Summary: This article details President Xi Jinping’s prioritization of public health as the essential foundation of "Chinese-style modernization." Reflecting on past inspections, such as his 2021 visit to the Sanming Shaxian General Hospital, Xi emphasized the importance of ensuring high-quality, accessible medical care and reaffirmed the "people-first" principle. The report highlights China's achievements in building extensive medical and preventive health systems, while noting Xi's ongoing concern for youth well-being, specifically regarding physical activity and vision care. Furthermore, the article underscores the state's commitment to the "Healthy China" initiative, aiming to further improve life expectancy and health indicators through the "15th Five-Year Plan" period.
Summary: This article highlights the ongoing development of the Xiong'an New Area as a hub for innovation and high-quality growth. It recounts President Xi Jinping’s March 23 inspection of the area, during which he encouraged relocated personnel to take pride in their contributions to the city's future. The report features testimonials from employees of relocated state-owned enterprises and technology firms, who emphasize the benefits of improved infrastructure, policy support, and reduced commute times. Educational initiatives, such as a "Model United Nations" course at Beijing No. 4 High School’s Xiong'an campus, are described as efforts to cultivate a generation with a global perspective. The narrative frames the city's rapid expansion as a successful national endeavor driven by the collective dedication of its new residents.
Summary: This report highlights ongoing nationwide efforts to instill a "correct view of political achievements" among officials by prioritizing the resolution of long-standing public grievances and local governance issues. Across provinces including Jilin, Gansu, Liaoning, and Xinjiang, local leadership is mandated to conduct direct field visits, address historical arrears such as wage payments, and improve infrastructure to demonstrate tangible results. To ensure accountability, various regions have established "long-term mechanisms," such as inventory systems for unresolved legacy issues and cross-departmental coordination frameworks. These initiatives focus on grassroots-level service delivery and the institutionalization of performance evaluations to prevent administrative negligence. The article emphasizes that these efforts are designed to strengthen the party's bond with the public through concrete, verifiable improvements in living standards.
Summary: On June 13, Wang Huning, Chairman of the CPPCC National Committee and member of the Politburo Standing Committee, presided over a meeting in Xiamen to advance the construction of the Fujian demonstration zone for cross-Strait integrated development. Wang emphasized aligning efforts with the "15th Five-Year Plan," urging the promotion of high-quality, deep-level integration and the optimization of the business environment for Taiwanese enterprises. The meeting was attended by representatives from the Taiwan Affairs Office, the NDRC, and various central ministries, as well as Fujian provincial officials. Following the meeting, Wang conducted site visits in Xiamen to inspect services for Taiwanese residents and cross-Strait youth cooperation initiatives.
Summary: As the Dragon Boat Festival approaches, local jurisdictions across China are organizing various competitions, training sessions, and parades to celebrate the traditional holiday. A notable event took place on June 13 in Jingzhou, Hubei Province, featuring a women’s dragon boat race. This report highlights ongoing state-led efforts to promote traditional cultural activities nationwide.
Summary: The People’s Bank of China (PBOC) reported that aggregate social financing increased by 17.48 trillion yuan in the first five months of 2024, with the stock of social financing reaching 458.81 trillion yuan by the end of May. During this period, RMB loans grew by 9.11 trillion yuan, reflecting a maintained trend of reasonable credit expansion. The PBOC emphasized that its implementation of a moderately loose monetary policy and counter-cyclical adjustments has effectively supported high-quality economic development. Financial institutions have been directed to optimize credit allocation toward major projects and key sectors to facilitate ongoing economic transformation.
Summary: The State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission (SASAC) reported that central state-owned enterprises (SOEs) increased their investment in basic research to 102.4 billion RMB by 2025, raising the share of R&D spending allocated to basic research to 9.4%. SOE annual R&D investment has consistently exceeded one trillion RMB since 2022. These enterprises now lead 474 national-level platforms, including 91 key national laboratories, and have established 97 "original technology source" hubs. These efforts have yielded 121 breakthrough achievements in strategic sectors, including 5G and next-generation mobile communications, as China seeks to strengthen domestic technological self-reliance amidst intensifying competition with the United States.
Summary: The provided text lists headlines from a recent publication, featuring a theoretical piece on strengthening the foundation of China’s national science and technology strategy through basic research. Additionally, it highlights developments in "physical artificial intelligence" as it transitions into real-world applications and provides administrative guidance on tax refund procedures. The content focuses on domestic technological advancement and public service, with no explicit mention of the United States or U.S.-China relations.
Summary: From June 12 to 14, Politburo member and Vice Premier Zhang Guoqing conducted an inspection in Qinghai province, focusing on the development of the salt lake industry and disaster prevention capabilities. Zhang emphasized that the salt lake sector is a national strategic resource and urged for improved industrial competitiveness, green innovation, and the strengthening of high-value supply chains through state-owned enterprise leadership. Regarding disaster management, he called for enhanced monitoring, pre-emptive risk identification, and improved emergency rescue capabilities specifically tailored to high-altitude and extreme environmental conditions. No personnel were reported as accompanying the Vice Premier during this inspection.
Summary: During a March 2025 inspection tour of Guizhou, General Secretary Xi Jinping instructed provincial officials to prioritize the real economy, drive innovation, and accelerate the transformation of traditional industries toward high-end, intelligent, and green development. Following these directives, Zunyi has focused on upgrading sectors like equipment manufacturing and digital integration, citing the city's "Third-line" industrial heritage and revolutionary spirit as catalysts for its current economic transition. Local enterprises, such as Guizhou AVIC Elevator and Zheng'an County’s guitar manufacturers, have successfully leveraged technological innovation and localized supply chains to boost revenue and expand into international markets. The report frames these regional developments as part of a broader commitment to high-quality growth and self-reliance. Notably, the article highlights the global reach of these industries, noting that products from these local firms are being exported overseas.
Summary: The recently released "15th Five-Year Plan" for urban renewal mandates the renovation of approximately 770,000 kilometers of underground pipeline networks to enhance urban safety and operational resilience. National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) spokesperson Li Chao stated that the government will prioritize the release of specific implementation plans for these infrastructure networks while mobilizing diverse funding sources—including government bonds, policy-based loans, and private capital—to support an estimated 5 trillion yuan in investment. Experts from the China Academy of Urban Planning and Design noted that while China possesses the world’s largest pipeline network, significant challenges remain regarding aging infrastructure, data gaps, and fragmented management. To address these, the Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development is mandating comprehensive "urban physical examinations" and the adoption of digital twin technologies to improve maintenance and predictive monitoring. This modernization effort is intended to serve as both a safety measure and a significant driver of domestic economic demand, projected to create approximately 2.8 million jobs annually.
Summary: Weichai Lovol has established over 70 "smart farms" across China, utilizing an AI-driven management platform to optimize the entire agricultural cycle from planting to harvest. According to Weichai Lovol Smart Agriculture Research Institute Dean Li Defang, this integration of satellite data, IoT sensors, and AI models has significantly improved resource efficiency and crop yields. Farm manager Chen Ling reports that these digital tools replace traditional, experience-based farming by providing precise, automated scheduling for autonomous machinery and data-backed decision support. The initiative highlights Beijing's broader strategic push to modernize agricultural productivity through domestic technological innovation.
Summary: Starting June 11, China's railway authorities expanded their "multi-trip tourism ticket" program to include child passengers, who can now purchase tickets at a 50% discount relative to adult multi-trip fares. These tickets, which allow for flexible travel across designated routes within a 15-day window, now permit groups of up to nine passengers, provided children are accompanied by at least one adult. The policy update aims to facilitate family and group tourism by offering a "discount on top of discount" structure for minors. Travelers can reserve seats in advance via the 12306 platform or board by presenting valid identification at ticket gates if capacity permits. This initiative reflects ongoing efforts to modernize railway services and stimulate domestic tourism through increased product customization.
Summary: At the Lingshan Lychee Cultural Tourism Festival, officials unveiled a vertical artificial intelligence model designed to optimize the lychee industrial chain. The technology utilizes image recognition and environmental data analysis to address yield fluctuations, providing local farmers with customized orchard management strategies. The report highlights this integration of AI as a mechanism for stabilizing agricultural output.
Summary: The Yangtze River Administration of Navigational Affairs reported that the Yangtze Estuary waterway achieved 23.3 billion yuan in economic benefits in 2025, a 4.9% year-on-year increase. Cargo throughput reached 1.754 billion tons, contributing to a total GDP growth stimulus of 177.3 billion yuan for the year. Officials emphasized that this operational efficiency has significantly bolstered the Yangtze Economic Belt, the integration of the Yangtze River Delta, and the development of the Shanghai International Shipping Center. Since the start of the 14th Five-Year Plan, these waterway operations have generated 849.9 billion yuan in cumulative GDP growth, supporting regional industrial upgrading and logistics cost reduction.
Summary: The upcoming 7th Qingdao Multinational Corporation Summit highlights China’s strategic evolution from a global manufacturing base to an "innovation powerhouse," with 355 foreign multinational representatives confirmed to attend. Executives from companies like Schneider Electric, Henkel, and McDonald’s emphasized that China’s competitive market serves as a critical "training ground" for global operations, prompting sustained investment and deeper integration into local supply chains. Regarding the regulatory environment, Vice Minister of Commerce Yan Dong stated that China will align with high-standard international economic and trade rules to enhance institutional stability, transparency, and predictability for foreign investors. While the article underscores the importance of long-term consistency in policy—exemplified by Taicang’s decades-long support for German enterprises—it presents China as an essential destination for global firms navigating an increasingly complex international landscape.
Summary: At the invitation of General Secretary and President Xi Jinping, Lao General Secretary and President Thongloun Sisoulith recently conducted a state visit to China. During their talks, the two leaders reached a consensus on building an "all-weather China-Laos community with a shared future" for the new era, focusing on upholding socialist systems, deepening governance experience exchanges, and strengthening strategic policy coordination. Xi proposed a four-point initiative to elevate bilateral relations, emphasizing the alignment of the Belt and Road Initiative with Laos’s "land-linked" strategy. Thongloun also conducted field visits in Zhejiang to study the "Eight-Eight Strategy" and "Green Development" practices, and revisited the Central Party School to reflect on his long-standing engagement with the Chinese Communist Party’s governance model. The visit reinforces the ideological and institutional alignment of the two socialist neighbors as they navigate their respective modernization paths.
Summary: From June 13 to 15, 2026, PRC Foreign Minister Wang Yi visited Mongolia at the invitation of Mongolian Foreign Minister Battsetseg Batmunkh. The two sides reaffirmed their comprehensive strategic partnership, with Mongolia reiterating its adherence to the one-China principle and support for Beijing’s positions on Taiwan, Tibet, Xinjiang, and Hong Kong. Both parties committed to aligning development strategies—specifically the Belt and Road Initiative and the "Steppe Road"—while pledging to prohibit third-party use of their territories to undermine the other’s security. Furthermore, they emphasized the importance of the China-Mongolia-Russia economic corridor and agreed to enhance cooperation within multilateral frameworks like the SCO to promote regional stability.
Summary: At the invitation of President Xi Jinping, Myanmar’s President Min Aung Hlaing will conduct a state visit to China from June 15 to 19. The official announcement details Min Aung Hlaing’s military and political background, including his transition to the presidency in April 2026. No mention was made of accompanying officials or U.S.-China relations in this report.
Summary: On June 14, the International Department of the CPC Central Committee and the Hubei Provincial Committee hosted the "2026 China-Central and Eastern European (CEE) Young Politicians Forum" in Wuhan. IDCPC Vice Minister Liu Haixing addressed the forum, emphasizing the success of China-CEE cooperation under President Xi Jinping’s strategic guidance and expressing the CPC's desire to strengthen inter-party exchanges. Liu called upon youth representatives from 14 CEE countries to contribute to common prosperity and modernize alongside China. Participants underscored their commitment to constructive dialogue and mutually beneficial cooperation with the Chinese side to promote global prosperity.
Summary: The "75 Years Together: Global Governance Initiatives and China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) Construction" seminar was held in Islamabad, featuring over 80 representatives from Chinese and Pakistani government, media, think tank, and business sectors. Pakistani Minister for Planning, Development, and Special Initiatives Ahsan Iqbal emphasized that the bilateral relationship serves as a model for the world, noting that global challenges necessitate cooperation rather than isolation. Iqbal underscored that China and Pakistan are "all-weather" friends committed to mutual benefit, regional stability, and global development.
Summary: The 2026 Trans-Altai Sub-regional International Cooperation Conference was recently held in Altay, Xinjiang, bringing together government and business representatives from China, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Turkmenistan, Mongolia, and Russia. Participants reached 100 cooperation agreements, totaling 7.845 billion yuan in signed contracts.
Summary: The expansion of Malaysia’s Sapangar Bay Container Port has reached a key milestone with the completion of sand extraction and reclamation work by the Chinese-built "Tong Rui" vessel. The project involved dredging and transferring marine sand from 40 meters underwater, providing critical support for the terminal's subsequent infrastructure and land reclamation phases. The operation was managed by China Communications Construction (Malaysia) Sdn. Bhd.
Summary: This report highlights the deepening cooperation between Iraq and China in the renewable energy sector, as Baghdad seeks to diversify its energy mix and mitigate chronic power shortages. Nasser Karim, head of the Prime Minister’s Office for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency, emphasized the critical role of Chinese firms in Iraq's green transition and welcomed further Chinese investment. Major projects include the China Energy Engineering Corporation’s 1 GW Al-Ratawi solar plant and a CNOOC-led solar initiative at the Missan oil field, which Petroleum Ministry Deputy Minister Basim Khudair described as a strategic step toward integrating clean energy into oil operations. Local demand for Chinese photovoltaic technology continues to surge among both farmers and households due to its cost-efficiency. While the article focuses on China-Iraq bilateral cooperation, it underscores Iraq's pivot toward Chinese infrastructure to address critical energy vulnerabilities.
Summary: This article highlights the historical significance of the "May 20th Movement" of 1947 as a pivotal "second front" in the Chinese Communist Party’s struggle against the Kuomintang. It recounts how student protests—initially ignited by anti-U.S. sentiment regarding the behavior of American troops in China—broadened into a nationwide movement against the KMT's economic and military policies. The piece contextualizes these events through General Secretary Xi Jinping’s emphasis on patriotism as the core of the national spirit and the necessity of youth commitment to the Party’s leadership. Scholar Zhou Jiabin frames this history as a critical element of the Party’s revolutionary victory. Ultimately, the article calls on modern Chinese youth to honor this legacy by pursuing national rejuvenation under the Party's guidance.
Summary: National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) member Ting Bater continues his long-standing work in Inner Mongolia by promoting ecological protection and rural revitalization strategies among local pastoralists. Drawing on his experience as a "July 1 Medal" recipient, he advocates for "intensive, green, and scientific" animal husbandry practices to balance economic development with environmental sustainability. In his recent outreach, he emphasized the importance of local industrial transformation and tourism to improve pastoral livelihoods. Ting maintains an active public engagement schedule, recently coordinating with the Xilin Gol Vocational College to conduct "mobile ideological and political classes" for students.
Summary: This article highlights the cultural and historical significance of *qiaopi* (overseas remittance letters) as conduits of patriotism, citing General Secretary Xi Jinping’s past remarks during his inspection of the Shantou Qiaopi Cultural Museum regarding the sacrifices and national devotion of overseas Chinese. The author utilizes these historical documents to frame a narrative of enduring national spirit, emphasizing that contemporary overseas Chinese continue to contribute to China’s development through initiatives like the Belt and Road Initiative and global technological advancement. While the article focuses on domestic unity and the global dissemination of Chinese culture, it contextualizes these efforts within a landscape of "world transformations," suggesting that modern patriotic engagement serves to enhance China's international discourse power and influence. Ultimately, the text posits that the "patriotic spirit" historically expressed through *qiaopi* has evolved into a modern, confident commitment to national rejuvenation and global cooperation.
Summary: Human resources and social security authorities from Beijing, Tianjin, and Hebei convened in the Xiong’an New Area to release nine new measures aimed at strengthening the region's high-quality skilled talent pool. The initiative focuses on integrating regional resources to standardize training, evaluation, and incentive systems to support Xiong’an’s industrial development. The announcement, reported by journalist Shi Ziqiang, highlights a collaborative effort to build a comprehensive talent ecosystem through cross-regional cooperation.
Summary: This article highlights a nationwide campaign aimed at fostering a "correct view of political performance" among officials by prioritizing the resolution of long-standing grassroots livelihood issues. Local governments across provinces such as Jilin, Gansu, and Xinjiang are reported to be implementing accountability mechanisms, including "legacy problem lists" and cross-departmental coordination systems, to ensure tangible improvements in public services like infrastructure, housing, and wage protections. These initiatives emphasize a shift toward bottom-up governance, where officials are tasked with addressing specific grievances—such as utility access and urban renewal—to maintain public support. The report frames these efforts as an institutionalization of service-oriented leadership designed to prevent dereliction of duty by successor officials.
Summary: The Ministry of Water Resources and the China Meteorological Administration issued an orange alert for mountain torrents on June 14, projecting high risks in Guangdong, Guangxi, and Yunnan. The State Flood Control and Drought Relief Headquarters, in coordination with the Ministry of Emergency Management and several other departments, held a multi-agency consultation to assess the ongoing severe flooding in southern China. Officials emphasized the need for strictly enforced flood prevention responsibilities, prioritized emergency resource deployment, and seamless coordination between early warning systems and evacuation protocols. The authorities are currently maintaining Level IV emergency responses for six provinces, including Guangdong and Fujian, while continuing to station work groups in these regions to provide direct guidance.
Summary: In response to severe weather warnings in Zhaoping County, Guangxi, local party cadres and grassroots officials have mobilized to implement emergency flood prevention measures. Following the activation of a Level IV emergency response on June 13, 136 grid-based officials utilized a "call and respond" system to warn vulnerable residents, particularly those in landslide-prone areas. Cadres, including village party secretaries Lu Changsheng and Pan Qinghua, coordinated the emergency harvesting of crops near the Gui River to mitigate agricultural losses. These efforts emphasize the CCP's frontline "grid management" strategy in disaster mitigation and the prioritization of localized, dialect-based communication to ensure public compliance with safety directives. The operations remain ongoing as officials continue to lead community efforts to reinforce defenses against persistent rainfall.
Summary: Yining County in the Ili Kazakh Autonomous Prefecture of Xinjiang is leveraging its natural resources to develop a comprehensive lavender industry chain, integrating cultivation, processing, and agritourism to promote rural revitalization. On June 13, the Tianshan Flower Sea scenic area showcased these efforts as the lavender fields reached full bloom to attract visitors. The report highlights this regional development initiative as a key driver for local economic growth and rural modernization.
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Summary: This article frames the resilience of the Chinese economy through the metaphor of an "economic chorus," emphasizing the necessity of central coordination and regional complementarity to achieve high-quality development. It invokes Xi Jinping’s past tenure in Ningde to underscore the importance of unified, strategic governance in ensuring that regional economic activities remain synchronized with national objectives. The commentary highlights that by balancing diverse regional roles—from the innovation-driven eastern provinces to the resource-rich northeast—the state avoids "fallacy of composition" risks in its macroeconomic policy. Ultimately, the piece credits the Party Central Committee’s leadership as the definitive "tuning fork" that allows China to maintain strategic stability and navigate complex international environments, including mounting external pressures.
Summary: This article argues that the surging "Guochao" (national tide) movement represents a proactive search for cultural subjectivity among China’s youth, who are described as a generation that "views the world at eye level." It highlights how the integration of traditional aesthetics with modern design and technology has transformed cultural heritage into a major driver of domestic consumption. The author attributes this trend to profound cultural confidence and the enduring strength of the Chinese civilization. Furthermore, the text positions the global popularity of Chinese cultural products—such as games, literature, and animation—as evidence of a shifting international perception that aligns with China's rising national power. Ultimately, the piece frames these cultural expressions as essential components of the "humanistic foundation" underpinning Chinese-style modernization.
Summary: This article employs the successful completion of the "Linghang" shield tunneling machine project as a metaphor to advocate for the dialectical balance between "latent achievements" (long-term, foundational work) and "manifest achievements" (visible, short-term results). Drawing on a 2005 article by Xi Jinping, the text emphasizes that sustainable development requires an "achievements need not be through me" mindset, prioritizing strategic, long-term investments in infrastructure and basic research over short-term political optics. The author warns against "fake" achievements, such as vanity projects or the masking of bureaucratic inaction as long-term planning, noting that such efforts fail to withstand historical scrutiny. Ultimately, the piece frames the cultivation of latent foundations—exemplified by China’s overcoming of foreign technological monopolies in manufacturing—as the primary mechanism for generating the tangible progress necessary for national development.
Summary: China has issued a new circular outlining eight key tasks to promote industrial heritage preservation and the development of industrial tourism, such as repurposing abandoned factories into cultural and creative parks. The policy aims to revitalize former industrial sites while fostering urban cultural continuity and economic revitalization. By transforming aging infrastructure into experiential tourism products, the state seeks to cultivate local identity and historical appreciation. This initiative aligns with broader efforts to transition urban spaces toward high-value, service-oriented industries.
Summary: A recent *People’s Daily* report highlights that rural "loudspeaker" broadcast systems remain essential for disaster mitigation and grassroots governance, despite the proliferation of digital communication. The article argues that in remote areas with poor network coverage or among populations with limited digital literacy, these analog systems serve as a critical, reliable lifeline for emergency warnings and policy dissemination. The author calls for local authorities to overcome physical and technical maintenance challenges to ensure these systems remain operational. By integrating these broadcasts into a robust emergency management framework, the state aims to strengthen rural governance and ensure the timely delivery of vital information to the most vulnerable populations.
Summary: This commentary highlights the role of delivery workers on Gulangyu Island, where strict vehicle bans and pedestrian-only infrastructure necessitate a "slower" pace of logistics. The article frames this operational constraint not as a deficiency, but as a deliberate effort to preserve the island's cultural heritage and world heritage status. By integrating volunteer services—such as assisting the elderly and supporting community cohesion—into their daily routines, these couriers have evolved into integral social actors who foster local humanistic values. Ultimately, the piece argues that China’s developmental model should balance high-speed efficiency with "human temperature," advocating for an approach that respects local contexts and social welfare over singular metrics of growth.
Summary: Please provide the text of the article you would like me to summarize. Once you provide the content, I will draft a professional summary following your constraints.
Summary: The 18th Straits Forum convened in Xiamen on June 13, emphasizing the themes of grassroots exchange and integrated development between mainland China and Taiwan. During the event, Kuomintang Vice Chairman Chang Jung-kung addressed the assembly, asserting that as members of the same family, there are no cross-Strait differences that cannot be resolved through communication. The forum facilitated several economic agreements, including agricultural and fishery procurement deals intended to support Taiwan's local industries. While participants touted the benefits of "integrated development" and infrastructure projects like the Xiamen-Kinmen Bridge, the report criticized the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) authorities in Taiwan for imposing restrictions on officials and public servants attending the forum. The article frames these exchanges as an unstoppable trend toward reunification, emphasizing deep-rooted cultural and ancestral ties despite the current political climate.
Summary: Shanghai launched the 100-day countdown to the 48th WorldSkills Competition with a city-wide series of events, naming social media influencer Li Ziqi as the event’s promotional ambassador. During the ceremony, organizers highlighted the WorldSkills Expo’s progress, which features over 200 international and domestic exhibitors, alongside the unveiling of the competition's innovative, traditional Chinese-inspired medals. The report noted that international promotional efforts have extended to nearly 40 cities globally, including New York, positioning the competition as a bridge for international youth exchange. The event emphasized integrating vocational skills into daily life through interactive exhibits and community engagement across the city.
Summary: On June 13, the Institute of Party History and Literature of the CPC Central Committee held an academic forum in Chengdu focused on the theoretical interpretation and international dissemination of "Xi Jinping Thought on Culture." Wang Junwei, Director of the Institute’s Academic and Editorial Committee, outlined a four-point framework to enhance the scientific, original, practical, and communicative nature of this ideology. The forum gathered experts from various central departments, media outlets, and academic institutions to discuss strategies for improving the effectiveness of China's international messaging. Participants emphasized the necessity of using digital technologies and targeted approaches to ensure that this ideological framework is better understood and accepted by global audiences.
Summary: Hunan province has successfully integrated 704 villages into the national traditional village directory, with 25 designated as national historical and cultural villages and 271 supported by digital museums. At a recent provincial work conference, officials emphasized that the region has leveraged red culture and local heritage to establish national benchmarks for village preservation and utilization. Moving forward, the province plans to prioritize high-standard project development to secure additional national-level protection designations. Funding will be strictly allocated based on principles of preservation priority, regional clustering, and distinctive character, focusing on building restoration, infrastructure improvements, and artisan cultivation.
Summary: Zuojiawu Primary School in Tangshan, Hebei Province, has established a shadow puppetry club to promote cultural heritage among students through workshops on puppet creation, performance techniques, and art appreciation. The initiative, documented in photographs by Zhu Dayong for People’s Visual, focuses on immersive, hands-on engagement with this traditional folk art.
Summary: Yu Yanlong, a farmer from Xifeng County, Liaoning Province, has been recognized on the Central Political and Legal Affairs Commission’s "Courageous Heroes" list for the first quarter of 2026. Last November, Yu rescued children who had fallen into an icy, deep-water pond, successfully saving three lives despite tragic fatalities. Local Party branch secretary Gong Liansheng commended Yu for his long-standing reputation as a helpful and community-oriented resident. Motivated by his experiences helping neighbors, Yu has recently submitted his application to join the Communist Party of China to further serve his community.
Summary: Gansu Province has issued the "Trial Administrative Measures for Forest Chief Patrols," which establishes a tiered, quantitative frequency schedule for inspections ranging from annual provincial-level reviews to monthly village-level patrols. The policy mandates that forest chiefs prioritize ecological restoration, the "Three-North" Shelterbelt Program, and the mitigation of fire and illegal land-use risks. This initiative underscores the provincial government’s commitment to strengthening local management of forest and grassland resources through structured oversight and on-site enforcement.
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Summary: This article examines the regulatory challenges surrounding "laotoule" (informal low-speed electric three- and four-wheeled vehicles), which are popular among the elderly for short-distance transport but lack safety standards, licensing, and registration. Experts, including Associate Professor Fan Shiqian of the China University of Political Science and Law and Yang Xinmiao of Tsinghua University, note that these vehicles frequently operate in a legal gray area, causing traffic disruptions and accidents while complicating consumer rights protection. Although enforcement efforts have been inconsistent, experts advocate for a dual approach: strictly curbing illegal production and sales through standardized regulation, while simultaneously addressing the genuine mobility needs of the elderly by promoting safer, compliant alternatives. The report highlights that the prevalence of these vehicles is driven by significant demand in areas where public transport infrastructure remains insufficient.
Summary: Following the publication of a constituent complaint in the *People's Daily* regarding inadequate agricultural drainage, municipal and county-level officials promptly visited Guquan Village to assess the situation. These officials engaged directly with villagers to solicit feedback and established an immediate construction timeline to resolve the flooding issues. The resulting infrastructure improvements—including the expansion of drainage canals and the repair of local reservoirs—were completed within days. This account illustrates the responsiveness of local governance to public grievances channeled through central state media outlets.
Summary: Residents of the Lijie Industrial Park area in Huiyang District, Huizhou, have petitioned authorities via the People’s Daily "Leadership Message Board" to remove two 2.6-meter height-restriction bars on a key transit route. The complainants report that the low clearance prevents standard small trucks from passing, leading to frequent accidents, chronic traffic congestion, and logistical inefficiencies for local businesses and drivers. Despite repeated previous appeals, the issue remains unresolved, prompting residents to call for an immediate on-site inspection and the restoration of normal traffic flow.
Summary: This text presents two policy suggestions submitted by citizens regarding local governance in China. The first recommends that municipal authorities proactively manage urban tree maintenance during the summer storm season to prevent accidents, suggesting increased inspections, pruning, and public safety warnings. The second addresses the sustainability of rural elderly dining halls, arguing that they require diversified funding, government policy integration, and community-based labor models to move beyond basic provision toward improved nutrition and service quality. Neither passage mentions the United States or broader U.S.-China relations.
Summary: Recent reports from "People’s Complaints" highlight widespread disputes between students and driving schools regarding high, non-refundable fees and unfair contract terms. While driving schools argue that such contracts cover their operational costs, legal experts and officials, such as Mr. Cao of the Jiangxi Jiujiang Market Supervision Bureau, emphasize that "predatory" clauses excluding refund rights violate consumer protection laws and the Civil Code. Officials advise students to scrutinize pre-payment contracts and advocate for the adoption of third-party fund supervision platforms to mitigate disputes. Local administrative authorities further suggest that courts and arbitration bodies have the power to reduce excessive liquidated damages if they disproportionately exceed the school's actual losses.
Summary: This article explores the emergence of "Physical AI," a technological evolution that transitions artificial intelligence from virtual information processing to embodied agents capable of real-world physical interaction and autonomous decision-making. Experts, including Ma Xiaojian of the Beijing Institute for General Artificial Intelligence and Shen Dou of Baidu, emphasize that while generative AI excels in content creation, Physical AI focuses on motion control and environmental causality. To overcome existing technical bottlenecks in simulation accuracy and hardware precision, industry leaders advocate for diversified research pathways and the integration of large-scale, real-world data. The report highlights that leveraging China's vast industrial application scenarios is critical to advancing this technology, even as the industry works to close the gap with international leaders in key robotic components. Notably, the discussion underscores the necessity of achieving a "virtuous cycle" of model iteration within operational environments like power grids and manufacturing, while acknowledging the need to bridge domestic gaps in high-precision hardware.
Summary: The “15th Five-Year Plan” outlines a strategic mandate to construct a modernized power system characterized by enhanced complementarity, security, and resilience through the acceleration of smart grid development. The article highlights that China’s power grid faces dual challenges: internal supply-demand imbalances driven by intermittent renewable energy integration and external threats from increasingly frequent, extreme weather events. To mitigate these risks, the state is pursuing a two-pronged structural strategy: implementing a centralized, data-driven "smart grid" (the "big network") for predictive defense and optimizing localized, autonomous "microgrids" (the "small network") for increased self-healing capabilities. By integrating advanced sensing and distributed energy resources, these systems aim to transition grid management from reactive response to proactive, "dual-use" (peacetime and emergency) operational security.
Summary: Chinese researchers from the Institute of Oceanology (CAS), the Chinese University of Hong Kong, and Northwestern Polytechnical University have identified the physiological and molecular mechanisms enabling deep-sea giant isopods to survive starvation for over five years. The study, published in *Cell*, highlights a dual strategy of opportunistic energy storage and an extremely low basal metabolic rate, facilitated by the horizontal transfer of the ND1 gene. Functional validation in zebrafish confirmed that the ND1 gene significantly enhances survival in simulated cold, deep-sea environments by suppressing metabolic activity. This research provides new insights into how organisms adapt to extreme environments by balancing growth and survival requirements.
Summary: China’s Civil Aviation Administration has issued the country's first commercial airship pilot licenses to four domestically trained aviators, marking a milestone in the formalization of the nation's airship operations. According to Luo Xiyan, general manager at the Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC) Special Vehicle Research Institute, this program establishes a standardized training system for the AS700 manned airship. Test pilot Zhao Jia楠 noted that the training, conducted by a specialized team from the research institute and Hubei Hongmeng Aviation School, focuses on the unique aerodynamic and pressure-control requirements of lighter-than-air vehicles. The AS700 has currently secured 44 orders and is set to initiate commercial operations in regions such as Zhejiang and Guangdong by year-end. This development is framed as a foundational step toward scaling the "low-altitude economy" and professionalizing domestic aerial infrastructure.
Summary: An international research team, including scientists from Argentina’s Bernardino Rivadavia Natural Sciences Museum, has identified a new species of dromaeosaurid dinosaur discovered in the Santa Cruz province. Using advanced CT scanning and anatomical analysis, researchers determined the species lived approximately 66 million years ago and exhibits distinct evolutionary differences from Northern Hemisphere counterparts. The findings, which suggest a geographic link between South American and global dromaeosaurid populations, were published in the U.S.-based *Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology*.
Summary: China Energy Investment Corporation (CHN Energy) has announced the successful completion of a pilot project at its Yantai Longyuan facility, achieving a 50% green hydrogen-coal co-firing rate and 100% pure hydrogen combustion in a 40-megawatt boiler. Utilizing proprietary low-nitrogen burner technology, this breakthrough represents a significant advancement in decarbonizing coal-fired power generation and provides a viable pathway for the sector's green transition. The development positions China at the forefront of global efforts to integrate renewable energy sources into legacy coal infrastructure.
Summary: Please provide the article you would like summarized. Once the text is provided, I will draft a concise summary tailored for professional analysts of Chinese politics, adhering to your specific constraints regarding content and length.
Summary: This article, authored by an academic from the Chinese Academy of Sciences, emphasizes that strengthening basic research is the foundational requirement for China to achieve its goal of becoming a global science and technology power. The author highlights statements by President Xi Jinping, who has consistently stressed that basic research is the "source of the entire scientific system" and the primary driver for achieving "from 0 to 1" originality. In the context of intense global competition and "great power" strategic maneuvering, the author argues that China must secure its own technological autonomy to avoid being constrained by others, particularly in an era where technological development is increasingly intertwined with national security and economic growth. While the text does not explicitly name the United States, it frames China’s current push for indigenous innovation and foundational research as a critical response to international pressures and the need to maintain a strategic advantage in the global technological landscape. Finally, the author calls for systemic reforms, including long-cycle evaluation mechanisms and increased investment, to build a self-reliant and internationally competitive research ecosystem.
Summary: General Secretary Xi Jinping has called for the accelerated development of a distinctive Chinese legal knowledge system, encompassing an integrated framework of academic disciplines, scholarship, textbooks, and discourse. Lin Shangli, President of Renmin University of China, argues that this project necessitates a departure from Western theoretical dependence, emphasizing that the system must be rooted in "Xi Jinping Thought on the Rule of Law" and Chinese socialist practice. The article critiques the over-reliance on foreign legal theories, urging scholars to prioritize the conceptualization of domestic innovations—such as "whole-process people’s democracy"—to better inform global governance and enhance China's international influence. Furthermore, it advocates for the integration of emerging fields like digital and artificial intelligence law to ensure the legal curriculum reflects modern technological and national security requirements. Ultimately, the author frames this as a strategic effort to establish an autonomous Chinese legal discourse that can effectively engage with and challenge Western-dominated legal paradigms.
Summary: This article outlines the strategic importance of integrating science popularization with technological innovation, framing both as essential pillars for China’s development. The author highlights that the recently revised *Science and Technology Popularization Law* mandates closer synergy between these sectors to support the national "education, technology, and talent" development strategy. To achieve this, the text calls for diversified investment, the integration of scientific research into public outreach, and the digitalization of science communication through AI and immersive technologies. Furthermore, the author emphasizes that Chinese scientists and researchers must serve as the primary force in this effort, noting that bodies like the China Association for Science and Technology are actively mobilizing experts to foster a national culture of innovation.
Summary: The State Taxation Administration reports that over 160 million people have completed their 2024 individual income tax filings, with authorities warning taxpayers to avoid fraudulent "tax refund tips" circulating online. Tax Research Institute Director Huang Lixin emphasized that taxpayers must report income and deductions truthfully to avoid legal liability. Policy and Legislation Department Director Dai Shiyou stated that taxpayers with foreign income must report all global earnings by June 30, noting that tax authorities will leverage international data-sharing mechanisms, such as the Common Reporting Standard (CRS), to enhance oversight. Tax authorities also advised that they are strengthening monitoring against the misuse of personal information for fraudulent deductions.
Summary: General Secretary Xi Jinping has emphasized the necessity of maintaining the stability of global industrial and supply chains as a safeguard for the healthy development of the world economy. Ren Hongbin, Chairman of the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade (CCPIT), notes that the CCPIT is implementing these directives by organizing the China International Supply Chain Expo (CISCE) to foster international cooperation. The article critiques the global trend of "de-risking" and "decoupling," characterizing these U.S.-led moves as geopolitical interventions that fragment markets and prioritize "near-shoring" over efficiency. Conversely, the author presents China as a "stabilizer" of global supply chains that opposes such fragmentation while actively promoting high-level openness and multilateralism. The fourth CISCE, scheduled for June 2026, aims to further consolidate these efforts by facilitating deeper integration between domestic and international industrial ecosystems.
Summary: China has successfully achieved large-scale, continuous 5G network coverage across the 150-kilometer Liaoning-Shandong shipping route, significantly enhancing passenger connectivity, operational efficiency, and maritime emergency response capabilities. COSCO Shipping Passenger Transport General Manager Hu Xiaofeng noted that the integration of 5G has improved both onboard service delivery and digital management systems for shipping operations. Furthermore, Li Wei, Deputy Director of the Communications and Information Division at the Ministry of Transport’s North China Sea Navigation Support Center, reported that the network now covers over 20,000 square kilometers and is currently being expanded across the Bohai Sea. By the end of 2024, authorities aim to deploy 48 additional 5G base stations to achieve full coverage across major Bohai shipping lanes.
Summary: Wuhan is undergoing urban renewal by repurposing former industrial sites into hubs for artificial intelligence, finance, and cultural tourism. According to officials from the Wuhan Municipal Bureau of Housing and Urban Renewal, the strategy emphasizes integrating ecological, industrial, and technological elements to transition from traditional manufacturing to high-end service economies. Projects such as the Hanjiang Bay AI Industrial Park and the Huazhong Guishan Financial Culture Park leverage AI and new financial instruments to support local enterprise growth. Li Rui, a technical engineer at the Baidu Intelligent Cloud Innovation Center, noted the center's role in globalizing autonomous driving technologies. These initiatives reflect broader efforts to achieve high-quality, market-driven urban development through systematic industrial transformation.
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Summary: Qufu is revitalizing its cultural tourism sector by integrating its traditional heritage sites—the Confucius Temple, Confucius Mansion, and Confucius Forest—with new landmarks like the Nishan Sacred Realm, the Confucius Museum, and the Confucius Research Institute. Qufu Municipal Culture and Tourism Bureau Director Kong Fanbo stated that the city is linking these "new and old" sites into a cohesive network to offer immersive, experience-based educational tourism. International Confucian Association Vice President Wu Guoping, who spearheaded the development of the Nishan project, emphasized that these efforts are designed to transform historical Confucian themes into modern, accessible narratives. The article highlights that these initiatives have spurred local economic development, particularly through the growth of professionalized guesthouses and tech-integrated study centers in surrounding villages. The project reflects broader official efforts to leverage traditional culture as a soft-power tool for public engagement and cultural identity.
Summary: On June 13, the Temple of Heaven Museum was inaugurated in Beijing, marking the establishment of dedicated museums for all eight of the city’s UNESCO World Heritage sites. The new museum integrates nine cultural resource areas, including the Shenyueshu, to enhance the exhibition and interpretation of the site's heritage. Concurrently, Beijing launched a digital monitoring and early-warning platform to provide integrated, data-driven security management across all eight world heritage locations. The initiative aims to modernize the preservation and systematic monitoring of these cultural assets.
Summary: The 6th Cultural Relics Technology Innovation Forum was recently held in Wuhan, hosted by the National Cultural Heritage Administration’s Department of Science, Technology, and Education alongside the Hubei Provincial Cultural Heritage Administration. The forum showcased research outcomes from the 14th Five-Year Plan, featuring 12 experts who presented advancements in archaeological research, restoration, and the utilization of cultural relics. Looking toward the 15th Five-Year Plan, participants emphasized a commitment to addressing technical bottlenecks and improving integrated technological applications in the management and protection of cultural heritage.
Summary: The 2026 Hunan "Cultural and Natural Heritage Day" intangible cultural heritage brand promotion week commenced on June 13 in Changsha. The event, themed "Intangible Heritage Makes Life Better," showcases over 100 heritage projects through performances, culinary displays, and interactive tourism promotions. A notable feature of the launch was a cross-regional light show held simultaneously at Changsha’s Tianxin Pavilion, Nanchang’s Pavilion of Prince Teng, and Wuhan’s Yellow Crane Tower. The initiative aims to highlight the integration of cultural heritage preservation with tourism development across the region.
Summary: The text announces the upcoming hosting of an event in Langfang, Hebei, scheduled for June 16–20, 2026. The primary objective of the gathering is to promote the establishment of a national modern commerce and logistics base while advancing the coordinated development of the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region.
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Summary: Mengniu Dairy has been designated as the official ice cream provider for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, utilizing the tournament to advance its global branding strategy. The company has launched four exclusive ice cream products that are currently being sold in both Chinese and U.S. markets, including mainstream retail channels in cities such as New York and Los Angeles. By embedding its brand into the U.S.-hosted World Cup’s consumer experience, Mengniu aims to transition from simple product exports to a broader international brand presence. This initiative is presented as part of the company's "one body, two wings" strategy to foster innovation and enhance the global value chain of the Chinese dairy industry.
Summary: Wanning, Hainan, is transitioning its surfing industry from a weather-dependent model to a modernized, tech-driven economy centered on the newly opened Olympic-grade artificial wave pool at the China Travel Group resort. Project General Manager Su Xin reported that the facility has significantly enhanced professional training efficiency and attracted an increasing number of international visitors, aided by local tourism incentive policies. To ensure sustainable growth, municipal authorities are implementing standardized coaching certifications and club filing systems to move the sector away from disorderly competition. The city is now leveraging this "surf-centric" development to integrate broader sports, cultural, and tourism offerings across its coastal and inland regions. This strategic pivot has resulted in notable year-on-year growth in both visitor volume and total tourism revenue for the municipality.
Summary: AFC teams have demonstrated a strong performance in the opening three days of the 2026 World Cup, remaining the only undefeated confederation with two wins and one draw against UEFA opponents. Notable results include Australia’s 2-0 victory over Turkey and South Korea’s comeback win against the Czech Republic. While these early outcomes highlight the competitiveness of top-tier Asian squads, analysts note that the sample size remains small as lower-ranked AFC teams have yet to debut. The tournament is being co-hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico, with matches taking place across all three nations.
Summary: The Zhejiang Provincial City Football League ("Wuyue Cup") concluded on June 11 in Hangzhou, with the Jinhua team securing the championship title. The tournament, which featured 11 city-based teams competing in 62 matches since April, drew a total of 969,000 live spectators. Officials reported that the event attracted over 1.76 million viewers across designated viewing sites and generated approximately 7.39 billion yuan in total consumption.
Summary: On June 9, 2026, the People's Health Insurance Company of China (PICC Health) and its subsidiary, PICC Health Management, signed a strategic cooperation agreement in Shenzhen with multiple subsidiaries of China Resources Group, including China Resources Health, China Resources Pharmaceutical Commercial, and China Resources Insurance Brokerage. The partnership aims to integrate resources across the insurance, medical, pharmaceutical, and technology sectors to develop a "prevention-management-protection" model and enhance multi-tiered healthcare security systems. The parties plan to collaborate across eight key areas, such as optimizing commercial insurance drug directories, standardizing hospital service systems, and leveraging health big data for risk control. This initiative is positioned as a significant effort to advance the "Healthy China" strategy and facilitate the transition of insurance services from passive compensation to proactive health intervention.
Summary: Eurostat data indicates a deceleration in EU and Eurozone economic growth in the first quarter of 2026, prompting the European Commission and the European Central Bank to revise their growth forecasts downward. European Central Bank President Christine Lagarde stated that ongoing geopolitical conflicts and sustained energy shocks are weakening consumer confidence, eroding real income, and suppressing private investment. As energy-intensive industries face mounting cost pressures, European firms are increasingly reallocating investments to regions with more favorable energy prices and faster market growth. To counter these structural challenges, the EU is prioritizing energy diversification, green industrial capacity, and digital innovation, specifically through its "AI Continental Action Plan." These internal economic shifts occur against a backdrop of global uncertainty and intensified industrial competition, which continue to weigh on the bloc’s competitiveness.
Summary: The European Central Bank (ECB) has raised its three key interest rates by 25 basis points, citing inflationary pressures driven by the ongoing conflict in the Middle East and the closure of the Strait of Hormuz. The ECB characterized this move as a necessary signal to anchor inflation expectations, despite the limited efficacy of monetary policy in curbing externally driven energy costs. The article highlights that this policy shift occurs amidst structural challenges, including narrowing fiscal space and stagnating productivity within the Eurozone. Furthermore, the author notes that the Eurozone's heavy reliance on international trade makes its recovery highly vulnerable to global trade uncertainties, a factor deeply intertwined with the broader geopolitical instability currently affecting the United States and global energy markets.
Summary: Midea Group is leveraging its highly automated "intelligent factory" in Chonburi, Thailand, to launch an "Overseas Partner Plan" aimed at exporting its digital manufacturing solutions to other Chinese firms expanding abroad. Midea IT Director Zhou Xiaoling stated that the initiative seeks to transition from "unit export" to "ecosystem empowerment" to address challenges like fragmented supply chains and cross-cultural management. Midea’s Thailand factory General Manager Li Peng and HR Manager Narissara highlighted that the implementation of AI-driven logistics, multilingual digital training, and green energy systems has significantly boosted operational efficiency and local integration. According to Thonglor-on Wusentirangkul, president of the Belt and Road Economic and Education Development Institute in Thailand, this model serves as a key benchmark for Thailand’s "Eastern Economic Corridor" and Industry 4.0 strategy. The report underscores the strategic shift of Chinese manufacturing toward standardized, technology-led regional supply chain integration.
Summary: Large-scale protests occurred in Tokyo on June 14, with demonstrators opposing the Sanae Takaichi administration’s military expansion policies and the strengthening of the Japan-U.S. security alliance, which protesters characterized as a path toward war. Separately, Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf stated that ongoing Israeli strikes in Lebanon demonstrate that the U.S. either lacks the will or the capacity to fulfill its commitments, rendering further dialogue with Washington impossible. Ghalibaf’s remarks followed reports that the Israel Defense Forces notified U.S. Central Command prior to the attack on Beirut. Finally, Argentine researchers reported record-breaking temperatures in the Antarctic Peninsula, which recently reached 15.4 degrees Celsius—over 20 degrees above normal—prompting concerns regarding the local ecosystem.
Summary: "Rio," the first giant panda cub born in Indonesia, recently made his public debut at Taman Safari Bogor. Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto officially named the cub "Satrio Wiratama," symbolizing a "brave and noble knight." Safari founder Jansen Manansang and senior veterinarian Bongot Mulia emphasized that the cub's birth is a landmark achievement in bilateral conservation cooperation between China and Indonesia. Manansang characterized the panda as a diplomatic bridge intended to strengthen mutual trust, friendship, and cultural understanding between the two nations.
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Summary: This article outlines the revitalization of the Changfeng County Luju Opera Troupe in Anhui Province, which has transitioned from near-collapse to a successful state-owned cultural entity through institutional reform, strategic artistic innovation, and the adoption of digital streaming. Troupe leader Wang Ling is reported to have spearheaded these efforts by recruiting professional talent, commissioning contemporary local-interest dramas, and collaborating with established masters like Wu Keying. The troupe has gained national recognition by leveraging social media platforms, specifically through the "Spotlight Project" (聚光计划) in partnership with Douyin, to modernize audience engagement. The report highlights the troupe’s success in national competitions, where they secured second place in the "It’s Showtime: My Troupe" exhibitions, effectively proving the viability of grassroots theater in the digital era.
Summary: The second World Conference on Sinology was recently held in Athens, Greece, focusing on the contemporary relevance of classical wisdom. The proceedings highlighted China's growing influence in the field, noting that Beijing's hosting of the inaugural conference marked the first time the event was led by a non-Western nation. Participants underscored the importance of Chinese classical civilization in providing a unique, uninterrupted historical perspective to address modern global challenges. The conference aims to position China as a key contributor to global intellectual discourse by facilitating cross-civilizational dialogue and mutual learning. Through these efforts, the Chinese academic community seeks to elevate the status of its own classical studies on the international stage.
Summary: This article profiles Yacheng folk song inheritors Mai Yibin and Chen Xigu, highlighting their efforts to preserve and modernize this intangible cultural heritage in Sanya, Hainan. Mai, a former primary school teacher, pioneered the integration of Yacheng folk songs into local school curricula in 2013 to address the aging demographic of performers and audiences. The couple now focuses on composing modernized, shorter songs that retain traditional melodic structures while addressing contemporary themes to ensure the art form remains relevant. Local authorities, represented by Sanya Cultural Center official Xu Yongman, report that the government is actively supporting these preservation efforts through educational programs and community outreach to keep the tradition "alive" within daily life. The report underscores the state's broader strategy of utilizing localized cultural heritage as a tool for community cohesion and grassroots cultural development.
Summary: Please provide the text of the article you would like me to summarize. Once provided, I will draft a summary tailored for professional analysts that adheres to your specific requirements regarding brevity, official attendance, and U.S.-China relations.
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Summary: Changzhou, Jiangsu Province, is positioning itself as a hub for international talent and foreign investment by leveraging its comprehensive industrial supply chains and favorable business environment. The city currently hosts over 4,000 foreign nationals and 3,000 foreign-funded enterprises, with local officials like Song Xiaowei of the Municipal Bureau of Commerce emphasizing the city’s commitment to providing "full-cycle" services and fostering an inclusive, pro-business atmosphere. Foreign business leaders, including those from Germany, Switzerland, and Spain, have praised the city’s responsive governance and integrated infrastructure for supporting their long-term growth and operational success. While the article highlights the city's global integration and economic cooperation, it does not explicitly discuss the United States or bilateral U.S.-China relations. Local authorities and residents maintain that this open, welcoming environment has transformed foreign expatriates from mere observers into active participants in the city's social and economic development.
Summary: Changzhou is increasingly positioning itself as a top-tier destination for foreign talent by leveraging its robust industrial chains, inclusive cultural environment, and high-quality living standards. The city actively fosters integration by involving expatriates in local political processes, such as municipal legislative meetings, and encouraging their participation in community life and economic development. Through targeted government support for foreign-invested enterprises—exemplified by companies like ThyssenKrupp—Changzhou aims to convert international visitors into long-term partners and permanent residents. This strategy focuses on aligning personal professional growth with regional urban upgrading to ensure deep-rooted expatriate retention.
Summary: Please provide the text of the article you would like me to summarize. Once provided, I will draft a summary tailored for professional analysts of Chinese politics, ensuring all your specified requirements regarding official statements, personnel, and U.S.-China relations are met.
Summary: General Secretary Xi Jinping recently highlighted the "Yiwu development experience" as a successful model for tailoring county-level economic growth to local conditions. He urged officials to integrate this model into ongoing educational initiatives focused on cultivating a "correct view of political achievements." The commentary emphasizes that Yiwu’s success stems from adhering to local realities, integrating into broader national and global markets, prioritizing mass entrepreneurship, and maintaining a commitment to reform and innovation. By framing Yiwu as a "world supermarket" connected via the "Yixin’ou" (China-Europe) railway, the article underscores the importance of participating in the global supply chain. Ultimately, the piece calls for local cadres to apply these principles to drive high-quality development and better serve the national economic strategy.
Summary: This article outlines how financial innovation in Zhejiang province is addressing the financing challenges faced by high-tech startups. To overcome the limitations of traditional credit models, institutions like the Agricultural Bank of China and Hangzhou Bank are employing "investment-loan linkage" models and data-driven "enterprise profiling" to support firms throughout their innovation lifecycle. These initiatives are designed to bridge the "valley of death" for capital-intensive enterprises and foster long-term technological self-reliance. Notably, the report highlights that successful Chinese tech firms, such as ChengTian Technology, are increasingly integrating into global supply chains, with components now being exported to 38 countries and regions. Local authorities are also implementing "pay-after-research" insurance mechanisms to mitigate risks in industry-academia-research collaborations, ensuring more robust financial support for domestic high-tech development.
Summary: This article by the Director of Peking University’s Center for Insurance and Social Security examines the historical *biaoju* (escort agencies) of the Ming and Qing dynasties as a primitive precursor to modern freight insurance. The author draws structural parallels between historical practices—such as risk-based "escort fees" (*biaoli*) and contractual indemnity—and contemporary insurance principles like actuarial pricing and risk mitigation. Beyond technical operations, the analysis highlights the *biaoju* reliance on reputation and integrity as a foundational model for sustainable risk management. Ultimately, the author suggests that these historical mechanisms offer valuable insights for cultivating modern "financial culture with Chinese characteristics."
Summary: Please provide the text of the article you would like me to summarize. Once provided, I will draft a concise summary tailored for professional analysts, adhering to your specific requirements regarding official statements, personnel, and U.S.-China relations.
Summary: The article highlights China’s transition from individual scientific satellites to a systematic, constellation-based approach for space exploration, exemplified by the recent successful launch of the China-Europe joint "Smile" satellite. It emphasizes that China has achieved domestic control over core space technologies, moving from a position of reliance on foreign data to leading in fields like quantum communication and high-energy particle detection. By integrating space-based constellations with ground-based monitoring networks, Beijing aims to achieve comprehensive, multi-dimensional space surveillance. The piece underscores that this development, guided by the "National Space Science Mid-to-Long Term Development Plan (2024–2050)," serves as a cornerstone of China's broader goal to establish technological self-reliance. While promoting a narrative of indigenous innovation, the article also frames China’s space program as an open, collaborative global actor through international partnerships.
Summary: The Chengdu Tianfu International Bio-Town (Bio-Town) has evolved over the past decade into a major center for China’s biomedical industry, hosting over 500 enterprises and achieving significant market scale. Lei Ming, Deputy Director of the Bio-Town Management Committee, emphasized that the park prioritizes long-term industry cultivation over immediate output, providing comprehensive technical platforms and regulatory support to foster innovation. The article highlights the success of local firms like ConMed Biosciences, which achieved international expansion through a major licensing deal with AstraZeneca. Regarding U.S.-China business relations, the report notes that the Bio-Town assisted the company Besmile in navigating regulatory complexities to establish a joint venture with a U.S. brand to facilitate global market access. By integrating specialized administrative services with high-quality urban infrastructure, the Bio-Town has successfully transitioned from a rural area into a hub for advanced medical research and commercialization.
Summary: A researcher from Beijing University of Technology details the development of an AI-driven intelligent control system designed to optimize urban wastewater treatment at facilities like the Xiaohongmen Reclamation Plant. By moving beyond traditional control methods to a data-driven, autonomous learning model, the team has achieved significant improvements in operational efficiency, including a 95% accuracy rate in dissolved oxygen regulation and substantial reductions in energy and chemical consumption. The author highlights this innovation as a "Chinese solution" that is currently being adopted by international wastewater facilities. The report emphasizes that these advancements are critical for addressing water scarcity and supporting ecological development under the broader "Beautiful China" policy framework.
Summary: Please provide the text of the article you would like me to summarize. Once the text is provided, I will draft a concise summary tailored for professional analysts, adhering to your specific constraints regarding content, length, and the inclusion of U.S.-China relations.
Summary: This article commemorates the 105th anniversary of the Chinese Communist Party by revisiting a 1948 letter written by revolutionary martyr Xu Ying to his mother. The piece highlights Xu’s dual identity as a battle-hardened military commander and a devoted son, emphasizing his commitment to national liberation over personal family stability. The text recounts how the letter was recovered by his commander, Li Wenbin, after Xu’s death in the Battle of Tashan and eventually returned to his grieving parents. Through this narrative, the author frames the martyr’s sacrifice as the foundational "original aspiration" of the Party, urging contemporary readers to align their personal pursuits with the broader goals of national rejuvenation.
Summary: This commentary utilizes the psychological concept of the "curse of knowledge" to critique bureaucratic communication failures in public service delivery. The author argues that administrative staff frequently overestimate the public's comprehension of procedural terminology and digital interfaces, creating significant barriers to efficiency. By citing personal anecdotes regarding social security updates and business deregistration, the article advocates for a "user-centric" shift in governance. The author concludes that officials must practice empathy and simplify complex processes to ensure that policy implementation remains accessible to all citizens.
Summary: This reflective piece commemorates the historical significance of Wuqi Town, the site where the Red Army concluded its Long March in 1935. The author emphasizes how this locale served as the foundational base for the Chinese revolution and highlights the enduring influence of General Xiao Hua’s *Long March Suite*, which captures the struggle and triumph of that era. By recounting a personal transition from a student performer of the *Suite* to a veteran and songwriter, the author frames the Long March as a vital, inherited spirit that continues to define the Chinese national identity. The article concludes by asserting that the resilience displayed during the revolutionary period remains the driving force behind China's modern development and global standing.
Summary: The provided text identifies the woodblock print *Summer*, created by artist Gu Yuan and held in the collection of the National Art Museum of China. As this is a brief cataloging entry regarding a piece of Chinese socialist realist art, it contains no mention of government officials or U.S.-China relations.
Summary: This personal essay recounts a retired teacher's experience returning to the classroom to deliver a lecture on the importance of reading, writing, and intellectual independence to young students. The author emphasizes the value of cultivating creativity and critical thinking, encouraging students to pursue unique perspectives—a concept the author describes as "innovation through originality." Through this pedagogical interaction, the author reflects on the teacher's role not merely as an instructor, but as an agent of "awakening" for the next generation. The narrative serves as a reflection on traditional values, such as the importance of education for personal and social prosperity, and the potential of youth.
Summary: The provided text is a contemporary Chinese poem focused on themes of nature, sensory experience, and personal reflection. As it contains no references to political officials, state actions, or U.S.-China relations, it falls outside the scope of geopolitical analysis. The content is purely literary and lacks substantive information relevant to professional observers of Chinese politics.
Summary: The provided text is a lyrical, descriptive essay concerning agricultural cycles and the delayed blooming of apple and acacia trees in a rural village following an unseasonal cold snap. It focuses on the anxiety of local farmers and the natural environment as they navigate unpredictable weather patterns to ensure a successful harvest. The narrative emphasizes the resilience of the ecosystem and the eventual stabilization of seasonal rhythms, ultimately projecting optimism for an eventual, albeit delayed, agricultural bounty. There is no mention of government officials, political figures, or U.S.-China relations in this text.
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By: 本报记者 白剑峰 施 钰
Among all things, the people's livelihood is the most important. In safeguarding the people's livelihood, health takes priority.
"Building a Healthy China (健康中国) requires the joint efforts of the whole society." During this year's "Two Sessions" (全国两会), General Secretary Xi Jinping (习近平) pointed this out while visiting members of the Chinese Peasants and Workers Democratic Party (农工党), the Jiusan Society (九三学社), the medical and health sector, and the social welfare and social security sector who were attending the Fourth Session of the 14th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (全国政协十四届四次会议), and participating in their joint group meeting.
"The most important indicator of modernization is still the health of the people; this is the foundation of a happy life for the people. Grasping this firmly, the philosophy of 'people first, life first' is a concept that the entire Party and the whole society must firmly establish." In March 2021, General Secretary Xi Jinping (习近平) emphasized this while inspecting Fujian Province (福建).
"Chinese-style modernization (中国式现代化) and universal health are closely linked." On the new journey of Chinese-style modernization (中国式现代化), more than 1.4 billion Chinese people have new expectations for a healthy life.
People's health relates to the quality of Chinese-style modernization (中国式现代化)—
On March 23, 2021, General Secretary Xi Jinping (习近平) visited the Shaxian General Hospital (沙县总医院) in Sanming City (三明市), Fujian Province (福建省).
The past is 历历在目 (lì lì zài mù - "clear before one's eyes," vivid and distinct in one's memory). Wan Xiaoying (万小英), Deputy Director of the Standing Committee of the Shaxian District People's Congress (沙县区人大常委会) and Party Secretary of the Shaxian District General Hospital (沙县区总医院), clearly remembers the scene at that time: in front of an exhibition board in the hospital's first-floor lobby, General Secretary Xi Jinping (习近平) paused to look closely. The theme of the board was "The People Benefit." Today, the data on the board is updated every year, witnessing the effectiveness of medical reform in benefiting the people.
"Serious illnesses are treated within the province, common illnesses are treated at the city or county level, and daily minor ailments are treated in the villages." Having access to medical care is the people's aspiration for a better life, and it is also a major matter that General Secretary Xi Jinping (习近平) is 念兹在兹 (niàn zī zài zī - "thinking of it constantly," to keep something constantly in mind).
"I am very concerned about your reforms. This is a spirit of 敢为人先 (gǎn wéi rén xiān - "dare to be the first," the courage to be a pioneer), and a manifestation of the awareness and responsibility of the 'people first, life first' philosophy." The words of General Secretary Xi Jinping (习近平) were warm and firm.
Starting in 2012, the Sanming medical reform (三明医改) broke the ice and set sail. From "a single flower blooming alone" to "a garden full of spring," various regions have promoted the experience of the Sanming medical reform (三明医改) according to local conditions, exploring a Chinese-style solution to the global challenge of medical reform.
China continues to promote the sinking of high-quality medical resources and their balanced distribution, pushing for the construction of National Medical Centers (国家医学中心), National Regional Medical Centers (国家区域医疗中心), and Provincial Regional Medical Centers (省级区域医疗中心), allowing more people to receive good medical care at their doorsteps.
This is a health "report card" that has attracted worldwide attention: the construction of the world's largest medical service system, traditional medicine system, disease prevention and control system, and basic medical security system; more than 90% of residents can reach the nearest medical point within 15 minutes; the average life expectancy is expected to reach 79.25 years by 2025, and is expected to rise to 80 years during the "15th Five-Year Plan" (十五五) period; the level of people's health has significantly improved, with major health indicators ranking among the top for middle-to-high-income countries.
People's health relates to the future of the country and the nation—
"How many of you wear glasses?" "Is your time for physical exercise guaranteed?" On March 23 of this year, in a classroom of the first-year (Class 2) students at the Beijing No. 4 High School Xiong'an Campus (北京四中雄安校区), General Secretary Xi Jinping (习近平) asked with concern, and the children answered joyfully.
Deep in affection and 语重心长 (yǔ zhòng xīn cháng - "words heavy, heart long," sincere and earnest advice). General Secretary Xi Jinping (习近平) gave important instructions, requiring that "the whole society must take action to jointly protect children's eyes, so that they can have a bright future."
From "little glasses" to "little chubby kids," from physical education classes to nutritious meals, the healthy growth and comprehensive development of children and adolescents are the most tender concerns in the General Secretary's heart.
Focusing on children's health issues, China has established a full-chain service system for prevention, screening, diagnosis, treatment, and rehabilitation. The height and weight of children and adolescents are becoming healthier, the rates of myopia and smoking are both showing a downward trend, and core health indicators continue to improve.
People's health lays the cornerstone for building a Healthy China (健康中国)—
"Health is the most important indicator of a happy life. Health is the '1', and everything else is the '0' that follows. Without the '1', no matter how many '0's there are, it is meaningless."
The dialectic of 1 and 0 is 意味深长 (yì wèi shēn cháng - "meaning deep long," profound and significant). This is not only the way of health but also the way of governing a country; it is both a "small prescription" and a "large prescription."
"Letting the masses get sick less, get sick later, and not get seriously ill is our greatest wish." Wan Xiaoying (万小英) introduced that the Shaxian District General Hospital (沙县区总医院) has been operating a Disease Management Center (疾病管理中心) and a Health Management Center (健康管理中心) since 2023, providing full-life-cycle services to the masses.
"To build a Healthy China (健康中国), we must persist in starting from our country's national conditions, unswervingly follow the path of health and medical development with Chinese characteristics, and unswervingly implement the health and medical work policy of the new era." General Secretary Xi Jinping (习近平) is 高瞻远瞩 (gāo zhān yuǎn zhǔ - "high look far gaze," to be farsighted and visionary), pointing out the direction for achieving decisive progress in building a Healthy China (健康中国) during the "15th Five-Year Plan" (十五五) period.
A path of happiness carrying the dreams of hundreds of millions of people is unfolding, and the health foundation of Chinese-style modernization (中国式现代化) is becoming more solid.
Return to TopBy: 本报记者 万秀斌 邵玉姿
People gather because of the city, and the city thrives because of its people.
From "a piece of land" and "a blueprint" to "a city," and further to the efforts of building an innovation highland in the new era and a model for high-quality development, the rapidly growing Xiong'an New Area (雄安新区) is home to a group of vibrant Xiong'an people (雄安人).
On March 23 of this year, General Secretary Xi Jinping (习近平) visited the Xiong'an New Area (雄安新区) to inspect the progress. He engaged in cordial exchanges with representatives of cadres and employees from relocated units and ongoing construction projects, inquiring about their work and lives, and affirming the efforts everyone has made for the construction and development of the New Area.
"Everyone should feel proud to be a Xiong'an person (雄安人), forge ahead with 一马当先 (yī mǎ dāng xiān - "one horse leads the way," to take the lead or be at the forefront), proceed with 蹄疾步稳 (tí jí bù wěn - "hooves fast, steps steady," to advance with both speed and stability) in your work and entrepreneurship, and jointly create a beautiful future for Xiong'an (雄安)."
These earnest expectations still ring in their ears. With the mission on their shoulders, the Xiong'an people (雄安人) walk with firm steps.
At 8:00 a.m. on June 12, at the Zhongguancun Science Park (中关村科技园) in the Xiong'an New Area (雄安新区), Weng Junwu (翁军武), Deputy General Manager of the Xiong'an Business Division of Eyecool Technology (眼神科技), picked up his laptop and headed straight to the Xiong'an City Computing Center (雄安城市计算中心) to coordinate the system upgrade for the "Lingwa" (灵娲) artificial intelligence training platform.
"The platform can rapidly generate various artificial intelligence recognition algorithms, helping Xiong'an (雄安) build a perceptible and cognitive 'City of the Future' (未来之城)," said Weng Junwu (翁军武). Eyecool Technology (眼神科技) was the first artificial intelligence company to move its headquarters to Xiong'an (雄安), and he arrived here in 2018, "growing together with the Xiong'an New Area (雄安新区)."
Initially, it was "identifying people at a glance," then "identifying objects at a glance," and now "identifying health at a glance." "Every year there are new technological breakthroughs and new scenario applications." Rooted in this vibrant land, Weng Junwu (翁军武) has witnessed the step-by-step deepening of the company's multimodal recognition technology and the 日新月异 (rì xīn yuè yì - "daily renewal, monthly change," rapid and constant progress) development of the New Area. The company's office has moved from a small four-story building into a themed office building, enjoying policy dividends such as industrial fund support and enterprise technology center accreditation.
"In Xiong'an (雄安), comprehensive policy support makes working and starting a business more promising, and thoughtful relocation services bring a sense of belonging to those settling down." Weng Junwu (翁军武) and his family of three live in relocated housing; the rooms are bright and clean, and the living room window faces the "Golden Reed" (金芦苇) shaped Sinochem Tower (中国中化大厦). Over the past few years, the "Golden Reed" (金芦苇) has grown taller bit by bit and lit up floor by floor.
Among the lights of the "Golden Reed" (金芦苇), there is one that "belongs" to Zhu Baoju (朱宝菊).
On the 24th floor of the Sinochem Tower (中国中化大厦), in the office of the Science and Technology Innovation Department, staff member Zhu Baoju (朱宝菊) took a notebook from her drawer to record the day's work arrangements: communication on key tasks related to new product research and development, and the filing of several major scientific research projects and innovation achievements... "It only takes 10 minutes from home to the office, which is half an hour shorter for a one-way commute compared to when I was in Beijing (北京)." As one of the first employees of a relocated state-owned enterprise, Zhu Baoju (朱宝菊) said, "The time cost of commuting is lower, and my enthusiasm for work is even higher."
"As 'pioneers' (开路先锋), we are honored and feel an even greater sense of responsibility on our shoulders." In her spare time, Zhu Baoju (朱宝菊) often visits the Xiong'an Library (雄安图书馆), a city cultural landmark where books and technology blend, to borrow work-related books. "We must take a long-term view and constantly enrich ourselves to better devote ourselves to the construction of the New Area."
Zhu Baoju's (朱宝菊) son attends the Xiong'an Campus of Beijing No. 4 High School (北京四中雄安校区). His homeroom teacher, Chen Yanfei (陈妍妃), graduated from the University of International Relations (国际关系学院) and came to Xiong'an (雄安) to settle down last year. "I used to often say I was from Pingdingshan, Henan (河南平顶山), but now I have a new identity—a Xiong'an person (雄安人)!" Choosing to come to Xiong'an (雄安) was Chen Yanfei's (陈妍妃) own decision. "I am very honored to be able to participate in the construction of the 'City of the Future' (未来之城)."
Preparing lessons, teaching, teacher seminars, student exchanges... Chen Yanfei (陈妍妃) is busy and fulfilled. This semester, she also launched a "Model United Nations" (模拟联合国) elective course to broaden the children's international horizons. "The next generation we cultivate must face the world and face the future."
"The 日新月异 (rì xīn yuè yì - "daily renewal, monthly change," rapid and constant progress) of Xiong'an (雄安) has exceeded my imagination!" Returning from a week-long business trip, Zhu Baoju (朱宝菊) saw new changes in the scenery outside the window. "That building has 'grown taller' again, and the road next to it is also open."
In this vast land that carries the "millennium plan and national event" (千年大计、国家大事), the Xiong'an people (雄安人) have gathered the strength of 微光成炬 (wēi guāng chéng jù - "dim light becomes a torch," small efforts gathering to create a powerful force) to write the 欣欣向荣 (xīn xīn xiàng róng - "thriving and flourishing," prosperous and full of vitality) development of the new city.
"Everyone came here from all over the country to strive." Meng Lingcong (孟令聪), a business manager at the Operation and Maintenance Center of China Space-Time Information Group Co., Ltd. (中国时空信息集团有限公司), carried his backpack, preparing to head to the Xiong'an Ground Station (雄安地面站) located in Liangmatai Town (晾马台镇), Rongcheng County (容城县), to check the network upgrade status.
As a member of the BeiDou (北斗) operation service team, over the past two years, Meng Lingcong (孟令cong) has deeply felt that BeiDou (北斗) satellite services are accelerating into the lives of ordinary people. In February this year, China Space-Time (中国时空) joined hands with operators to launch the BeiDou (北斗) SMS service.
From focusing on ground communication to devoting himself to satellite communication, the establishment of the Xiong'an New Area (雄安新区) and the founding of China Space-Time (中国时空) have given Meng Lingcong (孟令聪) a broader stage: "It is my honor to personally participate in the construction of the Xiong'an New Area (雄安新区)."
One city, a group of people, one heart, one mission. With the starry sky above and their feet firmly on the ground, the vibrant Xiong'an people (雄安人), with the spirit of 一马当先 (yī mǎ dāng xiān - "one horse leads the way," to take the lead or be at the forefront) and the determination of 蹄疾步稳 (tí jí bù wěn - "hooves fast, steps steady," to advance with both speed and stability), are striding forward toward the "City of the Future" (未来之城).
Return to TopBy: 本报记者
At present, various regions, departments, and units are solidly carrying out learning and education on establishing and practicing a correct view of political achievements. They are continuously exerting efforts in deep study, meticulous comprehension, firm belief, and earnest practice, while 扎扎实实 (zhā zhā shí shí - "solid and steady," describing a down-to-earth and diligent approach) advancing rectification and reform, and researching the establishment of normalized and long-term mechanisms, so that the masses can see changes and receive tangible benefits.
True Investigation and Practical Reform
"The 25,300 yuan in wages owed by the company has arrived; now I can finally feel at ease." Looking at the notification text message confirming the funds, Mr. Xu (徐先生), a migrant worker in Taobei District (洮北区), Baicheng City (白城市), Jilin Province (吉林省), said.
During the learning and education process, Baicheng City (白城市) promoted a system where municipal-level leaders take responsibility for specific counties and cases, normalized frontline reception of visits, and handover procedures for departing leading cadres, using multiple measures to resolve a batch of long-standing cases. Municipal leaders went deep into the frontline to understand the current status of enterprises and the reasons for wage arrears, helping enterprises diagnose and solve production difficulties, and resolving the issue of wage arrears for migrant workers.
Lanzhou City (兰州市), Gansu Province (甘肃省), persists in learning, comparing, and investigating simultaneously. Leading groups and cadres at all levels, through suggestions from the masses, self-reflection, pointers from superiors, and mutual assistance, find gaps, investigate root causes, and strengthen self-cultivation in terms of Party spirit. Party committees (Party groups) at all levels compare items one by one and implement them line by line, concentrating on resolving a batch of petition issues and winning the recognition of the masses with tangible and accessible results.
Heping District (和平区), Shenyang City (沈阳市), Liaoning Province (辽宁省), persists in solving livelihood problems through practical work. Addressing historical legacy issues, it coordinates departments such as real estate, urban construction, urban management, and finance to specially allocate funds to handle "small-entry-point" livelihood practical matters, orderly advancing people-benefiting projects such as the repair of damaged road surfaces, the quality improvement of leisure plazas, and the addition of charging facilities.
"The gas is connected, and life is running smoothly." Reziwaguli Simayi (热孜瓦古丽·斯马依), a resident of Binhe Residential Community (滨河小区) in Kuqa City (库车市), Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region (新疆维吾尔自治区), remarked with emotion. During the learning and education process, Kuqa City (库车市) precisely sorted out bottlenecks and difficult points in people's livelihoods such as housing, gas usage, transportation, and elderly care, establishing problem ledgers, solidifying undertaking responsibilities, and implementing a closed-loop management system for clearing items. Focusing on the "difficulty in using gas" for residents of Binhe Residential Community (滨河小区), the Municipal Party Committee Office (市委办) took the lead in coordinating multi-party communication and consultation, clarifying the boundaries of responsibility, finalizing the sharing ratio, and reaching a consensus on rectification, resulting in all 210 households in the community having natural gas connected.
Establishing Rules and Regulations
"Taking my grandson to school, I finally don't have to worry anymore." Chen Hui (陈慧), a resident of Guandaoping Community (关刀坪社区) in Chongyi County (崇义县), Ganzhou City (赣州市), Jiangxi Province (江西省), pointed to the road leading to the group at her doorstep. In the past, the roadside of this section was a steep slope several meters high with a deep ditch below, but the guardrail had never been installed. A few days ago, community cadres visited with a "list of legacy problems," found the construction party of the first-class highway, "picked" the plan bit by bit against the blueprints, and coordinated the installation of the guardrail.
Since the launch of the learning and education, Chongyi County (崇义县) has improved the long-term mechanism for rectifying prominent problems where new officials ignore old debts, established a "list of legacy problems," focused on long-standing concerns of the masses, clarified progress, responsible parties, and commitment nodes, and included unfulfilled livelihood practical matters into it, ensuring that the accounts of predecessors are clear and successors clear items according to the list.
"Charging is affordable, and running orders is more energetic!" At the Party-Masses Service Center for the Online Car-Hailing Industry (网约车行业党群服务中心) in Zhuxi Subdistrict (竹西街道), Hanjiang District (邗江区), Yangzhou City (扬州市), Jiangsu Province (江苏省), Driver Li (李师傅) remarked. During the learning and education, Hanjiang District (邗江区) established a "1+N" whistle-blowing and handling system, forming a normalized coordination and resolution mechanism for cross-departmental difficult problems through "1 main department taking the lead + N functional departments participating, researching and solving problems on-site." Aiming at the problem of difficult charging for online car-hailing reflected by grassroots masses, it actively coordinated with transportation and other departments to promote the landing of fast-charging stations.
The Party Committee of Harbin Electric Corporation Limited (哈尔滨电气集团有限公司) improved the normalized work mechanism for preventing and correcting deviations in the view of political achievements. Combining the actual situation and characteristics of the enterprise, it established a performance list of "excellent and admonished behaviors" for leading personnel, clarifying 10 scenarios for striving for "excellence" and 10 scenarios for mandatory "admonishment," while simultaneously correcting deviations and handling accountability according to the mandatory "admonishment" scenarios.
Practical Work Benefiting the People
Walking into the Public Security Residential Community (公安小区) of Yangcheng Community (阳澄社区), Xingqing District (兴庆区), Yinchuan City (银川市), Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region (宁夏回族自治区), one can see that the once mottled and old walls have taken on a new look.
Xingqing District (兴庆区) has more than 700 old residential communities built before the end of 2000, involving over 100,000 households. During the learning and education, the District Party Committee and District Government promoted "one policy for one community" refined renovation, accelerating the implementation of "substance projects" such as the renewal of underground pipe networks, exterior wall insulation, and sponge-city transformation in old residential communities. At the same time, it innovatively hired "people's supervisors" to supervise the whole process, forming a closed-loop mechanism of "masses suggest, representatives discuss, cadres handle, and everyone evaluates."
Anqing City (安庆市), Anhui Province (安徽省), deepened the application of the "Six-Foot Alley Work Method" (六尺巷工作法), established a "six matters, six handlings" mechanism for contacting and serving the masses. Secretaries at the four levels of city, county, township, and village took the initiative to lead grassroots governance projects, grid workers normalized visits to collect mass demands, and established a service model of "masses order, branch dispatches, capable people accept orders," promoting the handling of livelihood demands before they are even complained about, and ensuring they are handled well. It improved the scheduling and supervision mechanism for key and difficult problems, promoted the implementation of a series of convenience measures, and ensured that every demand of the masses has a landing and every matter has a response.
Hebei District (河北区), Tianjin City (天津市), improved the mechanism for serving the people, organizing community "two committees" cadres to conduct full-coverage visits through home visits, telephone, and the internet, listening to the voices of the people and collecting public opinion. Community Party organization secretaries took the initiative to lead livelihood practical matters around them, timely publicized the progress, accepted the supervision and evaluation of the masses, and continuously improved the masses' sense of gain, happiness, and security.
(Reporters of this newspaper: Li Linwei (李林蔚), Han Junjie (韩俊杰), Wang Jintao (王锦涛), Li Jiading (李家鼎), Fang Yuan (方圆), Li Yanan (李亚楠), Qin Ruijie (秦瑞杰), Yang Yanfei (杨颜菲), Zheng Zhiwen (郑智文))
Return to TopXINHUA (新华社) Xiamen (厦门), June 14 — A special promotion meeting on the construction of the Cross-Strait Integrated Development Demonstration Zone (两岸融合发展示范区) was held in Xiamen (厦门), Fujian (福建), on the 13th. Wang Huning (王沪宁), member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (中共中央政治局) Central Committee (中共中央) and Chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (全国政协), attended and delivered a speech. He stated that it is essential to thoroughly implement the spirit of the Fourth Plenary Session of the 20th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (党的二十届四中全会), carry out the important discourse of General Secretary Xi Jinping (习近平) on Taiwan-related work and the Party's overall strategy for resolving the Taiwan (台湾) issue in the new era, build the Cross-Strait Integrated Development Demonstration Zone (两岸融合发展示范区) with high quality, and promote greater achievements in cross-strait integrated development during the "15th Five-Year Plan" (十五五) period.
Wang Huning (王沪宁) stated that during the "15th Five-Year Plan" (十五五) period, deepening cross-strait integrated development and building the Cross-Strait Integrated Development Demonstration Zone (两岸融合发展示范区) will usher in broad development opportunities and prospects. It is necessary to support Fujian (福建) in exploring new mechanisms, new paths, and new models for cross-strait integrated development, promote the realization of higher-quality, deeper-level, and wider-ranging integration, and further leverage the leading and driving role of the Cross-Strait Integrated Development Demonstration Zone (两岸融合发展示范区).
Wang Huning (王沪宁) stated that it is necessary to implement the requirements of the "15th Five-Year Plan" (十五五) to do a good job in the construction of the Cross-Strait Integrated Development Demonstration Zone (两岸融合发展示范区), and to integrate the adherence to high-quality development throughout the entire process of the demonstration zone's construction. It is necessary to focus on the key tasks of the construction of the Cross-Strait Integrated Development Demonstration Zone (两岸融合发展示范区), increase policy and institutional innovation, and promote the demonstration zone to act as a pioneer and create experience. It is necessary to improve policy measures to promote cross-strait exchanges and cooperation, optimize the business environment, strengthen industrial cooperation, and expand the scope of benefits and sense of gain for Taiwan (台湾) compatriots and enterprises. It is necessary to strengthen cross-strait cultural exchanges, reinforce the role of the Chinese cultural bond, and enhance the identification of Taiwan (台湾) compatriots with the Chinese nation (中华民族), Chinese culture (中华文化), and the great motherland (伟大祖国). It is necessary to unblock channels for Taiwan (台湾) youth to develop in the mainland (大陆), guide Taiwan (台湾) youth to devote themselves to the mainland's (大陆) high-quality development and modernization construction, and enhance kinship and well-being and promote spiritual harmony through exchanges, interactions, and integration.
Responsible comrades from the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council (中央台办), the National Development and Reform Commission (国家发展改革委), and Fujian Province (福建省) introduced the progress of the construction of the Cross-Strait Integrated Development Demonstration Zone (两岸融合发展示范区). Responsible comrades from the Ministry of Finance (财政部), the Ministry of Transport (交通运输部), the Ministry of Commerce (商务部), the Ministry of Culture and Tourism (文化和旅游部), the State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission of the State Council (国务院国资委), and the State Administration for Market Regulation (市场监管总局) delivered speeches.
On the morning of the 14th, Wang Huning (王沪宁) also conducted research in Xiamen (厦门) on cross-strait integrated development work, the intelligent and convenient services for Taiwan (台湾) compatriots, and cross-strait youth exchange and cooperation.
Return to TopAs the Dragon Boat Festival (端午节) approaches, various regions are organizing dragon boat races, training sessions, and parades to welcome the arrival of this traditional festival.
The image shows a women's dragon boat team striving to be the first, 奋勇争先 (fèn yǒng zhēng xiān - "strive bravely to be first," to exert great effort to be at the forefront), during a dragon boat race held in Jingzhou (荆州), Hubei (湖北), on June 13.
Photographed by Ye Liming (叶力铭) (Provided by Xinhua News Agency (新华社))
Return to TopBeijing (北京), June 14 (Reporter Wu Qiuyu (吴秋余)) — Financial statistics reports released by the People's Bank of China (中国人民银行) show that, according to preliminary statistics, the cumulative increase in the scale of social financing in China (中国) reached 17.48 trillion yuan in the first five months of this year. As of the end of May, the outstanding stock of social financing was 458.81 trillion yuan, a year-on-year increase of 7.7%.
In the first five months, RMB loans in China (中国) increased by 9.11 trillion yuan, with the scale of loans maintaining reasonable growth. As of the end of May, the balance of domestic and foreign currency loans stood at 284.79 trillion yuan, a year-on-year increase of 5.4%, while the balance of RMB loans was 281.02 trillion yuan, a year-on-year increase of 5.5%.
In recent years, the People's Bank of China (中国人民银行) has implemented a moderately loose monetary policy, strengthening counter-cyclical and cross-cyclical adjustments. This has continuously created a suitable monetary and financial environment for the positive and high-quality development of China's (中国) economy, and the effects of this moderately loose monetary policy have continued to manifest. Guided by monetary and credit policies such as structural monetary policy tools, financial institutions have adapted to the trends of economic transformation, optimized financial supply, and directed more credit resources toward major projects, key areas, and weak links, thereby supporting the continuous improvement in the quality and efficiency of high-quality development. The implementation of these policies has ensured that the economy does not 守株待兔 (shǒu zhū dài tù - "guard stump wait rabbit," to rely on luck or wait idly for opportunities) but instead actively pursues growth.
Return to TopBeijing (北京), June 14 (Reporter Li Xinping (李心萍)) — The reporter learned from the State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission of the State Council (国务院国资委) that as of 2025, the proportion of investment in basic research by central enterprises (中央企业) has increased to 9.4% of their total research and development (R&D) expenditure. According to statistics, the investment in basic research by central enterprises (中央企业) rose from 56.5 billion yuan in 2021 to 102.4 billion yuan in 2025, with the proportion increasing from 6% to 9.4%. From 2022 to 2025, the R&D investment of central enterprises (中央企业) has exceeded one trillion yuan for four consecutive years.
Among the 14 categories of national-level platforms, central enterprises (中央企业) have led the construction of 474, including 91 national key laboratories (全国重点实验室). In 2025, eight industry-wide common technology research institutes were established, gathering specialized forces to strengthen applied basic research and common technology R&D. Focusing on the frontiers of science and technology and the needs of industrial development, 58 central enterprises (中央企业) have built 97 sources of original technology, achieving 121 original breakthroughs in fields such as new power systems, 5G, and next-generation mobile communications.
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XINHUA (新华社) Xining (西宁), June 14 — Zhang Guoqing (张国清), member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee (中共中央政治局) and Vice Premier of the State Council (国务院), conducted research in Qinghai Province (青海省) from the 12th to the 14th on the development of the salt lake industry and disaster prevention and mitigation work. He emphasized the need to thoroughly implement the spirit of the important instructions and directives of General Secretary Xi Jinping (习近平), carry out the decisions and arrangements of the CPC Central Committee (党中央) and the State Council (国务院), advance the construction of salt lake industry bases with high quality, focus on improving the capacity to prevent and respond to natural disasters, and better coordinate development and security.
Zhang Guoqing (张国清) visited enterprises such as Qinghai Salt Lake Magnesium (青海盐湖镁业), Potash Fertilizer (钾肥), and Lithium Battery (锂电), as well as the Western Mining (西部矿业) Smart Control Center, to learn in detail about production, operations, research and development innovation, and industrial development. He emphasized that salt lake resources are national strategic resources. It is necessary to handle the relationship between resource development and utilization and ecological environmental protection well, accelerate green, low-carbon, and circular development, improve the capacity for resource security, and continuously enhance the international competitiveness and influence of the salt lake industry. Efforts should be made to coordinate the layout of the salt lake industry, capacity planning, standard upgrading, and factor guarantees; develop characteristic and advantageous industries such as deep processing of salt lake resources, non-ferrous metal smelting, and new materials in light of local conditions; and promote the extension of the industrial chain to high-value-added fields. Focusing on the comprehensive utilization and efficient development of salt lake resources, it is necessary to strengthen research on key core technologies and key common technologies, actively promote innovation in related industrial processes, technologies, and craftsmanship, as well as digital empowerment, and promote green mining and economical and intensive utilization, striving to achieve low consumption, low emissions, and high efficiency. It is essential to leverage the demonstration and driving role of state-owned capital and state-owned enterprises, open up application scenarios, promote close cooperation between upstream and downstream of the industrial chain, and build an advanced industrial cluster where large, medium, and small enterprises develop in integration.
Zhang Guoqing (张国清) visited the Gucheng Emergency Shelter Center (古城应急避险中心) in Xining City (西宁市) and the Qinghai Earthquake Early Warning Center (青海省地震预警中心) to investigate disaster monitoring, disaster prevention, and emergency sheltering work. He emphasized the need to adhere to a people-centered approach and prioritize life, follow important requirements such as "two persistences and three shifts," and focus on improving the capacity to prevent and respond to natural disasters. Attention must be paid to prevention before the fact, strengthening disaster monitoring and early warning, and 因地制宜 (yīn dì zhì yí - "according to place set measure," to adapt to local conditions) by combining high technology with "indigenous methods," giving full play to the roles of experts and "veteran hands," keeping a close eye on dangerous areas such as flash floods and geological disasters, as well as high-risk periods like heavy nighttime rainfall, and strengthening inspections and defenses. It is necessary to strengthen specific assistance and guidance for grassroots disaster prevention, mitigation, and relief work, refine and substantiate the transfer and avoidance of risks as an important part of emergency plans, and strengthen specialized training for grassroots cadres and popular science education for the masses. It is crucial to highlight practical combat and effectiveness, pre-position professional rescue forces, optimize the layout of disaster relief supplies, and strengthen the support of advanced equipment, especially in response to extremely complex situations such as high-altitude, cold regions and "three-cut" (loss of power, communication, and transportation) scenarios, so as to improve the capability for rescue and emergency response and safeguard the lives and property of the people.
Return to TopBy: 本报记者 黄 娴 廖睿灵
In the summer, northern Guizhou (黔北) sees the Loushan Pass (娄山关) lush with vegetation. As the mountain breeze sweeps across the mountain pass, it feels as though it carries the echoes of bugle calls from years past. In February 1935, the Red Army (红军) dealt a heavy blow to enemy forces here, securing their first major victory since the start of the Long March (长征).
During the Third Front Construction (三线建设) period, thousands of heroic sons and daughters flocked from across the country to Zunyi (遵义), Guizhou (贵州), erecting factory buildings in the mountain ravines and laying the industrial foundation for this city. As time has passed, the spirit of "breaking through barriers" has been inherited and carried forward on this land.
In March 2025, General Secretary Xi Jinping (习近平) visited Guizhou (贵州) for an inspection. While listening to the work reports from the Guizhou Provincial Party Committee (贵州省委) and the Provincial Government (省政府), the General Secretary pointed out: "Guizhou (贵州) must be determined and courageous in exploration, persist in taking the real economy as the foundation, strengthen innovation-driven development, coordinate the transformation of new and old kinetic energy, accelerate the transformation and upgrading of traditional industries, actively develop strategic emerging industries, and strengthen and optimize industries such as the digital economy and new energy."
Upholding the Long March Spirit (长征精神) and the Zunyi Meeting Spirit (遵义会议精神), the city is forging ahead on the Long March (长征) of the new era with high morale. Guided by the important instructions of General Secretary Xi Jinping (习近平), Zunyi (遵义) has taken high-end, intelligent, and green technological transformation as its focal point, driving the transformation of traditional industries such as equipment manufacturing and non-ferrous metals.
In the Zunyi National Economic and Technological Development Zone (遵义国家经济技术开发区), within the intelligent workshop of Guizhou AVIC Elevator Co., Ltd. (贵州中航电梯有限责任公司), robots wave their arms, producing one set of elevator components every minute, with a maximum daily output of 500 sets.
The company's predecessor was a Third Front (三线) enterprise that once filled the gap in elevator manufacturing technology in Guizhou (贵州), but it once fell into a slump. "At that time, we only sold about 30 elevators a year, with revenue of a few million yuan, and we had to buy raw materials on credit," said Liu Qi (刘琦), director of the company's sales center. "But everyone had an unyielding spirit deep in their bones!"
The enterprise established Party branches on the production lines, with Party members serving as team leaders for each line, leading everyone to 攻坚克难 (gōng jiān kè nán - "attack fortress overcome difficulty," to work hard to overcome major obstacles). The company's Party committee led employees to solve problems one by one and actively expanded the market. Relevant departments in Zunyi (遵义) visited the enterprise multiple times to coordinate financial funds and help the company overcome difficulties. Facing the wave of digital transformation, the company introduced a 5G+ Industrial Internet empowerment platform, opened up data-sharing channels, and achieved full-process intelligent management. The enterprise has accumulated more than 200 patents, its products are sold far overseas, and its annual sales revenue has exceeded 500 million yuan.
Zheng'an County (正安县) was once a deeply impoverished county and the last in Zunyi (遵义) to shake off poverty. Today, it produces over 2.5 million guitars annually, which are famous both at home and abroad. Behind this transformation lies a four-character principle: 因地制宜 (yīn dì zhì yí - "according to land formulate measures," to adapt measures to local conditions).
Zheng'an (正安) has a balanced climate in terms of humidity, providing a natural advantage for manufacturing wooden musical instruments; more importantly, the county once had over 50,000 migrant workers engaged in the guitar industry elsewhere. More than a decade ago, a group of migrant workers returned home with their skills. Starting with the first guitar factory founded by brothers Zheng Chuanxiang (郑传祥) and Zheng Chuanjiu (郑传玖), 144 upstream and downstream enterprises have settled here one after another.
Traditional guitars rely on imported wood, but the technical team at Zheng'an Natasha Musical Instrument Manufacturing Co., Ltd. (正安娜塔莎乐器制造有限公司) was determined to keep the raw materials in their own hands. They drew inspiration from the bamboo covering the mountains: "Bamboo has been used to make sheng, xiao, and flutes since ancient times; why can't it be used to make guitars?"
Bamboo has good resilience, but it is high in humidity and sugar content, making it prone to cracking and molding if not treated properly. The company spent more than a year repeatedly carbonizing, de-sugaring, and improving the splicing process, successfully 闯过这道关 (chuǎng guò zhè dào guān - "break through this barrier," to overcome a difficult challenge), and developed all-bamboo guitars, with products selling well both at home and abroad.
Looking across Zheng'an (正安), the guitar industry directly provides employment for more than 5,000 people and drives employment for about 15,000 people in the surrounding areas, with an industrial output value exceeding 1 billion yuan.
In 2025, the regional GDP of Zunyi (遵义) reached 520.612 billion yuan, with a total industrial output value exceeding 300 billion yuan, and the regional GDP of all its subordinate counties and districts exceeded 10 billion yuan. The permanent population of the central urban area exceeds 1.6 million, and the urbanization rate of the permanent population has reached 61%... 雄关漫道真如铁，而今迈步从头越 (xióng guān màn dào zhēn rú tiě, ér jīn mài bù cóng tóu yuè - "the mighty pass is like iron, today we step forward from the beginning," a line from Mao Zedong's poem, meaning that despite past hardships, one must start anew and forge ahead with determination). From the breakthroughs of individual enterprises to the overall advancement of a small mountain city, the red gene nourishes this fertile land, and Zunyi (遵义) is moving firmly on the road of high-quality development.
Return to TopBy: 本报记者 李心萍
Recently, the "15th Five-Year Plan for Urban Renewal" (城市更新“十五五”规划) was released, proposing to conduct health check-ups for urban underground pipe networks and to construct or renovate approximately 770,000 kilometers of such networks.
If high-rise buildings and bustling traffic are the "facade" of a city, then the pipe networks buried deep underground are the "lining." They act like the "blood vessels" and "nerves" of a city, maintaining its orderly operation.
The outline of the "15th Five-Year Plan" (十五五规划纲要) proposes to advance urban renewal with high quality and sets a target to construct or renovate approximately 770,000 kilometers of urban underground pipe networks. The "15th Five-Year Plan for Urban Renewal" (城市更新“十五五”规划) provides a "task list" and "roadmap" for the construction and renovation of urban underground pipe networks during the "15th Five-Year Plan" (十五五) period.
What are the directions for the renewal and upgrading of urban underground pipe networks? How can construction be advanced to further leverage their role? Our reporter conducted interviews.
**Total scale of approximately 3.9 million kilometers; problems such as aging facilities and prioritizing construction over management still exist**
What does the urban underground pipe network include? Let’s look at some data:
1.199 million kilometers of water supply pipelines, transporting millions of tons of domestic water daily;
1.04 million kilometers of gas pipe networks, allowing thousands of households to enjoy hot meals and hot showers;
993,600 kilometers of drainage pipe networks, collecting and treating domestic sewage and reducing urban "waterlogging" during the rainy season;
546,200 kilometers of heating pipe networks, safeguarding indoor warmth during cold winters.
......
"Urban underground pipe networks safeguard the basic functions of a city, including water supply, drainage, gas, and heating, ensuring the normal operation of the city," said Lü Hongliang (吕红亮), a professor-level senior engineer at the China Academy of Urban Planning and Design (中国城市规划设计研究院). He noted that China's total scale of urban underground pipe networks is approximately 3.9 million kilometers, the largest and fastest-growing in the world.
During the "14th Five-Year Plan" (十四五) period, China cumulatively constructed or renovated approximately 1 million kilometers of various underground pipe networks. However, some long-standing contradictions and problems remain prominent, Lü Hongliang (吕红亮) explained: First, the baseline data is unclear. Due to incomplete archives, some old pipelines lack maps or coordinates, leaving the extent of safety hazards unknown. Second, facilities are aging. A high proportion of the existing urban underground pipe network is old, leading to "operation while ill" and risks such as leaks, pipe bursts, and waterlogging. Third, there is fragmentation. The "road zipper" (马路拉链) phenomenon—where roads are repeatedly dug up—still exists, and spatial coordination is insufficient. Fourth, there is a tendency to prioritize construction over management. Digital sensing coverage is insufficient, and safety resilience needs improvement.
**All prefecture-level and above cities and county-level cities to conduct comprehensive urban health check-ups this year**
According to the "15th Five-Year Plan" (十五五) outline, among the underground pipe networks expected to be constructed or renovated nationwide, there are approximately 200,000 kilometers of urban gas networks, 175,000 kilometers of drainage networks, 175,000 kilometers of water supply networks, 100,000 kilometers of sewage networks, and 120,000 kilometers of heating networks.
Only by conducting health check-ups to clarify the status quo can precise renewal be achieved.
This year, all prefecture-level and above cities and county-level cities across the country must comprehensively carry out urban health check-ups. The completion rate of old gas pipe network renovation and the intelligent monitoring and management rate of municipal pipelines are key indicators. The Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development (住房和城乡建设部) has proposed that all regions must adhere to the principle of "check-up first, then renewal; no check-up, no renewal." For example, Yangzhou (扬州), Jiangsu (江苏), has deeply integrated pipe network check-ups into urban health check-ups, building a characteristic indicator system and carrying out targeted construction and renovation.
Drawing digital maps to bid farewell to underground "blind boxes."
In the past, pipe network data was scattered, and some even relied on memory; construction was like "opening a blind box." Digital pipe networks are changing this situation. Taking Chongqing (重庆) as an example, the local government unified data standards, collected data from 523 ownership units, standardized 38 types of pipeline attributes, and drew a digital twin map containing underground pipelines, surface buildings, and population density. The digital twin rate of pipelines in the central urban area of Chongqing (重庆) has reached 100%, achieving a "one-screen overview" of both surface and underground assets. It is clear at a glance what pipelines exist, how deep they are buried, and when they were built.
Introducing an artificial intelligence "brain" to achieve second-level scheduling.
In the Suzhou Industrial Park (苏州工业园区), Jiangsu (江苏), the electronic screen displays the real-time "heartbeat" of the underground pipe network. High-precision hydraulic models can predict peak water usage and automatically allocate water volume, with pipe network water pressure adjusting automatically in seconds based on usage peaks and troughs. 150 sewage pipe network and river/lake water level monitoring points act like "nerve endings" distributed underground, transmitting data in real-time, allowing sewage treatment plants, pipe networks, and river channels to work in tandem for refined sewage management.
The renovation of urban underground pipe networks will revolve around the two keywords of "safety" and "intelligence." Data shows that 27 provinces have built provincial-level urban lifeline engineering supervision platforms. Most cities are establishing a "single ledger" for underground pipe network baselines and a "single network" for monitoring, using modern technical means to conduct real-time monitoring, early warning, and rapid disposal for gas, water supply, and drainage networks, ensuring the safe operation of urban infrastructure.
**Investment in urban underground pipe network construction and renovation during the "15th Five-Year Plan" (十五五) period is expected to exceed 5 trillion yuan**
Calculations show that during the "15th Five-Year Plan" (十五五) period, the national investment in urban underground pipe network construction and renovation is expected to exceed 5 trillion yuan. Where will the money come from? How can it be coordinated?
"China will accelerate the introduction of relevant plans and implementation schemes for the 'six major networks,' clarify investment priorities in various fields, break down goals and tasks into annual targets, and clarify time and progress arrangements," said Li Chao (李超), spokesperson for the National Development and Reform Commission (国家发展改革委). In addition, it is necessary to strengthen the guarantee of capital factors, coordinate the use of various government funds and new policy-based financial instruments, and stimulate the vitality of private investment.
Looking at local practices, some places are actively applying for and making full use of local government special bonds. For example, Golmud (格尔木), Qinghai (青海), applied for 53.17 million yuan in ultra-long special treasury bonds this year, specifically for urban underground pipe network construction and renovation projects. Suqian (宿迁), Jiangsu (江苏), based on ultra-long special treasury bonds, has superimposed local government special bonds, special fund awards and subsidies, and market-introduced funds to form a multi-source, collaborative, structurally robust, and sustainable financing mechanism for urban underground pipe networks. Some places have carried out special cooperation with policy banks to strive for medium- and long-term loan credit and leverage developmental financial instruments. For example, the Jiangxi Branch of the China Development Bank (国家开发银行江西分行) has clearly identified underground pipe network and gallery-related projects as key credit directions. Other places have used models such as franchising to guide and encourage social capital to participate in investment, construction, and operation, alleviating short-term fiscal pressure. Guangzhou (广州), Guangdong (广东), innovatively adopted a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model, where social capital is responsible for the investment, financing, construction, and long-term operation and maintenance of the project. It allows social capital operators to collect fees from pipeline units entering the gallery, while the government provides feasibility gap subsidies based on strict performance evaluation results, exploring a "user-pays + government subsidy" return path.
Renovation is not just about fixing shortcomings; it is also about expanding domestic demand. "The project will directly drive upstream and downstream industrial chains such as pipe materials, construction machinery, intelligent sensing, and construction services. It is expected to create about 2.8 million jobs annually, with an investment multiplier of 1.5 to 2 times," said Lü Hongliang (吕红亮).
Pipeline management involves many departments and links, making it easy to **各扫门前雪** (gè sǎo mén qián xuě - "each sweeps the snow from their own doorstep," to mind one's own business and ignore others' problems). Various regions are breaking down barriers through "combining unification and division," establishing horizontal linkage mechanisms to achieve synchronized construction of pipelines and roads, and vertically implementing the principle that "the industry in charge must manage the pipelines," managing everything from planning and construction to operation, maintenance, and safety.
The Baling Street area (捌零街片区) in Nan'an District (南岸区), Chongqing (重庆), used artificial intelligence technology to clarify the status of more than 10 types of pipelines, including gas, water supply, and drainage, all at once. By locking in old pipelines that needed simultaneous renovation in advance and scientifically formulating "multi-line integration" construction plans and precise scheduling, they achieved "one incision, multiple surgeries," solving problems that might have otherwise required repeated excavations and reducing the impact on the lives of the public.
In terms of new construction, comprehensive pipe galleries are the focus. The "China Urban Construction Statistical Yearbook" (中国城市建设统计年鉴) shows that as of the end of 2024, the completed length of urban comprehensive pipe galleries nationwide was approximately 7,700 kilometers, with a construction scale leading the world. Lü Hongliang (吕红亮) introduced that although the one-time investment in comprehensive pipe galleries is high, in the long run, it can significantly reduce the cost of repeated excavations and optimize the use of underground space, offering better comprehensive benefits compared to direct burial methods.
Guangzhou (广州) has a comprehensive pipe gallery built along a rail line that is the largest and longest in China, with a total length of 45.7 kilometers, connecting 29 substations, 12 water plants, booster pump stations, and multiple communication hubs. The "pipe gallery + subway" co-construction model reduced construction costs by more than 30%.
This urban underground pipe network, which is invisible and intangible in daily life, is becoming stronger, more resilient, and smarter, safeguarding the lights of thousands of homes and supporting a better life.
Return to TopBy: 本报记者 李 蕊
In Wangganba Community (王干坝社区), Jiangzhuang Town (姜庄镇), Gaomi City (高密市), Shandong Province (山东省), within the Weichai Lovol Smart Farm (潍柴雷沃智慧农场), a gentle breeze sweeps across the fields, causing golden wheat ears to sway in layers.
"Ding—" The phone screen lights up. Chen Ling (陈玲), the person in charge of the farm, opens the Weichai Lovol Smart Agriculture Management Platform (潍柴雷沃智慧农业管理平台), and a weather alert message "pops" out. With a swipe of her fingertip, a digital map fills the screen, making the distribution of plots and soil moisture levels clear at a glance.
By comprehensively analyzing data integrated by the artificial intelligence large model—including remote sensing satellite data, meteorological information, soil moisture, and crop growth status—the system provides a judgment: the farm's wheat is basically mature, and harvesting is expected between June 15 and June 18.
"During the critical period of wheat harvest, we rely on data to 排兵布阵 (pái bīng bù zhèn - "arrange troops and deploy positions," to make strategic arrangements or organize operations). Chen Ling says while holding her phone, "Based on crop maturity, we can determine the optimal harvest time and coordinate unmanned harvesters with grain transport vehicles to achieve efficient, low-loss, unmanned operations."
The phone "dings" again, bringing a notification about the status and scheduling of agricultural machinery. "Look, the equipment information and operational data of every harvester are all connected to the platform." Chen Ling looks down, "The location of agricultural machinery, movement trajectories, harvest progress, and work volume... I don't need to run around; I can dispatch everything while sitting in the office."
Previously, Chen Ling had worked in the agricultural supplies industry for many years, delivering fertilizers and seeds to large-scale growers and providing technical guidance. Back then, patrolling the fields meant running around, and making judgments relied on experience. "Large-scale growers would ask me: 'If I apply this fertilizer, how much will the yield increase?' I could only give a rough estimate." Chen Ling recalls that the most troublesome part was scheduling agricultural machinery. "Large-scale growers with thousands of mu of land often sign contracts with several different work teams. One day, this team harvests 50 mu on the east side, and the next day, another team sows 80 mu on the west side. All the work records had to be kept in a small notebook, and scheduling management was also a headache."
In 2023, the smart farm, covering 1,200 mu, was completed, and the fields gained a "digital steward"—the Weichai Lovol Smart Agriculture Management Platform (潍柴雷沃智慧农业管理平台).
When she first joined the smart farm, looking at the large screens covering the wall with dense data jumping around, Chen Ling was somewhat skeptical: Can you really farm through a screen? Later, she discovered that while the platform cannot "go into the fields" for people, it can assist in decision-making and error correction, making management more precise and scientific.
"The platform is equipped with an artificial intelligence brain, realizing a closed-loop management of data throughout the entire process of plowing, sowing, managing, and harvesting," Chen Ling explains. "It can integrate data such as soil fertility and meteorological environments, combine it with artificial intelligence algorithms to optimize planting models, and generate 'prescriptions.' For example, last year, in one plot, the sensor indicated that the nitrogen content was low. I was a bit hesitant because the wheat seedlings in that area looked quite green. As it turned out, when we dug it up, the root development was indeed poor. Following the platform's suggestion, we applied fertilizer once, and the yield didn't drop."
Weichai Lovol (潍柴雷沃) has already built over 70 such smart farms in different agricultural regions, including the Huang-Huai-Hai dry farming area (黄淮海旱作区) and the southern paddy field areas (南方水田区), and its smart agriculture management platform has served a cumulative area exceeding 10 million mu.
Li Defang (李德芳), Dean of the Weichai Lovol Smart Agriculture Research Institute (潍柴雷沃智慧农业研究院), explains that before planting, the artificial intelligence large model can provide planting planning suggestions—such as variety selection and sowing density optimization—based on the historical data of the plots and current environmental information. During the growth process, by analyzing real-time data transmitted back from satellite remote sensing, drones, and Internet of Things (IoT) equipment, the large model can accurately determine the risk of pests and diseases as well as water and fertilizer needs, issuing instructions to intelligent agricultural machinery for variable-rate fertilization and precision pesticide application. According to practical calculations, the precision operation system empowered by the large model can achieve a 10% increase in crop yield, a 5% saving in seeds, a 10% reduction in both chemical fertilizer and pesticide use, and a 50% saving in agricultural water.
This year, the wheat in the farm is growing promisingly. "The forecast says it might rain in the next few days, so we have used the platform to coordinate the agricultural machinery in advance, ready to rush the harvest at any time," Chen Ling says. "Once the wheat is harvested, we will rush to sow the corn."
Return to TopBy: 本报记者 李心萍
Starting June 11, child passengers may purchase railway travel multi-ride tickets at 50% of the price of adult railway travel multi-ride tickets. What are travel multi-ride tickets? How can they be purchased? How are they used? Our reporter conducted interviews to find out.
Since 2021, the railway department has gradually introduced "multi-ride/period tickets" on certain lines. These tickets do not restrict passengers to specific trains; instead, ticket holders may travel multiple times within the validity period between designated departure and arrival stations in specified seat classes. Currently, there are two types of "multi-ride/period tickets" with a 90-day validity (10 rides or 20 rides) and 11 types with a 30-day validity (ranging from 10 to 60 rides), covering 780 stations across 74 popular routes. Compared to ordinary tickets, these "multi-ride/period tickets" offer varying levels of discounts; the more rides purchased, the greater the discount, which effectively meets the needs of commuters and business travelers.
In June 2023, the railway department launched railway travel multi-ride ticket products, primarily aimed at adult passengers. These operate on a "one-time purchase, segmented travel, 15-day validity" model. Purchasers can independently select 2 to 10 segments of travel between designated stations. Each segment is for a single, one-way trip in a specified seat class. All ticket prices enjoy varying discounts, with the lowest being 85% of the average fare for the same route and seat class. This is more economical than purchasing tickets for each segment separately and is well-suited to the travel needs of passengers who prefer flexible itineraries, traveling while exploring, and enjoying a "fast travel, slow tour" experience. Following this optimization and upgrade, child passengers can also purchase railway travel multi-ride tickets and enjoy child discount policies, achieving a "discount on top of a discount."
Each order for a railway travel multi-ride ticket can include up to 9 passengers, making it convenient for families and groups to travel together. Child passengers must be accompanied by at least one adult passenger, and it must be confirmed that they are still within the eligible age range for child ticket discounts when using the railway travel multi-ride ticket.
After purchasing a travel multi-ride ticket, passengers must activate it within 30 days. Activation occurs upon the successful reservation or ticket gate entry for any single segment of the trip. If not activated within 30 days, the ticket will automatically expire, and a full refund will be issued via the original payment channel.
Railway travel multi-ride tickets support two methods for station entry and boarding: "advance seat reservation" and "direct ID card scanning." The first method, "advance seat reservation," allows passengers to reserve seats via the 12306 (12306) website or mobile application after a successful purchase, or by using the passenger's original valid ID at an automated ticket machine. Child passengers must reserve seats together with their accompanying adult passenger via the 12306 (12306) website or mobile application. Once a seat is successfully reserved, the passenger may enter the station and board using their original valid ID. In the event of a change in plans, the reserved seat must be canceled before the train departs, with no fee incurred; failure to cancel a reservation is considered as having used one ride.
The second method, "direct ID card scanning," allows passengers to enter the station and board by scanning their original valid ID at ticket gates or manual inspection counters if there are remaining seats on the intended train. A seat will be automatically assigned, and the 12306 (12306) system will push seat information to the passenger's registered mobile phone via SMS. Child passengers must enter through manual inspection counters, where staff will confirm they are accompanied by an adult before allowing them to enter and board.
There are currently 26 types of railway travel multi-ride ticket products, involving 242 stations. For example, the "Zhengzhou-Kaifeng-Luoyang Tang-Song Dynasty Cultural Journey" (郑汴洛·唐宋风华穿越之旅) travel multi-ride ticket offered by the Zhengzhou Railway Group (郑州局集团公司) connects cultural cities such as Zhengzhou (郑州), Luoyang (洛阳), and Kaifeng (开封). By using travel multi-ride tickets such as the "Jiangxi-Fujian Red Heritage and City Tour" (赣闽红韵·踏访名城之旅) from the Nanchang Railway Group (南昌局集团公司), passengers can freely arrange their itineraries between stations including Nanchang (南昌), Pingxiang (萍乡), Ji'an (吉安), Ganzhou (赣州), Longyan (龙岩), Fuzhou (福州), and Xiamen (厦门). Travelers often find that these options allow them to 随心所欲 (suí xīn suǒ yù - "follow heart follow desire," to do exactly as one pleases) while exploring the country.
Return to TopRecently, at the Lingshan Lychee Culture and Tourism Festival (灵山荔枝文化旅游节) in Lingshan County (灵山县), Guangxi (广西), the application scenarios for a vertical large model covering the entire lifecycle of lychees were released, marking the deep integration of artificial intelligence technology into the local lychee industry chain. According to reports, to address the "on-and-off year" (alternating bearing) issue of concern to fruit farmers, the large model can utilize image recognition to capture the growth status of fruit trees. By combining this with environmental data such as temperature and precipitation, it generates customized management plans to smooth out fluctuations in yield. The photo shows fruit farmers harvesting lychees at the Phoenix Orchard (凤凰果场) in Lingshan County (灵山县).
Text by our reporter Pang Geping (庞革平)
Photo by He Huawen (何华文) (People Visual (人民视觉))
Beijing (北京), June 14 (Reporter Han Xin (韩鑫)) — The reporter recently learned from the Yangtze River Shipping Administration (长江航务管理局) of the Ministry of Transport (交通运输部) that the economic benefits of the Yangtze River Estuary (长江口) waterway maintained steady growth in 2025, with major indicators such as vessel traffic and cargo throughput all achieving year-on-year increases. In 2025, the Yangtze River Estuary (长江口) waterway generated 23.3 billion yuan in economic benefits for shipping and ports, a year-on-year increase of 4.9%. Compared to 2011, the economic benefits of the waterway have grown by 162%, with an average annual growth rate of approximately 7%, providing strong support for the high-quality development of the Yangtze River Economic Belt (长江经济带), the integrated and coordinated development of the Yangtze River Delta (长三角), and the elevation of the Shanghai International Shipping Center (上海国际航运中心) to a higher level.
According to calculations, in 2025, the cargo throughput of the Yangtze River Estuary (长江口) waterway reached 1.754 billion tons, a year-on-year increase of 3.25%. Throughout the year, it stimulated a growth of 177.3 billion yuan in Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and an increase of approximately 27.3 billion yuan in fiscal revenue. Since the start of the 14th Five-Year Plan (十四五), the efficient operation of the Yangtze River Estuary (长江口) waterway has cumulatively stimulated 849.9 billion yuan in GDP growth and driven an increase of 142 billion yuan in fiscal revenue. These two figures represent increases of 20.5% and 1.6% respectively compared to the 13th Five-Year Plan (十三五) period, effectively promoting industrial transformation and upgrading in regions along the river and reducing overall logistics costs for society. The achievements made are by no means 一蹴而就 (yī cù ér jiù - "one step reach success," something achieved overnight; usually used in the negative to emphasize that success requires sustained effort), but rather the result of long-term development and strategic planning.
Return to TopBy: 本报记者 罗珊珊 白光迪
The 7th Multinational Corporation Leaders Qingdao Summit (第七届跨国公司领导人青岛峰会) will be held in Qingdao (青岛) from June 15 to 17. As of now, 435 corporate guests have confirmed their attendance, including 355 representatives from overseas multinational corporations. From January to April this year, 20,113 new foreign-invested enterprises were established nationwide, a year-on-year increase of 6.8%. "Innovation source," "China has become a 'gym' for global enterprises"... Laying out a strategy for the Chinese market is no longer an optional choice, but a mandatory one for multinational corporations looking toward the future.
From "Manufacturing Base" to "Innovation Source"
The next "China" is still China.
Currently, Schneider Electric (施耐德电气) has built five major R&D centers and AI (Artificial Intelligence) innovation laboratories in Beijing (北京), Shanghai (上海), Wuxi, Jiangsu (江苏无锡), Xi'an, Shaanxi (陕西西安), and Shenzhen, Guangdong (广东深圳). With full-business-line R&D capabilities, it has achieved a transition from "global technology serving China" to "Chinese innovation feeding back to the world." "As a frontier of global energy transition and a highland for AI applications, China is the source of Schneider Electric's innovation and development," said Yin Zheng (尹正), Executive Vice President of Schneider Electric (施耐德电气) and President of China and East Asia. At the beginning of this year, Schneider Electric's (施耐德电气) Wuhan (武汉) factory was honored with the World Economic Forum's (世界经济论坛) "Global Lighthouse Network" title, successfully building a talent cultivation and empowerment model adapted to the digital era, setting a replicable and scalable innovation benchmark for the world.
Currently, a new round of scientific and technological revolution and industrial transformation is developing in depth. Whoever can take the lead in new technologies and new momentum fields such as AI, the digital economy, and green low-carbon development will have the opportunity to gain the initiative in increasingly fierce international competition.
Relying on a complete industrial system, high-quality talent reserves, and rich application scenarios, China is gradually upgrading from a "manufacturing base" to an "innovation source," and foreign-funded R&D centers in China are upgrading from local adaptation to global innovation fulcrums. A set of data confirms this trend: in 2025, the actual use of foreign capital in China's scientific research and technical services sector accounted for nearly 1/5 of the total, a proportion that has risen steadily for seven consecutive years, 3.8 times that of 2018. In 2025, 14,000 new foreign-invested enterprises were established in this field, a year-on-year increase of 27.2%. In recent years, R&D centers of a number of multinational corporations such as Roche Diagnostics (罗氏诊断), AstraZeneca (阿斯利康), Philips (飞利浦), Porsche (保时捷), and Schneider Electric (施耐德电气) have landed in China.
"Over the past five years, we have seen China make new breakthroughs in scientific, technological, and industrial innovation. Many innovations start in China and move from the laboratory to the market at a faster speed," said Anna (安娜), President of Henkel Greater China (汉高大中华区). China's "15th Five-Year Plan" (十五五) has put forward higher requirements for scientific and technological innovation. Henkel (汉高) has continuously strengthened its local innovation capabilities, consistently increasing its investment in R&D in China over the past few years, and has successively launched the Consumer Brands Asia R&D Center, the Adhesive Technologies Application Center, and the Adhesive Technologies Innovation Experience Center to accelerate the implementation of innovation.
From Investing in China to Integrating into China
In the current era of increasingly fierce industrial competition, global enterprises must remain active and iterate rapidly. One of the advantages of a super-large economy lies in the high-intensity training brought about by full competition. The massive consumer market, complete industrial system, and vast number of business entities have pushed China to become one of the most competitive and fastest-iterating markets in the world. This high-intensity competition places higher demands on a company's products, services, cost control, and response speed.
"China is an excellent training ground," said Ni Yili (倪以理), Chairman of McKinsey China (麦肯锡中国区). If a company can win in the Chinese market, its competitiveness in other global markets will also significantly improve. In other words, winning in China often means being more capable of winning globally.
In the past three years, McDonald's (麦当劳) has opened about 1,000 new restaurants in China each year. As of now, there are more than 8,000 McDonald's (麦当劳) restaurants in mainland China (中国内地), spread across more than 300 cities, serving over 1.4 billion customers in 2025. In terms of the number of restaurants, China is McDonald's (麦当劳) second-largest global market and its fastest-growing one. Zhang Jiayin (张家茵), CEO of McDonald's China (麦当劳中国), stated that in 2025, McDonald's (麦当劳) and its core suppliers began building the Huzhou, Zhejiang (浙江湖州) Smart Industrial Park to further consolidate the local supply chain network and better achieve local service, local production, and local response.
Deep integration into China's local supply chain has become a realistic choice for many multinational corporations to cope with the deep restructuring of global industrial chains. More and more multinational enterprises are positioning China as a strategic highland for honing competitiveness, leveraging the power of the Chinese market to enhance global competitiveness by introducing local Chinese partners and granting Chinese companies more decision-making autonomy.
Over the past three years, the number of existing foreign-invested enterprises in China has risen year by year, exceeding 530,000, with the stock of foreign capital exceeding 3.6 trillion US dollars. The vast majority of existing foreign-invested enterprises choose to deepen their roots in China and continue to expand investment. In 2025, more than 8,000 foreign-invested enterprises increased their investment in China, a year-on-year increase of more than 10%; from January to April 2026, more than 3,000 foreign-invested enterprises have already added investment.
At the beginning of this year, AstraZeneca (阿斯利康) announced an investment of over 100 billion yuan in China between now and 2030. It is building a specialized cell therapy commercial production and supply base in the Lingang Special Area of the Shanghai Pilot Free Trade Zone (上海自贸试验区临港新片区), establishing an AI drug R&D joint research center in cooperation with Tsinghua University (清华大学), and establishing a joint venture with China Shiyao Group (中国石药集团) to build a new generation of biological preparation production bases in Shijiazhuang (石家庄)... Currently, multiple projects have been implemented, covering the entire value chain from R&D and manufacturing to ecological cooperation.
From "Strangers" to "Locals"
In Suzhou, Jiangsu (江苏苏州), there is a "Home of German Enterprises"—Taicang (太仓).
In a county-level city, spanning more than 30 years, more than 560 German enterprises have gathered. What is special about this land?
"Taicang (太仓) is close to Shanghai (上海), with obvious geographical advantages, abundant human resources, convenient transportation, industrial clustering, and an environment similar to Germany (德国)," said a person in charge of Eissmann Plastic Products (Taicang) Co., Ltd. (裕克施乐塑料制品（太仓）有限公司). As the group's first production base established outside of Germany (德国), it has now grown into the group's second-largest production base. With the guidance of Taicang Customs (太仓海关), the company obtained AEO (Authorized Economic Operator) advanced certification, enjoying conveniences such as shortened customs clearance time and cost savings.
As the "Home of German Enterprises," Taicang (太仓) integrates German elements into urban development and construction, creating a second hometown for German friends. It has held the Beer Festival for 20 consecutive years, hosts annual Sino-German table tennis friendly matches, New Year concerts, and other cultural and sports activities, introduced German-style bars and bakeries, established the FC Bayern Munich Football School (拜仁慕尼黑足球学校), and built the Rothenburg German-style Street (罗腾堡德风街) and the Sino-German Innovation City (中德创新城), creating a "German-style ecosystem" that satisfies the development of German enterprises. Ma Hanxuan (马汉轩), founder of Taimashi New Material Technology (Taicang) Co., Ltd. (泰玛仕新材料科技（太仓）有限公司), believes that "The atmosphere in Taicang (太仓) is so good; I think it is the same not only for Germans but also for the Chinese who are here."
Currently, the international situation is intertwined with chaos, and uncertainty and instability have significantly increased. The long-term investment of multinational corporations does not value short-term profits, but a predictable future. By creating an environment suitable for German enterprise operations and German life in terms of economy, culture, and ecology, Taicang (太仓) demonstrates the long-term nature and sustainability of its policy orientation.
Zhang Zhan (张展), Vice Mayor of Taicang City (太仓市), believes that one must persist in being consistent when attracting foreign investment. Taking the "Taicang Day" (太仓日), which is quite famous in Germany (德国), as an example, "It is a simple event, but we have been holding it for 18 consecutive years," said Zhang Zhan (张展).
The "Taicang Day" (太仓日) event, held for 18 consecutive years, is a microcosm of China's stable development and continuous opening up. From the successive promotion of Five-Year Plans to the opening of doors ever wider, China has always adhered to long-termism, giving foreign capital and foreign enterprises enough sense of security, allowing foreign-invested enterprises to "be willing to come, stay, and develop well."
Yan Dong (鄢东), Vice Minister of the Ministry of Commerce (商务部), stated that we will actively align with high-standard international economic and trade rules, accelerate the reform of systems and regulatory frameworks in areas such as intellectual property protection, government procurement, and fair competition, and provide more stable, transparent, and predictable institutional guarantees for foreign-invested enterprises.
"The Chinese economy is a vast ocean, not a small pond." This ocean is large enough in scale, complete in system, innovative, active, open, and inclusive, and welcomes global enterprises to invest, start businesses, and achieve mutual benefit and win-win results. We must 持之以恒 (chí zhī yǐ héng - "hold to with perseverance," to persevere in doing something) in our efforts to foster this environment.
Return to TopBy: 方 虹
At the invitation of General Secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and President of the People's Republic of China Xi Jinping (习近平), General Secretary of the Lao People's Revolutionary Party (LPRP) Central Committee and President of Laos Thongloun Sisoulith (通伦) recently paid a state visit to China. During the visit, General Secretary and President Xi Jinping (习近平) held talks with General Secretary and President Thongloun Sisoulith (通伦), reaching a series of important consensuses that injected new momentum into consolidating China-Laos relations, strengthening cooperation across various fields, and deepening the building of a China-Laos community with a shared future.
China and Laos are socialist neighbors with a shared future, possessing common ideals and beliefs, identical social systems, and similar paths of development. The "comrades plus brothers" friendship, personally forged by the older generation of leaders from both parties and countries, has grown stronger with time. This year marks the 65th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Laos and the "China-Laos Year of Friendship." It is also the year when China’s "15th Five-Year Plan" (十五五) and Laos’s "15th Five-Year Plan" (十五) begin simultaneously. Both countries are at a critical stage in advancing socialist modernization and achieving their respective development goals. Regarding the advancement of China-Laos relations and the building of a community with a shared future toward higher standards, quality, and levels, General Secretary and President Xi Jinping (习近平) proposed four points: adhering to the socialist direction, solidifying the foundation of mutually beneficial cooperation, consolidating traditional people-to-people friendship, and strengthening coordination on foreign policy. The top leaders of both parties and countries also reached a comprehensive and important consensus on building an all-weather China-Laos community with a shared future in the new era, and both sides issued a joint statement. This is not only a brilliant summary of the successful experience of the 65 years of diplomatic relations but also an action program for building an all-weather China-Laos community with a shared future in the new era.
Exchanges on governance experience are a hallmark and advantage of China-Laos relations, injecting a continuous stream of strategic consensus and intellectual energy into deepening comprehensive strategic cooperation. This has promoted the two sides to take the lead in building a bilateral community with a shared future, continuously aligning the joint construction of the "Belt and Road" Initiative (一带一路) with the strategy of "transforming a land-locked country into a land-linked country" (变陆锁国为陆联国), and constantly upgrading the traditional China-Laos friendship. During the talks, the top leaders of both parties and countries emphasized again the need to jointly safeguard the socialist system and the ruling status of the Communist Party, maintain close strategic communication, effectively implement the new five-year cooperation plan between the two parties, and deepen exchanges on party and state governance experience.
While working in Zhejiang (浙江), General Secretary Xi Jinping (习近平) tailored the "Eight-Eight Strategy" (八八战略) for the province, which has led to a magnificent transformation of Zhejiang (浙江) over the past 20-plus years. During his visit, General Secretary and President Thongloun Sisoulith (通伦) made a special trip to Anji (安吉), Zhejiang (浙江), the birthplace of the "Two Mountains" theory (两山), to experience the vivid practice of China's green development and admire the practices and achievements of the continuous promotion of the "Green Rural Revival Program" (千万工程). He also visited the city of innovation, Hangzhou (杭州), Zhejiang (浙江), where he watched a demonstration of robotic skills and operated a quadruped robot. What General Secretary and President Thongloun Sisoulith (通伦) saw was not just the scenery of one region in Zhejiang (浙江), but a path of Chinese-style modernization that is observable, perceptible, and inspiring to the world. This path is gaining increasingly broad international recognition, providing useful references for countries, including Laos (老挝), to explore their own paths to modernization, and highlighting the increasingly distinct global significance and contemporary value of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era (习近平新时代中国特色社会主义思想).
As the highest institution of learning for the Communist Party of China (中国共产党), the Party School of the CPC Central Committee (中共中央党校) is a cradle for cultivating talent in state governance and an important platform for exchanges, mutual learning, and deepening friendly cooperation between Chinese and foreign political parties. Twenty-six years ago, General Secretary and President Thongloun Sisoulith (通伦) studied here, systematically learning about the CPC's party building and national governance experience. During this visit, he made a special trip to revisit his alma mater. As he said, this precious experience, along with his continuous observation and in-depth understanding of China's path of modernization thereafter, has led him to deeper reflections and practices regarding ruling party building, national governance, and development. This reunion after twenty-six years witnesses the continuous deepening and solidifying of exchanges and mutual learning in governance between the two parties, and reflects a contemporary picture of the socialist cause being passed down from generation to generation and moving forward hand in hand.
**行则将至** (xíng zé jiāng zhì - "if one acts, one will arrive," meaning that if you take action, you will reach your goal). The Chinese side is willing to work with the Lao side to continue deepening exchanges and mutual learning on party and state governance along the common direction of socialism, allowing institutional advantages to better translate into development effectiveness. In terms of solidifying mutually beneficial cooperation, we will promote the China-Laos Railway (中老铁路) and the China-Laos Economic Corridor (中老经济走廊) to release greater efficiency, and cultivate the digital economy and green development as new growth points for cooperation. In terms of consolidating people-to-people friendship, we will promote mutual understanding between the two peoples through cultural, educational, youth, and tourism exchanges. We will make good use of the "3+3" strategic dialogue mechanism in diplomacy, national defense, and public security to promote the establishment of a China-Laos security partnership, and jointly safeguard the peace and tranquility of both countries and the region.
Connected by mountains and rivers, the two countries are good neighbors that cannot be moved away; sharing a common destiny is a choice written together by history and the people. We firmly believe that under the strategic guidance of the top leaders of the two parties and countries, the all-weather China-Laos community with a shared future in the new era will surely take firm steps along the established direction.
(The author is the Chinese Ambassador to Laos)
Return to TopAt the invitation of Member of the State Great Khural (国家大呼拉尔) and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Mongolia (蒙古国) Battsetseg Batmunkh (巴特蒙赫·巴特策策格), Wang Yi (王毅), Member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (中共中央政治局) Central Committee and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the People's Republic of China (中华人民共和国), paid a visit to Mongolia (蒙古国) from June 13 to 15, 2026.
The two sides held talks in a friendly atmosphere, confirming that they will be guided by the consensus reached by the heads of state of the two countries to promote the continuous development of the China-Mongolia (中蒙) comprehensive strategic partnership.
Both sides reaffirmed their respect for each other's independence, sovereignty, and territorial integrity, non-interference in each other's internal affairs, and respect for the development paths chosen by each. They will not participate in any military or political alliances directed against the other, will not sign treaties with third countries that harm the national sovereignty and security of the other, and will not allow third countries to use their territory to harm the national sovereignty and security of the other.
The Mongolian side reaffirmed its firm adherence to the one-China principle, maintaining that there is only one China in the world, that Taiwan (台湾) is an inalienable part of China's territory, and that the government of the People's Republic of China (中华人民共和国) is the sole legal government representing the whole of China. It opposes "Taiwan independence" (台湾独立), supports China in achieving national peaceful reunification, and considers issues related to Tibet (涉藏), Hong Kong (涉港), and Xinjiang (涉疆) to be China's internal affairs.
The Mongolian side introduced its peaceful, open, independent, and multi-pillar foreign policy, reiterating that China, as a permanent neighbor, is a priority in Mongolia's diplomacy. The two sides will strengthen consultations on foreign policy.
The two sides agreed to strengthen the alignment of development strategies, promote high-quality cooperation within the framework of the "Belt and Road" (一带一路) initiative and the "Steppe Road" (草原之路) initiative, expand mutually beneficial cooperation in fields such as mining, energy, industry, infrastructure, connectivity, green development, the digital economy, and agriculture and animal husbandry, and work together to pursue a path to modernization that suits their respective national conditions.
The two sides will work together to implement the "trinity" (三位一体) intergovernmental agreement, advance the construction of established major projects such as cross-border railways, and comprehensively improve the scale, quality, and level of China-Mongolia economic and trade cooperation. The Chinese side encourages more Chinese enterprises to invest and start businesses in Mongolia, and the Mongolian side will make active efforts to protect the legitimate rights and interests of foreign investors, including Chinese enterprises.
The two sides agreed to strengthen exchanges and cooperation in culture, education, science and technology, medical care, and health, vigorously carry out people-to-people exchanges, and enhance mutual understanding and friendship between the two peoples.
The two sides agreed to maintain regular communication on international and regional affairs and work together to address global challenges. The Mongolian side reiterated its support for the vision of building a community with a shared future for mankind (人类命运共同体) and the Global Development Initiative (全球发展倡议), the Global Security Initiative (全球安全倡议), the Global Civilization Initiative (全球文明倡议), and the Global Governance Initiative (全球治理倡议).
The Chinese side highly appreciates the significance of the "Ulaanbaatar Dialogue" (乌兰巴托对话) on Northeast Asia security hosted by the Mongolian side, will continue to participate actively, and will support the Mongolian side in hosting the 17th session of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (联合国防治荒漠化公约) within the year.
The two sides agreed that the outcomes of World War II (二战) and the post-war international order should be upheld, the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations (联合国宪章) should be strictly observed, any form of fascism and militarism should be condemned, and no actions attempting to revive such ideologies should be supported, so as to jointly safeguard world peace and security and maintain international fairness and justice.
The two sides spoke positively of the achievements in China-Mongolia-Russia (中蒙俄) cooperation and firmly believe that implementing the "Outline of the Plan for Building the China-Mongolia-Russia Economic Corridor" (建设中蒙俄经济走廊规划纲要) is conducive to the infrastructure connectivity and development strategy alignment of the three countries, and plays an important role in promoting regional prosperity and stability.
The two sides emphasized that the political and economic influence of multilateral mechanisms such as the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (上海合作组织), the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (亚太经合组织), and BRICS (金砖国家) is constantly increasing, which has promoted the process of regional cooperation. The Mongolian side consistently supports regional dialogue and cooperation mechanisms, is willing to cooperate closely within this framework, and will actively participate in the activities of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (上海合作组织).
(Xinhua News Agency (新华社), Ulaanbaatar (乌兰巴托), June 14)
Return to TopAt the invitation of President (国家主席) Xi Jinping (习近平), President (总统) of Myanmar (缅甸) Min Aung Hlaing (敏昂莱) will pay a state visit to China (中国) from June 15 to 19.
Min Aung Hlaing (敏昂莱) was born in Dawei (土瓦市), Tanintharyi Region (德林达依省), Myanmar (缅甸) on July 3, 1956. He graduated from the Defence Services Academy (缅甸国防军事学院) of Myanmar (缅甸) in 1977 with a Bachelor of Laws degree. He served as Chief of General Staff of the Myanmar Armed Forces (缅甸国防军总参谋长) in 2010, and as Commander-in-Chief of the Myanmar Armed Forces (缅甸国防军总司令) in 2011. In February 2021, he became Chairman of the State Administration Council (缅甸国家管理委员会主席) and Commander-in-Chief of the Myanmar Armed Forces (缅甸国防军总司令); in August of the same year, he became Chairman of the State Administration Council (缅甸国家管理委员会主席), Prime Minister (政府总理), and Commander-in-Chief of the Myanmar Armed Forces (缅甸国防军总司令). In August 2025, he served as Acting President (代总统) and Commander-in-Chief of the Myanmar Armed Forces (缅甸国防军总司令). He assumed the office of President of Myanmar (缅甸总统) on April 10, 2026.
He is married and has one son and one daughter.
(Xinhua News Agency (新华社), Beijing (北京), June 14 dispatch)
Return to TopXinhua News Agency (新华社), Wuhan (武汉), June 14 — (Reporter Hou Wenkun (侯文坤)) On June 14, the "2026 China-CEEC Young Political Leaders Forum" (2026中国与中东欧青年政治家论坛), co-hosted by the International Department of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (中共中央对外联络部) and the Hubei Provincial Committee of the Communist Party of China (中共湖北省委), opened in Wuhan (武汉), Hubei (湖北). The theme of the forum is "Walking the Path of Modernization Together: Actions and Contributions of Youth in the New Era." More than 100 representatives from political parties, think tanks, and non-governmental organizations from 14 Central and Eastern European (CEE) (中东欧) countries, as well as representatives from Chinese ministries, local governments, enterprises, and think tank scholars, attended the event.
Liu Haixing (刘海星), Minister of the International Department of the CPC Central Committee (中联部), stated that under the strategic guidance of President Xi Jinping (习近平) and the leaders of regional countries, cooperation between China (中国) and Central and Eastern European (CEE) (中东欧) countries has yielded 硕果累累 (shuò guǒ léi léi - "fruitful results," describing an abundance of achievements or successes). The Communist Party of China (中国共产党) is willing to strengthen exchanges and mutual learning with political parties in CEE (中东欧) countries. The youth generation should contribute their wisdom and strength to the common prosperity of China (中国) and CEE (中东欧) countries.
The participating CEE (中东欧) representatives highly praised the positive role of the China-CEEC Young Political Leaders Forum (中国与中东欧青年政治家论坛) and expressed their willingness to engage in candid and constructive dialogue with the Chinese side to promote mutually beneficial and win-win cooperation between CEE (中东欧) countries and China (中国), as well as global development and prosperity.
Return to TopIslamabad (伊斯兰堡), June 14 (Reporter Zhao Yipu (赵益普)) — The seminar "Hand in Hand for 75 Years: Global Development Initiative and China-Pakistan Economic Corridor Construction" was recently held in the capital of Pakistan (巴基斯坦), Islamabad (伊斯兰堡). Attendees discussed deepening cooperation between China (中国) and Pakistan (巴基斯坦) under the frameworks of the Global Development Initiative (全球发展倡议) and the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (中巴经济走廊), aiming to promote regional peace, stability, and common development. More than 80 representatives from the governments, media, think tanks, and enterprises of both countries participated. Following the opening ceremony, thematic salons and a youth storytelling session were held.
Ahsan Iqbal (阿赫桑·伊克巴尔), Minister for Planning, Development, and Special Initiatives of Pakistan (巴基斯坦), stated that Pakistan (巴基斯坦) and China (中国) are trustworthy partners, neighbors who share a common destiny, and all-weather friends. The world today is undergoing profound geopolitical and economic transformations, with various challenges emerging one after another (层出不穷 (céng chū bù qióng - "layer emerge not exhausted," appearing one after another; numerous and continuous)). No single country can cope with these challenges alone. The relationship between Pakistan (巴基斯坦) and China (中国) sets a model for other countries, demonstrating how to achieve mutually beneficial results through cooperation while making positive contributions to regional and global stability.
Return to TopAltay (阿勒泰), June 14 (Reporter Li Yanan (李亚楠)) — The 2026 Sub-regional International Cooperation Conference on the Altay (阿尔泰) region was recently held in Altay City (阿勒泰市), Xinjiang (新疆). Government and business representatives from six countries—China (中国), Kazakhstan (哈萨克斯坦), Kyrgyzstan (吉尔吉斯斯坦), Turkmenistan (土库曼斯坦), Mongolia (蒙古国), and Russia (俄罗斯)—attended the meeting. The conference reached a total of 100 cooperation outcomes, with signed contracts amounting to 7.845 billion yuan.
Return to TopRecently, a key milestone in the expansion project of the Sapangar Bay Container Port (实邦加集装箱码头) in Malaysia (马来西亚) was reached with the completion of the sand sourcing, stockpiling, and hydraulic filling operations. This task was undertaken by the Chinese-manufactured vessel "Tong Rui" (通瑞), which successfully completed the extraction, stockpiling, and transport of sea sand from approximately 40 meters underwater in the waters of Sapangar Bay (实邦加湾), Sabah (沙巴州), providing essential support for the subsequent infrastructure and land reclamation work of the port. The image shows the "Tong Rui" (通瑞) vessel operating in the waters of Sapangar Bay (实邦加湾), Sabah (沙巴州).
Photo courtesy of China Communications Construction (Malaysia) Sdn. Bhd. (中国交通建设（马来西亚）有限公司)
Return to TopBy: 本报记者 张志文
In the vast farmlands of Muthanna Province (穆萨纳省), Iraq (伊拉克), rows of solar photovoltaic panels are continuously providing power for irrigation pumps. The gratifying changes taking place in the fields reflect the progress Iraq (伊拉克) has made in the application of renewable energy.
Iraq (伊拉克) is rich in oil and gas resources, but the level of natural gas development is low. For a long time, it has relied on imported natural gas to maintain power generation needs, often facing "power shortages" every summer. In recent years, affected by climate change and other factors, local temperatures have risen significantly and water shortages have become increasingly severe, making the demand for energy diversification and transformation more urgent. In Muthanna Province (穆萨纳省), more and more farmers have begun to turn to photovoltaic power generation to drive irrigation systems. Local farmer Finjan Ahmed (芬詹·艾哈迈德) told reporters that his farmland now relies entirely on solar photovoltaic panels from China (中国) to power water pumps for irrigation, which not only reduces farming costs but also ensures uninterrupted irrigation operations. "The application of this new technology has changed our way of working and has also brought greater stability to agricultural production," said Finjan (芬詹).
Chinese (中国) photovoltaic power generation technology has not only entered Iraqi (伊拉克) farms but also local households. Solar power generation systems are stable and reliable, attracting more and more Iraqi (伊拉克) families to choose to install them. Basim Ahmed (巴辛·艾哈迈德), manager of a local photovoltaic energy supply company, told reporters that the market demand for solar power generation systems in Iraq (伊拉克) has increased significantly this year, and his company's imports of photovoltaic power generation equipment from China (中国) have increased by about 30% year-on-year. "Chinese (中国) manufacturing enterprises have rich experience in the field of photovoltaic power generation, and Chinese (中国) technology and products have become the mainstream choice in the Iraqi (伊拉克) market due to their high efficiency and high cost-effectiveness," said Basim (巴辛).
Nasser Karim (纳赛尔·卡里姆), head of the Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Project Team at the Prime Minister's Office (总理府) of Iraq (伊拉克), told reporters that in recent years, cooperation between Iraq (伊拉克) and China (中国) in the field of renewable energy has continuously achieved breakthroughs. This not only reflects the rapid growth of market demand in this field in Iraq (伊拉克) but also highlights the key role played by Chinese (中国) enterprises in supporting Iraq's (伊拉克) green energy transition. Karim (卡里姆) introduced that from ordinary households to government agencies, renewable energy solutions have attracted more and more attention. Currently, about 250 government buildings in Iraq (伊拉克) are equipped with photovoltaic power generation systems. "We welcome more Chinese (中国) enterprises to participate in cooperation, and the Iraqi (伊拉克) government will also provide more convenience to create conditions for the Chinese (中国) side to participate in Iraq's (伊拉克) green energy transition," said Karim (卡里姆).
Under the framework of high-quality cooperation in building the "Belt and Road" (一带一路), Chinese (中国) enterprises have undertaken several landmark photovoltaic projects in Iraq (伊拉克), helping the country achieve its energy transition goals. In March this year, the first unit of the Iraq (伊拉克) Ratawi (拉塔维) 1 GW photovoltaic project, built by a consortium led by China Energy Engineering Corporation (中国能建), successfully achieved full-capacity grid-connected power generation. This project is the largest photovoltaic power generation project under construction in Iraq (伊拉克) and the country's first large-scale centralized photovoltaic power station. Once completed, it is expected to transmit approximately 2.9 billion kilowatt-hours of clean electricity to the power grid annually, meeting the electricity needs of about 350,000 local households. At the beginning of this year, the photovoltaic project at the Missan (米桑) Oilfield in Iraq (伊拉克), led by CNOOC (中海油), was successfully put into operation. Basim Khudair (巴西姆·胡达伊尔), Deputy Minister of the Ministry of Oil (石油部) of Iraq (伊拉克), stated that the completion of the 10-megawatt solar photovoltaic power station is the first such project for the Missan (米桑) Oilfield and is a strategic step toward integrating clean energy into oilfield operations.
(Inas Ibrahim (伊纳斯·易卜拉欣) from the Middle East Center Branch of this newspaper participated in the reporting.)
Return to TopBy: 本报记者 丁雅诵
At Nanjing University (南京大学), the paulownia trees provide shade like a canopy. In the University History Museum (校史馆), Du Shuhui (杜淑惠), a doctoral student from the School of Education (教育研究院) serving as a docent, points to a yellowed photograph: "Students, please look. This is a scene that took place on the streets of Nanjing (南京) on May 20, 1947."
In the photo, a large number of students are holding banners high and marching through the streets; slogans such as "Anti-hunger, Anti-civil war, Anti-persecution" are clearly visible. "This struggle was not on the front lines, but took place in the streets and alleys, driven by the masses of the people," Du Shuhui (杜淑惠) continues. "They stepped forward for the sake of the nation and the future of the country."
General Secretary Xi Jinping (习近平) has pointed out: "Patriotism is the core of the national spirit of the Chinese nation. Since modern times, the series of struggles waged by the Chinese people to strive for national independence and liberation is the historical process of the awakening of the Chinese nation, and the historical process of the sublimation of the Chinese national spirit."
In the winter of 1946, the Kuomintang (国民党) reactionaries had been launching a full-scale civil war for nearly half a year. To support the massive war expenditures, the Kuomintang (国民党) government frantically printed legal tender, causing prices to skyrocket. Workers were unemployed, farmers were bankrupt, and staff members were without pay; the entire Kuomintang-ruled area (国民党统治区) was seething with public discontent.
An act of brutality ignited the flames of anger. On December 30, 1946, to protest the rape of a female student from the preparatory class of Peking University (北京大学) by U.S. troops stationed in China, students in Beiping (北平) held a demonstration, shouting, "Protest against U.S. military atrocities" and "U.S. troops withdraw from China."
The Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (中共中央) instructed the underground party organizations in the Kuomintang-ruled areas (国民党统治区) to mobilize the masses in major cities to respond to the student movement in Beiping (北平), striving to "make this movement develop along the path of isolating the U.S.-Chiang clique and opposing the colonization of China by the United States."
On May 20, 1947, in Nanjing (南京), more than 5,000 students broke through the blockades of military police, marched onto the streets holding the banner of the "Joint Parade of Students from Sixteen Colleges and Universities in Nanjing, Shanghai, Suzhou, and Hangzhou to Save the Education Crisis," and the roar of "Anti-hunger, Anti-civil war, Anti-persecution" resounded through the clouds. This was the May 20th Movement (五二〇运动). However, what greeted the students were the clubs of the military police; the Kuomintang (国民党) authorities arrested and injured more than 150 students.
On May 30, 1947, Comrade Mao Zedong (毛泽东) wrote a commentary for the Xinhua News Agency (新华社) titled "The Chiang Kai-shek Government is Already Surrounded by the Whole People," pointing out: "There are already two fronts within China. The war between the Chiang Kai-shek (蒋介石) invading army and the People's Liberation Army (人民解放军) is the first front. Now a second front has appeared, which is the sharp struggle between the great, just student movement and the Chiang Kai-shek (蒋介石) reactionary government."
The rise of the student movement promoted the rise of the entire people's movement. In 1947, more than 3 million workers went on strike in more than 20 large and medium-sized cities across the country. In rural areas, the vast number of farmers resisted forced conscription, grain collection, and taxation. Under the leadership and promotion of the Communist Party (共产党), the patriotic democratic movement with students as the vanguard and the struggle against the Kuomintang (国民党) government gradually formed a second front that complemented the People's War of Liberation (人民解放战争).
"The second front was a just struggle launched by the broad masses of the people in the Kuomintang-ruled areas (国民党统治区) under the leadership of the Communist Party of China (中国共产党), conforming to the historical trend to resist the dictatorial rule of the Kuomintang (国民党)," said Zhou Jiabin (周家彬), Vice Dean of the School of History and Party Building of the Communist Party of China at Renmin University of China (中国人民大学). This period of history witnessed the choices and strength of countless patriotic youths and people from all walks of life, and it was a key link in the ultimate victory of the Chinese revolution.
As time passes, the original aspiration remains unchanged. Today, the vast number of young people continue the fine traditions, unite and struggle under the leadership of the Party (党), pioneer and innovate, and strive to be dream chasers of great ideals and a vital force for great causes.
At the conference commemorating the 100th anniversary of the May Fourth Movement (五四运动), General Secretary Xi Jinping (习近平) emphasized: "The theme of the Chinese youth movement in the new era, the direction of the Chinese youth movement in the new era, and the mission of Chinese youth in the new era is to adhere to the leadership of the Communist Party of China (中国共产党), and together with the people, strive for the realization of the 'Two Centenary' (两个一百年) goals and the Chinese Dream of the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation."
"Creating a brilliant life through struggle," Su Yiming (苏翊鸣) won China's first gold medal at the Milan Winter Olympics (米兰冬奥会), letting the Five-Star Red Flag (五星红旗) rise slowly in the Alps (阿尔卑斯山); Chen Shuaiyu (陈帅宇), a new farmer in Changde (常德), Hunan (湖南), returned to his hometown after graduation, established a cooperative, and led his fellow villagers to live a good life... The Chinese youth of the new era are keeping their instructions firmly in mind, striving to be the pioneers, trailblazers, and contributors at the forefront of the times, and using their youth and sweat to create new miracles that make the world look at them with 刮目相看 (guā mù xiāng kàn - "wipe eyes look at," to treat someone with increased respect due to their remarkable progress).
Return to TopBy: 本报记者 张 枨
In June, the Xilingol Grassland (锡林郭勒草原) in Inner Mongolia (内蒙古) is covered in a carpet of green, brimming with vitality.
In Sarulatuya Gacha (萨如拉图雅嘎查), Hongger Gol Town (洪格尔高勒镇), Abag Banner (阿巴嘎旗), Ting Bater (廷·巴特尔), the former Party branch secretary, sat at home answering a call from the School of Marxism (马克思主义学院) at Xilingol Vocational College (锡林郭勒职业学院): "You want to come to our grassland to conduct a 'mobile ideological and political class'? Great, that’s a wonderful idea!" After hanging up, he busied himself with his work again: "I have to give a Party lecture at a company in two days; I need to prepare well."
Although he is over seventy years old, Ting Bater (廷·巴特尔) still maintains the drive of his youth and keeps his original aspiration from the very beginning firmly in mind.
At the age of 19, Ting Bater (廷·巴特尔) traveled from Hohhot (呼和浩特) to the Xilingol Grassland (锡林郭勒草原) to join the production teams. When he first arrived in the pastoral area, he saw herdsmen bringing out precious white flour—which they were reluctant to eat themselves—to treat guests, while their own children could only watch with longing. At that moment, he made a firm resolution: "I must help the herdsmen live a better life!"
A promise made back then has been upheld for decades. Ting Bater (廷·巴特尔) took root in the grassland, led the masses, and explored new paths for protecting the ecology, developing industries, and increasing income, significantly improving the production and living conditions of local herdsmen. In 2021, Ting Bater (廷·巴特尔) was awarded the "July 1 Medal" (七一勋章). Since then, he has worked even harder for the grassland and its people.
After the conclusion of this year's "Two Sessions" (全国两会), Ting Bater (廷·巴特尔), as a member of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (全国政协委员), rushed back to the grassland immediately to bring the "fresh" spirit of the Two Sessions to everyone.
"Wildlife protection, plant protection, and river protection are all key priorities for the ecological conservation of the grassland," he explained patiently and meticulously to the herdsmen and officials. "If we want a better life, we must cultivate and strengthen local specialty industries, persist in development while ensuring protection, focus on ecological environment construction, and keep in mind that 'lucid waters and lush mountains are invaluable assets.'"
"Listening to his interpretation of policies makes everything crystal clear," remarked Bayar (巴雅尔), a herdsman from Sarulatuya Gacha (萨如拉图雅嘎查). "He makes everyone agree with this principle—if we protect the grassland well, a good life will surely follow!"
Beyond explaining policies, he also provides technical training. Over the years, Ting Bater (廷·巴特尔) has frequently visited training centers, sharing his techniques for cattle and sheep breeding and his experience in ecological protection with the herdsmen without reservation. The scientific methods he advocates—"raising fewer, raising better, and green farming"—have transformed the breeding models of many herdsmen.
Yun Liang (贠亮), a herdsman who lives near Ting Bater (廷·巴特尔), said: "In the past, my family raised over 200 sheep and more than 100 cattle, and the pasture became worse the more we raised. Later, I followed his advice and switched to mainly raising cattle with intensive farming. The grass grows more lushly now, and our income has increased." Today, Yun Liang's (贠亮) family earns a net annual income of 400,000 yuan, with forage completely self-sufficient, achieving a win-win situation of increased income and greener pastures.
Not only has he optimized traditional livestock industries, but Ting Bater (廷·巴特尔) has also proactively led Sarulatuya Gacha (萨如拉图雅嘎查) in transformation, vigorously developing industries such as fresh milk processing and the sale of specialty agricultural and pastoral products. Today, Sarulatuya Gacha (萨如拉图雅嘎查) has also developed specialty tourism routes; the once remote and isolated pastoral Gacha has become a famous tourist destination.
As the sun sets, a gentle breeze blows across the grassland, and herds of cattle and sheep can be seen in the distance. Students who came for field studies sat around Ting Bater (廷·巴特尔), recording his words in their notebooks: "I will continue to guard this grassland..." This is what he said, and more importantly, this is what he has done. He has truly 言行一致 (yán xíng yī zhì - "words actions consistent," to be as good as one's word; to match one's actions with one's promises).
Return to TopBy: 刘 念
With the breakout success of the film *Love Letter to Grandma* (《给阿嬷的情书》), "Qiaopi" (侨批)—letters from overseas Chinese that are brief in length but deep in sentiment—have once again become a focal point. Revisiting the words of General Secretary Xi Jinping (习近平) during his inspection of the Qiaopi Cultural Museum (侨批文物馆) in Shantou (汕头), Guangdong (广东), "Qiaopi records the arduous entrepreneurial history and profound patriotism of the older generation of overseas Chinese," evokes deep reflection.
Profound patriotism is about 同舟共济 (tóng zhōu gòng jì - "same boat together help," working together with unity of purpose) and 相濡以沫 (xiāng rú yǐ mò - "mutually moisten with foam," helping each other in times of need), as well as 同仇敌忾 (tóng chóu dí kài - "share hatred enemy indignation," sharing a common hatred for the enemy and working together to resist).
During the more than a century when Qiaopi were active, a significant period coincided with national crises and social upheaval. The history of the struggles and efforts of overseas Chinese reflects the turbulent and dramatic modern history of the nation. Between the lines of these letters, the destinies of the "small family" and the "big family" (the nation) are tightly intertwined.
Integrity is revealed in times of national crisis. "Every Chinese citizen must fulfill their duty as a member of the nation, struggle with one heart, and save it from peril. Although you are young, you should study hard and become someone who brings honor to the country." Lin Xiguo (林锡国), a teacher, wrote "the responsibility to save the nation" and "studying to bring honor" in the same family letter. "The nation is our nation"—if we do not strive to strengthen and serve our country, who will?
Responsibility is shown in resisting the enemy and defending against humiliation. "The Chinese mainland has been bombed by Japanese aircraft, causing heavy casualties; those who hear of it are heartbroken, and those who see it shed tears." Overseas Chinese Fang Wenshi (方文仕) agreed with fellow compatriots that "each person should donate at least one hundred yuan." Countless charitable donations and remittances, along with phrases like "Return our mountains and rivers," "Swear to wash away national humiliation," and "Persist to the end," traveled across the oceans, conveying calls for justice and expressing patriotic fervor.
Filled with a longing for the magnificent landscapes of the motherland and an attachment to their flesh-and-blood compatriots, the sons and daughters of China have always been able to unite as one in critical moments, 众志成城 (zhòng zhì chéng chéng - "multitude will becomes city wall," unity is strength), overcoming reefs and shoals, conquering hardships and suffering, and continuously radiating vigorous vitality.
Profound patriotism is about returning like a homing goose, 义无反顾 (yì wú fǎn gù - "justice no look back," proceeding without hesitation for a just cause), and also about benefiting one's hometown and giving all one has to help.
Funding the construction of bridges and roads, renovating schools, establishing special educational aid funds, and donating to environmental protection companies to support urban development... Wang Junhong (王俊宏), a patriotic overseas Chinese who is dedicated to giving back to his homeland, remarked with sincerity: "As a wanderer returning from overseas, I know even more deeply how lovable the motherland is, and how lovable my hometown is. Being able to contribute to the construction of my hometown and do some practical things today makes me happier than anything else."
The surging true feelings of patriotism and love for one's hometown stem from the series of genetic codes that shape us—"Chinese people, Chinese culture, Chinese spirit, and the Chinese heart." No matter how long or how far we travel, the Chinese nation will always pass on its heritage and remain connected by blood.
With the popularization of modern financial systems and the iteration of postal communication technology, Qiaopi have gradually faded from the historical stage, but the simple beliefs and pure sentiments they carry remain long-lasting and increasingly precious. Looking at China today, where global changes and the overall situation of national rejuvenation are interacting, one can always see the figures of patriots and strivers at home and abroad, striding forward and setting sail in the vast world.
By throwing themselves into the vigorous construction of the "Belt and Road" (一带一路), they build solid bridges for people-to-people connectivity; by anchoring themselves in high-level technological self-reliance and strength, and being determined to innovate and tackle key problems, they not only help the country enhance its technological discourse power internationally but also bring benefits to global users; by making good use of social platforms and creating high-quality content, they tell China's stories well and spread Chinese culture, attracting many overseas netizens to yearn for "becoming Chinese"... Today, having bid farewell to the hardships and poverty of the "Qiaopi era" and ushered in the composure and confidence bestowed by the prosperity of the motherland, the sons and daughters of China uphold the spirit of "the strength of the nation is my responsibility" and the aspiration to "benefit the world." Patriotism now has more diverse inheritance and broader meaning.
A letter sent from afar is filled with the spirit of the nation. "Are you Chinese? Do you love China? Do you wish for China to be well?" The answers to these "three patriotic questions"—in past Qiaopi, in current reality, and in future visions—inspire us to be of one heart and one mind, and to move forward with firm determination.
Return to TopShijiazhuang (石家庄), June 14 (Reporter Shi Ziqiang (史自强)) — The human resources and social security departments of Beijing (北京), Tianjin (天津), and Hebei (河北) recently held a joint policy press conference in Xiong'an New Area (雄安新区), Hebei (河北), to officially release the "Nine Measures to Support the High-Quality Development of the Skilled Talent Workforce in Xiong'an New Area (雄安新区)."
The measures released this time include: introducing high-quality training resources; building interactive exchange platforms; organizing unified national vocational qualification examinations; constructing unified and standardized training evaluation criteria; jointly conducting surveys on training needs; building a skilled talent ecosystem in Xiong'an New Area (雄安新区); hosting national-level vocational skills competitions; strengthening the construction of cultivation platforms; and strengthening the construction of labor cooperation bases. These measures fully integrate the advantages of skilled talent resources across Beijing (北京), Tianjin (天津), and Hebei (河北), deeply fusing the entire process of skilled talent cultivation, evaluation, incentive, and utilization. Once implemented, these policies will effectively build a full-chain educational ecosystem in Xiong'an New Area (雄安新区), providing robust skilled talent support for the high-standard and high-quality construction of Xiong'an New Area (雄安新区) and the successful implementation and operation of key industries, ensuring that the region does not 事半功倍 (shì bàn gōng bèi - "half work double result," achieving great success with minimal effort) but rather achieves its goals through comprehensive planning.
Return to TopBy: 本报记者
At present, various regions, departments, and units are solidly carrying out learning and education on establishing and practicing a correct view of political achievements. They are exerting continuous efforts in deep study, meticulous comprehension, firm belief, and earnest practice, while steadily advancing rectification and reform, and researching the establishment of normalized and long-term mechanisms, so that the masses can see changes and receive tangible benefits.
**Earnest Investigation and Practical Reform**
"The 25,300 yuan in wages owed by the company has arrived; now my heart is finally at ease." Looking at the notification text message confirming the funds, Mr. Xu (徐先生), a migrant worker in Taobei District (洮北区), Baicheng City (白城市), Jilin Province (吉林省), said.
During the learning and education process, Baicheng City (白城市) promoted a system where municipal leaders take responsibility for specific counties and cases, normalized frontline reception of visits, and handover procedures for departing leading cadres, using multiple measures to resolve a batch of long-standing cases. Municipal leaders went deep into the front lines to understand the current status of enterprises and the reasons for wage arrears, helping enterprises diagnose and solve production difficulties, and resolving the issue of wage arrears for migrant workers.
Lanzhou City (兰州市), Gansu Province (甘肃省), persists in learning, comparing, and investigating simultaneously. Leading groups and cadres at all levels, through methods such as suggestions from the masses, self-reflection, pointers from superiors, and mutual assistance, seek gaps, investigate root causes, and strengthen self-cultivation in terms of Party spirit. Party committees (Party groups) at all levels compare items one by one and implement them line by line, concentrating on resolving a batch of petition issues and winning the recognition of the masses with tangible and accessible results.
Heping District (和平区), Shenyang City (沈阳市), Liaoning Province (辽宁省), persists in solving livelihood problems through solid work. Addressing historical legacy issues, it coordinates departments such as real estate, urban construction, urban management, and finance to specially allocate funds to handle "small-entry-point" livelihood practical matters, orderly advancing people-benefiting projects such as the repair of damaged road surfaces, the quality improvement of leisure plazas, and the addition of charging facilities.
"The gas is connected, and life is running smoothly now," remarked Reziwaguli Simayi (热孜瓦古丽·斯马依), a resident of Binhe Residential Community (滨河小区) in Kuqa City (库车市), Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region (新疆维吾尔自治区). During the learning and education, Kuqa City (库车市) precisely sorted out bottlenecks and difficulties in people's livelihoods such as housing, gas usage, transportation, and elderly care, established problem ledgers, compacted the responsibilities of the undertaking parties, and implemented a closed-loop management system for clearing items. Focusing on the "difficulty in using gas" for residents of Binhe Residential Community (滨河小区), the Municipal Party Committee Office (市委办) took the lead in coordinating multi-party communication and consultation, clarifying the boundaries of responsibility, finalizing the sharing ratio, and reaching a consensus on rectification, resulting in all 210 housing units in the community successfully having natural gas connected.
**Establishing Systems and Formulating Regulations**
"Picking up my grandson from school, I finally don't have to worry anymore," said Chen Hui (陈慧), a resident of Guandaoping Community (关刀坪社区), Chongyi County (崇义县), Ganzhou City (赣州市), Jiangxi Province (江西省), pointing to the road leading to the residential group at her doorstep. In the past, the roadside of this section was a steep slope several meters high with a deep ditch below, yet the guardrail had never been installed. A few days ago, community cadres visited with a "list of legacy problems," found the construction contractor for the primary highway, and "picked" through the plan bit by bit against the blueprints, coordinating the installation of the guardrails.
Since the launch of the learning and education, Chongyi County (崇义县) has improved the long-term mechanism for rectifying the prominent problem of new officials ignoring old debts, established a "list of legacy problems," focused on long-standing issues that worry the masses, clarified progress, responsible parties, and commitment nodes, and included unfulfilled livelihood practical matters into it, ensuring that the accounts of predecessors are clear and successors clear the items according to the list.
"Charging is affordable, and running orders is more energetic!" at the Party-Masses Service Center for the Online Car-Hailing Industry (网约车行业党群服务中心) in Zhuxi Subdistrict (竹西街道), Hanjiang District (邗江区), Yangzhou City (扬州市), Jiangsu Province (江苏省), driver Master Li (李师傅) remarked. During the learning and education, Hanjiang District (邗江区) established a "1+N" whistle-blowing and joint-handling system. Through "1 main department taking the lead + N functional departments participating, and on-site research to solve problems," it formed a normalized coordination and resolution mechanism for difficult problems involving overlapping responsibilities. Aiming at the difficulty of charging for online car-hailing vehicles reported by grassroots masses, it actively coordinated with transportation and other departments to promote the implementation of fast-charging stations.
The Party Committee of Harbin Electric Corporation (哈尔滨电气集团有限公司) improved the normalized work mechanism for preventing and correcting deviations in the view of political achievements. Combining the actual situation and characteristics of the enterprise, it established a performance list for "excellent and admonished behaviors" for leading personnel, clarifying 10 types of situations to strive for "excellence" and 10 types of situations that must be "admonished," while simultaneously correcting deviations and handling accountability according to the "must-admonish" situations.
**Solid Work to Benefit the People**
Walking into the Public Security Residential Community (公安小区) of Yangcheng Community (阳澄社区), Xingqing District (兴庆区), Yinchuan City (银川市), Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region (宁夏回族自治区), one can see that the once mottled and old walls have taken on a brand-new look.
Xingqing District (兴庆区) has more than 700 old residential communities built before the end of 2000, involving over 100,000 households. During the learning and education, the District Party Committee and District Government promoted "one policy for one community" refined renovation, accelerating the implementation of "internal" projects such as the renewal of underground pipe networks, exterior wall insulation, and sponge-city transformation in old residential communities. At the same time, they innovatively hired "people's supervisors" to supervise the whole process, forming a closed-loop mechanism of "masses suggest, representatives discuss, cadres handle, and everyone evaluates."
Anqing City (安庆市), Anhui Province (安徽省), deepened the application of the "Six-Foot Alley Working Method" (六尺巷工作法 - "Six-Foot Alley Working Method," a mediation approach based on a historical story of humility and compromise), established a "six matters, six handlings" mechanism for contacting and serving the masses, and secretaries at the four levels of city, county, township, and village actively took the lead in grassroots governance projects. Grid workers regularly visited to collect the demands of the masses, established a service model of "masses order, branches dispatch, capable people accept," and promoted the handling of livelihood demands before they are even complained about, ensuring they are handled well. They improved the scheduling and supervision mechanism for key and difficult problems, promoted the implementation of a series of convenience measures, and ensured that every demand of the masses has a resolution and every matter has a response.
Hebei District (河北区), Tianjin City (天津市), improved the mechanism for serving the people, organizing community "two committees" (Party branch and neighborhood committee) cadres to conduct full-coverage visits through home visits, telephone, and the internet to listen to the voices of the people and collect public opinion. Community Party organization secretaries actively took the lead in handling livelihood practical matters around them, timely publicized the progress, accepted the supervision and evaluation of the masses, and continuously improved the masses' sense of gain, happiness, and security.
(Reporters of this newspaper: Li Linwei (李林蔚), Han Junjie (韩俊杰), Wang Jintao (王锦涛), Li Jiading (李家鼎), Fang Yuan (方圆), Li Yanan (李亚楠), Qin Ruijie (秦瑞杰), Yang Yanfei (杨颜菲), Zheng Zhiwen (郑智文))
Return to TopBeijing (北京), June 14 (Reporter Deng Jianyang (邓剑洋)) — This reporter learned from the Ministry of Water Resources (水利部) that the Ministry of Water Resources (水利部) and the China Meteorological Administration (中国气象局) jointly issued an orange meteorological warning for mountain torrent disasters at 18:00 on June 14. It is expected that from 20:00 on June 14 to 20:00 on June 15, there is a relatively high probability of mountain torrent disasters in parts of southeastern Guangdong (广东), western and central-eastern Guangxi (广西), and eastern Yunnan (云南); among these, there is a high probability of mountain torrent disasters in localized areas of southeastern Guangdong (广东).
Beijing (北京), June 14 (Reporter Liu Wenxin (刘温馨)) — On June 14, the Office of the State Flood Control and Drought Relief Headquarters (国家防总办公室) and the Ministry of Emergency Management (应急管理部) organized a joint consultation with multiple departments, including the Ministry of Natural Resources (自然资源部), the Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development (住房城乡建设部), the Ministry of Transport (交通运输部), the Ministry of Water Resources (水利部), and the China Meteorological Administration (中国气象局), to analyze the development trends of recent rainfall and study and deploy flood control work in key regions. The State Flood Control and Drought Relief Headquarters (国家防总) is maintaining a Level IV emergency response for flood control in Zhejiang (浙江), Fujian (福建), Jiangxi (江西), Hunan (湖南), Guangdong (广东), and Guangxi (广西), while terminating the Level IV emergency response for Guizhou (贵州). Two working groups continue to assist and provide guidance on the front lines in Guangdong (广东) and Fujian (福建). The consultation pointed out that heavy rainfall will continue from the southern part of the Jiangnan (江南) region to the South China (华南) area over the next two days, and the flood control situation is 严峻复杂 (yán jùn fù zá - "severe and complex," describing a situation that is grave, challenging, and multifaceted). It is essential to ensure that flood control responsibilities are fully implemented, that inspection and risk mitigation work is carried out effectively, that forecasting and early warning systems are coordinated with emergency responses, that the tracking and guidance of personnel relocation and risk avoidance are thorough, and that the prepositioning of emergency forces and equipment is guaranteed.
Return to TopBy: 本报记者 张云河
"Jiangkou Village (江口村), Xu Yang (许养) and Li Zhiping (李志平) have been notified." "Yuyi Village (裕益村), Caichong Group (彩冲组), Lan Qihao (蓝其浩) and Huang Xinhong (黄新洪) have been notified." On the afternoon of June 13, in the government work group chat of Zhaoping Town (昭平镇), Zhaoping County (昭平县), Hezhou City (贺州市), Guangxi (广西), notification and confirmation messages popped up continuously following the issuance of a rainstorm warning. Party members and cadres led the masses to rapidly fortify defensive lines, safeguarding the lives and property of the people.
Meteorological departments forecasted that from the 13th to the 17th, Hezhou City (贺州市) would experience persistent heavy rainfall accompanied by severe convective weather. With the long duration, high cumulative rainfall, and intense short-term downpours, the situation was highly prone to triggering urban and rural waterlogging, flooding in small and medium-sized rivers, and landslides, making the flood control situation severe. At 15:30 on the 13th, Zhaoping County (昭平县) initiated a Level IV emergency response for flood control.
A race against the rainstorm had begun. Party members and cadres in Zhaoping Town (昭平镇) responded immediately, with each village-assigned working group implementing "contracted protection" responsibilities; village (community) cadres carried out local preventive work, sparing no effort to mitigate risks.
The flood situation is an order, and Party members and cadres acted upon hearing it. As "wake-up and response" grid workers, 136 town cadres made individual phone calls to 299 households in the town living in "slope-cut housing," as well as to personnel working on mountains and residents in low-lying, flood-prone areas and geological disaster zones, reminding everyone to take precautions and reporting the summary of notifications in the work group chat.
On the evening of the 13th, raindrops began to fall. Seeing the rain intensify, grid worker and Party member Zeng Fansheng (曾凡盛) hurriedly contacted Xiao Yuanwen (肖元文), leader of the Chongnao Group (冲脑小组) in Longping Village (龙坪村): "Team Leader Xiao, Liang Guosheng (梁国生), a resident in 'slope-cut housing,' didn't answer the phone! The rain is getting heavier, we must go and remind him in person."
"I'm not far from the old man's place, I'll go right away!" After hanging up, Xiao Yuanwen (肖元文) trudged through the rain toward the elderly man's home.
Elderly Liang Guosheng (梁国生) was accustomed to speaking in dialect, so as soon as Xiao Yuanwen (肖元文) entered, he used the local tongue to loudly urge: "Uncle, there will be a heavy rainstorm tonight, please do not sleep in the back room against the mountain! Keep an ear out for your phone!" Seeing the old man nod in agreement, Xiao Yuanwen (肖元文) finally felt at ease.
As the sky grew dark, the rain intensified. For those who could not be reached by phone, cadres went door-to-door; for those with communication barriers, cadres familiar with the dialect were deployed to provide "dialect-based alerts"... By 20:00 on the 13th, all residents in key risk areas under the jurisdiction of Zhaoping Town (昭平镇) had been successfully alerted and reached.
To cope with the rainstorm, Party members and cadres along the Gui River (桂江) also led the masses to work in the fields, busy "snatching grain from the mud and vegetables from the rain."
At the junction of Longping Village (龙坪村) and Fucheng Village (附城村), nearly 50 mu of contiguous farmland contained lush green rice, mature corn waiting to be harvested, as well as fresh pumpkin seedlings and plump tomatoes. A good harvest was within reach; however, this land was adjacent to the Gui River (桂江) and located at the confluence of the Masheng River (马圣河) and the Bainichong Creek (白泥冲), with low-lying terrain that was highly susceptible to waterlogging once the rainstorm hit.
"Fellow villagers, this land is very dangerous; harvest whatever you can as quickly as possible! Let's work hard and put in extra effort together!" On the 13th, Lu Changsheng (陆昌生), Party Committee Secretary of Longping Village (龙坪村), and Pan Qinghua (潘庆华), Party Branch Secretary of Fucheng Village (附城村), arrived at the junction fields before the rainstorm to inspect, mobilize, and help with the emergency harvest.
While harvesting, they also managed protection. Zhaoping Town (昭平镇) immediately organized agricultural technicians to establish a "Flood Control and Agricultural Assistance Commando," which descended to the front lines to serve the masses, with most members being Party members. Before the flood, members guided farmers in clearing ditches to facilitate drainage; after the water recedes, the commando will promptly guide farmers in straightening seedlings, washing leaves, and applying fertilizer to prevent disease, using multiple measures to reduce losses and secure the harvest.
As of 20:00 on June 14, the rainfall in Zhaoping Town (昭平镇) continued, and the pressure of flood control in the fields remained high. Party members and cadres led the masses to stand firm at the site, working with 齐心协力 (qí xīn xié lì - "unite heart join strength," to work together with one heart and one mind) to fortify the defensive lines. Commando member and Party member Tan Chengming (谭成明) stated: "In the face of wind and rain, Party members must charge to the front! We will stay with the masses and do our utmost to protect the crops and the harvest!"
(Zhang Yajie (张雅洁) and Liang Zhixiang (梁志祥) participated in the reporting)
Return to TopYining County (伊宁县), Ili Kazakh Autonomous Prefecture (伊犁哈萨克自治州), Xinjiang (新疆), is leveraging local natural resources to actively develop the lavender industry and promote the integrated development of agriculture, culture, and tourism. This has formed a full industrial chain model that integrates specialty planting, deep processing, and leisure vacations, thereby boosting comprehensive rural revitalization. The photo shows the Tianshan Flower Sea Scenic Area (天山花海景区) in Yining County (伊宁县) on June 13, where lavender is in full bloom, attracting tourists to come and admire the scenery.
Photographed by Zhang Hongke (张洪科) (Image China (影像中国))
Return to TopBy: 李 斌
The secret to the resilience of the Chinese (中国) economy lies within the diversity and complementarity of its vast territory.
The central government’s effective command and the powerful implementation at every level are the fundamental guarantees that the "great economic chorus" remains on course, maintains its rhythm, and sustains its momentum.
"An economic chorus possesses great artistry; one must respect both the laws of choral singing and the techniques of choral performance." When Comrade Xi Jinping (习近平) worked in Ningde (宁德), Fujian (福建), he proposed the concept of an "economic chorus," emphasizing that economic work must "form a unified whole from top to bottom and across all sectors." Observing the Chinese (中国) economy from this perspective allows for a deeper understanding of the underlying logic of economic operations and a greater appreciation of the soaring main melody of cultivating new quality productive forces and achieving high-quality development.
The beauty of a chorus lies in distinct vocal parts that are harmonious yet diverse. In the economic chorus, only by accurately identifying one's position within the overall situation, leveraging comparative advantages according to local conditions, and emphasizing coordination and cooperation can each part display its strengths and converge into the magnificent spectacle of a major national economy. Achieving individual beauty while sharing a collective beauty through staggered development is precisely the profound foundation that allows the Chinese (中国) economy to withstand storms and move steadily toward the future.
Major economic provinces carry the heavy load. The eastern region (东部地区) explores the path first, while first-tier cities (一线城市) strive to blaze trails, allowing new technologies, new industries, and the new economy to flourish. The central and western regions (中西部地区) seize opportunities in industrial supporting services and structural transformation, while the northeast region (东北地区) leverages its resource advantages to help ensure smooth domestic circulation and a solid foundation for industrial chains. Ecological functional zones protect the green mountains and clear waters, while major grain-producing areas (粮食主产区) deeply cultivate fertile soil, broadening the room for maneuver for high-quality development. With high notes ringing clear, mid-range notes sounding rich, and bass notes remaining steady, the secret to the resilience of the Chinese (中国) economy lies within the diversity and complementarity of its vast territory.
The beauty of a chorus is also reflected in synchronized rhythms and harmonious melodies. If everyone sings for themselves and the beat is chaotic, the melody will fall into disorder. To ensure that the economic chorus does not suffer from the "fallacy of composition," it is necessary to conduct consistent assessments of macroeconomic policy orientations, allowing various policies to resonate at the same frequency and different departments to exert force in coordination. It is precisely because environmental policies and industrial policies are advanced in synergy that a dynamic balance between carbon reduction, pollution control, green expansion, and growth is achieved; it is precisely because science and technology policies are precisely aligned with talent policies that new mechanisms such as the "leader-board" (揭榜挂帅) system have effectively activated the engine of innovation. By focusing on high-quality development and promoting the detailed implementation and efficient coordination of all work, macroeconomic operations can remain stable and orderly.
In the first four months of this year, the value-added of high-tech manufacturing above designated size increased by 12.6% year-on-year, investment in the information transmission industry grew by 29.2%, and investment in the purchase of equipment and instruments increased by 11.5% year-on-year. In April, the domestic retail penetration rate of new energy vehicles exceeded 60% for the first time... These achievements bear witness to the effects of comprehensive policy implementation. Fiscal policy and monetary policy hit the "beat" accurately, science and technology policy and industrial policy form a "harmony," and regional coordination and opening-up blend together as "accompaniment"... Only when such a chorus is in vocal and instrumental harmony can it exert its overall effect.
The success of a chorus depends not only on the strength of the vocal parts but even more on the art of the conductor. What allows us to maintain strategic determination in a complex and volatile international environment and to turn crises into opportunities amidst high winds and choppy waves? It is precisely the "tuning drum" of the Party Central Committee (党中央), which calibrates the course and steadies the helm for the giant economic vessel, uniting hundreds of millions of people to think in one direction and exert effort in one place. From the meticulous deployment of the Five-Year Plan (五年规划) to the solid advancement of annual goals, and from the long-term accumulation of macro-strategies to the subtle, silent influence of micro-policies, the central government’s effective command and the powerful implementation at every level are the fundamental guarantees that the "great economic chorus" remains on course, maintains its rhythm, and sustains its momentum.
The reason the Chinese (中国) economy is able to forge ahead under pressure and develop toward new and better horizons is precisely because, under the strong leadership of the Party Central Committee (党中央), all localities, departments, and fields have fulfilled their duties, displayed their capabilities, and united as one, forming a powerful synergy. In this critical period full of challenges and opportunities, by adhering to systematic thinking, enhancing the sense of synergy, and highlighting the effectiveness of implementation, we will make the vocal parts coordinate more closely and harmoniously, ensuring that the great chorus of the Chinese (中国) economy will be even more magnificent and spectacular. 厚积薄发 (hòu jī bó fā - "thick accumulation, thin release," to build up a rich store of knowledge or strength over time and then release it gradually) and 琴瑟和鸣 (qín sè hé míng - "zither and lute playing in harmony," a metaphor for perfect harmony and cooperation).
Return to TopBy: 陈圆圆
For the youth, the surging "Guochao" (National Trend) is an active quest for cultural subjectivity by the "generation that looks at the world at eye level."
How do artifacts from over 1,400 years ago become the "top traffic" of cultural and creative markets? At the first China New Cultural and Creative Market and Trendy Play Garden Party (首届中国新文创市集暨潮玩游园会), refrigerator magnets designed based on the Sui Dynasty (隋代) Li Jingxun (李静训) moth-shaped gold hairpin were highly sought after. Some exclaimed, "The things of our ancestors are still fashionable even today."
"Ancient charm and national style have become the 'top-tier aesthetic' in the eyes of young people," connecting both the thousand-year cultural lineage and the vibrant life of the marketplace. In recent years, the craze for cultural relics and "Guochao" has been heating up, with Eastern aesthetics sweeping the globe. Innovative expressions that blend tradition with modernity are integrating into a better life with unprecedented vitality and breadth. People cannot help but ask: Why does the ancient charm and national style remain so popular?
On the surface, this is a consumption boom. Drinking new-style Chinese tea and traveling to a city just for its museum, the charm of excellent traditional culture is growing; doll bag charms, games, and animations make "Guochao" products the "social currency" of Generation Z (Z世代). Data shows that in 2024, the sales revenue of cultural and creative products from museums nationwide reached 3.428 billion yuan, an increase of 63.7% over the previous year; some reports predict that by 2028, the "Guochao" market will exceed 3 trillion yuan. From time-honored brands to new Chinese styles, cultural traffic is being transformed into tangible consumption growth.
Looking deeper, the trend reflects profound cultural confidence. Relying on rich cultural resources, many designers are activating intangible cultural heritage resources with modern aesthetics. From "Bronze Chirp" (青铜啾) inspired by the flower buds and standing bird artifacts of the Sanxingdui (三星堆) bronze sacred tree, to the "living fossil of embroidery" Shui ethnic group (水族) horsehair embroidery handbags, to medicated diet bread and four-season sachets incorporating health preservation concepts... cultural inheritance has shifted from passive protection to active innovation, and excellent traditional Chinese culture is radiating new vitality.
Going a step further, the "Guochao" reflects the spiritual atmosphere of an era. The land is vast, and cultural innovation and creation are leaping everywhere. Through this "top-tier aesthetic," one can better explore how to activate the vitality of ancient civilization through creativity and technology.
The foundation is deeply rooted in the accumulation of a thousand-year cultural lineage. One might trace it back to the *Classic of Poetry* (诗经), where the "Guofeng" (国风) collected folk songs, which, after 3,000 years of circulation and precipitation, have entered the contemporary context and evolved into a cultural trend that connects the past and the present, remaining fresh and enduring. The reason why "Guochao" continues to "gain fans" is that its foundation stems from the profound heritage of Chinese civilization spanning over 5,000 years. When people visit museums and buy cultural and creative products, the shock of "seeing a thousand years in a glance" often comes from a highly recognizable aesthetic carrier—patterns, ancient architecture, solar terms, traditional folk music, and so on. These vivid identifiers, carved into our bones, can always traverse time to awaken our "cultural genes."
Innovation and creation highlight practical wisdom. Observing from the cultural and creative markets, the nourishment of contemporary creation by traditional wisdom is a common feature of hit products. Some replicate ancient aesthetics, such as the spiral gold threads on the moth-pouncing-flower crown refrigerator magnet, which must be installed by hand to restore the vividness of "moths flapping wings and flowers swaying." Others shine with new poses, such as the ancient patterns of Xinjiang (新疆) Atlas silk (艾德莱斯) "leaping" from museums into digital cultural creation, ushering in a cyber rebirth. By adding to modern design, digital technology, and new consumption scenarios, tradition can "live" in the present.
Cultural confidence reflects spiritual temperament. There are often such scenes in the market: young people hold cultural and creative products in their palms, listening to artisans narrating stories, and everyone reads history through the same object, sparking resonance that transcends generations. Looking around, Wukong (悟空) and Nezha (哪吒) are popular worldwide, online literature, dramas, and games are becoming hits overseas, and "becoming Chinese" has become a trend... A strong national power solidifies cultural confidence. For the youth, the surging "Guochao" is an active quest for cultural subjectivity by the "generation that looks at the world at eye level."
Looking further, "culture" and "creation" are fused into "new," and "new" is more than just cultural creation. Pioneering, transcending, and reshaping—from the sparks of the Stone Age to the algorithms of the digital age, innovation has always contained the gene of **汲古润今** (jí gǔ rùn jīn - "draw from the ancient to nourish the present," to learn from historical wisdom to enrich contemporary life). Tu Youyou (屠呦呦) drew inspiration from the vast sea of ancient books to extract artemisinin; Fan Jinshi (樊锦诗) applied computer technology to mural protection, allowing the "Digital Dunhuang" (数字敦煌) to preserve thousand-year-old murals forever. The fusion of traditional culture and modern technology produces an endless stream of innovative achievements. Wisdom is contained within: the more a nation knows how to use creativity and technology to activate ancient civilization, the more it can move steadily and thrive in the tide of the times.
Culture establishes the roots, and creation leads to the distance. The long-lasting popularity of "Guochao" carries the contemporary charm of the endless Chinese civilization and precipitates the deep and long-lasting humanistic background of Chinese-style modernization. By guarding the roots of the cultural lineage, activating the power of creativity, and deeply cultivating the foundation of humanity, the ancient charm and national style will better nurture daily life and condense the spiritual strength for the nation to move forward steadily.
(The author is an editor in the Editorial Office of this newspaper)
Return to TopBy: 宋亚霖
Not long ago, the ultra-large diameter tunnel boring machine (TBM) "Linghanghao" (领航号), after 23 months of safe excavation, crossed the southern embankment of the Yangtze River (长江) and successfully arrived in Taicang, Jiangsu (江苏太仓), completing its "landing." This great national heavy equipment that traversed the riverbed is not only a magnificent silhouette of Made in China (中国制造), but also a vivid metaphor for the dialectical transformation between "hidden achievements" (潜绩) and "manifest achievements" (显绩): without the dedication of "deep diving," how could there be the scenery and smoothness of "speeding" in the future?
As early as 2005, Comrade Xi Jinping (习近平), then Secretary of the Zhejiang Provincial Party Committee (浙江省委书记), pointed out in the article "Hidden Achievements and Manifest Achievements" (《“潜绩”与“显绩”》) that "'hidden' and 'manifest' are a pair of contradictions that are opposites yet unified. 'Hidden' is the foundation of 'manifest,' and 'manifest' is the result of 'hidden'." Hidden and manifest achievements are, in fact, different forms of the same work along the axis of time. Only by correctly understanding and grasping the dialectical relationship between hidden and manifest achievements, cultivating the state of mind that "success does not have to be achieved by me," and sharpening the sense of responsibility that "success will surely have my contribution," can one create verifiable achievements through solid work and diligent action.
Looking back at the development history of China's (中国) tunnel boring machines, it is precisely an epic of "hidden-to-manifest transformation." In the past, our country relied on imports for TBMs, which was not only expensive to procure but also inconvenient to maintain. Facing the "stranglehold" (卡脖子) problem, our country's enterprises and research institutes joined forces to tackle key problems and continued to explore, successively overcoming key technologies such as cutter head design and hydraulic control systems, successfully achieving breakthroughs in domestic production. Today, the global market share of domestic TBMs exceeds 70%. Visible and tangible manifest achievements do not arise out of thin air; they rely on the willingness to contribute silently and the courage to 啃硬骨头 (kěn yìng gǔ tóu - "gnaw hard bones," to tackle the most difficult tasks).
To exert hidden effort and promote manifest achievements, one cannot do without the guidance of strategic thinking. The Sichuan-Tibet Railway (川藏铁路) currently under construction has a bridge-to-tunnel ratio of over 94% in some sections, with a massive investment "deeply buried" in the towering mountains and ridges, making it difficult to see returns in the short term. However, if one takes a long-term view, filling the gaps in the southwest railway network is of immeasurable value for promoting ethnic unity and further driving the new pattern of Western Development (西部大开发). Investment in basic education, funding for basic scientific research, environmental pollution remediation, river basin ecological governance... these tasks require huge initial investment and have a "return curve" that tends to be flat; if one is 急功近利 (jí gōng jìn lì - "eager for quick success and instant benefit," to be shortsighted and impatient for immediate results), one will surely return empty-handed. Only by basing oneself on the long term to strengthen strategic coordination and grasping implementation measures with systematic planning can one anchor the direction of hidden work and ensure that foundational tasks take root and blossom.
To nurture manifest achievements with hidden efforts, the determination to "draw a blueprint to the end" is also particularly important. Three generations of forest farm workers spent decades rooting themselves in hidden work; even when the survival rate of afforestation was extremely low, they still made arduous and extraordinary efforts. Today, Saihanba (塞罕坝) in Hebei (河北) has formed a million-acre forest sea, with an ecological value exceeding 10 billion yuan annually. If one lacks the determination to 板凳坐得十年冷 (bǎn dèng zuò dé shí nián lěng - "sit on a bench for ten years in the cold," to endure long-term loneliness and hardship for a goal) and lacks the breadth of mind to "plant trees for future generations," then the desert would remain a desert, and life would also add unnecessary desolation. The deeper the foundation is rooted, the more confident the upward growth; the process of lying dormant and accumulating strength for hidden work is precisely the accumulation of endogenous power for manifest achievements to break through the soil.
To nurture manifest achievements with hidden efforts, one must be vigilant against "fake manifest achievements" and "fake hidden achievements." For example, in order to pursue a temporary good appearance, money that should have been used to dig wells is spent on painting walls, and soil that should have been used to build reservoirs is used to pile up artificial rockeries. Another example is packaging inaction as hidden work, beautifying the avoidance of responsibility as "not competing," and disguising "marking time" as "deep foresight." True manifest achievements are a natural extension of hidden work, not an overdraft of hidden achievements; true hidden work is the willingness to do it while knowing it will not "manifest" in the short term, facing difficulties without shirking, and tackling long-term challenges without taking detours.
Grasping the law of transformation between "hidden" and "manifest" requires not only clarity in epistemology but also adherence in axiology. Manifest achievements bring real benefits to the people, while hidden achievements pave the way and lay the foundation for future generations; both are unified in the principle that "benefiting the people is the greatest political achievement." Those "image projects" that are 急功近利 (jí gōng jìn lì - "eager for quick success and instant benefit," to be shortsighted and impatient for immediate results) will ultimately not withstand the test of history; while those hidden achievements of silent cultivation, though not 显山露水 (xiǎn shān lòu shuǐ - "reveal mountains and show water," to show off or be ostentatious), will be remembered by the people forever.
Manifest achievements should be done solidly, and hidden achievements must be done deeply. On the new Long March (长征), only by accumulating strength in "deep diving" and demonstrating responsibility in "speeding," and by making "hidden" and "manifest" resonate at the same frequency and spiral upward on the coordinate of benefiting the people, can we create true achievements that withstand the test of practice, the people, and history, and hear the long-lasting echoes from the depths of time.
Return to TopCeramic factories are being converted into cultural and creative parks, water purification plants are transforming into water culture ecological parks, and abandoned factory zones are being developed into youth innovation industrial parks... With the rise of industrial tourism, industrial heritage sites in many places are experiencing a **焕然一新** (huàn rán yī xīn - "glow brand new," to look completely new and refreshed). Recently, the "Notice on Promoting Industrial Culture, Protecting Industrial Heritage, and Developing Industrial Tourism" (关于弘扬工业文化 保护工业遗产 发展工业旅游的通知) was issued, proposing eight key tasks, including improving the level of industrial heritage protection and enriching the supply of industrial tourism products. This is conducive to encouraging more people to get closer to industrial memories and inherit the spirit of urban struggle.
This is exactly:
Mottled factory buildings witness the vicissitudes of time,
Ingenious touches open a new chapter.
The light and shadows of yesteryear leave a lingering charm,
The cultural lineage continues, nourishing both city and countryside.
Xu Zhiwen (徐之文)
Return to TopBy: 杜宇慧
Recently, readers of the People's Daily (人民日报) have reported that in some remote mountainous villages, broadcast loudspeakers have fallen into disrepair and remained idle for long periods, failing to serve their intended purpose.
Some time ago, many parts of Hubei (湖北) were hit by heavy rainstorms. In one village in Hefeng County (鹤峰县), a sudden flash flood occurred at night. It was precisely by relying on the broadcast system to urgently wake the villagers that an orderly evacuation was achieved, resulting in zero casualties.
Currently, we are in the flood control season. Loudspeakers transmit information rapidly and have broad coverage, serving as the "last mile" for delivering early warnings directly to the front lines. To maintain these loudspeakers well, we must first strengthen our emphasis on them. It is not the case that, with the current prevalence of mobile phones and advanced communications, every place can receive notifications in a timely manner. In complex terrains such as the mountainous regions of Southwest China (西南山区) and the Loess Plateau of Northwest China (西北黄土高原), 4G networks have not yet achieved full coverage, making it difficult for network-dependent smart warning apps and Internet of Things (IoT) devices to operate stably. Even where there is network access, some emergency apps face practical issues, such as the elderly not knowing how to use them or people with disabilities encountering barriers to access.
Loudspeakers are by no means "antiques" or "ornaments," but rather one of the most grounded and efficient "fail-safe" communication methods. In critical moments, "primitive methods" such as loudspeaker announcements, drum beating, and gong sounding can play a vital role. Each urgent call can not only quickly wake sleeping villagers but also deliver risk-avoidance instructions to the fields in the most direct manner.
In reality, many rural loudspeakers are in disrepair. Beyond obvious physical damage, there are also "hidden ailments" that are easily overlooked. In some mountainous areas in the south, high air humidity easily causes internal oxidation of equipment, leading to terminal failure. In villages located in low-lying areas or backed by mountains, wireless FM signals are often blocked by the terrain, resulting in poor signal reception for more distant village groups. At locations using solar power, loudspeakers are prone to "going on strike" due to insufficient power during consecutive rainy days. To address these issues, we must go deep into the grassroots, hand the "microphone" to the villagers, strengthen daily maintenance, and ensure they do not "misfire" at critical moments.
In rural production and daily life, the loudspeaker is an important source of information: broadcasting agricultural techniques during spring plowing, conveying the policies of the Communist Party of China (中国共产党) on ordinary days, and providing timely notifications of meteorological changes... Including Hubei (湖北), many places are solidly advancing the construction of the "Village-to-Village Sound" (村村响) project, building a multi-level, linked emergency broadcasting system, and weaving an increasingly dense information transmission network and protective safety net that covers both urban and rural areas.
The loudspeaker is not just a loudspeaker; it is an indispensable and effective tool in grassroots governance. By establishing a normalized and long-term management and maintenance mechanism, we can ensure that early warning information, policies benefiting the people, legal awareness, and civilized customs reach every household through sound waves. This will better safeguard the lives and property of the people and inject inexhaustible momentum into rural good governance.
(Excerpted from Hubei Daily (湖北日报), originally titled "Loudspeakers Must Not 'Only Speak When in an Emergency'")
Return to TopBy: 唐天奕
[Character] The Couriers of Gulangyu
[Story] On Gulangyu (鼓浪屿) in Xiamen (厦门), Fujian (福建), which covers an area of only 1.88 square kilometers, vehicles are completely prohibited and buildings lack elevators. Couriers must rely entirely on hand-pushed carts to deliver packages. Although the speed is slower, their service extends into broader aspects of life—delivering meals and providing haircuts for the elderly, and offering directions and answering questions for tourists. The "Gulangyu Good Brothers" (鼓浪屿好小哥) volunteer service team allows warmth to circulate on the small island, inspiring more people to participate in volunteer work.
[Commentary]
Chilean cherries arrive via express lines, and remote mountain valleys in the old revolutionary base area of Gannan (赣南) welcome drone deliveries. Today, when discussing China's (中国) express logistics, speed is undoubtedly one of the most eye-catching keywords.
However, on Gulangyu (鼓浪屿), express delivery has slowed down. With vehicles prohibited, couriers must push carts weighing over a hundred jin up and down slopes every day, wearing out a pair of shoes every three to four months.
Slowing down is a sign of respect for cultural tradition. In the past, Gulangyu (鼓浪屿) had no cars because the island's roads were narrow and filled with stone steps, making it inconvenient for motor vehicles to pass. Yet, it is precisely this inconvenience that has preserved a corner of tranquility and composure in a noisy and hurried society, shaping a unique charm for Gulangyu (鼓浪屿). Today, as part of a World Cultural Heritage site, the tradition of a "pedestrian island" is carefully guarded. Slowing down is not a rejection of convenience, but a way to allow the functional attributes of express delivery to integrate organically with the cultural attributes of the region. In this sense, the footsteps and sweat of the couriers connect not only the senders and recipients but also profound history with contemporary life.
Slowing down does not mean losing competitiveness. Emphasizing humanistic care has instead created a unique brand. Today, among the approximately 12,000 permanent residents of Gulangyu (鼓浪屿), about 30% are over the age of 65. Delivering meals and medicine to elderly people living alone, finding the owners of "blind letters" for those seeking relatives, and conveying public sentiment to the community—the pace may be slower, but the volunteer services within their reach have increased. Couriers are no longer "hurried passersby" but are more closely embedded in the community. Walking through Gulangyu (鼓浪屿), it is not difficult to see such scenes: residents handing water or cooking noodles for couriers, and tourists helping couriers push their carts. This kind of **双向奔赴** (shuāng xiàng bēn fù - "two-way rushing toward each other," a mutual effort or reciprocal engagement) is a precious touch of human warmth in a fast-paced life.
The reason Gulangyu (鼓浪屿) is so alluring lies not only in its scenery but also in its leisurely and beautiful humanistic temperament. In this sense, the slowed-down express delivery and the couriers have become part of this temperament; those heartwarming interactions have become scenery on the island that should not be missed.
Balancing speed and slowness—there are many such stories across the land of China (中国). In Zhong County (忠县), Chongqing (重庆), the Xinsheng Port (新生港), the first ten-thousand-ton wharf on the upper reaches of the Yangtze River (长江), is busy with cargo ships connecting rivers and seas. Dozens of kilometers away, the Yangdu Wharf (洋渡码头) sees the "basket ferry" (背篓轮渡) serving vegetable farmers, filled with the daily hustle and bustle of life. In Shenzhen (深圳), Guangdong (广东), citizens use "snap and send" to offer suggestions for public facilities, and the speed of "second-level rectification" has won praise. Meanwhile, Shenzhen Bay Park (深圳湾公园) politely declined a citizen's proposal to install high-brightness streetlights, striking a balance between travel convenience and ecological protection.
Speed and slowness are not contradictory. Speed is a means, not an end; the value origin of development is always people. Just as the rhythm of a musical movement should not be uniform, by recognizing the inherent differences between different groups and scenarios, and flexibly adjusting the rate according to the location, the matter, and the person, different rhythms can merge and achieve one another. Only then will our development have more substance.
Pursuing speed is a sign of vigorous progress; choosing to slow down demonstrates even more composure and determination. Social civilization has never been measured by a single dimension. By not forgetting to pause while moving forward, by cherishing long-standing traditions and profound humanity, and by actively waiting for those who "walk a little slower," we possess not only China Speed (中国速度) but also China Warmth (中国温度).
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Return to TopBy: 本报记者 张 烁 钟自炜
In the summer, Egret Island (Xiamen) is in full bloom; the tides of the Taiwan Strait are surging, and the sentiments of hometown voices run deep. On June 13, the 18th Straits Forum (海峡论坛) was held in Xiamen (厦门), Fujian (福建). Recently, various activities of this year's Straits Forum have been held intensively.
General Secretary Xi Jinping (习近平) has profoundly pointed out that no matter how the international situation or the situation across the Taiwan Strait changes, the general trend of the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation will not change, and the great trend of compatriots on both sides of the strait getting closer, walking toward each other, and coming together will not change.
This year's Straits Forum adheres to the positioning of "grassroots, people-to-people, and broad-based," continues the theme of "expanding people-to-people exchanges and deepening integrated development," and has set up 58 activities across four major sectors: grassroots exchanges, youth exchanges, cultural exchanges, and economic exchanges. At this grand gathering of people-to-people exchanges, compatriots on both sides of the strait have deepened their friendship and enhanced their well-being, getting closer and more intimate with each step.
**Same Roots, Same Origins; Connected by Blood**
In Xiamen (厦门), Fujian (福建), there is a Banqiao (板桥); in New Taipei (新北), Taiwan (台湾), there is also a Banqiao (板桥).
"Both sides of the strait share the same names and roots; our place names and ancestral lineages have the same origins." On June 13, during the "Same-Name Villages, Hearts Linked" (同名村·心连心) fellowship event, Zhang Guolin (张国琳), Chairman of the Taiwan Zhang-Liao-Jian Exchange Association (台湾张廖简交流协会) from Banqiao (板桥), New Taipei (新北), said emotionally, "To this day, the days we worship our ancestors at home, the way we sweep graves, and the etiquette of weddings and funerals are exactly the same as in our old home in Southern Fujian (闽南)."
Moving from the mainland to Taiwan (台湾) and "bringing" the names of their hometowns with them is a romantic phenomenon rich in the characteristics of the Chinese nation and a vivid testament to the fact that both sides of the strait are one family. "The ancestors of the Eight Min (八闽) crossed the sea to Taiwan (台湾), taking with them not only the names of their hometown villages but also local customs, beliefs, rituals, and farming techniques. This cultural tacit understanding, which permeates daily life and is integrated into the blood and bones, is silent but possesses immense power," said Zheng Guofang (郑国防), Director of the China Museum of Fujian-Taiwan Kinship (中国闽台缘博物馆).
"Our Lin family's architecture faces east toward the west, looking toward our hometown and missing it, because our hometown, Zhangzhou (漳州), Fujian (福建), is to the west of Taiwan (台湾)." During the fellowship event, Lin Mingcong (林铭聪), a descendant of the Wufeng Lin family (雾峰林家) and Chairman of the Taiwan Association for the Relatives of Anti-Japanese Martyrs (台湾抗日志士亲属协进会), used the idiom 饮水思源 (yǐn shuǐ sī yuán - "drink water think source," to never forget where one's happiness comes from) to express his inner feelings.
"It is just an ordinary earthen bowl, but to my grandfather, it was more important than anything else." At the Straits Youth Forum (海峡青年论坛), Liao Jiaxing (廖家兴), a Taiwanese youth from a military dependents' village (眷村), held a bowl and told everyone his family's story.
"When I was a child, I didn't understand. It's just a bowl, what's so precious about it? My grandfather told me that this bowl was what he brought from the mainland to Taiwan (台湾). My grandfather couldn't bear to use it; sometimes he would hold the bowl in his palm and stare at it for a long time. More than 50 years passed, and he finally had the chance to return to his hometown in Jiangxi (江西). Only an older sister remained in the family. My grandfather held his sister's hand and they cried together. When they went to the ancestral hall, he just said softly, 'I'm back, everything is well.'"
Compatriots on both sides of the strait share the same roots, origins, culture, and bloodline, forming a community with a shared future. As a family, as long as we talk things over and discuss matters, there is no conflict or disagreement that cannot be resolved.
"The children of China do not forget their roots; the two sides of the strait are one family and cannot be separated." On the morning of the 13th, Zhang Ronggong (张荣恭), Vice Chairman of the Kuomintang (中国国民党), stated in his speech at the 18th Straits Forum (海峡论坛), "As long as it is based on the fact that both sides of the strait are one family, then there is no disagreement between the two sides that cannot be communicated or resolved."
**Exchange and Cooperation; Moving Forward with One Heart**
On June 13, a matchmaking and signing ceremony for ten policy measures to promote cross-strait exchanges and cooperation was held in Xiamen (厦门).
"Behind every grouper, there is the livelihood of a fisherman's family and the hope of local industry. Being able to sell agricultural and fishery products smoothly, allowing our farmer and fisherman friends to directly obtain reasonable income, is the most tangible happiness." At the meeting, Su Qingquan (苏清泉), Chairman of the Kuomintang (中国国民党) Pingtung County Committee (屏东县党部), stated via video.
At the signing ceremony, mainland enterprises signed contracts with enterprises and business associations from various parts of Taiwan (台湾), purchasing characteristic agricultural and fishery products such as pineapples, sugar apples, pomelos, and tea from counties and cities like Taitung (台东), Yunlin (云林), and Nantou (南投), revitalizing relevant industries in Taiwan (台湾) and allowing farmers and fishermen who were in a predicament of unsalable products to obtain real peace dividends from across the strait.
Both sides of the strait are one family; relatives hope for the best for their relatives.
In the nearly three years since the construction of the Cross-Strait Integrated Development Demonstration Zone (两岸融合发展示范区) began, Fujian (福建) has released 5 batches of 74 policy measures to promote Fujian-Taiwan integration. The first batch of phased landmark achievements has been released, the first batch of replicable and scalable experiences has been formed, the construction of the demonstration zone has made significant progress, and the atmosphere of Fujian and Taiwan being close to each other has become even stronger.
At the construction site of the Xiamen-Kinmen Bridge (Xiamen Section) (厦金大桥（厦门段）), the project is entering a critical stage of large-scale cross-sea transportation and hoisting of steel box girders.
Quanzhou (泉州), Fujian (福建), has supplied a total of more than 49 million tons of water to Kinmen (金门); the vision of "both sides of the strait are one family, drinking from the same river" has long since become reality. Following the water supply to Kinmen (金门), what the people of Kinmen (金门) look forward to most is the bridge. According to reports, this large cross-sea bridge will realize the opening of the main sea bridge by the end of this year and will be fully connected by the end of 2027. The bridge has reserved an interface for the Kinmen (金门) section, and there are no technical issues in completing the Kinmen (金门) section.
Yang Jiaqi (杨家祺), General Manager of Kinmen-Xiamen Shipping Co., Ltd. (金厦海运股份有限公司), is from Kinmen (金门). His grandmother married from Xiamen (厦门) to Kinmen (金门) and could not return to her hometown for decades. "Three years after Grandma passed away, the 'Mini-Three Links' (小三通) opened. My father took her photo, boarded the ship home, and returned to the old house. The first thing he said was, 'Mother, we are back, we have arrived home.'"
While telling the story, Yang Jiaqi's (杨家祺) voice trembled slightly: "The road that Grandma walked for a lifetime without finishing, now thousands of people walk it every day."
Today, the frequency of "Mini-Three Links" (小三通) passenger routes has increased, projects such as the Xiamen-Kinmen Bridge (Xiamen Section) (厦金大桥（厦门段）), Xiamen Xiang'an International Airport (厦门翔安国际机场), and the second phase of Fuzhou Airport (福州机场) are accelerating construction, and the "same-city life circles" of Xiamen-Kinmen (厦金) and Fuzhou-Matsu (福马) are accelerating their formation... At the Straits Forum (海峡论坛), many Taiwan (台湾) compatriots in Fujian (福建) used their personal experiences to describe the integrated development that is going deeper and becoming more solid.
**Getting Closer and More Intimate**
At the 18th Straits Forum (海峡论坛), what greeted people were familiar hometown accents and bright smiles; compatriots on both sides of the strait sat knee-to-knee, chatting about their hometown feelings.
"Since our livestreaming room went online in February this year, we have sold more than 300,000 boxes of pineapple cakes. This is something I never dared to imagine in Taiwan (台湾)." At the Straits Youth Forum (海峡青年论坛), Taiwanese self-media blogger Qu Xianping (曲献平) used his own experience to encourage more Taiwanese youth, "I hope everyone can also seize their own opportunities!"
"I am recording the happy moments of taking root in the mainland, letting more Taiwan (台湾) compatriots see a real mainland." At the 18th Straits Forum (海峡论坛) conference, Kang Yongming (康永明), a physical education teacher at Fuzhou University of International Studies and Trade (福州外语外贸学院) from Hsinchu (新竹), Taiwan (台湾), shared his story.
Why choose Fujian (福建)? "Because of the fate of rugby, and even more so because of the mark my father left in my heart and the dream he planted—to go home." Last October, he took his whole family to worship his ancestors at the Kang Family Temple (康氏家庙) in Tong'an District (同安区), Xiamen (厦门), "I am very glad that I bravely took the step of going home, and even more glad that my children can take root in the mainland in the future."
Recently, the "Min Super" (闽超) opened exclusive quotas for Taiwan (台湾) compatriots, and each "Min Super" (闽超) team can add 2 players from Taiwan (台湾). "I feel very honored and happy to be able to participate in the 'Min Super' (闽超)!" said Li Zhenxuan (李振瑄), a Taiwanese player for the Pingtan (平潭) team of the "Min Super" (闽超), "Many Taiwanese friends have contacted me, whether they want to be players, join the coaching staff, do logistics, or be cheerleaders, they all want to join the 'Min Super' (闽超) family."
At the Cross-Strait Grassroots Governance Forum (两岸基层治理论坛), more than 400 grassroots representatives and people from all walks of life from both sides of the strait conducted exchanges on "Sustainable Development and Emergency Synergy in Rural Areas Across the Strait."
"During my doctoral studies in Beijing (北京), I came into contact with cases of grassroots governance, rural revitalization, and resilient communities in the mainland, which touched me deeply. I look forward to the two sides of the strait promoting more pragmatic exchanges between grassroots, youth, and professional institutions in the future," said Chen Yixuan (陈翊瑄), a Taiwanese youth and research assistant at the Institute for Social Governance and Development at Tsinghua University (清华大学社会治理与发展研究院).
In stark contrast to the enthusiastic exchanges between compatriots on both sides of the strait, on the eve of this year's Straits Forum (海峡论坛), the Mainland Affairs Council (台陆委会) of Taiwan (台湾) further expanded restrictions, requiring county and city governments and public officials not to attend relevant activities, and some Taiwanese guests had to attend via video.
"As the largest and most widely participated people-to-people exchange activity across the strait, the Straits Forum (海峡论坛) is the best platform for communication and exchange between the people on both sides of the strait," "Cross-strait exchanges should have more goodwill and less hostility, allowing for more mutual understanding," "Why not give Taiwanese farmers and fishermen a way out?"... People from all walks of life on the island have criticized the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) (民进党) authorities for undermining cross-strait exchanges and cooperation and damaging the interests and well-being of the Taiwan (台湾) people, which is unpopular. "The Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) (民进党) is isolating cross-strait exchanges step by step, which will only make the people of Taiwan (台湾) feel more 步步惊心 (bù bù jīng xīn - "step by step startling," a situation where every move is fraught with danger or anxiety)," commented the Taiwan (台湾) *China Times* (中国时报).
"No matter how big the waves in the Taiwan Strait (台湾海峡) are, they cannot sever the roots that connect the blood of compatriots on both sides of the strait, and they cannot block the firm steps of the youth on both sides of the strait to get closer, become more intimate, and walk hand in hand," said Huang Ronghu (黄荣护), Chairman of the Taiwan China Youth Exchange Association (台湾中华青年交流协会), voicing everyone's inner thoughts.
Return to TopShanghai (上海), June 14 (Reporter Jiang Hongbing (姜泓冰), Huang Xiaohui (黄晓慧)) — On the 14th, Shanghai (上海) held a series of events marking the 100-day countdown to the 48th WorldSkills Competition (第四十八届世界技能大赛). Through a city-wide linkage model of "1 main venue + 10 sub-venues + 100 vocational units," the event focused on the four major life scenarios of clothing, food, housing, and transportation. By transforming professional competitions into accessible daily life scenes, the event integrated the spirit of the WorldSkills Competition (世赛) and the philosophy of vocational skills into the city's fabric, creating a robust atmosphere.
On the day of the event, the Executive Bureau of the Shanghai WorldSkills Competition (上海世赛执行局) and WorldSkills International (世界技能组织) jointly announced that social media blogger Li Ziqi (李子柒) has been appointed as the promotional ambassador for the Shanghai WorldSkills Competition (上海世赛). At the launch ceremony, the latest progress of the WorldSkills Expo (世界技能博览会) was released. It is understood that this year's expo is based on the principle of "participation for all," guided by the themes of "internationalization, Chinese style, youthfulness, and interactivity," and follows a "one central hub with multiple locations" layout. Currently, over 200 exhibitors have gathered, including skilled experts from various countries, global sponsors from diverse industries, and representatives from every province in China showcasing their 看家本领 (kàn jiā běn lǐng - "guard house original skill," one's best or most unique skill). Nearly 100 types of skill-based experience projects have been prepared concurrently, striving to present a feast of skills that can be viewed, played, and experienced.
The H5 promotional page for the 48th WorldSkills Competition (第四十八届世界技能大赛) overseas was also launched. Using the "48th WorldSkills Competition" (第四十八届世赛) as a bridge for global youth exchange, the overseas promotional activities have spread the WorldSkills philosophy of "Skills change the world, skills illuminate the future" to nearly 40 cities worldwide, including Abu Dhabi (阿布扎比), Johannesburg (约翰内斯堡), Florence (佛罗伦萨), New York (纽约), and Melbourne (墨尔本).
The competition medals were also displayed on-site. The medals for this competition were designed by a team led by Shanghai (上海) craftsman and senior arts and crafts master Zhu Xihua (朱熙华), featuring a novel design and exquisite craftsmanship. "We broke away from the traditional flat, circular medal shape, using the traditional Chinese mortise and tenon structure as a visual identifier to create an exclusive irregular hexagonal shape. WorldSkills International (世界技能组织) gave this high praise, believing the medal design perfectly integrates traditional craftsmanship with modern aesthetics," introduced Liu Hongpeng (刘洪鹏), Deputy General Manager of Shanghai Mint Co., Ltd. (上海造币有限公司).
The "WorldSkills Life Carnival" (世赛申活嘉年华) held after the launch ceremony was filled with a vibrant atmosphere. WorldSkills (世赛) science exhibition boards, licensed merchandise booths, and medal display cabinets attracted many citizens to stop and look; the "Nengneng and Qiaoqiao" (能能巧巧) photo spots drew many young people. The four experience zones—"Clothing: Splendid Attire," "Food: Craftsmanship on the Tongue," "Housing: Building Dream Spaces," and "Transportation: Smart Travel"—attracted many citizens who queued up to participate. From press-on nail art, lacquer fan making, and woodworking to robotics, more than 10 types of skill experiences allowed citizens to personally feel that vocational skills are present in everyday life.
Since June 12, 100 high-skilled talent training bases and WorldSkills (世赛) sponsors in Shanghai (上海) have simultaneously launched efforts to build a WorldSkills atmosphere, working together to create a "City of Skills" (技能之城). Shanghai (上海) is extending a sincere invitation to the world with a passionate atmosphere.
Return to TopXinhua News Agency (新华社), Chengdu (成都), June 13 — (Reporter Li Jie (李杰)) On June 13, the Academic Forum of the Research Bases of the Institute of Party History and Literature of the CPC Central Committee (中央党史和文献研究院) was held in Chengdu (成都), Sichuan (四川). Themed "Theoretical Interpretation and Practical Pathways: External Communication of Xi Jinping (习近平) Thought on Culture," the conference aimed to further enhance the systematic academic research, interpretation, and external communication capabilities of Xi Jinping (习近平) Thought on Culture.
Experts and scholars from units including the Publicity Department of the CPC Central Committee (中宣部), the Party School of the Central Committee of the CPC (National Academy of Governance) (中央党校（国家行政学院）), the Institute of Party History and Literature of the CPC Central Committee (中央党史和文献研究院), the Ministry of Education (教育部), Xinhua News Agency (新华社), the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (中国社会科学院), and China Media Group (中央广播电视总台), as well as nearly 20 universities including Tsinghua University (清华大学), Renmin University of China (中国人民大学), Wuhan University (武汉大学), and Sichuan University (四川大学), engaged in in-depth exchanges regarding the international environment, thematic content, principles, pathways, and methods for the external communication of Xi Jinping (习近平) Thought on Culture.
Wang Junwei (王均伟), Director of the Academic and Editorial Review Committee of the Institute of Party History and Literature of the CPC Central Committee (中央党史和文献研究院), argued that the systematic academic research and interpretation of Xi Jinping (习近平) Thought on Culture need to focus on four key issues: First, expanding theoretical depth by focusing closely on identifying concepts, innovative expressions, and representative assertions to deepen research and highlight the scientific nature of Xi Jinping (习近平) Thought on Culture; second, broadening theoretical horizons by deeply studying its inheritance and development relationship with Marxist cultural theory and the cultural thought of the Communist Party of China (中国共产党) to highlight the originality of Xi Jinping (习近平) Thought on Culture; third, grounding it in practical guidance by profoundly expounding on the great achievements made in guiding the construction of a socialist cultural power to highlight the practicality of Xi Jinping (习近平) Thought on Culture; and fourth, rectifying writing and discourse styles by effectively improving the modes of expression in research and interpretation to highlight the vividness of Xi Jinping (习近平) Thought on Culture.
The participating experts agreed that to do a good job in the external communication of Xi Jinping (习近平) Thought on Culture, it is necessary to correctly understand and deeply grasp the essence and core meaning of Xi Jinping (习近平) Thought on Culture, focus on identifying concepts, make good and flexible use of digital information technology, and 因地制宜 (yīn dì zhì yí - "according to place adapt measures," to act in light of local conditions), exert continuous effort, and constantly improve the effectiveness of communication, so as to promote the understanding, acceptance, and recognition of Xi Jinping (习近平) Thought on Culture by audiences in more countries and regions.
It is understood that the Academic Forum of the Research Bases of the Institute of Party History and Literature of the CPC Central Committee (中央党史和文献研究院) will be held annually starting from 2024, setting topics around the research, publicity, and interpretation of Xi Jinping (习近平) Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era (习近平新时代中国特色社会主义思想) to conduct concentrated discussions and exchange the latest research results.
Return to TopChangsha (长沙), June 14 (Reporter Yang Xun (杨迅)) — As learned by the reporter recently at the Hunan Province (湖南省) Traditional Village Protection, Inheritance, and Utilization Promotion Meeting, Hunan (湖南) has cumulatively recommended 704 villages for inclusion in the List of Chinese Traditional Villages, ranking among the top in the country. Among these, 25 villages have been recognized as National Historical and Cultural Villages, and 271 digital museums for traditional villages have been established. More than 10 protection experiences have been selected for the Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development (住房城乡建设部) list of replicable experiences, with numerous achievements receiving recognition and promotion at the national level.
In recent years, various localities in Hunan (湖南) have excavated and activated resources such as red culture and folk arts, creating a batch of benchmarks for traditional village protection and utilization, including Shibadong Village (十八洞村), Shazhou Village (沙洲村), and Jingping Village (荆坪村). Six regions, including Xiangxi Tujia and Miao Autonomous Prefecture (湘西土家族苗族自治州) and Rucheng County (汝城县), have been selected as national regions for the concentrated and contiguous protection and utilization of traditional villages, while Guiyang County (桂阳县) has been selected as a national characteristic protection area for traditional villages.
According to reports, Hunan (湖南) will focus on the construction themes clarified by the state, rely on historical and cultural resources, highlight regional characteristics and comparative advantages, and plan and reserve a batch of key projects with high standards, striving with full effort to create national-level characteristic protection areas for traditional villages. The layout of provincial-level traditional village funding projects strictly follows the three principles of prioritizing protection, contiguous clustering, and highlighting characteristics. Funds are primarily directed toward the repair of traditional buildings, facility quality improvement, landscape renovation, and the cultivation of craftsmen. Priority is given to supporting concentrated and contiguous village areas, the rescue of endangered buildings, villages with prominent facility deficiencies, and projects with distinct historical and cultural characteristics. All parties are working 齐心协力 (qí xīn xié lì - "together heart united strength," to work together with one heart and one mind) to ensure these efforts achieve success.
Return to TopZuojiawu Primary School (左家坞小学) in Zuojiawu Town (左家坞镇), Fengrun District (丰润区), Tangshan City (唐山市), Hebei Province (河北省), has established a shadow puppetry club. Through activities such as crafting shadow puppets, performing shadow plays, and appreciating shadow puppetry art, the school allows children to understand, engage with, and experience shadow puppetry up close. The photo shows a teacher at Zuojiawu Primary School (左家坞小学) guiding students in experiencing the techniques of shadow puppetry performance a few days ago.
Photographed by Zhu Dayong (朱大勇) (People Visual (人民视觉))
Return to TopBy: 本报记者 刘佳华
Currently, in Tongxing Village (同兴村), Jinxing Manchu Ethnic Township (金星满族乡), Xifeng County (西丰县), Tieling City (铁岭市), Liaoning Province (辽宁省), farmers are busy clearing and selling their surplus grain. Old Feng (老冯), a villager, is worried about the corn in his warehouse; hiring a vehicle to transport it for sale is not cost-effective, but if he doesn't sell it, it will easily become damp if left to sit.
"I'll help you carry your grain!" A single sentence from Yu Yanlong (于艳龙) (see photo, taken by our reporter Liu Jiahua (刘佳华)) made Old Feng's brow unfurl. Without asking for compensation, Yu Yanlong has quietly performed many such ordinary acts of kindness, such as voluntarily driving to help transport and sell grain. This simple villager was selected for the first quarter 2026 "Courageous Hero List" by the Central Political and Legal Affairs Commission (中央政法委).
On November 29 of last year, the chill in Xifeng County (西丰县) was biting. Around 5:00 PM, as the sky grew dark, Yu Yanlong (于艳龙) was driving to discuss grain procurement.
"Help! Save them!" As the vehicle reached the area near the back mountain on the east side of the Xifeng (西丰) expressway entrance, a series of cries rang out. Yu Yanlong (于艳龙) slammed on the brakes and looked toward the sound—two teenagers were waving their arms desperately, crying, "Uncle! My friends fell into an ice hole! Save them! Right over there!"
Without a moment's hesitation, Yu Yanlong (于艳龙) stepped on the gas and rushed up the mountain road. When he reached the water's edge and jumped out of the car to look, his heart sank—in the water, several children were struggling desperately, sinking and surfacing, with splashes constantly erupting. He counted them: four children!
"If it were just one child, I could have swum over to save them. With four, relying on myself alone certainly wouldn't work." Recalling the scene, Yu Yanlong (于艳龙) still feels a lingering fear. He shouted to the children in the distance who were flagging down help: "Call the rescue line! Get more people here!" While speaking, he ran to the shore, stripped off his clothes and shoes, and jumped into the water.
"Save me!" A child in the water cried out in despair. "Don't panic! Keep your head back! Lift your chin! I'll save you one by one!" Yu Yanlong (于艳龙) shouted into the water. The water was much deeper than he had anticipated; he later learned that the deepest part was eight or nine meters. Yu Yanlong (于艳龙) had known how to swim since he was seven or eight and was a strong swimmer, but this time was different—the temperature was very low, and one would rapidly suffer from hypothermia after being in the water for only a short time. Relying on himself to drag and save them might not be effective. He immediately turned and swam back to the shore, pulled out his mobile phone, and called a friend who was buying grain nearby: "Four children fell into the water at the back mountain! Come quickly! Bring ropes and poles!"
After hanging up, he broke off a tree branch over a meter long and swam toward the nearest child, extending the branch: "Grab it! Don't let go!" The child gripped one end tightly, and Yu Yanlong (于艳龙) used all his strength to swim back, gradually dragging the child to the shore.
His friend and other villagers arrived, pulled the child onto the bank, and handed Yu Yanlong (于艳龙) a pole over two meters long. Yu Yanlong (于艳龙) turned and swam out a few meters, extended the pole to the second child, and swam toward the shore. The crowd on the bank worked in a relay to successfully rescue the second child.
The third child was in the most critical condition, having choked on several mouthfuls of water, losing consciousness, and beginning to sink. Yu Yanlong (于艳龙) swam over, grabbed him, and dragged him toward the shore with all his might. The fourth child remained relatively calm, following Yu Yanlong's (于艳龙) instructions to float on the surface with his head back. Yu Yanlong (于艳龙) reached him with the pole and guided him to the shore.
Medical personnel arrived at the scene quickly and rushed the rescued children to the hospital. It is heartbreaking that, despite his best efforts, the third child could not be resuscitated and unfortunately passed away; another child who had already sunk below the water was found the next morning with no vital signs. In the end, three children survived.
Reflecting on the moment of the rescue, Yu Yanlong (于艳龙) still feels somewhat sad: "In that situation, I think anyone who encountered it would have gone to save them. Those children were about the same age as my son. 将心比心 (jiāng xīn bǐ xīn - "take heart compare heart," to put oneself in another's shoes, to empathize with others), I had to save them; I didn't consider anything else."
Heroes come from the ordinary. After graduating from junior high school at 17, Yu Yanlong (于艳龙) left his hometown to work, having been a mason, raised cattle, and later specialized in growing corn and collecting grain. Today, he contracts over 300 mu of land and runs a family farm, hiring six or seven fellow villagers to help during busy farming seasons. "In the village, he is recognized as a warm-hearted person," commented Gong Liansheng (宫连生), Secretary of the Party General Branch of Tongxing Village (同兴村).
Once, he saw a car slide into a deep ditch by the side of the road, and the owner was pacing back and forth in the cold wind, anxious. He pulled out a tow rope and tried to pull it out with his own car, but it didn't budge. He then helped contact a crane and waited until the car was pulled up before leaving. "When you encounter something, you help if you can," said Yu Yanlong (于艳龙).
Not long ago, Yu Yanlong (于艳龙) solemnly submitted his application for Party membership. He said, "Once I join the Party, I must do more good deeds for the fellow villagers."
Return to TopLanzhou (兰州), June 14 (Reporter Zeng Yichen (曾亦辰)) — Recently, Gansu (甘肃) issued the "Administrative Measures for Forest Chief Patrol Work in Gansu Province (Trial) (甘肃省林长巡林工作管理办法（试行）)." The measures, which are valid for two years, clarify questions such as "who patrols, what to patrol, and how to patrol." The measures implement tiered quantitative management for the frequency of patrols by forest chiefs at all levels: provincial-level chief forest chiefs and forest chiefs must patrol at least once a year; city and county-level chiefs at least once every six months; township-level chiefs at least once per quarter; and village-level chiefs at least once per month.
The measures require that forest chiefs at all levels should grasp the current status of forest and grassland resource protection and development, and identify risks and hidden dangers through on-site inspections, research guidance, and unannounced spot checks. During critical periods for forest fire prevention and peak times for agricultural and sacrificial fire use, township and village-level forest chiefs must increase the frequency of patrols to strictly prevent all types of safety accidents.
The measures specify that forest chiefs at the county level and above need to focus their research on ecological protection and restoration, sand prevention and control, and the reform of collective forest tenure. They are to supervise the progress of key ecological engineering projects such as the "Three-North" Shelterbelt Program (三北工程) and the "Green Covering Longyuan" Action (绿满陇原行动), visit frontline staff to help resolve practical problems, and coordinate the advancement of major cross-regional issues at different levels. Township and village-level forest chiefs are responsible for the daily management and protection of ancient and famous trees, as well as wild animals and plants. They are tasked with identifying risks and hidden dangers such as forest and grassland fires and forestry pests. They must promptly dissuade activities that damage forest and grassland resources, such as illegal occupation of forest and grassland, illegal logging, unauthorized grazing in prohibited grazing and grass-livestock balance zones, indiscriminate hunting of wild animals, and illegal collection of wild plants. For cases where dissuasion is ineffective or the circumstances are serious, they shall report the matters to relevant departments for disposal in accordance with laws and regulations, ensuring they do not 敷衍了事 (fū yǎn liǎo shì - "perfunctorily finish work," to do something carelessly or just to get it over with).
Return to TopBy: 本报记者 向子丰
Electric three- and four-wheeled vehicles, commonly known as "Laotoule" (老头乐 - "elderly joy"), are favored by the public, especially the middle-aged and elderly, due to their low barrier to entry for driving and their affordability.
For a long time, some merchants have used the "selling point" that non-standard electric three- and four-wheeled vehicles "look like cars, require no driver's license, and require no license plates" to meet the short-distance transportation needs of specific groups. However, this has also created numerous safety hazards, bringing challenges to urban traffic order and grassroots social governance.
### "Laotoule" often hit the road without license plates, affecting traffic order and creating safety hazards
On the People's Daily Online (人民网) "Leadership Message Board" (领导留言板), many netizens have reported that "Laotoule" affects traffic order.
Mr. Xu (徐先生), a netizen from Xuchang City (许昌市), Henan Province (河南省), said that when he drives his motor vehicle to and from work, he often sees "Laotoule" driving on the road without license plates or licenses. "Many people do not follow traffic rules, frequently running red lights and driving against traffic. Especially when passing schools, 'Laotoule' vehicles picking up or dropping off children will park in the middle of the road, occupying motor vehicle lanes and causing serious congestion." Mr. Qu (屈先生) from Xinxiang City (新乡市), Henan Province (河南省), stated that "Laotoule" not only blocks non-motorized vehicle lanes but also drives randomly in motor vehicle lanes, and even frequently runs red lights.
Mr. Zhang (张先生) from Xi'an City (西安市), Shaanxi Province (陕西省), reported an even more serious situation: "I know of several accidents caused by 'Laotoule,' including knocking over motorcycles on the road and injuring community staff. Many people flee after causing an accident."
Mr. Zhang (张先生) also told reporters that local "Laotoule" vehicles are involved in illegal operations: "Laotoule" are distributed at major subway station entrances, scenic spots, and congested road sections to pick up passengers for profit, basically all driving without licenses or plates. "A trip of less than 2 kilometers costs tens or even over 100 yuan. If it rains or snows, the price might be even higher." Mr. Zhao (赵先生) from Shenyang City (沈阳市), Liaoning Province (辽宁省), also noticed "Laotoule" occupying road space at local subway entrances: "These vehicles line up and wait at subway entrances to solicit passengers, and as soon as they get a passenger, they make a U-turn and drive against traffic. This not only affects traffic order and exacerbates congestion during morning and evening rush hours, but also creates great safety hazards."
In addition to violating traffic rules, another reason "Laotoule" is frequently "complained about" is its varied appearance. Mr. Shan (单先生) from Zhoukou City (周口市), Henan Province (河南省), stated that the size of some "Laotoule" vehicles today is exaggerated: "They are designed to be wider and larger than sedans." On social media platforms, many netizens have posted that they see "Laotoule" on the road that look like luxury cars such as "Mercedes-Benz" (奔驰) and "Ferrari" (法拉利).
However, the protective performance and safety configuration of these vehicles are far inferior to ordinary motor vehicles. "My relative was driving such an electric four-wheeled vehicle on a motor vehicle lane when it was rear-ended by a motor vehicle; the car was destroyed and the person was seriously injured," Mr. Shan (单先生) said.
In fact, "Laotoule" are not motor vehicles, nor are they simple electric bicycles. "Laotoule" have not been included in the "Road Motor Vehicle Manufacturing Enterprises and Products Announcement" (道路机动车辆生产企业及产品公告) catalog of the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (工信部), and it is impossible to register them for license plates. Some "Laotoule" are used as sightseeing vehicles in parks and scenic spots, belonging to so-called "site vehicles," which are mainly used on internal roads and do not have the right to drive on public roads.
Unexpectedly, the inability to obtain a license plate has left "Laotoule" without supervision. Mr. Qu (屈先生) said helplessly: "Now there is electronic monitoring for motor vehicles on the road, and once a violation occurs, there will be strict penalties, but this does not apply to this kind of 'Laotoule.' If residents complain about nearby 'Laotoule,' traffic police will come to educate and disperse them. As soon as the traffic police leave, the 'Laotoule' come back."
"Vehicles without license plates or licenses are hard to find once they run away; even if they can be caught and punished, the intensity is relatively light, and it is impossible to form substantial control." Mr. Qu (屈先生) believes that the effect is only obvious during periods of centralized rectification of non-standard electric three- and four-wheeled vehicles, and once the intensity weakens, "Laotoule" will **卷土重来** (juǎn tǔ chóng lái - "roll earth come again," to stage a comeback after a defeat). "There have been a few controls and notices issued in the past few years, but in the end, they all **不了了之** (bù liǎo liǎo zhī - "not end end it," to leave a matter unsettled or let it fizzle out)."
### Pre-sales rely on deception, after-sales have no guarantee; behind the prevalence of "Laotoule" is a huge market demand
"Laotoule" having no license plates, no safety standards, and no ability to drive on the road legally should have been restrictive conditions, but they have been used by some merchants as a sales signboard. "No need for insurance, no parking fees, no need to worry about traffic violations"—selling "Laotoule" under such banners has misled many uninformed consumers.
A reporter consulted a merchant selling electric four-wheeled vehicles online. The merchant clearly stated, "You can ride it even without a driver's license. Just wear a helmet and follow traffic rules when you go out." "Our mobility scooters have users all over the country, and I haven't heard any users say they need a license plate."
Another merchant claiming to be a "factory direct purchase" told the reporter, "You can get an insurance plate." The so-called "insurance plate" refers to non-motor vehicle third-party liability insurance, issued by an insurance company, not by the transportation department, and it clearly states on it that "the license plate is for decoration and not for other legal purposes." The merchant also claimed that "Laotoule" does not need charging piles, "you can charge it with a household 220V socket."
Electric three- and four-wheeled vehicles are larger and have higher risks than electric bicycles, but they are not as standardized in management as electric bicycles. Some consumers have bought low-quality "Laotoule" and encountered great difficulties in protecting their rights.
Li Shipan (李世攀), a lawyer at Beijing Jingshi (Zhengzhou) Law Firm (北京京师（郑州）律师事务所), introduced a case he handled: a client bought a "Laotoule" in Jining (济宁), Shandong (山东), that claimed to look like a "BMW X5" (宝马X5). Upon receiving it, he found it was a low-quality assembled vehicle. When he wanted to protect his rights, he was blocked on WeChat and his calls were rejected. In another case, the seller used a fake company that did not exist. When the buyer wanted to protect his rights, the local market supervision department and the court could not find the person responsible.
On social platforms, there are many such "mine-avoidance posts." "The quality is so poor, with constant minor problems," "It stopped on the road for no reason. I called after-sales, and they said they would come immediately, but I waited all day and they didn't come," "I went to repair it many times, but it couldn't be repaired. In the end, they said, 'Don't compare it with a car'"... Some netizens also posted that the steering wheel of the "Laotoule" they bought was crooked, or because the car body was too light, it was easy to roll over when turning sharply.
Li Shipan (李世攀) believes that merchants have many "tricks" in selling cars: first, verbal deception, including claiming "it can be driven on the road, registered, and insured," and falsely reporting mileage; second, fabricating false paper materials, where the car-selling company marked on the contract does not exist, and the vehicle has no production information; third, profit inducement, promising to return cash on schedule, but never fulfilling it. Most importantly, the product itself is a non-standard vehicle, and consumers have no basis for protecting their rights and are difficult to obtain legal support.
Because "Laotoule" cannot purchase compulsory traffic insurance, once an accident occurs, the driver must bear the huge compensation liability by themselves. This is a heavy blow, especially for elderly car owners. And the so-called "insurance plate" cannot truly protect the rights and interests of car owners.
A car owner who bought "Laotoule" insurance in Hefei (合肥), Anhui (安徽), told reporters that "Laotoule" does not belong to motor vehicles or electric bicycles, and insurance policies are formulated by insurance companies themselves. "'Laotoule' belongs to site vehicles. Even if you buy insurance, when an accident occurs, the insurance company believes that the driver is illegally driving on public roads, and they can also refuse to pay. At most, they will give you an accident insurance, and it's good enough if you can get compensation for personal injury."
With so many problems with "Laotoule," why is it still repeatedly banned? The reason is that there is a huge demand behind it.
Mr. Li (李先生) from Dehui (德惠), Jilin (吉林), works in the express delivery industry. He said: "We can't buy standard electric vehicles for cargo here at all, so we can only choose 'Laotoule'; once 'Laotoule' is rectified, our express delivery vehicles here won't be able to go on the road." The local government once announced that it would govern non-standard electric vehicles, including "Laotoule," which made him worry for a while. "But it hasn't been managed for the time being. There are many people riding them, and it can't be implemented." he added.
Today, many cities prohibit non-standard electric three- and four-wheeled vehicles from going on the road, but they are still difficult to ban because they meet the actual needs of some groups.
Mr. Li (李先生) from Xinji (辛集), Hebei (河北), has a deep understanding of this: "Young people are working hard outside, and the elderly need to pick up and drop off children and buy groceries. 'Laotoule' is economical, affordable, and protects against wind and rain, which is very convenient." When talking about the possibility of replacing or legalizing "Laotoule," Mr. Li (李先生) said, "At present, there are too few buses between urban and rural areas, and the cost of taking a taxi is high. If it is mandatory to register, buy insurance, and take a driver's license test, it is also a burden for elderly people in their 70s."
Some netizens also left messages: "In urban-rural fringes where public transportation is insufficient, 'Laotoule' fills the 'last mile' travel gap, carrying the needs of the elderly to maintain independent travel and maintain social connections. For many empty-nest elderly people, a 'Laotoule' is not just a mobility scooter, but the foundation of their independent life."
### Suggestions: Combine blocking and dredging in production, sales, and traffic management to reasonably solve the demand behind "Laotoule"
Behind the "difficulty in governance" is the ambiguity of the legal status of "Laotoule" and the absence of supporting laws and regulations. Experts analyze that "Laotoule" neither belongs to motor vehicles in the traditional sense nor fully meets the standards of non-motor vehicles, which makes it wander in the gray area of supervision for a long time in all aspects of production, sales, and use.
The interviewed experts told reporters that such vehicles often have a simple structure, low chassis, high center of gravity, and lack basic configurations such as anti-collision steel beams and airbags, so their protection and stability are very poor. Moreover, the quality of "Laotoule" on the market is uneven; some do not have factory certificates, some have seriously falsely reported battery parameters, and some have obvious defects in key components such as steering and braking. "Inconsistent standards, non-compliant declaration types, low quality control requirements, and no license plates or driver's licenses lead to chaos," said Yang Xintiao (杨新苗), deputy director of the Transportation Research Institute of Tsinghua University (清华大学交通研究所).
Fan Shiqian (范世乾), an associate professor at the China University of Political Science and Law (中国政法大学), stated that China does not have a national standard specifically for "Laotoule." It was only in August 2025 that the Low-Speed Vehicle Professional Committee of the China Association of Small and Medium Enterprises (中国中小商业企业协会) released the industry group standard "Technical Conditions for Four-Wheeled Low-Speed Electric Vehicles" (四轮低速电动车技术条件). If low-speed electric three- and four-wheeled vehicles represented by "Laotoule" want to be legally on the road, "in summary, they need to meet four conditions at the same time: be included in the 'Road Motor Vehicle Manufacturing Enterprises and Products Announcement' (道路机动车辆生产企业及产品公告) catalog, obtain CCC certification, have a factory certificate, and have a certificate of conformity. Those that meet the standards will be included in the management category of motor vehicles (motorcycles/automobiles)," said Fan Shiqian (范世乾). At present, the unlicensed "Laotoule" that are illegally on the road are basically because they do not meet the standards in terms of anti-collision structure, braking system, etc., and cannot be registered in the name of a motor vehicle.
Fan Shiqian (范世乾) pointed out that when some manufacturers produce "Laotoule," they actually declare them as "factory mobility vehicles." Such vehicles are not allowed to enter public roads. According to the Road Traffic Safety Law (道路交通安全法), driving a motor vehicle requires holding a corresponding driver's license, displaying a motor vehicle license plate, and purchasing compulsory traffic insurance. "Laotoule" being on the road without a license plate or license constitutes a violation in itself.
However, it should be noted that behind the widespread existence of "Laotoule" is the practical life needs of some groups. "The law enforcement intensity varies from place to place. In addition to the problem of road traffic management, we should see the objective reality that the elderly need convenient and reliable transportation tools," said Yang Xintiao (杨新苗).
The interviewed experts believe that the governance of "Laotoule" should be both blocking and dredging, moving forward with both heads. In terms of "blocking," Fan Shiqian (范世乾) said that it is necessary to strictly investigate enterprises that illegally produce "Laotoule" that do not meet national safety technical standards, are not included in the announcement catalog, and have not obtained CCC certification. At the same time, standardize sales behavior and severely punish merchants who mislead consumers with false propaganda such as "no driver's license needed, no license plate needed," and cut off the channels for non-compliant products to enter the market. At the law enforcement level, strengthen the punishment for unlicensed vehicles, and also strengthen the investigation and punishment of prominent illegal behaviors such as running red lights, driving against traffic, and illegal carrying of passengers.
In terms of "dredging," formulate production standards for elderly mobility scooters. At the same time, gradually establish a management system in the fields of driving speed, license plates, driver's licenses, etc., and study and compile national standards for technical conditions for four-wheeled low-speed electric vehicles. "In addition, it is necessary to implement the lightweight electric-assisted bicycle type in the national standard for electric bicycles, so that younger elderly people can use electric-assisted bicycles as soon as possible. After the promotion of two-wheeled lightweight vehicles, three-wheeled electric-assisted bicycles and formal elderly mobility scooters can meet the needs of more elderly people, establishing a more perfect 'Laotoule' replacement plan in terms of production and governance," suggested Yang Xintiao (杨新苗).
(Hou Junyuan (侯竣元) participated in the writing)
Return to TopOn May 25, the "Letters from Readers" (读者来信) section of the People's Daily (人民日报) published an article titled "Inadequate Facilities Lead to Rainwater Flooding Farmland" (设施不完善 雨水漫农田), which highlighted the issue in our village where, due to imperfect drainage facilities, rainwater would flood the farmland whenever the rainy season arrived.
On the very day the report was published, leaders from both the city (市) and county (县) levels came to the village to inspect the situation, solicit opinions and suggestions from the villagers, and immediately establish a construction schedule to begin renovating the drainage facilities. After several days of intensive construction, the drainage canals have now been deepened and widened, the ponds have been treated to prevent leakage, and drainage ditches have been built alongside the farmland (see image). This rainy season, we no longer need to worry about drainage problems.
Villagers of Group 5, Guquan Village (古泉村)
Return to TopI am a resident living near the Lijie Industrial Park (立捷工业园) in Qiuchang Subdistrict (秋长街道), Huiyang District (惠阳区), Huizhou City (惠州市), Guangdong Province (广东省). Near my home, there is a convenient road leading from Huiyang (惠阳) toward Xinxu (新圩), which is an essential route for local residents and numerous truck drivers. Last year, someone—it is unclear who—installed two height-restriction bars only 2.6 meters high on this section of the road (see photo). Small trucks of standard height are unable to pass, and there have been multiple collisions with the bars, causing frequent traffic congestion on what was originally a smooth-flowing road and forcing vehicles to take long detours.
We have reported this issue multiple times, but it has yet to be effectively resolved. We hope that the relevant departments will conduct on-site investigations, remove these unreasonable height restrictions as soon as possible, and restore the road to a state of smooth and safe passage.
A netizen from the People's Daily (人民网) "Leadership Message Board" (领导留言板)
Return to TopSummer Brings Frequent Rain and Wind: Beware of Falling Tree Branches Causing Injury
Since entering the summer season, weather events such as strong winds and thunderstorms have increased significantly. The branches and leaves of some street trees along urban roads have become overly dense, making them susceptible to being snapped by high winds and storms, which can lead to safety accidents such as damage to property or injuries to pedestrians.
It is recommended that relevant departments take preventive measures in advance. First, conduct regular inspections and registration of the age and health status of urban street trees to ensure they are 心中有数 (xīn zhōng yǒu shù - "heart in have count," to be fully aware of a situation and have a clear plan). Second, based on the actual conditions of the trees and the volume of pedestrian and vehicular traffic on surrounding roads, implement targeted preventive measures, such as timely pruning, administering "intravenous" nutrients to trees affected by pests or diseases to strengthen them, and promptly reinforcing newly planted trees. Third, improve safety alerts by installing warning signs on road sections where accidents are likely to occur, reminding vehicles and pedestrians to pass through quickly or take detours. In addition, it is necessary to mobilize the public to protect street trees together, encouraging nearby shops and residents to monitor the condition of the trees and report any potential hazards to the relevant departments for prompt handling.
Miao Shaoqiang (缪绍强), Langzhong City (阆中市), Sichuan Province (四川省)
Rural Senior Canteens: Beyond "Filling Stomachs" to "Ensuring Quality"
In recent years, some rural areas have established senior canteens, solving the difficulties of cooking and eating for elderly people living alone in the countryside. However, in actual operations, some rural senior canteens are facing issues regarding sustainability. For instance, some have high operating costs and singular funding sources, making it difficult to sustain expenses for ingredients, labor, and utilities by relying solely on village collective investments and social donations. Others lack professional service personnel, making it difficult to guarantee the nutritional balance and hygiene safety of the meals.
Running rural senior canteens well requires the concerted efforts of multiple parties. The government should increase policy support, consider incorporating rural senior canteens into the elderly care service system based on actual needs, and encourage the participation of social capital to form a diversified investment structure. Village-level organizations can explore a "canteen + industry" model, utilizing idle land to grow vegetables or raise small amounts of poultry, which both lowers procurement costs and ensures fresh ingredients. Furthermore, they can leverage the tradition of neighborhood mutual aid by mobilizing younger, healthy seniors and volunteers to participate in services, thereby reducing the burden of labor.
Feng Xie (冯燮), Xi'an City (西安市), Shaanxi Province (陕西省)
Return to TopBy: 本报记者 沈童睿
Recently, many netizens have used "People's Complaints" (人民投诉) to report difficulties in obtaining refunds from driving schools. Whether due to changes in their work or living locations, health reasons, or dissatisfaction with the services provided, these individuals decided to withdraw from training and requested refunds, only to be refused or charged exorbitant fees.
"I haven't taken a single class, I just registered, and they want to deduct 45% of the tuition?" Xiao Yu (肖宇) (a pseudonym) is a senior student in Zhejiang (浙江) who will be moving to another city for work after graduation. Unable to continue training, he applied for a refund. Xiao Yu believes that deducting some money is reasonable, but such a high amount is not. The driving school presented the contract signed at the time, which stated: "Due to the student's own reasons for withdrawing midway, 55% of the registration fee will be refunded." Xiao Yu said helplessly: "I didn't read it carefully when signing; I didn't notice this clause."
Li Lan (李蓝) (a pseudonym), a reader from Guangxi (广西), had already passed the Subject One exam. Dissatisfied with the driving school's service, she decided to withdraw and requested a refund of 40% to 60% of the tuition. The driving school replied: "The contract states that no refunds will be given after passing the Subject One exam." Like Xiao Yu, Li Lan did not pay attention to the refund clauses in the contract.
The core point of contention in driving school refund disputes is often the contract. A common situation is that students feel the deductions are too high, disproportionate to the services actually received, and that they did not carefully read the relevant clauses at the time; the driving school believes that signing the contract signifies agreement, and that the agreed-upon deduction amount must be honored.
In this regard, reporters interviewed personnel from relevant departments and legal experts. They believe that while legal and valid contracts should be observed, if a contract violates the principles of voluntariness, fairness, and good faith, consumers can also protect their rights in accordance with the law.
First, many contracts signed between driving schools and students use standard terms. According to the Civil Code (民法典), in some circumstances, standard terms can be deemed invalid, such as when "the party providing the standard terms unreasonably exempts or mitigates its own liability, increases the liability of the other party, or restricts the other party's main rights," or "the party providing the standard terms excludes the other party's main rights." If consumers encounter such "overlord clauses" (霸王条款), they can report them to regulatory authorities.
Mr. Cao (曹先生), who works at the Market Supervision Department of Chaisang District (柴桑区), Jiujiang City (九江市), Jiangxi Province (江西), said that previously, some members of the public could not continue studying at their original driving schools and hoped for appropriate refunds, but were refused by the school on the grounds that "no refunds are given after a student takes the Subject One exam." The district market supervision department and the district transportation department intervened jointly, determining that the clause was an unfair standard term and ordered the driving school to rectify it; the students eventually succeeded in getting partial refunds. "This clause in the contract completely excludes the consumer's right to a refund, which violates the relevant provisions of the Law on the Protection of Consumer Rights and Interests (消费者权益保护法)," Mr. Cao said.
"I didn't notice the deduction clause" is very common in complaints. A judge told reporters, "Whether the terms were presented and explained in a reasonable manner is also an important condition for determining whether the refund clause is valid."
According to the Civil Code (民法典), the party providing standard terms should "take reasonable measures to draw the other party's attention to clauses that exempt or mitigate their liability or involve other significant interests of the other party." If the party providing the standard terms fails to fulfill the obligation of prompting or explanation, causing the other party to fail to notice or understand clauses that involve their significant interests, the other party may claim that such clauses do not become part of the contract. "In judicial practice, it is usually determined whether the duty to prompt has been fulfilled based on the prominence of the font, symbols, and text used in the standard terms," the judge stated.
In some refund disputes, the driving school deducts fees under the name of "liquidated damages," which most netizens believe are set too high. "Subject One hasn't even started yet, and they want to deduct 30%. Does the driving school really suffer that much of a loss?" one netizen questioned.
Facing refund disputes, the driving schools also have their side of the story. "Venues, vehicles, and hiring staff—these are all costs, and many must be paid in advance," said Ms. Wang (王女士), a driving instructor. "If students leave whenever they want and the threshold for withdrawal is set too low, the driving school will also suffer losses." She added that in her 10 years in the industry, almost no client has asked about refund policies before signing a contract. "The contract should protect the rights and interests of both parties. It is unreasonable to propose a refund only after signing, and it is unfair to us as well."
Some hold the view that the driving school industry is not a monopoly, the training market is competitive, and students have diverse choices; therefore, one should not blame the contract terms across the board, and students themselves should be prudent when signing contracts and paying fees. Some students have already accepted part of the training or even passed some subjects. Regarding this situation, legal experts believe that Article 29 of the "Regulations on the Administration of Motor Vehicle Driver Training" (机动车驾驶员培训管理规定) stipulates that "motor vehicle driver training shall implement a credit-hour system and charge fees reasonably according to credit hours." The amount of the refund should be calculated based on the total number of credit hours agreed upon in the contract and the number of credit hours corresponding to the subjects passed.
Legal experts state that if one believes the liquidated damages are excessively higher than the actual losses, one can file a lawsuit or apply for arbitration. "The Civil Code (民法典) stipulates that if the agreed-upon liquidated damages are excessively higher than the losses caused, the people's court or arbitration institution may, upon the request of the parties, appropriately reduce them," said Mao Peifeng (毛培锋), a lawyer at Henan Yuyi Law Firm (河南豫一律师事务所). "For students who have not started classes at all, the driving school's actual losses usually only include file creation fees, insurance premiums, and taxes, rather than the full tuition fee; the specific amount of loss should be proven by the driving school with vouchers."
"Consumers must also be responsible for what they sign," said a staff member of a transportation comprehensive administrative law enforcement detachment in a certain part of Sichuan (四川). "We remind the vast number of students that in pre-paid consumption, refund disputes are inherently frequent, so from the very beginning, you must focus on the relevant clauses." When signing a written contract, one should pay attention to key terms such as training content, fee standards, refund procedures, breach of contract responsibilities, and liquidated damages, and raise any questions promptly. At the same time, be sure to keep materials such as the contract and tuition payment vouchers.
The difficulty in resolving refund disputes is, to some extent, due to the lack of mutual trust between driving schools and students. Some places are exploring the introduction of a third party recognized by both sides. For example, Qingdao (青岛), Shandong (山东), has set up the "Qingxuejia" (青学驾) platform, where tuition fees are held in escrow by a third-party bank, and students pay after completing and evaluating each course. Guangdong (广东), Hainan (海南), and other places require driving schools to open regulatory accounts at designated banks and implement differentiated custody of pre-collected funds based on credit ratings. In some areas, transportation and market supervision departments have jointly formulated standard contract templates, itemized fee projects, and clarified refund proportions under various circumstances. This not only gives students a basis for protecting their rights when seeking refunds but also makes driving schools feel that they have "reduced risks and decreased trouble."
Return to TopBy: 本报记者 喻思南
Today's AI (Artificial Intelligence) has already learned how to converse, create, and analyze. Where does the next evolutionary direction lie? The answer points to the real physical world. From an information processor in a virtual world to an intelligent agent capable of sensing, acting, and interacting deeply with the real environment, the rise of Physical AI (物理AI) is opening a new chapter in the development of AI.
In this issue of the "Frontier Outlook" (瞰前沿) column, let us step into the world of Physical AI (物理AI) to explore the development logic, practical challenges, and broad prospects of this cutting-edge technology.
——Editor
From "vision" that understands images to "expression" that writes text, and then to "imagination" that creates video scenes, AI is currently undergoing continuous "evolution."
After learning to see, write, and generate, what else can AI do? In recent years, the technology sector has been exploring technical paths to move AI from the virtual to the real. A new technical concept—Physical AI (物理AI)—is receiving increasing attention.
How does Physical AI (物理AI) differ from Generative AI (生成式AI), and what scenarios is it suitable for? How should we understand the relationship between Physical AI (物理AI) and Embodied Intelligence (具身智能), and what are the challenges in technical implementation? Our reporter interviewed relevant industry experts.
### Upgrade
**Evolving AI into an Intelligent Agent that Interacts with the Real World**
What is Physical AI (物理AI)? Simply put, we can understand it as an AI agent that steps out of the screen and into reality, capable of sensing the environment and performing "hands-on" operations just like a human.
Ma Xiaojian (马晓健), head of the Beijing Institute for General Artificial Intelligence (北京通用人工智能研究院)—Deta Intelligence (德塔智能) Joint Laboratory, believes that Physical AI (物理AI) has three important characteristics: its capabilities are built on real physical interaction data, it includes an understanding of the physical world, and it can be deployed on real entities.
This means that Physical AI (物理AI) understands object motion, contact, deformation, friction, gravity, spatial relationships, and causal changes, and can use this to predict the future and plan actions, thereby completing tasks in open environments.
From the perspective of technical evolution, Physical AI (物理AI) is the natural direction for AI at a certain stage of development.
"In the first stage, AI learned to 'see' through computer vision; in the second stage, AI learned to 'write' through natural language processing; and currently, through Physical AI (物理AI), it must learn to 'act'," explains Ying Ru (应茹), Chief Architect of Baidu AI Cloud (百度智能云). The emergence of Physical AI (物理AI) allows AI to evolve from an information processing tool into an intelligent agent capable of interacting with the real world.
In the past, large models mainly reproduced human language, knowledge, and reasoning capabilities, which was equivalent to entering the human mental world; however, human intelligence is not only reflected in the brain, but also in the interaction with the physical world. "After AI achieves breakthroughs in language and multimodal understanding, the next step is inevitably to externalize this intelligence into the real world, allowing machines to sense, act, trial-and-error, and complete work," said Ma Xiaojian (马晓健).
The differences between Physical AI (物理AI) and Generative AI (生成式AI) are mainly reflected in their technical principles and the tasks they undertake.
Specifically, the important capability of Physical AI (物理AI) is to undertake tasks such as motion control and environmental interaction in the physical world; while the important capability of Generative AI (生成式AI) is text, image, and video generation, supporting tasks such as content creation, code writing, and data analysis.
"Physical AI (物理AI) and Generative AI (生成式AI) belong to two different classification dimensions of AI," Ma Xiaojian (马晓健) introduces. The two are currently being deeply integrated. For example, the powerful language understanding, scene generation, planning, and code generation capabilities of Generative AI (生成式AI) can help Physical AI (物理AI) better understand tasks and build simulation environments.
### Challenges
**From Models and Data to Carrying Entities, Physical AI (物理AI) Implementation Faces Multiple Difficulties**
Over the past few years, the technology sector has taken multiple measures to promote the implementation of Physical AI (物理AI), from core algorithms to engineering entities.
For example, world models used to simulate environmental dynamics and predict future states are known as the "internal brain" of Physical AI (物理AI). Academic experts have proposed three important capabilities for world models: generativity, multimodality, and interactivity, which build a framework for environmental understanding, causal inference, and task planning for Physical AI (物理AI).
Currently, "vision-language-action" large models are iteratively evolving, solidifying the model foundation for Physical AI (物理AI).
Ma Xiaojian (马晓健) explains that there are roughly three technical routes for implementing Physical AI (物理AI). The first is the "pre-training—post-training" paradigm, which involves large-scale pre-training using internet videos, first-person perspective videos, and cross-robot operation data, followed by post-training relying on teleoperation data, reinforcement learning, or real-machine fine-tuning. The second is the "reality—simulation—reality" paradigm, which involves reconstructing the geometry, materials, and dynamics of the real world into a high-fidelity simulation environment, allowing robots to perform extensive trial-and-error in "digital twin" (数字孪生) scenarios, and then migrating and deploying them to physical equipment. The third is the large model programming route, which relies on language models to generate robot control programs based on tasks, connecting functional modules such as sensing, planning, and execution.
Different technical implementation routes have their own pros and cons.
For example, the "pre-training—post-training" paradigm has a clear path, but it has extremely high requirements for data quality, robot entity consistency, and the volume of real interaction data. Because Physical AI (物理AI) has not yet been implemented on a large scale in production and daily life, it is difficult to collect massive amounts of training data at low cost and high efficiency, which has become one of the bottlenecks restricting the implementation of the technology.
For another example, the advantage of the "reality—simulation—reality" paradigm is that it uses simulation computing power to replace the costly and time-consuming collection of real data. However, physical processes such as complex contact, flexible deformation, fluid motion, and uneven ground are still difficult to simulate with high precision in real-time.
"Because the real world has complex working conditions and various physical factors that influence each other, simulation systems cannot fully replicate physical details and can sometimes only serve as a supplementary solution when real data is missing," said Zhang Yu (张宇), General Manager of Beijing Weilian Dao'ai Technology Co., Ltd. (北京微链道爱科技有限公司).
"Overall, it is highly likely that the three routes will not replace each other, but will gradually merge at the levels of data, simulation, and large model inference," said Ma Xiaojian (马晓健).
What is the relationship between Physical AI (物理AI) and Embodied Intelligence (具身智能)? Simply put, Embodied Intelligence (具身智能) is an important carrier for Physical AI (物理AI), and Physical AI (物理AI) is the core technical path for implementing Embodied Intelligence (具身智能). However, in the process of implementing Physical AI (物理AI) into Embodied Intelligence (具身智能), there are still many challenges in terms of hardware entity engineering. For example, when Embodied Intelligence (具身智能) executes tasks, it needs to adapt to complex motion control algorithms. If the hardware precision does not meet the standards, it is very easy to affect the deep coupling of software and hardware. Industry experts state that in recent years, the level of domestic production of core robot components in China has improved significantly, but the processing precision of key components such as harmonic reducers still has room for improvement compared to advanced international levels.
### Prospects
**Relying on the Advantage of Rich Application Scenarios, Physical AI (物理AI) Continues to Iterate**
Although there are obstacles, industry experts are generally optimistic about the prospects for the industrialization of Physical AI (物理AI).
On one hand, the underlying logic of Physical AI (物理AI) and large model development is the same. Relying on larger-scale data collection, more powerful models, systematic evaluation, and continuous iteration, product capabilities will steadily improve. On the other hand, Physical AI (物理AI) does not have to wait until general-purpose robots are fully developed to be considered industrialized. In vertical and subdivided scenarios, as long as the model can demonstrate excellent generalization capabilities in similar tasks, it is an important phased achievement.
In the future, frontier fields that require complex scenario simulation and optimization, such as the low-altitude economy, new energy batteries, Embodied Intelligence (具身智能), high-end chips, and aerospace, are all directions for the implementation of Physical AI (物理AI). Ma Xiaojian (马晓健) believes that in some scenarios that are not suitable for long-term human operation and where traditional automation is difficult to fully solve, Physical AI (物理AI) is expected to be implemented first.
Power inspection is one such scenario. In remote areas of the southwest, staff used to have to climb mountains and ridges to check equipment. Now, the "Tiangong" (天工) robot developed by the Beijing Embodied AI Center (北京人形机器人创新中心) can perform complex tasks such as outdoor inspections, substation switching operations, and distribution network grounding wire mounting.
"Physical AI (物理AI) is not intended to replace all automation," said Ma Xiaojian (马晓健). If tasks are highly standardized and processes are fixed, traditional industrial automation is often cheaper and more stable. The real advantage of Physical AI (物理AI) lies in tasks that involve changing execution environments, require real-time sensing and flexible decision-making, and are simultaneously repetitive or high-risk.
In the industry, the training efficiency of Physical AI (物理AI) models is also continuously improving.
"Thanks to years of accumulation in the field of AI infrastructure, we have increased the training speed of 'vision-language-action' large models by 70% and reduced the inference latency of world models by 50%. The training cycle, which used to be measured in weeks, can now be compressed to an hourly level," said Shen Dou (沈抖), Executive Vice President of Baidu Group (百度集团) and President of Baidu AI Cloud (百度智能云).
How can we better promote the implementation of Physical AI (物理AI)?
Currently, Physical AI (物理AI) is still in a development stage where technical routes have not yet converged. "We should encourage differentiated, multi-route parallel exploration." Ma Xiaojian (马晓健) believes that industrial policies and scientific research support should not crowd into a single technical hotspot, but should guide enterprises, universities, and research institutes to carry out diversified research around models, control, simulation, sensors, dexterous hands, and entity structures. This move can not only avoid the R&D risks of betting on a single route, but also help fill in the shortcomings of China's full-chain industry in the fields of algorithms, hardware, manufacturing, and system integration.
The true implementation of Physical AI (物理AI) does not rely on laboratory demonstrations, but on data feedback and continuous iteration from real scenarios.
Industry insiders believe that abundant application scenario resources are a unique advantage for China's development of Physical AI (物理AI). "Only by letting technology go deep into front-line scenarios such as mines, factories, warehousing, and inspection sites can Physical AI (物理AI) better form a virtuous closed loop of 'scenario—data—model—product'," said Ma Xiaojian (马晓健).
集思广益 (jí sī guǎng yì - "gather thoughts broaden benefits," to pool wisdom and absorb useful ideas) is essential for the future of this field. We must not 守株待兔 (shǒu zhū dài tù - "guard stump wait rabbit," to rely on luck or wait idly for opportunities) but rather actively pursue innovation. By working together, we can ensure that Physical AI (物理AI) does not become a 空中楼阁 (kōng zhōng lóu gé - "air middle pavilion," castles in the air/unrealistic ideas) but a tangible reality that benefits society.
Return to TopBy: 别朝红
The "15th Five-Year Plan" (十五五) Outline proposes to "focus on building a new type of power system, comprehensively improve the complementary, mutual aid, and safety resilience levels of the power system, optimize the national power flow direction and cross-regional channel layout, and accelerate the construction of smart grids."
The importance of the power system to contemporary economic and social development is 不言自明 (bù yán zì míng - "not speak self clear," self-evident). It is the energy foundation for the lights in every household and the "power heart" supporting production activities. The activity of every economic "cell" is inseparable from the continuous supply of electricity.
Currently, the traditional power system is facing two major challenges.
The first challenge comes from within the power system. Unlike other energy transmission and distribution systems, the production and consumption of electricity require real-time balance. However, on one hand, there is a high proportion of intermittent new energy grid-connections and a significant increase in the uncertainty of power output; on the other hand, the total social electricity demand continues to grow, and the peak-to-valley difference in power load is further widening, which makes the difficulty of balancing power supply and demand significantly increase.
The other challenge comes from outside the system. With the continuous intensification of global climate change, extreme weather and natural disasters are showing a trend of being "frequent, widespread, intense, and concurrent," posing severe challenges to emergency power supply security.
Facing these dual internal and external real-world tests, accelerating the construction of a stronger and smarter "large grid" and a more flexible and autonomous "small grid" is becoming an important support for solving the problem of energy supply and demand balance and improving the level of safety and supply security.
First, look at the "large grid"—a smart grid, which is like installing a brain and nerves into the "torso" of a traditional power grid.
Through advanced sensing, communication, and control technologies, all links of generation, transmission, transformation, distribution, and consumption are closely connected, enabling the power system to achieve a high degree of integration of energy flow and information flow. By collecting and analyzing multi-source operational data, the smart grid senses risk situations like a central nervous system and uses auxiliary decision-making capabilities to guide resource scheduling and emergency response, thereby preventing and controlling risks more efficiently.
How is this achieved? Take active defense and rapid recovery as an example.
Through intelligent decision-making, active defense and rapid recovery optimization schemes are generated online to guide the implementation of preventive control, emergency control, and recovery control. Before an event, based on information such as operating modes, network topology, and disaster prediction scenarios, fine-tuning strategies for operating modes are formulated to expand the system's stability boundaries; during an event, fault propagation paths are quickly cut off to reduce the risk of cascading failures and minimize the scope of impact as much as possible; after an event, recovery methods of coordinated stability control and rolling optimization are constructed to comprehensively improve the speed and effect of power system recovery. Through coordinated emergency response before, during, and after an event, the handling of extreme power system events achieves a breakthrough from "passive response" to "active engagement."
Next, look at the "small grid"—a microgrid is a small-scale power generation, distribution, and consumption system composed of distributed power sources, energy storage devices, loads, and control equipment. Microgrids can usually be integrated into the large power grid for coordinated operation, and when necessary, they can also switch to off-grid mode to self-sufficiently supply power to the loads within the region.
This characteristic makes microgrids an important solution for improving the flexibility and reliability of terminal power supply, and they can be applied in various scenarios such as urban industrial parks, mountainous islands, border defense outposts, and polar scientific research stations.
Some industrial parks are actively exploring green microgrids, comprehensively applying photovoltaics, energy storage, waste heat utilization, and hydrogen energy to the park's energy supply. This not only meets production energy needs and alleviates peak-shaving pressure on the main grid, but also achieves energy conservation, carbon reduction, and improved competitiveness through the advantages of green electricity.
Another value of microgrids lies in enhancing "self-healing" capabilities. In remote islands, mountainous villages, and other areas, although traditional power grids can cover them, there are problems such as weak grid infrastructure, difficulty in operation and maintenance, and long fault repair times.
Through the complementary coordination of various types of distributed power sources, microgrids break through the limitations of traditional power restoration methods that rely solely on the main grid, shifting recovery resources from being dominated by the main grid to being coordinated by distributed resources.
China is currently promoting the exploration of "terminal supply-guaranteed microgrids." They operate grid-tied during normal times to improve power quality, and once external lines are interrupted, they automatically operate in island mode to ensure that important loads do not lose power. For example, in Wenzhou (温州), Zhejiang (浙江), the town-level microgrid on Luxi Island (鹿西岛) can restore power within 5 seconds of a fault, and the microgrid on Daqu Island (大瞿岛) can independently supply power for 3 days in the event of an external supply interruption. It is foreseeable that with technological progress and increased policy support, microgrids will play a more important role and become a new type of "dual-use for peace and emergency" emergency support unit.
In the final analysis, the smart grid enhances "immunity" to identify and prevent risks earlier before they arrive; the microgrid enhances "self-healing" to stop losses in time and recover faster after an impact occurs. The vigorous development of digital and intelligent technologies will provide greater room for imagination for the iterative upgrading of the new power system.
(The author is the Director of the National Key Laboratory of Electrical Insulation for Electrical Materials and a Professor at the School of Electrical Engineering, Xi'an Jiaotong University (西安交通大学))
Return to TopQingdao (青岛) Dispatch — (Reporter Wang Pei (王沛)) Giant isopods (深海水虱) are a type of crustacean living in the deep sea, known for holding the world record for the longest period of fasting (up to over 5 years). Recently, Chinese researchers have revealed the physiological adaptive characteristics of these organisms regarding starvation tolerance and the molecular mechanisms regulating their energy consumption, providing a new perspective for research into how deep-sea organisms adapt to extreme environments. The relevant research findings were published online in the international academic journal *Cell* (《细胞》).
The Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences (中国科学院海洋研究所), in collaboration with the Chinese University of Hong Kong (香港中文大学) and Northwestern Polytechnical University (西北工业大学), among other institutions, conducted a joint analysis of multi-level omics data and biological functional verification. They discovered that giant isopods employ a dual adaptive strategy combining "energy storage" and "consumption reduction" to mitigate the contradiction between the high energy demands brought about by their massive body size and the scarcity of food in the deep sea. The study found that, on one hand, the stomach of a giant isopod occupies approximately two-thirds of its body volume, which can be used to opportunistically store large amounts of food and digest it slowly; on the other hand, after the ingested food is digested and absorbed, their extremely low basal metabolic rate can slow down energy consumption and extend the utilization time of nutrients.
In addition, the study identified a horizontally transferred gene, ND1, related to the extreme utilization of energy. The researchers used zebrafish (斑马鱼) as test subjects for functional verification. The results showed that in a normal temperature environment, zebrafish with the ND1 gene knocked in exhibited accelerated metabolism and a shorter survival time compared to the control group; under low-temperature conditions simulating the deep sea, the metabolic level of the zebrafish with the ND1 gene knocked in decreased, and they could extend their survival time by 37% compared to the control group. This research not only provides new evidence for unraveling the mystery of the giant isopod's ultra-long starvation tolerance but also provides an important example for understanding how life balances growth and survival in extreme environments, which is truly a case of 事半功倍 (shì bàn gōng bèi - "half work double result," achieving great success with minimal effort).
Return to TopBy: 本报记者 邱超奕
The first four airship pilots independently trained in China (中国) have recently received airship commercial pilot licenses issued by the Civil Aviation Administration of China (中国民航局), officially qualifying them to operate.
What are the differences between flying an airship and an airplane? What knowledge and skills must an airship pilot learn? What is the significance of the first batch of airship pilots receiving their licenses? A reporter conducted interviews to find out.
Donning his flight uniform, wearing a headset, and putting on sunglasses, airship pilot Feng Xingfei (冯兴飞) stepped steadily onto the boarding ladder and sat in the pilot's seat located at the leading edge of the airship's gondola.
"Number 1, AS700 is ready, requesting to start engines," "AS700 checks complete, requesting takeoff"... At Zhanghe Airport (漳河机场) in Jingmen City (荆门市), Hubei Province (湖北省), following a series of commands, Feng Xingfei (冯兴飞) increased the throttle, and the 50-meter-long AS700 manned airship slowly climbed to a safe altitude, subsequently completing maneuvers such as high-angle climbs and steep-angle descents. Feng Xingfei (冯兴飞) kept his eyes fixed on the speed, altitude, and other instrument readings, operating the airship 有条不紊 (yǒu tiáo bù wěn - "have order not messy," in an orderly and methodical manner).
The requirements to become an airship pilot are extraordinary. Luo Xiyan (罗希延), General Manager of the Equipment Division at the Special Vehicle Research Institute (特飞所) of the Aviation Industry Corporation of China (中国航空工业集团), explained that previously, China (中国) lacked a systematic and formal training program for commercial airship pilots. In March 2025, the Civil Aviation Administration of China (中国民航局) approved the Aviation Industry Special Vehicle Research Institute (航空工业特飞所) to undertake the training of the country's first batch of airship pilots and basic instructors, carrying out standardized training under the guidance of relevant departments.
"First of all, the initial batch of students are all mature pilots with safe flight experience in airplanes; furthermore, students must systematically master professional skills such as the principles of aerostatics and low-speed, low-altitude precision control," said Zhao Jianan (赵佳楠), Director of Flight Test at the Aviation Industry Special Vehicle Research Institute (航空工业特飞所). To ensure training quality, the institute assembled a multidisciplinary training team. Theoretical instruction is provided by the airship R&D team and professional theory instructors from Hubei Hongmeng Flight School (湖北鸿萌航校), flight training is conducted by basic airship instructors, and the command and ground support teams are comprised of the mature team that has been with the AS700 manned airship since its first test flight. This ensures both training safety and quality.
Compared to airplane pilot training, airship pilot training shares the same requirements regarding aviation regulations, safety concepts, medical qualifications, and civil aviation license management, but there are differences: for instance, airplane piloting often emphasizes rapid reaction and high-maneuverability control, while airship piloting focuses more on airflow prediction and fine-tuned adjustments.
Feng Xingfei (冯兴飞) explained that as an aerostat, the airship's control system differs from that of an airplane, which requires students to overcome their existing flying habits. Additionally, airships are more significantly affected by wind, and adjusting their attitude at low speeds is more difficult than with fixed-wing aircraft. The construction of an airship also differs from an airplane, involving special systems such as envelope pressure control and vector systems, which require students to learn from scratch.
Currently, the AS700 manned airship has received 44 orders. Beyond the Hubei (湖北) region, commercial operations will begin by the end of this year in places such as Shaoxing, Zhejiang (浙江绍兴) and Zhuhai, Guangdong (广东珠海). As one of the first licensed airship pilots, Feng Xingfei (冯兴飞) will use his professional skills to help client companies build operational models, pushing domestically produced airships from the "experimental field" to the "commercial field."
It is reported that this AS700 manned airship pilot training and commercial license certification process has furthered the development of China's (中国) standardized airship pilot training, standardized assessment, official qualification certification, and professional talent cultivation system, laying a solid foundation of talent for the large-scale application of the low-altitude economy across multiple scenarios.
Return to TopAccording to a report from Xinhua News Agency (新华社) in Buenos Aires (布宜诺斯艾利斯), reporters Zhang Duo (张铎) and Wang Zhongyi (王钟毅) stated that an international team including researchers from the Bernardino Rivadavia Natural Sciences Museum (贝尔纳迪诺·里瓦达维亚自然科学博物馆) in Argentina (阿根廷) recently confirmed that dinosaur fossils previously excavated in Santa Cruz Province (圣克鲁斯省) in southern Argentina (阿根廷) belong to a new species of raptor.
Researchers explained that these dinosaur fossils were unearthed near El Calafate (埃尔卡拉法特) in Santa Cruz Province (圣克鲁斯省), with excavation work beginning in 2019 and continuing for several years. The researchers used advanced technologies such as computed tomography to reconstruct the skeletal structure of the fossils excavated at the site and conducted a detailed analysis of their anatomical features.
The study shows that these fossils belong to a previously unknown species of raptor. This dinosaur was widely distributed in the nearby region approximately 66 million years ago. Weighing about 27 kilograms, it walked upright on two hind legs, possessed curved claws on its second toes, and had conical teeth with fine ridges, showing significant characteristic differences from raptor fossils unearthed in the Northern Hemisphere (北半球). Researchers stated that these fossils hold the significance of a "geographical link," indicating that the dinosaur species living in southern Argentina (阿根廷) share an evolutionary relationship with raptors distributed in other parts of the world. While the discovery was not achieved 一蹴而就 (yī cù ér jiù - "one step reach," to achieve success at one stroke), the team's persistence led to this breakthrough.
The relevant paper has been published in the American Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology (古脊椎动物学杂志).
Return to TopBeijing (北京) Dispatch — (Reporter Wang Yunshan (王云杉)) The reporter learned from China Energy Investment Corporation (国家能源集团) that recently, the Yantai Longyuan Power Technology Co., Ltd. (烟台龙源公司), a subsidiary of the China Energy Investment Corporation (国家能源集团) under the Longyuan Power Technology and Environmental Protection Group (科环集团), successfully achieved a 50% high-proportion green hydrogen co-firing and 100% pure hydrogen combustion for the first time. This was accomplished using a large-capacity hydrogen-coal co-firing pilot test facility built upon the "40 MW Boiler Clean Combustion Engineering Laboratory" (40兆瓦锅炉洁净燃烧工程实验室). This milestone marks China's (中国) entry into the world's advanced ranks in the field of green, zero-carbon fuel substitution and utilization for coal-fired boilers.
The project utilizes a self-developed hydrogen-coal co-firing low-nitrogen burner, which allows hydrogen and pulverized coal to be fully mixed and burned within the boiler. Achieving a 50% heat ratio hydrogen co-firing on a 40 MW coal-fired boiler is a world first. This means that coal savings and carbon reduction can reach up to 50%, with significant synergistic effects in nitrogen reduction and emission control. This achievement explores a new path for China's (中国) future coal-fired power units to realize substantial carbon emission reductions and holds great significance for the green and low-carbon transformation of coal power, as well as the integrated development of coal power and new energy.
Return to TopLayout Design: Zheping Wang (汪哲平)
Return to TopBy: 姚檀栋
Possessing robust basic research and original innovation capabilities, and continuously producing significant original and disruptive scientific and technological achievements, is a fundamental element that a scientific and technological power must possess. General Secretary Xi Jinping (习近平) delivered an important speech at the Symposium on Strengthening Basic Research, emphasizing that "we must strengthen basic research with greater efforts and more practical measures, enhance our country's original innovation capabilities, and further solidify the foundation for building a scientific and technological power." This important discourse profoundly clarifies the extreme importance and urgency of strengthening basic research and outlines a strategic blueprint for the development of basic research in our country during the new era and on the new journey. The Outline of the 15th Five-Year Plan (十五五) proposes to "comprehensively improve the level of basic research" and makes specific deployments. We must deeply study and comprehend the spirit of General Secretary Xi Jinping's (习近平) important speech, effectively grasp basic research, and solidify the foundation for building a scientific and technological power.
Basic research holds a fundamental and leading position in scientific and technological innovation.
General Secretary Xi Jinping (习近平) profoundly pointed out: "Basic research is the source of the entire scientific system and the master switch for all technical problems." This important judgment, from a theoretical height and strategic perspective, profoundly reveals the fundamental and leading position of basic research in scientific and technological innovation, providing a fundamental guideline for us to deeply understand the significance of strengthening basic research for building a scientific and technological power.
Looking at the laws of scientific development, basic research is dedicated to exploring the essential laws of the natural world and is the cornerstone for building the entire edifice of scientific knowledge. Looking back at history, we can see that the creation of calculus allowed humanity to better understand and describe natural phenomena, not only profoundly changing the development trajectory of mathematics and physics, but also deeply influencing fields such as life sciences, engineering sciences, and even economics, unveiling the prelude to modern human civilization; Maxwell's equations (麦克斯韦方程组) explained physical mysteries in mathematical form, unifying electricity, magnetism, and optics, and had a revolutionary impact on modern technology and social life; plate tectonics theory (板块构造理论) and others laid the foundation for climate change research, providing a scientific basis for revealing the evolutionary laws of the Earth system and actively responding to climate change. This fully demonstrates that basic research is the "real battlefield" that determines whether we can stand on the commanding heights of science and technology tomorrow, and determines the foundation and staying power of a country's innovation capability; without a solid accumulation of basic research, scientific and technological innovation is like **无源之水** (wú yuán zhī shuǐ - "water without a source," something that lacks a foundation or origin). This also inspires us that building a scientific and technological power must start from the source, highly value and continuously strengthen basic research, master more "from 0 to 1" original achievements, and provide a continuous stream of "living water" for the entire scientific and technological innovation chain.
Looking at the trends of scientific and technological development, a new round of scientific and technological revolution is intertwined with the game between major powers, and competition in new technologies and new tracks is becoming more intense, making the forward-looking and strategic nature of basic research more prominent. Currently, mathematics is increasingly becoming a "universal language" for explaining the inherent laws of disciplines and strengthening the connections between disciplines, as well as an important tool for causal analysis and trend prediction. Physics is effectively enhancing human understanding of matter, energy, information, and life. Chemistry is becoming an important path and key means for humanity to create new substances. Life sciences constitute an important carrier for the cross-integration of science and technology and have become one of the important driving forces leading a new round of scientific and technological revolution. The continuous breakthroughs and collaborative evolution of basic research, especially in frontier disciplines, are expected to spawn new major scientific theories and important scientific ideas, promoting the resolution of scientific "meta-problems" such as material structure, cosmic evolution, Earth system, origin of life, and the essence of consciousness. This means that without mastering basic principles and underlying logic, solving key technical problems will be **事倍功半** (shì bèi gōng bàn - "twice the effort for half the result," to be inefficient), or even be controlled by others. We must, with a sense of crisis that we "cannot afford to wait" and a sense of urgency that we "cannot be slow," place the strengthening of basic research in an important position in the overall situation of national development. Only by solidifying the foundation of basic research and building our own complete knowledge system and principle support can we win strategic initiative in global scientific and technological competition.
Looking at the connotation of a scientific and technological power, scientific and technological strength and innovation capability that rank among the best in the world can support the overall leap in our country's comprehensive national strength. Basic research is a key engine for breaking through development bottlenecks and improving weak links. Currently, our country has shifted to a stage of high-quality development and is cultivating new quality productive forces and building a modern industrial system. This has put forward higher requirements for scientific and technological innovation. Practice has repeatedly proven that without independent breakthroughs in basic research, technological application and industrial development are like building on sand dunes, lacking a solid foundation. It should be seen that there are still some weak links in our country's cultivation of new quality productive forces and construction of a modern industrial system, and some key core technologies are still controlled by others. An important feature of the new round of scientific and technological revolution and industrial transformation is that the time difference between basic research breakthroughs and industrial innovation is shortening or even occurring simultaneously. Strengthening basic research means aiming at the source and fundamental problems of industrial development, forming original and disruptive achievements that can lead scientific and technological innovation and industrial transformation through continuous exploration, providing fundamental power for breaking through development bottlenecks, improving weak links, and improving development quality and efficiency, thereby helping to ensure the safety and stability of the industrial chain and supply chain, strengthening the construction of ecological civilization, and promoting the overall leap of our country's economic strength, national defense strength, and comprehensive national strength.
The great achievements made in basic research in our country since the new era have strengthened the confidence and determination to build a scientific and technological power.
General Secretary Xi Jinping (习近平) pointed out: "Since the 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China (党的十八大), the Party Central Committee has attached great importance to basic research, and by optimizing scientific research layout, increasing investment guarantees, and innovating systems and mechanisms, it has promoted a significant improvement in the level of basic research in our country." This important discourse fully affirms the achievements made in our country's basic research and has further strengthened our confidence and determination to use basic research to solidify the foundation for building a scientific and technological power.
The improvement of our country's basic research level in the new era is mainly reflected in four aspects. First, the scientific research layout is continuously optimized. Adhering to the "four orientations" (四个面向), focusing on major national needs and international scientific frontiers, a number of major scientific and technological projects and infrastructure have been systematically deployed, and the systematic and strategic nature of basic research has been significantly enhanced. Second, investment guarantees are increasingly increased. The national fiscal investment in basic research has grown steadily, and at the same time, enterprises and social forces are actively guided to increase investment, and a diversified investment pattern is being formed, providing better conditions for scientific researchers to concentrate on exploration. Third, systems and mechanisms are more optimized. The reform of scientific and technological evaluation is being pushed forward in depth, a classification evaluation system that conforms to the laws of basic research is gradually being established, greater autonomy is granted to scientific researchers, and the innovation ecosystem is continuously improving. Fourth, major achievements are constantly emerging. Major original achievements have been produced in basic frontier directions such as material science, life science, space science, Earth system science, and artificial intelligence, accelerating the systematic improvement of our country's original innovation capability.
These achievements have strongly supported our country's self-reliance and self-strengthening in science and technology, and enhanced our country's status and influence on the international scientific and technological stage. Take the Second Tibetan Plateau Scientific Expedition (第二次青藏科考) as an example. More than 7,000 scientific expedition members from more than 200 scientific research and education units across the country, focusing on the key scientific issue of the Earth system process of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau (青藏高原) and its environmental changes, focused on the Asian Water Tower (亚洲水塔), ecosystems, changes in the sources of rivers and lakes, and extremely high-altitude environments, and carried out full-domain scientific expeditions, achieving a series of original achievements in the field of basic research. This has provided strong support for the construction of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau (青藏高原) national ecological civilization highland, the operation and maintenance of the Qinghai-Tibet Railway (青藏铁路), the construction of hydropower projects in the lower reaches of the Yarlung Zangbo River (雅鲁藏布江), and the construction of a comprehensive observation and early warning platform for the multi-sphere of the Earth system. It has played a leading role in the United Nations' "Decade of Cryosphere Science" (联合国“冰冻圈科学行动十年”) action, and also fully reflects the important supporting role of basic research for building a scientific and technological power.
While seeing the achievements, we must keep a clear head and scientifically analyze the new situation facing the construction of a scientific and technological power and the new challenges facing the development of basic research. Internationally, the current scientific research paradigm is undergoing profound changes, moving towards macro-expansion, micro-deepening, extreme conditions, and comprehensive cross-disciplinary efforts, constantly breaking through the boundaries of human cognition; global scientific and technological competition is more focused on basic frontier fields, and major developed countries are competing to increase investment and optimize layout, trying to control the dominant power of future scientific and technological development. This requires us to accelerate the layout in frontier fields with a stronger sense of urgency and mission, and strive to achieve breakthroughs first. Domestically, there are still some problems and gaps in our country's basic research, for example, the output efficiency and influence of major original and leading achievements still have room for improvement; the "from 0 to 1" original innovation capability needs to be strengthened urgently; top-notch talents and world-class innovation teams are relatively insufficient; the long-term stable support mechanism and evaluation system that conform to the laws of basic research need to be further improved; and the integration efficiency of scientific and technological resources and the level of collaborative innovation between industry, academia, and research need to be improved. We must adhere to a problem-oriented approach and solve these prominent problems by deepening reform and innovating mechanisms.
Systematic planning, precise implementation, and multiple measures to solidify the foundation of a scientific and technological power.
General Secretary Xi Jinping (习近平) emphasized at the 2024 National Science and Technology Conference, the National Science and Technology Awards Conference, and the Academicians' Conference of the two Academies that "building a scientific and technological power, the scientific and technological front has a heavy responsibility and a glorious mission"; at the 2026 Symposium on Strengthening Basic Research, he pointed out that "we must seize opportunities, meet challenges, effectively put basic research work on an important agenda, continue to grasp it, and constantly achieve new results." We must work with the determination of "being willing to sit on a cold bench for ten years" (板凳甘坐十年冷 - a metaphor for persistent, quiet, and unglamorous hard work) and the courage to "dare to enter the no-man's land" (敢闯无人区 - to venture into unexplored or highly difficult areas of research), and with the sense of responsibility that "success does not have to be achieved by me, but success must have my contribution" (功成不必在我、功成必定有我 - a selfless attitude of contributing to long-term goals), strive to improve original innovation capabilities, and make greater contributions to solidifying the foundation of a scientific and technological power.
Strengthen strategic layout and optimize the basic research system. Adhere to the "four orientations" (四个面向), focus on the long-term development and urgent security needs of the country, and strengthen the strategic, forward-looking, and systematic layout of basic research. Create a basic research system with clear positioning, complementary advantages, and efficient coordination, condense and propose a number of major scientific problems facing 2035 and even the longer-term future, implement a number of major national scientific and technological projects with strategic orientation, and achieve major breakthroughs in basic research under the guidance of national development goals. Continuously increase stable support for basic research and further improve the diversified investment mechanism.
Deepen the reform of systems and mechanisms and create an innovation ecosystem for concentrated research. Basic research has the characteristics of strong exploration, long cycle, and high uncertainty. Therefore, it is necessary to deepen the reform of scientific and technological evaluation, implement long-cycle evaluation and peer review, and strengthen the evaluation orientation with quality, contribution, and performance of scientific and technological innovation as the core. Deepen the reform of the Science Fund (科学基金) to improve funding efficiency. Grant greater autonomy to scientific research units and scientific researchers, improve the atmosphere that encourages innovation, and allow scientific researchers to be single-minded and persistent for a long time, and be brave to challenge the most frontier scientific problems.
Strengthen the high-level talent team and solidify the foundation of innovation and development. Talent is the first resource for basic research. It is necessary to adhere to the integrated promotion of education, science and technology, and talent, strengthen the cultivation of top-notch talents in basic disciplines, and strengthen the integration of science and education, and the integration of industry and education. Increase support for young scientific and technological talents, encourage them to independently undertake important projects, and stand out in innovation practice. Increase the cultivation and support for strategic scientists, first-class scientific and technological leading talents, and innovation teams. Improve the working and living conditions of scientific researchers, create a social atmosphere that respects labor, knowledge, talent, and creation, and let more excellent talents yearn for and devote themselves to the cause of basic research.
Expand high-level opening and cooperation, and improve independent innovation capability in opening up. Independent innovation is innovation in an open environment, and we must never close the door to do research. We must adhere to planning and promoting innovation with a global vision, actively integrate into the United Nations' 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development "Decade of Action" (联合国2030年可持续发展目标“行动十年”), "Decade of Cryosphere Science" (冰冻圈科学行动十年), "Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development" (海洋科学促进可持续发展十年) and other actions, take the lead in implementing and actively participating in international major scientific plans and major scientific projects, and strengthen joint research in responding to global challenges such as climate change, energy security, and human health. Deepen intergovernmental scientific and technological cooperation, and encourage various innovation subjects such as scientific research institutions, universities, and enterprises to carry out all-round, multi-level, and wide-ranging international exchanges. Improve independent innovation capability in open cooperation and firmly grasp the initiative of innovation and development.
Give play to the role of scientific and technological societies and gather the synergy of collaborative innovation. Scientific and technological societies are an important part of the scientific and technological community, a bridge and link connecting the government, academia, industry, and the public, and also an important platform for strengthening high-level international cooperation, which can play a unique role in improving basic research capabilities. We should build a high-level academic exchange platform to promote cross-disciplinary integration and inspire innovative ideas; strengthen the popularization of science and technology, improve the scientific literacy of the whole people, and create a social atmosphere of loving science and advocating innovation; carry out strategic research on major issues in the development of basic research to provide professional decision-making consultation for government enterprises; strengthen scientific research integrity and academic style construction, advocate responsible scientific research behavior, and maintain a clean and upright academic ecosystem; actively promote the creation of international scientific and technological organizations in the field of basic research, encourage and support the initiation and participation in international major scientific plans and projects, and weave a dense network of scientific and technological exchanges and cooperation.
(The author is an Academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (中国科学院) and President of the China Association for the Study of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau (中国青藏高原研究会))
Return to TopBy: 马怀德
General Secretary Xi Jinping (习近平) has pointed out: "Accelerate the construction of a philosophy and social science disciplinary system, academic system, and discourse system with Chinese characteristics," and "build an academic discourse system with Chinese characteristics and an international vision, and establish our country's legal disciplinary system and textbook system as soon as possible." Jurisprudence is a discipline with distinct political and practical characteristics. Building an autonomous Chinese legal knowledge system is a systematic project that includes four mutually supporting and integrated aspects: the legal disciplinary system, the academic system, the textbook system, and the discourse system. Specifically, the legal disciplinary system determines the basic fields and architecture for the production and inheritance of legal knowledge; the legal academic system is embedded within the disciplinary system and constitutes the knowledge core composed of concepts, viewpoints, and theories that possess subjectivity, originality, and distinctiveness; the legal textbook system is the primary medium for the systematic and standardized inheritance of the autonomous knowledge system; and the legal discourse system provides scholarly interpretation and international dissemination for the autonomous knowledge system, serving as a key channel for enhancing the influence and discourse power of the rule of law in China.
Accelerating the construction of an autonomous Chinese legal knowledge system requires taking Xi Jinping Thought on the Rule of Law (习近平法治思想) as the fundamental guide, drawing from the practice of the rule of law under socialism with Chinese characteristics as the source of vitality, and advancing the aforementioned four aspects as an organic whole. This process is essentially a reflection on and transcendence of Western legal theories, a theoretical consciousness and systematic expression of the laws governing the practice of the rule of law under socialism with Chinese characteristics, and a concentrated manifestation of cultural and theoretical confidence in the field of jurisprudence.
**Accelerating the Construction of a Legal Disciplinary System with Chinese Characteristics**
In the more than 70 years since the founding of the People's Republic of China (中华人民共和国), especially since the Reform and Opening-up (改革开放), our country's legal discipline construction has resonated with the process of adapting Marxist legal theory to the Chinese context and the needs of the times, providing important support for the construction of a socialist rule-of-law state. At the same time, when benchmarked against the new situation, new tasks, and new requirements of advancing comprehensive law-based governance and building a higher-level socialist rule-of-law state, the existing legal disciplinary system still has areas that need improvement. For example, the division of legal disciplines is relatively rigid, showing insufficient sensitivity to emerging fields; the capacity of disciplinary knowledge needs to be expanded, with insufficient absorption of brand-new legal issues brought about by technological revolutions and global governance; the growth mechanisms and support systems for emerging and interdisciplinary subjects are not yet sound; and the setting and layout of disciplines and majors have not fully adapted to the rapid development of legal practice; and so on. These problems highlight the urgency and importance of accelerating the construction of a legal disciplinary system with Chinese characteristics.
Building a legal disciplinary system with Chinese characteristics is a rigorous scientific project that must follow the laws of the evolution of legal civilization, the laws of legal knowledge production, and the laws of the development of the practice of the rule of law under socialism with Chinese characteristics. We must improve the adjustment mechanism for higher education disciplines and majors, actively respond to major national strategic needs, vigorously develop emerging disciplines and frontier fields such as digital jurisprudence, artificial intelligence jurisprudence, and national security jurisprudence, and promote the optimization of disciplines and majors. We must break down barriers within jurisprudence and between jurisprudence and other philosophy, social science, and natural science disciplines, and promote the cross-integration of jurisprudence with economics, sociology, political science, ethics, information science, and environmental science. We must optimize the academic evaluation ecology, guide scholars to delve deeply into Chinese issues, produce original achievements that make substantial contributions to the disciplinary system, and avoid simply chasing academic trends.
**Accelerating the Construction of a Legal Academic System with Chinese Characteristics**
The academic system is the core of the knowledge system. Accelerating the construction of a legal academic system with Chinese characteristics requires summarizing and refining concepts, viewpoints, and theories that possess the subjectivity, originality, and distinctiveness of the rule of law under socialism with Chinese characteristics, thereby forming an academic system with sufficient autonomy. In a past period, our country's legal research to a certain extent relied on Western legal theories and analytical frameworks, sometimes leading to the awkward situation of "cutting the feet to fit the shoes," where Chinese practice was forced to fit Western theories, and lacking effective theoretical interpretation and conceptual construction for some legal phenomena and major innovations with Chinese characteristics.
Accelerating the construction of a legal academic system with Chinese characteristics and promoting the prosperity of Chinese legal academia can be achieved through coordinated efforts in three dimensions. First, promote the creative transformation and innovative development of excellent traditional Chinese legal culture. The Chinese legal system has spanned thousands of years and is a precious resource that can be scientifically analyzed and recreated for the modern era through the standpoint, viewpoints, and methods of Marxism. For example, the "Fengqiao Experience" (枫桥经验) in the new era and the improvement of diversified dispute resolution mechanisms have realized the organic combination of the traditional "no-litigation" (无讼) thought and the construction of a modern rule-of-law society. We must adhere to the "Two Integrations" (两个结合), deeply excavate the cultural values and governance experiences in excellent traditional Chinese legal culture that transcend time and space, and promote the revitalization of excellent traditional Chinese legal culture in the contemporary legal academic system. Second, absorb and draw upon foreign legal academic resources. Building an autonomous knowledge system does not mean 闭门造车 (bì mén zào chē - "close door build cart," to act subjectively without regard for reality or external input). The introduction of new materials and resources is an important condition for forming a legal academic system with Chinese characteristics. Regarding beneficial academic resources in foreign jurisprudence, we should maintain an open attitude, and on the basis of prudent screening, absorb, draw upon, and carry out localized transformation. It should be noted that this absorption and borrowing is not simple copying, but rather combining it with China's national conditions, culture, and practice. Third, strengthen scholarly refinement and theoretical construction of contemporary Chinese legal practice. Since the 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China (党的十八大), the practice of the rule of law under socialism with Chinese characteristics has achieved historic achievements and undergone historic changes, creating a wealth of unique legal experience. For example, the legal interpretation of "whole-process people's democracy" (全过程人民民主); the major concept of "adhering to governance based on the Constitution and exercising power based on the Constitution"; the strategic layout of coordinating domestic rule of law and rule of law involving foreign parties; and institutional innovations in specific fields such as credit supervision and digital government construction; and so on. These vivid practices provide an unprecedented treasure trove for theoretical development. We must persist in taking what we are currently doing as the center, strengthen in-depth research on complex and difficult problems in current legal practice, excavate new materials, discover new problems, propose new viewpoints, and build new theories from the practice of our country's reform and development, interpret Chinese practice with Chinese theories, sublimate Chinese theories with Chinese practice, and continuously enrich and develop the legal academic system with Chinese characteristics.
**Accelerating the Construction of a Legal Textbook System with Chinese Characteristics**
Textbooks embody the value system of a country and a nation; they are key elements of education and teaching and important carriers for the inheritance and development of the knowledge system, directly relating to the fundamental questions of what kind of people to cultivate, how to cultivate them, and for whom to cultivate them. In recent years, our country's higher education legal textbook construction has made significant progress. The compilation and use of key textbooks for the Marxist Theoretical Research and Construction Project (马克思主义理论研究和建设工程) in law have effectively promoted the comprehensive integration of Xi Jinping Thought on the Rule of Law (习近平法治思想) and the theory of the rule of law under socialism with Chinese characteristics into the legal professional teaching system. The launch of "Introduction to Xi Jinping Thought on the Rule of Law" (习近平法治思想概论) as a core compulsory textbook for law majors nationwide is of milestone significance, marking the systematic entry of the latest achievements of the Party's innovative theories into textbooks, classrooms, and minds. At the same time, a large number of original textbooks that reflect the achievements of China's legal practice and embody Chinese characteristics have continued to emerge.
Looking to the future, perfecting the legal textbook system with Chinese characteristics still has a long way to go. We must consolidate and strengthen the core position of the key textbooks of the Marxist Theoretical Research and Construction Project (马克思主义理论研究和建设工程) in the legal textbook system, and timely and organically integrate the latest achievements of the Party's innovative theoretical research into them. We must encourage and support the compilation of original Chinese textbooks that fully reflect the path, theory, and latest practical achievements of the rule of law under socialism with Chinese characteristics, changing the situation in some fields where textbook content is outdated and overly reliant on foreign doctrines and cases. We must attach great importance to the textbook construction of emerging and interdisciplinary subjects, and organize forces to compile a batch of high-quality textbooks for frontier fields such as digital jurisprudence, technology jurisprudence, and ecological and environmental jurisprudence to lead disciplinary development.
**Accelerating the Construction of a Legal Discourse System with Chinese Characteristics**
The legal discourse system is the external manifestation of the legal knowledge system, a concentrated expression of the path and theory of the rule of law under socialism with Chinese characteristics, and a strategic handle for enhancing national cultural soft power and mastering international discourse power in the rule of law. Since the 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China (党的十八大), our country's socialist rule-of-law field has proposed many new concepts with original significance, which need to be interpreted scholastically, expressed academically, constructed systematically, and disseminated popularly. We must not only summarize the experience of our country's legal system construction and legal practice, tell the story of China's rule of law well, and enhance the international influence and discourse power of our country's legal system and legal theory, but also actively participate in the reform and construction of the global governance system, convey China's legal concepts and propositions to the international community, and provide Chinese wisdom for promoting the democratization and legalization of global governance rules.
To this end, we must strengthen overall coordination and build a pattern of coordinated advancement. We must deepen scholarly interpretation, encourage legal researchers to conduct in-depth interpretation and theoretical construction of Chinese legal practice from an academic perspective, and form a persuasive academic discourse. We must promote systematic construction, integrate scattered legal expressions into a logically rigorous and clearly layered theoretical system, and avoid fragmentation. We must expand international dissemination, leverage high-end international academic platforms and digital dissemination means, actively promote the achievements and experiences of China's legal construction, participate in and lead discussions on international legal issues, and propose Chinese solutions, inject Chinese concepts, and contribute Chinese wisdom in the reform and construction of the global governance system, so that the autonomous Chinese legal knowledge system becomes a unique and indispensable important part of the world's garden of legal knowledge.
(The author is a member of the Committee on Education, Science, Health and Sports of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (全国政协教科卫体委员会) and President of Renmin University of China (中国人民大学))
Return to TopBy: 庞晓东
Scientific popularization and technological innovation are like the two wings of a bird and the two wheels of a vehicle; both are equally important and indispensable for innovative development. General Secretary Xi Jinping (习近平) emphasized at the Symposium on Strengthening Basic Research: "Promote the spirit of scientists and strengthen science popularization and publicity." The Outline of the 15th Five-Year Plan (十五五规划纲要) proposes to "strengthen the popularization of science and technology, cultivate an innovation culture, and promote the spirit of scientists."
Currently, China's (中国) science popularization cause is flourishing, and the development level of citizens' scientific literacy is accelerating. The newly revised Law of the People's Republic of China on the Popularization of Science and Technology (中华人民共和国科学技术普及法) in December 2024 clearly stipulates that the overall layout and coordinated deployment of science popularization work should be strengthened, promoting the close synergy between science popularization and technological innovation, and fully leveraging the role of science popularization in the integrated advancement of education, technology, and talent development. Data from the National Bureau of Statistics (国家统计局) shows that in 2025, the proportion of citizens in China (中国) with scientific literacy reached 16.74%. Sound science popularization is the foundation of innovative development. Only by promoting the two-way empowerment and synergistic efforts of science popularization and technological innovation can innovative development be effectively achieved. On one hand, science popularization enriches the soil for technological innovation. Science popularization can transform profound scientific knowledge into easy-to-understand content, stimulate public interest and love for science and technology, help cultivate a social trend of respecting science and pursuing innovation, and promote the establishment of a vast, high-quality army of innovators. On the other hand, technological innovation provides solid support for science popularization. Various technological innovation achievements are important content for science popularization; they not only enrich the knowledge system of science popularization but also provide diverse means and tools for science popularization activities, enhancing their attractiveness and effectiveness. Fully leveraging the role of science popularization in the integrated advancement of education, technology, and talent development requires placing science popularization on an equal footing with technological innovation, promoting their close synergy and organic integration.
Establish a "grand science popularization" concept and improve the diversified investment mechanism for science popularization. Through policy guidance and resource integration, encourage scientific research institutions, universities (高等学校), and enterprises to incorporate science popularization work into their own innovation and research and development systems, promote the popularization of scientific and technological resources, and achieve the organic integration of science popularization and technological innovation. The Law of the People's Republic of China on the Popularization of Science and Technology (中华人民共和国科学技术普及法) has clear provisions for this: scientific research and technological development institutions, as well as universities (高等学校), should support and organize scientific and technological personnel and teachers to carry out science popularization activities. Those with the capacity can set up full-time science popularization positions and specialized venues, making science popularization an important part of institutional operations, providing necessary support and guarantees for carrying out such activities, and promoting the close integration of technological research and development, the transformation of scientific and technological achievements, and science popularization. Currently, the science popularization venues managed by the China Association for Science and Technology (中国科协) system exceed 1,100. Most major national scientific and technological infrastructures, such as large-scale scientific devices, national (key) laboratories, and major scientific research test sites (public experimental platforms), have carried out various forms of science popularization activities according to their respective characteristics, achieving positive progress in the organic integration of science popularization and technological innovation. We should further promote the comprehensive integration of science popularization into economic, political, cultural, social, and ecological civilization construction, build a development pattern for science popularization work jointly promoted by the government, society, and the market, realize a new ecology of "science popularization +" and "+ science popularization," promote the synergistic development of science popularization and technological innovation, and thereby nourish innovation, use innovation to feed back into science popularization, and create a social atmosphere that loves science and respects innovation.
Widely apply new technologies to promote the informatization, digitalization, and intelligence of science popularization. Currently, emerging technologies are profoundly changing the methods and content of science popularization. Science popularization work must **与时俱进** (yǔ shí jù jìn - "keep pace with the times," to advance alongside the times), carry out science popularization around new technologies and new knowledge in terms of content, widely apply new technologies in science popularization, guide society to correctly understand and use technological achievements, and create a good environment for the application of technological achievements. Vigorously promote the informatization, digitalization, and intelligence of science popularization, use new technologies such as virtual reality, augmented reality, and artificial intelligence to create immersive and interactive science popularization experiences, strive to be easy to understand and vivid, continuously enhance the attractiveness, appeal, and influence of science popularization, and make scientific knowledge approachable, perceptible, and usable. For example, the science popularization informatization platform "Science Popularization China" (科普中国) launched "AI Xiao Ke" (AI小科), using artificial intelligence means to assist in science popularization creation and dissemination; during the 2025 National Science Popularization Month (全国科普月), the Shanghai Astronomy Museum (上海天文馆) innovatively incorporated cutting-edge elements such as XR (extended reality) technology and mobile astronomical resources, accurately delivering high-quality science popularization resources to campuses, communities, and markets, bringing an immersive and diverse scientific experience to the public. By fully utilizing new media channels such as social media and short video platforms to form a three-dimensional dissemination matrix, a new method of science popularization combining online and offline can be formed.
Fully leverage the role of scientific and technological workers as the main force in the cause of science popularization. Scientific and technological workers have long been fighting on the front line of scientific research and are the main providers of high-quality science popularization resources and the main force of science popularization. They should leverage their own advantages and expertise, take popularizing scientific knowledge, promoting the spirit of scientists, disseminating scientific ideas, and advocating scientific methods as their bounden duty, and actively participate in and support science popularization activities. For example, "Science Popularization China" (科普中国) has over 7,500 experts, including more than 160 academicians, participating in content creation or review; the Chinese Academy of Sciences (中国科学院) Old Scientists Science Popularization Lecture Group (老科学家科普演讲团) has conducted a cumulative total of over 46,000 lectures in the 28 years since its establishment; the China Association for Science and Technology (中国科协) released the "Guide to Science Popularization Creation for Scientific and Technological Workers" (科技工作者科普创作指南) to help scientific and technological workers improve their level of science popularization creation. The participation of scientific and technological workers can effectively enlarge and strengthen the "reservoir" of science popularization talent, build a bridge between science and the public, and contribute to the vigorous development of the science popularization cause.
(The author is the Party Secretary of the China Research Institute for Science Popularization (中国科普研究所))
Return to TopBy: 本报记者 王 观
The 2025 annual individual income tax (IIT) comprehensive income reconciliation will conclude on June 30. According to the State Taxation Administration (国家税务总局), as of the end of May, over 160 million people had completed their reconciliation filings, and more than 110 million people had processed tax refunds. The total amount of tax refunds has increased significantly, with the scale of refunds rising by over 17% year-on-year.
While many are actively sharing their tax refund "red envelopes," some "tax refund secrets" are circulating online. This has even led to undesirable situations such as the misappropriation of personal identity information and the filing of false claims for special additional deductions during the IIT reconciliation process.
Are these "tax refund secrets" reliable? What should you do if a stranger misappropriates your information? Recently, reporters collected and organized frequently asked questions from taxpayers regarding IIT reconciliation through the 12366 Tax Payment Service Hotline of the Beijing Municipal Tax Service, State Taxation Administration (国家税务总局北京市税务局), and invited relevant officials from the tax authorities to provide answers.
**Fill in Special Additional Deductions Truthfully in Accordance with Laws and Regulations**
Recently, Xiao Zheng (小郑), an employee at a company, saw a "tax refund secret" on a social media platform. Xiao Zheng followed the operations in the video and added some new deductions, hoping to receive a tax refund. Unexpectedly, shortly after submitting the filing, he received a notification from the tax authorities prompting him to declare truthfully.
Tax authorities warn that since the implementation of the IIT reconciliation system, some lawbreakers have exploited taxpayers' desire for refunds to promote so-called "tax refund secrets" to attract traffic. False tax declarations are illegal. Once verified, individuals will not only face the repayment of taxes and fines but will also bear corresponding legal liabilities.
"Handling IIT reconciliation in accordance with the law is the statutory obligation of every taxpayer. Taxpayers must truthfully report their income, deductions, and other information, and must not listen to 'tax refund secrets'," said Huang Lixin (黄立新), Director of the Taxation Science Research Institute of the State Taxation Administration (国家税务总局税收科学研究所).
Current individual income tax policies provide for seven types of special additional deductions, including children's education, support for the elderly, and care for infants under three years old. Regarding common issues encountered during the confirmation and filing of special additional deductions, tax authorities note that, for example, taxpayers supporting parents aged 60 or older can enjoy the special additional deduction for elderly support; whether the elderly have a pension does not affect the taxpayer's eligibility for this policy. If there are non-only children, the deduction quota of 3,000 yuan must be shared among all siblings, with each person's share not exceeding 1,500 yuan per month.
Furthermore, some taxpayers, in order to claim more housing rent special additional deductions, continue to file for them in violation of regulations after purchasing new housing and incurring mortgage interest. It must be emphasized that the special additional deductions for housing rent and housing mortgage interest cannot be enjoyed simultaneously. Tax authorities have established a verification mechanism for real estate registration information with relevant departments to verify whether taxpayers meet the conditions. Taxpayers should carefully verify their personal circumstances to ensure they meet the criteria before filing to enjoy relevant policies.
Dai Shiyou (戴诗友), Director of the Policy and Regulation Department of the State Taxation Administration (国家税务总局政策法规司), stated that according to the Individual Income Tax Law (个人所得税法), resident individuals must pay individual income tax on income obtained from both within and outside China in accordance with the law. Taxpayers with overseas income must complete their declarations for all domestic and foreign income by the end of June. Tax authorities will use information data such as the Common Reporting Standard (CRS) for the automatic exchange of financial account information to analyze and compare overseas income declaration data, continuously strengthening tax supervision.
**Beware of Information Misappropriation; Verify Unfamiliar Income Carefully**
"Currently, the misappropriation of personal information appears most frequently in the three special additional deductions: children's education, support for the elderly, and care for infants under three years old," said Huang Lixin (黄立新).
It is reported that to better protect the legitimate rights and interests of taxpayers and prevent issues such as the chaotic filing of special additional deductions and the false filing of children's or elderly information, tax authorities have further strengthened data utilization. They have implemented remote blocking for cases where taxpayers report children's education, elderly support, or infant care deductions in excess of limits or ratios.
"If someone misappropriates or incorrectly files a natural person taxpayer's children's or elderly information, the system will provide a clear prompt when that natural person performs their own filing. If the prompt indicates that family members or friends have incorrectly filed deduction information, the taxpayer needs to negotiate with them as soon as possible to modify the filing content and enjoy the special additional deductions according to the law," said Huang Lixin (黄立新).
If the prompt indicates that a stranger has misappropriated the information, the taxpayer can go to a tax service hall and provide relevant supporting documents. The tax authorities will verify the information, and once confirmed, will urge the party who made the incorrect filing to delete the relevant information or suspend their eligibility for special additional deductions.
If you discover unfamiliar income, there is no need to panic. You can first contact the paying unit to verify the tax situation regarding that income. If the paying unit made a reporting error, they should handle the correction filing; if both parties truly have a dispute over the income, the taxpayer can also file an appeal regarding the income information. Tax authorities suggest that taxpayers carefully read the appeal instructions, take responsibility for the authenticity, accuracy, and completeness of the appeal information, and keep relevant supporting materials for future contact and verification by tax authorities.
**Refund Not Received? Check Against These Scenarios**
It should be noted that submitting a tax refund application is not 一劳永逸 (yī láo yǒng yì - "once labor forever ease," a task that requires ongoing attention rather than a one-time fix). During the annual reconciliation refund audit, tax authorities will contact taxpayers to supplement filings or submit relevant supporting materials for items that are unclear or missing. It is recommended that taxpayers actively cooperate and submit relevant materials as soon as possible after receiving reminders from tax authorities to ensure timely receipt of refunds.
What should you do if the refund is not received after submitting the application?
Tax authorities explain that during the refund application process, one generally encounters five different situations: under tax audit, tax audit failed, under treasury processing, treasury refund failed, and treasury processing completed. The two situations that require special attention are "tax audit failed" and "treasury refund failed."
"Tax audit failed" means there is an issue with the taxpayer's declaration information. Tax authorities will list the reasons for the failure in the IIT APP. Taxpayers can check the APP in a timely manner, inspect, modify, and perfect the declaration data, and resubmit it after confirming it is correct.
"Treasury refund failed" means the tax could not be refunded to the taxpayer's bank account. Generally, this is related to the bank account information provided by the individual. Taxpayers need to promptly check whether the bank card account used for the refund application is their own, and whether the account is in a status such as cancelled, reported lost, frozen, inactive, or subject to transaction limits. If such situations occur, they need to re-enter a qualified bank card account or bring their identification to a tax service hall to make changes, and the system will re-send the request to the treasury for processing.
When entering bank card information, please note that the bank card added for tax refunds should be one opened by the individual within China. It is recommended to use a Class I account and keep the bank card status normal. A Class I account refers to a full-function bank settlement account capable of deposits, withdrawals, transfers, consumption, payment, and cash withdrawals. If a Class II account or other account is used, there is a risk that the tax refund amount may exceed the account's daily transaction limit, resulting in a failed refund.
"This year, tax authorities have further expanded pre-filling services to help taxpayers complete reconciliation filings more conveniently and efficiently. We have added voice guidance prompts and adapted functions such as login and comprehensive income annual reconciliation for accessibility," said Dai Shiyou (戴诗友). Please arrange your time reasonably, file during off-peak periods, and try to avoid the peak period at the end of June. Those eligible for refunds should claim their tax refund "red envelopes" promptly; those who need to pay additional taxes should file and pay within the specified time to avoid late fees and unnecessary losses.
Return to TopBy: 任鸿斌
General Secretary Xi Jinping (习近平) has pointed out, "We must jointly maintain the stability of global industrial and supply chains. This is an important guarantee for the healthy development of the world economy."
The Outline of the 15th Five-Year Plan (十五五规划纲要) has made strategic deployments for building a modern industrial system and developing new quality productive forces, clearly proposing major tasks such as promoting the deep integration of scientific and technological innovation with industrial innovation, and fostering international industrial and investment cooperation.
The China Council for the Promotion of International Trade (中国国际贸易促进委员会) has been deeply studying and implementing the spirit of General Secretary Xi Jinping’s (习近平) important speeches, earnestly carrying out the decisions and deployments of the Party Central Committee (党中央) and the State Council (国务院), and taking the hosting of the China International Supply Chain Expo (hereinafter referred to as "CISCE" - 链博会) as a key lever. By doing so, it vigorously promotes the opening and cooperation of industrial and supply chains, contributing strength to promoting high-quality development, building a new development pattern, and advancing the construction of an open world economy.
### Global Industrial and Supply Chains Are Accelerating Adjustment and Restructuring
Industrial and supply chains are significant achievements of economic globalization. In recent years, the world has been undergoing profound changes unseen in a century, and the comparison of international forces has undergone deep adjustments. In particular, influenced by factors such as geopolitics, technological innovation, and competition among major powers, the international economic and trade landscape has undergone profound changes, and the development of global industrial and supply chains is exhibiting new and distinct characteristics.
The layout orientation is shifting from efficiency-first to a balance between efficiency and resilience. Due to geopolitical turbulence, the traditional cost-oriented global production layout has shown vulnerability. Some countries, citing "de-risking" as a pretext, have intervened in the market to push for "decoupling and breaking chains," while aggressively pursuing "near-shoring" and "friend-shoring," which has intensified the trends of localization, regionalization, and shortening of industrial and supply chains. The industrial layout strategies of multinational corporations are trending toward "1+N" multi-point layouts to disperse risks and enhance supply chain resilience.
Growth drivers are shifting from factor-driven to innovation-driven. A new generation of information technology, represented by artificial intelligence, is profoundly reshaping the paradigm of industrial development, becoming the most active and revolutionary engine for promoting industrial upgrading. Driven by new technologies, traditional industries are accelerating their transformation and upgrading, while emerging and future industries are rising rapidly. Against the backdrop of global industries gradually shifting from manufacturing-led to service-oriented, green, and digital-intelligent, the global industrial landscape and division of labor are being deeply restructured.
Competition forms are shifting from technological monopoly to rule-based gaming. As global industrial competition becomes increasingly fierce, it has become difficult for countries to rely solely on market forces to ensure industrial security and consolidate industrial advantages; thus, leading the formulation of rules has become an inevitable choice for all nations. The role of rules is not only to regulate market behavior but also to change the comparative advantages of countries based on their endowment conditions, exerting a profound influence on the pattern of interest distribution. The focus of rule-based gaming among countries in the field of industrial and supply chains has gradually shifted from border measures such as market opening to "behind-the-border" regulations concerning subsidies, labor, and the environment, and from traditional fields like trade and investment to emerging fields such as artificial intelligence, the digital economy, and green, low-carbon development.
### China Remains a "Stabilizer" for Global Industrial and Supply Chains
As an important link in global industrial and supply chains, China firmly upholds the public product attribute of industrial and supply chains and supports international cooperation, allowing the fruits of development to better benefit the people of all countries.
On one hand, China continues to consolidate its industrial competitive advantages, providing the world with high-quality and stable Chinese supply. China possesses a complete industrial system and is the only country with all industrial categories in the United Nations (联合国) industrial classification; its total manufacturing scale has consistently remained the largest in the world. China is accelerating the construction of a modern industrial system, steadily developing new quality productive forces, and its digital economy scale ranks among the top in the world. The layout of future industrial tracks is constantly being improved, the supply of frontier technologies is being strengthened, and in 2025, its ranking in the Global Innovation Index (全球创新指数) entered the top ten for the first time, as it strides from a global manufacturing center toward a global innovation center. As the best application scenario for the new round of scientific and technological revolution and industrial transformation, China will continue to promote global industrial and supply chains to reach new levels in quality, efficiency, and momentum.
On the other hand, China actively promotes open supply chain cooperation, sharing the "Chinese opportunity" of mutual benefit with the world. China is the world's second-largest consumer and import market, containing enormous investment and consumption potential. At the same time, China continues to expand high-level opening-up, serves as a major trading partner for more than 160 countries and regions, and maintains a leading position in the world for two-way investment. It guides the reasonable and orderly cross-border layout of industrial and supply chains, achieving mutual success with all parties through open connectivity. In multilateral mechanisms such as the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (亚太经合组织) and the Group of Twenty (二十国集团), China has repeatedly proposed Chinese initiatives to maintain the security and stability of industrial and supply chains, pushing for the construction of a global industrial and supply chain system that is safe, stable, smooth, efficient, open, inclusive, and mutually beneficial.
### Hosting the Fourth CISCE (链博会) Well to Promote Win-Win Development of Global Industrial and Supply Chains
The CISCE (链博会) is the world's first national-level exhibition themed on supply chain cooperation. After three years of cultivation, it has become a globally watched international economic and trade event and an international public product shared by all parties. The Fourth CISCE (链博会) will be held in Beijing (北京) from June 22 to June 26, 2026, featuring exhibition areas for Digital Intelligence Technology Chain, Advanced Manufacturing Chain, Green Agriculture Chain, Healthy Living Chain, Intelligent Vehicle Chain, Clean Energy Chain, and Supply Chain Services. 676 Chinese and foreign "chain leader" enterprises, specialized and sophisticated "little giant" enterprises, and industry organizations will join hands with upstream and downstream partners in the production and supply chain to participate, with the number of actual exhibitors expected to exceed 1,200. This year's CISCE (链博会) will further leverage its functions as a platform for trade promotion, investment cooperation, innovation aggregation, and learning exchange, striving to promote the connection of upstream, midstream, and downstream industries, the integration of large, medium, and small enterprises, the synergy of industry, academia, research, and application, and the interaction between Chinese and foreign enterprises, thereby promoting the construction of a closer global industrial and supply chain partnership.
Internationalization is more prominent. Five international organizations, including the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (联合国贸易和发展会议), the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law (联合国国际贸易法委员会), the World Intellectual Property Organization (世界知识产权组织), the International Trade Centre (国际贸易中心), and the International Chamber of Commerce (国际商会), continue to serve as supporting units. Australia (澳大利亚) serves as the guest country of honor, while the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes (法国奥弗涅—罗讷—阿尔卑斯大区) region of France (法国) and the Liguria (意大利利古里亚大区) region of Italy (意大利) serve as foreign guest provinces of honor. Enterprises from 13 countries, including Austria (奥地利) and Kazakhstan (哈萨克斯坦), as well as institutions like the Licensing Executives Society International (国际许可贸易工作者协会), are participating for the first time. 70 business exchange activities will be held during the same period, where Chinese and foreign circles will engage in dialogues on frontier topics of industrial and supply chains. The Exhibitor Alliance will be solidified to facilitate industrial exchanges between China and foreign countries.
The level of digital intelligence has been enhanced. The "Digital Technology Chain" has been upgraded to the "Digital Intelligence Technology Chain," with an innovative artificial intelligence zone established to showcase the complete ecosystem of artificial intelligence from data collection and intelligent computing to scenario implementation. Anhui (安徽), Zhejiang (浙江), Hubei (湖北), Jiangsu (江苏), and the Xiong'an New Area (雄安新区) will showcase achievements in industries such as artificial intelligence and the digital economy, and organize promotion and matchmaking activities. Artificial intelligence empowerment is a distinctive feature of the CISCE (链博会); through intelligent algorithms for precise supply-demand matching, robot volunteers, and AI (人工智能) guides, the exhibition will enhance its sense of technology, immersion, and experience.
The integration feature is highlighted. Focusing on promoting the deep integration of scientific and technological innovation with industrial innovation, advanced manufacturing with modern service industries, and the real economy with the digital economy, a new platform for promoting the coordinated development of industry, academia, research, and application will be built, allowing new quality productive forces to be transformed into perceptible, negotiable, and implementable industrial achievements. The Innovation Chain zone will centrally display experience and practices in the transformation of scientific and technological innovation achievements from "laboratories" to the "big market," promoting the "four-chain integration" of the innovation chain, industrial chain, capital chain, and talent chain. During the exhibition, more than 160 new products, new technologies, new services, and new scenarios are expected to be launched, exhibited, and showcased for the first time, creating a "starting station" for frontier technology.
The "green content" continues to climb. The concept of green and low-carbon development will be integrated into every link, including exhibition displays, seminars and exchanges, venue construction, and service guarantees. Environmentally friendly and recyclable materials will be promoted, and all venues and supporting facilities will use green electricity, continuously building a "Green CISCE" and "Zero-Carbon CISCE." Chinese and foreign participating enterprises will join hands to showcase industrial practices such as new low-carbon materials and zero-carbon parks, building a platform for technological mutual learning and industrial docking in the field of green development. During the same period, relevant institutions will hold the 2026 "Sustainable Markets Initiative" China Forum (2026年“可持续市场倡议”中国论坛) and other business exchange activities to tell the story of international green cooperation well.
(The author is the Party Secretary and Chairman of the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade - 中国国际贸易促进委员会)
Return to TopBy: 本报记者 韩 鑫
When sailing on the vast ocean, will your mobile phone lose connection or have no signal?
In June 2024, the 5G network across the Liaoning-Shandong (辽鲁) shipping route was fully completed and put into operation, marking China's (我国) first large-scale, continuous 5G network coverage at sea. During this 150-kilometer voyage, which takes approximately 6 hours one way, passengers can not only make phone calls but also engage in video calls with friends and family online.
Over the past two years, how has the 5G network performed, and what new changes have emerged? Recently, a reporter boarded a ship with passengers to investigate.
At 9:00 AM, at the Dalian Bay Comprehensive Transportation Hub (大连湾综合交通枢纽) in Liaoning (辽宁), the COSCO Shipping (中远海运) passenger-cargo ship "Jilongdao" (吉龙岛) was docked steadily. With the summer travel season approaching, the combination of family visits and tourism has caused this route from Dalian (大连) to Yantai (烟台), Shandong (山东), to heat up significantly—at the lower vehicle deck, passenger cars and trucks slowly drove in; at the upper boarding gate, passengers entered 鱼贯而入 (yú guàn ér rù - "like fish in a line," entering one after another in an orderly fashion).
Forty minutes later, the ship weighed anchor on time and set sail for Yantai Port (烟台港). The "Jilongdao" (吉龙岛) is 208 meters long, can carry over 1,300 passengers, and has a vehicle capacity of over 500 units; it is currently the fastest passenger-cargo ship in operation in China (国内).
Following the guidance of Hu Xiaofeng (胡晓峰), General Manager of COSCO Shipping Ferry Co., Ltd. (中远海运客运公司), the reporter saw a sign above the bedside table in the cabin that read "Passenger Exclusive WiFi." Connecting to the WiFi, chatting on WeChat (微信) and sending or receiving images were all very smooth.
From a "signal dead zone" to "uninterrupted connectivity throughout the journey," the experience for passengers has become much richer. "In the past, there was no signal, and you would be out of touch as soon as you boarded. I basically chose night shifts and just slept through it," said Xu Hongwei (徐洪微), a passenger who has been traveling between the two places for nearly 10 years, feeling deeply about the change. With the 5G signal, she has chosen to travel during the day more often over the past two years, browsing her phone and watching the sea, gradually falling in love with this journey.
For the crew, work efficiency has improved significantly. Previously, crew members could not stay in contact with shore-based teams at any time. Now, they can conveniently access real-time information on ports, shipping lanes, and cargo, optimize routes and berthing plans, and in the event of emergencies such as passenger injury or illness, medical assistance can arrive faster.
For the shipping company, operational management capabilities have been comprehensively strengthened. "Ships can carry out work through the network office system, effectively improving the level of information management," said Hu Xiaofeng (胡晓峰). He added that mobile QR code payments are also smoother, helping to enrich the service offerings on board.
More importantly, maritime emergency response capabilities have been enhanced accordingly. If a ship encounters danger, the situation can be transmitted back to the Search and Rescue Command Center (搜救指挥中心) in real-time via the 5G network, facilitating the deployment of drones, unmanned surface vehicles, and other equipment to participate in rescue operations, building a "smart defense line" for maritime safety.
"Over the past two years, this 5G network, which covers an area of more than 20,000 square kilometers of sea, has been continuously optimized and upgraded, truly achieving 'visibility, audibility, and transmittability'," said Li Wei (李巍), Deputy Director of the Communication and Information Division of the Beihai Navigation Safety Administration Center (北海航海保障中心) of the Ministry of Transport (交通运输部).
A set of data is the most intuitive: through dozens of equipment upgrades, the 5G signal coverage on the Liaoning-Shandong (辽鲁) route has expanded by 30%, signal strength has increased by 5%, the maximum number of daily users per station exceeds 2,500, and the average daily traffic volume has reached over 3TB (terabytes). Large-capacity multimedia services such as messaging, voice, and video are transmitted smoothly, bridging an "information bridge" for more than 5 million passengers each year. Currently, the Beihai Navigation Safety Administration Center (北海航海保障中心) is working with maritime agencies in Tianjin (天津), Liaoning (辽宁), Hebei (河北), and Shandong (山东), as well as China Mobile (中国移动), to jointly promote the construction of a 5G network in the Bohai Sea (渤海).
"By comprehensively utilizing the basic resource advantages of the maritime and navigation safety systems in the Bohai Sea (渤海) area, and reasonably utilizing infrastructure such as offshore oil platforms and wind farms, it is expected that by the end of this year, 48 5G base stations will be deployed in the Bohai Sea (渤海) area, striving to achieve full 5G communication coverage across major shipping routes in the Bohai Sea (渤海)," introduced Li Wei (李巍).
Return to TopBy: 本报记者 潘少军 张伟昊
At the Simeitang Railway Heritage Cultural Park (四美塘铁路遗址文化公园) in Wuhan (武汉), Hubei Province (湖北省), shiny, oil-black steam locomotive engines lie quietly side-by-side, while mottled railway tracks wind their way forward. As the former terminus of the Canton-Hankow Railway (粤汉铁路)—Wuchang North Station (武昌北站) (originally Xujiapeng Station (徐家棚站))—this site carries the glorious memories of Wuhan (武汉) as a modern industrial hub.
Inside the Xujiapeng Old Teahouse (徐家棚老茶馆), which was renovated from an old factory building, many elderly people sit around square tables, drinking tea and chatting. There is also culture here that appeals to young people, such as an AI (Artificial Intelligence) exhibition stage, cafes, and cycling greenways. Tradition and modernity are 水乳交融 (shuǐ rǔ jiāo róng - "water and milk blend together," perfectly integrated and harmonious) and 相得益彰 (xiāng dé yì zhāng - "each brings out the best in the other," to complement each other) here.
In recent years, many old enterprises in the urban areas of Wuhan (武汉) have either shut down or relocated. After deep renovation and renewal, these old factory sites have radiated new vitality. "Using ecology as the backdrop, industry as the support, culture as the soul, and technology as the empowerment, we achieve the integration of tradition and modernity, and the combination of production, scientific research, and services. These are the basic principles and methods for our renewal," stated a relevant official from the Wuhan Municipal Bureau of Housing and Urban Renewal (武汉市住房和城市更新局).
Located in Qiaokou District (硚口区), the Hanjiang Bay Artificial Intelligence Industrial Park (汉江湾人工智能产业园) was renovated from the former sites of a diesel engine factory and a bed sheet factory. Today, it hosts 29 high-tech and cultural creative enterprises, with new businesses and new formats making the area vibrant.
The Baidu Intelligent Cloud Qianfan Large Model (Wuhan) Innovation Center (百度智能云千帆大模型（武汉）创新中心), which has settled in the park, specializes in artificial intelligence large model algorithms. Within months of its arrival, it has provided AI algorithm support to over 50 local enterprises and is currently promoting the rapid implementation and continuous iteration of "AI+." "We have promoted autonomous driving technology in more than 20 cities around the world. Through continuous intensive training, these driverless taxis, logistics vehicles, and others are becoming smarter," introduced Li Rui (李锐), a technical engineer at the center.
"Through government promotion and market participation, using artificial intelligence to overtake on a bend and building a powerful service industry is an effective way to awaken the vitality of old industrial sites!" said Li Jing (李靖), head of the project team at the Qiaokou Economic Development Zone Management Committee (硚口经济开发区管委会). He noted that the transformation of secondary industry functions in old urban areas to tertiary industry functions is a development trend, with high-end, ecological, intensive, and intelligent development being the basic principles, and "AI+" serving as an important lever.
Vision and courage are crucial for the renovation and renewal of industrial sites. Located in Wuchang District (武昌区), the Huazhong Xiaoguishan Financial Cultural Park (华中小龟山金融文化公园) was renovated from the equipment production base of the PowerChina Hubei Electric Power Engineering Co., Ltd. (中国电建湖北电力工程公司), built in the 1970s. Today, it has transformed into a new financial industry cluster integrating functions such as corporate venture capital, angel investment, financial leasing, and listing services, with over a hundred enterprises having moved in.
"Our park focuses on introducing new financial enterprises," introduced Tong Ming (童明), a member of the Party Committee of the park operator, Nanguo Real Estate Co., Ltd. (南国置业股份有限公司). Relying on high-quality financial venture capital platforms and service institutions in Hubei Province (湖北省) and Wuhan (武汉), the park focuses on the growth needs of technology-based enterprises, striving to provide listing guidance and financing services for small, medium, and micro enterprises. Taking the resolution of "financing difficulties" for small, medium, and micro enterprises as an entry point, the park fully leverages the group's industrial resources and diverse application scenarios to build a supply chain finance platform with an asset scale of over 10 billion yuan. By launching corresponding credit-based financial products, it effectively reduces corporate financing costs and helps enterprises develop steadily. By precisely matching diversified and lightweight new financial needs, the Huazhong Xiaoguishan Financial Cultural Park (华中小龟山金融文化公园) helps park enterprises continuously release vitality. Last year, the annual output value of enterprises in the park exceeded 10 billion yuan, and the average annual growth rate has remained at about 20% in recent years.
In the minds of many, the renovation of industrial sites often implies high investment, long cycles, and low returns. However, practice has shown that by finding the right positioning and operating with precision, one can also embark on a path of high-quality development. "Urban renewal cannot simply pursue 'high-end and grand' projects; the key is to align with market demand and achieve sustainable operations," said Tong Ming (童明).
Return to TopBy: 本报记者 李 蕊
Traveling more than 80 kilometers south from the towering Mount Tai (泰山), one arrives at the hometown of Confucius (孔子)—Qufu City (曲阜市), Jining (济宁), Shandong (山东). Qufu is renowned for the "Old Three Confucius Sites"—the Confucius Temple (孔庙), the Confucius Family Mansion (孔府), and the Confucius Cemetery (孔林). With their lingering ancient charm and rich cultural atmosphere, these sites attract a multitude of visitors.
Building upon the preservation of the "Old Three Confucius Sites," Qufu has expanded into new scenarios for Confucian research and educational tourism. The Confucius Research Institute (孔子研究院), the Confucius Museum (孔子博物馆), and the Nishan Sacred Land (尼山圣境) are collectively known as the "New Three Confucius Sites." Together with the "Old Three Confucius Sites," they form a new cultural tourism landscape. Through a dialogue between the past and the present, excellent traditional Chinese culture manifests its vigorous vitality in new ways.
**Renewal**
Crafting details with ingenuity to tell cultural stories well
Traveling through the landscape, with the undulating Nishan Mountain (尼山) and the sparkling blue waters of Confucius Lake (孔子湖) outside the window, one arrives at the Nishan Sacred Land (尼山圣境).
From afar, a bronze statue of Confucius (孔子) comes into view. Ascending the steps, one finds the Daxue Hall (大学堂) located to the east of the statue. Inside, the meticulously crafted "Six Scenes of Nishan" (尼山六景图) screens and the magnificent, colorful caisson ceilings—every stitch, every thread, every brick, and every tile—all reveal the artisan's spirit.
"Nishan (尼山) is only a little over 340 meters above sea level, but when standing at the Guanchuan Pavilion (观川亭), Confucius's sigh by the river, 'It passes on like this, not ceasing day or night,' seems to echo in one's ears," remarked Wu Guoping (吴国平), Vice Chairman of the International Confucian Association (国际儒学联合会).
Looking back to 2009, Wu Guoping (吴国平), then Chairman of Wuxi Lingshan Cultural Tourism Group Co., Ltd. (无锡灵山文化旅游集团有限公司), was invited to visit Nishan (尼山). At that time, it was still a stretch of wasteland. "Nishan (尼山) is a piece of 'fine material' that needs a 'good tailor,'" said Wu Guoping (吴国平).
After conducting research, Wu Guoping (吴国平) decided to become that "tailor"—developing a comprehensive experience zone themed around Confucian culture.
The greatest difficulty in making good use of this "material" lay in how to distill and transform the profound local culture.
"With meticulous planning and creativity as the priority, every landscape, every building, and every activity must be polished with care," Wu Guoping (吴国平) explained. "For example, the Daxue Hall (大学堂) focuses on cultural experience, featuring the Gallery of the Seventy-Two Sages (七十二贤廊). Through forms like group sculptures, situational sculptures, and individual sculptures, it creates a scene of the Master teaching his students..."
In 2018, after the completion of the Nishan Sacred Land (尼山圣境), Confucian scholars, traditional culture enthusiasts, and young students flocked to the site, and Nishan (尼山) radiated new vitality.
At the same time, the Confucius Museum (孔子博物馆) was also established.
Located at the southern end of the central axis of Qufu (曲阜) city, the Confucius Museum (孔子博物馆) officially opened in 2019. The museum houses over 700,000 cultural relics, including more than 300,000 private archival documents of the Confucius family and over 40,000 rare ancient books.
Echoing the museum from the north is the Confucius Research Institute (孔子研究院). Within the institute, the Confucius Institute Headquarters Experience Base (孔子学院总部体验基地) features an "Excellent Traditional Culture in Daily Life" experience area, using poetry, calligraphy, rituals, and music as the main threads to allow visitors to personally participate in the learning and life practices of the Confucian school.
From the Nishan Sacred Land (尼山圣境) to the Confucius Museum (孔子博物馆) and the Confucius Research Institute (孔子研究院), the "New Three Confucius Sites" are telling the stories of ancient culture in the new era, each in their own way.
**Integration**
New carriers for inheritance, new scenarios for development
Nestled among the mountains and waters is Luyuan New Village (鲁源新村) in Nishan Town (尼山镇).
"Come in and sit for a while?" At the entrance of a homestay, the hostess Wu Deqin (吴德芹) is tending to her green plants. The courtyard is bright, spacious, and furnished in a simple, cozy style.
"I just sent off a group of guests and am getting ready to tidy up," said Wu Deqin (吴德芹). "There is a constant stream of guests all year round."
Many years ago, when people in Qufu (曲阜) mentioned Luyuan Village (鲁源村), they would mostly shake their heads: "That was a 'poverty trap'." Thanks to the construction of the Nishan Sacred Land (尼山圣境) project, the entire village was relocated next to the scenic area in 2019, and Luyuan New Village (鲁源新村) was built, with every household moving into a new home.
As night tourism at the Nishan Sacred Land (尼山圣境) continued to heat up, Wu Deqin's (吴德芹) homestay opened accordingly, becoming the first of its kind in the village.
From one to dozens, and now to over 200... homestays have sprung up 如雨后春笋 (rú yǔ hòu chūn sǔn - "like bamboo shoots after a spring rain," describing the rapid and vigorous emergence of many new things). The village took the lead in establishing a homestay alliance to provide unified management and training, guiding the homestays toward professionalization and standardization.
Through cultural and tourism integration, the villagers here are not only beneficiaries but also strive to be builders of their hometown.
"One must cherish the 'brand' of being the birthplace of Confucius (孔子), be particular about etiquette, and manage with heart." Wu Deqin (吴德芹) learned to make Qufu (曲阜) snacks to prepare special breakfasts for guests; she also created her own "travel guide" to help guests plan their routes... Not long ago, she received a gift of food from a Beijing (北京) tourist, with a note attached: "The scenery of Nishan (尼山) is beautiful, but the local customs are even more beautiful."
There are many such stories in Nishan (尼山)—
After retiring from the military in 2004, Li Zheng (李政) had been working hard in Jiangsu (江苏). Hearing that the cultural tourism industry in his hometown of Nishan (尼山) was booming, he decided to return home to start a business for the second time.
Fuzidong Village (夫子洞村) is located on the east side of Nishan (尼山), with attractions nearby such as Fuzi Cave (夫子洞), Nishan Academy (尼山书院), and the Nishan Confucius Temple (尼山孔庙). In 2020, Li Zheng (李政) invested in the construction of the Ruxiang Impression Study Tour Experience Center (儒乡印象游学体验中心), incorporating technological elements like VR (virtual reality), which has been well-received by tourists.
"I want to tell the story of my hometown well," said Li Zheng (李政). "I hope tourists can feel and love Confucian culture through immersive experiences."
**Linkage**
Stringing the old and new "Three Confucius Sites" into a chain to create new experiences
Dressed in traditional attire and riding in a horse-drawn carriage, Cai Yuejiao (蔡月娇) listened to the driver's explanations while traveling along Gulou Street (鼓楼街), experiencing the unique charm of Qufu (曲阜).
Cai Yuejiao (蔡月娇) is from Jinan (济南), Shandong (山东), and has a special fondness for traditional culture: "Every time I come to Qufu (曲阜), I have to stroll through the old city; the Confucius Family Mansion (孔府), the Confucius Temple (孔庙), and the Confucius Cemetery (孔林) are must-visit spots." Now, Cai Yuejiao (蔡月娇) has a new option: after visiting the "Old Three Confucius Sites," the journey does not end, as there is more excitement waiting for her.
"The development of the Nishan (尼山) cultural zone is becoming increasingly mature, but relying solely on the Nishan Sacred Land (尼山圣境) and surrounding attractions is still insufficient," said Kong Fanbo (孔凡波), Director of the Qufu Municipal Bureau of Culture and Tourism (曲阜市文化和旅游局). "Therefore, we have connected the Confucius Research Institute (孔子研究院), the Confucius Museum (孔子博物馆), the Nishan Sacred Land (尼山圣境), and Luyuan Village (鲁源村) into a line, creating a rich cultural experience route where tourists can embark on a journey of exploring Confucian culture."
In the Confucius Museum (孔子博物馆), hundreds of thousands of precious cultural relics travel through the river of time to tell the story of Confucian culture; standing in front of the interactive large screen, visitors can engage in Q&A with "Confucius" (孔子); in the Shili Hall (诗礼堂), elegant music themed around the *Book of Songs* (诗经) is being performed.
In the Confucius Research Institute (孔子研究院), books and sets of sculptures systematically sort out the experiences of Confucius (孔子) in his pursuit of learning, his teaching, and his writings; tourists can play the guqin, recite classics, learn stone rubbing, and appreciate tea art, feeling the charm of traditional culture.
"I originally thought the museum and the research institute would be very serious, but I didn't expect them to be so interesting. Learning while playing, I have benefited a lot," said Cai Yuejiao (蔡月娇). "Touring the 'New Three Confucius Sites,' I see that Confucian culture has come alive."
The Confucian charm has been passed down for thousands of years, and a new breeze is blowing. Qufu City (曲阜市) is "stringing the old and new 'Three Confucius Sites' into a chain and weaving the chain into a fabric." With the theme of "Study Tours Following Confucius" (跟着孔子研学游), they have planned and launched themed study tour routes such as "National Trend Confucian Charm" (国潮儒韵) and "Looking Up to the High Mountain" (高山仰止 - gāo shān yǎng zhǐ - "high mountain look up," an idiom derived from the *Book of Songs* expressing deep admiration for a person of great virtue), meeting the diverse and personalized cultural experience needs of tourists.
As night falls, the night tour performance begins. With changing lights and shadows, the sound of reciting the *Analects* (论语) echoes in the ears. "There is visual impact, and there is also spiritual shock," said Pan Xiaoya (潘小雅), a student who came for a study tour.
Return to TopBeijing (北京), June 14 (Reporter Shi Fang (施芳)) — On the 13th, the Temple of Heaven Museum (天坛博物馆) was unveiled. With this, all eight World Cultural Heritage (世界文化遗产) sites in Beijing (北京) now have their own dedicated museums, enhancing the level of value interpretation, exhibition, and utilization of Beijing (北京)'s World Cultural Heritage (世界文化遗产).
The Temple of Heaven Museum (天坛博物馆) uses the Divine Music Administration (神乐署) of the Temple of Heaven (天坛) as its main exhibition area, integrating nine cultural and museum resources, including the Zhonghe Shaoyue (中和韶乐) exhibition, the Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests (祈年殿) exhibition, the Temple of Heaven (天坛) cultural relics exhibition, and the Zhaigong (斋宫) historical and cultural exhibition, achieving a deep integration of ancient architectural remains and museum exhibitions.
On the same day, the Beijing (北京) World Cultural Heritage (世界文化遗产) Monitoring and Early Warning Platform was launched. Relying on digital technology, the platform has built an intelligent monitoring and early warning system covering all eight World Cultural Heritage (世界文化遗产) sites in Beijing (北京). By integrating multi-dimensional data such as meteorology, seismology, and hydrology, it forms a closed-loop management system of "monitoring-warning-response," 筑牢屏障 (zhù láo píng zhàng - "build firm barrier," to establish a solid and reliable defense or protective measure), effectively creating a digital barrier to safeguard the security of World Cultural Heritage (世界文化遗产).
Return to TopWuhan (武汉), June 14 (Reporter Wu Jun (吴君)) — The 6th Cultural Relics Science and Technology Innovation Forum (第六届文物科技创新论坛) was recently held in Wuhan (武汉), Hubei Province (湖北省). The forum was hosted by the Department of Science, Technology and Education of the National Cultural Heritage Administration (国家文物局科技教育司) and the Hubei Provincial Cultural Heritage Administration (湖北省文物局), and organized by the Hubei Provincial Museum (湖北省博物馆).
The forum focused primarily on the research achievements of projects in the cultural relics field under the 14th Five-Year Plan (十四五) National Key R&D Program (国家重点研发计划). It provided an academic platform for cultural relics science and technology workers to understand cutting-edge technological trends, exchange the latest research findings, and promote the transformation and popularization of these achievements. During the keynote session, 12 experts and scholars presented the latest progress and results in relevant research directions, covering fields such as archaeological research, cultural relic conservation and restoration, and the revitalization and utilization of cultural relics.
The forum looked ahead to cultural relic science and technology innovation work during the 15th Five-Year Plan (十五五) period. It proposed that efforts should further adhere to goal-oriented and problem-oriented approaches, fill gaps in applied basic research, strengthen weaknesses in specialized cultural relic technologies, and break through bottlenecks in multi-technology integration and application. The goal is to continuously resolve technical sticking points, breakpoints, and bottlenecks in typical application scenarios such as the "prevention, conservation, research, management, and utilization" (防保研管用) of cultural relics, ensuring that efforts are not just 纸上谈兵 (zhǐ shàng tán bīng - "on paper discuss soldiers," to engage in empty theorizing without practical application).
Return to TopChangsha (长沙), June 14 (Reporter Yang Xun (杨迅)) — On the evening of the 13th, the 2026 Hunan Province (湖南省) "Cultural and Natural Heritage Day" Intangible Cultural Heritage Brand Promotion Cultural Week kicked off at Tianxin Pavilion (天心阁) in Changsha (长沙). The event, themed "Intangible Cultural Heritage Makes Life Better," brings together over a hundred intangible cultural heritage items and integrates performances, cuisine, craftsmanship, interactive activities, and consumption experiences. It will continue until June 17.
This event connects diverse content, including cultural tourism promotion, performances by renowned artists, trend releases, and cross-regional collaborations. Using the ancient pavilion as a backdrop, it showcases the achievements of intangible cultural heritage protection in Hunan (湖南) and the effectiveness of the integration of culture and tourism. On-site activities included the promotion of premium tourist routes under the theme "Touring Hunan (湖南) Following Intangible Cultural Heritage," alongside the simultaneous launch of an online dissemination plan. That evening, Tianxin Pavilion (天心阁) in Changsha (长沙), Tengwang Pavilion (滕王阁) in Nanchang (南昌), Jiangxi (江西), and Yellow Crane Tower (黄鹤楼) in Wuhan (武汉), Hubei (湖北) engaged in a cross-regional collaboration, simultaneously launching intangible cultural heritage-themed light shows.
The event is truly 别出心裁 (bié chū xīn cái - "different emerge heart talent," to adopt a novel or original approach), as it successfully revitalizes traditional culture through modern, immersive experiences.
Return to TopJointly build an important national base for modern commerce and logistics,
Jointly compose a new chapter for the coordinated development of the Beijing (北京)-Tianjin (天津)-Hebei (河北) region.
China (中国) · Langfang (廊坊) June 16 to 20, 2026
Beijing Time (北京时间) June 12, the FIFA World Cup 2026 (2026年国际足联世界杯) officially kicked off. This World Cup is being held across 16 cities in the United States (美国), Canada (加拿大), and Mexico (墨西哥), where Mengniu Ice Cream (蒙牛冰淇淋) made a stunning appearance, offering a unique "refreshing flavor." Mengniu (蒙牛) has become the official ice cream of the FIFA World Cup 2026 (2026年国际足联世界杯), which is not only another major debut for a Chinese dairy brand at a top-tier global sporting event but also marks Mengniu's (蒙牛) transition from "product export" to "brand export."
4 World Cup Limited Edition Ice Creams Debut at the World Cup
Upholding Quality, Strengthening the Brand Foundation
The stage of the World Cup never lacks strong competitors. Mengniu (蒙牛) became the official ice cream of the 2026 World Cup (2026年世界杯) precisely because of its hard-core strength that stands up to scrutiny. This time, Mengniu (蒙牛) has launched four exclusive ice cream products for the World Cup, expanding the global consumer market with excellent quality and solidly advancing its global brand layout.
The four ice creams are Mengniu Pure Milk Ice Cream (蒙牛纯牛奶冰淇淋), Suibian Brownie Cone (随变布朗尼脆筒), "Bing+" Cool Coffee Lemon Sorbet ("冰+"酷爽十足咖啡柠檬雪泥), and Green Mood Light Fruit & Vegetable Ice Cream (绿色心情轻享果蔬冰淇淋). These four products are not only sold inside World Cup venues but have also entered supermarkets in China (中国) and the United States (美国). Balancing nutrition, taste, and quality, they maintain a closed-loop quality control across the entire industrial chain, from raw material selection to production processes. Behind every refreshing bite is Mengniu's (蒙牛) persistence in product quality.
Relying on product quality and brand strength, several Mengniu (蒙牛) products previously appeared at the 2026 Milan Winter Olympics (2026年米兰冬奥会). At that time, multiple Mengniu (蒙牛) dairy products successfully passed rigorous testing and entered the Winter Olympic Village, setting a precedent for Chinese dairy products to serve a Winter Olympics held abroad. From the Winter Olympics to the World Cup, Mengniu (蒙牛) has appeared consecutively at top international events, writing a vivid footnote for the "brand export" of the Chinese dairy industry.
Supporting this product quality and brand reputation is Mengniu's (蒙牛) quality management system that covers the entire industrial chain. Mengniu (蒙牛) has built a "4Q" quality management system—"Quality Planning, Quality Control, Quality Assurance, and Quality Support"—thereby achieving quality control across the entire industrial chain from "pasture to table." In 2021, all nine categories of Mengniu's (蒙牛) products passed the EU food standard product certification, making it the first enterprise in China (中国) to have its entire product line certified to EU food standards.
Relying on persistent efforts in quality, Mengniu (蒙牛) has helped Chinese dairy brands achieve "quality leadership" in global dairy competition, contributing to the high-quality development of the Chinese dairy industry.
"Event IP + Channel" Dual-Wheel Drive
Global Layout Advances Further
As one of the world's top sports IPs, the World Cup is an important vehicle for brands to advance their global layout. Mengniu's (蒙牛) successful appearance on the World Cup stage has deeply embedded its ice cream products into the authentic consumption scenarios of the World Cup.
From cheering in the stands to watching games at family gatherings and parties with friends, Mengniu's (蒙牛) four ice creams have not only appeared at the venues but have also entered local mainstream consumer markets in 11 key U.S. cities, including Los Angeles (洛杉矶) and New York (纽约). Every Mengniu (蒙牛) ice cream printed with the official FIFA (国际足联) logo will be integrated into consumers' memories of the World Cup—serving not just as a brand logo on the sidelines, but as a carrier of fan emotions and a footnote to the viewing atmosphere.
During this World Cup, Mengniu (蒙牛) also launched the "World Cup, This Bite Wins" (世界杯，这一口赢了) themed campaign. Through online and offline fan check-in activities, it promoted the "Chinese taste in the World Cup arena," establishing a Chinese ice cream brand image in the hearts of overseas consumers. This also feeds back into the domestic market, forming a virtuous closed loop of "channel entry—consumption experience—market validation—opening overseas markets—leveraging the domestic market." With the help of the World Cup stage, Mengniu (蒙牛) ice cream has completed a key leap in "getting in" to the North American market.
The global layout of Mengniu (蒙牛) ice cream has long been steadily unfolding. In the Southeast Asian market, Aice (艾雪), the ice cream brand under Mengniu (蒙牛), has held the top position in the Indonesian (印度尼西亚) market from 2022 to 2025 and has achieved a leading position in the Philippines (菲律宾) and Vietnam (越南) markets. Aice (艾雪) has not only built a solid competitive advantage in Southeast Asia but is also actively extending into emerging markets such as Africa (非洲) and Latin America (拉美), accelerating the creation of a typical case for the international development of Chinese dairy brands.
From Southeast Asia to the Americas, Mengniu (蒙牛) is constantly accelerating its global layout. This appearance at the World Cup will provide more solid support for Mengniu (蒙牛) to fully enter the international market, further pushing the brand to climb higher in the global value chain.
Achieving Breakthroughs Through Innovation
Boosting the Leap and Upgrade of the Global Dairy Value Chain
The deep cooperation between Mengniu (蒙牛) and the World Cup stems not only from Mengniu's (蒙牛) product quality and brand strength but also from its brand culture of "being born to be strong" (天生要强). Upholding the "strong" gene, Mengniu (蒙牛) continuously innovates and breaks through, boosting the leap and upgrade of the global dairy value chain, forming a spiritual resonance with the qualities of progressiveness, tenacity, and fighting spirit emphasized by football.
In recent years, with the comprehensive advancement of its "one body, two wings" strategy—based on six major dairy categories while expanding innovation and international business—Mengniu (蒙牛) has used innovation to cultivate new quality productive forces in the dairy industry. It has comprehensively laid out fields such as basic nutrition and functional nutrition, creating health value for consumers with high-quality nutritional value, and providing upward economic value for the industry.
In today's fiercely competitive traditional dairy industry, Mengniu (蒙牛) is firmly taking the "difficult but correct path," which is to consolidate its quality foundation through continuous technological innovation and promote industrial upgrading. It is striving to complete a "dribbling breakthrough" (带球突破 - "dribble breakthrough," a metaphor for overcoming obstacles through skill and momentum), helping the global dairy industry continuously leap toward the higher end of the value chain.
Mengniu (蒙牛) ice cream's entry into the North American World Cup reflects the firm steps of Chinese dairy brands moving toward the world. This summer, when global fans pick up that Mengniu (蒙牛) ice cream printed with the official FIFA (国际足联) logo, Mengniu (蒙牛) hopes that the taste they experience is not just coolness and deliciousness, but also the Chinese dairy brand's persistence in product quality, its tribute to the spirit of sports, and its ambition to "create value through value and lead the future through innovation."
Data Source: Inner Mongolia Mengniu Dairy (Group) Co., Ltd. (内蒙古蒙牛乳业（集团）股份有限公司)
Return to TopBy: 本报记者 孙海天
From relying on the whims of nature to creating waves through technology, and from disordered growth to standardized development, Wanning (万宁), Hainan (海南) has used surfing as a fulcrum to string together a new chapter of integrated business formats and all-for-one tourism development. This small coastal city is sketching out a new landscape for the integrated development of culture, sports, and tourism.
—Editor
In Riyue Bay (日月湾), Wanning City (万宁市), Hainan Province (海南省), the sun is shining brightly. A few hundred meters from the coastline, the China Tourism Group (中旅集团) Zhulang Resort (逐浪度假区) is bustling with noise and excitement. Accompanied by the low roar of air pressure release, a blue wall of water more than two meters high rises instantly from the calm surface. A surfer lies on their board, paddling, popping up, standing, gliding, and turning—the movements are 一气呵成 (yī qì hē chéng - "one breath complete," to do something in one continuous, smooth motion).
"In the past, when coming to Riyue Bay (日月湾), you had to watch the weather forecast, fearing there would be no waves; now, you can get into the water as soon as you arrive, and the waves are waiting for you here." Mr. Li (李先生), a tourist who had just come ashore, wiped the water droplets from his face, unable to hide his excitement.
Last November, the first Olympic-grade artificial wave pool in China (国内) was put into operation in Wanning (万宁), turning the dream of an all-season, all-weather surfing experience into reality.
Industrial Upgrading: Bidding Farewell to "Waiting for the Waves"
The bond between Wanning (万宁) and the sport of surfing must be traced back to the waves of Riyue Bay (日月湾).
Riyue Bay (日月湾) is a key tourist resort destination built by Wanning City (万宁市), nestled between mountains and the sea. With clear water and excellent wave conditions, it is renowned as a surfing paradise. In 2016, the International Olympic Committee (国际奥委会) officially announced that surfing would be a new event at the Tokyo Olympics (东京奥运会), making this place the training base for the National Surfing Team (国家冲浪队) and teams from various provinces and cities.
Natural endowment was the advantage for early development. Tianxin Village (田新村) in Liji Town (礼纪镇), located just a few hundred meters from the coast, was the first to sense the change in "water temperature."
"In 2016, the surfing industry here had just started, and the young people who had gone out to work were all scrambling to return," recalled Chen Zhenguo (陈真国), the then-Party Branch Secretary of Tianxin Village (田新村). As more and more surfing enthusiasts came to experience the sport, dozens of homestays popped up in the village one after another, and villagers began to earn a living from "surfing rice" right at their doorsteps.
However, starting in 2024, the village was not as lively as before. Chen Zhenguo (陈真国) said that due to the impact of homogeneous competition in the surrounding areas, the daily occupancy rate of homestays in the village gradually fell back. "The sea is still the same sea, but tourists have higher demands: in summer, the waves are small, and tourists feel it's boring; in winter, the waves are big, and beginners dare not enter the water. Relying on the whims of nature, the 'surfing rice bowl' is becoming increasingly difficult to hold."
A cooling-off period in the market is also a window for industrial quality improvement and upgrading. Combined with the construction of the Hainan Round-Island Tourist Highway (海南环岛旅游公路) stations, Wanning (万宁) introduced the China Tourism Group (中旅集团) to build the Zhulang Resort (逐浪度假区). Within the 10,000-square-meter water area, 32 air chambers work in coordination to create more than 100 types of waves. From 0.3-meter micro-waves to 2.7-meter big waves, whether they are "newbies" with zero foundation or professional athletes, everyone can find suitable wave conditions here.
"For professional teams that need to repeatedly polish their movements, training here significantly improves efficiency," introduced Su Xin (苏新), General Manager of the China Tourism Group (中旅集团) Zhulang Resort (逐浪度假区) project.
Professional training conditions have also attracted many foreign surfing enthusiasts to experience it. "With Wanning (万宁) issuing reward and subsidy measures for inbound tourism, overseas orders have grown significantly recently, and many guests from Russia (俄罗斯) and Australia (澳大利亚) stay for a month at a time," said Su Xin (苏新).
With technology empowering "wave creation to attract traffic," surfing in Wanning (万宁) has bid farewell to simply "waiting for the waves."
Orderly Competition: Promoting Healthy Development
Beside the wave pool, Mao Zihan (毛梓翰), the surfing coach supervisor, is holding a meeting for the coaching team. This 21-member team not only holds national professional qualification certificates, but many also possess lifeguard qualifications.
Born in the 1990s, Mao Zihan (毛梓翰), known in the circle as "Da He" (大河), has been chasing waves in Riyue Bay (日月湾) for 8 years. He recalled that early teaching was mostly carried out spontaneously by surfing fanatics or local fishermen, and problems such as unlicensed teaching, price wars, and safety hazards once plagued the industry's development.
Today, with the upgrading of training facilities, the overall quality and teaching level of the coaching team have also improved. Entering the resort service center, the coach qualification certificates, lifeguard certificates, and Red Cross (红十字) first-aid certificates issued by the General Administration of Sport of China (国家体育总局) are clear at a glance. "Now the teaching system, safety guarantees, and professional promotion channels for coaches are becoming increasingly perfect," said Mao Zihan (毛梓翰). The professional security for surfing coaches has also changed the mindset of practitioners. "Income used to be unstable; now that the company provides good security, we put more energy into teaching."
Orderly competition promotes the healthy development of the industry. Today, many clubs around Tianxin Village (田新村) are taking the initiative to change, sending coaches to get certified and standardizing service processes. Tourists coming to Riyue Bay (日月湾) to experience surfing feel more comfortable and assured.
"We are comprehensively implementing a club filing management system, working with associations to formulate self-discipline conventions, and promoting the transformation of the surfing market from disordered competition to high quality and high value," introduced a relevant person in charge of the Wanning Municipal Bureau of Tourism, Culture, Radio, Television and Sports (万宁市旅文局).
Mountain and Sea Linkage: Expanding the Development Map
Surfing is more than just sea waves. Chen Xi (陈熹), a native of Hebei (河北), came to work at a restaurant in Wanning (万宁) last year and was attracted by the increasingly mature sports community atmosphere here. "We are not just selling drinks and food; we are operating a lifestyle," said Chen Xi (陈熹). The shop focuses on low-fat meals and sells designer sportswear, becoming a gathering point for surfing enthusiasts.
"We hope this place is not just a sports field, but a living community," introduced Ma Pengfei (马朋飞), the person in charge of the resort's landscape. By introducing brands and creating diverse formats such as cafes, buyer shops, and supporting hotels, tourists are willing to stay longer and spend more after surfing. The resort deeply binds living with playing, and many tourists have extended their stay from half a day or one day in the past to three days and two nights.
The landing of high-end business formats forms a healthy complement to the "smoky" atmosphere of daily life in Tianxin Village (田新村). "The customer base brought by the wave pool walks into the village to experience the local customs; the homestay traffic in the village will also flow to the resort for consumption," said Chen Zhenguo (陈真国). Tianxin Village (田新村) is planning a new round of industrial upgrading.
At present, Wanning's (万宁) tourism map is constantly expanding: Jianling Village (尖岭村) in Beida Town (北大镇) is developing paddleboarding on rainforest rivers; Xinglong Town (兴隆镇) has put into operation a bicycle-themed park and an overseas Chinese style night market; and Shenzhou Peninsula (神州半岛) in Dong'ao Town (东澳镇) has jet ski projects attracting enthusiasts to break through the waves. A new pattern of all-for-one tourism, "reaching the sky and entering the sea, linking mountains and seas," is accelerating in Wanning (万宁).
From enjoying the crest of the waves on a surfboard to the vigorous development of the entire industrial chain, Wanning (万宁) tourism has handed in an eye-catching report card. From January to April 2026, the city received a total of over 4.67 million tourists, a year-on-year increase of 25.5%; total tourist spending reached 4.726 billion yuan, a year-on-year increase of 28.1%. During this "May Day" (五一) holiday, the city received a total of 471,400 tourists, achieving a total tourism revenue of 303 million yuan, a year-on-year increase of 9.91% and 10.12%, respectively.
The waves never stop, and the pursuit of waves continues. This small coastal city is calibrating its development course, standing firm on its industrial foundation, and stirring up waves of progress.
Return to TopBy: 本报记者 刘硕阳 陈晨曦
At noon Beijing Time (北京时间) on June 14, in the first round of Group D matches of the 2026 FIFA World Cup (世界杯) held in Vancouver (温哥华), Canada (加拿大), the Australia (澳大利亚) team scored one goal in each half to defeat the Turkey (土耳其) team 2-0.
With this, the competition for the first three matchdays of this World Cup (世界杯) has concluded. In a Group B match that ended in the early hours of the 14th, the Qatar (卡塔尔) team managed to force a 1-1 draw against the European powerhouse Switzerland (瑞士) team with a goal in the final moments of stoppage time. Counting the South Korea (韩国) team's 2-1 comeback victory over the Czech Republic (捷克) in the Group A match on the first day, Asian Football Confederation (亚足联) teams have achieved an excellent record of 2 wins and 1 draw in their 3 matches against Union of European Football Associations (欧足联) teams since the tournament began 3 days ago.
In all 3 matches, the Asian Football Confederation (亚足联) teams showed no shortage of highlights. The South Korea (韩国) team, which held the upper hand on the pitch, "technically knocked out" the Czech Republic (捷克) team, marking their third consecutive World Cup (世界杯) with a victory against a European team. The Qatar (卡塔尔) team did not give up despite being on the back foot throughout the match, securing the first World Cup (世界杯) group stage point in their team's history with a "last-gasp equalizer." The Australia (澳大利亚) team defeated the Turkey (土耳其) team with a defense as solid as 铜墙铁壁 (tóng qiáng tiě bì - "bronze wall iron wall," an impregnable defense).
The record of 2 wins and 1 draw also makes the Asian Football Confederation (亚足联) the only confederation among those with teams that have already played in this World Cup (世界杯) to remain undefeated. Except for the Oceania Football Confederation (大洋洲足联) "lone seedling" New Zealand (新西兰), whose match has not yet begun, the Union of European Football Associations (欧足联) (1 win, 2 draws, 2 losses), the Confederation of African Football (非足联) (1 draw, 1 loss), the South American Football Confederation (南美足联) (1 draw, 1 loss), and the Confederation of North, Central America and Caribbean Association Football (中北美洲及加勒比海地区足联) (2 wins, 1 draw, 1 loss) have all seen their teams suffer defeats. However, only one-third of the first round of group matches has been completed. Objectively speaking, the South Korea (韩国) and Australia (澳大利亚) teams that have already appeared are among the higher-level teams within the Asian Football Confederation (亚足联), while the defeated Czech Republic (捷克) and Turkey (土耳其) teams are not top-tier European teams, having both missed the World Cup (世界杯) for at least 20 years prior to this. Furthermore, teams from the Asian Football Confederation (亚足联) with slightly less strength, such as Jordan (约旦) and Iraq (伊拉克), have yet to make their debut.
In addition, before the Brazil (巴西) team drew 1-1 with the Morocco (摩洛哥) team on the morning of the 14th, the last time the two sides met in a World Cup (世界杯) was 28 years ago, when the "Samba Legion" (桑巴军团), featuring players like Ronaldo (罗纳尔多), won 3-0 in a match where the disparity in strength was clear. Today, the Morocco (摩洛哥) team holds the titles of World Cup (世界杯) semi-finalist and Africa Cup of Nations (非洲杯) champion, and even defeated Brazil (巴西) for the first time 3 years ago. The fact that every team is 今非昔比 (jīn fēi xī bǐ - "today not yesterday compare," to be vastly different from the past) makes the World Cup (世界杯) even more exciting.
Return to TopHangzhou (杭州), June 14 (Reporter Dou Hanyang (窦瀚洋)) — On the 11th, the Zhejiang Provincial City Football League (浙江省城市足球联赛) (hereinafter referred to as the "Wuyue Cup" (吴越杯)) held its grand final at the Huanglong Sports Center (黄龙体育中心) in Hangzhou (杭州). The Jinhua (金华) team defeated the Wenzhou (温州) team with a total score of 7-6 to win the championship. This match attracted over 40,000 fans, setting a new single-game attendance record for the "Wuyue Cup" (吴越杯). Since the opening of the "Wuyue Cup" (吴越杯) on April 6, 11 city teams have played a total of 62 matches over the course of more than two months. According to statistics, the total number of spectators at the match venues reached 969,000, and a cumulative total of 2,023 secondary viewing points were set up, attracting 1.7675 million viewers. The event stimulated a total consumption of 7.394 billion yuan.
Return to TopOn June 9, 2026, PICC Health Insurance Company Limited (中国人民健康保险股份有限公司) (abbreviated as "PICC Health" (人保健康)), together with its wholly-owned subsidiary PICC Health Management Company Limited (人保健康管理有限公司) (abbreviated as "PICC Health Management" (人保健管)), officially signed a strategic cooperation agreement in Shenzhen (深圳), Guangdong Province (广东省), with China Resources Group (华润集团) subsidiaries, including China Resources Health Group Company Limited (华润健康集团有限公司) (abbreviated as "CR Health" (华润健康)), China Resources Pharmaceutical Commercial Group Company Limited (华润医药商业集团有限公司) (abbreviated as "CR Pharma Commercial" (华润医药商业)), and China Resources Insurance Brokerage Company Limited (华润保险经纪有限公司) (abbreviated as "CR Insurance Brokerage" (华润保险经纪)). All parties will carry out comprehensive and in-depth cooperation across eight major areas, jointly exploring innovative paths for the synergistic development of "insurance + medical care + health management + technology," to assist in improving the multi-level medical security system and serve the Healthy China (健康中国) strategy.
As the first professional health insurance company in China (中国), PICC Health (人保健康) has always adhered to the mission of "People's Insurance, Serving the People" (人民保险 服务人民), deeply cultivating the construction of the big health ecosystem. Relying on the "insurance protection + health service" model, it has accumulated mature practical experience and service capabilities in areas such as medical insurance governance, inclusive health insurance, chronic disease management, and long-term care insurance. Since its establishment, the wholly-owned subsidiary PICC Health Management (人保健管) has served as the primary implementation vehicle for the big health and big elderly care ecosystem of PICC Group (人保集团), focusing on the output of health management services. By expanding service depth through "risk reduction," it promotes the transformation of insurance services from "passive claims" to "proactive health intervention," and is committed to providing full-cycle health risk management solutions for individual and corporate clients.
The subsidiaries of China Resources Group (华润集团) involved in this cooperation are all enterprises in the big health field: CR Health (华润健康) is a health management industry platform prioritized by China Resources Group (华润集团); CR Pharma Commercial (华润医药商业) has built a comprehensive pharmaceutical supply chain and special drug service system; and CR Insurance Brokerage (华润保险经纪) possesses mature insurance brokerage services and group resource synergy capabilities. All parties have reached a high degree of consensus on cultivating people's health and promoting the deep integration of medical care and insurance. This cooperation will systematically integrate the resources of the four major sectors—insurance, medical care, pharmaceuticals, and technology—from both groups, creating a new demonstration model for industry development.
The parties to this cooperation will adhere to the principle of "putting people's health at the center," fully leveraging their core advantages in product research and development, health management, insurance brokerage, and digital technology, focusing on implementing cooperation in eight major areas: jointly researching and dynamically updating the commercial insurance drug catalog to improve the accessibility and payment security of innovative drugs, medical devices, and medical equipment; building a closed-loop integrated operation for health management to optimize the full-process service experience; collaboratively developing exclusive insurance products tailored to specific populations to build a full-chain service system of "prevention beforehand, management during, and protection afterward"; jointly building a standardized in-hospital service system to achieve one-stop claims settlement and bridge continuous health services inside and outside the hospital; taking the lead in creating industry-leading corporate health service standards; promoting the upgrade of traditional physical examinations to comprehensive and personalized health management services; implementing full-cycle customer health risk reduction actions; and jointly building a one-stop commercial insurance service platform and a database for special diseases to deeply mine the value of health big data, empowering the improvement of insurance actuarial and risk prevention and control capabilities.
All parties will take this strategic cooperation as an opportunity to promote the deep participation of commercial insurance in the work of improving the multi-level medical security system, facilitate insurance funds to better serve the real economy, and improve the health security level of the people. Moving forward, all parties will accelerate the implementation of cooperation projects, injecting new momentum into serving the Healthy China (健康中国) strategy and enhancing people's well-being, and together write a new chapter in the development of the cause of people's health security.
Data Source: PICC Health Insurance Company Limited (中国人民健康保险股份有限公司)
Return to TopBy: 本报记者 牛瑞飞
According to the latest data released by Eurostat (欧盟统计局), in the first quarter of 2026, seasonally adjusted GDP (Gross Domestic Product) in the Eurozone (欧元区) fell by 0.2% quarter-on-quarter, while the European Union (欧盟) saw a decline of 0.1%. In contrast, both the EU and the Eurozone recorded a 0.2% quarter-on-quarter growth in the fourth quarter of 2025. The European Commission (欧盟委员会/欧委会) recently released its Spring 2026 Economic Forecast report, predicting that the EU's real GDP growth will slow to 1.1% in 2026, a downward revision of 0.3 percentage points from the forecast made last autumn. The European Central Bank (欧洲央行) recently lowered its 2026 GDP growth forecast for the Eurozone to 0.8%.
Observers believe that against the backdrop of continuous geopolitical conflicts and high energy prices, whether the EU can secure long-term growth momentum depends on its efforts to bridge internal divisions, focus on resolving internal structural challenges, tap into long-term economic growth potential, and work together to cope with external shocks of uncertainty.
Overall Growth Slows; "Uneven Temperature" Persists
Overall, the EU economy is slowing down but remains resilient, with the "uneven temperature" (disparate performance) among major economies continuing.
Latest data shows that Germany's (德国) economy grew by 0.3% quarter-on-quarter in the first quarter, but pillar industries such as automotive and machinery manufacturing remain dragged down by high energy prices, insufficient external demand, and declining corporate investment willingness. Consequently, the European Commission has significantly lowered Germany's 2026 economic growth forecast from the previous 1.2% to 0.6%, and expects the German economy to grow by 0.9% in 2027. France's (法国) economy shrank by 0.1% quarter-on-quarter in the first quarter, with both consumption and exports underperforming expectations. Italy's (意大利) economy grew by 0.3% quarter-on-quarter in the first quarter. Ireland's (爱尔兰) economy suffered a sharp decline, with economic output falling by 12.1% quarter-on-quarter in the first quarter.
Benefiting from the continuous recovery of tourism and active service consumption, countries such as Spain (西班牙), Portugal (葡萄牙), and Hungary (匈牙利) maintained relatively stable economic growth. Among them, Hungary grew by 0.8% quarter-on-quarter in the first quarter; Spain grew by 0.6% quarter-on-quarter and 2.7% year-on-year; and Portugal grew by 2.3% year-on-year.
Analysts believe that the relatively stable labor market provides some support for the EU economy. According to Eurostat data, employment in the Eurozone grew by 0.1% quarter-on-quarter and 0.5% year-on-year in the first quarter. In April this year, the seasonally adjusted unemployment rate in the Eurozone was 6.3%, and the EU unemployment rate was 6.0%, both remaining at relatively stable levels.
Currently, the growth "engine" of Germany, the EU's largest economy, lacks sufficient power. The German government has adopted policy measures such as expanding public spending to boost the economy, but the actual effect of these stimulus policies has not met expectations. Additionally, increased defense and infrastructure spending by major EU economies is further pushing up inflation.
High Energy Costs; Focus on Curbing Inflation
On June 11, the European Central Bank held a monetary policy meeting and decided to raise all three key interest rates in the Eurozone by 25 basis points. Effective June 17, the interest rates on the Eurozone's deposit facility, main refinancing operations, and marginal lending facility will be raised to 2.25%, 2.40%, and 2.65%, respectively.
The latest forecast from the European Central Bank shows that the overall inflation rate in the Eurozone is expected to be 3.0% in 2026, 2.3% in 2027, and 2.0% in 2028.
High energy costs are a major root cause of the EU's sluggish economic growth. As a net energy importer, the EU economy is highly sensitive to changes in energy prices. Currently, overall energy prices in the EU remain above historical averages, and businesses and residents continue to bear significant cost pressures. Rising energy prices directly drive up corporate production costs, with energy-intensive industries such as steel, chemicals, glass, cement, and fertilizers bearing the brunt. The recovery of the industrial manufacturing sector in the EU region is lagging significantly. Latest data shows that compared to the same period last year, Eurozone industrial production output fell by 2.1% in March this year, while the EU fell by 1.0%. In the first quarter of this year, EU exports to non-EU countries fell by 8.8% year-on-year.
German chemical giant BASF (巴斯夫) has repeatedly stated that high energy costs are weakening the competitiveness of the EU's production base and pushing companies to allocate more new investments to markets with faster growth and more advantageous costs. BASF's choice is not an isolated case; an increasing number of European companies are beginning to re-evaluate their global investment layouts, directing some new production capacity to regions with lower energy prices or faster market growth.
"The war is dragging down economic activity," said Christine Lagarde (拉加德), President of the European Central Bank. She noted that the significant energy shock that has occurred since the outbreak of the conflict has lasted longer than previously expected. The impact of the war has weakened consumer confidence, and rising energy costs are eroding real income, which will suppress private investment in the short term. Furthermore, wage growth expectations for this year are slowing; the cost for companies to purchase other inputs is increasing, which is expected to raise selling prices. It is worth noting that the rapid rise in core inflation highlights that rising energy prices are spreading to a wider range of areas through food, commodity, and service prices. "We are beginning to see this effect spreading throughout the economy."
A recent report by the European think tank Bruegel (布鲁盖尔研究所) suggests that persistently high energy prices are a major challenge to the EU's industrial competitiveness, and the energy shock will continue for some time to come. At the same time, structural problems such as slowing productivity growth, capital market fragmentation, and insufficient financing for innovative enterprises are also affecting the efficiency of capital allocation in the EU, continuously weakening the competitiveness and long-term growth potential of EU enterprises.
Supporting Emerging Industries; Tapping into Growth Momentum
Facing slowing growth and competitiveness challenges, the EU views accelerating the green energy transition and promoting digital technology innovation as important levers to boost the economy.
Currently, the EU is accelerating the implementation of the REPowerEU Plan (欧盟重新赋能计划), expanding the construction of liquefied natural gas terminals, cross-border energy infrastructure, and renewable energy projects to improve the level of energy supply diversification and strive to reduce dependence on single energy sources. The Net-Zero Industry Act (净零工业法案), which took effect in 2024, aims to expand the scale of Europe's local clean technology supply chains—such as photovoltaics, batteries, wind power, and hydrogen energy—and improve Europe's autonomous capabilities in the field of green technology.
The artificial intelligence industry has become a key area of investment for the EU. In April 2025, the EU launched the "Artificial Intelligence Continental Action Plan" (人工智能大陆行动计划), aiming to promote the construction of large-scale artificial intelligence data and computing infrastructure. It also plans to deploy 13 "AI factories" and push for the establishment of "AI super-factories" in the future, striving to narrow the development gap in the field of digital technology.
Analysts generally believe that the most difficult period of the EU's economic climb has passed, but it still faces many uncertainties such as energy market volatility, geopolitical risks, and intensified industrial competition. The EU economy is expected to continue to hover in a low-growth range in 2026. The top priority for EU countries is to build consensus among member states, introduce more effective policy measures, promote the green energy transition, digital technology innovation, and single market reform, and translate these into new growth momentum, which will largely determine the development trajectory of the region in the coming years.
(Reported from Brussels (布鲁塞尔), June 14)
Return to TopBy: 陈 新
Recently, the European Central Bank (欧洲央行) announced a 25-basis-point hike to all three of its key interest rates for the Eurozone (欧元区), raising the deposit facility rate to 2.25%. This marks the first rate hike by the European Central Bank (欧洲央行) since September 2023, breaking a year-long period of interest rate stability. The European Central Bank (欧洲央行) stated that the war in the Middle East (中东) is intensifying inflationary pressures, and given the associated risks and their impact on the medium-term outlook for the Eurozone (欧元区), the current decision to raise rates is appropriate.
This decision marks another instance where the European Central Bank (欧洲央行) has chosen to prioritize "combating inflation" over "protecting growth." The choice of a "modest rate hike" serves both as a warning against the de-anchoring of inflation expectations and as a measure to avoid **重蹈覆辙** (chóng dǎo fù zhé - "repeat the overturned cart's track," to repeat the mistakes of the past). However, the inhibitory effect of interest rate hikes on imported energy inflation is limited; this policy is more of a signal action born of helplessness—caught between political pressures and market confidence, the European Central Bank (欧洲央行) had no choice but to act.
In recent years, Europe (欧洲) has suffered two consecutive energy crises. Following the outbreak of the Russia-Ukraine conflict (俄乌冲突) in 2022, Europe (欧洲) severed its dependence on Russian (俄罗斯) energy, which, compounded by the effects of loose monetary policies, caused Eurozone (欧元区) inflation to soar to 8.4% for the year. The European Central Bank (欧洲央行) raised rates consecutively starting in July 2022, with the deposit facility rate reaching 4% by September 2023. As inflation receded, the European Central Bank (欧洲央行) began a rate-cutting cycle, bringing the deposit facility rate down to 2% by June 2025. However, following the outbreak of the U.S.-Israel-Iran (美以伊) war this February, the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz (霍尔木兹海峡) caused renewed volatility in international energy markets, interrupting Europe's (欧洲) brief period of inflationary relief.
Within the first hundred days of the war, the European Union (欧盟) has paid an additional 62 billion euros for energy. Eurozone (欧元区) inflation has rebounded rapidly from the 2% target set at the beginning of the year, climbing to 3.2% in May, while core inflation—excluding food and energy prices—has also risen to 2.5%. Unlike the Russia-Ukraine conflict (俄乌冲突), in this round of global energy price hikes triggered by the Middle East (中东) war, Europe (欧洲) finds it difficult to resolve the crisis by simply switching supply sources.
The latest analysis from the International Monetary Fund (国际货币基金组织) suggests that if energy prices remain high for a prolonged period, the economic outlook for the Eurozone (欧元区) may weaken further. Looking back at the economic development of the Eurozone (欧元区) over the past few years, following the COVID-19 pandemic (新冠疫情), the European Union (欧盟) issued 800 billion euros in bonds through the "NextGenerationEU" (下一代欧盟) plan to stimulate recovery. However, the Russia-Ukraine conflict (俄乌冲突) stifled this growth momentum, with Eurozone (欧元区) GDP (国内生产总值) growth plummeting from 3.5% in 2022 to 0.4% in 2023. After a slow recovery in 2024–2025, the Middle East (中东) war has once again forced Europe (欧洲) to downgrade its economic forecasts.
Currently, the Eurozone (欧元区) economy faces two major structural challenges: First, fiscal space is narrowing. Member states are constantly seeking to breach the red lines of a 3% deficit and 60% debt-to-GDP ratio mandated by the European Union's (欧盟) Stability and Growth Pact (稳定与增长公约). In fact, the Eurozone (欧元区) debt ratio is expected to rise to 90.2% by 2026, with some countries exceeding 100%, leaving their fiscal capacity **捉襟见肘** (zhuō jīn jié zhǒu - "pulling the elbow when pulling the coat lapel," to be in a difficult situation where one's resources are insufficient to meet needs).
Second, there is a lack of momentum for growth. In recent years, the fiscal stimulus policies launched by the European Commission (欧盟委员会) and the financial operations conducted by the European Central Bank (欧洲央行) through asset repurchases have provided funding for public investment in member states, stimulating economic growth to some extent, but failing to significantly enhance economic competitiveness. Unit labor costs in European Union (欧盟) member states have been rising, with year-on-year increases of 6.9% in 2023, 4.9% in 2024, and 3.1% in 2025—outpacing GDP growth and inflation during the same periods, further constraining development vitality.
From an internal perspective, this interest rate hike by the European Central Bank (欧洲央行) will increase corporate financing costs, suppressing already weak investment and consumption. From an external perspective, the Eurozone (欧元区) economy is highly dependent on international trade, with foreign trade volume accounting for nearly half of its annual economic output. The uncertainty of the global trade environment will have a significant impact on its economic growth and export profitability.
This scene of being beset by difficulties both internally and externally shows that, faced with the dual goals of "combating inflation" and "protecting growth," the European Central Bank's (欧洲央行) modest rate hike is truly a last resort; it dares neither to act too aggressively nor to remain idle. The real way out for the European (欧洲) economy does not lie in the short-term maneuvering of monetary policy, but in structural reform. Relying solely on interest rate hikes or fiscal stimulus will ultimately make it difficult to escape the risk of "stagflation." Enhancing energy autonomy, improving labor productivity, optimizing the business environment, and maintaining open cooperation are the fundamental ways to strengthen competitiveness.
(The author is the Deputy Director of the National Institute of International Strategy at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (中国社会科学院))
Return to TopBy: 本报记者 白元琪
The robotic arm precisely grasps parts to complete assembly, the AGV (Automated Guided Vehicle) intelligent carts accurately deliver materials to each workstation, and the bin robots in the inventory area work efficiently in coordination with the overhead conveyor lines... This Midea (美的) Residential Air Conditioner Thailand Factory, located in Chonburi Province (春武里府), Thailand (泰国), achieved an air conditioner production capacity of over 5 million units in 2025. Behind the busy and orderly production, 72 AI (Artificial Intelligence) digital applications, 13 intelligent agents, and 25 business scenarios operate in synergy, collectively supporting the efficient operation of this "intelligent agent factory."
On June 9, Midea (美的) released the "Going Global Partner Program" (出海合伙人计划), aiming to transform the practical experience accumulated by this "intelligent agent factory" into solutions covering the entire cycle of planning, construction, and operation, helping more Chinese manufacturing enterprises expand overseas. "As more Chinese enterprises go global, challenges such as long cross-border supply chains, difficulty in unifying global quality standards, and high cross-cultural training costs are becoming increasingly prominent. Internationalization requires enterprises to **抱团发展** (bào tuán fā zhǎn - "hold group develop," to work together and support one another) and build an ecosystem together." said Zhou Xiaoling (周晓玲), IT Director of Midea Group (美的集团). She noted that this program will promote the shift of China's intelligent manufacturing experience from "individual output" to "ecosystem empowerment."
The reporter walked into the factory's central control center, where a giant screen displayed the real-time operation of Midea's (美的) self-developed cross-border supply chain AI intelligent agent. The center of the screen showed current production and operation data, while the top scrolled through the "health check results" for work orders over the next 21 days. With a click of the mouse by a staff member, a risk analysis report was quickly generated. "Currently, this intelligent agent has achieved real-time, full-link monitoring of 35 core nodes. The time for handling anomalies has been shortened from 48 hours to under 12 hours, and the on-time arrival rate of raw materials remains stable at over 96%," factory staff explained.
Southeast Asia (东南亚) is a region prone to typhoons, and the resulting shipping delays and port congestion often have a significant impact on enterprise production. To address this, Midea (美的) developed multi-source data fusion technology and enhanced linear regression algorithms. Combined with the coordinated operation of multiple intelligent agents within the factory, the system automatically generates response plans: the planning agent adjusts the production schedule, the procurement agent quickly initiates alternative sourcing, local suppliers respond synchronously, and the logistics system re-plans transport routes, transforming decision-making processes that previously relied on manual coordination into intelligent, collaborative responses.
In the storage area, the ACS (Automated Control System) warehouse control system developed by Midea (美的) acts as the "chief dispatcher" for the entire factory's logistics. Small-item intelligent automated warehouses, overhead conveyor lines, and CTU (Container Transport Unit) bin robots operate in coordination under the system's command. Through the dynamic scheduling of equipment tasks by intelligent agents, the system achieves fully unmanned logistics operations from the automated warehouse to the production line, providing immediate warnings and initiating disposal procedures upon detecting any anomalies. "In the past, the warehouse relied mainly on manual inventory counting and scheduling, and discrepancies between accounts and actual stock occurred from time to time," Li Peng (李鹏), General Manager of Midea (美的) Residential Air Conditioner Thailand Factory, introduced to the reporter. Today, the system can automatically request materials based on production schedules and perform intelligent dispatching. With the same floor area, storage space utilization has increased by 40%, and inventory accuracy has reached 100%.
An intelligent supply chain ensures the "smooth flow of goods," while employee training relates to how to "make the best use of talent" (人尽其才). "The factory has employees from China (中国), Thailand (泰国), and Myanmar (缅甸), making it difficult to implement unified management standards," said Naresara (娜瑞莎拉), Human Resources Manager of Midea (美的) Residential Air Conditioner Thailand Factory. To solve the problem of cross-cultural training, Midea (美的) relies on its self-developed NLP (Natural Language Processing) multilingual transfer learning technology to batch-translate over 28,000 mature domestic courses into Thai and Burmese, and uses digital human technology to generate multilingual courseware. Employees can learn and take assessments online, and the relevant data eventually forms a "talent profile," which not only helps management provide targeted skills training and optimize job allocation but also provides a scientific basis for employee promotion.
In the factory's VR (Virtual Reality) intelligent practical training area, a Thai employee is wearing VR glasses to conduct welding process simulation training. "Traditional training for positions like welding and evaporator fixing is costly and poses safety risks," Naresara (娜瑞莎拉) said. The factory is using AIGC (Artificial Intelligence Generated Content), digital humans, and VR technology to build a practical training base. By restoring real work scenarios at a 1:1 scale, employees can repeatedly practice operational procedures and safety standards in a virtual environment, significantly improving training efficiency and qualification rates. "Currently, this digital training system has shortened the training certification cycle by 62%, completed over 1,500 person-times of training, and achieved a 98% localization rate for employees."
Looking down at the factory area from the air, large swaths of photovoltaic panels on the roof shine brightly under the sun. Li Peng (李鹏) introduced that the factory has built a 12-megawatt photovoltaic microgrid, supplemented by energy storage systems and water storage systems, achieving a 23% self-sufficiency rate for green electricity and saving a total of over 10 million Thai Baht (1 RMB is approximately 4.8 Thai Baht). "The deep integration of intelligent manufacturing and green, low-carbon development has become an important calling card for the factory."
Relying on Midea's (美的) supply chain system, more than 70 Chinese supporting enterprises have now landed in Thailand (泰国), among which is Wuhan Honghai Technology (武汉宏海科技), which specializes in the manufacturing of core home appliance components. In 2019, the enterprise followed Midea (美的) to invest and build a factory in Thailand (泰国). Midea (美的) provided support in everything from factory planning and production line automation deployment to digital system construction. Today, the enterprise's total business volume in Thailand (泰国) in 2025 has grown by 1.6 times compared to the previous year. Tanglonggong Wusentilangu (唐隆功·吴森提兰谷), President of the Thailand (泰国) "Belt and Road" (一带一路) Institute for Economic and Educational Development, told the reporter that Midea's (美的) "intelligent agent factory" has become an important model for digital transformation under Thailand's (泰国) "Eastern Economic Corridor" (东部经济走廊) and "Thailand 4.0" (泰国4.0) strategy. "With the implementation of the 'Going Global Partner Program' (出海合伙人计划), more Thai enterprises will share the fruits of China's manufacturing transformation and upgrading, which will inject new momentum into industrial modernization."
(Reported from Bangkok (曼谷), June 14)
Return to TopLarge Numbers of Japanese Citizens Protest Sanae Takaichi Government's Military Expansion Policy
Xinhua News Agency, Tokyo, June 14 (Reporters Li Ziyue (李子越), Yang Zhixiang (杨智翔)) — On the afternoon of the 14th, a large number of Japanese citizens held demonstrations in Tokyo (东京都) to protest a series of recent military expansion policies by the government of Sanae Takaichi (高市早苗) and the Liberal Democratic Party (自民党).
At the scene of the event, many citizens wore helmets inscribed with the words "Anti-war and Peace," chanting slogans such as "Oppose Constitutional Amendment" and "Stop the War." The organizers pointed out in their keynote report that while the Japanese government claims to be a "peaceful nation," it is simultaneously strengthening the Japan-U.S. Security Treaty (日美安保体制) and pushing for the expansion of the Self-Defense Forces (自卫队) and the militarization of the state, which is a path leading to war.
A protester named Kashimura (樫村) said in an interview at the scene: "Currently, prices in Japan are continuously rising, the tax burden is becoming heavier, and social security expenditures are also increasing. At the same time, the government is attempting to push for legislation that restricts freedom of speech and suppresses anti-war voices; people will lose the space for free expression."
Another protester, Junko Kaji (锻冶淳子), stated that there is currently almost no opposition force within the National Diet (国会) of Japan, and various war-related bills are being passed one after another. "Today, a large number of laborers and ordinary citizens have gathered around the National Diet (国会). Only by overthrowing the Takaichi (高市) regime through the people's opposition struggle is it possible to prevent the occurrence of war," she said.
Recently, in addition to continuing to strengthen military deployments in places like Okinawa (冲绳), Japan has frequently paved the way for further strengthening its so-called "defense capabilities" by formulating and revising relevant policy documents. On the 9th of this month, the Liberal Democratic Party (自民党) held a General Council meeting and passed a draft proposal to be submitted to the government regarding the revision of the "Three Security Documents" (安保三文件) within the year. The proposal not only suggests further increasing defense spending but also emphasizes increasing the sufficiency rate of reserve self-defense officials to cope with so-called "contingencies" (有事). These developments have sparked widespread public concern.
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Israel Attacks Lebanon Again; Iran Says Dialogue with the U.S. Has Become Impossible
Xinhua News Agency, Tehran, June 14 — Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf (卡利巴夫), Speaker of the Islamic Consultative Assembly (伊斯兰议会) of Iran, posted on social media on the 14th that Israel's attack on the southern suburbs of Beirut (贝鲁特), the capital of Lebanon (黎巴嫩), once again shows that the United States (美国) "either lacks the will to fulfill its promises or lacks the ability to do so," and that "continuing to advance the dialogue process has become impossible."
Ghalibaf (卡利巴夫) said that the U.S. giving Israel the "green light" will not yield any benefits, and the strategy of "fighting here while talking there" has lost its effectiveness. If the U.S. side has neither the will nor the ability to implement its own commitments, then "continuing to advance the dialogue process will become impossible."
According to a report by the U.S. news website Axios (阿克西奥斯) earlier, citing U.S. and Israeli officials, the Israel Defense Forces (以色列国防军) notified the U.S. Central Command (美军中央司令部) before launching the attack on Beirut (贝鲁特) that day.
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Antarctic Peninsula Experiences Abnormal High Temperatures More Than 20 Degrees Celsius Above Normal Levels
According to Xinhua News Agency, Buenos Aires (布宜诺斯艾利斯) — (Reporters Zhang Duo (张铎), Wang Zhongyi (王钟毅)) — Argentine (阿根廷) observational data shows that the Antarctic Peninsula (南极半岛) experienced an abnormal temperature of 15.4 degrees Celsius in early June, more than 20 degrees Celsius higher than normal levels, setting a new historical record for the same period and causing abnormal melting of ice layers.
Observational data from the Esperanza Antarctic Station (埃斯佩兰萨南极科考站) in Argentina (阿根廷) on the 6th showed that the temperature on the Antarctic Peninsula (南极半岛) reached 15.4 degrees Celsius that day, exceeding the highest single-day temperature record for June in history, which was 13.3 degrees Celsius recorded in 1998.
José Luis Stella (何塞·路易斯·斯特拉), an expert at the National Meteorological Service (国家气象局) of Argentina (阿根廷), said in an interview with the media on the 11th that although temperatures across Argentina (阿根廷), which is closer to the Antarctic Peninsula (南极半岛), have been generally high in early June this year, the temperature on the Antarctic Peninsula (南极半岛) being "more than 20 degrees Celsius higher than normal levels is an unusual phenomenon."
Researchers say that because the daily maximum temperature has been above zero degrees Celsius for the past three weeks, the area where the Esperanza Antarctic Station (埃斯佩兰萨南极科考站) is located has had no snow cover to date, which will have an adverse impact on the polar ecosystem. This situation is truly 雪上加霜 (xuě shàng jiā shuāng - "snow on top of frost," to add insult to injury or to make a bad situation worse).
Return to TopBy: 本报记者 曹师韵
Inside the Giant Panda Pavilion at Taman Safari Indonesia (印尼野生动物园) in Bogor (茂物), Indonesia (印度尼西亚), the giant panda cub "Leo" (里奥) pauses occasionally to look around, then dives into a pile of bamboo leaves to play. Its 憨态可掬 (hān tài kě jū - "simple-minded manner can be scooped," charmingly naive and cute) appearance draws tourists to take photos, filling the air with laughter.
On November 27, 2025, "Leo" (里奥) was born at Taman Safari Indonesia (印尼野生动物园), becoming the first giant panda cub born in Indonesia (印度尼西亚). Recently, as soon as "Leo" (里奥) made its debut, it became the zoo's "top-tier star." Its parents are the giant pandas "Caitao" (彩陶) and "Huchun" (湖春), who have been living in Indonesia (印度尼西亚) since 2017. Indonesian (印度尼西亚) President Prabowo Subianto (普拉博沃) named the cub "Satrio Wiratama" (萨特里奥·维拉塔马), meaning "brave and noble knight," with the nickname "Leo" (里奥).
Jansen Manansang (詹森·马南桑), founder of Taman Safari Indonesia (印尼野生动物园), introduced to reporters that "Leo" (里奥) is in good health, enjoys moving and climbing, and is full of curiosity about its surroundings. "Although it is still very dependent on its mother, it has already begun to actively explore the surrounding environment."
The birth of "Leo" (里奥) fills a gap in the history of giant panda breeding in Indonesia (印度尼西亚) and is an important achievement of the giant panda conservation cooperation between China (中国) and Indonesia (印度尼西亚). Manansang (马南桑) said that to welcome this giant panda cub, the zoo team put in years of effort, and "the teams from both Indonesia (印度尼西亚) and China (中国) have maintained close cooperation." "The birth of 'Leo' (里奥) is the crystallization of the cooperation between the two sides," said Bongot Mulia (邦戈特·穆利亚), senior veterinarian and vice president of life sciences at the zoo.
During "Leo" (里奥)'s first public appearance, the zoo specifically set up the third floor of the Giant Panda Pavilion as a viewing area. Through popular science display boards, simulated observation rooms, and thematic films, visitors can learn about the growth process of "Leo" (里奥) and giant panda conservation work. In the viewing area, visitor flow, visiting time, and on-site noise are strictly controlled. The veterinary and conservation teams continuously monitor the health and activity status of "Leo" (里奥).
"I have always wanted to see a giant panda cub, and today I finally saw one! It is even cuter than I imagined," said 7-year-old Indonesian (印度尼西亚) child Ahmad (艾哈迈德) excitedly. "I took a lot of photos and will show them to my classmates when I go back." Staff member Vikari (维卡里) introduced that on the first day of "Leo" (里奥)'s public debut, it attracted about 3,000 visitors, saying, "It is now the most popular star in the zoo."
Manansang (马南桑) stated that giant pandas are a special bond connecting the people of the two countries. He hopes that through them, more and more Indonesian (印度尼西亚) people, especially the younger generation, will pay attention to wildlife and ecological protection and enhance their understanding of China (中国). "'Leo' (里奥) symbolizes friendship, trust, and hope, as well as the firm commitment of both countries to jointly protect wildlife."
Outside the exit of the exhibition, a wishing tree is eye-catching, with its branches covered in messages written by visitors for "Leo" (里奥). The zoo plans to carry out more popular science education and ecological protection publicity activities centered on giant pandas to further promote animal protection cooperation and cultural exchanges between Indonesia (印度尼西亚) and China (中国).
(Reported from Bogor (茂物), Indonesia (印度尼西亚), June 14)
Return to TopBy: 本报记者 田先进
As night falls, the faint, melodious strains of singing continue to drift from the Changfeng County Lu Opera Troupe (长丰县庐剧团) in Changfeng County (长丰县), Hefei City (合肥市), Anhui Province (安徽省). Following the sound, one finds the actors rehearsing the Lu Opera (庐剧) production "Bao Zheng Refuses the Banquet" (包拯拒宴), a piece centered on themes of integrity.
Lu Opera originated in the Dabie Mountains (大别山区) of Western Anhui (皖西) and boasts a history of over 200 years. Previously, the Changfeng County Lu Opera Troupe (长丰县庐剧团) was once on the verge of collapse. Following reforms to the cultural system and mechanisms, the troupe systematically excavated local cultural resources, tightly integrated artistic creation with contemporary themes, and actively embraced the internet, injecting new vitality into the art of Lu Opera.
To date, the restructured Changfeng County Lu Opera Troupe (长丰县庐剧团) has conducted over 6,000 performances, reaching an online and offline audience of more than 8 million. Its original plays and programs have won over a hundred awards in various competitions, and it has been named a National Outstanding Grassroots Opera Troupe (全国优秀基层戏曲院团).
How did a relatively unknown local opera genre become known and loved by more audiences? Recently, our reporter conducted interviews.
"Opera is the foundation of the troupe; no matter how difficult, we must keep singing."
In the rehearsal hall, actors are drenched in sweat; in the live-streaming room, melodious tunes soar across vast distances. The Changfeng County Lu Opera Troupe (长丰县庐剧团) is located on the first floor of the Changfeng County Stadium (长丰县体育场). Though the space is small, it is bustling with popularity, and the walls on both sides of the corridor are covered with photos of recent performances and honors received by the troupe.
"All of this is condensed with the wisdom and hard work of the Lu Opera people," sighs Wang Ling (汪凌), head of the Changfeng County Lu Opera Troupe (长丰县庐剧团).
Because of its rich vocal styles and stories often derived from folklore, Lu Opera is deeply popular among the people of the Jianghuai region (江淮地区). In 2006, Lu Opera was included in the first batch of the National Intangible Cultural Heritage List (国家级非物质文化遗产名录) and is one of the major local opera genres in Anhui Province (安徽省).
In 1978, the Changfeng County Lu Opera Troupe (长丰县庐剧团) was officially established. In 1985, 20-year-old Wang Ling (汪凌) entered the troupe with a dream. "Influenced by my father since childhood, I was particularly interested in opera and would try to hum a few lines whenever I had free time," Wang Ling (汪凌) said. "Once, I saw the performance of several artists and was amazed by the charm of opera art; from then on, I was determined to pursue a career in the industry."
When Wang Ling (汪凌) first started, he "caught a good time." Back then, the Changfeng County Lu Opera Troupe (长丰县庐剧团) spent nearly half the year performing away from home. "The performance scenes were quite shocking, with crowds of people. You could say tickets were hard to come by." Recalling this, Wang Ling (汪凌) noted that the actors were full of energy: "If we didn't sing for a few days, our hearts would itch."
But good times did not last long. With the rise of various forms of cultural entertainment, Lu Opera was impacted, and "actors had no plays to sing and left one after another."
In December 2010, the Lu Opera troupe officially underwent enterprise restructuring and is currently the only state-owned professional literary and art troupe in Changfeng County (长丰县).
How to reproduce the past glory of the troupe? After officially becoming the head, Wang Ling (汪凌) shouldered this heavy responsibility.
No people, no money, no plays—this was the reality facing Wang Ling (汪凌). "The troupe had less than 20 people left, most of whom were not even actors, and the monthly salary was only a few hundred yuan. Where would the motivation to work come from?"
"Opera is the foundation of the troupe; no matter how difficult, we must keep singing," Wang Ling (汪凌) said. "At that time, I decided we would start singing during the upcoming 'May Day' (五一) holiday!"
Lacking actors, Wang Ling (汪凌) ran around, gathering artists from folk troupes or inviting actors who had left professional troupes to join the team. "In fact, opera actors are all eager to return to the stage. When talking about treatment and conditions, we explained the policies and the situation, and everyone believed the troupe would have a good development," Wang Ling (汪凌) said with a smile.
What to perform? Time was tight, and creating new plays was certainly unrealistic, so everyone decided to perform old repertoires, but with some changes. "During the holidays, it's festive, so the actors' singing should be slightly more cheerful to match the festive atmosphere," Wang Ling (汪凌) said.
The three-day holiday performance received an enthusiastic response from the audience. "It had been too long since we watched a play, and every performance was packed. What does this mean? Our Lu Opera still has a market." After this battle, Wang Ling (汪凌) became more determined in his belief to keep performing for the common people.
At that time, the troupe did not have its own "fist product," so taking advantage of the momentum, Wang Ling (汪凌) conducted research and drew inspiration from local sources to create and rehearse the Lu Opera "The Female Village Chief" (女村长). "The county supported 300,000 yuan in funding, plus the 100,000-plus yuan I raised myself, so the funds were guaranteed," Wang Ling (汪凌) said, adding that the former actors also returned one after another.
Devoting his full heart and living up to expectations, the play premiered successfully in Hefei (合肥). Wang Ling (汪凌) said excitedly, "We also toured the whole province, performing more than 100 times in total, and won the 12th Anhui Provincial Spiritual Civilization Construction 'Five-One Project' Award (安徽省第十二届精神文明建设‘五个一工程’奖), bringing the troupe back to the center of the stage."
"Learn while improving, constantly surpassing oneself"
At 3:00 PM, in the small theater of the Changfeng County Cultural Center (长丰县文化馆), the classic traditional Lu Opera "Presenting the Pagoda" (赠塔) is being performed. The actors on stage are truly devoted, and the audience below is captivated.
On one side of the stage, the famous Lu Opera performing artist Wu Keying (武克英) from Lu'an, Anhui (安徽六安), is fully focused, taking out her mobile phone to record when the plot reaches a key point.
"The three actors on stage are all my apprentices, and today counts as their report performance," Wu Keying (武克英) said with a smile. "The effect of this performance is very good; I can give it a high score."
As a national-level representative inheritor of intangible cultural heritage, Wu Keying (武克英) began taking three actors from the Changfeng County Lu Opera Troupe (长丰县庐剧团) under her wing in 2024, using the excerpt "Presenting the Pagoda" (赠塔) as teaching content, providing hands-on instruction from vocal tones to eye expressions.
Wu Keying (武克英) is also often invited by Wang Ling (汪凌) to give lectures at the troupe. "When Teacher Wu (武老师) gives a lecture, she will first introduce the history and characteristics of Lu Opera to give us a comprehensive understanding. Later, she will combine specific singing and movements, such as water sleeve techniques (水袖功), to remind us of precautions during performance." Actor Pan Wei (潘伟) exclaimed, "What impressed me most is that Teacher Wu (武老师) emphasizes that actors should be both virtuous and artistic; if you want to act well, you must first be a good person."
In the eyes of Wang Ling (汪凌), "The resources, vision, and ability of a county-level troupe are limited. If we want to achieve greater breakthroughs, we must continuously connect with high-quality resources. Learn while improving, and constantly surpass oneself."
Pan Wei (潘伟) has a deep understanding of this. In recent years, he has starred in many plays. "During rehearsals, as long as Teacher Wu (武老师) is present, she will patiently explain, which is very useful," Pan Wei (潘伟) said. He is also a veteran actor with many years of experience, but every piece of advice from Teacher Wu (武老师) gives him new gains: "Progress is getting faster and bigger."
Wang Ling (汪凌) has always been thinking about how to carry out the innovative development of Lu Opera. It wasn't until the 40th anniversary of Reform and Opening Up (改革开放) in 2018 that he had the idea of creating a play reflecting the development and changes of Changfeng County (长丰县).
"Strawberries are a specialty of Changfeng (长丰) and also a treasure for villagers to get rich. Why not use this as an entry point to perform a modern play?" Wang Ling (汪凌) said. "The name of the play is 'Red Beauty' (红颜), taken from a best-selling variety of strawberry."
"The script is the foundation of a play." Wang Ling (汪凌) traveled everywhere and invited screenwriter Yu Rongjun (喻荣军) from Shanghai (上海) to write the script for "Red Beauty" (红颜). To better understand the situation, Yu Rongjun (喻荣军) spent a long time researching in various towns in Changfeng (长丰), leaving early and returning late. "Deeply rooted in life and the people, the creation is solid," Wang Ling (汪凌) said. "In the subsequent discussion session, the script was revised five or six times."
"In the process of cooperating with experts, we also broadened our horizons and increased our skills," Wang Ling (汪凌) said. "'Red Beauty' (红颜) was a success at its premiere at the Hefei Grand Theater (合肥大剧院). The audience said, 'It touched our hearts.'"
Creating 19 large and small Lu Opera stage plays such as "Red Beauty" (红颜), "Maying Project" (马郢计划), "Agricultural Special Commissioner" (农运特派员), "The Willow Dark and Flowers Bright, Another Village" (柳暗花明又一村 - liǔ àn huā míng yòu yī cūn - "willow dark flower bright another village," to find hope or a new path after a difficult situation), and "Lotus Picture" (莲花图), re-staging 10 traditional classic Lu Opera plays such as "The Butterfly Lovers" (梁山伯与祝英台), and creating over 180 original variety-style excellent programs... Telling vivid history and depicting a fiery life, the achievements of the Changfeng County Lu Opera Troupe (长丰县庐剧团) are obvious to all.
"Let excellent traditional culture 'attract' more young people"
However, is the stage only offline?
With the rise of new media and the popularity of the "Guochao" (national trend) style, the Lu Opera troupe had a new idea—starting live broadcasts.
"Good evening, family! We will start tonight's opera connection soon." After dinner, in the live broadcast room of the Changfeng County Lu Opera Troupe (长丰县庐剧团), Wang Ling (汪凌) started the broadcast on time. After a simple opening, Wang Ling (汪凌) invited the actors in the troupe to go online for a connection, and classic Lu Opera segments were performed in turns, with the popularity of the live broadcast room rising all the way.
"The troupe's official Douyin (抖音) account is called 'Changfeng Has Opera' (常丰有戏), and it has been operating for more than a year. From the initial few hundred or thousands of fans to tens of thousands of followers now, our live broadcast form and content have been recognized by netizens," Wang Ling (汪凌) said happily.
The first contact between the Changfeng County Lu Opera Troupe (长丰县庐剧团) and social media platforms occurred in 2018. "At that time, we edited some clips of the troupe's performances and uploaded them to the internet, hoping that more people, especially young people, could see them. But the effect did not meet expectations," Wang Ling (汪凌) said. "This also shows that winning attention on internet platforms is a very difficult thing and requires more hard work."
In 2024, the "Spotlight Project—Douyin Live Broadcast Grassroots Troupe Support Special" (聚光计划——抖音直播基层院团扶持专项), guided by the Art Department of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism (文化和旅游部艺术司) and jointly initiated by the Art Development Center of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism (文化和旅游部艺术发展中心) and Douyin Live (抖音直播), was launched. The Changfeng County Lu Opera Troupe (长丰县庐剧团) saw the opportunity and joined the "Spotlight Project" (聚光计划).
"This is a rare opportunity. When our troupe conducts online live broadcasts, we can get the support of the platform, and our voices can be heard by more people," Wang Ling (汪凌) was overjoyed and prepared to show his skills.
The "Spotlight Project" (聚光计划) provides the Changfeng County Lu Opera Troupe (长丰县庐剧团) with a subsidy of 50,000 yuan per month to support actors in live streaming. How to make good use of this money? Establishing a live broadcast guild, purchasing live broadcast equipment, and setting up two professional live broadcast rooms, one large and one small... With hardware guaranteed, the next step is the most important performance link.
"At first, I was not optimistic about singing opera via live broadcast, and I didn't even want to download the software." Mentioning the past, veteran actor Xue Zhongping (薛忠萍) spoke quickly. "Later, encouraged by Head Wang (汪团长), I tried it, and unexpectedly I fell in love with it. Now, if I don't broadcast for a few days, I miss it."
In the exploration, the Lu Opera troupe also started "National Opera Assembly" (全民戏曲大会) connection live broadcasts and kept exploring live broadcast techniques. "The effect is very good, and many actors are now gold-medal anchors," Wang Ling (汪凌) said with a smile.
Xue Zhongping (薛忠萍) admitted that online live broadcasting not only spreads opera culture more widely but is also a great exercise for the actors themselves. "An actor performing on a real stage, no matter how many scenes they have, is only a few dozen minutes. Now, to support a two-hour live broadcast, I must force myself to learn more singing styles. There are also opera experts among the audience who will make suggestions for my performance," Xue Zhongping (薛忠萍) said. "Some netizens also know some old folk tunes that I have indeed never heard of. But I promised the netizens that I would learn them after the broadcast and let them come to the live broadcast room to listen in a few days."
Through the efforts of the actors, the audience stickiness of the Lu Opera troupe has continuously increased, and many viewers will watch from the start of the live broadcast until the end.
In December 2024, in the 2024 Douyin Live State-owned Literary and Art Troupe Season 1 "It's Showtime · My Troupe" (开演了·我的团) exhibition, which involved 42 troupes nationwide, the Changfeng County Lu Opera Troupe (长丰县庐剧团), as one of only two county-level troupes, competed on the same stage with national and provincial troupes and finally won second place.
"Behind the success is everyone's unity and cooperation. In our 10-minute exhibition time, we adopted the form of joint singing of Peking Opera (京剧), Lu Opera (庐剧), and Huangmei Opera (黄梅戏), which was refreshing," Wang Ling (汪凌) said. In the second season of "It's Showtime · My Troupe" (开演了·我的团) held in September 2025, the troupe won second place in the country again. "For a county-level troupe, this achievement is very precious."
To date, the Changfeng County Lu Opera Troupe (长丰县庐剧团) Douyin (抖音) official account and 13 gold-medal anchors have broadcast for more than 3,000 hours, with more than 5 million viewers across the entire network and economic benefits of more than 500,000 yuan. Many netizens exclaimed that in the Changfeng County Lu Opera Troupe (长丰县庐剧团), there is still a group of people who are always persisting, inheriting, and doing interesting and beautiful things.
"We will continue to sing, persist in our pursuit of art, cherish the love of the audience in front of the stage and the screen, let the niche Lu Opera move towards the masses, and let excellent traditional culture 'attract' more young people," Wang Ling's (汪凌) words reveal the tenacity and confidence of an opera person.
Return to TopBy: 耿 磊
Recently, the Second World Conference on Classics (第二届世界古典学大会) was held in Athens (雅典), Greece (希腊). With the theme "Dialogue between Civilizations: The Modern Significance of Classical Wisdom," hundreds of scholars from countries including China (中国), Greece (希腊), and Germany (德国) engaged in in-depth discussions on how to stimulate the contemporary value of classical studies, providing inspiration for the development of human society and the progress of civilization.
To understand where one comes from is to know where one is going. Classical studies is a discipline with profound historical origins and significant contemporary value. As the world currently faces changes unseen in a century, when confronted with major choices, people can look back at history and draw wisdom and strength from the reflections of ancient sages.
For a long time, international conferences on classical studies were dominated by Western academia. The First World Conference on Classics (第一届世界古典学大会), held in Beijing (北京) in 2024, was the first conference oriented toward all fields of classical research globally to be hosted by a country outside the Western classical academic sphere. This marks the formal entry of Chinese classical studies onto the international academic stage. As the world's only ancient civilization that has never been interrupted and continues to this day, the development trajectory and distinctive characteristics of Chinese civilization (中华文明) possess irreplaceable value for all of humanity. The Chinese classical academic community has both the responsibility and the capability to provide nourishment for the development of global classical studies.
In recent years, Chinese classical studies have achieved significant development, forming a comprehensive disciplinary system. With a high sense of responsibility and profound scholarship, Chinese classical scholars are engaging in dialogue and exchange with classical academic circles worldwide, bringing research achievements that are rich with the spirit of the times. The World Conference on Classics (世界古典学大会) is becoming an important platform for exchanges and mutual learning among civilizations, building bridges of communication, dialogue, peace, and friendship.
So, in a modern society with highly developed technology, what can we gain from the study of classics?
German (德国) philosopher Karl Jaspers (雅斯贝尔斯) believed that between 800 BCE and 200 BCE, the thought and culture of human civilization's cradles—such as ancient China (古代中国) and ancient Greece (古代希腊)—underwent a leap in development, forming the "Axial Age" (轴心时代) of human civilization, the legacy of which is a precious resource for developing modern civilization. The forms of thought and cultural heritage precipitated by ancient Chinese civilization (中国古典文明) profoundly influence the way modern states and societies operate; for instance, value concepts such as benevolence, righteousness, propriety, and wisdom (仁义礼智), and the idea that "the people are the foundation of the state" (民为邦本), still exert significant influence today. The value of classical studies lies in drawing from the past to nourish the present, helping us understand the modern world and develop modern civilization.
Broadening our perspective, "diversity of civilizations is the true nature of the world." Without an understanding of the diversity and richness of classical civilizations, it is difficult to form an objective cognition of the overall landscape of human civilization. In-depth research into classical studies and the conduct of exchanges and discussions in this field can prompt people from different countries and regions to fully recognize the basic pattern of human civilizations where each "appreciates the beauty of its own" (各美其美), subsequently moving toward "appreciating the beauty of others" (美人之美) through "exchange and mutual learning" (交流互鉴), and ultimately achieving "harmony and common prosperity" (美美与共).
Returning to ourselves, classical studies is not an exclusive domain for experts and scholars; ordinary people also benefit from it. From the recent rise of the "Guochao" (国潮) trend and the popularity of museums (文博热) to the classical music, ancient poetry, and historical dramas that people encounter in their daily lives, all are closely related to classical studies.
The recently aired television series *Peaceful Years* (《太平年》) deeply presented the characters and social customs of the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms period (五代十国). The grand construction of real-life sets, costumes made using the "plant dyeing" (草木染) technique, metal armor weighing over 40 kilograms per set, and headgear with a weaving density of 120 stitches per square centimeter—behind these presentations lies the powerful support of deepening research in Chinese classical studies. The values of peace, unity, and people-centeredness conveyed in the drama remain the unwavering beliefs of the Chinese people (中国人民) today.
In summary, classical studies, based on the study of ancient classics and ancient civilizations, may not provide directly utilitarian knowledge, but through the diffusion and spillover of knowledge, it exerts a profound and lasting influence on personal growth, social development, and even the construction of human civilization.
History contains wisdom, and civilization nurtures strength. The pursuit of peace and progress is the common ideal of all civilizations, both ancient and modern, domestic and foreign. As exchanges between Chinese and foreign classical academic circles become more extensive and in-depth, research in classical studies will surely enter a new, more open, and diverse stage. The light of classical wisdom will surely illuminate the path forward for humanity.
Return to TopBy: 本报记者 孙海天
"The terrain of the fishing village is truly excellent; three hundred years ago, it was a barren slope. Shaped like a gourd with water on three sides, the Ningyuan River (宁远河) is like a golden thread..." Inside a residential building in the urban area of Sanya (三亚), Hainan (海南), Mai Yibin (麦宜斌) leaned back on his sofa, flipping through a handwritten songbook and humming a few lines of the "Gangmen Ballad" (《港门谣》). His wife, Chen Xigu (陈喜姑), sitting beside him, picked up the next verse. The two sang in harmony, without accompaniment or microphones, as the unique cadence of the Yazhou (崖州) dialect drifted through the room.
64-year-old Mai Yibin (麦宜斌) is a provincial-level representative inheritor of Yazhou (崖州) folk songs, and Chen Xigu (陈喜姑) is a municipal-level representative inheritor. As a husband-and-wife duo performing Yazhou (崖州) folk songs, they perform more than 20 times a year, large and small. The "Gangmen Ballad" (《港门谣》), which blends elements of Yazhou (崖州) folk songs with modern arrangements, is one of the representative works the couple has been actively promoting in recent years.
Yazhou (崖州) folk songs are circulated in the coastal areas of Yazhou District (崖州区), Sanya (三亚), and Ledong Li Autonomous County (乐东黎族自治县). They are sung in the Yazhou (崖州) Hakka dialect and were included in the first batch of the National Intangible Cultural Heritage List in 2006. The songs follow a basic format of four lines with seven characters each, emphasizing the rhymes of the Yazhou (崖州) dialect. The lyrics range from impromptu short songs sung in the fields to long narratives adapted from classical masterpieces.
Mai Yibin (麦宜斌) grew up in Gangmen (港门), Yazhou (崖州), and his mother’s lullabies were Yazhou (崖州) folk songs. "In the days without electric lights, a dozen or twenty people would gather around a kerosene lamp to listen to a singer hold a songbook and sing all night long." In 2004, while working as a Chinese and music teacher at Gangxi Primary School (港西小学) in Yazhou District (崖州区), the Sanya (三亚) Yazhou (崖州) Folk Song Association was being established. Mai Yibin (麦宜斌) learned to sing from veteran singers during the day and studied pronunciation and articulation on his own at night. He filled several thick notebooks with notes and, through **勤学苦练** (qín xué kǔ liàn - "diligent study hard practice," to study and practice assiduously), he soon began to **崭露头角** (zhǎn lù tóu jiǎo - "reveal head show horn," to reveal one's talent and stand out).
However, a dilemma always haunted him: the people singing folk songs on stage were all elderly, and the audience was constantly dwindling. In 2008, after a rehearsal for a Mid-Autumn Festival gala, someone asked him, "You are a primary school teacher; can you teach children to sing Yazhou (崖州) folk songs?"
This remark enlightened Mai Yibin (麦宜斌). He selected a few children from the school who had good voices and were interested, teaching them line by line. "Rock the baby, rock the baby, don't cry, don't fuss; rock the baby, don't sleep, lie quietly; don't make waves, listen to your mother." A folk song is only four lines long, but he would teach it at least six times: first reading it in the dialect, then explaining the pronunciation and meaning of each word, then teaching articulation and rhythm once the students had memorized it, and finally focusing on performance details once they could sing it. "Some children in physical education class would poke their heads outside the window, asking what song this was and saying they wanted to learn too." In 2013, he formally applied to establish a school-based curriculum for Yazhou (崖州) folk songs at Gangxi Primary School (港西小学), becoming the first person in Hainan (海南) to bring Yazhou (崖州) folk songs into primary school classrooms.
The first group of children who learned to sing with him are now in college. "They might not sing forever, but once they learn it, they won't forget it. When they want to sing, they can do so immediately. The 'seeds' have been planted," he said.
In 2016, Chen Xigu (陈喜姑) began to partner with her husband in singing. Their voices complemented each other perfectly, and they soon became a permanent fixture on the Yazhou (崖州) folk song stage. The "seeds" were also planted within their own family. Mai Yibin (麦宜斌)’s granddaughter, Chen Yishu (陈艺舒), had been listening to her grandparents sing since she was two; without anyone specifically teaching her, she learned it just by listening.
Beyond performing, Mai Yibin (麦宜斌) has put more energy into creation. Old songbooks often take ten or twenty minutes to sing, which is too long for the modern stage and not suitable for dissemination. He and Chen Xigu (陈喜姑) write new songs together: three or four minutes long, with melodies that retain the foundation of Yazhou (崖州) folk songs and lyrics that are relevant to the present—"Yazhou (崖州) Sour Noodles" (《崖州酸粉》) sings about local snacks, "Gratitude to Parents" (《感恩双亲》) sings about filial piety, and "Joining Hands to Protect the Seedlings" (《全民携手共护苗》) focuses on the growth of teenagers. "Old songs should be sung at home; they cannot be forgotten. But on stage, we must use new songs, written in a popular style so that ordinary people can understand them as soon as they hear them and remember them after listening. Only then will they have vitality," said Mai Yibin (麦宜斌).
In recent years, Sanya (三亚) has continued to promote the integration of Yazhou (崖州) folk songs into campuses, scenic spots, and communities. It has established inheritance bases in many schools and expanded social participation through singing competitions, intangible cultural heritage exhibitions, and inter-regional exchanges. "Yazhou (崖州) folk songs are a living cultural heritage, and the key to protection lies in letting them return to daily life," explained Xu Yongman (徐永曼), a relevant official at the Sanya (三亚) Cultural Center (三亚市文化馆).
Before the interview ended, the reporter asked the couple to sing another piece. A stack of manuscripts was piled on the coffee table in the living room, some containing records of traditional tracks and others being drafts of new songs. Mai Yibin (麦宜斌) picked up a page, pointed to the dense corrections on it, and said, "This one is still being revised; the rhymes aren't quite smooth yet." Chen Xigu (陈喜姑) leaned over to look, hummed a few lines in a low voice, and shook her head: "We need to change a word here."
The two then faced the manuscript and began to sing, line by line.
Return to TopBy: 本报记者 姚雪青 人民网记者 张 妍
Located in the hinterland of the Yangtze River Delta (长三角), Changzhou (常州), Jiangsu (江苏), is a city with a profound cultural heritage, a comprehensive industrial base, and a unique blend of ancient charm and modern vitality. Relying on its full-chain industrial advantages, high-quality business services, and inclusive urban environment, Changzhou (常州) has steadily expanded its opening-up, becoming a fertile ground for development that is both livable and business-friendly, continuously attracting global talent and resources. Today, more than 4,000 expatriates live and work here, having transformed from witnesses of the city's development into participants, growing in tandem with the city and achieving mutual success.
Comprehensive Industry—
"Personal growth, corporate growth, and industrial development are closely linked"
Industry is the foundation of urban development and the bedrock of opening-up. Changzhou's (常州) complete industrial chain support and full-cycle business services provide a solid foundation for foreign-invested enterprises to deepen their presence and for foreign talent to grow and succeed.
At Bilstein Shock Absorbers (Changzhou) Co., Ltd. (倍适登减振汽车零部件（常州）有限公司) (hereinafter referred to as "Bilstein" (倍适登)), a subsidiary of the ThyssenKrupp Group (蒂森克虏伯集团), high-precision testing equipment and intelligent conveyor systems operate at high speeds within the workshop. Every year, approximately one million shock absorbers roll off the production line here, destined for vehicle manufacturers around the globe.
As a German industrial giant, the ThyssenKrupp Group (蒂森克虏伯集团) has increased its investment in Changzhou (常州) six times in six years, serving as a vivid microcosm of foreign investment deepening its roots in Changzhou (常州) for mutual benefit. As the company has grown locally, Bilstein (倍适登) General Manager and German national Michael Amber (麦安柏) has achieved his own professional growth step by step.
In 2012, the ThyssenKrupp Group (蒂森克虏伯集团) planned to establish a camshaft project in the Yangtze River Delta (长三角). Changzhou (常州) won the opportunity for a site visit with its efficient response speed and professional coordination services, and the group's first factory was established that same year. Over the past decade, the company has continued to increase its investment: a second factory was built in 2015, focusing on the production of steering systems; in 2017, the second phase of the steering system factory was expanded, and Michael Amber (麦安柏), then an engineer at the German headquarters, came to work in Changzhou (常州); in 2021, Bilstein (倍适登) was established, and in 2025, Michael Amber (麦安柏) was appointed as the general manager of this new company.
In Michael Amber's (麦安柏) view, a perfect industrial and supply chain is the core advantage that attracts companies to take root, and the local "half-hour supply circle" provides strong support for production and operations. "Changzhou (常州) has become the group's main production base for automotive parts in China and is an important part of our global business development," he said. "Here, personal growth, corporate growth, and industrial development are closely linked and mutually reinforcing."
Beyond complete industrial support, Changzhou's (常州) thoughtful and efficient business environment has also received high recognition from many foreign enterprise executives.
In October 2022, the Swiss Ypsomed Group (医沛生集团) subsidiary, Ypsomed Medical Device Manufacturing (Changzhou) Co., Ltd. (医沛生医疗器械制造（常州）有限公司) (hereinafter referred to as "Ypsomed" (医沛生)), established its first production base in the Asia-Pacific region in Changzhou (常州). Discussing the location considerations, the company's head, Swiss national Fredy (斐雷杜), stated that the high-quality business environment is what impresses companies most; government departments are efficient and adept at listening to and solving practical problems for enterprises.
Relying on efficient government services, the project completed its filing in April 2023 and began construction in September, with the main factory building completed in just 14 months. Before completion, the Ypsomed Group (医沛生集团) increased its investment by another 100 million euros and signed a new project.
Changzhou (常州) regularly hosts "Chain Appointments · Neighborhood Support" (链上有约·邻里配套) events, building a platform for upstream and downstream enterprises to communicate and promoting cooperation and cost reduction. During the "Su Chao" (苏超) (Suzhou-Changzhou football league) tournament, the local government took the opportunity to create the "Foreign Enterprise Friends Watch Su Chao" (外企友人看苏超) event, turning the sports arena into a unique business reception hall. It was at this event that Fredy (斐雷杜) connected with SMC Automation Co., Ltd. (SMC自动化有限公司), initiating a long-term partnership.
"From site selection, procedure handling, and factory construction to industrial chain docking and market expansion after production, the local government provides meticulous 'full-cycle services' to solve various practical problems. This is an important factor in our decision to continue increasing our investment," said Fredy (斐雷杜).
Carlos Llorit (卡洛斯·洛里特), General Manager of the Spanish company Lami (Changzhou) New Material Technology Co., Ltd. (拉米（常州）新材料科技有限公司), introduced that it took the company only one year from applying for a business license to formal production, and the efficient government services left a deep impression. Currently, the company plans to promote the transformation of production automation and, under the government's matchmaking, is actively connecting with local and Beijing (北京) universities to carry out industry-university-research cooperation.
From initially leasing a factory to now planning to purchase land and expand capacity, Llorit (洛里特) stated that this is a strategic choice based on long-term development and, more importantly, a full trust in Changzhou's (常州) development environment.
Today, more than 3,000 foreign-invested enterprises have settled in Changzhou (常州), with 107 Fortune Global 500 companies laying out 216 projects. The city boasts 34 provincial-level multinational regional headquarters and functional institutions, 35 foreign-funded R&D centers, and has built six provincial-level international cooperation parks, including Sino-German and Sino-Swiss parks.
"Openness is a distinct urban characteristic of Changzhou (常州), and we always embrace global cooperation with an inclusive attitude," said Song Xiaowei (宋晓薇), head of the Foreign Enterprise Service Division of the Changzhou Municipal Bureau of Commerce (常州市商务局). She explained that the local government uses forms such as foreign enterprise roundtables and industrial chain matchmaking meetings to precisely push support policies, resolve operational difficulties for enterprises, and enhance communication and interaction among foreign-invested enterprises through various cultural and sports activities. This fosters an atmosphere of being pro-business, settling-business, and enriching-business, continuously enhancing the sense of gain for expatriates.
Urban Governance—
"'Foreigners' are not bystanders, but participants in urban development"
"Falling flowers on the water flow slowly, fish under the water swim slowly..." A century ago, Liu Bannong (刘半农), a pioneer of the New Culture Movement (新文化运动) who studied in Changzhou (常州), wrote the poem "Teach Me How Not to Miss Her" (教我如何不想她) in a foreign land. It was later set to music by the Changzhou-born linguist Zhao Yuanren (赵元任) and became widely popular. Over the past century, the city's inclusive character has been passed down from generation to generation.
In 2024, Brazilian football coach Cassiano (卡西亚诺) came to the Changzhou Economic and Technological Development Zone (常州经开区) to work in youth football training. The mass-participatory "Su Chao" (苏超) made him truly feel Changzhou's (常州) strong sports atmosphere and open-minded urban temperament. Taking advantage of the tournament, he made many local football friends.
In addition to coaching youth teams, Cassiano (卡西亚诺) also joined the "Chang Chao" (常超) as a player, fighting side-by-side with local teammates from all walks of life, and his team reached the top eight. In his view, the outcome of the game is not important; the process of collaborating with new partners is the most memorable part. "Changzhou (常州) people love football, regardless of winning or losing. This enthusiasm for grassroots culture and daily life is particularly moving."
In his spare time, Cassiano (卡西亚诺) likes to walk through the city streets and alleys to experience the charm of the ancient Jiangnan (江南) city. He visited historical and cultural blocks such as Qingguo Lane (青果巷) and tasted local snacks like sesame cakes and shrimp cakes; the authentic Jiangnan (江南) flavor deeply fascinated him.
The hustle and bustle of daily life give the city warmth, while the open and inclusive urban temperament allows many expatriates to settle down and integrate voluntarily.
In 2011, British national William Bill (威廉·比尔) was hired as a foreign teacher at Changzhou Institute of Technology (常州工学院). He said he had lived and worked in seven countries, and "Changzhou (常州) makes me feel the most at ease."
In January 2025, Bill (比尔) was invited as a representative of foreign friends to observe the Fourth Session of the 17th People's Congress of Changzhou (常州市第十七届人民代表大会). "This is a special invitation, reflecting the open and inclusive culture of this city, making me truly feel that 'foreigners' are not bystanders, but participants in urban development."
Over the past 15 years, Bill (比尔) has witnessed the city's rapid changes and has gradually become a "Changzhou (常州) expert." When new foreign friends are unfamiliar with the environment, he patiently guides them, helping everyone adapt to local life quickly. In 2018, he received a Permanent Residence ID Card for Foreigners, and the following year, he was awarded the title of "Honorary Citizen of Changzhou (常州市荣誉市民)."
In recent years, Changzhou (常州) has been striving to build the "Youth Music City" (青春乐都) urban brand, and its vibrant energy and diverse trendy culture have attracted a large number of young expatriates to pursue their dreams.
Born in 2006, Russian girl Lin Qianyue (林芊月) is a freshman majoring in e-commerce at Changzhou Institute of Technology (常州工学院). Changzhou Cultural Plaza (常州文化广场) is a place she and her classmates often visit; it has both a library with a rich collection of books and an open outdoor stage, where citizens often spontaneously take the stage to sing, forming a unique "wild concert."
"I like the Cultural Plaza (文化广场) most in the evening. The sunset dyes the building glass amber, the guitar music slowly starts, and people sit down casually to enjoy the music. It's free and beautiful," said Lin Qianyue (林芊月). Such scenes are a reflection of the continuously enriching spiritual and cultural life of the citizens. "This city is full of vitality and makes people love it from the heart." In 2025, Lin Qianyue (林芊月) stood on the stage of the "I Love Changzhou" (我爱常州) Chinese Speech Contest for International Students and won the third prize with her fluent Chinese and sincere storytelling.
Regular cultural exchange activities continuously enhance the closeness between foreign friends and Changzhou (常州). Since 2012, Changzhou (常州) has continued to build the "I Love Changzhou" (我爱常州) salon brand for overseas friends, carrying out quarterly activities themed around traditional cultural experiences and urban development visits. It has invited more than 3,000 foreign friends from countries such as Germany (德国) and Argentina (阿根廷) to participate. The "Su Chao" (苏超) foreign business cheering squad activity has received 12 batches and nearly 1,200 person-times of foreign enterprise friends.
The diverse cultural ecology and friendly urban atmosphere have ranked Changzhou's (常州) foreign talent attraction index third among large and medium-sized cities in China, with more and more international friends walking into Changzhou (常州), experiencing Changzhou (常州), and building Changzhou (常州).
Stable Life—
"Work and life have reached a perfect balance"
In early summer, ships come and go on the Changzhou (常州) section of the Yangtze River (长江), and the vegetation on both banks is lush. Michael Amber (麦安柏) and his family cycle along the riverside greenway, stopping to rest at the fishing port pier. The distant river view is like a painting, and the camping tents nearby are scattered, creating a leisurely and comfortable atmosphere.
Having been in Changzhou (常州) for nine years, Michael Amber (麦安柏) has started a family, and his life is stable and happy. "Here, work and life have reached a perfect balance."
Michael Amber (麦安柏) loves sports, and Changzhou's (常州) continuously improving sports facilities give him plenty of space for exercise: on weekdays, he walks with his family in Central Park (中央公园); on weekends, he invites friends to cycle in the Xilong Ecological Forest (新龙生态林); during holidays, he goes to the Xilong Lake Kayaking Base (新龙湖皮划艇基地) to form a team for competitions... He also took the lead in forming a multinational football team composed of foreign friends and local fans, which holds activities every Tuesday. Michael Amber (麦安柏) said that now, leisure and sports spaces such as football fields, baseball and softball fields, and pocket parks are densely distributed, greatly enriching everyone's spare time. The ecological changes along the Yangtze River (长江) over these years have also surprised him: "The picturesque riverside greenway has become a great place for everyone to relax and exercise."
Beautiful ecology and convenient life are the common feelings of many expatriates in Changzhou (常州).
50-year-old French national Dai Saiwei (戴赛维), General Manager of Changzhou Aofa Metal Products Co., Ltd. (常州奥发金属制品有限公司), has worked and lived in this city for 27 years. He jokingly calls himself "half a Changzhou (常州) person."
In Dai Saiwei's (戴赛维) eyes, life in Changzhou (常州) is very convenient: bilingual signs are generally set up in public places, making them clear at a glance; foreign card consumption and mobile payments are unobstructed; major hospitals have medical staff who speak English, making medical consultations convenient. "Even if you don't know Chinese, you can live very well here," he said.
Hanjiang Road Community (汉江路社区) in Xinbei District (新北区) is an area where foreign residents are concentrated. "During traditional festivals, we dance dragon lanterns, play diabolo, and make dumplings together; on weekends and holidays, the community also opens intangible cultural heritage experience workshops," said Ren Li (任莉), director of the Hanjiang Road Community Residents' Committee (汉江路社区居委会). The International Food Market and Corner Concert held during the "May Day" (五一) holiday are very popular—friends from various countries bring out their specialty foods: Russian cakes, Indian flying pancakes, and Mexican tacos, all filled with aroma. When night falls, everyone takes the stage to sing and chat, closing the distance between each other through food and music. Bill (比尔) and his wife are regulars here. They say that Changzhou (常州) has authentic Jiangnan (江南) flavors and also gathers world cuisines, and the inclusive atmosphere makes people feel very warm.
Changzhou (常州) has also built a stage for employment for many foreign youths studying here. "When visiting universities and connecting with enterprises, we found that many international students hope to stay and work in China, and many Changzhou (常州) enterprises going global are also in urgent need of foreign-related talent familiar with overseas markets," said Sun Zhigang (孙志刚), deputy director of the Changzhou International Exchange Center (常州市国际交流中心). The local government actively builds a supply-demand matching platform.
Wanbang Star Charge Technology Co., Ltd. (万帮星星充电科技有限公司), which is accelerating its global layout, has a strong demand for overseas local talent. Qi Bairen (齐百仁) from Indonesia (印度尼西亚) is a fresh graduate majoring in international trade at Jiangsu University of Technology (江苏理工学院). He connected with this company during an enterprise visit organized by the International Exchange Center (国际交流中心) and is currently interning at its Changzhou (常州) headquarters. After graduation, Qi Bairen (齐百仁) will return to Jakarta (雅加达), Indonesia (印度尼西亚), to serve as an international business assistant. "I will assist the company in exploring the Indonesian (印尼) market and become a link for economic and trade exchanges between the two countries." He is full of expectations for the future.
Return to TopBy: 姚雪青
Changzhou (常州), Jiangsu (江苏), is a "naturally friendly" city that makes one feel as if they have known it for years upon the first encounter.
From Brazilian (巴西) football coach Cassiano (卡西亚诺) running side-by-side with local teammates on the "Changzhou Super League" (常超) pitch, to British (英国) teacher William Bill (威廉·比尔) being invited to observe the Municipal People's Congress (市人代会); from German (德国) entrepreneur Michael Amber (麦安柏) enjoying a leisurely bike ride along the Yangtze River (长江) riverside greenway, to an increasing number of expatriates settling down and building their careers here, Changzhou (常州) is attracting visitors from all corners with its unique charm. Today, Changzhou's (常州) attractiveness index for foreign talent consistently ranks among the top of large and medium-sized cities nationwide. "Once you arrive, you are a Changzhou (常州) local" is the shared sentiment of expatriates.
花香蝶自来 (huā xiāng dié zì lái - "flowers fragrant, butterflies come naturally," meaning that if one makes oneself excellent, opportunities and people will be naturally attracted). Changzhou (常州) enables expatriates to come in, stay, and integrate, thanks to the overlapping appeal of abundant industrial opportunities, an open and inclusive culture, and an ecological environment suitable for both living and working.
Abundant industries have turned expatriates from "onlookers" into "partners." With its complete industrial chains, efficient government services, and full-cycle business guarantees, Changzhou (常州) has built a stage for foreign enterprises and expatriate talent to pursue their careers. ThyssenKrupp (蒂森克虏伯) has continuously increased its investment, Epass (医沛生) received "full-process escort" services upon its arrival, and the government has proactively facilitated industry-university-research cooperation to assist Spanish (西班牙) enterprises in their transformation... From project implementation to market expansion, and from talent cultivation to technological breakthroughs, development opportunities are tangible, and room for growth is clearly visible. Personal ideals align with corporate development and urban upgrading, making putting down roots a natural choice.
Cultural inclusivity has turned expatriates from "passersby" into "regulars." Changzhou (常州) incorporates foreign friends into the real scenes of urban development and integrates them into the daily hustle and bustle of life. From observing the Municipal People's Congress (市人代会) and participating in public urban life, to visiting Qingguo Lane (青果巷), experiencing intangible cultural heritage, and joining local sports matches; from the long-running "I Love Changzhou" (我爱常州) salon for foreign friends, to the consistently popular "Su-Super" (苏超) foreign business exchange activities... diverse cultures engage in equal dialogue and mutual learning here, and foreign friends have become an indispensable part of the city's vitality.
A livable and workable environment has turned expatriates from "strangers" into "family." The clear waters and green banks of the Yangtze River (长江) ecological corridor, sports and leisure spaces spread throughout the city, convenient and smooth life services, bilingual-friendly urban facilities, and a warm and inclusive community atmosphere... all make foreign friends feel at ease and comfortable. Whether becoming "half a Changzhou (常州) local," starting a family and enjoying the 岁月静好 (suì yuè jìng hǎo - "years quiet good," a peaceful and tranquil life), or gathering with neighbors at international food markets, life has warmth and the heart has a place to rely on, turning a foreign land into a hometown.
By gathering people through industry, nurturing people through culture, and retaining people through the environment, a city becomes the home that expatriates yearn for when it can provide a broad stage for career development, a place for comfortable daily leisure, and, most importantly, an open mind that allows those who have traveled from afar to become a part of "us."
Return to TopBy: 李 拯
General Secretary Xi Jinping (习近平) pointed out, "Yiwu (义乌) has forged a massive market and built a major industry out of small commodities, forming the 'Yiwu Development Experience' (义乌发展经验). This is a successful practice of developing county-level economies in accordance with local conditions." He added, "We must combine this with the study and education of establishing and practicing a correct view of political achievements, and further summarize and apply the 'Yiwu Development Experience' (义乌发展经验) well."
For over 40 years, Yiwu (义乌), Zhejiang (浙江), has persisted in following a single blueprint to the end, with one generation succeeding another, growing from a mountainous county into a global trade hub and writing a legend of local economic development amidst the tides of the era. In conjunction with the study and education of establishing and practicing a correct view of political achievements, how can various regions further summarize and apply the "Yiwu Development Experience" (义乌发展经验)? Adapting to local conditions, integrating into the overall situation, relying on the masses, and pursuing reform and innovation provide important observational perspectives and methodological insights.
Adhere to adapting to local conditions and explore a path of high-quality development that suits one's own reality.
Yiwu (义乌) is neither coastal nor border-adjacent, lacking resources and industrial foundations, yet it has managed to achieve the 莫名其妙 (mò míng qí miào - "inexplicable," often used to describe something seemingly impossible or beyond reason), create something out of nothing (无中生有 - wú zhōng shēng yǒu - "create something from nothing," to invent or fabricate something where there was nothing before), and turn stones into gold (点石成金 - diǎn shí chéng jīn - "touch stone turn gold," to transform something ordinary into something extraordinary). Lacking resources, it started with small commodities; being landlocked, it "borrowed routes to exit" and "borrowed ports to reach the sea." Planning development based on local conditions requires a dialectical view of resource endowments and geographical conditions. True endowment is not just visible material resources, but also the minds and hands of the people; true openness depends not only on geographical location but also on one's vision and perspective.
Summarizing and applying the "Yiwu Development Experience" (义乌发展经验) well does not mean blindly "copying homework," but mastering the methodology of adapting to local conditions contained within it. Jieshou (界首), Anhui (安徽), has joined the "national team" of circular economy in multiple fields, and Cao County (曹县), Shandong (山东), has woven a multi-billion scale Hanfu (汉服) industry... A thousand counties have a thousand faces, each with its own splendor. Adapting to local conditions means basing development on one's own reality to carve out a path of differentiated development.
Integrate into the overall development situation and achieve greater development in a larger space.
The growth and expansion of Yiwu (义乌) have never been limited to a single time or place, but are the result of basing itself on the national market and looking toward the world. "From needles and thread to mechanical equipment, whatever the world needs, Yiwu (义乌) has it." The sentiments of foreign buyers best describe the unique charm of this "World Supermarket" (世界超市). Today, the "Yixinou" (义新欧) China-Europe Railway Express (中欧班列) traverses 8 countries, traveling over 13,000 kilometers to deliver Yiwu (义乌) goods directly to the heart of Europe.
Practicing the "Sweet Potato Economy" (地瓜经济) theory—jumping out of the local area, basing oneself on the nation, and eyeing the globe—allows the inland to become a frontier and the rearguard to transform into a vanguard. In the construction of a unified national market, only by actively integrating into the overall national development situation can various regions better utilize external resources and markets to achieve greater development.
Respect the pioneering spirit of the grassroots and the masses, and inject a continuous stream of endogenous momentum into development.
Bringing human initiative into full play is a distinct feature of Yiwu's (义乌) development. At the beginning of reform and opening up, Yiwu (义乌) braved pressure to open its small commodity market; during its development, the vast number of business entities continuously evolved under the pull of market demand, creating new models such as "front shop, back factory" and cross-border e-commerce. Today, over 1.2 million business entities are thriving, connecting and driving the coordinated development of approximately 2.1 million small, medium, and micro enterprises, forming a chain-clustered "army of ants" (蚂蚁雄兵). Development is not "waited" for, but "fought" for together by cadres and the masses.
Following the mass line is not only an inevitable requirement for establishing and practicing a correct view of political achievements but also an effective method for promoting development. For all regions, only by implementing "people-centered" development, leaving sufficient space for grassroots exploration, providing a stage for innovation and entrepreneurship, and enriching the soil for the growth of business entities can we fully stimulate the enthusiasm, initiative, and creativity of the people, achieving a two-way empowerment of mass pioneering and local development.
Be committed to reform and innovation, and use the methods of reform to solve the problems of development.
Looking at the development of Yiwu (义乌), what remains unchanged is the determination to focus on the goal of "prospering business and building the city" for decades without relaxation. By treating market development space as an inviolable red line and setting specific evaluation indicators for "market iteration continuity" in cadre assessments, the city uses systems to manage long-term goals and ensure development continuity.
What has changed is the constant iteration and upgrading through reform and innovation. In 2005, Yiwu's (义乌) international trade volume exceeded its domestic trade volume for the first time. In 2006, Zhejiang Province (浙江省) granted unprecedented expanded powers to Yiwu (义乌), "changing into a larger suit for a fast-growing child," and used institutional innovation to break through the "ceiling" of Yiwu's (义乌) development. Using reform to break bottlenecks and expand space, and realizing an organic combination of an effective market and a capable government, vividly demonstrates the "deep integration and efficient linkage of promoting reform and development."
Yiwu (义乌) is not a finished sample, but a story that is still constantly unfolding. In the in-depth study and education of establishing and practicing a correct view of political achievements, all regions must further summarize and apply the "Yiwu Development Experience" (义乌发展经验) well, find a development path suitable for themselves, transform the effectiveness of study and education into tangible results for promoting high-quality development, benefit the local people, better serve and integrate into the overall national development situation, and gather a powerful synergy for high-quality development.
Return to TopBy: 本报记者 赵展慧
At the end of March this year, year-on-year growth in technology loans reached 13.7%. This rapid double-digit growth is inseparable from the continuous innovation in technology finance services. In recent years, technology finance has consistently broken away from traditional risk control logic to adapt to the patterns of technological innovation. It has gradually shifted from "looking at financial statements, emphasizing collateral, and focusing on the present" to "evaluating technology, assessing talent, prioritizing patents, and planning for the long term." Simultaneously, it is broadening the boundaries of services for the real economy while continuously solving difficult problems.
Financial capital is a key factor in supporting high-level technological self-reliance and strength. In Zhejiang (浙江), where technology enterprises such as the "Hangzhou Six Little Dragons" (杭州六小龙) are flourishing, old problems are finding new solutions through the promotion of technological innovation via financial innovation.
How can the high financing risks of asset-light, collateral-deficient technology startups be resolved?
**Investment-Loan Linkage Promotes Enthusiasm for "Investing Early, Investing Small, and Investing in High-Tech"**
At the ChengTian Technology (程天科技) Intelligent Rehabilitation Center in the Hangzhou West Science and Technology Innovation Corridor (杭州城西科创大走廊), a young boy suffering from motor dysfunction takes steady steps while supported by a lower-limb exoskeleton robot. "We come for rehabilitation three times a week. The child's neural and muscular walking memory is constantly reinforced through repetitive training, and the results are excellent," the parent accompanying him told the reporter.
"Our independently developed wearable robots are constantly optimizing the effects of human-machine interaction, helping more and more patients and people with disabilities to walk again," introduced Zhang Jiyu (张继宇), founder of ChengTian Technology (程天科技). The company was established in 2017, but did not launch its product until 2022. During this period, "living beyond one's means" was the norm, and financing was the key for the enterprise to cross the "valley of death" of innovation.
"Technology enterprises are often asset-light and R&D-heavy, and we have relatively mature solutions," said Zhang Qiming (张启明), a senior specialist at the Investment Banking and Financial Markets Department of the Agricultural Bank of China (中国农业银行) Hangzhou Branch (杭州分行). The branch used a smart evaluation model to provide the company with a 9.9 million yuan credit loan during its startup phase.
"These funds provided critical support for us to recruit talent, but by the time we reached the R&D and production expansion stage, relying on credit loans was no longer sufficient," said Zhang Jiyu (张继宇).
With the deepening of a certain reform, banks have promoted the transformation of enterprise achievements through role shifts. Since 2024, the pilot program for equity investment by Financial Asset Investment Companies (AIC) (金融资产投资公司) has continued to expand. Financial asset investment companies under five major commercial banks are exploring the use of equity investment models to support technological innovation by establishing pilot funds.
"Relying on the AIC equity investment fund under the Agricultural Bank of China (中国农业银行), we provided ChengTian Technology (程天科技) with 50 million yuan in long-term equity capital at the end of last year, building an investment-loan linkage service model of 'debt financing to solve immediate needs, equity financing to plan for the long term,'" said Zhang Qiming (张启明). By shifting from a financing service provider to an investor, banks can not only better match the capital demand characteristics of technology enterprises during their non-linear growth stages but also share in the dividends of enterprise growth in the long term, thereby enhancing their own enthusiasm for serving technology enterprises.
"Investment" has also better promoted "loans." "After becoming our shareholder, the Agricultural Bank of China (中国农业银行) formed a closer community of growth with the enterprise, providing stronger loan support," said Zhang Jiyu (张继宇). Investment-loan linkage has helped the company grow rapidly. Currently, the company's products are used nationwide, and core components such as motors are exported to 38 countries and regions overseas. The Agricultural Bank of China (中国农业银行) has also simultaneously built a dedicated "Technology + Finance" service team to provide a package of value-added services such as investment and financing matchmaking and policy consultation.
Not only are the AIC pilot programs of large commercial banks being actively implemented, but city commercial banks and rural commercial banks rooted in local areas are also accelerating their exploration of investment-loan linkage, embarking on a path of "small but beautiful" specialized development. Jiaxing Bank (嘉兴银行) is exploring a government-bank-enterprise investment-loan linkage model. Using Jiaxing Science and Technology City (嘉兴科技城) as a pilot, the bank provides a credit line of 50%–100% of the actual investment amount made by the investment fund in the technology enterprise. The fund establishes a risk pool by ceding a portion of its returns to compensate for the bank's credit risks, ensuring mutual benefit and win-win results for bank-investment cooperation.
"For commercial banks, providing credit support to technology enterprises, especially startups, carries high risk, and they cannot enjoy the returns brought by enterprise growth like investment institutions can. This affects the enthusiasm for expanding and strengthening technology finance business, and investment-loan linkage provides a solution," said Lu Xiaoyan (陆晓燕), General Manager of the Science and Technology Innovation Business Department of Jiaxing Bank (嘉兴银行). Currently, Jiaxing Bank (嘉兴银行) uses the backend returns of some innovative businesses as a technology finance risk compensation pool, creating a "safety cushion" for the continued expansion of technology finance business in the future.
How can the issue of many small and micro technology enterprises not being "seen" be resolved?
**Mining Data Value Through Multi-dimensional and Specialized Approaches to Solve Information Asymmetry Between Banks and Enterprises**
By inserting a sensor into the water, the controller's screen displays water quality indicators in real-time. "The advantage of our product lies in using spectral technology to detect water quality; there is no need to insert core sensitive components into the water, which greatly extends the life of the detection equipment," introduced Zhang Tao (张涛), General Manager of Hangzhou Anlan Digital Intelligence Sensing Technology Co., Ltd. (杭州安澜数智传感科技有限公司), while demonstrating the device.
Less than five months after its establishment, Anlan Digital Intelligence (安澜数智) received a 2 million yuan credit loan from Bank of Hangzhou (杭州银行), successfully passing product testing. "How were we 'seen'?" This was the first question Zhang Tao (张涛) asked after meeting with the Bank of Hangzhou (杭州银行) service team that had approached them proactively. As a startup with no reputation at the time, Zhang Tao (张涛) was very surprised to have entered the vision of financial institutions so quickly.
"The technological content of Anlan Digital Intelligence (安澜数智) is indeed difficult to identify and verify in traditional bank risk control models. But now, relying on a more comprehensive technology enterprise service platform, we can search for technology enterprises on a larger scale, including a large number of 'potential little dragons' in the seed and startup stages, and personalize the logic of our own technology finance," said Peng Bin (彭彬), Assistant General Manager of the Corporate Finance Department of Bank of Hangzhou (杭州银行), who was the first to "see" this enterprise.
The "platform" Peng Bin (彭彬) referred to is the Hangzhou Fiscal and Financial Technology Enterprise Service Mechanism and Data Platform, "Hangchuang E-Station" (杭创E站), which contains data on tens of thousands of technology enterprises. By extracting data related to the "technology content" of enterprises from the platform, Bank of Hangzhou (杭州银行) has established a "Potential Dragon Plan" (潜龙计划) enterprise profiling model, mining "golden seeds" from more segmented tracks and earlier stages of the innovation lifecycle.
How to accurately judge the "technology content" of an enterprise? In addition to common influencing factors such as the number of patents and the academic qualifications of the team, Peng Bin (彭彬) introduced that Bank of Hangzhou (杭州银行) has a unique "secret" for identification—such as the status of social security fund contributions and the number of fresh graduates. "These two indicators reflect to a certain extent whether the enterprise has the determination and planning for long-term development, and we believe this is an important component of the gold content of innovation," said Peng Bin (彭彬).
It was through this specialized data model that Bank of Hangzhou (杭州银行) accurately captured the core advantages of Anlan Digital Intelligence (安澜数智). "Half of our R&D staff are fresh graduates. We hope to select some good talent from young people to cultivate and grow with the company, firmly acting as long-termists in innovation," said Zhang Tao (张涛). Currently, the company has been recognized as a national technology-based small and medium-sized enterprise, and small-scale trial orders from customers have begun to turn into long-term orders. The total order volume in the first quarter of this year has already exceeded the total revenue for the entire year of 2025.
In Zhejiang (浙江), the information asymmetry between technology enterprises and financial institutions is accelerating, allowing more technology "new little dragons" to emerge on the vibrant surface of innovation. Since last September, the Zhejiang Financial Regulatory Bureau (浙江金融监管局), in conjunction with the Zhejiang Intellectual Property Office (浙江省知识产权局) and other departments, launched the "Dandelion" (蒲公英) action for intellectual property finance, exploring how to profile more technology enterprises through the value of intellectual property. Currently, banks within the jurisdiction have provided 176 billion yuan in financing support to more than 100 "golden seed" enterprises with patent industrialization investment and financing needs, as well as to the operating entities of "15th Five-Year Plan" major patent industrialization projects. This year, the Zhejiang Financial Regulatory Bureau (浙江金融监管局) also guided the provincial banking association to join forces with 8 units to launch the "Technology New Little Dragon" (科技新小龙) visiting and escorting action, selecting the first batch of 96 enterprises from over 400 candidates to provide comprehensive support in terms of capital, technology, and talent.
How can the trust barriers in industry-university-research cooperation be resolved?
**Working Together to Build a "Research First, Pay Later" Model, Enabling Enterprises to Dare to Invest and Dare to Trial and Error**
How long does it take to manufacture a reduction motor? "It used to be weeks, now it's 4 hours," introduced Chen Demu (陈德木), Chairman of Hangzhou Jiepai Transmission Technology Co., Ltd. (杭州杰牌传动科技有限公司). Because there are a large number of differentiated customization needs, the traditional production mode of reducers must go through product design, coordinating quotes from multiple departments, manufacturing prototypes, and batch production, which is time-consuming and difficult to coordinate.
But today, walking into the company's Intelligent Transmission Future Factory located in Xiaoshan District, Hangzhou (杭州市萧山区), one can see the "silky" smart manufacturing journey of a customized reduction motor—the customer places an order with one click, the customization requirement is immediately converted into a digital design scheme at the technical center, and then distributed in sequence to four intelligent workshops—housing, gears, motors, and assembly—for real-time production. Except for the design stage, no staff can be seen in the workshops; only automated guided vehicles (AGVs), robotic arms, and automatic transport lines are busy at work.
Connecting the entire process data flow from order to production and realizing an intelligent "turn" from discrete manufacturing to process manufacturing, Chen Demu (陈德木) had thought about it for many years, but once hesitated: "We have the manufacturing technology, but intelligent transformation requires external help. If we can't find a reliable partner, the risk of failure is very high."
In 2025, a mechanism helped Chen Demu (陈德木) leverage the transformation he had long hoped for. Xiaoshan Rural Commercial Bank (萧山农商银行) learned about the pressure of the enterprise's transformation and upgrading during a visit and immediately recommended the "Anxinbao" (安心宝) "Research First, Pay Later" model that is being promoted in Xiaoshan District (萧山区). With this insurance protection for the loss of technology achievement transformation fees, the enterprise signed a cooperation agreement with the local innovation platform without hesitation.
It turns out that after an enterprise purchases "Anxinbao" (安心宝), it only needs to pay 10% of the required funds as a deposit for each R&D stage. If the R&D fails, the underwriting Taiping Technology Insurance Co., Ltd. (太平科技保险股份有限公司) will pay the full deposit to the enterprise and compensate the innovation platform at a certain ratio.
"This not only greatly reduces our upfront investment burden but also eliminates the worry that a cooperation failure will cause too much loss. Innovation no longer has any worries!" introduced Chen Demu (陈德木). The first stage of intelligent transformation required 1.6 million yuan. After the enterprise paid a 160,000 yuan deposit, the system was successfully applied in less than half a year, and the remaining 1.44 million yuan was paid to the innovation platform according to the contract. Under the escort of this mechanism, the enterprise's intelligent transformation has been fully accepted and put into full production this year.
With this mechanism as a guarantee, technology loans have also accelerated. This year, Xiaoshan Rural Commercial Bank (萧山农商银行) tailored a 250 million yuan comprehensive credit support plan for the enterprise and broadened the enterprise's financing channels, providing 19.5 million yuan in intellectual property securitization financing for the high-end equipment manufacturing industry, providing further support for subsequent new product R&D.
"Letting enterprises 'research first, pay later'—no investment needed without results—breaks the problem of a lack of mutual trust between the two sides in the early stages of industry-university-research cooperation through financial means and mechanisms," introduced Jiang Yuanyuan (蒋缘圆), Deputy Director of the Xiaoshan District Science and Technology Bureau (萧山区科技局). Currently, all parties have built a multi-party linkage innovation risk compensation mechanism of "government subsidizes a little, platform bears a little, bank lends a little, insurance compensates a little, and the enterprise pays a little." The Xiaoshan District (萧山区) finance department provides an 80% premium subsidy for enterprises that purchase "Anxinbao" (安心宝) insurance, up to a maximum of 500,000 yuan.
In the process of operation, the "Anxinbao" (安心宝) service is still being upgraded. Currently, it has cumulatively provided R&D protection for 10 projects in Xiaoshan District (萧山区), leveraging over 60 million yuan in R&D investment from enterprises.
"Only by overcoming the problem of insufficient enthusiasm for 'investing early, investing small, and investing in high-tech' can we improve the matching degree of financial service supply across the entire innovation chain; only by alleviating the phenomenon of 'uneven heat and cold' in services for technology enterprises can we expand the coverage of supporting innovation clusters; only by breaking the service boundaries of various financial institutions such as banks and insurance can we enhance the synergy of financial support for innovation. These are all directions we will continue to work on in the long term in terms of technology finance," said a relevant person in charge of the Zhejiang Financial Regulatory Bureau (浙江金融监管局). By breaking down barriers to the flow of factors through financial innovation and allowing financial "living water" to flow fully toward innovation highlands, more technology enterprises will stand out. 脱颖而出 (tuō yǐng ér chū - "stand out from the bag," to reveal one's talent or distinguish oneself).
Return to TopBy: 郑 伟
During the Ming (明) and Qing (清) dynasties, with the prosperity of the commodity economy and the development of trade and transportation, "Biaoju" (镖局)—escort agencies specializing in the secure transport of silver and goods—emerged. To ensure the safety of transporting valuable materials, merchants often entrusted Biaoju (镖局) with the responsibility of delivery through contractual agreements.
Some historical materials compare Biaoju (镖局) to insurance. In 1885, the *Dianshizhai Pictorial* (点石斋画报) likened Biaoju (镖局) to the Western insurance industry: "The land in the north is vast and deep, and the people are sturdier than those in the south. Those with superior physical strength, skilled in martial arts, join Biaoju (镖局) to protect the silver and goods of merchants in the northern provinces from loss during transit. This is much like the concept of insurance held by Westerners." In 1906, the renowned scholar Yang Yinhang (杨荫杭) wrote an article in the *Commercial Official Gazette* (商务官报), comparing Biaoju (镖局) to a primitive form of transport insurance: "What China calls a Biaoju (镖局) is a type of transport insurance business. They often carry their own weapons to fend off bandits, though they occasionally collude with them. Looking at the global insurance industry, few are as primitive as this."
The operations of Biaoju (镖局) during the Ming (明) and Qing (清) dynasties share many similarities with modern cargo transport insurance. The goods carried by a Biaoju (镖局) were called "Biaoma" (镖码), equivalent to the subject matter of insurance. After inspecting the goods, the Biaoju (镖局) would determine the "Biaoli" (镖利)—equivalent to freight and insurance premiums—based on factors such as the value of the goods. Upon accepting a contract, the Biaoju (镖局) would issue a "Biaodan" (镖单), which specified the origin and destination, the merchant's name, the description and quantity of the goods, and the amount of the Biaoli (镖利), serving the function of an insurance policy. If a "Shibiao" (失镖) occurred—meaning the goods were looted or accidentally damaged during transit—it was equivalent to an insurance accident, and the Biaoju (镖局) would then be required to "Peibiao" (赔镖) according to the agreement, which is equivalent to an insurance payout.
Although Biaoju (镖局) operations were only a primitive form of transport insurance, they contained significant wisdom regarding risk management. First is risk pricing. When accepting business, a Biaoju (镖局) would typically consider multiple factors such as the type and value of the goods, the transport distance, and the situation along the route to assess the potential risk level and determine the amount of Biaoli (镖利) to charge. For instance, precious items like gold, silver, and jewelry, long-distance transport, and regions plagued by bandits all faced higher risks compared to ordinary goods, short-distance transport, or areas with good public order, thus requiring higher Biaoli (镖利). This practice of implementing differential pricing based on risk levels is 异曲同工 (yì qǔ tóng gōng - "different tunes, same result," achieving the same effect through different methods) with the principles of risk pricing in modern actuarial science.
Furthermore, there is risk reduction. After accepting a contract, a Biaoju (镖局) would not simply provide passive compensation after an accident; instead, it would perform extensive risk reduction work before and during the transit to lower risks. For example, a Biaoju (镖局) would demonstrate its strength through "Liangbiao" (亮镖) activities to deter bandits. Additionally, before setting out, the Biaoju (镖局) would plan routes based on the origin, destination, and conditions along the way, dynamically adjusting the route during transit to avoid bandits. Moreover, if a Biaoju (镖局) encountered bandits, it would typically first attempt to resolve the crisis peacefully through negotiation, only resorting to force if absolutely necessary, thereby minimizing losses. This practice of shifting the focus of risk management to the front end, enhancing resilience, and lowering risk costs provides valuable experience for the risk reduction services of the modern insurance industry.
Biaoju (镖局) built their business on trust, which also holds significant implications for the development of the modern financial industry. Reputation was the core competitiveness for the survival and development of a Biaoju (镖局). The reputation of a Biaoju (镖局) was reflected, on one hand, in the safe and punctual delivery of goods to their destination, and on the other, in the willingness to take responsibility and provide compensation as agreed upon in the event of a loss. This philosophy of integrity not only strengthened relationships with existing clients but also attracted more potential clients, solidifying the foundation for sustainable risk management. This spirit of building a business on trust holds important implications for actively cultivating a financial culture with Chinese characteristics.
(The author is the Director of the China Center for Insurance and Social Security Research at Peking University (北京大学); this article was interviewed and compiled by our reporter Qu Xinying (屈信明))
Return to TopBy: 吴月辉
Looking up at the starry sky, the exploration never ceases. As more scientific satellite constellations accelerate their deployment and networked operations, the autonomous foundation of China's (中国) space science will become increasingly solid, supporting deep space exploration to venture further and deeper.
Not long ago, the SMILE (微笑) satellite, jointly developed by China (中国) and Europe (欧洲), was successfully launched and entered its designated orbit. Relying on the world's first global panoramic imaging capability for the Earth's magnetosphere using soft X-rays, this satellite opens a new chapter in solar-terrestrial space exploration. As the final major instrument of the Strategic Priority Research Program on Space Science (Phase II) (空间科学（二期）先导专项) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (中国科学院), this satellite, tasked with the mission of solar-terrestrial space exploration, has filled gaps in space detection and witnessed the transformation of China's (中国) space science satellites from single-point breakthroughs to cluster-based dominance.
Space science is a frontier track in deep space exploration and an important symbol of a nation's scientific and technological strength. In the past, China's (中国) foundation for space science exploration was relatively weak; without self-developed high-end detection satellites and lacking autonomous observation data, research work mostly relied on publicly available data from abroad. This was not only restrictive, but many frontier studies were also difficult to advance. Since 2011, China (中国) has begun to systematically deploy special missions for space science satellites. Over the past decade or more, a series of scientific satellites such as Wukong (悟空), Mozi (墨子号), Insight (慧眼), and Kuafu-1 (夸父一号) have been launched, achieving breakthroughs in different frontier fields.
Wukong (悟空) has spent years capturing high-energy cosmic particles and continuously searching for traces of dark matter, providing key data for humanity to solve the mystery of the origin of the universe. Mozi (墨子号) took the lead in achieving kilometer-level satellite-to-ground quantum communication, allowing China (中国) to lead the world in the field of quantum space applications. Insight (慧眼) keeps a close watch on extreme cosmic phenomena, precisely capturing eruption signals from black holes and neutron stars, and has achieved many major original results... Each scientific satellite performs its own duties and displays its own strengths. China (中国) has achieved a leap from "starting from zero" to "leading the frontier" in multiple fields, continuously consolidating the technical foundation for deep space exploration.
As deep space exploration continues to deepen, the limitations of independent single-satellite detection have become increasingly prominent. For example, limited observation range, gaps in time continuity, and single data dimensions make it difficult to reconstruct complex space physical processes. Based on years of single-satellite technical accumulation, China's (中国) space science exploration has entered a new stage of constellation clusters and space-ground coordination. The SMILE (微笑) satellite launched this time is a key link in systematic detection. It will form a three-dimensional network of space-ground integration and satellite-ground linkage with the solar-observing Kuafu-1 (夸父一号) satellite and the ground-based Meridian Project (子午工程) monitoring network, achieving full-dimensional precision monitoring of solar-terrestrial space and providing protection for aerospace flights, communications, and navigation. In addition, China (中国) has successfully built the world's first three-satellite constellation in Earth-Moon space and has achieved many original scientific and technological results, laying a solid foundation for developing and utilizing Earth-Moon space and leading frontier exploration in space science.
Technological self-reliance and controllability are the confidence behind systematic detection. Currently, from satellite platforms and core payloads to in-orbit precision measurement and control and raw data processing, all core technologies for key links have been localized. At the same time, China (中国) has always upheld an open and win-win aerospace philosophy. Using international cooperation projects like the SMILE (微笑) satellite as a link, it shares detection data and co-builds scientific research platforms, integrating into the global aerospace exploration network on the basis of independent innovation, demonstrating the open-mindedness and sense of responsibility of a major aerospace power.
Space technology supports space science exploration, and the development goals of space science drive the leapfrog advancement of space technology. The "National Medium- and Long-Term Development Plan for Space Science (2024—2050)" (《国家空间科学中长期发展规划（2024—2050年）》), released in 2024, proposed the "three-step" strategic goal for the development of China's (中国) space science. The implementation of this plan will push China's (中国) space science to a new level, providing more powerful support for building a strong aerospace nation and a strong nation in science and technology.
From fighting alone and pioneering with single satellites to networking constellations and the rise of a system, the development of China's (中国) scientific satellites is a vivid portrayal of self-reliance and self-improvement in science and technology. Looking up at the starry sky, the exploration never ceases. As more scientific satellite constellations accelerate their deployment and networked operations, the autonomous foundation of China's (中国) space science will become increasingly solid, supporting deep space exploration to venture further and deeper.
Return to TopBy: 本报记者 宋豪新
Chengdu Tianfu International Bio-Town (成都天府国际生物城) (hereinafter referred to as "Bio-Town") was jointly built by Chengdu Hi-tech Zone (成都高新区) and Shuangliu District (双流区) in Sichuan (四川). It started in Yong'an Town (永安镇) of Shuangliu District (双流区) and has grown and thrived on this land. Within the national map of the biopharmaceutical industry, this small town located in the west cannot be underestimated.
Data shows that in 2025, the scale of Chengdu (成都)'s medical and health industry exceeded 400 billion yuan, firmly ranking fourth in the country, with a cumulative overseas transaction value of new drugs reaching approximately 26 billion USD over the past three years. Bio-Town is precisely the core carrier of Chengdu (成都)'s biopharmaceutical industry.
As of the end of 2025, Bio-Town has attracted and landed over 300 projects, bringing together more than 500 various biopharmaceutical enterprises, and has formed a closed-loop industrial system covering everything from source innovation and pilot incubation to industrialization and market-oriented globalization.
Construction began in 2016. Starting from scratch and gaining momentum over 10 years, how did this place leap to become a new highland for the biopharmaceutical industry?
**Building the Foundation of the Entire Chain**
**Cultivating Fertile Soil for Original Innovation**
"10 years of R&D, 1 billion in investment, and a survival rate of less than 10%." This is the pain point faced by the biopharmaceutical industry.
"There are no shortcuts in biopharmaceutical innovation; one must adhere to long-termism," said Lei Ming (雷鸣), Deputy Director of the Comprehensive Management Department of the Bio-Town Management Committee (生物城管委会). Bio-Town does not prioritize speed, output value, or scale alone. Taking Chengdu (成都)'s "Full Park" (立园满园) action as a starting point, it relies on complete platform resources, patient cultivation services, and a stable industrial ecosystem to escort every high-quality innovation project, allowing every "seed" of scientific research to take root and grow steadily in the park.
Anchoring the four major fields of biopharmaceuticals, medical devices, biological services, and biological manufacturing, Bio-Town has laid out 18 frontier segments such as antibody drugs, novel vaccines, and cell and gene therapy. By precisely mapping the industry, a group of high-quality sci-tech enterprises has been cultivated and gathered here, highlighting the innovation clustering effect of frontier tracks.
To consolidate the foundation of industrial innovation, Bio-Town has integrated and certified 77 public technical service platforms both inside and outside the region, building a full-process technical system covering new drug discovery, preclinical safety evaluation, inspection and testing, pilot production, and commercialization. Enterprises can complete the entire chain of R&D, testing, and production without leaving the park, reducing innovation costs and shortening R&D cycles.
Having personally witnessed Bio-Town's transformation from a vacant wasteland into a mature industrial city, Jia Qian (贾茜), Senior Vice President of Keymed Biosciences (康诺亚), feels deeply: "When I first arrived at Bio-Town, it was still quite empty. In just a few years, industrial carriers and ecological supporting facilities have rapidly taken shape, and the scientific research atmosphere has become increasingly strong, making us certain that our initial choice was correct."
Keymed Biosciences (康诺亚) is a locally grown innovative drug company and a vivid example of Bio-Town's long-term empowerment and patient cultivation. When the company landed in Bio-Town, it was in a stage of high-intensity R&D investment without mature production capacity or market revenue. Bio-Town provided full-cycle empowerment, relying on the park's mature incubation carriers and preclinical research platforms to provide free full-cycle services such as policy application, technical guidance, resource docking, and site security, helping the team tackle core technologies.
After years of accumulation, Keymed Biosciences (康诺亚) has achieved a transformation. The company focuses on clinical needs such as autoimmune and chronic diseases and tumors, continuously tackling frontier biopharmaceutical technologies. It has independently developed and laid out multiple original innovative drugs, filling the technical gaps in the domestic autoimmune biological agent field and breaking industry development bottlenecks.
In 2023, Keymed Biosciences (康诺亚) reached a blockbuster licensing agreement worth nearly 1.2 billion USD with global pharmaceutical giant AstraZeneca (阿斯利康), becoming a highly representative international benchmark case for Chengdu (成都)'s biopharmaceutical industry. At the same time, its independently developed innovative biological agents have successfully filled many domestic clinical treatment gaps, becoming the first domestic biological agent for treating moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis, the first domestic biological agent for treating chronic sinusitis with nasal polyps, and the world's first IL-4Rα antibody drug for treating seasonal allergic rhinitis.
**Attentive Service**
**Escorting Enterprises to Take Root and Grow**
On the morning of May 12, Gui Tengda (桂腾达), head of Sichuan Zhenwei Medical Technology Co., Ltd. (四川臻微医疗科技有限公司), arrived at the Drug Supervision Service Station (药监服务站) on the second floor of the Bio-Town Building (生物城大厦). The experts he had scheduled were already waiting.
"In the past, when we consulted on medical device product registration or the handling of production licenses, we could only go to the city's Government Service Center (政务服务中心) early in the morning to queue. Now, there are professionals in Bio-Town who provide detailed and accurate guidance. For startups, this saves a lot of effort, and we can put more energy into technical R&D," Gui Tengda (桂腾达) told reporters. From the company's establishment to product registration and production license application, professionals provided full-process guidance. "We talked for more than an hour and gained a lot. I am full of confidence in developing here."
Located in the hinterland of the Southwest, compared to mature sci-tech highlands in the Yangtze River Delta (长三角) and Pearl River Delta (珠三角), Bio-Town's confidence in creating a hotbed for biopharmaceutical innovation stems from its refined, professional, and full-cycle government service and enterprise empowerment system.
Bio-Town has innovatively built a three-level grid-based enterprise service mechanism. The service chain fully covers the entire life cycle of enterprise landing, production, R&D, compliance, financing, and overseas expansion. It faces the real pain points of enterprises directly, precisely solves development problems, and uses warm and efficient services to make enterprises willing to take root and operate with peace of mind.
By gathering national-level platforms such as the National Chengdu Center for Safety Evaluation of Drugs (国家成都新药安全性评价中心) and the National Major Scientific and Technological Infrastructure for Translational Medicine (国家生物治疗转化医学重大科技基础设施), it has opened up the full-chain technical support from drug discovery to pilot amplification. Value-added reforms have pushed resource elements to tilt precisely toward high-quality enterprises, allowing shared platforms and technical resources to truly become "boosters" for enterprise innovation.
Besmile (贝施美) is an enterprise engaged in the R&D and production of consumables and digital oral equipment. 10 years ago, it was just a startup team. Today, the company's business covers more than 100 countries and regions around the world, and its overseas market revenue accounts for 50%.
"When Bio-Town first contacted us, they didn't ask about current output value or tax revenue, but about technical routes, product planning, and market layout. They could fully understand what you were saying, how great the company's development prospects were, and where the value of the product lay." Recalling the situation more than 10 years ago, Assistant General Manager Shi Yi (石怡) admitted that she was both surprised and delighted.
After getting the land, Shi Yi (石怡) found that whenever she encountered a problem, she could just send a WeChat message to the enterprise service specialist of the Bio-Town Economic Development Department (生物城经济发展部). Environmental impact assessment, sewage discharge, industrial and commercial registration, and customs coordination—the specialist ran to departments and urged progress on behalf of the enterprise.
At the beginning of last year, Besmile (贝施美) planned to introduce an American brand to form a joint venture to pave the way for products to go global. However, because Besmile (贝施美) is a "non-listed joint-stock company," there was no precedent in the industrial and commercial system for such companies to directly introduce foreign investment. Shi Yi (石怡) went to Bio-Town for consultation, and the staff immediately coordinated with the commerce department, the industrial and commercial department, etc., to help the enterprise walk through this path step by step.
From a blank sheet of paper in 2016 to an industrial new city rising from the ground, as of now, Bio-Town has more than 500 biopharmaceutical enterprises, including 6 domestic and foreign listed companies such as Chengdu Pioneer (成都先导), Keymed Biosciences (康诺亚), and HaiChuang Pharmaceutical (海创药业), as well as many unicorn enterprises.
**Integration of "Town" and "Park"**
**Letting "Production" Grow in "Ecology"**
"It only takes ten minutes to commute, and I can still take care of the elderly and children." Zhou Yan (周艳), a staff member of the Bio-Town Government Service Center (生物城政务服务中心), is a native of Yong'an Town (永安镇). Last year, she moved into resettlement housing. Her old house is now the green space of the Bio-Town park. "It's right next to Yong'an Lake (永安湖), the scenery is beautiful, and many people from the city come here to camp on weekends."
Promoting the integration of "people, city, and industry" and creating a livable and workable town, Bio-Town uses perfect supporting facilities, high-quality ecology, and warm services to make the industrial highland have the warmth of life.
In Yong'an Town (永安镇), modern resettlement houses are scattered, equipped with parking lots, fitness facilities, and community commerce. Bio-Town also promotes the construction of talent housing to meet the living needs of different groups, building a gradient housing system of "resettlement security + talent housing."
With greenery visible through windows and parks at the doorstep, the 206-hectare Yong'an Lake Urban Forest Park (永安湖城市森林公园) has nearly 1,000 mu of primitive pine forests and 21 hectares of water area. The 13-kilometer shaded greenway connects the lake and forest, which is not only a "natural oxygen bar" for the city but also a leisure resort for citizens. Ecological spaces such as Tiaotiao River Wetland Park (条条河湿地公园) and Jingxing Park (景星公园) surround it, with a green coverage rate of over 40%, forming an ecological pattern of "one river, three parks."
"Ecology is the most precious wealth of Bio-Town. We adhere to ecological priority and let 'production' grow in 'ecology'," said Lei Ming (雷鸣).
Continuously improving infrastructure and supporting services, Bio-Town has currently built over 60 kilometers of municipal roads, forming a "three horizontal and three vertical" backbone road network. A K12 high-quality education system, a Grade III-A hospital, and commercial complexes have been put into use one after another, realizing "revitalizing the city through industry and gathering people through the city."
While the industry is booming, local residents have achieved "employment at their doorstep." Zhou Yan (周艳) is one of them. "We promote the integration of 'town' and 'park' to help people put their careers and lives together and nourish each other. Local residents can share the dividends of development, and outsiders can take root and start businesses with peace of mind," said Lei Ming (雷鸣).
As of now, Bio-Town has cultivated and promoted 6 companies to successfully go public, and has introduced more than 20,000 high-quality industrial talents and 75 high-level talent teams, including more than 3,000 masters and doctors.
From an old village to an industrial new city, from suburban wasteland to an ecological home, today's Bio-Town has both scientific research in laboratories and innovation in factory workshops, as well as leisurely strolls by Yong'an Lake (永安湖) and the fireworks of community life. It is 张弛有度 (zhāng chí yǒu dù - "tension relaxation have measure," striking a balance between work and rest/leisure), becoming a beautiful landscape of Bio-Town.
Return to TopBy: 王 鼎
The Xiaohongmen Reclaimed Water Plant (小红门再生水厂), located by the Liangshui River (凉水河) along the South Fourth Ring Road (南四环) in Beijing (北京), processes approximately 600,000 cubic meters of sewage daily, undertaking the task of urban sewage resource utilization for most areas in the western and southern parts of Beijing (北京).
Reasonably managing the operation of the water plant and promoting the resource utilization of urban sewage is conducive to safeguarding this "purification barrier." I, along with a team from Beijing University of Technology (北京工业大学), have been deeply engaged in this field for a long time.
This is a thorny subject—the process of urban sewage resource utilization is dynamic and complex. Not only are the technological processes 盘根错节 (pán gēn cuò jié - "coiled roots and tangled knots," intricate and complicated), but the types of pollutants are diverse and mutually influential, and the quality of incoming sewage fluctuates significantly, leading to unstable operating states. The sensitive and volatile chemical reactions involved further increase the difficulty.
Can intelligent means be used to address these challenges? Having engaged in research on intelligent optimal control of complex dynamic systems for many years, my team and I realized the potential of artificial intelligence in the field of sewage resource utilization.
"Venturing" into this brand-new field, we explored as we researched. After years of tackling key problems, we gradually overcame technical challenges such as pollutant characteristic identification, full-process collaborative optimization, and precise regulation of operating equipment, constructing a key intelligent control technology system capable of achieving efficient urban sewage resource utilization.
In this technical system, the precise regulation of the key variable—dissolved oxygen concentration—is crucial. To purify sewage, aerobic microorganisms act as "operators" that decompose pollutants and clean the water, while dissolved oxygen serves as the "food" that sustains their work. This "food" can be neither too much nor too little. Too much not only wastes energy but also disrupts the work rhythm of the bacterial colonies; too little leaves the "operators" unable to cope, resulting in substandard water purification effects.
The process of urban sewage resource utilization is complex; if one relies too heavily on traditional methods, the concentration control effect of key variables is often suboptimal. Initially, we adopted a "traditional + intelligent" combination scheme. However, at that time, the intelligent algorithms were dependent on traditional control and could only serve as auxiliary fine-tuning, meaning their advantages could not be truly brought into play.
In exploring the laws of sewage resource utilization processes, we discovered the uniqueness of their biochemical process evolution and the correlation between preceding and succeeding operating states. This inspired us to propose an innovative autonomous learning method driven by data resources, completely breaking away from the reliance on traditional control.
We optimized the control design model, achieving stable online learning of strategies through successive, minute adjustments. At the same time, we constructed a new mechanism to ensure that the system can respond quickly when dealing with disturbances or anomalies, thereby allowing the control system to "learn while doing, and get better with practice," completing an upgrade from "dependent on tradition and passively auxiliary" to "autonomously controlled and superior to tradition."
Based on a series of innovations, the team developed a control scheme capable of dynamically adjusting oxygen supply states and precisely managing oxygen ratios, achieving automatic adaptation to complex working conditions and ensuring water purification effects throughout the process. This allows the intelligent agent to learn autonomously during its interaction with the environment and adaptively optimize control strategies while learning. With a "brain" capable of judgment and decision-making, experiments showed that the autonomous control strategy significantly improved the regulation effect on the sewage resource utilization system.
Theories and methods must still be tested in practice. Applied in several reclaimed water plants such as Qinghe (清河) in Beijing (北京) and Xiaohongmen (小红门) in Beijing (北京), the intelligent control-related technologies developed by the team have delivered an excellent "report card"—the control precision of dissolved oxygen reached over 95%, average energy consumption was reduced by more than 5%, and chemical consumption was reduced by over 20%.
What makes us proud is that, as a "Chinese solution" for efficient urban sewage resource utilization, some of the team's technologies have been adopted by reclaimed water plants in multiple countries.
Promoting the resource utilization of urban sewage not only helps solve the problem of water scarcity but also protects the ecological environment. In the future, my team and I will promote the deep integration of artificial intelligence and sewage resource utilization processes to achieve a full-process intelligent upgrade, contributing our strength to scientific and technological innovation in support of building a Beautiful China (美丽中国).
(The author is a member of the Environmental Perception and Protection Automation Professional Committee of the Chinese Association of Automation (中国自动化学会), interviewed and compiled by our reporter Yu Sinan (喻思南))
Return to TopBy: 俞 胜
A letter from home, short in length but deep in sentiment. This year marks the 105th anniversary of the founding of the Communist Party of China (中国共产党). Throughout the long river of time, generations of Chinese Communists have written letters home that bear witness to their loyalty and filial piety, moving in their sincerity. Let us approach these letters and, through words that traverse time, look up once more at those glorious figures. Let us understand that burning ideal, that firm faith, and that pure original aspiration, so as to cherish and remember them, and to forge ahead with greater determination.
—Editor
Mother:
I miss you!
For ten years, I have thought of that son who left home to travel to the ends of the earth, and my eyes have been filled with tears. Could he still be alive in this world?
This is the opening of a letter written by the martyr Xu Ying (许英) to his mother on August 20, 1948. The simple three words "I miss you," without the slightest embellishment, became the most persistent longing in the depths of his heart. Whenever he had a moment of leisure, it would swirl in his chest, calling out incessantly like magma beneath the earth—surging, scorching, suppressed by layer upon layer of silence, until the moment he put pen to paper, it finally found an outlet. Once erupted, it was soul-stirring, instantly moistening one's eyes.
Xu Ying (许英) left his homeland and joined the revolution at the age of 17, and for 10 years, there was no news of him. For 10 years, these three words weighed more than a thousand pounds on his heart. It is not hard to imagine that for 10 years, his mother leaned against the door looking into the distance by day and missed him by her pillow at night, from full expectation to restless anxiety, from yearning for his return to secret trepidation—the worries and torments of time had long since crawled into her heart and turned her temples white.
In the opening of this letter, Xu Ying (许英) did not dwell on the hardships of the battlefield or the cruelty of war. Instead, he stepped out of his own perspective to gently empathize with his mother's ten years of lovesickness: "I have thought of that son who left home to travel to the ends of the earth, and my eyes have been filled with tears. Could he still be alive in this world?" Reading this, one can almost see him writing the letter, his tear-filled eyes conjuring the image of his mother. A gentle inquiry makes the deep and subtle bond between mother and son both restrained and magnificent, soft yet powerful.
On the battlefield, Xu Ying (许英) was a battalion instructor who charged into the fray, fearing neither life nor death; he was an iron-blooded revolutionary who defied artillery fire and dared to fight tough battles. Yet, he was also a mother's son. Ten years of military life tempered his bones, but never smoothed away his tenderness. In this letter, which failed to arrive in time, Xu Ying (许英) first comforted his mother's lovesickness, then spoke of the original mission of the revolution, using the purest empathy to dissolve the regrets of separation and soothe the concerns of his loved ones. Such a delicate and transparent heart is particularly precious and moving in the war-torn years of fire and smoke.
Reading this letter carefully, one is struck by the martyr's sincere, simple emotions and his transparent, lofty state of mind. Although Xu Ying (许英) only had a primary school education, his background in a scholarly family, combined with the tempering of ten years of revolutionary storms, made every word in this letter plain and earnest, and every sentence both reasonable and sentimental. It contains both the warmth and delicacy of a son and the fortitude and frankness of a revolutionary.
Reading the words in the letter about his ten years of fighting, one can truly touch the frost of time and the sincerity of his hot blood. "Ten years of revolutionary training have educated me. I fully understand that my ten years of struggle have been incomparably glorious and great. I have endured all hardships and carried out a tenacious, bloody struggle in life-and-death crises." This simple self-narration, in just a few words, condenses the displacement and dangers of a decade of bloody fighting. Having gone through thousands of hardships and facing life-and-death moments, the revolutionary had no regrets, holding fast to his initial faith with a composed demeanor.
Between the lines, we understand the meaning of his struggle. It was not for personal fame or individual stability, but "for the permanent liberation of my mother and younger brother, so they would no longer be displaced by the threats of the old society to my father's position," and "for the happiness of my mother, and for the freedom and liberation of all mankind." He tied his personal joys and sorrows and the fate of his family closely to the national rejuvenation and the liberation of the people. From the tender "I miss you" to the universal "for the liberation of mankind," this leap is the sublimation of emotion. Because the essence of "for the liberation of mankind" is precisely to ensure that thousands upon thousands of mothers no longer suffer the pain of separation. The lofty state of mind of a revolutionary, who has a vision for the world, leaps off the page.
Upon learning that the family's land was about to be adjusted and part of it needed to be redistributed, Xu Ying (许英) felt no regret or calculation. Instead, he calmly comforted his mother: "Our surplus land was obtained through exploitation. In truth, it should be returned to the farmers; there is nothing to be nostalgic about." A revolutionary is inherently selfless, shedding blood and sacrificing his life, never for personal gain or privilege. He urged his family to abide by government decrees, engage in production, and support the front line, always prioritizing the big picture and not fretting over personal interests.
In the heart of Xu Ying (许英), personal joys and sorrows and family comfort were trivial matters in the face of national righteousness and the peace of the common people. He was determined throughout his life, struggling and shedding blood, not for fame or wealth, but for the peace of the people and the rebirth of the nation. The phrase "My glory is the glory of my mother, the glory of the whole family" expresses the broad mind and selfless spirit of a Communist.
Gazing at the handwriting left in the letter, I pondered for a long time. The martyr's brushwork is crisp and vigorous, the transitions natural; he mixed regular and cursive scripts, writing spontaneously. There is no deliberate polish, yet the character and emotion are deeply hidden. The firm strokes represent the fortitude of a soldier on the battlefield; the warm ink represents the soft affection of a wanderer missing his loved ones. The regular script reflects the rigorous, pragmatic, and meticulous style formed during ten years of military life, while the spontaneous, hurried strokes are a portrait of the wartime years, with their urgency and pressing battles. Written in the gaps between marches and battles, the simple and frank ink is full of the scorching smoke of war and the fiery heart of a patriot.
I think, if he could have survived the hail of bullets, if he could have witnessed the ever-changing years of our motherland, with his delicate literary talent, he might very well have become my predecessor in the literary world. But there are no "ifs"... In September 1948, before the Battle of Tashan (塔山阻击战) began, during the battle to recover Mount Datong (大东山), Xu Ying (许英) fought heroically with his comrades. In the heat of the battle, he braved dense gunfire to move between positions, striving to command the fight and boost morale, when he was unfortunately hit by a stray enemy bullet. He sacrificed his life heroically, forever frozen in the prime of his 27 years.
He used his hot blood to fulfill the solemn vows in his letter and used his young life to interpret the original revolutionary aspiration of selfless dedication to the country and the people. When placing the martyr's body in the coffin, Battalion Commander Li Wenbin (李文斌) discovered this letter in the martyr's pocket that had not yet been sent. For more than a hundred days after that, the war continued, and the letter was carefully preserved. It was not until after the victory of the Pingjin Campaign (平津战役) that this letter, carrying longing and lofty aspirations, was returned to his homeland and delivered to the martyr's parents.
According to Zhang Ding (张丁), deputy curator of the Family Letter Museum of Renmin University of China (中国人民大学家书博物馆), after reading the letter, the martyr's father took out a childhood photo of Xu Ying (许英) and wrote a note: "On the 12th day of the eighth lunar month, 1937, the year of the July 7th Incident, the family took our three sons back to our hometown. We boarded the train from Baoding (保定). Ying-er was wearing a small blue jacket and a white wool blanket, standing in an open-top carriage. I stood on the platform, watching until I could no longer see him, and only then did I return, holding back my tears. This was the last time I saw Ying-er. Twelve years later, I am sending my son to his grave—how could it not be painful!" A hurried parting became a final farewell. Every word of the brief note is a heart-piercing pain. The mother's 10 years of silent waiting and the father's grief 12 years later as he buried his son—two kinds of longing finally collided heavily in this letter that had traveled so far.
Time flows, mountains and rivers change, and seventy-eight years have passed in a flash. Today, rereading this letter from the martyr Xu Ying (许英), we understand not only the national righteousness of our revolutionary predecessors but also the original mission that strivers in the new era should uphold. Each of us is a drop of water in the tide of the times. Only by merging into the mighty torrent of national rejuvenation, national development, and people's happiness, and by integrating the pursuit of the "small self" into the journey of the "great self," can life leave its own ripples in the long river of time.
And when we reread the three words "I miss you," we can finally comfort the martyr: The mountains and rivers are now safe and sound. And you, you have never been forgotten...
By: 张心阳
In the residential compound (大院) where I live, packages are left in a shed outside for self-pickup. Because the volume of deliveries is high, when I truly cannot find mine, I call the courier (快递员). The courier often says, "It’s right there on the shelf next to the others; it’s very easy to find."
The courier says it is easy to find, yet I cannot find it. What is the reason for this? This brings to mind a psychological concept called the "Curse of Knowledge," proposed by British (英国) psychologist Robin Hogarth (罗宾·霍格斯). It refers to the phenomenon where, once a person knows something or possesses a certain type of knowledge, they find it difficult to imagine or understand the mental state of someone who does not. Consequently, they easily overestimate the other party's ability to understand during communication, leading to obstacles in information transfer.
This situation is very common. For example, when learning to drive, an instructor might say, "Turn the steering wheel gently and press the accelerator lightly," but the student finds it very difficult to execute. Because this is a simple task for a skilled instructor, it is hard for a novice to grasp exactly how "light" that touch should be, and how to coordinate it with the speed of the vehicle.
Someone once conducted an experiment on this: a person tapped out the rhythm of a very familiar song on a table, assuming most people would be able to guess it. The result was a very low success rate. The reason is that the tapper had the complete melody in their head, while the listeners did not. The tapper failed to realize that the audience was actually only hearing monotonous tapping sounds.
This phenomenon offers inspiration for how various industries can achieve effective communication and provide better services. For instance, when my city (城市) was rolling out a new generation of social security cards (社保卡), I did not replace mine during the first wave of promotion. The promotional staff spoke in quite professional terms, and I did not understand many of the technical jargon. Worried that the new card might not be as convenient as the old one, I decided to wait until I had learned the relevant information and felt confident before making the switch.
One also encounters this situation when handling certain administrative approval procedures. Some staff members will immediately pull out a stack of forms or direct you to a computer terminal without telling you how to fill them out or what the process is. For someone who has never handled such matters, this is simply 一头雾水 (yī tóu wù shuǐ - "one head fog water," completely confused or baffled). If you go up to ask for guidance, the answer is often, "It’s very simple; just fill it out according to the requirements and follow the procedures." Undoubtedly, this is simple for those familiar with the process, but for someone encountering it for the first time, it is truly 老虎吃天——没处下嘴 (lǎo hǔ chī tiān, méi chù xià zuǐ - "a tiger trying to eat the sky—nowhere to sink its teeth in," an idiom describing a situation where one is faced with a problem so overwhelming or complex that one does not know where to begin).
I have had personal experience with this. Several years ago, a friend needed to deregister his company (公司) and asked me to go to the relevant department (相关部门) to help him. Upon entering the service hall (服务大厅), all procedures had to be performed on a computer, but we got stuck after only the third step. When we asked the staff for help, the answer was, "The operation is very simple; just go back and start over." Although they said it was "very simple," we spent two mornings there and still could not complete the deregistration, eventually having to pay someone else to do it for us.
"Knowing" versus "not knowing," and "familiar" versus "unfamiliar," are essentially different dimensions of understanding things. "Knowing" and "familiarity" are at a higher dimension, while the opposite is at a lower one. Therefore, to achieve high efficiency in handling affairs or solving problems, the party that "knows" and is "familiar" needs to lower their dimension so that all parties are on the same level. Only then can barrier-free communication be achieved, tasks proceed smoothly, and problems be resolved successfully.
To achieve this, one must first be adept at putting oneself in another's shoes, giving the other party the empathy and respect they deserve, and realizing that what is being transmitted is not just information, but cognition that can be understood and absorbed by the other party, thereby maximizing the effectiveness of communication. Secondly, one must strive to avoid talking to oneself, and instead work hard to explain difficult terminology and methods in language that the other party can understand, find interesting, and know how to operate, so that they can get started immediately after listening. Thirdly, for the elderly and those unfamiliar with electronic devices, one should provide as much practical, hands-on help as possible. Relevant industries could specifically set up "green channels" to provide convenience for the "technologically challenged."
It is evident that as long as one’s attitude is sincere, one is adept at viewing problems from a "user perspective," and is willing to provide enthusiastic service, the obstacles in information transfer can be eliminated, and communication can achieve much better results.
Return to TopBy: 张建全
Not long ago, I arrived in Wuqi Town (吴起镇). Strolling through this ancient town in Northern Shaanxi (陕北) steeped in revolutionary memories, the thick and rustic loess beneath my feet felt grounded, with the lingering warmth of time enveloping me. Looking up and down, the smoke and history of past battles rushed toward me, as if traveling through the long passage of time, returning to those years of 风雨如晦 (fēng yǔ rú huì - "wind and rain like darkness," describing a time of great turmoil and hardship).
In the late autumn of 1935, the Central Red Army (中央红军), having trekked 25,000 li, crossed snow-capped mountains and grasslands, and broken through barrages of gunfire. Though tattered and exhausted, their eyes remained burning with a faith as firm as iron. The moment the troops crossed the final mountain range and caught sight of the curling smoke from the chimneys of Wuqi Town (吴起镇), the long, arduous Long March (长征) finally found a warm destination and a bright new starting point.
From then on, cave dwellings served as barracks, and the mountains and rivers as tents. Under the dim oil lamps, faces of determination reflected a sincere devotion to saving the nation. Simple words were spoken with weight, and firm oaths resonated across the mountains and rivers. The fertile soil of Wuqi Town (吴起镇) steadily received the Red Army (红军) troops who had survived the Long March (长征), and even more steadily held up the new hope of the Chinese revolution (中国革命) that would soon spread like a prairie fire.
Standing at the former site of the Red Army (红军) rendezvous, I gently touched the mottled walls with my fingertips; the scars of war left by time were still clearly discernible. The once isolated and desolate frontier town has long since changed. The streets are orderly, the signs of life are flourishing, traffic flows, laughter abounds, and the marketplace is peaceful—a time of quiet beauty. Only the red bloodline and immortal spirit flowing through this land remain unchanged, as fresh as ever through the ages.
In Wuqi Town (吴起镇), I heard the familiar "Long March Suite" (长征组歌) once again.
The "Long March Suite" (长征组歌) was written by the Red Army (红军) with their own feet. In 1964, Founding General Xiao Hua (萧华), drawing on his own true experiences during the Long March (长征), began writing the "Long March Suite" (长征组歌). In the Northern Shaanxi (陕北) chapter, "To Wuqi Town" (到吴起镇), he incorporated the memories of the Long March (长征) shared by himself and his wife. Using a dual perspective of personal experience, he restored the perseverance in desperate situations and the joy of a victorious rendezvous, giving the text both historical depth and a burning warmth: "Gongs and drums sound, the Yangge dance begins, the Yellow River (黄河) sings, the Great Wall (长城) rejoices. Divine soldiers descend upon Lazikou (腊子口), treating hundred-foot cliffs as cloud ladders. Red flags unfurl on Liupan Mountain (六盘山), sweeping away enemy cavalry with the force of 势如破竹 (shì rú pò zhú - "force like splitting bamboo," describing an irresistible, overwhelming momentum). The army and people of Shaan-Gan (陕甘) spread the good news, the expeditionary force victoriously arrives in Wuqi (吴起). Brothers from north and south join hands, expanding and advancing the base areas..."
In April 1965, the composer of the "Long March Suite" (长征组歌) traveled to Hangzhou (杭州) to listen in person to General Xiao Hua's (萧华) creative guidance on the "Long March Suite" (长征组歌), singing the first draft song by song and polishing it line by line, striving for a perfect fusion of melody, rhythm, and poetic imagery, achieving a unity of form and spirit.
When I was in high school, it happened to be a special period when students were divided into classes based on their majors, and I chose the "Literature and Art Theory Class." My homeroom teacher, Qiao Zhenwu (乔振武), loved literature and art and held the nation in his heart. When carefully preparing programs for the school's art performance, he led our entire class in rehearsing the red musical epic "Long March Suite" (长征组歌). I was fortunate to become a member of the choir. Through countless mornings and evenings, we practiced repeatedly and polished every segment until the melodies echoed in our minds and the lyrics were etched in our hearts.
Day after day of immersion and influence allowed the powerful melodies and sincere words to deeply merge into my blood and be carved into the bottom of my heart. I was deeply shocked by the Long March (长征) spirit, filled with reverence for the fearless Red Army (红军) soldiers, and felt an infinite yearning for the glorious and sacred People's Army (人民军队). One year after graduating from high school, carrying a heart full of sincerity and love, I signed up to join the army, transforming the red songs in my ears and the faith in my heart into the youthful practice of serving the nation.
Looking back now at half a lifetime, it seems like a destiny fulfilled. Because of my reverence for General Xiao Hua's (萧华) literary and military strategies and his patriotic feelings, I also embarked on the path of lyric writing, using my pen to express the heart of a patriot and using poetry to continue the red cultural lineage.
Pausing to look back in Wuqi Town (吴起镇), what I see is not just the 10,000-li Long March (长征), not just the revolutionary dawn of Yan'an (延安) lighting up the mountains and rivers, and not just the rebirth of ancient China (华夏) from the flames and the glorious opening of the New China (新中国) standing proudly. Through the layers of time and smoke, I see more clearly: a nation that has endured much suffering and is 百折不挠 (bǎi zhé bù náo - "hundred bends not yielding," describing indomitable perseverance), a nation that is ever-thriving and passing the torch, always standing tall and forging ahead under the bright red flag.
The setting sun is like molten gold, and the evening mountains are tinged with dark green. I wander on this heroic land, filled with reverence and infinite gratitude.
Return to TopWoodcut print "Summer" (夏), by artist Gu Yuan (古元), in the collection of the National Art Museum of China (中国美术馆).
Return to TopBy: 张恒涛
A bookstore called to ask if I would give a lecture to some children, and I agreed almost without hesitation. That night, I sat in my study until late, digging out old lesson plans and opening my computer to create presentation slides, feeling as nervous and excited as a new teacher about to take the stage. Although I have been retired for many years, once I receive such an invitation, the soul of the teacher deep within me awakens.
What should I talk about?
I recalled a saying my grandfather (爷爷) often repeated: "The first-class people are loyal ministers and filial sons; the two most important things are reading books and tilling the fields." This is a traditional family motto widely circulated, often hung in many farmhouses and ancestral halls (祠堂) in the old days. The old man also used to say, if the poor do not read, the roots of poverty are hard to sever; if the rich do not read, their wealth will not last long.
I shared these thoughts with the children. Below the stage were so many youthful faces; some had bright, shining eyes, while others whispered to their seatmates from time to time. They were like a garden of seedlings just sprouting.
I told the children that reading is a joyful thing. Reading a good book is like having a heart-to-heart talk with a person of noble character; reading a beautiful essay is like enjoying a magnificent landscape. As I said this, I slowed my pace, wanting every word to fall into their ears.
Getting into the swing of things, I simply drew a "Tree of Knowledge."
It was a tree with deep roots and lush leaves. Hanging from its branches were Pinyin (拼音), vocabulary and sentences, grammar, literary knowledge, classical poetry and prose reading, modern prose reading, essay writing... I pointed to the canopy and said, "Look, how important reading and writing are."
A boy wearing glasses raised his hand and asked: "Teacher, how can one write a good essay?"
I said: "Remember these eight characters—**人无我有，人有我新** (rén wú wǒ yǒu, rén yǒu wǒ xīn - "others lack, I possess; others possess, I innovate," to be unique and original in one's work)."
Let me give you an example. For a semi-open essay topic like "I learned how to...", what would you fill in? Cooking? Painting? Playing the piano? All are fine, but none are particularly brilliant. One student filled in "Lying." At this, a buzzing sound arose from the audience, and the children's faces were filled with confusion. I continued: "A well-intentioned lie, without malice, is sometimes more pleasant and moving than the truth. If you write a story about a white lie, this essay will have originality."
The classroom went quiet. I saw several children nodding, lost in thought. I knew what they were thinking. Children at this age are at a stage where they want to be "different." Some call this the "rebellious phase," but I don't like that term. They aren't trying to rebel against anything; they just want to see with their own eyes and think with their own brains. If this energy is channeled correctly, it becomes creativity.
I asked the children another question: "What do you want to be in the future?"
A little girl rested her chin on her hand, thought for a long time, and said she wanted to be a doctor to cure many people's illnesses. Another boy said he wanted to be an astronaut to go see Mars (火星). Still another said he wanted to be a teacher, a teacher just like me.
A thin boy, who had been quiet the whole time, stood up when asked, smiled shyly, and said: "I want to write a book. A book that many people would want to read."
I took the lead in applauding for the children. I saw the children below the stage, their eyes shining with light.
After the lecture, the children dispersed. I stood at the entrance of the bookstore, watching them walk away in twos and threes, the sunlight stretching their shadows long.
In that instant, I suddenly felt that this lesson was not just for the children, but also for myself.
Education is not about giving, but about awakening.
I have always kept this sentence in mind.
Return to TopBy: 马 蹄
The fragrance of flowers in the North (北方) is overwhelming,
Gently tapping on the dreamer.
Outside the window, a sea of flowers stretches for a thousand miles,
Rising and falling with the wind, surging forward.
A youth's (少年) dream,
Begins at dawn.
My cat (喵星人), please serve me a coffee,
A cup of poetic acacia blossoms (槐花),
Or perhaps, leave behind a cat-paw mug,
Which is also a unique form of 情意盎然 (qíng yì àng rán - "sentiment overflowing," describing a state filled with deep affection or rich emotional appeal).
By: 禄永峰
On the plateau (塬上), the peach blossoms and apricot blossoms that bloomed in spring have already faded for some time. In the blink of an eye, clusters of green fruit hang from the branches, offering quite a pleasant surprise.
Apple blossoms and locust flowers are meant to bloom in summer. After the start of summer (立夏), just as they were about to bloom, the sky turned gloomy, as if someone had provoked its anger. In the evening, snowflakes actually began to drift down in a flurry. The snow fell upon the trees, turning the buds on the apple trees and locust trees white. Fortunately, after drifting for a while, the snowflakes began to turn into a fine drizzle.
Those fruits that had not yet shed their down, and those flowers that had not yet had the chance to bloom, needed to be carefully protected. A cold front and a flurry of snow made those fruits tremble, and made those unopened flowers tremble as well.
Soon, the flower buds were 乱了脚步 (luàn le jiǎo bù - "disordered steps," thrown into confusion or disrupted in their natural rhythm), shyly hiding their secrets within the leaves, hesitant to keep their appointment with summer, and afraid to rendezvous with the clouds, leaves, and earth of summer.
Walking through the village in summer, flower buds grow on the trees, and trees grow on the earth. Those buds hanging on the branches had their rhythm disrupted by summer, but what about the trees? What about the wind that winds through the village? What about the bees that, having finished gathering nectar from the spring apricot and peach blossoms, were preparing to gather it from the summer apple and locust blossoms? Would they all be 乱了脚步 (luàn le jiǎo bù - "disordered steps," thrown into confusion or disrupted in their natural rhythm)?
I saw many villagers approaching the apple and locust trees, knitting their brows; a few bees buzzing and landing on the buds, as if scouting for a larger swarm, landed on one tree and then another, finally flying away in disappointment; as for the wind, it was unclear where it emerged from, blowing suddenly, then pausing for a long while before blowing again; as for the cattle, horses, and donkeys, they stood quietly before their troughs, pacing with short steps, chewing a mouthful of feed one moment, and dipping their mouths into water buckets to drink deeply the next.
To make everything sync with the rhythm of summer, one can only wait quietly for the flowers to bloom. Flowers are not only the messengers of spring, but also the messengers of summer. I worried that the late-blooming apple blossoms and locust flowers would miss their prime time to bloom in full, or even wither before they had the chance to do so. If that were the case, the apple trees would have labored in vain for a year, the locust trees would have labored in vain for a year, and the bees would have labored in vain for a year.
Fortunately, the weather finally warmed up bit by bit. Almost overnight, one apple tree after another, one locust tree after another, their flowers burst into full bloom! In summer, these late-blooming flowers were impatient, one chasing the footsteps of another, those that were late taking great strides to catch up. I saw those fully bloomed apple and locust flowers attracting swarms of bees once again.
Those flowers were so beautiful and fragrant, yet the people in the village, along with the cattle, horses, and donkeys, had 拉开了架势 (lā kāi le jià shì - "opened the stance," set themselves up for a major task or battle, prepared for intense work) in the fields, heads down and laboring, with no time for prolonged admiration. Within a few days, the apple blossoms had all faded. However, the locust flowers in the gullies and on the edges of the plateau were still in full bloom. Some early-blooming locust flowers were still drifting down, landing on the ground, where a light breeze rolled the petals slowly, endlessly. The locust flowers in every corner of the village seemed to want to bloom for as long as possible, hoping to make the late-arriving summer vibrant with life as quickly as possible, and to present the earth with a scene of bustling activity.
In this season where off-season weather is prone to occur, the late flowers have finally bloomed, and the harvest on the land will arrive as scheduled.
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