Summary: Xi Jinping, General Secretary of the CPC Central Committee, President of the State, and Chairman of the Central Military Commission, wrote a reply letter to all members of the "Zhangzhou 110" unit of Fujian Province, warmly encouraging them and conveying earnest expectations. In the reply letter, Xi Jinping said that "Zhangzhou 110" is a shining calling card of the public security system and has left a deep impression on him, and that he felt gratified by their diligent service and widespread praise. He stated that the people's public security bears a heavy responsibility in guarding the people's happiness and protecting the peace of the family and the nation, and hoped that public security officers and police would hold fast to the original aspiration of serving the people, carry forward fine traditions, and become loyal guardians of the Party and the people. The article notes that Xi Jinping visited the unit three times during his work in Fujian Province, and that the unit recently wrote to him reporting their service and determination to perform their duties with utmost dedication on the new journey.
Summary: The article is Xi Jinping's speech on strengthening basic research, published in Qiushi magazine. It emphasizes that basic research is the source of the scientific system and a key criterion for national scientific and technological strength, calling for greater efforts to elevate China's basic research despite acknowledged gaps with global powers. The speech outlines optimizing the layout of basic research, expanding the talent pool, strengthening support and guarantees, and expanding international cooperation in basic research. It stresses the need for long-term investment, institutional reform, and a purified research ecosystem. The article concludes by urging Party committees and governments at all levels to implement the Party Central Committee's decisions.
Summary: Vice President Han Zheng attended and addressed the welcome banquet of the 13th Beijing Xiangshan Forum on September 15, stating that President Xi Jinping's vision of building a community with a shared future for mankind and four major global initiatives point the way for solving humanity's common problems. Han Zheng put forward four suggestions: upholding UN Charter purposes and principles, upholding true multilateralism, resolving differences through dialogue, and upholding a people-centered approach with technology for good. He emphasized that China has always been a force for peace, justice, and progress, contributing to world stability through Chinese modernization. Han Zheng noted the forum's 20-year history and its role in consolidating security consensus, with this year's theme being "Consolidating Consensus for Common Security and Governance." Vice Chairman of the Central Military Commission Zhang Shengmin and Minister of National Defense Dong Jun attended, along with representatives from nearly 100 countries, regions, and international organizations.
Summary: General Secretary Xi Jinping emphasized maintaining a reasonable proportion of manufacturing and vigorously developing advanced manufacturing, which serves as the backbone of the modern industrial system. The article highlights examples of advanced manufacturing, including a "one rocket, ten satellites" launch, a five-axis machining center, and a dual-fuel car carrier, illustrating innovation leadership, intelligent transformation, green upgrading, and integrated development. It details policies and achievements in scientific and technological innovation, such as mass-produced OLED glass substrates and a national venture capital guidance fund, alongside progress in building smart factories and green industrial parks. The piece also discusses coordinated advancement of traditional, emerging, and future industries, citing renewal actions for traditional sectors and plans for intelligent connected new energy vehicles, with officials like Xin Guobin and Yao Jun outlining 15th Five-Year Plan priorities.
Summary: The commentary highlights General Secretary Xi Jinping's recent letter to the "Zhangzhou 110" in Fujian, encouraging public security officers to serve the people diligently and be loyal guardians of the Party and the people. It reflects on the historical significance of the 110 emergency number, which has become a trusted symbol of public safety in China. The article notes technological advancements, such as robot patrols and anti-fraud models, alongside coordinated efforts with local agencies to enhance security. It emphasizes that China has one of the lowest crime rates globally, attributing this to the consistent dedication of police forces. The piece concludes by affirming that continued efforts will further strengthen the sense of security and peace in the nation.
Summary: The article reports on the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee meeting on July 30 and the Central Leading Group for Party Building Work meeting on August 24, both emphasizing the need to consolidate and expand the achievements of study and education on establishing and practicing a correct view of political achievements. General Secretary Xi Jinping made an important instruction, urging Party organizations and members to act for the public good, benefit the people, make scientific decisions, and do solid work to create achievements that withstand the test of practice, the people, and history. The piece highlights the experience of this study and education—taking theoretical armedment as the foundation, problem-solving as the priority, and the creation of solid achievements as the essential—as key to advancing Chinese modernization through high-quality development. It cites examples such as Zhejiang's common prosperity demonstration zone, Xiong'an New Area, and Nanjing's advanced manufacturing clusters, alongside problem-solving efforts like school food safety rectification and the opening of the Pinglu Canal. The article concludes that establishing a correct view of political achievements is a long-term Party building task, requiring cadres to implement Xi Jinping Thought and promote high-quality development with solid work.
Summary: Li Shulei, member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and head of the Publicity Department of the CPC Central Committee, attended and delivered a speech at the symposium on the theory and practice of the Fujian-Ningxia Cooperation and East-West Cooperation, held in Yinchuan, Ningxia. Participating representatives held that General Secretary Xi Jinping personally deployed and advanced the Fujian-Ningxia Cooperation, creating a successful model of East-West cooperation, and that since the 18th CPC National Congress, the Party Central Committee has led the new era's East-West cooperation to historic accomplishments. They stated the need to study General Secretary Xi Jinping's important expositions, adhere to the people-centered development philosophy, strengthen regional coordination, safeguard livelihoods, develop cultural undertakings, and tell well the vivid stories of East-West cooperation. The symposium was jointly hosted by the Publicity Department of the CPC Central Committee, the Central Rural Work Leading Group Office, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, and the CPC committees of Ningxia and Fujian, with responsible comrades from central departments, local governments, experts, and grassroots representatives attending.
Summary: Zhang Guoqing, member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Vice Premier of the State Council, attended and addressed the opening ceremony of the Fifth BeiDou Scale-Application International Summit in Zhuzhou, Hunan. He stated that President Xi Jinping has profoundly pointed out that the BeiDou system benefits the Chinese people and also benefits people of all countries around the world, and that China is willing to work together with all parties to implement the four major global initiatives, adhere to openness and integration, coordinated cooperation, complementarity through compatibility, and sharing of achievements and benefits. Before the opening ceremony, Zhang Guoqing met with Prime Minister Christian Ntsay of Madagascar, who attended the summit, and stated that China is willing to deepen the comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership between China and Madagascar, with Ntsay reaffirming the one-China principle. Approximately 900 people attended the opening ceremony, themed "With the World · Shared BeiDou — Empowering the Globe."
Summary: At a September 15 State Council Information Office press conference, National Bureau of Statistics spokesperson Fu Linghui reported that China's economy in August remained stable overall, moving toward innovation and improvement, characterized by "three stabilities and two rapid growths": stable production, employment, and prices, alongside rapid growth in emerging industries and imports and exports. Wang Guanhua, also a NBS spokesperson, addressed the 7.2 percent year-on-year decline in fixed asset investment over the first eight months, attributing it to extreme weather and a cautious investment climate, while emphasizing that investment is shifting toward innovation, advanced manufacturing, and modern infrastructure. Fu Linghui also analyzed the real estate sector, noting that total transaction volumes have stabilized, price declines have narrowed, and inventory of unsold new homes has declined for six consecutive months, with policies supporting local conditions and a new development model. The article does not mention the United States or U.S.-China relations.
Summary: The article asserts that China's economy remained generally stable in August despite international geopolitical conflicts, with continued expansion in output, consumption, and foreign trade. It acknowledges aggregate and structural pressures but characterizes these as temporary and transitional, while highlighting positive shifts such as the move from factor-driven to innovation-driven growth. The piece emphasizes ongoing upgrades in demand, industrial, and urban-rural structures as conducive to new development advantages. It concludes that the "stability" keynote is unchanged, with regions and departments accelerating policy implementation to boost endogenous driving forces and high-quality development certainty.
Summary: State Councilor Shen Yiqin surveyed youth employment, including that of college graduates, in Xiong'an New Area, Hebei, on September 15th, emphasizing the need to improve the public employment service system and support the high-quality development of the new area. She visited the Xiong'an Planning Exhibition Center, the Human Resources Service Industry Park, China Huaneng, and the start-up area's construction site, among others, to conduct on-the-spot surveys of grassroots public employment services and employment absorption by projects under construction. Shen Yiqin pointed out that planning and constructing Xiong'an New Area is a major decision and deployment made by the Party Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinpingat its core, and is a long-term plan for a millennium and a major national affair, offering broad development opportunities. She emphasized that human resources and social security departments should vigorously support the new area's high-quality construction, deeply implement the action to stabilize employment, expand capacity, and improve quality, support industries and enterprises with strong employment absorption capacity, and support college graduates and other young people in going to Xiong'an for employment and entrepreneurship. She also stressed improving a precise and efficient public employment service system, introducing high-quality human resources service institutions, leveraging key enterprises to absorb more college graduates, supporting key projects in absorbing migrant workers, adapting to the industrial layout for vocational skills training, and promoting high-quality and full employment.
Summary: The article recounts how Tianxin Village in Lianzhou, Guangdong, preserves the memory of Red Army soldiers who died during the Long March, including the 34th Division's rearguard action in December 1934 and the burial of six fallen soldiers on Qianniu Ridge. Villagers, led by Li Liuwang, repaired the unnamed martyrs' tomb in 2017 and established an annual "Red Army Festival" on the ninth day of the fifth lunar month to honor the dead. The story highlights local contributions, such as Li Qicai guiding Red Army scouts and relaying messages, with his grandson Li Zhibiao recalling the phrase "No one is as good as the Red Army." Pan Meiyan, the village Party secretary, notes the village's inclusion in the Long March National Cultural Park and the construction of red tourism sites, ensuring the spirit of the Long March is passed down through generations.
Summary: China's largest self-developed shield tunneling machine, "China Railway No. 1662," rolled off the production line in Zhengzhou, Henan Province, on September 15, with a diameter of 16.68 meters. It will be used for the tunnel construction of the G4001 connecting line passing beneath Dongpu Reservoir in Hefei, Anhui Province. The shield tunneling section is approximately 2.9 kilometers long, adopting a double-tube, double-deck structural design, with steep slopes and sharp curves placing high demands on tunneling control precision and attitude adjustment. The machine is 125 meters long, weighs about 4,800 tons, and is equipped with hydraulic floating support devices, a high-precision guidance system, and a segment selection system to ensure agile turning.
Summary: Vice President Han Zheng attended and addressed the welcome banquet of the 13th Beijing Xiangshan Forum on September 15, stating that President Xi Jinping's vision of building a community with a shared future for mankind and four major global initiatives point the way for solving humanity's common problems. Han Zheng put forward four suggestions: upholding UN Charter purposes and principles, upholding true multilateralism, resolving differences through dialogue, and upholding a people-centered approach with technology for good. He emphasized that China has always been a force for peace, justice, and progress, contributing to world stability through Chinese modernization. Han Zheng noted the forum's 20-year history and its role in consolidating security consensus, with this year's theme being "Consolidating Consensus for Common Security and Governance." Vice Chairman of the Central Military Commission Zhang Shengmin and Minister of National Defense Dong Jun attended, along with representatives from nearly 100 countries, regions, and international organizations.
Summary: President Xi Jinping attended the 18th BRICS Summit in India from September 12 to 13, where he joined other BRICS leaders in discussing development plans and held in-depth talks with Indian Prime Minister Modi, setting the direction for China-India relations. He delivered speeches proposing that BRICS countries play the role of "four pioneers" and putting forward five initiatives for deepening BRICS cooperation, including on open-source and inclusive artificial intelligence, trade and investment facilitation, digital industry cooperation, intelligent manufacturing cooperation, and talent cultivation through science and technology. International media reported that these initiatives will enhance the effectiveness of the BRICS cooperation mechanism, expand its influence among Global South countries, and are of great significance for promoting the unity and self-strengthening of the Global South. During the summit, Xi also put forward four propositions for strengthening the force of the Global South, including upholding international rule of law, multilateralism, people-centered development, and joint security governance. The bilateral meeting with Modi drew wide attention, with media noting that China-India cooperation is important for deepening Global South cooperation and promoting world multipolarity.
Summary: In an essay marking five years since the establishment of the China-ASEAN Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, China's Ambassador to ASEAN highlights the relationship's "abundant and fruitful achievements," including bilateral trade surpassing $1 trillion in 2025 and cumulative two-way investment exceeding $515 billion. The ambassador emphasizes strengthened strategic mutual trust, with China supporting ASEAN centrality, and cites major projects like the China-Laos Railway and Jakarta-Bandung High-Speed Railway as successes. He notes cooperation in combating transnational crime and joint pandemic response, including over 600 million vaccine doses provided by China, as well as disaster relief to Myanmar and typhoon-hit ASEAN states. The essay calls for advancing the "Five Common Homes" and building a closer community with a shared future, positioning China-ASEAN cooperation as an engine of Asian development and a model for the Global South.
Summary: Wang Yi met with ASEAN Secretary-General Kao Kim Hourn in Beijing, stating that China regards ASEAN as a priority direction for its neighborhood diplomacy and will support ASEAN unity, community building, and its central position in the regional architecture. He expressed willingness to promote a closer China-ASEAN community with a shared future, properly implement the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea, and advance the consultation process on the Code of Conduct in the South China Sea. Kao Kim Hourn said that China is a partner that ASEAN trusts and relies on, and ASEAN is willing to deepen practical cooperation with China and jointly safeguard peace and stability in the South China Sea.
Summary: The 16th China-Mongolia Press Forum, co-hosted by the All-China Journalists Association and the Mongolian Journalists Association, was held in Hohhot with over 120 attendees. Cui Shixin, Secretary of the Party Leadership Group of the All-China Journalists Association, said the forum has become a distinctive brand helping the China-Mongolia comprehensive strategic partnership achieve long-term success and promote connection between the two peoples. Mongolian media representatives, including Nyingjiamucuo, President of the Mongolian Journalists Association, praised the forum for advancing bilateral media cooperation and mutual understanding. During the forum, cooperation agreements were signed, and the 2026 "China-Mongolia Friendship News Works" exhibition was held. The Mongolian press delegation later visited Inner Mongolia and Sichuan, where they observed Chinese media's use of artificial intelligence and experienced China's high-quality development driven by technological innovation.
Summary: Shi Taifeng, member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and head of the Organization Department of the CPC Central Committee, met in Beijing on the 15th with Chan Chun Sing, Singapore's Minister for the Public Service and Minister for Defence. Shi Taifeng stated that China is willing to work with Singapore to earnestly implement the important consensus of the leaders of the the two countries, strengthen strategic communication, deepen practical cooperation, and promote greater development of the all-round, high-quality, forward-looking partnership between China and Singapore. Shi Taifeng briefed on the situation of the CPC's in-depth study and implementation of Xi Jinping's thought on party building and the conduct of study and education on establishing and practicing a correct view of political achievements. Chan Chun Sing stated that Singapore is willing to strengthen exchanging ideas and learning from each other with China, deepen cooperation in areas such as talent training, and better benefit the people of both countries.
Summary: Peng Qinghua, Vice Chairman of the NPC Standing Committee, attended a reception in Beijing on September 15 marking the 5th anniversary of the China-ASEAN Comprehensive Strategic Partnership and the 35th anniversary of China-ASEAN dialogue relations. The event was co-hosted by the Chinese People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries and the ASEAN Beijing Committee. Kao Kim Hourn, Secretary-General of ASEAN, and diplomatic envoys of ASEAN countries to China also attended.
Summary: Chinese Minister of National Defense Dong Jun held talks in Beijing on September tenth-fifth with defense officials from Myanmar, ASEAN, Brunei, Belarus, Azerbaijan, Kyrgyzstan, and Armenia, who were attending the thirteenth Beijing Xiangshan Forum. Dong Jun welcomed the guests, noting that over the forum's twenty years it has upheld equality, openness, inclusiveness, and mutual learning, and that amid an international situation of "changes and chaos are intertwined," the Chinese military is willing to join hands with all parties to practice a community with a shared future for mankind and the four major global initiatives. The visiting officials each reaffirmed willingness to strengthen bilateral military cooperation with China, with ASEAN's secretary-general congratulating the forum on its twentieth anniversary and reaffirming the One-China policy.
Summary: Zhang Qingwei, Vice Chairman of the NPC Standing Committee, attended the opening ceremony of the 2026 Shanghai Cooperation Organization Digital Economy Forum in Urumqi, Xinjiang, on September 15 and delivered a keynote speech. He stated that President Xi Jinping's important speech at the 2026 Bishkek Summit has pointed the direction for deepening SCO digital economy cooperation. Zhang urged all parties to uphold the Shanghai Spirit, implement consensus reached at the Council of Heads of State, deepen policy coordination, strengthen digital infrastructure connectivity, promote innovation for the people's benefit, and adhere to governing the country through good laws and effective governance to safeguard digital security order. The forum was co-hosted by the National Data Administration and the People's Government of the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, with approximately 500 attendees including Chinese and foreign government officials, enterprise leaders, and experts.
Summary: The article, authored under the pen name Zhong Sheng, criticizes a recent joint notice by U.S. security agencies accusing Chinese AI enterprises of "industrial-scale" distillation, calling the allegations baseless and a politicization of a normal technical practice that constitutes blatant double standards. It argues that distillation is a neutral, common industry method used globally, including by U.S. firms, and that Washington's actions aim to maintain technological hegemony and computing-power monopoly through state coercion. The piece asserts that containment has not hindered China's AI progress, which benefits from openness and cooperation, and cites a U.S. expert warning that building high walls will backfire. It calls on the U.S. to engage in constructive dialogue on AI, as agreed by the two heads of state, while warning that China will take resolute countermeasures if its legitimate rights are harmed.
Summary: Liu Haixing, Minister of the International Department of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China, met in Beijing with a delegation led by Abbas, Chairman of Egypt's Nation's Protectors Party and Chairman of the House of Representatives' Committee on Defense and National Security. The two sides exchanged views on implementing the important consensus of the two heads of state, strengthening inter-party exchanges and cooperation, and advancing the building of a China-Egypt community with a shared future.
Summary: Brazil's President's chief special adviser Amorim will visit China from September 16 to 17, according to a Foreign Ministry spokesperson's announcement on September 15. Wang Yi, member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and director of the Office of the Central Commission for Foreign Affairs, will meet with him.
Summary: Iranian Foreign Minister Araghchi will visit China on September 16, as announced by the Foreign Ministry Spokesperson on the 15th. Wang Yi, member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Minister of Foreign Affairs, will hold talks with him during the visit.
Summary: General Secretary Xi Jinping recently replied to a letter from all members of "Zhangzhou 110" in Fujian Province, encouraging them to resolve difficulties for the masses and be loyal guardians of the Party and the people. The article details how "Zhangzhou 110," a public security detachment in Zhangzhou, has innovated rapid-response mechanisms since 1990 and was honored as "the People's 110" by the State Council in 1997. It highlights their continuous pursuit of "one more second faster" in call reception and response, alongside efforts in women's patrol teams, family reunions, and technology-enabled policing. Officials such as Han Zhizhong, captain of the Patrol, Special Police, and Counter-Terrorism Detachment, and Hong Sen, captain of the Zhangzhou 110 Detachment, are quoted on reforms and expanded functions. The article concludes that "Zhangzhou 110" serves as a national model for the public security system, enhancing the people's sense of gain, happiness, and security.
Summary: The article, from the "People's Forum," argues that "carrying out the Party's decisions" is a Party member's duty, citing historical examples such as Zhu De during the Long March, Gu Wenchang's greening of an island, Lei Feng as a "cog," and Zhang Fuqing's lifelong conviction. It emphasizes that resolute implementation of Party decisions is organizational discipline and a measure of Party spirit cultivation. The piece stresses the need for swift, pragmatic, and unwavering execution of Party decisions to meet current missions, including coordinating development and security and developing new quality productive forces. It concludes that the quality and effectiveness of implementation by Party members and cadres are key to winning new victories on the new Long March.
Summary: Villagers of Qianshan Village, Jiekou Town, She County, Huangshan City, Anhui Province, are hurrying to harvest and dry peppers, corn, and other ripening crops. The photo, taken on September 14, shows them drying their autumn harvest crops. Zheng Hong is the photographer.
Summary: The article presents three grassroots work accounts, introduced with a quote from General Secretary Xi Jinping stressing that "every matter is addressed and every issue receives a response" so the people can see changes and reap benefits. Tang Qingrui of Sichuan warns against "going through the motions," urging substantive action on reported problems like leaking pipes or broken streetlights. Li Lin of Jiangsu emphasizes "looking ahead and looking back," addressing root causes and rechecking public satisfaction after tasks like stairwell cleanups or road resurfacing. He Yuxin of Shanghai describes adjusting a community canteen's menu to match elderly residents' tastes, advocating for a better "fit" between service supply and demand. The piece concludes that asking more questions and taking extra steps turns "I think it's good" into "everyone finds it agreeable."
Summary: The article is an on-site commentary on Fujian's chain-style industrial agglomeration, centered on Ningde Times as the "chain-leader great tree" driving a battery industry cluster with a "half-hour circle" procurement radius. It highlights examples like Ningde Changying, Bamp, and Jiayuan, where suppliers embed the leader's standards and form closed-loop recycling amid the mountains and seas. The piece also cites broader Fujian cases, including Xiamen's Shilan chips, Putian's chain chief system, and Fuzhou's Mindu Innovation Laboratory, to illustrate "multi-point blossoming." It emphasizes the government's "sense of proportion" in providing infrastructure without interfering, and notes "growing pains" such as high foreign-trade dependence of lithium, nickel, and cobalt. The commentary concludes that chain-leader radiation, collaborative innovation, and long-term determination are key to enhancing industrial chain resilience and security.
Summary: The People's Daily commentary argues that AI-generated "digital swill"—low-quality, false, or hollow content—is polluting cyberspace, eroding cognition, and social trust, and may structurally squeeze out original work. It warns that distorted content can become AI training corpus, as seen when a prose piece was mistakenly credited to writer Yu Hua and entered exam question banks, creating a self-reinforcing loop. To counter this, the article calls for "using AI to govern AI," building high-quality corpus databases, optimizing algorithm recommendations, and embedding value weights into algorithms to filter out bad content. It also urges human-machine collaboration, raising public information literacy, expanding "one-click identification" tools, and enforcing labeling rules for AI-generated synthetic content. The commentary concludes that embracing AI's possibilities must not come at the cost of truthfulness, requiring institutional, technological, and societal efforts to keep nutritious, high-value information the standard.
Summary: The article is a photo report on the autumn harvest of specialty fruits across multiple Chinese regions, including Jiangsu, Anhui, Hubei, and Gansu. It describes a busy scene of bountiful harvest, with fruit hanging heavily from branches in orchards. It reports that, relying on specialty planting, many regions have continuously extended the fruit industry chain and developed deep processing, making the fruit industry a wealth-generating industry that drives rural development and increases farmers' income. The piece concludes with a poetic couplet celebrating the harvest scenery and the industry's role in enriching the people, rising steadily and rapidly.
Summary: The article advocates for grassroots cadres to adopt the working method of "pacing a square step," which entails careful study, earnest thinking, and thorough problem analysis before acting. It emphasizes that this method helps cadres grasp the Party Central Committee's spirit, integrate higher-level policies with local conditions, and ensure measures are implemented effectively. "Pacing a square step" involves soliciting opinions from the masses, researching advanced regions, and seeking counsel from experts, serving as a process of recharging and careful planning. The piece calls for persistent rectification of formalism to reduce grassroots burdens, allowing cadres to "set out with a light burden" and take on real responsibilities. It concludes that through quiet study and a correct view of political achievements, cadres will deliver results for the people with a fuller state of mind.
Summary: The article observes that county towns and villages have become popular summer tourist destinations, with data showing a 20 percent year-on-year increase in tourists staying over three nights and doubled hotel bookings in small cities like Xingyi and Yanshan. It highlights examples such as Jiayu Town in Henan transforming quarry pits into an outdoor sports community and Anji in Zhejiang integrating village cafés with camping, arguing that county tourism meets demand for "slow down" spaces and emotional consumption. The piece calls for supply-side innovation, citing Jiange, Sichuan's hiking routes along the ancient Shu Road and Jianmen Pass's ticket rewards for reciting "The Difficulty of the Shu Road." It also notes shortcomings, including a China Tourism Academy report finding nearly 90 percent of respondents believe ancient towns are similar, and urges local adaptation, improved facilities, and refined business formats to turn "temporary popularity" into "lasting popularity." The article concludes that strengthening distinctive features and optimizing supply-demand adaptation can turn "passers-by" into "repeat customers" and support integrated urban-rural development and common prosperity.
Summary: The Nihewan Basin in Hebei Province is renowned for its Paleolithic sites, and the Xinmiaozhuang site, rediscovered in 2015 after decades of search, has yielded over 100,000 specimens spanning six phases from approximately 120,000 to 13,000 years ago. Wang Fagang, director of the Paleolithic Archaeology Research Department at the Hebei Provincial Institute of Cultural Relics and Archaeology, said the site's Mousterian-style stone tools mark the first such discovery in the heartland of China, suggesting Neanderthal populations may have reached or influenced the region. The site also contains the earliest microblade technology found in North China and East Asia, as well as the first Paleolithic stone heat-treatment feature discovered in East Asia. The joint archaeological team, including the Hebei Provincial Institute and Peking University, conducted excavations from 2022 to 2025, residing in the mountains about 250 days per year despite harsh conditions. The site provides key evidence for understanding modern human origins in East Asia and the Paleolithic-Neolithic transition.
Summary: The 2026 China Economic and Social Forum was held in Hangzhou on the 15th, with 85 Chinese and foreign guests exchanging views on "Improving the Global Governance System, Moving Toward a Community with a Shared Future for Mankind." Wang Dongfeng, Vice Chairman and Secretary-General of the CPPCC National Committee and Chairman of the China Economic and Social Council, attended and delivered a keynote speech. He stated that the Global Governance Initiative proposed by President Xi Jinping is another important international public good contributed by China, providing strategic support for promoting the building of a community with a shared future for mankind. He stressed the need to adhere to the global governance vision of extensive consultation, joint contribution, and shared benefits, practice genuine multilateralism, and contribute wisdom toward improving global governance. China is willing to work with all countries to strengthen solidarity and cooperation and jointly create a better future.
Summary: The 2026 Ethnic Unity and Progress Publicity Week will be held from September 21 to 27, marking the first such week since the official implementation of the Law of the People's Republic of China on the Promotion of Ethnic Unity and Progress. Themed "Promoting Ethnic Unity and Progress, Striving Forward on the Great Rejuvenation Journey," it will conduct nationwide publicity and education activities highlighting historic achievements, fostering a sense of community for the Chinese nation, and promoting the law. The main event, co-hosted by the United Front Work Department of the CPC Central Committee, the Central Social Work Department, the Ethnic Affairs Committee of the National People's Congress, the National Ethnic Affairs Commission, the Ministry of Justice, and the Beijing Municipal People's Government, will be held in Beijing on September 21, featuring a theme video, an initiative launch, and the unveiling of the first batch of activity brands under the Youth Exchange Program for All Ethnic Groups. Nationwide activities will include thematic exhibitions, model presentations, cultural performances, and interactive experiences. Departments and localities will also organize seminars, model presentations on the law, mass-oriented and youth publicity activities, and concentrated interview and publicity efforts.
Summary: The Guangxi Maritime Safety Administration officially announced on September 15 that the inland river section of the Pinglu Canal, from Pingtang River Estuary in Hengzhou, Nanning, to the Qinjiang Bridge on the G75 Lanzhou-Haikou Expressway, is tentatively designated as an "Inland River Class B Navigation Zone." This marks the comprehensive establishment of the navigation zone system for the first canal connecting inland rivers to the sea since the founding of New China. A relevant official stated that inland river vessel navigation zones are divided into Classes A, B, and C based on hydrological and meteorological conditions, with Class A imposing the highest requirements on vessel safety standards. The upstream Yujiang River section and the Pinglu Canal's inland river section are both Class B, while the downstream Qinzhou Bay river-sea transition zone has been designated as the nation's first "equivalent to Class A" navigation zone. Vessels rated Class B or above can navigate the canal's inland section, but must meet Class A technical conditions to proceed to sea, allowing eligible vessels to sail directly without mid-way transfer and greatly improving logistics efficiency.
Summary: General Secretary Xi Jinping emphasized maintaining a reasonable proportion of manufacturing and vigorously developing advanced manufacturing, which serves as the backbone of the modern industrial system. The article highlights examples of advanced manufacturing, including a "one rocket, ten satellites" launch, a five-axis machining center, and a dual-fuel car carrier, illustrating innovation leadership, intelligent transformation, green upgrading, and integrated development. It details policies and achievements in scientific and technological innovation, such as mass-produced OLED glass substrates and a national venture capital guidance fund, alongside progress in building smart factories and green industrial parks. The piece also discusses coordinated advancement of traditional, emerging, and future industries, citing renewal actions for traditional sectors and plans for intelligent connected new energy vehicles, with officials like Xin Guobin and Yao Jun outlining 15th Five-Year Plan priorities.
Summary: At the opening ceremony of the 2026 National Cybersecurity Awareness Week, the National Cybersecurity Standardization Technical Committee released the "Artificial Intelligence Security Governance Framework 3.0." The Framework was compiled under the guidance of the Cyberspace Administration of China, involving the Chinese Academy of Cyberspace Studies and other institutions, following prior versions released in 2024 and2025. It upholds concepts of people-centeredness and striving for goodness and progress, continuing the core logic of "risk classification, technical response, and comprehensive governance." The Framework aims to promote consensus on artificial intelligence security governance and enhance risk prevention and response capabilities, ensuring that artificial intelligence technology benefits humanity.
Summary: Three departments jointly issued the "Guiding Opinions on Optimizing the Allocation of Natural Resources and Promoting the Orderly and Standardized Development of the Tourism Industry," introducing incremental policies in areas such as optimizing spatial layout, improving use control, innovating land supply models, revitalizing inefficient land use, and enhancing service supervision. The "Opinions" propose strengthening spatial supply for the cultural and tourism industry, promoting the "same frequency, resonate together" of spatial resource allocation and industrial development, and incorporating tourism development spatial needs into territorial spatial planning during the 15th Five-Year Plan period. They also aim to improve use control of tourism land, encourage use of existing spatial stock, innovate the supply mechanism for natural resources, and promote integrated development of multiple business formats such as commerce, sports, culture, sports, and health.
Summary: Chinese discipline inspection agencies are intensifying oversight of rural collective "three assets" (funds, assets, and resources) to safeguard villagers' interests. Cases include a Qionghai village group head disciplined for depositing collective funds in a personal account and lending them out, prompting Hainan's digital platform for "machines managing the 'three assets'" with real-time warnings. In Guiyang's Yunyan District, a former village secretary was punished for low-price land transfers and fraud, leading to asset verification across all 19 villages and system reforms. In Gansu's Tongwei County, a village secretary received Party discipline for an illegal 50-year lease of collective shops, spurring a countywide cleanup of over 120 non-compliant contracts. These efforts aim to plug loopholes, standardize deliberation procedures, and extend anti-corruption work to the grassroots.
Summary: The article reports on post-flood recovery in Henan, focusing on Caiyuanliu Village in Luohe City, where the "Party building + grid" mechanism has organized verification teams to assess disaster losses and coordinate reconstruction. Grid worker Liu Peili and village Party branch secretary Liu Guohong are highlighted, with Liu Guohong credited for his detailed knowledge of residents that enabled the safe evacuation of 4,567 people from the Nihewa flood detention area. The piece also describes how big data systems, including meteorological satellites, hydrological stations, and BeiDou monitoring, supported flood prevention through early warnings delivered to grassroots grid workers. Across Henan, 58,600 flood prevention officials and over 870,000 grid workers were on duty during the flood season. The article concludes that post-disaster reconstruction is proceeding orderly, with Party flags flying on the embankment.
Summary: The 2026 Global Business and Rule of Law Conference, hosted by the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade, was held in Haikou, Hainan, on September 15. Under the theme "Digital Intelligence Empowers, Legal-Business Integration; Rule of Law Safeguards Institutional Opening-Up," the conference featured a main forum and two parallel forums. It released the "2026 Global Business and Rule of Law Conference Declaration," proposing five-point initiatives. These include upholding international rule of law, deepening international cooperation on industrial and supply chains, embracing the digital-intelligence transformation, and promoting a more just and equitable global governance system.
Summary: The Pinglu Canal, the backbone project of the New Western Land-Sea Corridor, officially opened to navigation on September 16, providing the southwest region with a new sea passage. The article recalls General Secretary Xi Jinping's December 2023 inspection of Guangxi, where he urged building the canal to high standards and improving river-rail-sea multimodal transport capacity. Over four years, more than 20,000 builders completed the 134.2-kilometer canal, overcoming challenges such as water scarcity and concrete volume to create world-leading infrastructure. The canal is described as opening a "river of benefit and happiness," a "major trade artery," a "new regional opportunity," and an "open expressway," shortening sea voyages by over 560 kilometers and reducing logistics costs by up to 30 percent. It also highlights closer ties with ASEAN, noting that China and ASEAN are each other's largest trading partners.
Summary: The article argues that persisting in advancing the normalization and long-term institutionalization of work style improvement is a key component of Xi Jinping's Party building thought, essential for maintaining the Party's image and its ties with the people. It emphasizes that work style problems are stubborn and recurrent, requiring persistent effort and institutional mechanisms to prevent the resurgence of unhealthy tendencies and corruption. The piece outlines the theoretical connotations of this approach, stressing the unity of normalization as a prerequisite and long-term institutionalization as the goal. It calls for leading this effort with Xi Jinping's Party building thought by tempering Party spirit, improving institutional systems to prevent the "invisible mutation" of the Four Malfeasances, and compacting the responsibility chain for joint governance of work style and corruption. The author is identified as a specially invited researcher of the Beijing Research Center for Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era.
Summary: The article argues that building an independent knowledge system for Chinese sociology is essential for promoting exchanges and mutual learning among civilizations, as it can manifest Chinese wisdom, break Western-centrism, and contribute Chinese solutions to global social construction. It reports that Chinese sociology has made positive progress through enhanced disciplinary self-awareness, refined signature concepts like "differential mode of association," and increased international academic exchange. The piece outlines future directions, including adhering to the Two Integrations, creating new concepts that connect China and the world, broadening the global academic horizon, and embracing digital intelligence technology to seize the high ground of knowledge production. The author is identified as a specially invited researcher at the Research Center for Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences.
Summary: The article argues that Xi Jinping's concept of "exchanges and mutual learning among civilizations" makes principled contributions across seven aspects, contrasting it with Western civilizational monism and superiority. It emphasizes a pluralistic view of civilization, equality among civilizations, and nonlinear development paths, rejecting Western discursive traps like unilinear evolutionism. The piece critiques Western "civilizational monologue" and advocates for dialogue that acknowledges the Other and promotes mutual learning. It concludes by framing these ideas as deepening theoretical research on Xi Jinping's Thought on Culture. The excerpt is from a *Jiefang Daily* article by Tang Aijun, dated August 4, 2026.
Summary: The 23rd China-ASEAN Expo and China-ASEAN Business and Investment Summit will open in Nanning on September 17 under the theme "Sharing 3.0 Opportunities, Creating a Better Life Together," marking the 5th anniversary of the China-ASEAN Comprehensive Strategic Partnership and the inaugural year of its 2026-2030 Action Plan. The event will highlight strategic mutual trust, economic and trade cooperation under the FTA 3.0 Version, AI-driven initiatives, and the mutual empowerment of the Expo with the newly completed Pinglu Canal. It will feature upgraded exhibition areas, the first "Export from China" Thailand special session, and a China-ASEAN AI Ministers' Roundtable, with the People's Bank of China joining the organizing committee for the first time. Guangxi will leverage the canal's opening to promote seaward economic development and deeper China-ASEAN connectivity. The article emphasizes implementing Xi Jinping's diplomatic concepts and the "five homes" initiative to build a closer China-ASEAN community with a shared future.
Summary: Timor-Leste will debut as a co-organizer at the 23rd China-ASEAN Expo after officially joining ASEAN in 2025, marking its first appearance as a full member state. Having first participated as an observer in 2023, Timor-Leste will achieve several "firsts" this year, including organizing domestic enterprises in the commodities area and holding its first investment and trade promotion event. The Minister of Trade and Industry will lead a delegation to the Expo, using the platform to promote Timor-Leste's features and business opportunities to China and ASEAN parties. The Expo Secretariat liaised with Timor-Leste to upgrade the co-organizing mechanism, with its first representative attending the Senior Officials' Meeting in April 2026. The article notes that Timor-Leste's accession will move China-ASEAN economic and trade cooperation toward a new stage of upgrading and development.
Summary: The 23rd China-ASEAN Business and Investment Summit will be held in Nanning, Guangxi from the 17th to the 18th, closely following the milestones of the 5th anniversary of the China-ASEAN Comprehensive Strategic Partnership and the advancement of the China-ASEAN Free Trade Area 3.0, with economy and trade as the main line, AI as the protagonist, enterprises as the main body, and applications as the distinctive feature. The summit will feature high-end government-business dialogue, AI-themed side events including the release of a case collection, economic and trade matchmaking, and rule-of-law protection innovations such as a tripartite cooperation model and a dispute resolution center. Since its founding 22 years ago, it has become the highest-level, largest-scale, and most influential platform between the business communities of China and ASEAN, forming the unique "Nanning Channel."
Summary: The 23rd China-ASEAN Expo will be held at the Nanning International Convention and Exhibition Center, as shown in an exterior photo of the main venue. The image was provided by the Secretariat of the China-ASEAN Expo.
Summary: The 23rd China-ASEAN Expo has innovatively launched a new exhibition model for chain-leading enterprises of using large enterprises to support smaller ones, adopting a brand-new exhibition form of leading enterprises taking the helm and chain clusters moving in tandem, to promote the upgrading of bilateral economic and trade cooperation from "selling individual products" to "building an ecosystem chain." Under this model, leading enterprises take the lead in forming groups, bringing together upstream and downstream enterprises along the industrial and supply chains for a joint appearance, breaking away from past limitations to showcase full-chain technological achievements and systematic solutions. The iterative innovation is rooted in the practical needs of upgrading cooperation between China and ASEAN, as the Protocol on Upgrading the China-ASEAN Free Trade Area 3.0 is about to be implemented, accelerating expansion into emerging fields such as the digital economy, green and low-carbon development, standards interoperability, and coordination of industrial and supply chains. This year's expo has attracted more than 3,400 enterprises, with key chain-leading enterprises such as China Datang and Sinomach leading the groups, which will powerfully promote the deep integration, coordination, and linkage of regional industrial chains.
Summary: The 23rd China-ASEAN Expo has, for the first time, set up an "AI Superstore" at the Nanning International Convention and Exhibition Center, positioning itself around AI software and hardware products to create a one-stop service or experience of "exhibition, purchase, and sales" for consumers. The store has brought in more than 70 enterprises including Xiaomi, covering eight major product categories with more than 500 products. It is equipped with multiple immersive, interactive AI devices, creating an AI experience space. Inside the store, there is an ASEAN cross-border livestreaming display area, where multilingual digital human product promotion is demonstrated on site. Equipment such as general practitioner workstations and handheld ultrasound devices can conduct physical examinations for visitors on site and produce reports immediately.
Summary: This year marks the fifth anniversary of the China-ASEAN Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, with the 23rd CAEXPO and Summit incorporated into commemorative activities and featuring three "new" highlights. The expo has expanded to three exhibition areas with over 3,400 enterprises, while Timor-Leste debuts as co-host, marking the first time all 11 ASEAN countries gather in Nanning. The AI section has been upgraded with a "dual-venue, differentiated" approach, featuring leading enterprises like Huawei and iFlytek, and the Summit will hold its first AI-themed side meetings. New forms include an ASEAN demand exhibition area, a chain-leader "large driving small" model, and an "AI+Trade Matching" system that has completed 8,000 pre-matching pairs. Visitors can experience an "AI Supermarket" with over 500 consumer AI products, and the newly completed Pinglu Canal is highlighted as a major "hard connectivity" breakthrough with dedicated exhibition and summit zones.
Summary: The 23rd China-ASEAN Expo has officially released its "Charming Cities" list, featuring cities and regions from China and nine ASEAN member states, with Indonesia and Malaysia presenting overall displays. Each city will showcase its culture and specialties, such as Changchun City highlighting rail transit, optoelectronic information, and ice-and-snow tourism, while Sekong Province focuses on clean energy projects. Since the exhibition area's establishment at the second expo, nearly 190 cities and regions have been showcased, reflecting the deepening cooperation between China and ASEAN.
Summary: The 37th Galaxy Awards were announced in Zigong, Sichuan, with events marking the 20th anniversary of *The Three-Body Problem*'s publication, guided by the Sichuan Provincial Association for Science and Technology and the Sichuan Writers' Association. The awards, born in 1985, have showcased writers like Wang Jinkang, Liu Cixin, He Xi, and Han Song, with this year's Best Novel Award left vacant and Hua Yanxin winning three awards as a post-90s dark horse. A Lai, vice chairman of the China Writers' Association, noted the relay between old and new confirms Chinese science fiction's profound foundation, while Shi Zhanjun observed younger writers seeking newer themes. The *2026 China Science Fiction Industry Report* shows 2025 total revenue of 126.1 billion yuan, with over 70 industry projects promoted at the Sichuan Science Fiction Industry Promotion Conference, covering publishing, film, and cultural tourism. Sichuan is focusing on "Science Fiction+" entering a thousand trades, with support policies like the "Science Fiction 13 Measures" and new digital studios, as He Xi noted enthusiasts now have a "science fiction home" for sustainable development.
Summary: The article argues that reading is a personal refuge and a right of the soul that must not be ceded, warning that AI-generated text and automated summaries undermine genuine understanding and emotional engagement. It identifies three consequences of AI: an overwhelming accumulation of readable material, readers skipping direct reading for condensed overviews, and the loss of unique judgment and imagination. The author stresses that true knowledge must be personally "investigated" through one's own organization and output, not merely possessed as a result. Re-emphasizing serious reading in the AI age is framed as re-asserting the importance of the soul and spirit, with the continuous stream of writing as humanity's unique cornerstone. The piece is authored by a Peking University philosophy professor and excerpted from People's Daily New Media's "Life Reading Room" column.
Summary: A rare rock carving of a "four-horse chariot" was discovered during a systematic re-survey of rock art in the Helan Mountains, marking the first such image found there and filling a regional gap. Zhang Xu, deputy section chief of the Cultural Relics Management Section of the Yinchuan Helan Mountain Rock Art Management Office, said the image, measuring 24 by 20 centimeters, was hidden among weeds and easily overlooked. The carving depicts a two-wheeled chariot pulled by four horses, reflecting that ancient ancestors possessed the ability to harness multiple livestock, indicating a relatively high level of agricultural and pastoral civilization. Zhang noted the rock art had already suffered damage from natural processes, prompting increased protection efforts with research institutions and universities. The management office will formally release results after the survey, conducting academic research on new discoveries like the "four-horse chariot" to further excavate the heritage value of Helan Mountain rock art.
Summary: The National Conference on the Construction of Revolutionary Cultural Relics Protection and Utilization Zones was held in Ganzhou, Jiangxi Province, hosted by the National Cultural Heritage Administration and organized by the Jiangxi Provincial Department of Culture and Tourism and the Ganzhou Municipal People's Government. The conference emphasized that building these zones well is key to advancing systematic protection of revolutionary cultural relics and supporting the revitalization of old revolutionary base areas. It called for coordinated efforts in overall planning, systematic and integrated protection of relics and their historical environments, enhanced social benefits through grassroots cultural services, and innovation in work and factor guarantees. Nationwide, zones have implemented over 3,000 protection and exhibition projects, with major dangers to relics basically eliminated. Plans for 37 zones have been formulated, featuring 1,300 themed memorial halls, over 2,000 exhibitions, and 500 million visitors to former sites and memorial venues.
Summary: The Sixth Baihua Literature and Art Week opened at Tianjin Normal University as part of the 2026 "Fragrant Tianjin · Reading Month," guided by the Publicity Department of the Tianjin Municipal Party Committee and hosted by Tianjin Publishing and Media Group. The event, themed "Jointly Promoting Reading for All, Jointly Building a Fragrant Tianjin," features literary creation, evaluation, achievement exhibitions, and interactive exchanges to foster a culturally rich urban atmosphere. Since 2021, the week has become a notable cultural brand in Tianjin, and this edition expands its scope by aggregating resources from literary institutions, universities, and cultural enterprises. It invites writers, scholars, readers, and editors as reading recommenders, hosting sharing sessions, book launches, and art exhibitions to provide high-quality literary offerings and promote reading for all.
Summary: Nanchuan District of Chongqing has deepened its "People's Voices Handled in One Go" grassroots livelihood service brand, built on the "The People Call, I Respond" government service platform, receiving 16,665 livelihood matters with a 100% completion rate and a 99.64% rapid response rate. The district has integrated online and offline channels, established a closed-loop work system of appeal collection, precise dispatch, rapid handling, supervision and return visits, and review and optimization, and explored a "three-services coordination" model with community police, lawyers, and cadres for on-the-spot resolution of issues. It has also built a system of regular research, tiered supervision, and escalated handling of major difficulties, promoting the resolution of more than 130 livelihood appeals at the grassroots level. Using big-data analysis and a "public opinion heat map," the district issued 15 risk warnings during the rainy season and, in response to street stall complaints, launched "tidal stall zones" providing over 5,000 stalls and creating more than 11,000 jobs, reducing such complaints by 85% year-on-year.
Summary: The article highlights China's desertification control achievements showcased at the COP17 meeting in Ulaanbaatar, where the "China Corner" drew global attention. Yasmin Fouad, Deputy Secretary-General of the United Nations, praised China's persistent governance as a model for global desertification control. It credits China's long-term planning, generational efforts, and technological innovations—such as water-retaining agents and drone seeding—for reversing land degradation and achieving zero net land degradation. The piece also emphasizes China's balance of ecological protection and economic development, citing the Kubuqi Desert's photovoltaic model and Mu Us Sandy Land's industries as proof that sand control and livelihood improvement can coexist. Finally, it notes China's global sharing of experience, including assisting Mauritania's "Great Green Wall of Africa" and cooperation with Central Asian countries.
Summary: Kazakhstan's Ministry of Trade and Integration has released a catalog of goods prohibited and restricted from sale on e-commerce platforms, refining regulatory rules as the country's e-commerce market grew from 476 billion tenge in 2020 to 3.9 trillion tenge in 2025, accounting for 15 percent of total retail sales. Minister of Trade and Integration Arman Shakkaliyev highlighted this explosive growth, supported by 92.9 percent internet penetration and 32.1 percent of the population purchasing online. The country is building logistics centers in Astana and Almaty, with e-commerce platforms planning three new storage centers totaling 291,000 square meters and about 200 million U.S. dollars in investment. Cooperation with China is deepening, including a joint venture between Kazakhstan's postal company and YTO Express handling 30,000 parcels daily, and plans for the Tiandigang project in Almaty Region and a Kazakh- and Russian-language version of JD.com. The Kazakh government aims to raise e-commerce's share of retail sales to 18.5 percent by 2029.
Summary: The US-Canada tariff dispute continues to escalate, with a new round of 50% US tariffs on Canadian goods taking effect September 15, following Canada's equivalent retaliatory tariffs on over 700 American goods worth approximately $20 billion. Negotiations broke down after the US demanded Canada stop promoting domestic content in streaming services, cancel subsidies for publishing and film industries, and alter Quebec's French-language protection policies, which Canadian Prime Minister Carney called "unfair and contrary to economic common sense." The dispute has impacted real economies, with Canadian small businesses expecting revenue declines and the Bank of Canada projecting growth 1.5 percentage points lower by end of 2026, while American entrepreneurs near the border have protested the trade war. The conflict has spilled into political and cultural fields, including the US renaming Lake Ontario as "Lake America," prompting Canadian defiance and broad domestic support for countermeasures, with 80% of Canadians backing the government's response. A Guardian report suggests the dispute has strained US-Canada relations and raised questions about the future of the USMCA.
Summary: At the Yunnan Provincial Science and Technology Awards Conference on September 15, the project "R&D and Industrialization of Domestic Efficacy Skincare Products," jointly completed by Yunnan Botanee Bio-Technology Group Co., Ltd., the Kunming Institute of Botany of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, and other units, was awarded the Special Prize of the 2025 Yunnan Provincial Science and Technology Progress Award. The project team achieved four major technological breakthroughs, including elucidating the pathogenesis of skin problems, building a platform for mining Yunnan characteristic plant raw materials, independently developing key technologies, and pioneering a large-sample clinical verification system, with cumulative sales reaching 21.63 billion yuan from 2022 to 2025. Botanee Group also innovated a "research-protection-industrialization" model of mountain bioeconomy, driving farmers in northwestern Yunnan to increase incomes, with the related practices included in the official cases of the Global Mountain Bioeconomy Framework.
Summary: Gangbaolida, deputy secretary of the Party branch of Weijing Gacha, Jiang'an Sumu, Siziwang Banner, Ulanqab City, Inner Mongolia, has run a one-man auto repair shop and provided round-the-clock road rescue along National Highway 331 for over 20 years, posting his phone number on blue signs every 10 kilometers. He has rescued stranded drivers in blizzards, transported a sick truck driver to hospital, and declined payment beyond cost, citing his parents' teaching that "people away from home have a hard time, and if you can help, you must help." In 2021 he was elected deputy secretary of the Party branch, and in 2023 the China Association for Promoting the Construction of Old Revolutionary Base Areas provided him a new rescue vehicle, with a "Drivers' Home" established in 2024. In January 2025 he was named to the "China Good Person List," and in March he received the title "Model of Learning from Lei Feng in National Posts, Tenth Batch," later also being named a Model Worker and Moral Model of Inner Mongolia. He attributes his dedication to his parents' experience as "children of the state" in the "Three Thousand Orphans Entering Inner Mongolia," saying, "Our family was raised with love by the people of the Inner Mongolia grasslands, and we must pass on this love and repay this land."
Summary: The Ministry of Education has issued fraud warnings during the new student enrollment season, citing typical cases of scams involving false "internal quotas," forged admission notices, and fake "senior schoolmate" personas. It stressed that admissions are strictly conducted by scores, preferences, and plans, with no irregular channels existing, and that any demand for payment to personal accounts is fraudulent. The reminders urge candidates to verify admission information through official provincial channels and to distrust payment notices from unofficial self-media groups.
Summary: Shanghai has announced new policies to enhance maternity medical expense coverage, expanding the scope of protection and increasing reimbursement rates to reduce families' financial burden of childbirth. From October 1 this year, compliant maternity medical expenses will achieve "zero out-of-pocket payment" for individuals, with the 42 perinatal examination items in the service package first using a 4,500 yuan subsidy quota before remaining expenses are borne entirely by maternity insurance. Previously, individuals had to pay full amounts out of pocket and apply for a fixed subsidy after birth, with only 25 examination items covered, whereas now the full set of essential prenatal tests is included. For inpatient delivery, expenses such as labor analgesia, vaginal delivery, and cesarean section are all paid by maternity insurance, and miscarriage after 7 months of pregnancy is treated as delivery. The policy also expands beneficiaries to male employees' spouses on resident medical insurance and insured persons giving birth in other localities, with reference to female employee standards.
Summary: Guangxi, China's only province connected to ASEAN by both land and sea, has implemented poverty reduction projects in Laos and Cambodia since 2016, transforming Chinese poverty reduction solutions and smart agricultural technology for local use. The projects, including smart vegetable greenhouses and modern agricultural bases, have raised incomes and reduced poverty rates in target villages, with results recognized in bilateral statements and the Global Development Project Library. Guangxi has shared its experience through 36 cases in the Global Poverty Reduction Case Library, 9 sessions of the China-ASEAN Forum on Social Development and Poverty Reduction, and training for 972 officials from 101 countries. Looking ahead, Guangxi will deepen cooperation with ASEAN under the 15th Five-Year Plan, promoting "hard connectivity" of agricultural facilities, "soft connectivity" of technical standards, and "heart connectivity" of poverty reduction exchanges.
Summary: The article reports on how young staff at cultural centers in Zhejiang Province are revitalizing public cultural services, with examples like the Xizi Corridor Bridge "Blind Box Concert" in Hangzhou and rural art schools in Wenling. Young staff members, including post-80s and post-90s figures like Zhao Yaqian and Zhang Yiyan, brainstorm ideas, interact with netizens, and design programs to meet public needs, such as the "village guide" training plan in Lishui. The piece highlights initiatives like the "Ou K Ou K" singing contest, open rehearsal days, and the Qinglai Choir, which performed at a football league final. Ruan Jing, director of the Zhejiang Provincial Cultural Center, says hope is placed in young people, and young cultural center workers have won favor through professional competence and youthful creativity. The article does not mention the United States or U.S.-China relations.
Summary: The article discusses how film and TV adaptations can drive sales of original books, citing examples like *Letter to Grandma* boosting qiaopi-themed books and *Odyssey* increasing Homer's sales. It argues that while screen adaptations lower barriers to reading and cultivate public interest, the popularity is only an inducement, and deep reading remains essential for experiencing complete narratives and cultural depth. The piece notes that high-quality adaptations rooted in solid literary texts, such as *Blossoms* and *A Lifelong Journey*, enable two-way empowerment between book and screen, whereas mediocre works relying on marketing fail to sustain reading enthusiasm. It concludes that whether book-screen linkage truly promotes nationwide reading depends on content enduring over time, not momentary momentum, allowing text and light and shadow to empower each other in both directions.
Summary: Zheng Zhiyuan and Zhai Chunping, a married couple in Jing County, Anhui Province, produce multicolored wax-dyed Xuan paper using plant and mineral dyes, reviving a technique with over 1,500 years of history. Zheng, a provincial-level inheritor, described the handcrafted process of over ten steps, including gold sprinkling, which now allows ink to take hold over gold leaf. The couple also restored sheep-brain paper and other ancient techniques, such as mottled-stone-texture and flowing-sand paper, earning a national invention patent. Zheng has practiced for nearly 40 years and has trained over ten apprentices, vowing to pass on the craft without reservation.
Summary: In an interview with People's Daily, German management scientist Hermann Simon said China has cultivated a batch of "hidden champions" through its high-quality gradient cultivation system for small and medium-sized enterprises, and he highly affirmed China's achievements in scientific and technological innovation and industrial upgrading. Simon noted that Chinese enterprises are already globally leading innovators in many frontier fields, and that the outdated perception that "China only replicates overseas technology" no longer reflects reality. He emphasized that China possesses the world's most complete and irreplaceable industrial ecosystem, and that ignoring the Chinese market means abandoning nearly one-fifth of the world's core industrial territory. Simon also discussed the complementary industrial advantages between Europe and China, citing cases of two-way investment and cooperation, and expressed expectations for more Chinese enterprises to go global and build globally renowned brands.
Summary: The article argues that as China's electric vehicle fleet grows toward 100 million units, EVs should become an integral part of the new-type power system through vehicle-to-grid interaction (V2G), transforming them from mere loads into mobile energy storage units. It projects that by 2030 China's EV fleet will reach 110–160 million units, and notes that orderly charging and V2G can shave peak loads while earning owners 15,000–75,000 yuan in lifetime revenue per vehicle. The piece cites research showing scientific V2G can extend battery calendar life and prevent safety incidents, and outlines three application scenarios: park, transportation, and building. It forecasts that by 2030 the aggregated adjustable charging scale of V2G will reach 50 million kilowatts, and by 2050 the total vehicle-mounted battery capacity of 350 million EVs could meet the nation's electricity demand for one day in emergencies. The author, an academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and a Tsinghua University professor, concludes that the next five years will be the start-up period for the V2G industry.
Summary: The article reports on the growing role of vehicle-to-grid (V2G) technology in China, highlighting a Beijing demonstration station where an Aion owner earns money by discharging his EV during peak periods while helping the grid balance peak and valley electricity loads. It cites data showing China's new energy vehicle sales and charging infrastructure growth, and notes that nine departments including the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology issued the "15th Five-Year Plan for the Development of the Intelligent Connected New Energy Vehicle Industry" to accelerate large-scale V2G application. Experts quoted include Zhang Yongwei, Yang Kun, Liu Yongdong, Yang Zhongping, Li Lili, Li Kang, and Ouyang Minggao, who discuss targets for aggregated adjustable charging capacity, the transformation of EVs from "load" to "asset," and the need to overcome hurdles in standards, business models, and industrial coordination. The article emphasizes that V2G can provide significant grid regulation capacity without affecting vehicle safety or battery life if managed properly.
Summary: The article reports on the opening of China's fishing season from late August through September, with coastal waters opening progressively from south to north, bringing in the "first catch" seafood. It highlights upgrades in fishing vessel equipment, such as Liaoning's campaign to replace wooden vessels with steel ones, and improvements in maritime oversight, including route designation and intelligent monitoring systems that have reduced merchant-fishing vessel collisions by over 80 percent in Zhejiang since 2022. The piece also showcases advances in deep-sea aquaculture, including Guangxi's marine ranch cages and Guangdong's "Zhanjiang Bay No. 1" floating platform. A relevant official from the Maritime Safety Administration of the Ministry of Transport said technological innovations are empowering the marine economy and the "blue granary," and the administration will deepen coordination with fishery departments to build a maritime safety defense line.
Summary: The article discusses consumer frustrations with AI customer service, including irrelevant answers, circular menus, and difficulty reaching human agents. It highlights China's first national standard, *Customer Contact Service — Requirements for Collaboration Between Human and Intelligent Customer Service* (GB/T 47746—2026), effective September 1, which mandates clear human-agent access, scientific task division, and seamless handoffs. The standard requires operators to train and test AI systems before deployment and prohibits disclaimers that AI responses lack legal effect. The piece situates this within China's broader AI governance framework, citing measures from 2023 to 2026, and argues that regulation supports industry upgrading and consumer protection. It concludes that AI customer service should facilitate, not block, communication, urging continued legal and ethical refinement.
Summary: The article highlights how Pingyao beef, a time-honored Chinese brand and national intangible cultural heritage, has modernized from a local specialty into a nationally distributed casual snack through standardized production, preservation technology, and digital marketing. Store manager Shao Yan noted the best-selling "One-Bite Fragrance" small-bag product, while Zhang Weidi, deputy general manager of Baoyuyuan, and Chen Zegang, deputy general manager of the Pingyao Beef Group, detailed craft innovations such as constant-temperature curing and high-temperature sterilization. The enterprises have opened production tours, with Guanyun receiving 300,000 visitors annually and Baoyuyuan building a full industry chain from breeding to table. Wen Jiangping, deputy director of the Pingyao County Industrial and Information Technology Bureau, reported 68 beef processing enterprises employing over 2,200 people directly, and Qi Hongliang, county Party secretary, cited 22,600 beef cattle on hand and a total industry output value of 2.35 billion yuan as of the first half of 2026. The piece does not mention the United States or U.S.-China relations.
Summary: The Gansu Provincial Museum's "Green Horse" cultural-creative products, inspired by the Bronze Galloping Horse ("Horse Treading on a Flying Swallow"), have become a viral hit among young people for their playful front-view expression and plush, healing design. The article details how the design team, led by cultural-creative designer Wang Wei and center head Cui Youxin, amplified the relic's tilted-head, twisted-mouth "awkward expression" over half a year of refinement. Cui explained the team aimed to connect with young people's emotional needs, turning the national treasure into a "stress-relief companion." The museum has built an immersive "Green Horse Home" space to boost scene-based consumption, and annual sales of the series now account for 40 percent of total sales. Cui said the museum will continue launching new products around the Bronze Galloping Horse IP to tell the story of Gansu and the Silk Road.
Summary: The article is a personal narrative by Dang Yimin about his second uncle, who was adopted during a famine, later joined the Red Army near Zhaojin, and became a farmer after demobilization. It recounts the history of the Shaanxi-Gansu revolutionary base area, the "Zhaojin Spirit," and the sacrifices of Red Army soldiers, including female soldier Tong Fengyun. The author describes his research and novel *The Base Area*, recommended by Chen Zhongshi, and his visits to Zhaojin, where he observes Song Jianbin's grassroots Party history work and the area's modern development. The piece highlights the transformation of Zhaojin's Red Army Primary School and the descendants' varied paths, including one grand-nephew working in Jiangxi and another relative noting new high-speed rail connections.
Summary: Wang Zengqi, who left his hometown in 1939 and returned only twice in total, poured his attachment into the hometown of memory while remaining wary of the real one, a pattern echoed by Shen Congwen and Lu Xun. The essay argues that love, not anger, is the foundation of the writer's bond with his "blood-land," and that a spiritual hometown often proves more real than the actual one, as seen in Wang Meng and Shi Tiesheng. In 1987, Wang Zengqi visited Iowa in the United States and, after chatting with two American Black scholars who lacked a motherland, history, or tradition, felt a profound sorrow and realized the importance of "roots"—the motherland, ethnicity, and cultural tradition. After that trip, he wrote *I Am a Chinese* and *The Influence of Traditional Culture on Contemporary Chinese Literature*, consciously seeking his hometown, which expanded from Gaoyou to all of China. The essay concludes that writing itself is a return to or reconstruction of one's hometown, which serves as the life memories and emotional support on which we depend.
Summary: The article is a descriptive piece about the autumn harvest drying tradition in the hills of central Anhui, portraying the villagers' labor and the vibrant colors of crops like rice, chili peppers, and pumpkins. It focuses on the narrator's mother, who spreads out peanuts, cotton, and strings chili peppers, while the father slices sweet potatoes and scatters them, along with persimmons and chestnuts, onto the roof to dry. The narrator climbs a ridge, observing the golden autumn grass, red tallow trees, and green pines, and reflects that drying the harvest reveals the households' abundant resources and the villagers' buried joy. The piece concludes with the narrator's wish to record these scenes and take them back to the city for those longing for home. The article does not mention the United States or U.S.-China relations.
Summary: The article is a photo report featuring the oil painting *This Moment and the Millennium* by Zhang Junming. No further details or commentary are provided.
Summary: The article describes the August-burst fruit, a wild delicacy of the Qinba mountains, which splits open when ripe to reveal sweet, silvery flesh. It recounts how children joyfully pick and savor the fruit, while birds also feast on it, and notes its short shelf life of half a day, which keeps it confined to the valley. The author expresses a hope that an improved variety will one day emerge from the Qinba mountains and reach every household, like the banana.
Summary: The poem reflects on the lotus as encountered in rivers and ponds, and in imagination, where it is likened to a familiar friend. It notes that while some speak of its rich fragrance, most people are accustomed to silence, as the lotus washes away weariness in moonlight. The poem traces the journey from blooming to falling, a distant road with fallen leaves dropping into mountain streams, and ends with stars drawing near each other.
Summary: The article recounts a visit to the mother of martyr Qin Zhengshuang, a police officer killed 33 years ago while subduing a criminal in Shimen County. It describes his heroic death, including his final warning to a colleague about the attacker's knife. The narrative details how his parents covered his portrait with black cloth, opening it only twice a year to grieve. The father has since died, and the mother, now living in the county seat, insisted on bringing the framed portrait when they moved. The piece reflects on the family's enduring grief and the martyr's sacrifice.
A Reply Letter
To all members of the "Zhangzhou 110" unit of Fujian Province:
Your letter has been received. "Zhangzhou 110" is a shining calling card of the public security system and has left a deep impression on me. You are rooted in the front line of police work, working diligently in serving the people and protecting their peace and security, and have won widespread praise — I feel very gratified.
To guard the people's happiness and protect the peace of the family and the nation, the people's public security bears a heavy responsibility on its shoulders. I hope that the broad ranks of public security officers and police will hold fast to the original aspiration of serving the people, carry forward the fine traditions, be resolute in shouldering responsibility and dedication, work wholeheartedly to resolve difficulties and worries for the masses, work with utmost diligence and conscientiousness (兢兢业业, jing jing ye ye - "fearfully, reverently; work, work") to keep watch over the lights of ten thousand households, and become loyal guardians of the Party and the people.
Xi Jinping
September 14, 2026
(Xinhua News Agency, Beijing, September 15)
Xinhua News Agency, Beijing, September 15 Recently, Xi Jinping, General Secretary of the CPC Central Committee, President of the State, and Chairman of the Central Military Commission, wrote a reply letter to all members of the "Zhangzhou 110" unit of Fujian Province, warmly encouraging them and conveying earnest expectations.
Xi Jinping said in the reply letter that "Zhangzhou 110" is a shining calling card of the public security system and has left a deep impression on me. You are rooted in the front line of police work, working diligently in serving the the people and protecting their peace and security, and have won widespread praise — I feel very gratified."
Xi Jinping stated that, to guard the people's happiness and protect the peace of the family and the nation, the people's public security bears a heavy responsibility on its shoulders. He hopes that the broad ranks of public security officers and police will hold fast to the original aspiration of servingthe people, carry forward the fine traditions, be resolute in shouldering responsibility and dedication, work wholeheartedly to resolve difficulties and worries for the masses, work with utmost diligence and conscientiousness to keep watch over the lights of ten thousand households, and become loyal guardians of the Party and the people. (The full text of the reply letter is published separately.)
"Zhangzhou 110" is now named the "Zhangzhou 110 Detachment of the Zhangzhou Municipal Public Security Bureau, Fujian Province." Since 1990 it has innovated and continuously optimized the 110 alarm-service rapid-response mechanism, playing an important role in cracking down on crime, maintaining public order, and serving the people, and is a representative of outstanding grassroots units among national public security organs. During his work in Fujian Province, General Secretary Xi Jinping visited the police unit three times, guiding and advancing the construction and development of "Zhangzhou 110." Recently, all members of the "Zhangzhou 110" unit wrote a letter to the General Secretary, reporting their situation of bearing his instructions in mind and serving the people, and expressing their determination to perform one's duties with utmost dedication (恪尽职守, ke jin zhi shou - "strictly, fulfill; duty, guard") and take on responsibility and action on the new journey.
Return to Top(Xinhua News Agency, Beijing, September 15) The 18th issue of Qiushi magazine, to be published on September 16, will carry an important article by Xi Jinping, General Secretary of the CPC Central Committee, President of the People's Republic of China, and Chairman of the Central Military Commission, titled "Speech at the Symposium on Strengthening Basic Research."
The article stresses that basic research is the source of the entire scientific system, the master switch for all technological problems, and the front line of global scientific and technological competition. An important criterion for measuring a country's scientific and technological strength is the level of its basic research. To become a world leader in science and technology, basic research must be elevated. Since the 18th CPC National Congress, the Party Central Committee has attached great importance to basic research, and through optimizing the layout of scientific research, increasing investment guarantees, and innovating institutional mechanisms, has driven a marked improvement in the level of China's basic research. At the same time, it must be recognized that, compared with the world's scientific and technological powers, our basic research still lags behind. We must strengthen our sense of crisis and urgency, and with greater force and more concrete measures strengthen basic research, enhance China's capacity for original innovation, further consolidate the foundation for building a strong country in science and technology, and accelerate the realization of high-level self-reliance and strength in science and technology.
The article points out that the systematic layout of basic research should be optimized. In the era of big science, the degree of organization of basic research is increasingly high, requiring us to strengthen overall planning and top-level design and accelerate the formation of a strategic, forward-looking, and systematic layout. We must grasp the target direction, adhere to the strategic guidance of the "four orientations," and, proceeding from the country's urgent needs and long-term demands, further clarify the main directions and key fields of basic research. We must strengthen coordination of forces, give play to the advantages of the new system for mobilizing resources nationwide, strengthen the leading role of national laboratories, national research institutions, and high-level research universities, encourage and regulate the development of new-type research and development institutions, promote deep integration of industry, academia, and research led by enterprises, and open up the innovation chain of basic research, applied development, and transformation of achievements. We must improve the layout of disciplines, improve the mechanism for adjusting discipline offerings, strengthen the construction of basic disciplines, promote the coordinated development of applied disciplines and basic disciplines, and encourage multidisciplinary crossover and integration and interdisciplinary research.
The article points out that the talent pool for basic research should be expanded. In the final analysis, basic research depends on high-level talent. We must advance the development of education, science and technology, and talent as an integrated whole, do a comprehensive job of cultivating, introducing, and employing talent, and strive to make the number of basic research personnel sufficient, their quality excellent, and their structure reasonable. We must focus on improving the quality of independent cultivation, follow the laws of talent growth, comprehensively improve the quality of education, cultivate a continuous and unending stream (源源不断, yuan yuan bu lian - "source, source, not, continuous") of reserve forces for basic research, optimize the mechanism for collaborative education between science and education, and pay attention to discovering and cultivating high-level talent on the front line of scientific research. We must vigorously support young talent, adhere to task-driven guidance and the mentoring of the younger generation by the older, and pave the way and build bridges for the growth and success of young scientific and technological personnel. We must actively create a favorable atmosphere, continuously improve the working and living conditions of basic research personnel, vigorously promote the spirit of scientists, stimulate the curiosity, imagination, and desire for exploration of young people, and make devoting oneself to basic research the life pursuit of more young people.
The article points out that support and guarantees for basic research should be strengthened. We must be bold in removing ideological obstacles and institutional barriers, and provide basic research with long-term and stable investment guarantees and policy support. We must increase funding input, gradually raise the proportion of basic research funding, further broaden financing channels, form a diversified investment pattern for basic research, and improve the efficiency of science fund grants. We must optimize research conditions, systematically lay out and build major scientific and technological infrastructure, strengthen the construction of national scientific data centers, step up efforts to build world-class scientific and technological journals, attach importance to artificial intelligence empowering basic research, and build intelligent scientific research platform systems. We must deepen the reform of the science and technology system, improve the classified evaluation system that conforms to the characteristics of basic research, improve the incentive mechanism for basic research, and reform the methods of scientific research management. We must purify the scientific research ecosystem, create an innovation environment that is open, inclusive, and tolerant of failure, strengthen the construction of research integrity, and resolutely punish research corruption.
The article points out that international cooperation in basic research should be expanded. We must proactively integrate into the global innovation network and enhance our capacity for original innovation through open cooperation. We must deepen international exchange and cooperation in basic research between governments and among non-governmental actors, join with other countries in tackling major scientific problems such as climate change, energy and the environment, and life and health, increase the openness of national science and technology programs to the outside world, take the lead in initiating and joining international big science programs and big science projects, and actively participate in global science and technology governance.
The article stresses that strengthening basic research requires the joint efforts of the whole Party and the whole society. Party committees and governments at all levels should increase policy support and provide good services and guarantees, and promote the implementation of the Party Central Committee's decisions and arrangements.
Return to Top(Xinhua News Agency, Beijing, September 15) On September 15, Vice President Han Zheng attended the welcome banquet of the 13th Beijing Xiangshan Forum and delivered a speech.
Han Zheng stated that the current world is undergoing accelerated evolution of a century of profound changes, with the international situation marked by turbulence and interwoven transformations. Facing changes of the world, of the times, and of history, President Xi Jinping has put forward the vision of building a community with a shared future for mankind and four major global initiatives, pointing the way for solving the common problems facing humanity. Although the world today faces complex challenges, the trend of the times toward peace, development, cooperation, and win-win outcomes is unstoppable, the general trend toward multipolarity and economic globalization is irreversible, the desire of people of all countries to achieve development and security is more urgent, and the call for international fairness and justice is stronger.
Han Zheng put forward four suggestions. First, uphold the purposes and principles of the UN Charter, uphold sovereign equality, oppose interference in internal affairs, oppose the use or threat of force at every turn, and prevent the world from regressing to the law of the jungle where the strong prey on the weak (弱肉强食, ruo rou qiang shi - "weak, flesh; strong, eat").
Second, uphold true multilateralism, respect the development paths and social systems independently chosen by the people of all countries, respect the legitimate security concerns of all countries, and build a more inclusive, fair, and sustainable model of global governance.
Third, uphold the resolution of differences and disputes through dialogue and consultation, support all efforts conducive to the peaceful resolution of crises, enhance mutual trust, resolve disputes, and promote security through dialogue, and prevent conflicts from escalating and spreading.
Fourth, uphold a people-centered approach and the use of technology for good. In the face of booming emerging technologies, it is necessary to accelerate the improvement of governance rules in emerging fields such as artificial intelligence, cyberspace, and outer space, strengthen openness and cooperation, and serve the cause of global peace and development.
Han Zheng pointed out that China, as a responsible major country and the largest developing country, has always placed its own development within the coordinate system of human development, and has made due contributions to world peace, stability, development, and prosperity through Chinese modernization.
China has always been a force for peace, actively exploring the proper way for major countries to get along in the new era, supporting the advancement of the international peace cause with concrete actions, and taking the lead in serving as a "stabilizer" for world peace.
China has always been a force for justice, resolutely safeguarding the victorious achievements of World War II and the postwar international order, opposing all schemes and acts that seek to revive militarism and endanger regional security and stability, and promoting the development of the global governance system in a more just and reasonable direction.
China has always been a force for progress, insisting on sharing opportunities and achieving win-win outcomes with the world through open development, jointly advancing an equal and orderly multipolar world and a universally beneficial and inclusive economic globalization, and promoting exchanging and learning from one another (交流互鉴, jiao liu hu jian - "exchange, interact; mutual, learn from each other") among different civilizations.
Han Zheng stated that since its founding 20 years ago, the Beijing Xiangshan Forum has always upheld the concept of "equality, openness, inclusiveness, and mutual learning," and has played an important role in consolidating security consensus, promoting defense cooperation, and maintaining regional peace and stability. This year's forum, themed "Consolidating Consensus for Common Security and Governance," has important practical significance. It is hoped that the guests attending the forum will conduct in-depth exchanges during the forum and make new contributions to promoting international security cooperation and safeguarding world peace and stability.
Vice Chairman of the Central Military Commission Zhang Shengmin and Minister of National Defense Dong Jun attended the welcome banquet.
Official representatives from nearly 100 countries, regions, and international organizations attending the forum participated in the banquet.
Return to TopBy: 本报记者 李心萍 王 政 谷业凯
Advanced manufacturing is the backbone of the modern industrial system.
General Secretary Xi Jinping emphasized: "We must maintain a reasonable proportion of manufacturing and vigorously develop advanced manufacturing."
What is advanced manufacturing?
It embodies cutting-edge technology. In September, the Zhuque-2 improved Y7 carrier rocket was launched from the Dongfeng Commercial Aerospace Innovation and Testing Zone, successfully sending the 10 satellites of the Qianfan polar-orbit Group 19 into their predetermined orbit, achieving a "one rocket, ten satellites" launch.
It represents stronger performance. In March, Genertec Shenyang Machine Tool released an additive-subtractive integrated vertical five-axis machining center capable of easily engraving characters on a needle tip less than 0.2 millimeters in diameter.
It contains the pulse of green development. In April, the world's first 10,800-vehicle LNG dual-fuel powered car carrier was successfully delivered. It not only has strong transport capacity but also excellent environmental performance, equipped with dual-fuel power that can generate electricity while sailing.
Vigorously developing advanced manufacturing, adhering to innovation leadership, enhancing technological advancement, accelerating the transformation toward intelligent, green, and integrated development, striving to modernize production methods, and coordinating traditional industries with emerging and future industries — Chinese manufacturing is striving for an overall leap forward, propping up the "skeleton" of the modern industrial system.
Innovation leads, products strive to be "advanced"
General Secretary Xi Jinping emphasized: "Develop new quality productive forces in light of local conditions, and promote the deep integration of scientific and technological innovation with industrial innovation."
The "advanced" in advanced manufacturing is driven by innovation.
One case is quite representative.
In the new display industry, the size of glass substrates determines the "generation" of the production line. The higher the generation, the larger the substrate, and the more efficient the cutting.
However, a few years ago, China's high-generation and above glass substrates relied on imports, becoming a "chokepoint" bottleneck for industrial upgrading.
Facing the challenge, Peng Shou, academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering and chief scientist of China National Building Material Group, led his team in dedicated research and technological innovation. Ultimately, the team eliminated defects below 10 micrometers on a glass surface of nearly 6 square meters.
Today, China's 8.6-generation OLED (organic light-emitting diode) glass substrates have achieved mass production, driving China to take the lead in landing mid-size high-end OLED production lines, achieving the leap from being controlled by others (受制于人, shou zhi yu ren - "receive, control, by, person") to "leading development."
One piece of glass rewrote an industry. Liu Zhibiao, professor at the Yangtze River Industrial Development Research Institute of Nanjing University, explained that the "advanced" in advanced manufacturing is mainly reflected in technological advancement, that is, maintaining a world-leading level in technology and R&D.
Making efforts in scientific and technological innovation to master key core technologies.
In September, Huawei released its second-generation tri-fold flagship product, and Xiaomi launched its first "mid-fold" phone, with domestic phones competing for the high-end market.
The confidence comes from independent innovation. In recent years, China's domestically produced ultra-thin flexible glass has achieved successful mass production, with a thickness of only 30 micrometers, remaining intact after millions of folds.
It can be said that "one generation of materials, one generation of equipment, one generation of industry" — scientific and technological innovation supports Chinese manufacturing in climbing ever higher.
In the opening year of the 15th Five-Year Plan, a series of policies and measures have been introduced around scientific and technological innovation, from the central to local levels. The national venture capital guidance fund established by the National Development and Reform Commission is being fully deployed; Shanghai launched the "Shanghai Global Science and Technology Partnership Plan" and implemented international joint research actions; Henan issued several policy measures supporting enterprise scientific and technological innovation...
Policies are being implemented, surging with innovation momentum. As of the end of July, China's domestic effective invention patents reached 5.74 million, and PCT (Patent Cooperation Treaty) international patent applications have ranked first globally for seven consecutive years.
Doing a good job in industrial innovation, accelerating the integration of scientific and technological innovation with industrial innovation, and improving the efficiency of achievement transformation.
On one hand, CT imaging theory has developed over a century, with continuously improving detection precision; on the other hand, new energy vehicle production continues to climb, and battery testing has become an industry pain point.
Industry poses the questions, technology provides the answers. Sunwoda Electronic Co., Ltd., together with Dalian University of Technology, relying on the university's research accumulation, successfully developed "advanced battery online high-speed multi-mode CT technology and equipment," which can complete testing without disassembling batteries, greatly improving efficiency.
Since the beginning of this year, China has accelerated the construction of a full-chain service system for the transformation of scientific and technological achievements. At the R&D end, 2 new national manufacturing innovation centers were established; in the pilot testing stage, a pilot testing service network consisting of 21 national-level manufacturing pilot testing platforms and more than 1,800 reserve platforms was formed; in the incubation stage, the country has certified the first batch of 14 excellent-level and 402 standard-level technology enterprise incubators, incubating more than 425,000 enterprises and teams.
Scientific and technological innovation is a continuous source of new strength or ideas (源头活水, yuan tou huo shui - "source, living, water"), and industrial innovation is a broad stage. With the deep integration of the two, Chinese manufacturing's innovation effectiveness is increasingly surging. Recently, the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) released the "2026 Global Innovation Index," showing that China has 25 global top-100 innovation clusters, ranking first in the world for four consecutive years.
"Three transformations," manufacturing leads in "advancement"
What is the difference between an advanced manufacturing factory and a traditional factory?
Step into Lenovo's Southern Smart Manufacturing Base in Shenzhen, and you will witness the charm of advanced manufacturing.
Unlike traditional manufacturing, of the more than 5,000 orders that pour in here every day, 60% are customized orders, involving more than 50 product categories and more than 20,000 configurations.
Facing "fragmented" demand, the production line of over a hundred meters runs smoothly. Robotic arms equipped with visual recognition systems complete precision assembly at millimeter-level accuracy, and different models can achieve "zero-second switching." 90% of orders can be shipped within 24 hours.
The "advanced" in advanced manufacturing lies crucially in the modernization of production methods.
"Compared with traditional manufacturing, advanced manufacturing has generally achieved a transformation toward digital, intelligent, lean, and green production methods," said Li Yan, deputy director of the Industrial Economy Research Department of the Development Research Center of the State Council.
The 15th Five-Year Plan outline proposes adhering to keeping the focus of economic development on the real economy and adhering to the direction of intelligent, green, and integrated development.
Accelerating intelligent transformation, manufacturing becomes more efficient and higher quality.
In the smart factory of TBEA Shenyang Transformer Group Co., Ltd., from transformer core lamination and insulation parts processing to final product assembly, robots, AGV delivery carts, and workers operate collaboratively. A complete intelligent system covering the entire chain of "simulation-scheduling-execution-monitoring" has shortened the product development cycle by 21% and increased production efficiency by 40%.
"During the 15th Five-Year Plan period, we will focus on enhancing advanced manufacturing capabilities, accelerating the development of a new generation of intelligent manufacturing, promoting the 'intelligent transformation, digital upgrading, and network connectivity' of manufacturing, and building smart factories and high-standard digital parks," said Xin Guobin, vice minister of the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology.
To date, China has cumulatively built 35,000 basic-level smart factories, more than 8,200 advanced-level ones, and more than 500 excellent-level ones, with 15 enterprises entering the pilot list for leading-level smart factories, and the application penetration rate of artificial intelligence technology among industrial enterprises above designated size exceeding 30%.
Anchoring green upgrading to achieve green production, low carbon, and environmental protection.
In July, the "15th Five-Year Plan for Industrial Green and Low-Carbon Development" was officially released. The plan proposes promoting the quality improvement and expansion of green factory cultivation and promoting the upgrading of green industrial parks.
What does a green industrial park look like?
Walking into Chery Automobile's Qingdao branch, the warm sun gilds the rooftop photovoltaic panels. Relying on the "distributed photovoltaic + new energy storage" system, the park's energy use achieves energy conservation and carbon reduction.
At the same time, in the painting workshop, a new generation of water-based paint technology works from the source, greatly reducing volatile organic compounds. Combined with a dry cardboard paint mist filtration system, the paint mist removal efficiency exceeds 99%, making the production process more environmentally friendly.
End-of-pipe treatment is equally robust. Through waste incineration for power generation and waste heat recovery, the resource utilization rate of hazardous waste exceeds 88%.
Statistics show that during the 14th Five-Year Plan period, the output value of national green factories as a proportion of total output value of manufacturing above designated size increased from 9% to 22%, and the energy consumption per unit of added value of industrial enterprises above designated size continued to decline.
During the 15th Five-Year Plan period, China will cultivate and build 500 zero-carbon factories, and by the end of the 15th Five-Year Plan, the output value of green factories at all levels as a proportion of total output value of manufacturing above designated size should strive to reach 45%.
Exploring integrated development, "manufacturing + services" fuses new momentum.
Currently, global industrial competition is shifting from a single "manufacturing contest" to a comprehensive competition of "manufacturing + services."
XCMG Group has shifted from simply selling equipment to providing overall green mining solutions, securing major overseas orders from BHP and others; Haier Smart Home Co., Ltd. provides users with customized, professional smart home appliance solutions, with scenario transaction volumes continuously rising...
"Next, we will promote the deep integration of advanced manufacturing with modern service industries, accelerate the cultivation of new models and new business forms such as platform-based design and personalized customization, and innovatively develop service-oriented manufacturing," said Xin Guobin.
Coordinated advancement, industries improve in "advancement"
General Secretary Xi Jinping emphasized: "We must highlight the focus of building a modern industrial system with advanced manufacturing as the backbone, take scientific and technological innovation as the lead, and coordinate the promotion of traditional industry upgrading, emerging industry expansion, and future industry cultivation."
The "advanced" in advanced manufacturing ultimately rests on the optimization of the industrial structure.
A strand of silk — besides being made into fine clothing, what else can it become?
The answer is: degradable bone screws. Previously, metal materials were always the first choice for internal fixation surgery after fractures, but removal could easily cause secondary trauma. The new silk bone screws can degrade automatically without removal, and the degradation speed can be precisely controlled.
An embroidery machine — besides embroidering, what else can it do?
The answer is: serving embodied intelligence. The embroidery machine interweaves sensing yarn with base yarn in knitting, weaving an embodied intelligence data glove in one piece, making the data collection of hand movements more precise.
These two cases vividly illustrate that traditional industries also contain advanced manufacturing.
"The essence of advanced manufacturing is the comprehensive innovation and upgrading of manufacturing," Li Yan said. Advanced manufacturing includes both manufacturing spawned by emerging technological changes and manufacturing in which traditional industries are reshaped through comprehensive innovation and renewal using advanced technologies, processes, production methods, and management models.
With advanced manufacturing as the driver, traditional industries are being renewed and upgraded, consolidating their foundations.
Currently, in Dongying, Shandong, 26-megawatt offshore wind turbines stand against the wind, generating power. Taking apart this wind turbine with the largest single-unit capacity in the world — flanges, bearings, motors... nearly 90% of the components come from more than 120 traditional steel, machinery, and other enterprises, contributing nearly a thousand patented achievements.
"During the 15th Five-Year Plan period, we will organize and implement a renewal action for traditional industries, consolidate foundations, improve quality, build brands, and accelerate the improvement of the development quality and efficiency of traditional industries," said Yao Jun, director of the Planning Department of the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology.
Policies are being implemented with tangible results. Shanghai formulated a three-year action plan to support the transformation and upgrading of advanced manufacturing, Jiangsu implemented a three-year action plan for the renewal and upgrading of traditional industries, and Anhui issued implementation plans for the optimization and upgrading of three major traditional industries: nonferrous metals, building materials, and textiles...
VAT invoice data shows that in the first half of the year, sales revenue in the food manufacturing, clothing, and paper industries increased by 11.6%, 9.2%, and 8.9% year-on-year respectively, with traditional industries achieving "old trees sprouting new shoots."
With advanced manufacturing as the driver, strategic emerging industries and future industries are accelerating their growth and accumulating momentum.
In September, the "15th Five-Year Plan for the Development of the Intelligent Connected New Energy Vehicle Industry" was officially released. The plan proposes that by 2030, vehicles with autonomous driving functions will achieve large-scale application.
The plan clarifies the direction and defines the path, and practice is making steady and solid progress (稳扎稳打, wen zha wen da - "steady, nail, steady, hit") and proceeding step by step in an orderly fashion (循序渐进, xun xu jian jin - "follow, sequence, gradually, advance"). Currently, in Beijing and Chongqing, L3-level conditional autonomous driving has begun road trials, and the large-scale application of autonomous driving technology is advancing steadily.
The "15th Five-Year Plan for the Development of the Information and Communication Industry," the "Action Plan for Promoting the Innovative Development of the Internet of Things Industry (2026-2028)"... Since the beginning of this year, various special plans and action plans have been issued in succession around cultivating and expanding emerging industries and future industries.
Guided by long-term planning, China's emerging industries and future industries are rising up like riding the waves (踏浪而起, ta lang er qi - "tread, wave, and, rise") and leaping upward with momentum. In the first half of this year, China's quadruped robot sales accounted for nearly 70% of the global share, humanoid robot complete machines reached more than 400 models, accounting for more than half of the global total, and the preclinical R&D cycle for new drugs such as anti-tumor targeted drugs was shortened by 40%...
Moving toward the "new" and reaching far with "quality." Vigorously developing advanced manufacturing, China is striding toward becoming a manufacturing powerhouse with a posture of striving for "advancement," accelerating the construction of a modern industrial system with advanced manufacturing as its backbone.
Return to TopBy: 常 晋
Recently, General Secretary Xi Jinping replied to a letter from all members of the "Zhangzhou 110" in Fujian Province, encouraging the broad ranks of public security officers and police to "resolve difficulties and troubles for the masses with heart and feeling, working with utmost diligence and responsibility (兢兢业业, jing jing ye ye - "cautious, cautious, work, work") to guard the lights of ten thousand households, and be loyal guardians of the Party and the people."
"In difficulty, call 110" — this phrase widely known by everyone (家喻户晓, jia yu hu xiao - "family, know, every, household") is inseparable from Zhangzhou's past policing innovation. Today, 110 has long since "moved into" the hearts of each of us, becoming the most familiar and most trusted number.
Whenever danger strikes suddenly, dialing this string of numbers at the first moment, the long-sounding police siren is where peace of mind resides; when a child is lost or a traveler goes astray, the first reaction is to find "Uncle Police," and the figure in navy blue is where reliance resides. The folk saying "a close neighbor is not as good as 110" writes a vivid footnote to "the people's police serve the people."
"Guard the happiness of the people, protect the peace of the family and the nation." At present, we seek police strength from technology — robot dogs and robots patrol the streets, and anti-fraud large models provide intelligent early warning; we pool strength through coordination — linking with subdistrict offices, urban management, and other forces to investigate hidden dangers in advance and promptly mediate and resolve disputes... Equipment is being updated, mechanisms are being optimized, and the original aspiration to serve the people remains consistent from beginning to end (始终如一, shi zhong ru yi - "start, end, like, one"). Our country is one of the countries with the lowest criminal crime rates in the world, and the steady "Chinese-style sense of security" is right by our side.
Treating the urgent difficulties of the masses as the warmth and cold of one's own home, taking the satisfaction of the people as the greatest wish, being one step faster, one second earlier, doing a bit more — the answer sheet for a peaceful China will surely be written warmer and warmer through one act of stepping forward after another.
Return to TopBy: 任 平
(1)
"It is necessary to consolidate and expand the achievements of the study and education on establishing and practicing a correct view of political achievements, and impel leading cadres at all levels to continuously create new achievements in high-quality development with a more vigorous and upward spirit."
On July 30, the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee held a meeting, emphasizing the need to "make good use of various opportunities and advantages, and impel high-quality development to proceed steadily and far."
Establishing and practicing a correct view of political achievements requires sustained, long-term effort.
"Leading cadres at all levels must proceed from the fulfillment of the Party's mission and tasks, establish and practice a correct view of political achievements."
On August 24, the Central Leading Group for Party Building Work held a meeting and pointed out: "This study and education has upheld fundamental principles and broken new ground, been simple and pragmatic, enriched the experiences of ideological guidance, genuine investigation and rectification, leading by example from the top, addressing both symptoms and root causes simultaneously, and serving the central task, further deepening the understanding of the regular patterns of intra-Party centralized education."
General Secretary Xi Jinping made an important instruction, emphasizing: "Continuously consolidate and expand the achievements of study and education, continuously impel Party organizations at all levels and the vast majority of Party members and cadres to act for the public good rather than personal interest, benefit the people, make scientific decisions, and do solid work, strive to create solid achievements that can withstand the test of practice, the people, and history."
The experience created by this study and education is exceptionally precious or valuable. Taking theoretical armedment as the foundation, taking problem-solving as the priority, taking the creation of solid achievements as the essential, it has become an important way of thinking and method of work for us to comprehensively advance Chinese modernization through high-quality development.
(2)
Taking theoretical armedment as the foundation, clearing up confusion and returning to the original essence and consolidating the foundation and cultivating the roots ideologically.
Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era is a powerful ideological weapon for us to transform our subjective world and objective world.
This study and education has adhered to ideological guidance, and the vast majority of Party members and cadres at all levels have generally received a profound ideological tempering and practical training.
Focusing on studying the Party's innovative theories, clinging to something or seizing an opportunity firmly, advancing step by step in depth, and learning the skills of managing affairs, revitalizing the Party, and strengthening the country into one's own hands, is a required course for leading cadres at all levels.
Since the new era, especially since the 20th National Congress of the Party, every round of intra-Party centralized education has adhered to the combination of theoretical armedment and practical application, achieving tangible results in promoting high-quality development.
In July 2023, it was pointed out that"we should take the thematic education on studying and implementing Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era as an opportunity, educate and guide the vast majority of Party members and cadres to firmly establish a correct view of political achievements"and"promote high-quality development to achieve new results with a new atmosphere and new achievements".
In August 2024, it was emphasized that"continuously transform the achievements of Party discipline study and education into a powerful driving force for promoting high-quality development".
In July 2025, it was pointed out that"make good use of the achievements of the study and education on thoroughly implementing the spirit of the Eight-Point Regulation, provide strong momentum for high-quality development".
In April 2026, it was emphasized that"we must carry out in depth the study and education on establishing and practicing a correct view of political achievements, transform the effectiveness of study and education into tangible results in promoting high-quality development".
"Create political achievements for the people, create political achievements through solid work".
The "one well" in Liangjiahe, the "one bicycle" in Zhengding, the "one ancient house" in Fuzhou, the "one lake and landscape" in Hangzhou, the "one alley" in Shanghai...
From the vivid practices of General Secretary Xi Jinping adhering to a correct view of political achievements during his work in local areas, to the vivid practices of advocating a correct view of political achievements and guiding the development of the Party's and country's undertakings since he came to work at the center, the vast majority of Party members and cadres have more deeply comprehended the decisive significance of the Two Establishments (两个确立) and resolutely achieved the Two Upholds (两个维护).
Being responsible to history, being responsible to the people, proceeding from reality, acting according to laws, and adhering to high-quality development have become important contents of the correct view of political achievements for leading cadres.
Zhejiang has been building a demonstration zone for common prosperity through high-quality development;
Xiong'an New Area in Hebei has firmly grasped the functional positioning of the new area, striving to build a new era innovation highland anda model for promoting high-quality development;
Nanjing, Jiangsu, has "highlighted the key point of building a modern industrial system with advanced manufacturing as the backbone", created a national pilot zone for the innovative application of artificial intelligence, and four directions including software and information services have already joined the national advanced manufacturing clusters...
Implementing the new development philosophy, building the new development pattern, developing new quality productive forces in light of local conditions... Chinese modernization theory has guided the realization of high-quality, sustainable development.
The understanding and comprehension of the correct view of political achievements have been deepened, the Party spirit tempering of Party members and cadres has been strengthened, and study and education is a process of winning development initiative through theoretical initiative.
(3)
Taking problem-solving as the priority, identifying important paths for carrying out work from the methodological perspective.
"We must adhere to problem orientation", which is an important manifestation of the world outlook, methodology, and the positions, viewpoints, and methods running through Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era.
Moving with real determination to solve problems left over from history, a batch of old accounts have been effectively cleared up;
Timely following up to solve newly emerged problems, some deviations in views of political achievements have been effectively corrected;
Coordinating efforts from above and below to solve problems with complex roots, some difficult problems have been cracked through joint efforts...
This study and education has both adhered to genuine investigation and rectification, "investigating problems thoroughly and identifying them accurately, carrying out rectification precisely and pragmatically", and adhered to addressing both symptoms and root causes simultaneously, "discovering institutional loopholes, shortcomings, and weaknesses, effectively completing and establishing institutional rules and regulations".
Since the new era, the Party's and country's undertakings have achieved historic accomplishments and undergone historic changes, among which a very important experience is adhering to problem orientation.
"We emphasize enhancing problem awareness and adhering to problem orientation, which is to acknowledge the universality and objectivity of contradictions, and is to be good at taking understanding and resolving contradictions as the breakthrough point for opening up the situation of work."
Go toward problems, watch problems and rectify them.
From the "first meal of the school term" to every meal on campus, impel the establishment of 1,422 provincial, municipal, and county-level bulk food ingredient procurement platforms, with the coverage rate of "Internet + transparent kitchen" in primary and secondary school canteens reaching 99.9%;
In response to illegal and irregular food safety behaviors such as "ghost takeout", seriously investigate and punish a batch of typical cases;
Closely focus on and grasp the rectification of prominent problems in various development zones (parks), consolidate or revoke more than 4,000 parks with development zone nature illegally established by units under provincial governments...
"'Reaching for the broad while attending to the minute details' is the way to accomplish things."
"Achieve having a comprehensive grasp of the overall situation when planning, being meticulous and precise in operation, doing work solidly and thoroughly with embroidery-like effort"... Strengthen precise thinking, only then can undertaking causes and creating political achievements have tangible results.
Striving forward in the 15th Five-Year Plan, from cracking the still prominent problems of unbalanced and inadequate development, to effectively responding to various uncertainties brought by changes in the external environment, only by making efforts in studying new situations and solving new problems can we continuously open up new prospects for development.
The process of solving problems is also the process of development and progress.
(4)
Taking the creation of solid achievements as the essential, knowing the weight of burdens and bearing them, tackling difficulties and overcoming obstacles in practice.
Actively develop the real economy, continuously build a modern industrial system;
Thoroughly rectify "involution-style" competition, and the construction of the unified national market has been advanced in depth;
Take benefiting the people as the greatest political achievement, impel Party members and cadres at all levels to strive to be among the foremost through courage and step forward with responsibility in major battles and major examinations such as reform and tackling tough problems and comprehensive rural revitalization...
This study and education has centered on the overall situation and served the central task, carried through to the end with a strict and solid style, effectively promoting the various work of the "15th Five-Year Plan" start and opening.
"We must make good use of the assessment baton, improve the differentiated assessment and evaluation system, establish a cadre selection and appointment orientation that values solid work and solid achievements, so that cadres who dare to take responsibility, are brave to shoulder responsibility, are good at taking action, and have outstanding achievements are given important positions."
General Secretary Xi Jinping has put forward clear requirements for continuously consolidating and expanding the achievements of study and education, with the concept of being practical and the orientation being consistent from beginning to end, profoundly demonstrating the important character of Chinese Communists of "advocating solid work and firmly grasping implementation".
"Basically realizing modernization depends on solid work, realizing the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation depends on solid work", in the face of "old problems" and"new challenges", there is no shortcut, and even less can we afford to wait or sit still.
Doing things cleanly and doing things boldly is the most plain methodology, and also a distinctive hallmark of good cadres in the new era.
Sort out old accounts, build new achievements.
Hujing East Road in Shaoyang, Hunan, a "half-section road" has been shelved for as long as 5 years, with the root cause lying in "emphasizing deployment over implementation".
Establish ledgers, assign cases to individuals, advance with special teams... from "unwilling to touch" to "taking the initiative to lead", moving with real determination, carrying through to the end.
As of the end of July this year, the local area has successfully resolved 164 historical legacy problems, with the past "muddled accounts" becoming the masses'"clear accounts" and the cadres'"accounts of responsibility".
"The key to matters involving ordinary people lies in being practical, and various policy measures must be concrete, tangible, and effective".
"We must both do practical things that ordinary people can see, touch, and benefit from, and also do good things that pave the way, lay foundations, and benefit the long term for future generations".
Not necessarily having the achievement in my tenure is a realm, having the achievement in my tenure must include me is a responsibility.
Open a canal, open a precedent.
The Pinglu Canal, the first canal connecting rivers and the sea built since the founding of New China, opened to navigation on September 16.
In response to regional water resource shortcomings, pioneered the first three-tier stacked water-saving ship lock technology, with a water-saving rate of over 60%;
In response to large-volume concrete pouring, built a digital intelligent temperature control system;
To crack the pain point of navigation efficiency, independently developed a labyrinth-type buffer device, creating the world's fastest record...
Seeking truth from facts, being realistic and pragmatic, doing solid work for real results.
"Since the 18th National Congress of the Party, among the decisions made by the Party Central Committee, which one was not fulfilled as promised, consistent from beginning to end? Whatever we grasp, we grasp with iron traces and stone imprints."
Establishing and practicing a correct view of political achievements is a long-term task of Party building in the new era. Party organizations at all levels and the vast majority of Party members and cadres must deeply study and implement Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, especially Xi Jinping Thought on Party Building, adhere to acting for the public good rather than personal interest, benefiting the people, making scientific decisions, and doing solid work, resolutely and forcefully implement the major decisions and deployments of the Party Central Committee, promote high-quality development, resolutely and forcefully create political achievements for the people and through solid work, resolutely and forcefully persist in advancing full and rigorous self-governance of the Party, promote Chinese modernization to proceed steadily and far, and truly create solid achievements that can withstand the test of practice, the people, and history.
Return to Top(People's Daily, Yinchuan, September 15) (Reporters Xu Yuanfeng, Zhang Wen) On September 15, the symposium on the theory and practice of the Fujian-Ningxia Cooperation and East-West Cooperation was held in Yinchuan, Ningxia. Li Shulei, member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and head of the Publicity Department of the CPC Central Committee, attended and delivered a speech.
Participating representatives held that, during his work in Fujian, General Secretary Xi Jinping personally deployed and personally advanced the Fujian-Ningxia Cooperation, exploring a wide and easy path to success (康庄大道, kang zhuang da dao - "broad, level, great, road"), creating a successful model of East-West cooperation. Since the 18th CPC National Congress, the Party Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core has placed East-West cooperation in an important position in governance, made a series of strategic plans, advanced a series of creative practices, and led the new era's East-West cooperation to achieve historic accomplishments.
Participating representatives stated that they must deeply study and comprehend General Secretary Xi Jinping's important expositions on East-West cooperation, adhere to the people-centered development philosophy, fully leverage political advantages and institutional advantages, continuously strengthen the coordination of regional development, safeguard and improve people's livelihoods in the course of development, and push common prosperity for all people to take solid steps forward. They must, in light of local conditions, develop cultural undertakings and cultural industries, enrich the people's spiritual and cultural life, strengthen the protection of historical and cultural heritage, and empower Western China's economic and social development with culture. They must strengthen theoretical research and publicity reporting, deeply summarize precious experiences such as the Fujian-Ningxia Cooperation, and tell well the vivid stories of East-West cooperation in the new era.
The symposium was jointly hosted by the Publicity Department of the CPC Central Committee, the Central Rural Work Leading Group Office, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, the CPC Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region Committee, and the CPC Fujian Provincial Committee. Responsible comrades from relevant central departments and local governments, experts and scholars from the social science theoretical circles, responsible comrades from relevant departments of provinces, autonomous regions, and municipalities participating in East-West cooperation, as well as grassroots representatives, attended the meeting.
Return to Top(Xinhua News Agency, Changsha, September 15) The Fifth BeiDou Scale-Application International Summit opened on the 15th in Zhuzhou, Hunan. Zhang Guoqing, member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Vice Premier of the State Council, attended the opening ceremony and delivered a speech.
Zhang Guoqing stated that President Xi Jinping has profoundly pointed out that the BeiDou system benefits the Chinese people and also benefits people of all countries around the world. Under the guidance of President Xi Jinping, the BeiDou system's performance and service quality have continued to improve, its application scenarios and scale have continuously expanded, providing global users with stable and reliable positioning, navigation, and timing services. China is willing to work together with all parties, actively implement the four major global initiatives, always adhere to openness and integration (开放融合, kai fang rong he - "open, merge; integrate, blend"), coordinated cooperation (协调合作, xie tiao he zuo - "coordinate, harmonize; cooperate, work together"), complementarity through compatibility (兼容互补, jian rong hu bu - "compatible, inclusive; mutually, complement"), and sharing of achievements and benefits (成果共享, cheng guo gong xiang - "achievements, fruits; share, common"), further improve the level of BeiDou technological innovation, strengthen the integration of BeiDou with technologies such as artificial intelligence and satellite internet, continuously advance the system's iterative upgrading, promote the healthy and orderly development of the BeiDou industry, accelerate the expansion of BeiDou application scope and quality improvement, improve global governance of satellite navigation, and enable the BeiDou system to better serve the world and benefit mankind.
Before the opening ceremony, Zhang Guoqing met with Prime Minister Christian Ntsay of Madagascar, who attended the summit, and stated that China is willing to work together with the Malagasy side to implement the important consensus of the two heads of state and the outcomes of the Beijing Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation, and continuously deepen the comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership between China and Madagascar. Ntsay reaffirmed that the Malagasy side adheres to the one-China principle, and is willing to deepen practical cooperation in various fields with China.
With the theme "With the World · Shared BeiDou — Empowering the Globe," approximately 900 people, including domestic and international experts, scholars, enterprise leaders, government officials, and representatives of international organizations, attended the opening ceremony.
Return to TopBy: 本报记者 刘志强
In August, international geopolitical conflicts continued, and natural disasters occurred frequently in some domestic regions. "Under a complex environment, more proactive and effective macro policies continued to exert their force. China's economy withstood pressure and maintained an overall stable development trend, moving toward innovation and improvement." At a press conference held by the State Council Information Office on September 15, Fu Linghui, spokesperson for the National Bureau of Statistics, chief economist, and director of the Department of Comprehensive Statistics of the National Economy, introduced the performance of the national economy in August.
The economic operation presented characteristics of "stable production, stable employment, stable prices" and "rapid growth of emerging industries, rapid growth of imports and exports."
"Judging from the main indicators in August, the economic operation mainly presented the characteristics of 'three stabilities and two rapid growths.'" At the meeting, Fu Linghui gave a detailed interpretation.
Stable production. China actively increased domestic energy supply guarantees, supporting stable production. In August, the added value of industries above designated size nationwide increased by 5.2 percent year on year, accelerating by 0.7 percentage points from the previous month; the service industry production index increased by 4.1 percent year on year, maintaining overall stability.
Stable employment. In August, the surveyed urban unemployment rate nationwide was 5.3 percent, up 0.1 percentage points from the previous month. At present, employment in China's manufacturing industry is generally stable, employment in the information transmission, software, and information technology services industries has increased significantly, and employment in accommodation and catering has continued to expand driven by the development of domestic cultural tourism and leisure, playing an important role in stabilizing employment.
Stable prices. Since the beginning of this year, inflation levels in major developed economies have risen significantly. China has actively strengthened market supply guarantees, intensified the production of livelihood commodities, effectively ensured market supply, and promoted price stability. In August, consumer prices rose 0.8 percent year on year, and producer prices for industrial products rose 3.8 percent, which is at a relatively stable level from an international comparison.
Rapid growth of emerging industries. In August, the added value of high-tech manufacturing industries above designated size and digital product manufacturing industries increased by 16.7 percent and 15.7 percent year on year respectively, and new drivers of growth contributed more than 60 percent to the growth of industries above designated size. The production index of information transmission, software, and information technology services grew by 9.6 percent, contributing more than 20 percent to the growth of the service industry production index.
Rapid growth of imports and exports. In August, the total value of imports and exports of goods increased by 19.8 percent year on year. From the export perspective, China's exports of green products such as new energy vehicles and lithium batteries grew rapidly, effectively promoting the global green transformation and development. From the import perspective, China's imports from developing countries such as ASEAN, Africa, and Latin America increased substantially.
The investment structure is moving toward innovation and improvement, and the quality and efficiency of investment are continuously improving.
Since the beginning of this year, the investment trend has attracted much attention. In the first eight months, China's fixed asset investment decreased by 7.2 percent year on year. "This is the result of the combined effect of multiple factors. On the one hand, extreme weather events such as high temperatures, typhoons, and floods occurred frequently in summer, adversely affecting project construction in some regions; on the other hand, the external environment is complex and changeable, and domestically, the country is still in the process of transitioning between old and new drivers of growth, making enterprise investment decisions more cautious." Wang Guanhua, spokesperson for the National Bureau of Statistics and deputy director of the Department of Comprehensive Statistics of the National Economy, stated that the effectiveness of investment cannot simply be judged by the level of growth rate, "investment is shifting from focusing on scale expansion to placing more emphasis on scientific and technological innovation, industrial upgrading, and foundational support."
Investment is tilting toward innovation links such as research and development. In the first eight months, investment in intellectual property products increased by 9.2 percent year on year, accelerating by 0.1 percentage points from January to July, accounting for 15.2 percent of total investment, with the share up 2.3 percentage points year on year. Among them, investment in computer software and databases increased by 10.9 percent, and investment in research and development increased by 7.8 percent, together accounting for more than 95 percent of investment in intellectual property products.
Investment is concentrating in fields such as advanced manufacturing, the digital economy, and green and low-carbon development. In the first eight months, investment in high-tech industries increased by 5.2 percent year on year, accelerating by 0.2 percentage points from January to July, with the cumulative growth rate accelerating for three consecutive months, indicating that under the dual drive of policy guidance and market demand, the trend of investment concentrating in new tracks is becoming increasingly evident. The effect of the large-scale equipment renewal policy continues to manifest. In the first eight months, investment in equipment purchases increased by 9.3 percent year on year, accelerating by 0.3 percentage points from January to July, accounting for 19.5 percent of total investment.
Investment is being directed toward modern infrastructure. A number of major engineering projects, including the "six networks," have started construction one after another, and projects such as cross-regional transportation trunk lines, major energy and water conservancy projects, new infrastructure, and urban renewal are advancing in an orderly manner. In the first eight months, investment in internet and related service industries related to the "six networks" increased by 42 percent year on year, investment in air transport and water transport increased by 16.7 percent and 14.7 percent respectively, and investment in the electric power supply industry increased by 12.7 percent.
"Overall, China's investment structure is showing a development trend toward innovation and improvement, and the quality and efficiency of investment are continuously improving." Wang Guanhua stated that at present, central budget investment has basically been fully allocated, the pace of issuance and use of local government special bonds has accelerated, funds from new policy-based financial instruments will also be promptly put into use, the construction of the "six networks" is advancing in an orderly manner, and various policies are working together, which is conducive to further stimulating and releasing investment potential.
Accelerating the construction of a new model for real estate development, with effects gradually emerging.
Since the beginning of this year, various regions and departments have adhered to implementing policies based on local conditions (因城施策, yin cheng shi ce - "according to, city, implement, policy"), adjusted and optimized real estate policies, continuously controlled increments, reduced inventories, and optimized supply, revitalized existing commercial housing and resolved inventory through multiple channels, solidly promoted urban renewal, actively promoted the adjustment and optimization of the housing system, and accelerated the construction of a new model for real estate development, with effects gradually emerging. Combined with the data from the first eight months, Fu Linghui conducted an analysis.
The total volume of real estate transactions has improved somewhat. From January to August, the online-contract signing area of second-hand housing transactions reached 550 million square meters, exceeding the sales area of new housing for many consecutive months. In terms of growth rates, from January to August, the sales area of newly built commercial housing decreased by 12.1 percent year on year, while the online-contract signing area of second-hand housing transactions increased by 10.6 percent year on year. Transactions of newly built commercial housing decreased, transactions of second-hand housing increased, and the total volume of transactions in the real estate market has tended to stabilize.
The year-on-year decline in real estate transaction prices has narrowed. From the perspective of newly built residential housing, in August, among 70 large and medium-sized cities, the year-on-year decline in sales prices of newly built housing in 38 cities narrowed compared with the previous month, among which the year-on-year declines in sales prices in first-tier, second-tier, and third-tier cities narrowed by 0.2, 0.1, and 0.1 percentage points respectively compared with the previous month. From the perspective of second-hand residential housing, among 70 large and medium-sized cities, the year-on-year decline in residential sales prices in 48 cities narrowed compared with the previous month.
Inventory of newly built commercial housing continued to decline. Various regions have actively taken measures to promote the destocking of commercial housing through support policies such as housing purchase subsidies and "sell old, buy new" schemes, as well as converting inventory housing into affordable housing. At the end of August, the area of unsold newly built commercial housing nationwide decreased by 1.1 percent year on year, declining for six consecutive months since the beginning of this year, with the magnitude of the decline expanding in recent months. Among them, the area of newly built commercial housing unsold for less than three years decreased by 4.2 percent, and the effect of short-term inventory destocking is more significant.
"In recent years, the supply-demand relationship in China's real estate market has undergone major changes, and better meeting the housing needs of the people has become a new trend in the development of the real estate market." Fu Linghui believes that the implementation and implementation of policies and measures such as deepening the reform of the housing provident fund system and improving the commercial housing sales and supporting systems will help promote the transformation and development of China's real estate market and better meet the people's needs for a better life.
Return to TopBy: 刘志强
Output and consumption continued to expand, and economic growth advanced steadily; vitality was even more vigorous in industrial upgrading, digital-intelligent transformation, and foreign trade growth; energy supply assurance and production of livelihood goods were continuously strengthened, and residents' production and life were effectively guaranteed... In August, despite the impact of factors such as ongoing international geopolitical conflicts, China's economy remained generally stable, moving toward the new and the superior, demonstrating its characteristics of a solid foundation and strong resilience against shocks.
On the whole, China's economy faces certain pressures in aggregate volume and structure, but most of these problems and difficulties are temporary and transitional in nature. At the same time, it should be noted that China's economy is undergoing many positive and profound changes. For example, the development model is accelerating its shift from traditional factor-driven growth to innovation-driven growth, and new drivers of growth are developing a strong momentum through accumulation (积厚成势, ji hou cheng shi - "accumulate, thick, become, trend"), making notable contributions to economic growth. As another example, the demand structure, industrial structure, and urban-rural and regional structures are continuously upgrading, which is conducive to shaping new advantages for economic development.
Amid the changing international landscape, the main tone of "stability" in China's economy has not changed. At present, all regions and departments are accelerating the implementation of existing policies and incremental policies, and the effects are gradually becoming apparent. Let us strengthen our confidence, work hard with determination, accelerate the conversion of old and new drivers of growth, and continuously enhance the endogenous driving force of China's economy and the certainty of high-quality development.
Return to Top(Xinhua News Agency, Shijiazhuang, September 15) State Councilor Shen Yiqin on the 15th surveyed youth employment work including that of college graduates in Xiong'an New Area, Hebei, emphasizing the need to thoroughly study and implement General Secretary Xi Jinping's important speech on the high-quality construction and development of Xiong'an New Area, implement the decisions and deployments of the Party Central Committee and the State Council, closely focus on the functional positioning of the new area, improve the public employment service system, continuously strengthen the capacity to absorb employment, and assist the high-quality development of Xiong'an New Area.
Shen Yiqin successively visited the Xiong'an Planning Exhibition Center, the Human Resources Service Industry Park, China Huaneng, and the construction site of the start-up area's urban construction, among others, to conduct on-the-spot surveys of grassroots public employment services, youth employment including that of college graduates, and employment absorption by projects under construction. She pointed out that planning and constructing Xiong'an New Area is a major decision and deployment made by the Party Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core, and is a long-term plan for a millennium (千年大计, qian nian da ji - "thousand, year, great, plan") and a major national affair. At present, the new area faces unprecedented development opportunities, providing a broad stage for workers of all kinds.
Shen Yiqin emphasized that human resources and social security departments should vigorously support the high-quality construction and development of Xiong'an New Area, deeply implement the action to stabilize employment, expand capacity, and improve quality, support industries and enterprises with strong employment absorption capacity in laying out and developing in the new area, and support college graduates and other young people in going to Xiong'an for employment and entrepreneurship. It is necessary to improve a precise and efficient public employment service system, actively introduce and cultivate high-quality human resources service institutions, and expand the supply of high-quality employment services. Give full play to the advantages of key enterprises to absorb more college graduates for employment, and support key projects and major projects in absorbing more migrant workers for employment. Adapt to the industrial layout to carry out vocational skills training, deliver more high-quality skilled talents needed for development to Xiong'an, and promote high-quality and full employment.
Return to TopBy: 本报记者 李 纵
Lianzhou in northern Guangdong, with its vast and verdant mountain ranges. Deep within the Yao'an Yao Ethnic Township of Lianzhou City, Qingyuan, Guangdong, Tianxin Village is nestled among bamboo seas and green mountains.
"During the summer vacation, almost every day study tour groups come to the village to pay tribute to the revolutionary martyrs and learn about Tianxin Village's story in the Red Army's Long March," said Pan Meiyan, secretary of the Tianxin Village Party General Branch.
In December 1934, the 34th Division of the Fifth Army Corps, which served as the rearguard of the Central Red Army's Long March, completed its task of covering the main force's river crossing in the bloody Battle of the Xiang River, but was then intercepted by a powerful enemy and suffered heavy casualties. After Division Commander Chen Shuxiang was wounded and captured, he demonstrated his unyielding resolve through extreme suffering (断肠明志, duan chang ming zhi - "intestines, break; will, clarify"), at just 29 years of age. The remaining troops of the Red Army's 34th Division made their way into the Yao ethnic mountain areas of Lianzhou in northern Guangdong. In early January 1935, more than 90 soldiers retreated to Qianniu Ridge in Tianxin Village to camp for the night. It was the depths of winter, with rain and snow falling together, and an enemy several times their number tracked them down and launched an attack on our forces. The Red Army relied on the favorable terrain to resist bravely, fighting fiercely from morning until dusk, killing more than 10 of the enemy, while 6 soldiers died a heroic death.
When the smoke of battle cleared, the fallen soldiers were buried together on the slopes of Qianniu Ridge. In 2017, Li Liuwang, head of the Tianxin Village villagers' group, led the villagers in repairing this unnamed martyrs' tomb, carrying stones on their shoulders and backs to build the stone steps up the mountain and erect a tombstone. "We erected a tombstone for the martyrs so that the children will remember this history and carry forward the spirit of the Long March," Li Liuwang said. From that year on, the villagers spontaneously designated the ninth day of the fifth lunar month each year as "Red Army Festival."
"'Red Army Festival' is the biggest event of the year in our village," Li Liuwang said. On that day each year, at 8 a.m., the sound of gongs and drums rings out at the village entrance, the lion dance troupe makes its way through the village, every household comes out at the sound, and the whole village, men and women, old and young, carries sacrificial offerings and sets out toward the Red Army martyrs' tomb.
Before the Red Army tomb, villagers lay flowers and bow, Party members line up facing the tombstone and reaffirm their oath of admission to the Party, and Young Pioneers stand in neat formation and salute solemnly. After the ceremony, the villagers sit together to share a meal and chat about everyday matters, while the elders tell the younger generation the stories of the Red Army from those days.
Around the time of the Long March, six Red Army units in succession left their fighting footprints in Lianzhou. The local people, at the risk of their own lives, served as guides for the Red Army, delivered intelligence, and treated the wounded and sick, writing a moving chapter of the unity of the military and the people (军民一心, jun min yi xin - "army, people; one, heart") and sharing the same fate in both life and death (生死与共, sheng si yu gong - "life, death; and, together").
Villager Li Zhibiao is the grandson of Li Qicai, who served as a Red Army guide in those days, and he has listened to his grandfather's stories of the Red Army since childhood. Back then, two scouts of the Red Army's 34th Division were detained by local armed forces because they were unfamiliar with the terrain, and Li Qicai took the initiative to relay messages back and forth for the Red Army and coordinate their rescue. On one occasion, bandits entered the village to loot, and the Red Army drove the bandits back in one stroke. Afterwards, Li Qicai brought out two barrels of kerosene to give to the Red Army, but was politely declined. "No one is as good as the Red Army" — this phrase has been remembered by three generations of the Li family.
"Our village has been incorporated into the Long March National Cultural Park, and 11 red tourism sites have been built, including the martyrs' tomb mountain trail and the memorial square, and the Tianxin Mini Museum and the waterfront red rest station have also been completed one after another," Pan Meiyan said. By remembering the sacrifice and dedication of their forebears, the great spirit of the Long March is passed down from generation to generation here.
Return to Top(People's Daily, Beijing, September 15) (Reporter Li Xinping) On September 15, the ultra-large-diameter slurry balance shield tunneling machine "China Railway No. 1662" rolled off the production line in Zhengzhou, Henan Province. Its diameter is 16.68 meters, making it the largest-diameter shield tunneling machine independently developed by our country. It will be used for the tunnel construction of the G4001 connecting line passing beneath Dongpu Reservoir in Hefei, Anhui Province.
It is understood that the shield tunneling section of this tunnel is approximately 2.9 kilometers long, adopting a double-tube, double-deck structural design. The shield machine not only has a large working face, but also must operate on steep slopes and sharp curves, making the construction environment extremely complex and placing extremely high demands on the equipment's tunneling control precision and attitude adjustment capability.
The "China Railway No. 1662" shield tunneling machine has an overall length of 125 meters and weighs approximately 4,800 tons. For such a "big fellow" piece of equipment, the propulsion system is configured with hydraulic floating support devices, and is also equipped with a high-precision guidance system and a segment selection system, which together ensure that the shield machine can turn nimbly.
Return to Top(Xinhua News Agency, Beijing, September 15) On September 15, Vice President Han Zheng attended the welcome banquet of the 13th Beijing Xiangshan Forum and delivered a speech.
Han Zheng stated that the current world is undergoing accelerated evolution of a century of profound changes, with the international situation marked by turbulence and interwoven transformations. Facing changes of the world, of the times, and of history, President Xi Jinping has put forward the vision of building a community with a shared future for mankind and four major global initiatives, pointing the way for solving the common problems facing humanity. Although the world today faces complex challenges, the trend of the times toward peace, development, cooperation, and win-win outcomes is unstoppable, the general trend toward multipolarity and economic globalization is irreversible, the desire of people of all countries to achieve development and security is more urgent, and the call for international fairness and justice is stronger.
Han Zheng put forward four suggestions. First, uphold the purposes and principles of the UN Charter, uphold sovereign equality, oppose interference in internal affairs, oppose the use or threat of force at every turn, and prevent the world from regressing to the law of the jungle where the strong prey on the weak (弱肉强食, ruo rou qiang shi - "weak, flesh; strong, eat").
Second, uphold true multilateralism, respect the development paths and social systems independently chosen by the people of all countries, respect the legitimate security concerns of all countries, and build a more inclusive, fair, and sustainable model of global governance.
Third, uphold the resolution of differences and disputes through dialogue and consultation, support all efforts conducive to the peaceful resolution of crises, enhance mutual trust, resolve disputes, and promote security through dialogue, and prevent conflicts from escalating and spreading.
Fourth, uphold a people-centered approach and the use of technology for good. In the face of booming emerging technologies, it is necessary to accelerate the improvement of governance rules in emerging fields such as artificial intelligence, cyberspace, and outer space, strengthen openness and cooperation, and serve the cause of global peace and development.
Han Zheng pointed out that China, as a responsible major country and the largest developing country, has always placed its own development within the coordinate system of human development, and has made due contributions to world peace, stability, development, and prosperity through Chinese modernization.
China has always been a force for peace, actively exploring the proper way for major countries to get along in the new era, supporting the advancement of the international peace cause with concrete actions, and taking the lead in serving as a "stabilizer" for world peace.
China has always been a force for justice, resolutely safeguarding the victorious achievements of World War II and the postwar international order, opposing all schemes and acts that seek to revive militarism and endanger regional security and stability, and promoting the development of the global governance system in a more just and reasonable direction.
China has always been a force for progress, insisting on sharing opportunities and achieving win-win outcomes with the world through open development, jointly advancing an equal and orderly multipolar world and a universally beneficial and inclusive economic globalization, and promoting exchanging and learning from one another (交流互鉴, jiao liu hu jian - "exchange, interact; mutual, learn from each other") among different civilizations.
Han Zheng stated that since its founding 20 years ago, the Beijing Xiangshan Forum has always upheld the concept of "equality, openness, inclusiveness, and mutual learning," and has played an important role in consolidating security consensus, promoting defense cooperation, and maintaining regional peace and stability. This year's forum, themed "Consolidating Consensus for Common Security and Governance," has important practical significance. It is hoped that the guests attending the forum will conduct in-depth exchanges during the forum and make new contributions to promoting international security cooperation and safeguarding world peace and stability.
Vice Chairman of the Central Military Commission Zhang Shengmin and Minister of National Defense Dong Jun attended the welcome banquet.
Official representatives from nearly 100 countries, regions, and international organizations attending the forum participated in the banquet.
Return to TopFrom September 12 to 13, President Xi Jinping, at the invitation of India, attended the 18th BRICS Summit in India. During the visit, President Xi Jinping joined other BRICS leaders in discussing major plans for development and charting a new chapter of cooperation, and held in-depth talks with Indian Prime Minister Modi, setting the direction for China-India relations, which drew wide attention from international public opinion. Media reports from multiple countries noted that the series of important initiatives and propositions put forward by China will enhance the effectiveness of the BRICS cooperation mechanism, further expand its influence among Global South countries, and are of great significance for promoting the unity and self-strengthening of the Global South.
"Combining China's own development with helping Global South countries enhance their capacity"
President Xi Jinping attended the first and second sessions of the 18th BRICS Summit and delivered important speeches titled "Shouldering the Responsibility of the Times and Striving to Be a Pioneering Force" and "Consolidating the Foundation of BRICS Cooperation and Strengthening the Force of the Global South" respectively, proposing that BRICS countries play the role of "four pioneers" and putting forward five initiatives for deepening BRICS cooperation, charting the course for the high-quality development of "Greater BRICS Cooperation."
Cuba's Prensa Latina news agency reported that since the establishment of the BRICS cooperation mechanism 20 years ago, China has firmly promoted cooperative development, united the Global South, and contributed to the stability and development of the world. At this year's BRICS Summit, China put forward five initiatives on open-source and inclusive artificial intelligence, trade and investment facilitation, digital industry cooperation, intelligent manufacturing cooperation, and talent cultivation through science and technology, and stated that it will promote high-quality development and expand high-standard opening up, so that China's development opportunities will benefit more countries. The report held that the series of important initiatives put forward by China at this summit "pointed the way for BRICS cooperation to achieve steady and long-term progress."
Jordan's Al-Rai newspaper commented that the important initiatives proposed by President Xi Jinping at the BRICS Summit show that China has always "combined its own development with helping Global South countries enhance their capacity" and "combined economic cooperation with the shared responsibility of maintaining peace," providing inspiration for countries to explore development paths suited to their own national conditions.
Britain's Reuters reported that BRICS countries focus on cooperation in political, security, economic, financial and other fields. At this summit, China put forward multiple initiatives covering artificial intelligence, trade and investment and other fields, aiming to deepen cooperation among BRICS countries and other emerging economies and build BRICS into an effective platform for promoting the development of the Global South.
South Africa's national broadcaster quoted South African President Ramaphosa as saying that South Africa supports China's proposed initiative on open-source and inclusive artificial intelligence. BRICS countries should establish a cooperative, secure and inclusive artificial intelligence framework, so as to meet the broad needs of the Global South for technology sharing.
"Of great significance to the unity and self-strengthening of the Global South"
During this summit, President Xi Jinping put forward four important propositions for strengthening the force of the Global South: jointly uphold international rule of law and ensure equal application of international law and international rules; hold high the banner of multilateralism and safeguard the authority and role of the United Nations; adhere to the people-centered development philosophy and promote the implementation of the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development; and jointly advance security governance and jointly address traditional and non-traditional security threats.
Pakistan's Pakistan Today published a special article stating that BRICS leaders highly commended the achievements of the BRICS cooperation mechanism over the past 20 years, believing that the mechanism is "a platform with broad representativeness and enormous development potential." Against the backdrop of escalating geopolitical conflicts and rising unilateralism, "BRICS countries have the responsibility to speak for the Global South, uphold multilateralism, and support the United Nations in playing its central role."
Ghana's Modern Ghana website reported that the BRICS cooperation mechanism has brought new options to Africa. This cooperation platform of the world's most influential emerging markets and developing countries provides Global South countries with more options in seeking development financing.
The UAE's Al Ain News reported that the series of important initiatives put forward by China this time will enhance the effectiveness of the BRICS cooperation mechanism, further expand its influence among Global South countries, and promote the development of "Greater BRICS Cooperation" into a platform for practical cooperation in trade, artificial intelligence, supply chains, investment and other fields.
Mexico's La Jornada reported that President Xi Jinping's important speeches are "of great significance to the unity and self-strengthening of the Global South, and point the way for it to become a stable and positive force in today's turbulent world."
"Promoting China-India relations to move a step further in a pragmatic and stable direction"
Following the meetings in Kazan and Tianjin, President Xi Jinping held another bilateral meeting with Prime Minister Modi, which drew wide attention from the international community. The two leaders had candid and in-depth exchanges of views on strategic, long-term and directional issues concerning China and India, and reached important consensus on China and India being partners.
India's The Hindu reported that the leaders of India and China welcomed the steady progress of bilateral relations and emphasized viewing and developing India-China relations from a strategic height and long-term perspective. The report quoted India's Ministry of External Affairs as saying that the two leaders agreed that while addressing challenges, both sides must continue to expand consensus to resolve regional and global issues.
"The significance of the improvement and development of China-India relations goes far beyond the bilateral scope, and the BRICS cooperation mechanism will benefit from it." Brazil's 247 News website published an article saying that the populations of China and India together exceed 2.8 billion, and both countries play important roles in BRICS and the G20. China-India cooperation is very important for deepening Global South cooperation and promoting world multipolarity.
Singapore's The Straits Times reported, citing the view of Lu Minghui, associate professor of the Public Policy and Global Affairs Programme at Nanyang Technological University in Singapore, that the meeting between the Chinese and Indian leaders this time "promotes China-India relations to move a step further in a pragmatic and stable direction," and expressed the hope that the two countries will maintain the momentum of communication established at this meeting and implement follow-up actions.
(People's Daily, Beijing, Bangkok, Mexico City, Berlin, Rio de Janeiro, Islamabad, Dubai, New Delhi, Johannesburg, Cairo, September 15; reporters Guan Haoyu, Yang Yi, Cheng Shijie, Liu Zhonghua, Shi Yuanhao, Zhao Yipu, Wang Xuchen, Yuan Jirong, Zou Song, Shen Xiaoxiao)
Return to TopBy: 王 擎
In 2021, at the commemorative summit marking the 30th anniversary of the establishment of dialogue relations between China and ASEAN, President Xi Jinping and the leaders of ASEAN countries jointly announced the establishment of the China-ASEAN Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, becoming a new milestone in the history of bilateral relations. Over the past five years, under the strategic guidance of President Xi Jinping and the leaders of ASEAN countries, China and ASEAN, guided by the goal of building a China-ASEAN community with a shared future and with the shared vision of building a peaceful, safe and secure, prosperous, beautiful, and amicable "Five Common Homes," have driven China-ASEAN cooperation to walk at the forefront, proceed steadily, and advance with swift steps, achieving abundant and fruitful achievements (累累硕果, lei lei shuo guo - "many, many, large, fruit"), benefiting more than 2 billion people on both sides, and making important contributions to peace, stability, development, and prosperity of the region and even the world.
Strengthening strategic mutual trust and carrying forward good-neighborly friendship. The two sides accommodate each other's major concerns, respect each other's development paths, maintain close communication and coordination in international and regional affairs, and jointly uphold multilateralism and international fairness and justice. China firmly supports ASEAN community-building, supports ASEAN's central role in regional cooperation, and actively participates in ASEAN-led East Asian cooperation mechanisms. The two sides have strengthened defense, law enforcement, and judicial cooperation, jointly combating terrorism, drug smuggling, human trafficking, telecommunications and cyber fraud, and other various types of transnational crime.
Adhering to mutually beneficial outcomes (互利共赢, hu li gong ying - "mutual, benefit, together, win") and sharing the dividends of cooperation. In 2025, the bilateral trade volume between China and ASEAN exceeded the 1 trillion US dollar mark for the first time; China has remained ASEAN's largest trading partner for 17 consecutive years, and ASEAN has been China's largest trading partner for 6 consecutive years. The cumulative two-way investment between China and ASEAN has exceeded 515 billion US dollars. A number of major cooperation projects, such as the China-Laos Railway, the Jakarta-Bandung High-Speed Railway, the Malaysia East Coast Rail Link, and the "Two Countries, Twin Parks" projects between China and Malaysia and between China and Indonesia, have achieved good economic and social effects. The Protocol to Upgrade the China-ASEAN Free Trade Area (Version 3.0) has been officially signed, and the two sides have also created a new model of cross-regional cooperation through the ASEAN-China-Gulf Cooperation Council Summit.
Upholding helping and supporting each other in times of need (守望相助, shou wang xiang zhu - "guard, watch, mutually, help") and jointly meeting difficulties and challenges. The two sides united and coordinated in fighting the COVID-19 pandemic; China provided ASEAN with a cumulative total of over 600 million doses of vaccines and a large amount of anti-epidemic supplies, helping ASEAN build an epidemic prevention barrier. In March last year, when Myanmar was hit by a once-in-a-century major earthquake, China quickly extended a helping hand, becoming the first country to dispatch a rescue team, the first to rescue trapped survivors, the first to set up a shelter center in the earthquake-stricken area, and also the country that dispatched the largest number of rescue teams and personnel. China has also repeatedly extended a helping hand to ASEAN countries ravaged by typhoons and floods, interpreting with concrete actions the connotation of a community with a shared future. In July this year, the China-ASEAN Foreign Ministers' Meeting issued a joint statement, in which the two sides will strengthen regional energy cooperation and jointly address the impact of the prolonged spillover of the Middle East situation on the region.
Strengthening exchanging and learning from each other (交流互鉴, jiao liu hu jian - "exchange, mutual, learn from") and jointly promoting people-to-people bonds. Guided by the 2024-2025 China-ASEAN Year of People-to-People Exchanges, the two sides have held nearly 200 high-level, high-popularity events, building a comprehensive, multi-tiered, and broad-based framework for exchanges and cooperation. The "Lancang-Mekong Visa" and the "ASEAN Visa" have been officially implemented, allowing people to travel back and forth as frequently as "visiting relatives and neighbors."
All that is beneficial accords with the way of the world, advancing in step with the times (与时偕行, yu shi xie xing - "with, time, together, walk"). Currently, China and ASEAN countries are all at a critical period of development and revitalization. Facing the intertwined and volatile international situation, the two sides must respond to emerging challenges and uncertainties with greater solidarity, continuously advance the joint building of the "Five Common Homes," forge a higher-level strategic partnership, build a closer community with a shared future, and create a more favorable strategic environment for their respective development and long-term peace and prosperity of the region. It is necessary to further unleash the potential for cooperation, open up new space for cooperation, cultivate new drivers of growth, and benefit the people of all countries in the region with closer cooperation. It is believed that with the joint efforts of both sides, China-ASEAN cooperation will continue to serve as the engine of Asia's development and revitalization, the model of Asia-Pacific regional cooperation, and the benchmark of Global South solidarity and self-reliance, injecting strong momentum of lasting stability, prosperity, and goodness into a turbulent and changing world.
(The author is China's Ambassador to ASEAN.)
Return to Top(People's Daily, Beijing, September 15) Member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Minister of Foreign Affairs Wang Yi met with Secretary-General of ASEAN Kao Kim Hourn in Beijing on the 15th.
Wang Yi said that China attaches great importance to ASEAN and regards ASEAN as a priority direction for its neighborhood diplomacy. China will continue to support ASEAN unity and community building, support ASEAN's central position in the regional architecture, and is willing to work with ASEAN to promote the building of a closer China-ASEAN community with a shared future. China is willing to work with ASEAN countries to properly implement the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea and advance the consultation process on the Code of Conduct in the South China Sea.
Kao Kim Hourn said that China is a partner that ASEAN trusts and relies on. ASEAN is willing to continue deepening and expanding practical cooperation with China and jointly safeguard peace and stability in the South China Sea.
Return to TopBy: 本报记者 张 枨
The 16th China-Mongolia Press Forum, co-hosted by the All-China Journalists Association and the Mongolian Journalists Association, with the Information Office of the People's Government of the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region serving as organizer, was recently held in Hohhot. More than 120 guests and representatives from the journalism communities of China and Mongolia attended the forum. Centering on the theme "Media Responsibility: Enhancing Mutual Understanding and Friendship Between the Two Peoples," 14 representatives delivered thematic exchange speeches. Participants unanimously agreed that the media serve as bridges for exchanges between countries and bonds for connecting the hearts of the people; China and Mongolia are neighboring countries sharing a common border (山水相连, shan shui xiang lian - "mountain, water, mutually, connect"), and deepening exchanges and cooperation in the field of journalism between the two sides will contribute media strength to advancing the development of the China-Mongolia comprehensive strategic partnership.
"China and Mongolia are connected by shared mountains and rivers,supporting and helping each other (守望相助, shou wang xiang zhu - "guard, watch, mutually, help"),and the friendly exchanges between the two peoples have a friendship or tradition with a long and continuous history (源远流长, yuan yuan liu chang - "source, distant, flow, long")." Cui Shixin, Secretary of the Party Leadership Group of the All-China Journalists Association, said in his address that, since its inception, the China-Mongolia Press Forum has, through more than 10 years of dedicated cultivation, established itself as an important regular platform for communication and dialogue between the journalism communities of the two countries. Generations of journalists have exchanged ideas and learned from each other (交流互鉴, jiao liu hu jian - "exchange, mutually, learn from")and worked together toward a common goal (携手同行, xie shou tong xing - "hold hands, together, walk")here, continuously drawing closer the psychological distance between the peoples of the two countries. The forum has become a distinctive brand that helps the China-Mongolia comprehensive strategic partnership achieve long-term success through steady and stable progress (行稳致远, xing wen zhi yuan - "walk, steadily, reach, far")and promotes the connection of hearts between the two peoples.
Nyingjiamucuo, President of the Mongolian Journalists Association, said: "The forum conducts in-depth discussions on important topics such as media exchange and cooperation as well as mutual understanding between the peoples of the two countries, which is of great significance for advancing Mongolia-China media cooperation to a new level and further enhancing mutual understanding and exchanges between journalists of the two countries."
China and Mongolia have continuously expanded the breadth and depth of media cooperation, launching brand activities such as the China-Mongolia Press Forum and the China-Mongolia Joint Media Interview, and normalizing cooperation in jointly produced columns, talent training, and other areas. "After years of dedicated efforts, Mongolia-China media exchanges have accumulated a deep foundation. The two sides regularly hold seminars and conferences, mutually invite each other to participate in various activities, forming a sound mechanism of interaction." said Menkhtul, Editor-in-Chief of Mongolia's Mongol Messenger newspaper.
"Only when the peoples of the two countries can see themselves in each other's stories and understand the other side will state-to-state relations gain a deep and enduring social foundation." said Bai Long, Deputy Editor-in-Chief of the Global Times.
At the forum, relevant local governments and media organizations from China and Mongolia signed a number of cooperation agreements. During the forum, the 2026 "China-Mongolia Friendship News Works" exhibition was held, and certificates of honor were presented to journalist representatives who created the "China-Mongolia Friendship News Works." The news reports featured in the exhibition came from the China-Mongolia Joint Media Interview activity, vividly documenting the wonderful moments of China-Mongolia good-neighborly friendship and practical cooperation.
Delgermaa, Editor-in-Chief of Mongolia's Dure newspaper, said: "An objective and truthful report, an interview conducted with respect, and the sincere friendship forged between journalists of the two countries can all become starting points for deepening bilateral friendly relations."
"Today, roads, railways, and ports between Mongolia and China have achieved physical connectivity; we media professionals must strive to build bridges connecting the hearts of the people." said Dajimaa, Executive Station Director of Mongolia's Malchin Television.
"This forum has provided a platform for the two countries to deepen cooperation in the field of online journalism and jointly carry out project cooperation." said Uranchimeg, Director of Mongolia's Asu.mn website, adding that China and Mongolia should join forces and work together to create more truthful, high-quality, and diverse news content.
After the forum concluded, the Mongolian press delegation successively visited the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region and Sichuan Province for exchanges and study tours.
In Hohhot, Inner Mongolia, the delegation visited Inner Mongolia Radio and Television Station and Inner Mongolia Daily, discussing the future of media innovation and cooperation. "This is my first time participating in the China-Mongolia Press Forum, and my visit to Inner Mongolia this time has deeply inspired me—for example, the application of artificial intelligence technology throughout the entire process of news gathering, editing, and production at Chinese television media is something worth our study and emulation." said Uranchimeg, President of Mongolia's Reelnews.mn website, to reporters.
In Chengdu, Sichuan Province, the delegation gained close-up understanding of China's research achievements and industrial applications in fields such as healthcare, digital economy, humanoid robots, and others, experiencing the strong pulse of China's high-quality development driven by scientific and technological innovation.
"During the visit, I not only had the opportunity to enjoy up close the wonderful performance of Sichuan opera face-changing, but also truly felt the widespread application and innovative vitality of cutting-edge technologies such as artificial intelligence." said Tselemün, Vice President of the Mongolian Journalists Association.
"I truly felt the surging vitality of an open China. China's continuous advancement of high-quality Belt and Road cooperation has not only provided an important platform for economic and trade cooperation among participating countries, but has also become a bridge for the peoples of participating countries to know each other and grow close." said Bayarbaatar, Director of the Editorial Office of Mongolia's Daily News.
"Media exchange and cooperation are a key force in advancing the China-Mongolia comprehensive strategic partnership toward steady and sustained progress." said Gangdorig, representative of the Mongolian Journalists Association, adding: "We look forward to journalists of the two countries working shoulder to shoulder, leveraging the strengths of media communication, continuously consolidating the foundation of public opinion in both countries, and contributing media strength to China-Mongolia good-neighborly friendship and a situation where all parties achieve mutual benefits (互利共赢, hu li gong ying - "mutual, benefit, together, win")."
Return to Top(People's Daily, Beijing, September 15) (Reporter He Zhaoyu) Shi Taifeng, member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and head of the Organization Department of the CPC Central Committee, met in Beijing on the 15th with Chan Chun Sing, Singapore's Minister for the Public Service and Minister for Defence.
Shi Taifeng stated that China is willing to work with Singapore to earnestly implement the important consensus of the leaders of the two countries, strengthen strategic communication, deepen practical cooperation, and promote greater development of the all-round, high-quality, forward-looking partnership between China and Singapore. Shi Taifeng briefed on the situation of the CPC's in-depth study and implementation of Xi Jinping's thought on party building and the conduct of study and education on establishing and practicing a correct view of political achievements.
Chan Chun Sing stated that Singapore is willing to strengthen exchanging ideas and learning from each other (交流互鉴, jiaoliu hujian - "exchange, mutual learn") with China, deepen cooperation in areas such as talent training, and better benefit the people of both countries.
Return to Top(Xinhua News Agency, Beijing, September 15) (Reporter Zhao Hanze) On September 15, the Chinese People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries and the ASEAN Beijing Committee jointly hosted a reception in Beijing to celebrate the 5th anniversary of the establishment of the China-ASEAN Comprehensive Strategic Partnership and the 35th anniversary of the establishment of China-ASEAN dialogue relations. Peng Qinghua, Vice Chairman of the NPC Standing Committee, Kao Kim Hourn, Secretary-General of ASEAN, and diplomatic envoys of ASEAN countries to China attended the event.
Return to Top(Xinhua News Agency, Beijing, September 15) (Reporter: Mei Changwei) Minister of National Defense Dong Jun on the 15th in Beijing held talks respectively with Minister of Defense of Myanmar Tun Aung, Secretary-General of ASEAN Kao Kim Hourn, Minister of Defense (主管部长) of Brunei Darussalam Halbi, Minister of Defense of Belarus Khrenin, Minister of Defense of Azerbaijan Gasanov, Minister of Defense of Kyrgyzstan Mukambetov, and Minister of Defense of Armenia Papikyan, who were attending the 13th Beijing Xiangshan Forum.
Dong Jun expressed welcome to everyone for attending the Beijing Xiangshan Forum. He said that, over the 20 years since the forum's founding, it has consistently upheld the original aspiration of equality, openness, inclusiveness, and mutual learning, focused on gathering wisdom and suggestions to solve problems, sought peace and promoted cooperation, and continuously contributed wisdom and strength to common security in the world. At present, the international situation is one in which changes and chaos are intertwined (变乱交织, bian luan jiao zhi - "change, chaos, interweave"), and factors of instability and uncertainty are increasingly growing; partners who connect with each other through hearts and treat each other with utmost sincerity (以诚相待, yi cheng xiang dai - "use, sincerity, toward, treat") are all the more something rare and highly valuable (难能可贵, nan neng ke gui - "difficult, to do, can, precious"). The Chinese military is willing to join hands with all parties to jointly practice the concept of a community with a shared future for mankind and the four major global initiatives, continuously deepen practical cooperation, jointly respond to global security challenges, and resolutely safeguard world and regional peace and stability.
Tun Aung said that Myanmar is willing to join hands with China to implement the important consensus of the two heads of state, strengthen practical exchanges and cooperation between the two militaries, safeguard peace and stability in border areas, and promote the building of the China-Myanmar community with a shared future to go deeper and more practical.
Kao Kim Hourn congratulated the Beijing Xiangshan Forum on its 20th anniversary, reaffirmed that ASEAN firmly pursues the One-China policy, always regards China as an important contributor to regional peace, stability, development, and prosperity, and is willing to work with China to promote more achievements in defense exchanges and cooperation between the two sides.
Halbi said that the relationship between the two militaries is an important pillar of the relations between the two countries, and Brunei is willing to deepen practical cooperation with China in various fields such as personnel training and delegation exchanges, strengthen coordination and collaboration within multilateral frameworks, and jointly safeguard regional peace and prosperity.
Khrenin said that the Beijing Xiangshan Forum has already become an important platform for international security and defense dialogue. Belarus is willing to strengthen exchangesand cooperation with China in fields such as joint training and military education, injecting new substance into the all-weather comprehensive strategic partnership between the two countries.
Gasanov said that Azerbaijan has always regarded China as a reliable partner, is willing to continue mutual support with China on issues involving each other's core interests and major concerns, and further open up new prospects for Azerbaijan-China defense and security cooperation.
Mukambetov said that Kyrgyzstan attaches great importance to developing relations with China, and is willing to work together with China, following the direction charted by the two heads of state, to expand practical cooperation in various fields including defenseand security, continuously elevating the level of relations between the two countries and the two militaries.
Papikyan said that the Armenia-China strategic partnership has brought new opportunities for cooperation between the two militaries, and Armenia is willing to expand new space for cooperation with China in fields such as exchange visits and personnel training, explore new directions for cooperation, and better benefit the peoples of the two countries.
Return to Top(Xinhua News Agency, Urumqi, September 15) Zhang Qingwei, Vice Chairman of the NPC Standing Committee, attended the opening ceremony of the 2026 Shanghai Cooperation Organization Digital Economy Forum in Urumqi, Xinjiang, on the morning of the 15th, and delivered a keynote speech.
Zhang Qingwei pointed out that President Xi Jinping's important speech at the 2026 Bishkek Summit has pointed out the direction for deepening SCO digital economy cooperation. He expressed the hope that all parties would uphold the Shanghai Spirit, implement the important consensus reached at the Council of Heads of State, deepen policy coordination and jointly build long-term cooperation mechanisms, strengthen connectivity of infrastructure and jointly build digital infrastructure, promote innovation for the benefit of the people and share the fruits of digital development, adhere to governing the country through good laws and effective governance (良法善治, liang fa shan zhi - "good law, good governance"), and jointly safeguard the order of digital security, striving to write a new chapter in SCO digital economy cooperation.
The forum was co-hosted by the National Data Administration and the People's Government of the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. Approximately 500 people, including Chinese and foreign government officials, enterprise leaders, and experts and scholars from universities and think tanks, attended the opening ceremony.
Return to TopArtificial intelligence is a new domain of human development, not the patent of major powers, and still less should it degenerate into an arena for zero-sum games.
Recently, the U.S. National Security Agency, the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation jointly issued a notice, accusing Chinese AI enterprises of conducting "industrial-scale" distillation against the United States, obtaining U.S. frontier model capabilities, and proposing related defensive measures recommendations to U.S. companies. This accusation by the U.S. side is lacking any factual basis or evidence (于事无凭, yu shi wu ping - "at, matter, no, evidence") and having no legal basis (于法无据, yu fa wu ju - "at, law, no, basis"), and in essence politicizes and instrumentalizes distillation, a normal technical and commercial issue within the industry, while practicing double standards in practice, once again exposing its consistent logic of pursuing technological hegemony, engaging in computing-power monopoly, and suppressing competition in the field of artificial intelligence. China firmly opposes this.
Distillation is a common practice among various models in the field of artificial intelligence for mutual learning, and is essentially a neutral technical means, used by global model enterprises including U.S. companies. Through high-performing"teacher models" guiding lighter-weight"student models," distillation technology can improve model training efficiency, achieve more efficient utilization of human knowledge, and has positive significance for countries developing AI industries, unleashing technological potential, bridging development gaps, and benefiting developing countries and the broader public more extensively.
China encourages open-source, openness, cooperation, and sharing, opening open-source models to global enterprises including U.S. companies, providing convenience for related model research and development. U.S. companies' related model R&D reports also disclose that they have distilled Chinese models extensively. By the U.S. side's logic, when American enterprises use distillation it is a"common industry practice," and when Chinese enterprises employ it it is an"attack behavior" — this is completely blatant and undisguised (赤裸裸, chi luo luo - "red, naked, naked") double standards.
The U.S. side elevating a common industry practice into a national security issue is, under the name of cracking down on distillation, in reality practicing industrial monopoly. For a long time, certain American AI enterprises have abused their competitive advantage, setting broad geographic restrictions and other overbearing clauses in user agreements, attempting to exclude competitors from countries such as China from the global technology ecosystem, monopolizing the dividends of AI development. This time, the U.S. side's security agencies directly issued the notice, bundling individual corporate and capital interests with national security, mobilizing state coercive institutions to interfere in normal commercial activities — this is undoubtedly endorsing these overbearing clauses. Over a period of time, the U.S. executive and legislative branches have frequently issued threats of sanctions and suppression against Chinese enterprises, with restrictive measures extending step by step from chip controls and computing-power blockades to model access and other areas. The U.S. side's willingness to mobilize state power to maintain technological hegemony and computing-power monopoly stems from a deep anxiety over the decline of its own technological hegemony, and what it upholds remains the hegemonic logic that"only the United States may win alone, not humanity's shared win."
However, containment and blockade have never stopped the pace of technological progress. The development of China's artificial intelligence is the fruit of high-level self-reliance and strength in science and technology, and also benefits from China's consistent adherence to the principles of extensive consultation, joint contribution, and shared benefits, as well as openness and cooperation. In recent years, Chinese AI enterprises have continued to make solid progress in basic algorithms, computing-power layout, scenario applications, and other areas, relying on a complete industrial system and rich application scenarios, continuously lowering the threshold for AI technology development and application, breaking down the high-price barriers erected by a few American enterprises through capital and computing power. Dennis Simon, senior fellow at the U.S. Quincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft, once said that the United States should not view openness and security as a zero-sum game, and attempting to maintain leadership by building high walls in the field of science and technology will ultimately only produce the exact opposite of the intended effect (适得其反, shi de qi fan - "suitably, get, its, opposite").
Artificial intelligence is a new domain of human development, not the patent of major powers, and still less should it degenerate into an arena for zero-sum games. Currently, the global large-model industry is at a critical juncture of technological iteration, overlapping risks, growth, and development. As major AI powers, China and the United States should handle the challenges and risks in this field with a positive and responsible attitude. The heads of state of the two countries have agreed to conduct intergovernmental dialogue on artificial intelligence, and China is willing, on the principles of equality, mutual benefit, cooperation, and win-win, to conduct constructive and professional discussions with the U.S. side through dialogue, jointly promoting the open, inclusive, universally beneficial, and virtuous development of artificial intelligence.
It is hoped that the U.S. side will work with China in the same direction, managing risks through dialogue and communication, jointly creating an open, equal, fair, and non-discriminatory environment for AI development, and promoting AI technology to benefit all humanity. However, if the U.S. side, under the name of cracking down on distillation, implements actions to contain and suppress Chinese AI enterprises, harming China's legitimate and lawful rights and interests, China will inevitably take resolute measures to counter them.
Return to Top(People's Daily, Beijing, September 15) On September 15, Liu Haixing, Minister of the International Department of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China, met in Beijing with a delegation led by Abbas, Chairman of Egypt's Nation's Protectors Party and Chairman of the House of Representatives' Committee on Defense and National Security. The two sides exchanged views on implementing the important consensus of the two heads of state, strengthening inter-party exchanges and cooperation, and advancing the building of a China-Egypt community with a shared future.
Return to Top(People's Daily, Beijing, September 15) A Foreign Ministry spokesperson announced on the 15th that Amorim, chief special adviser to the President of Brazil, will visit China from September 16 to 17, and Wang Yi, member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and director of the Office of the Central Commission for Foreign Affairs, will meet with him.
Return to Top(People's Daily, Beijing, September 15) Foreign Ministry Spokesperson announced on the 15th: Iranian Foreign Minister Araghchi will visit China on September 16, and Wang Yi, member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Minister of Foreign Affairs, will hold talks with him.
Return to TopBy: 本报记者 张天培
Recently, General Secretary Xi Jinping replied to a letter from all members of the "Zhangzhou 110" in Fujian Province, warmly encouraging them and expressing earnest expectations, hoping that all police officers will "resolve difficulties for the masses with heart and feeling, work with utmost diligence and responsibility to guard the lights of ten thousand households, and be loyal guardians of the Party and the people."
"Zhangzhou 110" is a shining name card of the public security system.
The Zhangzhou 110 Detachment of the Zhangzhou Municipal Public Security Bureau of Fujian Province is abbreviated as "Zhangzhou 110." In December 1990, "Zhangzhou 110" renamed the "110 alarm station" to the "110 alarm service station," accepting reports and requests for help from the masses around the clock, innovating the rapid-response mechanism for 110 alarm services nationwide, and pioneering the approach of placing equal emphasis on maintaining public order and serving the masses. In 1997, "Zhangzhou 110" was awarded the honorary title of "the People's 110" by the State Council.
For more than 30 years, "Zhangzhou 110" has upheld the principle that "the difficulties of the people are our difficulties, and the satisfaction of the people is our greatest wish," continuously adapting to new developments of the times and responding to new expectations of the masses. It has created the "four police, four modernizations" policing mechanism of proactive early warning, refined deployment, multi-dimensional call reception, mobile response, and intelligent command, refined service, standardized law enforcement, and professional development, striving to give the people an even greater sense of gain, happiness, and security.
——Editor
By the banks of the Jiulong River, mountains and sea lean upon each other. In Zhangzhou, Fujian, this coastal city, "Zhangzhou 110" has long become a deeply rooted symbol of safety and a benchmark of serving the people that is widely known by everyone.
Here, one story after another tells of an unchanging pursuit spanning more than 30 years; generation after generation of police officers fulfill the vow to forever be the "People's 110."
Since innovating the rapid-response mechanism for 110 alarm services nationwide in 1990, "Zhangzhou 110" has always kept the needs and expectations of the people at heart, continuously pursuing "one more second faster" in call reception and response, writing a vivid footnote for "the people's public security serves the people" through one rapid rush after another, one devoted guardianship after another, and one act of steadfast dedication after another.
"Over more than 30 years, 'Zhangzhou 110' has continuously advanced innovation in policing mechanisms, from response speed to institutional safeguards to technological empowerment. What has changed is the policing model, the equipment system, and the governance approach; what has not changed is the fundamental purpose of serving the people wholeheartedly, the responsibility and mission of guarding the safety of ten thousand households, and the true character of an iron-force team that is absolutely loyal, clean, and responsible. Entering the new era, 'Zhangzhou 110' has made unremitting efforts to make the golden signboard of 'the People's 110' shine ever brighter," said a relevant official of the Zhangzhou Municipal Public Security Bureau.
Exhausting every possible means to achieve something to ensure safety for the masses and resolve difficulties
Late at night, the bustling streets and alleys of the city gradually return to calm. During routine nighttime patrols, "Zhangzhou 110" patrol officers discovered an elderly man wandering alone on the road, walking with a staggering or unsteady gait and looking dazed, with traffic flowing past him—extremely dangerous.
The police officers immediately stepped forward to support him and patiently calmed his emotions. The elderly man was advanced in age, with declining memory, and could not clearly state his home address or family contact information. The officers did not simply persuade him to leave but instead helped him into the police car, handing him hot water and food while checking alley by alley and asking door to door along the route he had been walking. After nearly an hour of meticulous inquiries, they finally contacted the elderly man's family and safely escorted him home.
The family members expressed gratitude repeatedly: "Thanks to the police officers' timely discovery, otherwise with the dangerous roads late at night, the consequences would have been unthinkable or disastrous." What seems like an ordinary late-night duty post actually safeguarded the safety of one elderly man and the harmony of one family.
Stories of warm guardianship and resolving difficulties for the people unfold day after day or repeatedly on the streets and in the alleys—ordinary yet moving, subtle yet heartwarming.
From a public security patrol squadron of 7 people to the Zhangzhou 110 Detachment of more than 280 police officers and auxiliary police, from a simple alarm telephone to an alarm service station that places equal emphasis on response and service, over the long term, "Zhangzhou 110" has, while effectively combating crime, exhausted every possible means to achieve something to resolve difficulties for the masses and provide emergency rescue services.
The ancient city of Zhangzhou has long been known for its street layout of "nine streets and thirteen alleys," completely preserving the appearance of "pillowed on three terraces, girded by two rivers." The complex building structures and booming visitor flow also pose challenges to local public safety and public order.
To adapt to the development needs of the ancient city scenic area, two years ago, the Zhangzhou Municipal Public Security Bureau established the "Zhangzhou 110" Women's Patrol Team. Leveraging their advantages of approachable image and patient, meticulous care, they patrol on duty, resolve conflicts, and provide assistance, becoming a beautiful "police" sight in the thousand-year-old ancient city.
"My child is missing!" On the evening of August 17 this year, a man rushed anxiously toward a member of the Women's Patrol Team on duty, his voice trembling with tension. The team member calmed the man's emotions while acting quickly. The missing-person information was immediately posted to the "Neighborhood Merchant Joint Defense Group" covering more than 900 merchants in the ancient city.
The moment the information popped up on phone screens, a relay to find the child unfolded across the ancient city.
"The child is at the entrance of our shop!" In less than 5 minutes, good news came from the group. A merchant had spotted a child matching the description at the shop entrance and immediately notified the patrol team members. When the team member brought the child back to the man, he hugged the child tightly and thanked the team members repeatedly.
Such efficient coordination benefits from the "Neighborhood" merchant joint defense mechanism created by the Women's Patrol Team last year. They transformed more than 900 merchants into "thousand-mile eyes" and "downwind ears" guarding the ancient city, linking each point into a safety network.
From the first glimmer of dawn to the dead of night, groups of "Zhangzhou 110" members shuttle through the city's streets and alleys, guarding the lights of ten thousand households.
Promoting "one more second faster" in call reception and response across the entire chain
"Speed" is the innate "gene" of "Zhangzhou 110."
"Hello, this is 'Zhangzhou 110,' please speak." "Someone is causing trouble after drinking on Yingbin Road, please come quickly." "Received, the patrol team will arrive at the scene immediately!"
Behind this brief exchange is "Zhangzhou 110's" pursuit of "one more second faster."
"'Zhangzhou 110' has undergone multiple major policing reforms, from 'integration of reception and response' to 'separation of patrol and command,' from 'integration of three police functions' to 'four police, four modernizations.' Every reform has pointed to the same goal—making response more agile and handling more precise," introduced Han Zhizhong, captain of the Patrol, Special Police, and Counter-Terrorism Detachment of the Zhangzhou Municipal Public Security Bureau.
At the beginning of this year, the Third Brigade of the "Zhangzhou 110" Duty Service received an urgent alarm: inside the China Construction Bank opposite the Xiangjiang Hotel, an elderly man was handling a transfer transaction at the counter and was suspected of being defrauded.
After receiving the alarm, the police officers immediately drove to the scene. Faced with the officers' dissuasion, the elderly man remained deeply convinced of the scam and became increasingly agitated.
The officers patiently calmed his emotions while analyzing the fraudsters' tactics based on recent real cases, and simultaneously contacted the Criminal Investigation Brigade of the Xiangcheng Branch of the Zhangzhou Municipal Public Security Bureau to arrive on scene, handed over relevant leads, and promoted rapid case investigation to prevent more victims from being deceived.
In the end, the elderly man was persuaded and stopped the transfer. After the family arrived, they praised the officers' rapid response repeatedly: "'Zhangzhou 110' truly lives up to its reputation as the guardian of the people's property safety."
Three-dimensional protection, "one more second faster." In recent years, "Zhangzhou 110" has strengthened departmental integration, forming a closed loop of intelligence, analysis, early warning, command, handling, and feedback to maximize the recovery of losses for the masses.
On March 21 this year, a vehicle with suspicious behavior was driving on Tengfei Road. The driver had obscured the license plate, covered his face with a mask, and had evasive eyes, driving against traffic to block the lane. The "Zhangzhou 110" road patrol team spotted the situation and immediately signaled the vehicle to stop.
Unexpectedly, the vehicle suddenly drove against traffic into the oncoming lane, ran a red light, and fled wildly, creating a moment of great danger.
The patrol team followed closely to intercept, and the police aviation team launched a drone, pushing the suspect vehicle's escape route to all ground police units in real time.
"Four police units, one drone" coordinated air-ground operations, and the "pocket formation" was formed in seconds. From spotting the anomaly to successfully intercepting the vehicle, the entire process took less than 3 minutes.
Technology empowerment, "one more second faster." "Zhangzhou 110" continuously works on the word "speed," building a smart patrol and prevention platform and a police aviation management platform, creating policing models such as "Air 110" and "Drone+," and promoting faster, more flexible, and fairer call reception and response.
Born toward the "new," moving toward "intelligence." Under the new circumstances of the new era, "Zhangzhou 110" aims at "stopping before it happens," achieving "one more second faster," and continuously reforming and innovating in the modernization of technology empowerment, the modernization of mechanism operations, and the modernization of the co-governance system.
"Focusing on reform and innovation, the Zhangzhou Municipal Public Security Bureau has incorporated the Command and Dispatch Brigade of the Intelligence Command Center into the 'Zhangzhou 110' team, promoting the realization of 'one more second faster' across the entire chain of call reception and response, while also expanding the coverage area of 'Zhangzhou 110' to build a 'whole-domain 110' three-dimensional patrol and prevention system, further enhancing the people's sense of gain, happiness, and security," introduced a relevant official of the Zhangzhou Municipal Public Security Bureau.
Continuously enriching and expanding functions through innovation
"Not only did you handle it promptly, but you also helped us solve a long-standing difficult problem. Thank you so much!" Mr. Cao, a resident of a certain residential community, said gratefully while shaking the police officer's hand.
In the early morning of June 15 this year, the Zhangzhou 12345 convenience service hotline received a complaint from the masses that customers at two barbecue restaurants downstairs in a certain residential community were drinking and making noise late at night, with prominent problems of noise and cooking fume disturbance. Mr. Cao and several other complainants were emotionally agitated, and the shop owners used harsh words, creating a risk of escalation and conflict.
The information was immediately transferred to "Zhangzhou 110." They dispatched road police teams to the scene at the first opportunity, persuaded the noisy diners to leave, and quickly stabilized the scene. Subsequently, based on analysis of historical alarm data, the police officers found that the shop disturbance problem was recurrent and prone to intensifying conflicts, so they immediately activated the joint handling process. Relying on the local comprehensive governance center, the public security, urban management, market supervision, and other departments carried out joint rectification, addressing long-term issues such as overtime operation, noise, and cooking fume emissions at the barbecue restaurants.
"We advance emergency handling and source governance simultaneously, both resolving the urgent problems troubling the people as quickly as possible and preventing conflicts from recurring, handling the people's 'one matter' well in one go," said Zhou Yaoming, the police officer who handled this complaint.
The heartwarming resolution of "one matter" demonstrates the response speed and governance warmth of "Zhangzhou 110."
"To ensure that every appeal from the masses has someone to respond to, someone to handle it, and handle it efficiently, in recent years we have continuously optimized and expanded the list of matters for two-way transfer between 110 and 12345, improving the processes of transfer and dispatch, follow-up supervision, and closed-loop handling. At the same time, we have further promoted the connection and diversion of 110 with comprehensive governance centers in various localities, building a model of collaborative governance and diversified resolution of disputes, and promoting the resolution of appeals from the masses and the mitigation of conflict risks at the source," introduced Hong Sen, captain of the Zhangzhou 110 Detachment of the Zhangzhou Municipal Public Security Bureau.
For "Zhangzhou 110," the meaning and core of "one more second faster" are continuously expanding.
A wait spanning 21 years, a journey spanning a thousand li.
In March 2025, Shi Zhiyong, a villager of Pinghe County, sought help from the "Zhangzhou 110" Family Reunion Team. "My mother Shi Manghua has been missing for 21 years. I don't know if there is still any hope of finding her," Shi Zhiyong asked tentatively.
After inquiring about the basic situation, the Family Reunion Team immediately initiated the reunion procedure, and through facial comparison found that a woman in Lingbi County, Anhui, bore a high resemblance to Shi Manghua, who had been missing for 21 years.
It turned out that Shi Manghua had developed a mental illness after marriage, and after accidentally going missing, she drifted through multiple places before finally settling in Anhui.
After confirming her identity, the Family Reunion Team picked up Shi Zhiyong and drove 15 hours to Anhui, enduring a bumpy journey and several twists and turns, finally bringing Shi Manghua, who had been missing for 21 years, back home.
"The road to reunion was full of hardships. It was the steadfast persistence and full assistance of the 'Zhangzhou 110' police officers that allowed mother and son to be reunited," Shi Zhiyong said with tears in his eyes.
To help separated families reunite, "Zhangzhou 110" extended its work functions to the field of family reunions, officially establishing the "Zhangzhou 110" Family Reunion Team on January 10, 2025. Initiator Shi Xiaojian introduced that the Family Reunion Team has currently built a nationwide joint reunion mechanism with 46 coordinating units across 21 provinces.
"Zhangzhou 110" crosses mountains and seas on foot, in exchange for the reunion of ten thousand families.
The "Zhangzhou 110" Women's Patrol Team, Family Reunion Team, Police Aviation Team... one professional team after another has been established successively, building a modern police force that adapts to the development of the times and the needs of the people. Whether it is livelihood assistance, emergency rescue, or helping vulnerable groups, "Zhangzhou 110" always achieves rapid response, extending the safety defense line to every corner of the city, allowing the masses to feel safe and happy at all times.
For more than 30 years, "Zhangzhou 110" has always upheld the original aspiration of serving the people, insisted on advancing in step with the times, continuously optimized and upgraded, and been unswerving in one's determination or purpose in being the "People's 110," becoming a banner of the national public security front.
In recent years, the national 110 system has taken "Zhangzhou 110" as its model, continuously strengthening standardized, professional, and intelligent development. The level of standardization of 110 is getting higher and higher, its professional characteristics are getting stronger and stronger, its information support is getting more and more solid, and its flat response is getting faster and faster, with the people's sense of security and satisfaction steadily improving. This never-stopping hotline, 110, has gone from being little known to being widely known by everyone, from a simple telephone to a highly integrated intelligent operating system. Today it has become the number most familiar to and most trusted by the people, and the most resounding "golden signboard" of the public security organs.
Return to TopBy: 崔 妍
During the Long March, the First Front Army and the Fourth Front Army of the Red Army joined forces at Maogong in Sichuan. In light of the situation at the time, the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China convened multiple meetings and adopted resolutions firmly committing to march northward.
At the time, there were dissenting voices within the Party. Faced with such pressure, Comrade Zhu De stated firmly: "I am a Communist Party member; my duty is to carry out the Party's decisions."
For Communist Party members, resolutely implementing the decisions made and tasks assigned by Party organizations is organizational discipline. "Carrying out the Party's decisions" — this solemn commitment made when taking the oath of admission to the Party — must especially be honored through a lifetime of practice.
In order to implement the county Party committee's call to "green the entire island," Gu Wenchang led the masses in battling wind and sand, and in just three years, more than 400 hillsides and over 30,000 mu of beaches were all "clothed in green." The miracle of "turning a barren island into an oasis" stemmed from acting with swift and decisive efficiency (雷厉风行, lei lei feng xing - "thunder, lightning, wind, fast") in fulfilling one's obligations.
"Whatever the Party tells me to do, that is what I do." From Hunan to working as a worker at Anshan Iron and Steel, and then to the Gongchangling coking plant, Lei Feng willingly served as a "cog," loving whatever job he did, excelling in whatever specialty he pursued, exerting himself to the utmost (不遗余力, bu yi yu li - "not, leave, surplus, strength") and working diligently. The "cog" never rusts, embodying the fulfillment of obligations without the slightest discount.
"Forever follow the Party, listen to the Party's words." Charging fearlessly through hail of bullets, working with utmost diligence in impoverished deep mountains — times changed, posts changed, but Zhang Fuqing held fast to his conviction for decades. His words "listen to the Party's instructions" exemplify unswervingly adhering to a goal or belief (矢志不渝, shi zhi bu yu - "arrow, will, not, change") in fulfilling obligations.
Understanding "carrying out the Party's decisions" through the Party's history, one reads resolute determination, and also grasps the inevitability of our Party's success.
Why does the Party, after a century, remain in the prime of its vigor (风华正茂, feng hua zheng mao - "wind, flower, correct, lush")? By listening to the Party and following the Party, countless Party members and cadres have used their flesh and blood to embody the political gene of "loyalty to the Party," ensuring through their consistently distinct political character that the Party "never changes its color."
How can the Party continue to write miracles and create brilliance? Countless Party members genuinely believe in the Party and truly support the Party, treating "carrying out the Party's decisions" as an ironclad discipline and a norm that must be implemented no matter what — being completely selfless and impartial (大公无私, da gong wu si - "great, public, without, private"), unafraid of sacrifice, and coalescing into the mighty force of strength derived from overwhelming unity of purpose (众志成城, zhong zhi cheng cheng - "mass, will, form, city") and advancing courageously without ever looking back (一往无前, yi wang wu qian - "one, go, without, front").
At present, standing at a critical juncture on the road to national rejuvenation, our Party shoulders lofty and weighty missions and tasks. The more turbulent the winds and waves, the more we must carry out "the Party's decisions" without the slightest discount, and the more deeply we must comprehend the breadth and weight of this obligation.
Whether in responding to disasters or safeguarding people's livelihoods, from "better to prepare ten times over and have nothing happen" to urban governance employing meticulous "embroidery work"... always keeping responsibility in mind, "always feeling unable to rest easy" — how then could one be present in name but absent in deed, or in position but not in a state of readiness? When carrying out the Party's decisions is marked by a sense of urgency, the hundreds of millions of people can have a sense of security.
Coordinating development and security, developing new quality productive forces in light of local conditions, writing a "green miracle" — surveying these missions and tasks, which one does not require confronting real problems and tackling hard issues? Not shirking duty, not avoiding difficulties, stepping forward when needed, rising to the occasion, daring to gnaw at the hardest bones — herein lies formidable combat effectiveness. Carrying out the Party's decisions requires a spirit of dauntlessness.
The Party's decisions and deployments are far-sighted and strategic (高瞻远瞩, gao zhan yuan zhu - "high, look, far, gaze"), and Party members and cadres must also be adept at "long-distance running" in implementation, maintaining the resolve to keep the path unchanged and the will unaltered, and walking forward steadily step by step. Carrying out the Party's decisions cannot be separated from the steady sense of always "being an honest person."
The effectiveness of fulfilling obligations depends on Party spirit. Only with strong Party spirit can one be clear in distinguishing right from wrong (是非分明, shi fei fen ming - "right, wrong, distinguish, clear") and take a clear-cut stand, only then can one overcome all difficulties and achieve success, remaining as steadfast as a rock and unswervingly loyal.
To thoroughly study and implement Xi Jinping's thought on Party building, an important aspect lies in unremittingly strengthening Party spirit cultivation, continuously internalizing Party spirit in the heart and externalizing it in action. Party members and cadres must cultivate this "study of the mind" that is Party spirit cultivation, take resolutely carrying out the Party's decisions as the yardstick for testing Party spirit cultivation, repeatedly measure their own thoughts, words, and deeds, fulfill obligations without bargaining or discount, and implement with swift and decisive efficiency and a pragmatic and truth-seeking approach.
"The new journey is a new Long March, and we must be prepared at all times to wage a great struggle with many new historical features." On the road ahead, there are still dangerous shoals and torrents. With the goal ahead, how can we retreat? With the path clear, how can "flexible interpretation" be permitted? The key to winning new great victories lies in the quality and effectiveness of implementation by the broad ranks of Party members and cadres. Maintaining the determination to "win," implementing the action of "must do," we will succeed in whatever we undertake.
Return to TopAt present, the peppers, corn, and other crops in Jiekou Town, She County, Huangshan City, Anhui Province, are ripening one after another, and local residents are hurrying to harvest and dry them in the sun. The photo shows villagers of Qianshan Village, Jiekou Town, drying their autumn harvest crops on September 14.
Photo by Zheng Hong (Image China)
Return to TopTo do grassroots work well, one must both exert effort and achieve tangible results. General Secretary Xi Jinping has stressed: "Ensure that every matter is addressed and every issue receives a response, so that the people can see changes and reap benefits." In this installment of "Everyone's Discussion," we have selected three submissions to share with our readers, inviting reflection on how to better improve the effectiveness of grassroots work.
—Editor
Resolutely Guard Against "Going Through the Motions with Utmost Sincerity"
Tang Qingrui, Zitong County, Sichuan Province
Shortly after I started working at the grassroots level, during one home visit, an elderly man said bluntly: "You folks come around often enough, but you ask your questions and then run off—what's the use of that?" When I returned to check the work ledger, I found that the problem he had previously reported was still unresolved, and I felt a burning flush of embarrassment. Although the issue was eventually solved, those words have stayed with me for a lifetime.
In reality, similar situations are not uncommon. Residents report that streetlights in the neighborhood are not working—we jot it down and file it, but nothing comes of it; an elderly person says it takes several trips to get a certificate processed—we promise to help clarify, but then set it aside and forget... The paperwork looks impeccable, but the problems remain "as they always were." "Going through the motions with utmost sincerity" is bound to draw complaints from the people.
To resolutely guard against this problem, the key lies in one word: "substance." When it comes to work, what we fear most is a scene that appears lively on the surface but is in fact superficial and lacking substance (华而不实, hua er bu shi - "magnificent, but, not, real") and working hard without achieving any results (劳而无功, lao er wu gong - "labor, and, no, achievement"). If someone's water pipe is leaking, help contact a repairman; if streetlights in the neighborhood are not working, coordinate a timely solution; if someone reports that the certificate application process is unclear, draw inferences from a single instance (举一反三, ju yi fan san - "lift, one, reflect, three") and draw up an instructional diagram. Seize each matter and see it through to completion, proceeding cautiously with careful planning (步步为营, bu bu wei ying - "step, step, for, camp") and achieving success in every endeavor—this way, we can accumulate small victories into major triumphs.
Whether work is substantive depends not only on whether it was done, but also on how well it was done. A young colleague once said he has "three fears": fear of not hearing what the people report, fear of hearing it but not acting on it, and fear of acting on it but not doing it well. Behind the word "fear" lies, in fact, a pursuit of quality and effectiveness. Taking the people's expressions as the "barometer" for testing our work, and striving to go one step further and reach a higher level—only then can work truly be done properly.
The people have a scale in their hearts. Whether one is going through the motions or truly getting things done, the people see it with their eyes and remember it in their hearts.
Look Ahead and Look Back
Li Lin, Xuzhou City, Jiangsu Province
On one occasion, I took the lead in clearing out miscellaneous items cluttering the stairwells of a residential community. Within a few days, the clutter piled up again. After learning of this, the community's former Party secretary told me: "When doing work at the grassroots level, you can't just finish the task and call it done—you also have to see how things turn out afterward. You must look ahead and also look back." Those words gave me much to ponder for a long time.
Looking back means examining the root cause of the problem and guarding against treating the symptoms rather than the root cause (治标不治本, zhi biao bu zhi ben - "treat, symptoms, not, treat, root"). Through home visits, we learned that residents piled up clutter mostly because elderly family members were reluctant to part with old belongings, and the community had no place to store them—relying solely on centralized cleanups could only manage the problem temporarily. So, on the one hand, we coordinated the freeing up of idle storage rooms to serve as shared convenience points, where items that could be kept were uniformly registered and stored; on the other hand, we contacted recycling companies to collect discarded items door-to-door. Afterward, this kind of situation never recurred. This also taught us that to treat both the symptoms and the root cause, we need to dig one step deeper and take a closer look at the root.
Public satisfaction is the standard by which work is judged. Last year, after the road resurfacing project in one community was completed and passed acceptance inspection, an elderly resident still complained: "The road is level now, but there are no handrails beside the steps—I still feel nervous going up and down." We then conducted another survey and installed handrails beside the steps and added benches in the leisure areas. Looking back also means looking at public satisfaction. After work is completed, it is worthwhile to listen to more opinions and experience things firsthand.
Only by looking ahead and also looking back can we handle livelihood matters better and with more warmth.
Improving the "Fit" Between Service Supply and Demand
He Yuxin, Changning District, Shanghai
Less than a month after the community canteen opened, residents began complaining that the food was "too oily" and "the rice was too hard." The young social worker Xiao Chen felt a bit aggrieved: the menu had been set by professional nutritionists, and the standards were hardly low. But a remark from one auntie woke him up: "You think it's good, but we don't find it agreeable."
Xiao Chen spent a week observing at the canteen and discovered that the elderly had different dental conditions and tastes: some wanted softer food, some wanted less sugar, and others wanted more local Shanghainese dishes. The canteen adjusted accordingly—the big pot dishes became "small portions with more choices," the rice came in soft and firm varieties, and the weekly menu began soliciting input from elderly residents. When he went back, the auntie smiled repeatedly and said: "Now it's agreeable, now it's agreeable."
To improve public satisfaction, we cannot only look at whether service standards are high or whether procedures are complete—we must also look at whether service supply matches demand. Take the example of age-friendly renovations: when some communities installed handrails, they failed to consider differences in apartment layouts, with the result that some elderly people could not grip them firmly and some installations blocked wheelchairs. Later, they went door-to-door to take measurements and ask about habits, adopting a one-household-one-policy approach, and satisfaction immediately rose. When service supply and demand are well matched, there will be no situations where the public feels nothing has been done and social workers feel aggrieved.
Where does this "fit" come from? The effort lies in ordinary times. Sitting in the office alone cannot produce an "agreeable" plan—it also requires walking on the ground with one's own feet. Many good ideas, such as converting clothes-drying poles to a retractable design or sharing parking spaces at staggered times, were all chatted out in these casual conversations about what is "agreeable."
Ask one more question, take one more step, and turn "I think it's good" into "everyone finds it agreeable"—only then can practical matters be truly delivered to the hearts of the people.
Return to TopBy: 刘晓宇
When a great tree is willing to share sunlight with other trees, when upstream and downstream enterprises are willing to work deeply in the same "blue ocean," the surging vitality of new quality productive forces will be endless vitality or continuous growth (生生不息, sheng sheng bu xi - "live, live, not, stop").
In the Muyang area of the She Industrial Park in Fu'an, Fujian, in the third-phase workshop of Ningde Changying New Energy Technology Co., Ltd., battery cell aluminum shells come off the production line and enter the Ningde Times warehouse half an hour later. This 77,000-square-meter plant area was idle two years ago; now its annual output value exceeds 900 million yuan. Company General Manager Ye Duanli said, "Decorating while installing equipment—this is keeping pace with the chain leader's rhythm."
This "keeping pace" is not just about seizing the market, but also about the rhythm of collaborative innovation. From awakening an old factory to awakening an entire industrial chain, that "chain-leader great tree" amid the mountains and seas of eastern Fujian is nourishing the entire forest with abundant nutrients.
Looking at the Long'an Chemical Industrial Park in Fuding, Ningde Bamp New Material Industrial Park efficiently recovers nickel, cobalt, manganese, and lithium from retired batteries, and the regenerated cathode materials are directly "fed" to Fuding Times, which is just a wall away; in the Shuangyue Industrial Park, Aofeng Environmental Protection then collects battery scraps, turning waste back into raw materials, forming a closed loop of battery "discard—recovery—reproduction" amid the mountains and seas.
Further into Fu'an, cathode materials are at Qingmei, copper foil at Jiayuan, structural parts at Changying, binders at Yuanchuang, anode materials concentrated in Gutian, electrolyte concentrated in Fuding—the procurement radius has shrunk to a "half-hour circle." Ningde Times has embedded more than 300 "zero-defect" standards into supplier workshops, driving a significant compression of delivery cycles.
Only when resources converge and industries integrate can the industrial chain "grow" longer and stronger. Looking further, when the "chain-leader great tree" sets the standard, "industrial shrubs" follow up, and "chain roots" interweave, the entire "rainforest" of the industrial chain can be firmly established and deeply rooted (根深蒂固, gen shen di gu - "root, deep, base, solid") and can withstand storms.
This "rainforest" grows not only in eastern Fujian. Looking at a larger scope, Fujian's chain-style agglomeration is developing in many different places simultaneously (多点开花, duo dian kai hua - "many, points, bloom, flower"). In Xiamen Haicang, Shilan Jihua's 12-inch analog chips and Shilan Jihong's 8-inch silicon carbide power device chips are launched on two lines simultaneously, with the leader bringing out a "chip highland" of "four-chain integration"; Putian uses the "chain chief system" to promote the agglomeration of the high-end equipment industry, with East Asia Piston Rings, Heng'erda Die-Cutting Tools, and Haian All-Steel Giant Tires moving from single-point champions toward cluster rise; Quanzhou works deeply on the word "solid," with an embodied intelligent service robot innovation platform landing; Fuzhou's Mindu Innovation Laboratory's "China-brand" crystals hold over 70% of the international market share, gradually solidifying the innovation skeleton of "dual-core leadership, one-belt aggregation." One place grows trees, piece by piece forming forests—industrial collaboration is continuously polishing the foundation of high-quality development.
Not long ago, Fujian proposed "gradient cultivation of innovative enterprise groups, chain-based promotion of enterprise-led industry-university-research collaborative innovation." This aligns with Fujian's practice of "chain-leader radiation, filling gaps according to the map." Expanding the view further, the development code of industrial clusters is also hidden in places of "a calm exterior masking profound depth or hidden strength" (静水深流, jing shui shen liu - "quiet, water, deep, flow"). In the Fu'an She Industrial Park, what enterprise leaders talk about most is "never changing channels." Over more than 10 years and several terms of leadership, Ningde New Energy started from zero and grew into a 300-billion-yuan cluster. The industry's course has never changed; the determination to draw one blueprint through to the end matters more than preferential policies.
This determination is also reflected in the government's "sense of proportion" in acting. Jiayuan Technology came from Meizhou, Guangdong; of its 360 employees, 347 were recruited locally. General Manager Pan Wenjun said: "It's not that the government pushes you to run; it's that roads, water, electricity, and schools are all prepared for you—the rest you do yourself." How to arrange production lines and how to choose processes—no one ever gesticulates or interferes (指手画脚, zhi shou hua jiao - "point, hand, draw, foot"). When public services hold the bottom line and market logic is in charge, enterprises dare to "fight to the death" over making copper foil 1 micron thinner and to wrestle with the digits after the decimal point in welding flatness.
Of course, industrial development inevitably encounters "growing pains." The high foreign-trade dependence of lithium, nickel, and cobalt, the relatively weak lean management of small and medium suppliers, the still-imperfect green recycling system... These pains need to be solved, but single-point assaults cannot solve systemic problems; they require the chain leader to actively take responsibility, supporting factories to dare to invest in the long term, and the whole region to work as a unified, overall strategic plan or arrangement (一盘棋, yi pan qi - "one, board, chess") and grind away slowly.
Laying out industrial chains around the development of new quality productive forces and enhancing the resilience and security of industrial and supply chains is of vital importance and full of opportunities. In eastern Fujian, Changying's machines turn, Bamp's waste materials come alive, Jiayuan's copper foil is thin; on Egret Island, Shilan's wafers shine; in Rongcheng, crystals go overseas... These are all the sounds of Fujian's chain-style agglomeration growing, and also the ensemble of the chain leader setting the questions, the entire chain answering them, and the rainforest coexisting.
When a great tree is willing to share sunlight with other trees, when upstream and downstream enterprises are willing to work deeply in the same "blue ocean," the surging vitality of new quality productive forces will be endless and ever-renewing.
(The author is a reporter of this newspaper's Fujian branch.)
Return to TopBy: 金 歆
A consumer guide that flaunts "personally tested, highly praised" reviews is in reality a false "grass-planting" note; a seemingly ordinary short video hides traps of illegal traffic diversion in its comment section... With the widespread application of AI (artificial intelligence), some low-quality, hollow, and difficult to distinguish truth from falsehood (真假难辨, zhen jia nan bian - "true, false, difficult, distinguish") content is spreading across cyberspace, posing a new test for maintaining a clean and clear online ecosystem.
This kind of low-nutrition, valueless information is vividly called "digital swill." In the AI era, this kind of information not only causes localized information pollution, but also erodes individual cognition, the content ecosystem, and even social trust.
From the perspective of scope of impact, AI tools can not only generate content in batches, but also automatically publish it and conduct comment interactions. The repeated heated debate sparked by using AI to write reflects the impact of this model on content production—without requiring the author to think deeply, by using AI to scrape and piece together, in a few minutes one can produce an article that is deeply versed in platform algorithms and more likely to receive recommendations. It can be seen that, under the coercion of traffic logic, rapidly generated "digital swill" may form a structural squeeze on carefully polished original content.
From the perspective of persistence, this inferior, false, or erroneous information not only occupies the attention of current audiences, but also becomes corpus for AI training, forming a self-reinforcing loop. Not long ago, writer Yu Hua trended on hot search because of being mistakenly credited. A prose piece "Family Emblem" written by Hubei writer Hu Chengzhong, after several rounds of dissemination, was attributed to him. Although Yu Hua clarified multiple times, this erroneous information still entered the question banks of some local high school entrance exams, and was treated by AI as the "standard answer." It can be seen that, once distorted content is internalized by AI as "knowledge," correcting it requires paying a much greater cost.
Currently, the content generated by many large models is often an integration and reprocessing of publicly available online information, lacking an independent, rigorously verified knowledge base. As the application scenarios of artificial intelligence continue to expand from information retrieval and content creation toward medical diagnosis, financial decision-making, and other fields, inaccurate or distorted information has become a risk that may trigger chain effects.
Entering the AI era, post-hoc clarification can hardly keep pace with the speed of information fission and dissemination. To solve this problem, one must start from the source, along the entire chain of content production, circulation, and application, compact responsibilities at every link, and build a reliable, efficient, round-the-clock "immune system."
On the one hand, we must rely on the capabilities of artificial intelligence in information re-verification, actively explore the path of "using AI to govern AI," rapidly discover and handle erroneous and false information, and build a solid dike for information truthfulness. On the other hand, we must accelerate the construction of high-quality corpus databases, providing "clean rations" for AI, vigorously raising the water level of information quality. At the same time, optimize algorithm recommendation mechanisms, giving reasonable traffic tilting to content that has undergone multiple verifications and is well-grounded, while imposing certain restrictions on content of unknown origin or dubious authenticity. By embedding value weights into the underlying layer of algorithms, continuously enhancing the ability of filtering out the bad to retain the best (去芜存菁, qu wu cun jing -"remove, dregs, preserve, essence"), can we enable true, objective, and valuable content to always occupy the mainstream amid the digital torrent.
To make a clean and clear cyberspace a tangible and perceivable norm, we must also base ourselves on human-machine collaboration, simultaneously raising the information literacy and verification efficiency of the whole society. Facing massive amounts of information, we must make good use of technical tools such as AI inspection, deepfake detection, and abnormal propagation early warning, lowering the verification difficulty for users. Currently, China's relevant rules and regulations have already made clear that AI-generated synthetic content must be labeled. On this basis, we should further expand the channels empowered by technology, creating more "one-click identification" and "one-click reporting" tools, forming a joint force of institutional norms and universal self-checking. When everyone has the awareness of prudent verification and the ability to discern authenticity at a glance, the vitality of artificial intelligence development will be built upon a foundation of truthfulness.
Walking alongside AI, embracing is the infinite possibility of technology, but we must also hold fast to the bottom line of truthfulness. AI has lowered the threshold of content production as never before, but this progress cannot come at the cost of lowering information quality. Tightening the reins of institutions, upgrading the filter of technology, nurturing the fertile soil of truth-seeking, making nutritious, high-value information the standard configuration, our online home will be more vibrant and more orderly, and our future digital life will be richer and more meaningful.
Return to TopJiangsu Sheyang yellow peaches, Anhui Fanchang grapes, Hubei Tongcheng autumn pears, Gansu Jingchuan early-ripening apples... Over the past period, specialty fruits in many regions have successively entered their mature harvest season, with fruit hanging heavily from branches (硕果满枝, shuo guo man zhi - "large fruit, fill, branch") in the orchards and a busy scene of bountiful harvest across the fields. In recent years, relying on specialty planting, many regions have continuously extended the fruit industry chain and developed deep processing, making the fruit industry a wealth-generating industry that drives rural development and increases farmers' income.
This is exactly:
Autumn fruits fill the garden, fragrance wafting in the air,
Red, orange, yellow, and green adorn the branch tips.
Another year of fine harvest scenery,
The industry enriches the people, rising steadily and rapidly (节节高, jie jie gao - "section, section, high").
Shen Qiuwen
Return to TopBy: 辛识见
One instance of careful and thorough consideration (深思熟虑, shen si shu lü - "deep, think, ripe, consider") is worth more than a hundred hasty actions. Only by thinking problems through clearly can one carry out work properly. "Pacing a square step" is a process of studying and thinking, of digesting and absorbing; a process of discovering problems and analyzing problems; a process of weighing priorities and avoiding errors made in haste. It is a scientific working method and a practical philosophy of action.
"Pacing a square step" requires both viewing matters from the broad perspective and proceeding from the fine details, sorting out the threads from a huge, complicated mess of affairs (千头万绪, qian tou wan xu - "thousand, head, ten thousand, thread"). For grassroots cadres, settling down to "pace a square step" is conducive to thoroughly grasping the spirit of the Party Central Committee, benchmarking the work of one's own domain against the overall situation, closely integrating the policies and guidelines of higher authorities with one's own actual conditions, and ensuring that policy measures truly land "on the ground" rather than remaining "on paper."
"Pacing a square step" does not mean leisurely strolling a few steps at an unhurried pace, but rather refers to a state of quietly studying and earnestly thinking. "Pacing a square step" can mean "pacing" among the masses to solicit opinions and suggestions, "pacing" into advanced regions for in-depth research, or "pacing" before experts and scholars to humbly seek their counsel... It is recharging and storing strength during a long-distance run, and it is the careful thinking and clear judgment (慎思明辨, shen si ming bian - "cautious, think, bright, distinguish") of acting only after careful planning (谋定而后动, mou ding er hou dong - "plan, settle, then, after, move").
To consolidate the grassroots level, strengthen the foundation, and solidify the roots, and to creatively implement the decisions and arrangements of the Party Central Committee, it is necessary to leave grassroots cadres some time to "pace a square step." Only by persistent and continuous effort (驰而不息, chi er bu xi - "gallop, and, not, rest") in rectifying formalism to reduce burdens at the grassroots level can grassroots cadres set out with a light burden (轻装上阵, qing zhuang shang zhen - "light, equipment, go, onto, battle") and take on real responsibilities.
As grassroots cadres temper their original aspirations and strengthen their confidence through quiet study and earnest thinking, and firmly establish a correct view of political achievements, they will surely deliver political achievements for the people and through practical work with a fuller state of mind and a more spirited bearing.
(Excerpted from Xinjiang Daily, originally titled "Please Leave Grassroots Cadres Some Time to 'Pace a Square Step'")
Return to TopBy: 王 珂
Nowadays, many tourists flock to unknown or obscure destinations (名不见经传, ming bu jian jing zhuan - "not, name, not, see, through, 传") with affordable prices, and tourism scenes are constantly being renewed in city streets and alleys, and in rural fields and farmlands.
This summer vacation, county towns and villages have become popular tourist destinations. Data from relevant platforms show that during the summer, the number of county-town tourists staying for more than three consecutive nights increased by 20 percent year-on-year, and hotel bookings in small cities such as Xingyi in Guizhou and Yanshan in Jiangxi doubled compared with last year. The warming of "county-town tourism" highlights the huge potential of the consumer market and reflects new trends in cultural and tourism consumption.
Grasp the changes in travel demand and seize new opportunities in the cultural and tourism market. In Jiayu Town, Xingyang, Henan, abandoned quarry pits have been transformed into the "Valley Just Right" outdoor sports living community, where activities such as diving and paddleboarding attract many outdoor sports enthusiasts. In Anji, Zhejiang, more than 300 "village cafés" are integrated with stream tracing and camping, turning the countryside into a trendy new scene. County towns may not possess top-tier scenery in the traditional sense, but they can provide the "slow down" space that is scarce in big cities, allowing people to enjoy a sense of authenticity and relaxation. As consumers increasingly pursue the experience economy and emotional consumption, the cultural and tourism industry must pay more attention to creating atmospheres and evoking empathy.
Strengthen supply-side innovation to consolidate the development foundation for "county-town tourism." Some places with famous attractions can also broaden their thinking and expand their increments. Jiange, Sichuan, has launched six boutique hiking routes along the ancient Shu Road, integrating the protection of ancient cypresses and live-action performances into the scenes. At the Jianmen Pass scenic area, tourists who recite "The Difficulty of the Shu Road" can receive ticket rewards, deeply integrating history with experience. Only by tapping into distinctive cultural and tourism resources, creating more distinctive and differentiated products, and enriching the "small but beautiful" cultural and tourism business formats can we retain the footsteps of tourists and upgrade scenic-spot tours into whole-region tours.
Today's county tourism is an important track for stimulating the vitality of the lower-tier market and invigorating county consumption, and it requires a long-term perspective to find an effective path to turn "temporary popularity" into "lasting popularity." It should also be noted that county tourism still has some shortcomings. For example, a report released by the China Tourism Academy shows that nearly 90 percent of respondents believe that ancient towns have varying degrees of similarity. Antique-style streets, live-action NPC (non-player character) interactions, light shows... Homogenized internet-famous landscapes will ultimately fail to form lasting appeal.
Building on local endowments, adapting measures in light of local conditions, improving supporting facilities, and refining business formats are the long-term path. Some small cities first stabilize their local customer base, thoroughly develop the surrounding market, and then gradually improve quality and expand capacity; some places take advantage of the opportunity of applying for intangible cultural heritage status for traditional festivals to launch benefit-oriented activities; some use live-action performances to revitalize ancient city resources and drive surrounding consumption. Smoothing channels for feedback on complaints, improving mechanisms for cross-regional coordinated dispatch of accommodation resources, and focusing on cultivating versatile talents capable of multiple roles are all pragmatic measures.
Strengthen distinctive features, optimize the adaptation of supply and demand, and let services keep pace with the heat, so that county-level cultural and tourism can live up to the enthusiasm of tourists, turn "passers-by" into "repeat customers" and "regulars," and inject new momentum into promoting integrated urban-rural development and advancing common prosperity.
Return to TopBy: 本报记者 史自强
The Nihewan Basin, located in Yangyuan County, Zhangjiakou City, Hebei Province, is world-famous for its rich Paleolithic ancient human cultural sites, with nearly 400 Paleolithic sites dating from approximately 1.8 million years ago to 10,000 years ago having been discovered. Among them, the Xinmiaozhuang site is the only one located deep in the mountains at the edge of the basin.
At the Xinmiaozhuang site, after decades of relay excavations by archaeologists,a "prehistoric time treasure house" spanning from approximately 120,000 years ago to 13,000 years ago and covering remains from 6 phases and 11 stages has emerged into the light after being hidden or lost.From a desolate mountain wilderness to a key to civilization,the Xinmiaozhuang site,with its layered cultural strata,continuous and complete time sequence,and breakthrough technological remains,has become an important reference for solving such topics as the origins of modern humans in East Asia,the transition from the Paleolithic to the Neolithic,and the evolution of ancient human technology and behavior.
An archaeological pursuit spanning several decades
The story of the Xinmiaozhuang site is an archaeological pursuit spanning several decades.
In 1984,the Hebei Provincial Institute of Cultural Relics(renamed the Hebei Provincial Institute of Cultural Relics and Archaeology)conducted a special Paleolithic survey in the Nihewan Basin and discovered the Xinmiaozhuang site deep in the mountains.
In 1986,due to local road-widening works for mountain access roads,the Hebei Provincial Institute of Cultural Relics conducted a rescue excavation,with an excavated area of 33 square meters,unearthing over 5,000 stone artifacts anda batch of animal fossils.“The large number of scrapers,points,and denticulates unearthed are uniquely distinctive,clearly different from the stone tools previously found in the basin.”Wang Fagang,director of the Paleolithic Archaeology Research Department and research librarian at the Hebei Provincial Institute of Cultural Relics and Archaeology,said.
However,because of its remote mountain location,inconvenient transportation,and factors such as land occupation for road construction,the Xinmiaozhuang site gradually faded from public view.But in the decades that followed,the distinctive stone artifacts continued to attract the attention of archaeologists.
Wang Fagang said:“Around 2007 and 2010,we came to this area several times on surveys,hoping to relocate the site.But each time,due to vague memories,changed landforms,and other reasons,we returned empty-handed.”
The turning point came in June 2015.Xie Fei,research librarian at the Hebei Provincial Institute of Cultural Relics,accompanied teachers and students from Jilin University on a survey of the Nihewan Basin.Xie Fei took the old 1986 photographs to compare the landforms and led the team in repeated reconnaissance.“Teacher Xie Fei led everyone from the west side of the mountain around to a fork in the road on the south side,where at the junction of the two roads one could faintly discern the eroded and deformed‘earthen pit’.”Wang Fagang said.
“Fossils!”“Stone tools!”Everyone excitedly gathered around the earthen pit to search,and some even ran to the high platform across the way to take photos from multiple angles for verification.The landforms,roads,and location matched completely.This“lost and found”brought new opportunities to the archaeological research at the Xinmiaozhuang site.
Wang Fagang said that because the site only retained a small amount of deposit,at any time at risk of being washed away,investigations began that very year,gradually yielding more and more discoveries.
From 2016 to 2018,the Hebei Provincial Institute of Cultural Relics and other units continuously conducted special Paleolithic surveys in the site area,confirming nearly 30 Paleolithic locations around the site,forming a densely distributed site cluster.From 2022 to 2025,the Hebei Provincial Institute of Cultural Relics and Archaeology,the Institute of Vertebrate Paleontology and Paleoanthropology of the Chinese Academy of Sciences,Peking University,Hebei Normal University,and other units formed a joint archaeological team,conducting consecutive excavations at Locations 2 through 5 and Location 20.
Carbon-14 dating,environmental analysis,and other techniques were advanced simultaneously,and ultimately,the team confirmed 6 phases of remains dating from approximately120,000 to 13,000 years ago.
A field work experience of residing deep in the mountains approximately250 days per year on average
Deep in the mountains at an elevation of approximately1,200 meters,the village of Xinmiaozhuang had long since been relocated in its entirety,with only a few livestock-raising households remaining behind,and the houses also dilapidated.This was the archaeological team's work site.
The team's base camp could only be set up in Shangbuzhuang Village outside the mountains,more than10 kilometers from the excavation site.The mountain roads were rugged,with many sharp curves and narrow surfaces,and large vehicles often approached from the opposite direction,lengthening the commute time.Team members had to get up shortly after5 a.m.,often working or traveling from early morning until late at night (披星戴月, pi xing dai yue -"wear, stars, wear, moon").
In spring,strong winds whipped loess into their faces;in summer,either scorching sun or pouring rain like a heavy stream (暴雨如注, bao yu ru zhu -"violent, rain, like, pour");winter arrived earlier than outside the mountains,with the river surface beginning to freeze after October.In every season,archaeological team members faced the challenges of weather.
Archaeological team member Bai Huiyuan recalled a thrilling experience at the site.One day,the sky had been a vast, cloudless sky (晴空万里, qing kong wan li -"clear, sky, ten, thousand, li"),when in an instant billowing dark clouds (乌云翻涌, wu yun fan yong -"black, clouds, roll, surge")rolled in and pouring rain like a bucketful (大雨倾盆, da yu qing pen -"big, rain, tilt, basin")came down.“At the time,the site vehicle was parked on a temporary makeshift road in the river channel.Fortunately,the driver reacted quickly and moved the vehicle to higher,safe ground before the flash flood struck.”Bai Huiyuan said that just as the vehicle came to a stop,the raging flood surged forth from the mountain mouth,lasting fully3 hours.
“In summer heavy rains,wash out roads,and we have to carry total stations,cameras,and other tools on foot about two kilometers to reach the site.After every rain,repairing roads became a routine matter.”Archaeological technician Bai Shijun said.
For deep-mountain archaeology,the post-90s archaeological team member Liu Heng had long grown accustomed to using outdoor latrines and,when the weather was hot,not being able to bathe every day.“During open-air excavation,the sunshade netting was often torn down by strong winds.The local ultraviolet radiation was strong,and after half a day in the blazing sun,the skin would nearly peel from sunburn.”
In Bai Shijun's view,the excavation of the lower cultural layer at Location 2 of the Xinmiaozhuang site was especially“grueling.”“Its deposit was black clay,which became especially hard when dried out.When clearing it with a hand trowel,one's hands would quickly develop blood blisters.When finishing work and putting down the trowel,one felt as if one's hands were no longer one's own.If it happened to rain,the excavation squares became especially muddy,and the mud caked on one's feet could not be shaken off no matter how hard one tried.”
Deep in the mountains,cellphone signals often played“hide-and-seek.”
On one occasion,Liu Heng took several other technicians out on an archaeological field survey,leaving archaeological technician Sun Shuping alone to ride an electric bicycle to the site for excavation work.“When we came back,we found that Brother Sun had not yet returned from the mountains late into the night.It turned out that he had lost the key to his electric bicycle and had to push the bike through the mountains in the dark,walking all the way until he reached a place with signal before he could call us.We immediately went up the mountain and brought him back.”Liu Heng said.
However,finding pleasure even in difficult circumstances (苦中作乐, ku zhong zuo le -"bitter, middle, do, joy")is the spiritual hallmark of this team.At night,team members gathered in the courtyard,gazing at the star-filled sky,exchanging about the day's work,and tasting fruits and vegetables they had grown themselves.When open-air films were screened in the village,everyone watched together with the villagers,enjoying simple joys.On average,everyone resided deep in the mountains about250 days per year,interpreting their love for archaeological work through steadfast dedication.
An archaeological discovery of great quantity and high value
All the hardship pales in comparison to the enormous gains.With the consecutive excavations of recent years,over100,000 specimens of remains have been unearthed from the Xinmiaozhuang site.Bai Huiyuan said with emotion:“This is the site where I have participated in excavating and discovered the most remains since I joined archaeological work in 2004.”
Not only great in quantity,but also great in value.
At Location 3 of the Xinmiaozhuang site,over2,300 stone artifacts and animal fossils were discovered.“The stone artifacts here include scrapers with rich steep-edge retouch and multi-layered retouch scars,exquisite points,large numbers of denticulates,and so on,reflecting a Western Mousterian technological style.This is the first time this type of lithic technology has been discovered in North China.”Wang Fagang said that Mousterian technology is a specific lithic technology discovered in the Middle Paleolithic of Europe and West Asia,closely associated with Neanderthal activity;domestically,it had previously only been found at sites such as Jinsitai in Inner Mongolia and Tongtian Cave in Xinjiang.“The discovery at the Xinmiaozhuang site marks the first time this technological system has been found in the heartland of China,meaning that Neanderthal populations may have reached or influenced the heartland of China,providing key clues for exploring the spatiotemporal distribution of this population and its culture in North China.”Wang Fagang said.
Two“earliest”distinctions attract attention:at Location 2,some stone artifacts exhibit typical characteristics of microblade technology,representing the earliest microblade technology discovered in North China and even East Asia;some stone artifacts display typical characteristics of fine microblade technology,representing the earliest-stage fine microblade technology in North China.“The most remarkable thing about the Xinmiaozhuang site is the dual continuity of time and technology.”Liu Heng said,from flake tools to Mousterian technology,from microblades to fine microblades,a complete technological evolutionary chain appears at a site with clearly defined stratigraphic relationships.
“The excavation at Location 5 of the Xinmiaozhuang site can truly be described as‘surprises at every layer.’”Bai Shijun said that each horizontal layer at Location 5 yielded thousands of remains,“every day,one felt extremely excited in one's heart.”
During excavation,the team discovered that some stones and stone tool raw materials seemed to bear traces of burning.At first,everyone thought this was not intentional.“But later,at the bottom of Location 5,we cleared out a nearly oval feature artificially constructed from piled stones,with ash and burnt clay inside,and heat-treated stones,stone artifacts,waste flakes,and other materials scattered around it.”Bai Shijun said that this indicates the ancient humans of that time had already mastered the technique of heat-treating stone raw materials,and this was also the first discovery of a Paleolithic stone heat-treatment feature in East Asia.
Today,the archaeological team continues to conduct refined,multidisciplinary research at the Xinmiaozhuang site.They are organizing and cataloging the stone artifacts,fossils,and ornaments one by one,and actively carrying out public archaeology.From its initial discovery in 1984,to its rediscovery in 2015,and now yielding abundant results or great achievements (硕果累累, shuo guo lei lei -"large, fruit, heavy, heavy"),the joint archaeological team at the Xinmiaozhuang site is striving to open this chronicle of ten thousand years engraved in the earth.
Further reading
The Xinmiaozhuang site is located on both banks of Xigou,200 meters west of Xinmiaozhuang Village,Futujiang Township,Yangyuan County,Hebei Province,at an elevation of approximately1,200 meters.
Between 2022 and 2025,6 phases of remains were discovered at the Xinmiaozhuang site,with the total number of unearthed specimens exceeding100,000.These 6 phases of remains span the Late Pleistocene,a critical period for the origin and evolution of modern humans.It can be said that the Xinmiaozhuang site has outstanding value for understanding the origin and evolution of modern humans in North China,the Paleolithic-Neolithic transition,and other questions.
Among the remains are included flake tools,Mousterian-style stone tools,microblades,fine microblades,and other lithic technologies.Early phases inherited ancient lithic technologies,and later phases developed and transformed them.Multiple lithic technologies were discovered for the first time in North China,constructing a Late Pleistocene Paleolithic cultural sequence for North China,and providing materials for exploring the origins of microblade technology and the lithic technological patterns of early modern humans in North China.
In addition,the site has also yielded a rich array of ornaments,with the earliest ornaments dating to 39,000–37,000 years ago,and continuing to be discovered in each subsequent phase,developing toward greater diversification.After approximately18,000 years ago,perforations and regular incised markings appeared,demonstrating the emergence and development of human aesthetic consciousness,and providing evidence for exploring the increasing complexity of early human behavior and the diversity of symbolic behavior in North China.
(Compiled by People's Daily reporter Shi Ziqiang)
Return to Top(Xinhua News Agency, Hangzhou, September 15) (Reporter: Duan Jingjing) The 2026 China Economic and Social Forum was held in Hangzhou on the 15th. Eighty-five Chinese and foreign guests engaged in in-depth exchanges around the theme "Improving the Global Governance System, Moving Toward a Community with a Shared Future for Mankind." Wang Dongfeng, Vice Chairman and Secretary-General of the CPPCC National Committee and Chairman of the China Economic and Social Council, attended and delivered a keynote speech.
Wang Dongfeng stated that the Global Governance Initiative proposed by President Xi Jinping, following the Global Development Initiative, the Global Security Initiative, and the Global Civilization Initiative, is another important international public good contributed by China, providing strategic support for promoting the building of a community with a shared future for mankind. It is necessary to strengthen exchanges of governance experience, adhere to the concept of a community with a shared future for mankind, adhere to the global governance vision of extensive consultation, joint contribution, and shared benefits, adhere to and promote the common values of all humanity, practice genuine multilateralism, and contribute wisdom, build consensus, and pool joint efforts toward improving global governance. China is willing to work hand in hand with all countries, anchoring the goal of building a community with a shared future for mankind, strengthening solidarity and cooperation, overcoming risks and challenges, and jointly creating a better future.
Return to Top(People's Daily, Beijing, September 15) (Reporter Liu Botong) The reporter learned on the 15th from the media briefing for the 2026 Ethnic Unity and Progress Publicity Week activities that the first Ethnic Unity and Progress Publicity Week following the official implementation of the Law of the People's Republic of China on the Promotion of Ethnic Unity and Progress will be held from September 21 to 27.
According to the introduction, this year's Publicity Week focuses on the theme of "Promoting Ethnic Unity and Progress, Striving Forward on the Great Rejuvenation Journey," and will carry out concentrated publicity and education activities on ethnic unity and progress nationwide, vigorously publicize the historic achievements made in the cause of ethnic unity and progress, vigorously publicize the fostering of a sense of community for the Chinese nation, and vigorously publicize the Law on the Promotion of Ethnic Unity and Progress, so as to promote the concept that "safeguarding national unity and promoting ethnic unity and progress is the responsibility of everyone" to be widely accepted and deeply felt by the people (深入人心, shen ru ren xin - "deep, enter, people, heart").
As an important component of the Publicity Week activities, the main event co-hosted by the United Front Work Department of the CPC Central Committee, the Central Social Work Department, the Ethnic Affairs Committee of the National People's Congress, the National Ethnic Affairs Commission, the Ministry of Justice, and the Beijing Municipal People's Government will be held in Beijing on September 21. At the event, the Publicity Week theme promotional video will be released, an initiative on ethnic unity and progress will be launched, and the first batch of activity brands under the Youth Exchange Program for All Ethnic Groups will be unveiled. Across the country, concentrated publicity will be carried out through thematic exhibitions, model presentations, cultural and artistic performances, physical exhibitions, interactive experiences, and other forms.
During the Publicity Week, the United Front Work Department of the CPC Central Committee, the National Ethnic Affairs Commission, and other departments as well as localities across the country will organize and carry out activities such as seminars on ethnic theory and policy, special model presentations on the Law on the Promotion of Ethnic Unity and Progress, mass-oriented thematic publicity and education activities, youth publicity and education activities, and concentrated interview and publicity activities.
Return to Top(People's Daily, Nanning, September 15) (Pang Geping, Mo Weihua) On September 15, the Guangxi Maritime Safety Administration officially announced to the public: the inland river section of the Guangxi Pinglu Canal, from its starting point to the river-sea boundary, namely from Pingtang River Estuary in Hengzhou, Nanning, to the Qinjiang Bridge on the G75 Lanzhou-Haikou Expressway, is tentatively designated as an "Inland River Class B Navigation Zone." This marks the comprehensive establishment of the navigation zone system for the first canal connecting inland rivers to the sea (通江达海, tong jiang da hai - "connect river, reach sea") since the founding of New China, laying solid technical support for the safe navigation of vessels.
A relevant official from the Guangxi Maritime Safety Administration stated that inland river vessel navigation zones are divided into three classes, A, B, and C, based on hydrological and meteorological conditions. Class A navigation zones impose the highest requirements on vessel structural strength, stability, freeboard, and safety equipment; Class B navigation zones impose moderate requirements; and Class C navigation zones impose relatively the lowest requirements.
According to introductions, the navigation zone system of the Pinglu Canal presents a clear gradient and cohesive structure. The upstream Yujiang River section is a Class B navigation zone, and the inland river section of the Pinglu Canal is likewise designated as a Class B navigation zone, with the two seamlessly connecting; the downstream Qinzhou Bay river-sea transition zone has already been designated as the nation's first "equivalent to Class A" navigation zone, meaning that the wind and wave conditions of that water area are "equivalent to" those of an inland river Class A navigation zone. A relevant official from the Guangxi Maritime Safety Administration introduced that vessels rated Class B or above can legally navigate in the inland river section of the Pinglu Canal; if they wish to continue out to sea and enter the Qinzhou Bay river-sea transition zone, they must meet the technical condition requirements of inland river Class A. With the navigation zone system clearly defined, eligible inland river vessels can sail directly through the Pinglu Canal to the Qinzhou Bay river-sea transition zone without the need to transfer vessels midway, greatly improving logistics efficiency.
Return to TopBy: 本报记者 李心萍 王 政 谷业凯
Advanced manufacturing is the backbone of the modern industrial system.
General Secretary Xi Jinping emphasized: "We must maintain a reasonable proportion of manufacturing and vigorously develop advanced manufacturing."
What is advanced manufacturing?
It embodies cutting-edge technology. In September, the Zhuque-2 improved Y7 carrier rocket was launched from the Dongfeng Commercial Aerospace Innovation and Testing Zone, successfully sending the 10 satellites of the Qianfan polar-orbit Group 19 into their predetermined orbit, achieving a "one rocket, ten satellites" launch.
It represents stronger performance. In March, Genertec Shenyang Machine Tool released an additive-subtractive integrated vertical five-axis machining center capable of easily engraving characters on a needle tip less than 0.2 millimeters in diameter.
It contains the pulse of green development. In April, the world's first 10,800-vehicle LNG dual-fuel powered car carrier was successfully delivered. It not only has strong transport capacity but also excellent environmental performance, equipped with dual-fuel power that can generate electricity while sailing.
Vigorously developing advanced manufacturing, adhering to innovation leadership, enhancing technological advancement, accelerating the transformation toward intelligent, green, and integrated development, striving to modernize production methods, and coordinating traditional industries with emerging and future industries — Chinese manufacturing is striving for an overall leap forward, propping up the "skeleton" of the modern industrial system.
Innovation leads, products strive to be "advanced"
General Secretary Xi Jinping emphasized: "Develop new quality productive forces in light of local conditions, and promote the deep integration of scientific and technological innovation with industrial innovation."
The "advanced" in advanced manufacturing is driven by innovation.
One case is quite representative.
In the new display industry, the size of glass substrates determines the "generation" of the production line. The higher the generation, the larger the substrate, and the more efficient the cutting.
However, a few years ago, China's high-generation and above glass substrates relied on imports, becoming a "chokepoint" bottleneck for industrial upgrading.
Facing the challenge, Peng Shou, academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering and chief scientist of China National Building Material Group, led his team in dedicated research and technological innovation. Ultimately, the team eliminated defects below 10 micrometers on a glass surface of nearly 6 square meters.
Today, China's 8.6-generation OLED (organic light-emitting diode) glass substrates have achieved mass production, driving China to take the lead in landing mid-size high-end OLED production lines, achieving the leap from being controlled by others (受制于人, shou zhi yu ren - "receive, control, by, person") to "leading development."
One piece of glass rewrote an industry. Liu Zhibiao, professor at the Yangtze River Industrial Development Research Institute of Nanjing University, explained that the "advanced" in advanced manufacturing is mainly reflected in technological advancement, that is, maintaining a world-leading level in technology and R&D.
Making efforts in scientific and technological innovation to master key core technologies.
In September, Huawei released its second-generation tri-fold flagship product, and Xiaomi launched its first "mid-fold" phone, with domestic phones competing for the high-end market.
The confidence comes from independent innovation. In recent years, China's domestically produced ultra-thin flexible glass has achieved successful mass production, with a thickness of only 30 micrometers, remaining intact after millions of folds.
It can be said that "one generation of materials, one generation of equipment, one generation of industry" — scientific and technological innovation supports Chinese manufacturing in climbing ever higher.
In the opening year of the 15th Five-Year Plan, a series of policies and measures have been introduced around scientific and technological innovation, from the central to local levels. The national venture capital guidance fund established by the National Development and Reform Commission is being fully deployed; Shanghai launched the "Shanghai Global Science and Technology Partnership Plan" and implemented international joint research actions; Henan issued several policy measures supporting enterprise scientific and technological innovation...
Policies are being implemented, surging with innovation momentum. As of the end of July, China's domestic effective invention patents reached 5.74 million, and PCT (Patent Cooperation Treaty) international patent applications have ranked first globally for seven consecutive years.
Doing a good job in industrial innovation, accelerating the integration of scientific and technological innovation with industrial innovation, and improving the efficiency of achievement transformation.
On one hand, CT imaging theory has developed over a century, with continuously improving detection precision; on the other hand, new energy vehicle production continues to climb, and battery testing has become an industry pain point.
Industry poses the questions, technology provides the answers. Sunwoda Electronic Co., Ltd., together with Dalian University of Technology, relying on the university's research accumulation, successfully developed "advanced battery online high-speed multi-mode CT technology and equipment," which can complete testing without disassembling batteries, greatly improving efficiency.
Since the beginning of this year, China has accelerated the construction of a full-chain service system for the transformation of scientific and technological achievements. At the R&D end, 2 new national manufacturing innovation centers were established; in the pilot testing stage, a pilot testing service network consisting of 21 national-level manufacturing pilot testing platforms and more than 1,800 reserve platforms was formed; in the incubation stage, the country has certified the first batch of 14 excellent-level and 402 standard-level technology enterprise incubators, incubating more than 425,000 enterprises and teams.
Scientific and technological innovation is a continuous source of new strength or ideas (源头活水, yuan tou huo shui - "source, living, water"), and industrial innovation is a broad stage. With the deep integration of the two, Chinese manufacturing's innovation effectiveness is increasingly surging. Recently, the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) released the "2026 Global Innovation Index," showing that China has 25 global top-100 innovation clusters, ranking first in the world for four consecutive years.
"Three transformations," manufacturing leads in "advancement"
What is the difference between an advanced manufacturing factory and a traditional factory?
Step into Lenovo's Southern Smart Manufacturing Base in Shenzhen, and you will witness the charm of advanced manufacturing.
Unlike traditional manufacturing, of the more than 5,000 orders that pour in here every day, 60% are customized orders, involving more than 50 product categories and more than 20,000 configurations.
Facing "fragmented" demand, the production line of over a hundred meters runs smoothly. Robotic arms equipped with visual recognition systems complete precision assembly at millimeter-level accuracy, and different models can achieve "zero-second switching." 90% of orders can be shipped within 24 hours.
The "advanced" in advanced manufacturing lies crucially in the modernization of production methods.
"Compared with traditional manufacturing, advanced manufacturing has generally achieved a transformation toward digital, intelligent, lean, and green production methods," said Li Yan, deputy director of the Industrial Economy Research Department of the Development Research Center of the State Council.
The 15th Five-Year Plan outline proposes adhering to keeping the focus of economic development on the real economy and adhering to the direction of intelligent, green, and integrated development.
Accelerating intelligent transformation, manufacturing becomes more efficient and higher quality.
In the smart factory of TBEA Shenyang Transformer Group Co., Ltd., from transformer core lamination and insulation parts processing to final product assembly, robots, AGV delivery carts, and workers operate collaboratively. A complete intelligent system covering the entire chain of "simulation-scheduling-execution-monitoring" has shortened the product development cycle by 21% and increased production efficiency by 40%.
"During the 15th Five-Year Plan period, we will focus on enhancing advanced manufacturing capabilities, accelerating the development of a new generation of intelligent manufacturing, promoting the 'intelligent transformation, digital upgrading, and network connectivity' of manufacturing, and building smart factories and high-standard digital parks," said Xin Guobin, vice minister of the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology.
To date, China has cumulatively built 35,000 basic-level smart factories, more than 8,200 advanced-level ones, and more than 500 excellent-level ones, with 15 enterprises entering the pilot list for leading-level smart factories, and the application penetration rate of artificial intelligence technology among industrial enterprises above designated size exceeding 30%.
Anchoring green upgrading to achieve green production, low carbon, and environmental protection.
In July, the "15th Five-Year Plan for Industrial Green and Low-Carbon Development" was officially released. The plan proposes promoting the quality improvement and expansion of green factory cultivation and promoting the upgrading of green industrial parks.
What does a green industrial park look like?
Walking into Chery Automobile's Qingdao branch, the warm sun gilds the rooftop photovoltaic panels. Relying on the "distributed photovoltaic + new energy storage" system, the park's energy use achieves energy conservation and carbon reduction.
At the same time, in the painting workshop, a new generation of water-based paint technology works from the source, greatly reducing volatile organic compounds. Combined with a dry cardboard paint mist filtration system, the paint mist removal efficiency exceeds 99%, making the production process more environmentally friendly.
End-of-pipe treatment is equally robust. Through waste incineration for power generation and waste heat recovery, the resource utilization rate of hazardous waste exceeds 88%.
Statistics show that during the 14th Five-Year Plan period, the output value of national green factories as a proportion of total output value of manufacturing above designated size increased from 9% to 22%, and the energy consumption per unit of added value of industrial enterprises above designated size continued to decline.
During the 15th Five-Year Plan period, China will cultivate and build 500 zero-carbon factories, and by the end of the 15th Five-Year Plan, the output value of green factories at all levels as a proportion of total output value of manufacturing above designated size should strive to reach 45%.
Exploring integrated development, "manufacturing + services" fuses new momentum.
Currently, global industrial competition is shifting from a single "manufacturing contest" to a comprehensive competition of "manufacturing + services."
XCMG Group has shifted from simply selling equipment to providing overall green mining solutions, securing major overseas orders from BHP and others; Haier Smart Home Co., Ltd. provides users with customized, professional smart home appliance solutions, with scenario transaction volumes continuously rising...
"Next, we will promote the deep integration of advanced manufacturing with modern service industries, accelerate the cultivation of new models and new business forms such as platform-based design and personalized customization, and innovatively develop service-oriented manufacturing," said Xin Guobin.
Coordinated advancement, industries improve in "advancement"
General Secretary Xi Jinping emphasized: "We must highlight the focus of building a modern industrial system with advanced manufacturing as the backbone, take scientific and technological innovation as the lead, and coordinate the promotion of traditional industry upgrading, emerging industry expansion, and future industry cultivation."
The "advanced" in advanced manufacturing ultimately rests on the optimization of the industrial structure.
A strand of silk — besides being made into fine clothing, what else can it become?
The answer is: degradable bone screws. Previously, metal materials were always the first choice for internal fixation surgery after fractures, but removal could easily cause secondary trauma. The new silk bone screws can degrade automatically without removal, and the degradation speed can be precisely controlled.
An embroidery machine — besides embroidering, what else can it do?
The answer is: serving embodied intelligence. The embroidery machine interweaves sensing yarn with base yarn in knitting, weaving an embodied intelligence data glove in one piece, making the data collection of hand movements more precise.
These two cases vividly illustrate that traditional industries also contain advanced manufacturing.
"The essence of advanced manufacturing is the comprehensive innovation and upgrading of manufacturing," Li Yan said. Advanced manufacturing includes both manufacturing spawned by emerging technological changes and manufacturing in which traditional industries are reshaped through comprehensive innovation and renewal using advanced technologies, processes, production methods, and management models.
With advanced manufacturing as the driver, traditional industries are being renewed and upgraded, consolidating their foundations.
Currently, in Dongying, Shandong, 26-megawatt offshore wind turbines stand against the wind, generating power. Taking apart this wind turbine with the largest single-unit capacity in the world — flanges, bearings, motors... nearly 90% of the components come from more than 120 traditional steel, machinery, and other enterprises, contributing nearly a thousand patented achievements.
"During the 15th Five-Year Plan period, we will organize and implement a renewal action for traditional industries, consolidate foundations, improve quality, build brands, and accelerate the improvement of the development quality and efficiency of traditional industries," said Yao Jun, director of the Planning Department of the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology.
Policies are being implemented with tangible results. Shanghai formulated a three-year action plan to support the transformation and upgrading of advanced manufacturing, Jiangsu implemented a three-year action plan for the renewal and upgrading of traditional industries, and Anhui issued implementation plans for the optimization and upgrading of three major traditional industries: nonferrous metals, building materials, and textiles...
VAT invoice data shows that in the first half of the year, sales revenue in the food manufacturing, clothing, and paper industries increased by 11.6%, 9.2%, and 8.9% year-on-year respectively, with traditional industries achieving "old trees sprouting new shoots."
With advanced manufacturing as the driver, strategic emerging industries and future industries are accelerating their growth and accumulating momentum.
In September, the "15th Five-Year Plan for the Development of the Intelligent Connected New Energy Vehicle Industry" was officially released. The plan proposes that by 2030, vehicles with autonomous driving functions will achieve large-scale application.
The plan clarifies the direction and defines the path, and practice is making steady and solid progress (稳扎稳打, wen zha wen da - "steady, nail, steady, hit") and proceeding step by step in an orderly fashion (循序渐进, xun xu jian jin - "follow, sequence, gradually, advance"). Currently, in Beijing and Chongqing, L3-level conditional autonomous driving has begun road trials, and the large-scale application of autonomous driving technology is advancing steadily.
The "15th Five-Year Plan for the Development of the Information and Communication Industry," the "Action Plan for Promoting the Innovative Development of the Internet of Things Industry (2026-2028)"... Since the beginning of this year, various special plans and action plans have been issued in succession around cultivating and expanding emerging industries and future industries.
Guided by long-term planning, China's emerging industries and future industries are rising up like riding the waves (踏浪而起, ta lang er qi - "tread, wave, and, rise") and leaping upward with momentum. In the first half of this year, China's quadruped robot sales accounted for nearly 70% of the global share, humanoid robot complete machines reached more than 400 models, accounting for more than half of the global total, and the preclinical R&D cycle for new drugs such as anti-tumor targeted drugs was shortened by 40%...
Moving toward the "new" and reaching far with "quality." Vigorously developing advanced manufacturing, China is striding toward becoming a manufacturing powerhouse with a posture of striving for "advancement," accelerating the construction of a modern industrial system with advanced manufacturing as its backbone.
Return to Top(People's Daily, Jinan, September 15) (Reporter Jin Xin) On the 14th, at the opening ceremony of the 2026 National Cybersecurity Awareness Week, the National Cybersecurity Standardization Technical Committee (hereinafter referred to as the "Cybersecurity Standards Committee") released the "Artificial Intelligence Security Governance Framework 3.0" (hereinafter referred to as the "Framework 3.0").
In implementing the "Global Artificial Intelligence Governance Initiative," the Cybersecurity Standards Committee successively released the "Artificial Intelligence Security Governance Framework 1.0" and the "Artificial Intelligence Security Governance Framework 2.0" in 2024 and 2025, which attracted widespread attention from all sectors. To respond to new trends in artificial intelligence development and address new challenges in security governance, under the guidance of the Cyberspace Administration of China, the Cybersecurity Standards Committee organized the Chinese Academy of Cyberspace Studies, the Data and Technology Support Center of the Cyberspace Administration of China, and other professional institutions, research institutes, and industry enterprises to research and compile the "Framework 3.0."
The "Framework 3.0" upholds the concepts of people-centeredness and striving for goodness and progress, adheres to and practices the guiding principles of strengthening risk awareness and ensuring safety and controllability, continues the core logic of "risk classification, technical response, and comprehensive governance," and keeps pace with the times (与时俱进, yu shi ju jin - "with, time, together, advance") in reviewing and updating risk classifications, optimizing and adjusting technical response and comprehensive governance measures, so as to promote consensus on artificial intelligence security governance and enhance risk prevention and response capabilities, ensuring that artificial intelligence technology benefits humanity.
Return to Top(People's Daily, Beijing, September 15) (Reporter Li Xiaoqing) Recently, the Ministry of Natural Resources, the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, and the National Forestry and Grassland Administration jointly issued the "Guiding Opinions on Optimizing the Allocation of Natural Resources and Promoting the Orderly and Standardized Development of the Tourism Industry" (hereinafter referred to as the "Opinions"). The "Opinions" introduce incremental policies in areas such as optimizing spatial layout, improving use control, innovating land supply models, revitalizing inefficient land use, and enhancing service supervision, so as to safeguard the standardized, high-quality, and high-quality development of the tourism industry and unleash new potential in the domestic demand market.
The "Opinions" propose strengthening the spatial supply for the cultural and tourism industry and promoting the developing in synchronization with something (同频共振, tong pin gong zhen - "same frequency, resonate together") of spatial resource allocation and industrial development. In conjunction with the physical examination, evaluation, updating, and maintenance of territorial spatial planning, and on the premise of not exceeding binding indicators and bottom-line control requirements such as the "three zones and three lines," the spatial needs for tourism development during the 15th Five-Year Plan period shall be incorporated in a coordinated manner into the "one map" of territorial spatial planning in accordance with positive optimization standards, with scientific site selection carried out collaboratively. Improve the use control of tourism land, strengthen refined land management, solve the difficulties in the implementation of small-scale cultural and tourism projects, and promote the early commencement and early effectiveness of high-quality cultural and tourism projects. Encourage the use of existing spatial stock to develop the tourism industry, innovate the supply mechanism for natural resources, and activate the endogenous driving force of existing cultural and tourism resources. All localities may, in light of their actual conditions, establish and improve the criteria for identifying inefficient tourism land, conduct in-depth assessments of the situation of inefficient tourism land, clarify the direction of spatial optimization in response to problems and shortcomings, and promote the integrated development of multiple business formats such as commerce, sports, culture, sports, and health.
Return to TopBy: 本报记者 曹文轩 苏 滨 宋朝军
Editor's note: Rural collective "three assets" — funds, assets, and resources — are an important material foundation for advancing the comprehensive revitalization of rural areas, and are also a hot focus of concern for the broad masses of farmers. Managing and using rural collective "three assets" well bears on the vital interests of the masses and on the harmony and stability of rural society. In recent years, discipline inspection and supervision organs in various localities have, based on their functional duties, focused closely on prominent problems in the management of rural collective "three assets," strengthened supervision, discipline enforcement, and accountability, seriously investigated and punished a number of cases of disciplinary and legal violations that encroached on collective interests, and effectively safeguarded the interests of the masses.
Introducing an information platform to supervise funds, with all income and expenditure leaving a complete trace
"It was my weak legal awareness that led me to deposit collective funds into a personal account and privately lend out collective money, committing an error." Facing an interview by discipline inspection and supervision cadres, Qin, former head of a villagers' group in Zhimu Village, Bo'ao Town, Qionghai City, Hainan Province, was regretting his past actions (悔不当初, hui bu dang chu - "regret, not, at, beginning").
The matter began with an inspection of the village. In September 2024, the Bo'ao Town Supervision Office dispatched by the Qionghai Municipal Supervision Commission, during the initial verification of clues transferred from the inspection, discovered doubts in the fund management of a villagers' group in Zhimu Village. Upon investigation, from May 2021 to May 2024, while serving as head of the villagers' group, Qin deposited more than 160,000 yuan of collective funds from the group into a personal account for the group's daily expenditures, which constituted depositing public funds in private accounts.
Once the "sluice gate" was opened, risks followed. In June 2022, Qin lent part of the group's collective funds to his daughter for turnover use. By early 2023, the money had been fully repaid. It was not until the problem was exposed that Qin returned the collective funds to the group's public account in two installments. In the end, Qin was given the disciplinary sanction of a major demerit for misappropriating collective funds and depositing public funds in private accounts.
Handling a case cannot end with "just investigating and closing it" — how can the loophole be plugged at the source? Since 2024, Hainan Province has implemented the digital reform of "machines managing the 'three assets,'" and Qionghai City has entered village collective funds, assets, and resources into the platform, moving supervision online. Since the platform began operating in early 2025, 209 villages (communities) and 2,639 village groups across the city have used the platform for payments and reimbursement, successfully completing 120,700 transactions totaling 587 million yuan.
Now, Li Baobao, Party branch secretary of Zhimu Village, clicks the mouse, and the fund flows, asset ledgers, and contract archives of each village group are immediately obvious to the eye (一目了然, yi mu le ran - "one, eye, understand, clearly"), with every income and expenditure leaving a complete trace throughout the process. Relying on "group finances and village finances managed by the town," excess expenditures must be declared online and approved at the town level. When the system detects abnormal large-sum fund movements or funds remaining in private accounts for a long time, it automatically triggers a pop-up warning, and the clues are simultaneously pushed to discipline inspection organs and agriculture and rural affairs departments.
Yi Huihua, member of the Standing Committee of the Qionghai Municipal Party Committee, secretary of the Municipal Discipline Inspection Commission, and director of the Municipal Supervision Commission, stated that it is necessary to seriously investigate and handle "micro-corruption" around the people, make good use of digital tools, tighten the cage of institutions, and promote the extension of rectifying work styles and anti-corruption efforts to the grassroots level.
Ascertaining the full picture of the "three assets" and improving the deliberation and decision-making system
Every cent of rural collective "three assets" is connected to the hearts of the masses.
Cadres of the Discipline Inspection Commission and Supervision Commission of Yunyan District, Guiyang City, Guizhou Province, went to Jinguan Village to carry out supervision and inspection of rural collective "three assets" management and conduct a "look back" at the rectification of earlier problems. Many villagers reported: "The village's accounts are much clearer now."
Previously, Chen Shaoxiang, former secretary of the general Party branch of Jinguan Village, reached into the rural collective "three assets," transferring collective land to a businessman at a low price. After obtaining the land, the businessman built factory buildings, and the village committee then leased the factory buildings at a price higher than the market rate. After receiving the rent, the businessman gave part of it to Chen Shaoxiang. In addition, he engaged in fraud and deception (弄虚作假, nong xu zuo jia - "do, false, make, fake"), falsely reported and fraudulently claimed funds, and showed favoritism to relatives and friends (优亲厚友, you qin hou you - "favor, relatives, thick, friends"), extracting benefits from the village. The Yunyan District Discipline Inspection Commission and Supervision Commission seriously investigated and punished the Chen Shaoxiang case and, following the leads, investigated and punished a number of village cadres and public officials.
In response to problems such as the rural collective "three assets" base figures not being clear enough, data not being accurate enough, and responsibilities not being clear enough, the Yunyan District Discipline Inspection Commission and Supervision Commission urged the District Agriculture and Rural Affairs Bureau to carry out asset verification and capital verification in all 19 villages of the district, comprehensively ascertaining the base figures of rural collective funds, assets, and resources.
Yang Jinhai, member of the Party group of the Yunyan District Agriculture and Rural Affairs Bureau, said that the District Agriculture and Rural Affairs Bureau, together with the District Finance Bureau and other departments, investigated and sorted out 348 problems, revised and improved 27 systems including the "three major and one major" decision-making procedure, the "four deliberations and two disclosures" mechanism, and the rural collective "three assets" management measures, and standardized deliberation and decision-making.
Oral contracts and low-price contracts harbor hidden dangers and should be cleaned up in a timely manner
During a supervision and inspection, staff of the Discipline Inspection Commission and Supervision Commission of Tongwei County, Dingxi City, Gansu Province, discovered that in a village not far from the county seat, three small shopfronts had been rented out. When verifying the lease procedures and documents, the staff found problems with the dates and prices — all three shopfronts had signed lease terms of 50 years, yet the total rent was less than 10,000 yuan. "This is clearly unreasonable! Fifty years is an ultra-long lease term, and the rent price is still this low." The County Discipline Inspection Commission and Supervision Commission immediately set up a verification team to begin the investigation.
At first glance at the accounts, the village collective ledger records appeared "proper and orderly," with no obvious loopholes. The staff settled down to dig deeply into documentary evidence, page by page reviewing the meeting records of the village two committees, collective asset ledgers, and financial accounting vouchers, and comparing paper archives, finally finding a private lease agreement that had been shelved in the archives and not reported for filing.
After reviewing documents and conducting visits, the staff ascertained the whole story or sequence of events (来龙去脉, lai long qu mai - "come, dragon, go, vein"): Cao, secretary of the village Party branch and director of the village committee, violated the relevant provisions of the "Regulations on the Management of Rural Collective Property in Gansu Province," privately signing an agreement with others to illegally lease village collective assets to individuals for a term of 50 years, and illegally used the nearly 10,000 yuan in rent collected. Subsequently, the staff conducted interviews and verification with the parties involved and relevant village cadres respectively. In the end, Cao was given a Party disciplinary sanction.
Oral contracts, low-price contracts, and ultra-long-term contracts are prominent problems in the "three assets" field. The Tongwei County Discipline Inspection Commission and Supervision Commission urged agriculture and rural affairs, finance, and other departments to use asset and capital verification as the starting point, carry out a comprehensive review of all economic contracts involving village collective assets and resources, and clean up more than 120 non-compliant contracts.
Shi Guorong, deputy director of the Tongwei County Agriculture and Rural Affairs Bureau, introduced that relying on the Gansu rural collective "three assets" online supervision platform, full coverage of data entry and dynamic supervision has been achieved, realizing online entry, dynamic supervision, and public disclosure of "three assets" data — funds, assets, resources, contracts, and so on — for all 332 villages in the county.
Return to TopBy: 本报记者 方 敏
Since the start of this summer's flood season, Henan has been hit by multiple rounds of heavy rainfall, with levee breach emergencies occurring in many places. The floodwaters have receded — how is post-disaster recovery progressing? On September 11, reporters visited Caiyuanliu Village, Beiwudu Town, Wuyang County, Luohe City, Henan Province, to find out.
In the village, grid worker Liu Peili was verifying the disaster losses of farming households; by the ditch, village Party branch secretary Liu Guohong was directing repair work; on the village road, workers were inspecting the tap-water pipes... The reconstruction work is a complex mess of many complicated matters (千头万绪, qian tou wan xu - "thousand, head, ten thousand, threads"). The Caiyuanliu Village Party branch, relying on the "Party building + grid" mechanism, has divided the whole village into 7 verification zones, with village grid workers and town government staff forming 7 verification teams that visit households zone by zone and area by area.
Standing at the edge of his own field, farmer Li Guosheng had just finished verifying the flooded area of his cropland together with the grid worker. He said: "We are waiting for the compensation standard from the higher level. The flooded farmland will be restored uniformly by the county, and villagers don't have to pay a cent."
The reporter then came to the discharge sluice gate of the Nihewa flood detention and storage area in Wuyang County, where the water flow had already leveled off. On the embankment, the vegetation on the higher ground was lush and green, while the plants on the lower ground had turned yellow from the floodwater's soaking, forming a striking watermark line.
Recalling that urgent mass evacuation on the night of August 13, Liu Guohong still has a very fresh and vivid memory (记忆犹新, ji yi you xin - "memory, still, very, new") of it: "The flood situation was extremely urgent and critical (十万火急, shi wan huo ji - "ten, hundred thousand, fire, urgent"), but we stayed calm and organized despite being busy (忙而不乱, mang er bu luan - "busy, but, not, chaotic")." On August 11, cities in the Sha-Ying River basin — Pingdingshan, Xuchang, Luohe, Zhoukou, among others — became the center of the rainstorm, with maximum point rainfall exceeding 500 millimeters within 30 hours — a year's worth of precipitation for these cities fell in three days.
After assessment, Henan Province decided: on August 13, activate the Nihewa flood detention and storage area. This meant 65,000 people had to be evacuated urgently.
The moment he received the notice, Liu Guohong had confidence in his heart — 252 households, 1,086 people, had long been carried in his mind. As for the 48 elderly people living alone, whose homes were on low ground, whose houses were old, whose patients could not get out of bed — he knew it all clearly.
This confidence was not built up in a single day. A year ago, Henan Province re-delineated its grids with finer precision, and each grid simultaneously established a Party group. Liu Guohong is the head of the first grid, and every week, without fail, he makes door-to-door visits, jotting down whatever situations arise in the "people's conditions log." Dai Jiying, deputy head of the Organization Department of the Luohe Municipal Party Committee, said that thanks to the efforts of local cadres and the masses, that night, all people who needed to be evacuated from the Nihewa flood detention and storage area were safely relocated, totaling 4,567 people.
Before the breach of the North Ru River civilian levee in Yuxi Village, Changqiao Town, Jia County, Pingdingshan City, village cadres knocked on doors house by house for four hours, and 2,182 people were safely evacuated. In Xialiuying Village, Huaiyang District, Zhoukou City, three piping failures appeared; the village Party branch assembled within 15 minutes, and within half an hour more than a hundred villagers spontaneously came to fill sandbags and pass stones, and the danger was resolved.
The effective and forceful flood prevention work also benefited from the accurate calculations of big data, which propped up a smart defense line.
Relying on big data, Henan has built a "three defense lines" system for rainfall and water regime monitoring and forecasting: meteorological satellites, 13 water-measuring weather radars, 8,266 hydrological monitoring stations, plus 1,148 BeiDou satellite dual-channel monitoring stations, forming an integrated sensing system spanning "sky, air, ground, water, and engineering." Data such as cloud movement direction, rainfall variation curves, and river water level rises and falls are overlaid, simulated, and used for early warning on a single map. Once early warning information is generated, it is delivered directly to grassroots grid workers and village-contracted cadres through channels such as the Grid Connect APP, SMS platforms, WeChat groups, and "electronic fence + flash message." Liu Guohong remarked with emotion: "Thanks to big data, we solved situations that manpower could not reach, the naked eye could not see, and experience could not judge accurately."
At the Pingdingshan Smart City Operation and Service Center, the reporter saw that the locality has built a system of "electronic fence + flash message + Grid Connect APP + weather advisory kit," precisely dispatching handling tasks to 21,000 grid workers during the flood season. During this year's flood season, all 58,600 flood prevention responsible persons across Henan Province were on duty throughout the region, with directives flattened to reach the very grassroots, and all 341,000 grids and more than 870,000 full-time and part-time grid workers were on post.
The waters have receded, and Party flags flutter on the embankment. In Caiyuanliu Village, post-disaster reconstruction work is proceeding in an orderly manner.
Return to Top(People's Daily, Haikou, September 15) (Reporter Dong Zeyang) On the 15th, the 2026 Global Business and Rule of Law Conference, hosted by the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade, was held in Haikou, Hainan. The theme of this conference was "Digital Intelligence Empowers, Legal-Business Integration; Rule of Law Safeguards Institutional Opening-Up," and around the topics of "Legal-Business Integration, Empowering Going Global," "Rule of Law Leading Diverse Dispute Resolution, Digital Intelligence Driving Open Cooperation," "Coordinated Protection of Intellectual Property Rights, Innovation Empowering Institutional Opening-Up," a main forum and two parallel forums were held.
The conference released the "2026 Global Business and Rule of Law Conference Declaration," putting forward five-point initiatives: uphold international rule of law, deepen international cooperation on industrial and supply chains; embrace the digital-intelligence transformation, empower all walks of life (千行百业, qian hang bai ye - "thousand, line, hundred, industry") with innovative development; deepen legal-business integration, share the opportunities of world economic development; encourage openness and cooperation, advocate an inclusive and universally beneficial economic globalization; build broad consensus, promote a more just and equitable global governance system.
Return to TopSplit the mountains, open the river!
On September 16, the backbone project of the New Western Land-Sea Corridor — the Pinglu Canal — officially opened to navigation, adding to the southwest region a new sea passage with the shortest distance, the most economical cost, and the most convenient access.
In December 2023, when General Secretary Xi Jinping inspected Guangxi, he stressed: "Connecting rivers to the sea, and river-sea intermodal transport — this is the potential of Guangxi's future development." The General Secretary urged that the Pinglu Canal be built to high standards and high quality, and that the capacity and automation level of river-rail-sea multimodal transport be improved.
In the past, the towering Ten Thousand Great Mountains stretched majestically, lying across between the Xijiang River and the Qinjiang River, with the river and the sea facing each other but never meeting, making it difficult to unleash the locational advantages of Guangxi's coastal, riverside, and border areas.
In order to realize "connecting rivers to the sea" — linking the golden waterway of the Xijiang River with the Beibu Gulf international gateway port — over four years, more than 20,000 builders fought on the front line: amid towering mountains and steep ridges (崇山峻岭, chong shan jun ling - "lofty, high, steep, mountain, precipitous, ridge"), the volume of earth and rock excavation was equivalent to three Three Gorges projects; overcoming the shortage of water resources, the world's largest water-saving ship lock on an inland river was built; solving the problem of the huge volume of concrete, a world-leading pouring system was created; improving navigation efficiency, a world record for valve opening and closing speed was broken... Forging new paths, breaking through difficulties; opening a canal, setting a precedent.
Three major hubs, from top to bottom, smooth out a 65-meter water level drop, stringing together the 134.2-kilometer first major canal connecting rivers to the sea built since the founding of New China.
The water has arrived, navigation is open!
What is opened is a "river of benefit and happiness" shared by all. During construction, more than 70,000 people found work and increased their income at their doorsteps; 104 convenient bridges were newly built or renovated, 73 "wells for the people" were created, 76.8 kilometers of roads benefiting the people were built, more than 70,000 people gained more convenient access to water, and rural travel became smoother. Small streams merging into a larger flow (涓滴汇流, juan di hui liu - "tiny, drop, converge, flow"), nourishing the people.
What is opened is a "major trade artery" for smooth circulation. "Guangxi goods not going through Guangxi ports" has become history, and the millennium-old predicament of "near the sea but not reaching the sea" has been broken. Starting from Chengdu-Chongqing, exiting through Yunnan and Guizhou, the sea voyage for goods from the southwest region has been shortened by more than 560 kilometers, with logistics costs reduced by up to 30 percent. Vessels of 5,000-ton class pass through unimpeded, the capacity of river-rail-sea multimodal transport has leaped forward, and trade exchanges have become closer.
What is opened is a "new regional opportunity" for industrial revitalization. Factory buildings stand in clusters, projects are being implemented, and along the New Western Land-Sea Corridor, resource advantages are being accelerated into economic advantages, the marine economy is thriving, and port-adjacent industries are growing. The "ASEAN-Beibu Gulf-Chengdu-Chongqing-Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao" cross-border and cross-regional industrial chain is taking shape faster, the development and opening up of the "Pearl River-Xijiang River Economic Belt" is being accelerated, regional development is more coordinated, and industrial and supply responses are more efficient, promoting the formation of a new pattern for the new era's large-scale development of the western region.
What is opened is an "open expressway" facing the world. China and ASEAN are each other's largest trading partners. After the Pinglu Canal opens to navigation, the southwest hinterland steps in one stride to the forefront of opening up, the domestic and international dual circulation gains a new strategic bond, and high-level opening up gains new momentum.
Toward the sea, striving for strength!
More than two thousand years ago, when the Lingqu Canal was first opened, trade between the Central Plains and Lingnan began; more than a hundred years ago, Dr. Sun Yat-sen wrote "The International Development of China," illuminating the dream of connecting rivers and seas; in the new era, the Pinglu Canal connects rivers to the sea, and the road of opening up is growing ever wider...
Stimulating the vitality of the "rivers," releasing the potential of the "sea," turning the people's aspirations into a beautiful reality, the Chinese nation's conviction of managing water and prospering the country continues unceasingly, and the sail of open development is sailing vigorously through the waves (破浪高扬, po lang gao yang - "break, wave, high, raise").
(People's Daily reporter Guo Xueyan)
This issue's planning: Lin Lin, Jiang Xuejie, Lü Li
This issue's coordination: Guo Xueyan, Pang Geping
Layout design: Cai Huawei
Convergence media cooperation: Shan Xiaoqiu, Pan Shuo, Wang Xuezi
Return to TopBy: 何虎生
The Party's work style is the Party's image, bearing on whether the people support or oppose the Party, and bearing on the Party's survival or demise. Persisting in advancing the normalization and long-term institutionalization of work style improvement is one of the scientific connotations of the "Fourteen Commitments" of Xi Jinping's Party building thought. Since the 18th National Congress of the Party, the Party Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core has attached great importance to and continuously advanced the improvement of the Party's work style. On the basis of scientifically summarizing the practical experience of work style improvement in the new era, it has further answered the questions of what to address and how to address the Party's work style improvement under the new circumstances. To deeply study and implement Xi Jinping's Party building thought, we must profoundly grasp the important significance, theoretical connotations, and practical paths of persisting in advancing the normalization and long-term institutionalization of work style improvement, fight the tough battle and protracted battle of work style improvement with the tenacity and perseverance of "always being on the road," and provide strong guarantees for the great cause of building a strong country and national rejuvenation with new achievements in work style improvement.
Profoundly Grasp the Important Significance of Persisting in Advancing the Normalization and Long-term Institutionalization of Work Style Improvement
Since the 18th National Congress of the Party, the Party Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core has started from grasping work style to advance full and rigorous self-governance of the Party, promoting a completely renewed Party conduct and government conduct and leading sustained improvement in social customs and public morals. Changing prevailing practices is not easy, and consolidating achievements is even harder. To advance full and rigorous self-governance of the Party in depth, we must deeply study and carefully comprehend the important significance of persisting in advancing the normalization and long-term institutionalization of work style improvement.
Work style problems bear on the Party's survival or demise, and the normalization and long-term institutionalization of work style improvement is an effective path for maintaining the flesh-and-blood ties between the Party and the people. Our Party comes from the people, takes root among the people, and serves the people. The Party's foundation lies in the people, its bloodline lies in the people, and its strength lies in the people. Without the people's support and endorsement, the Party's cause and work would be impossible to speak of. History has proven that when the Party's work style is upright, the people's hearts are at ease, and the Party and the people can be sharing trials and tribulations together (同甘共苦, tong gan gong ku - "same, sweet; same, bitter"). Conversely, if the ruling Party does not pay attention to work style improvement and allows unhealthy tendencies to erode the Party's body, it will lose its foundation, lose its bloodline, lose its strength, and face the danger of losing the people's support and losing state power. Regarding work style improvement, what the broad masses most worry about is "rain passing over the ground only wetting the surface," and what they most hope for is maintaining normalization and forming long-term mechanisms. Persisting in advancing the normalization and long-term institutionalization of work style improvement, consolidating and developing the hard-won good momentum and good situation of work style improvement in the new era, is not only an effective path for closely linking Party-masses and cadre-mass relations, consolidating the Party's governing foundation, and ensuring that the Party always breathes the same breath, shares the same fate, and is heart-to-heart with the people, but also an inevitable requirement for using fine Party conduct to unite the Party's heart and the people's heart during the 15th Five-Year Plan period, and for providing strong guarantees for comprehensively advancing the great cause of building a strong country and national rejuvenation through Chinese modernization.
Work style problems are stubborn and recurrent in nature, and the normalization and long-term institutionalization of work style improvement is a practical need for persistent and unremitting (锲而不舍, qie er bu she - "drill, and; not, abandon") resolution of work style problems. Solving work style problems well is a major issue that our Party, as the world's largest Marxist governing party, must face, and cracking this issue is a long-term and arduous process. The Party's work style is closely related to government conduct, social customs, and family traditions. Behind unhealthy tendencies often lie interest structures, hidden inertial thinking, and deep-rooted soil; they are repeatedly prohibited yet hard to eliminate, the tree is felled but the roots remain, and they even mutate invisibly and take on new forms. Relying solely on "a gust of wind" style concentrated rectification is hard to eradicate deep-seated work style chronic ills. If we underestimate the stubbornness and recurrence of work style problems, lack the tenacity for constant grasping and the patience for strict grasping, and lack systems that govern the long term and consolidate the fundamentals, unhealthy tendencies will grow back like leeks after being cut, one crop after another. To continuously advance the Party's self-purification, self-improvement, self-renewal, and self-enhancement, and to persistently and unremittingly solve work style problems, we must persist in advancing the normalization and long-term institutionalization of work style improvement, establish the thinking of a protracted battle, use normalized supervision and long-term institutionalized constraints to continuously compress the space for the breeding of unhealthy tendencies and eradicate the soil for the breeding of work style problems, and achieve true management and strict management, daring management and strict management, and long-term management and strict management.
Work style problems bear on the Party's image, and the normalization and long-term institutionalization of work style improvement is the key to internalizing Xi Jinping's Party building thought in the mind and externalizing it in action. The Party's work style has never existed in isolation but is closely linked and intimately connected with all aspects of Party building. Examining its internal roots, faith is the foundation and work style is the form; work style problems are essentially Party spirit problems. Observing its external manifestations, unhealthy tendencies and corruption problems are two sides of the same coin, and are the hotbed for the growth of corruption. Investigating its social impact, the Party's work style reflects the Party's image, and what work style problems destroy is the Party's public credibility and the Party's image. Exploring its rectification methods, the key lies in establishing a complete set of scientific and reasonable laws, regulations, and systems. Since the 18th National Congress of the Party, the Party Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core has upheld scientific thinking methods, seized the key of persisting in advancing the normalization and long-term institutionalization of work style improvement in advancing the great new project of Party building in the new era, driven the overall situation of Party building through work style improvement, promoted the broad ranks of Party members and cadres to transform their subjective and objective world under the guidance of Xi Jinping's Party building thought, achieving entry into the mind and heart and visible results and effectiveness, won the trust and support of the broad masses of the people, and embodied the strategic thinking, dialectical thinking, and systematic thinking of viewing the overall situation from one domain and commanding the overall situation from one point.
Systematically Comprehend the Theoretical Connotations of Persisting in Advancing the Normalization and Long-term Institutionalization of Work Style Improvement
Persisting in advancing the normalization and long-term institutionalization of work style improvement is an important requirement of Xi Jinping's Party building thought in the field of work style improvement. Since the new era, General Secretary Xi Jinping has made a series of important expositions on the Party's work style improvement, forming a theoretical system with rich connotations, rigorous logic, and complete structure, providing fundamental guidance and action guidelines for continuously deepening work style improvement on the new journey.
The Party's work style improvement in the new era embodies the distinctive feature of grasping strictly and firmly, and being consistent from beginning to end (一以贯之, yi yi guan zhi - "one, use; through, connect"). In the first volume of the Selected Works of Xi Jinping on Party Building, in the speech "Speech at the Sixth Plenary Session of the 18th Central Commission for Discipline Inspection," General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out: "For us Communists, whether we can solve work style problems well is a very important yardstick for measuring our faith in Marxism, our conviction in socialism and communism, and our loyalty to the Party and the people." The Party's work style improvement in the new era has always anchored on maintaining the Party's advanced nature and purity and maintaining the flesh-and-blood ties between the Party and the people, running the strict tone through the entire process and all aspects, forming a clear-cut stance and clearly directed internal connotation. The people's standpoint is our Party's fundamental political standpoint. Placing work style improvement in a prominent position in Party building demonstrates the Party's firm determination to unite the people's hearts and win people's support with fine work style. The Party Central Committee started from formulating and implementing the Central Eight-Point Regulation to break the ice, persistently and unremittingly rectified the Four Malfeasances, and unswervingly reduced burdens and loosened constraints at the grassroots level... Work style improvement in the new era has always adhered to putting strictness first, comprehensive strictness, and strictness to the end, releasing a strong signal that discipline enforcement will become increasingly strict. In the new era, adhering to problem orientation is an important method for advancing work style improvement. Work style improvement in the new era has always focused on prominent problems strongly reflected by the masses, continuously rectified formalism and bureaucratism, resolutely addressed hedonism and extravagance, solved whatever problems were found, and rectified whichever fields had concentrated problems, promoting precise and effective work style improvement that reaches the bottom and produces results. Adhering to grasping Party spirit, Party conduct, and Party discipline together, and linking the rectification of unhealthy tendencies, the enforcement of discipline, and the fight against corruption, is a key measure for work style improvement, helping to connect the rectification of unhealthy tendencies, discipline enforcement, and anti-corruption with Party spirit education, guiding Party members and cadres to temper their Party spirit and refine their work style, and achieving the organic unity of external requirements and internal self-awareness.
Normalization is an important prerequisite for supporting the continuous advancement and deepening of work style improvement. Work style problems are stubborn and recurrent, often improving when grasped and rebounding when relaxed. Solving work style problems cannot be achieved overnight or solve a problem once and for all (一劳永逸, yi lao yong yi - "one, labor; forever, ease"). Since the new era, our Party has adhered to advancing work style improvement in a normalized manner, holding firm at one node after another, solving one problem after another, promoting sustained improvement in Party conduct and government conduct and sustained upward and positive development in social customs and public morals. Only by implementing the requirements of normalization, making work style improvement a normal state and a habit, can we continuously accumulate small victories into major victories and continuously consolidate and expand the achievements of work style improvement. In the first volume of the Selected Works of Xi Jinping on Party Building, in "The Key to Work Style Improvement Is to Make Efforts in Grasping Constantly, Grasping Carefully, and Grasping Long-term," General Secretary Xi Jinping emphasized: "The cultivation of prevailing practices relies on daily instruction, and work style improvement values unremitting grasping, always placing it in position and organically integrating it into daily work, achieving that managing affairs means managing people, and managing people means managing thought and work style." Normalization is mainly reflected in the normalization of managing thought and work style, emphasizing the integration of work style improvement into all aspects of Party building, enabling work style improvement to deepen in sync with the advancement of various Party building tasks, guiding Party members and cadres to tighten the "master switch" from the depths of their thinking, and forming a virtuous cycle of grasping work style to promote work and grasping work to strengthen work style. Normalization is also reflected in the normalization of supervision and discipline enforcement, both making the implementation of the spirit of the Central Eight-Point Regulation the focus of daily supervision, grasping early and grasping small, nipping problems in the bud (防微杜渐, fang wei du jian - "prevent, tiny; block, gradual"), promptly reminding and correcting budding and tendency problems, and also severely investigating and punishing violations of discipline in defiance of the wind, forming a sustained and powerful deterrent effect. Normalization is also reflected in the normalization of problem identification, emphasizing the integration of work style improvement requirements into intra-Party political life, as important content of democratic life meetings and organizational life meetings, promoting Party members and cadres to frequently compare, examine, and self-renew, and achieving sustained improvement in work style quality through daily accumulation.
Long-term institutionalization is the goal destination for promoting the long-term maintenance, expansion, and sublimation of work style improvement achievements. In the first volume of the Selected Works of Xi Jinping on Party Building, in "The Key to Work Style Improvement Is to Make Efforts in Grasping Constantly, Grasping Carefully, and Grasping Long-term," General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out: "Both history and reality tell us that grasping work style improvement well is not a one-day achievement. Work style problems often improve a bit when grasped and relax when let go, and there exists a vicious circle that is hard to break out of." Work style improvement must not only solve prominent current problems, but also focus on the long term and consolidate achievements, realizing the transformation from mainly treating symptoms to addressing both symptoms and root causes, and ultimately achieving the goal of long-term governance. The Party Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core has made long-term institutionalization an important goal of work style improvement, reflecting the Party's continuously deepening understanding of the laws of work style improvement. The focus of long-term institutionalization lies in adhering to governing the Party with institutions and governing the Party according to regulations, providing long-term guarantees for work style improvement by constructing a systematic, complete, scientifically standardized, and effectively operating institutional mechanism for work style improvement. Since the 18th National Congress of the Party, the Party Central Committee has successively issued a series of intra-Party laws and regulations, gradually weaving and tightening the institutional cage for work style improvement, realizing the use of institutions to manage power, manage affairs, and manage people. The ultimate goal of long-term institutionalization is to realize the unity of Party members' and cadres' ideological consciousness, political consciousness, and action consciousness, and through continuous ideological tempering, political training, practical exercise, and professional training, promote fine work style to be internalized as conviction, externalized as habit, and solidified as institution, deepening from "dare not" to "cannot" and ultimately to "do not want to," continuously cultivating a clean and upright atmosphere. Long-term institutionalization is reflected in the continuous improvement of governance effectiveness. Through the long-term advancement of work style improvement, continuously purify the intra-Party political ecology, closely link Party-masses and cadre-mass relations, transform the achievements of work style improvement into a powerful driving force for strengthening the Party and strengthening the country, and provide a strong work style guarantee for advancing Chinese modernization. In the Party's work style improvement in the new era, normalization and long-term institutionalization are an organic unity as a whole; normalization is the prerequisite for long-term institutionalization, and long-term institutionalization is the destination of normalization. Together, the two answer the question of "what to grasp and how to grasp" in work style improvement in the new era.
Leading the Normalization and Long-term Institutionalization of Work Style Improvement with Xi Jinping's Party Building Thought
Xi Jinping's Party building thought provides fundamental guidance and action guidelines for strengthening Party building in the new era. On the new journey, we must take Xi Jinping's Party building thought as the guide, advance the normalization and long-term institutionalization of work style improvement, cultivate fine work style by strengthening political cultivation and tempering firm Party spirit, rectify the Four Malfeasances by improving the institutional system and strengthening rigid constraints, and fight the tough battle and protracted battle of work style improvement by compacting the responsibility chain and jointly investigating and jointly governing work style and corruption.
Keep the political direction accurate, implement political requirements, and cultivate fine work style with firm Party spirit. In the first volume of the Selected Works of Xi Jinping on Party Building, in "Be a Jiao Yulu-style County Party Secretary," General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out: "As Party cadres, no matter where they work or in which position, they must strengthen Party spirit stance and political awareness, withstand the test of storms and waves, and cannot go astray or deviate in the political direction." Tempering Party spirit is the internal foundation of work style improvement, and fine work style is the external manifestation of firm Party spirit. Only with firm Party spirit can work style be excellent. To advance the normalization and long-term institutionalization of work style improvement, the first priority is to temper firm Party spirit and build a solid political foundation. Cultivating fine work style with firm Party spirit requires the broad ranks of Party members and cadres to place political cultivation first in Party spirit cultivation, pursue lofty ideals, firm political convictions, improve ideological awareness, cultivate noble sentiments, persist in drawing Party spirit nourishment from the Party's innovative theories, deeply study and comprehend the core essence, theoretical character, and practical requirements of Xi Jinping's Party building thought, and transform the achievements of theoretical study into the ideological consciousness of tempering Party spirit and the practical strength of advancing work style improvement. To consolidate the achievements of work style improvement and promote continuous new results in work style improvement, we must run political standards and political requirements through the entire process of work style improvement. In particular, in response to the stubbornness and recurrence of the Four Malfeasances, we must deeply discern that behind them lie the problems of deviating from Party spirit and indifferent purposes, reflecting the problems of weak political awareness, deviated political stance, and lax political discipline. We must always maintain political sobriety, strictly observe political discipline, use iron discipline to rectify various acts of violating discipline in defiance of the wind, and effectively achieve grasping strictly and firmly, grasping early and grasping small, and grasping constantly and grasping carefully.
Improve the institutional system, strengthen rigid constraints, and strictly prevent and strictly govern the invisible mutation of the Four Malfeasances. Institutions govern the fundamentals and the long term. Regarding the Four Malfeasances, on the one hand, we must establish and improve mechanisms for regularly discovering and solving problems, and give play to the role of institutions in providing an overall framework in work style improvement. On the other hand, strengthen supervision and discipline enforcement, build a solid dam for work style improvement with institutional rigidity, continuously improve the institutional guarantee system for work style improvement, and plug all loopholes for the invisible mutation of the Four Malfeasances in an all-round manner. Adhere to continuously strengthening the construction of intra-Party laws and regulations under the guidance of Xi Jinping's Party building thought, anchor on the new trends of the Four Malfeasances changing appearance and going underground, tighten and fasten the institutional cage in a targeted manner, adhere to taking the Party Constitution as the foundation and guidelines and regulations as the backbone, improve basic intra-Party laws and regulations and supporting intra-Party laws and regulations targeting specific work style problems, and further promote work style improvement to have rules to follow and regulations to rely on. On this basis, strengthen institutional rigidity with strict discipline enforcement, adhere to leaving no "hidden doors" and opening no "skylights," transform the hard requirements of Party conduct and Party discipline into hard measures, and let iron rules grow iron teeth. In the process of institutional implementation, pay attention to effectively transforming the principled requirements of work style improvement into operable and quantifiable specific norms, treat the Four Malfeasances with a zero-tolerance and strict investigation attitude, resolutely prevent the "broken window effect," and build a solid institutional barrier for nipping problems in the bud.
Compact the responsibility chain, jointly investigate and jointly govern work style and corruption, and lead social customs and public morals with fine Party conduct. In the second volume of the Selected Works of Xi Jinping on Party Building, in "The Key to Advancing the Party's Self-revolution Lies in Truly Implementing Implementation," General Secretary Xi Jinping emphasized: "The responsibility for governing the Party has primary responsibility, supervisory responsibility, the responsibility of the first responsible person, and the 'one post with dual responsibilities,' etc. These constitute a complete responsibility chain. Every kind of responsibility is very important and must be strictly implemented, and cannot be dealt with perfunctorily." Unhealthy tendencies and corruption problems are two sides of the same coin and share the same root and source. Unhealthy tendencies are the hotbed for the breeding of corruption problems, and corrupt acts in turn fuel the spread of unhealthy tendencies. This is the reason for severely punishing the interweaving of work style and corruption problems through "joint investigation" and eradicating the common roots of work style and corruption through "joint governance." Compacting the responsibility chain is to form an up-and-down connected linkage mechanism for work style improvement through the layer-by-layer transmission of pressure and layer-by-layer implementation of responsibility, providing strong organizational guarantees and efficiency support for the joint investigation and joint governance of work style and corruption. We should build a responsibility system with equal rights and responsibilities and accountability for dereliction of duty, enabling the broad ranks of Party members and cadres to know responsibility in their hearts, bear responsibility on their shoulders, and fulfill responsibility in their actions, with one level grasping one level and layer-by-layer implementation, ensuring that the responsibilities of "investigating corruption from work style" and "correcting work style from corruption" are implemented in place, resolutely cutting off the bond of transformation between work style and corruption, adhering to both rectifying the Four Malfeasances and promoting new practices, linking the responsibility chain of rectifying unhealthy tendencies, enforcing discipline, and fighting corruption, unblocking the transmission chain of leading social customs and public morals with fine Party conduct, letting a clean and upright atmosphere prevail throughout society, and creating a good environment for high-quality development.
(The author is a specially invited researcher of the Beijing Research Center for Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era)
Return to TopBy: 杨 典
General Secretary Xi Jinping has emphasized: "Accelerate the construction of an independent knowledge system for Chinese philosophy and social sciences, and better answer the questions of China, the questions of the world, the questions of the people, and the questions of the era." Sociology, as a discipline that studies the forms of human society across different eras and civilizations, holds significant value in promoting exchanges and mutual learning among civilizations. Using the construction of an independent knowledge system for Chinese sociology to promote exchanges and mutual learning among civilizations is an inevitable requirement for thoroughly implementing General Secretary Xi Jinping's important expositions, and it is also the mission of the times that the Chinese sociology community must undertake.
Constructing an independent knowledge system for Chinese sociology plays an important role in manifesting Chinese wisdom and contributing Chinese solutions
The independent knowledge system for Chinese sociology integrates the development achievements of Chinese and foreign sociological disciplines, takes root in the excellent traditional Chinese culture, and is based on the vivid practice of Chinese modernization, forming original theories, signature concepts, and research paradigms that possess both local character and global applicability. It can manifest Chinese wisdom and contribute Chinese solutions in exchanges and mutual learning among civilizations.
Breaking Western-centrism and reshaping the global knowledge map. Western philosophy and social sciences appear objective, universal, and value-neutral, but in essence they are "local knowledge" proposed on the basis of the social realities of the West at that time and in that place, and the positions of their researchers. The superiority of Western civilization caused by Western knowledge-centrism is neither conducive to the independence of thought and the independence of development paths of non-Western countries, nor is it conducive to exchanges and mutual learning among the civilizations of all countries. Constructing an independent knowledge system for Chinese sociology can break the single Western discourse system from the source of knowledge production, rebuild a pluralistic and equal global knowledge map with Chinese experience and Chinese theory, and create the cognitive premise for equal dialogue among different civilizations.
Inheriting the genes of Chinese civilization and absorbing and drawing on the achievements of diverse civilizations. Since ancient times, Chinese civilization has embodied a unique inclusiveness and innovativeness, and has never lacked the capacity to absorb, integrate, and recreate. The independent knowledge system for Chinese sociology can consolidate cultural subjectivity, grasp the initiative in absorbing the achievements of foreign civilizations, inherit the gene of Chinese civilization that is being inclusive and absorbing diverse elements (兼容并蓄, jianrong bingxu - "compatible, and, absorb, and, take in"), build a theoretical framework for equal dialogue among civilizations, continuously enrich its own connotations in the process of absorbing the theoretical nourishment of Western sociology, and ultimately form a sociological theoretical system that possesses both a Chinese standpoint and a global vision.
Contributing Chinese solutions to global social construction. In recent years, China's tremendous achievements in social fields such as livelihood security, grassroots governance, rural development, and public services have attracted worldwide attention. Constructing an independent knowledge system for Chinese sociology helps to systematically refine these practical experiences into regular understandings with theoretical explanatory power, forming theoretical achievements with universal reference significance. On this basis, expressing them in ways that the international community can understand and is willing to listen to can contribute Chinese wisdom to global social construction, especially providing theoretical reference and experiential lessons for developing countries in fields such as poverty reduction, urbanization, and the modernization of social governance.
Rooted in Chinese practice, positive progress has been made in constructing an independent knowledge system for Chinese sociology
At present, Chinese sociology, rooted in Chinese practice, has already made positive progress in constructing an independent knowledge system for Chinese sociology in terms of disciplinary self-awareness, signature concepts, and other aspects, laying a solid foundation for further enhancing the international discourse power of Chinese scholarship and advancing exchanges and mutual learning among civilizations.
Disciplinary self-awareness and theoretical consciousness have been significantly enhanced. The topic of "constructing an independent knowledge system for Chinese sociology" has become a research priority in the Chinese sociology community. Sociology teaching and research institutions are presenting a favorable situation of accelerating the construction of an independent knowledge system, and the important role of academic journals in advancing the construction of an independent knowledge system is becoming increasingly prominent. A large number of sociologists such as Fei Xiaotong, Lei Jieqiong, Zheng Hangsheng, and Lu Xueyi have conducted in-depth research on a series of major practical and theoretical issues including rural industrialization, small towns and regional development, social structural transformation, social fairness, harmonious society construction, and bottom-line fairness guarantee, refining new theoretical knowledge and making important contributions to promoting the construction of sociology with Chinese characteristics. Today's sociologists, focusing on topics such as people's well-being, common prosperity, and the modernization of social governance, have carried out in-depth investigation and research, forming a large number of achievements that possess both theoretical depth and practical value. Facing the trend of digitalization, the Chinese sociology community, based on local digital social practice, has conducted systematic research on frontier topics such as the digital divide, platform governance, and artificial intelligence ethics, and the relevant theoretical achievements have already formed an internationally leading advantage.
The refinement of signature concepts and theoretical innovation have achieved fruitful results. Chinese sociology adheres to combining investigation and research with theoretical construction. It is good at drawing on and absorbing Western theories, yet refuses to copy them mechanically, proposing academic concepts rooted in Chinese practice such as "the other invisible hand" and "the project system," advancing the construction of sociology with Chinese characteristics from the macro, meso, and micro levels, making expanded innovations in theories such as social structural transformation and relational sociology, and achieving a supplement to and transcendence of Western sociology. For example, concepts such as "differential mode of association," "work unit," and "society of reason and sentiment" accurately depict the deep characteristics of Chinese society, break through the single explanatory framework of Western theories, and have attracted widespread attention in the international sociological community. The formation of these academic concepts and theoretical innovations based on the practice of Chinese modernization mean that Chinese sociology has realized the role transformation from "theory consumer" to "theory producer," promoting the accelerated construction of an independent knowledge system for Chinese sociology.
International academic exchange and discourse dissemination have achieved initial results. At present, the research horizons of Chinese sociology are continuously expanding, research topics and objects are becoming increasingly internationalized, research on societies outside China such as Europe and the United States, Japan and South Korea, Southeast Asia, and Africa is continuously increasing, and while expanding the field of sociological research, it has promoted disciplinary construction and exchanges and mutual learning among civilizations. The activity and influence of Chinese sociologists on the international academic stage continue to rise, with more and more papers published in foreign languages and participation in international academic activities. In addition, the Chinese sociology community actively responds to the new requirements of artificial intelligence development for data collection, organization, and analysis, strengthens the construction of liberal arts laboratories, promotes innovation in research methods and paradigms, independently develops large models for the sociology discipline, and promotes the construction of a digital research system that is rooted in local practice and independently controllable. This lays a solid methodological foundation for us to conduct equal academic dialogue internationally, and helps to enhance the dissemination power and influence of Chinese sociology in the international academic community.
Accelerating the construction of an independent knowledge system for Chinese sociology to better promote exchanges and mutual learning among civilizations
Using the construction of an independent knowledge system for Chinese sociology to promote exchanges and mutual learning among civilizations is not only a spiritual inheritance of the Chinese civilization's seeking harmony while respecting differences (和而不同, he er bu tong - "harmony, and, not, same") and sharing beauty and diversity together (美美与共, mei mei yu gong - "beautiful, beautiful, and, with, share"), but also the inevitable path for Chinese sociology in the new era to make steady progress to achieve long-term success (行稳致远, xing wen zhi yuan - "walk, steady, and, reach, far") and flourish. Chinese sociology bears the dual mission of constructing an independent knowledge system and promoting exchanges and mutual learning among civilizations, and it needs to make sustained efforts in the following aspects.
Adhere to the Two Integrations (两个结合) and consolidate the civilizational foundation of the independent knowledge system. Constructing an independent knowledge system for Chinese sociology must adhere to the Two Integrations, uphold the "soul vein" of Marxism and the "root vein" of the excellent traditional Chinese culture, while the vivid practice of Chinese modernization is the inexhaustible source and realistic cornerstone of theoretical innovation in Chinese sociology. Only by promoting the deep interconnection and organic integration of the "soul vein," the "root vein," and the fertile soil of practice can the unique theoretical characteristics and civilizational background of Chinese sociology be shaped, enabling it to both break free from the limitations of the Western sociological theoretical framework and transcend traditional knowledge paradigms, giving rise to a new form of sociological knowledge that is rooted in the contemporary era, oriented toward the world, and looking toward the long term.
Refine signature concepts and create new concepts, new categories, and new expressions that connect China and the world. Excellent signature concepts should possess both an empirical picture, a theoretical picture, a historical picture, and a civilizational picture. Taking the concept of "differential mode of association" as an example, through vivid metaphors such as "concentric circles" and "water ripples," it vividly interprets the essential differences in social relations between China and the West, and can cross cultural boundaries to be accepted by the international academic community. We should pay more attention to drawing wisdom from the excellent traditional Chinese culture, discovering material from the vivid practice of Chinese modernization, and creating more sociological concepts that possess both Chinese characteristics and the ability to dialogue with the world. We should make efforts in the international expression of Chinese concepts, strengthen in-depth research and modern interpretation of signature concepts of the excellent traditional Chinese culture such as the unity of family and country, tianxia (all under heaven), harmony, the exemplary person, benevolence, righteousness, propriety, and filial piety, making them intellectual resources that help Chinese sociology carry out cross-cultural dialogue with the international academic community.
Broaden the global academic horizon and promote mutual learning between Chinese and foreign sociology. To broaden the international horizon, we must adhere to two-way mutual learning between China and foreign countries. We must both systematically refine the theoretical achievements of sociology rooted in the practice of Chinese modernization and tell the international academic community the logic of Chinese social development well; and uphold an objective standpoint, based on the historical context, social reality, and academic systems of various countries, observing and researching global social issues from the perspective of sociological theory with Chinese characteristics. For example, conducting comparative research on common challenges faced by developing countries in fields such as poverty reduction, sustainable development, and ecological governance, and providing Chinese wisdom and Chinese solutions. In this way, we enrich the practical samples and theoretical material of the independent knowledge system for Chinese sociology, and enhance the international influence of Chinese sociological theory in equal academic dialogue.
Embrace digital intelligence technology and seize the high ground of knowledge production. The new round of technological revolution led by artificial intelligence has profoundly changed the way humans produce and live. China's rich digital practice provides fertile soil for sociology to form unique research advantages. The digital transformation of society has brought a large number of brand-new research topics, providing technical support, practical samples, and windows of opportunity for building an independent knowledge system for Chinese sociology. We must seize the opportunity, actively adapt to the changes of digital intelligence and innovate research paths, study the impact of digital technology on social structure, social relations, social mentality, and social behavior, analyze and summarize the basic characteristics and operational laws of digital intelligence society, reveal the new changes in social governance in the digital era, continuously produce original theoretical achievements, and strive to achieve leapfrog development in international academic dialogue.
(The author is a specially invited researcher at the Research Center for Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences)
Return to TopGeneral Secretary Xi Jinping has emphasized: "Promote exchanges and mutual learning among different civilizations, and carefully cultivate the garden of civilizations where each enjoying their own unique beauty (各美其美, ge mei qi mei - "each, beautiful, its, beauty") and sharing beauty in common with others (美美与共, mei mei yu gong - "beautiful, beautiful, with, share")." Deeply elucidating the original contributions and principled achievements contained in exchanges and mutual learning among civilizations holds important significance for deepening the systematic and theoretical research and interpretation of Xi Jinping's Thought on Culture. "Exchanges and Mutual Learning Among Civilizations," this new theory of civilizational interaction, deepens the understanding of the laws governing interactions among human civilizations from seven aspects. First, the ontology of civilization. The West advocates civilizational monism, whose ontological logic is a singular view of civilization. Exchanges and mutual learning among civilizations take the pluralistic view of civilization as the ontological foundation, emphasizing the diversity of civilizations. Second, the theory of civilizational equality. The West divides human civilizations into different levels of high and low, superior and inferior, with Western civilization being the highest-grade civilization. Exchangesand mutual learning among civilizations deconstruct the binary opposition of "civilization-barbarism," denying that developmental differences are a reason to rank civilizations into different grades. Third, the theory of civilizational paths. Exchangesand mutual learning among civilizations transcend Western discursive traps such as the "unilinear evolutionism," "transplantation theory," and "convergence theory" regarding civilizational development, advocating the nonlinear and pluralistic nature of civilizational development paths. Fourth, the theory of mutual learning among civilizations. It emphasizes equal interaction, mutual learning, learning from others' strengths to offset one's own weaknesses (取长补短, qu chang bu duan - "take, long, supplement, short"), and mutual promotion among different civilizations, opposing a singular, unidirectional model of civilizational interaction. Fifth, the theory of civilizational value. It uses the common values of all mankind to delineate a concentric circle of values that transcends differences and divergences, guiding the direction of human development and progress. Sixth, the theory of civilizational order. It pursues harmony on the basis of differences, opposes the globalization of a single civilization, and is committed to building a civilizational order of seeking harmony despite differences (和而不同, he er bu tong - "harmony, and, not, different"). Seventh, the theory of civilizational dialogue. The civilizational exchanges promoted by the West are in essence a "civilizational monologue"—Westerners speak, others listen. Exchangesand mutual learning among civilizations contain profound communicative rationality, whose "underlying logic" is to acknowledge the Other, respect the Other, use the Other as a mirror to reflect on oneself, examine oneself, and better perfect oneself through learning from the Other.
——Excerpted from the August 4, 2026 issue of Jiefang Daily, author: Tang Aijun, original title: "The Principled Contributions of Exchanges and Mutual Learning Among Civilizations"
Return to TopBy: 广西壮族自治区党委书记 陈 刚 广西壮族自治区主席 韦 韬
Hibiscus blooms in the golden autumn, and the green city welcomes a grand gathering. This year marks the 5th anniversary of the establishment of the China-ASEAN Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, is the inaugural year of the "China-ASEAN Comprehensive Strategic Partnership Action Plan (2026-2030)",and is a critical year for accelerating the implementation of the China-ASEAN Free Trade Area 3.0 Version Upgrade Protocol after its signing. The 23rd China-ASEAN Expo (hereinafter referred to as the "CAEXPO") and the China-ASEAN Business and Investment Summit (hereinafter referred to as the "Summit") will grandly open in Nanning, Guangxi on September 17, with the theme "Sharing 3.0 Opportunities, Creating a Better Life Together," implementing the spirit of the Central Conference on Work Relating to Neighborhoods, earnestly practicing the concept of amity, sincerity, mutual benefit, and inclusiveness (亲诚惠容), adhering to "trade as the main line, AI as the leading role, enterprises as the mainstay, and applications as the distinguishing feature," and striving with full effort to make the event distinctive, high-standard, and effective. The more than 57 million people of all ethnic groups in Guangxi warmly welcome guests from all over the world (四海宾朋, si hai bin peng - "four seas, guests, friends"), to jointly answer the CAEXPO appointment, jointly parttake in the grand occasion of cooperation, and jointly win a better future.
This grand gathering coincides with the completion and opening to navigation of the century-project Pinglu Canal. As a backbone project of the New Western Land-Sea Corridor and the first canal connecting rivers to the sea built since the founding of New China, the Pinglu Canal carries the century-old dream of all ethnic groups in Guangxi and has major strategic significance for the economic and social development of Guangxi and the southwestern region. The Pinglu Canal has changed Guangxi's history of being adjacent to the sea yet unable to sail directly into it, achieving "one canal connecting through, all of Guangxi facing the sea," opening up a "major economic artery" of moving toward each other from both sides (双向奔赴, shuang xiang ben fu - "two directions, run towards") between China and ASEAN countries, and creating an "open hub" facing the world. This will not only reconstruct the China-ASEAN economic and geographic landscape, forming an ecosystem of cross-border industrial cooperation, but will also organically link up with the Belt and Road Initiative, better assisting in building a China-ASEAN community with a shared future. This year's CAEXPO and Summit, combined with the completion and opening to navigation of the Pinglu Canal, will achieve mutual empowerment between the Expo's "golden platform" and the Canal's "golden corridor," continuously enhancing the event's political influence, international openness influence, economic influence, and social influence, better serving and supporting the building of a closer China-ASEAN community with a shared future and the high-quality joint construction of the Belt and Road Initiative.
First, highlighting strategic mutual trust, boosting the deepening development of the China-ASEAN Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. In 2021, at the commemorative summit marking the 30th anniversary of the establishment of China-ASEAN dialogue relations, China and ASEAN formally announced the establishment of the China-ASEAN Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. Over the past 5 years, the CAEXPO and Summit, as important platforms for practical cooperation, have continuously expanded the "Nanning Channel," with normalized dialogue and coordination mechanisms covering more than 40 fields such as production capacity, ports, finance, agriculture, and standardization operating smoothly and efficiently, providing an important platform for high-level exchanges and practical dialogue between China and ASEAN countries. Standing at the important juncture of the 5th anniversary of the China-ASEAN Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, this grand gathering will thoroughly implement the four major global initiatives and the important initiative of the "five homes" put forward by General Secretary Xi Jinping, implement well the series of important consensuses reached by General Secretary Xi Jinping with leaders of ASEAN countries, systematically summarize the achievements of bilateral political mutual trust and practical cooperation centering on digital economy, artificial intelligence, green low-carbon, connectivity, and other fields, promote all parties to deepen high-level strategic dialogue, consolidate broad consensus and joint force for implementing the "China-ASEAN Comprehensive Strategic Partnership Action Plan (2026-2030)," continuously consolidate the political foundation for jointly building the "five homes," and promote the building of a closer China-ASEAN community with a shared future.
Second, highlighting the economic and trade main line, boosting the implementation of the nine major areas of the FTA 3.0 Version. The CAEXPO and Summit have been coexisting and mutually benefiting (相伴相生, xiang ban xiang sheng - "mutually accompany, mutually give life") with the China-ASEAN Free Trade Area, with the previous 22 sessions cumulatively attracting more than 1.7 million merchants to participate in exhibitions and meetings, effectively promoting the rapid development of regional economic and trade cooperation. This grand gathering seizes the opportunity of first-mover layout, will focus on deepening practical cooperation in the nine major areas of the FTA 3.0 Version, upgrade the digital economy and green low-carbon exhibition areas, newly establish a future space exhibition area and a sci-tech innovation enterprise growth empowerment exhibition area, continue to release the blue book "China-ASEAN Economic and Trade Cooperation Outlook Report," and through policy interpretation, supply-demand matching, and technical exchange, make business opportunities visible, policies comprehensible, and dividends obtainable. Actively serve the construction of the three major brands "Shop in China," "Export from China," and "Invest in China," hold for the first time the "Export from China" Thailand special session, the China-ASEAN Artificial Intelligence Supply-Demand Matching Meeting, the high-end dialogue on the synergistic development of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) and the China-ASEAN Free Trade Area(CAFTA), hold a series of economic and trade activities such as the China-ASEAN Silk Road (Cross-Border) E-Commerce Open Cooperation Thematic Promotion Conference, the Vietnam Economic and Trade Special Matchmaking Meeting, the China-ASEAN Business Leaders Forum, and the Matchmaking and Docking Conference for ASEAN-oriented Entrepreneurs, promoting the sustainable development of China-ASEAN economic and trade cooperation and the stable and smooth operation of industrial and supply chains. The total exhibition area of this session is 170,000 square meters, with more than 3,400 enterprises participating in the exhibition, and it is expected that professional procurement merchants will number 33,000, an increase of 20% over the previous session. For the first time, the "chain-leader enterprise large enterprises leading small ones (以大带小, yi da dai xiao - "use big, lead, small")" exhibition participation model is introduced, leveraging the leading and driving role of leading enterprises to bring small and medium-sized enterprises upstream and downstream of the industrial chain to participate in the exhibition together.
Third, highlighting security governance and financial empowerment, continuously deepening the China-ASEAN "AI+" action. At the previous grand gathering, we seized major opportunities such as the national implementation of the AI Capacity Building Universal Benefits Plan, empowered the entire process of hosting the event with artificial intelligence, held for the first time the China-ASEAN AI Ministers' Roundtable, proposed that all parties jointly carry out the China-ASEAN "AI+" action, announced the initiation of construction of the China-ASEAN National AI Application Cooperation Center, and jointly built a differentiated development path of "R&D in Beijing, Shanghai, and Guangzhou + integration in Guangxi + application in ASEAN," eliciting strong responses. Currently, China-ASEAN AI cooperation is moving from the stage of building a general framework into a new stage of country-specific, scenario-specific, and deep-level implementation. This grand gathering will thoroughly implement the important spirit of General Secretary Xi Jinping's speech at the opening ceremony of the 2026 World AI Conference and High-Level Meeting on Global AI Governance, conform to the trends of the new round of technological revolution and industrial transformation, continue to hold well the China-ASEAN AI Ministers' Roundtable, gather consensus of all parties around the theme "Jointly Discussing AI Governance, Jointly Creating a Secure Future," release an AI ethics and security cooperation initiative oriented toward ASEAN, and inject new momentum into China-ASEAN AI cooperation. This year, the People's Bank of China has joined the Chinese Organizing Committee of the CAEXPO for the first time. We hold the 2026 China-ASEAN Financial Cooperation and Development Forum with the theme "AI Empowering Financial Cooperation, AI Assisting Security Governance," upgrade the financial exhibition area, gather leading banking institutions such as ICBC, Agricultural Bank of China, Bank of China, and China Construction Bank as well as emerging internet financial enterprises, centrally showcase innovative achievements such as AI+finance, cross-border digital payments, and fintech going global, building a "technology + capital" support system for China-ASEAN digital economic and trade cooperation. Comprehensively upgrade the AI exhibition area, adopting a "dual-venue, differentiated" approach, with the main venue at Nanning International Convention and Exhibition Center centrally showcasing hardcore technology applications such as large models and AI chips, and the sub-venue at the Nanning A Community realistically presenting typical application scenarios oriented toward ASEAN such as AI+advanced manufacturing, urban governance, healthcare, and cultural tourism and education. On this basis, for the first time set up an ASEAN countries' demand exhibition area and for the first time release an ASEAN demand list, having already collected project and scenario demands from ASEAN countries in multiple fields such as transportation, smart logistics, urban management, and park construction, simultaneously widely issuing a "call for heroes" to participating Chinese enterprises, promoting precise matching between demand and supply, and will release the "Intelligent Connectivity across Land and Sea: China-ASEAN AI International Cooperation Case Collection (2026)," promoting the transformation of cooperation consensus into industrial reality.
Fourth, highlighting connectivity, fully releasing the mutual empowerment effect between the completion and opening to navigation of the Pinglu Canal and the CAEXPO and Summit. This grand gathering specially sets up a thematic exhibition area "Connecting Rivers to the Sea, Striving Seaward — Guangxi Enters the Pinglu Canal Era," utilizing sand tables and immersive experiences to fully showcase the achievements of building the Pinglu Canal into a high-quality project, green project, and clean project, and to display the development vision of the canal economic belt; set up a canal promotion and matchmaking zone, promote the establishment of a waterborne "one-stop" dispute resolution center on the Pinglu Canal, release typical cases of judicial and intellectual property protection for the corridor construction; specially set up two canal inspection routes, for Chinese and foreign merchants to experience on site the magnificent reality of the century canal traversing the landscapes of Guangxi. Guangxi is taking the completion and opening to navigation of the Pinglu Canal as an opportunity to fully promote the high-quality development of the seaward economy, centering on building the overall layout of "one axis driving, two wings linking, land and sea coordinated, whole region facing the sea" and the "leaf-vein pattern" seaward industrial layout, fully releasing the dividends of the river-sea intermodal transport corridor, smoothing the major logistics corridor from the southwestern hinterland to ASEAN, continuously deepening the integrated development of China-ASEAN industrial chains, supply chains, and value chains, and consolidating the foundation of China-ASEAN open cooperation with high-level connectivity.
Guangxi, as the permanent venue of the CAEXPO and Summit, will thoroughly implement Xi Jinping Thought on Diplomacy, actively practice the concept of amity, sincerity, mutual benefit, and inclusiveness, fully implement the major mission of the "three orientations" endowed by General Secretary Xi Jinping, adhere to emancipating the mind, seeking innovation and change, striving seaward, opening up and developing, focus on what the country needs, what Guangxi can do, what ASEAN aspires to, and what the future calls for, boost from the local level the implementation of the China-ASEAN Free Trade Area 3.0 Version, actively promote "hard connectivity," "soft connectivity," and "people-to-people connectivity" between China and ASEAN, share 3.0 opportunities, create a better life together, and contribute new and greater strength to building a closer China-ASEAN community with a shared future and the high-quality joint construction of the Belt and Road Initiative!
Return to Top(People's Daily, Nanning, September 15) (Reporter Pang Geping) The reporter learned from the Secretariat of the China-ASEAN Expo that, after Timor-Leste officially joins ASEAN in 2025, it will for the first time appear at the 23rd China-ASEAN Expo as a full ASEAN member state and co-organizer.
In 2023, Timor-Leste participated in the China-ASEAN Expo for the first time as an observer state, and for three consecutive years exhibited with a specially designed booth in the "City of Charm" exhibition area, allowing more people to learn about this youngest country in Southeast Asia. After Timor-Leste officially joined ASEAN, the Expo Secretariat actively liaised with Timor-Leste to strengthen and upgrade the Expo's co-organizing mechanism. In April 2026, the Ministry of Trade and Industry of Timor-Leste sent its first representative to attend the Senior Officials' Meeting of the 23rd China-ASEAN Expo, and the Expo welcomed a new co-organizer.
At this year's Expo, Timor-Leste will achieve multiple "firsts." For the first time, it will organize Timorese enterprises to display in the commodities exhibition area, with Timorese technology and Internet of Things start-ups, coffee, and handmade specialty products making a concentrated debut; for the first time, it will hold a Timor-Leste investment and trade promotion exchange meeting during the Expo period, presenting the country's resource endowments and open stance from multiple dimensions.
This year, the Minister of Trade and Industry of Timor-Leste will lead a delegation to the Expo, and through preparations for the country's own exhibition and various activities during the Expo period, will leverage the China-ASEAN Expo platform to promote Timor-Leste's distinctive features and business opportunities to China and all ASEAN parties. With the accession of Timor-Leste, China-ASEAN economic and trade cooperation will also move toward a new stage of upgrading and development.
Return to Top(People's Daily, Nanning, September 15) (Reporter Li Weijun) From the 17th to the 18th, the 23rd China-ASEAN Business and Investment Summit will be held in Nanning, Guangxi. This year's summit closely follows the important milestones of the 5th anniversary of the establishment of the China-ASEAN Comprehensive Strategic Partnership and the advancement of the implementation of the Protocol on Upgrading the China-ASEAN Free Trade Area 3.0, highlighting "economy and trade as the main line, AI as the protagonist, enterprises as the main body, and applications as the distinctive feature," presenting a wide array of highlights (亮点纷呈, liang dian fen cheng - "bright spots, abundant, present").
Government-business dialogue will be high-end and fully connected, with the China-ASEAN Business Leaders Forum, the China-Philippines Business Community High-Level Dialogue, and the China-ASEAN Commercial and Legal Forum to be held in succession, achieving an integrated linkage of "high-level guidance, business dialogue, country-specific matchmaking, and rule-of-law protection." Artificial intelligence will play the leading role; the summit will hold four AI-themed side events, release the "Smart Connectivity Across Land and Sea: China-ASEAN AI International Cooperation Case Collection (2026)," showcase AI products and solutions for ASEAN, and promote AI cooperation from "heat during the session" to "heat throughout the year." Economic and trade matchmaking will seek practical results, with the first matchmaking and docking conference for ASEAN entrepreneurs to be held, precisely aligning with new trends in industrial and supply chain cooperation. Rule-of-law protection will advance toward innovation and depth, with the first establishment of a "Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area-Guangxi-ASEAN" tripartite rule-of-law cooperation model, the construction of a commercial dispute resolution mechanism, and the unveiling of the Pinglu Canal waterborne "one-stop" dispute resolution center, helping Guangxi become a preferred destination for resolving commercial disputes with ASEAN.
Since its founding 22 years ago, the summit has become the highest-level, largest-scale, and most influential dialogue and cooperation platform between the business communities of China and ASEAN, becoming a prestigious and well-known brand (金字招牌, jin zi zhao pai - "gold, characters, signpost") renowned at home and abroad, and forming the unique "Nanning Channel."
Return to TopExterior view of the Nanning International Convention and Exhibition Center, the main venue of the 23rd China-ASEAN Expo.
Photo provided by the Secretariat of the China-ASEAN Expo.
Return to Top(People's Daily, Nanning, September 15) (Reporter Zhu Jiaqi) The reporter learned from the Secretariat of the China-ASEAN Expo that the 23rd China-ASEAN Expo has innovatively launched a new exhibition model for chain-leading enterprises of using large enterprises to support smaller ones (以大带小, yi da dai xiao - "use large, lead small"), adopting a brand-new exhibition form of leading enterprises taking the helm and chain clusters moving in tandem, to promote the upgrading of bilateral economic and trade cooperation from "selling individual products" to "building an ecosystem chain."
According to reports, under the exhibition model of chain-leading enterprises using large enterprises to support smaller ones, leading enterprises in the industry take the lead in forming groups, bringing together upstream and downstream enterprises and products along the industrial and supply chains for a joint appearance. The new model breaks away from the limitations of the past, showcasing full-chain technological achievements, supporting systems, and systematic solutions, and amplifying the platform effects of industrial agglomeration, resource pooling, and precise matching of supply and demand.
The iterative innovation of the exhibition model is rooted in the practical needs of upgrading and improving the quality of economic and trade cooperation between China and ASEAN. At present, the Protocol on Upgrading the China-ASEAN Free Trade Area 3.0 is about to be implemented, and bilateral cooperation is accelerating its expansion into emerging fields such as the digital economy, green and low-carbon development, standards interoperability, and coordination of industrial and supply chains. This year's China-ASEAN Expo has attracted more than 3,400 enterprises to participate, with key chain-leading enterprises such as China Datang and Sinomach leading the groups and using large enterprises to support smaller ones, which will powerfully promote the deep integration, coordination, and linkage of regional industrial chains.
Return to Top(People's Daily, Nanning, September 15) (Reporter Zhang Yunhe) The reporter learned from the Secretariat of the China-ASEAN Expo that the 23rd China-ASEAN Expo has, for the first time, set up an "AI Superstore" at the Nanning International Convention and Exhibition Center, positioning itself around AI software and hardware products to create a one-stop service or experience (一站式, yi zhan shi - "one, station, style") of "exhibition, purchase, and sales" for consumers.
At present, the "AI Superstore" has brought in more than 70 enterprises including Xiaomi, covering eight major product categories — AI wearable devices, AI smart living, AI home health, AI home robots, AI smart education and science, AI smart office, AI music, creation, and entertainment, and AI anti-counterfeiting protection — with more than 500 products, spanning a wide range of consumer scenarios.
The "AI Superstore" is equipped with multiple immersive, interactive AI devices, creating an AI experience space. Inside the store, there is an ASEAN cross-border livestreaming display area, where multilingual digital human product promotion is demonstrated on site; equipment such as general practitioner workstations and handheld ultrasound devices can conduct physical examinations for visitors on site and produce reports immediately.
Return to TopBy: 本报记者 庞革平
This year marks the fifth anniversary of the establishment of the China-ASEAN Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, and the 23rd China-ASEAN Expo (hereinafter referred to as the "CAEXPO") and the China-ASEAN Business and Investment Summit (hereinafter referred to as the "Summit") have been incorporated into the commemorative activities under this theme. To highlight "trade and economy as the main thread, AI as the leading role, enterprises as the main body, and applications as the distinguishing feature," this year's grand event has three "newnesses."
Hosting the expo and summit brings new highlights
This year's expo has been comprehensively upgraded. This year's CAEXPO exhibition areas have expanded from 2 to 3; in addition to the main exhibition area at Nanning International Convention and Exhibition Center and the Guilin International Tourism Exhibition Area, a new NanA community has been added, with a total exhibition area of 170,000 square meters and over 3,400 enterprises participating.
Timor-Leste will make its debut as a co-host, marking the first time that all 11 ASEAN countries gather in Nanning since the expansion of ASEAN. Timor-Leste's business community will also participate for the first time in the Summit's series of economic and trade activities, joining hands to integrate into the regional family of economic and trade cooperation. The exhibition area setup has also received careful attention, closely following the new opportunities of the China-ASEAN Free Trade Area 3.0 version, with focused upgrades to the digital economy and green low-carbon exhibition areas, the addition of a new "AI+Finance" featured exhibition area, and the inaugural establishment of a future space and sci-tech innovation enterprise growth empowerment exhibition area, whose debut lineup is formidable, including over 400 new products — among them the "Tianzhu-1" satellite — and over 100 new technologies making their appearance.
The AI section has been completely upgraded — adopting a "dual-venue, differentiated" approach: the main venue, Nanning Convention and Exhibition Center, presents cutting-edge AI technologies and applications from an "integration of four ends" perspective — the consumer end, enterprise end, government end, and international end — with leading enterprises such as Huawei and iFlytek participating; the newly added NanA community features a real-scenario exhibition, presenting typical application scenarios oriented toward ASEAN in AI+advanced manufacturing, urban governance, healthcare, cultural tourism and education, bringing AI technology from the exhibition booth into reality. The Summit will hold, for the first time, a series of AI-themed side meetings, promoting digital-intelligence cooperation around subdivided fields of artificial intelligence, while also releasing the "Intelligent Linkage of Land and Sea: A Collection of China-ASEAN AI International Cooperation Cases (2026)," pushing the consensus on cooperation toward tangible industrial outcomes.
Participating in the expo and summit brings new forms
What exhibitors care most about is markets and orders. This year, the CAEXPO has, for the first time, set up an ASEAN countries' demand exhibition area, centrally displaying the technological and application needs of ASEAN countries in fields such as transportation, smart logistics, urban management, and park construction, while simultaneously issuing a broad "hero invitation" to Chinese enterprises, using the "open competition for solutions" approach to precisely match demand with supply.
The CAEXPO has, for the first time, launched a chain-leader enterprise "large driving small" exhibition model, with industry leaders such as China Datang Corporation and Sinomach Group bringing upstream and downstream enterprises to appear as a group, allowing small and medium-sized enterprises to follow the chain leaders in expanding markets together. The CAEXPO has arranged 50 economic and trade activities, holding for the first time the "Export China" Thailand special session, the China-ASEAN Artificial Intelligence Supply and Demand Matching Meeting, and the high-level dialogue on the synergistic development of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) and the China-ASEAN Free Trade Area (CAFTA), while also linking leading e-commerce livestreams to explore the exhibition halls, helping high-quality ASEAN products better enter the Chinese market. The Summit is serving as the "connector" for international cooperation in industrial and supply chains, and will hold, for the first time, an ASEAN-oriented entrepreneur matching and docking conference, setting up special sessions by key industries with online-offline integrated docking, while also holding multiple dialogue and exchange activities such as the China-ASEAN Business Leaders Forum and the China-Philippines Business Community High-Level Dialogue, helping upstream and downstream enterprises achieve precise docking.
The "AI Exhibition" intelligent agent released last year has had all 24 applications go online, and among them, the "AI+Trade Matching" has completed 8,000 pairs of pre-matching, with nearly 2,000 more pairs planned for precise on-site matching during the expo period. Exhibitors no longer need to go searching blindly for something in a vast amount of information (大海捞针, da hai lao zhen - "big, sea, scoop, needle"), as the system helps screen out "compatible" partners.
Strolling the expo brings new attractions
This year, strolling the expo, visitors can not only buy ASEAN specialty products such as durian, coffee, and rosewood, but also experience high-tech products up close, such as AI glasses, smart watches, AI home robots, rehabilitation nursing robots, photovoltaic cleaning robots, and so on.
The CAEXPO has, for the first time, established an "AI Supermarket," with over 70 enterprises bringing more than 500 models of consumer-oriented AI products available for on-site experience and ordering. This year's CAEXPO is both a platform for economic and trade exchanges and an experience venue for cutting-edge technology.
Before this year's CAEXPO and Summit convene, the century-project Pinglu Canal will have been officially completed and opened to navigation. This canal, the first man-made waterway since the founding of New China to connect rivers directly to the sea, is a major breakthrough in regional "hard connectivity." This year's CAEXPO has specially set up a Pinglu Canal exhibition area, holding a series of promotion and docking activities around shipping logistics, cross-border trade, and port-adjacent industries; the Summit has set up a special zone, promoting the establishment of a Pinglu Canal waterborne "one-stop" dispute resolution center and releasing typical judicial and intellectual property cases in corridor construction. The Pinglu Canal "golden channel" and the expo "golden platform" empower each other bidirectionally, and will write a new chapter in China-ASEAN exchange and cooperation.
Return to Top(People's Daily, Nanning, September 15) (Reporter Li Weijun) Recently, the list of "Charming Cities" for the 23rd China-ASEAN Expo was officially released, covering Changchun City of China, Bandar Seri Begawan of Brunei, Kampong Speu Province of Cambodia, Sekong Province of Laos, Bago Region of Myanmar, Cebu Province of the Philippines, Singapore, the Northeast Region of Thailand, Baucau City of Timor-Leste, and An Giang Province of Vietnam, with Indonesia and Malaysia presenting overall displays.
Each city and region will showcase its distinctive culture and local specialties, promoting in-depth exchanges among all parties. For example, Changchun City will focus on displaying advantageous industries such as rail transit, optoelectronic information, aerospace and applications, and will promote specialty products, ice-and-snow cultural tourism, and more. Bandar Seri Begawan will rely on Royal Brunei Airlines to promote air routes and tourism services. Kampong Speu Province will hold promotional events to showcase its investment environment, industrial development advantages, and key investment areas. Sekong Province is setting its sights on a green future, with clean energy projects such as wind power and solar energy becoming highlights of its display. Bago Region of Myanmar and Cebu Province of the Philippines will promote quality tourism resources and favorable investment environments.
Since the establishment of the "Charming Cities" exhibition area at the second China-ASEAN Expo, nearly 190 cities and regions (in total) have been showcased, bearing witness to the profound friendship between China and ASEAN, and serving as a vivid miniature of a larger situation (生动缩影, sheng dong suo ying - "vividly, contraction, miniature") of the continuously deepening cooperation between the two sides.
Return to TopBy: 本报记者 张 帆 陈圆圆
The 37th Galaxy Awards (银河奖) were announced a few days ago in Zigong, Sichuan, with events marking the 20th anniversary of the publication of The Three-Body Problem running concurrently. The events were guided by the Sichuan Provincial Association for Science and Technology and the Sichuan Writers' Association, and hosted by Science Fiction World magazine among others. Award ceremonies, creative seminars, and industry promotions were interwoven, as the fervent enthusiasm of science fiction fans mirrored the rising science fiction atmosphere of the city.
The Galaxy Awards were born in 1985. Over more than four decades of passing time, generation after generation of science fiction writers — Wang Jinkang, Liu Cixin, He Xi, Han Song, and others — showed their talent for the first time (初露锋芒, chu lu feng mang - "first, reveal, sharp edge") here, and The Three-Body Problem also set out from this place, ultimately going on to the world.
Once, science fiction was a spiritual roaming for a minority; today, it is gradually leaping off the page, blending and coexisting with film and television, games, and cultural tourism, moving from the pages of books toward a broad industry. Brain-computer interfaces enable mind-controlled objects, embodied intelligence steps into the physical world, and scientific fantasy has become a mode of thinking through which we knock on the door of the road ahead and explore the future.
Vitality emerges in the relay
The selection for this year's Galaxy Awards was both a concentrated presentation of the year's creations and a relay between the old and the new. After multiple rounds of selection, the Best Novel Award was left vacant, the Best Novelette Award went to Yang Wanqing, Wang Yanzhong, and Grey Fox, the Best Original Book Award was taken by Chen Qiufan's Shaha and Wang Nuonuo's Brain-Hole Q&A Machine: 20 Imaginations About the Future of Humanity, and awards such as the Best Science Fiction Web Literature Award were also announced on site.
"Veteran writers, backbone forces, and fresh new faces coexist; this uninterrupted and continuous flow (奔流不息, ben liu bu xi - "gallop, flow, not, stop") of relay between the old and the new confirms the profound foundation and vigorous vitality of Chinese science fiction literature." Said A Lai, vice chairman of the China Writers' Association and chairman of this year's Galaxy Awards jury.
Today, the relay baton has been passed into the hands of a new generation. Hua Yanxin, a post-90s writer from Hangzhou, Zhejiang, alone won three awards — Best Short Story, Best Short Novelette, and Best Newcomer — becoming the dark horse (黑马, hei ma - "black, horse") of this year's awards. In middle school, Hua Yanxin came to know Science Fiction World through The Three-Body Problem. Years later, she submitted the first science fiction work she had ever written to this magazine. After becoming a mother, Hua Yanxin began to ponder "what kind of future will the next generation face," and turned this concern into words under her pen. From an ordinary reader to standing on the awards stage, her story is a microcosm of many science fiction enthusiasts putting pen to paper out of passion.
Shi Zhanjun, chairman of the China Literature Foundation and a judge for this year's Galaxy Awards, observed that the impulse for renewal in the science fiction field is very strong, and that the younger generation is searching for newer themes, "rediscovering order within anxiety, and repositioning oneself within order." This may perhaps be the original intention of the Galaxy Awards: to continue sowing seeds in the fertile soil of original Chinese science fiction, quietly awaiting towering trees.
Cross-boundary exploration was one of the key words of this year's Galaxy Awards. Earlier, singer G.E.M. attracted attention by being shortlisted for the Best Original Book Award with her long-form science fiction novel The Road of Revelation. A relevant person in charge of Science Fiction World magazine introduced that in the preliminary selection, which was conducted through online voting by readers, a total of more than 119,000 votes were received, setting a new record high for all years.
Speaking of cross-boundary writing, Shi Zhanjun believed that although many authors are already top figures in other industries, the recognition and nourishment brought by literature remain extremely important. However, he also reminded young writers that creation is not an unprepared "tasting of something new"; science fiction creation requires accumulation, and cannot lose its proper texture due to over-generalization.
"Science Fiction+" enters a thousand trades and a hundred industries
The 2026 China Science Fiction Industry Report shows that in 2025, China's science fiction industry achieved total revenue of 126.1 billion yuan, breaking through the 100-billion-yuan mark for three consecutive years. Behind the rising numbers, how can technological innovation and cultural creativity better "join hands"?
On the day of the awards ceremony, the Sichuan Science Fiction Industry Promotion Conference was held, with project promotions and cooperation signings unfolding one after another. More than 70 science fiction industry projects made a concentrated appearance, covering fields such as science fiction publishing, film and television animation, science education and research study tours, and cultural tourism integration. A juvenile edition of The Three-Body Problem continued the classic IP (intellectual property), AIGC (AI-generated content) animated series and other works demonstrated new possibilities in film and animation, anda batch of AIGC creation platforms, science fiction comic co-creation, and other artificial intelligence projects were promoted simultaneously, while projects such as Daocheng high-altitude astronomical research study tours and science fiction colored-lantern integration integrated science fiction imagination into the hustle and bustle of urban life.
"Science fiction is the art of imagination, and moreover a cultural soft power oriented toward the future." A relevant person in charge of the Sichuan Provincial Association for Science and Technology introduced that Sichuan Province is focusing on cultivating key industries such as science fiction, promoting the deep integration of science fiction with science and technology and cultural tourism industries, and striving to let "Science Fiction+" enter a thousand trades and a hundred industries.
Injecting strength into the landing of imagination
From text to images, the landing and transformation of imagination cannot be separated from professional strength. Wang Hongwei, producer of The Wandering Earth, believed that science fiction film and television adaptation requires converting the imaginative content in written words into screen images that audiences can understand, while also presenting the original work's reflection on human society. A single work connects different links such as creation, publication, copyright operation, and film and television production.
Sichuan has continued to explore building platforms and improving supporting facilities for such transformations. In 2023, the World Science Fiction Convention was held in Chengdu, Sichuan; in 2025, Chengdu released a city-level science fiction support policy, the "Science Fiction 13 Measures," supporting science fiction content creation and transformation;in 2026, the Chengdu Film and Television City digital-intelligence studio park opened, with virtual photography studios and motion capture studios put into use simultaneously...From industry exchange to policy support and production support, science fiction works moving toward industry now have more support.
He Xi felt this deeply. He believed that previously, many science fiction enthusiasts were acting out of pure passion without financial gain (用爱发电, yong ai fa dian - "use, love, generate, electricity"), but now enthusiasts have a "science fiction home," practitioners can discover business opportunities, and enterprises can find development opportunities, "the industry enables science fiction to develop more sustainably."
Such exploration was also reflected in the cooperation signings at this event. The Golden Peach, which won the Best Novel Award at last year's Galaxy Awards, completed a copyright development signing at this event, moving toward full-chain development covering film and television, cultural tourism, derivatives, and more — this is precisely a portrayal of industry empowering creation. "A notable change in a city's development of science fiction is combining industrial resources with its own advantages." Said Yang Wanqing, author of The Golden Peach.
As stories move toward the silver screen, they are also seeking scenes where they can be experienced immersively. Zigong, the thousand-year-old salt capital, provides new space for science fiction. Flowing colored lantern lights, dinosaur relics, and the cultural lineage of salt transport — the ancient texture of the city and imaginings of the future collide here in a marvelous way. Hua Yanxin said that seeing Zigong's lanterns, she very naturally associated them with cyberpunk themes; those lights and shadows reminded her of scenes in games and films, and would also bring new imagination to her future writing.
Pages are finite, imagination knows no bounds. Toward the vast starry sky, new stories are slowly being set down upon the page.
(Wan Jieyu participated in the reporting)
Return to TopBy: 程乐松
A writer once said, "Reading is a portable refuge." For me, reading is not only a means of acquiring knowledge, but also an effective means of comforting the soul, understanding and resisting helplessness and hardship, and enabling oneself to gain calm and ease.
At present, reading faces enormous challenges. Behind the words we read may no longer be living individuals with their life experiences, but rather artificial intelligence that can combine "meaningful" expressions and present them to us with extremely high efficiency across countless word entries.
The changes brought by artificial intelligence are unprecedented in the history of human writing and reading. So far, we can see the following three direct results:
First, from the perspective of the reader's experience, readable material is accumulating at an unprecedented speed. The stacking of material that continuously overflows one's reading capacity will further weaken our willingness and ability to read.
Second, readers may choose to skip directly past the hardship of "reading in person," uploading all material to be read into a large model, and then waiting for a highly condensed "summary" or "overview of viewpoints." Without the thinking and sighs of emotion during the reading process, reading itself loses its meaning—reading is first-hand life experience, and also a right of the soul that must not be abandoned or ceded.
Third, we cannot rely solely on artificial intelligence to gain understanding, judgment, and imagination, nor can we form a perspective based on our own unique reading experience and life experience. The written expressions and scene imaginings that would originally resonate with us in their unique details have been drained dry, and the possibility of reflection based on concrete reading experience and understanding has in this sense disappeared. Not only have we distanced ourselves from reading in the name of efficiency, but we have also abandoned an indispensable way of constructing the soul.
What can be called "your knowledge" must be something "investigated" in the manner of attaining knowledge through the investigation of things (格物致知, ge wu zhi zhi - "investigate things, reach knowledge"), something you can accomplish by organizing existing information in your own way, and effectively forming your own mode of output. Only this is mastering knowledge, rather than merely possessing a result.
In the age of artificial intelligence, re-emphasizing serious reading and deep understanding is re-emphasizing the importance of the soul and the spirit.
Clearly recognizing the challenges we are facing, taking the continuous and unbroken stream (不绝如缕, bu jue ru lu - "not, cease, like, silk thread") of the spirit of writing as the cornerstone of humanity's unique value, and safeguarding every unique self—that self endowed with judgment, understanding, insight, and imagination.
(The author is a professor at the Department of Philosophy of Peking University; excerpted from the "Life Reading Room" column of People's Daily New Media.)
Return to TopBy: 本报记者 焦思雨
The Helan Mountains, stretching more than 200 kilometers, are magnificent and grand (雄浑壮阔, xiong hun zhuang kuo - "grand, powerful, magnificent, vast"), standing across the western edge of the Ningxia Plain. Amid the mountains, ancient ancestors used stone as paper and chisels as brushes, leaving behind tens of thousands of rock art remains that silently speak of the enduring spark of civilization (文明星火, wen ming xing huo - "culture, civilization, star, fire") from thousands of years ago.
Recently, during a systematic re-survey of the rock art, staff discovered a rare "four-horse chariot" rock carving — this is the first time a four-horse harnessed chariot image has appeared in Helan Mountain rock art, and it is also rare nationwide, filling a gap in similar subject matter in the region.
The newly discovered rock art is located in an alluvial fan area, with the rock half-buried underground and only about 15 centimeters exposed above the surface; the image measures 24 by 20 centimeters. The image consists of chiseled lines forming a two-wheeled chariot pulled by four horses: two circles at the bottom represent the wheels, the axle connects the carriage body and the two wheels, extending forward into a long shaft, with two harnessed horses arranged on each side of the shaft. The entire composition is coherent in structure, with simple and bold lines.
"The rock art is hidden among weeds in a concealed position; if not for meticulous inspection, it could easily be overlooked," said Zhang Xu (张旭), deputy section chief of the Cultural Relics Management Section of the Yinchuan Helan Mountain Rock Art Management Office. The rock art protection area, located in the middle section of the eastern foothills of the Helan Mountains, is the most concentrated and most representative area of rock art along the entire mountain range, with more than 6,000 rock carvings distributed there, covering subjects such as human faces, animals, plants, and celestial bodies, vividly recording the hunting, herding, and sacrificial activities of ancient ancestors.
The "four-horse chariot" has previously been found in Central Asia, Mongolia, and in China's Xinjiang and Inner Mongolia. This new discovery in the Helan Mountains not only fills a local gap but also provides precious historical material for studying the northern grassland civilization and the history of agricultural-pastoral integration. This "four-horse chariot" reflects that ancient ancestors near the Helan Mountains already possessed the ability to harness multiple livestock to pull vehicles, indicating a relatively high level of agricultural and pastoral civilization development.
"Having survived thousands of years, it is truly fortunate that this rock art has been preserved to this day and rediscovered," Zhang Xu said. "However, at the time of discovery, it had already suffered damage and flaking due to natural processes." To this end, the Helan Mountain Rock Art Management Office has continuously increased protection efforts, jointly with research institutions, universities, and others, systematically carrying out work such as body reinforcement, emergency rescue protection, and digital collection, accelerating survey documentation and protection and inheritance, so as to safeguard the non-renewable historical imprints.
At present, the newly discovered rock art in this re-survey has already reached several hundred pieces. After the overall work is completed, the Helan Mountain Rock Art Management Office will formally release the relevant results, conducting in-depth academic research around newly discovered rock art such as the "four-horse chariot" and further excavating the heritage value of Helan Mountain rock art. At the same time, it will continue to deepen the protection of the rock art bodies, continuously advance the systematization and scientification of protection work, and let the ancient codes of civilization radiate enduring vitality.
Return to Top(People's Daily, Ganzhou, September 15) (Reporter Yang Yanfei) The National Conference on the Construction of Revolutionary Cultural Relics Protection and Utilization Zones was recently held in Ganzhou, Jiangxi Province. The conference was hosted by the National Cultural Heritage Administration and organized by the Jiangxi Provincial Department of Culture and Tourism (Jiangxi Provincial Cultural Heritage Administration) and the Ganzhou Municipal People's Government.
The conference held that building the revolutionary cultural relics protection and utilization zones well is the focal point for advancing the systematic protection of revolutionary cultural relics in depth and the entry point for intensifying support for the revitalization and development of old revolutionary base areas. It is necessary to adhere to zone construction as the key lever, coordinate and advance the high-quality development of revolutionary cultural relics work in the new era, focus on overall planning and optimize the work layout; focus on systematic protection, promote the integrated protection of the cultural relics themselves and their historical environment, and deepen refined management and technological protection; focus on serving the overall situation, enhance social benefits, and promote high-quality cultural resources to reach the grassroots directly and serve the people; focus on work innovation, strengthen factor guarantees, and promote faster and more effective zone construction.
It is reported that all zones across the country have cumulatively implemented more than 3,000 revolutionary cultural relics protection and exhibition projects, and major dangers to revolutionary cultural relics have been basically eliminated. At present, plans for 37 zones have been successively formulated, the number of themed memorial halls in zones across the country has reached 1,300, more than 2,000 themed exhibitions have been cumulatively held, and 500 million visitors have entered the former sites and memorial venues in the zones.
Return to Top(People's Daily, Tianjin, September 15) (Reporter Li Jiading) Guided by the Publicity Department of the Tianjin Municipal Party Committee, hosted by Tianjin Publishing and Media Group, and organized by Baihua Literature and Art Publishing House, the 2026 "Fragrant Tianjin · Reading Month" demonstration activity and the Sixth Baihua Literature and Art Week recently opened at Tianjin Normal University.
This activity, with the theme "Jointly Promoting Reading for All, Jointly Building a Fragrant Tianjin," creates an urban cultural atmosphere abundant with the fragrance of books and culture (书香四溢, shu xiang si yi - "book, fragrance, overflow, diffuse") and rich in artistic ambiance through forms such as literary and artistic creation, literary and artistic evaluation, achievement exhibitions, and interactive exchanges, steadily advancing the construction of a Fragrant Tianjin.
Since its inception in 2021, the Baihua Literature and Art Week has become a well-known cultural activity brand in Tianjin. As a key activity of the 2026 "Fragrant Tianjin · Reading Month," the Sixth Baihua Literature and Art Week aggregates resources from literary and artistic institutions, universities, and cultural enterprises, further expanding in spatial scope. The activity also widely invites writers, scholars, readers, and editors to serve as reading recommenders, holding reading sharing sessions, new book launches, art exhibitions, and more, providing the public with high-quality literary and artistic offerings and actively promoting reading for all.
Return to TopSince the beginning of this year, Nanchuan District of Chongqing has, based on following the new era's online mass line, relied on Chongqing's "The People Call, I Respond" government service platform to build the "People's Voices Handled in One Go" grassroots livelihood service brand. As of now, it has cumulatively received 16,665 livelihood matters through "The People Call, I Respond," with a 100% completion rate for appeals, a 99.64% rapid response rate, and continuously improving quality and efficiency in handling livelihood appeals, forming a new grassroots governance pattern of "minor matters do not leave the grid, major matters do not leave the jurisdiction, and conflicts are resolved on the spot."
Full-Chain Coordination, Responding Immediately Upon Receipt
Promoting On-the-Spot Resolution of Livelihood Pain Points
Every minor livelihood issue matters (民生无小事, min sheng wu xiao shi - "people's livelihood, no, small, matter"), all small details are related to the overall situation (枝叶总关情, zhi ye zong guan qing - "branches, leaves, always, concern, affection"). To address problems such as cumbersome feedback on public appeals, lagging case transfers, and the need for residents to run around for services, Nanchuan District has integrated resources including the online "The People Call, I Respond" government service platform and offline grassroots governance grids, built an integrated online-offline convenience appeal channel, comprehensively expanded channels for collecting public opinion, enabling public appeals to reach the front line of governance directly and opening up the "last meter" of serving the people.
Nanchuan District has issued a full-chain work rule for receiving and handling appeals through "The People Call, I Respond," building a closed-loop work system of "appeal collection—precise dispatch—rapid handling—supervision and return visits—review and optimization," and continuously improving the handling process. At the same time, in subdistricts it has explored a "three-services coordination" work model for policing, legal services, and services, with work teams composed of community police officers, stationed lawyers, community cadres, grid workers, and full-time mediators, achieving "one-stop handling" for police case diversion, legal consultation, and livelihood services, and resolving on the spot high-frequency livelihood issues such as noise disturbing residents, disorderly street stalls, and neighborhood disputes.
Regular Research and Assessment, Tiered Supervision
Building a Closed Loop for Source-Level Grassroots Governance
In response to grassroots governance problems such as overlapping departmental responsibilities and the backlog of difficult appeals, Nanchuan District has innovatively built a work system of regular research and assessment, tiered supervision, and closed-loop control, establishing work mechanisms including daily morning reports, monthly special briefings, and escalated supervision of major and difficult matters. For complex livelihood appeals that cross fields and departments, it promotes a work model of "one-stop acceptance, integrated handling, and joint tackling," regularly convenes on-site work meetings and departmental coordination meetings, breaks down departmental barriers, integrates governance resources, and unblocks governance bottlenecks; for long-pending appeals and difficult issues strongly reflected by the masses, it reports them to the district committee and district government for escalated supervision and concentrated tackling, promoting the resolution of more than 130 livelihood appeals and governance problems at the grassroots level.
Digital and Smart Empowerment, Handling Before Complaints Arise
Moving from "Resolving One Matter" to "Properly Handling a Whole Category"
Nanchuan District uses the massive livelihood data accumulated on the "The People Call, I Respond" government service platform to encourage grassroots cadres to use big-data thinking and the "public opinion heat map" to analyze appeal patterns, predict service hotspots, discover governance risks, and propose solutions, promoting a shift in grassroots governance from extensive to precise. During this year's rainy season, Nanchuan District intensified inspections of hazards such as falling rocks on roads, landslides, toppled trees, and accumulated water and mud, issued 15 risk warnings, and achieved effective handling.
Nanchuan District adheres to review and traceability of root causes and systematic governance, conducting in-depth research on common issues in high-frequency complaints, analyzing the root causes of problems in planning, construction, and management behind them, and promoting departments to establish rules and systems (建章立制, jian zhang li zhi - "build, rules, establish, system") and deepen reform. In response to the high-incidence complaints about occupying roads for business and street stall management, Nanchuan District has explored and launched "tidal stall zones," where mobile vendors can operate stably at designated times and designated places, providing more than 5,000 stalls and creating more than 11,000 jobs. Currently, complaints about such issues have decreased by 85% year-on-year, both holding the bottom line of lawful operation and accommodating the operational needs of small and micro entities, finding a balance point between urban civilization and livelihood needs.
Data source: Publicity Department of the CPC Nanchuan District Committee, Chongqing
Return to TopBy: 张朋辉
Recently, the seventeenth session of the Conference of the Parties (COP17) to the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification closed in Ulaanbaatar, the capital of Mongolia. During the meeting, the "China Corner," which centrally showcased China's achievements in desertification control, was consistently one of the most-watched exhibition areas at the venue. From agricultural officials from Africa's Sahel region to environmental scholars from Central Asian countries, they came with questions, seeking to understand the practical logic behind China's shift from "sand advances, people retreat" to "green advances, sand retreat." Yasmin Fouad, Deputy Secretary-General of the United Nations and Executive Secretary of the secretariat of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification, commented that China's persistent and continuous effort (持之以恒, chi zhi yi heng - "hold, continue, with, constant") in governance practice has established a model worthy of reference for global desertification control.
Desertification is a global ecological challenge commonly faced by humanity. According to United Nations data, approximately 40% of global land has undergone varying degrees of degradation, affecting nearly half of the global population, with annual global economic losses caused by land degradation, desertification, and drought exceeding 870 billion US dollars. This cross-regional, cross-generational world-class challenge tests the governance wisdom and capacity of every country. China's governance achievements are particularly substantial: it has taken the lead globally in achieving zero net land degradation, desertified land and sandified land have continued to shrink in tandem, forest coverage rate and forest stock volume have maintained dual growth for 40 consecutive years, making a key contribution to advancing the realization of the United Nations' 2030 goal of zero net land degradation.
For more than half a century, from the continuous advancement of the construction of the "Three-North" shelterbelt forest system spanning east and west, to the successive implementation of key ecological projects such as returning farmland to forest and grassland and the closed protection and restoration of sandified land, and then to the layer-by-layer implementation of the national sand prevention and control planning, China has consistently incorporated ecological protection and restoration into the overall national development framework, adhered to painting one blueprint to the end, with generations of sand-control workers continuing the struggle, ultimately achieving a fundamental reversal of the trend of land sandification. China's governance patience of not seeking personal credit for success (功成不必在我, gong cheng bu bi zai wo - "achievement, succeed, not, must, at, me") is the scarcest quality in global desertification governance.
Technological innovation injects sustained momentum into sand-control practice. At the COP17"China Corner" exhibition area, a water-retaining agent developed by a Chinese enterprise attracted representatives from many countries to stop and observe. This product can absorb more than a thousand times its own weight in water, storing irrigation water, rainwater, and fertilizer before releasing them slowly, which can both effectively reduce management and maintenance costs and substantially improve plant survival rates; experts from the Center for International Forestry Research are optimistic about the product's application prospects in arid and semi-arid regions. This small water-retaining agent is precisely a microcosm of China's technology-driven sand control. In recent years, from drone aerial seeding and satellite remote-sensing monitoring improving governance efficiency in sandy areas, to breakthroughs in breeding drought-tolerant species and ecological restoration technologies, technological innovation has become deeply integrated into the entire chain of sand control, effectively resolving the common dilemma of "high governance costs in sandy areas and difficulty consolidating achievements," contributing a replicable technological pathway to global desertification governance.
How to balance ecological protection and economic development is a two-pronged dilemma commonly faced by all countries in sand control. China has always treated sand prevention and control as a development undertaking benefiting people's livelihoods, promoting sandy-area residents to transform from bystanders of governance into participants and beneficiaries. The Kubuqi Desert's three-dimensional sand-control model of "generating electricity on panels, planting under panels, and breeding between panels" has enabled what was once a barren or desolate land (不毛之地, bu mao zhi di - "not, vegetation, place")to possess both ecological and economic benefits; the Mu Us Sandy Land's characteristic industries such as forest fruits and Chinese medicinal herbs are flourishing, enabling farmers and herders to hold firmly a sustainable "ecological rice bowl." China's sand-control practice has broken the stereotypical perception that"controlling sand requires sacrificing development," proving that ecological protection and improvement of people's livelihoods can fully achieve symbiosis and win-win outcomes.
Today, China's sand-control experience is accelerating its spread to the globe. From assisting Mauritania in advancing the construction of the"Great Green Wall of Africa," to jointly building desertification-control cooperation centers with Central Asian countries and conducting technical training, and then to exploring new models of photovoltaic facility agriculture in desert regions of the Middle East, China has consistently upheld the concept of consulting, building, and sharing together (共商共建共享, gong shang gong jian gong xiang - "together, consult; together, build; together, share"), sharing experience and providing support to countries in need, injecting momentum into the common pursuit of green development by developing countries at large.
Sand control is not achieved in a single day's effort; combating desertification is a long-distance race requiring sustained, long-term effort. As long as one upholds a long-term vision, adheres to innovation-driven development, and holds fast to the people's livelihood foundation, vigorous green hope can also grow upon the vast yellow sands.
Return to TopBy: 本报记者 李 强
Recently, Kazakhstan's Ministry of Trade and Integration officially released a catalog of goods prohibited and restricted from sale on e-commerce platforms, refining category-specific regulatory rules and improving the industry compliance system, further consolidating the institutional foundation for the standardized development of the country's e-commerce economy. According to Minister of Trade and Integration Arman Shakkaliyev, over the past five years, Kazakhstan's e-commerce market has achieved explosive growth (爆发式增长, bao fa shi zeng zhang - "explode, style, manner, increase"), with transaction volume surging from 476 billion tenge (1 yuan is approximately 68.13 tenge) in 2020 to 3.9 trillion tenge in 2025, an increase of more than sevenfold, accounting for 15 percent of total retail sales of consumer goods. The rapid expansion of digital consumption is becoming a new highlight of Kazakhstan's economic growth.
The continuous improvement of internet penetration and the ongoing refinement of digital infrastructure have laid an important foundation for the development of e-commerce in Kazakhstan. At present, Kazakhstan's internet penetration rate has reached 92.9 percent, and active social media users account for 75.7 percent. According to the latest data from Kazakhstan's National Statistics Bureau, in 2025, 32.1 percent of the country's population purchased goods and services via the internet, meaning roughly one in three people has online shopping experience. By consumer category, clothing, footwear, and sporting goods top the list with a purchase rate of 71.3 percent; food ranks second at 45.2 percent; cosmetics and household goods each account for 33.2 percent, and niche segments such as fresh food e-commerce are also showing rapid growth. At the same time, Kazakhstan has in recent years continued to expand the service coverage of its national e-government platform, promoting the digital transformation of government services; the banking sector has accelerated the building of digital ecosystems, simplifying residents' daily payment processes, and digital payment methods such as debit card transfers and online credit card payments are being adopted more rapidly.
As the scale of the e-commerce market continues to expand, consumer demands for delivery speed are rising, and Kazakhstan is making efforts to shore up weaknesses in warehousing and logistics and to upgrade and improve the delivery system. The country has so far built 10 logistics centers and is constructing large warehousing and distribution centers in the capital Astana and the largest city Almaty to improve the efficiency of goods turnover and last-mile delivery. E-commerce platforms also plan to build three new order storage and processing centers in Astana and Almaty, with a total area of 291,000 square meters and a total investment of approximately 200 million U.S. dollars, which, once completed, will further improve delivery times in the surrounding regions.
Cooperation between China and Kazakhstan in the e-commerce and logistics sectors continues to deepen, injecting new momentum into the development of Kazakhstan's e-commerce. Kazakhstan's postal company and China's YTO Express have jointly established a joint venture, with daily business volume already reaching 30,000 parcels and a delivery network covering more than 3,000 stations nationwide. Chinese enterprises also plan to build the Tiandigang project in Almaty Region, and the two sides will carry out in-depth cooperation in areas such as logistics information system integration, multimodal transport, comprehensive transshipment centers, and last-mile station construction. In addition, Kazakhstan Post is advancing cooperation with Chinese e-commerce platform JD.com to jointly develop Kazakh- and Russian-language versions of the JD.com platform for regional markets, further expanding the space for cross-border e-commerce development.
Industry insiders say that Kazakhstan's development of the e-commerce economy not only responds to the real needs of the country's consumer digital transformation but is also an important measure to enhance its status as a regional logistics hub and expand the space for cross-border trade. With the continued improvement of logistics infrastructure and the optimization of the policy support environment, the country's e-commerce economy is expected to maintain a steady growth momentum. According to the plan, the Kazakh government aims to raise the share of e-commerce in total retail sales of consumer goods to 18.5 percent by 2029, driving local manufacturing, retail services, and small and medium-sized enterprises to integrate into broader regional markets.
(People's Daily, Astana, September 15)
Return to TopBy: 本报记者 李志伟
On September 15 local time, the United States' new round of 50% tariffs on more than one hundred categories of Canadian goods officially took effect. Earlier, Canada's equivalent retaliatory tariffs on the United States officially took effect on the 8th, covering more than 700 types of American goods worth approximately $20 billion. The US-Canada tariff dispute continues to escalate, and the relations between the two countries have sunk to a low point.
This round of escalation in the dispute began on July 20, when the U.S. government, pursuant to Section 338 of the Smoot-Hawley Tariff Act, imposed 50% tariffs on several hundred items of Canadian goods, including wine, hockey sticks, and cement, which officially took effect on August 22.
During this period, the United States and Canada held multiple rounds of negotiations to resolve the tariff dispute, but because the differences were difficult to bridge or resolve (难以弥合, nan yi mi he - "hard, difficult, fill, close"), the negotiations ultimately broke down. According to what the Canadian side disclosed, at the final stage the U.S. side demanded that Canada stop promoting domestic content in streaming media services, cancel subsidies for the publishing and film industries, cancel bilingual packaging requirements for goods, and even directly targeted Quebec Province's French-language protection policies, directly touching the bottom line of Canada's linguistic and cultural sovereignty. Canadian Prime Minister Carney stated that the U.S. conditions were "unfair and contrary to economic common sense."
After the trade negotiations between the two sides broke down in late August, the U.S. side expanded the scope of tariff imposition, imposing 50% tariffs on Canadian goods worth $20 billion. The Canadian side immediately responded in kind, implementing equivalent retaliatory tariffs effective September 8, with rates divided into three tiers — 15%, 25%, and 50% — covering steel and aluminum, dairy products, home appliances, agricultural equipment, and other fields.
As the tariff dispute continues to ferment, the real economies of both sides have been impacted. Dan Kelly, chairman of the Canadian Federation of Independent Business, stated that the U.S. tariff measures will directly impact 40% of Canada's small exporting enterprises. Among them, nearly one-third of the surveyed small businesses expect that their business revenue will decline by 50% or even more due to the tariffs. According to calculations by the Bank of Canada, by the end of 2026, U.S. tariffs will make Canada's economic growth rate approximately 1.5 percentage points lower than the forecast made in January 2025.
Because their businesses have been affected, American enterprises have also expressed protest one after another. Recently, in Jay, Vermont, a U.S. town near the U.S.-Canada border, local entrepreneurs at an event one after another called on the U.S. government to end the trade war with Canada. Steve Wright, president of Jay Peak Resort in Vermont, stated that when the U.S. government first imposed tariffs on Canada last year, "Canadian tourists felt disappointed and disheartened," resulting in a 35% decline in the number of Canadian tourists at the resort during the 2025–2026 ski season. The new round of U.S.-Canada tariff dispute has completely shattered their hopes for an improvement in business conditions. Bloomberg News believes that the escalation of tensions between the U.S. government and the Canadian government has caused the business community to encounter more uncertainty.
The trade dispute has also spilled over into the political and cultural fields of the two countries. On August 27, the United States unilaterally renamed Lake Ontario, the boundary lake between the U.S. and Canada, as"Lake America." Carney responded, saying that the name of Lake Ontario carries a long historical origin, and no matter how the external environment changes, Canadians will always use this name. Ontario Province in Canada erected a large billboard at a nature reserve, written in both English and French:"Lake Ontario, now and forever," in response to the U.S. renaming act.
Within Canada, the consensus to counter the U.S.'s abusive imposition of tariffs continues to expand. According to the latest poll by Canada's CTV News, 80% of surveyed Canadians support the government's countermeasures, with the approval rate reaching a new high; approximately 85% of respondents support the government's refusal of the U.S. agreement terms, and 74% believe that the United States is not a trustworthy ally. Canada's provinces and opposition parties basically support the government's decision to advance retaliatory tariffs. Jean Chrétien, former Prime Minister of Canada, suggested that export taxes could be imposed on Canadian goods that the United States highly depends on, such as oil, natural gas, and potash. Ontario Premier Doug Ford stated that the Canadian side needs to counterattack with"all means available," and if the trade dispute further escalates, Canada should be prepared to cut off electricity and critical mineral supplies to the United States.
A report by Britain's The Guardian believes that the tariff dispute has caused tensions in U.S.-Canada relations and has also led outsiders to question the future of the USMCA.
(People's Daily, Washington, September 15)
Return to TopOn September 15, the Yunnan Provincial Science and Technology Awards Conference was held. The project "R&D and Industrialization of Domestic Efficacy Skincare Products," jointly completed by Yunnan Botanee Bio-Technology Group Co., Ltd. (hereinafter referred to as "Botanee Group"), the Kunming Institute of Botany of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, the Yunnan Characteristic Plant Extraction Laboratory, and other units, was awarded the Special Prize of the 2025 Yunnan Provincial Science and Technology Progress Award.
For a long time, in the domestic efficacy skincare market, the supply of local products adapted to Chinese skin types and supported by complete medical clinical research has been relatively scarce. Facing this industry reality, Botanee Group develops skincare products with rigorous logic, relying on the unique resource endowment of Yunnan, the "Kingdom of Plants," and joining forces with medical institutions and research institutes. After 12 years of joint industry-university-research efforts, it has built a complete R&D system covering mechanism research, development of characteristic raw materials, formulation processes, clinical verification, and industrial transformation.
Self-reliance and strength in science and technology, breaking through key core technologies
After twelve years of devoting oneself to intensive research (潜心钻研, qian xin zuan yan - "submerge heart, drill study"), the project team of "R&D and Industrialization of Domestic Efficacy Skincare Products" achieved four major technological breakthroughs: it elucidated the pathogenesis of skin problems such as sensitive skin and chloasma, and proposed an innovative theory of whitening; it built a platform for mining Yunnan characteristic plant raw materials; it independently developed key technologies for plant extraction, separation, purification, and formulation; and it pioneered a large-sample clinical verification system and established industry standards.
As of now, the project team has cumulatively screened more than 2,000 plant resources, identified 266 active skincare varieties, and built a cosmetics raw material resource bank with a leading scale in China. Botanee Group has cumulatively filed nearly 30 new cosmetic raw materials, of which 3 have been included in the international cosmetic ingredient catalog. The project has cumulatively obtained 251 authorized patents, published 83 SCI journal papers, and led the formulation of more than 80 guidelines for efficacy skincare products and national and group standards, laying a solid technological foundation for the high-quality development of enterprises and even the industry.
Promoting the transformation of achievements, building a benchmark for domestic brands
Botanee Group has transformed scientific research achievements into market momentum, achieving remarkable economic and social benefits. From 2022 to 2025, the cumulative sales of its products reached 21.63 billion yuan, with profits and taxes of 5.875 billion yuan.
Today, its products cover offline market pharmacies in 31 provinces (autonomous regions and municipalities directly under the central government), with online presence across all mainstream e-commerce platforms, serving a cumulative total of more than 69.89 million users. Its brands were selected for the first batch of "China's Famous Consumer Products" by the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, becoming one of the representatives of domestic brands. The multi-brand matrix is developing in synergy, showing good growth momentum.
Practicing green concepts, serving local economic development
While pursuing corporate development, Botanee Group actively practices the concept that lucid waters and lush mountains are invaluable assets, innovating a "research-protection-industrialization" model of mountain bioeconomy. Through the simultaneous artificial breeding of more than 20 rare plateau plants such as Yunnan peony and Pleione, it has not only effectively protected biodiversity but also driven farmers growing characteristic plants in northwestern Yunnan to achieve scaled-up income increases. In 2024, the related characteristic plant industry chain added more than 10 billion yuan in output value, and the related practices were included in the official cases of the Global Mountain Bioeconomy Framework, providing a reference case for the sustainable use of global biological resources.
On the supply chain side, Botanee Group is vigorously building a green raw material procurement system. In 2025, the proportion of localized raw material suppliers reached 53.8%, promoting the green transformation of the industry chain through concrete actions.
Winning the Special Prize of the Yunnan Provincial Science and Technology Progress Award this time is a concentrated manifestation of Botanee Group's years of adherence to scientific and technological innovation and deep cultivation of Yunnan's characteristic plant resources. Standing at a new starting point, Botanee Group will continue to uphold its corporate philosophy of "rising because of Yunnan, thriving because of science and technology," continuously transforming Yunnan's biological resource advantages into industrial and competitive advantages, and making new and greater contributions to promoting the deep integration of scientific and technological innovation and industrial innovation and developing new quality productive forces in light of local conditions.
Data source: Botanee Group
Return to TopBy: 本报记者 李祉瑶
In Ulanqab City, Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, a 104-kilometer border line within Siziwang Banner stretches into the distance, and National Highway 331, built along the border line, runs through the vast grasslands and Gobi Desert. This area is sparsely populated, with snowfall for about seven months each year. The grasslands are open and windy weather is frequent, and in winter, blowing snow conditions easily form, which not only affects visibility but also causes the road surface to freeze and become slippery. Extreme cold weather can more easily damage vehicle fuel lines, batteries, and tires. Most vehicles passing through are large freight trucks, which have heavy self-weight and long braking distances, and are prone to skidding and tire blowouts in snowy and windy weather. In addition, there are few supply points along the route, so once a vehicle breaks down, it can easily become stuck in the snow.
What to do if stranded on the road? Many drivers call the repair phone numbers on the blue signs along National Highway 331. The owner of the phone number, Gangbaolida, is the deputy secretary of the Party branch of Weijing Gacha, Jiang'an Sumu, Siziwang Banner, and also the operator of an auto repair shop, having been engaged in road rescue work for more than 20 years.
"My parents said that people away from home have a hard time, and if you can help, you must help."
Gangbaolida enlisted in the army in 1999 and was assigned to the vehicle repair squad. Over two years, he mastered the full range of skills including vehicle repair, electrical circuit maintenance, and tire replacement, and successfully obtained the vocational qualification certificate for auto repair workers.
After retiring from the military in 2001, Gangbaolida came to Wulanhua Town in Siziwang Banner and engaged in auto repair work. At that time, the border highway was still a gravel road, rough and uneven, and once vehicles broke down along the way, the auto repair shops that could provide road rescue were basically dozens of kilometers away. Seeing many drivers having no way to deal with a situation (无计可施, wu ji ke shi - "no, plan, can, do") on the highway, Gangbaolida decided to provide rescue services for vehicles passing along the border highway. "When I was a child, I lived in a pastoral area. When my parents saw someone whose car had broken down and was stranded on the road, they would bring them home to entertain them and help contact repairs," Gangbaolida recalled. "My parents said that people away from home have a hard time, and if you can help, you must help."
Through years of participating in rescue work, Gangbaolida gradually built up a good reputation. In 2021, he returned to his hometown of Weijing Gacha, Jiang'an Sumu, and opened an auto repair shop with himself as the only employee. He purchased a mobile rescue vehicle and, with the consent of the local government departments, erected blue signs every 10 kilometers along National Highway 331, printing his phone number on them, putting up more than a dozen signs in total. From then on, this highway gained a "convenience service station" that never closes.
"If I don't do this rescue work, what will happen to those people stranded on the road?"
Gangbaolida's mobile phone is always kept fully charged with the ringtone turned up to maximum. Even at two or three o'clock in the morning, as long as the phone rings, he will immediately throw on his clothes, start the vehicle, and drive into the vast darkness.
In December 2023, a blizzard suddenly struck, and the temperature plummeted to minus 30 degrees Celsius. Several tourists from Henan were driving through Siziwang Banner on a self-drive trip and became stranded on National Highway 331 after running out of fuel. The vehicle could not start, and the people were cold and hungry, in a very critical situation. After receiving the distress call, Gangbaolida acted without any hesitation (毫不犹豫, hao bu you yu - "not, a little, have, hesitation") and rushed into the blizzard. The snow was too deep, and his rescue vehicle also got stuck in the snow several times, unable to move. Faced with such a situation, he jumped out of the vehicle, cleared the snow shovel by shovel with an iron shovel, then got back in and drove a stretch, then got out again to shovel snow, and finally reached the rescue point with great difficulty. The tourists tightly grasped his hand: "Fortunately, we saw your rescue phone number beside the highway. Otherwise, in such harsh weather, the consequences would really be unimaginable."
When Gangbaolida first started rescue work, his wife Wurina was somewhat worried: "When it's busy, you have to go out every day, sometimes braving wind and snow and driving at night. Maybe you should just quit?" But Gangbaolida was very firm: "If I don't do this rescue work, what will happen to those people stranded on the road?" Gradually, his family came to understand his choice. His wife occasionally accompanies him at work, and when his children studying away from home return to their hometown, they also go out with him on rescue calls.
Late one night in 2025, a truck driver from Zhangjiakou, Hebei, who was passing through with cargo, found his way to Gangbaolida's door under the guidance of local herders. The driver's face was deathly pale at the time, and he said he felt discomfort in his heart. Gangbaolida immediately drove him to the hospital in Erenhot. Covering a distance of over 100 kilometers, Gangbaolida sped all the way and delivered the driver to the hospital in time. When leaving, the driver specifically took out several hundred yuan as a token of thanks.
"When I do road rescue, I don't force people to pay, and I don't rely on this to make money," Gangbaolida said. "If the other party voluntarily gives some subsidy, I'll just take the cost price."
On the return trip that time, the exhausted Gangbaolida failed to avoid a cow raised loose by the roadside and collided with it, causing serious damage to his own vehicle. In total, he bore more than 6,000 yuan in compensation and various other expenses. Even though he suffered considerable economic losses, Gangbaolida has never regretted coming to the rescue: "Human life is more important than anything."
"Our family was raised with love by the people of the Inner Mongolia grasslands, and we must pass on this love."
In 2021, Gangbaolida was elected deputy secretary of the Party branch of Weijing Gacha, Jiang'an Sumu. On ordinary days, herders come to him whenever their motorcycles, three-wheeled vehicles, or pickup trucks break down. Searching for lost elderly people in the blowing yellow sand, mediating neighborhood disputes, helping herders run errands and solve problems...He is always willing to lend a helping hand.
"When people encounter difficulties and ask me for help, it is a sign of their trust in me," Gangbaolida said with a smile. "The villagers know that I often do road rescue work, and when I receive an emergency call, everyone will take the initiative to help."
Gangbaolida's good deeds have also received attention and support. In 2023, the China Association for Promoting the Construction of Old Revolutionary Base Areas, along with the old-area promotion associations at the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, Ulanqab City, and Siziwang Banner levels, provided him with a brand-new professional rescue vehicle; in 2024, led by the Siziwang Banner Federation of Trade Unions, a "Drivers' Home" was established.
In January 2025, Gangbaolida was selected for the "China Good Person List" as a good person who helps others; in March of the same year, he was awarded the title of "Model of Learning from Lei Feng in National Posts, Tenth Batch"; subsequently, he was also named a Model Worker and Moral Model of the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region. Gangbaolida believes he has only done what he was capable of doing. "My parents were witnesses to the 'Three Thousand Orphans Entering Inner Mongolia' and were children of the state. Our family was raised with love by the people of the Inner Mongolia grasslands, and we must pass on this love and repay this land."
Return to Top(People's Daily, Beijing, September 15) (Reporter Wu Dan) During the new student enrollment season, some institutions or lawbreakers engage in fraud by carefully orchestrating a trap (精心设局, jing xin she ju - "carefully, set, scheme") through forging identities and spreading false information. The Ministry of Education has issued reminders based on several typical cases in recent times.
Category one: fraud by falsely claiming there are "internal quotas" or "supplementary admission slots." Han Moumou falsely claimed to have "internal connections" and "special channels" that could arrange for students whose college entrance examination scores did not meet the standards to be admitted by universities. Lu Moumou, by forging university admission notices and arranging for others to impersonate university teachers or leaders, continuously created the illusion to parents that "enrollment was being actively processed," defrauding multiple victims of more than 10 million yuan. The Ministry of Education reminds that admissions and enrollment are strictly conducted according to scores, preferences, and plans, with the entire process being open and transparent, and that no such irregular channels as "internal quotas," "special admission slots," or "internal score reductions for supplementary recruitment" exist. Provincial admissions examination authorities implement online public solicitation of preferences for unfilled enrollment plans, with the entire supplementary admission process being open and transparent, and all information being publicized through official channels. Anyone who demands payment of deposits, admission fees, or quota fees for supplementary admission is committing fraud.
Category two: forging admission notices to defraud tuition and accommodation fees. Zhang Moumou forged a complete set of false materials for a certain university, including admission recommendation letters, admission notices, and the college's "Excellent Talent Training Program" plan, and sent them to candidates' parents via WeChat, defrauding candidates and parents of more than 100,000 yuan on the pretext of collecting enrollment registration fees, handling fees, and accommodation fees. The Ministry of Education reminds that candidates should verify their own admission information through the official channels published by provincial admissions examination authorities and confirm whether the contents of the admission notice are consistent with the admission information. Regular tuition payments all use unified official corporate channels; any request to transfer "tuition," "deposits," or "accommodation fees" to a personal account is fraud.
Category three: defrauding new students by fabricating the persona of "senior schoolmates." Recently, multiple universities have exposed that a batch of unauthorized self-media accounts have emerged on online platforms, forming unofficial new student groups under the guise of "senior schoolmates," wantonly collecting new students' personal information and publishing false information. The Ministry of Education reminds that official university new student groups are generally publicized through regular channels such as admission notices and university official websites. Do not readily trust payment notices issued by so-called "teachers" or "senior schoolmates" on self-media platforms; any act requiring scanning a QR code to transfer money to a personal account must first be verified through the university's official channels.
Return to Top(People's Daily, Shanghai, September 15) (Reporter Jiang Hongbing) Shanghai has announced new policies to enhance maternity medical expense coverage, expanding the scope of protection and increasing reimbursement rates to effectively reduce families' financial burden of childbirth. Targeting key links such as prenatal examinations, inpatient delivery, and childbirth in other localities, a series of inclusive, burden-reducing safeguard measures have been introduced. From October 1 this year, compliant maternity medical expenses will achieve "zero out-of-pocket payment" for individuals.
After the new policy officially takes effect on October 1, women who give birth and are normally enrolled in Shanghai's employee medical insurance (including maternity insurance) can directly settle payments by swiping their social security card or medical insurance electronic certificate at designated hospitals' obstetrics outpatient and emergency departments. From the establishment of prenatal examination records through the 42-day postpartum check-up, the 42 perinatal examination items included in the maternity insurance basic medical and health care service package will first use the per-person 4,500 yuan maternity medical expense subsidy quota; after the quota is used up, all remaining expenses will be borne entirely by maternity insurance. Diagnosis and treatment expenses outside the service package will be reimbursed normally according to employee medical insurance policies. If, after completing the 42-day postpartum recovery check-up, there is still a balance remaining in the 4,500 yuan subsidy quota, the remaining subsidy funds can also be claimed.
Previously, although prenatal examination items fell within the coverage scope of maternity insurance, individuals needed to pay the full amount out of pocket first, and only after giving birth could they apply to the medical insurance department for a fixed maternity medical expense subsidy. Moreover, previously only 25 examination items were included, whereas now the full set of essential prenatal tests and examinations is covered, including outpatient consultation, fetal heart rate monitoring, nuchal translucency screening, detailed anomaly ultrasound, glucose tolerance testing, thyroid function testing, and Group B streptococcus screening, covering basic health care needs across the early, middle, and late stages of the entire pregnancy.
Regarding inpatient delivery, hospital expenses incurred by insured women admitted to obstetrics departments at designated medical institutions in Shanghai and discharged after delivery — such as labor analgesia, labor management, vaginal delivery, and cesarean section — are all paid by maternity insurance; miscarriage after 7 months of pregnancy is treated as delivery and enjoys the same reimbursement standards. Hospital expenses incurred due to other illnesses are still settled according to the relevant provisions of employee medical insurance.
The new policy expands the beneficiary population of maternity insurance. For male employees enrolled in basic employee medical insurance, if their spouses participate in Shanghai's urban and rural resident medical insurance and are normally enjoying resident medical insurance benefits, the service package examination fees and delivery hospitalization expenses arising from childbirth or miscarriage can all be fully reimbursed by maternity insurance with reference to the standards for female employees, with remaining medical expenses settled through resident medical insurance. For insured persons giving birth in other localities, service package examination fees and compliant delivery hospitalization expenses incurred at designated medical institutions in other provinces, municipalities, and autonomous regions are likewise included in the scope of Shanghai's maternity insurance reimbursement.
Return to TopGuangxi is the only province in China that is connected to ASEAN by both land and sea, and it is also the frontier window for China's opening-up and cooperation with ASEAN. Focusing on what the country needs, what Guangxi is capable of, and what ASEAN aspires to, Guangxi has continuously implemented poverty reduction projects in ASEAN countries, successfully realizing the transformation and application of China's poverty reduction solutions and smart agricultural technology in ASEAN countries, telling the stories of China, ASEAN, and Guangxi through improvements in people's livelihoods and increases in industrial income.
Ten Years of Deep Cultivation, Laying the Foundation of People's Livelihood in the Projects
In 2016, the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region Rural Revitalization Foreign Capital Project Development Center (formerly the Guangxi Foreign Capital Poverty Alleviation Project Management Center) became the Chinese project implementation unit for the East Asia Poverty Reduction Demonstration and Cooperation Technical Assistance Project (Laos component), implementing projects in Ban So and Xianglong villages in Laos from 2017 to 2020 covering rural infrastructure and public service improvement, livelihood development, and capacity building. The proportion of poor households in the project area dropped from 52% to 25%, and the project results were written into the Joint Statement of the People's Republic of China and the Lao People's Democratic Republic and Poverty Alleviation: China's Practices. During the same period, entrusted by the International Poverty Reduction Center in China, Guangxi implemented the China-Laos Poverty Reduction Cooperation Community Demonstration Project in Jinhua Village, Laos, promoting the "three protections" planting technology of rain shelter, sun shelter, and insect shelter in greenhouses.
Since 2023, Guangxi has invested autonomous region fiscal funds and, guided by the whole-industry-chain thinking of "optimizing the resource chain, extending the product chain, expanding the sales chain, strengthening the brand chain, and integrating the digital-intelligent chain," has implemented technical cooperation poverty reduction projects in Laos and Cambodia, which have been included in the results database of the Global Development Project Library of the China International Development Cooperation Agency. Among these, the Guangxi-assisted Laos Technical Cooperation Poverty Reduction Project built 3 smart vegetable greenhouses totaling 2,112 square meters in Jinhua Village, provided agricultural machinery and materials as assistance, carried out training and study tours, established long-term management systems, and promoted Jinhua Village to become one of 18 planting bases in Laos to obtain GAP (Good Agricultural Practices) certification. The annual per capita income of villagers increased from USD 395 in 2023 to USD 650 in 2025, the proportion of poor households dropped from 5.6% to 0.8%, and the satisfaction rate of the masses reached 100%. The Guangxi-assisted Cambodia Modern Agricultural Technology Cooperation Poverty Reduction Project successfully transformed 1 hectare of wasteland in Kampong Chhnang Province into a modern vegetable industry base, driving stable income increases for farming households.
From undertaking national projects to independently implementing projects, Guangxi has won recognition from government departments and the masses in Laos and Cambodia through tangible benefits for the people.
Innovative Practice, Cooperative Projects Taking Root and Flourishing
In Jinhua Village, Laos, the cooperative project introduced an Internet of Things cloud platform and an integrated smart water-fertilizer system, raising the annual vegetable cropping index from 5 crops in open-field planting to 12 crops in smart greenhouse planting, enabling villagers to "increase income through skills." At the same time, the cooperative project built sorting areas, cold storage warehouses, and transaction negotiation rooms, extending the industrial chain from planting to primary processing, warehousing, and sales, and upgrading products from ungraded bulk goods at the farm gate to packaged clean vegetables. In 2025, the vegetable transaction volume in Jinhua Village reached nearly 70 tons, with revenue of 1.724 billion kip (approximately RMB 540,000), and the average income increase per planting household exceeded RMB 10,000.
In Otdak Sae Village, Kampong Chhnang Province, Cambodia, the cooperative project established an integrated training model of "expert lectures + on-site practice + agricultural materials support + follow-up guidance," inviting Guangxi experts and local technicians to carry out online and offline training on key links such as seed selection, seedling cultivation, and pest and disease control, and providing farmers with production material support such as seeds and organic fertilizer. Project experts continuously followed up and guided planting conditions, transforming farmers from not understanding facility agriculture into actively using and confidently relying on the integrated smart water-fertilizer system, attracting agricultural cooperatives from 6 surrounding townships to come and learn.
From Laos to Cambodia, Guangxi, relying on a series of projects benefiting the people, has contributed to the high-quality joint construction of the Belt and Road Initiative and the promotion of building a community with a shared future for mankind.
Sharing Experience, Joining Hands to Embark on a New Journey for the Future
Guangxi has actively transformed its poverty reduction practices into shareable and promotable international public goods. A cumulative total of 36 cases have been selected into the Global Poverty Reduction Case Library, and the relevant experience and practices have been promoted and applied in poverty reduction projects in Laos and Cambodia. Guangxi has successfully hosted 9 sessions of the China-ASEAN Forum on Social Development and Poverty Reduction, undertaken 42 sessions of international poverty reduction training courses and study tours, and organized 972 poverty reduction officials from 101 countries and 2 regional organizations to conduct on-site inspections. Bamou Village in Tianyang District, Baise City, and Mofan Village in Tiandong County were awarded the title of "Demonstration Villages" by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations.
From summarizing experience to promoting and applying it, Guangxi has gradually built an international poverty reduction exchange and cooperation model of "practice—summarization—sharing—promotion."
The outline of the 15th Five-Year Plan proposes: "Promote global poverty reduction cooperation, strengthen the construction of the foreign assistance system and whole-chain management, and increase the intensity of foreign assistance." In the future, Guangxi will continue to adhere to the whole-industry-chain development thinking, deepen practical poverty reduction cooperation with ASEAN countries, practice the development path of "R&D in Beijing, Shanghai, and Guangzhou + integration in Guangxi + application in ASEAN," promote the "hard connectivity" of modern agricultural facilities, the "soft connectivity" of technical standards, and the "heart connectivity" of poverty reduction exchanges between China and ASEAN, and play a greater role in serving the building of an even closer China-ASEAN community with a shared future.
Data source: Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region Rural Revitalization Foreign Capital Project Development Center
Return to TopBy: 本报记者 郑海鸥
Tired from work, they go to night school in the evening to learn skills and relieve stress; on weekends with free time, they go to see a city concert; on rural trips, they meet unexpectedly (不期而遇, bu qi er yu - "not, meet, and, meet") with an interesting "village gala"……Young people talk about the wonderful experiences cultural centers have brought them.
As the "pushers" behind the scenes and in front of the stage, young cultural center staff members shore up the shortcomings of services, ask about the needs of the masses, seek ideas from netizens, and work hard to turn beautiful ideas into reality.
As China's public cultural services continue to improve in quality and increase in efficiency, many cultural centers have long since torn off the "outdated" label. Recently, reporters visited cultural centers in many places in Zhejiang Province and felt a strong youthful atmosphere and vigorous innovative vitality.
Services breaking out of the circle
An ordinary corridor bridge becomes an urban cultural landmark
"The three minutes performing on the corridor bridge were the highlight moment of my life—there is no other."Not long ago, Gu Haodong, a post-95s lawyer, together with more than 10 young people forming the "Tide Craft Pop Orchestra," dressed in national-style costumes, mounted the Xizi Corridor Bridge beside West Lake in Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, bringing the original song "Jiangchengzi·Hunting at Mizhou" to citizens and tourists.
"Seeing the cheering audience below the bridge, all the hairs on my body stood up."Gu Haodong had previously been one of those "passers-by" holding up a phone to film the bridge, never daring to think he would one day be able to perform on the bridge. Now, "singing at full voice beside West Lake in Hangzhou, facing thousands of spectators, I feel extremely fortunate and proud."Gu Haodong said.
Zou Jiayu, a post-00s traveler from Nanjing, Jiangsu, who came to Hangzhou on a trip, encountered this performance by chance:"The form is new, the stage is dazzling, the atmosphere is great—a very wonderful travel experience!"
What Zou Jiayu did not expect was that he merely filmed a few stage clips and posted them on social media, and was quickly recognized by friends—"You went to Hangzhou?""So lucky, you opened up a music blind box."Only then did he suddenly realize that he had "wandered into" a highly popular Xizi Corridor Bridge·"Art Enriching Beauty" Blind Box Concert.
Perhaps many people do not know that this blind box concert, which makes performers proud and spectators excited, was creatively planned by the Zhejiang Provincial Cultural Center, and its continued popularity lies in the push from a group of young people in the cultural center.
The seven post-80s staff members of the Art Training Department of the Zhejiang Provincial Cultural Center often engage in "brainstorming": How can cultural center services break out of the circle?What can I do for the cultural center?
"We opened official social media accounts, actively interacted with netizens, collected what everyone likes and expects, and planned what the cultural center can do and break through.Gradually, some good ideas emerged from the collisions."Zhao Yaqian, deputy director of the Art Training Department and a post-85s, said.
Young people gave feedback: what they most looked forward to were new stages and new performances."West Lake has extraordinary significance for citizens and tourists alike, and for people on both sides of the stage—above and below. In 2024 we held a performance at the West Lake lakeshore, and the response was very good."Zhao Yaqian and her colleagues clearly remembered that many citizens came up to ask:"When is the next performance?""We want to come watch""We want to participate."
"Everyone then pondered how to make performances beside West Lake regular.In research, an elevated corridor bridge on a commercial pedestrian street came into view—the bridge had lighting and 36 retractable LED large screens. If we moved the performance onto the bridge, wouldn't that not only solve the venue problem but also break through the limits of traditional stages?"Zhao Yaqian recalled that after meticulous planning and coordination, during the National Day holiday in 2024, the first Blind Box Concert officially began.
No tickets, no reservations needed—passers-by could stop and enjoy, and the unique concert quickly became an internet sensation.
The "Art Enriching Beauty" Blind Box Concert has been creatively prolific in content: traditional operas such as Yue Opera, Kunqu Opera, Sichuan Opera are highly popular, so they actively inherit and promote them; when online games like "Black Myth: Wukong" and movies like "Nezha: The Devil Child Harasses the Sea" were booming, they promptly launched related programs; on the evening of the National Disability Assistance Day, adolescents with autism sang out vigorous strength; many professional troupes and celebrities also came to the bridge drawn by its reputation……
"The Xizi Corridor Bridge has thus ceased to be merely a geographical coordinate, becoming a cultural landmark of Hangzhou, a public cultural stage in which all people can participate and experience.On the stage there are people from all walks of life, and also celebrities from television.After meals, friends all want to go watch a performance."Gu Haodong said, "Our understanding of cultural centers has also been renewed—the cultural centers that in our minds carried labels like 'outdated' and 'traditional' turn out to be so 'trendy' and 'dazzling,' with their vitality pulled to the max!"
Data show that the Xizi Corridor Bridge has cumulatively held more than 100 performances, attracted over 4.2 million person-times to listen on site, with total online communication volume exceeding 9 billion views, and young audiences accounting for over 60%.
Hu Minming, a post-95s staff member of the Art Training Department of the Zhejiang Provincial Cultural Center, said with emotion that above and below the bridge, every time citizens and the masses mount the stage or watch a performance is a vivid display of the city's cultural vitality,"Listening to everyone's cheers on site, seeing the likes online, I sincerely feel proud of the work of cultural centers—how many dreams have been realized here, and how many seeds of dreams have been planted here."
Art enriching beauty
Activating the endogenous momentum of rural culture
Zhang Lingling, born in 1989, has recently been full of anticipation for every Sunday evening, because she has secured a spot in the tie-dye class at the rural art school.
"In an hour and a half, every time there are surprises, and every session I actively ask the teacher to 'run overtime,'—I have never been so 'fascinated' by a course before."Zhang Lingling lives in Shijiaotou Town, Wenling City, Taizhou, Zhejiang, and has long been fond of the Santouli Village Rural Art School,"I am very interested in pottery, calligraphy, handicraft art, etc., and occasionally bring my children along, enjoying the nourishment of culture and art."
The Santouli Village Rural Art School was transformed from more than 20 idle farmhouses, with flowers and plants flourishing in the small courtyard, ancient-style houses, and many artistic ornaments decorating them, giving it a distinctive charm."Many of the handmade works here are made by the students themselves; when posted to social media, they always receive dozens of likes each time."Zhang Lingling said,"We recharge our batteries here, make friends, learn skills, and rural life has become especially fulfilling."
The idea of running an art school in the countryside also came from a post-80s—Zhang Yiyan, director of the Wenling City Cultural Center.He recalled,"In the past, when performances were sent down to the countryside, there were always huge crowds of people (人山人海, ren shan ren hai - "person, mountain, person, sea") below the stage.We asked villagers what other cultural needs they had, and they said the performances sent down did not 'quench their thirst,' and they also hoped to learn an art form so that they themselves could also go on stage to perform."
Based on the population structure, cultural foundations, and feedback of villagers in each village, since 2020, rural art schools have been successively established in 556 rural cultural auditoriums and community cultural homes—in Zeguo Town, courses such as yoga, piano performance, pickleball are extremely popular; in Wugen Town, jazz dance, yoga, vocal music, cheongsam show, etc., have the highest popularity."Many young people, good learning atmosphere—once they come, they are reluctant to leave."Shao Minpei, a post-90s villager from Huaxi Village, Wugen Town, said.
"Post-90s villager Hu Qianqian studies vocal music and learns dancing; she is healthy, cheerful, and has found a bigger stage at the 'village gala';post-80s villager Chen Ying learned square dance well at the art school, and has now grown into a teaching assistant……Villagers serving villagers—the effectiveness keeps improving."Zhang Yiyan said.
In 2025, the Publicity Department of the CPC Central Committee and six other departments jointly issued the"Art Enriching Beauty in Rural Areas" Work Plan (2025–2027), proposing"to cast the soul with culture, enrich beauty with art, improve the public cultural service system, and channel high-quality cultural resources directly to the grassroots."Zhang Yiyan said,"We will continue to work hard to better satisfy the spiritual and cultural needs of farmers and the masses, strengthen the rural cultural talent team, and activate the endogenous momentum of rural culture."
Pondering what other breakthroughs "Art Enriching Beauty in Rural Areas" could still achieve, at the end of 2025, staff members of the Lishui City Cultural Center in Zhejiang Province came to Chenjiapu Village, Sidu Township, Songyang County.Wang Zejun, a post-85s staff member, was among them.
They extensively interviewed tourists, discovering that the problem of"the countryside has scenery but no one to narrate it, and tourists' experience is not deep enough" was widespread, and outside tour guides could only take tourists on a superficial observation (走马观花, zou ma guan hua - "walk, horse, view, flower") of the sights; entering villagers' homes, they found that those who themselves were willing to share hometown stories and bits of life with visitors, nevertheless"dared not speak,""did not know how to speak,"and"could not speak well.""All of this constrains the high-quality development of rural tourism."Wang Zejun said.
The villagers' practical difficulties were very concrete: some people became so nervous facing strangers that they could not utter a word; some knew many stories but did not know where to begin; some wanted to help tourists take photos but could never produce satisfactory results……
"Could we, through our training, help villagers become guides for their own villages?"Wang Zejun and his colleagues visited 6 villages, conducted household interviews exceeding 80 person-times, comprehensively sorted out villagers' ages, occupations, specialties, language characteristics, personality traits, ascertained the busy and slack farming seasons, knowledge reserves, skills, and interests, and designed multiple sets of personalized training plans.The"village guide" plan came into being as the times required.
In the training, Wang Zejun was responsible for teaching short video shooting and production,"Not about making blockbusters, but using the simplest methods to film the good things of one's hometown well and spread them."In class, Wang Zejun asked villagers:"Do you know how to make videos that people will like?"Below, many people talked at once (七嘴八舌, qi zui ba she - "seven, mouths, eight, tongues"):"Grab attention""Make up stories""Use some exaggerated headlines"……
"For our countryside, those most down-to-earth, most sincere contents are what people remember best."Wang Zejun picked up his phone and showed everyone an example—a clip of a villager working in the fields in the early morning, with the soundtrack being the sound of water, birdsong, and the villager humming a folk tune in dialect."Everyone look, this video has no 'technique,' but after watching it, don't you feel your heart become very calm?Don't you want to go to that place to take a look?"The students nodded one after another.
Next was to let the"village guides" know what they could talk about."If a friend from afar came, besides the few classic spots in the village, what else would you want to take him to see?""Go see that terraced field, it's very spectacular.""Come to my house to eat a meal cooked with firewood on an earthen stove.""First drink a cup of wild tea I roasted myself."Amid laughter, the villagers came to understand that being a"village guide" was actually not difficult—it was about treating guests sincerely, sharing the village's stories and one's own life.
Bao Peijun, a post-90s"village guide," lives in Chenjiapu Village.After striving in Hangzhou for more than 10 years, he returned to his hometown, transforming his ancestors' old house into a boutique homestay.His guiding route begins from the eaves of his own homestay, then strolls along the ancient path, and wherever his finger points, he recounts things with familiarity and expertise (如数家珍, ru shu jia zhen - "as, count, family, treasure")."I also consulted many elders about the village's history and culture, and then narrated it with youthful expressions—tourists really love listening."Bao Peijun said.
Today, Lishui City already has more than 200"village guides," who, with their unique language characteristics and personal styles, tell the colorful stories of their hometowns……
Endless ingenious ideas
Letting art and life nourish each other
The post-80s, post-90s, and even post-00s at cultural centers burst forth with vitality and ingenious ideas, breaking the service boundaries of traditional cultural centers——
The Ouhai District Cultural Center in Wenzhou launched the"Ou K Ou K, everything OK" National K-singing Contest, and the broad masses flocked to listen, play, and sing a few lines."What is being sung is not pitch accuracy, but love for art and life, and the vigorous vitality of one's hometown."Deputy Director Lin Binbin joyfully saw that"many neighbors, when meeting and greeting each other, have changed from the former 'Have you eaten?' to now 'Have you sung?'I think this is full of recognition of our work, expressing the beautiful wish that life will always be OK."
"Is art a high art that few people can appreciate (曲高和寡, qu gao he gua - "tune, high, harmonize, few") thing?Can high-quality performances only be seen by buying tickets?None of that—love is the admission ticket to literature and art."Shen Zhiyi, deputy director of the Comprehensive Activities Department of the Anji County Cultural Center in Huzhou, said,"We open night schools, hold activities, so that the masses can learn skills and make friends after work, participate in art while strolling and relaxing, and let literature and art become a part of life."
Shen Kaiqi, a staff member of the Tongxiang City Cultural Center in Jiaxing, came to the village and discovered that many of the"village gala" programs were rehearsed behind closed doors, for fear that"if the plot was leaked in advance, no one would come to cheer at the scene.""I called for setting up 'open rehearsal days,' letting villagers come in to watch, exchange ideas, and offer suggestions.As a result, many villagers would often come over to take a look, offer suggestions, and when the performance day arrived, they would come with great enthusiasm, cheer loudly, and applaud vigorously."Shen Kaiqi happily saw that art, in this way, influences people subtly and imperceptibly (润物无声, run wu wu sheng - "moisten, things, without, sound"), nourishing both above and below the stage, drawing hearts closer together.
"Young cultural centers, please accept our likes!"A remark by Jin Yuzhou, a post-00s citizen of Hangzhou, voiced everyone's heartfelt sentiments.
Jin Yuzhou had formed a bond with cultural centers since childhood—learning vocal music, participating in performances, planting artistic dreams.Now, she has become a primary school music teacher, and her story with cultural centers continues.This May, she joined the Qinglai Choir just established by the Zhejiang Provincial Cultural Center, learning art together with a group of like-minded friends, sharing life experiences, and also mounting bigger stages.
On the evening of June 11, before the kickoff of the 2026 Wuyue Cup Zhejiang Provincial City Football League Finals, the Qinglai Choir, with an average age of 27, made a splendid appearance with vigorous youthful energy, delivering a brand-new rendition of the piece"Waiting for a Thousand Years."The graceful subtlety of the Jiangnan water towns and the dynamism of modern music were skillfully combined; football fans raised their phones one after another to record it, sighing,"Both choral singing and football are so 'lit'."
"Such experiences are something I never even dreamed of.In addition, we also do 'flash mobs' in the subway, publish works online, and with works close to young people and touching people's hearts, spread joy, warmth, and positive energy."Jin Yuzhou said that the cultural center's choir training takes place every Saturday afternoon; at that time, training teachers for piano, conducting, etc., as well as choir members, all set aside whatever they were doing and rush toward their passion,"Some members spend nearly 4 hours just on the road—everyone greatly cherishes the valuable platform provided by the cultural center."
"The Qinglai Choir released an original song 'Dad, What Are You Doing' on Father's Day this year, which spread widely online and moved many people."Ruan Jing, director of the Zhejiang Provincial Cultural Center, said that there are many more stories like this—students receive training, then give back to society, serve the public, extending the cultural center's service reach.
"Hope is placed in young people; young cultural center workers, relying on professional competence, youthful vitality, and fun creativity, have won the favor of the broad masses, especially young people.In the future, we believe that many more beautiful things will happen……"Ruan Jing said.
Return to TopBy: 李卓尔
According to reports, after the film Letter to Grandma became a viral hit, it drove strong sales of qiaopi-themed books such as Ping'an Pai and A Glimpse of Sea and Sky: A History of Chaoshan Qiaopi. The global box-office success of the film Odyssey likewise drove a surge in sales of Homer's Epics, with related poetry revenue in the British market rising by nearly one million pounds. Across the entertainment market, films and TV dramas driving sales of original works and related books is no longer an isolated case; the wave of screen-based popularity continues to awaken the public's enthusiasm for reading.
In recent years, various statistical data show that the average time people spend "watching" far exceeds the time spent "reading." The linkage between books and screen adaptations undoubtedly has positive significance in cultivating and enhancing the public's reading awareness.
Film and television are intuitive, vivid, emotionally powerful, and reach a wide audience. They can quickly ignite topics and stir up trends, helping to break down the barriers to reading and lead ordinary viewers to books. Many people, when faced with works they love, have developed the habit of "watching the film first and then reading the original, following the series and then savoring the text." Rather than stopping at the condensed plot and visual interpretation of an adaptation, it is better to open the original work and unlock the complete narrative thread, the delicate emotional details, and the deeper cultural connotations. As the ancients said, "Those who appreciate a text enter into feeling through the words." Reading a book is a direct dialogue between reader and author, an unrestricted, immersive form of personal understanding, and a spiritual cultivation of independent exploration and careful savoring.
When fragmented information fills daily life, deep reading is increasingly becoming a scarce commodity. Many classic texts and niche cultural works, because of their high barriers to entry and low public recognition, have long been neglected or set aside for a long time (束之高阁, shu zhi gao ge - "bind, at, high, shelf") and find it difficult to reach the general public. After the TV drama The Peaceful Year became popular, The Complete History of the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms (eight volumes) quickly shot to the top of the hot search list on a reading platform. This period of history is weighty and complex, and its historical materials are dry; were it not for the dramatic adaptation, it would be difficult for the public to become familiar with it. Film and television use light and shadow as a bridge, transforming obscure text into vivid images and turning niche classics into hot topics, lowering the threshold for the public to access classics and savor texts, enabling more people to move from passive awareness to active study, and expanding the boundaries of readership for nationwide reading. A wave of screen popularity can not only drive a surge in sales of a single book, but can also activate the vitality of a category of classics, a culture, and a period of history in terms of dissemination.
But the popularity brought by film and television is sometimes only an inducement to read. Many high-quality films and TV dramas rely on classic texts to build their core and move audiences; they need a solid textual foundation to carry cultural depth and convey human warmth. After the TV drama Blossoms became popular, many viewers, after finishing the series, chose to return to the book to experience the unique charm of the written word. The success of this two-way empowerment between book and screen lies largely in the fact that, although the camera makes artistic choices, it preserves the era's texture and spiritual core of the original work. If there is only screen-driven traffic while the original text is hollow and thin, the curiosity aroused in viewers by the plot will be disappointed the moment they open the book, and after the brief wave of popularity passes, the enthusiasm for reading quickly dissipates.
The book-screen linkage is a good opportunity to cultivate the public's reading habits, yet some phenomena also exist in the market: some works rely on film and television marketing to build momentum, launching so-called "commemorative editions" and "limited editions," but the quality of the original text is mediocre, and once the heat fades, the books quickly sink back into obscurity. Boisterous sales figures do not equal genuine reading promotion; buying a book is not the same as reading it, and a momentary fad is not the same as long-term cultural immersion.
Looking across the waves of linkage between film and literature over the years—from the four great classical novels being brought to the screen in the 1980s and 1990s, to Rickshaw Boy and White Deer Plain becoming cinematic memories for generations, to the widespread attention now given to works such as A Lifelong Journey and My Altay—many films and TV dramas that endure over time are rooted in deep literary soil; and those classic texts that remain timeless are likewise able to gain new life through new modes of dissemination.
Whether the book-screen linkage can truly drive nationwide reading has never depended on momentary momentum, but rather on whether the content itself can withstand the test of time. When more people are willing to step beyond the frame, open the pages, and calmly experience the emotions and reflections within the text, then text and light and shadow can empower each other in both directions, and the book-screen linkage will not be merely a fleeting market trend, but will gradually settle into a lasting cultural ecosystem.
Return to TopBy: 本报记者 韩俊杰
In the misty rain of southern Anhui, the scenery is picturesque and poetic (如诗如画, ru shi ru hua - "as, poem, as, painting"). In the paper-letter studio of Zheng Zhiyuan and Zhai Chunping, a married couple, in Jing County, Xuancheng City, Anhui Province, the world-renowned Xuan paper is no longer limited to a single white color; instead, it has been replaced by multicolored papers of every kind. A couplet assembled from lines by Du Fu, reading "From ancient times there has always been antique charm; upon this one may compose new poetry," is written on blue wax-dyed paper with gold powder embellishments, which further displays a sense of solemn charm and aesthetic taste.
Xuan paper-making technique is a traditional handicraft of Jing County, with a history of more than 1,500 years, and in 2009 it was inscribed by UNESCO on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.
"We purchase superior Xuan paper from several paper mills in the county, and use plant and mineral raw materials to produce dyes." Zheng Zhiyuan, a provincial-level representative inheritor of the processing technique for Xuan paper products, said that after going through more than 10 procedures, including paper selection, material preparation, dye dragging, drying, sizing, gold sprinkling, and waxing, the final products become finished goods such as wax-dyed paper in various colors and styles, sheep-brain paper, and hard-yellow paper. "Every sheet of paper is made entirely by hand."
Zheng Zhiyuan was born into a family with a long lineage in Xuan paper product processing. His grandfather, Zheng Guangting, and his father, Zheng Changgen, were both highly skilled artisans (能工巧匠, neng gong qiao jiang - "capable, worker, skillful, craftsman") of paper-letter making. Influenced by what one sees and hears (耳濡目染, er ru mu ran -"ear, moisten, eye, dye"), Zheng Zhiyuan learned from childhood the crafts of boiling raw and cooked materials, and mounting album leaves. After graduating from junior middle school, he again systematically studied the process flows of ingredient mixing, dyeing, sizing, and waxing.
Which process step is the most difficult? "Selecting the paper is the simplest; every other step has its own tricks." Zheng Zhiyuan said. In the gold-sprinkling step, gold leaf made from real gold is placed into a dedicated container. When sprinkling the gold, one hand must hold the container while the other hand gently taps it, causing the gold leaf to drift down and settle on the paper. In the subsequent covering-and-flattening step, the gold leaf is pressed flat against the paper surface to ensure the paper face is smooth. "When writing, ink strokes can still take hold even over the gold leaf, doing away with the former defect in which gold did not take ink." Zheng Zhiyuan said.
The finished wax-dyed paper possesses such characteristics as a smooth paper surface, resilient ink absorption, uniform color, and exquisite and luxurious (精美华贵, jing mei hua gui -"exquisite, beautiful, magnificent, expensive") appearance, along with strong water resistance and anti-aging properties, making it suitable for long-term preservation. When decorated with patterns such as auspicious clouds and dragon motifs, and used for calligraphy and painting, it allows the brush to flow freely, neither hindering the brush nor repelling ink, and is hailed by calligraphy-and-painting circles as "the phoenix among papers," deeply cherished.
Sheep-brain paper was first created during the Xuande reign of the Ming Dynasty. In the Qing Dynasty, Shen Chu recorded the production technique of sheep-brain paper in his Xiqing Notes. Zheng Zhiyuan and his wife consulted historical sources, integrated traditional techniques with modern technology, and successfully produced imitation antique sheep-brain paper, for which they were granted a national invention patent.
In Tang Dynasty Zhang Yanyuan's Essential Records of Calligraphy and Song Dynasty Su Yijian's Four Treasures of the Study, Paper Manual, there are respectively records of mottled-stone-texture paper and flowing-sand paper, but because of the great lapse of time, those techniques were interrupted. What is gratifying is that Zheng Zhiyuan and Zhai Chunping, through unremitting efforts (不懈努力, bu xie nu li -"not, slack, effort") and devoting themselves to intensive study (潜心钻研, qian xin zuan yan -"submerge, heart, drill, study"), used the properties of various Chinese herbal medicines to make colorants disperse on the liquid surface, successfully restoring the traditional techniques.
Having practiced his craft for nearly 40 years, Zheng Zhiyuan still insists on going every day to his own Xuan paper mill to engage in research, development, and production of ancient-method Xuan paper, and to diligently teach apprentices. Under his guidance, more than 10 apprentices have already embarked on independent careers in the craft. "I learned this craft from my father and the old master craftsmen, and I will also pass it on without reservation to more people who love it." Zheng Zhiyuan said candidly.
Return to TopAt present, the global industrial chain is undergoing deep restructuring, and the degree of segmentation within industry tracks is constantly increasing. Small and medium-sized enterprises that deeply cultivate niche tracks and focus on innovation and iteration are becoming the key force stabilizing the global industrial system and hedging against market uncertainty, as well as the "hidden champions" leading global manufacturing.
The "hidden champion" theory was proposed by German management scientist Hermann Simon, referring to small and medium-sized enterprises with limited visibility that deeply cultivate segmented fields and hold market shares stably ranked among the top three globally, characterized by a focus on specialization, sustained innovation, and globalized layout. Simon has visited China more than 70 times, has long followed China's industrial development, and is very optimistic about the vitality of China's small and medium-sized enterprises. In a recent exclusive interview with our reporter in Hasborn, Germany, he pointed out that China, relying on its high-quality gradient cultivation system for small and medium-sized enterprises, has cultivated a batch of "hidden champions." He highly affirmed China's outstanding achievements in scientific and technological innovation, industrial upgrading, and the cultivation of specialized and sophisticated enterprises, believing that Chinese enterprises are already globally leading innovators in many frontier fields.
Dialogue participants:
Liu Zhonghua President of People's Daily European Center Branch
Hermann Simon German management scientist, founder and honorary chairman of Simon-Kucher & Partners
"The scale and development speed of China's specialized and sophisticated enterprises are remarkable"
Question: Please introduce the core connotations of the "hidden champion" theory, and, based on years of research, share your observations on China's specialized and sophisticated enterprises and local segment-leading enterprises.
Answer: When I studied global trade competitiveness in 1987, I discovered that the key factor underpinning the export advantages of industrial powers was not the well-known leading multinational corporations, but rather a large number of small and medium-sized enterprises that deeply cultivate segmented tracks and hold market shares stably ranked among the top three globally — this is the core definition of "hidden champions." Since 2000, I have frequently visited China and am delighted to see that China already has more than 300 local "hidden champions," whose strategic focus and growth paths are highly consistent with the world's top "hidden champions," and whose development is developing in a healthy and vigorous manner (蓬勃向好, peng bo xiang hao - "flourish, head towards good").
Question: Germany's "hidden champions" rely on the natural evolution of the market, while China adopts a gradient cultivation system to strengthen small and medium-sized enterprises. Is adhering to specialized tracks a necessary condition for segment enterprises to grow into global champions?
Answer: The success of "hidden champions" rests on three pillars: lofty development aspirations, a high degree of strategic focus, and a firm globalized layout. Only through focus can world-class quality be honed, core technology accumulated through segmented tracks, and markets expanded through globalized layouts, enabling enterprises to achieve steady, scaled growth. China's practice of gradient cultivation of specialized and sophisticated enterprises fully proves that guiding small and medium-sized enterprises to anchor on segmented tracks and focus on long-term development is a solid path toward becoming global industrial leaders.
Question: China has cultivated more than 140,000 specialized and sophisticated enterprises and 17,600 national-level specialized and sophisticated "little giant" enterprises, with key deployments in high-end manufacturing, new materials, and new energy. What role has this type of industrial cluster played?
Answer: The scale and development speed of China's specialized and sophisticated enterprises are remarkable. Relying on its vast economic scale and sustained innovation investment, it is inevitable that China has cultivated a large number of high-quality enterprises. Both Germany and China possess a profound engineer culture and technology-oriented tradition. China's specialized and sophisticated "little giant" enterprises have outstanding competitiveness in high-end manufacturing, and specialized industrial agglomeration has greatly consolidated the foundational strength of China's supply chain. Precision manufacturing cannot develop independently of the industrial ecosystem. Germany has distinctive industrial highlands such as the Tuttlingen medical technology cluster and the Jena optics and photonics cluster, and many Chinese cities have also formed specialized world-class industrial clusters, building a complete industrial ecosystem in segmented fields. This provides China's manufacturing industry with extremely strong risk resistance and a core advantage in continuously attracting global investment.
Question: There has been a one-sided perception externally that "China only replicates overseas technology," but in reality, the R&D intensity of China's specialized and sophisticated enterprises far exceeds that of comparable European enterprises. Can high-intensity R&D drive China's segment industries to complete the transformation from technology follower to technology leader?
Answer: The outdated perception that "China only replicates overseas technology" has long ceased to reflect reality. Chinese enterprises are already globally leading innovators in many frontier fields. As early as 20 years ago, the R&D scale of Chinese enterprises such as Huawei had already surpassed traditional Western giants, and the R&D personnel scale of segment-leading enterprises such as Hikvision is also several times that of European enterprises of comparable size. This benefits from China's abundant talent dividend in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. Seven Chinese cities are among the top 15 in Nature magazine's global ranking of the top 100 cities for scientific research, highlighting China's solid research foundation. More importantly, China possesses a rapid transformation mechanism for commercializing and productizing scientific research achievements, which is worth learning from globally.
Question: What supporting role does a focus on long-term development play in the growth of specialized and sophisticated enterprises?
Answer: About 70 percent of Germany's "hidden champions" are family-controlled enterprises, with an average CEO tenure of 21 years and an employee turnover rate of less than 3 percent. Long-termism and strategic continuity are prominent features, and a stable operating structure constitutes the "moat" of enterprise development.
Most of the market space in the global industry comes from niche segmented fields, and the technological iteration of high-end equipment and precision components requires long-term accumulation. China advocates long-termism and strategic resolve, guiding specialized and sophisticated enterprises to deeply cultivate underlying technologies and continuously engage in incremental innovation. This is key for enterprises to conquer core technologies and firmly establish themselves in global segmented tracks.
Question: Some people hold a stereotypical impression that "Made in China" emphasizes cost-effectiveness. As China's specialized and sophisticated enterprises accelerate their upgrade toward high-end and green development, how should high-end brand perception be shaped?
Answer: Building a global high-end segment brand is a long-term project. The enterprise value chain covers four major links: R&D and innovation, lean manufacturing, global marketing, and localized services. At present, Chinese enterprises have achieved a historic leap in R&D and manufacturing, with factory intelligence and refinement levels ranking among the world's foremost, but global brand building is still in the exploratory stage. The core advantage of German "hidden champions" lies in independently controlling the global service network and ensuring full-process service quality. For Chinese enterprises to build international high-end brands, they need to establish independent service entities overseas, connect the complete value chain, and rely on high-quality products and full-lifecycle services to establish a long-term high-end brand reputation.
"Ignoring the Chinese market means abandoning nearly one-fifth of the world's core industrial territory"
Question: Compared with the market-oriented cultivation of Europe and the United States, what advantages does China's dual-wheel cultivation model of "strategic guidance + market empowerment" have? What experience can it provide for the industrialization of late-developing countries?
Answer: China has successively implemented five-year plans, and based on solid research and judgment of frontier industries, provides enterprises with clear development direction, demonstrating strong institutional and strategic leadership. By aggregating resources through top-level planning and regulating market competition, highly globally competitive leading enterprises can be forged. Late-developing countries should learn from China's strategic wisdom of focusing on long-term development, combine their own unique endowments to deeply cultivate characteristic segmented fields, and cultivate high-value-added small and medium-sized champion enterprises. This is a pragmatic industrialization path worth referencing.
Question: With the restructuring of the global industrial chain and the rise of protectionism, China's specialized and sophisticated enterprises started internationalization relatively late. Under the current global industrial landscape, what opportunities and challenges do they face?
Answer: Globalization has not ended, but is accelerating its evolution from commodity exports to localized investment. The internationalization of Chinese enterprises is entering a new stage of global rebalancing. Facing intensifying geopolitical risks and protectionist challenges, enterprises such as CATL and BYD have proactively laid out localized production in Europe, effectively circumventing trade barriers while also winning recognition through jointly building industrial chains, demonstrating the survival wisdom of Chinese enterprises' globalization.
Question: Your pricing power theory holds that pricing power comes not from cost or market share but from customer value perception. How should China's specialized and sophisticated enterprises optimize their business models and pricing strategies to enhance their voice in the global value chain?
Answer: The core of pricing is customer value perception, not merely a game of competition or negotiation (博弈, bo yi - "wrestle, contest, play") over price. Chinese enterprises are bidding farewell to traditional cost-based pricing and low-price competition models, shifting toward value-based pricing models built on technological innovation, precise value delivery, and full-cycle services. Only by mastering the initiative in value pricing can specialized and sophisticated enterprises become global industrial benchmarks and enhance their voice in the global value chain.
Question: Two-way cross-border innovation and R&D cooperation between China and Europe are becoming increasingly frequent. What value does this industrial synergy have for the development of segment industries on both sides?
Answer: High-end equipment manufacturing relies on multidisciplinary integration and cross-border ecosystem collaboration, and Europe's industrial supporting industries have formed normalized cross-border collaboration. Dutch lithography machines integrate technologies from Germany's Zeiss optics and Trumpf lasers, and Germany's high-end manufacturing engineering often also brings in Chinese enterprises for precision supporting work. China has globally leading advantages in new energy, artificial intelligence, and power batteries, which are highly complementary to Europe's profound accumulation in precision manufacturing. Two-way technology empowerment and industrial nesting are important pathways for conquering the world's most difficult frontier engineering challenges.
Question: You believe that China's complete and open industrial market is a core vehicle that global "hidden champions" cannot afford to ignore. Why?
Answer: China, the United States, and the European Union together account for more than 60 percent of the global economy, dominating global industrial purchasing power and technological demand, and are the world's major economies and economic blocs. Global segment leaders must take root in these three major markets, improve global asset allocation, and strengthen risk resistance capabilities. This is a required course for maintaining world-class competitiveness.
China possesses the world's most complete and irreplaceable industrial ecosystem. More than 2,000 German enterprises have established factories in China, precisely because they value China's high-density supply chain and industrial cluster advantages. Complete industrial supporting systems, abundant engineer resources, and ultra-large-scale application scenarios make China the best testing ground for real-world validation and scaled deployment of global advanced manufacturing technologies. Ignoring the Chinese market means abandoning nearly one-fifth of the world's core industrial territory.
The resilience of domestic demand in the Chinese market provides valuable medium- and long-term certainty for multinational enterprises. Many German "hidden champions" have located their R&D and full value chains in China, leveraging China's open industrial soil to extend their industrial lifecycles. China's complete and open industrial market is both an incremental engine for global "hidden champions" and an important pillar of their core competitiveness.
Question: As the world accelerates its low-carbon transition, and given the significant differences in industrial endowments between China and Germany and between China and Europe, what room for synergy exists in the development of green industries on both sides?
Answer: The energy transition and green technology industrial chains are complex and involve many links. German enterprises have deep accumulation in key segmented technologies such as grid tap changers and precision pneumatic components, and related technologies have achieved large-scale application and deep synergy in China's clean energy systems and smart factories. In third-party market cooperation, European and Chinese enterprises combine Europe's high-reliability engineering standards with China's efficient manufacturing support and rapid delivery capabilities, effectively promoting the construction of global green infrastructure.
"Diversified synergy between European and Chinese segment enterprises is an important force in reshaping the global industrial order"
Question: The modernization of some countries has been accompanied by industrial exclusion and trade barriers. China adheres to open cooperation, and the emergence of local "hidden champions" in large numbers confirms what kind of industrial development path?
Answer: The rise of China's specialized and sophisticated enterprises and "hidden champions" outlines a unique industrialization path of Chinese modernization that is grounded in the real economy and consolidates micro-level resilience.
First, adhere to the foundation of the real economy and stabilize the basic manufacturing sector, always maintaining a high share of manufacturing, and relying on the complete range of industrial categories to build a solid foundation against external uncertainty.
Second, break the pattern of "giants dominating alone," build a system of integrated development for large, medium, small, and micro enterprises, and through gradient cultivation guide small and medium-sized enterprises to deeply cultivate segmented tracks, connecting the complete closed loop from basic components to complete equipment.
Third, forge strong resilience through a complete industrial ecosystem. Unlike single assembly-type economies, China has the capability for full-chain component supporting, and combined with the advantage of internal circulation in an ultra-large-scale market, it has effectively hedged against the impact of external supply chain risks.
Question: Common prosperity is an important feature of Chinese modernization. A large number of specialized and sophisticated enterprises are rooted in localities, absorbing employment, and driving regional industrial income growth. How can segment industrial clusters help balanced development between urban and rural areas and among regions, and consolidate the industrial foundation for common prosperity?
Answer: China's specialized and sophisticated enterprises play an important role in coordinating balanced regional development and promoting common prosperity. Large leading enterprises are mostly concentrated in megacities, while "hidden champion" enterprises are mostly rooted in counties and small and medium-sized towns. For example, Shandong Shouguang's Morui Technology Co., Ltd. is rooted in a county and has grown into a "hidden champion" in the specialty chemicals segment, providing more than 2,000 local jobs and achieving cross-regional industrial layout. Cultivating and strengthening specialized and sophisticated enterprises, allowing high-skilled jobs and industrial value-added opportunities to be distributed across a wider range of urban and rural areas, is an important and feasible path for promoting balanced regional development and moving toward common prosperity.
Question: What experience can China's gradient cultivation system provide for late-developing countries with weak industrial foundations in advancing industrialization and modernization?
Answer: The industrialization of late-developing economies cannot blindly copy the models of established industrial countries. China's practice of cultivating specialized and sophisticated enterprises and building a modern industrial system provides a practical and feasible path for developing countries.
First, in the early stages of development, late-developing countries have limited funds and technology, and should not blindly lay out asset-heavy high-end industries. They should identify segment breakthroughs based on their own resource endowments and deeply cultivate characteristic tracks with comparative advantages. Second, many developing countries have long exported low-value-added primary products and have weak risk resistance. They can learn from China's experience of tiered and categorized gradient cultivation of specialized and sophisticated enterprises, guiding enterprises to upgrade toward intensive processing and build expertise in segmented fields. Third, the growth of small and medium-sized enterprises cannot be separated from the support of logistics, energy, and global sales networks. They can rely on Belt and Road cooperation to fill infrastructure gaps and open up channels to overseas markets. Belt and Road cooperation has effectively helped developing countries improve transportation and power infrastructure, and mature cross-border economic and trade logistics systems can help local specialty products connect with global markets. This is a convenient path for small and medium-sized enterprises in late-developing countries to integrate into the global industrial division of labor.
Question: Against the backdrop of intensifying competition in global segment fields, how will diversified synergy between Chinese and European segment enterprises promote a more balanced and inclusive global industrial order?
Answer: Diversified synergy between European and Chinese segment enterprises is an important force in reshaping the global industrial order. Two-way investment between Europe and China can improve structural imbalances in economic and trade relations. Chinese enterprises are accelerating their localized layouts in Europe, building R&D and production bases, increasing local tax revenue and employment, and promoting the upgrading of China-Europe economic and trade cooperation from single commodity trade to two-way industrial co-construction, which can effectively hedge against trade barrier risks. At the same time, normalized in-person exchanges can consolidate commercial mutual trust, stabilize industrial investment expectations, and dissolve cognitive biases brought about by geopolitical competition.
The industrial advantages of Europe and China are highly complementary, and there are many mature cooperation cases: Ningbo Joyson Electronics acquired Germany's Preh and TechniSat Automotive, with the Chinese market helping German enterprises expand capacity and improve efficiency; Germany's Trumpf Group acquired Jiangsu Jinfangyuan CNC Machine Tool Co., Ltd., turning it into a global core production base. Through joint R&D, two-way investment, and brand synergy, both sides are jointly overcoming technical difficulties and expanding the global market, injecting certainty into a turbulent economic and trade landscape and promoting a more balanced, inclusive, mutually beneficial, and win-win global industrial order.
Question: Based on decades of industrial observation, what expectations and suggestions do you have for the high-quality development of China's real economy and the synergy between Chinese and foreign segment industries?
Answer: Over the past 20 years, China's industrial manufacturing has achieved profound transformation and upgrading. A large number of specialized and sophisticated enterprises have seen significant leaps in technological standards and product quality, completing key technological breakthroughs. At present, Chinese enterprises are still in the early exploratory stage in three aspects: deep internationalization layout, building globally renowned brands, and conducting overseas localized investment.
Looking to the future, I have three prospects: First, I look forward to more Chinese manufacturing enterprises going global and laying out in European and American markets, achieving substantive breakthroughs in global brand building; second, promoting a more balanced and symmetrical layout of European-Chinese industrial investment and optimizing the industrial landscape of both sides; third, maintaining a stable and orderly global economic and trade environment, avoiding the risk of industrial chain rupture, deepening Sino-foreign real economy cooperation in an open, interconnected, mutually beneficial, and win-win landscape, and safeguarding the long-term stable development of the global industrial chain.
Return to TopBy: 欧阳明高
At present, an energy revolution centered on replacing fossil fuels with renewable energy and replacing fuel-powered vehicles with electric vehicles is sweeping the globe. In this transformation led by China, building a new-type power system integrating "source, grid, load, and storage" is the only path forward. As the number of new energy vehicles approaches the hundred-million scale, massive numbers of electric vehicles are not merely means of transportation—they will become an essential and indispensable part (不可或缺, bu ke huo que - "not can, not lacking") of the new-type power system.
It is projected that by 2030, China's electric vehicle fleet will reach 110 million to 160 million units, and by 2040, it will further grow to 300 million to 400 million units. With the proliferation of ultra-fast charging facilities, the load impact of concentrated charging is becoming increasingly prominent. If 5 million electric vehicles were to charge simultaneously at night at 10 kilowatts each, the total load would reach 50 million kilowatts, far exceeding the carrying limit of a single city's power grid. Therefore, promoting the shift of charging behavior from disorderly to orderly, and thereby achieving vehicle-to-grid interaction (V2G), is the key path to breaking through the bottleneck of charging capacity.
The essence of vehicle-to-grid interaction is to transform electric vehicles from mere "loads" into mobile energy storage units possessing the dual attributes of both "load" and "power source." Charging during off-peak periods and discharging back to the grid during peak periods can not only effectively shave peak grid loads but also allow vehicle owners to earn revenue by participating in electricity trading. Taking a single-vehicle battery pack of 70 kilowatt-hours as an example, utilizing surplus cycle capacity to participate in energy storage trading can yield cumulative lifetime revenue of 15,000 to 75,000 yuan. This means that electric vehicles are transforming from mere consumer goods into products with asset value.
In response to public concerns about battery life and safety, research shows that scientific vehicle-to-grid interaction not only does not accelerate battery degradation but actually helps extend its calendar life, that is, the life of the battery in charge-discharge cycling. Currently, automotive lithium iron phosphate batteries can complete approximately 3,000 full charge-discharge cycles before capacity decays to 70 percent, whereas a household vehicle consumes only about 500 cycles over a 10-to-15-year service period, leaving substantial surplus. Through technologies such as bidirectional pulse, lithium distribution can be made more uniform and lithium plating suppressed, improving fast-charging and low-temperature performance. At the same time, vehicle-to-grid interaction keeps batteries more often in a half-charged state, avoiding the damage to calendar life caused by prolonged parking at full charge, and, on the premise of precisely identifying risk factors, can effectively prevent safety incidents.
In terms of application and promotion, vehicle-to-grid interaction has already formed three typical scenarios: first, the "point"-level park scenario, coordinating the operation of vehicle-mounted batteries with photovoltaic and energy storage facilities; second, the "line"-level transportation scenario, using integrated photovoltaic-storage-charging systems and battery-swapping heavy-duty truck batteries to charge passenger vehicles, reducing the impact on the main power grid; and third, the "area"-level building scenario, building an integrated "house-vehicle-grid" system to achieve comprehensive management of building energy use and vehicle-to-grid interaction.
Looking ahead, vehicle-to-grid interaction is expected to become the main carrier of distributed short-duration energy storage in China. Considering that China's cities are dominated by high-rise buildings and that conditions for installing fixed energy storage in households are limited, utilizing electric vehicles in underground parking garages for energy storage is more practically feasible.
According to the 15th Five-Year Plan for Building a New-Type Power System, by 2030 the aggregated adjustable charging scale of vehicle-to-grid interaction will reach 50 million kilowatts. It is projected that by 2040, as the growth rate of fixed energy storage slows, the energy storage capacity of vehicle-to-grid interaction may exceed 4 billion kilowatt-hours. By conservative estimate, by 2050 the total vehicle-mounted battery capacity of 350 million electric vehicles will reach 25 billion kilowatt-hours, which could meet the nation's electricity demand for one day in emergency situations.
The next five years will be the start-up period for the vehicle-to-grid interaction industry. As technical standards improve, market mechanisms are perfected, and business models mature, more than a hundred million electric vehicles will truly converge into the grid's "mobile power banks," providing solid support for the new energy revolution.
(The author is an academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and a professor at Tsinghua University; compiled by People's Daily reporter Wang Zheng)
Return to TopBy: 中国汽车报记者 王金玉
"The APP allows you to automatically set charging and discharging, so once you plug in the charging gun you don't have to worry about it — it's very convenient." At noon, at a V2G (vehicle-to-grid) demonstration station in Xicheng District, Beijing, Mr. Li, an Aion owner resting in his car, told reporters that through the electricity price differential of V2G charging and discharging, he not only no longer has to spend money on charging, but has also earned a considerable price difference from it.
It is understood that at this V2G demonstration station, the charging periods are divided into peak periods, standard periods, and valley periods, with different charging prices implemented in different periods. Vehicles can enjoy a charging electricity price of 0.3349 yuan/kWh during the valley period (22:00 to 7:00 the next day); during the discharging periods (10:00 to 15:00, 18:00 to 21:00), discharging can yield revenue of 0.7–1.3 yuan/kWh. Comparing the two, the price differential ranges between 0.4 yuan and 1 yuan per kWh.
"It's not just about making money — the safe use of the vehicle can also be taken into account." Mr. Li said that after connecting the charging gun, the system automatically charges and discharges safely during different periods, while also taking into account the vehicle's state of charge between 20% and 95%. While ensuring the vehicle's electricity demand and safety, it can also help the grid with balancing peak and valley electricity loads (削峰填谷, xue feng tian gu - "cut, peak; fill, valley").
A few days ago, nine departments including the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology jointly issued the "15th Five-Year Plan for the Development of the Intelligent Connected New Energy Vehicle Industry," proposing to accelerate the large-scale application of vehicle-grid interaction and explore sustainable business models. As policies accelerate their implementation, V2G will enter a stage of rapid market-oriented development, and a "two-way journey" between electric vehicles and the power grid is becoming an important component of the new-type power system.
High ownership brings large charging demand
Vehicle-grid interaction will play an important role in the new-type power system
According to data from the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers, from January to August this year, 10.65 million new energy vehicles were sold domestically. At present, the number of new energy vehicles in China has approached 50 million. Zhang Yongwei, chairman of the Beijing Chebaihui New Energy Vehicle Technology Development Research Institute, predicts that by 2030, the number of new energy vehicles in China will exceed 120 million.
High ownership will bring a relatively large impact to the power grid, and from the perspective of charging infrastructure, this impact appears even more pronounced. Data from the National Charging Facility Monitoring and Service Platform shows that as of the end of July this year, the total number of electric vehicle charging infrastructure in China had reached 23.683 million units, a year-on-year increase of 41.9%. Among them, the total rated power of public charging piles is as high as 255 million kilowatts, equivalent to the total installed capacity of about 11 Three Gorges hydropower stations operating at full load. The rapid growth of electric vehicle charging demand is becoming an important variable in grid load.
Not long ago, the National Development and Reform Commission and the National Energy Administration jointly issued the "15th Five-Year Plan for the Construction of the New-Type Power System" (hereinafter referred to as the "Plan"), proposing that by 2030, a charging infrastructure network capable of supporting the travel of more than 110 million electric vehicles be built, which poses a new test for the safe operation of the power grid.
How can new energy vehicles be made into "power banks" that balance peak and valley electricity loads for the grid, promoting the safe and orderly operation of the grid? Through vehicle-grid interaction, leveraging the mobile energy storage role of new energy vehicles to discharge to the grid during peak electricity consumption periods will become a key path for solving charging capacity under the existing distribution network load conditions.
Yang Kun, executive vice chairman of the China Electricity Council, believes that during the 15th Five-Year Plan period, China's electricity demand will still maintain rigid growth, with the average annual increase in electricity consumption expected to reach 600 billion kWh, equivalent to adding the electricity consumption level of a medium-sized economy every year, and the safe supply of electricity faces new challenges. Among them, the electricity safety of new energy vehicles is an important component, and vehicle-grid interaction must play an important role in the new-type power system to help promote the safe operation of the grid.
From "load" to "asset"
Vehicle-grid interaction ushers in a window period from pilot projects to large-scale commercial application
How will vehicle-grid interaction develop currently and in the coming period?
The "Plan" clarifies that by 2030, the target for aggregated adjustable charging capacity of vehicle-grid interaction will be raised from 10 million kilowatts in 2025 to 50 million kilowatts, an increase of 400%.
Liu Yongdong, deputy secretary-general of the China Electricity Council, said that 50 million kilowatts is a huge scale. This means that without building new power sources, turning the existing tens of millions of new energy vehicles into adjustable resources, and participating in application scenarios such as grid peak-valley balancing, virtual power plants, and aggregated trading through forms such as intelligent orderly charging and bidirectional charging and discharging, can effectively balance electric vehicle charging and power system dispatch demands, and enhance the grid's peak-shaving, frequency-regulation, and emergency response capabilities.
State Grid estimates that by 2030, if 10% of new energy vehicles participate in vehicle-grid interaction, a maximum of 86 million kilowatts of regulation capacity can be provided, exceeding the total installed capacity of all pumped-storage hydropower stations in the country.
As a key technology for the integration of transportation and energy, vehicle-grid interaction has carried out pilot projects of 32 programs in 9 cities across the country, with applications implemented in three types of scenarios: parks, transportation, and buildings. Data shows that in Hubei's normalized V2G pilot program from August last year to March this year, the cumulative number of valid discharge orders exceeded 21,000, with discharge volume exceeding 376,000 kWh.
On May 28 this year, Guangzhou carried out its first fixed demonstration day for vehicle-grid interaction. On that day, 76 vehicle-grid interaction charging and swapping stations and 492 charging and swapping piles across Guangzhou participated in the activity, with new energy vehicles cumulatively discharging 15,000 kWh back to the grid.
With policy support, vehicle-grid interaction is in a window period from pilot projects to large-scale commercial application. Yang Zhongping, deputy secretary-general of the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers, said that China's new energy vehicle ownership and replenishment network have formed a complete industrial foundation, vehicle-grid interaction is ushering in a critical period for large-scale commercial implementation, and multiple national policies continue to support the development of models such as V2G and virtual power plants, injecting momentum into the development of vehicle-grid interaction.
From the consumer's perspective, the prerequisite for the rapid development of vehicle-grid interaction lies in transforming electric vehicles from "load" into "asset" through vehicle-grid interaction. Taking an electric vehicle equipped with 70 kWh of electricity and a driving range of about 600 kilometers as an example, the owner's daily commute is 30 to 60 kilometers, consuming only 5 to 10 kWh. If the owner sells part of the vehicle's remaining electricity, calculated at a peak-valley price differential of 30 kWh per day, about 30 yuan can be obtained. If the owner can participate in V2G projects on a long-term basis, more than a thousand yuan can be earned each month.
Li Lili, deputy director of the New Energy Vehicle Energy Storage Research Institute at Tsinghua Sichuan Energy Internet Research Institute, predicts that by 2027, the number of vehicles with conditions for normalized V2G discharging newly added each year nationwide will reach one million, and by 2030, it is expected to exceed ten million. "By then, V2G will also become a standard feature in new car sales." Li Lili said that when more and more people join in vehicle-grid interaction, automakers, in order to meet user needs, will also be more motivated to solve warranty issues; public charging station operators, in order to attract customers, will be more motivated to invest in V2G charging piles, and the entire industry will enter a virtuous development track.
Vehicle-grid interaction does not affect the normal use of vehicles
Large-scale implementation requires crossing hurdles such as standard systems, business models, and industrial coordination
Will participating in vehicle-grid interaction, with frequent charging and discharging, affect the service life and safety of the vehicle? This is a concern of many vehicle owners, and it is also the key to whether vehicle-grid interaction can operate on a large scale in the market.
In fact, during the pilot process of the past few years, as an important component of the new-type power grid, vehicle-grid interaction has played a certain role in helping the grid balance peak and valley electricity loads and operate safely, but some problems have also emerged.
For example, the electricity price rule system of the national unified electricity market is still in a stage of continuous improvement; V2G vehicle owners pay transmission and distribution fees when charging, but the transmission and distribution fees for the electricity discharged have not yet received corresponding deductions;
As another example, vehicle-pile communication protocol standards are fragmented, cross-brand compatibility is difficult, and V2G actual operation has problems such as equipment incompatibility. Existing charging piles do not have reverse discharge functions, and operators investing in V2G pilot projects need to invest relatively large transformation costs with long investment cycles;
In addition, automakers are troubled by battery degradation, warranty liability, and uncertainty in used-car residual value, and have concerns about developing V2G models; while vehicle owners worry that battery wear will affect vehicle life and safe operation.
"For vehicle-grid interaction to achieve large-scale implementation, it still needs to cross hurdles such as standard systems, user concerns, business models, and industrial coordination." Yang Zhongping emphasized that to solve these problems, automakers, the power grid, operators, and the government need to coordinate from multiple sides and explore a win-win development model of "stable grid, profitable enterprises, and earning vehicle owners."
In the view of Li Kang, director of the Industry Research Department of the China Electric Vehicle Charging Infrastructure Promotion Alliance, for vehicle-grid interaction to develop on a large scale in the market, first, it is necessary to continue expanding the scale of pilots and demonstrations, discovering problems, summarizing experience, and verifying technical feasibility through demonstration projects; second, it is necessary to guide electric vehicle users to actively participate in grid interaction through fiscal subsidies, and gradually improve the standard system; finally, explore business models for electric vehicles to absorb clean energy and participate in carbon emission reduction and carbon trading.
The "Plan" proposes advancing the tackling of core technologies for vehicle-grid interaction and accelerating the construction of technical standards and management systems. Comprehensively promote intelligent orderly charging, and orderly expand the scope of large-scale application of vehicle-grid interaction.
"Power batteries have calendar life and cycle life. Calculated on a 10-year usage cycle, most power batteries participating in V2G will not affect safe operation." Liu Yongdong introduced, "According to our statistics, the annual charging frequency of most private vehicles is 50 to 100 times, and the current average design life of power batteries is 2,000 to 3,000 cycles. If calculated on a 10-year vehicle usage cycle, each electric vehicle still has a relatively large margin of battery charge-discharge cycles within its usage cycle to participate in vehicle-grid interaction."
"Deep charging and discharging is what affects the safe operation of batteries." Liu Yongdong said that in the current V2G pilot projects, the battery management system and APP system can control the battery's charging and discharging state, keeping the battery in a healthy operating range of 20% to 80%, which will not affect the life and safe operation of electric vehicles.
It is worth mentioning that if vehicle-grid interaction adopts bidirectional pulses, the distribution of lithium can be made more uniform, suppressing lithium plating and improving fast-charging characteristics. Bidirectional pulses can also heat the battery and improve its low-temperature performance. Ouyang Minggao, academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and professor at Tsinghua University, said: "If the battery's operating rate, pulse frequency, and cycle are controlled within an appropriate range, vehicle-grid interaction will not only not accelerate battery degradation, but to a certain extent can also play a role in protecting the battery."
Return to TopBy: 本报记者 韩 鑫 胡婧怡
Casting off the mooring lines, sounding the horn, and setting sail. Since late August, China's coastal waters have been opening to fishing progressively from south to north—
On August 16, the three-and-a-half-month summer fishing moratorium in the South China Sea officially ended, and more than ten thousand fishing vessels from Guangdong, Hainan, and other places put out to sea in batches, beginning a new round of tilling the sea and herding fish.
On September 1, after a four-month moratorium, the Yellow Sea and Bohai Sea fully opened to fishing, and tens of thousands of fishing vessels set sail toward the sea, commencing the annual first round of fishing operations.
On September 16, following an earlier "small opening" of fishing, the East China Sea will also usher in its "grand opening," as tens of thousands of fishing vessels seize the fish season and head for the vast expanse of blue waves—the "blue granary."
Net after net of fresh seafood is coming ashore, and more high-quality marine delicacies are reaching residents' dining tables. Behind the "new arrivals" of the "first catch" seafood lies a whole-industry-chain "renewal" spanning fishing vessel equipment, maritime oversight, and deep-sea aquaculture—
Fishing vessel equipment is being "upgraded and modernized."
In the golden autumn season, at Yingkou, Liaoning, the Guanghui Fishing Port in Gaizhou is bustling with activity, as the first batch of fishing vessels to put to sea returns to port one after another. Unlike in previous years, old wooden fishing vessels are almost nowhere to be seen, replaced by steel fishing vessels with advanced equipment, ample horsepower, and stronger resistance to wind and waves.
The change began with a special campaign. In October 2025, Liaoning Province launched a three-year special campaign to replace wooden fishing vessels with steel ones, granting owners of fishing vessels applying for the "wood-to-steel conversion" a fiscal subsidy of no more than 1 million yuan per vessel, accelerating the upgrade of old wooden fishing vessels into steel fishing vessels. According to statistics, during this year's "fishing season," Liaoning sent more than 5,000 fishing vessels out to sea to fish, of which more than one-tenth were newly built steel vessels with higher safety.
Maritime oversight has taken on a "new look."
With many ships sailing forth in competition (千帆竞发, qian fan jing fa - "thousand, sails, compete, set out"), how is order maintained? Navigational management is of vital importance.
Take Zhejiang, a major shipping province, as an example: the province has 5,537 registered seagoing vessels and approximately 15,000 registered fishing vessels. After the full opening of fishing, large numbers of fishing vessels head for the deep blue, while all kinds of merchant vessels ply the waters in a steady stream.
"In the past, merchant vessels and fishing vessels 'shared the same route and mixed together,' posing a considerable risk of collision," said a relevant official from the Zhejiang Maritime Safety Administration. Today, by designating recommended routes for fishing vessels and drawing lines and setting markers for maritime traffic, merchant vessels and fishing vessels have been enabled to each keep to their own course. Since 2022, the number of collision accidents between merchant and fishing vessels off the Zhejiang coast has fallen by more than 80 percent year on year. In August of this year, the Liaoning Coastal Ship Routing System was formally implemented, effectively preventing the risk of collisions between merchant and fishing vessels through the designation of a two-way traffic separation scheme.
Opening the fishing season requires not only order, but also efficiency.
"Coastal waters cover a vast area, and fishing vessels are numerous and scattered. Especially at night and in waters far from shore, if fishing vessels linger and operate within shipping routes, this not only affects navigational efficiency but also readily increases the risk of collision," said a relevant official from the Maritime Safety Administration of the Ministry of Transport.
In Shanghai, the "VTS Elf" AI assistant watchkeeper has been put into operation, enabling intelligent management and control of shipping routes; in Shandong, the maritime department has developed the "Lu Hai Yu" intelligent agent, which can automatically detect vessels deviating from their routes and issue remote reminders and interventions; in Jiangsu, through the integrated use of drones, electronic fences, and other technologies, key waters have achieved round-the-clock dynamic monitoring and precise early warning... From on-site patrols and manual watchkeeping in the past to aerial inspections and remote intervention today, intelligent oversight methods coordinating sea, air, and land are steadily safeguarding the fishing season.
Marine ranches have "taken the stage."
In Fangchenggang, Guangxi, in the deep-sea aquaculture zone of the Bailong Pearl Bay National Marine Ranch, more than a thousand deep-sea cages float atop the blue waves, and the factory is busy with on-site fishing operations;
In Zhanjiang, Guangdong, the world's first floating dynamic-positioning aquaculture platform, "Zhanjiang Bay No. 1," combines semi-submersible aquaculture with autonomous navigation, becoming a "new force" in deep-sea aquaculture.
"A series of technological innovations in recent years have empowered the marine economy to accelerate its march toward the 'new,' and have also made the 'blue granary' surge with even greater momentum," said a relevant official from the Maritime Safety Administration of the Ministry of Transport. The administration will deepen coordination and linkage with fishery and fishing-administration departments, further tap the potential of integrated applications of BeiDou, drones, and maritime communication networks, empower the joint governance of merchant and fishing vessels through technology, and build a solid maritime safety defense line for the "blue granary."
Return to TopBy: 林丽鹂
Asking AI (artificial intelligence) customer service question A, yet the AI customer service answers question B; not knowing how to perform an actual operation, wanting to ask how to resolve it, yet the AI customer service only repeatedly reads the manual; in an urgent situation, the AI customer service leisurely and unhurriedly (不紧不慢, bu jin bu man - "not, urgent, not, slow") goes around in circles, switching back and forth among various menu options, simply refusing to provide the option to transfer to a human agent... For a long time, "answering irrelevant questions" (答非所问, da fei suo wen - "answer, not, what, was, asked"), "repeatedly going around in circles," and "difficulty transferring to a human agent" have been the impressions many consumers have of AI customer service.
To standardize the collaborative process between human and intelligent customer service, China's first national standard focusing on the collaborative mechanism between human customer service and intelligent customer service, the Customer Contact Service — Requirements for Collaboration Between Human and Intelligent Customer Service (GB/T 47746—2026), came into effect on September 1, aiming to address current problems in the customer contact service industry such as arbitrary task assignment, service switching gaps, unsynchronized data, and service quality of varying standards (参差不齐, can ci bu qi - "uneven, not, level").
Nowadays, when opening various apps, without realizing it, the original human customer service has generally been replaced by "AI customer service," "customer service robots," and "intelligent customer service assistants." Technological progress is inherently a good thing — AI customer service can improve service efficiency and reduce enterprise costs — but for many enterprises, AI customer service has become an obstacle to consumers seeking service information, and instead delays matters. The China Consumers Association's Analysis of Complaints Received by Consumer Councils Nationwide in the First Half of 2026 shows that roughly one in every two complaints is related to service, and AI customer service is becoming the "roadblock" that troubles consumers the most.
The new standard, which came into effect on September 1, sets clear requirements for the service scope of intelligent customer service and human customer service: when users need human intervention, they should be able to smoothly find a human customer service agent, with clear entry points, and there must be no "being transferred through multiple levels (层层转接, ceng ceng zhuan jie - "layer, layer, transfer, connect") with no real person to be found"; the division of labor should be scientific, with simple questions left to AI and complex disputes promptly transferred to human agents; the handoff between human and machine should be handled well, consumers should not be made to repeatedly restate their problems, and when conditions are met, the system should automatically transfer to a human agent. This new national standard provides a "yardstick," setting rules for the industry, providing a basis for regulation, and giving consumers confidence.
With the regulation and guidance of the national standard, AI customer service must also be trained to "meet the standard" in order to better serve consumers. Just as human customer service agents need training in professional competence, communication skills, and adaptability before taking up their posts, business operators must also establish mechanisms for AI customer service "taking up posts" and testing. Before AI customer service goes online, it must undergo sufficient business rule training and sandbox testing to ensure its responses conform to the enterprise's actual policies and do not make unauthorized commitments. Business operators must also not simply refuse to fulfill commitments on grounds such as "AI responses do not represent the company's position" or "algorithm-generated content has no legal effect." The standard clearly states that "customer contact centers should regard human customer service and intelligent customer service as a complete service."
In recent years, China has continuously improved management measures in the fields of artificial intelligence governance and consumer rights protection. From the implementation of the Interim Measures for the Management of Generative Artificial Intelligence Services in 2023, to the release of the Compliance Management Guidelines for User Rights Protection in Mobile Internet Application Services in 2025; from the implementation of the Interim Measures for the Management of Anthropomorphic Interactive Services of Artificial Intelligence in July this year, to the implementation this time of the Customer Contact Service — Requirements for Collaboration Between Human and Intelligent Customer Service — a series of measures has continuously improved the artificial intelligence governance system. This not only helps promote the upgrading of the entire industry toward standardization, intelligence, and humanization, providing strong support for the healthy development of the digital service ecosystem, but also helps continuously strengthen the protection of consumer rights and interests.
AI customer service should be a bridge for improving communication efficiency, not a wall blocking the expression of demands. It is necessary to grasp the development trends and laws of artificial intelligence, and step up the formulation and improvement of relevant laws and regulations, policies and systems, application norms, and ethical standards, so that technology can grow more robustly in the "soil" of institutions and better serve people.
Return to TopBy: 本报记者 郑洋洋
Many tourists who leave the ancient city of Pingyao in Shanxi will stop by the Pingyao Beef Supermarket on Zhongdu East Street not far away. The shelves are an array of many beautiful things (琳琅满目, lin lang man mu - "forest, forest, full, eyes"), with complete categories: portable pouch packaging, vacuum-sealed bags, 200-gram whole-piece packages, beef tendon products, and individually packaged casual snacks neatly arranged, fitting diverse consumption scenarios such as gift-giving, everyday snacking, and family dining.
"The best-selling item is the small-bag 'One-Bite Fragrance' — chewy and not greasy, and many tourists and local residents buy it as an everyday snack." Store manager Shao Yan pointed to the hot-selling small-packaged beef products as she introduced them.
On the packaging of each product, the labels "China Time-honored Brand" and "National Intangible Cultural Heritage" are eye-catching. As one of the "Three Treasures of Pingyao," Pingyao beef has a processing history of over a thousand years, with a unique flavor and profound heritage, and is one of the specialty products with the highest purchase rate in ancient city tourism consumption.
At present, Pingyao County has gathered dozens of beef processing enterprises, and the core techniques of each brand are inherited from the same lineage. Among them, China time-honored brands such as "Baoyuyuan" and "Guanyun" uphold the ancient method foundation while keeping pace with market innovation, transforming what was once a local specialty with a short storage period and circulation limited to the local area into intangible cultural heritage casual food suited to the national market, entering every household in the country (千家万户, qian jia wan hu - "thousand, families, ten thousand, households").
Having a long and continuous history (源远流长, yuan yuan liu chang - "source, far, stream, long"), a thousand years of craftsmanship passed down through the generations
Entering the Baoyuyuan Pingyao Beef History and Culture Museum, historical materials, old objects, and old plaques string together a complete industrial lineage, and the thousand-year development trajectory of Pingyao beef is clearly traceable — the craft began in the Western Han Dynasty, accumulated during the Tang and Song Dynasties, flourished in the Ming and Qing Dynasties, and thrives in the contemporary era. Relying on Pingyao's unique natural endowments and handcraft techniques passed down through generations, Pingyao beef has formed a processing craft and food culture with a complete system and a distinctive style.
"The processing craft of Pingyao beef originated from accidental exploration in the lives of the ancients, and only through the continuous summarization, refinement, and improvement by craftsmen of successive generations did it form the mature and exquisite ancient method craft of today." Zhang Weidi, deputy general manager of Baoyuyuan Meat Products Co., Ltd., introduced that in the process of storing meat, the ancients discovered the knack of "salting first, then boiling." Beef treated with salt curing saw a significant improvement in flavor, texture, and preservability, which also became the key support for the thousand-year inheritance of Pingyao beef craftsmanship.
After a thousand years of accumulation, the Pingyao beef craft has been condensed into five rigorous and coherent core procedures: inspection, slaughter, curing, braising, and trimming, embodying the production wisdom of the ancients. "The most valuable thing about the old craft is that it follows nature and is pure and authentic, not relying on excess auxiliary ingredients," said Zhang Weidi. The ancient method craft strictly follows the changes of the seasons and has developed an exclusive heat control system of "rapid boiling over high heat, slow simmering over low heat, and stewing with the fire extinguished." Every procedure and every heat control point has strict standards.
The old photographs and old plaques in the museum quietly tell of the century-old persistence of the time-honored brand. Baoyuyuan was founded in the fourteenth year of the Guangxu reign of the Qing Dynasty (1888), more than 130 years ago, with the founder being Huo Juyuan. The brand name was taken from his childhood nickname "Bao'er," and after being passed down through word of mouth among neighbors, the name was established. Through several generations of inheritance within the Huo family, it has always adhered to the orthodox ancient method craft.
"The folk saying 'one piece of meat, one handful of salt' has always been passed down — the extremely simple procedure tests the patience and experience of the craftsman," said Zhang Weidi. The traditional curing craft of Pingyao beef is purely natural, using only salt as an auxiliary ingredient. It is left to slowly absorb flavor in a low-temperature environment of 0 to 4 degrees Celsius, relying on the natural penetration of salt to bring out the unique flavor, with no excess seasoning intervention, preserving the original freshness of the beef to the greatest extent.
Boiling the meat in aged broth is the essence of the ancient method craft of Pingyao beef. Traditionally, a large-diameter tin-plated iron pot is used for cooking, with only water added to the time-honored broth to continue boiling, and the pot is not covered during cooking, allowing odorous moisture to fully evaporate. Craftsmen layer the meat into the pot according to piece size, and beef fat is used to seal the top and lock in the aroma. After boiling, the beef is dried and stored in a cellar, while the aged broth is cleared of residue and retained for reuse, accumulating over the years into a mellow and lingering unique flavor.
During the Ming and Qing Dynasties, the prosperity of Shanxi merchants and the exchange of remittance notes across the country allowed the portable and durable Pingyao beef to travel north and south with merchant caravans, gaining nationwide fame and becoming a cultural business card of Shanxi cuisine. The tradition of the trimming procedure, which removes the waste and retains the essence under strict quality control, also vividly demonstrates the cultural foundation of Shanxi merchants' honest management and meticulous craftsmanship.
Craft iteration, ancient method intangible cultural heritage empowering new manufacturing
The beef and mutton cooking craft (Guanyun Pingyao beef traditional processing craft) was selected in 2008 for the second batch of the National Intangible Cultural Heritage List, and is a living carrier of Shanxi merchant culture and northern folk food culture. Now, relying on modern, intelligent production lines, Guanyun Pingyao beef has achieved deep integration of traditional craftsmanship with modern industry, completing a dual breakthrough in quality and efficiency.
Entering the Guanyun beef production plant area, the workshops are neatly arranged, with curing, braising, trimming, sterilization, and packaging each operating seamlessly and efficiently. Intelligent equipment has replaced the traditional workshop model, enabling the ancient intangible cultural heritage craft to achieve standardized, large-scale mass production.
"In the past, making beef depended entirely on the weather and experience. With different temperatures in the four seasons, the curing duration could not be unified, and the quality of the finished product inevitably fluctuated," admitted Chen Zegang, deputy general manager of the Pingyao Beef Group. Curing is the key to flavor formation in beef, and the uncertainty of the traditional manual model has long constrained product standardization. Now, the enterprise has comprehensively upgraded its production system, keeping the curing environment constant at 3–4 degrees Celsius and unifying the curing cycle at 3–5 days, completely freeing itself from the constraints of weather and season. At the same time, multi-needle brine injection equipment has replaced purely manual salt application, making salt penetration even and flavor absorption thorough — firmly holding onto the core of the ancient method craft while making up for the efficiency and quality shortcomings of the traditional craft.
In the braising workshop, more than a hundred standardized cooking pots are neatly arranged, with steam rising and braising aroma filling the air. Staff precisely control the cooking temperature and duration, completing each procedure according to standards. Standardized equipment and processes have freed the thousand-year-old aged broth braising craft from the limitations of small workshops, achieving stable, efficient mass production.
"A single pot can cook 1,000 jin of beef at a time, and the entire production line can produce 20,000 tons annually — it is the benchmark beef production line in Pingyao with the largest scale and most complete supporting facilities," Chen Zegang introduced. The large-scale, standardized production model has laid a solid hardware foundation for the industrialization of the intangible cultural heritage craft.
"Standardization is not about discarding the old craft, but about firmly fixing the old experience and passing it down," said Wang Tianming, national-level intangible cultural heritage craft inheritor and director of the beef processing workshop, with deep feeling. He explained that in the past, heat control relied entirely on the experience of master craftsmen, with long apprenticeship periods and unstable quality. Now, with full-process parameter standardization, high-quality beef cattle of three and a half to four years are selected, and the fixed process of two hours of high heat, eight hours of medium heat, and stewing with the fire extinguished is strictly implemented, solidifying a thousand years of craftsman experience into precise production standards, making product quality more stable and uniform.
The disruptive breakthrough in preservation technology is the key turning point for Pingyao beef's transformation from a local specialty to a national casual snack. Cooked meat made by the traditional ancient method has no professional sterilization process, can only be stored for a few days, and its sales radius is limited to the local and surrounding areas. Now, the enterprise has upgraded its complete sterilization and packaging system. After braising and drying, the beef undergoes fine trimming and cutting, vacuum packaging, and then high-temperature sterilization at 120 degrees Celsius for half an hour, greatly extending the product shelf life to 12 months, laying the foundation for nationwide circulation and casual-food transformation of the product.
"A time-honored brand must hold onto its classics, but it must also keep up with the market," said Chen Zegang. The enterprise has invested a cumulative total of more than 30 million yuan to complete equipment upgrades, adding more than 10 automated machines to raise the level of intelligent production. At the same time, it has entered the casual food track, investing 1 million yuan to build a new production line and launching multiple new products such as beef jerky, beef crisps, and sauce-braised beef shank, with product categories exceeding 200, covering gift boxes, snacks, fresh food, and other categories, meeting diverse consumer needs.
Guanyun beef relies on digital production to empower industrial upgrading and precisely connect with the online market, with e-commerce sales exceeding 200 million yuan in 2025, of which self-operated livestreaming revenue was 90 million yuan. At present, the enterprise has formed an all-category, all-channel industrial pattern, leading the high-quality development of the Pingyao beef industry.
Breaking out of the scene, cultural and tourism integration ignites new vitality
A transparent glass sightseeing corridor spans above the workshop, clean production lines operate in an orderly manner, workers finely trim, equipment precisely processes, and the complete intangible cultural heritage production process is presented directly to tourists. Now, time-honored brands such as Guanyun and Baoyuyuan have broken the closed model of traditional factories, fully opening production tour channels, making intangible cultural heritage production scenes visible and experiential, and promoting deep integration of culture and tourism.
The Guanyun plant area began production in 2009 and opened to the public free of charge in 2011, requiring no reservation. It is a national 3A-level tourist attraction, receiving an average of 300,000 visitors per year. The plant area links with the cultural and tourism resources of the ancient city of Pingyao, creating a distinctive route of "ancient city sightseeing + intangible cultural heritage industrial experience," bringing intangible cultural heritage out of the exhibition hall and closer to the public.
"We hope to let tourists leave the scenic area and enter the workshop, to witness with their own eyes the inheritance process of intangible cultural heritage craftsmanship, and to directly feel the craftsmanship charm and cultural heritage of China time-honored brands," said Chen Zegang. Relying on the empowerment of cultural and tourism integration, the enterprise's brand influence continues to rise. Last year, output value exceeded 800 million yuan, with more than 100 offline stores laid out across the province, covering cities such as Taiyuan, building a complete offline physical sales network.
The 85-mu beef cultural and tourism industrial park built by Baoyuyuan is laid out as "one corridor, one hall, one museum, one park," integrating production plants, a museum, a quality inspection center, and a breeding and slaughter base. The park is equipped with a slaughter line with an annual capacity of 50,000 head, has its own 240-mu breeding base with more than 3,000 beef cattle on hand year-round, forming a closed-loop full industry chain from pasture to table, achieving integrated upgrading of industry, quality, culture, and tourism.
On the basis of craft upgrading, cultural and tourism empowerment, and talent cultivation, time-honored brands are deepening digital marketing and expanding the national market. "Traditional time-honored brands cannot stick to the old offline path; digitalization is the key to breaking out in the new era," said Zhang Weidi. The enterprise began its e-commerce layout in 2017, relying on big data for precise product research and precise marketing, and using mainstream livestreaming platforms to expand sales channels. In 2025, online output value was 120 million yuan, ranking among the top in the industry, with offline sales of approximately 200 million yuan. With both online and offline channels working together, the traditional industry has achieved a digital breakthrough.
The innovation and renewal of time-honored brands has strongly driven the county's beef industry to improve quality and efficiency, increase income, and enrich the people. "The Pingyao beef industry has grown from single processing into a characteristic pillar industry that drives income growth for the masses and supports county development," introduced Wen Jiangping, deputy director of the Industrial and Information Technology Bureau of Pingyao County. As of the first half of 2026, the county has 68 beef processing enterprises, directly employing more than 2,200 people, with the full industry chain driving employment for over 10,000 people, and a prominent radiating and driving effect.
Qi Hongliang, secretary of the Pingyao County Party Committee, stated that as of the first half of 2026, the county has 22,600 beef cattle on hand, an annual output of 9,800 tons of beef products, and a total output value of the Pingyao beef industry of 2.35 billion yuan with sales of 2.12 billion yuan, making it an important force supporting the high-quality development of the county's characteristic industries.
Continuously advancing intelligent production upgrades, expanding consumption scenarios, and deepening cultural and tourism integration, the thousand-year-old Pingyao beef intangible cultural heritage craft is tending toward maturity (趋于成熟, qu yu cheng shu - "tend, toward, mature, ripe") and radiating new vitality through upholding fundamental principles and breaking new ground.
Return to TopBy: 本报记者 曾亦辰
Walking into the cultural-creative products exhibition hall on the first floor of the Gansu Provincial Museum, one is immediately faced with a "wall of green horses" — small horses in vivid green, heads tilted to one side with round, chubby faces, baring two rows of big white teeth. Some are pulling noodles, others wear a graduate's cap, arranged in a staggered, crowded display across the shelves, like a group of lively emoji stickers. Young people hold up their phones and crowd around; some clutch two or three at once to compare which is cuter, while others start video calls to let friends pick from afar: "This one's teeth are bared more — that's the one!"
This "green horse," which has won countless fans both online and offline, is called "Green Horse Jump-Jump" in its standing pose and "Green Horse Gallop-Gallop" in its running pose. Its prototype is none other than the Gansu Provincial Museum's most treasured artifact — the Bronze Galloping Horse, popularly known to visitors as "Horse Treading on a Flying Swallow." Inside the glass display case, this bronze cultural relic, no more than 34.5 centimeters tall, presents a posture of soaring flight through the air, its small frame condensing the galloping spirit of an entire era.
The Bronze Galloping Horse was unearthed in 1969 from the Leitai Han Dynasty tomb in Wuwei, Gansu. It stands 34.5 centimeters high, 45 centimeters long, 13.1 centimeters wide, and weighs 7.3 kilograms. In 1983, its side silhouette was designated as the graphic symbol of China's tourism industry. Its preciousness lies not only in its great antiquity, but also in the fact that it is a living epitome of the pioneering spirit of the Han Dynasty.
During the Han Dynasty, as the empire administered the Hexi Corridor and connected with the Western Regions, fine horses were both an important strategic resource and became the most distinctive cultural symbol of the Hexi region. The Bronze Galloping Horse raises its head and neighs, its tail streaming behind, raw vitality bursting from its muscles and bones. With three hooves suspended in mid-air, the entire weight of the body converges on a single hoof treading on the back of a flying bird, yet it achieves precise mechanical balance, demonstrating the attaining the highest level of perfection (登峰造极, deng feng zao ji - "climb, peak, reach, highest level") of Han Dynasty craftsmen's casting techniques.
When visitors walk around to the front, they encounter an unexpected "emoji" — the steed tilts its head to one side, its mouth twisted to one side, its wide-open eyes revealing a touch of natural silliness. The front's endearing foolishness and the side's heroic bearing are being completely different from one another (判若两物, pan ruo liang wu - "judge, differ, two, things"), yet it is precisely this contrast that forms the source of inspiration for the "Green Horse" cultural-creative design.
"When we were designing, we zeroed in on this playful front view," said Wang Wei, a cultural-creative designer at the Gansu Provincial Museum. The team not only preserved the "original expression" of the tilted head and twisted mouth, but also deliberately added a row of big white teeth, giving the overall character a mischievous, adorable quality. The design team also added interaction between the horse and the flying bird beneath its hooves: the horse kicks its hind legs as if dancing an impromptu step, while the bird maintains a being very serious and solemn (一本正经, yi ben zheng jing - "one, book, serious, manner") air, as if sulking at the horse — a pair of "happy rivals" rendered being vivid and lifelike (活灵活现, huo ling huo xian - "alive, nimble, alive, appear").
From running pose to standing pose, from side view to front view, from solemn to adorable, the design plan was refined over more than half a year. The softness or firmness of the material, the size and dimensions, the direction of the bird's eyes... every detail underwent countless adjustments.
Cui Youxin, head of the Cultural-Creative Center of the Gansu Provincial Museum, explained: "From the outset, the team hoped to design and develop a cute, down-to-earth image that could connect with the emotional needs of young people." The design team is composed mainly of young people born in the 1990s and 2000s, who keenly recognized that plush materials best convey a sense of relaxation and healing. Thus, the "awkward expression" on the front of the Bronze Galloping Horse was amplified, and the national treasure became a "stress-relief companion" that can be hugged, squeezed, and photographed.
It is precisely through these "adorable" dolls that many people have learned about the Bronze Galloping Horse for the first time. Huang Minjia, a tourist from Beijing, received a "Green Horse" doll as a gift from a friend and immediately added the Gansu Provincial Museum to her travel itinerary. "It was only when I saw the real artifact that I realized the front of the cultural relic really does have its head tilted — it feels like the craftsmen from 2,000 years ago had a sense of humor too," Huang Minjia said.
Today, more and more young people are entering museums because of a doll. Cultural-creative consumption has become a new pathway connecting history with the present. In Cui Youxin's view, what consumers are willing to pay for is no longer just a doll, but also a sense of relaxation they can carry with them, and an emotional experience they can share with others.
To amplify this experience, the Cultural-Creative Center of the Gansu Provincial Museum has built an immersive themed space centered on the "Green Horse" — the "Green Horse Home." The space features a bedroom, study, kitchen, and exercise scenes, where consumers can walk in and become "roommates" with the "Green Horse," naturally taking photos in the life-like settings. This design not only extends consumers' dwell time, but also directly boosts scene-based consumption: many young people, after taking photos, turn around and toss matching "Green Horse" throw pillows, keychains, and refrigerator magnets into their shopping baskets.
This year happens to be the Year of the Horse on the lunar calendar, and sales of the cultural-creative product series have continued to climb, becoming a bright highlight of cultural-tourism consumption. According to statistics, annual sales of "Green Horse"-related cultural-creative products account for 40 percent of total sales, making it already the "top-tier IP" of the Gansu Provincial Museum. "In the future, we will continue to launch more new products around the Bronze Galloping Horse IP that combine fun and practicality, and keep using creativity to tell the story of Gansu and the Silk Road well," Cui Youxin said.
Return to TopBy: 党益民
"Sunlight drapes brocade robes; the ground is strewn with gold." For over 90 years, Zhaojin, this land of heroes, has carried the red gene, bearing witness to the stirring years of the past and the rural prosperity of today.
Zhaojin is a town in Yaozhou District of Tongchuan City, Shaanxi, and Yijun is a county under Tongchuan City. Yijun lies to the north of Zhaojin, right next to Huangling County of Yan'an City. In the folds of the loess plateau of Yijun is hidden the home of my second uncle. But that was not his birthplace. My eldest uncle, second uncle, and father were all born in Laomiao Town, Fuping County, Weinan City, not far away. When the elders were very young, they followed my grandparents fleeing famine and came to a small mountain village in Yijun. The family was tired and hungry, truly unable to walk any further, and spent the night in a half-collapsed earthen cave outside the village. The next day, a man from the village came to the mouth of the cave and said to my grandparents, I see the children are truly pitiable, I've brought some food. Grandfather hurriedly stood up and made a bow of thanks. The man placed a worn cloth sack at grandfather's feet and opened it for him to see. Grandfather was stunned: in the sack were over a dozen black steamed buns and about 30 jin of corn. Grandfather was so moved he didn't know what to say, only rubbing his hands. In the months of fleeing famine, he had never met such a generous person. Only then did the man say, in years of famine, no family's life is easy. My family's circumstances can still manage, can fill a few mouths, but we lack a child. You're bringing three children fleeing famine, I fear you can't raise them all. Better to give me one, to leave the child a way to live. Only then did grandfather understand why the man had brought food, and his head drooped at once, even less able to speak. Grandmother gathered the three children into her arms, afraid the man might snatch them away. The man patiently persuaded them for a while, and grandfather finally raised his head, glanced at the man, then turned his head and said in a low voice to grandmother, give him, give him, leave the child a way to live. Grandmother hesitated for a long while, slowly loosened her arms, and wept behind her hands. Grandfather said to the man, elder brother, you pick. The man said, I won't pick the oldest, nor the youngest, I'll pick the middle one. Grandfather turned his back and waved his hand, saying, the second one then, the second one, take him quickly, lest I change my mind. As he spoke, grandfather closed his eyes and covered his ears, unwilling to hear the cries of his kin.
The family that adopted my second uncle was not well-off. When my second uncle was fourteen or fifteen, he herded cattle for a landlord's family. He would drive the cattle up the hillside, then climb trees to catch sparrows and scale cliffs to pick wild jujubes. One day at dusk, when it was time to round up the cattle and go home, he discovered one cow was missing. He dared not go home, and in fright hid beneath a cliff, hearing from afar his adoptive parents calling his name across the mountains and fields, yet not daring to make a sound. That night, in the middle of the night, a Red Army unit happened to pass by that place, and he followed them away.
My second uncle followed the Red Army through dense woods and over mountain ridges, going north and south, fighting guerrilla warfare in the mountainous area of a hundred li around Zhaojin, and several times nearly lost his life. Later, according to organizational arrangements, he was demobilized and returned to his small mountain village, becoming a farmer for the rest of his life. Someone said to my second uncle, if you had carried your gun a few more years and fought the revolution to the end, things would be different for you now. You've suffered some loss—have you never regretted it? My second uncle said, many of my comrades-in-arms died on the battlefield. That I'm alive is already very fortunate. Now I have children and grandchildren, food and clothing in abundance—what is there to regret? Back then when we "made revolution," we never thought about becoming officials, we only hoped to live the kind of good life we have now.
My second uncle loved military uniforms his whole life. After I joined the army, every time I returned home on leave and went to Yijun to visit him, he would ask me to put on my uniform. He said, today's uniforms are more refined than theirs were, very smart-looking to wear. Later, I gave him a military overcoat and a pair of thick-soled boots. He liked them very much, and every winter he would put them on and walk around the village, quite pleased with himself, often telling people, my nephew is a military officer, this is what he gave me.
Every time my second uncle saw me, no matter what we talked about, he would always circle back to his days of "making revolution." He was old, and many household matters he would relate in a confused and incoherent manner (颠三倒四, dian san dao si - "upside-down, three, inverted, four"), but the "revolution" stories were never muddled, and he would tell them in a logical and coherent manner (头头是道, tou tou shi dao - "head, head, is, way"). I silently kept them all in my heart.
Because of my second uncle, I began to research the history of the founding of the Shaanxi-Gansu revolutionary base area. Every time I returned home to visit relatives, I would squeeze in time to go to Zhaojin, Nanniwan, and the northern Shaanxi area to survey the old battlefields, collecting historical materials and folk stories of "making revolution." Shaanxi Taibai Literature and Art Publishing House wanted to commission someone to write a novel about this period of history, and Teacher Chen Zhongshi recommended me, saying that Dang Yimin was born in that area, had studied that history for many years, and had won the Lu Xun Literature Prize, so he should be able to write this book well. I accepted the task. At the time I was studying at the National Defense University, attending classes by day and writing at night, and in one year I produced a first draft. After another two years and four revisions, The Base Area was published in 2015.
But by then, my second uncle had already been gone for several years.
Over the years, although I have been stationed on the frontier of the plateau, I have taken advantage of opportunities for home leave to visit Zhaojin more than a dozen times, and I am fairly familiar with the area. In 1932, the Red Army entered the Zhaojin region and established the first revolutionary base area in the northwest. Zhaojin is situated at the junction of the Guanzhong Plain and northern Shaanxi—able to attack when advancing and defend when retreating, the Red Army had great operational mobility. Xuejiazhai, perched atop the southern section of the Ziwu Mountains, was the Red Army's command post; the four natural caves halfway up the mountain were the Red Army hospital, weapons repair shop, clothing factory, and the seat of the Border Region Special Committee. The first time I climbed Xuejiazhai, steep and suspended in mid-air, and saw the narrow, cramped caves that could hardly withstand the cold wind and rain, it was hard to imagine how the Red Army had survived there. It was in just such a perilous environment that the Communists represented by Liu Zhidan, Xie Zichang, and Xi Zhongxun, facing setbacks and defeats such as enemy "encirclement and suppression" and the scattering of their forces, upheld the truth and preferred death to surrender, making unremitting efforts and tremendous sacrifices for the expansion and development of the Shaanxi-Gansu border base area. At the critical moment when Kuomintang troops attacked Xuejiazhai, the Red Army fought a bloody battle, and several female Red Army soldiers, running out of ammunition and having no way to escape (弹尽路绝, dan jin lu jue - "bullets, exhausted, road, cut-off"), leapt from the hundred-zhang cliff. The female Red Army soldier Tong Fengyun was caught on a tree branch halfway down the mountain and survived. She injured her back and could never stand straight again, able to walk only by shuffling sideways, but her character remained unyielding, she never forgot her Red Army identity, and her spirit stood firm. The fall of Zhaojin caused Zhou Dongzhi, Wang Wanliang, Wang Mantang, and other leaders of the Shaanxi-Gansu Border Region Revolutionary Committee to die cruelly under the enemy's butcher's knife. With their blood and lives, the Red Army erected on this base area the soul of the "Zhaojin Spirit": "firm conviction of loyalty to the Party, heroic mettle of tenacious struggle, and work style of taking root among the masses." Later, under the siege of numerous Kuomintang troops, the Red Army was forced to move north to Nanniwan, then fight its way through northern Shaanxi, linking the Shaanxi-Gansu border Soviet areas into one continuous whole, so that this base area ultimately became the "foothold" for the Long March of all Red Army units.
Almost every time I go to Zhaojin, I can see Song Jianbin. He once served as director of the Zhaojin Memorial Hall and is now a researcher at the Party History Research Office of the Tongchuan Municipal Party Committee. He steps out of his study and devotes most of his time to grassroots research. He says, Party history is on the desks of archives and halls, but it is also in the fields and by the roadsides, in the hearts of the common people. He has witnessed the inheritance, innovation, and development of the Zhaojin Spirit over the years. Tongchuan City has reinforced and repaired the Red Army caves, trenches, and sentry posts, dredged and improved the river channels at the foot of the mountain, and built ecological cofferdams, hiking trails, and ecological plank roads, effectively preventing soil erosion. The scenic area is now one of beautiful scenery with green mountains and clear waters (山青水碧, shan qing shui bi - "mountain, green, water, jade"), with lush forests. At the same time, red resources have shifted from "static display" to "dynamic inheritance." The "Lantern Shining" red propaganda troupe and the "Red" children's propaganda troupe are very active, an "immersive" red education model has been launched, and the "Zhaojin Spirit" has entered the schools.
Zhaojin Beiliang Red Army Primary School is a special school—"classes are called companies, and the bugle marks the school day." In the past, this primary school had classrooms of rammed earth, a wooden board for a blackboard, and boiled water with steamed buns for lunch. Today it has become a full primary school, with buildings, bright classrooms and dormitories. The children drink direct drinking water, take hot showers, and electronic whiteboards are used in teaching. With the help of volunteer teachers, the quality of education has improved year by year. The children go from here to middle school, to university, to the wider world. In recent years, many "Zhaojin children" have returned to their hometowns to start businesses, beginning moving new lives.
My father's generation never managed to walk out of the yellow earth. But their descendants—some left the countryside long ago, working and living in cities such as Xi'an, Chengdu, Beijing, and Shanghai. Some even went abroad to study, becoming the first generation of PhDs in the family. What's more interesting is that my second uncle has a grand-nephew who, after graduating from university, went to work in Jiangxi. That is to say, he set out from the foothold of the Red Army's Long March, struggled all the way, and finally settled at the starting point of the Long March. More descendants still live on this hot land of Zhaojin, farming, raising pigs, and doing business. My second uncle's eldest son was the first "public servant" among our generation of children, but he did not go far, working and living in the urban area of Tongchuan, very close to Zhaojin. We haven't seen each other for two or three years. A few days ago, he told me on the phone: "High-speed rail has come to our area now—it only takes half an hour from Tongchuan to Xi'an. The high-speed rail from Yan'an to Ruijin is also in operation, and transportation is very convenient. I'm planning to find time to take a trip to Ruijin."
Return to TopBy: 李 勇
Writers all like to write about their hometowns, but their relationship with their hometown has always been complicated. Wang Zengqi, who has long been known for loving and writing about his hometown, said this in an early letter to Shen Congwen: "When a person returns to his native soil, for some unknown reason he will grow moldy, narrow, laughable... A short return is possible, but not for too long." Wang Zengqi left his hometown in 1939 at the age of 19, and did not return for the first time until 42 years later, and after that returned only twice in total. His attachment to his hometown seems to have been poured entirely into that hometown in memory; as for the hometown in reality, he was wary of it. His teacher Shen Congwen was the same way—after becoming famous, Shen Congwen called himself a "country bumpkin," and works like Border Town wrote to the fullest a wanderer's attachment to his hometown, but when he returned to western Hunan and wrote The Long River, it was hard to conceal his anxiety and melancholy toward his hometown. "Before old age, do not return to one's hometown; returning to one's hometown must break one's heart"—in Wei Zhuang's poem lies hidden a cultural psychology of our nation.
In attachment to one's hometown, there is often contained the collision between present and past, truth and illusion, dreamscape and reality. However, even the most cold-eyed critic of one's native soil has in his eyes an irrepressible homesickness. Lu Xun, besides Diary of a Madman and The New Year's Sacrifice, wrote From Hundred-Plant Garden to Three-Flavor Study and Village Opera. Xiao Hong, while carving out the people on the black-earth land who were "busy living, busy dying" and her indignation at all of that, simultaneously wept and sang for her forever-departed grandfather, the great elm tree, and the back garden. Faulkner, when asked whether he loved his Southern hometown, said:"I love it and hate it. There are some things in it I don't like at all, but I was born there, and it is my hometown, so even though I hate it, I still must defend it." An old writer said it well: one's hometown is the place of one's birth, and is called"blood-land." "Blood" means"kinship," and"land" means"bond"—this is an innate, destined, unalterable bond. Pitying someone's misfortune while being angry at their lack of determination (哀其不幸，怒其不争, ai qi bu xing, nu qi bu zheng - "pity its misfortune, anger its lack of struggle") does exist, but"love" after all remains the premise or rather the foundation.
Having such an emotion with"love" as its foundation is extremely crucial for a writer's writing. That spiritual hometown we are attached to is often the projection of our emotions and will. In fact, compared with the actual hometown, the spiritual hometown often appears all the more real. This also lets us understand why Wang Meng, whose ancestral home was Nanpi, Hebei, but who grew up in Beijing, would retroactively recognize Bayandai in Yili, Xinjiang, as his hometown; and Shi Tiesheng, who likewise grew up in Beijing, would never cease to think of that distant Qingpingwan in northern Shaanxi. Both of them, having left their hometowns for various reasons, found in another place another spiritual hometown.
However, the confirmation of a spiritual hometown does not completely replace that special"attachment." Emotions need somewhere to repose, ideals long for embodiment, and the hometown, serving as a carrier, happens as a matter of course (顺理成章, shun li cheng zhang - "follow logic, become chapter"). More crucially, from that"innate bond," what we obtain is not merely flesh and blood, language, and habits, but also the lives, emotions, and memories on that piece of land that concern us.
When young, Wang Zengqi was not very attached to his hometown, just as he said in his letter. The attachment only surged to the tip of his pen in his sixties. The Different Lot, Receiving the Precepts, Notes from the Great Marsh, Three Friends of Winter and other works not only revived a passage of bygone history, but also revived a warm, self-sufficient way of life, a cultural and civilizational form that is both ancient and modern. But toward the revival of this way of life, culture, and civilization, Wang Zengqi was at first subconscious and unconscious. The consciousness came in 1987. That year, he went to Iowa in the United States, and said in a letter home that, chatting with two American Black scholars, he learned that"they have no motherland, no history, no tradition. Their genealogy can be traced to their great-grandfathers, and beyond that they do not know""they do not know from what country in Africa, what ethnicity they came. Africans also do not recognize them." Wang Zengqi said:"From their conversation I felt a profound sorrow""It was only then that I felt the importance of'roots'—how important the motherland, ethnicity, and cultural tradition are."
When young, Wang Zengqi admired stream-of-consciousness-style modernism, but when he set foot on the modernized West he had admired in his youth, he only then discovered the importance of"roots." So after going to the United States he wrote I Am a Chinese and The Influence of Traditional Culture on Contemporary Chinese Literature, and from then on began consciously and actively to seek his hometown. And the hometown was no longer merely Gaoyou in Jiangsu, where he was born and grew up, but the entire China, with Gaoyou(and also Zhangjiakou in Hebei and Beijing) as its developing image.
Wang Zengqi's experience tells us that, no matter what feelings we harbor toward our hometown, as soon as we begin to write, we have already begun the return to—or rather, the reconstruction of—our hometown. Only, this hometown on paper is not a concrete reality, but rather the life memories and emotional support on which we depend for our existence—this is also our"roots."
Return to TopBy: 凌泽泉
My hometown lies in the hills of central Anhui. When autumn arrives, what unfolds before the eyes is a series of vibrant and multicolored oil paintings (色彩斑斓, se cai ban lan - "color, varied, bright, brilliant").
The fruits brought back from the fields carry a pungent fragrance of earth. Golden rice, bright red chili peppers, orange-yellow pumpkins, plump soybeans, and also peanuts, sweet potatoes, chrysanthemums... As soon as a clear autumn day arrives, the villagers hurriedly begin to dry their harvest in the sun, in order to air out the moisture within, and even more to use the autumn sun to complete the settling of the fruits. These fruits, steeped in the autumn sun, are enough to pass safely through the long, cold winter.
At dawn, pushing open the wicker gate, my mother shades her eyes with her hand and looks eastward, and sees that the autumn sun, having just leaped above the horizon, is gently spreading over the drying grounds of every household. She is anxious to spread out the fruits of her labor beneath this warm light of the sky. She urges the family to quickly spread out the rice piled up like a mountain (堆积如山, dui ji ru shan - "pile, accumulate, like, mountain") on the ground, while she herself carries basket after basket of peanuts, running in and out with the wind at her heels. After drying the peanuts, she turns around and carries over two long benches, places them about two meters apart, lays several hoe handles and a few carrying poles across the benches, then spreads a bamboo mat over them, and then uses a bedsheet to carry over a large bundle of fluffy new cotton to spread on the mat. Afterwards, she picks up needle and thread, strings the red pointed chili peppers from the bamboo basket into several long strands, and hangs them under the eaves. The courtyard behind the house cannot be left idle either; my mother places several bamboo drying trays and winnowing baskets on the low wall, one drying red beans, one drying mung beans, one drying sesame seeds, one drying melon seeds...
My father, meanwhile, straddles the end of a bench, picks up sweet potatoes one by one, and against the blade tied to the end of the bench, shaves them back and forth into slices; in no time, the tender, glistening sweet potato slices fill a large wooden basin. He pours the sweet potato slices into a big wicker basket, sets up a wooden ladder, and carrying the basket climbs up onto the tiled roof, holding the basket with one hand and grabbing sweet potato slices with the other, scattering them evenly over the blue-gray tiles like sowing seeds. The bamboo tray lined with neatly arranged persimmons is also sent up to the roof by my father, and arriving with the persimmons are a winnowing basket of chestnuts, a bamboo sieve of yellow chrysanthemums... The neighbors on all sides are all busy drying their autumn harvest; Aunt Zhang is laying out pumpkins on the drying ground, Uncle Li is hanging corn cobs under the eaves... Basket after basket, tray after tray, are thus deftly moved by the villagers from the fields to the drying grounds.
I, back home for a short stay, climb full of enthusiasm (兴致勃勃, xing zhi bo bo - "interest, high, overflowing, overflowing") up the ridge in front of the door. Gazing into the distance, I see that over the hills and ridges, the autumn grass is a stretch of golden yellow, the Chinese tallow trees are a brilliant red like fire, and the pines and cypresses flow with green and pour out verdure... Even the red bricks and blue-gray tiles are contentedly basking in the autumn sun, and before and behind the houses, everything is fully laid out with the fruits of the autumn harvest. When the villagers dry their autumn harvest, what they spread open are the pages of an abundant life, and every page holds vivid details of labor and the underlying hue of the crops.
Drying the autumn harvest brings out the plump and substantial family resources of the households in the hills of central Anhui, and also brings out the joy buried deep in the villagers' hearts. I want to record these scenes of drying the autumn harvest, to take them back to the city, so that those who long for home can slowly appreciate them and carefully treasure them.
Return to TopBy: 李从娥
In mid-autumn, a full round moon rises over the mountain ridge, its clear light spreading across the Qinba mountain forests. In the moonlight, the August-burst fruits, clinging to the old branches of trees, seven or eight centimeters long and three or four centimeters thick, plump and bulging, purple and glossy, sway gently in the autumn wind, ripened by the cool moonlight.
When the mountain wind begins to carry a chill, when the morning sun has just risen, this surprise hidden deep in the mountains bursts open one after another. Without the thunderous sound of firecrackers, these heroes among melons hanging between the vines—the August-burst fruits—when fully ripe, split open with a crack along the ridges of their bodies, opening their hearts to the autumn mountains, revealing silvery-white, dense and moist flesh, with black seeds set within, their full sweetness and fragrance delivered without reservation to the autumn mountains, the autumn sun, and the autumn wind blowing to and fro. The fruity fragrance echoes leisurely through the secluded valley.
August-burst fruit, scientific name Akebia trifoliata, is also called wild banana by the villagers.
In late spring, in the fourth lunar month, among the thickets and vines, green leaves first unfold, three small leaflets gathered on one stem. Clusters of August-burst flowers hide among them. Two deep-purple female flowers sit at the very base of the inflorescence, their three broad sepals spreading and curling, delicate and tender, while above them cluster fine, light-purple male flowers, spreading a chocolate-like fragrance in the spring breeze. They do not vie with the mountain flowers for beauty, quietly brewing the mountain fruits of autumn.
When the flowers have all fallen, small greenish, glossy fruits hang down from the vines, slowly swelling under the protection of the green leaves.
Some young parents bring their children to the mountain forest, and the children run joyfully through the woods, laughing, singing and dancing, their eyes clear and bright. Sometimes they stand under the trees, "Dad, look, that fruit has burst open!" Their voices are sweet and crisp.
What the children find most interesting is the August-burst fruit. When they cannot reach it, they beg their parents to lift them up, and their small hands tug hard to pick an August-burst fruit. Holding it in their palms, they stare for a long time at the warm, purple-brown fruit, their hearts full of anticipation for the wonderful moment when it splits open. Because of the August-burst fruit, the great mountain has become the children's paradise.
Several mountain birds stand on the high branches, tilting their heads, picking and choosing, selecting an August-burst fruit that has just cracked open and is at its sweetest, and begin to dine happily. They plunge their heads in, peck a few mouthfuls, and swallow the seeds whole. Then they turn their heads, gazing with their small, black, shiny eyes at the azure sky, and let out a string of melodious, lilting calls.
A young father climbs up the tree, passing through the clamor of the cicadas, passing through the songs of the birds, and reaches out his hand toward the August-burst fruit that has just burst open.
The children hold the August-burst fruits picked from the vines. Taking a bite, they purse their small mouths tightly, and sweet smiles spread across their faces. The taste of the August-burst fruit is really not bad—soft, sticky, smooth and tender, with a faint milky fragrance. The children eat with beaming smiles, and black seeds slip from the corners of their mouths. Unfortunately, the August-burst fruit has especially many seeds, each one wrapped in flesh, so eating an August-burst fruit requires slow savoring; one cannot rush. Even the little children understand this.
The most delicious foods often have the shortest "lives." The August-burst fruit's shelf life is only half a day. Precisely because of this, it is difficult to deliver to distant cities, becoming a delicacy locked away in the valley.
How I long that one day, an improved August-burst fruit will emerge from the Qinba mountains and, like the banana, enter every household or family (千家万户, qian jia wan hu - "thousand, family, ten thousand, household").
Return to TopBy: 王彦明
I am in the river, and also in the pond
Having seen the lotus, one can of course also
encounter the lotus in imagination, as if meeting a
familiar friend; we can speak of
the past, and can also imagine the withering
But more people are accustomed to silence
Just as standing in the moonlight, it washes away
the floating dust, and on the water's surface
wipes away the weariness of the body. Some speak of
the rich fragrance, as if talking about
another person and another stretch of time
From blooming to falling, there is a
very distant road to travel, and there are also
many fallen leaves dropping into the mountain stream. At this moment
between the stars, star and star are drawing each other near.
Return to TopBy: 少 一
Not long ago, at the invitation of colleagues from the county bureau, I accompanied them to a residential community in the county seat to pay a visit to the mother of martyr Qin Zhengshuang. Stepping into the old lady's bedroom, what immediately caught my eye was still the framed portrait hanging on the wall, covered with a piece of black cloth. It made my heart ache faintly once again.
On that early winter night 33 years ago, Qin Zhengshuang, a 26-year-old police officer, had just returned from traveling over mountains and through waters for more than 40 kilometers to handle a case, and had just picked up his rice bowl to eat when he received a distress call from the Hupingshan Forestry Police Station of Shimen County: three police officers, while investigating a case involving damage to rare plants in a national nature reserve, were being besieged by the parties involved and requested police reinforcement. Qin Zhengshuang put down his bowl and chopsticks and, together with his colleague Qin Daoping, hurried over. When repeated persuasion efforts yielded very little result, they discussed and decided that Qin Daoping would remain at the scene to maintain order and collect evidence, while Qin Zhengshuang would take Liu Chaoqun, who had been making the most trouble, back to the station for questioning and education. On the way back, at a bend in a flagstone-paved section of road, Liu Chaoqun, taking advantage of the darkness, waited for a favorable opportunity to break free and flee, and was quickly caught up with by Qin Zhengshuang. At this moment, the crazed and irrational Liu Chaoqun suddenly drew from his waist a 25-centimeter-long sharp knife and turned to stab Qin Zhengshuang in the left chest; a stream of hot blood immediately gushed forth from his heart area. Caught completely off guard, Qin Zhengshuang, despite being gravely wounded, still wrapped his arms around the murderer's waist and engaged him in a fight with one's life at stake. A contest between justice and evil tragically and heroically unfolded on that dim flagstone road atop the "Roof of Hunan." The exceptionally vicious and evil thug, seeing no hope of escape, continued to slash his knife at Qin Zhengshuang's head and thighs. Even when he had fallen to the ground, feeble and in a state of near death, Qin Zhengshuang's hands, locked around Liu Chaoqun, still did not loosen, until Qin Daoping, arriving upon hearing the news, subdued the culprit. At the moment of mortal danger, the last words Qin Zhengshuang left to this world were: "Daoping, be careful — he, has, a, knife…" Qin Zhengshuang collapsed in a pool of blood and never stood up again. This young life, like a flower, withered in the embrace of his comrades, withered on the profession of a people's police officer marked by loyalty, bravery, and fearlessness, before it had even had time to show the world its youthful splendor.
Starting from the second year after martyr Qin Zhengshuang's sacrifice, every year around Qingming Festival and National Day, I have accompanied leaders at various levels to his grave to offer sacrifices and pay respects to his parents, so as to express our grief and remembrance. I remember the first time we went, Qin Zhengshuang's parents still lived in their old home in the countryside of Weixin Township, Shimen County. In the martyr's parents' humble rammed-earth brick house, the relics related to the martyr had been cleaned up, except for that cloth-covered framed portrait hanging on the living room wall. It was about 20 centimeters long and 12 centimeters wide; the black cloth surface seemed to cover a tragic memory. Once, the martyr's father, Qin Zunwei, seeing me standing before the framed portrait, drew me aside and explained that what the black cloth covered was a photograph left by martyr Qin Zhengshuang during his lifetime. He said that after his son's sacrifice, his wife, Wu Yuzhi, spent her days hugging the photograph and crying, until her eyes nearly went blind from weeping. Qin Zunwei, seeing her grieving and shedding tears so persistently for so long, truly felt heartache for her, yet could not bear to throw away his son's photograph, so he had no choice but to find a piece of black cloth to cover the framed portrait, and made an agreement with his wife that each year they could only open the framed portrait and cry twice — on Qingming Festival and on their son's birthday. Thus, apart from these two special days each year, no one touched that cloth-covered framed portrait.
Now, the martyr's father has passed away, and, under the care of the organization, his mother, Wu Yuzhi, has moved into the county seat to live. The old lady can no longer speak clearly; pointing at that cloth-covered framed portrait, she told me tremblingly that when they moved, they did not bring any of the old things from their old home — but this one could not be left behind…
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