Summary: On July 30, Xi Jinping chaired a Politburo meeting that stressed the strategic importance of advancing full and strict Party governance, urging higher standards and practical measures to consolidate its achievements. The article highlights Xi's longstanding advocacy for building a culture of integrity, tracing his efforts from local rules in Zhengding and Ningde to national frameworks such as the eight-point regulations and the 2025–2027 action plan. It emphasizes that strengthening integrity culture—rooted in traditional Chinese culture, revolutionary heritage, and socialist advanced culture—supports the Party's goal of fostering officials who are "clean and honest." The piece also recounts Xi's personal examples, including his admonitions to relatives and simple meal receipts, as models of clean governance. No mention is made of the United States or U.S.-China relations.
Summary: President Xi Jinping emphasized in September 2023 that Zhejiang should lead in using technological innovation to create new development advantages, integrating innovation resources for breakthroughs in frontier fields. Ningbo is implementing this directive by advancing smart manufacturing, exemplified by the Zeekr Meishan plant’s use of AI and digital twins to produce EVs efficiently. The city supports enterprise-led innovation, with 119 national manufacturing champions and over 10,000 high-tech firms, and has established mechanisms for industry-academia collaboration. Ningbo is also strengthening its innovation ecosystem through major platforms, a 5 billion yuan fund, and talent programs to drive industrial upgrading. The article focuses on domestic innovation efforts and does not discuss U.S.-China relations.
Summary: Premier Li Qiang signed a State Council decree announcing amendments and repeals to certain administrative regulations, effective August 15, 2026. The decision aims to fully implement the newly enacted Ecological Environment Code, modifying provisions in 12 regulations and repealing 3 others. Amendments primarily update legal references to the new code and adjust liability clauses for consistency. Repealed regulations include the one on preventing land-based pollution damage to the marine environment. The move is framed as supporting high-quality development and the new requirements of ecological civilization.
Summary: The article reports on Yichun City in Heilongjiang Province, a forest region in the Xiaoxing'an Mountains, highlighting its economic transformation toward green industries such as birch sap products and eco-tourism, with forest output value rising from 2.8 billion yuan in 2016 to nearly 4 billion yuan. It emphasizes ecological restoration efforts, including sustainable forest management and protection of endangered species like the Chinese merganser, while noting that forest coverage reached 83.8% and the gross ecosystem product (GEP) hit 424 billion yuan. The piece also covers improvements in forest workers' livelihoods, including a doubling of average monthly wages since 2018 and the growth of community-based tourism, citing President Xi Jinping's 2016 visit and his call for strategic ecological protection and diversified development. No mention is made of the United States or U.S.-China relations.
Summary: The article reports on China's fourth National Ecology Day, when the Ecological Environment Code took effect, and focuses on the new "Beautiful China Construction Effectiveness Assessment Measures," which include "public satisfaction" as a key indicator. A responsible official from the Central Ecological and Environmental Protection Inspection Leading Group Office explained that satisfaction data comes from National Bureau of Statistics surveys, with 2025 showing 91.37% public satisfaction, above 90% for five consecutive years. The official said the indicator ensures environmental quality is judged by the people, guiding local governments to address pollution issues that directly affect residents. Assessment results will inform cadre evaluations, promotions, and environmental project funding, with penalties for underperforming regions, including talks or accountability measures.
Summary: The article reports the successful completion of the 2026 maintenance work for the Ali power grid interconnection project in Tibet, which strengthens the safe and stable operation of the power network. Operating at an average altitude above 4,500 meters, the project continuously supplies energy to support highland livelihoods, industrial development, and comprehensive rural revitalization. The accompanying photo shows transmission towers in Rarang Township, Zhongba County, Shigatse, taken by Zhang Yuanming for the "Image China" feature. No statements from officials or references to the United States are included in the report.
Summary: The article reports that China's national carbon emissions trading market has reached a cumulative trading volume exceeding 930 million tons by the end of July. It states that this market serves as a key policy tool for controlling greenhouse gas emissions and achieving carbon peak and carbon neutrality goals. China has built the world's largest carbon market, covering the power, steel, cement, and aluminum smelting industries. The report indicates that during the 15th Five-Year Plan period, the construction of the national carbon market will be accelerated. The market is credited with promoting low-cost emission reduction and facilitating the green and low-carbon transition.
Summary: The provided text lists article headlines from a Chinese publication, not a full report. The first headline highlights a systematic reading of "Xi Jinping: The Governance of China" Volumes 1-5, focusing on the "trinity" strategy of education, science and technology, and talent as a national strengthening policy. The second headline is a special report for National Ecological Day, emphasizing the cultivation of a green foundation for Chinese-style modernization. No specific official statements, accompanying figures, or U.S.-China relations are mentioned in the provided excerpt.
Summary: At an August 13 State Council Information Office press conference on the "15th Five-Year Plan" and Beautiful China construction, Minister of Ecology and Environment Huang Runqiu reported that environmental quality continued to improve in the first half of 2025, with PM2.5 concentrations down 6.2% year-on-year and surface water quality meeting Class I–III standards at 86.5% of monitored sections. Vice Minister Xu Bijiu stated that a new air quality action plan is being drafted with stricter PM2.5 limits and more targeted regional measures, while a newly issued action plan will extend the "blue water defense" from major rivers to smaller water bodies, aiming for "three nos" (no odor, no color, no foreign objects) by 2030. Huang said central environmental inspections have handled over 380,000 public complaints across three full rounds of coverage, with egregious violations significantly reduced, and pledged continued problem-oriented oversight and thorough rectification follow-through. Vice Minister Dong Baotong outlined enhanced ecological supervision using satellite remote sensing and AI image interpretation, with systematic ecological assessments to be conducted regularly during the "15th Five-Year Plan" period. Vice Minister Li Gao noted that coal power generation fell below 50% of total electricity for the first time in the first half of this year, and announced plans to expand the national carbon emissions trading market beyond power, steel, cement, and aluminum to include petrochemicals and other high-emission sectors, while implementing the new Ecological Environment Code effective August 15.
Summary: Chinese leader Xi Jinping's March guidance urged economic provinces like Jiangsu to address new challenges and generate experience. The article highlights how Jiangsu's manufacturing firms, such as Leili Motor in Changzhou and satellite producer Guoyu Xingkong in Wuxi, are repurposing existing technical and supply-chain strengths to enter emerging sectors like embodied intelligence and commercial aerospace. Provincial Executive Vice Governor Ma Xin stated Jiangsu will leverage its industrial base and supporting capabilities to transform advantages into new development momentum amid the accelerating technological revolution. Local officials, including Su Da of Leili and Song Xiang of Wuxi's industry bureau, detailed how traditional capabilities are being recombined to meet new market demands. The report cites 2025 statistics showing manufacturing accounts for 33.5% of Jiangsu's GDP and nearly 3,100 core future-industry enterprises, underscoring the province's drive to convert legacy advantages into growth in new fields.
Summary: The People's Bank of China's second-quarter monetary policy report indicates that the moderately loose policy has been effective, with broad financing conditions easing and credit growth outpacing nominal GDP. New corporate and mortgage loan rates are around 3%, while loans for tech, green, inclusive, elderly-care, and digital economy sectors all grew faster than overall lending. The central bank used various tools to maintain liquidity and will introduce pragmatic incremental policies to boost domestic demand and optimize supply. It also reported that its 1 trillion yuan relending facility for private firms had a balance of about 800 billion yuan by end-July, supporting small and micro private enterprises. The bank will continue to guide local financial institutions to increase credit to private firms and coordinate with fiscal and industrial policies.
Summary: In July, new energy vehicles (NEVs) accounted for over 60% of monthly new car sales and over 50% of cumulative sales for the first time, according to the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers. The article highlights that NEVs have now established mainstream market status, with three Chinese automakers entering the global top 10 for the first time. It attributes this milestone to product advantages in batteries and smart features, strong export growth exceeding 50% of total auto exports for two consecutive months, and an expanding charging network with 23.057 million charging points nationwide. The piece frames the achievement as a step toward China's goal of becoming an automobile powerhouse, with local governments planning further NEV industry development in the next five-year plans. No mention is made of the United States or U.S.-China relations.
Summary: A Chinese state media photo caption reports that on August 10, staff at an aircraft engine maintenance company in Haikou, Hainan, were repairing engines and components. The article highlights how Hainan's free trade port policy benefits have enabled many enterprises to develop engine repair services, strengthening Hainan's reputation in aircraft maintenance. No officials or U.S.-related topics are mentioned.
Summary: The Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) and the Ministry of Emergency Management (MEM) jointly issued the “15th Five-Year Plan” for the safety and emergency equipment industry. The plan targets a key-area industrial scale of 1.4 trillion yuan by 2030, along with 10 competitive industrial clusters and 70 specialized parks. It notes the industry surpassed 1 trillion yuan in 2025 but faces challenges including core technology gaps, insufficient market demand, and an imperfect industrial ecosystem. The plan outlines 15 specific tasks across four aspects—innovation, equipment application, industry mainstay cultivation, and ecosystem optimization—to improve scale, technology, quality, and application depth. It also aims to cultivate globally competitive leading enterprises, “little giant” and single-champion firms, and enhance household and community safety equipment penetration.
Summary: Egyptian oranges have gained expanded access to the Chinese market following China's implementation of a zero-tariff policy on all African countries with diplomatic ties, effective May 1. The article highlights that Egyptian officials and business leaders, including Gouda Agricultural Company chairman Ezz El-Din Gouda, praised the policy as demonstrating China's commitment to African development and mutually beneficial cooperation. Egyptian farmer Ahmed Mohammed expressed pride in exporting oranges to China, while exporter Mahmoud Beshbishi emphasized the importance of meeting Chinese quality standards to expand market share. The policy is expected to boost Egyptian exports, foreign exchange earnings, and economic diversification, aligning with Egypt's Vision 2030, according to Egyptian Foreign Affairs Committee member Ahmed Salam. The article also notes that the first shipment of 516 tons of Egyptian oranges cleared customs in Shanghai with tariff reductions of approximately 320,000 yuan.
Summary: The article condemns Japan's historical revisionism and "new militarism," arguing that Tokyo's failure to fully reckon with its wartime past—unlike Germany—has allowed militaristic ideology to persist and resurge. It traces Japan's pre-war path of aggression and warns that current moves, such as revising the pacifist constitution, expanding defense budgets, and challenging nuclear non-proliferation, mirror that trajectory. The piece also criticizes Japan's territorial claims over the Diaoyu Islands and its statements linking "Taiwan有事" to Japan's security, calling these violations of international commitments. It urges the international community to uphold the Tokyo Tribunal's legacy and jointly resist Japan's right-wing drift to prevent a repeat of history.
Summary: The inaugural Kenya Martial Arts Championship was held in Nairobi, featuring competitors from eight counties in events like boxing, weapons, and sanda. Kenyan athletes, including 15-year-old Fabrice Chege and coach Hassan Siba, expressed how kung fu built their discipline and perseverance. Organizers plan to select youth for a reserve team ahead of the Dakar Youth Olympic Games, where wushu will debut as an official sport. Chinese Ambassador to Kenya Guo Haiyan said the event, held under the 2026 China-Africa人文交流 framework, reflects strong China-Kenya cultural ties and people-to-people exchanges. Kenyan Sports Principal Secretary Elijah Mwangi praised martial arts for promoting values aligned with Kenya's youth development goals and expanding international sports opportunities.
Summary: The 2026 (Autumn) 18th Shaoxing Keqiao China Light Textile City Curtain Fabric Exhibition was held from August 12 to 14 in Keqiao District, Shaoxing, Zhejiang Province. Under the theme "Gathering at the Source, Creating the Future with Intelligence," the event covered 250,000 square meters and featured over 2,000 exhibitors, setting a new scale record. Overseas buyers from more than 20 countries, including Russia, Kazakhstan, Pakistan, South Korea, Thailand, and Singapore, attended the exhibition. The report is accompanied by a photo showing foreign buyers making purchases.
Summary: Yang Wanming, president of the Chinese People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries, led a delegation to Indonesia from August 10-13 for local government cooperation dialogues and friendship events. He met with Indonesian Foreign Ministry Director-General for Information and Public Diplomacy, Ambassador Subolo, and leaders of over ten local governments, including Yogyakarta, Jambi, Palu, and Kendari. During working talks with Indonesia-China friendship associations and the UCLG ASPAC secretariat, he promoted the Four Global Initiatives, China's 15th Five-Year Plan, and Chinese anti-poverty theory. Both sides agreed to implement the consensus of the two heads of state, strengthening people-to-people friendship, practical cooperation, cultural exchanges, and youth exchanges to jointly build a China-Indonesia community with a shared future.
Summary: Spokesperson Guo Jiakun responded to a query regarding a joint statement by the US and other countries at the Geneva Conference on Disarmament, which criticized a recent missile test for lacking prior notification. Guo stated that the joint statement, which alluded to China's July submarine-launched strategic missile test, was purely for political purposes and exposed the hypocrisy and "double standards" of the US and its allies. He urged the relevant countries to stop abusing the multilateral arms control mechanism and to replace unreasonable confrontation with sincere dialogue. The joint statement invoked the Hague Code of Conduct against Ballistic Missile Proliferation. Guo's remarks directly address US-led criticism within the context of U.S.-China tensions over military transparency and regional stability.
Summary: China is advancing the accessibility of science popularization resources through three primary models: extending museum networks to rural areas, deploying customized mobile science vehicles, and establishing digital science museums. In Chongqing, the Natural History Museum established a branch in Wushan County's Zhuxian Township, sending over 400 specimens to local children while implementing a "general-branch museum model" to deepen grassroots outreach, as explained by museum director Gao Bichun. Fangcheng County in Henan has operated science vehicles for three years, adopting a "mass ordering, center dispatching, volunteer servicing, and public evaluation" mechanism to tailor services, with over 300 vehicle deployments reaching 200,000 residents, according to county science association head Tian Zhongkai. Hengyang City in Hunan launched its digital science museum in late 2024—the first prefecture-level digital venue in the province—which attracted over 450,000 visitors to its physical site and 86,000 online views, integrating AI-converted content and a nuclear industry-themed virtual exhibition, as detailed by curator He Zhiwen and staff. The article highlights how these initiatives aim to bridge urban-rural science education gaps and inspire youth interest in science.
Summary: The article discusses grassroots governance challenges in soliciting public opinion, advocating for informal, candid "open talks" where residents freely voice complaints, which are then promptly addressed. It emphasizes that officials must genuinely engage with communities—physically and emotionally—rather than perform superficial visits, citing Xi Jinping's bicycle trip to farm fields in Zhengding as an exemplary model. The piece stresses that listening must be paired with concrete action and sustained mechanisms, such as Shenzhen's "swift public feedback" system that resolves issues within a week. Ultimately, it argues that true political achievement is measured by public satisfaction and requires ongoing, practical problem-solving.
Summary: Workers are accelerating construction on the second phase of an organic vegetable industrial park in Yonggu Town, Minle County, Zhangye City, Gansu Province, on August 12. Once completed, the project will enhance local vegetable storage and preservation capacity, improve off-peak sales effectiveness, and drive industrial development and income growth for residents. The photo was taken by Wang Xiaojing for Image China.
Summary: The article reports on China's response to severe weather, with the Central Meteorological Station issuing a yellow rainstorm alert and warnings for geological and flash flood risks across several eastern and southern provinces. The Ministry of Water Resources held an emergency meeting, issued targeted warnings to seven provinces, and maintained flood-defense emergency responses for multiple regions. The Ministry of Finance and Ministry of Emergency Management allocated 80 million yuan in disaster relief funds to Henan, Hubei, and Anhui for flood and geological disaster response. Additionally, at the request of Xinjiang's Production and Construction Corps, the state dispatched drought-relief equipment including pumps, generators, and well-drilling machines. No mention is made of the United States or U.S.-China relations.
Summary: President Xi Jinping's 2016 visit to Yichun, Heilongjiang, guided the city's strategic shift from timber extraction to ecological development, emphasizing the strategic importance of environmental protection and diversified economic transformation. The city has since developed a birch sap industry with 32 enterprises, saw output value grow by 99.9% in 2025, and expanded forest product categories to over 20 types. Ecological restoration efforts, including scientific forest management with the Chinese Academy of Forestry, have increased timber growth 2.86-fold in pilot areas, while endangered species like Chinese merganser ducks rebounded from under 10 to over 200. Worker livelihoods improved through housing renovations benefiting 300,000 residents, with average monthly wages at Yichun Forestry Group doubling from 2,883 yuan in 2018 to 5,854 yuan. The transformation has boosted tourism revenue by 36% year-on-year and raised forestry output value from 2.8 billion to nearly 4 billion yuan since 2016.
Summary: The article reports that the Ministry of Education has published eight original textbooks in education and psychology, developed by five universities as part of the "New Era" series. These textbooks integrate Xi Jinping's important discourses on education and aim to distill contemporary Chinese educational reform practices. They systematically cover core concepts in curriculum and teaching theory, educational management, educational sociology, special education, and Chinese psychological history. The initiative seeks to construct an independent knowledge system for these disciplines and support talent cultivation for the new era.
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Summary: The article highlights China's global leadership in ecological civilization, rooted in Xi Jinping's thought on ecological progress. It cites concrete achievements such as Chinese automakers accounting for 34% of Europe's plug-in hybrid deliveries in June and the upcoming enforcement of an ecological environment code on August 15. Foreign experts, including Mexico's Eduardo Zilli and a U.S. scholar from the American Institute for Ecological Civilization, praise China's green development model. The piece emphasizes China's role as a participant, contributor, and leader in global environmental governance, showcasing projects like the鄱阳湖 wetland restoration as replicable models. It underscores China's commitment to green transformation despite global trends toward high-carbon development.
Summary: The article applies the traditional Chinese medical concept of "treating the disease before it occurs" to grassroots governance, citing President Xi Jinping's guidance that the best social governance resolves conflicts before they arise. It emphasizes proactive prevention, early detection of warning signs, and swift resolution of minor issues to avoid escalation, using examples like Beijing's "no-complaint community" and Hefei's "curtain appointment" for elderly care. The piece highlights mechanisms such as rapid response systems and local innovations like the "Six-Foot Alley" method, all framed as practical expressions of the "Fengqiao Experience" in the new era. It stresses a shift in mindset from post-hoc firefighting to preemptive action, aligning with Xi's broader governance philosophy. No mention is made of the United States or U.S.-China relations.
Summary: The article reports that China's first fully domestically produced 100,000-card AI supercomputing cluster has been officially put into operation, alongside the release of multiple trillion-parameter open-source large models and the establishment of over 120,000 high-quality datasets. Driven by these advances in computing power, model capabilities, and data flow, China's AI-related industries maintained over 30% high growth in the first half of this year. This rapid expansion is characterized as a powerful engine for economic growth. The piece concludes with a poetic verse emphasizing the vitality of digital computing and the surging momentum of the AI wave. No specific officials, accompanying persons, or U.S.-China relations are mentioned.
Summary: The article highlights a scenic area in Luanchuan County, Henan, which set up a bottle-exchange station for an elderly scavenger, allowing tourists to trade empty bottles for "silver notes" redeemable for prizes—a gesture praised for treating the man as an equal participant rather than a charity case. It argues the mechanism creates a sustainable model where kindness integrates into daily operations through simple rules, citing other Henan attractions' inclusive practices like sign-language interpreters for deaf visitors and preserving porter jobs for local villagers. The piece concludes that thoughtful, practical innovations reflect a destination's civilizational quality, emphasizing that warmth comes from people, not just scenery.
Summary: The article discusses the urgent task of establishing Party organizations in emerging sectors such as platform economies, delivery services, and ride-hailing, where new employment forms are expanding. It highlights examples from Nanyang (Henan), Youyu (Shanxi), Hefei (Anhui), and Binzhou (Shandong) to show how service stations, mobile Party branches, and "flowing grid workers" integrate Party leadership with social governance. The piece argues that combining services with Party building turns these workers from passive recipients into active governance participants, enhancing social cohesion and the Party's influence. It stresses that strong Party leadership in these areas provides stability and momentum for Chinese-style modernization, with oversight mechanisms ensuring accountability. No mention is made of the United States or U.S.-China relations.
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Summary: Chinese nuclear scientist Huang Yanping, chief designer of the "Supercritical Carbon One" project, led a 17-year effort to develop the world's first commercial supercritical carbon dioxide power generation demonstration plant, now fully operational at a steel plant in Guizhou. Overcoming foreign refusal to supply key heat exchangers, his team independently developed the technology, cutting equipment size by half and boosting power generation efficiency by over 85%. Huang emphasized that core technology must be self-reliant, and the project now targets broader industrial applications, including a new molten-salt storage integration. The article does not mention the United States or U.S.-China relations.
Summary: The China Children and Teenagers' Fund (CCTF), the first national public fundraising foundation in China, marked its 45th anniversary, having raised nearly 8 billion yuan and benefited nearly 80 million children. Under the leadership of the All-China Women's Federation, it has advanced its flagship "Spring Bud Plan," providing educational support to 4.55 million girls and launching initiatives like "Spring Bud Tech Girls" to enhance digital and aesthetic literacy. The foundation operates over 1,500 "Children's Happy Homes" and 800 "Sunshine Stations," offering care services to about 400,000 children, including those left behind. It has also mobilized nearly 662 million yuan in emergency relief for disasters and maintained transparent fundraising with over 15,000 donor organizations. The article highlights the foundation's commitment to empowering girls and promoting educational equity, with no mention of the United States or U.S.-China relations.
Summary: The Future Science Prize committee announced its 2026 laureates on August 13 in Beijing. Zhang Hong of the Institute of Biophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, won the Life Science Prize for pioneering work on autophagy mechanisms; Zhao Dongyuan of Fudan University won the Material Science Prize for contributions to mesoporous materials; and Yuan Xinyi of Peking University won the Mathematics and Computer Science Prize for foundational work in arithmetic geometry. Established in 2016 by scientists and entrepreneurs, the prize recognizes original basic research achievements by scientists working in China (including Hong Kong, Macao, and Taiwan), regardless of nationality. Each award carries a prize of about 7 million yuan, and 49 laureates have been honored since its inception.
Summary: Zhang Peichen, a national-level inheritor of bronze restoration techniques and a research fellow at the Shanghai Museum, was named a "National Cultural Relics Craftsman" for 2025. Over 33 years, he has restored more than 1,000 artifacts, including a Warring States bronze sword and a 3,000-year-old gold mask from Sanxingdui, using meticulous methods like CT scanning and AI-assisted shape restoration. He led a team to Sichuan for the Sanxingdui bronze conservation project, where he employed innovative tools such as pneumatic needles and detachable magnetic connectors. Zhang emphasizes minimal intervention and preserving historical information, balancing traditional craftsmanship with modern technology. He also runs a popular social media account "Cultural Relics Hospital" with over 4.4 million followers to popularize restoration knowledge.
Summary: A precision manufacturing facility in Si'an Town, Changxing County, Huzhou, Zhejiang, is operating at high speed on August 11, with machinery, robots, and workers collaborating efficiently to fulfill orders. The photo was taken by Tan Yunfeng for People's Vision.
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Summary: China's rural cultural tourism is thriving this summer with new immersive experiences, as the "15th Five-Year Plan" calls for expanding rural specialty industries and tourism formats. In Sichuan's Tielu Village, a "Time Travel Theme Park" featuring nostalgic role-play and farm experiences has attracted over 60,000 visitors and generated 6 million yuan in profit since March last year, according to village deputy secretary Cao Fuxing, while Mianyang Deputy Mayor Hu Jinyao highlighted rural micro-vacations as a key consumption driver. In Shandong's Wangjiatuan Village, renovated traditional stone homes have become boutique guesthouses, with the Likou Mountain scenic area receiving nearly 1.72 million visitors and 85 million yuan in revenue in 2025. In Zhejiang's Qingtan Village, a "Jinshi Culture Courtyard" offers scripted immersive tours and local delicacies, with operator Zhang Zhiming and party secretary Zhang Zongliang reporting 350 events and 35,000 visitors since 2023.
Summary: A red study train departed from Xining to the Atomic City in Haiyan County, where China's first nuclear weapon base once stood, turning the journey into a mobile ideological classroom for students like Qinghai Normal University's Li Chunlei. The trip combined museum exhibits with VR technology, visits to the former state-run Factory 221, and ecological sites like Ketu desertification control area, linking the "Two Bombs, One Satellite" spirit of self-reliance and hard work with local conservation efforts. Officials such as Liu Haiyan, deputy director of the county's red study center, noted the train's shift from buses to immersive rail travel, while the program has developed 40 teaching sites and 142 courses. Students were accompanied by guides like Guo Jian, who highlighted parallels between past scientists' dedication and generations of sand-control workers. The initiative promotes red tourism and patriotic education, with Li concluding she could now truly understand the spirit her grandfather had worked under.
Summary: Zhaotong City in Yunnan Province has brought its early-maturing apples to market, arriving 20-30 days earlier than conventional varieties and gaining strong market favor. The city's total apple planting area has reached 850,000 mu, of which 196,300 mu are early-maturing varieties. The accompanying photo, taken by Xinhua reporter Chen Xinbo on August 13, shows workers operating on the sorting line at the Zhaotong Chaoyue apple base.
Summary: The Ministry of Civil Affairs released data on August 13 showing that China's total civil affairs expenditure for the first half of the year reached 243.6 billion yuan. According to the statistics, 5.892 million people received urban minimum living security, while 33.462 million received rural minimum living security. Additionally, 4.937 million people were covered by urban-rural assistance and support for destitute persons. These figures illustrate the ongoing scale of China's social safety net.
Summary: At a press conference, Beijing municipal authorities announced that the second World Humanoid Robot Games will open on August 22 at the "Ice Ribbon" (National Speed Skating Oval). The event will feature 2,056 robots from 666 teams representing 16 countries across six continents, with team numbers up 138% and robot numbers quadrupled from the inaugural event. New high-intensity events, including long jump, weightlifting, tug-of-war, and table tennis, will test the robots' computational "brains," "cerebellums," body structures, and key components. The scenario competitions will expand to real-world settings such as industry, hotels, homes, and logistics, and will include a dedicated dexterous hand event.
Summary: The Shiziyang Passage, a core transport project in the Greater Bay Area, has completed the main anchorage construction for its suspension bridge after over three years of work. The two anchorages, located in Dongguan and Guangzhou, each weigh about 1.4 million tons, with a new composite foundation structure developed to enhance bearing capacity. The 35-kilometer passage will be the first two-deck road tunnel crossing the Pearl River estuary. Once completed, it will join the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge and other links to form a cross-river corridor supporting a one-hour living circle. The project is designated a landmark transport initiative for the 15th Five-Year Plan period, boosting regional integration.
Summary: In Turpan, Xinjiang, where summer temperatures exceed 40°C and annual evaporation vastly outstrips rainfall, officials are promoting a shift from flood irrigation to micro-sprinkler irrigation for grape fields. Water Resources Bureau deputy section chief Wang Xiaoyan explained that flood irrigation wastes water through evaporation and ineffective uptake, while party member Aireti Rehemutuli noted that underground pipelines reduce transmission losses, saving over 200 cubic meters of water per mu annually. Farmers initially feared reduced yields, but demonstration plots proved no decline, easing concerns. The project now covers over 80% of Turpan's grape acreage. No U.S. or U.S.-China relations were discussed.
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Summary: The article reports on Fuzhou's urban development following President Xi Jinping's 2021 inspection remarks, where he urged building the city into a better "seaside and mountain city" for the people. It highlights Fuzhou's achievements in innovation (4,600+ high-tech firms, digital economy over 870 billion yuan), complete community construction with childcare and elderly care facilities, and ecological projects including 1,500+ parks and a circular economy park. The city has also enhanced flood resilience through a nationwide first drainage coordination mechanism, preserved historic sites like Sanfang Qixiang and red heritage, and advanced smart governance via digital services. No mention is made of the United States or U.S.-China relations.
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Summary: President Xi Jinping has underscored the integrated development of education, science and technology, and talent cultivation as a successful practice, emphasizing their mutually reinforcing roles in building a strong nation. The article traces the evolution of this strategy from local governance experiments to a national "trinity" framework, culminating in its institutionalization in the 20th CPC Central Committee's Third Plenary Session and the 15th Five-Year Plan. It highlights China's significant achievements, including its first top-10 ranking in the Global Innovation Index and a workforce of over 80 million professionals, while framing these efforts as a response to U.S. technological containment and a drive for self-reliance. The piece concludes by calling for continued implementation of these integrated policies to secure China's modernization goals.
Summary: The article discusses China's newly enacted Ecological Environment Code, the second law to bear the "Code" designation after the Civil Code, which institutionalizes environmental governance experiences from the country's industrialization and urbanization processes under Xi Jinping Thought on the Rule of Law and Ecological Civilization. The Code employs a systematic approach to address complex ecological challenges by integrating pollution control laws across air, water, oceans, and soil, while establishing cross-regional coordination mechanisms for environmental protection. It prioritizes public livelihood by enshrining protections for public health, public participation, ecological compensation, and environmental damage compensation as legislative goals. Regarding international cooperation, the Code includes provisions for fulfilling treaty obligations, participating in global environmental rule-making, and dedicates a pioneering standalone book to green low-carbon development that aligns with the Paris Agreement and UNFCCC commitments. The author, affiliated with Wuhan University Law School, emphasizes that the Code demonstrates China's legal commitment to green transformation and building a community of life for humanity, contributing Chinese solutions to global environmental governance.
Summary: The article marks the fourth National Ecological Day on August 15, coinciding with the implementation of the Ecological Environment Code, framing this as a key milestone in China's ecological rule of law under Xi Jinping's ecological civilization thought. It features three local case studies: Xiong'an New Area's Fuhe River wetland restoration, which has boosted bird and fish species; Shanghai Chongming's transformation of an old steel factory into the M515 cultural creative park alongside river rehabilitation; and Zhejiang Anji's Xiacun village developing campsite tourism with cross-provincial cooperation with upstream Anhui villages. The piece emphasizes grassroots practices of green transition and ecological governance, with officials and villagers quoted on their restoration efforts and economic benefits.
Summary: The article, written by the president of the China Law Society's Environmental Resources Law Research Association, highlights the Ecological Environment Code as a landmark legal achievement for building a Beautiful China and supporting Chinese-style modernization. It notes that the Code, effective August 15, 2026, elevates National Ecology Day—originally inspired by Xi Jinping's 2005 "Two Mountains" concept—into law, marking a historic milestone in China's environmental rule of law. The piece argues the Code uniquely integrates green and low-carbon development, offering developing countries an alternative to the "pollute first, treat later" model and advancing global environmental law from regulatory to developmental frameworks. It emphasizes that successful implementation requires coordinated action among governments, enterprises, courts, and the public, while also serving as a legal blueprint for achieving the 2035 Beautiful China goals. The author frames the Code as China's legal answer to modernization, providing stable expectations for green transformation during the "15th Five-Year Plan" period.
Summary: The provided text is not an article but a production credit line, listing Zhang Yifu as the issue coordinator and Zhang Fangman as the layout designer. It contains no political analysis, official statements, or policy content. Consequently, there is no substantive information to summarize regarding Chinese politics or U.S.-China relations. The text solely identifies the editorial staff responsible for the layout of a publication.
Summary: The State Council, under Premier Li Qiang, issued Decree No. 843 on August 8, 2026, announcing a decision to amend 12 administrative regulations and repeal 3 others to align with the newly enacted Ecological Environment Code. The amendments update legal references, adjust penalty provisions, and modify regulatory language across areas including pollution source surveys, express delivery, water management, groundwater protection, and carbon emissions trading. The repealed regulations include those on land-based marine pollution, coastal engineering pollution, and Huai River water pollution prevention. The decision takes effect on August 15, 2026.
Summary: The article emphasizes that prevention is more critical than punishment in protecting minors online, citing a case in Xiangyang, Hubei, where an 11-year-old girl was scammed into transferring about 50,000 yuan after a fake "free game skin" link led to threats of arresting her parents. It also references a Beijing case where a minor was lured into handling over 300,000 yuan in illicit funds within three days, resulting in a criminal sentence. The piece attributes such scams to failures in both family supervision—where parents often rely on devices for childcare and neglect payment security—and platform oversight, which allows fraudsters to reach minors through games, short videos, and social media. It highlights a four-month national campaign launched by the Central Cyberspace Administration to enhance minors' online protection, alongside judicial crackdowns on such crimes. The article calls for coordinated efforts from families and platforms to shift from reactive responses to proactive prevention.
Summary: Chinese police and Thailand's Royal Thai Police conducted a synchronized operation against a major cross-border credit card fraud ring targeting Chinese citizens, arresting four Chinese and five Thai suspects. The scheme, led by suspects Ji and Xiao, involved illegally obtaining victims' card data in Thailand and using counterfeit cards to steal over 5 million yuan. The Ministry of Public Security sent a working group to Thailand in early July for joint investigation, leading to the recent coordinated raids. A ministry official said this marked the first simultaneous joint enforcement action by the two countries in combating economic crime. Both sides pledged to deepen cooperation on intelligence sharing and asset recovery.
Summary: The article reports on a national defense summer camp hosted by the Northern Theater Navy in Qingdao, where participants—including students from Navy-supported schools and children of military personnel—visited warships and heard about the Urumqi ship's escort missions in the Gulf of Aden. A Northern Theater Navy leader addressed the campers, urging them to understand history and their responsibilities. Students from Urumqi No.1 Middle School toured the ship named after their city, received the mascot "Wu Youyou," and presented a relief combining Xinjiang motifs with naval symbols as a token of friendship. No U.S. or U.S.-China relations topics were discussed.
Summary: The article reports on a paper-cutting exhibition titled "Fingertip Rhyme, Paper Moistens Chang'an" held on August 11 at the Laogangchang Design and Creative Industry Park in Xi'an, Shaanxi. The park is presenting a non-heritage paper-cutting touring exhibition that merges traditional folk craftsmanship with cultural creative spaces. The initiative aims to enrich the cultural life of local residents and visiting tourists. The photo was taken by Zhang Cheng.
Summary: At a Beijing market regulator-hosted dialogue on platform economy, Meituan, Taobao Flash Purchase, and JD Delivery announced algorithm optimizations, including a "red light stop clock" that extends delivery time by the duration of red-light waits. Additional measures include longer delivery time allowances, speed calculations capped at 15 km/h for e-bikes, and extra compensation for bad weather or complex routes. Late orders caused by slow restaurant preparation will not penalize riders' service scores. Platforms will also strengthen safety incentives and traffic violation monitoring. A professor noted these steps shift the industry from speed competition to quality competition while substantively protecting riders' labor rights.
Summary: In China's Jishishan County, Gansu, officials have implemented a "knock on doors to solve problems" initiative following post-earthquake resettlement, with cadres like Wei Yuqing regularly visiting residents to address housing and daily issues. The program, launched in April, covers all 1,015 households across 36 buildings in the Chaoyang community and has expanded to all 17 townships. It has resolved 7,056 resident requests after over 42,000 household visits, including drainage fixes, pension authentication, and infrastructure like agricultural roads. The article focuses on local governance and does not mention the United States or U.S.-China relations.
Summary: Anhui Province reported a 38.6% year-on-year drop in telecom fraud cases and a 44.2% drop in losses from January to July, marking 12 consecutive months of declines. Authorities cracked down on illegal "black and gray" industries, including card rental and money laundering, with police and banks cooperating to intercept cash and gold. From January to July, Anhui punished 2,621 people and intercepted 91.69 million yuan in cash and 17.6 kg of gold. Technical countermeasures included blocking fraudulent calls and websites, while the 96110 hotline and on-site persuasion were used to prevent transfers. The report did not discuss the United States or U.S.-China relations.
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Summary: President Xi Jinping emphasized the importance of children's healthy growth, encouraging them to inherit revolutionary traditions, gain knowledge, and develop practical skills. During summer vacation, schools across China organize volunteer activities such as red-heritage study tours, science programs, and community service for primary and secondary students. The main purpose of these volunteer efforts is education, integrating service with school curricula and social practice. Volunteer service is seen as a vital vehicle for moral cultivation and comprehensive development. These experiences help children grow through contribution, turning summer activities into ongoing daily practice.
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Summary: The article reports on the construction and operation of China's large-scale wind and solar power bases in desert, Gobi, and barren areas, highlighting projects in Ningxia, Inner Mongolia, and Xinjiang. It references President Xi Jinping's October 2021 call to accelerate such projects in these regions, which has driven three batches of new energy bases to date. The report details technological innovations for extreme environments, smart O&M systems using drones and robots, and strategies for transmitting green power eastward and attracting local data center industries. It also notes ecological benefits, such as vegetation recovery under solar panels, and the shift toward market-based electricity pricing. The article does not mention the United States or U.S.-China relations.
Summary: The article discusses China's "desert, Gobi, and barren land" new energy base construction, driven by the need to shift from fossil fuels to non-fossil energy sources. It highlights that systematic planning, technological innovation, ecological coordination, and local economic benefits are key to high-quality development, with the "Three Norths" region expected to add over 370 GW of wind and solar capacity during the 15th Five-Year Plan period. The piece cites examples such as the Hami-Chongqing UHV project and "solar plus desert control" efforts that have helped reclaim 5.3 million mu of land. It frames these bases as both energy and ecological projects that convert green resources into income for residents. No mention is made of the United States or U.S.-China relations.
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Summary: The article reports on how three old revolutionary base areas in China are developing specialty agricultural products into income-generating industries to support rural revitalization. In Lechang, Guangdong, the "Golden Nai Plum" industry has benefited from improved cultivation techniques, including bagging technology and smart sorting equipment, reaching 50,000 mu with output value of 1.2 billion yuan. In Yan'an, Shaanxi, millet processing has expanded into value-added products like millet milk and snacks, with the brand value exceeding 2.7 billion yuan and the full industry chain generating over 5.2 billion yuan. In Xiji, Ningxia, the traditional "Red Army noodles" potato starch product has been modernized with automated equipment and cold storage, with 30 enterprises producing over 16,000 tons annually and employing 360 villagers. The piece highlights technological innovation, brand building, and deep processing as key drivers of rural income growth in these revolutionary heritage regions.
Summary: The article argues that revolutionary base areas should develop industries by leveraging local conditions rather than chasing trends. It emphasizes utilizing unique natural and cultural resources, such as introducing nai plums to mountainous regions or processing locally grown potatoes into "Red Army noodles." It also stresses extending industrial chains—shifting from raw produce to processed goods—to turn resource advantages into competitive brands. By deepening resource use and lengthening supply chains, these industries can provide sustainable momentum for rural revitalization in old revolutionary areas.
Summary: The article highlights Yinggehai Salt Field in Hainan's Ledong County, where tourists enjoy the "sky mirror" scenery and experience traditional salt-making. General Manager Luo Zijun explained that the high-quality "old salt" relies on precise techniques and long sun-drying cycles, while mechanization has boosted efficiency. He noted that improved storage reduced rain-related losses by over 80% from 2024 to 2025, helping production reach a near-decade high. Asset manager Wang Ji said the island's coastal tourist road has brought crowds, prompting the salt field to open cultural tourism zones. The site is also developing solar power on salt ponds, achieving a "salt-light complementarity" green model.
Summary: The China Railway Xi'an Group announced that the Xi'an-Ankang high-speed railway has successfully completed joint commissioning and testing and has officially entered trial operation. This line is a key component of the national "Eight Vertical and Eight Horizontal" high-speed rail corridor, spanning approximately 171 kilometers with a design speed of 350 km/h. During the trial phase, authorities will conduct full-scale tests simulating real operational conditions, including timetable parameter testing, equipment failure simulations, and emergency rescue drills. Once open to traffic, the travel time between Xi'an and Ankang will be reduced from about three hours to under one hour.
Summary: The National Energy Administration released the "China Hydrogen Energy Development Report (2026)," noting that the global hydrogen industry is entering a critical window for orderly expansion, with 2025 production and consumption reaching approximately 109 million tons, up 3% year-on-year, and China and Europe together contributing over 70% of global renewable hydrogen production capacity. The report details China's progress, including renewable hydrogen capacity exceeding 1.4 million tons per year (built and under construction), roughly 620 hydrogen refueling stations, and over 350 kilometers of pure hydrogen pipelines. It highlights multi-scenario applications such as nearly 8,000 fuel cell vehicles promoted in 2025, over 10 hydrogen-based fuel ships, and more than 30 hydrogen-powered drone models, alongside industrial deployments of green ammonia (700,000 tons/year) and green methanol (380,000 tons/year). The report underscores hydrogen's strategic value in solving green power consumption, enabling cross-seasonal long-duration storage, and driving deep decarbonization in industry and transport. No specific officials were quoted, and the article does not address the United States or U.S.-China relations.
Summary: The article reports on Industrial Bank's innovative "technology flow" (技术流) credit evaluation system, which assesses intangible assets like intellectual property and R&D investment to provide loans to early-stage Chinese tech firms lacking traditional collateral. Specific cases include a 10 million yuan credit line for satellite firm Zhilian Safety and a 40 million yuan unsecured loan for energy storage company Qidian Energy, with the bank also connecting firms to industrial, policy, and talent resources. The bank has partnered with the Yizhuang Rocket Street park to offer 10 billion yuan in special credit over three years, covering the entire commercial aerospace supply chain. By year-end 2025, the bank's park finance loan balance reached 1.67 trillion yuan, with 672.2 billion yuan lent to tech clients within parks. No U.S. or U.S.-China relations topics were discussed in the article.
Summary: Anhui Province's General Office issued the "Action Plan for Accelerating Digital-Intelligent Supply Chain Development (2026-2028)." The plan sets 2028 targets, including cultivating 50 provincial and 2-3 national leading enterprises, establishing over 15 provincial platforms, and reducing the social logistics cost-to-GDP ratio by 0.5 percentage points compared to 2025. It directs leading enterprises to build smart factories and deepen AI and IoT applications for smart supply chains. Additionally, it calls for digital empowerment of SMEs and for chain leaders to drive upstream and downstream digital transformation toward integrated, collaborative, and visualized supply chains.
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Summary: Japanese Prime Minister Takaichi Sanae has drawn criticism for her ambiguous stance on the "Three Non-Nuclear Principles" during the 81st anniversary commemorations of the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, with observers noting her deliberate wording leaves room for future policy revision. The Nagasaki Atomic Bomb Museum is reportedly altering its exhibition to change references to the "Nanjing Massacre" to "Nanjing Incident," fueling concerns about historical revisionism and rightward shift in Japan. Japan's Defense Ministry is seeking a record ¥8.9 trillion defense budget for fiscal 2027, with officials suggesting the final figure could reach ¥10 trillion. Public opposition remains strong, with 76% of respondents supporting the "Three Non-Nuclear Principles" and 128 local assemblies submitting statements demanding their preservation. Critics warn that Japan's military expansion and historical revisionism risk leading the country toward war again.
Summary: The article highlights China-Middle East renewable energy cooperation, citing projects like the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park in Dubai and wind farms in Egypt and Saudi Arabia, as a key pillar of Belt and Road collaboration. It emphasizes China's technological and supply-chain advantages—such as modular substations and dominant global shares in solar and battery production—that meet the region's urgent need for energy diversification amid oil dependence and geopolitical risks. The piece frames this cooperation as mutual recognition of green development values, with China offering a governance model of strategic planning and system-level coordination for energy transition. It concludes that Middle Eastern states' growing reliance on Chinese new energy reflects confidence in China's modernization experience and its role in fostering sustainable development. No mention is made of the United States or U.S.-China relations.
Summary: Russian Security Council Deputy Chairman Dmitry Medvedev stated that the Southern Kuril Islands are, have been, and will remain Russian territory, dismissing Japanese Prime Minister Takaichi Sanae's protest over President Putin's visit to the disputed islands as "nonsense" that changes nothing. He warned that those who fail to understand this will face dire consequences from their misconceptions. Separately, Iranian Foreign Minister Araghchi accused the United States of "miscalculation" regarding the Strait of Hormuz, following President Trump's claim that America fully controls the waterway.
Summary: The article examines how East African nations like Kenya and Tanzania are balancing wildlife conservation with tourism and community needs, noting successes such as Kenya's black rhino population recovering to about 1,100. It highlights new pressures from "overtourism" at river crossings and agricultural encroachment on animal habitats, prompting stricter vehicle management and sustainable infrastructure. Kenya is promoting "high-value, low-impact" tourism, while Tanzania strengthens land-use planning and ecological corridors. Community-based management models, such as allowing Maasai herders grazing rights in exchange for tourism revenue, are expanding. An IUCN expert concludes that conservation success now depends on sustaining entire social-ecological systems, not just animal counts.
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Summary: Dutch filmmaker Joris Ivens (1898–1989) is the focus of this article, which details his lifelong engagement with China, beginning with his 1938 documentary *The 400 Million* that documented Chinese resistance against Japanese invasion and was screened in the United States and Europe. The piece recounts how Ivens donated his camera and film to the Eighth Route Army, which became crucial equipment for the Yan'an Film Group, and highlights his later works including *Early Spring* and *The Foolish Old Man* (referring to *How Yukong Moved the Mountains*) during the 1950s-70s. It emphasizes his deep personal and professional ties with Chinese filmmakers, his role as an advisor to the Central Newsreel and Documentary Film Studio, and his unwavering support for China's socialist construction despite Cold War-era criticism. The article concludes by noting the 2025 documentary *Ivens' Chinese Affinity* that retraces his footsteps, underscoring his enduring legacy in preserving China's historical memory through film.
Summary: The article, written by an associate professor at Peking University's English Department, analyzes Homer's *Odyssey* in contrast to the *Iliad*, highlighting its complex structure, themes of "nostos" (homecoming), and the central role of cunning intelligence (*metis*) embodied by Odysseus. It emphasizes Penelope's crucial function in verifying Odysseus's identity through shared domestic secrets, positioning their recognition scene as the epic's true climax rather than the slaughter of the suitors. The piece argues the *Odyssey* transcends traditional heroic epic by exploring identity, memory, and belonging, themes that remain relevant to modern readers. It also notes the availability of multiple Chinese translations and anticipates renewed interest with the upcoming film adaptation of the *Odyssey*. The article does not discuss the United States or U.S.-China relations.
Summary: The article is a personal essay by a Chinese writer recounting their experience studying in London and walking daily through the West End theater district, from Oxford Street to the Strand. It traces the history and evolution of London's theaters, from elite venues tied to the aristocracy to the democratization of drama in the 19th century through figures like Henry Irving and the Savoy Theatre's integration of entertainment, technology, and commerce. The piece reflects on how theater has expanded its boundaries into popular culture, modern visual design, and diverse audiences, connecting the West End's past to its present. It concludes that the theater district offers a dreamlike escape while deepening understanding of reality, drawing the author back repeatedly. No discussion of U.S.-China relations or official political statements appears in the article.
Summary: The article describes Scotland's Isle of Skye, a rugged destination known for its wild landscapes and Gaelic heritage, often called "Sky Island" by Chinese tourists. It highlights natural attractions like the Old Man of Storr, the Kilt Rock cliffs, and Mealt Falls, alongside local wildlife such as eagles and highland cattle. The piece also covers the island's cultural significance as a stronghold of Gaelic language and traditions, featuring Dunvegan Castle, ancestral home of the MacLeod clan. Neist Point Lighthouse is noted as a scenic spot where visitors enjoy island life, blending maritime history with tourism. Overall, the text portrays Skye as a place of serene, untamed beauty that offers visitors a deep connection to nature and history.
Summary: The provided text is not an article but a footer, containing the contact email for People's Daily's international department (rmrbgjfk@peopledaily.cn) and crediting layout designer Cai Huawei. As such, it contains no reporting on officials, their statements, or accompanying figures. There is no discussion of policy, events, or the United States or U.S.-China relations. Consequently, no substantive political analysis can be derived from this content. The summary is limited to identifying the source and design credit.
Summary: The article argues that "cold" and "hot" resources—such as underground mines repurposed as tourist sites and Xinjiang's high-temperature testing industry—can become economic advantages when developed creatively. It stresses that localities should identify unique features through bold innovation, respect market and developmental laws, and invest persistently in industrial chains. Examples include Yiwu's rise as a global small-commodity hub despite lacking geographic advantages, and Hefei's decade-long EV cluster development. The piece concludes that converting local conditions into high-quality growth requires tailoring strategies to local realities and sustained effort.
Summary: The article reports on Chongqing's Rongchang district rejuvenating its 459-year-old Rongchang pig breed through year-round programs in genetic conservation, smart farming, product processing, and biomedical use. District livestock official Lin Dan stressed that livestock genetic resources are strategic assets, describing a "dispersed conservation" scheme where households receive subsidies to raise purebred boars and a rebound from fewer than 10,000 breeding sows in 2019. Smart pig farm head Lin Qixin noted that AI monitoring and fermented liquid feed reduced labor needs from 10 workers to 3, cut costs, and improved survival rates. The article highlights the brand's value rising from 3.681 billion to 8.125 billion yuan, with a target of 30 billion yuan in annual output by 2030. It also highlights international recognition, including a UN Food and Agriculture Organization award and the adoption of the FAO-backed "Rongchang Initiative" on sustainable livestock.
Summary: The article reports on rural revitalization in Sui County, Hubei, where party-led organizational work promotes a "cluster-based" development model along Tourism Road No. 1. Villages like Tuanjie in Liulin Town renovated old homes into homestays, with village official Yang Xiangli persuading villager Hu Pinde to join a profit-sharing scheme. The model links neighboring villages' attractions—cherry blossoms, chestnuts, and resorts—to share tourists and boost income, with Liulin hosting 30,000 visitors and generating about 2 million yuan this year. The county is expanding this approach across other zones, deploying party instructors and industry specialists to support 31 projects and attract 120 returnees. No U.S. or U.S.-China relations are mentioned.
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Summary: President Xi Jinping stressed that party committees and governments at all levels should coordinate resources to expand and improve elderly care services. The Ministry of Civil Affairs reported that as of July, a consumption subsidy program for moderately to severely disabled seniors had generated 29.09 billion yuan in spending, benefiting about 2 million people. Noting rising disability among a growing elderly population, the article argues for expanding community-based care—since roughly 97% of seniors age at home or in communities—by repurposing idle spaces, mandating new-build facilities, and supporting diverse operators. It also calls for raising service quality through standardized care, integrated community service hubs, stronger supervision, and adoption of AI and robotics. The piece concludes that such policies will reduce care burdens and enhance seniors' well-being.
Summary: The article profiles Qi Liguang, founder of the "Little White Spring" charity kitchen in Beijing, which provides free cooking and dining facilities for families of leukemia patients. Qi, whose own son was treated for leukemia, established the kitchen in 2017 with support from Beijing Gaobo Boren Hospital, and it has since expanded to multiple locations, saving families an estimated 10 million yuan in expenses. The kitchen operates entirely on donations, serving meals and fostering mutual support among patients' families, with volunteers often being former beneficiaries themselves. Qi notes that national policies, including improved medical insurance reimbursement rates and cross-province settlement systems, have complemented grassroots charitable efforts. No mention of the United States or U.S.-China relations appears in the article.
Summary: 彭步钦是黑龙江富锦市南岗社区红色电影放映队队长，从事电影放映52年。他自述1969年入伍铁道兵时接触红色电影，1974年复员后成为公社放映员，坚持用简陋设备走村串屯放映。他先后成立科技放映队、农民工电影夜市，并在洪灾后赴安置点放映。即使罹患胰头癌手术后，他仍坚持为中小学义务放映抗日影片，并表示只要走得动就继续放下去。文章未涉及美国或中美关系。
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Summary: The article reviews the new official book *Scientific Planning for Development*, published by the CCP Central Propaganda Department, which explains China's 15th Five-Year Plan (2026–2030) through ten chapters and nearly 50 questions. It highlights Xi Jinping's remarks that five-year planning is a key governance experience and a political advantage of socialism with Chinese characteristics. The book frames China's approach as "Chinese-style long-termism," contrasting it with Japan and South Korea's planning while emphasizing 70-plus years of continuous implementation. It stresses systemic thinking, balancing development and security, and prioritizing people's livelihoods, including education, housing, and social mobility. The summary notes the book aims to connect national planning with ordinary citizens' daily lives, urging practical implementation over empty talk.
Summary: The article is an interview with Li Kaifu, CEO of 01.AI, who argues that AI transformation is not simply "Industry 4.0" but a fundamental shift that makes intelligence an accessible, scalable commodity, with adoption rates far exceeding previous technologies. He claims AI is already rapidly reshaping industries, citing the rise of AI-native companies and the collapse in inference costs, though traditional manufacturing lags due to physical complexities. Li emphasizes that most enterprises fail to see returns because they deploy AI as isolated tools rather than embedding it across workflows, advocating for an "AI-native transformation" led by top executives using a DRI (Directly Responsible Individual) organizational structure. Addressing job displacement fears, he asserts AI will enlarge the overall economic "pie" by unlocking human creativity and scaling execution, potentially multiplying GDP. He advises individuals to focus on open-ended, complex, and trust-based roles, and calls for education reform to maintain competitive advantage.
Summary: The article is a review of the book *Beijing Food Light: A Chronicle of a World Gastronomy Capital*, praising its research on Beijing's culinary history and culture. It highlights findings such as Peking duck originating in the Yuan dynasty, the existence of "Beijing cuisine" as a distinct concept, and detailed accounts of Qing emperors' daily meals. The reviewer notes the book's central theme of cultural fusion across ethnicities and regions, which shaped Beijing's food culture. The author, a member of the Central Research Institute of Culture and History, commends the book for exploring political and social dimensions through imperial dining practices.
Summary: The article, written by a senior professor at Nanjing University, elaborates on "humanistic economics," a concept proposed by Xi Jinping during the 2023 Two Sessions, which integrates cultural and economic development as part of Chinese-style modernization. The author stresses that this field focuses on modern practice and human development, not merely reviving ancient ideas, and argues that culture carries real economic value while avoiding cultural utilitarianism. It calls for balancing cultural supply and demand through both effective markets and a capable government, citing Suzhou and Hangzhou as successful examples. The piece frames humanistic economics as a societal practice that turns China's cultural heritage into high-quality development momentum. No mention is made of the United States or U.S.-China relations.
Summary: Shen Congwen, the renowned Chinese writer, shifted to cultural relic and costume research in the 1950s, working at the Museum of Chinese History where he met 23-year-old Wang Xu in 1953, beginning a 35-year mentorship. Despite setbacks during the Cultural Revolution, including confiscated materials and multiple relocations, Shen persevered in writing his costume research from memory, and upon returning to Beijing in 1972, he rapidly rebuilt his reference library in a small room. Wang Xu later pioneered textile archaeology at the Mawangdui Han tomb excavation, while Wang Yarong, another protégé, illustrated hundreds of drawings for Shen's book, and together their collaboration ensured the completion of *Ancient Chinese Costume Research*. The article portrays Shen's late-life work as another "Border Town," requiring the same dedication as his literary masterpiece, and quotes his advice to Huang Yongyu about loving people, moving forward after setbacks, and embracing one's work. The piece does not discuss the United States or U.S.-China relations.
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By: 本报记者 孟祥夫 徐杭燕
Integrity is the foundation of governance.
On July 30, General Secretary Xi Jinping presided over a meeting of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee. The meeting pointed out: "The whole Party must, from the strategic height of consolidating the Party's ruling position and fulfilling the Party's mission and tasks, deeply understand the great significance of persistently advancing full and rigorous Party self-governance, strengthen confidence, maintain resolve, and with higher standards and more concrete measures uphold and apply well the valuable experience of full and rigorous Party self-governance in the new era, rectify and resolve well the prominent problems facing Party building, and consolidate and develop well the sound political situation formed through Party governance and Party management."
Full and rigorous Party self-governance requires both treating symptoms—using strong medicine to remove illness, applying severe laws to quell disorder—and treating root causes—正心修身 (zhèng xīn xiū shēn - "rectify the mind, cultivate the person," to cultivate oneself morally), nurturing culture, and holding fast to the foundation of governance.
General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out in the report to the 20th National Congress of the Party: "Strengthen the building of a culture of integrity in the new era, educate and guide Party members and cadres to strengthen their self-awareness of not wanting to be corrupt, be upright in conduct and clean in handling affairs."
Forcefully combat corruption, cultivate integrity through culture, strike hard at symptoms, achieve long-term results in addressing root causes, and continuously raise the level of Party governance and Party management.
Strengthening the building of a culture of integrity in the new era provides important support for advancing full and rigorous Party self-governance in depth.
In promoting the building of a culture of integrity, General Secretary Xi Jinping has been 一以贯之 (yī yǐ guàn zhī - "thread through with one consistency," to consistently uphold).
In Zhengding (正定), Hebei, he presided over the formulation of the "Six Regulations" (六项规定) on improving leadership style; in Ningde (宁德), Fujian, he presided over the introduction of the "Twelve Articles on Clean Governance" (廉政十二条); while governing Zhejiang, he promoted exploration and practice of "clean governance culture building" at the provincial level...
Since the 18th National Congress of the Party, the Party Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core has attached great importance to the building of a culture of integrity in the new era, effectively promoting a 焕然一新 (huàn rán yī xīn - "shining and completely new," to take on a completely new look) in Party conduct and government style, and continuous improvement in social customs and public morals.
Strengthen top-level design, improve institutional supply, so that the building of a culture of integrity in the new era has rules to follow and laws to rely on.
Formulate and implement the Central Eight-Point Regulations (中央八项规定), burnishing the "golden card" of style building; issue the "Opinions on Strengthening the Building of a Culture of Integrity in the New Era" (关于加强新时代廉洁文化建设的意见); the Third Plenary Session of the 20th CPC Central Committee incorporated "strengthening the building of a culture of integrity in the new era" into important reform measures; issue the "Three-Year Action Plan for Building a Culture of Integrity in the New Era (2025-2027)" (新时代廉洁文化建设三年行动计划（2025—2027年）)...
From local to central levels, combining theory and practice, this demonstrates consistent strategic thinking and unremitting exploration.
The building of a culture of integrity in the new era is a vivid practice that takes Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era as its soul and deeply draws nourishment from China's excellent traditional culture, revolutionary culture, and advanced socialist culture.
General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out: "We must consolidate and improve on not wanting to be corrupt, placing more emphasis on 正本清源 (zhèng běn qīng yuán - "rectify the root, clear the source," to address problems at their root) and 固本培元 (gù běn péi yuán - "strengthen the root, cultivate the origin," to consolidate the foundation)" and "Without the heritage and nourishment of China's excellent traditional culture, revolutionary culture, and advanced socialist culture, faith and conviction can hardly be deep and steadfast."
Use China's excellent traditional culture to cultivate the spiritual realm of 克己奉公 (kè jǐ fèng gōng - "restrain oneself and serve the public," self-restraint and devotion to public duty) and clean self-discipline; use revolutionary culture to temper the noble character of 公而忘私 (gōng ér wàng sī - "public-minded and forgetful of self," putting public interest before self) and willing dedication; use advanced socialist culture to nurture the cultural soil for clean governance and impartial exercise of power.
In March 2014, at an enlarged meeting of the Standing Committee of the Lankao County (兰考县) Party Committee in Henan Province, General Secretary Xi Jinping quoted the "Refusal of Gifts" proclamation (却赠檄文) by Zhang Boxing (张伯行), an upright official in Lankao's history: "A single thread, a single grain—my reputation and integrity; a single cent, a single hair—the people's flesh and blood. Grant one more measure of leniency, and the people receive more than one measure of grace; take one more coin, and I am not worth one coin as a person. Who says this is the norm of social intercourse? In truth, integrity and shame are wounded. If it is not ill-gotten wealth, whence does this thing come?" The General Secretary pointed out: "In my view, this can also serve as a mirror."
General Secretary Xi Jinping teaches by 言传身教 (yán chuán shēn jiào - "teach by words, instruct by example," to teach by word and deed), 念兹在兹 (niàn zī zài zī - "think of this, be mindful of this," to keep constantly in mind).
At Xibaipo (西柏坡) in Pingshan County (平山县), Hebei, he pointed out that "this is the place where rules were established. The establishment and implementation of the Party's rules and institutions have effectively promoted the Party's style and discipline building"; at the Gu Wenchang (谷文昌) Memorial Hall in Dongshan County (东山县), Fujian, he emphasized that "in learning from Comrade Gu Wenchang, we must not only 高山仰止 (gāo shān yǎng zhǐ - "look up to the high mountain," to admire and revere), but also 见贤思齐 (jiàn xián sī qí - "seeing the worthy, think of equaling them," to emulate the worthy), conducting ourselves and governing as he did"...
The building of a culture of integrity in the new era means, in deeply elucidating the ideals and convictions, values, moral concepts, and discipline-and-law awareness embodied in Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, and on the foundation of China's excellent traditional culture, revolutionary culture, and advanced socialist culture, guiding Party members and cadres in a 润物无声 (rùn wù wú shēng - "moisten things without sound," to influence subtly and silently) manner to resolve well the master-switch issue of worldview, outlook on life, and values.
From a clean and upright political ecosystem to a social climate that upholds integrity and rejects corruption, the building of a culture of integrity in the new era has 蔚然成风 (wèi rán chéng fēng - "luxuriantly become a custom," to become a prevailing trend).
General Secretary Xi Jinping earnestly admonished: "Only clean governance can win the people's trust; only impartial exercise of power can win people's hearts."
Conduct oneself with uprightness, govern with integrity. Family values are linked to Party conduct and government style.
Since becoming a leading cadre, wherever Comrade Xi Jinping has worked, he has admonished relatives and friends: "You must not engage in any commercial activities where I work, and must not do anything under my name. Otherwise, don't blame me for disowning even my closest kin."
Those who teach by example are followed. Several menus and receipts have long been talked about with relish: the dinner menu when the General Secretary inspected Fuping County (阜平县), Hebei, in 2012; the meal receipt when he inspected Lankao County, Henan, in 2014; the lunch receipt at the home of fellow villager Liang Yuming (梁玉明) in Liangjiahe (梁家河) in 2015... Simple home-style meals, clean and plain.
General Secretary Xi Jinping emphasized "strengthening the building of a culture of integrity in the new era, cultivating a new era ethos of seeking truth and being pragmatic, of unity and striving," and required "actively publicizing the concept of integrity and models of integrity, creating a sound climate of upholding integrity and rejecting corruption."
Those above lead those below; customs are formed and people are educated.
Integrity-themed parks, clean-governance education bases, clean villages and communities... Many localities have innovated forms to meet the people's needs, making good use of platforms such as the "Clean Wind Map" (清风地图) to string the positions of integrity culture into a chain. Today, from government offices to schools, from communities to villages, a clean and upright breeze sweeps across the land of China.
"Do not seek praise for your color; only leave pure fragrance filling the world." We must 锲而不舍 (qiè ér bù shě - "carve without stopping," to persevere without cease) in strengthening the building of a culture of integrity in the new era, deeply advance the "precise drip irrigation" project of integrity publicity and education, and continuously realize clean and upright cadres, clean government, clean politics, and a clear and bright society.
Return to TopBy: 本报记者 何 聪 江 南 窦瀚洋
In August, in Zhejiang. On the coast of the East China Sea, Ningbo Zhoushan Port is bustling with activity, as rows of new domestically produced new-energy vehicles are assembled and ready to set out to sea. This batch of vehicles comes from the Zeekr Meishan Smart Factory in Beilun District (北仑区), Ningbo, where digital twin, artificial intelligence, and other technologies are deeply integrated here, empowering the transformation and upgrading of industrial manufacturing toward intelligent manufacturing.
In September 2023, when General Secretary Xi Jinping inspected Zhejiang, he emphasized: "Zhejiang must take the lead in shaping new development advantages through scientific and technological innovation. The enhancement of scientific and technological innovation capacity must be placed in a more prominent position, integrating scientific and technological innovation forces and advantageous resources, and accelerating breakthroughs in frontier fields of science and technology." The outline of the 15th Five-Year Plan proposes promoting the deep integration of scientific and technological innovation and industrial innovation.
To thoroughly implement the spirit of General Secretary Xi Jinping's important instructions, Ningbo is accelerating the building of an advanced manufacturing base, taking the construction of a key fulcrum of the Shanghai (Yangtze River Delta) International Science and Technology Innovation Center as the main lever, integrating scientific and technological innovation forces and advantageous resources, creating a first-class innovation ecosystem, and striving to promote the deep integration of scientific and technological innovation and industrial innovation.
Intelligent manufacturing leaps upward, driving the manufacturing industry to move toward the "new."
Entering the die-casting workshop of the Zeekr Meishan Smart Factory, a 7,200-ton die-casting machine operates at high efficiency; the floor panel that previously required seventy or eighty parts to be welded is now formed in one piece by die-casting in 80 seconds. In the welding workshop, 704 robots complete the welding of the body frame in 60 seconds, with the precision of more than 5,000 weld points controlled within 0.5 millimeters. In the final assembly workshop, humanoid robots work in coordination with AGV (automated guided vehicle) clusters, autonomously navigating and carrying loads on different assembly lines...
"The factory is gradually achieving a leap from technological self-reliance to standard leadership, and a mature intelligent manufacturing system is accelerating its march to the world," said Zhao Chunlin (赵春林), the person in charge of production and manufacturing at the enterprise. The enterprise has not only achieved large-scale implementation of technological achievements, but also helped Beilun District build a complete magnesium alloy industrial cluster, forming an industrial effect of "one vehicle driving the entire chain."
Adhering to the direction of intelligentization, green development, and integration, Ningbo continues to advance the construction of "5G + Industrial Internet" and "Industry Brain + Future Factory"; focusing on artificial intelligence empowering the real economy, it has launched the "Industrial Belt 'Intelligent Manufacturing' Leap Plan" to drive the accelerated innovative development of the manufacturing industry. In the first half of this year, the added value of industrial enterprises above designated size in the city grew by 8.9% year on year, with the growth rate up 3.6 percentage points from the full year of last year; among 36 major industrial categories, 27 saw year-on-year growth in added value.
Enterprise-led, advancing scientific research achievements toward the production line.
In Yinzhou District (鄞州区), Ningbo, entering the showroom of Lixin Technology Co., Ltd., one places a piece of clothing on the self-service checkout counter, and the device instantly senses the item number, size, and price. Relying on "digital ID" electronic tag technology, the company has won cooperation with customers in more than 50 countries and regions, covering fields such as automobiles, aviation, and medical care. "The most critical technology must be held in our own hands," said Si Haitao (司海涛), the person in charge of the enterprise.
In Ningbo today, there are 119 national-level single-item champion enterprises in manufacturing, and the number of high-tech enterprises has exceeded 10,000; about 90% of R&D institutions, 88.5% of R&D investment, and 83.9% of invention patents come from enterprises. Actively strengthening enterprise-led industry-university-research integrated innovation, Ningbo implements a key-problem-solving mechanism of "enterprises pose the questions, the government assists with the questions, platforms answer the questions, workshops verify the questions, and the market evaluates," with the proportion of science and technology projects led or participated in by enterprises maintained above 80%, promoting concept verification centers and pilot testing platforms to cover key industries, and building a closed loop of "technology-product-scenario-industry" transformation.
Optimizing the ecosystem, forging a "strong magnetic field" for innovation across the entire region.
In the opening year of the 15th Five-Year Plan, Ningbo has made frequent moves in scientific and technological innovation.
Earlier this year, the Sinopec Ningbo New Materials Research Institute (中石化宁波新材料研究院) overcame key materials for "artificial alveoli," with an average purity exceeding 98%. In July, the Advanced Nuclear Energy Materials Laboratory of the Ningbo Institute of Materials Technology and Engineering, Chinese Academy of Sciences (中国科学院宁波材料所), together with research teams such as the Yongjiang Laboratory (甬江实验室), developed a new two-dimensional material possessing both semiconductor properties and ferromagnetic properties.
The integrated development of education, science and technology, and talent has ignited a "chemical reaction." With the coordinated integration of "government, research, and academia; schools, enterprises, and localities," high-energy-level platforms such as the Ningbo Institute of Materials Technology and Engineering, Chinese Academy of Sciences, the Yongjiang Laboratory, and Ningbo University are accelerating their rise, and "university + platform + enterprise + industrial chain" paired cooperation has been comprehensively promoted.
Increasing investment in the construction of major science and technology innovation platforms, providing subsidies of up to 500 million yuan for platforms incorporated into the national laboratory system; establishing a science and technology innovation fund cluster with a total scale exceeding 5 billion yuan, promoting products such as "innovation credit loans" and "talent insurance"; implementing the upgraded "Yongjiang Talent Project" (甬江人才工程), selecting about 400 projects throughout the year... Ningbo continues to strengthen policy supply and factor guarantees to build a first-class innovation ecosystem.
Bearing in mind General Secretary Xi Jinping's earnest instructions, Ningbo will shape new advantages in advanced manufacturing through scientific and technological innovation, strive to achieve a good start to the 15th Five-Year Plan, and contribute more strength to building a manufacturing power.
Return to TopXinhua News Agency, Beijing, August 13 — Premier of the State Council Li Qiang recently signed a State Council order, promulgating the "Decision of the State Council on Amending and Repealing Certain Administrative Regulations," which shall take effect on August 15, 2026.
In order to comprehensively and effectively implement the "Ecological Environment Code of the People's Republic of China" and ensure that the ecological environment legal system is logically unified and its rules coordinated, the State Council has conducted a review of the administrative regulations involved, and has decided to amend certain provisions of 12 administrative regulations and to repeal 3 administrative regulations.
With respect to the amendment of administrative regulations such as the "Regulations on the National Census of Pollution Sources" and the "Regulations on Ecological Environment Monitoring," where the laws cited in the relevant administrative regulations will be abolished on August 15 of this year, the date on which the Ecological Environment Code takes effect, the names of the cited laws shall be correspondingly and uniformly amended to the Ecological Environment Code; where the provisions of the relevant administrative regulations on specific matters such as legal liability are inconsistent with the Ecological Environment Code, corresponding amendments shall be made in accordance with the provisions of the Ecological Environment Code.
With respect to the repeal of administrative regulations such as the "Regulations of the People's Republic of China on the Prevention and Control of Pollution Damage to the Marine Environment by Land-Sourced Pollutants," this better adapts to the new requirements of high-quality development and the construction of ecological civilization.
(The full text of the "Decision" appears on Page 11.)
Return to TopBy: 本报记者 崔 佳 祝大伟 郭晓龙
Vast forest sea, waves of pine soughing. Yichun City, Heilongjiang Province, located in the hinterland of the Lesser Khingan Mountains, possesses about half of China's Korean pine resources, as well as the largest and most completely preserved natural Korean pine primary forest community in Asia.
Today, the value of Korean pine cones here has leaped: each cone produces about 100 pine nuts, selling for about 10 yuan; after the pine nuts are removed, the Korean pine cone is transformed into a creative ornament, selling for more than 20 yuan.
A single Korean pine cone reflects the change in the forest region's development thinking.
How the forest region's economic transformation and development is going, how ecological protection in the forest region is going, and how the lives of forest farm workers are going — General Secretary Xi Jinping has always kept these in his heart. In May 2016, when the General Secretary inspected and researched in Yichun City, he emphasized: "The significance of ecological protection is strategic. The economic transformation and development of the forest region is an arduous task; we must broaden our thinking and adopt multiple measures simultaneously."
Earnestly implementing the important instructions of General Secretary Xi Jinping, Yichun is striving to transform ecological advantages into momentum for green development. At present, the city's forest coverage rate reaches 83.8%, and the Gross Ecosystem Product (GEP) reaches 424 billion yuan. The old forest region is radiating youthful vitality.
How is the forest region's economic transformation and development going?
Industrial development moves toward the "new" and pursues "green."
At the Baihuahe Forest Farm Branch of the Yichun Forestry Group Tangwanghe Forestry Bureau Co., Ltd., birch forests stretch 一望无际 (yī wàng wú jì - "one glance, no boundary," stretching as far as the eye can see). After birch sap is harvested here, it is transported to the Jiuxin Group workshop located in Tangwang County (汤旺县). Inside the workshop, automated production lines run 24 hours without stopping, flash-sterilizing the birch sap and locking in freshness at room temperature.
"A bottle of less than 500 milliliters of birch sap sells for about 20 yuan on the market." Liu Mingyan (刘明岩), general manager of Jiuxin Group, has been rooted in the forest region since graduating from university. Last year, the enterprise sold more than 7,000 tons of birch sap products and raw birch sap.
As a region rich in white birch resources, Yichun has about 250,000 hectares of white birch forest. In 2025, the city's birch sap collection volume increased by 116.79% year-on-year, enterprise output value increased by 99.9%, and birch sap product revenue accounted for about 80% of the entire Heilongjiang Province.
In recent years, Yichun has made every effort to build a world-renowned birch sap industry base. Thirty-two birch sap production enterprises have constructed a green birch sap industry chain, expanding from single beverages to more than 20 product categories including health beverages, skin care and daily chemicals, and forest wellness derivative products. This is a vivid portrayal of Yichun's accelerated transformation toward a modern ecological industry system.
In Yichun, the five major industries of forest fungi, forest fruits, forest livestock, forest vegetables, and forest medicine have made the forest, this "three-dimensional granary," 身价倍增 (shēn jià bèi zēng - "personal worth doubled," value multiplied severalfold). "Last year, the enterprise launched more than 140 forest food products, with annual revenue exceeding 100 million yuan," Liu Mingyan said.
In Tangwang County, birch sap collection experiences have become a popular project attracting tourists. Tasting the sweet raw birch sap, touring the Forest Sea Strange Rocks scenic area... In 2025, Tangwang County received more than 500,000 tourist visits, with tourism revenue of 280 million yuan. In the same period, Yichun's tourist visits and tourism spending increased by 36% and 39% year-on-year, respectively.
Pine cones, pine wood, birch bark... after creative design, they become widely popular "Yichun gifts." In recent years, Yichun has deeply cultivated the main business of forest ecotourism and strengthened and expanded characteristic industries. The city's total forestry output value has grown from 2.8 billion yuan in 2016 to nearly 4 billion yuan at present.
How is ecological protection in the forest region going?
Restoring the original ecology of the Lesser Khingan Mountains.
How to polish the "Hometown of Korean Pines" name card? Yichun starts with protecting a palm-high Korean pine seedling.
In a planted larch forest of the Meixi Forestry Bureau Co., Ltd. of Yichun Forestry Group, Korean pine seedlings are growing vigorously. Company technician Zhang Kui (张奎) guides workers to break half of the tips of the hazel shrubs in the forest, making them droop. "In this way, the branches grow downward, playing an ecological role, and leaving sufficient space for the Korean pine seedlings." With the management measure of "one forest, one strategy," Zhang Kui and his colleagues practice 精耕细作 (jīng gēng xì zuò - "fine plowing and careful tending," intensive and meticulous cultivation).
In the early years, this planted larch forest had more than 290 trees per mu, and interspecific competition led to an increase in dead trees. Since 2018, the Meixi Forestry Bureau Company has cooperated with the Chinese Academy of Forestry in pilot projects to explore sustainable forest management. Harvest the small and keep the large, harvest the dense and keep the sparse, harvest the inferior and keep the superior, creating a "livable space" for retained trees... Now, the larch forest has about 150 trees per mu, the number of regenerated seedlings under the forest has increased by 15%, and more seedlings of precious tree species such as Korean pine have grown.
"By comparison, trees of the same age are clearly a full circle thicker, and the forest community structure is more reasonable," Zhang Kui said. According to monitoring, the timber growth in the pilot area is 2.86 times that of the control area. At present, the scope of sustainable forest management has expanded from the pilot's 200,000 mu to a broader forest area.
The concept of high-level protection of the forest region has taken deep root in Zhang Kui's heart. "Selection and breeding of improved Korean pine varieties, scientific seedling cultivation, precise tending, and scientific fire prevention rely on comprehensive scientific and technological support." With full-chain science and technology building an ecological security barrier, the forests of the Lesser Khingan Mountains are accelerating positive succession and restoring their original ecological appearance.
High-quality development that prioritizes ecology and is green and low-carbon can only be achieved through high-level protection. Yichun has established 23 nature reserves and delineated an ecological protection red line area of 15,000 square kilometers, close to half of the city's total area — protection efforts are unprecedented.
In the Heilongjiang Bishui Chinese Merganser National Nature Reserve located in Daqingshan County (大箐山县), the Yongcui River is 清澈见底 (qīng chè jiàn dǐ - "clear enough to see the bottom," crystal clear). The Chinese merganser, hailed as the "litmus test" of ecosystem health, has grown from fewer than 10 individuals before the reserve was established to more than 200 at present.
The forest-stream ecosystem on both banks of the Yongcui River, represented by primary Korean pine forests, nurtures more than 600 mu of forest swamp wetlands, providing an excellent natural environment for waterbirds and other wildlife inhabiting the area.
"Daqingshan County's wetland area is small and once retreated into scattered, fragmented small patches." Qu Changyu (屈常宇), a staff member of the Heilongjiang Bishui Chinese Merganser National Nature Reserve, knows well the efforts behind this — Yichun City has continuously implemented ecological restoration measures such as vegetation restoration and maintenance of the Yongcui River shoreline, striving to restore the original ecological appearance.
Vigorously promoting the integrated protection and systematic governance of mountains, waters, forests, farmlands, grasslands, and deserts, Yichun City has completed nearly 800,000 mu of comprehensive treatment projects for forest and wetland protection and restoration in the Lesser Khingan Mountains over the past three years. In the forest sea of the Lesser Khingan Mountains, the populations of endangered species such as the hooded crane and the Chinese merganser are growing steadily, and the activity ranges of species such as the Amur tiger and the black bear are gradually expanding.
How is the life of forest farm workers going?
Livelihood improvement and economic development 相得益彰 (xiāng dé yì zhāng - "each gains luster from the other," complementing and reinforcing each other).
Tieli City (铁力市) in Yichun is the "southern gateway" of the Lesser Khingan Mountains. Ma Yongshun Forest Farm is located at the forefront of the mountain forest. In the forest sea, the story of Ma Yongshun (马永顺), the "logging model" who became a "tree-planting hero," remains vivid.
"自力更生 (zì lì gēng shēng - "rely on one's own strength to regenerate," self-reliance), and find new paths." Feng Shougang (冯首钢), general manager of the Ma Yongshun Forest Farm Branch of the Yichun Forestry Group Tieli Forestry Bureau Co., Ltd., said that the new generation of foresters inherit the pioneering and innovative spirit of the older generation and bravely face the transformation brought by the cessation of logging in the forest region.
"The forest farm has become more beautiful, and the workers' lives are even better." Ma Chunqing (马春青), Ma Yongshun's second son, has not forgotten his father's admonition. He promoted the early tourism transformation of the forest farm and founded the forest farm's first collective resort village, witnessing the forest farm's transformation from a shabby shantytown to a livable and visitable forest wellness town. With the implementation of the state-owned forest region shantytown renovation policy, the board-and-mud low houses that once dotted the area have been transformed into light-yellow small buildings.
Grasping people's livelihoods is also grasping development. Yichun's shantytown renovation has benefited more than 300,000 forest region residents. To build the urban tourism brand of "Forest Capital Yichun · Home in the Forest" (林都伊春·森林里的家) and do the main business of forest ecotourism well, every small family in the forest needs to become beautiful and attractive.
Green spreads, and the spirit of foresters transcends time, permeating the Khingan forest sea.
"Good ecology is worth experiencing in detail." Liu Yangshun (刘养顺), a 71-year-old retired worker of Xishui Forest Farm, experienced the hardship of having no trees to cut. Ten years ago, he took the lead in starting a farmhouse restaurant, changing his thinking to make a living from tourism.
Now, Liu Yangshun's farmhouse restaurant has grown from the initial four or five small tables to 18 large tables. The forest farm's distinctive homestays and farmhouse courtyards have grown to 42, forming a cluster. "The forest farm's trees are greener, tourists have more diverse experiences, and annual income keeps rising," Liu Yangshun said with a smile.
In recent years, Yichun has continuously expanded channels for realizing the value of forest ecological functions and promoted ecological prosperity for the people. "At present, the forest farm's annual output value is close to 60 million yuan, nearly double that of 10 years ago," introduced Qin Ruiliang (秦瑞亮), Party branch secretary of the Xishui Forest Farm Branch of the Yichun Forestry Group Shangganling Forestry Bureau Co., Ltd. Last year, Xishui Forest Farm received nearly 400,000 tourist visits.
After the cessation of logging and transformation, Yichun's state-owned forest region has cumulatively placed 74,000 workers. At present, the average monthly wage of on-post workers of the Yichun Forestry Group has increased from 2,883 yuan at its founding in 2018 to 5,854 yuan.
Now, Yichun is vigorously cultivating new economic growth points, promoting the coordinated progress and mutual reinforcement of livelihood improvement and economic development. In 2025, the city's high-tech enterprises reached 38, an increase of 15% year-on-year; forest food and other enterprises transformed 20 scientific and technological achievements, adding 120 million yuan in economic benefits; the output value of enterprises above designated size in the bioeconomy increased by 11.5% year-on-year.
Return to TopBy: 本报记者 顾仲阳
This year, August 15 marks the fourth National Ecological Day, and the Ecological Environment Code will take effect from this day onward.
The environment is people's livelihood; green mountains are beauty; blue skies are also happiness. The Measures for Assessing the Effectiveness of Beautiful China Construction (美丽中国建设成效考核办法), issued not long ago, explicitly lists "degree of public satisfaction" as an important assessment item in the effectiveness of Beautiful China construction. How is this indicator calculated and statistically compiled? What considerations underlie the establishment of this assessment? How will the assessment results be applied in practice? A reporter interviewed the responsible comrade of the Office of the Central Leading Group for Ecological and Environmental Protection Inspection.
How it is calculated
Reader concern: The national public satisfaction with the ecological environment has exceeded 90% for five consecutive years — how is this calculated?
The relevant data are formed through sample surveys conducted by the National Bureau of Statistics among urban and rural residents of each province, with the proportion of surveyed respondents who give "satisfied" or "relatively satisfied" ratings on ecological civilization construction and improvement in ecological environment quality determining the national public satisfaction value with the ecological environment. The 2025 survey results show that national public satisfaction with the ecological environment stands at 91.37%, exceeding 90% for five consecutive years.
To scientifically organize and carry out the survey, the National Bureau of Statistics has issued a dedicated plan, focusing on areas where public sentiment is strong and that are closely related to daily life, with the entire survey chain verifiable and traceable. "The survey results can objectively reflect the public's firsthand feelings about environmental improvement, and can also help all regions and departments improve their work and better advance ecological civilization construction," the responsible comrade said.
Why it is calculated
Reader concern: What considerations underlie the inclusion of public satisfaction in the assessment system?
"A sound ecological environment is the fairest public product and the most inclusive form of livelihood well-being. Whether the environment is good or not, the people have the greatest say." The responsible comrade explained that placing the power to judge the effectiveness of Beautiful China construction in the hands of the people ensures that Beautiful China construction always follows public will and benefits people's livelihoods.
This arrangement will effectively guide and impel local Party committees and governments to firmly establish and practice a correct view of political achievements, to focus on prominent ecological environment problems around the people such as air pollution, water pollution, and solid waste pollution, to truly govern and truly improve, and to let the people personally feel that the ecological environment is continuously getting better.
How it is used
Reader concern: Will the assessment become a mere formality?
"The assessment will not go through the motions." The responsible comrade said that the assessment measures set up five aspects of assessment content, including the implementation of responsibilities for Beautiful China construction, the completion of annual major goals for Beautiful China construction, the completion of annual key tasks for Beautiful China construction, the performance of fund use, and the degree of public satisfaction. The assessment results will serve as an important reference for the comprehensive assessment and evaluation, rewards and punishments, and appointment and removal of leading bodies and relevant leading cadres of provincial (autonomous region, municipality directly under the central government) Party committees and governments, and are also a reference basis for the allocation of environmental protection project funds.
Localities or units that receive an "unqualified" assessment should promptly propose rectification measures and complete rectification within the prescribed period. Where rectification is not completed properly, depending on the circumstances, the Central Organization Department, together with the Office of the Central Leading Group for Ecological and Environmental Protection Inspection, will conduct an admonishing talk with the principal responsible persons of the provincial (autonomous region, municipality directly under the central government) Party committee and government. Where accountability is needed, the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection and the National Commission of Supervision and the Central Organization Department will pursue it in accordance with regulations, discipline, and law.
Return to TopOn August 12, the 2026 annual maintenance task for the Ali power grid interconnection project in Tibet was successfully completed, laying a solid foundation for the safe and stable operation of the power grid.
Since the Ali interconnection project, with an average altitude exceeding 4,500 meters, was completed and put into operation, it has continuously delivered energy for highland livelihood security, industrial development, and the comprehensive revitalization of rural areas.
The photo shows transmission towers of the Ali interconnection project standing in rows in Lharang Township, Zhongba County (仲巴县), Shigatse City, Tibet.
Photo by Zhang Yuanming (Imaging China)
Our newspaper Beijing, August 13 (electric dispatch) (Reporter Kou Jiangze (寇江泽)) The reporter learned from a press conference held by the State Council Information Office (国务院新闻办公室) that as of the end of July, the cumulative trading volume of the national carbon emissions trading market exceeded 930 million tons, which, while promoting low-cost carbon reduction in industries, has effectively promoted green and low-carbon transformation.
The carbon market is an important policy tool for controlling and reducing greenhouse gas emissions through market mechanisms and helping achieve carbon peak and carbon neutrality. China has built the world's largest carbon emissions trading market, covering the power generation, steel, cement, and aluminum smelting industries. During the 15th Five-Year Plan period, the construction of the national carbon market will be accelerated.
(Related report on page 2)
Return to TopTheory · Reading through Volumes 1–5 of Xi Jinping: The Governance of China
The national-strengthening strategy of the "trinity" of education, science and technology, and talent
Ninth Edition
Special Report on National Ecological Day
Deeply cultivating the green foundation of Chinese-style modernization
Tenth Edition
By: 本报记者 寇江泽
On August 13, the State Council Information Office held a themed press conference under the series "A Good Start to the 15th Five-Year Plan" (开局起步"十五五"), briefing on the overall progress of comprehensively advancing the building of a Beautiful China.
"In the first seven months of this year, the national average concentration of PM2.5 decreased by 1.8 micrograms per cubic meter year on year, a decline of 6.2 percent; the proportion of days with good air quality increased by 3.9 percentage points year on year. The proportion of surface water sections at Grade I–III water quality reached 86.5 percent, up 2.4 percentage points year on year; we promoted the investigation and treatment of more than 6,000 pollution problems in small and micro water bodies around the masses, and the water quality of the main streams of the Yangtze River and the Yellow River continued to maintain Grade II," said Huang Runqiu, Minister of Ecology and Environment. In the first half of the year, China's ecological environment quality continued to improve and key indicators improved markedly, and the ecological environment protection work in the opening year of the plan period got off to a good start.
The Blue Water Defense campaign extends from major rivers to ponds, pits, ditches and canals
Continuously and deeply fighting the battle against pollution is an important campaign in comprehensively advancing the building of a Beautiful China.
At present, what problems and challenges does air pollution control face? How can air quality be continuously improved?
Xu Bijiu, Vice Minister of Ecology and Environment, introduced that since the 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, China has issued and implemented three "Air Ten Articles" (大气十条) in succession, with systematic design and sustained effort, promoting marked improvement in air quality, with blue skies and white clouds becoming the norm. In 2025, the national average concentration of PM2.5 dropped to 28 micrograms per cubic meter, a decrease of 59 percent compared with 2013, and the proportion of days with heavy pollution dropped to 0.9 percent, the best level since monitoring began.
"At present, the problem of insufficient, unstable and unbalanced effectiveness in China's air pollution control remains prominent," Xu Bijiu said. Air quality improvement is still in a critical period of transition from 'marked improvement' to 'comprehensive improvement.' At present, China is intensifying efforts to formulate a new round of action plan for continuous air quality improvement, which will focus on making efforts in 'higher standards, more precise targeting, and more scientific approaches.'
Higher standards and requirements: taking PM2.5 control as the main line, guided by the newly revised "Ambient Air Quality Standards" (环境空气质量标准), and tightening the PM2.5 concentration limit values. More precise region-specific measures: advancing by region and category, in a step-by-step manner, to achieve overall improvement in air quality across the board. More scientific pathways and measures: adhering to the "two-pronged approach" of structural transformation and pollution emission reduction, continuously promoting the optimization and adjustment of industrial, energy and transportation structures, and strengthening pollution control and emission reduction in key industries, fields and links.
While the water quality of major rivers across the country continues to improve, pollution problems in tributaries, ponds, pits, ditches and canals around the masses have drawn increasing attention. How can water pollution problems around the masses be solved?
Recently, the General Office of the State Council forwarded the "Action Plan for the Protection and Treatment of Water Bodies Around the Masses" (群众身边水体保护治理行动方案) drafted by the Ministry of Ecology and Environment and five other departments, which focuses on water bodies around the masses and clarifies the timetable, roadmap and task book for protection and treatment, providing a concrete path for solving prominent water ecological environment problems at the "doorstep" of the masses.
"In terms of governance approach, the Blue Water Defense campaign will be extended from major rivers to ponds, pits, ditches and canals. In terms of key measures, we will intensify efforts to control pollution sources and intercept sewage, continue to advance the campaign to tackle black and odorous water bodies, accelerate the construction and renovation of sewage pipe networks, and improve the efficiency of sewage collection. In terms of supervision methods, we will continue to deepen monitoring and supervision, and promote the stable discharge of various industrial pollution sources up to standards," Xu Bijiu said. We will continue to uphold the principle of environmental protection for the people, deeply advance the treatment of water bodies around the masses, and strive to basically achieve the "three absences" by 2030 — no abnormal color, no abnormal odor, no foreign matter — so that the people can more and more truly feel the effectiveness of the treatment of the water environment around them.
The sharp sword role of central ecological and environmental protection inspection continues to be effectively exerted
Since its pilot in 2015, central ecological and environmental protection inspection has achieved full coverage of 31 provinces (autonomous regions and municipalities) and the Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps over three rounds. How can inspection work be further improved?
"The inspection has received and transferred more than 380,000 reports of complaints from the masses, and verified a large number of prominent ecological environment problems. Through the strong impetus of inspection, those environmental problems that were in the past of a flagrant nature, serious circumstances and marked illegality have been greatly reduced, and the people's sense of gain, happiness and security regarding the ecological environment has markedly improved, and the sharp sword role of inspection continues to be effectively exerted," Huang Runqiu said.
Regarding further improving inspection work, Huang Runqiu said that we must adhere to a problem-oriented approach, keeping a close eye on prominent problems such as major environmental pollution and ecological damage, while also attaching great importance to reports and complaints from the masses and properly solving the "vexing matters" around the masses; adhere to serving the overall situation, coordinating high-quality development and high-level protection, and striving to achieve a win-win situation for environmental, economic and social benefits; adhere to ensuring the effectiveness of rectification, earnestly doing a good job in reviewing and checking rectification plans, on-site verification of rectification progress, and on-site supervision of key tasks, and never letting go until problems are thoroughly solved; adhere to institutional development, ensuring that every task, every link and every process of inspection is strictly standardized and has rules to follow, and earnestly achieving precise, scientific and law-based inspection.
China's ecological environment continues to improve, and wild animals are appearing "on camera" more and more frequently. How can ecological supervision be further strengthened to safeguard the ecological environment?
"Ecological supervision is an important responsibility undertaken by the ecological environment department," said Dong Baotong, Vice Minister of Ecology and Environment and Director of the National Nuclear Safety Administration. During the "14th Five-Year Plan" period, China did a great deal of work in ecological supervision, including continuously carrying out the "Green Shield" action (绿盾行动), seriously investigating and punishing ecological damage problems, and establishing an ecological monitoring system. Among these, one relatively prominent work progress is strengthening "satellite-image-based supervision" (卫片监管). Through satellite remote sensing, a monitoring mechanism covering single-month, bi-monthly and annual cycles has been established, promptly identifying clues to ecological damage problems and pushing them to relevant local departments for rectification, with marked results.
During the "15th Five-Year Plan" period, China will further intensify ecological supervision efforts: making ecological status assessment work systematic, and carrying out ecological status assessments of the whole country, key regions, nature reserves, ecological red lines and other aspects on a routine and standardized basis; making the detection and handling of ecological damage problems more precise, improving the precision of detecting ecological damage problems; making ecological monitoring and supervision methods digital and intelligent, deepening the application of new technologies such as satellite remote sensing and artificial intelligence image interpretation, promoting the iterative upgrading of the national ecological protection and restoration supervision platform, and continuously optimizing the layout of comprehensive ecological quality monitoring stations and sample plots.
Coordinating the advancement of climate change response and carbon peak and carbon neutrality work
The "15th Five-Year Plan" period is a critical and decisive period for achieving carbon peak. How can climate change response and carbon peak and carbon neutrality work be further advanced?
Li Gao, Vice Minister of Ecology and Environment, introduced that since the 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, China's climate change response work has achieved marked results, with the energy structure, industrial structure and transportation structure continuously optimized. "In the first half of this year, the proportion of coal-fired power generation in the country's total electricity generation fell below 50 percent for the first time, which is a new achievement in the green and low-carbon transition."
During the "15th Five-Year Plan" period, China will coordinate the advancement of climate change response and carbon peak and carbon neutrality work: continuously promoting the green and low-carbon transition of key fields, implementing dual control over total carbon emissions and carbon intensity, promoting the green and low-carbon development of key fields such as energy, industry, transportation and urban-rural construction, advancing the synergistic effect of pollution reduction and carbon reduction, and consolidating and enhancing the carbon sink capacity of ecosystems. Accelerating the construction of the national carbon market: the national carbon emissions trading market will be expanded from the four industries of power generation, steel, cement and aluminum smelting to high-emission industries such as petrochemicals and chemicals, and the national voluntary emission reduction trading market will provide incentives for carbon reduction and sink enhancement projects in more fields. Improving the carbon emission statistical accounting system: on the basis of solving the problems of "how to calculate" and "being able to calculate" carbon emissions, achieving "calculating accurately," further consolidating the foundation of carbon emission statistical accounting, and actively promoting the construction of a carbon footprint data and standards system.
The Ecological Environment Code (生态环境法典) will come into effect on August 15. Li Gao said that the Code has major and far-reaching significance for safeguarding the public's ecological environment rights and interests in accordance with the law, consolidating the legal foundation for the building of a Beautiful China, and accelerating the modernization of harmony between humanity and nature.
"Approximately 75 percent of the law enforcement matters in the Code are implemented by the ecological environment department," Li Gao said. The implementation of the Code will be promoted mainly from three aspects: improving supporting systems, strengthening law enforcement supervision, and continuously studying and publicizing it.
In terms of improving supporting systems, we will continue to carry out the cleaning up of laws, regulations, rules and normative documents, and those inconsistent with the Code should be revised where revision is due and abolished where abolition is due.
In terms of strengthening law enforcement supervision, this year will be taken as the year of implementation of the Code. Benchmarking against the new provisions of the Code, we will sort out the list of law enforcement matters item by item, regulate the exercise of power, supervise and guide local authorities in revising discretionary benchmarks, and promote the realization of "same punishment for same cases" (同案同罚).
In terms of continuously studying and publicizing it, we will organize and promote ecological environment departments at all levels and relevant units to accurately grasp the provisions of the Code through centralized study, special training and other forms, and promote the transformation of learning into application; for enterprises, we will deliver the law to their doorsteps to enhance their awareness of law compliance; for the general public, we will innovate forms of publicity and continuously promote the spirit of the Code to take root in people's hearts.
Recently, the State Council issued the "Beautiful China Construction '15th Five-Year Plan' Plan" (美丽中国建设"十五五"规划). Huang Runqiu said that this is the first five-year plan named after "Beautiful China construction" in the field of ecological environment in China, marking the systematic leap of China during the "15th Five-Year Plan" period from focusing on environmental governance to comprehensively advancing the construction of a Beautiful China with coordinated carbon reduction, pollution reduction, green expansion and economic growth. We will solidly advance all work and turn the grand blueprint of Beautiful China construction into beautiful reality step by step.
Return to TopBy: 本报记者 王汉超 白光迪 王靖远
As ten fingers rise and fall, a piano melody flows forth; as the wrist turns gently, water from the teapot is steadily poured into the cup; gripping the brush, the two characters "innovation" leap onto the paper... At Jiangsu Leili Motor Co., Ltd. in Changzhou, Jiangsu, the dexterous robotic hand draws crowds of onlookers.
It is hard to imagine that this enterprise driving the dexterous hand started out in the production of air-conditioning motors. How did a traditional manufacturing enterprise manage to enter the new track of embodied intelligence?
In March this year, when General Secretary Xi Jinping participated in the deliberation of the Jiangsu delegation at the Third Session of the 14th National People's Congress, he emphasized: "Major economic provinces such as Jiangsu stand at the forefront of reform and opening up, and must make efforts in studying new situations and solving new problems, and produce experience."
For Jiangsu, a major manufacturing province, how to transform the advantages in technology, craftsmanship, talent, and industrial chain accumulated over many years into competitiveness oriented toward the future is precisely a typical new problem. Is it to abandon the original foundation and chase hot trends, or to find the connection point between old skills and new demands? All parties are seeking answers in practice.
"To break through development bottlenecks, we must choose new tracks with broader market space, while combining our own motor technology advantages to match downstream customer needs," said Su Da, general manager of Leili Company. In 1993, the enterprise entered the home appliance motor field, with technology, production capacity, and supply chain built around the home appliance market for a long time. After more than 30 years of development, the technology system has gradually extended to medical, new energy vehicles, industrial automation, and other fields. The high-precision, small-volume motors for medical equipment overlap with the needs of robot joints and dexterous hands. By 2024, the enterprise achieved mass production of the full series of coreless cup motors, and combined gearboxes, lead screws, controllers, and other components to form joint modules and solutions. The old skill of micro-special motor manufacturing was thus installed into the joints and fingertips of robots.
Look up to see the trend, look down to see the family foundation. The new track is not about bidding farewell to the old line of business, but about recombining original technology, talent, and manufacturing capabilities.
"As a major economic province and major manufacturing province, Jiangsu possesses unique advantages such as abundant innovation resources, active market entities, and strong industrial chain resilience, but it also faces the pressure of traditional industry transformation," said Ma Xin, Executive Vice Governor of Jiangsu Province. With the new round of technological revolution and industrial transformation accelerating, Jiangsu will further leverage its industrial foundation and industrial chain supporting advantages, consolidate and strengthen the foundation of the real economy, and accelerate the transformation of existing advantages into new development momentum.
Less than 100 kilometers east of Changzhou, in Wuxi High-tech Zone, there is another kind of "recombination." Entering the test hall of Jiangsu Guoyu Xingkong Technology Co., Ltd., one can see a remote sensing satellite fixed on a mechanical vibration table. Staff start the equipment, and the vibration table immediately shakes at high frequency. "Rockets vibrate," said Liu Xiaoguang, Director of the Public Affairs Department of Beijing Weina Xingkong Technology Co., Ltd., to which Guoyu Xingkong belongs. When a satellite ascends with the rocket, it must withstand severe vibration and strong noise. Whether the structure and components can hold up must first pass the test on the ground.
After vibration, there are also tests of thermal vacuum, electromagnetic compatibility, and others. In the thermal vacuum environment simulation chamber, the satellite must withstand temperature differences exceeding 200 degrees Celsius. "It is just like Sun Wukong refining his fiery golden eyes in the Supreme Lord Laozi's furnace," Liu Xiaoguang said. Only by passing each hurdle one by one can the satellite obtain the "passport" to fly into space.
With the accelerated construction of satellite internet, satellite demand is shifting from small-batch customization to batch networking. Under the traditional model, the final assembly, integration, and testing of a single satellite typically takes 3 to 4 months. Guoyu Xingkong has brought the standardized, modularized thinking of manufacturing into satellite production. Today, some mass-produced satellites can roll off the line in as little as about 25 days, and the production line's designed annual capacity exceeds 150 satellites. This June, 6 commercial remote sensing satellites were centrally rolled off the line here.
Wuxi is neither a traditional hub of aerospace research nor close to large launch sites. Why can it develop commercial aerospace? The answer is likewise hidden in the "old family foundation." "It appears to be created out of nothing, but in reality it is supported by strong industrial supporting capabilities," said Song Xiang, Director of the National Defense Science and Technology Industry Office of the Wuxi Municipal Bureau of Industry and Information Technology. Nearly 50 local Wuxi enterprises have entered the commercial aerospace industry chain, and for communication payloads, photovoltaic products, thermal insulation materials, and more, "local suppliers can be found within a 30-minute drive."
From the dexterous robotic hand in Changzhou to the satellite production line in Wuxi, vibrant and dynamic production scenes continue to emerge across Jiangsu: old enterprises open up new fields along their technological accumulation, traditional industrial chains extend toward new industries, and the solid manufacturing foundation is accelerating its transformation into new development momentum. The logic behind it all is consistent — study the new situations of market demand and industrial transformation, find the interface between one's own capabilities and new tracks, and let the manufacturing advantages accumulated over many years release new value in new fields.
Jiangsu is now focusing on advancing intelligent transformation, digital transformation, and network connectivity, implementing intelligent transformation of industrial enterprises above designated size and free diagnosis of "AI + manufacturing," while systematically promoting the development of key industries and accelerating the construction of strategic emerging industry clusters and future industry systems. In 2025, Jiangsu's manufacturing value added accounted for 33.5% of the province's regional GDP, and the output value of high-tech industries accounted for 52.1% of the output value of industries above designated size; the province has nearly 3,100 core enterprises in future industries, with revenue exceeding 750 billion yuan.
Behind the numbers are the high-speed production lines in workshops, the figures of continuous research in laboratories, and traditional enterprises moving toward the new, with emerging industries and future industries growing and flourishing.
Return to Top本报北京8月13日电 (Report from our newspaper, Beijing, August 13) (记者吴秋余) (Reporter: Wu Qiuyu (吴秋余)) The People's Bank of China (中国人民银行) released its monetary policy implementation report for the second quarter of this year, which shows: since the beginning of this year, the effects of the moderately loose monetary policy have continued to manifest, social financing conditions have been relatively loose, and the quality and efficiency of financial services to the real economy have been continuously improving.
In terms of aggregate volume, the outstanding stock of social financing scale and the broad money supply (M2) have maintained reasonable growth, with year-on-year growth rates continuing to exceed the growth rate of nominal GDP (gross domestic product). In terms of interest rates, the interest rates on newly issued corporate loans and personal housing loans are both around 3%, and the comprehensive social financing cost is operating at a relatively low level in history.
In terms of credit structure, as of the end of the first half of the year, technology loans, green loans, inclusive loans, elderly care industry loans, and digital economy industry loans grew by 12.6%, 14.5%, 7.8%, 23.5%, and 15.1% year-on-year respectively, continuing to outpace the growth rate of overall loans.
Since the beginning of this year, the People's Bank of China has comprehensively utilized multiple monetary policy tools such as reverse repurchase operations, medium-term lending facility, and treasury bond trading operations to maintain ample liquidity; lowered the interest rates of structural monetary policy tools by 0.25 percentage points, continuously advanced the work of explicitly disclosing the comprehensive financing cost of corporate loans, and reduced intermediary costs of financing; introduced and implemented a series of structural monetary policy measures, expanded the scale of tools and the scope of support, and improved policy elements; actively and steadily implemented the one-time credit repair policy to support eligible overdue individuals in efficiently and conveniently rebuilding their credit.
The report states that in the next stage, the People's Bank of China will fully leverage the effectiveness of existing policies, promptly plan and introduce pragmatic and effective incremental policies, intensify counter-cyclical adjustment, step up efforts to expand domestic demand and optimize supply, and promote sustained development of the economy toward innovation, optimization, and improvement.
Currently, there remains structural imbalance in the financing of private enterprises. At the beginning of this year, the People's Bank of China announced the establishment of a 1 trillion yuan re-lending facility for private enterprises, specifically used to support the development of private small, medium, and micro enterprises, filling the short board in financing support.
The report shows that as of the end of July, the outstanding balance of the private enterprise re-lending facility was approximately 800 billion yuan. In terms of the effect of incentivizing and guiding banks to issue loans, as of the end of the second quarter, the outstanding loans to small, medium, and micro private enterprises by local corporate financial institutions amounted to approximately 15 trillion yuan, benefiting approximately 2.5 million business entities.
The People's Bank of China stated that it will continue to leverage the incentive role of the private enterprise re-lending facility, guide local corporate financial institutions through market-based methods to increase credit supply to private enterprises, enhance the accessibility of financing for private small, medium, and micro enterprises, and at the same time, strengthen policy coordination with fiscal and industrial policies to jointly create a better development environment for private enterprises.
Return to TopBy: 韩 鑫
In July, the monthly share of new energy vehicles in new car sales exceeded 60% for the first time, and the cumulative share exceeded 50% for the first time... In the latest data released by the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers (中国汽车工业协会), the two "firsts" have drawn widespread attention.
To understand the value of the two "firsts," it is worth also looking at two rankings that recently trended on hot search: in July, among the top 10 passenger vehicle retail sellers in China, new energy models occupied nine seats; in the first half of the year, among the world's top 10 automobile brands, relying on new energy technology advantages, three of our country's automakers for the first time collectively "got a seat at the table," entering the first tier.
From this perspective, after years of development, new energy vehicles have crossed the watershed of "half the country" (半壁江山) and established their position as the mainstream of the market. As the necessary path from a major automobile country to a powerful automobile country, this landmark change in the automobile market landscape means that our country is one step closer to becoming an automobile powerhouse.
How were the two "firsts" achieved?
Products have advantages. Power batteries, intelligent cockpits, and assisted driving continue to make new progress; advantages in cost-performance, intelligence, and safety continue to be consolidated... In this opening year, relying on strong technological strength, many self-owned brands, while expanding into segmented markets, have achieved upward breakthroughs, breaking into the high-end market and gaining a firm foothold.
The market has support. The export share of new energy vehicles has exceeded 50% for two consecutive months, and the export growth rate has exceeded that of traditional fuel vehicles... Since the beginning of this year, new energy vehicle exports have become a key force in stabilizing the overall industry and an important engine driving export growth. Many analysts believe that this momentum will continue, and annual exports are expected to exceed 4 million vehicles.
The foundation is more complete. As of the end of June, the total number of electric vehicle charging infrastructure (guns) in our country reached 23.057 million, a year-on-year increase of 43.2%, and the coverage rate of county-level charging facilities has risen to 98.61%. The world's largest energy replenishment network and the most complete new energy vehicle industrial chain are interwoven and mutually empowering, providing resilient support for the growth and strengthening of the new energy vehicle industry.
The two "firsts" are a milestone and also a new starting point.
Looking at the situation, flipping through the "15th Five-Year Plan" outlines of 31 provinces (autonomous regions and municipalities), as an important lever for cultivating new quality productive forces, the intelligent connected new energy vehicle sector has become a consensus in the industrial layout of many regions. In the next five years, with each region building on its own advantages, seizing positions and developing with differentiation, the new energy vehicle industry is expected to "advance one step further from the top of a hundred-foot pole" (百尺竿头，更进一步).
Looking at the trend, the domestic market landscape is becoming clearer, and the global automobile industry landscape is accelerating its reshaping. With determination to innovate, improve quality, and strengthen brands, a modern automobile industry system that is autonomous and controllable, safe and efficient, green and intelligent, and globally leading will powerfully support the dream of becoming an automobile powerhouse.
The momentum has already taken shape, and its flourishing can be anticipated. Let us look forward together to "China's cars" breaking through to the next new achievement!
Return to TopOn August 10, at an aviation engine maintenance company in Haikou, Hainan, staff were inspecting aviation engines and their components. Relying on the policy dividends of the Hainan Free Trade Port, a number of enterprises are developing engine maintenance businesses, continuously polishing the "golden signboard" of Hainan aircraft maintenance.
Photo by Su Bikun (China Images)
BEIJING, Aug. 13 (Xinhua) — (Reporter Liu Wenxin) Recently, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology and the Ministry of Emergency Management jointly issued the "15th Five-Year Plan for the Development of the Safety and Emergency Equipment Industry," proposing that by 2030, the industrial scale of key fields will reach 1.4 trillion yuan, with the construction of 10 highly competitive safety and emergency equipment industry clusters and 70 industrial specialty parks.
Vigorously developing the safety and emergency equipment industry is an important measure to meet the growing demand for safety and emergency response, enhance the intrinsic safety level, and improve the national capacity for disaster prevention, mitigation, and relief. Since the "14th Five-Year Plan" period, China's safety and emergency equipment industry has achieved rapid development. In 2025, the industrial scale of key fields exceeded 1 trillion yuan, forming an industrial system covering safety prevention, emergency response and handling, and safety and emergency services. The technological level has been continuously improved, and innovation vitality and competitive advantages have been increasingly strengthened. At the same time, the development of the industry still faces practical challenges such as shortcomings in key core technologies, insufficient release of market demand, and an industrial ecology and support system that are not yet fully developed.
The plan focuses on key links in industrial development and, from four aspects — strengthening industrial innovation, promoting the popularization and application of equipment, cultivating and expanding industrial entities, and optimizing the industrial ecology — refines and proposes 15 specific tasks and deploys 5 special columns. It proposes that by 2030, the scale, technological level, product quality, and depth and breadth of application of the safety and emergency equipment industry will be significantly improved. A number of key application scenarios for safety and emergency equipment will be built, a number of safety and emergency equipment with high technological levels and significant application results will be promoted, and the level of household, community, safety, and emergency product configuration will be further enhanced. A number of leading enterprises with strong international competitiveness will be formed, and a number of specialized, refined, distinctive, and innovative "little giant" enterprises and manufacturing single champion enterprises will be cultivated.
Return to TopBy: 本报记者 沈小晓
Thanks to abundant sunlight and suitable temperature differences, Egyptian fresh oranges are plump and juicy, refreshingly sweet and delicious. Egypt has ranked first in global fresh orange export volume for many years and is also an important source of China's fresh orange imports. According to Egyptian data, in 2025, Egypt's fresh orange export value to China was approximately 26 million US dollars. Since May 1 this year, China has fully implemented zero-tariff measures for all African countries with which it has established diplomatic relations, opening a broader market for Egyptian fresh oranges and injecting stronger confidence and momentum into China-Egypt economic and trade cooperation.
A reporter from this newspaper recently visited the Gouda Orchard located in Kafr El Sheikh Governorate, Egypt. Workers moved through the groves, picking, boxing, carrying... One by one, plump fresh oranges are shipped out from here, sold not only locally but also across the oceans to the world market.
"This historic measure reflects China's determination to support Africa's development and mutually beneficial cooperation." Gouda Agricultural Company, the operator of Gouda Orchard, is a leading vertically integrated agricultural conglomerate in Egypt, holding an important position in the cultivation, processing, and export of agricultural products in Egypt and the entire Middle East region. In 2015, Egyptian fresh oranges were approved to enter the Chinese market, and the company was one of the first agricultural enterprises in Egypt approved to export oranges to China. "This year's climate conditions are good, and the orange quality is especially good — large in size, bright in color, and high in sweetness." Ahmed Mohamed, 42, is a grower at the orchard who has been engaged in fresh orange cultivation for over 20 years. He told the reporter that as a fruit farmer, he carefully tends the fruit trees all year round, solely to produce high-quality fruit. "I am very proud that oranges can be exported from Egypt to China and are loved by Chinese consumers. Our work has been recognized, and this also inspires everyone to continuously improve the quality of fresh oranges." Mohamed expressed his hope that in the future, more Chinese consumers will be able to taste the deliciousness of Egyptian oranges. Currently, Gouda Agricultural Company is actively leveraging favorable policies such as China's zero-tariff measures for Africa to accelerate the expansion of Egyptian high-quality agricultural product exports to China. Fresh orange exports to China are ushering in a new period of development opportunities. Ezz El-Din Gouda, Chairman of Gouda Agricultural Company, said that in recent years, while promoting fresh orange exports to China, the company has also been accelerating the export of other high-quality Egyptian agricultural products to China. Gouda said: "China is one of our most important strategic markets. Over the years, we have witnessed the continuous growth of Chinese consumers' and importers' demand for Egyptian fresh oranges." Gouda is also a member of the Egyptian Senate and a member of the Egyptian Agricultural Export Committee, having long been committed to promoting Egyptian agricultural product exports to China and Egypt-China agricultural cooperation. He told the reporter that China's zero-tariff measures for Africa have not only enhanced the competitiveness of Egyptian agricultural products in the Chinese market, but also created new opportunities for enterprises of both Egypt and China to expand cooperation in trade, investment, logistics, and agricultural value chains. "This historic measure reflects China's determination to support Africa's development and mutually beneficial cooperation," Gouda said.
In the early morning of May 1, the first batch of 516 tons of Egyptian fresh oranges entered China by sea and was cleared and released under the supervision of the Shanghai Waigaoqiao Port Customs (上海外高桥港区海关) under Shanghai Customs. This is the first shipment of Egyptian goods in the country to enjoy this zero-tariff measure, with a tariff reduction of approximately 320,000 RMB.
"Further expanding the market share of Egyptian agricultural products, including fresh oranges, in the Chinese market." In Gouda Agricultural Company's citrus fruit sorting and packaging plant, on 4 modern production and packaging lines, the washing, sorting, and grading of oranges proceed in an orderly manner. After processing, the fresh oranges each have smooth skin and bright color. The electronic automatic sorting system quickly grades and screens them based on standards such as size and degree of blemishes. Oranges that do not meet the standards are removed, while high-quality fruit enters the packaging and boxing stage. Next, they will be sent to cold storage, awaiting transport to the port. According to reports, the fresh oranges Egypt exports to China mainly include navel oranges, Valencia oranges, and other varieties. To further enhance the international competitiveness of its products, Egypt has strengthened export supervision, requiring all export orchards and packaging plants to register and file records, and expanded the "coding system" to ensure full-process traceability of products from the orchard to the hands of final consumers. Fresh orange trade has been a highlight of Egypt's exports to China in recent years, with many Egyptian enterprises actively expanding exports to China. Egyptian agricultural exporter Mahmoud Beshbishi said that the Chinese market has enormous growth potential, and only enterprises and exporters that can continuously provide high-quality products fully meeting Chinese standards can successfully enter and expand in the Chinese market. To open up the market, Beshbishi travels to China multiple times each year to understand the fruit market and customer feedback. He told the reporter that China has a large population base and strong consumer demand, making it one of the most important agricultural product markets in the world. Egyptian fresh oranges are popular in China due to their high quality and excellent taste. "I hope to establish connections with more Chinese importers in the future, further expand the market share of Egyptian agricultural products including fresh oranges in the Chinese market, and contribute to the sustained growth of agricultural trade between the two countries," Beshbishi said. Egypt's Al-Ahram newspaper published an article stating that China's zero-tariff measures for Africa "have opened the door for Egyptian products to a market of more than 1.4 billion people, eliminated tariffs as a major barrier, and will promote steady growth in Egyptian exports." The article believes that tariff exemption does not mean success will come automatically; only by building credibility with excellent quality and stable supply, and deeply cultivating localized marketing, can one gain a firm foothold in the fierce competition of the Chinese market.
"Bringing more foreign exchange income to Egypt, strongly supporting diversified economic development." To implement the zero-tariff measures for Africa, China has upgraded the "green channel" for African agricultural and food products to China, further accelerating the quarantine access of African agricultural and food products; to facilitate the import and customs clearance of related goods, it has launched a certificate of origin issuance system for African countries... Under these multiple measures, the channel for high-quality African products to enter the Chinese market has become smoother and more efficient. "The production season of Egyptian fresh oranges coincides with the off-season for domestically produced citrus fruits in China. This staggered and complementary timing gives them a natural competitive advantage in filling the market gap," said He Xianfeng (何先锋), sales manager of Shanghai Nongfu Fruit Products Co., Ltd. (上海农富果品有限公司). Shanghai Nongfu Fruit Products Co., Ltd. has been importing Egyptian fresh oranges since 2015. He Xianfeng said that over the past 10-plus years, the company has visited Egypt every year to inspect cultivation and quality control, and Egyptian enterprises also visit China regularly to align with market demand. With the entry into force of China's zero-tariff measures for Africa, enterprise import costs have decreased, and orders and overall import volumes of Egyptian fresh oranges, grapefruit, and other agricultural products will increase, further enriching the choices of Chinese consumers. He Xianfeng said: "We look forward to deepening cooperation with exporters from Egypt and other African countries in the future, and continuing to provide high-quality fruit for the Chinese market." This year marks the 70th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Egypt. China is one of Egypt's most important trading partners and one of the overseas markets with the greatest development potential for Egyptian agricultural products. Deepening agricultural and economic-trade cooperation is precisely a vivid manifestation of the long-standing friendship and mutual benefit and win-win cooperation between China and Egypt. "China's zero-tariff measures for Africa help Egypt expand exports to China, attract foreign investment, optimize trade structure, bring more foreign exchange income to Egypt, strongly support diversified economic development, and are highly compatible with Egypt's 'Vision 2030,'" said Ahmed Salam, a member of the Egyptian Council for Foreign Affairs. He stated that as more high-quality Egyptian products enter the Chinese market, the popular foundation and mutually beneficial pattern of Egypt-China economic and trade cooperation will continue to be consolidated, continuously injecting new momentum into the Egypt-China comprehensive strategic partnership.
(This newspaper, Cairo)
Return to TopAny act that seeks to overturn the verdict on aggression, summon the spirits of war criminals, or condone the revival of militarism stands on the opposite side of historical justice and on the opposite side of humanity's conscience.
The Tokyo Trial tried humanity's conscience and adjudicated historical justice. Together with the Nuremberg Trial, it laid the cornerstone of the postwar international peace order. But the stark contrast between Japan's and Germany's attitudes toward the history of World War II reflects the two countries' fundamentally different value choices.
In Germany, "Hall 600," where the Nuremberg Trial was held, stands solemn and dignified. The memorial repeatedly emphasizes that war crimes must be prosecuted, and it has set up a dedicated exhibition section introducing the content of the Tokyo Trial, demonstrating a profound remembrance of and reflection on history. In Japan, by contrast, the original site of the International Military Tribunal for the Far East is buried deep within the grounds of Japan's Ministry of Defense, with strict visitation restrictions. The museum's introduction to the trial is extremely limited, while militarist symbols are deliberately highlighted.
The Tokyo Trial used the sword of law to sever the criminal chain of Japanese militarism. However, because the historical reckoning was left incomplete, the ideological poison, institutional remnants, and network of forces of militarism were preserved and lay dormant within Japanese politics and society — this is the deep-rooted cause of why "new-type militarism" has now gathered momentum and become a scourge.
Observing Japan's current realities within the historical chain of Japanese militarist expansion is especially revealing of the dangerous continuity. Before the war, Japan's path to external aggression was not a sudden loss of control but a step-by-step advance along a very clear trajectory: first, manufacturing a crisis narrative ideologically, using "living space" and "national peril" to incite social sentiment; then, breaking through institutional constraints politically, loosening the reins on military expansion under the banner of "self-defense" and "emergency response"; then, accelerating war preparations militarily, using partial breakthroughs to lever overall expansion; and in public discourse, glorifying war, packaging aggression as the "righteous cause" of "liberating Asia" and "self-preservation and self-defense." This path, in the final analysis, is first to manufacture a justification for aggression, and then to turn aggression into fact.
Today, "new-type militarism" is following this old path, this evil path, wrapped in a new guise and making a comeback. Eighty years after the International Military Tribunal for the Far East opened its proceedings, Japanese right-wing forces are step by step challenging the legal authority of the Tokyo Trial and repeatedly breaking through the legal restrictions that the postwar international order and international law place on Japan's armaments. Their various actions constitute a systematic erosion of the achievements of the Tokyo Trial and have become a real danger undermining regional peace and stability.
Accelerated constitutional revision and military expansion, and the breaking through of security constraints, are eroding the achievements of the Tokyo Trial from both the institutional and military-practice dimensions. Japanese right-wing forces have long pushed to revise Article 9 of Japan's Constitution, attempting to further hollow out the "peace clause," upgrade the Self-Defense Forces into a national defense army, and construct an institutional exit from the "peace constitution." Article 9 of Japan's Constitution is not a matter of Japan's "internal affairs" but a legal constraint imposed on Japan by the postwar international order. Japan's attempt to unilaterally hollow out or even abolish this constraint constitutes an illegal act that violates its obligations under international treaties.
In recent years, Japan's defense budget has repeatedly hit record highs, the deployment of offensive weapons has accelerated, long-range strike capabilities have rapidly taken shape, restrictions on weapons exports have been continuously relaxed, the principle of "exclusively defense-oriented" has been hollowed out layer by layer, and the new Defense White Paper advocates military expansion and drums up military deterrence. Even more dangerous, Japan has long produced and stockpiled plutonium materials far exceeding the actual needs of civilian nuclear energy, has threatened to revise the "Three Non-Nuclear Principles," and has even released dangerous rhetoric about acquiring nuclear weapons independently — seriously challenging the international nuclear non-proliferation regime.
On territorial sovereignty and regional security issues, Japan has likewise repeatedly crossed bottom lines and provoked trouble. Japan has violated the provisions of the Cairo Declaration and the Potsdam Proclamation in attempting to illegally occupy China's inherent territory of the Diaoyu Islands. On the Taiwan question, Japanese right-wing politicians have made inappropriate remarks linking "a contingency in Taiwan" with Japan's "survival crisis situation." This violates Japan's commitments in the China-Japan Joint Statement, constitutes gross interference in China's internal affairs, and contravenes the basic principle of non-interference in internal affairs enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations.
In response to international criticism of Japan's drift toward "new-type militarism," some Japanese right-wing politicians have tried to quibble, claiming that Japan does not possess large numbers of nuclear weapons or strategic bombers and therefore cannot be labeled "new-type militarism." This so-called "grievance" is not worth refuting. The criterion for "new-type militarism" has never been whether a country possesses nuclear weapons, but rather whether that country has the intent for military expansion, whether it continuously breaks through constraints in security policy, whether it ceaselessly provokes incidents in regional security affairs... Japan's various maneuvers are precisely an act of summoning the spirits of militarism, brazenly allowing "new-type militarism" to become a real source of harm undermining regional security and stability.
At present, Japan's historical revisionism and "new-type militarism" are deeply intertwined: the former whitewashes history and dismantles cognitive defenses, while the latter rewrites reality and breaches the boundaries of peace. Together they have become a major hidden danger subverting the postwar international order and threatening peace in the Asia-Pacific.
We must adhere to international consensus in curbing the convergence of historical nihilism and "new-type militarism." The Tokyo Trial was not the opinion of a single party, nor a political arrangement of a particular period, but a just ruling made by the international community on the basis of the victory of the World Anti-Fascist War. Likewise, today's resistance to historical nihilism and resolute containment of "new-type militarism" cannot be merely the one-sided vigilance of the victimized countries — it should become a peace consensus jointly upheld by the international community. The victimized countries must raise a louder voice of justice, the international community must form clearer rule-based constraints, and the forces of justice that love peace must build a more solid line of moral defense.
Any act that seeks to overturn the verdict on aggression, summon the spirits of war criminals, or condone the revival of militarism stands on the opposite side of historical justice and on the opposite side of humanity's conscience. Eighty years on, revisiting the historical warning of the Tokyo Trial is not only a consolation to the victims but also a guardianship of the future of regional and international peace. The international community must remain highly vigilant against the dangerous moves of Japan's right-wing forces, resolutely defend the fruits of victory of World War II and the postwar international order, and never allow the tragedy of history to repeat itself.
Return to TopBy: 本报记者 黄炜鑫
Fists vigorous and expansive, blades and staffs sharp and spirited, sanda clean and crisp... The first Kenya Martial Arts Competition was recently held in Nairobi, the country's capital. Contestants from eight counties across Kenya came together through martial arts to make friends.
As the accompanying music slowly rose, 15-year-old Fabrice Chege calmly assumed his stance, his arms gently and expansively extending. "Learning Chinese kung fu is, for me, a persistent commitment from the depths of my heart. It has shaped my character and taught me how to persevere to the end in difficult situations," said Fabrice, who has practiced martial arts for more than five years. "My goal is to step onto the international stage, and I hope to one day represent Kenya in martial arts competitions."
With the single broadsword drawn from its sheath, clean and crisp, his movements tightly connected, vigorous and powerful, Hassan Siba's performance drew rounds of applause from the audience. At this competition, 26-year-old Hassan was both a contestant and the lead coach of the Marsabit County delegation. "The process of practicing martial arts involves sweat and pain, and it truly tempers one's will. It has taught me to keep trying, never give up, and maintain strict self-discipline," Hassan told reporters. He began practicing martial arts at age 12, and now more than 60 students follow him in martial arts training, including his two younger brothers.
This competition was co-hosted by the Kenyatta University Confucius Institute (肯雅塔大学孔子学院), the Kenya Martial Arts and Kung Fu Association (肯尼亚武术功夫协会), and StarTimes. It featured three main categories—boxing, weapons, and sanda—along with several sub-events. The competition organizing committee will select three to five young athletes from the winning contestants to form a "Kenya Youth Olympic Martial Arts Reserve Team," preparing for the Dakar Youth Olympic Games to be held in Senegal from October to November this year. This edition of the Youth Olympic Games will, for the first time, include martial arts as an official competition event.
Njonge, chairman of the Kenya Martial Arts and Kung Fu Association, said that every punch the contestants threw and every routine they performed demonstrated the spirit of martial arts. "Martial arts is not only a competitive sport; it is also about tempering character and promoting unity. It is a bridge for cultural communication."
Chinese Ambassador to Kenya Guo Haiyan (郭海燕) stated that as a brilliant treasure of China's excellent traditional culture, martial arts carries the spiritual core of revering culture and upholding martial virtue, great virtue and inclusiveness, and 自强不息 (zì qiáng bù xī - "ceaseless self-improvement"). Holding the first Kenya Martial Arts Competition within the framework of the 2026 China-Africa Cultural and People-to-People Exchange Year (中非人文交流年) not only reflects the sound ecosystem of martial arts development in Kenya, but also reflects the depth of China-Kenya cultural and people-to-people exchanges. It is moreover a concrete practice and vivid epitome of China-Africa cultural integration and people-to-people connectivity (民心相通).
Elijah Mwangi, Principal Secretary of Kenya's Ministry of Youth Affairs, Creative Economy and Sports, stated that martial arts advocates self-discipline, self-cultivation, humility, courage, and harmony between body and mind. These values are highly aligned with Kenya's goal of cultivating responsible, resilient, and internationally competitive youth. As martial arts develops in Kenya, it has enriched the local sports culture and provided local youth with more opportunities to participate in international sports exchanges and pursue career development.
Return to TopFrom August 12 to 14, the 18th China Light Textile City Curtain and Fabric Exhibition (2026 Autumn) was held in Keqiao District, Shaoxing City, Zhejiang Province. With the theme of "势聚源头·智创未来" (gathering momentum at the source, creating the future with wisdom), this edition of the exhibition covered a total display area of 250,000 square meters, bringing together more than 2,000 quality exhibitors, with its scale reaching a new historical high. The exhibition attracted overseas buyers from more than 20 countries, including Russia, Kazakhstan, Pakistan, South Korea, Thailand, and Singapore. The photo shows foreign buyers in the midst of purchasing.
Photo and report by Liu Junguo (刘军国) and Yao Jiafeng (姚加峰).
Xinhua News Agency, Jakarta, August 13 (Reporter Li Jiacong) — From August 10 to 13, Yang Wanming (杨万明), President of the Chinese People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries, led a delegation to Indonesia at invitation, attending and delivering remarks at the China-Indonesia Local Government Cooperation Dialogue, the China-Indonesia Friendship Personages Meeting, and the China-Indonesia Friendship Night.
During the visit, Yang Wanming met and exchanged views separately with Ambassador Subolo, Director General of Information and Public Diplomacy of the Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, as well as with heads of more than 10 Indonesian local governments including Yogyakarta, Jambi, Palu, and Kendari; held working talks with heads of institutions including the Indonesian-Chinese Economic, Social and Cultural Cooperation Association, the Indonesia-China Friendship Association, and the Asia-Pacific Regional Secretariat of United Cities and Local Governments; and extensively engaged with friendly personages from all sectors of Indonesian society, actively promoting the Four Global Initiatives, China's "15th Five-Year Plan," and the theory on poverty alleviation with Chinese characteristics.
All parties expressed that they will thoroughly implement the important consensus of the two heads of state, continuously strengthen people-to-people friendship, practical cooperation, cultural and people-to-people exchanges, and youth exchanges between the two countries, and jointly advance the building of a China-Indonesia community with a shared future.
Return to TopXinhua News Agency, Beijing, August 12 — Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun said on the 12th in response to a reporter's question that the so-called joint statement made by the United States and other countries at the Conference on Disarmament in Geneva is entirely for political purposes. China urges the relevant countries to stop abusing multilateral arms control mechanisms.
A reporter asked: At the Conference on Disarmament held in Geneva on August 11, the United States and other countries made a joint statement, accusing the relevant country's recent test launch of a missile into the Pacific of failing to follow the standard practice of prior notification, increasing the risk of miscalculation and undermining regional stability, and declaring that the relevant country should implement the Hague Code of Conduct against Ballistic Missile Proliferation. It is believed by outside observers that this joint statement is directed at China's test launch of a submarine-launched strategic missile in July this year. What is China's comment on this?
Guo Jiakun said that the so-called joint statement made by the United States and other countries at the Conference on Disarmament in Geneva, invoking the Hague Code of Conduct against Ballistic Missile Proliferation to insinuate China's missile test launch activities, is entirely for political purposes and fully exposes their hypocritical nature and "double standards" approach.
"China urges the relevant countries to stop abusing multilateral arms control mechanisms, replace unreasonable confrontation with sincere dialogue, and create the necessary conditions for strengthening dialogue and exchange in the field of arms control," he said.
Return to TopBy: 本报记者 沈靖然 张文豪 申智林
The "15th Five-Year Plan" outline states: "Strengthen the popularization of science and technology, cultivate a culture of innovation, and carry forward the spirit of scientists."
The Chongqing Natural History Museum has opened a branch in the countryside; Fangcheng County, Henan's science popularization van travels to townships and campuses; Hengyang City, Hunan's Science and Technology Museum has built an online digital museum... Currently, many places are promoting the universal sharing of science popularization resources, extending venues, delivering services, and expanding to the cloud, so that science popularization resources can flow and become more active, helping science popularization public services stay grounded in local communities and popular with the people, and further achieving quality improvement and upgrading.
Natural History Museum moved to mountain villages
In Wushan County (巫山县), Chongqing, a truck from Beibei District (北碚区) drove along the winding mountain road into Zhuxian Township (竹贤乡). The truck stopped, the door opened, and several crates of specimens were carefully carried out by staff of the Chongqing Natural History Museum (重庆自然博物馆) and delivered into the Zhuxian Township Comprehensive Cultural Service Center.
In the display cases, butterfly and plant specimens were arranged one by one. The lights came on, and children gathered around. "So many kinds of butterflies!" "I've touched this one!" Their young faces were full of wonder and joy.
Zhuxian Township is adjacent to the Chongqing Wulipo National Nature Reserve (五里坡国家级自然保护区), rich in animal and plant resources. "The children may have seen many animals and plants in the mountains, but they haven't observed them closely or understood them deeply," said Ge Wenling (葛文令), director of the Zhuxian Township New Era Civilization Practice Service Center (新时代文明实践服务中心). "Now that specimens have been introduced, the children have science popularization resources they can observe and learn from, and their interest in nature and science will grow stronger."
In 2024, when Tu Cuiping (涂翠平), deputy director of the Chongqing Natural History Museum, was stationed in Zhuxian Township for assistance work, the township happened to be preparing to build an exhibition hall. Tu Cuiping proposed "extending" the city's museum resources to the township.
In early 2025, the Zhuxian Township Branch of the Chongqing Natural History Museum was completed at the township's Comprehensive Cultural Service Center. Cross-referencing the Wulipo species list, the main museum carefully selected more than 390 butterfly specimens, 17 rare plant specimens, and others, and sent them to the branch.
"A branch museum cannot just hang up a sign and display some exhibits," said Gao Bichun (高碧春), director of the Chongqing Natural History Museum. "We also need to consider what the public wants to see and what the locality truly needs."
Following the approach of "going down to the grassroots" and "integration," the museum and the Zhuxian Township Bayi Aimin Primary School (八一爱民小学) have advanced museum-school cooperation, delivering curriculum packages, science popularization activities, and guided explanations together to the township, further enriching grassroots public cultural services.
The establishment of the Zhuxian Township Branch is the result of the continuous deepening of the "main-branch museum model." Previously, the museum had already established a district-level branch in Yongchuan District (永川区), achieving full-process collaboration from venue construction to exhibition design. The inauguration of the Yongchuan District Branch became an important pivot for the main museum's "extension" to district and county branches.
"The main museum not only shared exhibition resources but also provided professional support," said He Xiangsong (何祥松), director of the Yongchuan District Branch. The two sides have continued to cooperate in exhibition planning, collection preservation, personnel training, science popularization activities, and other areas, and have jointly advanced the research, display, and revitalized utilization of dinosaur fossils.
"The 'main-branch museum model' has delivered more science popularization resources to the grassroots," said Gao Bichun. "We will continue to expand coverage so that children in more remote areas can have a museum to visit at their doorstep, planting in their hearts the seeds of love for nature and science."
Science popularization van with customized services
"It really lights up!" On the People's Cultural Square in Fangcheng County (方城县), Henan, as the wires were gently connected, a "fruit battery" built from several slices of fresh apple lit up a bulb. The watching children gasped in amazement.
This year, the county held its summer science popularization van activity for the third consecutive year. Small science experiments such as "fruit battery" and "the ping-pong ball that can't be blown away" attracted many children and adults to stop and watch.
The science popularization van is active not only in the county seat but also travels through townships. On the playground of Xiaoshidian Town (小史店镇) No. 1 Junior High School in Fangcheng County, student Chen Yuhang (陈宇航) stood beside the van, gripping the launcher handle tightly, and sent a "water rocket" into the air. "It's the air pressure difference inside the bottle that pushes the water out, providing a reaction force that propels the rocket forward," he explained the physics behind it.
Xiaoshidian Town is dozens of kilometers southeast of the county seat, with no science museum or children's palace, and science popularization equipment is not exactly abundant. "Every time the van comes to our campus, it's like a 'science and technology festival' for the students," said Ling Chaopeng (凌超鹏), principal of Xiaoshidian Town No. 1 Junior High School.
Song Miaoyu (宋淼宇), who has served as a science popularization volunteer for many years, has also experienced the charm of the science popularization van. Once, Song Miaoyu accompanied the van to Hangang School in Guzhuangdian Town (古庄店镇) to demonstrate a robot that could do push-ups, and the students were deeply captivated.
"Teacher, what does the inside of this robot look like?" a boy asked. Song Miaoyu directly opened the robot's shell, revealing the motor and chip inside, and explained the scientific principles in plain language. The boy responded excitedly: "I understand now. In the future, I want to design a more agile robot!"
To make the science popularization van activities more targeted, Fangcheng County has adopted a mechanism of "the public places orders, the center dispatches orders, volunteers accept orders, and the public rates orders." Schools or communities submit their needs, the science and technology association allocates exhibits and arranges courses according to demand, volunteers provide on-site services, and the public is invited to score and evaluate through questionnaire surveys, thereby feeding back results and improving services.
Over the past five years, Fangcheng County has dispatched the science popularization van more than 300 times, covering 15 townships across the county, displaying more than 9,000 science popularization display boards and more than 8,000 pieces (times) of science popularization equipment, benefiting over 200,000 people. "With precise matching, science popularization is no longer 'sending whatever we have' but 'sending whatever is needed,'" said Tian Zhongkai (田中凯), chairman of the Fangcheng County Association for Science and Technology (科协). The science popularization van is increasingly 有的放矢 (yǒu de fàng shǐ - "have a target for the arrow," to act with clear purpose), helping science popularization services achieve good responses in grassroots villages.
Digital science museum for more convenient access
Recently, the second session of the summer science camp at the Hengyang Science and Technology Museum (衡阳市科技馆) in Hunan opened, with 25 primary and secondary school students from 15 schools across the city's districts and counties entering the classroom.
On the stage, teacher Li Zhengwei (李政位) injected butane gas into a basin full of dish soap foam, then, wearing gloves, scooped up the foam. His partner beside him ignited the foam, and flames shot up, drawing gasps from the students below. Soon, the flames went out, and Li Zhengwei removed his gloves, his palm 安然无恙 (ān rán wú yàng - "safe and sound without injury," unharmed).
"In simple terms, it's the vapor film of water vapor that insulated against the high temperature. Next, we'll analyze it in detail." Li Zhengwei did not forget to remind them: "This experiment requires skill. Don't try it yourselves — it's easy to get hurt."
Such small science popularization classes are not exclusive to the summer camp but are held regularly. "Every month, we set a science popularization theme, such as fluid mechanics, electromagnetics, and so on, and publish it online in advance to attract audiences to come for hands-on experience," said He Zhiwen (何志文), director of the Hengyang Science and Technology Museum.
In the past three years, the museum has received more than 450,000 visitors. "An important reason for its popularity is that we have built an online science popularization front and connected online and offline science popularization platforms," said He Zhiwen.
In December 2024, the Hengyang Digital Science Museum (衡阳市数字科技馆) went online, becoming Hunan's first prefecture-level digital science museum. On the digital science museum's mobile page, information on science popularization themed activities is prominently displayed, and audiences can also participate in various science popularization interactions. Yin Qianqin (尹倩琴), the staff member in charge of operations, explained that the online classroom digitizes real-scene experiments, allowing audiences to access science popularization anytime, anywhere.
"Currently, the digital science museum is using artificial intelligence technology to transform popular science popularization articles into visual formats," said Liu Xuanfei (刘煊菲), the staff member in charge of content. Since going online more than a year ago, the digital science museum platform has received more than 86,000 page views.
The digital science museum is also committed to highlighting the characteristics of local science popularization resources, bringing audiences a richer experience. In the "metaverse" space of the digital science museum, there is an exhibition hall themed on the nuclear industry. "Hengyang is an important base for China's nuclear industry. We have seized on this characteristic, and while doing science popularization well, we are also actively cultivating the patriotic feelings and aspirations to serve the country of the public, especially young people," said Yin Qianqin.
This issue coordinated by: Han Chunyao (韩春瑶)
Return to TopBy: 尹双红
In grassroots governance, one sometimes encounters a difficult problem: when soliciting opinions from the masses, people come but say nothing, or no matter what is asked, they reply "it's all fine." How can the masses be encouraged to open their hearts and speak freely?
In Horqin Right Wing Middle Banner, Hinggan League, Inner Mongolia, a series of down-to-earth "open speaking" sessions have provided a new approach.
No meeting rooms, no prepared speeches — the attitude is made clear from the start: residents are here to "vent." On community lawns, in fitness plazas, and in residents' courtyards, everyone sits together in a circle, speaking frankly when they have something to say, and handling matters on the spot when issues arise.
"The loudspeakers of mobile vendors are too noisy" "The community's security measures are insufficient"... Residents' demands are heard, taken seriously, and resolved. Worrying matters become comforting ones, and everyone's enthusiasm for "speaking openly" grows stronger.
From being unwilling to speak to speaking freely, the masses' reaction is a mirror that reflects the starting point and intention of Party members and cadres. Whether one truly works for the people or merely goes through the motions and puts on a show — the masses can tell at a glance.
In the past, people often said: "When the four-wheeler comes, you can't catch up to it; when the two-wheeler comes, you can have a good chat." The four-wheeler and the two-wheeler refer to two completely different styles of work. If one takes a spin in a car and looks through the window glass, one naturally cannot hear the voices of the masses; only by truly going among the masses, sitting shoulder to shoulder and talking heart to heart, can one learn what the masses really think.
Back in the day, when working in Zhengding, Hebei, Comrade Xi Jinping rode a bicycle to the fields, saw a dozen or so people weeding and thinning seedlings, picked up a hoe lying nearby and joined them in the work. After finishing the work, he chatted with everyone about daily life and development, one word at a time.
Today, the ways of connecting with the masses are more diverse, but the methodology of "entering the grassroots with one's body, and reaching the grassroots with one's heart" never goes out of style. Calibrating one's bearings with a correct view of political achievements, setting aside airs, bending down to get close to the ground, sitting on the same bench as the masses, narrowing the distance with sincerity, and perceiving their warmth and cold through empathy — only then can the masses "open the skylight and speak plainly."
Of course, the masses' willingness to speak openly cannot be separated from the solid work of Party members and cadres. Only by truly listening and truly making changes can a virtuous cycle be formed. Previously, media reported that a certain place had held a legislative work symposium, where relevant departments widely solicited opinions from industry business operators. However, the emails sent by enterprises remained in "unread" status for a long time, and listening to public opinion became a mere "going through the motions." One must not only listen to what the masses say, but also answer with solid work; only by living up to the trust placed in one can one win their heartfelt commitment.
"What concerns the common people — the key lies in being real." From improving the living environment and upgrading convenience services — small matters of people's livelihood — to winning the battle against poverty on schedule and completing the building of a moderately prosperous society in all respects, "what is said must be done, and what is promised must be fulfilled." When every matter has a resolution and every issue has a response, one can better win the people's trust and unite their hearts.
Listening to public opinion, observing the conditions of the people, and resolving their concerns must not be merely a passing fad; only with sustained and long-term effectiveness can the enthusiasm of the masses be properly nurtured.
In Shenzhen, Guangdong, "Tape Measure Brother" shot over a thousand short videos over more than two years to report problems, and the faults he found were almost all resolved within a week. Behind this "fix wherever it's pointed" is the efficient operation of the local "public opinion rapid handling" mechanism. From the 12345 hotline to the "matters that cannot be handled" window, from small courtyard deliberation halls to online political Q&A platforms — when "from the masses, to the masses" becomes the norm of work, the enthusiasm, initiative, and creativity of the people will be fully unleashed, providing an inexhaustible source of wisdom and strength for undertaking work and building enterprises.
"Stay deeply rooted in the grassroots without slackening; one's foundation lies among the masses." Mass satisfaction is the yardstick of political achievements, and people's support is the confidence for standing firm. Only by truly going deep among the masses, doing good deeds, handling practical matters, and resolving difficult issues can Party members and cadres create real political achievements that the wind cannot blow away and the rain cannot damage.
On August 12, at the construction site of Phase II of the organic vegetable industrial park project in Yonggu Town, Minle County (民乐县), Zhangye City, Gansu Province, workers were rushing to complete construction. Once the project is completed and put into operation, it will strengthen the local capacity for vegetable storage and fresh-keeping, improve the effectiveness of off-peak vegetable sales, and drive industrial development and increased income for the masses.
Photo by Wang Xiaojing (王晓泾) (Image China)
The Central Meteorological Observatory predicts that from the night of the 13th to the 15th, parts of the Jianghuai region, the eastern part of Jiangnan, and the central-eastern parts of South China will experience heavy to torrential rain, with some areas seeing extremely heavy rain, accompanied by short-duration intense precipitation, thunderstorm gales, and other severe convective weather.
At 18:00 on the 13th, the Central Meteorological Observatory continued to issue a yellow warning for heavy rain; the Ministry of Natural Resources and the China Meteorological Administration jointly issued an orange warning for geological disaster meteorological risk; and the Ministry of Water Resources and the China Meteorological Administration jointly issued a yellow warning for flash flood meteorological disasters.
On the 13th, the Ministry of Water Resources organized rolling consultations to analyze and assess the impact of the remnant circulation of Typhoon "Baihaitun" and the national situation regarding rainfall, water conditions, and flood conditions, and to arrange and deploy key defense work. Based on the 24-hour rainfall forecast, the Ministry of Water Resources issued targeted warnings in the form of "one document per province" to seven provinces including Jiangsu, Zhejiang, Anhui, Henan, Hubei, Guangdong, and Jiangxi, notifying the list of counties (cities, districts) covered by heavy rainfall, the list of reservoirs, and the risk areas and points for flash flood disasters, reminding them to carry out relevant work well. The Ministry of Water Resources maintained a Level III emergency response for flood defense in Zhejiang and a Level IV emergency response for flood defense in Beijing, Tianjin, Heilongjiang, Shanghai, Jiangsu, Anhui, Fujian, Jiangxi, Hebei, Shandong, Henan, and Hubei.
On the 13th, the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Emergency Management urgently pre-allocated 80 million yuan in central natural disaster relief funds to support the three provinces of Henan, Hubei, and Anhui in carrying out emergency rescue and disaster relief work for floods and geological disasters, with a focus on search, rescue, and relocation of affected persons, investigation and rectification of hidden dangers from secondary disasters, and repair of damaged or collapsed civilian houses, so as to minimize disaster losses and casualties to the greatest extent possible.
On the 13th, at the request of the Disaster Prevention, Mitigation and Relief Committee of the Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps, the Office of the National Flood Control Headquarters and the Ministry of Emergency Management, together with the National Food and Strategic Reserves Administration, allocated central drought-relief supplies including 110 drought-resistant water pumps, 60 generators, and 10 well-drilling machines to support the Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps in carrying out drought relief and disaster reduction work.
(Compiled from reports by our newspaper reporters Jiang Xuehong, Deng Jianyang, Qu Zhehan, Liu Wenxin, and Wang Donghui)
Return to TopBy: 本报记者 崔 佳 祝大伟 郭晓龙
A vast forest sea, waves of pine soughing. Yichun City of Heilongjiang Province, located in the heart of the Lesser Khingan Mountains, possesses about half of our country's Korean pine resources, as well as Asia's largest and most completely preserved natural primitive Korean pine forest community.
Today, the value of Korean pine cones here has leaped: each cone yields about 100 pine nuts, selling for about 10 yuan; after the pine nuts are removed, the Korean pine cone transforms into a creative ornament, selling for over 20 yuan.
A single Korean pine cone reflects the change in the forest area's development approach.
How the forest area's economic transformation is progressing, how ecological protection in the forest area is faring, and how the lives of forest farm workers are going — General Secretary Xi Jinping has always kept these at heart. In May 2016, when the General Secretary inspected and researched in Yichun City, he emphasized: "The significance of protecting the ecological environment is strategic. The economic transformation and development of forest areas is an arduous task; we must broaden our thinking and adopt multiple measures simultaneously."
Seriously implementing the spirit of General Secretary Xi Jinping's important instructions, Yichun is striving to promote the transformation of ecological advantages into green development momentum. At present, the city's forest coverage rate has reached 83.8%, the Gross Ecosystem Product (GEP) has reached 424 billion yuan, and the old forest area is radiating youthful vitality.
How is the economic transformation of the forest area progressing?
Industrial development moves toward "new" and pursues "green."
At the Baihua River Forest Farm Branch of Yichun Forest Industry Tangwang River Forestry Bureau Co., Ltd. (伊春森工汤旺河林业局有限责任公司白桦河林场分公司), the birch forest stretches 一望无际 (yī wàng wú jì — "one look, no boundary," vast and boundless). After birch sap is harvested here, it is transported to the Jiuxin Group (九鑫集团) workshop located in Tangwang County (汤旺县). Inside the workshop, automated production lines run 24 hours without stopping, instantly sterilizing the birch sap and locking in freshness at room temperature.
"A bottle of birch sap of less than 500 milliliters sells for about 20 yuan on the market." Liu Mingyan (刘明岩), general manager of Jiuxin Group, has been rooted in the forest area since graduating from university; last year the enterprise sold more than 7,000 tons of birch sap products and raw birch sap.
As an area rich in white birch resources, Yichun has about 250,000 hectares of white birch forest. In 2025, the city's birch sap collection volume increased by 116.79% year-on-year, enterprise output value grew by 99.9%, and birch sap product revenue accounted for about 80% of the entire Heilongjiang Province.
In recent years, Yichun has been making every effort to build a world-renowned birch sap industry base. Thirty-two birch sap production enterprises have built a green birch sap industry chain, expanding from a single beverage to more than 20 categories including health drinks, skincare and daily chemicals, and forest wellness derivative products. This is a vivid portrayal of Yichun's accelerated transformation toward a modern ecological industry system.
In Yichun, the five major industries of forest fungi, forest fruits, forest livestock, forest vegetables, and forest medicine have multiplied the value of the forest as a "three-dimensional granary." "Last year, the enterprise launched more than 140 forest food products, with annual revenue exceeding 100 million yuan," Liu Mingyan said.
In Tangwang County, birch sap collection experiences have become a popular attraction for tourists. Tasting the sweet raw birch sap, touring the forest sea and strange rock scenic area... In 2025, Tangwang County received more than 500,000 tourist visits, with tourism revenue of 280 million yuan. In the same period, Yichun's tourist visits and tourism spending increased by 36% and 39% year-on-year respectively.
Pine cones, pine wood, birch bark... after creative design, they become the widely popular "Yichun Gifts." In recent years, Yichun has deeply cultivated the main business of forest ecotourism, expanding and strengthening characteristic industries; the city's total forestry output value has grown from 2.8 billion yuan in 2016 to nearly 4 billion yuan at present.
How is ecological protection in the forest area?
Restoring the original ecology of the Lesser Khingan Mountains.
How to polish the "Hometown of Korean Pine" name card? Yichun starts with protecting a Korean pine seedling as tall as a palm. In a planted larch forest of the Meixi Forestry Bureau Co., Ltd. of Yichun Forest Industry (伊春森工美溪林业局有限责任公司), Korean pine seedlings are growing vigorously one after another. Company technician Zhang Kui (张奎) guides workers to break off half of the tips of hazel shrubs in the forest, making them droop. "This way, the branches grow downward, performing their ecological function, and leaving ample space for the Korean pine seedlings." With the management measure of "one forest, one strategy," Zhang Kui and his colleagues work with 精耕细作 (jīng gēng xì zuò — "fine plowing, careful cultivation," meticulous and painstaking effort).
In earlier years, this planted larch forest had more than 290 trees per mu; interspecific competition led to an increase in dead wood. Since 2018, the Meixi Forestry Bureau Company has cooperated with the Chinese Academy of Forestry (中国林业科学研究院) on a pilot project, exploring sustainable forest management. Harvesting small and retaining large, harvesting dense and retaining sparse, harvesting inferior and retaining superior, creating "livable space" for retained trees... Today, the larch forest has about 150 trees per mu, the number of regenerated seedlings under the forest has increased by 15%, and more seedlings of precious tree species such as Korean pine have grown.
"By comparison, trees of the same age are clearly a full circle thicker, and the forest community structure is more reasonable," Zhang Kui said. According to monitoring, the timber growth in the pilot area is 2.86 times that of the control area. At present, the scope of sustainable forest management has expanded from the pilot's 200,000 mu to a broader forest area.
The concept of high-level protection of the forest area has taken deep root in Zhang Kui's heart. "The selection and breeding of improved Korean pine varieties, scientific seedling cultivation, precise tending, and scientific fire prevention all rely on comprehensive scientific and technological support." With whole-chain science and technology building a solid ecological security barrier, the forests of the Lesser Khingan Mountains are accelerating positive succession, restoring their original ecological appearance.
High-quality development that is ecology-first, green, and low-carbon can only be achieved through high-level protection. Yichun has established 23 nature reserves, delimiting an ecological protection red line area of 15,000 square kilometers, close to half of the city's total area — an unprecedented level of protection.
In the Heilongjiang Bishui Chinese Merganser National Nature Reserve (黑龙江碧水中华秋沙鸭国家级自然保护区) located in Daqingshan County (大箐山县), the Yongcui River (永翠河) is clear to the bottom. The Chinese merganser, hailed as the "litmus test" of ecosystem health, has seen its population grow from fewer than 10 before the reserve was established to more than 200 at present.
The forest-stream ecosystem on both banks of the Yongcui River, represented by primitive Korean pine forests, has nurtured more than 600 mu of forest swamp wetlands, providing a superior natural environment for waterbirds and other wild animals inhabiting the area.
"Daqingshan County's wetland area is small and once retreated into discrete, fragmented small patches," said Qu Changyu (屈常宇), a staff member of the Heilongjiang Bishui Chinese Merganser National Nature Reserve, who knows well the efforts behind this — Yichun City has continuously implemented ecological restoration measures such as vegetation restoration and maintenance of the Yongcui River shoreline, striving to restore the original ecological appearance.
Vigorously promoting the integrated protection and systematic governance of mountains, waters, forests, farmlands, grasslands, and deserts, Yichun City has completed nearly 800,000 mu of comprehensive management projects for forest and wetland protection and restoration in the Lesser Khingan Mountains over the past three years. In the forest sea of the Lesser Khingan Mountains, the populations of endangered species such as the hooded crane and Chinese merganser are growing steadily, and the activity ranges of species such as the Amur tiger and black bear are gradually expanding.
How is the life of forest farm workers?
Improvement of people's livelihoods and economic development 相得益彰 (xiāng dé yì zhāng — "mutually complement and shine brighter," to bring out the best in each other).
Tieli City (铁力市), Yichun, is the "southern gateway" of the Lesser Khingan Mountains. Ma Yongshun Forest Farm (马永顺林场) is situated at the front edge of the mountain forest. In the forest sea, the story of Ma Yongshun (马永顺), the "logging model worker" who became a "tree-planting hero," remains vivid.
"自力更生 (zì lì gēng shēng — "rely on oneself to regenerate," self-reliance), find new paths," said Feng Shougang (冯首钢), general manager of the Ma Yongshun Forest Farm Branch of Yichun Forest Industry Tieli Forestry Bureau Co., Ltd. (伊春森工铁力林业局有限责任公司马永顺林场分公司). The new generation of forestry workers inherit the entrepreneurial and innovative spirit of the older generation and bravely face the transformation brought by the cessation of logging in the forest area.
"The forest farm has become more beautiful, and the workers' lives are more beautiful." Ma Chunqing (马春青), Ma Yongshun's second son, has not forgotten his father's admonition. He promoted the forest farm's early tourism transformation, founded the forest farm's first collective resort village, and witnessed the forest farm transform from a dilapidated shantytown into a livable and visitable forest wellness town. With the implementation of the shantytown renovation policy for state-owned forest areas, the low board-and-mud houses that once dotted the farm area have been transformed into light-yellow small buildings.
Grasping people's livelihoods is also grasping development. Yichun's shantytown renovation has benefited more than 300,000 forest area residents. Building the urban tourism brand "Forest Capital Yichun · Home in the Forest" and doing well in the main business of forest ecotourism requires every small home in the forest to become beautiful and attractive.
As greenery spreads, the spirit of forestry workers traverses time and space, permeating the Khingan forest sea.
"A good ecology is worth experiencing carefully." Liu Yangshun (刘养顺), a 71-year-old retired worker of Xishui Forest Farm (溪水林场), experienced the hardship of having no trees to cut. Ten years ago, he took the lead in starting a farmhouse restaurant, changing his approach to make a living from tourism.
Today, Liu Yangshun's farmhouse restaurant has grown from the initial four or five small tables to 18 large tables. The forest farm's distinctive homestays and farmhouse courtyards have grown to 42, forming a cluster. "The forest farm's trees are greener, tourists have more diverse experiences, and annual income rises accordingly," Liu Yangshun said with a smile.
In recent years, Yichun has continuously expanded channels for monetizing the value of forest ecological functions, promoting ecological prosperity for the people. "At present, the forest farm's annual output value is close to 60 million yuan, nearly twice that of 10 years ago," introduced Qin Ruiliang (秦瑞亮), Party branch secretary of the Xishui Forest Farm Branch of Yichun Forest Industry Shangganling Forestry Bureau Co., Ltd. (伊春森工上甘岭林业局有限责任公司溪水林场分公司). Last year, Xishui Forest Farm received nearly 400,000 tourist visits.
After the transformation from logging cessation, Yichun's state-owned forest areas have placed a total of 74,000 workers. At present, the average monthly wage of on-duty workers of Yichun Forest Industry Group (伊春森工集团) has increased from 2,883 yuan at its establishment in 2018 to 5,854 yuan.
Today, Yichun is vigorously cultivating new economic growth points, promoting coordinated progress and mutual benefit between livelihood improvement and economic development. In 2025, the city had 38 high-tech enterprises, a year-on-year increase of 15%; enterprises such as forest food companies transformed 20 scientific and technological achievements, adding 120 million yuan in economic benefits; the output value of bio-economy enterprises above designated size increased by 11.5% year-on-year.
Return to TopReported from Beijing, August 13 (Reporter Ding Yasong) — As an important achievement of the "New Era" series (新时代系列), a key textbook construction project for China's original philosophy and social sciences, 8 original textbooks in education and psychology compiled by 5 universities under the organization of the Ministry of Education (教育部) were recently published and distributed.
The 8 textbooks comprehensively run through and organically integrate Xi Jinping's important expositions on education, place emphasis on refining the vivid practices of the new era's Chinese education reform and development, sort out and summarize original theories in education and psychology, and make beneficial explorations for constructing an independent knowledge system (自主知识体系) in education and psychology. Among them, the 5 education textbooks systematically expound the core concepts and content of the curriculum and teaching theory series, theoretical innovation and practical exploration in educational management, basic theories and practical progress of educational sociology, and core knowledge and integrated development of special education; the 3 psychology textbooks, on the basis of in-depth discussion of the disciplinary characteristics, general laws, basic theories, and practical experience of psychology, sort out and summarize the historical experience and contemporary practice of psychology in China, providing important support for the cultivation of professional talent in psychology in the new era.
By: 本报评论部
(I)
Ecological civilization construction bears on the sustainable development of the Chinese nation and concerns the future direction of human civilization.
General Secretary Xi Jinping has pointed out: "China upholds the concept that clear waters and green mountains are gold and silver mountains, and unswervingly follows the path of prioritizing ecological conservation and pursuing green development. China is a participant, contributor, and leader in global ecological civilization construction."
Recently, two pieces of news related to green development are worth pondering.
One concerns "vehicles."
In June this year, Chinese automakers accounted for 34% of plug-in hybrid electric vehicle deliveries in Europe, setting a historic high; overseas sales of China's major electric scooter manufacturers are expected to grow by about 70% this year. "Made-in-China vehicles" are leading a new global trend of green mobility.
One concerns "law."
On August 15, the Ecological Environment Code will be officially implemented. This comprehensive work crystallizing the legalization, systematization, and institutionalization of Xi Jinping Thought on Ecological Civilization, and a landmark achievement of comprehensively governing the country by law in the new era, will present "a unique Chinese gift" to global environmental governance.
"Against the backdrop of some countries currently re-strengthening high-carbon development paths, China's continued advancement of ecological environment institution-building further highlights China's leading role in global environmental governance," said Eduardo Tzili, an international politics researcher at the Autonomous Metropolitan University of Mexico City.
In July last year, the first volume of Selected Works of Xi Jinping on Ecological Civilization was published.
To fully grasp the original contributions of Xi Jinping Thought on Ecological Civilization to global ecological civilization construction and to profoundly understand the world significance of this important thought, one must both draw wisdom from the original texts and seek answers in practical exploration. Viewing from the three perspectives of "participant," "contributor," and "leader," one can better appreciate how China's green development benefits the world.
(II)
From the perspective of intellectual leadership, one can see the forward-looking nature of Chinese wisdom — China is an active participant in global ecological civilization construction.
How humans and nature coexist is a mandatory question in the process of modernization. China's moderately and severely ecologically fragile areas account for as much as 55% of its territory, while its population accounts for approximately 17.6% of the global total.
"If we are to build a modernized country, following the old path of the United States and Europe will not work."
"We must adhere to the path of green, low-carbon, circular, and sustainable development, and jointly build the foundation of ecological civilization."
Shaking off conceptual constraints and breaking through traditional models, Xi Jinping Thought on Ecological Civilization has guided Chinese-style modernization onto a new path of harmonious coexistence between humans and nature.
A pond, a village, a mine, a bay — these reflect the new development coordinates anchored by the new thought.
In Liangjiahe, Shaanxi Province, in the 1970s, cutting down trees for firewood led to soil erosion, with ecology and livelihood entangled in an "unresolvable knot."
Comrade Xi Jinping led the villagers in building Shaanxi's first biogas digester, and the problem was readily solved. "It was from that time that I came to understand that humans and nature are a community of life."
In Yucun Village, Zhejiang Province, mines were shut down and the environment was remediated, but the collective economy plummeted sharply.
"Clear waters and green mountains are gold and silver mountains" — breaking free from the mental shackles of the binary opposition between development and protection, eco-tourism and bamboo forest carbon sinks flourished, making the village truly deserving of the title "green, rich, and beautiful."
The Muli mining area in Qinghai Province was once illegally exploited, endangering the "Water Tower of China."
To build a Beautiful China, "we must uphold and strengthen the Party's overall leadership." The central authorities established a working group to conduct an investigation together with the Qinghai Provincial Party Committee and Provincial Government. After three years of comprehensive remediation and two consecutive years of "look-back" inspections, Muli has been reborn and now enjoys an "ecological livelihood."
In the Shishou section of the Yangtze River, known for its "nine-bend twisting course," the "tax-paying giant" Chuyuan Group was also a "pollution giant," with a "cat-and-mouse game" played out repeatedly and pollution discharges difficult to fundamentally control.
"Protecting the ecological environment must rely on institutions and the rule of law." The "largest environmental penalty in the history of the Yangtze River basin" served as a sharp warning, forcing the enterprise to change its thinking and transform its development. Under the protection of the rule of law, the Mother River has regained its vitality, and the Yangtze River Economic Belt has achieved high-quality development.
Conceptual innovation, full and rigorous Party self-governance, comprehensive rule of law... these crystallized wisdoms have been forged into a "golden key" to answer the questions of China, the world, the people, and the times. China's ecological civilization construction has undergone historic, transformative, and holistic changes from theory to practice.
Erik Solheim, former Deputy Secretary-General of the United Nations, stated frankly: "The reason China has been able to achieve such extensive 'green practice achievements' fundamentally stems from the guidance of Xi Jinping Thought on Ecological Civilization, especially the concept that 'clear waters and green mountains are gold and silver mountains.'"
Andrew Schwartz, Vice President of the American Ecological Civilization Institute, believes that the "Two Mountains" concept is one of the most important expressions of ecological wisdom in the 21st century, and "this concept powerfully guides us toward a more sustainable and more equitable future."
With strong theory, clear direction, and united hearts, we are full of confidence and well-grounded in painting the colorful picture of a Beautiful China.
(III)
From the perspective of practical leadership, one can see the creativity of Chinese strength — China is an important contributor to global ecological civilization construction.
"When we discuss climate change and how to address the challenges of climate change, China's participation and contribution are immensely important," said Howie Ba Tamás, Senior Advisor to the OECD in China.
A pair of curves records the trajectory of development.
Since the 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, China's economic aggregate has grown from 54 trillion yuan to over 140 trillion yuan; the average concentration of PM2.5 has decreased by 59%.
The "bell mouth" formed by these two curves is an important graph used internationally to measure high-quality development. Previously, we could not produce this graph; now it has become a vivid epitome of the principle that "when ecology flourishes, civilization flourishes."
Green transformation is not a burden; new quality productive forces are themselves green productive forces.
During the "14th Five-Year Plan" period, we have cumulatively cultivated over 8,000 national-level green factories, annual production and sales of new energy vehicles have both exceeded 16 million units, and green electricity and green computing empower each other in both directions, confirming that "only by laying a solid foundation of green development can there be vigorous progress in future development."
A code of law reflects the determination to govern by law.
The Ecological Environment Code systematically integrates, compiles, revises, and elevates existing ecological environment legal norms and institutions, constructing a complete institutional system covering pollution prevention and control, ecological protection, and green low-carbon development.
From multiple laws "fighting separately" to systematic integration "forming a fist," only the strictest institutions and the most rigorous rule of law can provide reliable safeguards for ecological civilization construction.
Supporting high-quality development with high-level protection, and ensuring high-efficiency governance with high-level rule of law — "China is a firm action-oriented practitioner and an important contributor to global green development."
Since President Xi Jinping announced the carbon peak and carbon neutrality goals in 2020, China has built the world's largest and fastest-growing renewable energy system, established the world's largest and most complete new energy industry chain, and contributed one-quarter of the world's newly added green area.
Transcending the logic of productive forces subordinating to capital, Chinese-style modernization is a modernization of harmonious coexistence between humans and nature, creating a new form of human civilization, contributing a practical and feasible solution for global low-carbon transformation, and demonstrating a stance "from the height of safeguarding national ecological security, the sustainable development of the Chinese nation, and responsibility to human civilization."
Practical exploration knows no end. Achieving a win-win outcome between ecological environmental protection and high-quality economic development — China's green development path is workable and sustainable over the long term.
(IV)
From the perspective of trend leadership, one can see the inclusiveness of the Chinese approach — China is a key leader in global ecological civilization construction.
General Secretary Xi Jinping has pointed out: "We should work hand in hand to jointly promote harmonious coexistence between humans and nature, jointly build a community of life on Earth, and jointly build a clean and beautiful world."
From a Beautiful China to a beautiful world, green development is both a solemn Chinese commitment and an effective Chinese approach.
Poyang Lake, China's largest freshwater lake, is where about 90% of the world's Siberian cranes spend the winter.
Seeing income-generating models such as photovoltaic power generation, rice-crayfish co-cultivation, and eco-tourism, Mohamed Manssouri, Director of the Investment Centre of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, said that providing residents living in environments requiring protection with diversified income sources "has great reference value."
Humans, birds, and the lake coexist harmoniously, and the "circle of friends" of Poyang Lake's ecological governance has also crossed the five continents and four seas like migratory birds.
In the Bolgoda Lake area of Sri Lanka, more than 30 hotels have learned from the "Poyang Lake experience," building simple constructed wetlands to purify sewage and protect mangroves. Locals remark, "The cost is low, but it is extremely practical."
In Homa Bay on Lake Victoria in Africa, members of the "Lakeshore Youth Cooperative" are actively promoting organic cultivation of vegetables, sugarcane, and legumes. They are full of confidence because "these models have been verified at Poyang Lake and are very effective."
"Each contributing according to its ability, working together in solidarity to jointly build a clean, beautiful, and sustainable world" — China says this, and does even more.
No matter how the international situation changes, China's green development actions will not slow down, its efforts to promote international cooperation will not weaken, and its practice of building a community with a shared future for mankind will not cease.
China has helped reduce the average levelized cost of electricity for global wind and solar photovoltaic power projects by more than 60% and 80% respectively over the past decade; Chinese new energy vehicles have stirred up a "green whirlwind" overseas... As the world's largest manufacturing country, China's green products benefit all nations and strengthen global confidence in green development.
"Anything that benefits all of humanity is something China should do with a sense of duty, and do well" — this is a cultural heritage of harmonious coexistence and also the broad-mindedness of a major country that embraces the world.
The Laos Monsoon Wind Power Project lights up countless households; Kiribati's "photovoltaic + direct drinking water" smart energy project addresses livelihood pain points; South-South cooperation training on "addressing climate change and green low-carbon development" is carried out for Pacific island countries... As the largest developing country, China best understands the difficulties of "latecomers" and continues to empower low-carbon development with "ecological dividends."
"The 'Two Mountains' concept belongs to China, and it also belongs to the world," said Wesley Douglas, a director of the African Carbon Exchange, adding that this concept provides an operable and replicable new paradigm for global sustainable development.
"Let future generations not only enjoy abundant material wealth but also be able to gaze at the starry sky, see green mountains, and smell the fragrance of flowers."
Working together as one boat, pursuing harmonious coexistence, promoting the building of a fair, equitable, and mutually beneficial global ecological and environmental governance system, and safeguarding humanity's shared home — "China's strength" is inexhaustible, and "China's governance" benefits all directions.
(Written by: Zou Xiang, Yin Shuanghong, Cui Yan, Li Tielin)
Return to TopBy: 周珊珊
Preventing risks at the source, detecting hidden dangers from the first signs, and resolving difficult problems at an early stage — this costs less and is more efficient.
This summer, many people have come to traditional Chinese medicine departments for "winter diseases treated in summer." "Treating the disease before it occurs" is an important concept of traditional Chinese medicine, and General Secretary Xi Jinping has repeatedly used it to guide grassroots work.
The grassroots level is the "juncture" where interests are coordinated and social contradictions are channeled, and it is also the "window" through which the masses feel the temperature of governance. General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out: "The best way to govern society is to dissolve conflicts before they arise and resolve risks while they are still invisible." Preventing risks at the source, detecting hidden dangers from the first signs, and resolving difficult problems at an early stage — this costs less and is more efficient.
The key to treating the disease before it occurs lies in "prevention." Traditional Chinese medicine emphasizes 固本培元 (gù běn péi yuán - "consolidate the root, cultivate the origin," to strengthen the body's foundation and reduce the onset of illness). Grassroots governance, likewise, must provide services in advance and eliminate the soil in which contradictions grow.
In Beijing's Beijiadi Community in Fengtai District, the community has been rated a "no-litigation community" six times since the beginning of this year. Why have residents filed no complaints? Is it because they "want nothing and seek nothing"? Of course not. This community, established only in 2023, has more than 2,600 households. Initially, neighbors were strangers to one another, demands were scattered, and contradictions were prone to arise. The community took the initiative to conduct grid inspections, set up WeChat groups, and make routine home visits, organizing the scattered demands collected into governance topics and resolving them one by one through residents' deliberation meetings. In this way, contradictions were resolved before they ever became lawsuits.
Only by using long-term mechanisms to provide thorough daily services and conduct proactive mediation and channeling can trivial matters be prevented from dragging into grievances and grievances from brewing into contradictions. This is precisely the core meaning of consolidating the root and cultivating the origin in grassroots governance.
To be grounded in "prevention," one must be good at "detection." Before an illness breaks out, there are usually abnormal signals; before a problem emerges, there are likewise traces to be found. Therefore, one must 见微知著 (jiàn wēi zhī zhù - "see the small, know the great," discern the whole from a tiny clue) and accurately capture the earliest signs.
In Hefei, Anhui, the Hengtong Community has a "curtain appointment": elderly residents living alone are expected to open their curtains around 7:30 in the morning and close them around 6:00 in the evening. If the curtains open and close on time, it proves the elderly person is safe; if anything abnormal occurs, volunteers immediately go to check on them, preventing accidents from happening.
An elderly person not coming downstairs for several days, clutter in the hallway piling up higher and higher, neighbors deliberately avoiding one another when they meet — these easily overlooked details are precisely the signals of risk warning. Mobilizing and relying on the strength of the masses, weaving the monitoring network denser and finer, helps to maximize the prevention of risks at the source and eliminate them in the bud.
If minor illnesses are not allowed to drag on, they will not develop into chronic conditions; if small contradictions are not shelved, they will not ferment into long-pending cases. For grassroots governance to achieve "quick recovery from minor ailments," the key lies in rapid response and on-the-spot resolution.
Some time ago, in Shunchengyuan Community in Jinan, Shandong, a tenant's careless use of incense caused a fire that affected six households upstairs and downstairs. What might easily have become a complex dispute ending up in court was instead quickly resolved through the subdistrict's "one-window acceptance, one-stop handling" coordinated mechanism. Behind this lies a rapid-response system of "arrival on scene within one hour, initiation of handling within 24 hours."
"If not mediated in the hour, it will be hard to settle in the long run" — resolving grassroots contradictions often works this way. Beijing's "immediate response to complaints" mechanism, Anhui Tongcheng's "Six-Foot Lane work method," Henan Dengzhou's "four deliberations and two disclosures" working system — the explorations of various localities in putting into practice the principle that "small matters do not leave the village, major matters do not leave the town, and contradictions are not passed upward" are precisely the adherence to the principle of handling matters while they are small, not allowing small matters to drag into big ones or big ones to explode.
From a subjective perspective, shifting from "putting out fires afterward" to "preventing fires beforehand" is also a change in thinking and a change in work style. Sometimes, what hinders action is not objective conditions, but the fluke mentality of "what if nothing happens," the evasion of those afraid of trouble entangling them, and the shortsightedness of seeking only temporary "peace and quiet." To solve problems proactively is to set one's posture right, to shoulder responsibility firmly, and to think ahead of and act before the masses' urgent, difficult, anxious, and longed-for concerns.
During his work in Zhejiang, Comrade Xi Jinping made the innovative development of the "Fengqiao Experience" (枫桥经验) the overall lever for building "Safe Zhejiang." Since the 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, General Secretary Xi Jinping, from the strategic height of overall national governance and the modernization of social governance capacity, has made a series of important instructions on upholding and developing the "Fengqiao Experience" in the new era, endowing it with new contemporary connotations.
"The superior physician treats the disease before it occurs, the middle physician treats the disease about to occur, and the inferior physician treats the disease that has already occurred" — grassroots governance follows the same principle. Preventing in advance, detecting early, and handling while matters are small is precisely the most vivid annotation of upholding and developing the "Fengqiao Experience" in the new era, and also the most solid cornerstone of the modernization of social governance.
Return to TopThe first fully domestically produced 100,000-card artificial intelligence supercluster was officially put into operation, domestic enterprises released multiple trillion-parameter open-source large models, and more than 120,000 high-quality datasets were built... Driven by computing power, model capabilities, factor flows, and other aspects, in the first half of this year, China's AI-related industries maintained high growth of over 30%, becoming a surging source of power for economic growth.
This is precisely:
Computing power brims with vitality,
Models vie to take the lead.
A strong wind favors setting sail,
The tide of intelligence surges like waves.
Yang Yuwen
By: 郑伟生
Recently, the Luanzhou Ferry scenic area in Luanchuan County, Henan, set up a dedicated beverage-bottle redemption point for a septuagenarian elderly man who scavenges for a living. Tourists can exchange empty bottles with the old man for the scenic area's "silver notes," and use the "silver notes" to redeem prizes within the scenic area. This heartwarming gesture has won praise.
One bottle for one "silver note" — what exactly is the brilliance in this?
The most commendable point of "bottles for silver notes" is that from start to finish, the old man is never treated as an object of charity, but rather turned into a participant in the scenic area's recreational activities. Tourists hand over empty bottles, and he hands out "silver notes" — the exchange back and forth is not a one-sided handout, but an equal exchange.
Even more valuable is that the scenic area, by means of a single "silver note," has built a sustainable mechanism. Good public welfare can proceed in parallel with commercial logic without conflict. Treating every act of kindness as a starting point for institutional innovation, internalizing assistance behavior into the scenic area's daily operations through simple rules, rather than relying on one individual's deliberate attention — only then will kindness truly flow steadily over the long term.
For example, when faced with an elderly scavenger rummaging through trash bins, the Luanzhou Ferry scenic area did not say "no picking," but instead designed a redemption mechanism based on the old man's livelihood needs. There are many similar heartwarming details in Henan's scenic areas. Facing the social issue of unsold watermelons, scenic areas such as the Qingming Riverside Landscape Garden in Kaifeng did not stand by as bystanders, but turned the farmers' difficulty into a benefit for tourists — interactive watermelon giveaways. From "managing order" to "solving problems," turning "real pain points" into "service focal points" — this shift in mindset optimizes service and wins people's hearts.
Judging the quality of cultural-tourism services is not only about how many tourists were received during peak periods, but also about whether one can see those groups that are easily overlooked. Wansui Mountain Martial Arts City in Kaifeng has equipped sign-language interpreters for hearing-impaired tourists, so that people in the world of silence can also understand the passion of the performances; Laojun Mountain in Luoyang retains the traditional porter positions, safeguarding the livelihood paths of surrounding middle-aged and elderly villagers; some scenic areas continuously improve barrier-free pathways, so that those with limited mobility need not face difficulties; some scenic areas prioritize purchasing fruits, vegetables, and ingredients from local farmers, turning tourists' consumption into villagers' income... These services and heartwarming measures may not necessarily bring much foot traffic, yet they illuminate the civilized foundation of the scenic areas.
Kindness need not be costly, but it must be sincere; creativity need not be grand, but it must be grounded. If more scenic areas are willing to put in a bit more thought and go to a bit more trouble, we will be able to have more and more of the beauty of "bottles for silver notes." What warms people's hearts is never just the scenery itself, but also the people within the scenery.
(Excerpted and adapted from Henan Daily, original title: "A 'Silver Note' Full of Cultural-Tourism Warmth")
Return to TopBy: 李 莉
As new economic organizations and new social organizations emerge in large numbers, new forms of business represented by the platform economy are flourishing, and the scale of workers in new employment forms continues to expand. Building Party organizations in emerging fields, deepening Party work, and improving governance effectiveness have become urgent tasks.
For example, focusing on sub-sectors such as express delivery and logistics and ride-hailing, achieving the leap from "Party building blank space" to "industry Party organization"; screening and regrouping mobile Party members, forming mobile Party member branch committees, and realizing "Party members move but do not lose contact, management does not break off"; establishing Party building guidance stations and appointing Party building guidance officers, incorporating care services, rights and interests protection, and other matters into social work content...
Strengthening the appeal, cohesion, and influence of Party organizations in emerging fields can not only lead and drive the healthy development of new economic and new industries, but also provide the "fixed-star anchor" and "main driving force" for doing social work well and strengthening social governance.
The "Opinions on Strengthening Social Work in the New Era" (关于加强新时代社会工作的意见) proposes: "Strengthen Party building in emerging fields. Promote the tangible and effective coverage of Party organizations and Party work." When Party building work is made solid, it is combat effectiveness; when made meticulous, it is cohesion.
Weave a dense service network, so that "mobile people" can find a "warm home." New employment groups have strong mobility and a fast work pace, making traditional organizational coverage methods difficult to work. The way to solve the problem lies in first providing services well, then bringing Party building along.
In Nanyang City, Henan, the local government relies on warm "new" stations (暖"新"驿站) to provide various services to delivery workers, ride-hailing drivers, and others, and has built a three-tier Party organization structure so that mobile Party members can find organizational belonging. When the care of Party organizations is transformed into daily warmth, new employment groups change from "passers-by" to "family members," and political leadership and service for the people achieve deep integration.
Activate participation awareness, so that "governance nerve endings" become "outpost forces." New employment groups are familiar with social conditions and are natural "mobile grid workers" for social governance. Embedding the leadership role of Party organizations into this group can not only let them feel the warmth of "home," but also guide them to participate in governance in an orderly manner, realizing the unity of individual value and social value.
In Youyu County (右玉县), Shanxi, delivery workers and food delivery riders have gained the additional identity of "mobile grid workers," reporting road damage, safety hazards, and other problems through "snap and send" (随手拍), forming a rapid response closed loop with functional departments. When new employment groups transform from mere service recipients into participants in governance, the perceptive tentacles of urban governance become more sensitive.
Ignite the red engine, so that "social organizations" become "increments to co-governance." Strengthening Party building in new economic organizations and new social organizations centers on using Party organizations as the bond to transform the professional advantages of various organizations into practical effectiveness in serving the masses.
The Comprehensive Party Committee of Social Organizations in Hefei City, Anhui, starting from solving problems such as "small scale, few Party members, and high mobility," has built a service model in community governance of "grid workers place orders, incubation parks dispatch orders, social organizations accept orders." Party building leadership gives social organizations a "backbone," helping them find their positioning and demonstrate value in joint contribution, joint governance, and shared benefits.
As Party building sinks into social organizations, all work of full and rigorous Party self-governance needs to be simultaneously strengthened. Party organization coverage in emerging fields involves many points and a wide surface, with complex work targets, so power supervision must keep pace. Binzhou City, Shandong has incorporated Party building work in emerging fields into the municipal Party committee's key work scheduling and inspection and supervision systems, promoting the layer-by-layer transmission of responsibility. Using institutional rigidity to compel responsibility implementation, letting social work operate in the sunlight, the political advantages of Party leadership are better demonstrated in emerging fields.
Party building in emerging fields is a systematic project, which means the ability and level of doing mass work in a complex social environment must be improved. Adhering to Party building leading social work, uniting people's hearts through service, and stimulating vitality through guidance, emerging fields will contribute more positive energy to Chinese-style modernization.
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Return to TopBy: 本报记者 苏 滨
Biographical Sketch
Huang Yanping, born December 1968, a native of Tianmen, Hubei, is Chief Scientist of China National Nuclear Corporation (中核集团) and Chief Designer of "Supercarbon No. 1" (超碳一号). He has long been engaged in research on the scientific theory, technological innovation, and engineering application of advanced nuclear power and new energy conversion technologies. Leading his team through 17 years of technical tackling and independent research and development, he achieved full-chain integration of supercritical carbon dioxide power generation technology from theory to process, bringing the technology from the laboratory to engineering application. He has successively received the First Prize of the National Science and Technology Progress Award, the Second Prize of the National Technological Invention Award, and the National Innovation and Excellence Award.
Entering the plant area of Shougang Shuicheng Iron and Steel Group (首钢水城钢铁集团) in Liupanshui, Guizhou, one immediately sees a striking scene: on one side, steam rises thickly, water vapor carrying the residual heat of steel slowly drifting toward the mountains; on the other side, everything is clean and clear, sunlight falling on the silver equipment, even the edges and corners of pipes visible with perfect clarity. Why this contrast? The answer lies hidden in the pipes of "Supercarbon No. 1."
At the end of May this year, the second unit of the "Supercarbon No. 1" demonstration project was connected to the grid for power generation, completing the world's first full demonstration project of supercritical carbon dioxide power generation technology. "Replacing the circulating working medium of traditional power generation technology from water vapor to supercritical carbon dioxide can significantly improve waste heat utilization, thereby reducing energy consumption," explained Huang Yanping, Chief Scientist of China National Nuclear Corporation and Chief Designer of "Supercarbon No. 1."
"To move toward a new frontier, one must carry heavy burdens and press forward"
Carbon dioxide can also be used to generate electricity?
One day in 2009, Huang Yanping received a note, handwritten by Sun Yufa (孙玉发), an academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering, and delivered through a messenger. It contained only one sentence: foreign countries are researching supercritical carbon dioxide power generation; many people think it impossible. Are you willing to give it a try?
At that time, supercritical carbon dioxide power generation remained at the stage of theoretical discussion, and engineering application was a veritable "no-man's land." But the few words on the note plunged Huang Yanping into deep thought: "Using supercritical carbon dioxide as the circulating working medium for power generation directly overturns the traditional power generation model. What if it works?"
Matter exists in multiple phases; the common ones are solid, liquid, and gas. The supercritical state is the fourth phase. When carbon dioxide is heated above 31 degrees Celsius and pressurized above 73 atmospheres, it enters the supercritical state, transforming into "supercarbon."
Whether thermal power, nuclear power, or waste heat power generation, the principle is similar to "boiling water": heating water to turn it into steam, which drives a turbine to generate electricity. This model requires bulky equipment and responds slowly, making it increasingly difficult to meet the needs of rapid peak-shaving for new energy and ill-suited to the characteristics of industrial waste heat power generation. Although related technologies have been continuously improved, they have not broken through these fundamental limitations.
"Supercarbon combines the high density of a liquid with the low viscosity of a gas. As a circulating working medium for energy transfer and thermal-to-mechanical conversion, it undergoes no phase change. Using it for power generation can both improve power generation efficiency and reduce equipment size." Huang Yanping formed the initial team with one student. With no ready-made experience and lacking a mature theoretical system, they could only cross the river by feeling the stones. "To move toward a new frontier, one must carry heavy burdens and press forward."
But the initial research on "supercarbon" was not well received. "How can an exhaust gas generate electricity?" "How can the matching heat exchangers and turbines be built? This is 自讨苦吃 (zì tǎo kǔ chī - "seek bitterness for oneself," to ask for trouble)." The skepticism of peers put enormous pressure on Huang Yanping.
"When the pressure was greatest, I would flip through history books to pull myself out and look at the growth stories of great figures, feeling that what I was going through wasn't so bad." His sensitivity to basic research made Huang Yanping firmly believe this path was worth taking.
In 2010, Huang Yanping built a simple natural circulation experimental device. Seeing supercritical carbon dioxide flow steadily at speeds far exceeding expectations, he was greatly encouraged and judged that this technology would surely succeed.
"With core technology in our own hands, we feel truly secure"
For "Supercarbon No. 1" to operate successfully, the heat exchanger is key. It requires precisely machining hundreds of channels with a diameter of 1 millimeter on a thin stainless steel plate, then aligning the channels of thousands of thin plates and welding them precisely, with an error tolerance of no more than one-tenth of a hair's width, to ensure long-term stable operation without leakage or channel crossover.
"Supercritical carbon dioxide has special physical properties; traditional heat exchangers are bulky and inefficient, making them unsuitable." At that time, a foreign company had the manufacturing capability. The team made multiple contacts, only to be told that supply would be refused. "At that moment, I felt that core technology cannot be bought, still less begged for. Since they wouldn't sell, we would do it ourselves!" Huang Yanping recalled.
Huang Yanping sought technical support from domestic research institutions and met welding experts from Northwestern Polytechnical University (西北工业大学), who determined that the new heat exchanger would require vacuum diffusion welding.
The research team started almost from scratch, advancing toward the goal bit by bit: they optimized the technical scheme 27 times, iterated through 218 versions of technical parameters, and discarded defective samples that filled half a warehouse. The laboratory lights burned day and night without rest. After 829 days of this grind, the team welded qualified components and also developed a large-format vacuum diffusion welding machine.
"Looking back at the road we traveled, although it cost a great deal of time and energy, with core technology in our own hands, we feel truly secure," Huang Yanping said. The volume of the new heat exchanger was reduced to one-tenth that of traditional heat exchangers.
As supercritical carbon dioxide power generation technology entered the most critical stage of small-scale laboratory power generation verification, Huang Yanping faced the most agonizing period of his scientific career.
Initially, the unit operated normally, but as the load increased, it tended to trip, and it could not reach full load for a long time.
"Could there be technical problems we haven't fully understood?" Huang Yanping led the team in giving the unit a "physical examination" again and again, not letting a single detail slip.
One day, at past 3 a.m., Huang Yanping, on a business trip in Beijing, was startled awake by his phone. It was a colleague from the team.
"Teacher Huang, it worked!" "I was stunned at first. After a moment, I called back, and only then learned that the unit was at full load." Barely containing his excitement, Huang Yanping headed straight to the airport and caught the earliest flight back to the laboratory in Chengdu, Sichuan.
"For basic research, one must be able to sit on the cold bench"
In the laboratory, seeing the steadily jumping data on the screen, Huang Yanping let out a long breath.
Successful small-scale laboratory power generation verification was only the first step. How could the technology be accelerated from the laboratory to industrial application?
The turning point came in August 2022, when Gao Zhongsheng (高忠升), then head of Jigang Group International Engineering Technology Co., Ltd. (济钢集团国际工程技术有限公司), came seeking commercial cooperation.
"Do you think this is new technology of mine? Do you have funding? Do you have a plant site?" Huang Yanping fired off three questions in succession.
Seeing the unit running steadily in the laboratory, Gao Zhongsheng gave an affirmative answer, willing to take the plunge together.
At that time, Shougang Shuicheng Iron and Steel Group was in the midst of equipment renewal. The relevant person in charge said plainly: we're not counting the short-term risk account, only looking at the long-term development account. With the three-party cooperation, in late 2023, the "Supercarbon No. 1" demonstration project broke ground at the Shougang Shuicheng steel plant.
Compared with the laboratory, industrial scenarios are far more complex, requiring consideration of foundation, altitude, climate, hydrology, and other conditions, with extremely demanding construction standards.
In December 2025, the world's first commercial supercritical carbon dioxide power generation unit was successfully put into commercial operation. In May 2026, the second unit of "Supercarbon No. 1" was successfully connected to the grid.
Compared with traditional steam waste heat power generation units, the "Supercarbon No. 1" demonstration project has halved equipment footprint, increased power generation efficiency by more than 85%, and increased annual power generation by more than 50%. For the enterprise, this means more than 70 million kWh of additional electricity per year and more than 30 million yuan in additional power generation revenue.
From the initial two-person team to the current team of more than 50, after 17 years of sustained tackling, supercritical carbon dioxide power generation has finally become a reality. Huang Yanping was filled with emotion: "For basic research, one must be able to sit on the cold bench; only then can one blaze a path of independent innovation in more frontier fields."
At present, "Supercarbon No. 1" can basically cover application scenarios in domestic steel smelting, chemical, coking, and other industries, and is continuing to develop in the direction of higher power, more scenarios, and greater efficiency.
"We have already launched research on the 'molten salt energy storage + supercritical carbon dioxide power generation' project, which in the future can adapt to more industrial scenarios and provide more possibilities for China to achieve its 'dual carbon' (双碳) goals and ensure energy security," Huang Yanping said.
Reporter's Notes
Engaging in basic research requires daring and tenacity
From the beginning of exploration to the landing of the world's first commercial unit, what is most moving is the persistence with which Huang Yanping led his team through 17 years of gnawing through hard bones.
Starting from a blank sheet of paper, 17 years of grinding a single sword, ultimately turning the impossible into the world's first. This persistence has not only brought a new breakthrough in supercritical carbon dioxide power generation technology but also blazed a Chinese path for the global low-carbon energy transition.
17 years is long — long enough for the two-person "mini team" to grow into a tackling force of more than 50. 17 years is also short — so short that from receiving the note to the unit's grid connection seems like the blink of an eye. Engaging in basic research has never had a shortcut; it requires both the daring to be 敢为人先 (gǎn wéi rén xiān - "dare to be first among others," to have the courage to take the lead) and the tenacity to sit the "cold bench" until it warms. As more and more researchers are willing to settle down and do the work of "grinding a single sword for ten years," we will surely run a China speed that astonishes the world on the road to achieving high-level scientific and technological self-reliance.
Return to TopBy: 本报记者 杨 昊
A randomly scrambled Rubik's cube is placed into the device, the robotic arm operates with precision, and it is restored in just a few dozen seconds... In July this year, the overseas debut of the "Digital-Intelligence Empowerment of Women and Girls Achievements Exhibition" opened in Istanbul, Turkey, where the "Rubik's Cube Robot," a work independently designed and programmed by girls benefiting from the "Spring Bud Tech Girls" public welfare project, drew wave after wave of praise from Chinese and foreign visitors. The growth and transformation of the "Spring Bud Tech Girls" is precisely a vivid microcosm of the public welfare practice of the China Children and Teenagers' Fund (中国儿童少年基金会, hereinafter referred to as "CCTF").
In 1981, CCTF — the first national public fundraising foundation in New China — was formally established. Under the leadership of the All-China Women's Federation, CCTF has for 45 years steadfastly upheld the original aspiration of educating people for the Party and cultivating talent for the country, committed itself to advancing the development of children's and teenagers' causes and promoting the well-rounded development of children and teenagers, cumulatively raising nearly 8 billion yuan in social funds, benefiting nearly 80 million person-times of children.
Deeply cultivating girls' empowerment and safeguarding educational equity. CCTF focuses on the "Spring Bud Project" as its number-one flagship project, deepens the implementation of the "Spring Bud Project — Dreams for the Future" initiative, and has provided study assistance to 4.55 million person-times of girls. It has innovatively created projects such as "Spring Bud Tech Girls," "Spring Bud Dream Choir," and the "Spring Bud Thriving Public Welfare Plan" to enhance girls' digital-intelligence and aesthetic-education competencies and empower their well-rounded development. The "Spring Bud Project" has received the UNESCO Prize for Girls' and Women's Education and has been selected as a global best practice case in poverty reduction, contributing Chinese wisdom to the global development of women's and children's causes.
Focusing on children's needs and weaving a dense network of care. CCTF routinely operates more than 1,500 "Children's Happy Homes," has built more than 800 "Sunshine Stations," and continuously carries out activities in child protection, mental health education, and family education, establishing stable and reliable care service platforms for approximately 400,000 children, including left-behind children; through the donation and distribution of "HELLO Kids" care packages and the conduct of "Guard Childhood · Hand in Hand Growth" winter and summer vacation care service activities for children, it safeguards children's healthy and happy growth in all respects. The online platform "New Parents Academy / National Online Parent School" provides family education guidance services to more than 1.8 million users; the maternal and infant health series of activities has benefited 2.58 million person-times of pregnant and postpartum women and their newborns' families.
Strengthening emergency response responsibility and innovating diversified charitable fundraising models. In the face of sudden disasters such as epidemics, earthquakes, and floods, it has cumulatively raised nearly 662 million yuan in emergency relief funds and materials. Over 45 years, more than 15,000 caring entities have donated funds and materials to CCTF, and members of the general public have enthusiastically participated in children's public welfare through online channels. CCTF scrupulously upholds the principles of openness, fairness, and transparency, and enhances the targeting of project planning, the precision of implementation, and the standardization of operations.
Standing at a new starting point, CCTF will deeply implement the project of fostering virtue through education for the new era, focus on children's growth needs, and with heart and feeling address the urgent, difficult, worried, and hoped-for matters of children's families, so that more children can grow into fine young people of the new era who have ideals, dare to take responsibility, can endure hardship, and are willing to strive.
Return to TopBeijing, August 13 (Reporter Gu Yekai (谷业凯)) — On the 13th, the Future Science Prize Review Committee announced the 2026 winners list: Zhang Hong (张宏), researcher at the Institute of Biophysics (生物物理研究所) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, received the "Life Science Prize" (生命科学奖) for his pioneering contributions in revealing the autophagy mechanisms and physiological functions unique to multicellular organisms; Zhao Dongyuan (赵东元), professor at Fudan University, received the "Physical Science Prize" (物质科学奖) for his pioneering contributions to mesoporous materials, including synthetic control, mechanistic understanding, and industrial applications; Yuan Xinyi (袁新意), professor at the Beijing International Center for Mathematical Research (北京国际数学研究中心) of Peking University, received the "Mathematics and Computer Science Prize" (数学与计算机科学奖) for his foundational contributions in the field of arithmetic geometry, particularly for establishing the theory of arithmetic bigness in Arakelov geometry and pioneering its application to the uniform Bogomolov conjecture and the uniform Mordell conjecture.
The Future Science Prize was founded in 2016, jointly initiated by scientists and entrepreneurs. The Prize focuses on original basic scientific research, aiming to reward scientists (regardless of nationality) who have achieved outstanding scientific results in China (including Hong Kong, Macao, and Taiwan regions). Nominations for the awards are made through targeted invitation, with professional review conducted by a review committee composed of outstanding scientists. The Future Science Prize currently offers three major awards: the "Life Science Prize," the "Physical Science Prize," and the "Mathematics and Computer Science Prize," with each individual award carrying a prize of approximately 7 million yuan. From 2016 to the present, the Future Science Prize has selected a total of 49 laureates.
Return to TopBy: 本报记者 曹玲娟
Signature Skill
Zhang Peichen, a representative inheritor of the national intangible cultural heritage item "Bronze Restoration and Replication Techniques," was named a "National Master Cultural Relic Artisan" for 2025. Restoring a bronze artifact involves multiple procedures, including condition survey, cleaning and rust removal, reshaping, piecing together, patching and replacement, and coloring. The work must both eliminate and treat the "ailments" of the object without destroying the traces left by time. Over 33 years in the field, Zhang Peichen has continuously innovated restoration techniques and restored more than 1,000 cultural relics in total.
Stepping into the Conservation and Technology Center of the Shanghai Museum, Zhang Peichen, a research fellow at the Shanghai Museum, is intently restoring a Warring States period bronze composite sword. After thousands of years of oxidation and corrosion, bronze artifacts often have loose, hollow matrices and are extremely fragile. "Don't be fooled by its being metal — right now it's as brittle as a cracker, and it would shatter if dropped on the floor," Zhang Peichen said while carefully lifting the bronze sword.
Before restoration, Zhang Peichen must repeatedly consider every plan, thinking through the consequences of different materials and different methods, including the sequence of operations and even environmental conditions — all must be weighed and confirmed again and again. "Better to go slower than to make a single wrong step," Zhang Peichen said. "If handled improperly, some important information could be permanently lost."
From 2023 to 2024, Zhang Peichen led a Shanghai Museum team to Sichuan to participate in the "Sanxingdui Excavated Bronze Cultural Relics Conservation and Restoration Project." "Restoring Sanxingdui bronzes is like opening a blind box — bronze, ivory, shell, gold, and jade artifacts are all there, stuck together, and you can only 'pull out the silk thread from the cocoon' bit by bit. It's extremely challenging, but also very interesting," Zhang Peichen said.
One artifact, a bronze human head with a gold mask, came from one of the six sacrificial pits newly discovered at Sanxingdui in 2021. It was one of the very rare bronze heads still bearing an attached gold mask, and its neck had numerous penetrating cracks. The team used a medical plaster bandage fixation method, extracted it whole after reinforcement, and transported it to the conservation center for subsequent conservation and restoration work.
The later cleaning and restoration work was even more difficult. The gold mask was only 0.2 millimeters thick, with severe deformation on both sides, and the ears had been crushed and folded to one-eighth of their original size. The restoration difficulty was like "taking a crumpled ball of Xuan paper and slowly returning it to its original shape." Zhang Peichen first used bamboo picks, stainless steel needle pens, and other tools to carefully clean the contours. During cleaning, he discovered that the gold mask still bore painted patterns. How could the attached materials be separated without damaging the paint? He thought of the pneumatic needle pens used for cleaning fossils — these tools have extremely fine tips that can clean the antennae of trilobites under a microscope. Through the efforts of Zhang Peichen and his colleagues, after several months, this gold mask spanning 3,000 years was finally presented intact to the public.
"To encounter so many precious cultural relics in one's career is an extremely fortunate thing," Zhang Peichen said with emotion. "Cultural relic restoration is not dull. Because every artifact is a fragment of history, each with its own personality, and the corresponding treatment methods all have their particularities."
All along, Zhang Peichen and his team have upheld the principles of "minimal intervention, respect for authenticity, preservation of historical information, and re-treatability," emphasizing evidence-based restoration. When restoring a mid-Shang dynasty bronze jia vessel, Zhang Peichen did not use traditional soldering but instead adopted a detachable magnetic connection structure based on neodymium-iron-boron magnets to supply the missing legs and posts.
Today, cultural relic restoration techniques are also continuously incorporating modern technologies such as CT scanning and 3D scanning, making restoration more precise. Zhang Peichen keeps absorbing new technologies, including laser cleaning, thermoluminescence dating, AI-assisted morphological restoration, augmented reality simulation for piecing, and micro-trace analysis of materials. The Shanghai Museum has a waisted plaque ornament inlaid with turquoise; when it entered the collection, a large amount of turquoise had come loose and fallen off. How many pieces should be added? What shape? What arrangement, horizontal or vertical? Previously this relied mainly on the restorer's experience and aesthetic judgment to fill in. Zhang Peichen and his team, with the aid of AI-assisted technology, conducted searches of comparable artifacts at home and abroad, image comparison, and morphological analysis. On the basis of existing archaeological data and research on comparable objects, they carried out assisted inference on the shape, quantity, and arrangement of the turquoise, providing a reference for the restoration plan.
Beyond restoration work, Zhang Peichen is also a warm and enthusiastic science communicator in the cultural heritage field. He runs a self-media account called "Cultural Relic Hospital," which now has more than 4.4 million followers. "For me, science communication through self-media is not just 'telling stories' — it's about presenting the knowledge of cultural relic restoration to the public in language netizens can understand and in ways they find interesting," Zhang Peichen said.
Return to TopOn August 11, inside the production workshop of a precision manufacturing enterprise in Sian Town, Changxing County, Huzhou, Zhejiang, equipment operated at high speed, with robots and workers collaborating efficiently to rush orders.
Photo by Tan Yunfeng (People's Visual)
By: 本报记者 宋豪新 王 者 窦 皓
Experience pastoral scenery in traditional villages, pick fruits and melons in mountain forests and deep valleys, try trendy new play modes in scenic parks... The summer rural cultural tourism market continues to heat up, with new scenes and new experiences constantly emerging.
The "15th Five-Year Plan" Outline (十五五规划纲要) proposes to "cultivate and strengthen rural specialty industries and new industries and business forms such as rural leisure tourism, cultural experience, and rural e-commerce" and "develop red tourism, rural tourism, wellness tourism, industrial tourism, and others according to local conditions." Consumers are bidding farewell to the 走马观花 (zǒu mǎ guān huā - "ride a horse and view flowers," to make a superficial or hurried inspection) style of tourism, pursuing deeper experiences with more warmth and personality, pushing cultural tourism consumption from scale expansion toward quality improvement.
At the theme park, experiencing the old rural times
Walking along the village road of Tielu Village (铁炉村), Weicheng Town (魏城镇), Youxian District (游仙区), Mianyang City, Sichuan Province, 126 rammed-earth dwellings stand quietly on the gentle slope. This was once a strategic location during the Three Kingdoms period and is also a relatively well-preserved traditional village in Sichuan.
Last year, Tielu Village won the title of National 3A-Level Tourist Attraction, and the village-level collective economy's annual income exceeded one million yuan. At this juncture, the village introduced immersive cultural tourism formats, exploring ways to break the situation of rural tourism "having guests but no one staying."
Entering Tielu Village, the sky is blue, the water is clear, and the vegetation is lush. Cao Fuxing (曹富兴), deputy secretary of the village Party general branch, said while walking on the renovated village road: "We have good mountains and good water, and a long-standing blacksmith craft, but in the past tourists came to sightsee, often took a photo and left, with low per-capita spending."
This is not a worry unique to Tielu Village. With consumption upgrading, some homogenized rural tourism models can no longer meet tourist demand. "To turn 'traffic' into 'retention,' we must find a carrier that can resonate emotionally with people," Cao Fuxing said.
"Dream Back to Tielu · Time-Travel Theme Park" has brought "circle-breaking" traffic to Tielu Village.
Nostalgic golden oldies echo in the ears; NPCs (non-player characters) dressed in 1980s floral and plaid shirts move through the village, along with retro posters everywhere. This surprised and delighted tourist Zeng Xiuqiong (曾秀琼): "The familiar scenes make me feel like I've returned to the countryside where I lived as a child."
To enhance immersion, the theme park emphasizes "micro-renovation" and "scene restoration," and has designed distinctive role-playing. During the day, it focuses on farming experiences and nostalgic time-travel, building live-action performance spaces and fun interactive scenes; at night, it arranges open-air barbecue, starry-sky camping, bonfire parties, and music festivals, allowing visitors to immersively experience the old rural times. "From March last year to June this year, more than 60,000 tourists have come to visit, with the park earning profits of over 6 million yuan," Cao Fuxing said.
"This summer, rural micro-vacations have become a prominent growth point for driving consumption in Mianyang," said Hu Jinyao (胡进耀), deputy mayor of Mianyang. The locality is seizing the summer cultural tourism consumption window period to create differentiated products such as water-adjacent summer retreats, national-style night tours, and high-mountain fruit picking.
In the century-old village, checking in at distinctive old dwellings
In the faint morning light, sunlight shines into Wangjiatuan Village (王家疃村), Zhangcun Town (张村镇), Huancui District (环翠区), Weihai City, Shandong Province. The Jiaodong stone houses with green bricks and black tiles are simple and elegant, preserving the charm of a century-old ancient village. In the orchard, Wang Yun (王云), a tourist from Yantai, and her family of four are picking fruit, all smiles: "Coming here for vacation was the right choice!"
Wangjiatuan Village has rich natural resources and distinctive regional characteristics. How can traditional appearance and modern life coexist and attract more tourists? The locality introduced a professional design and operations team, and through refined renovation and distinctive themed development, upgraded the old dwellings to create a cluster of boutique guesthouses. At present, more than 30 traditional dwellings have been renovated, and 12 boutique guesthouses have been cultivated.
"The old house had been empty for many years; I never expected that after renovation it would become an internet-famous guesthouse." Looking at her ancestral home gaining new life, villager Wang Dan (王丹) is very happy. Her family's idle old house, after renovation by the professional design and operations team, became a guesthouse, bringing a stable rental income of 40,000 yuan per year.
The Jiahe Yinji Guesthouse (迦禾印记民宿) where Wang Yun is staying this time was also converted from a traditional dwelling. "In the courtyard of the dwelling there is a century-old persimmon tree that has witnessed the vicissitudes of the village. During the renovation, we incorporated the element of 'water,' arranging water features around the persimmon tree to create a dynamic landscape," said guesthouse operator Li Jinrun (李金润).
How to attract customer flow? After completion and operation, the operator of Jiahe Yinji Guesthouse registered an account on a short-video platform, filming the guesthouse's scenery across the four seasons and visitors' check-in experiences, and the occupancy rate increased by nearly 30 percent compared to before. Wang Yun saw the guesthouse's beautiful scenery in a short video and immediately spent 380 yuan to book a suite: "I'll take advantage of the weekend for a self-driving trip, stay at the guesthouse, and enjoy the natural beauty."
Comfortable accommodation is not enough; they also want to have fun. In the afternoon, Wang Yun's family came to the village's intangible cultural heritage workshop to experience making cultural and creative products; in the evening, they chose to taste authentic seafood at the guesthouse's restaurant...
Wangjiatuan Village has promoted its mature model of ancient building revitalization, guesthouse operation, and cultural cultivation to surrounding villages, building a full-chain consumption ecosystem of food, accommodation, transportation, sightseeing, shopping, and entertainment. Huancui District, with Wangjiatuan Village as the focus, has developed the Likou Mountain Scenic Area (里口山风景名胜区). In 2025, the scenic area received nearly 1.72 million tourist visits, with tourism revenue of nearly 85 million yuan. More and more villagers are firmly holding the "golden rice bowl" of cultural tourism prosperity at their doorstep.
In the cultural courtyard, starting an immersive scripted tour
Tourist Xu Ying's (徐莹) journey in Qingtan Village (清潭村), Ninghai County (宁海县), Ningbo City, Zhejiang Province, began with a "time-travel" ticket.
"Sir, today in the village, eating, drinking, and having fun all depend on this." An elderly man dressed in ancient costume handed over a cloth bag containing copper coins. Looking up, a mottled plaque reading "Passed the Imperial Examination" (进士及第) hung high on the gate tower.
Entering the Jinshi Culture Courtyard (进士文化庭院), with silk sashes at the waist and square scarves on the head, having changed into indigo-blue jinshi robes, Xu Ying and her companions rushed toward the ancient stage with mission scrolls: "In the 23rd year of the Guangxu reign, young men of Qingtan went to the capital to take the imperial examination..." The plot experience journey officially began.
Inside the ancient stage there are hidden compartments; in the gaps between the bluestone slabs are hidden pass phrases; on the stone tablet at the corner of the wall, scanning a QR code brings up AR (augmented reality) clues... Xu Ying moved through the Ming and Qing dynasty old houses following the scripted tour's plot, and the experience ended two hours later. "We connected the surrounding memorial hall and ancient stage to form a complete cultural tourism route; the ancient stage, memorial hall, and bluestone slab road are all part of the plot," said Zhang Zhiming (张芝铭), rural operations officer of Qingtan Village.
Qingtan Village has a long-standing jinshi (imperial examination graduate) culture. In 2013, it was included in the list of Chinese traditional villages. Ancient houses, ancient bridges, ancient ancestral halls, and ancient stages are scattered throughout the village. However, a few years ago, this ancient village was still very quiet.
In 2023, Ninghai issued a rural talent recruitment call, and Zhang Zhiming, a master's graduate, became the "chief operations officer" of Qingtan Village's cultural tourism. She rented nearly 6,000 square meters of idle ancient courtyard clusters in the village, hung up the dust-covered "Passed the Imperial Examination" plaque, restored the "winding water long table" elegant gathering, and erected a giant "Kuixing dotting the dou" pen (魁星点斗笔) for tourists to check in — a Jinshi Culture Courtyard was born, providing visitors with an immersive experience.
Following the aroma to the jinshi cake workshop, the sound of pounding is continuous. Several tourists are swinging wooden hammers around a stone mortar; as the hammers rise and fall, glutinous rice mixed with brown sugar gradually softens. Xu Ying buys a piece; the cake is stamped with four red characters 金榜题名 (jīn bǎng tí míng - "name inscribed on the golden list," to pass the imperial examination). Taking a bite, it is soft, sticky, and pleasantly sweet.
In the workshop, visitors personally pound jinshi cakes; at the old teahouse, they listen to stories of the ancient village's past... The one-day ancient village tour package that offers sightseeing, learning, eating, and playing became popular locally as soon as it was launched.
By evening mealtime, inside the Jinshi Culture Courtyard, several clay stoves have been set up; charcoal flames lick the bottom of the pots, and soup stock gurgles. Tourists sit around the clay-stove hotpot, 谈笑风生 (tán xiào fēng shēng - "talk and laugh with a lively breeze," to converse cheerfully and animatedly). This "clay-stove jinshi feast" is Qingtan Village's signature dish. "Free-range chickens raised by villagers in the bamboo forest, sun-dried sheep-tail bamboo shoots at the village entrance, plus fresh green vegetables just picked from the fields," introduced Zhang Zongliang (张宗良), secretary of the Qingtan Village Party general branch. A hotpot feast priced at 498 yuan per table is clearly itemized in the accounts, from the villagers' share of ingredient costs, to intangible cultural heritage display subsidies, to cultural experience costs.
Targeting different customer groups such as students, parent-child families, and young people, Zhang Zhiming and her team designed differentiated activities. Since 2023, Qingtan Village has carried out 350 activities including study tours and scripted tours, receiving 35,000 tourist visits.
Return to TopBy: 本报记者 江 萌
Early morning, at Xining Railway Station in Qinghai, a red study tour (红色研学) special train slowly pulls out of the station.
Outside the window, mountains gradually recede, grasslands spread out. The train's destination for this trip is Xihai Town, Haiyan County, Haibei Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture (海北藏族自治州海晏县西海镇).
"More than 60 years ago, it was on this very grassland that a group of young people, 隐姓埋名 (yǐn xìng mái míng - "conceal surname, bury name," to live incognito), accomplished 惊天动地 (jīng tiān dòng dì - "startle heaven, move earth," earth-shattering) feats. This is the former site of State-owned Factory 221 (国营二二一厂), China's first nuclear weapons research and development base, known to people as the Atomic City (原子城)..." Study tour instructor Guo Jian introduces 声情并茂 (shēng qíng bìng mào - "voice and emotion both flourish," eloquent and moving), the train transformed into a "mobile ideological and political classroom (思政课堂)."
Li Chunlei, a student at Qinghai Normal University, is a native of Qinghai. "I knew about the Atomic City, but had never been there. I really want to understand how the predecessors of that era started their undertaking." Listening to the narration, Li Chunlei grows increasingly curious.
"In the past, study tour groups mainly traveled by bus; 1,000 students required renting more than 20 vehicles, which was time-consuming and put heavy pressure on safety," says Liu Haiyan, deputy director of the Haiyan County Red Study Tour Practice Center (海晏县红色研学实践中心). Since Haibei Prefecture launched the study tour special train, teachers and students have uniformly taken the Qinghai-Tibet Railway trains. "Immersive study begins the moment you board."
Learn knowledge in the halls, feel the spirit at the former site; view ecology on the grassland, observe development in villages and towns. In recent years, Haibei Prefecture has taken the Qinghai Province university, secondary and primary school students' "Walk into the Atomic City" (走进原子城) patriotic education campaign as an engine, integrated cultural and tourism resources by area, and built a plateau model of red study tours.
Entering the Atomic City Memorial Hall, the lights gradually dim. Laser projections cast images: scientists sit around wooden tables, some propping their foreheads in thought, some bent over desks writing rapidly; the formulas on the blackboard by the wall are erased and rewritten, written and erased... The memorial hall comprehensively employs laser projection, VR (virtual reality) and other technologies to create an immersive exhibition. Not far away, the China Atomic City Youth Red Study Camp (中国原子城青少年红色研学营地), covering 159 mu, features 10 themed classrooms including "Great Country Craftsmen" and "Intangible Heritage Inheritance," with teaching content designed in layers for students of different academic stages.
At the former site of State-owned Factory 221, abacuses and rust-covered hand-cranked calculators lie quietly in display cases; beside them, on calculation paper, neat and dense figures fill the pages. Li Chunlei is deeply shaken. "For a single parameter, the predecessors calculated again and again with crude tools. It's truly admirable!"
The Atomic City is a door; push it open, and the green forests, mountains, and lakes are all great classrooms.
At the Ketu Desertification Control Demonstration Area (克土治沙示范区) in Haiyan County, the branches of willow shrubs are rough and tenacious; brushing aside the sand, the roots of sea buckthorn reach deep and dense. What was once a sandy hollow where "one windstorm a year, blowing from spring to winter," is now lush with greenery.
"The spirit of generations of desertification fighters persisting in planting trees under harsh conditions and the '自力更生 (zì lì gēng shēng - "rely on oneself to regenerate," self-reliance) and 艰苦奋斗 (jiān kǔ fèn dòu - "arduous struggle," hard work and perseverance)' of the 'Two Bombs, One Satellite' (两弹一星) spirit are 一脉相承 (yī mài xiāng chéng - "one vein inherited," to be in the same line of succession)," says Guo Jian.
Following the highway winding upward, one arrives at the summit of Tongbao Mountain (同宝山) at an elevation of 4,024 meters. Qinghai Lake comes into full view, and the former Air Force anti-aircraft artillery position and the distant Atomic City face each other across the distance.
Tongbao Mountain was an important defense area for the nuclear weapons research and development base. "Many study tour groups stay overnight here, watching the sunrise, viewing the former site, and conducting red-themed team-building activities and hiking exercises," says Liu Haiyan. Combining red resources with ecotourism, Tongbao Mountain has become a new red tourism landmark integrating national defense education, ecological study, and camping experiences.
As of now, the Haiyan County Red Study Tour Practice Center has cumulatively hosted more than 170 study tour sessions. Haibei Prefecture has built 40 on-site teaching points, developed 142 distinctive study tour courses, launched more than 40 red study tour routes, and promoted the regular operation of study tour special trains.
The study tour concluded; boarding the train for the return journey. Li Chunlei makes a video call to her grandfather, who once worked in Haiyan County. "Before, I had only heard of the 'Two Bombs, One Satellite' spirit. Now I can truly understand it."
Return to TopRecently, early-ripening apples in Zhaotong City, Yunnan Province have successively come onto the market, 20 to 30 days earlier than conventional varieties, and are highly favored by the market. This year, Zhaotong City's apple planting area has reached 850,000 mu, of which the early-ripening apple planting area is 196,300 mu.
The photo shows staff working on the apple sorting line at the Zhaotong Chaoyue apple base on August 13.
Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Chen Xinbo (陈欣波)
This newspaper, Beijing, August 13 (Reporter Wu Chuqi) — A few days ago, the Ministry of Civil Affairs (民政部) released statistical data showing that in the first half of this year, China's cumulative expenditure on civil affairs operating expenses reached 243.6 billion yuan. Among this, urban minimum living allowance covered 5.892 million people, rural minimum living allowance covered 33.462 million people, and assistance and support for persons in extreme hardship in both urban and rural areas covered 4.937 million people.
Return to TopOur newspaper, Beijing, August 13 (Reporter Wang Haonan) — A reporter learned on the 13th from a press conference held by the Beijing Municipal People's Government Information Office: The second World Humanoid Robot Games will open on August 22 at the National Speed Skating Oval, the "Ice Ribbon." This edition of the Games has attracted 666 teams from 16 countries across six continents, with a total of 2,056 robots competing on the same stage. The number of teams increased by 138% compared with the first edition, and the number of robots quadrupled.
According to the introduction, this edition of the Games has added high-intensity events such as long jump, weightlifting, tug-of-war, and table tennis, which will put the robots' "brain," "cerebellum," body structure, and key components to the test. In terms of scenario application, this edition's scenario competition extends the events into real environments, covering fields such as industry, hotels, households, and logistics, and has also specially set up a dexterous hand event.
Return to TopThis newspaper, Guangzhou, August 13 (reporters Cheng Yuanzhou (程远州), Han Xin (韩鑫)). On the 13th, the core hub project of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area — the Shiziyang Passage (狮子洋通道) — welcomed new progress. After more than three years of construction, the project's main bridge, the Shiziyang Bridge (狮子洋大桥), completed the main construction of the east and west anchorages.
As one of the key load-bearing components of a suspension bridge, the anchorage is composed of a foundation, anchor body, and anchoring system, responsible for anchoring the bridge's main cable and bearing the tensile force transmitted by the main cable. The Shiziyang Bridge has two anchorages, east and west, rooted respectively on the two banks of Shatian Town (沙田镇), Dongguan, and Nansha District (南沙区), Guangzhou. The total concrete pouring volume of a single anchorage is as high as 550,000 cubic meters, with a total weight of approximately 1.4 million tons.
To enhance the bearing capacity of the anchorage foundation structure, the project team innovatively proposed a composite new-type anchorage foundation structure composed of a circular rock-socketed diaphragm wall, inner lining, and rigid connection of top and bottom slabs, and independently developed an in-situ testing system for the bearing capacity of deep rock foundations, which, while filling the gap in existing design technology, provides an important reference for future projects of the same type such as extra-large-span suspension bridges and deep-large foundation pits.
The Shiziyang Passage has a total length of approximately 35 kilometers, starting from Nansha District, Guangzhou, in the west and extending to Humen (虎门) and Shatian towns in Dongguan in the east. It is the first double-deck composite highway passage at the Pearl River Estuary. At present, the construction of the passage is advancing steadily. As a landmark major transportation project during the "15th Five-Year Plan" period (十五五), upon completion, the Shiziyang Passage will form a cross-river and cross-sea passage cluster together with the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge, the Shenzhen-Zhongshan Passage, and the Nansha Bridge, and jointly build a "one-hour living circle" (一小时生活圈) with the surrounding road network, jointly contributing to the deep and integrated development of interconnectivity in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area.
Return to TopBy: 本报记者 尚嵘峥
The scorching sun blazes down, and midday temperatures in Turpan, Xinjiang exceed 40 degrees Celsius. From the grape fields of Xialake Village in Yar Township, Gaochang District, comes the gentle sound of water trickling.
"Come on, let's go look at my family's fields!" Following villager Reheman Wupuer forward, one can see water pipes laid in the irrigation ditches, with fine streams of water continuously spraying from small holes. On the vines, clusters of grapes are reflected crystal-clear and translucent.
In the irrigation ditches, more than 40 centimeters deep, the accumulated irrigation water stands at no more than 10 centimeters, looking somewhat empty. Why not fill the ditches with water?
"If we flood-irrigate, the grape root systems can only effectively utilize half of the water, and most of the remainder evaporates — this is ineffective irrigation and wastes water resources," says Wang Xiaoyan, deputy section chief of the Agricultural and Livestock Water Conservancy and Soil and Water Conservation Section of the Turpan Water Affairs Bureau. Irrigation water also loses nearly 30 percent to evaporation as it flows through kilometers-long open channels to the grape fields.
Turpan is known as the "Land of Fire." Extreme summer temperatures exceed 50 degrees Celsius, surface temperatures can surpass 70 degrees Celsius, average annual precipitation is only 14.7 millimeters, while average annual evaporation reaches as high as 2,477.5 millimeters — water resources are inherently scarce. In terms of water resource development and utilization, agricultural water accounts for over 80 percent of the local water use structure, and most of that goes to "feeding" the grapes.
Since 2023, Turpan has begun promoting a water-efficient grape irrigation project, gradually abandoning the flood-irrigation model that "overfed" the grapes and upgrading to a micro-sprinkler irrigation model that feeds water according to "appetite."
The first thing to change is the water delivery method. Walking from Reheman's family grape field along the micro-sprinkler pipes to the edge of the field, one discovers that the pipes emerge from underground, and their source is beside a water storage forebay several kilometers away.
"Through secondary pressurization by water pumps, water from the storage forebay is delivered through the underground pipe network to each grape field, which solves the evaporation waste problem of previous long-distance surface water delivery. This coincides with the underground channel delivery method of karez wells," says Airet Rehemutuli, a member of the Party Leadership Group of the Gaochang District Water Affairs Bureau. Since the project was implemented, the city has laid a cumulative total of 16,200 kilometers of pipelines and 146,900 kilometers of micro-sprinkler belts, covering approximately 550,000 mu of grape fields.
The second is the irrigation method. Micro-sprinkler irrigation emphasizes "chewing carefully and swallowing slowly" — a single irrigation session is extended to two or three hours, with water spraying and infiltrating simultaneously. The ditches accumulate little water, but it is enough for the grapes to "drink." "After each irrigation session ends, the residual accumulated water continues to infiltrate and is fully utilized by the grape root systems, greatly reducing waste," Airet explains. According to monitoring, after the implementation of the water-efficient irrigation project, on the premise of letting the grapes "drink their fill," each mu of grape field saves more than 200 cubic meters of water annually, and water and electricity costs per mu are reduced by more than 50 yuan.
From "large volume, guaranteed fullness" to "chewing carefully and swallowing slowly," the grape root systems need to adapt gradually. The local area has adopted a gradual water-reduction strategy, year by year "reducing portions" for the grape root systems.
Those who also need to adapt to the new model are the growers. "How to help growers accustomed to flood irrigation change their mindset is a difficulty," Wang Xiaoyan says.
When he first heard about changing flood irrigation to micro-sprinkler irrigation, Reheman disagreed from the bottom of his heart. "Our ancestors have grown this way for generations. The water from micro-sprinkler irrigation is so small — what if the grapes don't get enough water and it affects the harvest?" Reduced yield was the biggest worry for Reheman and the other growers.
Hearing about it is not as good as seeing it with one's own eyes. The village organized grower representatives including Reheman to visit the demonstration fields of the water-efficient grape irrigation project for on-site observation. Everyone gathered around the ditches, and the staff on site used shovels to dig open the soil beside the grape root systems to inspect how deep the micro-sprinkler irrigation water had infiltrated and whether the root systems could "drink their fill."
"They dug down a meter deep, and the soil was still moist," Reheman says. He was more than half reassured. During the grape harvest season, the staff measured the yield of the demonstration fields, proving that the grapes did not experience reduced yield after the application of micro-sprinkler irrigation. At that point, the stone in Reheman's heart finally fell to the ground.
At present, the water-efficient irrigation project has covered more than 80 percent of Turpan's grape fields. This "Land of Fire" is now using every drop of water with careful calculation and frugality.
Return to TopBy: 本报记者 付 文
Cities carry the people's aspirations for a better life. The Central Urban Work Conference emphasized "building modern people's cities that are innovative, livable, beautiful, resilient, civilized, and smart" and "taking the advancement of urban renewal as an important lever."
In March 2021, General Secretary Xi Jinping, during an inspection in Fuzhou, Fujian Province, pointed out that to build and manage a city well, one must place such work as the "vegetable basket," the living environment, and urban space in an important position and do it solidly. "Fuzhou is a city of fortune, with uniquely favorable ecological conditions. I hope you will continue to build this seaside city, this city of mountains and waters, into something even more beautiful, and better benefit the people."
Implementing the spirit of the General Secretary's important speech, Fuzhou has taken "everything for the people" as the fundamental starting point of urban construction, building a modern people's city.
High-level innovation platforms such as the Mindu Innovation Laboratory and the Dongfang Electric Innovation Research Institute are accelerating the transformation of scientific and technological achievements... At present, Fuzhou has gathered more than 4,600 national-level high-tech enterprises, with the digital economy scale exceeding 870 billion yuan, making it a hot land for young people to start businesses.
Fenglin Community in Jin'an District, Fuzhou, is a typical model of a complete community in Fuzhou, adding childcare and elderly care facilities, building pocket parks, installing smart running tracks, and upgrading all-age-friendly public spaces. Scene after scene of warm daily life fully demonstrates the effectiveness of complete community construction and highlights Fuzhou's original aspiration of optimizing convenience spaces for the people and enhancing people's livelihood and well-being. During the "14th Five-Year Plan" period, Fuzhou implemented more than 4,000 urban renewal and quality improvement projects, completed 30 provincial-level model projects, and entered a new stage of "six rail transit lines running in parallel."
As of now, Fuzhou has more than 1,500 parks of various sizes and over 1,800 kilometers of mountain-and-water fitness trails, and in 2023 it won the Global Sustainable Cities Award. The Hongmiaoling Circular Economy Park has achieved efficient resource utilization of waste, with an annual power generation of approximately 780 million kilowatt-hours and an annual reduction of 770,000 tons of carbon dioxide. Relying on the inner-city river system, 29 river and lake waterway routes have been developed, painting a new ecological picture.
Located on the subtropical coast, Fuzhou is subjected to typhoon weather year-round. Anchoring itself to building a safe and reliable resilient city, Fuzhou has constructed a governance model of "integration of multiple water systems, and integration of plants, pipe networks, and rivers," and pioneered nationally a coordinated water-system dispatch and linkage mechanism, greatly improving the efficiency of urban drainage and flood prevention and control.
As a famous historical and cultural city, Fuzhou has strengthened the protection of ancient house neighborhoods such as Three Lanes and Seven Alleys, activated and utilized red resources such as the former residence of Wu Shi, brought Min Opera and other cultural forms back to life, and injected spiritual strength into the city through the vivid stories of "heroic Fuzhou city, spirited Fuzhou people."
The "efficiently handle one matter" 1+N reform, 97 percent of approval matters achieving full online processing, the "Fuzhi Patrol" low-altitude government comprehensive service platform... Fuzhou empowers people's livelihood security with technology, promotes the iterative upgrading of urban governance, and strives to build a convenient and efficient smart city.
Empowering the transformation of the thousand-year-old Mindu with urban renewal, Fuzhou has submitted its own answer sheet to the era.
By: 殷 烁 赵雅娇 马冰莹
On July 8, General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out at the National Science and Technology Award Conference, the Conference of Academicians of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and the Chinese Academy of Engineering, and the 11th National Congress of the China Association for Science and Technology: "Advancing the integrated development of education, science and technology, and talent is a successful experience we have explored and summarized in practice." Coordinating the building of a strong education nation, a strong science and technology nation, and a strong talent nation is a long-term strategic plan made by the Party Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core, based on the strategic overall situation of the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation and the major changes unseen in a century in the world, in response to the new round of scientific and technological revolution and industrial transformation. A series of important expositions by General Secretary Xi Jinping on building a strong education nation, a strong science and technology nation, and a strong talent nation run through Volumes I through V of Xi Jinping: The Governance of China, scientifically answering the major theoretical and practical questions of why and how to advance the integrated development of education, science and technology, and talent, and deepening our Party's understanding of the laws governing the development of education, science and technology, and talent.
Comprehensively grasping the developmental lineage of General Secretary Xi Jinping's important expositions on coordinating the building of a strong education nation, a strong science and technology nation, and a strong talent nation
General Secretary Xi Jinping's thinking on the development of education, science and technology, and talent is 一脉相承 (yī mài xiāng chéng - "one continuous line of inheritance," forming a single coherent tradition) and 与时俱进 (yǔ shí jù jìn - "advancing with the times," keeping pace with the era), profoundly reflecting our Party's deepening understanding of the laws of socialist modernization and the inherent laws of innovation-driven development, providing ideological guidance and action principles for coordinating the building of a strong education nation, a strong science and technology nation, and a strong talent nation in the new era.
The ideological origin of local governance exploration and practice. When working at the local level, Comrade Xi Jinping attached great importance to education, science and technology, and talent work, continuously thinking about advancing the development of these fields in practice. While working in Zhengding, Hebei, Comrade Xi Jinping put forward that "the talent issue is both an urgent task for revitalizing Zhengding and a century-long plan of strategic significance," launching the "Nine Talent Measures" (人才九条) to recruit talent, attracting more than 200 talented individuals to settle there within a year. During his work in Fujian, Comrade Xi Jinping required that "talent must be made the most important element of the soft environment," "truly place education in the position of a vanguard, and strive to realize a virtuous cycle in which education, science and technology, and the economy support and promote each other," and put forward the distinct assertion that "the economy depends on science and technology, science and technology depend on talent, and talent depends on education." During his work in Zhejiang, he planned and launched the "Eight-Eight Strategy" (八八战略) to lead the province's long-term development, incorporating "further leveraging Zhejiang's cultural advantages, actively advancing the strategy of revitalizing the province through science and education and strengthening the province through talent, and accelerating the building of a major cultural province" as an important component, making top-level design and comprehensive planning for the development of education, science and technology, and talent at the provincial level. Comrade Xi Jinping's series of explorations and practices at the local level demonstrated forward-looking thinking and holistic planning regarding the core elements of modernization.
From separate domain cultivation to coordinated linkage and integrated construction. Since the beginning of the new era, facing the external environment of the accelerated evolution of major changes unseen in a century and the rapid advancement of a new round of scientific and technological revolution and industrial transformation, as well as the internal requirement that China's economy urgently needs to shift its growth drivers, the Party Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core has observed the overall trend, planned the overall situation, and grasped the fundamentals, continuously deepening its understanding of the development of education, science and technology, and talent, and continuously strengthening the synergy and correlation among the three in the process of planning by domain and advancing by strategy. Volume I, "Accelerating the Shift from Factor-Driven and Investment Scale-Driven Development to Innovation-Driven Development," clarifies that "the 18th Party Congress made the major deployment of implementing the innovation-driven development strategy," that scientific and technological innovation "must be placed in the core position of the overall national development," points out that "we must place the development of human resources in the most prioritized position of scientific and technological innovation," emphasizes that scientific and technological innovation is the strategic support for improving social productivity and comprehensive national strength, and elucidates that talent is the core variable of scientific and technological innovation. Volume II, "Building a World Science and Technology Powerhouse," proposes "deeply implementing the strategy of revitalizing the country through science and education and the strategy of strengthening the country through talent, and deeply implementing the innovation-driven development strategy," deploying the three as key strategies for national development. Volume III, "Securing a Decisive Victory in Building a Moderately Prosperous Society in All Respects and Striving for the Great Success of Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era," establishes the strategic goal of joining the ranks of innovative countries by 2035, and makes deployments for building a strong science and technology nation, a strong education nation, and a strong talent nation respectively. Volume IV, "Striving to Achieve High-Level Scientific and Technological Self-Reliance and Self-Strengthening," points out that "we must deeply implement the strategy of revitalizing the country through science and education, the strategy of strengthening the country through talent, and the innovation-driven development strategy, improve the national innovation system, and accelerate the building of a strong science and technology nation," putting forward requirements for education, science and technology, and talent work from the height of basing ourselves on the new development stage, implementing the new development philosophy, building the new development pattern, and promoting high-quality development. The series of deployments in this stage gradually moved from separate domain cultivation to coordinated synergy, accumulating practical experience and perfecting the strategic framework for systematic integration and integrated advancement.
The systematic elevation of the "three-in-one" strategic deployment. With the deepening development of the new round of scientific and technological revolution and industrial transformation, and the profound adjustment of the international balance of power, China's development faces new strategic opportunities. The report of the 20th Party Congress included in Volume V, "Holding High the Great Banner of Socialism with Chinese Characteristics and Striving in Unity to Build a Modern Socialist Country in All Respects," for the first time elaborates on education, science and technology, and talent work in a dedicated chapter and deploys them in an integrated manner, pointing out that "we must adhere to prioritizing education development, achieving scientific and technological self-reliance and self-strengthening, and leading with talent-driven development, and accelerate the building of a strong education nation, a strong science and technology nation, and a strong talent nation." At the same time, "completing the building of a strong education nation, a strong science and technology nation, and a strong talent nation" is included in the overall goals for China's development by 2035. This major deployment advances the building of the three powerhouses in coordination, highlighting the strategic plan to bring into play their foundational and strategic supporting roles. Volume V, "Consolidating the Foundation of National Prosperity through a Strong Education System," points out that "building a strong education nation, a strong science and technology nation, and a strong talent nation has inherent consistency and mutual supportiveness; the three must be organically combined and advanced in an integrated and coordinated manner, forming a multiplier effect for promoting high-quality development," further elucidating the internal logic and goal orientation of coordinating the building of the three powerhouses. Volume V, "Making Solid Progress toward the Goal of Building an Education Powerhouse," points out that "we must adhere to promoting a virtuous cycle among education, science and technology, and talent, coordinate the implementation of the strategy of revitalizing the country through science and education, the strategy of strengthening the country through talent, and the innovation-driven development strategy, and advance in an integrated manner the development of education, scientific and technological innovation, and talent cultivation," putting forward concrete and practical requirements for forming a pattern of positive interaction among the three.
The institutional advancement of the "three-in-one" construction. The Third Plenary Session of the 20th Central Committee of the Party incorporated the integrated development of education, science and technology, and talent into the key tasks of further deepening reform comprehensively and advancing Chinese-style modernization, proposing that "we must deeply implement the strategy of revitalizing the country through science and education, the strategy of strengthening the country through talent, and the innovation-driven development strategy, coordinate the advancement of integrated reform of the systems and mechanisms for education, science and technology, and talent, improve the new whole-nation system, and enhance the overall effectiveness of the national innovation system," solving from the institutional reform level the practical problems of long-standing broken chains, mismatched demands, and disconnected measures. The outline of the 15th Five-Year Plan proposes the requirement of "coordinating the building of a strong education nation, a strong science and technology nation, and a strong talent nation," includes "basically forming a pattern of integrated development of education, science and technology, and talent" in the economic and social development goals of the 15th Five-Year Plan period, and sets up a dedicated chapter to make systematic plans for "advancing the integrated development of education, science and technology, and talent," realizing the simultaneous and coordinated implementation of the building of the three powerhouses. On April 30, 2026, General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out at the Symposium on Strengthening Basic Research: "We must advance the integrated development of education, science and technology, and talent" and "optimize the mechanism for collaborative education between science and education." In the mutual promotion of practical exploration and theoretical breakthroughs, General Secretary Xi Jinping's understanding of the laws governing the coordination of building a strong education nation, a strong science and technology nation, and a strong talent nation has continuously deepened. It is the crystallization of thought rooted in China's governance practice, closely linked to the propositions of the times, and gradually developed along the journey of building a strong nation, demonstrating powerful explanatory force for reality and practical guiding force.
Deeply comprehending the rich connotations and practical requirements of General Secretary Xi Jinping's important expositions on coordinating the building of a strong education nation, a strong science and technology nation, and a strong talent nation
General Secretary Xi Jinping's important expositions on coordinating the building of a strong education nation, a strong science and technology nation, and a strong talent nation adhere to the unity of national prosperity and the comprehensive development of the individual, scientifically answering the major theoretical and practical questions of what the "three-in-one" construction is, why it is needed, and how to build it, running through the scientific thinking of materialist dialectics, the reform logic of 守正创新 (shǒu zhèng chuàng xīn - "upholding what is right and innovating," maintaining fundamental principles while breaking new ground), and the governance wisdom of systematic governance.
Profound theoretical connotations. General Secretary Xi Jinping inherited and developed the Marxist theory of productive forces, and in light of the characteristics of the new round of scientific and technological revolution and industrial transformation, creatively put forward the major assertion that "science and technology are the primary productive forces, talent is the primary resource, and innovation is the primary driving force," profoundly elucidating the core logical composition of modern productive forces. In the articles of Volumes I through V of Xi Jinping: The Governance of China, General Secretary Xi Jinping progressively and layer by layer expounds the internal connections among education, science and technology, and talent. Volume II, "Building a World Science and Technology Powerhouse," points out that "science and technology are humanity's great creative activities. All scientific and technological innovation activities are carried out by people," elucidating the subjective status and core value of talent in innovation activities; Volume IV, "Striving to Achieve High-Level Scientific and Technological Self-Reliance and Self-Strengthening," emphasizes that "cultivating innovative talent is a major plan for the long-term development of the country and the nation. The competition in today's world is, in the final analysis, competition for talent and competition for education," profoundly revealing the underlying logic of competition among major powers, the fundamental support for innovation-driven development, and the inherent necessity of the "three-in-one" construction of education, science and technology, and talent; Volume V, "Turning the Strategic Goal of Building a Science and Technology Powerhouse into Reality Step by Step," points out that "scientific and technological innovation depends on talent, talent cultivation depends on education; education, science and technology, and talent are inherently consistent and mutually supportive," clearly opening up the complete chain from education nurturing people to talent supporting innovation to scientific and technological breakthroughs. General Secretary Xi Jinping scientifically grasps the internal logical relationships among education, science and technology, and talent, profoundly elucidating the functional positioning and linkage mechanisms of the three, providing theoretical guidance for the "three-in-one" coordinated advancement.
Major strategic significance. Facing the global trend of scientific and technological revolution and industrial transformation, General Secretary Xi Jinping emphasized: "We must join in the construction of new arenas from the very beginning, and even lead the construction of some arenas, so that we become an important maker of new competition rules and an important leader of new competition venues." If we do not have unique strengths in one or several areas, then we lack opportunities. At the same time, the scientific and technological revolution and major-power competition are intertwined, and certain countries are building "small courtyards with high walls" (小院高墙), imposing technological blockades and scientific and technological containment on China in an attempt to hinder China's development process. General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out: "Practice has repeatedly told us that core and key technologies cannot be obtained by asking for them, buying them, or begging for them." The changes of a century call for self-reliance and self-strengthening, and external containment forces independent breakthroughs. Only by leaping beyond the limitation of tackling problems in a single domain, resolutely clearing the bottlenecks and blockages affecting and constraining comprehensive innovation, and coordinating the advancement of education, science and technology, and talent development can we firmly grasp strategic initiative. Facing the practical needs of China's high-quality development and the cultivation of new quality productive forces, Volume IV points out: "To base ourselves on the new development stage, implement the new development philosophy, build the new development pattern, and promote high-quality development, we must deeply implement the strategy of revitalizing the country through science and education, the strategy of strengthening the country through talent, and the innovation-driven development strategy." At present, China has entered the stage of high-quality development, and the development logic, factor structure, industrial forms, and driving force system have undergone comprehensive transformation, with increasingly urgent demands for cutting-edge innovative technologies, high-quality talent, and high-quality education supply. Our Party has made the major strategic deployment of completing the building of a strong education nation, a strong science and technology nation, and a strong talent nation by 2035, 15 years ahead of the goal of comprehensively building a modern socialist country, aiming to twist the "three strands of strength" into "one rope" through coordinated advancement, providing driving force for high-quality development and accumulating momentum for the rejuvenation of a strong nation.
Scientific practical strategies. General Secretary Xi Jinping's important expositions on coordinating the building of a strong education nation, a strong science and technology nation, and a strong talent nation not only achieve theoretical breakthroughs but also provide practical methodological guidance. Adhere to the interconnection of basing ourselves on the present and planning for the long term with a solid foundation. General Secretary Xi Jinping scientifically grasps the laws governing the development of education, science and technology, and talent as cyclical, foundational, and strategic undertakings, both directly confronting current challenges and looking ahead with forward-looking planning. In Volume III, "Striving to Become a World-Leading Science Center and Innovation Hub," he emphasizes that basic research "must aim at the world's scientific and technological frontiers, grasp the major trends, play the 'first move,' lay a solid foundation, and reserve for the long term"; during the 2025 National People's Congress and Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference sessions, he pointed out: "There is a change in the supply-demand relationship for talent. Education must think ahead and move ahead. It is both a long-term endeavor and an urgent task." Adhere to the coordination of basing ourselves on the domestic situation and looking at the global picture. General Secretary Xi Jinping coordinates the two overall situations and coordinates development and security. In the relevant articles of Volumes I through V, he emphasizes that we must both "advance high-level scientific and technological self-reliance and self-strengthening" and "more actively carry out international scientific and technological exchanges and cooperation, making good use of both domestic and international scientific and technological resources"; both "run education rooted in the land of China" and "grasp the common characteristics and laws of education powerhouses in the world, drawing on the strengths of all and incorporating diverse elements"; both "pay more attention to the independent cultivation of talent" and "gather talents from around the world and use them," demonstrating the strategic breadth and great-power magnanimity of basing ourselves on China while embracing the world. Adhere to the coordination of overall advancement and highlighting key points. General Secretary Xi Jinping balances systematic governance with targeted efforts. In Volume II, "Building a World Science and Technology Powerhouse," he points out: "Innovation is a systematic project. The innovation chain, industrial chain, capital chain, and policy chain are intertwined and mutually supportive. Reform in only one or several links is not enough; it must be comprehensively deployed." In Volume IV, "Striving to Achieve High-Level Scientific and Technological Self-Reliance and Self-Strengthening," he emphasizes: "Scientific and technological research must adhere to a problem-oriented approach, going after the most urgent and pressing problems." In Volume V, "Turning the Strategic Goal of Building a Science and Technology Powerhouse into Reality Step by Step," he points out: "We must strengthen the systems concept and deepen the integrated reform of the systems and mechanisms for education, science and technology, and talent." Fully leverage the advantages of the new whole-nation system. The relevant articles of Volumes I through V emphasize "perfecting the system of the Party Central Committee's centralized and unified leadership over scientific and technological work, strengthening coordination in strategic planning, policy measures, major tasks, scientific research forces, resource platforms, and regional innovation," "fully leveraging the decisive role of the market in the allocation of scientific and technological resources, and better playing the role of the government in all aspects," clarifying the functional positioning of national strategic scientific and technological forces such as national laboratories, national research institutions, high-level research universities, and leading science and technology enterprises, and striving to build a governance pattern of coordinated empowerment.
High-value goals. From the perspective of historical laws, as the core elements of knowledge production, technological innovation, and human capital accumulation, the flourishing of education, the advancement of science and technology, and the gathering of talent are the common core supports for building a modernized strong nation. For Chinese-style modernization to achieve steady and long-term progress, it must firmly grasp education, science and technology, and talent, and shape core competitiveness through integrated construction. General Secretary Xi Jinping made the major assertion that "education, science and technology, and talent are the foundational and strategic supports for comprehensively building a modern socialist country," setting the coordinates for the development of education, science and technology, and talent. Volume V points out that the strong education nation we want to build must "take cultivating talent for the Party and the country as the fundamental goal and serving the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation as an important mission," "should possess strong ideological and political guiding force, talent competitiveness, scientific and technological support, people's livelihood security, social coordination, and international influence," and proposes "comprehensively grasping the political, people-centered, and strategic attributes of education"; it clarifies the strategic orientation of the "Four Orientations" (四个面向) for the development of science and technology, proposing that "the strong science and technology nation we want to build should possess scientific and technological strength and innovation capability ranking among the world's forefront, supporting the overall leap of economic strength, national defense strength, and comprehensive national strength, enhancing human welfare, and promoting global development"; Volume IV, "Fully Implementing the New Concepts, New Strategies, and New Measures for Talent Work in the New Era," systematically summarizes the regularity understanding of the "Eight Persistences" (八个坚持) in talent work in the new era, taking "adhering to facing the world's scientific and technological frontiers, facing the main economic battlefield, facing the nation's major needs, and facing the people's life and health" as the goal direction of talent work. From the perspective of the connotations and value positioning of building a strong education nation, a strong science and technology nation, and a strong talent nation, the three share the same mission, the same goal direction, and the same pace of progress, constituting the irreplaceable foundational and strategic support for Chinese-style modernization.
In the new era, the coordinated building of a strong education nation, a strong science and technology nation, and a strong talent nation has achieved historic accomplishments and undergone historic changes
Thought guides the course, and hard work accomplishes great undertakings. Since the beginning of the new era, the Party Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core has continuously strengthened the top-level design, strategic coordination, and institutional deployment of the "three-in-one" development, promoting a series of historic achievements and historic changes in the building of a strong education nation, a strong science and technology nation, and a strong talent nation, laying a solid foundation and injecting surging momentum for Chinese-style modernization.
The foundation of education development has become more solid, and its supporting and contributing force for scientific and technological innovation and talent growth has significantly increased. Since the 18th Party Congress, China has built the world's largest education system. The popularization level of basic education and key indicators have comprehensively surpassed the average level of upper-middle-income countries. Preschool education and compulsory education have reached the average level of high-income countries. All 2,895 county-level administrative regions across the country have achieved basic balance in compulsory education. The inclusiveness, accessibility, and convenience of public education services have been continuously enhanced. Higher education is accelerating its transformation from scale expansion to quality improvement. During the 14th Five-Year Plan period, it cumulatively delivered 55 million talents to society. More than 75% of National Natural Science Awards and Technological Invention Awards and more than 55% of Science and Technology Progress Awards were led by universities. Universities have become the main force of basic research and the birthplace of major scientific and technological breakthroughs. The connection between educational reform and industrial upgrading has become closer. In 2025, the intensity of discipline and major adjustment in universities was the greatest in history. The "Action Plan for the Adjustment and Optimization of Discipline and Major Settings in Higher Education (2025-2027)" (高等教育学科专业设置调整优化行动方案（2025—2027年）) was issued, and the super-normal layout of disciplines and majors urgently needed by the national strategy has accelerated; vocational education supplies more than 70% of the newly added high-quality and high-skilled talent for modern industry, and the integration of industry and education connects classrooms with workshops and majors with industries. Educational development continuously enriches the soil for talent growth and also provides a more solid foundation of support for scientific and technological innovation.
The strength of scientific and technological innovation has accelerated its rise, and the effect of driving talent gathering and promoting educational development has continued to emerge. In recent years, with the support of the new whole-nation system, national strategic needs have been efficiently connected with frontline scientific research, and a large number of "bottleneck" technical problems constraining development have been accelerated in their resolution; basic research and original innovation capabilities have been significantly enhanced, accumulating more strength for "from 0 to 1" breakthroughs; scientific and technological innovation and industrial innovation have been deeply integrated, and innovation achievements have accelerated their transformation into real productive forces. Focusing on the construction of national strategic scientific and technological forces, the transformation of scientific and technological achievements, the cultivation and use of young scientific and technological talent, and the building of an open innovation ecosystem, a series of documents on the reform of the science and technology system have been intensively issued, and the dividends of reform have been rapidly released. In 2025, China entered the top ten of the Global Innovation Index for the first time, and the proportion of basic research funding in total social R&D funding exceeded 7% for the first time. From the new discoveries of the "China Sky Eye" to the "artificial sun" setting new operational records, and to China's supercomputer "Lingsheng" (灵晟) topping the global rankings... major scientific and technological innovation achievements are moving from "point-like breakthroughs" to "systematic eruption." At the same time, China has integrated more deeply into the global innovation network, establishing scientific and technological cooperation relationships with more than 160 countries and regions, gathering innovation resources through open cooperation. The continuous breakthroughs in scientific and technological innovation not only accelerate the formation of new quality productive forces but also continuously give rise to new disciplinary directions, cultivation needs, and talent positions, promoting the education chain and talent chain to better adapt to the needs of innovation-driven development, providing a more solid foundation of confidence for the road to becoming a strong nation.
The talent team has grown in both quantity and quality, and the talent advantage in promoting educational quality improvement and scientific and technological breakthroughs has become more prominent. In 2025, China has more than 80 million professional and technical personnel, the total number of skilled workers exceeds 220 million, and the full-time equivalent of R&D personnel has ranked first in the world for 13 consecutive years. Young talent takes on major roles and plays leading parts. Among the national key R&D programs, the proportion of young scientific and technological talents under the age of 45 serving as project leaders exceeds 40%. In major national science and technology projects such as BeiDou and lunar exploration, as well as in emerging fields such as artificial intelligence, the average age of many project team members is only around 30 years old. The institutional environment for talent development has been continuously optimized. The "Strong Foundation Plan" (强基计划) and the "Plan for Cultivating Top Students in Basic Disciplines" (基础学科拔尖学生培养计划) forge top-notch talent, "open competition for the best candidates" (揭榜挂帅) and the "horse racing system" (赛马制) stimulate innovation vitality, and "breaking the 'four onlys'" (破四唯) and "establishing new standards" (立新标) have been deeply advanced... A series of reform measures have created a favorable atmosphere of valuing talent by merit and broadly accepting the worthy. The emergence of enterprises such as the "Six Little Dragons" in Hangzhou, Zhejiang is a vivid footnote to the talent development ecosystem where "those near are pleased, and those from afar come." Gathering talents from around the world and using them, the talent competitive advantage is rapidly transforming into a development advantage. Education, science and technology, and talent are integrated and mutually reinforcing, and the synergy advantage of "1+1+1>3" is gradually emerging.
Seizing historical opportunities, meeting the challenges of the times, coordinating the building of a strong education nation, a strong science and technology nation, and a strong talent nation, and providing solid support for realizing Chinese-style modernization
The 15th Five-Year Plan period is an important stage for the building of a strong education nation, a strong science and technology nation, and a strong talent nation to overcome difficulties and break through barriers. This year is the first year of the 15th Five-Year Plan, a year of establishing momentum and, more importantly, a year of breaking new ground. We must thoroughly read Volumes I through V of Xi Jinping: The Governance of China, comprehensively comprehend and grasp General Secretary Xi Jinping's important expositions on coordinating the building of a strong education nation, a strong science and technology nation, and a strong talent nation, fully implement the deployments of the 15th Five-Year Plan outline, steadily keep pace with the pulse of the times, seize development opportunities, transform the "three-in-one" strategic deployment into development results, and provide solid support for realizing Chinese-style modernization.
Adhere to prioritizing educational development and strengthen the supporting role of education for science and technology and talent. Building a strong education nation is the strategic precursor to comprehensively building a modern socialist strong nation and an important support for achieving high-level scientific and technological self-reliance and self-strengthening. We must take Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era as the guide, comprehensively implement the Party's educational policy, and fulfill the fundamental task of fostering virtue through education. Improve the quality and level of public education services, advance the expansion and quality improvement of basic education, focus on enhancing young people's critical thinking and innovation abilities, and explore and cultivate young people's interests and specialties, scientific literacy, and experimental capabilities. Coordinate education with the needs of scientific and technological innovation, industrial development, and national strategy, coordinate the setting and adjustment of disciplines, and promote the quality improvement and expansion of higher education. Super-normally lay out disciplines and majors urgently needed in emerging fields in universities, deeply implement the breakthrough plan for basic disciplines and interdisciplinary disciplines, strengthen the coordination of innovation resources and the organization of forces, and accelerate the cultivation of innovative talent.
Adhere to scientific and technological self-reliance and self-strengthening, build systems and mechanisms that support comprehensive innovation, and enhance the overall effectiveness of the national innovation system. Science and technology are the primary productive forces, and innovation is the primary driving force. We must improve the system of the Party Central Committee's centralized and unified leadership over scientific and technological work, adhere to the strategic orientation of the "Four Orientations," and enhance the systematic capability of scientific and technological innovation. Improve institutional mechanisms, refine management methods, enhance the efficiency of scientific and technological innovation investment, and strengthen the construction of the rule of law, ethics, integrity, and security in science and technology. Strengthen basic research with greater intensity and more concrete measures, and enhance China's original innovation capability. Taking key areas and key tasks as the starting point, through the integrated allocation of bases, talent, and funds, efficiently aggregate various innovation elements, smooth the chain of transforming scientific and technological achievements into real productive forces, and promote the deep integration of scientific and technological innovation and industrial innovation. Taking innovation capability, quality, effectiveness, and contribution as the evaluation orientation, deepen the reform of project review, institutional evaluation, talent evaluation, and income distribution.
Adhere to talent-led driving and accelerate the cultivation and building of a large-scale, reasonably structured, and high-quality innovative talent team. Talent is the primary resource for innovation and a strategic resource for realizing national rejuvenation and winning the initiative in international competition. We must optimize the mechanism for collaborative education between science and education, adhere to using talent while cultivating and cultivating talent while using, and strengthen the talent gathering and cultivation functions of research institutions, innovation platforms, enterprises, and science and technology programs. Formulate differentiated and refined evaluation standards for different fields, adopt long-cycle evaluation mechanisms for basic research with greater emphasis on the originality and academic value of achievements, and implement evaluation systems based on user and market feedback for applied research and technological development. Build industry-university-research integration platforms, smooth the channels for talent exchange among universities, research institutes, and enterprises, and construct a comprehensive evaluation system that connects the three. Seize the window period of global talent mobility, improve the support and guarantee mechanisms for overseas talent introduction, and establish a high-tech talent immigration system. Coordinate the layout of education, science and technology, and talent platforms and bases, build education centers, science centers, and talent centers with global influence, and better serve the promotion of building a community with a shared future for mankind.
Return to TopBy: 杨 勇
The Ecological Environment Code is the second law in our country to be named with the title "Code" after the Civil Code, and is another major achievement in the construction of socialist rule of law in the new era. Under the guidance of Xi Jinping Thought on the Rule of Law and Xi Jinping Thought on Ecological Civilization, our country has striven to resolve the resource and environmental constraints encountered in the process of industrialization and urbanization, avoided following the Western path of "pollute first, treat later," and focused on promoting ecological environmental protection and economic and social development to complement and reinforce each other. Through systematic legislation, integration, and elevation, the Ecological Environment Code has systematized and institutionalized the experience of ecological environment governance accumulated in the process of our country's new industrialization and new urbanization, providing important legal safeguards for resolving difficult ecological protection problems.
Taking a systematic approach as the guide, resolving the composite ecological difficulties in the process of industrialization and urbanization. General Secretary Xi Jinping emphasized: "Ecological environment governance is a systematic project that requires overall consideration of the complexity of environmental elements, the integrity of ecosystems, the continuity of natural geographic units, and the sustainability of economic and social development." In the process of industrialization and urbanization, problems such as the superimposition of various pollution factors and the intertwining of traditional pollution and new pollution risks have become prominent, constituting composite ecological environment governance difficulties that urgently require coordinated legislation across multiple fields to resolve. In this regard, our country has led the compilation of the Ecological Environment Code with a systematic approach, transforming the overall consideration of four dimensions into an institutionalized system design. First, responding to the complexity of environmental elements. The Ecological Environment Code integrates legal systems for pollution prevention and control in multiple fields such as air, water, oceans, and soil into the Pollution Prevention and Control Part, resolving prominent problems in the fragmentation of pollution prevention and control laws and inconsistent enforcement standards in the process of industrialization and urbanization. Second, maintaining the integrity of ecosystems. The Ecological Environment Code upholds the integrated protection and systematic governance of mountains, waters, forests, farmlands, grasslands, and deserts. Third, emphasizing the continuity of natural geographic units. While clarifying unified national-level planning, the Ecological Environment Code stipulates the "establishment and improvement of joint ecological environment protection and coordination mechanisms for key regions, river basins, and sea areas across administrative divisions," constructing a governance framework of national coordination and regional synergy, and resolving the institutional problem of fragmented ecological environment governance across administrative divisions. Fourth, focusing on the sustainability of economic and social development. The Ecological Environment Code stipulates: "Coordinate the advancement of carbon reduction, pollution reduction, green expansion, and growth, and promote ecological priority, conservation, intensification, and green low-carbon development," providing guidance for promoting the coordination and unity of economic development and ecological protection. Through systematic institutional design, the Ecological Environment Code promotes the transformation of ecological environment governance in the process of our country's new industrialization and new urbanization from single-element management to systematic comprehensive governance.
Adhering to putting people's livelihood first, coordinating the advancement of ecological protection and livelihood security in the process of new industrialization and new urbanization. General Secretary Xi Jinping emphasized: "A good ecological environment is the most equitable public product and the most inclusive form of livelihood well-being." How to coordinate the advancement of ecological protection and livelihood security is a difficult problem that must be resolved in the process of new industrialization and new urbanization. In this regard, the Ecological Environment Code establishes "protecting public health and ecological environment rights and interests" as one of its legislative purposes, constructing a livelihood security system that runs through all links including safeguarding public health, public participation, ecological protection compensation, and ecological environment damage compensation. In safeguarding public health, the Ecological Environment Code runs the protection of public health through the entire chain of ecological environment governance from multiple dimensions such as standard-setting, risk early warning, and pollution prevention and control, responding to the public concern over increased environmental health risks. In public participation, it stipulates that "citizens, legal persons, and other organizations enjoy the right to obtain ecological environment information and to participate in and supervise ecological environment protection in accordance with the law," gathering social forces to resolve ecological difficulties. In ecological protection compensation, it improves the ecological protection compensation system, comprehensively applying multiple methods such as financial compensation, industrial transfer, and the purchase of ecological products and services to promote the overall protection of the ecological environment. In ecological environment damage compensation, it improves the ecological environment damage compensation and ecological environment public interest litigation systems to safeguard national interests and social public interests.
Deepening international cooperation, jointly responding to global ecological challenges in the process of industrialization and urbanization. General Secretary Xi Jinping emphasized: "The construction of ecological civilization concerns the future of humanity. Building a green homeland is the common dream of mankind. Protecting the ecological environment and addressing climate change require all countries in the world to work together in solidarity and joint effort; no country can stand aloof or be immune." Industrialization and urbanization are historical processes of worldwide scope, and the ecological protection difficulties derived from them are global in nature. The Ecological Environment Code makes systematic arrangements for responding to global ecological environment challenges at the levels of basic provisions and important fields. At the level of basic provisions, it requires the state to strengthen international cooperation in the field of ecological environment, fulfill the obligations stipulated in international treaties that our country has concluded or acceded to, and actively participate in the research and formulation of international rules on the ecological environment. At the level of important fields, targeting climate change, an important field closely related to the process of industrialization and urbanization, the Ecological Environment Code makes dedicated arrangements, systematically transforming the national will to actively participate in global climate governance into a complete institutional chain. This institutional chain contains the dual logic of absorption and contribution. In terms of absorption, the Ecological Environment Code organically connects with the core obligations of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and its Paris Agreement, promoting the implementation of international consensus in China. In terms of contribution, "green low-carbon development" is established as a separate part, which is the first of its kind globally, making principled and guiding provisions on addressing climate change and achieving carbon peak and carbon neutrality, demonstrating our country's rule-of-law commitment to promoting green low-carbon transformation and building a community of life for man and nature. Through continuously deepening international cooperation, China will join hands with other countries to move forward, contributing Chinese wisdom and providing Chinese solutions to resolving ecological protection difficulties in the process of industrialization and urbanization, and will continue to promote the building of a fair, reasonable, and mutually beneficial global environmental governance system.
(Author's affiliation: School of Law, Wuhan University)
This August 15, we will usher in the fourth National Ecology Day. This day is also the day when the Ecological Environment Code takes effect.
From the proposal of the "Two Mountains" concept to the establishment of National Ecology Day, and then to the implementation of the Ecological Environment Code, August 15 has become an important historical landmark in the construction of China's ecological environment rule of law: it signifies that Xi Jinping's Thought on Ecological Civilization and the decisions and arrangements of the Party Central Committee have taken root and borne fruit on the track of the rule of law, and it is a systematic design that concretizes the "Beautiful China" goal stipulated in the Constitution into the strictest institutions and the most rigorous rule of law.
Since the beginning of the new era, under the scientific guidance of Xi Jinping's Thought on Ecological Civilization, China's ecological civilization construction has undergone historic, transformative, and overall changes from theory to practice. Across this splendid land, the sky is bluer, the earth is greener, and the water is clearer; the mountains and rivers are more colorful and diverse, and the concept that lucid waters and lush mountains are invaluable assets has become a consensus and action of the whole Party and the whole society.
The theme of this year's National Ecology Day is "Thickening the Green Background of Chinese-style Modernization." This edition launches a special report to see how various localities are carrying out vivid practices to promote a comprehensive green transformation of economic and social development.
— Editor
Xiong'an New Area
"The Fuhe River Estuary Wetland today has returned to its original natural appearance"
By our reporter Shao Yuzi
At the beginning of autumn, in Hebei's Xiong'an New Area, by the shores of Baiyangdian Lake, the wind through the reed marshes still carries the summer heat.
In the morning, Zhu Baofeng, head of the Water Conservancy and Water Environment Construction and Operation Department of China Xiong'an Group Ecological Construction Investment Co., Ltd., came to the Fuhe River Estuary Wetland for an inspection.
"Can you hear it? That's the call of the coot and the cuckoo." From afar came the rising and falling sounds of birdsong. Zhu Baofeng kept stopping in his tracks, listening intently.
The Fuhe River Estuary Wetland is located at the confluence of the Fuhe, Caohe, and Baohe rivers. It is the "throat" of Baiyangdian Lake and the largest functional constructed wetland in North China.
"The Fuhe River Estuary Wetland today has returned to its original natural appearance!" Zhu Baofeng said with considerable pride. But seven years ago, this place was a different scene: "The muddy water from upstream poured straight in, and only a few clumps of crooked reeds grew on the river flats." In 2019, planning and construction of the Fuhe River Estuary Wetland began. Zhu Baofeng and his team set three goals—block upstream pollution and ensure that the water entering the lake meets stable standards; restore the wetland ecology and recover native biological populations; and explore a path of sustainable development, promoting a win-win for protection and utilization.
How were the goals to be achieved? "Return nature to nature, and let all things grow freely." Zhu Baofeng and his team adopted a three-stage near-natural purification process of "pre-sedimentation ecological pond + subsurface flow wetland + aquatic plant pond," allowing the wetland to "come alive" on its own.
They abandoned hard revetment methods in favor of gabion cages and wooden piles; they did not introduce exotic plants but planted native ones; the fish fry released were also native species of Baiyangdian Lake... Within the wetland, multiple types of habitats were also built, including deep-water areas, shallow shoals, marshes, and forest-grass belts.
The birds have returned. More than 80 species of birds have been observed cumulatively in the wetland, including 5 species under national first-class protection and 17 species under national second-class protection.
The fish have returned as well. Benthic animals have increased from 5 species to 20 species, fish from 6 species to 18 species, and zooplankton from 5 species in 3 phyla to 24 species in 4 phyla.
During construction, the restoration team also designated the aquatic plant pond as an "absolute control zone" and established an iron rule—birds may enter, but people may not. But if people cannot enter, how do they know whether the birds are doing well? "By relying on this." Zhu Baofeng took out his mobile phone and played an audio clip—a soundscape recorded in the wetland in the early morning, 19 seconds long, which the system automatically identified as the call of a coot. "The Ecology and Environment Bureau of Xiong'an New Area has built an integrated smart supervision platform in the wetland, with 7 automatic water quality monitoring stations testing water temperature, pH, ammonia nitrogen, and total phosphorus every 4 hours."
In May of this year, the Ministry of Ecology and Environment (生态环境部) selected 10 practical achievement cases of biodiversity conservation and sustainable use for 2026, and the Fuhe River Estuary Wetland in Xiong'an New Area was one of them. Today, wild birds in Baiyangdian Lake have reached 296 species, 90 more than before the New Area was established; wild fish have recovered to 50 species.
(Liu Xiao contributed to this report)
Shanghai Chongming
"The environment where river and fields depend on each other; new business forms bring new visitor flows"
By our reporter Ji Juesu
Mr. Gu, from Shanghai's Pudong New Area, came with his family to the M515 Cultural and Creative Industrial Park in Miao Town, Chongming District. The South Hengyin River stretched wide before them, and the river breeze carried the scent of water and vegetation. "As soon as I arrive in Chongming, I can't help but want to take a few extra deep breaths of fresh air. I feel completely refreshed!" Mr. Gu remarked.
In the 1980s, this site was a large stainless steel factory. Qiu Bingqian, a Chongming native born in the 1990s, had parents who worked there. "It was very lively here back then. During work hours, even bicycles had to queue at the factory gate," Qiu Bingqian said. Later, the machines gradually stopped, leaving only empty factory buildings and mottled old walls covered in vines.
After the park was renovated and opened, she once came back for a visit, took a few photos, and posted them on social media, writing: "This is the canteen where I ate every day when I was little." Unexpectedly, not long after the post was published, a private message came from Dai Bing, then the deputy secretary of Miao Town on secondment, asking if she was interested in returning to her hometown to start a business and bring young people's ideas into the old factory buildings.
Qiu Bingqian discussed it with her parents for a few days and decided to come back and give it a try. She contacted her father's old colleagues, her aunt found old account books from home, and veteran workers sent over their work badges, work clothes, and photographs, and together they organized an industrial memory exhibition. Some uncles and aunts she had not seen for years came specially, pointing at the factory buildings and telling her where the machine tools had stood and where the packaging workshop had been. Qiu Bingqian also opened a tea and beverage shop, bringing her favorite intangible cultural heritage handicrafts into the store. "I've made this place lively again in another way, and I'm quite happy about it."
Outside the window is the treated South Hengyin River. The clear water and green banks have attracted water leisure activities such as kayaking and paddleboarding, and restaurants, exhibitions, and markets have gradually moved in. When tourists get tired from paddling, they go into the factory buildings to sit for a while and have a cup of coffee, staying for most of the day.
Walking out of the factory buildings, one comes to a "shared farmland." Rows of vegetable plots are neatly arranged, with small signs beside them bearing the names of the adopters. Dai Bing, now the mayor of Miao Town, explained that when the crops mature, adopters can pick them themselves or have the park package and deliver them home. "The environment where river and fields depend on each other; new business forms bring new visitor flows."
The value provided by the farmland has also expanded into areas such as picking, study tours, and consumption. In recent years, Chongming has continuously protected its water, soil, forests, and fields. In 2016, it embarked on a new journey of building a "world-class ecological island," and the M515 Cultural and Creative Industrial Park is one facet of this.
Over the past 10 years, Chongming District has expanded from one-day sightseeing of "watching birds at the eastern shoals and viewing trees at Xisha" to boutique homestays, rice-field coffee shops, camping, cycling, stargazing, and more. "Scenery everywhere, visitable in all four seasons" has gradually become the norm.
Zhejiang Anji
"After ecological governance, we 'sell the scenery' together with the upstream"
By our reporter Dou Hanyang
After a rain, the air in the mountains was thick with moisture, and a few bamboo rafts drifted gently on Xiayang Creek.
Seen from above, Xiayang Creek resembles a ribbon, winding through the two provinces of Anhui and Zhejiang. Upstream, it passes in turn through Gaomiao Village, Shishi Village, and Shijun Village in Lucun Town, Guangde City, Xuancheng, Anhui; downstream, it connects to Xiayang Village in Xiaofeng Town, Anji County, Huzhou, Zhejiang.
The water protection team members on the bamboo rafts came from these 4 villages, and this day was the joint river patrol day. Xiayang Creek, which once suffered greatly from garbage, has now, through the concerted efforts of the cadres and masses of the 4 villages, regained its former clear waves and vitality.
Bao Xin, Secretary of the Party Branch and Director of the Village Committee of Xiayang Village, introduced that over the years, the village has been planning the ecological development of Xiayang Village. Based on the natural endowments of Xiayang Village, it positioned itself in the camping track and, according to local conditions, developed 9 camping bases of different styles, including forest and RV camping, with hiking, cycling, and other activities developing in all directions. The village collective introduced a model of "guaranteed base rent + streaming dividends + service fees," turning villagers' idle gardens, bus shelters, and abandoned basketball courts into new business forms.
Within just a few years, Xiayang Village's annual tourism revenue exceeded 15 million yuan, and the average annual income increase per villager household exceeded 20,000 yuan. The village collective's operating income jumped from 80,000 yuan in 2020 to over 3 million yuan. Tents pitched by tourists dotted the mountain hollow, and young people who had left the village for work began to return one after another—some became camping managers, and others converted their home garages into coffee shops.
"After ecological governance, we 'sell the scenery' together with the upstream," Bao Xin introduced. A space has been specially opened at the entrance of the Xiayang Village Committee, displaying with pictures and text the tourism resources of the 3 upstream Anhui villages. The 3 villages have accordingly launched water rafting and stream tracing projects, creating a differentiated tourism experience from Xiayang Village. "We focus on water sports, while Xiayang Village focuses on camping and outdoor events. After tourists experience 'riding the wind and waves' in Anhui, they can float downstream and lie on the grass in Zhejiang looking at the stars," said Zhang Yifang, a village cadre from Shijun Village.
As National Ecology Day approaches, a distinctive publicity event was held on the lawn of Camp No. 1 at Xiaohangkeng in Xiayang Village. Publicity speaker Xu Bing explained the legal provisions of the Ecological Environment Code in plain and accessible language. Afterwards, village cadres and villagers engaged in lively discussion. Villager Tong Renfu said: "After hearing the introduction, I have one feeling—that the legal and institutional safeguards are more complete, and everyone has more confidence in protecting the water."
By: 吕忠梅
The Ecological Environment Code of the People's Republic of China (生态环境法典), as a major institutional achievement that consolidates the rule-of-law foundation for a Beautiful China and escorts Chinese-style modernization, carries major theoretical and practical significance in 承前启后 (chéng qián qǐ hòu - "inherit the past and open the future," to carry forward the legacy and open new prospects), 固本强基 (gù běn qiáng jī - "consolidate the foundation and strengthen the base," to solidify fundamentals), and leading transformation. It is an important milestone in the construction of a strong modern socialist country through Chinese-style modernization and in the history of world codification civilization. The Ecological Environment Code will take effect on August 15 this year, and will surely inject strong rule-of-law momentum into the comprehensive green transformation of economic and social development during the 15th Five-Year Plan period, promoting through the implementation of the Code the transformation of Beautiful China (美丽中国) from a goal into reality.
Inscribing China's rule-of-law declaration on the historical coordinate
On August 15, 2005, Comrade Xi Jinping, then Secretary of the Zhejiang Provincial Party Committee, put forward the "Two Mountains" concept (两山理念) of "green waters and green mountains are gold and silver mountains" during a research visit to Anji (安吉), Zhejiang. In 2023, the third session of the Standing Committee of the 14th National People's Congress adopted a decision establishing August 15 as National Ecology Day. The Ecological Environment Code not only elevates National Ecology Day to a legal provision, but also designates August 15, 2026 as the official effective date of the Ecological Environment Code. From the birth of the "Two Mountains" concept, to the establishment of National Ecology Day, to the implementation of the Code, August 15 has become an important historical coordinate in China's ecological environment rule-of-law construction: it signifies that Xi Jinping's thought on ecological civilization and the Party Central Committee's decisions and deployments have 落地生根 (luò dì shēng gēn - "fall to the ground and take root," to become firmly established) on the track of the rule of law, and is a systematic design that concretizes the "Beautiful China" goal stipulated in the Constitution into the strictest institutions and the most rigorous rule of law. This also tells the whole society: from August 15, 2026, "ecological priority, green development" is not only a principle written in the Code, but also a code of conduct for the sustainable development of the Chinese nation. Every clause "grown" in the Ecological Environment Code will be implemented with the strictest enforcement.
Unlike similar codes in countries around the world that mostly revolve around environmental protection itself, China's Ecological Environment Code is named after "ecological environment," establishes "green and low-carbon development" as an independent part, and forms an institutional closed loop in which high-level protection promotes high-quality development. This makes August 15 a Chinese mark in the history of the world's ecological environment rule of law: its rule-of-law answer to "what modernization should be" from a super-large developing country not only provides Global South countries mired in the zero-sum dilemma of growth and protection with an entirely new development path that need not repeat the mistake of polluting first and treating later; it also pushes environmental law from a "regulatory law" to a "development promotion law," contributing Chinese wisdom and Chinese solutions to countries around the world for the transformation from industrial civilization to ecological civilization.
Turning the Code from "legal text" into "social action"
"The vitality of law lies in implementation, and the authority of law also lies in implementation." The Ecological Environment Code organically links all parties, enabling Party leadership, government performance of duties, enterprise law-abiding, multi-party supervision, and judicial guarantee to 同频共振 (tóng pín gòng zhèn - "resonate at the same frequency," to work in concert), constructing a new system and new mechanism of "multi-stakeholder co-governance." High-quality implementation of the Ecological Environment Code is a major examination in the construction of the rule of law in the new era.
The government performs its duties according to law to establish the authority of the Code. The Ecological Environment Code has established a new pattern of specialized division of labor and systematic coordination based on the government's overall responsibility. Governments at all levels must transform "ecological priority" from a concept into decision-making procedures; strengthen coordinated governance, establish and improve cross-basin and cross-regional joint enforcement and cross-enforcement mechanisms; advance digital empowerment, and enhance the precision of enforcement and supervision.
Enterprises both comply with laws and regulations and proactively embrace green and low-carbon development. The Ecological Environment Code clarifies that enterprises are the primary subjects of obligation in ecological environment protection. While constructing a full-chain obligation system and a strict legal liability regime, it also improves incentive mechanisms such as carbon trading, green finance, and encouragement of green and low-carbon development. To this end, enterprises must rationally choose to operate in compliance with the law and proactively embrace green and low-carbon transformation: on the one hand, strictly fulfill statutory obligations; on the other hand, proactively transform the relevant provisions of the Code into momentum for enterprise transformation and upgrading.
Fair and impartial judiciary activates the life of the Code. On the basis of summarizing judicial experience in ecological environment cases, the Ecological Environment Code has constructed a new pattern of ecological environment judicature, improved the legal liability system for the ecological environment, and provided substantive law and procedural law bases for ecological environment judicature. Judicial organs should fully perform their functions, accurately apply judicial measures such as preventive public interest litigation and injunctions, improve the ways of bearing ecological environment responsibility, properly handle the relationship between development and protection, and safeguard the carrying capacity of the ecological environment with the credibility of the judiciary.
Orderly public participation enhances the effectiveness of the Code. The Ecological Environment Code has a dedicated chapter on "information disclosure and public participation," granting the public the rights to know, participate, supervise, and report, making social organizations, news media, and the people the "third eye" of supervision. The effective implementation of the Code cannot be separated from every citizen's rule-of-law consciousness and ecological consciousness. Everyone should become an actor in ecological civilization construction, safeguarding the public interest in the ecological environment by exercising statutory rights such as the right to participate, the right to supervise, and the right to express.
Setting the rule-of-law course for the opening of the 15th Five-Year Plan
The "15th Five-Year Plan for Building a Beautiful China" explicitly writes "implementing the Ecological Environment Code and doing well the related work of legislation, amendment, repeal, and interpretation" into "improving the guarantee system for Beautiful China construction." Promulgating and implementing the Ecological Environment Code in the opening year of the 15th Five-Year Plan lays a solid rule-of-law foundation for achieving the Beautiful China goal.
Setting boundaries and stabilizing expectations for green and high-quality development. The 15th Five-Year Plan period is a key stage for the comprehensive green transformation of China's economic and social development, and also an important window period for achieving the carbon peak and carbon neutrality goals. The implementation of the Code provides stable institutional expectations and rigid legal constraints for this transformation. With the concept of coordinating and advancing carbon reduction, pollution reduction, green expansion, and growth in a coordinated and synergistic manner, it brings the battle against pollution, enhancement of ecological carrying capacity, development of the circular economy, green energy transformation and efficient utilization, and industrial structure adjustment onto the track of the rule of law, using the certainty of the rule of law to prevent short-term economic fluctuations from impacting the bottom line of the ecological environment, and ensuring that the green transformation advances steadily along the established direction.
Starting the rule-of-law countdown for achieving the Beautiful China goal. The "15th Five-Year Plan for Building a Beautiful China" clarifies: by 2035, the ecological environment will have fundamentally improved, and the Beautiful China goal will be basically achieved. From the implementation of the Code to 2035, there are only 9 years. The Ecological Environment Code is in essence a "rule-of-law construction drawing" with a reversed schedule: it raises ecological environment protection requirements by clarifying the principles of prevention first and systematic governance; it compacts the ecological environment protection responsibility of each leadership term by establishing government target responsibility systems and assessment and evaluation systems; it enhances the modernization level of the environmental governance system by constructing a full-process governance chain of source prevention, process control, damage compensation, and accountability.
Unfolding rule-of-law practice for the modernization of the ecological environment governance system and governance capacity. Central ecological and environmental protection inspection, shared responsibility of Party and government, ecological environment damage compensation, ecological public interest litigation, and ecological environment zoning control — these effective reform instruments since the 18th National Congress of the Party, by obtaining a stable position in the Code, provide a ballast stone for the 15th Five-Year Plan to continue advancing reforms in the deep-water zone. The implementation of the Code, as the "opening move" of the great practice of modernizing the ecological environment governance system and governance capacity, takes a new step of the rule of law leading ecological civilization construction.
Law is the beginning of governance. The Ecological Environment Code is not only 1,242 legal provisions, but also a solemn commitment of an ancient civilization to the modernization of harmonious coexistence between humanity and nature. With the weight of the Code, protect the greenness of mountains and rivers; with the effectiveness of implementation, fulfill the promise of beauty.
(The author is Vice President of the China Law Society (中国法学会) and President of the Environmental Resources Law Research Association (环境资源法学研究会).)
Return to TopThis issue's coordinator: Zhang Yifu (张一夫)
Layout design: Zhang Fangman (张芳曼)
Order of the State Council of the People's Republic of China
No. 843
The "Decision of the State Council on Amending and Repealing Certain Administrative Regulations" was adopted at the 93rd executive meeting of the State Council on July 31, 2026, and is hereby promulgated, effective as of August 15, 2026.
Premier Li Qiang
August 8, 2026
In order to comprehensively and effectively implement the Ecological Environment Code of the People's Republic of China (中华人民共和国生态环境法典), and to ensure that the ecological environment legal system is logically unified and its rules coordinated, the State Council has conducted a review of the administrative regulations involved. After the review, the State Council has decided:
I. To amend certain provisions of 12 administrative regulations. (Annex 1)
II. To repeal 3 administrative regulations. (Annex 2)
This Decision shall take effect as of August 15, 2026.
Annexes:
1. Administrative regulations amended by decision of the State Council
2. Administrative regulations repealed by decision of the State Council
Annex 1
Administrative Regulations Amended by Decision of the State Council
I. In Article 1 of the Regulations on the National Census of Pollution Sources (全国污染源普查条例), the phrase "the Statistics Law of the People's Republic of China and the Environmental Protection Law of the People's Republic of China" is amended to "the Ecological Environment Code of the People's Republic of China and the Statistics Law of the People's Republic of China."
II. In the first paragraph of Article 56 of the Interim Regulations on Express Delivery (快递暂行条例), the phrase "the Standardization Law of the People's Republic of China and the Law of the People's Republic of China on the Prevention and Control of Environmental Pollution by Solid Waste" is amended to "the Ecological Environment Code of the People's Republic of China and the Standardization Law of the People's Republic of China."
III. In Article 42 of the Regulations on the Regulation of Water Volume in the Yellow River (黄河水量调度条例), the phrase "the Water Law of the People's Republic of China, the Flood Control Law of the People's Republic of China, and the Law of the People's Republic of China on the Prevention and Control of Water Pollution" is amended to "the Ecological Environment Code of the People's Republic of China, the Yellow River Protection Law of the People's Republic of China, the Water Law of the People's Republic of China, and the Flood Control Law of the People's Republic of China."
IV. Item (4) of the first paragraph of Article 19 of the Regulations on the Biosafety Management of Pathogenic Microorganism Laboratories (病原微生物实验室生物安全管理条例) is amended to: "(4) conduct ecological environment impact assessment in accordance with the law."
V. In the first paragraph of Article 22 of the Regulations on the Management of Water Supply and Use for the South-to-North Water Diversion Project (南水北调工程供用水管理条例), the phrase "key water pollutant discharge units" is amended to "units subject to key management under the pollutant discharge permit system."
In Article 25 and the first paragraph of Article 50, the phrase "the Law of the People's Republic of China on the Prevention and Control of Water Pollution" is amended to "the Ecological Environment Code of the People's Republic of China."
VI. In Article 1 of the Regulations on the Management of Groundwater (地下水管理条例), the phrase "the Water Law of the People's Republic of China and the Law of the People's Republic of China on the Prevention and Control of Water Pollution" is amended to "the Ecological Environment Code of the People's Republic of China and the Water Law of the People's Republic of China."
In item (2) of the first paragraph of Article 41, the phrase "chemical production enterprises and industrial agglomeration areas" is amended to "chemical industry parks and chemical projects"; in item (3), the phrase "gas stations, etc." is amended to "gas stations, oil extraction plants, etc." The second paragraph is deleted.
In the first paragraph of Article 45, the phrase "the Law of the People's Republic of China on the Prevention and Control of Soil Pollution" is amended to "the Ecological Environment Code of the People's Republic of China."
In Article 55, the phrase "the Water Law of the People's Republic of China, the Law of the People's Republic of China on the Prevention and Control of Water Pollution, and the Law of the People's Republic of China on the Prevention and Control of Soil Pollution" is amended to "the Ecological Environment Code of the People's Republic of China and the Water Law of the People's Republic of China."
In Article 60, the phrase "a fine of not less than 20,000 yuan but not more than 100,000 yuan" is amended to "a fine of not less than 20,000 yuan but not more than 200,000 yuan."
VII. In the second paragraph of Article 18 and the third paragraph of Article 22 of the Regulations for the Implementation of the Law of the People's Republic of China on Import and Export Commodity Inspection (中华人民共和国进出口商品检验法实施条例), the phrase "solid waste that can be used as raw materials" is deleted.
The first paragraph of Article 22 is deleted.
The first and second paragraphs of Article 49 are deleted.
VIII. In the first paragraph of Article 42 of the Regulations on Ecological Environment Monitoring (生态环境监测条例), the phrase "order suspension of production and business" is amended to "may order restriction of production or suspension of production for remediation."
In Article 43, the phrase "order suspension of business" is amended to "report to the people's government with approval authority for approval, and order suspension of business or closure." Item (4) is amended to: "(4) use monitoring facilities and equipment that do not conform to the provisions of laws, administrative regulations, and national standards in carrying out monitoring services, or fail to comply with ecological environment monitoring norms and standards, causing monitoring data to be distorted." A paragraph is added as the second paragraph: "Where the circumstances under item (4) of the preceding paragraph exist and correction is refused, in addition to punishment in accordance with the preceding paragraph, if a license is held, the license shall be revoked."
In Article 44, the phrase "order suspension of production and business" is amended to "order restriction of production or suspension of production for remediation."
In the first paragraph of Article 45, the phrase "prohibit engagement in monitoring services" is amended to "prohibit engagement in monitoring services, report to the people's government with approval authority for approval, and order suspension of business or closure." In the second paragraph, the phrase "where a crime is constituted, criminal liability shall be pursued in accordance with the law, and engagement in monitoring services shall be prohibited for life" is deleted.
IX. In the second paragraph of Article 24 of the Regulations on Urban Drainage and Sewage Treatment (城镇排水与污水处理条例), the phrase "drainage households included in the list of key pollutant discharge units" is amended to "drainage households subject to key management under the pollutant discharge permit system."
In Article 30, the phrase "shall not dump, pile, store, discard, or spill sludge without authorization" is amended to "shall not dump, pile, store, discard, scatter, spill, or incinerate sludge without authorization."
The second paragraph of Article 53 is amended to: "Where, in violation of the provisions of these Regulations, sludge is dumped, piled, stored, discarded, scattered, spilled, or incinerated without authorization, the competent urban drainage department shall order cessation of the illegal act, take remedial measures to eliminate pollution, confiscate illegal gains, and impose a fine of not less than 200,000 yuan but not more than 2,000,000 yuan; the directly responsible supervisors and other directly responsible personnel shall be fined not less than 20,000 yuan but not more than 100,000 yuan; where circumstances are serious, restriction of production or suspension of production for remediation shall be ordered; where serious consequences are caused, a fine of not less than 2,000,000 yuan but not more than 5,000,000 yuan shall be imposed; where remedial measures are refused, a unit with remedial capability shall be designated to carry out remediation on behalf of the violator, and the costs shall be borne by the violator."
In Article 58, the phrase "the Law of the People's Republic of China on the Prevention and Control of Water Pollution" is amended to "the Ecological Environment Code of the People's Republic of China."
X. Item (4) of Article 37 of the Regulations on Energy Conservation in Civil Buildings (民用建筑节能条例) is changed to the second paragraph and amended to: "Where, in violation of the provisions of these Regulations, project owners, design units, and construction units use technologies, processes, materials, or equipment that are prohibited or eliminated in the relevant national catalogs or lists, the competent construction department of the people's government at or above the county level shall order correction, confiscate illegal gains, and impose a fine of not less than 1 time but not more than 5 times the value of the goods; where circumstances are serious, report to the people's government with approval authority for approval, and order suspension of business or closure."
In Article 39, the phrase "or use technologies, processes, materials, and equipment included in the catalog of prohibited use" is deleted.
Item (3) of Article 41 is deleted.
XI. Article 24 of the Interim Regulations on the Management of Carbon Emission Rights Trading (碳排放权交易管理暂行条例) is amended to: "Where a key emission unit fails to pay in full its carbon emission allowances within the prescribed time limit, the competent department of ecological environment shall order correction within a specified time limit and impose a fine of not less than 1,000,000 yuan but not more than 5,000,000 yuan; where payment is not completed within the time limit, a fine of not less than 5 times but not more than 10 times the average transaction price in the market during the 1 month before the deadline for payment of the unpaid carbon emission allowances shall be imposed, and suspension of production for remediation may be ordered."
In Article 26, the phrase "a fine of not less than 20,000 yuan but not more than 200,000 yuan" is amended to "a fine of not less than 50,000 yuan but not more than 200,000 yuan; the directly responsible supervisors and other directly responsible personnel shall be fined not less than 5,000 yuan but not more than 50,000 yuan."
XII. In Article 1 of the Regulations on the Management of Ozone-Depleting Substances (消耗臭氧层物质管理条例), the phrase "the Law of the People's Republic of China on the Prevention and Control of Atmospheric Pollution" is amended to "the Ecological Environment Code of the People's Republic of China."
In Article 40, the phrase "a fine of not less than 20,000 yuan but not more than 200,000 yuan" is amended to "a fine of not less than 50,000 yuan but not more than 200,000 yuan; the directly responsible supervisors and other directly responsible personnel shall be fined not less than 5,000 yuan but not more than 50,000 yuan."
Annex 2
Administrative Regulations Repealed by Decision of the State Council
I. Regulations of the People's Republic of China on the Prevention and Control of Pollution Damage to the Marine Environment by Land-Sourced Pollutants (promulgated by Order No. 61 of the State Council of the People's Republic of China on June 22, 1990)
II. Regulations of the People's Republic of China on the Prevention and Control of Pollution Damage to the Marine Environment by Coastal Engineering Construction Projects (promulgated by Order No. 62 of the State Council of the People's Republic of China on June 25, 1990; first revised in accordance with the "Decision of the State Council on Amending the Regulations of the People's Republic of China on the Prevention and Control of Pollution Damage to the Marine Environment by Coastal Engineering Construction Projects" on September 25, 2007; second revised in accordance with the "Decision of the State Council on Amending and Repealing Certain Administrative Regulations" on March 1, 2017; third revised in accordance with the "Decision of the State Council on Amending and Repealing Certain Administrative Regulations" on March 19, 2018)
III. Interim Regulations on the Prevention and Control of Water Pollution in the Huai River Basin (promulgated by Order No. 183 of the State Council of the People's Republic of China on August 8, 1995; revised in accordance with the "Decision of the State Council on Repealing and Amending Certain Administrative Regulations" on January 8, 2011)
(Xinhua News Agency, Beijing, August 13)
Return to TopBy: 张 璁
Prevention is more critical than punishment. Only with multi-party coordinated efforts can we better safeguard the online pure land for minors.
"Cooperate, or we'll call the police on your parents" — this threat, 荒诞不经 (huāng dàn bù jīng - "absurd and unorthodox," preposterous) on its face, can precisely "grip" children who are 涉世未深 (shè shì wèi shēn - "not yet deep in worldly experience," inexperienced). In recent years, many fraud schemes targeting minors have appeared online: some are packaged as game benefits, some lure victims under the guise of part-time "brushing" jobs, and some directly impersonate public security, procuratorial, and judicial authorities to intimidate, causing family losses of several thousand or even tens of thousands of yuan. In Xiangyang City, Hubei Province, local public security organs cracked an "intimidation-style" telecom fraud case: an 11-year-old girl, Xiao Zhang, clicked a link for "free game skin" and was threatened by scammers who claimed that "a minor's operation had frozen the account and her parents, suspected of violations, would be detained." The girl transferred about 50,000 yuan while her parents were asleep.
Today's children are "original inhabitants" of the internet, but their ability to defend against risks is not "innate." They have weak discernment, are psychologically susceptible to control, and lack awareness of traps and scams. Scammers target precisely this, seeking "loopholes" in minors' behavioral patterns, consumption habits, and social preferences — the children are "hunted" 不知不觉 (bù zhī bù jué - "without knowing or perceiving," unconsciously).
What is worse, some go online to incite and induce minors, directly dragging children into illegal and criminal activities. Not long ago, a prosecutor in Haidian District, Beijing (北京市海淀区), told the story of Xiao Yan — Xiao Yan initially just saw a part-time food delivery job posting online, but after contacting the merchant operator, he was lured into becoming a "runner" (money mule), following instructions to meet, collect cash, and transfer funds. In just three days, he handled over 300,000 yuan in illicit funds, and ultimately was sentenced for the crime of concealing and disguising criminal proceeds.
Analyzing these cases, the reason scammers succeed is mainly that two lines of defense — the family and the platform — have failed.
On one hand, many parents today are accustomed to "digital babysitting," handing their phones to children to "keep them quiet for a while," yet rarely asking who is on the other side of the screen, and neglecting management of payment passwords and facial recognition permissions. On the other hand, many scammers reach minors through online platforms — some through games, some through short-video comment sections, and some directly through social media apps. Platforms' omissions in screening fraud-related keywords and intelligent interception of traffic-diverting ads give scammers a 可乘之机 (kě chéng zhī jī - "an exploitable opportunity," a chance to take advantage).
Protecting children cannot simply mean locking them outside the digital world. Only with multi-party coordinated efforts can we better safeguard the online pure land for minors and guide children to learn to protect themselves while keeping pace with the times. Recently, the Cyberspace Administration of China (中央网信办) launched a nationwide four-month special action, "Qinglang: Minors' Online Protection" (清朗·未成年人网络保护). Judicial authorities have also maintained a high-pressure crackdown on crimes against minors committed through the internet, continuously building the legal bulwark for minors' online protection.
Prevention is more critical than punishment. On the parents' side, beyond setting payment limits and regularly checking account statements, the key is to teach children how to use phones safely and to reach a trust-based consensus with children that "if you encounter anything suspicious, tell your parents immediately." On the platform side, responsibilities for risk identification, abnormal behavior alerts, and minors' protection must be strengthened, shifting digital protection of minors from "post-hoc response" to "pre-emptive prevention," eliminating hidden dangers in the bud.
(The author is a reporter for this newspaper)
Column submission email: rmrbzzb@peopledaily.cn
People's Daily, Beijing, August 13 (Reporter Zhang Tianpei) — A reporter learned from the Ministry of Public Security (公安部) that recently, the Ministry of Public Security, in close coordination with the Royal Thai Police, simultaneously carried out a net-closing operation against a major cross-border credit card fraud case specifically targeting Chinese citizens, destroying multiple criminal dens and arresting 4 Chinese suspects and 5 Thai suspects respectively.
In 2025, the Economic Crime Investigation Bureau (经侦局) of the Ministry of Public Security guided and coordinated Shanghai public security economic crime investigation departments to analyze and discover a cross-border criminal gang committing credit card fraud against Chinese citizens, and promptly notified Thai police of the case details and requests for assistance in investigation, launching international law enforcement cooperation.
Investigation found that in 2024, suspects Ji and Xiao conspired together, with Ji opening a dried fruit shop in Thailand as a front, using discounts for UnionPay card purchases as bait to illegally obtain victims' credit card information. Subsequently, Xiao produced counterfeit cards and recruited swipers to carry out fraudulent transactions and dispose of stolen goods for profit. As of now, the amount involved in the case has been verified to exceed 5 million RMB.
In early July this year, the Ministry of Public Security dispatched a working group to Thailand to conduct joint case handling with Thai police, precisely analyzing the criminal gang's organizational structure, core backbone members, and criminal dens, and comprehensively grasping their criminal methods and fund flows. Recently, the two countries' police simultaneously carried out the net-closing operation, achieving deployment across all links of the case, evidence collection across all elements, and strikes across the entire chain.
A relevant official of the Ministry of Public Security stated that this net-closing operation was the first joint law enforcement action simultaneously carried out by Chinese and Thai police in the field of combating economic crime in recent years, effectively deterring cross-border economic criminal activities. In the next step, both sides will continue to consolidate the results of this joint operation, explore the establishment of a normalized coordination mechanism for combating cross-border economic crime, and continuously deepen law enforcement cooperation in intelligence sharing, experience exchange, joint analysis, and pursuit of fugitives and recovery of stolen assets.
Return to TopBy: 本报记者 任彤彤
Under the azure sky, the "Unsheathing the Sword in the Deep Blue" theme sculpture stands in the Hero Square of the Naval Museum, its blade pointing straight at the heavens. Before the sculpture, more than a hundred summer camp participants, dressed in uniform clothing, stood in neat ranks with resolute gazes. Some were students from schools built with naval assistance; others were representatives of children of military personnel stationed in the area. Recently, a "Ten-Thousand-Mile Maritime Frontier Journey · North Sea Tour" national defense summer camp organized by a unit of the Northern Theater Command Navy was held in Qingdao, Shandong. "We hope the students will come to understand history here, and even more so, understand the responsibility on their shoulders," said a Northern Theater Command Navy leader in his message.
"Look, what a big warship!" "So magnificent!" On the second day after arriving at camp, the participants saw the warships up close for the first time, their young faces filled with excitement.
In the morning light, several warships lay quietly at anchor. Beside the Urumqi, children from No. 1 Middle School of Urumqi County, Urumqi, Xinjiang, could hardly contain their excitement, trotting all the way toward the gangway.
Boarding the warship that shares its name with their hometown, the children toured the main gun, vertical launch systems, and other equipment one by one. The docent spoke of what he had seen during the Gulf of Aden escort missions — the Urumqi had once provided continuous day-and-night accompanying vigilance for multiple Chinese-flagged oceangoing fishing vessels, escorting the fishing boats all the way through dangerous waters. The docent said: "When they left the formation, some fishing boats hung up banners reading: 'Thank you, Chinese Navy, for your protection and escort.'" The children's eyes were full of admiration. Afterwards, the officers and soldiers presented the ship's mascot, "Wu Youyou," to the children, who could not bear to put it down.
The teachers and students also brought a carefully prepared souvenir — a relief sculpture combining Xinjiang characteristics with naval elements. The base bears the Adras pattern symbolizing the cultural heritage of the north and south of the Tianshan Mountains; in the center is set a solemn naval anchor; and surrounding it, red pomegranates are plump and full, their colors vivid. Leading teacher Chen Yang said with emotion: "The hometown is connected to the maritime frontier, and the maritime frontier is connected to national defense. This souvenir embodies the deep friendship between the entire school's teachers and students and the officers and sailors of the naval ship Urumqi. The pomegranate seeds on the relief are the best testimony."
(Wang Guangjie contributed to the reporting)
On August 11, visitors viewed the "Fingertip Rhyme, Paper Moistens Chang'an" (指尖传韵·纸润长安) paper-cutting themed exhibition at the Old Steel Factory Design Creative Industrial Park (老钢厂设计创意产业园) in Xincheng District (新城区), Xi'an, Shaanxi Province. The park has launched an intangible cultural heritage paper-cutting touring exhibition, combining traditional folk crafts with cultural and creative spaces to enrich the cultural life of citizens and tourists.
Photo by Zhang Cheng (Image China)
Beijing, August 13 (Reporters Pan Junqiang, Lin Lili) — Reporters learned from the second consultative dialogue meeting on "breaking the rat race and moving toward goodness" (破卷向善) in the platform economy, organized by the Beijing Municipal Market Regulation Administration, that three platforms — Meituan, Taobao Flash Purchase, and JD Delivery — will continue to optimize their algorithms and take the lead in collectively implementing the "red-light stop clock" (红灯停表) in Beijing, whereby the time riders spend waiting at red lights is extended in the assessment time, so that "rushing against the clock" no longer becomes a 紧箍咒 (jǐn gū zhòu - "the tightening band spell," a binding constraint or pressure) on riders.
The so-called "red-light stop clock" means that delivery platforms will "automatically add time" to riders' delivery duration — for however long they wait at a red light, that amount of time is added. In addition to the "red-light stop clock," platforms have also introduced more refined and humane methods of calculating delivery time. The delivery time for riders in order-transfer scenarios is guaranteed, with a moderate increase in the assessment time for rider delivery; for deliveries made by electric bicycle, the delivery time is calculated on the basis of an average speed not exceeding 15 kilometers per hour; for severe weather, complex road conditions, and similar situations, additional time compensation is increased. The estimated delivery time displayed on the merchant list homepage is scientifically set to avoid "minute-level racing." Orders that are late due to slow merchant food preparation do not affect the rider's service score.
Platforms are also strengthening the positive incentive effect of safety scores to foster a healthy atmosphere of compliance with rules and regulations. They are increasing investment in technical resources, strengthening monitoring of traffic violations, and guiding riders to ride safely and park vehicles in accordance with regulations. "The core of platform algorithms lies in balancing efficiency and fairness, and weighing safety against speed," said Zhang Yi, a professor at the University of International Business and Economics. He believes that measures such as moderately increasing the assessment time for rider delivery and the "red-light stop clock" are not only substantive protection of riders' labor rights and interests, but also a vivid practice of using algorithms for good to push the industry from a "speed race" toward a "quality competition."
By: 本报记者 宋朝军
In Jishishan Bonan, Dongxiang and Salar Autonomous County (积石山保安族东乡族撒拉族自治县), Gansu, after a rain had passed, Chang Junlong (长俊龙), who lives on the first floor of Chaoyang Community (朝阳社区) in Hulinjia Township (胡林家乡), looked out the window and saw that the water at the entrance of his building unit had mostly drained away. He also noticed someone standing at the unit entrance in the rain observing — looking closely, it was a cadre he knew well, Wei Yuqing (魏育青).
Before long, Wei Yuqing knocked on Chang Junlong's door, and after entering the house began to talk: "There's no standing water now. If there's anything about living here that doesn't feel right, just say so at any time." As a liaison cadre for the "knock on the door to solve difficulties" (敲门解困) campaign, Wei Yuqing's practice of entering homes to hear demands and solve problems has become routine.
Why go door to door, household by household, to knock? In Jishishan County (积石山县), the 10,015 housing units at 13 centralized resettlement sites built after the disaster have all been completed and handed over for use, but this is not the end point of serving the masses. Jishishan County has deployed cadre strength downward to the grassroots. Starting from April this year, on the basis of summarizing practical experience in the county-wide cadre liaison work and distilling practices for handling mass demands, it implemented the "knock on the door to solve difficulties" action, expanding it into a normalized working mechanism for serving the masses.
Chang Junlong's family originally lived in the village. After the earthquake, they chose resettlement in the apartment buildings of Chaoyang Community, and he drew by lot the first floor of Building 30. The community's buildings are distributed across different slopes; Building 30 is located on lower terrain, where the risk of water accumulation is high. When heavy rain fell in June this year, Chang Junlong found standing water at the unit entrance but did not know how to handle it, so he reported the problem to Wei Yuqing, who came for "knock on the door to solve difficulties."
"After learning about the situation, we coordinated the forces of the property management, the community, and the township." As a liaison cadre of the County Party Committee Organization Department (县委组织部), Wei Yuqing is responsible for contacting the residents of Unit 1, Building 30. Among all 1,000 households in the community's 36 buildings, every household has a liaison cadre for "knock on the door to solve difficulties." In less than a week, Wei Yuqing and the others together cleared the pipe networks in front of the building and maintained the drainage outlets to ensure smooth drainage.
Some elderly people cannot use their phones to complete the facial recognition verification for pension insurance; some residents do not know how to pay water and electricity bills online; some parents are worried about their children's schooling and household registration attribution... One by one, these fine and miscellaneous life problems have been resolved through repeated rounds of "knock on the door to solve difficulties."
For the masses at rural resettlement sites, new situations have emerged in industrial livelihoods in their new life. "Once this industrial road is completed, next year we won't have trouble going to the new fields to farm!" In Tuanjie Village (团结村), Liuji Township (刘集乡), standing at the edge of the field ridge, villager Shi Wenjun (石文军) watched the industrial road being built day by day.
"It's closer to the fields now, but there are few roads inside the fields, and some tricycles, agricultural machinery, and farm tools can't get in." Three months ago, when Ma Jinhu (马进虎), deputy secretary of the Liuji Township Party Committee and a cadre assigned to the village, came to Shi Wenjun's home for "knock on the door to solve difficulties," he heard his thoughts, and other villagers had reported similar situations quite a few times. Subsequently, through project support, Tuanjie Village repaired and newly built 8 kilometers of field industrial roads. Besides the industrial roads, whether the irrigation canals can be used, how to improve the Bonan waist knife intangible cultural heritage workshop, how to plant crops more scientifically, what functions still need to be added to the Party-Mass Service Center (党群服务中心)... In "knock on the door to solve difficulties," Ma Jinhu and his colleagues heard the voices of every one of the village's 385 households, and in just over two years, accomplished one urgent practical matter after another by the side of the masses.
As of now, "knock on the door to solve difficulties" has been implemented from the 13 centralized resettlement sites and has gradually expanded to all 17 townships in the county. Focusing on building inter-embedded communities (互嵌式社区) at centralized resettlement sites and resolving various livelihood demands in the early stage of resettlement site operation, Jishishan County coordinated and organized 252 liaison cadres and 81 area-responsible cadres to go down to the grassroots frontline, joined by more than 700 township cadres and more than 1,500 village (community) cadres in carrying out "knock on the door to solve difficulties," with a cumulative total of more than 42,000 households visited and surveyed, and 7,056 mass demands completed and resolved.
Return to TopThis newspaper Hefei, August 13 (Reporter Tian Xianjin) The reporter learned from Anhui Province's press conference on combating and governing telecom network fraud: since July of last year, Anhui has achieved year-on-year double declines in both cases and losses for 12 consecutive months; from January to July of this year, they fell by 38.6% and 44.2% respectively year-on-year.
All parts of Anhui have concentrated efforts on special operations against major cases, fully rooting out fraud-related "black and gray industries," and strictly cracking down on activities such as renting and lending bank cards and phone cards, illegally connecting and making calls, and money laundering through transaction routing. Public security organs have collaborated efficiently with banks, leveraging the geographical advantages of bank branch locations to precisely intercept cash and gold that have already been delivered to fraud gangs, making every effort to reduce losses to the public. From January to July of this year, Anhui lawfully imposed joint disciplinary punishment on 2,621 people and intercepted 91.69 million yuan in cash and 17.6 kilograms of gold.
On the technical countermeasure front, public security organs and telecommunications departments have coordinated their efforts to promptly shut down and block discovered fraudulent phone calls and websites. For members of the public who have already been in contact with fraudulent activities and may currently be falling victim to fraud, relying on the 96110 anti-fraud hotline and anti-fraud forces at all levels, measures such as tiered handling and in-person dissuasion are adopted to provide timely warnings and prevent transfers and remittances.
By: 付明丽
General Secretary Xi Jinping cares deeply about the healthy growth of children and young people, encouraging them to "inherit the red genes (红色基因), increase knowledge and abilities, and temper will and character," "cultivate the scientific spirit, study diligently, strive to practice, and lead more young people to speak about science, love science, learn science, and use science," and "establish from childhood the concept that labor is glorious — do one's own things oneself, help others with their things, and vie to do public-spirited things."
During the summer vacation, various localities have held volunteer activities of all kinds, including red study tours, science popularization activities, and community governance. Primary and secondary school students have actively participated, broadening their horizons and serving society through these activities, feeling happy and fulfilled.
The main purpose of carrying out volunteer service for primary and secondary school students is to educate people. Various localities have incorporated volunteer service into school education and teaching and students' social practice, deeply integrating volunteer service with students' stages of growth, school characteristics, and social resources, continuously enriching the supply of volunteer service.
Volunteer service is a vivid carrier for primary and secondary schools to establish virtue and cultivate people (立德树人), and is of great significance for promoting the comprehensive development of children and young people in morality, intelligence, physique, aesthetics, and labor. It is precisely these vivid experiences and deep participation that transform volunteer service from a summer activity into a growth practice integrated into daily life, allowing children to become better versions of themselves through contributions 力所能及 (lì suǒ néng jí - "where one's strength can reach," within one's power).
Return to TopBy: 本报记者 秦瑞杰 李亚楠 张 枨
Prologue
The sunlight is blazing. Standing on a sand dune and looking into the distance, at the Tengger Desert New Energy Base in Zhongwei, Ningxia, 6.4 million photovoltaic panels are linked end to end, a 蔚为壮观 (wèi wéi zhuàng guān - "luxuriant and spectacular," presenting a magnificent spectacle).
Pointing at a cloud in the sky, Lu Jun, an engineer at the base's equipment maintenance center, said: "In the past, photovoltaic power generation 'depended on heaven for food' — a single cloud passing overhead could reduce generation efficiency." Today, tracking brackets automatically adjust their angle as the sun's position changes, chasing the sun for electricity like sunflowers. Annual generation is about 10% higher than with fixed-bracket panels, and the base's hourly generation increases by up to 300,000 kWh.
In October 2021, President Xi Jinping pointed out at the Leaders' Summit of the 15th Meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity that "China will continue to advance the adjustment of its industrial structure and energy mix, vigorously develop renewable energy, and accelerate the planning and construction of large-scale wind and photovoltaic power base projects in desert, gobi, and wasteland areas." To date, three batches of "desert-gobi-wasteland" (沙戈荒) new energy base projects in China have been put into operation in succession.
The "15th Five-Year Plan for Renewable Energy Development" issued in July this year proposes to deepen the construction of the "Three-North" wind and photovoltaic power bases with the "desert-gobi-wasteland" regions as the focus, and scientifically advance pilot projects for photovoltaic desert control and 100% green electricity transmission bases. During the "15th Five-Year Plan" period, the "Three-North" wind and photovoltaic power bases will add more than 370 million kW of installed capacity.
How do "desert-gobi-wasteland" regions rise as new energy oases? Recently, reporters visited Ningxia, Inner Mongolia, Xinjiang and other places to investigate the construction and operation of "desert-gobi-wasteland" new energy bases.
Overcoming Difficulties
Enabling power generation equipment to "stand firm" under extreme climatic conditions
Blades like wings, whirling high in the air. At the Mengxi Tuoketuo 2-million-kW wind-solar combined project base in Horinger County (和林格尔县), Inner Mongolia, rows of large wind turbines stand towering. The elevation here is over 1,500 meters, extreme gust speeds can reach 30 meters per second, and winter temperatures drop to minus 30 degrees Celsius.
"Extreme environments impose stringent requirements on new energy equipment construction. Equipment must not be eroded by wind and sand or cracked by severe cold, so 'active protection' must be built in at the design stage," said Wang Min, project manager of the Yanggou Wind Farm under the Tuoketuo New Energy Division of China Datang Corporation.
The construction area lies among mountain ravines, and many turbine sites are not accessible by road. Wang Min recalled that it was winter at the time, and staff braved strong winds, trudging over snow-covered steep slopes, spending a full month to complete terrain surveys and site calibration point by point.
Greater challenges lay ahead. "The turbine hub center is 107 meters high, the blades are 91 meters long, and the total installed weight exceeds 520 tons," Wang Min said. The mountain slopes have large elevation differences, the roads are narrow and rugged, and transporting heavy components is difficult. "The entire turbine is disassembled for transport and assembled at the mountaintop, like building with building blocks. In extreme weather, getting one turbine's components from the foot of the mountain to the summit can take more than a month."
After the equipment reached the mountaintop, hoisting operations faced another test. When installing blades, the on-site wind speed must be below 8 meters per second, yet the plateau mountains are windy year-round. "To wait for a suitable weather window, staying up all night is the norm," said safety management officer Wang Xiaoguang. The project established a 24-hour standby mechanism, using meteorological software to precisely capture periods of light wind, and once conditions were met, hoisting would commence immediately.
From preliminary survey to equipment transport to completing operations, the Mengxi Tuoketuo project overcame difficulty after difficulty.
Where the terrain is undulating and conventional photovoltaic brackets are hard to adapt, fixed and flexible bracket combinations were adopted, laid out following the mountain contours; where gusts are frequent and panels risk being blown over, the design was optimized with internal pressure blocks added for reinforcement; where winter cold makes concrete prone to cracking, heated shelters were erected and high-grade concrete was selected... "When the environment is harsh, we adapt to it with even higher standards," Wang Min said.
From the mountains of the Inner Mongolia Plateau southward, the innovation of the Ningxia Tengger Desert New Energy Base lies in overcoming the problem of shifting sand.
Driving into the southeastern edge of the Tengger Desert, the gravel road winds between rolling dunes, flanked on both sides by dark-blue photovoltaic panels stretching out of sight. The sand here is fine and highly fluid.
"When driving piles, the deeper the sand, the more compact it becomes. You drive the pile in with force, but before installation is complete, the hole collapses. Through repeated trials, the construction team introduced a pilot-hole drilling machine, first injecting a small amount of water to make the sand clump, then driving prefabricated pipe piles through the side pilot holes, solving the desert pile-driving problem," said Lin Kai, deputy manager of Phase I construction of the National Energy Group's Ningxia Tengger Desert New Energy Base. The more critical technical breakthrough was the design of the photovoltaic brackets.
Walking into the core area of Phase I, rows of photovoltaic panels stand in neat formation, with piles 3 meters high and a clearance of more than 2 meters between the panel frames and the ground — like walking into a "photovoltaic forest."
"In the past, photovoltaic panels were about 40 centimeters off the ground. Wind would curl downward and often scoop out large holes beneath the panels, easily damaging equipment," Lin Kai explained. With the "big tree" design, the panels are higher off the ground, wind passes through quickly, and equipment damage is reduced.
The "15th Five-Year Plan for Renewable Energy Development" proposes advancing research and application of survey, design, and construction technologies for large wind and photovoltaic bases in "desert-gobi-wasteland" and high-altitude, severe-cold regions.
"Only when power generation equipment can 'stand firm' under extreme climatic conditions can green electricity be 'generated reliably and delivered steadily,'" Lin Kai said. It is precisely the turbines that "stand firm" among the mountains and the photovoltaic panels "custom-made" for the desert that lay a solid foundation for green electricity's journey of a thousand miles.
Smart Operations and Maintenance
Ensuring stable power generation at new energy bases with high quality and efficiency
With only 7 operations and maintenance personnel, more than 2 million photovoltaic panels across a 31,000-mu area can be maintained. At the China Datang Group 14th Division Kunyu 1-million-kW photovoltaic base on the edge of the Taklamakan Desert in Xinjiang, reporters experienced the high quality and efficiency of smart operations and maintenance.
Entering the central control room of the Kunyu photovoltaic base, a smart monitoring wall composed of multiple display screens comes into view. Several technicians lightly touch the control console, receiving work orders from time to time: "A photovoltaic panel has dust accumulation and hot spots; please handle as soon as possible."
"In the past, more than 300 arrays were inspected manually, with each array taking 4 to 5 hours," said Ma Xiaole, director of the Kunyu photovoltaic base's operations and maintenance center. Today, the base is equipped with 5 drone systems, and one array can be inspected in 10 minutes. The drones carry infrared thermal imagers and high-definition cameras, capable of precisely identifying hidden hazards such as hot spots and dust accumulation, with data transmitted back to the central control system in real time and work orders generated simultaneously.
Holding an operations work order, Ma Xiaole pointed to the words "dust accumulation" marked on it and said, "This is a common problem at 'desert-gobi-wasteland' bases." With heavy wind and sand, if photovoltaic panels are not cleaned in time, generation efficiency will drop noticeably. Under normal circumstances, manually cleaning more than 2 million photovoltaic panels — even just a simple sweep — would require at least 200 workers for a week. But "desert-gobi-wasteland" regions are prone to frequent sandstorms and intense ultraviolet radiation, making large-scale reliance on manual labor infeasible. With the smart operations and maintenance system, the problem is 迎刃而解 (yíng rèn ér jiě - "split as it meets the blade," to solve problems readily).
Several hundred kilometers away, at the National Energy Group's Xinjiang Akto photovoltaic power plant, a photovoltaic automatic cleaning robot was slowly moving along the panel surface. "By manual labor, cleaning happened once every 3 months to half a year. Now the robot cleans twice a day, once in the morning and once in the afternoon," said equipment maintenance worker Li Renping.
The plant is also equipped with intelligent track inspection robots with infrared cameras for real-time monitoring. The centralized control center in Urumqi, far away, can issue inspection commands in real time through the intelligent system, analyze the transmitted data, and automatically generate reports. "Station personnel no longer need to patrol back and forth; they only need to regularly compare the operations reports and 'fill prescriptions accordingly' to precisely resolve most problems," Li Renping said.
Xinjiang's wind and photovoltaic bases are generally large in area, while the challenge at the Inner Mongolia Mengxi Tuoketuo project base is the dispersal of sites.
At the Horinger area operations and maintenance center, technician Qiao Zhenhua and his colleagues are responsible for inspecting a project spanning 30 kilometers from north to south, with the farthest turbine site requiring a 1.5-hour drive. "The base spans two counties, with a total of 286 turbines, 111 photovoltaic arrays, and 4 step-up substations, yet only 41 operations and maintenance personnel," Qiao Zhenhua said. The inspection points are deep in remote mountainous areas with inconvenient transportation, and operations staff often have to climb over two or three mountain ridges on foot in a single day.
To solve this problem, the project developer built 6 drone nests in the photovoltaic area, each carrying 2 to 3 drones, for fully autonomous inspection coverage.
"Except in severe weather, the drones inspect daily, and a single photovoltaic array can be completed in just 10 to 15 minutes," Qiao Zhenhua explained. The intelligent equipment can precisely identify problems that manual inspection would miss, such as equipment overheating and line discharge, reducing operations and maintenance manpower by 80%.
The "15th Five-Year Plan for Renewable Energy Development" proposes applying technologies such as intelligent identification, automated inspection, and intelligent fault diagnosis to raise the level of smart operations and maintenance for new energy.
"At 'desert-gobi-wasteland' new energy bases, smart operations and maintenance have become an indispensable key link, ensuring stable power generation with high quality and efficiency," Ma Xiaole said.
统筹兼顾 (tǒng chóu jiān gù - "overall planning and balanced consideration," to make comprehensive plans and take all factors into account)
Broadening channels to transmit green electricity outward, laying out industries to consume green electricity
Entering the Zhundong Economic and Technological Development Zone (准东经济技术开发区) in Xinjiang, the Gobi is dotted with towering transmission towers and crisscrossing power lines. This is the site of the Changji Converter Station (昌吉换流站) of the Zhundong–Wannan ±1100 kV ultra-high-voltage direct current transmission project, the "master valve" for transmitting electricity outward from the Gurbantunggut Desert New Energy Base with a total installed capacity of 20 GW.
"More than 30,000 pieces of equipment in the station operate around the clock, receiving 200 million kWh of electricity every day. It can reach the East China Power Grid (华东电网), more than 3,200 kilometers away, in 0.01 seconds, meeting the electricity needs of approximately 90 million people, with losses below 5%," said station director Wang Hong.
This is a microcosm of outward electricity transmission from "desert-gobi-wasteland" bases.
New energy generation is concentrated in the "Three-North" region, while electricity consumers are mainly in the eastern and central regions — a spatial mismatch between resources and electricity load. At the same time, the temporal mismatch of photovoltaics ("surplus by day, shortfall by night"), and the pace mismatch of power source construction outpacing grid construction, together constitute the "spatiotemporal gap" in green electricity consumption.
How to bridge this gap? Various regions have explored a consumption pathway of "transmit outward, consume locally."
Transmitting green electricity "outward" is the primary pathway to resolving the spatial mismatch. At present, Xinjiang has built 5 outward transmission channels — "two AC, three DC" — namely 2 750 kV AC and 3 ultra-high-voltage DC channels, with a total transmission capacity of 33 million kW, delivering surplus green electricity to 23 provinces, autonomous regions, and municipalities, with cumulative outward transmission of new energy electricity exceeding 300 billion kWh.
"The load within Xinjiang is a 'small pond'; outward transmission channels connect to the national 'large reservoir.'" Yu Jin, deputy director of the New Power System Planning Research Center of the Economic and Technological Research Institute of State Grid Xinjiang Electric Power Co., Ltd. (国网新疆电力有限公司), said that outward transmission channels are the "high-speed road network" for Xinjiang's clean energy to flow outward — the larger the channel capacity, the higher the "ceiling" for new energy consumption.
Yu Jin explained that during the "15th Five-Year Plan" period, State Grid Xinjiang Electric Power will strive to put the fourth DC channel for Xinjiang electricity transmission into operation, and commence construction of the fifth and sixth channels, with plans that by 2030, a "four AC, six DC" outward transmission pattern will be formed, with Xinjiang's outward transmission capacity exceeding 60 million kW.
Not only is green electricity sent thousands of miles away, but industry is also drawn to the energy source. This approach of "electricity does not move, electricity load moves" is opening new space for renewable energy consumption at "desert-gobi-wasteland" bases.
In Zhongwei on the southeastern edge of the Tengger Desert, the electricity from the China Datang Zhongwei Cloud Base 500,000-kW photovoltaic power station does not enter the public grid, but is delivered directly through a dedicated transmission line to the nearby Ningxia Zhongwei Data Center Cluster (宁夏中卫数据中心集群). On May 2 this year, this large-scale "computing-electricity synergy" green electricity direct-supply project was officially put into operation.
"Driving computing power with green electricity, and consuming green electricity with computing power, the project can provide 2.29 billion kWh of green electricity to the cloud base each year, turning the wind and solar resources of the Gobi into green momentum driving the computing power industry," said Jin Liang, deputy general manager of China Datang Group Zhongwei New Energy Co., Ltd. The state has explicitly required that green electricity account for no less than 80% of new data centers' electricity consumption, making green electricity direct supply a major advantage for the local development of the big data industry, and also attracting the attention of more leading investors in the computing power industry.
In 2025, China's data center electricity consumption reached 196 billion kWh, a year-on-year increase of 18.1%.
"'Transmitting outward' relies on channels, 'consuming locally' relies on industry — the two 并行不悖 (bìng xíng bù bèi - "run parallel without contradiction," to coexist without conflict) and complement each other," Yu Jin said. It is necessary to find the optimal combination of supply and demand matching based on the resource endowments and grid conditions of different regions, improve green electricity utilization rates, and build a three-dimensional consumption system.
During the interviews, some respondents believed that insufficient regional coordination is one of the reasons some green electricity "cannot be fully used," and suggested establishing a cross-regional mechanism for mutual assistance in electricity surplus and shortage, to achieve efficient flow and flexible mutual assistance of power resources, thereby raising consumption levels.
Value Realization
Making green electricity "sell smoothly" and "sell at value"
Entering the Xinjiang Electric Power Trading Center (新疆电力交易中心) in Urumqi, green electricity trading information scrolls across large screens. Different new energy stations can declare outward transmission volumes and prices based on their generation capacity, and the trading center transmits the data to trading institutions in other provinces in real time, enabling precise matching between green electricity resources and the electricity demand of eastern and central provinces.
"Stations plan their generation schedules in advance based on the price signals and time-period demand of green electricity trading, 'shaving peaks and filling valleys' to align generation rhythms with market demand," said Song Xueqiang, director of the Trading Department of Xinjiang Electric Power Trading Center Co., Ltd., citing the example of off-peak green electricity trading from Xinjiang to Beijing —
China spans a vast east-west distance. When evening electricity load rises in Beijing, the sun is still shining brightly in Xinjiang, and photovoltaic stations are at peak generation. The trading model of "Xinjiang green electricity generated at noon, Beijing load consumed in the evening" enables precise supply-demand matching between the two regions. As of early May this year, green electricity transmitted from Xinjiang to Beijing has exceeded 32 million kWh.
"Outward transmission electricity prices are generally higher than local prices within Xinjiang, which for new energy enterprises means greater profit margins and investment enthusiasm," Song Xueqiang explained. Relying on cross-regional channels for inter-provincial green electricity trading, eastern and central provinces can purchase Xinjiang green electricity, while Xinjiang gains increased industrial revenue and employment opportunities.
In 2025, the National Development and Reform Commission and the National Energy Administration jointly issued the "Notice on Deepening Market-Oriented Reform of New Energy On-Grid Electricity Prices to Promote High-Quality Development of New Energy," promoting that, in principle, all on-grid electricity from new energy projects enters the electricity market, with on-grid prices shifting from fixed prices to prices formed through market trading. This marks the industry's transformation from a "policy-dependent model" to a "market-operated model."
In the same year, Xinjiang's annual green electricity consumption reached 43.43 billion kWh, a year-on-year increase of 230%, setting a record high. Among this, green electricity trading accounted for 3.17 billion kWh, and green certificate trading accounted for 40.259 million certificates, equivalent to 40.26 billion kWh of green electricity.
Market-based trading makes green electricity "sell smoothly," while the ecological product value realization mechanism makes green electricity "sell at value."
In Yanggou Township (羊群沟乡), Horinger County, climbing a gentle hill and looking out, the grass beneath the photovoltaic panels is lush, with flocks of sheep moving through. The Inner Mongolia Mengxi Tuoketuo project base opens its site every summer, allowing herders' flocks to enter and graze.
"Before, this area was all barren slopes, and sheep had to be penned and fed, which was very costly. Now, grazing under the photovoltaic panels, my family's more than 200 sheep save 50,000 to 60,000 yuan a year in feed costs alone," Chen Sanmao, a villager from Qianzhuanyao Natural Village (前砖窑沟自然村) in Yanggou Township, told reporters. This model clears the weeds under the photovoltaic panels, eliminates fire hazards, and broadens channels for villagers to increase their income.
At the Ningxia Tengger Desert New Energy Base, after nearly 4 years of operation, more than 1.2 million desert shrubs including Mongolian wheatgrass, sand sagebrush, and Caragana have been planted cumulatively beneath the photovoltaic panels, with vegetation coverage rising from less than 0.5% before treatment to over 20%.
"When Phase I had just begun site-leveling operations, the site was full of flying sand, and I wore two layers of masks. Now when I patrol the base, I often see wild animals such as goitered gazelles, red foxes, and ruddy shelducks foraging in the grass beneath the photovoltaic panels," Lin Kai said with emotion.
Not long ago, Tang Ximing, director of the Western Suburb Forest Farm (西郊林场) of Zhongwei, was invited to the base for survey and assessment. He crouched down, pointed at the tender green branches under the photovoltaic panels, and said: "The photovoltaic site is well maintained. In a few more years, a sand crust will form, covering the dunes with a 'thin quilt,' and then the shifting sand will truly be fixed, turning the dunes into an oasis."
Return to TopBy: 秦瑞杰
The construction of new energy bases in the "sand, Gobi, and desert" (沙戈荒) regions stems from the practical demands of the national energy structure transition. As the main energy source accelerates its shift from fossil energy to non-fossil energy, the "sand, Gobi, and desert" regions have become important spaces for new energy development. From the issuance of the first batch of project lists in 2021 to the present, the construction of three national batches of "sand, Gobi, and desert" bases has advanced in succession. According to the "15th Five-Year Plan for Renewable Energy Development," during the 15th Five-Year Plan period, the "Three-North" wind and solar power bases will add more than 370 million kilowatts of installed capacity.
Step by step, steadily and surely, we advance the path of high-quality construction of new energy bases in the "sand, Gobi, and desert" regions.
High-quality construction begins with systematic planning. "Sand, Gobi, and desert" bases are large in individual scale and involve many links; planning first and coordinated advancement are their distinctive features. In Xinjiang, the Hami to Chongqing ±800 kV ultra-high-voltage direct current transmission project has new energy accounting for over 70 percent of its supporting power sources, with channel and power source construction advanced as an integrated whole. Practice has proven that when planning is made solid and detailed from the very start, and channel construction and power source layout are planned in a coordinated manner, large-scale green power consumption and transmission will have solid support.
High-quality construction lies in technological innovation. The "sand, Gobi, and desert" regions are marked by extreme cold, extreme heat, and heavy windblown sand; without reliable technical safeguards, equipment cannot "stand firm" in extreme environments. In recent years, from variable-angle photovoltaic brackets to integrated intelligent joint dispatch of "wind, solar, thermal, and storage," from drone inspections to artificial intelligence-based operations and maintenance, a batch of localized technologies and equipment adapted to extreme environments has been applied across the vast deserts and Gobi, providing hard-core support for the high-quality construction of "sand, Gobi, and desert" bases.
High-quality construction values ecological coordination. Data recently released by the National Forestry and Grassland Administration shows that the "Three-North" region has advanced "photovoltaic plus desertification control" in an orderly manner, having already driven desertification control over 5.3 million mu. When former windblown-sand lands grow green plants, produce green power, and generate income, this is both the continuous acceleration of the energy transition and a profound reshaping of development philosophy. "Sand, Gobi, and desert" bases are energy projects, and they are also ecological projects. Making green the foundational color of base construction will surely drive the energy transition and ecological civilization construction to 同频共振 (tóng pín gòng zhèn - "resonate at the same frequency," to move in concert and reinforce each other).
High-quality construction emphasizes benefiting the people. The value of green power also lies in driving industrial development and increasing people's incomes. From lush pasture under photovoltaic panels and herders increasing their income through grazing, to green power direct supply attracting industrial agglomeration and creating job opportunities, green resources are continuously transformed into green returns, and the people gain tangible benefits in the energy transition.
The rise of new energy oases in the "sand, Gobi, and desert" regions is a solid step in the energy transition and a vivid footnote to green development.
Return to TopBy: 本报记者 李 纵 人民网记者 张永生 邹 星 赵文瑞
In Lechang, Guangdong, continuous technological upgrades have enabled nectarine plum cultivation to increase villagers' incomes; in Yan'an, Shaanxi, deep processing has extended the industrial chain and burnished the Yan'an millet brand; in Xiji, Ningxia, the "Red Army noodles" have been upgraded and expanded through technical renovation, turning small vermicelli into a major industry... The old revolutionary base areas adapt measures to local conditions, transforming distinctive local products into industries that enrich the people and assisting the comprehensive revitalization of rural areas.
Guangdong Lechang
One nectarine plum, more scientific management
In early July, in Lechang City, Shaoguan, Guangdong, at the nectarine plum orchard at the foot of Jiufeng Mountain, yellow paper bags wrapped the fruit. The harvest season was approaching, and fruit farmers moved through the orchard, busy and orderly. Pan Guoping (潘国平), chairman of the Lechang Jiufeng Green Fruit and Vegetable Professional Cooperative, carefully peeled open a fruit bag while explaining the management tips: "During this period we need to stabilize growth, prevent pests and diseases; with proper management, the fruit's appearance and sweetness will be good enough."
In the early 1990s, in order to develop a distinctive fruit and forestry industry, Jiufeng Town in Lechang City, located in the old revolutionary base area, introduced nectarine plums from outside the province. Constrained by extensive cultivation practices and other factors, the farm-gate purchase price was low, and villagers found it hard to increase income despite good harvests.
By a stroke of luck, Pan Guoping learned about apple bagging technology from newspapers and periodicals, and began attempting to use bagging improvement as a breakthrough for upgrading the nectarine plum industry. Through continuous exploration, Pan Guoping ultimately mastered the bagging technique and actively promoted it among the local people.
"In Lingnan it rains a lot, and nectarine plum skins are thin; when a heavy rain hits, nine out of ten fruits crack." Pan Guoping enumerated the benefits of bagging: no fruit cracking, pest and disease prevention, softened light exposure, thinner fruit skin, tender yellow with a translucent sheen; bite into it and the flesh is crisp with abundant juice, sweet and slightly tart — hence the name "Golden Nectarine Plum."
Once wrapped in a paper bag, the nectarine plum becomes a "golden fruit." In recent years, the local government has also continuously promoted soil improvement, optimized cultivation techniques, and iterated bagging technology, making the "Golden Nectarine Plum" brand shine ever brighter. In 2025, the Golden Nectarine Plum production area covers 86 villages in 8 towns of Lechang City, with a planting area of 50,000 mu and an output value of 1.2 billion yuan.
"In the past, we grew fruit and depended on the weather for harvest; now we rely on technology and emphasize quality." Having been deeply engaged in the fruit and forestry industry for more than 30 years, this is Pan Guoping's most genuine realization. In order to let more people master this cultivation technique, the cooperative has also joined with professional institutions to compile a "Golden Nectarine Plum" production technical regulation.
In the past two years, the cooperative has also developed a dual-mode bagging process — "film plus bag" for early-maturing varieties to seize the early market opportunity, and pure paper bag for slow-maturing varieties to allow natural flavor development. In addition, the cooperative has established a dedicated operating company and built a deep-processing production line, which in 2025 drove more than 300 farming households to increase their income by an average of more than 7,600 yuan per household. This year, the cooperative has also introduced intelligent sorting equipment that can automatically complete fresh fruit sugar testing and grade screening.
Shaanxi Yan'an
A handful of millet, higher added value
"Everyone, look — this millet is the good flavor of our Yan'an." In the e-commerce livestream room of Niuzhai Village, Xinghe Town, Zhidan County, Yan'an, Shaanxi, village Party branch secretary Zhang Zhiliang held up a handful of millet and introduced it enthusiastically to the camera.
Yan'an is located on the Loess Plateau, with high altitude, strong sunlight, and large temperature differences, suitable for the growth of cereal crops. Previously, Yan'an millet was designated a national geographical indication protected product. Based on its unique ecological conditions and red cultural heritage, Yan'an City has cultivated millet as a distinctive advantageous industry and a pillar industry for comprehensive rural revitalization.
In 2021, Zhang Zhiliang, who had just assumed the post of village Party branch secretary, recognized the advantage of the village's contiguous cultivated land and planned to revitalize idle land to develop miscellaneous grain cultivation. Unexpectedly, as soon as the idea was proposed, it met with skepticism. "Some villagers felt that planting one or two mu of millet was enough for their own consumption, and that planting several hundred mu at once carried too much risk," Zhang Zhiliang said.
By explaining the reasoning and weighing the pros and cons, Zhang Zhiliang ultimately succeeded in dispelling the villagers' concerns. In 2022, the village collective first planted 300 mu of millet on a trial basis. That autumn at harvest time, the millet yield reached 450 jin per mu, increasing income by more than 200,000 yuan.
In order to improve efficiency, in 2024 the locality introduced under-film drip irrigation technology, selected the Jinfen 107 high-quality millet variety for seeds, and built a high-standard 300-mu village collective selenium-rich fragrant millet fully mechanized high-efficiency cultivation demonstration site. That year the yield reached 550 jin per mu, and village collective income exceeded 300,000 yuan.
With production increased, how could good millet be sold at a good price? The village established a cooperative and purchased millet processing equipment. From husking and color sorting to vacuum packaging, a small production line produced premium millet. Through livestreaming and social media, Zhang Zhiliang sold the village's millet to Beijing, Jiangsu, and other places — "many customers take the initiative to come back and buy more."
Not only does Yan'an open up sales channels through high-quality raw grain, it also continuously promotes the extension of the millet industry chain downstream. In the production workshop of Yanchuan County Jinchun Jujube Industry Co., Ltd., bottled millet milk is being packaged and boxed for shipment to various places. In 2025, the company invested in a project with an annual output of 3,000 tons of millet milk, with an annual output value reaching 38 million yuan, and through the "enterprise + cooperative + farmer" model, it has driven more than 2,000 farming households to share in the industry's value-added gains.
Millet oil, meal replacement powder, leisure snacks... a variety of deep-processed products continue to burnish the Yan'an millet brand. At present, the brand value of Yan'an millet exceeds 2.7 billion yuan, making it a grain and oil public brand with considerable influence. The comprehensive output value of Yan'an City's miscellaneous grain whole industry chain has exceeded 5.2 billion yuan, of which millet accounts for more than 60 percent, driving more than 100,000 people to steadily increase their incomes.
"We must continue to deeply explore the red culture behind millet, the wisdom of Loess Plateau dryland farming, and the health value of selenium enrichment," said Han Fang, director of the Millet Research Institute of the Yan'an Academy of Agricultural Sciences. Yan'an millet has become an important souvenir of Yan'an's red cultural tourism.
Ningxia Xiji
One strand of "Red Army noodles," a long red memory
At the foot of Liupan Mountain, beside the Hulu River, potato starch noodles from Wanghe Village, Xinglong Town, Xiji County, Guyuan, Ningxia, are selling well.
"I need 100 jin each of fine noodles and wide noodles" "I'll arrange to send them to you by express delivery today"... Putting down the phone, Gu Haiyin (古海银), representative inheritor of the Xiji County intangible cultural heritage item "Red Army noodle" making technique, introduced to the reporter: "That was a customer from Chongqing; our 'Red Army noodles' are very popular in his store."
Xiji County is located in the arid zone of southern Ningxia, with a cool temperate climate suitable for potato growth. Potatoes were once the staple food of the local people.
A story circulates locally: back then, when the Red Army troops passed through Xiji County, several wounded soldiers were put up in the homes of local villagers in Xinglong Town, Xiji County, to recover. These wounded Red Army soldiers came from the south, and when they saw that the local people only ate potatoes by steaming or boiling them, they began to teach them how to make potato starch noodles from potatoes. The "Red Army noodles" subsequently spread, and this craft, bearing witness to the deep bond between the army and the people, has been passed down.
Crushing, grinding into pulp, settling, passing through the scoop, boiling in water, sun-drying... a single potato, after several traditional processes, becomes delicious and storable "Red Army noodles." They not only solved the local people's food and clothing problems, but also became a craft for getting rich.
Gu Haiyin's grandfather's generation were "noodle craftsmen" who made starch noodles for others. Now he has registered his own company and trademark, and is determined to lead his fellow villagers in making good "Red Army noodles" so that more people can taste the authentic Xiji flavor. "The noodles are fine and white, with a chewy and smooth texture. Xiji 'Red Army noodles' are not only suitable for hot pot and stir-fried meat dishes, but can also be used to cook hot and sour noodles and make vermicelli soup," Gu Haiyin said.
The traditional making of "Red Army noodles" also faces certain problems: first, the tools are simple and the process cumbersome, with wastewater and residue increasing environmental pressure; second, production can only be carried out in winter.
Now, with technological improvement and scale expansion, the input of automatic and semi-automatic equipment has increased production efficiency; the direct use of finished potato starch has solved the problem of wastewater and residue from starch production; and the widespread use of cold storage has technically enabled year-round production.
As one of the main production areas of Xiji "Red Army noodles," Xinglong Town currently has 30 production enterprises and workshops, with an annual output of more than 16,000 tons of high-quality noodle products, selling well in Shaanxi, Gansu, Ningxia, Xinjiang, and other places; it has driven more than 360 local villagers to find employment at their doorsteps, with per capita annual income reaching more than 30,000 yuan. One strand after another of "Red Army noodles" links local flavors with red memory, and moreover plays a role in driving the masses to increase income and get rich, and in assisting the comprehensive revitalization of rural areas.
Return to TopBy: 黄金玉
A single Nai plum, a handful of millet, a strand of "Red Army noodles"... When old revolutionary base areas develop industries, where does their advantage lie? Not in chasing trends, but in adapting to local conditions.
Adapting to local conditions means basing oneself on the local land and water. Introducing Nai plums to mountainous areas and developing them into industries that enrich the people, turning locally suitable potatoes into "Red Army noodles"... By digging inward, identifying and putting to use the unique natural and cultural resources of the locality, industries can have soil in which to take root.
Adapting to local conditions means extending the industrial chain. From relying on the weather to relying on technology, from selling raw grain to extending the chain, turning specialty agricultural products into industries that enrich the people depends on the ability to transform resource endowments into competitive advantages and to precipitate regional characteristics into brand value. By expanding outward and extending the industrial chain, industries can have room to grow.
Good industries grow from beneath one's feet. By digging resources deeper and stretching the industrial chain longer, specialty industries can inject more enduring momentum into the comprehensive revitalization of the countryside in old revolutionary base areas.
By: 本报记者 董泽扬
Between the blue sea and azure sky, salt ponds lie like a chessboard. At the Yinggehai Salt Field (莺歌海盐场) in Ledong Li Autonomous County (乐东黎族自治县), Hainan, the salt fields mirror the blue sky and white clouds, and tourists who have come from afar walk onto the glass walkway one after another to take photos with this giant "sky mirror."
"Look, Hainan also has 'snow.'" Grabbing a handful of salt, Cui Li, a tourist from Heilongjiang, happily took selfies with her family in front of the camera. Having driven here via the Hainan Island Ring Tourist Highway, for Cui Li's family, their impression of Hainan is no longer just coconut shadows and golden sand, but also white salt.
This distinctive "snow scene" has a history of more than 60 years at the Yinggehai Salt Field. With the help of tides, workers channel seawater into the salt fields, where it flows, evaporates, and concentrates through a series of salt ponds. The Jianfengling Mountains (尖峰岭山脉) block much of the water vapor, so the salt field enjoys blazing sun year-round; the seawater gradually becomes brine suitable for salt-making, and only after wind and sun exposure in the crystallization ponds can the harvest be obtained.
"Old salt sun-drying is quite particular—it depends on both the weather and manual skill," introduced Luo Zijun, General Manager of Hainan Yinggehai Salt Field Co., Ltd. Fresh saturated brine, sufficiently deep salt ponds, and a long cycle of sun-drying for more than 100 days allow the sodium chloride content of Yinggehai old salt to exceed 95%. Exquisite craftsmanship is the secret to old salt's distinctiveness and sustained strong sales.
Sun-drying salt has its refinements, and salt harvesting also has new changes. "In the past, salt was harvested manually; now it is mechanized. Efficiency is higher, and output has also increased," said Luo Zijun. The trailers, salt harvesters, and salt transport vehicles all use anti-corrosion structures, which both extends the period between shutdowns for maintenance and prevents equipment corrosion from contaminating the salt. With the new machinery, workers can harvest a salt pond in just a few dozen minutes.
The salt field fears rain. When rain falls, salt mounds easily dissolve into brine and are lost, and the brine concentration in the crystallization ponds is also greatly affected—this not only causes losses in existing stock but also affects the increase in sea salt production.
"To increase salt output, we must also reduce losses. We have newly built raw salt storage mound sites and improved storage conditions, greatly reducing the interference of rainfall on production," Luo Zijun explained. Through measures such as optimizing salt mound warehousing and dispatch, the rain loss at Yinggehai Salt Field dropped from 3,136 tons in 2024 to 354 tons in 2025, a reduction of more than 80%. Thanks to a combination of factors including fine weather, policy support, and process improvements, data show that in the first half of this year, the total output of raw salt at Yinggehai Salt Field approached 40,000 tons, the best for the same period in nearly a decade.
Today, the Yinggehai Salt Field not only has high output but also strong popularity. Donning hats, putting on water shoes, and picking up salt rakes, Cui Li's family walked into the salt ponds to personally experience traditional processes such as "loosening salt" and "harvesting salt." Immersive participation lets tourists truly appreciate through sweat the difficulty of salt-making, and also brings salt culture to life from books and display cases.
"The Ring Tourist Highway has brought abundant visitor traffic to the salt field," introduced Wang Ji, head of the Asset Management and Development Department of Yinggehai Salt Field. During holidays and festivals, parking spaces are hard to come by, and spots such as the "Sky Mirror," the Time Tunnel, and the old salt warehouse attract many visitors. The salt field has gone with the flow, building cultural tourism base projects and transforming the originally closed production area into an open experience zone, allowing tourists to appreciate the salt field scenery while sightseeing and learn about intangible cultural heritage techniques through hands-on experience. Fruit teas, seasoning packets, and themed cultural and creative products—new ways to eat and use old salt are constantly being launched, making Yinggehai salt a frequent presence in daily life.
While ensuring output and exploring cultural tourism, the Yinggehai Salt Field is also cultivating new momentum. On the Nachao Lake (纳潮湖) covering several thousand mu, photovoltaic modules glisten in the sunlight, converting light energy into green electricity. This old salt field with a long history is continuously providing clean, low-carbon energy for Hainan, realizing a new green development model of "salt-light complementarity" (盐光互补).
The noonday sun strikes the salt piles, making them sparkle. This salt field, bearing the memory of generations of struggle, is exploring the diversified development of the salt industry. "We will continuously optimize salt-making techniques, promote industrial tourism development, and on the basis of stable supply of high-quality raw salt, let more tourists come with keen interest and return fully loaded, adding new flavors to the old taste," said Luo Zijun.
Return to TopReport from our newspaper, Beijing, August 13 (Reporter Li Xinping (李心萍)): The reporter learned from China Railway Xi'an Group Co., Ltd. (中国铁路西安局集团有限公司) that on August 13, as test EMU train No. 55501 smoothly departed from Xi'an East Station and crossed the Qinling Mountains toward Ankang West Station, this marked the successful conclusion of joint commissioning and testing for the Xi'an-Ankang high-speed railway (Xi'an to Ankang high-speed railway), which has now officially entered the trial operation phase, laying a solid foundation for the subsequent opening and operation of the line.
The Xi'an-Ankang high-speed railway is an important component of the Baotou (Yinchuan)-Hainan corridor and the Beijing-Kunming corridor among the "Eight Vertical and Eight Horizontal" (八纵八横) high-speed railway passages in the national medium- and long-term railway network plan. The newly constructed main line has a total length of approximately 171 kilometers, with a design speed of 350 kilometers per hour, and includes 6 stations: Xi'an East, Niubeiliang (牛背梁), Zhashui West (柞水西), Zhen'an West (镇安西), Tongmu (桐木) (a passing station that does not handle passenger services), and Ankang West (安康西), of which Xi'an East Station is an existing station and the rest are newly built stations.
The trial operation of a high-speed railway line, i.e., operation testing, is a full-process, all-element practical inspection conducted in accordance with actual operation standards before the high-speed railway is officially opened to traffic. During the trial operation period, the railway department will strictly follow the formal operation organization model and carry out, item by item, key projects such as train working diagram parameter testing, equipment failure simulation, emergency rescue drills, and diagram-based train operation tests, comprehensively verifying the line's transportation organization efficiency, train reception and departure capacity, rationality of service density, passenger service equipment status, and the coordination and compatibility of various systems, providing a solid basis for the scientific opening and safe operation of the line. After the Xi'an-Ankang high-speed railway is opened to traffic, the railway travel time from Xi'an to Ankang will be shortened from the current approximately 3 hours to within 1 hour.
Return to TopOur newspaper, Beijing, August 13 (Reporter Wang Yunshan) — The National Energy Administration (国家能源局) recently released the China Hydrogen Energy Development Report (2026). The report shows that during the 14th Five-Year Plan period, the global hydrogen energy industry is in a key window period of transitioning from pilot exploration to orderly breakthrough. In 2025, global hydrogen production and consumption reached approximately 109 million tons, up about 3 percent year-on-year. Renewable-energy-based hydrogen production is moving toward large-scale development, with China and Europe together contributing over 70 percent of global renewable hydrogen production capacity.
In recent years, China's hydrogen energy industry has made positive progress, with renewable hydrogen production capacity continuously expanding. As of June 2026, China's completed and under-construction renewable hydrogen production capacity exceeds 1.4 million tons per year, of which over 270,000 tons per year is completed and operational, and over 1.13 million tons per year is under construction, with water electrolysis as the main production route. Hydrogen energy infrastructure is being steadily built. As of June 2026, approximately 620 hydrogen refueling stations have been cumulatively built nationwide, multiple ports have the capacity to bunker green ammonia or green methanol, and the length of completed and operational pure hydrogen pipelines exceeds 350 kilometers.
At the same time, demonstration and verification are being efficiently advanced across multiple scenarios. In the transportation sector, pilot applications are being actively carried out in scenarios such as long-haul heavy-duty transport and the low-altitude economy. In 2025, nearly 8,000 fuel cell vehicles were promoted, over 10 hydrogen-based fuel vessels were cumulatively put into operation, and over 30 hydrogen-powered drone models were cumulatively released or test-flown. In the industrial sector, large-scale development models for hydrogen energy such as green hydrogen-ammonia-methanol are being accelerated and explored, with completed and operational production capacity reaching 700,000 tons per year for green ammonia and 380,000 tons per year for green methanol. In the power generation sector, distributed and large-scale applications are being explored in parallel, with the installed capacity of completed and operational fuel cell power generation and combined heat and power projects continuously increasing.
Hydrogen energy can not only resolve the challenge of green power consumption and promote deep decarbonization of end-use sectors, but can also achieve cross-season long-duration energy storage, high-temperature industrial substitution, and innovation in green chemical feedstocks. Coupled with hydrogen energy's multi-energy coupling characteristics, this endows it with irreplaceable strategic value.
Return to TopBy: 本报记者 吴秋余 潘俊强
In the laboratory of Beijing Zhongguancun Zhilian Safety Science Research Institute Co., Ltd., R&D personnel are busily conducting experiments. This satellite application enterprise, still in its startup stage, had encountered many setbacks in financing.
Asset-light, without collateral, and with weak cash flow — these factors shut the door on many opportunities. The turning point came in 2023, when Industrial Bank's Beijing branch did not fixate on the figures on the balance sheet, but instead turned its attention to the enterprise's technological capacity building and growth space, granting a credit line of 10 million yuan. Not only did the bank provide financial support, it also helped the enterprise connect with resources in industry, policy, talent, and other areas.
Zhilian Safety's experience is not an isolated case. In recent years, some enterprises in fields such as commercial aerospace have often faced funding shortages during their startup phase because they "have technology but lack collateral." In response, the bank innovatively adopted a "technology flow" evaluation system, adhering to the principle of "investing early, investing small, investing long-term, and investing in hard technology," to help enterprises tide over difficulties.
In April this year, Industrial Bank's Beijing branch reached a strategic cooperation agreement with Yizhuang Xingjian Company, providing 10 billion yuan in dedicated credit support over the next three years for the Beijing Rocket Avenue industrial park and its resident enterprises. These funds support both the construction of the park's shared testing base and industrial supporting facilities, and precisely empower resident enterprises' R&D and technology iteration. From rocket final assembly and testing to satellite application development, the entire commercial aerospace industry chain falls within the scope of support.
The commercial aerospace industry is characterized by high investment and long cycles. The bank's Beijing branch proactively studies the development of the aerospace industry. "In the 'technology flow' evaluation system, intellectual property, R&D investment, and technology qualifications are all key parameters," said the relevant person in charge of the bank's Beijing branch. By constructing a differentiated approval model, the bank converts enterprises' technological innovation "soft strength" into financing "hard credit."
"Not only must we be a provider of funds, we must also be a good partner for mutual growth," said the relevant person in charge of the Strategic Client Department at Industrial Bank's head office. "Centering on the innovation chain, capital chain, policy chain, talent chain, and industry chain, we do our utmost to build bridges and connect resources for enterprises."
The deep integration of industry, technology, and parks is the development trend. As of the end of 2025, Industrial Bank's park finance loan balance stood at 1.67 trillion yuan, and the loan balance of technology finance clients within parks stood at 672.2 billion yuan. Through cooperation with governments, universities, exchanges, investment institutions, and park management committees, and by carrying out the "Xinghuo Technology" special program, the bank has connected with more than 30,000 ecosystem partner clients.
Xi'an Singularity Energy Co., Ltd. is a high-tech enterprise focused on the R&D and manufacturing of distributed energy storage systems. In 2022, market orders grew rapidly. Despite holding technology and orders in hand, Singularity Energy lacked assets available for collateral.
Facing the enterprise's funding needs, Industrial Bank's Xi'an branch, relying on its research team's in-depth analysis of the energy storage industry chain, used the "technology flow" evaluation model to conduct a precise assessment and granted a pure credit facility of 40 million yuan. This funding effectively met the enterprise's need to expand production capacity.
"Seeing them develop well makes us happy too," said the relevant person in charge of the bank's Xi'an branch. The branch continuously follows up on the enterprise's financial needs, increases credit support, and has gradually expanded its service scope from loans to supply chain finance, cross-border finance, financial leasing, and other areas, providing diversified support for the enterprise's growth.
Deeper integration continues.
The operator of the Curvature Engine Photon Industrial Park, where Singularity Energy is located, is Xi'an Zhongke Optical Machine Investment Holding Co., Ltd. The bank's Xi'an branch has established a coordination mechanism with it. Zhongke Holdings recommends quality enterprises in the park based on its professional judgment, while the Xi'an branch responds quickly through the "technology flow" evaluation model, jointly solving the difficulty small and medium-sized technology enterprises face in obtaining their first loans.
Our newspaper Hefei, August 13 (Reporter Tian Xianjin (田先进)). The General Office of the Anhui Provincial People's Government (安徽省人民政府办公厅) recently issued the "Anhui Province Action Plan for Accelerating Digital-Intelligent Supply Chain Development (2026–2028)" (安徽省加快数智供应链发展行动方案（2026—2028年）), to accelerate the construction of a digital-intelligent supply chain system that is responsive and agile, collaborative and efficient, safe and reliable, promote the systematic value reconstruction and model innovation of supply chains, and enhance the resilience and competitiveness of industrial and supply chains.
The plan sets clear work goals: by 2028, cultivate approximately 50 provincial-level digital-intelligent supply chain leading enterprises and 2–3 national-level digital-intelligent supply chain leading enterprises; build 15 or more provincial-level digital-intelligent supply chain platforms and 2–3 digital-intelligent supply chain platforms with strong influence at home and abroad; establish 10 or more provincial-level digital-intelligent supply chain clusters; and reduce the ratio of total social logistics costs to regional GDP by more than 0.5 percentage points compared with 2025.
The plan proposes promoting the digital-intelligent transformation of manufacturing. Guide leading enterprises to build smart factories, deepen the application of technologies such as artificial intelligence and the Internet of Things, and develop smart supply chains. Promote the digital empowerment of small and medium-sized enterprises, transforming from digitalization of key links to intelligentization of the entire process. Encourage chain-leader enterprises to drive upstream and downstream enterprises in advancing digital-intelligent transformation, build digital-intelligent management platforms, and achieve integrated, collaborative, and visualized supply chains.
Return to TopBy: 本报记者 刘文璋
Japanese Prime Minister Takaichi Sanae recently gave evasive remarks at the ceremonies marking the 81st anniversary of the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki regarding whether to continue upholding the "Three Non-Nuclear Principles" in the future, and concerns across all sectors over the dangerous shift in the Takaichi government's nuclear policy continue to spread. The Nagasaki Atomic Bomb Museum is carrying out a large-scale renewal of its exhibits, with plans to alter the wording "Nanjing Massacre" to "Nanjing Incident," a move that downplays the history of aggression and further intensifies outside worries about Japan's rightward drift and historical revisionism. At the same time, Japan's trajectory of "remilitarization" has further strengthened. According to the latest Japanese media reports, regarding the Japanese government's budget compilation for fiscal 2027, the Japanese Defense Ministry plans to request approximately 8.9 trillion yen (1 yuan is equivalent to about 23.6 yen) from the Finance Ministry, a record-high request that sends a dangerous signal of the Takaichi government accelerating arms buildup and seeking a breakthrough in military development.
76% of respondents support upholding the "Three Non-Nuclear Principles," highlighting Japan's strong anti-nuclear public opinion
The ceremony marking the 81st anniversary of the atomic bombing of Nagasaki was recently held at the Nagasaki Peace Park. Not far outside the park, people attending an anti-war rally repeatedly shouted: "Oppose wars of aggression, oppose Takaichi Sanae!" When Takaichi began her address, the protests grew even louder. According to Japanese media reports, Takaichi only mentioned in her address the current state of upholding the "Three Non-Nuclear Principles," deliberately leaving room for adjusting the "Three Non-Nuclear Principles" when the "Three Security Documents" are revised at the end of the year.
According to Japan's Tokyo Shimbun, since the Takaichi government was formed in October 2025, 128 local assemblies in Japan have submitted opinions to the National Diet requesting that the Takaichi government uphold the "Three Non-Nuclear Principles." This figure sets a record for the highest number of opinions received requesting adherence to the "Three Non-Nuclear Principles" since the Diet began accepting opinions from local assemblies in July 2000. Assemblies in atomic-bombed areas such as Nagasaki and Hiroshima have all passed relevant resolutions, and some local assemblies have called for writing the "Three Non-Nuclear Principles" into law.
The latest Kyodo News poll shows that 76% of respondents support upholding the "Three Non-Nuclear Principles," highlighting Japan's strong anti-nuclear public opinion. Nagasaki Mayor Suzuki Shirō reiterated his demand that the Japanese government uphold the "Three Non-Nuclear Principles" and strengthen diplomatic efforts to ease tensions and promote disarmament.
"The 'Three Non-Nuclear Principles' are Japan's basic national policy. Takaichi's claim of 'having upheld them all along' without mentioning their continuation in the future shows that she has long had the idea of 're-examining' these principles, and intends to use the revision of the 'Three Security Documents' to push this forward. For 81 years, a large number of Nagasaki residents have suffered from diseases caused by the atomic bombing, and the Japanese people absolutely cannot accept revision of the 'Three Non-Nuclear Principles.'" Sekiguchi Tatsuo, secretary-general of the Nagasaki Association Against War, Constitutional Amendment, and Security Legislation, told reporters.
Nagasaki University security and nuclear disarmament expert Nishida Mitsuru said that the Takaichi government's stance on upholding the "Three Non-Nuclear Principles" is weaker than that of previous administrations, and any change could bring unimaginable consequences, which has already sparked concern among people across the country.
Yamamoto Susumu, an anti-war activist who comes to Nagasaki every year for the rally, expressed great concern that the new "Three Security Documents" could open a gap for undermining the "Three Non-Nuclear Principles," saying "we must stand up and stop the Takaichi government from dragging Japan toward war again."
"We absolutely cannot accept revision of the 'Three Non-Nuclear Principles.' Relying on the Takaichi government clearly cannot achieve this goal; we must strengthen the united forces for political change." Japanese Communist Party Chairperson Tomoko Tamura said that as a country that suffered atomic bombings, Japan should all the more uphold its stance against nuclear-armed security and promote the abolition of nuclear weapons and the cessation of war.
Behind historical revisionism lies pressure and instigation from the Japanese government and far-right forces
Recently, on the streets of Shibuya, Tokyo, Frenchman Marcus Delettres and his friend Zhong Haosong held up banners reading "Japan's war of aggression against China took the lives of my relatives" and "300,000 people died in the Nanjing Massacre; these blood and tears cannot be erased, and this history cannot be forgotten"... Facing the passing crowd, they called on Japanese society to face up to its history of external aggression.
Marcus's maternal grandfather, Roger Lawrence, worked in Shanghai in the 1930s, and two of his children were killed by the Japanese invaders. At the end of last year, Marcus and Zhong Haosong held a photo exhibition in Tokyo displaying dozens of photocopies and some originals of historical photographs collected by Lawrence during his lifetime. These photos document Japanese war crimes including the bombing of Shanghai and the massacre of civilians during World War II. "This is an opportunity to re-examine history, and perhaps allow Japanese society to rediscover some historical facts," Marcus said.
In recent years, far-right forces in Japan advocating historical revisionism have become very rampant. Some Japanese history textbooks have further downplayed or even beautified the nature and responsibility of wars of aggression through "word games" such as adjusting wording and blurring concepts. According to a plan recently announced by Nagasaki City, the Nagasaki Atomic Bomb Museum is undergoing its largest exhibit renewal in nearly 30 years, and the current exhibits' reference to the "Nanjing Massacre" will be changed to "Nanjing Incident" within months. Many discerning figures in Japan criticize that behind historical revisionism lies pressure and instigation from the Japanese government and far-right forces, emphasizing that the complete dual historical facts of Japan's role as both aggressor and victim must be passed on to the younger generation.
"The trend at the Nagasaki Atomic Bomb Museum is worrying. Behind it is the collusion and pressure of right-wing forces and local interests, attempting to turn Japan into a country that could wage war again." Haba Kumiko, professor emeritus at Aoyama Gakuin University, told reporters that as a country that suffered atomic bombings, Japan's continued telling of the harm of war is crucial. But war memories cannot be passed on only by those who suffered the atomic bombings; young people need to understand that Japan's history includes both victimhood and perpetration, and young people must be made aware of the dangers of war. Haba Kumiko said that only by fully telling the historical facts can young people develop the awareness of "never again waging war," and "the complete history must be accurately told and passed on to the younger generation, with serious reflection on the history of perpetration."
"Pushing to change the wording from 'Nanjing Massacre' to 'Nanjing Incident' aims to downplay Japan's history of aggression, and this tendency is spreading throughout Japan." Sekiguchi Tatsuo told reporters that one of the reasons the Nagasaki Atomic Bomb Museum gave for the name change is that textbook wording has already changed—40 years ago high school textbooks used "Nanjing Massacre," but now many have changed to "Nanjing Incident." This change stems from government guidance. Japanese right-wing politicians have pressured the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology to push for revisions under the pretext of "masochistic views of history," which is essentially falsifying history. "Japan's peace education in schools has not adequately taught the history of perpetration, which is why today's social climate has formed. Using only the word 'incident' cannot reflect the cruelty of the massacre or the scale of the victims," Sekiguchi Tatsuo said.
Hakoyama Atsuhito, a Yokosuka city official who traveled specially to Nagasaki to attend the 81st anniversary ceremony of the atomic bombing, said that the historical facts of the "Nanjing Massacre" are ironclad, and the forced labor at Gunkanjima (Battleship Island) is also vivid testimony to Japan's external aggression and plunder. "Only by facing up to the history of aggression and deeply reflecting on war crimes can Japan embark on the correct path of peaceful development."
"Japan waged wars of aggression against China, the Korean Peninsula, and multiple Southeast Asian countries, but to this day has not deeply reflected on this. It must earnestly learn lessons and avoid repeating the same mistakes." Kawakami, a member of the Japanese civic group "Citizens' Group Against War," said that the Japanese government has not fully reflected on war history, the younger generation lacks historical awareness, and some political forces are beautifying the history of aggression—this approach is completely wrong. "The Japanese government's series of dangerous moves are leading the country toward war again."
The new Defense White Paper continues to hype so-called "threats to surrounding security" to create pretexts for arms expansion and military buildup
Kyodo News recently cited multiple informed sources in reporting that the Japanese Defense Ministry plans to request a fiscal 2027 defense budget of approximately 8.9 trillion yen from the Finance Ministry. Since this includes many items without specified amounts, the defense budget finally finalized by the Japanese government at the end of the year is expected to increase further. A senior Japanese government official said the final scale of the fiscal 2027 defense budget could reach 10 trillion yen. At the same time, the new Defense White Paper continues to hype so-called "threats to surrounding security" to create pretexts for arms expansion and military buildup, drawing strong criticism from all sides.
Japan's Asahi Shimbun analyzed that the Japanese government's support for the defense industry, expansion of arms exports, and advocacy of a "virtuous cycle between security guarantees and economic growth" are intended to win public support for substantial increases in defense spending and attract private companies and research forces to participate in technological development. This argument is one-sided; increased investment in the defense sector does not necessarily bring about improvements in people's living standards. Relevant reports show that the same resources diverted from military to education and medical fields could create more jobs, and "Japan should not package the strengthening of defense capabilities as a hope for the future."
Hakoyama Atsuhito said that Japan's current moves to revise the "Peace Constitution" and plot to revise the "Three Security Documents" are extremely dangerous, leading the country astray, and are deeply worrying.
"Documents led by security professionals, with political posturing mixed in behind the scenes, will ultimately leave Japan in a passive position." Professor Tomisaka Satoshi of the Research Institute for Overseas Studies at Takushoku University told reporters that building defense capabilities by targeting neighboring countries is of no practical benefit. Security can only be built on the ability to respond to various contingencies, and absolutely cannot be achieved by targeting specific countries or blocs.
Citizen Muraoka, who participated in the anti-war rally in Nagasaki, said: "I firmly oppose the Takaichi government's series of military buildup measures. They completely violate the constitution. If allowed to continue, history will repeat itself, and this must be resolutely stopped." Another rally participant, Hirabayashi, said that most Japanese people want to avoid war, and everyone needs to recognize the situation and make the right choices to prevent tragedy from recurring.
(This article is dispatched from Nagasaki, Japan, by our correspondent)
Return to TopBy: 焦 翔
Deep in the vast desert of Dubai, United Arab Emirates, a "blue ocean" and "silver sunflowers" shine in mutual radiance. Viewed from above, the scene is intensely futuristic and striking. This is the fourth phase of the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park, a concentrated solar power and photovoltaic hybrid project co-built by China and the UAE, also known as the "Paradise of Light," ranking first among similar projects worldwide in scale. This energy landmark in the desert is a vivid microcosm of Middle Eastern countries continuously increasing their commitment to Chinese new energy.
Across the Middle East, there are many more such new energy cooperation projects: on the shores of the Red Sea in Egypt, 77 Chinese smart wind turbines turn in the wind, setting African records for both single-unit capacity and total installed capacity; in the new Red Sea city of Saudi Arabia, a Chinese enterprise has built one of the world's largest clean energy off-grid systems. Energy cooperation is an important area of high-quality Belt and Road cooperation between China and Arab countries, and new energy, as a key breakthrough, is continuously tightening the bond of development and civilizational exchange between the two sides.
Green development is a shared value pursuit of China and Middle Eastern countries. "Green is the luxury of sharing" — this line from an Emirates airline promotional video leaves a deep impression. In Arab culture, green carries rich connotations of vitality, fertility, hope, and well-being. China, likewise possessing an ancient civilization, upholds the philosophy of unity of heaven and humanity (tiān rén hé yī) and following the ways of nature (dào fǎ zì rán). For China, green is not merely an ecological concept but is deeply woven into the very fabric of its civilization.
At present, many Middle Eastern countries have successively issued national development visions, making new energy an important direction for economic transformation and energy structure adjustment, accelerating the pace of green development. China, for its part, has deepened the green foundation of high-quality development, advocated for building a green Silk Road, and empowered the world with the largest and fastest-growing renewable energy system on the planet. Historical heritage and practical goals resonate at the same frequency, making new energy cooperation an inevitable choice for the two-way endeavor of China and the Arab world, and a vivid footnote to the building of a China-Arab community with a shared future in the new era.
Advanced technology and reliable supply are the core advantages of Chinese new energy enterprises. "We never expected so many orders, and the other side doesn't even bargain — they just want delivery as soon as possible." Recently, Chinese new energy enterprise TGOOD has encountered this "happy trouble." Its prefabricated substations are highly sought after in the Middle Eastern market: energy facilities that would originally have taken one and a half to two years for civil construction can now be put into operation in less than six months through Chinese factory prefabrication, modular assembly, and overseas shipping — construction efficiency improved severalfold.
The completeness of China's new energy industrial chain, the stability of its supply chain, the strength of its innovation chain, and the superiority of its value chain together constitute a competitiveness that is difficult to replace. At present, China's global production share of polysilicon, silicon wafers, cells, and modules all exceeds 80 percent; Chinese enterprises occupy 6 of the top 10 global wind turbine manufacturers; power battery production accounts for more than 60 percent of the world total; and energy storage battery system costs have fallen by nearly 90 percent compared with 2010. It is precisely this complete industrial system that can efficiently respond to the enormous construction demands of Middle Eastern countries for large-scale photovoltaic and wind power bases, energy storage supporting facilities, and microgrid power supply, providing much-needed certainty and a sense of security to Middle Eastern countries under energy transition pressure.
The China solution provides an important reference for resolving the dual challenge of energy security and transition. Middle Eastern countries' development of new energy is by no means a bandwagon move, but stems from deep-seated internal needs: a single-industry oil and gas economy is vulnerable to fluctuations in international markets; domestic oil and gas power generation consumes large quantities of high-value resources; compounded by continuously rising electricity demand and increased transport risks in the Strait of Hormuz, building a diversified and self-reliant energy system has become an urgent necessity.
China's development practice offers a clear path worthy of reference. From being "poor in oil and gas" to becoming the world's largest electricity producer, China has consistently held its energy rice bowl firmly in its own hands, coordinating development and security, transition and supply assurance. China's total energy production accounts for one-fifth of the global total, its self-sufficiency rate remains above 84 percent, and it has become the first country in the world with total societal electricity consumption exceeding 10 trillion kilowatt-hours. What the Middle East can draw on is not only complete sets of technology and equipment, but also the governance logic of guiding transition through strategic planning, supporting large-scale construction through a complete industrial chain, and coordinating supply assurance and low-carbon development through systematic thinking.
The Middle East's continuous increase in commitment to Chinese new energy reflects recognition of the successful experience and demonstrative value of Chinese-style modernization, as well as confidence in China's ability to join hands with all parties in creating a green development future. As China-Arab cooperation continues to deepen and solidify, this green bond of new energy will surely inject more enduring momentum into the common development of both sides and write an even more splendid chapter of cooperation.
Return to TopMedvedev: The South Kuril Islands were, are, and will remain Russian territory
Xinhua Moscow/Tokyo, August 13 — Dmitry Medvedev, Deputy Chairman of the Russian Federation Security Council and Chairman of the United Russia party, said on the 13th that the South Kuril Islands (called the Northern Territories by Japan) "were, are, and will remain Russian territory," and that remarks by Japanese Prime Minister Takaichi Sanae on the matter "will not change anything."
Earlier on the 13th, Takaichi held a press conference to strongly protest Russian President Putin's visit that day to the disputed islands. Takaichi said the Northern Territories are Japan's "inherent territory" and that Putin's action was "absolutely unacceptable." She also said that Putin's action had further worsened the Japanese public's view of Russia and made it difficult to restore bilateral relations over the medium and long term.
Medvedev said on social media that Takaichi had casually stated that "the South Kuril Islands have always been Japan's," and that "such nonsense will not change anything — the South Kuril Islands were, are, and will remain Russian territory. Those who fail to understand this will face the terrible consequences of their erroneous views."
The question of sovereignty over the South Kuril Islands is one of the biggest obstacles to the development of Russia-Japan relations, and because of this dispute, Russia and Japan have still not concluded a peace treaty to this day, even after the end of World War II. Japan's condemnation of and sanctions against Russia over the Russia-Ukraine conflict have brought negotiations on the disputed islands issue between the two sides to a halt.
Iranian Foreign Minister: The United States has "misjudged" the situation in the Strait of Hormuz
Xinhua Tehran, August 13 — Iranian Foreign Minister Araghchi said in a social media post on the 13th that the United States, due to intelligence failures, has "misjudged" issues including the war against Iran and the situation in the Strait of Hormuz.
Araghchi wrote that "the United States has long misjudged due to intelligence failures," and that the war against Iran is a "typical case in point." The United States now faces an "even greater misjudgment" on the Strait of Hormuz issue. He also said the U.S. side should "beware of false intelligence."
U.S. President Trump wrote on social media on the 12th that "the United States completely controls the Strait of Hormuz... Iran can do nothing about it." Trump also wrote: "I think we will continue to control it!"
According to a report by Iran's Fars News Agency on the 13th, Hossein Taieb, head of the Iranian paramilitary force the "Mobilization of the Oppressed" organization, said that day that the Strait of Hormuz is under Iran's management and control.
Iraqi Prime Minister reiterates that the international coalition will complete its withdrawal by September 30
According to Xinhua Baghdad, August 12 (Reporter Li Jun) — A statement issued by the Iraqi Prime Minister's press office on the 12th said that Iraqi Prime Minister al-Sudani reiterated that day that September 30 this year is the final deadline for the U.S.-led international coalition forces fighting the "Islamic State" to end their military mission in Iraq and complete their withdrawal.
The statement said al-Sudani reiterated this position during a meeting in Baghdad with General Michael Kurilla, commander of U.S. Central Command. He said that on October 1, Iraq will open a new chapter on the path of national development, when Iraq will completely rid itself of all foreign military presence and exercise full national sovereignty over its own territory.
The United States launched the Iraq War in 2003 and largely withdrew its forces by the end of 2011, leaving only a small number of troops. The extremist organization "Islamic State" seized large areas of western and northern Iraq in 2014, and the international coalition subsequently reinforced its troops in Iraq. In December 2017, the Iraqi government announced the defeat of the "Islamic State."
Colombia earthquake has killed 265 people, with more than 53,000 affected
According to Xinhua Bogota, August 12 (Reporters Li Zijian, Zhu Yubo) — Colombian President Gustavo Petro said on the 12th that the strong earthquake that struck the country on the 10th has killed 265 people and injured 3,494, with another 496 missing and more than 53,000 people affected.
Return to TopBy: 本报记者 邹 松
In August, at the Mara River in Kenya, the annual East African Great Migration arrives as scheduled. Tens of thousands of wildebeest leap into the rushing currents and surge downstream, while tourists on the banks raise their cameras, vying to capture this "most awe-inspiring natural spectacle on Earth." Today, wildlife tourism in East African countries such as Kenya and Tanzania has moved from the "resource recovery phase" into the "high-intensity utilization phase," and local ecological conservation must find a new balance among wildlife protection, community livelihoods, and tourism development.
East Africa has achieved notable results in ecological conservation over the past decades. According to UNESCO data, approximately 1.3 million wildebeest, more than 200,000 zebras, and large numbers of gazelles participate in the migration through Tanzania's Serengeti National Park each year, making it one of the world's most iconic natural wonders. Data recently released by the Kenya Wildlife Service shows that, as of the end of 2024, the country's black rhinoceros population had increased to approximately 1,100, a significant recovery from fewer than 400 in the late 1980s, while the white rhinoceros population also continues to trend upward. Justin Heath, executive director of Kenya's Lewa Wildlife Conservancy, stated that regular patrols, guided community participation, and the reinvestment of tourism revenue are the key factors in the recovery of the rhino population.
However, new problems are also gradually emerging. During this year's peak migration season, large numbers of safari vehicles have frequently converged at well-known river crossing points in Kenya's Maasai Mara. Joseph Lemayian, a veteran local guide, said: "Sometimes, before the animals even approach the riverbank, the vehicles have already surrounded the crossing. Tourists want to shoot from closer range, but the animals need space." Some media outlets have recently characterized this phenomenon in reports as the ecological pressure brought by "overtourism."
The increasing overlap between agricultural expansion around protected areas and wildlife movement ranges also constitutes a new ecological challenge. In Kenya's Amboseli National Park, elephants are increasingly entering farmland to forage, causing severe crop damage. Northern Tanzania faces similar challenges. In the Ngorongoro and Loliondo areas, discussions over land use, grazing rights, and protected area management continue to draw attention. The local Maasai community worries that some conservation measures may restrict traditional grazing and habitation rights, while the government emphasizes the need to safeguard ecosystems and tourism resources.
East African countries and relevant organizations have begun to adjust their conservation approaches. Kenya's tourism authorities have in recent years proposed a "high-value, low-impact" tourism direction, emphasizing an increase in the quality of visitor spending rather than a mere pursuit of numbers. Some protected areas are implementing stricter vehicle management measures, including limiting the number of vehicles in sensitive viewing zones, stipulating minimum observation distances from animals, and prohibiting the prolonged blocking of migration corridors. In terms of infrastructure, newly built camps are increasingly powered by solar energy, equipped with wastewater recycling systems and demountable building structures, to reduce their impact on local ecosystems. Tanzania has strengthened land-use planning around Serengeti National Park and is promoting ecological corridor protection and cross-border monitoring cooperation.
The "community co-management" model is also gradually expanding. The Naboisho Conservancy around the Maasai Mara allows local herders to retain partial grazing rights while enabling them to obtain stable income through land rents and tourism revenue sharing. Peter Ngatua, a local community leader, said that in moving from "preventing disappearance" to "learning to coexist," conservation can only be sustainable when wildlife protection and community economic benefits are balanced.
Christopher Stone, an Africa program expert at the International Union for Conservation of Nature, said that East African conservation practice is shifting from "protecting animals alone" to "protecting the entire socio-ecological system." The criteria for measuring success are no longer just whether rhino or elephant numbers have increased, but also whether communities have benefited, whether tourism is sustainable, and whether ecological corridors remain connected.
Return to TopBy: 缴 蕊
During the arduous years of the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression, a group of friends from different countries used words and images to record the evidence of the crimes committed by the Japanese invaders in China: H. J. Timperley, a reporter for the British Manchester Guardian, wrote What War Means: The Japanese Terror in China, systematically exposing the atrocities of the Nanjing Massacre to the world for the first time; American pastor John Magee used his camera to film Nanjing after its fall, and the footage was carried by international figures to Britain, the United States, Germany, and elsewhere for screening...
On the Chinese battlefield, there was also a Dutch director, Joris Ivens (1898–1989). In the 1938 documentary The 400 Million, Ivens recorded the Chinese people's resistance and hope, winning broad international sympathy for China's War of Resistance. With this as a beginning, Ivens's bond with China stretched across half a century. China's history, culture, and social transformations drew him back again and again, and through his images he carried China's voice to the world.
From "Poet of Cinema" to "Warrior of Cinema"
In 1898, Ivens was born into a family of photographers in the small Dutch city of Nijmegen. Immersed in the craft from childhood, he developed a special passion for motion pictures. Following his father's arrangements, the young Ivens studied photography and economics across Europe — had things gone as expected, he would have taken over the family business and lived a stable, comfortable life.
Yet the currents of the era steered Ivens onto a different path. From 1927 to 1929, Ivens made the experimental films The Bridge and Rain, whose fusion of thought and poetry earned him the title "Poet of Cinema." From 1930 onward, he was invited several times to the Soviet Union to study and exchange ideas. This experience set the tone for his lifelong socialist convictions; under the baptism of left-wing thought, the "poet" grew into a "warrior."
In the 1930s, Ivens carried his camera into the coal mines of Belgium and the battlefields of Spain. Through his lens, Belgian coal miners endured wretched conditions yet remained mutually supportive and united, while the Spanish people fought valiantly against the fascist forces. Ivens described his creative philosophy thus: "Wherever something is burning, go there and film." China, which had erupted in a nationwide war of resistance, naturally drew this "warrior of cinema." Dissatisfied with Western countries' appeasement of Japanese fascism, he resolved to go to China and make a documentary that truthfully reflected the War of Resistance.
In early 1938, Ivens arrived in Wuhan together with the renowned war photographer Robert Capa and others. After obtaining travel permits from the National Government, they immediately went to the front lines of the Battle of Taierzhuang to film the actual fighting, then traveled to multiple locations, capturing scenes of Wuhan residents making donations for the anti-Japanese cause, Guo Moruo addressing mass rallies, and Xi'an people marching in anti-Japanese demonstrations.
Taking the filming as an opportunity, Ivens made contact with the Wuhan Office of the Eighth Route Army and captured precious footage of Zhou Enlai, Ye Jianying, and other Communists speaking at military meetings and studying the military situation. Although his plan to go to Yan'an and the enemy-held areas of North China to film the Eighth Route Army could not be realized due to numerous obstacles, before leaving China Ivens presented his 35mm camera along with 2,000 feet of film to the Eighth Route Army. In the autumn of 1938, the Yan'an Film Troupe (predecessor of the Central Newsreel and Documentary Film Studio) was established, and it was with this equipment that filmmakers such as Yuan Muzhi and Wu Yinxian shot the documentary Yan'an and the Eighth Route Army, opening the curtain on the people's film enterprise. This camera later became the most important piece of equipment for the Yan'an Film Troupe, recording invaluable images of revolutionary leaders including Mao Zedong, Zhou Enlai, Zhu De, and Liu Shaoqi.
In March 1939, The 400 Million premiered in the United States and was screened in several European countries over the following years. Following André Malraux's Man's Fate, Pearl S. Buck's The Good Earth, and Edgar Snow's Red Star Over China, the story of China once again caused a sensation in the Western world. The nation's suffering under the shadow of war, and the resistance and perseverance of the Chinese military and people, moved countless viewers and gave the international community a greater understanding of China's War of Resistance, rallying moral support among anti-fascists worldwide. The images and voices from China spread farther and farther.
At the end of 1945, Ivens resigned from his post as film commissioner for the Dutch government and, camera in hand, went to support the Indonesian independence movement. He subsequently traveled to Mali, Cuba, Chile, Vietnam, Laos, and other countries, using his lens to record the solidarity and struggle of the peoples of the Third World. Ivens trained large numbers of young filmmakers in these countries. The combat cameramen he trained for Cuba shot numerous short films at the front, and the establishment of the South American documentary film network also benefited from his long-term support. Ivens hoped that the young people would become "warriors" like himself, using cinema to unite the people and using celluloid to forge a transnational, transcultural popular front.
Expressing Deep Affection for China Through Filmmaking
What weighed most on Ivens's mind, however, was still China. In the 1950s, many friends he had filmed and befriended invited him to visit China and record the struggles of this ancient yet young country. From the 1950s to the 1970s, Ivens collaborated with Chinese filmmakers on Early Spring and The Foolish Old Man Who Removed the Mountains (also known as How Yukong Moved the Mountains), documenting the spiritual outlook of ordinary Chinese people during the period of socialist construction.
Qian Xiaozhang, former director of the Central Newsreel and Documentary Film Studio, recalled that Ivens once trudged through snow and ice in the bitter cold of minus 40 degrees Celsius to reach Hailar in China's northeast, and also journeyed to the still-chilly water towns of the Jiangnan region in early spring. Wherever he went, he would converse with local people with great enthusiasm and humbly learn from them. "Ivens was not a man who easily showed his emotions; he often kept his feelings quietly in his heart, but you could always sense from his warm, deep, sparkling eyes the sincere affection he held for China in his soul. The real-life scenes of China fueled his creative passion, keeping him ceaselessly brewing ideas for reporting on China," Qian Xiaozhang said.
Ivens's profound friendship with Chinese filmmakers was also steeped in decades of behind-the-scenes exchange and cooperation. In the late 1950s, he was invited to serve as an advisor to the Central Newsreel and Documentary Film Studio, training film workers for the new China. Situ Huimin, who later served as vice chairman of the China Film Association, recalled: "Ivens treated every success and every shortcoming in China's film enterprise and film art as if it were his own success or failure." Ivens not only taught shooting techniques, artistic concepts, and audiovisual theory, but also broadly introduced the film industry development experiences of Western Europe, Latin America, and Asia-Africa. His approach of going deep among the people with a truthful, natural style of filming profoundly influenced generations of Chinese filmmakers. Wang Decheng, Shi Yimin, and others who once worked alongside him all later became pillars of the new China's documentary enterprise.
In the context of Cold War history, Ivens also faced criticism for supporting China's socialist construction. But he did not become dispirited; instead, he continued to express his deep affection for China through filmmaking. His love for Chinese culture and the Chinese people was never abstract — whether they were important political figures or ordinary working people, all appeared before his lens as real, warm, and vivid.
In 1984, Ivens traveled to the deserts of northwest China to shoot his final film, A Tale of the Wind. In this work, the director, then in his eighties, seemed to return once more to the position of "Poet of Cinema." He engaged in dialogue with Chinese cultural icons — the Monkey King, Chang'e, the terracotta warriors, the Great Wall — telling them of his lifelong ideals and pursuits, and entrusting his reflections on cinema and revolution to the fierce winds that blow from the land of China out to the world. This semi-autobiographical film premiered at the Venice International Film Festival in 1988, once again proving to the world the depth of his love for China. The following year, Ivens passed away in Paris.
Throughout his life, Ivens used images to record the magnificent global revolutionary scenes of the 20th century, and above all preserved the vivid spiritual outlook of ordinary people amid epochal transformation. Looking back at the documentaries he made in China, much of their content transcended the prevailing cinematic concepts of their time and remains stirring more than half a century later. Today, Chinese audiences can still see the precious footage Ivens left behind in historical documentaries such as The Oriental Main Battlefield and Victory: the tense command scenes of the Battle of Taierzhuang, crowds of impassioned citizens singing the "March of the Volunteers" on the streets... These images record the historical course of a nation and also evoke viewers' memories of marching in step with the times.
At the end of 2025, the documentary Ivens' Bond with China traces Ivens's filming footsteps, bringing the people and stories from his lens back into public view. The children he filmed back then are now elderly men and women in their sixties; recalling the filming scenes of those days, they remain moved by Ivens's sincerity, kindness, and relentless pursuit of genuine human feeling.
Reflecting on the past in light of the present, the profound bond and steadfast friendship between Ivens and the Chinese people, born in the flames of war, constitute an unforgettable cultural legend.
(Author's affiliation: School of Liberal Arts, Renmin University of China)
Return to TopBy: 刘 淳
The two Homeric epics, hailed as the fountainhead of Western literature, differ markedly in temperament. After finishing the Iliad and opening the Odyssey, readers may breathe a sigh of relief: no more extended passages of battlefield slaughter, but instead shifting times and spaces, unexpected characters, and magnificent, fantastical plotlines. Whereas the Iliad remains almost entirely before the walls of Troy, displaying war, honor, and death, the Odyssey leads readers into an unknown and vast world—the sea, gods and monsters, lies, disguise, and a hero unlike any other.
The story of the Odyssey (see image, file photo) is not complicated. After the Trojan War, the Greek hero Odysseus sets out on the road home, but is delayed for ten years by divine obstruction and adventures at sea. In his homeland of Ithaca, another crisis awaits him: his house is filled with suitors who squander Odysseus's property, pressure his wife to remarry, and even plot to murder his son.
Yet the epic does not begin with the end of the war. When the story opens, Odysseus has already endured countless hardships, lost all his companions, and is trapped on the island of the goddess Calypso. The poet first tells of the search undertaken by Odysseus's son Telemachus, sketching the picture of the Greek commanders' homecomings. Odysseus does not formally appear until Book 5; after weathering storms, he arrives at the kingdom of the Phaeacians, and at a banquet recounts his past wanderings. The Phaeacians convey him back to Ithaca, and not until Book 16 do father and son finally meet, the two narrative threads merging into one.
This structure forms a sharp contrast with the Iliad. The latter revolves around the main thread of warfare, its time concentrated within a few dozen days, whereas the Odyssey constantly shifts between reality, recollection, and hearsay. Odysseus experiences legend, and he also tells legend: when he looks back on his ten years of wandering, his narration lasts fully four books of poetry. The Cyclops, the singing Sirens, the Lotus-eaters, the journey to the underworld—these stories familiar to today's readers entered the literary tradition precisely through his first-person narration. His narrative is spellbinding, like a carefully choreographed performance: he knows when to heighten the suspense, when to elicit sympathy, when to display his cunning.
A protagonist who can transform himself into a "singer of tales" also echoes the epic's own fascination with storytelling itself. The epic repeatedly features professional bards. When the Phaeacian court singer Demodocus sings of the Trojan War, Odysseus, seated among the listeners, weeps—the hero who tells stories has at this moment become the subject of song. Such treatment invites us to reflect on the relationship between poetry, memory, and narrative. Through it we catch a glimpse of the manner in which the Homeric epics were orally composed and transmitted through song.
Whether confronting the bizarre encounters of his homeward journey or fighting the suitors in his homeland, Odysseus displays distinctive qualities that set him utterly apart from Achilles, the hero of boundless martial might in the Iliad. The epic opens by describing Odysseus with the word πολύτροπος, which may be rendered as "of many wiles," "quick-witted and resourceful," or "versatile in response," yet its literal meaning, "having many turns," is rather puzzling. This quality, difficult to pin down and difficult to translate, points to the ancient Greek concept of mētis (cunning intelligence): it is not abstract wisdom, but a combination of foresight, stratagem, endurance, experience, and adaptability that enables one to emerge unscathed from unfamiliar and ever-shifting circumstances.
A hero possessed of such cunning continually explores the unknown world. But the true theme of the Odyssey is not adventure; it is νόστος ("return home"). This means not merely the physical return to one's homeland, but the re-establishment of identity, honor, and order. The epic repeatedly reminds us that setting foot on the soil of Ithaca does not equal completing the "return." Odysseus must win back his household, must again earn the recognition of his servants, his son, and his wife, before his return can truly be realized.
It is precisely for this reason that Odysseus's wife Penelope, though she appears but seldom, is one of the most important figures in the Odyssey. The epic time and again links "return" with the wife who keeps watch over the home. In Book 1, the trapped Odysseus "longs deeply for his journey home and for his wife." In Book 11, Agamemnon in the underworld recounts his own misfortune—he returned in triumph from Troy, only to die at the hands of his wife and her lover, never truly achieving his "return." Agamemnon's warning also makes the reader increasingly curious: what sort of woman is Penelope? How does she resist the suitors who covet kingship and wealth and press her to remarry?
Penelope is by no means a woman who sits waiting to be rescued. Not only has she raised Telemachus to adulthood, she also strives to guard her husband's estate. She tells the suitors who press her at the door that she must first finish weaving a funeral shroud for Odysseus's father before she can remarry. By day she weaves, and by night she secretly unravels it, thus spinning out three years. It is precisely this stratagem that enables her to hold out until her husband's return.
After Odysseus kills the suitors, the story does not end. Though family and servants alike accept Odysseus, Penelope is slow to acknowledge him, and instead calmly puts him to the test. Only when Odysseus reveals the secret of the marriage bed, which no outsider could know, does Penelope acknowledge her husband. It is precisely Penelope's testing and recognition of Odysseus that finally confirms his "return" and completes his heroic renown. If the Iliad's moment of glory is Achilles and the Trojan king Priam setting aside hatred in shared suffering, then the Odyssey's true climax is not the slaughter of the suitors, but the belated recognition between husband and wife. After war, storms, monsters, and wandering, what truly confirms the hero's identity is not force of arms, but memory, trust, and the secrets of a shared life.
It is for this reason that the Odyssey has always been more heterogeneous and more ambiguous than the Iliad: this is a story about belonging and identity, in which ordinary people can see themselves. Here there are hidden and revealed identities, tales of doubtful truth, constantly shifting human relationships, and sustained reflection on family, marriage, the other, and the homeland. It remains a heroic epic, and yet it transcends the heroic epic. Nearly three thousand years later, opening the work again, we can still read in Odysseus's long journey home a human experience that has not gone out of date: true homecoming has never been merely arriving at a place, but finding again where one belongs.
Since the twentieth century, Chinese translators including Fu Donghua, Yang Xianyi, Wang Huansheng, and Chen Zhongmei have produced Chinese versions of the Odyssey, making it easy for readers to approach this literary classic. With the release of the film The Odyssey, more readers will read or revisit the Homeric epic. And what is truly worth anticipating may not be merely the spectacle built from the Cyclops, the Sirens, and sea monsters, but how a story from nearly three thousand years ago about homecoming, identity, and memory can still move us today.
(The author is an associate professor in the English Department of the School of Foreign Languages, Peking University.)
Return to TopBy: 袁 婵
While studying at King's College London in the United Kingdom, I lived on Oxford Street and walked an hour each day to class on the Strand, by the River Thames. These two streets, one to the north and one to the south, are regarded as the holy ground of British theater — the two boundaries of London's West End.
My daily starting point was Selfridges department store on Oxford Street. The American merchant Selfridge was obsessed with theater, spending night after night in West End theaters, and he also brought theater into this department store founded in 1909. It once exhibited the first airplane to successfully fly across the English Channel, and sold replicas of the costumes worn by actors on West End stages. Entering the 21st century, the department store still uses its shop windows to tell Disney Christmas fairy tales, wrapping its merchandise layer upon layer in beautiful lighting and scenery, so that customers feel as if they are in a theater even while shopping.
Turning southeast from Oxford Street, theaters come into view one after another. At one time, the West End was almost synonymous for me with the Sondheim Theatre (see photo, China Images). Since 2004, the classic musical Les Misérables has been performed there continuously. From a student buying half-price tickets to a theater teacher buying full-price tickets, I have seen Les Misérables no fewer than ten times: from the legendary revolving mechanical stage to the modern stage that adopted projection, lighting, and new visual design in 2019. Beyond the changes in theatrical performance methods, I have also seen the cultural backgrounds of the actors grow increasingly diverse, and the faces in the audience grow ever younger.
The West End, of course, is not only Les Misérables. Walking out of the Sondheim Theatre, along Shaftesbury Avenue toward Piccadilly Circus, then turning into His Majesty's Theatre on Haymarket, The Phantom of the Opera is playing; or heading south and east past Leicester Square and Covent Garden, to see The Lion King at the Lyceum Theatre and Mamma Mia! at the Novello Theatre. Within a radius of a ten-to-fifteen-minute walk, audiences travel from a 19th-century Paris opera house to the vast African savanna, then leap to a Greek island, shuttling through the illusions conjured by more than forty theaters.
In the 18th and 19th centuries, London's West End was often associated with the luxurious world of Mayfair, St James's, and other areas. To be close to St James's Palace, where the royal family resided, aristocrats and wealthy merchants moved westward, and the West End gradually became the core stage of Britain's upper-class society. At that time, audiences at the King's Theatre (the predecessor of His Majesty's Theatre) enjoyed not musicals but traditional European opera. Under Britain's Theatres Act, between 1737 and 1843, audiences who wished to see legitimate drama (such as tragedies, history plays, or Shakespeare) could only go to licensed theaters such as the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane, and the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden; the large number of unlicensed theaters, represented by the Lyceum Theatre, could only survive through operations such as holding wax exhibitions and staging circuses.
Along with industrialization, the cities kept expanding, the middle class rose, and more and more citizens longed to enter theaters. The number of licensed theaters could no longer satisfy popular cultural demand, and the relevant system came to an end. In 1878, the legendary English actor Henry Irving took over the Lyceum Theatre and successfully practiced the "actor-manager" model, in which a leading actor simultaneously served as the theater's artistic leader and commercial operator. He produced and starred in Shakespearean plays such as Hamlet and Macbeth, bringing classic drama into popular culture and making the Lyceum Theatre a theatrical center.
Continuing a short distance along the Strand, one arrives at the Savoy Theatre, which is the endpoint of my West End journey. Unlike the Lyceum Theatre, the Savoy Theatre demonstrates another facet of the West End's transformation toward popular entertainment and modern consumer culture at the end of the 19th century. In 1881, Richard D'Oyly Carte founded the Savoy Theatre to provide a dedicated stage for the light operas composed by Gilbert and Sullivan. These works depicted British society with humor and satire, skillfully combining music, drama, and popular entertainment to form the distinctive "Savoy opera," which both broke with the elitist tradition of European opera and laid the foundation for the later development of the musical. For example, the musicals Legally Blonde and Paddington staged there in recent years both integrate familiar social life, popular culture, and everyday experience into drama, inheriting and developing the theatrical tradition of the Savoy Theatre.
The Savoy Theatre not only changed the content of performances but also reshaped the audience experience. It was one of the first public buildings in the world to adopt electric lighting. When it opened, many audience members bought tickets not to watch a play but to see the lights. In 1889, Carte built the Savoy Hotel, integrating theater, accommodation, and dining, becoming the prototype of the contemporary urban entertainment industry. The most legendary figure of all was Guccio Gucci, a bellhop at the Savoy Hotel at that time. He served guests from all over the world, observed every style of luggage, and after returning to Florence, Italy, founded the world-famous fashion brand — Gucci. In such a dramatic way, he carried the story of the West End to an even broader world stage.
From Oxford Street to the Strand is like a history of the development of modern British drama. Over nearly two centuries, theater has continuously moved toward the general public; the boundaries of theater have extended from theater seats to every corner of the city; and its expression has become more deeply connected with technology, commerce, and people's lives. People come to the West End to dream a theatrical dream, and here they also re-understand reality. It is precisely these ever-expanding boundaries and ever-richer emotions that allow theater to cross the stage and extend into every person's life. For this very reason, time and again, I return to the West End, standing alongside the present moment.
Return to TopBy: 徐鹏辉
The Isle of Skye lies off the northwest coast of Scotland, drawing visitors from around the world with its pristine, untamed natural scenery and its distinctive history and culture. Because the English name sounds the same as the word for "sky," it is often called "Sky Island" by Chinese travelers. As the sound of bagpipes sweeps across the highlands of moorland, cliffs, and lochs, and as Gaelic resounds in the island's castles, lighthouses, and harbors, this "isle of mist" is writing a unique chapter of the northern lands.
Crossing the Skye Bridge that links the Isle of Skye to the Scottish mainland, one can see white-tailed sea eagles wheeling overhead, black-faced sheep foraging, free-ranging Highland cattle, and leaping pine martens along the way — animals great and small living contentedly among the mountains and lochs. Driving northward, the Storr, shaped by volcanic activity and weathering and erosion, comes into view, with hikers in twos and threes climbing along the winding mountain path. At the summit, a sharp rocky pinnacle rises abruptly from the ground; from certain angles it resembles the profile of an old man — this is the Old Man of Storr, where legend says the remains of a giant are buried. The sea breeze, laden with moisture, keeps the Old Man shrouded in cold rain and thick fog, with only the occasional clear day bringing a rare warmth. Low-lying vegetation breaks through the rock, displaying vigorous vitality.
The collision of mountain and sea has created sea cliffs. Seen from afar, the layered folds and mottled textures of the vertical basalt resemble a carefully pressed Scottish kilt — hence the name "Kilt Rock." Water rushes from Loch Mealt in the eastern part of the island and plunges over the cliff edge into the sea, where the white-silk-like Mealt Falls stir up waves of spray.
Beyond its distinctive natural landscapes, the Isle of Skye's human history is equally captivating. The ancient Celtic culture, originating in west-central Europe, gave rise in the Scottish Highlands to its core branch, Gaelic culture, and the Isle of Skye is one of the important places where Gaelic culture is preserved. To this day, nearly three in ten islanders can still speak Gaelic, and the clan traditions, folk songs, and oral myths that carry a thousand years of memory are passed down from generation to generation. Dunvegan Castle, located in the northwest of the island, is the hereditary seat of the MacLeod clan. Standing on a rocky promontory on Loch Dunvegan, it has seen its family line continue unbroken for over 800 years — a living testament to the enduring vitality of Highland civilization.
Atop the cliffs of the Duirinish Peninsula in western Skye, the Neist Point Lighthouse stands pure white, with a low keeper's cottage quietly beside it. Above, its regularly flashing light guides ships on their way. Below, whales, dolphins, and basking sharks of the Atlantic swim freely, while brilliant sunrises and crimson sunsets drape the lighthouse in a hazy glow. Visitors experience the tranquil island life here, helping this fishing island transform into a cultural tourism destination.
The Isle of Skye — in a place where the sky seems within reach — quietly releases its wild beauty, allowing travelers to seek resonance of the soul amid the magnificent scenery.
Return to TopBy: 王 浩
Recently, several pieces of news about "cold and hot" give one much to ponder.
First, the "cold." In Suichang County (遂昌县), Zhejiang, abandoned mine shafts have been transformed into a "Center of the Earth World" 218 meters underground, where tourists cool off and check in, giving "county-hopping travel" a new way to play. In Yongchang County (永昌县), Gansu, highland cold-climate vegetables have come to market in a concentrated wave, riding cold-chain trucks to the shelves of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area and the Yangtze River Delta.
Then the "hot." In Turpan, Xinjiang, maximum temperatures exceed 35 degrees Celsius on more than 100 days a year. It has seized the high-temperature dry-heat testing industry track — "everything can be sun-dried" — and "baked" out a hundred-million-yuan major industry at the foot of the Flaming Mountains.
Distinctive features are advantages, and are potential. From "cold resources" to "hot endowments," the value of "dormant resources" has been awakened, becoming incremental growth for new business forms such as modern agriculture and cultural-tourism industries. The variation of "cold and hot" enlightens us that seizing new tracks, shaping new advantages, 因地制宜 (yīn dì zhì yí - "act according to local conditions"), and highlighting distinctive features are crucial. Whether laying out emerging industries or upgrading traditional industries, only by making good use of one's own conditions and 扬长避短 (yáng cháng bì duǎn - "play to strengths, avoid weaknesses") can one continuously transform distinctive resources into a steady stream of momentum for high-quality development.
Finding distinctive features depends on bold innovation and daring to venture and experiment. In traditional thinking, highland and cold-climate conditions mean a short frost-free period and low yields of traditional crops, and hot weather means outdoor work is restricted, and so on. "Cold and hot" not only fail to count as advantageous resources, but are even development shortcomings. But change the way of thinking, and organically combining "cold and hot" resources with new industrial trends and new consumption changes can release enormous potential.
Development potential is often hidden in the upgrading of cognition. Yiwu, Zhejiang, borders no coastline and no frontier; with a daring-to-venture, daring-to-experiment innovative mindset, it broke through geographical limitations, "borrowing routes to exit the border" and "borrowing ports to go to sea," growing into the world's largest small-commodity distribution center. Yiwu's entrepreneurial history tells us that developing industry depends on what is in one's "pocket," and even more on what one thinks in one's head. Only by daring to leap beyond the constraints of traditional resource endowments and break path dependence can one create more stories of 无中生有 (wú zhōng shēng yǒu - "create something from nothing").
Amplifying distinctive features depends on respecting laws and adapting to local conditions. The continuous improvement of infrastructure, the sustained empowerment of technological innovation, and the accelerating pace of industrial upgrading provide new opportunities for the rediscovery of the value of traditional resource endowments. Take Turpan for example: "sand therapy" is selling well because it fits new health-and-wellness consumption demands. Undertaking more than 90 percent of the nation's automobile high-temperature dry-heat testing volume means seizing the new opportunity of the new-energy vehicle market. Distinctive features do not automatically transform into advantages; only by respecting development laws, fitting market demand, and filling shortcomings in logistics, technology, services, and other areas can one transform resource advantages into industrial superiority and amplify single-point advantages into whole-region advantages.
Strengthening distinctive features depends on deep cultivation and meticulous work, and persistent effort over the long term. For a distinctive resource "seed" to grow into a distinctive industry "big tree" is by no means a matter of 一朝一夕 (yī zhāo yī xī - "one morning, one evening," a short period of time); one must be patient in laying foundations, strengthening chains, and nurturing ecosystems. Hefei, Anhui, has cultivated for more than a decade, with new-energy vehicles going from initial layout to clustered momentum. Suzhou, Jiangsu, has persisted for twenty years like one day, overcoming high-risk, long-cycle challenges to build a biomedicine innovation cluster. Facts prove that to strengthen distinctive industries, one must maintain strategic resolve and apply embroidery-like meticulous effort across the entire chain — technological breakthroughs, industrial investment attraction, policy support, and nurturing leading enterprises — and step by step shore up shortcomings and strengthen weak links, truly achieving "what others do not have, I have; what others have, I make better; what others make better, I make distinctive."
Use distinctive features to strengthen advantages, use advantages to tap potential, use potential to promote development. Put effort into excavating distinctive features according to local conditions, and the unique value of every patch of land and water can be fully released.
Return to TopBy: 本报记者 刘新吾
"The meat fragrance of childhood is the most unsophisticated smoke-and-fire of the human world in memory." At the 2026 Brand Power Forum (品牌强国论坛), a pig on the big screen that was snow-white all over and wore "dark circles under the eyes" sparked heated discussion. Data show: the Rongchang pig (荣昌猪) has a brand value of 8.125 billion yuan, firmly holding the top spot among the country's regional pig breeds.
From the record in the Qing-dynasty county gazetteer that "the flavor of dregs-and-chaff feeding is likewise a fine delicacy" to today's brand benchmark as "the giant panda of the pig world," this "treasure" with 459 years of breeding history is undergoing a value rebirth across the four seasons—spring guards the seed stock, summer raises with wisdom, autumn produces fragrance, winter matures into useful material—and, in the cycle of inheritance and innovation, is writing the development legend of China's regional pig breeds.
Spring Guards the Seed Stock——
The seed stock must be preserved, and the superior must be bred
Spring in Rongchang District (荣昌区), Chongqing, begins with the cry of a piglet in the pig barn.
The sky had just begun to lighten when Zheng Qingxian (郑清贤), a livestock farmer in Tashui Village, Qingjiang Town (清江镇塔水村), Rongchang District, entered the barn. Since 2024, Rongchang District has launched the "dispersed breed preservation" project: farmers can adopt fine purebred boars free of charge, and for each boar raised, they receive a monthly subsidy of 600 yuan. Their task is to use these boars to carry out purebred breeding with the sows of the surrounding townships.
"After more than a year, my own sows can deliver more than ten purebred piglets per litter, and the fellow villagers get a share of the benefit too," Zheng Qingxian said with a smile. His "special skill" is artificial insemination, and now this craft has become the key to safeguarding the Rongchang pig's genes.
Once, introduced breeding pigs that grew fast and produced more lean meat occupied the market, and more than 130 regional pig breeds nationwide fell sharply to 89. The Rongchang pig did not escape this fate—lagging breeding, slow growth, small litters, and the impact of animal epidemics pushed the district's inventory of purebred breeding sows of Rongchang pigs to freezing point by 2019, fewer than 10,000 head.
"Livestock and poultry genetic resources are strategic resources and must be protected well," said Lin Dan (林丹), director of the Rongchang District Animal Husbandry Development Center (荣昌区畜牧发展中心).
A meticulous "chess game of breed preservation" was laid out across Rongchang: the breed-preservation farms adopted open successive-generation selective breeding to lock onto superior genes in a targeted direction; the breed-preservation farms promoted group selection and group breeding to preserve genetic diversity; outstanding individuals from the conservation area were "invited" into the farms, and superior genes from the breed-preservation farms also radiated back into the district, forming a two-way circulation. At the same time, targeted mating was arranged by zones according to pedigree archives to strictly prevent inbreeding.
"The seed stock must be preserved, and the superior must be bred." Lin Dan said that Rongchang District, together with research institutes and enterprises, used Laiwu pigs (莱芜猪) crossed with Rongchang pigs to carry out the cultivation of a new strain. After five years of tackling key problems, they have entered the fourth generation of selective breeding, with gratifying results: the newly bred sows produce on average 12.22 piglets per litter, and both lean meat percentage and intramuscular fat content have increased.
Even more encouraging, last October, the "Huaxi Pastoral Pig" (华系田园猪) project, cultivated on the basis of Rongchang pig resources, 脱颖而出 (tuō yǐng ér chū - "the tip of an awl emerges from a cloth sack," to stand out from the crowd) from 1,390 applications from 90 countries around the world and received the global technology achievement commendation of the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) in the field of "sustainable livestock transformation." China's approach to preserving and utilizing regional pig breeds has stepped onto the world stage.
When the germplasm code of the Rongchang pig was reactivated, a four-season narrative about "flavor" slowly began to unfold.
Summer Raises with Wisdom——
Technology empowerment, from "relying on experience" to "relying on data"
In the heat of summer in Rongchang, at the "Shuangchang Smart Pig Farm" (双昌智慧猪场) in Putuo Village, Anfu Subdistrict (安富街道普陀村), 320 sows and 1,200 piglets are enjoying the cool of an "air-conditioned room."
There is no odor of a traditional pig farm here, no 挥汗如雨 (huī hàn rú yǔ - "wiping sweat that falls like rain," toiling in streaming sweat) bustle. IoT sensors are distributed in every corner: when the temperature rises, ventilation opens automatically; when hungry, feeding is automatic; AI (artificial intelligence) cameras monitor each pig's activity trajectory in real time. As soon as anything abnormal occurs, the system immediately gives an early warning.
"On all fronts, we have achieved 'watching pigs without entering the pen.'" Lin Qixin (林其鑫), the pig farm's person in charge, pointed at the central control screen and said, "In the past, this scale would have required at least ten people; now three are enough."
What surprised the reporter was a livestock AI all-in-one machine equipped with the PigGPT large language model for pigs. "Ask it: when should this batch of pigs be sent to market for the greatest profit?" Lin Qixin smiled and typed in the question, and the screen quickly gave recommendations based on market conditions and pig growth data.
The labor cost of this "future pig farm" has been reduced by about 20 percent, feed waste has been cut by 10 percent, and each pig saves 100 to 200 yuan in cost. The piglet survival rate has risen from 92 percent to 95 percent, and the number of piglets provided per sow per year has increased from 22 to 26.
Technology empowerment is reflected not only at the farming end, but also extends to the feeding segment.
At the Jiufengshan Research Base (九峰山科研基地) of the National Center of Technology Innovation for Pigs (国家生猪技术创新中心), Ding Yuchun (丁玉春), a senior veterinarian, brought out a bowl of thick "paste"—liquid feed. "This is made from sweet potato vines, rotten vegetable leaves, fruit pomace, and crop straw through synergistic fermentation by bacteria and enzymes."
China is the world's largest producer and consumer of pigs, but feed grain has long depended on imports. The research team screened out microbial strains that can efficiently decompose agricultural by-products, converting these "wastes" into fermented feed with good palatability and balanced nutrition, and then, through a precision liquid feeding system, delivers feed at fixed times, in fixed quantities, and with precision.
"Throughout the process there is no dust, no waste, and not even any need for human contact." Ding Yuchun calculated an account: this model can replace more than 50 percent of conventional corn and soybean meal feed, reduce the cost per pig by 100 to 200 yuan, and increase the feed conversion rate by more than 15 percent.
In Rongchang, this is not merely an innovation in feeding technology; it is the establishment of an entire ecological circular system. Agricultural by-products are "eaten up and squeezed dry," and pig manure and urine, after fermentation, are fully returned to the fields, forming a whole-chain green closed loop of "by-products—fermented feed—ecological farming—manure returned to fields—crop production." "The entire district absorbs tens of thousands of tons of agricultural by-products each year; there is no odor at the farms, and in the fields the water is clearer and the land is more fertile," Lin Dan said.
In 2024, the first FAO International Symposium on Antimicrobial Drug Reduction Pathways and Sustainable Development of Animal Husbandry was held in Rongchang, and the globally influential Rongchang Initiative (荣昌倡议) was released, which for the first time put forward the "5G farm" standard—good health care measures, good production management, good incentive measures, good antibiotic-alternative solutions, and a good external operating environment.
From "one person raises fifty or sixty head" to "one person manages three thousand head," from "relying on experience" to "relying on data," the summer of the Rongchang pig is a season of technology empowerment.
Autumn Produces Fragrance——
The breeding scale steadily expands, building the whole industry chain
When the autumn wind rises, the fragrance of cured meat wafts through 街头巷尾 (jiē tóu xiàng wěi - "street heads and lane tails," throughout every street and alley) of Rongchang.
Meat slices go into the pan—"zī lā"—and the fat fragrance overflows. At a time-honored restaurant in Rongchang's old town, a chef is cooking twice-cooked pork with Rongchang pork.
The intramuscular fat content of the Rongchang pig is about 3.12 percent, and some populations even exceed 7 percent, far surpassing introduced pig breeds. The muscle has good water-holding capacity, the meat is fine and tender, and the mouthfeel is juicy; with one bite, it is exactly "the meat fragrance of childhood."
"The Rongchang pig is a treasure all over its body," Lin Dan said. Centering on the whole industry chain of "one pig," Rongchang has developed seven major categories of deeply processed products: luncheon meat, grilled sausages, cured and preserved products, crispy fried pork, dumplings, hotpot ingredients, and snack foods.
In the workshop of a food company in the Rongchang High-tech Zone (荣昌高新区), an automated production line is turning Rongchang pork into various delicacies. The person in charge of the company said: "The twice-cooked pork convenience dish we developed from Rongchang pigs—after reheating, the meat remains fine and tender, with a rich fat fragrance, and monthly online sales exceed 50,000 portions."
Good flavor cannot be separated from good management, and digitalization escorts quality.
The National Pig Big Data Center (国家级生猪大数据中心) has developed the "Zhu e Yang" smart pig farm management platform (猪e养), managing more than 30,000 Rongchang pigs; it took the lead in initiating "whole-life-cycle" blockchain supervision and a district-wide "animal epidemic prevention code"; connecting more than 160 livestock farmers, it has built a "cloud-raising, cloud-selling" customized service platform and established a blockchain traceability system, from which more than 20,000 people have benefited.
"In the past, when raising Rongchang pigs, the thing we feared most was market fluctuations—if the piglets could not be sold, we worked all year for nothing," Liu Kun (刘坤), a livestock farmer in Changzhou Subdistrict (昌州街道), Rongchang District, said with emotion. "Now it is different: leading enterprises purchase at a guaranteed floor price, and the big data center can issue early warnings of pig price trends, so I feel much more at ease." Relying on the "Shu e Dai" credit product (数e贷), 35 livestock farmers have obtained loans totaling more than 15 million yuan, and the breeding scale is steadily expanding.
From "selling piglets" to "selling products," from "a rustic signboard" to "a golden name card," the brand value of the Rongchang pig has leapt from 3.681 billion yuan in 2023 to 8.125 billion yuan today, and the comprehensive output value of the whole industry chain has reached 14 billion yuan. This "treasure" with its own "dark circles" is now spreading its fragrance across the four seas in the market.
Winter Matures into Useful Material——
Excavating value, achieving a brand leap
In the depth of winter, the laboratories of the Chongqing Academy of Animal Sciences (重庆市畜牧科学院) are 灯火通明 (dēng huǒ tōng míng - "lamps and fires are brightly lit," brilliantly illuminated).
Researchers extract bone-derived materials from the femurs and pelvises of SPF (specific pathogen-free) Rongchang pigs. These offcuts, which in the past could only be used to make soup, have now become an ideal source for xenogeneic bone repair materials. In another laboratory, a medical beauty collagen developed from SPF Rongchang pigs has completed pilot-scale production and is about to be launched on the market, with an expected annual output value of 2 billion yuan. "The value of one pig has multiplied more than ten times," the project leader said.
From "food grade" to "medical grade," the Rongchang pig is completing a transformation of value. This transformation is not accidental: the Rongchang pig's high intramuscular fat content, good muscle water-holding capacity, and unique genetic characteristics make it an ideal laboratory animal and source of biological materials. It is precisely because the researchers recognized these qualities that they are excavating its value at the molecular level.
Today, Rongchang has been designated as the permanent venue of the FAO International Symposium on Antimicrobial Drug Reduction, held once every two years, and has become one of the "central coordinates" for the sustainable development of global animal husbandry. From "endangered, fewer than 10,000 head" to "number one in the country in brand value," from "selling piglets" to "selling products, selling the brand, selling technology," the Rongchang pig is accelerating the building of the whole industry chain of "breeding, raising, slaughtering, processing, and marketing."
Concentrating efforts on building the country's first national high-tech zone with agriculture and animal husbandry as its distinguishing feature, Rongchang has successively established the National Center of Technology Innovation for Pigs and the National Regional Innovation Base for the Livestock and Poultry Seed Industry (国家区域性畜禽种业创新基地). By 2030, the annual supply of Rongchang pig breeding stock will reach 100,000 head, and the comprehensive output value will exceed 30 billion yuan.
The "four seasons" of the Rongchang pig are a harmonious resonance between tradition and modernity. In spring, the gene bank continues to write the code of life, and the farming households practicing dispersed breed preservation guard the security of germplasm sources; in summer, data leap on the screens of the smart pig farm, and liquid feed flows quietly through the pipes; in autumn, the fragrance of cured meat drifts through old streets and lane ends, and Rongchang pig delicacies enter 千家万户 (qiān jiā wàn hù - "a thousand homes, ten thousand households," every family and household); in winter, the laboratories are brightly lit, and bone repair materials and medical beauty collagen are nurturing new life.
Return to TopBy: 本报记者 吴 君
In the height of summer, stepping into Hujiaban, Tuanjie Village, Liulin Town, Sui County (随县), Suizhou City, Hubei Province, the old houses with white walls and dark tiles are scattered in pleasing disorder, and asphalt village roads string together hydrangea gardens, fishing ponds, and exquisite micro-landscapes. The aroma of coffee mingles with the fragrance of rice paddies, and the homestay guest rooms converted from old houses must be booked a full week in advance.
The scene before one's eyes makes it hard to recall the extraordinary rainstorm five years ago — at that time, several old houses in Hujiaban nearly became ruins.
After the disaster, reconstruction work unfolded rapidly, and a batch of old houses received timely repairs. But once the houses were repaired, how to make the village come alive again and grow prosperous became a worry weighing on the villagers.
The turning point came from the county organization department's promotion of party building leadership for cluster-based, group-style advancement of comprehensive rural revitalization.
As the core town of Suizhou's Tourism Route No. 1, Liulin Town has vast forests and traditional villages scattered widely across its territory. In order to make the 50-kilometer tourist road within its borders play the role of a "road to prosperity," the county set its approach: not single villages fighting alone, but rather laying out homestays, picking gardens, fishing bases, internet-famous check-in spots, and other nodes along the road, stringing the villages along the route into one chain.
Hujiaban in Tuanjie Village, adjacent to the highway exit, was designated as the core point of the boutique homestay cluster, with the task of revitalizing old house resources.
In early spring of last year, village party branch secretary Yang Xiangli (杨相立) knocked on the door of villager Hu Pinde (胡品德), and the first thing he raised was "old houses as shares." Hu Pinde listened in a fog: old houses can be turned into shares? How does that work?
Yang Xiangli pulled over a chair and explained: "The town, following the county's approach, plans to string together the nodes of each village along the road. Your old house will be uniformly renovated and operated by an operating company, with a guaranteed minimum dividend." Seeing Hu Pinde hesitate, he pulled out his phone and flipped to the planning map: "Look, the Half-Mu Pond Phase One at the east end of the village is a courtyard house converted from idle housing, fully booked during holidays. In addition, the neighboring villages have thousand-acre cherry blossom gardens, internet-famous water towers, and other attractions. Our villages are bound together, pushing customers to each other — no need to worry about no one coming."
"Then what's the income like?" Hu Pinde pressed further. Yang Xiangli answered crisply: "The contract is signed in black and white, with a guaranteed annual rent, plus dividends at year-end. Most importantly, your wife can work as a housekeeper and draw a monthly salary — better than farming." Hearing this, Hu Pinde was tempted.
Easier said than done — only by actually doing it does one learn the depths. The contiguous renovation of old houses in Hujiaban took two months of coordination alone. Some were reluctant to tear down pigpens; some insisted the exterior walls be painted white. Yang Xiangli led village cadres door to door, chatting on thresholds, holding meetings on small stools in courtyards, doing the work down to the hearts of the villagers.
More than half a year later, Hujiaban had changed. The exteriors of the old houses were not greatly altered, but inside, a new world had been created — dining rooms, guest rooms, and modern facilities all in place. "It's a homestay, and also a travel post station," said a visitor, Ms. Wang (王女士). "Open the window and all you see are rice paddies; in the morning you're woken by birdsong. Hard to find anywhere else."
The changes for the villagers are also tangible. Hu Pinde used to do odd jobs here and there, with work coming and going. Now, he does village maintenance work in the village, and in his spare time is recommended to help out in the neighboring village. "It's called cross-village employment," he said with a smile. "In spring I direct traffic at the cherry blossom garden, in autumn I help with the picking festival at the chestnut base — busy all year round, never idle."
The projects he mentioned are all industries of the surrounding villages. Tuanjie Village's homestays, Jinqiao Village's cherry blossoms, Dajiaojiao Village's chestnuts, Shuangli Village's Ming Yuzhen (明玉珍) hometown and the Shanyue Suiren (山月随人) resort — several villages in "cluster-based, group-style development." "It's just everyone pooling resources to keep house together. Your family has rice, my family has vegetables — put it together and it's a good meal," Yang Xiangli put it more vividly.
Since the start of this year, Liulin Town has received 30,000 tourist visits in succession, driving surrounding residents to increase their income by approximately 2 million yuan.
In fact, Tuanjie Village's vitality is precisely a microcosm of the cluster-based development along Suizhou's Tourism Route No. 1. Heading north along the road, such "pooling resources" stories unfold one after another. In Zhenzhumiao Village, Junchuan Town, four villages "jointly manage" sanitation at the border areas; in Chegang Village, Anju Town, more than 100 green eggplant greenhouses from eight villages are grouped into clusters, with unified varieties, technology, and purchasing and sales.
Looking across the whole of Sui County, this "huddling together" picture is spreading on an even larger scale. With the Tourism Route No. 1 area as the vanguard, the Yandi Avenue (炎帝大道) Sui County section area and the Suibei Huaiyuan (随北淮源) area are unfolding in echelons.
Four teams — party building guidance officers, industry special envoys, "financial village officials," and rural operations specialists — have been deployed down to the fields, attracting more than 120 skilled people back to their hometowns to start businesses, with 31 industrial projects landing one after another. Small gardens, small vegetable plots, and small orchards have also sprung up like bamboo shoots after spring rain. Across the vast land of Sui County, the momentum for comprehensive rural revitalization is growing ever stronger.
Return to TopBy: 申少铁
General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out: "Party committees and governments at all levels should coordinate all types of resources to promote the expansion, quality improvement, and sustained development of elderly care services, and strive to create better conditions for the elderly to enjoy a happy old age."
Data released by the Ministry of Civil Affairs (民政部) shows that since the implementation of the policy of issuing elderly care service consumption subsidies to elderly people with moderate and above disabilities, as of the end of July this year, a cumulative total of 10.79 million consumption vouchers have been redeemed, with a redemption amount of 6.512 billion yuan, driving elderly care service consumption of 29.093 billion yuan, and approximately 2 million elderly people with disabilities have benefited from the program.
Along with the increase in the absolute number of elderly people in our country, especially the oldest-old, the number of elderly people with disabilities is also growing rapidly. Compared with self-care elderly people, caring for elderly people with disabilities requires more time and energy, and also brings a greater burden of expenditure, placing considerable pressure on many families. Issuing elderly care service consumption subsidies to elderly people with moderate and above disabilities — that is, using fiscal funds to provide corresponding subsidies for this group of elderly people to purchase home-based, community-based, and institutional elderly care services — has genuinely reduced the care burden on elderly people with disabilities.
Extend respect for the aged to the aged of others as we respect our own. In recent years, our country has continuously advanced elderly care work, with the supply and quality of elderly care services steadily improving, and the beautiful vision of the elderly being cared for, supported, and enjoying life is increasingly becoming a reality. Data show that during the "14th Five-Year Plan" period, our country completed age-friendly renovations for 2.24 million households of elderly people in families with special difficulties, built 500 demonstration community-based home elderly care service networks, 2,990 demonstration age-friendly communities, and 86,000 elderly meal assistance points.
Our country is one of the countries with a relatively high degree of population aging in the world. By the end of 2025, the population aged 60 and above was approximately 323 million, accounting for 23% of the total population, of which the population aged 65 and above was approximately 224 million, accounting for nearly 16% of the total population, with the elderly population overall showing a growth trend. Issuing elderly care service consumption subsidies to elderly people with moderate and above disabilities is one of the important measures to address population aging. But at the same time, there is still a certain gap between our country's existing elderly care service supply and the needs of elderly people, especially elderly people with disabilities, for elderly care services in home-based, community-based, and institutional settings, and it is still necessary to further promote the expansion and quality improvement of elderly care services.
Expanding capacity means making every effort to increase the supply of elderly care services. At present, our country's elderly care presents a "9073" pattern, that is, approximately 90% of elderly people age at home, about 7% of elderly people rely on community support for elderly care, and the remaining 3% of elderly people receive institutional elderly care. In other words, approximately 97% of elderly people in our country choose home-based and community-based elderly care, so doing a good job of home-based and community-based elderly care services means grasping the "ox nose" (the key point). At present, there is still great space for expanding community elderly care service supply. On the one hand, old residential communities can make full use of idle premises and convert them into elderly care facilities; new residential communities should do a good job of planning and mandatorily allocate elderly care facilities in their construction. On the other hand, it is necessary to encourage multiple entities to participate in the operation of elderly care services, provide diversified services, and reduce operating costs. In addition, elderly care services have a strong public welfare nature, and support should be given to operating institutions in terms of tax preferences, land rent reductions and exemptions, and financial subsidies.
Improving quality means continuously enhancing the quality of elderly care services. Elderly people are the common wealth of society, and loving and assisting the elderly is the common responsibility of society. The quality of elderly care services directly determines the quality of life of elderly people. Elderly care service operating institutions should strictly implement national policies and systems such as the "Guidelines for the Construction of the Elderly Care Service Standards System" (养老服务标准体系建设指南), and provide all types of elderly care services in accordance with standards. Sub-districts (townships) should coordinate resources such as community health services, convenience services, and elderly care stations to build integrated elderly care service complexes, providing elderly people with health care, rehabilitation, daily living care, cleaning and sanitation, meals, spiritual comfort, cultural entertainment, and other services, so that elderly people can enjoy life without leaving their communities. Relevant departments should strengthen supervision of elderly care services, focusing on routine supervision of fire safety, food safety, medical quality, and other service content, and increase penalties for violations. In addition, it is necessary to accelerate the application of artificial intelligence, humanoid robots, big data, and other technological means to inject new vitality into the elderly care service system and further improve the efficiency and quality of elderly care services.
There is no small matter in elderly care services; it concerns the well-being of every family. Issuing elderly care service consumption subsidies, expanding elderly care service supply, improving the quality of elderly care services... With the implementation of a series of elderly care service policies and measures, the burden of elderly care will be further reduced, and elderly people's sense of gain, happiness, and security will continue to increase. May respecting and honoring the elderly, loving and assisting the elderly become the prevailing custom, and may all elderly people be able to enjoy a happy and fulfilling old age.
Return to TopBy: 本报记者 潘俊强
At 5 a.m. on a summer morning, the sky was just beginning to lighten. In a corner of Beijing Gaobo Boren Hospital, located beside the Third Ring Road South in Fengtai District, Beijing, the bustle had already begun. The rhythmic chopping of vegetables, the splashing of rice being washed, the clatter of spatulas against woks... all came together like a morning melody imbued with the warmth of everyday life.
This is the "Little White Spring" (小白春天) charity kitchen, a "special canteen" for leukemia patients and their families.
"Accents from all over the country mingle in the steam, and the aromas of dishes from different regions collide across the stovetops," said Qi Liguang, founder of the "Little White Spring" charity kitchen. Since 2017, the kitchen has grown from a corner where people cooked on induction cookers while squatting on the ground into a complete space with standardized indoor and outdoor work areas and a dedicated dining zone. "At its peak, more than a hundred families were busy cooking in this kitchen at the same time."
This kitchen, through the warmth of everyday cooking, weaves together the kindness and mutual support of strangers, writing story after story of hope and rebirth.
"Having been drenched by the rain while seeking treatment for my own child, I want to hold an umbrella for others in the same situation."
When we first met Qi Liguang, he was in the "Little White Spring" charity kitchen, washing vegetables and chopping ingredients.
Qi Liguang is from Handan, Hebei Province. In his early years, he worked in the catering industry, had two children, and led a fairly stable life. However, in 2015, his life was rewritten. His younger son, who had just entered middle school, received worrying results during a local physical examination, and the doctor told him to "go to a big hospital in Beijing for a check-up."
"When we arrived in Beijing, after the hospital examination, the diagnosis they gave us read 'leukemia,'" Qi Liguang said. "At that time, my understanding of leukemia was just like what you see on TV — once you got this disease, it was as if you had been sentenced to death."
After that, Qi Liguang took his younger son to every major hospital in Beijing. Along the way, he witnessed too many heartbreaking scenes.
"Before my child fell ill, I never knew such a group existed in this world," Qi Liguang said. When a child contracts leukemia, long-term treatment is required, and parents and other family members must stay in the hospital to care for them for extended periods, with treatment costs and living expenses remaining persistently high. "At that time, seeing those sick children, and those families who had given everything they had, and then thinking of my own 13-year-old child, my heart ached as if twisted by a knife."
"During treatment, my younger son's heart suddenly stopped beating. At that moment, I felt I could barely hold on," Qi Liguang said. Fortunately, other fellow patients offered him guidance and help.
High salt and high oil are harmless to ordinary people, but for children with weakened immunity, one wrong bite could be fatal. "Patients' food must be low in oil and salt, low in fat and high in protein, and it must be fresh and hygienic," Qi Liguang said. "We couldn't tolerate the slightest impurity, so we had to cook for ourselves." But for families seeking medical treatment away from home, renting a place in Beijing to cook was no easy task. Rents around Beijing Gaobo Boren Hospital were high, and some nearby residents, out of concern, refused to rent to them. "You had to patiently explain over and over that this disease is not contagious, talking until your lips were worn out," Qi Liguang said.
"Fighting the disease alone is too lonely and too hard," Qi Liguang recalled. It was then that he began organizing a volunteer car team and establishing a patient mutual-aid association to help and comfort one another. One Mid-Autumn Festival, Qi Liguang took out 2,000 yuan to buy some mooncakes and fruit, organizing a simple celebration for everyone away from home. No one knew what tomorrow would bring, but when they gathered together, everyone felt they could keep going. It was this period of leaning on one another that planted the seed of public welfare in Qi Liguang's heart.
In 2017, the treatment of Qi Liguang's child came to a successful conclusion. When everyone thought he would return to Handan, he chose instead to stay in Beijing. At Beijing Gaobo Boren Hospital, the specialist who had treated his younger son said to him, "The lives of these sick children were saved by their parents. The community of patients' family members is too suffering and too special, and especially, cooking for the sick children is extraordinarily difficult. You've worked in catering and know the trade — can you stay and help them?"
"Having been drenched by the rain while seeking treatment for my own child, I want to hold an umbrella for others in the same situation." Qi Liguang did not hesitate; he stayed. Thus, Beijing Gaobo Boren Hospital set aside a simple room that had been used for storing odds and ends, waiving the utility fees. Qi Liguang and several fellow patients' family members brought in camp beds and brought induction cookers, pots, bowls, and ladles from home. In August 2017, the "Little White Spring" charity kitchen opened, primarily providing assistance to families dealing with major illnesses, mainly childhood leukemia. At first, only eight or nine families came to cook, but later, word spread from mouth to mouth, and more and more people came.
Why is it called "Little White Spring"? "People who get leukemia are initially dazed and despairing, feeling that the sky has gone dark," Qi Liguang said. But in reality, leukemia can now be cured. Whether child or adult, being cured means living anew — there is hope, and there will be their own spring. A simple intention to protect only his own child thus transformed into a spark that safeguards thousands of families.
"This place has not only the warmth of everyday cooking; it is also a harbor of love that warms the families of fellow patients."
Walking into the "Little White Spring" charity kitchen, the first things you feel are positivity and a strong sense of love.
"Soy sauce, oyster sauce, and all kinds of seasonings have been mailed over again," a patient's family member working in the kitchen told everyone upon receiving the delivery. In early June this year, after seeing the story of the "Little White Spring" charity kitchen online, staff from a seasoning company came to Beijing Gaobo Boren Hospital, walked into the kitchen, and discussed donations with Qi Liguang. Qi Liguang said, "Leukemia patients are quite 'picky' because of their illness and need seasonings with fewer additives." Subsequently, the seasoning company began mailing seasonings that met the patients' requirements every month. It was not only caring enterprises — former fellow patients also successively mailed local agricultural specialties: mutton from Inner Mongolia, dates from Xinjiang, black fungus from the Northeast... There were also refrigerators, storage racks, and even potted plants, all accumulated bit by bit by fellow patients.
Here, everything is donated and everything is free: rice, flour, cooking oil, grains, seasonings, and side dishes, even water, electricity, and gas — all come from voluntary social donations. Qi Liguang and his fellow patients are grateful and moved. Over the past nine years, the small kitchen alone has saved patient families approximately 10 million yuan in expenses.
In the "Little White Spring" charity kitchen, from 5 a.m. to 7:30 a.m. every day, nutritious porridge is slowly simmered in a large pot over low heat, its fragrance wafting throughout the courtyard. It is offered not only to leukemia patients; patients' family members can also receive porridge and eat there.
The story of this bowl of porridge began during the most severe period of the COVID-19 pandemic. Qi Liguang recalled that, on the one hand, all the small shops nearby had closed, leaving nowhere to find food; on the other hand, patients' family members going out to find somewhere else to eat carried the risk of infection, which would in turn harm the patients. Fellow patients donated pots and rice, and by sheer determination kept that steaming pot of porridge going. "At that time, every day when we opened our eyes, it was 3 yuan per person," Qi Liguang said. This became everyone's shared "team-building project." As social donations increased, the morning porridge was continuously upgraded, with pickled vegetables, eggs, and more added. Every afternoon, "Five Red Soup" (a soup made with five red ingredients) is also simmered to replenish patients' qi and nourish their blood. To date, 120,000 person-times have received hot porridge at the "Little White Spring" charity kitchen.
The "Little White Spring" charity kitchen safeguards far more than just appetites. For patient families, it is a "home for fellow patients," a relay station where veteran patients help newcomers. Many patients' family members, after their children have undergone bone marrow transplants, remain in the rejection reaction period and cannot yet return to their hometowns, so they volunteer at the "Little White Spring" charity kitchen, taking on the work of cooking for other sick children. "Whatever a family's child wants to eat, the volunteers find ways to make it," Qi Liguang said. "By lending each other a hand, family members can also take turns to rest."
"This place has not only the warmth of everyday cooking; it is also a harbor of love that warms the families of fellow patients," Qi Liguang said. By the stoves, people from different regions teach each other their signature dishes; at the dining tables, everyone shares medical experiences, pours out their worries, and cheers each other on. "We found fellow travelers in this kitchen," said a parent who came from Harbin, Heilongjiang. "Coming here, we avoided many detours."
"Our little kitchen never lacks volunteers, and those who receive help also become those who give help."
"Our little kitchen never lacks volunteers, and those who receive help also become those who give help. This flow of roles is deeply moving," Qi Liguang said, his tone full of conviction. Here, every story is one of finding joy in helping others.
Among these volunteers are both patients' family members who help out while accompanying their children through treatment, and dedicated volunteers who have stayed on full-time to give.
Li Guang is the "all-around housekeeper" here and one of the longest-serving full-time volunteers. Seven years ago, Li Guang brought his younger brother to Beijing for treatment. When they encountered difficulties, the fellow patients at the "Little White Spring" charity kitchen extended a helping hand to the two brothers — some shared treatment experiences, others helped look after the younger brother...
"When I was in the most severe financial difficulty, it was the fellow patients of 'Little White Spring' who scraped together money from here and there to help me through," Li Guang said. "'Little White Spring' is like a home. I am a beneficiary of this charity kitchen, and I want to pass on the spirit of mutual assistance."
Today, the "Little White Spring" charity kitchen has expanded from Beijing Gaobo Boren Hospital to Changping District and Shunyi District in Beijing, and this year it also opened two locations in Shanghai. Beyond this small kitchen, Qi Liguang has also jointly established "Little Love Homes" (爱心小家) with the hospital, extending this warmth from the hospital to corners of the city, providing low-cost or free temporary lodging for families seeking medical treatment away from home who have not yet rented a place. "Families that have just come for treatment will first stay at the Little Love Home for a few days to get their bearings, then go look for housing," Qi Liguang said. As of now, six "Little Love Homes" are in operation.
Zheng Mang has been at the first "Little White Spring" charity kitchen for five years. He was a chef at a restaurant in his hometown. He is not only known among fellow patients as the "famous chef," but also serves as the person in charge of the "Little Love Home" near Beijing Gaobo Boren Hospital. Every family member of a sick child who comes to stay there receives Zheng Mang's comfort: "Since we're here, let's make the best of it — we'll get through this together." Whether it is helping fellow patients with hospital admission, discharge, or moving, Zheng Mang helps with everything he can. He has walked an especially difficult road, and he wants the families of sick children who come after him to have a smoother time here.
Strands of light converge into the warm current of the times. Qi Liguang remarked with emotion that in recent years, the state has continuously raised the medical insurance reimbursement ratio for blood disease patients, and the national medical insurance system has achieved inter-provincial real-time settlement, making medical reimbursement more convenient and worry-free. "We have never fought alone — there is individual kindness, social assistance, and the support of the state," Qi Liguang said.
Qi Liguang and the countless volunteers behind him, with their stoves and pots, their bowls of porridge and meals, prove that when policy provides the safety net, society lends a hand, and individuals contribute their efforts, the warmth of countless small households converges into a river. The spring that belongs to the "Little Whites" shines forth in those lights lit at 5 a.m., illuminating more families in difficulty and more smiling faces of sick children.
By: 主讲人：黑龙江富锦市南岗社区红色电影放映队队长 彭步钦
I am Peng Buqin, captain of the Red Film Screening Team of Nangang Community in Fujin City, Heilongjiang Province. The villagers from all the surrounding areas are used to calling me Old Peng. As long as they see the white screen set up on the square, they know I have brought movies with me again. Counting to this year, I have been involved in film screening for 52 years.
In 1969, I enlisted as a railway engineer soldier. At that time, the troops often screened red films, such as Tunnel Warfare and Railway Guerrilla, and I watched them again and again. I always felt that the beam of light emitted from the projector could not only illuminate the pitch-black night, but also shine into people's hearts, giving them encouragement and direction. In 1974, I was demobilized and returned to Xiangyangchuan Commune in Fujin. It happened that the commune was recruiting a film projectionist, and I signed up without a second thought — being able to bring this light to the villagers made everything worthwhile.
At that time, cultural life in the countryside was scarce. As long as word spread that a movie would be shown in some village at night, the villagers would have extra energy in their daytime work, children would early on carry small stools to grab seats in front of the screen, and villagers from ten li away would rush over to come.
In order to let everyone see more new films, I saved on food and clothing in daily life, and the money I accumulated was used to purchase equipment and update film reels. In the winters of Northeast China, the cold wind pierces the bones, and snow often submerges the ankles. Transporting equipment weighing a hundred-odd jin was difficult, so I pushed it with a handcart or pulled it with an iron sled, treading through the snow with one deep step after another as I went from village to village.
By the 1980s, televisions gradually entered ordinary households, fewer and fewer people came to watch open-air movies, and the commune's screening team was disbanded. One by one, my colleagues switched to other lines of work. Some people advised me: since nobody is watching anymore, why bother with all that effort?
But in my heart I was convinced of one principle: this position cannot be abandoned. If others won't do it, I have to keep doing it. I carried the equipment on my own shoulders and continued riding my bicycle to the countryside to screen films. From carrying loads with a shoulder pole to loading them on a bicycle, from a motorized tricycle to the micro van I later acquired, my means of transport changed generation after generation, but my footsteps going from village to village never stopped.
In 2000, I took the lead in establishing a science and technology screening team. I figured that simply showing villagers story films was not enough — I needed to send them practical skills for getting rich. I went door to door visiting farming households, noted down everyone's needs, and paid out of my own pocket to buy popular science films on planting and animal husbandry, delivering the "formula for getting rich" to the fields. Xie Ming, a livestock farmer in Xiangyangchuan Village, watched the popular science film Small-Tailed Han Sheep and improved his breeding techniques according to the methods in the film. That very year his income jumped to a whole new level, and he made a special trip to my home to thank me.
In 2005, I noticed that migrant worker brothers on urban construction sites were tired from daytime labor and had no cultural life at night, so I set up a "migrant workers' movie night market," screening films for workers free of charge, so that people striving far from home could also feel a bit of the warmth of home.
In 2013, Tongjiang City in Heilongjiang suffered a severe flood disaster. When I heard that the villagers at the disaster victim resettlement sites were feeling down, I loaded up my equipment and rushed to the disaster area. I went around to 6 resettlement sites in succession and screened films for 6 consecutive days. Watching everyone sit before the screen as the worry on their faces gradually eased, I felt great comfort in my heart.
A few years ago, I was diagnosed with pancreatic head cancer. After the surgery, my weight dropped by more than 40 jin all at once, and the doctor repeatedly urged me to rest and recuperate quietly. As soon as my health improved a little, I ignored my family's dissuasion and carried the screening equipment on my back again.
At that time, I bought a micro van, rented a 35mm portable projector, and despite my illness, in two months I traveled to 37 primary and secondary schools, voluntarily screening the anti-Japanese war film Chang Longji. Watching the children stare at the screen, moved by the hero's story, I felt myself filled with strength.
Over the years I have received many honors, but in my heart, no number of awards is as real as the villagers' simple greeting, "Old Peng, you're here."
What comforts me most is that more and more young people are willing to join the screening team. This original aspiration in the light and shadow is gradually being passed down. Some people ask me how long I plan to keep screening. I say, as long as I can still walk, and as long as the villagers still love to watch, I will keep going.
(Arranged and recorded by our reporter Guo Xiaolong)
Return to TopBy: 孙润南
General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out: "Practice has proven that formulating and implementing five-year plans is an important experience of our Party in governing the country and an important political advantage of the socialist system with Chinese characteristics." Recently, the popular theory reader Scientific Planning Promotes Development (科学规划促发展), a 2026 "Theory Hotspots Face-to-Face" (理论热点面对面) volume compiled by the Theory Bureau of the Central Propaganda Department of the CPC Central Committee (中共中央宣传部理论局), was published and distributed. The book consists of ten lectures in total, beginning with "Understanding 'Chinese-Style Long-Termism'" and ending with "Achieving Dreams Through Solid Work," setting up nearly 50 questions around the economic and social development of the "15th Five-Year Plan" period. It is an important reader for helping and guiding cadres and the masses to understand the "15th Five-Year Plan."
"Maintain historical patience and strategic resolve, carry one blueprint through to the end, and continue the work one batch after another." Opening the first lecture, what is responded to is precisely this historical patience. Planning has never been the exclusive preserve of any one country. The book writes that "many countries have never reduced the weight of planning in economic and social development." Japan insists on issuing science and technology innovation plans on a five-year cycle, and South Korea also maintains special medium- and long-term industrial strategies. There are not few countries that have done planning, but countries like China that have continuously implemented five-year plans for more than 70 years are extremely rare. The book mentions that during the implementation of the "First Five-Year Plan," Comrade Mao Zedong once envisioned the situation after implementing 15 five-year plans, sighing that only then "we can breathe a sigh of relief." The "15th Five-Year Plan" happens to be the fifteenth five-year plan. The vision from back then has been passed down to today. Can the generation that "looks at the world on equal footing" now feel proud and elated? In recent years, "long-termism" has become a buzzword. Young people use it to talk about reading and careers. After reading this book, one will understand that "Chinese-style long-termism" has already been practiced on this land for more than 70 years.
"Systemic thinking is a foundational way of thinking and working." If long-termism answers the dimension of time—the far—systemic thinking answers the dimension of space—the whole. The book's layout is itself a demonstration: the ten lectures are not ten isolated topics. Long-termism, industries moving toward the new, scientific and technological self-reliance, a more vibrant market, deepening reform, urban-rural coordination, cultural vitality, strengthened livelihood, development turning green, and united efforts—in the final analysis, these are different facets of the same system. When the system as a whole improves, individual parts inevitably experience friction. The book does not shy away from this: coordinating development and security "contains a certain structural tension," and currently "there is pain in the transition between old and new growth drivers." If so, what can bring a thousand tangled threads into one game of chess? General Secretary Xi Jinping put it extremely clearly: "When planning one domain, one must not forget the whole; when basing oneself on the present, one must not ignore the long term; when highlighting key points, one must not neglect the general." This way of thinking forms a sharp contrast with 头痛医头、脚痛医脚 (tóu tòng yī tóu, jiǎo tòng yī jiǎo - "treat the head when the head hurts, treat the foot when the foot hurts," to treat symptoms rather than root causes). Following the nearly 50 questions through to the end, systemic thinking thus transforms from a principle in documents into a visible, learnable method.
In Chinese-style modernization, the people's livelihood is paramount. This is precisely where all ten lectures of the book converge. When the system improves, where does the improvement lie? The ultimate yardstick is the people. The book devotes a section specifically to discussing "closely combining investment in things with investment in people." Building roads and bridges is investment; childcare and elderly care are also investment. The former strengthens the body of development, the latter builds momentum for development. The eighth lecture focuses even more on ordinary people's concerns, from "how education can better adapt to changes in society," to "the deeper meaning behind 'good housing,'" to "how to resolve worries about childbearing." The most moving part is the section "unblocking channels of social mobility," which begins with the thesis acknowledgment of Huang Guoping (黄国平), a PhD from the University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, that moved countless netizens to tears: "Read the book through, then walk out, and not live this life in vain." It asks "whether a young person can rewrite their fate through hard work." The book's conclusion says that the "15th Five-Year Plan" contains firewood, rice, oil, salt, three meals, and four seasons, and that on the journey to realize the "15th Five-Year Plan," everyone is a protagonist. Today's young people, by the time basic socialist modernization is basically realized in 2035, will be at the most creative age of their lives. The country's schedule and a generation's life timetable are thus superimposed on each other.
"Empty talk harms the country, solid work revitalizes it; one part planning, nine parts implementation. If we do not pay attention to implementation, if we do not seriously grasp implementation, no matter how good the planning and deployment, it will all become a castle in the air." General Secretary Xi Jinping's admonition reveals the distance between the blueprint and reality. The value of this book lies in the fact that it not only answers what the "15th Five-Year Plan" will do, but also makes people understand why these deployments are interconnected and for whom they ultimately are. Planning for the long term comes first; the landing point is the people. Closing the book, the five-year plan steps out of the documents and lands before every person's daily life.
(The author's affiliation: School of Marxism, Beihang University (北京航空航天大学马克思主义学院))
Return to TopBy: 李开复
The rapid progress of artificial intelligence (AI) has frequently triggered social "shock," yet people seem not to have seen society undergo "drastic change" because of AI. This stark contrast precisely echoes the widely circulated saying in the tech innovation community: the power of technology is often overestimated in the short term and underestimated in the long term.
AI transformation is by no means Industrial Revolution 4.0
Forty years ago, I was still a young man aspiring to research AI. In my doctoral application letter to Carnegie Mellon University, I wrote, "AI is the final step for humanity to know and understand itself." Now I believe this even more firmly.
The steam engine upgraded productivity from manual to mechanical; electricity delivered mechanical power, heat, and light to every corner of society; the internet drove the marginal cost of information dissemination toward zero; and the AI transformation turns intelligence into a foundational capability that can be invoked, replicated, and scaled. Every past industrial revolution gave you a stronger "hand," while the AI transformation gives you a stronger "brain." It can be said with certainty that the AI transformation is by no means a simple Industrial Revolution 4.0; it is a brand-new chapter in technology, business, and civilization, and its impact will be greater than that of every previous industrial revolution.
In the history of technological development, from birth to large-scale entry into ordinary households, the telephone took about 80 years, the internet took 10 years, and ChatGPT took two months. This is the fastest diffusion among all consumer-grade products in human history. On the one hand, today's models are far more powerful than two years ago, compressing technological iteration that would have taken decades into a few years. On the other hand, AI inference costs have fallen by approximately 99.4% in two years — equivalent to a 250,000-yuan car dropping to about 1,500 yuan after two years. The collapse in cost per unit of intelligence has accelerated the diffusion of AI.
It looks 波澜不惊 (bō lán bù jīng - "waves not stirred," calm and uneventful), but in fact the AI transformation is rapidly unfolding. A batch of AI-native enterprises have grown into dark horses in the industry. Emerging AI companies such as Moonshot AI (月之暗面), DeepSeek, and Zhipu AI (智谱) all have valuations exceeding 100 billion yuan. AI-related industries such as electricity, computing power, and storage have also ridden the wave of the times, with ChangXin Memory Technologies (长鑫科技) surpassing 3 trillion yuan in market value. Short-drama companies established in the past three months are all AI-native in model, relying on video generation technology to drastically compress production costs, while demand for traditional crew positions has sharply declined.
Of course, traditional industries such as manufacturing, because they involve physical links such as manufacturing processes, supply chains, and robot applications, face far greater difficulty in AI transformation and will progress more slowly. However, the growth pattern of AI data compounding is not arithmetic growth but exponential growth, and the time window for enterprises to undergo AI transformation is narrower than most people realize. I estimate that in the next three to five years, enterprises that have not undertaken substantive reform may be challenged by companies that have taken the lead in AI reform.
Achieving "AI-native transformation"
A McKinsey survey shows that although nearly 90% of enterprises are using AI, only 39% have achieved substantive financial returns.
Many companies are busy equipping themselves with various agents recommended by software vendors. Over the course of a year, they accumulate more than a dozen vertical agents that do not communicate with one another: tools for meeting minutes organization, contract draft generation, report auto-summarization, and so on — 一应俱全 (yī yìng jù quán - "all present and complete," everything needed is available) — yet none of them can connect financial, supply chain, sales, and customer service data, nor 穿针引线 (chuān zhēn yǐn xiàn - "thread the needle," coordinate and connect) among them to provide reference for overall judgment. After a busy year, it looks as though AI is being used everywhere, yet business results have not changed at all.
The reason lies in the huge gap between the way AI is deployed and the production of enterprise value. Many traditional enterprises treat AI merely as a local tool, using it to optimize local links such as customer service, contract review, and reimbursement, and are unable to release the full value of AI. On the other hand, the multi-level human coordination in traditional companies creates internal friction, making it difficult to adapt to the scheduling of massive numbers of AI employees. If the system is not connected across the entire chain to the enterprise's workflows, data flows, and feedback loops, it cannot absorb feedback from real usage, cannot accumulate operational experience, and cannot continuously improve as the business operates.
To achieve "AI-native transformation," the reform task cannot simply be handed to the informatization department. The technology department lacks top-level decision-making authority and imagination for holistic transformation, nor can it bear full responsibility for the failure of the transformation. Enterprises need to use AI as the underlying support to reshape business processes and decision-making chains. For example, the company's top leader uses a "manager AI" for coordinated management, leveraging AI to complete the entire chain of work from product design, sales operations, and investment analysis to strategic decision-making. AI is responsible for simulation and recommendations, while humans make the final "call."
The key to AI-native transformation is to discover and appoint backbone talent who are familiar with the business and possess AI management capabilities, and to build a new organizational structure of "Directly Responsible Individuals (DRI)." The DRI has full authority over corresponding business metrics, coordinates work across departments, independently schedules batches of AI employees, and bears full responsibility for business results. Depending on the circumstances of each enterprise, the path of AI-native transformation also differs. For emerging entrepreneurial teams, 70%–80% of core members may be DRIs, with no redundant middle-management layers; large traditional enterprises need to transition step by step, first identifying quality middle-management talent to transform into DRIs, preserving the value accumulated by the original organization, and avoiding chaos caused by radical change.
The result of AI-native transformation is that the company possesses a "data flywheel," establishing a self-evolving system executed by agents with closed-loop data continuously iterating. At the same time, the organization itself also needs to evolve metabolic capacity. The "data flywheel" makes the system increasingly intelligent, and metabolic capacity makes the organizational structure increasingly adapted to the enterprise's business operating model.
The whole society's "pie" is growing bigger and bigger
When it comes to AI transformation and organizational flattening, many people worry that AI will take away human jobs. This worry seems correct at first glance: if all the world's work is a pie, then if AI takes one more share, humans naturally get one less.
This actually sets AI and humans in opposition. In fact, because of AI's participation, the "pie" created by humanity will be magnified severalfold. There are two reasons. First, human imagination is still far from being fully unleashed. Each of us has many ideas, but we are 分身乏术 (fēn shēn fá shù - "unable to split one's body," unable to attend to everything at once), and the proportion ultimately realized may not even reach 1%. Second, the bandwidth of the human brain is too limited; our information input and output are thousands of times slower than AI's. Moreover, the human brain is linear — it can only think about one thing at a time. AI can help humanity break through these bottlenecks and amplify our capacity for thinking and execution.
Once AI can take over the execution links for bringing ideas to fruition, ordinary people only need a small amount of time to direct AI in completing sandbox testing and small-scale trial and error, and a large number of potentially high-quality ideas can be converted into commercial value, with the scale of gross domestic product expected to be magnified severalfold. In the past, top innovators could reshape at most a few industries in a lifetime; now, with AI assistance, they may be able to incubate dozens or even hundreds of new enterprises, giving birth to disruptive industrial transformations in batches. In this way, even if AI takes on 80% of the work, the job opportunities and economic returns available to humans can still grow by multiples.
Some may say that, according to the speculation in my new book AI Future Has Arrived: The Era Dividends for CEOs, Organizations, and Individuals, the greatest dividends of AI will flow to people who possess creativity and can direct AI to amplify value — would this not exacerbate the unequal distribution of social wealth? This concern is not without reason, but humanity is proactive. The AI era requires each of us to improve ourselves 与时俱进 (yǔ shí jù jìn - "advance with the times," keep pace with the times), and society as a whole also needs to adjust and evolve, developing a human civilization for the AI era.
Viewed as a whole, the whole society's "pie" is growing bigger and bigger, the total amount of social wealth will rise substantially, humanity will enter an era of abundance, and ordinary people will have more diverse development paths. For example, some have proposed building a universal basic income system to guarantee basic subsistence for all; others have proposed the concept of social value allowances to subsidize jobs whose value is difficult to measure by commercial revenue. There are always more solutions than difficulties.
As individuals, to improve competitiveness in the AI era, I have three suggestions. First, lean toward "openness" — actively seek out the most difficult tasks with the lowest degree of standardization. Second, lean toward "complexity, risk, and gatekeeping" — place yourself in a position where "you are responsible if something goes wrong," for that is precisely where value accumulates. Third, lean toward "warmth and trust" — when people have more time and thicker wallets, they will need all the more the feeling of "I trust him unconditionally" and "someone truly has their heart on me." Relationships between people require the accumulation of time and experience, which AI cannot replace.
In addition, the AI era places demands on talent cultivation. In the future, personalized education needs to be promoted more comprehensively, relying on AI to match students' interests and learning rhythms to customize teaching plans, combining disciplinary knowledge with students' hobbies to achieve interesting, differentiated, and innovative learning, with emphasis on cultivating the abilities to question, probe, and explore deeply, and on cultivating taste, foresight, conviction, and courage. Educational transformation is of crucial importance. It can be foreseen that the countries that complete educational transformation first will occupy the commanding heights of talent competition and national strength competition.
(The author is the CEO of 01.AI (零一万物); compiled from an interview by our reporter Dong Yang (董阳).)
Return to TopBy: 万建中
Mr. Wang Renxing has profound attainments in the field of food culture, and his research achievements on the culture of the capital city of Beijing are particularly fruitful and admirable.
In the manuscript of Beijing Food Time: A Chronicle of a World-Renowned Gastronomic Capital, praiseworthy points can be found everywhere; only a few are listed here. Regarding the origin of Beijing roast duck, it has long been said that it was brought from Nanjing by Emperor Chengzu of the Ming Dynasty, but the documentary evidence cited in the book is very clear: roast duck was already a delicacy of the imperial court from the Yuan Dynasty at the latest. Regarding "Jing cuisine as Beijing cuisine," there are many differing opinions; some say the concept of "Jing cuisine" does not hold and that Beijing has no cuisine of its own, but the Republican-era Beijing Cuisine folding booklet and relevant Qing Dynasty records first disclosed in the book show that both the concept of Jing cuisine and Beijing cuisine did exist. As for who inscribed the famous signboard of Liubiju, known at home and abroad, the book provides a group photo taken at the 500th anniversary commemoration of Liubiju and old account books. The book also draws on archives held in the First Historical Archives of China and relevant documentary records to detail in turn the daily food and drink of the ten emperors of the Qing Dynasty.
As long as one reads carefully, all the examples listed above can be discovered and appreciated, while some more enlightening "food time" points are hidden between the lines and require special commentary.
Among the many cultural forms in Beijing's history, food culture has never been interrupted and continues to this day; the fact that Beijing's time-honored brands are concentrated mostly in the food and beverage industry is strong proof of this. The time-honored brands discussed in the "Famous Shops" chapter show that food culture can firmly connect Beijing's past, present, and future.
The book states: "In the Veritable Records of the Ming, we found four pieces of historical information about the court granting banquets to officials at the four seasons and eight festivals." Food is politics conducted through direct exchange; the hierarchy of food vessels and the etiquette of imperial dining are manifestations of political order. The author leads us to view ancient politics through the lens of imperial court meals.
The work is composed of the "Famous Foods" chapter, the "Famous Shops" chapter, the "Wines and Drinks" chapter, and the "Imperial Meals" chapter, each sharing a common theme—fusion. Fusion among ethnic groups, among regions, and among flavors permeates nearly every field of Beijing's food culture. Fusion involves both contestation and compromise, and this is also the historical and contemporary tension that has enabled Beijing's food culture to develop. Over time, the food cultures of different ethnic groups have gathered here, ultimately forming a cultural community of Beijing cuisine.
The reason the book is able to move from the surface to the core, from dietary behavior, phenomena, and representations to the essential level, is thanks to the author's understanding and breadth of vision regarding Beijing as the foremost city of goodness in China and a world-renowned capital, thereby analyzing the true meaning of food culture along both temporal and spatial dimensions. The work's opening with "world-renowned gastronomic capital" is a direct and vivid manifestation of this breadth of vision.
(The author is a member of the Central Research Institute of Culture and History)
Return to TopBy: 洪银兴
Chinese-style modernization has never pursued single-dimensional economic growth, but rather the coordinated development of material civilization and spiritual civilization. At the 2023 National Two Sessions, General Secretary Xi Jinping, when participating in the deliberation of the Jiangsu delegation, put forward the major proposition of "humanities economics," and took Suzhou and Hangzhou as vivid practical samples, providing important guidance for us to open up the internal connection between humanities and economy and advance Chinese-style modernization. In May this year, my team and I, based on research in Suzhou, Wuxi, Nantong and other places, combined with our research accumulation, published the book Humanities Economics: Contemporary Connotations and Practical Samples, hoping to conduct a theoretical and systematic sorting of this important proposition, offering both thinking clues for theoretical researchers and practical references for frontline practitioners.
Many people, upon first encountering "humanities economics," may agonize over whether it should be classified under the humanities or under economics. In my view, humanities economics is not a clearly demarcated disciplinary category, but rather a scholarly expression of the mutual promotion and common prosperity of humanities and economy. Its core orientation reflects that Chinese-style modernization is a modernization in which material civilization and spiritual civilization are coordinated. Many past works exploring the relationship between humanities and economy habitually traced back to the intellectual wisdom of antiquity. But living in today's era, the study of humanities economics should place its center of gravity on the modern, on people's modernization and all-round development, rather than simply replicating the thoughts and discourses of the ancients.
Today, the people's aspiration for a better life has long surpassed the material level of adequate food and clothing; spiritual and cultural enjoyment has become a rigid need. A commodity must not only be of solid quality, but also possess aesthetics, stories, and cultural connotations; an act of consumption is not only about obtaining a physical good, but also pursues cultural experience and spiritual comfort. Culture is no longer merely spiritual cultivation within the study; it possesses real economic value. The same product, injected with cultural creativity, brand connotations, and aesthetic design, can see its added value significantly enhanced. Culture can empower industry and can also be directly transformed into productive forces—this is precisely the principle that humanities economics seeks to explain thoroughly. But this does not mean that all humanities content should revolve around the economy. Philosophical speculation and high art have their own aesthetic and value judgment standards; they do not aim at profit, yet they can nourish social values and indirectly nurture economic and social development. Only by distinguishing between "humanities economics theory" and "humanities economic practice forms" can we avoid entering the mistaken path of cultural utilitarianism.
Humanities economics flows through our daily lives. From the protection and renewal of an ancient city to a cultural and creative product or a cultural tourism event, ordinary people visiting museums, checking in at historical districts, and purchasing guochao (national trend) goods are all scenes of the humanities economy. The value of humanities economics is to distill practical experience from life into theoretical logic, and then in turn guide practice, making humanities empowering the economy and the economy feeding back into humanities a conscious action.
Developing the humanities economy also requires handling the relationship between supply and demand well. Responding to the people's high-quality cultural needs with high-quality cultural supply requires both strengthening the cultural industry and tapping the potential of domestic demand, and doing well in public cultural undertakings such as libraries and museums. The realization of all this cannot be separated from the coordinated efforts of an effective market and a well-functioning government: the market plays the role of resource allocation and activates the vitality of industrial innovation; the government does a good job in planning and guidance, keeps the cultural direction steady, and consolidates the foundation of public culture. The thriving humanities economy in places such as Suzhou and Hangzhou is precisely the ripe fruit of this coordinated mechanism.
Cultural prosperity and flourishing is an important marker of Chinese-style modernization. Humanities economics, in the final analysis, answers the era proposition of "how material things develop and how people develop" in the process of modernization. It is not only a research topic on scholars' desks, but also a practical topic facing the whole of society. I hope more people will come to understand humanities economics, promote the resonance of humanities and economy at the same frequency in production and life, and let the profound Chinese civilization both nourish the spiritual world of the Chinese people and transform into surging momentum for high-quality development.
(The author is a Senior Professor of Humanities and Social Sciences at Nanjing University.)
Return to TopBy: 张倩仪
The study of ancient clothing was another "Border Town" story in Shen Congwen's life.
In the 1950s, Shen Congwen switched to cultural relics research, turning the handicrafts that had long held his intense interest into the main focus of the latter half of his life. At the Museum of Chinese History, he compiled catalogs and wrote descriptions for cultural relics. Many acquaintances saw him giving explanations at major exhibitions; what they did not know was that more often than not, he would be alone in the West Side Hall inside the Meridian Gate, waiting to explain the permanent exhibits to visitors.
In 1953, Shen Congwen, then past fifty, and Wang Xu, then twenty-three, met for the first time on this very occasion.
More than forty years later, when Wang Xu spoke of this in a self-recorded audio account, everything was still vivid before his eyes. He was at the time a soldier in the Chinese People's Volunteers in the Korean War. Because of the armistice, he had requested leave to visit Beijing, touring the Temple of Heaven, the Forbidden City, and other sites. That day, he was alone at the Meridian Gate viewing the exhibition of the Museum of Chinese History. After seeing the exhibit on the history of human social development in the East Side Hall, he came to the West Side Hall, which displayed cultural relics unearthed from various dynasties.
Wang Xu recalled that the moment he entered, a man in his fifties wearing a white shirt stood up, followed him as he looked around, and then began explaining to him. There was a cabinet displaying several dozen bronze mirrors from the Tang and Song dynasties; the man spent two or three hours on this one cabinet alone. The young Wang Xu was deeply moved. The two agreed to come again the next day. In this manner, it took a full week to finish viewing the exhibition in the West Side Hall. "I never asked what position this erudite old gentleman who accompanied me through the exhibition held, or what his name was, and it became increasingly difficult to ask. When it came time to part, I simply had to ask." When the answer came back — "Shen Congwen" — Wang Xu was astonished.
From then on, Wang Xu regarded Shen Congwen as his enlightening mentor, and the two carried on thirty-five years of close friendship between teacher and student, until Shen Congwen's death.
In the early 1960s, Shen Congwen set to work on the study of Chinese clothing. Later, because of the Cultural Revolution, the books and index cards he had accumulated over many years were confiscated; he was sent down to a cadre school, moved house six times, and his health broke down more than once. After suffering blow after blow, he refused to give up. Without reference materials, he relied on memory to supplement and revise the contents of his clothing research work.
In early 1972, he finally returned to Beijing from the cadre school. As if racing against time, he immediately set to work running to secondhand bookstores, scouring anew for pictorial albums and reference works. In less than a week, the tiny room in Dongtangzi Hutong was stuffed full. Everyone who had ever visited that tiny room was dumbfounded by the sight before them. On the desk, on the bookshelves, and even on the floor were piled pictorial albums and books, along with countless brown paper bags stuffed with manuscript drafts. Regardless of the price of the albums, he would take the books apart so that he could sort the images by category, and together with the notes he jotted down as ideas came to him and the brown paper bags holding materials, he would nail or paste them onto the walls within arm's reach on all four sides. When the walls ran out, he used the windows as well, and since no outside light could get in, he had to keep the incandescent lamp on even during the day. When writing, he would push the books on the desk aside to squeeze out a bit of space. The bed also served as a bookshelf; no one knew how he managed to sleep. He would rise at five in the morning to write, and sometimes the lamp would burn all night without cease.
It was because of Shen Congwen that Wang Xu entered the then Institute of Archaeology under the Chinese Academy of Sciences. In 1972, in the sensational discovery of the Han tomb at Mawangdui in Changsha, Hunan, he displayed his considerable skill and developed a set of methods for extracting and preserving textiles. As for Wang Yarong, she was not to pay her first visit to Shen Congwen until 1975. She was forty years younger than Shen Congwen and twelve years younger than Wang Xu. Originally an art designer of dolls, she later, under Shen Congwen's guidance, drew several hundred small illustrations for the clothing research work.
The trajectories of Wang Xu's and Wang Yarong's lives were changed by Shen Congwen, and Shen Congwen's state of mind in his later years was rendered a little less bleak because of the two of them. Had the three of them never met, Chinese Ancient Clothing Research might never have been completed; Wang Xu would not have become the founder of the discipline of textile archaeology in China; and Wang Yarong would likely not have become known to the world as a leading scholar of that "lost discipline." Enthusiasm and dedication changed the fates of all three people.
As a representative literary work of Shen Congwen, Border Town lingers in the reader's mind for the beauty of its human relationships and local customs. The remote border town, tucked away in a corner, holds a beauty unknown to the world, which must be discovered by enthusiastic people content with obscurity. The cultural relics and clothing research that Shen Congwen cultivated in the latter half of his life was his other border town. It was through the same astonishing perseverance he had shown in his youth that he enabled the world to come to know the beauty of this new garden.
Shen Congwen once gave his nephew Huang Yongyu three pieces of hard-won advice: "First, treat the people and the land with love. Second, when you fall, get up quickly and keep walking forward — do not linger over the place where you fell and delay your progress, do not stop to sigh. Third, hold fast to your work forever, forever." He himself truly lived by these words.
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