People's Daily - May 16, 2026

Xi Jinping Meets with US President Donald Trump in Small-Scale Meeting at Zhongnanhai

Xinhua News Agency, Beijing, May 15th (Reporters Yang Yijun (杨依军) and Sun Yi (孙奕)) On the morning of May 15th, President Xi Jinping (习近平) held a small-scale meeting with US President Trump in Zhongnanhai (中南海).

In late spring and early summer, Zhongnanhai (中南海) was filled with lush greenery. When Trump arrived, Xi Jinping (习近平) greeted him warmly. The two heads of state walked and talked, occasionally stopping to admire the ancient trees and various roses in the garden.

Xi Jinping (习近平) pointed out that President Trump's visit was a historic and landmark visit. We jointly established a new positioning for a constructive and strategically stable China-US relationship, reached important consensus on maintaining stable economic and trade relations, expanding practical cooperation in various fields, and properly resolving each other's concerns, and agreed to strengthen communication and coordination on international and regional issues. The visit is conducive to promoting mutual understanding, deepening mutual trust, and enhancing the well-being of the people of both countries. This also shows once again that China and the United States can achieve peaceful coexistence and win-win cooperation on the basis of mutual respect, and embark on a correct path of getting along, which is what the people of both countries want and what the people of all countries in the world hope for. President Trump hopes to make America great again, and I am committed to leading the Chinese people to achieve the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation. The two sides can strengthen cooperation to promote their respective development and revitalization. The two sides should implement the important consensus we have reached, cherish the hard-won good momentum, grasp the direction, eliminate interference, and promote the stable development of bilateral relations.

Trump said that he was very grateful to President Xi Jinping (习近平) for inviting him to Zhongnanhai (中南海) as a guest. This visit to China was a very successful visit, attracting worldwide attention and being unforgettable. The two sides have formed a series of important consensus, reached a number of agreements, and solved many problems, which are very beneficial to both countries and the world. President Xi Jinping (习近平) is an old friend of mine, and I respect President Xi Jinping (习近平) very much. We have established a good relationship. The US-China relationship is very important and will definitely get better and better. I am willing to continue to maintain sincere and in-depth communication with President Xi Jinping (习近平) and look forward to hosting President Xi Jinping (习近平) in Washington.

The two sides also exchanged views on some regional hotspot issues.

Cai Qi (蔡奇), Wang Yi (王毅), He Lifeng (何立峰), and others participated in the above activities.

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Building a "Constructive and Strategic Stable Relationship Between China and the United States" is the Most Important Political Consensus

Xinhua News Agency, Beijing, May 15th (新华社北京5月15日电) U.S. President Donald Trump (唐纳德·特朗普) paid a state visit to China from May 13th to 15th at the invitation of Chinese President Xi Jinping (习近平). Wang Yi (王毅), a member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee (中共中央政治局) and Minister of Foreign Affairs, briefed the media on the meeting and consensus between the Chinese and American heads of state on the 15th.

I. All sectors of China and the United States and the international community have paid close attention to U.S. President Donald Trump's (唐纳德·特朗普) visit to China. What are your comments on the meeting between the two heads of state?

Wang Yi (王毅): During this visit, President Xi Jinping (习近平) and President Trump (特朗普) conducted candid, in-depth, constructive, and strategic communication on major issues concerning Sino-U.S. relations and world peace and development, actively explored the correct way for the two major countries to get along, and reached a series of consensus on this. As many media friends have pointed out, this was a historic meeting.

First, this is an important meeting at a critical stage of development for both countries. This year is the first year of China's "15th Five-Year Plan," and we are comprehensively promoting Chinese-style modernization with high-quality development. This year is also the 250th anniversary of American independence. In this crucial year, the two heads of state gathered in Beijing (北京) to conduct in-depth exchanges on governance, Sino-U.S. relations, and international and regional hotspots, releasing an important message to the outside world, that is, realizing the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation and making America great again can be parallel, mutually reinforcing, and beneficial to the world.

Second, this is an important meeting at a new historical starting point for Sino-U.S. relations. This meeting is the second face-to-face meeting between the two heads of state since Busan (釜山) in October last year, and it is also the first visit to China by a U.S. president in nine years, continuing and consolidating the good interaction between the two heads of state. At present, the century-old changes are accelerating, and the world has come to a new crossroads. President Xi Jinping (习近平) emphasized, can China and the United States cross the "Thucydides Trap" and create a new paradigm of major-country relations? Can we work together to address global challenges and inject more stability into the world? Can we focus on the well-being of the two peoples and the future destiny of mankind and jointly create a better future for bilateral relations? Facing these historical questions, world questions, and people's questions, we must jointly write the answers of the times. The two heads of state will steer the giant ship of Sino-U.S. relations well, which will have a significant and far-reaching impact on the evolution of the international situation and the development of human society.

Third, this is an important meeting in which the two heads of state had in-depth communication and reached rich results. This meeting included formal talks and a welcome banquet, as well as small-scale exchanges and visits. The two heads of state interacted for nearly 9 hours. Mutual respect, cherishing peace, and exploring cooperation have always been the keynote running through the meeting. The two heads of state agreed that building a "constructive strategic stability relationship between China and the United States" is the most important political consensus. In addition, both sides are willing to carry out more exchanges in various fields such as diplomacy, military, economy and trade, health, agriculture, tourism, culture, and law enforcement, injecting new impetus into the next stage of bilateral exchanges.

II. How should we understand the new positioning of the "constructive strategic stability relationship between China and the United States"?

Wang Yi (王毅): During the meeting, the two heads of state agreed to use the "constructive strategic stability relationship between China and the United States" as a new positioning for bilateral relations, providing strategic guidance for Sino-U.S. relations for the next three years or even longer, which is welcomed by the people of both countries and the international community. China believes that:

This should be positive stability with cooperation as the main focus, and continuously enhance the resilience of Sino-U.S. relations through exchanges and cooperation. As the world's two largest economies, China and the United States are interdependent, and neither can do without the other. Cooperation benefits both, while confrontation hurts both. Confrontation is destined to be a disaster for both countries and the world, while cooperation can accomplish many major things that are beneficial to both countries and the world.

This should be benign stability with competition within limits, and not engage in a zero-sum game where you lose and I win. It is not surprising that there is competition between major countries, but competition should not be used to define the entire Sino-U.S. relationship. Even if there is competition between China and the United States, it should be benign competition of mutual learning, positive competition of catching up with each other, and fair competition of abiding by the rules. The purpose of competition is to make each other better.

This should be a normal state of stability with controllable differences, and should not fluctuate like a roller coaster. Both sides should maintain the continuity and stability of their policies, especially to keep their promises, always move in the same direction, and provide more certainty for their respective development and the international situation with positive expectations of Sino-U.S. cooperation.

This should be lasting stability with peace in sight, and there should be no conflict, confrontation, or even war. Peaceful coexistence is the greatest common denominator between China and the United States, and the consequences of Sino-U.S. conflict and confrontation are unbearable for anyone. The key lies in abiding by the three Sino-U.S. joint communiqués, respecting each other's social systems and development paths, respecting each other's core interests and major concerns, and respecting each other's development rights.

In short, the "constructive strategic stability relationship between China and the United States" is not just a slogan, but should be a goal that both sides adhere to and actions taken together. We must follow the direction clearly defined by the two heads of state, continuously enrich the connotation of this new positioning, transform it into concrete policies and practical measures, and jointly open a new chapter in Sino-U.S. relations.

III. What consensus was reached at this meeting on promoting high-level and all-round exchanges between China and the United States?

Wang Yi (王毅): Sino-U.S. relations are the most important and complex bilateral relations in the world, and head-of-state diplomacy is the "stabilizing force" of bilateral relations. Since President Trump (特朗普) took office, the two heads of state have held two meetings, five phone calls, and multiple exchanges of letters, providing important strategic guarantees for the improvement and development of Sino-U.S. relations, and also making Sino-U.S. relations generally stable after experiencing ups and downs. At this meeting, the two heads of state agreed to continue to maintain close contact through meetings, phone calls, or exchange of letters. At the invitation of President Trump (特朗普), President Xi Jinping (习近平) will pay a state visit to the United States this fall. Both sides should work together to make thorough preparations for the interaction and exchanges between the two heads of state, create a suitable atmosphere, and accumulate more results.

Under the authorization of the two heads of state, political and diplomatic channels maintain communication, properly manage differences, solve practical problems, enhance mutual understanding, and promote the development of bilateral relations. According to the consensus of the two heads of state, the Sino-U.S. economic and trade teams held multiple rounds of consultations, stabilizing the economic and trade relations between the two countries and also stabilizing market expectations. The two major mechanisms of political diplomacy and economy and trade will continue to play a role, continuously lengthening the cooperation list and compressing the problem list.

To implement the consensus of the two heads of state, joint efforts from all departments of both sides are needed. This meeting will vigorously promote the strengthening of mutual exchanges between the legislative bodies, local governments, business circles, academic circles, media, and other sectors of the two countries. The two sides also agreed to mutually support the successful hosting of the 2026 APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting and the G20 Leaders' Summit. All levels of China and the United States should take action to implement the consensus of the two heads of state and achieve more visible results.

IV. How can the meeting promote cultural exchanges between the two countries?

Wang Yi (王毅): President Xi Jinping (习近平) once pointed out that the hope of Sino-U.S. relations lies in the people, the foundation lies in the people, the future lies in the youth, and the vitality lies in the local governments. At this meeting, both heads of state mentioned the importance of promoting cultural exchanges. President Xi Jinping (习近平) specifically mentioned the story of people-to-people exchanges, pointing out that 55 years ago, China and the United States launched "ping-pong diplomacy," opening the door to more than 20 years of ice between China and the United States, becoming a major event in the history of contemporary international relations. President Trump (特朗普) also reviewed the history of exchanges between the two peoples, saying that the American people and the Chinese people appreciate and respect each other, and their friendship has a long history.

After Sino-U.S. relations entered a new stage, President Xi Jinping (习近平) proposed the important initiative of "inviting 50,000 American teenagers to China for exchanges and study in 5 years," which has been warmly responded to and actively participated in by all sectors of the two countries. President Xi Jinping (习近平) welcomes more American teenagers to visit and study in China. President Trump (特朗普) has also repeatedly expressed his welcome to Chinese students to go to the United States. This two-way exchange will broaden the horizons of young people and better shape the future of Sino-U.S. relations.

During the visit, the two heads of state jointly visited the Temple of Heaven (天坛), appreciating the Chinese civilization's concept of harmony with all things and adapting to the times. This special arrangement shows that China and the United States, two great countries, should deepen mutual understanding and promote people's friendship.

In the past year or so, exchanges between legislative bodies, local governments, and business delegations between China and the United States have increased significantly. Many American entrepreneurs accompanied President Trump (特朗普) on his visit to China. President Trump (特朗普) specially invited them to the meeting site between the heads of state, and President Xi Jinping (习近平) encouraged them one by one to strengthen cooperation with China, emphasizing that China's door to opening up will only open wider and wider. Premier Li Qiang (李强) collectively met with American entrepreneurs, and everyone generally expressed that they attach great importance to the Chinese market, hope to deepen their business in China, and continue to strengthen cooperation with China, which once again proves that China is still a fertile ground for American companies to invest in.

In short, more exchanges and interactions between the people of China and the United States are the consensus of the two heads of state and the wish of the two peoples. China will, as always, encourage and support this, consolidate the social foundation of bilateral relations, and continue to write more stories of Sino-U.S. people-to-people friendship.

V. The two heads of state mentioned the Taiwan (台湾) issue during the meeting. Can you introduce the relevant situation?

Wang Yi (王毅): At this meeting, the Taiwan (台湾) issue was one of the key topics. China's position is very clear:

First, the Taiwan (台湾) issue is China's internal affair. Achieving national reunification is the common aspiration of all Chinese sons and daughters and the unswerving historical mission of the Communist Party of China (中国共产党). The fact that the mainland and Taiwan (台湾) belong to one China is a fact from ancient times to the present, is the true status quo in the Taiwan Strait, and is an important part of the post-World War II international order. We hope that the U.S. side will abide by the one-China principle and the three Sino-U.S. joint communiqués and fulfill its due international obligations.

Second, the Taiwan (台湾) issue is the most important issue in Sino-U.S. relations, affecting the whole body. If it is handled well, bilateral relations can maintain overall stability, and both sides can devote more energy to carrying out mutually beneficial cooperation. If it is not handled well, the two countries will collide or even conflict, pushing the entire Sino-U.S. relationship into a very dangerous situation. China hopes that the U.S. side will take practical actions to maintain the stable development of Sino-U.S. relations and peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait.

Third, maintaining peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait is the greatest common denominator between the two sides. The premise for doing this is that we must never support or condone "Taiwan independence" (台独), because "Taiwan independence" (台独) and peace in the Taiwan Strait are incompatible. We felt in the meeting that the U.S. side understands China's position, attaches importance to China's concerns, and, like the international community, does not recognize or accept Taiwan (台湾) moving towards independence.

VI. What results were achieved in the economic and trade field during the meeting?

Wang Yi (王毅): The two heads of state discussed Sino-U.S. economic and trade relations in depth, clarifying the direction and providing guarantees for economic and trade cooperation between the two countries. President Xi Jinping (习近平) emphasized that the essence of Sino-U.S. economic and trade relations is mutual benefit and win-win, and equal consultation is the only correct choice in the face of differences and frictions. The two economic and trade teams have reached overall balanced and positive results, including continuing to implement all the consensus reached in previous consultations, agreeing to establish a Trade Council and an Investment Council, addressing each other's concerns about agricultural product market access, and promoting the expansion of two-way trade under the framework of reciprocal tax reductions.

The working teams of both sides are still consulting on relevant details and will finalize the results as soon as possible and jointly implement them.

VII. What international and regional hotspot issues did the two heads of state talk about?

Wang Yi (王毅): President Xi Jinping (习近平) and President Trump (特朗普) have always maintained close communication on international and regional hotspot issues. During this meeting, the two sides once again exchanged in-depth views on issues of common concern.

Regarding the situation in the Middle East, President Xi Jinping (习近平) elaborated on China's consistent position, emphasizing that force cannot solve the problem, and dialogue is the right way. Negotiations will not be achieved overnight, but since the door to dialogue has been opened, it should not be closed again. China encourages the U.S. and Iran to continue to resolve differences and contradictions, including the nuclear issue, through negotiations, advocates reopening the Strait of Hormuz as soon as possible on the basis of maintaining the ceasefire, and believes that the fundamental way to solve the Strait issue lies in achieving a permanent and comprehensive ceasefire. China has been working hard to promote peace and talks and will continue to play its role in promoting the early cessation of war and restoring peace in the Middle East.

Regarding the Ukraine crisis, both China and the United States hope that the war will end as soon as possible, and both have done a lot of work to promote peace and talks in their own ways. There is no simple solution to complex problems, and peace talks are difficult to achieve overnight. China and the United States are willing to continue to maintain communication and play a constructive role in the political settlement of the crisis.

Wang Yi (王毅) finally emphasized that, as President Xi Jinping (习近平) pointed out, Sino-U.S. relations bear the well-being of more than 1.7 billion people in the two countries and are related to the interests of more than 8 billion people in the world. China is willing to work with the U.S. side to jointly implement the important consensus reached at the meeting between the heads of state, and towards the direction of building a "constructive strategic stability relationship between China and the United States," view and grasp Sino-U.S. relations with a broader vision and a longer-term perspective, jointly find a correct way for major countries to get along in the new era, bring more well-being to the people of the two countries, and make more contributions to world peace and development.

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"Make 2026 a historic and landmark year for China-U.S. relations to build on the past and open up the future."

By: 本报记者 杜尚泽 胡泽曦

Time: May 14th, morning
Agenda: Meeting between the Chinese and American Heads of State

In front of the Great Hall of the People, the Chinese and American Heads of State ascended the steps. A warm breeze brushed their faces as they engaged in cordial conversation. People's eyes followed their figures, watching them pause, turn, and face the square outside the East Gate, where a grand welcoming ceremony had just been held.

Looking into the distance, one could see Tiananmen Square (天安门), the Forbidden City (故宫), the National Museum of China (国家博物馆), the Monument to the People's Heroes (人民英雄纪念碑), and Chang'an Avenue (长安街), which was adorned with the flags of both China and the United States. The ancient vicissitudes of civilized China and the modern vibrancy of China evoked many emotions.

They walked side by side into the Great Hall of the People (人民大会堂) and took their seats in the East Hall. At approximately 10:20 AM, the meeting between the Chinese and American Heads of State began.

President Xi Jinping (习近平) described the meeting as "attracting worldwide attention," and President Trump responded, "Some say that this summit is the most important, and now in the United States, everyone is talking about my visit." The night before, after President Trump arrived in Beijing (北京), the White House issued a message: Everyone is waiting.

The last time they met in Beijing (北京) was in 2017. Nine years have passed in the **弹指一挥间** (tán zhǐ yī huī jiān - "snap of the fingers," in the blink of an eye), and both China and the world have undergone significant and profound changes, confirming President Xi Jinping's (习近平) profound judgment from different dimensions: "The great changes unseen in a century are accelerating."

At the start of the meeting, President Xi Jinping (习近平) raised "three questions" about Sino-US relations: "These are questions of history, questions of the world, and questions of the people, and they are also the answers of the times that leaders of major countries need to write together." Steering the course well, the venue that holds the future of Sino-US relations conveyed President Xi Jinping's (习近平) important assertion: "Let 2026 be a historic and landmark year for Sino-US relations to build on the past and open up the future."

Why does 2026 carry such weighty expectations?

Before the meeting, many international affairs observers judged: "There are signs that the Chinese and American Heads of State may create another historic moment."

The world holds expectations not only because more stability in Sino-US relations means more certainty for the world, but also based on observations and reflections on the new position of Sino-US relations.

Looking back at the long history of Sino-US relations, from 1972, which witnessed the first handshake across the Pacific Ocean, to 1979, when bilateral relations officially began, they have weathered storms to reach today. Time and again, they seemed to encounter "**山重水复**" (shān chóng shuǐ fù - "mountains and rivers obstruct the path," a seemingly hopeless situation), only to turn into "**柳暗花明**" (liǔ àn huā míng - "willows dark, flowers bright," finding hope in a seemingly hopeless situation). Changes in the international situation, changes in the balance of power, and changes in ideological understanding have accumulated to this day.

The meeting, which lasted more than 2 hours and 15 minutes, explored ways of getting along in the future and marked new scales in the adjustment of the world order and the rise and fall of national power in the long river of time.

A message from the meeting stirred the world: The two heads of state agreed to build a "constructive strategic stability relationship between China and the United States" as a new positioning for Sino-US relations.

President Trump's remarks during the meeting helped people understand how this major strategic consensus became possible: "I have established the longest and best relationship between American and Chinese leaders in history with President Xi Jinping (习近平), maintaining friendly communication and solving many important problems. President Xi Jinping (习近平) is a great leader, China (中国) is a great country, and I have great respect for President Xi Jinping (习近平) and the Chinese people."

How should we understand the connotation of "constructive strategic stability"? President Xi Jinping (习近平) explained: It should be positive stability with cooperation as the main focus, benign stability with competition within limits, routine stability with controllable differences, and lasting stability with peace in sight.

The new positioning is not just a slogan, "but should be actions moving in the same direction." It builds a new strategic guiding foundation and conveys China's pragmatic confidence in handling Sino-US relations. And facing the most important issue in the two countries' relations—the Taiwan issue—President Xi Jinping (习近平) stated seriously: "'Taiwan independence' is incompatible with peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait. Maintaining peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait is the greatest common denominator between China and the United States, and the US must handle the Taiwan issue with utmost caution."

President Trump actively stated in the meeting: I am willing to work with President Xi (习近平) to strengthen communication and cooperation, properly resolve differences, and open the best US-China relationship in history, creating a better future for both countries.

International public opinion immediately rejoiced at the added stability for the world: "This new positioning indicates that both sides are trying to rebuild the turbulent relationship in recent years into a more controllable and predictable relationship of competition and cooperation."

"Everything that happened in Beijing (北京) this week will shape the future of the world economy." Another focus of international public opinion is the inseparable economic and trade exchanges between the world's largest developing country and the largest developed country.

President Xi Jinping (习近平) mentioned that the day before, the two countries' economic and trade teams had reached an overall balanced and positive result, "which is good news for the people of both countries and the world." The latest round of consultations conducted by the team in Seoul, South Korea (韩国首尔), once again confirmed that "the essence of Sino-US economic and trade relations is mutual benefit and win-win."

Many American entrepreneurs accompanied President Trump on his visit to China (中国). President Trump said that the world's top companies want to come to China (中国), "and every one of them said they want to come."

Believing in China's (中国) opportunities and believing in China (中国) is the consensus of entrepreneurs. President Xi Jinping (习近平) made his attitude clear: "Both sides should work together to maintain the current hard-won good momentum" and "China's (中国) door to opening up will only open wider and wider."

Having gone through thick and thin all the way, creating a new paradigm for major-country relations requires vision and tests wisdom even more. Inside the venue, when President Xi Jinping (习近平) once again recounted these profound insights, the world more clearly understood China (中国) and why today's China (中国) stands in the world:

"I have always believed that the common interests between China and the United States outweigh the differences, the success of China and the United States is an opportunity for each other, and the stability of Sino-US relations is beneficial to the world. Both sides benefit from cooperation and are harmed by confrontation. They should be partners rather than opponents, achieve each other, and prosper together, and embark on a path of correct interaction between major countries in the new era."

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Strengthening, Optimizing, and Expanding the Real Economy

Xinhua News Agency, Beijing, May 15th. The 10th issue of the "Seeking Truth" magazine, to be published on May 16th, will feature an important article by Xi Jinping (习近平), General Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China, President of the People's Republic of China, and Chairman of the Central Military Commission, entitled "Strengthening, Optimizing, and Expanding the Real Economy." This is an excerpt of important discourses by General Secretary Xi Jinping (习近平) from December 2016 to December 2025.

The article emphasizes that the real economy is the foundation of a country's economy, the fundamental source of wealth creation, and an important pillar of national strength. No matter how far economic development progresses, the real economy is the foundation for China's economic development and for us to win the initiative in international economic competition. China's economy started with the real economy and will rely on the real economy to move towards the future. We must adhere to focusing on developing the economy on the real economy, promote the concentration of resource elements towards the real economy, tilt policy measures towards the real economy, strengthen work forces towards the real economy, solidly promote new industrialization, and continuously strengthen, optimize, and expand the real economy.

The article points out that manufacturing is the foundation of the real economy, and we must place the high-quality development of manufacturing in a more prominent position and unswervingly build a strong manufacturing country. Implement the industrial base re-engineering project and the major technical equipment tackling project, support the development of specialized, refined, and new enterprises, and promote the high-end, intelligent, and green development of manufacturing. Actively adapt to and lead the new round of scientific and technological revolution and industrial transformation, strengthen original innovation and key core technology tackling, promote the deep integration of scientific and technological innovation and industrial innovation, accelerate the development of advanced manufacturing, and organically combine the construction of a strong manufacturing country with the development of the digital economy and industrial informatization, so as to build a strong material and technical foundation for Chinese-style modernization.

The article points out that it is necessary to build a modern industrial system and consolidate and strengthen the foundation of the real economy. During the "15th Five-Year Plan" period, we must place the development of new quality productive forces in a more prominent strategic position in light of local conditions, and adhere to simultaneously comprehensively promoting the transformation and upgrading of traditional industries, actively developing emerging industries, and forward-looking layout of future industries. Consolidate the leading position of advantageous industries, and accelerate the efforts to make up for shortcomings in areas related to security and development. Promote the integrated cluster development of strategic emerging industries, and build a new generation of information technology, artificial intelligence, biotechnology, new energy, new materials, high-end equipment, green environmental protection and other new growth engines. Build a high-quality and efficient new service industry system, build an efficient and smooth circulation system, and build a modern infrastructure system.

The article emphasizes that it is necessary to adhere to taking financial services to the real economy as the fundamental purpose. The real economy is the foundation of finance, finance is the bloodline of the real economy, and serving the real economy is the natural duty of finance. China's finance must **守好服务实体经济本分** (shǒu hǎo fú wù shí tǐ jīng jì běn fèn - "guard well serving real economy duty," to faithfully serve the real economy), promote high-quality development, and resolutely not deviate from the real economy to pursue the virtual.

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Li Qiang Presides Over State Council Executive Meeting

Xinhua News Agency, Beijing, May 15th (新华社北京5月15日) - Premier of the State Council Li Qiang (李强) presided over an executive meeting of the State Council on May 15th, heard reports on the implementation of the deployment of the Central Urban Work Conference and the progress of urban renewal, reviewed and approved the "15th Five-Year Plan for Urban Renewal" (《城市更新“十五五”规划》) and the "15th Five-Year Plan for Accelerating Agricultural and Rural Modernization" (《加快农业农村现代化“十五五”规划》), studied relevant work on population development, and studied relevant work on the reform and development of basic education.

The meeting pointed out that since the Central Urban Work Conference, all regions and departments have thoroughly implemented the decisions and deployments of the Party Central Committee and taken a series of measures to promote high-quality urban development, and new progress has been made in urban work. At present, China's urban development is shifting from a stage of large-scale incremental expansion to a stage dominated by stock quality improvement and efficiency enhancement. Urban renewal should be placed in a prominent position, adhering to a combination of short-term and long-term considerations, highlighting key points, vigorously and orderly promoting various tasks, and building modern people's cities that are innovative, livable, beautiful, resilient, civilized, and intelligent. It is necessary to implement key tasks of urban renewal, cultivate and strengthen new driving forces for urban development, create high-quality urban living spaces, promote the green and low-carbon transformation of urban development, enhance urban safety and resilience, promote the prosperity and development of urban culture, and improve the level of urban governance capabilities. It is necessary to improve the implementation mechanism of urban renewal, improve the policy support system, and build a sustainable urban renewal model.

The meeting pointed out that agricultural and rural modernization is related to the overall situation and quality of Chinese-style modernization. We must adhere to giving top priority to "agriculture, rural areas, and farmers" (三农), continuously consolidate the foundation, and improve the quality and efficiency of development. It is necessary to follow the laws, adapt to local conditions, improve the comprehensive agricultural production capacity, continue to consolidate and expand the achievements in poverty alleviation, broaden the channels for farmers to increase income and become rich, promote the construction of livable, business-friendly, and beautiful villages, and always firmly adhere to the bottom line of ensuring food security and preventing large-scale return to poverty.

The meeting pointed out that it is necessary to adapt to the new situation facing population development, focus on improving the overall quality of the population, strive to maintain an appropriate fertility level and population size, continuously accumulate and release the demographic dividend, and promote high-quality population development. It is necessary to accelerate the construction of a fertility-friendly society, strengthen fertility service guarantees, improve infant and toddler care services, and improve the comprehensive family support policy system. It is necessary to actively respond to population aging, strengthen social security for the elderly, promote the improvement of the quality and efficiency of elderly care services, and vigorously develop the silver economy. It is necessary to improve the mechanisms for linking land supply, financial transfer payments, etc., with population increases and decreases around the adjustment of population layout, so as to optimize the utilization of public service resources.

The meeting pointed out that it is necessary to anchor the goal and task of building a strong country in education by 2035, conform to the people's new expectations for education and the new situation of economic and social development, and comprehensively improve the quality of basic education. It is necessary to strengthen the overall planning and allocation of basic education resources, implement the policy of equal access to basic education for children of migrant workers in their places of residence, strengthen care and concern for rural left-behind children and children in difficult circumstances, and gradually narrow the gaps between urban and rural areas, regions, schools, and groups. It is necessary to actively promote the reform of education methods, school management models, management systems, and guarantee mechanisms to better stimulate school vitality.

The meeting also studied other matters.

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The National People's Congress should perform its duties according to law, focusing on the central task, and contribute to the successful implementation of the "15th Five-Year Plan."

Xinhua News Agency, Guiyang, May 15th. Zhao Leji (赵乐际), a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, conducted research in Guizhou (贵州) from May 13th to 15th. He emphasized the need to adhere to Xi Jinping (习近平) Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era as guidance, closely focus on the central tasks of the Party and the country, base efforts on the functions and responsibilities of the People's Congress, and advance all work in accordance with the law and in an orderly manner, to contribute to the successful implementation of the "15th Five-Year Plan" and the advancement of Chinese-style modernization.

Zhao Leji (赵乐际) visited Qiannan Prefecture (黔南州) and Guiyang City (贵阳市), going deep into the liaison offices of People's Congress deputies, enterprises, villages, and farmers' homes, communicating with People's Congress deputies and the masses, and conducting research around the implementation of the spirit of the Fourth Session of the 14th National People's Congress and the performance of the work of the People's Congress. He learned about the construction of the "four organs," the election for the change of term of office of the People's Congresses at the county and township levels, and budget supervision in the Pingtang County (平塘县) People's Congress and the Provincial People's Congress, visited the staff of the organs, and presided over a symposium.

Zhao Leji (赵乐际) pointed out that it is necessary to focus on guaranteeing the implementation of the "15th Five-Year Plan" and give full play to the functional role of the People's Congress. Combine the acceleration of high-level self-reliance and self-improvement in science and technology, the development of new quality productive forces in accordance with local conditions, and the promotion of the optimization and upgrading of the economic structure and other major tasks to advance legislative work, improve laws and regulations in science and technology innovation, industrial support, fiscal and tax finance, green and low-carbon, and serve and guarantee high-quality development with high-quality legislation. Implement correct supervision, effective supervision, and supervision in accordance with the law, and continuously enhance the pertinence and effectiveness of supervision to help promote the sustained and healthy development of the economy and society.

Zhao Leji (赵乐际) pointed out that it is necessary to focus on practicing whole-process people's democracy and strengthen the ties between the People's Congress and the people. Give play to the important institutional carrier role of the People's Congress system in realizing whole-process people's democracy, take close ties with the people as the source of vitality and important foundation of the work of the People's Congress, focus on what the people think, want, and hope for, perform duties and responsibilities, and promote the solution of the urgent difficulties and problems of the people in accordance with the law. Investigation and research should pay attention to practical results, go deep into the grassroots, go deep into the masses, so that the work of the People's Congress can better connect with the ground, observe the people's conditions, gather the people's wisdom, and benefit the people's livelihood. Comprehensively implement the revised Deputies Law and strengthen the capacity building of deputies' work. It is necessary to conscientiously implement the deployments of the Party Central Committee and, in accordance with the division of responsibilities, do a good job in the relevant work of the election for the change of term of office of the People's Congresses at the county and township levels.

Zhao Leji (赵乐际) emphasized that it is necessary to carry out the study and education on establishing and practicing the correct view of performance in a solid manner, and continuously improve the quality of the work of the People's Congress and the building of the Party. Adhere to the organic unity of the Party's leadership, the people being the masters of the country, and the rule of law, integrate the carrying out of study and education with the requirements of the construction of the "four organs," and unify it with the performance of statutory duties, and earnestly establish and practice the correct view of performance. It is necessary to continue to study and comprehend Xi Jinping (习近平) Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era in depth, continuously improve the level of ideological politics and the ability to perform duties in accordance with the law, and support the "two affirmations" and achieve the "two safeguards" with practical actions. It is necessary to promote the style of seeking truth and being pragmatic, adhere to proceeding from reality and acting in accordance with the law, do all work in a solid and in-depth manner, fulfill the main responsibility of comprehensively and strictly governing the Party, and create a good environment for starting a business.

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Forging a New Path for Major Powers to Interact Correctly in the New Era

At the invitation of President Xi Jinping (习近平), U.S. President Trump paid a state visit to China from May 13 to 15. During the visit, President Xi Jinping (习近平) and President Trump continued to have candid, in-depth, constructive, and strategic communication on major issues concerning China-U.S. relations and world peace and development, actively explored the correct way for the two major countries to get along, and reached a series of consensuses on this. Many people from various countries interviewed by this newspaper said that the meeting between the two heads of state was of strategic significance and far-reaching impact, pointing out the direction for the stable, healthy, and sustainable development of China-U.S. relations, and injecting more stability into the world intertwined with changes and chaos.

"Creating Strategic Opportunities for the Development of Bilateral Relations"

At present, the once-in-a-century changes are accelerating, and the international situation is intertwined with changes and chaos. Can China and the United States cross the "Thucydides Trap" and create a new paradigm of major-country relations? Can we work together to address global challenges and inject more stability into the world? Can we focus on the well-being of the people of both countries and the future of mankind, and jointly create a better future for the relations between the two countries? These are historical questions, world questions, and people's questions, and they are also the answers of the times that the leaders of major countries need to write together.

Gao Fei (高飞), President of the China Foreign Affairs University, said that an important achievement of this meeting is that the two heads of state agreed to build a "China-U.S. Constructive Strategic Stability Relationship" as a new positioning for China-U.S. relations, providing strategic guidance for China-U.S. relations in the next three years or even longer. President Xi Jinping (习近平) profoundly expounded the core meaning of "constructive strategic stability" from four dimensions, namely, active stability based on cooperation, benign stability with moderate competition, normal stability with controllable differences, and lasting stability with peace in sight. This new positioning is rooted in the inherent needs of the well-being of the people of both countries and is committed to transcending the traditional zero-sum game and the "Thucydides Trap"; it is not only a strategic response to the historical questions, world questions, and people's questions of both sides, but also a vivid answer to anchoring global certainty and reshaping the logic of major-country coexistence.

The "China-U.S. Constructive Strategic Stability Relationship" is not just a slogan, but should be an action of moving in the same direction. Wu Xinbo (吴心伯), Dean of the Institute of International Studies at Fudan University and Director of the Center for American Studies, said that this new positioning requires the two countries to take this as a guide and take concrete actions to move the bilateral relations forward steadily and far. Specifically, China and the United States should continue to enhance strategic mutual trust, actively expand cooperation space, effectively manage contradictions and differences, and carry out cooperation and exchanges in various fields such as economy and trade, diplomacy, security, agriculture, public health, and humanities, and establish a series of dialogue, communication, cooperation, and consultation mechanisms to provide effective institutional guarantees for the development of relations between the two countries.

Christopher Nixon Cox, a member of the board of directors of the Nixon Foundation and grandson of former U.S. President Nixon, said that it is crucial for the United States and China to maintain continuous dialogue. "Dialogue can often catalyze unexpected positive results. In the face of diverse and complex bilateral relations, the United States and China need to build rich and smooth communication channels, and through persistent exchanges, continuously explore consensus, expand possibilities, and then enhance mutual understanding and deepen common interests."

Jesse Gates, a scholar of East Asian issues in the United States and a visiting professor at Fairleigh Dickinson University, said that just as President Xi Jinping (习近平) compared China-U.S. relations to a big ship in the talks, the United States and China are in the same boat, adhering to moving in the same direction, which will benefit the people of both countries.

"The new positioning of China-U.S. relations once again highlights the 'stabilizing' role of head-of-state diplomacy. As the helmsmen of the big ship of China-U.S. relations, the two heads of state calibrated the course at a critical moment, creating strategic opportunities for the development of bilateral relations." Su Xiaohui (苏晓晖), Deputy Researcher at the China Institute of International Studies, said that China and the United States provide strategic guidance for the bilateral relations in the next three years or even longer with the new positioning, aiming to enhance stability and predictability. The two sides should uphold the mind and responsibility of major countries and promote the steady progress of the giant ship of China-U.S. relations along the correct course.

Kenneth Quinn, Honorary President of the World Food Prize Foundation in Iowa, USA, said that when the United States and China join hands and form a joint force, they can achieve many things that neither party can accomplish alone, and the possibilities for development will be greatly expanded.

"Bringing Tangible Benefits to the People of Both Countries"

The essence of China-U.S. economic and trade relations is mutual benefit and win-win. As the world's two largest economies, the total economic volume of China and the United States exceeds 1/3 of the world, and the trade in goods accounts for about 1/5 of the world. There are more than 7,000 Chinese-funded enterprises in the United States, and a total of about 80,000 U.S.-invested enterprises in China... The heavy data is a vivid portrayal of China and the United States achieving each other and prospering together.

Michael Miebach, CEO of Mastercard, is one of the representatives of the U.S. business community who accompanied President Trump on his visit to China. He said that he was greatly encouraged by the positive momentum released by the meeting between the heads of state of the United States and China. "For the business community, a stable and open economic and trade environment is the foundation for development. Continued communication and pragmatic cooperation between the United States and China will effectively boost confidence and jointly promote growth." Miebach said that China has always been one of the most dynamic markets in the world, with huge long-term growth potential and broad opportunities. Mastercard continues to cultivate and is firmly optimistic about the Chinese market, and will continue to increase investment in China, deepen local partnerships, and continue to launch products and services that meet local needs to help China's high-quality economic development.

China is the largest trading partner of the Port of Los Angeles, the largest container port in the United States. Gene Seroka, Executive Director of the Port of Los Angeles, said that 40% of the Port of Los Angeles' business is closely related to China, and an average of 1 local job is created for every 4 containers processed. Goods from China benefit American consumers, and expanding exports to China is crucial to the U.S. economy. "A stable and developing U.S.-China economic and trade relationship is valuable to the people of both countries."

Michael McCleaney, a farmer in South Dakota, USA, and a director of the American Soybean Association, said that 35% of South Dakota's soybeans are sold to China, and farmers generally hope that the United States and China will strengthen economic and trade cooperation. "The meeting between the heads of state of the United States and China will help create a constructive and predictable bilateral relationship, which makes us full of expectations for the future."

Craig Allen, President of the U.S.-China Business Council, said that in the past period, the United States and China have conducted multiple rounds of economic and trade consultations and achieved certain positive progress. On this basis, the two sides can carry out dialogue at more levels to create a more favorable environment for U.S. companies to operate in China and Chinese companies to develop in the United States. Allen emphasized that the development of U.S.-China relations is not only between governments and enterprises, but also needs to be deeply rooted in the fields of civil society and education to expand all-round exchanges and cooperation.

The hope of China-U.S. relations lies in the people, the foundation lies in the civil society, the future lies in the youth, and the vitality lies in the local areas. From the "ping-pong diplomacy" small ball driving the big ball and breaking the ice, to the "5 years and 50,000 people" initiative to promote American teenagers to come to China for exchanges and sow the seeds of friendship, the people-to-people exchanges between China and the United States have been brilliant.

"This meeting between the heads of state of the United States and China is crucial to enhancing understanding and friendship between the people of the United States and China." Jeffrey Greene, Chairman of the Sino-American Aviation Heritage Foundation, said that the people of the United States and China have a common aspiration to make the world a better place. Past exchange experiences have made us deeply aware that the deeper the people-to-people exchanges between the United States and China, the broader the areas of cooperation. It is hoped that this meeting will be taken as an opportunity to expand the coverage of the foundation's projects and promote the emergence of more new "Flying Tigers" in cooperation fields such as business, agriculture, and technology.

"We look forward to the meeting between the heads of state of the United States and China to enhance strategic mutual trust and bring tangible benefits to the people of both countries." Tom Watkins, former advisor to the Michigan China Innovation Center in the United States, said that from students to local officials, from artists to athletes, people from all walks of life in the United States and China should join hands to strengthen exchanges, build bridges, listen to each other, enhance understanding, and contribute to promoting the stable, healthy, and sustainable development of relations between the two countries.

"Injecting More Stability into the World Intertwined with Changes and Chaos"

The greatness of a major country lies in its great responsibility and great commitment. China-U.S. relations are the most important bilateral relations in the world today. This relationship carries the well-being of more than 1.7 billion people in China and the United States and concerns the interests of more than 8 billion people in the world. The success of each country is an opportunity for the other, and the stability of China-U.S. relations is beneficial to the world.

"This meeting between the heads of state of China and the United States is historic and sends a positive and positive signal to the world." Maria Fernanda Espinosa, former Foreign Minister of Ecuador and former President of the United Nations General Assembly, said that as two major countries, the discussions between China and the United States on economic and trade exchanges and major international and regional issues are very important to the world, and friendly cooperation between the two countries will make important contributions to all mankind. "The beauty of human society lies in the fact that unity can be established in diversity."

Robert Barwick, National Chairman of the Australian Citizens Party, said that in the talks, President Xi Jinping (习近平) took a broad and long-term view and profoundly expounded the new positioning of the "China-U.S. Constructive Strategic Stability Relationship," which is what the world wants to hear and is of great significance.

In the view of Koffi Kouakou, a senior researcher at the Africa-China Research Center at the University of Johannesburg in South Africa, the new positioning of the "China-U.S. Constructive Strategic Stability Relationship" not only provides important strategic guidance for the future development of China-U.S. relations, but also sends a positive signal to the international community that China and the United States are committed to strengthening communication, managing risks, and avoiding confrontation. Kouakou said that the head-of-state diplomacy between China and the United States not only helps both sides enhance strategic mutual trust and stabilize external expectations, but also creates conditions for both sides to coordinate on key issues such as economy and trade, security, and global governance. "In the face of global challenges, no country can cope alone. Strengthening coordination and cooperation between China and the United States will provide more public goods to the international community and promote multilateral mechanisms to play a more effective role, which is in the common interest of the world."

Ong Tee Keat, former Minister of Transport of Malaysia and President of the Asia-Pacific "Belt and Road" Co-Strategy Council, said that this meeting between the heads of state of China and the United States marks a key step towards the positive development of China-U.S. relations.

"In the face of profound changes in the world pattern, the stable, healthy, and sustainable development of China-U.S. relations is the key to improving global governance and strengthening international economic coordination, and is related to the development and balance of the world pattern in the 21st century." Herve Azoulay, Professor and Entrepreneur of the France Silk Road Business School, said that it is normal for competition to exist between major countries, and the key is to manage differences through dialogue, respect, and pragmatic cooperation. In the face of common challenges such as climate change and geopolitical tensions, the international community expects dialogue rather than confrontation. China and the United States are working together to show the responsibility of major countries and "inject more stability into the world intertwined with changes and chaos."

"This meeting between the heads of state of China and the United States is not only an important node in China-U.S. bilateral relations, but will also affect the ASEAN region and even the global order to a certain extent." Tang Zhimin, Director of the China-ASEAN Research Center at Thailand's Panyapiwat Institute of Management, said that for ASEAN countries, the most critical thing is whether the region can maintain peace and development; for the global order, people expect the coordination ability of major countries in working together to address global challenges. "This meeting allows the world to see the efforts and wisdom of the leaders of the two countries in jointly addressing global challenges, and new opportunities will also sprout in the interaction."

Chung Jae-Heung, Director of the Center for Chinese Studies at the Sejong Institute in South Korea, said that this year China and the United States will host the APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting and the G20 Leaders' Summit respectively, shouldering the important mission of promoting world economic growth and improving global economic governance. In recent years, China has actively practiced true multilateralism, maintained the momentum of economic globalization, strengthened solidarity and cooperation with BRICS countries and the Global South countries, promoted cooperation under the multilateral framework, and played a constructive role in improving global governance.

"The development of U.S.-China relations is carrying more expectations from the world." Robert Lawrence Kuhn, Chairman of the Kuhn Foundation in the United States, said that close cooperation between the United States and China will help the world cope with challenges such as standard fragmentation and the slowdown in climate governance. Promoting standard setting and technological synergy in emerging fields such as artificial intelligence will benefit consumers around the world. "I believe that by working together, the two countries will surely help all countries in the world, especially developing countries, to develop together and contribute more to the prosperity and development of the world economy."

(Reported on May 15 from Beijing, Washington, Johannesburg, Bangkok, Seoul, and Paris by reporters Chen Shangwen (陈尚文), Li Zhiwei (李志伟), Dai Kairan (戴楷然), Yang Yi (杨一), Mang Jiuchen (莽九晨), and Shang Kaiyuan (尚凯元))

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Moving Towards Each Other, Jointly Opening a New Chapter in China-U.S. Relations (Zhong Sheng)

Facing the questions of history, the world, and the people, the two heads of state, based on the trends of the times and grasping common interests, reached a consensus on building a "constructive strategic and stable relationship between China and the United States." This is a crucial move to navigate and steer the course amidst complex changes, and is dedicated to jointly writing the answer to the times.

On the morning of May 14, President Xi Jinping (习近平) held talks with US President Donald Trump, who was in China for a state visit, at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing (北京). The two heads of state reached a consensus on the new positioning of building a "constructive strategic and stable relationship between China and the United States," providing strategic guidance for China-US relations for the next three years or even longer. At a time when the world is undergoing accelerated changes and the international situation is intertwined with turmoil, China and the United States jointly building a "constructive strategic and stable relationship" will promote the stable, healthy, and sustainable development of bilateral relations, and bring more peace, prosperity, and progress to the world.

Head-of-state diplomacy plays an irreplaceable strategic leading role in China-US relations, and bears the historical responsibility of promoting the steady progress of the giant ship of China-US relations along the correct course. Can China and the United States transcend the "Thucydides Trap" and create a new paradigm for major-country relations? Can we work together to address global challenges and inject more stability into the world? Can we focus on the well-being of the people of both countries and the future destiny of mankind, and jointly create a better future for bilateral relations? Facing the questions of history, the world, and the people, the two heads of state, based on the trends of the times and grasping common interests, reached a consensus on building a "constructive strategic and stable relationship between China and the United States." This is a crucial move to navigate and steer the course amidst complex changes, and is dedicated to jointly writing the answer to the times.

"Constructive strategic stability" should be a positive stability based on cooperation. The 47-year development history of China-US diplomatic relations has repeatedly proven that "both benefit from cooperation, and both are hurt by confrontation" (合则两利、斗则俱伤) (hé zé liǎng lì, dòu zé jù shāng - "cooperation benefits both, conflict hurts both," highlighting the mutual benefits of cooperation and the detrimental effects of conflict), and the two countries should be partners rather than rivals. As the world's two largest economies and permanent members of the UN Security Council, China and the United States have deeply intertwined interests. The breadth and depth of cooperation between the two sides not only bear the well-being of more than 1.7 billion people in the two countries, but also concern the interests of more than 8 billion people worldwide. Whether it is to enlarge the pie of common interests or to address global challenges such as climate change and public health, China and the United States can accomplish many major events that benefit both countries and benefit the world through cooperation.

"Constructive strategic stability" should be a benign stability with limited competition. Competition between major countries is inevitable, but competition is by no means a zero-sum game, a "boxing match" where you lose and I win, but should be a "track and field race" that mutually encourages and improves together. We cannot engage in double standards, let alone artificially set limits or rely on tying the hands and feet of others to gain so-called competitive advantages. China's door to opening up will only open wider and wider. The start of the "15th Five-Year Plan" is opening up broader space for cooperation between the two countries. China is happy to see a confident, open, prosperous, and developing United States, and also expects the United States to view China's development rationally. The realization of the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation and making America great again can be completely parallel, mutually accomplished, and beneficial to the world.

"Constructive strategic stability" should be a normal stability with controllable differences. China and the United States have different historical cultures, social systems, and development paths, which is an objective reality. However, as long as both sides adhere to mutual respect, peaceful coexistence, and win-win cooperation, they can completely transcend differences and find a correct way for the two major countries to get along. Over the past year, under the guidance of the consensus of the heads of state, the two sides have given play to the role of the economic and trade consultation mechanism, and a series of consultation results have injected stability and certainty into the economic and trade relations between the two countries and the world economy. In the new round of economic and trade consultations between China and the United States that ended recently, the economic and trade teams of the two countries reached an overall balanced and positive result, which is good news for the people of both countries and the world. This fully shows that as long as both sides move towards each other in the spirit of equality, respect, and mutual benefit, they can find ways to solve each other's concerns. Both sides should maintain the current hard-won good momentum, further make good use of communication channels in various fields, and properly manage differences.

"Constructive strategic stability" should be a lasting stability with peace in sight. The Taiwan issue is the most important issue in China-US relations. If handled well, the relations between the two countries can maintain overall stability. If not handled well, the two countries will collide or even conflict, pushing the entire China-US relationship into a very dangerous situation. "Taiwan independence" is incompatible with peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait. Maintaining peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait is the greatest common denominator between China and the United States. The US side must be very cautious in handling the Taiwan issue. The US side should abide by the one-China principle and the three joint communiqués between China and the United States to consolidate the foundation for the steady and long-term development of China-US relations.

2026 marks a new positioning for China-US relations that builds on the past and opens up the future, but positioning is not equal to shaping, and planning is not equal to arrival. In the future, whether bilateral relations can move forward steadily and reach the other shore of "constructive strategic stability" depends on whether China and the United States move towards each other, implement the consensus of the two heads of state, transform the new positioning into concrete actions, jointly open a new chapter in China-US relations, and continuously inject more stability and positive energy into the world.

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Xi Jinping's Special Envoy and Vice Premier of the State Council Zhang Guoqing to Attend the 13th Session of the World Urban Forum Leadership Summit in Azerbaijan

Beijing, May 15th (Reporter Li Xinyi (李欣怡)) A spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced on May 15th: Special Representative of President Xi Jinping (习近平), Member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, and Vice Premier of the State Council Zhang Guoqing (张国清) will attend the Thirteenth Session of the World Urban Forum Leaders Summit in Azerbaijan from May 17th to 18th at the invitation of the government.

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Building a "Constructive and Strategic Stable Relationship Between China and the United States" is the Most Important Political Consensus

Xinhua News Agency, Beijing, May 15th (新华社北京5月15日电) U.S. President Donald Trump (唐纳德·特朗普) paid a state visit to China from May 13th to 15th at the invitation of Chinese President Xi Jinping (习近平). Wang Yi (王毅), a member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee (中共中央政治局委员) and Minister of Foreign Affairs, briefed the media on the meeting and consensus between the Chinese and American heads of state on the 15th.

I. All sectors of China and the United States, as well as the international community, are highly concerned about U.S. President Donald Trump's (唐纳德·特朗普) visit to China. What are your comments on the meeting between the two heads of state?

Wang Yi (王毅): During this visit, President Xi Jinping (习近平) and President Trump (特朗普) conducted candid, in-depth, constructive, and strategic communication on major issues concerning China-U.S. relations and world peace and development, actively explored the correct way for the two major countries to get along, and reached a series of consensus on this. As many media friends have pointed out, this was a historic meeting.

First, this was an important meeting as both countries entered a critical stage of their respective development. This year is the first year of China's "15th Five-Year Plan," and we are comprehensively promoting Chinese-style modernization with high-quality development. This year is also the 250th anniversary of American independence. In this crucial year, the two heads of state gathered in Beijing (北京) to conduct in-depth exchanges on governance, China-U.S. relations, and international and regional hotspots, sending an important message to the outside world: that realizing the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation and making America great again can go hand in hand, mutually achieve, and benefit the world.

Second, this was an important meeting at a new historical starting point for China-U.S. relations. This meeting was the second face-to-face meeting between the two heads of state after Busan (釜山) in October last year, and it was also the first visit to China by a U.S. president in nine years, continuing and consolidating the good interaction between the two heads of state. At present, the century-old changes are accelerating, and the world has reached a new crossroads. President Xi Jinping (习近平) emphasized, can China and the United States cross the "Thucydides Trap" and create a new paradigm of major-country relations? Can we work together to address global challenges and inject more stability into the world? Can we focus on the well-being of the two peoples and the future destiny of mankind and jointly create a better future for the two countries? Facing these historical questions, world questions, and people's questions, we must jointly write the answers of the times. The two heads of state will steer the giant ship of China-U.S. relations well, which will have a major and far-reaching impact on the evolution of the international situation and the development of human society.

Third, this was an important meeting in which the two heads of state had in-depth communication and reached rich results. This meeting included formal talks and a welcome banquet, as well as small-scale exchanges and visits. The two heads of state interacted for nearly 9 hours. Mutual respect, cherishing peace, and exploring cooperation have always been the keynote of the meeting. The two heads of state agreed that building a "constructive strategic stability relationship between China and the United States" is the most important political consensus. In addition, both sides are willing to carry out more exchanges in various fields such as diplomacy, military, economy and trade, health, agriculture, tourism, culture, and law enforcement, injecting new impetus into the next stage of exchanges between the two countries.

II. How should we understand the new positioning of the "constructive strategic stability relationship between China and the United States"?

Wang Yi (王毅): At the meeting, the two heads of state agreed to use the "constructive strategic stability relationship between China and the United States" as a new positioning for the relations between the two countries, providing strategic guidance for China-U.S. relations for the next three years or even longer, which is welcomed by the people of the two countries and the international community. The Chinese side believes that:

This should be a positive stability dominated by cooperation, continuously enhancing the resilience of China-U.S. relations through exchanges and cooperation. As the world's two largest economies, China and the United States are intertwined, and neither can do without the other. Cooperation benefits both, while confrontation hurts both. Confrontation is destined to be a disaster for both countries and the world, while cooperation can accomplish many major things that benefit both countries and the world.

This should be a benign stability with limited competition, without engaging in a zero-sum game where you lose and I win. It is not surprising that there is competition between major countries, but competition should not be used to define the entire China-U.S. relationship. Even if there is competition between China and the United States, it should be benign competition of mutual learning, positive competition of catching up with each other, and fair competition of abiding by the rules. The purpose of competition is to make each other better.

This should be a normal stability with controllable differences, not fluctuating like a roller coaster. Both sides should maintain the continuity and stability of their policies, especially to keep their promises, always move in the same direction, and provide more certainty for their respective development and the international situation with positive expectations of China-U.S. cooperation.

This should be a lasting stability with peace in sight, without conflict, confrontation, or even war. Peaceful coexistence is the greatest common denominator between China and the United States, and the consequences of China-U.S. conflict and confrontation are unbearable for anyone. The key lies in abiding by the three China-U.S. joint communiqués, respecting each other's social systems and development paths, respecting each other's core interests and major concerns, and respecting each other's development rights.

In short, the "constructive strategic stability relationship between China and the United States" is not just a slogan, but should be a goal that both sides adhere to and actions taken together. We must follow the direction clearly defined by the two heads of state, continuously enrich the connotation of this new positioning, transform it into specific policies and practical measures, and jointly open a new chapter in China-U.S. relations.

III. What consensus was reached at this meeting on promoting high-level and all-round exchanges between China and the United States?

Wang Yi (王毅): China-U.S. relations are the most important and complex bilateral relations in the world, and head-of-state diplomacy is the "stabilizing force" of the relations between the two countries. Since President Trump (特朗普) took office, the two heads of state have met twice, spoken on the phone five times, and exchanged letters many times, providing important strategic guarantees for the improvement and development of China-U.S. relations, and also making China-U.S. relations generally stable after experiencing ups and downs. At this meeting, the two heads of state agreed to continue to maintain close contact through meetings, phone calls, or exchange of letters. At the invitation of President Trump (特朗普), President Xi Jinping (习近平) will pay a state visit to the United States in the fall of this year. Both sides should work together to make thorough preparations for the interaction and exchanges between the two heads of state, create a suitable atmosphere, and accumulate more results.

Under the authorization of the two heads of state, political and diplomatic channels have maintained communication, properly managed differences, solved practical problems, enhanced mutual understanding, and promoted the development of bilateral relations. According to the consensus of the two heads of state, the China-U.S. economic and trade teams have held multiple rounds of consultations, stabilizing the economic and trade relations between the two countries and also stabilizing market expectations. The two major mechanisms of political diplomacy and economy and trade will continue to play a role, continuously lengthening the list of cooperation and compressing the list of problems.

To implement the consensus of the two heads of state, joint efforts from all departments of both sides are needed. This meeting will powerfully promote the strengthening of mutual exchanges between the legislative bodies, local governments, business circles, academia, media, and other sectors of the two countries. Both sides also agreed to mutually support the successful hosting of the 2026 APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting and the G20 Leaders' Summit. All levels of China and the United States should take action to implement the consensus of the two heads of state and achieve more visible results.

IV. How can the meeting promote cultural and people-to-people exchanges between the two countries?

Wang Yi (王毅): President Xi Jinping (习近平) once pointed out that the hope of China-U.S. relations lies in the people, the foundation lies in the grassroots, the future lies in the youth, and the vitality lies in the local governments. At this meeting, both heads of state mentioned the importance of promoting cultural and people-to-people exchanges. President Xi Jinping (习近平) specifically mentioned the story of people-to-people exchanges, pointing out that 55 years ago, China and the United States launched "ping-pong diplomacy," opening the door to China and the United States after more than 20 years of ice, becoming a major event in the history of contemporary international relations. President Trump (特朗普) also reviewed the history of exchanges between the people of the two countries, saying that the American people and the Chinese people appreciate and respect each other, and their friendship has a long history.

After China-U.S. relations entered a new stage, President Xi Jinping (习近平) proposed the important initiative of "inviting 50,000 American teenagers to China for exchanges and study in 5 years," which has been warmly responded to and actively participated in by all sectors of the two countries. President Xi Jinping (习近平) welcomes more American teenagers to visit and study in China. President Trump (特朗普) has also repeatedly expressed his welcome to Chinese students to go to the United States. This two-way exchange will broaden the horizons of young people and better shape the future of China-U.S. relations.

During the visit, the two heads of state jointly visited the Temple of Heaven (天坛), appreciating the Chinese civilization's concept of harmony with all things and adapting to the times. This special arrangement shows that China and the United States, two great countries, should deepen mutual understanding and promote people's friendship.

In the past year or so, exchanges between legislative bodies, local governments, and business delegations of China and the United States have increased significantly. Many American entrepreneurs accompanied President Trump (特朗普) on his visit to China. President Trump (特朗普) specially invited them to the meeting site of the heads of state, and President Xi Jinping (习近平) encouraged them one by one to strengthen cooperation with China, emphasizing that China's door to opening up will only open wider and wider. Premier Li Qiang (李强) collectively met with American entrepreneurs, and everyone generally expressed that they attach great importance to the Chinese market, hope to deepen their business in China, and continue to strengthen cooperation with China, which once again proves that China is still a fertile ground for American companies to invest in.

In short, more exchanges and interactions between the people of China and the United States are the consensus of the two heads of state and also the wish of the people of the two countries. The Chinese side will, as always, encourage and support this, consolidate the social foundation of the relations between the two countries, and continue to write more stories of friendship between the people of China and the United States.

V. The two heads of state mentioned the Taiwan issue during the meeting. Can you introduce the relevant situation?

Wang Yi (王毅): At this meeting, the Taiwan issue was one of the key topics. The Chinese side's position is very clear:

First, the Taiwan issue is China's internal affair. Achieving complete national reunification is the common aspiration of all Chinese sons and daughters and also the unswerving historical mission of the Communist Party of China (中国共产党). The fact that the mainland and Taiwan belong to one China is a fact from ancient times to the present, is the true status quo in the Taiwan Strait, and is also an important part of the post-World War II international order. We hope that the U.S. side will abide by the one-China principle and the three China-U.S. joint communiqués and fulfill its due international obligations.

Second, the Taiwan issue is the most important issue in China-U.S. relations, affecting the whole situation. If it is handled well, the relations between the two countries can maintain overall stability, and both sides can devote more energy to carrying out mutually beneficial cooperation. If it is not handled well, the two countries will collide or even conflict, pushing the entire China-U.S. relationship into a very dangerous situation. The Chinese side hopes that the U.S. side will take practical actions to maintain the stable development of China-U.S. relations and the peace and stability of the Taiwan Strait.

Third, maintaining peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait is the greatest common denominator between the two sides. The premise for doing this is that we must never support or condone "Taiwan independence," because "Taiwan independence" and peace in the Taiwan Strait are incompatible. We felt in the meeting that the U.S. side understands China's position, attaches importance to China's concerns, and, like the international community, does not recognize or accept Taiwan's move towards independence.

VI. What results were achieved in the economic and trade field during the meeting?

Wang Yi (王毅): The two heads of state discussed China-U.S. economic and trade relations in depth, clarifying the direction and providing guarantees for economic and trade cooperation between the two countries. President Xi Jinping (习近平) emphasized that the essence of China-U.S. economic and trade relations is mutual benefit and win-win, and equal consultation is the only correct choice in the face of differences and frictions. The economic and trade teams of the two countries have reached overall balanced and positive results, including continuing to implement all the consensus reached in previous consultations, agreeing to establish a trade council and an investment council, addressing each other's concerns about agricultural product market access, and promoting the expansion of two-way trade under the framework of reciprocal tax reductions.

The working teams of both sides are still consulting on relevant details and will lock in the results as soon as possible and jointly grasp the implementation.

VII. What international and regional hotspot issues did the two heads of state talk about?

Wang Yi (王毅): President Xi Jinping (习近平) and President Trump (特朗普) have always maintained close communication on international and regional hotspot issues. During this meeting, the two sides once again exchanged in-depth views on issues of common concern.

Regarding the Middle East situation, President Xi Jinping (习近平) elaborated on China's consistent position, emphasizing that force cannot solve the problem, and dialogue is the right way. Negotiations will not be achieved overnight, but since the door to dialogue has been opened, it should not be closed again. The Chinese side encourages the U.S. and Iran to continue to resolve differences and contradictions, including the nuclear issue, through negotiations, advocates reopening the Strait of Hormuz as soon as possible on the basis of maintaining a ceasefire, and at the same time believes that the fundamental way to solve the Strait issue lies in achieving a permanent and comprehensive ceasefire. China has been working hard to promote peace and talks and will continue to play its role in promoting the early cessation of war and the restoration of peace in the Middle East.

Regarding the Ukraine crisis, both China and the United States hope that the war will end as soon as possible, and both have done a lot of work to promote peace and talks in their own ways. There is no simple solution to complex problems, and peace talks are difficult to achieve overnight. China and the United States are willing to continue to maintain communication and play a constructive role in the political settlement of the crisis.

Wang Yi (王毅) finally emphasized that, as President Xi Jinping (习近平) pointed out, China-U.S. relations bear the well-being of more than 1.7 billion people in the two countries and are related to the interests of more than 8 billion people in the world. The Chinese side is willing to work with the U.S. side to jointly implement the important consensus reached at the meeting of the heads of state, and towards the direction of building a "constructive strategic stability relationship between China and the United States," view and grasp China-U.S. relations with a broader vision and a longer-term perspective, jointly find a correct way for major countries to get along in the new era, bring more well-being to the people of the two countries, and make more contributions to world peace and development.

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Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Answers Questions from Reporters on U.S. President Trump's Visit to China

Xinhua News Agency, Beijing, May 15th. A spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (外交部) answered reporters' questions on the 15th regarding U.S. President Donald Trump's (唐纳德·特朗普) visit to China.

A reporter asked: On May 14th, President Xi Jinping (习近平) held a series of state events for U.S. President Donald Trump (唐纳德·特朗普), who is currently visiting China, which has attracted great attention both at home and abroad. Can the Chinese side further introduce the relevant situation?

The spokesperson stated that, at the invitation of President Xi Jinping (习近平), U.S. President Donald Trump (唐纳德·特朗普) is currently paying a state visit to China. This is the second face-to-face meeting between the heads of state of China and the United States since Busan in October last year, and it is also the first visit to China by a U.S. president in nine years. On May 14th, President Xi Jinping (习近平) held a welcoming ceremony and a welcoming banquet for President Trump (特朗普), held talks with President Trump (特朗普), and jointly visited the Temple of Heaven (天坛). The two heads of state exchanged in-depth views on major issues concerning the two countries and the world, and reached a series of new consensuses.

The spokesperson said that the two heads of state agreed to establish a "constructive strategic and stable China-U.S. relationship" as a new positioning for China-U.S. relations, providing strategic guidance for China-U.S. relations for the next three years or even longer, promoting the stable, healthy, and sustainable development of bilateral relations, and bringing more peace, prosperity, and progress to the world.

The spokesperson stated that the two heads of state also reached an important consensus on properly handling each other's concerns and agreed to strengthen communication and coordination on international and regional issues.

The spokesperson said that the interaction between the two heads of state promoted mutual understanding, deepened mutual trust, advanced pragmatic cooperation, enhanced the well-being of the two peoples, and injected much-needed stability and certainty into the world.

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Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Answers Questions from Reporters on the Iranian Situation

Xinhua News Agency, Beijing, May 15th. A spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (外交部) answered reporters' questions on the Iranian situation on the 15th.

A reporter asked: According to reports, during President Trump's visit to China, the leaders of the two countries exchanged views on major international and regional issues such as the Middle East situation. Did the two sides discuss the Iranian situation? What is China's view on the current Iranian situation?

The spokesperson stated that China's position on the Iranian situation is very clear. This war has caused serious losses to the people of various countries in the region, including Iran, and the spillover effects are continuing to expand, severely impacting world economic development, the smooth flow of production and supply chains, the international trade order, and the stability of global energy supply, harming the common interests of the international community. This war, which should not have happened, has no need to continue. Finding a solution sooner is beneficial to both the United States and Iran, as well as to countries in the region and the entire world.

The spokesperson said that recently, the United States and Iran have achieved a ceasefire and are exploring solutions through negotiations, which has been welcomed by countries in the region and the international community. China has always believed that dialogue and negotiation are the right path, and there is no way out for resolving issues through force. Now that the door to dialogue has been opened, it should not be closed again. Efforts should be made to stabilize the momentum of easing tensions, adhere to the general direction of political settlement, and reach a solution that takes into account the concerns of all parties through dialogue and consultation on issues such as the Iranian nuclear issue. Shipping lanes should be reopened as soon as possible to respond to the calls of the international community and jointly maintain the stability and smooth flow of the global production and supply chain. A comprehensive and lasting ceasefire should be reached as soon as possible to promote the early restoration of peace and stability in the Middle East Gulf region and lay the foundation for building a sustainable regional security architecture.

The spokesperson said that since the outbreak of the war, China has been working to stop the war and striving for peace. President Xi Jinping (习近平) solemnly put forward a four-point proposal for maintaining and promoting peace and stability in the Middle East, and China and Pakistan proposed a five-point initiative on restoring peace and stability in the Gulf and Middle East regions. China will continue to uphold the spirit of President Xi Jinping's (习近平) four-point proposal and work with the international community to provide greater assistance for peace talks and play a constructive role in ultimately achieving lasting peace in the Middle East.

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Deeply Study and Resolutely Implement General Secretary Xi Jinping's Important Exposition on Establishing and Practicing a Correct View of Performance

This newspaper reported from Beijing on May 15th (Reporter: He Zhaoyu (何昭宇)) The Party School of the Central Committee of the CPC (National Academy of Governance) held the opening ceremony of the second batch of training classes for the spring semester of 2026 on the 15th. Chen Xi (陈希), President of the Party School of the Central Committee of the CPC (National Academy of Governance), attended and delivered a speech, emphasizing the need to take Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era as guidance, deeply study and faithfully implement General Secretary Xi Jinping's important exposition on establishing and practicing a correct view of performance, be determined to forge ahead, work diligently, create achievements that can withstand the test of practice, the people, and history, and strive to create a new situation in the construction of Chinese-style modernization.

Chen Xi (陈希) pointed out that General Secretary Xi Jinping's important exposition on establishing and practicing a correct view of performance is profound and rich in content, profoundly expounding the important significance, value position, inherent requirements, practical approaches, and fundamental guarantees of a correct view of performance, constituting a logically rigorous and complete scientific system. Leading cadres must profoundly grasp the core meaning and practical requirements of this important exposition from the political height of profoundly understanding the decisive significance of the "Two Establishments" and resolutely achieving the "Two Safeguards," solidly carry out study and education on establishing and practicing a correct view of performance, deeply investigate, rectify, and correct deviations in the view of performance, adhere to achieving performance for the people and achieving performance through hard work, and contribute to achieving a good start to the "15th Five-Year Plan" and smoothly promoting the construction of Chinese-style modernization.

The students of China Pudong Cadre College (中国浦东干部学院), Jinggangshan Cadre College (井冈山干部学院), and Yan'an Cadre College (延安干部学院) participated in the opening ceremony simultaneously through the video conference system.

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Anhui Activates Development Momentum Through Innovation (Starting the "15th Five-Year Plan": Special Press Conference)

By: 本报记者 张志锋 罗阳奇

On May 15th, the "15th Five-Year Plan" Anhui Special Press Conference was held in Hefei. Wang Qingxian (王清宪), Deputy Secretary of the Anhui Provincial Party Committee and Governor of Anhui Province, stated that to thoroughly implement the important instructions and requirements of General Secretary Xi Jinping (习近平) regarding Anhui's work, Anhui must continue to exert efforts in building a science and technology innovation source with significant influence, an emerging industry cluster, a new highland for reform and opening up, and a comprehensive green transformation zone for economic and social development, striving to write a chapter of Chinese-style modernization in Anhui.

Further Brighten the Name Card of Scientific and Technological Innovation

Innovation is a key variable for Anhui to promote high-quality development. In the past five years, the number of national-level high-tech enterprises in Anhui reached 24,000, with an average annual increase of 23%. The number of science and technology-based small and medium-sized enterprises in the province reached 42,000, with an average annual increase of 43%.

Wang Qingxian (王清宪) stated that adhering to science and technology as the vanguard and taking the initiative in innovation, and building a science and technology innovation source with significant influence is a major mission for Anhui.

Strengthen the supporting role of national strategic scientific and technological forces. Make good use of a number of "national-level" platforms such as national laboratories and comprehensive national science centers, actively explore specific paths for Anhui's practice of the new national system, and make efforts in scientific and technological innovation, high-end industrial leadership, and top talent gathering. Support the Yangtze River Delta (长三角) Innovation Consortium to carry out joint research, and accelerate the improvement of regional scientific and technological innovation capabilities.

Go all out to solve the problem of the "two skins" of science and technology and industry. Anhui has opened up the innovation chain of basic research, application development, and achievement transformation, built a communication and integration platform for scientists, entrepreneurs, and others, created an efficient platform for "government, industry, academia, research, finance, and service" to handle affairs efficiently, promoted the efficient allocation of innovation elements from series to parallel, from linear transformation to network connection.

Fully support enterprise innovation and creation. Anhui allocates innovation resources such as funds, projects, talents, and data to enterprises with greater efforts, supports leading technology enterprises to lead the establishment of innovation consortia, and strives to cultivate an innovation ecosystem where "tall trees" tower, "shrubs" thrive, and "saplings" are lush.

Accelerate the Construction of a Modern Industrial System

During the "14th Five-Year Plan" period, Anhui's industrial added value above designated size increased by an average of 8.2% annually, and the output of automobiles and new energy vehicles both jumped to the first place in the country; nearly 10% of the world's display panels, about 1/7 of the country's home appliances, and about 1/3 of the photovoltaic inverters are "made in Anhui."

Striving forward in the "15th Five-Year Plan," Anhui is making every effort to build a modern industrial system, and is implementing the revitalization action of traditional industries, the development project of emerging industrial clusters, the cultivation and expansion project of future industries, and the service industry expansion and quality improvement action in a coordinated manner.

Adhere to developing new quality productive forces in accordance with local conditions. Adhere to the direction of intelligence, greening, and integration, guide cities and counties to give full play to their comparative advantages, open up new tracks for industrial development in accordance with local conditions, and accelerate the cultivation of a group of ecological chain owner enterprises.

Adhere to a better combination of an effective market and a promising government. Better coordinate the industrial development of provinces, cities, and counties, and carry out chain extension, chain supplementation, and chain strengthening of the industrial chain. Promote the coordination of industrial guidance funds and social capital, carry out the "Ten Industries, Thousand Billions, Ten Thousand Enterprises" financing special action, and regularly hold the "Hundred Fields, Ten Thousand Enterprises" supply and demand and element docking action to stimulate the "acceleration" of integrated clusters with the precision of supporting services.

Stimulate the vitality of various business entities. Anhui focuses on both leading technology enterprises with significant influence and specialized, refined, and new technology-based small and medium-sized enterprises. Promote the strategic restructuring, professional integration, and high-quality mergers and acquisitions of state-owned enterprises. Implement the "Peak Climbing Plan" for private enterprises, support small and medium-sized enterprises to develop "unique skills," create a good ecosystem for innovation and creation, and stimulate market vitality and social creativity through reform and innovation.

Create a first-class business environment. Anhui has launched more than 1,000 benchmarking and improvement measures to optimize the business environment, continue to benchmark high-standard rules, deepen reforms such as "efficiently handling one thing," further promote the reengineering of government service processes, and do everything possible to help enterprises solve practical difficulties, so as to achieve entrepreneurs' innovation and creation with a market-oriented, rule-of-law, and internationalized business environment.

Leverage the Multiple Overlapping Advantages of National Development Strategies

Anhui is a province where multiple national development strategies such as the integrated development of the Yangtze River Delta (长三角), the development of the Yangtze River Economic Belt, and the rise of the central region overlap. Striving forward in the "15th Five-Year Plan," Anhui will give full play to its location advantages, promote the coordinated integration of multiple national development strategies, and build a strategic hub connecting the Yangtze River Delta (长三角) and the central and western regions.

Further increase efforts in collaborative scientific and technological innovation. Anhui will jointly build the Shanghai (Yangtze River Delta) International Science and Technology Innovation Center, strengthen the linkage of national strategic scientific and technological forces such as national laboratories, comprehensive national science centers, and major scientific and technological infrastructure, focus on quantum information, fusion energy, deep space exploration and other fields to strengthen basic research in a coordinated manner, support the Yangtze River Delta (长三角) Innovation Consortium to carry out joint research, and accelerate the improvement of regional scientific and technological innovation capabilities.

Further increase efforts in industrial collaboration. Promote the better embedding of the industrial chain in the Yangtze River Delta (长三角), strengthen docking around supply chain collaboration and scenario sharing, empower each other, develop collaboratively, and work together with Shanghai (沪), Jiangsu (苏), and Zhejiang (浙) to strengthen and expand advantageous industries such as integrated circuits, new energy vehicles, and artificial intelligence. Deepen industrial innovation cooperation with regions such as the urban agglomeration in the middle reaches of the Yangtze River, jointly build the Jiangsu-Zhejiang-Anhui (苏浙皖) and Anhui-Henan (皖豫) inter-provincial adjacent coordinated development zones, and continuously enhance the industrial agglomeration effect, scale effect, and synergy effect.

Further increase efforts in infrastructure interconnection. Anhui focuses on networking, supplementing the network, and strengthening the chain, comprehensively connects the high-speed railway corridor along the Yangtze River, promotes the construction of projects such as the Nanxinhao (南信合) and Fuyang-Huanggang (阜黄) high-speed railways, intensifies the interconnection channels of expressways in the Hefei metropolitan area, implements projects such as the capacity expansion and upgrading of the Jianghuai trunk waterway, and accelerates the transformation of location advantages into development advantages.

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AI-related Products Drive Foreign Trade Growth (New Economic Landscape)

By: 本报记者 欧阳洁

In April, China's foreign trade continued the growth trend of the first quarter, and its performance remained strong. Data released by the General Administration of Customs (海关总署) showed that in the first four months of this year, the total value of China's goods trade imports and exports was 16.23 trillion yuan, a year-on-year increase of 14.9%, and the cumulative growth rate was basically the same as that in the first quarter. In April alone, imports and exports reached 4.38 trillion yuan, a year-on-year increase of 14.2%. Among them, exports increased by 9.8% year-on-year, a substantial acceleration of 10.5 percentage points compared with March; imports were 1.9 trillion yuan, an increase of 20.6%.

The market generally believes that at present, external demand is picking up. In April, China's foreign trade growth far exceeded expectations, with strong resilience, and the product structure is becoming newer and better. "Against the background of steady improvement in foreign trade, the trade related to China's new quality productive forces is booming. Artificial intelligence, new energy, and the digital economy are playing an increasingly prominent role in the high-quality development of foreign trade. Among them, the export performance of artificial intelligence-related products is impressive, becoming one of the important engines driving foreign trade growth," said Zhu Siqiao (朱思翘), deputy researcher at the Academy of International Trade and Economic Cooperation of the Ministry of Commerce (商务部国际贸易经济合作研究院).

From computer components and electronic components to industrial robots and 3D printers, the export of high-tech and high value-added artificial intelligence products is growing rapidly, and the industry is moving towards the mid-to-high end.

Zhu Siqiao (朱思翘) analyzed that artificial intelligence-related products cover various fields such as computing power infrastructure, intelligent terminals, and supporting components. Data show that in the first four months of this year, the export value of integrated circuits increased by 78.3% year-on-year, and the export value of industrial robots increased by 30%; in April alone, the export value of integrated circuits increased by 99.6% year-on-year, and the export value of automatic data processing equipment and its components increased by 47.3%. In addition, the export of optical transceiver modules used in high-end graphics cards and electrical equipment that meets the power needs of data centers has also grown rapidly.

In the production workshop of Bambu Lab (深圳拓竹科技有限公司), a 3D printer manufacturer, workers are stepping up the assembly of intelligent equipment sold to the world. Each machine has realized the entire chain of independent research and development from artificial intelligence visual perception, intelligent control to hardware integration.

On April 14 this year, Bambu Lab (拓竹科技) released a new printer, which triggered a hot sale with its innovative designs such as artificial intelligence full-process monitoring, dual-nozzle intelligent extrusion system, and intelligent chamber thermal management. In 2025, Bambu Lab's (拓竹科技) global annual revenue will exceed 10 billion yuan. In the first four months of this year, Bambu Lab's (拓竹科技) overseas markets maintained strong growth, especially in emerging markets such as Latin America.

According to Shenzhen Customs (深圳海关) statistics, in the first four months, Shenzhen's (深圳) exports of 3D printers and digital cameras were 5.24 billion yuan and 3.71 billion yuan respectively, a year-on-year increase of 128.6% and 72.1% respectively, accounting for 85.8% and 70.3% of the country's total exports of similar products.

"The global artificial intelligence investment boom continues to heat up, pushing up the demand and prices of chips, electronic components, etc. China's manufacturing industry's complete industrial chain advantages are even more obvious. It has significant cost and production capacity advantages in chip packaging, server manufacturing, and robot complete machine fields, meeting the needs of global data center construction and expansion. With the comprehensive recovery of external demand, artificial intelligence hardware orders have been released intensively, driving super-fast export growth," Zhu Siqiao (朱思翘) analyzed. China's position in the global artificial intelligence industry chain is increasingly consolidated. It is not only a supplier of terminal products, but also an important production and export base for key links in the industry chain.

Domestic demand is steadily expanding, driving the synchronous growth of import scale. In the first quarter, the import value of high-tech products increased by 25.1%.

In the field of artificial intelligence, which has a high degree of globalization, foreign-funded enterprises are an important force in the industry, and exported products are also moving towards intelligence. In the first quarter, the proportion of industrial robots and 3D printers exported by foreign-funded enterprises accounted for more than 30% and 60% of China's exports of similar products, respectively.

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Eliminating Obstacles and Bottlenecks Hindering a Unified Market and Fair Competition

According to a report from Beijing on May 15th (by reporter Lin Lili (林丽鹂)) - The State Administration for Market Regulation (市场监管总局) recently issued a plan: From May to December of this year, a special campaign will be carried out to remove obstacles and bottlenecks hindering the unified market and fair competition.

The special campaign will focus on four types of bottlenecks: hindering fair access and independent operation for enterprises, restricting the free flow of commodities and factors, discriminatory treatment in qualification recognition, and improper implementation of credit evaluation setting up hidden barriers to bidding. Enforcement, review, and spot checks will be further intensified to strictly correct problems of improper intervention in market competition in accordance with the law.

By the end of the year, a number of major cases will be investigated and dealt with in accordance with the law, a number of policies and measures hindering the unified market and fair competition will be abolished and revised, a number of typical cases will be publicly exposed, a number of institutional mechanisms will be introduced at an accelerated pace, and market-based fundamental institutions such as fair competition and quality standards will be promoted to be more scientific and complete. The economic promotion behaviors of local governments will be more standardized and orderly, market supervision and law enforcement will be more fair and just, and the market environment will be more transparent and predictable.

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Teaching robots to automatically weld deep-sea equipment (First-hand observations of high-quality development in the marine economy)

By: 本报记者 靳 博 张艺开

Stiff wrists, tense forearms, and jerky movements... Is this the national technical expert who won gold at the international top welding competition? Watching the stumbling welding movements in front of him, the reporter couldn't help but wonder.

"I am learning the movements of robots." Liu Hailin (刘海林) is the leader of the National Skill Master Studio at the Tianjin (天津) Intelligent Manufacturing Base of Offshore Oil Engineering Co., Ltd. (海洋石油工程股份有限公司), "To be a good 'teacher' of intelligent welding robots, you must first be a good 'apprentice' to them."

Why is that?

Liu Hailin's (刘海林) manufacturing base is located in Tianjin Binhai New Area (天津滨海新区), close to the Bohai Oilfield (渤海油田), producing and installing large offshore oil and gas equipment such as jacket platforms nearby. However, this type of equipment is mostly "exclusively customized," pieced together from hundreds or thousands of tons of non-standard steel structures, making intelligent production extremely difficult.

"Take the reinforcing ring as an example. The curvature changes frequently. The robot needs to use visual recognition and artificial intelligence algorithms to automatically adjust the wire feeding speed and swing frequency in real time." Liu Hailin (刘海林) said that the large jacket reinforcing ring, which is nearly one person tall, needs to be welded simultaneously by four welding guns on both sides of the robotic arm. However, once the arcs get close to each other, they interfere with each other, causing "crackling" explosions, and the experiment failed hundreds of times.

"Under the deep sea, the weld seam is the 'lifeline,' and there is no room for error." Facing the difficulties, Liu Hailin (刘海林) controlled the welding angle and restrained the swing amplitude, translating the welding points one by one by imitating the robot's movements. Finally, the team ushered in the day when the "crackling" sound disappeared—the robot learned fully automatic welding, with an accuracy of 0.1 mm, and the efficiency was more than 4 times higher than that of manual work.

In January of this year, the first set of flexible intelligent spraying system for offshore oil and gas equipment was put into use; in February, the first set of intelligent tower crane control system in the field of offshore oil and gas equipment manufacturing was put into use... Under the collaboration of multi-disciplinary engineers, the total number of intelligent equipment in the manufacturing base reached more than 700, realizing "hoisting-cutting-sorting-grinding-assembly-welding" intelligent production. The overall production efficiency has increased by more than 39% compared with the traditional model, and the error rate has been greatly reduced.

Employees have also been freed from a lot of heavy work. "Before, when working in confined spaces, I couldn't squat down or stand up straight, the smoke was pungent, and the arc light was dazzling..." Liu Hailin's (刘海林) apprentice, Li Lanting (李岚婷), is now also picking up the teaching pendant and operating the welding robot.

From production to design, intelligent manufacturing capabilities are accelerating. A few kilometers away, Bomarco Offshore Engineering Co., Ltd. (博迈科海洋工程股份有限公司) has assembled more than 450 topside modules for offshore platforms. "Using digital twin technology, we build the module 1:1 in the computer in advance to verify the optimal design scheme." Zhang Zhenping (张振平), project manager of the company's electrical module, rotates the three-dimensional model on the screen, with hundreds of parameters rolling in real time, identifying possible defects.

"Binhai New Area (滨海新区) has basically formed a marine engineering industry system of 'parts and components-equipment integration-general assembly construction-supporting services'." Li Gang (李刚), Secretary of the Party Leadership Group and Director of the Bureau of Industry and Information Technology of Binhai New Area (滨海新区工业和信息化局), introduced that during the "15th Five-Year Plan" period, Binhai New Area (滨海新区) will focus on fields such as ships and offshore engineering equipment to continuously improve the industrial energy level.

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The First Batch of Relocation Housing Delivered in Deqin County Town, Yunnan Province

Our newspaper Kunming (昆明), May 15th (Reported by Yang Wenming (杨文明)) Recently, the first batch of resettlement houses for the relocation of Deqin County (德钦县) town for disaster avoidance in Diqing Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture (迪庆藏族自治州), Yunnan Province (云南省), were delivered in Yezhi Town (叶枝镇). A total of 182 resettlement houses were delivered, and 414 households received the keys to their new homes, starting a new life.

The old county town of Deqin (德钦), Shengping Town (升平镇), is 3,400 meters above sea level, and has prominent geological disaster risks, threatening the lives and property of 3,076 households. To eliminate the risks, Diqing Prefecture (迪庆州) launched the overall relocation of the county town for disaster avoidance.

The resettlement houses delivered this time have a total construction area of approximately 97,000 square meters. The project features a variety of apartment types ranging from 140 to 250 square meters, with simultaneous construction of shops, infrastructure, and property management space.

All of the above pictures are taken by Liu Ranyang (刘冉阳) (People's Vision).

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Inclusive micro and small business loan balance increases by 10.5% year-on-year

This newspaper reported from Beijing on May 15th (Reporter Wu Qiuyu (吴秋余)): Data released by the People's Bank of China (中国人民银行) shows that in the first four months, the cumulative increase in China's social financing scale was 15.45 trillion yuan. As of the end of April, the stock of social financing scale was 456.89 trillion yuan, a year-on-year increase of 7.8%, and the balance of broad money (M2) was 353.04 trillion yuan, a year-on-year increase of 8.6%. The growth rates of M2 and social financing scale have both remained at reasonable levels, creating a suitable monetary and financial environment for the continuous improvement of the economy.

In the first four months, the scale of loans maintained reasonable growth, with an increase of 8.59 trillion yuan in RMB loans. As of the end of April, the balance of domestic and foreign currency loans was 284.29 trillion yuan, a year-on-year increase of 5.5%; the balance of RMB loans was 280.5 trillion yuan, a year-on-year increase of 5.6%. The credit structure continued to optimize. As of the end of April, the balance of inclusive small and micro loans was 37.92 trillion yuan, a year-on-year increase of 10.5%, and the balance of medium and long-term loans to the service industry excluding the real estate industry was 61.34 trillion yuan, a year-on-year increase of 9.7%, higher than the growth rate of various loans during the same period.

Loan interest rates remained at low levels. In April, the weighted average interest rate for newly issued corporate loans (in domestic and foreign currencies) was approximately 3.1%, about 20 basis points lower than the same period last year; the weighted average interest rate for newly issued personal housing loans (in domestic and foreign currencies) was approximately 3.1%, about 6 basis points lower than the same period last year.

In terms of deposits, RMB deposits increased by 14 trillion yuan in the first four months, of which household deposits increased by 5.74 trillion yuan, non-financial enterprise deposits increased by 1.43 trillion yuan, fiscal deposits increased by 1.2 trillion yuan, and non-bank financial institution deposits increased by 4.5 trillion yuan.

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First quarter employee basic medical insurance contribution income increases by 5.3%

People's Daily Beijing (北京) May 15th (Reporter Wang Guan (王观)) - The reporter learned from the State Taxation Administration (国家税务总局): In the first quarter of this year, China's employee basic medical insurance contribution income reached 598.1 billion yuan, a year-on-year increase of 5.3%. The centralized participation and payment work for urban and rural residents' basic medical insurance for the 2026 insurance period has basically ended, with contribution income reaching 350.4 billion yuan.

Tax data shows that in the first quarter of this year, the number of employees paying basic medical insurance premiums was 260 million, a year-on-year increase of 1.8%; together with urban and rural residents insured, retirees, and others, the number of people covered by basic medical insurance in China has remained stable at over 1.3 billion.

Tang Jiqiang (汤继强), a professor at the China Financial Research Institute of Southwestern University of Finance and Economics (西南财经大学), said that China's economy is steadily improving, and employment remains generally stable, providing a basic support for the in-depth implementation of the basic medical insurance system. Especially in terms of urban and rural residents' medical insurance, financial subsidies have long accounted for more than 60% of fund income, which is the main source of funding for urban and rural residents' medical insurance. The continuous injection of national financial subsidies not only effectively reduces the burden of participation and payment for the masses, but also vigorously promotes the continuous improvement of medical insurance benefits, providing a solid guarantee for consolidating the achievements of universal participation.

It is understood that the tax authorities, together with medical insurance and other departments, have realized "online handling" and "mobile handling" of basic medical insurance payments nationwide. The proportion of online business handling has remained stable at over 95%, and more than 5,000 convenient green channels have been set up to specifically serve special payment groups such as the elderly, improving the convenience of medical insurance payments for the masses.

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The Publicity Department of the CPC Central Committee and the All-China Women's Federation Jointly Released the 2026 "Most Beautiful Families"

Xinhua News Agency, Beijing, May 15th (Xinhua) To thoroughly study and implement General Secretary Xi Jinping's (习近平) important exposition on emphasizing family, family education, and family traditions, and to vigorously promote new socialist family ethics, the Central Propaganda Department (中宣部) and the All-China Women's Federation (全国妇联) released the "Most Beautiful Families" of 2026 to the whole society.

Ten families, including those of Liu Chuang (刘闯), Pang Weitao (庞卫涛), Zhao Juanjuan (赵娟娟), Shen Yun (申芸), Zhang Guoli (张国利), Zhang Yun (张耘), Han Guangying (韩光莹), Shi Hui (石慧), He Hongying (何鸿英), and Sui Yapeng (隋亚平), were honorably selected. Some of them devoted themselves to research, striving and dedicating themselves to the front lines of building a strong aerospace nation and major national projects; some worked hand in hand to take root in the countryside, using sweat and wisdom to unite and lead their fellow villagers on the road to prosperity; some actively connected people with love, practicing new marriage customs; some created homes filled with the fragrance of books, driving neighbors to form a good learning atmosphere; some families were enthusiastic about public welfare, warmly guarding the healthy growth of orphans; some knew and guarded each other, interpreting their mission and responsibility in international peacekeeping missions... They inherited family virtues, adhered to excellent family traditions, and integrated the realization of individual dreams and family dreams into national dreams and ethnic dreams, reaping happiness in their struggles and achieving brilliance in their pursuit of dreams.

The broad masses of cadres and the people expressed that small families are connected to everyone, and family affairs are connected to national affairs. Only when the country is good and the nation is good can families be good. We must take the "Most Beautiful Families" as examples, pay attention to family, family education, and family traditions, and constantly strive to promote family harmony, love among relatives, the healthy growth of the next generation, and the elderly being cared for, using the bustling vitality of each of our "small families" to help our motherland, this "big family," 蒸蒸日上 (zhēng zhēng rì shàng - "daily rise," to improve and become more prosperous day by day).

At the release ceremony, a video short film of the advanced deeds of the "Most Beautiful Families" was played, telling their family stories from multiple perspectives. Responsible comrades from the Central Propaganda Department (中宣部) and the All-China Women's Federation (全国妇联) presented them with "Most Beautiful Family" certificates.

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Deepen Patriotism, Strive for the "15th Five-Year Plan"

By: 本报记者 杨 昊

Home is the smallest country, and the country is made up of thousands of homes. The fate of families is closely linked to the future of the country and the nation.

The Central Propaganda Department (中宣部) and the All-China Women's Federation jointly released the advanced deeds of 10 "Most Beautiful Families" for 2026. These families promote family virtues, inherit fine family traditions, integrate the realization of personal dreams and family dreams into the national dream and the national dream, reap happiness in struggle, and achieve wonderful achievements in the pursuit of dreams.

Building a Home Through Hard Work: Adhering to One's Post and Demonstrating Patriotic Feelings

Practice the original aspiration and mission with hard work, and demonstrate patriotic feelings with responsibility.

Liu Chuang (刘闯), a researcher at China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation, is rooted in the field of spacecraft dynamics environment testing. He led his team to overcome a number of core technologies and successfully completed major national engineering test tasks such as the space station and Mars probe. Liu Chuang's (刘闯) wife, Li Li (李莉), is the manager of Quality Shang Technology Service (Beijing) Co., Ltd. She led her team to develop and build an online training platform to train tens of thousands of quality management talents for hundreds of companies, while taking into account filial piety and childcare, and managing the family, building a safe harbor for the small family with gentle perseverance.

"The warmth and understanding of the family is transformed into our responsibility for our career. Taking care of our small family is adding strength to the country's development," said Liu Chuang (刘闯).

"The foundation must be correct, and the structure must be strong" - this is the family motto of Pang Weitao's (庞卫涛) family, deputy secretary of the Party General Branch of the Infrastructure Branch of China Construction Eighth Engineering Division North China Company. Upholding the rigorous and meticulous "millimeter spirit," Pang Weitao (庞卫涛) is rooted in the front line of engineering, leading the team to study construction technology and solve a number of problems in the construction projects of the Beijing Daxing International Airport (北京大兴国际机场) Municipal Transportation Project, the East Suburb Project, the largest semi-underground sewage treatment plant in Asia, and other construction projects; he opened the "Craftsman Lecture Hall" and devoted himself to teaching and educating people, carefully cultivating young business backbones; he took the initiative to assume social responsibility, took the lead in establishing a student aid fund, and helped students realize their dreams of studying.

Youth goes to the mission, firmly guarding peace.

Sui Yaping (隋亚平), a second-level police chief of the International Peacekeeping Force of the Ministry of Public Security's Special Service Bureau, and her husband, Lü Yanchen (吕延晨), are both peacekeeping police officers. This "blue helmet couple" faithfully performed their duties on the international peacekeeping battlefield, went to the front line of peacekeeping many times, and successfully completed guard, patrol, and emergency response tasks. They help each other in their work to improve their police professional skills, support each other in life, and rely on each other, integrating the warmth of the small family into the international peace cause.

Passing on Virtue and Kindness: Fine Family Traditions Cultivate Civilized Foundation

Family tradition and family education are the most valuable wealth of a family, and family civilization is the cornerstone of social civilization.

"A letter comes only for the wall, why not let him have three feet?" Zhang Yun's (张耘) family, secretary of the Party General Branch and director of the Neighborhood Committee of Liuchixiang Community (六尺巷社区), Wenchang Street, Tongcheng, Anhui, integrates "courtesy" and "harmony is precious" into grassroots governance, continuing the new era chapter of the century-old family tradition.

As a provincial representative inheritor of the intangible cultural heritage "Liuchixiang Legend," Zhang Yun (张耘) participated in creating the "Liuchixiang Work Method," resolving nearly 700 neighborhood disputes, forming a volunteer explanation service team, and opening public welfare small classrooms to spread the concept of humility and courtesy. The couple passes on poetry and books, is determined to learn and be kind, regularly carries out reading sharing and parent-child reading activities, cultivates family traditions with the fragrance of books, and drives neighbors to jointly build a harmonious and civilized community.

Fine family traditions nourish people's hearts and permeate society in inheritance.

Shen Yun (申芸), the former director of Xinghualing District Experimental Kindergarten (杏花岭区实验幼儿园) in Taiyuan, Shanxi, has been deeply involved in the field of early childhood education for decades, adhering to the family motto of honesty, trustworthiness, and kindness, and actively participating in public welfare services. She has produced more than 200 public welfare micro-courses, benefiting tens of thousands of early childhood educators; she has formed a volunteer lecturer group and carried out more than 90 public welfare lectures. Under her exemplary influence and her husband's strong support, her daughter, son-in-law, and grandson have taken the initiative to devote themselves to volunteer services, allowing kindness to be passed down from generation to generation.

In Ma'anshan Village (马鞍山村), Henan Street, Kalaqin Banner (喀喇沁旗), Inner Mongolia, Zhang Guoli's (张国利) family is a four-generation family composed of the Manchu, Han, and Mongolian ethnic groups, who love each other, help each other, and sing a song of national unity. Zhang Guoli (张国利) and his wife are filial to the elderly and love their children, serve as rural red narrators, deeply cultivate rural development, and lead villagers to jointly seek industrial prosperity, so that the flower of national unity will always bloom.

Great Love Nourishes the Home: Devoted Dedication Promotes the New Trend of the Times

The most beautiful families are beautiful in harmony and even more beautiful in dedication.

Zhao Juanjuan's (赵娟娟) family, an employee of the State Grid Hejian City Power Supply Company (国网河北河间市供电公司), has actively participated in public welfare matchmaker volunteer services for more than 10 years, carefully investigating young people's marriage and love information, accurately matching needs, and has facilitated nearly 100 couples to have good relationships. In response to betrothal gift disputes and marriage and love conflicts, the couple patiently persuades and mediates, taking the harmonious small family as an example, breaking down outdated customs and bad habits, and promoting the concept of civilized marriage and love to be deeply rooted in people's hearts.

Take love as home and act with kindness. He Hongying (何鸿英), deputy secretary of the Party Committee of Fenggang Village (蜂岗村), Youxi Town, Jiangjin District, Chongqing, responded to the call of the local women's federation and became a "caring mother," guarding the growth of children in difficulty for more than ten years. She carefully pays attention to the children's daily life, physical and mental health, helps the children regain confidence and grow up towards the sun, and at the same time drives more than 30 families in the village to join the caring team, regularly caring for left-behind children and helping lonely elderly people, and warming neighbors with simple good deeds.

Fifteen years ago, Han Guangying (韩光莹) returned to his old home in Tianpu Da Wan Village (田铺大塆村), Xinxian County (新县), Xinyang (信阳), Henan, located in the hinterland of the Dabie Mountains (大别山). Later, he renovated his old house and opened the village's first homestay, "Laojia Hanshe." Relying on local red resources and ecological advantages, he taught his fellow villagers how to renovate their houses by hand, driving more than 20 villagers to embark on the road to prosperity by opening homestays, making the homestay industry in Tianpu Da Wan Village flourish. The couple often participates in rural environmental improvement and neighborhood mutual assistance services, and cultivates a simple rural style with a pure family tradition.

In Shibadong Village (十八洞村), Huayuan County (花垣县), Xiangxi Tujia and Miao Autonomous Prefecture (湘西土家族苗族自治州), Hunan, the first place where "targeted poverty alleviation" was proposed, Shi Hui (石慧), deputy principal of Malichang Town Central Primary School (麻栗场镇中心小学), and her husband, Shi Kang (施康), have set an example of civilized marriage and love in the new era.

The two met in a marriage and love activity. Shi Kang's (施康) sentence, "Studying is not to get rid of the poor hometown, but to let the hometown get rid of poverty," resonated with the two young people. The couple relies on Miao ethnic characteristics to live-stream agricultural assistance, with cumulative sales of agricultural and sideline products exceeding 6 million yuan; they have established a new youth e-commerce studio and a new farmer studio, attracting a number of young people to return to their hometowns to work and start businesses... They outline the beautiful appearance of young families in the new era who are kind, upward, and work hard to revitalize their businesses with a fighting attitude side by side.

Small families are connected to everyone, and family affairs are connected to national affairs. One "most beautiful family" after another uses the warmth of the "small family" to help the "big family" of the motherland flourish.

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谌贻琴出席亚太经合组织妇女与经济论坛开幕式并致辞 Chen Yiqin Attends and Addresses the Opening Ceremony of the APEC Women and the Economy Forum

This newspaper reported from Shanghai on May 15th (Reporter Cao Lingjuan (曹玲娟)) The Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Women and the Economy Forum was held in Shanghai (上海) on the 15th. State Councilor and President of the All-China Women's Federation, Chen Yiqin (谌贻琴), attended the opening ceremony and delivered a speech.

Chen Yiqin (谌贻琴) stated that President Xi Jinping (习近平) attaches great importance to the development of women's affairs. In October of last year, he personally attended the Global Women's Summit and delivered a keynote speech, setting a new milestone in the history of the international women's movement. The Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation has always regarded promoting gender equality as a priority area for cooperation. The establishment of the Women and the Economy Forum for more than ten years has built an important platform for promoting Asia-Pacific women to break through development barriers and share development opportunities.

Chen Yiqin (谌贻琴) emphasized that it is necessary to be guided by the spirit of President Xi Jinping's (习近平) keynote speech, adhere to the original intention of Asia-Pacific cooperation, promote women's economic empowerment, and promote common prosperity in the Asia-Pacific region. With a more determined determination and more powerful actions, we will achieve more practical results in creating a good environment for women's growth and development, promoting the high-quality development of women's affairs, protecting women's rights and interests, and promoting Asia-Pacific women's cooperation. We must adhere to open regionalism and create conditions for women's economic empowerment through education and training, and technological empowerment, and jointly promote the comprehensive development of women's affairs in the Asia-Pacific region.

This Women and the Economy Forum is the first ministerial meeting of APEC's "China Year." More than 200 representatives from government departments, business circles, academia, the APEC Secretariat, and related organizations from APEC member economies attended. The forum released the "2026 APEC Women and the Economy Forum Chair's Statement."

Chen Yiqin (谌贻琴) also went deep into relevant enterprises in Shanghai (上海), street women and children's family service centers, and innovative ecological communities to investigate the construction of grassroots women's federation organizations, the protection of women and children's rights and interests, and the work of "巾帼" (jīn guó - "women's," a term referring to women, especially those who are heroic or capable) domestic services.

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Surpass Yourself Through Hard Work and Let Your Dreams Shine (Authoritative Release)

By: 本报记者 易舒冉

People with disabilities are an important force in advancing Chinese-style modernization and a special group in need of extra care and attention. On May 15th, on the occasion of the 36th National Day for Helping the Disabled, the State Council Information Office (国务院新闻办) held a press conference for Chinese and foreign journalists entitled "Strivers on the New Journey," inviting five representatives of people with disabilities to share their experiences on "Contributing to Chinese-style Modernization with a Spirit of Self-Improvement."

Lu Yongjiang (陆永江), a person with a physical disability and the head of Yanting Handmade Embroidery Workshop (彦婷手工刺绣坊) in Liping County (黎平县), Qiandongnan Miao and Dong Autonomous Prefecture (黔东南苗族侗族自治州), Guizhou Province (贵州省), traveled throughout the 25 townships of Liping County (黎平县), organizing and recording the needlework and patterns passed down orally by the older generation, practicing diligently day after day, and becoming a provincial representative inheritor of the Dong ethnic clothing, a representative project of the fourth batch of national intangible cultural heritage. She also organizes skill training for left-behind women and people with disabilities in surrounding villages, driving employment for more than 1,600 people.

"Self-improvement cannot just be about one person being strong, it should also be about a group of people supporting each other to become strong together," said Lu Yongjiang (陆永江), who hopes to use an embroidery needle to help more people with disabilities "embroider" a good life.

"The most difficult thing for people with disabilities to integrate into society is not the physical barriers, but the mental hurdle. Barrier-free tourism uses real travel experiences to tell friends with disabilities that you can walk, see, smile, and be treated kindly by strangers," said Yang Yu (杨育), head of Hunan Shengtian Barrier-Free Tourism Service Development Co., Ltd. (湖南胜天无障碍旅游服务发展有限公司).

Twelve years ago, with the help of the Disabled Persons' Federation (残联), Yang Yu (杨育), who was in a wheelchair, experienced barrier-free tourism for the first time, climbing Suxianling (苏仙岭) in Chenzhou City (郴州市), Hunan Province (湖南省). Since then, Yang Yu (杨育) has been determined to help more friends with disabilities get out of their homes and experience the joy of travel. In 2016, Yang Yu (杨育) founded a company specializing in providing barrier-free tourism services for people with disabilities and the elderly. In Yang Yu's (杨育) view, barrier-free facilities in scenic spots, visitor centers, hotels, restaurants and other places are indispensable for creating barrier-free tourist cities, but more important is a warm social atmosphere of helping and supporting people with disabilities.

In the view of Wang Zhihua (王志华), head of the barrier-free travel project of a ride-hailing platform, "It is not easy for blind people to travel. Blind people cannot see the car and need the driver to take the initiative to find them. Therefore, we have set up a voice broadcast function in the barrier-free service to prompt the driver to actively find blind passengers and provide assistance."

As a visually impaired person, Wang Zhihua (王志华) understands the real pain points of blind passengers and constantly improves services accordingly. Wang Zhihua (王志华) said that many drivers are very enthusiastic after arriving at the destination and want to help passengers open the door, but blind passengers can open the door themselves, but they do not know whether the environment outside the car is safe. "We changed the prompt to the driver from 'Please actively assist passengers to get off the car' to 'Please assist passengers to check the vehicles coming from the side and rear.' The difference of a few words not only respects blind passengers, but also meets the needs of users," Wang Zhihua (王志华) said that he will work with the team to make barrier-free travel services more detailed and practical.

In the 2008 Wenchuan earthquake (汶川大地震), Liu Min (刘敏), 16, lost her right leg. The physical pain and inner confusion once made Liu Min (刘敏) lose hope in life. With the constant enlightenment and encouragement of people around her, Liu Min (刘敏) returned to school, studied hard, and was admitted to Sichuan University (四川大学) and pursued a double degree. "Disability is just a physical symbol, it is struggle that gives life weight," said Liu Min (刘敏).

Liu Min (刘敏) is a second-level director of the Party Committee of the Sichuan Provincial Disabled Persons' Federation (四川省残联机关党委). In order to let more people understand and understand people with disabilities, she has carried out more than 70 lectures in government agencies and enterprises. During her stay in the village to help, she wore a prosthetic leg to visit households and transformed knowledge into the power to serve the masses, realizing self-growth in the fields.

Many people know Chen Jing (陈静), a dance actress and dance team leader of the China Disabled People's Performing Art Troupe (中国残疾人艺术团), from the girl who performed the song "Lonely Warrior" in sign language at the 2025 Spring Festival Gala of China Central Radio and Television (2025年中央广播电视总台春晚). "I still remember when I was a child, during the Chinese New Year, my family sat around the TV watching the Spring Festival Gala sketches. Everyone laughed so hard, and I laughed along, but I didn't know what everyone was laughing at. It was a kind of loneliness that others couldn't understand," Chen Jing (陈静) expressed her feelings in sign language.

In 2026, as the sign language director of the barrier-free broadcast of the Year of the Horse Spring Festival Gala (2026年马年春晚), Chen Jing (陈静) led hearing-impaired actors to "sing" and "perform" the entire Spring Festival Gala in sign language, warming the hearts of many hearing-impaired people.

"Using both hands to build a bridge of communication is my profession and my dream. In the future, I am willing to use my body and hands to contribute to the artistic expression of barrier-free information," said Chen Jing (陈静).

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Strengthening, Optimizing, and Expanding the Real Economy

Xinhua News Agency, Beijing, May 15th. The 10th issue of the "Seeking Truth" magazine, to be published on May 16th, will feature an important article by Xi Jinping (习近平), General Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China, President of the People's Republic of China, and Chairman of the Central Military Commission, entitled "Strengthening, Optimizing, and Expanding the Real Economy." This is an excerpt of important discourses by General Secretary Xi Jinping (习近平) from December 2016 to December 2025.

The article emphasizes that the real economy is the foundation of a country's economy, the fundamental source of wealth creation, and an important pillar of national strength. No matter how far economic development progresses, the real economy is the foundation for our country's economic development and for us to win the initiative in international economic competition. Our country's economy started with the real economy, and it must rely on the real economy to move towards the future. We must adhere to focusing on developing the economy on the real economy, promote the aggregation of resource elements towards the real economy, incline policy measures towards the real economy, strengthen work efforts towards the real economy, solidly promote new industrialization, and continuously strengthen, optimize, and expand the real economy.

The article points out that manufacturing is the foundation of the real economy, and the high-quality development of manufacturing must be placed in a more prominent position, and we must unswervingly build a strong manufacturing country. Implement the industrial base re-engineering project and the major technical equipment tackling project, support the development of specialized, refined, and new enterprises, and promote the high-end, intelligent, and green development of manufacturing. Actively adapt to and lead the new round of scientific and technological revolution and industrial transformation, strengthen original innovation and key core technology tackling, promote the deep integration of scientific and technological innovation and industrial innovation, accelerate the development of advanced manufacturing, and organically combine the construction of a strong manufacturing country with the development of the digital economy and industrial informatization, so as to build a strong material and technical foundation for Chinese-style modernization.

The article points out that it is necessary to build a modern industrial system and consolidate and strengthen the foundation of the real economy. During the "15th Five-Year Plan" period, we must place the development of new quality productive forces in accordance with local conditions in a more prominent strategic position, and adhere to simultaneously comprehensively promoting the transformation and upgrading of traditional industries, actively developing emerging industries, and forward-looking layout of future industries. Consolidate the leading position of advantageous industries, and accelerate the efforts to make up for shortcomings in areas related to security and development. Promote the integrated cluster development of strategic emerging industries, and build a new generation of information technology, artificial intelligence, biotechnology, new energy, new materials, high-end equipment, green environmental protection and other new growth engines. Build a high-quality and efficient new service industry system, build an efficient and smooth circulation system, and build a modern infrastructure system.

The article emphasizes that it is necessary to adhere to taking financial services to the real economy as the fundamental purpose. The real economy is the foundation of finance, finance is the lifeblood of the real economy, and serving the real economy is the natural duty of finance. China's finance must safeguard its duty to serve the real economy, promote high-quality development, and must never 脱实向虚 (tuō shí xiàng xū - "abandon the real for the virtual," to deviate from the real economy and engage in speculative activities).

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Li Qiang Presides Over State Council Executive Meeting

Xinhua News Agency, Beijing, May 15th (新华社北京5月15日电) Premier of the State Council Li Qiang (李强) presided over an executive meeting of the State Council on May 15th, heard reports on the implementation of the deployment of the Central Urban Work Conference and the progress of urban renewal, reviewed and approved the "15th Five-Year Plan for Urban Renewal" (《城市更新“十五五”规划》) and the "15th Five-Year Plan for Accelerating Agricultural and Rural Modernization" (《加快农业农村现代化“十五五”规划》), and studied relevant work on population development and reform and development of basic education.

The meeting pointed out that since the Central Urban Work Conference, all regions and departments have thoroughly implemented the decisions and deployments of the Party Central Committee and taken a series of measures to promote high-quality urban development, and new progress has been made in urban work. At present, China's urban development is shifting from a stage of large-scale incremental expansion to a stage dominated by stock quality improvement and efficiency enhancement. Urban renewal should be placed in a prominent position, adhering to a combination of short-term and long-term goals, highlighting key points, and promoting various tasks in a powerful and orderly manner to build modern people's cities that are innovative, livable, beautiful, resilient, civilized, and intelligent. It is necessary to implement key tasks of urban renewal, cultivate and strengthen new driving forces for urban development, create high-quality urban living spaces, promote green and low-carbon transformation of urban development, enhance urban safety and resilience, promote the prosperity and development of urban culture, and improve the level of urban governance capabilities. It is necessary to improve the implementation mechanism of urban renewal, improve the policy support system, and build a sustainable urban renewal model.

The meeting pointed out that agricultural and rural modernization is related to the overall situation and quality of Chinese-style modernization. We must adhere to the principle of giving top priority to "agriculture, rural areas, and farmers" (三农) and continuously consolidate the foundation and improve the quality and efficiency of development. It is necessary to follow the laws, adapt to local conditions, improve the comprehensive agricultural production capacity, continue to consolidate and expand the achievements in poverty alleviation, broaden the channels for farmers to increase their income and become rich, promote the construction of livable, industry-friendly, and beautiful villages, and always adhere to the bottom line of ensuring food security and preventing large-scale return to poverty.

The meeting pointed out that it is necessary to adapt to the new situation facing population development, focus on improving the overall quality of the population, strive to maintain an appropriate fertility level and population size, continuously accumulate and release the demographic dividend, and promote high-quality population development. It is necessary to accelerate the construction of a fertility-friendly society, strengthen fertility service guarantees, improve infant and toddler care services, and improve the comprehensive family support policy system. It is necessary to actively respond to the aging of the population, strengthen social security for the elderly, promote the improvement of the quality and efficiency of elderly care services, and vigorously develop the silver economy. It is necessary to improve the mechanisms for land supply and fiscal transfer payments linked to population increases and decreases around the adjustment of population layout to achieve the optimal utilization of public service resources.

The meeting pointed out that it is necessary to anchor the goal and task of building a strong education country by 2035, conform to the people's new expectations for education and the new situation of economic and social development, and comprehensively improve the quality of basic education. It is necessary to strengthen the overall allocation of basic education resources, implement the policy of equal access to basic education for children of migrant workers in their places of residence, strengthen care and concern for rural left-behind children and children in difficult circumstances, and gradually narrow the gap between urban and rural areas, regions, schools, and groups. It is necessary to actively promote the reform of education methods, school management models, management systems, and guarantee mechanisms to better stimulate school vitality.

The meeting also studied other matters.

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The National People's Congress should perform its duties according to law, focusing on the central task, and contribute to the successful implementation of the "15th Five-Year Plan."

Xinhua News Agency, Guiyang, May 15th. Zhao Leji (赵乐际), a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, conducted research in Guizhou (贵州) from May 13th to 15th. He emphasized the need to adhere to Xi Jinping (习近平) Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era as guidance, closely focus on the central tasks of the Party and the country, base efforts on the functions and responsibilities of the People's Congress, and advance all work in accordance with the law and in an orderly manner, so as to contribute to the implementation of the "15th Five-Year Plan" and the construction of Chinese-style modernization.

Zhao Leji (赵乐际) visited Qiannan Prefecture (黔南州) and Guiyang City (贵阳市), going deep into the liaison offices of People's Congress representatives, enterprises, villages, and farmers' homes to exchange views with People's Congress representatives and the masses, and conducted research focusing on implementing the spirit of the Fourth Session of the 14th National People's Congress and doing a good job in the work of the People's Congress. He learned about the construction of the "four organs," the elections for the change of term of office of the People's Congresses at the county and township levels, and budget supervision at the Pingtang County (平塘县) People's Congress and the Provincial People's Congress, visited the staff of the organs, and presided over a symposium.

Zhao Leji (赵乐际) pointed out that it is necessary to focus on ensuring the implementation of the "15th Five-Year Plan" and give full play to the functional role of the People's Congress. Combine the acceleration of high-level self-reliance and self-improvement in science and technology, the development of new quality productive forces in accordance with local conditions, and the promotion of economic structural optimization and upgrading, and other major tasks to advance legislative work, improve laws and regulations on scientific and technological innovation, industrial support, fiscal and tax finance, green and low-carbon, and serve and guarantee high-quality development with high-quality legislation. Implement correct supervision, effective supervision, and supervision in accordance with the law, and continuously enhance the pertinence and effectiveness of supervision to help promote the sustained and healthy development of the economy and society.

Zhao Leji (赵乐际) pointed out that it is necessary to focus on practicing whole-process people's democracy and strengthen the ties between the People's Congress and the people. Give play to the important institutional carrier role of the People's Congress system in realizing whole-process people's democracy, take close contact with the people as the source of vitality and important foundation of the work of the People's Congress, focus on the thoughts, expectations, and wishes of the people to perform duties and responsibilities, and promote the resolution of the urgent and difficult problems of the people in accordance with the law. Investigation and research should pay attention to practical results, go deep into the grassroots, and go deep into the masses, so that the work of the People's Congress can better connect with the ground, observe public opinion, gather public wisdom, and benefit people's livelihoods. Comprehensively implement the revised Representative Law and strengthen the capacity building of representative work. It is necessary to conscientiously implement the deployments of the Party Central Committee and, in accordance with the division of responsibilities, do a good job in the relevant work of the elections for the change of term of office of the People's Congresses at the county and township levels.

Zhao Leji (赵乐际) emphasized that it is necessary to carry out the study and education on establishing and practicing the correct view of performance in a solid manner, and continuously improve the quality of the work of the People's Congress and the building of the Party. Adhere to the organic unity of the Party's leadership, the people being the masters of the country, and the rule of law, integrate the carrying out of study and education with the requirements for the construction of the "four organs," and unify it with the performance of statutory duties, and effectively establish and practice the correct view of performance. It is necessary to continue to study and comprehend Xi Jinping (习近平) Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era in depth, continuously improve ideological and political levels and the ability to perform duties in accordance with the law, and support the "two establishments" and achieve the "two safeguards" with practical actions. It is necessary to promote the style of seeking truth and being pragmatic, adhere to proceeding from reality and acting in accordance with the law, do all work in a solid and in-depth manner, fulfill the main responsibility of comprehensively and strictly governing the Party, and create a good environment for starting businesses and making achievements.

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The First China New Culture and Creativity Market Opens in Beijing

This newspaper Beijing (北京), May 15th (Reporter Shi Fang (施芳)) On May 15th, the first China New Cultural and Creative Market and Trendy Play Carnival opened in Chaoyang Park (朝阳公园), Beijing (北京), creating a one-stop experience for cultural and museum cultural creation, national trend trendy play, intangible cultural heritage projects, and digital technology development, building a national cultural and creative industry exchange and collaboration platform. The event is jointly guided by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism (文化和旅游部), the Ministry of Commerce (商务部), and the Beijing (北京市) Municipal People's Government, and hosted by the Beijing (北京市) Municipal Party Committee Propaganda Department (北京市委宣传部), the Chaoyang District (朝阳区) Government of Beijing (北京), and others. It will last for 10 days and is free to the public and tourists.

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29 Smart Weather Stations Begin Trial Operation

This newspaper reported from Beijing on May 15th (Reporter Li Hongmei (李红梅)) It was learned from the China Meteorological Administration (中国气象局) that 29 intelligent weather stations, including those in Miyun (密云) in Beijing (北京), have recently started trial operation. This marks a gradual shift towards intelligent transformation in China's surface meteorological observations, providing more precise and efficient basic data support for accurate weather forecasting, disaster prevention, and climate research.

The intelligent weather stations rely on new technologies such as the Internet of Things, big data, artificial intelligence, and edge computing to systematically upgrade traditional observation stations, building a modern observation system that integrates data collection, intelligent processing, real-time transmission, and business applications.

This time, the intelligent weather stations are preferentially located at baseline climate stations for pilot projects, which will provide replicable experience for the upgrade of stations nationwide. The China Meteorological Administration (中国气象局) will adhere to the principle of "one station, one policy" to carry out the construction of intelligent weather stations, improve the whole-process intelligent management system, improve the data sharing platform and algorithms, and at the same time promote the reform of the business system, strengthen the training of new technology talents, and formulate unified technical standards and business specifications to ensure the interconnection of various systems.

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Page One Editors: Yang Xu, Zhang Shuaizhen, Zhao Zheng; Page Two Editors: Han Xiaoming, Jiang Bo, Gong Ming; Page Three Editors: Lin Lin, Jiang Xuejie, Guo Xueyan; Page Four Editors: Bai Zhiyu, Liu Nian, Liu Jingwen

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Experience the City's Charm, Explore the Path to Development

By: 本报记者 朱玥颖 宋豪新

From May 13th to 15th, the "2026 World Mayors Dialogue·Chengdu" event, themed "Park City·Harmonious Coexistence," was held in Rongcheng. Representatives from 32 cities in 26 countries and 5 international organizations gathered in Chengdu (成都), Sichuan (四川), to experience the urban development of Chinese-style modernization and explore urban development paths of harmonious coexistence and open win-win through colorful dialogues, visits, and experience activities. Participating guests formed a consensus on scientific and technological innovation, industrial synergy, cultural exchange, and ecological security, injecting new impetus into enhancing understanding, exchanging experiences, and expanding cooperation between Chinese and foreign cities.

"Everything I saw today gave me a new understanding of China's technological capabilities"

Strolling through the Tianfu Changdao Digital Cultural and Creative Park in Chengdu High-tech Zone, from the globally popular phenomenon-level IPs (intellectual property) such as the *Ne Zha* series and *Honor of Kings* to the cutting-edge technology of Longzhu Cave XR (extended reality) virtual creation, various digital cultural and creative achievements attracted guests from various countries to stop and linger. Moving to Tiexiang Temple Water Street, the integration of cutting-edge technology and the atmosphere of the market shows the unique charm of Chengdu's (成都) integration of scientific and technological innovation and cultural creativity.

Ursula Sauter, Deputy Mayor of Bonn (波恩), Germany (德国), said: "This is my fourth time in Chengdu (成都), and I have new discoveries every time. The urban landscape of Chengdu (成都), which combines modern and future qualities, is impressive."

"Everything I saw today gave me a new understanding of China's technological capabilities." Speaking of the development of artificial intelligence in China, Laura Garone, founder of the Italian National Association of Modern Art, said, "I hope that young talents in Italy can work with Chinese technology teams to create opportunities for technological integration and industrial upgrading between the two sides."

Wearing the equipment, real-time translation text appears in front of you. In Tiexiang Temple Water Street, an AR (augmented reality) smart glasses from Chengdu (成都) local company EmdoorVR deeply attracted Vito Episcopo, Deputy Mayor of Granada (格拉纳达), Spain (西班牙). After the experience, he immediately wrote down the company's contact information and praised: "This technology is excellent and can freely switch between Spanish, English and other languages. I very much hope to introduce it to Spain."

In the Mayors Roundtable Dialogue, the participating guests gained a deeper understanding of Chengdu's (成都) scientific and technological innovation achievements through the introduction of Chen Shuping (陈书平), Mayor of Chengdu (成都市). At present, Chengdu (成都) is unswervingly implementing the innovation-driven development strategy and continuously consolidating the city's endogenous development momentum. The city currently has 161 national-level scientific and technological innovation platforms, and its global innovation index ranking has climbed to 24th in the world. Chen Shuping (陈书平) said: "Chengdu (成都) has abundant scientific and technological resources, gathering 66 universities and 6.85 million talents. We promote the deep integration of scientific and technological innovation and industrial innovation, deepen the 'industry proposes questions, science and technology answers questions', and inject strong impetus into the construction of a park city."

"Outlines a beautiful vision of economic quality development, ecological sustainability, and continuous improvement of people's well-being"

As the first place to propose the concept of a park city and a demonstration area, Chengdu (成都) actively explores a development path of integrating the city and the park and harmonious coexistence between man and nature. Through visits, the participating guests felt the oriental wisdom of modern urban green transformation from Chengdu's (成都) practice.

"The whole city is full of greenery and vitality. The streets and alleys are full of trees, parks are dotted everywhere, the layout of dedicated cycling greenways is perfect, the urban water system is rich, and the overall quality of life is very superior." After visiting Chengdu (成都) for many days, Bart Nevens, Deputy Governor of Flemish Brabant (弗拉芒·布拉邦省), Belgium (比利时), said that the construction of Chengdu (成都) Park City has set a model for world cities and provided a practical and feasible practice for global ecological governance and urban green transformation program.

"As a mega-city, Chengdu (成都) has scientific and reasonable urban planning, sufficient ecological green space, convenient and perfect public transportation, and standardized, orderly and efficient urban governance." Marcos Toscano, Deputy Secretary of Institutional Relations of Recife (累西腓市), Brazil (巴西), said that Recife (累西腓市) is launching a large-scale urban upgrading plan, relying on the city's main rivers to create a new park ecological belt and reshape the urban spatial pattern, "This is the valuable idea that our friendly city Chengdu (成都) brings to us."

"Friendly cities are warm ties for knowledge sharing and experience sharing, not just institutional agreements. The exchanges between Ibagué (伊瓦格) and Chengdu (成都) are a vivid microcosm." Norma Cifuentes, Secretary of the Ibagué (伊瓦格) Municipal Government, Colombia (哥伦比亚), said that Ibagué (伊瓦格) is located in the Andes Mountains and has a high degree of agreement with Chengdu (成都) in terms of ecological governance and sustainable development. "There is an ancient Chinese poem '海内存知己，天涯若比邻 (hǎi nèi cún zhī jǐ, tiān yá ruò bǐ lín - "a bosom friend afar brings distance near," true friends feel close even when far apart),' and the two cities that are connected across mountains and seas vividly interpret the profound meaning of this ancient poem."

Frédéric Ferray, Executive Deputy Mayor of Asnières-sur-Seine (阿涅尔市), France (法国), said that Chengdu (成都) adheres to the deep integration of ecology, industry and life, vigorously cultivates a green and low-carbon economy, and has accumulated very valuable practical experience. What is particularly valuable is that the national standard for park cities developed by Chengdu (成都) provides standardized guidance for the development of similar cities.

"We very much agree with China's concept of ecological civilization." Stanislav Kim, an official from the United Nations Development Programme, praised, "This concept outlines a beautiful vision of economic quality development, ecological sustainability, and continuous improvement of people's well-being, guiding us to re-examine the inherent relationship between people, cities, and nature, which is highly consistent with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals and the mission of the United Nations Development Programme."

"The city's open, inclusive, and mutually beneficial development characteristics are inspiring"

Chengdu's (成都) international trains connect more than 130 overseas cities, 85 international (regional) regular direct flights reach five continents, the total import and export volume of foreign trade exceeds 850 billion yuan, and the number of existing foreign-invested enterprises exceeds 4,000... A set of eye-catching data allows foreign guests to truly feel Chengdu's (成都) open charm to the world.

On March 26 this year, the Chengdu (成都) direct passenger route to Brussels (布鲁塞尔), Belgium (比利时), was officially opened. The Belgian provincial delegation that visited this time arrived in Chengdu (成都) on this new route. "The city's open, inclusive, and mutually beneficial development characteristics are inspiring." Nevens said that Flemish Brabant (弗拉芒·布拉邦省) and Chengdu (成都) have been friendly cities for 15 years, and the two sides have a deep traditional friendship and economic and trade cooperation foundation. They hope to further expand trade exchanges with Chengdu (成都) and deepen pragmatic cooperation in various fields, especially in green and low-carbon, digital economy, and scientific and technological innovation. Share technical achievements and development experience in other fields.

Tom O'Leary, County Mayor of Fingal (芬戈郡), Ireland (爱尔兰), has a deep relationship with China. His wife was born in Shenyang (沈阳), China (中国), and his son works for a company in Shanghai (上海). He is full of expectations for deepening cooperation between Fingal (芬戈郡) and Chengdu (成都): "Fingal (芬戈郡) has a strong pharmaceutical industry and can build closer cooperation ties with China. Relying on Chengdu's (成都) rich clinical resources and pharmaceutical industry development experience, both sides will be able to achieve mutual benefit, win-win and coordinated development."

"Deepening urban industrial cooperation is the key to strengthening scientific and technological cooperation ties." Toscano said that the core driving force of industrial upgrading is technological innovation. Cutting-edge technologies such as intelligent equipment and artificial intelligence have been widely implemented and applied in China. If global industries are to achieve iterative upgrades, they can learn from China's successful experience and innovation paths. He believes that building an international technology collaboration and academic exchange platform is an effective way to absorb China's innovation experience, and it is also an important path for cities to deepen industrial win-win and achieve coordinated progress.

Episcopo told reporters that in the future, he will organize scientific research experts from universities in Granada (格拉纳达) to visit Chengdu (成都) to carry out exchanges and cooperation with Sichuan (四川) universities in the field of artificial intelligence. He will also organize people from the Spanish business community to come to Chengdu (成都) to seek investment opportunities and carry out economic and trade cooperation.

(Sun Wenxuan (孙文萱) participated in writing)

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"Encounter and Insight": Wuxi Dialogue Event for Creative Cities Held

This newspaper Wuxi (无锡) May 15th dispatch (Reporter Yao Xueqing (姚雪青)) The "Encounter and Reflection" Creative Cities Wuxi (无锡) Dialogue event opened on May 15th at the National Digital Film Industrial Park in Wuxi (无锡), Jiangsu (江苏). Representatives from creative cities around the world will hold multiple dialogues to explore how to drive the sustainable development of urban industries with cultural creativity.

In 2004, the UNESCO Creative Cities Network was established to bring together cities around the world that regard culture and creativity as the core strategic driving force for sustainable urban development. To date, 408 cities worldwide have become members of the network. In October 2025, Wuxi (无锡) successfully joined the Creative Cities Network, becoming the "World Capital of Music."

Secretary-General of the UNESCO Creative Cities Network, Denis Barx, said that joining the Creative Cities Network and holding this international dialogue demonstrates Wuxi's (无锡) determination to promote cross-cultural communication through music and empower the sustainable development of the city with cultural diversity.

The "Encounter and Reflection" Creative Cities Wuxi (无锡) Dialogue event is one of the "Encounter and Reflection" series of civilization exchange and mutual learning activities, with the theme of "Creativity Wins the Future - Cultural Creativity Drives the Sustainable Development of Urban Industries." During the event, a series of experiences and dialogue activities will be held, such as "Walking into World Intangible Cultural Heritage - Immersive Light and Shadow Experience of the Ancient Canal of China," "Music Makes Cities Better - Music Co-creation and Urban Exchange," and "Encountering Wang Wei (王维) - Chinese Traditional Culture Scenario Interaction."

The relevant person in charge of the Wuxi (无锡) Municipal Party Committee introduced that at present, Wuxi (无锡) has 370 music-related enterprises, 2,079 music training institutions, nearly 50,000 cultural units in the city, and the annual added value of the music and creative industry is about 1 billion US dollars. The event not only promotes in-depth exchanges between Chinese and foreign cities in the fields of culture, industry, science and technology, and talent, but also lays a solid foundation for Wuxi (无锡) to build an international creative culture highland and promote the sustainable development of industries.

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Five departments issue risk alerts regarding "recruitment turning into training" and "training loans."

Beijing, May 15th (Reporter Li Linwei (李林蔚)) The Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security (人力资源社会保障部), the Cyberspace Administration of China (中央网信办), the Ministry of Education (教育部), the Ministry of Public Security (公安部), and the National Financial Regulatory Administration (金融监管总局) jointly issued a risk warning on the 15th, alerting the public to the risks of "recruitment turning into training" and "training loans," reminding job seekers to raise their risk awareness and beware of being deceived.

Recently, some criminals have been using recruitment as a guise to attract traffic, indirectly promoting training courses, inducing job seekers to pay high fees, and even applying for loans to participate in training, seriously infringing on the legitimate rights and interests of job seekers and disrupting the normal order of the human resources market. These scams mainly target recent college graduates, with recruitment and training entities separated, implementing fraud in stages, and some platforms are tied to training institutions for profit, trapping job seekers.

A typical tactic is to release false recruitment information to attract traffic, deliberately belittle job seekers' abilities, and induce job seekers to pay high fees or apply for loans to participate in training.

Relevant departments remind job seekers to participate in regular campus recruitment activities or choose regular employment agencies. First, check whether the employment agency has a human resources service license, and verify the relevant qualifications, business status, and credit records of the employer. When encountering recruitment information with "zero threshold" but promising unusually high salaries, be highly vigilant and beware of 踩雷 (cǎi léi - "stepping on a landmine," encountering something dangerous) and 掉坑 (diào kēng - "falling into a pit," being tricked or scammed).

When faced with situations during the job search process where you are required to participate in training that requires paying high fees in order to be assigned a position, you should refuse decisively.

In addition, job seekers should pay attention to retaining relevant chat records, agreement texts, and transfer vouchers, etc., to preserve evidence for possible disputes. If you fall into a scam, please file a complaint with the human resources and social security department or report the case to the public security organs.

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Justice Department Issues Announcement Regarding EU Foreign Subsidies Investigation Practices Constituting Improper Extraterritorial Jurisdiction

This newspaper Beijing (北京), May 15th (Reporter Zhang Cong (张璁)) The Ministry of Justice (司法部) issued an announcement on May 15th regarding the EU's foreign subsidy investigation practices constituting inappropriate extraterritorial jurisdiction.

The announcement shows that, according to Articles 3 and 6 of the "Countering Foreign Unjustified Extraterritorial Application of Laws Act of the People's Republic of China," the Ministry of Justice (司法部), together with relevant departments such as the Ministry of Commerce (商务部), investigated and determined that the EU's relevant cross-border investigation practices adopted against Chinese entities in the Tongfang Weishi (同方威视) investigation using its "Foreign Subsidies Regulation" constitute inappropriate extraterritorial jurisdiction measures. No organization or individual may implement or assist in the implementation of such inappropriate extraterritorial jurisdiction measures. The announcement shall be implemented from the date of promulgation.

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Photo Report

On May 14th, at the corn and alfalfa planting base in Minle County (民乐县), Zhangye City (张掖市), Gansu Province (甘肃省), staff members inspected the pipeline connections of the drip irrigation under the film to ensure that the water is used for crop growth.

Recently, the planting base has entered a critical period of summer irrigation to ensure a good harvest. Staff members are exploring the implementation of water-saving measures such as drip irrigation under the film and integrated water and fertilizer drip irrigation in the rainwater collection and regulation reservoir to improve water use efficiency.

Photo by Wang Jiang (王将) (China Photo)

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High-Quality Development Forum on Philosophy and Social Sciences with Chinese Characteristics for the New Era Held in Beijing

This newspaper's Beijing (北京) dispatch on May 15th (Reporter: Yan Yiqiao (闫伊乔)) On May 15th, the High-Quality Development Forum of Philosophy and Social Sciences with Chinese Characteristics in the New Era and the Achievement Report Conference on Ten Years of Philosophical and Social Science Research at Beijing Normal University (北京师范大学) was held at Beijing Normal University (北京师范大学).

Participating experts and scholars stated that philosophy and social sciences in the new era must be based on Chinese soil and rooted in Chinese practice, firmly answering the questions of China, the world, the people, and the times. With a stronger historical initiative and academic responsibility, they must accelerate the construction of an independent Chinese knowledge system, providing a solid ideological guarantee, strong spiritual support, and powerful intellectual support for comprehensively building a modern socialist country and comprehensively promoting the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation.

At the meeting, Beijing Normal University (北京师范大学) released the "Beijing Normal University (北京师范大学) Philosophy and Social Science Research and Development Report (2016-2025)," and focusing on major academic practice achievements, major academic theoretical innovations, major academic system construction, and major academic paradigm shifts, released some iconic achievements, demonstrating the school's exploration and contributions in serving the construction of a strong education nation, continuing academic traditions, constructing independent systems, and promoting the transformation of "Artificial Intelligence + " research.

Cui Shixin (崔士鑫), Deputy Editor-in-Chief of People's Daily (人民日报社), Cheng Jianping (程建平), Secretary of the Party Committee of Beijing Normal University (北京师范大学), and Yu Jihong (于吉红), President of Beijing Normal University (北京师范大学), attended the forum.

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Question and Answer Regarding the EU's Foreign Subsidies Investigation Practices Constituting Improper Extraterritorial Jurisdiction

By: 本报记者 张 璁

Q: On May 15, 2026, the Ministry of Justice (司法部) issued an announcement, determining that the EU's use of its Foreign Subsidies Regulation (《外国补贴条例》) in its investigation of Nuctech (同方威视) and the related cross-border investigation practices against Chinese entities constituted inappropriate extraterritorial jurisdiction. What are your considerations?

A: The EU's use of its Foreign Subsidies Regulation (《外国补贴条例》) to investigate Nuctech (同方威视), wantonly demanding extensive and unnecessary information within China from Chinese entities across borders, imposes inappropriate requirements on relevant entities and clearly violates international law and the basic norms of international relations. In order to safeguard national sovereignty, security, and development interests, and protect the legitimate rights and interests of Chinese citizens, legal persons, or other organizations, the Ministry of Justice (司法部), in accordance with the Anti-Foreign Sanctions Law of the People's Republic of China (《中华人民共和国反外国不当域外管辖条例》), together with relevant departments such as the Ministry of Commerce (商务部), has legally identified and determined that the EU's aforementioned practices constitute inappropriate extraterritorial jurisdiction measures. No organization or individual may implement or assist in the implementation of such inappropriate extraterritorial jurisdiction measures.

The EU's Foreign Subsidies Regulation (《外国补贴条例》) is a unilateral tool created by itself. Since its implementation, the EU has frequently used the Foreign Subsidies Regulation (《外国补贴条例》) to investigate Chinese enterprises, which is clearly targeted and discriminatory, and is a typical example of practicing "protectionism" in the name of "fair competition." The Ministry of Commerce (商务部) has already legally determined in January 2025 that the EU's relevant practices constitute trade and investment barriers. The EU has not only failed to correct its mistakes, but has instead gone further down the wrong path. The Chinese side will never accept the abuse of "long-arm jurisdiction" by foreign countries and regions against Chinese citizens and enterprises. The issuance of this announcement is a concrete action to implement the Anti-Foreign Sanctions Law of the People's Republic of China (《中华人民共和国反外国不当域外管辖条例》) in accordance with the law. We urge the EU to immediately correct its erroneous practices and create a fair, just, and predictable market environment for China-EU cooperation. If the EU insists on overstepping its boundaries, the Chinese side will resolutely take countermeasures in accordance with the law.

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Livestream e-commerce training helps farmers increase income and achieve prosperity.

This newspaper reported from Beijing on May 15th (Reporter Shi Yiqi (史一棋)): Recently, the Working Committee of the Central and State Organs (中央和国家机关工委) held a special training on e-commerce livestreaming to assist farmers at the China National Farmers Training College (中国农民研修学院). More than 130 cadres and people from four designated assistance counties, Pingshan (平山), Lincheng (临城), and Yangyuan (阳原) in Hebei (河北), and Ningwu (宁武) in Shanxi (山西), participated in the study to improve their skills in using digital technology to help farmers.

In response to the previous problems of poor sales of agricultural products and lack of e-commerce skills in some of the assisted counties, the Working Committee of the Central and State Organs (中央和国家机关工委) has conducted livestreaming e-commerce training for three consecutive years. Adhering to demand-oriented and practical-first principles, the training focuses on key aspects such as live broadcast operation, traffic retention, product sales, and after-sales service. It organizes students to go into e-commerce platforms for practical exercises, and holds simulated live broadcast competitions to test the learning effectiveness through actual combat.

This training lasted for 5 days, with 10 themed courses set up. The content was practical and effective, and the satisfaction rate of the training reached 99.7%. Students used what they learned to produce short videos of local specialties, and the dissemination effect was significantly improved. Through continuous training, the e-commerce operation capabilities of local people have steadily improved, effectively broadening the sales channels of agricultural products, driving income growth and prosperity for the people, and enhancing the endogenous动力 (nèi shēng dòng lì - "endogenous power," internal driving force) of rural development.

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Improve the drug trial data protection system

This newspaper Beijing (北京), May 15th (Reporter Shen Shaotie (申少铁)) To promote innovative drug development and improve the drug test data protection system, the National Medical Products Administration (国家药监局) has formulated the "Measures for the Protection of Drug Test Data" (《药品试验数据保护办法》), which was released on May 15th and implemented on the same day. From the date of publication, drug registration applicants can submit an application for drug test data protection at the same time as submitting a drug registration application.

According to the measures, drug test data protection refers to the protection implemented by the National Medical Products Administration (国家药监局) on the applicant's submitted self-obtained and undisclosed test data and other data when qualified chemical drugs and biological products are approved for marketing, granting a data protection period of no more than 6 years. The data protection period is calculated from the date the drug registration application is approved in China. During the data protection period, the National Medical Products Administration (国家药监局) will not grant a drug marketing license or supplementary application to other applicants who, without the consent of the drug marketing authorization holder, rely on the aforementioned data to apply for a drug marketing license; except for other applicants who have independently obtained data and do not rely on the protected data of others. During the data protection period, other applicants who submit independently obtained data to apply for drug registration applications shall be approved if they meet the conditions, but no data protection period shall be granted, and the data shall not be relied upon by subsequent other applicants.

The measures clarify that the National Medical Products Administration (国家药监局) is in charge of the drug test data protection work and is responsible for establishing the data protection system and implementing management work; the Center for Drug Evaluation (药品审评中心) of the National Medical Products Administration (国家药监局) is responsible for the specific implementation of data protection.

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This edition's editors: Guan Xuanyue, Zhang Weihao, Gao Shang

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Basic research is the source of the entire scientific system (Academician explains popular science)

April 30th, General Secretary Xi Jinping (习近平) emphasized at the symposium on strengthening basic research: "Basic research is the source of the entire scientific system and the general mechanism for all technical problems. We must strengthen basic research with greater efforts and more practical measures, enhance our country's original innovation capabilities, and further consolidate the foundation for building a strong country in science and technology."

Today's China has risen to become an important pole of global innovation. From the "artificial sun" creating a world record of "100 million degrees for 1,000 seconds," to "Chang'e" lunar exploration opening a new chapter in the exploration of the stars, to breakthroughs in artificial starch synthesis... China's basic research and original innovation capabilities are constantly improving, moving from breakthroughs at individual points to the improvement of systemic capabilities.

With large investments, long cycles, and high risks, how can basic research overcome difficulties and bravely break through? From following to running alongside and leading, from missing the opportunity of the scientific and technological revolution to becoming a pioneer of the scientific and technological revolution, how has China turned the "impossible" into "certainly possible"?

This issue of the "Academicians Talk Science" column presents a special report, inviting Dou Xiankang (窦贤康), Party Secretary and Director of the National Natural Science Foundation of China (国家自然科学基金委员会), Academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (中国科学院院士), Shi Yigong (施一公), President of Westlake University (西湖大学), Academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (中国科学院院士), and young scientist Gao Yue (高悦) to talk about the perseverance of the majority of scientific researchers who are willing to sit on the "cold bench" and the exploration of the "no man's land."

——Editor

Effectively Enhance Basic Research and Original Innovation Capabilities

——Dialogue with Dou Xiankang (窦贤康), Party Secretary and Director of the National Natural Science Foundation of China (国家自然科学基金委员会), Academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (中国科学院院士)

By Liu Shiyao (刘诗瑶), reporter of this newspaper

Strengthening basic research is an urgent requirement for achieving high-level self-reliance in science and technology and an essential path for building a world-class power in science and technology. Why is basic research so important? What shortcomings still exist in China's basic research, and how can they be solved in a targeted manner? Around hot topics, this newspaper's reporter interviewed Dou Xiankang (窦贤康), Party Secretary and Director of the National Natural Science Foundation of China (国家自然科学基金委员会), Academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (中国科学院院士). Academician Dou Xiankang (窦贤康) shared his understanding of basic research, as well as the important experience of the National Natural Science Foundation of China (国家自然科学基金委员会) in supporting basic research, cultivating innovative talents, and building a good scientific research ecosystem.

"To break through the 'bottleneck' of technology, we must improve basic research"

Q: Why is basic research so important?

A: Basic research is the research activity of human beings to understand natural phenomena, reveal natural laws, and acquire new knowledge, new principles, and new methods. Its important value, I think, can be summarized in two levels: one is to promote original innovation, and the other is to support national needs from the source.

Original innovation is the "soul" of basic research. The important mission of basic research is to encourage scientific researchers to explore the "no man's land" with curiosity and exploration desire, solve "real problems," and produce original results "from 0 to 1." Without the original breakthrough of basic research, there would be no independent control of key core technologies, and there would be no high-level self-reliance in science and technology.

Basic research is the "root" of national strategic needs. Basic research is not just "knowledge in an ivory tower," but also closely related to national economic and social development and the interests of the people. We must adhere to problem orientation, drive basic research with major applications, and apply the results to the construction of a strong country.

At present, many of the "bottleneck" technical problems we face are rooted in the fact that basic theoretical research cannot keep up, and the source and underlying things have not been clarified. To break through the "bottleneck" of technology, we must improve basic research, put forward original basic theories, master the underlying technical principles, and support the self-reliance of key core technologies with strong basic research and original innovation.

"'Free exploration' and 'goal orientation' are two sides of the same coin of basic research"

Q: How to grasp the balance between "free exploration" and "goal orientation" of basic research, both encouraging scientific researchers to explore the unknown, boldly innovate, and guiding basic research to focus on national strategic needs?

A: "Free exploration" and "goal orientation" are two sides of the same coin of basic research. What we have to do is not an either-or choice, but to promote each other through classified policies and two-way empowerment.

Grasp the development law of basic research and implement classified support. We have clearly distinguished different project types in the science fund funding system. For surface projects, youth science fund projects, etc., we encourage scientists to choose their own topics and explore boldly, so that original ideas driven by curiosity have room to grow; for major research plans, joint fund projects, etc., we strengthen top-level design, focus on national urgent needs and long-term needs, condense scientific problems, organize teams to tackle key problems, and encourage scientific researchers to discover new laws and put forward new theories in solving practical problems. The two types of funding run in parallel and together constitute a complete science fund funding system.

Adhere to "walking on two legs" to build a virtuous circle. On the one hand, we must vigorously support "free exploration," protect the curiosity of scientists, especially for non-consensus, high-risk, and subversive ideas, we must dare to support and tolerate failure. On the other hand, we must strengthen "goal orientation," actively connect with industrial, regional, and national needs, and make basic research truly become the source of new quality productivity.

Reform the evaluation mechanism and guide a healthy ecology. We are fully implementing classified evaluation, focusing on originality and scientific value for free exploration projects, focusing on the effectiveness and contribution of solving key problems for goal-oriented projects, not engaging in "**一刀切**" (yī dāo qiē - "one knife cut," a one-size-fits-all approach), not only focusing on papers, and selecting talents in an unconventional manner, so that people on different tracks can get accurate evaluation and full support.

Q: Since its establishment, the National Natural Science Foundation of China (国家自然科学基金委员会) has focused on basic research. What important experiences have been accumulated in this process?

A: Over the past 40 years, the National Natural Science Foundation of China (国家自然科学基金委员会) has adhered to the leadership of the Party, adhered to relying on experts, and regarded supporting basic research and cultivating innovative talents as an important responsibility and mission. In this process, some experience has been accumulated.

In terms of funding original research. Encourage free exploration, ensure the funding scale of autonomous topic selection projects, and stabilize the "ballast stone" of supporting basic research. Highlight originality, establish a systematic funding mechanism for original basic research; pilot the implementation of major non-consensus projects, deeply implement the original exploration plan, and strengthen the identification and recommendation of non-consensus projects in conventional projects, basically forming an originality-oriented funding pattern.

In terms of cultivating scientific research talents. Respect the laws of scientific research and talent growth, build a high-level basic research team, strengthen the inclined funding for young talents, pilot basic research projects for young students, set up a separate track for young teams in team projects, and give them more opportunities to stand out. In the projects approved for funding in 2025, the number of projects funded by scientific researchers under the age of 45 accounted for about 83%. At the same time, continuous support is implemented on the basis of competitive selection in talent projects at all levels, resolutely eliminating the tendency of talent projects to be "hatted," promoting talent projects to return to scientific research attributes, and supporting outstanding talents to concentrate on basic research without distraction.

Over the past 40 years, the National Natural Science Foundation of China (国家自然科学基金委员会) has focused on national strategic needs and the forefront of world science, funding a total of 880,000 scientific research projects, with a funding of 460.8 billion yuan, and funding approximately 4.8 million scientific researchers, including 58,800 scientific research projects funded in 2025, with a total funding of 37.069 billion yuan, becoming the main channel for the country to support the majority of scientific researchers to carry out basic research, and producing a large number of basic and original achievements in basic science, engineering materials, information science, life health, frontier interdisciplinary and other fields.

"Basic research talents are the foundation of original innovation, and we must increase continuous support for outstanding young talents"

Q: What shortcomings still exist in China's basic research innovation system, and how can they be solved in a targeted manner?

A: Our basic research innovation system still has shortcomings, mainly manifested in: there are fewer major original achievements, the basic theoretical research behind many "bottleneck" technologies is relatively weak, the scientific research instruments, scientific data, and scientific and technological journals supporting basic research are relatively insufficient, and the assessment and evaluation system needs to be further improved.

To solve these problems, systemic reforms are urgently needed. It is necessary to improve the talent funding system, form a project layout covering the entire chain of scientific research career, and improve the long-term support mechanism for outstanding talents. It is necessary to improve the basic research investment mechanism, gradually increase the proportion of basic research funding, steadily increase the central financial investment, improve the diversified investment mechanism, and guide local, enterprise, and social forces to increase investment, forming a diversified and coordinated basic research investment pattern.

Basic research talents are the foundation of original innovation, and we must increase continuous support for outstanding young talents. For example, increase support for young talents, expand the funding scale of Category C projects of the Youth Science Fund, so that more young scientific and technological personnel can receive timely support in the initial stage of scientific research; set up separate indicators and separate tracks for young talents and teams in important talent projects to promote their rapid growth; build a stable funding model, and implement a continuous funding mechanism based on competitive selection in talent projects at all levels, such as Category A projects of the Youth Science Fund and outstanding research group projects.

Improve the basic research evaluation system and guide the evaluation to return to the academic nature. Adhere to the guidance of ability, quality, effectiveness, and contribution, and build an accurate, scientific, classified, intelligent, and efficient evaluation system. Vigorously promote representative work evaluation, highlighting the originality and academic value of research results. It is necessary to implement classified evaluation, implement classified policies according to the characteristics of disciplines and project types, expand the scope of classified evaluation, implement long-term evaluation for talent projects, implement comprehensive team evaluation for team projects, and continuously improve the scientific nature of review and evaluation.

Q: In the first year of the "15th Five-Year Plan," what are the key directions of the National Natural Science Foundation of China (国家自然科学基金委员会) in the systematic layout of basic research?

A: Facing the future, the National Natural Science Foundation of China (国家自然科学基金委员会) will take serving the national strategy as the core, strengthen the foundation, support the weak, make up for the shortcomings, and promote interdisciplinary, continuously optimize the discipline funding layout, and promote the comprehensive and balanced development of disciplines. The first is to dynamically optimize and reconstruct the discipline system. By maintaining the funding rate of basic disciplines, ensure the "ballast stone" role; tilt to weak and unpopular disciplines to make up for the rigid demand shortcomings of the discipline system. The second is that priority areas actively respond to major needs. Concentrate the advantages of information, materials, engineering manufacturing and other disciplines to directly face the needs of industrial applications; highlight the key points of medicine, life sciences and other disciplines to ensure the health of the people; proactively lay out cutting-edge fields and national major strategic fields such as artificial intelligence, quantum technology, bio-manufacturing, deep space, and deep sea to promote interdisciplinary integration. The third is to highlight the integrated linkage of disciplines, talents, and platforms, break down discipline barriers through the proactive layout of frontier interdisciplinary fields, rely on big data intelligent monitoring and evaluation, and form a new pattern of modern chemical discipline funding governance with dynamic adjustment, precise allocation, and performance closed loop.

What does the breakthrough "from 0 to 1" rely on?

Shi Yigong (施一公)

Basic research is the source of the entire scientific system and the general mechanism for all technical problems. To achieve high-level self-reliance in science and technology and build a strong country in science and technology, the status of basic research cannot be overemphasized. But an unavoidable reality is that after hundreds of years of development of natural science, it is becoming increasingly difficult to make a "nothing out of something" discovery today. And those truly "from 0 to 1" breakthroughs often cannot be planned in advance.

So, is there any pattern to this originality and subversive breakthrough? How can basic research achieve a real "breakthrough"?

Talents and mechanisms are like trees and soil

In 2008, I returned to China to teach and was entrusted by Tsinghua University (清华大学) to be fully responsible for the development of life sciences and biomedicine. In 2018, I and a group of like-minded scientists founded a new type of research university in Hangzhou (杭州), Zhejiang (浙江) - Westlake University (西湖大学). It is sponsored by social forces and supported by the state.

In these 18 years, I have personally experienced and witnessed the historic achievements of China's basic research. I have increasingly deeply felt that excellent talents and scientifically sound mechanisms are like trees and soil, complementing each other and indispensable. A scientific research environment that truly follows the laws of basic research and encourages innovation can effectively attract and cultivate talents; and first-class talents are often the key force in shaping an excellent scientific research environment. The original breakthrough of basic research is like the fruit on the tree - only the towering trees grown on fertile soil can bear fruitful fruits.

The 10 years of working at Tsinghua (清华) have given me a deeper understanding of the relationship between the scientific research environment and talent introduction and cultivation. I and my colleagues have introduced more than 100 outstanding scientists to serve as doctoral supervisors, which not only helps to cultivate top-notch talents, but also promotes the level of basic research. During that time, I accumulated very valuable experience.

The construction of Westlake University (西湖大学) itself is an "experiment" to explore the ecology of basic research. The conceptual design was released in 2015, talents were introduced globally in 2016 with the Zhejiang Westlake Institute for Advanced Study (浙江西湖高等研究院) as the predecessor, the first batch of doctoral students enrolled in 2017, and Westlake University (西湖大学) was officially established in October 2018. Our school-running orientation is "small but refined" - not pursuing scale, but pursuing quality. As of now, more than 280 first-class scientists have been introduced from overseas, with 2,500 teachers and students, and a collaborative innovation system led by talents, supported by platforms, and driven by evaluation has been initially formed.

It is also such a young and new type of research university that has successively made more than 50 major breakthroughs in the field of basic research since 2020: the world's first photocathode quantum material with intrinsic coherence, a new method for studying phase transitions and critical phenomena, record-breaking chiral quaternary ammonium salt catalysts, a new type of all-carbon transport layer material that increases the service life of perovskite solar cells to more than 10,000 hours, the first de novo design of transmembrane fluorescent activated proteins, the first high-resolution spatial three-dimensional structure of calcium ion channels related to male infertility, and so on. These achievements have had important international influence in the fields of science, engineering, life sciences, and medicine.

Evaluation criteria must return to the original intention of scientific research

Basic research is the foundation of Westlake University (西湖大学). Is there any pattern to follow for such a young university to produce these results in such a short period of time? I think the most critical thing is to let the evaluation criteria return to the original intention of scientific research.

In scientific exploration, it is not easy to truly liberate the mind. Especially under the inertia of layer-by-layer evaluation and selection, many scientific researchers will unconsciously look for a standard set by the outside world. But I want to say that this way of thinking is precisely not suitable for original innovation. What we need to do more is to create an environment for scientific researchers that can truly stimulate curiosity and self-motivation.

At Westlake University (西湖大学), we encourage every scientist to pay more attention to the originality of basic research, rather than pursuing the popularity and quantity of projects. Breakthroughs in basic research often come from interdisciplinary. Therefore, we encourage doctoral supervisors to carry out scientific research cooperation, and encourage doctoral supervisors to be concurrently employed across departments within the university. As long as a professor gets the vote of approval from the doctoral supervisors of another department, he can be concurrently employed, and at the same time, he can get the doctoral student enrollment quota of the department and the right to participate in all academic activities. This kind of cultural atmosphere gives every doctoral supervisor great research autonomy and freedom, so that truly creative ideas can stand out in daily communication and collision.

Adhere to the long-termism of exploring basic research
To Persist in Exploring the Long-Termism of Basic Research

Many people like to talk about the flashes of inspiration of genius scientists, and such stories are indeed very moving. But in fact, although basic research all aims to "discover the objective laws of the world," its realization paths are very diverse: some come from unexpected discoveries in precise experiments, some come from meticulous calculations of massive amounts of accurate data, and some rely on large scientific installations built by national power; some achievements are immediately understood by the public because they are close to daily life, while others are too advanced or unpopular and need to "lie dormant" for many years before waiting for their opportunity. Understanding this diversity and truly respecting the development laws of different disciplines, we can rationally allocate resources, scientifically set expectations, and have the determination and confidence to make forward-looking original discoveries with significant impact.

At Westlake University (西湖大学), we persist in exploring the long-termism of basic research, especially encouraging originality and supporting non-consensus topics. We implement long-cycle assessments for tenure-track assistant professors—the only important criterion is whether this doctoral supervisor has already made or will make a "globally indispensable" breakthrough in their research direction. Only with the support of this mechanism and system can we form a truly original-oriented atmosphere that takes breakthroughs themselves as the greatest reward, and achieve the organic integration and coordinated development of education, science and technology, and talent. By then, significant achievements will emerge naturally.

Basic research is difficult, and original and disruptive innovations are often unpredictable. But what is predictable is that a group of scientists who adhere to academic standards for a long time, a scientifically sound evaluation system, and a research environment that encourages innovation and tolerates failure will play an increasingly important role in basic research.

(The author is the President of Westlake University (西湖大学) and an academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (中国科学院). This article was compiled from interviews with Zhi Chunli (智春丽) and Chen Shihai (陈世涵), reporters from this newspaper.)

Engaging in Basic Research is a "Methodology"

Gao Yue (高悦)

When scientific exploration advances to "no man's land," facing the constant emergence of new problems, some theories and methods that have been used for many years often show limitations. Taking my research field as an example, although lithium iron phosphate batteries have been widely used in the new energy field, their cycle life and environmental friendliness in new scenarios such as large-scale energy storage and extreme environments were difficult for the inventors to foresee at the beginning.

So, how to solve the problem? For me, engaging in basic research is a "methodology."

In 2020, I joined Fudan University (复旦大学). The transition from student to scientist brought deeper-level value thinking—scientific research should be based on what the country needs and give full play to one's strengths. Facing the resource and environmental pressures of a large number of retired batteries every year, I hope to improve battery performance, extend battery life, and create widely used products through new discoveries and theoretical innovations. I anchored in the field of basic research and selected the direction of "organic material design for energy storage battery repair." At that time, few research teams were involved in this direction.

Original source innovation is difficult, the subject cycle is long, and the output of results is slow, which requires the determination of 十年磨一剑 (shí nián mó yī jiàn - "ten years to grind a sword," it takes great patience and effort to perfect something). For a long time, the team faced a "silent period," with countless experimental failures and no direct major achievements. Without the full-chain service support for scientific research provided by Fudan University (复旦大学), such as physical scientific research institution platforms and patent application guidance, our scientific research resilience would be out of the question; without the perseverance of "digging a well deeply," we would not have broken the traditional design principles of lithium batteries and proposed the original solution of "external lithium source injection."

The determination to persevere is inseparable from a scientific talent evaluation system. I deeply realize that "not judging heroes based on short-term results," an open and inclusive innovation environment can encourage young scientists to challenge real problems. Establishing an evaluation system that conforms to the characteristics of basic research, and evaluation criteria that are guided by innovation value, ability, and contribution, is the key to enabling scientific researchers to concentrate on tackling key problems.

Young people engaged in basic research should also dare to try new research paradigms. In the past, discovering new molecules was like asking fruit farmers to grow fruits that have both "the shape of grapes, the smell of bananas, and the taste of apples," and they could only explore little by little based on experience, with high trial and error costs. We deeply integrated chemical principles with artificial intelligence, embedded knowledge such as atomic orbitals and bonding rules into the bottom layer of the model, and used high-quality scientific data to train artificial intelligence. Now, this large model can generate 4,000 new chemical molecules in 10 minutes. With its help, we successfully predicted and synthesized molecules such as lithium trifluoromethylsulfinate, which "strengthen" waste batteries, accurately replenish lost lithium ions, and greatly extend battery life. Artificial intelligence does not replace scientists, but serves as a powerful assistant, helping us focus on more creative scientific problems and engineering implementation.

Whenever I see young researchers joining the team, new ideas colliding, and new solutions being tested, I am even more convinced that as long as we adhere to the determination of original innovation and have the vision to embrace the new paradigm of scientific intelligence, we will surely contribute to high-level scientific and technological self-reliance and self-improvement.

(The author is a professor in the Department of Macromolecular Science at Fudan University (复旦大学). This article was compiled from interviews with Huang Xiaohui (黄晓慧), a reporter from this newspaper.)

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This edition's editors: Cao Yiqing, Chen Shihhan, Zhao Shuaijie

Layout Design: Shen Yiling (沈亦伶), Wang Zheping (汪哲平)

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Living Under the Vault of Heaven, Making the Grassland Home (Traditional Housing)

By: 王志强 许国强 温 馨

As summer arrives, grassland tourism is booming. Among the blue sky and green fields, white yurts are scattered, becoming an eye-catching landscape on the grassland.

The yurt, with its wooden frame as the bone and felt tent as clothing, can be built and dismantled easily, making it convenient for relocation. For thousands of years, the yurt has not only sheltered herdsmen from wind and cold, and settled their lives, but also carried family order, production methods, and etiquette concepts, embodying the unique construction wisdom of grassland civilization.

——Editor

The formation of the yurt is closely related to the nomadic life on the grassland. In order to adapt to the production and lifestyle of seasonal transhumance and living by water and grass, people need a dwelling form that can withstand wind and cold and is easy to disassemble and transport. The yurt has matured in such practical needs and gradually become one of the most typical dwelling forms for grassland herdsmen.

The yurt is not a simple temporary tent, but a space that can provide dual shelter for both body and spirit: on the one hand, it maintains family order with a cohesive center, and on the other hand, it maintains contact with the external grassland through skylights, doors, etc., so that the occupants are always in a relationship of mutual perception with nature. Specifically, the interior of a traditional yurt is not empty and disorderly, but a layered circular spatial layout around the central hearth, where daily activities such as living, eating, and entertaining take place; at the same time, people also organize different activities in a single circular plane through orientation division and curtain blocking. The northern position facing the door is often regarded as a more respected orientation, used to entertain guests or display important objects, and small Tibetan cabinets are often set up on both sides of the central hearth facing north.

In the long-term development, yurts have presented different scales from daily homes to special large tents. Khana refers to the expandable grid-like wooden wall of the yurt, which is one of the main load-bearing structures of the yurt. Today's common ordinary yurts are mostly enclosed by 4, 5, or 6 khanas, where people can sit around the stove, live, eat, and drink in a space of several square meters; while special types such as conjoined and square types are connected by multiple yurts, which can accommodate hundreds of people, showing the changes of grassland architecture in different life scenarios.

Most yurts are circular, not simply for aesthetic considerations. On the one hand, the concept of "the sky is like a yurt" gives this spatial form a distinct cultural meaning; on the other hand, the circular volume has a small windward side, and the dome and slope are conducive to reducing rain and snow loads, reducing leakage, and can also enclose a larger space with a smaller boundary.

The charm of the yurt also lies in the whole set of construction experiences condensed behind it. The grassland climate is changeable, with strong winds and large temperature differences, and production and life are often accompanied by migration and mobility. What people need is not a heavy and fixed house, but a home that can be built quickly and used stably. The yurt has gradually matured in such long-term practice.

From a structural point of view, the yurt is not complicated, but it embodies the wisdom of survival everywhere. The yurt is composed of wood, rope, and felt as a trinity of materials, the toono (crown), uni (umbrella-like radiating rafters), and khana (grid-like wooden wall) as a trinity of wooden frames, and the urkh (covering the toono), the tevrekh (covering the uni), and the khavtas (covering the khana) as a trinity of felt coverings. The khana forms the wall, the uni converges from all sides to the center, and the toono is located at the top to connect the whole, together with the door, rope, and felt tent, forming a complete dome space.

In terms of materials and construction methods, the yurt reflects the unique flexibility and restraint of grassland architecture. It mostly uses local materials, with lightweight wood and felt tents forming the whole. Components such as khana and uni can be disassembled and reassembled, forming a construction method that is easy to migrate and conducive to renewal. At the same time, the space and enclosure of the yurt are not fixed: it can adapt to different populations and usage needs by adjusting the opening and closing and number of khanas, and can also adjust the opening and closing of the toono and the thickness of the felt layer according to the season to meet the needs of ventilation, smoke exhaust, lighting, insulation, and heat dissipation.

The decorative art of the yurt is also integrated with the components themselves. Whether it is the door frame, lintel, toono, edge of the tevrekh, or the ropes and wooden poles between the khanas, colorful paintings, embroidery, and weaving can often be seen. Its patterns and motifs are mostly extracted from natural objects such as mountains, water, clouds, flowers, birds, etc., and there are also decorative symbols with auspicious meanings such as the meander pattern, swastika pattern, and continuous cross pattern. In terms of color, traditional yurts often use white felt walls as the base, supplemented by bright colors such as red, yellow, and blue, and red and blue interlaced, virtual and real rhythms are often formed between the wooden components and ropes, making the light skeleton system present a bright and warm artistic temperament both indoors and outdoors.

(Author's unit: School of Architecture, Inner Mongolia University of Technology (内蒙古工业大学), reporter Li Zhiyao (李祉瑶) of this newspaper interviewed and compiled)

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How to prevent tick infestations?

By: 刘补报

Tick bites are a major safety hazard when traveling in grasslands, so it is crucial to take precautions.

Preventing tick bites should focus on physical protection. When traveling, wear light-colored long-sleeved shirts and trousers, tuck your trouser legs tightly into your socks to reduce exposed skin, and avoid sitting or lying down randomly. After playing, a thorough full-body check is necessary, focusing on areas such as the scalp, behind the ears, neck, armpits, and inner thighs.

If a tick is found attached, use pointed tweezers to grasp the tick's head close to the skin, pull it straight up completely, and do not twist or squeeze the tick's body. After removal, disinfect the wound with iodine immediately. If any residue is found in the wound, or if symptoms such as fever or rash appear, seek medical attention immediately.

(The author is the Deputy Chief Physician of Emergency Surgery, Affiliated Hospital of Inner Mongolia Medical University (内蒙古医科大学附属医院).)

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Green Technology, Hidden Among Verdant Hills and Clear Waters (New Life, New Experiences)

By: 本报记者 韩 鑫

Leaving Beijing (北京), the car entered the Chengping Expressway (承平高速). Amidst the overlapping mountains, the green of the hills spread out. This "green" is painted in the green hills and clear waters, and also hidden in a transportation project deep in the mountains. Driving north along the expressway for about 80 kilometers, you enter Xinglong County (兴隆县), Chengde (承德), Hebei (河北) Province. Surrounded by mountains, the Wuling Mountain Service Area (雾灵山服务区), covering more than 100 acres, comes into view. This is the first zero-carbon service area in the mountainous area of Hebei Province (河北省), and also the first batch of special pilot projects for the construction of a green and low-carbon transportation powerhouse by the Ministry of Transport (交通运输部).

Since its operation in January this year, due to the distinct characteristics of "transportation-energy integration," it has been transformed into a "newly popular check-in point," attracting a cumulative total of about 60,000 tourists. "We made a special trip to come and see it on the weekend. The real scene is even more amazing than online. We can take a break and feel the green technology, and we can also popularize environmental protection knowledge for our children. It's a big surprise!" said Ms. Li (李女士), a self-driving tourist from Beijing (北京), while taking pictures of the service area scenery.

What does this zero-carbon service area look like?

Driving into the service area is like breaking into a mountain park—the asymmetrical "mountain flowing cloud" style building naturally "grows" along the terrain, and the white and brown architectural facades complement the surrounding verdant green mountains, becoming an "extension landscape" of the Wuling Mountain (雾灵山) Natural Scenic Area.

Taking a closer look, rows of photovoltaic panels, like "blue armor," silently store energy in the sun on the roof, carport roof, and slope; in the charging parking spaces of the service area parking lot, multiple integrated photovoltaic energy storage and charging piles are neatly arranged; throughout the service area, the greenery is lush, and plants such as oriental arborvitae and oil pine are scattered in a well-proportioned manner.

"What you see is the 'zero-carbon' code." Zhang Yu (张羽), Deputy General Manager of China Communications Construction Road & Bridge Construction Co., Ltd. (中交路建), introduced that zero-carbon means achieving a dynamic balance between carbon emissions and carbon offsets by achieving energy self-sufficiency and low-carbon closed-loop operation. Relying on carbon reduction technologies such as building energy conservation, photovoltaic power generation, and ecological carbon sinks, we have built a full-chain control model of "source carbon reduction—process carbon reduction—terminal carbon sequestration" to achieve efficient resource recycling.

Power generation is more "green." The service area makes full use of building roofs, carports, and slope space resources to plan a distributed photovoltaic power generation system. This photovoltaic facility with a total installed capacity of 3.62 megawatts is like a giant "green charging treasure," which can not only completely cover the service area's own annual power consumption, but also feed the remaining power back to the grid, and is expected to reduce carbon dioxide emissions by more than 2,400 tons per year.

Buildings are more "intelligent." Intelligent lighting realizes "lights on when people come, lights off when people leave," and air source and ground source dual heat pumps precisely adjust the indoor temperature, reducing carbon emissions by about 11.3 tons per year; more than 200 water-saving appliances strictly control water flow, and biofilm technology purifies sewage into clear springs for irrigating the lush greenery in the garden, achieving carbon emission reduction of 3.79 tons per year through sewage and rainwater recycling.

"The lush greenery in the garden is also a 'carbon sequestration expert'." Qi Xiaobing (祁小兵), Chief Financial Officer of the project, pointed to the roof not far away and said that this roof garden alone can sequester 0.16 tons of carbon per year. "Zero-carbon is not only a technical job, but also a meticulous account. We must make full use of every space and every inch of land."

Why is the zero-carbon service area built here?

"The answer is in this mountain." Zhang Yu (张羽) looked at the distant misty Wuling Mountain (雾灵山), with its overlapping peaks and verdant greenery. This service area is backed by the Wuling Mountain National Nature Reserve (雾灵山国家级自然保护区), which is not only a transportation hub connecting Beijing (北京), Tianjin (天津), and Hebei (河北) to the Northeast, but also a green frontier in ecologically sensitive areas. "We abandoned large-scale excavation and construction according to the terrain, and applied 29 energy-saving and carbon-reducing technologies to provide a replicable and scalable model for transportation infrastructure construction in ecologically sensitive areas in mountainous areas of our country," said Zhang Yu (张羽).

Today, this zero-carbon service area has become a "green core" in Wuling Mountain (雾灵山). Data shows that since its operation, the service area has achieved 100% clean energy replacement and more than 90% green electricity self-sufficiency. Calculated on a 25-year operating cycle, it is expected to achieve carbon emission reduction of 86,000 tons, with significant ecological benefits.

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Small Green Spaces Add Color to Life (Focus)

By: 本报记者 王永战 刘以晴 乔 栋

City green belts are a common sight on the streets. In recent years, various regions have combined local climate conditions and resource endowments, selecting suitable native plants, flowers, and fruit trees for planting, continuously enriching the greening levels and landscape colors. Today, opening the window to see greenery and stepping out to enter a park has become a daily routine for more and more citizens.

Fruit trees form corridors, making green belts both visually appealing and "edible."

"The plants in our green belt are 'edible'!" Mr. Chen, a citizen, said with pride.

Can urban greening plants also be "eaten"? It turns out that since 2009, Hejiang County (合江县) in Luzhou City (泸州市), Sichuan Province (四川省) has successively planted more than 3,400 lychee trees in the urban area as urban greening plants. They bloom in spring, bear fruit in summer, and remain evergreen throughout the four seasons. The lychee trees on the streets and in the parks bring a touch of coolness to people in the summer, while also nourishing the taste buds of the citizens.

Planting lychees has a history of more than 2,000 years in Hejiang County (合江县). As early as the Tang and Song Dynasties, the local lychees were "tribute" for presentation to the imperial court. The lychees in Hejiang County (合江县) have thin skins and small kernels, crystal-clear flesh, crispness, and a unique flavor, which are loved by the locals. Wang Peifei (王培飞), head of the Urban Management Service Office of Hejiang County (合江县), said that Hejiang County (合江县) now has more than 300,000 mu of lychee planting area, with an annual output of more than 60,000 tons.

The broad planting base and good quality have made Hejiang lychee a national geographical indication product. Based on this, Hejiang (合江) chose to use lychee as an urban greening plant. "This can reflect regional characteristics and showcase the city's image," Wang Peifei (王培飞) said. At present, Hejiang lychees have spread throughout many streets in the urban area, such as Licheng Avenue (荔城大道) and Binjiang Road (滨江路), and are also planted in Guifei Square (贵妃广场) and many parks.

Every April, lychee flowers bloom in competition, attracting pedestrians to stop and watch. What the locals are even more looking forward to is July - when the lychees have grown fiery red. Reach out to pick and taste, and the sweet juice of the lychee will spread out, filling people's taste buds.

In order to make the lychees in the green belt both beautiful and edible, the municipal department of Hejiang County (合江县) has put a lot of effort in recent years. In early spring in March, before the flowers bloom, the greening personnel on the streets of the urban area walk into the green belt, busy loosening the soil, fertilizing, and caring for the lychee trees to grow strong. "In the summer, we also have to help the lychee trees prevent and control diseases and insect pests, and drive away birds to ensure that the lychees can bear fruit smoothly," Wang Peifei (王培飞) said.

Every year during the Hejiang Lychee Festival in July, the fruitful lychee trees become a beautiful street scene in the local area. Greening personnel form teams of three or five, come to the trees, pick them one by one, and also use innovative packaging bags to properly pack the picked lychees. "We will distribute these lychees in squares and parks so that citizens can also taste the unique flavor of their own city," Wang Peifei (王培飞) said.

Hejiang's (合江) distinctive greening is not only lychees. In the green belt of Jiangbei Park (江北公园), the large steamed pomelos are also the favorite of the citizens. This kind of pomelo has a thin skin and is easy to peel. Every late autumn, the pomelos hanging on the fruit trees always attract many citizens to stop and watch.

Today, this kind of "edible" greening plant is spreading to many parts of Sichuan (四川). In Panzhihua (攀枝花), the mango trees planted on the streets are also a favorite greening plant for local citizens. Every summer, the green mangoes hanging on the branches often "meet unexpectedly" with tourists who come to visit. "Edible and beautiful, urban greening can also be different!" Wang Peifei (王培飞) said.

Careful management and protection enriches the urban greening landscape.

Walking into Ningjiang District (宁江区) of Songyuan City (松原市), Jilin Province (吉林省), lilacs bloom in the green belts on both sides of the road, swaying in the wind. "It's especially pleasant to see flowers and plants when you go out," said Wang Yue (王岳), a citizen, while walking and admiring the flowers.

In late March, Songyuan City's (松原市) spring key greening construction project was launched, adhering to the principle of "planting greenery wherever there is space" to continuously add greenery to the city. Songyuan (松原) is located in the northeast, with long and cold winters, and the management and protection of plants is difficult. Therefore, the green belts mostly use cold-resistant varieties such as forsythia and lilac. "They are easy to raise, can adapt to the local climate, and are different in shape, color, and flowering time, making the greening look not monotonous," said Bao Xiangyun (包祥云), deputy director of the Songyuan Municipal Garden Management Center (松原市园林管理中心).

Speaking of urban green belts, Wang Yue (王岳), a flower lover, opened the conversation: "Although the lilac flowers are not big, they grow very densely, and you can smell the fragrance when you go out; after a while, there will be red large flowering crabapples with heart-shaped green leaves on the roadside, attracting butterflies from time to time... The green belt has new scenery almost every few days."

It is reported that cockscomb flowers, periwinkles and other flowers will also be transplanted into the city one after another. Bao Xiangyun (包祥云) introduced, "It is not enough to just plant them, but also to take care of them carefully. For green belt vegetation that grows too high or too dense, appropriate pruning and shaping should be carried out, and withered or missing parts of flowers should be replanted in time."

This year, Songyuan (松原) urban area is expected to plant 2.38 million flowers such as flowering crabapples and zinnias, covering an area of more than 40,000 square meters, creating an urban greening landscape with trees and shrubs and rich colors.

In addition to colorful flowers, other plants in the urban green belt are also quietly upgrading. The year before last, Songyuan (松原) tried to introduce red maple, ginkgo and other plants into the green belts in People's Square (人民广场), Yanjiang Road (沿江路) and other places where citizens often go. "During the first winter of transplanting, we were very worried and ran over to check the situation whenever we had time," Bao Xiangyun (包祥云) recalled. The management center invited garden experts to wrap the trees with thick insulation cotton, which was removed in the spring. Through continuous efforts, these tree species with slightly weaker cold resistance have settled in Songyuan (松原) and successfully survived two cold winters. Every autumn, the golden ginkgo trees and golden elm trees complement each other, becoming a scenery that citizens flock to check in.

Greening on the plateau, refined management and maintenance to improve quality and efficiency.

After "May Day", in Xining City (西宁市), Qinghai Province (青海省), which is more than 2,200 meters above sea level, saplings stretch their bodies. In the green belt of Kunlun Road (昆仑路) in Xining (西宁), clusters of lilacs bloom; in Xining People's Park (西宁人民公园), tulips are colorful and compete for beauty. Citizens take photos and fix the beauty of early summer on the plateau.

Today, in Xining (西宁), "opening the window to see greenery and going out to enter the park" has become a daily routine. The service radius coverage rate of urban park greening activity places reaches 81.57%, and the green coverage rate of the built-up area is 40.87%.

"The wetland park is downstairs, and I go for a walk every day." Chen Shening (陈生宁), a retired citizen living in Chengxi District (城西区), only needs 5 minutes to reach Haihu Wetland Park (海湖湿地公园), where he can enjoy the greenery by walking and cycling, and his retirement life is full of happiness.

This ubiquitous greenery is not achieved overnight, but is the result of the continuous improvement of systematic planning and construction of urban garden greening in Xining (西宁) for a long time. "Xining City (西宁市) has always adhered to the development concept of science, ecology, and frugality, closely focusing on the main line of 'refined management and maintenance, improving quality and efficiency', and promoting various greening construction and management work in the urban area with strengthening the level of maintenance and management as the core," Zhao Minghui (赵明辉), deputy director of the Xining Municipal Forestry and Grassland Bureau (西宁市林业和草原局), introduced. Referring to the Qinghai Province (青海省) urban green space maintenance and management quality standards, actively supervise and guide the counties and (parks) to implement the refined management and maintenance of localized public green spaces.

"Refined management and maintenance" is reflected in every detail of daily life. In 2025, a total of 112,500 trees and shrubs and 998,700 hedge seedlings will be replanted, 239,600 trees and shrubs and 6,116,000 hedges will be pruned and shaped, creating a beautiful "figure" for green plants.

Along the extension of Xiguan Street (西关大街), greening workers are replanting along the street. Lilac seedlings are carefully placed in tree pits, straightened, filled with soil, and watered. This block is ushering in a "lilac upgrade" - more than 15,000 lilac seedlings are replanted here, interspersed with native seedlings such as elm leaf plum and golden elm, and through uniform height and staggered design, this main urban road exudes the unique fragrance of lilac.

Such layouts have different focuses and characteristics in each district. On Nanchuan East Road (南川东路) in Chengzhong District (城中区), varieties such as purple lilac and white lilac stand along the street for nearly a thousand meters, interwoven with the street trees along the way, forming a "lilac corridor". Along the Nanchuan River (南川河) bank, more than 100 large arbor lilac trees with a crown width of more than 3 meters are arranged at intervals of 6 meters, mainly purple lilac, creating a continuous "lilac belt" along the bank. In Ningzhang Road (宁张路) in Chengbei District (城北区), there is even a miniature lilac "museum" - improved varieties such as "Qiaoling Flower", "Roland Purple", "Late Flower Purple" and "Assorted Lilac" are planted in densely populated street areas, and citizens can encounter the fragrance of lilac at any time when they shuttle through the streets.

High altitude, low rainfall, and limited land space... Greening on the plateau is not easy. Lilacs, flowering peaches, mountain apricots and other tree species can "take root and bloom" on the streets of Xining (西宁), which is inseparable from the local variety cultivation and scientific management and maintenance that the garden department has adhered to for many years. Du Xiangdong (杜向东), head of the Urban Greening Management Section of the Xining Municipal Forestry and Grassland Bureau (西宁市林业和草原局), introduced that this year, Xining (西宁) will further strengthen the supervision and guidance of refined management and maintenance of garden greening, and create distinctive flowers in key areas and main nodes of the urban area in a timely manner, effectively improving the quality and appearance of green spaces.

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Editors of this page: Meng Yang, Tang Zhongke, Xu Yang

Layout Design: Zhang Danfeng (张丹峰)

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Editor's Note

When we talk about museums, what are we talking about?

Perhaps it's an unexpected encounter with the wisteria planted by Wen Zhengming (文徵明) in the Humble Administrator's Garden (拙政园) more than 400 years ago, or perhaps it's about how to approach the "life history" of each cultural relic, or perhaps it's about how to appreciate the Chinese cultural heritage and witness the curiosity about the world... Entering a museum is like attending a cultural appointment that transcends time and space. We wander through it, reading history, reading China, and reading the world.

As International Museum Day approaches, this edition invites five museum workers to share their thoughts and feelings around this year's theme, "Museums: Bridges Connecting the World."

--Editor

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Jiangnan and the world are seeing each other.

By: 谢晓婷

More than 400 years ago, Wen Zhengming (文徵明) planted a wisteria in a corner of the Humble Administrator's Garden (拙政园). Twenty years ago, Ieoh Ming Pei (贝聿铭) grafted it onto the Suzhou Museum (苏州博物馆) main building. Thus, in the same building, the elegance of the Ming Dynasty (明代) literati, the spirit of the contemporary architectural master, and the audience meet. This also foreshadows the unique value inherent in the Suzhou Museum main building—it uses architectural language to tell the story of the integration of tradition and modernity, shouldering the important mission of connecting the past and the present, the individual and the nation, and the city and the world.

This year marks the 20th anniversary of the completion and opening of the Suzhou Museum main building. Looking back over the past 20 years, we have inherited and developed Jiangnan culture, actively embraced diverse civilizations, and proactively broken down the boundaries of the museum. The theme of this year's International Museum Day, "Museums as Bridges Connecting the World," is a fitting portrayal of the museum's 20-year development. Where light and shadow fall, new wisteria branches bloom year after year; the bridge extends into the distance, and Jiangnan and the world are seeing each other.

Since 2012, we have planned and launched the "Jiangnan Culture" series of exhibitions, using 12 exhibitions to tell the 500-year story of Suzhou (苏州) from the mid-Ming Dynasty onwards. From the artistic elegance of the "Four Masters of Wu School (吴门四家)," to the connoisseurship and inheritance of the "Qing Dynasty Suzhou Collectors (清代苏州藏家)," to the national integrity of the "Modern Masters (近代大家)," we tell the story of Jiangnan in a way that is small but significant, and moving.

From 2012 to 2015, the "Four Masters of Wu School" series of special exhibitions was successfully held, including Shen Zhou (沈周), Wen Zhengming (文徵明), Tang Yin (唐寅), and Qiu Ying (仇英), four Suzhou painters, and each special exhibition became an annual event in the calligraphy and painting world. It is precisely in the process of in-depth curatorial practice that we are able to penetrate the dust of history and glimpse vivid characters: Shen Zhou (沈周) may have often gone to West Mountain (西山) with friends to pick bayberries, but Wen Zhengming (文徵明) did not like bayberries, possibly because his teeth were not very good; Wen Zhengming (文徵明) liked to drink tea, and liked to use the Huishan Spring (惠山泉) of Wuxi (无锡) to brew Yangxian tea (阳羡茶) from Yixing (宜兴), and he could still write exquisite small characters in his 80s; Tang Yin (唐寅) was not a comedic figure, his life was particularly full of ups and downs, we specially developed the "Tang Yin Bubble" cultural and creative product, writing his four important life nodes on tea bags, hoping that the audience can use a cup of tea to experience his life.

After the Liu Yazi (柳亚子) special exhibition, which will be launched at the end of this year, the "Jiangnan Culture" series of exhibitions, which has lasted for more than 10 years, will also come to an end. These 12 exhibitions have built a clear coordinate of the Suzhou Museum (苏州博物馆) "Standing in Jiangnan (立江南)," and have also witnessed the growth and transformation of a generation of Suzhou Museum people from the square exhibition hall to the broad field of cultural heritage.

If "Standing in Jiangnan (立江南)" is the unshakable foundation for inheriting history and continuing the cultural context, then "Observing the World (观世界)" is the inevitable choice for broadening horizons and connecting diverse civilizations.

The West Pavilion (西馆), which was completed and opened in 2021, has a special "International Cooperation Pavilion," dedicated to allowing audiences to immerse themselves in the unique charm of different civilizations through cooperation with foreign museums. Currently, we have joined hands with the British Museum (大英博物馆) to launch three series of "World History of Civilization" exhibitions, namely "Rome: City and Empire," "The Ancient Greeks: Athletes, Warriors and Heroes," and "King Ashurbanipal of Assyria." At the same time, we have planned and launched the "Ancient Chinese Civilization" series of exhibitions, realizing the dialogue between Chinese and foreign civilizations in the same field. The first exhibition, "All Under Heaven in Peace—Four Faces of Han Civilization (天下惟宁——汉代文明的四张面孔)," is listed in the same room as "Rome: City and Empire," presenting the historical picture of the Han Dynasty (汉代) and the Roman Empire (罗马帝国) with their own characteristics through cross-cultural spatial narrative. During the special exhibition "King Ashurbanipal of Assyria," considering that Assyria may be relatively unfamiliar to the audience, we selected the Eastern Zhou (东周) period, which was roughly the same period as Assyria, as the theme, and held the second exhibition in the "Ancient Chinese Civilization" series, "Luoyang and Suzhou in the Eastern Zhou Period (东周时期的洛阳和苏州)." This exhibition practice, which both sees Jiangnan and views the world, allows the audience to understand the inclusiveness and symbiosis of diverse world civilizations.

Turning our attention outside the museum, the Suzhou Museum (苏州博物馆) continues to extend the boundaries of the "bridge," connecting people and culture, the museum and the city, and Jiangnan and the world in a broader dimension.

This connection is reflected in the in-depth interaction between the museum and the public. During the Wen Zhengming (文徵明) special exhibition, we derived cultural and creative products from the seeds of the wisteria planted by Wen Zhengming (文徵明). This cultural and creative product, which was rated by the media as the most vital, quietly connects individual memories with 500 years of cultural context. When it sprouts and blooms in various places, outstanding Chinese traditional culture is also brilliantly and silently integrated into people's daily lives.

This connection is reflected in the symbiosis between the museum and the city. Suzhou (苏州) already has 130 museums. We actively integrate into the construction pattern of the "City of Museums (博物馆之城)" and jointly contribute to the prosperity and development of the city's diverse cultural ecology. Our "Travel with Suzhou Museum (跟着苏博去旅行)" study tour project connects the rich cultural heritage resources and museums in the Suzhou area.

This connection is more reflected in the museum's active approach to the world stage. On the occasion of the 20th anniversary of the completion and opening of the Suzhou Museum (苏博) main building, in order to deepen the protection and research of architectural cultural heritage and innovate the international expression of the city's name card, the Suzhou Museum (苏州博物馆) plans to jointly establish the "Ieoh Ming Pei Architectural Art Alliance (贝聿铭先生建筑艺术联盟)" with museums designed by Ieoh Ming Pei (贝聿铭) around the world, to build a high-level exchange platform integrating architectural protection, exhibition linkage, academic research, and public education.

Building bridges for 20 years, on this side of the bridge is the continuous cultural context of Jiangnan; on the other side of the bridge is the world civilization of **美美与共** (měi měi yǔ gòng - "beauty and shared," a world where all appreciate each other's beauty and live in harmony).

(The author is the director of the Suzhou Museum)

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"Bridge" Needs a Solid "Foundation"

By: 徐 坚

In recent years, Chinese museums have continued to gain popularity, but this museum fever is not evenly distributed. The most sought-after are large comprehensive, art, and certain archaeological site, industry museums, and more well-known exhibitions. The total number of museums in China exceeds 7,000, with more than 43,000 exhibitions of various types held each year. "How to make most museums and exhibitions popular" has become a concern for everyone.

Many regions have adopted "large museum leading small museum" or even "headquarters-branch" schemes. However, the solution of using small museums as diversions or replicas of large museums has not been successful. The blockbuster exhibitions or exhibits in large museums are inherently scarce and not easily transferred to small and medium-sized museums; even for the same touring exhibition, the social feedback from different cities and museums is inconsistent.

We might as well start by considering the fundamental attribute of museums—publicness. Publicness not only means that museums are open to audiences of different identities, ages, and occupations without discrimination, but also indicates that museums should be carriers of social public knowledge and cultural identity. Therefore, the vast majority of museums, especially those established in cities, prefectures, states, leagues, districts, counties, and banners, should not position themselves as imitators of higher-level museums and passive recipients of resource allocation. Their effective way to break through is to fully explore their own cultural characteristics and construct their own narrative system.

If city and county museums are compared to the "small and medium-sized blood vessels" of the Chinese museum system, then the real "capillaries" are community museums that further sink into townships (streets), villages (communities), and settlements. China's community museums started with the Guizhou Liuzhi Suoga Ecological Museum (贵州六枝梭戛生态博物馆), established in 1998. In the future, community museums will surely emerge like 雨后春笋 (yǔ hòu chūn sǔn - "bamboo shoots after rain," to emerge in large numbers after a hiatus).

The Caoyang New Village (曹杨新村) in Putuo District (普陀区), Shanghai (上海), has the reputation of being "the first new workers' village in New China," and most of its residents are witnesses and contributors to Shanghai's industrial development since the founding of New China. The former Zhenxi branch railway used to run through the community, and after its demolition, the Caoyang Railway Farmers' Market (曹杨铁路农贸市场) was built. In the urban renewal of 2021, the farmers' market was demolished again and replaced by a high-line park. The high-line park adopts a three-layer structure, which can simultaneously meet the traffic, leisure, sports, and entertainment needs of residents on both sides. In the bottom space of the South Exhibition Hall, the "A Day of Caoyang People" exhibition planned by the Fine Arts College of Shanghai University (上海大学美术学院) vividly reproduced the daily life of the "15-minute living circle" of Caoyang community residents. Because the exhibition theme allowed residents to have something to say and want to say, and also allowed them to participate in the curatorial process under a mechanism where they could have something to say, their opinions and attitudes were reflected in the exhibition. Lived narrative has become a bright spot in the grand theme of urban construction and renewal in Shanghai.

The "small and medium-sized blood vessels" turning can also bring a new perspective to industry or thematic museums.

The "Yunfang Memory: My Factory, My City" exhibition, which opened at the Yunnan Provincial Museum (云南省博物馆) at the beginning of this year, and the "Imprint: Petroleum, Karamay and Us" exhibition launched by the Karamay Museum (克拉玛依博物馆) coincided in using oral history as a basis, adopting a personal perspective full of experience and emotional memory to restore the development process of the textile and petroleum industries. The former carried out two years of oral history interviews and sorting, while the latter has nearly 10 years of accumulation of oral history work. Audiences see themselves in the exhibition, and see the relationship between the city and thousands of builders.

The theme of this year's International Museum Day is "Museums: Bridges for Connecting the World." Museums should indeed promote understanding and cooperation across cultures, regions, and communities, but "bridges" need to be built on solid "bridge foundations." It is expected that more small and medium-sized museums will start from the cultural relics, ancient buildings, and folk customs of their regions, deeply interpret and excavate unique and delicate chapters, and create their own museum brands.

(The author is a professor at Shanghai University (上海大学))

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Anchoring our origins in the passage of time.

By: 秦 岭

As the hinterland of Liangzhu Civilization, Linping District (临平区), Hangzhou (杭州) City, Zhejiang Province (浙江省) is home to important sites such as Yujiashan (玉架山), Maoshan (茅山), and Hengshan (横山). Here lies a super-large ring-ditch settlement spanning the Liangzhu Culture period, complete paddy fields of prehistoric rice agriculture in the lower reaches of the Yangtze River (长江), and representative high-level tombs. How can professional academic achievements be transformed into exhibition content that is visible and accessible to the public? How can the knowledge logic of archaeology be transformed into the narrative framework of a museum? The practice of the Yujiashan Archaeological Museum is precisely the answer to this proposition. Our goal is not only to build an "academic palace" displaying exquisite cultural relics, but also to create a public interpretation site for "reading the past and sharing history," making the museum a "knowledge square" connecting the ancient past and the future.

First, it is necessary to display the process of knowledge generation. When ordinary visitors enter an archaeological museum, they are often most curious about: "How do archaeologists know that there are sites underground?" "How do they know the age of cultural relics?" In response to these questions, the Yujiashan Archaeological Museum transforms the hard-core content of excavation reports and archaeological papers into vivid exhibition language. For example, instead of rigidly introducing archaeological survey methods, we combine the restoration of the prehistoric wetland environment to tell visitors how ancient ancestors chose to live near water, and how archaeologists explored the scope of the site along the geomorphic clues. In order to break the stereotype that "archaeology is treasure hunting," we reproduce stratigraphic profiles in the exhibition hall and link them with the excavation site in the site park outside the museum to guide visitors to intuitively feel that archaeology is a rigorous scientific endeavor.

The archaeologist's specialty, "typology," has also been transformed from tedious warehouse work into a visually impactful "pottery wall." The array of pottery arranged according to the laws of the evolution of the times not only demonstrates scientific research methods, but also conveys the orderly beauty of the ancient people's system of utensils. The scientific archaeological method of "carbon-14 dating" is also physically displayed in the museum. We decompose the archaeological scientific methods of obtaining historical information into different units of the exhibition, connecting the entire chain of investigation, excavation, research, and protection, and constructing a field for knowledge generation and sharing.

Cultural relics are the carriers of history. We use diverse exhibition methods to focus on presenting the "life history" and "excavation context" of cultural relics. In the center of the Maoshan Site Hall, we ingeniously display relics from different excavation units such as wells, tombs, and ash pits. Visitors will find that the same type of pottery pot is as bright as new at the bottom of the well due to long-term soaking in water, intact in the tomb due to solemn burial, and a pile of fragments in the abandoned ash pit. Different preservation conditions reflect different abandonment behaviors, subtly popularizing the concepts of archaeological numbering and taphonomy, and slowly unfolding a vivid picture of prehistoric life.

The display of prehistoric tombs takes into account both the "macro context" and the "micro burial rituals." Taking the late Liangzhu royal tomb M2 at Hengshan (横山) in Linping (临平) as an example, we did not display the 132 jade axes buried with it separately, but instead used a combination of mold hanging and physical stacking, strictly arranging them according to their spatial position when they were excavated. This not only reproduces the real visual impact of the burial ceremony site, but also visualizes the concept of layer-by-layer cleaning in archaeological excavation. The strict social hierarchy order in early civilization is thus within reach.

How does the museum ensure that the reconstruction of historical scenes not only has artistic appeal, but also has solid scientific support? We use immersive multimedia to reproduce the rice field landscape of Maoshan Village (茅山村) during the Liangzhu Culture period and to deduce the coastline changes in Hangzhou Bay (杭州湾) over the past 10,000 years. Every mudflat, every plant, every animal, and even the density of the rice ears in the scene modeling restoration are supported by archaeological discoveries and scientific analysis data.

On the voting page of an interactive multimedia at Maoshan Hall (茅山厅), facing the jade beads scattered in the tomb, should we display the original appearance of the cultural relics when they were unearthed, or the carefully strung ornaments that conform to modern aesthetics? We return the "right to choose" the curatorial plan to the audience, cultivating the audience's ability to think independently about history.

In the hall of the Yujiashan Archaeological Museum (玉架山考古博物馆), there is a striking giant modern installation - the "Oar of Time." The huge oar casts a shadow on the timeline on the ground, which marks the prehistoric era from 7000 to 4000 years ago, the more than 10-year archaeological excavation history of Yujiashan, and the present when the museum was completed and opened. The oar of the water town depicts the shape of time in the eyes of archaeologists as it swings.

Archaeology is to anchor our origins in the long river of time. The Yujiashan Archaeological Museum is like this "Oar of Time," stirring up ripples of more than 5,000 years of civilization.

(The author is the curator of the Yujiashan Archaeological Museum)

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Attending a Cultural盛会 that Nourishes the Soul

By: 王世英

This year's International Museum Day China main venue event will be held at the Inner Mongolia Museum (内蒙古博物院). To attend this civilization event spanning mountains and seas, the Inner Mongolia Museum (内蒙古博物院) launched the "Museum Season · Inner Mongolia Museum NEW" series of activities in April, divided into five sections: exhibition display, social education brand upgrade, direct access to the grassroots, cultural and creative experience, and digital communication. The event will last until August, inviting the audience to a cultural event shared by all and immersing the soul.

There are new exhibitions every month, which can build a bridge for ancient and modern interconnection and mutual learning of civilizations. The already launched "Splendors of the Western Regions - Xinjiang Historical and Cultural Exhibition" unfolds the civilization context of the Western Regions; "Brilliance: Treasures of Art from the 16th to 20th Centuries" brings together nearly 400 pieces (sets) of treasures from nearly 30 cultural and museum institutions at home and abroad. From May to October, it will tell the story of the style transformation and cultural integration of treasure art over 500 years. Those miracles of civilization intersection make the theme of "Museums: Bridges Connecting the World" feelable and thinkable. The subsequent "Wanli Tea Road Cultural Relics Exhibition" and others will continue to write a chapter of civilization symbiosis, highlighting the profound heritage of the unity of diverse Chinese civilization.

Upgrading the social education series brand can integrate the temperature of the museum into daily life. We have upgraded the social education series brand and established a "Regional Social Education Center." For example, we established the "Learning in Inner Mongolia Museum (内蒙古博物院)" lifelong learning brand, using the agility of "Wonderful Tour," the immersion of "Workshop," the warmth of "Storytelling," and the profoundness of "Great Academy" to respond to every love for culture.

We will also extend high-quality cultural resources to the grassroots. On International Museum Day, the mobile digital exhibition vehicle version 2.0 will make a new appearance and start the annual grassroots巡展 tour. We will also continue to launch the "Walking Museum" - a series of museum activities in schools. This activity started in March 2015, and has been deeply cultivated for eleven years. Taking Inner Mongolia (内蒙古) cultural relics as the carrier, we have launched 254 courses such as "Inner Mongolia (内蒙古) Ecological Civilization," "Building a Common Spiritual Home," and "Chinese Aesthetics in Cultural Relics," and carried out more than 600 activities, benefiting nearly 60,000 students. We also work with brother museums to jointly teach, so that the seeds of culture can take root and sprout in the hearts of young people.

During the "Museum Season," 4 cultural and creative experience activities and 1 new book release activity will be launched simultaneously, unlocking new experiences in cultural tourism consumption. For example, a "Worry-Free Mailbox" is specially set up in the "Grassland Messenger Post Office." Tourists can write down their worries and send greeting cards, and they can receive gentle blessings from the grassland. The visualized children's science book "Illustrated Treasures" was released simultaneously, selecting 60 cultural relics from the museum's collection to enhance young people's identity with national culture.

We have created 5 cultural and museum digital experience and communication projects to further enhance the cultural influence and communication power of the Inner Mongolia Museum (内蒙古博物院). Create the "World Cultural Heritage · Yuan Shangdu (元上都)" XR (extended reality) full-sensory immersive digital tour, and open the "Flying over Inner Mongolia (内蒙古)" dome theater; launch the "Digital and Intelligent Cultural Expo" smart scene experience, covering digital cultural relic knowledge graph interconnection, dialogue with digital and intelligent librarians, digital and intelligent robot interactive performances, etc.; open "Shuowen Jiewu (说文解物)" cloud explanation, cloud classroom and other projects, so that the cultural nourishment of the museum is everywhere.

(The author is the director of the Inner Mongolia Museum (内蒙古博物院), interviewed and compiled by Zhang Cheng (张枨), a reporter from this newspaper)

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An Important Window for Understanding Beautiful China

By: 雷新锋

In Shangluo City (商洛市), Shaanxi Province (陕西省), on the southern slope of the eastern section of the Qinling Mountains (秦岭), stands a building shaped like a "mountain and water jade tablet" and reflecting the clear waters of the Dan River (丹江), telling the story of the Qinling Mountains' hundreds of millions of years. This is the Qinling Museum (秦岭博物馆), the first original comprehensive museum in China to fully showcase the natural ecology and historical culture of the Qinling Mountains. Since its opening in August 2024, the museum has used more than 2,400 exhibits (sets) to connect the ecological memory and civilization context of the six provinces and one municipality of the Greater Qinling Mountains: Qinghai (青), Gansu (甘), Shaanxi (陕), Henan (豫), Hubei (鄂), Sichuan (川), and Chongqing (渝), becoming an important window for understanding beautiful China.

Shangluo (商洛) is located in the hinterland of the Qinling Mountains (秦岭). From its geological landforms to the vertical distribution of flora and fauna, every aspect reflects the characteristic of the Qinling Mountains as "dividing north and south, nourishing the world." Shangluo (商洛) records the plate collision history of the Qinling Mountains over hundreds of millions of years, from an "ancient ocean" to a "mountain range." On this land, the Yeyuan Paleolithic Site (夜塬旧石器时代遗址) in Luonan (洛南) holds traces of human activity dating back a million years, and the Donglongshan Site (东龙山遗址) provides key material evidence for the "Xia-Shang-Zhou Chronology Project."

The Qinling Museum (秦岭博物馆) allows the conservation achievements of the Qinling Mountains to be appreciated not only in "real scenery" but also in "cultural context." The basic displays of the Qinling Museum (秦岭博物馆) include two parts: "Harmony Between North and South, Benefiting the World—Chinese Qinling Culture Exhibition" ("和合南北 泽被天下——中国秦岭文化展") and "The Most Beautiful Qinling is Shangluo" ("秦岭最美是商洛"), showcasing the natural resources, historical culture, and ecological protection achievements of the Qinling Mountains, while also displaying the historical culture and revolutionary memory of Shangluo (商洛).

"Mountains and Rivers of Qinling, Central Mountain Range" ("山水秦岭 中央山脉") is an "immersive nature lesson." Here, there are "Qinling Memories" that can be touched: through multi-screen LED videos and projection sand tables, visitors can see the waves of the "Qinling Ocean" hundreds of millions of years ago, the magnificent plate collisions, and the majestic uplift of the mountains. In the "Treasures of Mineral Deposits" exhibition area, the "Crystal of Qinling" mineral crystal, which is 130 centimeters long and weighs 370 kilograms, refracts the light of the Qinling Mountains' "mineral treasure house" under the lights; 110 kinds of rare animal and plant specimens, combined with the "Hundred Butterflies and Hundred Moths" atlas, outline the vitality of the Qinling Mountains' "life treasure house."

The spatial design of the exhibition area uses the height difference of the platform to simulate the undulating landforms of the Qinling Mountains. Visitors can personally experience the geographical value of the Qinling Mountains as the "central mountain range and central water tower" as they walk through it.

"Profound Qinling, Ancestral Lineage of China" ("厚重秦岭 中华祖脉") is a "three-dimensional history of Chinese civilization." From Lantian Man (蓝田人) in Shaanxi (陕西), Wushan Man (巫山人) in Chongqing (重庆), to Luonan Man (洛南人) a million years ago, the exhibits connect the complete sequence of human evolution within the Qinling region. The red pottery human head pot unearthed from the Jiaocun Site (焦村遗址) in Luonan (洛南) in 1953, with its head held high, smiling, and with vivid eyebrows and eyes, seems to be telling the story of the Yangshao Culture's (仰韶文化) "满天星斗 (mǎn tiān xīng dǒu - "sky full of stars," a metaphor for a period of flourishing culture and numerous achievements)" civilization, becoming an "ancient internet celebrity" that visitors flock to see. Since the Xia (夏), Shang (商), and Zhou (周) dynasties, the imprint of civilization has become increasingly clear: the jade yazhang and jade bi from the Donglongshan Site (东龙山遗址) witness the formation of the Xia Dynasty's ritual system; the He Zun (何尊) and Lai Pan (逨盘) of the Western Zhou Dynasty carry the early concepts of family and country; the Qin kneeling archer figurines, Han armed figurines, and Tang Sancai depict the splendor of a prosperous age. Through various forms of presentation, visitors see the story of the Qinling Mountains and feel the cultural heritage of China.

"Protecting Qinling, Sustaining the Root" ("守护秦岭 永续根脉") is a vivid "story of protection." Here, the history of ecological protection in the Qinling Mountains and the beneficial explorations and pioneering demonstration experiences of practicing the "Two Mountains" concept in the new era are summarized. Visitors can "travel through" the magnificent scenery of the Qinling Natural Reserve, seeing glacial meltwater converging into rivers and lush green forests...

"The Most Beautiful Qinling is Shangluo" ("秦岭最美是商洛"), divided into two parts: "Shangluo History and Culture Exhibition" ("商洛历史文化展") and "Shangluo Revolutionary Memory Exhibition" ("商洛革命记忆展"), is a vivid presentation of Shangluo's regional culture. The historical part outlines the unique temperament of Shangluo as "Qin style and Chu charm" ("秦风楚韵"), and the revolutionary part restores the struggle of this red hot land, allowing visitors to understand the profound connection between this city and the Qinling Mountains of "coexistence and common prosperity" ("共生共荣").

In the future, the Qinling Museum (秦岭博物馆) will continue to explore cultural connotations and expand public participation paths, so that the museum truly becomes a cultural link connecting history and the present, tradition and modernity, allowing every visitor to understand beautiful China here.

(The author is the curator of the Qinling Museum (秦岭博物馆))

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This edition's editor: Wang Jin

This edition's email: ysbjs@peopledaily.cn
Layout design: Zhao Siru (赵偲汝)

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