People's Daily - June 22, 2026

People's Daily - June 22, 2026

Article Index

Page 01版:要闻

Page 02版:要闻

Page 03版:要闻

Page 04版:要闻

Page 05版:评论

Page 06版:要闻

Page 07版:读者来信

Page 08版:文化

Page 09版:理论

Page 10版:特别报道

Page 11版:特别报道

Page 12版:社会

Page 13版:生态

Page 14版:体育

Page 15版:国际

Page 16版:广告

Page 17版:国际

Page 18版:科技

Page 19版:广告

Page 20版:副刊

Page 01版:要闻

“We Must Build Our Party Well and Strong” (The General Secretary’s People-Centered Sentiment)

By: 本报记者 张 洋

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The key to managing China's affairs well lies in the Party, and the key to that lies in the Party managing itself and exercising full and rigorous self-governance.

Since the dawn of the new era, the Party Central Committee (党中央) with Comrade Xi Jinping (习近平) at its core has incorporated full and rigorous self-governance of the Party into the "Four-Pronged Comprehensive Strategy" (四个全面), continuously advancing the great new project of Party building in the new era. The Party has become stronger and more resilient through revolutionary tempering, leading and safeguarding the steady and long-term progress of the causes of the Party and the country.

A great era gives birth to scientific thought, and scientific thought guides innovative practice. Xi Jinping's (习近平) thinking on Party building profoundly answers the major contemporary question of "what kind of Marxist political party that exercises long-term governance should be built, and how to build such a party," serving as the fundamental guideline for strengthening Party building in the new era.

In October 2016, at the Sixth Plenary Session of the 18th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (党的十八届六中全会), General Secretary Xi Jinping (习近平) pointed out profoundly: "To carry out a great struggle with many new historical characteristics, effectively respond to various risks and challenges, achieve the 'Two Centenary Goals' (两个一百年), and realize the Chinese Dream (中国梦) of the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation, we must build our Party well and make it strong."

Build our Party well and make it strong to ensure we march forward in lockstep.

The Minning Cooperation (闽宁协作), which has spanned 30 years and covered over 2,000 kilometers, is a microcosm of assisting in poverty alleviation, promoting coordinated regional development, and facilitating cooperation between eastern and western regions. It highlights the political advantages of our Party and the superiority of our country's socialist system.

Recently, General Secretary Xi Jinping (习近平) gave important instructions on normalizing the work of east-west cooperation, emphasizing the need to "summarize and apply beneficial experiences such as the Minning Cooperation (闽宁协作)" and "continuously enhance the coordination of regional development, and take solid steps toward common prosperity for all the people."

Upholding the Party's leadership is the most essential feature of socialism with Chinese characteristics.

The Party's strength comes from its organization. Only by building a sound organizational system that is well-connected from top to bottom and highly efficient in execution can the Party's leadership be as effective as "如身使臂,如臂使指" (rú shēn shǐ bì, rú bì shǐ zhǐ - "like the body directing the arm, and the arm directing the fingers," describing a highly coordinated, seamless, and responsive command structure). From the battle against poverty to the five-year transition period, and then to normalized targeted assistance, at the call of the Party Central Committee (党中央), Party organizations at all levels and the vast number of Party members and cadres have acted upon the order and rushed to the mountain villages.

"上下同欲者胜" (shàng xià tóng yù zhě shèng - "those who share the same desires from top to bottom will win," success comes when leaders and the people share a common goal). Building a moderately prosperous society in all respects on Chinese soil, and marching with full confidence on the new journey of comprehensively advancing the building of a strong country and the great cause of national rejuvenation through Chinese-style modernization, fundamentally relies on the navigation and steering of General Secretary Xi Jinping (习近平) and the scientific guidance 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). The "Two Establishments" (两个确立) are major political achievements attained by the Party in the new era and are of decisive significance for advancing the historical process of the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation.

On the new journey in the new era, "the whole Party and the people of all ethnic groups across the country must unite into 'a piece of hard steel' under the Party's banner, thinking in one place and exerting effort in one direction," General Secretary Xi Jinping (习近平) emphasized in October 2022 while participating in the discussion with the Guangxi (广西) delegation at the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China (党的二十大).

Build our Party well and make it strong to maintain its flourishing vitality and vigor.

"We must hone our original aspiration and mission, persevere, and work tirelessly to continue answering the 'Question of the Cave' (窑洞之问) from Yan'an (延安)." This statement from General Secretary Xi Jinping (习近平) in his 2026 New Year address demonstrates a clear historical consciousness and firm historical initiative.

Facing the long-term "four tests" (四大考验) and "four dangers" (四种危险), the management and governance of the Party cannot be relaxed for a single moment. Less than a month after the conclusion of the 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China (党的十八大), the Party Central Committee (党中央) formulated and issued the Eight-point Regulation (中央八项规定).

"一子落,满盘活" (yī zǐ luò, mǎn pán huó - "one move on the chessboard, the whole game comes alive," a single strategic move can revitalize the entire situation). Full and rigorous self-governance of the Party has continuously deepened, curbing many unhealthy tendencies that were previously thought impossible to stop and eradicating stubborn diseases that had been difficult to remove for years, ensuring that our Party always remains the strong core of leadership for the cause of socialism with Chinese characteristics.

"A very important reason why our Party has remained vigorous after being tempered through thousands of trials is that we have always insisted that the Party must manage itself and exercise full and rigorous self-governance." On the occasion of the centenary of the founding of the Party, General Secretary Xi Jinping (习近平) summarized this profoundly.

Build our Party well and make it strong to always receive the heartfelt support of the people.

"Communists in the new era must inherit the red gene, never forget their original aspiration, keep their mission firmly in mind, perform their duties, and take responsibility to write an excellent answer sheet on the new journey." Recently, General Secretary Xi Jinping (习近平) emphasized this in a reply letter to Zhang Liansheng (张连生), an old Party member at Xinhua News Agency (新华社).

"The people's yearning for a better life is our goal." Since the new era, General Secretary Xi Jinping (习近平) has traveled across the country, and his belief that "I will devote myself, and not let the people down" has been integrated into countless warm moments, turning into the smiling faces of the masses.

"Consider issues from the people's standpoint." At the Fourth Plenary Session of the 20th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (党的二十届四中全会), General Secretary Xi Jinping (习近平) emphasized: "The draft of the 'Proposal' (建议) highlights in its guiding ideology that solid steps must be taken toward common prosperity for all the people, which is an overall requirement for guiding economic and social development during the '15th Five-Year Plan' (十五五) period."

"Achieve political performance for the people, and achieve political performance through hard work." Currently, learning and education on establishing and practicing a correct view of political performance are being carried out throughout the Party. The vast number of Party members and cadres are persistently using the Party's innovative theories to consolidate their faith and forge their souls, working in a down-to-earth manner, and are transforming the results of learning and education into high-quality development achievements, striving to make the fruits of modernization benefit all the people more and more fairly.

"With the Party built well, our country, our people, and our cause will have a backbone." The words of General Secretary Xi Jinping (习近平) are resonant and powerful.

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Engrave Political Achievements in the Hearts of the People (Establish and Practice a Correct View of Political Achievements)

By: 本报记者

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Since the launch of the study and education campaign on establishing and practicing a correct view of political achievements, all regions, departments, and units have conscientiously implemented the general requirements of "serving the Party for the public good, benefiting the people, making scientific decisions, and working with 真抓实干 (zhēn zhuā shí gàn - "real grasp solid work," to work in a down-to-earth and practical manner)," advancing learning, inspection, and rectification as an integrated whole. They have effectively carried out practical tasks for the people's livelihood that are visible, tangible, and beneficial, engraving their political achievements in the hearts of the masses.

**Seeking Needs and Advice from the People**

Qiubei County (丘北县), Wenshan Zhuang and Miao Autonomous Prefecture (文山壮族苗族自治州), Yunnan Province (云南省), has persisted in an open-door education approach. Focusing on key areas such as rural infrastructure, medical care, education, and the business environment, the county has held a total of 7 symposiums to solicit opinions, collecting 17 suggestions. Relying on channels such as the 12345 hotline and petition platforms, they have sorted through 720 items including public livelihood demands, development difficulties, and service shortcomings. By establishing ledgers, transferring tasks by category, setting time limits for completion, and implementing closed-loop management, they have effectively ensured that problems are identified by listening to the public, rectifications are carried out under public supervision, and results are evaluated by the people.

Jizhou District (蓟州区), Tianjin Municipality (天津市), has actively solicited opinions and suggestions from various departments, service recipients, and grassroots masses through field research, thematic symposiums, individual interviews, and online collection. Leading cadres have taken the lead in going deep into towns, villages, enterprises, and community frontlines. Each unit has solicited opinions regarding the urgent, difficult, and anxious problems of the masses, sorted the collected issues one by one, established ledgers, focused on prominent problems for centralized rectification, formulated rectification measures item by item, and promoted the assignment of responsibilities to individuals and the implementation of measures.

Yongchuan District (永川区), Chongqing Municipality (重庆市), persists in asking the people for their needs and advice. Relying on digital platforms such as "People Call, I Respond" (民呼我为) and "Yongqi Mashangbao" (永企码上报), they have integrated online and offline collection channels. Opinions, suggestions, and issues regarding enterprise operations and public services are included in a rectification list for targeted breakthroughs and centralized correction, ensuring that problems are considered and decisions are made with the needs of the masses as the premise.

**Promoting Long-term Governance**

In summer, crab seedlings from Jiangsu Province (江苏省) traveled north to "settle down" in Dalad Banner (达拉特旗), Ordos City (鄂尔多斯市), Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region (内蒙古自治区). Industrial development will provide more than 200 jobs for farmers and herdsmen in Dalad Banner (达拉特旗), including breeding, maintenance, sorting, and packaging. The introduction and implementation of the "Southern Crabs, Northern Breeding" (南蟹北养) project were continuously promoted by relevant government officials of the Banner.

Since the launch of the study and education campaign, Dalad Banner (达拉特旗) has refined a list of 49 specific handover items across nine aspects, including key work, grassroots Party building, cadre personnel, and financial assets, to comprehensively clarify the foundation of work and the boundaries of responsibility. At the same time, they have established a follow-up supervision mechanism for outgoing handovers. For difficult issues and legacy work in the handover list, they have clarified rectification deadlines, promotion measures, and responsible persons, conducting regular scheduling and supervision. This promotes a positive work pattern where work continues despite job changes, and the rhythm remains steady despite personnel turnover, preventing "new officials from ignoring old debts" (新官不理旧账).

Xining City (西宁市), Qinghai Province (青海省), insists on taking the establishment of rules and regulations as an important guarantee for correcting deviations in the view of political achievements. Focusing on key areas such as cadre evaluation, power supervision, and livelihood security, they have conducted a comprehensive "physical examination" of existing rules, regulations, work mechanisms, and procedural norms, abolishing, revising, or establishing 164 institutional mechanisms.

Wanghua District (望花区), Fushun City (抚顺市), Liaoning Province (辽宁省), has deeply investigated regulations in existing systems that do not meet the requirements of a correct view of political achievements, abolished 6 assessment indicators that did not fit grassroots realities, and revised assessment rules. They have also improved early warning mechanisms, providing tiered warnings and dynamic adjustments for cadres who are not focused on their work or lack the courage to take responsibility.

**Dedicated to Benefiting the People**

"The cafeteria food suits my taste and the price is affordable; it's very comforting!" In Jiangpu Subdistrict (江浦街道), Jiangbei New Area (江北新区), Nanjing City (南京市), Jiangsu Province (江苏省), the "Ta Shiguang" (塔食光) community canteen has received praise for the heartwarming meals offered to the elderly. Jiangbei New Area (江北新区) focuses on the urgent, difficult, and anxious problems of the masses, grasping implementation one by one. Among them, Taishan Subdistrict (泰山街道), addressing the difficulty of parking in old residential areas at night, coordinated the opening of about 3 kilometers of roads for parking and revitalized idle land to build temporary parking lots. Getang Subdistrict (葛塘街道) discovered a safety hazard caused by a wall blocking the exit of a residential area, leading to the mixing of people and vehicles; they coordinated with the urban management department to demolish the wall, repair the road, and organize resident representatives for on-site acceptance. Party members and cadres establish and practice a correct view of political achievements in the process of responding to public voices, resolving public concerns, and gathering public support.

"Lucid waters and lush mountains are invaluable assets. That 200-hectare Korean pine forest has an annual carbon sequestration capacity of 1,200 tons. Calculated at market prices, that is nearly 100,000 yuan in 'ecological income'." Pointing to the nearby forest land, a cadre from the Forestry and Grassland Bureau (林草局) of Yichun City (伊春市), Heilongjiang Province (黑龙江省), said. Yichun City (伊春市) has transformed learning results into conscious actions to promote high-quality development, pushing for the deployment of monitoring plots in the forest and establishing an "air-space-ground" integrated carbon sink measurement system. They use technology and conceptual innovation to open up the green gold mine of "carbon sinks," allowing the pockets of forest residents to bulge due to ecological protection and their lives to become more beautiful due to green development.

Since the launch of the study and education campaign, Heze City (菏泽市), Shandong Province (山东省), has included key livelihood tasks in a daily supervision list, advancing them in tandem with the rectification of misconduct and corruption around the masses. They have tightened departmental responsibilities, conducted regular tracking and scheduling, and urged for effectiveness, promoting the accelerated implementation of livelihood projects to see early results. Through powerful supervision, they ensure that the study and education campaign is not just a formality and that rectification and improvement are thorough and effective, making them perceptible and accessible to the masses.

(Reporters: He Zhaoyu (何昭宇), Qiao Dong (乔栋), Li Jiading (李家鼎), Liu Jiahua (刘佳华), Wang Xinyue (王欣悦), Wang Zhe (王者), Zhao Jingfeng (赵景锋))

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Fuling, Chongqing leverages local advantages to strengthen and optimize featured industries.

By: 本报记者 李增辉 姜 峰 沈靖然

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During the Summer Solstice (夏至), in Fuling (涪陵), Chongqing (重庆). The mustard greens (青菜头), having undergone the "triple-salting" fermentation process, are ready for processing, and the air is thick with their unique, pungent aroma.

Walking into the Qiu Family Workshop (邱家作坊), the reporter asked curiously: Mustard greens are very common in the south, and people are accustomed to pickling them as salted vegetables; why is Fuling Pickled Mustard (涪陵榨菜) so famous and able to 脱颖而出 (tuō yǐng ér chū - "stand out like the tip of an awl," to distinguish oneself or stand out from the crowd)?

"Workshop workers invented the wooden box pressing method, which improved the process and increased efficiency, earning the favor of the market." Beside two cellar pools, Huang Xiaolin (黄小林), Deputy Director of the Fuling District Pickled Mustard Industry Development Center (涪陵区榨菜产业发展中心), explained.

In April 2024, General Secretary Xi Jinping (习近平) emphasized during his inspection in Chongqing (重庆) that we must "develop ecological and characteristic agriculture based on the local mountainous terrain." The Outline of the 15th Five-Year Plan (十五五) proposes to "coordinate the development of technological agriculture, green agriculture, quality agriculture, and brand agriculture, and build agriculture into a modernized major industry."

Fuling Pickled Mustard (涪陵榨菜), which started from manual workshops over a hundred years ago, now has a total industrial output value exceeding 16.5 billion yuan.

Expanding production relies on transformation and upgrading.

Zhao Ping (赵平), a veteran employee of the Fuling Mustard Group (涪陵榨菜集团) with 35 years of experience, once witnessed the local mustard industry fall into a predicament: low production capacity, a single product category, and disorderly layout of manual workshops.

The first step was industrial transformation. "In the past, the old factory produced 300 tons a year; now, the group's automated workshop produces 800 tons a day." Zhao Ping (赵平) remarked that a time-honored brand must seek innovation and change to break through difficulties and maintain its vitality.

Change is not just a breakthrough for individual enterprises, but an overall upgrade of the entire pickled mustard industry. Currently, Fuling (涪陵) has built a 430,000-mu standardized green raw material production base for mustard greens, achieving a centralized and regional layout. It has established a three-level closed-loop management mechanism, implemented centralized procurement of agricultural materials at the purchasing end, and provided 395 million yuan in planting insurance. Using the "enterprise + professional cooperative + farmer" model, it connects 197 professional cooperatives and over 2,000 processing households, providing greater security for industrial development.

Improving quality and efficiency relies on digital intelligence empowerment.

If the transition from traditional manual labor to modern production lines is "strengthening the body," then the current digital iteration is "strengthening the soul."

"Now, selling vegetables can be done with a few taps on a mobile phone." Using the "Mustard Industry Brain" (榨菜产业大脑) client, large-scale mustard green grower Zhang Qianfeng (张前丰) feels the convenience.

In the data backend, real-time data for plots across the entire district is constantly updated. "Which cellar is almost full, which one still has space—the 'Mustard Industry Brain' (榨菜产业大脑) intelligently generates scheduling plans based on distance and capacity," Huang Xiaolin (黄小林) explained.

This used to be a pain point: during the harvest season, trucks would line up for miles outside the processing plants, the vegetables would wilt, and the farmers would be exhausted.

"The 'Mustard Industry Brain' (榨菜产业大脑) manages planting, processing, sales, administration, and services," said Huang Xiaolin (黄小林). As of now, nearly 20,000 vegetable farmers in Fuling District (涪陵区) have achieved "palm-based planting," and the signing rate for order-based production of mustard greens is expected to exceed 80% by 2025. Rich data support makes the "brain" smarter.

Using digital intelligence to reshape production and improve quality and efficiency, Chongqing (重庆) has currently built 6 agricultural "industry brains," including Fuling Pickled Mustard (涪陵榨菜), Tongnan Lemon (潼南柠檬), and Fengjie Navel Orange (奉节脐橙), as well as 20 "future farms."

Retaining craftsmanship, one must 守正创新 (shǒu zhèng chuàng xīn - "uphold integrity and innovate," to maintain fundamental principles while pursuing innovation).

Hou Yao (侯尧), born in the 1980s, has long been engaged in the research of pickled mustard craftsmanship. On one hand, he develops low-salt mustard and casual snacks, seeking a path to integrate traditional flavors into modern consumption scenarios; on the other hand, he teaches his post-00s apprentices how to dry, trim, and season the vegetables... "万变不离其宗 (wàn biàn bù lí qí zōng - "ten thousand changes do not depart from the origin," no matter how things change, the fundamental essence remains the same), no matter how technology iterates, the authentic taste from the earth cannot be lost," said Hou Yao (侯尧).

At the Chongqing Southeast Agricultural Academy (重庆市渝东南农业科学院), the mustard green genetic germplasm bank stores over 1,500 germplasm resource materials, firmly grasping the "chip" of the industry. The team has bred the country's first high-altitude mustard green variety suitable for planting at altitudes of 800 to 1,300 meters, allowing high-altitude mountain villages to prosper through mustard greens. A single high-quality seed has changed the development prospects of the mountain villages.

Li Yong (黎勇), Secretary of the Fuling District Committee (涪陵区委), stated that during the "15th Five-Year Plan" (十五五) period, the pickled mustard industry will accelerate its upgrade toward "systematized organizational support, digitized resource management, precise technical support, intensive production and operation, and socialized service support."

As of now, Fuling District (涪陵区) has planted 741,900 mu of mustard greens, driving 160,000 planting households and 20 enterprises above designated size to jointly promote revitalization. Fuling Pickled Mustard (涪陵榨菜) is becoming a demonstration model for agricultural modernization in Chongqing (重庆), continuously leading the high-quality development of ecological and characteristic agriculture.

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Inheriting the Red Legacy, Painting a New Chapter of Green Development (New Stories from Old Revolutionary Base Areas)

By: 本报记者 贾丰丰

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In the sand nests of the Shaanxi Yulin Hongjiannao National Nature Reserve (陕西榆林红碱淖国家级自然保护区), chicks of the Relict Gull (遗鸥) with downy, pale yellow feathers huddle closely together, their delicate chirping rising and falling in succession.

The Relict Gull (遗鸥) is a national first-class protected bird species. In the monitoring room, staff member Jia Kaiyue (贾钘越) is intently watching the nesting area on the lake island through infrared cameras. "Relict Gulls (遗鸥) have very high requirements for their habitat and breeding environment; even the slightest change in the ecological environment can have a direct impact," says Jia Kaiyue (贾钘越). "This year, the breeding situation for the Relict Gulls (遗鸥) is looking positive, with a total of 2,247 nests built in the lake area. Currently, over 5,000 Relict Gull (遗鸥) chicks are hatching one after another."

Hongjiannao (红碱淖), located deep in the desert, is the largest desert freshwater lake in the country and one of the most important breeding and habitats for the Relict Gull (遗鸥) globally. In the early morning, over the vast expanse of blue waves, thousands of Relict Gulls (遗鸥) flutter and soar, their white wings breaking the sunlight, their calls sweeping across the sandy plains.

This vitality was not easily won. Since the 1990s, affected by climate warming and drying, as well as human activities, Hongjiannao (红碱淖) gradually shrank, and waterfowl became scarce. By 2015, the lake surface had shrunk to only 31.5 square kilometers, just half of its historically largest area, and sightings of the Relict Gull (遗鸥) became increasingly rare.

Hongjiannao (红碱淖) cried out for water, and the Relict Gulls (遗鸥) needed a home.

In September 2021, General Secretary Xi Jinping (习近平) emphasized during his inspection in Yulin (榆林) that we must follow a "path of harmonious coexistence between man and nature."

As a part of the Northern Shaanxi Revolutionary Base (陕北革命根据地), the "red gene" has long been integrated into the soil and water of Yulin (榆林). Facing the new situation, Yulin (榆林) has taken multiple measures to protect the gulls, control desertification, revitalize the lake, and safeguard the green mountains and clear waters that the old revolutionary base has relied on for generations, carrying out systematic restoration: cross-regional ecological water diversion to stabilize lake water levels; mechanical bank stabilization, silt removal, and artificial construction to restore the breeding islands in the center of the lake; and synchronized fish stock enhancement and release to ensure the Relict Gulls (遗鸥) have no worries about foraging...

"We have formed a special gull protection team of more than 20 people, working in three shifts, complemented by fixed-point high-altitude drone patrols and full-area infrared camera captures of the nesting zones. We have built a solid protective barrier covering the entire process from nesting and incubation to chick-rearing," Jia Kaiyue (贾钘越) explains.

The water has come alive, the lake has widened, and the birds have returned—

"It's not just the Relict Gulls (遗鸥); 197 species of birds now inhabit Hongjiannao (红碱淖), including 14 species of national first-class protected birds and 33 species of national second-class protected birds," says Jia Kaiyue (贾钘越).

Today, Yulin (榆林) has truly become a "Forest City on the Frontier" (塞上森林城): since the start of the "14th Five-Year Plan" (十四五), a total of 6.9138 million mu of afforestation and grass planting has been completed. A ten-million-mu shelterbelt stands like a green Great Wall along the southern edge of the Mu Us Sandy Land (毛乌素沙地), helping to push Shaanxi's (陕西) green map 400 kilometers to the north.

"Striving for the '15th Five-Year Plan' (十五五), we will persist in using carbon peaking and carbon neutrality as our guide, with the comprehensive improvement of ecological environmental quality as the main thread, ensuring that green development is tangibly implemented on this land," says Zhang Shengli (张胜利), Secretary of the Yulin Municipal Committee (榆林市委).

The setting sun glows like molten gold, spreading across the surface of Hongjiannao (红碱淖). "The mountain gullies are beautiful, the forests are beautiful, green grasses surround the clear, shimmering water..." The old melody with new lyrics sings warmth into people's hearts; the new stories of the old revolutionary base continue a new chapter of green.

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Total cross-regional passenger traffic is expected to exceed 650 million trips.

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Beijing (北京), June 21 (Reporter Han Xin (韩鑫)) — The reporter learned from the Ministry of Transport (交通运输部) on the 21st that during the Dragon Boat Festival (端午节) holiday, the total volume of cross-regional passenger movement across the country is expected to reach 652.78 million, with a daily average of 217.593 million, remaining 持平 (chí píng - "hold level," indicating no change or remaining the same as the previous year).

Road travel remains the mainstream choice. During the holiday, the total volume of road passenger movement reached 594.89 million, with a daily average of 198.3 million. Of this, commercial road passenger volume was 112.88 million, with a daily average of 37.63 million, a year-on-year increase of 2.2%; the volume of non-commercial passenger vehicle travel on expressways and ordinary national and provincial highways reached 482.01 million, with a daily average of 160.67 million.

During the Dragon Boat Festival (端午节) holiday, the total railway passenger volume was 49.451 million, with a daily average of 1.6484 million, a year-on-year increase of 2.97%. The total civil aviation passenger volume was 5.676 million, with a daily average of 189,200, a year-on-year increase of 0.6%. The total waterway passenger volume was 2.763 million, with a daily average of 92,100, a year-on-year increase of 1.16%.

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National consumer market remains stable

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Beijing (北京), June 21 (Reporter Luo Shanshan (罗珊珊)) — The reporter learned from the Ministry of Commerce (商务部) on the 21st that during the Dragon Boat Festival (端午节) holiday, the national consumer market operated smoothly, with ample supplies and stable prices for daily necessities.

According to big data from the Ministry of Commerce (商务部), as of June 20, the 2026 consumer goods trade-in program has benefited 136 million people, driving sales exceeding 1 trillion yuan. Among these, 3.428 million automobiles were traded in, driving sales of 555.24 billion yuan; 132.895 million units of home appliances, digital products, and smart devices were traded in or purchased, driving sales of 451.63 billion yuan.

The market supply of daily necessities across various regions remained sufficient, and prices were generally stable. Big data from the Ministry of Commerce (商务部) shows that during the holiday, 200 large-scale agricultural and sideline product wholesale markets nationwide maintained sufficient inventory, with prices for grain, oil, meat, and fruit remaining 基本持平 (jī běn chí píng - "basically remain level," meaning to stay consistent or unchanged compared to a previous state) compared to those before the holiday (June 18).

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Photo Report

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June 21st marks the Summer Solstice (夏至) solar term. In recent days, various regions have remained 毫不放松 (háo bù fàng sōng - "not in the least relax," to maintain strict focus and effort without slackening) in managing "Three Summers" (三夏) production, organizing and carrying out mechanized rice transplanting operations, creating a scene of bustling activity across the fields.

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Editor's Note

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Special Report Celebrating the 105th Anniversary of the Founding of the Communist Party of China (中国共产党)

Continuously Advancing the Great New Project of Party Building in the New Era

Pages 10 and 11

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Page 02版:要闻

Development Amidst Preservation, Ancient Cities Shine Anew (Keeping the Original Aspiration and Mission in Mind, Forging Ahead on the Journey of Rejuvenation)

By: 本报记者 史自强 强郁文

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In Zhengding (正定), Hebei (河北), ascending the South City Gate (南城门) and gazing into the distance, one sees ancient streets set against ancient buildings, ancient temples accompanied by ancient pagodas—the ancient city is imbued with an ancient charm.

Zhengding (正定) boasts a history of over a thousand years as a city, leaving behind a rich and splendid array of cultural relics. The entire county contains 10 Major Historical and Cultural Sites Protected at the National Level (全国重点文物保护单位), 8 Provincial-level Cultural Relics Protection Units (省级文物保护单位), and houses over 7,600 collection items.

During his tenure working in Zhengding (正定), Comrade Xi Jinping (习近平) ensured that every matter involving the protection of the ancient city's relics was included in the work agenda without exception (无一遗落 - wú yī yí luò - "not one left out," leaving nothing behind or forgotten): he raised funds to restore Longxing Temple (隆兴寺), promoted a county-wide census and protection of ancient trees, repaired the birthplace of the first local Party organization, and presided over the compilation of *Zhengding Past and Present* (《正定古今》)……

Since the dawn of the new era, General Secretary Xi Jinping (习近平) has attached great importance to inheriting the excellent traditional Chinese culture, emphasizing: "We must protect, inherit, and utilize excellent traditional Chinese culture well, excavating its rich connotations to better strengthen cultural confidence and coalesce the national spirit."

Balancing the present with the long term, and coordinating development with protection, Zhengding (正定) has promoted the restoration and enhancement of the ancient city's appearance alongside the deep integration of culture and tourism, diligently safeguarding the cultural pulse of this millennium-old city.

At dawn, sunlight spills onto the city walls. Zhang Zhe (张喆), a staff member at the South City Gate Management Office (南城门管理处) of the Zhengding County Cultural Relics Preservation Institute (正定县文物保管所), begins his daily patrol. He and his colleagues walk the approximately 3-kilometer stretch of the South City Wall (南城墙) and the southern section of the East City Wall (东城墙) several times every day.

"It is the rainy season recently; rainwater seeps into the brick joints, making the city walls prone to 'growing' cracks. Patrols and monitoring need to be more intensive than ever," says Zhang Zhe (张喆).

To comprehensively protect historical and cultural heritage, a new round of repairs for the Zhengding Ancient City Wall (正定古城墙) will be launched during the "15th Five-Year Plan" (十五五) period. Guo Jianyong (郭建永), a senior engineer at the Hebei Provincial Institute of Cultural Relics and Ancient Architecture Protection (河北省文物与古建筑保护研究院), explains that the repairs will primarily adopt the method of status-quo renovation and reinforcement, avoiding excessive intervention to keep the wall structure safe and stable.

"Minimal intervention, maximum preservation," allows the ancient city to integrate into modern life. In recent years, Zhengding (正定) has strictly controlled the height and volume of buildings within the ancient city, renovated and upgraded the small streets and alleys in the main urban area, and optimized spatial layouts and improved living environments while retaining the original style and features. This has created a number of distinctive blocks that are convenient for local residents and have become popular spots for tourists to relax, consume, and take photos.

Archaeology has stepped out of the "ivory tower." At the archaeological excavation site of the Kaiyuan Temple South Ruins (开元寺南遗址), through the glass curtain wall, one can see cultural strata remains dating back to the Tang Dynasty (唐代), such as ancient wells and ancient streets. Residents and tourists stop from time to time to gaze and read this "open-air history book."

Museum culture is becoming both "innovative" and "heartfelt." Inside the Cultural and Creative Center of the Zhengding County Museum (正定县博物馆), fans, ornaments, and plush toys designed based on cultural relics are novel and unique. "The museum collaborates with archaeological units and schools to carefully design research and study courses, allowing children to experience simulated archaeological excavations and mural restoration, bringing them closer to cultural relics," says Liu Yinghan (刘瀛涵), an assistant curator at the museum.

Rongguo Mansion (荣国府) is a must-visit destination for many in Zhengding (正定), and young people dressed in various Hanfu (汉服) add much color to the scenic area. Spotting the consumer trend, nearby Hanfu (汉服) experience shops have launched styling packages, providing on-site "photo-ready" results and leaving tourists with wonderful memories.

As night falls, the immersive night tour "A Dream into the Red Chamber" (一梦入红楼) begins. "We have rearranged the night tour program; as we walk and perform, there is a new scene at every step. Tourists enjoy interactive performances while unlocking classic story scenes from the original work, feeling the profound heritage of Red Chamber culture," says Ren Yanwen (任研雯), the person in charge of the night tour project.

Vibrant scenes lead to a boom in cultural tourism. Developing while protecting, and protecting while developing, the millennium-old city in the new era is safeguarding the precious wealth bestowed by our predecessors and is radiating an even more brilliant luster.

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Connecting the World, Creating the Future Together

By: 本报记者 罗珊珊

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On June 22, the 4th China International Supply Chain Expo (hereinafter referred to as the "CISCE" (链博会)) was held at the Shunyi Pavilion of the China International Exhibition Center (中国国际展览中心) in Beijing (北京). A total of 676 Chinese and foreign "chain leader" enterprises, specialized and sophisticated "little giant" enterprises, and industry organizations participated alongside their upstream and downstream partners in the production and supply chain, with the number of actual participating enterprises exceeding 1,200.

As the world's first national-level exhibition themed on supply chain cooperation, the CISCE (链博会) promotes a shift for exhibitors and visitors from simple procurement cooperation to collaborative production and supply chain synergy and mutually beneficial investment. What new products and technologies are featured at this year's CISCE (链博会)? What are the new expectations of Chinese and foreign participating enterprises? Our reporters interviewed several participating companies.

**Digital Intelligence and New Ideas at the CISCE (链博会), New Technologies Empowering Thousands of Industries**

At this year's CISCE (链博会), the "Digital Technology Chain" has been upgraded to the "Digital Intelligence Technology Chain." This slight change reflects the development process of AI (Artificial Intelligence) and the industrialization of the digital economy.

Medtronic (美敦力) showcased industry practices and local innovation achievements in which AI digital intelligence technology empowers the medical value chain. The AI assistant for interventional heart valve replacement surgery, developed by the company in cooperation with Chinese partners, relies on powerful AI computing power. It aims to simulate complex surgical procedures in advance, predict intraoperative risks, and customize personalized diagnosis and treatment plans, helping to improve the efficiency of high-difficulty interventional surgeries. "Rooted in China (中国) for 37 years, Medtronic (美敦力) has always taken innovation as its engine, spanning from an 'innovative technology importer' to a 'local ecosystem co-builder,' and the CISCE (链博会) has provided an important opportunity for this transformation," said Gu Yushao (顾宇韶), Senior Vice President of Medtronic (美敦力) Global.

"The CISCE (链博会) is not only a platform for display but also an important window for connecting upstream and downstream partners and promoting the transition of AI from single-point applications to industrial synergy," said Dong Bin (董斌), Deputy General Manager of the Brand Marketing Center at iFlytek Co., Ltd. (科大讯飞股份有限公司). "At this year's CISCE (链博会), iFlytek (科大讯飞) brought 10 AI software and hardware products, including AI glasses and intelligent multi-modal interactive testing robots. We focus on presenting the application value of AI in industrial chains such as intelligent automobiles, intelligent terminals, and embodied intelligence. We hope to deepen joint innovation with enterprises in various fields and allow the Spark Large Model (星火大模型) and multi-modal interaction capabilities to integrate into terminal products more quickly."

AI is empowering thousands of industries. In the clean energy chain, Shenglong Electric (盛隆电气) showcased two new products integrated with its self-developed large model. The new generation of AI low-voltage cabinets has embedded AI algorithm models. Through a single screen, users can conduct global monitoring and operational analysis of the power distribution system, achieving AI fault warning, AI operation and maintenance, and AI energy saving. The product can reduce investment and operation and maintenance costs for users. Currently, Shenglong Electric's (盛隆电气) products and solutions have been widely used in projects such as the Baihetan Hydropower Station (白鹤滩水电站), the Beijing-Shanghai High-Speed Railway (京沪高铁), and the Hambantota International Airport (汉班托塔机场) in Sri Lanka (斯里兰卡).

Genertec (通用技术集团) has specifically set up an AI smart medical zone. A medical infrared thermal imager, relying on high-precision infrared sensing technology, collects human body surface temperature data in a non-invasive and radiation-free manner. Through a built-in AI analysis system, it automatically quantifies and analyzes the distribution of heat sources on the body surface, which aligns with the diagnostic logic of Traditional Chinese Medicine (中医) "observation and syndrome differentiation," achieving functions such as sub-health screening, chronic disease warning, pain lesion localization, and review of treatment effects. Currently, Genertec (通用技术集团) is building a management concept system for the modernization of Traditional Chinese Medicine (中医) around "AI + Health Management Services," "AI + Traditional Chinese Medicine (中医药) Industry," and "AI + Traditional Chinese Medicine (中医药) Services," promoting the development of traditional medicine.

**A Sneak Peek at Innovative Achievements, Stepping Out of the Lab to Connect with the Big Market**

In terms of the advanced manufacturing chain, Sinochem Holdings (中国中化) brought innovative solutions for chemical new materials in fields such as embodied intelligence, future transportation, and a better life. For example, ultra-high-performance fibers applied to tendon-rope drive systems can make robot fingers more flexible and arms stronger. In the field of rail transit, Sinochem Holdings (中国中化) innovatively introduced particle damping technology and acoustic black hole vibration absorption technology, which can effectively suppress low-frequency noise caused by wheel-rail vibration. In the future, the company will continue to deepen its cultivation in the field of chemical new materials, connect closely with global partners, and boost the high-quality development of the industry.

This year, Syngenta Group (先正达集团) is committed to presenting an innovation journey from the laboratory to the dining table to the audience: under the empowerment of AI, traditional breeding experience is transformed into data models to precisely navigate the selection and breeding direction of rice varieties; simulating millions of corn gene combinations in a virtual environment effectively replaces a large number of field test experiments... Su Fu (苏赋), President of Syngenta Group China (先正达集团中国事业部), stated that over the past four years, the CISCE (链博会) has not only witnessed Syngenta's (先正达) agricultural innovation achievements but has also become an important platform for accelerating the transformation of these achievements into industries. We look forward to further deepening close coordination with partners and continuously strengthening the comprehensive resilience of the supply chain system.

Promoting the deep integration of advanced manufacturing and modern service industries, this year's CISCE (链博会) concentrated on showcasing application scenarios where service links such as logistics distribution, financial support, and legal consulting are organically integrated with production and manufacturing.

Agricultural Bank of China (中国农业银行) brought an integrated supply chain finance solution, running the concept of green finance through the entire agricultural chain "from the field to the dining table," and continuously increasing financial support for key areas such as food security, characteristic industrial clusters, cold chain logistics, and green breeding. By the end of 2025, the balance of rural industry loans of the Agricultural Bank of China (中国农业银行) was 2.66 trillion yuan, an increase of 19.5% from the beginning of the year.

**Finding Friends and Supply Chains, Helping Chinese and Foreign Enterprises Move Toward Each Other**

The International Organization for Standardization (国际标准化组织) has written "establishing contacts and cooperation with potential business partners in the supply chain" into the global terminology definition of the concept of "exhibition," which is an exhibition model pioneered by the CISCE (链博会).

At this year's CISCE (链博会), GE HealthCare (通用电气医疗) set up a supply chain partner display area for the first time. Luoyang Bearing Science & Technology (洛轴集团), which has cooperated for over 20 years, has filled the gap in domestic production and achieved mass production by co-researching and co-creating key components for CT and X-ray machines—bearings—with GE HealthCare (通用电气医疗). Over the years, GE HealthCare (通用电气医疗) has continued to deepen its cultivation of China's high-end medical equipment supply chain, having developed resilient supply chain clusters in regions such as Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei (京津冀), the Yangtze River Delta (长三角), Chengdu-Chongqing (成渝), and the Greater Bay Area (大湾区), driving the development of more than a thousand upstream and downstream suppliers.

In terms of the green agriculture chain, COFCO Corporation (中粮集团) joined hands with companies such as Cargill (嘉吉) and Louis Dreyfus (路易达孚) this year to jointly release the "Joint Initiative on Building Global Agricultural and Food Supply Chain Security and Resilience." "The agricultural and food supply chain is a lifeline connecting hundreds of millions of producers and consumers around the world." Li Guoqiang (李国强), Secretary of the Party Leadership Group and Chairman of COFCO Corporation (中粮集团有限公司), stated that COFCO Corporation (中粮集团) has built a full-industry chain supply system covering agricultural product storage, logistics, processing, and trade, with an annual global agricultural product operation volume exceeding 180 million tons. The company is willing to further deepen pragmatic synergy with global upstream and downstream partners and actively promote the modernization of agriculture, the digital intelligence empowerment of the entire chain, and green sustainable development.

"The CISCE (链博会) is a window to link the world and create the future together." Yin Zheng (尹正), Executive Vice President of Schneider Electric (施耐德电气) and President of China and East Asia, believes that China (中国) possesses a complete industrial system, an ultra-large-scale market, and a continuously optimized business environment, making it a "stabilizer" and "source of innovation" for the global industrial chain. Today, China (中国) has become one of the most important supply chain bases and one of the four major R&D bases for Schneider Electric (施耐德电气) globally. Looking to the future, Schneider Electric (施耐德电气) will take the CISCE (链博会) as an opportunity to further take root in China (中国), deepen its localization strategy and industrial collaboration, and jointly build a safe, resilient, efficient, and low-carbon future industrial system.

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Staying at One's Post to Safeguard Health

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During the Dragon Boat Festival (端午节) holiday, many workers remained steadfast at their posts. The photo shows medical staff at the Emergency Center (急救中心) of Wuhan No. 7 Hospital (武汉市第七医院) in Wuhan (武汉), Hubei Province (湖北省), treating patients on June 20.

Photo by Zhao Jun (赵军) (Xinhua News Agency (新华社) release)

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China's express delivery development index for May is 472.9

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Beijing (北京), June 21 (Reporter Han Xin (韩鑫)) — The State Post Bureau (国家邮政局) recently released the China Express Delivery Development Index report for May. According to calculations, the China (中国) Express Delivery Development Index for May reached 472.9, a year-on-year increase of 3.1%. The industry scale continues to expand, the service system is becoming increasingly diversified, the facility network is being optimized and upgraded, and its role in supporting and guaranteeing the real economy is becoming 日益凸显 (rì yì tū xiǎn - "day by day prominent," becoming increasingly evident or noticeable).

Business scale is growing rapidly. In May, the development scale index was 644.5, a year-on-year increase of 7%. Driven by major e-commerce promotions and the release of demand for shipping seasonal agricultural products, the volume of express delivery business in May increased by approximately 6% year-on-year, and express delivery business revenue increased by approximately 8.5% year-on-year.

Service levels are steadily improving. In May, the service quality index was 676.8, which is basically the same as the same period last year. Looking at the sub-indicators, the public satisfaction score for express delivery services was 84.8 points. The 72-hour delivery rate in key regions was 86.6%, an increase of 0.5 percentage points year-on-year. The industry's multi-scenario services are expanding in depth; the "express delivery + modern agriculture" sector is developing efficiently, and the "express delivery + culture and tourism" sector is deepening its integration. New models and new equipment are being implemented at an accelerated pace, and service capabilities continue to strengthen.

Network layout is constantly being optimized. SF Express (顺丰) has officially put into operation the public international cargo terminal at Ezhou Huahu International Airport (鄂州花湖国际机场) in Hubei (湖北). YTO Express (圆通) has activated the international functions of its aviation logistics hub in Jiaxing (嘉兴), Zhejiang (浙江), and launched the "Jiaxing (嘉兴) - Dhaka (达卡)" all-cargo aircraft route... In May, the industry's regional distribution and radiation-driven capabilities were comprehensively improved, and transfer capabilities reached a new level.

A relevant official from the State Post Bureau (国家邮政局) stated that as the industry continues to improve infrastructure and expand innovative service scenarios, service quality and operational efficiency are improving simultaneously. In June, relying on favorable conditions such as concentrated e-commerce promotions, the industry's development momentum is expected to be further unleashed.

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Warm Greenhouses on the Plateau Warm Hearts (Frontline Reports on Striving for the "15th Five-Year Plan")

By: 本报记者 宋朝军

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Coordinate the establishment of a normalized mechanism to prevent a return to poverty or falling into poverty, persist in targeted assistance, improve social safety net protections, strengthen developmental assistance such as industry and employment, enhance endogenous motivation, and provide tiered and categorized support to underdeveloped regions to ensure that large-scale returns to poverty or falling into poverty do not occur.
  ——Excerpt from the "15th Five-Year Plan" (十五五) Outline

In Wujia Township (五家乡), Dongxiang Autonomous County (东乡族自治县), Linxia Hui Autonomous Prefecture (临夏回族自治州), Gansu Province (甘肃省), the celery in the greenhouses of the Plateau Summer Vegetable Demonstration Base (高原夏菜示范基地) is full of vitality. Villager Ma Yan (马艳) checks the plants carefully; they will be ready for harvest in just over a month.

Having been here for over a year, Ma Yan (马艳) is familiar with every greenhouse. Although they serve different functions, they are collectively known locally as "warm sheds" (暖棚). "Working in the warm sheds, my body feels warm, and my heart feels warm too. I earn over 3,000 yuan a month," says Ma Yan (马艳). As a household monitored for the risk of returning to poverty, her family has elderly members in poor health and children still in school; having this extra income provides an additional layer of security for their lives.

Dongxiang County (东乡县) was one of the last eight severely impoverished counties in Gansu Province (甘肃省) to shed the poverty label. During the five-year transition period for consolidating and expanding poverty alleviation achievements and effectively linking them with rural revitalization, the local industrial income-growth system has become increasingly perfect. In 2023, through investment promotion, Liu Wei (刘伟), the head of the Plateau Summer Vegetable Demonstration Base (高原夏菜示范基地), invested in building greenhouses in Wujia Township (五家乡). The number of greenhouses grew from the initial 200 to the current 611, ensuring the base has "vegetables to harvest in all four seasons" and nearby villagers have "money to earn in all four seasons."

This year's "No. 1 Central Document" (中央一号文件) systematically deployed the implementation of normalized, targeted assistance for the first time. In Dongxiang County (东乡县), these greenhouses have become a key lever for industrial and employment assistance. However, given the harsh natural environment and weak development foundation, how can these greenhouses be built and sustained?

Most areas in Wujia Township (五家乡) are at an altitude of over 2,000 meters with large temperature differences between day and night, providing an excellent growth environment for plateau summer vegetables. In recent years, the transportation network has improved and irrigation facilities have been optimized. "Building the greenhouses here was based on the potential for development, and the facts prove I was not wrong," says Liu Wei (刘伟).

"The local government has introduced many good policies, and we are willing to give it a try," says Liu Wei (刘伟). The County Agriculture and Rural Affairs Bureau (县农业农村局) promotes high-quality seeds and methods alongside green standardized planting models, providing technical guidance, quality testing, and certification services for green food and geographical indications. The government service sector implements a dedicated team mechanism for full-process agency services, simplifying approval procedures to ensure projects land efficiently and smoothly. By relying on the East-West Collaboration (东西部协作) platform to connect with external markets and linking cold-chain logistics to build a complete production and sales chain, they have effectively broadened sales channels and reduced losses.

With the enterprise firmly rooted, the villagers' income is more secure.

Villagers transfer their land and receive rent paid by the base for every mu of land each year. In addition, there is labor income; more than 70 villagers work at the base long-term, 50 of whom are households monitored for the risk of returning to poverty. During busy farming seasons like weeding and harvesting, the base recruits temporary labor, with up to 180 villagers working there at peak times.

The base is currently profitable, but can it continue to operate sustainably?

Recently, Liu Wei (刘伟) and staff from the County Agriculture and Rural Affairs Bureau (县农业农村局) selected a site along the Baxie River (巴谢河) to prepare for building more greenhouses. "On one hand, I want to expand production scale; on the other, I can meet the needs of many villagers who want to rent greenhouses and grow plateau summer vegetables themselves," says Liu Wei (刘伟).

Wanting to get rich through labor is a good thing, but because the vast majority of villagers lack experience, it is difficult for them to grasp the market, technology, and logistics on their own. After discussions between the base, the county government, and the village collective, it was decided that the base would be responsible for seeds, water, fertilizer, and the transport and sales of the plateau summer vegetables, with a commitment to provide guaranteed procurement for the next few years. "This eliminates the villagers' concerns about production and sales while ensuring the base's supply," says Liu Wei (刘伟).

"This type of developmental assistance has boosted the villagers' enthusiasm and allowed us to focus more energy on expanding the market and scale." Liu Wei (刘伟) produces certificates—four types of vegetables in the base, including celery, broccoli, cauliflower, and potatoes, have obtained green food certification, and the "Dongxiang Potato" (东乡洋芋) geographical indication trademark has been authorized, giving villagers detailed standards for planting.

Beyond "giving a push" in industry, normalized targeted assistance also requires timely discovery and "steady support" for those at risk of returning to poverty.

In the evening, on the open space next to the greenhouses, a "bench meeting" (板凳会) is taking place. Township and village-level staff and villagers sit in a circle in a relaxed atmosphere, chatting enthusiastically about everything from assistance policies and income over the past year to the difficulties and problems they currently face—Ma Yan (马艳) and the others are deep in conversation.

Often, Liu Wei (刘伟) also pulls up a bench to sit and chat with everyone. "I talk to the villagers about future plans for the base and listen to their opinions on its construction. We support each other, striving to develop the base better, make the plateau summer vegetables higher quality, and work together to increase income," says Liu Wei (刘伟).

In recent years, Dongxiang County (东乡县) has persisted in developmental assistance. The Wujia Township (五家乡) demonstration base has driven stable employment for over a hundred people, with an average annual per capita income increase of 18,000 yuan, focusing on absorbing households that have been lifted out of poverty and those under monitoring. By transforming "blood transfusion" into "blood creation," stabilizing employment through industry, and consolidating achievements through employment, they have injected lasting momentum into local development. 脚踏实地 (jiǎo tà shí dì - "feet tread solid ground," to be down-to-earth and realistic in one's work).

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Targeted Policies Lead to More Significant Assistance Results (Editor's Note)

By: 张安宇

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In the past, the people of Dongxiang (东乡), Gansu (甘肃), regarded a bucket of clean water as a precious gift, which serves as a testament to the harsh natural conditions characterized by severe water scarcity. By identifying the needs of the masses and implementing precise policies, the local authorities brought in water, paved roads, and built a new countryside, enabling the people to shake off poverty and move toward a moderately prosperous life.

To improve the effectiveness of developmental assistance in areas such as industry and employment, and to leverage external advantages to enhance endogenous development momentum, limited resources must be matched to where they are needed most. By adapting to local conditions and precisely introducing industries that align with natural resource endowments, greenhouses can take root on the plateau for the long term. By distinguishing between different groups, employment opportunities can be provided to households under monitoring for risk of returning to poverty, thereby cultivating the confidence and foundation for self-reliance. Through a "one person, one policy" approach, more employment assistance measures can be taken for villagers with labor capacity to alleviate their living pressures.

Currently, some key counties for rural revitalization still face shortcomings such as a weak development foundation and fragile infrastructure. Preventing a return to poverty requires 久久为功 (jiǔ jiǔ wéi gōng - "long-term effort," to persist in an endeavor over a long period to achieve success). By implementing policies precisely, carrying out work with greater attention to detail, and further increasing the utilization rate of resources, it is believed that the results of the assistance will be even more significant, and the lives of the people will be filled with even more hope.

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National railways transported 1.67 billion tons of cargo in the first five months of the year.

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Beijing (北京), June 21 (Reporter Li Xinping (李心萍)) — The reporter learned from the China State Railway Group Co., Ltd. (中国国家铁路集团有限公司) that from January to May, the national railways transported a cumulative total of 1.67 billion tons of cargo, a year-on-year increase of 1.8%; the daily average number of loaded freight cars reached 186,300, a year-on-year increase of 2.8%. Notably, on May 2, the number of loaded cars reached 202,400, setting a new historical record for single-day freight loading.

Railway logistics products have become rich and comprehensive. From January to May, the national railway intermodal rail-water transport volume reached 7.58 million TEUs, a year-on-year increase of 11.0%, with 47,000 TEUs booked through "single-document" logistics products. The national railways transported a cumulative total of 824,000 export commercial vehicles, an increase of 55.5%, among which 422,000 were new energy vehicles, a year-on-year increase of 110.3%.

Railway logistics services have seen quality improvements and upgrades. By 2026, a total of 1,185 comprehensive logistics contracts had been signed, with a contracted transport volume reaching 1.15 billion tons. From January to May, the volume of end-to-end logistics, with railway trunk transport as the mainstay, reached 200 million tons, a year-on-year increase of 102.2%. Since the beginning of this year, the total financing amount of railway logistics financial services has exceeded 10 billion yuan.

The transport of key materials is well-guaranteed. From January to May, the national railways transported 48.806 million tons of grain, a year-on-year increase of 11.9%. To support regions in meeting peak summer power demands, the national railways transported 870 million tons of coal from January to May, including 580 million tons of thermal coal.

The China-Europe (Asia) Railway Express (中欧(亚)班列) continues to operate steadily. From January to May, 15,506 China-Europe (Asia) Railway Express trains were operated, a year-on-year increase of 12.6%. Among these, 9,331 China-Europe Railway Express (中欧班列) trains were operated, a year-on-year increase of 21%; and 6,175 Central Asia Railway Express (中亚班列) trains were operated, a year-on-year increase of 2.1%.

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Page 03版:要闻

"Here, we see a vivid practice of harmonious coexistence between humanity and nature."

By: 本报记者 陈尚文

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The Seminar on Biodiversity Conservation for "Belt and Road" (一带一路) Countries under the "Dual Carbon" (双碳) background was held recently. Officials and experts from countries including Kenya (肯尼亚), Sierra Leone (塞拉利昂), Sri Lanka (斯里兰卡), Egypt (埃及), Ethiopia (埃塞俄比亚), Nepal (尼泊尔), and Thailand (泰国) visited and exchanged ideas in Beijing (北京) and Sichuan (四川). The seminar participants highly praised the achievements China (中国) has made in the field of biodiversity conservation, believing that China's (中国) practical experience has broadened the horizons for biodiversity conservation work, and expressed their hope to join hands with China (中国) to jointly protect our planet, our shared home.

"'Green' is not a price that must be paid for development, but a future investment with infinite potential"

The seminar was hosted by the Management Cadre College of the National Forestry and Grassland Administration (国家林业和草原局管理干部学院). In the classrooms of the seminar held in Beijing (北京), from China's (中国) ecological civilization philosophy to green development practices, from wild plant protection to animal monitoring technology, and from specialized legislation for national parks to new ideas for ecological protection... participants from various countries engaged in discussions surrounding biodiversity conservation and restoration technologies under the "Dual Carbon" (双碳) background, as well as China's (中国) biodiversity conservation policies and practices.

"Biodiversity conservation under the 'Dual Carbon' (双碳) background is not merely an ecological and environmental issue, but an important cornerstone concerning global development and stability." Sally Abunaeem (萨莉·阿布纳伊姆), a senior environmental researcher at the Egyptian Ministry of Environment (埃及环境部), stated that China (中国) attaches great importance to the construction of ecological civilization and has provided the world with rich practical experience. "The holding of this seminar is conducive to mutual learning and reference, jointly strengthening ecological protection capacity building, expanding methods and paths, and responding to ecological and environmental challenges with more sustainable scientific measures."

"Lucid waters and lush mountains are invaluable assets" (绿水青山就是金山银山) — this important philosophy left a deep impression on Teshome Alemu (特肖梅·阿莱穆), Deputy Director of the Environment and Forest Protection Bureau of Amhara Region (阿姆哈拉州), Ethiopia (埃塞俄比亚). "In China (中国), 'green' is not a price that must be paid for development, but a future investment with infinite potential." Alemu (阿莱穆) stated that China (中国) took the lead internationally in proposing and implementing the ecological protection red line system, effectively building a solid barrier for ecological protection by restricting industrial development in ecologically sensitive areas. He believes that China's (中国) vigorous development of a circular economy, promotion of eco-tourism, and construction of the world's largest renewable energy system are all vivid embodiments of practicing this philosophy.

"China (中国) has made significant progress in ecological protection and restoration, playing a key role in global biodiversity governance." Umanath Niraula (乌马纳特·尼鲁拉) from Nepal (尼泊尔) stated that China's (中国) successful experience lies in policy-driven approaches, systematic governance, long-term planning, and whole-of-society action. "China's (中国) new ecological poverty alleviation is novel and efficient. Through measures such as ecological compensation, ecological migration, developing ecological industries, and creating jobs through large-scale ecological restoration, it has achieved a win-win situation for biodiversity conservation and regional development, which provides experience that can be borrowed by developing countries like Nepal (尼泊尔)."

"Demonstrates the philosophy and wisdom of China (中国) in respecting nature, conforming to nature, and guiding according to circumstances"

Following the way of nature to nurture all living things. How China (中国) finds development opportunities from nature was something the participants experienced firsthand during their visit to Sichuan (四川).

The Dujiangyan (都江堰) irrigation system transforms the water of the Minjiang River (岷江) into the source of life that nourishes the Chengdu Plain (成都平原), creating the "Land of Abundance" (天府之国). Ahmed Abbas (艾哈迈德·阿巴斯), a researcher at the National Water Research Center (国家水资源研究中心) of the Egyptian Ministry of Water Resources and Irrigation (埃及水资源与灌溉部), stated that as one of the world's oldest dam-less water conservancy projects, Dujiangyan (都江堰) is still in use today. Through engineering facilities such as the Fish Mouth (鱼嘴), Flying Sand Weir (飞沙堰), and Precious Bottle Neck (宝瓶口), it cleverly achieves water flow guidance and sediment regulation, "fully demonstrating the philosophy and wisdom of China (中国) in respecting nature, conforming to nature, and guiding according to circumstances."

Walking into Mount Qingcheng (青城山) and arriving before a vigorous and upright Phoebe zhennan tree, everyone took out their mobile phones to scan the QR code on the tree tag. Information such as the ancient tree's serial number, family and genus, management unit, and even tree age, breast diameter, and crown width became clear at a glance. This is the "one tree, one file" refined management implemented by Sichuan Province (四川省) for ancient and famous trees. Aruna Nissanka (阿鲁纳·尼桑克), a forestry officer at the Forest Conservation Department (森林保护司) of Sri Lanka (斯里兰卡), stated that the scientific management system, continuous financial investment, and professional management team provide a guarantee for the implementation of protection measures, long-term monitoring, and adaptive management.

At the China Conservation and Research Center for the Giant Panda (中国大熊猫保护研究中心) Wolong Shenshuping Base (卧龙神树坪基地), participants learned about the daily care and management of captive giant pandas; at the Hetaoping Reintroduction Training Base (核桃坪野化培训基地), they explored how artificially bred pandas learn wild survival skills. "Look! The giant panda is so relaxed, it's so cute!" Watching the adorable giant panda, Foday Marrah (福迪·马拉), an advisor to the Ministry of Health (卫生部) of Sierra Leone (塞拉利昂), stated that from professional care and breeding facilities to health behavior monitoring, China's (中国) long-term investment in the scientific feeding of giant pandas and the training of professional talent has formed a sound operating mechanism. In addition, giant panda conservation work helps develop eco-tourism, achieving self-sufficiency in conservation funds and driving local development. Marrah (马拉) said: "Thanks to China's (中国) years of protection and efforts, the threat level of the giant panda has been downgraded from 'endangered' to 'vulnerable'. These experiences are worth learning from and drawing upon for wildlife conservation projects in other countries."

The Giant Panda National Park (大熊猫国家公园) of China (中国) was officially established in October 2021, with both the Wolong Shenshuping Base (卧龙神树坪基地) and the Hetaoping Reintroduction Training Base (核桃坪野化培训基地) being important components. In the view of Thapanee Pincai (塔帕妮·平猜), a technical officer at the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation (国家公园、野生动物和植物保护厅) of Thailand (泰国), the establishment of the Giant Panda National Park (大熊猫国家公园) is conducive to improving the connectivity and integrity of giant panda habitats and solving the problem of habitat fragmentation. "The success of this approach lies in the fact that, on one hand, it allows giant pandas to move freely, maintaining healthier genetic diversity; on the other hand, it facilitates in-depth and systematic scientific monitoring, formulating more precise conservation plans through the continuous collection of giant panda behavior, health, and reproductive data."

"China (中国) actively shares knowledge, technology, and relevant experience with other developing countries"

In recent years, China (中国) has comprehensively fulfilled international conventions such as the United Nations (联合国) "Convention on Biological Diversity" (生物多样性公约) and the "United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change" (联合国气候变化框架公约), successively released the "China's National Plan for Implementing the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development" (中国落实2030年可持续发展议程国别方案) and the "China Biodiversity Conservation Strategy and Action Plan (2023—2030)" (中国生物多样性保护战略与行动计划(2023—2030年)), and implemented the "Belt and Road" (一带一路) Green Development Partnership Initiative, playing the role of a major country in global ecological governance.

Panida Muangmor (帕妮达·穆昂莫), Director of the Environment Division at the Office of the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (自然资源与环境部) of Thailand (泰国), believes that China (中国) has solidly promoted its own ecological protection through strong policy measures and large-scale ecological restoration actions, and has actively carried out international cooperation. "We are jointly promoting mangrove protection and restoration work, promoting knowledge sharing, and have established a long-term cooperation mechanism." Muangmor (穆昂莫) stated that the experience of participating in this seminar has enriched her professional experience, and she looks forward to more exchanges and cooperation between Thailand (泰国) and China (中国) under the framework of high-quality joint construction of the "Belt and Road" (一带一路) in the future.

"Here, we have seen a vivid practice of harmony between man and nature." Huang Fei (黄飞), an assistant professor at the Faculty of Agriculture (农业学院) of Al-Azhar University (爱资哈尔大学) in Egypt (埃及), once studied in Hubei (湖北). Participating in this seminar has given him a more comprehensive understanding of China (中国). "China (中国) actively shares knowledge, technology, and relevant experience with other developing countries. I will integrate what I have learned into my teaching and research. For example, monitoring methods for flagship species such as the giant panda can be applied to the protection of the Sinai leopard and vultures in Egypt (埃及)."

Abdillatif Halake (阿卜迪拉迪夫·哈雷特), Director of Climate Change Affairs in Garissa County (加里萨郡), Kenya (肯尼亚), cited the Garissa 50MW Solar Power Station (加里萨50兆瓦光伏发电站) in Kenya (肯尼亚) as an example, stating that as a model of high-quality green energy cooperation between Kenya (肯尼亚) and China (中国) under the "Belt and Road" (一带一路), the power station has become the largest photovoltaic power generation project in East Africa (东非), bringing significant economic, social, and environmental benefits to Garissa County (加里萨郡) and even the whole of Kenya (肯尼亚). "I look forward to more cooperation between the two countries in green energy, talent training, and joint monitoring to achieve greater mutual benefit."

Melese Salamo (梅莱塞·萨拉莫), Director of the Ecological Monitoring and Research Department of the Ethiopian Wildlife Conservation Authority (埃塞俄比亚野生动物保护局), stated that on the occasion of the 70th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Africa (非) and China (中), under the framework of high-quality joint construction of the "Belt and Road" (一带一路), everyone has made the public opinion foundation for green and sustainable development cooperation between Africa (非) and China (中) more solid through face-to-face exchanges and mutual learning, which is of great significance for deepening relations between Africa (非) and China (中) and promoting global sustainable development.

(Our reporter Song Haoxin (宋豪新), Chen Yang (陈阳), and Wang Zihe (王梓赫) also contributed to this article)

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New Positioning Opens New Prospects for the Development of China-Georgia Relations (Ambassador's Essay)

By: 周 谦

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This year marks the 34th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China (中国) and Georgia (格鲁吉亚). Recently, President Xi Jinping (习近平) and President of Georgia (格鲁吉亚) Salome Zourabichvili (卡韦拉什维利) exchanged congratulatory messages on the 34th anniversary of China-Georgia (中格) diplomatic ties and jointly announced the elevation of bilateral relations to a comprehensive strategic partnership. The qualitative improvement and upgrading of cooperation between the two countries in all aspects conform to the general trend of the development of bilateral relations, align with the common interests of the two peoples, and open up new prospects for the development of China-Georgia (中格) relations.

China (中国) and Georgia (格鲁吉亚) are good friends and good partners. Over the past 34 years, China (中国) and Georgia (格鲁吉亚) have consistently upheld the principles of mutual respect, mutual trust, and win-win cooperation, promoting the healthy and stable development of bilateral relations and achieving fruitful results in various fields of cooperation. Georgia (格鲁吉亚) is China's (中国) first strategic partner in the South Caucasus (外高加索) region. No matter how the international situation changes, China (中国) has always viewed China-Georgia (中格) relations from a strategic and long-term perspective. The two countries understand and support each other on issues involving their respective core interests. The Georgian (格方) side has openly responded to and supported the vision of building a community with a shared future for mankind and the four major global initiatives proposed by President Xi Jinping (习近平), praising China (中国) for its active maintenance of world peace and describing it as a stabilizing force in a turbulent world. Both sides have conducted in-depth exchanges on governance experience. Since last year, the Prime Minister (总理), Speaker of Parliament (议长), several cabinet ministers, and senior officials of the ruling party of Georgia (格鲁吉亚) have visited China (中国), and multiple Chinese (中方) delegations have visited Georgia (格鲁吉亚).

Mutually beneficial cooperation is the inexhaustible driving force for the continuous deepening of China-Georgia (中格) relations. Georgia (格鲁吉亚) was one of the first countries to respond to the joint construction of the "Belt and Road" (一带一路) initiative. Cooperation between China (中国) and Georgia (格鲁吉亚) in the joint construction of the "Belt and Road" (一带一路) has continuously made new breakthroughs, bringing tangible benefits to the economic and social development of both sides. High-speed railways, modernized railways, wind power, photovoltaics, and other new energy facilities built by Chinese (中国) enterprises have provided a solid guarantee for Georgia (格鲁吉亚) to enhance its connectivity and sustainable development capabilities. Bilateral trade volume has been rising, reaching 2.7 billion U.S. dollars in 2025. High-quality products such as Georgian (格鲁吉亚) wine and spices are accelerating their entry into the Chinese (中国) market, and "Intelligent Manufacturing from China" (中国智造), represented by new energy vehicles, is increasingly welcomed by the Georgian (格鲁吉亚) public.

Last year, the People's Bank of China (中国人民银行) and the National Bank of Georgia (格鲁吉亚国家银行) signed the "Memorandum of Understanding on Bilateral Cooperation." Not long ago, the two sides signed the Protocol on the Upgrading of the China-Georgia (中国—格鲁吉亚) Free Trade Agreement. The China-Georgia (中格) Free Trade Agreement was the first free trade agreement launched and concluded by China (中国) after the proposal of the "Belt and Road" (一带一路) initiative, and it is also the first free trade agreement signed between China (中国) and a country in the Eurasia (欧亚) region, injecting new momentum into economic and trade cooperation between the two countries. The direct flight route between Shanghai (上海) and Tbilisi (第比利斯) will be launched on July 15. The two countries are continuously exploring cooperation in new fields such as finance, modernized logistics, and the digital economy. The potential for pragmatic cooperation between China (中国) and Georgia (格鲁吉亚) will be further unleashed, providing assistance for both countries and their peoples to join hands toward a beautiful future of modernization.

People-to-people bonds are the deep-seated ties that ensure the long-term and steady development of China-Georgia (中格) relations. Both China (中国) and Georgia (格鲁吉亚) are ancient civilizations with long histories, and the two peoples are connected by the ancient Silk Road (丝绸之路). In the writings of the Georgian (格鲁吉亚) poet Shota Rustaveli (鲁斯塔维利), China (中国) symbolizes distant wisdom and ultimate beauty. In the 1890s, the Chinese (中国) tea master Liu Junzhou (刘峻周) brought tea seeds and tea seedlings to Georgia (格鲁吉亚) by sea, cultivating a new variety of tea suitable for the local climate. To commemorate him, the Georgian (格鲁吉亚) people named this local tea "Liu Tea" (刘茶). With the continuous development of China-Georgia (中格) relations, the connotation of friendly exchanges between the two peoples in the new era is becoming increasingly rich.

In 2024, the agreement between China (中国) and Georgia (格鲁吉亚) on mutual visa exemption for holders of ordinary passports was signed and entered into force, and personnel exchanges between the two countries have become increasingly close. Last year, a total of 128,000 Chinese (中国) tourists visited Georgia (格鲁吉亚), a year-on-year increase of 44%. As China (中国) continues to promote high-level opening-up, more and more Georgian (格鲁吉亚) citizens are choosing to come to China (中国) for tourism, business, and study. The "Chinese fever" (中文热) and "China fever" (中国热) are heating up in Georgia (格鲁吉亚). In 2025, China (中国) and Georgia (格鲁吉亚) signed an agreement on the mutual recognition of higher education degrees and diplomas. The Georgian (格鲁吉亚) government has included Chinese (中文) as a second foreign language in public primary and secondary schools, and Chinese (中国) universities have also opened Georgian (格鲁吉亚) language majors for the first time. Local cooperation between China (中国) and Georgia (格鲁吉亚) continues to deepen. Since 2023, Sichuan Province (四川省) has successively established friendly relations with the Autonomous Republic of Adjara (阿扎尔自治共和国) and Tbilisi (第比利斯), Guizhou Province (贵州省) with the Imereti Region (伊梅列季州), and Shaoguan City (韶关市) of Guangdong Province (广东省) with Rustavi (鲁斯塔维市). The number of sister cities between the two sides has reached 9 pairs.

Standing at a new historical starting point for the relations between the two countries, both sides will work together under the strategic guidance of the leaders of China (中国) and Georgia (格鲁吉亚) to consolidate strategic mutual trust, continue traditional friendship, and deepen mutually beneficial cooperation, pushing China-Georgia (中格) relations to achieve greater development.

(The author is the Ambassador of China (中国) to Georgia (格鲁吉亚))

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Contributing China's Solutions to the Development of Human Rights in the Digital and Intelligent Era (International Forum)

By: 陈 斌

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As an important mechanism for transforming the principles of respecting and protecting human rights into pragmatic action, the Action Plan aims to create positive conditions for the realization of various rights by improving national governance, and to push for the implementation of human rights protections.

The State Council Information Office (国务院新闻办公室) recently released the National Human Rights Action Plan (2026–2030) (国家人权行动计划(2026—2030年)) (hereinafter referred to as the Action Plan), marking the entry of China's (中国) human rights development into its fifth planning cycle. As an important mechanism for transforming the principles of respecting and protecting human rights into pragmatic action, the Action Plan aims to create positive conditions for the realization of various rights by improving national governance, and to push for the implementation of human rights protections. China (中国) earnestly practices the concepts and spirit of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (世界人权宣言) and the Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action (维也纳宣言和行动纲领), responds to multilateral initiatives of the United Nations (联合国), and continuously formulates and implements the Action Plan, demonstrating its sense of responsibility in earnestly fulfilling international human rights obligations and actively promoting global human rights governance.

Adhering to the unity of continuity and contemporaneity is a distinct feature of China's (中国) formulation and implementation of the Action Plan. In terms of continuity, the Action Plan has always followed the core international human rights system, using economic, social, and cultural rights, as well as civil and political rights, as its basic framework. It clarifies goals and measures for rights protection in various fields in light of China's (中国) actual conditions, while simultaneously proposing constructive solutions for promoting global human rights governance.

This year marks the beginning of the "14th Five-Year Plan" (十五五) period. The contemporary characteristics of the fifth Action Plan are concentrated in its profound grasp of the general trend of digital-intelligent development and its proactive response to the new round of scientific and technological revolution and industrial transformation. Currently, the widespread application of digital-intelligent technology is spawning new quality productive forces and reshaping production and lifestyles, but it also brings global challenges such as digital security risks, personal information leakage, and the widening of the digital divide. How to safeguard human dignity and value amidst technological iteration and use emerging technologies to assist in the realization of human rights is a common issue facing global human rights governance. The fourth Action Plan has already made deployments in this regard, and the relevant goals and tasks have been effectively implemented. On this basis, the fifth Action Plan includes a special chapter on "Guiding the Healthy Development of Emerging Human Rights Fields," aligning with national strategic deployments such as the "14th Five-Year Plan" (十五五). It clarifies the goals, directions, and task measures for human rights protection in the digital-intelligent era, integrates the constitutional principle of the state respecting and protecting human rights into the entire process of governance in the digital-intelligent era, and gathers the collective strength of all parties to create solid conditions for the realization of statutory rights.

The deployment for human rights protection in the digital-intelligent era in the fifth Action Plan is mainly carried out around two dimensions. First, empowering the protection of people's livelihoods through digital-intelligent technology. The fifth Action Plan adheres to a people-centered approach and intelligence for good, promoting the deep integration of digital-intelligent technology into fields such as livelihood protection, social governance, and cultural construction. It strives to expand paths for the realization of rights in digital-intelligent scenarios and focuses on improving the digital literacy and capabilities of the entire population. China (中国) will deeply implement actions to improve digital literacy and skills for all, strengthen the construction of information accessibility, continuously narrow the digital divide between different groups and regions, and promote the equalization of digital public services, so that the fruits of digital inclusion can benefit all people, ensuring that everyone enjoys dignity and realizes their rights equally in the digital era.

Second, preventing the risk of technological infringement through institutional governance. Currently, emerging technologies represented by artificial intelligence (人工智能) are iterating rapidly. While bringing vast development opportunities, they also trigger global human rights issues such as technological ethics and data security. Guided by the goal of building a better digital-intelligent life, the fifth Action Plan introduces a series of pragmatic measures to regulate the application of emerging technologies: it not only clarifies the improvement of the safety supervision framework for new technologies and new business forms but also builds a multi-level risk prevention system. This arrangement not only improves national governance through the institutional logic of human rights protection but also builds a solid line of defense for rights protection through responsibility constraint mechanisms, laying a solid institutional foundation for preventing technological infringement risks and promoting the full realization of rights.

With the implementation of the fifth Action Plan, this Chinese (中国) solution, which safeguards human dignity and promotes the free and comprehensive development of individuals in the digital-intelligent era, will continue to push the level of human rights protection in China (中国) to a new level. It will also contribute new Chinese (中国) strength to improving global human rights governance and promoting the development of the world's human rights cause.

(The author is a distinguished associate researcher at the Human Rights Institute of East China University of Political Science and Law (华东政法大学))

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Photo Report

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During the Dragon Boat Festival (端午节) holiday, the inbound tourism market in Hainan (海南) remained consistently vibrant. The photo shows foreign tourists visiting the Nanshan Cultural Tourism Zone (南山文化旅游区) in Sanya (三亚) on June 20.

Photo by Chen Wenwu (陈文武) (Vision China (影像中国))

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Austrian Foreign Minister Schallenberg to visit China

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Xinhua News Agency (新华社), Beijing (北京), June 21—A spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (外交部) announced on June 21: At the invitation of 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 (外交部长), Austrian Foreign Minister Alexander Schallenberg (赖辛格) will visit China (中国) from June 22 to 26.

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UN Human Rights Council holds high-level dialogue to mark 20th anniversary

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Berlin, June 21 (Reporter Liu Zhonghua 刘仲华) — Geneva News: The United Nations (联合国) Human Rights Council (人权理事会) held a high-level dialogue on the 19th to mark its 20th anniversary. United Nations (联合国) Secretary-General António Guterres (古特雷斯) delivered a video address, while United Nations (联合国) High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk (图尔克) and President of the Human Rights Council (人权理事会) Febrian Alphyanto Ruddyard (苏里约迪普罗) engaged in dialogue with the participating parties. Chen Xu (贾桂德) — *Note: The source text refers to the representative as Jia Guide (贾桂德), though the current incumbent is Chen Xu* — Permanent Representative of China (中国) to the United Nations Office at Geneva (联合国日内瓦办事处) and other international organizations in Switzerland (瑞士), attended the meeting and elaborated on the position of the Chinese side.

Jia Guide (贾桂德) stated that the 20th anniversary of the Human Rights Council (人权理事会) is an important moment to revisit original aspirations, examine the present, and look toward the future. The Global Governance Initiative proposed by President of China (中国) Xi Jinping (习近平) offers a Chinese solution for addressing the global governance deficit and holds significant guiding importance for strengthening and improving the work of the Human Rights Council (人权理事会).

Jia Guide (贾桂德) pointed out that to strengthen and improve the work of the Human Rights Council (人权理事会), it is necessary to uphold the principles of sovereign equality, abide by international rule of law, adhere to the principles of universality, impartiality, objectivity, non-selectivity, and constructive dialogue and cooperation, and oppose the politicization of human rights issues. It is necessary to advocate for a people-centered approach, practice multilateralism, balance the promotion of civil and political rights with economic, social, and cultural rights, and place the right to development in a prominent position on the multilateral human rights agenda. It is also necessary to focus on action-oriented approaches, promote inclusive fairness, and increase investment in capacity building and technical assistance based on the consent of the countries concerned.

Jia Guide (贾桂德) emphasized that civilizations are diverse, and the human rights development paths independently chosen by all countries should be respected, while properly handling the dialectical relationship between the universality of human rights and the diversity of civilizations. China (中国) attaches great importance to the promotion and protection of human rights, remains unswervingly committed to the path of human rights development in China (中国), and is willing to work with all countries to promote the healthy development of the international human rights cause and join hands to build a community with a shared future for mankind (人类命运共同体).

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Paintings Reveal True Feelings, Friendship Shared and Passed On (2026 Year of China-Africa People-to-People Exchanges)

By: 本报记者 邹 松

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The rails of the TAZARA Railway (坦赞铁路) stretch forward, the blue waves of the Zambezi River (赞比西河) meander along, and Chinese and foreign builders work together, 凝心聚力 (níng xīn jù lì - "concentrate heart gather strength," to work together with a single purpose), shedding sweat in unison... Moving scenes are captured on canvas, and profound friendships are passed down between China and Africa.

As one of the important cultural events of the 2026 "China-Africa Year of People-to-People Exchanges" (中非人文交流年), the "Friends on the Same Road—TAZARA Railway Sketching and Painting Exhibition (Zambia Station)" (同路朋友——坦赞铁路采风绘画展(赞比亚站)) was recently held at the National Museum of Zambia (赞比亚国家博物馆).

The exhibition, themed around the TAZARA Railway (坦赞铁路), features 49 exquisite paintings by artists from China and Zambia (赞比亚), connecting the shared memories of China, Tanzania (坦桑尼亚), and Zambia (赞比亚). The exhibition was co-hosted by the Embassy of the People's Republic of China in Zambia (中国驻赞比亚大使馆), the National Museum of China (中国国家博物馆), the National Museum of Zambia (赞比亚国家博物馆), and the China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (中国土木工程集团有限公司).

Inside the exhibition hall, paintings of different styles complement each other. The works of Chinese (中国) painters include both a restoration of the arduous journey of the TAZARA Railway's (坦赞铁路) construction and delicate depictions of the natural scenery and cultural customs along the route. The works of Zambian (赞比亚) painters are full of local character, using bold colors and simple brushstrokes to show the daily lives of the people along the railway: the innocence of children playing and the joy of villagers traveling by train. Also on display are precious historical photos from the construction period of the TAZARA Railway (坦赞铁路), comprehensively showcasing the historical heritage and contemporary value of the railway.

Chilufya (奇鲁菲亚), Acting Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Tourism and Arts of Zambia (赞比亚旅游与艺术部), stated at the opening ceremony that this exhibition is a vivid witness to the profound friendship between Zambia (赞比亚) and China (中国), adding, "Artists interpret the history of the TAZARA Railway (坦赞铁路) through artistic creation, demonstrating the power of cultural diplomacy." Han Jing (韩镜), Chinese Ambassador to Zambia (中国驻赞比亚大使), stated that this exhibition is a manifestation of the younger generation inheriting the spirit of the TAZARA Railway (坦赞铁路) and continuing traditional friendship. He called on Chinese and African youth to remember history together and build a bright future.

The TAZARA Railway (坦赞铁路) is approximately 1,860 kilometers long and was built with Chinese (中国) aid. More than 50,000 Chinese (中国) engineering and technical personnel went to Africa (非洲) to participate in its construction. It was fully opened to traffic and handed over to the governments of Tanzania (坦桑尼亚) and Zambia (赞比亚) on July 14, 1976. Since its operation, the railway has transported more than 30 million tons of cargo and over 40 million passengers, serving as a "major artery" for regional economic operations in East Africa (东非).

In recent years, due to aging equipment and lagging management, the railway's freight capacity has been limited, making the revitalization of the railway a common aspiration for the three countries. On November 20, 2025, the groundbreaking ceremony for the TAZARA Railway (坦赞铁路) activation project was held, with the three parties joining hands to build a railway prosperity belt and help regional modernization.

"The exhibition allows more young people to understand the history of the TAZARA Railway (坦赞铁路) and know about our past experience of fighting side-by-side with our Chinese (中国) friends, which will make everyone more supportive of the railway's upgrade and renovation," said Mudenda (穆登达), Director of the Department of Museums at the Ministry of Tourism and Arts of Zambia (赞比亚旅游与艺术部). She noted that the exhibition uses art to pass on the spirit of the TAZARA Railway (坦赞铁路) and allows more people to see the bright prospects for cooperation among the three countries.

Humphrey Moshi (汉弗莱·莫希), Director of the Center for Chinese Studies at the University of Dar es Salaam (达累斯萨拉姆大学) in Tanzania (坦桑尼亚), stated that the activation of the TAZARA Railway (坦赞铁路) is not just a general project upgrade. Tanzania (坦桑尼亚) hopes to become a regional hub again, Zambia (赞比亚) hopes to reduce logistics costs and improve export stability, and China (中国) hopes to pool greater development synergy with Africa (非洲). The goals of the three parties are highly aligned, which is the prospect and confidence of the modernization of the TAZARA Railway (坦赞铁路).

"Painting can convey emotions quite directly, and the audience is very interested in these works." Nama Kalabe (纳马·卡拉伯) is a third-year student majoring in Art and Design at Evelyn Hone College (伊芙琳·霍恩学院) in Zambia (赞比亚) and one of the docents for this exhibition. "With the introduction of my Chinese (中国) teachers, I learned the stories behind the paintings, especially the arduous efforts of Chinese (中国) builders who traveled thousands of miles to build the TAZARA Railway (坦赞铁路). I want to tell these wonderful stories to the visitors. This is not just explaining paintings, but inheriting history. I am proud to participate in this work," said Kalabe (卡拉伯).

Tan Fei (谭斐), the curator of this exhibition and a research librarian at the National Museum of China (中国国家博物馆), introduced that the exhibition invited seven Zambian (赞比亚) youths to serve as docents. In order to accurately interpret the spirit of the TAZARA Railway (坦赞铁路), they repeatedly polished their explanations. "This focus and dedication is a vivid embodiment of inheriting China-Zambia (中赞) friendship," said Tan Fei (谭斐).

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Chinese auto brands perform impressively in Ecuador

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According to a report from Xinhua News Agency (新华社) in Quito (基多) on June 21 (Reporter Zhao Xinhu (赵鑫虎)), the two-day 2026 Quito Sustainable Auto Show (2026基多可持续汽车展) opened on the 20th in Quito (基多), the capital of Ecuador (厄瓜多尔), where Chinese (中国) brand new energy vehicle models were favored by local consumers.

A report recently released by the Association of Automotive Companies of Ecuador (厄瓜多尔汽车工业企业协会) shows that Chinese (中国) brand vehicles have performed 亮眼 (liàng yǎn - "bright eyes," referring to being eye-catching or outstanding) in both the pure electric and hybrid vehicle markets in Ecuador (厄瓜多尔). From January to May this year, the sales volume of Chinese (中国) brand models accounted for 63.6% of the top 20 pure electric vehicle models sold in Ecuador (厄瓜多尔), and 34.8% of the top 20 hybrid vehicle models sold.

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A Record of Independence and Self-Reliance (The Great Journey)

By: 本报记者 吴储岐

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On January 27, 1964, Beijing (北京) and Paris (巴黎) jointly issued a communiqué consisting of only two sentences: "The Government of the People's Republic of China (中华人民共和国) and the Government of the French Republic (法兰西共和国) have unanimously decided to establish diplomatic relations. The two governments have agreed to appoint ambassadors within three months."

These few words shocked the world and were vividly described by Western public opinion as a "diplomatic nuclear explosion."

General Secretary Xi Jinping (习近平) pointed out: "Whether the path a country takes is viable depends crucially on whether it suits its own national conditions, whether it conforms to the trends of the times, whether it can bring about economic development, social progress, improvement in people's livelihoods, and social stability, whether it can gain the support and endorsement of the people, and whether it can contribute to the cause of human progress."

From the mid-1950s to the mid-1960s, the shadow of the Cold War (冷战) loomed over the globe, with the two superpowers, the United States (美国) and the Soviet Union (苏联), dominating the world order. China (中国) faced open and potential threats of aggression, war provocations, and military pressure from multiple sides. How to uphold independence and self-reliance, oppose hegemonism from all quarters, and safeguard national dignity and national interests became the central focus of the Communist Party of China (中国共产党) regarding international relations.

From the late 1950s to the early 1960s, based on the development of the situation, Mao Zedong (毛泽东) re-proposed the issue of the "Intermediate Zone" (中间地带). He believed that the Intermediate Zone consisted of two parts: one part referred to the vast, economically backward countries in Asia (亚洲), Africa (非洲), and Latin America (拉丁美洲), and the other part referred to imperialist and developed capitalist countries represented by Europe (欧洲). Both parts opposed control by the United States (美国), while in Eastern European (东欧) countries, the issue of opposing control by the Soviet Union (苏联) emerged. Winning over the "Intermediate Zone" became an important component of China's (中国) foreign policy at that time.

In the practice of defending national sovereignty, the Communist Party of China (中国共产党) has always maintained a firm stance. In August 1958, the Central Committee of the Party (党中央) made a decisive decision to bring up the Taiwan (台湾) issue by shelling Kinmen (金门), dealing a heavy blow to the arrogance of the Chiang Kai-shek (蒋介石) clique in clamoring for a "counter-attack against the mainland" and the attempt by the United States (美国) to create "two Chinas," demonstrating the firm position and determination of the Chinese people to oppose interference in China's (中国) internal affairs by the United States (美国) and to safeguard national unity.

Facing the acts of the United States (美国) in armed aggression against Vietnam (越南) and threatening the security of China (中国), the struggle to aid Vietnam and resist the United States (援越抗美) that began in 1965 embodied the fearless spirit of the Chinese people in opposing threats of aggression and safeguarding world peace.

Beginning in the late 1950s, the contradictions and conflicts between China (中国) and the Soviet Union (苏联) intensified day by day. The Communist Party of China (中国共产党) adhered to independence and self-reliance, resolutely withstood the enormous pressure from the Soviet Union (苏联), and safeguarded national sovereignty, national dignity, and the dignity of the Party.

Time passes, but the spirit endures. On June 28, 2023, the Third Session of the Standing Committee of the 14th National People's Congress (第十四届全国人民代表大会常务委员会) passed the "Law of the People's Republic of China on Foreign Relations" (中华人民共和国对外关系法), explicitly stating in legal form: "Advocate the settlement of international disputes by peaceful means, oppose the use of force or the threat of force in international relations, and oppose hegemonism and power politics."

Currently, the world is undergoing profound changes unseen in a century, which are accelerating. General Secretary Xi Jinping (习近平) has successively proposed four major global initiatives, offering Chinese solutions from the four dimensions of development, security, civilization, and governance, demonstrating China's (中国) sense of responsibility in international affairs.

General Secretary Xi Jinping's (习近平) words are firm and powerful: "History cannot be reversed; it should move forward. The world cannot be divided; it should be united. Humanity cannot return to the law of the jungle; it should build a community with a shared future for mankind." We firmly stand on the right side of history and on the side of human civilization and progress, contributing Chinese strength to world peace and development. 实事求是 (shí shì qiú shì - "seek truth from facts," to base one's actions on objective reality and evidence).

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Working diligently to protect "Madoi in the Sky"

By: 本报记者 乔 栋

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A snowfall has descended upon Mado County (玛多县), Golog Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture (果洛藏族自治州), Qinghai (青海), which sits at an average altitude of over 4,500 meters.

Mado (玛多) means "the source of the Yellow River" in the Tibetan language. The Management Committee of the Yellow River Source Park (黄河源园区) of the Sanjiangyuan National Park (三江源国家公园) is located here. In 2021, the Party Committee of the Yellow River Source Park Management Committee was awarded the title of "National Advanced Grassroots Party Organization."

Today, the park has formed a three-level grid management model consisting of management stations, management teams, and management groups, with the force of rangers growing to 3,369 people. "The growing strength of ecological management is inseparable from the cohesion of the Party organization," explains Shi Chenggang (施成刚), the full-time Deputy Secretary and full-time Deputy Director of the Party Committee of the Yellow River Source Park Management Committee of Sanjiangyuan National Park (三江源国家公园). The park's Party Committee signs target responsibility agreements for Party building work with various Party branches, establishing a responsibility mechanism where "leadership is key, the foundation is at the grassroots, and implementation relies on Party members." Party members have become the backbone in implementing the "River and Lake Chief" system and the "Forest and Grassland Chief" system.

Han Changpeng (韩常鹏), a Party member born in the 1980s, is one of them. Ten years ago, he came to work at the Yellow River Source Park (黄河源园区) from the Land and Water Resources Department of Mado County (玛多县). "My father once came from Huangzhong County (湟中县) (now Huangzhong District of Xining City (西宁市湟中区)) to support the construction of Golog Prefecture (果洛州). I also cherish this opportunity and hope to contribute to the protection of the ecology of the upper reaches of the Yellow River." Today, Han Changpeng (韩常鹏) has grown from an ordinary employee into the head of an ecological protection station.

The park's Party Committee focuses on cultivating Party members into professional backbones and professional backbones into Party members, emphasizing the dual combination and mutual promotion of business development and Party member cultivation. In the past two years, many young ecological rangers have submitted their applications for Party membership to the organization.

The ecology of the Yellow River Source (黄河源) is visibly improving. "At the lowest point, there were 4,077 lakes larger than 1,000 square meters; now, that number has recovered to 5,849, and water storage capacity has increased by 20 percent," says Han Changpeng (韩常鹏). "Twenty years ago, when I first started working, there were one or two sandstorm days every week during winter and spring. Now, there are barely a few in an entire winter."

As the ecological environment improves, herdsmen are welcoming new opportunities for income growth. The park's Party Committee has implemented the "one post per household" policy for ecological management, with rangers working with certificates, increasing their average annual income by more than 20,000 yuan.

"The 'one post per household' policy has been implemented well, but the channels for herdsmen to increase their income are limited. We must further combine ecological protection with income growth," says Shi Chenggang (施成刚), who often travels throughout Mado County (玛多县) and has discovered new issues during his research.

Since 2025, the park's Party Committee has promoted the increase of job positions, supporting herdsmen—especially the families of rangers—in participating in grassland conservation and ecological restoration. "Previously, with bidding, third-party implementation, and acceptance, local people could not participate. Now, in the preliminary bidding and source operation design, we guide and require that the proportion of local labor absorbed be no less than one-third to increase the income of herdsmen," says Guo Fenghui (郭凤辉), Secretary of the Party Committee of the Park Management Committee.

As the ecological environment gradually improves, Guo Fenghui (郭凤辉) has new thoughts on how to broaden the path to realizing the value of ecological products: "We cannot simply '一刀切' (yī dāo qiē - "one knife cut," to adopt a simplistic, uniform approach to complex problems) and stop development, nor can we blindly carry out operations. Adapting to local conditions is very important." Currently, the park's Party Committee is drafting a plan for franchise eco-tourism experience projects, hoping to allow tourists to experience the scenery of the Yellow River Source (黄河源) in an orderly manner.

In Qinghai (青海), Mado County (玛多县) has a high altitude throughout its territory and is known as "Mado in the Sky" (天上玛多). Once, this place was synonymous with a harsh environment. Today, under the overall coordination of the park's Party Committee, Party members, cadres, and herdsmen stand firm and work hard. The plateau's snow-capped mountains and lake scenery are even more beautiful, the lives of the herdsmen are stable and prosperous, and "Mado in the Sky" (天上玛多) has gained a touch of poetic color.

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Listening to Their Stories of Original Aspirations and Perseverance (The Party Flag Flies High at the Grassroots: Intergenerational Dialogues and Passing the Torch)

By: 本报记者 李龙伊 祝佳祺 尚嵘峥

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What is the original aspiration? It is the firm ideal at the start of the journey and the unchanging persistence while moving forward.

This year marks the 105th anniversary of the founding of the Communist Party of China (中国共产党). General Secretary Xi Jinping (习近平) emphasized: "In the new era, Communists must inherit the red gene, never forget their original aspiration, keep their mission firmly in mind, fulfill their duties, and work with dedication to write an excellent answer sheet on the new journey."

With "July 1st" (七一) approaching, this edition launches the series "The Party Flag Flies High on the Frontline of the Grassroots · Intergenerational Conversations · Passing the Torch," listening to the voices of Party members from different eras as they uphold their original aspirations and strive with dedication. Through them, we feel the unchanging original aspiration and draw strength to move forward.

— Editor

【Interviewees】
Liu Shiyue (刘世钺) (96 years old): Born in 1930, joined the army at age 8, joined the Communist Party of China (中国共产党) in 1946. Former Director of Ophthalmology at the Bethune International Peace Hospital (白求恩国际和平医院). Since retiring in 1994, he has consistently provided free medical consultations and teaching. On September 3, 2025, he was invited to attend the commemorative meeting for the 80th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression (中国人民抗日战争) and the World Anti-Fascist War (世界反法西斯战争), where General Secretary Xi Jinping (习近平) shook his hand warmly.

Yang Ning (杨宁) (41 years old): Born in 1985, joined the Communist Party of China (中国共产党) in 2008. In 2010, she returned to her hometown, Jiangmen Village (江门村), Rongshui Miao Autonomous County (融水苗族自治县), Guangxi (广西), to serve as a college student village official. She led the local people in developing specialty industries and contributed to comprehensive rural revitalization. She is currently the Party Branch Secretary and Village Committee Director of Jiangmen Village (江门村).

Dilinuer Tuerxunjiang (迪丽努尔·吐尔逊江) (27 years old): Born in 1999, joined the Communist Party of China (中国共产党) in 2020, and works in the tourism industry in her hometown, Xinjiang (新疆). "It is not that it is easy to drill through the Tianshan Mountains (天山), but that there are people on the other side of the Tianshan Mountains (天山)!" This April, her video introducing the Tianshan Victory Tunnel (天山胜利隧道) to tourists received praise from numerous netizens.

Looking back at the path traveled, how did the original aspiration sprout?
Finding the coordinates of the original aspiration on the revolutionary road, in the rural landscape, and in ordinary life.

Liu Shiyue (刘世钺): In 1938, Eighth Route Army (八路军) soldiers came to my hometown, Yanliang Village (岩良村), Yushe County (榆社县), Shanxi Province (山西省), to promote anti-Japanese advocacy. In just two days, nearly a hundred people in the village signed up to join the army, and I followed my father into the anti-Japanese ranks.

When I joined the army, I was only 8 years old, not even as tall as a rifle. At first, I worked in the propaganda team; the "Guerrilla Song" (游击队歌) was the song I sang the most. I still remember that whenever the singing started, the soldiers were high in spirits, and the villagers were full of hope that the invaders would be driven away soon. "I do not fear sacrifice; for the liberation of the Chinese people, I am willing to give my life." This was the shared sentiment of myself, the Party members around me, and my comrades-in-arms.

I truly saw the firm determination and actions of the Communist Party of China (中国共产党) in leading the Chinese nation to survive and thrive. I thought then: for the rest of my life, I will follow the Party! In 1945, I went to Yan'an (延安), and the following year, I joined the Communist Party of China (中国共产党).

Yang Ning (杨宁): I was born in Jiangmen Village (江门村), and my ancestors were all farmers. The changes in the village and the stories told by my elders made me deeply realize that it was precisely under the leadership of the Party that my hometown changed its appearance.

When I was back home, the old director of the Jiangmen Village (江门村) committee left a deep impression on me. From militia captain to village committee director, he worked in the mountains for 30 years. He said he just wanted to do more for the villagers because that is what a Communist Party member should look like. I admired him greatly and longed to join the Party organization to contribute to the happy life of the masses. In April 2008, while I was in college, I joined the Party.

Dilinuer Tuerxunjiang (迪丽努尔·吐尔逊江): Before college, the Party member I was most familiar with was my older sister. As a grassroots cadre, she always put serving the people of her hometown first. I wanted to become someone like her, honing my skills to give back to society.

After being admitted to the Xinjiang University of Finance and Economics (新疆财经大学) in 2017, I submitted my application to join the Party immediately. During my studies, I saw more examples of Party members: when preparing campus activities, Party member students took the initiative to carry heavy loads; during campus cleanups, Party member students competed to take on the most difficult cleaning tasks in the restrooms... Small things in daily life gathered into a powerful force, inspiring me to strive to be a qualified Party member.

Based on your post, how do you practice your original aspiration and mission through action?
Taking the lead in dedication, fearing no difficulties, and being down-to-earth—only through hard work can one interpret the original aspiration.

Liu Shiyue (刘世钺): I am 96 years old. As a doctor, as long as my heart is beating and my mind is clear, I must serve the people wholeheartedly and persist in healing the wounded and rescuing the dying. This is my understanding of upholding the original aspiration.

As a Party member, one must endure hardship first and charge forward first; what you ask others to do, you must do yourself. While on the job, whenever I encountered difficult eye diseases that other hospitals were unwilling to treat, I tried every possible way to provide diagnosis and treatment. To improve the level of grassroots ophthalmology, I took the lead in organizing training classes for medical staff of the former Beijing Military Region (北京军区), holding 6 sessions in total and completing the rotation training for grassroots ophthalmologists. Today, many of those trainees have grown into discipline leaders in their respective hospitals.

As a Party member, the drive to serve the people must never slacken. In 1994, I officially retired. The Party and the people cultivated me from a poor child into a chief physician and professor; I must strive to repay this kindness. If I were to enjoy leisure and do nothing after retirement, I would not be at peace. Therefore, I set a rule for myself: free consultations and voluntary service. For over 30 years, I have persisted in providing free clinics and participating in teaching, never stopping.

Yang Ning (杨宁): My original aspiration is to let the villagers live a good life. After graduating from college, I returned to my hometown as a village official, wanting to lead the villagers to prosperity.

When I first returned to the village, I acted mostly on passion. I took out loans and tried planting bamboo, chili peppers, and kudzu, but all failed. I cried bitterly, but then I thought carefully: if I gave up like this, wouldn't all my previous efforts be in vain?

Setbacks taught me: to accomplish things and start a business, passion and ideas alone are not enough; one must be down-to-earth. In 2017, I discovered a local purple-black fragrant glutinous rice, a unique variety passed down by the Miao people, with twice the profit of ordinary rice. After detailed research, I decided to try again and lead everyone to plant this rice. However, when I went to the villages and households to mobilize the villagers, many did not believe me, saying, "Whatever you plant fails." An impoverished household head named Old Fu stood up and said, "Little Yang, I believe in you." Finally, more than 60 households joined the team to plant the purple-black fragrant glutinous rice.

纵有困难千千万,不怕山高路又弯 (zòng yǒu kùn nán qiān qiān wàn, bù pà shān gāo lù yòu wān - "even if there are thousands of difficulties, do not fear the high mountains and winding roads," an expression of resilience and determination to overcome obstacles). Through everyone's efforts, we had a bumper harvest that autumn. Later, we continued to explore specialty planting; watermelons and passion fruits sold better and better. The whole village was lifted out of poverty, and now the per capita annual income of villagers exceeds 20,000 yuan. I think that as a Party member, being able to turn the expectations of the masses into their tangible good life is the greatest harvest and happiness.

Dilinuer Tuerxunjiang (迪丽努尔·吐尔逊江): My original aspiration is to take root in the border region and serve my hometown. Many people think that a tour guide just leads the way and arranges food and lodging, but I think that tourists come from all directions, and the image of Xinjiang (新疆) in their eyes largely depends on us guides leading them to see it and telling them about it.

As a tour guide, I am a window for the outside world to understand Xinjiang (新疆). Xinjiang (新疆) has not only snow-capped mountains, lakes, grasslands, and deserts, but also the Silk Road culture that has stretched for thousands of years, the atmosphere of various ethnic groups living in harmony, and even more, the dedication and persistence of generations who have taken root in the border region and guarded their homes. I have taken tourists all over Xinjiang (新疆), seen the lake water of Kanas (喀纳斯), felt the wind of Sayram Lake (赛里木湖), walked through the Nalati Grassland (那拉提), strolled through the alleys of the Ancient City of Kashgar (喀什古城), and tasted all the delicacies of Xinjiang (新疆). We saw together that the people of all ethnic groups in Xinjiang (新疆) get along like one family, helping each other, which is especially warm; those builders who built tunnels and highways paid silently to bring about today's convenience... Leading tourists to feel these moving landscapes makes me feel very happy.

Which moments most remind you of the glory of being a Party member?
National development, the smiles of the masses, and the great changes in the border region are all moments of pride.

Liu Shiyue (刘世钺): In my 80 years of Party membership, I have seen the country become increasingly prosperous, living conditions continue to improve, and the people live in stability and happiness. All of this is inseparable from the strong leadership of the Party and the hard work of cadres and the masses. In 2025, I was invited to attend the commemorative meeting for the 80th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression (中国人民抗日战争) and the World Anti-Fascist War (世界反法西斯战争). At that moment, I felt supreme glory. Especially seeing the warplanes flying in the sky and the tanks driving on the ground, all of which were domestically produced, I was extremely excited and felt heartfelt joy and pride.

Yang Ning (杨宁): Seeing the masses live a good life is the greatest glory for a Party member. In January 2025, Jiangmen Village (江门村) built its first village-level enterprise—the Qingyunfeng Spring Water Factory (青云峰山泉水厂). After the clear mountain spring water was bottled, it left the mountains and became "wealth-creating water." An elderly villager held my hand and said excitedly: "Little Yang, we never dreamed that this water could be sold for money!" The happy smiles on the faces of the villagers—these moments of being needed and recognized by the masses made me truly realize the supreme glory of being a Party member.

Dilinuer Tuerxunjiang (迪丽努尔·吐尔逊江): As a young Party member, I am a chaser of light. I have witnessed the glorious moments of many outstanding Communist Party members and constantly strive to keep pace with them.

I grew up under the snow-capped mountains and by the edge of the Gobi. In the past, the Tianshan Mountains (天山) were like a barrier, blocking travel between northern and southern Xinjiang (新疆), and it was very inconvenient for people to travel. When I went to Urumqi (乌鲁木齐) for school, the journey of more than 1,000 kilometers took over 20 hours by train. Now, the Tianshan Victory Tunnel (天山胜利隧道) is open, and the natural barrier has truly become a thoroughfare! Enjoying the snow-capped mountains in Northern Xinjiang (北疆) in the morning and eating melons and fruits in Southern Xinjiang (南疆) at noon is no longer a dream. This is inseparable from the Party's care for the border regions and the hard work and dedication of the vast number of Party members. Some time ago, I met representatives of the Party member builders of the Tianshan Victory Tunnel (天山胜利隧道) in Beijing (北京). In them, I saw the glory of being a Party member: it is to serve the people and to contribute to the land beneath our feet.

How to forge ahead in the future?
Upholding the original aspiration, carrying the responsibility well, and continuing the struggle to start a new journey.

Liu Shiyue (刘世钺): I will always uphold the duty of a doctor and the true character of a Party member. As long as my health allows, I will continue to insist on free medical consultations, do my best to relieve the suffering of patients, and practice the oath of serving the people wholeheartedly for my whole life. I want to tell young Party members: be loyal to the Party, always listen to the Party, follow the Party's command, maintain the style of arduous struggle, and serve the people wholeheartedly.

Yang Ning (杨宁): In the next step, I plan to continue efforts in three aspects. First, expand the spring water factory, broaden sales channels, and make the village collective industry bigger and stronger so that all villagers can share the dividends of development. Second, promote the integrated development of primary, secondary, and tertiary industries in the village, build a brand for specialty agricultural products, and develop rural study tours to broaden the paths for the masses to increase their income. Third, attract young people who are away to return home to start businesses and find employment, and work together to build our village. I hope that everyone in the village will have shares and every family will have dividends, and everyone will pull together to move steadily toward the goal of common prosperity. My greatest wish is: the hometown mountains will be more beautiful, the village will be richer, and the lives of the villagers will be sweeter and sweeter!

Dilinuer Tuerxunjiang (迪丽努尔·吐尔逊江): The attention from all walks of life has pushed me to a larger platform, and this attention has also given me greater responsibility and stronger motivation; I cannot let down this trust. I want to make every explanation better, present a real, united, and beautiful Xinjiang (新疆) to more people, and tell the story of Xinjiang (新疆) and the story of China (中国) well.

(Jian Yingqi (翦英奇) participated in the reporting)

Coordinator for this issue: Liu Jingwen (刘静文)

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Three Departments Release "Measures for Data Security Risk Assessment of Networks"

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Beijing (北京), June 21 (Reporter Jin Xin (金歆)) — The reporter learned from the Cyberspace Administration of China (国家网信办) that the Cyberspace Administration of China (国家网信办), the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (工业和信息化部), and the Ministry of Public Security (公安部) have jointly promulgated the "Measures for Risk Assessment of Network Data Security" (网络数据安全风险评估办法), which will take effect on August 20, 2026.

A relevant official from the Cyberspace Administration of China (国家网信办) stated that the introduction of these measures is an important step in implementing the deployment of the Party Central Committee (党中央) and the State Council (国务院) regarding data security governance, and a powerful measure to fulfill the requirements of laws and regulations such as the Data Security Law (数据安全法) and the "Regulations on the Management of Network Data Security" (网络数据安全管理条例). The measures aim to standardize network data security risk assessment activities, improve data security management systems and mechanisms, and ensure data development, utilization, and industrial growth through data security.

The measures clarify the scope of application, assessment mechanisms, and departmental responsibilities. It is stipulated that the conduct of network data security risk assessments within the territory of the People's Republic of China (中华人民共和国) must comply with these measures. It is clearly defined that under the guidance of the national data security work coordination mechanism, the national cyberspace administration department, in conjunction with relevant departments such as the telecommunications (电信) and public security (公安) departments of the State Council (国务院), shall establish a special working mechanism for network data security risk assessment to guide and supervise risk assessment work. It is also stipulated that relevant competent authorities may, according to work needs, inspect the risk assessment status of network data processors that handle important data within their respective industries and fields, ensuring they do not 掉以轻心 (diào yǐ qīng xīn - "drop take light heart," to treat a matter lightly or lower one's guard) regarding security protocols.

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Water performances draw large crowds

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In recent years, Tangxi Jinmen Water Street (塘溪津门水街) in Baohe District (包河区), Hefei City (合肥市), Anhui Province (安徽省), has continuously unleashed consumption vitality through diverse business formats such as nighttime dining, evening performances, and night-view leisure, attracting numerous tourists to taste delicacies, enjoy the night scenery, and watch performances.

The photo shows citizens and tourists watching a water performance at Tangxi Jinmen Water Street (塘溪津门水街) on June 20.

Photo by Ma Erhu (马二虎) (Vision China / 影像中国)

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Multiple departments hold consultations to deploy flood control work in key regions

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Beijing (北京), June 21 (Reporter Liu Wenxin (刘温馨)) — On June 21, 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 to analyze recent rainfall trends and flood situations, and to study and deploy flood control work in key regions. Currently, the State Flood Control and Drought Relief Headquarters (国家防总) maintains a Level IV emergency response for flood control in Jiangsu (江苏), Anhui (安徽), Jiangxi (江西), Hubei (湖北), Hunan (湖南), Guangxi (广西), Chongqing (重庆), and Guizhou (贵州), and terminated the Level IV emergency response for flood control in Zhejiang (浙江), Guangdong (广东), and Yunnan (云南) at 10:00 on the 21st.

The consultation pointed out that the Liu River (柳江) in the Pearl River Basin (珠江流域) has experienced the No. 1 flood of major rivers in 2026, marking the first numbered flood of major rivers this year. From June 21 to 26, heavy to torrential rain, with localized extreme downpours, will occur in the eastern and southern parts of Southwest China (西南地区), Jianghan (江汉), Jianghuai (江淮), Jiangnan (江南), and the western part of South China (华南). Over the next three days, the risk of disasters caused by heavy rainfall in Guizhou (贵州), Hubei (湖北), Hunan (湖南), and Anhui (安徽) is high. It is necessary to strengthen precautions against flash floods, geological disasters, floods in small and medium-sized rivers, and urban waterlogging that may be triggered by persistent heavy rainfall.

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Page 1 Editors: Xu Nuo, Zhang Shuaizhen, Luan Xinyi; Page 2 Editors: Lin Lin, Zhang Anyu, He Biao; Page 3 Editors: Wu Gang, Zhou Zhou, Wang Xuchen; Page 4 Editors: Bai Zhiyu, Liu Jingwen, Zhang Xueyan

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Page 05版:评论

Paving Your Own New Path (Commentator's Observation)

By: 李洪兴

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High-quality development is never a simple matter of "copy and paste." As long as one adapts to local conditions, 守正创新 (shǒu zhèng chuàng xīn - "uphold integrity and innovate," to maintain correct principles while pursuing innovation), avoids following trends blindly, and refuses to conform to the masses, one can carve out a unique new track.

Entering the "15th Five-Year Plan" (十五五) period, a time for consolidating foundations and exerting full effort, the competition is not merely about speed and scale, but about development quality and efficiency, strategic vision, and lasting potential.

Promoting high-quality development requires the formation of corresponding development patterns, paths, and modes. Let us consider two stories.

"The people's city is built by the people, and the people's city is for the people." In Shanghai (上海), the Expo Culture Park (世博文化公园) occupies approximately 2 square kilometers of land. If used for commercial development, the pure land revenue could exceed 100 billion yuan. However, the local authorities chose to build parks and mountains, creating public space for the masses.

"There is a mangrove forest in the city." When Shenzhen (深圳), Guangdong (广东) was planning the construction of the Coastal Boulevard (滨海大道), it spared no expense—spending an extra 100 million yuan—to detour and protect the mangroves. Today, Shenzhen (深圳) possesses the world's only mangrove ecosystem located in the core hinterland of a city and has completed the nation's first carbon sink transaction for mangrove protection.

One city reserves its best urban space for the people, while the other explores a path of coordinated economic development and ecological protection. These choices, which appear to be "taking a loss and yielding benefits," are in fact in line with the laws of development, consistent with the trends of the era, and adhere to the original aspiration of serving the people.

This "counter-intuitive" mode of development is not about being deliberately unconventional; rather, it is about breaking free from path dependence to seek breakthroughs and abandoning short-sighted utilitarianism to strengthen determination. Looking deeper, from abandoning "short-term optimization" to pursuing "global optimization," the act of going against the grain and taking the long way around is a reflection of the new development philosophy taking root. It also contains a methodology for nurturing the new from the existing and seeking change within the new.

Looking across the country, the wisdom of "reverse trade-offs" is integrated into various fields such as industrial transformation, comprehensive rural revitalization, and grassroots governance. Some old industrial bases have shed their reliance on "relying on mines to eat and using mines to support the city," reducing backward production capacity, strengthening ecological restoration, and cultivating new business formats such as new materials, equipment manufacturing, and industrial cultural tourism. In the short term, the slowdown in regional industrial growth and the pressure on fiscal revenue may seem like "unconventional operations"; in the long run, however, it allows for a metamorphosis from "resource overdraft" to "industrial blood-making," finding a way out of the transformation of resource-based cities. Decelerating and shifting gears is intended for quality improvement, efficiency enhancement, and strengthening the foundation; in reality, it is not a loss at all.

"Going against the grain" is also a way to break out of involutionary competition and deeply cultivate unique advantages. In reality, some regions engage in follow-the-herd planning, often falling into the trap of inefficient competition. Lishui (丽水), Zhejiang (浙江), relying on the ecological endowment of southwestern Zhejiang (浙西南), has deeply cultivated the mechanism for realizing the value of ecological products and built an ecological product trading platform. By putting a price on mountains, water, and air, and enabling ecological products to generate wealth, they have blazed a new trail for common prosperity with mountainous characteristics. High-quality development is never a simple matter of "copy and paste." As long as one adapts to local conditions, 守正创新 (shǒu zhèng chuàng xīn - "uphold integrity and innovate," to maintain correct principles while pursuing innovation), avoids following trends blindly, and refuses to conform to the masses, one can carve out a unique new track.

One's view of development determines the path, and one's view of political achievement concerns gains and losses. From "ecological white space" and "yielding benefits to the people's livelihood" to industrial transformation and characteristic breakthroughs, the "reverse" strategies of various regions, though different in path and focus, are essentially a profound reshaping of ideological concepts.

From a practical perspective, the explorations in many places have not plucked the short-term fruit of "overdrawing the future for the present," but have pursued the long-term accumulation of "deeply cultivating the present to win the future." This inspires us that to continuously push development toward new heights, we must properly handle the relationships between fast and slow, the manifest and the latent, and the near and the far. We must have the courage to break through path dependence, development inertia, and cognitive shackles. Only in this way can we better achieve the unity of development quality, structure, scale, speed, efficiency, and safety, ensuring that development achievements stand the test of time, practice, and the people.

Entering the "15th Five-Year Plan" (十五五) period, a time for consolidating foundations and exerting full effort, development is particularly in need of structural reshaping and systematic leaps, and the practical challenges faced are coming one after another. In this process, the competition is not merely about speed and scale, but about development quality and efficiency, strategic vision, and lasting potential.

Facing the task of accelerating the cultivation of new quality productive forces, we should precisely address the issues and work in synergy, using the revitalization of existing assets to open up space for development and optimizing incremental growth to activate industrial vitality. To conform to the trend of green development, we need to continuously broaden the path of ecological value conversion, calculating the "input account" of ecological protection as the "value-added account" of long-term development. Closely adhering to the development pursuit of putting people's livelihood first, we must place the focus of resource investment and planning construction more on the urgent, difficult, and anxious needs of the people, so that the moments of happiness that the masses can feel and reach become more numerous... There is no immutable answer to the examination paper of high-quality development, only solutions adapted to local conditions; there are no dividends to be gained without effort, only harvests from deep and meticulous cultivation. By knowing change and seeking change, being efficient and pragmatic, and 久久为功 (jiǔ jiǔ wéi gōng - "long-term effort," to persist in a task for a long time to achieve success), we can better seek progress amidst changes and open new chapters amidst iterations.

The great truth is simple, and hard work is essential; reform and development both have their rules. Guided by the new development philosophy, we must push high-quality development to go deeper and become more solid. With more explorations that blaze new trails and more methods that take all factors into account, we can plan the overall situation amidst trade-offs and open new situations while upholding integrity. The new path of superior quality, efficiency, and sustainable improvement will become wider and wider.

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Empowering Educational Equity Through Technology (On-site Commentary)

By: 姜 峰

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To better promote the construction of cross-regional educational communities and accelerate the popularization and promotion of new technologies and methods in underdeveloped areas, we must press the "accelerator button" for advancing educational equalization.

"Artificial Intelligence + Education"—what will it bring? Recently, a "micro-innovation" on campus has sparked reflection.

At Renhe Street Primary School (人和街小学) in Yuzhong District (渝中区), Chongqing (重庆), children gather in circles in the hallways during breaks: third-grader Zhu Yuancheng (朱远程) swings his arms, gathers strength, and jumps. The artificial intelligence equipment captures the movement in real-time: "181 centimeters, breaking his personal standing long jump record." Jumping jacks, high knees, vertical jumps to touch targets... the children scramble to "check in," and rarely does anyone stay huddled in the classroom.

Schools in places like Chongqing (重庆), Changsha (长沙), Guangzhou (广州), and Shenzhen (深圳) are exploring how to revitalize "leftover" hallway spaces. With the help of artificial intelligence, they are making recess "data-driven," fun, and useful, thereby expanding the scenarios for character development.

Looking deeper, artificial intelligence is reshaping people's understanding of time and space, helping to improve the accessibility and inclusivity of educational resources.

Promoting educational balance is an important task, and a key mission is to ensure the most even distribution of high-quality educational resources. Especially for the many underdeveloped districts, counties, and remote mountainous schools in the Western Region (西部), issues such as the loss of high-quality teachers and the lack of specialized courses will, in the long run, constrain the steady improvement of educational quality.

**顺势而为** (shùn shì ér wéi - "follow trend act," to act in accordance with the circumstances) and making good use of technology can narrow the gap and shore up weaknesses. In the Qinba Mountains (秦巴山区), Wuxi County (巫溪县)—located more than 400 kilometers from the main urban area of Chongqing (重庆)—over 300 teachers from 10 schools, including Jianshan Middle School (尖山中学) and Wenfeng Middle School (文峰中学), have utilized the free artificial intelligence teaching assistant provided by Bashu Secondary School (巴蜀中学) in Yuzhong District (渝中区). They have realized digital-intelligent teaching scenarios such as "human-machine collaborative lesson preparation" and "artificial intelligence lesson evaluation," achieving excellent results.

Under the overall planning of the Ministry of Education (教育部), high-quality schools are pioneering technical innovations and then radiating their influence to help partner schools in educational communities share resources. This has broken through the limitations of traditional "point-to-point assistance" and "person-to-person instruction," powerfully boosting the balanced development of education. Through customized development and localized deployment, Bashu Secondary School (巴蜀中学) has integrated a generative dialogue platform into its smart education system, using artificial intelligence tools to accurately identify video course content and answer questions for teachers and students. Currently, it has helped over 5,500 teachers across 16 provinces (省) achieve "digital-intelligent co-creation" in lesson preparation, using technology to break through spatial barriers and bridge the resource gap in the cloud.

The "15th Five-Year Plan" (十五五) outline proposes to "promote artificial intelligence to assist in the transformation of educational models." Not long ago, the Ministry of Education (教育部) and four other departments jointly issued the "Action Plan for 'Artificial Intelligence + Education'," proposing to "support schools in rural and remote areas to make good use of national platforms to offer artificial intelligence courses" and "promote the application of intelligent technology in the Central and Western Regions (中西部) and rural schools."

Top-level design clarifies the direction, while grassroots exploration expands the path. Currently, the Ministry of Education (教育部) has deployed artificial intelligence-empowered education pilots in more than 30 provinces (省), municipalities (市), and universities, encouraging grassroots innovation in application paths. The National Smart Education Platform (国家智慧教育平台) has gathered over 1,000 high-quality courses, promoting artificial intelligence to become a "public course for teachers and students, and a foundational course for everyone." Beijing (北京) has issued a plan to carry out general artificial intelligence education in primary and secondary schools, exploring a new "dual-teacher classroom" organizational model empowered by artificial intelligence to promote the high-quality and balanced development of basic education. Aiming at weaknesses, Guangdong (广东) has organized targeted training, providing artificial intelligence education guidelines for the eastern, western, and northern parts of Guangdong (粤东西北) and remote rural areas, promoting the popularization of high-quality courses and resources. Better promoting the construction of cross-regional educational communities and accelerating the popularization and promotion of new technologies and methods in underdeveloped areas will help further break through the limitations of geography and development stages, pressing the "accelerator button" for advancing educational equalization.

Technology iterates and upgrades, but the original intention of nurturing talent remains unchanged. Fully leveraging institutional advantages and releasing the dividends of technology will inevitably continue to broaden the temporal and spatial boundaries of education, allowing every child the opportunity to make their life shine.

(The author is a reporter for the Chongqing (重庆) branch of this newspaper)

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Nurturing the Blooming of "Every Flower" (Jintai Essay)

By: 白光迪

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Bridge gaps with equality, dissolve prejudices with respect, and let the whole of society work together to create an environment of warm protection and inclusive care.

"Every child is a flower with a different blooming period; we water them with love so they may blossom beautifully." Upon entering the Rainbow Hospice for Children with Severe Illnesses (彩虹重症儿童安护中心) in Nanjing (南京), Jiangsu (江苏), this is the first sentence that catches the eye. The children here are interpreting the meaning of "blossoming" with their indomitable willpower.

These children are innocent and lively, though their medical prognoses are not optimistic. For them, time is filled with the torment of illness, yet they still strive to live, actively seek treatment, and remain full of longing for health and happiness. A child named Xiao Ming (小铭) said that when he grows up, he wants to open a nursing home and take in everyone who has cared for him... Thinking of the stubborn illnesses they suffer from, such words are all the more moving. Delving into their hearts, one is infected by their transcendent joy and pure dreams.

Reflecting quietly, what touches the heart is not only the cheerfulness and purity of these children but also their way of understanding happiness. Although they endure pain, they face the storms of fate without fear, revealing an inner resilience. This vigorous and tenacious vitality is the key to breaking physical limitations and transcending the constraints of time. The strength that supports them behind all of this is equally worthy of admiration.

Difficult rehabilitation, long-term nursing, continuous care... In the hospice center, the "sunshine" comes from outdoors, but even more so from the human heart. A nursing "mother" holds a sick child and hums softly; as sunlight spills through the window into the room, the child's smile appears exceptionally bright. Meticulous care allows the children to receive motherly concern and affection. The nursing "mother" is not their biological mother, yet she treats these orphaned and disabled children as her own, surrounding every moment of their lives with love. The trickling stream of kindness builds a warm and harmonious harbor, shielding every flower so it may blossom freely.

Special-needs children are often trapped by cognitive barriers, the hardships of life, and the shackles of illness, unable to laugh freely or run as they please like normal children. Caring for them requires not only material assistance but also companionship for their spiritual world and the protection of their dignity as individuals. Only by bridging gaps with equality, dissolving prejudices with respect, and having the whole of society work together to create an environment of warm protection and inclusive care can we hold up a clear sky for special-needs children, undisturbed by strange looks.

Kindness is precious and requires relay efforts from all parties. For disadvantaged groups, brief applause may bring excitement, but stable support and continuous companionship are what transform into lasting motivation to 砥砺前行 (dǐ lì qián xíng - "whetstone move forward," to forge ahead despite hardships). Not long ago, 20 departments including the China Disabled Persons' Federation (中国残联) and the National Development and Reform Commission (国家发展改革委) jointly issued the "Opinions on Doing a Good Job in Regular Assistance for Rural Disabled Persons to Help Comprehensive Rural Revitalization" (关于做好农村残疾人常态化帮扶工作助力乡村全面振兴的意见), shifting the assistance work for rural disabled persons from a "single task" of one department to a "long-term endeavor" of coordinated cooperation among multiple departments, allowing the system to continuously exert its protective power.

Caring for special-needs minors is not only a commitment to the bottom line of people's livelihoods but also a reflection of the level of social civilization. The Social Assistance Law (社会救助法), which will come into effect on July 1 this year, clarifies that social assistance management departments shall provide support for those in extreme poverty, including basic living conditions, necessary nursing services, and medical treatment. As a fundamental law in the field of social security, the Social Assistance Law strengthens the "bottom-line" function and expands the scope of social assistance, witnessing the powerful maintenance of fairness and justice by the rule of law and becoming a vivid practice of the Party and the State in fulfilling the promise that "the weak shall be supported."

How can we achieve a modernization that "leaves no one behind"? Ultimately, it depends on steadily promoting the equalization of basic public services and improving a multi-layered, categorized, and urban-rural integrated social assistance system. Whether it is improving multi-departmental collaborative working mechanisms or refining regular monitoring—shifting from "people looking for policies" to "policies looking for people"—only by continuously strengthening institutional innovation, service localization, and diversified empowerment can we identify and respond well to the needs and expectations of disadvantaged groups, translate more care into tangible and accessible services, and let the warmth of development reach every corner of society.

Every flower that blooms with high spirits is worth protecting with all our might; every life that grows with passion is worth helping with all our heart. By resolving immediate needs with precise assistance, strengthening spiritual support with emotional comfort, and illuminating the path to the future with long-term planning, we will surely be able to help every special-needs child traverse the storms and chase their dreams.

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Photo Report

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China's intelligent factory system is categorized into four levels: foundational, advanced, excellent, and pilot. Currently, China has cumulatively built 35,000 foundational-level, over 8,200 advanced-level, and over 500 excellent-level intelligent factories, with 15 enterprises selected for the pilot-level intelligent factory cultivation list. Since the implementation of the intelligent factory gradient cultivation initiative, it has driven an average reduction of 47% in product defect rates and an average shortening of 38% in product research and development cycles.

This is truly:
Digital empowerment allows us to ascend step by step,
The intelligent manufacturing of a great power (大国) displays its sharp edge.
Do not say the road is long and the journey is arduous,
Laughing at the shifting winds and clouds, our spirit is high and proud.

Zhai Qinqi (翟钦奇)

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Limited-time check-in, soak up all the scenery (Zongheng)

By: 王 彬

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Recently, a "viral bench" on Gushan Road (孤山路) at West Lake (西湖) in Hangzhou (杭州), Zhejiang (浙江), has become popular on social media platforms. Due to the large number of people taking photos, the "viral bench" has turned into a "battlefield for seat hogging," with queues exceeding half an hour during peak times, while the nearby Fengbo Pavilion (风波亭) is packed with commercial photography teams. In response, netizens have called out that the "most beautiful photo spot" should not be monopolized by a few. To optimize the sightseeing experience, regulate the order of photography at popular spots, and ensure the fair sharing of public resources, the Yue Temple Management Office (岳庙管理处) of the West Lake Scenic Area (西湖风景名胜区) has introduced targeted time-limited photography measures—a 3-minute limit for photography, after which an automatic prompt will sound to guide tourists to queue civilly and take photos in an orderly manner.

The beauty of West Lake (西湖) lies in its landscape, but also in its humanistic spirit. The civilized conduct of tourists and the orderly state of the scenic area are indispensable components of this humanistic beauty. Since Hangzhou (杭州) opened West Lake (西湖) for free in 2002 and proposed the initiative of "returning the lake to the people and returning the scenery to the people," openness and sharing have become the distinct characteristics of West Lake (西湖). Commercial photography hogging and crowd congestion not only squeeze the space for ordinary tourists to view the scenery and rest, but also obstruct traffic and disrupt the order of sightseeing, which runs 背道而驰 (bèi dào ér chí - "run counter to the path," to go in the opposite direction or run counter to one's goals).

Civilized tourism cannot be separated from reasonable guidance and regulation. The 3-minute time limit for photography is a beneficial exploration: it avoids a "one-size-fits-all" approach and does not crudely prohibit photography, but instead uses guidance to solve the problem. It both addresses the issue of long-term seat hogging and responds to and satisfies the needs of more tourists, balancing the enthusiasm for taking photos with public order to maximize the utility of limited viewing resources. This tourist-centered approach of solving problems through innovation helps ensure that the beauty of West Lake (西湖) can be shared by more people.

Optimizing the sightseeing experience, regulating photography order, and promoting civilized tourism is difficult to achieve 一蹴而就 (yī cù ér jiù - "one kick then succeed," to achieve success at one stroke). The 3-minute time limit for photography cannot perfectly solve all problems at once and still requires continuous improvement and adjustment based on actual conditions. For example, could tourists be guided to more spots to take photos, thereby dispersing the crowd?

Public nature is the profound foundation of a city and a landscape. All management and exploration have only one goal: to allow public resources to reach a wider population and maximize their value. Safeguarding this public nature is also about protecting the kindness between people and the positive interaction between the scenery and the people. Civilized travel is also a beautiful sight. With one more person practicing civilized self-discipline, public space gains a bit more warmth; with one more person possessing public awareness, the entire city adds a bit more civilization.

(Excerpted from *Zhejiang Daily* (浙江日报))

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The trend of steady consumption growth remains unchanged.

By: 齐志明

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According to data from the National Bureau of Statistics (国家统计局), from January to May this year, the total retail sales of consumer goods and services increased by 2.8% year-on-year. Within this, service retail sales grew by 5.4%, while commodity retail sales grew by 1.2%. Looking at the overall situation of combined commodity and service sales, China's (中国) consumer market is operating stably, service consumption is showing good growth momentum, the potential for new types of consumption is being unleashed, and the trend of quality improvement and upgrading remains unchanged.

A broad market with a stable foundation—this is the fundamental aspect of China's (中国) consumption.

Looking at the scale of consumption, in 2025, China's (中国) total retail sales of consumer goods surpassed the 50 trillion yuan mark for the first time, with consumption contributing 52% to economic growth. China's (中国) share of global consumption climbed from approximately 8% in 2012 to about 13% in 2024. Looking at consumption hotspots, in April, the market penetration rate of new energy passenger vehicles reached the 60% threshold for the first time, while improvement-oriented consumption such as smart products and green products continued to lead. The tiered demands of the more than 400 million middle-income group, the vast space for urban-rural integration, and the structural potential of transitioning from survival-oriented to development-oriented consumption demonstrate that the world's second-largest consumer market is still in a stage of steady growth.

Optimized structure and sufficient vitality—these are the prominent characteristics of China's (中国) consumption.

Today, when Chinese people talk about consumption, the focus is no longer just on "buying things," but also on the added value of services and emotional experience. In the first five months of this year, retail sales in tourism services and cultural, sports, and leisure services both maintained double-digit growth. After the optimization and upgrading of the departure tax refund policy, "inbound traffic" is accelerating its transformation into "consumption increments." From January to April, departure tax refund sales in Guangzhou (广州) and Shenzhen (深圳) grew by 186% and 145%, respectively. From the "cultural tourism craze" to the "sports event craze," and from the rapid penetration of instant retail to the accelerated expansion of warehouse membership stores, new business formats, new models, and new scenarios are 层出不穷 (céng chū bù qióng - "layer emerge not exhaust," emerging one after another), supporting a 蒸蒸日上 (zhēng zhēng rì shàng - "steaming steaming day upward," flourishing and becoming more prosperous every day) consumer market.

One must look at both the highlights and the pain points. In May, basic living and service consumption provided a stable foundation, but optional consumption closely related to changes in asset prices tended to be cautious, and traditional bulk consumption sectors were generally under pressure.

Facing challenges, the policy toolbox is well-stocked. Arrangements have been made for 250 billion yuan in ultra-long special treasury bonds to support the trade-in of consumer goods, a 100 billion yuan special fund for fiscal and financial coordination to promote domestic demand has been established, the "buy-and-refund-on-the-spot" optimization for departure tax refunds has been upgraded and cross-regional mutual recognition promoted, and special actions to boost consumption and expand and improve the quality of the service industry are being implemented in depth. From "prize-winning invoices" to "Shop in China" (购在中国), and from trade-ins to "visa-free expansion," the policy combination is not only activating demand in the short term but also focusing on long-term environmental optimization. In particular, the trade-in policy has cumulatively driven sales of related products exceeding 820 billion yuan from January to May, benefiting over 110 million people and effectively clearing consumption bottlenecks. Pragmatic measures dedicated to addressing shortcomings, optimizing the environment, and building mechanisms demonstrate China's (中国) determination and effectiveness in expanding domestic demand.

Behind consumption lies the people's yearning for a better life. China (中国) possesses favorable conditions for expanding consumption, such as an ultra-large market, rich application scenarios, and continuously upgrading demand; the trend of steady consumption growth remains unchanged. By making good use of the policy toolbox, solidifying livelihood guarantees, and ensuring that reform dividends are fully released, China's (中国) consumer market will surely operate stably and continue to move toward innovation and excellence.

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Submissions Welcome

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Dear readers, our columns including "People's Forum" (大家谈), "Warm News Commentary" (暖闻热评), "The Chinese Path and the Chinese Dream" (中国道路中国梦), and "Letters to the Editor" (来论) are open for long-term submissions. We welcome your contributions, but please do not submit the same manuscript to multiple outlets simultaneously.

Our email address: rmrbpl@peopledaily.cn (Please specify the column name in your submission).

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Editor in Charge: Li Bin, Zou Xiang, Meng Fanzhe

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Page 06版:要闻

Books as a Bridge: Dialogue, Exchange, and Win-Win Cooperation

By: 本报记者 张 贺

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The 5-day 32nd Beijing International Book Fair (BIBF) (北京国际图书博览会) concluded on June 21 at the China National Convention Center (北京国家会议中心) in Beijing (北京). According to statistics, a total of 2,835 copyright trade agreements (including letters of intent) were reached during this year's fair. Among these, 1,959 were copyright export agreements and letters of intent, 754 were import agreements and letters of intent, and 122 were cooperative publishing agreements and letters of intent. Copyright trade volume for social science, children's, and science and technology books ranked in the top three.

This year's fair attracted over 1,700 exhibitors from 82 countries and regions, showcasing 220,000 types of Chinese and foreign books. More than 1,000 cultural exchange activities were held, drawing nearly 300,000 visitors, fully demonstrating the cohesion, influence, and radiation power of the BIBF (图博会) as an important platform for international publishing exchange and cooperation.

### Themed Publishing Highlights Become Hotspots for Copyright Export

At the fair, themed books focusing on the themes of the era and telling China's stories were 亮点纷呈 (liàng diǎn fēn chéng - "bright spots in abundance," many highlights or impressive features). At the China Publishing Group (中国出版集团) exhibition area, the latest achievements of key projects such as the "Library of Rejuvenation" (复兴文库), the third edition of the "Encyclopedia of China" (百科三版), the punctuated and collated "Twenty-Four Histories" (二十四史), and the revision project of the "Draft History of Qing" (清史稿) attracted the attention of visitors. Themed books such as "Xi Jinping's Stories of Poverty Alleviation" (习近平扶贫故事), "The Long March" (长征), "Encyclopedia of the History of the Communist Party of China" (中国共产党历史百科全书), and "The Red Army's Long March: Original Records" (红军长征记:原始记录) were eye-catching. The People's Publishing House (人民出版社) systematically displayed authoritative readings such as "Selected Readings of Xi Jinping's Works" (习近平著作选读) and "Questions and Answers on Studying Xi Jinping's Economic Thought" (习近平经济思想学习问答), as well as party-building themed books like the "Series on the History of the Communist Party of China's Construction" (中国共产党建设史丛书), building a well-structured and widely covered theoretical study matrix. Hunan People's Publishing House (湖南人民出版社) showcased high-quality works such as "History of the Communist Party of China's Construction" (five volumes in total) (中国共产党建设史), "Looking at Mountains and Rivers" (望山河), and "What to Rely on for Unity, What to Rely on for Victory: Revelations of the 7th National Congress of the CPC" (靠什么团结 凭什么胜利:中共七大启示录) in a three-dimensional book-flower format. The Zhejiang Publishing United Group (浙江出版联合集团) highlighted the 11 versions of "Xi Jinping's Ningbo Speeches" (之江新语) published in 10 languages, while multilingual versions of books such as "Working Hard and Standing at the Forefront—Xi Jinping's Footprints in Zhejiang" (干在实处 勇立潮头——习近平浙江足迹) and "The Germination and Practice of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era in Zhejiang" (习近平新时代中国特色社会主义思想在浙江的萌发与实践) were also displayed in core positions.

Themed books have attracted high attention from the international publishing community, becoming hotspots for copyright export. The Dutch edition of "Xi Jinping's Stories of Poverty Alleviation" (习近平扶贫故事) from the China Publishing Group (中国出版集团) was signed, and the Arabic, Russian, and Portuguese editions of "A Century-Long Path" (百年道路) were launched. The first volume of "Records of Governance in the New Era" (新时代治国理政纪实) by Xinhua Publishing House (新华出版社) achieved multilingual publication. The "Research Series on Chinese-style Modernization" (中国式现代化研究丛书) of the Renmin University of China Press (中国人民大学出版社) successfully exported its English edition. The Zhejiang Publishing United Group (浙江出版联合集团) successfully exported the copyright for the Thai, Japanese, and Arabic editions of "The Exploration and Practice of Xi Jinping's Scientific Thinking Methods in Zhejiang" (习近平科学的思维方法在浙江的探索与实践)...

The copyright export of themed publications that manifest Chinese values and carry distinct contemporary spirit will help the international community further understand and read China.

### Building Bridges of Cooperation, International Influence Continues to Grow

The United Arab Emirates (阿拉伯联合酋长国) was the Guest of Honor at this year's fair. Over the past few days, exciting activities have been held continuously at the "UAE House" (阿联酋之家) within the exhibition area, with many Chinese and foreign guests coming to discuss cooperation. Salem bin Khalid Al Qassimi (萨利姆·本·哈立德·卡西米), Minister of Culture of the UAE (阿联酋文化部长), stated: "The BIBF (图博会) is not just a platform for displaying publications, but a world-class platform for carrying out cultural exchanges, disseminating cutting-edge knowledge, and witnessing the transformation of the publishing industry."

The BIBF's (图博会) wonderful and rich activities, professional and efficient organization, and thoughtful and meticulous service have received high praise from the international publishing community, and the international influence of the BIBF (图博会) continues to grow.

This year's fair upgraded its exhibition layout, setting up a main stage, international stage, academic stage, online publishing stage, children's stage, and art stage, achieving refined zoning for activity scenes. The newly established online publishing joint booth attracted 28 publishing and related institutions to showcase new formats of digital publishing and online literature going global. The first-ever IP (Intellectual Property) licensing zone provided broad links for the diversified development of the publishing industry. Publishing institutions from all over the world connected resources and discovered opportunities through pragmatic cooperation, highlighting the role of the BIBF (图博会) as an international bond that connects China with the world and promotes cooperation.

Karine Pansa (葛万莎·乔巴娃), President of the International Publishers Association (国际出版商协会), said: "This is my second time attending the BIBF (图博会). I am amazed by the richness of the book categories, the high quality of the content, and the level of printing. The planning and organization of the book fair also impressed me. It is truly remarkable to hold so many activities in just a few days."

Many overseas exhibitors and representatives expressed their appreciation for the professionalism, internationalization, and influence of this year's fair. Gulnara Agamova (久利娜拉·阿加莫娃), General Manager of the Moscow Agency for Creative Industries (莫斯科市创意产业署), stated: "For practitioners in the Moscow (莫斯科) publishing industry, China is a high-priority partner." William Asor (威廉·阿绍尔), Director of Business and Economics at Springer Nature (施普林格·自然集团), said: "The BIBF (图博会) is our most important annual copyright docking platform in Asia. This year's fair specifically set up special docking meetings for science, technology, and economics, and the organizers matched Chinese science, engineering, and economics publishers in advance, making the negotiation process very efficient." Sarah Sagripanti (莎拉·萨格里潘蒂), Vice President of Publishing and Direct Sales at Rainbow (彩虹公司), said: "The BIBF (图博会) is different from any book fair I have attended before. Everything here is very novel, and there are massive resources from local Chinese publishers and overseas publishers."

### Integrated Development Shows Vigorous Vitality, Technology Empowers Publishing Industry Upgrades

This year's fair presented a cultural flavor and a technological feel everywhere.

The organic integration of excellent traditional Chinese culture and new publishing formats outlined the unique cultural style of this fair. The Exhibition of Excellent Traditional Chinese Cultural Classics (中华优秀传统文化典籍展) displayed more than 400 excellent ancient book publishing achievements and also provided on-site interactive experiences such as the Smart Service Platform for Ancient Chinese Books (中华古籍智慧化服务平台) and holographic interactive screens for oracle bones, as well as light, shadow, and sound installations like the "Long River of Ancient Chinese Classics" (中国古代典籍长河). The Zhejiang (浙江) exhibition area set up a digital publishing and reading experience zone to systematically promote the "New Three" of cultural products—online literature, online dramas, and online games—such as "Black Myth: Wukong" (黑神话:悟空). The Guangdong (广东) exhibition area, themed "One Piece of Qiaopi, Half a Lifetime of Longing" (一纸侨批 半世相思), displayed nearly 100 types of Qiaopi (overseas remittance letters) books and physical Qiaopi, promoting the inheritance and dissemination of Lingnan (岭南) Qiaopi culture. The Hong Kong (香港) exhibition area set up a VR (Virtual Reality) experience zone for the first time with the theme of "Literary Map" (文学地图), presenting Hong Kong's urban memories in multiple dimensions.

Watchable, playable, usable, and collectible—cultural and creative products are becoming a "blue ocean" that the publishing industry is scrambling to develop. At this year's fair, Chinese and foreign publishers brought thousands of book-themed cultural and creative products, which were varied, 琳琅满目 (lín láng mǎn mù - "jewels filling the eyes," a wide variety of beautiful things), and deeply welcomed by readers. In the Shandong Publishing Group (山东出版集团) exhibition area, products such as Mamian skirts (horse-face skirts), waist fans, and jewelry were bought as soon as they were placed on the shelves. "These cultural and creative products are actually derivatives of this book," said editor Guo Xiao (郭笑), pointing to the book "Splendid Chinese Skirts: The Color Aesthetics of Inherited Mamian Skirts" (锦绣华裙——传世马面裙的色彩美学), "We developed more than 20 types of cultural and creative products based on the colors and patterns in the book, and they attract a lot of attention at every exhibition."

AI (Artificial Intelligence) was a high-frequency buzzword at this year's fair. Whether at the Beijing International Publishing Forum (北京国际出版论坛) or in negotiations between Chinese and foreign publishers, everyone frequently mentioned the significance of AI for the transformation of the publishing industry. The innovative application of technologies such as big data, cloud computing, and AI in the Chinese publishing field has attracted the attention of the international publishing community.

Tsinghua University Press (清华大学出版社) released the "Book + AI" empowered reading—Wenquan Cloud Disk 2.1 version (文泉云盘2.1版本). Zhongtu Yunchuang (中图云创) brought innovative achievements such as the AI Emotion Library (AI情绪图书馆), focusing on the application of cutting-edge technologies like AI and spatial computing in the revitalization of traditional culture. Sichuan University Press (四川大学出版社) launched an AI-driven new corpus construction project. Henan Fine Arts Publishing House (河南美术出版社) displayed an AI short film of "Along the River During the Qingming Festival" (清明上河图) on-site, sharing experiences in digital innovation of traditional culture. NetEase Youdao (网易有道) showcased a product matrix built on its self-developed "Ziyue" (子曰) large model, exploring the application of AI in reading, learning, cross-language communication, and cultural dissemination, empowering cultural inheritance and mutual learning among civilizations with technological power.

Wu Shulin (邬书林), Chairman of the Publishers Association of China (中国出版协会), stated that the technological revolution with generative AI at its core is driving the publishing industry to achieve full-process reconstruction, full-factor empowerment, and full-format upgrading. AI has changed the form of publishing, but it has not changed the essence of publishing—inheriting civilization, disseminating ideas, accumulating knowledge, and enlightening wisdom. Facing the wave of technology, the publishing industry should "actively shape" rather than "passively adapt," actively embrace technology, promote talent transformation, continuously strengthen copyright protection, improve the copyright governance system in the AI era, and continuously deepen international exchanges and cooperation to build an open ecosystem together.

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Deciphering the Climate Code in Tree Rings (Promoting the Spirit of Scientists)

By: 本报记者 李亚楠

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Deep mountains, jungles, streams, deserts, and cliffs... The tree-ring research team of the Urumqi Desert Meteorology Institute (乌鲁木齐沙漠气象研究所) under the China Meteorological Administration (中国气象局) has measured these inaccessible places with their own footsteps.

"We are called 'tree whisperers,' and some people call us 'translators of tree rings,'" team member Qin Li (秦莉) vividly describes her work. In the 1950s and 1960s, when Xinjiang (新疆) had just begun to build meteorological stations, the research team traveled over mountains and through valleys to find ideal trees. They then deciphered the code of climate change step by step based on the growth of these trees. At the same time, they identify the age of trees through core samples to better protect ancient and famous trees.

**Searching for samples across mountains and valleys, building a tree-ring specimen library**

Sampling is the first step of the research. Because trees in plains or cities are heavily affected by human activity, they cannot accurately reflect regional climate and hydrological changes. Only trees unaffected by human activity can more accurately record the climate changes of that time. "It is best to be in deep mountains and old forests; the more uninhabited the place, the more ideal," says Qin Li (秦莉).

To find such trees, one must endure physical hardship; simply reaching the trees is no easy task. Qin Li (秦莉) recalls that they often traveled by horse or donkey, or even hiked to their destinations, with heavy water bottles causing their shoulders to ache. The journey was long, and by the time they reached the sampling point, most of the water was already gone. Sometimes, they also faced the test of altitude sickness. "To do our job, you must first have a strong body," says Qin Li (秦莉).

Conducting scientific research in the wild is often dangerous. Encountering mosquitoes and leeches is inevitable, and sometimes one might run into snow leopards, wild boars, and bears. In the summer of 2009, while the research team was collecting samples on horseback in the Bayanbulak (巴音布鲁克) mountainous area of Xinjiang (新疆), they unexpectedly encountered three foraging snow leopards. The leopards made "hissing" sounds from time to time, displaying an aggressive posture. Both sides were in a stalemate; time seemed to freeze, and neither the humans nor the snow leopards dared to move. Eventually, the snow leopards disappeared into the cliff walls.

It is more common to encounter extreme weather. "Sometimes there was a road when we went up the mountain in the morning, but after a flood at noon, we couldn't find the way back and had to take a detour or stay the night," says team member Zhang Heli (张合理).

In deep mountains and old forests, getting injured is unavoidable. In May 2018, team member Shang Huaming (尚华明) went to the Kunlun Mountains (昆仑山) to collect samples. On the way back, he slipped and rolled more than 50 meters down a ridge. The border guards accompanying him made a makeshift stretcher out of clothes, ropes, and wooden sticks, carrying him for more than 10 kilometers before reaching the foot of the mountain. Upon examination at the hospital, it was found that his spine was injured, and he only underwent surgery after being transferred to a larger hospital.

Before the 1990s, samples were usually disk samples with a thickness of more than 10 centimeters, jokingly referred to as "chopping blocks." Some disk samples weighed 70 or 80 kilograms and could only be carried by people or horses. Yuan Yujiang (袁玉江), a team member who has now retired, once nearly fell into a valley while carrying a disk sample down the mountain.

Sampling is much simpler now; one only needs to use an increment borer to extract a wooden strip the thickness of a chopstick. Previously, it took a month to collect one site, but now it can be completed in one day.

Sometimes, the team also does "useless work." Once, Qin Li (秦莉) and her colleagues discovered a few trees on a distant hilltop that looked like "old man trees"—"short and small, but very old, growing slowly due to light and hydrological reasons," Qin Li (秦莉) explained. But after climbing for several hours and collecting samples, everyone realized they had **看走眼** (kàn zǒu yǎn - "look walk eye," to misjudge or be mistaken in one's assessment). The trees were very young and did not meet their requirements for samples.

As of now, thanks to the efforts of the research team, the laboratory has built the largest tree-ring specimen library in Asia, storing more than 1,000 disk samples and over 50,000 tree-core samples.

**Precise analysis of core information, letting tree rings "speak"**

Ancient trees are like "historians" that record climate and environmental information from historical periods. If collecting samples is a test of physical strength, then letting these "historians" "speak" is a marathon of endurance. It requires using various analytical means and research methods such as tree-ring width, gray level, density, and cell structure to obtain the information hidden in the rings. "To put it simply, in areas without meteorological stations, trees are our meteorological stations, just with a different way of recording, which requires us to decipher the climate code," says Zhang Heli (张合理).

The density measuring instrument in front of team member Yu Shulong (喻树龙) was imported from abroad in 2006 and was the first density measurement system in China at that time. Ring width is related to precipitation, while temperature changes must be analyzed through density. "If the temperature is high in a certain year and the photosynthesis time is long, more nutrients are accumulated, and the density is higher," says Yu Shulong (喻树龙). Through density changes, temperature changes over a larger range can be analyzed.

In the laboratory, processed core samples are everywhere. Zhang Heli (张合理) took out a core sample from Pakistan (巴基斯坦), and the label showed that this was a cypress tree. At the time of sampling, the tree was 1,347 years old, the oldest core sample the research team has collected so far. It must go through multiple steps such as air-drying, polishing, and fixing before being placed under a microscope for preliminary dating.

Zhang Heli (张合理) pointed to the small holes on the core sample and introduced: "These are marks left by researchers during preliminary dating. One hole is punched every 10 years, two holes every 50 years, and three holes every 100 years." This process requires careful observation under a microscope. It is easy to count sparse rings, but when encountering dense rings and high-age trees, it takes a lot of time.

Usually, there are as many as 40 core samples collected from one sampling point. They must be compared one by one to complete cross-dating, develop tree-ring chronologies, and then conduct climate analysis... A series of work does not allow for any mistakes. "Often sitting in front of the microscope and computer for more than 10 hours is both eye-straining and mentally exhausting. To make the rings 'speak,' one must calm down and be able to sit still," says Zhang Heli (张合理).

**Deep "dialogue" with tree rings, understanding climate change over thousands of years**

What is the purpose of studying tree rings?

"The simplest reason is to determine the age of trees and identify ancient and famous trees, which can strengthen protection," says Zhang Heli (张合理). Once, an office courtyard needed to be renovated, and there was a tree with a relatively large age in the courtyard. It was uncertain whether it could be applied for felling according to regulations, so the team was entrusted to identify the tree's age. Zhang Heli (张合理) used an increment borer to take a core sample, returned to the laboratory, and completed the dating under a microscope, providing a scientific basis for the reasonable disposal of the tree.

"Building construction, power stations, etc., will all encounter the problem of tree-age identification. After identification, if the age standard for ancient and famous trees is met, the commissioning unit must re-select the site or relocate the ancient tree according to relevant regulations to achieve the purpose of protection," says Zhang Heli (张合理). For example, when building a hydropower station, the team needs to use the tree rings of the basin to judge the historical water volume and changes in the basin, providing a basis for the rationality of the hydropower station construction.

In addition, through the analysis of chemical elements in the rings, the quality of air can be judged. For example, after the chemical plant in Houxia (后峡), Urumqi (乌鲁木齐) was relocated, the team sampled and analyzed the local trees and found that heavy metal pollution had significantly decreased after the relocation. Such environmental analysis can also be applied in urban construction.

More importantly, it reveals historical climate change. From collecting core samples to analysis and research, in the rings of spruce, cypress, and larch, researchers have had deep "dialogues" with tree rings time and again to understand the changes in environmental elements such as hydrology and vegetation over the years. "To understand the climate change over thousands of years, no matter how hard it is, it is worth it," says Qin Li (秦莉).

Countless arduous journeys and countless sleepless nights of persistence have witnessed every step from cultivation to harvest, and the team's research results have also received attention and recognition from peers. The team has signed multiple project cooperation letters of intent with research institutions in countries such as Kyrgyzstan (吉尔吉斯斯坦), Tajikistan (塔吉克斯坦), and Kazakhstan (哈萨克斯坦) regarding climate change research, comprehensive observation, and academic exchanges, establishing a stable cooperation and exchange mechanism.

Currently, the research team has collected tree-ring samples from more than 100 sampling points in Central Asia (中亚) and used tree-ring data to reconstruct 14 past climate and hydrological sequences, revealing changes in temperature, precipitation, and glacier mass balance in Central Asia (中亚) over the past 200–500 years.

**Further Reading**

**What can tree rings tell us?**

We all know that there are several rings on the cross-section of a tree, and that is how old the tree is. This is the simplest information that tree rings tell us. This conclusion can help us determine the age of ancient and famous trees and provide a scientific basis for their protection.

In addition, trees are also micro-meteorological stations. Based on the width and density of the rings, the temperature and precipitation of that year can be analyzed. In years with high precipitation, trees grow fast, and the rings are wide; conversely, they are narrow. In years with high temperatures, more nutrients are accumulated, and the density is higher; conversely, it is lower.

This is very meaningful for our production and life. For example, if we want to build a hydropower station, tree rings can tell us the historical water volume and changes in the basin, providing us with a basis for decision-making. In addition, through the analysis of chemical elements in the rings, it can also help judge the quality of air.

(Compiled by our reporter Li Yanan (李亚楠))

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Photo Report

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During the Dragon Boat Festival (端午节) holiday, people stepped out of their homes to enjoy leisure activities at scenic spots, museums, amusement parks, and other locations. The photo shows tourists visiting the "Treasures of the Stone Chamber—Dunhuang Library Cave Exhibition" (石室宝藏——藏经洞陈列展) at the Dunhuang Academy (敦煌研究院) Library Cave Exhibition Hall (藏经洞陈列馆) on June 21.

Photo by Zhang Xiaoliang (张晓亮) (Xinhua News Agency (新华社) release)

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Promoting stable employment, expansion, and quality improvement in the marine economy sector

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Beijing (北京), June 21 (Reporter Qiu Chaoyi (邱超奕)) — Recently, four departments, including the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security (人力资源社会保障部), the Ministry of Natural Resources (自然资源部), the National Development and Reform Commission (国家发展改革委), and the Ministry of Transport (交通运输部), issued a circular to further optimize the spatial layout of the marine economy, promote high-quality development of the marine economy, and facilitate employment and entrepreneurship for workers.

The circular emphasizes the need to stabilize, expand, and improve the quality of employment in the marine economic sector. It calls for stabilizing and expanding the scale of employment in traditional marine industries, cultivating and developing modern fisheries, supporting qualified regions in building modern marine ranches and deep-sea fishing bases, accelerating the modernization of port and shipping infrastructure, and making greater efforts to tap into the potential of marine-related employment. It also highlights the need to innovate and cultivate new growth points for employment in emerging marine industries, foster and strengthen the marine medicine and biological products industry, and reinforce the development, application, and certification of new professions in fields such as energy exploration, seawater desalination, deep-sea exploration and development, and marine medicine and biological products. Furthermore, the circular supports the development of new business formats and models in the marine service industry, the launch of marine cultural and creative products, the creation of high-quality tourism brands, the vigorous development of modern shipping services such as shipping finance and insurance arbitration, and support for the development of high-end shipping talent clusters to broaden career development channels.

The implementation of these measures is intended to ensure that the marine economy does not remain 纸上谈兵 (zhǐ shàng tán bīng - "on paper discuss soldiers," to engage in empty theorizing without practical application) but instead serves as a robust engine for economic growth and job creation.

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Liaocheng, Shandong strives to improve inclusive and basic livelihood security.

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Jinan (济南), June 21 (Reporter Wang Zhe (王者)) — "My child is learning very well here, and now they can even help with some housework when they get home." At the Liaocheng (聊城) Social Welfare Service Center (社会福利服务中心) in Shandong (山东), a parent, Ms. Zhang (张女士), feels gratified seeing the changes in her child. In recent years, Liaocheng (聊城) has focused on improving a tiered and categorized social assistance system, striving to enhance inclusive and bottom-line livelihood security.

Li Guangbo (李广波), Director of the Liaocheng (聊城) Social Welfare Service Center (社会福利服务中心), stated that the local government has improved child care and protection, raised the basic living allowance standards for orphaned and distressed children for several consecutive years, and actively promoted the transformation and development of child welfare institutions. They have also optimized care services for the elderly, carrying out aging-friendly and intelligent renovations for the homes of eligible elderly residents according to the principle of "one policy for one household." Furthermore, they continue to carry out dynamic monitoring and assistance for groups such as those receiving subsistence allowances and individuals in extreme poverty, ensuring that eligible members of the public are promptly included in the scope of social assistance and security. The local government has been 尽心尽力 (jìn xīn jìn lì - "exhaust heart exhaust strength," to do one's utmost) to ensure that no one is left behind.

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Editor in Charge: Kang Yan, Song Yu, Zhang Zhiqi

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Graphics for this edition: Zhang Fangman (张芳曼)

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Page 07版:读者来信

Betel nut sales near schools require effective follow-up regulation (Jintai Perspective)

By: 本报记者 赵 兵

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As a small medicinal ingredient, the areca nut (betel nut) possesses properties that can expel parasites, promote the flow of qi, and alleviate stagnation. However, when it is packaged and widely sold as a chewing product similar to chewing gum, excessive consumption can cause serious harm to the human body. Recently, some readers and netizens have written to report that there are many areca nut sales outlets around local schools, making them easily accessible to adolescent students, and that some students have developed serious health problems due to long-term consumption. Experts and readers are calling for strengthened supervision of areca nut sales in the vicinity of schools.

Some parents report that their children consume areca nuts frequently, are unaware of the dangers, and some have already become addicted.

On the "Leadership Message Board" (领导留言板) of People's Daily Online (人民网), there are many messages regarding "areca nuts," covering issues such as sales, disorderly cultivation, and product quality, all calling for stricter supervision. Of particular concern are reports from parents stating that their children's physical and mental health have been severely damaged after long-term consumption of areca nuts.

"My son has been eating areca nuts for over 10 years. He later became addicted and found it difficult to quit, and now he is suffering greatly," sighed Ms. He (何女士) from Shenzhen (深圳), Guangdong (广东). According to her recollection, when her son was in school, supermarkets and convenience stores around the campus commonly sold areca nuts alongside ordinary food. Influenced by his peers, her son began following the trend of chewing areca nuts, eventually becoming addicted over time. Ms. He had tried to dissuade him strictly many times, but her son admitted that he was unable to quit.

Ms. He said, "Many parents have confided in me that their children have had similar experiences. Areca nuts contain carcinogenic ingredients; why can they be circulated and sold in supermarkets? Why are there no functional departments to regulate this?"

Ms. Yu (于女士) from Xi'an (西安), Shaanxi (陕西), stated, "My son started eating areca nuts in middle school. After many years of consumption, he developed facial deformities and swelling of the cheeks. When we went to the hospital, the doctor advised him to stop eating them." Ms. Yu said, "The children of my relatives and friends also chew areca nuts, and young people can be seen chewing them everywhere in public places like subways. I checked relevant materials and found that long-term consumption of areca nuts easily leads to oral cancer."

Ms. Yu mentioned that she saw many supermarkets selling areca nuts, some even placed in prominent positions at the entrance, with a very wide sales coverage, so she called the government service hotline to complain. However, staff replied that there were no explicit laws or regulations prohibiting the sale of areca nuts, and they could not carry out investigations or controls. When Ms. Yu reported it on the online government service platform, the relevant departments only asked for the location of the sales points and did not take any substantive action afterward.

What kind of harm does long-term chewing of areca nuts cause to the human body? Han Ying (韩莹), chief physician of the Department of Oral Mucosa at the Peking University School of Stomatology (北京大学口腔医院), stated that the damage caused by areca nuts to the human oral cavity mainly manifests in two aspects. "First is the physical level of repeated abrasion. Areca nut fibers are coarse and hard; chewing them year-round is equivalent to subjecting the oral mucosa to 'sandpaper training,' which increases the risk of mucosal trauma, damage, and inflammation," said Han Ying. "Even more serious is the synergistic damage from chemical irritation. The arecoline contained in areca nuts is a known carcinogen. During the production process of areca nut products, chemical substances such as lime are added, further aggravating the harm. Long-term, repeated physical and chemical irritation may induce oral submucous fibrosis, causing the mouth to gradually become unable to open, the mucosa to turn white and harden, and eating and speaking to become restricted, creating a breeding ground for cancer."

The harm of long-term chewing of areca nuts is so great, yet in the eyes of many, it is no different from chewing gum because it is visible everywhere and easy to buy and sell. So, are areca nuts considered food?

Yao Jia (姚佳), a professor at the Institute of Law of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (中国社会科学院法学研究所), stated that in 2020, the "Classification Catalog of Food Production Licensing" (食品生产许可分类目录) revised by the State Administration for Market Regulation (国家市场监督管理总局) no longer included "edible areca nuts." In 2021, it was further clarified that "areca nuts should no longer be regulated as food," and local authorities revoked the food production licenses of hundreds of areca nut production enterprises.

In fact, relevant departments have long made the dangers of areca nuts clear. According to reports, the International Agency for Research on Cancer (国际癌症研究机构) of the World Health Organization (世界卫生组织) long ago classified areca nuts as a Group 1 carcinogen. When the former China Food and Drug Administration (原国家食品药品监督管理总局) published its list of carcinogens in 2017, it also included the areca nut as a Group 1 carcinogen.

In 2019, the "Healthy Oral Action Plan (2019—2025)" (健康口腔行动方案(2019—2025年)) issued by the National Health Commission (国家卫生健康委) clearly implemented interventions for high-risk oral behaviors. In areas where the habit of chewing areca nuts exists, it focuses on the hazards of long-term chewing to oral health, carries out targeted publicity, education, and oral health examinations, and promotes early diagnosis and treatment of diseases such as periodontal and oral mucosal lesions.

The "identity" of the areca nut is unclear, and relevant departments have not taken effective regulatory measures against sales behavior.

It has become a consensus that long-term consumption of areca nuts is harmful to health, but because the "identity" of the areca nut is unclear and supervision is absent, relevant departments in some places have not taken strong regulatory measures against their sale. Shops or street vendors around schools sell areca nuts mixed with ordinary snacks, making them easily accessible to adolescents who lack judgment, and some even treat them as daily snacks.

Mr. Chen (陈先生) from Rizhao (日照), Shandong (山东), reported that in many junior and senior high schools in Wulian County (五莲县) and towns such as Chaohe (潮河镇) and Kouguan (叩官镇) in Rizhao City, many supermarkets are selling areca nuts.

Mr. Chen introduced that the price of areca nuts sold in shops around schools ranges from 5 to 100 yuan, and many packages include lucky draw cards such as "get another pack" or "5 yuan off a pack," using marketing models like lucky draws to induce minors to purchase repeatedly. Although the outer packaging of the areca nuts carries health warnings, merchants never warn students when selling them, and minors can purchase them at will.

"Once, I took the initiative to remind the merchant that they should not sell areca nuts to minors, but the shop owner accused me of delaying his business. Later, I reported it to the Market Supervision Administration (市场监督管理局), but the reported merchant only stopped selling them for three to five days and resumed sales in about a week," said Mr. Chen. He noted that some students he knows consume nearly 20 pieces a day, and many have developed oral symptoms such as tooth damage, while also developing a clear psychological dependence; once they stop eating them, they experience withdrawal symptoms such as restlessness and physical discomfort.

Some readers reported that there is a trend of following the crowd among adolescents regarding eating areca nuts. Mr. Liu (刘先生) from Loudi (娄底), Hunan (湖南), reported that there are students in local junior and senior high schools who eat areca nuts, and his own child has also had the experience of chewing them, mainly influenced by classmates and friends. "I found that there is an unhealthy trend among students of keeping up with the Joneses and following the crowd to chew areca nuts. Moreover, some students' chewing of areca nuts is highly correlated with smoking, forming the bad habit of 'must chew areca nuts if smoking, must smoke if chewing areca nuts'," said Mr. Liu.

Ms. Li (李女士) from Shenyang (沈阳), Liaoning (辽宁), reported that her child attends the Changbai Island Campus (长白岛校区) of Nanchang Middle School (南昌中学) in Shenyang. The child said that many students in the school eat areca nuts, and vendors outside the school even ignore the school fence to sell them to students inside.

"The child said that every lunch break, vendors would wait outside the school fence with cargo boxes. Students would pass money through the fence, and the vendors would pass the areca nuts and other items to the students, completing the transaction," said Ms. Li. She complained to the market supervision department and uploaded photos of the vendors selling areca nuts to students through the fence. However, when law enforcement officers arrived to verify, the vendors involved denied the act of selling areca nuts, and the complaint failed to solve the problem; the vendors continued to sell around the school for a long time. Ms. Li finally had to cut off the possibility of her child buying them from the economic source by strictly controlling her child's pocket money.

In this regard, some readers believe that schools do not have law enforcement authority and can only remind students to exercise self-discipline through routine publicity about the dangers of long-term areca nut consumption, but cannot fundamentally stop students from buying and eating them.

Other readers believe that although schools do not have law enforcement power, they can still strengthen disciplinary management to correct the trend of students eating areca nuts. "For behaviors like selling areca nuts through fences, the school can arrange for school leaders and teachers to be on duty at fixed points to drive away vendors, or conduct routine inspections and supervision in the fence area, explicitly prohibiting students from buying such harmful items, and rely on the binding force of campus management to guide students to stop buying them," said Ms. Li.

Experts suggest strict supervision and incorporating areca nuts into the special control system for the protection of minors.

Faced with the attention and calls from parents and the public regarding the problem of adolescents chewing areca nuts for a long time, relevant departments have already taken action and made regulations on the sale and promotion of areca nuts.

On September 17, 2021, the National Radio and Television Administration (国家广播电视总局) issued a notice deciding to stop using radio, television, and online audiovisual programs to promote and sell areca nuts and their products from that day on. Since then, many places have introduced relevant measures to restrict advertising and promotion related to areca nuts.

In addition, market supervision departments in many places have taken substantive measures against the sale of areca nuts. For example, in Zhejiang (浙江), Sichuan (四川), Guizhou (贵州), and other places, some require merchants not to sell areca nuts as food, requiring them to be sold in separate areas and not mixed with food; some have carried out law enforcement actions, requiring food operators to remove areca nut products from shelves; and some places have explicitly prohibited the production, sale, and consumption of areca nuts.

However, although areca nut sales advertisements are almost invisible on television programs, content related to areca nuts can be seen everywhere on short video platforms and social media. Reporters searched for "areca nut" (槟榔) on Douyin (抖音), Kuaishou (快手), and Xiaohongshu (小红书) and found a large amount of content related to it. In these videos, some promote the production of areca nuts by visiting shops or factories, some use tasting different flavors as a theme, and others use "immersive" or "fancy ways of eating" as gimmicks to promote how to consume them. Similarly, on some e-commerce platforms, searching for "areca nut" allows for the direct purchase of a wide variety of areca nut products with different flavors.

"The areca nut has been explicitly excluded from the food regulatory system, but it has not yet been included in other regulatory categories such as tobacco, medicine, or special control catalogs. Currently, areca nuts are in a regulatory vacuum, not being classified as tobacco, medicine, special control, or food. This state has an adverse impact on grassroots law enforcement, market supervision, and consumer rights protection," analyzed Yao Jia. She believes that for grassroots law enforcement, because there is no clear legal basis, it is difficult for law enforcement officers to characterize and punish the production, sale, and advertising of areca nuts. In practice, it is also very easy for situations such as inconsistent law enforcement standards and unclear regulatory responsibilities to occur. For market supervision, because there are no unified national production standards, quality specifications, and entry thresholds for areca nuts, their safety is difficult to guarantee, and unscrupulous merchants can use regulatory loopholes to continue production and sales for profit, leading to chaotic market order.

Some readers have called for the management of areca nuts to be modeled after the tobacco monopoly system. In this regard, experts say that because areca nuts are not included in the catalog of monopoly products explicitly defined by the Tobacco Monopoly Law (烟草专卖法), including them would require amending the law, which involves adjustments to the monopoly system and tax system, as well as realistic factors such as a long legislative cycle.

"Currently, relevant regulations should be jointly issued as soon as possible by departments such as market supervision and the health commission, explicitly prohibiting the sale of areca nuts to minors in special regulations that take areca nuts as the main object of regulation, and setting penalties to establish a basis in higher-level law for the supervision of areca nut sales. At the same time, it is also possible to encourage key areca nut consumption areas to take the lead in introducing local regulations or government rules to accumulate experience for national legislation," said Yao Jia.

Experts believe that although the power and responsibility at the law enforcement level are not yet clear, market supervision departments should still actively shoulder the main regulatory responsibility for the physical health of minors. Zhu Wei (朱巍), vice president of the Beijing E-commerce Rule of Law Research Association (北京市电子商务法治研究会), believes that market supervision departments should unite with education and other relevant departments to carry out collaborative supervision and joint governance. Merchants should be resolutely prohibited from soliciting minors to come into contact with areca nuts through free tastings, lucky draws, etc.; any business entity should be strictly prohibited from directly selling areca nuts to minors, and at the same time, requirements such as separate storage and sales of areca nuts and ordinary food should be fully implemented to put an end to the problem of food attributes misleading consumers.

Zhu Wei stated that from the perspective of long-term governance, it is suggested to revise Article 59 of the Law on the Protection of Minors (未成年人保护法) as soon as possible, placing areca nuts alongside cigarettes, alcohol, and lottery tickets, and formally incorporating them into the special control system for the protection of minors. "It should be clearly required that no areca nut sales outlets may be set up around schools and kindergartens; the sale of areca nuts to minors should be prohibited; operators must set up signs prohibiting sales to minors in prominent positions, and for consumers whose age is difficult to determine, they should be required to present identification documents. Let areca nuts be constrained under the same legal standards as tobacco and other commodities, cutting off the channels for minors to come into contact with areca nuts from the source," said Zhu Wei.

(Zheng Huiyu (郑会宇) from People's Daily Online participated in the writing.)

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Consolidate Responsibilities, Strengthen Maintenance, and Safeguard the Clear Waters of the Yangtze River (Feedback)

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People's Daily (人民日报社):

On June 8, the People's Daily (人民日报) published an article titled "Sewage from Drainage Outlet Next to Residential Area Discharged Directly into the Yangtze River (长江)," reporting that sewage from a drainage outlet near the Ideal City (理想城) residential area in Huaxi Subdistrict (花溪街道) of our district was being discharged into the Yangtze River (长江). Our district attaches great importance to this matter and has promptly organized verification and disposal efforts.

Upon investigation, the site is a municipal rainwater drainage outlet located at the Ideal City (理想城) residential area section of Babin Road (巴滨路) in Huaxi Subdistrict (花溪街道). The cause of the sewage overflow was a localized collapse of the sewage pipeline network in the Ronghui (融汇) section of Babin Road (巴滨路), which reduced the flow capacity of the network. Compounded by recent continuous heavy rainfall, the surge in upstream water volume caused some sewage to overflow into the river through this outlet.

In response to this situation, our district has taken the following measures: First, emergency desilting and dredging have been carried out, and partial flow channels have been restored. Second, temporary pumps have been installed to enhance drainage; currently, there is no sewage overflow. Third, emergency repairs to the collapsed pipeline network are underway. Construction teams arrived on-site on the afternoon of June 8 to begin emergency repairs and simultaneous engineering restoration. The project is expected to take 25 days, at which point the functionality of the pipeline network will be fully restored.

We sincerely thank your organization for your concern and supervision regarding the ecological and environmental protection work in Banan District (巴南区). Banan District (巴南区) will 举一反三 (jǔ yī fǎn sān - "lift one, return three," to draw inferences from one instance and apply them to others), further solidify responsibilities, strengthen inspections and maintenance, resolutely build a firm ecological barrier for the upper reaches of the Yangtze River (长江), and effectively protect the clear water of the river and the green mountains on both banks.

Housing and Urban-Rural Development Commission of Banan District, Chongqing Municipality (重庆市巴南区住房和城乡建设委员会)

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Requirement for Weekend Street Patrols Increases Burden on Grassroots Teachers (Local Affairs)

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We are citizens of Renze District (任泽区), Xingtai City (邢台市), Hebei Province (河北省). Some time ago, due to a student fighting incident that occurred over a weekend, the Renze District Education Bureau (任泽区教育局) arranged for teachers from several middle schools to conduct safety patrols on the streets of the county seat during weekends. Each school is required to send two teachers every Saturday and Sunday to patrol designated areas and streets, checking near internet cafes and billiard halls to see if any students are engaging in inappropriate behavior. The Education Bureau also requires the patrolling teachers to wear school identification badges and take photos at designated times to clock in.

Relevant departments have long issued documents clarifying that, in principle, full-time teachers should not be assigned to duty or watch shifts during statutory holidays, weekends, winter and summer vacations, or other periods when students are not in school. Furthermore, they must not be required to undertake non-educational tasks such as street patrols. The actions taken by the District Education Bureau completely violate the spirit of these relevant regulations, infringing upon teachers' weekend rest and increasing the burden on grassroots teachers.

Readers from Renze District (任泽区), Xingtai City (邢台市)

This situation is a case of 本末倒置 (běn mò dào zhì - "root end reverse," to reverse the order of importance or prioritize the trivial over the essential), as the authorities are forcing educators to neglect their primary duties in favor of administrative overreach.

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Suggestion

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Road Renovations Must Consider Practical Needs


I previously passed by a street undergoing renovation and saw that the original marble pavement was being torn up. Everyone assumed it would be replaced with more practical new materials, but in the end, marble was laid down again, showing little difference from before the renovation. Many people muttered: what is the significance of such a renovation?


Urban renewal is a good thing; citizens support improving travel environments and enhancing the city's appearance. However, one should not build or repair just for the sake of it. Updating things regardless of whether it is necessary not only wastes fiscal funds but also causes trouble for the travel of nearby residents. It is suggested that before urban renewal and renovation, one might as well ask more about the actual needs of nearby merchants, residents, and citizens. Whether the road surface is potholed and needs filling, or the drainage is poor and needs repair, renewal plans should be formulated according to actual problems to solve real issues for the masses and ensure funds are used where they are truly needed.


Jin Kangsheng (金康生), Kunming City (昆明市), Yunnan Province (云南省)




"RMB Bouquets" Should Be Prohibited


In some places, so-called "RMB bouquets" have become popular. Especially during the middle and high school entrance examinations, some flower shops fold new RMB banknotes into bouquets, calling them "985" (985工程) or "211" (211工程). It looks like sending blessings to candidates, but in reality, it is a violation of regulations. The RMB (人民币) is the national legal tender and is strictly protected by law. According to the Regulations on the Administration of Renminbi (人民币管理条例), "deliberately damaging the Renminbi" and "illegally buying and selling circulating Renminbi" are both prohibited acts. When merchants fold and mount banknotes to make bouquets, it causes creases and damage to the paper money, destroys the integrity of the currency, and hinders its normal circulation. If merchants sell "RMB bouquets," they also violate the regulations prohibiting the illegal buying and selling of circulating Renminbi. In addition, it easily fosters an unhealthy atmosphere of comparison and extravagance among candidates, misleads the values of teenagers, and causes beautiful blessings to lose their meaning. 名不副实 (míng bù fù shí - "name not match reality," to be not what it is claimed to be; here, the "blessing" is actually a violation).


It is recommended to replace luxurious gimmicks with sincere blessings and consciously cherish the Renminbi. At the same time, we call on market supervision and financial departments to increase inspection efforts and prohibit the illegal act of selling "RMB bouquets."


Tang Guizhou (唐贵州), Lianyungang City (连云港市), Jiangsu Province (江苏省)

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Frequent Illegal Dumping Continues to Leave Villages Surrounded by Trash (Exposé)

By: 本报记者 马睿姗

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In September 2025, the First Central Ecological and Environmental Protection Inspection Team (中央第一生态环境保护督察组) provided feedback to Shanxi Province (山西省) regarding inspection findings, explicitly pointing out prominent issues in solid waste treatment and disposal. The feedback highlighted significant shortcomings in construction waste management, frequent instances of illegal dumping, and delays in the construction of waste incineration facilities in areas such as Linfen (临汾). Several months have passed; what are the results of the rectification efforts?

For some time, reporters visiting Linfen City (临汾市) and Taiyuan City (太原市) in Shanxi Province (山西省) have observed that the issue of domestic waste "encircling villages" in some rural areas has seen no substantive improvement.

Recently, while visiting Liucun Town (刘村镇) in Yaodu District (尧都区), Linfen City (临汾市), reporters observed that a ditch stretching five to six kilometers along Pingshui Street (平水街) in Qiaojiayuan Village (乔家院村) was piled high with domestic and construction waste, emitting a pungent odor. According to local villagers, the waste originates from nearby villages and a residential complex across the road. The Village Committee (村委会) lacks corresponding management measures; in the summer, the rotting waste creates a stench so foul that nearby residents dare not open their windows.

Last December, the illegal waste dumping in Qiaojiayuan Village (乔家院村) was exposed by self-media. Relevant local departments cleared the waste on the day of the exposure and promised to build a sewage collection tank at the site. Several months have passed, and the waste dumping problem has reappeared.

In fact, just 200 meters away from the Pingshui Street (平水街) waste site is the designated waste collection point for Qiaojiayuan Village (乔家院村), where some residual waste is also piled on the ground. Waste within Qiaojiayuan Village (乔家院村) is collected by villagers into eight bins and then collected once a day by a waste collection vehicle from Yingsheng Environmental Technology Co., Ltd. (盈胜环境科技有限公司), to be transported to Yuefeng Environmental Protection Co., Ltd. (粤丰环保有限公司) in Xiandi Town (县底镇) for incineration. A cleaner in Qiaojiayuan Village (乔家院村) stated that village waste is dumped here collectively. They clean it at 5:00 AM every day, and after transport, any scattered waste is simply buried with soil. However, some villagers still dump waste indiscriminately, sometimes even using small carts to haul it out for dumping.

It is understood that in Liucun Town (刘村镇), villages with a permanent population of fewer than 600 are equipped with one cleaner, while those with 600 or more are equipped with two, responsible for clearing scattered waste. Qiaojiayuan Village (乔家院村) has an average daily waste volume of about 2.5 tons, but only one cleaner is responsible for checking that the village's daily waste is cleared daily. Relying solely on a cleaner to monitor the situation cannot fundamentally solve the problem.

Do the relevant township departments have corresponding management measures? Reporters learned that Liucun Town (刘村镇) manages village environmental sanitation through the deputy mayor in charge of environmental sanitation and the head of the Liucun Town (刘村镇) Sanitation Station. They conduct irregular spot checks and supervision in the villages, primarily offering verbal reminders to cleaners when problems are found. "Currently, there are no reward or punishment measures. The maximum monthly salary for a cleaner is 650 yuan, and since the subsidies are already low, deducting any would leave nothing. Superior funding has not arrived; last year's payments were delayed and were eventually issued in a lump sum for several months. A cleaner cannot possibly watch the site 24 hours a day, right?" said a relevant official from the Liucun Town (刘村镇) government.

Waste collection and transport capacity is insufficient, and terminal processing capacity also needs improvement. In June 2025, the First Central Ecological and Environmental Protection Inspection Team (中央第一生态环境保护督察组) discovered that Linfen City (临汾市) had only two existing incineration facilities, covering only four of the city's 17 counties (cities, districts). According to the "Medium and Long-term Special Plan for Waste Incineration Power Generation in Shanxi Province" (山西省垃圾焚烧发电中长期专项规划), Linfen City (临汾市) should have completed and put into operation four waste incineration power generation projects by June 2025, adding a processing capacity of 1,940 tons/day. However, as of the time of this report, relevant departments in Linfen City (临汾市) stated that the waste incineration power generation projects in Houma City (侯马市) and Pu County (蒲县) are still under construction.

In addition to Linfen (临汾), reporters recently discovered construction waste under several high-speed railway bridges, including near Xin Village (辛村) in Beige Town (北格镇), Taiyuan City (太原市), and near the Erguang Expressway (二广高速) in Xiaodian District (小店区), Taiyuan City (太原市). One location previously exposed by the media for large-scale waste dumping has been fenced off, but through the barriers, waste can still be seen exposed on the soil surface.

According to local villagers, some construction waste here was buried directly on-site. Farmland is located just a few hundred meters away, which is highly likely to lead to leachate contaminating the soil, causing long-term environmental pollution. Other villagers said that the responsibility for waste management under railway bridges at the urban-rural fringe is unclear, and new waste is often piled up shortly after the area is cleared.

During the interviews, many called for relevant local departments to establish a long-term mechanism. On one hand, they must improve waste collection and treatment capacity; on the other, they must strengthen supervision and strictly investigate and punish illegal dumping to resolve the "encircling village" waste problem at its source. They must avoid 纸上谈兵 (zhǐ shàng tán bīng - "on-paper discuss military," to engage in empty theorizing without practical action) and ensure that rectification is not just a 走过场 (zǒu guò chǎng - "walk through the scene," to go through the motions without genuine effort).

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Call for Submissions

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The "Letters from Readers" (读者来信) section of the People's Daily (人民日报) and the "Leaders' Message Board" (领导留言板) of People's Daily Online (人民网) have jointly launched a campaign to solicit issues regarding the urgent, difficult, anxious, and expectant needs of the masses. We welcome readers to provide leads on problems and suggestions.

Email: rmrbdzlx@126.com
Mobile Platform: "Exposure Platform" (曝光台) on the People's Daily (人民日报) client
People's Daily Online (人民网) "Leaders' Message Board" (领导留言板) client

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Page 08版:文化

Creative Dragon Boat Festival: Tasting Modern Trends in Traditional Flavors (Ancient Charm and National Style, Top-tier Aesthetics)

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In Zigui (秭归), Hubei (湖北), a youth poetry gala expresses the patriotic sentiments that have endured for a millennium during the Dragon Boat Festival; in Nanyang (南阳), Henan (河南), new-style mugwort bouquets adorned with sachets and tassels showcase the cultural identity of the younger generation... It is not just about racing dragon boats or eating zongzi; the ways of celebrating the Dragon Boat Festival have taken on many new forms.

Today, the "folk-custom Dragon Boat Festival" is vibrant, and the "technological Dragon Boat Festival" is full of creativity. Dragon Boat Festival culture embodies a new spirit and style of the era through its inheritance and development, and the festival continues to radiate vitality and charm amidst the sense of ritual where tradition and modernity blend.

— Editor

### Poetic Gatherings, Surging Patriotic Sentiments
By our reporter Fan Haotian (范昊天)

"We search with dragon boats, zongzi, calamus, and the scent of mugwort; we call out across rivers, mountains, and the passage of time..." On the evening of June 19, at the Qu Yuan Temple (屈原祠) Mountain Gate Square in Zigui County (秭归县), Yichang (宜昌), Hubei (湖北), the 2026 Qu Yuan Hometown Dragon Boat Festival Poetry Gala kicked off amidst the impassioned tones of more than 200 students reciting the drum-music poem *Soul of a Millennium of Poetry* (《千年诗魂》). With the theme "Poetry in the Hometown, Youth Taking Flight" (诗在原乡·青春飞扬), the gala featured chapters such as "Inheritance of Chu Rhymes" (楚韵传承), "New Songs of the Ode to the Orange" (橘颂新唱), and "Poetic Rhymes of the Yangtze River" (诗韵长江). Poetry enthusiasts from all over gathered by the river to attend this poetic gathering.

On stage, an actor playing Qu Yuan (屈原) recited *War Song* (《战歌》), demonstrating patriotic feelings. The situational drama *Passing the Torch* (《传薪》) vividly recreated the moving story of Xu Zhengduan (徐正端), a temple guardian who has protected the Qu Yuan Temple (屈原祠) for thirty years, deeply moving the audience. Famous works by literary figures throughout history, such as Li Bai (李白), Su Shi (苏轼), Guo Moruo (郭沫若), and Yu Guangzhong (余光中), were recited with deep emotion, as the long river of history flowed between the lines of poetry. The band played *New Songs of the Ode to the Orange* (《橘颂新唱》), where elegant verses were cleverly fused with rock rhythms, interpreting a charm that is both archaic and fashionable.

Original works that closely combine traditional classics with modern life were impressive. 57-year-old farmer-poet Tan Rongchang (谭荣昌) took the stage to chant his own poems using the local, authentic Chu (楚) style, conveying the deep affection for the flora and fauna of Qu Yuan's (屈原) hometown.

"I listened to my father sing when I was a child, and I learned by following him. Writing poetry can soothe homesickness and, more importantly, preserve this spirit," said Tan Rongchang (谭荣昌). He once worked away from home for 18 years, but returned home every Dragon Boat Festival to chant poems. In 2019, he was elected president of the "Sanlü Sao Tan" (三闾骚坛) Poetry Society. The "Sanlü Sao Tan" (三闾骚坛) Poetry Society has a history of several hundred years. Since 1982, the society has held a Dragon Boat Festival poetry gala every year, where members present their proudest poems of the year to commemorate Qu Yuan (屈原) and express their emotions. Today, the society has more than 2,500 members, over 90 percent of whom are local farmers.

On the night of the gala, the award ceremony for the "Dragon Boat Festival Poetry Tide: Youth Recitation and Inheritance" (端午诗潮·青春咏传) national college student poetry collection activity was held. 639 youth poems from 206 universities across 31 provinces showcased the relay of youth continuing through poetry. In addition, the 5th "Qu Yuan Cup" (屈原杯) poetry collection activity was also launched simultaneously.

"The generational inheritance of the poetry gala is a persistence in Qu Yuan (屈原) culture and patriotic spirit," said Yang Ke (杨克), a member of the Presidium of the China Writers Association (中国作家协会). "On the Dragon Boat Festival, this poetry gala by the Yangtze River allows us to see the **生生不息** (shēng shēng bù xī - "life life not cease," the continuous and endless growth/vitality) of the Chinese cultural lineage."

(Li Caiyun (李彩云) participated in the reporting)

### Mugwort Bouquets, Carrying a Sense of Ritual
By our reporter Zhao Shuaijie (赵帅杰)

Mugwort is green, and zongzi leaves are fragrant.

During the Dragon Boat Festival, walking into the Medical Sage Cultural Park (医圣文化园) in Nanyang (南阳), Henan (河南), one finds that traditional mugwort has "transformed" into exquisite bouquets at the market, catching the eye: colorful silk threads wrap around the stems, intangible cultural heritage sachets are dotted among them, and tassels tied to prayer cards sway in the wind, attracting citizens and tourists to check in, take photos, and stop to ask for prices.

Holding fresh mugwort, tying on ribbons, hanging copper bells, and picking up a pen to write blessings like "Peace and Health for the Dragon Boat Festival" (端午安康)... 30-year-old Hu Na (胡娜) is busy making mugwort bouquets. With a background in floral art, she began combining mugwort with fresh flowers seven years ago to make bouquets for friends and family. "I didn't expect this creative idea with herbal fragrance to be so well-received," said Hu Na (胡娜).

This Dragon Boat Festival, mugwort bouquets became a hit in Hu Na's (胡娜) shop. "I've been busy since before the festival, shipping an average of over 300 orders a day, and up to 500 orders a day during peak periods. The orders cover almost the entire country, and most of the customers are young people," said Hu Na (胡娜). Taking advantage of the mugwort market, she also set up an offline booth to display mugwort bouquets to more tourists.

Hanging mugwort is a traditional folk custom of the Dragon Boat Festival, carrying the beautiful meaning of warding off evil and bringing blessings. "In the past, hanging mugwort was mostly just tying a few stalks together, focusing on practicality," said Hu Na (胡娜). "Young people today prefer the 'Guochao' (national trend) style and place special importance on the sense of ritual during festivals." Mugwort bouquets are elegant and durable; they can repel insects, bring blessings, and decorate spaces, combining both utility and aesthetics.

On short-video platforms, topics about Nanyang (南阳) mugwort have surged onto the hot search lists. One netizen commented: "Let's go! Let's encounter the exclusive romance of the Dragon Boat Festival." Various production tutorials and beautiful pictures of finished products have emerged one after another. Mugwort bouquets have become a new "social currency" for young people. Mugwort bouquets with small bamboo cages imply "caging happiness," and those with rings symbolize "reunion"... Every design is filled with beautiful wishes.

From large-scale planting in the fields to deep processing in factory workshops, and then to the new business format of "cultural creativity + live streaming," Nanyang (南阳), which is rich in mugwort, continues to explore paths of transformation and develop the mugwort industry.

Mugwort velvet sachets, mugwort fabric ornaments, and herbal care sets cater to Dragon Boat Festival customs and public health needs; mugwort ice cream, mugwort toast, and mugwort drinks are both beautiful and delicious, deeply loved by young tourists.

"A carefully designed mugwort bouquet balances festival ritual with social interaction and carries emotional value," said a relevant official from the Publicity Department of the Nanyang Municipal Committee (南阳市委宣传部). Various novel mugwort cultural and creative products allow traditional folk customs to enter daily life in a more fashionable way.

(Fan Zhiqin (范志钦) participated in the reporting)

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Archaeological Evidence Found for the Origin of Eating Zongzi During the Dragon Boat Festival (Extended Reading)

By: 本报记者 施 芳

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When did the custom of eating zongzi during the Dragon Boat Festival (端午节) actually originate? Is it truly related to the commemoration of Qu Yuan (屈原)? Recently, an herbal archaeology team from the China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences (中国中医科学院), in collaboration with institutions such as the Henan Provincial Institute of Cultural Relics and Archaeology (河南省文物考古研究院) and the Archaeological Research Center of the National Cultural Heritage Administration (国家文物局考古研究中心), has for the first time revealed the origins of zongzi through physical evidence.

In 2015, Tomb No. 8 at the Chengyang City Site (城阳城遗址) in Xinyang (信阳), Henan (河南), drew the attention of the research team; archaeologists discovered 40 relatively intact "plant bundles" in the rear chamber. In 2024, Tomb No. 1 at Wuwangdun (武王墩) in Huainan (淮南), Anhui (安徽), also yielded new discoveries, with archaeologists finding over 200 "plant bundles" in the east chamber of the tomb. Although the two Chu (楚) state tombs are separated by a century, both contained "plant bundles" as burial objects. Researchers believe that at least by the time of Qu Yuan (屈原)'s childhood, the State of Chu (楚国) had already begun using "zongzi-like" items for sacrificial offerings in high-status burials.

“In the past, the origins of zongzi relied on documentary records, with the earliest physical evidence being zongzi unearthed from a Northern Song (北宋) tomb in Tieguai (铁拐), Nanling (南陵), Anhui (安徽). The archaeological discovery at Tomb No. 1 of Wuwangdun (武王墩) pushes the physical history of zongzi back by more than 1,300 years,” introduced Huang Luqi (黄璐琦), an academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering (中国工程院) and president of the China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences (中国中医科学院). The oak-leaf-wrapped "zongzi-like" items from Tomb No. 8 of the Chengyang City Site (城阳城遗址) provide a new perspective for interpreting the legend of "eating zongzi during the Dragon Boat Festival (端午节) to commemorate Qu Yuan (屈原)": the dating of Tomb No. 8 coincides exactly with Qu Yuan (屈原)'s childhood, indicating that high-status burials in the State of Chu (楚国) at that time already used "oak leaves to wrap grain" for sacrificial purposes.

The study also unveiled the scientific mystery behind why the ancients chose oak leaves to wrap zongzi: the team’s antibacterial experiments on three traditional zongzi leaves—oak leaves, Manchurian wild rice leaves, and Indocalamus leaves—showed that the polyphenol content in oak leaves is significantly higher than that in the other two, providing a notable inhibitory effect on foodborne pathogens such as Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus. Peng Huasheng (彭华胜), a team member, deputy director of the Institute of Chinese Materia Medica Resources at the China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences (中国中医科学院), and director of the National Cultural Heritage Administration (国家文物局) Key Research Base for Traditional Chinese Medicine Cultural Relics, explained: “Through long-term practice, our ancestors discovered that oak leaves could extend the shelf life of food and chose them as wrapping material. This is the 结晶 (jié jīng - "crystallization," the concrete manifestation or essence of wisdom/experience) of the life experience and wisdom of the ancients.”

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Why Young People Are Increasingly Embracing Traditional Festivals (Editor's Note)

By: 曹怡晴

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During the Spring Festival (春节), they are the "organizers"; during the Qingming Festival (清明节), they sweep the graves of historical figures; and when the Dragon Boat Festival (端午节) arrives, the younger generation becomes the main force in dragon boat racing... Why are young people today increasingly fond of celebrating traditional festivals?

The "sense of ritual" has grown stronger, transforming traditional festivals from mere "long holidays" into cultural experiences that allow one to "see people, see objects, and see life." In the Chaoshan region (潮汕地区) of Guangdong (广东), the imposing Yingge dance (英歌舞) serves as a powerful "atmosphere setter" during festive holidays. In the ancient city of Taiyuan (太原), Shanxi (山西), one can witness molten iron flower performances (打铁花) during the Lantern Festival (元宵), watch Nuo dances (傩舞) during the Dragon Boat Festival (端午节), and stroll through gardens to admire the moon during the Mid-Autumn Festival (中秋节)—with festive customs that never repeat throughout the year. Temple fairs, markets, and lantern festivals... the rich practices of continuing festival customs in various places have made more and more young people realize that traditional festivals are not abstract symbols, but living cultures that allow one to touch history and enhance emotions.

"Participation" has increased, with young people shifting from "bystanders" of traditional customs to "co-creators" who can interact and engage in dialogue. Whether it is wearing Hanfu (汉服) to experience a festival-themed escape room, stepping into the kitchen to make a novel fusion of Chinese and Western zongzi (粽子), or sharing their own intangible cultural heritage handicrafts on social media platforms—young people celebrate festivals with both a traditional flavor and a "cyber" feel. They use their own ways to recognize their cultural genes and find a sense of cultural belonging, giving the thousand-year-old cultural lineage more vitality.

In these cultural creations and scenes full of contemporary flair, young people celebrating in diverse ways encounter the code of the national spirit. We look forward to more innovative expressions and creative presentations emerging in contemporary society, allowing traditional festivals to take on a new look, enriching our practices and experiences in inheriting and promoting the excellent traditional Chinese culture, and bringing more spiritual nourishment and more lasting spiritual strength. As the saying goes, 不期而遇 (bù qī ér yù - "not expect meet," to meet by chance or unexpectedly), these young people are finding profound connections with their heritage in the most unexpected ways.

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Winners of the 28th Shanghai International Film Festival Golden Goblet Awards Announced

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Shanghai, June 21 (Reporter Cao Lingjuan (曹玲娟)) — The Golden Goblet Awards of the 28th Shanghai International Film Festival (上海国际电影节) were announced on the evening of the 20th in Shanghai (上海). The Chinese film *Atlantic* (《大西洋》) won two major awards: Best Film and Best Cinematography. The Belgian film *Shimmering Girl* (《微光女孩》) received the Jury Grand Prix. Moroccan director Yassine Idrissi (亚辛·伊德里西) won the Golden Goblet Award for Best Director for the film *Halima* (《哈莉玛》), and the lead actress Khadija Amari (哈迪贾·阿玛里) won the award for Best Actress.

The Best Screenplay award went to Reis Çelik (雷斯·塞里克), the screenwriter of the Turkish-German co-production *The Night No One Sees* (《无人看见的夜晚》). The German-French co-production *Their Rhapsody* (《她们的狂想曲》) received the Award for Artistic Contribution.

Chinese cinematic talent performed 有目共睹 (yǒu mù gòng dǔ - "have eyes all see," obvious to all) at this year's Golden Goblet Awards. Actor Zhang Songwen (张颂文) won the Best Actor award in the main competition section for his role in *The Box Mystery* (《纸盒藏迷》). *The Taste of Language* (《语文的滋味》) won two major awards in the Asian New Talent section: Best Film and Best Actress. *Don't Worry, Dad!* (《别担心,爸爸!》) won the Golden Goblet Award for Best Documentary.

The Best Animation award went to the French film *Lost Lucy* (《迷失的露西》). In addition, new films by emerging directors from Thailand (泰国), India (印度), Bangladesh (孟加拉国), and other countries also received awards in the Asian New Talent section.

A total of 49 works were shortlisted for the five major award categories of this year's film festival, including the Golden Goblet main competition, Asian New Talent, documentary, animation, and short film sections, with 41 of these being world premieres. There were 12 Chinese and foreign films shortlisted for the Golden Goblet main competition, all of which were world premieres.

The Shanghai International Film Festival (上海国际电影节) is China's only international A-list film festival. During this year's festival, events such as the Golden Goblet Film Forum (金爵电影论坛) and the Belt and Road (一带一路) Film Week were also held. The festival's screening activities will continue until the 28th, with over 420 Chinese and foreign films participating in screenings this year.

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Understanding the Weight of "Connecting with the Party's Heart Above and the People's Heart Below"

By: 本报记者 闫伊乔

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"Having worked on investigative reporting for the 'Letters to the Editor' (读者来信) section for a long time, I have developed a strong sense of mission. It feels as if an invisible force is pushing me forward, giving me the confidence to 攻坚克难 (gōng jiān kè nán - "attack fortress overcome difficulty," to surmount obstacles and tackle tough challenges)."

"News publicity is work that unites people's hearts. Planning and creation cannot be done in a vacuum; one must understand the needs of the audience and respect and grasp the laws of communication."

"In my nine years on the job, my feelings are just like the sentence added after every post on the People's Daily (人民日报) WeChat (微信) account—'Participate, communicate, and record the era.' I have grown together with the People's Daily (人民日报) new media."

…………

On the afternoon of the 17th, the "People's Daily (人民日报) Campus Tour" (人民日报校园行) event visited the University of Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (中国社会科学院大学), and a unique exchange unfolded at this institution, which possesses both historical depth and youthful vitality.

Five frontline editors and reporters from the News Coordination Department (新闻协调部), Political and Cultural Department (政治文化部), Commentary Department (评论部), New Media Center (新媒体中心), and Global Times (环球时报) of the People's Daily (人民日报) shared their unforgettable work experiences with the students in the audience, drawing on their respective reporting and editing duties.

Among them were reporters who delved into the grassroots to write public opinion supervision reports, commentators who participated multiple times in writing political commentaries such as "Ren Zhongping" (任仲平), senior editors specializing in in-depth planning, and new media "editors" (小编) who have produced multiple viral products. Behind their different stories lies the same spiritual foundation: loyalty and dedication to the cause of the Party newspaper, and a sense of responsibility to always remain in sync with the people and walk in step with the era.

This was a dialogue between media and university students, and even more so, an encounter between the Party newspaper and youth.

"There is a building on the north side of the newspaper office compound—Building No. 9. From the early days of Reform and Opening-up (改革开放) until the 1990s, the journalism department co-run by the People's Daily (人民日报) and the Graduate School of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (中国社会科学院研究生院) was located in this building. A large number of famous reporters and editors walked out from here." At the event, the person in charge of the "People's Daily (人民日报) Campus Tour" (人民日报校园行) recounted this history.

The students participating in the sharing and exchange event covered all majors of the university. Students asked questions enthusiastically about topics such as the planning of major thematic reports and the differences in narrative logic between Chinese and English reporting, creating a lively atmosphere. Facing pairs of curious eyes, the editors and reporters answered candidly and patiently broke down complex issues. The Q&A session was not just a discussion of professional work, but a resonance of ideas.

Zhang Wenye (张文叶), a 2025 master's student at the University of Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (中国社会科学院大学), said: "The teachers' dedication to their posts, their commitment to their duties, and their focus on deep cultivation in the industry have made me feel the unique value and charm of journalism and communication."

From "lead and fire" to "data and networks," from "a single newspaper" to a "full-media matrix," the current People's Daily (人民日报) has developed into a new type of mainstream media with various carriers such as newspapers, journals, websites, apps, WeChat, screens, and accounts. On platforms like "Two Micro-blogs and Three Apps" (两微三端), Douyin (抖音), and Bilibili (B站), the youthful expressions of integrated media works frequently go viral. Each "People's Daily (人民日报) Campus Tour" (人民日报校园行) event allows young students to have a deeper understanding of deepening the systemic reform of mainstream media.

"The down-to-earth efforts of the editors and reporters in their work have made me deeply understand the weight of 'connecting to the Party's heart above and the people's hearts below'." Bao Yuxian (包雨仙), a 2024 master's student at the University of Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (中国社会科学院大学), believes that good internet communication does not rely on deliberate elevation, but on true warmth.

"One must be willing to work hard, read and accumulate extensively, capture material from the subtle details, and narrow the distance with readers through delicate narrative." These words from the Party newspaper editors and reporters at the exchange meeting left a deep impression on Su Yue (粟悦), a 2025 master's student at the University of Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (中国社会科学院大学). "In the future, I am also willing to be content with the ordinary, 久久为功 (jiǔ jiǔ wéi gōng - "long long do work," to persist in an endeavor for a long time to achieve success), and record the era with a sincere pen, conveying the mainstream voice with heart," said Su Yue (粟悦).

Feng Shizheng (冯仕政), President and Deputy Party Secretary of the University of Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (中国社会科学院大学), stated that the People's Daily (人民日报), as the official newspaper of the Party Central Committee (党中央), is a recorder of the era, a disseminator of ideas, and even more so, a stabilizer and wind vane in the public opinion field. The "People's Daily (人民日报) Campus Tour" (人民日报校园行) event visiting the University of Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (中国社会科学院大学) is not only a deep dialogue between media and universities but also a vivid "Great Ideological and Political Course" (大思政课), which is of great significance for deepening the cultivation of journalism and communication talent.

The hour-and-a-half-long exchange left the students wanting more. After the event, students surrounded the editors and reporters to continue the conversation. In this close-range interaction, the cause of the Party newspaper took deeper root in young hearts. This dialogue of youth will continue.

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Xiongan New Area's Zangang Integrated Sports and Cultural Center put into use

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Xiongan (雄安), June 21 (Reporter Shao Yuzi (邵玉姿)) — The Zangang Comprehensive Cultural and Sports Center (昝岗综合文体中心) in the Xiong'an New Area (雄安新区), Hebei (河北), was recently put into operation. Located approximately 400 meters from the Xiong'an High-Speed Railway Station (雄安站), the center leverages the transportation hub and passenger flow advantages of the station to create a composite public service carrier with a service radius of 200 kilometers, extending its reach across the entire Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei (京津冀) region. This is the third comprehensive cultural and sports venue to be put into use in the Xiong'an New Area (雄安新区) this year, following the Xiongdong Comprehensive Cultural and Sports Center (雄东综合文体中心) and the Xiong'an Workers' Cultural Palace (雄安工人文化宫). Situated in different districts with complementary functions, these three venues—together with city-level cultural and sports landmarks and small-scale community activity spaces—work in concert to perfect the three-tier public cultural and sports service system of the New Area, effectively 织密 (zhī mì - "weave tightly," to make something dense or comprehensive) the "15-minute cultural and sports living circle" of the Xiong'an New Area (雄安新区).

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"A Class That Brings Our Hearts Together" (Decoding: How to Teach Ideological and Political Courses)

By: 本报记者 张 枨

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"Alxa (阿拉善) has long been my second home. Here, I can not only realize my personal value but also strive side-by-side with fellow workers of all ethnic groups, using hard work to boost the development of the 'Camel Town' (驼乡) industry." said Chu Jianhua (褚建华), a workshop director at Inner Mongolia Taixing Taifeng Chemical Co., Ltd. (内蒙古泰兴泰丰化工有限公司). Twenty years ago, he came to Alxa League (阿拉善盟) from Jiangsu (江苏) to build a factory. The desolate Gobi Desert was the greatest test he faced upon his arrival. The enthusiastic support of local people from all ethnic groups and the steadfast companionship of his colleagues allowed him to gradually settle down and put down roots.

Recently, Alxa League (阿拉善盟), Inner Mongolia (内蒙古), held a down-to-earth and heartwarming ideological and political class on ethnic unity for over 700 cadres, residents, teachers, and students of all ethnic groups. The curriculum centered on themes such as "Corporate Ideology: Working Together in Unity," "Ordinary Acts of Kindness: Warming the Camel Town," "Forging Bonds: Dedication to Supporting the Border," "Three Generations of Perseverance: Guarding the Frontier and Cultivating Talent," and "Building Dreams in Aerospace: Passing the Torch." Through a multi-faceted approach incorporating interviews, performances, and interactive Q&A sessions, the class provided a clear and intuitive answer to the question: "Why are people willing to cross mountains and seas to put down roots in the Gobi Desert of Alxa (阿拉善)?"

The answer lies in the years spent by countless builders from other regions putting down roots.

Located in the westernmost part of Inner Mongolia (内蒙古), Alxa League (阿拉善盟) is home to many builders from outside the region. From settling down to deep cultivation, for many years, these builders have been as close as brothers and sisters with the local people of all ethnic groups, **守望相助** (shǒu wàng xiāng zhù - "guard watch help each other," to keep watch and defend one another, implying mutual support and solidarity), and have taken on responsibilities in fields such as ecological protection, industrial development, education, and healthcare.

In the classroom, short interview clips played on screen. Jin Wenshuai (靳文帅), a young man from Henan (河南), has insisted on helping his neighbors and acting bravely for a just cause for 16 years. "When I first came here, I was **人生地不熟** (rén shēng dì bù shú - "people strange place not familiar," to be a stranger in a strange land, feeling unfamiliar with the environment and people), but the people of all ethnic groups helped me everywhere and treated me like family," Jin Wenshuai (靳文帅) said. "Everything I do is trivial and part of my duty; I just want to pass on this warmth."

The daily bits and pieces of mutual help gather together, converging into a warm current of ethnic unity. Bei Guang (贝广), who came from Shandong (山东), brought the donkey-hide gelatin (Ejiao) industry to the "Sea of Sand," turning desert resources into a rich mine. "Cross-regional industrial cooperation is a two-way journey of mutual benefit and win-win results," he shared with a smile. "Working together with people of all ethnic groups here makes the desert produce gold and makes life prosperous."

Zhang Le (张乐), a teacher from Liaoning (辽宁), settled in the Gobi Desert with his family. "To teach is to nurture; seeds of ethnic unity are quietly planted in the hearts of children. Over time, they will eventually grow into towering trees that guard the border and forge ahead in unity." Zhang Le (张乐) integrated his experiences of supporting the border and stories of ethnic unity into his lessons, sharing his personal experiences and the role models around him. His sincere words moved everyone present. "One class has brought our hearts together," said audience member Zhu Haiyan (朱海燕) with emotion. "The builders are developing the 'Camel Town' (驼乡) and guarding the border with their perseverance and dedication; every bit of their contribution is worth our learning."

"Real people, real stories, and real emotions" allowed the audience to immerse themselves in understanding the profound meaning of supporting the border and ethnic unity through listening, interaction, and empathy. At the end of the class, more than 60 students and members of the volunteer service team sang in unison, their voices echoing through the auditorium.

To ensure this protection and strength continue to be passed on, Alxa League (阿拉善盟) has collected the deeds of more than a hundred builders from all walks of life, excavated and organized stories of typical figures, and compiled them into reading materials. By distilling "living textbooks" of ideological and political education from these vivid cases, they rely on a targeted publicity matrix to bring these stories into markets, factory areas, campuses, and villages.

"In the future, we will continue to promote ideological and political education so that it is tangible, perceptible, and effective, allowing people of all ethnic groups to live, learn, build, and share together on this hot land of the Gobi," said Wang Qiong (王琼), Deputy Minister of the Publicity Department of the Alxa League Committee (阿拉善盟委宣传部).

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"World Writers Talk About China" event held

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Beijing (北京), June 21 (Reporter Chen Shihan (陈世涵)) — Recently, the main event of the 2026 "Jingshi World Literature Festival" (2026“京师世界文学节”), titled "World Writers Talk About China" (世界作家话中国), was held at Beijing Normal University (北京师范大学). The event, themed "Echoes of Literature: China and the World in Creation" (文学的回响:创作中的中国与世界), was hosted by Beijing Normal University (北京师范大学) and China National Publications Import & Export (Group) Co., Ltd. (中国图书进出口(集团)有限公司). At the venue, writers, poets, and publishers from more than 10 countries engaged in discussions surrounding topics such as literary exchange and cooperation between China and foreign countries, as well as science fiction literature creation.

The 2026 "Jingshi World Literature Festival" (2026“京师世界文学节”) is supported by the China Writers Association (中国作家协会) and guided by the Beijing Federation of Literary and Art Circles (北京市文学艺术界联合会). It aims to build an open, inclusive, and deeply dialogical international exchange platform for writers, translators, and critics from all over the world, ensuring that such cultural interactions are not merely 走马观花 (zǒu mǎ guān huā - "viewing flowers from horseback," to give a cursory glance or gain a superficial understanding) but rather foster genuine mutual understanding.

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Editors of this section: Cao Yiqing, Chen Yuanyuan, Dong Yingxue

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Layout Design: Zhang Fangman (张芳曼)

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Page 09版:理论

Anchoring the Goal of Building a Manufacturing Power to Promote High-Quality Development of the Manufacturing Industry (People's Forum)

By: 戚聿东

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Manufacturing is the foundation of a nation and the bedrock of a strong country. General Secretary Xi Jinping (习近平) attaches great importance to the development of the manufacturing industry, emphasizing that "the manufacturing industry is the lifeblood of the national economy" and that "China cannot be without a manufacturing industry at any time," while calling for "solidly advancing new industrialization and accelerating the building of a manufacturing powerhouse." The Outline of the 15th Five-Year Plan (十五五规划纲要) places "accelerating the building of a manufacturing powerhouse" in a prominent position, fully reflecting the vital role of the manufacturing industry in promoting modernization and enhancing national competitiveness. Currently, China is moving from being a major manufacturing country to a manufacturing powerhouse. This process not only builds a strong material and technological foundation for Chinese-style modernization (中国式现代化) but also contributes Chinese wisdom to other developing countries as they explore industrialization paths suited to their own national conditions.

China's manufacturing development has achieved remarkable results, laying a solid foundation for building a manufacturing powerhouse.

General Secretary Xi Jinping (习近平) has pointed out: "We have insisted on the path of independent development of real industry, relying on our own strength to develop industry and manufacturing; this path is the right one!" Since the founding of New China (新中国), and especially in the new era (新时代), China's manufacturing industry has achieved remarkable success and historical leaps, laying a solid foundation for the construction of a manufacturing powerhouse.

Comprehensive strength continues to increase, and the advantages of a complete industrial system are further consolidated. China has built a modern industrial system with a full range of categories and independent integrity, becoming the only country in the world to possess all industrial categories in the United Nations (联合国) industrial classification, with the overall scale of its manufacturing industry ranking first in the world for many consecutive years. Drawing lessons from the rapid decline in the share of manufacturing in some Western countries, China has maintained a reasonable proportion of manufacturing and accelerated the construction of a modern industrial system with advanced manufacturing as its backbone. In 2025, China's manufacturing value-added reached 34.7 trillion yuan, with its share of GDP (国内生产总值) remaining stable at around 25%, which is of great significance for advancing new industrialization and solidifying the foundation of the real economy.

Quality and efficiency continue to improve, and an industrial gradient pattern is gradually taking shape. Accelerating the building of a manufacturing powerhouse cannot be separated from forming competitive advantages in leading industries, pillar industries, and strategic emerging industries, while simultaneously addressing shortcomings. In recent years, China has formed strong international competitiveness in fields such as new energy vehicles and photovoltaics, with some industries completing the leap from following to running alongside and even leading. Efforts have been accelerated in high-end chips, industrial software, and precision instruments, deepening the construction of platforms such as national key laboratories and national manufacturing innovation centers, and promoting the deep integration of innovation chains and industrial chains. Driven by a series of measures, the value-added of high-tech manufacturing above designated size as a proportion of industrial value-added above designated size increased from 9.4% in 2012 to 17.1% in 2025, reflecting that China's manufacturing is accelerating its transformation toward technology-intensive industries.

Industrial integration has taken strong strides, with levels of intelligent manufacturing, green manufacturing, and service-oriented manufacturing improving. From the perspective of industrial forms, China's manufacturing is accelerating its upgrade from traditional general processing and manufacturing to new industrial forms. As of the first half of 2025, the penetration rate of digital R&D and design tools in industrial enterprises above designated size reached 85.4%, and the numerical control rate of key processes reached 67.7%, with the level of digitalization and intelligence continuously improving. At the same time, green factories and green industrial parks are being continuously built, the green and low-carbon industrial chain is accelerating its development, and service-oriented manufacturing is showing strong momentum. Innovative models are emerging, and industrial design and R&D design are extending toward specialization and the high end of the value chain.

Domestic gradient transfer and global orderly layout are being coordinated. Relying on its super-large market and complete industrial system, China continues to push for the implementation of regional coordinated development strategies and major regional strategies, continuously optimizing industrial collaboration and layout across the eastern, central, western, and northeastern regions. China's manufacturing industry is deeply involved in international division of labor and cooperation, participating in the high-quality joint construction of the "Belt and Road" (一带一路), continuously consolidating and enhancing its position in the global industrial and supply chains, and actively expanding international markets and spaces for international cooperation. In 2025, China's industrial quality improvement drove the enhancement of foreign trade competitiveness. Despite external shocks, the total value of imports and exports of goods grew by 3.8%, with growth achieved with more than 190 countries and regions. Exports of high-tech products grew by 13.2%, and the diversification of exports yielded obvious results.

The successful experience of China's manufacturing development has distinct Chinese characteristics and important theoretical value.

Since the new era (新时代), under the guidance of Xi Jinping Economic Thought (习近平经济思想), we have based ourselves on China's national conditions while fully absorbing the lessons of industrialization from other countries, forming a series of successful experiences in promoting manufacturing development and accelerating the building of a manufacturing powerhouse. These successful experiences possess distinct Chinese characteristics and important theoretical value, transcending Western industrialization theories.

Breaking through the binary opposition of "government vs. market," and promoting a better combination of an effective market and a capable government. Manufacturing development is a complex system engineering project involving basic research, tackling key common technologies, industrial chain synergy, the construction of modern infrastructure systems, and financial support, which cannot be separated from the joint drive of the government's "visible hand" and the market's "invisible hand." Government planning and guidance, scientific policy support, and market mechanism regulation, along with continuous innovation by micro-entities such as enterprises, must move in the same direction and form a synergy. Western industrialization theories emphasize spontaneous market regulation, neglecting the important role of the government in technological breakthroughs and industrial layout. China promotes the organic combination of the basic socialist system and the market economy, not only giving full play to the decisive role of the market in resource allocation and stimulating the innovation and creative vitality of enterprises, but also better playing the role of the government in promoting strategic planning, major projects, innovation platforms, and the construction of public service systems. This provides a solid institutional support for building a manufacturing powerhouse.

Breaking through the "static-linear" development path, and synergistically promoting technological innovation, industrial innovation, and institutional innovation. Western industrialization theories often view the industrialization of late-developing countries as a process of climbing step-by-step along the existing trajectory of developed countries or relying on the introduction of mature technologies for static imitation. China's manufacturing development focuses on independence and self-reliance. By strengthening independent innovation, under the conditions of intertwined and coexisting "technological-economic" paradigms such as mechanization, automation, informationization, digitalization, and intelligence, and through pilot programs, demonstration leadership, and scenario opening, we have not only promoted the intelligent, green, and integrated development of manufacturing but also promoted the synchronized development of new industrialization, informationization, urbanization, and agricultural modernization. At the same time, we have optimized the implementation methods of industrial policies, focused on the transformation and upgrading of traditional industries and the cultivation and expansion of strategic emerging industries, and strived to strengthen the weak links in the industrial chain. Overall, China's manufacturing, driven by the dual wheels of reform and innovation, has achieved an organic unity and mutual synergy of technological innovation, industrial innovation, and institutional innovation.

Breaking through the "manufacturing vs. service" substitution relationship, and promoting the deep integration of advanced manufacturing and modern service industries. Western industrialization theories, especially industrial structure theory, often regard "deindustrialization," where the service industry replaces the manufacturing industry, as an inevitable trend of industrial development. The practice of China's manufacturing development and the construction of a manufacturing powerhouse shows that industrial structure upgrading does not mean the withdrawal of manufacturing. China insists on placing the focus of economic development on the real economy, promoting the deep integration of advanced manufacturing and modern service industries, making manufacturing development not just simple physical processing, but a systematic transformation and upgrading driven by data, empowered by knowledge, and value-added by services. This has reference significance for other developing countries to promote industrial structure upgrading.

Breaking through the "center-periphery" presupposition, and promoting the combination of opening up and independent controllability. Traditional flying-geese theory and dependency theory limit the industrial development of late-developing countries to a subordinate position of passive acceptance and low-end locking. China's manufacturing development insists on seeking independence while opening up and seeking controllability through cooperation. By actively integrating into global industrial, supply, and value chains, we organically combine international advanced technology and management experience with the advantages of China's super-large market, complete industrial supporting facilities, and rich application scenarios, promoting a leap from introduction, digestion, absorption, and re-innovation to independent innovation. In this process, China's manufacturing development maintains an organic connection with the global innovation network while enhancing its independent and controllable capabilities in key areas, thereby improving the resilience and strategic initiative of the industrial system.

Accurately grasping the focus of promoting high-quality manufacturing development during the "15th Five-Year Plan" (十五五) period.

Since the new era (新时代), China's manufacturing development has achieved remarkable results, and the construction of a manufacturing powerhouse has advanced rapidly. The fundamental reason lies in the steering and navigation of General Secretary Xi Jinping (习近平) and the scientific guidance of Xi Jinping Economic Thought (习近平经济思想). The "15th Five-Year Plan" (十五五) period is a critical five years for building on the past and opening up the future to basically realize socialist modernization, and the construction of a manufacturing powerhouse is moving from laying the foundation and accumulating momentum to a comprehensive leap forward. General Secretary Xi Jinping (习近平) pointed out: "To comprehensively advance the building of a strong country and the great cause of national rejuvenation with Chinese-style modernization (中国式现代化), realizing new industrialization is a key task." Facing the accelerated evolution of a new round of scientific and technological revolution and the profound adjustment of the international industrial competition landscape, we must firmly grasp the basic laws of advancing new industrialization in the new era and on the new journey, promote high-quality manufacturing development, and build a strong material and technological foundation for Chinese-style modernization (中国式现代化).

From the dimension of technological transformation, promote the breakthrough of key core technologies to full-chain industrialization. The foundation for promoting high-quality manufacturing development lies in industry, and the key lies in independent innovation. The Outline of the 15th Five-Year Plan (十五五规划纲要) proposes "promoting the deep integration of technological innovation and industrial innovation" and requires decisive breakthroughs in tackling key core technologies in key areas such as integrated circuits, industrial machine tools, high-end instruments, and basic software. We must focus on the entire chain of basic research, applied research, pilot verification, scenario opening, and achievement transformation, deeply explore the organic combination of the new whole-nation system and market mechanisms, and promote the deep integration of industry, academia, research, and application. In particular, we must strengthen the dominant position of enterprises in technological innovation, support leading technology-based enterprises to form innovation consortia, and collaboratively promote the transition of scientific and technological achievements from laboratories to production lines, accelerating the realization of technological industrialization.

From the dimension of production organization, promote the leap of digitalization and intelligence from single-point application to full-domain synergy. Digitalization and intelligence are a significant feature of a new round of scientific and technological revolution and industrial transformation. They not only bring about technological breakthroughs and industrial upgrades but are also key forces for the systematic reshaping of innovation logic and organizational paradigms. To follow this trend and promote high-quality manufacturing development, we cannot stop at local automation or the digital transformation of individual enterprises, but should promote the deep synergy of industrial mechanisms, data models, and production scenarios. The Outline of the 15th Five-Year Plan (十五五规划纲要) proposes "comprehensively promoting the empowerment of digital and intelligent technologies" and makes specific deployments, requiring the promotion of "intelligent transformation, digital conversion, and network connection" in manufacturing. We must strengthen the supply of basic capabilities such as powerful computing power, advanced algorithms, and massive data, promote the linked development of industry large models, industrial software, intelligent equipment, and industrial internet platforms, and cultivate new forms of production organization.

From the dimension of industrial layout, promote the cluster evolution and spatial coordinated development of advanced manufacturing. Promoting high-quality manufacturing development cannot be separated from giving full play to and consolidating the advantages of China's complete industrial system, while also preventing redundant construction and homogeneous competition. The Outline of the 15th Five-Year Plan (十五五规划纲要) proposes "developing advanced manufacturing clusters and building national new industrialization demonstration zones." Based on the construction of a unified national market and the implementation of regional coordinated development strategies, we must promote the optimized layout of industrial and supply chains in a larger region. For example, the eastern region can better leverage its advantages in innovation sourcing, high-end manufacturing, and headquarters economy, while the central and western regions can rely on their resource endowments, industrial foundations, and carrying capacities to improve supporting collaboration and cluster development levels. We must focus on the cultivation of world-class advanced manufacturing clusters, promote the integrated linkage of innovation resources, industrial resources, infrastructure, and public service platforms, and consolidate the spatial carrier for building a manufacturing powerhouse.

From the dimension of ecological leadership, enhance global industrial ecosystem dominance and the power to lead rules and standards. In an open environment, anchoring the goal of basically realizing new industrialization by 2035 and promoting high-quality manufacturing development cannot be separated from enhancing China's global industrial ecosystem dominance and the power to lead rules and standards. The Outline of the 15th Five-Year Plan (十五五规划纲要) proposes "promoting international industrial and investment cooperation" and suggests guiding the reasonable and orderly cross-border layout of industrial and supply chains and expanding "manufacturing + service" overseas operation networks. We must support enterprises in participating in international industrial cooperation, optimize the layout of overseas production, R&D, service, and logistics networks, and enhance global supply chain organizational capabilities. At the same time, we must actively participate in the formulation of international standards, industrial rules, digital governance, and green and low-carbon rules, and transform industrial scale advantages, market advantages, and system advantages into standard advantages, brand advantages, and ecological advantages.

(The author is the Dean of the School of Economics and Business Administration, Beijing Normal University (北京师范大学))

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To Practice a Correct View of Political Achievements, One Must Be Good at "Playing the Piano" (Thoughts and Perspectives)

By: 王声啸

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Being adept at "playing the piano" is an important methodology for our Party to apply materialist dialectics in resolving contradictions. It requires both focusing on the overall situation and coordinating development to achieve comprehensive progress. General Secretary Xi Jinping (习近平) has emphasized: "All regions and departments must adhere to a systemic perspective, consciously act under the overall situation, and ensure the whole country moves as one move in a game of chess. One must be adept at 'playing the piano'; when planning for a local area, one cannot forget the whole; when based on the current situation, one cannot ignore the long term; and when highlighting priorities, one cannot neglect the general." To establish and practice a correct view of political achievements, one must firmly establish the idea of the whole country as one game of chess. Under the centralized and unified leadership of the Party Central Committee (党中央), we must closely integrate "what a local area can do" with "what the overall situation requires," ensuring that we both add luster to the local area and contribute to the overall situation.

Being adept at "playing the piano" requires highlighting the main melody, with clear primary and secondary roles and a harmonious arrangement of high and low notes. Only in this way can we avoid "playing out of tune" (乱弹琴 - luàn tán qín - "playing the piano chaotically," acting without a plan or rhythm). To accurately grasp the main melody, one must thoroughly understand the major policies and strategic decisions of the Party Central Committee (党中央), constantly pay attention to what the Party Central Committee (党中央) is concerned about and emphasizing, and deeply understand what constitutes the most important interests of the Party and the country, and what positions most need to be firmly upheld. Those who do not plan for the whole are insufficient to plan for a part. Comrade Mao Zedong (毛泽东) once said: "Once the overall situation is understood, one will be better at using local elements." Planning for a local area from the perspective of the whole, and serving the whole through the local area, requires Party members and cadres to think in terms of the big picture and calculate the big accounts, rather than focusing on small interests and minor calculations, truly integrating the work of regions and departments into the grand chessboard of the Party and the country's cause. In reality, some Party members and cadres only care about local, unit, or personal interests. While paying lip service to resolutely implementing the decisions and plans of the Party Central Committee (党中央), they play "edge-ball" tactics in action, engaging in "policies from above, countermeasures from below," and even using the guise of "adapting to local conditions" to greenlight "acting on one's own," sacrificing the overall interest for local gain. The root cause is the mischief of departmentalism and protectionism, and a misalignment in their view of political achievements. We must resolutely prevent and overcome these problems; no discounting, selective implementation, or flexible interpretation of the Party Central Committee's (党中央) decisions and plans will be tolerated.

Since the 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China (党的十八大), whenever General Secretary Xi Jinping (习近平) visits local areas for inspection, he often urges the establishment of the idea that the whole country is one game of chess. For instance, during his inspection in Qinghai (青海), he affirmed the local efforts to "build the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau (青藏高原) into a highland of ecological civilization," and urged them to "keep the overall national development in mind and fully consider Qinghai's (青海) unique resource endowments." During his inspection of the Yellow River (黄河) basin, he emphasized that "development along the Yellow River (黄河) must have a sense of the overall situation and be considered from the perspective of the nation and the whole." When participating in the deliberation of the Jiangsu (江苏) delegation during this year's "Two Sessions" (两会), he emphasized that "only when major economic provinces have a stable foundation and strong ability to resist external shocks can they support the stability of the national economy." These examples profoundly reveal to us that being adept at "playing the piano" requires attention to finger coordination. We must take the most appropriate actions while coordinating and advancing overall, balancing the relationships between the local and the whole, the current and the long-term, and the key and the non-key.

Regarding overall planning and coordination, General Secretary Xi Jinping (习近平) once used "spinning plates" as a metaphor for governance: "It is like performing the act of spinning plates; you spin ten or twenty plates at once, and when one is about to slow down, you quickly add force; none of them can be allowed to fall." Currently, the more profoundly and complexly the development environment changes, and the more arduous the strategic tasks become, the more we must control the force and direction of "spinning the plates" to maintain focus and win the initiative amidst multiple challenges. Overall planning cannot be done by "grabbing everything at once" (眉毛胡子一把抓 - méi máo hú zi yī bǎ zhuā - "grabbing eyebrows and beard together," trying to handle everything at once without prioritizing) or "hitting here and there without focus" (东一榔头西一棒槌 - dōng yī láng tou xī yī bàng chuí - "a hammer in the east and a club in the west," acting in a disorganized and erratic manner). One must judge the size and plan accordingly, and weigh the urgency to arrange tasks. This means adhering to the unity of the two-point theory and the key-point theory, grasping the principal contradiction and the principal aspect of the contradiction, and focusing on important areas and key links. The more complex the work, the more one must grasp the essence. Finding and holding the "bull's nose" (the key point) often has the effect of "using four ounces to move a thousand pounds" (四两拨千斤 - sì liǎng bō qiān jīn - "four ounces deflect a thousand pounds," using minimal force to achieve a great effect) and plays the role of "one move that brings the whole board to life" (一子落而满盘活 - yī zǐ luò ér mǎn pán huó - "one piece placed and the whole board comes alive," a single strategic move that determines the success of the entire situation).

Being adept at "playing the piano" is an important content and inevitable requirement for establishing and practicing a correct view of political achievements. We must resolutely prevent and overcome departmentalism, correctly understand the overall situation, consciously obey the overall situation, and resolutely safeguard the overall situation. We must have the whole situation in mind, plan the local area well, and more resolutely and forcefully implement the various decisions and plans of the Party Central Committee (党中央), pushing for new progress in all work during the "15th Five-Year Plan" (十五五) period.

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Empowering Universal Health with Digital Intelligence (In-depth Reflection)

By: 王 俊

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People's health is an important hallmark of socialist modernization and a common pursuit of the broad masses of the people. General Secretary Xi Jinping (习近平) has emphasized "promoting the transformation and application of scientific and technological innovation achievements and advancing the construction of digital intelligence for national health," which points out the way forward for building a Healthy China (健康中国). The "15th Five-Year Plan" (十五五) outline has made arrangements for "advancing the construction of digital intelligence for national health." Currently, digital intelligence has become an important way to improve the quality and efficiency of national health services. It is necessary to empower national health with digital intelligence technology, orderly promote the application of digital intelligence technology in scenarios such as auxiliary diagnosis and treatment, precision medicine, health management, medical insurance services, and elderly care and disability assistance, and actively promote the use of digital intelligence technology to improve primary medical service capabilities, helping to accelerate the construction of a Healthy China (健康中国).

The construction of digital intelligence for national health is a comprehensive and systematic transformation of health services, governance, and industrial systems, with data as the key factor of production and new-generation information technologies such as artificial intelligence, the Internet of Things, and cloud computing as the drivers. As of December 2025, the number of internet medical users in China (中国) has reached 411 million, and the volume of county-level remote medical imaging diagnostic services has exceeded 68 million visits. However, the construction of digital intelligence for national health still faces many challenges: the top-level design architecture urgently needs optimization, data sharing is difficult, the integration of emerging technologies and businesses is insufficient, data security and privacy protection need to be strengthened, and investment in infrastructure construction is insufficient, among others. Advancing the construction of digital intelligence for national health requires coordinated efforts and systematic progress in areas such as information platform construction, telemedicine collaboration, and innovation in health management models.

Strengthen the national health information platform and open up the "arteries" of data. The national health information platform is the key carrier for the construction of digital intelligence for national health. In response to problems such as uneven levels of informatization across regions, "data islands," and "information chimneys," it is necessary to accelerate the construction of a unified, authoritative, and interconnected platform system. It is necessary to strengthen top-level design, anchor goals such as facilitating the public, assisting medical care, and promoting research, promote the synergy between national and provincial platforms, and build an efficient data architecture. By unifying data standards and interface specifications, and integrating different types of data such as electronic medical records and health archives, a logically unified and standardized health big data resource pool can be built. Deepen the cross-regional and cross-institutional sharing and mutual recognition of examination and test results, break down data barriers, and allow the public to avoid repeated examinations and tests. For example, Deqing County (德清县), Huzhou City (湖州市), Zhejiang Province (浙江省), has built a unified national health information platform relying on the county-level tight medical community, incorporating all public medical institutions in the county into the medical community management. This has achieved the collection of medical data, penetrating supervision of medical insurance funds, and direct delivery of centralized procurement drugs to the grassroots, fully releasing the value of data and effectively solving the problem of fragmented grassroots data.

Weave a dense digital intelligence medical collaboration network to promote the sinking of high-quality resources to the grassroots. An important role of digital intelligence technology for national health is to break through time and space constraints, allowing high-quality medical resources to reach the grassroots directly. Currently, scenarios such as telemedicine, smart hospitals, and artificial intelligence-assisted diagnosis are constantly being enriched. It is necessary to enhance coverage breadth and technical depth, build and utilize the telemedicine collaboration network well, and simultaneously integrate cutting-edge technologies such as medical robots, wearable devices, 5G, AR (Augmented Reality), and VR (Virtual Reality) to open up the "last mile" of resource sinking. We can promote the full coverage of remote imaging, remote electrocardiogram, and remote consultation in county-level medical communities, achieving "grassroots examination, superior diagnosis." Expand the application of artificial intelligence in medical imaging, clinical decision-making, and chronic disease management, and superimpose real-time monitoring by wearable devices to improve diagnostic accuracy. Promote the use of 5G+AR/VR for remote ward rounds and surgical guidance, and empower precise operations and remote diagnosis and treatment with medical robots. For example, Fuwai Cardiovascular Hospital (阜外心血管病医院), Yunnan Province (云南省), in collaboration with the National Center for Cardiovascular Diseases (国家心血管病中心), relied on 5G+ international dedicated line communication technology and used China's (中国) original pure ultrasound-guided interventional technology system to complete cardiac interventional surgery across ten thousand miles, allowing high-quality medical resources to transcend geographical distances.

Innovate health management models to achieve a shift from passive medical treatment to active health. The "15th Five-Year Plan" (十五五) outline proposes to "promote the shift from being disease-centered to being health-centered." Making good use of digital intelligence technology helps drive innovation in health management models, making health management more precise and efficient, and accelerating the formation of a new service paradigm of "active health." Relying on artificial intelligence, big data, and service robots, we can promote the transformation of health services from disease treatment to full-cycle management, breaking through bottlenecks such as the fragmentation and low efficiency of traditional health management. Deepen digital intelligence precision intervention, collect multi-dimensional data such as heart rate, blood glucose, and exercise through wearable devices and IoT terminals, build personal health digital portraits, and use artificial intelligence models to carry out comprehensive health risk warnings, replacing single-indicator monitoring. For example, Xiamen City (厦门市), Fujian Province (福建省), integrated chronic disease data with a digital health platform, relied on wearable devices to carry out home monitoring and artificial intelligence follow-ups, and the standardization rate of chronic disease management and public satisfaction have improved simultaneously. Improve the "three-medical" (medical, medical insurance, and medicine) coordination mechanism, integrate digital intelligence tools into the grassroots medical network, implement family doctor contracting, and optimize the full-process management of chronic diseases. Innovate health incentive methods, promote health points, and cultivate an active health culture.

Build a solid line of defense for digital intelligence security and coordinate development and security. While releasing dividends, the digital intelligence of national health also carries risks and hidden dangers in areas such as data security, privacy protection, algorithmic ethics, and the digital divide. It is necessary to persist in coordinating development and security, and improve the governance system adapted to digital health. Establish and improve a full-lifecycle security mechanism for health and medical data, strictly implement laws and regulations such as cybersecurity, data security, and personal information protection, and clarify security responsibilities at each stage. Build a solid line of defense for medical ethics and scientific and technological ethics, clarify the ownership and usage boundaries of health and medical data, strengthen requirements for informed consent and privacy protection, and guide practitioners to abide by professional ethics. Build a standard evaluation and regulatory framework, strengthen the audit of artificial intelligence-assisted diagnosis and treatment algorithms, and ensure that technology is oriented toward good, safe, and controllable. Adhere to human-machine collaborative diagnosis and treatment; artificial intelligence and other technologies can be appropriately applied in standardized and repetitive tasks such as image recognition, data screening, and risk warning. At the same time, the role of medical workers in comprehensive judgment and humanistic care should also be valued to ensure the unity of technical rationality and humanistic values, making the development of digital intelligence health both efficient and warm.

(The author is a professor at the Healthy China Research Institute (健康中国研究院) of Renmin University of China (中国人民大学))

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Give Full Play to the Important Role of Museum Exchanges in Enhancing Dialogue Among Civilizations (In-depth Reflection)

By: 李 峰

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Museums possess functions such as exhibition and display, heritage protection, academic research, and public communication, giving them a natural advantage in conducting dialogues among civilizations. General Secretary Xi Jinping (习近平) has pointed out: "Museums are important halls for protecting and inheriting human civilization, serving as bridges connecting the past, the present, and the future, and playing a special role in promoting exchanges and mutual learning among world civilizations." We must deeply study and implement the important expositions of General Secretary Xi Jinping (习近平) regarding museum work, expand pragmatic cooperation in museum exchanges, and achieve the goals of using artifacts to verify history and using history to clarify the truth. We should objectively showcase the development trajectories and spiritual characteristics of different civilizations, transcend civilizational estrangement through exchanges, transcend civilizational conflicts through mutual learning, and transcend civilizational superiority through inclusiveness, thereby contributing the strength of museums to better practicing the Global Civilization Initiative (全球文明倡议).

Adhere to two-way openness and mutual learning to promote the quality and efficiency of museum exchanges and cooperation. Museums in various countries should deepen pragmatic cooperation in fields such as ancient civilization research, joint archaeology, monument restoration, and exhibition exchanges, promoting the formation of a batch of replicable and scalable cooperation achievements, and contributing to the protection of human civilization heritage and the promotion of dialogue between different civilizations. In the new era, museum international exchanges should proactively step out of the **窠臼** (kē jiù - "nest/mortar," a rut or conventional pattern) of one-way cultural output and passive borrowing of experience. With mutually beneficial, win-win, and two-way empowerment as the core philosophy, we should push pragmatic cooperation in museum exchanges into a new stage. On one hand, based on the profound foundation of Chinese civilization and rich cultural and museum resources, we should strive to promote the "going global" of collection artifacts and academic achievements. This allows the world to understand, through the museum system, the profound connotations of the prominent continuity, innovation, unity, inclusiveness, and peaceful nature of Chinese civilization, and to recognize the major contributions of Chinese civilization to the development of human civilization, continuously deepening the world's cognition and understanding of China (中国). For example, the exhibition "China and the Tang Dynasty: A Multi-ethnic and Open Dynasty (7th–10th Century)" (中国·唐——一个多元开放的朝代(7至10世纪)) held in France (法国) allowed French (法国) and European (欧洲) audiences to more vividly understand the magnificent, confident, and open atmosphere of the flourishing Tang Dynasty (唐朝) and feel the unique charm of Chinese civilization. On the other hand, we should proactively and orderly "bring in," adopting models such as introducing overseas themed exhibitions and exhibitions independently curated by Chinese (中国) teams to actively carry out cross-civilization dialogues. For example, the Shanghai Museum (上海博物馆) held the "On Top of the Pyramid: The Exhibition of Ancient Egyptian Civilization" (金字塔之巅:古埃及文明大展), comprehensively showcasing Ancient Egyptian (古埃及) civilization and its latest archaeological discoveries, which is a typical example of relying on the museum platform to carry out exchanges and mutual learning with world civilizations. At the same time, we should learn from and draw on advanced artifact restoration technologies, successful experience in museum operation and management, and cutting-edge concepts in public cultural services to enhance our capabilities in artifact protection and utilization.

Adapt to the changes of the digital era and expand new spaces for international cooperation in museum digitalization. We should actively promote deep international cooperation in fields such as the digitalization of collections, the digital return of artifacts lost overseas, and digital education, building important cooperation platforms. Digital cooperation, with its significant advantages such as wide dissemination range, low implementation costs, strong sustainability, and high degree of sharing, is increasingly becoming an important path to narrow the global digital divide in the cultural and museum field and promote the balanced and inclusive development of cultural resources. In specific practice, we can rely on digital technology to build transnational digital cultural and museum sharing platforms, integrating 3D digital resources of artifacts, online themed exhibitions, academic databases, and smart exhibition systems to create multilingual, normalized cloud cooperation scenarios, and promote the cross-border circulation and global sharing of high-quality cultural and museum digital resources. At the same time, we should actively carry out joint research with cultural and museum institutions and scientific research teams from various countries in fields such as digital restoration technology, smart museum construction, cultural and museum data governance, and digital standards and specifications. Through joint research on technology, joint construction of standards, and sharing of achievements, we can continuously expand the depth and breadth of pragmatic cooperation in museum exchanges, allowing ancient cultural heritage to glow with new life in the digital era.

Improve long-term cooperation mechanisms and promote the deepening and solidifying of international museum exchanges. Achieving high-quality international museum exchanges requires us to cultivate deeply and advance in a normalized manner over the long term, striving to ensure that pragmatic measures are implemented and yield results. In recent years, the quality, level, and influence of China's (中国) museum external cooperation have continued to improve. Relying on multilateral platforms such as the International Alliance of Museums for the Silk Road (一带一路文化遗产国际合作联盟) and the Asian Cultural Heritage Alliance (亚洲文化遗产保护联盟), we have continuously deepened normalized docking with cultural and museum institutions around the world. The Chinese (中国) and foreign museum communities have initially established long-term operating mechanisms for regular meetings, joint research, achievement sharing, and personnel exchange, consolidating the institutional foundation for cooperation. In the next step, we should target the shortcomings in the development of cultural and museum sectors in Global South (全球南方) countries. Through pragmatic measures such as teacher training, technical assistance, resource sharing, and joint project construction, we should assist Global South (全球南方) countries in improving their cultural and museum systems, and promote the balanced and inclusive development of the global cultural and museum cause.

(The author is the Director of the Beijing Minsheng Art Museum (北京民生现代美术馆))

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Continuously Advance the Great New Project of Party Building in the New Era

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To comprehensively build a modern socialist country and fully advance the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation, the key lies with the Party.

Since the 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China (中国共产党), the Party Central Committee (党中央) with Comrade Xi Jinping (习近平) at its core, focusing on the major contemporary issue of what kind of Marxist political party that holds long-term governance should be built and how to build it, has put forward a series of new concepts, new ideas, and new strategies, forming Xi Jinping's Thought on Party Building (习近平党建思想).

A great era nurtures scientific thought, and scientific theory leads innovative practice.

Our Party adheres to the principle that the Party must manage itself and be governed with strict discipline, deeply advancing the new great project of Party building in the new era. The Party has become stronger and more powerful through revolutionary tempering, providing a fundamental guarantee for the historic achievements and historic changes in the cause of the Party and the country.

As we mark the 105th anniversary of the founding of the Communist Party of China (中国共产党), we are earnestly studying and comprehending Xi Jinping's Thought on Party Building (习近平党建思想), closely following the general requirements for Party building in the new era, and conducting in-depth interviews and reports on the brilliant achievements and valuable experiences gained in the new great project of Party building in the new era.

— Editor

### Political Construction
**Uniting into "a piece of hard steel"**
By our reporter Meng Xiangfu (孟祥夫)

**[Snapshot]**
At Erhai Lake (洱海) in Yunnan (云南), the sunset shines on the lake surface, a gentle breeze blows, and patches of *Ottelia alismoides* (海菜花) sway. Once, Erhai Lake (洱海) faced a severe blue-green algae crisis, and local water quality declined. How can we "protect Erhai Lake well, and let the natural beauty of 'Cangshan Mountain (苍山) is a painting without ink for a thousand autumns, Erhai Lake (洱海) is a zither without strings for ten thousand ages' remain in the world forever"?

Protecting the ecological environment is an important issue of people's livelihood and also a political task. Yunnan (云南) insists on viewing problems from a political perspective, taking the important instructions and comments of General Secretary Xi Jinping (习近平) as the primary political requirement. Local Party committees and governments have profoundly realized that being political means having concrete actions to share the Party's worries and benefit the people. Through a series of measures such as formulating and implementing the Erhai Lake (洱海) Protection and Management Regulations and systematically treating urban and rural domestic sewage in the Erhai Lake (洱海) basin, they have actively improved water quality. Today, the transparency of the Erhai Lake (洱海) body exceeds 2 meters, and the water quality assessment has been rated as "excellent" for many consecutive years.

The Party's political construction is the fundamental construction of the Party. The "Fourteen Adherences" of Xi Jinping's Thought on Party Building (习近平党建思想) clearly state, "Adhere to taking the Party's political construction as the guide."

Since the 18th National Congress, the Party Central Committee (党中央) with Comrade Xi Jinping (习近平) at its core has placed the Party's political construction in the primary position, using it to guide all aspects of Party building work. In January 2019, the Party Central Committee (党中央) issued the "Opinions of the CPC Central Committee on Strengthening the Party's Political Construction" (中共中央关于加强党的政治建设的意见).

In recent years, by improving various systems for firmly upholding the authority and centralized unified leadership of the Party Central Committee (党中央), establishing and improving the leadership system and mechanism of the Party over major work, strictly enforcing the Party's political discipline and political rules, and strengthening and regulating inner-Party political life under the new situation... one measure after another has effectively created a clean and upright political ecology and maintained the unity and solidarity of the Party.

The "Two Establishments" (两个确立) are major political achievements made by the Party in the new era. The vast number of Party members and cadres consciously strengthen their theoretical armament, ensuring political firmness with theoretical sobriety; they consciously embody the implementation of the spirit of the Party Central Committee (党中央) in the practice of planning major strategies, formulating major policies, deploying major tasks, and advancing major work, ensuring that they resolutely respond to what the Party Central Committee (党中央) advocates, resolutely execute what it decides, and resolutely refrain from what it prohibits.

Party organizations at all levels and the vast number of Party members and cadres deeply study and implement Xi Jinping's Thought on Party Building (习近平党建思想), firmly establishing the concept that "comprehensive strict Party governance must first be viewed from a political perspective," and integrating political standards and political requirements into all aspects of Party construction.

In April of this year, the seventh round of inspections by the 20th Central Committee (二十届中央) completed its deployment. 15 central inspection groups conducted regular inspections on 36 central and state organs.

The essence of inspection is political supervision, which is to solve political problems and find deep-seated issues behind the appearance, such as managing the Party, governing the Party, and performing duties.

Since the new era, strict "political physical examinations" have urged Party organizations at all levels and Party-leading cadres to firmly support the "Two Establishments" (两个确立) and resolutely achieve the "Two Maintenances" (两个维护).

Highlighting the importance of the Party's political construction requires forging excellent political capabilities. Today, being political and focusing on implementation have become the ideological and behavioral consciousness of the vast number of Party members and cadres. The entire Party is constantly improving its political judgment, political comprehension, and political execution, uniting into "a piece of hard steel," thinking in one direction, exerting effort in one place, and moving forward through wind and rain.

### Ideological Construction
**Adhering to using the Party's innovative theory to forge the soul**
By our reporter Zhao Bing (赵兵)

**[Snapshot]**
In March this year, General Secretary Xi Jinping (习近平) visited the Hebei (河北) Xiong'an New Area (雄安新区) for the fourth time, profoundly pointing out: "Maintain historical patience, position it as a 'millennium plan,' Xiong'an (雄安) is 'evergreen' and is developing sustainably. We must work hard for a long time under the premise of meeting the positioning." "It is not for a beautiful new city, but rather building a new city is for the common people to live a better life."

Xiong'an (雄安) Party members and cadres study deeply, understand thoroughly, and act pragmatically, striving to create real achievements that can stand the test of practice, the people, and history. Today, after 9 years, the total development area covers nearly 215 square kilometers, more than 5,300 buildings have risen from the ground, and the resident population has increased to 1.41 million... A dignified and grand modern new city is unfolding, and the appearance of the "City of the Future" is clearly discernible.

Recently, the National Symposium on Party Building Work was held in Beijing (北京). The meeting pointed out that Xi Jinping's Thought on Party Building (习近平党建思想) is an important part 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), has made major original contributions to the development of Marxist Party-building theory, and has major practical significance and long-term guiding significance for strengthening the Party and the country.

Adhering to building the Party with ideology and strengthening the Party with theory is a distinct feature and glorious tradition of our Party. Since the new era, the Party Central Committee (党中央) with Comrade Xi Jinping (习近平) at its core has taken ideological construction as the foundational construction of the Party, constantly advancing theoretical exploration and innovation, and arming the entire Party with the Party's innovative theory.

A great era nurtures scientific thought. 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) is contemporary Chinese Marxism and 21st-century Marxism; it is the essence of the times of Chinese culture and the Chinese spirit, and has achieved a new leap in the Sinicization of Marxism.

Every step forward in theoretical innovation is followed by a step forward in theoretical armament. Since the 18th National Congress, our Party has successively carried out the mass line education and practice activity, the "Three Stricts and Three Honests" (三严三实) thematic education, the "Two Studies, One Action" (两学一做) learning education, the "Stay True to Our Founding Mission" (不忘初心、牢记使命) thematic education, Party history learning education, thematic education on studying and implementing 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), Party discipline learning education, learning education on deeply implementing the spirit of the Central Eight-point Regulation (中央八项规定), and learning education on establishing and practicing a correct view of political achievements.

At the same time, regular education is constantly strengthened. Establishing and improving the "First Topic" system, strictly implementing basic systems such as the "Three Meetings and One Lesson" (三会一课) and thematic Party days... a series of measures have pushed theoretical study to go deeper, become more practical, and reach the heart.

In studying theory, the most important thing is to get the ideological method right.

In recent years, the concept of "targeted poverty alleviation" (精准扶贫) has made poverty alleviation work more targeted and effective, ensuring the victory in the battle against poverty; "jointly grasp great protection, do not engage in great development" has allowed the Yangtze River Economic Belt (长江经济带) to find a new path of ecological priority and green development... The vast number of Party members and cadres insist on understanding laws, clarifying directions, learning methods, and increasing wisdom from the Party's innovative theory, promoting the resolution of a number of problems needed for development, urgent for reform, expected by the grassroots, and desired by the people.

In the first year of the "15th Five-Year Plan" (十五五), learning education on establishing and practicing a correct view of political achievements is being deeply carried out throughout the Party. The vast number of Party members and cadres continue to advance the "four in-depth studies," consciously benchmarking and calibrating deviations in ideological understanding, solving problems in a down-to-earth manner, benefiting the people, and promoting development.

Our Party has relied on learning to get to where it is today, and it will inevitably rely on learning to move toward the future. The light of truth illuminates the path of progress.

### Organizational Construction
**Improving the organizational system that is connected from top to bottom and executes effectively**
By our reporter Wu Chuqi (吴储岐)

**[Snapshot]**
Not long ago, the Qicai Jiayuan Community (七彩家园社区) in Jinzhan Township (金盏乡), Chaoyang District (朝阳区), Beijing (北京), was officially unveiled—this is a "warm harbor" specifically serving new employment groups. For some time, the community has screened 45 Party members from new employment groups and established a mobile Party branch, implementing a "dual-point head, dual-station head, dual-building head" mechanism, where community workers and Party members from new employment groups participate in community affairs together. From work and life security to Party member education and management, and then to volunteer service participation, a warm and efficient service ecology has quietly taken shape.

Wherever Party members work and live, the tentacles of the Party organization extend there.

In recent years, according to the deployment of the Party Central Committee (党中央), the social work departments of Party committees, together with relevant departments, have deeply studied where the Party building in emerging fields is "new," where it is "difficult," and where it "falls." From providing daily conveniences such as resting, drinking water, and charging, to thoughtful assistance such as rights protection and vocational training... a series of measures have effectively promoted "full coverage," allowing new employment groups to feel the warmth of the Party, and more and more people are actively leaning toward the Party organization.

The Party's strength comes from organization, and the correct political line must be guaranteed by the correct organizational line. Since the 18th National Congress, under the strong leadership of the Party Central Committee (党中央) with Comrade Xi Jinping (习近平) at its core, organizational departments at all levels have resolutely implemented the strategic policy of comprehensive strict Party governance, deeply implemented the general requirements for Party building in the new era and the Party's organizational line in the new era, solidly advanced the armament of the Party's innovative theory, tightened the Party's organizational system, cultivated a high-quality cadre team that is loyal, clean, and responsible, gathered outstanding talents from all aspects who are patriotic and dedicated, and strengthened the construction of the Party's organizational system.

General Secretary Xi Jinping (习近平) emphasized: "Only when the Party's organizations at all levels are sound and strong, forming a tight organizational system that is connected from top to bottom and executes effectively, can the Party's leadership be 'like the body using the arm, and the arm using the fingers' (如身使臂,如臂使指 - "like the body moves the arm, and the arm moves the fingers," describing a high degree of coordination and efficiency)."

Since the new era, the Party Central Committee (党中央) has established a clear orientation of focusing on the grassroots, striving to enhance the political and organizational functions of Party organizations, and promoting the comprehensive progress and comprehensive excellence of grassroots Party organizations in all fields.

Wang Zhongjian (王忠建), who served as the first secretary stationed in the village at Tongxin Community (同心社区), Baihe Subdistrict (百合街道), Guanling County (关岭县), Guizhou Province (贵州省), in May 2025, did the first thing upon arriving: walking into villages and households to comprehensively understand the actual situation of the community. For more than a year, Wang Zhongjian (王忠建) has built activity venues for the children in the community and organized academic tutoring; transformed and expanded the community market to solve the problems of traffic congestion and inconvenience on market days...

A branch is a fortress, and a Party member is a banner. From poverty alleviation to promoting comprehensive rural revitalization, and then to normalized assistance, batch after batch of village-stationed work teams and cadres have rushed to the mountains and villages, taken root in the fertile fields, watered hope with sweat, fulfilled promises with practical work, let the Party flag fly high on the grassroots front line, and also transformed the Party's organizational advantages into development advantages and governance efficiency step by step.

Today, the Party's organizational system is more sound, forming an organizational network that extends horizontally to the edge, vertically to the bottom, and covers widely. This network connects more than 5 million grassroots Party organizations, connects more than 100 million members of the Communist Party of China (中国共产党), and also connects more than 1.4 billion people.

Deeply studying and implementing Xi Jinping's Thought on Party Building (习近平党建思想), consolidating, developing, and exerting the Party's organizational advantages well—this is where our solid strength lies in constantly pushing Chinese-style modernization forward.

### Work Style Construction
**Continuously polishing the "golden business card" of work style construction**
By our reporter Li Linwei (李林蔚)

**[Snapshot]**
Qin Junhao (秦俊豪), a staff member of the Government Affairs Service Administration of Qixing District (七星区), Guilin City (桂林市), Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region (广西壮族自治区), has been doing official receptions for seven or eight years, "In the first few years, I was afraid that the reception would not be up to standard, and also afraid that it would exceed the standard."

In recent years, the district has strictly implemented official reception regulations: no reception without an official letter, no reimbursement, meals are executed according to standards, the number of accompanying people is controlled according to regulations, and exceeding the standard is resolutely not reimbursed. "When superiors come for research, work meals are arranged, calculated by head count, and no longer accompanied by a group of people. Everyone is clear and refreshed, and very satisfied." Qin Junhao (秦俊豪) said in a relaxed tone.

On May 25, the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection (中央纪委) and the National Supervisory Commission (国家监委) announced the summary of the situation of investigating and handling violations of the spirit of the Central Eight-point Regulation (中央八项规定) nationwide in April 2026. This is the 152nd consecutive month that monthly report data has been published since it was first published in 2013.

The Party's work style is the Party's image, which relates to the support of the people and the life and death of the Party. Since the new era, the Party Central Committee (党中央) with Comrade Xi Jinping (习近平) at its core started by formulating and implementing the Central Eight-point Regulation (中央八项规定), using a small cut to pry open the great change of comprehensive strict Party governance, promoting a brand-new look for the Party's style and government's style, and constantly improving social customs and folk customs.

For work style construction, grasping the regular, grasping the detailed, and grasping the long-term are the keys. At every important node, the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection (中央纪委) and the National Supervisory Commission (国家监委) issue notifications, putting forward requirements and making deployments for the work of correcting the "Four Winds" (四风) during holidays; the website of the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection (中央纪委) and the National Supervisory Commission (国家监委) publishes monthly reports on the investigation and handling of violations of the spirit of the Central Eight-point Regulation (中央八项规定) nationwide, and specifically notifies typical cases of violating the spirit of the Central Eight-point Regulation (中央八项规定) at important nodes... hitting one hammer after another, guarding one node after another, continuously releasing strict signals.

Data is the most powerful proof. In 2025, the country investigated and handled more than 140,000 cases of formalism and bureaucracy, criticized, educated, and handled more than 187,000 people, of which more than 118,000 were punished by Party discipline and government affairs; investigated and handled more than 149,800 cases of hedonism and extravagance, criticized, educated, and handled more than 188,000 people, of which more than 143,000 were punished by Party discipline and government affairs.

Corruption on wheels, unhealthy trends in clubs, waste on the tip of the tongue... correcting one problem after another, especially strengthening the investigation and treatment of both style and corruption, being serious and tough, digging deep and investigating carefully, effectively curbing the breeding and spread of unhealthy trends and evil spirits.

In recent years, the Party Central Committee (党中央) with Comrade Xi Jinping (习近平) at its core has attached great importance to rectifying formalism to reduce the burden on the grassroots. From determining the "Year of Reducing Burden on the Grassroots" to establishing a special work mechanism for rectifying formalism to reduce the burden on the grassroots at the central level, from issuing notifications requiring continuous resolution of formalistic problems that plague the grassroots, to issuing "Several Provisions on Rectifying Formalism to Reduce Burden on the Grassroots"... one step at a time, one footprint at a time.

Today, with the in-depth advancement of the "six corrections," the survival space for formalism is continuously compressed, the dilemma of "small horses pulling big carts" is quietly being solved, the burden on grassroots cadres is lighter, and the steps to serve the people are more solid.

When the wind is clear, the atmosphere is upright; when the atmosphere is upright, the hearts are united; when the hearts are united, things are accomplished. In 2025, the entire Party carried out learning education on deeply implementing the spirit of the Central Eight-point Regulation (中央八项规定), and the vast number of Party members and cadres promoted learning, checking, and changing in an integrated manner, gathering strength and working hard with an excellent work style.

"The Central Eight-point Regulation (中央八项规定) is not a five-year or ten-year regulation, but a long-term effective iron rule and hard lever." Facing the "15th Five-Year Plan" (十五五), deeply studying and implementing Xi Jinping's Thought on Party Building (习近平党建思想), and continuously polishing the "golden business card" of work style construction, we will certainly be able to continuously stimulate new vitality and show a new atmosphere.

### Discipline Construction
**Managing and governing the entire Party with strict discipline**
By our reporter Shen Tongrui (沈童睿)

**[Snapshot]**
At the Integrity Education Base in Baicheng City (白城市), Jilin Province (吉林省), the "Record of Warnings on Discipline Violations and Illegal Acts in the Field of Black Soil Protection and Utilization in the City" in the exhibition hall deeply touched the Party members and cadres.

In recent years, the Baicheng City (白城市) Commission for Discipline Inspection (纪委) and Supervisory Commission (监委) have deeply studied and implemented the spirit of General Secretary Xi Jinping's (习近平) important instructions on black soil protection, strengthened political supervision, conducted case analysis on land remediation cases, focused on investigating and handling disciplinary violations and illegal acts such as seeking personal gain through power, corruption and bribery, embezzlement and misappropriation, as well as problems of poor performance of duties such as making many statements with high tones but little action and poor implementation, making choices, engaging in flexibility, and cutting corners, and effectively increased the intensity of supervision over the development and utilization of reserve cultivated land resources.

Strengthening discipline construction is the fundamental strategy for comprehensive strict Party governance. The 19th National Congress incorporated discipline construction into the overall layout of Party building, and discipline construction was placed in a more prominent position.

As an important foundational inner-Party regulation for managing and governing the Party, the "Regulations on Disciplinary Actions of the Communist Party of China" (中国共产党纪律处分条例) has undergone three major revisions after the 18th National Congress. Each revision is an optimization and improvement of the system, and each time it releases a clear signal of managing and governing the entire Party with strict discipline.
As an important foundational intra-Party regulation for governing the Party and managing the Party, the "Regulations on Disciplinary Actions of the Communist Party of China" (中国共产党纪律处分条例) have undergone three major revisions since the 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China (党的十八大). Each revision represents an optimization and improvement of the system, consistently signaling a clear message of managing the entire Party with strict discipline.

The vitality of a system lies in its execution. Since the dawn of the new era, our Party has insisted on placing discipline and rules at the forefront, ensuring that discipline is stricter than the law and that discipline precedes the law, thereby constraining Party members and cadres with higher standards.

"The first form of oversight was applied to criticize, educate, and handle 190,000 person-times, accounting for 50.5% of the total; the second form was applied to handle 149,000 person-times, accounting for 39.7%..." Some time ago, the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection and the National Supervisory Commission (中央纪委国家监委) reported on the supervision, inspection, and investigation work of national discipline inspection and supervision organs for the first quarter of 2026.

Today, discipline inspection and supervision organs are consolidating and deepening the accurate application of the "four forms," adhering to the principle of addressing issues early and small, and nipping problems in the bud. "Reddening faces and sweating" (a metaphor for criticism and self-criticism) has become the norm. Light disciplinary actions and organizational adjustments have become the majority of disciplinary cases, while heavy disciplinary actions and major duty adjustments have become the minority, and those involving serious violations of discipline and suspected criminal responsibility have become the extreme minority. This achieves a coordinated advancement of "punishing the extreme minority" and "managing the majority."

Political discipline is the most important, fundamental, and critical discipline.

"Strengthen political supervision and promote the entire Party to pool its strength to achieve the goals and tasks of the '15th Five-Year Plan' (十五五)." Early this year, when the Fifth Plenary Session of the 20th Central Commission for Discipline Inspection (二十届中央纪委五次全会) deployed the main tasks for 2026, it listed political supervision as the top priority, emphasizing the need to "strictly enforce political discipline."

In recent years, in accordance with the deployment and requirements of the Party Central Committee (党中央), discipline inspection and supervision organs at all levels have placed the strict enforcement of the Party's political discipline and political rules in a prominent position. They have strengthened political supervision closely around the "Two Upholds" (两个维护), promoted the concretization, precision, and normalization of political supervision, and insisted that Party conduct and clean government construction and the anti-corruption struggle must first be viewed from a political perspective, deeply recognizing the political essence and political harm of corruption issues... A series of measures have effectively promoted the creation of a clean and upright political ecology, and effectively promoted the vast number of Party members and cadres to continuously improve their political judgment, political comprehension, and political execution, ensuring that the entire Party maintains a high degree of consistency with the Party Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping (习近平) at its core.

"Strengthen discipline, and the revolution will be invincible." By deeply studying and implementing Xi Jinping's (习近平) thought on Party building, and persevering in forging the entire Party with iron discipline, we will certainly be able to continue to safeguard the steady and long-term development of the cause of the Party and the people.

### Institutional Construction
### Giving Systems "Teeth and Electricity"
By Reporter He Zhaoyu (何昭宇)

**[Snapshot]**
At the Public Property Warehouse in Xiqing District, Tianjin (天津市西青区), more than 300 pieces of idle assets from various district-level units are neatly placed on shelves. "When setting up the new department, more than 100 office items were fully equipped in less than a day. It saved both money and effort!" said a cadre from the Social Work Department of the Xiqing District Committee (西青区委社会工作部).

In recent years, Xiqing District has deeply implemented the "Regulations on Practicing Thrift and Opposing Waste in Party and Government Organs" (党政机关厉行节约反对浪费条例), introduced systems such as measures to reduce government operating costs and revitalize the use of office space, and has saved more than 5 million yuan in fiscal funds through the public property warehouse.

To govern the country, one must first govern the Party; to govern the Party, one must be strict; and to be strict, one must follow the law.

Since the 18th National Congress, the Party Central Committee has attached great importance to the Party's institutional construction, issuing the first central document in the Party's history specifically deploying the promotion of intra-Party regulatory system construction, holding two national intra-Party regulation work conferences, and successively compiling three five-year plans for the formulation of central intra-Party regulations...

Focusing on strengthening the institutional guarantee for the "Two Upholds."

In recent years, the Party Central Committee's listening to work reports from the "Five Major Leadership Bodies" (五大班子) and the work report of the Central Secretariat (中央书记处) has become an important institutional arrangement for strengthening and maintaining the centralized and unified leadership of the Party Central Committee.

From incorporating the leadership of the Communist Party of China (中国共产党), which is the "most essential feature of socialism with Chinese characteristics," into the Party Constitution and the Constitution, to issuing the "Regulations of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee on Strengthening and Maintaining the Centralized and Unified Leadership of the Party Central Committee" (中共中央政治局关于加强和维护党中央集中统一领导的若干规定) and the "Regulations of the Communist Party of China on Requesting Instructions and Reporting on Major Issues" (中国共产党重大事项请示报告条例)... the rigidity of intra-Party regulations ensures the authority of the Party Central Committee to set the tone and make the final decision.

Focusing on guaranteeing the Party's leadership over all undertakings.

In Yibin City, Sichuan Province (四川省宜宾市), where three rivers converge, the area was once "surrounded by chemical plants and polluted by the city." By breaking and then establishing, 197 enterprises along the river were relocated or shut down, and 5.61 kilometers of production coastline were withdrawn. By changing lanes and transforming, emerging industries such as power batteries and the digital economy were introduced... Whether ecological and environmental protection can be implemented depends on institutional guarantees. The issuance of the "Regulations on the Responsibility System for Ecological and Environmental Protection for Local Party and Government Leaders (Trial)" (地方党政领导干部生态环境保护责任制规定(试行)) promoted the formulation of assessment measures for the effectiveness of building a Beautiful China, pressing and solidifying responsibilities in all aspects.

Over the past decade or more, the Party Central Committee has formulated and issued intra-Party regulations such as the "Regulations on the Party Central Committee's Leadership over Economic Work" (党中央领导经济工作规定) and the "Regulations of the Communist Party of China on Political and Legal Work" (中国共产党政法工作条例), ensuring that we always remain under the strong leadership of the Party, coordinating the promotion of the "Five-sphere Integrated Plan" (五位一体), and coordinating the promotion of the "Four-pronged Comprehensive Strategy" (四个全面).

Focusing on promoting the deepening of full and rigorous Party self-governance.

On December 4, 2012, the Political Bureau of the Central Committee (中央政治局) held a meeting to deliberate and adopt the Eight-point Regulation (八项规定) on improving work style and maintaining close ties with the masses. "The Eight-point Regulation changed China"—this is the reputation among the people and has set a benchmark for institutional construction for the entire Party. Today, the issuance of the "Regulations on Rectifying Formalism to Reduce the Burden on the Grassroots" (整治形式主义为基层减负若干规定) and the revision of the "Regulations on Practicing Thrift and Opposing Waste in Party and Government Organs"... a series of measures have promoted the formation of a normalized and long-term mechanism for implementing the spirit of the Central Eight-point Regulation.

Governing the country requires ordering the people, and ordering the people requires rectifying the system. As of June 2024, there are 3,936 valid intra-Party regulations in the entire Party, of which more than 70% were newly formulated or revised since the 18th National Congress, forming a relatively complete system of intra-Party regulations.

In the new era and on the new journey, deeply studying and implementing Xi Jinping's (习近平) thought on Party building and continuously deepening the reform of the Party's construction system will surely be able to create a new realm of Chinese governance with the "governance of the Communist Party of China."

### Anti-Corruption Struggle
### Resolutely Win the Tough Battle and Protracted War Against Corruption
By Reporter Shi Yiqi (史一棋)

**[Snapshot]**
"I've received the grain subsidy!" Even now, Lu Miaomiao (卢苗苗), a grain grower in Weilin Village, Shuanggou Town, Suining County, Jiangsu Province (江苏省睢宁县双沟镇魏林村), still beams with joy when talking about the subsidy that was lost and then recovered.

At the beginning of 2025, the Suining County Commission for Discipline Inspection and Supervisory Commission (睢宁县纪委监委) received a clue: four villagers, including Lu Miaomiao, had not received the one-time subsidy for actual grain-growing farmers. After investigation, it turned out that a village cadre, surnamed Jia (贾), had used his position to intercept more than 80,000 yuan in subsidies through false reporting and claiming.

In the end, Jia (贾) was seriously investigated and punished. Not a single grain grower in the village was left out, and the intercepted funds were distributed in full. "No matter how small the matter is, as long as it involves the immediate interests of the masses, the county will take it seriously," the villagers praised.

Since April 2024, the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection and the National Supervisory Commission (中央纪委国家监委) have deployed a concentrated rectification of unhealthy tendencies and corruption issues around the masses, extending the anti-corruption struggle to the grassroots and the side of the masses, and continuously enhancing the masses' sense of gain, happiness, and security.

Corruption is the greatest tumor endangering the Party's vitality and combat effectiveness. Since the 18th National Congress, the Party Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping (习近平) at its core, with the sobriety and firmness of "always blowing the charge," has integrated the promotion of not daring to be corrupt, not being able to be corrupt, and not wanting to be corrupt, and has resolutely fought the tough battle, protracted war, and overall war against corruption.

Strengthening the deterrent of "not daring to be corrupt." Persisting in using strong medicine to remove the illness and heavy codes to govern chaos, focusing on the "key minority" to carry out reviews and investigations, and deepening the rectification of corruption in key areas such as finance, state-owned enterprises, energy, education, societies and associations, development zones, and bidding. Strengthening the enforcement of discipline and law for the people, and continuously promoting the concentrated rectification of unhealthy tendencies and corruption around the masses. Good news about international anti-corruption fugitive repatriation and asset recovery has been reported frequently, cross-border corruption governance has been continuously deepened, and international anti-corruption influence has been continuously improved.

Tightening the cage of "not being able to be corrupt." Issuing the "Opinions of the CPC Central Committee on Strengthening Supervision over the 'Top Leaders' and Leadership Teams" (中共中央关于加强对“一把手”和领导班子监督的意见), amending the "Supervision Law of the People's Republic of China" (中华人民共和国监察法), and revising the "Regulations on the Implementation of the Supervision Law of the People's Republic of China" (中华人民共和国监察法实施条例)... the cage of the system is being tied tighter and tighter, and discipline inspection and supervision organs are strictly enforcing discipline and law, and holding people accountable accurately and forcefully.

Enhancing the consciousness of "not wanting to be corrupt." The "Three-Year Action Plan for Building Clean Culture in the New Era (2025—2027)" (新时代廉洁文化建设三年行动计划(2025—2027年)) has made specific deployments for strengthening the construction of clean culture in the new era, striving to eradicate the soil and conditions for corruption, cultivating a clean and upright political ecology, and creating a social trend of respecting integrity and rejecting corruption.

"'Jingyuan Hall' (静远堂) takes its meaning from Zhuge Liang's (诸葛亮) 'Admonition to My Son' (诫子书): 'Without detachment, one cannot clarify one's ambition; without tranquility, one cannot reach far.' This is not only his motto for inheriting a clean family tradition, but also a portrayal of his lifelong spiritual realm..." At the Wuhou Shrine (武侯祠) Clean Culture Base in Chengdu, Sichuan Province (四川省成都市), listening to the narrator, a breeze of integrity blows toward one's face.

In recent years, Chengdu (成都市) has taken the construction of clean culture in the new era as a foundational project for the integrated promotion of "three non-corruptions," building a cluster of clean culture positions, thickening the cultural soil of respecting integrity and frugality, and guiding the vast number of Party members and cadres to deeply realize that only by working cleanly can they work with free hands.

Such scenes can be seen everywhere. In Jiangxi (江西), the red stories on the Long March road have been moved into integrity classrooms; in Fujian (福建), Party members and cadres renewed their oath of joining the Party in front of the site of the Gutian Conference (古田会议旧址)... All localities have deeply studied and implemented Xi Jinping's (习近平) thought on Party building, and through vivid forms such as situational dramas, micro-films, family tradition story meetings, and clean culture-themed subways, have enhanced the pertinence, attractiveness, and infectiousness of clean culture construction.

A series of ideological baptisms are being carried out continuously, and the clean wind of the new era is blowing across the land of China with vigorous momentum.

### A Word from the Heart
In previous years, high-priced gift-boxed Zongzi were very common. After the introduction of the Central Eight-point Regulation (八项规定), the price of Zongzi has become more and more friendly to the people, the way of celebrating festivals has returned to tradition and origin, and "celebrating festivals in a refreshing way" is becoming a new normal for festivals today.
—— Beijing Netizen

The work style of cadres has changed. The government service window in the county has launched a one-time notification service, which makes it much more convenient for everyone to handle affairs. Things that used to take several days to complete can now be done in one trip.
—— Gansu Netizen

In the past, I had to issue hundreds of various certificates for villagers every year. Since the reduction of the burden on the grassroots, the number of certification items has been significantly reduced. We have more time and energy to go to the homes of the common people to solve their worries and difficulties, and we are more motivated to work.
—— Anhui Netizen

When Party members and cadres visit enterprises, they can settle work with a cup of clear tea. Enterprises focus on business development, and the government does a good job in supervision and service. They are close and clean with each other, which is a healthy relationship between government and business.
—— Hunan Netizen

The hardest thing is not to surpass others, but to overcome oneself. I believe that a Party that does not forget its original intention, keeps its mission in mind, faces problems squarely, and dares to wield the blade inward (刀刃向内 - dāo rèn xiàng nèi - "blade towards inside," to engage in self-reflection and self-correction) will surely remain youthful forever and lead the Chinese nation toward great rejuvenation.
—— Hebei Netizen

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Always be the backbone of the Chinese people and the Chinese nation

By: 张 洋

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As the "July 1st" (七一) anniversary approaches, visitors stream in an endless flow into the Museum of the Communist Party of China (中国共产党历史展览馆). Through historical photographs, documentary artifacts, and vivid recreations that span over a hundred years of 峥嵘岁月 (zhēng róng suì yuè - "extraordinary years," referring to a period of difficult and glorious struggle), the sentiment and conviction to appreciate the Party's grace, heed the Party's words, and follow the Party's lead stir within people's hearts.

General Secretary Xi Jinping (习近平) has profoundly pointed out: "The Communist Party of China (中国共产党) is the most reliable backbone for us to achieve great undertakings."

Looking back at the path of struggle, from the earth-shaking founding of the Party (建党), to the world-changing founding of New China (新中国), to the heaven-and-earth-turning reforms and opening up (改革开放), and then to the historic achievements and transformations in the cause of the Party and the country since the 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China (党的十八大)... we have 披荆斩棘 (pī jīng zhǎn jí - "clearing away thorns and brambles," overcoming obstacles and hardships) and marched forward with songs of triumph. The Communist Party of China (中国共产党) has united and led the people in unremitting struggle, and the Chinese nation (中华民族) has achieved the great leap from standing up and growing rich to becoming strong.

The closer we get to our goals, the more complex the situation, and the more arduous the tasks, the more the "backbone" remains as firm as a rock. Since the 18th National Congress (党的十八大), facing changes unseen in a century and the profound and complex shifts in domestic and international situations, the Party Central Committee (党中央) with Comrade Xi Jinping (习近平) at its core has taken an overall view of the situation and coordinated all parties, demonstrating powerful political leadership, ideological guidance, mass organization, and social appeal.

To cite a few examples: In September 2024, facing a slowdown in major economic indicators, the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee (中共中央政治局) decisively deployed a package of incremental policies; in April 2025, facing factors such as increased external shocks, the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee (中共中央政治局) once again deployed a package of policy measures... Each critical decision has united hearts and boosted confidence. History never waits for the hesitant, the slack, or the fearful, and our Party has always been the most steadfast pioneer.

Practice has fully proven that the "Two Establishments" (两个确立) are the greatest certainty, the greatest source of confidence, and the greatest guarantee for overcoming all difficulties and obstacles and dealing with all uncertainties, and they have decisive significance for advancing the historical process of the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation (中华民族).

Bringing the lens closer to our daily lives: In communities, Party members and cadres walk between buildings, knocking on residents' doors, recording livelihood demands at Party-mass consultation meetings, and turning "micro-tasks" from paper into reality; in the countryside, resident cadres eat, live, and work alongside the masses, engraving their original aspirations into the fields, helping farmers achieve good harvests and more prosperous lives; on the front lines of disaster relief, countless Party members and cadres charge to the front and head toward danger.

What is a backbone? It is the flag the masses see first when they need it most, the hand they reach for first, and the group of people everyone can speak of, trust, and rely on.

How can we remain the backbone of the Chinese people (中国人民) and the Chinese nation (中华民族) forever? We rely on the continuation of our original mission, the promotion of the great founding spirit of the Party (伟大建党精神), and the sober determination to govern and manage the Party without a moment's rest. By prioritizing political construction, unremittingly using the Party's innovative theories to forge the soul, 锲而不舍 (qiè ér bù shě - "carving without stopping," working with perseverance) in implementing the Central Eight-point Regulation (中央八项规定), and integrally advancing the "three non-corruptions" (三不腐)... the new great project of Party building in the new era continues to develop in depth, and comprehensive and strict Party governance has become a distinct feature of the Party's governance of the country in the new era. This is an important secret to why a century-old party always stays at the forefront of the times and always receives the heartfelt support of the people—only by being strong oneself can one shoulder great responsibilities.

On the new journey, by deeply studying and implementing Xi Jinping's thought on Party building (习近平党建思想), adhering to and strengthening the overall leadership of the Party, and resolutely achieving the "Two Maintenances" (两个维护), no wind or rain can stop our pace forward. The century-old Party moves forward with unstoppable momentum, and the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation (中华民族) is unstoppable.

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Editors of this edition: Zhang Yang, Meng Xiangfu, Shi Yiqi, Li Linwei, He Zhaoyu

Original Article Return to Top

Layout Design: Cai Huawei (蔡华伟)

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Page 11版:特别报道

Continuously Advance the Great New Project of Party Building in the New Era

Original Article Return to Top

To comprehensively build a socialist modern country and comprehensively advance the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation (中华民族), the key lies with the Party.

Since the 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China (中国共产党第十八次全国代表大会), the Party Central Committee (党中央) with Comrade Xi Jinping (习近平) at its core, focusing on the major contemporary task of what kind of long-term governing Marxist political party to build and how to build it, has put forward a series of new concepts, new ideas, and new strategies, forming Xi Jinping’s Thought on Party Building (习近平党建思想).

A great era nurtures scientific thought; scientific theory leads innovative practice.

Our Party insists that the Party must manage the Party and govern the Party with strict discipline in every respect. By deeply advancing the new great project of Party building in the new era, the Party has become stronger and more powerful through revolutionary tempering, providing a fundamental guarantee for the historic achievements and historic changes in the cause of the Party and the country.

As we mark the 105th anniversary of the founding of the Communist Party of China (中国共产党), we are earnestly studying and comprehending Xi Jinping’s Thought on Party Building (习近平党建思想), closely following the general requirements for Party building in the new era, and conducting in-depth interviews and reports on the brilliant achievements and valuable experiences gained in the new great project of Party building in the new era.

— Editor

### Political Construction
**United into "a piece of hard steel"**
By our reporter Meng Xiangfu (孟祥夫)

**[SNAPSHOT]**
At Erhai Lake (洱海) in Yunnan (云南), the sunset shines on the lake surface, a gentle breeze blows, and patches of *Ottelia alismoides* (海菜花) sway. Once, Erhai Lake (洱海) experienced a severe blue-green algae crisis, and local water quality declined. How to achieve the goal of "protecting Erhai Lake well, so that the natural beauty of 'Cangshan Mountain (苍山) is an eternal painting without ink, and Erhai Lake (洱海) is an eternal zither without strings' remains in the world forever"?

Protecting the ecological environment is an important livelihood issue and also a political task. Yunnan (云南) insists on viewing problems from a political perspective, treating the important instructions and directives of General Secretary Xi Jinping (习近平) as the primary political requirement. Local Party committees and governments deeply recognize that being political means having concrete actions to share the Party's worries and benefit the people. Through a series of measures such as formulating and implementing the Erhai Lake (洱海) Protection and Management Regulations and systematically treating urban and rural domestic sewage in the Erhai Lake (洱海) basin, they have actively improved water quality. Today, the transparency of Erhai Lake (洱海) exceeds 2 meters, and the water quality assessment has been rated as "excellent" for many consecutive years.

The Party’s political construction is the fundamental construction of the Party. The "Fourteen Persistences" of Xi Jinping’s Thought on Party Building (习近平党建思想) clearly state, "Persist in taking the Party's political construction as the guide."

Since the 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China (中国共产党第十八次全国代表大会), the Party Central Committee (党中央) with Comrade Xi Jinping (习近平) at its core has placed the Party's political construction in the primary position, using it to guide all aspects of Party building. In January 2019, the Party Central Committee (党中央) issued the "Opinions of the CPC Central Committee (中共中央) on Strengthening the Party's Political Construction."

In recent years, by improving various systems for firmly upholding the authority of the Party Central Committee (党中央) and its centralized, unified leadership, establishing and improving the leadership system and mechanism for major work, strictly enforcing the Party's political discipline and political rules, and strengthening and standardizing intra-Party political life in the new situation... one measure after another has effectively fostered a clean and upright political ecology and maintained the unity and solidarity of the Party.

The "Two Establishments" (两个确立) are major political achievements made by the Party in the new era. The vast number of Party members and cadres consciously strengthen their theoretical armament, ensuring political firmness with theoretical clarity; they consciously translate the implementation of the spirit of the Party Central Committee (党中央) into the practice of planning major strategies, formulating major policies, deploying major tasks, and advancing major work, ensuring that they respond resolutely to what the Party Central Committee (党中央) advocates, execute resolutely what it decides, and refrain resolutely from what it prohibits.

Party organizations at all levels and the vast number of Party members and cadres deeply study and implement Xi Jinping’s Thought on Party Building (习近平党建思想), firmly establishing the concept that "comprehensive strict governance of the Party must first be viewed from a political perspective," and integrating political standards and political requirements into all aspects of Party construction.

In April of this year, the 7th round of inspections by the 20th Central Committee (二十届中央) completed its deployment. 15 Central Inspection Groups (中央巡视组) carried out routine inspections on 36 central and state organs.

The essence of inspection is political supervision, which aims to solve political problems and uncover deep-seated issues behind the appearances, such as managing and governing the Party and performing duties.

Since the new era, strict "political physical examinations" have urged Party organizations at all levels and Party-member leading cadres to firmly support the "Two Establishments" (两个确立) and resolutely achieve the "Two Upholds" (两个维护).

Highlighting the importance of the Party's political construction requires forging excellent political capabilities. Today, being political and focusing on implementation have become the ideological and behavioral consciousness of the vast number of Party members and cadres. The entire Party is constantly improving its political judgment, political comprehension, and political execution, united into "a piece of hard steel," thinking in one direction and exerting effort in one place, moving forward through wind and rain.

### Ideological Construction
**Persist in using the Party's innovative theory to solidify the soul**
By our reporter Zhao Bing (赵兵)

**[SNAPSHOT]**
In March of this year, General Secretary Xi Jinping (习近平) visited the Hebei (河北) Xiong'an New Area (雄安新区) for the fourth time, profoundly pointing out: "Maintain historical patience, position it as a 'millennium plan,' Xiong'an (雄安) is 'evergreen' and developing sustainably. We must work persistently on the premise of meeting the positioning," and "It is not for the sake of a beautiful new city, but rather the new city is built for the common people to live a better life."

Party members and cadres in Xiong'an (雄安) study deeply and understand thoroughly, working hard and acting with determination, striving to create real achievements that can stand the test of practice, the people, and history. Today, after 9 years, the total development area covers nearly 215 square kilometers, more than 5,300 buildings have risen from the ground, and the resident population has increased to 1.41 million... A dignified and magnificent modern new city is unfolding, and the appearance of the "City of the Future" is already clearly discernible.

Recently, the National Symposium on Party Building Work was held in Beijing (北京). The meeting pointed out that Xi Jinping’s Thought on Party Building (习近平党建思想) is an important part 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), has made major original contributions to the development of Marxist Party-building theory, and has major practical significance and long-term guiding significance for strengthening the Party and the country.

Persisting in building the Party with ideology and strengthening the Party with theory is a distinct feature and glorious tradition of our Party. Since the new era, the Party Central Committee (党中央) with Comrade Xi Jinping (习近平) at its core has taken ideological construction as the foundational construction of the Party, continuously advancing theoretical exploration and innovation, and arming the entire Party with the Party's innovative theory.

A great era nurtures scientific thought. 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) is contemporary Chinese Marxism and 21st-century Marxism; it is the essence of the times of Chinese culture and the Chinese spirit, and it has achieved a new leap in the Sinicization of Marxism.

Every step forward in theoretical innovation is followed by a step forward in theoretical armament. Since the 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China (中国共产党第十八次全国代表大会), our Party has successively carried out the Mass Line Education Practice Campaign, the "Three Stricts and Three Honests" (三严三实) thematic education, the "Two Studies, One Action" (两学一做) learning education, the "Stay True to Our Founding Mission" (不忘初心、牢记使命) thematic education, Party history learning education, thematic education on studying and implementing 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), Party discipline learning education, learning education on deeply implementing the spirit of the Central Committee's (中央) Eight-point Regulation, and learning education on establishing and practicing a correct view of political achievements.

At the same time, regular education has been continuously strengthened. Establishing and improving the "First Topic" system, strictly implementing basic systems such as the "Three Meetings and One Lesson" (三会一课) and thematic Party days... a series of measures have promoted theoretical study to go deeper, become more practical, and reach the heart.

The most important thing in studying theory is to get the ideological method right.

In recent years, the concept of "targeted poverty alleviation" (精准扶贫) has made poverty alleviation work more targeted and effective, ensuring the victory in the battle against poverty; "jointly grasp great protection, do not engage in great development" has allowed the Yangtze River Economic Belt (长江经济带) to embark on a new path of ecological priority and green development... The vast number of Party members and cadres insist on comprehending laws, clarifying directions, learning methods, and increasing wisdom from the Party's innovative theory, promoting the resolution of a batch of problems needed for development, urgent for reform, expected by the grassroots, and desired by the people.

In the first year of the "15th Five-Year Plan" (十五五), learning education on establishing and practicing a correct view of political achievements is being carried out in depth throughout the Party. The vast number of Party members and cadres continue to promote "four in-depth studies," consciously benchmarking and calibrating deviations in ideological understanding, solving problems in a down-to-earth manner, benefiting the people, and promoting development.

Our Party has relied on learning to get to where it is today, and it will inevitably rely on learning to move toward the future. The light of truth illuminates the path of progress.

### Organizational Construction
**Improve the organizational system that is connected from top to bottom and executes powerfully**
By our reporter Wu Chuqi (吴储岐)

**[SNAPSHOT]**
Not long ago, the Qicai Jiayuan Community (七彩家园社区) in Jinzhan Township (金盏乡), Chaoyang District (朝阳区), Beijing (北京), was officially inaugurated—this is a "warm harbor" specifically serving new employment groups. For some time, the community has identified 45 Party members from new employment groups and established a mobile Party branch, implementing a "dual-point chief, dual-station chief, dual-building chief" mechanism, where community workers and Party members from new employment groups participate in community affairs together. From work and life security to Party member education and management, and then to volunteer service participation, a warm and efficient service ecology has quietly taken shape.

Wherever Party members work and live, the tentacles of the Party organization extend there.

In recent years, according to the deployment of the Party Central Committee (党中央), the social work departments of Party committees, together with relevant departments, have deeply studied where the Party building in emerging fields is "new," where it is "difficult," and where it "falls." From providing daily conveniences such as resting, drinking water, and charging, to thoughtful assistance in rights protection and vocational training... a series of measures have effectively promoted "two coverages," allowing new employment groups to feel the warmth of the Party, and more and more people are actively moving closer to the Party organization.

The Party's strength comes from organization, and the correct political line must be guaranteed by the correct organizational line. Since the 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China (中国共产党第十八次全国代表大会), under the strong leadership of the Party Central Committee (党中央) with Comrade Xi Jinping (习近平) at its core, organizational departments at all levels have resolutely implemented the strategic policy of comprehensive strict governance of the Party, deeply implemented the general requirements for Party building in the new era and the organizational line of the Party in the new era, solidly promoted the armament of the Party's innovative theory, tightened the Party's organizational system, cultivated a high-quality cadre team that is loyal, clean, and responsible, gathered outstanding talents from all aspects who are patriotic and dedicated, and strengthened the construction of the Party's organizational system.

General Secretary Xi Jinping (习近平) emphasized: "Only when the Party's organizations at all levels are sound and strong, forming a tight organizational system that is connected from top to bottom and executes powerfully, can the Party's leadership be 'like the body using the arm, and the arm using the fingers' (如身使臂,如臂使指 - "like the body using the arm, and the arm using the fingers," describing a high degree of coordination and effective command)."

Since the new era, the Party Central Committee (党中央) has established a clear orientation of focusing on the grassroots, striving to enhance the political and organizational functions of Party organizations, and promoting the comprehensive progress and comprehensive strength of grassroots Party organizations in all fields.

Wang Zhongjian (王忠建), who served as the first secretary stationed in the village at Tongxin Community (同心社区), Baihe Subdistrict (百合街道), Guanling County (关岭县), Guizhou Province (贵州省), in May 2025, did the first thing upon taking office: walking through villages and households to comprehensively understand the actual situation of the community. For more than a year, Wang Zhongjian (王忠建) has built activity venues for the children in the community and organized academic tutoring; renovated and expanded the community market to solve the problems of traffic congestion and inconvenience on market days...

A branch is a fortress, and a Party member is a banner. From poverty alleviation to promoting comprehensive rural revitalization, and then to normalized assistance, batch after batch of village-stationed work teams and village-stationed cadres have rushed to the mountains and villages, taking root in the fertile fields, watering hope with sweat, fulfilling promises with hard work, making the Party flag fly high on the front line of the grassroots, and also transforming the Party's organizational advantages into development advantages and governance efficiency step by step.

Today, the Party's organizational system is more sound, forming an organizational network that extends horizontally to the edges, vertically to the bottom, and covers widely. This network connects more than 5 million grassroots Party organizations, connects more than 100 million members of the Communist Party of China (中国共产党), and also connects more than 1.4 billion people.

Deeply studying and implementing Xi Jinping’s Thought on Party Building (习近平党建思想), consolidating, developing, and exerting the Party's organizational advantages well—this is where our solid strength lies in continuously pushing Chinese-style modernization forward.

### Style Construction
**Continuously polish the "gold business card" of style construction**
By our reporter Li Linwei (李林蔚)

**[SNAPSHOT]**
Qin Junhao (秦俊豪), a staff member of the Government Affairs Service Administration of Qixing District (七星区), Guilin City (桂林市), Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region (广西壮族自治区), has been doing official reception work for seven or eight years. "In the first few years, I was afraid that the reception would not be up to standard, and also afraid that it would exceed the standard."

In recent years, the district has strictly implemented official reception regulations: no reception without an official letter, no reimbursement, meals are executed according to standards, the number of accompanying people is controlled according to regulations, and exceeding standards is resolutely not reimbursed. "When superiors come for research, work meals are arranged according to the head count, and no longer a group of people accompanying. Everyone is clean and refreshed, and very satisfied." Qin Junhao (秦俊豪) said in a relaxed tone.

On May 25, the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection (中央纪委) and the National Supervisory Commission (国家监委) announced the summary of the situation of investigating and handling violations of the spirit of the Central Committee's (中央) Eight-point Regulation nationwide in April 2026. This is the 152nd consecutive month of publishing monthly report data since the first publication of monthly report data in 2013.

The Party's style is the Party's image, which relates to the support of the people and the life and death of the Party. Since the new era, the Party Central Committee (党中央) with Comrade Xi Jinping (习近平) at its core has started by formulating and implementing the Central Committee's (中央) Eight-point Regulation, using a small incision to pry open the great change of comprehensive strict governance of the Party, promoting a brand-new look for the Party's style and government's style, and social customs and folk customs are constantly moving towards goodness.

For style construction, grasping the regular, grasping the detailed, and grasping the long-term is the key. At every important node, the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection (中央纪委) and the National Supervisory Commission (国家监委) issue notices, putting forward requirements and making deployments for the work of correcting the "Four Winds" (四风) during holidays; the website of the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection (中央纪委) and the National Supervisory Commission (国家监委) publishes monthly reports on the investigation and handling of violations of the spirit of the Central Committee's (中央) Eight-point Regulation nationwide, and specifically notifies typical cases of violations of the spirit of the Central Committee's (中央) Eight-point Regulation at important nodes... hitting the nail one hammer after another, guarding one node after another, continuously releasing a signal of strictness.

Data is the most powerful proof. In 2025, a total of more than 140,000 cases of formalism and bureaucracy were investigated and handled nationwide, 187,000 people were criticized, educated, and handled, among which more than 118,000 were given Party discipline and government sanctions; more than 149,800 cases of hedonism and extravagance were investigated and handled, 188,000 people were criticized, educated, and handled, among which more than 143,000 were given Party discipline and government sanctions.

Corruption on wheels, unhealthy trends in clubs, waste on the tip of the tongue... correcting one problem after another, especially strengthening the investigation and treatment of both style and corruption, being serious and tough, digging deep and checking carefully, effectively curbing the breeding and spread of unhealthy trends.

In recent years, the Party Central Committee (党中央) with Comrade Xi Jinping (习近平) at its core has attached great importance to rectifying formalism to reduce the burden on the grassroots. From determining the "Year of Reducing Burden on Grassroots" to establishing a special work mechanism for rectifying formalism to reduce the burden on the grassroots at the central level, from issuing notices requiring continuous resolution of formalistic problems that plague the grassroots, to issuing "Several Provisions on Rectifying Formalism to Reduce the Burden on the Grassroots"... one step a year, one footprint at a time.

Today, with the in-depth advancement of the "Six Corrections," the survival space of formalism is continuously compressed, the dilemma of "small horses pulling big carts" is quietly being solved, the burden on grassroots cadres is lighter, and the steps to serve the people are more solid.

When the wind is clean, the atmosphere is upright; when the atmosphere is upright, the heart is united; when the heart is united, things are accomplished. In 2025, the entire Party carried out learning education on deeply implementing the spirit of the Central Committee's (中央) Eight-point Regulation, and the vast number of Party members and cadres promoted learning, checking, and reforming in an integrated manner, gathering strength and working hard with an excellent style.

"The Central Committee's (中央) Eight-point Regulation is not a five-year or ten-year regulation, but an iron rule and hard lever that is effective for a long time." Facing the "15th Five-Year Plan" (十五五), deeply studying and implementing Xi Jinping’s Thought on Party Building (习近平党建思想), and continuously polishing the "gold business card" of style construction, we will certainly be able to continuously stimulate new vitality and show a new atmosphere.

### Discipline Construction
**Using strict discipline to manage the entire Party and govern the entire Party**
By our reporter Shen Tongrui (沈童睿)

**[SNAPSHOT]**
At the Integrity Education Base in Baicheng City (白城市), Jilin Province (吉林省), the "Record of Warnings on Discipline Violations and Illegal Acts in the Field of Black Soil Protection and Utilization in the City" in the exhibition hall deeply touched the Party members and cadres.

In recent years, the Baicheng City (白城市) Commission for Discipline Inspection (纪委) and Supervisory Commission (监委) have deeply studied and implemented the spirit of General Secretary Xi Jinping’s (习近平) important instructions on black soil protection, strengthened political supervision, conducted similar case analysis on land remediation cases, focused on investigating and handling discipline violations and illegal acts such as seeking personal gain through power, corruption and bribery, embezzlement and misappropriation, as well as problems of poor performance of duties such as making many statements but having high tones, little action and poor implementation, making choices, engaging in flexibility, and cutting corners, and effectively increased the intensity of supervision over the development and utilization of cultivated land reserve resources.

Strengthening discipline construction is the fundamental strategy for comprehensive strict governance of the Party. The 19th National Congress of the Communist Party of China (中国共产党第十九次全国代表大会) incorporated discipline construction into the overall layout of Party building, and discipline construction was placed in a more prominent position.

As an important foundational intra-Party regulation for managing and governing the Party, the "Regulations on Disciplinary Actions of the Communist Party of China (中国共产党)" have undergone three major revisions after the 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China (中国共产党第十八次全国代表大会). Every revision is an optimization and improvement of the system, and one after another, it releases a clear signal of using strict discipline to manage the entire Party and govern the entire Party.
As an important foundational intra-Party regulation for governing and administering the Party, the *Regulations on Disciplinary Actions of the Communist Party of China* (中国共产党纪律处分条例) have undergone three major revisions since the 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China (党的十八大). Each revision represents an optimization and improvement of the system, consistently signaling the clear message of governing the entire Party with strict discipline.

The vitality of a system lies in its implementation. Since the new era, our Party has insisted on placing discipline and rules at the forefront, ensuring that discipline is stricter than the law and precedes the law, and constraining Party members and cadres with higher standards.

"The first form of oversight was applied to criticize, educate, and handle 190,000 person-times, accounting for 50.5% of the total; the second form was applied to handle 149,000 person-times, accounting for 39.7%..." Some time ago, the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection and the National Supervisory Commission (中央纪委国家监委) reported on the supervision, inspection, and investigation work of national discipline inspection and supervisory organs in the first quarter of 2026.

Today, discipline inspection and supervisory organs are consolidating and deepening the accurate application of the "four forms," adhering to the principle of addressing problems early and small, and nipping them in the bud (防微杜渐 - fáng wēi dù jiàn - "prevent small, stop gradual," to take precautions against small errors before they grow into major problems). "Reddening faces and sweating" (红红脸、出出汗 - hóng hóng liǎn, chū chū hàn - "redden faces, break into a sweat," a metaphor for conducting criticism and self-criticism to address minor disciplinary issues) has become the norm. Light disciplinary actions and organizational adjustments have become the majority in handling disciplinary violations, while heavy disciplinary actions and major duty adjustments have become the minority, and those involving serious disciplinary violations and suspected criminal offenses have become the extreme minority, thereby achieving the coordinated progress of "punishing the extreme minority" and "managing the majority."

Political discipline is the most important, fundamental, and critical discipline.

"Strengthen political supervision and promote the entire Party to pool its strength to achieve the goals and tasks of the '15th Five-Year Plan' (十五五)." At the beginning of this year, when the Fifth Plenary Session of the 20th Central Commission for Discipline Inspection (二十届中央纪委五次全会) deployed the main tasks for 2026, it listed political supervision as the top priority, emphasizing the need to "strictly enforce political discipline."

In recent years, in accordance with the deployment and requirements of the Party Central Committee (党中央), discipline inspection and supervisory organs at all levels have placed the strict enforcement of the Party's political discipline and political rules in a prominent position. They have strengthened political supervision closely around the "Two Upholds" (两个维护), promoted the concretization, precision, and normalization of political supervision, and insisted that Party conduct and anti-corruption work must first be viewed from a political perspective, deeply recognizing the political nature and political harm of corruption... A series of measures have effectively promoted the creation of a clean and upright political ecology, and effectively pushed the vast number of Party members and cadres to continuously improve their political judgment, political comprehension, and political execution, ensuring that the entire Party maintains a high degree of consistency with the Party Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping (习近平) at its core.

"Strengthen discipline, and the revolution will be invincible." Deeply studying and implementing Xi Jinping's (习近平) thought on Party building and persevering in forging the entire Party with iron discipline will surely continue to safeguard the steady and long-term progress of the cause of the Party and the people.

Institutional Construction
Let the System "Grow Teeth and Carry Electricity"
By Reporter He Zhaoyu (何昭宇)

[Snapshot]
At the Public Property Warehouse in Xiqing District (西青区), Tianjin (天津市), more than 300 pieces of idle assets from various district-level units are neatly placed on shelves. "When setting up a new department, more than 100 office supplies were equipped in less than a day, saving both money and effort!" said a cadre from the Social Work Department of the Xiqing District Committee (西青区委社会工作部).

In recent years, Xiqing District (西青区) has thoroughly implemented the *Regulations on Practicing Thrift and Opposing Waste in Party and Government Organs* (党政机关厉行节约反对浪费条例), introduced systems such as measures to reduce government operating costs and revitalize the use of office space, and saved more than 5 million yuan in fiscal funds through the public property warehouse.

To govern the country, one must first govern the Party; to govern the Party, one must be strict; and to be strict, one must follow the law.

Since the 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China (党的十八大), the Party Central Committee (党中央) has attached great importance to the Party's institutional construction, issuing the first central document in the Party's history specifically dedicated to promoting the construction of intra-Party regulations and systems, convening two national meetings on intra-Party regulations, and successively compiling three five-year plans for the formulation of central intra-Party regulations...

Striving to strengthen the institutional guarantee for the "Two Upholds" (两个维护).

In recent years, the Party Central Committee (党中央) listening to work reports from the "Five Major Bodies" (五大班子) and the work report of the Central Secretariat (中央书记处) has become an important institutional arrangement for strengthening and maintaining the centralized and unified leadership of the Party Central Committee.

From incorporating the leadership of the Communist Party of China (中国共产党), which is the "most essential feature of socialism with Chinese characteristics," into the Party Constitution and the Constitution, to issuing the *Regulations of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee on Strengthening and Maintaining the Centralized and Unified Leadership of the Party Central Committee* (中共中央政治局关于加强和维护党中央集中统一领导的若干规定) and the *Regulations of the Communist Party of China on Requesting Instructions and Reporting on Major Issues* (中国共产党重大事项请示报告条例)... the rigidity of intra-Party regulations and systems has ensured the authority of the Party Central Committee (党中央) to set the tone and make the final decision.

Striving to guarantee the Party's leadership over all undertakings.

In Yibin City (宜宾市), Sichuan Province (四川省), where three rivers converge, there was once a situation of "chemical industry surrounding the river, pollution surrounding the city." Breaking and then establishing, 197 enterprises along the river were relocated or shut down, and 5.61 kilometers of production coastline were withdrawn; changing tracks and transforming, emerging industries such as power batteries and the digital economy were introduced... Whether ecological environmental protection can be implemented depends on institutional guarantees. The issuance of the *Regulations on the Responsibility System for Ecological and Environmental Protection for Local Party and Government Leaders (Trial)* (地方党政领导干部生态环境保护责任制规定(试行)) promoted the formulation of assessment measures for the effectiveness of building a Beautiful China, pressing and solidifying responsibilities in all aspects.

Over the past decade or so, the Party Central Committee (党中央) has formulated and issued intra-Party regulations such as the *Regulations on the Party Central Committee's Leadership over Economic Work* (党中央领导经济工作规定) and the *Regulations of the Communist Party of China on Political and Legal Work* (中国共产党政法工作条例), ensuring that under the strong leadership of the Party, we can coordinate the promotion of the "Five-Sphere Integrated Plan" (五位一体) and the coordinated promotion of the "Four-Pronged Comprehensive Strategy" (四个全面).

Striving to promote the deepening of comprehensive and strict Party governance.

On December 4, 2012, the Political Bureau of the Central Committee (中央政治局) held a meeting to deliberate and adopt the Eight-point Regulation (八项规定) on improving work style and maintaining close ties with the masses. "The Eight-point Regulation changed China"—this is the reputation among the people and has also set a benchmark for institutional construction for the entire Party. Today, the issuance of the *Regulations on Rectifying Formalism to Reduce Burdens on the Grassroots* (整治形式主义为基层减负若干规定) and the revision of the *Regulations on Practicing Thrift and Opposing Waste in Party and Government Organs* (党政机关厉行节约反对浪费条例)... a series of measures have promoted the formation of a normalized and long-term mechanism for implementing the spirit of the Central Eight-point Regulation.

Governing the country requires ordering the people, and ordering the people requires correcting the system (经国序民,正其制度 - jīng guó xù mín, zhèng qí zhì dù - "govern the country and order the people, rectify its systems," a classical reference to the importance of institutional governance). As of June 2024, there are 3,936 valid intra-Party regulations in the entire Party, of which more than 70% were newly formulated or revised since the 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China (党的十八大), forming a relatively complete system of intra-Party regulations.

In the new era and on the new journey, deeply studying and implementing Xi Jinping's (习近平) thought on Party building and continuously deepening the reform of the Party's construction system will surely create a new realm of Chinese governance with the "governance of the Communist Party of China."

Anti-Corruption Struggle
Resolutely Win the Tough and Protracted Battle Against Corruption
By Reporter Shi Yiqi (史一棋)

[Snapshot]
"I got the grain subsidy!" Even now, Lu Miaomiao (卢苗苗), a grain grower in Weilin Village (魏林村), Shuanggou Town (双沟镇), Suining County (睢宁县), Jiangsu Province (江苏省), still beams with joy when talking about the subsidy that was recovered.

In early 2025, the Suining County Commission for Discipline Inspection and Supervisory Commission (睢宁县纪委监委) received a clue: four villagers, including Lu Miaomiao (卢苗苗), had not received the one-time subsidy for actual grain-growing farmers. After investigation, it turned out that a village cadre, Jia (贾), had used his position to intercept more than 80,000 yuan in subsidies through false reporting.

In the end, Jia (贾) was seriously investigated and punished. Not a single grain grower in the village was left out, and the intercepted funds were distributed in full. "No matter how small the matter is, as long as it involves the immediate interests of the masses, the county will take it seriously." The villagers praised it one after another.

Since April 2024, the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection and the National Supervisory Commission (中央纪委国家监委) have deployed a concentrated rectification of unhealthy tendencies and corruption issues around the masses, extending the anti-corruption struggle to the grassroots and to the side of the masses, continuously enhancing the masses' sense of gain, happiness, and security.

Corruption is the greatest tumor that endangers the Party's vitality and combat effectiveness. Since the 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China (党的十八大), the Party Central Committee (党中央) with Comrade Xi Jinping (习近平) at its core, with the sobriety and firmness of "always blowing the charge," has integrated the promotion of not daring to be corrupt, not being able to be corrupt, and not wanting to be corrupt, and has resolutely fought the tough, protracted, and overall battle against corruption.

Strengthening the deterrent of "not daring to be corrupt." Adhering to using strong medicine to remove the illness and heavy codes to govern chaos, focusing on the "key minority" to carry out reviews and investigations, and deepening the rectification of corruption in key areas such as finance, state-owned enterprises, energy, education, societies and associations, development zones, and bidding and tendering. Strengthening discipline enforcement and law enforcement for the people, the concentrated rectification of unhealthy tendencies and corruption around the masses continues to advance. Good news about international anti-corruption fugitive repatriation and asset recovery has been reported frequently, cross-border corruption governance has been continuously deepened, and international anti-corruption influence has been continuously improved.

Tightening the cage of "not being able to be corrupt." Issuing the *Opinions of the CPC Central Committee on Strengthening Supervision over the "Top Leaders" and Leading Groups* (中共中央关于加强对“一把手”和领导班子监督的意见), amending the *Supervision Law of the People's Republic of China* (中华人民共和国监察法), and revising the *Regulations on the Implementation of the Supervision Law of the People's Republic of China* (中华人民共和国监察法实施条例)... the cage of the system is being tightened, and discipline inspection and supervisory organs are strictly enforcing discipline and law, and holding people accountable accurately and forcefully.

Enhancing the consciousness of "not wanting to be corrupt." The *Three-Year Action Plan for Building Integrity Culture in the New Era (2025-2027)* (新时代廉洁文化建设三年行动计划(2025—2027年)) has made specific arrangements for strengthening the construction of integrity culture in the new era, striving to eradicate the soil and conditions for corruption, cultivating a clean and upright political ecology, and creating a social trend of respecting integrity and rejecting corruption.

"'Jingyuan Hall' (静远堂) takes its meaning from 'Only by being detached can one clarify one's ambition, and only by being tranquil can one reach far' in Zhuge Liang's (诸葛亮) *Advice to My Son* (诫子书). This is not only a motto for him to inherit a clean family tradition, but also a portrayal of his lifelong spiritual realm..." At the Integrity Culture Base of Wuhou Shrine (武侯祠) in Chengdu (成都市), Sichuan Province (四川省), listening to the narrator, a breeze of integrity blows toward one's face.

In recent years, Chengdu (成都市) has taken the construction of integrity culture in the new era as a foundational project for the integrated promotion of "not daring, not being able, and not wanting to be corrupt," building a cluster of integrity culture positions, thickening the cultural soil of respecting integrity and frugality, and guiding the vast number of Party members and cadres to deeply understand that only by working cleanly can they work with free hands.

Such scenes can be seen everywhere. In Jiangxi (江西), the red stories on the Long March road have been moved into integrity classrooms; in Fujian (福建), Party members and cadres renewed their oath of joining the Party in front of the site of the Gutian Meeting (古田会议旧址)... All localities have deeply studied and implemented Xi Jinping's (习近平) thought on Party building, and through vivid forms such as situational dramas, micro-films, family tradition story meetings, and integrity culture-themed subways, have enhanced the pertinence, attractiveness, and infectiousness of integrity culture construction.

A series of ideological baptisms are being carried out continuously, and the wind of integrity in the new era is blowing across the land of China with vigorous momentum.

Speaking from the Heart
In previous years, high-priced gift-boxed zongzi were very common. After the introduction of the Central Eight-point Regulation (八项规定), the price of zongzi has become more and more approachable, the way of celebrating festivals has returned to tradition and origin, and "celebrating festivals in a refreshing way" is becoming a new normal for festivals today.
——Netizen from Beijing (北京)

The work style of cadres has changed. The government service window in the county has launched a one-time notification service, which makes it much more convenient for everyone to handle affairs. Things that used to take several days to complete can now be done in one trip.
——Netizen from Gansu (甘肃)

In the past, I had to issue hundreds of various certificates for villagers every year. Since the reduction of burdens at the grassroots level, the number of certification items has been greatly reduced, and we have more time and energy to go to the homes of ordinary people to solve their worries and difficulties, and we are more motivated to work.
——Netizen from Anhui (安徽)

Party members and cadres visit enterprises, and the work is settled with a cup of clear tea. Enterprises focus on business development, and the government does a good job in supervision and service. They are close and clean with each other. This is a healthy relationship between government and business.
——Netizen from Hunan (湖南)

The hardest thing is not to surpass others, but to overcome oneself. I believe that a Party that does not forget its original intention, keeps its mission in mind, faces problems squarely, and wields the blade inward (刀刃向内 - dāo rèn xiàng nèi - "blade towards inside," a metaphor for self-revolution and self-correction), will surely remain youthful forever and lead the Chinese nation toward great rejuvenation.
——Netizen from Hebei (河北)

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Always be the backbone of the Chinese people and the Chinese nation.

By: 张 洋

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As the "July 1st" (七一) anniversary approaches, visitors are arriving in an endless stream at the Museum of the Communist Party of China (中国共产党历史展览馆). Through historical photographs, documentary artifacts, and vivid recreations, the exhibits traverse over a century of 峥嵘岁月 (zhēng róng suì yuè - "extraordinary years," referring to a period of arduous and glorious struggle). The sentiments and convictions of being grateful to the Party, listening to the Party, and following the Party are stirring in people's hearts.

General Secretary Xi Jinping (习近平) has profoundly pointed out: "The Communist Party of China (中国共产党) is the most reliable backbone for us to achieve great undertakings."

Looking back at the path of struggle over the past, from the earth-shaking founding of the Party (建党), to the world-changing founding of New China (新中国), to the heaven-and-earth-turning changes of Reform and Opening-up (改革开放), and then to the historic achievements and transformations in the cause of the Party and the country since the 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China (党的十八大)... we have 披荆斩棘 (pī jīng zhǎn jí - "clearing away thorns and brambles," overcoming obstacles and hardships) and marched forward with songs of triumph. The Communist Party of China (中国共产党) has united and led the people in unremitting struggle, and the Chinese nation (中华民族) has achieved the great leap from standing up and growing rich to becoming strong.

The closer we get to our goals, the more complex the situation, and the more arduous the tasks, the more the "backbone" must remain as firm as a rock. Since the 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China (党的十八大), in the face of profound changes unseen in a century and the complex shifts in domestic and international situations, the Party Central Committee (党中央) with Comrade Xi Jinping (习近平) at its core has taken an overall view of the situation and coordinated all parties, demonstrating powerful political leadership, ideological guidance, mass organization, and social appeal.

To give a few examples: In September 2024, facing a slowdown in major economic indicators, the Political Bureau of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (中共中央政治局) decisively deployed a package of incremental policies; in April 2025, facing factors such as increased external shocks, the Political Bureau of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (中共中央政治局) once again deployed a package of policy measures... Time and again, key decisions have united hearts and boosted confidence. History never waits for the hesitant, the slackers, or the faint-hearted, and our Party has always been the most determined pioneer.

Practice has fully proven that the "Two Establishments" (两个确立) are the greatest certainty, the greatest source of confidence, and the greatest guarantee for overcoming all difficulties and obstacles and dealing with all uncertainties, and they are of decisive significance for advancing the historical process of the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation (中华民族).

Let us bring the lens closer to our daily lives. In communities, Party members and cadres walk among buildings, knocking on the doors of the masses; at Party-mass consultation meetings, livelihood demands are recorded, and "micro-projects" (微实事) are brought from paper to reality. In rural areas, resident cadres eat, live, and work with the masses, engraving their original aspirations into the fields, helping farmers achieve good harvests and a more prosperous life. On the front lines of disaster relief, countless Party members and cadres charge to the front and head toward danger.

What is a backbone? It is the banner the masses see first when they need it most, the hands they grasp first, and the group of people everyone can speak of, trust, and rely on.

How can we remain the backbone of the Chinese people (中国人民) and the Chinese nation (中华民族) forever? It depends on the continuation of our original mission, the promotion of the Great Founding Spirit of the Party (伟大建党精神), and the clear-headed determination to manage and govern the Party without a moment's rest. By placing political construction first, unremittingly using the Party's innovative theories to forge souls, perseveringly implementing the Central Eight-point Regulation (中央八项规定) spirit, and integrally advancing the "Three Non-Corruptions" (三不腐)... the new great project of Party building in the new era continues to develop in depth, and comprehensive and strict Party governance (全面从严治党) has become a distinct feature of the Party's governance in the new era. This is an important secret to why a century-old major party always stays at the forefront of the times and always receives the heartfelt support of the people—only by being strong ourselves can we shoulder great responsibilities.

On the new journey, by deeply studying and implementing Xi Jinping's thought on Party building (习近平党建思想), adhering to and strengthening the overall leadership of the Party, and resolutely achieving the "Two Upholds" (两个维护), no wind or rain can stop our pace forward. The century-old major party is forging ahead, and the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation (中华民族) is unstoppable.

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Editors of this edition: Zhang Yang, Meng Xiangfu, Shi Yiqi, Li Linwei, He Zhaoyu

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Layout Design: Cai Huawei (蔡华伟)

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Page 12版:社会

Attention Gaokao candidates and parents: Beware of post-exam scams! (Service Window)

By: 本报记者 闫伊乔

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The annual National College Entrance Examination (高考) has come to a close, and exam-related fraud has entered a high-incidence period. "Early score checking," "internal quotas," "score modification," and "grant distribution"—various scams are emerging one after another. Fraudsters exploit the psychological desire of parents to see their children succeed, weaving rumors and setting up traps with meticulous care. Reporters have categorized several common forms of fraud, hoping that the vast number of candidates and parents will remain vigilant and avoid being deceived.

**Do not blindly trust "cheating" text messages**
"You have been detected by surveillance for cheating during the National College Entrance Examination (高考), and your exam results will be cancelled..." After the exam, some candidates received text messages from "certain education departments" or "certain admissions and examination institutions" (招生考试机构), claiming they had engaged in cheating.

This is a tactic where criminals exploit the panic of candidates, inducing them to click on website links or download apps to pay "fines," or using pretexts like paying fees or security deposits to trick candidates into providing personal information such as ID card numbers and bank card numbers, which may cause financial loss to the candidates.

In this regard, the Ministry of Education (教育部) reminds candidates not to blindly trust any text messages or phone calls related to exam cheating after the exam, and especially not to click on relevant links easily. Upon receiving such messages, please verify them with education departments or admissions and examination institutions (招生考试机构) immediately to confirm the authenticity of the information. If you encounter fraud, call the police immediately.

**Early "score checking" or "score modification"? Links hide traps**
After the National College Entrance Examination (高考), Student Li (李同学) received a text message: "Your National College Entrance Examination (高考) scores are now available; click the link and enter your admission ticket number to view them in advance." After clicking the link, the page prompted "System error, please log in again," and requested his ID card number, bank card number, and verification code. After Student Li followed the system's instructions, he soon discovered that over 20,000 yuan had been stolen from his bank card.

Every year in mid-June, provincial-level education administrative departments or admissions and examination institutions (招生考试机构) announce the score-checking times for their respective regions. Candidates should check their scores on time through the official websites of provincial education examination authorities (教育考试院), official WeChat accounts of provincial examination authorities (考试院), local government service apps, and the Gaokao Sunshine Platform (阳光高考平台). Text messages sent to candidates by provincial-level admissions and examination institutions (招生考试机构) after the exam do not include URLs or links; they only serve as reminders for score-checking channels. If you receive a text message or URL containing a link, please be highly vigilant, and if you encounter fraud, call the police immediately.

At the same time, experts remind the public that relevant data for the National College Entrance Examination (高考) is protected by multiple layers of encryption and backup, and the system has a high level of intrusion prevention. So-called "hacker score modification" or "internal operations" are all scams. Candidates must not be misled by these illegal means due to temporary anxiety.

**Fill out applications rationally and beware of high-priced counseling**
"I spent 20,000 yuan to hire an 'expert' to recommend schools, and my child wasn't admitted to a single one." Last year, Ms. Zhang (张女士), a parent of a candidate from Beijing (北京), complained that a training institution claimed to possess "exclusive big data" capable of accurately predicting admission probabilities, but the recommended institutions were completely inconsistent with the candidate's actual situation.

After the National College Entrance Examination (高考) concludes, some institutions use the banners of "application experts" or "precise big data prediction" to charge exorbitant consulting fees. In recent years, scams using new technology have also emerged, such as training institutions promoting paid "AI application filling," promising precise placement and zero missed admissions.

In reality, these so-called AI algorithms are merely simple applications based on publicly available score lines from previous years. Blindly relying on such services is highly likely to lead to application errors and failure to be admitted.

Experts remind that before the application process each year, provincial-level admissions and examination institutions (招生考试机构) release statistics on that year's exam scores and admission information from previous years. Universities also provide their own admission prospectuses, procedures, and historical reference information. There is no such thing as "internal information" or "internal data." Candidates and parents can check relevant websites or call the local education examination authorities (教育考试院), admissions and examination management centers (招生考试管理中心), and target institutions to understand relevant policies.

**Pay a "handling fee" to receive a grant? Impossible!**
"Congratulations, your child has been awarded a National College Entrance Examination (高考) excellence scholarship; please contact us to claim it as soon as possible." Candidate parent Mr. Zhao (赵先生) received such a call last year. The caller claimed to be a "staff member of the Ministry of Education (教育部)," stating that the child had won a 5,000 yuan grant but needed to pay a 500 yuan "handling fee" to activate the account. Mr. Zhao felt something was wrong and verified it with the local education department, confirming that no such thing existed.

"Grant fraud is one of the most frequent types of post-exam fraud, especially targeting candidates from economically disadvantaged families." An anti-fraud expert from the Criminal Investigation Bureau of the Ministry of Public Security (公安部刑侦局) explains that the national student financial aid policy system is comprehensive. All scholarships and grants are distributed through official channels; they will never require advance payment of any fees, nor will they ask for sensitive information such as bank card passwords or verification codes.

The police remind the public that any call from someone claiming to be a staff member of an "education department" or "finance bureau" who asks for bank card information or payment is definitely a scam. In such situations, candidates and parents should proactively contact local education departments or schools to verify the truth.

**Providing supplementary admission quotas or "internal indicators"? A scam!**
Student Zhao (赵同学) took the National College Entrance Examination (高考) in 2023. Because his score was 0.5 points lower than the cutoff for a certain university, he was not admitted. A criminal named Peng (彭某) contacted Student Zhao, claiming he could help him secure an admission quota for that school and would refund all fees if he could not. During this time, Peng fabricated various lies about entertaining guests, giving gifts, and purchasing admission quotas, eventually defrauding Student Zhao of 40,600 yuan.

After the National College Entrance Examination (高考) scores are released, such fraud cases emerge one after another. Some criminals claim to have special connections and can achieve "internal indicators" or "lower-score supplementary admission" through "pulling strings" or "special treatment." In this regard, the "Thirty Prohibitions" on admissions work issued by the Ministry of Education (教育部) clearly states that institutions "must not arbitrarily expand the scale of university admissions or adjust university enrollment plans," "must not enroll students without a plan or arbitrarily exceed the planned scale," and "provincial-level admissions offices must not violate the admission procedures or lower standards outside of policy to provide candidate files to relevant universities." Therefore, "getting into a prestigious school with a low score by paying money" is always a scam.

The National College Entrance Examination (高考) is the end of a stage of learning, but it is also a new starting point for life's journey. Facing exam-related scams, the whole society should form a joint force against fraud: schools should continue to carry out warning education combined with real cases to guide students to establish correct concepts; parents must keep a clear head, abandon anxiety and wishful thinking, and must verify through multiple channels when encountering issues regarding scores, admissions, or payments, and firmly refuse to transfer money to unfamiliar accounts; online platforms must fulfill their primary responsibilities and promptly clean up false information and fraudulent advertisements related to the exam; regulatory departments need to continue to increase the intensity of crackdowns, strictly investigate and punish illegal and criminal acts, and form a powerful deterrent.

The Anti-Fraud Center of the Ministry of Public Security (公安部反诈中心) reminds the public that once you encounter false information, fraudulent behavior, or irregular admission propaganda related to the exam, you must save evidence such as chat records, transfer vouchers, and screenshots of advertisements at the first opportunity, report it to schools or education examination departments in a timely manner, or report it directly to public security organs. Remember the two numbers: 96110 (the anti-fraud warning hotline) and 110 (the emergency police line). Firmly safeguard your legitimate rights and interests, and work together to protect a pure and fair environment for the National College Entrance Examination (高考).

It is truly a case of 防不胜防 (fáng bù shèng fáng - "guard not surpass guard," impossible to defend against all), as criminals are always looking for new ways to exploit the system. Candidates and parents must remain vigilant, as it is better to be 宁缺毋滥 (nìng quē wú làn - "rather lack than accept inferior," better to have nothing than to accept something substandard/fake) when it comes to trusting unverified sources. By staying informed, we can ensure that the hard work of students is not ruined by those who 投机取巧 (tóu jī qǔ qiǎo - "seize opportunity take trick," to use unscrupulous methods to gain an advantage).

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23,000 Job Fairs Held to Promote Employment for College Graduates

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Beijing (北京), June 21 (Reporter Li Linwei (李林蔚)) — This reporter recently learned from the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security (人力资源和社会保障部) that the "Guiding the Future" (职引未来) — 2026 National City-Joint Recruitment Special Spring Event for College Graduates has concluded. During the event, a total of 23,000 job fairs were held both online and offline, mobilizing 674,000 employers, providing 12.681 million job openings, and attracting 13.524 million instances of graduate participation. The event focused on promoting high-quality and full employment for youth, including college graduates, while highlighting industry demand orientation, regional collaborative linkage, digital empowerment for efficiency, and assistance for key groups.

Various regions focused on key sectors such as artificial intelligence (人工智能), the low-altitude economy (低空经济), green and low-carbon industries (绿色低碳), advanced manufacturing (先进制造), and the digital economy (数字经济). They proactively engaged with key enterprises, major projects, and industrial parks to increase the development of high-quality positions. Through methods such as government-enterprise linkage and industry collaboration, they dynamically grasped changes in talent demand, promoting the organic integration of recruitment with talent cultivation and vocational training.

The event relied on the main venue of the China National Talent Network (中国国家人才网) to establish various service zones, achieving 24/7 recruitment. By utilizing AI (artificial intelligence) and big data, the event provided personalized and precise job-seeking services for graduates. Innovating the "live-streaming for job hunting" (直播带岗) model, the organizers held five special city-based live-streaming recruitment events, which accumulated over 2.4 million views. The success of these efforts was not 一蹴而就 (yī cù ér jiù - "one step reach success," achieved overnight; used to describe something that cannot be accomplished in a single move), but rather the result of meticulous planning and coordination.

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Guizhou Promotes Local Employment and Entrepreneurship for Rural Labor Force

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Guiyang (贵阳), June 21 (Reporter Cheng Huan (程焕)) — The Department of Human Resources and Social Security of Guizhou Province (贵州省人力资源和社会保障厅) and 10 other departments recently issued the "Several Policy Measures for Serving and Guaranteeing the Transition of Rural Labor from Working 'Far Away' to Employment and Entrepreneurship 'Near Home' (Trial)" (关于服务保障农村劳动力从“出远门”务工到“近家门”就业创业的若干政策措施(试行)). Through support measures such as subsidy incentives, industrial job expansion, entrepreneurial support, skills training, bottom-line guarantees, and convenient services, the province aims to fully support and guarantee that over 800,000 inter-provincial migrant workers will transition from working "far away" to employment and entrepreneurship "near home" during the "15th Five-Year Plan" (十五五) period.

Policy subsidies are designed to encourage business entities to absorb labor. Various business entities within Guizhou Province (贵州省) that hire newly returned laborers, sign labor contracts for one year or more, and pay social insurance in full for three months are eligible for a one-time employment subsidy of 500 yuan per person. For skilled personnel with certificates who return home to work in the province's key and characteristic industries and maintain stable employment with social insurance for over three months, a monthly job subsidy of 300 yuan will be issued for a maximum period of three months.

Regarding support for returning entrepreneurs, the "Returning Entrepreneur Small Business Owner" project (返乡创业小老板工程) will be implemented. Entrepreneurial training will be conducted on a regular basis, supporting over 10,000 returning individuals annually to start their own businesses and drive employment. Returning individuals who start a business for the first time and operate normally for one full year may apply for a one-time entrepreneurial subsidy of 5,000 yuan; entrepreneurs who lease business premises may apply for a monthly venue rental subsidy of up to 500 yuan, with a maximum subsidy period of three years.

Focusing on skills enhancement, targeted vocational skills training will be vigorously carried out. Enterprises are encouraged to organize pre-job training for newly recruited returning personnel, with the subsidy standard increased from 60 yuan per person per day to 100 yuan per person per day. School-enterprise cooperation will be deepened, with 100 enterprise-ordered classes to be established within the year. Relying on employment training alliances, 5,000 returning migrant workers will be absorbed, and skill certificates obtained outside the province will be eligible for direct certificate subsidies within the province in accordance with regulations.

Industrial and employment synergy will be strengthened. Relying on industrial development to broaden employment channels, various regions will conduct employment assessments in tandem with key projects and investment promotion, developing a batch of jobs annually through industrial development to absorb returning labor. Through the development of public welfare positions and the implementation of "work-for-relief" projects (以工代赈), a batch of bottom-line employment positions will be developed annually to absorb returning labor. At the same time, public employment services will be optimized, with no fewer than 3,000 various recruitment activities, such as the "Spring Breeze Action" (春风行动) and the "Private Enterprise Recruitment Month" (民营企业招聘月), organized across the province throughout the year to build a bridge for supply and demand matching. While these efforts are 任重道远 (rèn zhòng dào yuǎn - "burden heavy road distant," the task is arduous and the road is long; it implies a long-term, challenging responsibility), the province is committed to ensuring the success of these initiatives.

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Strengthen full-chain metrological supervision of optical dispensing facilities

By: 本报记者 林丽鹂

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The preparation and fitting of eyeglasses rely on precision; non-standard measurement leading to data deviations directly endangers vision health. Minor measurement errors in optometry equipment can translate into serious vision damage, with the harm being particularly prominent for the "one old and one young" (一老一小) groups—the elderly and adolescents.

The State Administration for Market Regulation (国家市场监督管理总局) recently issued the "Notice on Strengthening Full-Chain Metrological Supervision of Eyeglass Preparation and Fitting Premises" (关于加强眼镜制配场所全链条计量监管的通知). This notice aims to strengthen metrological supervision across the entire chain of eyeglass production, preparation, sales, and maintenance by eyeglass enterprises. It seeks to continuously regulate the order of the eyeglass preparation market, optimize the consumption environment for eyeglass preparation, cultivate a group of honest metrological units, promote the development of metrological capabilities among eyeglass preparation operators, improve the precision and service quality of eyeglass preparation, and safeguard a "bright vision."

According to reports, the notice requires focusing on five major aspects to coordinate and promote full-chain supervision. First is the management of subject systems and personnel. This involves verifying the establishment and implementation of metrological management and consumer rights protection systems, and checking the staffing, certification, and regular training of metrological management personnel and professional optometrists. Second is the control of mandatory metrological instruments. This includes inspecting the registration, filing, and periodic verification management of mandatory verification equipment such as focimeters, optometers, and trial lens sets. It also involves strictly investigating and punishing illegal acts such as the use of unverified, overdue, or unqualified metrological instruments, and the unauthorized use of non-statutory units of measurement. Third is the control of production and business equipment and data. This involves verifying the configuration and accuracy of testing equipment for vertex power, transmittance, and thickness used by manufacturers of eyeglass lenses, contact lenses, and finished eyeglasses, as well as standardizing the configuration of testing equipment and the acceptance process for incoming goods at optometry and contact lens retail stores to ensure the authenticity and precision of metrological data throughout the chain. Fourth is the standardization of metrology throughout the entire business process. This covers the entire process of eyeglass preparation and metrological activities, identifying prominent problems such as missing metrological records, data distortion, and non-standard operations. Fifth is the consumer rights protection and disposal mechanism. This involves standardizing the entire process of complaint registration, verification, disposal, and follow-up, quickly addressing public demands related to eyeglass preparation metrology, and timely resolving consumer metrological disputes.

According to the notice, market supervision departments at all levels must improve the standardization of supervision: by combining clues from public complaints and reports, problems discovered during daily supervision, hot topics reflected in public opinion, and risk investigation findings, they should improve the list of subjects for supervision and inspection (which should cover all types of entities involved in metrological activities for eyeglass preparation) and the list of personnel implementing supervision and inspection. They must standardize the supervision and inspection process and unify supervision and inspection standards. Strictly following the relevant requirements for standardizing administrative inspections of enterprises, they should reasonably determine the methods and frequency of supervision and inspection to avoid or minimize the impact on the normal production and business activities of eyeglass preparation entities, and timely respond to and handle their reasonable and legal demands. Focusing on optimizing a law-based business environment, they should use digital means to standardize administrative inspection behaviors, achieving full-process traceability, accountability, and supervision of administrative inspections, and resolutely curb arbitrary, repetitive, and multi-headed inspections. They must strictly implement the spirit of the Central Eight-point Regulation (中央八项规定) and its implementation rules, as well as the provisions on rectifying formalism to reduce the burden on the grassroots, and vigorously promote precise and targeted supervision.

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Multiple measures implemented to serve railway passengers during the Dragon Boat Festival holiday

By: 本报记者 周 欢

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"This train is so beautiful!" At 8:20 AM on June 20, tourist Lin Xiaoyu (林晓雨) and her friends couldn't help but exclaim as they walked into the "Beautiful Shangrao" (大美上饶) themed sightseeing train's Rice Culture themed carriage. The carriage was furnished with wooden tea tables and decorated with sachets and colorful braided ropes, creating a festive atmosphere. "Dong, dong, dong..." After a burst of rapid gong and drum sounds, a Yiyang Opera (弋阳腔) performance began, and actors wearing Nuo masks (傩面具) took the stage to dance. "Watching a play on a train, it's so satisfying!" Lin Xiaoyu (林晓雨) raised her phone and took photos repeatedly.

In the adjacent parent-child interaction themed carriage, laughter was constant. The small play area was stocked with building blocks, picture books, and more. Some children were busy assembling blocks, some were looking down at picture books, and others were leaning against the train windows, admiring the pastoral scenery passing by outside.

Rice culture, academy study tours, intangible cultural heritage experiences... Each of the 8 carriages had its own theme. This themed sightseeing train, operated by China Railway Nanchang Group (国铁南昌局), saw its seating capacity reach nearly 100% during the Dragon Boat Festival holiday. The route starts in Shangrao (上饶), Jiangxi (江西), and ends in Nanchang (南昌), Jiangxi (江西), connecting high-quality tourism resources such as Mount Sanqingshan (三清山), Guifeng (龟峰), and Wangxian Valley (望仙谷).

What made the tourists feel comfortable was not just the scenery inside and outside the carriages, but also the thoughtful service.

On the afternoon of the 20th, tourist Jiang Yifeng (江逸峰) and his family from Changsha (长沙), Hunan (湖南), were preparing for their return trip. The camellia oil, rice cakes, and green tea they had bought for friends and family had become a "sweet burden" on their journey home. Fortunately, with the railway's "Light Travel" (轻装行) service, Jiang Yifeng (江逸峰) placed an order on the Railway 12306 (铁路12306) app. Soon, railway staff arrived at the "Light Travel" (轻装行) service point, verified the family's luggage, attached exclusive labels, and immediately transferred it to Shangrao Station (上饶站).

Huang Xiongfei (黄雄飞), Director of the General Department of China Railway Express Nanchang Branch (中铁快运南昌分公司), introduced that the "Light Travel" (轻装行) service charges by the item, allows for online booking, and provides full-process agency services. It promotes the integration model of "High-speed Rail + Tourism," allowing travelers to truly achieve "traveling empty-handed and returning home relaxed."

At 17:02 on the 20th, the G2317 train carrying the family of Jiang Yifeng (江逸峰) pulled steadily out of Shangrao Station (上饶站), their luggage neatly placed in the locker behind their seats. As mealtime approached, the aroma of food wafted through the carriage. He used his phone to scan the "Railway Smooth Travel Code" (铁路畅行码) on the armrest and ordered dishes such as Ningdu Three-Cup Chicken (宁都三杯鸡), Lianhua Blood Duck (莲花血鸭), and stir-fried tomato with eggs.

Up ahead, in the kitchen of the "Ganpo Smart Imprint" (赣鄱智慧印记) hot-chain restaurant at Nanchang West Station (南昌西站), flames rose and spatulas flew. Stir-fried pork with chili, braised beef brisket with potatoes, steamed pork with preserved vegetables... various flavorful stir-fried dishes were cooked fresh and immediately packed. Delivery personnel waiting nearby efficiently loaded the meals into thermal boxes and sent them to the train about to stop at the platform.

Xiao Feng (肖烽), head of the "Ganpo Smart Imprint" (赣鄱智慧印记) hot-chain restaurant, introduced: "We have launched hot-chain meal supplies at 6 railway stations including Nanchang West Station (南昌西站), Shangrao Station (上饶站), and Ganzhou West Station (赣州西站). The meals are freshly cooked and delivered via thermal insulation, ensuring that the temperature remains above 60 degrees Celsius when they reach the passengers."

After finishing dinner on the high-speed train, the family of Jiang Yifeng (江逸峰) arrived smoothly at Changsha South Station (长沙南站) just over an hour later, and their luggage would be delivered to their home within 5 hours. "The service is thoughtful, and the whole trip was very relaxing!" said Jiang Yifeng (江逸峰). 如鱼得水 (rú yú dé shuǐ - "like a fish in water," describing someone in a situation that is perfectly suited to them or feeling very comfortable and at ease).

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Gansu Upgrades "One-Stop Service" for Flexible Employment Social Insurance Enrollment

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Lanzhou (兰州), June 21 (Reporter Zeng Yichen (曾亦辰)) — The Department of Human Resources and Social Security of Gansu Province (甘肃省人力资源和社会保障厅), in conjunction with the Provincial Medical Insurance Bureau (省医保局), the Provincial Tax Service (省税务局), and the Provincial Big Data Center (省大数据中心), recently issued the "Work Plan for 'One-Stop' Social Insurance Enrollment for Flexible Employment (Trial)" (《灵活就业参保“一件事”工作方案(试行)》). Beyond the basic enrollment items stipulated by the state, the plan innovatively expands to include eight service items highly relevant to the needs of the flexible employment population, effectively improving administrative efficiency for the public. The plan will be fully implemented across Gansu (甘肃) by the end of June.

In the past, individuals in flexible employment had to visit multiple departments separately to handle tasks such as social insurance enrollment, social security subsidies, and career guidance, which was 费时费力 (fèi shí fèi lì - "expend time expend effort," time-consuming and laborious). In addition to the basic items mandated by the state, such as enrollment registration and social security contribution declarations, this reform adds two subsidy-related items—applications for social insurance subsidies for flexible employment among individuals with employment difficulties and for college graduates—as well as six service-related items: training intention registration, consultation on employment policies and regulations, entrepreneurship and business startup guidance, personal job application, job placement, and career guidance. This integrates the full chain of needs for the flexible employment group, from insurance enrollment to employment and entrepreneurship, into a "one-stop" service.

By relying on the province's integrated government service platform, the data interfaces of the Human Resources and Social Security comprehensive service platform, the Provincial Medical Insurance Information Platform (省医保信息平台), and the Tax Information System (税务信息系统) have been connected to establish a data-sharing mechanism. Electronic certificates such as ID cards can be retrieved directly, eliminating the need for applicants to submit materials repeatedly. At the same time, a dedicated service zone has been established on the Gansu Government Service Network (甘肃政务服务网) and the "Gankuai Ban" (甘快办) mobile application, unifying the service portal to achieve "one-time login, full-network processing," allowing data to do the work while the public saves time and effort.

To ensure that more individuals in flexible employment are aware of the policy and can enjoy its benefits, departments of human resources and social security, medical insurance, and taxation at all levels in Gansu (甘肃) will utilize various channels—including portal websites, WeChat official accounts, physical service windows, and community outreach—to widely publicize the application procedures, eligibility criteria, and service effectiveness of the "one-stop" flexible employment enrollment, guiding the public to apply proactively.

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30 Apps Named and Shamed

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Beijing (北京), June 21 (Reporter Jin Xin (金歆)) — This reporter learned from the Office of the Central Cyberspace Affairs Commission (中央网信办) that, in accordance with the "Announcement on Launching the 2026 Special Series Campaign for Personal Information Protection" (关于开展2026年个人信息保护系列专项行动的公告) jointly issued by the Office of the Central Cyberspace Affairs Commission (中央网信办), the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (工业和信息化部), and the Ministry of Public Security (公安部), and pursuant to laws and regulations such as the Cybersecurity Law (网络安全法), the Personal Information Protection Law (个人信息保护法), the Regulations on the Management of Network Data Security (网络数据安全管理条例), and the Methods for Identifying Illegal and Irregular Collection and Use of Personal Information by Apps (APP违法违规收集使用个人信息行为认定方法), the Office of the Central Cyberspace Affairs Commission (中央网信办) has organized inspections of the collection and use of personal information by apps (including mini-programs). Recently, the Office of the Central Cyberspace Affairs Commission (中央网信办) issued a notification regarding issues with personal information collection and use in 30 apps.

These issues include: 7 apps, such as Ruixin Education (锐新教育), Quxueche (趣学车), Jinse Finance (金色财经), and Mianman (免漫), failed to publicly disclose their rules for the collection and use of personal information; 4 apps, such as Lanmao Cloud Commerce (蓝猫云商) and Daxiang Youpin (大象优品), frequently requested non-essential permissions; 5 apps, such as CTS Travel (中旅旅行) and Dongrong (东融), failed to completely and accurately list the circumstances under which SDKs (Software Development Kits) collect and use personal information; and 14 apps, such as Jiangzhe (匠者) and Jumiao Island (句苗岛), failed to provide effective account cancellation functions. The authorities are not 坐以待毙 (zuò yǐ dài bì - "sit and wait for death," to wait passively for destruction or failure) regarding these violations and are taking decisive action to ensure compliance.

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Anhui to build 25 provincial-level high-skilled talent training and competition bases

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Hefei (合肥), June 21 (Reporter Tian Xianjin (田先进)) — The Department of Human Resources and Social Security of Anhui Province (安徽省人力资源和社会保障厅) and the Department of Finance of Anhui Province (安徽省财政厅) recently jointly issued the "Implementation Plan for the Construction of Key Projects for High-Skilled Talents at the Provincial Level in Anhui Province (2026—2030)" (安徽省省级高技能人才重点项目建设实施方案(2026—2030年)). The plan proposes that by 2030, the province will support the construction of 25 provincial-level high-skilled talent training and competition bases and 200 provincial-level master skill studios. An evaluation of the work achievements of these master skill studios will be conducted every two years, with 40 studios demonstrating significant results selected each time.

Provincial-level high-skilled talent training and competition bases will primarily focus on key and emerging industries, covering five categories including advanced manufacturing, the digital economy, and modern services. These bases will be established relying on vocational colleges (including technical schools), enterprises (vocational training institutions), and industry associations that possess the capability for high-skilled talent training and competition. They will specifically undertake tasks such as skills training, skills competitions, skills assessment, and skills exchange.

Provincial-level master skill studios will primarily focus on outstanding high-skilled talents on the front lines of production and service. Relying on their host units, these studios will carry out activities such as training, research, technical problem-solving, and exchange, ensuring that leading high-skilled talents play an important role in mentoring apprentices, tackling technical challenges, inheriting craftsmanship, and promoting technical skills. The evaluation of work achievements for master skill studios is open to studios at the provincial level and above, and is divided into two categories: technical innovation and talent cultivation.

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Tianjin releases 5 local standards in the field of traditional Chinese medicine

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Tianjin (天津), June 21 (Reporter Gong Xiangjuan (龚相娟)) — The reporter learned from the Tianjin Municipal Health Commission (天津市卫生健康委) that, with the approval of the Tianjin Municipal Market Supervision Commission (天津市市场监督管理委员会), five local standards in the field of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) were recently released. These include: "Technical Specifications for TCM Operations: Jing-Well Point Bloodletting," "Technical Specifications for TCM Operations: Acupuncture for Spleen and Stomach Regulation," "Technical Specifications for TCM Operations: Blood Pressure Regulating Health Exercises," "Technical Specifications for TCM Operations: Percutaneous Electrical Acupoint Stimulation During Surgery," and "Guidelines for Prescription Dispensing of Prepared TCM Slices." These represent the first batch of independently developed local standards that align with the actual development of TCM in Tianjin (天津), filling a gap in the city's local TCM standards.

The Tianjin Municipal Health Commission (天津市卫生健康委) will continue to improve the full-chain work mechanism for TCM standardization and build a closed-loop management system consisting of "standard development, clinical application, and dynamic evaluation." The commission will carry out tiered standard training and pilot demonstrations to promote implementation across the entire region, **以点带面** (yǐ diǎn dài miàn - "use point to lead surface," using a pilot project to drive broader progress). At the same time, it will conduct normalized tracking of the clinical application effects of these standards, dynamically refine their content, and continuously enhance their scientific rigor and practicality.

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Editors: Cheng Chen, Bai Zhenzhi, Liu Zihe

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Page 13版:生态

New Technologies Applied to Desertification Control (Beautiful China)

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The Ministry of Natural Resources (自然资源部), the National Forestry and Grassland Administration (国家林业和草原局), and the China Geological Survey (中国地质调查局) recently jointly released the "Catalog of Innovative and Applicable Technologies for Ecological Restoration (Third Batch)" to encourage and support scientific research and development in the field of ecological restoration. In recent years, China (我国) has achieved remarkable results in desertification control. Various regions have continuously strengthened scientific and technological support for desertification control, promoted the implementation and effectiveness of a number of innovative technologies in ecological restoration practices, and continuously improved the scientific and technological level of desertification control.
  —Editor

  Root-Guiding Tubes: "Guiding" Tree Roots to Find Water
  By our reporter Zhang Tengyang (张腾扬)
  "This was originally a PVC (polyvinyl chloride) pipe. After planting a sapling inside and filling it with substrate, the root system can fill the entire root-guiding tube in two months, and the lower end can even extend out." At the seedling cultivation base of the Beishileng Forest Farm (北石塄林场) in Zhangjiakou City (张家口市), Hebei Province (河北省), the reporter saw a magical "underground water navigation system"—a series of specially made root-guiding tubes. The secret to how saplings survive without irrigation is hidden within them.

  Xu Zhenhua (徐振华), Deputy Dean of the Hebei Academy of Forestry and Grassland Sciences (河北省林业和草原科学研究院), squatted on the sandy ground, pushed aside the dry surface sand, and said, "Look, it's damp underneath. Once the sapling's roots touch the moist sand layer, they dig downward on their own; it 'navigates' itself."

  "Unable to water, unable to survive" was once a long-standing dilemma for tree planting in the sandy areas of northern Hebei (冀北). Through years of effort, this situation has gradually changed. Not long ago, the "Integrated Vegetation Restoration Technology for Sandy Areas in Northern Hebei" (冀北沙地植被综合恢复技术) from Hebei Province (河北省) was selected for the "Catalog of Innovative and Applicable Technologies for Ecological Restoration (Third Batch)."

  Using this special container to cultivate deep-rooted seedlings, combined with a specialized hole-digging machine to precisely plant the saplings into the moist sand layer 80 centimeters deep—this is the core of the "Eight-Step Method" (八步法) ultra-deep planting technology for the sandy areas of northern Hebei. One of the pain points of traditional afforestation is the lack of water; even if watered, it evaporates within three or four days. This technology, however, utilizes the stable, moist sand layer deep within the arid sandy land. "Drill, disassemble, guide, bury, withdraw, compress, supplement, collect"—the eight steps are **环环相扣** (huán huán xiāng kòu - "links interlocking," closely connected and mutually dependent). The sapling's root system gradually extends downward along the moisture in the wet sand, relying on itself to obtain the necessary water and shedding excessive dependence on surface irrigation.

  Li Xiangjun (李向军), a senior engineer at the Hebei Academy of Forestry and Grassland Sciences (河北省林业和草原科学研究院), demonstrated the planting process on-site: "Disassemble this root-guiding tube, guide the sapling into the pit, then withdraw the tube. When buried halfway, compress it; otherwise, gaps will allow air to leak in, affecting the survival rate. After the whole process, the sapling can go find water on its own."

  Behind the success of tree planting in sandy areas lies the years of scientific persistence by the research team. Since 2001, Xu Zhenhua (徐振华) has led the team across the sandy areas of northern Hebei, undergoing countless experiments, eventually successfully selecting nine excellent native tree species, innovatively proposing the design concept of sandy forest root systems, and subsequently developing the key "Eight-Step Method" (八步法) ultra-deep planting technology.

  At the Xuanhua Forest Farm (宣化林场) in Zhangjiakou (张家口), the three-year survival rate of trees using conventional afforestation methods was only about 35%. After introducing the "Eight-Step Method" (八步法) ultra-deep planting technology, nearly 10,000 mu of trees were planted, and the three-year survival rate reached 92%.

  Yang Fugui (杨福贵), head of the Xuanhua Forest Farm (宣化林场), who has persisted on the Huangyangtan (黄羊滩) for many years, witnessed this great change. "Can you imagine? This used to be a sea of sand. Every spring when the wind blew, there were shifting sand dunes everywhere." Yang Fugui (杨福贵) pointed to a forest of poplar trees as thick as a bowl and said, "Today, the forest and grass coverage here has reached over 97%."

  Xu Zhenhua (徐振华) introduced that currently, this series of technologies has been promoted and applied in Zhangjiakou (张家口) and Chengde (承德) over an area of more than 90,000 mu, cumulatively saving more than 38 million yuan in afforestation irrigation costs, with both ecological and economic benefits becoming prominent.

  "Ecological Seed Packets" Help Restore Degraded Grasslands
  By our reporter Li Zhiyao (李祉瑶)
  Recently, the "Native Grass Seed 'Ecological Seed Packet' Technology for Degraded Grassland Restoration" (乡土草种‘生态种子包’退化草地修复技术) from the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region (内蒙古自治区) was selected for the "Catalog of Innovative and Applicable Technologies for Ecological Restoration (Third Batch)."

  Opening the bags of "Ecological Seed Packets" (生态种子包), one finds not only different types of seeds such as trees, shrubs, and grasses, but also auxiliary materials such as microbial agents and water-retention factors.

  "Behind the 'Ecological Seed Packet' (生态种子包) is a technical system covering the entire process from surveying, sampling, and testing to diagnosis, seed application, management, industrial planning, and post-restoration monitoring and service support," introduced Chen Xiang (陈翔), Deputy Director of the National Technology Innovation Center for Grassland (草业国家技术创新中心). The research team needs to first understand the local soil, water, plants, and microorganisms, and then simulate the community structure of its natural vegetation to customize a restoration plan.

  Using an ecological big data platform, one can precisely query dozens of ecological indicators such as native vegetation and soil for every square kilometer of the area to be managed. Combined with integrated air-space-ground remote sensing technology and field investigations, the natural vegetation community structure of the region can be clarified. "For example, the Horqin Sandy Land (科尔沁沙地) has complex terrain with alternating dunes and meadows. Through big data and field investigations, we figured out its landform types and natural community structure," said Song Xiaohui (宋晓辉), a researcher at the Mengcao Grassland Ecosystem Research Institute (蒙草草原生态系统研究院). "One site, one plan" and "near-natural restoration" are what distinguish the "Ecological Seed Packet" (生态种子包) from traditional broadcasting and ordinary mixed sowing.

  The seeds in the "Ecological Seed Packet" (生态种子包) have a set of strict screening criteria: they must be native species, more adapted to the local climate and soil, and able to avoid various problems caused by invasive species; they must have stress resistance, specifically drought, cold, salt-alkali, and infertility tolerance; and those with both ecological and production functions are optimal, capable of both sand fixation and serving as excellent forage. "Considering various factors, we finally chose shrubs such as Caragana microphylla (小叶锦鸡儿), as well as herb seeds like crested wheatgrass (扁穗冰草), wheatgrass (偃麦草), and Chinese wild rye (羊草) for the Horqin Sandy Land (科尔沁沙地)," said Song Xiaohui (宋晓辉).

  At the same time, the auxiliary materials provide support for the seeds during the critical germination and growth periods—microbial agents help plants absorb nutrients such as phosphorus, nitrogen, and potassium more efficiently, while water-retention factors create a moist micro-environment for the seeds. Addressing the poor soil characteristics of the Horqin Sandy Land (科尔沁沙地), the seed packets were supplemented with microbial agents such as rhizobia and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi, as well as high-molecular-weight water-retention micro-particles to improve the survival rate during the germination period.

  During sowing, the research team uses seed coating and pelletizing technology to customize an "outer coat" for the seeds, turning irregular, hairy, and lightweight seeds into uniform, smooth, and weighted pellets. Moreover, the coating ingredients include microbial fertilizer, repellents, and water-retention factors, facilitating mechanized general sowing and improving seed survival rates. Technical equipment such as drone aerial seeding and grassland no-till overseeding machines have solved the problem of large-scale application of seed packets in complex terrain.

  Currently, the "Ecological Seed Packet" (生态种子包) technology has been implemented in arid and semi-arid regions such as Inner Mongolia (内蒙古), Qinghai (青海), and Tibet (西藏), with an application area of nearly 33 million mu. In the Hunshandake Sandy Land (浑善达克沙地), after 3 years of management using seed packets, the vegetation coverage in the demonstration area reached 45%–55%, forage yield reached over 75 kg per mu, bare sand area decreased by more than 90%, and shifting sand dunes were basically fixed. In the Zhalaite Banner (扎赉特旗) grassland of Inner Mongolia (内蒙古), vegetation coverage increased by 57%–80% after restoration, hay yield increased by about 70%, and the dry weight of excellent forage increased by 1.3 times.

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China's Meiyu season has officially begun nationwide.

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Beijing (北京), June 21 (Reporter Jiang Xuehong (蒋雪鸿)) — Monitoring by the National Climate Center (国家气候中心) indicates that the Jiangnan region (江南地区) and the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River (长江中下游地区) entered the Meiyu (plum rain) season on June 18, both later than the historical average, while the Jianghuai region (江淮地区) entered the season on June 19, earlier than the historical average. It is expected that the Meiyu rainfall in the Jiangnan region (江南地区) will be higher than the historical average, while rainfall in the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River (长江中下游地区) and the Jianghuai region (江淮地区) will be close to the historical average.

According to the national standard "Meiyu Monitoring Indicators" (梅雨监测指标), the regions where Meiyu prevails in China (中国) are divided into three areas: the Jiangnan region (江南地区), the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River (长江中下游地区), and the Jianghuai region (江淮地区).

The National Climate Center (国家气候中心) has provided specific monitoring and forecast opinions for the Meiyu regions. The Jiangnan region (江南地区) entered the Meiyu season on June 18, which is later than the historical average (June 9). The Meiyu period is expected to be shorter than the historical average (31 days), with rainfall 10% to 30% higher than the historical average (395 mm). The intensity is generally expected to be strong, exhibiting a phased characteristic of being stronger in the early stage and weaker in the later stage. The middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River (长江中下游地区) entered the Meiyu season on June 18, later than the historical average (June 14). The Meiyu period is expected to be shorter than the historical average (32 days), with total rainfall close to the historical average (318 mm), though precipitation will be periodically intense, with a high probability of localized, disaster-causing heavy rainfall. The Jianghuai region (江淮地区) entered the Meiyu season on June 19, earlier than the historical average (June 23). The Meiyu period is expected to be shorter than the historical average (21 days), with rainfall close to the historical average (257 mm) and intensity periodically strong.

The National Meteorological Center (中央气象台) has issued a forecast for recent weather, predicting heavy rainfall from the Yunnan-Guizhou Plateau (云贵高原) to the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River (长江中下游地区). Specifically, from the night of June 21 to June 26, heavy to torrential rain is expected in the eastern and southern parts of Southwest China (西南地区), Jianghan (江汉), Jianghuai (江淮), Jiangnan (江南), and western South China (华南). Some areas will experience severe torrential rain, with localized extreme downpours, accompanied by severe convective weather such as short-term heavy precipitation and thunderstorms with gale-force winds. In addition, over the next three days, central and eastern Inner Mongolia (内蒙古), Northeast China (东北地区), North China (华北), and western Huanghuai (黄淮) will experience frequent showers or thunderstorms, primarily light to moderate rain, with localized heavy rain or downpours, accompanied by severe convective weather such as short-term heavy precipitation, thunderstorms with gale-force winds, or hail.

At 18:00 on June 21, the National Meteorological Center (中央气象台) continued to issue a yellow alert for rainstorms, a blue alert for severe convective weather, a meteorological forecast for waterlogging risks, and a meteorological risk warning for floods in small and medium-sized rivers. The Ministry of Natural Resources (自然资源部) and the China Meteorological Administration (中国气象局) jointly issued an orange meteorological risk warning for geological disasters, while 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.

Meteorological experts remind the public that after entering the Meiyu season, severe convective weather will be active, and short-term heavy precipitation, thunderstorms with gale-force winds, tornadoes, and hail will occur frequently. Influenced by global warming, the frequency and intensity of localized heavy precipitation in China (中国) are showing an increasing trend, with greater extremity. It is recommended to 未雨绸缪 (wèi yǔ chóu móu - "not rain prepare silk," to take precautions or be prepared for a rainy day) regarding flood prevention for large, medium, and small rivers, urban waterlogging, mountain torrents, and geological disasters.

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New energy vehicle adoption rate in Beijing's transport sector reaches 48%

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Beijing (北京), June 21 (Reporter Wang Haonan (王昊男)) — The reporter learned from the Beijing Municipal Commission of Transport (北京市交通委) that during the "14th Five-Year Plan" (十四五) period, Beijing (北京) has focused on optimizing its energy, transportation, and travel structures. As a result, the new energy vehicle adoption rate in the transportation sector has reached 48%, the proportion of green freight transport for goods arrivals and departures has reached 12%, and the green travel ratio in the central urban area has reached 76.5%. Meanwhile, energy consumption in the transportation sector has decreased by approximately 21% compared to the end of the "13th Five-Year Plan" (十三五), and carbon emissions from commercial vehicles have fallen by about 30%.

To make green travel more attractive, Beijing (北京) has systematically promoted the deep integration and synergistic efficiency of various modes of transportation centered around rail transit. It is accelerating the construction of a "fishbone-shaped" integrated transportation system, with rail transit as the backbone, ground public transport as the support, and various other travel modes as supplements. Currently, the total operational mileage of the city's rail transit has reached 909 kilometers, and the bus connection rate within 50 meters of rail stations has reached 92.1%. In addition, regarding slow-traffic systems, Beijing (北京) has completed 16 slow-traffic demonstration streets, such as Chongwenmen (崇文门) and Financial Street (金融街), and continues to promote the construction of cycling waterfront greenways.

Regarding energy structure, as of now, the new energy adoption rate for ground public transport across Beijing (北京) has exceeded 80%. Cruising taxis (excluding security and individual vehicles) have achieved full electrification, and the new energy adoption rate for road passenger transport and ride-hailing vehicles has significantly increased. The city is 脚踏实地 (jiǎo tà shí dì - "foot tread solid earth," to be down-to-earth and realistic) in its efforts to ensure these green transitions are implemented effectively.

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Construction of the pilot excavation area for the new Three Gorges waterway project is progressing in an orderly manner.

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Beijing (北京), June 21 (Reporter Wang Hao (王浩)) — The reporter learned from the China Three Gorges Corporation (中国长江三峡集团有限公司) that the construction site for the preparatory test project (pilot excavation area) of the new Three Gorges (三峡) waterway passage is currently bustling with activity. Key tasks are progressing steadily, laying a solid foundation for the subsequent construction of the main project.

As the "pioneer project" for the new Three Gorges (三峡) hub passage, the pilot excavation area project encompasses six core components, including the excavation, slope support, and drainage of the approach channel test section, as well as the excavation and support of the dam foundation for the Chenjiachong (陈家冲) gully auxiliary dam. It carries the dual mission of engineering implementation and technical testing. The project involves a massive workload, requiring a cumulative total of approximately 8.55 million cubic meters of earth and rock excavation, approximately 2.03 million cubic meters of earth and rock filling, and approximately 80,000 cubic meters of concrete pouring, alongside the simultaneous implementation of extensive anchor rod and anchor cable support works.

To date, the pilot excavation area project has fully completed topsoil stripping and is steadily advancing key processes such as earth excavation, rock blasting, and support operations for the approach channel test section. A cumulative total of approximately 4.15 million cubic meters of earth and rock excavation has been completed, accounting for 48% of the total excavation volume. The overall construction progress is 稳步推进 (wěn bù tuī jìn - "steady step advance," to make progress in a stable and orderly manner) and in line with expectations.

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Ecological "Sky Road," Plateau Pastoral (Getting Close to Nature)

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The Northern Tibet Plateau (藏北高原) is an important region for the development of animal husbandry in Tibet (西藏). When the Qinghai-Tibet Railway (青藏铁路) traverses the Northern Tibet Plateau (藏北高原), in addition to establishing wildlife passages, it has also set up numerous culverts and bridges as "livestock passages," demonstrating the construction philosophy of the Qinghai-Tibet Railway (青藏铁路) that balances ecological protection with the production and living needs of herdsmen.

Reported and photographed by Xinhua News Agency (新华社) reporter Jinmei Duoji (晋美多吉).

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Shanghai's carbon inclusive platform records over 330,000 tons of carbon emission reductions in one year

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Shanghai, June 21 (Reporter Tian Hong (田泓)) — Since the launch of the "Suishenban" (随申办) Carbon Inclusive Zone in Shanghai (上海) one year ago, approximately 450,000 personal carbon accounts have been opened, with cumulative carbon emission reductions exceeding 330,000 tons. Through multi-level consumption methods such as carbon neutrality for large-scale events, the city has built a carbon inclusive system based on broad public participation and supported by institutional and market mechanisms.

The "Suishenban" (随申办) Carbon Inclusive Zone, launched in June 2025, is the first carbon management application scenario in China (全国) to integrate distributed digital identity authentication and blockchain technology. By making individual emission reduction behaviors quantifiable, traceable, and tradable, Shanghai (上海) has continuously improved its carbon inclusive methodology system and the rules for the issuance and consumption of emission reductions. It has transformed citizens' low-carbon behaviors into standardized carbon inclusive emission reductions and carbon credits, initially constructing an operational mechanism of "public behavior—emission reduction—carbon credits—incentive rights."

The Shanghai (上海) Carbon Inclusive Zone coordinates and connects five emission reduction scenarios, covering areas such as green travel, energy conservation and carbon reduction, and resource recycling. Citizens can query their personal emission reductions and redeem products through "Suishenban" (随申办). To date, the carbon credit mall has introduced 10 third-party malls and one district-level sub-platform, launching over 100 types of benefit products. These cover various types of rights and interests, including digital renminbi (数字人民币), travel coupons, commodity vouchers, cultural and tourism products, and IP merchandise, with a cumulative total of over 1.5 million carbon credit redemption transactions.

In 2025, Shanghai (上海) released the "Guidelines for Carbon Neutrality in Large-Scale Events in Shanghai" (上海市大型活动碳中和工作指引), providing an institutional basis for achieving carbon neutrality in performances, competitions, conferences, exhibitions, and other activities. This promotes the direct contribution of citizens' low-carbon behaviors to the city's major events and public governance goals. As of now, the cumulative cancelled emission reductions for carbon neutrality in large-scale events and voluntary carbon neutrality in Shanghai (上海市) have reached nearly 2,500 tons.

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Cumulative cargo throughput of the Three Gorges ship locks reaches 2.4 billion tons

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Wuhan (武汉), June 21 — According to the Three Gorges Navigation Authority (长江三峡通航管理局), since the Three Gorges Ship Lock (三峡船闸) officially opened to public vessels on June 18, 2003, it has completed a cumulative total of 225,000 lockages. It has facilitated the passage of over 1.111 million vessels and more than 12.327 million passengers, with a total cargo throughput reaching 2.4 billion tons.

Over the past 23 years, the Three Gorges Navigation Authority (长江三峡通航管理局) has continuously optimized scheduling plans to steadily improve the space utilization and navigation efficiency of the Three Gorges Ship Lock (三峡船闸) chambers. The authority has strictly implemented the "dual control and dual verification" (双控双复核), "three-synchronization" (三同步), and "four-precision" (四精) operational management systems, while establishing a management model of "pre-inspection and pre-maintenance, condition-based maintenance, and integrated operation and maintenance." By innovatively implementing a "rotational maintenance" (轮修) mechanism for critical equipment and conducting routine safety hazard inspections, the authority has built a "three-in-one" safety assurance system—combining human, physical, and technical defenses—to ensure the safe and stable operation of the Three Gorges Ship Lock (三峡船闸) for over 8,000 consecutive days, keeping the equipment failure-related navigation obstruction rate below 0.2%.

This high-quality and stable navigation environment has not only ensured the efficient circulation of essential supplies and production raw materials but has also safeguarded the travel safety of thousands of crew members on the river, allowing those working on the Yangtze River (长江) to navigate with peace of mind and return home safely. This achievement is truly 来之不易 (lái zhī bù yì - "come from not easy," hard-won), reflecting the dedication of the staff who have worked 兢兢业业 (jīng jīng yè yè - "cautious and conscientious," working with great care and diligence) to maintain this vital artery of inland shipping.

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Fujian has completed over 140,000 hectares of coastal shelterbelts.

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Fuzhou (福州), June 21 (Reporter Fu Wen (付文)) — The reporter learned from the Forestry Bureau of Fujian Province (福建省林业局) that since 2016, Fujian Province (福建省) has adopted various afforestation measures, including artificial afforestation, renewal and restoration, supplementary planting and reseeding, tending and improvement, and mountain closure for forest cultivation. A total of 141,384 hectares of coastal shelterbelt construction have been completed, exceeding the total planned tasks and effectively enhancing the comprehensive functions of the coastal shelterbelt to maintain the health and stability of the coastal shelterbelt system.

In recent years, Fujian Province (福建省) has made every effort to promote the construction of the coastal shelterbelt system, forming a coastal ecological security barrier with the coastal backbone forest belt as the ecological frontier and the deep-layer shelterbelt as the supporting guarantee. Adhering to forest management according to law and planning guidance, Fujian Province (福建省) has successively organized and compiled plans such as the "Construction Project Plan for the Coastal Shelterbelt System in Fujian Province (2016—2025) (福建省沿海防护林体系建设工程规划(2016—2025年))" and the "Sand Prevention and Control Plan for Fujian Province (2021—2030) (福建省防沙治沙规划(2021—2030年))." It has organized various localities to persist in the integrated protection and systematic governance of mountains, waters, forests, farmlands, lakes, grasslands, and deserts, scientifically carried out the construction of the coastal shelterbelt system, highlighted the construction of the backbone forest belt, and built a coastal "Green Great Wall."

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Editor in Charge: Chen Juan, Zhang Xiaoyu, Dong Wenxin

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Layout Design: Zhang Fangman (张芳曼)

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Page 14版:体育

Dragon Boat Festival holiday features exciting folk sports (Focus on traditional sports)

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During the Dragon Boat Festival (端午节) holiday, folk sports activities were held across the country, each with its own unique charm. From the skill-based wrestling of bull-tossing to the amusing spectacle of duck-snatching and the competitive spirit of dragon boat racing, these traditional events—deeply rooted in local soil and passed down through seasonal customs—not only added a festive atmosphere to the holiday but also carried forward the excellent traditional culture of China, allowing old folk customs to radiate new brilliance.
  —Editor

  Jiaxing, Zhejiang (浙江嘉兴) —
  Bull-Tossing Competition: Winning Through Skill
  By Reporter Dou Hanyang (窦瀚洋)
  On the fifth day of the fifth lunar month, the Dragon Boat Festival (端午节) is celebrated. Recently, at the Linggongtang Park (凌公塘公园) in Nanhu District (南湖区), Jiaxing (嘉兴), Zhejiang (浙江), the China Bull-Fighting Pavilion (中国斗牛馆) was filled with the fragrance of zongzi and a rising heat. The annual Dragon Boat Festival folk sports event—the Bull-Tossing Championship (掼牛争霸赛)—was held in a lively and spectacular atmosphere.
  As the final began, a 760-jin (approx. 380 kg) bull stepped forward with its head held high, its horns sharp. Young contestant Wang Shuangshuang (王爽爽) stepped up, patting his chest as he prepared for action. At the referee's signal, Wang Shuangshuang lunged forward, pressed his shoulder against the bull's chin, and quickly grabbed its horns. The bull struggled, kicking the ground and charging left and right... The audience held their breath, cheering as the situation shifted. In just over 40 seconds, Wang Shuangshuang seized the moment, exerted sudden force, and steadily threw the bull to the ground.
  According to the competition rules, points from 1 to 5 are awarded based on the difficulty of the technique, with the highest difficulty being throwing the bull onto its back and completing a flip. Contestants must successfully throw the bull multiple times within 3 minutes to accumulate points; being knocked down by the bull results in a point deduction.
  The competition intensified. 20-year-old Xu Zhiqian (徐志谦), a student at Nanhu College (南湖学院) in Jiaxing (嘉兴), let out a shout as he entered the arena. He lunged at the bull, precisely grabbing its horns and pinning its chin, successfully throwing it within 20 seconds. As soon as the bull stood up, he dove again to pin its head, throwing it a second time and winning thunderous applause from the audience.
  In addition to local contestants, there were also foreign faces. 21-year-old Colombian (哥伦比亚) contestant Seron (塞龙) participated in a Chinese Dragon Boat Festival folk activity for the first time. Before the match, he specifically learned techniques from a Jiaxing (嘉兴) bull-tossing master. "My grandfather was a bullfighter. I often watch matches but have never tried it myself. Experiencing 'Chinese-style bullfighting' during the Chinese Dragon Boat Festival is very interesting."
  Jiaxing (嘉兴) resident Zhang Yongbo (张永波) brings his children to watch the competition every year, and it has become their fixed activity for the Dragon Boat Festival (端午节): "Bull-tossing is our local custom. The scene is intense but stops at the right point; it doesn't harm the animals."
  Bull-tossing was included in the third batch of the National Intangible Cultural Heritage List in 2011. Han Haihua (韩海华), a national-level representative inheritor of intangible cultural heritage and a cultural commissioner for Nanhu District (南湖区), explained that the origins of bull-tossing can be traced back to the Yuan Dynasty (元代). Initially, it was an activity associated with the Festival of Sacrifice, later evolving into a folk competition for festive celebrations.
  Unlike foreign bullfighting that uses sharp weapons, bull-tossing is done bare-handed without any equipment, relying entirely on strength and technique to throw the bull. "The goal is not to kill the bull, but to win. Using martial arts to curb brute force—this reflects Eastern wisdom," said Han Haihua (韩海华).
  Han Haihua (韩海华) stated that bull-tossing emphasizes winning through skill and places high demands on a contestant's explosive power, flexibility, and physical coordination. Daily training integrates Chaquan (查拳), wrestling, and hard qigong, emphasizing martial arts techniques such as dodging, extending, leaping, shifting, falling, striking, grappling, and seizing.

  Quanzhou, Fujian (福建泉州) —
  Water Duck-Snatching: Amusing and Ingenious
  By Reporter Shi Yu (施钰)
  Stepping onto the pole, walking quickly with small steps, leaping to slap open the duck cage, and diving into the water to chase the duck... On June 19, the Dragon Boat Festival (端午节) water duck-snatching competition was held by Anping Bridge (安平桥) in Anhai Town (安海镇), Jinjiang City (晋江市), Quanzhou (泉州), Fujian (福建). "It was quite thrilling when standing on the pole; this activity brings joy," said Mr. Deng (邓先生) from Hunan (湖南), who experienced this unique folk sport and successfully caught a duck.
  How is water duck-snatching played? Before starting, an 8-meter-long bamboo pole is set up on the shore, about 2 meters above the water surface. A small cage containing a live duck is hung at the end of the bamboo pole, with a small bamboo stick standing on the lid so it can be opened with a single tap.
  The most challenging part is that the surface of the bamboo pole is coated with grease. 59-year-old Yan Chengzhi (颜呈智), a municipal-level representative inheritor of water duck-snatching, introduced, "Contestants must step on the wobbly, slippery bamboo pole, slap open the duck cage, fall into the water with the live duck, and then swim through the waves to catch it. The duck is the contestant's prize and also a 'good omen,' symbolizing that life will become increasingly prosperous."
  "Water duck-snatching is a unique Dragon Boat Festival (端午节) memory for the locals," said Yan Chengzhi (颜呈智). The custom is said to have evolved from the training exercises of Zheng Chenggong's (郑成功) naval forces in Anhai Port (安海港) and has a history of over 300 years. This activity was selected as an excellent folk sports project of Chinese sports culture in 2022.
  On the shore, the audience stood in layers to watch. As the passionate sound of gongs and drums rang out, contestants took turns entering the field, with cheers erupting from time to time.
  "The activity is open for on-site registration. Anyone from 14 to 60 years old can challenge it as long as they can swim across the 50-meter lane to prove their swimming skills," said Yan Chengzhi (颜呈智). This year, 50 ducks were prepared. He shared the secret to success: the closer you get to the end of the pole, the more it shakes, so you must maintain your balance. It is best to take three or four quick steps and then leap forward, timing the slap on the cage perfectly.
  Contestants showed off their skills in various ways while crossing the pole: "Some slipped into the water before taking two steps, while others slapped the cage open only for the duck to swim away quickly... Success depends on technique, but also requires a bit of luck. This sport is highly technical, entertaining, and spectacular," said Yan Chengzhi (颜呈智).

  Foshan, Guangdong (广东佛山) —
  Dragon Boat Racing: Moving Forward in Unison
  By Reporter Jiang Xiaodan (姜晓丹)
  During the Dragon Boat Festival (端午节) holiday, the Diejiao (叠滘) dragon boat drifting competition in Foshan (佛山), Guangdong (广东), was in full swing. Both sides of the two high-difficulty race tracks—the Dongsheng S-bend (东胜S弯) and the Shengtang L-bend (圣堂L弯)—were crowded with people. The sounds of gongs, drums, and the cheers of the audience were intertwined as the dragon boats drifted at high speeds against the banks, sending water splashing.
  The Jiaobian (漖边) dragon boat team took turns sprinting with all their might. The team's only female member, Zhou Lixin (周黎新), followed the drumbeat, leaning forward, pulling the water, and returning the paddle in one fluid motion, coordinating perfectly with her teammates to navigate through multiple sharp turns.
  "We started intensive training in mid-March, practicing 6 days a week, from 8:00 PM to 10:30 PM every night," said Zhou Lixin (周黎新). She serves as a paddler: "Paddlers are like the engine of a car; they are the source of power for the entire boat." The dragon boat team is mainly divided into steersmen, drummers, and paddlers: the steersman controls the direction and handles the water flow at turns; the drummer controls the rhythm; and the rest of the members are mostly paddlers.
  As a female member, Zhou Lixin (周黎新) has strong physical flexibility. Through continuous training, she specialized in movements like back-bending to pull water, pushing her body's extensibility to the limit. "There are differences in strength between male and female members, but technique, rhythm, and flexibility can be honed over time. If you practice with heart, you will definitely catch up," said Zhou Lixin (周黎新).
  In 2023, invited by a close friend, Zhou Lixin (周黎新) experienced a traditional dragon boat for the first time. "At first, I just wanted to play around, but I didn't expect to stick with it and even stand on a formal competition field." When she first joined the team, she felt nervous: "The seniors' love for the dragon boat sport, their enthusiasm for inheriting dragon boat culture, and the team's inclusive and warm atmosphere deeply moved me." This became the main reason why Zhou Lixin (周黎新) persisted.
  When she first started practicing, her boyfriend did not understand why she chose this sport. However, after witnessing her dedication—training through wind and rain year-round and pouring her heart into it—he not only supported her participation but even joined the dragon boat team himself, learning to paddle and training his physical fitness from scratch. Now, the two are teammates, competing side by side.
  Day after day of training has left her deeply moved: as long as you have passion, anyone can get on the boat and chase the waves. Everyone helps each other and works together; this purity and passion give her a special sense of belonging.

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Why World Cup match balls need to be charged (World Cup Explained)

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At the 2026 FIFA World Cup (2026年美加墨世界杯) in the United States, Canada, and Mexico (美加墨), a pre-match procedure has attracted attention: every match ball must not only be inflated and calibrated before the game but also placed on a charging dock to power up before "taking the field."

The official match ball for this World Cup (世界杯), named "Triple Wave" (三重浪), features an internal smart bladder equipped with a 500Hz chip. It can record touch data 500 times per second, including the ball's trajectory, speed, rotation, and changes in direction, transmitting this data in real-time to the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) system to assist referees in making decisions. It is understood that a full charge for the "Triple Wave" (三重浪) takes approximately 90 minutes, after which it can operate continuously for about 6 hours.

This design effectively resolves difficult officiating challenges during matches and promotes the intelligence of World Cup (世界杯) football. In the 84th minute of the first round of Group F (F组) matches between the Sweden national football team (瑞典队) and the Tunisia national football team (突尼斯队), Swedish player Mattias Svanberg (斯万贝里) scored a goal, but it was initially ruled invalid due to offside. In the video replay, Svanberg (斯万贝里) did indeed appear to be in an offside position. However, shortly after, the head referee consulted with the VAR (视频助理裁判) team and overturned the decision, ruling the goal valid. It turned out that the chip inside the "Triple Wave" (三重浪) bladder had captured a tiny moment of contact invisible to the naked eye: after the free kick was taken, Swedish forward Alexander Isak (伊萨克), positioned at the near post, had brushed the ball ever so slightly with his foot. At that moment, Svanberg (斯万贝里) was no longer in an offside position, thus making the goal valid.

(Compiled by our reporter Ji Fang (季芳))

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2026 Great Wall 330 (Chicheng) Ultra Trail Race Held

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Beijing (北京), June 21 (Reporter Zeng Huafeng (曾华锋)) — In the early hours of the 19th, the Xinxueguo Airport (新雪国机场) in Chicheng County (赤城县), Zhangjiakou City (张家口市), Hebei Province (河北省), was brightly lit. As the final participant reached the finish line arch, the 2026 Xiongguan 330 (Chicheng) Great Wall Trail Race (2026雄关330(赤城)长城越野赛) concluded successfully. The Xiongguan 330 (Chicheng) Great Wall Trail Race (雄关330(赤城)长城越野赛) was hosted by the Chicheng County Government (赤城县政府) and organized by the Chicheng County Bureau of Culture, Radio, Television, Tourism and Sports (赤城县文化广电旅游和体育局) and Beijing Sanfo Outdoor Sports Management Co., Ltd. (北京三夫户外运动管理有限公司). The cutoff time for this year's race was 138 hours, covering a total distance of 330.1 kilometers. Ultimately, out of 231 participants, 207 completed the race. Among them, Guo Xingmao (郭兴茂) crossed the finish line first with a time of 62 hours, 10 minutes, and 32 seconds, while Wu Yongxiu (伍永秀) crossed the finish line sixth with a time of 76 hours, 38 minutes, and 49 seconds, making her the first female participant to finish.

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Hangzhou Gongshu: Forging a New Path for the Integrated Development of Culture, Tourism, Sports, and Commerce

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From May 29 to June 3, the 2026 National Service Consumption Season and the "Taste of Zhejiang" (味美浙江) Dining Consumption Carnival in Hangzhou (杭州) were held at Wulin Square (武林广场) in Gongshu District (拱墅区), Hangzhou (杭州). The carnival brought together over a thousand specialty flavors from 11 cities across the province, integrating gourmet tasting, trendy consumption, and parent-child interaction, attracting numerous citizens and tourists to stop, taste, and check in for photos.

As the core urban area at the southernmost tip of the Grand Canal (大运河), Gongshu District (拱墅区) is comprehensively advancing the construction of the most beautiful core section of the Grand Canal National Cultural Park (大运河国家文化公园), establishing a positive image for the southern gateway of the China Grand Canal (中国大运河) scenic area, and continuously polishing the cultural and tourism "golden business card" of "Come to Hangzhou (杭州), Walk the Grand Canal (大运河)."

Relying on its profound canal cultural heritage and prosperous urban foundation, Gongshu District (拱墅区) holds two "super IPs": the "Millennium Canal" (千年运河) and "Prosperous Wulin" (繁华武林). It strives to transform cultural resources into development advantages and passenger flow into consumption growth, aiming to build the "Number One District for Commerce and Consumption in Zhejiang Province" (浙江省商贸消费第一区) and forging a new path for the deep integration of culture, tourism, sports, and commerce.

**Scene Iteration and Renewal: Stimulating Urban Consumption Vitality**

In 2025, the Hangzhou (杭州) Business Community Street Basketball "Wulin" Championship (the "Lou BA" Basketball Tournament) broke the boundaries of traditional business districts. The "Night 3V3" ignited the enthusiasm of the entire population for sports. During the tournament, the average daily passenger flow exceeded 30,000, double the usual volume.

Leveraging the popularity of the event, Gongshu District (拱墅区) took the opportunity to build platforms and attract traffic. It normalized the market brand "Yungeji" (运閤集) at Wulin Square (武林广场), launched the "Wulin Ton-Ton Ice Drink Festival" (武林吨吨冰饮节) themed market, and coordinated with commercial complexes such as Hangzhou Center (杭州中心), Grand City Mall (国大城市广场), and Wulin Intime (武林银泰) to carry out consumption-promoting activities. During the tournament, sales in the Wulin (武林) business district increased by 12.5% compared to daily levels, achieving an effective conversion of event traffic into consumption growth.

Focusing on the upgrade directions of youthfulness, trendiness, and quality, Gongshu District (拱墅区) is promoting the upgrading of old urban business districts through continuous scene innovation.

Wulin Square (武林广场) launched the "Wulin Music Door" (武林音乐任意门) immersive performance, using cultural and artistic activities to help the business district gather popularity and increase traffic; Hangzhou China Silk Town (杭州中国丝绸城) spread silk culture through activities such as Hanfu parades, Song Dynasty (宋韵) carnivals, and tea whisking and arrow throwing; Shengli River Food Street (胜利河美食街) lit up the night economy with lobster and beer festivals and open-air music festivals; the market brand "Yungeji" (运閤集) incubated multiple sub-brands such as Wulin Night (武林之夜), Song-Style Beiguan (宋韵北关), and Shisanpan (十三爿), becoming an important carrier for the business district to gather popularity and boost consumption.

**Enriching Business Supply: Forging Industrial Growth Engines**

Going beyond the liveliness of single-point scenes, Gongshu (拱墅) continues to break industrial boundaries, enrich business supply, and constantly broaden the depth and breadth of the integration of culture, tourism, sports, and commerce.

In May of this year, the pet-friendly park in the Xie Village (谢村) section of the Grand Canal (大运河) waterfront space debuted. The park integrates leisure, recreation, study experiences, and convenient services, adding waterfront leisure fun for citizens and tourists.

Revitalizing idle space is a key lever for Gongshu District (拱墅区) to promote the integrated development of culture and tourism. The 10,000-square-meter underground space of the Hangzhou Canal Grand Theatre (杭州运河大剧院) introduced the warehouse-style outlet Huipincang (奥莱荟品仓). Since September 2025, it has seen over 200,000 visitors and generated over 56 million yuan in revenue, turning idle space into high-quality assets.

High-end consumption and cultural/sports formats are exerting force simultaneously. The historic building Meihetang (梅鹤堂) on Wulin Road (武林路) introduced China's first stores of the Michelin one-star restaurant Yu Zhi Lan (玉芝兰) and the Korean Michelin one-star restaurant 7th Door, giving the old block both a sense of "daily life" (烟火气) and an international flair. Gongshu Canal Sports Park (拱墅运河体育公园) has successively hosted events such as the 2025 Women's Hockey Asia Cup and the 2026 World Top 500 Enterprises Table Tennis Tournament in China, with performing arts activities held in rotation, driving revenue growth in surrounding industries through cultural and sports traffic.

Regarding waterfront linkage, the canal's water space has been revitalized. Xiaohe Straight Street (小河直街) launched the Yungeji (运閤集) · Shisanpan (十三爿) cultural and creative tea space, equipped with "Dangdang'er" (荡荡儿) cruise ships; the live-action performance "Like a Dream on the Shangtang" (如梦上塘) is staged regularly, receiving hundreds of thousands of tourists annually, making canal culture visible, tangible, and communicable.

**Deep Cultivation and Integration: Creating a Benchmark for Consumption**

From the popularity of single landmarks to the flourishing of business formats across the entire region, the integrated development of culture, tourism, sports, and commerce in Gongshu (拱墅) has achieved a qualitative leap. Relying on the profound cultural heritage of the millennium-old canal, Gongshu (拱墅) continues to transform cultural traffic and urban popularity into tangible industrial momentum and development strength through triple innovations in scenes, business formats, and models.

Currently, by establishing a guidance fund for the integrated development of culture, tourism, sports, and commerce and implementing an "asset + content" operation model, Gongshu (拱墅) is safeguarding industrial innovation from the multiple dimensions of capital, carriers, scenes, and policies, building a solid foundation for regional integrated development.

With culture as the core, tourism as the priority, sports as the medium, and commerce as the pulse, today's Gongshu (拱墅) is continuously activating the cultural and tourism appeal of the millennium-old canal, unleashing the consumption carrying capacity of the central urban area, and striving to build a preferred destination for new international consumption. Relying on its profound cultural heritage, active commercial formats, and diverse integration scenes, it is outputting strong Gongshu (拱墅) strength for Hangzhou's (杭州) construction as an international new consumption center city.

Data Source: Publicity Department of the CPC Hangzhou Gongshu District Committee (中共杭州市拱墅区委宣传部)
Hangzhou Gongshu District Grand Canal Culture, Tourism and Commerce Investment Group Co., Ltd. (杭州市拱墅区大运河文旅商贸投资集团有限公司)

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Editor in Charge: Gong Yuhua, Gao Ji, Cao Jiwei

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Layout Design: Shen Yiling (沈亦伶)

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Page 15版:国际

Inspiring a Passion for Public Fitness: How These Countries Do It (International Perspective)

By: 本报记者 尚凯元 张矜若 任皓宇

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With the rising popularity of events such as the FIFA World Cup (美加墨世界杯), a wave of nationwide fitness has emerged in many countries around the world. More and more people are stepping out of their homes to actively participate in their favorite sports. The World Health Organization (世界卫生组织) recommends that adults engage in 150 minutes of moderate-intensity or 75 minutes of high-intensity physical activity per week to promote physical health. To continuously ignite public enthusiasm for fitness, many countries have introduced supporting measures tailored to local conditions: France (法国) is leveraging the effects of sports events to implement a national sports and health strategy; Thailand (泰国) is relying on indigenous traditional sports to forge a path of integrated sports and tourism development; and the United Arab Emirates (阿联酋) is actively improving its nationwide sports facilities and vigorously cultivating a "sports economy." By taking multiple measures, countries are pushing national fitness to go deeper and become more practical, unleashing the diverse value of sports in benefiting the public and empowering the economy.

France (法国) —
Leveraging Event Dividends to Advance the Sports and Health Strategy

Currently, as the French public watches the FIFA World Cup (美加墨世界杯) and cheers for "Les Bleus" (高卢雄鸡), they are also ushering in the most vibrant "Sports Summer" of the year—international events such as the French Open (法国网球公开赛), the 24 Hours of Le Mans (勒芒24小时耐力赛), and the upcoming Tour de France (环法自行车赛) are following one after another.

Sports are becoming an increasingly important part of the daily lives of more French people. The hosting of the 2024 Paris Olympics (2024年巴黎奥运会) has further increased the participation of the French public in sports, especially in events where France has a competitive advantage. The French Ministry of Sports (法国体育部) stated in the "Paris Olympics One-Year Legacy Assessment Report" (《巴黎奥运会一周年遗产评估报告》) that the Paris Olympics not only raised the public's attention to sports but also promoted the construction of sports facilities, school sports reform, and the implementation of national fitness policies, injecting continuous momentum into building a "Sports Nation" (体育国家).

According to survey data released by the polling agency Ipsos (益普索集团) early this year, the time French people spend on exercise per week has nearly doubled over the past 10 years, increasing from 2 hours and 12 minutes in 2015 to 4 hours and 12 minutes in 2025. Over 70% of respondents indicated they have a habit of participating in sports. Maintaining physical health, improving mental state, and expanding social interactions have become the primary motivations for the French public to participate in sports activities.

For a long time, lack of exercise and sedentary lifestyles have been major factors affecting the health of the French public, especially office workers and teenagers. To this end, the French government has continuously strengthened its sports promotion efforts in recent years, advancing the "National Sports and Health Strategy (2025—2030)" (《国家运动健康战略(2025—2030)》), hoping to improve national health through the promotion of exercise.

At the school level, France has fully promoted the "30 Minutes of Daily Physical Activity for Primary School Students" (小学生每日30分钟体育活动) program and continues to advance the "Two Additional Hours of Physical Activity per Week for Middle School Students" (初中生每周增加两小时体育活动) project. The additional sports activities do not occupy time from existing physical education courses; instead, they are funded by the government and organized in conjunction with local sports associations, providing students with diverse sports experiences such as soccer, track and field, swimming, and rock climbing, with a focus on encouraging female students and disabled teenagers to participate.

The French government also encourages companies to incorporate sports activities into their employee health management systems. For example, large enterprises such as Électricité de France (法国电力集团) and La Poste (法国邮政集团) have established employee sports programs, encouraging staff to exercise during work breaks by organizing running clubs, cycling activities, fitness classes, and health challenges. The government provides support for companies to carry out related activities through tax and social security incentives. Many companies also provide subsidies for sports club memberships for employees and their children through employee welfare committees, helping more families reduce the cost of participating in sports. French economist Julien Laugier (朱利安·洛吉耶) stated that sports create a large amount of value that cannot be directly measured in monetary terms, and these positive effects significantly enhance social well-being.

Thailand (泰国) —
Promoting Sports-Tourism Integration to Attract Active Participation

In popular tourist destinations in Thailand such as Phuket (普吉岛) and Hua Hin (华欣), a wealth of sports projects has been established. Compared to traditional sightseeing-based tourism, "Sports + Tourism" has attracted many domestic citizens and foreign tourists to participate. In recent years, the Thai government has collaborated with local tourism operators to launch various specialized sports activities, which, while driving national fitness and enhancing public physical health, have also promoted the development of the tourism industry.

The Chiang Mai Marathon (清迈马拉松) is a beneficial attempt at "Sports + Tourism." This event was initially aimed at attracting foreign tourists and international running enthusiasts, but recently, more and more local residents have participated. The Chiang Mai (清迈) local government and local businesses encourage employees to participate and provide training support, which has further increased the enthusiasm of local residents for exercise. Local hotels also provide logistical support services for guests after the race, including luggage storage and the ordering of sports supplements. Organizers also provide food, massage, and other services to enrich the experience for participants.

Asunchai (阿松柴) is the owner of a hostel in Chiang Mai. He told reporters that many Thai people, inspired by the Chiang Mai Marathon, have turned from spectators into participants. He and his peers organize group training every week, jogging in the morning along the Chiang Mai Marathon route. "Everyone encourages each other, driving more and more people around us to exercise," said Asunchai.

In addition to the Chiang Mai Marathon, Thailand also vigorously promotes the traditional sport of Muay Thai (泰拳). In 2024, the Thai government approved the "Muay Thai Soft Power Project" (泰拳软实力项目), allocating 275.65 million Thai Baht (1 RMB is approximately 4.86 Thai Baht) for the construction of a Muay Thai knowledge system, talent cultivation, event hosting, domestic and international promotion, and standard certification. It is expected to bring about 2.334 billion Thai Baht in revenue to Thailand and promote Muay Thai to reach 190 countries and regions worldwide. Currently, there are over 5,000 Muay Thai training camps and gyms across Thailand. Foreign tourists can use non-immigrant education visas to undergo systematic training for up to 90 days, which can be extended, at certified Muay Thai institutions.

To enhance the appeal of "Sports + Tourism," Thailand continuously hosts events such as the "Amazing Muay Thai Experience" (神奇的泰拳体验), the World Muay Thai Wai Kru Ceremony (世界泰拳拜师礼), and the Muay Thai Festival (泰拳节), combining Muay Thai competitions, traditional martial arts demonstrations, Wai Kru ceremonies, training experiences, and equipment sales with local tourism and food promotion. The reporter once attended the 2025 World Muay Thai Wai Kru Ceremony held in Ayutthaya (大城府), Thailand. The event attracted over 5,000 participants that day, including about 3,200 local residents, which, while generating economic income, also encouraged more people to strengthen their bodies. Thapanee Kiatphaibool (塔佩妮), Governor of the Tourism Authority of Thailand (泰国旅游局), stated that Thailand is confident in building Muay Thai into a high-quality tourism product by hosting Muay Thai events and related activities, thereby promoting the dual growth of sports and tourism.

United Arab Emirates (阿联酋) —
Improving Sports Facilities and Supporting the Promotion of Sports Events

Near the main road in the center of Dubai (迪拜), a 10,000-square-meter inflatable sports dome is eye-catching. Walking into this venue, named "Duplays Sports World" (达禄比体育世界), sports such as badminton, soccer, and cricket are in full swing. "I basically come here to play badminton with my friends every week. It's relaxing and a good way to exercise, and the constant-temperature venue allows us to exercise easily even in the summer," said Mohammed Suleiman (穆罕默德·苏莱曼), a local resident exercising at Duplays Sports World.

The United Arab Emirates has a tropical desert climate, with summer temperatures reaching 40 to 50 degrees Celsius. The hot weather greatly limits outdoor sports, making indoor sports venues the first choice for local residents' daily exercise. To meet the residents' demand for indoor sports facilities, the UAE continues to increase investment. Data from the Dubai Sports Council (迪拜体育委员会) shows that Dubai currently has nearly 500 professional fitness centers and over 700 various sports training academies, which can meet the diverse sports needs of the public.

In 2023, the UAE government issued the "National Sports Strategy 2031" (2031国家体育战略) to further promote national fitness. Ghanem Al Hajri (加尼姆·哈杰里), Director General of the General Authority of Sports (阿联酋体育总局), stated: "We need to strengthen infrastructure construction, support talent discovery and cultivation programs, and use advanced technology and facilities to further promote the development of sports in the UAE." Mansoor bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum (曼苏尔·阿勒马克图姆), Chairman of the Dubai Sports Council, stated that sports play an important role in promoting the health and happiness of the public, and Dubai will increase investment in sports facilities, support the promotion of various sports, and promote the sustainable development of the sports industry.

While meeting the daily sports needs of the public, the improved sports facilities also lay a solid foundation for Dubai to develop a "sports economy." Dubai hosts over 100 international sports events and international training camps every year, such as the Dubai World Cup (迪拜赛马世界杯), the Dubai Tennis Championships (迪拜网球锦标赛), and the Dubai Desert Classic (迪拜沙漠精英赛). Many athletes choose to go to Dubai for soccer winter training and youth training, pre-competition swimming training, diving training, as well as comprehensive physical fitness, rehabilitation, and event preparation training. Many international soccer clubs have also established bases in Dubai for talent selection and cultivation.

According to a report released by the Dubai Sports Council, the contribution of the sports industry to Dubai's GDP has increased from 6 billion UAE Dirhams in 2014 (1 UAE Dirham is approximately 1.84 RMB) to 9 billion Dirhams in 2022. According to the "Dubai Sports Industry Strategy Plan 2033" (《2033年迪拜体育业战略计划》) released at the end of 2025, Dubai plans to increase the sports industry's contribution to GDP to 18.3 billion Dirhams by 2033. Helal Al Marri (希莱勒·迈利), Director General of the Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism (迪拜经济和旅游局), stated that sports are not only an important part of people's lives but have also become a new engine for economic growth, effectively enhancing Dubai's city profile.

(Reported from Paris, Bangkok, and Dubai; intern Zhang Xiaowen (张啸文) also contributed to this article)

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A Journey Across the Sea, A Bond of Youth (Global Commentary)

By: 周心怡

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Not long ago, 20 young students from China (中国) and the United States (美国) boarded the scientific research vessel "China-US Youth Friendship" (中美青年友谊号) to launch the "Sailing Together to the Blue: China-US Youth Friendship Journey" (共航蔚蓝:中美青年友谊行) event. This activity, held under the framework of the initiative to "invite 50,000 young Americans to China for exchange and study over five years," gave me the honor of boarding the ship as a Chinese student representative to embark on a journey of marine exploration and cultural exchange alongside American students from across the ocean.

Life at sea was compact and vivid. Before the sun had even risen, Chinese and American students would gather on the deck to collect seawater and observe plankton through microscopes. We toured the ship’s advanced equipment, including helicopters, submarines, sampling robots, and seabed exploration devices, and learned professional navigation knowledge from the captain. The process of exploring the mysteries of the ocean side-by-side allowed the youth of both countries to gradually grow closer through interaction.

A mock negotiation regarding global mercury pollution gave me a more genuine understanding of the word "cooperation." Chinese and American students paired up to represent different countries and international organizations in consultations. An American student playing the role of a Chinese representative humorously remarked that if we couldn't reach an agreement, we might have to get off the ship, adding, "After all, we are currently in a joint activity." Everyone shared a knowing smile; behind the laughter lay a simple yet profound truth: working hand-in-hand is the proper stance for addressing global challenges. The significance of exchange lies not just in sharing knowledge, but in mutual understanding, seeking consensus, and maintaining the motivation and ability to cooperate amidst a complex international situation.

While the research vessel was docked, 10 American youths visiting China (中国) for the first time ventured into Chinese cities and villages to personally experience different facets of China's development. The high degree of urbanization in Hong Kong (香港), the modern atmosphere of the villages in Ningbo (宁波), and the intricate texture of community governance in Shanghai (上海) allowed them to see a real and multi-dimensional China (中国). At the Gubei Civic Center (古北市民中心) in Shanghai (上海), I introduced them to the practice of whole-process people's democracy in community governance. Shea, who is majoring in environmental science and management at the University of California, Santa Barbara (美国加州大学圣塔芭芭拉分校), told me, "The civic center demonstrates inclusivity and establishes a close connection with the community; it is very unique." Through field visits and in-depth exchanges, the American youths not only saw China's modern skyscrapers and convenient life but also understood the institutional logic and governance experience behind them, truly moving from "seeing China" to "understanding China."

What touched me deeply was the natural flow of emotion between the Chinese and American youths during our exchanges. At sunset, we sang, danced, and shared food on the deck, our friendship warming up through dialogue and interaction. One afternoon, I discussed the application of calligraphy with the American students, teaching them hand-in-hand how to hold and move the brush, and even customized Chinese names for them. We talked about the sentiments toward life and the patriotic feelings behind the *Lantingji Xu* (《兰亭集序》) and the *Jizhi Wengao* (《祭侄文稿》). The American students were moved by the profound heritage of traditional Chinese culture and frequently marveled at the spiritual power flowing through it.

As the journey drew to a close, we jointly planned and filmed a video, condensing our love, awe, and dedication to protecting the ocean into a shared voice that transcends cultural differences. Our backgrounds and cultural habits may differ, but our resonance with common human values, our enthusiasm for scientific exploration, and our longing for exchange and cooperation remain connected. Today, although the journey has ended, our youthful friendship sails toward a further blue. Some American students have enrolled in Chinese language courses since returning home and often send me questions to discuss. The group chat for the Chinese and American students remains active, with everyone occasionally sharing campus scenery and discussing new progress in scientific research.

Although China-US (中美) relations have experienced ups and downs, as long as the youth of both countries strengthen exchanges, enhance understanding, and continuously inject a warm youthful hue into the steady progress of bilateral relations, we will certainly be able to accumulate strength for a shared, better future. This is a case of 众志成城 (zhòng zhì chéng chéng - "multitude's will forms a fortress," unity is strength; when people are of one mind, they can overcome any obstacle).

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American friends including "Sikes" visit the Chinese Embassy in the U.S. for the Dragon Boat Festival

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Xinhua News Agency, Washington, June 21 (Reporter Yan Liang) — On June 19, the day of the Dragon Boat Festival (端午节), American friend "Sykos" (real name Ronald Salkowski (罗纳德·萨科尔斯基)), who supports China's desertification control efforts, and American teacher Chi Ou (池欧), who has been rooted in Luoyang (洛阳) teaching for twelve years, were invited to visit the Embassy of the People's Republic of China in the United States (中国驻美国大使馆) to reminisce about their experiences in China.

Xie Feng (谢锋), Ambassador of the People's Republic of China to the United States, spoke highly of the moving deeds of "Sykos" (赛考斯) and Chi Ou (池欧) in China. He said that Mr. "Sykos" (赛考斯) worked hard to raise 5,000 U.S. dollars in donations, all of which were handed over to Yin Yuzhen (殷玉珍), a model worker in desertification control. With the strong support of relevant Chinese authorities, Yin Yuzhen (殷玉珍) planted 50,000 saplings and, 二十六年如一日 (èr shí liù nián rú yī rì - "twenty-six years like one day," to persevere in doing something consistently for a long time), meticulously cared for them, turning the desert into a vibrant oasis. Ms. Chi Ou (池欧), through her 12 years of dedication, has written over 50,000 encouragement cards for Chinese students and organized more than 3,000 basketball games named after her, becoming a "foreign mother" in the hearts of the children.

Recalling his years in China, "Sykos" (赛考斯) said emotionally, "I am not a celebrity, just an ordinary teacher with a heart full of gratitude who wants to do something for China to express my appreciation. Today's event reminds me once again of the warm years I spent in China. We are joining hands to open a new chapter in U.S.-China youth exchanges, and I am willing to shoulder this responsibility of people-to-people communication."

Chi Ou (池欧) affectionately recalled the bits and pieces of her life and work in China. She said, "I have always been concerned about China; China has long been my other home. The grateful hearts of Chinese students always manage to 'touch' me."

Ryan (瑞恩) and Angie (安吉莉), participants of the "5 Years, 50,000" initiative, also attended the event.

Ryan (瑞恩) said that even with language and cultural differences, there are always countless beautiful things that bring us together, and this is the connection we should cherish. Angie (安吉莉) said, "Mr. 'Sykos' (赛考斯) spent a year in China and it changed his life, while I only stayed for a week and a half, yet I felt the same tremendous change."

Xie Feng (谢锋) stated that the Chinese people cherish friendship and will never forget old friends. The history of China-U.S. relations is a history of the two peoples moving toward each other. If China and the U.S. work together starting from practical matters, they can accomplish many great and good things that benefit the people of both countries and promote world peace, prosperity, and progress.

Xie Feng (谢锋) said that the successful meeting between the heads of state of China and the U.S. in Beijing (北京) not only established a new positioning for China-U.S. relations but also started a new process of friendly exchanges between the two peoples. We should learn from Mr. "Sykos" (赛考斯) and Ms. Chi Ou (池欧), starting from ourselves, starting from now, and starting from practical matters; we should encourage more people to share their experiences and insights, and spread the moving stories of friendship between the Chinese and American people; 薪火相传 (xīn huǒ xiāng chuán - "firewood passed on," to pass the torch from generation to generation), cultivating the younger generation to firmly hold the baton and bravely act as leaders, injecting new momentum into the constructive and strategic stable relationship between China and the U.S.

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Vance says US-Iran talks "will not resolve all differences"

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Xinhua News Agency, Bürgenstock, Switzerland, June 21 (Reporters Meng Fanyu (孟凡宇), Ma Ruxuan (马汝轩)) — U.S. Vice President Vance (万斯) stated in Bürgenstock (比尔根山), Switzerland, on the 21st that U.S.-Iran (美伊) negotiations have "made great progress in the past few hours," and he expects that "we will make more progress in relevant areas," though the negotiations "will not resolve all differences."

At the start of the U.S.-Iran (美伊) negotiations, Vance (万斯) said: "What today truly represents is the beginning of a technical negotiation—it will not resolve all differences, but for the first time, it allows us to sit together as a team."

Vance (万斯) stated that the political leadership of all parties has gathered here, "hoping to build a framework for the second phase of negotiations" and achieve breakthroughs in key areas. "There is still much work to be done."

Vance (万斯) claimed that if Iran (伊朗) is willing to abandon its pursuit of nuclear weapons, the United States (美国) is willing to "fundamentally" change U.S.-Iran (美伊) bilateral relations.

He said that over the past few days, "we have made great progress in ensuring a ceasefire in Lebanon (黎巴嫩)." Vance (万斯) defended the repeated violations of the Israel-Lebanon (以黎) ceasefire agreement, stating that "these things are always a bit messy."

Vance (万斯) said the question now is, "Can we turn over a new leaf, can we permanently change the landscape of relations in the Middle East (中东), or are we going to return to the old ways of doing things—which, while not what we desire, is absolutely something that could happen."

He added that while the current situation is complex, all parties must avoid 重蹈覆辙 (chóng dǎo fù zhé - "repeat the overturned cart's track," to repeat the mistakes of the past), as the international community is watching closely to see if the parties can truly move beyond past conflicts.

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Number of forcibly displaced people worldwide falls for the first time in a decade

By: 本报记者 刘 刚

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June 20th is "World Refugee Day" (世界难民日). The "Global Trends Report" (全球趋势报告) recently released by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (联合国难民署) shows that for the first time in 10 years, the number of forcibly displaced people worldwide has declined in 2025, though the overall scale remains at an unacceptably high level. The report indicates that as of the end of 2025, approximately 117.8 million people globally were displaced from their homes, a decrease of 5.4 million compared to 2024. Among them, 41.6 million were identified as refugees, marking a 3% decrease in the global refugee population compared to 2024.

The report analyzes that the decline in the number of displaced persons is related to an increase in the number of people returning home. Despite the unstable security situation in many regions, people are still choosing to return home. In 2025, a total of 14.7 million displaced persons worldwide returned to their places of origin or countries of origin, including 4.4 million refugees and 10.3 million internally displaced persons. This is the second-highest number of refugee returns recorded in 60 years.

Among the displaced persons returning to their places of origin or countries of origin, 92% originated from the Democratic Republic of the Congo (刚果民主共和国), Sudan (苏丹), Syria (叙利亚), Afghanistan (阿富汗), Ukraine (乌克兰), and Myanmar (缅甸). After returning home, many refugees face difficulties such as a continuously deteriorating security situation, destroyed infrastructure, and a lack of access to basic public services and livelihood opportunities, with a large population living below the poverty line.

The report from the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (联合国难民署) states that the volatile situation in many parts of the world is causing the number of refugees to continue to rise. Among them, Sudan (苏丹) is the country with the most severe refugee crisis globally. As of the end of 2025, the number of Sudanese refugees had increased to 2.8 million, an increase of 35% over 2024, while the number of internally displaced persons in the country reached as high as 9.1 million. Since the beginning of 2026, multiple crises around the world have caused large-scale displacement. According to the agency's statistics, the Middle East conflict that broke out at the end of February caused 3.2 million people to be forcibly displaced in Iran (伊朗) alone; since March, Israel's (以色列) attacks on Lebanon (黎巴嫩) have forced more than 1 million people to 背井离乡 (bèi jǐng lí xiāng - "turn back to village leave hometown," to be forced to leave one's native land).

Among global refugees, about 70% are in a state of protracted displacement, mainly coming from Afghanistan (阿富汗), South Sudan (南苏丹), Sudan (苏丹), Syria (叙利亚), Ukraine (乌克兰), and Venezuela (委内瑞拉). The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (联合国难民署) warns that the number of people currently forced to flee their homes due to war, violence, and persecution remains "unacceptably high." United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (联合国难民事务高级专员) Barham Salih (巴尔哈姆·萨利赫) stated that if a few major global conflicts were resolved, millions of refugees would be able to return home in conditions of safety and dignity.

2026 marks the 75th anniversary of the adoption of the United Nations "Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees" (关于难民地位的公约). The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (联合国难民署) calls on governments, humanitarian agencies, the private sector, and civil society organizations to increase efforts to provide asylum and protection to refugees. Barham Salih (巴尔哈姆·萨利赫) called for reducing the number of long-term displaced persons globally who rely on humanitarian aid by more than half within the next 10 years, stating, "The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (联合国难民署) will mobilize all parties to pave the way for millions of people to escape the day-to-day plight brought about by protracted displacement."

The root cause of the refugee problem lies in regional instability and uneven development. United Nations Secretary-General (联合国秘书长) Guterres (古特雷斯) has repeatedly emphasized in speeches regarding refugee and displacement issues that the fundamental way to solve the refugee problem is to resolve conflicts through ceasefires and political dialogue to achieve peace and security. At the same time, the international community should increase support for reconstruction in conflict-affected areas, repair infrastructure such as schools, hospitals, and water supply systems, and help displaced persons achieve voluntary return and livelihood recovery.

(Intern Han Jiaxu (韩佳序) also contributed to this article.)

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Japanese media reveals suspected human experiments involving animal blood transfusions by the Imperial Japanese Army during the invasion of China

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Xinhua News Agency (新华社), Tokyo (东京), June 21 — (Reporters Liang Chen (梁晨), Li Ziyue (李子越)) According to a report by Kyodo News (共同社) on the 20th, a report from a Japanese Army (日本陆军) medical conference in March 1940 indicates that during the War of Resistance Against Japan (侵华战争), the Japanese military (日军) allegedly conducted repeated experiments in China (中国) involving the injection of animal blood into human bodies.

The report shows that the experiments took place in the autumn of 1938, with the specific location redacted. There were 23 experimental subjects, whose identities remain unknown. The experimenters injected animal blood or serum into some of the subjects; specifically, this included massive transfusions of horse blood into individuals in critical condition following blood loss, as well as injecting chicken blood into human bodies to observe its retention time. The report also indicates that after the transfusions, the subjects experienced symptoms such as high fever.

Kyodo News (共同社) pointed out that these practices clearly violated medical ethics. The Japanese military (日本军方) had attempted to destroy evidence related to human experimentation at the time of their defeat, but Kyodo News (共同社) discovered this report in the official publication of the Japanese "Army Medical Corps" (陆军军医团).

In recent years, researchers and media within Japan (日本) have successively disclosed evidence of war crimes such as human experimentation by the Japanese military (日军). Historians have pointed out that in the face of war crimes such as human experimentation, Japan (日本) should 彻底反省 (chè dǐ fǎn xǐng - "thoroughly reflect," to engage in deep and complete self-examination) regarding its war of aggression and its brutal acts.

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Editor in Charge: Yue Linwei, Liu Gang, Wei He

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Page 16版:广告

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Page 17版:国际

"Common Prosperity Is an Important Feature of Chinese-Style Modernization" (Understanding China · Understanding Chinese-Style Modernization)

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How did China win the battle against poverty? Why does China promote common prosperity for all its people? Why is it said that China’s development is people-centered?

Our reporter recently held a dialogue with Robert Lawrence Kuhn (罗伯特·劳伦斯·库恩), Chairman of the Kuhn Foundation (库恩基金会) in the United States, to interpret the historical experience of China’s victory in the poverty alleviation battle and the contemporary significance of promoting common prosperity for all.

Since the 1980s, Kuhn (库恩) has actively disseminated China’s contemporary development achievements to the international community. He is dedicated to researching China’s poverty alleviation efforts, leading his team to produce the documentary *Voices from the Frontline: China’s War on Poverty* (《前线之声:中国脱贫攻坚》), and authoring books such as *How China’s Leaders Think: The Inside Story of China’s Past, Present and Future* (published in Chinese as *China’s 30 Years: A Great Transformation of Human Society* / 《中国30年:人类社会的一次伟大变迁》). His work in interpreting China’s poverty alleviation achievements earned him the China Reform Friendship Medal (中国改革友谊奖章).

Interviewers:
Li Zhiwei (李志伟), Chief of the United Nations Branch of this newspaper
Robert Lawrence Kuhn (罗伯特·劳伦斯·库恩), Chairman of the Kuhn Foundation (库恩基金会)

"When future historians write the history of our era, China’s poverty alleviation battle may well become one of its most 浓墨重彩 (nóng mò zhòng cǎi - "heavy ink thick color," vivid and significant) chapters."

Q: Over the past 30-plus years, you have visited more than 100 cities in China, as well as numerous counties, townships, and villages, and have developed rich observations and reflections on China’s development. Why have you long focused on China’s poverty reduction and dedicated yourself to telling China’s poverty reduction story to the outside world?

A: "Poverty alleviation has always been an important part of my work, and it is where I have spent the most energy." These words from President Xi Jinping (习近平) command my respect. I believe that no other leader in the world has put as much effort into the issue of poverty alleviation as President Xi Jinping (习近平).

Eliminating poverty is an ideal that humanity has pursued since ancient times and is a global challenge concerning human development. I have focused on China’s poverty alleviation for a long time not only because it is crucial for China to achieve its first centenary goal of building a moderately prosperous society in all respects, but also because it provides a model for global poverty reduction.

China’s poverty reduction cause has achieved world-renowned success. Over the more than 40 years of reform and opening up, more than 800 million people have been lifted out of poverty. In particular, lifting nearly 100 million rural poor out of poverty within eight years is an epic achievement. When future historians write the history of our era, China’s poverty alleviation battle may well become one of its most 浓墨重彩 (nóng mò zhòng cǎi - "heavy ink thick color," vivid and significant) chapters.

Q: The documentary *Voices from the Frontline: China’s War on Poverty* (《前线之声:中国脱贫攻坚》), which you led your team to film, has sparked global attention regarding China’s poverty alleviation. What was your original intention in producing this documentary?

A: China’s poverty alleviation is the story best suited to breaking down prejudices and stereotypes about China. To truly understand China’s poverty alleviation, one must listen to the stories of those families who have escaped poverty; those are millions of real stories.

Leading the team to film *Voices from the Frontline: China’s War on Poverty* (《前线之声:中国脱贫攻坚》) allowed me to personally experience China’s achievements. Our lenses focused on villagers striving to escape poverty, cadres responsible for poverty alleviation work, and relevant oversight and inspection personnel. I had the privilege of talking to villagers and listening to their stories: some escaped poverty by relying on small and medium-sized enterprises, some relocated to urban areas, and others received social security support... I felt as if I had become one of them, walking the path of poverty alleviation alongside them.

I have traveled all over China for research, investigation, interviews, writing books and articles, and producing television documentaries, covering more than 100 cities. I thought I knew China well. But it was only when I walked into poverty-stricken areas, especially when conducting field investigations in remote mountain villages, that I truly realized the hardship and complexity of China’s poverty alleviation.

Q: After winning the battle against poverty, China continued to promote common prosperity for all. How do you understand the connection between the two?

A: Common prosperity is not about robbing the rich to help the poor, nor is it rigid egalitarianism, and certainly not the wealth of a few; it is common prosperity for all the people. In my view, common prosperity is an important feature of Chinese-style modernization, an essential requirement of socialism, a forward-looking goal based on the new era and the new journey, and a major development vision proposed with an eye toward realizing the Chinese Dream of the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation.

The process from poverty alleviation to common prosperity is a gradual one. Just as it was necessary to eliminate all extreme poverty to achieve the goal of building a moderately prosperous society in all respects, only by making more obvious and substantive progress in common prosperity for all can the goal of basically achieving socialist modernization by 2035 be completed.

Q: What role does China’s promotion of comprehensive rural revitalization play in achieving common prosperity for all?

A: President Xi Jinping (习近平) emphasized: "Common prosperity is the common prosperity of all the people, where both the material and spiritual lives of the people are affluent." Although China has eliminated extreme poverty, relative poverty still exists, and the urban-rural gap remains significant. Continuously improving rural living standards through comprehensive rural revitalization is an important measure to promote the realization of common prosperity.

Most of China’s relative poverty population is in rural areas. Achieving common prosperity for all requires resolving the prominent contradictions of unbalanced urban-rural development and insufficient rural development, systematically narrowing the gap in dimensions such as disposable income, public services, development opportunities, and spiritual civilization, so that all people can share the fruits of Chinese-style modernization.

"A significant advantage of the Communist Party of China (中国共产党) leading China lies in its ability to ensure that long-term strategies are continuously promoted and implemented."

Q: What practices of targeted poverty alleviation have you observed in China?

A: On November 3, 2013, President Xi Jinping (习近平) visited Shibadong Village (十八洞村), Huayuan County (花垣县), Xiangxi Tujia and Miao Autonomous Prefecture (湘西土家族苗族自治州), Hunan Province (湖南省), where he first proposed the important concept of "targeted poverty alleviation" (精准扶贫) and issued the important instruction of "seeking truth from facts, adjusting measures to local conditions, providing classified guidance, and targeted poverty alleviation." I understand "targeted" to mean developing personalized procedures and plans, implementing supporting policies, including establishing poverty definition standards and poverty population identification standards, and customizing poverty alleviation plans for each impoverished individual.

The success of China’s targeted poverty alleviation relies on the Communist Party of China (中国共产党) establishing strict, quantitative, and transparent work processes, with cadres at the five levels of province, city, county, township, and village working together. Every impoverished household receives guaranteed assistance, and every village has full-time cadres to implement targeted aid.

Q: Among the many rural builders you have met or interviewed, which stories left a deep impression on you?

A: I once spent an entire day with a young man serving as a village Party branch secretary in a poor mountainous area. His persistence and dedication moved me deeply. This young cadre originally worked in the provincial capital, but at the time, he lived in a simple concrete room in the village, relying on a single gas stove for heating and cooking, and could only visit his wife and young child one weekend a month. Every day, he had to ride a motorcycle over rugged mountain roads, traveling long distances to visit poor families and formulate and implement poverty alleviation plans.

What impressed me even more was that when I met with the local County Party Committee Secretary the next day and mentioned some of the effective practices of that young cadre, the Secretary immediately canceled all his scheduled activities for the following day and drove two hours to meet the young cadre to learn from his advanced experience. The importance the Communist Party of China (中国共产党) cadres place on poverty alleviation work is evident from this.

Q: You once said, "Understanding how the Communist Party of China (中国共产党) led the completion of the poverty alleviation mission provides deep insight into the governance structure and organizational capabilities of the Communist Party of China (中国共产党)." How should this statement be understood?

A: The Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (中共中央), with President Xi Jinping (习近平) at its core, has placed poverty alleviation in a prominent position in state governance. President Xi Jinping (习近平) cares about the lives of the needy, saying: "I feel anxious when they have difficulties in their lives. I am happy every time their lives get a little better." During the eight years of the poverty alleviation battle, President Xi Jinping (习近平) chaired seven central symposiums on poverty alleviation and conducted more than 50 field research trips to the grassroots, visiting all 14 contiguous poverty-stricken areas in the country. Each meeting focused on a theme, analyzing problems, studying countermeasures, and deploying new work to solve problems arising at different stages of the poverty alleviation battle.

A significant advantage of the Communist Party of China (中国共产党) leading China lies in its ability to ensure that long-term strategies are continuously promoted and implemented, achieving a "relay race" for important national development goals. Under the leadership of the Communist Party of China (中国共产党), China can coordinate economic resources, mobilize social forces, and implement major national projects. For example, it organized economically developed eastern provinces to establish counterpart assistance mechanisms with underdeveloped western provinces, promoting the flow of talent, capital, and technology from the eastern region to poverty-stricken areas, forming a pattern of broad social participation in the poverty alleviation battle.

Q: Why do you think the Communist Party of China (中国共产党) is able to continuously promote common prosperity for all?

A: To understand contemporary China, its historical roots, and its future direction, one must recognize the status and role of the Communist Party of China (中国共产党). To understand the Communist Party of China (中国共产党), the primary prerequisite is to realize that it is not a political party in the Western sense.

The number of members of the Communist Party of China (中国共产党) accounts for about 7% of the national population, yet they shoulder lofty and extensive responsibilities, committed to improving the living standards of all Chinese people, including promoting reform, governing the country according to law, public participation in governance, deepening democracy, and safeguarding various freedoms.

The Communist Party of China (中国共产党) is a governing organization, not a party participating in competition. There is a saying that because the Communist Party of China (中国共产党) does not have the burden of periodic elections and campaigning, it can adhere to long-term strategies and effectively implement policies.

Of course, all political parties and all political systems have limitations. While achieving national goals is an advantage of the leadership system of the Communist Party of China (中国共产党), it is not the only standard for evaluating a system. This is why China needs to continuously promote reform, improve systems, and develop democracy.

"The Communist Party of China (中国共产党) adheres to a people-centered development philosophy, closely linking macro development goals with the immediate interests of ordinary people."

Q: In your view, what is the status of "the people" in China’s state governance and the governing philosophy of the Communist Party of China (中国共产党)?

A: The Communist Party of China (中国共产党) allows the fruits of modernization to benefit all the people more and more fairly. The two most prominent measures are: first, targeted poverty alleviation, which completely eliminated absolute poverty and freed hundreds of millions of people from the shackles of poverty; second, promoting common prosperity and comprehensive rural revitalization, continuously bridging the urban-rural development gap.

China has written a great transformation in human history that is unprecedented in scale and far-reaching in impact. Data released by the National Bureau of Statistics of China (国家统计局) shows that in 2025, China’s per capita GDP reached 99,665 yuan, an increase of nearly 260 times compared to 385 yuan in 1978, and the cumulative effect is staggering. Such a development transformation in terms of scale, magnitude, and depth is rare in the process of human modernization.

The Communist Party of China (中国共产党) adheres to a people-centered development philosophy, closely linking macro development goals with the immediate interests of ordinary people, and implementing this in domestic politics, economy, and international cooperation. This is an important reason for China’s long-term stable development.

Q: China’s development philosophy and the governing practice of the Communist Party of China (中国共产党) always follow the fundamental stance of being people-centered. What do you think is the reason for this?

A: President Xi Jinping (习近平) emphasized that the situation is changing, tasks are changing, and work requirements are changing. We must accurately identify changes, scientifically respond to them, and actively seek change, taking the resolution of practical problems as the starting point for formulating reform plans.

The reason why the governing practice of the Communist Party of China (中国共产党) always follows the fundamental stance of being people-centered is that the Communist Party of China (中国共产党) always represents the fundamental interests of the overwhelming majority of the people and is committed to improving the living standards and well-being of all Chinese people.

Q: What is the world significance of China’s exploration and practice from winning the battle against poverty to promoting common prosperity for all?

A: China’s victory in the poverty alleviation battle is inseparable from the strong leadership of the Communist Party of China (中国共产党). For a country to successfully eliminate poverty, the primary condition is that the leadership must make absolute, firm, and public commitments and push for implementation with full force. "Poverty alleviation is the major task I am most concerned about," "What I am most concerned about is the needy masses"... President Xi Jinping (习近平) used the word "most" time and again to send a powerful signal to cadres at all levels and even the entire nation.

The efficient execution capability demonstrated by targeted poverty alleviation also sets a model. I have deeply tracked the poverty alleviation work of leaders at the five levels of province, city, county, township, and village, understood the specific scope of responsibilities of each secretary, and observed how they coordinate to promote overall work. The leadership of the Communist Party of China (中国共产党) is reflected not only in issuing instructions and making statements, but more importantly in effectively implementing various plans and projects through the Party’s organizational structure.

In the process of eliminating poverty, the key that all countries should realize is to stimulate internal motivation and place poverty reduction work at the top or near the top of the value system and work priorities. This can only be achieved from the top down, which is precisely the important experience China provides to the world.

Q: How do you view the prospects of Chinese-style modernization?

A: Chinese-style modernization is essentially different from Western modernization. On one hand, Chinese-style modernization is based on the basic national condition of a huge population and objective gaps in regional and urban-rural development, following a development path that fits its own endowments, which is different from the Western modernization model with limited scale and relatively balanced development foundations. On the other hand, Chinese-style modernization adheres to the system of multiparty cooperation and political consultation under the leadership of the Communist Party of China (中国共产党), which is a unique advantage that the Western multiparty competition system cannot match.

From the perspective of development prospects, relying on unique institutional advantages, a super-large market base, and continuously improving innovation capabilities, Chinese-style modernization will continue to break through development bottlenecks, solve modernization problems, walk a new path of modernization different from the West, and steadily move toward the grand vision of national rejuvenation. By further comprehensively deepening reform and promoting Chinese-style modernization, China will embrace broader development prospects and provide more opportunities for all countries to open up, cooperate, and develop together.

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Section Editors: Han Bingchen, Zhang Bolan

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Layout Design: Cai Huawei (蔡华伟)

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Page 18版:科技

Talent Development Shifts from "Superficial Engagement" to "Deep Collaboration" (Innovation Commentary)

By: 孙金声

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Through the integration of industry and education, talent cultivation has transformed from the past "mismatch between supply and demand" to a "mutual pursuit," moving from 蜻蜓点水 (qīng tíng diǎn shuǐ - "dragonfly touching the water," superficial or lacking depth) toward "deep synergy."

In the past, we often spoke of the "integration of industry and education," but in practice, universities and enterprises, as well as education and industry, were often "two separate skins" (disconnected). Universities delve into basic research and frontier exploration, while enterprises focus more on solving problems related to processes, equipment, and costs. The lack of smooth connection between schools and enterprises in research directions, evaluation systems, and practical scenarios led to a mismatch between supply and demand, resulting in this "two skins" phenomenon. Therefore, only by breaking down the barriers to collaborative education between schools and enterprises and twisting these "two skins" into "one rope" can we truly cultivate a high-quality team of engineering talent that masters frontier technologies and solidifies the talent foundation for industrial development.

In recent years, China National Petroleum Corporation (中国石油集团) has incorporated the training of engineering master's and doctoral students into its talent-strengthening strategy. Based on new industrial tracks such as oil, gas, and new energy, refining and new materials, and biological manufacturing, it has joined forces with 29 "Double First-Class" (双一流) universities to carry out collaborative training. Relying on key scientific research platforms, the corporation has created an "integrated innovation project for education, technology, and talent" to build an engineering master's and doctoral training model that integrates industry and education. These projects "knead" students and dual mentors from both schools and enterprises into a tight research team, allowing engineering master's and doctoral students to serve as the backbone of research, entering real scientific research environments to encounter real problems and conduct real research.

Specifically, first is "demand-oriented, project-based education," where enterprises propose over a hundred technical problem requirements each year, and dual mentors from schools and enterprises jointly guide students to complete them, using scientific research projects to leverage talent cultivation; second is "building laboratories on production lines," establishing engineer technology centers, constructing practical support systems, and opening real production scenarios, industrial data, and experimental conditions to students; third is breaking the inertia of "thesis-only" evaluation, directly linking practical achievements with degree conferral, recommendations for retention at the enterprise, and professional qualification certification. Software developed by students applied in oilfields, processes tested on production lines, and plans adopted for decision-making can all serve as effective "passports" for graduation and promotion; fourth is promoting a "master-apprentice" mechanism, selecting and appointing academicians of the two academies (两院院士), chief technical officers, and chief experts to serve as enterprise mentors, conducting regular mentor training, and improving assessment and incentive mechanisms to effectively solve the problem of enterprise experts being "unwilling or unable to teach."

Under this industry-education integrated training model, Wang Zunbo (王尊博), an engineering doctoral student jointly trained by Yumen Oilfield (玉门油田) and Zhejiang University (浙江大学), effectively solved problems such as liquid level difference control in hydrogen-oxygen separation tanks, promoting the implementation of renewable energy hydrogen production projects; research conducted by Chen Xiangyu (陈香玉), an engineering doctoral student jointly trained by Xinjiang Oilfield Company (新疆油田公司) and Zhejiang University (浙江大学), supported the commissioning and operation of the first domestic ultra-heavy oil thermal recovery tower-type water-working fluid solar thermal direct steam generation project; Wu Jinyu (吴谨妤), an engineering doctoral student jointly trained by the Petrochemical Research Institute (石油化工研究院) and the University of Science and Technology of China (中国科学技术大学), as the second contributor, deeply participated in the formulation of the national standard for "Fast Differential Scanning Calorimetry (FSC) Chip Calorimetry for Plastics"...

Currently, we have selected 300 projects to support the training of engineering master's and doctoral students. This year, one-third of the 2026 graduates will apply for their degrees using practical achievements in the form of hardware products, design plans, and technical standards. Through the integration of industry and education, talent cultivation has transformed from the past "mismatch between supply and demand" to a "mutual pursuit," moving from 蜻蜓点水 (qīng tíng diǎn shuǐ - "dragonfly touching the water," superficial or lacking depth) toward "deep synergy." Enterprises say this model hits the crux of practical problems, greatly improving research efficiency. Universities say this opens a new window for deepening cooperation and attracting high-quality students. Students say they have tempered their hard skills in solving complex engineering problems through actual combat.

The foundation of a strong nation lies in industry; the prosperity of industry lies in talent. We hope to encourage more students to complete their studies with practical achievements and empower industries with technological innovation. We will continue to delve into the integrated development path of education, technology, and talent, continuously cultivating excellent engineering talent who love the Party and the country, possess exquisite skills, and are adept at solving complex engineering problems, while making every effort to fill the gap in the supply of high-level engineering talent in the energy sector. We also look forward to this training model providing more replicable and scalable experience for other industries, contributing to the strategy of strengthening the nation through talent and the innovation-driven development strategy in the new era.

(The author is an academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering (中国工程院), interviewed and compiled by Gu Yekai (谷业凯) and Geng Li (耿莉))

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Chinese Intelligent Manufacturing in the Depths of the Ice Sheet (In-depth Observation)

By: 本报记者 刘诗瑶

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Not long ago, China's 42nd Antarctic Expedition (中国第四十二次南极考察) concluded successfully. During this expedition, several first-of-their-kind domestic polar equipment units traversed wind and snow, penetrated deep ice sheets, and dived into the deep sea, receiving full validation and application in the depths of the ice sheet.

Exploring the mysteries of Antarctica (南极), core technologies and equipment from various countries are often not shared, and the experiences of others may not necessarily suit China's scientific research model and the needs of its team members. Therefore, critical polar equipment must be based on independent innovation and the mastery of core technologies.

Chinese equipment shining in Antarctica reflects the quality of technological innovation. An increasing number of key pieces of equipment have achieved independent controllability, continuous iteration, and collaborative innovation, which not only promotes the continuous progress of China's polar expeditions but also highlights China's innovation strength and its capabilities in engineering manufacturing and system organization.

Hot Water Drill—
Breaking world records, providing scientists with more reliable means to explore subglacial mysteries

Subglacial lakes are a unique and mysterious presence in Antarctica (南极), regarded by scientists as "natural archives" that contain the codes of global climate change and may even harbor unknown microbial communities. Researching subglacial lakes is of great value for revealing the mysteries of Antarctica (南极) and mastering the laws of Earth's climate.

However, subglacial lakes are covered by ice sheets more than 3,000 meters thick. To investigate them, expedition members must first drill through the thick and hard ice barrier. The clean hot water drill, which "heats while drilling," has become the mainstream technology for international subglacial lake exploration.

During the 42nd Antarctic Expedition (中国第四十二次南极考察), Chinese scientific researchers, relying on a self-developed clean hot water drill system, successfully completed China's first hot water drilling test in the Antarctic (南极) ice sheet, reaching a depth of 3,413 meters and breaking the international polar hot water drilling record of 2,540 meters.

This is the result of 厚积薄发 (hòu jī bó fā - "thick accumulation thin outbreak," to accumulate knowledge or strength over a long period to achieve success).

Ten years ago, China developed a hot water drill system with a drilling capacity of 2,000 meters, but there was still a gap before it could drill through thicker ice sheets. In a situation where there were no 3,000-meter-class hot water drills either domestically or internationally, Chinese researchers were determined to develop a 3,000-meter-class hot water drill first to gain a first-mover advantage.

"Drilling straight, drilling steadily, and drilling cleanly" were the development goals for the hot water drill. Li Bing (李冰), a member of the subglacial lake team of the 42nd Chinese Antarctic Expedition (中国第四十二次南极考察队), explained that during the process of drilling into the ice sheet, if the top angle of the borehole changes too much, the resulting borehole diameter will be uneven, which could lead to the interruption of drilling. To maintain the purity and cleanliness of Antarctica (南极), it is also necessary to ensure that the water used for drilling is highly clean and does not cause environmental pollution.

Since 2021, the subglacial lake research team has gone through extensive research and multiple rounds of design and testing, overcoming more than 10 key core technologies to develop the 3,000-meter-class clean hot water drill.

"Looking back, the most agonizing moment in the entire process was the joint commissioning and testing of the hot water drill system conducted domestically," said Zhang Nan (张楠), a member of the subglacial lake team. The entire hot water drill system has many modules, a large scale, a high degree of interdisciplinary integration, and involves many units, making coordination for joint commissioning and testing very difficult. The team meticulously broke down the tasks; after each group completed the debugging of its subsystem, the project team conducted overall coordination and final checks, holding centralized discussions to improve the efficiency of problem-solving.

"The hot water drill setting the world's deepest record is just the beginning of the journey. Making this system a more reliable platform is the goal for future development," said Guo Jingxue (郭井学), captain of the subglacial lake team.

"We are developing a new in-hole monitoring system for the hot water drill, which uses sensors to measure temperature, pressure, hole diameter, and drill tool posture in real-time. It is equivalent to installing a pair of 'eyes' for the drill tool to ensure it drills accurately and quickly," said Gong Da (宫达), a member of the subglacial lake team.

Hot water drill technology is not only applied to the Antarctic (南极) plain ice sheet but may also be applied to complex terrain environments such as ice shelves and mountain glaciers in the future. By then, scientists will be able to lower observation instruments directly to the bottom of ice shelves and glaciers, using more reliable means to explore subglacial mysteries.

"Snow Leopard" (雪豹) Vehicle—
Suitable for extreme environments, expanding the activity radius of our scientific researchers in the Antarctic (南极) interior

With 95% of its area covered by ice and snow, the Antarctic (南极) interior is known as the "White Desert." Currently, only a few countries have the capability to enter the Antarctic (南极) interior for scientific research. Apart from limited air travel, snowmobiles have become the primary way to enter the Antarctic (南极) interior.

In the special ice and snow environment of the Antarctic (南极) interior, even the most advanced mechanical equipment in the world is prone to failure. For inland expeditions, reliable transportation equipment is not an exaggeration to be called a "lifeline."

For a long time, China's Antarctic (南极) inland expeditions mainly relied on imported tracked vehicles. This equipment is slow, has high fuel consumption, and high maintenance costs, making the independent development of special polar vehicles an inevitable choice.

Under the joint efforts of Tsinghua University (清华大学) and the Polar Research Institute of China (中国极地研究中心) of the Ministry of Natural Resources (自然资源部), the "Snow Leopard" (雪豹) special polar vehicle, suitable for driving in the extreme environment of the Antarctic (南极) interior, was successfully developed. The "Snow Leopard" (雪豹) can operate in high-cold, high-altitude, and high-risk areas, filling the gap in China's equipment for rapid personnel transport, scientific research support, and emergency rescue on the Antarctic (南极) surface.

Sun Peng (孙鹏), chief designer of the "Snow Leopard" (雪豹) series of special vehicles and deputy captain of the Grove Mountains (格罗夫山) team of the 42nd Chinese Antarctic Expedition (中国第四十二次南极考察队), introduced that because the joint research team lacked experience in developing special polar vehicles and lacked various data on vehicle testing in the real Antarctic (南极) environment, in order to avoid detours and shorten the development cycle, the team insisted on carrying the latest generation of equipment for on-site technical testing and engineering verification in the Antarctic (南极) interior during every annual expedition.

Only when he arrived at the inland site did Sun Peng (孙鹏) understand what it meant to take the "first step of a long march" (万里长征第一步 - wàn lǐ cháng zhēng dì yī bù - "ten thousand li long march first step," the first step in a long and arduous journey).

He lamented that polar expeditions have extremely harsh requirements for equipment. Instruments that perform well in the laboratory may not be reliable in Antarctica (南极); structures that are mature at room temperature may become brittle and crack at low temperatures; communication and energy systems that are stable in plain areas may face completely different challenges on ice sheets and at sea.

"The maturity of polar equipment cannot be judged solely by design drawings, but more importantly by on-site performance. Being able to be used, used steadily, and used for a long time in Antarctica (南极) is a true engineering breakthrough," said Sun Peng (孙鹏).

The superposition and continuous influence of many factors such as extreme low temperature, high altitude, low air pressure, blizzards, strong radiation, and multiple crevasses have placed extremely strict performance requirements on the "Snow Leopard" (雪豹). In this Antarctic (南极) expedition, the "Snow Leopard" (雪豹) delivered a satisfactory performance: the "Snow Leopard" (雪豹) 6×6 wheeled vehicle traveled a total of 12,772 kilometers, achieving "zero-fault" reliable operation. Common tracked vehicles generally have a speed of 15 kilometers per hour. After testing, the "Snow Leopard" (雪豹) 6×6 wheeled vehicle reached speeds of 28 km/h and 42 km/h on soft snow and hard snow surfaces, respectively, and could travel steadily at 65 km/h in solid ice areas, with a maximum range of about 700 kilometers on a full tank. The excellent performance of the "Snow Leopard" (雪豹) has expanded the activity radius of our scientific researchers in the Antarctic (南极) interior.

Inland Cabin—
Improving living conditions, providing a safe and comfortable "home" for scientific researchers

The Antarctic (南极) interior is also known as the "forbidden zone for life." Undeterred by the harsh environment, our expedition members advance into the interior every year, driving heavy snowmobiles for more than 10 hours a day, eight people squeezed into a cabin similar to a shipping container, unable to shower for 60 days on the round trip, while conducting scientific research along the way.

To improve the living conditions of inland expedition members and support better in-depth scientific research, there was an urgent need to develop an inland cabin that is "mobile and stationable," safe, comfortable, and highly reliable.

A small cabin almost gathers all the challenges of extreme environment engineering. As a participant in the development, Yao Xu (姚旭), captain of the inland team of the 42nd Chinese Antarctic Expedition (中国第四十二次南极考察队), gave an example: the inland cabin body waiting for assembly needs to be transported by scientific research ships and towed by helicopters or snowmobiles, with the total weight strictly limited to within 4.5 tons. How to "perform a show in a snail shell" (螺蛳壳里做道场 - luó sī ké lǐ zuò dào chǎng - "do a ritual in a snail shell," to carry out complex work in a very limited space), integrating all living and energy systems, was the primary challenge.

Secondly, this inland cabin must withstand extreme low temperatures of minus 40 degrees Celsius or even lower, as well as the violent jolts of 700 kilometers on the ice sheet surface. Once a failure occurs on-site, it is almost impossible to repair.

A bigger challenge is to achieve rapid switching between "mobile" and "stationary" modes. When moving, the inland cabin is part of the inland expedition fleet; when stationary, multiple modules must be able to be quickly assembled into a complete inland cabin camp. Without a crane, it must be set up in half an hour and dismantled in a dozen minutes.

It is also necessary to find ways to overcome technologies for efficient snow melting, anti-freezing, and water saving in low-temperature environments, turning showering from a "luxury" into a "daily routine."

To achieve lightweight and high thermal insulation performance, the research team abandoned traditional heavy rock wool sandwich panels and newly developed an "integrated structural insulation and decoration" cabin body. To overcome the shower problem, they built a 1:1 real snow-melting test platform domestically, conducted hundreds of tests, and created an efficient low-temperature-resistant snow-melting shower system... Through the persistent efforts of the researchers, these problems were solved one by one.

When conducting real tests in Antarctica (南极), the reliability of the inland cabin stood the test.

During the nearly 50-day Grove Mountains (格罗夫山) expedition in Antarctica (南极), the inland cabin followed the fleet through a detour of over 700 kilometers of exceptionally bumpy ice crevasses, experiencing frequent "drifting snow" and temperatures of minus 40 degrees Celsius. All systems in the inland cabin, such as snow-melting showers, ecological toilets, photovoltaic energy storage, and flexible passages, achieved stable operation, marking a milestone in the living conditions of China's Antarctic (南极) inland expeditions.

The inland cabin is not only a "survival cabin" that ensures the safety of team members' lives but also a "combat cabin" that improves the efficiency and quality of scientific research. Because it saves a lot of time and physical energy previously used for melting snow for water, going outside to use the toilet, and putting on cold-proof clothing, expedition members can devote more energy to scientific research tasks. The inland cabin also integrates some environmental sensors, automatically collecting data such as solar radiation, wind speed, temperature, and humidity along the way, achieving "two birds with one stone" (一举两得 - yī jǔ liǎng dé - "one lift two gains," to achieve two goals with a single action) in supporting scientific work, and realizing the goal of "setting up a home wherever there is a scientific question while traveling across the vast ice sheet."

Antarctic (南极) scientific research does not stop at the inland ice sheet; there is also the Southern Ocean (南大洋). During the 42nd Antarctic Expedition (中国第四十二次南极考察), a large number of deep-sea observation equipment independently developed in China were successfully applied in the Antarctic (南极) sea area, marking an important step forward in China's on-site observation capabilities in the Southern Ocean (南大洋).

The ocean-bottom seismometer independently developed by China was deployed in the sea area of the Antarctic Peninsula (南极半岛), forming an observation array to capture natural seismic waves and subtle crustal vibrations over a long period. The "Deep Sea Basalt" (深海玄武) buoy independently developed by China was successfully applied, capable of automatically diving to a depth of 6,000 meters and returning to the sea surface, continuously obtaining key environmental parameters such as deep-sea temperature and salinity... Domestic equipment with various functions, combined with the navigation observation equipment of the "Xuelong 2" (雪龙2号) scientific research ship, jointly constitutes a mobile integrated observation system from the sea surface to the deep sea.

Chinese wisdom and manufacturing are supporting China's polar science in a more solid way, moving towards deeper, further, and longer-term directions.

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Breaking Through with Innovation in the AI Handwriting Recognition Sector (The Masterminds Around Me)

By: 覃勋辉

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Can you identify who wrote a hand-drawn circle just by looking at it? In April of this year, at the ICDAR 2026—CircleID Global Competition for Circle Writer Identification, we faced exactly this challenge: 5,905 circles, 8 types of writing instruments, and over 50 writers, with the added requirement of identifying individuals outside the sample database. Ultimately, our team stood out from 113 teams worldwide, securing first place with a significant lead of over 11 percentage points ahead of the runner-up.

My choice of handwriting recognition as a niche research direction stems largely from my love for calligraphy, which has led me to think more deeply about the writing characteristics of different individuals. Handwriting is not merely the shape of lines; it records the muscle memory formed by a writer over a long period. Each person's unique pen-handling habits are precisely the important behavioral biometric features that reflect personal identity.

As digital transformation accelerates, more and more business processes are moving from paper to online platforms. How to confirm that the signatory on the other side of the screen is indeed the person themselves, how to prove that the act of signing is based on genuine intent, and how to ensure electronic evidence can withstand scrutiny are questions that the digital society must answer. Making handwriting an identifiable, verifiable, and traceable identity imprint is precisely the direction of our research efforts.

The value of circle recognition lies in the fact that it pushes the difficulty of handwriting recognition to the limit. Circles lack complex character structures and context, and the competition provided only scanned paper images, meaning dynamic information such as writing speed, pressure, and acceleration were all missing. Differences in line thickness, smudging, and friction caused by various writing instruments also interfere with algorithmic judgment. The algorithm must find stable individual characteristics within extremely limited information.

In the early stages of the competition, we adopted mainstream vision models, treating circles as image classification tasks, and our results hovered in third or fourth place for a long time. Watching the scores of other teams on the leaderboard continue to rise, and with more participating teams than in previous years, the team urgently needed an innovative solution to reverse the unfavorable situation. During that time, I constantly improved existing visual schemes and invested a great deal of time writing code, but the improvement was very limited. I realized that I had to make a bolder attempt. A circle left on paper is a static image, but the process of generating it is a continuous action. If we could convert the static circle back into a dynamic handwriting sequence and combine it with the handwriting sequence modeling we are more proficient in, perhaps we could achieve better results. However, this led to a new problem: due to numerous instances of broken strokes and unclear ink, restoring the complete dynamic process of a circle from the start to the end of the stroke is extremely difficult.

A clever idea helped us break out of our 思维定式 (sī wéi dìng shì - "thinking fixed pattern," to break free from conventional or rigid ways of thinking): Why must we pursue strict restoration of the stroke order? Would it be more feasible to form alignable handwriting sequences according to specific rules? Thus, we uniformly unfolded the circles from 0 degrees to 360 degrees, like flattening a closed curve for observation, extracted simulated temporal features such as elliptical shape, angular changes, and line undulations, and then deeply integrated them with visual features—returning to the handwriting sequence modeling task we are familiar with. Relying on our long-term accumulation of digital handwriting technology, the scheme was quickly implemented, and the model results leaped to become the new first place. The technical route was validated, and at that moment, the entire team felt deeply inspired.

Technology can only truly generate value when it enters practical application. In recent years, our team has participated in projects related to the National Key R&D Program (国家重点研发计划) and the compilation of the "Technical Specifications for Handwritten Electronic Signature Handwriting Identification" (《手写电子签名笔迹鉴定技术规范》), continuously refining our capabilities in scenarios such as government services, law enforcement, financial risk control, and hospital diagnosis and treatment. In businesses such as online signing and remote interrogation, the system serves trusted signing, identity authentication, intent confirmation, and electronic evidence storage by recording dynamic handwriting features such as strokes, stroke order, pen pressure, and writing speed.

Moving forward, we will continue to improve recognition accuracy and promote the construction of China's own handwriting database. For me, the ideal future is one where every online signature, confirmation, and authorization can leave behind a trusted, verifiable, and traceable identity imprint.

(The author is an algorithm expert at Chongqing Qinbixian Digital Technology Co., Ltd. (重庆亲笔签数字科技有限公司), interviewed and compiled by our reporter Shen Jingran (沈靖然))

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"Being a Good Doctor" (Reflections on Life)

By: 王振义

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My thoughts are very simple: I just hope for a strong and prosperous country, for the people to live in peace and stability, and for me to be a good doctor. If I have any defining characteristic, it is that I like to ask "why."

When I was a child, seeing colorful flowers, I would wonder, why do flowers have so many colors? This question troubled me for a long time. Reading, questioning, and thinking are essential. One must always ask why and never let any question mark go unanswered.

My grandfather, Wang Xixing (王西星), was very skilled in business. When he passed away, my father was only 10 years old. My grandmother raised my father and uncle, and later helped raise several grandchildren. I was born in 1924, and my home was on Gao'an Road (高安路) in what was then the Shanghai French Concession (上海法租界). From childhood, I received a French-style education at mission schools. My primary school was the Sapporo School (萨坡赛小学) (now Shanghai Huangpu District Luwan No. 1 Central Primary School (上海市黄浦区卢湾一中心小学)), followed by the Aurora University Affiliated Middle School (震旦大学附属中学) (now Shanghai Xiangming High School (上海市向明中学)) and the Aurora University School of Medicine (震旦大学医学院) (now Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine (上海交通大学医学院)). My career was based at Guangci Hospital (广慈医院) (now Ruijin Hospital (瑞金医院)).

My family followed traditional Chinese educational philosophy. For instance, the names of us five brothers were chosen to form the phrase "Ren, Yi, Li, Zhi, Xin" (Benevolence, Righteousness, Propriety, Wisdom, and Integrity). I am the second son, so I was named Zhenyi (振义). My grandfather donated much of the money he earned to help establish the "International Committee" (万国董事会) of the Red Cross Society of China (中国红十字会), and he also funded the Shanghai Medical Team to support the Wuchang Uprising (武昌起义) by providing battlefield medical care. My parents were also willing to help the poor; they felt that living too luxuriously was a waste. If we were wasteful, they would ask, "Have you thought about those who have no homes or those who are in difficulty?"

My father’s lifelong wish was to raise his eight children well, ensuring everyone could attend university and contribute to the country. My brothers all studied science and engineering. For example, my fifth brother, Wang Zhenxin (王振信), known as the "Father of the Shanghai Metro" (上海地铁之父), made significant contributions to the design and construction of the Shanghai Metro (上海地铁). During my childhood, at the dinner table, my father would examine the eight of us on our schoolwork every week. He would check our report cards; he praised the good ones, and those who didn't do well would be hit on the palms. I was the only one who was never hit on the palms.

I have loved science since I was a child. In middle school, I focused mainly on my studies, but I also loved reading miscellaneous books.

My home, my school, and my hospital were all located within that small area of Luwan (卢家湾). I started learning French in primary school. Later, when the Japanese invaders arrived and demanded that students learn Japanese, our school resisted and refused. At that time, I read the *Shen Pao* (申报) every day and discussed with my parents how the Japanese were brutalizing the Chinese, which made me very angry.

My father was a serious and quiet man who was strict in disciplining his children and lived a simple life, which influenced my character. During my middle school years, there was war, and the Japanese invaders were extremely cruel; life was very difficult for everyone. At that time, I could be described as a pessimist. Leaving the French Concession meant passing through Japanese checkpoints, where we were searched and inspected. Aurora Affiliated Middle School had many teachers from France, who were often Catholics. They left their comfortable lives to come to the then-impoverished China to provide education, which I found truly remarkable at the time. Six of my classmates and I shared similar interests; we often gathered to practice English speeches and share books and new knowledge, much like a study group. We all wanted to improve ourselves, to be able to help others, and we aspired to be good people and to be 大公无私 (dà gōng wú sī - "great public no private," completely selfless and impartial). These six classmates were very important people to me. How important? Well, look at my WeChat name—it's "Seven John"! They have all passed away now, but they are still "alive" on my WeChat...

I was particularly close to my grandmother. She passed away from typhoid fever. I was still young at the time and very heartbroken. I didn't understand why even a famous doctor couldn't cure her, so I vowed to study medicine. My father also hoped that one of his children would study medicine. I had studied French, so it was more convenient to attend the "French-Belgian" style Aurora University. After entering medical school, I didn't immediately know what kind of doctor I would become. Later, I took the initiative to choose internal medicine, as I felt my manual dexterity wasn't strong, but I was good at using my brain.

The medical school curriculum was very heavy, but the teachers liked me quite a bit. The physiology and pathology teachers each picked only two students from the class for intensive training, and I was one of them. They used extracurricular time to give me extra instruction; the teacher would specifically call me to the pathology department to teach me how to read slides. He was a doctor himself and would voluntarily work overtime to teach me alone. I graduated first in my class.

When I was 20, I fell in love with my classmate Xie Jingxiong (谢竞雄). Coincidentally, both our families lived on Gao'an Road (高安路). I told her it wasn't safe for a girl to be alone, so I waited for her every day to go to school together, and waited for her to come home together. That’s how I loved her for a lifetime. She was a pediatrician; I always called her "Dr. Xie," and she always called me "Dr. Wang."

Before the founding of New China (新中国), the corrupt politics of the Kuomintang (国民党) were deeply disappointing. My third brother, Zhenli (振礼), was arrested, and I ran around everywhere for him. Zhenli was the smartest among my brothers; he just liked photography and had merely captured scenes of the student movement. My eldest brother, Zhenren (振仁), was an underground member of the Communist Party of China (中共) before the founding of New China. I, and my whole family, first learned about the Communist Party through my eldest brother.

After the founding of New China, the policies of the Communist Party were very popular. Even my mother became a neighborhood cadre; I remember her holding a megaphone, calling on residents to pay attention to safety.

At that time, the revolution had just succeeded, and everything was fresh and new; people in society helped one another. I remember in 1957, a French Catholic delegation visited China, and one of them said, "What the Catholic Church wants to do, you in China are now doing!" It was truly like that. Shanghai, from a state of chaos, was suddenly reborn—people did not pocket lost items, and there was no need to lock doors at night. I had just graduated from Aurora and was trying every possible way to conquer difficult diseases, while also actively participating in public welfare, serving as the vice chairman of the hospital's labor union. I was a deputy to the first Luwan District People's Congress (卢湾区第一届人民代表), and later served as a deputy to the Shanghai Municipal People's Congress (上海市人大代表) and the National People's Congress (全国人大代表).

Of course, I, like the country, have encountered difficulties. Relying on the correct leadership of the Party, I have come to understand what kind of person I am. I once thought that if I could never be a doctor again in this life, what would be the meaning of my existence? There was no other way; I only knew how to be a doctor, and I only wanted to treat patients. In fact, even if I had been sent to the countryside to be a "barefoot doctor" (赤脚医生) forever, that would have been fine.

I calculated that in my life, I have really only done four things.

The first was at the beginning of the founding of New China, when I went to Jiaxing, Zhejiang (浙江嘉兴) to treat the People's Liberation Army (解放军) for schistosomiasis.

At that time, to cross the sea and liberate the Zhoushan Islands (舟山群岛), the soldiers were training in Taihu Lake (太湖), swimming and rowing boats. Unexpectedly, they were "targeted" by schistosomes in the lake branches, which severely affected their combat effectiveness. I went to treat the soldiers. Fortunately, the treatment was effective, and I returned with a third-class merit.

The second was during the War to Resist US Aggression and Aid Korea (抗美援朝), when I went to the border between Northeast China and North Korea to treat the Chinese People's Volunteers (志愿军).

At that time, I encountered a "strange disease": a large group of soldiers were coughing up blood and suffering from headaches. They were diagnosed with pulmonary tuberculosis accompanied by tuberculous meningitis, but the medication was ineffective. I took a very careful medical history. Many soldiers mentioned that they often caught small fish and shrimp in river branches and field ridges. Because the war was intense, they would swallow them quickly without cooking them thoroughly. I recalled the relevant descriptions in *Practical Internal Medicine* (实用内科学) and observed the patients' bloody sputum under a microscope. Sure enough, it was paragonimiasis—the undercooked crayfish contained large numbers of lung flukes. Once the diagnosis was correct, the treatment was easy. The military leadership was very happy and gave me a second-class merit.

The third thing was discovering that all-trans retinoic acid could treat acute promyelocytic leukemia.

This disease is very dangerous and prone to massive hemorrhaging; 90% of patients did not live past two weeks, making it the subtype of blood cancer that hematologists around the world found most troublesome. As a hematologist, seeing young patients looking at you with hope when you have no solution, and then watching them die and be carried away, was truly painful. I had been researching this disease for a long time, reading all the latest literature, and searching everywhere for drugs and treatments. After many failures, I finally discovered that all-trans retinoic acid was effective. After Dr. Xie retired and became a consultant at the Children's Hospital, she saw a young patient who was dying and said to me, "Aren't you working on this drug? Can you save this child?" I said I had studied it, done animal experiments, and the effect was good with low toxicity. After discussing it with the parents, we used the drug, and the child was saved. Moreover, this drug is not very expensive, and it is very easy to use—just oral administration. It can transform "bad cells" into "good cells" and can bring about remission in 95% of patients.

Later, on this basis, we added arsenic trioxide, forming the "Shanghai Protocol" (上海方案) for leukemia treatment, which became the standard therapy in the international medical community. For this, I received the highest award in international oncology—the Kettering Prize (凯特林奖). The citation at the time called me "the first person in the history of human cancer treatment to successfully apply differentiation induction therapy." That paper from back then is one of the 86 most cited and influential papers in the world over the last century. In fact, this is not my achievement alone; it is the result of the team's joint efforts. I did not apply for a patent; first, I wanted patients all over the world to be able to afford it, and second, I wanted patients to get this life-saving medicine as quickly as possible. At the time, a box of medicine cost less than 10 yuan, and the total cost was less than 100 yuan to cure the disease.

The fourth thing is the "open-book exam," where I act as a "crutch" for young doctors.

When I turned 80, I was no longer on the front lines of clinical practice. However, I asked the hematology department to bring out a real, difficult case every week for me to take an exam. The young doctors would set the questions, and I would search for literature and materials online, deliberate repeatedly, and come to the department every Thursday to discuss it. In two days, I would find 100 relevant papers from nearly 10,000 documents, then select 20 or 30 to make a set of slides to share with everyone. This "exam" has been going on for more than 20 years. Young doctors are too busy with clinical and research work, so I read the literature for them, select the best for them to apply to clinical practice—I suppose I am an old "crutch." The *Collection of Difficult Case Discussions from the Hematology Department of Ruijin Hospital* (瑞金医院血液科疑难病例讨论集), which records these "open-book exams," has already published three volumes.

The "open-book exam" has three benefits: First, it solves patients' problems, or at least advances the solution by a step; second, it teaches young doctors how to find literature and analyze problems; third, it constantly learns and collects the latest information, keeping one's brain from aging. Therefore, the "open-book exam" is a great pleasure for me.

I must thank the Reform and Opening-up (改革开放), which gave us the opportunity to discover new things. Only when everyone's thinking was liberated and the conditions were met could we have the very important achievements that followed.

I have many excellent disciples. Three of them are academicians, but that is not my credit; it is the result of the country and society's cultivation. Chen Zhu (陈竺) was excellent on his own; he was first in every exam. Chen Saijuan (陈赛娟) was second. Chen Guoqiang (陈国强) became the president of Hainan Medical University (海南医科大学) and was at the forefront of reform. It was the era that gave them the opportunity.

Each of our academic careers is a parabola. When a person is at the peak of scientific research, they may go downhill afterward. Therefore, when you are at the top of the parabola, you should step down and yield to the next generation of stronger people to replace you. In this way, the peak of this line will always point upward rather than sliding downward, which is more beneficial to the development of the entire cause. That is why I quickly handed over the position of Director of the Institute of Hematology (血研所) to Chen Zhu (陈竺), because he could do better than I could.

I have lived in Shanghai (上海) for over 100 years, but I don't have my own house. The room I live in was rented for me by Ruijin Hospital (瑞金医院), and it will have to be returned in the future.

I am 102 years old this year. It seems that Heaven has forgotten me, but the country still remembers me, this ordinary doctor. In 2024, I was awarded the very important "Medal of the Republic" (共和国勋章). Oh, the person I miss the most is Dr. Xie. She passed away before I received the State Preeminent Science and Technology Award (国家最高科学技术奖), back in 2010. She didn't get to see it; she just accompanied me through a lot of hardship.

Some media say I am the "God of Medicine in China" (中国药神). That is not true; where is there any god? Besides, the "Shanghai Protocol" (上海方案) is also everyone's credit. Acute promyelocytic leukemia is just one type of leukemia; there are still many more incurable diseases, and I am so anxious! I can only wait for the young people to find a way...

(Compiled by Li Hongbing (李泓冰))

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Reflections on Looking for a Better Job While Still Employed (Jintai Reflections)

By: 韩晓艳

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There is a 成语 (chéng yǔ - "idiomatic expression," a fixed four-character phrase derived from classical Chinese) called 骑驴找马 (qí lǘ zhǎo mǎ - "riding a donkey to search for a horse," to settle for a temporary situation while waiting for a better opportunity). It means that one originally intended to ride a horse but could not find one, so they settled for a donkey nearby as a temporary measure, intending to discard the donkey once a horse is found.

This 成语 (chéng yǔ - "idiomatic expression," a fixed four-character phrase derived from classical Chinese) is frequently cited, sometimes to comfort others and sometimes to comfort oneself. As the saying goes, "Heaven has made me with talents that will surely be put to use." One might start by riding the donkey, and perhaps one day, the ideal horse will arrive. The core of 骑驴找马 (qí lǘ zhǎo mǎ - "riding a donkey to search for a horse," to settle for a temporary situation while waiting for a better opportunity) is waiting and searching.

A colleague’s child attended a vocational and technical college, majoring in high-speed rail operation. At the time, it seemed like a good choice; driving high-speed trains offered stable employment, high income, and a great deal of prestige. However, after graduation, it was discovered that there was an oversupply of technical talent for train operations. In two recruitment opportunities, the competition was extremely fierce. After the written test results were released, the young man failed to make the interview list.

After staying at home for a few months, the young man saw a fast-food restaurant hiring, applied, and was accepted. Since then, he has been preparing ingredients, cooking, and serving meals, finding genuine enjoyment in his work.

At a gathering of friends and relatives, the colleague said, "The job at the fast-food restaurant is only temporary; we are just 骑驴找马 (qí lǘ zhǎo mǎ - "riding a donkey to search for a horse," to settle for a temporary situation while waiting for a better opportunity)." Unexpectedly, the young man stood up and said, "I have been thinking, since I am already riding the donkey, why must I keep looking for a horse? If I raise the donkey well and keep it healthy, I can still live a good life."

These words made everyone look at him with new eyes. 骑驴找马 (qí lǘ zhǎo mǎ - "riding a donkey to search for a horse," to settle for a temporary situation while waiting for a better opportunity) had led him to a new realization. Everyone suddenly realized that this young man had grown up. He was not only able to stand on the solid ground of reality but also able to adjust his interests and ideals.

Two years later, the young man became the manager of that fast-food restaurant. Business was booming, and his income was substantial. Through his own practice, he proved that being 脚踏实地 (jiǎo tà shí dì - "feet tread solid ground," to be down-to-earth and realistic) and strengthening one's current profession is a viable path in life.

Of course, some people are determined to find their "horse." They believe that given their educational background and ideals, they deserve to ride a high-quality horse. Even if they cannot find such a horse now, they believe it is merely a matter of opportunity and time. They trust that one day, their goals will surely be realized. They live by the spirit of "春风得意马蹄疾,一日看尽长安花" (chūn fēng dé yì mǎ tí jí, yī rì kàn jìn cháng ān huā - "In the spring breeze of success, the horse's hooves are swift; in one day, one can view all the flowers of Chang'an," describing the exhilaration of success and the ambition to achieve greatness) and strive tirelessly toward that end. Persisting in the pursuit of one's ideals is certainly a positive attitude toward life.

The most dangerous thing is to think about the "horse" all day long, believing that one's current position and work are not ideal, and always maintaining a mindset of merely going through the motions or 得过且过 (dé guò qiě guò - "get by and let pass," to muddle along or be content with temporary ease). Treating one's current situation this way will certainly lead to no progress in work, and one will not achieve satisfying results. It is very likely that before you even find your "horse," your current job will abandon you. Even if you do encounter a good opportunity one day, you will be unable to seize it. The reins of opportunity are never thrown to those who do not work in a down-to-earth manner and who spend their days lost in unrealistic fantasies.

People naturally have different strengths and talents. A task that others find easy to handle may not be something we are capable of, and the fields in which we excel may not be something others can do. Upon entering the workplace, the most important thing is to find a position that fits you and can unlock your potential. If you are single-mindedly obsessed with the notion of 骑驴找马 (qí lǘ zhǎo mǎ - "riding a donkey to search for a horse," to settle for a temporary situation while waiting for a better opportunity), constantly wavering, looking left and right, and wandering through repeated frustrations and setbacks, you will only end up wasting your precious time in vain.

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Distant Horizons in a Flowerpot

By: 李 娟

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At the entrance of the residential compound (小区), there is a grocery store that sells daily necessities. The owner of the shop is a young woman in her twenties. Because her prices are fair and her goods are fresh, business is quite good. With the rise of online shopping, the young woman has 与时俱进 (yǔ shí jù jìn - "keep pace with the times," to adapt to new trends and developments) and developed a new service—helping nearby residents send and receive packages. When people come to pick up their deliveries, they inevitably pick up a few items along the way. As a result, the grocery store's business has become even more prosperous.

I work during the day and there is no one at home to receive packages, so for convenience, I set the delivery address to the grocery store. I pick them up when I have time, which saves me a lot of worry. Every time I go to collect a package, I see the young woman sitting at the entrance fiddling with a music player, smiling warmly. She doesn't speak, doesn't push sales, and at most, just states the total amount due. The customers in the shop are entirely self-service, which is quite relaxed.

It is strange to say, but I have never seen her stand up; she is always quiet and silent. This made me curious, and several times I couldn't help but want to strike up a conversation, but I felt it would be intrusive.

I also noticed that at the entrance of the grocery store, there are several rows of flower stands, with flower pots of all sizes filled with plants. There are Chinese roses (月季), peonies (牡丹), herbaceous peonies (芍药), sweet osmanthus (桂花), and wintersweet (蜡梅). Throughout spring, summer, autumn, and winter, the flowers are always in bloom. Each pot is meticulously cared for, with green leaves and vibrant flowers, which is truly delightful. I sighed in admiration in my heart, thinking the young woman is truly a thoughtful person. In addition to flowers and plants, she also grows rapeseed (油菜), wheat seedlings (麦苗), and even unknown wild grasses.

Not long ago, a package I received was damaged, and the merchant asked me to refuse the delivery. So, I found the young woman and explained the situation. She slowly stood up, moved with difficulty to the shelf, took out paper and a pen, and registered the information. Seeing this scene, I was immediately stunned.

Seeing my surprise, the young woman said softly, "It was caused by an illness in my childhood; I cannot stand for long." My initial confusion had found its answer.

"You really love planting flowers and grass?" I decided to 打破砂锅 (dǎ pò shā guō - "break the earthenware pot," to get to the bottom of a matter) and clear up all my confusion. She smiled and said, "I love to travel, but since I can't go out, I plant flowers and grass in pots. In this way, it counts as seeing the scenery. When the rapeseed flowers bloom, I pretend I’ve gone to Wuyuan (婺源); when the wild grasses grow, I pretend I’ve gone to the grasslands... Every time a flower blooms, I arrive at a beautiful place."

After hearing this, I finally understood. Fate has confined her world to a small grocery store, and the distance has become an unreachable dream. In her small flower pots, she completes one imaginary journey after another.

When I left, I looked toward the entrance, where the sunflowers in the pots were holding their heads high and blooming brilliantly. At that moment, I felt that those sunflowers were just like the young woman in the grocery store—free, abundant, and forever facing the sun...

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Photo Report

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Oil painting "Vase of Flowers and Fruit" (瓶花和水果), by the artist Pan Yuliang (潘玉良), in the collection of the National Art Museum of China (中国美术馆).

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The Tea Stool of My Hometown

By: 吴良伦

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Have you ever seen a stool with only one leg? In my hometown of Longchi Village (龙池村) in Southwest Anhui (皖西南), they exist; they are indispensable during tea harvesting and are called "tea stools."

Tea-harvesting machines possess efficiency that manual labor cannot match, but the unique topography and landforms of the tea mountains in my hometown, combined with the tea farmers’ adherence to tradition, mean that tea is still picked by hand, one bud with one leaf or one bud with two leaves. Manual picking naturally requires the use of tea stools.

Longchi Village (龙池村) has a low latitude and high altitude, with little sunshine and frequent clouds and mist; the soil is rich in humus and sandstone, which is conducive to the tea tree roots reaching deep to absorb the essence. Wherever there is a village, there is tea; the history of tea cultivation here is at least 400 years old. Planting, picking, roasting, and selling tea is certainly not easy, but it is the livelihood for the whole family for the year, and the tea farmers find joy in it—乐在其间 (lè zài qí jiān - "happy in it," to find pleasure in one's work or situation).

In addition to geographical, climatic, and soil factors, time is also directly related to the color and quality of the tea. "Mingqian Tea" (明前茶 - tea picked before the Qingming Festival) and "Yuqian Tea" (雨前茶 - tea picked before the Grain Rain solar term) are top-grade spring teas, and their picking cannot be delayed. As the saying goes, "Spring competes for the day, summer competes for the hour" (春争日,夏争时 - chūn zhēng rì, xià zhēng shí - "spring competes for the day, summer competes for the hour," time is precious during the busy farming seasons). Once the tea-picking season begins, before the sun has even risen over the mountains, the tea farmers hurriedly swallow a few mouthfuls of breakfast, hook bamboo baskets containing dry rations for lunch over their arms, carry tea stools of varying heights and sizes in their hands, and head toward the tea mountains with great enthusiasm.

I do not know if other tea-producing regions also have tea stools, but the ones used by the people in my hometown are T-shaped. The "horizontal" part above is a rectangular, thick wooden board planed smooth and flat, while the "vertical" part below is a dense, wear-resistant log. There is no uniform model for the height of the tea stool or the size of the seat; it is entirely determined by the tea picker's height and usual sitting posture.

Tea picking requires both quality and speed. Once the tea season arrives, the weather begins to turn hot. Tea farmers process tea at night and pick it during the day, day after day. With insufficient sleep, they are so tired that they "could fall asleep standing up." Furthermore, with their heads bowed all day like a chicken pecking at rice (鸡啄米 - jī zhuó mǐ - "chicken pecking rice," describing the motion of nodding off or bowing one's head repeatedly), people become exhausted with aching muscles and bones, making them prone to drowsiness. At this time, a slight distraction could cause one to roll down the mountain. Sitting on a tea stool is different; it is like having a "magic needle to calm the sea" (定海神针 - dìng hǎi shén zhēn - "sea-calming needle," a metaphor for a stabilizing force or a reliable support), which liberates the waist and makes the work much more comfortable and relaxed.

Moving from one bush to the next, they do not stop working until evening. During the breaks in picking, some people start singing in low voices, then gradually grow louder, singing excerpts from "The Heavenly Match" (《天仙配》), "The Tale of Buckwheat" (《荞麦记》), and "Husband and Wife Watching Lanterns" (《夫妻观灯》). The melodies of Huangmei Opera (黄梅戏) rush and collide among the high and dense tea trees, and all the fatigue and drowsiness seem to be swept away...

As the setting sun slides behind the western mountains, the fresh tea leaves poke their heads out of the bamboo baskets, and the tea farmers return home in groups. These fresh tea leaves then undergo a series of processes such as spreading, de-enzyming, rolling, and roasting, and the fragrance of tea drifts over the village...

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Field

By: 火 棠

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Go to the south, to live as brilliantly as a dove, in the bright fields,
  Seeing light give birth to countless children, leaping one after another into the water,
  Their bones are soft, their eyes flickering, oh, the eternal undulation,
  Teaching us to hold fast to the days in our hands.
  Water is the most vivid part of the fields; the rest is responsible for feeding
  Our days and nights, our vast dreams.
  Looking at the fields below from the mountain, the people and the vehicles that brought them,
  Stripped of painful details by distance, tiny and happy.
  They stand still, gently surrendering the colors of a lifetime like fruit,
  And then they can cease their labor, standing into the words of the scenery to rest,
  There is a gentle hand sketching them, sketching
  The crops surging from within their hearts, the wind brushing against the twilight lake.
  There is no need to arrange time, for time has arranged us,
  When flowers bloom, they will tell us with blossoms, that at that moment,
  Its footsteps draw ever closer, we come down from the mountain,
  Walking into those fields, awakening all things, in the relaxed evening.

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Bao Xin Ba (Duoweizhai)

By: 田洪生

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"Sticky rice bun" is the official name, but we people of Yanhe (沿河) call them "Baoxinba" (包心粑), which are filled with longing and thoughts—the words that have never been spoken.

The last time I ate Baoxinba (包心粑) made by my grandmother was during the summer vacation of 2021. I rushed back to my hometown in Yanhe (沿河) from Tongren (铜仁), Guizhou (贵州). As soon as I entered the door, the steam in the kitchen had veiled the room in a hazy white. My grandmother was standing in front of the stove, bent over, arranging the rice cakes. She was 70 years old and suffered from heart disease; for every cake she placed, she had to catch her breath several times before recovering.

"My little one is back," she said, grabbing my hand.

"Baba (grandmother) (巴巴), I'm back."

There are two types of fillings for Baoxinba (包心粑): one with white sugar, but I love the tofu and cured meat filling the most. The cured meat came from the pig slaughtered during the Chinese New Year (过年), smoked with cypress branches for the entire winter. Grandmother would dice both the cured meat and the tofu, heat oil in the pan, stir-fry the cured meat first, then add the tofu, frying it until all sides were golden brown. Once stir-fried, she would scoop it into an earthenware bowl and sprinkle a handful of wild scallions on top.

The skin is made of sticky rice, which must be soaked overnight and carried the next day to the mortar at the home of my great-uncle (幺公). Grandmother would step on the tail of the mortar while I helped turn the flour. The pestle rose and fell with a rhythmic *dong-dong* sound. The flour produced was uneven in texture—not as uniform as that ground by machines—but the resulting cakes were very chewy.

The sticky rice was grown by our own family. Every year, a specific patch in the field behind the house was reserved for growing glutinous rice. After returning from the mortar, the sticky rice flour was sifted twice and then kneaded with warm water. Grandmother said that one must use strength when kneading the dough. She pressed the dough with both hands, kneading it back and forth until it slowly became soft and lustrous, finally resembling a piece of white jade.

Wrapping the cakes is delicate work. You pinch off a piece of dough, shape it into a bowl, scoop in a spoonful of filling, and rotate your fingers upward to seal the opening. Grandmother wrapped them with lightning speed, pinching a small point on top, placing each on a tung tree leaf, and steaming them over a high flame. She never checked the time, saying she knew they were done just by the smell: first the scent of raw rice, then the aroma of the filling; once the two scents blended together, they were ready.

The moment the lid was lifted, white mist surged out, and the plump, white Baoxinba (包心粑) were squeezed together. The skin was translucent, and the filling inside was vaguely visible. Grandmother picked up the first one to let me taste the seasoning; only after I nodded did she serve them on the table.

That winter, my grandmother passed away. Among her belongings, I found a notebook; the last page contained the recipe for Baoxinba (包心粑). The handwriting was crooked, and the final sentence read: "Hongsheng (洪生) loves to eat them, add more cured meat."

Two days ago, my mother called and said, "I'm trying to make Baoxinba (包心粑), are you coming home?" I said yes. That night, I dreamed of my grandmother. She was standing in front of the stove, placing cakes into the steamer, turning her head to smile at me: "Wait a moment, they will be ready soon." I woke up to heavy rain outside the window; summer vacation is almost here. I am going home.

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Editor in Charge: Zhang Shanshan

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