmosphere. National reading is about going to the masses and letting everyone truly participate. Enriching the spirit and cultivating the heart, the value of reading lies here.
(The author is an amateur writer)
Cultivating Habits That Benefit Young People for Life
Li Xiaoyang (李晓阳)
Youth reading is the seed of national reading. It is hard to imagine that a person who has never felt the charm of language in middle and primary school classrooms would be willing to choose to be accompanied by books after entering society. As a Chinese teacher, I believe that to do a good job in promoting youth reading in the context of the Internet, we must solve four underlying problems: why read, what to read, how to read, and how well to read.
"Why read" solves the problem of meaning and value. The more meaning you understand, the more action you take. Many students cannot read "Dream of the Red Chamber" ("红楼梦"). When I lecture, I focus on Jia Baoyu's (贾宝玉) dilemma—choosing soul or reality in love, and following the heart or the family in life. When children discover that this youthful confusion from hundreds of years ago is so similar to their own, Jia Baoyu (贾宝玉) is no longer just a character in a famous book, but suddenly becomes a friend around them. With a feeling of excitement, they will value reading.
"What to read" is very important. Now it is not that there are no books, but that there are too many books. For beginners, high-quality and palatable recommendations are especially needed. For example, many middle schools recommend Yang Bojun's (杨伯峻) "Translation and Annotation of the Analects of Confucius" ("论语译注"). This version is very classic and academic, but when facing young people, I would rather recommend Bao Pengshan's (鲍鹏山) "Introduction to the Analects of Confucius" ("〈论语〉导读"). It is not only an annotation, but also tells readers what Confucius (孔子) said in what situation and for what purpose, and what significance it has for us today. More often, "suitable" and "right" can connect people and books.
The third thing is that reading has methods and skills. The more you can read, the more you like to read; the more you like to read, the more you will turn around and think about how to read. I once used Jin Shengtan's (金圣叹) annotation method to teach children to read "The Scholars" ("儒林外史"). He went from feeling "boring" to reading with great interest, and also learned from Jin Shengtan (金圣叹) to comment, annotate, circle, and draw. With methods and skills, there is fun and experience, and they will take the initiative to read.
The most critical thing is "how well to read." Many activities stop at advocacy, lacking an effective closed loop. I suggest using the thinking of designing "fitness software" to create an incentive system. For example, hold a "48-hour cross-media narrative co-creation camp" to transform reading results into vivid works such as radio dramas and illustrations; and then solicit "a sentence written to the characters in the book" to stimulate emotional resonance with low-threshold participation. Let every reading be seen and responded to, so that habits can be truly formed.
The most crucial aspect is "how well it's read." Many activities stop at advocacy, lacking an effective feedback loop. I suggest using the thinking behind designing "fitness apps" to create an incentive system. For example, hold a "48-hour cross-media storytelling co-creation camp" to transform reading results into vivid works such as radio dramas and illustrations. Another example is soliciting "a sentence to the person in the book" to stimulate emotional resonance with low-threshold participation. Only by ensuring that every reading experience is seen and responded to can habits be truly cultivated.
Reading physical books requires slowing down and immersing oneself to truly feel and savor the experience. In contrast, short mobile phone videos are immediate, gratifying, and addictive, creating an overwhelming competition for attention. In this context, it is even more important to focus on developing fundamental reading skills and putting in the effort at critical stages to cultivate habits that will benefit young people for a lifetime.
(The author is the head of the Chinese Language Teaching and Research Group at the Affiliated Experimental High School of Beijing Normal University (北京师范大学附属实验中学))
Video Platforms Can Also Become Fertile Ground for Reading
Gu Wenhao (顾文豪)
Currently, the viewership of medium-to-long videos on the internet is particularly impressive, and the explosion of these videos began with reading-related content. A 450-minute video discussing "Dream of the Red Chamber" (《红楼梦》) garnered 13.37 million likes and 370 million views on Douyin (抖音), with 1.5 million people watching it completely on the platform. The popularity of numerous medium-to-long reading-related videos confirms users' demand for in-depth knowledge content.
As of now, the average daily submissions of knowledge-based medium-to-long videos (over 3 minutes) on the Douyin (抖音) platform have increased by 90%, and the average daily views have increased by 40%. These figures indicate that video platforms are fully capable of providing better services and assistance in promoting nationwide reading. In my opinion, platforms should promote nationwide reading through three "all-encompassing" approaches.
First, all-encompassing in terms of people. The platform's reading users cover all regions and age groups, with different groups exhibiting distinct reading preferences. Those born in the 1980s focus on business and finance content, those born in the 1990s prefer emotional and psychological content, and those born in the 2000s favor literature, art, and science content. Regional differences are even more interesting. Research has found that Guizhou (贵州) users love natural history books like "A Handbook of Chinese Birds." Reading is never a uniform experience; different groups' lifestyles naturally permeate their reading choices.
Second, all-encompassing in terms of formats. Operational experience shows that the dissemination effect varies greatly even when explaining the same content, and the key to whether an author can "break out of the circle" lies in their creative techniques. "Brother Hunzi" (混子哥) presents historical science popularization by stringing together diverse knowledge points through vivid and humorous hand-drawn illustrations. "Da Yuanjing" (大圆镜) uses AI technology to recreate the moment of birth of important principles in the history of science, which is amazing. In the field of reading, the richness of creative techniques has spawned "N kinds of expressions of a famous book." "Dream of the Red Chamber" (《红楼梦》) has not only full interpretations, but also character analysis, historical explorations, and even food culture explorations and other interesting forms, giving classic content more access paths.
Finally, all-encompassing in terms of categories. There are two major trends in book content: one is the rediscovery of classics. Classic masterpieces in common memory are the most touching. The popularity of "I and the Temple of Earth" (《我与地坛》) in 2023 was precisely because its interpretation resonated with current social emotions, gaining the love of young people. The second is that niche works are becoming more "out of the circle." Works such as "The Xia Dynasty" (《翦商》) and "People in a Hurry" (《赶时间的人》) have gained a lot of attention through the platform's media effect.
Facts have proven that video platforms are not just entertainment carriers, but can also become fertile ground for in-depth reading. In the future, we will continue to deeply cultivate the content ecosystem, discover high-quality creators, link various resources, improve the multi-type platform ecosystem, and strive to build an important position for nationwide reading, so that more people can encounter good books and fall in love with reading, and let in-depth reading take root, sprout, and flourish on the small screen.
(The author is the relevant person in charge of the Douyin (抖音) knowledge vertical category)
Making Reading a Popular Choice
Du Liang (都靓)
As a short video creator who has been deeply involved in the field of reading and poetry for 7 years, accompanied by 40 million subscribers across the network, I have witnessed the deep integration of new media and reading.
The value of the Internet lies in breaking down barriers, allowing every small hobby to find resonance. Reading bloggers are more like "porters" of cultural dissemination, extracting fragments of wisdom from the vast sea of ancient classics and bringing them to everyone in the form of short videos, live broadcasts, and other audio-visual forms, so that books are opened by those who are destined to read them.
How to guide users from watching videos to opening books and achieving true reading conversion has always been a topic we have explored. Over the past 7 years, our footprints have spread across various provinces, just to build a bridge between books and reality and make reading feel tangible and accessible. For example, in order to interpret the book "The Silk Road" (《丝路》), we traveled to Shawan (沙湾), Xinjiang (新疆), to find a alfalfa plant in Liu Liangcheng's (刘亮程) Mulei Bookstore (木垒书院); not long ago, we launched a live broadcast in the Great Wild Goose Pagoda (大雁塔) in Xi'an (西安) with more than 90,000 viewers, taking everyone to see the offspring of the Sal tree planted by Xuanzang (玄奘) more than 1,300 years ago. Since 2025, we have insisted on releasing two videos with book links every week. Even if the profit from selling books is meager, we still persevere, because only by allowing publishers to profit and more people to pick up books can this industry continue to prosper.
We hope that the platform's traffic distribution can be appropriately tilted towards the field of reading promotion, so that those good books and high-quality content that have been buried can be discovered by more people. We also look forward to more experts and scholars entering the field of new media and transforming professional knowledge into content that is popular with the public. For the first National Reading Activities Week, writers and reading bloggers can be invited to cultural landmarks to make reading behavior closely related to the land. You can go to Qujiang (曲江) to experience "seeing all the flowers of Chang'an (长安) in one day," go to Wangchuan (辋川) to appreciate the secluded life described by Wang Wei (王维), and go to Huaqing Pool (华清池) to talk about "Song of Everlasting Regret" (《长恨歌》)... I ask, who wouldn't want to open a Tang poem in such a situation?
Relying on the profound soil of Chinese culture, I believe that as long as we are good at creating and opening up new reading fields, we can make reading a popular choice in cultural life.
(The author is a reading video blogger)
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