Summary: Chinese President Xi Jinping arrived in Bishkek on August 30 to attend the 2026 Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit and pay a state visit to Kyrgyzstan at the invitation of President Sadyr Japarov. He and his wife Peng Liyuan were warmly welcomed at the airport by Japarov and his wife, with cultural performances and traditional greetings. In written remarks, Xi highlighted the deep traditional friendship and the high-level comprehensive strategic partnership between China and Kyrgyzstan, citing record trade and the China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan railway as examples of cooperation. He said he would discuss bilateral ties and regional issues with Japarov to chart a new course for a China-Kyrgyzstan community with a shared future. Accompanying Xi were Cai Qi and Wang Yi.
Summary: A multilingual version of *Ping Yu Jin Ren: Xi Jinping's Favorite Allusions*, produced by China Media Group, was launched in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, on August 30. The program will begin airing on Kyrgyzstan's national broadcaster and other media outlets in Shanghai Cooperation Organization countries. It features classical Chinese quotations drawn from President Xi Jinping's speeches, articles, and talks. The program aims to showcase Xi's political wisdom, philosophical depth, and cultural vision for SCO audiences.
Summary: The article reports on the nationwide release and study of *Selected Works of Xi Jinping on Party Building*, Volumes 1 and 2, published by the Central Party Literature Press on the occasion of the 105th anniversary of the CPC. Compiled by the Central Party History and Literature Research Institute, the two volumes systematically present Xi Jinping's thinking on Party building, with the stated goal of deepening whole-Party theoretical study and advancing comprehensive Party governance. The piece quotes scholars such as Tsinghua University professor Song Wei and China Executive Leadership Academy Pudong's Liu Zhexi, who praise the collection as a "theoretical edifice" and "authoritative textbook" reflecting Xi's leadership and scientific guidance. It also cites local officials and party cadres—including village party secretary Zhang Changsong in Fujian, Tianjin official Dong Xuechen, and offshore project manager Wei Xiongbiao—describing how grassroots units are integrating the study into practical governance, rural revitalization, and deep-sea wind power development. The article contains no mention of the United States or U.S.-China relations.
Summary: The article reports on the Yangtze River Delta's push for integrated scientific and technological innovation, highlighting President Xi Jinping's instruction to strengthen cross-regional collaboration on innovation and industrial chains. It notes that the region accounts for over 30% of China's high-tech enterprises, with technology contract transactions reaching 2,461.3 billion yuan in 2025, up 14.7% year-on-year. Specific examples include the Shanghai Synchrotron Radiation Light Source, carbon fiber production in Changzhou, satellite manufacturing in Taizhou, and NIO's electric vehicle factories in Hefei, all illustrating multi-province coordination across R&D, production, and commercialization. The article details mechanisms such as the Yangtze River Delta science and technology innovation vouchers, the G60 Innovation Corridor, and the "Keda Silicon Valley" park to facilitate cross-regional resource sharing. No mention is made of the United States or U.S.-China relations.
Summary: The article reports on Chongqing Pilot Free Trade Zone's institutional innovation in multimodal transport, using a single bill of lading (“one-document system”) to streamline rail-sea logistics from Chongqing’s Guoyuan Port to Malaysia via Qinzhou. It highlights how this system reduces cargo transit time by 40%, enables digital traceability for over 21,000 orders worth over 7 billion yuan, and expands financing options by allowing land-transport documents to serve as collateral for loans. Business representatives such as He Daoguo and Zang Honghui describe improved efficiency and faster access to credit, with 11 banks now offering related financing products. The article also quotes Cheng Shiluan, a municipal commerce official, saying that during the “15th Five-Year Plan” period Chongqing will further align with international high-standard trade rules, including in transportation standards, customs facilitation, and financial services.
Summary: In the first seven months of the year, China's industrial enterprises above designated size saw revenue rise 6.5 percent year-on-year and profits increase 17.6 percent, according to the National Bureau of Statistics. In July alone, profits grew 11.2 percent. The electronics sector drove gains, with profits up 1.1 times, led by integrated circuits—whose profits surged 18.5-fold and contributed over 80 percent of the electronics sector's growth. High-tech manufacturing profits jumped 50.1 percent, contributing 9.6 percentage points to overall industrial profit growth.
Summary: China's total social logistics value reached 214.5 trillion yuan in the first seven months of the year, a year-on-year increase of 5.0 percent, according to data released by the China Federation of Logistics & Purchasing. Industrial product logistics grew 5.3 percent, with manufacturing serving as the primary growth engine, as manufacturing-related logistics demand rose 5.5 percent in July, outpacing overall industrial product logistics by 1.0 percentage point. Notably, equipment manufacturing logistics demand grew 12.3 percent, while high-tech manufacturing-related logistics demand surged 16.9 percent. Import logistics volume growth stabilized at 1.8 percent, with high-tech products and electromechanical products continuing to see rapid growth in import logistics volume. The data indicates a steady overall logistics landscape with an improving demand structure.
Summary: The article is a theoretical analysis concerning how to ensure the fruits of China's modernization are distributed more equitably to benefit all citizens. It emphasizes the importance of making the achievements of development accessible to the entire population. The piece is presented as a theoretical discussion, investigation, and reflection. No specific official statements or actions are reported in the provided text. The article does not reference the United States or U.S.-China relations.
Summary: Li Shulei, a member of the CCP Central Political Bureau and head of the Central Propaganda Department, addressed the 2026 National Social Science Fund annual project review meeting in Beijing on August 30. He stated that the philosophical and social sciences community must follow Xi Jinping's recent instructions on high-quality development in the field, deepen the study of Xi Jinping's cultural thought, and serve national strength-building and rejuvenation. He emphasized that Chinese modernization provides a rich practical foundation and broad innovative space for advancing these disciplines. Li called for accelerating the construction of an independent knowledge system for Chinese philosophy and social sciences, deepening reform of the National Social Science Fund, and promoting digital-intelligent empowerment of research. He also urged efforts to support theoretical innovation, address major practical problems of Chinese modernization, and enhance the international exchange and mutual learning of civilizations.
Summary: China is scaling up vocational training and technical education during the "15th Five-Year Plan" period to strengthen its skilled workforce, which now exceeds 220 million people, including over 72 million high-skilled workers. The government plans to build a lifelong vocational training system, establish "30-minute training circles" for accessible skill programs, and expand training in areas such as AI, advanced manufacturing, and elderly care to address structural mismatches between labor supply and industry needs. Officials are deepening the "New Eight-Level" skill-grade system to allow enterprises, including private firms, to independently evaluate and certify workers based on practical performance rather than academic credentials or seniority. At the same time, authorities are encouraging closer school-enterprise cooperation, promoting quality technical education, and integrating AI general courses into all technical school curricula from the fall of 2025.
Summary: The article is a first-person account by a career guidance teacher at Shenzhen Polytechnic University, describing her role in bridging students and employers. She and her team offer courses, practical activities, counseling, and campus recruitment to help students clarify career paths. They visit enterprises to understand hiring needs, develop profession-specific career maps with faculty and firms, and bring in industry experts for over 200 lectures annually. The teacher cites successful graduates, including one who won a national grassroots employment award and another hired by a top tech company. She pledges continued, personalized support to help every graduate find a suitable job. No mention of the United States or U.S.-China relations appears.
Summary: The article reports on efforts to treat acidified and saline farmland in Guangxi's Qinnan District, linked to the "15th Five-Year Plan" call to strengthen black soil protection and acidified farmland treatment. Officials quoted include Luo Jiajie, head of the district's Soil and Fertilizer Work Station, and Huang Bicai, a senior agronomist, who described the technical measures: soil conditioners, organic fertilizers, freshwater flushing, and straw return. In 2025, Qinnan District was selected as a national key county for acidified farmland treatment, which raised soil pH by an average of 0.25 units and boosted grain production by 3.52%. The article highlights that rice yields rose from around 400 jin per mu to over 800 jin per mu, with a "one village, one policy" approach and a rice-rapeseed rotation now being promoted. No mention is made of the United States or U.S.-China relations.
Summary: The article discusses soil acidification in China, attributing it to natural factors like weathering and leaching as well as human activities such as excessive nitrogen fertilizer use and insufficient organic inputs. It notes that since 2023, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs has piloted treatment counties, with measures like lime, organic fertilizer, and straw returning raising soil pH by over 0.3 units and grain output by over 7%. Remaining challenges include unclear baseline data, high costs, and unsustainable treatment effects. The piece, based on an interview with a researcher from the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, recommends using the third national soil survey, improving monitoring, developing acid-tolerant crops and green conditioners, and integrating treatment with farmland construction and fertilizer reduction.
Summary: The article reports on the nationwide release and study of the first and second volumes of "Selected Works of Xi Jinping on Party Building," compiled by the CPC Central Committee's Institute of Party History and Literature. It highlights how party members and officials across China are reading the original texts to grasp Xi
Summary: Beijing's Shijingshan District announced that the second phase of the Yongding River collection project is nearing completion and will open to the public during the 2026 China International Fair for Trade in Services. The project includes nine waterfront commercial pavilions featuring dining, cultural retail, and outdoor leisure, alongside public spaces like walking paths and viewing platforms. The photo was taken by Li Wenming.
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Summary: President Xi Jinping will attend the 2026 Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, where he plans to exchange views with other leaders on deepening cooperation and addressing major international issues. The article highlights the implementation of outcomes from the 2025 Tianjin summit, including security mechanisms such as counterterrorism centers and the Global Governance Initiative, which has reportedly gained support from nearly 160 countries. It emphasizes expanding trade, infrastructure projects like the China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan railway, and green energy ventures with the SCO partners. The piece also details progress in areas like AI, digital economy, and "small but beautiful" livelihood projects, framing China's role as a driving force for regional stability and prosperity. Overall, the article casts China's initiatives as yielding concrete benefits within the SCO,
Summary: SCO Secretary-General Yermekbayev, in an interview with People's Daily ahead of the 2026 Bishkek summit, said the Shanghai Cooperation Organization has grown into the world's largest regional organization with growing global influence, and that China has always played a positive and constructive role in its development. He attributed the SCO's expansion to the "Shanghai Spirit" of mutual trust, mutual benefit, equality, and respect for diverse civilizations, emphasizing the bloc's non-aligned and non-confrontational principles. He praised the 2025 Tianjin summit for approving the 2026-2035 development strategy, establishing four security centers, and advancing plans for an SCO development bank. Yermekbayev also highlighted China's launch of new cooperation platforms in energy, digital economy, and education, and noted that President Xi Jinping's Global Governance Initiative, introduced at the Tianjin summit, drew immediate and widespread support from member states.
Summary: The article, written by Uzbekistan's *People's Word* deputy editor, highlights the SCO's 25-year record under the "Shanghai Spirit" and urges member states to convert cooperation potential into concrete results ahead of the Bishkek summit. It stresses security coordination, trade barrier removal, and transport corridors—notably the China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan and Trans-Afghan railways—as vital to making doubly landlocked Uzbekistan a regional transit hub. The piece credits China's 2024–2025 chairmanship with expanding practical cooperation and notes Uzbekistan's high praise for China's contributions and global governance initiatives. Uzbekistan seeks deeper ties with China in green energy, artificial intelligence, biotechnology, climate-risk early warning, and joint innovation center networks. These new drivers, the author concludes, will provide a model for broader SCO cooperation and strengthen the organization's role in global governance.
Summary: People's Daily hosted a China-Egypt media sharing session in Cairo on August 30 to present results of joint reporting on high-quality Belt and Road cooperation. Chinese Ambassador to Egypt Liao Liqiang said via video that Beijing and Cairo have strengthened development strategy alignment under the BRI, with the joint interviews fostering public support for cooperation, especially among youth. Ahmed Salam, former deputy head of Egypt's State Information Service, described media as a bridge between peoples and expressed hope the meeting would spur further practical Egypt-China cultural exchange. Chinese and Egyptian media professionals, experts, and bloggers discussed expanding cooperation and telling the Belt and Road story. They had previously toured BRI projects across Egypt from August 23-27.
Summary: A China-aided "zero-carbon library," Laos's first integrated photovoltaic-storage-charging facility of its kind, was inaugurated on August 29 at Peace Secondary School in Luang Prabang. The project, led by State Grid Zhejiang Electric Power, uses solar panels and battery storage to provide nighttime power, with the prefabricated structure shipped from Zhejiang. The library is equipped with air conditioning, computers, televisions, and bilingual Chinese-Lao books, offering students a space for reading and independent study. On the same day, the Chinese and Lao schools jointly launched an "air classroom" connecting students online from Luang Prabang and Hangzhou. The report does not discuss U.S. or U.S.-China relations.
Summary: Officials and representatives from Lancang-Mekong nations gathered in Qinghai Province for events marking the 10th anniversary of Lancang-Mekong Cooperation, centered on ecological protection at the Sanjiangyuan headwaters. Vietnamese Ambassador Huang Wenjun recited a poem at the opening ceremony, while Cambodian and Thai delegates praised local conservation efforts, Yushu's 30,000 ecological rangers, and water quality protections. Yushu Party Secretary Ma Rui pledged the headwaters would send clean water south, as Cambodia's tourism official invited Chinese investment. The gathering highlighted regional ties, with trade between China and Mekong countries surpassing $500 billion and the China-Laos Railway carrying 19.51 million passengers in 2025. China-ASEAN Center Secretary-General Zhang Lizhong declared the cooperation a "shining example" of building a shared future, though no U.S. or U.S.-China relations were discussed.
Summary: A Tibet Autonomous Region government press conference on August 30 reported that a massive mudslide in Gyirong County had killed 16 people and left 546 missing, including 261 foreign nationals from 23 countries. Authorities activated the highest-level emergency response, deploying 2,141 rescue personnel, 269 vehicles, and 3,922 pieces of equipment, while central agencies allocated 2.2 billion yuan for relief. Researcher Su Pengcheng of the Chinese Academy of Sciences attributed the disaster to a glacial ice-rock avalanche on Nepal's Langtang Lirung peak that transformed into a debris flow, traveling roughly 22 kilometers to Gyirong port in six to seven minutes. Rescue operations are complicated by difficult terrain, damaged infrastructure, and communication outages, though authorities assess the upstream dammed lake's risk of a full breach as low. The government has established dedicated teams to manage identification, reception, and support for the families of the deceased and missing.
Summary: A mudslide triggered on the Nepalese side on August 26 hit Gyirong Port in Jilong County, Tibet, causing casualties and leaving port immigration police cut off from contact. An 18-member search-and-rescue team of border police, including political instructors Bi Qi and Chen Xin and officer Ge Deng Ren Zhao, set out toward the disaster zone over destroyed roads. After attempting wading routes and climbing steep slopes, they were forced back by dangerous conditions; Bi Qi said he wanted to keep searching as long as there was hope, Chen Xin said all hoped to reach the border gate soon, and Ge Deng Ren Zhao argued he should go because his family would bear the smallest burden if he were lost. On August 30, some team members were airlifted by military helicopter to the border gate to join fire-rescue efforts.
Summary: A mudslide struck Gyirong County in Shigatse, Tibet, prompting an intensive rescue operation in which responders conducted line searches through mud and evacuated about 500 threatened residents, including carrying the elderly and children, to temporary shelters. Villagers demonstrated trust by handing house keys to police officers before leaving, while local residents volunteered lodging and prepared meals for the displaced. The article frames the response as evidence of the Chinese Communist Party's leadership, China's socialist system's organizational capacity, and a shared cultural resilience in facing crises. It emphasizes the collective effort as a means to overcome adversity. No U.S.-China relations are discussed.
Summary: The Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee met on August 28 to plan rescue work after a mudslide in Gyirong County, Shigatse, Tibet. Fire and rescue forces, including 711 personnel, 120 vehicles, and 13 search dogs, were deployed, with helicopters airlifting 11 commandos and equipment into the core disaster zone. Police officers in Shigatse climbed steep slopes near the border to search a 500-meter area, collecting and registering personal effects. Natural resources authorities identified more than 60 geological hazard points, including 8 high-risk sites, and dispatched over 1,070 investigators to check 900-plus locations. The military also sent a 22-member medical and epidemic-prevention team with seven special vehicles to provide support at Gyirong port.
Summary: A mudslide disaster at Gyirong Port in Tibet, triggered by debris flow on the Nepalese side, caused casualties and formed a barrier lake threatening rescue efforts. National emergency monitoring team member Zhang Ning and colleagues deployed radar and drones to track landslide and water conditions. Wang Chenglei, deputy director of the Emergency Management Ministry’s risk monitoring and fire prevention division, said they monitored slope deformation, water flow, and issued early warnings. By August 30, satellite data showed a new barrier lake of about 100,000 square meters, but heavy rain eased and the lake naturally drained by afternoon. The article contains no mention of the United States or U.S.-China relations.
Summary: Experts attributed the recent mudslide disaster to global warming, which accelerates glacier melting, with glacial, geological, and climatic factors combining as primary triggers. Kang Shichang, director of the Chinese Academy of Sciences' Institute of Mountain Hazards and Environment, reported that the Tibetan Plateau's glaciers have shrunk by 24% over 60 years, with the southern regions—such as the Himalayas—losing about 40% due to climate change. Researcher Nie Yong, also from the institute, noted that glacial lakes are expanding rapidly, particularly in the Himalayan border area, increasing the risk of outburst floods and mudslides. Data from three glacier inventories show the plateau's glacier area fell from 51,000 to 39,000 square kilometers over six decades. The article highlights the growing complexity of disaster prevention in high-altitude regions but makes no reference to the United States or U.S.-China relations.
Summary: On August 30, fire rescue team members from Xigaze, Tibet, led search dogs in a search-and-rescue operation near Gyirong Port, approximately one kilometer away. The team was accompanied by a reporter from this newspaper, Zhang Wujun, who documented the operation. The article reports on their rescue efforts in the area.
Summary: The article reports on the Yangtze River Delta's regional innovation integration, highlighting President Xi Jinping's call for cross-regional coordination in technological and industrial innovation. It cites data showing the region hosts over 30% of China's high-tech enterprises, with technology contract transactions rising 14.7% in 2025. Specific examples include shared large-scale scientific facilities like the Shanghai Synchrotron Radiation source, cross-regional commercialization in biomedicine, and integrated supply chains for electric vehicles and satellites. The piece also underscores policy mechanisms and platforms such as the G60 Science and Technology Innovation Corridor to enhance collaboration across Shanghai, Jiangsu, Zhejiang, and Anhui.
Summary: An article from People's Daily reports on the China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan (CKU) railway project under construction in Kyrgyzstan, describing it as a flagship Belt and Road Initiative project promoted by the three countries' heads of state. It notes that ahead of his state visit to Kyrgyzstan and the 2026 SCO summit, President Xi Jinping published a signed article in Kyrgyz media calling for high-standard, high-quality construction of the railway as a new exemplary BRI project. The piece details the project's scale—50 bridges, 29 tunnels, and 20 stations across challenging high-altitude, cold, and geologically complex terrain—and quotes local officials and workers expressing hopes for the economic benefits the line will bring. It also highlights the participation of Uzbek subcontractors and the project's social contributions, such as paving roads for local villages. The article does not discuss the United States or U.S.-China relations.
Summary: The article, written by the deputy general manager of the China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan Railway Company (compiled by People's Daily reporter Xie Yahong), reports on the project's steady progress. It highlights Xi Jinping's call for "high standards, high quality" construction and Kyrgyz President Japarov's remark that the railway is as vital as air and water to Kyrgyzstan. The author describes the complex geological challenges, including 29 tunnels and 50 bridges, crediting Chinese expertise for the smooth advance. Plans to train over 2,000 local railway professionals are also outlined. The piece frames the railway as a model of Belt and Road and SCO cooperation, transforming Kyrgyzstan into a regional transit hub.
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Summary: This article profiles Zhang Liyuan, the 65-year-old captain of the porpoise protection team at the Xijiang relocation base in Anqing, Anhui, who transitioned from a 40-year fishing career to feeding and caring for the endangered Yangtze finless porpoises after the 2019 fishing ban. Local fishery official Wang Feng accompanied the narrative, praising Zhang's credibility among villagers and explaining that the base offers suitable yet enclosed hydrological conditions that shield the porpoises from human disturbance. Zhang conducts three daily patrols, rescues entangled porpoises, and educates students and residents about the 2021 Anqing Protection Regulation, underscoring grassroots enforcement of China's broader Yangtze conservation policies. The report highlights successful ecological outcomes, including the local porpoise population rising from 13 to 25, the national count reaching 1,426, and the porpoise being named Anqing's city mascot in April.
Summary: Ye Linwei, a team leader at China National Erzhong Group's Deyang Wanhang Die Forging Company, operates the country's 80,000-ton die forging press that produces key aviation components for the C919 domestic passenger aircraft. He was reported to have passed rigorous qualification tests to become the machine's first operator in just one month, demonstrating skills such as cracking an eggshell without damaging the membrane and detecting subtle abnormalities through sound and vibration. Ye told reporters that "operating heavy machinery requires stability and precision" because "pressure that is even a fraction off could affect the quality of the entire forging." He and his team went through hundreds of discussions and thousands of practice runs to overcome challenges in manufacturing C919 landing gear forgings. He stressed that "great skill is not achieved overnight; it comes from chasing every problem to the end and finding the patterns in each operation."
Summary: China’s National Health Commission and State Administration for Market Regulation jointly issued guidance to standardize the use of special medical foods in medical institutions, aiming to improve clinical nutrition services and patient care. The guidance defines such foods as formula products registered for sale in China for people with eating restrictions, digestive or metabolic disorders, or specific diseases, to be used under medical guidance. It calls for establishing management mechanisms, including designated departments, supply catalogs, and rules for procurement, storage, sales, use, and recall. It also requires legal sourcing and clearly designated sales areas within hospitals. The guidance applies to all medical institutions with valid practice licenses or clinic registrations.
Summary: A China-Laos Express train carrying 166 Chinese-made vehicles—including Wuling, Jetour, Volkswagen, and BYD brands—departed Kunming’s Wangjiaying West Station for Vientiane South on August 28. China Railway Special Cargo Logistics clerk Li Zongzhi said the JSQ double-decker wagons hold 8–12 cars each, with 4–5 times the capacity of standard containers, boosting loading efficiency and vehicle safety. Through August 28, the railway had shipped 3,052 vehicles this year, a nearly six-fold increase from 458 in the same period last year, with monthly volumes rising roughly tenfold from 53 to 544. At the Mohan rail port, railway and customs coordination on “advance declaration plus intelligent inspection” has sharply cut clearance times. The China-Laos Railway is rapidly becoming a key logistics corridor for Chinese, especially new-energy, vehicles entering Southeast Asian markets.
Summary: The article reports that visitors are enjoying collections at the Zibo Ceramics and Glass Museum in Shandong, which has a total building area of 50,000 square meters, 20 exhibition halls, and 25,000 ceramic and glass works. It highlights Zibo’s recent efforts to optimize the consumer environment and achieve new progress in cultural tourism integration, cultural heritage protection, and public cultural services. No U.S. or U.S.-China relations topics are mentioned.
Summary: An academic conference on the Yangshao era and the formation of Chinese civilization concluded in Zhengzhou, Henan, on August 30, marking the 105th anniversary of the Yangshao culture's discovery. Nearly a hundred archaeological experts from across China gathered to discuss new findings, regional cultural interactions, and early civilizational processes. The event aimed to trace the origins of Chinese civilization, a period considered crucial for the emergence of early states. It was jointly hosted by several major archaeological and research institutions, featuring keynote reports and sub-forums. The article does not mention the United States or U.S.-China relations.
Summary: Gansu province recently held a promotional event for its upgraded "12316" smart agriculture AI service system and the new "Gansu Agricultural Service" mini-program. The upgrade marks the province's "three rural" service hotline's transition from traditional voice to AI-driven, intelligent digital operations. The new platform features a dual-end system combining AI-powered call handling with the mini-program, enabling real-time voice transcription, instant knowledge matching, and dialect-optimized speech recognition. Complex queries are automatically transferred to experts, creating a two-tier "AI screening, expert diagnosis" safeguard. This initiative reflects Gansu's push to modernize agricultural services through technological innovation.
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Summary: A 2025 children's book sales list shows "successology" books—promoting功利ist, competitive mindsets and parental anxiety—dominating sales, displacing traditional children's literature. Experts, including Zhongshan University psychology associate professor Ding Ruyi and Zhejiang Juvenile and Children's Publishing House president Zheng Zhong, attribute this to algorithm-driven e-commerce platforms, paid traffic, and low-price competition, which favor these cheaply produced titles. Zheng said such books' success is largely manufactured by algorithmic promotion rather than genuine parental demand, with e-commerce channels accounting for 87.16% of their sales. The article quotes experts urging platform governance, optimized recommendations for quality literature, and implementation of the national reading promotion regulation to counter this trend, which they see as a cultural and educational problem affecting children's values.
Summary: The People’s Daily reader letter section reported that a roughly 100-meter dirt road in Qinhuai Subdistrict, Qinyang City, Henan, had gone unrepaired for ten years due to being claimed as outside the jurisdiction of local authorities. Following the report, local officials confirmed the problem and determined that the area was historically planned as a river channel, with ownership belonging to a higher-level water conservancy department. Local authorities promptly coordinated with relevant units and completed paving of the road section by March 25. They also stated they would conduct broader inspections of roads and related facilities to improve responsiveness to public complaints. No reference was made to the United States or U.S.-China relations.
Summary: Residents of Building 397, Renmin Road, in Qingdao's Shibei District report that subway construction began 5 meters from their building in 2015, and wall cracks appeared from 2017. In 2019, a professional assessment classified the building as Dsu-level, indicating severely compromised structural safety. The building deteriorated further despite repeated appeals, and the question of demolition versus reinforcement remained undecided for years. The subway was completed in 2021, but the cracking problems persist unresolved. The residents are urging authorities to conduct a special assessment to establish the causal link between construction and damage and to propose an effective solution.
Summary: The article highlights that road markings, while essential for pedestrian safety, can become dangerously slippery when wet due to their water-repellent materials and worn glass beads, leading to vehicle skids and falls. It notes that although national standards require anti-slip performance, poor material selection, substandard construction, and inadequate maintenance often cause markings to fade, crack, and become even more slippery. The piece recommends stricter supervision from regulators, better anti-slip materials and techniques at busy crossings, and prompt action on problem areas reported by the public.
Summary: Chinese consumers report widespread counterfeiting of 304/316 stainless steel cookware on e-commerce platforms like Pinduoduo and Taobao, with cheap 201 manganese steel being passed off as premium grades. Shanghai Consumers’ Rights Protection Commission Deputy Secretary-General Tang Jiansheng stated this constitutes fraud, entitling buyers to three times the price in compensation, though actual refunds with punitive damages remain difficult to obtain. Wang Qingjie, executive president of the China Iron and Steel Association’s Stainless Steel Branch, advised that the most reliable identifier is the mandatory "food contact" label and complete alloy grade information per national standard GB 4806.9—2023. Wang also cautioned against over-reliance on 300-series steel alone, noting 200-series may comply with migration limits for certain uses but is unsuitable for acidic or high-temperature foods. Experts urge regulators and e-commerce platforms to expand testing and require certified alloy migration reports for product listings.
Summary: The People's Daily "Readers' Letters" section and People's Daily Online's "Leadership Message Board" have jointly launched a public solicitation for reports on urgent problems, specifically requesting readers to provide leads and suggestions regarding "illegal social organizations charging fees improperly." The announcement lists contact channels, including an email address and mobile access via the People's Daily client's "Exposure Platform" and the People's Daily Online "Leadership Message Board" app.
Summary: The 2026 China International Big Data Industry Expo was held in Guiyang, Guizhou from August 28-30, showcasing AI advancements across consumer, industrial, and healthcare sectors. Li Liguo, a Party member of the Guizhou Provincial Big Data Development Administration, emphasized strengthening enterprises' innovation role and advancing the "AI+" initiative to deeply empower various industries. He also highlighted the growing importance of diverse data supply chains and the need to build a positive cycle where scenarios drive data, models, and applications. The expo featured new infrastructure like the Guiyang No.1 Token Factory, aimed at lowering the barrier for enterprises to adopt AI. Li Liguo acknowledged persistent challenges, including insufficient high-quality vertical data and high costs for large-scale deployment, calling for deeper integration between technology and industry to solve these pain points.
Summary: The article covers the 2025 China International Big Data Industry Expo in Guiyang, themed around "tokens" (词元) as a new path for unlocking the value of data elements. It highlights real-world applications, including autonomous "potato buses" running on city roads and humanoid robots in banks and nursing homes, with industry leaders emphasizing that token accumulation improves AI interactions and that the focus has shifted from model parameters to practical deployment. National Development and Reform Commission Party Group member and National Data Bureau Director Liu Liehong is quoted as saying that AI development now exhibits a clear data-driven character and that high-quality dataset construction should advance alongside AI development. The expo's "DATA Night" event featured discussions on how data empowers the real economy through regulation, technology, and application scenarios. The article notes that daily token consumption in China surpassed 140 trillion in March, reflecting AI's growing integration into daily life and industry.
Summary: The National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC), together with relevant departments, convened a national investment work conference in Beijing. Officials assessed current investment trends and stressed that investment has increasingly supported high-quality economic development, despite facing difficulties and challenges. Meeting participants called for efforts to tap investment potential in areas such as technological innovation, industrial upgrading, urban renewal, rural revitalization, new infrastructure, and green low-carbon development. Key tasks included accelerating the use of central budget investment and local government special bonds, advancing major projects under the 15th Five-Year Plan, and ensuring the timely implementation of "six networks" infrastructure planning. The conference also urged measures to attract private capital, including supporting private enterprises in REITs issuance and participation in new PPP mechanisms.
Summary: China’s National Data Bureau announced that over 20 computing power scheduling entities have formally joined the national integrated computing network’s monitoring and scheduling trial platform, aiming to enhance scheduling and operational service capabilities. The platform, a key component of the major project outlined in the 15th Five-Year Plan, now monitors 1.45 million PFLOPS (FP16) of intelligent computing power. Moving forward, the National Development and Reform Commission and the National Data Bureau will deepen the "East Data, West Computing" project. This effort will be based on the eight national computing hubs and three computing-electricity coordinated development regions to accelerate the construction of the national integrated computing network. No U.S. or U.S.-China relations topics were discussed in the report.
Summary: The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs announced the issuance of the "15th Five-Year Plan" for developing the national agricultural product origin market system, as reported by People's Daily. The plan sets a goal for 2030 to establish a modern origin market system that is efficient, well-connected, and aligned with production and demand, while strengthening supply guarantees and support for smallholder farmers. It outlines improvements to wholesale market layouts, cold-chain and logistics facilities, and an enhanced information monitoring and early-warning system. Specific measures include upgrading wholesale markets, building rural marketing service stations, expanding consumption scenarios into tourism and sports, and strengthening data collection on major markets and enterprises. The report cites the ministry as the source, with journalist Yu Jingxian credited, and includes no reference to the United States or bilateral relations.
Summary: The article reports the successful closure of the Huangjueping double-line extra-large bridge on August 30, part of the Chengdu-Chongqing railway renovation project. Located in Jiulongpo District, Chongqing, the 754-meter bridge is a key controlling project for the entire line. The closure completed the main-span continuous beam section, with station and box-girder sections still to be constructed. No official statements or references to U.S.-China relations appear in the report.
Summary: The article reports that on August 29, the 105,000-ton luxury cruise ship "Lixiang" departed from Tianjin International Cruise Home Port with over 2,700 passengers on a destination-less sea voyage. This is an innovative pilot project for Tianjin, with two trial sailings scheduled for August 29 and 31. The route follows a "depart from Tianjin, return to original port" model, lasting three days and two nights, cruising in waters 24 nautical miles beyond China's territorial sea baseline without docking at any ports. The vessel offers amenities such as specialty dining, themed performances, family entertainment, and wellness services, aimed at enriching domestic short-sea vacation offerings. The initiative is expected to inject new vitality into northern China's maritime leisure and cultural tourism market.
Summary: Heilongjiang Province has begun distributing its first batch of "computing power vouchers" to local enterprises, with Harbin Boiler Works and CRRC Qiqihar among the recipients. The policy, jointly issued in April by the provincial Department of Industry and Information Technology and the Provincial Department of Finance, aims to lower the threshold for accessing affordable computing services and subsidize technological innovation. Companies with computing service contracts exceeding 50,000 yuan are eligible, with standard projects receiving up to a 30% deduction on actual expenditures. Entities undertaking provincial-level or higher scientific research and key industrial innovation projects can see the deduction rate rise to 50%. Individual enterprises can claim up to 4 million yuan in deductions annually.
Summary: The article reports on an ecological farming practice in Shuanghe City, Xinjiang, where herders bring sheep into mature seed pumpkin fields to eat weeds and trample vines, which helps expose the pumpkins for harvest, saves labor costs, and provides natural fertilizer. The sheep do not eat the pumpkins due to their hard, thick rinds, and this mutual arrangement saves herders feed costs, creating a "sheep helpers" model that has expanded to nearly 10,000 mu across several Xinjiang localities. Deputy Director of the Shuanghe City Agriculture and Rural Affairs Bureau, He Mingfu, is quoted explaining the broader green circular model, which includes converting crop straw into feed and returning livestock manure to fields, with the city utilizing about 250,000 tons of straw and 150,000 cubic meters of manure annually. He also detailed the use of solar-powered insect traps across nearly 2,000 sites to physically control pests and reduce chemical pesticide reliance, improving cotton quality. The article does not discuss U.S. or U.S.-China relations.
Summary: The article reports on institutional reforms in Chongqing Pilot Free Trade Zone centered on the multi-modal transport "one single document" system, which streamlines logistics, cuts transit times, and allows land waybills to be used for trade financing. Business executives He Daoguo and Zang Honghui were quoted praising the system's efficiency and its role in alleviating cash-flow pressure for exporters. The reform, supported by judicial rulings and financial institutions, has compressed overall customs clearance time by 40% and facilitated over 1.1 billion yuan in financing. Cheng Shiluan, deputy director of the zone's system innovation division, was reported as saying that during the 15th Five-Year Plan period, the focus will be on aligning with international high-standard economic and trade rules. He added that the plan includes pilot demonstrations in transport standards, customs facilitation, financial services, and dispute resolution to strengthen digital empowerment and expand the benefits to more enterprises.
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Summary: The article features a dialogue between People's Daily commentator Zhou Shanshan and Xinjiang Daily commentator Xu Qingguang, centering on Xi Jinping's call to persistently cultivate a correct view of political achievements. They cite the 30-year construction of the 86.3-kilometer "Battle Canal" in Xinjiang's Qira County as a model of prioritizing long-term public welfare over personal gain, contrasting it with empty "face projects." The commentary highlights how local officials combined scientific decision-making and practical innovation—such as prefabricated mud bricks and floodwater use—to turn a life-sustaining waterway into an ecological and wealth-generating project. It stresses that respecting natural laws and enduring "slower" progress is true efficiency, with Xinjiang's major infrastructure successes (e.g., the Tianshan Shengli Tunnel) rooted in such methodical, people-centered governance. The piece concludes that ongoing education on political achievements, anchored in serving the people, drives Xinjiang's long-term development.
Summary: Chinese robotics and embodied-intelligence firms are expanding westward into Chongqing, pairing the innovation talent of the eastern seaboard with the industrial manufacturing strength of the west. The article argues this "two-way convergence" leverages China's systemic advantages—including its vast market, complete industrial system, and skilled workforce—to accelerate commercialization and application of cutting-edge technology. Chongqing's mature precision-manufacturing capacity and diverse real-world use cases enable rapid product iteration, exemplified by local firms adapting quickly to build robot components. The piece advocates integrating technical, application, and commercial feasibility to foster industrial growth, and frames this east-west coupling as a key pathway for scaling future industries.
Summary: The article examines recent AI-related controversies in China, including unauthorized voice cloning, AI-driven e-commerce commissions, and Beijing's "stop-at-red" policy that exempts delivery riders' waiting time from performance metrics. It argues that as algorithms increasingly shape society, governance must balance innovation with safeguards, advocating for "good use" through reform and precise policy, "good governance" via legal frameworks such as Guangzhou's proposed AI regulation, and "good creation" through systemic and open innovation. The piece highlights AI's potential to help developing countries, citing Chinese projects in Africa and Brazil, but does not discuss the United States or bilateral relations.
Summary: The article presents an idyllic portrait of rural China in autumn, emphasizing the appeal of countryside scenery and harvest-season tourism. It argues that the integration of agriculture, culture, and tourism has become a powerful engine for comprehensive rural revitalization. The piece frames this trend as both an economic opportunity and a showcase of beautiful countryside construction, characterizing the seasonal influx of visitors as a sign of rural prosperity. The accompanying verse reinforces the aesthetic and bucolic imagery rather than advancing concrete policy analysis.
Summary: The article reports that 49 demoted officials in Hohhot, Inner Mongolia, have been reappointed after performing outstandingly, challenging the common assumption that downward adjustment ends an official's career. Demoted grassroots officials cited psychological stress as the hardest part, including fear of judgment from colleagues and the public, while some units practiced neglectful "one-and-done" management. The piece argues that cadre adjustments should not be permanent verdicts, and that Hohhot's approach of providing systematic tracking, education, and support—rather than labeling or abandoning demoted officials—is key to their reintegration. It emphasizes that "down" is only a tool, not an end goal, and that combine lenient care with strict oversight so reformed officials have opportunities to improve and be re-promoted. It concludes that breaking the mindset of "one demotion decides everything" allows officials to focus on serving the people.
Summary: The article critiques the high prices and poor service of shuttle buses at Chinese scenic spots, citing examples like a grotto site charging 30 yuan for a short ride and buses ending service before closing time. It argues that since such transport is a government-priced monopoly, it should prioritize public welfare over profit and align costs with tourist expectations. The piece emphasizes balancing commercial and public-service functions to protect visitors' rights and enhance their experience. It also suggests alternatives to heavy reliance on ticket revenue, such as separate fees for heritage sites and discounts for students or rail/air passengers. Ultimately, the commentary calls for tourism development centered on people's needs, combining cultural and ecological respect with quality service.
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Summary: President Xi Jinping signed Presidential Order No. 82 on August 28, 2026, promulgating the newly revised Agricultural Law of the People's Republic of China, which was approved by the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress. The article, authored by the chairperson of the NPC Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee, stresses implementing the law under Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era. It highlights the law's importance for building agricultural strength and modernizing rural areas, with key provisions covering Party leadership, food security, rural basic management systems, agricultural science and technology, green development, and urban-rural integration. The revised law will take effect on January 1, 2027.
Summary: China’s consumer watchdog, the China Consumers Association, issued a statement warning that generative AI tools and AI-powered customer service are increasingly used in consumer settings but can produce inaccurate information, misleading fee explanations, or flawed legal advice that harms consumer rights. It divided AI into general-purpose generative services and operator-deployed customer-service tools, noting the latter sometimes contradicts actual prices or rules and that firms may later disclaim responsibility by citing "automatic generation." The association urged businesses deploying AI customer service to ensure consistency with real transaction terms and to provide accessible human support and dispute-resolution channels, stressing that operators cannot escape liability merely because an answer was algorithm-generated. It also called on relevant regulators to strengthen rules governing AI in consumption and to foster a clear, orderly environment. Consumers were advised to verify important information such as prices, contracts, and after-sales commitments through official and authoritative channels rather than relying solely on AI-generated content.
Summary: The Sixth CCP History High-End Forum, hosted by the Party History Teaching and Research Department of the Central Party School (National Academy of Governance), was held in Beijing on August 29. Under the theme "The Excellent Traits of the Chinese Communist Party," attending experts agreed that the Party should be guided by Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era and deeply implement Xi Jinping's thought on party building. They stressed the need to carry forward the Party's fine traits to ensure it never changes its nature, color, or flavor, and retains strong creativity, cohesion, and combat effectiveness. The forum serves as a platform for party history researchers nationwide. Participants included experts, teachers, and student representatives from the Central Party School and the Institute of Party History and Literature.
Summary: Shanghai police have dismantled a major underground bank that used cryptocurrency for illegal cross-border currency exchange, arresting 19 suspects with a case value of nearly 20 billion yuan. The suspects, identified as Liu and Xu among others, allegedly recruited clients online and offline from August 2024 onward, converting renminbi into foreign currency through a "renminbi–cryptocurrency–foreign currency" scheme without state approval. Police launched multiple operations starting in April this year, and five suspects have been formally arrested on charges including illegal business operations and aiding cybercrime. Authorities warned that foreign exchange must be conducted through legal channels such as banks, and that underground banking transactions are unprotected by law. No mention was made of the United States or U.S.-China relations.
Summary: As the new semester approaches, universities and high schools across China are organizing military training activities for incoming students. The training includes drills, marching, dormitory organization, and national defense education. These activities aim to enhance students' physical fitness, strengthen their willpower, and cultivate teamwork. The programs also seek to foster a deeper sense of patriotism and commitment to the nation.
Summary: The State Administration for Market Regulation (SAMR) recently issued draft guidelines on personal liability for monopoly agreements, aiming to hold actual controllers and beneficial owners accountable. The draft stipulates that legal representatives, principal managers, and directly responsible personnel who organize, lead, decide, or instigate such agreements can face fines of up to 1 million yuan. Stricter legal accountability will be pursued when monopoly agreements harm national interests in key areas such as people's livelihoods, ecological environment, safety production, financial capital, and data security. The rules also specify aggravating circumstances like coercing others, mitigating factors like active cooperation, and clarify that personal liability is not waived upon resignation. This move seeks to penetrate the entire illegal monopoly chain, enhance enforcement deterrence, and promote corporate compliance to support the construction of a unified national market.
Summary: The Gansu Provincial People's Procuratorate announced that it has achieved full coverage of the "government-procuratorate linkage mechanism" across provincial, city, and county levels, according to a report from Gansu Daily. The mechanism aims to coordinate joint management of illegal conduct, business environment protection, administrative dispute resolution, social governance, and legal research. The provincial procuratorate has introduced a 2026 "8+N" key task list, breaking it down into 26 specific tasks across 16 procuratorial business lines. So far this year, city and county procuratorates have held 271 joint meetings with administrative agencies and established 40 mechanisms linking administrative and criminal procedures. No U.S. or U.S.-China relations topics were addressed in the article.
Summary: The article reports on community-level Party lectures in Qiantang District, Hangzhou, where a courier named Yang Fei spoke at a local service center about helping children, putting out a fire, and reporting illegal poppy cultivation. The district has enlisted 100 such lecturers from various workplaces to make Party education more engaging to residents. Previously, lectures relied on reading documents, but now organizers categorize speakers into groups like "Red Heart" for Party members and "Youth Voices" for everyday stories. The district's Party secretary, Wang Huafeng, noted that demand has shifted from assigned tasks to residents asking about upcoming topics. Over a thousand lectures have been held through this expanded grassroots initiative.
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Summary: A glacial collapse in Nepal triggered severe mudslides, killing 734 people and leaving 2,498 missing as of August 30. China dispatched two Y-20 transport planes carrying 50 tons of emergency relief supplies to Kathmandu, where Chinese Ambassador Zhang Maoming handed them over alongside Nepal's Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation, Mahabir Pun, who expressed gratitude. Chinese tunnel rescue experts, sent at Nepal's request, arrived in the hardest-hit Rasuwa area to search for trapped workers in a hydropower tunnel. Ambassador Zhang also met Nepal's Finance Minister Wagle to deliver $2 million in emergency cash aid from the Chinese government and $200,000 from the Chinese Red Cross, saying China would stand with Nepal in overcoming the disaster. Wagle thanked China for its generous assistance and expressed hope for close cooperation in post-disaster reconstruction.
Summary: A Nepalese academic, writing as President of Nepal's National Professors Association, analyzes a severe cross-border glacial disaster on August 26 that triggered massive mudslides, causing heavy casualties in both Nepal (734 dead, 2,498 missing) and China's Tibet (16 dead, 546 missing). He reports that Beijing promptly shared satellite and hydrological monitoring data with Nepal, and notes the glacial collapse's extremely rapid transmission (6-7 minutes) left limited time for evacuation. The author frames the joint disaster response as validating the "community of shared future" concept and urges stronger bilateral cooperation on transboundary geological risks. He emphasizes the importance of youth exchanges, education, and public diplomacy to strengthen Nepal-China ties, arguing that civil society connections can buffer bilateral frictions amid international turbulence. The article underscores that post-disaster reconstruction should become a key pillar of bilateral cooperation, involving joint rebuilding of schools, hospitals, and roads.
Summary: A Chinese-Egyptian joint media tour visited Haier’s industrial park in Egypt’s Ramadan City, where three smart production lines for air conditioners, washing machines, and TVs are operating. The park, which opened in May 2024, has already produced over 200,000 air conditioners and ranks among Egypt’s top three domestic sellers, with total capacity expected to exceed 1.5 million units. Egyptian journalists praised “Chinese speed,” noting the park’s rapid construction, production, and exports within just over a year. Local employees highlighted the park’s over 90% localization rate and more than 1,000 local jobs, crediting Chinese technology and management for upgrading Egypt’s industrial capabilities. The visiting Egyptian reporters concluded that Egypt-China cooperation has expanded beyond trade and investment into manufacturing and technology transfer.
Summary: Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić attended the launch of a humanoid robot factory in Šabac, co-built with Shanghai-based AgiBot Innovation and Minth Group, and toured the production line where he interacted with the robots. Vučić thanked China for its support, noting that Minth has created nearly 5,000 jobs in Serbia and that the country is "becoming a pioneer in the large-scale production of humanoid robots in Europe" with Chinese backing. He expressed hope that the factory will assemble and produce over 5,000 humanoid robots annually, with applications in medicine, agriculture, industry, and defense. Minth founder Qin Ronghua said the group has built 10 factories in Serbia since 2018 and plans a robotics industrial park with drone and advanced battery facilities targeting European and global markets. The launch marks tangible progress on the project announced in February to establish Europe's first large-scale humanoid robot production base.
Summary: Icelandic Prime Minister Frostadóttir said on August 30 that her government respects the national referendum result and will not advance EU accession negotiations during its current term. The August 29 referendum saw 52.8% of voters oppose restarting EU talks, against 47.2% in favor, according to preliminary counts. Frostadóttir stated that unless major events occur within the next 24 months, the EU issue is unlikely to become a parliamentary priority again. She added that many voters recognize Iceland's relationship with the EU through the European Economic Area, and the government will strengthen cooperation within that framework. The current government, which took office in December 2024, had pledged to hold the referendum by 2027.
Summary: NASA's Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope was launched on August 30 from Los Angeles aboard a SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket. The telescope aims to help scientists explore cosmic mysteries including dark matter, dark energy, and exoplanets. Named after NASA's first chief astronomer, it has a primary mirror similar in size to Hubble's but a field of view over 100 times wider. Roman will conduct large-scale survey observations using its wide-field instruments and coronagraph.
Summary: You haven't provided the article text itself—only the layout designer's name (版式设计：汪哲平). Please paste the article content, and I will promptly deliver a summary in English, adhering to your constraints (max 5 sentences, focus on official statements/attendance, and inclusion of any U.S. or U.S.-China relations references).
Summary: The article profiles three Chinese university students doing volunteer work during summer break. Li Xuran, a 19-year-old from Henan University of Chinese Medicine, assisted patients at a hospital in Luohe, learning from department chief Liu Hongjie to soothe patients before treatment and helping an elderly man obtain a chronic-disease card. Peng Kai, a Hubei Minzu University student, joined the "Warm Sun Guardian" team with teacher Wang Yang and three classmates to photograph residents aged over 80 in Dalongping Village, using a Tiananmen-themed backdrop to fulfill elderly villagers' wishes. Xiao Xuanxuan, a student at Guiyang College of Humanities and Science, returned to his hometown in Weining, Guizhou, to lead a 13-member livestreaming team selling local bitter buckwheat products, generating over 4,000 yuan in sales for the company. The story highlights how these students applied their skills to serve rural communities and gain practical experience. No reference is made to the United States or U.S.-China relations.
Summary: The article highlights how three college students—Li Xuran, Peng Kai, and Xiao Xuanxuan—chose to spend their summer vacation applying their knowledge to serve their rural hometowns. Li worked at a hospital in Henan, Peng photographed elderly residents in Hubei's mountains, and Xiao promoted local bitter buckwheat in Guizhou with a revised plan. Xiao was quoted as saying, "I am a child who walked out of this land" and wanting to use her skills to contribute to hometown development. The piece frames their unpaid, grassroots efforts as exemplary of young students' attachment to their native places and deeper personal growth through solving concrete problems.
Summary: The article reports an incident at the National Zoological Museum of China, where two children kicked and grabbed endangered animal specimens while their father joined in instead of stopping them, causing damage. The museum issued a strong condemnation, stating that adults who fail to teach and model respect for rules are responsible for such behavior. The piece argues that instilling basic values like respecting life, nature, and public rules is more important than merely filling children's knowledge. It compares this to other everyday examples of parents ignoring or enabling rule-breaking by children. The author urges parents to consider whether they are "installing" essential moral principles in their children's hearts, not just knowledge in their minds.
Summary: A father was filmed at the National Zoological Museum of China on August 28 encouraging his children to play with, grab, and kick rare snake specimens in the endangered species hall, resulting in damage to a critically endangered Protobothrops mangshanensis specimen, which is unique to China. The museum strongly condemned the behavior, stating it has preserved the full uninterrupted surveillance footage and reserves the right to pursue legal action against those responsible. Museum staff explained that touching exhibits is prohibited because sweat and oils corrode irreplaceable specimens, and residual preservative chemicals pose health risks if children touch their eyes or mouths afterward.
Summary: The State Administration for Market Regulation reported that it has been advancing a certification system for barrier-free environments, with over 30 key projects—including the Daxing airport terminal and the National Accessibility Environment Exhibition Hall—receiving certification by July. Since 2020, the administration has worked with the China Disabled Persons' Federation to establish this system, aiming to support equal participation by disabled and elderly people in social life. The system now covers 62 types of buildings across nine categories, such as transport hubs, medical institutions, commercial venues, and residential housing. It also includes technical standards for high-frequency public settings like bank branches and waterway passenger stations. A full-chain regulatory framework has been set up, using inspections and on-site checks to hold certified entities accountable.
Summary: The Gansu provincial government's employment promotion office has issued an action plan focused on stabilizing jobs, expanding employment capacity, and improving job quality. The plan targets coordinated development between industry and employment, aiming to broaden employment channels and protect workers' rights. It emphasizes high-end, intelligent, and green development in key sectors such as petrochemicals, nonferrous metals, equipment manufacturing, and new energy to boost the manufacturing sector's capacity to absorb jobs. Additionally, the plan calls for tapping employment potential by fostering new consumer scenarios such as "culture + tourism," "sports +," and "intangible cultural heritage +," while promoting service industries. It also proposes targeted recruitment efforts tailored to seasonal industry fluctuations to match flexible employment needs.
Summary: The article reports on volunteer-run summer childcare classes in Xindu District, Chengdu, which were established in response to high local demand for affordable and diverse youth care services. District Social Work Department Deputy Director Li Gang said the program, part of a volunteer project initiative, set up over 30 free sites for primary and secondary school students. Psychological therapist Zhu Linghui from the district maternal and child health hospital led activities on peer relationships, while universities such as Southwest Petroleum University provided dozens of volunteer teachers. District Youth League Committee Deputy Secretary Chen Feng noted that over 3,000 volunteer activities for youth have been carried out, including 200-plus volunteer posts for students themselves. The piece also highlights Sichuan Province's broader system of 15 million registered volunteers across 70,000 teams operating in grassroots service positions.
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Summary: The article, authored by Chen Peihao and Wang Yunchang, outlines Zhejiang's progress as a state-backed demonstration zone for "common prosperity" (共同富裕), a signature goal of Xi Jinping's Chinese modernization agenda. It traces the policy's intellectual roots to Xi's earlier "Eight-Eight Strategy" (八八战略) and his directives on balancing economic growth with social equity. Specific achievements cited include Zhejiang's GDP rising from 6.46 trillion yuan (2020) to 9.45 trillion yuan (2025), a narrowed urban-rural income ratio, and breakthroughs in rural development, income redistribution, and public services. The piece emphasizes Xi's instruction that Zhejiang "take the lead in demonstrating common prosperity" and warns against impulsive, "showy" approaches, advocating steady, long-term implementation. No U.S. or U.S.-China relations are discussed; the focus remains exclusively on domestic policy and provincial practice.
Summary: The article argues that common prosperity is a fundamental requirement of socialism with Chinese characteristics, achievable through diligent labor and innovation. It cites President Xi Jinping's emphasis on hard work and the "15th Five-Year Plan" outline's encouragement of leading wealth to promote shared prosperity. The authors advocate fostering a social atmosphere that values labor, enhancing worker skills through education and vocational training, and optimizing institutional mechanisms for talent development. These efforts aim to expand income opportunities and improve income distribution to benefit all people. The piece is authored by a special researcher from the Guangdong Research Center for Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics.
Summary: Officials in Gulang County, Gansu—including Forestry and Grassland Bureau deputy head Zhang Yanji and staffer Cai Yanzhi—were reported overseeing drone surveillance of desert roads they had helped build. The county’s strategy is “build roads first, then control sand,” using a 168-km “five horizontal, nine vertical” road network to divide 2.39 million mu of sandy land into 15 manageable zones. This approach solved the problems of difficult access, transport, and large-scale treatment. Local deputy forest farm head Shi Yinshan said road access sharply increased the efficiency of sand-fixing and tree planting, helping complete the county’s historic shift from “sand advancing, people retreating” to “green advancing, sand retreating.” The roads also anchor economic development, connecting relocation settlements such as Fumin New Village to highways and enabling greenhouses and jobs for over 1,000 residents.
Summary: Shanghai has released its “15th Five-Year Plan” for the “One River, One Creek” development of the Huangpu River and Suzhou Creek. The plan aims to move the waterfront from linear connectivity to functional integration, building a world-class waterfront with global influence. Municipal government deputy secretary-general and planning chief Zhang Yuxin said the keyword for the new phase is “integration,” spanning functions, waterbank, city-water, and governance. The plan sets out “five leaps,” including expanding connected shorelines, enhancing public services, boosting cultural-tourism-commercial vitality, developing new quality productive forces around two “golden triangles,” and achieving full online service coverage by 2030. It builds on 14th Five-Year progress of over 110 kilometers of connected shoreline, more than 600 hectares of new green space, and 170 million visits to open waterfront spaces.
Summary: The article reports that Postal Savings Bank of China's Anhui branch is aligning its operations with the province's “15th Five-Year Plan” strategic positioning and official development goals. It focuses on financing technological innovation and modern industry chains, including support for key semiconductor and strategic equity projects. The bank also emphasizes rural vitalization through agricultural credit products and digital settlement systems. It highlights consumer, infrastructure, elderly care, and green finance initiatives, with green loans exceeding 36.6 billion yuan by mid-year. No U.S.-China relations are mentioned.
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Summary: President Xi Jinping, in his capacity as China's President, issued Presidential Order No. 80 promulgating the Medical Security Law of the People's Republic of China. The law was passed by the Standing Committee of the 14th National People's Congress on August 28, 2026, and will take effect on January 1, 2027. It establishes a multi-tiered universal medical security system centered on basic medical insurance, covering funding operations, benefits, services, and oversight. The law mandates participation in basic medical insurance by citizens, outlines responsibilities for employers and governments, and strengthens anti-fraud measures with penalties for violations. It also includes provisions for maternity insurance, medical assistance, long-term care insurance, and enhanced supervision over medical insurance funds.
Summary: The 9th Lu Xun Literary Prize awarded 35 works across seven categories in Shanghai on August 28, with officials and organizers highlighting a trend toward "new mass literature." Winning authors included Liang Hong, who spent three years researching youth mental health, and Wang Jibing, a food-delivery courier whose poetry collection records fellow riders' lives. The prize for the first time invited frontline high school Chinese teachers as public judges. The event signals that literary creation and evaluation are no longer dominated by professional writers and critics, with ordinary people's participation seen as enriching China's cultural landscape.
Summary: On August 28, the 2026 "Belt and Road" Annual Character release event was held in Urumqi, Xinjiang, where the character "齐" (unity/alignment) was selected through public voting. The event was co-hosted by the China Public Relations Association and the Urumqi Municipal People's Government. Wang Xiaohui, a professor at Nankai University, explained that the character, first seen in Shang dynasty oracle bones, symbolizes harmony amidst diversity and reflects the Belt and Road's principles of mutual learning and co-construction. He emphasized that "齐" conveys the idea that shared consensus and collective effort lead to success under the framework of extensive consultation and joint contribution. The event, founded in 2016, uses Chinese characters to document the Belt and Road's progress and people-to-people connectivity.
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Summary: The article profiles Pacific Construction Group, a leading Chinese private infrastructure firm, highlighting its role in high-quality Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) projects. The company strategically relocated its headquarters to Xinjiang (its first Fortune 500 presence there) to boost the Silk Road Economic Belt core zone, while expanding into Kazakhstan in energy, water, and transport, and into Vietnam, notably building the 3.1 billion yuan Si Lien Bridge in Hanoi. Domestically, it reports over 150 billion yuan in investments across Guangxi, participating in regional development and international medical cooperation platforms. The piece emphasizes the firm's corporate social responsibility, including poverty alleviation and disaster relief, and its pivot toward new infrastructure projects like the Handan Digital Economy Park. It frames the company's expansion as serving China's modernization and regional connectivity goals, with no reference to the United States.
Summary: The article reports on Chengdu's efforts to implement the "15th Five-Year Plan" for building a sports powerhouse, which calls for developing local branded events and a self-owned IP-based events economy. Chengdu has leveraged 33 large venues built or upgraded for the 2023 World University Games to host major international and national competitions, while transforming them into multi-use facilities for both elite sports and public recreation. A city sports bureau official is quoted as describing the "Sports Chengdu·December Market" initiative, which has staged over 3,200 mass fitness events, to make exercise feel like a "city gathering" for residents. The piece highlights the economic spillover, citing figures such as Fenghuangshan Sports Park generating about 24 billion yuan in ticket revenue and 16 billion yuan in related consumption, and Chengdu's sports industry surpassing 150 billion yuan in 2025. The article concludes with an expert's recommendation to build a "sports-tourism-commerce" linkage to convert spectator traffic into lasting consumption growth.
Summary: The 2026 Asian Women’s Volleyball Championship concluded in Tianjin on Aug. 30, with China losing 2-3 to defending champion Thailand in the final. China, playing at home, had not dropped a set before the final. Thailand earned the championship’s direct berth to the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, while China missed automatic qualification. The top three teams—Thailand, China, and Japan—all secured places at the 2027 Women’s Volleyball World Cup.
Summary: Chinese snooker player Chang Bingyu won his first ranking title on August 29 by defeating new world No. 1 Zhao Xintong 10-7 in the final of the 2026 Wuhan Open. Chang overcame early world No. 1 Judd Trump and seven-time world champion Ronnie O'Sullivan earlier in the tournament, highlighting the strength of his run. He said the victory was highly meaningful after regaining his professional status, and wept with emotion afterward. The Chinese Billiards Association sent a congratulatory letter praising his performance. Zhao, despite losing in his eighth career final, clinched the world No. 1 ranking based on his overall performance at the event.
Summary: The 2026 China Virtual Sports Open concluded its finals in Hefei, Anhui Province, on August 30, bringing together qualifiers from online selection rounds to compete in events such as virtual cycling, racing, and golf. The competition, which began with online qualifiers in early August, allowed sports enthusiasts from various regions and professional backgrounds to participate through a unified digital platform. A parallel city carnival offered local residents hands-on experience with virtual sports, highlighting the integration of digital technology and athletics. As the country's first national-level comprehensive virtual sports event, the Open aims to establish a standardized and professional competition framework. The format notably expands participation beyond geographic limits online, while the offline finals reinforce competitive rigor through unified rules and professional officiating.
Summary: Chinese ultrarunner Yao Miao placed third in the women’s 100-kilometer CCC category of the 2026 Ultra-Trail du Mont-Blanc (UTMB) in Chamonix, France, with a time of 12 hours, 15 minutes, and 41 seconds. The race, which crosses Italy, Switzerland, and France, was extended to 108 kilometers due to weather-related course changes. Yao, a 30-year-old from Liupanshui, Guizhou, previously won this event in 2018 and has twice won the 50-kilometer OCC category. She traded the lead with South Africa’s Toni McCann before a Norwegian runner overtook both in the final stage to win; McCann finished second and Yao third. The report contains no political content and makes no reference to the United States or U.S.-China relations.
Summary: Physician Jia Bingshen of the First Affiliated Hospital of Hainan Medical University advised that effective muscle gain requires balanced training, adequate protein intake (1.6–2.2 grams per kilogram of body weight daily), and 7–9 hours of quality sleep. He recommended progressive resistance training two or more times per week, targeting major muscle groups with 2–3 sets of 8–12 repetitions per exercise. For adults, especially sedentary office workers, he suggested focusing on core, shoulder, back, and leg exercises. Older adults should perform light-load strength and balance training such as wall squats and tai chi while consulting a doctor beforehand. He emphasized that noticeable results require 3–6 months of consistent, science-based effort.
Summary: A Shenyang primary school, Wenyi No. 2, won both the U12 boys' and U10 mixed titles at the 2025–2026 national primary school basketball league finals in Qingdao, securing a three-peat in the U12 division. Head coach Qian Tong said his team adjusted tactics after trailing by 10 points in the first quarter, shifting to half-court offense and defense to reverse the game. Vice principal Dong Zhe attributed the success to the school's dual "popularization plus competition" system, which includes age-group tiers and a "Class BA" league involving most of its 10,000-plus students. Dong added that the school also holds parent-child basketball games and maintains academic support for student-athletes. Shenyang Education Bureau Director Guan Jin said the city promotes "health first" education, requiring daily physical education, two hours of activity, and 15-minute breaks to support youth sports.
Summary: The two-day 2026 National Ethnic Minority Gateball Tournament concluded on August 29 in Subei Mongol Autonomous County, Gansu Province. Thirty-two teams from regions including Inner Mongolia, Anhui, Jiangxi, Sichuan, and Hong Kong participated. The event adopted an innovative "sports competition + cultural tourism" model, offering cultural experiences. Organizers included the General Administration of Sport's Social Sports Guidance Center and the Chinese Gateball Association.
Summary: The 2026 Tianmen Mountain Cycling Carnival opened on August 29 in Zhangjiajie, Hunan, drawing over 1,500 domestic and international riders. The two-day event features five race categories, including elite and amateur road races as well as mountain bike divisions for men and women. Participants range in age from 14 to 72, with 159 foreign riders representing countries such as Germany, Canada, and Pakistan.
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Summary: A Chinese commercial bank branch in Enshi, Hubei, drew public debate after announcing a 90-minute midday closure of its manual service counters, while automated and online channels remained available. Commentators acknowledged the bank's rationale of protecting staff well-being given their long working hours, but also voiced concerns over inconvenience for office workers and elderly customers reliant on in-person services. The article argues that balancing employee rights and client needs requires scientific scheduling, such as using data analytics to manage traffic and opening "tidal windows" during peak times. It further stresses that banks must handle online and offline service relationships well, adopting differentiated strategies for branches serving different demographics, such as seniors or central business districts. The discussion ultimately reflects broader public expectations for more accommodating, people-centered financial services.
Summary: The article reports on the development of Zhejiang Province's "Credit Zhejiang" initiative, tracing its origins to Xi Jinping's 2003 "Eight-Eight Strategy" when he was Zhejiang's Party Secretary, which made credit system construction a key component. It details how Zhejiang built a modern credit foundation through legislation and a digital platform aggregating data on millions of entities, enabling credit-based regulatory reform that classifies enterprises by risk for differentiated oversight. The piece highlights how "credit loans" use enterprise reputation as collateral, citing examples like a small factory owner receiving loans based on his compliance record and a tech firm getting RMB 9.9 million in credit financing. It emphasizes the system's tangible economic benefits, including streamlined approvals via credit-backed reports, credit repair mechanisms for minor violations, and expanded applications across tourism, libraries, and government contract oversight. The article concludes that Zhejiang has transformed credit from a soft moral indicator into hard institutional support for optimizing the business environment and activating private economic vitality.
Summary: The article argues that computing power is the core productivity of the digital economy and a key foundation for AI's evolution from "single-point breakthroughs" to "overall empowerment," projecting intelligent computing demand to grow 500-fold by 2030. It highlights deep integration of AI and computing infrastructure across manufacturing, autonomous driving, and healthcare as drivers of new business models. Calling for green, low-carbon development, it advocates for coordinated computing and electricity systems, including "zero-carbon data centers" in western China and "source-grid-load-storage" integration. It also stresses building a high-level governance system with a national integrated computing market, cross-regional scheduling mechanisms, and policy tools to allocate resources. Looking ahead to the "15th Five-Year Plan" period, the author urges coordinated planning, breakthroughs in high-end chips and foundational software, and full-lifecycle security controls.
Summary: The provided text contains only the layout designer credit ("版式设计：张丹峰") and no substantive article content. Therefore, no summary of any political statements, actions, or U.S.-related discussion can be generated. Please provide the full article text for analysis.
Summary: Writing as chief commander of LandSpace's Zhuque-3 rocket, in an article compiled with People's Daily reporter Liu Shiyao, the author reflects on the vehicle's August 19 second test flight, which delivered a satellite into orbit and achieved first-stage recovery after the first attempt had fallen short. He emphasizes that this turnaround came from respecting engineering laws and turning test data into reliable capability through systematic fault-tree analysis, while cautioning that a single successful recovery does not yet mean the rocket has a mature reusable capability. The piece argues that commercial aerospace must embed innovation into engineering, manufacturing, and industrial systems, balancing speed with scientific patience, and that Chinese firms must maintain mastery of key technologies to serve national strategy—defining autonomy as open collaboration plus independent control over critical capabilities.
Summary: China's "15th Five-Year Plan" prioritizes biomanufacturing as a new economic growth point, with experts noting it offers a safer, greener, and more economical alternative to traditional petroleum-based or plant-derived production methods. Academician Yuan Yingjin and researcher Liu Shuwen emphasized that biomanufacturing is shifting from "following" to "paralleling" or even "leading" globally, though core challenges remain. Liu stressed that achieving self-sufficiency in proprietary microbial strains—the "chips" of the industry—is urgent to overcome international patent barriers and secure industrial autonomy. Industrialists like Lu Wenchao highlighted that success requires bridging the "valley of death" between lab-scale trials and mass production through integrated platforms, as demonstrated by China Resources Shuanghe's expanded pilot facilities and completed full-chain biopolymer projects. The article concludes that sustained state support, AI integration, and multidisciplinary talent cultivation are essential to transform laboratory breakthroughs into stable factory output and market orders.
Summary: Welding technician and National Model Worker Liu, a senior technician at Fangda Special Steel, described his team's decade-long development of 10 custom welding robots after commercial models proved unsuitable for the steel plant's large irregular components. He reported that the robots reduced a 15-day task for four workers to four days for one technician, saved over 3 million yuan, and raised automated welding productivity to 50%. Liu emphasized that innovation should target pain points on the production floor, and that his team paired the robots with dust-removal systems to support the company's green transformation. The piece was written with People's Daily reporter Yang Yanfei, who accompanied Liu in his account.
Summary: The provided text does not contain an article to summarize; it only includes the credit line "版式设计：张芳曼" (Layout designer: Zhang Fangman). Therefore, there is no content regarding officials, statements, or U.S.-China relations to report on. Please provide the full article text for a proper summary.
Summary: The article distinguishes physiological age from "cultural age," defined as the depth of one's immersion in tradition, wisdom, and spiritual growth. It interprets Confucius's famous "thirty而立, forty不惑" passage as a mapping of spiritual milestones onto biological ones. Cultural age, unlike irreversible biological time, can revisit, correct, and restart personal growth. The author concludes that amid modern material and technological progress, society must return to ancient values such as benevolence, fairness, and harmony to guide future development.
Summary: The article critiques the widespread phenomenon of "solicited praise" (索赞) in Chinese commercial life, where customers are pressured by staff and platform incentives to give top ratings, eroding traditional norms of modesty and sincerity. It argues that such ratings, driven by algorithmic assessment systems tied to income and rankings, reduce genuine reputation to a purchasable commodity, and similarly condemns the misuse of negative reviews to harm vulnerable workers like delivery riders. The piece then extends the critique to "solicited honor" (索誉), noting approvingly that official recognitions such as model worker awards now rightly go to frontline workers rather than officials. It concludes that authentic approval must arise spontaneously from the public's own judgment, comparing it to the silent virtue of bamboo and plum blossoms.
Summary: The article is a personal essay celebrating bamboo's central role in the author's family life in a mountainous Chinese village, from childhood planting with his father to the enduring flavors of bamboo-shoot dishes prepared by his mother. It highlights bamboo's practical and economic value—providing food, household tools, income during hard times, and even the funds for the author's university suitcase. The narrative also observes modernization, as drones now lift harvested bamboo out of the mountains within minutes, replacing the old back-breaking manual labor. The essay concludes with the family visiting the bamboo groves, where neighbors now supply high-quality timber to a factory, easing the father's worry about being too old to haul bamboo himself. No mention is made of U.S.-China relations.
Summary: The provided text is a caption identifying the Chinese painting *Autumn Light* (《秋光》) by the artist Guo Weiqu, held in the collection of the Beijing Fine Art Academy. It contains no political content, official statements, or references to U.S.-China relations, serving solely as an artwork attribution.
Summary: The article is a personal narrative about the Yi Torch Festival, held annually on the 24th day of the sixth lunar month in Chuxiong. It describes traditional rituals such as "passing over fire" for newborns, the use of torches in weddings and courtship dances, and the crafting of torches as a measure of male skill. The author recounts the collective celebration, including torch-lit field patrols, bonfire circle dances, and the ceremonial igniting of the main torch using friction fire-making. The piece emphasizes fire's cultural and spiritual significance, evoking nostalgia for rural traditions while depicting the modern festival's vibrant communal atmosphere. No official statements, U.S. relations, or political analysis are included.
Summary: The article is a cultural feature from D'Ao fishing village in Yangjiang, Guangdong, portraying the traditional craft of shrimp paste making. It describes how villagers like Quan Shu ferment silver shrimp in clay jars through sun exposure, producing a savory condiment tied to local maritime life. The narrative highlights the product's emotional resonance: a Guangzhou visitor buys a case because it reminds her of her grandmother's version, and migrant workers carry jars abroad for a taste of home. It also notes that the village's shrimp paste is now shipped to the South Pacific on ocean-going vessels, symbolizing the sea's reach beyond local waters.
Summary: The piece is a poem depicting migrant factory workers in an industrial zone, where every machine corresponds to a homesick laborer. At midnight, a worker looks out the window and sees a frail, tired moon, and briefly exchanges glances with another worker in a different window. After this silent moment of mutual recognition, both return to their machines and press the green buttons, while the moon returns to its own orbit. The poem evokes the isolation, shared experience, and mechanical routine of migrant labor. No political figures or U.S.-China relations are referenced.
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Bishkek, August 30 (People's Daily) — (Reporters Yang Xuebo, Yang Qiaochu) On the afternoon of August 30 local time, President Xi Jinping arrived in Bishkek by special plane, at the invitation of Kyrgyz President Japarov, to attend the 2026 Shanghai Cooperation Organization Summit and conduct a state visit to Kyrgyzstan.
When President Xi Jinping and his wife Peng Liyuan arrived at Bishkek Manas International Airport, President Japarov and his wife warmly welcomed them. Japarov presented flowers to Peng Liyuan. Local young women presented traditional pastries and honey to President
Return to TopXinhua News Agency, Bishkek, August 30 — The launch ceremony for the multilingual edition of Ping Yu Jin Ren: Xi Jinping's Favorite Classical Quotations (《平“语”近人——习近平喜欢的典故》) was held on the 30th in Bishkek, the capital of Kyrgyzstan. The program was produced by China Media Group, and from that day onward has been aired on Kyrgyzstan's National Television and Radio Company and other media outlets of Shanghai Cooperation Organization member states.
The multilingual edition of Ping Yu Jin Ren: Xi Jinping's Favorite Classical Quotations (《平“语”近人——习近平喜欢的典故》) carefully selects celebrated classical lines from ancient Chinese texts that President Xi Jinping has quoted in his important speeches, articles, and conversations, vividly presenting President Xi Jinping's outstanding political wisdom, profound philosophical cultivation, and broad humanistic feelings. It opens a window of thought for the broad SCO audience to appreciate President Xi Jinping's wisdom in governance and helps people better understand Chinese culture, perceive Chinese wisdom, and appreciate the Chinese spirit.
By: 新华社记者 熊 丰 胡了然
The banner of thought leads the new journey; the light of theory illuminates the road of endeavor.
On the occasion of the 105th anniversary of the founding of the Communist Party of China, The Selected Works of Xi Jinping on Party Building, Volumes I and II, compiled by the Institute of Party History and Literature of the CPC Central Committee, were published by the Central Party Literature Press and distributed nationwide.
In recent days, from the central level to the local level, from cities to villages, Party members and cadres across the country have read the original works, studied the original texts, and comprehended the principles with calm and focused minds. Through deep study and careful understanding, they have perceived the power of truth and the strength of practice in Xi Jinping's thought on Party building, gathering the high-spirited determination to forge ahead on the new journey and make contributions in the new era.
Authoritative teaching material, consolidating the foundation of theory
The Selected Works of Xi Jinping on Party Building, Volumes I and II, closely center on the "Ten Adherences" (十四个坚持), fully reflecting the rich connotations, scientific system, and important original contributions of Xi Jinping's thought on Party building.
"Xi Jinping's thought on Party building was formed and developed in answering the major issues of running, governing, and strengthening the Party in the new era," said Song Wei, a professor at the School of Marxism, Tsinghua University. Since the 18th National Congress of the CPC, full and rigorous Party self-governance has achieved historic and pioneering achievements and produced all-around and profound effects. The Party has become stronger and more capable through revolutionary tempering. The fundamental reason lies in the leadership and navigation of General Secretary Xi Jinping and in the scientific guidance of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, especially Xi Jinping's thought on Party building.
From "Ensuring the Party Always Remains the Strong Leading Core of the Cause of Socialism with Chinese Characteristics" to "The Eight-Point Central Regulations Are Long-Term Effective Iron Rules and Hard Bars," from "Enforcing Strict Political Discipline and Consciously Safeguarding the Party's Unity and Solidarity" to "Cultivating a High-Caliber Cadre Force That Is Loyal, Clean, and Responsible"... Each important document records the magnificent course of full and rigorous Party self-governance in the new era and systematically reflects the process of the formation, enrichment, and development of Xi Jinping's thought on Party building.
"The Selected Works are systematic and complete in content, with rigorous and orderly logic. They not only demonstrate Communists' sobriety and resolve in running and governing the Party but also reflect the unchanging original aspiration, mission, and political character," said Liu Zhexin, deputy director of the Teaching and Research Department at the China Executive Leadership Academy Pudong. Through study, he believes, Party members and cadres can deeply understand the firm ideals and convictions, high historical initiative, distinct problem orientation, strong sense of mission and responsibility, profound feelings for the people, and scientific methods of thinking embodied in Xi Jinping's thought on Party building, and can truly experience its power of truth and power of character, thereby continuously strengthening their political, ideological, theoretical, and emotional identification.
Every time the Party's theoretical innovation advances one step, theoretical armed study must follow one step.
This Selected Works systematically presents the theoretical thread of Xi Jinping's thought on Party building. It not only preserves the original flavor of important expositions but also helps Party members and cadres grasp the overall picture of the thought through scientific arrangement.
When she received The Selected Works of Xi Jinping on Party Building, Volumes I and II, Wang Cao, associate professor at Henan Agricultural University, felt not only the weight of more than a hundred texts but also the heft of "a theoretical edifice." Opening the book, she could not help recalling the reading insights General Secretary Xi Jinping shared: "Read repeatedly, read attentively, and read Marxist original works so that 'the thick becomes thin, and the thin becomes thick.'"
"The deeper one reads, the more one realizes that Xi Jinping's thought on Party building originates from practice and in turn guides practice, shining with the theoretical radiance of Marxism," Wang Cao said with deep feeling.
Adhering to leading the whole Party with scientific theory and arming the whole Party with scientific theory is our Party's fine tradition and tremendous advantage.
The Institute of Party History and Literature of the CPC Central Committee stated that earnestly studying this important work is of great significance for promoting the whole Party to deeply understand the decisive significance of the "Two Establishments" (两个确立), resolutely achieve the "Two Upholds" (两个维护), deepen the arming of the Party's innovative theory, continuously improve the Party's theoretical level, persistently advance full and rigorous Party self-governance, and promote the steady and far-reaching progress of Chinese modernization.
The publication and distribution of The Selected Works of Xi Jinping on Party Building, Volumes I and II, provide authoritative teaching material for Party members and cadres to thoroughly study and implement Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, especially Xi Jinping's thought on Party building, and push the whole Party to truly transform learning outcomes into vivid practice in advancing the great new project of Party building in the new era.
Deep study and careful understanding, perceiving the power of truth
In June this year, the Central Leading Group for Party Building issued the "Notice on Studying and Implementing Xi Jinping's Thought on Party Building," emphasizing that studying and implementing Xi Jinping's thought on Party building is an important political task for the whole Party for the current period and the period to come.
Over the past two months and more, a wave of deep study and careful understanding of The Selected Works of Xi Jinping on Party Building, Volumes I and II has continued to heat up across the country.
In Pengjiang District, Jiangmen City, Guangdong Province, a normalized learning mechanism covering the entire district is quietly changing the mental outlook of the cadre force.
Leading cadres rely on the district committee's theoretical learning center group for special discussions each quarter; young cadres receive tempering through "required courses" in main training sessions at Party schools; grassroots Party members follow up on study in a timely manner through the monthly "Party Affairs Work Checklist"; the interview-style teaching of "The Power of Role Models" invites advanced exemplars to communicate face to face, allowing trainees to perceive the spirit of responsibility while listening to stories... For different groups, "teaching is tailored to the post." This closed-loop mechanism combining study and application enables theoretical learning to moisten things like spring breeze and rain, silently and gently.
Read original works, study original texts, and comprehend principles, and only then can one know not only the "what" but also the "why," and understand not only the meaning but also the rationale.
Deep study and careful understanding focus on connecting with reality, thinking, and internalization. While studying word by word and sentence by sentence, Party members and cadres not only systematically grasp the scientific system and core essence of Xi Jinping's thought on Party building but also, in light of their own duties, closely combine theoretical learning with solving practical problems, reflecting on shortcomings, clarifying directions, and learning through doing and doing through learning.
Party organizations in various localities and departments rely on effective carriers such as the "Three Meetings and One Lesson" (三会一课) and themed Party days to organize and promote Party members and cadres to earnestly study The Selected Works of Xi Jinping on Party Building, Volumes I and II.
Party branches of the Jiangsu Provincial Radio and Television Administration take The Selected Works of Xi Jinping on Party Building, Volumes I and II as core learning materials and invite experts from the provincial Party school to provide systematic interpretation and explanation;
The theoretical learning center group of the Shitai County Party Committee in Anhui Province held concentrated study sessions on the Selected Works. Participants calmed their minds and focused their full attention, studying each piece and comprehending each sentence, demonstrating and driving the county's study and implementation work to go deeper and be done in a more practical manner;
In Xichou County, Wenshan Zhuang and Miao Autonomous Prefecture, Yunnan Province, the locality relies on the deeply popular "fireside meeting" (火塘会) format to move theoretical learning to the firesides of village houses. Cadres and the masses sit around the fire, studying the Selected Works in connection with local development realities, and explain the Party's innovative theories clearly and understandably in down-to-earth language;
...
Many units insist that leading cadres take the lead in study, give play to the demonstrative and guiding role of the "key minority," and study one step ahead and one level deeper, driving the formation of a strong atmosphere of step-by-step follow-up and full participation in study.
Through study, everyone increasingly feels the breadth, depth, and systematic completeness of Xi Jinping's thought on Party building. It both clarifies the deep logic of "why we must act" and points out the methods and paths of "how to act." Every important assertion responds to the issues of the times, and every deployment requirement embodies a sense of vigilance and historical responsibility.
The taste of truth becomes ever sweeter, the foundation of faith becomes ever firmer. The more everyone reads, the more they feel it quenches their thirst; the more they study, the more fulfilled they feel. Study and understanding continuously go deeper, more practical, and more heartfelt.
Firm belief and firm action, opening a new situation of endeavor
A volume of books on the desk; ten thousand miles of road underfoot. Deeply studying and implementing Xi Jinping's thought on Party building must ultimately fall on the word "action" (行).
Learn to forge the soul, learn to increase wisdom, learn to rectify conduct, learn to promote work. In the opening year of the "15th Five-Year Plan," Party members and cadres adhere to the integration of learning, thinking, and application and the unity of knowledge, belief, and action, striving to transform the Party's innovative theories into a powerful ideological weapon for remolding the subjective world and the objective world.
In Yubang Village, Xiamei Town, Shaxian District, Sanming City, Fujian Province, in August, the stream murmurs. Snack shops at the village entrance steam with heat, and tourists come in an endless stream. In this "No. 1 Village of Shaxian Snacks," village collective income was once only 170,000 yuan; now it has surpassed one million yuan, receiving 200,000 tourists per year.
"We have deep understanding of the content in the Selected Works about 'improving the organizational system that is connected from top to bottom and effective in execution.' When grassroots Party building is solid, the road to enriching the people becomes broad," said Zhang Changsong, secretary of the Party branch of Yubang Village. After the publication and distribution of the Selected Works, the village Party branch combined organizing all Party members to study the texts intensively with leading everyone to work, truly transforming theoretical learning into the power of action for strengthening the village and enriching the people.
The power of theory is reflected not only in the transformation of rural revitalization but also activates the "nerve endings" of urban grassroots governance.
In Weijinlu Community, Xinxing Subdistrict, Heping District, Tianjin, the themed Party day was moved to the site of the renovation and upgrading of an old residential community. Bringing their deep reflections on the important exposition on "upholding the people-centered philosophy" in the Selected Works, all Party members inspected the newly planned parking spaces and age-friendly facilities on site and, in response to specific demands raised by residents, claimed tasks on the spot and resolved them within a set time limit.
"Through study, discussion, and in-depth research, everyone has come to understand that the theoretical knowledge in the Selected Works guides grassroots work practice at all times," said Dong Xuechen, member of the Standing Committee of the Heping District Party Committee and head of its Organization Department. By implementing study in practical matters, Party members and the masses truly perceive the warmth of practice in Xi Jinping's thought on Party building in solving matters around them, truly promoting theoretical learning to enter minds and hearts and show results in action.
The essence of learning lies in practice. Party members and cadres place the starting point and foothold of "learning" on "application," transforming learning outcomes into capabilities for promoting high-quality development.
Not long ago, in the waters of the Pearl River Mouth Basin, 200 kilometers southeast of Shenzhen, the world's first 16-megawatt tension-leg floating wind power platform, the "HAIYANG ANLAN" (海油安澜号), was successfully connected to the Lufeng Oilfield power grid, officially supplying green electricity directly to the offshore oilfield.
Over the past two months and more, the theoretical learning center group of the Party Committee of Offshore Oil Engineering Co., Ltd. has led study and promoted study, studied the Selected Works in full, and established a ledger of key work tasks based on theoretical learning, promoting the implementation and transformation of theoretical learning.
"We adhere to combining study with application, closely focusing on the world-class technical challenge of deep and far-sea wind power development, and gathering Party building strength on the front line of tackling key problems," said Wei Xiongbiao, deputy general manager of the company's "HAIYANG ANLAN" project.
The deeper the study, the clearer the knowledge, the firmer the action.
Party members and cadres transform the power of truth drawn from The Selected Works of Xi Jinping on Party Building, Volumes I and II into the practical momentum of opening roads through mountains and building bridges across waters, maintaining political firmness with theoretical sobriety, writing answer sheets for the times with solid work and actual achievements, continuously channeling learning outcomes into the magnificent practice of building a strong country and national rejuvenation, and inspiring the surging power to forge ahead on the new journey.
(Xinhua News Agency, Beijing, August 30)
By: 本报记者
Winds come from the sea, and tides surge in the Yangtze River Delta. Here is one of the most active, most open, and most innovative regions for China's economic development.
General Secretary Xi Jinping has emphasized: "The Yangtze River Delta region must strengthen cross-regional synergy in scientific and technological innovation and industrial innovation," and "must integrate scientific and technological innovation forces and advantageous resources across regions and departments to achieve strong-strong integration and build a source for scientific and technological innovation."
Acting with responsibility and gathering collaborative strength. Data shows that the number of high-tech enterprises concentrated in the Yangtze River Delta accounts for more than 30% of the national total; in 2025, the Yangtze River Delta recorded 46,800 technology contract transactions, with a technology transaction volume of 246.13 billion yuan, an increase of 14.7% over the previous year.
Walking through the Yangtze River Delta, the scientific and technological innovation vitality of the three provinces and one municipality rushes toward you. From "a beam of light" at the Shanghai Synchrotron Radiation Light Source to "a single strand" of carbon fiber in Changzhou, Jiangsu; from "a satellite chain" in Taizhou, Zhejiang, to "a vehicle" at the NIO factory in Hefei, Anhui... innovation elements flow freely, innovation resources are efficiently allocated, scientific and technological innovation vitality continues to rise, and the construction of the Shanghai (Yangtze River Delta) International Science and Technology Innovation Center is proceeding with rapid and steady steps.
Coordinating as "One Chessboard": Cultivating Original Innovation
Basic research and original innovation are vital; how can they be strengthened? The Yangtze River Delta strengthens collaborative tackling of key problems, plays a good game of 一盘棋 (yī pán qí - "one chessboard," overall coordination) to cultivate "source water."
Within the coordination of "one chessboard," there is the brightness of "a beam of light."
In Shanghai, at Zhangjiang Science City, the Shanghai Synchrotron Radiation Light Source, which looks much like a "nautilus," is like a tireless eye, exploring the secrets of the microscopic world day and night without pause.
As a third-generation synchrotron radiation light source, it is a key facility of the Yangtze River Delta's large-scale scientific device cluster. Here, scientists can clearly see the structure of proteins, the internal stress of materials, and the moments of catalytic reactions. Since opening, it has cumulatively served nearly 1,000 user units and supported the completion of approximately 30,000 experimental projects.
"From January to June this year, the open operating hours of the Shanghai Synchrotron Radiation Light Source increased by 16% year-on-year, among which operating hours for corporate users increased by 44.2% year-on-year, and open operating hours facing the Yangtze River Delta region increased by 22.3% year-on-year," introduced Tai Renzhong, deputy director of the Shanghai Institute of Advanced Studies, Chinese Academy of Sciences. From "exclusive to Shanghai" to "shared by the Yangtze River Delta," large-scale scientific devices are becoming the public foundation for regional original innovation. Currently, the Yangtze River Delta has 16 and 11 major scientific and technological infrastructures already built and under construction, respectively.
Within the coordination of "one chessboard," there is the strength of "a single strand."
In Changzhou, Jiangsu, at the Yangtze River Delta Carbon Fiber and Composite Material Technological Innovation Center, inside a production workshop of Zhongjian Technology, bundles of filaments pass through high-temperature carbonization furnaces and are wound at a constant speed. The weight of carbon fiber is only 1/4 that of steel of the same volume, yet its strength is 7 times that of steel; domestic large aircraft, new energy vehicles, and others cannot do without it.
Since the establishment of this center, it has focused on national strategic needs, gathered innovation resources from home and abroad, and carried out key technology research and development, using applications as a driver to provide high-quality technical supply for industrial development. The Yangtze River Delta region possesses a large number of industry leaders in the fields of carbon fiber production, resin development, and equipment manufacturing, with a complete industrial chain.
From the "Cooperation Mechanism for Joint Tackling of Scientific and Technological Innovation in the Yangtze River Delta Community" to the first collaborative legislation by the three provinces and one municipality, the "Decision on Promoting the Synergistic Development of Scientific and Technological Innovation in the Yangtze River Delta," the coordination of "one chessboard" provides more policy guarantees for collaborative innovation.
Exerting Force as "One Rope": Promoting the Transformation of Achievements
Once the source of scientific and technological innovation has "living water," how can it be precisely directed toward production and life? The exploration of the Yangtze River Delta is: letting the transformation of achievements take fewer detours.
Within the exertion of force of "one rope," there is the emergence of a new drug.
Innovent Biologics is rooted in Suzhou, Jiangsu, with its research and development extending to Shanghai. The company achieved revenue of over 13 billion yuan in 2025 and has built a 140,000-liter monoclonal antibody production line, accounting for 20% of the national total monoclonal antibody production capacity. "Shanghai has source innovation, Suzhou has industrial supporting facilities, and the talents, capital, and clinical resources of the Yangtze River Delta are interconnected," said Zhang Qian, executive director and chief commercial officer of Innovent Biologics.
Shanghai's Zhangjiang Pharma Valley similarly confirms this "interconnection." It gathers over 4,000 scientific and technological innovation entities in biomedicine, with 17 of the global top 20 pharmaceutical companies having layouts here, and more than 60% of innovation achievements being transformed and implemented in the Yangtze River Delta. "Shanghai R&D, Yangtze River Delta transformation"—this cross-regional collaborative path is becoming the standard configuration in the field of biomedicine.
Within the exertion of force of "one rope," there is the empowerment of a park.
The four words "USTC Valley" are now known to everyone in the Anhui scientific and technological innovation circle. This park has cumulatively gathered over 7,000 technology-based enterprises and scientific and technological innovation service institutions, and over 70,000 various types of innovation and entrepreneurship talents.
Fang Xiaowei, general manager of Hefei Guojing Instrument, is a "science and tech drifter." In 2023, he and alumni from the University of Science and Technology of China (USTC) who had been deeply engaged in electronic optical technology overseas chose to start a business here. One year after the company's establishment, it released the world's first cold-field tabletop electron microscope. "In the past, many people stayed overseas or went to first-tier cities. Now in Hefei, one can similarly connect with global resources," said Fang Xiaowei.
From Zhangjiang Pharma Valley to USTC Valley, two valleys, one east and one west, with different paths but a consistent goal—to make the road from laboratory to shelf for scientific and technological achievements faster and smoother.
Within the exertion of force of "one rope," there is the assistance of an innovation voucher.
The Yangtze River Delta Scientific and Technological Innovation Voucher allows scientific research achievements to flow and transform within a larger scope. Since the pilot program began in 2021, the scope of application for scientific and technological innovation vouchers has expanded to the entire areas of Shanghai, Jiangsu, and Zhejiang, and parts of Anhui. In 2025, the redemption amount exceeded 70 million yuan, driving a total service contract amount of over 270 million yuan.
Scientific and technological innovation resources are no longer confined to their own 一亩三分地 (yī mǔ sān fēn dì - "one mu and three fen of land," one's own small territory); through institutional design and platform construction, efficient cross-regional allocation is achieved—reducing innovation costs and improving overall efficiency.
Connecting as "One Chain": Assisting Industrial Implementation
After the transformation of achievements, one must still complete the "critical leap" from product to industry. The Yangtze River Delta uses the industrial chain as a link to "escort" innovation all the way from the laboratory to the market.
Within the connection of "one chain," there is the speeding of a vehicle.
Entering NIO's second electric drive manufacturing plant in Hefei, Anhui, nine flexible intelligent electric drive system production lines can achieve co-line production of permanent magnet and induction electric drive systems; the factory extensively applies intelligent solutions such as 6-axis robots, 3D visual recognition technology, and intelligent logistics, with an entire-line automation rate exceeding 70%. "We chose Hefei because Hefei occupies an increasingly important position in the Yangtze River Delta integration," said a relevant person in charge from NIO.
Behind this sentence is an industrial chain map spanning the Yangtze River Delta—Shanghai participates in the R&D of intelligent driving chips and whole-vehicle domain operating systems, Jiangsu and Zhejiang supply key components, and Anhui undertakes whole-vehicle manufacturing; currently, Hefei has gathered six whole-vehicle enterprises.
Within the connection of "one chain," there is the production of a satellite.
Entering the Xingkong Zhilian satellite factory in Taizhou, Zhejiang, there is no expected sense of mystery; instead, there is a production line similar to the automotive industry, where a satellite takes only 28 days from manufacturing to leaving the factory.
This is a satellite mass-production factory that deeply integrates aerospace manufacturing and automotive manufacturing capabilities. Drawing on the ideas of platform-based R&D and pulse production lines from the automotive industry, four major standardized satellite platforms have been built here, covering a full weight range from 10 kilograms to 1 ton. The annual production capacity reaches 500 satellites, and costs have decreased by more than 45% compared to traditional production methods. In 2025, the number of commercial satellites manufactured and launched into orbit ranked among the top in the country.
The words of an engineer are impressive: "In the past, making a satellite meant an academician leading doctoral students to 'grind' them one by one in the laboratory. Now, it is 30 people on one production line, making one every 28 days."
NIO is "running a relay race to complete an entire industrial chain across three provinces and one municipality," and Xingkong Zhilian is "running a new track through cross-border integration." Each has its own characteristics, but both are using the "chain" method to turn innovation into reality.
Linking as "One Network": Promoting Cluster Development
From points to lines and then to surfaces, the Yangtze River Delta is weaving an innovation network that covers the entire region.
Within the linkage of "one network," there is the connection of a corridor.
The G60 Science and Technology Innovation Corridor started from a highway beginning in Songjiang, Shanghai, and has now expanded into a cross-regional collaborative platform covering nine cities in Shanghai, Jiangsu, Zhejiang, and Anhui. Over 10 years, the number of high-tech enterprises in the nine cities increased from 16,000 to 59,000, accounting for nearly 1/7 of the national total.
At the same time, the construction of the Shanghai-Nanjing Industrial Innovation Belt is accelerating, forming a cross-regional innovation pattern of "one south and one north" in response to the G60. "The G60 Science and Technology Innovation Corridor and the Shanghai-Nanjing Industrial Innovation Belt are like a pair of scientific and technological innovation wings, assisting the collaborative development of the Yangtze River Delta," said Lu Hai, deputy director of the Regional Office and the District Development and Reform Commission of Putuo District, Shanghai.
Within the linkage of "one network," there is the departure of a ship.
Jingjiang, Jiangsu, a county-level city with a permanent population of only 660,000, is deeply embedding its shipbuilding industry into the Yangtze River Delta integration innovation network.
Looking from the banks of the Yangtze River, the outlines of ships are beginning to appear in the docks of Yangzijiang Shipbuilding. In 2025, Jingjiang's completed shipbuilding volume accounted for 8.5% of the global total—for every 10 ships in the world, approximately one comes from this small riverside city.
"To build a ship, it takes at least tens of thousands or even hundreds of thousands of parts; we can build them 'from nothing to something'," said Du Chengzhong, deputy general manager of Yangzijiang Shipbuilding Group.
And to complete these, it relies on Yangtze River Delta synergy—research and design in Shanghai, core component supporting in Jiangsu, Zhejiang, and Anhui, and final assembly and construction in Jingjiang. Led by "chain leader" enterprises, Jingjiang has gathered more than 200 shipbuilding and supporting enterprises, forming a complete industrial ecosystem.
Policy support coordinates "one chessboard," letting the source water of innovation surge; the transformation of achievements exerts force as "one rope," letting industry, academia, research, and application deeply integrate; industrial implementation connects "one chain," letting products go directly from the laboratory to the market; and cluster development links "one network," letting innovation resources achieve optimized allocation on a larger spatial scale.
Remembering the entrusted tasks and striving forward in the "15th Five-Year Plan," the Yangtze River Delta will continue to closely grasp the two keywords of "integration" and "high quality," using the construction of the Shanghai (Yangtze River Delta) International Science and Technology Innovation Center as a grip, continuously deepening cross-regional synergy, fully stimulating the scientific and technological innovation vitality of the three provinces and one municipality, and making efforts to contribute more strength to Chinese-style modernization.
(By reporters Xu Leipeng, Zhang Anyu, Wang Yinxin, Bai Guangdi, Dou Hao, and Luo Yangqi)
Return to TopBy: 本报记者 刘新吾
With a long blast of the whistle, a sea-rail intermodal train fully loaded with goods departed from Guoyuan Port (果园港) in the Chongqing Pilot Free Trade Zone (重庆自贸试验区). Two days later, the train arrived at Qinzhou Port in Guangxi (钦州港), where the goods were loaded into an international freighter and sent to a port in Malaysia.
“With the multimodal transport ‘one-order system’ (一单制), transport efficiency has improved a lot,” said He Daoguo (何道国), president of Chongqing Meilian International Warehousing and Transportation (Group) Co., Ltd. (重庆美联国际仓储运输（集团）有限公司).
In the past, to ship an order, a freight company had to coordinate with road transport, railways, ports, and other parties, issue multiple documents, and the containers for land and sea transport were not interchangeable, requiring container swaps at the port. Now, the consignor places an order with one click, the multimodal transport operator is responsible for the whole journey, a single freight document can circulate smoothly through every link, and the goods achieve “no container swap upon arrival at port” and go directly aboard the ship.
The smooth flow of goods originates from institutional innovation.
In recent years, the Chongqing Pilot Free Trade Zone has explored and innovated land trade rules, taking the multimodal transport “one-order system” as a breakthrough point to crack the pain points of inland logistics: “many links, slow turnover, high costs.”
Quay cranes rise and fall in orderly succession, freight trains are 蓄势待发 (xù shì dài fā - “store up momentum, await departure,” poised and ready to act), and cargo ships slowly come alongside... A thin bill of lading enables multiple modes of transport to be seamlessly connected.
The changes do not stop there. At the New Western Land-Sea Corridor Operation and Dispatch Center (西部陆海新通道运营调度中心), the screen displays the trajectory of goods in real time, making the entire journey traceable and controllable.
Relying on new technologies, Chongqing has realized the on-chain evidence preservation of digital bills of lading, and the transport and customs clearance information of every shipment can be traced. As of now, more than 21,000 digital bills of lading have been put on the chain for evidence preservation, with a cargo value exceeding 7 billion yuan.
Today, the categories of goods under the “one-order system” have expanded from parallel-imported automobiles to rubber, automobile parts, daily consumer goods, and more; the combined transport modes have been extended to river-sea and road-sea combined transport; the service network covers East Asia, Europe, South America, and other regions; and the overall customs clearance time for goods has been compressed by 40 percent.
The smooth flow of goods is also inseparable from financing.
“In the past, while the goods were in transit, we had to advance funds; after the goods arrived at the port and the documents were complete, it took at least half a month to obtain a financing loan,” Zang Honghui (臧红辉), head of a new materials technology company in Chongqing, told the reporter.
This was once a common problem for many foreign trade enterprises. For a long time, the ocean bill of lading has been a recognized document of title to goods; enterprises can use the bill of lading at banks for settlement, pledge, and financing. Railway and road waybills and other land transport documents, however, can only prove the transportation status of the goods and do not have the effect of real rights, nor can they be used for settlement or financing, so enterprises often face pressure on capital turnover.
Solving this problem has meant shifting from “physical connectivity” to “rule alignment.”
The Chongqing Pilot Free Trade Zone took the lead in introducing policies to guide financial institutions in exploring the use of land bills of lading and multimodal transport bills of lading as the basis for settlement and financing. The People’s Court of the Chongqing Pilot Free Trade Zone (重庆自由贸易试验区人民法院) promoted judicial innovation through such forms as precedents, established the negotiable character of land transport documents, promoted a breakthrough innovation in land trade rules, and filled a gap in the relevant rules.
Earlier this year, the Chongqing Branch of Industrial Bank (兴业银行重庆分行) handled the “one-order system” trade financing business for this new materials technology company, and the 5.9 million yuan loan arrived in the account in only three days. “With a land bill of lading, we could get a loan, which promptly closed the gap in raw material procurement and greatly reduced the pressure,” Zang Honghui said.
As of now, the number of banks cooperating with Chongqing on “one-order system” financing has increased to 11, and financial products such as the “Land-Sea One-Order Loan” (陆海一单贷) have provided cumulative financing of nearly 1.1 billion yuan, injecting financial “living water” into foreign trade enterprises.
All units are 齐心协力 (qí xīn xié lì - “united in heart, joined in strength,” making concerted efforts): Chongqing Customs (重庆海关), cooperating with the railway and other parties, has further broken down information barriers to better realize data interconnection and interoperability; relevant departments are also calling for promoting the alignment of domestic law with international conventions and improving document rules, among other things.
“During the 15th Five-Year Plan period (十五五), we will further align with high-standard international economic and trade rules, carry out a batch of pilot demonstration applications in such fields as transport standards, customs clearance facilitation, financial services, and dispute resolution, strengthen digital and intelligent empowerment, and let more enterprises enjoy the dividends of institutional innovation,” said Cheng Shiluan (成诗銮), deputy director of the Pilot Free Trade Zone Institutional Innovation Division of the Chongqing Municipal Commission of Commerce (重庆市商务委).
Return to TopBeijing, August 30 (People's Daily) — Reporter Liu Zhiqiang (刘志强) learned from the National Bureau of Statistics (国家统计局) that in the first seven months of this year, the operating revenue of industrial enterprises above designated size increased by 6.5 percent year-on-year, and the profits of industrial enterprises above designated size increased by 17.6 percent year-on-year. In July, the profits of industrial enterprises above designated size nationwide increased by 11.2 percent year-on-year.
Electronics-related industries saw rapid profit growth. In the first seven months, profits in the electronics industry increased by 1.1 times year-on-year, driving the profit growth of all industrial enterprises above designated size by 9.3 percentage points. Among them, the integrated circuit industry, represented by computing power chips and storage chips, saw profits increase by 18.5 times year-on-year, with a contribution rate exceeding 80 percent to the profit growth of the entire electronics industry.
The leading role of high-tech manufacturing is evident. In the first seven months, the transformation of the manufacturing industry toward the mid-to-high end of the industrial and value chains continued to advance, and the profits of high-tech manufacturing industries above designated size increased by 50.1 percent year-on-year, driving the profit growth of all industrial enterprises above designated size by 9.6 percentage points.
Return to TopBeijing, August 30 (People's Daily, reporter Ouyang Jie (欧阳洁)) — Data released by the China Federation of Logistics and Purchasing (中国物流与采购联合会) show that in the first seven months of this year, the national total social logistics volume reached 214.5 trillion yuan, a year-on-year increase of 5.0 percent; the total social logistics volume maintained stable growth, and the demand structure has been somewhat optimized.
The fundamentals of industrial product logistics are stable, and the trend of structural upgrading is increasingly evident. In the first seven months, the total volume of industrial product logistics increased by 5.3 percent year on year, of which manufacturing logistics remains the growth engine. In July, logistics demand related to manufacturing increased by 5.5 percent year on year, a growth rate 1.0 percentage points higher than that of all industrial product logistics. By segment, logistics demand for equipment manufacturing increased by 12.3 percent year on year, and logistics demand related to high-tech manufacturing increased by 16.9 percent year on year.
The growth rate of total import logistics has trended toward stability, and the divergence in the structure of goods categories is evident. In the first seven months, the total import logistics volume increased by 1.8 percent year on year, and the import logistics volume of high-tech products and mechanical and electrical products continued the trend of rapid growth.
Return to TopTheory · Investigation and Reflection: Let the Achievements of Modernization Benefit All the People More and More Fairly
Page 13
Return to TopXinhua News Agency, Beijing, August 30 — On August 30, the 2026 National Social Science Fund (国家社科基金) Annual Project Evaluation Work Conference was held in Beijing. Li Shulei (李书磊), member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and head of the Publicity Department of the CPC Central Committee (中宣部), attended and delivered a speech.
The meeting noted that General Secretary Xi Jinping's important instructions on promoting the high-quality development of philosophy and social sciences have provided fundamental guidance and put forward clear requirements for promoting the prosperity and development of philosophy and social sciences on the new journey. The philosophy and social sciences community should take the spirit of General Secretary Xi Jinping's important instructions as its guide, deeply study Xi Jinping Thought on Culture (习近平文化思想), and deeply grasp the guiding ideology, fundamental guarantees, and goals and tasks for promoting the development of philosophy and social sciences; comprehensively advance the building of all disciplines, research in all fields, and work in all aspects; and serve the great cause of building a strong country and national rejuvenation with new achievements in the high-quality development of philosophy and social sciences.
The meeting emphasized that Chinese-style modernization (中国式现代化) provides a rich practical foundation and broad space for innovation for the high-quality development of philosophy and social sciences. It is necessary to focus on the primary task, fully apply the resources and methods of all disciplines, and continuously deepen the systematic and theoretical research and interpretation of the Party's innovative theory. It is necessary to accelerate the building of an autonomous knowledge system for Chinese philosophy and social sciences, actively research and solve major theoretical and practical issues in Chinese-style modernization, promote the creative transformation and innovative development of fine traditional Chinese culture, and advance exchanges and mutual learning among civilizations. It is necessary to strive to build a scientific research management system and organizational forms conducive to researching and solving real problems, deepen the systematic reform of the National Social Science Fund, advocate a sound style of study and writing, improve the academic evaluation system, stimulate the vitality of scientific research, and promote digital-intelligent empowerment of philosophy and social sciences research.
Return to TopBy: 本报记者 邱超奕 王伟健 王 沛 申智林
Skilled talent is an important force supporting "Made in China" and "Created in China." Since the 14th Five-Year Plan period began, the scale of skilled talent in China has further expanded, the structure has continued to improve, and its role has become more prominent. The total number of skilled talent nationwide exceeds 220 million, of whom more than 72 million are high-skilled talent, providing solid talent support for high-quality economic and social development.
Currently, a new round of technological revolution and industrial transformation is accelerating, and demands for higher-quality, more refined livelihood services continue to escalate, placing higher demands on skilled talent. In June this year, the State Council issued the "15th Five-Year Plan for Implementing the Employment-First Strategy"; in July, the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security (人力资源社会保障部) issued the "15th Five-Year Plan for the Development of Human Resources and Social Security Undertakings," making systematic arrangements for conducting vocational skills training on a large scale and other work. In September, the 48th WorldSkills Competition will be held in Shanghai, comprehensively showcasing China's achievements in skills development.
During the "15th Five-Year Plan" period, how will China accelerate the building of a large workforce that is knowledge-based, skills-based, and innovation-oriented, and cultivate and produce more great artisans of the country (大国工匠) and high-skilled talent? A reporter interviewed human resources and social security departments, relevant enterprises, technical schools, and skilled workers.
Resolving the Contradiction of "People without Skills, Skills Not Matching Posts, and Posts That Cannot Find People"
Building a lifelong vocational skills training implementation system and creating a "30-minute training circle" (30分钟培训圈)
Recently, a training session for AI trainers was held at the public practical training base for digital-skills talent in Changsha, Hunan. "How should the accuracy standard for data annotation be determined?" After the class, trainee Li Huan (李环) kept pressing the teacher with questions, and the teacher explained in detail using real enterprise cases.
The 14-day training course progressed from the elementary to the advanced. The hands-on tasks ranged from voice-to-text transcription standards to intelligent copy generation, with each day fully packed. "It was especially well suited to the learning pace of trainees with zero foundation and gave me the confidence to switch to a job in the digital industry," Li Huan said.
This year, Hunan has carried out "One Person, One Skill" (一人一技) vocational training on a large scale, focusing on the skilled-talent needs of 12 key industrial chains and prioritizing help for groups such as migrant workers, college graduates, veterans, and persons with disabilities to make up for their skill shortcomings. To strengthen the effectiveness of training, subsidy funds are also directly linked to the employment rate, certificate acquisition rate, salary fulfillment rate, and other indicators, further consolidating the primary responsibility of training institutions.
As of July 1, Hunan Province had trained 710,800 person-times this year, with the number of trainees in fields such as artificial intelligence and health and elderly care services ranking in the forefront. An official in charge of a relevant division of the Hunan Provincial Department of Human Resources and Social Security (湖南省人社厅) said that during the "15th Five-Year Plan" period, Hunan will carry out skills training for 5 million person-times, launch actions including assistance for migrant workers, upgrading of graduates, course-certificate integration (课证融通), and outstanding technicians (卓越技师), and build and make good use of six mechanisms, including the "industry, training, assessment, and employment" (产培评用) closed loop, demand-supply matching, and skills assessment, making focused efforts to resolve the structural contradiction of "people without skills, skills not matching posts, and posts that cannot find people."
Raising the proportion of skilled talent in the employed population from 30 percent in 2025 to 35 percent in 2030 is one of the main indicators proposed in the "15th Five-Year Plan for Implementing the Employment-First Strategy." A relevant official of the Department of Vocational Capacity Building (职业能力建设司) of the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security said that during the "15th Five-Year Plan" period, China will build an implementation system for lifelong vocational skills training, carry out the "Skills Light Up the Future" (技能照亮前程) training action with high quality, and organize special training actions centered on the industrial development, enterprise labor needs, and workers' employment needs in fields such as artificial intelligence, advanced manufacturing, the low-altitude economy, new energy vehicles, and health and elderly care services. It will comprehensively promote the "industry-education-assessment" (产教评), order-based, and project-based training models and cultivate more industry-education-assessment skills ecosystem chains. It will create a "30-minute training circle," release an electronic map of public training services, and provide workers with convenient and accessible training services.
Breaking Down Selection Standards That Value Only Educational Credentials and Seniority
Deepening the implementation of the "new eight-grade skilled worker" (新八级工) vocational skill level system and supporting enterprises in carrying out independent assessment
At the production dispatching center of Shagang Group (沙钢集团) in Suzhou, Jiangsu, dozens of industrial control hosts and data acquisition servers run uninterrupted, and a large screen displays production data such as the whole plant's steel-rolling output, energy consumption, and temperature. Zhou Enhui (周恩会), the company's chief technician, sat in front of the operating console, keeping a close eye on real-time data while programming and optimizing algorithms.
The digital metering management and control system designed under Zhou Enhui's leadership solved problems in the plant such as billet weighing, thermal imaging temperature measurement, and statistical deviations in water, electricity, and gas energy consumption. Over the past three years, he has completed more than 70 electrical digitalization transformation projects, creating cumulative economic value of more than 200 million yuan for the company.
Thanks to the establishment and implementation of the "new eight-grade skilled worker" vocational skill level system, Zhou Enhui, who started as a frontline electrician, was appraised as the company's chief technician last year. Liu Jie (柳杰), director of the Vocational Skills Appraisal Center of the Suzhou Municipal Human Resources and Social Security Bureau (苏州市人社局职业技能鉴定中心), said that the appraisal of chief technicians is completed independently by the enterprise and is judged through methods such as performance evaluation, interview defense, and comprehensive evaluation. Human resources and social security departments supervise the entire process to ensure the review maintains high standards and does not deviate.
Zhang Xiucheng (张修成), deputy director of the Organization and Personnel Department of Shagang Group, said that, relying on the "new eight-grade skilled worker" vocational skill level system, Shagang has independently formulated detailed rules for the level assessment of electricians and metrologists. It does not make educational credentials and years of service the sole criteria; rather, it focuses assessment on on-site fault handling, digital technology renovation, and results in mentoring apprentices, selecting pragmatic talent who can solve production-line problems, which better fits the development needs of intelligent steel manufacturing.
"For workers in private enterprises, the 'new eight-grade skilled worker' vocational skill level system is a visible and tangible dividend, making 'skills change destiny' a reality," Zhou Enhui said with emotion. "Workers now have a dedicated development channel and can continue to be promoted on the basis of their actual work performance, making them more willing to stay rooted at the worksite and deepen their skills. During this period, Suzhou has been carrying out consumption-boosting activities for high-skilled talent. Those with skill-level certificates can enjoy exclusive discounts on home appliances and housekeeping services. We skilled workers have a stronger sense of gain."
A reporter learned from the Jiangsu Provincial Department of Human Resources and Social Security (江苏省人社厅) that this year Jiangsu encourages 40 large and medium-sized enterprises to participate in the pilot work of assessing and appointing special-grade technicians and chief technicians, and it is expected that by the end of the third quarter no fewer than 70 special-grade technicians and 15 chief technicians will have been appraised. During the "15th Five-Year Plan" period, Jiangsu will advance the reform of the "new eight-grade skilled worker" vocational skill level system to expand coverage and increase quantity in terms of total scale, enterprise types, and appraisal and appointment conditions, and carry out breakthrough pilots in industry fields where the numbers of appraised and appointed skilled talent are relatively small, such as modern services and "one old, one young" services (一老一小). It will gradually expand the scope of enterprises participating in the appraisal from state-owned enterprises and large private enterprises to all kinds of small, medium, and micro enterprises, while providing appraisal participation pathways for employees of small, medium, and micro enterprises, flexibly employed persons, and persons in new forms of employment.
In the first half of this year, China deeply implemented the "new eight-grade skilled worker" vocational skill level system, and the skilled-talent workforce continued to grow, with 4.819 million person-times newly obtaining vocational qualification or skill-level certificates, of which 1.936 million person-times were at the senior-worker level and above and 141,000 person-times were at the technician level and above. A relevant official of the Department of Vocational Capacity Building of the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security said that during the "15th Five-Year Plan" period, China will deeply implement the "new eight-grade skilled worker" vocational skill level system, vigorously support enterprises in carrying out independent assessment, optimize social assessment institutions, research and formulate regulations on the assessment of skilled talent, and promote the healthy development of skilled-talent assessment work.
Stepping Up Cultivation Efforts in the Face of the Talent Gap
Encouraging school-enterprise cooperation and developing high-quality technical education with distinctive features
Recently, Ma Chengbin (马成斌), a student majoring in electrical automation at Shandong Wantong Technical School (山东万通技工学校), which is affiliated with Xinhua Education Group (新华教育集团), has been busy with special training in PLC (programmable logic controller). "Our courses are closely aligned with real factory production scenarios. For example, I am simulating the construction of an industrial assembly-line control system, and I need to independently complete tasks such as wiring the electrical control cabinet and debugging sensors, and finally achieve automatic start-stop of the entire equipment set, multi-station linkage, and sound-and-light fault alarms," Ma Chengbin said.
The electrical automation major that Ma Chengbin is enrolled in was newly established by the school in the past two years. On the one hand, the school has introduced senior engineers and project supervisors from intelligent manufacturing enterprises as full-time teachers and hired provincial-level electrician skill assessment experts and chief engineers of equipment factories to teach at the school; on the other hand, it organizes its own teachers to regularly enter cooperative enterprises for study and training, and invites enterprises to the school to carry out practical training.
Data show that in the second quarter of this year, the job vacancy-to-applicant ratio for occupations such as welders, lathe workers, and mechanical equipment installers in Shandong exceeded 2. As intelligent manufacturing accelerates, the gap for multi-skilled talent in electrical automation continues to widen. "After graduation, students can be employed by intelligent manufacturing equipment enterprises, new-energy factories, rail-transit supporting units, and other enterprises cooperating with the school," said Duan Mengyu (段梦雨), a practical training teacher.
Li Yongpeng (李永朋), executive deputy general manager of the Second Automotive Business Division of Xinhua Education Group, said that last year the group's more than 200 schools opened a total of more than 380 designated order-based classes in intelligent manufacturing and electrical automation, and delivered more than 15,000 skilled personnel in a targeted manner.
A reporter learned from the Shandong Provincial Department of Human Resources and Social Security (山东省人社厅) that since the fall semester of 2025, all technical schools in the province have made artificial intelligence general education courses compulsory, with no fewer than 32 class hours. During the "15th Five-Year Plan" period, Shandong will deepen school-enterprise cooperation, encourage the establishment of "factory in school" (校中厂) and "school in factory" (厂中校), and build about 20 provincial-level high-skilled talent training bases.
A relevant official of the Department of Vocational Capacity Building of the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security said that during the "15th Five-Year Plan" period, China will implement a plan for building high-quality technical schools, build a number of high-quality technician colleges and 100 high-quality majors, and cultivate a number of technical education alliances (groups) to enhance the capacity for cultivating skilled talent.
Return to TopBy: 朱晓琳
As a teacher at the university employment guidance center, my work is to build a bridge between students and employers, helping students better understand the workplace, explore career development directions, and promote high-quality and full employment for graduates.
Together with my team, I offer the "College Student Career Planning and Employment Guidance" course, carry out practical activities and employment counseling, organize campus recruitment, and accompany students from enrollment all the way to graduation.
"What jobs can I do in the future?" "What is the future development prospect of this profession?" In class and after class, facing students' questions, we focus on guiding them to improve their career planning ability and job-seeking and employment ability through practice. Reading a career book, listening to a career planning lecture, conducting an interview with a figure, visiting a company of one's choice, writing a career development report... Through a series of practical activities, students become clearer about their future development direction.
Improving the effectiveness of employment guidance services requires teachers to take active action. We go deep into the front line of enterprises to understand talent demands and recruitment processes, and continuously update course content so as to better guide students. Because different majors have different characteristics, we work with professional teachers and enterprises to develop career development maps and career competency quality models for different majors; because the course needs excellent teachers, we bring in industry experts, human resources experts, alumni mentors, and others, carrying out more than 200 special lectures and featured salon activities each year.
Seeing students find their ideal jobs always makes me particularly happy: graduate Xiao Lin, who clarified her direction through course practice and social service, and after graduation took root at the grassroots front line, winning the National College Graduate Grassroots Employment Excellence Award; graduate Xiao Yang, who formulated a career plan in his freshman year, achieved his goals step by step, and after graduation joined a well-known communications technology enterprise... There are many more students like these, and this is also the best "report card" for the course.
We will continue to provide employment guidance services with dedication and care, striving to ensure that every graduate can find their own position through active action, choose careers and job positions based on reality, step onto the stage of realizing their self-worth, and become confident and capable workplace professionals.
(The author is a teacher at the Employment Guidance Center of Shenzhen Polytechnic University (深圳职业技术大学); this article was compiled through an interview by our reporter Wu Yue.)
Return to TopBy: 本报记者 李维俊
Strengthen protection of black soil and treatment of acidified farmland.
—Excerpted from the Outline of the 15th Five-Year Plan
In early autumn, in Kangxiling Town (康熙岭镇), Qinnan District (钦南区), Qinzhou City, Guangxi, the early rice has been harvested, and transplanting of the late rice has also been fully completed.
"This year, although the early rice suffered flooding, the per-mu yield still exceeded 800 jin." Li Zihong (李子红), head of the Tianyuan Zhifu Planting Professional Cooperative (田园致富种植专业合作社), said that technical support and planting models have been continuously optimized, and rice yields have increased markedly. Nearby, Luo Jiajie (罗家杰), head of the Qinnan District Soil and Fertilizer Work Station (钦南区土壤肥料工作站), recalled, "People used to say of this land that it was 'salty and acidic and could not produce high yields.'"
Why is it "salty and acidic"?
"The paddy fields along the coast of Qinnan District were mostly created by reclaiming land from the sea," Luo Jiajie explained. After the reclamation, salt was left behind by seawater backflow; the original vegetation and other material buried underground reacted with sulfur-bearing minerals in the soil and, in the course of decomposition and oxidation, produced acidic substances that gradually acidified the soil. "A single mu of field could produce only two or three hundred jin of paddy rice, and the rice was rough and hard in texture," Luo Jiajie said.
As a large grain grower, Li Zihong has dealt with salty-acidic land since the day she acquired more than 1,700 mu of land through transfer: from washing out salt and draining acid with fresh water to spreading rice-straw ash on the land... She used all kinds of methods, while also adjusting planting density, strengthening field-drying management, and preventing and controlling pests and diseases. After considerable effort, the per-mu yield of the salty-acidic land was barely raised to 400 jin. "It was still less than half the yield of a normal paddy field," Li Zihong said.
In 2017, more than 1,000 mu of acidified farmland in Qinnan District was incorporated into the Guangxi farmland quality improvement and construction project (广西耕地质量提升建设项目), and scientific, systematic treatment began.
The most obvious change was the use of soil conditioners. Huang Bicai (黄碧才), senior agronomist at the Kangxiling Town Agricultural Service Center (康熙岭镇农业服务中心), said that soil conditioners have a mild and long-lasting acid-reducing effect, relatively minor side effects on the soil, and can also supplement the soil with calcium, magnesium, silicon, and other elements.
"Although the 'medicine' is good, a specific 'prescription' is still needed. Only by applying soil conditioners according to the degree of soil acidification, together with organic fertilizer, can the best effect be achieved," Huang Bicai said. Drawing on the third national soil survey (第三次全国土壤普查) and advice from scientific research institutions, agricultural technicians analyzed and assessed the pH values, nutrient status, and other conditions of different soils in Qinnan District.
"After working at it for a while, we roughly determined the appropriate application rate of soil conditioners and, together with fresh-water rinsing, straw return to fields, increased application of organic fertilizer, green-manure planting, and other measures, gradually improved the soil structure," Huang Bicai said.
In 2025, Qinnan District was selected as one of the second national batch of key counties for acidified farmland treatment; that year, treatment of about 81,000 mu of acidified farmland was completed; the pH value of farmland soil in the project area rose by an average of 0.25 units compared with before treatment, and grain production capacity increased by 3.52% year on year.
"Now we can basically achieve 'one village, one policy' (一村一策)," Luo Jiajie said. For the heavily salty-acidic land along the coast, fresh water is drawn in from upstream to rinse and drain out the salt and acid, and then soil conditioners and alkaline organic fertilizer are applied; other farmland is treated by category according to the degree of acidification. Technical training, on-site guidance, and door-to-door services are continuously carried out, with a cumulative total of more than 2,000 person-times of farmers trained and more than 2,000 copies of technical materials distributed; agricultural technicians go into the fields to guide scientific fertilization, water management, and pest and disease prevention and control.
At present, the single-season per-mu yield of rice in Qinnan District exceeds 800 jin, and high-yield fields have broken through 1,000 jin. To continue improving the salty-acidic land, the local area is promoting a rice–rapeseed rotation; in some field plots, rapeseed planted in winter uses its root systems to loosen the soil and adsorb salt, and after flowering it is plowed under and returned to the field to increase organic matter.
Coordinator for this issue: Zhang Anyu (张安宇)
Return to TopBy: 张会民
Soil acidification is jointly induced by natural and anthropogenic factors: under high-temperature and high-rainfall conditions, long-term intense weathering and leaching lead to substantial loss of base cations; on this basis, anthropogenic factors such as long-term excessive application of nitrogen fertilizer, high multiple cropping index of cultivated land, insufficient organic fertilizer application and straw return, acid deposition, and unreasonable farming practices also accelerate the soil acidification process.
In recent years, the treatment effect of acidified cultivated land has initially emerged, and the trend of cultivated land acidification has somewhat slowed. The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs (农业农村部) launched the construction of key counties for acidified cultivated land treatment in 2023. For example, some areas in Hunan and Jiangxi have applied carbon-increasing and acid-amending technical models such as "quicklime + organic fertilizer + straw return" and "calcareous material amendment + straw return"; in the treatment areas, soil pH increased by more than 0.3 units on average, and grain production capacity per mu increased by more than 7%.
China's acidified cultivated land treatment still faces challenges such as complex climate change, unclear baseline data of acidified cultivated land, high cost of treatment products, and insufficient sustainability of treatment technology and its effects. It is necessary to, in conjunction with the Third National Soil Survey (第三次全国土壤普查), improve platforms such as intelligent monitoring and big-data early warning, and clarify the priority order for precise acidification treatment. Take into account both "adapting crop varieties to the land" and "adapting the land to crop varieties," and strengthen the research and development of acid-tolerant crop varieties, bioremediation technologies, acid-inhibiting and carbon-fixing green multifunctional conditioners, and supporting agricultural machinery and equipment. At the same time, advance acidified cultivated land treatment in coordination with high-standard farmland construction, fertilizer reduction and efficiency increase, green planting-breeding cycle, and cultivated land fertility improvement, so as to form a long-term treatment system of multi-party coordination.
(The author is a second-level researcher at the Institute of Agricultural Resources and Agricultural Regional Planning of the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences (中国农业科学院农业资源与农业区划研究所); this article was compiled from an interview by our reporter Yu Jingxian (郁静娴).)
Return to TopBy: 新华社记者 熊 丰 胡了然
The
Return to TopRecently, the second phase project of the Yongding River Collection in Shijingshan District, Beijing, has entered the final stage of construction and will open to the public during the 2026 China International Fair for Trade in Services. The project has built nine waterfront commercial boxes, laying out business formats such as specialty dining, cultural and creative retail, and outdoor leisure, along with supporting public spaces including waterfront walkways and viewing platforms. Photo by Li Wenming (Image China).
Return to TopBy: 本报记者 谢亚宏
President Xi Jinping will soon attend the 2026 Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Summit to be held in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan. During the summit, President Xi Jinping will exchange in-depth views with leaders of participating countries on deepening SCO cooperation in various fields under the new situation and on major current international and regional issues, and will make plans and arrangements for leading the SCO's high-quality development and participating in the reform and building of the global governance system.
The 2025 Tianjin Summit drew a strategic blueprint for the SCO's development over the next ten years, opening a new stage of high-quality development for the SCO. Over the past year, China has worked with all parties to jointly implement the major initiatives proposed by President Xi Jinping, empowering regional development through "China action." All seven application platforms, including green industry, digital economy, and scientific and technological innovation, have been fully launched; the action plan for high-quality development of economic and trade cooperation has continued to be implemented; and nearly three-quarters of the newly added "10-million-kilowatt photovoltaic" (千万千瓦光伏) and "10-million-kilowatt wind power" (千万千瓦风电) projects have been implemented... SCO countries have continued to deepen cooperation in multiple fields, including security mutual trust, practical cooperation, and high-quality development, injecting new impetus into efforts to promote the building of an SCO community with a shared future (上合组织命运共同体).
Shouldering the Heavy Responsibility for Security, Improving Global Governance
Security is the cornerstone of development, and peace is the source of prosperity. At the SCO Tianjin Summit, President Xi Jinping stressed the need to "continue to adhere to the principle of non-alignment, non-confrontation, and not targeting any third party, and jointly respond to various threats and challenges," and to "build a regional security community and firmly be a stabilizing force in a turbulent world."
The Tianjin Summit announced the establishment of the SCO Comprehensive Center for Responding to Security Threats and Challenges, the Center for Combating Transnational Organized Crime, the Information Security Center, and the Counter-Narcotics Center. The unveiling and launch of the "four security centers" is another major progress in SCO security cooperation, adding new institutional support for deepening security coordination. Over the past year, SCO member states have carried out effective cooperation in counter-terrorism capacity building, de-radicalization, and combating cyber terrorism.
On July 23, the "Tianshan-2026" joint cyber counter-terrorism exercise of the competent authorities of SCO member states was held in Urumqi, Xinjiang. The exercise closely followed the new characteristics of current terrorist activities — globalization, networking, and intelligentization — and set up practical combat scenarios targeting the sabotage activities carried out by the "three forces" (三股势力) through the internet. Kishan Singh, head of the Executive Committee of the SCO Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure, commented that the exercise was "meticulously organized and remarkably effective," effectively enhancing the member states' practical capability to jointly deal with cyberterrorism threats.
During the Tianjin Summit, President Xi Jinping put forward the Global Governance Initiative (全球治理倡议), clearly pointing out that the SCO "should play a leading role and be a good example in practicing the Global Governance Initiative." Over the past year, the Global Governance Initiative has received support and response from nearly 160 countries and international organizations, and more than 60 countries have enthusiastically joined the "Group of Friends of Global Governance" (全球治理之友小组). The Global Governance Initiative has transformed from a Chinese solution into international practice, increasingly showing strong vitality. Ruslan Yesin, head of the department responsible for interaction with the SCO and BRICS in the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Belarus, said that the Global Governance Initiative conforms to the urgent need of the contemporary world to improve the global governance system, and that he looks forward to the SCO, under China's active promotion, continuing to practice genuine multilateralism and firmly upholding the international system with the United Nations at its core.
Deepening Practical Cooperation, Empowering Common Development
Dusk fell, and the Irkeshtam Port (伊尔克什坦口岸) in Xinjiang, on the border between China and Kyrgyzstan, remained busy: cold-chain trucks laden with Xinjiang fruits and vegetables drove into the inspection lanes; border inspection police quickly verified and stamped documents; customs officers used intelligent image-inspection equipment to scan the containers, and the system automatically compared the cargo manifests. Since the Irkeshtam Port piloted a 7-day, 24-hour full-time freight clearance model last year, the inspection time per vehicle has been reduced from the previous 15 minutes to within 3 minutes, and the overall cross-border passage time has been shortened by 40%. From January to June this year, the port supervised a cumulative 2.003 million tons of imported and exported goods, a year-on-year increase of 58%.
In recent years, economic and trade exchanges between China and other SCO member states have deepened steadily, and the potential of regional economic and trade cooperation has been continuously unleashed. The trade volume between China and other SCO member states grew from 12.1 billion US dollars in 2001 to 523.5 billion US dollars in 2025. In the first seven months of this year, China's imports and exports with other SCO member states reached 2.42 trillion yuan, a year-on-year increase of 14.9%. China's investment in other SCO member states has continued to expand: in 2025, direct investment across all industries reached 3.3 billion US dollars, and more than 30 economic and trade cooperation zones were invested in and built, helping various countries enhance their industrial development capabilities and promoting the deep integration of regional industrial and supply chains.
On July 30, the China-SCO Local Economic and Trade Cooperation Conference was held in Bishkek, where representatives of more than 100 enterprises conducted one-on-one talks and exchanges, reached 193 cooperation intentions, and signed trade orders worth about 1.74 billion yuan. Sohail Khan, Deputy Secretary-General of the SCO, called on member states to strengthen mutual learning and connectivity, carry out in-depth multilateral economic and trade cooperation, and build a more united and close-knit economic and trade relationship.
To promote the better development of the SCO, China has always stressed the character "实" (shi, meaning "practical"). Cross-border highways, railways, pipelines, and other infrastructure between China and other member states have been continuously improved; major projects such as the China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan railway have been steadily advanced; and China-Europe freight trains have run smoothly and unimpeded — connectivity has built more bridges of cooperation. From China Cultural Centers, Confucius Institutes, and Luban Workshops (鲁班工坊) to the China-SCO Youth Exchange Center and the SCO Youth Development Forum, China has continued to build exchange platforms and expand cooperation space, consolidating the foundation of popular support for the SCO's development. Of the 100 "small yet beautiful" livelihood projects (小而美) proposed by China at the Tianjin Summit to be implemented in member states in need, more than two-thirds have been approved and initiated...
Ravshan Nazarov, associate professor at the Tashkent branch of Plekhanov Russian University of Economics, said: "The initiatives proposed by China are being translated into practical actions, and the commitments made by China are bearing fruitful results."
Anchoring High-Quality Development, Consolidating the Foundation of Prosperity
On the Gobi Desert in the Jizzakh Region of Uzbekistan, tens of thousands of neatly arranged photovoltaic panels gleamed brightly in the sunlight. In March this year, the first phase of the Jizzakh 500-megawatt photovoltaic power station, invested in and built by Chinese enterprises, achieved commercial operation. Once the project is fully completed, it will produce 1.1 billion kilowatt-hours of clean electricity every year, meeting the electricity needs of 400,000 residents.
At the Tianjin Summit, China proposed to implement, together with other SCO countries, the newly added "10-million-kilowatt photovoltaic" and "10-million-kilowatt wind power" projects over the next five years. So far, nearly three-quarters of them have been implemented. Green energy cooperation between China and SCO countries is developing rapidly, continuously injecting clean momentum into regional sustainable development.
Anchoring high-quality development, cooperation between China and SCO countries in various fields has continued to improve and upgrade. The Tianjin Summit issued five statements on sustainable energy development, green industry cooperation, strengthening the development of the digital economy, further deepening international cooperation on artificial intelligence, and further strengthening scientific and technological innovation cooperation. At present, the action plan for high-quality development of China-SCO economic and trade cooperation is continuously being implemented and delivering results; all seven application platforms — green industry, digital economy, scientific and technological innovation, energy, higher education, vocational and technical education, and artificial intelligence — have been fully launched, generating more than 160 projects.
Take artificial intelligence cooperation as an example. Recently, an exchange event on artificial intelligence industry cooperation among SCO countries was held in Tianjin, with overseas sub-venues set up in Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan, where representatives from participating countries jointly discussed new paths and new opportunities for practical cooperation. Azat Ibraimov, director of decision implementation management and supervision at the Office of the President of Kyrgyzstan, said that China has set an example for all countries in artificial intelligence development and achieved remarkable results. The Kyrgyz side will learn from China's experience and develop artificial intelligence technologies suited to its own national conditions.
Over the 25 years since its founding, the SCO has grown from six founding member states into a "big family" of 27 countries spanning Asia, Europe, and Africa; expanded from focusing on regional security to more than 50 fields of cooperation; and become the world's comprehensive regional cooperation organization with the widest territory, the largest population, and enormous development potential. As a founding member state and active promoter, China will continue to work with all parties to uphold the "Shanghai Spirit," implement the four Global Initiatives (四大全球倡议), jointly promote regional prosperity and stability, and make greater "SCO contributions" to promoting world peace and development.
Return to TopBy: 本报记者 屈 佩 人民网记者 邓 洁 徐祥丽
The Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit for 2026 is about to be held in Bishkek, the capital of Kyrgyzstan. SCO Secretary-General Yermekbayev said in a recent exclusive interview with People's Daily that the SCO's influence continues to rise in the Eurasian region and even globally, and that it is the world's largest regional organization. "China has always played an active and constructive role in the development of the SCO."
Twenty-five years ago, by the banks of the Huangpu River, six founding member states jointly established the SCO, opening a new chapter in contemporary international relations. Yermekbayev said that the SCO has grown into a "big family" covering 27 countries, spanning vast territories, bringing together large populations, and holding enormous potential for economic development. Under the SCO framework, member states advance cooperation in politics, security, economy and trade, people-to-people and cultural exchanges, and other fields, jointly responding to risks and challenges and promoting sustainable development.
What is the "secret" of the SCO's continued growth and expansion? "For countries around the world, especially Global South countries, the SCO's values and concepts have a unique appeal." Yermekbayev said that the "Shanghai Spirit," which features mutual trust, mutual benefit, equality, consultation, respect for the diversity of civilizations, and the pursuit of common development, is the source of vitality for the SCO's growth and expansion. The SCO is not a military alliance and does not engage in bloc politics. It upholds the principles of non-alignment, non-confrontation, and non-targeting of any third party, and advocates building a new type of international relations. "It is precisely for this reason that more and more participants regard the SCO as an important platform for enhancing political mutual trust, expanding economic and trade ties, and strengthening mutually beneficial cooperation," Yermekbayev said.
The SCO is the first international organization named after a Chinese city, created with China's participation, and with its headquarters located in China. Yermekbayev said that since the SCO's founding, China has put forward a series of practical cooperation initiatives and played an important leading role. In 2025, the SCO Tianjin Summit was successfully held. "It was not only the largest summit since the SCO's founding, but also achieved fruitful results, leaving a profound impression on everyone."
Yermekbayev said that during the Tianjin Summit, the "SCO Strategic Development Strategy for the Next 10 Years (2026–2035)," approved by the leaders of SCO member states, "is a program of action guiding the SCO's cooperation and development for the next 10 years." The summit further improved and strengthened the SCO's operating mechanisms, merging the organization's observers and dialogue partners into SCO partners; consolidated political consensus among all parties and promoted the preparatory work for establishing the SCO Development Bank; and established "four security centers" to comprehensively enhance member states' capacity to respond to new threats and new challenges and more effectively safeguard regional peace and tranquility.
Yermekbayev said that at present, the SCO's geographical scope, membership composition, work agenda, and areas of cooperation have all undergone profound changes. New topics such as artificial intelligence, the digital economy, and start-ups are constantly emerging, and a number of new cooperation platforms have been launched one after another. China announced the establishment of three China-SCO cooperation platforms for energy, green industry, and the digital economy, as well as three cooperation centers for scientific and technological innovation, higher education, and vocational and technical education, all of which are highly suited to the SCO's long-term development needs. "The smooth implementation of these platforms and centers demonstrates China's active efforts and strong contribution."
During the Tianjin Summit, President Xi Jinping also put forward the Global Governance Initiative at the "SCO Plus" meeting. Yermekbayev, who listened to the remarks on site, said, "After the initiative was put forward, it immediately received an enthusiastic response from representatives of all countries." He believes that the Global Governance Initiative is highly compatible with the "Shanghai Spirit" — both emphasize the need to abide by the international rule of law and practice multilateralism — and therefore it has won broad support from the "SCO family."
The Bishkek Summit is about to open. Yermekbayev said that all SCO parties will exchange views on various issues affecting the world and discuss major topics in politics, economics, energy, and other fields. At the same time, popular trends such as artificial intelligence, the digital economy, and the green economy will also become a focus of attention. "This year marks the 25th anniversary of the SCO. In this milestone year, the 'SCO family' should work together hand in hand and deliver more tangible cooperation results," Yermekbayev said.
By: 鲁斯兰·肯扎耶夫
From security governance to connectivity, from technological innovation to green transition, the Shanghai Cooperation Organization is steadily translating its development potential and consensus among all parties into practical action
Since its founding 25 years ago, the Shanghai Cooperation Organization has consistently upheld the "Shanghai Spirit" of mutual trust, mutual benefit, equality, consultation, respect for diversity of civilizations, and pursuit of common development, and has become an important force for maintaining regional stability and promoting sustainable development. At present, uncertainty in the world is rising, the trust deficit is widening, and multilateral mechanisms face severe challenges. Against this backdrop, cooperation within the SCO carries important practical significance.
The SCO's cooperation potential broadly covers security, economy, science and technology, resources, talent cultivation, and many other areas. How to translate the advantages of cooperation within the SCO framework into tangible development outcomes has always been an important topic for the "SCO family." As the SCO Bishkek Summit is about to convene, all parties expect further improvement in the organization's operational efficiency, refinement of decision-implementation mechanisms, and more practical results in such fields as security, economy, transport, and science and technology.
Security cooperation has always been an important agenda item for the SCO. Member states need to further strengthen coordination and cooperation to jointly address such real threats as terrorism, extremism, cybercrime, and organized crime. In the economic field, efforts should be continuously made to remove trade barriers, promote standards alignment, and deepen industrial cooperation and mutual investment. Connectivity is an important pillar of SCO practical cooperation. The construction of international transport corridors should be accelerated, east-west and north-south transport routes should be improved, and more multimodal transport networks, digital platforms, and green transport corridors should be developed. All parties should also fully leverage the construction of innovation and technology centers to promote technology incubation and transfer and unleash regional innovation potential. Only by translating all consensus into concrete practical results and delivering tangible benefits to all member states can the foundation of trust for multilateral cooperation be continuously consolidated.
Transport cooperation is an important lever for promoting regional sustainable development, and it is particularly critical for Uzbekistan, a doubly landlocked country. After the China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan Railway and the trans-Afghanistan Railway are completed, they are expected to raise the level of connectivity between Uzbekistan and neighboring countries and regions and promote Uzbekistan's transformation into a regional transport hub. For other Central Asian countries, transport cooperation means accelerating the building of new transport and industrial chains and broadening channels for access to the world market, and Central Asia's role as a link connecting east and west and traversing north and south will become even more prominent.
In the SCO's development process, China has always played a key role. During its tenure as rotating chair from 2024 to 2025, China promoted the continued expansion of mutually beneficial practical cooperation in various fields, and the SCO's international influence was further enhanced. Across Uzbekistan, people of all sectors highly commend China's contribution to the development of the SCO and support the important initiatives China has put forward for improving global governance. Looking ahead, the Uzbek side expects to explore more new cooperation opportunities with China, deepen cooperation in such fields as green energy, artificial intelligence, and bioengineering, jointly build a network of innovation and technology centers, and improve support mechanisms for startups and innovation projects. Green transition cooperation has broad prospects. The Uzbek side hopes to further strengthen cooperation with China on addressing climate change and explore the use of artificial intelligence for ecological and environmental risk early warning. New drivers of growth are continuously reshaping the new landscape of Uzbekistan-China cooperation and will also provide a practical model for SCO practical cooperation and inject strong momentum into it.
From security governance to connectivity, from technological innovation to green transition, the SCO is steadily translating its development potential and consensus among all parties into practical action. This continuously released cooperation effectiveness is not only the foundation for maintaining regional stability and promoting common development but will also drive the SCO to play a greater role in global governance.
(The author is deputy editor-in-chief of People's Word, Uzbekistan)
People's Daily, Cairo, August 30 (Reporter Yang Yi (杨一)). The Results-Sharing Session of the China-Egypt Media Joint Interview on High-Quality Belt and Road Cooperation (高质量共建“一带一路”), hosted by People's Daily, was held on the 30th in Cairo, the capital of Egypt.
Chinese Ambassador to Egypt Liao Liqiang (廖力强) said in a video address that in recent years, under the framework of high-quality Belt and Road cooperation, the Chinese and Egyptian sides have continuously strengthened the dovetailing of their development strategies, and practical cooperation in all fields has been 硕果累累 (shuò guǒ lěi lěi - "large fruits hang in clusters," abundant achievements). People's Daily held the China-Egypt media joint interview on high-quality Belt and Road cooperation, organizing journalists from the media of the two countries to go deep into cooperation projects, conduct on-site visits and face-to-face exchanges, and feel the warmth of China-Egypt cooperation. This is both a concrete action to deepen media cooperation and a positive measure to promote mutual understanding and affinity between the peoples, especially the younger generation, and it will further consolidate a positive and friendly foundation of public opinion for China-Egypt high-quality Belt and Road cooperation.
Ahmed Salam, former deputy head of the Egyptian State Information Service, said that the media is a cooperative partner in shaping national soft power and participating in building the future, and the mission of the media is to become a bridge connecting the peoples of the two countries, to write a memory recording the relations between the two countries, and to build a platform for exchange and dialogue. He expressed the hope that this meeting would become the starting point of practical action between Egyptian and Chinese media, further promoting cultural exchanges and cooperation between the two countries.
At the meeting, media professionals, experts, and scholars from China and Egypt conducted dialogue and exchanges on strengthening media exchange and cooperation and jointly telling the story of China-Egypt high-quality Belt and Road cooperation. The guests present all expressed that this joint interview is a beneficial attempt at exchange and cooperation between Chinese and Egyptian media and has built a broad platform for people-to-people and cultural exchanges between the two sides. They expressed the hope that in the future, the media of the two countries will continue to expand new fields of cooperation, explore new forms of exchange, contribute their strength to the mutual understanding and affinity between the Chinese and Egyptian peoples, and consolidate the foundation of public opinion for the long-term friendship between the two countries.
Before the sharing session, the guests viewed a photo exhibition on China-Egypt Belt and Road cooperation projects and the joint interviews conducted by People's Daily in recent years (see photo; photo by Xiao Yi (肖翊), reporter with China Economic Weekly (中国经济周刊)).
From August 23 to 27, People's Daily reporters, together with nearly 30 people including journalists from 11 mainstream Egyptian media outlets such as Al-Ahram, the Middle East News Agency, Al-Akhbar, and Al-Gomhuria, as well as experts, scholars, and popular online bloggers, made on-site visits to China-Egypt high-quality Belt and Road cooperation projects and published a large number of reports, presenting from multiple angles the vivid picture of China-Egypt high-quality Belt and Road cooperation.
Return to TopThis newspaper, Bangkok, August 30 (Reporter Zhang Jinruo). News from Luang Prabang, Laos: On August 29, Laos's first China-aided "zero-carbon library" integrating photovoltaic, storage, and charging systems was officially unveiled and put into use at Peace Middle School in Luang Prabang. The project was led by State Grid Zhejiang Electric Power Co., Ltd. (国网浙江电力有限公司) and uses integrated photovoltaic-storage-charging microgrid technology. Photovoltaic power generation equipment is installed on the library roof, generating electricity from solar energy during the day, with surplus electricity stored in the energy storage system, which can continue to provide power support for the library at night and other periods. The library takes the form of a prefabricated cabin, shipped to Laos after being manufactured in Zhejiang. Equipped with air conditioning, computers, televisions, bilingual Chinese-Lao books, and a digital library, the library provides students with space for reading, information retrieval, and independent learning. That same day, schools from China and Laos jointly launched the "air classroom" (空中课堂). Students from Luang Prabang Peace Middle School and Gaochao Junior High School (高桥初中) in Xiaoshan District (萧山区), Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, conducted exchanges through online connections.
Return to TopBy: 本报记者 乔 栋
The river at her doorstep — what is its source like? Xu Jiayi (胥佳怡), a Lao student studying in China, saw it with her own eyes for the first time.
The southern Qinghai Plateau, with an average elevation of more than 4,000 meters, has vast grasslands and clear, cold river water — the Lancang River starts from here, is called the Mekong River after flowing out of China, and flows through her hometown.
"The Mekong River nourishes the millions upon millions of people of Laos. Today I saw with my own eyes the true ecological features of its source, and I was profoundly shaken. I hope to bring the moving story of Sanjiangyuan (三江源) protection back to Laos and share the ecological protection experience here with everyone." Xu Jiayi said at the youth exchange session.
From August 25 to 30, the "Encounter · Appreciation — Lancang-Mekong Cooperation Source Dialogue" series of activities was held in Qinghai Province. This year marks the 10th anniversary of the first leaders' meeting on Lancang-Mekong Cooperation. Representatives of the six countries along the Lancang-Mekong River basin gathered at Sanjiangyuan to view the ecology, talk culture, and discuss cooperation.
"I live at the head of the river, and you live at the tail of the river... we are close neighbors to each other, and our friendship has accumulated over time..." At the opening ceremony held in Xining on the evening of August 28, Hoang Van Tuan, minister of the Vietnamese Embassy in China, recited with deep emotion.
The headwaters of the Lancang River are located in the Lancang River Source Zone of Sanjiangyuan National Park, in Zaduo County (杂多县), Yushu Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture (玉树藏族自治州), Qinghai Province.
Wu Xiaohan (吴小菡), executive vice chair of the Thai-Chinese Economic Association, met a Tibetan boy on the Yushu Plateau.
"His skin was tanned dark by ultraviolet rays. The temperature was very low that day, and his lips were frozen purple. Yet he, his family, and the other villagers stood fast on the mountain, guarding the plateau's ecology — it moved me deeply," Wu Xiaohan said.
According to the introduction, in Yushu Prefecture, more than 30,000 ecological rangers are rooted in the river-source land covering more than 200,000 square kilometers, recording biodiversity, monitoring ecological changes, and clearing garbage along the routes all year round.
The local ecological protection achievements are remarkable: the water quality at the Lancang River section where it leaves Qinghai has long been maintained at Class II or above; Zaduo County is known as the "hometown of snow leopards," with 142 adult snow leopards recorded.
Zaduo County has also signed the "Lancang River Basin Ecological Protection Cooperation Agreement" with Qamdo in Tibet and the prefectures and counties along the Lancang River in Yunnan, turning source protection from the responsibility of a single county into coordinated action across the entire basin.
Vy Samnang, governor of Takeo Province, Cambodia, said: "The Lancang-Mekong River is not only a natural waterway running through six countries, but also a bloodline of civilization that has since ancient times sustained the history, culture, traditions, and beliefs of the peoples along its banks."
"As long as the source is there, the clear current will not cease; as long as Yushu is there, this river of clear water will surely flow southward," said Ma Rui (马锐), secretary of the Yushu Prefecture Party Committee.
During the visit to Yushu Prefecture, Chinese and foreign guests gathered at the River Source Reception Hall in Yushu Prefecture.
Representatives of Laos, Cambodia, Thailand, Vietnam, and other countries took the stage in turn to present their countries' cultural and tourism resources.
In the exhibition area, intangible cultural heritage items such as Qinghai Tibetan carpets, silver and copper ware making, Huangyuan (湟源) row lanterns, and Hehuang (河湟) paper-cutting were displayed one by one, and everyone stopped to talk.
"In the first half of this year, China became Cambodia's largest international source market. We look forward to continuing to deepen practical connections in the cultural and tourism industry and welcome more Chinese enterprises to invest in cultural and tourism projects in Cambodia," said Song Tonghe, secretary of state of Cambodia's Ministry of Tourism.
The data attest to the foundation of the Lancang-Mekong community with a shared future — the trade volume between China and the five Mekong countries has exceeded US$500 billion, an increase of 150% over 10 years ago; the China-Laos Railway, in operation for more than four years, carried 19.51 million passenger trips and transported 24.48 million tons of cargo in 2025.
On the evening of the opening ceremony, relevant Qinghai departments and foreign representatives signed agreements in a concentrated manner in areas such as sister-city co-construction, media communication, and sports training.
Zhang Lizhong (张利忠), secretary-general of the China-ASEAN Center (中国—东盟中心), said that Lancang-Mekong Cooperation has "grown from a sapling into a towering tree, becoming a shining example of building a community with a shared future."
Return to TopGyirong, August 30 (Our reporter Xu Yuyao (徐驭尧)) — On August 30, the Information Office of the People's Government of the Tibet Autonomous Region (西藏自治区人民政府新闻办公室) held a press conference to report on the situation of the emergency rescue and relief work for the mudslide disaster in Gyirong County (吉隆县). As of 18:00 on August 29, the disaster had caused 16 deaths and 546 people missing, of whom 261 were foreign nationals, involving 23 countries.
After the press conference began, all present rose and observed a moment of silence for those who lost their lives in the mudslide disaster in Gyirong County.
After the disaster occurred, the Tibet Autonomous Region promptly activated the Level I emergency response for natural disasters and the Level I emergency relief response for natural disasters, established the Gyirong County Mudslide Disaster Emergency Rescue Command Headquarters and a forward command headquarters, and coordinated the forces of all sides to spare no effort in carrying out search and rescue of personnel. The Ministry of Finance (财政部) and the Ministry of Emergency Management (应急管理部) urgently allocated 120 million yuan, and the National Development and Reform Commission (国家发展改革委) arranged 100 million yuan, to support emergency rescue and disaster relief and post-disaster emergency recovery efforts. At present, 2,141 rescue personnel from the People's Liberation Army, the People's Armed Police, fire and rescue, border defense, public security, China Anneng (中国安能), and other forces have been mobilized, and 269 rescue vehicles and 3,922 sets of rescue equipment have been dispatched.
In accordance with the requirement of "all who should be transferred must be transferred, and those who should be transferred early must be transferred early" (应转尽转、应转早转), the local authorities successfully transferred and resettled 499 residents from five villages in the risk areas of Gyirong Town (吉隆镇) and Sale Township (萨勒乡), and transferred 555 domestic tourists in Gyirong Town. Tibet has cumulatively allocated 116 tons of highland barley, flour, and other goods, and more than 32,000 boxes (pieces) of instant noodles, drinking water, and other supplies; mobilized 380 Party-member cadres; set up five special work teams; and, through one-on-one pairing and 24-hour service, promptly resolved the masses' urgent needs, difficulties, worries, and longings (急难愁盼).
Su Pengcheng (苏鹏程), a researcher at the Chengdu Institute of Mountain Hazards and Environment, Chinese Academy of Sciences (中国科学院成都山地灾害与环境研究所), analyzed that the source of this disaster was on the northern slope of Mount Langtang Lirung on the Nepalese side, where a glacier fracture at an elevation of about 5,200 meters triggered an ice-rock avalanche. After falling from a high elevation, it scoured the mountain surface and formed a mudslide, which charged at high speed along the river for about 22 kilometers and directly reached China's Gyirong Port (吉隆口岸) at an elevation of about 1,800 meters, causing about 0.7 square kilometers, 27 buildings, and their corresponding auxiliary facilities to be razed to the ground. It took only about 6 to 7 minutes from the occurrence of the ice-rock avalanche to its impact on Gyirong Port.
The site of this disaster has high mountains and deep valleys, turbulent river currents, complex and changeable air currents, and numerous glaciers and glacial lakes in the surrounding area. In particular, the Purepuqiang Zangbo barrier lake (普热普强藏布堰塞湖) that has formed above Gyirong Port seriously threatens the safety of rescue operations. National Highway 216 has been severely damaged, electric power and communications have been cut off, and rescue conditions are extremely harsh. At present, search and rescue is being advanced mainly through three methods: lowering firefighters by rope, opening up rescue roads, and delivering rescue personnel by helicopter.
The local authorities have established a mechanism of "one special team per person, one file per person, and two cadres responsible for each person," and have set up seven special working groups, including identity verification and reception and consolation, so as to receive and comfort the families of the deceased and missing persons in an orderly manner.
Based on comprehensive assessment, the most prominent risk constraining the handling of this disaster — the barrier mass located above the core disaster-affected area — has already overflowed and discharged floodwater; the overall situation is currently stable, and the possibility of a complete breach is relatively small. Rescue personnel are seizing this favorable window period to open up rescue passages as soon as possible and push forward the search-and-rescue work with full effort.
Return to TopOn the morning of August 26, a sudden mudslide disaster on the Nepalese side caused heavy casualties and loss of contact at Gyirong Port (吉隆口岸) in Gyirong County (吉隆县), Shigatse City (日喀则市), Tibet. Some immigration management police officers of the Gyirong Entry-Exit Border Inspection Station (吉隆出入境边防检查站), who were holding fast on the front line at the port, lost contact with the outside world.
争分夺秒 (zhēng fēn duó miǎo - "contend for minutes, seize seconds," to race against time), toward their comrades, toward hope, into danger. On August 27 the order to form the team was issued; at around 15:00 on August 29 they set out. A search-and-rescue assault team of immigration management police, composed of 18 backbone Party members, set out from Gyirong Town (吉隆镇) toward the disaster-hit core area of Gyirong Port, in the situation where the rescue passage had not yet been opened.
Bi Qi (毕琦), political instructor of the Gyirong Border Management Brigade (吉隆边境管理大队), was one of the assault team members. He had worked at the port for two and a half years. On the way, the scene before his eyes was already completely different from his memory. National Highway 216 had originally been flat and unimpeded; now the roadbed had been washed into a river channel, and on the mountain there remained mudslide scouring marks 15 meters high, the height of a three-story building.
When the assault team's vehicles reached a point about 3 kilometers from the port, the road surface was broken off by the mudslide. Everyone got out and walked. When they reached a point about 1 kilometer from the port, the road and bridge ahead that had once led to the national gate had all been destroyed by the mudslide and had not yet been restored.
The bridge was broken; the vehicles could not get across. The team found its own way. First they tried the water route. The original road surface had become a river channel. Gedeng Renzhao (格登仁昭), a police officer of the Pali Border Police Station (帕里边境派出所), followed the team leader along the road beside the river, walking all the way to the position where an excavator was working.
This was the end of the road that had been opened through emergency repairs. The water flow was swift, and the sound of the water was so loud that people had to shout to speak. Standing in the water, underfoot was the mud and broken stones washed down; the depth was uncertain.
In their plan, they had hoped to wade forward along the rock walls and shoals to approach the disaster-hit core area. But after several attempts to push forward, they found that the current underfoot was too swift, and the river water was deeper than expected. The difficulty and risk of advancing were extremely great, so they could only postpone.
Then they tried the land route. The "road" was an earthen slope. Several team members tied rescue ropes around their waists; one person went up first, fixed the rope, and the people behind climbed up holding the rope. Chen Xin (陈昕), political instructor of the Lulu Border Inspection Station (鲁鲁边境检查站), walked at the very end, responsible for covering the rear.
Continuously dodging the broken stones rolling down from above, they finally climbed up the earthen slope with great difficulty. Everyone found that to continue approaching the national gate, they still needed to cross a nearly vertical rock wall. They tried for a long time, and in the end could only give up. They collected the ropes, slowly withdrew, and began to replan the route of advance toward the national gate.
"All of us hope to reach the national gate as soon as possible." Chen Xin's words were also the common heartfelt wish of the assault team.
After the National Immigration Administration (国家移民管理局) issued the order to form an emergency rescue and search-and-rescue assault team, there were only 18 slots, and all 190 immigration management police officers deployed on the front line in Gyirong Town voluntarily requested to fight.
Everyone received the notice in the early morning; each tent could submit only one person. The five people in the tent vied with one another; everyone wanted to go. "I am not married; there are people at home to take care of things. If there really is a sacrifice, my family's burden is the smallest." Gedeng Renzhao used this reason to repeatedly persuade his colleagues.
Everyone wanted to go to the national gate early to carry out search and rescue. This persistence came from responsibility, and also from emotion. A few days earlier, Bi Qi had met with a comrade-in-arms who worked at the port. After the disaster occurred, he had not been able to get through to his comrade's phone. "I want to go and see. As long as there is still a thread of hope, we will keep searching," he said.
A reporter learned from the Tibet Border Inspection General Station (西藏边检总站) that on the afternoon of the 30th, some assault team members had already arrived at the position of the national gate by military helicopter and, jointly with the fire and rescue teams, were carrying out search and rescue.
(Staff reporters of this newspaper: Shi Pengfei (史鹏飞), Qiongda Zhuoga (琼达卓嘎), Lin Fan (林帆), Xu Yuyao (徐驭尧))
Return to TopBy: 常 晋
At the debris flow disaster site in Gyirong County, Shigatse City, Tibet, scene after scene of emergency rescue, relief, and resettlement is deeply moving.
"Is anyone there? Is anyone there!" Rescue personnel who rushed to the hardest-hit core area carried out a dragnet-style search in the mud, shouting ceaselessly. Where there is even a ray of hope, they go all out and exert a hundredfold effort.
Carrying the elderly on their backs and holding children in their arms, Party members and cadres promptly evacuated about 500 people from the threatened area to a temporary resettlement site. Some villagers, before leaving, handed their house keys directly to the police officers. A key is a trust; it carries a weighty responsibility of faith.
Fellow villagers from the surrounding area voluntarily vacated homestays and spare houses for the evacuated and resettled residents to stay in; volunteers made beds, lit fires, and prepared meals so that they could eat hot food and drink hot water as soon as possible... Their homes may be temporarily inaccessible, but the warmth of "home" has not been cut off.
When storms strike, what is most reliable? The incomparably strong leadership of the Communist Party of China, the extraordinary organizational mobilization capacity, overall coordination capacity, and implementation capacity of our country's socialist system, and the profound heritage of standing together through thick and thin in Chinese civilization.
Striving to open up lifelines and attentively providing psychological counseling — when all unite as one and join heart to heart and hand in hand, there is no hurdle that cannot be crossed.
On August 28, the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee (中共中央政治局) held a meeting to study and deploy the emergency rescue and relief work for the mudslide disaster in Gyirong County (吉隆县), Shigatse City, Tibet. Relevant departments and regions took swift action, carrying out emergency rescue and relief work in a tense and orderly manner.
The Ministry of Emergency Management (应急管理部) and the National Fire and Rescue Administration (国家消防救援局) dispatched fire and rescue forces for cross-regional reinforcement, going all out to support local authorities in properly carrying out rescue and response work. On August 30, the Tibet Fire and Rescue Corps (西藏消防救援总队) used helicopters to deliver 11 commanders and fighters and 1,240 pieces (sets) of rescue equipment and supplies into the core disaster area. A cumulative total of 711 fire and rescue personnel, 120 vehicles, and 13 search and rescue dogs had been mobilized, and uninterrupted dragnet searches were continuously carried out.
The core disaster area is covered by a large amount of mud, with mud depth exceeding 1 meter, in which personnel can easily sink and become trapped. At the mudflat site interwoven with mud and scattered rocks, rescue team members, wearing full sets of protective equipment and relying on the rope system to set up safety protection chains, used various means such as search and rescue dog searches and life detector detection to continuously carry out search and screening of key areas.
A reporter learned from the Ministry of Public Security (公安部): On August 30, the search and rescue work was still advancing with difficulty. Twenty-eight public security police officers and auxiliary police officers from Shigatse City arrived at the area 1.7 kilometers from the national gate, and continuously carried out search and rescue work by climbing the mountain cliffs.
On one side of the rescue site, the cliff and the mountainside were loose and soft; sparse remaining vegetation roots and stems were exposed, toppled over in the mud. The police officers and auxiliary police officers searched while climbing, conducting a careful search of the mountainside area within a 500-meter range; the left-behind items they found were collected one by one, registered, photographed, kept in custody, and handed over. At the same time, the police carried out on-site early-warning and monitoring of risks and hidden dangers, and proactively maintained order at the search and rescue site, making every effort to ensure that all rescue work advanced in an orderly manner.
A reporter learned from the Ministry of Natural Resources (自然资源部): Combining remote sensing interpretation with on-site investigation, experts on the front line and in the rear interpreted and identified more than 60 potential geological hazard points in the disaster-affected area, and preliminarily determined 8 high-risk potential hazard points. In addition, the natural resources system was organized to coordinate professional and technical personnel, grassroots cadres, and mass monitoring and mass prevention personnel (群测群防员), dispatching a total of more than 1,070 personnel for investigation and expanding the scope to investigate more than 900 potential geological hazard points.
On August 30, the Ministry of Emergency Management dispatched China Anneng (中国安能) engineering forces, committing 110 rescue personnel and 28 pieces (sets) of equipment to continuously carry out emergency reopening operations on the damaged section of National Highway 216, 争分夺秒 (zhēng fēn duó miǎo - "contend for minutes, snatch seconds," to race against the clock) to open the key passage leading to the core disaster area. As of 14:00 on August 30, China Anneng had cumulatively advanced more than 340 meters.
Based on the needs of the rescue and disaster-relief mission, led by the director of the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) of a certain unit under the Support Department of the Tibet Military Command (西藏军区), and with multi-specialty medical service backbone personnel drawn from the Military Command's General Hospital and the CDC of that unit, a medical and epidemic prevention team was formed and urgently rushed to Gyirong Port (吉隆口岸) on the morning of August 30, providing all-around medical service support to frontline officers and soldiers participating in the rescue mission, disaster-affected people, and local working personnel at all levels. A total of 22 medical and epidemic prevention backbone personnel in epidemic prevention, testing, and emergency treatment were drawn for this operation, and 7 special vehicles were dispatched, including sanitary and epidemic prevention vehicles, vaccine cold-chain vehicles, biological protection first-aid vehicles, and ambulances.
(Staff reporters of this newspaper: Liu Wenxin (刘温馨), Shen Tongrui (沈童睿), Qi Yukun (亓玉昆), Zhang Tianpei (张天培), Li Longyi (李龙伊), Chang Qin (常钦))
Return to TopOur Newspaper, Gyirong, August 30 (reporters Kong Xiangwu (孔祥武), Liu Wenxin (刘温馨)) — At approximately 10:30 on August 26, a mudslide disaster on the Nepalese side resulted in heavy casualties and missing persons at Gyirong Port (吉隆口岸), Gyirong County (吉隆县), Tibet. Under the impact of the mudslide, an ice collapse upstream of Gyirong Port formed the Pure Puchang Zangbo (普热普强藏布) barrier lake, posing a threat to downstream rescue operations.
On the afternoon of August 27, Zhang Ning (张宁), a member of the National Work Safety Emergency Rescue Survey Team (国家安全生产应急救援勘测队), and his teammates rushed to the disaster area carrying 15 units (sets) of equipment, including slope radar and drones. On the evening of August 28, the team arrived at the monitoring point in Guoba Village (郭巴村), Sale Township (萨勒乡), Gyirong County, and set up slope radar overnight to monitor the landslide body at the bend downstream of the barrier lake at the bottom of the ravine.
"We are continuously carrying out monitoring in three aspects: first, using slope radar to monitor the landslide body and its deformation in real time; second, using drones to inspect the barrier body, the ravine channel, and changes in water flow; third, tracking the water level and discharge conditions. Once any anomaly is found, we will issue an early warning at the first opportunity," said Wang Chenglei (王成磊), deputy director of the Department of Risk Monitoring and Comprehensive Fire Prevention (风险监测和火灾综合防治司) of the Ministry of Emergency Management (应急管理部).
Continuous observations showed that the fissures in the landslide body were widening. At 19:19 on August 29, the slope radar began to trigger early warnings. At approximately 3 a.m. on August 30, the monitoring instruments sounded an alarm; the landslide body as a whole shifted and collapsed, sliding into the river valley, the river water rapidly backed up, and a new barrier lake formed.
"Satellite monitoring data from a little past 8 a.m. on August 30 showed that the new barrier lake covered an area of about 100,000 square meters, and the danger was still relatively serious," Zhang Ning said. From the night of August 29 to the morning of August 30, continuous rainfall in the upstream area increased the speed at which water converged into the new barrier lake.
On the morning of August 30, once conditions permitted, the survey team members rushed to the observation point at the first opportunity and, through on-site observation and drone flights, discovered that at around 8:40 a discharge outlet appeared on the side of the barrier lake close to the mountain, and water began to discharge at a relatively high velocity. At around 9:20, the breach further expanded, and the water accumulated in the barrier lake was basically discharged.
After 9 a.m. on August 30, the rainfall stopped, and the volume of water coming from upstream decreased substantially. As of the afternoon of August 30, according to the latest on-site monitoring, the new barrier lake has naturally flowed through and is basically drained, and all emergency rescue and disaster relief work is being intensively carried out.
(People's Daily Online reporter Zhao Zule (赵祖乐) participated in the reporting.)
Our Newspaper, Beijing, August 30 (reporter Deng Jianyang (邓剑洋)) — A reporter learned from the Ministry of Water Resources (水利部): On the 30th, the Ministry of Water Resources organized consultations to conduct rolling assessment of the full-chain risks of the mudslide disaster in the Gyirong Zangbo (吉隆藏布) basin in Tibet. According to analysis of the drone video, panoramic imagery, and feedback from the frontline emergency working group on the morning of the 30th, the Pure Puchang Zangbo barrier lake has been basically drained, forming a river-channel flow-through state.
Return to TopBy: 本报记者 吴月辉
Is this debris flow disaster caused by climate warming? The reporter interviewed relevant experts.
The interviewed experts stated that this disaster is related to global climate warming. Climate warming has led to accelerated glacier melting; the superimposition of glacial factors, geological and geomorphological factors, and climatic factors is the main inducement for the occurrence of this disaster. At the same time, the complexity of ice-rock avalanche chain-derived disasters and the particularity of cross-border coordinated prevention and control also cause disaster prevention and reduction work in high-altitude areas to face multiple difficulties.
At present, climate warming is continuously reshaping the ecology, environment, and disasters of the global cryosphere. The melting and retreat trend of glaciers on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau is intensifying, becoming an important background for the frequent occurrence of regional geological disasters. Relying on the systematic survey data of China's three glacier inventories spanning 60 years, the shrinking trend of glaciers on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau has been clearly understood, providing solid data support for regional disaster monitoring and early warning.
Complete monitoring data show that the area counted in the first glacier inventory of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau reached 51,000 square kilometers; the area in the second inventory shrank to 44,000 square kilometers; and the data from the latest completed third glacier inventory show that the glacier area on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau has decreased to 39,000 square kilometers.
Kang Shichang (康世昌), director and researcher of the Chengdu Institute of Mountain Hazards and Environment, Chinese Academy of Sciences (中国科学院成都山地灾害与环境研究所), said that over the past 60 years, the overall shrinking area of glaciers on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau has reached 24%, with the reduction scale close to one-quarter, and the retreat trend is very significant. "Among them, the retreat is most intense in the southern Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. The 60-year shrinkage rate of glaciers in regions such as the Gangdise Mountains, the Nyenchen Tanglha Mountains, and the Himalayas is about 40%. The main inducement of this extreme change is precisely global climate warming," Kang Shichang said.
The continuous melting of glaciers directly drives a substantial increase in the number and area of ice lakes on the plateau, greatly intensifying the risk of disasters such as glacial lake outburst floods and debris flows. At present, the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau has more than 14,000 ice lakes, with a total area exceeding 1,100 square kilometers. As a whole, they show a trend of sustained and rapid expansion, and hidden disaster dangers are continuously accumulating.
Nie Yong (聂勇), researcher at the Chengdu Institute of Mountain Hazards and Environment, Chinese Academy of Sciences, said that in recent decades, the overall expansion trend of ice lakes on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau has been obvious, with the Himalayan region along China's southern border being the most prominent. The average annual expansion rate of the ice lake area in this region is about 1%, and the continuously expanding ice lakes have become the most important carrier of hidden geological disaster dangers in high-altitude areas.
Return to TopOn August 30, members of the Shigatse Fire Rescue Detachment in Tibet led search and rescue dogs in a search-and-rescue operation in the area about 1 kilometer from Gyirong Port.
Photo by Zhang Wujun, staff reporter of People's Daily.
By: 本报记者
The wind blows in from the sea, and the tide surges across the Yangtze River Delta. This is one of the regions in China with the most vibrant economic development, the highest degree of openness, and the strongest innovation capabilities.
General Secretary Xi Jinping has emphasized: "The Yangtze River Delta region must strengthen cross-regional coordination in scientific and technological innovation and industrial innovation" and "must integrate scientific and technological innovation forces and advantageous resources across regions and departments, achieve a combination of complementary strengths, and build a source of scientific and technological innovation."
Solid work, responsible action, and coordinated synergy. Data shows that the number of high-tech enterprises gathered in the Yangtze River Delta accounts for over 30% of the national total; in 2025, the Yangtze River Delta concluded 46,800 technology contract transactions, with a technology transaction value of 246.13 billion yuan, an increase of 14.7% over the previous year.
Walking through the Yangtze River Delta, the vitality of scientific and technological innovation from the three provinces and one municipality is palpable. From the "single beam of light" of the Shanghai Synchrotron Radiation Facility to the "single fiber" of carbon fiber in Changzhou, Jiangsu, from the "single chain" of satellites in Taizhou, Zhejiang to the "single vehicle" of the NIO factory in Hefei, Anhui... innovation factors flow freely, innovation resources are efficiently allocated, the vitality of scientific and technological innovation continues to rise, and the construction of the Shanghai (Yangtze River Delta) International Center for Scientific and Technological Innovation is advancing steadily and surely.
"One chessboard" coordination: nurturing original innovation
Basic research and original innovation are of paramount importance — how should they be strengthened? The Yangtze River Delta strengthens coordinated joint攻关, plays the "one chessboard" well, and cultivates the "source of living water."
Within the "one chessboard" coordination, there is the brightness of "a beam of light."
Shanghai, Zhangjiang Science City — the Shanghai Synchrotron Radiation Facility, whose exterior resembles a "nautilus," is like a tireless eye, probing the secrets of the microscopic world day and night.
As a third-generation synchrotron radiation light source, it is a key facility in the Yangtze River Delta cluster of large-scale scientific installations. Here, scientists can see clearly the structure of proteins, the internal stress of materials, and the instant of catalytic reactions. Since its opening, it has served nearly 1,000 user institutions cumulatively and supported the completion of approximately 30,000 experimental research topics.
"From January to June this year, the open operation machine hours of the Shanghai Synchrotron Radiation Facility increased by 16% year-on-year, of which enterprise user machine hours increased by 44.2% year-on-year, and open machine hours oriented toward the Yangtze River Delta region increased by 22.3% year-on-year." Tai Renzhong, deputy dean of the Shanghai Advanced Research Institute of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, introduced that from "exclusive to Shanghai" to "shared by the Yangtze River Delta," large-scale scientific installations are becoming the public foundation for original innovation in the region. At present, the Yangtze River Delta has 16 major scientific and technological infrastructure facilities built and 11 under construction.
Within the "one chessboard" coordination, there is the strength of "a single fiber."
Changzhou, Jiangsu — at the Yangtze River Delta Carbon Fiber and Composite Materials Technology Innovation Center, inside the production workshop of Zhongjian Technology, bundles of filament threads pass through high-temperature carbonization furnaces, evenly wound onto rolls. Carbon fiber weighs only one-quarter of steel of equivalent volume, yet its strength is seven times that of steel — domestically produced large aircraft, new energy vehicles, and more all depend on it.
Since the center's establishment, it has gathered innovation resources from home and abroad around national strategic needs, carried out research and development of key technologies, and, with application as the guide, provided high-quality technological supply for industrial development. The Yangtze River Delta region has a large number of leading industry enterprises in the fields of carbon fiber production, resin development, and equipment manufacturing, with a complete industrial chain.
From the "Yangtze River Delta Science and Technology Innovation Community Joint攻关 Cooperation Mechanism" to the first coordinated legislation of the three provinces and one municipality, the "Decision on Promoting Coordinated Scientific and Technological Innovation Development in the Yangtze River Delta," the "one chessboard" coordination provides more policy guarantees for collaborative innovation.
"One rope" concerted effort: promoting the transformation of achievements
With the living water at the source of scientific and technological innovation, how can it be precisely channeled into production and daily life? The Yangtze River Delta's exploration is: let the transformation of achievements take fewer detours.
Within the "one rope" concerted effort, there is the arrival of a new drug.
Innovent Biologics is rooted in Suzhou, Jiangsu, with its research and development extending to Shanghai. The company achieved revenue of over 13 billion yuan in 2025 and has built a 140,000-liter monoclonal antibody production line, accounting for 20% of the nation's total monoclonal antibody production capacity. "Shanghai has source innovation, Suzhou has industrial support, and the talent, capital, and clinical resources of the Yangtze River Delta are all connected." Zhang Qian, executive director and chief commercial officer of Innovent Biologics, said.
Shanghai's Zhangjiang Drug Valley equally confirms this kind of "connectivity." Here, over 4,000 biomedical innovation entities are gathered, 17 of the global top 20 pharmaceutical companies have established a presence here, and more than 60% of innovation achievements are transformed and implemented in the Yangtze River Delta. "Shanghai R&D, Yangtze River Delta transformation" — this cross-regional coordination pathway is becoming the standard configuration in the biomedical field.
Within the "one rope" concerted effort, there is the empowerment of a science park.
The four characters "Keda Silicon Valley" are now known to all in Anhui's scientific and technological innovation circles. This park has cumulatively gathered over 7,000 technology-based enterprises and scientific innovation service institutions, and over 70,000 innovation and entrepreneurship talents of various kinds.
Fang Xiaowei, general manager of Hefei Guojing Instruments, is a "science drifter." In 2023, he and a USTC alumnus who had been deeply engaged in electron optics technology overseas chose to start a business here. Within one year of the company's establishment, it released the world's first cold-field desktop electron microscope. "In the past, many people stayed overseas or went to first-tier cities. Now in Hefei, we can equally connect with global resources." Fang Xiaowei said.
From Zhangjiang Drug Valley to Keda Silicon Valley, the two valleys are east and west, with different paths but the same goal — to make the journey of scientific and technological achievements from the laboratory to the shelf faster and smoother.
Within the "one rope" concerted effort, there is the assistance of an innovation voucher.
The Yangtze River Delta science and technology innovation voucher allows scientific research achievements to flow and transform across a wider scope. Since the pilot program began in 2021, the scope of application of the innovation voucher has expanded to the entire territory of Shanghai, Jiangsu, Zhejiang, and parts of Anhui. In 2025, the amount cashed out exceeded 70 million yuan, driving a total contract value of services of over 270 million yuan.
Scientific and technological innovation resources are no longer confined to their respective "one acre and three parts of land"; through institutional design and platform construction, efficient cross-regional allocation is achieved — what is reduced is the cost of innovation, and what is improved is overall efficiency.
"One chain" through-connection: facilitating industrial implementation
After the transformation of achievements, the "key leap" from product to industry must also be completed. The Yangtze River Delta takes the industrial chain as the link, "escorting" innovation all the way from the laboratory to the market.
Within the "one chain" through-connection, there is the rapid advance of an automobile.
Entering NIO's second electric drive system manufacturing plant in Hefei, Anhui, nine flexible intelligent electric drive system production lines can achieve co-production of permanent magnet and induction electric drive systems; the plant extensively applies six-axis robots, 3D vision recognition technology, intelligent logistics, and other intelligent solutions, with the automation rate of the entire line exceeding 70%. "Choosing Hefei is because Hefei occupies an increasingly important position in the integration of the Yangtze River Delta." A relevant person in charge of NIO said.
Behind these words is a cross-regional industrial chain map spanning the Yangtze River Delta — Shanghai participates in the research and development of intelligent driving chips and the vehicle's full-domain operating system, Jiangsu and Zhejiang supply key components, and Anhui undertakes vehicle manufacturing; currently, Hefei has gathered six complete vehicle enterprises.
Within the "one chain" through-connection, there is the production of a satellite.
Entering the factory building of the GalaxySpace Intelligent Satellite Manufacturing Plant in Taizhou, Zhejiang, there is no anticipated sense of mystery; in its place is a production line similar to that of the automobile industry — a satellite takes only 28 days from manufacturing to leaving the factory.
This is a satellite mass-production factory that deeply integrates aerospace manufacturing with automotive manufacturing capabilities. Drawing on the ideas of platform-based R&D and pulse-type production lines from the automotive industry, four standardized satellite platforms have been established here, covering the full weight range from 10 kilograms to 1 ton. Annual production capacity reaches 500 satellites, with costs reduced by more than 45% compared to traditional production methods. In 2025, the number of commercial satellites manufactured and launched into orbit ranked among the top in the country.
The words of one engineer left a deep impression: "In the past, building a satellite meant academicians leading doctoral students in the laboratory, 'grinding' out one satellite at a time. Now, it's 30 people on one production line, building one satellite in 28 days."
NIO is "three provinces and one municipality passing the baton to complete one industrial chain," and GalaxySpace is "cross-border integration running onto a new track." Each has its own distinct characteristics, but both use the method of the "chain" to turn innovation from blueprints into reality.
"One network" interconnection: promoting cluster development
From points to lines to planes, the Yangtze River Delta is weaving an innovation network covering the entire region.
Within the "one network" interconnection, there is the connection of a corridor.
The G60 Science and Technology Innovation Corridor, which started as an expressway from Songjiang in Shanghai at its starting point, has now expanded into a cross-regional collaborative platform covering nine cities in Shanghai, Jiangsu, Zhejiang, and Anhui. In 10 years, the number of high-tech enterprises in the nine cities has increased from 16,000 to 59,000, accounting for nearly one-seventh of the national total.
At the same time, the construction of the Shanghai-Nanjing Industrial Innovation Belt is accelerating, forming with the G60 a "one south, one north" mutually echoing cross-regional innovation pattern. "The G60 Science and Technology Innovation Corridor and the Shanghai-Nanjing Industrial Innovation Belt are like a pair of scientific and technological innovation wings, helping the Yangtze River Delta develop in coordination." Lu Hai, deputy director of the Regional Affairs Office and the Development and Reform Commission of Putuo District, Shanghai, said.
Within the "one network" interconnection, there is the departure of a ship.
Jingjiang, Jiangsu — a county-level city with a permanent population of only 660,000 — is deeply embedding itself in the Yangtze River Delta integrated innovation network through its shipbuilding industry.
Looking out at the Yangtze River, the initial outlines of ships can be seen in the dry docks of Yangzijiang Shipbuilding. In 2025, Jingjiang's shipbuilding completion volume accounted for 8.5% of the global total — of every 10 ships built worldwide, about one comes from this riverside town.
"To build a ship requires, at the very least, tens of thousands or even hundreds of thousands of parts, and we can build it 'from nothing.'" Du Chengzhong, deputy general manager of Yangzijiang Shipbuilding Group, said.
Completing all this relies on Yangtze River Delta coordination — R&D and design in Shanghai, core component supporting in Jiangsu, Zhejiang, and Anhui, and final assembly and construction in Jingjiang. Led by "chain leader" enterprises, Jingjiang has gathered more than 200 shipbuilding and supporting enterprises, forming a complete industrial ecosystem.
Policy support under "one chessboard" coordination lets the living water of innovation sources surge; the "one rope" concerted effort in achievement transformation enables deep integration of industry, academia, research, and application; the "one chain" through-connection in industrial implementation lets products go directly from the laboratory to the market; the "one network" interconnection in cluster development allows innovation resources to be optimally allocated at a larger spatial scale.
Keeping the entrusted mission in mind and striving forward in the "15th Five-Year Plan," the Yangtze River Delta will continue to closely adhere to the two key words of "integration" and "high quality," take the construction of the Shanghai (Yangtze River Delta) International Center for Scientific and Technological Innovation as the starting point, continuously deepen cross-regional coordination, fully stimulate the scientific and technological innovation vitality of the three provinces and one municipality, and strive to contribute more strength to Chinese-style modernization.
(Reporters of this newspaper: Xu Leipeng (徐雷鹏), Zhang Anyu (张安宇), Wang Yinxin (王崟欣), Bai Guangdi (白光迪), Dou Hao (窦皓), Luo Yangqi (罗阳奇))
Return to TopBy: 本报记者 张志文 谢亚宏 赵益普 李 强
Bridges link tunnels, tunnels link bridges… Riding by car along the winding Urum Bashi River valley (乌鲁姆巴什河谷) of Kyrgyzstan, one heads deep into the mountains. Looking out, amid high mountains and deep gorges, construction at the China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan Railway project site is in full swing; the red tunnel project name written in Chinese and Kyrgyz stands out strikingly against the verdant mountain slopes.
The China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan Railway starts from Kashgar in China's Xinjiang, passes through Kyrgyzstan, and ends at Andijan in Uzbekistan. The section within Kyrgyzstan has a total length of 304.84 kilometers, accounting for nearly 60 percent of the total. As a landmark project of Belt and Road cooperation personally promoted by the heads of state of the three countries — China, Kyrgyzstan, and Uzbekistan — the China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan Railway carries the significant mission of enhancing regional connectivity and promoting regional prosperity and stability.
On December 27, 2024, President Xi Jinping sent a congratulatory letter to the launching ceremony of the China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan Railway project, stressing the need to "advance the project construction with high standards and high quality, and strive to make the China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan Railway a new demonstration project of 'Belt and Road' cooperation." On August 28, 2026, on the eve of his state visit to Kyrgyzstan in Bishkek and his attendance at the 2026 Shanghai Cooperation Organization Summit, President Xi Jinping pointed out in a signed article published in Kyrgyz media that the construction of the China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan Railway should be advanced, the modernization, upgrading, and renovation of border ports should be accelerated, and the level of "hard connectivity" and "soft connectivity" should be raised in tandem, so that people travel unimpeded and goods flow smoothly.
50 Bridges: Many Construction Techniques Applied for the First Time in Kyrgyzstan
At 7:30 in the morning, abundant sunlight already fills both banks of the Kichi-Alat River valley (克奇阿勒特河谷). Abdykerimov, a driver on the China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan Railway project, fills the crane truck with fuel and begins his day's work. He drives along the valley's construction access road to the first unloading point; after unloading the goods, he 马不停蹄 (mǎ bù tíng tí - "the horse never stops its hooves," without a moment's rest) heads to the next spot, the fast-spinning wheels raising clouds of dust.
A year ago, Abdykerimov was still working in the construction industry abroad. When he saw news of the China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan Railway project in news reports, he sensed the opportunity in it: "This is one of the most significant projects since Kyrgyzstan's independence — I want to be part of it too!" Holding this conviction, he returned to his country to apply and joined the construction of the Kichi-Alat River Extra-Large Bridge (克奇阿勒特河特大桥) project.
Kyrgyzstan, known as the "land of mountains," has extremely complex geological conditions. The China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan Railway route passes through large mountain ranges such as the Moldo Tau Mountains (莫尔多套山), the Hailebait Mountains (海勒拜特山), and the Fergana Mountains, as well as multiple river systems such as the Alpa River (阿尔帕河), the Jamandavan River (贾曼达万河), and the Kichi-Alat River. It concentrates natural environments of high altitude, severe cold, strong wind, and drought, along with complex geological conditions such as high seismic intensity, high ground stress, and permafrost, making the project construction extremely challenging.
For the Kyrgyzstan section of the railway, the China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan Railway Co., Ltd. (中吉乌铁路有限公司), an independent legal entity established as a joint venture by the enterprises authorized by the governments of the three countries, is responsible for investment and financing, construction, and operation; on the Chinese side, China Railway International Co., Ltd. (中国铁路国际有限公司), under China State Railway Group Co., Ltd. (国铁集团), takes the lead. According to Zhuang Jiwen (庄纪文), director of the Infrastructure (Operations) Department of the China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan Railway Co., Ltd., the company focuses on the five goals of excellence, safety, innovation, green development, and integrity, coordinates resources and efforts in an integrated manner, and advances key guarantee tasks including the filing of technical standards, the implementation of project agreements and policies, the review of construction drawings, and the mobilization of materials, equipment, and personnel to the site. The project applies advanced Chinese railway construction technology and experience and carries out research on key technologies such as concrete in high-altitude cold regions, seismic resistance of bridges in high-intensity earthquake areas, and snow-disaster prevention, ensuring the quality of project construction.
The Kyrgyzstan section plans to build 50 new bridges with a total length of 15.3 kilometers, accounting for about 5 percent of the total length of the section. Among them, the Kichi-Alat River Extra-Large Bridge, with a total length of 956.67 meters, a highest point of 122 meters, and a maximum pier height of 96 meters, is the tallest bridge in the Kyrgyzstan section and a key controlling project of the entire line. Looking down from a high point in the Kichi-Alat River valley, the reporter saw dozens of construction machines working intensively on the valley floor, with workers constantly reinforcing the riverbanks to lay the foundation for pouring the last two piers.
Xi Jihong (席继红), chief engineer of the design, procurement, and construction project department of the China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan Railway, told the reporter that the Kichi-Alat River Extra-Large Bridge is located in an area of seismic intensity VIII with sharply undulating terrain. To ensure structural safety, the steel reinforcement and concrete used in the bridge both adopt high-grade seismic-resistant materials; the main span crosses with a steel truss girder and is constructed using the incremental launching method — the steel truss girder is assembled segment by segment on the bank, and then a walking-type incremental launching system for steel truss girders is used to launch it continuously, smoothly pushing the huge girder into place. Many construction techniques and processes, such as the incremental launching method, are applied for the first time within Kyrgyzstan.
"I am proud to participate in the construction of such a great project," Abdykerimov said. He hopes that more Kyrgyz engineers and technicians will return to the country to join the construction and looks forward to his hometown becoming prosperous and bustling after the China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan Railway is completed.
29 Tunnels: Tackling the "Four Highs" (四高) Geological Environment Challenge
From the China-Kyrgyzstan Friendship Tunnel (中吉友谊隧道), which has the highest rail-surface elevation, to the Naryn No. 1 Tunnel, the longest on the plateau; from the Fergana Mountains Tunnel, which receives the most snowfall in winter, to the Koshtebe Tunnel (科什特伯隧道), which is over 13 kilometers long… The 29 tunnels planned for the Kyrgyzstan section collectively represent the "four highs" geological environment challenges of high altitude, severe cold, high ground stress, and high seismic intensity. The builders have continued to carry out technical research and process iteration, innovatively forming specialized techniques adapted to plateaus and mountain regions, such as tunnel excavation and deep-buried drainage, effectively cracking the pain points of railway construction in cold, high mountain areas.
Inside the Urum Bashi No. 1 Tunnel (乌鲁姆巴什1号隧道), construction was proceeding 井然有序 (jǐng rán yǒu xù - "in neat and orderly array," orderly and methodical): on the upper bench, workers used excavators to carry out excavation; on the middle bench, welders carefully welded steel arch frames to increase the density of support; on the lower bench, excavators and transport vehicles promptly cleared the muck generated by excavation and carried out drainage work inside the tunnel.
The reporter picked up a piece of damp muck from the bucket, and it crumbled at a slight squeeze. "The geological conditions of the Urum Bashi No. 1 Tunnel are dominated by carbonaceous shale, with weak surrounding rock and high water content, which brings considerable challenges to construction," said Liu Dongsheng (刘东生), commander of the broad-gauge command headquarters of the China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan Railway project department. The construction unit introduced the "three-bench seven-step excavation method" (三台阶七步开挖法), using short excavation rounds and strong support, effectively organizing construction operations while fully ensuring safety.
At the tunnel entrance, on an electronic display marked "Tunnel Safety Management System," the names, posts, and real-time locations of workers inside the tunnel were clearly marked. The positioning devices worn by the construction workers are connected in real time with project construction command departments at all levels, sending back various data on the working environment inside the tunnel and providing intelligent safeguards for safe tunnel construction.
Coming out of the Urum Bashi No. 1 Tunnel, a strong wind howled past; not far away was one of the project's living camps. "In winter, snow blown by the wind here can pile up two to three meters high in a single night," Liu Dongsheng said. Tunnel works in all contract sections along the entire line within Kyrgyzstan stockpile production and living supplies in advance to ensure that work does not stop even when heavy snow seals the mountains in winter. After more than a year of uninterrupted construction, the Urum Bashi No. 1 Tunnel has now advanced more than 200 meters.
This August, the Koshtebe North No. 2 Tunnel in the Kyrgyzstan section of the China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan Railway was holed through on schedule, and the main substructure of the Shaorbulaksai River Extra-Large Bridge (绍尔布拉克赛河特大桥) has also been completed. "At the tunnel and bridge construction sites, I have witnessed the outstanding performance of Chinese enterprises," Artikov Nuralievich, project manager of an Uzbek subcontractor participating in the construction of the Kyrgyzstan section, told the reporter. "The advanced technology, professional competence, and rigorous attitude of Chinese enterprises have laid a solid foundation for the smooth progress of the China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan Railway project."
20 Stations: Benefiting the Broad Masses of the People Along the Line
Jalalabad Oblast, located on the edge of the Fergana Valley, was a trade hub on the ancient Silk Road; camel caravans traveling between the north and south of the Tianshan Mountains once traded and rested here. Now, the China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan Railway is passing through Jalalabad Oblast.
From Manas (玛纳斯), the capital of Jalalabad Oblast, to Bishkek, the capital of Kyrgyzstan, flying takes about 50 minutes, while driving a car requires 翻山越岭 (fān shān yuè lǐng - "overturn mountains and cross ridges," to travel over mountain ranges) and takes more than 10 hours. In the view of Sheradil Baktygulov, director of the Kyrgyzstan Institute of World Politics (世界政治研究所), the continuous mountain ranges and dense river systems in the south of the country block transportation and the movement of people, and have also become a bottleneck restricting local economic and social development. "After the China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan Railway is completed, it can connect these areas with inconvenient transportation, open up new regions, attract more investment, and create more development opportunities for the people of Kyrgyzstan," Baktygulov said.
The Kyrgyzstan section of the China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan Railway will have 20 stations along the route, including Torugart Port Station, Makmal Transshipment Station, and Jalalabad South Station. Jalalabad South Station, the largest port station on the entire line, has entered the foundation-filling stage of construction. The station area has a total length of about 4.3 kilometers, with planned functional zones including customs inspection and border inspection yards, a passenger station building with arrival and departure tracks, a container yard, a comprehensive maintenance work area, and a locomotive turnaround depot. Once completed, it will be able to meet the conditions for cross-border passenger and freight transport.
The station building takes "Silk Road Splendor, Ancient Charm in a New Post Station" (丝路锦绣，古韵新驿) as its design concept: the flowing curves of the facade echo the ancient Silk Road, the metallic sheen of the aluminum panels highlights a sense of modernity, and the stripe decorations manifest a sense of speed — symbolizing that the "Silk Road Spirit," inherited for a thousand years, is being 发扬光大 (fā yáng guāng dà - "develop, promote, and magnify," carried forward and expanded) in the new era.
For Jalalabad Oblast, the China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan Railway will not only effectively shorten the transport distance between the local area and other regions, but also mean new development opportunities. Shabdan Abdyraim uulu, first deputy governor of Jalalabad Oblast, told the reporter that the construction of the China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan Railway has brought a large amount of foreign investment to the oblast and stimulated the local area's enormous logistics potential and economic vitality. "We plan to build industrial parks and logistics centers along the railway, turning Jalalabad Oblast into an important transport hub and goods distribution center connecting the north and south and running through Central Asia, making this railway line a road of prosperity that benefits the broad masses of people along the line."
"In the past two years, engineering and transport vehicles have been shuttling back and forth on the roads of Jalalabad Oblast, and hotels, travel agencies, and car rental businesses in the city of Manas have also increased," said Matraimov Abdurakhman, representative of the Kyrgyzstan Chamber of Commerce and Industry in China. The construction of the China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan Railway is "a major event" within Kyrgyzstan, he said — "it will help us walk out of the mountains and toward the world."
While the project construction advances steadily, the units participating in the China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan Railway are also deeply fulfilling their social responsibilities. From road upgrades to drainage ditch renovations, from building livestock trails to digging wells and building canals, a batch of "small but beautiful" livelihood projects are benefiting local residents.
Sat Village (萨特村) in Kok-Alat Township (科克阿勒特乡) of Jalalabad Oblast is 远近闻名 (yuǎn jìn wén míng - "famous far and near," widely known) for its walnuts. For a long time, villagers worried about the difficulty of traveling on the dirt road when snow melted in spring. When the railway construction units working near the village learned of this, they helped the village pave the road. In May this year, an asphalt road was built into Sat Village, greatly facilitating the villagers' travel, and more merchants can now drive into the village to purchase walnuts. "The China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan Railway will bring enormous opportunities to the country's development and more convenience to the lives of ordinary people," Suyunbek Moloshov, deputy head of Kok-Alat Township, told the reporter. "We all look forward to the early opening of this railway."
(This newspaper, Jalalabad, Kyrgyzstan, August 30 — staff reporter Qu Pei (屈佩) participated in the reporting and writing.)
Return to TopBy: 库洛夫·乌兰·铁木尔别科维奇
I work at the China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan Railway Co., Ltd., and every month I go to the construction site to check on project progress. Giant machinery operating in an orderly manner, bridge piers rising one after another from the ground... Although these are already familiar scenes, every time I see them they still fill me with surging emotion and a strong sense of pride.
The China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan Railway is one of the most strategically significant infrastructure projects since Kyrgyzstan's independence, carrying the dreams of several generations. President Xi Jinping has shown great concern for the project's progress and emphasized the need to "advance project construction with high standards and high quality." For this, I am deeply grateful and deeply inspired. President Xi Jinping's strategic vision has pointed the way forward for the construction of the China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan Railway and has filled the people of China, Kyrgyzstan, and Uzbekistan with confidence and expectation that the project will be made into a new demonstration project of Belt and Road cooperation.
The difficulty of building this railway far exceeds the imagination. The section within Kyrgyzstan that we are responsible for building is 304.84 kilometers long, requiring 29 new tunnels and 50 bridges, with a bridge-tunnel ratio of nearly 40 percent, and it passes through complex geological environments of high altitude, severe cold, high ground stress, and high seismic intensity. What is gratifying is that the cooperation among the builders of China, Kyrgyzstan, and Uzbekistan has always remained constructive and productive. Chinese technical experts have extremely rich experience in railway construction, and Chinese builders have demonstrated exquisite construction techniques, rigorous professional competence, and efficient delivery capability, providing solid guarantees for the high-quality advancement of the project.
President Japarov pointed out vividly that for Kyrgyzstan, the China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan Railway is as indispensable as air and water, and can bring enormous opportunities to the people of the country. This is indeed the case. Kyrgyzstan is located in the heart of Central Asia, has no sea access, and has long been constrained in transportation; it ranks low in the World Bank's Logistics Performance Index. After the railway is open to traffic, it will form a convenient transport corridor from East Asia and Southeast Asia to Central Asia, West Asia, North Africa, and Southern Europe. Kyrgyzstan will no longer be a "landlocked country" but rather a "land-linked country" connecting Asia and Europe.
Relying on this transport artery, modern logistics centers and warehousing bases will rapidly take shape along the route, driving the vigorous development of supporting service enterprises and agricultural product processing enterprises, and creating enormous business opportunities and job opportunities for local communities. The stable income brought by transit transport, the industrial development of towns along the route, and young people in remote mountainous areas walking out of the mountains — these images sketch a beautiful vision of the future.
Building a railway requires steel bars and cement, and it even more requires people who understand technology and know how to operate and manage. We have already jointly launched a Chinese-language training program for local employees with the Confucius Institute at Kyrgyz National University, and we plan to cooperate with the Luban Workshop at Kyrgyz State Technical University as well as universities in China's Tianjin and Xinjiang to jointly train more than 2,000 local railway professionals. These young people will become the first generation of train drivers, station dispatchers, and line maintenance engineers of this railway, safeguarding the safe and smooth operation of this great artery with their professional knowledge.
This year marks the 25th anniversary of the founding of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, and Kyrgyzstan holds the rotating presidency of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization from 2025 to 2026. The China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan Railway is a model of practical cooperation between Central Asian countries and China under Belt and Road cooperation and the framework of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization. It proves to the world that when there are common goals and mutual trust, no matter how towering the mountains, they cannot stop the pace of cooperative development, and any difficulties and obstacles can surely be overcome together.
In the future, when the China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan Railway is fully connected, when the sound of train whistles echoes through the valleys, the trains speeding along this thoroughfare that links the friendship of the people of the three countries will likewise carry our shared dreams toward a brighter and more prosperous future.
(The author is deputy general manager of the China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan Railway Co., Ltd. The article was compiled from an interview by People's Daily reporter Xie Yahong.)
Return to TopBy: 本报记者 张志锋 罗阳奇
"Tap, tap, tap…" At the Xijiang Yangtze Finless Porpoise Ex-situ Conservation Base (西江长江江豚迁地保护基地) in Anqing City, Anhui Province, Zhang Liyuan (张礼元), team leader of the porpoise protection team, gently patted the river surface with a 3-meter-long bamboo pole, and concentric ripples appeared one after another on the river surface in the distance.
Zhang Liyuan knew that this was the signal that a national first-class key protected wild animal — the Yangtze finless porpoise — was approaching. When they surfaced to breathe, the water waves raised by their round and plump bodies would spread outward, layer by layer, from the center, forming rings of ripples. As the ripples gradually drew closer, Zhang Liyuan switched the bamboo pole for a water ladle and tapped it rapidly at the riverbank. "Finless porpoises are delicate and timid; we must avoid accidentally harming them," Zhang Liyuan said to his colleague beside him.
After the porpoises drew close, their appearance became ever more distinct — their lead-gray backs sometimes cut through the water surface, tracing a graceful arc in the air; at other times they showed their round and plump heads, their slightly upturned mouth corners seemingly smiling at people. Zhang Liyuan took out the feeder fish prepared in advance and tossed them into the river one by one.
Going ashore — from "grabbing food" alongside the porpoises to "feeding" them
Every day, Zhang Liyuan prepares "fine food" for the porpoises promptly and punctually. The fresh small fish delivered the previous day must first be weighed on the scale and sprinkled with salt to disinfect them. He also repeatedly goes through the fish feed, carefully checking each one: "Finless porpoises have small mouths; fish longer than 10 centimeters won't do; fish with incomplete scales or not fresh won't do either."
Zhang Liyuan, 65 this year, had fished for more than 40 years. When he used to go fishing, he often encountered porpoises. "We called these round and plump fellows 'river pigs.' Porpoises mainly eat fish. In the past, fishing meant grabbing food alongside them; now it means feeding them!" Zhang Liyuan said with a smile.
In 2019, in response to the fishing ban policy, Zhang Liyuan voluntarily gave up his fishing livelihood and became one of the first local fishermen to sign a letter of commitment to withdraw from fishing.
After going ashore, what could he do? This once left Zhang Liyuan feeling at a loss. Not long after, village cadres told him the news that the Xijiang Yangtze Finless Porpoise Ex-situ Conservation Base was recruiting porpoise keepers, and he signed up without hesitation: "After all these years, I have feelings for the Yangtze River. As soon as I heard the work would still be by the riverbank, of course I was willing."
Speaking of Zhang Liyuan, Wang Feng (王锋), director of the Fisheries and Fishery Administration Office of the Anqing Municipal Bureau of Agriculture and Rural Affairs (安庆市农业农村局渔业渔政办公室), praised him repeatedly: "Before withdrawing from fishing, Old Zhang had a very good relationship with our fishery administration and would lend us a hand whenever he was free. He is honest and decent, and he has prestige among the fishermen." And so Zhang Liyuan, together with several other fishermen who had withdrawn from fishing, formed the Xijiang Porpoise Protection Team, with him as team leader.
Xijiang is an old channel of the Yangtze River, connected to the main stream of the Yangtze through a sluice station. "It can provide hydrological conditions suitable for the survival of the porpoises, and it is relatively enclosed, keeping away the human disturbance that porpoises fear," Wang Feng said. In 2016, the Xijiang Yangtze Finless Porpoise Ex-situ Conservation Base was formally established here.
Seen from the air, Xijiang's outline resembles an ear, lying quietly beside the Yangtze River, listening day and night to the sound of the mother river's waves. Zhang Liyuan and his team members guard the banks of Xijiang day after day. For them, the instant a porpoise leaps out of the water is the beautiful note this "ear" captures.
Patrolling — familiar with every stretch of the river surface and every patch of flowers, plants, and trees here
The protected area currently has 25 porpoises, and Zhang Liyuan is familiar with the habits of most: "Some are timid and hide far away as soon as they hear a sound; some are especially bold and always like to rush over first to grab food. There is also one with a particularly small mouth, and we have to pick out especially small fish for it."
Serving as a porpoise keeper is not only about feeding; the more important task is patrolling. Xijiang is about 10 kilometers long and 200 to 500 meters wide, and cases of villagers along the banks secretly angling and netting occasionally occur.
Zhang Liyuan and his team members patrol the complete 10-kilometer river course at least three times a day: "Once in the morning, once in the afternoon, and once in the evening; sometimes we also patrol once in the middle of the night, to prevent people from fishing and netting at night."
Although lawbreakers do not directly catch porpoises, the fishing nets, trap cages, and fishing lines they leave behind can entangle the porpoises and cause them harm.
During one patrol in September 2022, Zhang Liyuan found a porpoise entangled in a fishing net. Without a second thought, he and his team members jumped into the water and carefully untied the ropes. "We are all good swimmers. When we see a porpoise trapped, of course we have to go down to rescue it."
Now, 14 high-definition cameras have also been installed along the banks of Xijiang, enabling round-the-clock inspection. In Zhang Liyuan's WeChat, there is a group chat called "Xijiang Informatized Patrol." Whenever a clue pops up in the group, he and his team members immediately go to deal with it.
One morning at 5:34, a video screenshot was sent to the group, showing what appeared to be someone setting trap cages on the bank. Zhang Liyuan immediately replied "Received," and 10 minutes later arrived at the scene, fishing out and confiscating the illegally placed trap cages.
"As long as I see the screenshot, without even being told the spot, I know where it is." Patrolling along the Xijiang banks every day, Zhang Liyuan is familiar with every stretch of the river surface and every patch of flowers, plants, and trees here.
Zhang Liyuan has witnessed the porpoise population gradually stabilize and increase — from the initial 13 to the current 25. New porpoise calves are born every year. This year is especially unusual: two calves were born in succession.
"Last year I discovered that two porpoises were pregnant, and I kept looking forward to when the porpoise babies would be born. When I am feeding and see a porpoise mother appear with her baby, that is my most exciting moment." Because he feeds the porpoises every day, Zhang Liyuan is often the first person to discover that a porpoise is pregnant. It is precisely because his care for them is 无微不至 (wú wēi bù zhì - "no subtle point left unaddressed," meticulous care in every detail) that everyone affectionately calls him "Porpoise Dad."
Passing it on — letting more people learn about this round and plump "treasure"
"Why are finless porpoises always smiling?" A childish voice came from the crowd.
That day, students from Gaoqi Primary School (高琦小学) in Anqing had come to the conservation base for a study tour. Zhang Liyuan stood on the bank, surrounded by a group of curious children. Pointing at a porpoise swimming not far away, he said with a smile: "Actually, the porpoise isn't really smiling. Its mouth is naturally shaped this way — the corners slightly upturned — so it looks like it is smiling. That is why everyone calls it the 'smiling angel.'"
"How do porpoises breathe?" "How do porpoises have babies?" "Why should porpoises be protected?" The children's questions came one after another, and Zhang Liyuan answered them all patiently.
Zhang Liyuan has found that more and more people are beginning to pay attention to porpoises. Many primary and secondary school students choose to come to the conservation base to learn about and get to know porpoises, and he and his colleagues have also become guides. "Relying solely on the strength of the porpoise protection team is not enough; we need more and more social forces to participate," Zhang Liyuan said.
In addition to study tours and science popularization, Zhang Liyuan and his team members also take the initiative to go door to door to spread the message. They walk into surrounding villages, vegetable markets, and squares, distributing leaflets and putting up posters, explaining to villagers the significance of protecting porpoises. One important piece of publicity content is the Regulations of Anqing City on the Protection of the Yangtze Finless Porpoise (安庆市长江江豚保护条例).
This is a local regulation introduced by Anqing in 2021 targeting a single endangered species, providing dedicated rule-of-law protection for the Yangtze finless porpoise. The regulations clearly stipulate that in the waters of the Xijiang Yangtze Finless Porpoise Ex-situ Conservation Area, activities that disturb the habitat environment of the Yangtze finless porpoise, such as angling and swimming, are prohibited.
"At first the villagers did not understand either, thinking that catching a few fish themselves had no impact. We explained the stakes and talked through the regulations, and slowly they came to understand our work." For Zhang Liyuan, the regulations are also the source of confidence in their porpoise protection work.
More scientific research forces have also joined the ranks of porpoise protection. Today, experts from the Freshwater Fisheries Research Center of the Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences (中国水产科学研究院淡水渔业研究中心) and Anqing Normal University (安庆师范大学) are stationed at the conservation base year-round for observation. Helping to record porpoise activity data, observe their habits, and monitor water quality changes... Zhang Liyuan and his team members are all capable assistants to the experts.
Good news keeps coming. In recent years, 68 dock berths along the Yangtze main stream in Anqing have been closed and withdrawn; 37 kilometers of production shoreline have been regreened and renewed; of the 18 sewage outlets into the Yangtze, 7 have been closed and withdrawn, and the remaining 11 have all been remediated to meet the standards; 492 fishing boats have been withdrawn from fishing and brought ashore.
Data released by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs (农业农村部) show that the Yangtze finless porpoise population has achieved restorative growth. The 2025 special survey shows its total has reached 1,426 individuals, an increase of 177 compared with 2022. Among them, the porpoise population in the Anqing section of the Yangtze is nearly 200, ranking among the highest in the country. In April this year, the Yangtze finless porpoise officially became the city mascot of Anqing.
After these achievements, Zhang Liyuan, as a front-line guardian of the porpoises, feels his burden has become even heavier. Since becoming team leader, he has spent almost every Spring Festival at the base, and other holidays as well.
A few days ago, he took his grandson and granddaughter to the riverside and, pointing at a porpoise leaping out of the river, said: "Look, this round and plump treasure is the porpoise your grandpa protects! Grandpa will surely protect them well, so that the porpoises can grow up healthy together with you!"
Reporter's Notes
From "grabbing food" to "feeding" — what does it reflect?
At the Xijiang River, far from the city's bustle, the thin mist on the river had not yet dispersed, and Zhang Liyuan, team leader of the porpoise protection team, was preparing breakfast for the porpoises. This 65-year-old fisherman, who had fished for more than 40 years, became the gentlest "Porpoise Dad" after withdrawing from fishing and going ashore. From "grabbing food" to "feeding" — a difference of one character, yet it bears witness to the reshaping of the relationship between humans and nature.
In 2021, Anqing issued the Regulations of Anqing City on the Protection of the Yangtze Finless Porpoise, systematically carried out ecological governance, and built a three-dimensional protection system of "legislation + protected area + ex-situ base," forming a whole-chain, long-term effective protection framework. Today, walking the streets of Anqing, porpoise motifs can be seen everywhere: on public service posters at bus stops, porpoises leap out of the water; on walls, children's hand-painted porpoise murals are colorful. This city by the Yangtze River is integrating the concept of protecting the "smiling angel" into 街头巷尾 (jiē tóu xiàng wěi - "street heads and lane tails," every street and alley).
From legislative protection to ecological restoration, from fishermen's shift to other livelihoods to the participation of the whole society, Anqing's experience proves that protecting endangered species requires both the institutional safeguards of top-level design and the day-after-day dedication of grassroots guardians. Humans and porpoises drink from the same river water — this is a vivid footnote to the great protection of the Yangtze River (长江大保护).
Return to TopBy: 本报记者 宋豪新
Master-craft highlights
Ye Linwei (叶林伟), head of the work crew for the 80,000-ton die-forging press at China National Erzhong Group Deyang Wanhang Die Forging Co., Ltd. (中国第二重型机械集团德阳万航模锻有限责任公司), can, with 80,000-ton-class force, precisely crack open a raw egg's shell while leaving the inner membrane perfectly intact; can identify subtle anomalies from the sound and vibration of the equipment in operation; and can precisely control force, speed, and rhythm within a millisecond-level forging window. He has participated in ensuring the high-quality output of high-end aviation die forgings such as the landing gear of the domestically produced C919 large aircraft, and has received honors including National Model Worker and the China Youth May Fourth Medal.
At the Wanhang Die Forging production workshop of China Erzhong in Deyang, Sichuan, hydraulic pipelines with a total length of 10 kilometers crisscross in every direction, more than 10,000 electrical control modules operate in coordination, and the 80,000-ton die-forging press — 42 meters high and weighing 22,000 tons — stands towering like a "steel giant."
In front of the operating console, Ye Linwei sits upright, right hand gently holding the control lever, gaze fixed on the data dancing across the screen. When the command is issued, the press beam descends slowly, and the red-hot, high-temperature forging gradually takes shape under the force of ten thousand jun.
"The greater the press force, the steadier and more precise the operation must be," Ye Linwei says. Large aviation die forgings have complex structures; the forging window is 稍纵即逝 (shāo zòng jí shì - "slightly let go, then gone," vanishing in an instant), and as the temperature continues to drop, the state of the material changes accordingly; if the pressure is a touch more or a touch less, it may affect the quality of the entire forging.
The heavy equipment of a great power must not only be built but also be used well. In 2012, the 80,000-ton die-forging press was completed and put into trial operation; mature operating experience was nearly a blank; the equipment manual alone was more than 400 pages; the unfolded hydraulic schematic could cover an entire desktop. The industry estimated that operating this "steel giant" skillfully would take at least a year. Ye Linwei gritted his teeth and 迎难而上 (yíng nán ér shàng - "advance to meet the difficulty," confronting the challenge head-on).
By day, he climbed up the press along the ladder frames and checked the hydraulic piping section by section against the drawings, gaining a thorough understanding of the mechanical structure and the logic of its movements; by night, he stayed by the operating console recording operating parameters and studying the subtle changes in every pressurization and depressurization. Terms he did not understand, he consulted the design personnel about; data he was not sure of, he verified again and again on site. If one attempt did not work, he adjusted the parameters; if the pressure was not right, he sought a new range; if the movement was not smooth, he optimized the operation. In just one month, he passed the rigorous assessment and became the first operator of the 80,000-ton die-forging press. But in his eyes, being able to start up the equipment was only the starting point. "Only by understanding why each movement is done this way can you hold steady and control precisely when changes occur," Ye Linwei says.
To test his sense of precision, Ye Linwei and his colleagues conducted a special experiment: a raw egg was placed under the press, with the goal of achieving the effect of the shell cracking evenly while the inner membrane remained perfectly intact. The critical range of this experiment was extremely narrow; a single fine adjustment of the control lever or a deviation of one millimeter in the press's downward travel would rupture the membrane. Calm and composed, Ye Linwei succeeded on the first attempt — the shell cracked evenly, and the thin egg membrane was 安然无恙 (ān rán wú yàng - "peaceful and without mishap," safe and sound).
"Pressing the egg is not for show; it is to test the skill in one's hands. Aviation die forgings likewise tolerate no deviation. Force must obey precision, and every command must land where it should land," Ye Linwei says.
Having kept watch beside the equipment all year round, he has also developed the ability to "listen to the machine speak." When the machine runs normally, the sound of the high-pressure piping is smooth and continuous; once a subtle abnormality occurs inside, the pitch and vibration will undergo subtle changes. During one production run, he noticed that the sound was slightly different from usual; he immediately checked the parameters, inspected the piping, and quickly eliminated the hidden danger.
"You cannot just stare at the instruments; you must also listen to the sounds, observe the states, and analyze the changes." He matched the acoustic signatures, data, and forging quality under different operating conditions one by one, and even the equipment's subtle "breathing" — its rise and fall — became a basis for judgment.
In the development of key forgings for the domestically produced C919 large aircraft, faced with complex structures and stringent performance indicators, Ye Linwei and his team repeatedly ran through simulations and deductions on such links as blank positioning, the rhythm of pressure application, and temperature coupling. When tackling the difficult problem of the landing-gear forging for the domestically produced C919 large aircraft, they went through more than a hundred discussions and more than a thousand hands-on operations, completing multiple operations within the extremely short time after the forging came out of the furnace. Ye Linwei stayed fixed in front of the operating console the whole time, fine-tuning his technique according to the forging's real-time state and meticulously breaking down each operation, until the key forging was successfully formed in a single attempt.
From mastering a super piece of equipment to participating in safeguarding a major national project, Ye Linwei feels increasingly that the industrial worker's post is in the workshop, and the responsibility on his shoulders is very heavy. "Operating the equipment well and striving to make the forgings as good as they can be — that is our responsibility," he says. Today, the press's operating procedures are being continuously refined, and operating experience is gradually being transformed into standardized manuals. He still maintains the habits of recording and reviewing, and he passes on to the young operators, without reservation, what he has accumulated over many years.
"A master craft is not built up suddenly, and there is no shortcut; it is pursuing one problem to the end, doing each operation to the required standard, and then finding the pattern within it." The data on the screen dances again. Ye Linwei starts up the press and gently pushes the control lever forward; the force of ten thousand jun falls slowly and precisely onto the forging. Behind this 举重若轻 (jǔ zhòng ruò qīng - "lift heavy as if light," handling weighty matters with ease) is his repeated pondering over every parameter, and also the solid strength of new-era industrial workers serving the country with their skills.
Return to TopBeijing, August 30 (People's Daily) — Reporter Shen Shaotie (申少铁). The National Health Commission (国家卫生健康委) and the State Administration for Market Regulation (市场监管总局) recently jointly issued the Guiding Opinions on Regulating the Use of Formula Food for Special Medical Purposes in Medical Institutions (关于规范医疗机构特殊医学用途配方食品使用的指导意见), aimed at further standardizing the use and management of formula food for special medical purposes in medical institutions, enhancing clinical nutrition service capacity, and better meeting patients' needs for nutritional support therapy.
The formula food for special medical purposes referred to in the Guiding Opinions means formula foods that, having been registered by the national market supervision and administration department and thereby permitted to be sold on the domestic market, are specially processed and formulated in order to meet the special needs for nutrients or diet of persons with restricted food intake, impaired digestion and absorption, metabolic disorders, or specific disease states. Formula food for special medical purposes shall be used under the guidance of physicians or clinical nutrition technicians.
The Guiding Opinions clearly establish and improve the mechanism for the use and management of formula food for special medical purposes. From the perspective of systems and mechanisms, they propose designating a department or group responsible for managing the use of formula food for special medical purposes, establishing a supply catalog for formula food for special medical purposes and management systems for each link, and standardizing management processes. They improve the management system within medical institutions for formula food for special medical purposes, and put forward norms for medical institutions to follow at each link of management within the medical institution, including the procurement, storage, sale, use, and recall of formula food for special medical purposes.
The Guiding Opinions also explicitly standardize the link of use of formula food for special medical purposes within medical institutions, emphasizing that when medical institutions use it within the institution, they shall ensure that the source of the formula food is lawful and standardized and that the sales area is independent and conspicuous, among other things.
The Guiding Opinions apply to the selection, sale, and use of formula food for special medical purposes in medical institutions at all levels and of all types. The medical institutions referred to in the Guiding Opinions mean diagnosis and treatment institutions that, after obtaining the Medical Institution Practice License (医疗机构执业许可证) or the clinic filing certificate (诊所备案凭证), engage in disease diagnosis and treatment activities in accordance with the law.
Return to TopKunming, Aug. 30 (Reporter Ye Chuanzeng (叶传增)). On the 28th, a Lancang-Mekong Express (澜湄快线) train loaded with 20 railcars of 166 domestically made automobiles departed from Wangjiaying West Station (王家营西站) in Kunming, bound for Vientiane South Station in Laos. These automobiles cover brands including Wuling, Jetour, Volkswagen, and BYD; "Made in China" products are 源源不断 (yuán yuán bù duàn - "continuous and unceasing," in an unbroken stream) riding the China-Laos Railway to Southeast Asian markets. With the normalized operation of the JSQ-type dedicated whole-vehicle transport mode and the continuous upgrading of the logistics service system, the China-Laos Railway is fast becoming an important logistics corridor for domestically made new-energy vehicles to expand into the Southeast Asian market.
Since the beginning of this year, the commercial vehicle international intermodal transport on the China-Laos Railway has shown explosive growth. As of August 28, the China-Laos Railway had cumulatively dispatched 347 railcar-loads of 3,052 commercial vehicles, growing nearly sixfold compared with the 51 railcar-loads of 458 vehicles in the same period of 2025. Among them, the highest single-day dispatch volume at Wangjiaying West Station reached 19 railcar-loads of 171 vehicles on July 16, setting a record high since the opening of the China-Laos Railway's commercial vehicle international intermodal transport business. Monthly dispatch volume started from 53 vehicles at the beginning of the year and has now reached a maximum of 544 vehicles, an increase of about tenfold; the China-Laos Railway's commercial vehicle international intermodal transport business is entering a fast-growth track.
As an important freight hub at the Chinese starting point of the China-Laos Railway, the China Railway Special Cargo (中铁特货) Wangjiaying West Station Commercial Vehicle Logistics Base covers an area of 265 mu, with a warehousing area of 150,000 square meters, and is an important cross-border commercial vehicle transport hub in the southwestern region. Li Zongzhi (李宗致), a business staff member of China Railway Special Cargo Logistics Co., Ltd. (中铁特货物流股份有限公司), said that the China-Laos Railway commercial vehicle international intermodal transport uses JSQ-type depressed-floor double-deck dedicated automobile transport trains; each carriage can load 8 to 12 automobiles, with transport volume equivalent to 4 to 5 times that of ordinary containers, greatly improving loading and unloading efficiency and ensuring vehicle transport safety to the maximum extent.
At the Mohan Railway Port (磨憨铁路口岸), the railway and customs authorities are jointly advancing the "advance declaration + intelligent inspection and release" model, greatly compressing customs clearance time; the China-Laos Railway's domestic and overseas port stations are linked in real time, accurately grasping the in-transit status of goods, and ensuring that commercial vehicles exit the country smoothly and arrive and unload in a timely manner.
Return to TopRecently, at the Zibo Ceramic and Colored Glaze Museum (淄博陶瓷琉璃博物馆) in Shandong, visitors were admiring the collection. In recent years, Zibo has optimized its consumption environment and continuously promoted new breakthroughs in such fields as integrated cultural-tourism development, cultural heritage protection, and public cultural services. It is understood that the Zibo Ceramic and Colored Glaze Museum has a total construction area of 50,000 square meters, has 20 exhibition halls, and houses 25,000 pieces of various ceramic and colored-glaze works. Photo and text report by staff reporters Song Yu (宋宇) and Wang Zhe (王者).
Return to TopOur newspaper’s Zhengzhou, August 30 dispatch (Reporter Zhang Wenhao). This year marks the 105th year since the discovery of the Yangshao culture. On the 30th, the Academic Symposium on the Yangshao Era and the Formation of Chinese Civilization concluded successfully in Zhengzhou, Henan. Nearly a hundred expert scholars in the archaeological field from cultural relics, museum, and scientific research institutions across the country gathered in Zhengzhou, conducting in-depth discussions on topics such as new archaeological discoveries of the Yangshao era, regional cultural interaction, and the early process of civilization, jointly tracing the origins of the formation process of Chinese civilization.
The Yangshao era is the era constituted by the various cultures in most parts of China that, during the Yangshao culture period, had close relations with the Yangshao culture, and is an important period in which societies in various parts of China gradually differentiated and ultimately saw the emergence of early states and entry into civilized society. The symposium was jointly hosted by the Neolithic Archaeology Professional Committee of the Chinese Archaeological Society (中国考古学会新石器考古专业委员会), the Henan Provincial Cultural Relics and Archaeology Society (河南省文物考古学会), the Zhengzhou Chinese Origin and Songshan Civilization Research Association (郑州中华之源与嵩山文明研究会), the Henan Provincial Institute of Cultural Relics and Archaeology (河南省文物考古研究院), and the Henan Museum (河南博物院). Around topics such as Yangshao-era archaeological discoveries, cultural genealogy, cultural exchange, the process of civilization, settlement patterns, resources, technology, and jade artifacts, it held keynote presentations and activities of three sub-forums, and organized field investigations at the Dahe Village National Archaeological Site Park (大河村国家考古遗址公园) in Zhengzhou and the Shuanghuaishu site (双槐树遗址) in Gongyi (巩义).
Return to TopLanzhou, August 30 (Our newspaper reporter Song Chaojun (宋朝军)). Recently, the promotional activity for Gansu's "12316" smart agriculture AI service system and the "Gansu Agricultural Service" (甘肃农服) mini-program was held. The upgrade and launch of this platform marks that Gansu Province's "three rural" (三农) service hotline has completed a systematic leap from traditional voice to artificial intelligence service, officially entering a new stage of intelligent and digital development.
The AI service system and mini-program launched this time have established a dual-end collaborative system of "intelligent call handling to improve efficiency + portable mini-program services." On the call-handling end, real-time voice transcription, second-level knowledge matching, and simultaneous recommendation of speech scripts are realized; after a call, the time for organizing work orders is compressed from twenty or thirty minutes to one or two minutes. Voice recognition optimized for local dialects makes the service more precise and warmer. When complex problems are encountered, they are automatically transferred to experts for review, forming a dual guarantee of "AI preliminary screening and expert precise diagnosis."
Return to TopBy: 本报记者 赵 兵
"Achievers: My Fate is Determined by Me, Not by Heaven," "The Way of the Wolf," "Child, You Must Understand the Ways of the World"... A short time ago, a 2025 children's book sales list released by an industry institution sparked social attention. In this list, children's books related to "successology" (成功学 - chénggōng xué, the study of success/self-help) such as those mentioned above occupy the top positions. Why do "successology" children's books "dominate the charts"? What impact will these books have on children's growth? What kind of children's books do children actually need? The reporter conducted an investigation and interview regarding this matter.
Utilitarian children's books that sell parenting anxiety are crowding out once-popular children's literature
Opening mobile apps and searching for children's reading materials, one can see recommendations for various "successology" children's books on different e-commerce platforms, such as Top-Tier Thinking to Change a Child's Destiny, Game Theory: Giving Children a Little Scheming, Self-Discipline Changes Destiny... and so on.
These types of illustrated books written and published for adolescents and children are dozens to over a hundred pages long, containing a large number of color illustrations and comics accompanied by short text, with prices ranging from a few yuan to dozens of yuan.
"These 'successology' children's books strike at parents' parenting anxiety. Every parent hopes their child will become a dragon (望子成龙 - wàng zǐ chéng lóng, to hope one's son becomes a dragon, to hope one's children succeed), and no one wants their child to fall behind others, so these children's books indoctrinate children with adults' so-called 'ways of success' in the simplest and most crude manner," said Ding Ruyi, an associate professor in the Department of Psychology at Sun Yat-sen University. "There are also some bloggers who deliberately sell anxiety during live-stream sales, making parents make emotional purchases of these 'successology' children's books."
As experts have said, the reporter saw on platforms such as Douyin, Kuaishou, and Xiaohongshu that some bloggers use exaggerated emotional performances to recommend such "successology" children's books.
One blogger said with tears in their eyes and a choked voice, "After April, this set of books will completely stop circulating; even if you want to buy them, you won't be able to"; one blogger used inflammatory language saying, "If your child is very lazy, won't write even one more word, and is slow at doing everything, you must let the child read this book"; another blogger said exaggeratively, "What I am introducing today is not an ordinary comic book, but a set of books that can make your blood boil and stimulate your child's inner wolf-like spirit"... many parents were attracted by exactly these kinds of advertising slogans and purchased such children's books.
The reporter randomly purchased several such children's books online (see photo, photographed by Zhao Bing), with prices ranging from 3.4 yuan to 24.8 yuan, but all were far below the books' own label prices of 29 yuan to 59 yuan. Looking through the content of these children's books, some focus on selling anxiety, such as book titles like Children Without "Umbrellas" Must Run Hard, If You Do Not Endure the Hardship of Learning, You Will Endure the Hardship of Life in the Future, and Please Do Not Pretend to Work Hard, Because the Results Will Not Act Along with You; others brand themselves as "reverse thinking," such as Ignite the Driving Force of "Envy", Too Straightforward? Perhaps Your Thinking Does Not Turn Corners, and Think of the Other Party, Speak for Yourself; others tell of so-called "laws and principles," such as Murphy's Law, the Eisenhower Principle, and Bliss's Theorem, etc.
Looking back at that 2025 children's book sales list released by an authoritative industry institution specializing in monitoring book retail market data—Beijing OpenBook Information Technology Co., Ltd.—it is hard to imagine that original children's literature works that once swept campuses are being crowded out by such children's books filled with "successology" preaching.
"Looking closely at the content of these children's books, one will find they are all egoism-oriented. For example, teaching children not to be straightforward, to learn to be indirect, to treat envy as motivation, and to speak for themselves," Ding Ruyi said. "Our education of children should originally be guided toward truth, goodness, and beauty—unity and friendship, helping others, and sincerity and kindness; these are the qualities that children's books should promote to children."
Ding Ruyi believes that the popularity of such children's books also reflects the educational philosophies of some parents. "Under the promotion of some 'successology' children's books, some parents feel that society is very cruel and fear their children will suffer losses, so they hope to indoctrinate children with thoughts of maneuvering and calculation; such education is very unfavorable to a child's growth."
"According to monitoring by industry institutions, in recent years, the market share of children's literature reading materials has plummeted from 45% to 16.78%," said Zheng Zhong, president of Zhejiang Children's Publishing House. The phenomenon of utilitarian children's books "dominating the charts" is becoming increasingly prominent, "this current situation makes one unable to help but break into a cold sweat for the reading ecology of children."
Algorithm recommendations, commercial traffic injection, and low-price competition are the main reasons for the popularity of "successology" children's books
While such "successology" children's books sell hotly on e-commerce platforms, how are they in offline physical bookstores? The reporter visited several physical bookstores.
Different from online, the reporter did not see these "successology" children's books in physical bookstores. The reporter asked a bookstore owner if there were similar children's books; the owner flipped through and only found adult books focused on text, such as Understanding a Little Child Psychology Every Day and Positive Discipline: 99% of a Child's Growth Depends on the Mother. "These are mainly for parents to read; there is no 'successology' specifically oriented toward children," the owner added, "Can children even understand 'successology' if they read it?"
Another bookstore owner said bluntly: "There are no books like this that teach children to be scheming. Children should naturally be a bit innocent; what kind of books about conspiracies and schemes are suitable for children?"
Why do offline physical bookstores not promote such children's books vigorously instead? Industry insiders believe this is precisely where the problem lies.
"Since 2020, the reduction of physical bookstores and the rapid rise of content e-commerce have changed the soil for 'seeding' (种草 - zhòng cǎo, to spark interest/desire) in children's publishing. According to monitoring, the proportion of physical store channels in the book retail market has declined to less than 4% in 2025, with as high as 90% of books being paid for by parents online on behalf of their children. This leads to children's reading preferences being essentially replaced by their parents' pursuit of quick results," Zheng Zhong said.
The reporter interviewed many parents, and Zheng Zhong's statement was confirmed. One parent said, "Usually, I don't have time to take my child to physical bookstores; I just buy books on my phone." Another parent said, "It feels like these successology books are quite popular, so we just follow the trend to save trouble." Another parent said, "There is no harm in letting children read some of these books; it's better than being bullied, right?"
So, is the popularity of such children's books a rigid demand from parents, or is it caused by the supply preference at the source of publishing? In the eyes of industry insiders, the reason is not on the supply side, nor on the demand side, but in the channels.
"As the main sales channel for children's books, e-commerce platforms have an enormous impact on these utilitarian 'successology' children's books. Only utilitarian reading children's books can obtain traffic and form extremely fast sales conversions. Ultimately, it is traffic that binds to sales volume, which in turn intensifies the utilitarianization of children's books," Zheng Zhong said.
The reporter's investigation learned that the publishing and distribution of children's books has gone through two stages. In the past, when a publisher published a children's book, they would give it to primary distributors at about 60% of the book's list price; primary distributors would then give it to secondary distributors, namely county and municipal bookstores, at about 70%; finally, these bookstores would put them on shelves for sale at about 80%. In this way, every entity in the chain could share a certain profit.
Nowadays, e-commerce platforms, especially content e-commerce such as short videos and social media, have become the most important channels for selling children's books, and their distribution models have also changed. When children's books published by publishers go online on content e-commerce platforms, they need to spend money to purchase traffic to let the platform conduct promotional sales. Zheng Zhong said, "In the past, it was people looking for books, meaning readers would search for the books they wanted to read. Now it is books looking for people, meaning these platforms will use algorithms and user profiles to precisely deliver this book information to user groups."
How much do e-commerce platforms and algorithmic traffic actually affect children's book sales? The reporter interviewed Jiang Yanping, General Manager of Beijing OpenBook Information Technology Co., Ltd.
"The market scale of 'successology' children's books has continued to expand rapidly in recent years. According to our monitoring, from 2023 to 2025, the actual sales proportion of such books in the children's market increased from 3.07% to 7.56%, reaching 9.12% in the first half of 2026. Their actual sales proportion in the overall book market also rose from 0.68% to 1.72%, and both the number of moving varieties and the proportion of sales turnover have maintained year-on-year growth," Jiang Yanping said.
At the same time, the industry insiders' claims regarding the impact of algorithmic recommendations on sales were also supported by data. According to statistics, the actual sales proportion of "successology" children's books in content e-commerce from January to June 2026 had already reached 87.16%, a significant increase compared to 63.67% in 2023; the proportion of physical stores declined from 6.90% to 1.50%, and the proportion of such books in content e-commerce is far higher than other children's sub-categories such as early childhood enlightenment and children's literature.
"In terms of channel structure, the dependence of such books on online algorithmic recommendation channels is much higher than the average of the children's book industry, and the trend of centralization is continuously intensifying," Jiang Yanping stated. This fully demonstrates that algorithmic recommendations have an extremely strong driving role in the sales of such books; the current growth demand is created more by algorithmic traffic injection and dissemination models rather than the original rigid demand of parents.
Experts suggest changing the channel ecology and optimizing platform algorithms to let more excellent children's books be seen
What is worrying is that the momentum of the popularity of "successology" children's books is still rising. Looking at the list data, the number of "successology" children's books appearing in the TOP 100 children's books grew rapidly from 7 in 2023 to 34 in 2025, and their contribution to sales volume increased from 13.36% to 41.31%. In contrast, the year-on-year growth rate of sales turnover for children's literature has continued to decline in recent years.
In the cost of a children's book, what proportion is the content platform's traffic injection cost? "Traffic fees generally account for 70% to 80% of book costs," Zheng Zhong said. "All this money goes to the platforms, but the publication of a book involves authors' royalties, as well as the publisher's editing, reviewing, binding, printing, distribution, and transportation; how could a publisher not lose money?"
At the same time, traffic is becoming more and more expensive, especially starting from 2025, as book industry traffic must compete with other commodities. The average order value cannot compete with other mass commodities, leading to a further lowering of children's book selling prices.
Zheng Zhong said, "A children's book that is painstakingly written and published with immersion might cost dozens of yuan, but a 'successology' children's book compiled in three to five days can control costs to a few yuan. This way, they can purchase traffic on e-commerce platforms to distribute large quantities of stock, relying on small profits with high volume to crowd out the market for excellent children's literature."
The reporter pressed further: if one can buy a "successology" children's book for 3 yuan or even 1 yuan, are these books authentic?
Zheng Zhong said that such children's books might be authentic or they might be pirated: on one hand, the cost of these children's books themselves is relatively low, and under the high conversion rate of e-commerce platforms, every reprint could be tens of thousands of copies; however, these books are not timeless like classic children's literature and will soon stop selling, so prices are slashed to clear inventory. On the other hand, these books themselves are simple to produce, and when lawbreakers see certain children's books selling well, they can print pirated copies in three to five days.
"In this way, it becomes increasingly difficult for children's book authors and publishers to immerse themselves in making a good book," Zheng Zhong appealed, stating that it is necessary to start from governing the channel ecology.
He suggested that, on one hand, e-commerce platforms should set up traffic special zones, meaning that books or children's books should be treated as a separate category and not compete for traffic with other categories of commodities at the same price, thereby improving the return on investment for industry traffic injection and allowing high-quality children's books with copyrights to enter the traffic-driven sales system. On the other hand, platforms should optimize algorithmic recommendations, strengthen the recommendation of excellent children's literature, and pay attention to the balance between economic benefits and social benefits and cultural value, rather than just focusing on traffic, sales, and revenue.
"Technical price control is also very important. An excellent work of children's literature is the result of the hard work and effort of all parties and needs reasonable pricing. Now, when a 'successology' children's book is listed on an e-commerce platform, it is frequently priced below 30% of the original price; such low-price competition is not conducive to the publishing ecology," Zheng Zhong said. "It is suggested that e-commerce platforms develop a price control function, which can both guarantee normal sales order and ensure that those pirated books costing a few yuan per book have no market."
Experts stated that this is not only a problem of book publishing, but also a problem of social atmosphere, and a problem of culture and education, which requires the combined efforts of multiple parties to resolve.
"These 'successology' children's books will affect children's values," Ding Ruyi said. "It is necessary for relevant departments to govern the problem of 'successology' children's books dominating the charts from the perspective of market supervision. At the same time, cultural departments, education departments, and schools should all take some measures, such as listing more recommended book lists of excellent children's literature. Furthermore, attention should be paid to the promotion and practice of Socialist Core Values, not just for adolescents and children, but also for parents and the general public, promoting excellent virtues, discarding egoism, letting the social atmosphere move upward and toward goodness, and letting parents no longer choose these 'successology' children's books."
The Regulations on the Promotion of National Reading implemented in February this year clearly state: "The national news and publication competent departments shall, in conjunction with the relevant departments of the State Council, formulate reading plans for adolescents and children, and promote stepped reading tailored to the mental development level and cognitive understanding ability of adolescents and children, and carry out reading guidance activities adapted to their reading characteristics and patterns. Publishing units shall, according to the requirements of stepped reading, publish publications suitable for reading by adolescents and children of different age groups in a targeted manner."
Experts expressed hope that the regulations can be implemented thoroughly and in detail, establishing a complete children's stepped reading system, and providing auxiliary recommendations for parents and children on how to choose books, how to guide reading, and how to evaluate reading effects based on the different ages and grades of adolescents and children. "We still have many excellent children's books; now we must find ways to let these books be seen and read by more parents and children," Zheng Zhong said.
Return to TopBy: 本报记者 朱佩娴
On March 18, our newspaper's "Readers' Letters" section published "Tanhuai Subdistrict (覃怀街道), Qinyang City (沁阳市), Henan — 100-Meter Dirt Road Unrepaired for 10 Years Due to 'Neither Side Managing' (两不管)," reflecting the situation that a certain section of Bayi Road in Tanhuai Subdistrict, a dirt road of more than 100 meters, had long gone unrepaired, making passage inconvenient. The local relevant department stated that, upon verification, the problem was confirmed to be true. The dirt road section covered in the report is planned as a river channel, not an urban public road area; its ownership belongs to the higher-level water conservancy department, and this river channel has now been abandoned. After the report was published, the local authorities immediately organized relevant units to coordinate and handle the problem, and completed the hardening of this road section on March 25 (see photo). At the same time, the local relevant department, 举一反三 (jǔ yī fǎn sān - "raise one and infer three," to draw inferences from one case), organized inspections of roads and related facilities in the city, opened unimpeded channels for the masses to report their concerns, promptly responded to and resolved the masses' reasonable demands, and improved the masses' travel experience.
Return to TopWe are residents of Building 397, Renmin Road, Shibei District (市北区), Qingdao City, Shandong Province. Since 2015, subway construction has been carried out on the south side of this building, with the foundation pit only 5 meters from the building's foundation (see photo). Starting in 2017, wall cracks appeared in the homes of many residents in this building. In 2019, after appraisal by a professional institution, the safety level of this building was rated Dsu, indicating that its overall load-bearing capacity is seriously affected. At that time, the subway was still not completed, and the residents repeatedly reported to the relevant departments and the subway group (地铁集团), hoping that necessary measures would be taken to ensure the safety of the building. But whether it was to be demolition or reinforcement, the opinions of both sides changed several times and remained undecided for a long time. In 2021, the subway was completed, and many cracks appeared inside the building; the problem has still not been resolved. We hope that the relevant departments will come forward to promote a special appraisal of the damage caused by construction, clarify the causal relationship between the construction and the damage to the building, put forward effective solutions, and effectively resolve the hidden dangers to housing safety.
Residents of Building 397, Renmin Road, Shibei District, Qingdao City
Road markings are important facilities for protecting pedestrians, but some markings have insufficient anti-skid performance. When it rains, they become wet and slippery, easily causing vehicle sideslips and pedestrian falls. The problem mainly lies in the material and construction aspects. The hot-melt coatings commonly used for road markings have strong hydrophobicity. When rainwater falls on them, it forms a water film, reducing the friction between tires, shoe soles, and the ground. In addition, the glass microbeads used on the marking surface for reflection, once worn during use, will further reduce friction. Although national standards clearly require markings to have skid resistance, in reality there are still situations such as improper material selection, low construction quality, and inadequate later-stage maintenance. Some markings quickly fade and become damaged, and instead become more slippery.
To solve this problem, efforts need to be made simultaneously in supervision, standard improvement, and daily reminders. Supervisory departments should strengthen inspections of marking materials and construction quality, ensure that national standards are truly implemented, and prevent unqualified markings from being put into use. On road sections with dense pedestrian flow, such as schools, hospitals, and residential areas, materials and processes with better anti-skid performance should be used, and anti-skid strips or raised markings can be added in areas such as zebra crossings. Relevant departments should also pay attention to sorting out public feedback, and promptly deal with markings on slippery sections that are frequently reported by the public.
Hohhot, Inner Mongolia, Hu Lele (胡乐乐)
By: 孙立极 张玲溪
"I bought a 316 stainless steel wok from a kitchenware specialty store on the Pinduoduo platform, and it rusted in less than half a year." Recently, a netizen left a message on the "People's Complaint" (人民投诉) channel of People's Daily Online.
304, 316, and other 300-series stainless steels are known for corrosion resistance and resistance to rust. Clearly, the material the netizen bought was not a genuine 316 product. Recently, the question of genuine versus fake 304 and 316 stainless steel has sparked heated discussion. Some online video bloggers used spectrometers to test "304, 316 food-grade" stainless steel tableware and cookware bought online, and found that they were in fact 201 manganese steel. Many netizens bought test solution to self-test the stainless steel products in their homes, and likewise found counterfeit goods falsely labeled as 304 and 316 stainless steel.
Ms. Lin (林) of Nanning, Guangxi, said that in January this year she bought a 304 stainless steel steamer on the Pinduoduo platform. After receiving it, the test solution, when dropped on, quickly "turned red"; according to the indication, it should be "201 manganese steel."
"The merchant's product page said the whole body was food-grade 304 stainless steel, and when I placed the order I confirmed it once again with customer service." Ms. Li (李) of Shandong, a reader, told the reporter that recently she bought a stainless steel oil drum on the Taobao platform, but after receiving the goods found that the material test results for the oil drum's inner wall and outer wall were inconsistent—it was not 304 stainless steel throughout.
"Generally speaking, the reason 304 and 316 stainless steels are corrosion-resistant is that nickel is added to them; 316 additionally has molybdenum added. These metals are expensive." Tang Jiansheng (唐健盛), deputy secretary-general of the Shanghai Consumer Rights and Interests Protection Commission (上海市消费者权益保护委员会), explained that on the current market, the price of stainless steel sheet for 201 is more than 8,000 yuan per ton, 304 is 14,000 to 15,000 yuan per ton, and 316 is as high as 30,000 yuan per ton. Therefore, unscrupulous enterprises 以次充好 (yǐ cì chōng hǎo - "use the inferior to pass off as the good," passing off substandard goods as quality products), selling cheap 201 stainless steel as 304 and 316 and reaping exorbitant profits through falsely marked grades, vague labeling, and other means.
How can one identify 304 and 316 stainless steel? Wang Qingjie (王清洁), executive president of the Stainless Steel Branch of the China Iron and Steel Industry Association (中国钢铁工业协会不锈钢分会), who has worked in the stainless steel production industry for 37 years, explained that the commonly used stainless steel test solutions on the market rely on color-change reactions to roughly distinguish nickel content; some special-purpose reagents can screen for high manganese content; alloy-element-analysis spectrometers measure more accurately but are relatively expensive.
However, Wang Qingjie said that when selecting stainless steel food utensils, what is actually more important is whether there is a "for food contact" label. He explained that according to GB 4806.9-2023, "National Food Safety Standard - Metal Materials and Products for Food Contact," whether a stainless steel product can come into contact with food is determined by the alloy element migration amount as the most central statutory indicator.
"As long as the alloy element migration amount reaches the standard, whether 200-series, 300-series, or 400-series stainless steel, in theory it can all meet the 'for food contact' requirement. And if it does not meet the alloy element migration amount indicator, even if the material is 304, it still cannot serve as a food container." Wang Qingjie further said that every type of stainless steel has its own adaptability. Although there is no one-size-fits-all ban on the 200-series, the 200-series has relatively weak corrosion resistance and is not recommended for containers that hold acidic or high-temperature food for a long period; it is only suitable for short-term contact with plain-water-type products, such as ordinary vegetable-washing basins. Table knives and other food utensils, because of their high hardness requirements, generally use 400-series martensitic stainless steel rather than 304 or 316 material. Therefore, when choosing stainless steel food utensils, one must not adopt an "only 300-series stainless steel" criterion (唯300系不锈钢论).
Wang Qingjie also pointed out that judging whether a product has complete and standardized labeling is the most intuitive and reliable basis for identification. He explained that according to the relevant requirements of the mandatory national food safety standard, the outer packaging of products for sale should be labeled "for food contact," and should at the same time state the relevant stainless steel material information; the stainless steel grade or unified digital designation may be directly marked, and the product needs to indicate compliance with the standard. He suggested that consumers give priority to products whose outer packaging has all three items of information complete. If a product's price is far lower than the normal market range and it lacks complete labeling, there is a high probability of material fraud.
In response to the current situation in which 200-series manganese steel is relatively widely used to pass itself off as 304 and 316 stainless steel tableware, Tang Jiansheng said this is a typical illegal act of passing off the inferior as the superior and passing off unqualified products as qualified products. According to the Consumer Rights and Interests Protection Law, the business operator's conduct constitutes consumer fraud, and consumers may claim compensation of three times the price; where products have falsely labeled materials that do not conform to packaging labeling standards, sellers must perform the obligations of repair, replacement, and return.
However, it is not easy for consumers who buy falsely labeled stainless steel food utensils to defend their rights. The aforementioned Ms. Lin of Guangxi said that after negotiation, the platform agreed to "return the goods and refund the money," but refused "one fake, threefold compensation"; after Ms. Li of Shandong communicated with the merchant, the merchant, citing the need to contact the supplier, brought the rights-defense effort to a deadlock.
Experts suggest that food-contact stainless steel concerns 千家万户 (qiān jiā wàn hù - "a thousand families, ten thousand households," vast numbers of households), and this issue requires regulatory authorities, e-commerce platforms, offline shopping malls, and other parties to make coordinated efforts. On the regulatory side, it is necessary to continue deepening special rectification, expanding the coverage of random inspections of stainless steel products online and offline, with focus on verifying labeling completeness, metal migration testing reports, and so on. It is suggested that e-commerce platforms improve product market-access management and make certified reports bearing CMA (China Metrology Accreditation) qualification and alloy element migration testing an important review condition for listing food-contact stainless steel products; urge merchants to proactively publicize product compliance testing materials; optimize rapid-handling mechanisms for online disputes; and safeguard consumers' rights and interests.
Return to TopPeople's Daily's "Readers' Letters" page (读者来信) and People's Daily Online's "Message Board for Leaders" (领导留言板) are jointly carrying out a solicitation of the masses' problems of urgency, difficulty, worry, and eager anticipation (急难愁盼), and welcome readers to provide leads and suggestions on "illegal social organizations charging fees in violation of regulations."
Email: rmrbdzlx@126.com
Mobile: the "Exposure Platform" (曝光台) on the People's Daily client
the "Message Board for Leaders" client of People's Daily Online
By: 本报记者 苏 滨
From August 28 to 30, the 2026 China International Big Data Industry Expo (the Big Data Expo) was held in Guiyang, Guizhou. Walking into the robot interaction exhibition zone, scenes of two-way human-machine interaction continued to unfold. From consumer services to industrial inspection, from cultural creativity to health and eldercare for people's livelihoods, AI (artificial intelligence) is accelerating toward being practical, mass-producible, and applicable at scale.
Richer application scenarios, deeply empowering a thousand trades and a hundred industries
Ranges of mountains rise fold upon fold; iron towers stand tall. An inspection drone rose into the sky and, through omnidirectional scanning, automatically identified equipment defects. Inspection blind spots that were previously difficult for manpower to reach, such as steep canyon slopes and the back sides of conductors, have now entered the inspection field of view.
This was a video played by China Southern Power Grid (南方电网) at the Big Data Expo site. "The drone can inspect and identify at the same time; at present, the defect recognition accuracy rate exceeds 90%," said Xiao Fusheng (肖辅盛), deputy general manager of the Digital and Intelligent Operations Center of the Guizhou Power Grid Company of China Southern Power Grid. "What used to be a full day's inspection work for one person now takes the drone only half an hour, and it can also avoid safety risks."
AI is empowering a thousand trades and a hundred industries in ways that are visible and tangible.
A company deeply engaged in a series of intelligent IoT software and hardware products has more than 1,000 SMT (Surface Mount Technology) placement lines and several hundred final assembly lines, and the market is highly fragmented. Production lines must be switched frequently to meet different customer requirements, meaning increased labor and equipment losses, and possibly affecting product quality and production efficiency.
"Through AI, IoT sensing, big data and other technologies, combined with industrial data accumulated over many years, we have built a smart factory technology system and achieved a full-process intelligent upgrade," the relevant person in charge of the enterprise said at an exchange event of the Big Data Expo, adding that on the production side, the "AI decision-making brain" efficiently schedules; on the quality-control side, the "AI quality inspector" accurately identifies; and production efficiency has achieved a qualitative improvement.
Many enterprises also brought cutting-edge achievements that are more intelligent and provide a stronger sense of experience. The AI health-care and eldercare robot exhibited for the first time can autonomously plan routes, deftly avoid crowds, smoothly complete tasks such as accompanying care and stopping at designated points, and combine multiple functions such as object retrieval and health monitoring. Its elderly-friendly design is being continuously improved.
"We must strengthen the principal position of enterprises in innovation, integrate advantageous resources, form a joint force of industry, academia, and research to tackle key problems, and push the 'AI Plus' action (人工智能+行动) to greater depth, deeply empowering a thousand trades and a hundred industries," said Li Liguo (李立国), member of the Party Leadership Group of the Guizhou Provincial Big Data Development Administration.
More diverse data supply, fully unleashing the value of data factors
If computing power is the engine, then data is the fuel of AI.
"The accuracy, generalization ability, and deployment results of large AI models depend on the supply level of high-quality datasets," Li Liguo concluded.
At the data supply section of the Big Data Expo, the booth of Linghong Intelligent Technology (Guizhou) Co., Ltd. (瓴泓智能科技（贵州）有限公司) drew large crowds. As a data enterprise, Linghong Intelligent has opened up the key links of the "data–computing power–large model" collaborative industrial chain, completing the leap from a single data-annotation provider to a provider of a package of data solutions that simultaneously offers algorithms, collection, governance, and annotation.
"Medical data is the development focus, and compliance is the difficulty," said Zheng Kewei (郑科伟), chairman of Linghong Intelligent, adding that when AI is deployed in medical scenarios, the value is high and the threshold is also high; the actual effect depends on the quality of the training data. The company has already obtained operating authorization for medical corpus from two Class 3A hospitals outside the province and has taken the lead in piloting efforts regarding the ownership, circulation rights, and security of public medical data.
At this year's Big Data Expo, Linghong Intelligent also joined forces with other enterprises to target the synthetic data track and expand medical data supply. "Healthcare is a highly sensitive, high-privacy scenario. Synthetic data does not need to touch real personal information and can generate controllable, usable, and traceable training samples, making it one of the effective ways to break through the data bottleneck," Zheng Kewei said.
Whether in healthcare, transportation, agriculture, or industry, data supply is leaping out of the traditional approach of first piling up data and then looking for scenarios, and turning toward an application-driven data production model, so that high-quality data resources can be supplied and put to use, building a positive cycle in which scenarios drive data, data drives models, models empower applications, and applications create value.
As the country's first big data exchange, the Guiyang Big Data Exchange (贵阳大数据交易所) released the country's first set of data trading rules, launched the country's first price calculator for data product transactions, and has attracted more than 1,000 data traders to settle in and more than 360 data intermediaries providing full-chain services. "From resources to products, from aggregation to empowerment, fully releasing the value of data factors also requires improving support from key factors," Li Liguo said.
More convenient token calls, letting industrial pain points find technological solutions
"Token call volume is becoming the new measure of AI. We must improve the efficiency of intelligent token conversion and provide the market with high-quality tokens that are affordable and can be used well," said Dai Guohao (戴国浩), associate professor at the School of Artificial Intelligence at Shanghai Jiao Tong University, at the opening ceremony of the Big Data Expo.
If a large AI model is compared to a brain, tokens are the basic language units by which the brain reads the world, equivalent to the literacy primer of a large model. Without high-quality tokens, even with massive data, a large model is like a student who has not fully learned to read and cannot understand the true meaning behind the words.
At this year's Big Data Expo, iSoftStone Information Technology (Group) Co., Ltd. (软通动力信息技术（集团）股份有限公司), together with the Guizhou Branch of China Telecom Co., Ltd., jointly released the Guiyang No. 1 Token Factory (贵阳壹号词元工厂). This new AI infrastructure, located in the Gui'an New Area (贵安新区), became a focus of attention for many parties.
The demonstration sand table on the booth intuitively reproduced the entire production process: on the upstream, high-quality datasets from various industries are connected; after token processing, standardized services are formed and output downstream, supplied to scenarios such as drone inspection, AI health-care and eldercare robots, and government-affairs agents. In the past, many enterprises lacked token-processing capability. Today, enterprises can call tokens on demand just as they use water or electricity, and pay according to actual usage, greatly lowering the threshold for enterprises to develop AI.
"Computing power lays the foundation, tokens build the bridge, and applications blossom," said Zhang Weijia (张玮佳), sales manager of iSoftStone. The token factory has filled in the key missing link of the AI industry chain and transformed the resource advantage in computing power into a competitive advantage for the AI industry.
As an "old friend" of the Big Data Expo, Guizhou Data Treasure Network Technology Co., Ltd. (贵州数据宝网络科技有限公司) appeared in its brand-new identity as a data-native AI token service provider. "Tokens are not only a technical unit of measurement; they are an anchor of value in the intelligent era," said Peng Hailin (彭海林), a director of Data Treasure, adding that, relying on Guizhou's hub advantage in the "East Data, West Computing" initiative (东数西算), the company is exploring an industrial model of "Guizhou computes, the whole country uses" and promoting the formation of an industrial effect of "call tokens, find Guizhou."
The richer the scenarios, the more dynamic the industry. Over three days, 372 Chinese and foreign enterprises exhibited, 89 events were held, and 87 important achievements were released. Through this year's Big Data Expo, one can see that the development logic of the AI industry is shifting from emphasizing model parameters to emphasizing practical deployment results, with industrial demand forcing technological iteration.
"It should also be noted that AI still faces practical issues such as insufficient high-quality data in vertical industries, specialized token libraries that need to be improved, relatively high costs for large-scale deployment in some scenarios, and a security and compliance system that still needs to be perfected," Li Liguo said, adding that, using the Big Data Expo as a platform, [we should] promote deep connection between the technology side and the industry side, so that industrial pain points find technological solutions.
Return to TopBy: 人民网记者 车柯蒙
This year’s China International Big Data Industry Expo has the theme “Tokens — A New Path for Unleashing the Value of Data Elements.” What are tokens? They are the smallest units of information used by AI large models to process information. When a robot makes coffee, perceives instructions, plans a route, and executes actions, it is producing tokens at every step.
Exiting the exhibition hall, on the streets of Guanshanhu District in Guiyang, Guizhou, “Potato Buses” with no steering wheel and no driver’s seat were running steadily on the 8-kilometer-long “Wonder Loop.” Wang Biao, operations director of this urban robotics company, said that data is the fundamental element for training and also the “engine.” The richer the scenario data, the stronger the vehicle’s ability to handle various complex scenarios.
Supporting the “Potato Buses” is the data infrastructure of the Gui’an New Area: 27 ultra-large data centers, with intelligent computing accounting for over 98 percent. The support of Guiyang’s “open AI application scenarios” has enabled this bus without a steering wheel to run on complex urban roads.
The “DATA Night” event of the Big Data Expo, co-hosted by People’s Daily Online and others, was highly popular. In the “Five Senses of Big Data” exhibition area at the event, guests discussed how data elements can empower the real economy, from institutional norms and technological breakthroughs to scenario deployment.
In March this year, China’s daily token call volume exceeded 140 trillion. The continued rise in token call volume reflects AI applications entering daily life and integrating into industry.
Some humanoid robots have already been deployed in scenarios such as banks and nursing homes. “Every interaction produces tokens, and it is precisely the accumulation of these tokens that makes the next interaction experience better,” said Shen Jian, founder and chief executive officer of Digital华夏.
Some legal large models have “run” into courts. Hu Weimin, founder and chairman of Dibo Technology, said: “Tokens are the switch that turns data lying in case files ‘alive.'” He told reporters that last year the industry was still competing on model parameters, but this year the focus has shifted to who can achieve better deployment.
Some AR (augmented reality) smart glasses are both collectors of real-world information and the execution end of tokens. Wu Fei, founder and chief executive officer of Liangliang Vision, said that what determines the long-term value of tokens is not only the scale of calls but also user trust.
From tokens to datasets, from computing power to scenarios — the release of the value of data elements is happening in every industry. “At present, AI development shows a distinctly data-driven characteristic. We insist that wherever AI develops, we will advance the construction and application of high-quality datasets to that place,” said Liu Liehong, member of the Party Leadership Group of the National Development and Reform Commission and director of the National Data Administration.
Return to TopBeijing, August 30, Our Paper (reporter Liu Zhiqiang (刘志强)). The National Development and Reform Commission (国家发展改革委), together with relevant departments, convened a national meeting on promoting investment work, conducted an in-depth analysis of the current investment situation, studied and arranged key tasks, and made intensified and accelerated efforts to do well all work of stabilizing investment.
The meeting pointed out that since the beginning of this year, the investment structure has shown a trend of change toward the new and the superior, the efficiency and quality of investment have continuously improved, and investment has played an important supporting role in the high-quality development of the economy and society. In the face of the difficulties and challenges in the current operation of investment, it is necessary to strengthen confidence, act proactively, adopt forceful and effective measures based on actual conditions, fully mobilize the enthusiasm of all sides, deeply tap the investment space in such areas as scientific and technological innovation, industrial upgrading, urban renewal, rural revitalization, new-type infrastructure, livelihood security, and green and low-carbon development, stimulate and release investment potential to the greatest extent, and support high-quality economic and social development with effective investment.
The meeting made arrangements for all the work of stabilizing investment. First, strengthen dispatch and supervision over the "two-major" construction (两重建设) and central budget investment projects, accelerate the issuance and use of local government special bonds, promptly disburse funds from new-type policy-based financial instruments, strictly implement fund supervision, and ensure timely payment of funds. Second, accelerate the implementation of major projects in the 15th Five-Year Plan and form physical workload as soon as possible. Third, systematically advance the planning and construction of the "six networks" (六张网), promptly plan a batch of key projects, raise funds for project construction through multiple channels, establish and improve coordination mechanisms, and ensure that the "six networks" construction advances efficiently and in an orderly manner. Fourth, precisely and efficiently strengthen factor support in such aspects as land use and environmental impact assessment, and strengthen, in a targeted manner, the guarantee of new-type factors such as application scenarios, data, technology, and talent. Fifth, solidly advance such work as price and fee reform in key areas, data sharing, expansion of application scenarios, formulation of standards and norms, and innovation of organizational models, and continuously intensify the work of "soft construction" (软建设). Sixth, promptly launch a batch of major projects that attract the participation of private enterprises, support private enterprises in participating in the issuance of infrastructure REITs (real estate investment trust funds, 不动产投资信托基金) and in the construction and operation of projects under the new mechanism of government and social capital cooperation (PPP), implement the various policies supporting the development of private enterprises, establish and improve mechanisms for problem feedback from private enterprises and for coordinated resolution, and, 千方百计 (qiān fāng bǎi jì - "a thousand methods, a hundred schemes," by every possible means), stimulate the vitality of private investment. Seventh, in accordance with the requirement of "implementing one batch, carrying out preliminary work for one batch, reserving one batch, and planning one batch," strengthen the planning and reserve of projects and do well the preliminary work for projects.
Return to TopBeijing, August 30 — Our reporter Wang Yunshan (王云杉) learned from the National Data Administration (国家数据局) that more than 20 computing-power scheduling entities have officially settled into the testing and verification platform for the monitoring and scheduling of the national integrated computing network (全国一体化算力网监测调度试验验证平台), comprehensively improving the operation and service capacity of computing-power scheduling.
The national integrated computing network is a major project proposed in the Outline of the 15th Five-Year Plan. The monitoring and scheduling platform is an important component of this project. At present, 1.45 million PFLOPS (FP16) of intelligent computing power has been incorporated into the monitoring scope.
Next, the National Development and Reform Commission (国家发展改革委) and the National Data Administration will further advance the construction of the "East Data, West Computing" project (东数西算) and, on the basis of the eight national computing hubs and three regions for coordinated development of computing power and electricity, accelerate the building of the national integrated computing network.
Return to TopOur newspaper, Beijing, August 30 (Reporter Yu Jingxian (郁静娴)). The reporter learned from the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs (农业农村部) that the 15th Five-Year Plan for the Development of the National Agricultural Product Origin Market System (全国农产品产地市场体系发展“十五五”规划) has been issued. The plan proposes that by 2030, a modern agricultural product origin market system that fits the industry, links production with demand, is efficient and smooth, and is connected internally and open externally will be basically established, and the capacity for agricultural product supply assurance and for serving and driving smallholder farmers will improve steadily.
The plan states that by 2030, the layout of agricultural product origin wholesale markets will be more rational, and facilities such as trading, cold-chain, and logistics will be continuously improved; the agricultural product information monitoring and early warning system will be more complete, and its capacity to serve decision-making and guide expectations will be significantly enhanced; and the level of standardization, digital-intelligentization, and green development of the agricultural product origin market system will be further raised.
Focusing on promoting the transformation and upgrading of agricultural product origin markets, strengthening agricultural product marketing services, and enhancing agricultural product market monitoring and early warning capacity, the plan puts forward a series of specific arrangements, including: optimizing and upgrading origin wholesale markets, accelerating the improvement of cold-chain logistics facilities in production areas, and establishing and improving rural production–marketing service stations; enriching consumption scenarios, promoting the integration of agricultural product consumption into cultural tourism, sports events, and other fields, and expanding consumption of green and high-quality agricultural products; and strengthening information statistics for wholesale markets in production areas, sales areas, and distribution centers of key agricultural products and for large-scale planting and breeding enterprises, and monitoring such conditions as the origins and destinations, prices and sales volumes, costs and benefits, and inventory quantities of agricultural products.
Return to TopOn August 30, the closure of the Huangjueping Double-Track Extra-Large Bridge on the Chengdu-Chongqing Railway renovation project was successfully completed, laying a solid foundation for the project's subsequent construction. The Huangjueping Double-Track Extra-Large Bridge is located in Jiulongpo District, Chongqing, and is a critical control project for the entire Chengdu-Chongqing Railway renovation project. The bridge has a total length of 754 meters. The section where closure was completed this time is the main-span continuous girder portion of the bridge; construction of the station building section and box girder section will follow. The photo shows the construction site of the Huangjueping Double-Track Extra-Large Bridge.
Photo by Ran Jie (Xinhua News Agency)
Beijing, August 30 (Reporters Han Xin (韩鑫), Jin Bo (靳博)). On August 29, as the 105,000-ton-class luxury cruise ship Ideal slowly departed from Tianjin International Cruise Home Port, more than 2,700 tourists began a destination-free sea journey by cruise ship, injecting entirely new vitality into the maritime leisure, culture and tourism market of northern China and further enriching the domestic supply of short-distance sea vacation products.
The destination-free sea voyage launched this time is a Tianjin cruise innovation pilot project, with the first batch setting two pilot voyages on August 29 and August 31. The route adopts the "Tianjin departure, original-port return" model, lasting 3 days and 2 nights in total. After sailing out, the cruise ship cruises to waters 24 nautical miles from China's territorial sea baseline and does not call at any port in between, creating a convenient and worry-free new way of sea leisure. The Ideal cruise ship has diverse internal business formats and complete supporting facilities, with specialty dining, themed performances, parent-child entertainment, leisure and wellness, and other services all available, allowing tourists to fully enjoy a diversified vacation experience.
Return to TopOur Dispatch, Harbin, August 30 (Reporter Liu Mengdan) — The reporter learned from the Department of Industry and Information Technology of Heilongjiang Province (黑龙江省工业和信息化厅) that the province's first batch of computing power vouchers has been formally issued, and enterprises including Harbin Boiler Works (哈尔滨锅炉厂) and CRRC Qiqihar Vehicle Co., Ltd. (中车齐齐哈尔车辆有限公司) have received a "gift package" for digital transformation.
In April this year, the Department of Industry and Information Technology of Heilongjiang Province, together with the Provincial Department of Finance (省财政厅), issued the Administrative Measures for Computing Power Vouchers of Heilongjiang Province (Trial) (《黑龙江省算力券管理办法（试行）》), establishing an institutional framework aimed at the real pain points of enterprises, and designing policies along such dimensions as lowering the threshold for inclusive computing power and tilting subsidy ratios toward science and technology innovation projects. Enterprises with computing power service procurement contract amounts exceeding 50,000 yuan may apply; ordinary projects can deduct up to 30 percent of actual expenditure; for entities undertaking scientific research topics at or above the provincial level and key industry innovation projects, the deduction ratio is raised to 50 percent; and a single enterprise can enjoy a maximum annual deduction quota of 4 million yuan.
Return to TopBy: 本报记者 尚嵘峥
“Baa——” At present, seed-use squash in Xinjiang are ripening one after another. In the thousand-mu seed-use squash field in Shiyu Town (石峪镇), Shuanghe City (双河市), a group of special “helpers” has arrived.
Once they enter the mature period, the seed-use squash field is lush with vines and leaves and full of weeds; the golden, sturdy seed-use squashes are hidden beneath this expanse of green. This is also a critical period for field management. Yet in the more than 200 mu of seed-use squash fields belonging to the grower Chen Weiwei (陈威威), one can see sheep strolling leisurely, enjoying a delicious “buffet.”
“They are all ‘helpers.’ While taking a walk in the field, they not only get enough to eat, but also make it convenient for us to harvest.” Chen Weiwei explained that the sheep trample the vines and gnaw at the weeds and leaves, so the seed-use squashes emerge from the foliage. After direct sunlight, the seeds can grow plumper and glossier.
Within just a few days, the trampled vines gradually wither. In the field once covered with weeds and vines, the plump seed-use squashes are 一览无余 (yī lǎn wú yú - “a single view leaves nothing hidden,” to see everything at a glance), making subsequent harvesting convenient and saving a sum of money on manual weeding.
Why do the sheep not eat the seed-use squashes? “The skin of a seed-use squash is hard and thick. It is not like a watermelon, which breaks easily if it falls to the ground. You have to pick it up and smash it hard on the ground, or hit it with a stone, to split it open.” Chen Weiwei said that the droppings left by the sheep are also a natural organic fertilizer, which can improve the soil structure, increase soil fertility, and improve the soil conditions for growing the next crop.
Every August, as the grass in mountain pastures gradually enters its wilting period, herders contact seed-use squash growers in advance and negotiate to move their sheep flocks to this place.
After setting up yurts and putting up fences, the seed-use squash field temporarily becomes a new pasture. Such a transitional period lasts as little as three or four days or as long as one or two weeks, saving herders no small amount of forage costs. The herders and growers do not charge each other, forming a positive interaction in which animal husbandry assists farming and ecological cultivation and breeding take place.
Chen Weiwei has grown seed-use squash for six years. Previously, once the mature period began, in order to make weeding easier, he tried simply cutting off water to the field and letting the vines and weeds wither naturally, but this often took more than 20 days and took effect too slowly. He also tried mechanized harvesting: more than 200 mu cost more than 30,000 yuan, and this did not yet include additional expenses such as fuel and equipment dispatch.
In the past two years, he saw neighboring growers one after another adopt the “sheep helpers,” which can be called free “weeders,” bringing tangible benefits to farmers and herders, and he himself also began to try it. “If the sheep eat quickly, I also gain some extra time to ‘raise the squashes,’ letting the seed-use squashes bask in the sun longer in the field; the seeds are plumper and can be sold at a better price,” Chen Weiwei said.
In recent years, Shuanghe City has continuously promoted a green, circular ecological cultivation-and-breeding model. During the seed-use squash maturation period, nearly ten thousand mu of fields have gained “sheep helpers.” Besides Shuanghe City, in Xinjiang, “sheep helpers” have also entered seed-use squash fields in Kokdala City (可克达拉市), Jimsar County (吉木萨尔县), Manas County (玛纳斯县), and other places.
“Ecological cultivation and breeding is reflected in all aspects, such as the utilization of straw as feed and the return of livestock and poultry manure to the fields. Through the linkage of grain cultivation and livestock raising, corn and wheat straw are made into feed for livestock and poultry, while livestock manure is used as organic fertilizer and returned to the fields,” said He Mingfu (何明富), deputy director of the Shuanghe City Agriculture and Rural Affairs Bureau (双河市农业农村局). Shuanghe City utilizes about 250,000 metric tons of straw as feed every year, and livestock produce about 150,000 cubic meters of organic fertilizer.
In the ten-thousand-mu cotton field, solar insecticidal lamps are using the phototaxis of pests to kill them precisely. “The insecticidal lamps are powered by locally abundant solar energy and eliminate pests by physical means, which can reduce dependence on chemical pesticides. This not only improves cotton quality but is also green and energy-saving,” He Mingfu said. The local area has installed solar insecticidal lamps at nearly 2,000 locations, effectively reducing the occurrence of crop diseases and pests.
Return to TopBy: 本报记者 刘新吾
A long whistle sounded, and a sea-rail intermodal freight train fully loaded with goods departed from Guoyuan Port (果园港), located in the Chongqing Pilot Free Trade Zone (重庆自贸试验区). Two days later, the train arrived at Qinzhou Port (钦州港) in Guangxi, and the goods were loaded onto an international cargo vessel, bound for a port in Malaysia.
"With the multimodal transport 'one-bill system' (一单制), transport efficiency is much higher," said He Daoguo (何道国), president of Chongqing Meilian International Warehousing and Transportation (Group) Co., Ltd. (重庆美联国际仓储运输（集团）有限公司).
In the past, to ship an order, a freight company had to coordinate with road, rail, port, and other parties, issue multiple documents, and the containers used for land and sea transport were not interchangeable, requiring container transfers at the port. Now, the consignor places an order with one click, the multimodal transport operator is responsible for the whole journey, one freight document can circulate smoothly through all stages, and the goods can "arrive at the port without changing containers" and board the ship directly.
The smooth flow of goods stems from institutional innovation.
In recent years, the Chongqing Pilot Free Trade Zone has explored and innovated land trade rules, using the multimodal transport "one-bill system" as a breakthrough to crack the pain points of inland logistics: "too many links, slow turnover, and high cost."
Quay cranes rose and fell in orderly fashion; freight trains were ready to depart, 蓄势待发 (xù shì dài fā - "accumulating momentum, waiting to be dispatched," poised and ready); cargo ships slowly came alongside... A thin bill of lading seamlessly connected multiple modes of transport.
The changes did not stop there. At the Operations and Dispatching Center of the New International Land-Sea Trade Corridor (西部陆海新通道), the screen displayed the trajectories of goods in real time, checkable and controllable throughout the entire journey.
Relying on new technologies, Chongqing has realized on-chain evidence storage of digital bills of lading; the transport and customs clearance information of every shipment can be traced. To date, more than 21,000 digital bills of lading have been stored on the chain for evidence, with a cargo value exceeding 7 billion yuan.
Now, the categories of goods under the "one-bill system" have expanded from parallel-imported cars to rubber, auto parts, daily consumer goods, and beyond; intermodal modes have extended to river-sea and road-sea combined transport; the service network covers East Asia, Europe, South America, and other regions; and the overall customs clearance time for goods has been reduced by 40%.
The smooth flow of goods also depends on financial connectivity.
"Previously, while goods were in transit, we had to advance funds; after the goods arrived at port and the documents were complete, it took at least half a month to get a financing loan," Zang Honghui (臧红辉), head of a new materials technology company in Chongqing, told the reporter.
This had once been a common problem for many foreign trade enterprises. For a long time, the ocean bill of lading has been a recognized document of title; enterprises could use the bill of lading at banks for settlement, pledge, and financing, whereas railway, highway, and other land waybills could only prove the transport condition of goods, did not have the effect of a real right, and could not be used for settlement or financing, so enterprises often faced capital turnover pressure.
Solving the problem meant moving from "physical connectivity" to "rule alignment." The Chongqing Pilot Free Trade Zone took the lead in issuing policies guiding financial institutions to explore using land transport bills of lading and multimodal transport bills of lading as the basis for settlement and financing. The Chongqing Free Trade Zone People's Court (重庆自由贸易试验区人民法院) promoted judicial innovation through court cases and other forms, established the negotiability of land transport documents, and promoted a breakthrough innovation in land trade rules, filling a gap in the relevant rules.
Earlier this year, the Chongqing Branch of Industrial Bank (兴业银行重庆分行) handled a "one-bill system" trade financing business for this new materials technology company, and a loan of 5.9 million yuan was credited in just three days. "With just a land transport bill of lading, we were able to get a loan, promptly filling the raw material procurement gap—the pressure has been much less," Zang Honghui said.
To date, the number of banks cooperating with Chongqing on "one-bill system" financing has increased to 11, and financial products such as the "Land-Sea One-Bill Loan" (陆海一单贷) have provided cumulative financing of nearly 1.1 billion yuan, injecting financial "living water" into foreign trade enterprises.
All units worked in unison, 齐心协力 (qí xīn xié lì - "united hearts and coordinated strength," making concerted efforts): Chongqing Customs (重庆海关), in cooperation with railway departments and other parties, further broke down information barriers and better achieved data interconnection and intercommunication; relevant departments are also calling for promoting the alignment of domestic law with international conventions and improving documentation rules.
"During the '15th Five-Year Plan' period, we will further align with high-standard international economic and trade rules, carry out a batch of pilot demonstration applications in fields such as transport standards, customs clearance facilitation, financial services, and dispute resolution, strengthen digital and intelligent empowerment, and let more enterprises enjoy the dividends of institutional innovation," said Cheng Shiluan (成诗銮), deputy director of the Pilot Free Trade Zone Institutional Innovation Division of the Chongqing Municipal Commission of Commerce (重庆市商务委自贸试验区制度创新处).
Return to TopDialogue participants:
Zhou Shanshan (周珊珊), commentator of our newspaper
Xu Qingguang (许庆光), commentator of Xinjiang Daily
Zhou Shanshan: General Secretary Xi Jinping emphasized: "Establishing and practicing the correct view of political achievements (正确政绩观) is a long-term task; we must make long-term, unremitting efforts, continuously consolidate and expand the achievements of the learning and education campaign (学习教育), and continuously impel Party organizations at all levels and the broad ranks of Party members and cadres to build the Party for the public good, bring well-being to the people, make scientific decisions, and work in real earnest, striving to create real achievements that withstand the test of practice, the people, and history." To continue advancing education on the view of political achievements, it is necessary to measure against advanced models and regularly examine and rectify problems of deviation in the view of political achievements.
Xu Qingguang: In Cele County (策勒县) of the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, there is a "slow canal" from which one can read the correct view of political achievements. Cele County is a place of "yellow sand and white grass, half Gobi"; its average annual precipitation is only 35.5 millimeters, and its annual evaporation is as high as 2,955 millimeters. In order for the county seat to no longer be chased by wind and sand, and so that the ordinary people, cattle, sheep, and crops could drink water, the local Party committee and government of Cele made the decision to "demand water from the great desert and build a canal."
The Battle Canal (战斗渠) in Cele County has a total length of 86.3 kilometers; construction ran from 1960 to 1990 before water finally flowed through the entire line. During the construction period there were no large modern machines: earthwork was done entirely by hand-digging and shoulder-pole carrying, and masonry stones were all carried back by human labor. But the local Party committee led the masses of all ethnic groups with 锲而不舍 (qiè ér bù shě - "carve without stopping," to persevere unremittingly), and thirty years of toil won "a canal of living water" in exchange. From the Battle Canal to Kekeya (柯柯牙), from the Red Flag Canal to Saihanba, for the benefit of the ordinary people, however hard it was, they did it; however slow it was, they pushed it forward. This is the Chinese Communists' philosophy of serving the people and the underlying color of political achievements.
Zhou Shanshan: Through the Battle Canal project, Cele County not only built an irrigation water network, but subsequently extended it into disease-prevention water-improvement projects and drinking-water safety projects; today, linked with the Nur Water Control Hub (奴尔水利枢纽), it has achieved intelligent water dispatch. From water diversion for irrigation to ecological sand control and industry-based enrichment of the people, why has this locality been able to make a big article out of a single canal?
Xu Qingguang: The iterative upgrading from a "canal of life" into an "ecological canal" and a "people-enriching canal" provides a vivid yardstick for distinguishing "doing things for the people" from "doing things for fame."
When the masses' urgent needs, difficulties, anxieties, and aspirations are held in the heart, one will not calculate personal gains and losses, advances and retreats, nor pursue 华而不实 (huá ér bù shí - "flowering but bearing no fruit," flashy and insubstantial) "face projects" (面子工程); instead, one pursues long-term benefits, carries a single blueprint through to the end, and gnaws at hard bones without letup. From the day construction of the Battle Canal began, local cadres and the masses were convinced of the principle that "if the canal does not go through, the bitter days will not be endured to an end"; they willingly ate corn naan, lived in cellar dugouts, and swung ketman hoes. Some collapsed from heatstroke, some were injured by boulders, and some were swallowed by shifting sand... Sixty-four builders lie in eternal sleep beside this "canal of life" cut by their own hands. These ordinary yet vivid lives have turned into spiritual monuments standing tall on the Gobi.
Doing things for the people in a solid and down-to-earth manner will leave achievements that withstand the test of practice, the people, and history, and win the heartfelt recognition of the masses.
Zhou Shanshan: The Battle Canal was built not by reckless force, but by 因地制宜 (yīn dì zhì yí - "according to the land, devise what is suitable," to adapt to local conditions) and going along with natural tendencies in making use of nature. In the course of building the canal, the locality, based on the actual conditions of topography, landforms, hydrology, and climate, invented a prefabricated mud-brick technique that greatly raised construction efficiency; it also cleverly borrowed flood-season torrents from the Kunlun Mountains to dilute the salinity and alkalinity of the soil, forming a thick arable layer... Proceeding from reality and acting according to objective laws — this is the requirement for practicing the correct view of political achievements, and it is also the key to producing political achievements for the people and to producing political achievements through solid work.
Xu Qingguang: When doing things and starting undertakings, one cannot rely on brute strength alone; one must base oneself on concrete realities, constantly sum up experience, feel for the laws of things in practice, and innovate methods when tackling tough problems, so that the striving spirit of 愚公移山 (yú gōng yí shān - "the Foolish Old Man moves the mountain," to persevere with unyielding determination) is filled with the scientific substance of seeking truth and being pragmatic. Likewise, the Kekeya desert-greening project has been implemented for 40 years, relying on the systematic thinking and scientific methods of "jointly building the three forests" — ecological forests, economic forests, and scenic forests; the Tianshan Shengli Tunnel (天山胜利隧道), in the face of the world-class problem of ultra-long tunnel ventilation, innovated its scheme, independently developed tunnel boring machines, and created multiple records... In recent years, all of Xinjiang's major projects have been built upon scientific survey and verification. From this, one can appreciate that establishing the correct view of political achievements requires adhering to scientific decision-making.
Scientific decision-making takes 实事求是 (shí shì qiú shì - "from facts, seek truth," to be truthful and pragmatic) and respect for objective laws as its premise. In many cases, the "slowness" that respects objective laws is precisely true "quickness," while the "quickness" that departs from reality will instead become a "slowness" that drags down the work.
Zhou Shanshan: Generations of people on the northern and southern sides of the Tianshan Mountains have completed a series of water conservancy, transportation, and ecological projects, converging into the magnificent practice of advancing the building of a beautiful Xinjiang. What, in the final analysis, is the endogenous driving force of this kind of continuous struggle?
Xu Qingguang: The completion of the Altash Water Control Hub (阿尔塔什水利枢纽) resolved the flood scourge of the Yarkand River; the opening of the Hotan-Ruoqiang Railway (和若铁路) rewrote the history of many parts of southern Xinjiang lacking train service; the blocking battle at the edge of the Taklamakan Desert achieved tangible results, with the 3,046-kilometer ecological barrier encircling the desert joined into a closed ring; projects such as transmitting Xinjiang's electricity to other regions and the West-to-East Gas Pipeline have built a solid national energy security barrier... Under the Party's leadership, the masses of all ethnic groups in Xinjiang have carried on a continuous struggle, turning one "impossible" after another into reality.
Not long ago, when Xinjiang tour guide Dilnur Tursunjan (迪丽努尔·吐尔逊江) led Taiwan compatriots through the Tianshan Shengli Tunnel, her commentary went straight to people's hearts: "It is not that boring through the Tianshan Mountains is easy; it is that there are people on the other side of the Tianshan Mountains." This statement precisely embodies the Communists' view of political achievements — to advance 一往无前 (yī wǎng wú qián - "one dash forward, nothing ahead," to press forward fearlessly) and strive without end for the people's interests.
Zhou Shanshan: Thirty years to build one Battle Canal — it is both a livelihood project and a spiritual mirror, reflecting what the correct view of political achievements is. Learning and education is not the terminal point but a new starting point. From the "dilemma of water shortage" to "invigorating water through wisdom," from "sand advances, people retreat" to "green advances, sand retreats," taking the people's aspiration for a better life as the goal of struggle, and accomplishing the enterprise of the "great self" (大我) through the realm of "no-self" (无我), Xinjiang's development possesses infinite strength.
Return to TopBy: 姜 峰
Only by truly combining what is “technically feasible” with what is “feasible in application” and “feasible in commerce,” and by honing technology in real scenarios and promoting its transformation in the market, can the seeds and seedlings of industrial innovation better grow into towering trees.
At present, a 耐人寻味 (nài rén xún wèi - “worth savoring and pondering,” thought-provoking) two-way convergence (双向奔赴) is taking place in the embodied intelligence industry.
In Dadukou District (大渡口区) of Chongqing, which prospered because of steel, Unitree’s Western Innovation and Operations Center was put into use in April this year. Relevant departments took the initiative to call on the company, sifting out industry “pain points” such as the inspection of navigation beacons on steep, high bank slopes and supplementary terrain surveying of dry-season shoals, and jointly discussing intelligent solutions.
Secondary development, product iteration; empowering transformation, expanding the ecosystem... The old base and the new technology, hand in hand, knock open the “gate to the future.”
Since the beginning of this year, enterprises such as Fourier, Galaxy General, and AgiBot Innovation have successively landed in Chongqing. Chongqing, which possesses all 31 major manufacturing categories, has used its precision-machining capacity and vast application scenarios to boost them along the trend, realizing complementary advantages and mutual success.
The trend is becoming ever clearer: the “smart brains” from the eastern frontier of scientific and technological innovation embrace the “sturdy bodies” of the western industrial hub, sending surging vitality bursting through the industry.
As the 15th Five-Year Plan period opens, China’s economy has a stable foundation, multiple strengths, strong resilience, and great potential; the strengths of the socialist system with Chinese characteristics, the strengths of the super-large market, the strengths of the complete industrial system, and the strengths of the abundant talent pool are all the more evident. Robots “marching west” are precisely a vivid manifestation of these four major strengths.
Looking across industries such as embodied intelligence and low-altitude equipment, original innovation mostly originates in first-tier cities in the east; amid the “brainstorming” of R&D talent and the surging of industrial demand, algorithmic breakthroughs and model iteration are born. When new industries now locate in the west, they value the complex and diverse real-world application spaces, the complete and solid parts-supporting system, and the abundant reserve of skilled artisans.
With east and west moving toward each other and the innovation chain and the application chain connected across regions, frontier technologies no longer hang suspended in the air, and traditional manufacturing gains new vitality.
New opportunities lie in the solid industrial foundation, making the transformation toward the new one of greater ease. A leading manufacturing enterprise in Bishan District (璧山区), Chongqing, long devoted to auto parts, underwent a “silky-smooth transformation,” developing a robot joint in just 45 days. Precision transmission craftsmanship accumulated over many years has helped embodied intelligence 强筋健骨 (qiáng jīn jiàn gǔ - “strengthen the sinews, harden the bones,” to build a strong and sturdy frame). When more and more new technologies empower old industries, existing strengths gain the capacity to extend into future application scenarios. This also widens the track for traditional industries and enhances their competitiveness. In this sense, innovative development need not mean 另起炉灶 (lìng qǐ lú zào - “light a new stove,” start over from scratch); it can also mean practicing “old skills” to a new height.
New opportunities are nurtured by unimpeded chain-based collaboration, making the innovation ecosystem healthier. At Chongqing Mechanical and Electrical Vocational and Technical University (重庆机电职业技术大学), the embodied intelligence engineering and technology program “was filled in its first recruitment,” and university-enterprise cooperation has built an industry-education integration base. New students with zero foundation, relying on practical training with real machines, are expected to quickly grow into engineers for application development and data collection. As the industrial chain and innovation chain, and the education chain and talent chain, are further opened up, those who were formerly “supporting players in the industry” have become “co-builders of the ecosystem” who promote development. This shows us that only by building a “strong magnetic field” for the deeply integrated innovation of education, science and technology, and talent can we better enable the springs of innovation to flow in abundance and give greater staying power to reform driving innovation and innovation leading development.
New opportunities grow out of the broad space of application scenarios, making iterative leaps more diverse. In Chongqing, from cultural-tourism commentary and public services, to assembly inspection and flexible production, and on to patrol inspection, emergency response, and special operations, it is already commonplace for demand to “set the questions,” for enterprises to “take up the challenge,” and for scenarios to land on the ground; robots and their related business forms continue to grow in real service and real production.
A good industrial ecosystem cannot rely only on single-point technological breakthroughs; it depends even more on the hard-core tempering of application and the systematic allocation of factors. Whether traditional industries, emerging industries, or future industries, only by truly combining what is “technically feasible” with what is “feasible in application” and “feasible in commerce,” by honing technology in real scenarios and promoting transformation in the market, can the seeds and seedlings of industrial innovation better grow into towering trees.
Robots “marching west” is the result of Chongqing amplifying its industrial strengths, and it is also reshaping the industrial genes of this region. Taking the argument further, R&D in the east, application in the west; innovation at the frontier, transformation in the hinterland — this may be an important pathway for the scaling-up of future industries.
With the strengths of east and west fully coupled, old and new growth drivers deeply integrated, and sci-tech innovation and the real economy empowering each other in both directions, future industries, on this land brimming with the vitality of innovation and creation, will surely grow ever more sturdy and luxuriant.
(The author is a reporter with the Chongqing bureau of this newspaper.)
Return to TopBy: 常言道
Recently, several news items concerning AI (artificial intelligence) and algorithms have drawn much attention. Viewed together, the governance issues behind them invite reflection.
First, AI "voice theft." As AI voice-cloning technology continues to iterate and upgrade, with just over ten seconds of voice material, one can precisely replicate a person's voice line and simulate their emotional tone; some merchants even secretly use voice actors' voices to generate product-promotion videos.
Second, charging for AI entry points. Some social platforms have created "AI shopping guides" that directly push products, and some large models charge a 12 percent commission on hotel bookings. The commercial monetization of AI is gradually being implemented.
Third, "red-light time-off." Three food-delivery platforms have taken the lead in Beijing in exploring the implementation of "red-light time-off," whereby the time riders spend waiting at red lights can be deferred in their assessment time.
AI "voice theft" exposes security risks and can easily become a new means of fraud, with low infringement costs and great difficulties in rights protection. As AI large models explore commercial implementation, the objectivity of some commission-binding models has been called into question. "Relieving" delivery riders by embedding the rigid requirement of obeying traffic rules into platform logic reflects goodwill. There are both new problems and new manifestations, as well as reflection, regulation, and improvement — all pointing to a question of the era that we cannot avoid: when AI is everywhere and increasingly and profoundly changing the mode of production and life, exactly how should we coexist with algorithms?
First, we must make good use of them. Advancing algorithm-for-good in all fields requires reform-minded thinking and precise policy implementation.
Looking back on the history of human civilization, every technological revolution has brought major changes to the economy and society. AI develops by leaps and bounds, algorithms iterate with each passing day, while social operations, institutional rules, and the like are relatively stable — problems and contradictions inevitably arise. Old routines will hardly find a way out; only by maintaining a reform stance and adopting meticulous measures can we find the greatest common divisor and solidly solve problems and seek well-being. For example, the realization of the innovative measure of "red-light time-off" benefits from the real-time integration of traffic-signal data; its foundation lies in cross-departmental and cross-entity data sharing; and the key lies in government-enterprise linkage and industry coordination.
Sound governance is indispensable. Regulation of new things must be both inclusive and prudent, while also setting up "traffic lights" and clarifying boundaries to ensure that technology always advances along the track of benefiting people and enhancing the public interest.
For example, how should one regulate the behavior of AI models collecting large amounts of others' voice data during the training stage? If the training behavior itself is determined to constitute infringement, it will put pressure on the development of the large-model industry; if all data is allowed to be used without compensation, it will create hidden risks. In response to similar problems, the exploration of Guangzhou, Guangdong, is worth learning from. On August 17 this year, the Guangzhou Artificial Intelligence Development Promotion Regulation (Draft Revision for Comment) (广州市人工智能发展促进条例（草案修改稿·征求意见稿）) was released to solicit public opinions and suggestions, with plans to clarify regulatory principles and prohibited acts in the form of legislation. By grasping the balance well and applying rule-of-law thinking and rule-of-law methods, one can often find the optimal solution to complex problems.
Only good innovation can bring the future. The continuous iterative innovation of algorithms has driven the leap in AI technology, and the risks and challenges that emerge in its development process must still be resolved through innovation.
On the one hand, we should step outside algorithms to look at algorithms and advance systematic innovation. At present, computing power, data, and models are increasingly evolving into an organic whole in which they are interdependent and mutually driven. Integrating resources with systematic thinking and amplifying the synergy among the three is conducive to forming a superimposed advantage of "1+1+1>3." On the other hand, innovation should be pursued through openness and cooperation. The vitality of technology lies in openness and circulation. In Africa, plant-protection drones based on BeiDou navigation technology have greatly improved operational efficiency; in Brazil, the State Grid Guangming Power large model (光明电力大模型) assists in the intelligent operation and maintenance of power grids... Chinese AI helps developing countries fill the shortcomings in intelligent-transformation, and has also accumulated new advantages through open cooperation.
When machines begin to deduce, algorithms participate in decision-making, and the technological divide continues to widen... finding ways to keep AI anchored to the upward and good direction and to run both fast and steadily — everyone can be a participant and can also make their own contribution.
Return to TopForested mountains layered in dazzling color, water towns brimming with poetic charm, grasslands vast and boundless — the whole country is about to enter the autumn harvest season, which is also the golden period for enjoying the autumn scenery. Especially in the vast countryside, pastoral landscapes and specialty fruit-picking complement each other (相映成趣 — xiāng yìng chéng qù, "echoing one another to form a pleasing scene," things that enhance each other's charm), painting a moving picture of a harmonious and beautiful countryside, attracting many tourists to come sightseeing and experience the delights of farm life. The integration of agriculture, culture, and tourism has now become a powerful lever for the comprehensive revitalization of rural areas.
This is exactly the scene:
Autumn's charm enters farm homes,
Its brilliance outshines the morning glow.
Water towns gain scenes of bounty,
Guests arrive, adding to the splendor.
Yang Yuwen
By: 哈丽琴
Recently, the news that 49 cadres in Hohhot, Inner Mongolia, who had been reassigned downward, were re-appointed for outstanding performance has drawn attention. It struck at a concern deep in the hearts of many grassroots cadres: "If we go down, can we ever come back up?"
For a long time, some cadres have held two kinds of misconceptions: one is that being promoted is tantamount to entering an "insurance box" and having an "iron chair," and that as long as one does not cross the line of discipline and law, even mediocrity and inaction will not lead to being reassigned downward; the other is that once reassigned downward, one is consigned to the "cold bench" and locked out of the "path of advancement," completely losing room for development, and that no matter how hard one works and takes responsibility, there is no possibility of rising again.
Some grassroots cadres who were reassigned downward admitted that harder than the change of position is the psychological pressure. They dare not sit in the front row at meetings, dare not speak proactively in briefings, fear gossip among colleagues and private questioning by the masses. Even if they are sincere about rectification and do their work steadily, they always carry the psychological burden of being a "loser." Moreover, some units have a crude management problem of "reassigning and then forgetting about it"—after cadres are reassigned downward, no one follows up, no one points out their shortcomings, and no one builds a platform for rectification. Over time, such cadres either completely lie flat or develop negative thoughts such as resigning.
The ability of cadres to go up and down is a key lever for optimizing the structure of the ranks and stimulating vitality in doing work, and it is also an important path for breaking through laziness, slackness, lying flat, and shirking, delaying, dodging, and evading. Cadre reassignment is not "a single stroke that settles everything," nor is downward reassignment "beating someone to death with one stick." Hohhot abandoned the fixed mindset that "going down means elimination," and toward cadres reassigned downward, it did not stick on "labels," did not put on "hats," and did not let them drift, but instead built a scientific and normalized system of follow-up education and management. This is precisely the key to the 49 "downward" cadres regaining growth.
Going "down" is only a means, not the ultimate end; one should not "judge a hero" by a single reassignment. To enable reassigned cadres to have opportunities to improve, motivation to work, and hope in their hearts, full efforts must be made in the work after going "down." It is necessary to adhere to combining strict management with care, and incentives with constraints, to follow up with cultivation and select the best for reuse, so as to both leave room for cadres to temper their skills, rectify and improve, and build a platform for cadres to reshape their sense of responsibility and work hard and forge ahead.
Going "down" is not the ending; one can also pack up and set off anew. Only by discarding the erroneous mindset that "once down, fixed for life" can cadres put down the baggage of gains and losses and devote all their energy to resolving the people's concerns and doing practical things.
(Excerpted from Inner Mongolia Daily)
Return to TopBy: 李 斌
A fare of dozens of yuan for a distance of just a few kilometers, with shuttle bus tickets almost catching up to the scenic area's entrance ticket; unreasonable routes in which overly long walking distances amplify the rigid demand for taking the bus; public roads turned into internal passageways, with connection fees forcibly charged... Recently, shuttle buses at scenic areas have once again become the focus of heated discussion.
Not long ago, this author happened to check in at a grotto scenic area that has stirred considerable controversy. The old parking lot beside the scenic area's ticket checkpoint is small in area and has few parking spaces—there is indeed no possibility of expanding it—and only one narrow road connects it to the outside world, making traffic jams likely. Transferring to shuttle buses at the new visitor center outside the mountain is clearly an inevitable choice for maintaining traffic order and improving the visitor experience.
Looking across the country, there are many similar scenic areas. In scenic areas that are relatively large in size and have strict ecological and cultural relic protection requirements, scientifically planning and putting new-energy shuttle buses into operation can reduce ecological impact and can also provide convenience for elderly visitors, parent-child families, and travelers with limited physical strength—conforming to visitor needs and to the green development concept.
Planning and design must be scientific, and service pricing must also be reasonable. One point for which this grotto scenic area draws considerable criticism is that the shuttle bus route is no more than 10-plus kilometers, yet the ticket costs 30 yuan. Transportation within a scenic area is monopolistic in nature and falls within the scope of government-set pricing; profit should not be the highest objective. Ticket prices that are too high, far exceeding actual costs and visitor expectations, are precisely the crux of why shuttle buses at many scenic areas have become targets of public grumbling.
Only by clarifying the boundary between public welfare attributes and commercial attributes, letting shuttle buses return to their “convenience for the people” standard, and making charges able to withstand “sunshine” supervision and visitors’ price comparison, can the public character of scenic areas be demonstrated and the vital interests of visitors be truly safeguarded.
At another scenic area known for a famous Taoist mountain, this author also experienced first-hand the problem of shuttle bus service not matching what was promised. The shuttle buses were agreed to include round-trip rides, yet before the scenic area had closed, the shuttle buses had already gone off shift and been parked away, and they would not wait at all for visitors who had not yet come down from the mountain. Money is collected as it should be, but the service has not been delivered—how can visitors be satisfied?
Although the “steering wheel” of the shuttle bus is held in the hands of the scenic area’s managers, it should point toward visitors’ satisfaction and sense of experience. Whether cultural tourism products or public services, whether government guidance or market regulation, the enhancement of visitors’ sense of gain should be put first, so that prices match actual value and charges balance with service quality. If service quality fails to keep pace and visitors feel “the money was spent at a loss,” no scenery, however beautiful, can keep people there.
Only when one knows how to show “humility” to mountains and waters, carefully safeguarding ecology and human culture, and also knows how to “yield benefits” to people’s hearts, sparing no effort to attend to visitors’ needs and feelings, will a tourist destination become a far-off place worth more people’s rushing toward.
Not every scenic area has the confidence to abandon the “ticket economy,” but there are always alternative approaches to be found. In recent years, many ancient cities and towns no longer “check tickets” throughout the entire city, but have instead switched to charging separately for cultural relic attractions; during the summer vacation, many places have introduced preferential policies of free admission for holders of examination admission cards or admission notices; and there are also cities where out-of-town visitors enjoy discounts on scenic area tickets with high-speed rail or airplane tickets. Adhering to the people-centered development philosophy (以人民为中心的发展思想), and using the sincerity of keeping visitors to lengthen the consumption chain, what is gained in return is commercial prosperity and an improved reputation, and the problem of scenic areas’ operation and maintenance costs will likewise be 迎刃而解 (yíng rèn ér jiě - “splits as it meets the blade,” to resolve smoothly once the key issue is addressed).
Mountains and rivers have their own character; services should have warmth. The high-quality development of the tourism industry must be underpinned by high-quality experiences and high-level service. When visitors no longer need to be aggrieved by ticket prices or anxious about transfers, is the shuttle bus itself not also a kind of civilized scenery?
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Return to TopBy: 杜家毫
On August 28, 2026, President of the People's Republic of China Xi Jinping signed Order No. 82 of the President, promulgating the Agriculture Law of the People's Republic of China, revised and adopted at the 24th session of the Standing Committee of the 14th National People's Congress. To implement and enforce the newly revised Agriculture Law well, it is necessary to take Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era as the guide, deeply understand the important significance of revising the Agriculture Law, accurately grasp the key points of the Agriculture Law revision, effectively promote the implementation and concrete application of the Agriculture Law, and consolidate the rule-of-law foundation for accelerating the building of an agricultural power and advancing agricultural and rural modernization.
I. Deeply Understand the Important Significance of Revising the Agriculture Law
General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out that an agricultural power is the foundation of a great modern socialist country, and advancing agricultural modernization is an inevitable requirement for achieving high-quality development. The Agriculture Law is a foundational law in the agricultural and rural economic field, comprehensive and overarching in nature. Revising the Agriculture Law is an important measure by the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress to implement the guiding principles of the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China and the plenary sessions of the 20th Central Committee and to establish and improve the system of legal norms for agriculture and rural areas; it is an important legislative achievement in the new era for advancing law-based governance in all respects and accelerating agricultural and rural modernization on the track of the rule of law; and it is an important rule-of-law guarantee for promoting sustained, stable, and healthy development of the agricultural and rural economy and accelerating the building of an agricultural power.
First, it is an inevitable requirement for implementing General Secretary Xi Jinping's important expositions on work related to agriculture, rural areas, and farmers (三农) and the Party Central Committee's decisions and arrangements. Revising the Agriculture Law transforms the Party Central Committee's major decisions and arrangements on promoting comprehensive rural revitalization, accelerating agricultural and rural modernization, coordinating urban-rural development, and building an agricultural power into the will of the state, and guarantees, at the institutional and legal levels, the Party's overall leadership over agricultural and rural economic development.
Second, it is an inherent requirement for upholding law-based governance in all respects and advancing the improvement of the system of legal norms for agriculture and rural areas. Revising the Agriculture Law, based on better giving play to its role as a foundational law, absorbs the achievements of rule-of-law development in recent years in improving the rural basic management system, developing agricultural production and operation organizations, and ensuring national food security, and enhances the systematic, holistic, and coordinated nature of the agricultural and rural legal system.
Third, it is an objective requirement for implementing the new development philosophy and, on the new journey of comprehensively building a modern socialist country, accelerating the building of an agricultural power and advancing agricultural and rural modernization. Revising the Agriculture Law, based on responding to changes in the internal and external environment of agricultural and rural development, targeting shortcomings and weaknesses, elevating the practical experience of rural reform into legal provisions, and looking to the future, promotes the improvement of the agricultural production and operation system, the support systems for strengthening agriculture, benefiting farmers, and enriching farmers (强农惠农富农), and the institutional mechanisms for integrated urban-rural development, so as to promote high-quality agricultural and rural development on the track of the rule of law.
II. Accurately Grasp the Key Points of the Agriculture Law Revision
The newly revised Agriculture Law has 14 chapters and 115 articles, with distinct features of the times and Chinese characteristics.
First, highlight adherence to the Party's leadership and implement the Party Central Committee's major decisions and arrangements well. It clarifies that agricultural and rural work should adhere to the leadership of the Communist Party of China, and adds content on implementing the new development philosophy, promoting high-quality development, coordinating development and security, strengthening rural governance, adhering to the priority development of agriculture and rural areas, and advancing the construction of livable, workable, harmonious, and beautiful villages (宜居宜业和美乡村).
Second, consolidate and improve the rural basic management system and improve the modern agricultural operation system. It adheres to relying on the two-tier management system to develop appropriately scaled agricultural operation with Chinese characteristics, builds a modern agricultural industry system, production system, and operation system, realizes the organic connection between household operations and modern agricultural development, and strives to build agriculture into a modern large industry. It improves the convenient and efficient agricultural socialized service system and develops multi-level, multi-type specialized services. It encourages and supports the development of family farms and protects the legitimate land rights and interests of state-owned agricultural, forestry, animal husbandry, and fishery farms.
Third, enhance supply guarantee capacity and hold the Chinese people's rice bowl more firmly and steadily. It clarifies the national food security strategy, improves the benefit compensation mechanism for major grain-producing areas and the income guarantee mechanism for grain producers, and strengthens regulation of the grain market. It adheres to the big agriculture view and the big food view (大农业观、大食物观), adheres to developing agriculture, forestry, animal husbandry, and fishery simultaneously, and builds a diversified food supply system, adding content on developing the production of grain and agricultural products such as cotton, oil, sugar, and vegetables, as well as forage and feed, and on strengthening the forestry and grass industry. It strengthens measures such as agricultural resource surveys, comprehensive agrometeorological monitoring, agricultural disaster prevention and mitigation, monitoring and early warning of animal and plant epidemics, and prevention and control of invasive alien species. It implements the strictest farmland protection system, strengthens farmland protection and quality improvement, builds high-standard farmland, protects black soil, and governs and utilizes saline-alkali land 因地制宜 (yīn dì zhì yí - "according to the land, devise what is suitable," to take measures suited to local conditions).
Fourth, improve the agricultural support and protection system and enhance the resilience of the agricultural industry. It accelerates the formation of an agricultural and rural investment pattern with fiscal priority guarantee, financial key support, and diverse social participation, and improves the effectiveness of policies for strengthening agriculture, benefiting farmers, and enriching farmers. It takes agriculture as an area of fiscal priority guarantee and establishes and improves a guarantee mechanism for steady growth of agricultural investment. It promotes the facilitation of financial services, reduces financing costs, raises the level of rural financial services, improves the agricultural credit guarantee system, develops multi-level agricultural insurance, and gives play to the capital market's function of serving agriculture.
Fifth, develop new quality productive forces (新质生产力) in agriculture and raise the level of agricultural science, technology, and equipment. It promotes the deep integration of scientific and technological innovation and industrial innovation to achieve high-level self-reliance and self-strengthening in agricultural science and technology. It strengthens capacity building of innovation platforms and innovation entities, encourages the application of new technologies in agriculture, strengthens the promotion and application of agricultural technologies and equipment, and supports the development of smart agriculture. It strengthens the development of agriculture-related disciplines and specialties, carries out agricultural technical skills and employment training, and cultivates talents in agricultural science and technology and in operation and management.
Sixth, promote green agricultural development and enhance agricultural competitiveness. It makes "green agricultural development" a separate chapter, adding content on promoting the comprehensive green transformation of agricultural development, prioritizing the development of ecological circular agriculture, and strengthening the prevention and control of agricultural non-point source pollution. It uses agricultural inputs scientifically and rationally, builds a sound production area environment for agricultural products, and improves agricultural quality, efficiency, and competitiveness. It supports international exchanges and cooperation in the agricultural field and actively participates in international governance of agricultural sustainable development and food security.
Seventh, improve the institutional mechanisms for integrated urban-rural development and achieve common prosperity for urban and rural areas. It raises the level of integration in urban-rural planning, construction, and governance, optimizes the layout of urban-rural industrial development, and promotes the deep integration of primary, secondary, and tertiary industries in rural areas. It balances resource allocation and coordinates the construction of urban-rural public infrastructure. It promotes the development of various rural economic entities, improves the public employment and entrepreneurship service system that is equal between urban and rural areas, and improves the social security system with urban-rural coordination. It adapts to the new situation after the completion of the poverty alleviation task and makes provisions on supporting the development of underdeveloped regions and on normalized mechanisms for preventing people from returning to poverty or falling into poverty.
Eighth, protect farmers' rights and interests, increase farmers' income, and enhance the broad masses of farmers' sense of gain, happiness, and security. It establishes a long-term mechanism for rectifying formalism and reducing burdens at the grassroots level, effectively reducing grassroots burdens. It ensures food safety in rural primary and secondary schools and protects, in accordance with law, the land contract and management rights, homestead use rights, and collective income distribution rights of farmers who have settled in cities. It fully respects the wishes of farmers and agricultural production and operation organizations and prohibits forcibly destroying crop seedlings or fruit trees in their full fruit-bearing period. It makes increasing farmers' income the central task of agricultural and rural work and promotes farmers' income growth through multiple channels such as developing county-level industries that enrich the people, establishing benefit linkage mechanisms, and strengthening the new rural collective economy.
III. Implement the Newly Revised Agriculture Law Well
The newly revised Agriculture Law will come into force on January 1, 2027. It is necessary to carry out the relevant work on law implementation well from the strategic height that agricultural and rural modernization bears on the overall situation and quality of Chinese modernization.
First, take Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era as the guide and deeply study and comprehend the newly revised Agriculture Law. The Agriculture Law involves all aspects of the work on agriculture, rural areas, and farmers and is highly political, ideological, and practical in nature. It should be combined with the study and implementation of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, especially Xi Jinping Thought on the Rule of Law and General Secretary Xi Jinping's important expositions on work related to agriculture, rural areas, and farmers, so as to study it deeply and comprehend it thoroughly, and improve the ability and level of carrying out the work on agriculture, rural areas, and farmers with rule-of-law thinking and rule-of-law methods.
Second, with the goal of accelerating the building of an agricultural power and advancing agricultural and rural modernization, resolutely perform well the duties and tasks stipulated by the law. Central and local departments at all levels should strengthen overall planning, coordination, and cooperation and earnestly perform the duties and tasks conferred by the law. People's congresses at all levels should, based on their functional positioning, gain an in-depth understanding of the law's implementation and ensure that the law is implemented and takes effect. Local people's congresses and their standing committees with legislative power should, in light of local actual conditions, further improve local regulations and safeguard the unity of national rule of law.
Third, take the promulgation and implementation of the newly revised Agriculture Law as an opportunity to strengthen rural rule-of-law publicity and education. The newly revised Agriculture Law should be made an important content of rural rule-of-law publicity and education, and legal popularization publicity, education, and training in rural areas should be strengthened, so that rural grassroots cadres and the broad masses of farmers can better understand, master, and apply the law, and so that the quality and effectiveness of legal publicity and implementation can be improved.
(The author is the Chairman of the Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee of the National People's Congress (全国人大农业与农村委员会).)
Return to TopBy: 本报记者 齐志明
At present, generative artificial intelligence technology centered on large language models is accelerating its integration into various scenarios in consumer life. While artificial intelligence enhances the convenience of consumption and the efficiency of services, because information generation carries a certain degree of uncertainty, problems may also appear such as inaccurate information, imprecise expressions, and inconsistencies between commitments and actual conditions. For example, providing fee rate information inconsistent with the actual situation, making compensation statements that are difficult to honor, offering one-sided or insufficiently prudent legal advice, and so on — these may affect consumers' judgment and choices, and may even cause economic losses.
According to relevant public opinion and relevant complaint situations recently received by consumer association organizations nationwide, the consumer problems triggered by artificial intelligence services have different characteristics in different application scenarios. The artificial intelligence that consumers encounter in daily life can be roughly divided into two categories: one is general-purpose generative artificial intelligence services oriented to the public, which mainly generate answers based on public information, model training data, and user questions, and generally do not represent the official opinions of specific business operators; the other is artificial intelligence customer service tools deployed and used by business operators, which directly participate in operational and service segments such as product introduction, fee explanation, activity interpretation, and after-sales handling.
In practice, some artificial intelligence customer service may give rise to problems such as price and fee explanations inconsistent with reality, inaccurate interpretations of promotional activity rules, and insufficient reminders of important restrictive conditions; after a dispute occurs, individual business operators may also use pretexts such as "automatically generated by artificial intelligence" or "system auto-reply" to sever responsibility from the relevant answers and evade the responsibility they should bear. These problems can easily cause consumers to form mistaken understandings of transaction prices, fee composition, and after-sales service, affecting consumers' right to know and right to fair dealing.
The China Consumers Association (中国消费者协会) urges business operators that deploy artificial intelligence customer service tools to strengthen review and management, ensure that the information provided by artificial intelligence customer service remains consistent with the actual situation of goods and services, price and fees, activity rules, contractual agreements, and after-sales policies, and provide convenient and effective human customer service and dispute resolution channels. For important answers given by artificial intelligence customer service to consumers in the course of operational services, involving prices, fees, after-sales, and other matters, business operators cannot simply exempt themselves from liability on grounds such as "automatically generated by algorithms," nor can they unreasonably reduce or exempt the responsibility they should bear according to law through relevant statements.
The China Consumers Association calls on relevant departments to further improve the relevant norms for the application of artificial intelligence in the consumer field, and promote the formation of an artificial intelligence consumer service environment with clearly defined rights and responsibilities and standardized, orderly practices. At the same time, it reminds the broad masses of consumers that, for important consumption information involving prices and fees, contract terms, after-sales service, legal liability, and other matters, they should not make decisions based solely on artificially generated content, but should verify and confirm through business operators' official channels, contract texts, regulatory departments, and other authoritative channels.
Return to TopBeijing, August 30 (Our reporter He Zhaoyu (何昭宇)). The Sixth High-End Forum on the History of the Communist Party of China (中共党史高端论坛), hosted by the Department of CPC History Teaching and Research of the Party School of the CPC Central Committee (National Academy of Governance) (中央党校（国家行政学院）), was held in Beijing on the 29th. The theme of this forum focused on "the excellent qualities of the Communist Party of China."
The experts and scholars attending the conference unanimously held that, on the new journey, it is necessary to take Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era as the guide, thoroughly study and implement Xi Jinping's Thought on Party Building, and, in light of new realities, continuously carry forward and enhance 发扬光大 (fā yáng guāng dà - "to develop, promote, and greatly enlarge," to carry forward and enhance) the Party's excellent qualities, ensuring that the Party forever does not change its nature, does not change its color, and does not change its flavor, and always possesses strong creativity, cohesion, and combat effectiveness.
The High-End Forum on the History of the Communist Party of China aims to provide an exchange and discussion platform for Party history researchers across all systems nationwide. Experts, scholars, teachers, and student representatives from the Party School of the CPC Central Committee (National Academy of Governance), the Institute of Party History and Literature of the CPC Central Committee (中央党史和文献研究院), and other units attended this forum.
Return to TopOur newspaper, Shanghai, August 30 (Reporter Ju Yunpeng (巨云鹏)). A reporter learned from the Shanghai Municipal Public Security Bureau (上海市公安局) that recently, Shanghai police cracked an exceptionally large underground-bank case in which virtual currency was used to carry out illegal cross-border currency exchange, apprehending 19 criminal suspects, with the amount involved approaching 20 billion yuan.
In January 2026, the economic crime investigation department of the Shanghai public security organs discovered during online patrols that someone was promoting currency-exchange business on internet platforms. After comprehensive analysis and assessment, the police believed that there was suspicion of economic crime in it, and therefore filed a case and launched an investigation.
The investigation found that, since August 2024, criminal suspects Liu, Xu, and others, in order to seek illegal gains and without the approval of the competent state authorities, used virtual currency as the settlement carrier, solicited customers with currency-exchange needs both online and offline, and, through matched offsetting flows of virtual currency and domestic and overseas funds, illegally completed the exchange of RMB into foreign currency, charging service fees at a proportional rate. After customers transferred RMB into accounts controlled by the gang, the criminal gang would connect with virtual-currency dealers to purchase virtual currency, and then have it sold off through overseas channels and converted into foreign currency, delivered to the overseas accounts designated by the customers, thereby realizing the illegal exchange of "RMB – virtual currency – foreign currency."
After obtaining detailed and solid evidence, from April this year, the economic crime investigation department of the Shanghai public security organs carried out net-closing operations in multiple waves and apprehended 19 criminal suspects. At present, five criminal suspects, including Liu and Xu, have been lawfully approved for arrest by the procuratorial organ on suspicion of the crime of illegal business operation and the crime of aiding information network criminal activities, and the case is under further investigation.
In recent years, some lawbreakers have exploited characteristics of virtual currency such as the anonymization of transactions and the difficulty of supervising cross-border flows, and used it as a new type of tool for illegal cross-border fund exchange and money-laundering crimes, bringing new challenges to the country's economic and financial security.
Shanghai police remind that foreign-exchange business must be handled through legitimate channels such as banks; buying or selling foreign exchange outside legally designated venues without state approval is suspected of being illegal, and those with serious circumstances will be investigated for criminal responsibility in accordance with law. The public must not readily believe illegal currency-exchange promotions such as "no amount limit" and "fast arrival in account"; underground-bank transactions are not protected by law, the safety of funds is not guaranteed, and one may even fall into legal risk by being used by lawbreakers.
Return to TopThe new semester is approaching. Universities and secondary schools in many parts of the country are organizing new students to carry out military training activities in diverse forms. From standing in military posture and marching in formation to tidying up living quarters and learning national defense knowledge, through various forms, they enhance students’ physical fitness, temper their willpower and character, cultivate the spirit of teamwork and cooperation, and further foster the sentiment of family and country (家国情怀).
Return to TopBeijing, August 30 (Reporter Lin Lili (林丽鹂)) — To achieve effective accountability for the actual controllers and ultimate beneficiaries of entities committing monopoly violations, the State Administration for Market Regulation (市场监管总局) recently issued the "Guidelines on the Application of Individual Liability for Monopoly Agreements (Draft for Comments)" (《垄断协议个人责任适用指引（征求意见稿）》) (hereinafter referred to as the "Draft for Comments"), clarifying the scope of accountability, the circumstances for accountability, and the discretionary factors for individual liability for monopoly agreements, so as to raise the level of penetrating anti-monopoly supervision and continuously strengthen the deterrence of anti-monopoly law enforcement.
The Draft for Comments stipulates that where the legal representative, principal responsible person, or directly responsible personnel of a business operator plays an organizing, leading, decision-making, commanding, or similar role in reaching a monopoly agreement, or instigates, approves, or condones the reaching of a monopoly agreement, they bear individual responsibility for reaching the monopoly agreement, and the anti-monopoly law enforcement agency may impose a fine of not more than RMB 1 million on the above-mentioned individuals. In particular, when the monopoly agreement reached involves key areas such as livelihood guarantees, ecological environment, production safety, financial capital, and data security, and harms national interests, the relevant individuals' legal responsibility will be strictly pursued.
The Draft for Comments also stipulates that abetting, coercing, or deceiving others into reaching a monopoly agreement, or obstructing others from ceasing participation in a monopoly agreement, constitutes circumstances for heavier punishment; while actively cooperating with the investigation and voluntarily eliminating the harmful consequences of a monopoly agreement may be given lighter punishment according to law. In addition, the relevant individual responsibility is not exempted due to circumstances such as leaving one's post.
The formulation of the Draft for Comments helps to lock onto the complete chain of monopoly violations, achieve penetration to the end and accountability to the individual, and effectively enhance the deterrence of anti-monopoly law enforcement. At the same time, it helps to urge and raise the degree of importance enterprise managers attach to competition compliance, transform external regulatory pressure into internal governance impetus, guide enterprises to proactively establish competition compliance systems, carry out monopoly risk screening, better resolve monopolistic conduct at the source, effectively safeguard fair competition order, and provide long-term safeguards for the construction of a unified national market.
Return to TopLanzhou, August 30 (Reporter Song Chaojun). The reporter learned from the Gansu Provincial People's Procuratorate (甘肃省人民检察院) that since the beginning of this year, the procuratorial organs of Gansu Province have strengthened overall planning and deployment, refined the division of responsibilities, and solidified the linkage mechanism. At present, Gansu has achieved full coverage of the government-procuratorate linkage mechanism (府检联动) at the three levels of province, city, and county.
Gansu has built a working mechanism for jointly managing illegal acts, jointly protecting the business environment, jointly resolving administrative disputes, jointly governing social governance, and jointly researching legal issues, thereby promoting the transformation of the government-procuratorate linkage from "tangible coverage" to "effective operation."
The Gansu Provincial Procuratorate optimized and finalized the "8+N" key task list for 2026, refining the 8 tasks into 26 specific work items and allocating them to 16 procuratorial business lines. This year, procuratorates at the city and county levels have held 271 joint meetings with administrative organs; established, together with administrative organs, 40 mechanisms for reverse linkage between administrative law enforcement and criminal justice (行刑反向衔接); handled 2,291 administrative-criminal reverse-linkage cases; and issued 1,131 procuratorial opinions.
Return to TopHangzhou, August 30 (Our reporter Dou Hao [窦皓]) — At 7 p.m., lights came on one by one at the Party-Mass Service Center (党群服务中心) of Dongshahu Community (东沙湖社区), Hezhuang Street (河庄街道), Qiantang District (钱塘区), Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province. In the classroom, dozens of residents sat, filling it to capacity. The person lecturing on the platform was not an expert or professor, but Yang Fei (杨飞), a courier with SF Express. By day, she rides her bike through streets and alleys delivering parcels; in the evening, she walks into the classroom to speak about "things around her."
"My delivery box is loaded with parcels; my eyes are loaded with safety." That evening, Yang Fei spoke about three "meddlesome matters" on her delivery route: beside the flow of traffic, she kept watch from a distance over two children who had gotten lost; in a residential compound, she and a colleague put out a trash bin that had caught fire; in front of a farmhouse courtyard, she photographed and reported illegally planted poppies.
In Hezhuang Street, there are already 100 Party lecture speakers like Yang Fei who have stepped from their work posts onto the platform. They come from enterprises, villages and communities, and schools, bringing Party lectures to residents' doorsteps.
In the past, the lecture format was monotonous: those on the platform read documents; those below the platform could not sit still. To crack the problem, the street first started with "who will lecture": grassroots Party organizations recommend speakers from among Party members, the lecture competition selects them from among capable people, units in the jurisdiction send their backbone personnel, and the speakers are divided into three categories according to audience — "Red Heart Navigation" (红心领航) speaks about faith to Party members, "Youth Whispers" (青年微语) speaks about the people and things around us, and "Industry Pioneers" (行业先锋) invites doctors, police officers, and fire-safety experts to speak on practical knowledge. "In the past, giving a lecture required sending out notices and apportioning tasks; now, everyone chases after us asking what the next session will be about," said Wang Huafeng (汪华锋), secretary of the Hezhuang Street Party Working Committee.
In recent years, Qiantang District has built a lecture matrix. Grassroots lecture groups, university expert lecture groups, and the nine major brand lecture groups have all exerted joint effort and cumulatively carried out more than a thousand thematic lecture sessions.
Return to TopBy: 本报记者 李 墨
On August 26, a glacial collapse occurred within Nepal and triggered a severe mudslide disaster, causing heavy casualties, missing persons, and property losses. According to data released by Nepal's National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority, as of 9:00 a.m. local time on August 30, 734 people were killed in the mudslide disaster, with another 2,498 people missing.
After the disaster occurred, China quickly launched emergency assistance to Nepal. At about 7:00 a.m. local time on August 30, two Y-20 large transport aircraft of the Chinese Air Force, carrying 13,200 pieces of emergency relief supplies totaling 50 tons, including tents, blankets, compressed biscuits, sleeping bags, and first-aid kits, successively landed at Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu, Nepal.
Chinese Ambassador to Nepal Zhang Maoming (张茂明) and Nepal's Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation Mahavir Pun conducted the handover of the supplies at the scene. Mahavir Pun said he sincerely thanks the Chinese government and people for their valuable support, and that this batch of supplies will play an important role in the rescue work in the disaster zone.
After the disaster occurred, the Chinese Embassy in Nepal immediately activated its emergency response mechanism for sudden security incidents and made every effort to carry out emergency response work. Zhang Maoming maintained close communication with the Nepalese Prime Minister's Office, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Home Affairs, and other departments, expressing sympathy and support to the Nepalese side. All levels of the embassy maintained hotline contact with various relevant Nepalese departments.
On the 26th itself, the China Meteorological Administration (中国气象局) and Nepal's Department of Hydrology and Meteorology urgently held an online meeting to assess the disaster situation and synchronously share data. The Ministry of Water Resources of China (水利部) closely monitored the dynamics of the barrier lake, performed calculations and analyses of floodwaters that could breach and discharge, and continued to share hydrological and meteorological information and barrier lake monitoring conditions with the Nepalese side.
At the request of the Nepalese government, China's Ministry of Emergency Management (应急管理部) urgently dispatched five Chinese tunnel rescue experts on the 29th, who flew by helicopter from Gyirong, Tibet (吉隆) to the disaster zone in Nepal and immediately joined the tunnel rescue work of the Nepalese hydropower station. At present, the Chinese tunnel rescue experts have arrived in the hardest-hit Rasuwa area (拉苏瓦) and are searching for and rescuing trapped persons in the local tunnels.
On the 30th, Zhang Maoming met with Nepal's Minister of Finance Wagle and handed over the US$2 million in cash assistance urgently provided by the Chinese government to the Nepalese government to support Nepal's disaster relief operations, and the US$200,000 in cash assistance urgently provided by the Red Cross Society of China (中国红十字会) to the Nepalese Prime Minister's Disaster Relief Fund. Zhang Maoming said that responding to the mudslide disaster is an urgent task for both China and Nepal. Chinese leaders have expressed deep condolences and sincere sympathy to the Nepalese side, and are willing to 同舟共济 (tóng zhōu gòng jì - "in the same boat, crossing the river together," to stand by each other in times of difficulty) with the Nepalese side and jointly overcome the difficulties of the moment. In addition to cash assistance, Chinese tunnel rescue experts have continued to rush to the rescue, and the first batch of relief supplies has arrived. China continues to provide the Nepalese side with support including imagery, hydrological and meteorological information. It is believed that with the joint efforts of both sides, the people of the two countries will surely overcome the disaster at an early date.
Wagle said that the Nepalese government sincerely thanks the Chinese side for its generous assistance and highly appreciates the deep friendship demonstrated by the two countries at this difficult moment. The Nepalese side will make good use of China's assistance and go all out in rescue work. It looks forward to close cooperation between the two sides in post-disaster planning and reconstruction.
In addition, the Association of Chinese Enterprises in Nepal (尼泊尔中资企业协会) has started the work of raising funds and materials, and will carry out the procurement and distribution of relief supplies according to the actual needs of the disaster area. The Overseas Chinese Association in Nepal (尼泊尔华侨华人协会) has also launched a disaster-relief donation initiative. As of now, it has received positive responses from more than 130 units and individuals, raising over 5 million Nepalese rupees (equivalent to approximately 220,000 yuan) in donations. Zou Zhiqiang (邹志强), director of the Nepal office of the China Foundation for Rural Development (中国乡村发展基金会), said that the foundation is coordinating with the governments of disaster-affected areas to build relief camps, and plans to provide assistance in the form of tents, daily necessities, food parcels, solar-powered emergency lights, and other supplies.
(People's Daily dispatch from Kathmandu, August 30)
Return to TopBy: 巴尔穆昆达·雷格米
The special mountain hydrological conditions give ice avalanches, glacial lake outbursts, and debris flows pronounced cross-border transmission characteristics, and the related risks require the two countries to face them together.
On August 26, a glacier collapse occurred in the border area of Nepal, triggering a severe cross-border debris flow disaster. According to the latest data released by Nepal's National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority, as of 9:00 local time on the 30th, the death toll from the debris flow disaster in Nepal had risen to 734, and the number of missing persons was 2,498. Data released by the Information Office of the People's Government of China's Tibet Autonomous Region (中国西藏自治区人民政府新闻办公室) showed that as of 18:00 on the 29th, the disaster had left 16 people dead and 546 missing. Post-disaster emergency rescue and relief work is being accelerated.
Nepal and China are connected by mountains and rivers and share a common destiny; the two countries have a long-term foundation of cooperation in culture, economy, ecological and environmental protection, and other fields. Affected by global climate warming, the risk of glacier instability in the Himalayan region is rising, ecosystems are becoming increasingly fragile, and climate change continues to amplify the threat of geological disasters. The special mountain hydrological conditions give ice avalanches, glacial lake outbursts, and debris flows pronounced cross-border transmission characteristics, and the related risks require the two countries to face them together. After this disaster occurred, the Chinese side shared with the Nepali side at the earliest opportunity relevant information, including images of the disaster area, satellite observations, and hydrological monitoring. According to the expert group's assessment, this disaster broke out with extreme suddenness and intensity; the ice-rock avalanche transmitted from its initiation to the border in only six or seven minutes, leaving an extremely limited window for evacuation and response. Nepal's local government carried out evacuation of residents along the riverbanks based on the information obtained; however, owing to objective constraints such as the highly abrupt onset of the disaster and the limited local disaster-prevention infrastructure, a large number of residents and tourists still tragically lost their lives.
Cross-border geological disasters of this kind are not isolated cases. Historically, in the Bhote Koshi River basin and its vicinity, cross-border floods and debris flows triggered by glacial activity have occurred on many occasions. In the face of disaster, the two countries simultaneously carried out disaster relief operations, keeping watch and helping each other (守望相助, shǒu wàng xiāng zhù - "keep watch and help one another," mutual support in times of need). This also confirms the practical significance embodied in the concept of a community with a shared future for the neighborhood (周边命运共同体).
The two countries' coordinated response to cross-border risks deserves in-depth examination by cultural practitioners, has far-reaching significance for advancing Nepal-China cultural and educational exchanges, and also reflects the inherent friendship and goodwill between the two peoples. Communication and cooperation at the societal level among the public, youth, think tanks, the business community, and other sectors can continuously cultivate friendly consensus and promote peaceful coexistence, mutual benefit, and win-win outcomes. In a complex and volatile international environment, relations between countries will inevitably experience ups and downs; extensive people-to-people bonds can effectively buffer differences and consolidate the social foundation of bilateral relations. The same is true for Nepal and China: diverse people-to-people cooperation provides solid support for bilateral friendship to advance steadily and go far.
Looking to the long term, the education sector shoulders the practical task of consolidating the relationship between the two countries. Nepali and Chinese youth already respect each other and hold goodwill toward one another. During this disaster, the whole process of the two countries joining hands to combat the disaster was genuinely perceived by the younger generation. Post-disaster reconstruction ought to become an important lever for bilateral cooperation in the next phase. With a focus on youth development and cultural development, the two countries can, for the youth and ordinary people in need in the disaster area, jointly participate in the reconstruction of livelihood infrastructure such as schools, hospitals, and roads. The important mission of education, the media, and academia is to convey objective, complete, and unbiased information to young students and the broad public, helping society establish a correct understanding of history, society, and international relations.
The majestic Himalayas closely bind the two countries together. The pain brought by cross-border disasters makes people better understand the true meaning of sharing weal and woe (休戚与共, xiū qī yǔ gòng - "share joys and sorrows together," to share weal and woe). Conveying an objective and true reality to the next generation and deeply cultivating understanding and mutual trust — this is precisely where the most practical value of Nepal-China people-to-people and cultural exchange lies.
(The author is the chairman of the Nepal National Professors Association.)
Return to TopBy: 本报记者 周 輖 沈小晓
In the 10th of Ramadan City industrial zone, more than 60 kilometers northeast of downtown Cairo, Egypt's capital, the modern Haier Egypt Ecological Park stands out prominently. On August 27, the joint interview team of Chinese and Egyptian media for high-quality Belt and Road co-construction walked into the ecological park to feel the pulse of the practical cooperation between the two countries.
In the spacious production workshop, three intelligent assembly lines — for air conditioners, washing machines, and televisions — are laid out in sequence. Under the meticulous guidance of Chinese master technicians, local workers have mastered operational skills and work in seamless coordination with robotic arms; production is 井然有序 (jǐng rán yǒu xù - "neat and orderly," in an orderly manner). The ecological park was officially opened in May 2024, with phase one put into production and phase two under accelerated construction. Once fully operational, total production capacity will exceed 1.5 million units, radiating to a market of nearly 2 billion people in the Middle East, North Africa, and East and Southern Africa.
'This is "Chinese speed."' After learning that the ecological park had achieved the leapfrog development of factory construction, production launch, and export in just over a year, Mohamed, deputy editor-in-chief of the Egyptian newspaper Evening, said that Haier has been deeply engaged in localized production and operations in Egypt and has achieved rapid development, not only bringing local consumers more choices but also enhancing Egypt's industrial manufacturing capacity. According to Yang Linping (杨林平), general manager of Haier Egypt Electrical Appliances Co., Ltd., by relying on the ecological park, Haier has achieved localization of research and development, manufacturing, and marketing in Egypt. Egypt's summers are unbearably hot, posing an extreme test for the performance of home appliances. Haier's specially customized T3 working-condition compressor can operate stably even at the extreme high temperature of 53 degrees Celsius. Haier has also targeted the demand for energy conservation and consumption reduction, launching inverter air conditioners adapted to the local power grid, with an energy-saving rate of up to 60 percent. Thanks to their good performance, the park has produced more than 200,000 sets of air-conditioning products since production began, and they have consistently ranked among the top three in sales in Egypt's local market. Mohamed said that he and his daughter had both purchased Haier air conditioners, washing machines, televisions, and other appliances for their homes. These products fit the living habits of Egyptians, with "higher performance and a more fashionable appearance."
The ecological park has become an important platform for Egypt's industrial upgrading and talent development. Alaa Subhi Sayed, the first employee on the park's television production line, said, 'I watched the park rise 拔地而起 (bá dì ér qǐ - "to rise straight from the ground," to spring up abruptly) from the desert. Today, the park has more than 1,000 local employees, with a localization rate exceeding 90 percent. This provides young Egyptians with dreams the opportunity to realize their self-worth. My professional competence and management skills have improved steadily, and my income has grown correspondingly. Growing side by side with a Chinese enterprise, I feel very proud.'
'Here, as long as one is down-to-earth, eager to learn, and hardworking, one can realize one's personal value.' Mohamed Ayman, an engineer on the air-conditioning production line, said that Chinese enterprises have brought advanced technology and mature management models, contributing to the development of Egypt's local industry. Ahmed Mohamed, a reporter with Egypt's Nile TV, said, 'Today's interview deeply touched me. This important industrial investment project fully demonstrates that Egypt-China cooperation in the manufacturing sector is deepening day by day. Here, I have seen how investment is transformed step by step into tangible productive forces, how technology transfer is achieved, and how job opportunities are created. I truly feel that Egypt-China cooperation has long since ceased to be confined to trade and investment, and has gone deep into manufacturing, technological exchange, and other fields.'
Return to TopAccording to a Xinhua News Agency dispatch from Sabac, Serbia, August 29, reporter Zhang Xuan (张璇) — the humanoid robot factory built by Serbia in cooperation with Zhiyuan Innovation (Shanghai) Technology Co., Ltd. (智元创新（上海）科技股份有限公司) and Minth Group officially started mass production in Sabac on the 29th. Serbian President Vucic attended the launch ceremony, visited the production workshop and product exhibition venue, and interacted with humanoid robots.
In his speech, Vucic thanked the Chinese side for its support to Serbia. He said that Minth Group has created nearly 5,000 jobs for Serbia, and will further expand the scale of employment in the future. With the support of the Chinese side, Serbia "is becoming a pioneer in the large-scale mass production of humanoid robots in Europe." "We hope that this factory can assemble and produce more than 5,000 humanoid robots per year in the future," Vucic said. These robots can be widely applied in the future in fields such as medical care, agriculture, industry, and national defense.
Qin Ronghua (秦荣华), founder of Minth Group, said that since the group entered Serbia in 2018, it has built 10 factories, and plans to build a robot industrial park in Serbia, and to build supporting production facilities for unmanned aerial vehicles and advanced batteries, with products to be oriented to European and global markets.
In February this year, Vucic announced that Serbia would cooperate with Zhiyuan and Minth Group to build Europe's first large-scale humanoid robot production base. The start of mass production at the Sabac factory marks substantive progress in this cooperative project.
Return to TopXinhua News Agency, Reykjavik, August 30 (Reporters Zhu Haochen (朱昊晨), Zhang Zhaoqing (张兆卿)) — Icelandic Prime Minister Frostadóttir said on the 30th that the government respects the outcome of the national referendum and will not, during the term of the current government, push forward negotiations on joining the European Union again.
Iceland held a national referendum on the 29th on whether to restart EU accession negotiations. According to information released by Iceland's National Broadcasting Company on the 30th, preliminary vote-counting data show that the yes votes accounted for 47.2 percent, the no votes accounted for 52.8 percent, and the no side has definitively won.
Frostadóttir said at the press conference that day that the government will respect and implement the referendum result, and that unless major events occur within the next 24 months, the EU accession issue is unlikely to again become the top issue on the parliament's agenda in the short term.
Frostadóttir also said that many voters who cast no votes approve of Iceland's maintaining its relationship with the EU mainly through the European Economic Area, and that the government's next step will be to continue strengthening relevant cooperation within the framework of the European Economic Area.
Iceland applied to join the European Union in 2009 and launched the relevant negotiations in 2010. In 2013, a government holding a Euroskeptic position took office and shelved the negotiations. In December 2024, the current Icelandic government, with Frostadóttir as prime minister, took office and promised to hold a national referendum before 2027 to decide whether to restart the negotiations on joining the EU.
Return to TopLos Angeles, August 30 (Xinhua) — NASA's new-generation space telescope, the Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope, rode SpaceX's Falcon Heavy launch vehicle into space on the 30th, aiming to help scientists explore cosmic mysteries such as dark matter, dark energy, and exoplanets.
According to NASA, the Roman Space Telescope is named after the agency's first chief astronomer. Its primary mirror is about 2.4 meters in diameter, comparable to NASA's Hubble Space Telescope, but its field of view can reach more than 100 times that of the latter. The Roman Space Telescope will conduct large-scale survey observations with the aid of its wide-field instruments and coronagraph.
Return to TopThis summer vacation, many college students returned to their hometowns and actively participated in social volunteer services. With enthusiasm and knowledge, they repay their hometowns and give back to society, broadening their horizons and enhancing their abilities through practice. In this issue's report, we get close to three college students who are pouring out their youthful strength in social practice, and listen to their gains and heartfelt words.
— Editor
Li Xuran, student at Henan University of Chinese Medicine: Serving fellow villagers with professional knowledge
Zhao Shuaijie (赵帅杰), reporter of this newspaper
With brows tightly knit and emotions agitated, patient Ms. Zhang recounted her symptoms, yet she found it hard to calmly cooperate with the doctor as he took her pulse. In the Traditional Chinese Medicine rehabilitation department consulting room of Yancheng District People's Hospital (漯河市郾城区人民医院) in Luohe City, Henan Province, Li Xuran (李煦冉), on her first day of "work," was momentarily 不知所措 (bù zhī suǒ cuò - "not knowing what to do," at a loss).
Li Xuran, 19 this year, is a 2025 cohort student in the Zhongjing Academic Heritage Class (仲景学术传承班) of Henan University of Chinese Medicine (河南中医药大学). This summer vacation, she took the initiative to return to her hometown hospital to begin 40 days of volunteer service. "I wanted to use what I have learned in my major to do some practical things for my hometown. I did not expect that on the first day of 'work,' I would encounter a situation I had never met at school."
"Sister, do not worry. Let us talk slowly." Department director Liu Hongjie (刘宏杰) stood up at the sight of this, fetched a cup of warm water and handed it to Ms. Zhang. Before asking about the illness, he first soothed her mood: "Do you often stay up late? Have there been any worries at home recently?" Starting from casual chat, Ms. Zhang's brows gradually relaxed, her mood turned calm, and she then cooperated with the doctor to complete the diagnosis and treatment smoothly.
"When receiving patients, you must know how to adapt to circumstances 随机应变 (suí jī yìng biàn - "follow circumstances, respond to change," to adapt to the situation). Draw close to the patient first and then take the consultation — this often achieves 事半功倍 (shì bàn gōng bèi - "half the work, double the result," getting twice the result with half the effort)." The first lesson of "work" benefited Li Xuran greatly.
This summer vacation, wearing a red vest, Li Xuran moved to and fro in the Traditional Chinese Medicine rehabilitation department, guiding patient triage, helping elderly patients in need operate self-service medical devices, accompanying patients with reduced mobility, explaining health knowledge to patients waiting for consultation, and, under the guidance of medical staff, copying prescriptions and sorting and recording medical records, helping to improve the efficiency of diagnosis and treatment.
A patient suffering from chronic diarrhea came for treatment. After the doctor wrote a formula appropriate to the symptoms, he found that one of the medicinal ingredients — which must be properly processed before use — was out of stock, and he instructed the patient to buy the processed product from a regular pharmacy before taking it. However, the patient and his wife went from pharmacy to pharmacy, rushing about for more than two hours, and in the end could not buy the needed medicine. Exhausted, the patient returned to the department and asked for the previously prescribed medicines to be returned along with it.
At this sight, recalling Liu Hongjie's guidance to "soothe the emotions first," Li Xuran hurried over, first pouring a glass of water for the patient. After understanding the specific situation, she picked up her phone and contacted nearby pharmacies one by one. When one pharmacy said it could process the medicine on an expedited basis, she specially accompanied the family member to the pharmacy to buy and pick up the medicine.
"Practicing medicine relies not only on prescriptions to cure illness; within the scope of one's ability, one must also help patients resolve practical difficulties." Participating in volunteer service left Li Xuran deeply touched.
During an outpatient guidance session, she met 75-year-old patient Grandpa Li. The old man suffered from chronic renal insufficiency, was unfamiliar with smartphones, and did not understand the relevant policies, so he had never applied for a chronic disease patient medical card. "The old man had to make a round trip to the hospital every two weeks to get medicine; the back-and-forth was truly hard," Li Xuran recalled.
After learning of the situation, she patiently explained to the old man the relevant chronic disease policies and benefits, organized the complete set of medical record materials, and assisted him in completing online registration and verification. In the end, the chronic disease patient medical card was successfully obtained. "From now on, the old man can have a 60-day long-term prescription issued in one go, and no longer needs to go to the hospital so frequently for medicine," Li Xuran said.
"Steady and hardworking, low-key and modest, meticulous and patient in serving patients — this self-discipline and diligence is truly rare." Speaking of Li Xuran, Liu Hongjie's tone was full of praise.
More than a month of volunteer service ended in the blink of an eye. "This practice let me jump out of the textbooks and experience real clinical scenes," Li Xuran said. "After returning to school, I will work hard to learn traditional Chinese medicine knowledge well, so that in the future I can better serve my fellow villagers."
(Zhang Xiaofu (张晓甫), correspondent of this newspaper, participated in the reporting and writing.)
Peng Kai, student at Hubei Minzu University: Visiting the elderly at home to take commemorative photos
Fan Haotian (范昊天), reporter of this newspaper
In the depths of the Wuling Mountains, the mountain forests of Dalongping Village (大龙坪村), Fujiayan Township (傅家堰乡), Wufeng Tujia Autonomous County (五峰土家族自治县), Yichang City, Hubei Province, were layered with verdant green. In a farmhouse courtyard, a backdrop cloth printed with the pattern of the Tiananmen Gate Tower was stretched open, and a simple rural "photo studio" was thus completed on the spot.
Lü Lianggui (吕良贵), a villager in his 80s, changed into a clean set of clothes. Facing the lens of Peng Kai (彭凯), a volunteer from Hubei Minzu University (湖北民族大学), with a click, the shutter froze the old man's smiling face. "When I served as a soldier in Beijing, I went to Tiananmen many times, but I had only one commemorative photo taken, and I lost it." Lü Lianggui carefully studied the photo that had been printed on site and put into a photo frame, and his eye rims gradually reddened. "Thank you, children, for helping me make up for this regret."
This summer marks the third year that the "Warm Sun Guardians" team (暖阳守护队) of Hubei Minzu University has carried out summer practice in Wufeng County. Over these three years, the college student volunteers have leveraged their professional strengths, following the love convoy (爱心车队) of Deng Lanzhou (邓兰舟), a National Model Worker (全国劳动模范), to provide warm-hearted services for villagers along the route, such as the distribution of daily necessities and the inspection and repair of electrical circuits; and they have opened summer popular-science care classes for the children of Zhengjie Community (正街社区), Wufeng Town (五峰镇), accompanying them through a happy and fulfilling summer vacation.
This summer, this team has one more task — making door-to-door visits to take commemorative photos for the elderly aged 80 and above in Dalongping Village. This warm public-welfare photography initiative came from a bond between a teacher and his student.
In September 2025, Cui Jianshuang (崔建双), a music teacher at Wufeng Senior High School (五峰高级中学), came to Dalongping Village to serve as the first secretary stationed in the village (驻村第一书记). Dalongping Village is 136 kilometers from the county seat, with inconvenient transportation. There are many elderly and empty-nest seniors in the village, and many people had not taken even a few decent photos in their whole lives. After going around the village, Cui Jianshuang conceived the idea of taking photos for the villagers. Who could be asked to take them? He thought of his former student, Peng Kai, who is now studying at the School of Intelligent Science and Engineering (智能科学与工程学院) of Hubei Minzu University.
Peng Kai has loved photography since childhood. In the 2025 summer vacation, he had already conducted social practice in Wufeng County as the captain of the "Warm Sun Guardians" team. The teacher and student 一拍即合 (yī pāi jí hé - "one clap, immediate harmony," to hit it off immediately), and fixed the shooting time for the summer of 2026.
In July, the "Warm Sun Guardians" team came to Wufeng Town as in previous years to carry out volunteer service. On July 20, the teacher leading the team, Wang Yang (王洋), set out from town a little after 6 a.m. with three students who had photography skills and equipment — Peng Kai, Bie Mengqi (别梦琪), and Zhang Manyi (张曼燚) — and arrived at Dalongping Village at around 8 a.m., preparing to shoot.
At the beginning, the team conceived more than ten shooting plans: solid-color ID photos were too monotonous, and the real scenery of farmhouse courtyards lacked novelty... Considering that many elderly people hold a deep emotional attachment to the capital, they ultimately chose the backdrop cloth printed with the Tiananmen Gate Tower.
The group carried photography equipment and the backdrop cloth, following Cui Jianshuang and the village cadres, threading through the country paths. "Grandpa, we have come to take photos for you!" "Grandma, is this photo all right? If you are not satisfied, I will retake it for you." Whenever they saw an elderly person, they proactively stepped forward to ask. Hearing that photos could be taken for free, some elderly people were 将信将疑 (jiāng xìn jiāng yí - "half believe, half doubt," to be dubious). After the volunteers chatted with them about family matters and showed them the results of previously taken photos, these elderly people — who live deep in the mountains and had hardly ever had photos taken other than ID photos — gradually set aside their worries and proactively cooperated with the shooting.
"When the elderly were changing clothes, we would set up the background, find the light, and make adjustments at the same time, helping the elderly neaten their clothes and hair and adjust their postures. The elderly often looked elsewhere or had unnatural expressions, and needed constant guidance before they could get into the right state. After the shooting, we also had to retouch the images, print, and frame them." Peng Kai introduced that completing one shoot took about 20 to 30 minutes. Everyone worked from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., taking photos with the "Tiananmen Gate Tower" for 20 elderly villagers aged 80 and above.
When the photos were put into the hands of the elderly, some smiled, some cried, and some carefully held the photos and looked at them for a long time. "I, too, am a child from the countryside, and I know very well that these elderly people have guarded the mountains all their lives, rarely having the chance to have photos taken as mementos, let alone make a trip to the capital," Peng Kai said. "We delivered the 'photo studio' into the mountains, hoping to freeze the moment with a shutter click full of ceremony and make up for the regret of the elderly."
Xiao Xuanxuan, student at Guiyang Institute of Humanities and Technology: Using livestreams to sell local specialties to faraway places
Su Bin (苏滨), reporter of this newspaper
Walking into a tartary buckwheat experience store in Weining Yi, Hui, and Miao Autonomous County (威宁彝族回族苗族自治县), Bijie City, Guizhou Province, the clear fragrance of buckwheat assails the nose, and a red banner printed with farmer-assistance slogans is particularly conspicuous. Setting up the tripod, turning on the phone, and sitting upright in front of the camera wearing the practice team's volunteer vest, Xiao Xuanxuan (肖宣宣) began an agricultural-aid livestream (助农直播) as tartary buckwheat tea, tartary buckwheat noodles, and other products were laid out on the table.
"Family members, this is tartary buckwheat from Weining, Guizhou — grown in high-altitude mountain land, an authentic natural coarse-grain food ingredient." Though his voice carried a bit of youthful greenness, Xiao Xuanxuan was quite composed when introducing the products. Beside him, the kettle gurgled. As boiling water rushed into the glass cup, the yellowish-brown tartary buckwheat grains tumbled and unfolded in the water, and a mellow aroma rose up. He lifted the glass cup close to the camera to show the color of the brewed tea.
Outside the livestream room, the volunteer team's division of labor was 井然有序 (jǐng rán yǒu xù - "neat and orderly," in perfect order). Some watched closely over the comment section, quickly sorting through the questions raised by netizens; others checked inventory and sorted orders. The comment section rolled on without pause: "How do you cook tartary buckwheat rice?" "Is it suitable for the elderly?" Messages kept popping up one after another, and Xiao Xuanxuan patiently answered them one by one.
Xiao Xuanxuan is a 2024 cohort student majoring in engineering management at the School of Civil Engineering and Architecture (建筑工程学院) of Guiyang Institute of Humanities and Technology (贵阳人文科技学院), and he is a native of Weining. Weining abounds in potatoes, ham, and tartary buckwheat. The tartary buckwheat is of good quality, but for a time it could not be sold at a good price, and frequently sold at a loss.
"I want to sell my hometown's tartary buckwheat out of the mountains and sell it at a good price!" This summer vacation, as the lead initiator, Xiao Xuanxuan teamed up with 12 schoolmates to jointly apply to the university Youth League Committee (校团委) for a social practice project to help the development of his hometown's tartary buckwheat industry.
As an important component of the social practice, the project proposal was revised 17 times from beginning to end, but Xiao Xuanxuan did not give up and fought for it again and again. In the end, the project was approved, the agricultural-aid livestream practice team was able to set off, and 13 people headed for Weining.
Washing, grinding, shaping, baking... Upon arriving in Weining, the team first visited Guizhou Weining Qiaoyuan Agriculture Co., Ltd. (贵州威宁荞源农业有限公司) and listened to the person in charge, Sun Ji (孙吉), introduce knowledge about tartary buckwheat processing, gaining a deeper understanding of the tartary buckwheat industry.
"Consumers do not know much about Weining tartary buckwheat. To broaden the sales channels for high-quality agricultural products, the key lies in winning consumers' trust." Although the enterprise has annual sales of 30 million yuan, Sun Ji still saw the difficulties of industrial development: baked goods such as tartary buckwheat shortbread are fragile and suffer high losses in long-distance transportation; fresh goods with a short shelf life are hard to ship online; the packaging looks old-fashioned and cannot attract young people; the e-commerce talent gap is large — those who understand agriculture cannot livestream, and those who can livestream do not understand agriculture...
"This enterprise focuses on offline sales. Let us try online livestreaming — who knows, there may be a surprise." Everyone unanimously decided to move the e-commerce classroom to the front line of the industry and help sell the tartary buckwheat.
The first livestream was scheduled for the evening of July 16, and Xiao Xuanxuan used his own account. The night before the livestream, he logged in to his account, planning to do some preparation work first, and only then discovered that he had not reached the 1,000-follower threshold for livestream commerce — he could not attach product links and could not start broadcasting.
"Fortunately, we discovered it early. The 13 of us took the initiative to claim tasks, each of us taking on 50 to 100 follower tasks and separately mobilizing friends to follow. The account's followers eventually grew to 1,158." Xiao Xuanxuan said that at 8 p.m. that evening, the broadcast started smoothly.
"In the very first livestream, we sold 16 orders and earned more than 500 yuan!" Seeing that his efforts had paid off, Xiao Xuanxuan was somewhat excited. In the following week, the team broadcast four consecutive sessions, with more than 6,600 person-times of exposure across the entire network, a single-session peak of 478 viewers online, a cumulative total of more than 100 transactions, and more than 4,000 yuan in revenue brought to the enterprise.
After the practice ended, the team left its self-developed standardized livestream scripts and low-cost operation plans with the enterprise free of charge, and submitted suggestions for upgrades in products, livestreaming, traffic, and cooperation.
"I am a child who walked out of this land. I hope to see the agricultural specialty products of my hometown sold out of the mountains, to see the days of my fellow villagers get better and better, and I even more want to use what I have learned and my strengths to contribute to the development of my hometown." Xiao Xuanxuan plans to return to his hometown after graduation and continue to devote himself to the tartary buckwheat industry. "On this road, we have only just taken the first step."
Return to TopBy: 刘子赫
This summer vacation, three college students — Li Xuran (李煦冉), Peng Kai (彭凯), and Xiao Xuanxuan (肖宣宣) — made the same choice: to turn the knowledge they had learned into practical actions for serving their fellow villagers.
At a hospital in Luohe, Henan (漯河), Li Xuran ran back and forth and came to understand "heal the heart first, then treat the illness"; in the deep Wuling Mountains of Wufeng, Hubei (五峰), Peng Kai, braving the scorching sun, froze precious moments for the elderly living deep in the mountains; on the Wumeng Plateau of Weining, Guizhou (威宁), Xiao Xuanxuan took with her a proposal she had revised seventeen times, for no other purpose than to help her hometown's bitter buckwheat fetch a good price. Without academic credit, without thought of recompense, the three young people, with the simplest of actions, enabled their fellow villagers to receive real and tangible help.
"I am a child who walked out of this land" and "I want to use what I have learned and my special abilities to contribute a share of my strength to the development of my hometown" — Xiao Xuanxuan's words gave voice to the deep feelings of young students for their native soil. They 脚踏实地 (jiǎo tà shí dì - "step on solid ground," down-to-earth and pragmatic), take root in the native soil, and, in the course of solving concrete difficulties, gain a growth more profound than what is found in textbooks.
Return to TopBy: 何宇澈
When we feel anxious about our children's learning, perhaps we should think more about whether, compared with the knowledge "crammed" into their minds, we have "installed" something more important into their hearts.
Taking children to visit a museum is well-intentioned. But if, during the visit, parents allow their children to damage the exhibits, then what exactly has the child learned from this museum trip?
A scene that recently took place at the National Zoological Museum of China has put this question before the public — in the museum's surveillance footage, two children were "kicking and grabbing" at endangered animal specimens, and rather than stopping them, their father joined in the horseplay, causing damage to the specimens.
On August 29, the National Zoological Museum of China issued a statement strongly condemning such behavior. The statement read: "This is a typical and egregious uncivilized visiting behavior — not only did the adult fail to guide the children to care for the exhibits, he took the lead in participating and indulged the destruction... Rules are taught by adults. If parents do not teach them, children will not know; if parents do not take them seriously, children will take them even less seriously. Every failure to stop a child is confirming something for the child: rules can be disregarded."
Taking children to a museum shows that parents value their children's intellectual learning, but between "learning knowledge" and "observing rules," one should still distinguish what is primary and what is secondary. The museum's statement drew widespread support because conscientiously observing social rules is already a common consensus.
Although every family has its own educational philosophy and specific choices, some principles are universal. Understanding "respecting life and revering nature" should have been the first lesson of visiting a museum. Let alone grabbing with hands, kicking with feet, or striking with shoes — even mere touching is already a violation of rules and a disrespect for others' labor.
As the museum said in its statement: similar scenes are not unfamiliar in daily life. When a child runs a red light, the parent runs along with them; when a child cuts in line, the parent says "the child is still young"; when a child litters casually, the parent turns a blind eye. Behind children who disrupt public order stand parents who disregard rules.
People often encourage children to swim in the ocean of knowledge. But the ocean of knowledge is not limited to books and classrooms; it is all the more present in the vastness of ordinary life. Walking into a museum, browsing specimens, and listening to explanations is a form of learning; viewing exhibits in a civilized and orderly manner and keeping one's voice low is also a form of learning — and learning is a process of subtle influence. The cultivation of basic character and upbringing, such as revering life, respecting rules, and observing public order, is more important than learning any single point of knowledge. If a child has learned a bellyful of knowledge yet has no reverence in the heart and no rules in the eyes, that is truly putting the cart before the horse.
When we feel anxious about our children's learning, perhaps we should think more about whether, compared with the knowledge "crammed" into their minds, we have "installed" something more important into their hearts.
Return to TopPeople's Daily, Beijing, August 30 — (Reporter Wu Yuehui (吴月辉)) The reporter learned from the National Zoological Museum of China (国家动物博物馆) that on August 28, surveillance cameras inside the museum captured such a scene: in the endangered animals exhibition hall on the first floor, two children were playing boisterously in front of the Zhoushan cobra specimen and the Mangshan pit viper specimen, repeatedly grabbing the specimens with their hands and kicking them with their feet. The father accompanying them not only failed to stop them, but instead picked up the two specimens, handed them to the children, and joined in the play. During this time, the Mangshan pit viper specimen was damaged. The National Zoological Museum expressed strong condemnation of such behavior. At present, the National Zoological Museum has preserved in full the uninterrupted surveillance video of the entire incident and will retain the right to pursue the legal liability of the parties concerned in accordance with the law.
It is learned that the specimen damaged in the surveillance footage was a Mangshan pit viper, formerly called the Mangshan iron-head — a species endemic to China, currently known to be distributed only in some of the areas covered by the Hunan Mangshan National Nature Reserve and the Guangdong Nanling National Nature Reserve. It is a wild animal under national first-class key protection, and its wild population is on the verge of extinction.
Museum staff explained that there are clear reasons for the prohibition against touching specimen exhibits in the museum. Sweat and oil on the hands can corrode the specimens; specimens are non-renewable, and some specimens retain residue of preservative chemicals. If children do not wash their hands after touching and then touch their eyes and mouths, there is a health risk. Specimens are real animals, not models; after death they are made into specimens for research and for science popularization. Toying with them at will is a disrespect to the exhibits and to their origins.
Return to TopPeople's Daily, Beijing, Aug. 30 (Reporter Lin Lili). The reporter learned from the State Administration for Market Regulation (市场监管总局) that the State Administration for Market Regulation has continuously deepened the construction of the barrier-free environment certification system and promoted the on-the-ground implementation of the certification system in multiple scenarios. As of July this year, more than 30 key projects, including the Daxing Airport terminal and the National Barrier-Free Environment Exhibition Hall (国家无障碍环境展示馆), have successively obtained barrier-free environment certification certificates.
Barrier-free environment construction is an important indicator measuring the level of development of social civilization. Since 2020, the State Administration for Market Regulation, together with the China Disabled Persons' Federation (中国残联), has researched and established the barrier-free environment certification system, earnestly guaranteeing that disabled persons and elderly persons equally and fully participate in social life, and continuously stimulating new momentum for urban development that accommodates the elderly and assists the disabled.
Market regulation departments have incorporated 9 major categories and 62 types of buildings into the scope of barrier-free environment certification, covering multiple scenarios such as transportation hubs, medical institutions, commercial venues, and residential buildings, precisely matching the diversified needs of accommodating the elderly and assisting the disabled. At the same time, they have compiled a certification standard atlas and carried out key technological research centered on high-frequency activity scenarios of the masses, such as banking outlets and waterway passenger stations. They have established a whole-chain regulatory system of "pre-certification review, in-certification control, post-certification inspection," comprehensively applying methods such as unannounced inspections and on-site verification to consolidate, layer by layer, the primary responsibility of certified entities.
Return to TopOur newspaper, Lanzhou, Aug. 30 (Reporter Zeng Yichen (曾亦辰)). The Office of the Leading Group for Employment Promotion and Labor Protection Work of the Gansu Provincial Government (甘肃省政府就业促进和劳动保护工作领导小组办公室) recently issued the "Implementation Plan for the Action to Stabilize Jobs, Expand Capacity, and Improve Quality in Gansu Province" (甘肃省稳岗扩容提质行动实施方案). The plan focuses on the three major tasks of stabilizing jobs, expanding capacity, and improving quality, precisely anchors the coordinated development of industry and employment, and comprehensively broadens employment channels, optimizes employment services, and safeguards workers' rights and interests.
Based on the reality of the province's industrial development, the plan promotes the high-quality development of the manufacturing industry and consolidates the main battlefield of employment. Centering on key industries such as petrochemicals, nonferrous metallurgy, equipment manufacturing, and new energy, it promotes the high-end, intelligent, and green development of the manufacturing industry, cultivates more specialized, refined, distinctive, and innovative enterprises (专精特新), manufacturing single-item champion enterprises, and "chain leader" enterprises of the industrial chain (链主), and expands the capacity of industry to absorb employment.
The plan proposes to make every effort to tap the employment potential of all channels and all fields. It vigorously cultivates new integrated consumption scenarios such as "culture and tourism +," "sports +," and "intangible cultural heritage +," expands producer services and consumer services, carries out distinctive recruitment targeting the characteristics of the off-peak and peak seasons of industries, and precisely matches the demands of flexible labor use and flexible employment.
Return to TopBy: 本报记者 李凯旋
Inside the Party-Mass Service Center (党群服务中心) of Xingle Community (兴乐社区), Xindu District (新都区), Chengdu, Sichuan Province, early in the morning, more than 30 children attending the public-welfare care class were doing morning reading under the guidance of volunteers, their expressions focused and their voices loud and clear.
"The childcare institutions on the market charge relatively high fees and offer a single, limited curriculum; if we ask the elderly at home to help, we worry that they cannot tutor the children in their schoolwork." The holiday childcare problem that had long given Ms. Huang, a parent, a headache has been solved through the public-welfare care class. In order to understand the key needs of the masses and the difficulties of grassroots governance, Xindu District has carried out the volunteer service project of "taking the list and taking command" (揭榜挂帅), cumulatively collecting more than 160 volunteer projects.
"Among these, everyone's calls for youth care services were very strong, and many parents suggested relying on volunteer services to create summer care classes." Li Gang (李刚), deputy head of the Social Work Department of the Xindu District Party Committee (新都区委社会工作部), said that this summer, the whole district has successively set up more than 30 care sites, open free of charge to primary and secondary school students.
When she received the care class curriculum, Ms. Huang was pleasantly surprised. In addition to homework tutoring, there were also courses such as meteorological science experiments, hand-painted round fan making, and physical fitness training, with different content every day.
"When the volunteer teams are strong, only then do we have the confidence to deliver services." Li Gang said that Xindu District has established a district-level coordination mechanism for volunteer service work, improved the three-tier volunteer service team system at the district, town, and village levels, and the number of volunteer service teams has reached more than 300. Universities based in the district, including Southwest Petroleum University (西南石油大学) and Chengdu Medical College (成都医学院), have also actively participated, mobilizing dozens of young volunteers to devote themselves to service.
"After quarreling with a friend, how should you handle it?" After the morning reading, the emotional education class began. "We take interpersonal relationships as the theme to help children make friends better." Zhu Linghui (朱玲辉), a psychotherapist from the Maternal and Child Health Hospital of Xindu District (新都区妇幼保健院), prepared the lessons meticulously and also brought many fun little games — keeping the classroom filled with 欢声笑语 (huān shēng xiào yǔ - "happy voices and cheerful laughter," the sound of joy and laughter) that never stopped.
Behind the courses that satisfied parents and children alike was the joint dedication of many people — volunteers guided classroom order; community workers thoughtfully attended to affairs such as check-in and lunch; and "capable people" from volunteer organizations and from units of intangible cultural heritage, sports, and the like made the curriculum richer. Various departments of Xindu District have also jointly formulated care regulations, improved safety management systems and emergency response plans, and implemented full-coverage screening of safety hazards.
Chen Feng (陈凤), deputy secretary of the Xindu District Committee of the Communist Youth League (共青团新都区委), said that as of now, the locality has cumulatively launched more than 20 volunteer service items for young people and carried out more than 3,000 volunteer service activities. This summer, Xindu District has also developed more than 200 volunteer service posts suited to the ages and knowledge levels of primary and secondary school students, such as publicity for civilized conduct, tourism guidance, and science-popularization explanation, and the children enthusiastically participated in activities such as explaining village history, patrolling and safeguarding communities, and managing venues.
In recent years, Sichuan Province has gradually established a systematically complete, scientific and standardized, coordinated and efficient volunteer service system, promoted all walks of life to cultivate and strengthen professional volunteer service teams, with more than 15 million registered volunteers and more than 70,000 volunteer service teams active at grassroots service fronts, launching more volunteer service projects that respond to the needs of residents.
Return to TopBy: 浙江省习近平新时代中国特色社会主义思想研究中心
Common prosperity is a defining feature of Chinese-style modernization. Since the 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, General Secretary Xi Jinping has gained a profound understanding of the stage-specific features of China's economic and social development and has delivered a series of important statements and made strategic deployments on common prosperity, stressing that "we should ensure that the achievements of modernization are shared more fully and fairly by all our people and make more notable and substantive progress in promoting common prosperity for all" and that "we should strengthen public services that benefit all people, focus on meeting the most basic needs of the people, and address the most practical problems of urgent concern to the people, so as to solidly advance common prosperity." These statements and deployments creatively answered a series of major theoretical and practical questions, including why common prosperity should be pursued, what common prosperity is, and how to solidly promote common prosperity, opened up a new realm in the theory of common prosperity under socialism with Chinese characteristics, and provided the fundamental guidance and action guide for solidly advancing common prosperity. Under the leadership of the Party Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core, we have made unremitting efforts toward the goal of common prosperity, completed the building of a moderately prosperous society in all respects, achieved a good start on the new journey of realizing the Second Centenary Goal, and taken new and solid steps in Chinese-style modernization, laying a solid foundation for promoting common prosperity on the new journey of the new era. The "15th Five-Year Plan" Outline makes comprehensive arrangements for "intensifying efforts to safeguard and improve people's livelihoods and solidly advancing common prosperity for all," which will surely turn the development of the whole person and common prosperity for all into a beautiful reality step by step.
Zhejiang is a major economic province and a strong province in the private economy. Since the reform and opening up, and especially since the beginning of the new era, it has maintained a relatively high level of coordinated urban and rural development. In May 2021, the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China and the State Council issued the Opinions on Supporting Zhejiang in High-Quality Development and Building a Demonstration Zone for Common Prosperity, supporting and encouraging Zhejiang to explore paths, accumulate experience, and provide demonstration for promoting common prosperity in other parts of the country. In September 2023, when General Secretary Xi Jinping inspected Zhejiang, he stressed: "Zhejiang should take the lead in demonstrating the path to common prosperity." Over the past five years and more, Zhejiang has adhered to the guidance of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, based itself on the province while keeping the overall situation in view, and deeply advanced institutional innovation and practical exploration, forming a number of good experiences and practices and providing vivid examples for all localities across the country to solidly advance common prosperity in light of their own actual conditions.
Retracing the trajectory: Deeply implementing the "Double-Eight Strategy" and taking the lead in resolving the problems of unbalanced and insufficient development
Common prosperity is something General Secretary Xi Jinping has always had at heart. This major theoretical and practical proposition carries General Secretary Xi Jinping's profound feelings for the people and is forged through his long years of governing for the people in practice. At the beginning of the 21st century, Zhejiang was at a critical juncture of development transformation, institutional transition, and social change, deeply troubled by "inherent shortcomings," "growing pains," and "transformation throes." Facing the real challenges in transformation and development, after Comrade Xi Jinping took up his post in Zhejiang, he made the major decision and deployment of the "Double-Eight Strategy" with far-sighted vision that commanded the overall situation, and delivered a series of important statements and carried out practical explorations on promoting common prosperity.
In May 2015, when General Secretary Xi Jinping inspected Zhejiang, he profoundly pointed out: "The 'Double-Eight Strategy' and the 'Four Comprehensives' are compatible in spirit." With the courage of "a pathfinder facing thorns head-on," the "Double-Eight Strategy" effectively resolved the institutional, structural, and qualitative contradictions in development, ran through the value concept and realization path of common prosperity, and demonstrated the theoretical character and practical wisdom of "understanding the substance to apply it in practice, and unifying substance and application." It not only laid a solid foundation for Zhejiang's high-quality development and construction of a demonstration zone for common prosperity, but also provided rich theoretical material and vivid practical examples for General Secretary Xi Jinping's important statements on common prosperity.
The proposal to "promote 'changing the birds in the cage and replacing them with new ones' to achieve 'nirvana reborn from the ashes'" and to "earnestly transform the economic growth model" laid the economic foundation for Zhejiang's promotion of common prosperity. Economic development is the foundation for achieving common prosperity. During his work in Zhejiang, Comrade Xi Jinping insisted on placing reform at the core position, further leveraged Zhejiang's institutional and mechanism advantages, coordinated the use of both the government and the market — the "two hands" — focused on strengthening scientific and technological innovation, built an innovative province and a strong province in science and technology, and promoted the comprehensive transformation and upgrading of economic and social development; actively advanced the strategy of revitalizing the province through science and education and strengthening the province through talent; effectively strengthened the rule of law, credit system development, government efficiency building, and Digital Zhejiang construction; and continuously optimized the entrepreneurial environment and business environment. Adhering to the concept that "lucid waters and lush mountains are invaluable assets," he strove to build an ecological province and create a "Green Zhejiang." These important deployments are consistent in spirit with the important statements of the new era, such as "high-quality development is the primary task of building a modern socialist country in all respects" and "high-quality development is not merely an economic requirement, but a general requirement for all aspects of economic and social development," and they profoundly reveal the theoretical logic and practical logic of "promoting common prosperity through high-quality development."
The proposal to "coordinate urban and rural development and advance urban-rural integration" and to "comprehensively promote both accelerated development of developed regions and leapfrog development of underdeveloped regions" laid the foundation for Zhejiang to resolve the problem of unbalanced development. Promoting coordinated development between urban and rural areas and among regions, and facilitating equal exchange, two-way flow, and efficient allocation of various factors between urban and rural areas and among regions, are key links and important levers for promoting common prosperity. Comrade Xi Jinping insisted on coordinating urban-rural and regional coordinated development from an overall perspective, personally planned and promoted the "Thousand-Village Demonstration, Ten-Thousand-Village Improvement" project, and reshaped urban-rural relations and industry-agriculture relations as a whole; promoted the implementation of the "Mountain-Sea Cooperation Project," the "Project for Underdeveloped Townships to Achieve Moderate Prosperity," and the "Ten-Billion-Yuan Assistance Project for Wealth Creation," striving to create a pattern of those who got rich first helping those who are not yet rich and coordinated regional development; scientifically elaborated the theory of the "sweet potato economy," adhered to combining "going global" with "bringing in," proactively aligned with Shanghai, promoted the integrated development of the Yangtze River Delta, and made full use of both domestic and international resources and markets. These important statements and practices are connected in spirit with the important statements of the new era, such as "coordinated regional development is an inevitable requirement for achieving common prosperity" and "promoting a development pattern in which mountains and rivers support each other, urban and rural areas are integrated, and regions are linked in development," and they profoundly reveal the inherent requirements and realization paths for advancing common prosperity through coordinated development that promotes urban-rural integration and regional linkage.
The proposal to "put the resolution of livelihood issues first among all work" and to "ensure that a happy life must first be guaranteed by social harmony and stability" laid the social foundation for Zhejiang's promotion of common prosperity. Only by letting the fruits of development benefit all the people more and more fairly can we continuously consolidate the mass foundation of the Party's governance and gather strong synergy for advancing common prosperity. Comrade Xi Jinping promoted Zhejiang to take the lead in the country in making the major decision of establishing a long-term mechanism for doing practical things for the people, continuously enhancing the inclusiveness of people's livelihood and well-being; stressed that "assistance to people in difficulty should be placed in a more prominent position" and that "means such as increasing the proportion of fiscal transfer payments should be used to tilt toward underdeveloped regions and low-income groups, and efforts should be made to narrow income gaps between residents, between urban and rural areas, and between regions," continuously deepening the reform of the income distribution system and promoting the gradual allocation of more fiscal funds to livelihood fields most closely related to the interests of the people; stressed that "all matters that benefit the people must be handled by all possible means," planned and implemented the major deployment of "consolidating eight foundations and enhancing eight capabilities" in Party building, vigorously advocated "doing things for the people with the 'official hat' in hand," and guided Party members and leading cadres to consciously test their work and political achievements against the fundamental interests of the overwhelming majority of the people. Adhering to the concept of "great safety," he built a fair, harmonious, and safe social environment, advanced the construction of Safe Zhejiang and the rule-of-law in Zhejiang in an integrated manner, vigorously promoted and continuously innovated the "Fengqiao experience," and used a sound and complete social governance system to hold the bottom line, consolidate the foundation, and build a barrier for the people's good life. These important statements and practical requirements fully demonstrate that improving people's livelihoods is the fundamental purpose of development, are unified with the important requirements of the new era, such as "ensuring and improving people's livelihoods through development and steadily advancing common prosperity," and profoundly reveal the strategic positioning and value orientation that "in Chinese-style modernization, the people's livelihoods come first."
The proposal that "culture is the decisive factor in realizing the all-round development of the person" and to "continuously meet the people's growing multilevel spiritual and cultural needs" laid the cultural foundation for Zhejiang's promotion of common prosperity. In Zhijiang New Words, Comrade Xi Jinping pointed out that the power of culture "always integrates itself into economic power, political power, and social power 'like a gentle rain moistening things silently,' becoming the 'booster' of economic development, the 'navigation light' of political civilization, and the 'adhesive' of social harmony." Comrade Xi Jinping insisted on thinking deeply about the major issues of Zhejiang's reform and development from the perspective of culture, focused on enhancing the cohesion of advanced culture, liberating and developing the productive forces, and improving the capacity of social public services, promoted the accelerated construction of a culturally strong province, and deployed the implementation of the "Eight Projects" for cultural development; adhered to cultivating the people through culture, invigorating industry through culture, and benefiting the people through culture, summarized and refined the "Red Boat Spirit," inherited and carried forward the "Da Chendao Reclamation Spirit," the "Mayi Island Spirit," the "Haixia Spirit," and the "Zhejiang Spirit of advancing with the times," continuously enhancing the people's spiritual strength and enriching people's spiritual world. These important statements and decisions and deployments profoundly reveal the dialectical unity in which spiritual common prosperity and material common prosperity are interconnected and support each other, and are highly unified with the important statements of the new era, such as "both material abundance and spiritual affluence are the lofty pursuit of Chinese-style modernization."
Pioneering exploration: The light of thought illuminates the road of endeavor, high-quality development builds a demonstration zone for common prosperity
When General Secretary Xi Jinping inspected Zhejiang, he required that the province "focus on building the demonstration zone for common prosperity and creating an important window that comprehensively showcases the superiority of the socialist system with Chinese characteristics in the new era, adhere to carrying out the blueprint to the end, continuously deepen and consolidate the 'Double-Eight Strategy,' and always do solid work, stay at the forefront, and take the lead in the tide." Zhejiang has deeply implemented the spirit of General Secretary Xi Jinping's important instructions, deeply implemented the "Double-Eight Strategy," firmly focused on high-quality development and building the demonstration zone for common prosperity, adhered to taking high-quality development as the primary task, narrowing the "three major gaps" as the main direction of attack, reform and innovation as the fundamental driving force, and meeting the people's needs for a better life as the fundamental purpose. The construction of the demonstration zone for common prosperity has made obvious and substantive progress. The province's gross domestic product (GDP) increased from 6.46 trillion yuan in 2020 to 9.45 trillion yuan in 2025, and per capita GDP increased from US$14,600 to about US$20,000; the urban-rural income ratio narrowed from 1.96 in 2020 to 1.81 in 2025. Urban and rural areas and regions developed in a coordinated manner, public services were shared with high quality, every mountainous and island county achieved a GDP of over 10 billion yuan, a "30-minute public service circle" in rural areas and a "20-minute medical and health service circle" were basically formed, the equalization level of basic public services in education, health, and elderly care exceeded 98 percent, and the average life expectancy increased from 80.2 years to 82.5 years.
Highlighting the strategic position of scientific and technological innovation as the key link that guides everything, and accelerating the development of new quality productive forces. General Secretary Xi Jinping stressed: "The capability for scientific and technological innovation should be placed in a more prominent position." Innovation is the primary driving force leading development. Driving high-quality development through scientific and technological innovation and cultivating and developing new quality productive forces are the key engine for making the "cake" bigger and consolidating the material foundation of common prosperity. Facing the accelerating new round of scientific and technological revolution and industrial transformation, Zhejiang has "top-listed" innovation, vigorously promoted the construction of Innovative Zhejiang, accelerated breakthroughs in frontier fields of science and technology, and maintained fourth place in the country in regional innovation capability for four consecutive years. It has strengthened the deep integration of scientific and technological innovation and industrial innovation, implemented the "releasing water to raise fish" and "specialized, refined, distinctive, and innovative" cultivation projects, cultivated 14,400 specialized, refined, distinctive, and innovative small and medium-sized enterprises, 467 key "little giant" enterprises, and 233 manufacturing single champion enterprises. Emerging scientific and technological enterprises such as Hangzhou's "Six Little Dragons" and the "Eight New Steeds" have continued to emerge. It has accelerated the construction of a modern industrial system, vigorously developed strategic emerging industries while actively applying new technologies to transform and upgrade traditional industries, and cultivated and formed five trillion-yuan-level industrial clusters; accelerated the building of a highland for artificial intelligence innovation and development, made forward-looking arrangements for future industries such as general artificial intelligence, humanoid robots, and brain-inspired intelligence, and built 22 future industry pilot zones covering 16 frontier fields. It has coordinated the integrated reform of systems and mechanisms for education, science and technology, and talent, accelerated the building of a first-class innovation ecosystem characterized by the "best soil for talent growth," the "best cradle for enterprise development," the "highest quality and efficiency in integration and collaboration," and the "most tangible policy services," and achieved a "grand slam" on all five national private economy rankings for two consecutive years. These measures and achievements have reshaped industrial forms through scientific and technological innovation, continuously consolidated the material foundation of common prosperity, and provided strong driving force and support for Zhejiang's high-quality development and construction of the demonstration zone for common prosperity.
Doing a thorough job in the three articles of "strengthening cities," "vitalizing villages," and "integration," and promoting integrated, high-quality development of urban and rural areas. General Secretary Xi Jinping stressed: "Narrowing the gap between urban and rural areas, between regions, and between incomes should be the main direction of attack, and the systems and mechanisms for integrated urban-rural development should be further improved." To promote common prosperity, the most arduous and heavy task remains in rural areas. Zhejiang has used the "Thousand-Village Demonstration, Ten-Thousand-Village Improvement" project to drive urban-rural integrated development and narrow the "three major gaps," promoted "strengthening cities," "vitalizing villages," and "integration" in an integrated manner around "enriching the people," built a development axis of "county seats — central towns — key villages," and advanced new urbanization with county seats as the important carrier. It has developed county economies in light of local conditions, deeply studied, practiced, and promoted the "Yiwu development experience," cultivated clustered characteristic industries with one county one industry, and more than 40 percent of the province's counties have achieved a GDP of over 100 billion yuan. It has vigorously promoted the comprehensive revitalization of rural areas, drew a province-wide map of the whole industrial chain of "native specialty products for prosperity," promoted the cluster development of 226 rural areas, built 136 county-level whole industrial chains of "native specialty products for prosperity" each exceeding 1 billion yuan, with a total output value of over 340 billion yuan, driving employment for 4.7 million people. It has strengthened land-sea coordination, upgraded the "Mountain-Sea Cooperation" project, advanced the construction of a strong maritime province in depth, supported the revitalization and development of old revolutionary base areas and ethnic regions, and promoted coordinated and linked regional development. These measures and achievements have focused on promoting coordinated urban-rural and regional development, optimizing resource allocation in the coordination of spatial layout, broadening income-increasing channels in promoting industrial synergy, and narrowing urban-rural gaps in promoting equalization of services, effectively promoting the building of a new type of industry-agriculture and urban-rural relationship featuring mutual promotion between industry and agriculture, mutual complementarity between urban and rural areas, coordinated development, and common prosperity, opening up new channels and expanding new space for Zhejiang's high-quality development and construction of the demonstration zone for common prosperity.
Deepening the reform of "expanding the middle" and "raising the low end," encouraging prosperity through hard work, increasing urban and rural residents' income through multiple channels, and continuously narrowing income distribution gaps. General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out: "Adhere to the employment-first policy, focus on expanding employment capacity in promoting the transformation and upgrading of traditional industries and the development of emerging industries, and solve the employment problems of key groups. Deepen the reform of the income distribution system and improve the multi-level social security system." Increasing residents' income is not only related to the "money bags" of thousands of households, but also to social harmony and stability and the momentum of long-term development. Encouraging prosperity through hard work and improving the income distribution system not only helps form a virtuous cycle in which demand drives supply and supply creates demand, but also allows the fruits of reform and development to benefit all the people more and more fairly. Employment is the main source of residents' income. Zhejiang adheres to the employment-first orientation, improved the high-quality employment and entrepreneurship system in which "everyone has something to do, and every family has income," highlighted the employment work of key groups, and drove income growth through employment expansion and quality improvement. It has built a unified provincial human resources market, promoted the construction of a province-wide skills-based society, and cumulatively carried out vocational skills training for 9.924 million person-times. It has improved policies for expanding the middle-income group, improved the precise assistance system for low-income groups, continuously expanded the size of the middle-income group, and broadened channels for increasing the income of low-income groups. It has fully leveraged the advantage of Party building in pooling resources and factors, built platforms for nearby employment of surplus rural labor, cumulatively built 12,700 "common prosperity workshops," absorbed 551,000 farmers for employment, and the absorbed personnel saw an average monthly income increase of 2,668 yuan. It has comprehensively built "Shanxing Zhejiang" (a province of goodness), innovatively established guiding funds for charity, and invested 20 million yuan of fiscal funds each year to support the development of charity. These measures and achievements have both stimulated social vitality and enhanced social fairness, consolidating development consensus and injecting lasting vitality into Zhejiang's high-quality development and construction of the demonstration zone for common prosperity.
Focusing on "small-cut-in, great livelihood" and continuously advancing the integration of basic public services to a high standard. General Secretary Xi Jinping stressed: "More tangible and perceivable specific measures should be taken to meet the people's needs in employment, education, social security, housing, medical care, elderly care, and childcare." Promoting the integration of basic public services is an inherent requirement of common prosperity and a pragmatic measure to better meet the people's needs for a better life. Zhejiang firmly grasps the requirement of tangibility and perceivability, focuses on key areas, continuously deepens the reform of the integration of basic public services, and strives to promote high-quality sharing of public services throughout the whole life cycle of the person. At the same time, it has promoted the establishment of a public service allocation mechanism that is coordinated with population changes and affordable to government finances, achieving "spending less money, doing more things, and enjoying better services." For example, in medical care, it has deepened the construction of county-level medical communities, and "Zhejiang Medical Mutual Recognition" has achieved mutual recognition and sharing of more than 880 medical examination and testing items across regions and hospitals; in housing security, it has fully implemented the policy of establishing housing provident fund accounts for flexible employment personnel, and built a housing security system mainly composed of public rental housing, government-subsidized rental housing, and sale-based indemnificatory housing. It has deepened the construction of a digital government. The government service platform "Zhejiang Office" has gathered more than 3,000 application-based government service items and more than 2,000 convenience services for the people and benefits for enterprises, and the province has 3,093 items available for "one-network processing." These measures and achievements have continuously expanded the growth space of people's livelihood and well-being, more precisely transformed the fruits of high-quality development into tangible and perceivable happiness experiences for the people, and strengthened the livelihood foundation and consolidated the social foundation for Zhejiang's high-quality development and construction of the demonstration zone for common prosperity.
Promoting the harmonious coexistence of production, living, and ecological spaces, and, in achieving spiritual affluence, painting a new picture of mountains and waters depending on each other and good social governance. General Secretary Xi Jinping stressed: "Urban development should grasp the intrinsic relationship among production space, living space, and ecological space, and realize intensive and efficient production space, livable and moderate living space, and beautiful and clear ecological space." To promote common prosperity, material affluence, spiritual affluence, ecological beauty, and social well-being are all indispensable. Zhejiang has accelerated the building of a highland for Party building and a highland for clean governance in the new era, actively practiced whole-process people's democracy, coordinated the advancement of cultural innovation empowerment, ecological value transformation, and safety and rule-of-law construction, and continuously consolidated the foundation of common prosperity in stimulating social vitality, promoting ecological enrichment of the people, and maintaining harmony and stability. It has continuously deepened the "Eight Projects" for cultural development, focused on the "eight tracks" of "casting the soul, voicing opinions, inheriting heritage, invigorating industry, benefiting the people, governing the internet, eliminating risks, and gathering people," and deepened "culture +." It has innovatively implemented the cultural special commissioner system to promote the direct reach of high-quality cultural resources to the grass-roots level. It has burnished the provincial civilization practice brand of "Zhejiang Youli" (Zhejiang is a land of propriety), becoming a province where all cities with districts are national civilized cities and national double-support model cities. It has built more than 16,000 "15-minute quality cultural life circles," achieving full coverage of cultural auditoriums in administrative villages with more than 500 people. It has continuously deepened the construction of Beautiful Zhejiang, led comprehensive green transformation with the "dual carbon" goals, with the proportion of days with good air quality in cities with districts exceeding 90 percent and the excellent rate of surface water section water quality exceeding 98 percent. It has released a provincial-level GEP (Gross Ecosystem Product) accounting standard covering both land and sea, built transformation platforms such as "Two Mountains Cooperatives," and promoted the accelerated transformation of "lucid waters and lush mountains" into "invaluable assets." It has continuously deepened the "Fengqiao experience" in the new era, built a higher-level Safe Zhejiang and rule-of-law Zhejiang, strengthened and innovated social governance, continuously improved the quality and efficiency of conflict mediation and safety construction, so that the people live and work in peace and contentment, and society is harmonious and stable. These measures and achievements have not only cultivated ecological advantages in industrial transformation, but also improved the quality of life in public services, and further cultivated civilized new practices in social governance, providing multi-dimensional support for Zhejiang's high-quality development and construction of the demonstration zone for common prosperity.
As a pioneer of Chinese-style modernization, Zhejiang has taken "achieving decisive progress in the high-quality development and construction of the demonstration zone for common prosperity and being the first to present a vivid picture of basically realizing socialist modernization" as the overall goal of its development during the "15th Five-Year Plan" period, formulated and implemented the Zhejiang Province "15th Five-Year Plan" for High-Quality Development and Construction of the Demonstration Zone for Common Prosperity, continuously innovated methods, explored paths, and formed experience, and bravely served as a "tide rider" on the new journey of the new era.
Experience and enlightenment: Firmly establishing and practicing a correct view of political achievements and accelerating the exploration of effective paths to promote common prosperity for all
The fundamental reason why Zhejiang's high-quality development and construction of the demonstration zone for common prosperity has made obvious and substantive progress lies in the navigation and leadership of the Party Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core and in the scientific guidance of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era. In this process, Zhejiang has firmly grasped the worldview and methodology of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, firmly established and practiced a correct view of political achievements, and formed some experience and enlightenment.
Adhere to Party leadership as the fundamental guarantee and properly handle the relationship between an effective market and a proactive government. Realizing common prosperity is not only an economic issue, but also a major political issue related to the Party's governing foundation. Only by upholding and strengthening the Party's overall leadership, coordinating consideration of what is needed and what is possible, advancing gradually in accordance with the laws of economic and social development, adhering to the combination of an effective market and a proactive government, and consciously and actively resolving problems such as regional gaps, urban-rural gaps, and income gaps can we continuously enhance the people's sense of gain, happiness, and security. On the new journey, we must uphold and strengthen the Party's overall leadership, both continuously break down market barriers and optimize factor allocation so that market mechanisms can fully release their potential in fair competition, and promote a proactive government, enhance the consistency of macro policy orientations, make precise efforts in areas such as redistribution adjustment and equalization of basic public services, and build a solid institutional line of defense against polarization.
Adhere to high-quality development as the primary task and properly handle the relationship between efficiency and fairness. The quality of development determines the quality of common prosperity, and development in the new era and new stage must be high-quality development. To promote common prosperity, it is necessary to handle the relationship between efficiency and fairness well, and while promoting high-quality development and making the "cake" bigger and better, further cut and distribute the "cake" well. On the new journey, we must fully, accurately, and comprehensively implement the new development philosophy, accelerate the development of new quality productive forces, build a new development pattern, and, in the process of consolidating the material foundation of high-quality development, focus on solving livelihood issues such as employment, distribution, education, medical care, housing, elderly care, and childcare, build an institutional system in which primary distribution, redistribution, and tertiary distribution are coordinated and matched, standardize the order of income distribution, standardize the mechanism of wealth accumulation, guide and regulate the healthy development of capital in accordance with the law, gradually expand the middle-income group, narrow income distribution gaps, and promote a dynamic balance between efficiency and fairness at a higher level.
Adhere to the people-centered development philosophy and properly handle the relationship between investing in things and investing in people. The ultimate goal of promoting common prosperity lies in the people. Adhering to the close combination of investing in things and investing in people is an inevitable requirement for promoting the all-round development of the person and realizing common prosperity for all. Only by promoting the coordination of material capital and human capital accumulation and achieving two-way empowerment and mutual promotion between investment in things and investment in people can we promote solid steps in common prosperity for all. On the new journey, we must "see things but also see people," both expand effective investment in the real economy and scientific and technological innovation, and strengthen human resource development, invest more resources in the improvement of people's capabilities, health maintenance, career development, and potential development, so that the "modernization of things" can more effectively support the "modernization of people," and the "modernization of people" can more fully empower the "modernization of things."
Adhere to opening each lock with its own key and properly handle the relationship between universal laws and adapting measures to local conditions. To promote common prosperity, it is necessary to connect common goals with individual measures and combine top-level design with grass-roots exploration. China has a vast territory, and local conditions in terms of resource endowments, geographical locations, history and culture, and development foundations vary greatly, which determines that the focus of work and breakthroughs must inevitably differ and cannot be the same everywhere. On the new journey, we must adhere to seeking truth from facts, accurately grasp regional differences, precisely transform the "broad strokes" of top-level design into "fine brushwork" that conforms to local realities, uphold a problem-oriented and rational attitude, both learn from the reform experience that has already been proven feasible and explore differentiated development paths, base ourselves on local stage-specific characteristics, scientifically plan work carriers and policy measures for promoting common prosperity, and steadily advance common prosperity step by step.
Adhere to narrowing the "three major gaps" as the main direction of attack and properly handle the relationship between overall advancement and breakthroughs at key points. Common prosperity is a holistic and composite strategic goal, involving economic construction, political construction, cultural construction, social construction, ecological civilization construction, and other fields and aspects. In practice, on the one hand, it is necessary to strengthen the systematic concept, make overall plans and comprehensive balancing, and coordinately promote the positive interaction among high-quality development, high-efficiency governance, high-level security, and high-quality life; on the other hand, it is necessary to anchor the main direction of narrowing the "three major gaps" among multiple goals, identify the cut-in point, the starting point, and specific points of focus, accumulate small successes into big ones, develop from small to large, from point to surface, and gradually expand, and promote the continuous deepening and advancement of common prosperity in the organic combination of overall advancement and breakthroughs at key points.
Adhere to establishing and practicing a correct view of political achievements and properly handle the relationship between making unremitting efforts over the long term and advancing step by step. Realizing common prosperity is both an endurance race and a relay race; it cannot be rushed, nor can it be waited for, and it is impossible to achieve success in one battle. General Secretary Xi Jinping admonished: "We must seek truth from facts, advance steadily and firmly step by step, and must not have the mentality of being unconventional, craving greatness and success, 'launching satellites,' or putting on a show. That would ruin our good undertaking of common prosperity. We must lower our posture to do this thing well." On the new journey, we must place the realization of common prosperity in a more important position, carry forward the spirit of "achievement need not be in my tenure, but achievement must have my contribution," maintain historical patience, adhere to doing our best according to our capabilities, carry out the blueprint to the end, work hard one term after another, be down-to-earth, make unremitting efforts over the long term, and make more active and promising efforts toward this goal, continuously accumulating small victories into great victories.
(Written by: Chen Peihao, Wang Yunchang)
Return to TopBy: 揭 晓
Common prosperity is an essential requirement of socialism with Chinese characteristics, and fundamentally embodies the Party's original aspiration and founding mission, its nature and purpose. General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out: "Happy lives are all achieved through struggle; common prosperity must be created through diligence and wisdom." As an important feature of Chinese-style modernization, common prosperity must be gradually realized through united struggle and pooling hearts and strength. The Outline of the 15th Five-Year Plan states: "Support becoming prosperous through hard work, innovation, and legal means; encourage those who have become prosperous first to help those who become prosperous later, so as to promote common prosperity." This provides an action guide for us to solidly advance common prosperity for all the people.
Encouraging prosperity through hard work and promoting common prosperity are dialectically unified. Prosperity through hard work is the foundation; encouraging it helps stimulate the enthusiasm, initiative, and creativity of all the people, jointly make the "cake" bigger, and lay a solid foundation for dividing the "cake" well. Common prosperity is the goal; it demonstrates the superiority of China's socialist system and can effectively avoid the polarization in which "the rich amass tens of millions while the poor eat chaff and bran," creating better social conditions for prosperity through hard work. At present, faced with the new requirements of high-quality development and the new changes in the forms of labor, adhering to the correct direction of encouraging prosperity through hard work to promote common prosperity is both a practical need for consolidating the material foundation of common prosperity and rallying the whole society's striving force, and a strategic choice for resolving the problems of unbalanced and inadequate development and meeting the people's aspirations for a better life.
Foster a sound social atmosphere for becoming prosperous through hard work. General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out: "We must vigorously promote the spirit of labor throughout society, advocate realizing the dreams of life and changing one's own destiny through honest labor, and oppose all ideas of getting something for nothing (不劳而获 (bù láo ér huò - "obtain without labor," to get something without working)), of being opportunistic and tricky (投机取巧 (tóu jī qǔ qiǎo - "seize opportunities and take clever shortcuts," to be opportunistic and tricky)), and of indulging in pleasure (贪图享乐 (tān tú xiǎng lè - "crave ease and pleasure," to indulge in pleasure))." The Chinese nation is a hardworking and simple people. That labor creates happiness is a traditional virtue of the Chinese nation and an endogenous driving force for promoting common prosperity. Taking a clear-cut stand (旗帜鲜明 (qí zhì xiān míng - "banners and flags are bright and clear," clear-cut and unambiguous)) against all erroneous ideas of getting something for nothing, indulging in pleasure, and advocating instant wealth, and guiding the broad masses to recognize that only hard work can bring prosperity and to overcome the mentality of "waiting, relying, and demanding" (等靠要), is conducive to promoting all the people's gaining happiness in struggle and achieving self-fulfillment in practical work. We should promote the formation of a strong social atmosphere in which labor is glorious and creation is great, carry forward the spirit of labor, the spirit of struggle, and the spirit of creation in all walks of life, establish the social fashion that labor is the most glorious, labor is the most noble, labor is the greatest, and labor is the most beautiful, and encourage the broad masses to take diligent labor, honest labor, and creative labor as conscious actions.
Vigorously improve the quality of workers. General Secretary Xi Jinping emphasized: "Create more inclusive and fair conditions for the people to raise their educational level and enhance their development capabilities, improve the human capital and professional skills of the whole society, enhance employment and entrepreneurship abilities, and strengthen the ability to become prosperous." Promoting common prosperity for all the people is a long-term and arduous task that requires pooling the wisdom and strength of all the people. Focusing on people's comprehensive development and long-term development, doing a good job in talent cultivation in all respects, and improving the match between education supply and talent demand are conducive to guiding the broad masses to better create wealth through labor. We should improve the lifelong vocational skills training system and other systems, build a diversified training system, effectively improve the fit between workers' skill supply and job skill demand, strengthen workers' ability to adapt to industrial changes and technological progress, and ensure that the content of skills training is truly transformed into employability and income-increasing ability.
Optimize the systems and mechanisms for talent development. General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out: "Break down the institutional and policy drawbacks that hinder the flow of labor and talent, remove the unreasonable restrictions and employment discrimination that affect equal employment, and enable everyone to have the opportunity to realize their own development through diligent labor." Improving the systems and mechanisms and forming a development environment in which everyone participates and everyone benefits can create opportunities for more people to become prosperous and promote the broad masses of workers to grow and succeed in their posts, embody their value, display their talents, and experience happiness in labor. To this end, we must provide all-round protection for the legitimate rights and interests of workers, improve the system of labor and employment laws and regulations, build harmonious labor relations, strengthen protection of the basic rights and interests of workers in flexible employment, in new employment forms, and beyond the statutory retirement age, and truly realize, safeguard, and develop the legitimate rights and interests of workers. Break down the institutional and systemic obstacles affecting the flow of labor and talent, improve public employment services, smooth the growth channels for technical and skilled personnel, and broaden workers' employment channels and space for increasing income. Improve the income distribution system, increase in an orderly manner the weight of factors such as labor, skills, knowledge, and innovation in income distribution, so that all sources of social wealth creation flow fully and the achievements of modernization benefit all the people more and more fairly, and promote more marked and substantive progress in common prosperity for all the people.
(The author is a specially invited researcher at the Guangdong Provincial Research Center for Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era (广东省习近平新时代中国特色社会主义思想研究中心).)
Return to TopBy: 本报记者 宋朝军
In Gulang County (古浪县), Wuwei City, Gansu Province, on the southern edge of the Tengger Desert, at the junction of the Badagou (八道沟) Sand-Control Road and the Second Sand-Control Ring Road, Zhang Yanji (张彦吉), deputy director of the Gulang County Forestry and Grassland Bureau (古浪县林草局), and staff member Cai Yanzhi (蔡彥智) stand in the observation pavilion, staring at the images sent back in real time by the remote-sensing surveying drone, checking the sand-control roads they have walked over hundreds and thousands of times.
Over more than 20 years, Gulang County has continuously advanced road-based sand control, combining transportation infrastructure construction with desertification control. By building desert-crossing roads, it has cut the vast desert into small pieces one by one, and then, relying on the road network, carried out precise treatment, development, and utilization, forming the approach of "build roads first, then control sand; 化整为零 (huà zhěng wéi líng - "turn the whole into parts," to divide a large task into smaller manageable pieces) and 各个击破 (gè gè jī pò - "strike and break each one," to defeat each part one by one)" — promoting the county's comprehensive desertification prevention and control.
Building roads in the 2.39-million-mu sand area became the "opening move" of sand control.
The construction of sand-control roads arose from the unique geographical environment here.
Gulang County is located at the northern foot of the Qilian Mountains and the southern edge of the Tengger Desert. It is an important component of the "Northern Sand-Prevention Belt" (北方防沙带) in the "three zones and four belts" (三区四带) of the master plan for major projects for the protection and restoration of important national ecosystems, and it is also a national key county for desertification monitoring. From south to north, its territory consists of mountain areas, oasis areas, and sand areas; building roads in the 2.39-million-mu northern sand area became the "opening move" of sand control.
The sea of sand, 一望无际 (yī wàng wú jì - "one glance, no boundary," as far as the eye can see), is an "examination paper" full of challenges.
"Building roads here was not easy at all; the thinking and the planning had to be worked out first," Zhang Yanji recalled. After graduating from university in 2008, he came to Gulang County to do sand-prevention and sand-control work. For more than ten years, he and his colleagues, following the approach of "edges first, hinterland later; from near to far, advancing in depth," have rushed about together on the front line of sand control.
Sand-prevention and sand-control roads have been under construction since 1999. At first, road construction began in the Heigeda Ridge (黑疙瘩梁) area along the Gulang section of Provincial Road 308, then gradually advanced to the construction access roads along the Ganwu Railway (干武铁路) and the Mindiao Road (民调路), and later extended northward in depth to the junction of Gansu and Inner Mongolia.
Zhang Yanji and his colleagues, together in the vast desert, relying on the shapes of the dunes and the undulating terrain, first padded straw, then spread sand and gravel — and where conditions permitted, gradually hardened the surface with asphalt. Up to now, the "five horizontal and nine vertical" (五横九纵) backbone sand-control road network running through the northern sand area, with a total length of 168 kilometers, has been completed; the county's desertified land has been divided into 15 sand-control zones, solving the hard problems of "difficulty entering, difficulty transporting, difficulty treating, and difficulty scaling up" in sand-area governance.
When the sand-control roads are linked up one by one, sand control can accelerate and follow up.
When roads were laid into the desert, sand control was able to accelerate and follow up.
In the deepest part of the desert within Gulang County, in the courtyard of a sand-sealing and forest-nurturing management and protection station of Babusha Forest Farm (八步沙林场), a Russian olive tree was laden with fruit on its branches. Shi Yinshan (石银山), 57, a second-generation successor to the "Six Old Men" (六老汉) of Babusha and deputy director of Babusha Forest Farm, has lived at the management and protection station year-round in recent years.
"The total amount of sand pressing and green planting in the past six or seven years is greater than the total of all the years when there were no roads!" Shi Yinshan said emotionally. Since childhood, he has witnessed his father's generation pressing sand, fixing sand, and planting trees. When there were no roads in the desert, they pulled by hand and carried on shoulders, relying on animal-drawn carts to transport saplings, water, and other materials; machinery could not get in, and the scope of treatment and operating efficiency were severely limited. Now, sand-control roads linked up one by one have cleared the "blockage" for sand control. Almost all of the 168-kilometer sand-control roads have a width of 6 to 7 meters, allowing ordinary vehicles to pass in both directions at the same time, providing basic support for transporting sand-control materials.
Take water transport as an example: an animal-drawn cart could carry at most 200 kilograms of water per trip — in the face of the huge planting scale and evaporation, this was almost 杯水车薪 (bēi shuǐ chē xīn - "a cup of water for a cartload of firewood," utterly inadequate, a drop in the bucket). But after the sand-control roads were opened, "with a water truck, 16 tons of water can be transported in one trip," Shi Yinshan said. With higher efficiency in material transport, the efficiency of sand pressing and green planting has also risen. In recent years, when planting greenery, they have also built some small water cellars. "When more water is brought in, we can store it, and it is more convenient to take it whenever needed."
These roads came into being for sand control, and they also help promote industry.
Roads open the way for green; green also escorts the roads.
In different zones, the cadres and masses of Gulang County use straw checkerboards to lock shifting sand; after the sand surface stabilizes, they plant sand wormwood, flower stick, saxaul, and peashrub, with survival rates steadily above 75%. When the roots of these flower sticks and saxaul go down several meters deep and extend and interlace, they can tightly "grip" the sand and soil beneath them, lower wind speed, fix shifting sand, and grow into an oasis. Today, the forest belts on both sides of the highways are like two thick green city walls, and the desert-crossing roads no longer fear wind-blown sand.
Two years ago, Gulang County took the lead in winning the first county-level "annihilation battle" in the Hexi Corridor–Taklamakan Desert edge blocking campaign (河西走廊—塔克拉玛干沙漠边缘阻击战). All 2.39 million mu of the county's desertified land have now received preliminary treatment, and the county has successfully completed the historic transformation from sand advancing and people retreating to green advancing and sand retreating.
These roads came into being for sand control, and they also help promote industry; they have become people-enriching roads that the masses can rely on.
"A new home on a sand nest — what could it amount to?" In Fumin New Village (富民新村) of the Huanghuatan Ecological Resettlement Area (黄花滩生态移民区), adjoining the Tengger Desert, villager He Zhentian (何振田) remembers that when they first arrived, many people harbored such worries. In 2018, benefiting from the policy of poverty-alleviation relocation (易地扶贫搬迁), he and his fellow villagers left the deep mountains behind and moved into Fumin New Village. After truly settling down, they found that the grid-based governance unfolded through road-based sand control had erected an ecological barrier for this land.
Fumin New Village is not only connected with cement roads, running water, and natural gas; it has also, relying on the ecologically safe space opened up by sand control, built greenhouse sheds. He Zhentian contracted a greenhouse and delved into fruit and vegetable cultivation techniques; the ginseng fruit he grows is bright in color and rich in fruit fragrance, and order calls from buyers keep coming in.
Road-based sand control has opened up the road to development in the sand area. Many roads are directly connected with county roads and provincial roads, enabling the relocated masses to "move out, settle down, and get rich" (搬得出、稳得住、能致富). In less than 10 years, this new village on the desert edge, 因地制宜 (yīn dì zhì yí - "suit measures to local conditions," to act according to local circumstances), has developed quite a few distinctive industries, building a cumulative total of 820 solar greenhouses and 940 warm livestock sheds.
At the same time, Fumin New Village has also built the Modern Silk Road Cold-and-Arid Agriculture Industrial Park (现代丝路寒旱农业产业园), the Gancheng Township Rural Collective Economy Industrial Park (干城乡村集体经济产业园), and others. High-quality fruit and vegetables, mainly cluster tomatoes, strawberries, and Gulang muskmelons, are thriving in both production and sales, and more than 1,000 people have achieved employment at their doorsteps.
Return to TopOur newspaper, Shanghai, August 30 (Reporter Tian Hong (田泓)). Shanghai's "One River, One Creek" (一江一河) Development "15th Five-Year Plan" was recently released. According to the plan, on the basis of consolidating the achievements in shoreline connection, Shanghai will push the shorelines along the Huangpu River and Suzhou Creek to move from linear connection to functional integration, and accelerate the building of a world-class waterfront area with global influence.
During the "14th Five-Year Plan" period, Shanghai's "One River, One Creek" construction turned in a brilliant answer sheet. By the end of 2025, the connected shoreline mileage exceeded 110 kilometers, and newly built waterfront green spaces and public spaces exceeded 600 hectares. In 2025, waterfront open spaces received 170 million person-visits and held more than 800 large-scale themed events. A number of industrial heritage sites regained new life; public service facilities such as child-friendly places and waterfront stations continued to be implemented; waterfront space governance realized the transition from "management" to "service," laying a solid foundation for a new round of development.
According to the plan, by 2030, the areas along the Huangpu River will gradually be built into an innovation corridor leading future development, an urban living room with rich cultural connotations, a new blue-green picture scroll manifesting green ecology, and a development engine linking the waterfront with the hinterland; the areas along Suzhou Creek will gradually be built into a style display belt highlighting Shanghai's humanistic charm, a diverse and inclusive urban vitality zone, a community bond of joint construction and joint governance, and a renewed and revitalized destination suitable for living and traveling. Looking ahead to 2035, comprehensively build a world-class city business card with surging innovation vitality, intermingled humanistic charm, prominent ecological value, and leading governance effectiveness.
"If one keyword is used to summarize the 'One River, One Creek' development during the '15th Five-Year Plan' period, it is 'integration,'" said Zhang Yuxin (张玉鑫), deputy secretary-general of the Shanghai Municipal Government and director of the Municipal Planning and Natural Resources Bureau (市规划资源局). After going through the stages of connection and quality improvement, Shanghai's waterfront construction has entered an integrated development stage pursuing "excellent or not," and will focus on advancing integrated development in the four dimensions of function, waterfront, city–water, and governance.
The plan explicitly promotes the realization of the "five leaps" (五个跃升): from linear connection to network integration, weaving a denser waterfront network in which water and green are intermingled, adding 4 kilometers of connected shoreline on the main stream, driving and leading the extension and expansion of 48 kilometers of tributary shoreline, and activating 10 waterfront corridors perpendicular to the river and the creek; from spatial accessibility to service enjoyability, fostering an age-friendly quality waterfront and building a 9-kilometer high-level waterfront section in the central urban area; from spatial renewal to functional revitalization, stimulating the vitality of the integration of culture, commerce, tourism, sports, and exhibitions, and accelerating the construction of 10 high-grade public facilities such as the Shanghai Industrial Museum (上海工业博物馆); from waterfront show belt to development show belt, clustering and developing new quality productive forces (新质生产力) and strengthening the two "golden triangles" (黄金三角) of the Bund–Lujiazui–North Bund and the Expo–Qiantan (前滩)–Xuhui Riverside; from refined management to collaborative good governance, achieving by 2030 full coverage of online services for the already-connected waterfront sections.
Return to TopThis year is the opening year of the 15th Five-Year Plan. Postal Savings Bank of China Anhui Branch (hereinafter referred to as "PSBC Anhui Branch") closely follows Anhui's strategic positioning of "three places and one zone" (三地一区), focuses on doing well the "five major articles" of finance (五篇大文章), continuously invests service resources and optimizes financial supply, so that the "bank's essential tasks" closely keep pace with the "nation's needs," and serves the high-quality development of the Jianghuai land with precise and efficient financial strength.
Activate New-Quality Momentum, Forge a Strong Industrial Engine
PSBC Anhui Branch proactively follows the construction of Anhui's "1188" modern industrial system and, centering on the deep integration of scientific and technological innovation with industrial innovation, reshapes its service system. Persisting in putting mechanisms first, it has built a "123+6+N" specialized operation structure, deepened the "on the chain, in the park, under the group" three-dimensional outreach model, increased support for key industrial clusters, and ensured that the early-stage financing needs of a number of key sci-tech innovation entities, including ChangXin Technology Group Co., Ltd. (长鑫科技集团股份有限公司), were met. Restructuring its credit-granting logic, it relied on the group's full-license advantages to open up the investment-loan linkage channel, implemented the "U-Benefit Plan" (U益计划) equity-debt linked business, and connected with strategic equity-financing projects in Anhui in areas such as lithography supporting and fusion energy, using the power of capital to assist breakthroughs in domestic substitution. Launching "accompanying" services, it bases itself on the entire cycle of enterprise growth: in the start-up stage, it provides the "Future Loan" to solve the problem of start-up funds for the transformation of achievements; in the growth stage, it matches enterprises with the exclusive "Sci-Tech Innovation Loan" as well as value-added services of investment-banking advisory and resource matching; in the mature stage, it assists with merger and acquisition loans, wealth management, and the like. In addition, it continuously enriches its product matrix, promotes the intellectual-property pledge brand — "Zhiyirong" (知易融) — within the province, and implements the "Common Growth Plan" of financial support for sci-tech innovation (共同成长计划), having cumulatively supported more than 2,600 enterprises and injected financial momentum into Anhui's scientific and technological innovation.
Deeply Cultivate the Fertile Soil of the Countryside, Consolidate the Foundation of Revitalization
With serving "agriculture, rural areas, and farmers" (三农) as its foundation, PSBC Anhui Branch relies on the three-tier vertical service network of province, city, and county to establish a "three-tier industrial system" service model, clearing the bottlenecks in rural financial services. In line with the farming season, it carries out special actions: centering on the key nodes of grain and oil supply security, it sinks services to the grassroots during the spring plowing and summer grain-purchase seasons, and innovates digital grain-purchase settlement systems such as "Grain Purchase e-Pass" (收粮e点通), improving the settlement efficiency of grain circulation. In response to agricultural needs, it customizes financial products, deepens cooperation with Anhui Agricultural Credit Financing Guarantee Co., Ltd. (安徽省农业信贷融资担保有限公司), and for the planting and breeding industries launches financing-guarantee models such as the "Anhui Agricultural Guarantee Industry Loan" and "Wan Nong Yi Dan" (皖农易担), and independently innovates the "Agriculture and Animal Husbandry Loan," responding to the needs of the in-depth development of county-specific industries. In response to agricultural conditions, it upgrades its service strategies, comprehensively implements the financial-support "Rural Industry Revitalization Common Development Plan" (乡村产业振兴共同发展计划), formulates "one household, one policy" follow-up service plans, and has established in-depth financial cooperation with more than 1,400 agriculture-related entities. Precise services drive scale effects: PSBC Anhui Branch's small-loan scale focusing on serving agriculture-related entities firmly ranks in the first echelon among provincial peers, using inclusive finance to help agriculture increase efficiency, rural areas increase vitality, and farmers increase income.
Convey the Warmth of Finance, Safeguard the Smoke and Fire of Ten Thousand Households
Based on the overall situation of integrated urban-rural development, PSBC Anhui Branch sends the warmth of finance into thousands upon thousands of households amid the upgrading of infrastructure and the expansion of consumption scenarios. Focusing on the construction of Anhui's "six networks" (六张网), it provides precise drip irrigation in key areas. In terms of the water network, it implemented operating-rights revitalization projects such as those for the Feidong Chengduan Reservoir (肥东程段水库), with credit disbursement exceeding 1.3 billion yuan. In terms of the new-type power grid, it supported Anqing's "source-grid-load-storage" integration, with green electricity empowering the lighting-up of urban and rural lights. In terms of the computing network and the new-generation communications network, centering on the supply chain, it provided more than 3 billion yuan in on- and off-balance-sheet financing to leading enterprises in foundational ecosystem chips. In terms of urban underground pipeline networks, it helped county-level municipal facilities in places such as Wangjiang County, Anqing City (望江县), and Fengyang County, Chuzhou City (凤阳县) to upgrade in quality. In terms of the logistics network, it linked postal resources to inject credit funds into three-tier logistics co-distribution centers in places such as Yingshang County, Fuyang City (颍上县), so that goods flow unimpeded and the urban-rural ends are connected. With differentiated plans it served the cultural-tourism resources of southern, central, western, and northern Anhui, providing cumulative credit lines exceeding 8.4 billion yuan to more than 40 key projects in the province, covering over 60 percent of the operating entities of national 5A-grade tourist scenic areas, with credit disbursement exceeding 4 billion yuan, adding brighter colors to the picture of 近悦远来 (jìn yuè yuǎn lái - "those near are delighted, those from afar come," to be so attractive that people nearby are pleased and those far away are drawn to come); it innovated models such as "acquisition + renovation" to provide credit support for elderly-care industry projects, of which nearly 60 percent have landed in counties, warmly guarding the "sunset red"; it linked mainstream consumer platforms to launch full-reduction benefit-the-people activities in travel, dining, and cultural-entertainment scenarios, optimize payment convenience for the people, and unleash the consumption potential of urban and rural areas.
Anchor the Low-Carbon Track, Paint the Picture of Transformation
Serving the construction of Anhui Province's comprehensive green-transformation zone for economic and social development, PSBC Anhui Branch has made clear the "timetable" and "roadmap" for building a green bank and implemented them in an orderly manner. It improved institutional design, issued special guidelines for transition finance and biodiversity finance, set up green-credit FTP (internal funds transfer pricing) point-reduction preferences, layered on the policy dividend of People's Bank of China (中国人民银行) relending, added special incentives for green-credit business in internal assessments, and established an environmental-protection "one-vote veto" and due-diligence liability-exemption list, guiding the bank's internal resources to tilt toward low-carbon fields. It accelerated the landing of innovations, incorporated enterprises' carbon-emission-reduction results into quantitative credit evaluation, and pushed the focus of credit granting from "heavy assets" to "heavy carbon efficiency." Under the coordinated guidance of the provincial and municipal branches of the People's Bank of China, it promoted the first just-transition loan for the chemical industry among the province's banking peers to land in Anqing City, binding loan interest rates to enterprises' carbon-emission reduction and local job-stability targets, achieving a win-win of ecological benefits and social benefits. As of the first half of this year, PSBC Anhui Branch's green loans exceeded 36.6 billion yuan, with the growth rate of green loans leading the growth rate of the branch's overall loans by 2.59 percentage points, strongly supporting the optimization of Anhui Province's energy structure and the green upgrading of its industries.
Data source: PSBC Anhui Branch
Return to TopOrder of the President of the People's Republic of China
No. 80
The Medical Security Law of the People's Republic of China was adopted at the 24th session of the Standing Committee of the 14th National People's Congress of the People's Republic of China on August 28, 2026, and is hereby promulgated, and shall come into force on January 1, 2027.
Xi Jinping, President of the People's Republic of China
August 28, 2026
Contents
Chapter I General Provisions
Chapter II Medical Security System
Chapter III Medical Security Funds
Chapter IV Medical Security Services
Chapter V Supervision and Administration
Chapter VI Legal Liability
Chapter VII Supplementary Provisions
Chapter I General Provisions
Article 1 For the purposes of safeguarding the lawful rights and interests of citizens in medical security, regulating medical security relations, optimizing medical security services, improving the multi-tiered universal medical security system, promoting high-quality development of medical security work, implementing the health-priority development strategy, and advancing the building of a Healthy China, this Law is enacted in accordance with the Constitution.
Article 2 This Law applies to activities related to medical security, such as fundraising and operation, benefit payment, public services, fund use, and supervision and administration, conducted within the territory of the People's Republic of China; where this Law does not provide, the relevant provisions of laws and administrative regulations such as the Social Insurance Law of the People's Republic of China shall apply.
Article 3 Medical security work shall uphold the leadership of the Communist Party of China, adhere to a people-centered approach, and follow the principles of covering all citizens, coordinating urban and rural areas, fairness and unity, safety and standardization, multi-tieredness, and sustainability. The level of medical security shall be commensurate with the level of economic and social development.
Article 4 Citizens have the right and obligation to participate in basic medical insurance in accordance with the law and enjoy corresponding medical security benefits in accordance with the provisions.
Article 5 People's governments at or above the county level shall strengthen their leadership over medical security work, strengthen capacity building for medical security, promote the coordinated development and governance of healthcare, medical insurance, and pharmaceuticals, and make overall coordination to study and resolve major issues in medical security work.
Article 6 The medical security administrative department of the State Council shall be responsible for the medical security administration of the whole country within the scope of its duties. Other relevant departments of the State Council shall be responsible for the relevant medical security work within the scope of their respective duties.
The medical security administrative departments of local people's governments at or above the county level shall be responsible for the medical security administration of their respective administrative regions within the scope of their duties. Other relevant departments of local people's governments at or above the county level shall be responsible for the relevant medical security work within the scope of their respective duties.
Article 7 The State shall strengthen publicity and education on medical security laws and regulations and medical security knowledge, guide citizens to establish and practice the concept of health management, and improve health literacy, awareness of the rule of law in medical security, and awareness of insurance participation.
Chapter II Medical Security System
Article 8 The State shall establish and improve a multi-tiered universal medical security system with basic medical insurance as the main body.
Article 9 Basic medical insurance includes basic medical insurance for employees and basic medical insurance for urban and rural residents. The State shall gradually improve the basic medical insurance system, strengthen overall coordination, and promote fairness and unity.
Article 10 Employees shall participate in basic medical insurance for employees. The premiums of basic medical insurance for employees shall be jointly paid by employing units and employees.
Individual industrial and commercial households without employees, part-time workers who have not participated in basic medical insurance for employees through an employing unit, and other persons in flexible employment are encouraged to participate in basic medical insurance for employees. Specific measures shall be formulated by the medical security administrative department of the State Council jointly with the relevant departments of the State Council.
The contribution standards of basic medical insurance for employees shall be determined by the people's governments of pooling areas in accordance with the contribution base and the benchmark rate ranges prescribed by the State.
Article 11 Citizens who do not participate in basic medical insurance for employees and do not enjoy other national medical security benefits shall participate in basic medical insurance for urban and rural residents.
Basic medical insurance for urban and rural residents implements a combination of individual contributions and government subsidies. The contribution standards shall be linked to the level of economic and social development and the level of per capita disposable income of residents, and the fundraising responsibilities of individuals and the government shall be reasonably divided.
The standards for individual contributions and government subsidies of basic medical insurance for urban and rural residents shall be determined by the medical security administrative departments and finance departments of the people's governments of provinces, autonomous regions, and municipalities directly under the Central Government in accordance with state provisions, or they shall guide the medical security administrative departments and finance departments of the people's governments of pooling areas to determine them in accordance with state provisions.
For persons in extreme poverty, members of families receiving minimum subsistence allowances, eligible persons covered by the prevention of return to poverty and impoverishment, and others who participate in basic medical insurance for urban and rural residents, their individual contribution portions shall be subsidized in accordance with the provisions.
Article 12 The State shall establish and improve a long-term mechanism for insurance participation, optimize insurance participation services, improve incentive and restraint measures, and promote continuous insurance participation by insured persons.
Article 13 Basic medical insurance provides fair and appropriate benefit protection for insured persons. The benefit standards shall be determined by the medical security administrative departments and finance departments of the people's governments of provinces, autonomous regions, and municipalities directly under the Central Government in accordance with state provisions, or they shall guide the medical security administrative departments and finance departments of the people's governments of pooling areas to determine them in accordance with state provisions. The benefit standards of basic medical insurance shall be conducive to the development of the hierarchical diagnosis and treatment system.
The medical and pharmaceutical expenses incurred by insured persons of basic medical insurance that conform to the catalogues of basic medical insurance drugs, medical consumables, and medical service items, as well as other expenses prescribed by law or determined by the State Council, shall be paid from the basic medical insurance fund in accordance with state provisions.
The starting time for insured persons of basic medical insurance to enjoy benefits shall be determined by provinces, autonomous regions, and municipalities directly under the Central Government in accordance with state provisions.
Insured persons shall not repeatedly participate in basic medical insurance and shall not repeatedly enjoy basic medical insurance benefits.
Article 14 Employees shall participate in maternity insurance. The premiums of maternity insurance shall be paid by employing units, and employees shall not pay them. The premiums of maternity insurance and the premiums of basic medical insurance for employees shall be collected and levied in a unified manner. The maternity insurance fund and the basic medical insurance fund for employees shall be merged into one account.
The State shall improve the maternity insurance system and promote the expansion of the coverage of maternity insurance.
Article 15 Insured persons under maternity insurance shall enjoy the benefits of maternity medical expenses and maternity allowance in accordance with state provisions, and their unemployed spouses shall enjoy the benefits of maternity medical expenses in accordance with state provisions. The funds needed shall be paid from the basic medical insurance fund for employees.
Article 16 The large-amount medical expense subsidy for employees provides further protection for the high medical and pharmaceutical expenses incurred by insured persons under basic medical insurance for employees. The serious illness insurance for residents provides further protection for the high medical and pharmaceutical expenses incurred by insured persons under basic medical insurance for urban and rural residents.
The specific fundraising methods, coverage scope, and benefit standards of the large-amount medical expense subsidy for employees and the serious illness insurance for residents shall be determined by the medical security administrative departments of the people's governments of provinces, autonomous regions, and municipalities directly under the Central Government jointly with the finance departments at the same level in accordance with state provisions.
Employing units are encouraged to establish enterprise supplementary medical insurance for their employees.
Article 17 Corresponding medical assistance shall be given to persons in difficulty who meet the conditions for medical assistance. The objects, methods, and standards of medical assistance shall be implemented in accordance with the provisions of the relevant laws and regulations on medical assistance.
Article 18 The State encourages the development of commercial health insurance, charitable donations related to medical security, mutual medical aid, and the like, to meet the diverse needs for health protection.
Chapter III Medical Security Funds
Article 19 Medical security funds include the basic medical insurance fund, the medical assistance fund, and the like.
Medical security funds shall implement the unified financial and accounting systems of the State and be used exclusively for their designated purposes. No unit or individual may conceal, transfer, encroach upon, or misappropriate them.
Article 20 Tax authorities shall, in accordance with the provisions, collect and levy the premiums of basic medical insurance (including the premiums of maternity insurance). The basic medical insurance fund shall be incorporated into the fiscal special account for social security funds for management.
Article 21 The medical assistance fund shall be raised through multiple channels such as fiscal budgets and social donations, be subject to special management and special-account accounting, and be incorporated into the fiscal special account for social security funds for management.
Local people's governments at or above the county level shall reasonably arrange medical assistance subsidy funds in accordance with the level of economic and social development and the state of financial resources.
Article 22 The management of the basic medical insurance fund shall follow the principles of determining expenditures on the basis of revenues and balancing revenues and expenditures, so as to ensure the stable and sustainable operation of the fund.
People's governments of pooling areas shall establish risk management and control mechanisms for the basic medical insurance fund, strengthen actuarial analysis of the fund, construct medium- and long-term revenue-expenditure balance mechanisms and emergency response mechanisms, and ensure that the basic medical insurance fund makes disbursements in accordance with the provisions.
The budget of the basic medical insurance fund shall be prepared in accordance with the principle of balancing revenues and expenditures. Finance departments, jointly with medical security administrative departments, shall strengthen supervision over the execution of the budget of the basic medical insurance fund and strengthen budget performance management.
The State shall promote provincial-level pooling of basic medical insurance.
Article 23 The scope of payment of the basic medical insurance fund shall be organized and formulated by the medical security administrative department of the State Council.
The determination of the scope of payment of the basic medical insurance fund shall be based on the affordability of the basic medical insurance fund, meet the reasonable medical needs of insured persons, adhere to placing equal emphasis on traditional Chinese medicine and Western medicine, promote the rational use of drugs and medical devices, and promote the improvement of the quality of medical and pharmaceutical services.
People's governments of provinces, autonomous regions, and municipalities directly under the Central Government may, in accordance with the relevant provisions of the State, additionally determine the specific items and standards for payment from the basic medical insurance fund in their respective administrative regions, and report them to the medical security administrative department of the State Council for recordation.
Article 24 The medical security administrative department of the State Council shall organize and carry out evidence-based medicine and economic evaluations of the catalogues of basic medical insurance drugs, medical consumables, and medical service items that are included in the scope of payment. The evaluation results shall serve as the basis for determining and adjusting the scope of payment of the basic medical insurance fund.
Article 25 When organizing the formulation of the scope of payment of the basic medical insurance fund and organizing the evidence-based medicine and economic evaluations, the medical security administrative department of the State Council shall solicit opinions from the health, traditional Chinese medicine, disease prevention and control, drug administration, development and reform, civil affairs, human resources and social security, industry and information technology, finance, and market regulation departments of the State Council, and shall adopt appropriate methods to solicit opinions from medical institutions, drug business units, relevant enterprises, experts, and insured persons.
Article 26 The State shall establish and improve the centralized procurement system for drugs and medical consumables.
The State shall improve the payment mechanism of the basic medical insurance fund, implement diversified and composite medical insurance payment methods in light of the characteristics of different medical services, and implement and improve payment methods that conform to the characteristics of traditional Chinese medicine services.
Article 27 When emergencies such as major infectious disease epidemics occur, the medical security administrative department of the State Council may, on the basis of soliciting opinions from the health, traditional Chinese medicine, disease prevention and control, drug administration, industry and information technology, and other departments of the State Council, propose, jointly with the finance department of the State Council, a temporary adjustment plan for the scope of payment of the basic medical insurance fund, and implement it after reporting to the State Council for approval.
Article 28 Basic medical insurance shall implement designated management of medical institutions and drug business units.
Medical institutions and drug business units that implement designated management (hereinafter collectively referred to as "designated medical and pharmaceutical institutions") shall establish and implement internal control systems for the use of medical security funds, have specialized institutions or personnel responsible for the management of the use of medical security funds, organize and carry out training on the systems and policies related to the use of medical security funds, and regularly inspect the use of medical security funds by their own units.
Designated medical and pharmaceutical institutions shall properly keep materials related to the use of medical security funds, promptly submit data related to the use of medical security funds to medical security agencies, and report to medical security administrative departments the necessary information required for the supervision and management of the use of medical security funds.
Chapter IV Medical Security Services
Article 29 The State shall establish and improve the public service system for medical security, standardize and unify the list of public service items of medical security, raise the level of standardization, normalization, and convenience of services, and achieve full urban and rural coverage of public services for medical security.
Article 30 Medical security agencies shall carry out such work as registration of insurance participation, transfer of relations, recording of individual rights and interests, verification and payment of benefits, inquiry and consulting services, management of medical security service agreements, and verification of the amount of premiums payable in the circumstances prescribed by the State.
Medical security agencies shall establish and implement internal control systems for business, finance, security, and risk management.
Article 31 Medical security agencies shall establish and improve collective consultation and negotiation mechanisms, sign medical security service agreements with eligible medical institutions and drug business units, regulate medical and pharmaceutical service behavior, reasonably determine the budget amount and disbursement time limits of medical security funds for designated medical and pharmaceutical institutions, and clarify the acts of both parties that violate the service agreements and their liabilities. Medical security administrative departments shall strengthen supervision over the conclusion, performance, and other aspects of the service agreements.
Article 32 Medical security administrative departments and medical security agencies shall establish and improve the direct settlement mechanism for medical and pharmaceutical expenses that links basic medical insurance, the large-amount medical expense subsidy for employees, the serious illness insurance for residents, medical assistance, and the like, promote networked settlement, and improve settlement efficiency.
For the portion of the medical and pharmaceutical expenses incurred by insured persons at designated medical and pharmaceutical institutions that shall be paid by the medical security fund, medical security agencies shall, after review, directly settle and disburse it in a timely manner and in full in accordance with the provisions of the agreement; where direct settlement and disbursement cannot be made due to special circumstances, insured persons may apply to medical security agencies for reimbursement.
Medical security administrative departments and medical security agencies shall improve the direct settlement system for medical and pharmaceutical expenses of cross-regional medical treatment and optimize the direct settlement services for cross-regional medical treatment. For the portion of the medical and pharmaceutical expenses that shall be paid by the medical security fund and that are incurred at designated medical and pharmaceutical institutions by insured persons receiving cross-regional medical treatment, medical security agencies shall, after review in accordance with the provisions, directly settle and disburse it in a timely manner and in full.
Article 33 Medical security agencies shall strengthen training and guidance for designated medical and pharmaceutical institutions on the systems and policies related to the use of medical security funds.
Where designated medical and pharmaceutical institutions violate medical security service agreements, medical security agencies shall give corresponding handling in accordance with the provisions of the service agreements, and the designated medical and pharmaceutical institutions and their relevant responsible personnel have the right to make statements and defenses.
Where medical security agencies violate medical security service agreements, designated medical and pharmaceutical institutions have the right to request them to make corrections, or to request the medical security administrative department to coordinate handling and supervise rectification.
Article 34 Designated medical and pharmaceutical institutions shall, in accordance with the requirements for the management of the use of medical security funds, strictly implement the provisions on the management of real-name medical treatment and drug purchase, provide reasonable and necessary medical and pharmaceutical services in accordance with diagnostic and treatment norms, and comply with the informatized traceability systems for drugs and medical devices.
Designated medical and pharmaceutical institutions may, in accordance with the relevant provisions of the State and the medical security service agreements, carry out internet medical services such as remote diagnosis and treatment and online follow-up consultation.
Article 35 Insured persons shall present their own social security cards or medical insurance electronic certificates when seeking medical treatment and purchasing drugs. Insured persons have the right to request designated medical and pharmaceutical institutions to lawfully and truthfully issue expense receipts and relevant diagnostic and treatment materials.
Insured persons shall properly keep their own social security cards and medical insurance electronic certificates to prevent others from using them under their names. Where it is necessary to entrust another person to purchase drugs on their behalf due to special reasons, the identity certificates of the entrusting person and the entrusted person shall be provided.
Article 36 Medical security administrative departments shall realize the effective and orderly sharing and application of data through the medical security information platform.
Medical security administrative departments shall strengthen the management of the entire process of data processing on the medical security information platform, regulate the authority for data management and application, and ensure data security and network security.
Chapter V Supervision and Administration
Article 37 People's governments at or above the county level shall report to the standing committees of the people's congresses at the corresponding levels on the revenues and expenditures, management, supervision and inspection, and other matters of medical security funds, and accept supervision in accordance with the law.
Article 38 Medical security administrative departments shall strengthen supervision and inspection of the compliance of units such as medical security agencies, employing units, and designated medical and pharmaceutical institutions, and individuals such as insured persons, with medical security laws and regulations.
Finance departments and audit organs shall, in accordance with their respective duties, exercise supervision over the revenues and expenditures and management of medical security funds.
Medical security agencies shall regularly publish to the public the status of participation in basic medical insurance and the income, expenditures, balances, and other aspects of medical security funds, and accept social supervision.
Article 39 Medical security administrative departments shall strengthen information sharing, division of labor, and collaboration with the health, drug administration, and other relevant departments, and establish mechanisms such as communication and coordination, joint inspection, joint notification, and case referral.
Article 40 When performing their duties and carrying out supervision and inspection in accordance with the law, medical security administrative departments have the right to take the following measures: (1) carry out on-site inspections; (2) consult, record, and copy materials related to the supervision and inspection, and seal up or impound materials that may be transferred, concealed, or destroyed; (3) question the units and individuals related to the inspection matters, and require them to make explanations on the issues related to the inspection matters and provide certifying materials; (4) stop acts of concealing, transferring, encroaching upon, or misappropriating medical security funds and order corrections; (5) other measures prescribed by laws and administrative regulations.
When medical security administrative departments carry out supervision and inspection, the inspected units and individuals shall cooperate and shall not refuse or obstruct the inspection or make false reports or conceal information.
Article 41 Medical security administrative departments shall establish an intelligent supervision and management system and implement dynamic intelligent monitoring over the use of medical security funds.
Article 42 The State encourages citizens, legal persons, and other organizations to supervise medical security work.
Any unit or individual has the right to report or complain about acts that violate medical security laws and regulations. Medical security administrative departments, tax authorities, medical security agencies, and the like shall keep the channels for reporting and complaints unimpeded. For reports and complaints within the scope of their duties, they shall handle them in accordance with the law. For reports and complaints not within the scope of their duties, they shall notify the reporting persons and complaining persons in writing and transfer them to the departments and agencies authorized to handle them. The departments and agencies authorized to handle them shall handle them in a timely manner and shall not make excuses or shift responsibility.
Medical security administrative departments, tax authorities, medical security agencies, and the like shall keep the information of reporting persons confidential and give rewards to the reporting persons for reports that are verified to be true in accordance with state provisions. The funds needed for reporting rewards shall be arranged in accordance with state provisions.
Article 43 Medical security administrative departments, tax authorities, medical security agencies, designated medical and pharmaceutical institutions, and other units and their staff members shall, in accordance with the law, bear the obligation of confidentiality for state secrets, work secrets, commercial secrets, personal privacy, and personal information learned of in the course of engaging in medical security-related work.
Article 44 Medical security administrative departments shall establish a credit management system for designated medical and pharmaceutical institutions and their staff members, employing units, insured persons, and the like.
Chapter VI Legal Liability
Article 45 Where state functionaries abuse their powers, neglect their duties, or engage in malpractices for personal gain in medical security work, they shall be given sanctions in accordance with the law.
Article 46 Where medical security agencies and their staff members are in any of the following circumstances, the medical security administrative department shall order corrections; where losses are caused to the medical security fund, compensation liability shall be borne in accordance with the law; and the leading personnel and directly responsible personnel bearing responsibility shall be given sanctions in accordance with the law: (1) failing to settle and disburse, in accordance with the provisions and the stipulations of the medical security service agreement, the expenses that shall be paid by the medical security fund; (2) withholding or refusing to pay medical security benefits on time; (3) losing or altering medical security data and records of individual rights and interests, such as contribution records and records of enjoying medical security benefits; (4) failing to establish and implement internal control systems for medical security handling; (5) failing to regularly publish to the public the status of participation in basic medical insurance or the income, expenditures, balances, and other aspects of medical security funds; (6) other circumstances that violate medical security laws and regulations.
Article 47 Where designated medical and pharmaceutical institutions fail to establish and implement internal control systems for the use of medical security funds, or the inspected units and individuals refuse or obstruct inspections or make false reports or conceal information, the medical security administrative department shall order corrections and may interview the relevant responsible persons; where corrections are refused, a fine of not less than 10,000 yuan but not more than 50,000 yuan shall be imposed.
Article 48 Where designated medical and pharmaceutical institutions illegally use medical security funds, the medical security administrative department shall order corrections and may interview the relevant responsible persons; where losses are caused to the medical security fund, it shall order the return of the funds and impose a fine of not less than one time but not more than two times the amount of the losses caused; where corrections are refused or serious consequences are caused, it shall order the suspension of the medical and pharmaceutical services involving the use of medical security funds of the relevant responsible departments or personnel for not less than six months but not more than one year.
Where individuals illegally use medical security funds, the medical security administrative department shall order corrections; where losses are caused to the medical security fund, it shall order the return of the funds; where the individual is an insured person, management and restraint measures such as suspending the networked settlement of their medical and pharmaceutical expenses for not less than three months but not more than twelve months shall also be taken.
Article 49 Where expenditures of the medical security fund are obtained by means of fraud, forging certifying materials, or other means, the medical security administrative department shall order the return of the funds and impose a fine of not less than two times but not more than five times the amount fraudulently obtained; where the violator is a medical security agency, the leading personnel and directly responsible personnel bearing responsibility shall also be given sanctions in accordance with the law; where the violator is a designated medical and pharmaceutical institution, it shall also be ordered to suspend the medical and pharmaceutical services involving the use of medical security funds of the relevant responsible departments or personnel for not less than six months but not more than one year, until the medical security agency terminates the medical security service agreement; where the violator is an insured person, management and restraint measures such as suspending the networked settlement of their medical and pharmaceutical expenses for not less than three months but not more than twelve months and restricting the scope of designated medical and pharmaceutical institutions where they may receive services shall also be taken.
Where the person bearing responsibility for carrying out the illegal acts prescribed in the preceding paragraph is a physician, punishment shall also be imposed in accordance with the provisions of the Law of the People's Republic of China on Physicians.
Article 50 Where designated medical and pharmaceutical institutions violate the provisions of this Law, causing major losses to the medical security fund or serious adverse social impact, their legal representatives or principal responsible persons shall be given sanctions in accordance with the law, and they shall be prohibited from engaging in the management activities of designated medical and pharmaceutical institutions for five years.
Article 51 Where medical security funds are concealed, transferred, encroached upon, or misappropriated, the medical security administrative departments, finance departments, and audit organs shall, in accordance with their respective duties, order the recovery of the funds; where there are illegal gains, the illegal gains shall be confiscated; and the leading personnel and directly responsible personnel bearing responsibility shall be given sanctions in accordance with the law.
Article 52 Where medical security administrative departments, tax authorities, medical security agencies, designated medical and pharmaceutical institutions, and other units and their staff members violate the confidentiality obligations prescribed in this Law, the leading personnel and directly responsible personnel bearing responsibility shall be given sanctions in accordance with the law.
Article 53 Where the provisions of this Law are violated, causing damage to the relevant units or individuals, civil liability shall be borne in accordance with the law.
Where the provisions of this Law are violated, constituting an act of violation of public security administration, public security administration punishment shall be imposed in accordance with the law; where a crime is constituted, criminal liability shall be pursued in accordance with the law.
Chapter VII Supplementary Provisions
Article 54 Commercial health insurance, charitable donations related to medical security, mutual medical aid, and the like shall be implemented in accordance with the provisions of the relevant laws and regulations.
Article 55 The State shall establish and improve the long-term care insurance system. The specific measures for the fundraising and operation, benefit protection, fund use, supervision and administration, and other aspects of long-term care insurance shall be formulated by the medical security administrative department of the State Council jointly with the relevant departments of the State Council, with reference to the provisions of this Law concerning basic medical insurance.
Article 56 This Law shall come into force on January 1, 2027.
(Xinhua News Agency, Beijing, August 28)
Return to TopBy: 本报记者 胡笑源
By the banks of the Huangpu River, a literary tide surges.
On August 28, 35 works (pieces) covering seven categories — novellas, short stories, reportage literature, poetry, prose and essays, literary theory and criticism, and literary translation — won the ninth Lu Xun Literature Award (鲁迅文学奖). The Lu Xun Literature Award is one of the highest honors in Chinese literature, held once every four years; this year marks the ninth session. This is at once a concentrated review of the ranks of contemporary Chinese literature and an important window onto Chinese literary creation. Over the past four years, three generations of Chinese writers — old, middle-aged, and young — have taken root in the fertile soil of the New Mass Literature and Art (新大众文艺), casting their gaze into the depths of the era and extending their pens into the texture of life.
"We must, like Mr. Lu Xun, feel reality with our very lives." Liang Hong (梁鸿), winner of this year's Lu Xun Literature Award for reportage literature, spent 3 years conducting field visits to many places, focusing on the mental health and growing-up predicaments of contemporary adolescents, depicting the collective portrait of youth, and exploring the road to healing, embodying realistic concern and humanistic care. "The meaning of writing is precisely to let people take a look at one another, illuminate one another, and let life have light," Liang Hong said.
Reality has the power to move people's hearts, and the lives of ordinary people can likewise give rise to great poetry. Among the winners of this year's Lu Xun Literature Award, the figures of ordinary laborers have become vivid footnotes to the New Mass Literature and Art.
"Life — I am serious about it." Wang Jibing (王计兵), winner of this year's Lu Xun Literature Award for poetry, ran for 8 years on the road delivering food and walked for 38 years on the road of literature. His poetry collection Low-Altitude Flight (低处飞行) records the lives of the city's food-delivery couriers as poetry, distilling 有血有肉 (yǒu xuè yǒu ròu - "having blood and flesh," vivid and lifelike) stories of the human world into poetic lines that carry warmth, and making the glory and dreams of laborers bloom. "Not every pair of wings can spread wide and soar high; low-altitude flight is also flight. I use words to record life, and I believe literature can make the human world warmer and softer," Wang Jibing said.
This year's Lu Xun Literature Award achieved "out-of-the-circle" dissemination: literary creation is no longer the exclusive domain of professional writers, and the creative subjects have achieved a breakthrough across circles. "The literary spirit is no longer the patent of a few, but has become a spiritual home shared by countless people," said Zhuo Jin (卓今), author of the award-winning work in literary theory and criticism at this year's Lu Xun Literature Award, The Laborer Sings of His Work — New Mass Literature and Art and the Reconstruction of the Literary Spirit (劳者歌其事——新大众文艺与文学精神的重构).
The people grade the papers; literature writes the answers.
At the award ceremony, reader representatives of different ages and from different posts came on stage together and made heartfelt "confessions of love" to literature.
"I am a high school student. When I was 5, I began sharing my reading experiences online. Literature is my wings, letting me see an even broader world."
"I am a university student, currently committed to the cross-field linkage of literature and scientific and technological innovation. I believe literature, like science and technology, has the power to change life and change the world."
…
This year, the Lu Xun Literature Award invited frontline middle-school Chinese-language teachers to serve as public judges for the first time. Cheng Yuling (程玉玲), a Chinese-language teacher at Dalian Yuming Senior High School (大连育明高级中学) in Liaoning, was one of those public judges. In her view, this year's Lu Xun Literature Award was 百花齐放 (bǎi huā qí fàng - "a hundred flowers bloom together," works of every kind flourishing side by side): literary veterans were 老当益壮 (lǎo dāng yì zhuàng - "old, yet all the more vigorous," old in years but still full of vitality), and literary recruits were 头角峥嵘 (tóu jiǎo zhēng róng - "head and horns towering aloft," showing exceptional talent and promise). That many non-professional writers compose essays and author books brings delightful surprise and evokes resonance.
Whether amateur creators or public judges, this year's Lu Xun Literature Award conveys a clear signal: literary creation is no longer the exclusive domain of professional writers, and the seats of literary evaluation are no longer monopolized by professional literary critics. Following the development trend of the New Mass Literature and Art, and upholding the stance of the grand conception of literature (大文学观), the subject position of the masses in culture is being increasingly brought to prominence.
Reading literature, evaluating literature, creating literature — literature takes deep root in the people and in life, 生生不息 (shēng shēng bù xī - "born and reborn without cease," endlessly renewing and enduring). Literature is always present, in the rapidly spinning wheels of the city's food-delivery couriers, in the cooking smoke beneath the eaves of ordinary households. The long river of literature and art in the new era surges onward, 波澜壮阔 (bō lán zhuàng kuò - "waves and billows vast and wide," magnificent and mighty) precisely because hundreds of millions of ordinary people have joined it.
Return to TopUrumqi, August 30 (By our reporter Li Yanan (李亚楠)). On the morning of the 28th, the 2026 "Belt and Road" Annual Chinese Character Release Event was held in Urumqi City, Xinjiang. With the extensive participation of all sectors of society in the voting, the character 齐 (qí) was selected as the 2026 "Belt and Road" annual character. The event was hosted by the China Public Relations Association (中国公共关系协会) and the Urumqi Municipal People's Government.
Wang Xiaohui (王晓晖), a professor at the School of Information and Communication of Nankai University, explained that the character 齐 is first seen in the oracle bone inscriptions of the Shang dynasty. Xu Shen (许慎) of the Eastern Han dynasty, in his Shuowen Jiezi (说文解字), defined it as "when grain and wheat put forth ears, the tops are level." The stalks of wheat rise and fall in height, yet the tips of the ears all come to rest on an even level — seeking evenness and unity amid unevenness. This is precisely 和而不同 (hé ér bù tóng - "harmonious yet not the same," harmony in diversity) and pluralistic coexistence. In jointly building the Belt and Road, different civilizations, uneven in a hundred forms, learn from one another, coexist, and walk toward one another. When hearts are united, strength gathers; when strength gathers, undertakings are accomplished. It advocates building consensus and resonating at the same frequency, upholds the principle of extensive consultation, joint contribution, and shared benefits, and unfurls the long scroll of an era of prosperity and stability, pluralistic coexistence, and 美美与共 (měi měi yǔ gòng - "all beauties shared in common," diverse forms of beauty flourishing together).
The "Belt and Road" Annual Chinese Character Release Event was founded in 2016. The event adheres to using characters to carry the Way and writing to convey feelings, recording with Chinese characters the course of jointly building the "Belt and Road" and bearing witness to the vivid practice of intercivilizational integration and people-to-people bonds.
Return to TopJointly building the Belt and Road has progressed from a "broad-brush outline" of overall planning to the "fine brushwork" of intensive cultivation, and infrastructure is the cornerstone of connectivity. As a pacesetter in China's private infrastructure construction sector, Pacific Construction Group Co., Ltd. (hereinafter referred to as "Pacific Construction") seized opportunities, actively participated in high-quality Belt and Road cooperation, took the initiative to serve major strategies such as building a country with strong transportation, new urbanization, and comprehensive rural revitalization, and integrated its corporate development into the overall cause of Chinese-style modernization. From the northwest frontier to the shores of the Beibu Gulf, from the grasslands of Central Asia to the Red River Delta, Pacific Construction has practiced its corporate philosophy of "integrity walks the world, trust establishes a great undertaking" and delivered an outstanding answer sheet for a private enterprise that resonates with local economies and moves in the same direction as the overall development picture.
Developing westward to add momentum to the core area of the Silk Road Economic Belt. Xinjiang, located in the hinterland of the Eurasian continent, was an important passage of the ancient Silk Road and is now the core area of the Silk Road Economic Belt. Seizing the opportunity of Belt and Road cooperation, at the end of 2016, Pacific Construction moved its headquarters to Xinjiang, becoming the first Fortune Global 500 enterprise with its headquarters in Xinjiang. This strategic move enabled Pacific Construction's market layout to be deeply integrated into the overall local economic and social development. Today, Pacific Construction's business covers all 14 prefectures and cities in the region, with cumulative investment of nearly 100 billion yuan.
On both sides of the Tianshan Mountains, a number of key projects undertaken by Pacific Construction — including the Sayram Lake lakeside ring road, the Urumqi Heima Spring New District road traffic project, the Urumqi High-tech Zone (New Urban District) northern urban underground utility tunnel, the southern Xinjiang science popularization and cultural complex, the Hotan Sangzhu River Qiasigan Reservoir, and the Yili Xinyuan water conservancy hub — cross deserts and ravines and connect urban and rural areas. Facing unfavorable conditions such as raging wind and sand, large temperature differences between day and night, and a short effective construction period, Pacific Construction's project teams worked against a reverse schedule and pressed forward with charts, paving roads to prosperity, building projects for people's livelihoods, erecting urban landmarks, and linking the lifelines of water conservancy.
Rooted in Xinjiang and developing westward, Pacific Construction accelerated its "going global" pace and expanded its business to the vast Central Asian region. Kazakhstan was where the Belt and Road Initiative was first proposed. In recent years, the alignment between the Belt and Road Initiative and Kazakhstan's "Bright Path" new economic policy has been deepened and consolidated. Pacific Construction registered a localized enterprise in Kazakhstan, made in-depth arrangements in energy, water conservancy, high-speed transport, and cross-border logistics, and injected new momentum into regional connectivity with Chinese technology, Chinese standards, and Chinese management, helping Kazakhstan build itself into a Eurasian transport hub.
Advancing toward the sea with strength to add color to the picture of opening-up and development in the land of Bagui. Guangxi is China's frontier and window for opening-up and cooperation with ASEAN, and also the gateway hub of the new western land-sea corridor. It is striving to build itself into an important gateway connecting the Belt and Road. Pacific Construction has successively signed investment cooperation agreements and agreements on further deepening comprehensive strategic cooperation with the autonomous region government, with business coverage across 14 cities and over 80 counties and districts in Guangxi and cumulative investment exceeding 150 billion yuan. From the mountainous areas of northern Guangxi to the shores of the Beibu Gulf, from industrial parks to urban renewal, Pacific Construction, with its work style of "fast progress, good quality, low cost, fewer conflicts, and high efficiency," spares no effort to build "conscience projects, legacy projects, and projects of honor."
The Fangchenggang International Medical Opening-up Pilot Zone is an important platform for medical innovation cooperation between China and Shanghai Cooperation Organization countries and ASEAN countries. Focusing on the three major fields of "medicine, medical care, and pharmaceuticals," it carries the important mission of serving the country's overall diplomacy, deepening international medical cooperation, and promoting the development of the health industry. In January 2024, Pacific Construction and the Fangchenggang International Medical Opening-up Pilot Zone Industrial Investment Group established a joint venture to deeply participate in the development and construction of the pilot zone.
The pharmaceutical manufacturing industrial park is one of the three major areas of the pilot zone. Pacific Construction fully leveraged its full-cycle service capability to complete a 400,000-square-meter pharmaceutical manufacturing industrial park, and at the same time independently designed, invested in, built, and operated a 230,000-square-meter smart manufacturing valley of traditional Chinese medicine. As the project progresses smoothly, the clustering effect of industries is becoming increasingly evident, and an international medical cooperation highland is rapidly rising on the shores of the Beibu Gulf.
In addition, major industrial platforms built with Pacific Construction's participation, such as the Yulin Longtan Industrial Park and the Guangxi Advanced Equipment Manufacturing City (Yulin), have also injected momentum into Guangxi's industrial upgrading and regional coordinated development. Using infrastructure construction as its "brush," Pacific Construction adds color to the new picture of opening-up and development in the land of Bagui.
Crossing southward to build a bridge of China-Vietnam friendship over the Red River. China and Vietnam share mountains and rivers and similar cultures. Under the cooperation plan aligning the Belt and Road Initiative with the "Two Corridors and One Belt" framework, infrastructure connectivity between the two countries has continued to deepen. Pacific Construction has made Vietnam a breakthrough point for developing and expanding the ASEAN market, reaching cooperation with more than 20 municipalities and provinces, including Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, and Bac Ninh Province, and signing cooperation memorandums and investment cooperation documents, contributing the strength of a Chinese private enterprise to building a China-Vietnam community with a shared future that carries strategic significance.
The Tu Lien Bridge in Hanoi is Pacific Construction's key project in Vietnam, with a total investment of 3.055 billion yuan and a construction period from 2025 to 2027. It is both a super-grade transport project in Vietnam and an innovative application in the field of bridge structures in Vietnam. The bridge was jointly designed by Pacific Construction's design institute, China Railway Major Bridge Engineering Group Design Institute, and local Vietnamese design institutes. The appearance of the bridge body embodies the meaning of "Soaring Dragon," just like a giant dragon leaping over the Red River.
At the project construction site, the roar of machinery mingles with heat waves and intermittent rain. Chinese and Vietnamese builders, wearing reflective vests, work intensely beside rising bridge piers. The Tu Lien Bridge crosses the Red River, where geological conditions are complex, soft foundations are deep, and construction is difficult. Pacific Construction's project team adopted mature pile foundation construction techniques and introduced BIM (Building Information Modeling) technology to optimize the plan, controlling construction errors to the millimeter level. Pacific Construction's builders have not only brought advanced technology, but also drive and sincerity, working together with Vietnamese construction personnel to overcome difficulties and jointly build a bridge of friendship.
Standing firm in the face of difficulties to demonstrate corporate responsibility in fulfilling social responsibilities. "Taking society as our responsibility, taking the enterprise as our foundation, jointly creating wealth, and achieving win-win results" is Pacific Construction's corporate purpose. From achieving the goal of poverty alleviation to advancing comprehensive rural revitalization, wherever key tasks advance, Pacific Construction's responsibility extends. In poverty alleviation work, Pacific Construction closely followed the policy direction of strengthening weak links and benefiting people's livelihoods, and in key areas such as Yunnan, Guizhou, and Sichuan, it created an integrated targeted poverty alleviation model of "construction-based poverty alleviation, industry-based poverty alleviation, and education-based poverty alleviation," building a road, invigorating an industry, and enriching a local population. Around comprehensive rural revitalization, Pacific Construction simultaneously advanced beautiful village construction and industrial support, making the foundation for work related to agriculture, rural areas, and farmers more solid and its results more sustainable.
Facing various natural disasters and sudden emergencies, Pacific Construction's project departments in various places took the initiative to fulfill their social responsibilities, responding immediately to orders, rapidly dispatching machinery, equipment, and personnel to devote themselves to disaster relief and emergency response. This year during the flood season, in the face of flooding caused by typhoons, Pacific Construction's front-line employees charged ahead: in Guangxi, project departments mobilized engineering machinery overnight to rush to the front line of rescue, racing against time to open up life passages; in Guangdong, builders braved wind and rain to clear obstacles and drain waterlogging, making every effort to protect the safety of people's lives and property.
This confidence of being "able to be mobilized and able to stand up" stems from the enterprise's thirty-year commitment to craftsmanship and integrity. Pacific Construction upholds the corporate operational values of "safety first, reputation second, benefit third," practices the management standards of "zero affiliation, zero subcontracting, zero contract transfer," and is committed to winning the full trust of partners through transparent cooperation and honest contract performance. Adhering to "today's integrity, tomorrow's market, and the day after tomorrow's profit," it has deeply cultivated regions and built its brand with a long-term perspective, and has been selected as a Fortune Global 500 enterprise for 13 consecutive years.
Advancing toward innovation to forge a national brand in high-quality development. Pacific Construction practices the concept that "people's cities are built by the people, and people's cities serve the people," leverages the superposition advantages of "resources, wisdom, and capital," promotes the iterative upgrade of its business from infrastructure construction 1.0 to comprehensive urban operation 2.0 and 3.0, and strives to create future city models of "industry-city integration, landscape-city integration, and people-city integration."
In the wave of booming digital economy development, the Handan Digital Economy Industrial Park is a landmark project for Pacific Construction's extension from the traditional infrastructure sector to the new infrastructure sector. Pacific Construction, together with the Handan Economic and Technological Development Zone, revitalized existing assets and activated incremental growth, building on idle industrial land a digital industry complex that integrates a smart computing center, an artificial intelligence industry base, and a smart manufacturing and industrial internet industry base. The park focuses on four leading industries — information technology, smart hardware, smart manufacturing, and unmanned systems — and lays out five functional sections: headquarters office, R&D and pilot testing, manufacturing, enterprise incubation, and achievement display. It focuses on providing green energy, explores new models such as green computing power and zero-carbon parks, adopts an intelligent management system, makes full use of technologies such as the Internet of Things and big data, and establishes an intelligent digital management platform to realize the park's intelligent management. This layout not only reflects Pacific Construction's strategic vision of actively embracing new quality productive forces, but also demonstrates the enterprise's conscious transformation from a "traditional infrastructure builder" to an "industrial ecosystem constructor."
Standing at a new historical starting point, Pacific Construction will continue to position itself accurately in implementing major national strategies, show its capabilities in serving the construction of a new development pattern, and contribute more private enterprise strength to high-quality Belt and Road cooperation and to serving Chinese-style modernization with more roads to prosperity, bridges of connection, and cities of happiness.
Data source: Pacific Construction Group Co., Ltd.
Return to TopBy: 本报记者 宋豪新
The "15th Five-Year Plan for Building a Sports Powerhouse" (体育强国建设“十五五”规划) proposes to "create local brand events and activities" and "establish an event economy ecosystem with self-owned event IP at its core." In recent years, with the accelerated integration of culture, sports, and tourism, enthusiasm for hosting events has run high everywhere, and the event economy has become increasingly active. How do cities and events achieve mutual success? How do self-owned events thrive and grow? How can sports benefiting the people be upgraded in quality and standard? This page presents the "City and Events" in-depth observation for our readers.
—— Editor
At the outdoor swimming pool of Shuangliu (双流) Sports Center in Chengdu, Sichuan, the 2026 National Outdoor Swimming Elite Competition was held. "With blue water and blue sky outdoors, the viewing experience is completely different. It is so convenient to watch famous athletes like Zhang Yufei and Wang Changhao compete right at our doorstep," marveled Mr. Zhang, a resident watching with his child.
Data show that from 2021 to 2025, Chengdu successfully hosted more than 120 international events and more than 150 national events, and this year it will also hold more than 100 international and national events. Why can Chengdu attract so many major events? When so many competitions are held in one year, how do residents feel? A reporter conducted interviews.
What has the flood of events brought?
Activating 33 large venues, continuously releasing livelihood dividends.
Chengdu has 33 venues that meet national standards for large sports venues, most of which were newly built or upgraded during the preparation cycle of the 2023 Chengdu Universiade. High-standard venues provide hardware support for high-level events, but they also face the industry-wide operational problem of being "idle after the games and used only for holding competitions."
Breaking out of conventional thinking to solve development difficulties, Chengdu systematically built a smart venue operation and management platform. Through online monitoring, analysis, and prediction of each venue's equipment status and energy consumption environment, it continuously raised its operational level and attracted more major events. After the Universiade, Chengdu hosted international events such as the 2024 Thomas & Uber Cup Badminton Tournament and the 2025 World Games, and also attracted high-level events such as the ITTF Mixed Team World Cup, the Triathlon World Cup, and the World DanceSport Championship to settle in the city on a long-term basis, allowing residents to feel the charm of competitive sports up close. At the same time, it improved the industrial chain of the competition-and-performance industry and blazed a new path of urban development of "hosting events, running the city, invigorating industry, and benefiting the people" (办赛、营城、兴业、惠民).
Take Fenghuangshan Sports Park as an example: after the Universiade, its professional football stadium continued to host Chinese Super League football matches, its multi-purpose gymnasium hosted concerts and commercial events, and its national fitness center and the outer spaces of the venue provided residents with mass sports activities and training in basketball, table tennis, badminton, and more. Today, Fenghuangshan Sports Park has been transformed from exclusive use during the Games to sharing by all the people, effectively solving the problem of large venues being idle after events and lacking popularity. Data show that since full operation began in 2023, the park's venues have had an overall weekly utilization rate of more than 80 percent, and it has hosted more than 200 large-scale events with more than 10,000 attendees. Its "competition-and-performance economic circle" has cumulatively attracted more than 5 million spectator visits, with total box-office revenue of about 2.4 billion yuan, leveraging about 16 billion yuan in related consumption across the whole region.
Fenghuangshan Sports Park is not the only one — many sports venues in Chengdu have also achieved diversified operation. Dong'an Lake Sports Park achieves efficient use of its venues by routinely hosting professional competitions, mass sports activities, and cultural and artistic performances; Chengbei Gymnasium stages trendy events such as the World DanceSport Championship and the World Breaking Championship in succession, attracting young people to watch.
Events continue to release livelihood dividends. Residents are not only "watching events at their doorstep" but are also turning into participants. More and more residents can access quality fitness resources for free or at low prices, and the public's enthusiasm for sports continues to rise. "I used to feel that large sports events were far away from ordinary people; now they have become part of daily leisure life," said resident Lin Xiaorong (林晓蓉).
How is the public's fitness enthusiasm ignited?
Fitness is like going to a fair — enjoying urban life gatherings that combine exercise with pleasure.
"Exercise is not just about going to the gym to train hard; it is also a 'way of having fun' for friends to get together and take kids out on weekends," said Hu Zhili (胡志立), a resident of Qingyang District (青羊区) in Chengdu, voicing the sentiments of many Chengdu residents.
A relevant official of the Chengdu Municipal Sports Bureau (成都市体育局) said that since 2025, Chengdu has been creating the national fitness IP "Sports Chengdu · Twelve Monthly Fairs" (运动成都·十二月市), with "themes every month, events every week, activities every day," continuously igniting the citywide enthusiasm for sports. As of July this year, it has cumulatively held more than 3,200 national fitness events and activities, with more than 7 million participants. "We want to make fitness activities just like a city fair, letting residents enjoy one urban life gathering after another that combines exercise with pleasure," the official said.
The mass sports events that have blossomed everywhere — 遍地开花 (biàn dì kāi huā - "blossoms over the whole ground," to spring up and flourish everywhere) — rely on increasingly complete national fitness facilities. By the end of 2025, Chengdu had cumulatively built 122 sports parks of various types, 513 community sports corners, and 1,050 new fitness spaces along the Tianfu Greenway; public sports venues and facilities at the town level had basically achieved full coverage; and the community "15-minute fitness circle" (15分钟健身圈) has benefited residents, with public sports venues across the city open free of charge (or at low fees), serving residents 5.94 million person-times.
New fitness scenarios are still expanding. During the 15th Five-Year Plan period, Chengdu Rail Transit Group (成都轨道集团) will rely on the metro network of more than 700 kilometers and nearly 500 stations, using reserved spaces in stations, TOD commercial spaces, and the like to lay out small fitness pods and sports experience stores, so that residents can complete short workouts and physical training nearby after exiting stations during their commutes.
"Having venues" must also mean "quality services." Chengdu adopted a "city–district–institute" joint construction model (市—区—院联建模式) to build a municipal sports-for-health promotion service center and has cultivated more than 71,000 social sports instructors. Auntie Zhang, a resident of Jinjiang District (锦江区), was found to have slightly high blood pressure in a physical examination. Community sports and health coaches, based on her physical condition, tailored — 量身定制 (liàng shēn dìng zhì - "tailor to the measured body," to be specifically suited to the individual) — exercise prescriptions such as jogging and Baduanjin (八段锦) for her, and followed up on her physical indicators regularly. "Now exercising is safe and scientific, and I feel truly at ease," said Auntie Zhang.
Through the joint efforts of many parties, Chengdu residents' enthusiasm for participating in sports has continued to grow. In 2025, the proportion of Chengdu residents regularly participating in physical exercise reached 43.3 percent, and the physical fitness pass rate reached 94.98 percent.
How can spectator flow be turned into incremental growth?
"Events–culture-tourism–commerce" linkage leverages citywide consumption.
Located on the shore of Longma Lake in Chengdu Eastern New Area (成都东部新区), the Tianfu International Circuit is the only Grade 2 circuit in western China certified by the FIA (International Automobile Federation), and it is also a circuit holding dual certification from the Asian region of the International Motorcycling Federation.
"We have created a full-chain model from experience to professional racing, lowering the threshold for participating in motorsport and letting everyone experience the charm of racing," said Li Gang (李钢), deputy general manager of the Tianfu International Circuit. In 2025 alone, more than 400 enthusiasts moved from the karting experience area to the professional track, driving follow-up consumption in racing licenses, modification, training, and more to exceed 10 million yuan.
Hosting events is a way of running the city; spectator flow is also incremental growth.
The home matches of Chengdu Rongcheng in the Chinese Super League have never lost their popularity. In the 2025 season, the total home attendance of Chengdu Rongcheng exceeded 655,000, with an average of more than 40,000 per match, of whom 14.7 percent came from outside the city. In the 2026 season, as the team sets off on its championship charge, the attendance rate has climbed even higher — 节节攀升 (jié jié pān shēng - "rising segment by segment," to climb steadily upward) — with more than 41,000 spectators at every match.
With Chinese Super League events as the carrier, Fenghuangshan Sports Park has developed more than 100 kinds of team cultural and creative merchandise and connected more than 110 catering, supermarket, and cultural-tourism merchants to launch exclusive spectator benefits. On every match day, metro passenger flow around the stadium doubles, hotel rooms are hard to find — 一房难求 (yī fáng nán qiú - "one room is hard to obtain," rooms are extremely hard to book) — and consumption in the surrounding business districts increases by 40 percent.
The landing of a flood of events not only brings heat to the venues but also drives the prosperity of surrounding business forms such as catering, retail, and training, creating a large number of jobs and injecting lasting momentum into urban development. Data show that in 2025, the total scale of Chengdu's sports industry exceeded 150 billion yuan, an increase of about 11 percent year on year. This year, the city strives for the total scale of its sports industry to exceed 165 billion yuan and for the total scale of sports consumption to step up to a new level of 87.5 billion yuan.
Chen Linhui (陈林会), a professor at Chengdu Sport University (成都体育学院), said that it is necessary to build on large sports venues, introduce a number of influential single-sport international events, and enrich the types of self-owned brands, professional leagues, and commercial events. At the same time, sports events should drive cultural and creative exhibitions and performances, distinctive performances, and cultural-tourism experiences, forming an "events–culture-tourism–commerce" linkage and effectively converting event flow into consumption growth.
Return to TopPeople's Daily, Beijing, August 30 (Reporter Zheng Yi (郑轶)) — The 2026 Asian Women's Volleyball Championship concluded in Tianjin on the evening of August 30. In the final, the Chinese women's volleyball team lost 2:3 to the Thai women's volleyball team, finishing as runner-up and failing to directly lock in qualification for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.
In this edition of the Asian Championship, the Chinese women's volleyball team, playing on home ground, advanced to the final from the group stage through the knockout rounds with a record of not losing a single set. The defending champion Thai women's volleyball team advanced by defeating the Japanese women's volleyball team 3:1 in the semifinal.
In the first set of the final, the Thai team pushed hard on both offense and defense, while the Chinese team committed relatively many errors of its own, losing the first set 20:25. In the second set, the Chinese team made timely lineup adjustments and regained its rhythm, pulling one back 25:11. In the third set, the Thai team launched a fierce counterattack; the Chinese team, trailing on the scoreboard, withstood the pressure and reversed the tide to take the set 25:23. In the fourth set, the Thai team's targeted blocking and defense and powerful attacks came into play, leveling the match score at 2:2 with a 25:18 win. In the deciding set, the score between the two sides remained tight, and the Thai team gradually extended its advantage in the latter half, ultimately taking the victory 15:10.
According to the berth allocation rules for women's volleyball at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, the Thai women's volleyball team, which won the Asian Championship, obtained the direct ticket to the Los Angeles Olympics. The top three teams in this edition of the Asian Women's Volleyball Championship — the Thai team, the Chinese team, and the Japanese team — all obtained tickets to the 2027 Women's Volleyball World Cup.
Return to TopBeijing, August 30 (Our reporter Li Shuo (李硕)) — In the final of the 2026 World Snooker Wuhan Open, held on August 29, Chang Bingyu (常冰玉) defeated the newly crowned world number one, Zhao Xintong (赵心童), 10-7, winning a ranking tournament title for the first time. This is also the third consecutive time a Chinese player has claimed the crown at this event.
The final used the best-of-19 format. Chang Bingyu led 5-4 after the first session. After the start of the second session, Chang Bingyu won two frames in succession, widening the lead to 7-4; Zhao Xintong then leveled the score at 7-7. At the crucial moment, Chang Bingyu withstood the pressure, won two straight frames to take match point, and completed the comeback in the seventeenth frame, ultimately sealing the victory at 10-7.
From defeating England's Judd Trump, then ranked world number one, in the quarterfinals, to defeating the seven-time World Championship winner and England star Ronnie O'Sullivan in the semifinals, and then to defeating live world number one Zhao Xintong in the final, Chang Bingyu's championship this time was full of gold content. "I had a period of time without matches, and afterward regained my professional qualification. I have been working hard, and this championship means a great deal to me." After the match, he wept with emotion. The China Billiards Association (中国台球协会) also sent a congratulatory letter to Chang Bingyu, praising him for "proving his strength and potential with his actual performance." Although Zhao Xintong failed to extend his 100 percent win rate in finals in the eighth final of his career, thanks to his outstanding performance at this event, he successfully ascended to world number one.
Hefei, August 30 (Staff Reporter Tian Xianjin (田先进)) — On August 30, the finals of the 2026 China Virtual Sports Open (2026中国虚拟体育公开赛) concluded in Hefei, Anhui Province. After online qualifying, competitors who had advanced gathered in Hefei to vie in events including virtual cycling, virtual racing, and virtual golf.
Since this year's event launched its online qualifying in early August, sports enthusiasts from different regions and different occupational backgrounds have entered a unified competition system through digital platforms and, after selection, stood on the stage of the national finals. During the finals, the China Virtual Sports City Carnival (中国虚拟体育城市嘉年华) was held concurrently. Between viewing the competitions, citizens also experienced virtual cycling, virtual racing, and other events, fully savoring the charm of the convergence of digital technology and sport.
As the first national-level comprehensive virtual sports event in China, the China Virtual Sports Open is focused on building a standardized, professional, and systematic event platform and exploring new modes of sports competition and nationwide public participation in the digital age. Online competition breaks through some geographical and spatial limitations, broadening the event's participation radius, while the offline finals strengthen competitive attributes through unified rules, professional referees, and technical support.
Return to TopBeijing, August 30 (Reporter Zeng Huafeng (曾华锋)). On August 28 local time, in Chamonix, France, Chinese athlete Yao Miao (姚妙) placed third in the women's division of the CCC category (100-kilometer category) of the 2026 Ultra-Trail du Mont-Blanc with a time of 12 hours, 15 minutes, and 41 seconds.
The Ultra-Trail du Mont-Blanc is the world's top-level trail race; its course passes through Italy, Switzerland, and France, and it is divided into eight categories. The course of the CCC category in which Yao Miao competed is approximately 101 kilometers, with a cumulative climb of 6,050 meters.
Yao Miao, 30 years old this year, was born in Liupanshui (六盘水市), Guizhou Province. In 2018, she won the women's championship in the CCC category of the Ultra-Trail du Mont-Blanc; subsequently, she won the women's championship in the OCC category (50-kilometer category) twice.
The CCC category of this edition of the Ultra-Trail du Mont-Blanc started in Courmayeur, Italy. For weather reasons, the course was temporarily adjusted, with the distance increased to 108 kilometers and the cumulative climb also increased. Yao Miao and South African athlete Toni McCann were 你追我赶 (nǐ zhuī wǒ gǎn - "you chase, I hurry," to compete eagerly with each other), alternately taking the lead. But in the final stage of the race, a Norwegian athlete accelerated in pursuit and ultimately overtook both of them to claim the women's title with a time of 12 hours, 1 minute, and 14 seconds. Toni McCann and Yao Miao finished second and third, respectively.
Return to TopBy: 本报记者 董泽扬
With the launch of the "Weight Management Year" (体重管理年) campaign, many people have begun to pay attention to how to reduce fat and lose weight, and some also want to build muscle and develop their physique. How can one scientifically build muscle through exercise and diet? What different emphases do different age groups have? The reporter interviewed Jia Bingshen (贾丙申), chief physician of the Joint Surgery Department at the First Affiliated Hospital of Hainan Medical University (海南医科大学第一附属医院).
Muscle is the body's own "hard armor." To build muscle, one must "train evenly, eat well, sleep soundly."
Train evenly. Strength training, also called "resistance training," causes micro-damage to muscle fibers during exercise; when the body repairs it, the muscle fibers become thicker, thereby achieving muscle growth. Lifting dumbbells and pulling resistance bands both count as strength training, and doing push-ups and squats with one's own body weight is also strength training.
Strength training should follow the principle of progressive overload. In terms of intensity, one should choose 60%–80% of one's maximum strength. Each week, sufficient training volume should be arranged for muscle groups such as the chest, back, shoulders, and legs. After each muscle group adapts to the current load, the training stimulus should be increased gradually in a safe and controllable manner. In terms of frequency, strength training should be done at least twice a week, with 2–3 sets per session and 8–12 repetitions per set. Warm up before training and stretch fully after training. Beginners should train under the guidance of professionals to avoid injury.
Eat well. Muscle growth actually occurs during the rest and recovery period, so sufficient raw materials and recovery status are crucial. Protein is the raw material for muscle building. For people building muscle, it is recommended to consume 1.6–2.2 grams of protein per kilogram of body weight per day. In addition to the three daily meals, one can also supplement protein promptly within 30–60 minutes after strength training. Chicken breast, fish and shrimp, eggs and milk, soybeans, and other foods are all high-quality sources of protein.
Sleep soundly. Muscles grow during rest. Ensuring 7–9 hours of high-quality sleep every night allows the body to secrete sufficient growth hormone. After training the same muscle group, an interval of at least 48 hours is needed for recovery.
For adults, especially office workers who sit for long periods, they can focus on training the waist and abdomen, moderately carry out exercises such as push-ups, crunches, and planks, and can also train shoulder and back strength through lifting dumbbells and doing pull-ups, and train leg strength through weighted squats.
The body's muscle mass reaches its peak at around age 30, after which muscle loss gradually accelerates with age, easily triggering "sarcopenia" and leading to an increased risk of falls. For the elderly, light-load strength training can be done, such as lifting small dumbbells to train the upper limbs and doing half-squats against the wall to train the lower limbs, while also doing balance training such as brisk walking, tai chi, and Baduanjin (八段锦). It is best to consult a doctor before exercising to find an exercise intensity suitable for the body.
Building muscle is a marathon. With scientific training and reasonable nutrition, only after persisting for 3–6 months will there be changes visible to the naked eye. Building muscle is a long-term investment in health. As long as the method is scientific and one 持之以恒 (chí zhī yǐ héng - "persist in it with constancy," to persevere steadfastly), one can have a healthy body and a confident physique.
Return to TopBy: 本报记者 郝迎灿
As the final whistle blew, the score was fixed at 66:46. The team from Wenyi Road No. 2 Primary School (文艺二校; hereinafter "Wenyi No. 2 School") in Shenyang, Liaoning, defeated Hailiang Primary School in Zhuji, Zhejiang (海亮小学) to win the U12 boys' group championship of the 2025—2026 National Primary School Basketball League (全国小学生篮球联赛), achieving a three-peat; in addition, Wenyi No. 2 School also won the U10 mixed group championship. On the evening of August 19, when the teenagers of Wenyi No. 2 School simultaneously raised high the two championship trophies, applause thundered (掌声雷动 (zhǎng shēng léi dòng - "applause thunders," thunderous applause)) throughout the Qingdao Guoxin CBA Basketball Gymnasium in Shandong.
The tournament is jointly hosted by the China School Sports Federation (中国学生体育联合会) and the Chinese Basketball Association (中国篮球协会), and is a benchmark national tournament for primary school basketball. This season's tournament set up three categories: U12 boys, U12 girls, and U10 mixed, covering 28 provincial-level regions and attracting more than 7,000 players from over 600 teams to compete.
In the finals, Wenyi No. 2 School's U12 boys' basketball team faced the opponent's fast-break impact and trailed by 10 points at one point in the first quarter. "We quickly adjusted our tactics. Rather than competing with the opponent on speed, we focused on half-court offense, strengthened our defense, and seized opportunities for fast counters, soon reversing the score in the second quarter and maintaining the lead until the final whistle," said the team's head coach, Qian Tong (钱通).
Behind the three-peat lies Wenyi No. 2 School's deep cultivation of campus sports. "In 2017, when we decided to vigorously develop campus basketball, the school had only two non-basketball-specialized physical education teachers who took on training as an additional duty," said Dong Zhe (董喆), vice principal of Wenyi No. 2 School. Now, the school has built a basketball development system with parallel "popularization + competition" (普及+竞赛) tracks, with U8, U9, U10, U11, and U12 age-group echelons connected level by level, so that children who love basketball can all find their own arena.
At Wenyi No. 2 School, nearly all of the more than 10,000 students participate in basketball. "We launched the 'Class BA' league (班BA). Every class has its own team and team emblem, and the regular season, playoffs, and All-Star Game are all included," Dong said. "After a season, which class won and which child hit the key shot often become hot topics during recess." In addition, the school also holds a parent-child basketball game every year, inviting parents and children to play together on the court, allowing the charm of basketball to radiate from campus to family.
On the training court, they sweat like rain (挥汗如雨 (huī hàn rú yǔ - "sweat like rain," to exert oneself vigorously)), but cultural course studies must equally not fall behind. The school has established a coordination guarantee mechanism for training and academics, with subject teachers promptly following up on students' academic progress to balance training intensity and academic pace.
Wenyi No. 2 School's growth path is a microcosm of Shenyang's systematic promotion of campus sports development over the years. "In recent years, we have firmly established the educational philosophy of 'health first' (健康第一), strictly implemented the requirements of 'one physical education class per day, two hours of physical activity, and 15 minutes of recess between classes' (每天1节体育课、2小时体育活动、课间15分钟), and continued to exert efforts from multiple dimensions such as venue construction, competition system, integration of sports and education, and talent delivery, providing solid support for the vigorous development of youth sports programs such as campus basketball," said Guan Jin (关金), director of the Shenyang Municipal Education Bureau (沈阳市教育局).
Return to TopLanzhou, August 30 (Reporter Zeng Yichen (曾亦辰)). On August 29, the two-day 2026 National Ethnic Minority Gateball Competition (全国少数民族门球赛) concluded in Subei Mongolian Autonomous County (肃北蒙古族自治县), Gansu Province. The 32 participating teams from Inner Mongolia, Anhui, Jiangxi, Sichuan, Hong Kong and other places made friends through the ball and exchanged and improved their ball skills, demonstrating the vitality of ethnic traditional sports.
In addition, the event innovatively created a "sports competition + cultural tourism and sightseeing" (体育竞赛+文旅游玩) competition-hosting model, and rolled out complementary distinctive cultural-tourism experiences, allowing participating athletes to immersively experience the magnificent scenery of the northwestern Gobi grasslands and the folk customs of ethnic minorities.
The event was hosted by the Social Sports Guidance Center of the General Administration of Sport of China (国家体育总局社会体育指导中心) and the Chinese Gateball Association (中国门球协会), and jointly organized by the Gansu Provincial Social Sports Management Center (甘肃省社会体育管理中心), the Jiuquan Municipal Bureau of Culture, Sports, Radio, Television and Tourism (酒泉市文体广电和旅游局), the Subei Mongolian Autonomous County Bureau of Culture, Sports, Radio, Television and Tourism (肃北蒙古族自治县文体广电和旅游局), and the Subei Mongolian Autonomous County Sports Center (肃北蒙古族自治县体育中心).
Return to TopOur Daily, Changsha, August 30 (Reporter Yang Xun) — The 2026 Tianmen Mountain Cycling Carnival commenced on August 29 in Zhangjiajie City, Hunan Province. More than 1,500 Chinese and foreign cycling enthusiasts gathered in Zhangjiajie, chasing the wind and pursuing their dreams among the peak forests and gorges, embarking on a cycling journey interweaving speed, endurance, and scenery.
The event lasts two days and includes the Third Hunan Province "Merida·Nofok Cup" Around-Tianmen-Mountain Cycling Invitational (湖南省第三届“美利达·诺飞客杯”环天门山自行车邀请赛) and the Fourteenth Hunan Province "Merida Cup" Tianmen Mountain "Sky Road" Cycling Challenge (湖南省第十四届“美利达杯”天门山“天路”自行车挑战赛), with five race categories: men's road elite group, men's road mass group, women's road group, women's mountain group, and men's mountain group.
The riders participating in this cycling carnival span multiple age groups; the youngest is 14 years old and the oldest is 72. The event also attracted 159 foreign riders from Germany, Canada, Pakistan, and other countries.
By: 葛孟超
Recently, an announcement posted at a grassroots outlet of a large commercial bank sparked heated discussion among netizens. According to the announcement, the manual service windows at this bank's outlet in Enshi, Hubei, would suspend service for one and a half hours at noon, while self-service equipment, mobile banking, online banking and other online channels would remain available, with dedicated staff guiding users to handle business on their own.
In response to this arrangement, some people said that a bank lunch break is understandable, as it can both improve employee work efficiency and serve as a measure of care for employees. Others felt that office workers only have time to go to the bank during their lunch break, and that many elderly people do not know how to use self-service machines, so a bank lunch break would inconvenience customers handling business.
Customers' concerns are not groundless. For many office workers, midday on workdays is the most convenient time to go to a bank outlet to handle business; for many elderly people, they are unfamiliar with smart devices, and the operation of bank self-service machines is indeed relatively complicated now, so they rely heavily on manual counters when handling business. Therefore, when a bank suspends manual counter service for a lunch break, it is inevitable that people will worry about its impact on business handling.
The demands of bank employees also need to be faced squarely. Bank outlets generally open between 8:30 and 9:00 a.m., but in reality, staff must arrive at the bank far earlier than this to count cash and make various preparations, and after the doors close at around 6:00 p.m., they still need to do the day's inventory and summary, making the actual daily working hours relatively long. "Keeping the outlet open without closing and having tellers take turns eating" is the norm in the industry, and it is normal for a teller's lunch to be interrupted three to five times. Because bank employees deal with money every day and need to maintain focus at all times, this long-term high-intensity work state may lead to operational errors and easily reduce service quality. In this sense, safeguarding employees' right to rest is also safeguarding the bottom line of financial service quality.
Should banks take a lunch break or not? Meeting customer needs and protecting employee rights have never been an "either-or choice." Looking at the implementation details of the lunch break at this bank outlet in Enshi, the service windows were not simply "closed and done with," but rather kept self-service channels uninterrupted, with dedicated staff on duty to provide guidance, and tellers would promptly handle manually any urgent business that must be processed at the counter. Banks safeguarding the rights of frontline employees to rest is a practice worth encouraging, but in implementation, decisions must be made scientifically and measures refined, finding the balance point between employee rights and customer needs. For example, banks can use big data analysis to dynamically track foot traffic at outlets, open tidal windows, and allocate manpower rationally. The public wants to get things done at outlets during their lunch break, and tellers also want to eat a proper hot meal — both sides' simple and genuine needs must be treated seriously and reasonably.
Looking at this from a deeper level, in the digital age, how can banks provide better service? The key lies in properly handling the relationship between online and offline services.
While promoting the digitalization of financial services and the shift online, banks must also maintain smooth and convenient offline service channels. In recent years, mobile banking and smart teller machines have developed rapidly, and the vast majority of routine business can be handled online or through self-service, gradually reducing the importance of bank outlets. However, grassroots manual counters still bear considerable demand, such as passbook business for elderly people, complex corporate business, cross-border business, and so on, and hold irreplaceable value.
For offline services, banks need to adopt differentiated measures based on outlet customer composition, customer needs, and other factors, and must not resort to a "one-size-fits-all" approach. For example, for outlets in areas with concentrated elderly populations or in urban CBD (central business district) areas, consideration should be given to retaining manual counters at noon; for online services, banks should also make self-service equipment simpler and more user-friendly, and make online channel functions more comprehensive and smoother, so that digital dividends truly benefit every type of customer group.
Bank outlets are spread across every street and alley, and whether banks take a lunch break is a key trivial matter concerning people's daily lives. The heated discussion among netizens is, in essence, the public's higher demand and expectation for banks' convenience-oriented services. What everyone is discussing is not "whether bank employees should rest," but whether bank services can better fit the needs of different groups and be warmer. Make scheduling more flexible, make supporting services more thoughtful, let those who come to outlets handle business with less running around, let on-duty employees feel more at ease, and truly integrate "finance serving the people" into daily service.
Return to TopBy: 本报记者 刘军国
The market economy is a credit economy. Market transactions rely on trust for support, the business environment relies on integrity as its underpinning, and high-quality development all the more needs a credit system to 保驾护航 (bǎo jià hù háng - "guard the carriage, protect the voyage," to safeguard and protect).
At the beginning of this century, with the rapid development of the market economy, problems such as the weak creditworthiness of some Zhejiang enterprises and the poor quality of their products became prominent. Comrade Xi Jinping, then Secretary of the Zhejiang Provincial Party Committee, attached great importance to the building of "Credit Zhejiang" (信用浙江), stressing that "an enterprise without trust will find it hard to seek development; a society without trust will see 人人自危 (rén rén zì wēi - "every person feels themselves endangered," everyone fears for their own safety); a government without trust will see its authority not established." On July 10, 2003, the Fourth Plenary Session of the Eleventh Zhejiang Provincial Party Committee (浙江省委十一届四次全会) put forward the "Eight-Eight Strategy" (八八战略), of which credit building was an important part.
As a major province of the private economy, Zhejiang has a huge number of business entities, active business formats, and a high degree of marketization. In recent years, the building of "Credit Zhejiang" has continued to deepen. Adhering to the use of digital reform to drive the systematic reshaping of the credit system, Zhejiang has implemented in depth the Credit "531X" Project, and, from institutional foundation-building and digital-intelligent aggregation, to regulatory innovation and the coordinated application of rewards and punishments, and then to scenario implementation and value realization, has gradually constructed a modern credit system supporting Zhejiang's high-quality development.
Consolidating the Underlying Logic of Credit Building
Fifteen years ago, the entrepreneur Chen Song (陈松) came from Anhui to Shangyu District (上虞区), Shaoxing City, rented a 1,000-square-meter factory building, and opened an umbrella-fabric printing plant. With no real estate and no collateral, Chen Song found it difficult to obtain bank credit, and financing difficulties long constrained his pace of expansion.
As the building of "Credit Zhejiang" advanced, Chen Song's years of accumulated records — lawful operation, timely tax payment, and zero defaults — were automatically aggregated and dynamically evaluated by the platform. In 2023, Shangyu Rural Commercial Bank (上虞农商银行), relying on the precise credit portrait, proactively came to him to make contact and issued him a 300,000-yuan pure-credit loan that same day.
Chen Song's experience intuitively reflects the profound changes brought by the building of the credit foundation.
Under the guidance of the "Eight-Eight Strategy," Zhejiang has continuously consolidated the legal foundation of credit building. On September 1, 2005, Zhejiang took the lead at the provincial level nationwide in promulgating the Administrative Measures of Zhejiang Province for the Collection and Release of Enterprise Credit Information, so that enterprise credit building has laws to rely on. In January 2018, the Regulations of Zhejiang Province on the Administration of Public Credit Information were formally implemented. In May of last year, the Administrative Measures of Zhejiang Province for the Repair of Public Credit Information were also formally implemented.
The premise of credit building is to make integrity quantifiable, behavior traceable, and data shareable. Targeting governance bottlenecks, the Zhejiang Provincial Development and Reform Commission (浙江省发展改革委) took the lead in building the provincial public credit information platform, constructing a provincewide integrated digital foundation, fully connecting 262 systems including the national credit information sharing platform and relevant provincial and municipal business platforms, and forging it into the "general hub" for credit information sharing and exchange that links upward to the state, horizontally across departments, and vertically through cities. It has aggregated nearly 6.6 billion items of credit information — basic information, trustworthiness information, and dishonesty information — covering five categories of entities: 11,555,400 enterprises (including self-employed households), 45,181,900 registered-residence residents aged 18 or above, 92,700 social organizations, 25,600 public institutions, and 4,837 government bodies. Credit archives for the five categories of entities have been established, supporting credit-based supervision and governance innovation.
At the same time, by smoothing the business linkages of credit inquiry, credit use, and credit enhancement, it provides efficient and convenient "one-stop" comprehensive credit services. It has optimized and upgraded the "Zhejiang Office—Zhejiang Credit" (浙里办—浙里信用) section, established a unified credit information inquiry window and publicity column, and provided convenient and efficient services online. It has strengthened coordination and linkage and expanded a multidimensional credit-use network. Focusing on key application scenarios such as job application, enterprise listing, and policy benefit delivery, Zhejiang has promoted "credit in lieu of certificates" (信用代证) in 46 fields including education, science and technology, civil affairs, taxation, and market regulation, replacing "manual running" with "data running" and realizing the substitution of "one report" for "a stack of certificates," with a cumulative total of 186,000 special credit reports issued, replacing 4,588,000 certificates of the presence or absence of legal violations and contract breaches.
While strictly regulating, Zhejiang has adhered to 刚柔并济 (gāng róu bìng jì - "firmness and gentleness applied together," combining toughness with flexibility) and to error tolerance and correction in credit governance. For enterprises that have committed minor, non-subjective dishonest acts and have fully rectified them, it actively advances the "one item" reform of credit repair, realizing one application, whole-process online handling, and synchronized provincewide updates, with the average handling time shortened by 70 percent compared with before the reform. For dishonest entities that have corrected their dishonest conduct and eliminated the adverse effects, it promptly stops publicizing their dishonesty information, removes them from the list of dishonest entities, and lifts the corresponding disciplinary measures in accordance with laws and regulations. To date, 539,800 entities have completed credit repair, which both holds the bottom line of integrity and protects the developmental vitality of business entities.
Reshaping the Logic of Modern Market Supervision
Relying on the mature credit data system, Zhejiang has comprehensively built a new type of supervision mechanism based on credit. At present, an industry credit supervision responsibility system covering 38 provincial industry competent departments and 59 key fields is operating effectively, carrying out tiered and category-based supervision of regulated entities according to their credit status and risk level. In the field of market regulation, the Zhejiang Provincial Administration for Market Regulation (浙江省市场监管局) has implemented in depth the "Ten-Million Business Entities Credit Project" (千万经营主体信用工程) and took the lead in launching the national comprehensive reform pilot for business entity credit building. It makes full use of credit data, synthesizes multidimensional information from administrative inspections, complaints and reports, sampling inspections and penalties to dynamically determine the credit risk grades of business entities, and takes the credit grade as the basis for supervision, implementing tiered, category-based, and differentiated handling: enterprises with good credit and low risk are subject to "no disturbance when there is nothing wrong," while enterprises with poor credit and high risk see an increased proportion and frequency of random checks and inspections.
Zhejiang Kangbide Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. (浙江康必得医药有限公司), located in Xiaoshan District (萧山区), Hangzhou, has a credit grade of A and is on the district's roster for reassuring and stabilizing enterprises. "This year, the relevant government departments carried out a comprehensive compliance check-up for us at one go, enabling us to focus our minds on business operation, market expansion, and performance creation," said Xiao Yun (肖云), the head of the enterprise.
Jianggen Township (江根乡), Qingyuan County (庆元县), Lishui City, situated at the border between Zhejiang and Fujian, is endowed with a vast sea of bamboo, yet in the past its ecological resources were difficult to turn into value. In 2025, local cadres forged ties with a Fujian bamboo-product enterprise for investment attraction. After the enterprise put forward its demand for land to settle its project, Jianggen Township formed a skills service team at the first opportunity, handling the approval procedures on its behalf throughout the whole process under the service mechanism of "keeping one's word and never letting matters pass the night," and honoring the investment promises in a solid, down-to-earth manner.
一诺千金 (yī nuò qiān jīn - "one promise worth a thousand pieces of gold," a promise is as good as gold) brought the industry to take root. After the project reaches full production, it will consume nearly 100,000 tonnes of raw bamboo annually, drive more than 100 jobs, and bring local bamboo farmers more than 50 million yuan in income every year. From the investment invitation to full-cycle service, the local government has scrupulously upheld government credibility with concrete actions, stabilizing market expectations and activating the vitality of the mountain-district industry.
Zhejiang insists that government credibility leads social credibility. In 2025, a home-appliance sales enterprise in Quzhou City signed an air-conditioner procurement contract with a local public institution. Because the project was expanded, the completion and acceptance of the construction project was postponed, the installation of the air-conditioning equipment was blocked, the contract acceptance could not be completed on time, and the remaining payment was consequently put on hold. Just when the enterprise was anxious about recovering its payment, the local closed-loop supervision mechanism for government contract performance came into play. Relying on the early-warning and reminder function of the government contract performance supervision system, the first overdue information was automatically pushed to the relevant competent department, urging the institution to accelerate the construction schedule and strictly perform its obligations in accordance with the contract. In the end, the problem was properly resolved, and the enterprise's payment was smoothly recovered.
The building of "Credit Zhejiang" has achieved the alignment of regulatory resources with risk points and the direct delivery of policy dividends to trustworthy entities.
Transforming Credit into New Momentum for High-Quality Development
The ultimate focus of credit building is to serve the real economy, transform development momentum, and create economic value.
Targeting the common pain points of small, medium and micro enterprises and sci-tech innovation enterprises — light assets, lack of collateral, and difficulty in financing — Zhejiang has continued to deepen the reform of "Credit-Easy Loan" (信易贷), relying on public credit data to break the information asymmetry between banks and enterprises, and making enterprises' operational credibility, innovation credibility, and taxpaying credibility become intangible collateral.
In Yuhang District (余杭区), Hangzhou, Hangzhou Chengtian Technology Development Co., Ltd. (杭州程天科技发展有限公司), which focuses on the R&D and application of exoskeleton robot technology, faced difficulties in its initial stage such as large investment in technological R&D, few fixed assets, and restricted traditional loan channels. The Hangzhou Yuhang Sub-branch of the Agricultural Bank of China (农行杭州余杭支行) used big data, artificial intelligence, and other technologies, innovatively applied a smart evaluation model, incorporated the enterprise's patents, technical team, operational data, and tax records into the evaluation, recognized the enterprise's innovation capability, growth potential, and credit level from multiple dimensions, and converted the enterprise's "technological content" and "credit accumulation" into the basis for financing, smoothly issuing a 9.9-million-yuan pure-credit loan that effectively supported the enterprise's technological iteration, product R&D, and talent recruitment.
"This capital provided key support for the enterprise's recruitment of talent," said Zhang Jiyu (张继宇), co-founder of Chengtian Technology.
Recently, the Maritime Financial Resource Allocation Center (海事金融资源配置中心) went online in Ningbo, providing a new path for solving the long-standing financing difficulties of the shipping industry. Relying on the Zhejiang Maritime Financial Service Platform, the center has built an interconnection hub for three categories of information — maritime credit data, financial products, and enterprise demand — helping enterprises with good credit obtain lower financing interest rates, faster approvals, and lower insurance premiums.
Credit empowerment has injected lasting momentum into enterprise development. Today, Chen Song's enterprise has seen its pure-credit loan limit grow to 3 million yuan, and its annual output value climb from over 1 million yuan to nearly 30 million yuan, achieving leapfrog growth. "In the past, loans depended on assets; now loans depend on credit. Operating honestly and steadily is the best capital for small and micro enterprises," Chen Song said with deep feeling.
Credit dividends are no longer confined to the financial field; they have fully permeated all fields of the economy and society.
In Jiashan County (嘉善县), Jiaxing City, "keeping one's word has value, and keeping one's word can be felt" has become a new style of the city. Credit building is gradually being integrated into all aspects of livelihood services, rural revitalization, and more. The public can, by virtue of good credit, enjoy conveniences such as discounts on cultural and tourism consumption and extended book-borrowing periods, truly realizing "one sheet of credit, benefits in many places."
Credit application scenarios continue to expand, and the value of integrity continues to grow. From self-employed households to enterprises of scale, from traditional industries to emerging sci-tech innovation, from the urban economy to rural industries, Zhejiang has formed a complete closed loop: institutions set the rules, data provide the support, supervision enhances efficiency, and applications generate value.
"Credit is no longer a soft moral indicator, but hard-core support for optimizing the business environment, stabilizing business entities, and activating the vitality of the private economy," said Chen Lijun (陈丽君), professor at the School of Public Administration of Zhejiang University. Zhejiang has used credit legislation to build the institutional cornerstone of social credit system construction, used digital-intelligent reform to consolidate the credit foundation, used precise supervision to standardize market order, and used scenario empowerment to activate economic momentum. Zhejiang has transformed the invisible soft power of integrity into a visible and tangible hard competitiveness for development.
Reporter's Notes: Let the Wind of Integrity Become the Confidence for Development
Walking the land of Zhijiang (之江) for reporting, a very deep impression is that one can feel everywhere the strong atmosphere of "words must be trustworthy, and deeds must be resolute." Integrity no longer remains an appeal at the moral level; it has already become a conscious action permeating daily life and the fabric of the market. Today, in Zhejiang, good credit can be exchanged for credit support, simplified approval processes, and the harvest of real development dividends.
From taking the lead in issuing local credit regulations, to building an integrated credit "brain" with massive business-entity data aggregated and shared, a complete social credit system has been gradually honed into shape through reform practice. Many small and micro operators lacking collateral, like the entrepreneur Chen Song, have obtained pure-credit loans by relying on credit records accumulated through long-term lawful operation and tax payment in accordance with the law, helping their enterprises achieve leaps in scale. This is precisely a vivid practical sample of credit reform.
Credit governance values the balance of firmness and flexibility. On the one hand, it promotes tiered and category-based supervision, achieving "no disturbance when there is nothing wrong" for trustworthy enterprises and strengthening regulatory constraints on risky entities; on the other hand, it opens smooth channels for credit repair, lifting the development burden from enterprises that have committed non-subjective and minor dishonest acts. In social credit building, government credibility is the forerunner. The government genuinely honors its investment-promotion commitments, carries out closed-loop supervision over government contract performance, and stabilizes market expectations with the government's own spirit of contract.
Keeping one's word has value; the key lies in landing it on the ground. The essence of credit building is to safeguard market fairness and justice. Only by transforming the invisible soft power of integrity into a tangible hard competitiveness for development can the endogenous vitality of the private economy be continuously stimulated and high-quality development be escorted and protected.
Return to TopBy: 孙 文
Promoting the deep integration of computing power technological innovation and industrial upgrading, building an industry-led collaborative system for industry-university-research-application, empowering the transformation of traditional industries, and giving rise to new business forms and new models
Computing power is the core productive force of the digital economy era and a key force driving socioeconomic progress and industrial transformation. In the new stage of AI's accelerated evolution, accelerating the development of the computing power economy is an important support for building a modern industrial system, cultivating new quality productive forces, and advancing Chinese modernization. As AI technology, marked by large models, evolves from "breakthroughs at single points" to "overall empowerment" in a new stage, the status of computing power as the "key foundation" supporting its development has become increasingly prominent. Relevant statistics show that by 2030, intelligent computing power will have grown 500-fold compared with 2020.
Powerful computing power supports large-model training and algorithm optimization, driving AI to achieve a qualitative leap. The deep integration of AI and computing power infrastructure gives rise to new industrial forms and application scenarios, injecting new momentum into high-quality economic development. The integration of AI and computing power in the industrial field gives rise to a new paradigm of intelligent manufacturing. The "computing power + AI" intelligent inspection system has improved recognition efficiency by more than 5 times, and the quality defect miss rate has been reduced by 90%; intelligent scheduling systems have increased production efficiency by 30% and shortened delivery cycles by 50%. These transformations are driving manufacturing to upgrade toward "intelligent manufacturing." Intelligent connected vehicles, smart healthcare, digital creative industries, and other emerging industries are developing rapidly with the support of computing power. Taking autonomous driving as an example, it requires vehicle-mounted or edge computing platforms to possess computing capabilities of millions of billions of calculations per second to support environmental perception and decision planning, fully reflecting the deeply interdependent relationship of "computing power is the carrier, algorithms are the soul," and serving as a typical manifestation of the deep integration of computing power and AI.
To promote the high-quality development of the computing power economy, it is necessary to take green and low-carbon development as the guide. Green development is an inherent requirement for the high-quality development of the computing power economy. Facing the dual challenges of accelerating digitalization and surging computing power demand, promoting the green transformation of computing power infrastructure and building a new model of coordinated development of computing power and electricity have become an industry consensus and a national strategic priority. Promoting the efficient transformation of green energy into green computing power is an important pathway for the green development of the computing power economy. It is necessary to systematically advance the integrated construction of "source-grid-load-storage," innovate microgrid operation models, and expand green electricity direct supply mechanisms, through diversified measures such as these, to accelerate the construction of a clean, low-carbon, safe, and efficient computing power infrastructure system. In the western region, each computing power hub fully leverages its resource endowment advantages, scales up the utilization of renewable energy such as wind and solar power, and strives to create green computing power benchmark projects represented by "zero-carbon data centers." Through measures such as advanced cooling technologies, optimized layouts, and improved equipment utilization rates, the energy efficiency of data centers has continued to improve.
To promote the high-quality development of the computing power economy, it is necessary to build a high-level governance system for the computing power economy. The computing power economy governance system requires a better combination of an effective market and a proactive government. It is necessary to build a nationally integrated computing power market, remove barriers, and enable the market to play a decisive role in resource allocation; accelerate the improvement of national-level computing power trading service platforms, unify service standards, and achieve efficient matching of supply and demand. Explore the establishment of cross-regional computing power dispatch, data transmission, and coordinated settlement mechanisms for computing power and electricity, cultivate a third-party service system, and improve operational efficiency; comprehensively employ fiscal, tax, financial, intellectual property, government procurement, and other policy tools to guide resources to converge toward the computing power field; do a good job in the major article of technology finance, broaden financing channels, and create favorable conditions for computing power technological innovation and industrial incubation.
The period of the "15th Five-Year Plan" is a critical stage for digital development and the construction of Digital China. It is necessary to strengthen the overall planning of the computing power economy and deepen the reform of market-based allocation of computing power resource factors. Promote the deep integration of computing power technological innovation and industrial upgrading, build an industry-led collaborative system for industry-university-research-application, empower the transformation of traditional industries, and give rise to new business forms and new models. Strengthen basic research in computing power, tackle key technologies such as high-end chips and basic software, and build an autonomous and controllable AI software and hardware ecosystem. In addition, it is necessary to improve the computing power network security guarantee system, implement full-lifecycle security management and control, and ensure that infrastructure is stable and reliable.
(The author is a senior economist at China Energy Investment Corporation)
By: 戴 政
On August 19, the Zhuque-3 Y-2 carrier rocket accurately sent a satellite into the预定 orbit, and its first stage was successfully recovered. Previously, the Y-1 mission achieved orbit insertion but did not achieve the planned first-stage recovery target. The transition from "falling short at the last critical step" to a steady landing was achieved by facing problems squarely, respecting objective laws, and converting test data into more reliable engineering capability.
A carrier rocket is a highly complex systems engineering undertaking. A flight lasting just a few minutes must withstand complex mechanical environments including extreme high and low temperatures, aerodynamic and flight loads, and intense vibration. It must be as light as possible yet strong enough; the overall structure must remain stable, yet certain structures must separate accurately and on time. These are sharp contradictions. Engineering innovation lies precisely in continually understanding these contradictions, grasping them, and ultimately finding ways to resolve them.
After the Zhuque-3 Y-1 mission, the team carried out "return to zero" (归零) work in accordance with China's aerospace methodology: establishing a fault tree, investigating item by item, reproducing the problem through analysis and testing to form a chain of evidence, and then formulating targeted product improvement measures. The unknown itself is not frightening; what truly requires vigilance is treating the unknown as known and treating the accidental as inevitable. Even if a test does not yield the expected result, as long as it leaves behind real data, exposes cognitive blind spots, and establishes new causal relationships, it lays the foundation for the next step forward.
The "newness" in technological innovation and new quality productive forces (新质生产力) comes first from new technologies, new products, and new models; but what truly determines the qualitative leap in productive forces is whether these innovations can enter the engineering system, the manufacturing system, and the industrial system. Completing one successful flight and forming a high-reliability, high-frequency launch service are two different matters; achieving one recovery and forming a stable, reliable engineering-oriented reuse capability cannot be equated. Only when technology can operate steadily, processes can be executed repeatedly, products can be delivered reliably, and experience can be沉淀 into processes, standards, and tools can technological breakthroughs be transformed into industrial capability.
For an industry to mature, one cannot look only at the brilliant moments under the spotlight. Quality control, process improvement, inspection methods, supply chain coordination, production organization, and data closed-loop management—these tasks are not dazzling, but they determine whether technology can operate steadily. In the face of industrial competition, there must be speed; in the face of scientific laws, there must be patience. What is truly meaningful speed is allowing problems to be exposed faster, analyzed faster, and closed-loop faster, not omitting necessary tests. True patience is maintaining reverence for objective laws and knowing which links can be accelerated through organizational efficiency and which processes must let data speak and testing verify.
A technology company cannot determine the external environment, nor can it guarantee that every exploration proceeds smoothly as envisioned, but it can continually improve the certainty of its own capabilities. Mastering one more law, establishing one more standard, and forming one more repeatable capability all become a solid foundation for industrial competitiveness. Building certainty amid uncertainty is not about trying to eliminate all risks, but about continually improving the ability to understand risk, manage risk, and traverse risk.
Commercial aerospace must not only calculate the economic accounts of efficiency, cost, and delivery; it also bears the responsibility of serving the national strategy. Commercial aerospace is connected to satellite internet, space-based information infrastructure, next-generation communications, and a series of future aerospace application industries. The cost, frequency, and efficiency of access to space will increasingly and profoundly affect a country's ability to utilize space and develop space industries.
What commercial aerospace enterprises do is not only manufacture products and provide services—they must also build capabilities that the country can rely upon when needed. Autonomy does not mean closure; rather, within an open and collaborative industrial system, it means maintaining full understanding and control over key technologies and core capabilities, being able to make independent judgments at critical moments, and keeping the initiative for development in one's own hands.
The successful recovery of the Zhuque-3 first stage does not mean the rocket already possesses mature reuse capability. What condition the rocket body is in, which components require inspection, what condition data indicates continued use is possible, which components need repair or replacement, and how inspection procedures and evaluation standards should be established—these questions must still be answered through extensive analytical work, ground testing, and data accumulation. Moving from "able to come back" to "still able to be used," and then to stable, reliable, and efficient reuse, the new work is only just beginning.
Frontier exploration means the unknown; technological competition means change; and business operations also come with cycles and risks. What is truly valuable is not only the rocket presented before people at the end, but also the organizational capability formed through long-term practice: respecting facts, continuous learning, facing problems and constantly correcting oneself, converting the unknown into the known, and converting the accidental into repeatable engineering capability.
Looking to the future, the dream of gazing at the stars must be carried by the ability to take root in the earth. By internalizing the capability to reach the stars into organizational capability, engineering capability, and industrial capability, China's commercial aerospace industry can fly more steadily and farther.
(The author is the chief commander of the LandSpace Zhuque-3 rocket; this article was compiled from an interview by People's Daily reporter Liu Shiyao.)
Return to TopBy: 本报记者 刘诗瑶
The "15th Five-Year Plan" Outline (十五五规划纲要) makes important arrangements for the forward-looking deployment of future industries, requiring that biomanufacturing and other fields be promoted to become new economic growth points.
At present, China's biomanufacturing industry is accelerating its transition from technological breakthroughs toward the landing of more application scenarios, continuously cultivating new drivers of development. How will it change production and daily life? And how will it grow and develop?
Biomanufacturing changes the production mindset of traditional manufacturing and opens up new space for material production.
The rose fragrance in perfume does not necessarily come from flower fields.
At the Frontier Research Institute of Synthetic Biology, Tianjin University (天津大学合成生物前沿研究院), researchers "grafted" the key gene in roses that regulates rose alcohol synthesis into brewer's yeast, thereby producing rose alcohol. This technology has completed pilot-scale testing (中试) in a 10-ton fermentation system, and the first "microbial rose alcohol" perfume has been made and launched on the market.
There are many more similar examples.
Converting the starch in corn into glucose and using microbial fermentation can synthesize nylon precursors, which can be made into sportswear and sun-protective clothing.
Relying on resources such as agricultural and forestry waste, products such as feed protein and amino acids can be produced, effectively replacing protein raw materials that have traditionally depended on imports, such as soybean meal and fish meal.
On the basis of industrial waste gas, important chemical raw materials such as butanol can be produced by fermentation, supporting and safeguarding the supply of aviation fuel.
…………
"This is the charm of biomanufacturing." Yuan Yingjin (元英进), academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and professor at Tianjin University, said that from antibiotics and vitamins to recombinant proteins, enzyme preparations, and bio-based materials, and then to natural pigments, fragrances, and fuels, biomanufacturing has extended to multiple important sectors of the national economy, including medicine, food, agriculture, chemicals, materials, and energy.
Human beings' 衣食住行 (yī shí zhù xíng - "clothing, food, housing, and travel," the basic necessities of daily life) are inseparable from material production, and material production requires raw materials.
"There are two traditional ways to obtain raw materials: some are synthesized from petroleum and other substances through chemical means, and some are directly extracted from animal and plant components in nature." Liu Shuwen (刘树文), a project researcher at the Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences (中国科学院微生物研究所), said that these two ways have both their rationality and their obvious limitations.
Liu Shuwen gave an example: traditional manufacturing is highly dependent on petroleum. International crude oil prices have fluctuated considerably this year, causing the price of amino acids produced through the petrochemical route to double. As amino acids are an important component of feed nutritional additives, their price rise triggered feed enterprises to raise prices, directly impacting the pig industry. On the other hand, traditional petroleum and coal chemical production mostly uses high-temperature and high-pressure processes, with high energy consumption and high emissions, placing considerable pressure on the environment.
"Obtaining raw materials from animals and plants is often constrained by seasons, regions, and resources. For instance, the raw materials needed by some anticancer drugs come only from certain rare protected animals and plants; they are truly difficult to obtain, and obtaining them is also detrimental to biodiversity protection," Liu Shuwen said.
In contrast, biomanufacturing has notable advantages in obtaining raw materials.
Yuan Yingjin explained that in the biomanufacturing process, biological reactions are generally carried out under mild conditions, raw materials come from renewable resources or waste, and the production process can reduce toxic reagents and resource consumption.
"A country's ability to obtain raw materials bears on the resilience of the industrial chain and the security of biotechnology. From this perspective, safe, healthy, green, and economical biomanufacturing is no longer merely a technological supplement; it has risen to the industrial height of supporting the transformation of the real economy and realizing green, low-carbon development, and it concerns the well-being of the people," Yuan Yingjin said.
Looking at the world, biomanufacturing has already become an important part of the new round of technological revolution and industrial transformation.
Experts believe that China's biomanufacturing industry is transforming from "running behind" to "running alongside," and even "leading the race" has emerged in some fields.
"Synthetic biology technology is a frontier field in current global scientific and technological competition and a key direction of the country's future industries," said Lu Wenchao (陆文超), chairman of China Resources Double Crane Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. (华润双鹤药业股份有限公司). The ultra-large-scale market, the complete industrial system, the rich application scenarios, and the fermentation manufacturing foundation are distinct advantages possessed by China's biomanufacturing industry. At the same time, industries such as medicine, food, chemicals, and equipment also provide supporting conditions for the landing of biomanufacturing technology.
Data from the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (工业和信息化部) show that the total output value of China's biomanufacturing industry is about 1.1 trillion yuan, and the output of fermentation products accounts for more than 70 percent of the global total. According to statistics, the scale of major industries such as modern biological fermentation, bio-based chemicals, and bio-based materials has exceeded 800 billion yuan, and the output of amino acids and organic acids ranks first in the world.
"In the future, measuring the effectiveness of a country's biomanufacturing industry development will not be a matter of whose product list is longer, but of who can first realize a biological route with better performance, affordable costs, and quantifiable environmental benefits, and of who can truly make biomanufacturing an important engine for promoting the high-quality development of manufacturing," Yuan Yingjin said.
Achieving independent and controllable strains, and keeping the initiative in the biomanufacturing industry in our own hands.
In the view of experts, China's biomanufacturing field has notable advantages in the downstream industrial chain and application ecology, but there are still shortcomings in some core upstream links.
Strains are the "chips" of the biomanufacturing industry.
Liu Shuwen said that in the working process of the "cell factory," the quality of strains determines whether biomanufactured products are good or bad.
To use an analogy, there are also "champions" among strains. The better the strain, the higher the efficiency of biosynthesis and the lower the cost, playing the role of 事半功倍 (shì bàn gōng bèi - "half the effort, double the result," to achieve more with less effort). However, China's ability to create core strains and key enzymes is insufficient, and, influenced by international patent barriers, intellectual property disputes still exist in fields such as core strains.
"当务之急 (dāng wù zhī jí - "the urgent task at hand," the most pressing matter) is to create 'champion' strains ourselves, achieve independent and controllable strains, and keep the initiative in the biomanufacturing industry in our own hands," Liu Shuwen said. Today, there are more and more such practices.
Taking vitamin B5 as an example, in order to enable the strain to reach optimal performance, Liu Shuwen and his team members went through more than 80 rounds of metabolic engineering modification and finally obtained the "champion" strain they had in mind. At present, using the one-step fermentation method they developed to produce vitamin B5, they have built the world's first industrial production line.
At Tianjin University, researchers divided yeast ultra-long chromosomes into assemblable standard fragments. From the precise synthesis of two chromosomes, to the integration of 5.5 synthetic chromosomes, and then to the creation of more than 260,000 germplasm resources, the team's research goal has gradually shifted from genomes that "can be synthesized" to entirely new strains that "can obtain useful functions."
Rifamycin S sodium salt is a key component of anti-tuberculosis drugs. In the past, its fermentation level could not be raised, and production costs were 居高不下 (jū gāo bù xià - "stay high and not come down," remaining persistently high). Through synthetic biology approaches, China Resources Double Crane independently developed and screened out high-yield engineered strains, greatly reducing the unit production cost of such components.
Experts said that universities, research institutes, and enterprises that devote themselves to independent strain research and development need long-term, stable support.
"The team at the institute modified strains to develop vitamin B5, relying on the state's sustained support over more than 10 years. During this period, we repeatedly tried, erred, and iterated, continuously undergoing the cycle of 'design–edit–test–feedback,' thereby discovering the laws of life," Liu Shuwen said. The biomanufacturing industry has a long return cycle, and it is difficult to see returns in the short term. Only long-cycle capital investment and strategic resolve can support people in the industry to keep going.
"Even if the 'champion' strain has now been found, it does not mean that independent innovation will stop. Whether this strain has reached the theoretical maximum conversion rate, and whether production capacity can still be increased, are questions that researchers have been thinking about and exploring all along. With the slightest slackening, one may fall behind others," Yuan Yingjin said.
From the laboratory to the production line, opening up the entire industrial chain, and completing the leap "from 0 to 1 and then to 100."
Industrial competition does not only take place over one strain or one product.
Looking through the entire industrial chain, tracing upstream, biomanufacturing involves links such as gene synthesis, industrial strains, tool enzymes, reagents, and biological data. Extending downstream, it involves bioreactors, online control, separation and purification, process software, and quality standards.
"Patents, strain banks, data algorithms, core equipment, and engineering know-how together constitute the 'technology stack'; weakness in any layer may affect the cost and supply security of biomanufacturing," Yuan Yingjin said.
Yuan Yingjin gave an example: a strain that performs excellently in the laboratory may not necessarily remain "well-behaved" when placed in an industrial fermentation tank. From the milliliter scale to the hundred-ton scale, factors such as temperature, pH, and dissolved oxygen all change. Moreover, what industrialization values is not only the "maximum yield," but also multiple indicators such as yield, conversion rate, production intensity, stability, and batch quality consistency.
Therefore, going from the biomanufacturing technology laboratory to the production line is far more complex than proportionally scaling up a formula; one must break through the successive checkpoints of the "small-scale test" (小试) and the "pilot-scale test" to move toward true industrialization.
The so-called "small-scale test" can usually be handled in the laboratory. Liu Shuwen said that after genetically modifying the original strain, researchers continuously optimize it, modulate it multiple times, and test indicators at a smaller scale.
What is more challenging is the "pilot-scale test" link. Pilot-scale platforms must use conditions close to production to discover problems as early as possible, so as to avoid "paying tuition" only after a large production line has been built. To truly realize the transformation of scientific and technological achievements, signing a single patent transfer contract is only the starting point; afterward, research teams, engineering platforms, enterprises, and application scenarios must jointly continue the relay.
Enterprises are the main body of innovation. Contamination, uneven mass transfer, and product degradation — any single detail can cause a product that performed excellently in the laboratory to fail completely at the scale-up stage. This is the "valley of death" in the transformation of scientific and technological achievements. The "pilot-scale test" link of biomanufacturing is often undertaken by enterprises, which rely on sufficient capital, manpower, technology, and other resources to carry themselves through the difficulties.
To solve the difficult problems of the "pilot-scale test" link, China Resources Double Crane increased investment and built pilot-scale platforms, forming a team of more than 30 people and a professional pilot-scale workshop, developing the capacity to undertake pilot-scale-to-production transitions from 50 liters to 20 tons, and opening up cooperation to the industry.
At a later stage, in order to achieve industrial scale, enterprises, through means such as acquiring advanced manufacturing production lines and relying on mature industrialization platforms, enable products, after the pilot-scale test is completed, to quickly connect with verified industrial outlets and complete scale-up and landing. For example, China Resources Double Crane achieved efficient synthesis through a whole-cell biocatalysis process, producing a bio-based 1,4-butanediamine product. After full industrial scale-up, it has been successfully incorporated into the bio-based high-performance polyamide materials of downstream partners, realizing an industrial chain leap from upstream monomers to downstream high-value-added materials.
"Today we have achieved a technological breakthrough; tomorrow others may also achieve a breakthrough. This is still not enough. The key is to have a platform that can sustainably produce innovative products, open up the entire industrial chain, and complete the leap 'from 0 to 1 and then to 100,'" Lu Wenchao said.
In recent years, China has continuously strengthened top-level design in the biomanufacturing field and steadily advanced the construction of innovation platforms and the tackling of key core technologies. Along with the deep integration of artificial intelligence (AI) and biomanufacturing, multiple provinces including Hunan and Zhejiang have built "AI + synthetic biology" industry consortia, closely linking universities, enterprises, investment institutions, and sci-tech innovation parks. To strengthen talent support, the Institute of Microbiology of the Chinese Academy of Sciences innovated its incentive mechanisms, enabling more researchers to devote themselves to the biomanufacturing track. This year, the undergraduate biomanufacturing major at Tianjin University was approved to enroll students and will cultivate more interdisciplinary talents who understand life sciences, chemical engineering, equipment, and AI.
Only when multiple parties jointly solve the problems can the good indicators in the laboratory be turned into stable output in factories and sustained orders in the market, and can the potential of cells to "create things" be truly unleashed.
Return to TopBy: 甘荣刚
In steel enterprises, welding is a key process that ensures the operation of equipment. The repair and surfacing welding of large components such as sintering single-tooth rollers and blast furnace distribution chutes all depend on electric welding operations.
Manual welding sounds like it is merely working with a welding torch, but in the workshop of a steel plant it is a genuinely hard job. In summer, the workshop temperature often exceeds 40 degrees Celsius, and welders often have to maintain a fixed posture, crouching in place for the better part of the day, enduring the assault of high temperature and arc light. For the flange welding at both ends of the ironmaking stirring-cage shaft, the perpendicularity error cannot exceed 0.1 millimeter. Once welding deformation fails to meet the standard, the equipment is prone to fracture during long-term, high-load operation, causing economic losses of more than one million yuan. However fine one's craft may be, relying on human hands always has limitations. I often thought: can we hand the repetitive, heavy welding work over to machines, so that welders can free up their hands to tackle high-difficulty emergency repairs and the welding of special materials?
The idea seemed simple, but putting it into practice hit walls at every turn. We originally wanted to purchase mature welding robots, but after research we found that ready-made equipment could not adapt to the on-site working conditions for the large, specially shaped components in our steel plant, and the cost of modification and customization remained high. That path would not work.
Since we could not buy a suitable one, could we build it ourselves? Together with my studio colleagues, I planned to independently develop a cantilever welding robot.
Difficulties 接踵而来 (jiē zhǒng ér lái - "tread on heels and come," to come one after another): the mechanical structure, the programming control, and the welding process had to be matched to one another. If a single parameter was not debugged to the proper point, the surfacing-welded workpiece would develop cracks or be unacceptably formed.
On one occasion, when debugging the three-dimensional motion control of the welding torch, the weld seams on the surfaced workpiece kept deviating. We repeatedly disassembled the equipment, checked every link from mechanical assembly to teach programming, and corrected the motion trajectory bit by bit. The workshop was the laboratory. From building the mechanical structure to debugging the dual offline/teach programming modes, we gnawed through the hard bones bit by bit. After more than a thousand tests, the first cantilever welding robot finally came into being.
The change quickly became apparent: what used to take 4 people 15 days of work can now be completed in 4 days, with 1 technician writing and debugging the program and a single person monitoring and operating. The welding torch can achieve coordinated motion with 4 degrees of freedom, can complete three-dimensional surfacing welding of complex workpieces, and the welding quality is stable and reliable. We used it in the repair of equipment such as sintering single-tooth rollers, grate plates, and blast furnace distribution chutes. Since the equipment was put into service, this one item alone has saved the enterprise more than 3 million yuan in cost.
Having tasted the sweetness of automated renovation, our team did not stop in its tracks. We continued to expand the application boundaries of robots, conquered the robot automatic cutting technology, broke the original limitation of being able only to cut flat surfaces and make bevels, and achieved a leap from manual welding and semi-automatic welding to intelligent, clean, fully automatic four-head welding.
For more than a decade, my team and I have successively developed more than 10 welding robots through independent research. The studio has secured more than 40 national patents in total; the enterprise's automated welding production rate has risen to 50%, and compared with traditional manual welding, production efficiency has increased by at least 3 times.
Technological innovation must both improve efficiency and hold fast to the bottom line of green environmental protection. When developing the robots, we simultaneously installed dust-removal devices as supporting equipment, so that the smoke and dust generated by electric welding are effectively collected and treated, and the frontline working environment has improved markedly. Over the years, the enterprise has continuously advanced ultra-low emission renovations, continuously brought energy-saving and environmentally friendly equipment online, and changed from traditional manufacturing into an "ecological factory." My workmates and I actively participated in the environmental protection upgrade and in the construction of turning the production line into a "landscape line." The factory environment has continued to improve, and the occupational health of frontline workers has also been better safeguarded.
Many people ask me what the secret is for frontline workers to engage in innovation. My experience is that innovation does not necessarily require looking up at a distant frontier; one only needs to keep one's eyes fixed on the production site: where the work is most tiring, which process is least efficient, and which faults keep recurring. Starting from small points of entry, repeatedly polishing and continuously iterating, one can also make changes of value.
Now, while maintaining a firm grasp of basic welding skills, I continue to advance the intelligentization of welding. The welding torch will be iterated, but the craftsman spirit of 精益求精 (jīng yì qiú jīng - "in refinement, seek further refinement," to constantly strive for perfection) will not change. As long as one takes root on the production front line and is willing to use one's brain, ordinary workers can likewise keep pushing the boundaries of technology forward.
(The author is a National Model Worker (全国劳动模范) and senior technician in electric welding at Fangda Special Steel Technology Co., Ltd. (方大特钢科技股份有限公司). This article was compiled from an interview by Yang Yanfei (杨颜菲), a reporter for this newspaper.)
Return to TopBy: 钱念孙
One
Every person has a physiological age, and every person also has a cultural age. Physiological age is the record of time as it passes over the top of one's head day by day, month by month, year by year, stroking the body as it grows taller, grows stronger, grows old, and declines to extinction; it bears the clear marks of the years and the length of a human life. Although cultural age may in a certain sense include the meaning of educational level — that is, the primary school, middle school, and university people commonly speak of, together with the connotations of engineer, professor, expert, and so on — the cultural age we speak of refers mainly to the footprints and the journey, shallow or deep, by which a person has stepped into the cultural tradition; it is the understanding of life and the spiritual height formed through life experience and accumulated learning. Physiological age has the numbers of a unified chronological reckoning; it is like a tree as it grows, its annual rings clear and bounded. The standard by which cultural age is measured is broad and general; it is like viewing flowers through mist — 雾里看花 (wù lǐ kàn huā - "view flowers through mist," to see things dimly and indistinctly) — now faintly visible, now hidden, the contours blurred.
No one can escape the changes of physiological age, and no one can evade the influence of cultural age. When everyone comes into this world, the given social environment and folkways and customs — including the loving care of parents, the earnest instruction of teachers, the shaping influence of social rules, and the restraints of morality and law — inevitably cause his outlook on life, values, and other such aspects to undergo a process of spiritual growth and maturation. Whether willing or unwilling, conscious or unconscious, so long as one lives within a certain social group, one naturally becomes a "cultural product" of that social group.
Although all of this takes place in the "present moment" of the life process, the "present moment" we have personally gone through, personally seen, and personally heard is far from being an infant that has just fallen wailing to the earth today — 呱呱坠地 (gū gū zhuì dì - "fall wailing to the ground," to be born) — still less a product of the contemporary "quick-made" sort; for the most part it is the fruit of thousands of years of historical sedimentation and cultural accumulation.
Who can say that today's parents' nagging at their children to "study hard" is not the beam-winding lingering resonance — 绕梁余音 (rào liáng yú yīn - "lingering sound winding around the beams," an echo that long remains after its source is gone) — of the teaching of Confucius, "to learn and, at due times, practice it" and "the exemplary person is broadly learned in culture," resounding from the pre-Qin period down to the present? Who, again, can say that the heartfelt advice given today by teachers and friends to be good with others — 与人为善 (yǔ rén wéi shàn - "join with others in goodness," to be kindly disposed and do good together with others) — is not the admonition of Confucius, "the exemplary person completes the good of others," — 成人之美 (chéng rén zhī měi - "complete the good of others," to help others accomplish what is good) — and of Mencius, "nothing is greater for the exemplary person than being good with others," like a sweet spring crossing the mountain ranges of history, irrigating and moistening the fields of people's hearts today?
Although on the surface the cultural age of each of us overlaps and coincides with our physiological age and can hardly exceed a hundred years, in reality it depends upon and coexists with the long history of this ancient civilized country of ours, and is linked and connected with the long journey of world civilization. No genuine civilized person is a visitor from beyond the sky with no ties and no cares; inevitably, consciously or unconsciously, one lives, in culture, a life in which ages of many strata are superimposed. Of course, toward this life of lingering, clinging attachment to ancient and modern culture, different people often have different attitudes and experiences. Facing the vast, boundless ocean of culture, some stand by the abyss and covet the fish — 临渊羡鱼 (lín yuān xiàn yú - "stand by the abyss, covet the fish," to long for the prize without making the effort to take it) — or gaze at plums to quench their thirst — 望梅止渴 (wàng méi zhǐ kě - "gaze at plums to quench thirst," to console oneself with illusions); some catch only floating light and skimming shadows — 浮光掠影 (fú guāng lüè yǐng - "floating light, skimming shadow," a superficial impression without depth) — and take a light taste and then stop — 浅尝辄止 (qiǎn cháng zhé zhǐ - "take a light taste and then stop," to dabble without going deep); some strike the water at midstream — 中流击水 (zhōng liú jī shuǐ - "strike the water at midstream," to throw oneself boldly against the current) — and make the waves check the flying boats; some dive deep beneath the sea and pluck the pearl from beneath the dragon's jaw — 探骊得珠 (tàn lí dé zhū - "plumb the black dragon and obtain the pearl," to win the true treasure by going deep). The difference between people is often hidden precisely in the depth of their encounter with culture and the length of their persistence in it.
Two
In the "Wei Zheng" (为政) chapter of The Analects there is a famous saying of Confucius: "At fifteen I set my heart on learning; at thirty I took my stand; at forty I was no longer perplexed; at fifty I knew the mandate of Heaven; at sixty my ear was attuned; at seventy I could follow my heart's desire without overstepping the bound." This passage is only 38 characters long, yet to this day it is relished by everyone — 脍炙人口 (kuài zhì rén kǒu - "minced meat and roast delight every mouth," widely loved and recited). In fact, it is a diagram of the trajectory on which Confucius, in his later years looking back over his long journey of life, set physiological age and cultural age side by side in contrast and comparison, sketching a picture of the course of his own spiritual growth and maturation as his years increased.
Here Confucius, on the one hand, marks out the nodes of six different physiological ages and, on the other hand, tells the cultural-age characteristics in which these six nodes each display their own splendor, giving prominence to the different pursuits and cultural realizations that different ages hold for life. It is a vivid conveyance of the spirit and likeness — 传神写照 (chuán shén xiě zhào - "transmit the spirit, draw the likeness," to portray with vivid fidelity) — of a lifetime spent responding to the times, dealing with affairs, advancing in learning, and cultivating the Way.
"Setting the heart on learning" and "taking one's stand" are relatively explicit in meaning and easy to understand. "No longer perplexed" means penetrating the principles of things, understanding matters clearly when meeting them, and not being misled by fame, profit, or desire. "Knowing the mandate of Heaven" means knowing the abilities and accomplishments of one's whole life: seeing clearly both one's capacities and possibilities and one's shortcomings and limitations; no longer having that kind of impulse and ambition, overrating one's own strength — 不自量力 (bù zì liàng lì - "not measure one's own strength," to overestimate oneself) — of "in the world of today, who else but me?" — 舍我其谁 (shě wǒ qí shuí - "if not me, then who," to deem oneself the only one capable) — nor the loss and bewilderment of "thinking on the vastness of heaven and earth, alone I grieve and let fall my tears." "The ear being attuned" is a metaphor for being able to take in whatever is said; even words of criticism do not strike one as harsh, and one rather gains the tolerance of "a great belly that can hold what is hardest under heaven to hold." "Following the heart's desire without overstepping the bound" means being able to act as the heart desires — 随心所欲 (suí xīn suǒ yù - "follow whatever the heart desires," to act as one pleases) — without violating ritual norms and rules.
Evidently, the characteristics of the different cultural ages that Confucius speaks of are not, like physiological age, simply a matter of addition, nor do they race straight ahead all the way along the positive, upward trajectory of youth — "setting the heart on learning," "taking one's stand," and so on; rather, there is forward movement, there is pause, there is reflection, there is awakening. His "no longer perplexed" clearly carries the meaning of rectifying a deviation after having once been subjected to temptation; his "knowing the mandate of Heaven" unquestionably contains a self-examination for having formerly shown insufficient awe toward the laws by which things develop; his "ear attuned" seems to harbor a retrospective reproach for having in the past given insufficient respect to words that grated on the ear; and his "following the heart's desire without overstepping the bound" even more reveals, in negating and transcending the "old self," a lucid clarity mingled with gladness and rue.
If it is said that physiological age is marked mainly by the accumulation of numbers, then cultural age is for the most part presented in the gradations of cultivating the person and illuminating the Way. The former records the length of a life; the latter manifests the realm of the mind.
Three
The boat ticket that physiological age holds is a single-use ticket, discarded once used; it cannot be reversed, and it is even harder to return from old age to youth — 返老还童 (fǎn lǎo huán tóng - "return from old age to childhood," to be rejuvenated). Facing the time that slips away like a white colt passing a chink — 白驹过隙 (bái jū guò xì - "a white colt passing through a chink," time speeding past in a flash) — we can only, like Confucius standing by the river watching the rushing water in former days, heave the sigh: "What passes away is like this — it does not cease day or night!" Cultural age is different: while it advances in step with the times — 与时偕行 (yǔ shí xié xíng - "move in step with the times," to keep pace with the era) — and prolongs its years and lengthens its span, it can also break through and transcend the limit of the irreversibility of objective time, pressing the pause key or the resume key on the years that, once gone, never return; over past experiences, whether smooth or rough, brilliant or dim, and over the original intentions and dreams with which one set out in early years — it can look back anew and re-examine them, so as to draw experience and lessons from them and make the road of one's future life steadier and better.
The rapid development of the contemporary material economy and the swift, forceful advance — 突飞猛进 (tū fēi měng jìn - "burst aloft and charge forward," to advance by leaps and bounds) — of science and technology have swept us along so that, while pursuing and enjoying the fruits of material civilization, we unavoidably encounter many contradictions and problems. These problems not only inflict harm upon, and place obstacles in the way of, the sustainable development of society; still more, they require us to return, on the level of culture, to a series of ancient and eternal themes — such as the unity of Heaven and humanity (天人合一), the humane person's love of others (仁者爱人), embracing simplicity and preserving plainness, fairness and justice, tolerance and harmony — and to gain enlightenment from the original hearts (初心) and surviving teachings of these forebears, so as to correct the blueprint and the way of thinking of development.
Throughout the history of human evolution, the unceasing progress and elevation of the material economy and the unceasing return of moral spirit to the original heart are often a unified process that runs side by side without contradiction — 并行不悖 (bìng xíng bù bèi - "proceed side by side without conflicting," to coexist without contradiction) — and even supplies and completes each other — 相辅相成 (xiāng fǔ xiāng chéng - "help and complete one another," to be mutually complementary). This return to the original heart is, in essence, a return to the newborn heart — 赤子之心 (chì zǐ zhī xīn - "the heart of a newborn babe," an innocent, undefiled heart) — of "at the beginning of human life, nature is good"; a return to the social morality, common reason, and public-mindedness of "all people share this heart; all hearts share this principle" (人同此心，心同此理).
We need the growth of GDP; we need innovation in science and technology. At the same time, we also need the fairness and harmony of society; we need mutual understanding and mutual help. We must, just as we delete junk files from our mobile phones and computers, reduce excessive material extravagance and desires for fame and gain, and, with the lamp that was lit in the childhood era of culture and has never been extinguished through thousands of years of wind and rain — conscience and justice — illuminate and warm the road of the future on which we steel ourselves and press forward.
Return to TopBy: 许 锋
That time in the airport lounge, a staff member walked over beaming and asked whether the service was satisfactory. I was taken aback for a moment, then nodded, making a token “acknowledgment.” But she immediately went on: sir, would you be willing to give a good review in the APP? I was taken aback again — it was not a question of willingness or reluctance; it was 举手之劳 (jǔ shǒu zhī láo - “the labor of lifting one’s hand,” an effortless task) and 成人之美 (chéng rén zhī měi - “completing another’s good deed,” helping another person achieve a good end).
Following her guidance, item by item, I checked off the highest “gear” in all of them. She obtained a satisfactory result and, beaming, went off to look for the next customer.
“Soliciting praise” has gradually become a social phenomenon. Going to the gas station to refuel, I have been “asked” before. Inviting a home-service worker to come and clean, I have also been “asked” before. When eating out, waiters sometimes say: would you give a good review to our new dish?
It always feels “odd.”
The Chinese nation has always been a modest nation. From childhood, children are taught to be modest in the face of praise and to do good deeds without leaving their names. The peach and plum trees do not speak, yet a path forms beneath them. This is at once self-cultivation, moral virtue, and even more so a realm of attainment. Yet now there has come a 180-degree turn. The other party, 理直气壮 (lǐ zhí qì zhuàng - “with sound reason and strong spirit,” bold and self-assured), “solicits praise”; the solicited party, on the contrary, is too embarrassed to refuse — lowering their head “bashfully,” they hasten to tap the like.
In fact, it is not that those who “solicit praise” are ignorant of “shame”; it is the assessment mechanism that makes them so. Merchants with many good reviews rank ahead and are recommended ahead; delivery riders with many good reviews receive more orders and more income... Thus, in daily life, “please kindly give a good review,” “if satisfied, please tap five stars,” and on the phone, “if very satisfied, please press 1” have become the norm.
Why is this so? Without a moment’s thought one can guess: these “likes,” one after another, string together line after line, and line after line connects to concrete gains and losses, affecting or swaying the rice bowls and happiness indices of household after household.
A “like,” whether actively “given” or passively “solicited,” is a matter of personal subjective will. Being “solicited” is not the same as being “coerced”; if you do not agree, the other party has no recourse. Projected into life and the market, this is word of mouth. But some merchants, in order to “break out of the circle,” simply hire people to mass-post good reviews and spend money to buy “likes.” When word of mouth becomes a commodity — no longer passed from mouth to mouth but a “weather vane” under the effect of money — the ones fooled can only be consumers. Therefore, this kind of “like” should become a rat crossing the street, with everyone shouting to beat it.
What is linked to the “like” is the “scold.”
No one would beg others for a negative review. If the service or the goods are truly bad, giving a “negative review” is 天经地义 (tiān jīng dì yì - “heaven’s constancy and earth’s rightness,” perfectly natural and proper), and it is the consumer’s right. But there is another situation. When a delivery rider crosses streets and alleys, panting and drenched in sweat, to deliver the fast food to the entrance downstairs, and the customer who should come down does not come down, who should answer the phone does not answer the phone — and in the end it is a few minutes late, and they turn around and give the rider a negative review — the rider is 欲哭无泪 (yù kū wú lèi - “wants to cry but has no tears,” so aggrieved that no tears come).
I do not know the platform’s assessment mechanism — perhaps one negative review, or one malicious review, brings no small impact on the rider. There have also been news reports of people who buy clothes, and after the promotional event is finished, return clothes that have already been worn. If the merchant does not accept the return, they give a negative review, a malicious review, and even mobilize more people to post follow-up comments. The merchant likewise wants to cry but has no tears.
There is yet another phenomenon similar to “soliciting praise”: “soliciting honors.” If “soliciting praise” is forced out by commercial logic, then “soliciting honors” is more like an undercurrent in the human heart. I remember that many years ago, a certain place was selecting model workers; when the list was published, most of those who received the honor were leading cadres, which stirred no small discussion in society. Today, we are glad to see: among model workers, it is frontline workers who predominate; among outstanding Communist Party members, it is grassroots Party members who predominate; among outstanding teachers, it is those who stand at the podium who predominate — this is truly tangible progress.
Leading cadres remaining behind the veil of honor — I consider this also a manifestation of a correct view of political achievements.
How can solicited praise and solicited honor stand shoulder to shoulder with the modest bamboo that does not speak yet wins admiration, and the proud-spirited plum that does not contend yet wins acclaim?
Every person has a steelyard scale in their heart. Whom the heart gives a like to — that is the true like. That like is the front sight; it is accurate, upright, and steady.
Return to TopBy: 陈新森
Ever since I can remember, bamboo has burst into my field of vision. When I was young, my father often took me to plant bamboo. On slopes and ridges, in corners and nooks—wherever was not suitable for growing crops, my father would plant a bamboo or two. Bamboo in the mountains takes root with a bit of soil, grows with a bit of rain and dew. The next year it puts out shoots; in three years it forms a grove; in four years it becomes timber. Bamboo shoots can be eaten; bamboo timber can be made into all kinds of implements; bamboo groves shelter from wind and rain and offer coolness. One planting, benefits year after year, sustainable use forever. In the eyes of the elders and fellow villagers, the bamboo grove is a treasure house that is 取之不尽、用之不竭 (qǔ zhī bú jìn, yòng zhī bù jié - "take from it without exhausting it, use it without depleting it," inexhaustible and ever-abundant).
This time, knowing we were coming home, Father went into the mountains early in the morning and dug up a few rhizome shoots. Mother shelled them, washed them clean, and sliced them. Selecting a few pieces of cured pork bone, cutting some firm tofu, and pairing them with fresh bamboo shoot slices, simmered in an earthenware pot over the stove fire—that is the authentic flavor of home. Where there is bamboo, shoots are sure to grow; tender fresh shoots are a delicacy on the tables of mountain households.
Mother is a master at cooking bamboo shoot dishes; simple ingredients can be transformed into endless delicacies. Oil-braised bamboo shoots, dried bamboo shoot braised pork, dried bamboo shoot stewed old duck, shredded bamboo shoots with pickled mustard greens, cold dressed bamboo shoot tips—these dishes we ate from childhood to adulthood and never tired of. Mother said that during the hard times they relied entirely on the bamboo shoots from the mountains—digging shoots, shelling shoots, pickling shoots, drying shoots, eating shoots. It was because of bamboo shoots that they managed to get through those difficult days. During the years I left home to study, from middle school through high school, soy-marinated bamboo shoots and bamboo shoots with pickled vegetables accompanied me as I grew up.
In those days, for fresh shoots that could not be finished, Mother would put them in a big pot to steam and boil, blanch them, then dry them in the sun and roast them over charcoal fire, making bamboo shoot husk and dried bamboo shoots. They could be eaten ordinarily, and when money was tight, they were taken to the market to exchange for some cash to supplement the household expenses. I remember the year I was admitted to university; Mother, who had always been 省吃俭用 (shěng chī jiǎn yòng - "save on food and economize on spending," to be frugal and thrifty), used the money from selling dried bamboo shoots to buy me a leather suitcase for my luggage. This was truly a bit "extravagant." Mother said to me: "Since you got into university, no matter how many shoots your mother digs or how much dried shoot she sells, no matter how hard or tiring, I'll be happy. Let us be dignified for once."
At naptime, Mother had already washed the bamboo mat, dried it, and laid it out. After years of repeated wear and handling, the bamboo had taken on a warm, gentle light yellow; the mat's surface was glossy and soft. Lying on it, a coolness gradually arose, and the whole body felt comfortable. An old bamboo reclining chair was placed in the corridor of the courtyard. Father, holding a cattail-leaf fan, slowly lay down. The wind carried over the sound of neighbors chatting, which was gradually covered by his soft snoring. Father had used this reclining chair for decades. The moment one gets close to it, there is the familiar scent of grass and wood. Lying on it, one's heart feels at ease and secure.
Bamboo utensils can be seen everywhere in the countryside. The baskets for storing grain are woven from bamboo; the handbaskets for rinsing rice and washing vegetables are woven from bamboo; the chairs, sieves, and chopsticks used every day are all made of bamboo. Now living conditions have improved, and all kinds of plastic products and metal utensils are everywhere in the market, yet my parents still favor bamboo utensils. Whenever a bamboo craftsman came to the village, my parents would order a few pieces. One year they even had fine small handbaskets woven for their children working away from home. The bamboo strips were fine and supple, the workmanship exquisite. The one given to me, I could never bear to use. Once a friend came to visit me, saw this handbasket, and 爱不释手 (ài bù shì shǒu - "love it so much one cannot bear to let it go from one's hand," to be so fond of something one cannot put it down), so I gave it to him. An ordinary object in the countryside, in the eyes of city people, is a different kind of art.
To dwell with bamboo is to have blessings. The bamboo sea of my hometown has attracted visitors from 四面八方 (sì miàn bā fāng - "four sides, eight directions," from all around). They come to the mountains to walk the ancient paths through the bamboo groves, taste bamboo-grove chicken and bamboo-tube rice, stay in farmhouse courtyards where bamboo shadows sway, and enjoy the coolness and comfort that the bamboo mountains bring.
"Come on, I'll take you for a stroll in the bamboo mountains." The sun was slanting west, a gentle breeze was coming, and Father's suggestion suited me perfectly. The car wound along the bamboo mountain road, as if drifting on a green sea. Getting out of the car, the green bamboos stretched continuously, blocking out the sky's light. The mountain wind swept past with a rustling sound, making one feel as if the lungs of the earth were breathing deeply. Suddenly, the hum of a drone came from above. Looking up, I saw bundles of moso bamboo being steadily lifted out of the deep mountains. In the past, with the mountains high and the roads far, relying solely on carrying with shoulders and backs, a strong laborer could carry out at most a few hundred jin of bamboo timber a day. Large quantities of high-quality bamboo timber lay idle in the mountains, hard to convert into real income. Now, it takes only a few minutes to transport the bamboo timber out of the mountains.
Uncle Kang, a neighbor who was loading bamboo timber, told us: "Not long ago, the boss of a bamboo products factory in the county town took a liking to the bamboo here for its large outer diameter, thick flesh, long nodes, and strong toughness. These bamboos are being transported for their factory." Uncle Kang said that both the cutting and the transporting were his responsibility. Father had been worrying that as he was getting on in years, he could no longer cut or carry the moso bamboo on the mountain. The worry weighing on his heart was now dispelled.
The wind passes by the ears; the bamboo whispers softly—this is the sound of nature uttered by the earth. The households deep in the bamboo mountains carry the sediment of years past, and also look forward to tomorrow's new life.
Return to TopChinese painting Autumn Light (《秋光》), by Guo Weiqu (郭味蕖), in the collection of the Beijing Painting Academy (北京画院).
Return to TopBy: 李光彪
Every year on the twenty-fourth day of the sixth lunar month, the Yi Torch Festival, watching the fire sacrifice ceremony and dancing the left-foot dance in my hometown lets me get my fill of the Torch Festival.
Fire is the magnetic field of life. When a child 呱呱坠地 (gū gū zhuì dì - "with a cry, falls to earth," to be born), what welcomes the little life is a fire basin full of warm chestnut-charcoal fire. The midwife carefully holds the newborn and repeatedly passes it over the fire above the basin, praying for the child to grow up safe and sound. That is how I came into this world.
The torch is an auspicious object in our hearts. When I grew to the height of an adult's waist, I was often invited by families taking in a new bride to hold the torch. On the wedding day, another boy and I, holding burning torches, accompanied by the sound of suona horns and firecrackers, welcomed the new bride through the door. For holding the torch, besides a small red envelope given by the host family, I would also get a few extra fruit candies to eat — that is the most unforgettable bit of sweetness in the depths of my memory.
不知不觉 (bù zhī bù jué - "not know, not perceive," before one realizes it), I reached the age of 男大当婚 (nán dà dāng hūn - "a man grown should marry," the age when a man should take a wife). We went up the mountain to date girls, dancing the left-foot dance to "join the fun," and equally indispensable was the torch lighting the way. There is a left-foot tune that goes like this: "Cousin-brother, light the pine torch and come; cousin-sister, put on the sheepskin collar jacket and come; on the dancing ground I wait for you, let us meet; the mountains are high and the waters are cold, you must wear the sheepskin collar jacket; the sky is dark and the road is slippery, with the torch lighting the way you must come..." Torches are lit, bonfires blaze, strings twang and pluck, hand in hand we dance, and the melody of courtship dances up.
In my hometown, making torches is a craft that measures a man's ability. Look at whether a torch is well made, and you know how many catties and taels a man's ability weighs.
On Torch Festival day, the whole village gathers together. The sun sinks in the west. After supper, when dusk falls, everyone lights torches and roams through the fields and ridges, shouting loudly, banging and clanging, waving torches, to protect and bless the five grains with 风调雨顺 (fēng tiáo yǔ shùn - "wind harmonious, rain timely," favorable weather for the crops). Returning from the field patrol, men and women, old and young, gather on the threshing ground to dance the left-foot dance. In a moment, a pile of bonfire ignites the mountain village's songs of joy.
Nowadays, celebrating the Torch Festival in Chuxiong, what first ignites the lively ceremony is group after group of men and women dressed in clothes as bright as flowers. They carry sanxian and erhu with them. Forming circles, they are 花团锦簇 (huā tuán jǐn cù - "flowers massed, brocade clustered," colorful and splendid); scattering apart, they are 花开并蒂 (huā kāi bìng dì - "flowers blooming on twin stems," two blossoms from one stem); lining up in rows, whether viewed horizontally or vertically, they are bundles of burning torches, rows of gorgeous flower walls. The men pluck strings, the women sing, warming up and raising the temperature for the fire sacrifice ceremony.
Night slowly falls, and the fire sacrifice ceremony raises its curtain. Above our heads, drones transform into ten thousand hectares of starlight, twinkling and drifting, presenting scene after scene that traverses ancient and modern times. The fire sacrifice ritual follows the ancient method: using the art of drilling wood to obtain the fire seed, lighting the torches in hand one by one, and together praying for 五谷丰登 (wǔ gǔ fēng dēng - "five grains ripen abundantly," a bountiful harvest of all crops), 六畜兴旺 (liù chù xīng wàng - "six livestock thrive," flourishing livestock), happiness and well-being. Then, holding torches, they ascend the high altar step by step, and with earth-shaking work chants, light the main torch. In an instant, in the several large fire basins evenly distributed across the square, torches as tall as small hills blaze up. People long accustomed to city life, you with a handful, I with a handful, light up the passion they have stored for a whole year. Fire dragons, fire seas, reddening face after face of smiling faces. The laughter of fire, the song and dance of fire, the passion of fire — like everyone else, I seem intoxicated in a 天上人间 (tiān shàng rén jiān - "heaven above, human world below," heaven on earth) woven by torches, unwilling to leave for a long, long time.
I look at my phone — it is already past 11 p.m., yet the jostling crowds outside the venue, still holding torches, keep streaming in. They, like me, all want to bask in the glory of the Torch Festival.
Return to TopBy: 李晓明
The narrow lanes of Da'ao Fishing Village (大澳渔村) in Yangjiang, Guangdong, wake up. As I walk along the lane all the way to the sea, the salty smell grows heavier. In Uncle Quan's (权叔) workshop, more than twenty earthen jars are arrayed. The mouths of the jars are all covered with coarse cloth; when the sea breeze blows past, the cloth surface sinks in and swells out. Uncle Quan brushes the floating dust from the rims of the jars with a bamboo whisk, then casually opens one. The sauce color inside the jar is deep and glossy; the intense fishy smell of the sea has dispersed completely, leaving only a long, lingering flavor.
Uncle Quan picks up a little of the just-formed sauce paste on a bamboo skewer and hands it over. As my nose draws near, the mellow, salty-fresh aroma brewed through days of sun and nights of dew comes rushing at my face. Fishing families making shrimp paste have no secret recipe; they only need to arrange things by time: at night, put out to sea and bring up the silver shrimp to “bask in the moonlight”; return in the early morning; sort them, add salt, and pack them into jars; in the days that follow, when the sun rises, lift the jar covers and expose them to the sun; when the sun sets and dusk falls, seal them up; stir them at set times. It cannot be hurried. Uncle Quan taps the jar wall with his fingers and says, “This is what the sea gives.” The sound of the stirring in this jar is precisely the fine, broken sound of the tide.
The bell sound of Flying Dragon Temple (飞龙寺) fades away, and the thin mist over the sea begins to disperse. The bell sound washes away the sea mist completely and also washes the lungs and viscera clean. The moment the bell sound stops, my stomach feels empty — not from hunger, but because that salty-umami taste has roused the craving worm. Following the aroma that squeezes out through the window crack, my feet naturally carry me into a food stall. The proprietress works with practiced skill: the knife blade leans against the skin of the meat and pushes gently, and the slice of meat becomes very thin. The moment the shrimp paste is spread on, the white meat at once takes on a warm, tender blush. After it is steamed in the basket until done, the fisherman at the next table tells me not to be in a hurry to eat: first cover the meat slices with hot rice; after ten seconds of covered steaming, the shrimp paste melts, and the fresh aroma burrows into the heart of the rice.
On the old street of the fishing village, in front of every door, glass jars of shrimp paste are set out, in colors of different depths: the light ones golden as honey, the dark ones purplish red like aged wine. The shopkeeper does not hawk his wares; he only twists the lid open half a turn. An auntie from Guangzhou dips a little paste and brings it close to the tip of her nose, and suddenly the rims of her eyes redden: “The taste is exactly the same as what my grandmother made.” She buys a whole case, saying she wants to take it to her old mother.
In the twilight, an old fisherman holding a tobacco pipe sits by the sea: “When I was young and went to sea, there was only rice and shrimp paste on the boat.” A spoonful of shrimp paste mixed into the rice made one meal; a voyage of several months was propped up entirely by this bit of saltiness. Now, the village’s young people go out to work, and their suitcases always carry a few jars of shrimp paste. In a kitchen in a foreign land, scoop out a spoonful, and that small room is at once filled with the fire-and-smoke warmth of one’s hometown.
When I leave, I go once more to Uncle Quan’s workshop. There, he is pasting red paper onto new earthen jars and neatly writing the jar-sealing date with a writing brush. How far, at the most, can shrimp paste go? Uncle Quan straightens up, rubs his waist, and the wrinkles at the corners of his eyes deepen along with the movement. “A while ago, an oceangoing freighter placed another order for a batch of goods, to be sent to the South Pacific.” A little shrimp cannot swim out of the inshore waters in its whole life, but shrimp paste can travel farther in their stead.
When I leave the drying ground, a little purplish red is still wedged in the crevices of my fingernails. Take it as a birthmark of Da’ao and carry it with you. I stop in my tracks and face the sea. All the wind-blowing and sun-scorching, all the 潮起潮落 (cháo qǐ cháo luò - “tides rise, tides fall,” the ebb and flow of events), that the fishing port experienced in those years, turned into that hint of salty umami on the tip of the tongue.
In a corner of the suitcase, there is also a jar of shrimp paste still unopened. At the instant the lid is twisted open in a foreign land, the sound of the tide unexpectedly surges up in the kitchen. When that salty fragrance falls into the rice, a flower overflowing with salty fragrance blossoms on the white grains of rice.
Return to TopBy: 郑小琼
In this industrial district, for every machine there are
that many migrant workers gazing toward their hometown, that many faces lit by lamplight.
At midnight, I look through the window outside —
that thin little moon is somewhat drowsy.
At another window, someone also glanced outside.
We exchanged a brief look at each other.
Then we returned to our machines and pressed the green switch.
The moon also returned to its own orbit.
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