Summary: The article marks the fifth anniversary of the Global Development Initiative, first proposed by President Xi Jinping in 2021, and highlights its evolution from a Chinese proposition into an international consensus and widely welcomed public good. It details China's efforts to consolidate the consensus on prioritizing development, including high-level meetings, the Global Development Report, and cooperation with over 130 countries and international organizations. The piece emphasizes tangible outcomes such as zero-tariff treatment for 53 African countries, the Global Development and South-South Cooperation Fund, and "small but beautiful" livelihood projects like Luban Workshops. It also covers China's push for digital and AI cooperation, including the Open Source and Inclusive AI Initiative and the World Artificial Intelligence Cooperation Organization, to empower Global South development. The article concludes that China remains a resolute actor in global development cooperation, supporting the UN 2030 Agenda amid lagging progress on Sustainable Development Goals.
Summary: The General Offices of the CPC Central Committee and the State Council issued the *Opinions on Promoting the Reform of Higher Education Institutions by Category*, making systematic arrangements for promoting the reform by category. The *Opinions* states that it is necessary to adhere to the guidance of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, fully implement the Party's educational policy, adhere to the socialist orientation of running schools, strengthen the Party's overall leadership over educational work, and build a self-strengthening and excellent higher education system. It calls for optimizing the classified layout and structure, stimulating the momentum for classified development, improving the mechanisms for classified development, including establishing a classification framework for higher education institutions, implementing the project for building application-oriented undergraduate colleges and universities, and building an evaluation system with multiple tracks. The *Opinions* emphasizes strengthening organizational implementation, carrying the Party's leadership through the entire process, comprehensively strengthening Party building in higher education institutions, upholding the president responsibility system under the leadership of the Party committee, steadily advancing reform, reasonably guiding expectations, and creating a favorable atmosphere.
Summary: The article opens a column on forging a strong sense of community for the Chinese nation, highlighting ethnic unity as the lifeline of all ethnic groups and the foundation of this community, following the implementation of the Law on the Promotion of Ethnic Unity and Progress. It reports on grassroots publicity efforts in Inner Mongolia, including a "Chat Team at the Doorstep" in Horqin Right Wing Middle Banner, Manhan Melody performances in Jungar Banner, and red education at the May First Site in Ulanhot, all aimed at embedding ethnic unity into people's hearts. Officials such as Wang Zhiguo, Hao Xiangmei, Wang Tianfeng, and Fang Wei are quoted describing these initiatives, which include over 3,000 annual sessions and 40 performances, alongside school-based activities like classic recitations and museum partnerships to educate youth. The piece concludes that across Inner Mongolia, seeds of ethnic unity are being sown, forging a firmer sense of community for the Chinese nation.
Summary: Zhao Leji, Chairman of the NPC Standing Committee, held talks with Milton Dick, Speaker of the Australian House of Representatives, at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on September 20. Zhao stated that President Xi Jinping and Prime Minister Albanese's meeting last year provided new strategic guidance, and that China is willing to work with Australia to implement common understandings, enhance political mutual trust, expand practical cooperation, and promote the sustained development of the China-Australia Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. He emphasized consolidating the political foundation, respecting core interests, deepening cooperation in traditional fields like agriculture, minerals, and energy, expanding into green development, clean energy, digital economy, and climate change, and strengthening legislative exchanges via the Inter-Parliamentary Union. Dick noted steady bilateral relations, affirmed Australia's One-China policy, and expressed willingness to strengthen cooperation in trade, culture, agriculture, mining, climate change, and artificial intelligence for mutual benefit. Tie Ning attended the talks.
Summary: Hunan is implementing multiple measures to transform its growth model and adjust its economic structure, pooling new momentum for development by expanding domestic demand, stimulating consumption, advancing innovation-driven industrial upgrading, and building an inland reform and opening-up highland. The province is acting on General Secretary Xi Jinping's instructions, made during his inspection visits, that it should build itself into a national important advanced manufacturing hub, a hub of scientific and technological innovation, and a highland for reform and opening up in the inland regions. Consumption efforts include restoring cultural heritage sites like Changde's He Street, which saw tourist visits rise 75% year-on-year in 2025, and implementing trade-in programs that drove nearly 100 billion yuan in sales. Innovation efforts feature enterprises like Zoomlion and Sunward Star Aviation, with the latter's "Arrola" light sport aircraft achieving a domestic market share of over 80% for similar products. Opening-up efforts center on platforms like the Huaihua International Land Port, which has cumulatively dispatched 49,156 TEUs, and on deepening economic and trade cooperation with Africa.
Summary: The article reports on how Guangxi's Guilin region is preserving and promoting the legacy of the Red Army's Long March Xiang River Campaign, following Xi Jinping's 2021 instructions to "Carry forward the spiritual lineage of Communists" and "walk well the Long March road of the new era." It details local efforts such as training "Red Scarf Docents," launching a "Guilin Red Xiang River" red tourism bus that has carried over 150,000 passengers, and developing distinctive industries like grape growing and "Breakout Peach" orchards in villages tied to campaign history. The piece highlights how red tourism links battlefield sites across Quanzhou, Xing'an, Guanyang, and Longsheng, blending revolutionary stories with rural revitalization, including Dong ethnic minority homestays and cultural traditions.
Summary: A public memorial service for Mr. Tung Chee-hwa, described as an outstanding contributor to One Country, Two Systems, a renowned patriot, and former Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, was held at the Hong Kong Funeral Home on September 20. Tung passed away in Hong Kong on September 8, 2026, at the age of 89. During his illness, central authorities, including Comrades Xi Jinping and other leaders, expressed concern and required making every possible effort to provide medical treatment. Shi Taifeng, Leung Chun-ying, Wang Dongfeng, Xia Baolong, and John Lee Ka-chiu attended the memorial service, where Shi delivered a eulogy reviewing Tung's contributions to the country, Hong Kong, and society. The service included silent tribute, three bows before his portrait, and final farewells from central authorities' office heads, Hong Kong government officials, and representatives from various sectors.
Summary: Zhao Leji, Chairman of the NPC Standing Committee, met in Beijing on the 20th with Muzani, Chairman of the People's Consultative Assembly of Indonesia. Zhao stated that China-Indonesia relations have maintained a sound momentum of development, and that President Xi Jinping and President Prabowo reached important consensus on building a China-Indonesia community with a shared future with regional and global influence. He expressed China's willingness to follow the strategic guidance of the two heads of state and to keep the NPC's exchanges with the People's Consultative Assembly of Indonesia close, expanding cooperation and deepening exchanges on governance experience. Muzani stated that Indonesia and China share a profound friendship, and he hopes his visit will strengthen friendly cooperation between the relevant institutions and peoples of the two countries and elevate the comprehensive strategic partnership to new heights. He added that the People's Consultative Assembly is willing to strengthen exchanges with the NPC to make bilateral cooperation in various fields more profound and practical.
Summary: The article argues that the Global Development Initiative, proposed by President Xi Jinping in 2021, is a systematic solution to global development challenges, contrasting it with the "narrow practices" of some countries that politicize development resources. It reports that over five years, more than 130 countries and international organizations have supported the Initiative, with 88 countries joining the "Group of Friends," mobilizing over 23 billion US dollars and carrying out over 2,000 cooperation projects. The piece highlights concrete projects in Nigeria, Grenada, and Laos, and cites foreign officials praising the Initiative as a pragmatic, results-oriented platform. It emphasizes that the Initiative's logic is to "make the cake bigger rather than carve up the cake," fundamentally differing from the "China squeezing theory" hyped by some Western institutions and media. The article concludes by calling for practicing true multilateralism and resisting unilateralism, protectionism, and hegemonic acts to improve global governance.
Summary: The article marks the fifth anniversary of the Global Development Initiative, first proposed by President Xi Jinping in 2021, and highlights its evolution from a Chinese proposition into an international consensus and widely welcomed public good. It details China's efforts to consolidate the consensus on prioritizing development, including high-level meetings, the Global Development Report, and cooperation with over 130 countries and international organizations. The piece emphasizes tangible outcomes such as zero-tariff treatment for 53 African countries, the Global Development and South-South Cooperation Fund, and "small but beautiful" livelihood projects like Luban Workshops. It also covers China's push for digital and AI cooperation, including the Open Source and Inclusive AI Initiative and the World Artificial Intelligence Cooperation Organization, to empower Global South development. The article concludes that China remains a resolute actor in global development cooperation, supporting the UN 2030 Agenda amid lagging progress on Sustainable Development Goals.
Summary: UNIDO Director General Gerd Müller, in an exclusive interview, praised China's Global Development Initiative as an important platform for refocusing the international community on development issues and accelerating the UN 2030 Agenda, highlighting the growing importance of multilateralism amid global uncertainty. He noted China's lifting of over 800 million people out of poverty as a historic achievement and emphasized China's steadfast support for UNIDO, with long-term cooperation yielding successful examples. Müller detailed UNIDO's active participation in Global Development Initiative frameworks, including joint projects with China such as agricultural product industrial parks in Africa and institutional innovations like the China-Africa(Ethiopia)-United Nations(UNIDO) Cooperation Demonstration Center. He stressed the initiative's compatibility with the UN 2030 Agenda in prioritizing development, action-oriented approaches, and partnership synergy, and mentioned cooperation on artificial intelligence through networks like the Global Industrial AI Alliance Center of Excellence in Shanghai. Müller concluded that UNIDO is willing to deepen partnerships with China and all parties to better align the Global Development Initiative with the UN 2030 Agenda, so that multilateral cooperation benefits all countries more equitably.
Summary: China-U.S. economic and trade consultations began in New York on the morning of September 20 local time, with the economic and trade teams of both countries holding talks. The report was filed by People's Daily reporter Song Yiran from New York.
Summary: Liu Haixing, Minister of the International Department of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China, met in Beijing with Dick, Speaker of the House of Representatives of the Australian Federal Parliament. The two sides exchanged views on jointly implementing the important consensus of the leaders of the two countries, strengthening inter-party exchanges and cooperation, and promoting the stable and sound development of China-Australia relations.
Summary: An Indonesian researcher said President Xi Jinping's "four pioneers" proposition helps BRICS address global challenges and that China can leverage its advantages to contribute more to BRICS cooperation. He praised China's role in deepening BRICS cooperation, including supporting the New Development Bank, pioneering "BRICS Plus," and promoting cooperation in industrial transformation, digitalization, and emerging technologies. He highlighted China's initiatives in artificial intelligence, such as establishing the China-BRICS AI Development and Cooperation Center, as creating opportunities for developing countries. He noted Indonesia's 2025 accession to BRICS aligns with its independent foreign policy and that Indonesia and China have broad cooperation prospects in frontier fields like AI and green technology.
Summary: The 2026 World Conference on Science Literacy opened in Beijing on September 20. Li Shulei, member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and head of the Publicity Department of the CPC Central Committee, attended the opening ceremony and delivered a speech, as did Wang Guangqian, vice chairperson of the CPPCC National Committee and chairman of the China Association for Science and Technology. Participating guests held that, under the guidance of President Xi Jinping's congratulatory letter, China has revised the Law on the Popularization of Science and Technology, promoted integrated development of science, technology, and culture, and jointly initiated the World Organization for Science Literacy with 32 founding member units. They stated that a new round of technological revolution represented by artificial intelligence necessitates strengthening technology's enabling role, practicing the Global Civilization Initiative, and improving science and technology governance. The conference, themed "Science Literacy for an Intelligent Society: Opportunities, Challenges, and Transformation," was co-hosted by the World Organization for Science Literacy and the China Science and Technology Museum, with more than 500 guests from 32 countries attending.
Summary: Li Hongzhong, member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Vice Chairman of the NPC Standing Committee, conducted research in Liaoning from September 17 to 20, emphasizing adherence to Xi Jinping Thought on the Rule of Law and the need for high-quality legislation to serve reform and development. He visited Shenyang, Anshan, and Dalian to examine equipment manufacturing upgrades, intelligent manufacturing, sci-tech innovation, marine fishery resources, island ecosystem protection, and grassroots governance. He stressed strengthening legislation in key, emerging, and foreign-related fields, and improving the legal system for state-owned enterprise assets to support a high-standard socialist market economy and modern industrial system. At a grassroots legislative liaison point in Dalian, he highlighted advancing scientific, democratic, and law-based legislation, expanding orderly public participation, and ensuring laws conform to the Constitution and reflect the people's will.
Summary: At a State Council Information Office press conference on September 20, officials outlined market regulation priorities for the 15th Five-Year Plan period, including antitrust enforcement focused on areas such as active pharmaceutical ingredients, utilities, and the platform economy. Wang Guowei, director of the Department of Planning and Finance, emphasized strengthening fair competition review and resolutely eliminating local protectionism and market fragmentation. Zhu Jianqiao, director of the Department of Online Transaction Supervision, said relevant departments will accelerate the revision of the E-Commerce Law and raise the level of routine regulation of the platform economy. Shu Wei, spokesperson and deputy director of the State Administration for Market Regulation, stressed accelerating the guidance of market competition from "competing on price" to "competing on quality," while Yang Sheng, deputy director of the National Medical Products Administration, highlighted improving the whole-life-cycle pharmacovigilance system and strengthening online sales regulation.
Summary: At a State Council Information Office press conference themed "Strivers on the New Journey," five representatives from the court system discussed making fairness and justice tangible and perceptible for the people. Long Jinpin, rooted in grassroots for 33 years, emphasized resolving both the legal case and the underlying dispute by visiting people in their homes; Ji Shengli stressed going to the scene to grasp the true situation in grassroots cases; Bai Yun noted that "the law has never been cold provisions" in handling cases concerning the elderly and the young; Lin Wei showcased a restoration plan for polluted land, arguing that a judgment must enable the defendant to understand the harm of pollution; and Zhou Liting highlighted guiding the repair of commercial relationships in intellectual property cases to avoid resentment lingering.
Summary: The State Council has announced a series of appointments and removals of state personnel. Yu Xiaohui was appointed Vice Minister of Industry and Information Technology; Pan Wenbo was appointed Vice Minister of Agriculture and Rural Affairs; Li Chenggang was appointed Trade Representative of the People's Republic of China for International Trade Negotiations (at the level of full Minister); Ling Ji concurrently serves as Deputy Trade Representative for International Trade Negotiations. Additional appointments include Cai Dong as Vice Administrator of the National Financial Regulatory Administration, Zhang Yongjun as Deputy Director of the Office of the Central Cyberspace Affairs Commission, Zhang Xiaotang as Deputy Administrator of the State Tobacco Monopoly Administration, and Liu Zhen as Deputy Administrator of the National Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine. Removals include Xu Qingsen as Vice Minister of Education, Hu Weilie as Vice Minister of Justice, Niu Yibing as Deputy Director of the Office of the Central Cyberspace Affairs Commission, and Liao Zhiwei as Director of the Changjiang Water Resources Commission.
Summary: The Ministry of Finance, together with the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, the National Financial Regulatory Administration, and the National Forestry and Grassland Administration, jointly issued the "Implementation Plan on Accelerating the High-Quality Development of Agricultural Insurance," clarifying that by 2030, a multi-tiered agricultural insurance system will be basically established, reaching an overall internationally advanced level. The implementation plan for the first time proposes at the policy level the implementation of "one policy per household," issuing insurance policies with individual farmers as the subject. It also promotes the interconnection, sharing, and cross-verification of agricultural insurance underwriting data with agricultural production and operation data, consolidating the authenticity of underwriting information from the source.
Summary: In August, total social electricity consumption again surpassed one trillion kilowatt-hours, reaching 1,033.2 billion kWh, up 1.7% year-on-year, with the electricity load hitting a new historical high of 1.56 billion kilowatts. By industry, primary industry consumption rose 2.7%, secondary industry rose 2.4%, and tertiary industry rose 5.1%, with high-tech and equipment manufacturing maintaining rapid growth. Notably, electricity use in the charging-and-swapping service industry and internet data services surged by 51.2% and 37.9%, respectively.
Summary: On September 20, the National Exchange Conference for University Graduates and High-Level Talents from Home and Abroad was held in Nanjing, Jiangsu. More than 2,000 enterprises and public institutions from within and beyond Jiangsu Province attended, offering over 100,000 quality job positions. The photo shows a job seeker communicating with a representative of an employing unit. The image was captured by Yang Suping of Xinhua News Agency.
Summary: In the first eight months of this year, the national railway carried 3.32 billion passenger trips, a year-on-year increase of 3.9%, setting a new record for the same period, while cargo transport reached 2.69 billion tons with daily loading averaging 187,400 wagons. An average of 11,508 passenger trains ran per day, up 5.0% year-on-year, with the Guangzhou-Shenzhen-Hong Kong High-Speed Railway carrying 23.408 million cross-border trips and the China-Laos Railway 245,000, increases of 10.7% and 39.1% respectively. Foreign passenger trips totaled 16.683 million, up 33.3%. Coal transport hit 1.389 billion tons, including 928 million tons of thermal coal, with power plant inventories remaining high, while grain, chemicals, and textiles grew 9.9%, 5.5%, and 21.7% year-on-year. The China-Europe Railway Express operated 14,842 trains, a 15.9% increase.
Summary: Beijing released the "Beijing Municipality Action Plan for Accelerating the Development of the Token Economy (2026–2028)," as reported by People's Daily reporter Wang Haonan. The action plan outlines building world-class token factories, improving market-based pricing and circulation mechanisms for tokens, expanding token application scenarios, and promoting the empowerment of new industrialization by artificial intelligence.
Summary: Mr. Tung Chee-hwa, a renowned patriot and close friend of the Communist Party of China, Vice Chairman of the Tenth through Thirteenth National Committees of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, and the First and Second Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, passed away in Hong Kong on September 8, 2026, at the age of 89. The obituary details his life as a staunch patriot who firmly supported the nation's reform and opening up, safeguarded national sovereignty, and defended the "One Country, Two Systems" principle, including his firm support for the Hong Kong National Security Law and his condemnation of external interference after the 2019 "extradition bill storm." As a pioneer in the practice of "One Country, Two Systems," he led Hong Kong through the Asian financial crisis and the SARS epidemic, promoted economic cooperation with the mainland, and implemented reforms in education and government structure. He founded the China-United States Exchange Foundation to promote exchanges and dialogues among political, business, and academic circles in China and the United States, contributing to the stable development of Sino-U.S. relations. The article concludes by praising his life as one of patriotism, struggle, and dedication, embodying the spirit of Hong Kong compatriots and earning lasting respect.
Summary: Hunan is implementing multiple measures to transform its growth model and adjust its economic structure, pooling new momentum for development by expanding domestic demand, stimulating consumption, advancing innovation-driven industrial upgrading, and building an inland reform and opening-up highland. The province is acting on General Secretary Xi Jinping's instructions, made during his inspection visits, that it should build itself into a national important advanced manufacturing hub, a hub of scientific and technological innovation, and a highland for reform and opening up in the inland regions. Consumption efforts include restoring cultural heritage sites like Changde's He Street, which saw tourist visits rise 75% year-on-year in 2025, and implementing trade-in programs that drove nearly 100 billion yuan in sales. Innovation efforts feature enterprises like Zoomlion and Sunward Star Aviation, with the latter's "Arrola" light sport aircraft achieving a domestic market share of over 80% for similar products. Opening-up efforts center on platforms like the Huaihua International Land Port, which has cumulatively dispatched 49,156 TEUs, and on deepening economic and trade cooperation with Africa.
Summary: The article opens a column on forging a strong sense of community for the Chinese nation, highlighting ethnic unity as the lifeline of all ethnic groups and the foundation of this community, following the implementation of the Law on the Promotion of Ethnic Unity and Progress. It reports on grassroots publicity efforts in Inner Mongolia, including a "Chat Team at the Doorstep" in Horqin Right Wing Middle Banner, Manhan Melody performances in Jungar Banner, and red education at the May First Site in Ulanhot, all aimed at embedding ethnic unity into people's hearts. Officials such as Wang Zhiguo, Hao Xiangmei, Wang Tianfeng, and Fang Wei are quoted describing these initiatives, which include over 3,000 annual sessions and 40 performances, alongside school-based activities like classic recitations and museum partnerships to educate youth. The piece concludes that across Inner Mongolia, seeds of ethnic unity are being sown, forging a firmer sense of community for the Chinese nation.
Summary: The article uses the character "Qi" (even/orderly), selected as the 2026 annual character of the Belt and Road Initiative, to illustrate the principle of seeking harmony while respecting differences and working together for common development. It cites examples such as the China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan railway, the China-Egypt TEDA Suez Economic and Trade Cooperation Zone, and data on overseas enterprises and connectivity networks to show high-quality cooperation outcomes. The piece highlights that cooperation has expanded into green and digital development, helping partner countries transform from "external blood transfusion" to "self-generated blood production." It quotes General Secretary Xi Jinping emphasizing that the Belt and Road Initiative is a sunlit avenue for all to join hands and advance together, not a private path of any single party.
Summary: The article, an on-site commentary from Tianjin, discusses the transformation of the former Tianjin No. 1 Machine Tool General Plant into the "Jinyi PARK" campus, a new cultural gathering place featuring the PAGEONE bookstore and the "Folds of Time" Jinyi Literature Festival. It argues that the value of industrial heritage lies in preserving its "soul" and memory coordinates, citing similar revitalization efforts in Shanghai's Yangpu Riverside and Beijing's Shougang Park. The piece emphasizes that cultural business formats are the fulcrum for turning "old workshops" into "new living rooms," requiring a virtuous cycle of "culture–consumption–life." It quotes General Secretary Xi Jinping on protecting cultural lineage and practicing the people-centered city philosophy through urban renewal. The commentary concludes that such creative transformation preserves the city's spiritual landmark, allowing people to remember the past and see the future.
Summary: The article, a Jintai essay, opens by describing the approaching autumn harvest in Heilongjiang, which last year achieved a record grain output of 164.006 billion jin, ranking first nationwide for 16 consecutive years. It profiles "new farmers" at Beidahuang Qixing Farm, including Zhao Yong, highlighting their use of technology like BeiDou navigation and drones, their ecological practices such as straw returning that have improved soil organic matter, and their commercial ventures, with customized agriculture entities growing to 445 in the first half of the year. The essay emphasizes the renewal of farming concepts while maintaining reverence for the land and the principle of "valuing every grain of food as the result of hard labor," concluding that the black earth's response to down-to-earth effort is another year of fine harvest.
Summary: The 2026 China International Fair for Trade in Services was held at Shougang Park in Beijing, with 90 countries (regions) and international organizations and over 1,830 enterprises participating. More than 200 new achievements were released, including over a hundred first-launch and first-showcase items, with intelligent agents and other digital-intelligence applications drawing much attention. For the first time, a dedicated China Service Cases exhibition area and a Going-Global Services zone were set up, featuring 140 cases and 41 roadshows to facilitate one-stop matchmaking for Chinese and foreign enterprises. The accompanying poem emphasizes that development is not a one-man show and that cooperation for win-win results makes the road stretch even longer.
Summary: The article reports on Fujian's efforts to realize ecological product value, citing Jiangle County's recent VEP ecological credit cooperation agreement with a bank based on quantified ecological product value assessments. It argues that pricing ecosystems alone is insufficient without actual market demand, necessitating improved systems, platforms, and market cultivation. The piece highlights VEP collateral loans in Wuyishan City and Yong'an City as financial innovations proving ecosystems can yield tangible wealth, while also promoting green industries, forestry carbon sinks, and forest ticket mechanisms. It concludes that these reforms are building pathways for converting resources into assets and assets into capital, exemplifying the concept that "lucid waters and lush mountains are invaluable assets."
Summary: The author, a police officer at the Second Compulsory Isolation Drug Rehabilitation Center of Henan Province, recounts intervening in a knife attack during the New Year's Day holiday, sustaining injuries but expressing no regret. She describes her long-term work in education and correction, emphasizing the need for both firm law enforcement and compassionate rehabilitation of drug users. She highlights individualized correction plans, such as helping a former addict become a street dance teacher, and stresses the importance of community follow-up care to prevent relapse. The article details her anti-drug publicity efforts in schools and enterprises, noting a decline in compulsory rehabilitation admissions from nearly 900 to fewer than 100. She concludes by describing her volunteer service studio's sunflower emblem, symbolizing the pursuit of light and hope.
Summary: The 48th WorldSkills Competition will be held in Shanghai from September 22 to 27, 2026, with 80 countries and regions registered and 1,385 contestants from 68 countries and regions competing, setting records for scale. The Chinese delegation totals 220 people, composed of 71 contestants, and will participate in all 64 competition events, with teachers and students from technical colleges accounting for more than 60%. This edition adopts the "One Competition, Two Conferences" model, featuring the WorldSkills Conference and WorldSkills Expo with a China Pavilion, and has added seven new competition events including rail vehicle technology, unmanned aerial vehicle systems, smart security technology, software testing, digital interactive media design, dental prosthetics technology, and retail. Chen Yujie, deputy director and researcher of the Vocational and Skills Research Office under the Chinese Academy of Labor and Social Security Sciences, analyzed that the newly added events reflect new industry trends, with future advantage going to composite skilled talents who can wield digitalized tools and possess cross-domain capabilities. The competition will be openly hosted with all visits completely free, featuring "Try Your Hand" skills experience stations, youth workshops, and intangible cultural heritage skills experience halls, with more than 3,800 volunteers recruited.
Summary: The 2026 World Manufacturing Convention opened on September 20 in Hefei, Anhui, with Wang Dongming, Vice Chairman of the NPC Standing Committee, attending and delivering a speech. Wang stated that manufacturing is the foundation of the real economy and that China, guided by President Xi Jinping's congratulatory letter to the 2019 convention, has worked with countries worldwide to promote intelligent, green,and integrated manufacturing development. He said China will focus on scientific and technological innovation, artificial intelligence, green low-carbon development, and openness and cooperation to jointly paint a new picture of an intelligent manufacturing world. The convention, themed "Intelligent Manufacturing World · Creating a Better Future," was attended by over 2,000 guests from more than 50 countries and regions.
Summary: Tie Ning, Vice Chairperson of the NPC Standing Committee, led a law enforcement inspection team for the Vocational Education Law in Zhejiang from September 15 to 18. She emphasized implementing General Secretary Xi Jinping's important discourses on vocational education and fully enforcing the law to promote high-quality development on the track of the rule of law. The team affirmed Zhejiang's achievements and called for consolidating primary responsibilities, improving supporting policies, and transforming institutional advantages into governance effectiveness. Tie Ning also stressed deepening legal publicity and building societal consensus to support vocational education. The team held a symposium and conducted on-site inspections, urging all parties to resolve hot and difficult issues and ensure the law's provisions achieve practical results.
Summary: The "Virtue Shines on China · Role Models Are by Our Side" themed event was held in Wenzhou, Zhejiang, on September 20, featuring advanced typical representatives such as National Moral Models whose stories were presented through scenario performances, musical skits, and videos. Their deeds highlighted virtues including finding joy in helping others, acting courageously for a just cause, being honest and trustworthy, dedication to one's work, and honoring elders and loving family. Examples included Li Xuesheng, a migrant worker who died rescuing a child on railway tracks; Zhang Cheng, who cared for her paraplegic mother while studying; and Chen Jie, deputy secretary of the Party Committee and dean of the Eye Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, who led the "Bright Journey" public welfare medical initiative. On September 21, participants will visit moral practice venues such as the Wenzhou Moral Museum. The event is hosted by the Central Office of Spiritual Civilization Development, which has held on-site exchanges nationwide this year to foster a positive social atmosphere.
Summary: The article reports on how Guangxi's Guilin region is preserving and promoting the legacy of the Red Army's Long March Xiang River Campaign, following Xi Jinping's 2021 instructions to "Carry forward the spiritual lineage of Communists" and "walk well the Long March road of the new era." It details local efforts such as training "Red Scarf Docents," launching a "Guilin Red Xiang River" red tourism bus that has carried over 150,000 passengers, and developing distinctive industries like grape growing and "Breakout Peach" orchards in villages tied to campaign history. The piece highlights how red tourism links battlefield sites across Quanzhou, Xing'an, Guanyang, and Longsheng, blending revolutionary stories with rural revitalization, including Dong ethnic minority homestays and cultural traditions.
Summary: A photo report covers a Farmers' Harvest Festival themed event held on September 20 in Hefeng Buyi and Miao Township, Kaiyang County, Guiyang City, Guizhou Province. The event included fun agricultural activities such as catching fish in paddy fields, dragon boat racing in fields, and tug-of-war in farmland. Local residents participated with great enthusiasm and competed on the same stage to celebrate the harvest. The photo shows residents of Matou Village taking part in a rice-carrying competition. The photo is by Yuan Fuhong (China Images).
Summary: The Ministry of Culture and Tourism held its third-quarter regular press conference for 2026, introducing the Eighth China Poetry Festival, to be held in Taizhou City, Zhejiang Province from October 12 to 23, and the Eleventh China Peking Opera Art Festival, to be held in Wuhan City, Hubei Province from October 15 to November 5. The poetry festival's theme is "Poetry Surging Across Mountains and Seas, Poetic China," featuring ceremonies, seminars, field-collection creation, mass cultural activities, exhibitions, and "Poetry Plus" cultural-tourism integration activities. The Peking Opera Art Festival will feature seven main activities, including outstanding repertoire performances, small-theater performances, short plays and opera excerpt special performances, opera academy special performances, repertoire reviews, thematic seminars, and the "Spark Project" youth opera talent creation camp. Public welfare performances such as Peking Opera entering communities and entering scenic areas, as well as exhibitions and screenings of Peking Opera-themed paintings, films, and costumes, will also be held.
Summary: The 26th Annual Conference on the History of the People's Republic of China was held in Hefei, Anhui Province, under the theme "The Theory and Practice of Establishing and Practicing a Correct View of Political Achievements." Scholars stated that a correct view of political achievements possesses both value attributes and institutional attributes, and can be transformed from ideological guidance into tangible governance results. Research on this view should be integrated with the history of the People's Republic of China, oriented toward the new era and the new journey, focusing on assessment, practical pathways, and institutional design. The conference was jointly hosted by the Society for the History of the People's Republic of China, the Institute of Contemporary China Studies, the Anhui Academy of Social Sciences, and Anhui University.
Summary: The Ministry of Science and Technology's 2025 national science popularization statistics show continued growth in the science popularization workforce, funding input, and other indicators. The full-time and part-time science popularization personnel reached 2.2507 million, an increase of 1.72 percent over 2024, while registered volunteers reached 13.7116 million. Science popularization funding totaled 24.398 billion yuan, up 9.80 percent, with per capita special funding at 6.01 yuan. Infrastructure expanded to 1,988 science and technology museums, attracting 338 million visitors, and the all-media communication matrix grew, including 2,115 websites, 11,100 WeChat public accounts, and 711,800 online videos with 49.236 billion views. A total of 1.6282 million lectures and 110,200 special exhibitions were held, with 122,200 activities during the 2025 National Science and Technology Week.
Summary: The General Office of the National Health Commission and the Comprehensive Bureau of the National Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine have jointly issued a notice proposing that by the end of 2026, all provinces, autonomous regions, municipalities, and the Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps shall each rely on at least one provincial-level or above hospital to establish rare disease outpatient clinics, with similar requirements for prefecture-level cities with populations of 3 million or more. The notice makes arrangements in three areas: strengthening prevention, advancing the diagnosis and treatment system, and enhancing capacity. It calls for implementing eugenics and superior childbearing services, including pre-pregnancy health examinations and counseling for high-risk couples, as well as exploratory pre-pregnancy screening for monogenic genetic diseases and rare diseases where conditions permit. It also emphasizes strengthening prenatal screening management, guiding high-risk populations toward timely prenatal diagnosis, and standardizing genetic counseling to reduce birth defects and rare diseases from the source. Medical institutions with necessary conditions are encouraged to build rare disease wards and provide services through multidisciplinary diagnosis and treatment and coordinating Chinese and Western medicine.
Summary: The 2026 "Me and Ditan" Beijing Book Fair recently opened in Ditan Park, hosted by the Publicity Department of the Beijing Municipal Committee of the CPC, with an 11-day run until September 27 and extensions into Baoding, Hebei Province, and Tianjin. The Ditan Park venue spans over 20,000 square meters with nine major exhibition zones, bringing together more than 400 publishing houses and institutions and over 500 booths, setting new records for area and tent count. Book exhibition booths account for 80 percent of the total, and more than 150 cultural activities will be held during the fair.
Summary: The article, part of the "Jintai Insight" series, addresses the pervasive problem of intrusive pop-up and "shake" ads in Chinese mobile apps and offline scenarios like parking lots and parcel lockers, detailing reader complaints about deceptive close buttons, forced ad viewing, and induced consumption, particularly affecting the elderly. It explains the technical mechanisms and profit models behind these ads, citing lawyer Lin Feiran, and notes that while the May 2023 "Measures for the Administration of Internet Advertising" requires one-click closing, fines are too low and enforcement faces difficulties, as described by professor Fan Shiqian. The article reports that the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology convened a special meeting on June 9 to urge platforms and smart terminal enterprises to strengthen standardized management of APP information windows. Experts recommend raising the cost of illegality, establishing quantifiable technical standards, and having platforms bear overall responsibility, while consumers are advised to fix evidence via screen recording and report through channels such as 12315.
Summary: The People's Daily report on July 20 about idle public rental housing in Hezhang County, Bijie City, Guizhou, prompted the provincial, municipal, and county governments to attach great importance, with Hezhang County establishing a dedicated working group under guidance from the Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development and relevant departments. As of September 2, the former Zhuming Township 2015 urban public rental housing project has been fully revitalized, with road, fire protection, maintenance, and other works completed, and housing quality assessed as Class Bsu. Of the 104 idle units, 10 have been designated as temporary resettlement housing for geological hazard risk points in Zhuming Town, while the remaining 94 units have been offered for rent through public competitive bidding to unit employees, families of students, individual business operators, and other members of the public, with unit selection completed before August 19, and lease agreements signed and rent collected simultaneously. The announcement was issued by the People's Government of Hezhang County on September 7, 2026.
Summary: A homeowner in the Rongsheng Jinxiu Guandi residential community in Chuzhou Economic Development Zone, Anhui Province, reported that the community's drainage and waterproofing works do not meet standards, causing localized water accumulation, a collapsed perimeter wall, waterlogged basements and elevator pits, and cracked epoxy flooring in the underground parking garage. The issues, including safety hazards such as the collapsed perimeter wall, waterlogged elevators, blocked drainage, and falling exterior wall cladding, have been reported on many occasions yet remain unresolved. The homeowner asked relevant departments to pay attention to these problems and deal promptly with the safety hazards.
Summary: A letter to the editor from Wu Qinghua of Nantong City, Jiangsu Province, highlights the risk of greenhouse plastic film being blown onto high-voltage lines during typhoons, citing a recent near-miss. The author notes that farmers often ignore safety distances and build greenhouses beneath power lines despite persuasion from power supply employees. The suggestion calls for agriculture, natural resources, and emergency management departments to work together as a single unit, incorporating power line corridor safety distances into the planning of planting park zones. It also recommends adopting preventive measures for existing greenhouses under high-voltage lines and explaining safety rules during agricultural training.
Summary: A nationwide subsidy for disabled elderly cannot be used in the Jiamusi National Agricultural High-Tech Industry Demonstration Zone in Heilongjiang because the zone, as a dispatched agency of the Jiamusi Municipal Government, lacks administrative division status, leaving it undetermined which body should distribute the funds. Li Ping, whose paralyzed father lives in a nursing home there, was told by several departments that the subsidy cannot be distributed due to the zone's special administrative status, and as of September 14, data sharing between the zone and Fujin City had not been opened up despite a supervision letter from the Jiamusi Civil Affairs Bureau. Experts Huang Jianhong and Gao Enxin attribute such policy implementation failures and unauthorized work assignments to a mismatch of powers and responsibilities between development zones and local governments, calling for improved coordination mechanisms, performance assessments, and a benefit-sharing financial power distribution system. The article notes that some development zones, like one in Fujian Province, face multi-headed inspections and burdens from unauthorized tasks, while a 2024 Fujian measure proposing gradual divestiture of social affairs has shown little effect.
Summary: The People's Daily "Readers' Letters" section and People's Daily Online's "Message Board for Leaders" are jointly collecting pressing problems and needs of the masses, inviting readers to provide leads and suggestions on issues. Submissions can be made via email, the "Exposure Platform" on the People's Daily client, or the "Message Board for Leaders" client on People's Daily Online.
Summary: Wang Chen, Vice Chairperson of the 12th and 13th NPC Standing Committee, attended the 2026 Tribute to Physicians Gala and delivered a speech emphasizing that health gains under the Healthy China strategy stem from Party leadership and the dedication of medical workers. The event, co-hosted by Global Times, Life Times, and Health Times, selected 208 physicians and teams for lists including "Glorious Physicians" and"National Famous Physicians," with awards spanning "Golden Scalpel,""Supreme Honor of Life,"and"Special Tribute." Recipients included senior figures like Cao Zeyi, aged 93, who voiced a goal of eliminating cervical cancer by 2050, and Zhu Xueguang, aged 91, vowing continued service. A rotating chairmanship handover occurred, with Zhan Qimin passing the handbook to Dong Jiahong for the 2027 activity. Dong Jiahong called on medical personnel to respond to the era's demands through technological innovation, humanistic spirit, and a sense of mission.
Summary: The "2026 World Mayors' Dialogue · Wuhan" was held in Wuhan from September 18 to 21, guided by the State Council Information Office, bringing together more than 80 city mayors and representatives and heads of international organizations from over 20 countries including the United Kingdom, Finland, South Africa, and Thailand. Participants affirmed the new opportunities China's scientific and technological development has brought to the world and expressed expectations for strengthening people-to-people and cultural exchanges. At the main dialogue event, Wuhan Mayor Xiong Zhengyu, together with city leaders from Manchester, Kemi, Cape Town, Yangon, Rzeszów, and Turkistan, discussed topics including enhancing urban development capacity through scientific and technological innovation. Two special scenario dialogues were held at the Yangtze Finless Porpoise Breeding and Protection Center and the Xiaomi Wuhan Smart Home Appliance Factory, covering watershed governance, biodiversity conservation, resilient city development, and global scientific and technological cooperation. Supporting activities included a city theme exhibition, a "Wuhan Impression" themed visit, and enterprise economic and trade matchmaking sessions.
Summary: The "Rising Bright Moon Over the Bay Area" 2026 Greater Bay Area Film and Music Gala was held in Macao on the 20th, themed "We Are One Family," bringing together more than a hundred filmmakers and musicians from across the Strait, Hong Kong, Macao, and multiple overseas countries. The gala featured performances of enduring classics and original works, including Dou Jingtong's theme song "The Bay," and showcased films such as "The Road Home" and "Macao Grand Prix," conveying feelings of family, country, reunification, and world peace. The gala was co-hosted by the Film Channel Program Center, the Cultural Affairs Bureau of the Macao SAR Government, the Bauhinia Culture Group, and Phoenix Television, with support from the Galaxy Arena in Macao. It has been held annually since 2021, marking this year the fifth time it resounded across the Greater Bay Area and the third consecutive year it was held in Macao.
Summary: The Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security launched the "Career Guidance for the Future — 2026 National City Joint Recruitment Autumn Special Event for College Graduates" on September 20, targeting graduates of the class of 2027 and previous unemployed graduates. Public employment and talent service agencies, human resources service agencies, and industry associations will jointly hold special recruitment sessions and employment guidance services. A main venue will be set up on China National Talent Network, with online sub-venues in various regions, offering job postings, livestreamed introductions, policy briefings, and employment guidance, while improving all-in-one services like resume submission and remote interviews. Special sessions will be organized by category, focusing on the digital economy, green economy, advanced manufacturing, modern services, and national regional development strategies, as well as urgently needed talent. Supporting activities will include employment guidance experts visiting campuses, enterprises, and industrial parks, and organizing graduates to tour key enterprises, grassroots units, and industrial parks.
Summary: The article reports on Sichuan Province's efforts to leverage overseas Chinese resources for high-quality development, emphasizing the strategic importance of overseas Chinese affairs work. Sichuan has expanded liaison networks, built platforms for resource matching, and improved service mechanisms to integrate overseas Chinese talent, capital, and channels into the Chengdu-Chongqing Economic Circle and the Belt and Road Initiative. From September 20 to 24, the second Overseas High-Tech Talent Exchange and Cooperation Week was held in Chengdu, attracting about 450 guests to discuss innovation, entrepreneurship, and industrial cooperation. The province has also utilized platforms like the "Overseas Chinese Innovation and Entrepreneurship Competition" and the "Xingchuan Zhuyu Overseas Chinese Think Tank" to promote precise talent and technology docking, with 266 projects landed in Sichuan over the past decade. Looking ahead, Sichuan plans to further improve mechanisms for liaison, talent pooling, economic cooperation, and rights services to transform overseas Chinese resources into innovation and development resources.
Summary: The article argues that upholding the governance of the Party by institutions and by regulations is a long-term and fundamental strategy for full and rigorous self-governance of the Party, as emphasized by General Secretary Xi Jinping. It explains that this approach involves using intraparty laws and regulations to guide, regulate, and guarantee Party governance, and that it has provided a strong guarantee for Party building in the new era. The piece outlines the importance of this strategy in safeguarding the centralized, unified leadership of the Party Central Committee, advancing the great new project of Party building, and ensuring the Party's long-term governance and the country's long-term stability and peace. It also details practical requirements, including using scientific thinking methods to improve the institutional system, strengthening institutional awareness and execution capacity, and improving a responsibility system with clear subjects and requirements. The author is identified as a researcher at the Research Center for the Theoretical System of Socialism with Chinese Characteristics in Hubei Province.
Summary: The article discusses General Secretary Xi Jinping's emphasis on "daring to struggle and being good at struggle" as a fine quality of the Communist Party of China, highlighted at the 105th anniversary celebration. It outlines the need to follow the laws of struggle, citing Xi's "three unities" from a 2019 Party School training class, which combine urgency with strategic resolve, strategic judgment with tactical decision-making, and the struggle process with actual effectiveness. The piece stresses choosing good struggle methods, such as grasping the principal contradiction and adhering to being justified, advantageous, and measured. It also calls for adjusting struggle strategy with changing conditions, uniting all possible forces, and consolidating the Party's class and mass foundations. The article frames struggle as essential for overcoming challenges and achieving the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation.
Summary: The article argues that artificial intelligence should be better leveraged to empower health governance, citing President Xi Jinping's call to comprehensively promote AI's scientific and technological innovation, industrial development, and scenario application. It emphasizes consolidating the data foundation, strengthening intelligent analysis, optimizing management and supervision processes, and adhering to a results orientation to improve health governance capacity. The author, identified as the Director of the Hospital Management Research Institute of the National Health Commission, stresses that the goal is to safeguard people's health rights, ensure medical quality and safety, and enhance operational efficiency. The piece outlines specific measures such as promoting data sharing across medical, medical insurance, and pharmaceutical sectors, embedding intelligent analysis into hospital management, and ensuring a controllable safety bottom line.
Summary: On September 6, the 2026 "Writing the Splendid Chapter of Youth on the Motherland" online ideological and political course was held at the University of Science and Technology of China (USTC) in Hefei, Anhui Province, hosted by the Cyberspace Administration of China, the Ministry of Education, People's Daily, the Chinese Academy of Sciences, the Central Committee of the Communist Youth League, and the Anhui Provincial Party Committee's Cyberspace Affairs Commission. The event featured USTC President Chang Jin, who used three keepsakes to explain the spirit of patriotism, and Chen Liquan, winner of the 2025 State Supreme Science and Technology Award, who shared China's rise in the lithium battery field. The program also highlighted the patriotic story of "July 1 Medal" recipient Wang Yuchang, who hid his achievements after military service, and showcased young innovators like He Yu, founder of CIQTEK Quantum, and USTC sophomore Liu Sizhe, who created an AI project for cognitive impairment screening. Four Anhui-origin automobile entrepreneurs—Wang Chuanfu of BYD, Yin Tongyue of Chery, Li Bin of NIO, and Xiang Xingchu of JAC Motors—shared their struggles, while Academician Pan Jianwei and four USTC-graduate academicians discussed quantum science and major scientific facilities. The academicians encouraged students to persist in the face of the unknown, with Shi Yunyu stating, "Hope lies with the young generation!"
Summary: Wang Ji, a professor at the National University of Defense Technology, recounts his thirty-year focus on high-assurance software for aerospace and weaponry, describing how he continued working from a hospital ward after a severe illness left him in the ICU for nearly half a year. He states that surviving the ordeal taught him that "future good fortune" means retaining the ability to contribute, and he still undergoes dialysis three times a week while pursuing independent innovation. Awarded the title of "Role Model of the Times," he insists the honor belongs to all national defense scientific research workers and urges students to "resonate at the same frequency" by placing themselves where the nation needs them. The article concludes with a reflection by student Hao Chenyu, praising Wang Ji for holding fast to the front line of national defense research and treating the nation's needs as his own mission.
Summary: Academician Chen Liquan recounts his journey from a boy studying under a kerosene lamp to becoming the founder of China's lithium battery industry, describing how he switched from crystal growth to battery research after seeing a lithium nitride button battery in Germany in 1976. He details China's lithium battery technology leap from "following" to "leading," including hand-making China's first solid-state lithium battery in 1988 and building the first pilot production line in 1998. Chen emphasizes the importance of not fearing failure while refusing to accept defeat, citing how his team solved the world-class problem of solid-solid contact through in-situ solidification to prove foreign experts wrong. He expresses his vision for an "Electric China" with electric aircraft, ships, and even astronaut carbon dioxide conversion, urging students to be even more "unrealistic or wild in their ideas." The article concludes with a reflection from student Zou Zichao, who praises Chen's decades of dedication and vows to carry forward his spirit of innovation and service to the country.
Summary: He Yu, founder of CIQTEK, recounts how a lecture by Academician Du Jiangfeng and a 2016 visit by General Secretary Xi Jinping to the University of Science and Technology of China inspired him to pursue high-end domestically made instruments. His company, supported by USTC, develops quantum sensors and electron microscopes, achieving internationally leading signal-to-noise ratios after ten years of effort. He emphasizes the importance of self-reliance in core technology and vows to continue contributing youthful strength to scientific innovation in Hefei. The article includes reflections from Li Xiaohang, a Tianjin University student, praising He Yu's dedication and urging young people to address national strategic needs in precision instruments.
Summary: The Chinese team won the women's team event in modern pentathlon at the 20th Asian Games on September 20, securing the first gold medal for the Chinese sports delegation, with Zhang Mingyu and Wu Xiyao taking silver and bronze in the women's individual event, and Li Liuchang winning gold in the men's individual final. The competition adopted the new International Modern Pentathlon Union format, replacing equestrian with obstacle course racing. Zhang Mingyu attributed the victory to team unity and hard training, while coach Zhang Yu credited the athletes' efforts, coaches' guidance, and the systematic training model. The team emphasized that the gold medal was "a gold medal for four people," reflecting their collective effort. The Chinese modern pentathlon team has now won gold at every Asian Games since 2010, and this performance boosted their confidence in preparing for the Los Angeles Olympic Games.
Summary: The Chinese delegation won 11 gold, 6 silver, and 3 bronze medals on the first competition day after the opening ceremony of the Asian Games in Nagoya. The modern pentathlon venue produced the delegation's first gold medal, with the Chinese team winning 2 gold, 2 silver, and 1 bronze overall. In triathlon, Zhang Xirui took silver in the men's event, while Lin Xinyu and Huang Anqi swept the top two spots in the women's race, with Lin earning a qualifying spot for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. The swimming team won 6 gold, 1 silver, and 2 bronze across 7 events, breaking 4 meet records, including a title for 13-year-old Yu Zidi and a relay victory for Yu Yiting, Zhang Yufei, Cheng Yujie, and Wu Qingfeng. Elsewhere, Tong Xin defended her wushu title, the women's 10m air rifle team set a world record, and Zhang Hao earned silver in road cycling.
Summary: The Chinese women's 10m air rifle team, comprising Wang Zifei, Han Jiayu, and 16-year-old Du Yuchen, won the gold medal at the Asian Games, successfully defending their title and breaking the world record China set in August last year in Shymkent, Kazakhstan. Wang Zifei scored 636.8 rings, setting a new Asian record for individual qualification, while Han Jiayu and Du Yuchen contributed 633.8 and 633.6 rings respectively, giving China a total of 1904.2 rings. The Indian team and Japanese team took silver and bronze. Du Yuchen became China's youngest shooting champion at the Asian Games. At the press conference, Du Yuchen said competing against top-tier experts is a good learning opportunity and that maintaining mental balance in major competitions is something she needs to continue learning.
Summary: The article highlights Dongcheng District, Beijing's efforts to use culture as a driver for high-quality development, showcasing initiatives like the revitalization of the Longfu Temple market and the full opening of the Zhengyangmen Gate Tower. It details cultural heritage preservation, including the "On the Central Axis" action plan, and culture-for-the-people programs such as "Cinema in the Hutongs" and the "City of Theater" initiative. The piece also covers industrial innovation through "culture +" integration, including new tracks like animation, digital performing arts, and gaming, as well as efforts to promote cultural exports and boost inbound tourism. The article is based on data from the Publicity Department of the CPC Dongcheng District Committee.
Summary: The Third China-Latin America Human Rights Roundtable, themed "Multilateralism and Human Rights," was held in Lima, Peru, with nearly 200 participants from China and 23 Latin American and Caribbean countries. Participants discussed peaceful development and human rights governance, launched the "2026-2030 China-Latin America Human Rights Academic Research Action Plan," and established the "Expert Committee of the China-Latin America Human Rights Research Cooperation Network." They generally believed that human rights protection should adhere to a people-centered approach, take development as an important path, and that multilateralism and practical cooperation, including projects like the Port of Chancay, help promote a more diverse human rights discourse and create more favorable conditions for the realization of the right to development. Speakers including Song Yang, Chinese Ambassador to Peru, and Ma Huaide, Vice President of the China Society for Human Rights Studies, emphasized that China and Latin America, both belonging to the Global South, should learn from each other through exchange and jointly enrich human rights development paths.
Summary: Japan's Defense Ministry has requested a record-high defense budget for fiscal year 2027, centered on "transformation of defense capabilities," with the total potentially exceeding 10 trillion yen and marking 15 consecutive years of increase. The budget prioritizes offensive strike capabilities, including long-range missiles and hypersonic weapons, under the guise of "new operational methods," which critics say blurs the line between defense and attack. The Takaichi government has accelerated defense financing through new taxes and bonds, breaking postwar restrictions, and promotes a "virtuous cycle of defense and economy" to tie military expansion to industrial growth. Japanese experts have publicly criticized the policy's severe impact on the economy, while the government pushes military exports to allied nations. The article warns that this trajectory mirrors Japanese militarism in the 1930s, urging vigilance among peace-loving people.
Summary: The article reports that Chongqing's Jiulongpo District has become a "two-hundred-billion-yuan" economic powerhouse and is accelerating construction of "urban-rural integration, east-west integration, and whole-region urbanization." It details efforts to let cities lead the countryside and industry support agriculture, including building "15-minute high-quality living service circles" and promoting urban agriculture. The opening of the Taojia Tunnel on May 31, 2026, is highlighted as unblocking the bottleneck in east-west coordinated development, with the eastern area strengthening its commercial highland and the western area advancing into industrial blue ocean via the Jiulong New City. The district has formed four major clusters with differentiated positioning, including "Jiulong New City" and "Zhongliangshan Huayan," and is launching quality reserve land parcels for industrial landing and urban renewal. The data source is the Publicity Department of the CPC Jiulongpo District Committee.
Summary: The article reports on the 19th "Chinese Bridge" Chinese Proficiency Competition for Foreign Secondary School Students and the 6th "Chinese Bridge" Chinese Show for Foreign Primary School Students, held in Tianjin from September 8 to 22, 2026, with 407 overseas contestants and accompanying personnel from 105 countries participating under the theme "Reading Tianjin, Reading China, Reading the Future." It highlights the story of Bai Aili, the global champion of the 18th competition, who said after winning: "I, too, want to be like the other contestants — to walk across the bridge and become a bridge." The piece details how Tianjin, hosting the competition for three consecutive years, has integrated the brand with the city's cultural heritage through visit sites, experience activities, and refined competition formats, with Xie Yuan, member of the Standing Committee of the Tianjin Municipal Committee and Secretary of the Municipal Education Work Committee, stating that Tianjin must both run the competition with professional standards and let participants feel the beauty of the Chinese language and China. Qu Kai, Party Secretary of Tianjin Normal University, emphasized the transformation of competition outcomes into teaching resources and talent cultivation, forming a virtuous cycle of"using competitions to promote teaching and nurture people," while the article concludes that over the past 25 years, more than 1.8 million overseas young people have participated in"Chinese Bridge," and those who have walked across the bridge are becoming new bridges connecting China with the world.
Summary: The article highlights three young contestants in the "Chinese Bridge" Chinese Proficiency Competition, including British teenager You Zijun, Spanish teenager Ma Lele, and Kyrgyzstan's Zhang Yuchen, whose personal journeys reflect the global trend of younger Chinese language learners. Yu Yunfeng, Director of the Center for Language Education and Cooperation under the Ministry of Education of China, stated that "Chinese Bridge" is becoming an important platform for young people worldwide to learn Chinese and understand China, fostering mutual understanding and trust. The competition, now in its 25th year, has grown into a bridge connecting China and the world across historical, cultural, scientific, technological, ecological, and open dimensions. The article emphasizes that increasingly younger participants are turning Chinese language learning into a window for the world to understand China, with youth moving from "crossing the bridge" to "becoming the bridge."
Summary: The "Chinese Bridge" competition for primary and secondary school students uses Tianjin's urban settings as learning scenarios, giving overseas youth real-life contexts to experience the city and use Chinese. Zhang Tao, director of the Tianjin Municipal Education Commission, explained that these settings give language learning a concrete foundation, and the city becomes a perceivable cultural carrier. The competition encourages participants to share their experiences on overseas social platforms, turning contestants from learners into storytellers to show a real, multi-dimensional, and comprehensive Tianjin. Tianjin plans to sustain engagement through cooperative schooling, school-to-school partnerships, and brands such as "Jincai Chinese" and "Study in Tianjin," broadening channels for overseas youth. The brand value of "Chinese Bridge" is embodied in attracting global attention, expanding learning scenarios, enhancing mutual understanding, and promoting **mutual learning among civilizations**.
Summary: The article discusses new trends in international Chinese language education, noting that over 90 countries have incorporated Chinese into their national education systems and that learners are trending younger with higher demands for authentic expression. It highlights how digital and intelligent technologies are empowering language learning, as exemplified by the "Chinese Bridge" competition for primary and secondary school students, which uses AI virtual hosts and outdoor hands-on experiences to enrich learning scenarios. The piece emphasizes that humanistic interaction fosters emotional connection and transnational friendships, with the competition transforming contestants into fellow learners and extending bonds beyond campus. It argues for the deep integration of innovative development with language education, practicing the "Chinese+" concept by using contemporary China as live teaching material. Zhong Yinghua, President of the International Society for Chinese Language Teaching and Director of the Tianjin International Chinese Language Education Development Center, is quoted as saying the competition upgrades the educational ecosystem rather than simply stacking elements.
Summary: The article reports on the two years since the "Beijing Central Axis: A Masterpiece of China's Ideal Capital City Order" was inscribed on the World Heritage List, highlighting systematic protection and revitalization efforts. It details technology-empowered conservation, such as the reinforcement of the Bell Tower's great bell and the Temple of Heaven's monitoring systems, alongside the use of digital twin technology for heritage oversight. The piece also covers cultural revitalization, including the reopening of Zhengyangmen and the Temple of Heaven Museum's digital exhibitions, as well as the integration of heritage into daily life through improved hutongs and rooftop terraces. Officials quoted include Yu Hui, Wu Jingwei, Zhou Ziyu, Huo Yan, Zhang Lifang, and Wang Zhiyong, who emphasize law-based, systematic protection and the blending of heritage with urban life. The article concludes by noting the joint release of an action plan by Dongcheng and Xicheng districts for the central axis's continued revitalization through 2028.
Summary: The author reflects on literature as a bonfire that provides warmth and companionship, citing figures such as Tao Yuanming, Du Fu, Borges, and Stevens, as well as characters like Sun Wukong and Don Quixote. They describe poetry as an unextinguished flame that purifies readers' hearts and offers consolation. The author discusses their own creative process, emphasizing careful refinement of the Chinese language and a commitment to conveying warmth and gratitude. They acknowledge their hesitance and view writing as contests with themselves and consultations with others, shaped by everyday observations. The piece concludes that poetry is a never-tiring career, transmitting flame to readers across the world.
Summary: The article reports on the Tu ethnic group's panxiu (coiled embroidery) industry in Huzhu Tu Autonomous County, Qinghai Province, highlighting its annual output value exceeding 27 million yuan. It features Li Faxiu, a national-level representative inheritor, who learned panxiu at age 7 and sold her works at the Fourth World Conference on Women in Beijing in 1995, and who now leads a workshop with over 50 embroiderers. Ha Chengqing, head of the Qingxiu ( industry base, explains that the craft's unique "two needles, two threads" method cannot be replicated by machines, and that the base has developed cultural and creative products with annual sales exceeding 3 million yuan. The article notes that in October 2025, a panxiu work debuted in Paris, France, and that the base has sent products to Beijing's Qianmen Street and cooperated with livestreamers, while Li Faxiu emphasizes passing the craft to younger generations.
Summary: The article announces the September 14 Beijing scheduling conference for the Youku-produced documentary *City of Intangible Cultural Heritage: Guardian Season*, exclusively title-sponsored by Hujihua Ancient-Method Peanut Oil. The program uses a "one city, two intangible cultural heritage items" framework to document inheritors' stories, with cultural scholars as "full-journey cultural navigators" and young actors as "intangible cultural heritage youth translators." Hujihua, a brand under Yihai Kerry Food Marketing Co., Ltd., traces its ancient-method oil pressing craft to 1918 in Qingdao, with the skill listed as provincial-level intangible cultural heritage in 2021. The company maintains a master-apprentice inheritance system and "Six Ancient Methods" production, earning the Best Product Flavor Award at the 2024 Global Food Industry Awards. The cooperation is framed as a "content IP + industrial entity" model for bringing intangible cultural heritage skills into daily life.
Summary: The article marks the fifth anniversary of the Global Development Initiative, proposed by President Xi Jinping in 2021, highlighting its evolution into international consensus with over 2,000 cooperation projects and training for 200,000 personnel across more than 120 countries. Experts including Zhu Xufeng, Li Sifan, Teka Ntahub, and Evandro Carvalho discuss the Initiative's foundations, value, and outcomes, emphasizing its alignment with the UN 2030 Agenda and its role in supporting developing countries' self-directed modernization. The piece underscores China's development experience as a model, with the Initiative translating shared concepts into concrete actions through platforms like the Global Development and South-South Cooperation Fund, benefiting millions via projects such as the Bangladesh livelihood support initiative. The article concludes by advocating for strengthened multilateral cooperation, including through BRICS, to share China's mature experience in infrastructure, innovation, and green development with Global South countries.
Summary: The article argues that "K-shaped divergence" is a misleading framework for analyzing China's economy, stemming from Western post-pandemic conditions and involving three biases: overgeneralizing from partial data, underestimating traditional industries' transformation capacity, and ignoring China's endogenous convergence mechanisms. It cites first-half GDP growth of 4.7%, new drivers contributing over 40% to growth, and a 5.2% surveyed urban unemployment rate as evidence of overall stability. The piece asserts China's institutional advantages and people-centered development philosophy can prevent the class solidification and social tearing seen in Western "K-shaped" pathologies, while acknowledging unbalanced development remains a challenge. The author is identified as Executive Vice President of the China Institute for Development Planning at Tsinghua University and Vice President of the China Private Economy Research Association.
Summary: The article examines 6,640 payouts under "comprehensive governance household property insurance" in Qi County, Henan Province, from January 2025 to June 2026, finding that personal injury accidents account for approximately 88% of claims, with the elderly and children as high-incidence groups. The insurance, led by the Henan Provincial Political and Legal Affairs Commission with fiscal subsidies, pays 100 yuan per household to cover 39 claimable items, and officials note it operates at a slight loss while prioritizing social interests. Rural infrastructure shortcomings persist, with fire-related claims averaging only 2,418 yuan per payout, far below actual losses, and wind and fire disasters posing significant risks. Theft cases have dropped sharply due to police and grid worker deployment, and claims processing has promoted standardized reporting of rural public security incidents. In the first half of 2026, claims decreased by 22.23% year-on-year, reflecting grassroots governance gains, though experts like Teng Yongzhong stress that preventing poverty return requires coordinated institutional mechanisms beyond insurance alone.
Summary: The article argues that advancing manufacturing from "made" to "intelligent" requires carrying the principle of "investing in people" through the entire transformation process, enhancing workers' ability to master new technologies. It contends that intelligent manufacturing depends on high-quality workers, as machinery intelligence cannot be separated from human knowledge and creativity, with workers shifting from direct operation to commanding production systems. The piece cites data showing China has built over 56,000 basic-level intelligent factories by the first half of this year, with the numerical control rate of key processes rising from 52.1% in 2020 to 68.6% at the end of 2025. It calls for accelerating the cultivation of high-quality workers through industry-education integration and skill evaluation mechanisms, while ensuring intelligent manufacturing meets people's needs for a better life. The author, a research fellow at the Research Center for Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era of the Party School of the CPC Central Committee, concludes that modernization's essence is the modernization of people, requiring human development to move in the same direction as technological progress.
Summary: The article discusses a public-welfare initiative where commercial city screens in places like Heze, Zibo, Hulunbuir, Hefei, and Hangzhou display posters of scientists such as Qian Xuesen, Deng Jiaxian, Yuan Longping, and Yu Min, prompting passersby to stop and take photos. It highlights the historical contributions of scientists who concealed their identities for decades, such as Deng Jiaxian and Huang Xuhua, and argues that carrying forward the spirit of scientists requires telling their concrete, living stories in everyday life, not just solemn commemoration. The piece notes diverse dissemination efforts this year, including lecture teams by the Beijing Association for Science and Technology, a themed subway train in Jinan, and reports by relatives and associates of scientists in Shenyang and Dalian. It concludes that society already respects scientists, but dissemination modes close to ordinary people, such as short-video platforms, mall big screens, and public transit, can help the spirit of scientists take root and shape value orientation, ultimately inspiring more young people to become scientists.
Summary: Chinese researchers have successfully completed an Earth-Moon two-way high-speed laser communication experiment, making China the second country in the world to master deep-space laser communication technology. The team, led by Yang Lei and Zhan Yueying of the Technology and Engineering Center for Space Utilization of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, overcame challenges in ultra-long-distance precision aiming, weak-signal detection, and high-speed transmission to achieve downlink rates of 100 Mbps, paving the way for future deep-space exploration and an eventual Earth-Moon information network. The experiment faced setbacks, including damaged satellite solar panels, but persistence led to success, though China still trails some countries in communication rate and distance. Future plans include increasing rates, overcoming nighttime limitations, and extending the technology to Mars and beyond.
Summary: The author, an academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and professor at Fudan University, recounts his team's 30 years of research on mesoporous materials, highlighting their "stepwise method" for synthesizing mesoporous polymers and carbon. He notes that mesoporous carbon has found applications in energy storage, such as silicon-carbon anodes, and in petrochemical catalysis through a composite catalyst developed with Sinopec. He identifies the current challenge as achieving "precise synthesis" of materials combining atomic-level structure with mesoporous surface area. Receiving the 2026 Future Science Prize, he emphasizes that basic research requires setting aside utilitarian motives and calls for optimizing the innovation environment to reduce pressures like "papers only" and "titles only" on young researchers. He concludes by encouraging more young people to pursue chemistry and long-term scientific questions.
Summary: The author reflects on how to live more gently and calmly by cherishing small, unexpected blessings, such as a clay pot that grew moss, a wild cat that befriended them, and a shade-loving plant called Selaginella uncinata. They argue that much haste and anxiety comes from mobile phones seizing control of one's time, and advocate for reclaiming that time through habits like reading, revising texts, and cooking. The author notes they have not had their phone ring for twenty years and have not delayed important matters or offended friends. They conclude that nurturing daily habits and rejecting unwarranted intrusions makes life calm and full, and that in nurturing the days, the days nurture you in return.
Summary: The article warns against "favors done with the current," defined as taking advantage of a likely-to-succeed situation to do a small kindness and win goodwill, citing Li Fang of the Northern Song who refused a private request for recommendation so credit for the favor would return to the sovereign, and Peng Dehuai who insisted his nephew be assessed at a lower military rank, writing that "those near the water tower do 'not' get the moon first." It argues such conduct is in essence speculation for profit, and that the loss of work style begins with small accommodations or compromises of principle, though it does not mean severing all human feeling. The piece concludes that while human sentiment can nourish all things, before public instruments one must not drift with the tide, and only by clearly distinguishing public from private can laws benefit the masses.
Summary: The author, a teacher of over 30 years, recounts meeting a former student at a hospital who felt she had disappointed her teacher by not achieving eminence. The teacher reassured her that living openly and honorably, managing one's family well, is already wonderful, reigniting the student's confidence. The teacher reflects on having taught more than 7,000 students, few of whom have come to recognize her, but finds joy in brief encounters, such as a security guard and a restaurant server who shyly acknowledged her. She emphasizes that the educational goal is not eminence but confident, healthy, happy lives in ordinary posts. The piece concludes with her wish to plant this lesson once more in her students' hearts.
Summary: The poem reflects on the solar term White Dew, recalling a family scene in a small town in Jiaodong after the father's transfer from the army. The mother cooks pumpkin porridge with white sugar, saying that tasting sweetness at White Dew ensures a life without bitterness, while the father knocks down reddened jujubes from a tree. In the evening, the family shells peanuts together, and the parents' calm bearing is likened to two crops standing side by side, adapting easily to any circumstances. The speaker, at eighteen, stands in the courtyard watching dew condense on leaves, surrounded by the scent of harvest and the clear radiance of all things.
Summary: The article is a photo report featuring the oil painting *Guilin Mountains* by artist Wu Guanzhong, which is held in the collection of the National Art Museum of China.
Summary: The article is a first-person narrative about returning home to pull corn in autumn, describing the journey through misty mountains and the sensory details of the harvest. The narrator joins Xiao Pang in the corn field, noting the physical toll and the technique of pulling corn, while reflecting on how mechanization and roads have made the work faster than in childhood. The narrator asks his grandfather, Gong, why he still plants so much corn at nearly eighty years old, but Gong responds by showing his calloused hand. The piece ends with Gong walking slowly toward the corn piled like a golden mountain in the main room, emphasizing generational ties to the land.
Summary: The article describes a stay at the Xiaolangdi Water Control Project, where the author observes swiftlets flying over the dam and surrounding landscape. It details the swiftlets' behavior, their nests in the Baxia Gorge, and the ecological richness of the management area, which hosts over 300 bird species. The piece highlights the spectacular water-and-sediment regulation events each June and July, during which the swiftlets playfully dive through the discharge. The narrative follows the swiftlet's seasonal migration south and its eventual return to Xiaolangdi. The article is a descriptive, nature-focused account without any mention of political figures or U.S.-China relations.
By: 本报记者 龚 鸣
Those who accomplish great undertakings must put the people at the center.
"Development is the key to realizing the happiness of the people." On September 21, 2021, facing the question of the times as to where the global development cause was headed, President Xi Jinping solemnly put forward the Global Development Initiative at the General Debate of the 76th Session of the United Nations General Assembly, providing Chinese solutions for revitalizing the global development cause.
Over the past 5 years, under the leadership of President Xi Jinping, the Global Development Initiative has expanded from a Chinese proposition into an international consensus, from alignment of goals into rich practice, becoming a widely welcomed international public good.
Over the past 5 years, the concept-led demonstration effect of the Initiative has continued to be released, cooperation mechanisms in various fields have been continuously improved, and tangible cooperation outcomes have landed one after another, providing strong support for Global South countries to enhance their capacity for independent development, and injecting important impetus into the implementation of the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
The consensus on prioritizing development continues to consolidate
"Adhere to prioritizing development, and create a future of shared prosperity." Not long ago, President Xi Jinping attended the 26th Meeting of the Council of Heads of State of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization and delivered an important speech, placing new expectations on the SCO: high-quality Belt and Road cooperation, and the priority region for implementing the Global Development Initiative. At the "SCO Plus" meeting, President Xi Jinping emphasized that mutual benefit and win-win, inclusive and beneficial for all are the direction of development, calling on all parties to "focus on development issues, adhere to openness and cooperation, bridge the digital and intelligent divides, and let technological revolutions and development outcomes benefit the people of all countries."
At present, the international situation is volatile and intertwined, wars and conflicts are rising and falling successively, the development deficit continues to widen, climate change, the digital divide, food and energy security and other issues are intensifying, and global development faces new challenges. How to grasp the changes of the world and answer the questions of the times? President Xi Jinping's thinking has always focused on development, this fundamental issue.
From regional to global, from the SCO to broader multilateral cooperation, President Xi Jinping has repeatedly advocated openness and cooperation, conveying China's firm confidence in joining hands with all parties to implement the Global Development Initiative——
Toward Global South countries, he put forward the need to "adhere to the people-centered development philosophy, and promote the implementation of the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development"; toward Latin American partners, he called for "jointly implementing the Global Development Initiative, firmly safeguarding the multilateral trading system, safeguarding the stability and unimpeded flow of global industrial and supply chains, and safeguarding an open and cooperative international environment"; toward BRICS partners, he emphasized that "China is willing to work with other BRICS countries to implement the Global Development Initiative, advance high-quality Belt and Road cooperation, leverage respective strengths, deepen practical cooperation, and create more cooperation outcomes in economy, trade, finance, science and technology and other fields"; for the global food and agriculture cause, he pointed out that "China is willing to join hands with the international community to implement the Global Development Initiative, advance the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, promote the building of a community with a shared future for mankind, and make new and greater contributions to enhancing the well-being of the people of all countries"……
United Nations Secretary-General Guterres stated that, under the strong leadership of President Xi Jinping, no matter how difficult and complex the international situation, China has always firmly supported multilateralism, supported the the United Nations cause, and promoted international cooperation, setting an example for the world.
Looking back at 2021, the pandemic of the century and the major changes unseen in a century were superimposed and intertwined, and the global development cause stood at a crossroads. President Xi Jinping put forward the Global Development Initiative, placing development in a prominent position within the global macroeconomic policy framework, with eight key areas of cooperation fully aligned with the 17 goals of the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
"Adhere to prioritizing development," "adhere to being people-centered," "adhere to inclusiveness and mutual benefit," "adhere to innovation-driven development," "adhere to harmony between humanity and nature," "adhere to action-oriented approach"——the Chinese solutions that keep pace with the times point out the direction for the global development cause and international development cooperation.
"The Global Development Initiative will surely provide new opportunities for the economic development of all countries," "This is a concrete manifestation of practicing genuine multilateralism," "All parties look forward to sharing China's development achievements and concepts"……The international community is greatly inspired.
Since the Initiative was put forward 5 years ago, China's average annual contribution rate to global economic growth has remained at around 30%, and the "Governance of China" continues to inject valuable confidence and contribute progressive strength into the world.
President Xi Jinping personally chaired the High-level Dialogue on Global Development, and China has held high-level meetings on the Global Development Initiative during the UN General Assembly for 4 consecutive years, founded the Global Shared Development Action Forum, and strengthened policy dialogue and exchange of ideas.
China has released the Global Development Report for 4 consecutive years, focusing on analyzing the major challenges and opportunities facing global development, seeking feasible solutions for common and sustainable development; took the lead in establishing the Global Development Promotion Center, jointly building a Global Development Promotion Center Network with more than 80 countries, regions and international organizations; established the China-United Nations Global South South-South Development Support Mechanism with the United Nations, planned with the United Nations Development Programme to establish a Global Sustainable Development Center in Shanghai, and proactively established the Global Development Academy.
More than 130 countries and international organizations support the Initiative and participate in cooperation, nearly 100 countries, regions and international organizations have signed cooperation documents with China on the Initiative, 88 countries have joined the "Group of Friends of the Global Development Initiative," and the UN system's task force on advancing the Initiative has attracted more than 20 development agencies to actively participate……The consensus on prioritizing development has taken deep root in people's hearts, and the global development partnership has taken shape with vigor and momentum.
This year marks the opening year of China's 15th Five-Year Plan. The outline of the 15th Five-Year Plan proposes to "deepen solidarity and cooperation with developing countries, support the Global South to unite and strengthen itself," "promote global poverty reduction cooperation, strengthen the foreign aid system construction and whole-chain management, and increase foreign aid efforts," "implement the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development," further clarifying the direction for the implementation of the Global Development Initiative and the promotion of common global development.
Zou Ciyong, Deputy Director-General of the United Nations Industrial Development Organization, stated that China actively promotes the coordinated advancement of the Global Development Initiative and the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, and its firm commitment to and support for global development provide valuable certainty for the world, greatly inspiring UN agencies and numerous developing countries.
The vision of benefiting the whole world is becoming increasingly clear
Leaving no country and no one behind is the goal of the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, and also the value pursuit of the Global Development Initiative. China firmly believes that only when the people of all countries enjoy a good life can prosperity endure, security be guaranteed, and human rights have a foundation.
As the largest developing country, China has always placed its own development within the coordinate system of human development, creating new opportunities for world development through its own development. Starting from May 1 this year, China has fully implemented zero-tariff treatment for 53 African countries that have diplomatic relations with China, demonstrating China's sincerity in pursuing common development and mutual benefit with the Global South. Up to now, China has provided development assistance to more than 160 countries, supporting the development of the world, especially developing countries, through concrete actions.
——Development resources continue to converge. China has jointly carried out more than 2,000 cooperation projects with all parties, benefiting the people of more than 120 countries. China has upgraded the Global Development and South-South Cooperation Fund and increased its capital to US$4 billion, implementing more than 200 projects in over 70 countries with more than 20 international organizations, benefiting more than 40 million people. China has established a Global Development Fund Pool, jointly established a US$14 billion special fund for the Global Development Initiative with Chinese and foreign financial institutions, attracting the participation of diverse entities from government and society, and expanding the channels for implementing Initiative projects.
In several provinces of Laos, China has cooperated with UNICEF to carry out child nutrition projects, training more than 1,900 Lao frontline workers, and through the prevention, screening and standardized treatment of acute malnutrition, directly saving the lives of thousands of children suffering from severe wasting. Bouakhao, Deputy Head of the Health and Health Promotion Division of the Luang Prabang Provincial Health Department in Laos, said that the project has provided nutritional supplies, medical equipment and professional training support, and "these helps have created a healthier future for Lao children."
——Practical cooperation has achieved remarkable results. China has established a project pool for the Global Development Initiative, mobilizing more than US$23 billion in cumulative funds to carry out cooperation projects, covering major landmark projects such as the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, as well as "small but beautiful" livelihood projects such as Juncao technology and Luban Workshops; has held more than 10,000 capacity-building programs for developing countries, training more than 200,000 talents of various types, helping developing countries enhance their capacity for independent and sustainable development.
The Luban Workshop in Ethiopia, inaugurated and put into operation in 2021, has been designated by the African Union as a training center for high-quality skilled talent for the whole of Africa. From mechatronics to industrial robots, many young people have mastered industrialization skills here, with graduates spread across multiple African countries. Tefera Derbew Yimam, Ethiopian Ambassador to China, believes that by empowering institutions and training teachers, the Luban Workshop brings long-term benefits to the local area, and "this is not only an educational platform, but also a 'catalyst' for promoting economic transformation and common development."
——Cooperation mechanisms continue to be enriched. China has promoted the establishment of a China-Africa (Ethiopia)-United Nations (Industrial Development Organization) Cooperation Demonstration Center, opening up a new prospect for trilateral development cooperation, promoting the implementation of industrialization, agricultural modernization and talent cultivation projects in multiple African countries; has built innovative platforms such as the Global Development Promotion Center Innovation Training Base, the Global Development Youth Leaders Hub, and the Global Women's Capacity Building Center, working with all parties to jointly promote development
Poverty reduction is the first of the eight key areas of cooperation under the Global Development Initiative. Shibadong Village in Hunan Province and Tingsong Village in Laos have become "international sister villages," Uzbekistan is piloting the promotion of China's poverty reduction experience in all its states, Zimbabwe has built its second China-Zimbabwe agricultural cooperation demonstration village……The international poverty reduction cooperation promoted by China is yielding abundant results. In May this year, China, together with 53 countries and 9 international institutions, jointly initiated the establishment of the Global Alliance for Poverty Reduction and Development, building a new platform for countries to exchange poverty reduction experience and strengthen international cooperation.
"We sincerely appreciate the important role China plays in international development." Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister Aun Pornmoniroth stated that China's path of poverty reduction provides important reference for other countries, and "Cambodia hopes to strengthen exchanges and cooperation with China to help advance the poverty reduction process."
A path as smooth as a whetstone, continuing to move forward without stopping. In the next 5 years, China will carry out another 2,000 "small but beautiful" livelihood projects in developing countries, and will cooperate with relevant countries and organizations such as the WHO to carry out more health cooperation projects; around the eight key areas of the Global Development Initiative, it will carry out more human resources training programs to help developing countries continuously enhance their capacity for independent development and resilience; it will also continue to inject funds into the WTO's "China Program" to help least developed countries integrate into the global trading system. Ghanaian President Mahama said that these practical measures are crucial for expanding the space for common development of the Global South and achieving common progress.
The foundation for prosperity and stability is becoming more sustainable
President Xi Jinping emphasized: "World prosperity and stability cannot be built on the basis of the poor becoming poorer and the rich becoming richer. Every country wants to live a good life, and modernization is not the privilege of any one country." Only when all countries develop together can there be true development and sustainable development, and can the global development deficit be resolved.
In April this year, the Third High-level Meeting of the Global Shared Development Action Forum set up three sub-forums:"Digital Empowerment for High-Quality Development of the Global South," "Connecting World Wisdom Building a Climate-Resilient Future Together," and"From Commitment to Action: Leading Capital through Multilateral Cooperation Creating a Sustainable and Better Future Together," responding precisely to the development predicament of the widening global development deficit and the intensifying problems of climate change and the digital divide, aiming to help achieve stronger, greener and healthier global development
On September 13, at the second plenary session of the 18th BRICS Summit, President Xi Jinping put forward the Open Source and Inclusive AI Initiative, the Trade and Investment Facilitation Initiative, the Digital Industry Cooperation Initiative, the Intelligent Manufacturing Cooperation Initiative, and the Science and Technology Talent Cultivation Initiative, announcing that China will take the lead in building a BRICS AI Open Source Zone, establishing a BRICS Digital Industry Cloud Platform, implementing a BRICS Youth Science and Technology Innovation Exchange Program and multiple other practical cooperation measures, empowering common development of the Global South
From digital interconnection to climate resilience, from green transformation to AI governance, China focuses on strengthening scientific and technological cooperation among developing countries, letting development achievements benefit more people, and supporting the modernization process of the Global South. Under the Global Development Fund Pool, a"Digital Capacity Building Special Fund" has been established to support the"Digital South" brand of the Global Development Initiative. China has also initiated the establishment of an International Alliance of Satellite for Sustainable Development, providing solid space observation data support for global development
In Cuba, implementing the"Cuba Digital Transformation Project," upgrading relevant digital infrastructure by providing hardware equipment, training technical personnel, etc.; supporting about 100 African SMEs to expand exports of about 1,000 types of products through e-commerce platforms, enhancing Africa's digital economy development capacity; the"Mazu" intelligent meteorological early warning solution has been applied and implemented in 7 countries including Pakistan, Ethiopia and the Solomon Islands, and also supports more than 40 countries worldwide to try it out on the"cloud"……
"The support China has provided in infrastructure, technological progress, training opportunities, development cooperation and other fields has expanded the possibilities for the Global South to achieve modernization." Grenada's Minister of Tourism, Creative Economy and Culture, Thomas, said,"We cherish this spirit of solidarity and cooperation."
Facing the problem of unbalanced and insufficient development brought by artificial intelligence, China has initiated the establishment of the World Artificial Intelligence Cooperation Organization, with 38 countries as founding member states. At the opening ceremony of the 2026 World Artificial Intelligence Conference and High-level Meeting on Global AI Governance, China announced a series of measures to further support global AI development and advance global AI capacity building. Pakistani China expert Sultan Hali remarked with emotion that China is not only an important driving force for AI development, but also committed to letting the achievements of AI development benefit all of humanity
At present, the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development has entered its final sprint phase. The recently released "2026 Sustainable Development Goals Report" shows that among the 139 SDG indicators with comparable data, only 36% are on track, nearly half are progressing slowly, and 15% have even regressed
Andrei Kortunov, member of the Russian International Affairs Council, stated that if the sustainable development agenda is not properly implemented, everything, including international security, will lose its solid foundation. China's proposal of the Global Development Initiative demonstrates the broad vision of global development cooperation and reflects the universal expectation of countries around the world for development and stability
China is not only the proposer of the Global Development Initiative, but also an actor in global development cooperation. The practice of the past 5 years shows that only when the consensus on prioritizing development is translated into concrete projects, and the vision of benefiting the whole world is translated into livelihood outcomes, can the foundation for prosperity and stability be made more solid. Against the backdrop of lagging progress on the Sustainable Development Goals, the practical significance of the Global Development Initiative has become even more prominent. China is willing to work with all parties, strengthen confidence, work together with joint efforts, promote more inclusive, more universally beneficial and more resilient global development, let the sunshine of development sprinkle over every corner, let the seeds of hope take root and sprout on every piece of land, and jointly consolidate the development foundation for building a community with a shared future for mankind
Return to Top(Xinhua News Agency, Beijing, September 20) Recently, the General Office of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China and the General Office of the State Council issued the Opinions on Promoting the Reform of Higher Education Institutions by Category (hereinafter referred to as the Opinions), making systematic arrangements for promoting the reform of higher education institutions by category.
The Opinions points out that, in promoting the reform of higher education institutions by category, it is necessary to adhere to the guidance of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, fully implement the Party's educational policy, adhere to the socialist orientation of running schools, strengthen the Party's overall leadership over educational work, adhere to the general principle of seeking progress while maintaining stability (稳中求进, wen zhong qiu jin - "stable, seek, progress"), comprehensively grasp the political attributes, people's attributes, and strategic attributes of education, conform to the development characteristics of the popularization stage of higher education and the changing trends of the school-age population, coordinate the cultivation of talents around national strategic needs, take overall planning as the guide, take classified reform as the driving force, take scientific evaluation as the lever, build a self-strengthening and excellent higher education system, and accelerate the construction of a strong educational country.
The Opinions points out that it is necessary to optimize the classified layout and structure. Scientifically build a classified development system for higher education institutions, distinguish the basic directions of comprehensiveness and distinctive characteristics, establish a classification framework for higher education institutions, and establish a diversified and adaptable classification model for higher education institutions according to affiliation relationships; coordinate the coordinated development of higher education institutions under central departments and local higher education institutions; coordinate the layout of higher education resources; coordinate the improvement of the talent cultivation structure; coordinate the use of both international and domestic resources.
The Opinions points out that it is necessary to stimulate the momentum for classified development. Build a supporting force for serving major national strategies, give play to the leading role of the "Double First-Class" construction in the reform of research universities; build a strong foundational force for serving regional economic and social development, implement the project for building application-oriented undergraduate colleges and universities and discipline programs with quality characteristics, optimize the implementation of the plan for building high-level vocational colleges and universities and specialty programs; consolidate the fulcrum force for serving the innovative development of industries, give play to the traditional advantages of industry-characteristic higher education institutions, strengthen the capacity for serving the real economy; build a new form of integrated development of higher education, explore a new model for cultivating top-notch innovative talents at the national level.
The Opinions points out that it is necessary to improve the mechanisms for classified development. Improve the mechanism for the scientific establishment of higher education institutions, strengthen the national top-level design and macro-guidance; establish a mechanism for the classified management of higher education institutions, promote the formation of a higher education governance system and governance methods compatible with the classified development of higher education institutions; build a mechanism for the classified evaluation of higher education institutions, build an evaluation system with multiple tracks and multiple subjects; improve the resource allocation incentive mechanism; strengthen the mechanism for the adaptation of talent supply and demand, improve the mechanism for adjusting the setup of disciplines and specialties and the talent cultivation model that is driven by national strategic needs.
The Opinions emphasizes that it is necessary to strengthen organizational implementation, carry the Party's leadership through the entire process and all aspects of promoting the reform of higher education institutions by category, comprehensively strengthen Party building in higher education institutions, uphold and improve the president responsibility system under the leadership of the Party committee, effectively strengthen the political functions and organizational functions of grassroots Party organizations, steadily advance the reform, reasonably guide expectations, and create a favorable atmosphere.
Return to TopBy: 本报记者 冯春梅 刘博通 张 枨
Opening Remarks for the Column
Ethnic unity is the lifeline of the people of all ethnic groups in our country, and a sense of community for the Chinese nation is the foundation of ethnic unity. Since the 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, General Secretary Xi Jinping has planned ethnic work from the strategic height of realizing the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation, clearly proposing that consolidating a sense of community for the Chinese nation serve as the main line of the Party's ethnic work in the new era and the main line of all work in ethnic regions, forming General Secretary Xi Jinping's important thought on strengthening and improving ethnic work, and promoting historic achievements and historic changes in the cause of ethnic unity and progress in our country.
September 21 to 27 is the first Ethnic Unity and Progress Publicity Week following the implementation of the Law on the Promotion of Ethnic Unity and Progress. Starting today, this newspaper launches the column "Consolidating the Community of the Chinese Nation, All Chinese Are One Family," telling the vivid practices of cadres and people of all ethnic groups taking consolidating a sense of community for the Chinese nation as the main line, working together in unity and striving together for common prosperity and development, and showcasing the high-spirited demeanor of people of all ethnic groups uniting and striving to comprehensively build a modern socialist country and comprehensively advance the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation.
On the Horqin Grassland of Inner Mongolia, autumn rain falls in a drizzle, and the sky and earth stretch vast and wide.
After the rain clears, Xiridaobu Gacha in Horqin Right Wing Middle Banner of Hinggan League becomes lively. People of all ethnic groups sit around a stone table, where a publicity session on the Law on the Promotion of Ethnic Unity and Progress organized by the "Chat Team at the Doorstep" is underway.
"People always talk about exchanges, interactions, and integration — what does that actually mean?"
"During festivals, we all eat delicious food together, sing and dance together at the Nadam Fair. I respect your customs, you participate in my festivals — the feelings among all ethnic groups grow deeper the more we interact."
"What practical benefits can the Law on the Promotion of Ethnic Unity and Progress bring to us herders and farmers?"
"When everyone thinks with one mind and works with one strength, we can all live good lives together."
One word after another, amid laughter and conversation, stories of unity, new voices of the times, and new trends of civilization moisten the hearts of people of all ethnic groups like a fine rain.
"Given the scattered settlement of local herders and farmers, we have built a 'Chat Team at the Doorstep' covering three levels — banner, sumu (town), and gacha (village) — using the 'sitting around and chatting' method of publicity, so that people of all ethnic groups are willing to listen, can understand, and will remember." Wang Zhiguo, Executive Deputy Director of the Publicity Department of the Horqin Right Wing Middle Banner Party Committee and Director of the Banner Civilization Office, introduced. At present, this team carries out more than 3,000 publicity sessions of various kinds each year, benefiting 120,000 people.
In ethnic unity publicity, the most valuable approach is to influence without noise; in theoretical propaganda, the key is to enter the hearts of the people.
"As pomegranate flowers bloom, the seeds hold tightly together; the sons and daughters of China are connected heart to heart. The thousand-year-old cypress trees are joined at the roots; people of all ethnic groups are as close as one family…" At the Manhan Melody Tongxin Small Theater in Jungar Banner, Ordos City, accompanied by the melody of the national intangible cultural heritage Manhan Melody, the themed publicity performance "Manhan Melodies, a happy and harmonious atmosphere" (其乐融融, qi le rong rong - "joyful, harmonious") on consolidating a sense of community for the Chinese nation is underway.
"The publicity performance is held regularly every Friday and Saturday afternoon. We integrate consolidating a sense of community for the Chinese nation into the rhythm and lyrics of Manhan Melody, opening up the 'last kilometer' of connecting theoretical publicity with streets and neighborhoods and with the people, allowing the masses to subtly and gradually cultivate feelings of ethnic unity while appreciating intangible cultural heritage art." Hao Xiangmei, Deputy Director of the United Front Work Department of the Jungar Banner Party Committee, introduced that more than 40 performances have been staged to date.
The locality widely draws in folk artists and cultural volunteers, going deep into markets, streets, and cultural squares to carry out intangible cultural heritage touring performances, creating a social atmosphere of "Manhan melodies resounding, a happy and harmonious atmosphere," and promoting intangible cultural heritage to come alive and spread outward in ethnic unity publicity. "The whole banner has built a normalized publicity pattern of 'performances at markets, theaters on streets, activities every week,' forming a good communication effect in which the masses 'can understand, can remember, and can sing along,' allowing the concept of ethnic unity to take deep root in people's hearts." Hao Xiangmei said.
Cultural identity is the deepest level of identity and the root and lifeline of ethnic unity.
"From late April to early May 1947, the Inner Mongolia People's Congress was held here, proclaiming the establishment of the first provincial-level ethnic autonomous region under the leadership of the Communist Party of China…" Walking into the May First Site in Ulanhot City, Hinggan League, the solemn meeting hall and the hanging banners bring people back to the stirring years of several decades ago.
"The sky over our grassland has brightened, and the good days for grassland people are truly coming…" As the situational drama "The May First Congress" is performed, visitors transform into "congress delegates," immersively tracing red memories and receiving red education.
Make good use of red resources and consolidate the foundation of unity. "Taking the 'one museum, three sites' — consisting of the Inner Mongolia Ethnic Liberation Memorial Hall, the May First Site, the former office of Ulanhu, and the former office of the Inner Mongolia Party Committee — as the core, we have built an integrated research-study system and polished 10 high-quality red research-study tourism routes, promoting a sense of community for the Chinese nation to take firm root and become established (落地生根, luo di sheng gen - "land, fall, grow, root") and permeate people's hearts." Wang Tianfeng, Director of the Hinggan League Culture, Tourism and Sports Bureau, said.
"Through red reading clubs, paper-cutting, and artistic performances, we extensively carry out education on consolidating a sense of community for the Chinese nation for different age groups." Fang Wei, Deputy Director of the Inner Mongolia Ethnic Liberation Memorial Hall, said.
Young people carry the future of the nation, and the sentiment of ethnic unity must be allowed to permeate children's hearts.
"I read the story of 'Three Thousand Orphans Entering Inner Mongolia' in a book. Dugui Ma carefully raised orphans from the south, and the warmth among all ethnic groups is deeply moving. I hope to tell this story of boundless love and ethnic unity to more people." At the classic recitation competition of Hohhot No. 30 Middle School (The Second Affiliated School of Inner Mongolia Normal University), student Li Adiya shared her reflections.
The school breaks down classroom boundaries, allowing ethnic unity education to step out of the classroom, into the field, and into society. "We offer special cultural elective courses such as restoration of ancient books, calligraphy and painting, and making ethnic cuisine, and through classroom sharing, research-study practice, and volunteer service, we plant the concept of 'All Chinese Are One Family' deep in students' hearts." Principal Dong Shuanglong said.
"Studying together and helping each other makes me feel that all ethnic groups are one family." Li Adiya said.
Relying on the museum-school cooperation platform, the school organizes students to visit the Inner Mongolia Museum, where they become "Red Scarf docents," using their young voices to tell tourists from all over the moving history of exchanges, interactions, and integration among all ethnic groups in Inner Mongolia. "We continuously carry out the special course 'Museum on the Move,' leading young people to trace the shared historical memory of the Chinese nation and consolidate a sense of community for the Chinese nation." Liu Hongxuan, Education Supervisor of the Social Education Department of the Inner Mongolia Museum, introduced.
Today, across the land of Inner Mongolia, the seeds of ethnic unity are sown into the hearts of people of all ethnic groups. With hands joined and hearts linked, moving forward together in the same direction, a sense of community for the Chinese nation is being forged ever more firmly.
Return to Top(Xinhua News Agency, Beijing, September 20) Zhao Leji, Chairman of the NPC Standing Committee, held talks with Milton Dick, Speaker of the House of Representatives of the Parliament of the Commonwealth of Australia, at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on September 20.
Zhao Leji stated that last year, President Xi Jinping and Prime Minister Albanese held a successful meeting in Beijing, providing new strategic guidance for the development of China-Australia relations. China is willing to work with Australia to implement the important common understandings of the two countries' leaders, maintain close friendly exchanges, enhance political mutual trust, expand practical cooperation, and promote the sustained and steady development of the China-Australia Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.
Zhao Leji pointed out that in recent years, through the joint efforts of both China and Australia, bilateral relations have continued to improve and develop, and cooperation in various fields has advanced steadily. Facts have shown that adhering to equality and mutual respect, seeking common ground while reserving differences (求同存异, qiu tong cun yi - "seek same, preserve difference"), and mutually beneficial cooperation accords with the fundamental interests of both countries and their peoples. The two sides should consolidate the political foundation, respect each other's core interests and major concerns, and properly handle differences and sensitive issues. They should deepen practical cooperation, strengthen cooperation in traditional fields such as agriculture, minerals, and energy, and expand cooperation in fields such as green development, clean energy, digital economy, and addressing climate change. They should continue to strengthen exchanges and cooperation in education, culture, tourism, sub-national, and youth fields, further facilitate people-to-people exchanges, and cement the public opinion foundation for China-Australia friendship. They should strengthen multilateral coordination, jointly uphold the international system with the United Nations at its core and the international order based on international law, and promote the building of a more just and equitable global governance system.
Zhao Leji emphasized that the National People's Congress of China is willing to work with the Parliament of the Commonwealth of Australia to strengthen friendly exchanges at all levels between legislative bodies, candidly exchange views on issues of common concern, promote the formulation of legal documents conducive to bilateral cooperation, and strengthen communication and coordination within multilateral mechanisms such as the Inter-Parliamentary Union. Zhao Leji also briefed on China's efforts to promote green development, stating that China is willing to exchange experience with Australia, deepen cooperation, and jointly contribute to the global green transition.
Dick stated that at present, Australia-China relations are developing steadily, cooperation in various fields is being carried out pragmatically, and both countries have benefited from in-depth economic and trade exchanges. The members of this visiting delegation from the Australian House of Representatives come from different regions and different political parties of Australia, but all hope to see Australia-China relations developing steadily and maintaining long-term progress (行稳致远, xing wen zhi yuan -"walk steadily, reach far"). Australia adheres to the One-China policy and hopes to strengthen exchanges and cooperation with China in fields such as trade, culture, agriculture, mining, addressing climate change, and artificial intelligence, to achieve mutual benefit and win-win results (互利共赢, hu li gong ying -"mutual benefit, win together"). The Australian House of Representatives is willing to strengthen communication and exchanges with the National People's Congress of China, provide safeguards for practical cooperation between the two sides, contribute to the development of Australia-China relations, and benefit the peoples of both countries.
Tie Ning attended the talks.
Return to TopBy: 本报记者 于春晖 郑延冰 杨 迅
In September, the land of the three Xiang rivers is marked by high skies and clear air, with pleasant autumn scenery.
Inside Changsha's Zoomlion Intelligent Industrial City, over 300 intelligent manufacturing production lines work in coordination with more than 2,000 adaptive industrial robots, with an excavator rolling off the line every six minutes on average. In Loudi, central Hunan, inside the intelligent workshop of Hunan Hongwang New Materials Technology Co., Ltd., rolling mills rumble as coils of high-grade silicon steel are produced, with the entire production line achieving full-process automation. In Yiyang, along the Zijiang River, the Ming and Qing dynasty ancient alleys draw a fair number of tourists, where intangible cultural heritage projects such as Dongting woodcarving and Huagu opera are passed down and kept alive amid the gray bricks and black tiles...
Since the 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, General Secretary Xi Jinping has visited Hunan many times for inspection and research, requiring that "greater efforts be made in leading industrial innovation with scientific and technological innovation" and that Hunan strive to "build itself into a national important advanced manufacturing hub, a hub of scientific and technological innovation with core competitiveness, and a highland for reform and opening up in the inland regions."
Keeping the instructions in mind, Hunan works hard and forges ahead with determination. In consumption upgrading, innovation-driven development, and opening-up empowerment, Hunan is taking multiple measures simultaneously (多措并举, duo cuo bing ju - "many, measures, together, rise"), pooling new momentum for development by transforming the growth model and adjusting the economic structure.
Taking multiple measures simultaneously to expand domestic demand and stimulate consumption potential
General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out that "expanding domestic demand concerns both economic stability and economic security; it is not a makeshift or stopgap measure (权宜之计, quan yi zhi ji - "temporary, expedient, scheme, plan") but a strategic move," and stressed "accelerating efforts to make up for the shortcomings in domestic demand, especially consumption, so that domestic demand becomes the primary driving force and stabilizing anchor of economic growth."
As night falls, the lanterns along Changde's He Street light up one by one, the singing of sixian opera drifts lazily along the ripples of the Chuanzi River, and passing tourists either stop to watch intangible cultural heritage performances or wander along the ancient street in search of specialty food shops.
In March 2024, General Secretary Xi Jinping came to Changde's He Street for inspection and pointed out: "Changde is a place with cultural heritage. The sixian opera, gaoqiang, and work songs here should be inherited and utilized well through appropriate carriers, and developed in keeping with the times." In recent years, the city of Changde has actively restored the appearance of the old He Street, gathered 87 intangible cultural heritage projects, and reproduced the bustling scene of an ancient commercial port from the Ming and Qing dynasties. In 2025, Changde's He Street received a total of 18.2467 million tourist visits, a year-on-year increase of 75%; the total annual turnover reached 1.239 billion yuan, a year-on-year increase of 58.85%, as the traditional cultural lineage was transformed into visible, tangible consumption traffic.
To thoroughly implement General Secretary Xi Jinping's important instructions and the decisions and arrangements of the Party Central Committee, Hunan has made sustained efforts around innovating consumption scenarios and enriching consumption formats, issuing a series of policy measures such as the "Hunan Province Action Plan for Boosting Consumption" and the "Hunan Province Implementation Plan for Cultivating New Growth Points in Service Consumption (2026-2028)," effectively stimulating residents' consumption vitality. The Wanlou Tower on the banks of the Xiangjiang River in Xiangtan and the Tianwen Island themed on Qu Yuan in Huaihua have both become well-known local cultural tourism consumption brands, attracting tourists from all over.
The momentum of commodity consumption upgrading continues to strengthen. Data show that in 2025, Hunan's trade-in programs cumulatively drove nearly 100 billion yuan in sales; in 2026, 10 new categories of subsidized products were added, driving the retail sales of communication equipment, new energy vehicles, and wearable devices above the designated size to grow by 11.1%, 11.0%, and 44.9% respectively in the first half of the year; in the service consumption sector, in the first half of this year, the operating revenues of Hunan's sports, literary and artistic creation and performance, and cultural activity service enterprises above the designated size grew by 16.4%, 11.3%, and 15.1% respectively.
Shen Yumou, Secretary of the Party Leadership Group and Director of the Hunan Provincial Department of Commerce, said that Hunan adheres to closely combining the improvement of people's livelihoods with the promotion of consumption, and investment in physical assets with investment in people, truly leading new demand with high-quality supply and activating new momentum with innovative scenarios, injecting an inexhaustible stream of power into high-quality development.
Breaking new ground through innovation, using science and technology to lead industries toward the new
In the production workshop of Lens Technology Co., Ltd. in Liuyang, automated production lines run smoothly, with key processes achieving unmanned operation. This traditional manufacturing enterprise, which started with consumer electronics glass covers, is relying on its precision manufacturing capabilities to transform and upgrade into frontier tracks such as advanced semiconductor packaging and embodied intelligent robots.
Innovation is the primary driving force for development.
In recent years, Hunan has successively issued documents such as the "Hunan Province Implementation Plan for Building a Modern Industrial System" and the "Implementation Plan for Deepening the 'Wisdom Empowering Ten Thousand Enterprises' Action and Accelerating the Digital Transformation of Manufacturing," making strategic arrangements for transforming and upgrading traditional industries, cultivating and strengthening emerging industries, and laying out ahead of time the construction of future industries.
Hunan is a major province of traditional manufacturing. Accelerating the transformation and upgrading of traditional industries is an important task facing Hunan in developing new quality productive forces in light of local conditions.
As a leading enterprise in Hunan's high-end equipment manufacturing sector, Zoomlion has in recent years continued its transformation and upgrading toward intelligence, green development, and integration. In Zoomlion Intelligent Industrial City, the excavator intelligent factory production line can achieve mixed-flow production of more than 100 product models. The enterprise is also actively carrying out systematic layout around the embodied intelligent technology chain, launching 8 humanoid robots at the product level and releasing the "Yungu Embodied Intelligence Large Model" and its supporting toolchain at the technology level, gradually building full-lifecycle technical capabilities covering data collection, model training, simulation verification, deployment, and operations and maintenance.
Emerging industries and future industries are advanced industrial forms bred and brought forth by the new round of technological revolution and industrial transformation. They represent the direction and future of industrial evolution and are important fields for developing new quality productive forces.
Sunward Star Aviation Industry Co., Ltd. is a high-tech joint-stock private enterprise located in Zhuzhou and a company in which the listed company Sunward Intelligent Equipment Co., Ltd. holds a stake. In September 2020, General Secretary Xi Jinping visited Sunward Intelligent for inspection and research, pointing out that "innovation is the most important quality of enterprise management and is also what we must achieve in climbing over ridges and passing through passes in the future." In recent years, following the direction pointed out by General Secretary Xi Jinping, Sunward Star Aviation has continuously advanced "pioneering innovation," laid out ahead of schedule and seized opportunities in the development of the low-altitude economy, concentrated efforts on tackling key difficulties in the domestic production of core components for the low-altitude economy, and achieved technological breakthroughs in multiple core fields. At present, the company's "Arrola" light sport aircraft has cumulatively delivered nearly 500 units, with a domestic market share of over 80% for similar products, and is also exported overseas. He Qinghua, the company's founder, said: "Our vision is to create Chinese value for the aviation field."
As of June this year, Hunan has a total of 146 A-share listed companies, covering many fields such as semiconductors, pharmaceuticals, non-ferrous metals, and precision tool manufacturing, providing a good foundation and effective support for economic transformation and development; at the same time, Hunan continues to make new progress in scenario innovation and large-scale application of many frontier technologies, with the output of high-end intelligent products rising rapidly. In the first half of this year, the output of sensors by industrial enterprises above the designated size across Hunan Province grew by 22.1%, the output of printed circuit boards grew by 17.5%, and the output of optoelectronic devices grew by 17.3%.
From construction machinery to low-altitude equipment, from intelligent equipment to electronic components, Hunan is transforming the momentum of scientific and technological innovation into the driving force of industrial leapfrogging.
Forging ahead with determination, building a more competitive inland opening-up highland
Amid the Wuling Mountains, the freight yard of Huaihua International Land Port is a scene of bustle, with containers being hoisted and loaded in an orderly manner and trains sounding their whistles as they depart, heading to Southeast Asian countries via international corridors such as the China-Laos, China-Vietnam, and China-Myanmar routes. This small inland city once hidden deep in western Hunan has now become an important gateway of the New Western Land-Sea Corridor. As of September 13 this year, the Huaihua International Land Port has cumulatively dispatched 49,156 TEUs, equivalent to 983 trains, a year-on-year increase of 14%.
Opening up is the only way for a country to achieve prosperity and development. Although Hunan is located inland, it strives to be at the forefront of opening up.
In recent years, Hunan has anchored its goal of building itself into a highland for reform and opening up in the inland regions, continuously deepening the breadth and depth of opening up to the outside world, raising the level of Hunan's open development, and stimulating the vitality of Hunan's economy through open development.
In terms of top-level design, Hunan has issued policy documents such as the "Implementation Plan for Deeply Implementing the Strategy of Upgrading the Pilot Free Trade Zone and Building the China (Hunan) Pilot Free Trade Zone to a High Standard"; in Hunan's 15th Five-Year Plan, arrangements have been made for continuously striving to build an inland reform and opening-up highland, emphasizing accelerating the improvement of institutional mechanisms for market-based allocation of factors, building high-energy-level opening platforms and corridors, and raising the quality and level of trade and investment cooperation.
In terms of platform construction, Hunan has issued the "Hunan Province Three-Year Action Plan for Economic and Trade Cooperation with Africa (2026-2028)," clearly giving full play to the platform and resource-gathering advantages of the China-Africa Economic and Trade Expo and the Pilot Zone for In-Depth China-Africa Economic and Trade Cooperation, focusing on six advantageous industries including automobiles and auto parts and construction machinery, concentrating on five major directions of industry going global, cultivation of business entities, logistics support, financial empowerment, and model innovation, making good use of the zero-tariff policy for African products exported to China, and promoting the steady growth of Hunan's trade scale with Africa.
In terms of the logistics system, Hunan is actively advancing the construction of the China-Europe Railway Express (Changsha), the Huaihua International Land Port, the Hunan-Guangdong-Africa sea-rail intermodal transport, the river-sea intermodal transport of Yueyang's Chenglingji Port, and the air port of Changsha Huanghua International Airport, gradually forming a three-dimensional, multi-dimensional international trade corridor system connecting rivers, seas, land, and air.
Li Yi, Associate Researcher at the Chinese Academy of International Trade and Economic Cooperation of the Ministry of Commerce, believes that Hunan's series of measures to build an inland reform and opening-up highland have effectively broken through the inherent constraints of Hunan as an inland region, transforming Hunan from an inland hinterland into a frontier of opening up, enabling it to better utilize both domestic and international markets and resources, integrate more deeply into the new development pattern, and further stimulate the vitality of Hunan's high-quality economic development.
The tides surge across the three Xiang rivers, and the boats race forward. Hunan firmly establishes and practices a correct view of political achievements, adheres to innovation-driven development, continuously deepens reform and expands opening up, strives to break through the critical juncture of transformation and upgrading, and bursts forth with even more surging vitality.
Return to TopBy: 本报记者 李维俊
In the golden autumn season, the Xiang River flows quietly past Daping Ferry in Quanzhou County, Guilin City, Guangxi. More than 90 years ago, this was an important ferry point where the Central Red Army made its forced crossing of the Xiang River.
In 1934, in order to ensure that the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China and the main force of the Central Red Army could cross the Xiang River, and to shatter the enemy's attempt to encircle and annihilate the Red Army east of the Xiang River, tens of thousands of Red Army officers and soldiers stained the banks of the Xiang River with their blood. This battle became an important historical event bearing on the very survival or extinction of the Chinese revolution.
In April 2021, General Secretary Xi Jinping made his first stop on his inspection tour of Guangxi at the Memorial Park for the Red Army's Long March Xiang River Campaign, located in Caiwan Town, Quanzhou County, where he earnestly instructed: "Carry forward the spiritual lineage of Communists" and "On the new Long March road toward the Second Centenary Goal, we must hold firm to the conviction of certain victory, have the courage to overcome all major risks and challenges from both at home and abroad, and march forward courageously toward the goal of the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation."
Thoroughly implementing the spirit of General Secretary Xi Jinping's important instructions, Guilin has continuously excavated and protected the red resources of the Xiang River Campaign, told well the story of the Long March, advanced the comprehensive revitalization of rural areas, and walked well the Long March road of the new era.
The red gene is passed down from generation to generation —
Entering the Memorial Hall of the Red Army's Long March Xiang River Campaign, located within the Memorial Park for the Red Army's Long March Xiang River Campaign, one's eyes are met with wartime telegrams marked "extremely urgent" (十万火急, shi wan huo ji - "ten, thousand, fire, urgent") and "extremely urgent, urgent" (万万火急), while rust-covered weapons and equipment lie quietly on display. Visitors move through the hall, pausing from time to time to look closely. Study tour groups of primary and secondary school students stand in neat formation, as docents introduce that period of red history against the exhibits.
In the exhibition hall, "Red Scarf Docents" can be seen from time to time. Jiang Yongxiang, a student of Wenyuan Primary School in Quanzhou County, is one of them. Standing before a schematic map of the Xiang River Campaign, he is telling visitors the story of the Red Army's forced crossing of the Xiang River. "Being able to tell everyone the story of my hometown makes me especially proud!"
Since 2025, the locality has innovatively built the "Red Scarf Docent" brand, and has already trained more than 100 outstanding Red Scarf Docents.
"Through special exhibitions in the memorial hall, red study tours, and other forms, the park links together battlefield sites, historical artifacts, and revolutionary stories, inheriting and promoting red culture," said Zhou Yunliang, director of the Quanzhou Red Army Long March Xiang River Campaign Cultural Preservation and Inheritance Center. As of June 2026, the memorial park has received a cumulative total of more than 11 million visitors.
Red routes link up various localities —
On April 27, 2025, the "Guilin Red Xiang River" red tourism bus was put into service, traveling along the footprints of the Red Army's Long March to various places in northern Guangxi.
One route links up a stretch of history.
Relying on the "panoramic" tour offered by the red tourism bus, in Quanzhou visitors can enter the Memorial Park for the Red Army's Long March Xiang River Campaign and retrace the Long March trail; in Xing'an, they can pay respects at the Monument Park to the Red Army Martyrs Who Broke Through the Xiang River on the Long March; in Guanyang, they can visit the Jiuhai Well Red Army Memorial Park of the Xinxu Blocking Action in the Xiang River Campaign; and entering Longsheng, they can stay in Dong ethnic minority homestays, drink oil tea, and listen to pipa songs...
A stretch of history connects the past with the future.
Stepping into Jiangkou Village, Lejiang Town, Longsheng Various Nationalities Autonomous County, one sees a 38.8-meter-tall Dong ethnic minority drum tower standing quietly. This "Red Army Drum Tower" was built with funds voluntarily raised by the masses, in memory of the Red Army that was once stationed here.
On the hillside beside the drum tower, the ruins of a small grain depot topped with a red five-pointed star record the deep bond between the army and the people: back then, when a fire broke out in the village, Red Army soldiers risked their lives to put out the flames and rescue the grain depot. Afterwards, the villagers wanted to give the grain to the Red Army, but the Red Army soldiers politely declined: "Let these rice grains be kept as seed for next year." The villagers have cherished this memory to this day.
Strolling through Jiangkou Village, one finds the Long March trail, the Red Army Drum Tower, and the red canteen all linked together. Dong ethnic minority aunties serve oil tea and sing pipa songs, while young people who have returned to their hometowns run homestays, blending red study tours and traditional crafts such as batik into the accommodation experience. Zhou Enping, a red education lecturer in Longsheng Various Nationalities Autonomous County, said, "The beacon-fire sites of the past are becoming the tangible, experienceable rural life of today."
In 2026, this red tourism bus has carried a cumulative total of more than 150,000 passengers.
Distinctive industries boost local vitality —
Entering Maozhushan Village, Caiwan Town, Quanzhou County, one sees grape trellises stretching in a continuous expanse. "The Jiaoshanpu Blocking Action took place in Jiaoshanpu Village just north of our village. Back then, the First Red Army Corps held off a powerful enemy attack with limited forces, buying time for the Central Red Army to break through the Xiang River," said Wang Junrong, a village cadre, as he led a red study tour group through the vineyard and into farmhouse courtyards, explaining the know-how of grape growing while telling the story of the village and the Red Army. "Red tourism brings guests in, and the grape industry keeps them here."
In the past, the village had few grape varieties and a single sales channel. After introducing new varieties such as Sunshine Rose in 2022, there are now more than ten varieties. Smart agricultural equipment has been installed in the fields, and soil temperature and humidity can be checked with a mobile phone. Per-mu grape income has risen from several thousand yuan to more than ten thousand yuan, and the village receives more than 300,000 visitors a year.
Walking eastward along the Xiang-Gui ancient road, one arrives at Lushui Village, Lianghe Town, Quanzhou County, where a peach orchard grows lush and verdant. One of the varieties is called "Breakout Peach" by the locals, a name derived from the history of the Red Army's swift raid and breakout along the ancient road back then. Today, the 4,000-mu peach orchard can yield 4,000 to 6,000 jin per mu annually, with an average gross profit of 13,000 to 15,000 yuan per mu, as historical memory "grows into" the branches of industry. Liao Jiawen, secretary of the Party general branch and director of the villagers' committee of Lushui Village, introduced: "When the harvest season comes, many visitors come here to experience peach picking and learn about the red history behind the 'Breakout Peach.'"
The Xiang River flows on. The red soil where bloody battles were once fought is now fragrant with grapes, covered in peach orchards, and renewed in its Dong ethnic minority villages.
Return to Top(Xinhua News Agency, Hong Kong, September 20) The public memorial service for Mr. Tung Chee-hwa, an outstanding contributor to One Country, Two Systems, a renowned patriot, an outstanding social activist, a close friend of the Communist Party of China, Vice Chairman of the Tenth, Eleventh, Twelfth, and Thirteenth National Committees of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, and the First and Second Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, was held at the Hong Kong Funeral Home on September 20.
Mr. Tung Chee-hwa passed away in Hong Kong at 21:57 on September 8, 2026, due to illness, at the age of 89.
During Mr. Tung Chee-hwa's serious illness, the central authorities were deeply concerned about his condition. Comrades Xi Jinping and other leaders of the central authorities instructed the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region to express sympathy and convey their regards, and required making every possible effort (全力以赴, quan li yi fu - "all, strength, exert, go") to provide medical treatment.
After Mr. Tung Chee-hwa's passing, Comrades Xi Jinping, Li Qiang, Zhao Leji, Wang Huning, Cai Qi, Ding Xuexiang, Li Xi, Han Zheng, Hu Jintao, and others expressed profound condolences over Mr. Tung Chee-hwa's death through various means and extended deep sympathy to his family members.
Entrusted by the central authorities, Shi Taifeng, Member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Vice Chairman of the CPPCC National Committee; Leung Chun-ying, Vice Chairman of the CPPCC National Committee; Wang Dongfeng, Vice Chairman and Secretary-General of the CPPCC National Committee; Xia Baolong, Director of the Hong Kong and Macao Work Office of the CPC Central Committee and Director of the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the State Council; and John Lee Ka-chiu, Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, attended the public memorial service.
On the morning of the 20th, the memorial hall for Mr. Tung Chee-hwa at the Hong Kong Funeral Home was solemn and dignified, with mournful music playing softly. A banner reading "Deeply Mourning Mr. Tung Chee-hwa" hung directly above the hall, with a portrait of Mr. Tung Chee-hwa below it. Mr. Tung Chee-hwa's casket was draped with the national flag of the People's Republic of China. Wreaths presented by Mr. Tung Chee-hwa's family members were placed before the portrait.
At 9:00 a.m., the public memorial service for Mr. Tung Chee-hwa began, with all present standing in silent tribute. The memorial service was presided over by Leung Chun-ying, Deputy Director of the Funeral Committee for Mr. Tung Chee-hwa.
Shi Taifeng, Director of the Funeral Committee, delivered a eulogy at the memorial service. In his eulogy, he reviewed Mr. Tung Chee-hwa's life as an outstanding contributor to One Country, Two Systems, a renowned patriot, an outstanding social activist, and a close friend of the Communist Party of China, as well as his important contributions to the country, to Hong Kong, and to society.
Subsequently, all participants in the memorial service bowed three times before Mr. Tung Chee-hwa's portrait, then came in turn to his remains to bid a final farewell to this renowned patriot, and extended their sympathies to Mr. Tung Chee-hwa's family members.
Heads of central authorities' offices stationed in Hong Kong, principal officials of the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, deputies of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region to the National People's Congress, members of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region to the CPPCC National Committee, as well as representatives from various sectors of Hong Kong society, also went to pay their respects.
Relevant departments of the central authorities, relevant provinces, autonomous regions, and municipalities directly under the central government on the mainland, people from all walks of life, institutions, and organizations in Hong Kong, as well as friends of Mr. Tung Chee-hwa during his lifetime, also sent messages and letters of condolence.
Return to Top(Xinhua News Agency, Beijing, September 20) Zhao Leji, Chairman of the NPC Standing Committee, met in Beijing on the 20th with Muzani, Chairman of the People's Consultative Assembly of Indonesia.
Zhao Leji stated that in recent years, China-Indonesia relations have maintained a sound momentum of development. President Xi Jinping and President Prabowo reached important consensus on building a China-Indonesia community with a shared future with regional and global influence, opening a new chapter in bilateral relations. China is willing to work with Indonesia to follow the strategic guidance of the two heads of state and continuously achieve new results in the cause of bilateral friendship. The NPC of China is willing to maintain close exchanges with the People's Consultative Assembly of Indonesia, expand exchanges and cooperation, deepen exchanges on governance experience, and better serve the development and revitalization of both countries.
Muzani stated that Indonesia and China share a profound friendship, and he hopes that through his visit to China, the friendly cooperation between the relevant institutions and peoples of the two countries will be strengthened, and the comprehensive strategic partnership between the two countries will continue to be elevated to new heights. The People's Consultative Assembly of Indonesia is willing to strengthen exchanges with the NPC of China, helping to make cooperation between the two countries in various fields more profound and practical (走深走实, zou shen zou shi - "walk deep, walk solid").
Return to TopChina will continue to play its role as a responsible major country, deepen all-round international development cooperation, and work together with other countries working together with one heart (携手同心, xie shou tong xin - "carry, hand; together, heart"), forging ahead through hardships (砥砺前行, di li qian xing - "grind, whet; forward, walk"), continuously advance the implementation of the Global Development Initiative, improve global development governance, and jointly illuminate the bright future of human prosperity and progress.
Development is the eternal theme of human society and the master key to solving all kinds of global challenges.
On September 21, 2021, President Xi Jinping solemnly proposed the Global Development Initiative at the general debate of the 76th session of the United Nations General Assembly, providing a systematic solution for the global development cause trapped in difficulties and contributing Chinese solutions that carry both warmth and strength.
Over the past five years, China has upheld its original aspiration of jointly promoting global development, working with all parties to push the Global Development Initiative from concepts and propositions into tangible results, from a Chinese initiative into international consensus, injecting extremely precious (弥足珍贵, mi zu zhen gui - "extremely, very; precious") development strength into a world characterized by constant change and turmoil (变乱交织, bian luan jiao zhi - "change, chaos;; interweave").
(1)
Looking at the world, geopolitical conflicts occur frequently, unilateralism is on the rise, the global economic recovery is weak, and problems of development imbalance, governance failure, and fairness deficit have become increasingly prominent.
Not long ago, the Sustainable Development Goals Report 2026 released by the United Nations showed that among the 139 comparable Sustainable Development Goal indicators, only 36 percent were on track, nearly half were progressing slowly, and 15 percent of the indicators had even regressed. The United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development has entered its final sprint phase, and the global development cause faces severe challenges.
The more risks accumulate and challenges arising in great numbers (挑战丛生, tiao zhan cong sheng - "challenge, grow;; arise"), the more necessary it is to uphold the orientation of development as the priority. As a systematic solution for addressing global development difficulties, the Global Development Initiative directly confronts the structural shortcomings of global development governance, proposing the "six imperatives" concept of upholding development as the priority, upholding a people-centered approach, upholding universal benefit and inclusiveness, upholding innovation-driven development, upholding harmonious coexistence between humanity and nature, and upholding an action-oriented approach, expanding the practical pathways of global sustainable development, enriching the connotation and extension of global development governance, eliminating confusion and returning to the original essence (正本清源, zheng ben qing yuan - "correct, root;; clear, source") for the global development cause and pooling strength for it.
World peace, stability, and long-term development must never be built upon an imbalanced pattern in which the poor becoming even poorer (贫者愈贫, pin zhe yu pin - "poor, person;; more, poor") while the rich become even richer. Unlike the narrow practices of some countries that politicize development resources and instrumentalize international cooperation, the Global Development Initiative has always been grounded in the common well-being of all humanity, taking into account the development stages, development aspirations, and development rights and interests of different countries, providing solid support for all countries, especially developing countries, to achieve independent development, equal development, and sustainable development. The Initiative effectively resolves local development difficulties, fills regional development shortcomings, continuously pools the mighty combined force of the world overcoming difficult times together (共克时艰, gong ke shi jian - "together, overcome;; time, hardship"), and strengthens the confidence and resolve of Global South countries in independent development and united development. South Africa's Independent Online news website commented that the Global Development Initiative is a tool that truly promotes global public well-being, a transformative force that cannot be ignored, anda magnet for global cooperation based on peaceful coexistence.
Upholding fairness and justice, acting with determination for mutual benefit (笃行互利, du xing hu li - "steadfast, act;; mutual, benefit"), practicing universal benefit and inclusiveness—the significance of the times embodied in the Global Development Initiative has become even more prominent.
(2)
The vitality of a concept lies in its implementation; the value of consensus lies in its practice.
Over the past five years, the Global Development Initiative has upheld a pragmatic orientation, continuously building and improving cooperation mechanisms, pooling broad consensus on development as the priority, continuously and unendingly (源源不断, yuan yuan bu duan - "source, source;; not, continuous") pooling development momentum, and pushing global development toward a new stage of balanced, coordinated, and inclusive progress.
Today, the "circle of friends" of the Global Development Initiative continues to expand and its influence continues to rise. China has hosted high-level meetings on the Global Development Initiative during the UN General Assembly for four consecutive years, founded the Global Shared Development Action Forum, and strengthened policy dialogue and exchange of ideas; more than 130 countries and international organizations actively support and extensively participate in the Initiative, with 88 countries formally joining the "Group of Friends of the Global Development Initiative"; the UN system's Initiative promotion working group has attracted more than 20 development agencies to participate actively, and China has also initiated the establishment of more than 30 cooperation mechanisms and platforms. Driven by the China-UN Peace and Development Fund, the Global Development and South-South Cooperation Fund, and others, over 23 billion US dollars in funds have been mobilized cumulatively, more than 2,000 cooperation projects have been carried out jointly with all parties, and over 200,000 personnel of various types have been trained, providing strong support for Global South countries to enhance their capacity for independent development. "The Global Development Initiative is a pragmatic, results-oriented international cooperation platform that brings hope, opportunity, and sustainable development to hundreds of millions of people." Kenyan Ambassador to China Bette pointed out.
Over the past five years, cooperation projects benefiting people's livelihoods have taken root across the world, benefiting ordinary people in more than 120 countries, making the fruits of common development tangible and accessible.
In Nigeria, the Juncao technology demonstration farm constructed with Chinese assistance has efficiently boosted grain production and has been hailed by the local government as a benchmark project for ensuring food security. In Grenada, Chinese agricultural experts have personally taught advanced planting techniques, helping local farmers improve quality and increase production, stabilize incomes, and support the transformation and upgrading of characteristic agriculture. In Laos, the Mengsong wind power project has been successfully put into operation, not only creating more than a thousand stable jobs locally but also reducing carbon emissions by 1.56 million tons annually, helping local efforts to advance green and low-carbon development. Meanwhile, China has established the "Training Alumni Home for Foreign Aid" and the"Global Development Youth Leaders Home", continuously cultivating reserve talent and pooling youthful strength for global sustainable development, injecting lasting momentum into the common future of humanity. "The Global Development Initiative has achieved solid results in resource mobilization, mechanism building, pragmatic cooperation, and other areas, fully demonstrating China's firm resolve and pragmatic capability in contributing to global common prosperity." Such was the assessment of Kang Boshi, former representative of the United Nations Industrial Development Organization to China.
As an important international public good that China provides to the world, the fundamental logic of the Global Development Initiative is to make the cake bigger rather than carve up the cake, to enable win-win cooperation rather than zero-sum squeezing. This is fundamentally different from the exclusionary logic implied by the so-called "China squeezing theory" hyped by some Western institutions and media.
The Global Development Initiative both respects the principal position of each country in independently exploring its own development path and upholds an action orientation of integrating knowledge with action and valuing deeds over words, advancing joint action with an equal attitude and systematic thinking, enabling every participant to become a beneficiary of development, allowing development opportunities to be shared by all countries and development dividends to benefit all people universally—this is precisely where the strong vitality and appeal of the Global Development Initiative lie.
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Currently, global development cooperation is at a critical juncture of momentum transition and structural adjustment. Revitalizing the global development cause requires both the broad consensus and vision of looking far ahead from a high vantage point, and even more so, down-to-earth pragmatic action.
Pool united strength to resolve the problem of development imbalance. The widening North-South development gap is in essence an unfairness and asymmetry in development rights, development opportunities, and governance rules. The international community must abandon hegemonic thinking and exclusionary concepts, actively listen to and respond to the development aspirations of Global South countries, focus on the core problem of unbalanced and inadequate development, introduce more universally beneficial and inclusive development measures, continuously bridge the North-South divide, jointly build a global development partnership that is united, equal, balanced, and inclusive, and enable all countries to participate equally in the global development process.
Practice true multilateralism and improve the global governance system. Multilateralism is the right path for humanity to solve global problems and promote common development. The international community must firmly uphold the international system with the United Nations at its core and the international order based on international law, resolutely resist unilateralism, protectionism, and hegemonic acts, abandon small-circle, fragmented confrontation models, pool consensus on global governance, integrate global development resources, create a stable, orderly, open, and inclusive international development environment, and safeguard global development cooperation.
Adhere to openness and mutual learning to activate new development momentum. Currently, a new round of technological revolution represented by artificial intelligence is accelerating, reshaping the global development landscape while also widening the North-South digital divide and intelligence divide. Countries should uphold openness, inclusiveness, mutual learning, and mutual benefit, break down technological barriers, remove cooperation barriers, deepen technological exchange, knowledge sharing, and capacity building, cultivate new momentum for global economic growth, ensure that all countries can keep pace with the times, and neither fall behind nor become obsolete in the new round of technological change and development.
The road is long and arduous, but with action, it will be reached; if one keeps walking without stopping, the future is promising. China has always been a firm builder of world peace, a contributor to global development, a defender of the international order, anda provider of public goods. Looking to the future, China will continue to play its role as a responsible major country, continuously deepen all-round international development cooperation, work together with other countries working together with one heart and forging ahead through hardships, continuously advance the implementation of the Global Development Initiative, improve global development governance, and jointly illuminate the bright future of human prosperity and progress.
Return to TopBy: 本报记者 龚 鸣
Those who accomplish great undertakings must put the people at the center.
"Development is the key to realizing the happiness of the people." On September 21, 2021, facing the question of the times as to where the global development cause was headed, President Xi Jinping solemnly put forward the Global Development Initiative at the General Debate of the 76th Session of the United Nations General Assembly, providing Chinese solutions for revitalizing the global development cause.
Over the past 5 years, under the leadership of President Xi Jinping, the Global Development Initiative has expanded from a Chinese proposition into an international consensus, from alignment of goals into rich practice, becoming a widely welcomed international public good.
Over the past 5 years, the concept-led demonstration effect of the Initiative has continued to be released, cooperation mechanisms in various fields have been continuously improved, and tangible cooperation outcomes have landed one after another, providing strong support for Global South countries to enhance their capacity for independent development, and injecting important impetus into the implementation of the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
The consensus on prioritizing development continues to consolidate
"Adhere to prioritizing development, and create a future of shared prosperity." Not long ago, President Xi Jinping attended the 26th Meeting of the Council of Heads of State of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization and delivered an important speech, placing new expectations on the SCO: high-quality Belt and Road cooperation, and the priority region for implementing the Global Development Initiative. At the "SCO Plus" meeting, President Xi Jinping emphasized that mutual benefit and win-win, inclusive and beneficial for all are the direction of development, calling on all parties to "focus on development issues, adhere to openness and cooperation, bridge the digital and intelligent divides, and let technological revolutions and development outcomes benefit the people of all countries."
At present, the international situation is volatile and intertwined, wars and conflicts are rising and falling successively, the development deficit continues to widen, climate change, the digital divide, food and energy security and other issues are intensifying, and global development faces new challenges. How to grasp the changes of the world and answer the questions of the times? President Xi Jinping's thinking has always focused on development, this fundamental issue.
From regional to global, from the SCO to broader multilateral cooperation, President Xi Jinping has repeatedly advocated openness and cooperation, conveying China's firm confidence in joining hands with all parties to implement the Global Development Initiative——
Toward Global South countries, he put forward the need to "adhere to the people-centered development philosophy, and promote the implementation of the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development"; toward Latin American partners, he called for "jointly implementing the Global Development Initiative, firmly safeguarding the multilateral trading system, safeguarding the stability and unimpeded flow of global industrial and supply chains, and safeguarding an open and cooperative international environment"; toward BRICS partners, he emphasized that "China is willing to work with other BRICS countries to implement the Global Development Initiative, advance high-quality Belt and Road cooperation, leverage respective strengths, deepen practical cooperation, and create more cooperation outcomes in economy, trade, finance, science and technology and other fields"; for the global food and agriculture cause, he pointed out that "China is willing to join hands with the international community to implement the Global Development Initiative, advance the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, promote the building of a community with a shared future for mankind, and make new and greater contributions to enhancing the well-being of the people of all countries"……
United Nations Secretary-General Guterres stated that, under the strong leadership of President Xi Jinping, no matter how difficult and complex the international situation, China has always firmly supported multilateralism, supported the the United Nations cause, and promoted international cooperation, setting an example for the world.
Looking back at 2021, the pandemic of the century and the major changes unseen in a century were superimposed and intertwined, and the global development cause stood at a crossroads. President Xi Jinping put forward the Global Development Initiative, placing development in a prominent position within the global macroeconomic policy framework, with eight key areas of cooperation fully aligned with the 17 goals of the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
"Adhere to prioritizing development," "adhere to being people-centered," "adhere to inclusiveness and mutual benefit," "adhere to innovation-driven development," "adhere to harmony between humanity and nature," "adhere to action-oriented approach"——the Chinese solutions that keep pace with the times point out the direction for the global development cause and international development cooperation.
"The Global Development Initiative will surely provide new opportunities for the economic development of all countries," "This is a concrete manifestation of practicing genuine multilateralism," "All parties look forward to sharing China's development achievements and concepts"……The international community is greatly inspired.
Since the Initiative was put forward 5 years ago, China's average annual contribution rate to global economic growth has remained at around 30%, and the "Governance of China" continues to inject valuable confidence and contribute progressive strength into the world.
President Xi Jinping personally chaired the High-level Dialogue on Global Development, and China has held high-level meetings on the Global Development Initiative during the UN General Assembly for 4 consecutive years, founded the Global Shared Development Action Forum, and strengthened policy dialogue and exchange of ideas.
China has released the Global Development Report for 4 consecutive years, focusing on analyzing the major challenges and opportunities facing global development, seeking feasible solutions for common and sustainable development; took the lead in establishing the Global Development Promotion Center, jointly building a Global Development Promotion Center Network with more than 80 countries, regions and international organizations; established the China-United Nations Global South South-South Development Support Mechanism with the United Nations, planned with the United Nations Development Programme to establish a Global Sustainable Development Center in Shanghai, and proactively established the Global Development Academy.
More than 130 countries and international organizations support the Initiative and participate in cooperation, nearly 100 countries, regions and international organizations have signed cooperation documents with China on the Initiative, 88 countries have joined the "Group of Friends of the Global Development Initiative," and the UN system's task force on advancing the Initiative has attracted more than 20 development agencies to actively participate……The consensus on prioritizing development has taken deep root in people's hearts, and the global development partnership has taken shape with vigor and momentum.
This year marks the opening year of China's 15th Five-Year Plan. The outline of the 15th Five-Year Plan proposes to "deepen solidarity and cooperation with developing countries, support the Global South to unite and strengthen itself," "promote global poverty reduction cooperation, strengthen the foreign aid system construction and whole-chain management, and increase foreign aid efforts," "implement the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development," further clarifying the direction for the implementation of the Global Development Initiative and the promotion of common global development.
Zou Ciyong, Deputy Director-General of the United Nations Industrial Development Organization, stated that China actively promotes the coordinated advancement of the Global Development Initiative and the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, and its firm commitment to and support for global development provide valuable certainty for the world, greatly inspiring UN agencies and numerous developing countries.
The vision of benefiting the whole world is becoming increasingly clear
Leaving no country and no one behind is the goal of the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, and also the value pursuit of the Global Development Initiative. China firmly believes that only when the people of all countries enjoy a good life can prosperity endure, security be guaranteed, and human rights have a foundation.
As the largest developing country, China has always placed its own development within the coordinate system of human development, creating new opportunities for world development through its own development. Starting from May 1 this year, China has fully implemented zero-tariff treatment for 53 African countries that have diplomatic relations with China, demonstrating China's sincerity in pursuing common development and mutual benefit with the Global South. Up to now, China has provided development assistance to more than 160 countries, supporting the development of the world, especially developing countries, through concrete actions.
——Development resources continue to converge. China has jointly carried out more than 2,000 cooperation projects with all parties, benefiting the people of more than 120 countries. China has upgraded the Global Development and South-South Cooperation Fund and increased its capital to US$4 billion, implementing more than 200 projects in over 70 countries with more than 20 international organizations, benefiting more than 40 million people. China has established a Global Development Fund Pool, jointly established a US$14 billion special fund for the Global Development Initiative with Chinese and foreign financial institutions, attracting the participation of diverse entities from government and society, and expanding the channels for implementing Initiative projects.
In several provinces of Laos, China has cooperated with UNICEF to carry out child nutrition projects, training more than 1,900 Lao frontline workers, and through the prevention, screening and standardized treatment of acute malnutrition, directly saving the lives of thousands of children suffering from severe wasting. Bouakhao, Deputy Head of the Health and Health Promotion Division of the Luang Prabang Provincial Health Department in Laos, said that the project has provided nutritional supplies, medical equipment and professional training support, and "these helps have created a healthier future for Lao children."
——Practical cooperation has achieved remarkable results. China has established a project pool for the Global Development Initiative, mobilizing more than US$23 billion in cumulative funds to carry out cooperation projects, covering major landmark projects such as the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, as well as "small but beautiful" livelihood projects such as Juncao technology and Luban Workshops; has held more than 10,000 capacity-building programs for developing countries, training more than 200,000 talents of various types, helping developing countries enhance their capacity for independent and sustainable development.
The Luban Workshop in Ethiopia, inaugurated and put into operation in 2021, has been designated by the African Union as a training center for high-quality skilled talent for the whole of Africa. From mechatronics to industrial robots, many young people have mastered industrialization skills here, with graduates spread across multiple African countries. Tefera Derbew Yimam, Ethiopian Ambassador to China, believes that by empowering institutions and training teachers, the Luban Workshop brings long-term benefits to the local area, and "this is not only an educational platform, but also a 'catalyst' for promoting economic transformation and common development."
——Cooperation mechanisms continue to be enriched. China has promoted the establishment of a China-Africa (Ethiopia)-United Nations (Industrial Development Organization) Cooperation Demonstration Center, opening up a new prospect for trilateral development cooperation, promoting the implementation of industrialization, agricultural modernization and talent cultivation projects in multiple African countries; has built innovative platforms such as the Global Development Promotion Center Innovation Training Base, the Global Development Youth Leaders Hub, and the Global Women's Capacity Building Center, working with all parties to jointly promote development
Poverty reduction is the first of the eight key areas of cooperation under the Global Development Initiative. Shibadong Village in Hunan Province and Tingsong Village in Laos have become "international sister villages," Uzbekistan is piloting the promotion of China's poverty reduction experience in all its states, Zimbabwe has built its second China-Zimbabwe agricultural cooperation demonstration village……The international poverty reduction cooperation promoted by China is yielding abundant results. In May this year, China, together with 53 countries and 9 international institutions, jointly initiated the establishment of the Global Alliance for Poverty Reduction and Development, building a new platform for countries to exchange poverty reduction experience and strengthen international cooperation.
"We sincerely appreciate the important role China plays in international development." Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister Aun Pornmoniroth stated that China's path of poverty reduction provides important reference for other countries, and "Cambodia hopes to strengthen exchanges and cooperation with China to help advance the poverty reduction process."
A path as smooth as a whetstone, continuing to move forward without stopping. In the next 5 years, China will carry out another 2,000 "small but beautiful" livelihood projects in developing countries, and will cooperate with relevant countries and organizations such as the WHO to carry out more health cooperation projects; around the eight key areas of the Global Development Initiative, it will carry out more human resources training programs to help developing countries continuously enhance their capacity for independent development and resilience; it will also continue to inject funds into the WTO's "China Program" to help least developed countries integrate into the global trading system. Ghanaian President Mahama said that these practical measures are crucial for expanding the space for common development of the Global South and achieving common progress.
The foundation for prosperity and stability is becoming more sustainable
President Xi Jinping emphasized: "World prosperity and stability cannot be built on the basis of the poor becoming poorer and the rich becoming richer. Every country wants to live a good life, and modernization is not the privilege of any one country." Only when all countries develop together can there be true development and sustainable development, and can the global development deficit be resolved.
In April this year, the Third High-level Meeting of the Global Shared Development Action Forum set up three sub-forums:"Digital Empowerment for High-Quality Development of the Global South," "Connecting World Wisdom Building a Climate-Resilient Future Together," and"From Commitment to Action: Leading Capital through Multilateral Cooperation Creating a Sustainable and Better Future Together," responding precisely to the development predicament of the widening global development deficit and the intensifying problems of climate change and the digital divide, aiming to help achieve stronger, greener and healthier global development
On September 13, at the second plenary session of the 18th BRICS Summit, President Xi Jinping put forward the Open Source and Inclusive AI Initiative, the Trade and Investment Facilitation Initiative, the Digital Industry Cooperation Initiative, the Intelligent Manufacturing Cooperation Initiative, and the Science and Technology Talent Cultivation Initiative, announcing that China will take the lead in building a BRICS AI Open Source Zone, establishing a BRICS Digital Industry Cloud Platform, implementing a BRICS Youth Science and Technology Innovation Exchange Program and multiple other practical cooperation measures, empowering common development of the Global South
From digital interconnection to climate resilience, from green transformation to AI governance, China focuses on strengthening scientific and technological cooperation among developing countries, letting development achievements benefit more people, and supporting the modernization process of the Global South. Under the Global Development Fund Pool, a"Digital Capacity Building Special Fund" has been established to support the"Digital South" brand of the Global Development Initiative. China has also initiated the establishment of an International Alliance of Satellite for Sustainable Development, providing solid space observation data support for global development
In Cuba, implementing the"Cuba Digital Transformation Project," upgrading relevant digital infrastructure by providing hardware equipment, training technical personnel, etc.; supporting about 100 African SMEs to expand exports of about 1,000 types of products through e-commerce platforms, enhancing Africa's digital economy development capacity; the"Mazu" intelligent meteorological early warning solution has been applied and implemented in 7 countries including Pakistan, Ethiopia and the Solomon Islands, and also supports more than 40 countries worldwide to try it out on the"cloud"……
"The support China has provided in infrastructure, technological progress, training opportunities, development cooperation and other fields has expanded the possibilities for the Global South to achieve modernization." Grenada's Minister of Tourism, Creative Economy and Culture, Thomas, said,"We cherish this spirit of solidarity and cooperation."
Facing the problem of unbalanced and insufficient development brought by artificial intelligence, China has initiated the establishment of the World Artificial Intelligence Cooperation Organization, with 38 countries as founding member states. At the opening ceremony of the 2026 World Artificial Intelligence Conference and High-level Meeting on Global AI Governance, China announced a series of measures to further support global AI development and advance global AI capacity building. Pakistani China expert Sultan Hali remarked with emotion that China is not only an important driving force for AI development, but also committed to letting the achievements of AI development benefit all of humanity
At present, the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development has entered its final sprint phase. The recently released "2026 Sustainable Development Goals Report" shows that among the 139 SDG indicators with comparable data, only 36% are on track, nearly half are progressing slowly, and 15% have even regressed
Andrei Kortunov, member of the Russian International Affairs Council, stated that if the sustainable development agenda is not properly implemented, everything, including international security, will lose its solid foundation. China's proposal of the Global Development Initiative demonstrates the broad vision of global development cooperation and reflects the universal expectation of countries around the world for development and stability
China is not only the proposer of the Global Development Initiative, but also an actor in global development cooperation. The practice of the past 5 years shows that only when the consensus on prioritizing development is translated into concrete projects, and the vision of benefiting the whole world is translated into livelihood outcomes, can the foundation for prosperity and stability be made more solid. Against the backdrop of lagging progress on the Sustainable Development Goals, the practical significance of the Global Development Initiative has become even more prominent. China is willing to work with all parties, strengthen confidence, work together with joint efforts, promote more inclusive, more universally beneficial and more resilient global development, let the sunshine of development sprinkle over every corner, let the seeds of hope take root and sprout on every piece of land, and jointly consolidate the development foundation for building a community with a shared future for mankind
Return to TopBy: 本报记者 刘仲华
Faced with the question of the times as to the direction one's life or a situation will take (何去何从, he qu he cong - "where to go, where to come") for the global development cause, in September 2021, President Xi Jinping solemnly put forward the Global Development Initiative at the general debate of the 76th session of the United Nations General Assembly. "Over the past five years, the relevant areas of cooperation within the framework of the Global Development Initiative have continued to expand, and the content of cooperation has continued to deepen, providing an important platform for promoting the international community to refocus on development issues and build global development partnerships, and helping to accelerate the implementation of the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development." Gerd Müller, Director General of the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), recently said in an exclusive interview with our reporter that promoting sustainable development bears on the common future of all mankind and is the key to addressing global challenges. Against the backdrop of rising global uncertainty, the importance of multilateralism and international cooperation is increasingly prominent.
As a specialized agency of the United Nations system for promoting sustainable industrial development and international industrial cooperation, UNIDO this year marks its 60th anniversary. China is one of UNIDO's most steadfast supporters, and the two sides have carried out long-term cooperation, achieving many successful examples. Müller believes that over more than 40 years, China has successfully lifted more than 800 million people out of poverty, creating one of the most remarkable development achievements in human history. UNIDO has not only witnessed and participated in China's early industrialization and capacity building, but has also built a deep-level partnership with China, jointly advancing global sustainable industrialization through technical cooperation and knowledge sharing. He said that China's commitment to multilateralism is particularly important for developing countries and is of great significance for promoting inclusive and sustainable industrial development
Müller introduced that UNIDO actively participates in cooperation within the framework of the Global Development Initiative, joining the Global Development Promotion Center Network, supporting the holding of high-level meetings of the Global Shared Development Action Forum, and through policy exchange, knowledge sharing, project development, and partner mobilization, promoting the transformation of relevant consensus into more tangible practical results. UNIDO and China have jointly advanced the construction of agricultural product industrial parks in African countries, promoting employment through industrial cooperation, cultivating local production capacity, and supporting developing countries to better participate in the global economy, reflecting the concept of common development
Müller said that the Global Development Initiative is highly compatible with the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, mainly reflected in three aspects. First, adhering to development as the priority. Both attach great importance to the foundational, overarching, and long-term nature of development issues, actively responding to the common concerns and universal aspirations of the vast number of developing countries to accelerate economic development and enhance self-reliance capacity. Second, adhering to an action-oriented approach. Both strengthen practical actions, forming support through projects, technology, talent, and institutional building, and deepening cooperation in areas such as industrialization, green development, digital economy, poverty reduction, and food security. Third, deepening partnership synergy. China emphasizes building a balanced and inclusive global development partnership, encouraging the strengthening of sharing of knowledge, experience, technology, and resources as well as exploring development paths suited to each country's national conditions, which is highly consistent with the United Nations' work content of promoting multi-stakeholder partnerships
Since assuming the post of UNIDO Director General in 2021, Müller has always been committed to promoting inclusive and sustainable industrialization, helping the vast number of developing countries benefit from the green and digital transformation. He believes that China's technology and experience in relevant fields have provided options for many developing countries to explore feasible green transformation paths
How to more effectively transform these technologies and experiences into the self-generated development capacity of developing countries? Müller specifically mentioned two institutional innovations: the China-Africa(Ethiopia)-United Nations(UNIDO) Cooperation Demonstration Center and the BRICS Industrial Capacity Center. He explained that the former, based in Ethiopia and facing the whole of Africa, explores carrying out a number of practical cooperation projects, connecting the links of agricultural value addition, digitalization and green transformation, and talent cultivation; the latter builds a cooperation network facing BRICS member states and partner countries, enhancing the industrial development capacity of Global South countries. "This model of trilateral cooperation and multi-party cooperation closely combines China's technical experience, UNIDO's multilateral platform and standards advantages with the development needs of the Global South, promoting cooperation from moving from single-point projects to systematic implementation, and from experience exchange to replicable development practices." Müller said
In recent years, UNIDO and China have jointly built a series of flagship projects, including the International Center on Small Hydro Power, the China South-South Industrial Cooperation Center, the "Cities Bridge" Initiative, the Sustainable Industrial Parks Network Platform, etc., providing sustained support for the development of the Global South. Müller said that currently, artificial intelligence is reshaping human economic and social development in an all-round way. Through cooperation networks such as the Global Industrial AI Alliance Center of Excellence located in Shanghai, UNIDO helps the Global South share the technological dividends of artificial intelligence, and also looks forward to cooperating with the newly established World Artificial Intelligence Cooperation Organization, jointly promoting the application of artificial intelligence in the industrial field of Global South countries, narrowing the global intelligence gap and development gap
"The Global South needs trustworthy partners to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals, eliminate hunger, and promote sustainable industrialization." Müller said, "Looking ahead, UNIDO is willing to continue playing its role as a multilateral bridge, deepening partnerships with China and all parties around the world, promoting better alignment of the Global Development Initiative with the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and regional development strategies, so that the fruits of multilateral cooperation can benefit the people of all countries more equitably."
Return to Top(People's Daily, New York, September 20) (Reporter Song Yiran) On the morning of September 20 local time, the economic and trade teams of China and the United States began holding China-U.S. economic and trade consultations in New York, the United States.
Return to Top(Xinhua News Agency, Beijing, September 20) On September 20, Liu Haixing, Minister of the International Department of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China, met in Beijing with Dick, Speaker of the House of Representatives of the Australian Federal Parliament. The two sides exchanged views on jointly implementing the important consensus of the leaders of the two countries, strengthening inter-party exchanges and cooperation, and promoting the stable and sound development of China-Australia relations.
Return to TopBy: 本报记者 曹师韵
"President Xi Jinping's important proposition that BRICS countries should serve as the 'four pioneers' responds to the major challenges facing today's world and helps BRICS countries contribute to promoting the building of a more just and equitable international order." Fajar Hirawan, senior researcher at the Indonesian Institute of Business and Economics Research, said in a recent exclusive interview with our reporter. "China can leverage its advantages in science and technology, manufacturing, digital infrastructure, and green development, and make greater contributions to BRICS cooperation through knowledge sharing, investment, technological cooperation, and human capital development."
"China has played an important role in making cooperation more profound and substantive (走深走实, zou shen zou shi - "walk deep, walk solid") in BRICS." Hirawan stated that China actively supports the development of the New Development Bank, pioneered the "BRICS Plus" cooperation model, and has driven BRICS countries to continuously expand cooperation in areas such as industrial transformation, digitalization, green development, and emerging technologies, making important contributions to the development of BRICS cooperation. China's promotion of the BRICS Partnership on New Industrial Revolution is an example of deepening BRICS practical cooperation and expanding cooperation in emerging fields.
Hirawan highly praised China's initiatives, including taking the lead in establishing the China-BRICS Artificial Intelligence Development and Cooperation Center, promoting the establishment of the World Artificial Intelligence Cooperation Organization, and taking the lead in building a BRICS AI open-source zone. "This creates more opportunities for developing countries to participate in AI technology development and global governance." He said that BRICS countries should strengthen cooperation in areas such as computing power, talent cultivation, joint research and development, technology promotion, and governance, so that the fruits of AI development can benefit developing countries more broadly.
"The prominent feature of BRICS cooperation lies in its diversity." Hirawan said that although BRICS countries have different political systems, stages of development, and development models, they are able to focus on common development and continuously deepen cooperation, reflecting the distinctive characteristics of openness, inclusiveness, and seeking common ground while reserving differences (求同存异, qiu tong cun yi - "seek same, preserve difference"). Indonesia's accession to BRICS in 2025 is a manifestation of this trend. "Joining BRICS is consistent with Indonesia's long-standing independent and active foreign policy. It not only helps expand economic and trade cooperation and diplomatic space, but also provides more opportunities for Indonesia to strengthen cooperation with other emerging market economies and developing countries."
Hirawan believes that Indonesia and China have already demonstrated broad prospects for cooperation in frontier fields such as artificial intelligence, intelligent manufacturing, industrial upgrading, and green technology. "More importantly, Indonesia and China have long accumulated a solid foundation for cooperation in areas such as infrastructure, new energy vehicles and batteries, and digital technology. In the future, these bilateral cooperation advantages can be further aligned with the BRICS cooperation mechanism to create more cooperation opportunities." Hirawan said.
Return to Top(Xinhua News Agency, Beijing, September 20) The 2026 World Conference on Science Literacy opened in Beijing on September 20. Li Shulei, member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and head of the Publicity Department of the CPC Central Committee, attended the opening ceremony and delivered a speech. Wang Guangqian, vice chairperson of the CPPCC National Committee and chairman of the China Association for Science and Technology, attended and delivered a speech.
Participating guests held that, under the guidance of the spirit of President Xi Jinping's congratulatory letter to the first conference, China has revised the Law on the Popularization of Science and Technology, deeply implemented the action to enhance the scientific literacy of the whole people, vigorously strengthened national capacity for science popularization, promoted the integrated development of science, technology, and culture, and, together with 20 countries, jointly initiated the establishment of the World Organization for Science Literacy, which brings together 32 founding member units, making positive contributions to advancing global science literacy development and cooperation.
Participating guests stated that a new round of technological revolution and industrial transformation, represented by artificial intelligence, is accelerating breakthroughs, and humanity is moving toward an intelligent society. It is necessary to strengthen the enabling role of technology, innovate the content of science popularization, enrich communication channels, promote the scientific spirit and the humanistic spirit, and cultivate the scientific and cultural literacy of the public. It is necessary to practice the Global Civilization Initiative, promote exchanges in science, technology, and the humanities, and help all countries effectively enhance their science popularization capacity. It is necessary to improve the system of science and technology governance, better leverage the role of international science and technology organizations, strengthen alignment and coordination of governance rules, and promote the sound development of the intelligent society.
The conference, themed "Science Literacy for an Intelligent Society: Opportunities, Challenges, and Transformation," is co-hosted by the World Organization for Science Literacy and the China Science and Technology Museum. More than 500 guests from the scientific, educational, and business communities as well as international organizations from 32 countries attended the conference.
Return to Top(Xinhua News Agency, Shenyang, September 20) Li Hongzhong, member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Vice Chairman of the NPC Standing Committee, conducted research in Liaoning from September 17 to 20. He emphasized that it is necessary to adhere to Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era as guidance, deeply study and implement Xi Jinping Thought on the Rule of Law, pay greater attention to the coordination of the rule of law with reform, development, and stability, pay greater attention to safeguarding and promoting social fairness and justice, focus on the goals and tasks of the 15th Five-Year Plan period to give play to the functional role of the people's congresses, and promote development through good laws and ensure good governance through safeguards.
Li Hongzhong went to Shenyang, Anshan, Dalian and other places to research the industrial upgrading of the equipment manufacturing industry, the development of intelligent manufacturing enterprises, and scientificand technological innovation and the transformation of achievements, understand the development of marine fishery resources and the protection of island ecosystems, and inspect the effectiveness of urban and rural livelihood security and grassroots governance. He pointed out that development must be high-quality, and legislation must also be high-quality; it is necessary to adhere to high-quality legislation to safeguard and serve reformand development, strengthen legislation in key fields, emerging fields, and foreign-related fields, improve the legal system urgently needed for national governance, essential for meeting the people's growing needs for a better life, and required for safeguarding national security. It is necessary to fully, accurately, and comprehensively implement the new development philosophy, centering on building a high-standard socialist market economy systemand a modern industrial system, improve the legal system for state-owned enterprise assets, promote in accordance with the law the deep integration of scientificand technological innovation with industrial innovation, strengthen the building of the industrial workforce, and provide legal safeguards for continuously expanding and strengthening (做大做强, zuo da zuo qiang - "make big, make strong") the advanced manufacturing industry and consolidatingand strengthening the foundation of the real economy.
Li Hongzhong also went to the grassroots legislative liaison point on People's Square Street, Xigang District, Dalian City, to research the grassroots practice of whole-process people's democracy and the work of absorbing public opinionand gathering public wisdom. He emphasized that it is necessary to solidly advance scientific legislation, democratic legislation, and law-based legislation, adhere to respectingand reflecting objective laws, adhere to being for the peopleand relying on the people, expand orderly public participation, fully listen to opinions from all sides, broadly build legislative consensus, and strive to ensure that every piece of legislation conforms to the spirit of the Constitution, reflects the will of the people, and gains the support of the people.
Return to TopBy: 本报记者 林丽鹂
The outline of the 15th Five-Year Plan makes a series of major arrangements for advancing the construction of the unified national market in depth, accelerating the building of a quality-strengthened nation, and strengthening oversight of food and drug safety. On September 20, the State Council Information Office held a themed press conference under the series "A Good Start for the 15th Five-Year Plan" to introduce the relevant situation regarding promoting high-quality development in market regulation during the 15th Five-Year Plan period.
Shu Wei, spokesperson and deputy director of the State Administration for Market Regulation, said: "During the 15th Five-Year Plan period, we will better regulate the competitive order, safeguard consumer rights and interests, promote the development of business entities, and stimulate market vitality, creating a first-class business environment that is market-oriented, law-based, and internationalized, and providing strong support for building a unified, open, competitive, and orderly market system and forming an economic order that is both 'able to be let loose' and 'able to be managed well.'"
Antitrust enforcement will focus on areas such as active pharmaceutical ingredients, water, electricity, gas, and heating, and the platform economy
Advancing the construction of the unified national market plays an important role in giving full play to the advantages of China's super-large-scale market and enhancing the driving force of economic development. What measures will be taken during the 15th Five-Year Plan period to resolutely remove the bottlenecks and obstacles hindering the construction of the unified national market?
Wang Guowei, director of the Department of Planning and Finance of the State Administration for Market Regulation, said that it is necessary to strengthen fair competition review and uphold and reinforce the fundamental position of competition policy. Within the various economic policy systems, competition policy should become the underlying and basic rule, and industrial policy, investment policy, and fiscal and tax policy should all take the maintenance of fair competition as a precondition.
Continuously improve the quality and effectiveness of antitrust enforcement, and resolutely eliminate local protectionism and market fragmentation. Pay greater attention to monitoring and early warning of monopoly risks, and take measures such as compliance guidance, administrative guidance, and warning interviews at an earlier stage, so that monopolistic conduct can be effectively stopped before it occurs. Antitrust enforcement will focus on key areas involving people's livelihoods, such as active pharmaceutical ingredients, water, electricity, gas, and heating, and the platform economy, ensuring that every case is investigated and results are promptly made public.
Wang Guowei said that to unify market institutional rules and ensure the smooth flow of resources and factors, localities need to better firmly establish and practice a correct view of political achievements in promoting economic activities, and abandon departmentalism and short-sighted thinking.
How to promote innovative and healthy development of the platform economy? Zhu Jianqiao, director of the Department of Online Transaction Supervision and Administration of the State Administration for Market Regulation, said: "Only by enabling platforms to shoulder the responsibilities they should bear, and enabling operators, workers, and consumers within platforms to share in the dividends of development, can the platform economy achieve developing steadily and maintaining long-term progress (行稳致远, xing xing zhi yuan - "walk, steady; arrive, far")."
Relevant departments will accelerate the revision of the E-Commerce Law, promote the addition of penalty types such as proportional fines and suspension of relevant business, and bring new-type e-commerce operators, workers in new forms of employment, and platform-related affiliated entities within the scope of adjustment. Continuously raise the level of routine regulation of the platform economy. Deepen the implementation of special actions for platforms to fulfill their registration verification obligations, and deploy special actions such as governance of the livestream e-commerce industry and standardized governance of second-hand e-commerce platforms. Increase compliance guidance efforts, research and formulate a compliance evaluation guide for online trading platforms, and guide platform enterprises to improve their compliance management levels and firmly shoulder the responsibility of being "gatekeepers."
Increase the intensity of random inspections of products with abnormally low prices, high safety risks, and previously low pass rates
"Price wars cannot compete for the future; only good quality can win the market." Shu Wei believes that it is necessary to accelerate the guidance of market competition onto a sound track from "competing on price" to "competing on quality," and promote "better quality, better price" and "winning by quality" as market consensus.
During the 15th Five-Year Plan period, what measures will be taken to comprehensively rectify "involution-style" competition and promote the formation of a market order featuring better quality at better prices and sound competition?
Strengthen price enforcement. Accelerate the revision of the Price Law, and study the revision of the Provisions on Stopping the Dumping of Goods at Low Prices. For enterprises that take the lead in malicious low-price competition and disrupt production and business order, conduct cost investigations and price inspections, and handle them strictly in accordance with the law. Promote the implementation of the Rules on Price Conduct of Internet Platforms, and continuously regulate price competition conduct in the platform economy field.
Strengthen quality regulation. Increase the intensity of random inspections of products with abnormally low prices, high safety risks, and previously low pass rates, and raise the proportion of inspections in key areas such as e-commerce platforms and wholesale markets. Improve the consistency of online and offline regulation, accelerate the construction of a nationwide unified product quality and safety traceability system, and consolidate the primary responsibility of platform enterprises for product information verification and cooperation in recalls. Deeply carry out special governance of the quality and safety of industrial products sold online, and severely crack down on illegal and non-compliant conduct in online product sales.
Strengthen anti-unfair-competition efforts. Focus on key issues such as false advertising, mutual smearing, commercial defamation, and commercial bribery, and investigate and punish a number of typical cases in accordance with the law. Strengthen protection of trade secrets, explore and introduce trade secret protection regulations and management norms in light of local conditions, and actively advance pilot projects for trade secret protection innovation and the construction of service stations.
This year, the office of the national leading group for coordinating and advancing the building of a quality-strengthened nation launched quality supervision for the first time, focusing on quality risks triggered by "involution-style" competition, and carrying out open inspections, unannounced visits, and random checks. At present, the 153 problem leads identified through investigation have all been transferred to the localities where they occurred for handling.
Zhu Jianqiao said that the role of quality supervision in promoting quality improvement will continue to be brought into play. Increase the intensity of supervision and random inspections, accelerate the implementation of quality and safety coding and verification for key products sold online, strengthen supervision of recalls of defective products, accurately transmit quality signals to the market, and promote the process of natural selection where the best survive and the worst are eliminated (优胜劣汰, you sheng lie tai - "excellent, win; inferior, perish") among products. Strengthen the construction of the technical supervision system for quality and safety, focusing on technical institutions that legally undertake functions such as quantity value transmission and inspection, testing, and certification, promote increased resource input and guarantees, reinforce their public welfare attributes, and effectively give play to the role of technical institutions in product quality risk management and control.
Focus on investigating and punishing issues such as counterfeit and substandard goods, price fraud, shirking after-sales responsibility, false promises, and unfair clauses
Recently, the media has exposed multiple problems related to edible agricultural products and food, highlighting the urgency and importance of strengthening food safety regulation. "Some food operators still believe there is room for bargaining over the cost of illegal conduct, and illegal profit-seeking behavior occurs from time to time," Wang Guowei said. "We will do a solid job in special rectification of prominent problems, and impose severe punishment in accordance with the law on business entities that engage in malicious violations and repeatedly violate despite repeated inspections."
In the next step, regulatory departments should focus on clarifying regulatory responsibilities, improving coordination mechanisms, and forming more effective regulatory synergy around various links such as production-area market access and market admission, warehousing and transportation, and delivery and distribution, as well as new business forms such as online sales and catering.
Drug safety is an important component of public safety. Yang Sheng, deputy director of the National Medical Products Administration, said: "We must keep a close eye on the safety of vaccines and centrally procured selected drugs and medical devices, focus on key links such as clinical trials and commissioned production, and key business forms such as online sales, carry out risk hazard investigation actions, and increase the intensity of monitoring, sampling and testing, and inspection. Improve the whole-life-cycle pharmacovigilance system, promote the standardization of pharmacovigilance work in medical institutions, and deepen post-marketing evaluation of key varieties. Strengthen online sales regulation, explore the linkage between complaint reporting and risk early warning, strengthen coordinated risk governance, and achieve early detection, early warning, and early handling of risks."
"The starting point and ultimate goal of market regulation work is to enable the people to buy with confidence, eat with peace of mind, and use with comfort," Shu Wei said. During the 15th Five-Year Plan period, market regulation departments will focus on investigating and punishing prominent issues strongly reflected by the public, such as counterfeit and substandard goods (假冒伪劣, jia mao wei lie - "fake, imitate; false, inferior"), price fraud (价格欺诈, jia ge qi zha - "price, deception; fraud"), shirking after-sales responsibility, false promises, and unfair clauses. Use big data, artificial intelligence, and other means to screen and lock onto leads of illegal conduct, regulate business activities such as online sales and livestream e-commerce, and promote the healthy and orderly development of the consumer market for new business forms.
Return to TopBy: 本报记者 魏哲哲
On September 20, the State Council Information Office held a press conference with Chinese and foreign journalists themed "Strivers on the New Journey," inviting five representatives from the court system to exchange views with Chinese and foreign reporters around the theme "Making fairness and justice tangible and perceptible, making the people's sense of gain more solid and more substantial."
Impartial justice is the last line of defense for safeguarding social fairness and justice. As economic and social development advances, facing the people's new expectations and new demands for fairness and justice, judges stand at the forefront of serving the people and on the front line of resolving conflicts and disputes—how can they both resolve conflicts and soothe people's hearts?
Having been rooted in the grassroots for 33 years, Long Jinpin, full-time member of the Adjudication Committee of the People's Court of Nanjian Yi Autonomous County, Dali Bai Autonomous Prefecture, Yunnan Province, gives his answer: traversing difficult terrain (翻山越岭, fan shan yue ling - "cross mountains, leap ridges"), visiting people in their homes throughout a locality (走村串户, zou cun chuan hu -"walk villages, visit households"), listening to the various claims of both the plaintiff and the defendant.
Many years ago, a woman with a hearing impairment filed a lawsuit over injuries sustained in a car accident. Long Jinpin took her along, spending two days traveling to Dali City for a judicial appraisal, then rushed to the traffic police brigade to retrieve the accident materials, making every possible effort to achieve something (想方设法, xiang fang she fa -"think ways, seek methods") to find the defendant, who was then homeless and drifting. In the end, this woman smoothly received her compensation payment.
"Later, whenever she saw me, she would raise her right thumb, grinning from ear to ear with joy." Long Jinpin said.
The people's interests are never trivial matters; only by adhering to the principle of "small cases are not handled casually" can judicial warmth be conveyed into the hearts of the people, truly achieving the successful resolution of both the legal case and the underlying dispute (案结事了, an jie shi liao -"case, end; matter, finished").
Ji Shengli, member of the Adjudication Committee of the People's Court of Chang'an District, Xi'an City, Shaanxi Province, and chief judge of the Fourth Civil Adjudication Division, insists on going deep into the grassroots, going deep among the people, and going deep to the scene.
In one case, two families of villagers had disputed over a homestead boundary for over a decade. After Ji Shengli took over the case, he brought surveyors to the site eight times for on-the-ground measurements, visited veteran Party members and long-time residents in the village, patiently sorting through the historical changes of the land piece by piece. The case was clarified, but the neighborhood conflict could not be completely resolved by a single written judgment alone. Through patient explanation of the law and reasoning, time after time, the strained relationship between the two families gradually eased.
"What judges handle is not merely cases, but also the warmth and cold of people's lives." Ji Shengli said—when handling grassroots cases, one must go to the scene, meet the people, only then can one grasp the true situation and pinpoint the crux of the conflict.
"The elderly and the young" are important concerns for many families.
Bai Yun, chief judge of the Comprehensive Adjudication Division for Minors and Family Cases of the People's Court of Jing'an District, Shanghai, has presided over more than 1,400 cases, including many concerning the vital interests of "the elderly and the young."
In one case, Ms. Wang, suffering from a serious illness, filed for divorce. Divorce property division follows a fixed procedure, but Ms. Wang urgently needed medical expenses. Facing this situation, Bai Yun both clarified the legal boundaries and took into account the family's realities, explaining the reasoning in a thorough and meticulous manner. Sixteen days later, the couple divorced, property division was completed, and Ms. Wang received her medical expenses.
"The law has never been cold provisions; it is a warm, solid force that can guard each and every one of us." Bai Yun said.
Lucid waters and lush mountains are invaluable assets. Handling every environmental resource case well is also guarding a sound ecological environment.
At the press conference, Lin Wei, vice president of the Intermediate People's Court of Zhangzhou City, Fujian Province, brought a display board recording the restoration process of land involved in a crime of environmental pollution. The defendant had poured waste liquid containing pollutants directly into the soil; the photo in the upper left corner of the display board showed that at that time, the land was a land where nothing can grow (寸草不生, cun cao bu sheng -"one inch, grass, not, grow").
Lin Wei explained that the defendant could not afford the traditional restoration costs. Later, with reference to expert opinions, a more economical and feasible restoration plan was adopted; over two years, using only one-quarter of the cost, the land's ecological functions were restored.
The photo in the lower left corner of the display board showed that after restoration and acceptance, the land was lush and verdant vegetation (郁郁葱葱, yu yu cong cong -"lush, green, dense, luxuriant")."A judgment is not merely punishment; more importantly, it must enable the defendant to understand, through participation in the restoration process, the harm of pollution, the difficulty of restoration, and the preciousness of land, so that the damaged nature can regain its vitality." Lin Wei said.
Protecting intellectual property rights means protecting innovation. "Only by fully grasping the business realities of both parties and actively guiding the repair of commercial relationships can we avoid 'the case being concluded while resentment lingers'." Zhou Liting, member of the Adjudication Committee of the Beijing Intellectual Property Court and chief judge of its Fourth Adjudication Division, has been engaged in intellectual property adjudication for 21 years and has presided over more than 3,000 intellectual property cases of various types.
In a trade secret infringement dispute, the plaintiff was a software technology company, and the defendant was a former core technical staff member of that company. Later, that technical staff member resigned and started his own business, which gave rise to multiple disputes.
"If one simply 'handles the case as it stands,' it is difficult to truly resolve the conflict." Zhou Liting said that in handling the case, she fully grasped the emotional foundation of the two parties' many years of working together as well as the factual foundation, combined legal reasoning with human sentiment to advance mediation efforts, and the disputes between the two parties were thus thoroughly resolved.
Return to Top(Xinhua News Agency, Beijing, September 20) The State Council has appointed and removed state personnel.
Yu Xiaohui was appointed Vice Minister of Industry and Information Technology; Pan Wenbo was appointed Vice Minister of Agriculture and Rural Affairs; Li Chenggang was appointed Trade Representative of the People's Republic of China for International Trade Negotiations (at the level of full Minister); Ling Ji concurrently serves as Deputy Trade Representative of the People's Republic of China for International Trade Negotiations; Cai Dong was appointed Vice Administrator of the National Financial Regulatory Administration; Zhang Yongjun was appointed Deputy Director of the Office of the Central Cyberspace Affairs Commission; Zhang Xiaotang was appointed Deputy Administrator of the State Tobacco Monopoly Administration; Liu Zhen was appointed Deputy Administrator of the National Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine.
Xu Qingsen was relieved of his post as Vice Minister of Education; Hu Weilie was relieved of his post as Vice Minister of Justice; Niu Yibing was relieved of his post as Deputy Director of the Office of the Central Cyberspace Affairs Commission; Liao Zhiwei was relieved of his post as Director of the Changjiang Water Resources Commission.
Return to Top(People's Daily, Beijing, September 20) (Reporter Wang Guan) Recently, the Ministry of Finance, together with the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, the National Financial Regulatory Administration, and the National Forestry and Grassland Administration, jointly issued the "Implementation Plan on Accelerating the High-Quality Development of Agricultural Insurance," clarifying that by 2030, a multi-tiered agricultural insurance system that aligns with farmers' risk protection needs, adapts to modern agricultural development, and features clear division of responsibilities between central and local governments will be basically established, reaching an overall internationally advanced level, and achieving a win-win pattern of efficient subsidies, safeguarded industries, tangible benefits for farmers, and sustainable institutions.
According to introductions, in order to promote the realization of policies reaching households, certificates reaching households, and protection reaching households, the implementation plan for the first time proposes at the policy level the implementation of "one policy per household," that is, issuing insurance policies with individual farmers as the subject, promoting the interconnection, sharing, and cross-verification of agricultural insurance underwriting data with agricultural production and operation data, and consolidating the authenticity of underwriting information from the source.
Return to Top(People's Daily, Beijing, September 20) (Reporter Wang Yunshan) In August, total electricity consumption across society once again exceeded one trillion kilowatt-hours, reaching 1,033.2 billion kilowatt-hours, a year-on-year increase of 1.7%; electricity load set a new historical high, reaching 1.56 billion kilowatts, 49.69 million kilowatts higher than last year's maximum load, with a total of seven days exceeding last year's maximum load.
Viewed by industry in terms of electricity consumption, primary industry electricity consumption was 16.9 billion kilowatt-hours, a year-on-year increase of 2.7%. Secondary industry electricity consumption was 612.4 billion kilowatt-hours, a year-on-year increase of 2.4%; among which, industrial electricity consumption was 606.5 billion kilowatt-hours, a year-on-year increase of 2.7%, and electricity consumption of high-tech and equipment manufacturing industries maintained a relatively rapid growth momentum, reaching 122.2 billion kilowatt-hours, a year-on-year increase of 7.2%. Electricity consumption of computer, communications and other electronic equipment manufacturing (7.5%), automobile manufacturing(7.6%, of which new-energy vehicle complete vehicles 22.2%), general equipment manufacturing(7.6%), special equipment manufacturing(8.2%), and electrical machinery(12.3%) grew relatively rapidly. Tertiary industry electricity consumption was 215.5 billion kilowatt-hours, a year-on-year increase of 5.1%; among which, electricity consumption of the charging-and-swapping service industry and internet data services grew strongly, reaching 17.2 billion and 10.2 billion kilowatt-hours respectively, with growth rates reaching 51.2% and 37.9% respectively.
Return to TopOn September 20, the National Exchange Conference for University Graduates and High-Level Talents from Home and Abroad was held in Nanjing, Jiangsu. More than 2,000 enterprises and public institutions from within and beyond Jiangsu Province attended the conference, offering over 100,000 quality job positions. In the photo, a job seeker (right) communicates with a representative of an employing unit.
Photo by Yang Suping (Xinhua News Agency)
Return to Top(People's Daily, Beijing, September 20) (Reporter Li Xinping) The reporter learned from China State Railway Group Co., Ltd.: In the first eight months of this year, the national railway carried 3.32 billion passenger trips, a year-on-year increase of 3.9%, setting a new record for the same period in history; the national railway cumulatively transported 2.69 billion tons of cargo, with an average daily loading of 187,400 wagons, a slight increase compared with the same period last year, continuing to maintain high-level operation.
In the first eight months, the national railway arranged an average of 11,508 passenger trains per day, a year-on-year increase of 5.0%; the Guangzhou-Shenzhen-Hong Kong High-Speed Railway carried 23.408 million cross-border passenger trips, a year-on-year increase of 10.7%, and the China-Laos Railway carried 245,000 cross-border passenger trips, a year-on-year increase of 39.1%; the national railway carried 16.683 million foreign passenger trips, a year-on-year increase of 33.3%.
In the first eight months, the national railway transported 1.389 billion tons of coal, of which 928 million tons was thermal coal, and coal inventories at power plants directly supplied by the national railway all remained at relatively high levels; cargo volumes of grain, chemicals, and textiles increased year-on-year by 9.9%, 5.5%, and 21.7%, respectively; the China-Europe Railway Express operated 14,842 trains, a year-on-year increase of 15.9%.
Return to Top(People's Daily, Beijing, September 20) (Reporter Wang Haonan) A token is the smallest unit of information processed by an artificial intelligence large model. The "Beijing Municipality Action Plan for Accelerating the Development of the Token Economy (2026–2028)" was recently released. According to the action plan, Beijing will build world-class token factories, improve the market-based pricing and circulation mechanism for tokens, expand token application scenarios, and promote the empowerment of new industrialization by artificial intelligence.
Return to TopMr. Tung Chee-hwa, an outstanding contributor to One Country, Two Systems, a renowned patriot, a distinguished social activist, a close friend of the Communist Party of China, Vice Chairman of the Tenth, Eleventh, Twelfth, and Thirteenth National Committees of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, and the First and Second Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, passed away due to illness at 21:57 on September 8, 2026, in Hong Kong, at the age of 89.
Mr. Tung Chee-hwa's ancestral home was Zhoushan, Zhejiang. He was born in Shanghai in May 1937. In 1947, he moved with his family to Hong Kong. In 1954, he went to the United Kingdom to study, graduating from the University of Liverpool in 1960 with a Bachelor of Science degree in marine engineering, after which he went to work in the United States. In 1969, he returned to Hong Kong to participate in the family's shipping business. From 1976 to 1977, he served as Chairman of the Hong Kong Shipowners Association. In 1979, he became Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Orient Overseas (International) Limited and Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Golden Gate Shipping Company. In 1985, he served as a member of the Consultative Committee for the Basic Law of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region. In 1992, he was appointed by the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the State Council and the Xinhua News Agency Hong Kong Branch as one of the first Hong Kong Affairs Advisors. In 1995, he served as Vice Chairman of the Preparatory Committee for the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the National People's Congress. In July 1997, he assumed office as the First Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, and in July 2002, he became the Second Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region. He was the founding Chairman of the China-United States Exchange Foundation, the founding Chairman of Our Hong Kong Foundation, and a co-convener of the Hong Kong Coalition. He was awarded the national honorary title of "Outstanding Contributor to One Country, Two Systems" and was conferred the Grand Bauhinia Medal by the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.
Mr. Tung Chee-hwa was a member of the Eighth National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference and Vice Chairman of the Tenth, Eleventh, Twelfth, and Thirteenth National Committees.
Mr. Tung Chee-hwa was a staunch patriot and a close friend of the Communist Party of China. Born in an era of war and turmoil, he was influenced from an early age by his father Tung Chao-yung's patriotic sentiments, and harbored a deep love for his country and family. He always placed the interests of the nation first, and throughout his life practiced the belief that "patriotism is something that is naturally right and just" (天经地义, tian jing di yi - "heaven, determine, earth, righteous"). He firmly supported the nation's reform and opening up and modernization. In the early days of reform and opening up, he led his family's shipping enterprise in opening routes from mainland ports to North America and Europe, providing modern container logistics support for the nation's foreign trade development. During Hong Kong's transition period, he actively participated in the drafting and consultation of the Hong Kong Basic Law and the formation of the Special Administrative Region government, firmly safeguarding national sovereignty and the overall interests of Hong Kong, and making outstanding contributions to the smooth transition of Hong Kong and the successful handover of power. During his tenure as Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, he always prioritized the fundamental interests of the nation and Hong Kong, exerting utmost effort and concentration (殚精竭虑, dan jing jie lü - "exhaust, essence, strive, thought"). After stepping down as Chief Executive, when faced with events in Hong Kong society that touched upon the bottom line of the "One Country, Two Systems" principle, he always stood up at the first moment to speak out with a clear stance, unswervingly adhering to a goal or vow (矢志不渝, shi zhi bu yu - "aim, will, not, change") to safeguard national sovereignty, security, and development interests. After the 2019 "extradition bill storm" in Hong Kong, he firmly supported the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region in lawfully suppressing violence and restoring order (止暴制乱, zhi bao zhi luan - "stop, violence, control, chaos"), sternly condemned acts of interference by external forces, and well-founded and reasonable (有理有据, you li you ju - "have, reason, have, evidence") refuted those who opposed China and destabilized Hong Kong, maintaining the overall stability of Hong Kong society. In 2020, he took the lead in initiating the establishment of the Hong Kong Coalition and served as its co-convener, uniting forces from all sectors of Hong Kong society, building social consensus, and promoting Hong Kong's emergence from difficulties and a fresh start. He firmly supported the establishment and improvement of the legal system and enforcement mechanisms for safeguarding national security in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, and firmly supported the enactment and implementation of the Hong Kong National Security Law. After the National People's Congress made decisions on improving the electoral system of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, he publicly stated that "Hong Kong has reached a critical moment where reform is imperative," and that improving the electoral system would bring the operation of Hong Kong's Legislative Council and the governance of the Special Administrative Region government back on track. He cared about the growth of Hong Kong's youth, attached great importance to strengthening education on Chinese history, Chinese culture, and national conditions, encouraged Hong Kong youth to deeply understand the nation, seize national development opportunities, and grow, succeed, and take on responsibilities in the development of the nation and Hong Kong. Over the decades, he consistently adhered to his patriotic and pro-Hong Kong stance, tirelessly devoted himself to the patriotic and pro-Hong Kong cause, and was a model of patriotism and love for Hong Kong, highly recognized by the Party and the state.
Mr. Tung Chee-hwa was a pioneer in the practice of "One Country, Two Systems" in Hong Kong. He once said that "One Country, Two Systems" is an unprecedented in history (前无古人, qian wu gu ren - "before, no, ancient, person") undertaking that can only succeed and must not fail, because its success or failure concerns the fundamental well-being of the people of Hong Kong and the great cause of national reunification and national rejuvenation. As the first Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, he firmly implemented the principles of "One Country, Two Systems," "Hong Kong people administering Hong Kong," and a high degree of autonomy, comprehensively implemented the Hong Kong Basic Law, and did a great deal of pioneering work. Facing the severe situation of drastic fluctuations in Hong Kong's financial market and international speculative forces attacking the Hong Kong dollar, with the strong support of the central government, he united and led the Special Administrative Region government and all sectors of society, responding calmly to situations (沉着应对, chen zhu ying dui - "calm, respond") and striving in adversity, resolutely safeguarding the linked exchange rate system and Hong Kong's financial stability, and leading Hong Kong through the Asian financial crisis. He promoted the establishment of the Hong Kong Port Development Council and the Shipping Development Council, oversaw the completion and opening of Hong Kong's new international airport, further consolidated Hong Kong's advantageous position in international finance, trade, and shipping, and helped Hong Kong's economy enter a new period of growth. He attached great importance to strengthening exchanges and cooperation between Hong Kong and the mainland. With the support of the central government, he signed the Mainland and Hong Kong Closer Economic Partnership Arrangement, injecting new momentum into Hong Kong's economic recovery and long-term development. Facing the impact of the SARS epidemic, he united and led the Special Administrative Region government and all sectors of society in making every effort to fight the epidemic and stabilize the economy and people's livelihoods. With the interests and well-being of Hong Kong citizens as his guide, he launched multiple long-term plans in areas such as the economy and people's livelihoods, implemented multiple education reform policies including mother-tongue teaching, promoted the implementation of the Mandatory Provident Fund system, shortened waiting times for public housing, increased the amount of comprehensive social security assistance for the elderly, and introduced a package of relief policies for small and medium-sized enterprises facing difficulties after the Asian financial crisis. He promoted the reform of the Special Administrative Region government structure, implemented the accountability system for principal officials, improved the work style of government departments, enhanced work efficiency, and improved the image of civil servants in the eyes of Hong Kong citizens. His practice and defense of "One Country, Two Systems" won widespread respect and praise from all sectors of Hong Kong, the mainland, and the international community. After serving as Vice Chairman of the CPPCC National Committee, he supported the work of successive Chief Executives and successive Special Administrative Region governments with a broad mind, continuing to contribute to national development and the cause of "One Country, Two Systems." As Hong Kong moved from chaos to order and from order to prosperity in a new stage, he supported the Special Administrative Region government in governing according to law, continued to care about Hong Kong's long-term development as always, and made new contributions to the steady and enduring implementation of "One Country, Two Systems" in Hong Kong, earning the praise and respect of the people of Hong Kong.
Mr. Tung Chee-hwa was a distinguished social activist. He served for a long time as Vice Chairman of the CPPCC National Committee, was enthusiastic about the work of the People's Political Consultative Conference, actively performed his duties, seriously participated in consultations on major national policies and important affairs, actively offered suggestions and proposals on major topics such as national development and the construction of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, did a great deal of work to promote the participation of Hong Kong members of the CPPCC National Committee in political affairs, and fully played the role of representatives from Hong Kong and Macao as bridges and bonds. He made friends extensively at home and abroad, used his special status and influence to widely publicize the great achievements of China's reform and opening up and modernization, actively introduced the successful practice of "One Country, Two Systems," "Hong Kong people administering Hong Kong," and a high degree of autonomy in Hong Kong, and contributed to promoting friendly exchanges and enhancing mutual trust between China and other countries in the world. He founded the China-United States Exchange Foundation, vigorously promoted exchanges and dialogues among political, business, and academic circles in China and the United States, and cooperated with more than 60 institutions and organizations worldwide to hold more than a thousand non-governmental dialogues including the "Hong Kong-U.S. Forum," making active efforts to promote mutual understanding between the peoples of China and the United States and to promote the stable development of Sino-U.S. relations. He founded Our Hong Kong Foundation, broadly united all sectors of Hong Kong society, conducted research on practical issues such as land, housing, and economic development, and provided policy recommendations for the Special Administrative Region government; by holding innovation and technology expositions and organizing projects such as "Mainland Study Tours for Hong Kong Young Entrepreneurs," he promoted exchanges and cooperation with the mainland and played an active role in promoting Hong Kong's better integration into and service to the national development strategy.
Mr. Tung Chee-hwa was a well-known industrialist in Hong Kong. In the 1980s, he inherited the family business and took over the family's shipping enterprise, Orient Overseas (International) Limited. Facing difficulties such as the prolonged downturn in the international shipping market and the heavy debt burden of the enterprise, he rose to the challenge, made sharp innovations, and after years of effort turned losses into profits. Leveraging Hong Kong's advantages as an international platform, he improved the enterprise's modern governance level and led the company back into the ranks of important international shipping enterprises. During his tenure as Chairman of the Hong Kong Shipowners Association, he represented the Hong Kong shipping industry in reflecting its demands, safeguarded the rights and interests of shipping enterprises, and contributed to the construction of Hong Kong as an international shipping center, earning recognition from the industry. After being elected Chairman of the Hong Kong Management Association, he actively promoted modern corporate management concepts, built cross-industry exchange platforms, and promoted the cultivation of business management talent, making positive contributions to promoting Hong Kong's economic development and receiving widespread praise from the Hong Kong business community.
Mr. Tung Chee-hwa's life was a life of patriotism, a life of struggle, and a life of dedication. "When Hong Kong is good, the nation is good; when the nation is good, Hong Kong will be even better" was his lifelong pursuit and a true portrayal of his dedication of all his energy to the nation and his service to Hong Kong. He was sincere in patriotism, deep in love for Hong Kong, broad in vision, and firm in stance, a practitioner and contributor to the great cause of "One Country, Two Systems"; he faced trials head-on, rose to challenges, was steady and resilient, and carried heavy burdens forward, a vivid embodiment of the spirit of constantly striving for self-improvement (自强不息, zi qiang bu xi - "self, strengthen, not, cease") and courageous struggle of Hong Kong compatriots; he performed his duties with utmost dedication (恪尽职守, ke jin zhi shou - "strictly, fulfill, duty, responsibility"), cared about people's livelihoods, united society, and built consensus, a model of benefiting citizens and serving society; he was modest, low-key, pragmatic, broad-minded, and being indifferent to fame and wealth (淡泊名利, dan bo ming li - "indifferent, pursue, fame, profit"), and his noble character was admirable. His patriotic sentiments, sense of responsibility, and sincere character will always be respected and remembered.
(Xinhua News Agency, Hong Kong, September 20)
Return to TopBy: 本报记者 于春晖 郑延冰 杨 迅
In September, the land of the three Xiang rivers is marked by high skies and clear air, with pleasant autumn scenery.
Inside Changsha's Zoomlion Intelligent Industrial City, over 300 intelligent manufacturing production lines work in coordination with more than 2,000 adaptive industrial robots, with an excavator rolling off the line every six minutes on average. In Loudi, central Hunan, inside the intelligent workshop of Hunan Hongwang New Materials Technology Co., Ltd., rolling mills rumble as coils of high-grade silicon steel are produced, with the entire production line achieving full-process automation. In Yiyang, along the Zijiang River, the Ming and Qing dynasty ancient alleys draw a fair number of tourists, where intangible cultural heritage projects such as Dongting woodcarving and Huagu opera are passed down and kept alive amid the gray bricks and black tiles...
Since the 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, General Secretary Xi Jinping has visited Hunan many times for inspection and research, requiring that "greater efforts be made in leading industrial innovation with scientific and technological innovation" and that Hunan strive to "build itself into a national important advanced manufacturing hub, a hub of scientific and technological innovation with core competitiveness, and a highland for reform and opening up in the inland regions."
Keeping the instructions in mind, Hunan works hard and forges ahead with determination. In consumption upgrading, innovation-driven development, and opening-up empowerment, Hunan is taking multiple measures simultaneously (多措并举, duo cuo bing ju - "many, measures, together, rise"), pooling new momentum for development by transforming the growth model and adjusting the economic structure.
Taking multiple measures simultaneously to expand domestic demand and stimulate consumption potential
General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out that "expanding domestic demand concerns both economic stability and economic security; it is not a makeshift or stopgap measure (权宜之计, quan yi zhi ji - "temporary, expedient, scheme, plan") but a strategic move," and stressed "accelerating efforts to make up for the shortcomings in domestic demand, especially consumption, so that domestic demand becomes the primary driving force and stabilizing anchor of economic growth."
As night falls, the lanterns along Changde's He Street light up one by one, the singing of sixian opera drifts lazily along the ripples of the Chuanzi River, and passing tourists either stop to watch intangible cultural heritage performances or wander along the ancient street in search of specialty food shops.
In March 2024, General Secretary Xi Jinping came to Changde's He Street for inspection and pointed out: "Changde is a place with cultural heritage. The sixian opera, gaoqiang, and work songs here should be inherited and utilized well through appropriate carriers, and developed in keeping with the times." In recent years, the city of Changde has actively restored the appearance of the old He Street, gathered 87 intangible cultural heritage projects, and reproduced the bustling scene of an ancient commercial port from the Ming and Qing dynasties. In 2025, Changde's He Street received a total of 18.2467 million tourist visits, a year-on-year increase of 75%; the total annual turnover reached 1.239 billion yuan, a year-on-year increase of 58.85%, as the traditional cultural lineage was transformed into visible, tangible consumption traffic.
To thoroughly implement General Secretary Xi Jinping's important instructions and the decisions and arrangements of the Party Central Committee, Hunan has made sustained efforts around innovating consumption scenarios and enriching consumption formats, issuing a series of policy measures such as the "Hunan Province Action Plan for Boosting Consumption" and the "Hunan Province Implementation Plan for Cultivating New Growth Points in Service Consumption (2026-2028)," effectively stimulating residents' consumption vitality. The Wanlou Tower on the banks of the Xiangjiang River in Xiangtan and the Tianwen Island themed on Qu Yuan in Huaihua have both become well-known local cultural tourism consumption brands, attracting tourists from all over.
The momentum of commodity consumption upgrading continues to strengthen. Data show that in 2025, Hunan's trade-in programs cumulatively drove nearly 100 billion yuan in sales; in 2026, 10 new categories of subsidized products were added, driving the retail sales of communication equipment, new energy vehicles, and wearable devices above the designated size to grow by 11.1%, 11.0%, and 44.9% respectively in the first half of the year; in the service consumption sector, in the first half of this year, the operating revenues of Hunan's sports, literary and artistic creation and performance, and cultural activity service enterprises above the designated size grew by 16.4%, 11.3%, and 15.1% respectively.
Shen Yumou, Secretary of the Party Leadership Group and Director of the Hunan Provincial Department of Commerce, said that Hunan adheres to closely combining the improvement of people's livelihoods with the promotion of consumption, and investment in physical assets with investment in people, truly leading new demand with high-quality supply and activating new momentum with innovative scenarios, injecting an inexhaustible stream of power into high-quality development.
Breaking new ground through innovation, using science and technology to lead industries toward the new
In the production workshop of Lens Technology Co., Ltd. in Liuyang, automated production lines run smoothly, with key processes achieving unmanned operation. This traditional manufacturing enterprise, which started with consumer electronics glass covers, is relying on its precision manufacturing capabilities to transform and upgrade into frontier tracks such as advanced semiconductor packaging and embodied intelligent robots.
Innovation is the primary driving force for development.
In recent years, Hunan has successively issued documents such as the "Hunan Province Implementation Plan for Building a Modern Industrial System" and the "Implementation Plan for Deepening the 'Wisdom Empowering Ten Thousand Enterprises' Action and Accelerating the Digital Transformation of Manufacturing," making strategic arrangements for transforming and upgrading traditional industries, cultivating and strengthening emerging industries, and laying out ahead of time the construction of future industries.
Hunan is a major province of traditional manufacturing. Accelerating the transformation and upgrading of traditional industries is an important task facing Hunan in developing new quality productive forces in light of local conditions.
As a leading enterprise in Hunan's high-end equipment manufacturing sector, Zoomlion has in recent years continued its transformation and upgrading toward intelligence, green development, and integration. In Zoomlion Intelligent Industrial City, the excavator intelligent factory production line can achieve mixed-flow production of more than 100 product models. The enterprise is also actively carrying out systematic layout around the embodied intelligent technology chain, launching 8 humanoid robots at the product level and releasing the "Yungu Embodied Intelligence Large Model" and its supporting toolchain at the technology level, gradually building full-lifecycle technical capabilities covering data collection, model training, simulation verification, deployment, and operations and maintenance.
Emerging industries and future industries are advanced industrial forms bred and brought forth by the new round of technological revolution and industrial transformation. They represent the direction and future of industrial evolution and are important fields for developing new quality productive forces.
Sunward Star Aviation Industry Co., Ltd. is a high-tech joint-stock private enterprise located in Zhuzhou and a company in which the listed company Sunward Intelligent Equipment Co., Ltd. holds a stake. In September 2020, General Secretary Xi Jinping visited Sunward Intelligent for inspection and research, pointing out that "innovation is the most important quality of enterprise management and is also what we must achieve in climbing over ridges and passing through passes in the future." In recent years, following the direction pointed out by General Secretary Xi Jinping, Sunward Star Aviation has continuously advanced "pioneering innovation," laid out ahead of schedule and seized opportunities in the development of the low-altitude economy, concentrated efforts on tackling key difficulties in the domestic production of core components for the low-altitude economy, and achieved technological breakthroughs in multiple core fields. At present, the company's "Arrola" light sport aircraft has cumulatively delivered nearly 500 units, with a domestic market share of over 80% for similar products, and is also exported overseas. He Qinghua, the company's founder, said: "Our vision is to create Chinese value for the aviation field."
As of June this year, Hunan has a total of 146 A-share listed companies, covering many fields such as semiconductors, pharmaceuticals, non-ferrous metals, and precision tool manufacturing, providing a good foundation and effective support for economic transformation and development; at the same time, Hunan continues to make new progress in scenario innovation and large-scale application of many frontier technologies, with the output of high-end intelligent products rising rapidly. In the first half of this year, the output of sensors by industrial enterprises above the designated size across Hunan Province grew by 22.1%, the output of printed circuit boards grew by 17.5%, and the output of optoelectronic devices grew by 17.3%.
From construction machinery to low-altitude equipment, from intelligent equipment to electronic components, Hunan is transforming the momentum of scientific and technological innovation into the driving force of industrial leapfrogging.
Forging ahead with determination, building a more competitive inland opening-up highland
Amid the Wuling Mountains, the freight yard of Huaihua International Land Port is a scene of bustle, with containers being hoisted and loaded in an orderly manner and trains sounding their whistles as they depart, heading to Southeast Asian countries via international corridors such as the China-Laos, China-Vietnam, and China-Myanmar routes. This small inland city once hidden deep in western Hunan has now become an important gateway of the New Western Land-Sea Corridor. As of September 13 this year, the Huaihua International Land Port has cumulatively dispatched 49,156 TEUs, equivalent to 983 trains, a year-on-year increase of 14%.
Opening up is the only way for a country to achieve prosperity and development. Although Hunan is located inland, it strives to be at the forefront of opening up.
In recent years, Hunan has anchored its goal of building itself into a highland for reform and opening up in the inland regions, continuously deepening the breadth and depth of opening up to the outside world, raising the level of Hunan's open development, and stimulating the vitality of Hunan's economy through open development.
In terms of top-level design, Hunan has issued policy documents such as the "Implementation Plan for Deeply Implementing the Strategy of Upgrading the Pilot Free Trade Zone and Building the China (Hunan) Pilot Free Trade Zone to a High Standard"; in Hunan's 15th Five-Year Plan, arrangements have been made for continuously striving to build an inland reform and opening-up highland, emphasizing accelerating the improvement of institutional mechanisms for market-based allocation of factors, building high-energy-level opening platforms and corridors, and raising the quality and level of trade and investment cooperation.
In terms of platform construction, Hunan has issued the "Hunan Province Three-Year Action Plan for Economic and Trade Cooperation with Africa (2026-2028)," clearly giving full play to the platform and resource-gathering advantages of the China-Africa Economic and Trade Expo and the Pilot Zone for In-Depth China-Africa Economic and Trade Cooperation, focusing on six advantageous industries including automobiles and auto parts and construction machinery, concentrating on five major directions of industry going global, cultivation of business entities, logistics support, financial empowerment, and model innovation, making good use of the zero-tariff policy for African products exported to China, and promoting the steady growth of Hunan's trade scale with Africa.
In terms of the logistics system, Hunan is actively advancing the construction of the China-Europe Railway Express (Changsha), the Huaihua International Land Port, the Hunan-Guangdong-Africa sea-rail intermodal transport, the river-sea intermodal transport of Yueyang's Chenglingji Port, and the air port of Changsha Huanghua International Airport, gradually forming a three-dimensional, multi-dimensional international trade corridor system connecting rivers, seas, land, and air.
Li Yi, Associate Researcher at the Chinese Academy of International Trade and Economic Cooperation of the Ministry of Commerce, believes that Hunan's series of measures to build an inland reform and opening-up highland have effectively broken through the inherent constraints of Hunan as an inland region, transforming Hunan from an inland hinterland into a frontier of opening up, enabling it to better utilize both domestic and international markets and resources, integrate more deeply into the new development pattern, and further stimulate the vitality of Hunan's high-quality economic development.
The tides surge across the three Xiang rivers, and the boats race forward. Hunan firmly establishes and practices a correct view of political achievements, adheres to innovation-driven development, continuously deepens reform and expands opening up, strives to break through the critical juncture of transformation and upgrading, and bursts forth with even more surging vitality.
Return to TopBy: 本报记者 冯春梅 刘博通 张 枨
Opening Remarks for the Column
Ethnic unity is the lifeline of the people of all ethnic groups in our country, and a sense of community for the Chinese nation is the foundation of ethnic unity. Since the 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, General Secretary Xi Jinping has planned ethnic work from the strategic height of realizing the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation, clearly proposing that consolidating a sense of community for the Chinese nation serve as the main line of the Party's ethnic work in the new era and the main line of all work in ethnic regions, forming General Secretary Xi Jinping's important thought on strengthening and improving ethnic work, and promoting historic achievements and historic changes in the cause of ethnic unity and progress in our country.
September 21 to 27 is the first Ethnic Unity and Progress Publicity Week following the implementation of the Law on the Promotion of Ethnic Unity and Progress. Starting today, this newspaper launches the column "Consolidating the Community of the Chinese Nation, All Chinese Are One Family," telling the vivid practices of cadres and people of all ethnic groups taking consolidating a sense of community for the Chinese nation as the main line, working together in unity and striving together for common prosperity and development, and showcasing the high-spirited demeanor of people of all ethnic groups uniting and striving to comprehensively build a modern socialist country and comprehensively advance the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation.
On the Horqin Grassland of Inner Mongolia, autumn rain falls in a drizzle, and the sky and earth stretch vast and wide.
After the rain clears, Xiridaobu Gacha in Horqin Right Wing Middle Banner of Hinggan League becomes lively. People of all ethnic groups sit around a stone table, where a publicity session on the Law on the Promotion of Ethnic Unity and Progress organized by the "Chat Team at the Doorstep" is underway.
"People always talk about exchanges, interactions, and integration — what does that actually mean?"
"During festivals, we all eat delicious food together, sing and dance together at the Nadam Fair. I respect your customs, you participate in my festivals — the feelings among all ethnic groups grow deeper the more we interact."
"What practical benefits can the Law on the Promotion of Ethnic Unity and Progress bring to us herders and farmers?"
"When everyone thinks with one mind and works with one strength, we can all live good lives together."
One word after another, amid laughter and conversation, stories of unity, new voices of the times, and new trends of civilization moisten the hearts of people of all ethnic groups like a fine rain.
"Given the scattered settlement of local herders and farmers, we have built a 'Chat Team at the Doorstep' covering three levels — banner, sumu (town), and gacha (village) — using the 'sitting around and chatting' method of publicity, so that people of all ethnic groups are willing to listen, can understand, and will remember." Wang Zhiguo, Executive Deputy Director of the Publicity Department of the Horqin Right Wing Middle Banner Party Committee and Director of the Banner Civilization Office, introduced. At present, this team carries out more than 3,000 publicity sessions of various kinds each year, benefiting 120,000 people.
In ethnic unity publicity, the most valuable approach is to influence without noise; in theoretical propaganda, the key is to enter the hearts of the people.
"As pomegranate flowers bloom, the seeds hold tightly together; the sons and daughters of China are connected heart to heart. The thousand-year-old cypress trees are joined at the roots; people of all ethnic groups are as close as one family…" At the Manhan Melody Tongxin Small Theater in Jungar Banner, Ordos City, accompanied by the melody of the national intangible cultural heritage Manhan Melody, the themed publicity performance "Manhan Melodies, a happy and harmonious atmosphere" (其乐融融, qi le rong rong - "joyful, harmonious") on consolidating a sense of community for the Chinese nation is underway.
"The publicity performance is held regularly every Friday and Saturday afternoon. We integrate consolidating a sense of community for the Chinese nation into the rhythm and lyrics of Manhan Melody, opening up the 'last kilometer' of connecting theoretical publicity with streets and neighborhoods and with the people, allowing the masses to subtly and gradually cultivate feelings of ethnic unity while appreciating intangible cultural heritage art." Hao Xiangmei, Deputy Director of the United Front Work Department of the Jungar Banner Party Committee, introduced that more than 40 performances have been staged to date.
The locality widely draws in folk artists and cultural volunteers, going deep into markets, streets, and cultural squares to carry out intangible cultural heritage touring performances, creating a social atmosphere of "Manhan melodies resounding, a happy and harmonious atmosphere," and promoting intangible cultural heritage to come alive and spread outward in ethnic unity publicity. "The whole banner has built a normalized publicity pattern of 'performances at markets, theaters on streets, activities every week,' forming a good communication effect in which the masses 'can understand, can remember, and can sing along,' allowing the concept of ethnic unity to take deep root in people's hearts." Hao Xiangmei said.
Cultural identity is the deepest level of identity and the root and lifeline of ethnic unity.
"From late April to early May 1947, the Inner Mongolia People's Congress was held here, proclaiming the establishment of the first provincial-level ethnic autonomous region under the leadership of the Communist Party of China…" Walking into the May First Site in Ulanhot City, Hinggan League, the solemn meeting hall and the hanging banners bring people back to the stirring years of several decades ago.
"The sky over our grassland has brightened, and the good days for grassland people are truly coming…" As the situational drama "The May First Congress" is performed, visitors transform into "congress delegates," immersively tracing red memories and receiving red education.
Make good use of red resources and consolidate the foundation of unity. "Taking the 'one museum, three sites' — consisting of the Inner Mongolia Ethnic Liberation Memorial Hall, the May First Site, the former office of Ulanhu, and the former office of the Inner Mongolia Party Committee — as the core, we have built an integrated research-study system and polished 10 high-quality red research-study tourism routes, promoting a sense of community for the Chinese nation to take firm root and become established (落地生根, luo di sheng gen - "land, fall, grow, root") and permeate people's hearts." Wang Tianfeng, Director of the Hinggan League Culture, Tourism and Sports Bureau, said.
"Through red reading clubs, paper-cutting, and artistic performances, we extensively carry out education on consolidating a sense of community for the Chinese nation for different age groups." Fang Wei, Deputy Director of the Inner Mongolia Ethnic Liberation Memorial Hall, said.
Young people carry the future of the nation, and the sentiment of ethnic unity must be allowed to permeate children's hearts.
"I read the story of 'Three Thousand Orphans Entering Inner Mongolia' in a book. Dugui Ma carefully raised orphans from the south, and the warmth among all ethnic groups is deeply moving. I hope to tell this story of boundless love and ethnic unity to more people." At the classic recitation competition of Hohhot No. 30 Middle School (The Second Affiliated School of Inner Mongolia Normal University), student Li Adiya shared her reflections.
The school breaks down classroom boundaries, allowing ethnic unity education to step out of the classroom, into the field, and into society. "We offer special cultural elective courses such as restoration of ancient books, calligraphy and painting, and making ethnic cuisine, and through classroom sharing, research-study practice, and volunteer service, we plant the concept of 'All Chinese Are One Family' deep in students' hearts." Principal Dong Shuanglong said.
"Studying together and helping each other makes me feel that all ethnic groups are one family." Li Adiya said.
Relying on the museum-school cooperation platform, the school organizes students to visit the Inner Mongolia Museum, where they become "Red Scarf docents," using their young voices to tell tourists from all over the moving history of exchanges, interactions, and integration among all ethnic groups in Inner Mongolia. "We continuously carry out the special course 'Museum on the Move,' leading young people to trace the shared historical memory of the Chinese nation and consolidate a sense of community for the Chinese nation." Liu Hongxuan, Education Supervisor of the Social Education Department of the Inner Mongolia Museum, introduced.
Today, across the land of Inner Mongolia, the seeds of ethnic unity are sown into the hearts of people of all ethnic groups. With hands joined and hearts linked, moving forward together in the same direction, a sense of community for the Chinese nation is being forged ever more firmly.
Return to TopBy: 罗珊珊
Seeking harmony while respecting differences, embracing pluralism and coexistence, and working together to make progress — this is how the road of common development can be broadened ever further.
Not long ago, the character "even/orderly" was selected as the 2026 annual character of the Belt and Road Initiative.
Why "even"?The character "Qi" can be traced back to the oracle bone inscriptions of the Shang Dynasty.The Shuowen Jiezi (Explaining Simple and Analyzing Compound Characters) defines it as "the ears of grain and wheat rise evenly at the top," carrying the meaning of "seeking evenness amid unevenness." A single character carries forward the cultural lineage of the Chinese nation and mirrors the contemporary significance of high-quality Belt and Road cooperation: seeking harmony while respecting differences, embracing pluralism and coexistence, and working together to make progress — this is how the road of common development can be broadened ever further.
When hearts are united, strength gathers.
Take the annual character release event of the Belt and Road Initiative as an example: held continuously for 10 years, soliciting opinions from all sides, seeking common ground while reserving differences and building consensus — this itself is a vivid illustration of "unity." Another example:the Second Global Enterprise Summit on High-Quality Belt and Road Cooperation, recently held in Singapore, co-hosted by the United Nations Global Compact's action platform on "Sustainable Infrastructure Supporting the Belt and Road Initiative and Accelerating the Achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals," among others, produced a number of outcomes.
How is it that an initiative proposed by China has, in just over 10 years, grown into a global public good attracting the participation of more than 150 countries and over 30 international organizations? The answer is clear: everyone shares consensus, and their hearts are united. Countries with different national conditions, different civilizations, and different stages of development, discarding the habitual thinking of zero-sum games, adhering to extensive consultation, joint contribution, and shared benefits, and pooling their respective strengths into a powerful joint force for common development — this is precisely the real-world footnote of the character "togetherness."
When all move in unison, endeavors succeed.
Deep in the mountains of Central Asia, construction of the China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan railway is advancing steadily; this "major transportation artery," starting from Kashgar in China's Xinjiang, passing through Kyrgyzstan, and terminating in Uzbekistan, carries the expectations of the people along its route and is turning from blueprint into reality at a solid pace. On the shores of the Red Sea in Egypt, factories stand in clusters within the China-Egypt TEDA Suez Economic and Trade Cooperation Zone; as of the end of June 2026, the zone has attracted more than 200 enterprises to settle in, with cumulative attracted investment exceeding US$4.7 billion, directly creating over 10,000 jobs. At present, China has established 22,000 overseas enterprises in Belt and Road partner countries, with cumulative direct investment stock exceeding US$400 billion.
In recent years, the "four-in-one" connectivity layout covering land, sea, air, and cyberspace has been accelerating its improvement. In the first seven months of this year, China-Europe Railway Express trains operated 12,988 trips, up 17.6% year on year. In the first half of the year, the "Air Silk Road" saw over 190,000 flight sorties. The "Maritime Silk Road" has named 148 shipping routes, reaching 150 ports in 48 countries and regions. These weighty achievements have benefited from countries moving towards each other in a spirit of cooperation and coordinating their efforts.
When benefits are shared, all win.
A Chilean power company has adopted China's intelligent early-warning system, which can conduct real-time analysis of weather conditions in more than 340 municipalities across the country, helping the power grid anticipate risk points. In rural Pakistan, photovoltaic panels have been assembled into solar power generation and energy storage systems that not only meet daily needs but can also be used for irrigation. A rubber factory in Malaysia, leveraging China's artificial intelligence algorithms and industrial robots, has reduced production costs by 30%...
High-quality Belt and Road cooperation has long since transcended traditional infrastructure and trade cooperation, and is now striding boldly into new tracks such as green and digital development. The technological, industrial, and model advantages formed by China's development of new quality productive forces, through multiple pathways including production capacity cooperation, technology transfer, and joint talent cultivation, help developing countries seize the opportunities of the new round of technological revolution and industrial transformation, and drive partner countries to transform from "external blood transfusion" to "self-generated blood production."
General Secretary Xi Jinping has emphasized that the Belt and Road Initiative is a sunlit avenue along which all join hands and advance together, not a private path of any single party; what it pursues is development, what it upholds is win-win cooperation, and what it conveys is hope. At present, the fragmentation of the world economy is intensifying and the development process is severely hampered, making the preciousness of "unity" all the more evident.Working together with one heart and mind, striving together with shared determination, will surely pave an even broader road of win-win cooperation.
Return to TopBy: 武卫政
In Hedong District, Tianjin, inside the red-brick factory buildings of the former Tianjin No. 1 Machine Tool General Plant, the roar of machinery has long since faded. The plant was initially built in 1951, and in 2014 the enterprise relocated, leaving the old factory area idle. After subsequent renovation and upgrading, it was transformed into the "Jinyi PARK" campus, becoming a new urban cultural gathering place. Not long ago, PAGEONE, a well-known humanities bookstore brand, opened its first Tianjin store there, and the "Folds of Time" Jinyi Literature Festival was launched simultaneously, injecting new cultural elements into this industrial heritage site.
The historical traces remain, and new stories are gradually unfolding. From old factory buildings to a "cultural showground," every step of the transformation of industrial heritage reflects ingenuity and meticulous craftsmanship.
The value of industrial heritage lies not only in the bricks, tiles, and steel themselves, but even more in the coordinates of memory they anchor. In renewing industrial heritage, the primary task is to "preserve the soul," not to "replace the bones." The "Jinyi PARK" campus retains iconic elements such as the tall open spaces of the old factory buildings, steel trusses, red-brick exterior walls, and towering trees, deeply integrating them with new cultural spaces, giving the city's cultural lineage a tangible carrier.
It is not only here. In Shanghai, the Yangpu Riverside has renovated and revitalized century-old heritage sites such as the Yong'an Warehouse and the Hemp and Wool Warehouse. The west building of the former Yong'an Warehouse site has been transformed into the World Skills Museum, and the Hemp and Wool Warehouse and Minghua Sugar Factory have successively hosted more than 20 provincial- and ministerial-level art exhibitions. In Beijing, Shougang Park has turned steel pipe corridors into elevated walkways, converted cooling towers into a basketball park, and transformed Blast Furnace No. 1 into a sci-fi amusement park, preserving the furnace structure while incorporating immersive sci-fi experiences. When veteran workers bring their children and grandchildren back to these spaces and point at old objects while recounting the fervent scenes of production and life from back then, industrial heritage shifts from a static relic to be viewed into a vivid, tangible chapter of history.
The infusion of culture has written a new chapter for industrial heritage. The key to revitalizing industrial heritage lies in finding points of convergence with the needs of contemporary life. The "Jinyi PARK" campus is driven by the first-store economy and scene renewal, introducing PAGEONE to cultivate a high-quality reading space, linking with One Step Garden, Twenty Years Music Live, and others to expand diverse business formats, and building an all-weather cultural consumption scene. Shanghai's Yangpu Riverside has transformed the dry ash storage silos of the former Yangshupu Power Plant into the Gray Silo Art Space, hosting cultural events such as the Sino-French Zero-Carbon Concert. Beijing's Shougang Park has embedded diverse business formats including culture, technology, and sports into industrial carriers such as blast furnaces and cooling towers, allowing industry and humanity to complement each other to enhance one another (相得益彰, xiang de yi zhang - "mutually, benefit, increase, shine"). Cultural business formats are not mere "ornaments" in the renewal of industrial heritage, but rather the fulcrum that turns the "old workshop" of production into a "new living room" for daily life, providing citizens with a spiritual harbor where they can "pause and reflect."
The purpose of renewal is not to create a momentary bustle, but to ensure that what is revitalized can thrive, and what thrives can prosper, enabling spiritual life and urban development to empower each other in both directions. This requires building a virtuous cycle of "culture–consumption–life." The "Jinyi PARK" campus, through continuously polishing core IPs such as the "Slow Life Festival," links diverse scenes including reading, markets, and performances, driving the aggregation and elevation of vitality in the neighborhood. Shanghai's West Bund Riverside has transformed the former runway of Longhua Airport into a Runway Park, and integrated the remains of the former Beipiao Coal Wharf into the architectural space of the Long Museum West Bund, producing the agglomeration effect of a "Museum Avenue." By closely combining old factory buildings with new scenes, forming a distinctive layout of "industrial heritage revitalization + cultural experience + industrial incubation + business and leisure tourism," and empowering through industry, attracting through commerce, and forging the soul through culture, it is possible to create even more splendor after the machines have stopped turning.
General Secretary Xi Jinping has emphasized: "'To remember one's nostalgia,' one must protect and promote the fine traditional culture of the Chinese nation, continue the city's historical cultural lineage, and preserve the cultural genes of China." At present, China's urban development is transitioning from a stage of large-scale incremental expansion to a stage focused primarily on improving quality and efficiency of the existing stock. To practice the people-centered city philosophy, it is necessary to take the advancement of urban renewal as an important lever and protect the city's unique historical cultural lineage and natural landscapes. Retaining a city's important industrial heritage and creatively transforming it, so that the "past perfect tense" of urban development and the "present continuous tense" of people's spiritual life converge under the same roof, is precisely a valuable exploration of putting the people-centered city philosophy into practice.
When the whirring of gears and the pounding of forging hammers turn into the drumbeats of performances and the laughter of markets, what is renewed and revitalized with meticulous craftsmanship is not just row upon row of old factory buildings and old machines, but even more so the city's spiritual landmark—it enables people of today to remember the path they came from and to see the future ahead.
(The author is a reporter for the Tianjin Branch of this newspaper.)
Return to TopBy: 方 圆
As the Autumn Equinox approaches, the fields of Heilongjiang grow heavier day by day. Rice ears bend low, corn cobs swell with kernels, and the mottled land exudes a sense of substance.
Bumper harvest is the calling card of this land. Last year, Heilongjiang's total grain output reached 164.006 billion jin, setting a new historical high, ranking first nationwide for 16 consecutive years, achieving a "22nd consecutive bumper harvest"; the 3.97 billion jin increase in a single year accounted for 23.6% of the nation's grain output increase.
To understand the bumper harvest, the key is to understand the people on the black earth. At Beidahuang Qixing Farm, Zhao Yong, who has farmed for decades, crouched down, grabbed a handful of soil and rubbed it: "Previously this soil was hard as stone, now it is soft as bread, and even earthworms have increased!" The changes in the soil beneath one's feet are most easily noticed by the eyes of the "new farmers."
These grain growers called "new farmers" — what exactly is new about them?
The newness lies in "wisdom" in farming, employing the "technology chip." At Beidahuang, machinery operators set field boundaries on tablets, tractors equipped with BeiDou navigation drive straight on their own; drones sweep over the ridges, multi-spectral lenses scan past, and thousands of mu of rice fields can complete inspections within a few hours.
In the past, "knowing" how to farm relied on a body of sweat and hands full of calluses; today, "wisdom" in farming relies on the moisture conditions on the screen and the farming calendar in the cloud. Drones have become new farm tools, data has become a new agricultural input. One no longer sees farmers exhausted, but one sees farm machinery busy; the thousand-year-old picture of farming is being quietly rewritten on the black earth.
The newness lies in "nurturing" the land, settling the "ecological account." Once, long-term cultivation and overdraw made the black earth "thinner, leaner, and harder." Today's "new farmers" understand that land is also a resource that needs care. Once the autumn harvest is over, straw is crushed and returned to the field; the following spring sowing, no-till planters work directly on the stubble field, with less disturbance and more replenishment.
At Qixing Farm, soil organic matter content has continued to rise, and rice yield per mu has stably exceeded 1,260 jin. The black earth, called the "giant panda of cultivated land," has once again become "blacker, fatter, and softer." From "only using, not nurturing" to "both using the land and nurturing the land," between taking and giving, it embodies the concept of harmonious coexistence between humans and nature.
The newness lies in "thriving" industries, building "brand value." Busy in the fields are not only skilled farmers, but also agricultural machinery experts, e-commerce livestream hosts, and cooperative board chairs. In the first half of this year, the number of customized agriculture entities across Heilongjiang Province grew to 445, the area of customized planting bases reached 1.799 million mu, achieving contracted sales of 5.55 billion yuan, a year-on-year increase of 85%.
Good grain sells at a good price, good harvests bring good income, agriculture has become an industry with prospects, and farmers have become an attractive profession.
Speaking of the land, Zhao Yong said plainly:"This land has spirituality — if you treat it well, it will treat you doubly well." Concepts are renewed, tools are replaced; what changes are the methods and approaches, what remains unchanged is that farming heart, that reverence for the land, that cherishing of grain, and that recognition of "valuing every grain of food as the result of hard labor" (粒粒皆辛苦, li li jie xin ku - "every grain, all hard work"), maintaining a consistent approach or principle throughout (一以贯之, yi yi guan zhi - "one, through, connect, continuous") and continuing a tradition or lineage from one generation to the next (一脉相承, yi mai xiang cheng - "one, vein, mutually, inherit"). What is called deep affection is the year-after-year cultivation and the earnestness of harvesting all crops and storing them safely in the granary (颗粒归仓, ke li gui cang - "grain, particle, return, granary").
Farming requires being able to endure time, and it also tests one's character. Understanding this deep affection, one also understands the code of the bumper harvest. Who will farm the land? How to farm it well? More and more people are bending their backs to cultivate, writing their theses on the land and planting their time into the black earth. When farmers have the enthusiasm to grow grain, when the land has a good harvest to offer, then there will be a "China's rice bowl" that is filled full and held steady.
The rice ears are full because the roots are planted deep; the harvest is heavy because the affection is profound. The black earth never lets people down, and the new era never lets down those who are down-to-earth and working with practical, steady effort (脚踏实地, jiao ta shi di - "foot, step, solid, ground"). Another year of fine harvest scenery arrives; that vast fertile granary is the land's most profound response to us.
Return to TopNot long ago, the 2026 China International Fair for Trade in Services was held at Shougang Park in Beijing. Ninety countries (regions) and international organizations, over 1,830 enterprises participated, more than 200 new achievements were released collectively, over a hundred first-launch and first-showcase items, and intelligent agents and other digital-intelligence applications drew much attention; for the first time, a dedicated China Service Cases exhibition area and an Going-Global Services zone were set up, with 140 cases on display and 41 roadshows running throughout the fair period, helping Chinese and foreign enterprises achieve one-stop matchmaking.
This is precisely:
Gathering distinguished guests from all over the world (四海高朋聚一堂, si hai gao peng ju yi tang - "four seas, high-status guests, gather, one hall"),
Exchanging what one has for what one lacks (互通有无, hu tong you wu -"mutually, connect, have, lack") through careful consultation.
Development is by no means a one-man show,
Cooperation for win-win results makes the road stretch even longer.
Written by Xu Fei
Return to TopBy: 张 辉
Not long ago, Jiangle County in Fujian released an assessment report on the ecological product value (VEP) of specific territorial units in its 100,000-mu carbon sink reserve forest, and, using the quantified results as the core basis, signed a VEP ecological credit cooperation agreement with a bank. A good ecosystem securing tangible wealth or hard cash (真金白银, zhen jin bai yin - "true gold, true silver") in loans is yet another concrete practice of the concept that "lucid waters and lush mountains are invaluable assets."
Ecological products borrow from the concepts of economics, viewing ecological resources as value carriers with clearly defined property rights boundaries that can be traded and converted into cash. This means that a good ecosystem is a scarce resource that can be efficiently allocated through the price formation mechanism, and that protecting the ecology is not merely "burning money" without "making money."
In recent years, based on the consensus that "the ecosystem has value," localities have widely carried out practices of "pricing the ecosystem."
Last year, Fujian, for the first time, organized a list of ecological products from the province's six major ecosystems in the form of a three-level catalog, providing guidance for taking stock of the ecological product base. Taking the forest ecosystem as an example, the ecological products it provides include not only tangible goods that can be seen and touched, such as timber, fruit, and tea, but also ecological regulation services such as water source conservation, water quality purification, and soil retention, as well as economic and cultural values such as tourism and wellness, leisure and recreation, and education and scientific research. On this basis, localities have explored the establishment of value accounting systems to scientifically price ecological products.
Similar practices have effectively addressed the problems of measuring, assessing, and pricing ecological products. However, to truly promote the realization of ecological product value, merely posting a clear price is not enough. If there is a price but no actual market demand (若有价无市, ruo you jia wu shi - "if have price, no market"), the value of ecological products will only be a string of numbers on paper, and the vision of "a good ecosystem fetching a good price" will be out of the question. Therefore, it is necessary to improve the system, build platforms, and cultivate the market so that more ecological products can be traded efficiently and smoothly.
VEP collateral loans are a beneficial exploration of realizing ecological product value in the financial field. Before Jiangle County, Wuyishan City implemented VEP loans for ecological tea gardens, while Yong'an City completed Fujian's first "soil and water conservation VEP collateral + biodiversity" certified loan. These financial product innovations vividly prove that "the ecosystem has value" is not just a slogan, and that a good ecosystem can be transformed into real, tangible wealth. These funds will further feed back into ecological construction, enhancing people's well-being in a virtuous cycle.
Of course, there is more than one way to realize ecological product value — vigorously developing green industries such as under-forest economy and forest wellness; promoting the convergence of forestry carbon sink development with the market so that "selling air" can also earn money; exploring a forest ticket operating mechanism that converts forest rights assets into quantified shares, turning forest rights into securitized assets that can be transferred, traded, and converted into cash... From "the ecosystem has value" to "transactions have a market," from "valuation on paper" to "income on the books," a series of reform explorations are continuously building effective pathways for turning resources into assets and assets into capital.
(Excerpted from Fujian Daily, original title: "Glad to See 'Fine Landscapes' Turn into 'Good Returns'")
Return to TopBy: 王妙丽
Many people came to know me because of that time during this year's New Year's Day holiday when I snatched a knife from an attacker's hand with my bare hands and subdued him.
That evening, I was passing through the streets of Luohe with my child when I saw two men in a fierce argument, and one of them suddenly pulled a sharp knife from under the seat of a tricycle. I pushed my child aside, rushed forward to intervene, and was accidentally cut, receiving more than 30 stitches on my face, with one wound right next to my carotid artery. The doctor said that if it had been one inch deeper, it would have been life-threatening.
At the time there was no time to think it over; now I feel some lingering fear, but I have never regretted it. A people's police officer is someone who must step forward when the people need it.
The people's police serve the people, requiring not only the courage to face real knives and real guns, but also the gentle and persuasive influence (春风化雨, chun feng hua yu - "spring breeze, transform rain") of tenderness. I graduated from a police academy and entered the Second Compulsory Isolation Drug Rehabilitation Center of Henan Province in 2003, working for a long time in education and correction. Wearing the police uniform, in this post, what is tested more often is not the burst of drive at a moment of crisis, but the ability to never lose patience and warmth when facing lost souls one after another. Saving sunken hearts and rescuing broken families is our greatest wish.
Many of those who come to the drug rehabilitation center are repeat users or deeply addicted. How should we face this special group? They are lawbreakers, but many are also victims. Some came into contact with drugs by mistake, some lack emotional attachment and cannot find a fulcrum of value, and they slid step by step into the abyss.
The sword of the law must be held high, and the embrace of society must also be opened wide. The function of the drug rehabilitation center is not only compulsory isolation, but also "treating the illness and saving the person." Every additional person saved means one more family helped, and one more stone laid on the levee of social harmony.
"Treating the illness and saving the person" requires finding the exact focus of the disease and prescribing the right remedy. Xiao Li was 18 when he entered the center, withdrawn and resistant to discipline, a "troublemaker" that gave everyone a headache. When I learned that he had won awards in street dance competitions, I invited him to be an instructor and lead others in putting on performances. Individualized correction plans combined with routine psychological counseling allowed him to shine again on stage, and the ice in his heart melted bit by bit. I deeply felt that for a person who has been repeatedly denied, being trusted matters more than being disciplined. Today Xiao Li has successfully returned to society and become a street dance teacher. He has also voluntarily joined the anti-drug publicity volunteer team and often returns to the center to speak from his own experience. "Saving people" is not necessarily pulling someone ashore; sometimes, it is helping someone find the courage to row.
Some people do not understand: after some people leave the drug rehabilitation center and relapse, why still expend effort on correction? This precisely reminds us that drug rehabilitation cannot stop at the high walls. We have simultaneously coordinated with communities to establish rehabilitation guidance stations, doing follow-up care and assistance so that correction does not break off and assistance does not become disconnected. If they lack emotional attachment, we help them rebuild connections with family and society; if they lack a fulcrum, we strive to help them master a skill for making a living... Each lock has its own key. Over more than 20 years, I have participated in helping more than 1,200 drug rehabilitation clients achieve "rebirth." Education and correction is like planting crops in cracks between stones: the soil is thin and the water is scarce, but as long as you care for it attentively, there is always hope.
Drug rehabilitation correction is "saving people downstream," while anti-drug publicity is "building the dam upstream." Rather than expending effort to fish people out after they have fallen into the abyss, it is better to build a nationwide defense line against drugs in advance. In recent years, in response to the trend of younger drug offenders, we have produced full sets of simulated drug teaching aids, composed anti-drug songs, and designed interactive games, using "people around us" and "things around us" to explain the reasoning clearly and the harms clearly.
Building immunity in the mind is of paramount importance, but it is by no means something achieved in a very short period of time (一朝一夕, yi zhao yi xi - "one morning, one evening"). It requires gentle reminders again and again. Very often, a choice is made in a fleeting moment or a single thought (一念之间, yi nian zhi jian - "one thought, between"). What we do is to make that single thought lean as much as possible toward the light. Over the years, we have gone into more than 300 primary and secondary schools and colleges and universities, and also into government agencies and enterprises, reaching a cumulative audience of more than 360,000 people online and offline. Today, the number of people admitted to the center for compulsory rehabilitation has dropped from a peak of nearly 900 to fewer than 100. I think this cannot be separated from the combined force of correction inside the center and prevention outside the center.
Last year, a volunteer service studio named after me was officially established. We set the studio's emblem as a sunflower, symbolizing facing the sun and pursuing the light. Pursuing the light, and also becoming the light, does not require being very dazzling, but if someone happens to be walking in the darkness, this bit of light may perhaps help them see the road beneath their feet.
(The author is a first-class police sergeant in the Education Section of the Second Compulsory Isolation Drug Rehabilitation Center of Henan Province; compiled and organized by People's Daily reporter Zhang Wenhao)
Return to TopBy: 本报记者 邱超奕 黄晓慧 沈文敏
The WorldSkills Competition is the international vocational skills event with the highest global level, the largest scale, and the broadest influence. The 48th WorldSkills Competition will be held in Shanghai from September 22 to 27, 2026.
What new competition events and new highlights does this competition have? How is the preparation work for the event progressing? What distinctive experience activities will be launched? Reporters interviewed the relevant head of a department under the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security, the Shanghai Executive Bureau for the 48th WorldSkills Competition, and relevant experts.
80 countries and regions have registered to participate, and 68 countries and regions have sent 1,385 contestants to compete.
A relevant head of the Department of Vocational Capacity Building under the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security introduced that the WorldSkills Competition is hosted by WorldSkills International, held once every two years, and has so far been held for 47 editions. WorldSkills International was founded in 1950, and currently has 90 member countries and regions. Our country joined WorldSkills International in 2010, and since 2011 has consecutively participated in 7 editions of the WorldSkills Competition, accumulating a total of 93 gold medals, 41 silver medals, 28 bronze medals, and 71 medallions for excellence, and has consecutively ranked first in the world in the gold medal table and overall team score for the last 4 consecutive editions.
It is understoodthat the upcoming 48th WorldSkills Competition to be held in Shanghai adopts the theme of "Skills Change the World, Skills Illuminate the Future."
In terms of the scale of the event, the number of participating countries and regions and the number of contestants in this edition of the WorldSkills Competition both set records for all previous editions, with a total of 80 countries and regions having registered to participate, and 68 countries and regions having sent 1,385 contestants to compete.
In terms of China's participation, the Chinese delegation totals 220 people, composed of 71 contestants, 64 experts, 64 interpreters, and support staff, and will participate in all 64 competition events. The contestants come from 21 provinces, with an average age of 21 years old. It is understoodthat on September 19, the Chinese delegation had completed its assembly.
"Among the selected contestants of the Chinese delegation, teachers and students from technical colleges account for more than 60%. Participating in all events fully reflects the advantage of our country's complete range of industrial categories and profound reserve of skilled talent, and also demonstrates our country's comprehensive participation in and support for the world skills movement." said the relevant head of the Department of Vocational Capacity Building under the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security.
In terms of the setup of awards, this edition of the WorldSkills Competition has established awards including gold medals, silver medals, bronze medals, medallions for excellence, the Albert Vidal Award, and the Best of Nation (Region) Award, among others. In all official competition events, contestants ranking first, second, and third are respectively awarded gold medals, silver medals, and bronze medals; contestants whose scores reach or exceed 700 points but who do not win a medal are awarded medallions for excellence. The contestant who obtains the highest score in this edition of the competition will be awarded the Albert Vidal Award. In addition, each participating delegation may nominate one outstanding contestant (team) to receive the Best of Nation (Region) Award.
This edition of the WorldSkills Competition adopts the "One Competition, Two Conferences" event-hosting model — the WorldSkills Competition, the WorldSkills Conference, and the WorldSkills Expo will be held simultaneously.
The WorldSkills Conference is the policy dialogue and industry exchange platform with the highest level and the broadest influence in the global skills field. Participants include officials from government vocational education and training authorities of various countries (regions) and relevant international organizations, representatives of vocational colleges and training institutions, representatives of industry and enterprises, experts and scholars in the field of vocational education and training, youth representatives, and others, totaling approximately 4,000 people, who will jointly discuss the prospects for skills development and jointly promote cooperation in the skills field.
The WorldSkills Expo will feature exhibitions of WorldSkills International and member countries (regions) of the WorldSkills Competition, exhibitions of sponsor enterprises, and the "One Province, One Skill" distinctive skills exhibition, among others. Among them, the "One Province, One Skill" distinctive skills exhibition activity will centrally showcase the superb and masterful skills (精湛技艺, jingzhan jiyi - "exquisite, skillful; arts, skills") of our country's high-skilled talent.
This WorldSkills Expo has specially established a China Pavilion. A relevant head of the China Employment Training Technical Instruction Center introducedthat upon entering the China Pavilion, visitors can not only see major national heavy equipment such as launch vehicles and deep-sea exploration vessels, experience traditional cultural skills such as rubbing and ancient book restoration, but also learn about the struggle stories of skilled talent and feel the vivid picture of China's skills development.
Seven new competition events have been added, including rail vehicle technology, unmanned aerial vehicle systems, smart security technology, software testing, digital interactive media design, and others
This edition of the WorldSkills Competition has established a total of 64 events, the largest number of any previous edition. Among them, seven new competition events have been added: rail vehicle technology, unmanned aerial vehicle systems, smart security technology, software testing, digital interactive media design, dental prosthetics technology, and retail.
Chen Yujie, deputy director and researcher of the Vocational and Skills Research Office under the Chinese Academy of Labor and Social Security Sciences, analyzedthat the competition events of the WorldSkills Competition are dynamically adjusted, with new events added, events merged, or events eliminated at each edition. Even for retained events, technical standards and competition content are also updated and iterated. When the first WorldSkills Competition was held, there were only six events: bench fitting, wood pattern making, turning, electrical coil winding, milling, and furniture making. Subsequently, events such as mechatronics, automation, digital technology, robotic system integration, software testing, and unmanned aerial vehicle systems were gradually incorporated.
The newly added competition events reflect new trends in industry and new requirements for job positions. For example, the software testing and digital interactive media design events directly target quality control throughout the entire software development lifecycle and immersive digital content production, with job requirements shifting from single-operation tasks toward automated testing, AI-assisted design, and interaction engine development, highlighting the importance of digital skills. The rail vehicle technology and smart security technology events correspond to rail transit vehicle manufacturing and maintenance and smart city infrastructure, with the connotation of skills upgrading from traditional electromechanical repair to system integration, intelligent diagnosis, data operations and maintenance, and multi-equipment coordination, emphasizing the composite capability of "equipment + digital + system."
"Judging from the changes in event setup and technical standards, compared with operators who master a single skill, in the future, those composite skilled talents who can wield digitalized and intelligent tools and possess cross-domain capabilities and innovative thinking will have a greater advantage." Chen Yujie believes that technical education should be based on new industry demands, establish a dynamic professional adjustment mechanism, prioritize the development of emerging majors, accelerate the development of urgently needed majors, for example, adding majors such as artificial intelligence and embodied intelligence; it should also support integrating WorldSkills Competition standards into daily teaching, so that the advanced concepts and superb skills conveyed by the WorldSkills Competition benefit more teachers and students of technical colleges.
Open hosting of the competition: all visits to competition events and experience activities are completely free
This edition of the WorldSkills Competition will use 8 competition venues at the National Exhibition and Convention Center (Shanghai), with a competition area of approximately 70,000 square meters.
"We spent a long time researching how to set up the venues." Chen Qiong, venue section manager for the Creative Arts and Fashion zone of the WorldSkills Competition, had previously observed two editions of the WorldSkills Competition as a technical observer in Kazan, Russia, and Lyon, France. "These observation experiences have greatly inspired us and can help us consider details more thoroughly in this edition of the competition, so that the competition equipment can better match the activities of the contestants. For example, the equipment placement for the fashion technology event follows the sequence of first using sewing machines and then ironing fabrics, consistent with the process flow of the contestants during competition. Another example is the floristry event, where a refrigerator specially for storing fresh flowers is placed inside the competition venue, ensuring that the fresh flowers used by contestants during competition maintain optimal freshness."
Luo Shengqiang, academic director of the China (Shanghai) Research Center for the WorldSkills Competition, statedthat WorldSkills International has in recent years advocated streamlined event hosting. Taking competition infrastructure items as an example, although competition events increased from 45 to 64, thele types and quantities of items used instead decreased from 15,000 types and over 1.2 million pieces to 13,000 types and approximately 1 million pieces.
This edition of the WorldSkills Competition actively responds to the concept of streamlined event hosting and continuously optimizes event scheduling. For example, the works produced in the cooking (Western cuisine) event can be used across events as ingredients and props for the restaurant service event in a staggered manner, reducing material consumption and equipment procurement costs. In terms of competition venues, the functional zone layout within competition events has been fully optimized, with venue utilization efficiency greatly improved compared with previous editions of the WorldSkills Competition.
To ensure that contestants, staff, international guests, and spectators can conveniently arrive at and depart from the competition venues, the Shanghai Municipal Transportation Commission has launched a "WorldSkills Competition Travel Service Zone." The zone supports switching between Chinese and English, integrates transportation resources around the two major venues of the National Exhibition and Convention Center and the World Expo Cultural Center, covers travel modes including team buses, shuttle buses, rail transit, parking reservations, taxis, and ride-hailing vehicles, and provides one-stop travel guidance. Users can log into the "Sui Shen Xing" APP, WeChat mini-program, or other platforms to enter the zone and inquire about information such as route schedules and pick-up and drop-off points.
In terms of volunteer services, this edition of the WorldSkills Competition has recruited more than 3,800 volunteers, capable of providing multilingual volunteer services.
China Eastern Airlines has set up dedicated WorldSkills Competition service counters in the terminal buildings of both Shanghai Pudong and Hongqiao airports, equipped with service specialists, providing services such as consultation, check-in, guidance, and customs clearance assistance; at the same time, targeting the travel characteristics of competition-related team passengers, it has innovatively launched a luggage "combined tag" tagging service, helping passengers greatly improve travel efficiency.
This edition of the WorldSkills Competition advocates being "watchable, playable, and experienceable," with all visits to competition events and experience activities completely free. Spectators can enter the venue after registering and making reservations. Beside each of the 64 competition events, a "Try Your Hand" skills experience station has been set up, where spectators can personally operate robots, do 3D printing, and experience flower arranging. There are also "Future Little Craftsmen" youth workshops, intangible cultural heritage skills experience halls, and career development planning zones. Information such as science popularization related to competition events, viewing guides, and activity previews will be promptly released through the official website and official WeChat account of the WorldSkills Competition. After registering and making reservations, the public can go to the venue to experience the charm of skills in person.
Return to Top(Xinhua News Agency, Hefei, September 20) (Reporter Hu Rui) The 2026 World Manufacturing Convention opened on September 20 in Hefei, Anhui. Wang Dongming, Vice Chairman of the NPC Standing Committee, attended the opening ceremony and delivered a speech.
Wang Dongming stated that manufacturing is the foundation of the real economy, the foundation for building the country,and the basis for strengthening the nation. Under the guidance of the spirit of President Xi Jinping's congratulatory letter to the 2019 World Manufacturing Convention, China has worked closely with countries around the world to jointly promote the intelligent, green,and integrated development of manufacturing, making positive contributions to promoting high-quality development of global manufacturing and achieving mutual benefits and win-win results. As a responsible major country, China will work with all parties to grasp and respond to new opportunities and new challenges, focusing on stimulating new momentum in industry through scientific and technological innovation, shaping new advantages in intelligent manufacturing through artificial intelligence, consolidating a new foundation for transformation through green and low-carbon development, and expanding new space for development through openness and cooperation, jointly painting a beautiful new picture of an intelligent manufacturing world.
This year's convention, with the theme "Intelligent Manufacturing World · Creating a Better Future," was attended by more than 2,000 guests from over 50 countries and regions around the world.
Return to Top(People's Daily, Hangzhou, September 20) (Reporter Qi Yukun) From September 15 to 18, Tie Ning, Vice Chairperson of the NPC Standing Committee, led the law enforcement inspection team for the Vocational Education Law in conducting inspections in Zhejiang. She emphasized the need to earnestly study and implement General Secretary Xi Jinping's important discourses on vocational education and the spirit of his important instructions and directives, fully and effectively implement the Vocational Education Law, accelerate the construction of a modern vocational education system, and promote high-quality development of vocational education on the track of the rule of law.
The inspection team fully affirmed the achievements made in Zhejiang in implementing the Vocational Education Law. Tie Ning pointed out that it is necessary to accurately grasp the characteristics of the new development stage, consolidate the primary responsibility of all parties, improve supporting laws, regulations, and policies, and better transform institutional advantages into governance effectiveness. It is necessary to deepen publicity and education on the law, enhance the pertinence and effectiveness of legal outreach, build consensus across society in support of vocational education, and create a favorable environment for high-quality development of vocational education.
The inspection team held a symposium, conducted on-site inspections in vocational colleges and other units, and urged all relevant parties to combine local realities, focus on resolving hot and difficult issues in the field of vocational education, and ensure that the provisions of the law achieve practical results and effectiveness (落地见效, luo di jian xiao - "land, ground; see, effect").
Return to Top(People's Daily, Wenzhou, September 20) (Reporter Liu Junguo) On the 20th, the "Virtue Shines on China · Role Models Are by Our Side" themed event was held in Wenzhou, Zhejiang. The vivid stories of advanced typical representatives such as National Moral Models took to the stage, and through forms such as scenario performances, musical skits, and video presentations, they collectively expounded their moving deeds and lofty spirit in finding joy in helping others (助人为乐, zhu ren wei le - "help other people, be happy"), acting courageously for a just cause (见义勇为, jian yi yong wei - "see righteousness, bravely act"), being honest and trustworthy (诚实守信, cheng shi shou xin - "honest, keep trust"), dedication to one's work (敬业奉献, jing ye feng xian - "respect profession, dedicate"), and honoring elders and loving family (孝老爱亲, xiao lao ai qin - "filial piety, love relatives"), demonstrating the moral power of role models by our side who hold fast to good deeds and convey warmth.
Li Xuesheng, a migrant worker in Wenzhou, rushed toward the railway tracks at a critical moment to rescue a child and tragically gave his life; Zhang Cheng, an employee of the Deqing County Resources and Planning Bureau, endured the pain of losing her father while carefully caring for her mother with high-level paraplegia and studying diligently at the same time; Chen Jie, deputy secretary of the Party Committee and dean of the Eye Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, led a volunteer team in carrying out the "Bright Journey" public welfare medical initiative... Different life experiences and job responsibilities demonstrated the value pursuit of cultivating virtue through many good deeds (积善成德, ji shan cheng de - "accumulate good, become virtue") and making active progress and striving forward (奋发进取, fen fa jin qu - "strive, advance"). On September 21, representatives participating in the event will also visit moral practice venues such as the Wenzhou Moral Museum for observation and study.
The "Virtue Shines on China · Role Models Are by Our Side" themed event is hosted by the Central Office of Spiritual Civilization Development. Since the beginning of this year, on-site exchanges have been held in many places across the country, creating a strong atmosphere of striving upward and toward goodness.
Return to TopBy: 本报记者 李维俊
In the golden autumn season, the Xiang River flows quietly past Daping Ferry in Quanzhou County, Guilin City, Guangxi. More than 90 years ago, this was an important ferry point where the Central Red Army made its forced crossing of the Xiang River.
In 1934, in order to ensure that the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China and the main force of the Central Red Army could cross the Xiang River, and to shatter the enemy's attempt to encircle and annihilate the Red Army east of the Xiang River, tens of thousands of Red Army officers and soldiers stained the banks of the Xiang River with their blood. This battle became an important historical event bearing on the very survival or extinction of the Chinese revolution.
In April 2021, General Secretary Xi Jinping made his first stop on his inspection tour of Guangxi at the Memorial Park for the Red Army's Long March Xiang River Campaign, located in Caiwan Town, Quanzhou County, where he earnestly instructed: "Carry forward the spiritual lineage of Communists" and "On the new Long March road toward the Second Centenary Goal, we must hold firm to the conviction of certain victory, have the courage to overcome all major risks and challenges from both at home and abroad, and march forward courageously toward the goal of the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation."
Thoroughly implementing the spirit of General Secretary Xi Jinping's important instructions, Guilin has continuously excavated and protected the red resources of the Xiang River Campaign, told well the story of the Long March, advanced the comprehensive revitalization of rural areas, and walked well the Long March road of the new era.
The red gene is passed down from generation to generation —
Entering the Memorial Hall of the Red Army's Long March Xiang River Campaign, located within the Memorial Park for the Red Army's Long March Xiang River Campaign, one's eyes are met with wartime telegrams marked "extremely urgent" (十万火急, shi wan huo ji - "ten, thousand, fire, urgent") and "extremely urgent, urgent" (万万火急), while rust-covered weapons and equipment lie quietly on display. Visitors move through the hall, pausing from time to time to look closely. Study tour groups of primary and secondary school students stand in neat formation, as docents introduce that period of red history against the exhibits.
In the exhibition hall, "Red Scarf Docents" can be seen from time to time. Jiang Yongxiang, a student of Wenyuan Primary School in Quanzhou County, is one of them. Standing before a schematic map of the Xiang River Campaign, he is telling visitors the story of the Red Army's forced crossing of the Xiang River. "Being able to tell everyone the story of my hometown makes me especially proud!"
Since 2025, the locality has innovatively built the "Red Scarf Docent" brand, and has already trained more than 100 outstanding Red Scarf Docents.
"Through special exhibitions in the memorial hall, red study tours, and other forms, the park links together battlefield sites, historical artifacts, and revolutionary stories, inheriting and promoting red culture," said Zhou Yunliang, director of the Quanzhou Red Army Long March Xiang River Campaign Cultural Preservation and Inheritance Center. As of June 2026, the memorial park has received a cumulative total of more than 11 million visitors.
Red routes link up various localities —
On April 27, 2025, the "Guilin Red Xiang River" red tourism bus was put into service, traveling along the footprints of the Red Army's Long March to various places in northern Guangxi.
One route links up a stretch of history.
Relying on the "panoramic" tour offered by the red tourism bus, in Quanzhou visitors can enter the Memorial Park for the Red Army's Long March Xiang River Campaign and retrace the Long March trail; in Xing'an, they can pay respects at the Monument Park to the Red Army Martyrs Who Broke Through the Xiang River on the Long March; in Guanyang, they can visit the Jiuhai Well Red Army Memorial Park of the Xinxu Blocking Action in the Xiang River Campaign; and entering Longsheng, they can stay in Dong ethnic minority homestays, drink oil tea, and listen to pipa songs...
A stretch of history connects the past with the future.
Stepping into Jiangkou Village, Lejiang Town, Longsheng Various Nationalities Autonomous County, one sees a 38.8-meter-tall Dong ethnic minority drum tower standing quietly. This "Red Army Drum Tower" was built with funds voluntarily raised by the masses, in memory of the Red Army that was once stationed here.
On the hillside beside the drum tower, the ruins of a small grain depot topped with a red five-pointed star record the deep bond between the army and the people: back then, when a fire broke out in the village, Red Army soldiers risked their lives to put out the flames and rescue the grain depot. Afterwards, the villagers wanted to give the grain to the Red Army, but the Red Army soldiers politely declined: "Let these rice grains be kept as seed for next year." The villagers have cherished this memory to this day.
Strolling through Jiangkou Village, one finds the Long March trail, the Red Army Drum Tower, and the red canteen all linked together. Dong ethnic minority aunties serve oil tea and sing pipa songs, while young people who have returned to their hometowns run homestays, blending red study tours and traditional crafts such as batik into the accommodation experience. Zhou Enping, a red education lecturer in Longsheng Various Nationalities Autonomous County, said, "The beacon-fire sites of the past are becoming the tangible, experienceable rural life of today."
In 2026, this red tourism bus has carried a cumulative total of more than 150,000 passengers.
Distinctive industries boost local vitality —
Entering Maozhushan Village, Caiwan Town, Quanzhou County, one sees grape trellises stretching in a continuous expanse. "The Jiaoshanpu Blocking Action took place in Jiaoshanpu Village just north of our village. Back then, the First Red Army Corps held off a powerful enemy attack with limited forces, buying time for the Central Red Army to break through the Xiang River," said Wang Junrong, a village cadre, as he led a red study tour group through the vineyard and into farmhouse courtyards, explaining the know-how of grape growing while telling the story of the village and the Red Army. "Red tourism brings guests in, and the grape industry keeps them here."
In the past, the village had few grape varieties and a single sales channel. After introducing new varieties such as Sunshine Rose in 2022, there are now more than ten varieties. Smart agricultural equipment has been installed in the fields, and soil temperature and humidity can be checked with a mobile phone. Per-mu grape income has risen from several thousand yuan to more than ten thousand yuan, and the village receives more than 300,000 visitors a year.
Walking eastward along the Xiang-Gui ancient road, one arrives at Lushui Village, Lianghe Town, Quanzhou County, where a peach orchard grows lush and verdant. One of the varieties is called "Breakout Peach" by the locals, a name derived from the history of the Red Army's swift raid and breakout along the ancient road back then. Today, the 4,000-mu peach orchard can yield 4,000 to 6,000 jin per mu annually, with an average gross profit of 13,000 to 15,000 yuan per mu, as historical memory "grows into" the branches of industry. Liao Jiawen, secretary of the Party general branch and director of the villagers' committee of Lushui Village, introduced: "When the harvest season comes, many visitors come here to experience peach picking and learn about the red history behind the 'Breakout Peach.'"
The Xiang River flows on. The red soil where bloody battles were once fought is now fragrant with grapes, covered in peach orchards, and renewed in its Dong ethnic minority villages.
Return to TopOn September 20, Hefeng Buyi and Miao Township, Kaiyang County, Guiyang City, Guizhou Province, held a themed event for the Farmers' Harvest Festival. The event featured fun agricultural activities such as catching fish in the paddy fields, dragon boat racing in the fields, and tug-of-war in the farmland, in which local residents participated with great enthusiasm (踊跃参与, yong yue can yu - "enthusiastically, participate") and competed on the same stage to celebrate the harvest. The photo shows residents of Matou Village, Hefeng Township, taking part in a rice-carrying competition.
Photo by Yuan Fuhong (China Images)
Return to Top(People's Daily, Beijing, September 20) (Reporter Geng Lei) On the 20th, the Ministry of Culture and Tourism held its third-quarter regular press conference for 2026, introducing the overall situation, preparatory work, and distinctive highlights of the Eighth China Poetry Festival and the Eleventh China Peking Opera Art Festival.
The press conference introduced that the Eighth China Poetry Festival will be held from October 12 to 23 in Taizhou City, Zhejiang Province. The theme of this year's festival is "Poetry Surging Across Mountains and Seas, Poetic China." The main activities include: opening and closing ceremonies and artistic performances, poetry-themed seminars, poetry field-collection creation and solicitation, and poetry mass cultural activities. In addition, the poetry festival will also carry out poetry-themed exhibition activities, as well as special supporting activities such as "Poetry Plus" cultural-tourism integration activities, the "Poetic Taizhou" series of activities, and the elegant charm of Tang and Song dynasties (唐风宋韵, tang feng song yun - "Tang dynasty, style; Song dynasty, charm") tourism performing-arts activities.
According to the introduction, the Eleventh China Peking Opera Art Festival will be held from October 15 to November 5 in Wuhan City, Hubei Province. The art festival will feature seven main activities: outstanding repertoire performances, small-theater performances, short plays and opera excerpt special performances, opera academy special performances, repertoire reviews, thematic seminars, and the "Spark Project" youth opera talent creation camp. During the art festival, public welfare performances such as Peking Opera entering communities and entering scenic areas will also be carried out, and exhibitions and screenings of Peking Opera-themed opera paintings, films, and costumes will be held.
Return to Top(People's Daily, Beijing, September 20) (Reporter He Siqi) From September 19 to 20, the 26th Annual Conference on the History of the People's Republic of China was held in Hefei, Anhui Province, under the theme "The Theory and Practice of Establishing and Practicing a Correct View of Political Achievements."
This year's conference combined the study of a correct view of political achievements with research on the history of the People's Republic of China, with more than 80 experts and scholars from relevant fields engaging in in-depth exchanges on related topics. Scholars attending the conference stated that a correct view of political achievements possesses both value attributes and institutional attributes, and can be transformed from ideological guidance into tangible governance results. Research on a correct view of political achievements should be integrated with research on the history of the People's Republic of China, oriented toward the new era and the new journey, focusing on the assessment and evaluation of political achievements, practical pathways, and institutional design, using a correct view of political achievements to lead the development of the compilation and research of the history of the People's Republic of China, and promoting the construction of China's independent knowledge system for the study of national history.
This year's annual conference was jointly hosted by the Society for the History of the People's Republic of China, the Institute of Contemporary China Studies, the Anhui Academy of Social Sciences, and Anhui University.
Return to Top(People's Daily, Beijing, September 20) (Reporter Zhao Yongxin) The 2025 national science popularization statistics released recently by the Ministry of Science and Technology show that in 2025, the science popularization workforce, funding input, and other indicators all continued to grow, and science popularization capacity was continuously strengthened.
The scale of the science popularization workforce continued to expand. In 2025, the number of full-time and part-time science popularization personnel nationwide reached 2.2507 million, an increase of 1.72 percent over 2024. The number of registered science popularization volunteers reached 13.7116 million. Science popularization funding input grew steadily. In 2025, the total amount of funds raised for national science popularization work reached 24.398 billion yuan, an increase of 9.80 percent over 2024. The per capita special science popularization funding nationwide was 6.01 yuan, an increase of 0.41 yuan over 2024. The layout of science popularization infrastructure continued to be optimized. In 2025, there were 1,988 science and technology museums and science and technology museums nationwide, an increase of 98 over 2024; the exhibition hall area was 7.2706 million square meters, an increase of 5.42 percent over 2024; and the number of visitors reached 338 million person-times, an increase of 10.96 percent over 2024.
The all-media science communication matrix continued to expand. In 2025, 2,115 science popularization websites were built nationwide; 11,100 science popularization WeChat public accounts were established; and 711,800 online science popularization videos were released, with 49.236 billion views. A total of 52.2618 million copies of science popularization books were distributed. Science popularization activities were carried out extensively. In 2025, 1.6282 million online and offline science popularization (technology) lectures were organized nationwide, attracting 2.201 billion person-times of participation; 110,200 online and offline science popularization (technology) special exhibitions were held, with a total of 655 million person-times of visits. During the 2025 National Science and Technology Week, 122,200 online and offline science popularization special activities of various kinds were held, with a total of 399 million person-times of participation.
Return to Top(People's Daily, Beijing, September 20) (Reporter: Shen Shaotie) The General Office of the National Health Commission and the Comprehensive Bureau of the National Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine have recently jointly issued the "Notice on Further Strengthening the Prevention and Treatment of Rare Diseases," proposing that by the end of 2026, all provinces, autonomous regions, municipalities directly under the Central Government, and the Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps shall each rely on at least 1 provincial-level or above hospital to establish rare disease outpatient clinics; that all prefecture-level cities with a population of 3 million or more within their jurisdiction shall each rely on at least1 hospital to establish rare disease outpatient clinics; arrange relevant specialty physicians to hold clinic sessions, and provide standardized rare disease diagnosis and treatment services.
The notice makes specific arrangements in three areas: strengthening the prevention of rare diseases, advancing the construction of the rare disease diagnosis and treatment system, and enhancing the capacity and level of rare disease diagnosis and treatment. It clearly states that it is necessary to deeply implement the basic public health service project for eugenics and superior childbearing services, do a good job of pre-pregnancy eugenics health examinations; for high-risk couples found during pre-pregnancy examinations to have family histories of genetic diseases or adverse childbearing histories, it is necessary to strengthen counseling guidance and follow-up visits, ensuring that they receive prenatal screening and prenatal diagnosis during pregnancy. In regions where conditions permit, exploratory pre-pregnancy screening shall be carried out for high-risk populations of monogenic genetic diseases and rare diseases. At the same time, it is necessary to further strengthen the management of prenatal screening, enhance the capacity to identify and screen out birth defects and rare diseases, guide high-risk populations to undergo prenatal diagnosis in a timely manner, standardize the provision of genetic counseling services, and reduce the occurrence of birth defects and rare diseases from the source. Medical institutions with the necessary conditions are encouraged to actively advance the construction of rare disease wards, and to provide rare disease diagnosis and treatment services through means such as multidisciplinary diagnosis and treatment and coordinating Chinese and Western medicine (中西医协同, zhong xi yi xie tong - "Chinese medicine, Western medicine, together, coordinate").
Return to Top(People's Daily, Beijing, September 20) (Reporter Shi Fang) The 2026 "Me and Ditan" Beijing Book Fair recently opened in Ditan Park. This year's book fair is hosted by the Publicity Department of the Beijing Municipal Committee of the CPC, with an exhibition period of 11 days, lasting until September 27. The book fair will also extend into Baoding, Hebei Province, and Tianjin, allowing the fragrance of books to flow across the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region.
It is understood that the total exhibition area at the Ditan Park venue exceeds 20,000 square meters, with nine major exhibition zones established, bringing together more than 400 publishing houses, publishing institutions, and distinctive physical bookstores, with over 500 exhibition booths. The exhibition area and the number of exhibition tents both set new records for previous sessions. The Ditan Park venue has set up a themed publishing zone, a fine works zone for renowned publishers, an old-books-new-knowledge zone, anda distinctive bookstore zone, among others, with book exhibition booths accounting for 80 percent of the total. During the book fair period, more than 150 cultural activities will also be held.
Return to TopBy: 本报记者 向子丰
Opening a phone APP (application), the splash-screen advertisement hits you in the face; while walking, a slight shake makes the page instantly jump to a shopping platform; clicking what looks like an "X" for "close" instead triggers even more ad pop-ups……"Scan to pay" and "shake to jump" were originally convenience designs meant to streamline processes and save time, but after being subjected to bundled marketing, induced consumption, illegal collection of personal information, and other operations, they have become a source of annoyance for many readers and netizens.
Scanning QR codes at parking lots and parcel lockers requires watching ads first, and many pop-up ads are hard to close
Scanning a QR code to pay at a parking lot is a common scenario, but unexpectedly, after scanning the QR code, what pops up first is an ad, and one must watch a 3-to-5-second ad before being able to enter the payment page
Mr. Qi, a reader from Jinan City, Shandong Province, said that when he first saw a pop-up ad while paying at a parking lot, he was in a frantic rush or state of confusion (手忙脚乱, shou mang jiao luan - "hand, busy, foot, confused") and clicked "Skip," only to find himself directly jumped to a shopping APP. He struggled to find a button to pay for parking inside the shopping APP, and only later discovered that there was a notice on the ad page saying "Skip ad after 5 seconds"; if one directly clicked "Skip" from the start or accidentally touched the page, one would jump directly to another application
"With that whole series of operations, it took me nearly 5 minutes in total, and the cars behind me had already formed a long line." Mr. Qi saidthat many parking lot exits are located on uphill sections, where vehicles must frequently start and stop on the slope; once rain makes the road slippery, or a novice driver makes an operational error, accidents can easily occur
Nowadays, the "tentacles" of pop-up ads have already reached into every aspect of life. Many readers and netizens reportedthat when retrieving parcels from parcel lockers such as Fengchao and Yun Gui, or buying drinks from vending machines, they encounter pop-up ads. Citizens in Guangzhou City, Guangdong Province, Tianjin City, and other places reportedthat the APPs used when riding the subway have dense internal pop-ups with complicated closing procedures, affecting the efficiency of passing through the turnstiles during morning and evening rush hours. In addition, scanning codes to unlock shared bicycles and shared e-bikes also brings up pop-up ads
Many readersand netizens reportedthat many pop-up ads are very hard to find a "close" button for. A netizen who complained via People's Daily Online's "People's Complaints" channel saidthat when she opened Douyin Mall to go shopping, just as she clicked into the mall page, the screen immediately popped up an ad saying "Get withdrawal privilege, cash reward of 30 yuan credited instantly." She tried to find a close button, but discovered that there was no "close" or "back" option anywhere on the page. The ad page forcibly occupied the entire screen, with only "Claim Now" as the single selectable option
A reporter tested online some pop-up ad scenarios that had drawn many complaints, and foundthat some require scanning a QR code to follow a public account or downloading an APP before they can be closed, some require forcibly watching a 5-to-15-second ad before closing, and others have an "X" that looks like a "close" button, but clicking it immediately jumps to an ad page
There are also APPs that jump via the "shake" function. Netizen Mr. Li from Qingdao City, Shandong Province, reportedthat after the application enabled the phone's gyroscope permission, it could capture slight vibrations of the phone, making it very easy for the phone to enter an ad. "I reported this problem to my mobile carrier, but was told that the gyroscope permission is enabled by default and users cannot change it." Mr. Li said
"Shake" and pop-up ads are also being used by some unscrupulous merchants as a means to induce consumption
Pop-up ads that appear when scanning codes to pay at parking lots, shared bicycles, and other scenarios force users to wait, and what is even more annoying is that some pop-up ads create considerable trouble and even safety hazards
A parent in Foshan City, Guangdong Province, reportedthat an APP she uses called "Wisdom Tree" (智慧树), which is home-school communication software that her child's kindergarten requires parents to install, has no switch inside the software for ordinary users to close ads; "When viewing class circle photos, opening messages, or switching pages, an ad will suddenly pop up midway, covering the entire screen. After closing it, other ads will keep popping up repeatedly."
Other parents also reportedthat the software has a built-in "shake" function, so that a slight shake of the phone, or simply walking while holding the phone, automatically jumps to shopping, mini-games, or other APPs; "Sometimes when a child holds the phone to look at photos, it jumps to shopping, loan, or game ads, some of which content is even unsuitable for young children."
Netizen Mr. Zhang from Tianjin City, while driving on a self-drive road trip, used a mobile map APP for navigation. Passing through a five-way intersection, he was busy identifying the roads, with his attention highly focused, when the map software suddenly popped up an AI push, accompanied by voice broadcast, asking whether he wanted to listen to a short story about a sports star. Mr. Zhang was startled; not only was the voice navigation interrupted, but he nearly had an accident because of distraction
Mr. Zhang complained to the map software, but staff believed it was the software's built-in "keyword trigger" function. But Mr. Zhang saidhe had not performed any operation, and that the pop-up was automatically pushed by the software. "Even if a keyword was triggered, it was not my intention. This kind of sudden pop-up has already affected normal driving." Mr. Zhang said
The seemingly convenient"shake" and pop-up ads are also being used by some unscrupulous merchants asa means to induce consumption. Certain groups of people, especially elderly people who are not familiar with smartphone operation, are prone to trouble or even financial loss due to accidental touches. Short-video platforms and search engines on phones all have various pop-up ads, and these ads make the "close" button very hidden, making it easy for people to accidentally touch. For example, some ad pages will pop up "Enable password-free payment to enjoy protection," causing elderly people to unknowingly complete a "password-free payment" subscription
Ms. Jiang from Beijing City has parents who are both over 70 years old. Ms. Jiang reportedthat once, when her parents checked their bank card balance, they discovered that more than 1,000 yuan was missing. Only after Ms. Jiang obtained the bank statement did she understandthat months earlier, her parents had purchased a certain insurance policy, but her parents had no idea at all. At the time, they saw the pop-up ad that jumped out, thought it was a merchant promotion offering free gifts, but in reality it had activated an auto-renewal feature. It was only after repeated negotiations with the insurance company that a refund was obtained
Ms. Wang from Wuhan City, Hubei Province, also reported a similar situation. She saidthat when an elderly family member was browsing WeChat, multiple pop-ups jumped out one after another on the phone screen, and what appeared to be a prominent "close" button was in fact the entrance to a new ad link, while the real close button was very small, and the elderly person simply could not see it clearly. "Then a payment window popped up, and the elderly person, without thinking much, entered the password and paid 199 yuan. The elderly person themselves did not even realize they had been induced to consume; it was only when family members checked the bill that they discovered this problem." Ms. Wang chose to report the case to police. Upon investigation, it was foundthat the relevant company was merely a shell company, and the police had already received multiple similar fraud cases; because this shell company had registered a false address, this money was very difficult to recover
Pop-up ads have low costs, high returns, and are difficult to regulate; curing this chronic problem requires coordinated efforts from multiple parties
Pop-up ads, repeatedly banned yet still appearing, have been called"digital graffiti," and their root cause lies in their technical simplicity and low cost, while in comparison, the returns are enormous
According to industry insiders, "shake" ads achieve jumps by invoking the phone's gyroscope and acceleration sensors. Some developers set the trigger threshold very low, so that when users walk, ride in vehicles, or even just pick up the phone with a slight shake, it is interpreted as "consent to jump." The "fake close" design works on the same principle. The real close button is made extremely small and extremely faint in color, while the prominent "close" or "skip" wording on the page is in fact the entrance to a new ad link
Why do these merchants go to such lengths to get users to click into ads? For many free software programs, the few seconds of splash-screen ads are their main profit channel. Lin Feiran, a lawyer at Beijing Jingdu Law Firm, introducedthat from a technical standpoint, pop-up ads only need to integrate a third-party ad SDK (software development kit) to go live quickly, with almost no additional research and development costs. Subsequent revenue comes in multiple models, such as the CPC model (pay-per-click), where each jump occurrence causes the advertiser to pay the APP operator between 0.5 and 5 yuan in ad fees; the CPA model (pay-per-action,, where pop-ups induce users to download apps or register accounts, potentially earning a dozen or so to several dozen yuan per account;; some also use the CPS model (pay-per-sale,, where jumping to a livestream room or product page and completing a transaction earns the operator a commission
"In addition, some merchants deliberately use dense pop-ups to degrade the experience of free users, forcing users to buy memberships to remove ads, which is also a stable long-term revenue source for many platforms." Lin Feiran said
In May 2023, the "Measures for the Administration of Internet Advertising" formally took effect, explicitly requiring that "for pop-up ads and splash-screen ads, advertisers and ad publishers shall prominently mark a close symbol and ensure one-click closing." For those failing to meet the standard, "a fine of not less than 5,000 yuan and not more than 30,000 yuan shall be imposed." But this amount, compared with the huge profits brought by pop-up ads, is simply too low a cost
In addition, law enforcement also faces practical difficulties. Fan Shiqian, an associate professor at China University of Political Science and Law, saidthat pop-up ads have already extended from phone APPs to offline code-scanning scenarios such as parcel lockers and parking lots, with online and offline scenarios interwoven, covering an even wider scope. Moreover, against the backdrop of constantly evolving technical means, existing norms find it hard to cover new forms of inducement, and enterprises can easily exploit loopholes. At the same time, the pop-up ad industry chain is complex; many APPs do not directly place ads themselves, but instead integrate SDK plug-ins from third-party ad service providers, making it easy for operators and ad service providers to shift blame onto each other. In addition, users face difficulties in evidence collection when defending their rights, since the jump process often cannot be screenshotted and preserved. This pattern of "low risk, high reward" has caused pop-up ad remediation to fall into a cycle of "notification — rectification — relapse."
Many APPs have launched a senior mode, but it merely enlarges the font, without blocking or restricting high-risk pop-ups and "shake" ads, and without reducing induced risks at the source
Therefore, experts suggestthat to cure the chronic problem of pop-up ads, coordinated efforts from multiple parties are needed. Regulatory authorities should raise the cost of illegality, establish mechanisms such as per-occurrence penalties and multiple fines, clarify the determination boundaries for behaviors such as "shake," fake close, and forced jumps, convert "prominently marked" and "one-click close" into quantifiable technical standards, and add functions such as "one-click prohibition of non-voluntary jumps" to phone operating systems;; strengthen routine testing and monitoring, and handle violations in accordance with the law through talks, public notifications, and delisting;; and bring livelihood-essential scenarios such as parking lots, parcel lockers, and vending machines under unified regulatory standards. "It is also necessary to transform the regulatory approach, shifting from manual inspections to technical spot checks." Fan Shiqian said
Platform enterprises should hold the bottom line, with operators bearing overall responsibility for all ad content within their software, strictly reviewing third-party ad plug-ins. Accelerate the advancement of age-friendly adaptation, and by default close pop-up induced-jump ads in senior mode. Experts believethat through all-around design, it is possible to balance traffic revenue and user rights, exploring compliant, sustainable profit models that are free of tricks
For consumers, be cautious about clicking jump buttons; "one can fix evidence through methods such as screen recording, actively file complaints and reports through channels such as 12315, and can also report through the 12321 Network Bad and Junk Information Reporting Center." Lin Feiran said
On June 9, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology published a notice on its official website statingthat its Information and Communications Administration Bureau had convened a special meeting to guide and urge relevant internet platforms and smart terminal enterprises to strengthen standardized management of the presentation of APP information windows, strictly prohibit irregular presentation of information windows, and subsequently continue to carry out routine testing and monitoring, handling discovered violations in accordance with the law through measures such as talks, public notifications, and delisting of APPs
(Li Qingyue participated in the reporting and writing))
Return to TopOn July 20, after the People's Daily published the investigative report "Housing Units Built with Central Fiscal Allocations in Hezhang County, Bijie City, Guizhou — Completed and Idle for 8 Years, Revitalization Encounters Obstacles," the provinces of Guizhou, the city of Bijie, and Hezhang County attached great importance to the matter. Hezhang County immediately established a dedicated working group and, under the guidance of the Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development and relevant provincial and municipal departments, carried out rectification and revitalization work on the project. As of September 2, the idle housing units from the former Zhuming Township 2015 urban public rental housing project have been fully revitalized: road, fire protection, maintenance, and other works have been comprehensively completed and finalized, and the housing quality and safety assessment has been rated as Class Bsu; of the 104 idle housing units, 10 have been designated as temporary resettlement housing for geological hazard risk points in Zhuming Town, and the remaining 94 units have been offered for rent through public competitive bidding to unit employees, families of students attending school in the town, individual business operators, and other members of the public, with unit selection completed before August 19, and lease agreements signed and rent collected simultaneously.
People's Government of Hezhang County
September 7, 2026
Return to TopI am a homeowner in the Rongsheng Jinxiu Guandi residential community in Chuzhou Economic Development Zone, Anhui Province. The community began phased handover in 2022, with more than 2,600 households in total. However, the community's drainage and waterproofing works do not meet standards, and localized water accumulation frequently occurs. Because of prolonged waterlogging, part of the community's perimeter wall has collapsed; although it has been repaired, some sections remain in a precarious state (see Figure ①). The basement and storage rooms frequently seep water and become waterlogged, and elevator pits have accumulated water on multiple occasions (see Figure ②). In the underground parking garage, due to prolonged waterlogging, the epoxy floor coating has cracked and peeled in some areas, exposing the bare concrete surface. We have reported this on many occasions, yet it has still not been thoroughly resolved. We ask the relevant departments to pay attention to the community's drainage and waterproofing problems and to deal promptly with safety hazards such as the collapsed perimeter wall, waterlogged elevators, blocked drainage, and falling exterior wall cladding.
Netizen on the "Message Board for Leaders" of People's Daily Online
Return to TopNot long ago, a strong typhoon passed through the area, and the plastic film of many vegetable greenhouses was blown up by the strong winds, flying about in all directions, and pressing straight toward the high-voltage power lines above. Fortunately, the agriculture and power supply departments had activated their emergency response plans in advance, and the line patrol personnel cleared the debris in time, preventing the film from wrapping around the high-voltage lines and causing short circuits and power outages. While giving a thumbs-up to the frontline personnel, the problem of the "greenhouse–power line conflict" also deserves deep reflection.
In recent years, rural specialty planting has developed rapidly, and farmers have shown great enthusiasm for building greenhouses, but many people lack the concept of a safe distance below high-voltage lines; some even feel that "the lines are above, and the greenhouses are below, so they do not interfere with each other." Power supply employees go door-to-door to persuade them, but farmers feel it is "delaying their money-making," agreeing to their faces, yet turning around and still building greenhouses beneath the lines. Once strong winds strike, greenhouse film and shade netting are blown onto the lines — in minor cases, breakers trip and power is cut off; in serious cases, line discharge ignites the greenhouses, causing economic losses to farmers, and even triggering personal electric shock accidents.
It is suggested that the agriculture and rural, natural resources, emergency management, and other departments work together as a single unit (拧成一股绳, ning cheng yi gu sheng - "twist into one rope"), starting from the source: when planning contiguous planting park zones, incorporate the safety distance for power line corridors into the preconditions in advance, and straighten out the relationship between greenhouses and power lines from the layout perspective. For planting greenhouses already located beneath high-voltage lines, necessary preventive measures should be adopted to avoid dangers under extreme weather conditions. In addition, when carrying out agricultural training, thoroughly explain the safety rules for operating beneath high-voltage lines, so that farmers truly understand the risks, and when building new greenhouses, avoid risk points in advance.
Nantong City, Jiangsu Province Wu Qinghua
Return to TopBy: 人民网记者 金慧慧 刘文邦
Li Ping (pseudonym) has a father who is completely paralyzed and has lived for many years in a nursing home in the Jiamusi National Agricultural High-Tech Industry Demonstration Zone (hereinafter referred to as the "Agricultural High-Tech Zone") in Heilongjiang. Early this year, Li Ping saw news that elderly people with moderate-or-above disability can receive a national subsidy, but when she went to handle the procedures, she was told it could not be used.
"A subsidy that exists nationwide — why can't it be used here?" Li Ping was puzzled.
Why can't a subsidy aimed at the whole country be used in this Agricultural High-Tech Zone?
"Because the old man is completely paralyzed, the nursing home costs have made the family's financial situation facing severe financial difficulties (捉襟见肘, zhuo jin jian jou -"pull, collar, see, elbow")." The father's monthly care fee is about 3,000 yuan, and his pension cannot cover it. Li Ping is an only child, so everything else falls on her to bear. If she could obtain the 800-yuan elderly-care consumption subsidy, it would not only make up the care fee, but also allow her to buy common medicines, diapers, etc. for her father, reducing the family's economic burden.
According to regulations, the subsidy is verified and written off through elderly-care institutions. "But the nursing homes here can't use it." Li Ping said; several departments all said that the Agricultural High-Tech Zone has a special administrative division status, so the subsidy cannot be distributed.
In late June, reporters visited five elderly-care institutions in the Jiamusi Agricultural High-Tech Zone. Multiple persons in charge confirmed that they indeed cannot use it, because it has not yet been determined which body will distribute the subsidy.
"The Agricultural High-Tech Zone Management Committee is a dispatched agency of the Jiamusi Municipal Government, with no administrative division status, so subsidy funds cannot reach it directly." A staff member of the Social Affairs Administration Bureau of the Jiamusi Agricultural High-Tech Zone Management Committee said.
The Agricultural High-Tech Zone is located within Fujin, a county-level city under Jiamusi City; the Agricultural High-Tech Zone and Fujin City are two entities of equal rank, requiring the superior department to organize consultations. Reporters, consulting relevant departments as residents, learned that before the policy was implemented, the Jiamusi Civil Affairs Bureau already required the civil affairs departments of both the Agricultural High-Tech Zone and Fujin City to coordinate with finance departments to open up data sharing; in late June, it also issued a supervision letter. A relevant person in charge of the Social Affairs Administration Bureau of the Agricultural High-Tech Zone Management Committee said that once the two sides sign an agreement, the data can be opened up. But as of September 14, the data still has not been opened up.
Some development zones, when handling social affairs, have poor coordination with governments of the same level in their localities
The Jiamusi Agricultural High-Tech Zone belongs to the category of development zones, whose functional positioning is industrial development.
In 2017, the "Several Opinions of the General Office of the State Council on Promoting the Reform, Innovation and Development of Development Zones" proposed improving the management system of development zones, including fully relying on people's governments at all levels in their localities to carry out social management, public services and market regulation, reducing departments stationed in development zones, and gradually straightening out the relationship between development zones and the townships and sub-districts they manage, among other measures.
Huang Jianhong, professor at the School of Politics and Public Administration of Soochow University, said that flexible institutional mechanisms have injected vigorous vitality into development zones, achieving their prosperity. At the same time, because governance capacities differ, in some development zones policy implementation lags behind or policies "conflict with each other."
In recent years, many localities have issued policies requiring development zones to focus on their primary mission of economic development and orderly divest their social affairs management functions. But during interviews, reporters learned that, due to the special nature of their administrative responsibilities, some development zones, when handling social affairs, need authorization from higher-level governments and consultation with governments of the same level, often resulting in poor coordination.
On the one hand, some social affairs in development zones cannot be effectively resolved, such as the subsidy problem for disabled elderly people in this case.
On the other hand, development zones are assigned work for which they have no administrative authority. Zhang Feng (pseudonym) works in comprehensive supervision in a development zone in Fujian Province. Higher-level departments and the local government sometimes treat the development zone as an administrative district when assigning work; for example, in the first half of this year, his department was assigned a work safety production management task, but the department had not received such authorization. After they explained this, the work was not assigned to them.
"Enterprises also have complaints." Zhang Feng saidthat enterprises in development zones face multi-headed inspections from higher-level governments, local governments, development zones and sub-districts. Taking award applications as an example, the local government requires the development zone to issue a certificate, but the development zone has no authority to do so, so enterprises can only go back to the local government — this not only increases administrative management costs, but also increases the burden on enterprises.
Fujian Province's development zone management measures issued in 2024 propose that development zones with the right conditions gradually divest their social affairs management functions, handing them over to local governments to undertake. However, Zhang Feng saidthat his feeling of the "divestiture" is not obvious, and there is still much unauthorized and repetitive work that makes him feel exhausted.
Similarly, in November 2025, the Ordos City Audit Bureau in Inner Mongolia, during a special audit investigation, found that economic development zones generally have the historical problem of long-term undertaking social functions of local governments, as well as situations where the work of streamlining and divesting social functions progresses slowly and where park management and service efficiency is insufficient.
To straighten out the relationship between development zones and local governments, it is necessary to improve the whole-process management system.
"Whoever dispatches, is responsible; whoever manages, is responsible." Huang Jianhong saidthat the municipal government should be responsible for the social affairs of the Agricultural High-Tech Zone Management Committee, and can implement the subsidy through means such as direct municipal management or entrusted management.
In Huang Jianhong's view, when central transfer payments encounter obstacles in local implementation, the problem often lies in insufficient awareness among departments of proactive coordination; truly effective responsibility implementation requires concretizing livelihood matters into performance assessment indicators.
Gao Enxin, professor at the School of Public Administration of East China Normal University, saidthat to promote high-quality development of development zones, it is necessary to let them travel light, focus on their primary responsibilities and core business, and let social affairs return to local governments.
"I have researched many development zones; the core problem in the poor operation of social affairs is the distribution mechanism of financial powers between it and local governments. Some local governments believe that, since the 'benefits' have been taken by development zones, why should the local government bear a large number of social affairs?" Gao Enxin saidthat enterprises are concentrated in development zones, and development zones obtain the benefits of investment attraction and tax rebates, while local governments do not have this advantage, and their motivation and financial capacity are both insufficient to support their undertaking of social affairs of development zones. He believes that, to ensure that local governments can effectively support social management, public services and other affairs, it is necessary to formulate a benefit-sharing financial power distribution mechanism that balances financial powers and administrative responsibilities.
Huang Jianhong pointed outthat whether it is livelihood policies in development zones failing to be implemented, or development zones undertaking unauthorized work, both stem from the mismatch of powers and responsibilities. To straighten out the relationship between development zones and local governments, it is necessary to improve a whole-process system covering power-and-responsibility lists, coordination mechanisms, performance assessment, and inspection and rectification. Power-and-responsibility lists should be clarified through local regulations; coordination mechanisms should be institutionalized and standardized; performance assessment should include livelihood problems that have remained unresolved for a long time; and inspection and rectification should focus on problems that recur repeatedly.
Return to TopThe People's Daily "Readers' Letters" section and People's Daily Online's "Message Board for Leaders" are jointly collecting pressing problems and needs of the masses (急难愁盼, ji nan chou pan - "urgent, difficult, anxious, longing"), and readers are welcome to provide leads and suggestions on issues.
Email: rmrbdzlx@126.com
Mobile: "Exposure Platform" on the People's Daily client
The "Message Board for Leaders" client on People's Daily Online
Return to TopBy: 生命时报记者 牛雨蕾
On the afternoon of September 19, the 2026 Tribute to Physicians Gala, co-hosted by Global Times, Life Times, and Health Times, was held at the People's Daily building. The event selected exemplary physicians from across the country who possess superb medical skills, noble medical ethics, and outstanding medical conduct, in order to promote the lofty professional spirit of providing medical aid to save lives (救死扶伤, jiu si fu shang - "save the dying, assist the injured"), "willingly dedicating oneself," and limitless compassion and benevolence (大爱无疆, da ai wu jiang - "great love, no borders"), and to foster a social climate throughout society of understanding doctors, trusting doctors, and respecting doctors. Wang Chen, Vice Chairperson of the 12th and 13th NPC Standing Committee, attended the event and delivered a speech.
Wang Chen emphasized that, over the ten years since the implementation of the Healthy China strategy, the health level of our country's residents has outpaced the level of economic development, and major health indicators have reached their best levels in history. The achievement of these results is fundamentally attributable to the helm-steering leadership of the Party Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core, and to the scientific guidance of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era. This highlights the superiority of socialism with Chinese characteristics, and also embodies the selfless dedication of the vast number of medical workers. The "15th Five-Year Plan" period is a critical juncture for completing the building of a Healthy China; on the new journey, we must build the ranks of physicians with greater effort, and foster an atmosphere of respecting physicians with stronger measures. The media should actively tell the stories of physicians well, and enhance mutual trust between doctors and patients.
Since the Tribute to Physicians selection activity was approved in 2025 after being submitted by People's Daily and approved by the Office of the National Merit and Honor Commendation Working Committee, its participation, coverage, and influence have continued to expand. After this year's selection launched on August 19, the two lists of "Glorious Physicians" and"National Famous Physicians" received registrations from 701 physicians and teams representing 173 medical institutions across 26 provinces. After full deliberation and review by the presidium and the review panel, ultimately 208 physicians and teams received this honor.
Among them, 105 physicians and teams were selected for the "Glorious Physicians" list, respectively receiving 9 awards including "Golden Scalpel," "Contribution to Chinese Medicine," and "Gold Medal Team." Song Xuewen, Chief Physician of the Department of Neurology at the First Affiliated Hospital of Jinan University; Dong Zhenxiang, Deputy Chief Physician of the Department of Hepatology at Beijing Youan Hospital, Capital Medical University; Zhu Xueguang, Chief Physician of the Department of General Surgery at Peking University People's Hospital; Wu Husheng, Chief Physician of the Department of Neurology at Beijing Children's Hospital, Capital Medical University; Cai Lianxiang, Chief Physician of the Department of Gynecology at Xiyuan Hospital of the China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences; Liao Wanqing, Academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering and Chief Physician of the Department of Dermatology at the Second Affiliated Hospital of the Naval Medical University (Shanghai Changzheng Hospital); and Zhu Xuejun, Chief Physician of the Department of Dermatology and Venereology at Peking University First Hospital, received the "Supreme Honor of Life" award.
103 physicians were selected for the "National Famous Physicians" list, respectively receiving awards including "Outstanding Achievement," "Excellent Demeanor," and"Young Rising Star." Cao Zeyi, former Executive Vice President of the Chinese Medical Association and Chief Physician of Gynecology; Wu Tianyi, Academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering, recipient of the "July 1 Medal," and Senior Researcher in High-Altitude Medicine at the Qinghai Provincial Cardiovascular and Cerebrovascular Disease Hospital; Lin Lan, Chief Physician of the Department of Endocrinology at Guang'anmen Hospital of the China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences; Sun Yougang, Chief Physician of the Department of Ultrasound at Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University; Zhou De'an, Chief Physician of the Department of Acupuncture at Beijing Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Capital Medical University; Wang Yehan, Chief Physician of the Department of Neurosurgery at the First Affiliated Hospital of the University of Science and Technology of China (Anhui Provincial Hospital; Shao Yongfu, Chief Physician of the Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery at Hainan Provincial Tumor Hospital; and Chen Shaohong, National Master of Chinese Medicine and Chief Physician of the Department of Emergency at the Affiliated Hospital of Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, received the"Special Tribute" award.
Zhan Qimin, Academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering and Dean of the Peking University International Cancer Institute, created the theme song "Tribute to Physicians" for the event, and Sun Xiaoyun, Chairperson of the Chinese Calligraphers Association, inscribed the four characters "Tribute to Physicians."
"The original aspiration of physicians burns brightly; the benevolent heart to aid the world shines clearly.""A lifetime devoted, forging a monument of the discipline;a lifetime of perseverance, interpreting the consummate skill and sincerity of great medicine." Line after line of sonorous, powerful, and profoundly meaningful award citations echoed through the gala venue. Beneath the spotlight, the award recipients included both highly respected senior figures of the medical community, the oldest being 95 years old; and also enterprising young rising stars, the youngest physician being only 35 years old. They ascended the stage one after another, receiving trophies and accepting accolades.
Professor Cao Zeyi, 93 years old and recipient of the"Special Tribute" award, has devoted his life to the prevention and treatment of cervical cancer. On the stage of glory, the vision he articulated was also the lifelong pursuit of his own:"I hope that, with the efforts of our medical colleagues, by 2050, our country can achieve the goal of eliminating cervical cancer." Professor Zhu Xueguang, 91 years old and recipient of the"Supreme Honor of Life" award, has practiced medicine for 67 years, and teaching and seeing patients have become the norm of her life. Her greatest happiness is witnessing patients recover and younger generations succeed. "In the future I will still be remaining vigorous despite old age (老当益壮, lao dang yi zhuang - "old, increase strength"), continuing to strive; as long as there is still a place that needs me, I will stand there waiting to receive the task." The physicians' remarks came coming from the bottom of one's heart (发自肺腑, fa zi fei fu - "emit from, lungs, viscera"), commanding admiration, and the entire venue erupted in warm and sustained applause.
Maimaitili·Aisha, Chief Physician of the Second Department of Neurosurgery at the First Affiliated Hospital of Xinjiang Medical University and recipient of the"Golden Scalpel" award, has been deeply rooted in the field of diagnosis and treatment of difficult and complex neurosurgical diseases, time and again racing against death and sustaining life. Speaking of his feelings upon receiving the award, he said:"The scalpel bears the weight of life; physicians must only be constantly striving for perfection (精益求精, jing yi qiu jing - "refine, seek excellence"), never relaxing, and overcome clinical challenges with superb medical skills, only then can they live up to the trust of patients and the mission of physicians."
Xiao Wei, recipient of the"Young Innovation" award and Deputy Director of the Mobile Medical Department at the Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center of Sun Yat-sen University, is only 35 years old. She has been deeply engaged in the field of mobile medicine, using the innovative vitality and cutting-edge thinking of a young physician to break through the temporal and spatial boundaries of traditional diagnosis and treatment, bringing quality ophthalmic services out of the consulting room and reaching farther. After receiving the award, she said that she will empower healthcare with technology, safeguard brightness with professionalism, and use the power of youth to unlock new possibilities in medical services.
Liu Cheng, recipient of the"Outstanding Grassroots Doctor" award and Director of the Guanzhong Community Health Service Center in Yingshang County, Fuyang City, Anhui Province, has been steadfastly serving on the front line of grassroots rural and community diagnosis and treatment. He said:"Grassroots medical services involve no earth-shattering feats; only day-after-day perseverance, conscientiously doing well every diagnosis and treatment, every follow-up visit, and bringing medical services to the side of the masses, this is the greatest responsibility and glory of a grassroots physician."
On the award stage, the recipients, with the old and the new passing the baton and passing on the torch from one generation to the next (薪火相传, xin huo xiang chuan - "firewood, torch, pass down"), vividly enacted the responsibility and commitment of China's medical cause being carried forward through generations and endlessand continuous development or life (生生不息, sheng sheng bu xi - "birth, birth, not cease").
At the gala venue, a rotating chairmanship handover ceremony was also held. Dong Jiahong, Academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering, Director of the Medical and Health Sciences Division of the Chinese Academy of Engineering, and rotating chairman of the 2027 Tribute to Physicians selection activity, received the handbook bearing the signatures of both men from Zhan Qimin, rotating chairman of the 2026 activity, completing the handover. Zhan Qimin said that the growth cycle of physicians is long, and they bear the heavy responsibility of guarding the line of life. They perform acts of benevolence with mortal bodies, and the award-winning physicians are even more exemplary figures of the profession. The vast number of physicians should hold fast to the original aspiration of practicing medicine, deepen humanistic care; refine their medical skills, abide by medical ethics; and integrate their personal professional ideals into the great tide of the era of Healthy China, living up to the trust placed in them by life itself and the mission of the era.
Dong Jiahong said:"The times are calling for new responsibilities of physicians. We must respond to the changes of the times with technological innovation, respond to the trust of life with humanistic spirit, and respond to the needs of the country with a sense of mission." He called on the vast number of medical personnel to take the award winners as benchmarks, take technology as wings, take benevolence as the root, and with ever-renewing medical strength, respond to the era's profound call to physicians.
(Zhang Bingyu participated in the reporting and writing)
Return to Top(People's Daily, Wuhan, September 20) (Reporter Tian Doudou) From September 18 to 21, the "2026 World Mayors' Dialogue · Wuhan" event, guided by the State Council Information Office, was held in Wuhan, Hubei. With the theme "Bosom Friend City on the River, living in harmony and coexistence" (和合共生, he he gong sheng - "harmony, together, coexist"), the event brought together more than 80 city mayors and representatives and heads of international organizations from over 20 countries including the United Kingdom, Finland, South Africa, and Thailand. Participating guests fully affirmed the new opportunities that China's scientific and technological development has brought to the world, looked forward to the broad prospects for inter-city cooperation, and expressed expectations for strengthening people-to-people and cultural exchanges, working together toward common progress (携手共进, xie shou gong jin - "hold hands, together, advance") to create a better life for the people.
At the main dialogue event held on the 20th, Wuhan Mayor Xiong Zhengyu, together with city leaders from Manchester, United Kingdom; Kemi, Finland; Cape Town, South Africa; Yangon, Myanmar; Rzeszów, Poland; and Turkistan, Kazakhstan, engaged in dialogue and exchanges on topics including enhancing urban development capacity through scientific and technological innovation, expanding cities' opening-up landscape through industrial synergy, and improving citizens' quality of life through cultural exchange.
The event also featured two special scenario dialogues. The "Co-building and Sharing Livable Development Space" ecological theme dialogue was held at the Yangtze Finless Porpoise Breeding and Protection Center of the Institute of Hydrobiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, where participating representatives discussed experiences, practices, and cooperation proposals regarding watershed governance, biodiversity conservation, and resilient city development. The "Technology Makes Life Better" science and innovation theme dialogue was held at the Xiaomi Wuhan Smart Home Appliance Factory, where representatives explored the frontier fields of current global scientific and technological development and expressed a strong desire to strengthen scientific and technological cooperation among cities.
This event was hosted by the Information Office of the People's Government of Hubei Province and the People's Government of Wuhan Municipality. During the event, supporting activities were also held, including a city theme exhibition, a "Wuhan Impression" themed visit, and enterprise economic and trade matchmaking sessions, promoting practical project docking and cooperation between Chinese and foreign cities and enterprises.
Return to Top(People's Daily, Macao, September 20) (Reporter: Fu Zimei) The "Rising Bright Moon Over the Bay Area" 2026 Greater Bay Area Film and Music Gala was held in Macao on the 20th. With the theme "We Are One Family," the gala was divided into several chapters including "The Devoted Build Their Homes," "The Wanderers Love Their Homes," and "The Drifters Long for Home," bringing together more than a hundred filmmakers and musicians from across the Strait, Hong Kong, Macao, and multiple overseas countries, who sang more than a hundred enduring classics and original new works, using music and songs that transcend time and space to express feelings of family and country, jointly painting a new picture for the opening year of the 15th Five-Year Plan.
The stars of the bay shone brightly, and the tide of sound surged. The gala opened with the brilliant, clear violin strains of "Ode to Devotion," accompanied by Dou Jingtong's performance of the theme song "The Bay." Many musicians and renowned singers brought original, high-quality theme pieces including "The Milky Way of the Human World," fully showcasing the innovative creativity of fine literary and artistic works of the new era, and also highlighting, on the banks of the Hao River, Macao's unique charm of embracing all cultures and viewpoints while maintaining Chinese culture as its mainstream.
On stage, the songs "Young China," "The World Outside," and "I Want a Home" surged with shared memories and emotional resonance across the Strait; off stage, audiences sang along to familiar golden classics such as "Meteor Shower," "When the Dream Ends," and "Mother's Kiss," giving voice to their deep longing for reunion.
Note by note, frame by frame, Chinese stories told the spirit of the times. The film "The Road Home" was a collaboration between filmmakers across the Strait, telling the story of a Taiwan veteran returning home to be buried, returning to one's ancestral home; the film "Macao Grand Prix" showcased the passionate competition and cultural fusion of the Macao Grand Prix, extending the gala's diverse artistic connections and vibrant meaning of life.
As the assembled stars sang "May the World Know Peace," the gala drew to a close, with the melody of "Ode to Devotion" threading through from start to finish, once again conveying "We Are One Family's" unchanging original aspiration of guarding the peace of home and country with devoted responsibility, advancing hand in hand, longing for national reunification, and defending world peace, gathering the surging strength of Chinese sons and daughters to create a bright future together.
The gala was co-hosted by the Film Channel Program Center, the Cultural Affairs Bureau of the Macao SAR Government, the Bauhinia Culture Group, and Phoenix Television, with support from the Galaxy Arena in Macao and coordination from Guangdong Radio and Television Station. The "Rising Bright Moon Over the Bay Area" Greater Bay Area Film and Music Gala has been held annually since 2021; this year marked the fifth time it resounded across the Greater Bay Area and the third consecutive year it was held in Macao.
Return to Top(People's Daily, Beijing, September 20) (Reporter Li Linwei) The reporter learned from the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security: On September 20, "Career Guidance for the Future — 2026 National City Joint Recruitment Autumn Special Event for College Graduates" was launched to help college graduates and other young people find employment. This event is primarily aimed at graduates of the class of 2027 and previous graduates who have not yet found employment. Public employment and talent service agencies, human resources service agencies, and industry associations across various regions will participate jointly, successively launching special recruitment sessions targeting different fields and regions, as well as employment guidance services.
Strengthen smart and precise digital services. A main venue will be set up on China National Talent Network, with online sub-venues established in various regions, providing services such as job postings, livestreamed job introductions, policy briefings, and employment guidance. Advance integrated online-offline services, and continuously improve all-in-one service (一站式, yi zhan shi - "one, station, type") offerings on recruitment websites, including resume submission and remote interviews.
Hold special recruitment sessions by category. Focusing on key fields such as the digital economy and green economy, as well as industries including advanced manufacturing and modern services, industry-specific special events will be launched; around national regional development strategies, regional special events will be organized; in response to the urgent demand for urgently needed and highly sought-after talent in local key industries and critical fields, special events for urgently needed and highly sought-after talent will be held.
Carry out diversified supporting activities. Organize employment guidance experts to go deep into campuses, enterprises, and industrial parks to carry out activities such as employment policy publicity, job-seeking consultation, and career guidance. Organize graduates to visit key enterprises, grassroots units, and industrial parks to enhance graduates' career awareness and job-seeking and employment capabilities.
Return to TopOverseas Chinese affairs work is a long-term, strategic task of the Party and the state. Striving forward into the 15th Five-Year Plan, to do overseas Chinese affairs work well, it is necessary to make overall use of the various platforms for attracting talent and attracting investment through overseas Chinese affairs, to better bring into play the unique advantage of overseas Chinese at home and abroad in connecting China with the rest of the world (融通中外, rong tong zhong wai - "blend, connect; middle, outside") and in having broad contacts, and to combine more closely the gathering of overseas Chinese hearts, the pooling of overseas Chinese wisdom, the bringing into play of overseas Chinese strength with serving the overall development situation.
Based on what the nation needs, what Sichuan is capable of, and what overseas Chinese are good at, in recent years, Sichuan Province has continuously expanded its overseas friendship and liaison networks, built platforms for matching resources, improved service mechanisms for overseas Chinese, and promoted the better integration of the advantages of overseas Chinese talent, intelligence, capital, and channels into the construction of the Chengdu-Chongqing Economic Circle, the high-quality joint construction of the Belt and Road Initiative, serving Sichuan's modernization drive.
From September 20 to 24, the second Overseas High-Tech Talent Exchange and Cooperation Week series of activities, themed "Wisdom Gathering in Tianfu, Overseas Chinese Seeing the Future" (智荟天府·侨见未来), was held in Chengdu City, with approximately 450 guests from home and abroad engaging in exchanges around innovation and entrepreneurship, transformation of achievements, industrial cooperation, and other topics, systematically showcasing Sichuan's practical achievements in continuously attracting talent, attracting wisdom, and attracting investment from overseas Chinese communities abroad.
Broadly gathering overseas Chinese talent Serving development
Gathering talent lies not only in broad outreach, but even more in precise service. Sichuan, centering on the needs of key industries and technological innovation, has continuously improved the service mechanism for contacting overseas talent, and through platforms such as the Overseas High-Tech Talent Exchange and Cooperation Week and the "Overseas Chinese Innovation and Entrepreneurship Competition" (Hai Ke Cup), has promoted stronger docking between overseas talent and Sichuan's universities, research institutes, parks, and enterprises.
From gathering talent through events to maintaining contact with talent on a regular basis, from talent docking to innovationand entrepreneurship services, Sichuan has continuously expanded the "circle of friends" of overseas Chinese affairs talent, promoted the coordinated linkage of the talent chain with the innovation chain and the industrial chain, enabling more overseas talent to understand Sichuan, to enter Sichuan, and to find space for career development in Sichuan. This year's "Overseas Chinese Innovation and Entrepreneurship Competition" was based on the six key industrial cities of the province — Chengdu, Mianyang, Leshan, Yibin, Luzhou, and Suining — precisely sorted out and sorted through 99 items of core technology breakthrough and talent introductionand cultivation needs of enterprises, established a refined ledger of supply and demand, and rigidly implemented the "one enterprise, one policy" targeted recommendation mechanism; before the competition, project promotion meetings had already been successfully held in Chengdu, Yibin, and other places, organizing key enterprises to carry out face-to-face negotiationand docking with overseas projects.
Gathering overseas Chinese hearts and strength serves not only the present, but also looks toward the long term. In recent years, Sichuan has continuously carried out exchange activities for overseas Chinese youth, organizing overseas Chinese college students, young professional talent, and others, through research and study programs such as the "Bashu Culture Appreciation Journey" and the "Root-Seeking China, Walking Through Tianfu" to cultivate future strength, enhancing identification and continuing friendship through cultural root-seeking and research-study experiences.
Pooling overseas Chinese wisdom Empowering innovation
The ultimate purpose of attracting talent lies in using talent, and the value of pooling wisdom lies in transformation. Sichuan has continuously built platforms for overseas Chinese intellectual strength to serve development, promoting the precise docking of overseas innovation resources, expert wisdom, and local industrial needs.
In 2022, the united front and overseas Chinese affairs departments of Sichuan and Chongqing jointly initiated and established the "Xingchuan Zhuyu Overseas Chinese Think Tank" (building a cross-provincial overseas Chinese-related decision-making consultation platform, initially bringing together 60 think tank committee members, and organizing six expert groups around the fields of medicine and health, advanced materials, electronic information, energyand chemical industry, digital economy, and humanitiesand social sciences. In recent years, through industrial development forums, special research, consultationand advice, andand other means, the think tank has promoted overseas Chinese expert wisdom to better serve the construction of the Chengdu-Chongqing Economic Circle, and has explored a "overseas Chinese enterprise + think tank + local government" collaborative mechanism, promoting the docking of scientificand technological achievements with industrial needs.
The "Overseas Chinese Innovation and Entrepreneurship Competition," founded in 2015, has become an important vehicle linking overseas innovation projects. Over the first 10 sessions of the "Overseas Chinese Innovation and Entrepreneurship Competition," 266 projects have landed in Sichuan through forms such as company registration, technological cooperation, and talent employment. This year's series of "Overseas Chinese Innovation and Entrepreneurship Competition" events attracted 412 projects from 40 countries and regions to register, and sorted out 99 items of talentand technology needs around local industries.
Linking overseas Chinese capital Expanding openness
Overseas Chinese connect all corners of the world, and also connect markets and capital. Sichuan has continuously brought into play the advantage of overseas Chinese at home and abroad in connecting China with the rest of the world and in having broad contacts, through forms such as economicand trade negotiations, industrial promotion, project inspections, promoting the deep docking of overseas Chinese resources with Sichuan's development opportunities.
In June this year, the 2026 "Belt and Road" Overseas Chinese Cooperation and Development Conference was held in Chengdu, with nearly 700 guests from home and abroad from 120 countries and regions attending. The conference established a "List of Overseas Chinese Business Demands" and a"List of Sichuan Opportunities," centrally showcasing 8 key projects with a total amount exceeding 17 billion yuan, of which 4 projects settled in Sichuan with an amount of nearly 8 billion yuan, and through activities such as "Overseas Chinese Assisting a Thousand Enterprises and Ten-Thousand Products to Go Global," helped Sichuan enterprises link up with international markets.
From talent and intellectual strength to capital markets, from "bringing in" to "going out," Sichuan is promoting better articulation of overseas Chinese affairs resources with the development needs of industries, parks, and cities (prefectures), continuously expanding the space for open cooperation.
Facing the future, Sichuan will adhere to serving the overall situation and serving overseas Chinese, further improve the mechanisms for liaisonand friendship, attracting talentand pooling wisdom, economicand trade cooperation, and rightsand interests services, transform more "overseas Chinese" resources into innovation resources, open resources, and development resources, and in serving national strategies and promoting Sichuan's modernization construction, further gather overseas Chinese hearts, pool overseas Chinese wisdom, and bring into play overseas Chinese strength.
Data source: Overseas Chinese Affairs Office of Sichuan Province
Return to TopBy: 李斌雄
General Secretary Xi Jinping has emphasized: "Uphold the governance of the Party by institutions and by regulations, improve the Party's organizational regulations, leadership regulations, self-building regulations, and oversight and guarantee regulations, and make institutions 'grow teeth' and 'carry electricity.'" Since the 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, the Party Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core has regarded upholding the governance of the Party by institutions and by regulations as the long-term and fundamental strategy for full and rigorous self-governance of the Party, has carried institutional building through the entire process of Party building, and has provided a strong guarantee for Party building in the new era. The theoretical innovation, practical innovation, and institutional innovation in governing and managing the Party in the new era have profoundly answered the important questions of what it means to uphold the governance of the Party by institutions and by regulations, why it is necessary to uphold the governance of the Party by institutions and by regulations, and how to uphold the governance of the Party by institutions and by regulations, and constitute an important component of the scientific system of Xi Jinping's thought on Party building.
Scientifically understand the connotation and characteristics of upholding the governance of the Party by institutions and by regulations
To uphold the governance of the Party by institutions and by regulations, one must first scientifically understand its rich connotation. In the article "Upholding the Governance of the Party by Institutions and by Regulations" in Volume I of Selected Works of Xi Jinping on Party Building, General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out: "Strengthening the building of the system of intraparty laws and regulations is the long-term strategy and fundamental strategy for full and rigorous self-governance of the Party," and emphasized that "it is necessary to uphold the coordinated advancement and integrated construction of law-based governance and the governance of the Party by institutions and by regulations." Governance of the Party by institutions mainly refers to the Party's use of rules and regulations to guide, regulate, and guarantee its governance and management of the Party, its revitalization and strengthening of the Party, and its governance and administration of the country. Governance of the Party by regulations mainly refers to the Party's reliance on intraparty laws and regulations to guide, regulate, and guarantee its governance and management of the Party, its revitalization and strengthening of the Party, and its governance and administration of the country. Upholding the governance of the Party by institutions and by regulations helps ensure that prominent contradictions and problems within the Party are resolved on the track of laws, regulations, and institutions, and ensures that the intraparty political ecosystem is positive, healthy, and a clean and healthy political atmosphere (风清气正, feng qing qi zheng - "wind, clear; air, righteous").
In the article "Strengthening the Restriction and Oversight of Power and Advancing the Building of the System of Laws and Regulations for Combating Corruption and Promoting Integrity" in Volume I of Selected Works of Xi Jinping on Party Building, General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out: "Laws, regulations, and institutions are of a fundamental, overall, stable, and long-term nature." For full and rigorous self-governance of the Party, it is necessary to thoroughly study and implement Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, especially Xi Jinping's thought on Party building, and to select a set of scientific and effective governance tool systems. Among the many governance tools, laws, regulations, and institutions are of a fundamental, overall, stable, and long-term nature. An important successful experience in why full and rigorous self-governance of the Party in the new era has been able to achieve historic and pioneering achievements lies in taking the upholding of the governance of the Party by institutions and by regulations as the long-term strategy and fundamental strategy, using a complete and rigidly operating system of intraparty laws and regulations to tightly bind the institutional cage for governing and managing the Party, and providing fundamental and stable long-term support for full and rigorous self-governance of the Party to achieve full coverage of content, full coverage of objects, a complete chain of responsibilities, and full integration of institutions. At the same time, upholding the governance of the Party by institutions and by regulations requires overall planning and grasping of the relationships between politics and the rule of law, between reform and the rule of law, between law-based governance and rule-of-law-based governance with virtue, and between law-based governance and the governance of the Party by regulations; requires upholding the principle that discipline is stricter than law, that discipline precedes law, and that the enforcement of discipline and law is integrated; requires ensuring that discipline enforcement is strict and violations of discipline are investigated; and requires effectively safeguarding the rigidity and seriousness of discipline. On this basis, it is necessary to promote the close integration of ideological Party building and institutional Party building, and to realize the unity of the governance of the Party by regulations and the governance of the Party by virtue.
Upholding the governance of the Party by institutions and by regulations focuses on carrying the requirements of having regulations to rely on, having regulations that must be followed, enforcing regulations strictly, and investigating violations of regulations without fail through all links and the entire chain of the building of the system of intraparty laws and regulations, using a systematized supply of laws, regulations, and institutions to build the "four beams and eight pillars" of governing and managing the Party, and using rigid enforcement to open up the "last kilometer" for the implementation of laws, regulations, and institutions. Among these, having regulations to rely on is the starting point and premise; only by taking the Party Constitution as the foundation and democratic centralism as the core, and continuously improving the system of intraparty laws and regulations, can action guidance be provided for the whole Party to unify its will, unify its actions, and advance in step; having regulations that must be followed focuses on solving the problem of whether institutional awareness is firm; only by promoting the broad masses of Party members and leading cadres to revere institutions and abide by institutions can institutions truly become rigid norms that constrain words and deeds; strict enforcement of regulations focuses on solving the problem of whether the institutional cage is strong; only by eliminating the "idle operation" of institutions and preventing the phenomenon of "a cow being kept in a cat cage" can institutional advantages be continuously transformed into governance effectiveness for governing and managing the Party; investigating violations of regulations without fail focuses on solving the problem of whether bottom-line constraints are strong; only by upholding that everyone is equal before institutions and that there are no exceptions in the implementation of institutions, and by pursuing investigations of violations of regulations and discipline to the end without any leniency, can a lasting deterrent force that truly confronts problems head-on be formed, truly making iron rules take effect and prohibitions carry authority, and providing a solid institutional guarantee for the Party's long-term governance and the country's long-term stability and peace (长治久安, chang zhi jiu an - "long, govern; long, peace").
Deeply grasp the important significance of upholding the governance of the Party by institutions and by regulations
In the "Instruction on Strengthening the Building of the System of Intraparty Laws and Regulations" in Volume II of Selected Works of Xi Jinping on Party Building, General Secretary Xi Jinping emphasized: "It is necessary to give full play to the major role of intraparty laws and regulations in safeguarding the centralized, unified leadership of the Party Central Committee, guaranteeing the Party's long-term governance and the country's long-term stability and peace, and in advancing the great new project of Party building in the new era and implementing full and rigorous self-governance of the Party, ensuring that the Party always remains a strong leading core in the historical process of upholding and developing socialism with Chinese characteristics, and providing a strong political guarantee for comprehensively building a modern socialist country and realizing the Chinese Dream of the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation." This important exposition profoundly elucidates the important significance of upholding the governance of the Party by institutions and by regulations. Upholding the governance of the Party by institutions and by regulations is an effective path for advancing the great new project of Party building in the new era and an important means for improving the Party's leadership level and governance capability.
Upholding the governance of the Party by institutions and by regulations plays a major guarantee role in upholding the Party's overall leadership and the centralized, unified leadership of the Party Central Committee. Upholding the governance of the Party by institutions and by regulations, and formulating and implementing the system of the Party's leadership institutions, helps transform the important requirement of deeply comprehending the decisive significance of the Two Establishments (两个确立) and resolutely achieving the Two Upholds (两个维护) into clear institutional norms and codes of conduct, fundamentally ensuring that the whole Party is unified in thought, unified in will, and unified in action, and providing a strong guarantee for consolidating the Party's leadership position. As a Marxist governing party, the completeness and execution capacity of our Party's leadership system directly bear on the quality and effectiveness of the Party's overall leadership. Relying on a complete and systematic institutional system, upholding the governance of the Party by institutions and by regulations, and implementing the Party's leadership in all fields, all aspects, and all links of the cause of the Party and the state can effectively guarantee that the Party Central Committee's orders are unimpeded and its prohibitions are observed. Since the new era, from strictly implementing the reporting system for requests for instructions and reports, to improving the supervision and accountability mechanism for implementing the Party Central Committee's major decisions and arrangements... it is precisely through a series of important institutional arrangements that the Party's overall leadership has been ensured to have rules to follow and regulations to rely on, providing a stable institutional foundation for the Party Central Committee to steer the course and take the helm on the new journey of the new era.
Upholding the governance of the Party by institutions and by regulations plays a guarantee and guiding role in advancing the great new project of Party building in the new era. Since the 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, our Party has carried institutional building through the entire process of the Party's political building, ideological building, organizational building, conduct building, and discipline building, integrated it into all links of the fight against corruption, used a complete and rigidly operating system of intraparty laws and regulations to tightly bind the cage for governing and managing the Party, used the stability of institutions to consolidate the achievements of Party building in all aspects, used the authority of institutions to strengthen the rigid constraints of governing and managing the Party, and provided a strong guarantee for advancing the great new project of Party building in the new era. Practice has proven that only by always upholding the governance of the Party by institutions and by regulations can all factors that harm the Party's advanced nature and purity be eliminated at the source, all viruses that erode the Party's healthy body be removed, can the strict tone, strict measures, and strict atmosphere truly be upheld for a long time in institutional form, can full and rigorous self-governance of the Party be persistently advanced, can the Party's advanced nature and purity be forever maintained, can the Party be built to be even stronger and more capable with more mature and finalized institutional advantages ensuring that the great new project of Party building in the new era never deviates in direction, never slackens in intensity, and never loosens in standards.
Upholding the governance of the Party by institutions and by regulations plays a political guarantee role in ensuring the Party's long-term governance and the country's long-term stability and peace. Governing the state and ordering the people require rectifying their institutions. Upholding the governance of the Party by institutions and by regulations bears on our Party's escape from the historical cycle of rise and fall, chaos and order, and the realization of long-term governance, and is an important support for safeguarding the country's long-term stability and peace. Facing the long-standing "four major tests" and "four dangers," only by upholding the governance of the Party by institutions and by regulations, and transforming the Party's more than one hundred years of experience in governing and managing the Party, especially the revolutionary forging achievements of full and rigorous self-governance of the Party in the new era, into a system of institutional norms that is complete, scientific, standardized, and effective in operation, can the whole Party's will be unified, the whole Party's actions be regulated, and the operation of power be constrained, and can the Party's self-purification, self-improvement, self-renewal, and self-enhancement be continuously advanced. Only by upholding the organic unity of law-based governance and the governance of the Party by regulations, and promoting the mutual complementarity, mutual promotion, and mutual guarantee of national laws and regulations and the system of intraparty laws and regulations, can excellent Party conduct and government conduct lead social conduct and civic conduct, can a solid foundation be built for the Party's long-term governance and the country's long-term stability and peace, and can it be ensured that the Party always remains the strong leading core of the cause of socialism with Chinese characteristics.
Comprehensively comprehend the practical requirements of upholding the governance of the Party by institutions and by regulations
In the article "Improving the System for Full and Rigorous Self-Governance of the Party and Advancing the Great New Project of Party Building in the New Era in Depth" in Volume II of Selected Works of Xi Jinping on Party Building, General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out that improving the system for full and rigorous self-governance of the Party "requires us to uphold the governance of the Party by institutions and by regulations, to more prominently highlight the organic interconnection, linked integration, and coordinated synergy of Party building in all aspects, to more prominently highlight the improvement and perfection of systems and mechanisms and the scientificity and effectiveness of laws, regulations, and institutions, and to more prominently highlight the use of the concept of governance, the concept of systems, and dialectical thinking to govern, manage, and build the Party." In the article "Improving the System for Full and Rigorous Self-Governance of the Party" in Volume II of Selected Works of Xi Jinping on Party Building, General Secretary Xi Jinping emphasized: "Use systematic thinking and scientific methods to advance the full coverage of content, full coverage of objects, complete chain of responsibilities, and full integration of institutions in governing and managing the Party, and further improve a system for full and rigorous self-governance of the Party that is complete in elements, complete in functions, scientific and standardized, and efficient in operation." These important expositions profoundly elucidate the practical requirements and scientific methods and paths for upholding the governance of the Party by institutions and by regulations under the new situation.
Use scientific thinking methods to improve a scientific, standardized, effective, and practical institutional system. In the article "Remain True to the Original Aspiration and Keep the Mission Firmly in Mind" in Volume II of Selected Works of Xi Jinping on Party Building, General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out: "In establishing rules and regulations, it is necessary to uphold systematic thinking, dialectical thinking, and bottom-line thinking, and to embody guidance, pertinence, and operability." Upholding the governance of the Party by institutions and by regulations has distinct political attributes and principled attributes; it is necessary to comprehensively apply scientific thinking methods, closely focus on the overall work of the Party and the state to advance the high-quality development of the building of the system of intraparty laws and regulations, carry the requirements of upholding the governance of the Party by institutions and by regulations through the entire chain and all aspects of the building of the system of intraparty laws and regulations, and promote the continuous transformation of the institutional advantages of governing and managing the Party into governance effectiveness. First, use systematic thinking to plan the overall situation, both anchoring the overall goal of Party building to do a good job in the top-level design of the institutional system, and encouraging grassroots units to explore and refine supporting measures in light of actual conditions, comprehensively advancing the connection of institutions in all fields, at all levels, and in all links, making up shortcomings and strengthening weak points, and promoting mutual support and coordinated action among various institutions, so as to provide holistic and systematic institutional guarantees for governing and managing the Party. Second, use dialectical thinking to grasp well the relationship between strict management and care, and between constraint and incentive, in institutional building. Both tighten the institutional cage, clarify behavioral boundaries, and draw rigid red lines, and also emphasize guidance and inclusiveness, unify strict requirements with practical measures, and clearly and unequivocally take responsibility for those who take responsibility, take responsibility for those who are responsible, and support those who do things. Both maintain the authority and seriousness of the system of intraparty laws and regulations, and keep pace with the Party's theoretical and practical innovation steps to promptly carry out the work of establishing, amending, abolishing, and interpreting institutions, promoting the organic unity of institutional rigidity and governance vitality. Third, use bottom-line thinking to strengthen constraints, and build a rigid defense line and risk barrier for the implementation of institutions. Carry bottom-line awareness through the entire process of institutional formulation and implementation, clarify the political red lines and disciplinary bottom lines that must not be crossed, uphold strict enforcement of regulations and investigation of violations without fail, resolutely eliminate the "elastic space" and "broken window effect" in institutional implementation, and truly make iron rules take effect and prohibitions carry authority.
Strengthen the consciousness of the governance of the Party by institutions and by regulations, and enhance the authority and execution capacity of laws, regulations, and institutions. In the article "Remain True to the Original Aspiration and Keep the Mission Firmly in Mind" in Volume II of Selected Works of Xi Jinping on Party Building, General Secretary Xi Jinping emphasized: "Institutions are meant to be observed and implemented. The whole Party must strengthen institutional awareness, consciously respect institutions, strictly implement institutions, resolutely safeguard institutions, improve authoritative and efficient institutional implementation mechanisms, and strengthen supervision over institutional implementation." Upholding the governance of the Party by institutions and by regulations is not a flexible advocacy of "important when spoken of, secondary when done," but a rigid constraint of leaving a lasting mark through resolute action (抓铁有痕, zhua tie you hen - "grasp, iron; have, trace") and achieving results through persistent and solid implementation (踏石留印, ta shi liu yin - "step, stone; leave, print"). It is necessary to educate and guide the broad masses of Party members and leading cadres to firmly establish institutional awareness and rules awareness from the depths of their hearts, and to continuously strengthen the ideological and action consciousness of using institutions to manage power, handling affairs according to institutions, and managing people by relying on institutions. Uphold the problem-oriented, goal-oriented, and result-oriented approach, establish and improve authoritative and efficient mechanisms for the implementation of laws, regulations, and institutions, give full play to the normative and guiding role of the system of intraparty laws and regulations, and by enhancing the authority and execution capacity of the system of intraparty laws and regulations, use rigid institutions to guarantee the interconnection and linkage of the system for full and rigorous self-governance of the Party, and effectively advance the governance of the Party by institutions and by regulations to go deeper and be implemented more solidly.
Improve a responsibility system for the governance of the Party by institutions and by regulations with clear subjects and clear requirements. Upholding the governance of the Party by institutions and by regulations cannot be separated from the support of a responsibility system with clear subjects and clear requirements; it is necessary, under the unified leadership of the Party Central Committee, to improve the responsibility pattern for governing and managing the Party in which each bears its own responsibility and all are unified and coordinated, to implement the requirements of comprehensiveness, the strict tone, and the concept of governance into the construction of the system for full and rigorous self-governance of the Party, to transmit the institutional pressure of governing and managing the Party layer by layer to Party organizations at all levels and to every Party member and leading cadre, to fundamentally solve the prominent problems of "idle operation of institutions" and "suspended responsibilities," and to continuously improve the quality and level of governing and managing the Party. On the one hand, strictly implement the responsibility system for the enforcement of regulations, focus on connecting the "first kilometer" and the "last kilometer" of institutional implementation, break through "midway obstructions," strengthen normalized supervision and special inspections, and resolutely and seriously investigate and deal with persons and matters that violate regulations and discipline and damage laws, regulations, and institutions in accordance with regulations, discipline, and law, leaving no "hidden doors" and opening no "skylights," so that intraparty laws and regulations truly become "high-voltage lines" carrying electricity. On the other hand, uphold the principle that dereliction of duty must be questioned and accountability must be strict, systematically integrate the entire chain of mechanisms of supervision and inspection, target assessment, and accountability investigation, and for regions and departments where institutional implementation has failed and problems have been frequent due to absence of responsibility and ineffective supervision, both seriously investigate the direct responsibility of the parties concerned and retroactively investigate the relevant leadership responsibility and supervision responsibility, use rigid accountability to force the implementation of responsibility, and promote the continuous deepening of the governance of the Party by institutions and by regulations.
(The author is a researcher at the Research Center for the Theoretical System of Socialism with Chinese Characteristics in Hubei Province)
Return to TopBy: 赵庆安
At the celebration of the 105th anniversary of the founding of the Communist Party of China, General Secretary Xi Jinping systematically elaborated on the Party's fine qualities from six aspects, one of which is "daring to struggle and being good at struggle, always maintaining confidence in victory." General Secretary Xi Jinping issued a great call to the entire Party to strive to create new historical brilliance, emphasizing that "we must dare to struggle and be good at struggle," which greatly inspired the entire Party to work together with one heart and mind (勠力同心, lu li tong xin - "exert, strength, together, heart") and overcome tough problems and difficulties (攻坚克难, gong jian ke nan - "attack, key, overcome, difficulty") with high morale.
Only by tackling difficulties can one achieve long-term goals. Looking back, daring to struggle and being good at struggle is a fine tradition that our Party has consistently upheld. Since the new era began, amid a world undergoing major development, major transformation, and major adjustment, our Party has always maintained its fighting spirit and enhanced its fighting skills—fighting epidemics, battling floods, defusing crises, and responding to changing situations, anchoring its direction and forging ahead through hardships (砥砺前行, di li qian xing - "grind, sharpen, front, walk") while braving the wind and waves. Looking ahead, the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation is unstoppable and shows unprecedented bright prospects, yet challenges and opportunities always coexist. Only by continuing to carry forward the fighting spirit, daring to struggle and being good at struggle, can we make steady and long-term progress toward the future.
Daring to struggle embodies the responsibility of stepping forward without fear of sacrifice; being good at struggle demonstrates the wisdom of knowing oneself and one's enemy (知己知彼, zhi ji zhi bi - "know, self, know, other") and pursuing victory. Every undertaking must have its proper method before it can succeed. The laws, methods, and strategies of struggle are the "bridge and boat" for accomplishing struggle tasks and achieving struggle goals. On the road ahead, we must fully recognize the long-term, complex, and arduous nature of the new great struggle, strengthen bottom-line thinking and extreme-scenario thinking, and rely on tenacious struggle to open up new horizons for our cause.
Follow the laws of struggle. Society advances through the movement of contradictions. The movement of social contradictions follows laws, and the struggle that drives society forward also follows laws. At the training class for young and middle-aged cadres at the Party School of the CPC Central Committee (National Academy of Governance) in the autumn semester of 2019, General Secretary Xi Jinping emphasized: "In various major struggles, we must adhere to the unity of enhancing our sense of urgency and maintaining strategic resolve, adhere to the unity of strategic judgment and tactical decision-making, and adhere to the unity of the struggle process and the actual effectiveness of struggle." These "three unities" reveal, from the height of law, the basic principles that must be grasped in conducting struggle in the new era. Adhering to the unity of enhancing our sense of urgency and maintaining strategic resolve means both making preparations in advance (未雨绸缪, wei yu chou mou - "not, rain, repair, window") and addressing problems early and at their root while constantly observing the broader trends and overall situation, and maintaining the strategic resolve of "remaining composed amid turbulent clouds," so as to achieve being well-prepared to avoid trouble (有备无患, you bei wu huan - "have, preparation, no, disaster") and pressing forward despite difficulties (知难而进, zhi nan er jin - "know, difficulty, and, advance"). Adhering to the unity of strategic judgment and tactical decision-making requires us to scientifically foresee the trends of developments and the risks and challenges hidden within, and on that basis dare to make decisions and act decisively, preventing discussing without reaching a decision (议而不决, yi er bu jue - "discuss, but, not, decide"), deciding without acting, and acting without results. Adhering to the unity of the struggle process and the actual effectiveness of struggle means directing struggle toward solving problems, continuously testing the rationality of goals and tasks and the scientific soundness of methods and paths in the course of struggle, and ensuring tangible results are achieved. By grasping these "three unities," we can effectively coordinate struggle requirements at different levels while accurately recognizing changes, scientifically responding to changes, and proactively seeking change, firmly grasping the initiative in struggle.
Choose good struggle methods. Struggle is not about showing off strength, being belligerent, or fighting ruthlessly; it has its own know-how and rules. Grasping the principal contradiction and grasping the principal aspect of the contradiction are important methods of struggle. This is because objective things often contain many contradictions, and the nature and development of objective things often depend on the principal contradiction and the principal aspect of the contradiction. For struggle, grasping the principal contradiction and the principal aspect of the contradiction enables us to find those deep-seated and critical issues that affect the direction of struggle, and to push the movement of contradictions in a direction favorable to us. At the same time, we must adhere to being justified, advantageous, and measured: daring to draw the sword and taking a clear-cut stand on major issues of principle, not yielding even an inch (寸步不让, cun bu bu rang - "inch, step, not, yield") and being unambiguous on matters of principle, and holding the bottom line of being "justified"; facing risks and challenges with a spirit of historical initiative, not fighting battles that are unprepared or uncertain of victory, responding to challenges as they arise (见招拆招, jian zhao chai zhao - "see, move, dismantle, move") according to changing circumstances, and seizing the initiative of being "advantageous"; grasping the boundaries and limits of struggle, achieving struggle without breaking relations, seeking unity and cooperation through struggle, and mastering the measure of being "measured."
Pay attention to struggle strategy. All struggles occur under specific conditions. As the conditions of struggle develop and change, struggle strategy must also change with the times and be employed at the right time. Looking to the future, we must grasp the timing, degree, and effectiveness according to the needs of the situation and adjust struggle strategy in a timely manner. We must seize favorable opportunities, planning in accordance with the situation, acting in response to the situation, and advancing in line with the situation; grasp the proper measure and timing, neither missing opportunities nor acting rashly, neither being weak and yielding nor impulsive and reckless; take achieving actual results as the starting point and ultimate goal, and flexibly employ struggle methods and approaches. At the same time, we must recognize that struggle is not an end in itself; it is for resolving contradictions, promoting unity, and advancing development. We must unite all forces that can be united, mobilize all positive factors, adhere to the mass line, enable the people to distinguish right from wrong and clarify their direction in struggle, and continuously consolidate the Party's class foundation and mass foundation for governance.
Return to TopBy: 甘 戈
At present, a new round of technological revolution and industrial transformation is developing in depth, and artificial intelligence is accelerating its integration into all fields of economic and social development. President Xi Jinping pointed out at the opening ceremony of the 2026 World Artificial Intelligence Conference and the High-Level Meeting on Global AI Governance: "Comprehensively promote scientific and technological innovation, industrial development, and scenario application of artificial intelligence" and "let artificial intelligence empower all walks of life (千行百业, qian hang bai ye - "thousand, industry, hundred, industry")". This provides important guidance for promoting the healthy and orderly development of artificial intelligence and enabling it to better empower economic and social development. The health field is an important area where artificial intelligence can realize its application value. The "15th Five-Year Plan" for National Health makes arrangements for "advancing the digital and intelligent development of health for all" and "deeply advancing health-centered high-efficiency governance". We must better leverage the role of artificial intelligence, make data better serve as a governance resource, make intelligence better serve management and decision-making, make technology better enhance the health and well-being of the people, continuously improve the level of health governance, and provide strong support for the construction of a Healthy China.
In recent years, artificial intelligence has accelerated its application in the health field, providing new technical support for enhancing the capacity of medical and health services. As the scale of the medical and health service system expands and diagnosis and treatment activities become increasingly complex, the early detection of medical quality and safety risks, the scientific allocation of medical resources, and the precise identification and prevention of operational risks all place higher demands on health governance capacity. Promoting the empowerment of health governance by artificial intelligence cannot be simply understood as building intelligent platforms and developing application scenarios; rather, it requires adhering to systematic thinking, grasping the laws of health governance, and answering key questions such as how data can be interconnected, how intelligent capabilities can be enhanced, how management processes can be optimized, and how the safety bottom line can be safeguarded, so as to drive changes in health governance concepts, governance methods, and governance capacity. Specifically, efforts can be made from the following dimensions.
Consolidate the data foundation and build a solid foundation for intelligent governance. Data is a key element for artificial intelligence to empower health governance. The multi-dimensional businesses and multi-type problems in the health field are intertwined and interrelated; only by integrating multi-source related data can comprehensive assessment and systematic governance be achieved. By improving data standards and norms, refining data resource catalogs, and other measures, the level of standardized data governance can be raised, the unification of medical and health data standards can be promoted, and related sharing can be strengthened, providing reliable support for intelligent analysis, precise management, and scientific supervision. Advance the sharing of medical, medical insurance, and pharmaceutical data, support key regions in building high-quality pharmaceutical industry datasets and trusted data spaces, and provide reliable support for risk identification, operational monitoring, and scientific decision-making. Coordinate the allocation of computing power, models, knowledge bases, and rule bases, strengthen security protection capabilities, and avoid duplicate construction. In particular, in the fields of medical quality, safety, and costs, promote the transformation of relevant contents in laws and regulations, industry standards, and management norms into regulatory rules that are machine-recognizable and system-executable, so that intelligent analysis has a basis, management applications have standards, and stable operation of artificial intelligence is supported.
Strengthen intelligent analysis and enhance scientific decision-making capacity. The use of intelligent analysis tools can help identify hidden and complex medical quality and safety risks, make up for the shortcomings of traditional manual spot checks and post-hoc evaluation in risk early warning, and build solid technical support for standardizing the use of drugs and consumables, strengthening medical cost management, and carrying out technical project operations in an orderly manner. Use artificial intelligence to comprehensively analyze diagnosis and treatment behavior, laboratory and imaging examinations, medication records, and other information to assist in identifying abnormal diagnosis and treatment patterns and key risk links, promoting the transformation of quality management from discovering problems after the fact to identifying risks beforehand and intervening dynamically during the process. Use artificial intelligence to conduct linked analysis of data such as bed utilization, surgical scheduling, examination capacity, and staffing to identify operational bottlenecks and changes in demand, providing support for optimizing resource allocation and improving service processes. Strengthen monitoring of medical service behavior, and by correlating information such as clinical needs and supply conditions, assist in detecting abnormal fluctuations and clues of unreasonable use, promoting rational drug use, refined management of consumables, and cost control.
Optimize management and supervision processes and drive changes in governance methods. Relying on artificial intelligence to optimize management and supervision processes helps to identify and resolve internal risks, identify common, trend-based, and systemic risks, and promote the transformation of hospital management from experience-driven to data-driven and from passive handling to proactive governance. Promote the integration of intelligent analysis into the daily management of hospitals. Focusing on key areas such as quality, safety, resources, and operations, embed intelligent analysis into links such as daily monitoring, risk early warning, and rectification feedback to form a closed-loop management mechanism. Promote the embedding of intelligent technology into industry supervision. Relying on multi-source data and intelligent analysis, carry out dynamic monitoring of medical resource allocation, diagnosis and treatment service behavior, medical quality and safety, and drug and consumable use, enhance capabilities for risk identification, precise verification, and tiered supervision, and promote the precise allocation of supervisory resources to key institutions, key links, and key problems. Promote coordination between in-hospital management and external supervision. Promote the unification of data standards and the digitalization of supervisory rules, and rely on data sharing and intelligent analysis to form a closed loop of work involving information exchange, risk linkage, and rectification feedback, so that hospital self-improvement and precise industry supervision reinforce each other and work in the same direction.
Adhere to a results orientation and enhance the quality and effectiveness of intelligent governance. The fundamental purpose of promoting artificial intelligence to better empower health governance is not to pursue the "novelty" of technology or the "quantity" of systems, but to better safeguard the health rights and interests of the people, ensure medical quality and safety, and enhance the operational efficiency of the medical and health service system. The actual governance effectiveness should be highlighted, and application outcomes should be scientifically evaluated, with a focus on evaluating whether medical quality has been improved, resource allocation has been optimized, diagnosis and treatment behavior has been standardized, and operating costs have been effectively controlled, avoiding an emphasis on construction over application and on technology over practical results. Improve mechanisms for manual review, accountability tracing, dispute handling, and error correction, ensure that important management decisions and supervisory conclusions undergo necessary professional review and standardized procedures, and avoid simply replacing professional judgment with algorithmic results. Adhere to building a solid and controllable safety bottom line, carry safety requirements through the entire process of data collection, model training, system deployment, and application operation, improve mechanisms such as risk monitoring, security auditing, and emergency response, and avoid risks such as data leakage and algorithm bias.
(The author is the Director of the Hospital Management Research Institute of the National Health Commission)
Return to TopBy: 本报记者 闫伊乔 田先进
On the evening of September 6, inside the gymnasium of the University of Science and Technology of China (USTC) in Hefei, Anhui Province, the atmosphere was warm and lively as the 2026 "Writing the Splendid Chapter of Youth on the Motherland" online ideological and political course themed publicity and interactive guidance activity was held.
The activity was hosted by the Cyberspace Administration of China, the Ministry of Education, People's Daily, the Chinese Academy of Sciences, the Central Committee of the Communist Youth League, and the Cyberspace Affairs Commission of the Anhui Provincial Party Committee, and organized by the Publicity Department of the Anhui Provincial Party Committee, the Cyberspace Administration of Anhui Province, the University of Science and Technology of China, the Cyberspace Affairs Commission of the Hefei Municipal Party Committee, People's Daily Online, and China Youth Daily. Closely centering on the theme of youth, patriotism, and endeavor, the activity invited academicians and experts, "Role Models of the Times," and young pioneers in scientific and technological innovation to jointly attend a major online and offline ideological and political course with the broad masses of young people through rich and varied interactive forms.
Serving the country through science and education Scaling new heights with courage
USTC is a school founded for the nation's "two bombs, one satellite" undertaking, and serving the country through science and education is one of its most distinctive characteristics. How can young students better interpret the spirit of patriotism? At the event, Chang Jin, President of USTC, explained this in a gentle and detailed manner through three keepsakes.
The first keepsake is the "Two Bombs, One Satellite Meritorious Service Medal" of Guo Yonghuai, the first director of the university's Department of Chemical Physics, which records the moving deeds of the older generation of scientists who safeguarded the nation's scientific research cause with their lives. The second keepsake is a red brick hand-fired by teachers and students to build buildings when USTC moved south to Hefei. The third keepsake is a set of photographs bearing witness to USTC's current explorations in the field of frontier science.
"May you cherish the nation in your hearts like the 'two bombs, one satellite' founding heroes, be self-reliant and self-strengthening like the predecessors who fired the bricks, and scale new heights with courage together with contemporary USTC people," Chang Jin offered his message to the youth.
"Red and expert, integrating theory and practice!" Led by Chang Jin, USTC students all rose to their feet and shouted the school motto in unison three times, pushing the activity to a climax.
As the lights gradually brightened, an elderly man holding a microphone slowly walked to the center of the stage. He was Chen Liquan, winner of the 2025 State Supreme Science and Technology Award and a graduate of USTC's Department of Technical Physics.
As a pioneer in China's lithium battery field, Chen Liquan shared his mental journey. "Before I was 16, I had never seen an electric light. During evening self-study, I shared a self-made kerosene lamp with my classmates. I never dreamed that decades later, I would personally make a battery that changes the world," Chen Liquan said. Doing scientific research, one naturally pursues success, but one must also have the courage to face failure.
"Not afraid to lose, and absolutely unwilling to concede defeat." With this drive, China gradually rose in the lithium battery field, and in 2014, China's lithium battery industry's global market share leapt to first place in the world.
"Nothing can stump the Chinese people! An electrified China depends on you!" Chen Liquan's words were forceful and resolute.
In the program "Silent Medals," the patriotic story of Wang Yuchang, recipient of the "July 1 Medal," was brought to the stage by the actors. During his military service, Wang Yuchang participated twice in battles to shoot down U-2 high-altitude reconnaissance aircraft. After being transferred to civilian work, however, he hid his achievements and fame, returning to his hometown to become an ordinary employee of a department store. "I am a brick of the Party; wherever it is needed, there I am placed." This is Wang Yuchang's life creed, and also his exhortation to the youth.
Embracing the times Living up to one's youth
Heroes have emerged from youth since ancient times. This activity set up a "Youth Endeavor" section, focusing on the innovative practices of the younger generation. Several outstanding young talents took the stage one after another, interpreting the ideals, sense of responsibility, and warmth of the youth of the new era, and displaying the unique journey of struggle of the young generation.
In August this year, CIQTEK Quantum Technology (Hefei) Co., Ltd. was officially listed on the STAR Market of the Shanghai Stock Exchange. On the day of the activity, He Yu, Chairman of the company and a graduate of USTC's Class of 2009 Special Class for the Gifted Young, also arrived at the scene.
"High-end instruments were controlled by others; a single device rose from 6 million yuan to 10 million yuan, and one repair required waiting in line for half a year." While he was studying, a lecture by his advisor, Academician Du Jiangfeng, deeply moved the 18-year-old He Yu. "It was precisely from that moment that I resolved to ensure that key core technologies are grasped in the hands of the Chinese people." At the age of 24, he and his team founded CIQTEK Quantum.
"Today, quantum precision measurement has achieved a leap from laboratory technology to industrial application, and our high-end electron microscopes have entered the world's first tier." He Yu encouraged his juniors to choose a direction worthy of long-term investment while young, to be willing to sit on the cold bench, and to gnaw through hard bones.
Unlike He Yu, the entrepreneurial starting point of Liu Sizhe, a sophomore in USTC's School of the Gifted Young, originated from a gentle concern in daily life.
"In the past two years, my grandfather has spoken less and less, and my grandmother occasionally calls my name wrong. I am a little afraid: one day, will they forget even me?" Liu Sizhe frankly stated that creating the "Forget-Me-Not" AI (artificial intelligence) voice-based early screening project for cognitive impairment was precisely born from this inner feeling. "Although this is not anything remarkable, technological progress consists not only of speed and precision, but also of its warmth."
One is "building instruments for the country," the other is conveying warmth in ordinary life. He Yu and Liu Sizhe, two generations of students from the Special Class for the Gifted Young, used their different choices to interpret embracing the times and living up to one's youth.
Hard work and dedication Passing the torch from generation to generation
In recent years, the "Anhui auto army" has risen abruptly. How did Anhui fight its way to the world's forefront of intelligent electric vehicles? Wang Chuanfu, founder of BYD; Yin Tongyue, Chairman of Chery Automobile; Li Bin, founder of NIO; and Xiang Xingchu, Chairman of JAC Motors — four automobile entrepreneurs of Anhui origin — took the stage together and shared their stories of struggle.
The older generation of JAC auto workers built Anhui's first cargo truck with their own hands; on average, one "Made by Chery" vehicle goes overseas every 16 seconds; NIO has developed the world's first 5-nanometer automotive-grade intelligent driving chip, which has already been put into application; BYD has more than 120,000 technical research and development personnel, with total R&D investment exceeding 270 billion yuan...
The Chinese automobile industry's journey from poverty and blankness to independent innovation is the result of the hard work and struggle of generation after generation. As the wheels roll ever forward, the footsteps of those who work in earnest never cease. The entrepreneurs issued an on-site invitation, encouraging young students to join them in jointly embarking on a new journey of exploration.
After the sharing session concluded, a QR code scanning channel was opened on site, and students asked questions through their phones, actively interacting with the entrepreneurs.
"Many people will ask, why do we devote all our efforts to deep cultivation of quantum information technology? This is not a distant scientific concept; it is the confidence for the nation's long-term development." During the activity, Pan Jianwei, Academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and Executive Vice President of USTC, together with Lu Chaoyang and Deng Yuhao, principal members of his team, shared the far-reaching significance of quantum science and technology research.
After decades of unremitting efforts, China has achieved a leap in the quantum field from following behind, to running alongside, and then to partially leading. From one person to a team, from catching up to leading, the relay baton of the quantum undertaking is being grasped ever more steadily in the transmission between generations.
In the final section of the activity, "Great Instruments of the Nation," four academicians of the Chinese Academy of Sciences who graduated from USTC took the stage together and, in an interview format, shared with the students the frontier developments of scientific and technological innovation.
Academician Feng Donglai, taking the Hefei Advanced Light Source currently under construction as an example, spoke about how major scientific facilities drive the iterative upgrading of mobile phone screen materials; Academician Shi Yunyu introduced the special significance of life sciences, which are closely related to everyone's life, being both basic research and a major national need; Academician Zhao Zhengguo, through analogy, led everyone to explore the mysteries of the microscopic world; Academician Chen Xianhui, through a series of practical applications in daily life, interpreted the special functions of superconducting materials.
Four academicians, four different fields, but the same is that when they entered these fields back then, no one knew whether they could produce scientific research results. Faced with the unknown, how should one respond? The academicians offered their message to the young students: the most crucial thing in accomplishing things is persistence; only with passion, persistence, and the courage to forge ahead can one achieve scientific research accomplishments.
Look up at the starry sky, keep feet on the ground, walk with love, and strive hard. "In 1970, the school moved south to Hefei. Following in the footsteps of our predecessors, we created the brilliance of USTC. This is the pride of our generation," Academician Shi Yunyu encouraged the young students to find the happiness and joy of life in the process of overcoming difficulties. "Hope lies with the young generation!"
Return to TopBy: 国防科技大学计算机学院研究员 王 戟
Before I turned 14, I was admitted to the computer science department of the National University of Defense Technology. After receiving my doctorate, I stayed on to teach, and for thirty years, like one day (三十年如一日, san shi nian ru yi ri - "thirty years, like, one day") I have focused on the "niche and hard-core" track of high-assurance software. Like a "doctor" performing a CT scan who "treats" software, we must ensure the reliability of safety-critical software systems in aerospace, weaponry, and other fields.
In 2013, just as I was vigorously tackling key research areas, fate dealt me an unexpected blow. During those days, life seemed to have been pressed onto a "pause button." It was the kindness around me that held up the nearly collapsing me.
I lay in the ICU for nearly half a year, hovering on the brink of life and death several times. After I was transferred to a regular ward, my colleagues and students agreed to only comfort me and not talk about work. But how could I set my mind at ease? The project I had been tackling before falling ill — progress waits for no one! I asked them to bring my computer and materials to the ward, and the ward became my office. As long as my brain could still think, I was a soldier on the scientific research battlefield; as long as my hands could still type on the keyboard, I could continue to charge forward.
Some say: surviving a great disaster brings future good fortune (大难不死，必有后福, da nan bu si, bi you hou fu - "great disaster, not die, certainly, have, later, blessing"). Having walked through life and death, I have come to understand that this future good fortune is not about enjoying ease and comfort, but about still having the ability to contribute. Today, I still need dialysis three times a week, four hours each time. But I still love my work, and I will continue to pursue independent innovation in the software field, safeguarding the confidence and dignity of a major country's science and technology.
This year I was awarded the title of "Role Model of the Times." This honor does not belong to me personally, but to the thousands upon thousands of national defense scientific research workers fighting on the front lines. How fortunate I am to be able to closely link my personal struggle with the fate of the nation. I want to tell the students: no matter where you go in the future, remember these four characters: resonance at the same frequency. Place yourself where the nation needs you, and the road will naturally grow wider and wider.
Ji (戟) is a kind of weapon — to take up arms in defense of the state. Now I sit in a wheelchair, continuing to pursue cutting-edge technology and continuing to work hard for a strong military through science and technology. As long as I can still think and still type on the keyboard, I will hold fast to the scientific research post the motherland needs most, and keep moving forward!
[Reflections]
Responsibility for family and country has never been about grand rhetoric, but about treating the nation's needs as one's own mission. Teacher Wang Ji uses his wheelchair as his battle position; illness cannot crush his ambition to serve the country. He has always held fast to the front line of national defense scientific research, delving deep into key fields, devoting himself to overcoming great difficulties and challenges (攻坚克难, gong jian ke nan - "attack, key, overcome, difficulty"), and resonating at the same frequency with the nation's development. This conviction of dedication and contribution amid hardship, of holding fast to one's original aspiration amid ordinariness, is precisely the spiritual strength we should most draw upon. The splendid chapter of youth need not be written hastily and brilliantly; a set of data in the laboratory, a procedure on the workshop floor, a season's harvest in the fields — these are our best answer to "resonating at the same frequency with the nation's development."
— Hao Chenyu, student, School of Economics, Shandong University
Return to TopBy: 中国工程院院士 陈立泉
Before I turned 16, I had never seen an electric light. For evening self-study, I shared a homemade kerosene lamp with a classmate. Never in my wildest dreams did I imagine that, decades later, I would personally create batteries capable of changing the world.
In 1976, I went to Germany for academic exchange. During a public open day, I saw a button battery made of lithium nitride, and a German beside me said: "This thing will one day drive automobiles." I stared at that battery for a long time and silently made a decision in my heart: switch fields and work on batteries.
Abandoning the crystal growth I had cultivated deeply for years to research batteries, which were still quite obscure at the time, many people thought I was having unrealistic or wild ideas (异想天开, yi xiang tian kai - "different, thought, heaven, open"). But I always believed that China would one day popularize automobiles, and that one day it would need batteries. An important mission of scientists is to make arrangements for the nation's future 10, 20, or even 50 years down the road.
Carrying a surge of passion, I returned to the motherland and launched research in solid-state ionics and lithium batteries, which was completely blank domestically at the time. Although the laboratory conditions were extremely crude, my research team and I secured one research achievement after another, and also witnessed the gradual leap of our country's lithium battery technology from "following" to "leading": in 1988, we hand-made China's first solid-state lithium battery; in 1998, we built China's first pilot production line for lithium batteries with independent technology; in 2014, China's lithium battery industry's global market share leapt to first in the world...
In doing scientific research, one should of course pursue success, but one must also have the courage to face failure. However, not fearing defeat absolutely does not mean accepting defeat.
There were foreign experts who said they did not believe we could produce usable solid-state batteries. Since they did not believe it, we would show them. Later, through the new approach of in-situ solidification, we solved the world-class problem of solid-solid contact. I wanted them to know that nothing can stump the Chinese people.
Looking back now, without the basic research of "from 0 to 1," without the determination to endure long periods of tedious or unrewarding work (坐冷板凳, zuo leng ban deng - "sit, cold, wooden, bench") for decades, how could China's multiple technologies be world-leading today?
This year I am 86 years old, but I still have new ideals: I hope that in the not-too-distant future, the aircraft in the sky will be electric, the ships at sea will be electric, and even the carbon dioxide exhaled by astronauts in the space station can generate electricity... I call this the "Electric China."
Students, you must be even more "unrealistic or wild in your ideas" than I am. In the future, Electric China depends on you!
[Reflections]
Academician Chen Liquan grew from a boy under a kerosene lamp into the founder of China's lithium battery industry, propelling China's lithium battery technology to lead the world and turning "Electric China" from a "wild idea" gradually into reality. What moved me most was the line "without the determination to endure long periods of tedious or unrewarding work for decades, how could China's multiple technologies be world-leading today?" As a young person of the new era, I am willing to carry forward this sense of responsibility for family and country and this spirit of innovation, both looking up at the starry sky and acting in a practical and down-to-earth manner (脚踏实地, jiao ta shi di - "foot, step, solid, ground"), daring to be a pioneer (敢为人先, gan wei ren xian - "dare, be, person, first") in serving the country through science and technology, and writing the splendid chapter of youth on the great land of the motherland.
—Zou Zichao, student at the University of Science and Technology of China
Return to TopBy: 国仪量子技术（合肥）股份有限公司董事长 贺 羽
At the age of 18, while studying at the Junior Class of the University of Science and Technology of China, I attended a lecture by Academician Du Jiangfeng. The academician told us about the predicament of imported instruments facing temporary price hikes and difficult maintenance, which made me realize for the first time how urgent it was to manufacture high-end domestically made instruments. It was as if I had been struck by a beam of light and found my direction.
In April 2016, General Secretary Xi Jinping came to the University of Science and Technology of China and encouraged everyone to strengthen their sense of mission, take innovation as the greatest policy, striving hard to catch up (奋起直追, fen qi zhi zhui - "rise up, pursue directly") and catching up with someone or something ahead (迎头赶上, ying tou gan shang - "head on, catch up"). This filled me with great encouragement, and I became even more convinced that truly core technology can only be made by one's own efforts. That year I was 24 years old, and together with my team I founded CIQTEK (.
Many people ask us what exactly it is that we do. For example, a thermometer can measure a person's body temperature, but it cannot measure a mosquito's temperature. Similarly, studying microscopic objects such as cells and protein molecules requires "quantum sensors" with smaller scales and higher sensitivity. We aim to use these technologies and instruments to help people see finer structures, measure weaker signals, and explore a more microscopic world.
At the beginning of our venture, my alma mater, the University of Science and Technology of China, lent us a 14-square-meter office in the laboratory. Later, USTC also supported us all along the way. USTC is not only the alma mater that cultivated me, but also a partner facing hardships and challenges together (风雨同行, feng yu tong xing - "wind, rain, walk together"). The password to our company's wireless network is still the door number of that startup room, constantly reminding us not to forget the road we came from
The development of high-end scientific instruments is a slow track, a hard track, and we have sat on the cold bench for a full ten years. Today, quantum precision measurement has achieved a leap from laboratory technology to industrial application, and our high-end electron microscopes have entered the first echelon internationally
Starting from a small 14-square-meter office, to producing an electron paramagnetic resonance spectrometer with internationally leading signal-to-noise ratio, I have always kept in mind the original aspiration of"building instruments for the country." Living in an era that encourages innovation, rooted in Hefei, Anhui, this "hot land of scientific innovation," I will continue to bear in mind the entrustment, overcoming great difficulties and challenges (攻坚克难, gong jian ke nan - "attack key, overcome difficulty"), and contribute youthful strength to high-level self-reliance and strength in science and technology
【Reflections】
Making instruments is slow work, hard work, but someone must be able to sit on the cold bench. Senior schoolmate He Yu established the aspiration of"building instruments for the country" in his heart early on, and with years of silent dedication brought forth the world's first commercial spectrometer whose signal-to-noise ratio exceeded 10,000. Instruments are the weapons of scientists, and weapons cannot be held in the hands of others. We young people of this generation should turn the"chokepoint" list into our own research topics, aim at the nation's major strategic needs, write the papers on precision instruments on the motherland's vast land, and demonstrate responsibility in the new chapter of youth
——Li Xiaohang, student of the School of Precision Instruments and Opto-Electronics Engineering, Tianjin University
Return to TopBy: 本报记者 李 硕 高 佶 王 亮
On September 20, the 20th Asian Games welcomed its first competition day after the opening ceremony. In the modern pentathlon competition held at the Anjo Comprehensive Sports Park in Aichi Prefecture, Japan, the Chinese team won the women's team event, which was also the first gold medal for the Chinese sports delegation at this edition of the Games. Team members Zhang Mingyu and Wu Xiyao respectively won the silver and bronze medals in the women's individual event. In the men's individual final that followed, Chinese team athlete Li Liuchang won the gold medal, and the Chinese team secured the silver medal in the men's team event.
The modern pentathlon competition at this edition of the Asian Games consists of fencing, obstacle course racing, swimming, and laser run (running + laser shooting), adopting the new competition format of the International Modern Pentathlon Union, with equestrian replaced by obstacle course racing. In the women's individual event, all four Chinese team athletes advanced to the final. In the end, Zhang Mingyu and Wu Xiyao respectively won the silver and bronze medals in the women's individual event. According to competition rules, team results are calculated by adding the points of the three best-performing athletes from each team, and the Chinese team won the team championship.
After the award ceremony, Zhang Mingyu, Wu Xiyao, and Meng Xin showed reporters their hands, which bore thick calluses from arduous training. "I was even injured during the competition, but being able to win the team gold medal makes all the effort worthwhile. This is a victory for our entire team," Zhang Mingyu said. Zhang Yu, coach of the Chinese modern pentathlon team, said: "No one complained about hardship or fatigue during training. Everyone fought tenaciously for the same goal. The achievement would not have been possible without the athletes' own efforts, the coaches' guidance, the team's support, and the systematic training model."
As a new event, obstacle course racing was the team's key focus and difficulty in preparation, and within the team a climate of helping and learning from each other (互帮互学, hu bang hu xue - "mutual, help, mutual, learn") and jointly researching and advancing was formed. Zhang Mingyu explained: "We often studied together the optimal ways to clear various obstacles, repeatedly refined technical movements, and selected movements that suit the competition venue and can improve results to use in official competitions."
Four team members advanced to the final and three stood on the podium, but the whole team said this was "a gold medal for four people." Zhang Bin, president of the Chinese Modern Pentathlon Association, said: "The team event takes the best results of three people, but only when all four people work together with one heart and mind (同心协力, tong xin xie li - "same, heart, cooperate, strength") and form a combined force can we win this team gold medal." In Zhang Mingyu's view, unity was the key to victory, and every instance of perseverance and dedication was the foundation of this Asian Games gold medal.
After winning the first gold medal, the young women said the most were "pride" and "promotion." Wu Xiyao said: "Being able to fight for this gold medal for the delegation makes me so proud!" Meng Xin said: "With the first gold medal, I believe more people will come to understand and know about the sport of modern pentathlon."
Since the 2010 Guangzhou Asian Games, the Chinese modern pentathlon team has won gold medals at every edition of the Asian Games. At this edition of the Games, they won 2 golds, 2 silvers, and 1 bronze, which not only demonstrated the Chinese team's extremely strong ability to adapt to rules and competitiveness on the field, but also gave the whole team greater confidence in preparing for the Los Angeles Olympic Games.
(People's Daily reporter Wang Meihua and People's Daily Online reporter Hu Xuerong contributed to the reporting)
Return to Top(People's Daily, Nagoya, September 20) (Reporters Liu Shuoyang, Sun Longfei, Liu Yao) On the first competition day after the opening ceremony, athletes of the Chinese delegation in various events fought hard and won a total of 11 gold, 6 silver, and 3 bronze medals.
On the morning of the 20th, the modern pentathlon venue produced the Chinese delegation's first gold medal of this Asian Games, with the Chinese team reaping a rich harvest, winning 2 gold, 2 silver, and 1 bronze in total.
The triathlon competition was held in Gamagori City. Chinese athlete Zhang Xirui won the silver medal in the men's individual event, securing the Chinese delegation's first medal of this Asian Games and setting the best Asian Games result for a Chinese athlete in this event. In the women's individual race, Lin Xinyu and Huang Anqi won both first and second place (包揽冠亚军, bao lan guan ya jun - "encompass, take, champion, runner-up"). The triathlon at this Asian Games serves as a qualifying event for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, and Lin Xinyu earned a valuable Olympic ticket for the Chinese team.
At the Tokyo Aquatics Centre, the Chinese swimming team received frequent reports of good news (捷报频传, jie bao pin chuan - "good news, frequently, spread"), winning 6 gold, 1 silver, and 2 bronze across 7 events, and breaking 4 meet records in 5 instances in a single day. In the women's 200m butterfly final, 13-year-old Yu Zidi claimed the title with a time that set a new meet record. Subsequently, Li Bingjie, Pan Zhanle, Tang Qianting, and Xu Jiayu each won their respective events, while Wang Shun, competing in his fifth Asian Games, took the bronze medal in the men's 200m individual medley final. In the women's 4×100m freestyle relay final, the Chinese team composed of Yu Yiting, Zhang Yufei, Cheng Yujie, and Wu Qingfeng successfully defended their title and set a new meet record.
In other venues, the Chinese team also delivered impressive performances. In the women's taijiquan and taijijian all-around final of wushu, Tong Xin won the gold medal and successfully defended her title. In the women's 10m air rifle team event in shooting, the Chinese team of Wang Zifei, Han Jiayu, and Du Yuchen won the championship with a score of 1904.2 rings, breaking the world record in the event. In the women's individual time trial in road cycling, Chinese athlete Zhang Hao won a silver medal.
Return to TopBy: 本报记者 孙亚慧 人民网记者 胡雪蓉
"10.9 rings!" As 16-year-old rising star Du Yuchen calmly fired the final shot, the Chinese team, composed of Wang Zifei, Han Jiayu, and Du Yuchen, won the women's 10m air rifle team gold medal at this Asian Games, successfully defending their title, while also breaking the world record that China had set in August last year in Shymkent, Kazakhstan.
On the morning of September 20, the women's 10m air rifle team event began, and the Chinese team engaged in fierce competition against opponents including the South Korean team, Indian team, and Japanese team. The competition was conducted in two groups, with Wang Zifei and Han Jiayu taking the stage first. According to the competition rules, participating athletes must fire continuously for 6 rounds, with 10 shots per round, and the scores of the 3 athletes are added together to determine the total team score.
19-year-old Wang Zifei currently ranks first in the world. During the competition she scored 636.8 rings, setting a new Asian record for individual qualification in this event, giving the Chinese team a good start. Han Jiayu was a member of the championship team in this event at the previous Asian Games. As the veteran member of this team, she scored 633.8 rings. Du Yuchen, born in 2010, appeared in the second group. Competing in her first Asian Games, she scored 633.6 rings. In the end, the Chinese team claimed the gold medal with a total score of 1904.2 rings. Du Yuchen also became China's youngest shooting champion at the Asian Games. The Indian team and Japanese team won silver and bronze respectively.
At the press conference held after the awards ceremony, Du Yuchen stated that competing against top-tier experts (与高手过招, yu gao shou guo zhao - "with, high, expert, exchange blows") is a very good learning opportunity. "How to perform at one's normal level in major competitions and maintain mental balance is something I need to continue learning," she said.
Return to TopDuring the Spring Festival of 2026, the Longfu Temple New Year market in Dongcheng District, Beijing, was exceptionally lively. In the streets and alleys where old and new buildings intermingle, the booths for intangible cultural heritage items such as cloisonné and gold-lacquer inlay were crowded with people (人头攒动, ren tou zan dong - "person, head, crowd, move"). New services at the Beijing Daoxiangcun No. 0 Treasure-Hunting Hall, including AR interactive experiences and AI robot smart beverage mixing, attracted many visitors to try them out, presenting a vivid scene of the ancient capital's everyday vitality interwoven with trendsetting energy. From a city landmark with 600 years of history to a New Year market brimming with life, the new charm of the ancient streets is refreshing and novel (耳目一新, er mu yi xin - "ear, eye, one, new"). The transformation of Longfu Temple is a vivid microcosm of Dongcheng District's efforts to deepen its cultural foundations, anchor itself in the times, and advance cultural development with a view to the future. In recent years, Dongcheng District has consistently upheld the philosophy of "honoring culture and striving to be first," safeguarding the roots of historical culture with a spirit of cherishing, interpreting the contemporary value of culture through measures that benefit the people, and opening new horizons for cultural development through innovation, taking solid steps in building itself as the core carrier area of the national cultural center.
Guarding the Roots of Cultural Heritage, Continuing the Historical Imprint of the Ancient Capital
On July 27, 2026, on the second anniversary of the successful inscription of the Beijing Central Axis on the World Heritage List, the Zhengyangmen Gate Tower was fully opened to the public. On the same day, Dongcheng District and Xicheng District jointly released the "On the Central Axis — Beijing Central Axis Renewal and Radiance Action Plan (2026–2028)," which, through the systematic construction of eight major systems covering cultural relic protection, cultural dissemination, and guochao cultural and creative products, strives to propel the Beijing Central Axis from an "urban axis" and "cultural axis" to a "vitality axis" and "development axis."
As the core carrier area of the national cultural center, how to protect and utilize its rich historical and cultural resources is an important issue facing Dongcheng District. The full opening of the Zhengyangmen Gate Tower and the launch of this action plan are the answers Dongcheng District has delivered. In recent years, Dongcheng District has successively completed the relocation and restoration of key cultural relics such as the Imperial Historical Archives and the Imperial Ancestral Temple, and with "embroidery-like precision" completed the environmental upgrading of areas including Qianmen Street and the east side of Wanning Bridge, recreating the magnificent scene of the "backbone of the ancient capital." This year, at the northernmost end of the Beijing Central Axis, the "King of Bells" at the Bell Tower successfully completed a bell-striking test after meticulous restoration, and the Yongdingmen Gate Tower, located at the southernmost end of the Central Axis, also welcomed its first systematic restoration since its reconstruction was completed in 2005, adding a new footnote to Dongcheng District's story of preserving history and carrying forward cultural heritage.
If cultural heritage protection is about "taking a photograph" of history, then its revitalization and utilization is about letting cultural relics "speak." The cluster of guild halls in the Qianmen area is a key zone where Dongcheng District is advancing the revitalization and utilization of cultural relics. Among them, the newly renovated Jingxian Guild Hall has been transformed into the Red Star Xuan Paper Intangible Cultural Heritage Exchange Center, where citizens and tourists can personally experience the intangible cultural heritage craft of Anhui Xuan papermaking, and it has also become a window for showcasing Anhui culture and a bridge for cultural exchange between Beijing and other regions. Heading north from Qianmen, deep in the hutongs adjacent to the Forbidden City, stands Beijing's first cultural-finance industrial street — the Shoukai Shouyuan Cultural and Financial Industrial Park. This century-old courtyard, which has weathered the changes of the times, has now been revitalized through urban renewal and renovation implemented by Dongcheng District, transformed into a composite urban space integrating offices, commerce, and public cultural amenities, attracting leading enterprises in the cultural and financial sectors as well as new cultural business formats such as exhibitions and small theaters, becoming a living sample of the revival of the old city.
Composing the Rhyme of the Times, Brightening the Colorful Lives of the People
In April this year, the Beijing Book Fair's themed cultural market "Book Blessings & Reading — Longfu Trend Market" was held at Longfu Temple. This market deeply linked resources with the 16th Beijing International Film Festival and other events, launching activities such as discounts for those presenting movie ticket stubs, offering citizens and tourists a diverse "books + cinema" experience — a vivid slice of Dongcheng's culture-for-the-people efforts.
In recent years, Dongcheng District has adhered to the principle of "cultivating people through culture," focusing on clearing the "last kilometer" of theoretical dissemination. By holding the "Red Lecture Forum in the Hutongs," it has brought the Party's innovative theories to the doorsteps of the people, and has carefully designed the "Lixiang Dongcheng" practice route map, creating three routes — the Ancient Capital Cultural Heritage Walk, the Great Country Alley Walk, and the Guochao Everyday Vitality Walk — to vividly tell the people about theoretical knowledge and Dongcheng stories. Dongcheng District has also deepened its red cultural heritage, committing itself to ensuring that the red gene is carried forward and thrives in the new era. The "Awakening Journey" red culture exploration route uses a CityWalk format to link eight red landmarks including the Peking University Red Building, becoming a "walking ideological and political lesson." The "Red +" co-creation initiative uses red culture as a bond to cross-link the fields of art, film, technology, and cultural creativity, giving red culture a contemporary radiance.
Dongcheng District is making every effort to do the work of "culture benefiting the people," using culture to permeate the daily lives of the people. As dusk falls, the "Cinema in the Hutongs" opens with great fanfare at Dongcheng cultural landmarks such as the Bell and Drum Towers and the Ming City Wall Relics Park, with acclaimed films like Chang'an attracting many viewers to sit together and watch. From the silver screen to the stage, Dongcheng District's "City of Theater" development is equally vibrant, with the "Great Drama Looking East" brand growing ever more resonant. The Great Drama Looking East 2026 Nanluoguxiang Theater Performance Season innovatively links three spatial scenarios — professional theaters, former residences of cultural luminaries, and old city hutongs — and the 2026 Contemporary International Theater Festival brings together 14 outstanding plays from home and abroad, dedicated to letting more people feel the charm of theater culture. The "City of Museums" development features notable highlights. The China Folk Literature and Art Copyright Museum, located on Qianmen Street, is the country's first comprehensive folk art platform integrating copyright protection, fine works display, and living experience. In the six months since its opening, folk art works from Jiangsu, Guangxi, and Tianjin have been successively exhibited, shining together in brilliance (交相辉映, jiao xiang hui ying - "inter, mutual, shine, reflect") with the Beijing-flavored culture along the Central Axis, attracting many citizens and tourists to visit. As the only pilot area in Beijing for folk literature and art copyright protection and promotion, Dongcheng District has in recent years deepened its work on folk art copyright protection and development, integrating folk art into the building of regional cultural brands, and innovatively launching the "Dongcheng Exquisite Craftsmanship, This Craft Can No Longer Be Hidden!" — a livestreamed exhibition and performance event for folk art copyright protection and promotion, bringing folk art projects such as cloisonné, carved lacquerware, and Beijing embroidery into the lives of the people, and building a bridge for citizens to pay attention to, protect, and support folk art copyright protection and development. Dongcheng District boasts "small but beautiful" cultural and museum spaces such as the Shijia Hutong Museum and the Dongsi Hutong Museum, using these platforms to continuously promote the deep integration of cultural and museum resources into the urban fabric. Books and cinema intertwine, theater and art coexist. Today, Dongcheng District has built a splendid stage for culture benefiting the people, with more than 40 theaters and nearly 200 physical bookstores scattered like stars or chess pieces (星罗棋布, xing luo qi bu - "star, scatter, chess, cloth") across the district, and cultural activities such as the Dongcheng Culture Month and the "East of the Forbidden City" Ancient Architecture Art Season running through all four seasons, splendid and varied (精彩纷呈, jing cai fen cheng - "bright, talent, separate, present").
Exploring the Frontier, Activating the Driving Force of Urban Development
Stepping into the seventh floor of the Beijing APM mall on Wangfujing Street, a spacious rooftop garden unfolds before one's eyes — this is the launching site of the Dongcheng 2026 "Breeze Terrace Plan." As a signature cultural tourism brand of Dongcheng District, the "Breeze Terrace Plan" now covers more than 300 distinctive terraces, cumulatively attracting over one million citizens and tourists to check in and experience them. Today, these small terraces have become a typical vehicle for Dongcheng's approach of "promoting commerce through culture and boosting business through tourism," successfully activating new consumption momentum across the district.
The wave of integration extends beyond terraces. In recent years, Dongcheng District has continued to use "culture +" to drive the renewal of business formats and industrial upgrading. In terms of industrial layout, it is advancing the construction of the "Forbidden City–Wangfujing–Longfu Temple" cultural golden triangle, accelerating the linkage between cultural landmarks and commercial districts. In terms of business format integration, it has leveraged the landing of esports events to launch the "East of the Forbidden City · Central Axis Bus" esports-themed service, and relied on events and exhibitions such as the Beijing Half Marathon and the 33rd College Student Film Festival to launch cultural tourism exploration routes like "Run the Half Marathon, Tour Dongcheng" and "Follow the Films to Tour Dongcheng." In terms of scenario innovation, ancient courtyards and park green spaces such as the Guanzhong · Central Axis Local Culture Space and Longtan Zhonghu Park are gradually becoming popular destinations for cultural tourism consumption... Dongcheng District's innovative practice of integrating culture, commerce, tourism, sports, and exhibitions is injecting strong momentum into the city's high-quality development.
The deep integration of culture, commerce, tourism, sports, and exhibitions cannot be separated from the solid support of the cultural industry. Striving forward in the 15th Five-Year Plan, Dongcheng District is accelerating its layout of four emerging tracks — animation and film, digital performing arts, artist management, and gaming and esports — to promote the accelerated growth of new quality productive forces in the cultural sector.The Time-Travel China VR Pavilion at Wangfujing Joy City allows audiences to experience China's long history and magnificent landscapes, while the Qianmen Night Technology Experience Hall on Qianmen Street creates immersive experiential dramas that let visitors feel the grandeur of the High Tang era in a panoramic way. In terms of competitions and conferences, from the "East of the Forbidden City" Co-creation Conference to the "Purple-Gold Light and Shadow" Micro Audiovisual Innovation Competition held for the first time this year, these events have not only produced cutting-edge works such as the AI short film Twelve Hours of Dongcheng, but have also broadly gathered the strength of cultural technology enterprises and talent for co-creation, co-integration, and cooperative development. Recently, the "Action Plan for Promoting the Construction of the 'AI + Digital Audiovisual' Industry OPC Ecosystem in Dongcheng District" was released, covering 17 specific measures, dedicated to using digital technology to make traditional culture "come alive" and "trendy."
The vigorous development of the industry has also accelerated Dongcheng culture's march to the world. In recent years, Dongcheng District has deepened the construction of the national cultural export base, accelerated the pace of cultural going global, launched the "East of the Forbidden City" promotional zone on the Ctrip overseas platform, and promoted the broadcast of the cultural exploration micro-documentary series Old Products, Dongcheng on international platforms. The "Colorful China · Fine Goods for Festivals" cultural and tourism trade promotion event held this year also promoted Dongcheng's intangible cultural heritage and time-honored brands to 14 countries and regions. External cultural dissemination has driven mutual learning among civilizations. In 2025, Dongcheng District received a 43.15% year-on-year increase in inbound tourism visits, and "Dongcheng in the Eyes of Foreigners — Ten Must-Visit Landmarks for Foreigners" has become a new calling card for inbound tourism. In Dongcheng, Eastern aesthetics is using culture as a bridge to cross mountains and seas and connect with the world.
Rooted in history, grounded in the present. Striving forward in the 15th Five-Year Plan, Dongcheng District, with the spirited posture of "honoring culture and striving to be first," is transforming the depth of the ancient capital's history into the warmth of urban culture, and converting the advantages of cultural resources into the momentum of high-quality development, striving to write a new chapter of culture empowering urban development in the new era, and letting the ancient capital shine with even more brilliant radiance in the new era.
Data source: Publicity Department of the CPC Dongcheng District Committee, Beijing
Return to TopBy: 本报记者 陈一鸣
Recently, the Third China-Latin America Human Rights Roundtable, themed "Multilateralism and Human Rights," was held in Lima, the capital of Peru. Nearly 200 participants from China and 23 Latin American and Caribbean countries discussed topics including peaceful development and human rights governance, China-Latin America practical cooperation and human rights development, and learning from each other through exchange (交流互鉴, jiaoliu hujian - "exchange, mutually learn") in the field of human rights civilization between China and Latin America, jointly exploring a "Southern approach" to global human rights governance. The meeting launched the "2026-2030 China-Latin America Human Rights Academic Research Action Plan," established the "Expert Committee of the China-Latin America Human Rights Research Cooperation Network," and released joint research topics for the 2026-2027 period.
During the thematic roundtable dialogue session on "Excerpts from Xi Jinping's Discourses on Respecting and Protecting Human Rights," participants exchanged views on development and human rights, theory and practice, and other topics. Participants generally believed that human rights protection cannot remain at the level of legal texts; improving people's livelihoods, eradicating poverty, and promoting development are important foundations for realizing human rights. Respecting and protecting human rights should adhere to a people-centered approach, take development as an important path, and continuously promote the improvement of people's happy lives.
"Promoting a More Diverse Human Rights Discourse"
"Multilateralism" became the keyword of this roundtable. Participants stated that adhering to multilateralism and promoting exchange and cooperation among countries on an equal basis will help better address global challenges and promote the continuous improvement of global human rights governance.
"The world order is developing in a multipolar direction, and the governance concepts proposed by China provide new space for discussion for reforming and improving the global governance system, and also help promote a more diverse human rights discourse." Gustavo Girado, professor at the National University of Lanús in Argentina, believed that the space for different countries to participate in global governance should be further expanded, so that the experiences and demands of more developing countries can be fully reflected.
"The foundation of multilateral human rights governance lies in improving people's lives through public policies, and human rights should not be alienated into political or ideological tools." Victoria Analía Donda Pérez, parliamentarian of the Southern Common Market (MERCOSUR) Parliament and chair of its Human Rights Commission, stated that human rights protection must ultimately be implemented in improving people's lives and safeguarding human dignity, so that human rights better benefit the people.
In the view of Jacqueline Rincón, Secretary General of Colombia's Land Restitution Unit, multilateralism is an important foundation for addressing global challenges and maintaining international cooperation. "Facing problems such as climate change, poverty, conflict, and unbalanced development, no country can cope alone." She stated that promoting human rights protection requires adhering to equal dialogue and consultative cooperation, and translating the expectations of people of all countries for peace, development, and a more dignified life into actions for international cooperation.
Ma Huaide, Vice President of the China Society for Human Rights Studies and President of Renmin University of China, believed that China and Latin America are both important forces of the Global South, sharing similar values and practical aspirations in the field of human rights. In-depth dialogue between China and Latin America in the field of human rights is conducive to deepening mutual learning between the two sides in the field of human rights civilization, and also provides useful reference for developing countries to participate in global human rights governance.
Keriann Ifill, Human Rights Commissioner of Barbados and former President of its Senate, stated that strengthening multilateral cooperation helps countries share experiences and enhance their capacity for human rights protection. "Cooperation should be built on mutual respect, fully consider the actual conditions and independent choices of each country, and support countries in exploring human rights protection paths that suit their own national conditions through means such as experience exchange and capacity building."
From adhering to multilateralism, to strengthening international cooperation, to enhancing the human rights protection capacity of each country, the discussions of the participants pointed to a common path: promoting the development of the human rights cause requires fully respecting the history, culture, development stage, and actual conditions of different countries. Adhering to equal dialogue and learning from each other through exchange helps promote global human rights governance to better respond to the common concerns of different regions and different groups.
"Creating More Favorable Conditions for the Realization of the Right to Development"
About 80 kilometers north of Lima lies the Port of Chancay. With giant vessels berthing, cargo moving, and containers being loaded and unloaded, a modern port is becoming an important node connecting South America and Asia.
"Previously, it took a long time for Peruvian agricultural products to be shipped to Asian countries; now, with improved logistics efficiency, high-quality Peruvian agricultural products can reach the dining tables of Chinese consumers faster." Jason Guillén Flores, Deputy General Manager of COSCO Shipping Chancay Port Terminal Company, said when discussing the port's construction and operation that the construction phase of the Port of Chancay created nearly 10,000 jobs; since it began operations, local employees account for more than 90 percent of the workforce, providing new opportunities for local employment and talent cultivation.
In May 2025, China announced the launch of the "Five Major Projects" of solidarity, development, civilization, peace, and people-to-people bonds at the Fourth Ministerial Meeting of the China-CELAC Forum; in December of the same year, China released its third "Policy Document on China's Policy toward Latin America and the Caribbean," proposing to adhere to the principles of respect, equality, diversity, mutual benefit, cooperation, openness, inclusiveness, and no conditions attached. In recent years, China-Latin America cooperation has continuously expanded into areas such as infrastructure, energy, electricity, agriculture, education, and health. A number of cooperation projects have been implemented, creating employment opportunities, improving public services, and expanding development space for local areas.
"Some Latin American countries face problems such as trade imbalances and development opportunities, and how to narrow social gaps deserves attention." In the view of Canese Mercedes, former Vice Minister of Mines and Energy of Paraguay, practical cooperation between Latin America and China, including infrastructure projects such as railways and ports, as well as scientific and technological exchanges and trade facilitation arrangements, demonstrates the possibility of South-South cooperation to promote development and expand mutually beneficial space, and also provides new cases for Latin American countries to explore development paths.
Miguel Jiménez, Director of International Affairs at the Private University of Santa Cruz in Bolivia, regards cooperation between China and CELAC as an important space for South-South cooperation. He believes that China-Latin America cooperation is of great significance in promoting the right to development and the protection of economic, social, and cultural rights. "From a human rights perspective, the Global South can explore new forms of cooperation on the basis of mutual respect for sovereignty and sharing of development achievements, so that more people can obtain tangible rights protection from economic and social development."
"Respecting and protecting human rights lies in action and, above all, in implementation." Song Yang, Chinese Ambassador to Peru, stated that in the face of disaster risks brought by El Niño, China has assisted in building and will upgrade Peru's National Emergency Operations Center to strengthen disaster prevention and reduction capabilities. At the same time, China is promoting the construction of the World Artificial Intelligence Cooperation Organization, and has deployed the Mazu disaster early warning AI (artificial intelligence) large model to help the Global South enhance its disaster prevention and reduction capabilities.
Italo Barreto Porti, expert in the Department of Economic Evolution at the Faculty of Economic Sciences of the State University of Rio de Janeiro in Brazil, believes that eradicating poverty and improving people's livelihoods are important foundations for safeguarding and realizing people's basic rights. "China-Latin America practical cooperation has already gone beyond simply expanding the scale of trade, playing an active role in promoting production capacity, food security, social inclusion, and serving the development priorities of various countries, creating more favorable conditions for the realization of the right to development."
Participants believed that China and Latin American countries both belong to the Global South, share similar development aspirations and a good foundation for cooperation, and have accumulated rich experience in the practice of promoting development and improving people's livelihoods. Deepening China-Latin America practical cooperation helps better translate human rights concepts into concrete practices for improving people's lives, and provides a more solid development foundation for promoting and protecting human rights.
"Learning from Each Other and Jointly Enriching Human Rights Development Paths"
Civilizations become colorful through exchange, and development progresses through mutual learning. In the view of the participants, respecting the diversity of civilizations requires building consensus through mutual understanding and mutual respect, so that human rights concepts can be expressed more richly in different historical cultures and social practices.
"One of the important inspirations of China's development experience is that it proves that the paths to development can be diverse, and there is no single model." Abdiel Rodríguez Reyes, professor at the Faculty of Humanities of the University of Panama, believed that different civilizations have their own historical traditions, social experiences, and development paths, and all countries cannot be measured by a single standard.
Gustavo Pacheco, President of the Peruvian Institute of International Politics, believed that exchange and mutual learning between different civilizations and different development paths help expand diverse perspectives for understanding, comprehending, and realizing human rights. Acknowledging the diversity of civilizations helps promote the exchange of development experiences among different countries on an equal basis, and provides more diverse perspectives for enriching global human rights concepts and practices.
Wang Wen, Dean of the Chongyang Institute for Financial Studies at Renmin University of China, stated that China and Latin America have both gone through processes of being oppressed and exploring their own paths in terms of human rights and development. At the current stage, China and Latin America are actively seeking independent paths for human rights development, seeking exchange and mutual learning in the field of human rights, and exploring human rights development paths that better suit their own realities on the basis of the common practices of the Global South and developing countries.
Erkin Shamsak, Deputy Dean of the Law School of Xinjiang University, shared Xinjiang's human rights practices in poverty reduction. He stated that Xinjiang has historically resolved the problem of absolute poverty, and conditions in people's livelihoods, medical care, and education have continuously improved. The local area adheres to promoting human rights through development, and through measures such as increasing investment in people's livelihoods, targeted poverty alleviation, and industrial and employment assistance, human rights protection has been implemented in the lives of the people. "Xinjiang's practice shows that adhering to a people-centered approach can translate human rights concepts into tangible and perceptible development achievements. Different countries can also learn from each other's practices and jointly enrich human rights development paths."
The Third China-Latin America Human Rights Roundtable was hosted by the China Society for Human Rights Studies, Renmin University of China, and the National University of San Marcos in Peru, and organized by the Chongyang Institute for Financial Studies at Renmin University of China, the Peruvian Institute of International Politics, and the School of Global Leadership at Renmin University of China.
(People's Daily, Lima, September 20)
Return to TopBy: 周 信
Recently, Japan's Ministry of Defense released its outline of the defense budget request for fiscal year 2027. Compared with previous years, this document is centered on "transformation of defense capabilities," with its prominent features being that the requested defense budget has again reached a new record high, the proportion of "new operational methods" has risen, and it proposes a so-called "virtuous cycle of defense and economy." Behind these seemingly professional terms lies a reflection of the accelerated expansion of Japan's defense policy and military ambitions.
Military expenditure budgets continue to surge—
Engaging in aggressive warfare and expansionism (穷兵黩武, qiong bing du wu - "exhaust, soldiers, excessive, martial") as a fiscal gamble
In terms of amount, the requested defense budget for fiscal year 2027 is approximately 8.9 trillion yen ( (1 yuan RMB is approximately 23.4 yen), setting a new historical record. Since the outline contains a large number of items whose specific amounts are not clearly marked, some predictions suggest that the final scale of the new fiscal year's defense budget may exceed 10 trillion yen, achieving 15 consecutive years of increase.
At the end of 2022, Japan revised its "three security documents," opening a "surge" model for defense spending. Compared with the 5.4 trillion yen of fiscal year 2022, the requested defense budget for fiscal year 2027 has already increased by more than 60%. After the Takaichi government came to power, it broke the conventional baseline maintained for a long period since the end of World War II, achieving ahead of schedule in fiscal year 2025 the ratio of defense spending to GDP (gross domestic product) exceeding 2%, and some within the ruling party have even clamored to further raise defense spending to more than 3.5% of GDP.
Where does the money come from? In 2023, the Japanese government broke the strict restrictions of the postwar period, using construction bonds for the first time to support defense construction expenditures. After Takaichi came to power, she added a "special corporate tax for defense," and plans to establish a new "special income tax for defense" starting from January 2027, further expanding defense financing. Many experts and scholars within Japan have publicly criticized that the military expansion policy is causing serious impacts on Japan's economy.
"New operational methods"—
Offensive expansion wrapped in the cloak of technology
In terms of content, Japan's defense budget focuses its investment on building offensive strike capabilities, vigorously developing highly offensive and threatening new equipment such as long-range missiles with "capability to attack enemy bases," submarine-launched hypersonic missiles, and long-range attack drones, with the policy focus shifting from the so-called "defense of the Japanese homeland" to "attacking enemy bases," far exceeding the scope of "exclusively defense-oriented policy."
"New operational methods" account for the largest proportion across all fields and the largest increase in military spending. After Takaichi came to power, she greatly increased investment in areas such as unmanned operations, space, cyber, and electromagnetic, particularly vigorously promoting the fielding of unmanned equipment on aerial, underwater, and ground platforms, and fully integrating artificial intelligence technology into the entire process from intelligence collection, target identification, battle situation analysis, and even operational decision-making, claiming to become "number one in the world" in the application of unmanned equipment. In plain terms, this means using unmanned equipment to blur the boundary between "defense" and "attack," using technology to compensate for the shortage of military personnel, thereby circumventing the constraints of the "Peace Constitution" and accelerating military expansion and arms buildup.
Military industry tied to the economy—
"Remilitarization" racing at breakneck speed
This new budget outline claims that defense spending is an investment that helps promote Japan's economic growth, and that it aims to achieve a "virtuous cycle of defense and economy." This claim sounds making grand but hollow or hypocritical claims (冠冕堂皇, guan mian tang huang - "crown, face, hall, grand"), but in fact it is systematically building a dangerous closed loop of "expanding the military in the name of the economy, feeding the military industry through military expansion, and holding policy hostage to the military industry."
Japanese official data show that Japan's military industry is growing rapidly. In fiscal year 2025, the Ministry of Defense's orders for machinery manufacturing such as surface-to-air missiles and military aircraft reached nearly 2.69 trillion yen, approximately tripling compared with five years ago, accounting for nearly half of the total government public demand orders for the entire year. The Takaichi government has greatly played up the deterioration of the security environment in surrounding areas, vigorously promoting the military transformation of civilian technology and the industrial system, replicating the "military-industry-academia-official complex" model, and by lifting the ban on exports of lethal weapons and vigorously selling weapons to so-called "countries sharing the same ambitions and goals" (志同道合, zhi tong dao he - "will, same, path, together"), intends to turn Japan into a global weapons supply base. This is tantamount to strapping the entire nation of Japan onto the chariot of "remilitarization" and racing at full speed toward a dangerous direction.
In the 1930s, Japanese authorities, using the "external security crisis" as a pretext, year after year raised military spending, expanded the armed forces, and launched wars, bringing profound disasters to Asia and the world at large, and the Japanese people also suffered greatly from it. Today, the Takaichi government continuously expands the scale of the defense budget, enhances so-called "new operational capabilities," and promotes military-economic integration—how similar this is to the tactics of Japanese militarism back then. Using history as a profound warning or lesson (历史殷鉴, li shi yin jian - "history, warning, not, far") is not far off; peace-loving people should be highly vigilant about this and jointly defend the hard-won peaceful life.
(The author is an observer of international affairs)
Return to TopChinese modernization puts people's livelihoods first. Over the past five years, Jiulongpo District of Chongqing has been working with real effort and practical actions (真抓实干, zhen zhua shi gan - "truly grasp, actually do") and striving to be first in practical results. Today it has become a "two-hundred-billion-yuan" economic powerhouse, with per capita disposable income of all residents exceeding 57,000 yuan.
Looking ahead, Jiulongpo District has made "urban-rural integration, east-west integration, and whole-region urbanization" the main thread running through its development, pushing the construction of a modernized Jiulongpo across key thresholds and up to a higher level, painting a brand-new picture of a great and beautiful Jiulongpo.
Urban-rural integration, painting a new picture of "city alongside countryside"
At present, Jiulongpo District adheres to the principle of letting cities lead the countryside and industry support agriculture. On the basis of strictly upholding the red line for farmland protection and the bottom line for ecological security, it focuses on doing well in the three articles of "leading, promoting, and integrating," deepening and solidifying urban-rural integration, and painting a new picture of urban-rural integration featuring "city alongside countryside."
Letting cities lead the countryside, delivering quality services to the fields. Relying on the construction of a "half-hour commuting circle," Jiulongpo District pushes resources and services down to the countryside. At present, 13 "15-minute high-quality living service circles" have been built, bringing quality cultural and sports resources directly to the grassroots so that residents can enjoy convenient services nearby; school "education communities" have been formed for the Jiulong New City, promoting regular exchanges of backbone teachers to the countryside to shore up weaknesses in rural education; a "back-basket doctor" grassroots medical service team has been established to conduct door-to-door consultations and rounds, opening up the "last kilometer" of rural medical services.
Letting the countryside promote the city, enabling urban agriculture to support urban development. Jiulongpo District is deeply cultivating modern urban agriculture. In 2025, the district's urban agriculture output value exceeded 12 billion yuan. At the same time, it seizes the demand of citizens for short-distance micro-vacations in the suburbs, revitalizes idle rural houses and vacant land, enriches slow-life scenarios such as farming leisure, red-study tours, and mountain camping, and drives the development of rural cultural tourism industries.
Urban-rural integration, smoothing the circulation channels of factors. Jiulongpo District promotes deep integration between urban and rural areas in planning, industry, infrastructure, public services, and other aspects, continuously breaking down the urban-rural dual structure so that talent, capital, technology, and other factors accelerate their flow along two-way channels. In addition, using culture as a bridge and integration as a bond, Jiulongpo District opens up two-way circulation channels for mutual promotion between urban and rural cultural tourism, organically integrating Huangjueping graffiti, the MixC mall trend culture with Xipeng orchards and Taojia Han-culture charm, and building 4 major happy-themed clusters and 5 boutique tour routes.
East-west integration, building a new pattern of coordinated development
The Zhongliang Mountains run from north to south, dividing Jiulongpo District into eastern and western regions. East of the mountains, the population is dense and commerce and trade are prosperous, fully displaying the vitality of urban development; west of the mountains, fields stretch continuously and factory buildings spread in clusters, harboring enormous development potential.
On May 31, 2026, the Taojia Tunnel officially opened to traffic. This new transportation artery through the Zhongliang Mountains unblocked the bottleneck in the coordinated development of the eastern and western areas, compressing commuting time between the two areas to within half an hour.
Transportation takes the lead, driving industrial linkage and resource interchange, opening new space for Jiulongpo District's industry to "advance westward and leap as a whole," and making the pace of east-west integration in Jiulongpo District ever more resolute and powerful.
To the east, strengthening the development highland. The eastern area, based on its development advantages of population concentration and strong consumption, uses urban renewal as a lever to empower commercial upgrading and strives to build a highland for modern services and consumption concentration. Minzhu Village has transformed from an "old, broken, and small" area into a popular check-in destination, and the Jiulong Art Peninsula has turned an industrial rust belt into an art showplace — key areas one after another continue to improve quality and efficiency; the Yangjiaping, Shiqiaopu, and MixC commercial circles have joined forces and diversified their business formats, deepening and solidifying the construction of an international consumption center city; leveraging the traffic advantages of Chongqing Zoo, the Chongqing Olympic Sports Center, and other venues, activities such as the "Joy+" life season series, the Twin Cities Cultural and Arts Week, and sports events are held, stringing pearls into a chain to develop the events economy, performing arts economy, and ticket-stub economy.
To the west, advancing into the industrial blue ocean. With the Jiulong New City of the Chongqing Hub Port Industrial Park as the main engine, a development and construction space of 50 square kilometers has been laid out, building a model of "industrial clusters + logistics hubs + corridor co-construction" to drive the concentration of industries, factors, and supporting facilities in the new city. The Lijin semiconductor project with a total investment of 5.2 billion yuan has been launched and is under construction, the 200,000-ton circular economy production line of Southwest Aluminum is accelerating, and strategic emerging industries such as advanced materials and intelligent connected new energy vehicles are gathering momentum, driving Jiulongpo District to achieve the industrial "advance westward and leap as a whole."
Whole-region urbanization, writing a new chapter of each enjoying their own unique beauty (各美其美, ge mei qi mei - "each, beautiful, its, beautiful")
In recent years, Jiulongpo District has adhered to the people-centered city concept, using whole-region urbanization as the guide, identifying functional positioning in light of local conditions, shaping differentiated competitive advantages, and blazing a new path of cluster-based, networked, urbanized development. Today, the district has formed four major clusters — "Jiulong New City," "Yangxieshihuangjiu," "Dongsan Street," and "Zhongliangshan Huayan" — with each cluster playing to its strengths and complementing the others through differentiated positioning, comprehensively enhancing functions such as industrial leadership, scientific and technological innovation, hub gateway, and comprehensive services.
Among them, "Jiulong New City" focuses on building itself into an important growth pole for the city's high-quality development and an important showcase area for the comprehensive hub of inland opening-up; "Yangxieshihuangjiu" focuses on building a modern services agglomeration area with international influence; "Dongsan Street" focuses on building a leading science and technology innovation corridor in the Chengdu-Chongqing region; "Zhongliangshan Huayan" focuses on building the most beautiful urban garden in the central urban area. The four major clusters have launched quality reserve land parcels including the Xipeng A87-1-1 plot, the Tanzikou No. 24 plot, the Minzhu Village No. 6 plot in Xiejiawan, the former Huangyuan Brewery plot in Shipingqiao, the Changsha'an Base plot on Yuzhou Road, and the first-phase development plot of Zhongliang Yunfeng, focusing on directions such as advanced manufacturing, riverside commercial and residential development, science and innovation supporting facilities, and leisure services, precisely matching the functional positioning of each cluster and providing spatial carriers for industrial landing, urban renewal, and business format cultivation.
Data source: Publicity Department of the CPC Jiulongpo District Committee, Chongqing
Return to TopBy: 本报记者 龚相娟
How can a city allow an international Chinese-language education brand to deeply integrate with the city's cultural heritage? How can a competition allow young people from around the world to enhance mutual understanding and reap friendships while learning Chinese and perceiving China? Tianjin's three years of encounter with the "Chinese Bridge" is now writing a vivid answer.
From September 8 to 22, 2026, the 19th "Chinese Bridge" Chinese Proficiency Competition for Foreign Secondary School Students and the 6th "Chinese Bridge" Chinese Show for Foreign Primary School Students, along with a summer camp, sponsored by the Center for Language Education and Cooperation of the Ministry of Education, were held in Tianjin. A total of 407 overseas contestants and accompanying personnel from 105 countries, following the main theme of "Reading Tianjin, Reading China, Reading the Future," perceived Tianjin through competitions and study tours, and also built their own bridge in their hearts.
Last summer, Bai Aili, the global champion of the 18th "Chinese Bridge" Chinese Proficiency Competition for Foreign Secondary School Students and a member of the Confucius Institute at the University of Montenegro, lifted the trophy precisely on the Tianjin competition stage. From first coming to China with her parents at age 5, to standing on the highest award podium of "Chinese Bridge" at age 14, Bai Aili said after winning the championship: "I, too, want to be like the other contestants — to walk across the bridge and become a bridge."
Bai Aili's path of learning Chinese is precisely a vivid footnote to the value of"Chinese Bridge." During a trip to China nine years ago, she and her parents personally experienced the warmth and hospitality of the Chinese people, the diversity of folk culture, and the convenience of modern life. After returning home, she and her mother together enrolled in the HSK (Chinese Proficiency Test) course at the Confucius Institute. Five years of persistence enabled her to go from being the global champion of the"Primary School Students' Chinese Show" all the way to becoming the global champion of the"Secondary School Students' Chinese Proficiency Competition." From traveler to learner, from contestant to champion, and then to resolving to"become a bridge" — this trajectory clearly presents the change that"Chinese Bridge" brings to a person: first see China, then understand China, then fall in love with China, and finally become a bridge connecting one's own country with China.
This is not the story of Bai Aili alone. Over the past 25 years, more than 1.8 million overseas young people have formed a bond with the Chinese language through"Chinese Bridge," and more and more people are becoming new"bridges."
25 Years in the Making
From a Single Competition to a Brand
Since the creation of the"Chinese Bridge" brand 25 years ago, it has covered more than 160 countries and regions, cumulatively attracting more than 1.8 million overseas young people to participate, and is hailed as the global Chinese-language"Olympics," having become a language competition with full coverage across all academic levels and sustained brand influence.
The growth in the data is even more intuitive. In the past five years, the average annual growth rate of participants in the overseas preliminary rounds of the"Chinese Bridge" primary and secondary school competitions has exceeded 15%, and in 2026 the preliminary rounds attracted more than 50,000 primary and secondary school students from over 100 countries worldwide. If the first decade of the competition focused on building the framework and expanding coverage, the past decade has entered a stage of deepening content and tiered design — from university students to secondary school students to primary school students, from language competition to a comprehensive showcase of"language + culture + practice," and from the competition stage to cities, campuses, and families.
Over the past 25 years, the connotation of"Chinese Bridge" has continued to enrich and its forms have continuously expanded. It is both an important window for showcasing the charm of the Chinese language and culture and telling the story of China's development, and a practical platform for promoting the quality improvement and development of international Chinese-language education. It transforms the Chinese characters in textbooks into perceptible social life, and places the grand civilizational narrative within the firsthand experiences that young people see and hear. Batch after batch of young people from different countries come to know each other through the Chinese language and form bonds through China, eliminating estrangement and building trust in shared learning. A competition has an endpoint, but the understanding and friendship connected by language can cross mountains and seas and continuously extend.
Hosting the Competition for Three Consecutive Years
A City's Commitment to Being a"Bridge"
The"Chinese Bridge" primary and secondary school competitions have been held in Tianjin for three consecutive years.
Tianjin is one of the earliest Chinese cities to open up to the outside world and an important birthplace of modern Chinese education. Beiyang University and the Nankai series of schools were born here, and the tradition of Sino-foreign cultural and educational exchange and talent exchange has continued to this day. Tianjin has a solid foundation in international Chinese-language education: it co-founded one of the world's first batch of Confucius Institutes and Africa's first Confucius Institute — the Confucius Institute at the University of Nairobi in Kenya, as well as the world's first Confucius Classroom — the Confucius Classroom at Debsirindhorn Wittaya School in Thailand, and has jointly built 38 Confucius Institutes and 10 Confucius Classrooms, forming a professional backbone workforce for international Chinese-language education. Because of this openness gene and cultural-educational accumulation,"Chinese Bridge" chose Tianjin.
At the level of competition hosting, Tianjin selected 22 secondary school student visit sites and 15 primary school student experience sites from more than 40 high-quality locations, covering four categories: cultural tourism, intangible cultural heritage, technological innovation, and study tours. Urban landmarks such as Yangliuqing Ancient Town and Tianmei Art District, technological innovation scenes such as the new energy exhibition hall and the drone-cuju experience competition, and exclusive activities such as city walks, the"World Chinese Little Assembly," the artificial intelligence experience cabin, the appreciation of the hometown of Chinese opera, and Sino-foreign families jointly celebrating a Mid-Autumn Festival poetry gathering, allow overseas young people to understand Tianjin and perceive China from the six dimensions of"seeing people, seeing things, seeing friendship, seeing history, seeing culture, seeing development" (见人、见事、见友谊、见历史、见文化、见发展, jian ren, jian shi, jian you yi, jian li shi, jian wen hua, jian fa zhan - "see people, see things, see friendship, see history, see culture, see development"). The competition has also continued the tradition of"entering campuses, entering classrooms, entering families," with contestants from various countries walking into primary and secondary schools to attend classes together, visiting the homes of fellow students to experience daily life, pairing up and sitting around tables for conversation, extending a one-time"visit" into a sustainable"bond."
In terms of competition format design, Tianjin has made refined distinctions for participants of different age groups: secondary school students are comprehensively assessed on comprehensive Chinese proficiency, critical thinking ability, and cultural cognition; primary school students focus mainly on oral expression, fun interaction, and talent showcase. "For overseas young people of different age groups, Tianjin must both run the competition with professional standards and let them feel the beauty of the Chinese language and the beauty of China through real, vibrant urban life." Xie Yuan, member of the Standing Committee of the Tianjin Municipal Committee and Secretary of the Municipal Education Work Committee, said.
Over the past three years, Tianjin has formed 14 special working groups, organized domestic and international experts to design test questions by level, carried out standardized scoring training, and built a full-chain closed loop of foreign-related services, forming a replicable and promotable competition-hosting system, striving to create a high-standard, replicable model of international people-to-people and cultural exchange among young people.
Using Competitions to Promote Teaching and Nurture People
Competition Outcomes Continuously Transformed
The significance of a high-level international competition lies not only in the splendid presentation within the competition schedule, but also in the continuous sedimentation of competition outcomes, transformed into educational resources and long-term exchange mechanisms. By hosting the"Chinese Bridge" primary and secondary school competitions for three consecutive years, Tianjin has turned"running a good competition" into"leaving behind long-term outcomes."
The deep participation of professional educational forces is the key support for the transformation of competition outcomes. Tianjin Normal University, as the main hosting unit, has more than 60 years of deep accumulation in the field of international Chinese-language education. It is the president unit of the World Chinese Language Association, and possesses professional platforms such as the Tianjin International Chinese-Language Education Development Center. Its disciplinary strength and talent reserve provide solid support for key links such as tiered test design, teaching research and discussion, and foreign-related services.
Hosting the competition for three consecutive years requires both presenting a splendid competition and transforming the experience of hosting into teaching resources, educational outcomes, and long-term exchange mechanisms. The transformation of competition outcomes is first reflected at the level of teaching resources and talent cultivation. Relying on the full-process practice of the competition, Tianjin's international Chinese-language teachers carry out teaching research, practical training, and cross-cultural teaching seminars, transforming full-process experience into teaching research case studies; students majoring in international Chinese-language education participate throughout the entire process in competition organization and foreign-related services, exercising cross-cultural teaching and international communication skills in real scenarios. "Every year, hundreds of teachers and students achieve professional growth through competition services, forming a virtuous cycle of'using competitions to promote teaching and nurture people'" (以赛促教、以赛育人, yi sai cu jiao, yi sai yu ren -"use competition, promote teaching; use competition, nurture people"). Qu Kai, Party Secretary of Tianjin Normal University, said.
The transformation of competition outcomes is even more reflected in the deepening expansion of disciplinary development and international cooperation. Through hosting the"Chinese Bridge" primary and secondary school competitions, Tianjin has sedimented competition outcomes into teaching resources and research materials, providing vivid practical samples for the disciplinary development of international Chinese-language education. At the same time, the channels for Sino-foreign educational cooperation built by the competition have continued to widen — channels for studying in China have continuously expanded, teacher international exchange has increasingly strengthened, inter-school cooperation space has steadily grown, further expanding the breadth and depth of Tianjin's educational opening-up to the world.
Looking to the future, Tianjin will continue to deepen the operation of the"Chinese Bridge" competition IP (intellectual property), deepen the integration of the"Chinese Bridge" brand with the city's cultural heritage. Relying on the"Chinese Bridge" competition to drive the continuous quality improvement of international Chinese-language education, regularly carry out teaching research for younger age groups, cultivate composite young teachers with foreign-related competence, nurture reserve forces of young people who understand China and are friendly to China, and turn the competition into a long-term vehicle for Tianjin's opening-up to the world.
Over the past 25 years,"Chinese Bridge" has gone from being one bridge to becoming countless bridges, and those who have walked across the bridge are becoming new bridges. In September, 407 young people from 105 countries set out again from Tianjin. They read China in this city, and in the days to come, they will become new bridges connecting China with the world.
(Chai Yuxin participated in the reporting)
Return to TopBy: 本报记者 李家鼎
In the night, the Hai River was brilliant and dazzling with light and color (流光溢彩, liu guang yi cai - "flow, light, overflow, color"). A cruise ship slowly sailed toward the "Eye of Tianjin" Ferris wheel. On the buildings on both banks, the words "Chinese Bridge" and "Chasing the Chinese Dream — Live Up to Your Youth" lit up one after another. On the deck of the cruise ship, British teenager You Zijun cheered together with companions from various countries, singing the theme song of the "Chinese Bridge" Chinese Proficiency Competition for Foreign Secondary School Students. At that moment, emotion turned into lights, illuminating the shared smiling faces of young people of different skin colors and different backgrounds.
"Cross the bridge, become the bridge." This was the goal You Zijun set for himself when he participated in "Chinese Bridge." His connection with China had already begun when he was three years old. That year, he came to Shanghai for the first time with his parents, standing beneath the Oriental Pearl Tower, looking up at the high tower with its changing lights, feeling it was "like a high-tech rocket." The following year, he came to Beijing again, climbing the Great Wall, visiting the Forbidden City, painting Peking Opera masks — his impression of China quietly took root in his young heart. In 2022, at the age of 10, You Zijun participated in the "Chinese Bridge" competition for the first time; in 2024, he represented the United Kingdom in the fourth "Chinese Bridge" Chinese Proficiency Competition for Foreign Primary School Students Global Finals, winning something easily in a single move (一举夺得, yi ju duo de -"one, lift, seize, obtain") the global overall championship. His younger brother You Ziyuan also began learning Chinese at a young age; his parents carefully cultivated a Chinese-language environment, which for him was the prerequisite condition for honing solid Chinese language intuition since childhood. In 2025, You Ziyuan won the "Best Demeanor Award" of the fifth "Chinese Bridge" Chinese Proficiency Competition for Foreign Primary School Students. The two brothers performed Chinese martial arts and diabolo spinning, winning rounds of applause with traditional Chinese skills. For their family, Chinese was not only a language, but also an emotional bond passed down from generation to generation.
The beginning of Spanish teenager Ma Lele's Chinese language enlightenment started with colorful learning flashcards. Chinese characters, pinyin, and pictures, in his eyes, were like an interesting game. Gradually, the tones and rhythms of Chinese and the stories behind Chinese characters made him increasingly fascinated. Standing on the stage of the fifth "Chinese Bridge" Chinese Proficiency Competition for Foreign Primary School Students, he delivered a speech in fluent Chinese and also integrated his daily passion for science, music, and performance into the competition. For him, the competition was not an endpoint, but a concentrated presentation of years of accumulation, and also a brand-new starting point for getting closer to China.
Zhang Yuchen, from Bishkek, the capital of Kyrgyzstan, is the eldest of four children in his family. His father once studied in China and could speak fluent Chinese, often telling his children about his experiences in China. Influenced by his father, Zhang Yuchen began learning Chinese. Over the past two years, he has studied diligently at the Confucius Institute at Kyrgyz National University; although communicating freely in Chinese still poses some difficulty for him, his pronunciation is standard and his progress is remarkable. He has participated in Chinese competitions three times and won different awards. This year, he once again stepped onto the "Chinese Bridge" stage and went into a local Tianjin family, learning Chinese in a real family environment and experiencing Chinese culture. This experience gave him a deeper understanding of China beyond textbooks and a more genuine appreciation of the people-to-people exchanges under the Belt and Road Initiative. He quietly made a wish: in the future, he wants to follow in his father's footsteps, strive to study in China, become a role model for his younger siblings, and make his parents proud of him.
Three teenagers, three journeys, reflecting the distinctive feature of the increasingly younger age of Chinese language learners worldwide, and also a trend in Chinese language learning. Montenegrin contestant Bai Aili, from the HSK classroom of the Confucius Institute at the University of Montenegro, stepped onto the "Chinese Bridge" stage, equally demonstrating the important role played by Confucius Institutes and volunteer Chinese language teachers in young people's Chinese learning and in promoting the competition. Yu Yunfeng, Director of the Center for Language Education and Cooperation under the Ministry of Education of China, stated that "Chinese Bridge," with Chinese as its bond, is increasingly becoming an important platform for young people around the world to learn Chinese and understand China, and that Chinese and foreign young people, in the process of learning Chinese, are making friends through literary exchange (以文会友, yi wen hui you -"use, literature, meet, friends"), building mutual understanding and trust (理解互信, li jie hu xin -"understand, mutual, trust"), and jointly building bridges of friendship.
From being able to say one sentence in Chinese, to understanding the cultural connotation behind a single Chinese character; from standing on the competition stage to showcase oneself, to telling family and friends the China stories one has personally experienced... "Chinese Bridge" has walked through 25 years and has grown into a historical bridge, cultural bridge, scientific and technological bridge, ecological bridge, and open bridge connecting China and the world — and even more, a bridge for world youth to deepen people-to-people and cultural exchanges, promote language connectivity, mutual understanding and trust, and mutual learning between civilizations (文明互鉴, wen ming hu jian -"civilization, mutual, learn from each other").
Increasingly younger faces, increasingly diverse talents, and increasingly broad participation are making Chinese language learning a vivid window through which the world understands China, and are also enabling generation after generation of young people to move from "crossing the bridge" toward "becoming the bridge," injecting a continuous stream of youthful energy into mutual learning between civilizations through mutual acquaintance and friendship.
Return to TopBy: 本报记者 靳 博
A Chinese city is a rich and vivid classroom for the Chinese language. The study-tour arrangements of this year's "Chinese Bridge" Chinese proficiency competition for primary and secondary school students extend Chinese learning from textbooks to the city. The Sancha River estuary, the theater museum, the Xiaozhan rice cultivation area, the drone arena, the new-energy vehicle science museum... provide overseas youth with real-life contexts in which to experience Tianjin and use the Chinese language. "They are not reading about China in textbooks, but walking into the streets and alleys of Tianjin to feel China." Zhang Tao, director of the Tianjin Municipal Education Commission, explained that these settings give language learning a concrete foundation, and the city becomes a perceivable cultural carrier.
For the city to become a classroom, the key lies in bringing language and life together. This year's competition guides Chinese and overseas youth to exchange impressions and build friendship through shared experiences. Here, Chinese is not merely words and sentences, but an expression of understanding and thought, a bridge of mutual comprehension and trust; culture, likewise, is no longer an abstract symbol in books, but a life experience in which one can participate and share.
This participation does not end at the event venue. The "Chinese Bridge" competition has launched content such as children's Chinese video logs and parent-child study-tour documentaries, encouraging contestants and their parents to share their Tianjin experiences on overseas social platforms. Telling the everyday life of the city from a youth perspective lets friends and family far away see a real, multi-dimensional, and comprehensive Tianjin, sparks reflection on history and culture through the city's modern scenes, and opens a window for more people to come into contact with Chinese and learn about China. When contestants shift from learners to storytellers, Chinese learning thereby demonstrates even greater value.
How can the appeal of the city classroom be sustained after the competition ends? Tianjin's choice is to cultivate youth who know and are friendly toward China with an eye to the future, carrying out exchange activities with overseas institutions such as cooperative schooling, school-to-school partnerships, teacher-student exchanges, and overseas study tours, while linking up with brands such as "Jincai Chinese" and "Study in Tianjin" to broaden channels and create conditions for overseas youth to come to China for study tours and study abroad. The event organizers will improve the global network of Chinese-learning friends, broaden the path of integrating "Chinese + education," turn contestants into partners for sustained language learning and educational exchange, and thereby accumulate resources for the city's future international cooperation.
Turning urban resources into learning content and personal experiences into topics of understanding, the brand value of "Chinese Bridge" is embodied in attracting global attention, expanding learning scenarios, enhancing mutual understanding, and promoting mutual learning among civilizations (文明互鉴, wen ming hu jian - "civilization, mutually, learn from each other"). The interest sparked by a single participation becomes the motivation to return and to keep learning, giving the city and overseas youth a more enduring emotional connection. This emotional exchange warms in everyday interaction, driving the influence of the "Chinese Bridge" brand to continue to expand.
Return to TopBy: 本报记者 闫伊乔
The key to improving the quality and effectiveness of international Chinese language education lies in keeping pace with the development of the times and meeting real-world learning needs. Currently, more than 90 countries around the world have incorporated Chinese into their national education systems, and Chinese language learning is ushering in a new situation of rapid and vigorous development (蓬勃发展, peng bo fa zhan - "flourishing, developing"). How to better connect with diverse learning needs and improve educational quality with an eye to the future has become an important proposition for international Chinese language education.
At present, Chinese language learners are showing a trend toward younger ages, deep immersive learning is breaking traditional teaching models, and learners are putting forward higher requirements for authentic expression and humanistic interactive communication.
Digital and intelligent technologies are empowering language learning, making learning resources more accessible and effectively improving learning efficiency. This edition of the "Chinese Bridge" competition for primary and secondary school students fully leverages digital and intelligent tools to enrich Chinese learning scenarios. AI virtual hosts link together narratives of technology, culture, time, and space, while outdoor hands-on experiences are organically combined with on-site knowledge competitions, strengthening the interactive and immersive feel of Chinese learning. The competition is not only a stage for showcasing the elegance of youth, but also an important vehicle for testing the effectiveness of digital-and-intelligent teaching implementation and presenting authentic language expression.
Humanistic interaction promotes emotional connection and intellectual dialogue, broadening the application ecosystem of Chinese. For younger learners, building a sound humanistic interaction environment and Chinese application scenarios is crucial. In the learning process, young people complete cognitive construction, critical questioning, collision of viewpoints, and intellectual expression; through face-to-face communication, empathy, mutual learning, and sharing, they achieve emotional transmission, forge transnational friendships, and let Chinese application form a "ripple effect." "Chinese Bridge" brings together young people from around the world, who are bound together by the Chinese language, deepen their understanding of China amid cultural integration, transform from contestants into fellow learners, and extend their friendships from campus to families, communities, and even society, forging long-lasting and profound transnational bonds of affection.
Innovative development is deeply integrated with international Chinese language education, achieving coordinated advancement of language learning and innovation capacity. As a medium of cross-cultural communication, Chinese can expand diverse cognitive perspectives. In language practice, comprehensive abilities such as critical thinking, digital literacy, and cross-cultural collaboration are cultivated, promoting the simultaneous development of language training and competency cultivation, and building a comprehensive education model that integrates ideological exchange, cultural interpretation, and capacity building. "Chinese Bridge" promotes the deep integration of language and content, transforming real-life scenes of contemporary China into live classrooms, using history and culture, Chinese modernization, and global governance as vivid teaching materials, practicing the "Chinese+" concept, relying on content to drive language practice, and relying on language to convey ideological connotations.
"This is not a simple stacking of elements, but an upgrade of the educational ecosystem." Zhong Yinghua, President of the International Society for Chinese Language Teaching and Director of the Tianjin International Chinese Language Education Development Center, said, "The multidimensional value of Chinese language education lays a solid foundation for the competition; the competition is grounded in the practical application of the language, expands the Chinese learning ecosystem, and only in this way can it help cultural understanding and the coordinated growth of comprehensive talents."
Return to TopBy: 本报记者 何思琦 潘俊强
From 1987, when the Great Wall, the Imperial Palace of Beijing, and other sites were inscribed on the World Heritage List as China's first batch of world heritage, to 2026, when the "Jingdezhen Handmade Porcelain Industry Remains" succeeded in its world heritage application, the total number of China's world heritage sites has reached 61 items.
Since the new era, the Party Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core has attached great importance to the protection, inheritance,and utilization of cultural and natural heritage. Under the guidance of Xi Jinping's cultural thought, China's work on the protection of cultural and natural heritage has achieved historic accomplishments. Item by item, world heritage sites manifest the outstanding characteristics of Chinese civilization and bear witness to the continuous extension and endurance of a millennia-old cultural lineage.
A successful world heritage application is a new starting point for protection and utilization. This section, from today onward, launches the "After the Successful World Heritage Application" series of reports, presenting the rich achievements and vivid practices of systematic protection carried out at each heritage site.
——Editor
With a total length of 7.8 kilometers, a central axis runs through the north and south of Beijing's old city, connecting history with the future, tradition with modernity. It is an outstanding example of the development of the central axis of traditional Chinese capitals reaching its mature stage, and also a historical witness to Chinese civilization.
On July 27, 2024, the"Beijing Central Axis: A Masterpiece of China's Ideal Capital City Order" was inscribed on the World Heritage List. In the two years since the successful application, this"spine of the ancient capital" radiating the luster of the times has continued to attract attention at home and abroad.
It is an imprint of history, and even more a living heritage. A successful world heritage application is not the end point, and"systematic protection" certainly does not stop at the moment of success. On this ancient central axis, this living central axis, this central axis of the times, new stories are being told.
Guarding the cultural lineage, calmly marching toward the next century
At the northernmost end of the central axis, the Bell and Drum Towers, placed front and back along the north-south line, stand quietly under the early autumn sunlight. Cloud shadows slowly drift past the eaves' corners, as if the morning dusk of more than 600 years were spread out here, and in a daze, one seems still able to hear the evening drum and morning bell of bygone days.
On the Bell Tower, a huge bell from the Ming Dynasty Yongle era, with a total height of 7.02 meters and a weight of 63 tons, hangs quietly. This June, this more-than--600-year-old great bell just completed a bell-striking test, and the bell frame also welcomed its first systematic reinforcement since the Bell Tower's reconstruction was completed in 1747.
"Technology empowering makes the reinforcement project more refined and more precise." In the view of Yu Hui, deputy director of the Beijing Bell and Drum Towers Cultural Relics Preservation Office, this is a new practice of"proactive prevention" in the protection of the central axis heritage.
Refined, refined in not damaging any single original wooden component. Following the principle of minimal intervention, the restoration team repeatedly studied and analyzed the force-bearing characteristics of the bell frame and suspension system, and adopted multiple modern scientific and technological means. "Pull rods and load-distribution plates were installed at key load-bearing parts of the bell frame structure, so that the concentrated load on the ridge beam of the bell frame could be dispersed." Yu Hui introduced.
Precise, precise in providing a scientific basis for long-term protection. "The bell-striking test is like a special'physical examination,' with the purpose of obtaining all-round data during the striking process." Yu Hui told reporters. Multiple sensors were laid out on the bell frame; once abnormal data appears, the central control system will receive it at the first moment and issue an alert.
Ascending the stairs step by step, looking up toward the top of the great bell, one sees that the two ends of the reinforcement components have been uniquely using ingenious skill** (匠心独运, jiang xin du yun - "craftsman, uniquely") crafted into auspicious cloud patterns; if one does not look carefully, one would truly think they were carvings left inadvertently by the craftsmen of that year. Yet it is precisely these inconspicuous changes that guard the great bell, marching toward the next century.
Heading south along the central axis, the Temple of Heaven, the largest extant ancient sacrificial architecture complex, has also blazed a new path of technology-empowered cultural relic protection.
Centrally deploying equipment such as AI (artificial intelligence) cameras, multi-functional weather stations, and deformation monitors...systematically collecting data on visitor flow, weather, cultural relic deformation...This year, the Temple of Heaven Park has focused on monitoring the Circular Mound Altar, promptly detecting changes in the stone cultural relics represented by the Circular Mound Altar.
"We are gradually building the framework of the Temple of Heaven heritage monitoring system and constructing a comprehensive heritage monitoring platform." Wu Jingwei, director of the Heritage Office of the Temple of Heaven Park, said, "Fully employing cutting-edge scientific and technological means, we aim to achieve monitorable changes, preventable risks, and sustainable protection."
Authenticity and integrity have always been important principles of heritage protection. The Regulations on the Protection of the Beijing Central Axis World Cultural Heritage and the Conservation and Management Plan for the Beijing Central Axis (2022-2035) have been implemented one after another, bringing the"spine of the ancient capital" into a framework of law-based, systematic, and refined protection, giving the protection of an axis a longer-term temporal coordinate.
In the monitoring center of the Beijing Central Axis Heritage Protection Center, a huge screen is eye-catching. On this"panorama" of the central axis heritage, more than 200 cultural relic protection units, over 30 historical and cultural blocks, over a thousand traditional hutongs, and more than 8,000 ancient and famous trees are immediately obvious at a glance** (一目了然, yi mu liao ran - "one, eye, understand, clear").
"This is the country's first heritage monitoring platform applying digital twin technology." Zhou Ziyu, director of the Heritage Monitoring Department of the Beijing Central Axis Heritage Protection Center, lightly clicked the mouse, and information on the heritage bodies, surrounding natural environments, visitor numbers, and more of the 15 heritage constituent elements was displayed in real time on the screen. At the Zhengyangmen Arrow Tower alone, monitoring equipment such as integrated BeiDou monitoring stations, hydrostatic leveling instruments, and acceleration sensors have been deployed, using diverse means to capture the subtle changes of ancient architecture.
Beyond technological defense, human defense is also indispensable. Zhou Ziyu introduced that, in addition to routinely processing the various data on the monitoring platform, staff members also conduct high-frequency periodic manual inspections. "The full-life-cycle protection of the state of cultural relics requires long-term systematic monitoring; only in this way can the world heritage on the central axis be better protected."
Revitalization and utilization, feeling the pulse of the central axis's history
The music begins with the opening note, three strikes on the wooden percussion instrument, anda solemn and gentle melody slowly resounds—metal, stone, silk, bamboo, gourd, earth, leather, wood, the eight tones harmonize, one word, one note. Crossing several hundred years, the elegant music of the central axis still tells the story of Chinese civilization today.
This June, the Temple of Heaven Museum was officially inaugurated. The thematic exhibition located in the main exhibition area, the Divine Music Office, was polished over two years, and through a digitalized, immersive exhibition space, vividly presents the Temple of Heaven's sacrificial culture and traditional ritual-music connotations.
Curator Huo Yan also holds another identity—the district-level representative inheritor of the national intangible cultural heritage"Temple of Heaven Divine Music Office Zhonghe Shao Music." With the success of the central axis world heritage application, Huo Yan has continuously explored new forms of inheriting the ancient music.
At present, the team he leads has completed audio recordings of 464 pieces of Zhonghe Shao Music from the Ming and Qing dynasties, and, with the aid of 4K technology, has recorded the performance process of some pieces, using digital forms to inherit intangible cultural heritage. "That period was especially grinding, but it especially built skill." Huo Yan said, "Zhonghe means'balanced and harmonious,' Shao means perfect in every respect (尽善尽美, jin shan jin mei - "end, good, end, beautiful"), both embodying people's pursuit of the beautiful. Ancient and modern share the same principle; the multiple digital technologies applied in the exhibition allow traditional ancient music and cultural relics to escape static display and become audible, touchable, and perceptible."
The strings of song continue unbroken, ancient and modern blend together. Each heritage element along the central axis is radiating new vitality in its own way.
In early autumn Beijing, the Zhengyangmen gate tower, after a six-year interval, has reopened to the public.
"Do you know in which year the Beijing central axis succeeded in its world heritage application?" Every weekend afternoon, at the special exhibition"Beijing Central Axis: A Masterpiece of China's Ideal Capital City Order," volunteer Han Jianyang always poses this question before the formal explanation begins, testing the children present. "Precisely because I have a special feeling for the central axis, in every explanation, I hope people can understand its history and feel its vitality." Han Jianyang said.
Ascending the arrow tower and gazing into the distance at the southern central axis, history and the present meet within the same arrow window. One central axis makes today's Zhengyangmen a public cultural space where the public can appreciate the history of capital city construction.
South of the Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests at the Altar of Agriculture and Gods of Earth, the exhibition"Mountains and Rivers Have Spirit—The Stone Shrine of the Altar of Earth and Grain" takes audiences back through the course of the Stone Shrine of the Altar of Earth and Grain from its initial construction, its relocation, to its return to its original site. Five Mountains, Five Sacred Peaks, Five Garrison Mountains, Four Seas...audiences walk along, learning the stories behind the stone shrine step by step.
"The Altar of Earth and Grain was completed during the Jiajing reign, and is the only important sacrificial site among the central axis-related remains that has been exposed through scientific archaeological work." Zhang Lifang, research fellow at the Beijing Municipal Institute of Archaeology, introduced that, this excavation has perfected the architectural distribution pattern within an important sacrificial space on the central axis, further complementing the integrity of the Beijing central axis.
In 2025, after more than two decades of off-site preservation at the Altar of Agriculture and Gods of Earth, the stone shrine returned to its original site at the Altar of Earth and Grain. The restoration of the stone shrine is also the restoration of historical memory. "In the future, we will continue to cooperate with the central axis environmental improvement and upgrading to carry out related archaeological work, doing a good job of excavating, researching, and interpreting the historical and cultural connotations and value of the Beijing central axis." Zhang Lifang said.
The setting sun descends in the west, accompanied by the evening breeze. With the north gate of the Drum Tower as the backdrop, the film Chang'an is being screened, and more than 200 audience members, in Beijing's summer night, jointly embark on a cinematic rendezvous that crosses time.
Since this year, "Drum Tower Screening Nights" and"Drum Tower Music Nights" have been staged in turn, and"watching movies and listening to folk music in the evening breeze" has become a scene near the Drum Tower this spring and summer. "It's not the first time I've entered the Drum Tower, but it is the first time watching a performance here—there's a feeling of conversing with history." One audience member said so.
When static cultural heritage transforms into an attractive magnetic field of vitality, people of different ages and cultural backgrounds can all find their own entry point here. The central axis, walking out from the depths of history, is radiating more vivid vitality. It continues to tell, and also continues to listen, and continues to forge genuine connections with every person who approaches it.
Integrating into daily life, painting a unique urban texture
Kicking shuttlecocks, dancing dragons, practicing tai chi...in the early morning, the Bell and Drum Towers Cultural Square awakens amid residents' morning exercise. Every morning shortly after 6 o'clock, Fan Laiyou, a resident in his seventies, appears punctually at the square, competing with neighbors in"shuttlecock kicking."
"I grew up here; the protection of the central axis heritage has not only safeguarded the'roots' of Beijing's old city, but has also genuinely improved residents' living environment." Following Fan Laiyou into the Bell Tower Bay Hutong, flowers are blooming lushly, houses have been restored to their old appearance; various overhead lines have been buried underground, making the hutong spacious and unobstructed. "With a better environment, more vitality, living here is comfortable." Fan Laiyou is exceedingly pleased.
Around the central axis, such courtyards each have their own characteristics, every one engraved with historical memory, rising with the warmth of everyday life, constituting Beijing's unique urban texture.
For the people living here, the central axis has never been an abstract geographical axis. "The combination of cultural relic restoration and vacation, cultural relic revitalization and utilization, and organic urban renewal, achieves the organic unity and deep integration of central axis heritage protection, cultural experience, and urban life quality." Wang Zhiyong, member of the Standing Committee of the Dongcheng District Committee of the CPC and head of its Publicity Department, said.
Raising the perspective, another layer of vitality of this axis is gradually blossoming—as the"fifth facade" gradually opens up, the landscape viewing corridor suddenly opens to a clear and wide view** (豁然开朗, huo ran kai lang - "suddenly, open, bright"), anda batch of rooftop terraces has subsequently opened to the public.
On the fifth floor of Beijing Hongqiao Market, the terrace of the Guantan Art Space. Visitors pick up their phones, raise the Qinian Hall-shaped desserts, and freeze-frame them in the same frame with the real hall in the distance; more than 600 years of history lightly blends into contemporary people's afternoon tea. "With the Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests as the backdrop, the scenery on the terrace has a distinctive charm." Ming Jing, head of the Guantan Art Space, said,"The sunset concerts, open-air plays, and fashion shows we have launched are deeply popular among young people."
Opening the Breeze Terrace Illustrated Guide: Strolling the Central Axis, more than 30 quality terraces string together the 7.8-kilometer-long Beijing central axis and the areas along its route. Viewing the central axis from a different perspective, savoring ancient charm on a breezy terrace has become a"beloved favorite" for many young people.
When the historical cultural lineage blends and coexists with trendy life, the old city memories carried by the water vein also quietly return amid the passage of time. The Sanlihe River in the Qianmen area, once hidden deep within the alleys and faded from the hustle and bustle of the streets, has now, after ecological restoration and landscape reshaping, seen its clear currents return, grass and trees reborn, and the former vitality of everyday life return once again accompanied by the murmuring sound of water. A Sanlihe River Park has become a fine place for surrounding residents to stroll and relax, also adding a touch of agility to the central axis.
Building a digital cultural tourism system for the central axis; improving the intangible cultural heritage inheritance system and implementing the"Intangible Cultural Heritage Revitalization" plan; strengthening brand activities such as the"Baita Night Talks," the"Cultural Dongcheng" reception hall, and"Night Temple of Heaven on the Central Axis"...Not long ago, Beijing's Dongcheng District and Xicheng District jointly released theAction Plan for the"On the Central Axis"—Beijing Central Axis Revitalization and Radiance Plan(2026-2028), drawing a clear blueprint for the revitalization and new life of the ancient central axis.
From"urban axis" and"cultural axis" to"vitality axis" and"development axis," the"Beijing practice" of world heritage protection and utilization allows the millennia-old cultural lineage to be inherited through steadfastness, reborn through integration, and perpetuated through the warmth of everyday life. Today, as people stroll along this 7.8-kilometer axis, they can both touch the historical pulse that spans time and space and feel the breath of the times rushing toward them. The"spine of the ancient capital" is renewed year after year, living and thriving without end.
Return to TopBy: 张二棍
Many years ago, I watched a film. At the end, the protagonist sat beside a bonfire, murmuring something. This was a very ordinary scene; I have long since forgotten the protagonist's words, and even the name of the film. But that cluster of bonfire flames in the dark night forever flickers in my heart, blazing and resplendent.
Approaching middle age, I have gradually come to understand that literature is precisely the bonfire I have always been close to in my life. When I long remain within its illumination and warmth, I am no longer lonely or hesitant. Because of literature, I have gained so many friends and kin who seem to exist forever; they have come into my world, gazing at me with smiling faces, comforting me, admonishing me—they are called Tao Yuanming, Du Fu, Borges, Stevens... Because of literature, I have gained so many worlds and selves full of enthusiasm and interest (意兴盎然, yi xing ang ran - "meaning, high, full"); they bend over my fate, transforming me, questioning me, persuading me—they are called Sun Wukong, Kong Yiji, Camel Xiangzi, Quasimodo, Don Quixote... Whenever I speak of these great writers and immortal characters, I seem like a mischievous child who cannot stop chattering.
Each outstanding poem is also a cluster of bonfire flames gathered by the poet with heart's blood and will, never extinguished. It will always, at some quiet moment, encounter by chance some reader in time and space. At that moment, two or three lines are like sparse wind and cool moon in the night sky, purifying the reader's heart and spirit; a single sentence is like strong tea and light wine beside the bonfire, dispelling worries and cleansing vexations. Clearly, poetry not only has the power of release or thorough understanding; it can also be sharp and unyielding and undeterred by setbacks (百折不回, bai zhe bu hui - "hundred, bend, not, return"), majestic and endless in variety and constant change (万变不穷, wan bian bu qiong - "ten thousand, change, not, exhausted").
Returning to my own stumbling creative work, I have always tried, with the great and ancient Chinese language, to pay tribute to the goodness I have witnessed and borne witness to, and to sympathize with the hardships that have disappeared and been forgotten. I also long to leave behind a poem like a bonfire, lingering in the heart of some reader. Such an ideal has spurred me on for many years, making me take what I see and hear each day, after it has slowly settled and clarified in my heart, and then repeatedly refine and revise (千修万改, qian xiu wan gai - "thousand, repair, ten thousand, change") it, handling every stroke and dot with care, approaching the ideal of writing in a manner close to prostrating myself. I always remind myself to be a little more careful; the Chinese language has life, dignity, and breath. No matter how many years pass, I remain that cautious scribe, acting with extreme caution (如履薄冰, ru lv bo bing - "as, tread, thin, ice"). Indeed, there is so much flavor of the human world, and so many people are also experiencing their own "riding alone for a thousand li"; their fates echo with the "Song of Everlasting Sorrow," the "Song of the Frontier"... As a witness of the same era, how can I turn a deaf ear (置若罔闻, zhi ruo wang wen - "place, as if, not, hear") amid the vast clamor of the marketplace, how can I forget the means after achieving the end (得鱼忘筌, de yu wang quan - "obtain, fish, forget, trap") after countless kindnesses and obligations? What I must do is use my own words to discard the false and preserve the true, so that every word I write carries my body temperature and heartbeat, giving the world warmth, consolation, and gratitude.
Many friends have always been concerned about and inquired into my writing, yet I can never clearly state my original intention and final destination. Perhaps I have always been a hesitant person, hesitating and being overly cautious (瞻前顾后, zhan qian gu hou - "look, front, look, back"); I always worry that the words I write are crude and presumptuous. Thus, I regard writing as a series of contests with myself, consultations with others, and prayers to all things. The beauty of this human world, the wonderful interest of being born human, nourishes the once dull and stubborn me. Thus, I, the fool who once clung to outdated methods in a changing world (刻舟求剑, ke zhou qiu jian - "carve, boat, seek, sword"), attach my ears and eyes to the more vast and more profound grasses, trees, birds, beasts, and crowds, letting them become the many avatars on paper; I seem to have become an anomaly possessing endless auditory and visual hallucinations. There is no longer any irrelevant matter—a gentle breeze, a whirlpool, a standoff between an ox and a dog, a question-and-answer between mother and child—all move me and shape me. Every minute, every second, every bit, I experience a world of vast changes over time (沧海桑田, cang hai sang tian - "blue, sea, mulberry, field").
Writing poetry is my never-tiring career. Generations of poetry's sons and daughters gather beneath the great bonfire of the Chinese language, blazing with radiance and eternal through the ages, plucking wisps of flame, then hurrying dust-covered to all directions, presenting offerings to every reader scattered across the ends of the earth. If they can, in the brief outpouring and tender murmuring of a poem, gain the feeling of being watched over and cared for, respected and understood, then our poems are good news from a thousand li away, a transmission of flame, and even more, the infinite continuation of the bonfire.
(The author is a poet and recipient of the Ninth Lu Xun Literature Prize)
Return to TopBy: 本报记者 江 萌
In Huzhu Tu Autonomous County, Haidong City, Qinghai Province, the Tu ethnic group's panxiu (coiled embroidery) has been passed down for more than 1,000 years and is a craft that every Tu woman must master. Today, these colorful silk threads have not only embroidered sunflowers and embroidered a better life, but have also "embroidered" a distinctive industry with an annual output value exceeding 27 million yuan.
Stepping into the intangible cultural heritage workshop in Danma Township, Huzhu County, Li Faxiu, a national-level representative inheritor of Tu panxiu who is nearly 70 years old, sits steadily before her embroidery frame. Red, yellow, and blue silk threads shuttle between her fingers as a sunflower gradually takes shape.
Li Faxiu began learning panxiu at age 7. "My grandmother passed panxiu on to my mother, and my mother passed it on to me. When I was little, several girls living nearby would always sit together in a circle, comparing whose stitching was finer and whose patterns were better, and as we compared, we learned to embroider," Li Faxiu said.
In 1995, Li Faxiu took her embroidered works to Beijing to attend the Fourth World Conference on Women of the United Nations. At the exhibition and sales fair, people loved the works so much they could not let them go (爱不释手, ai bu shi shou - "love, not, release, hand") and bought them all. "I sold several thousand yuan worth in one go, and at the time I felt that the craft my mother passed down to me was truly wonderful!" Li Faxiu said. "I used to think panxiu was just a dowry kept at the bottom of a trunk, but only later did I realize it was also a good way to make a living."
At that time in the Tu countryside, most young people in the villages had gone out to seek work, and the women who stayed home had almost no other source of income besides farming and childcare. Li Faxiu pondered whether she could get her sisters to pick up the needles and thread they had set aside. During the slack farming seasons, she went from village to village teaching for free, passing on the craft hand in hand, and also took the lead in setting up an intangible cultural heritage workshop, bringing together more than 50 embroiderers from the surrounding area. Whoever had time could come and take work, paid by the piece.
The embroiderers have the skill; the key is that someone must help them find a way out.
In 2007, Huzhu County established a dedicated company to carry out market-oriented operations for Tu panxiu. In 2024, with support from east-west cooperation funds, the Qingxiu (panxiu) industry base was completed. "The company and the base are responsible for product design and finding sales channels, while the embroiderers spread across the county are responsible for production," said Ha Chengqing, head of the Qingxiu (panxiu) industry base.
As of now, Huzhu County has cultivated 75 inheritors of Tu panxiu, with 5,300 professional embroiderers working year-round and more than 3,000 seasonal embroiderers. "This has brought considerable income increases to rural women; the highest-earning embroiderer can make 40,000 to 50,000 yuan a year," Ha Chengqing said.
The unique feature of panxiu is its "two needles, two threads." "One thread is a bit thicker and coils on top; one thread is a bit finer and stitches underneath," Li Faxiu said, gesturing as she spoke. "This unique stitching method makes panxiu very difficult to replace with machines. Foreign engineers have studied it, and machines cannot do it; the embroidery machine factories in Zhuji, Zhejiang, have also looked at it and cannot do it," Ha Chengqing said. "This precisely constitutes our core competitiveness."
Inheriting without clinging to the old, innovating without forgetting the roots. The base cooperates with major universities and original trendy-toy studios, extracting panxiu's iconic sunflower and rainbow patterns to develop trendy-toy figurines, blind-box pendants, and other products with panxiu elements; it co-brands with Chinese-style fashion labels, integrating panxiu techniques into modern clothing design and launching panxiu-embroidered hoodies, Chinese-style accessories, and Hanfu accessories, achieving a deep integration of traditional craft and modern aesthetics. "Our panxiu cultural and creative products have been developed into eight major categories with over a hundred items, with annual sales exceeding 3 million yuan," Ha Chengqing said.
In October 2025, the Tu panxiu work "Sunflower" made its debut in Paris, France. At this year's China International Fashion Week, traditional Tu wedding attire made a stunning appearance. "Through various channels, we are letting panxiu go out of Qinghai and go to the world," Ha Chengqing said. This year, the base also sent panxiu products to Qianmen Street in Beijing for sale and cooperated with top livestreamers for livestream sales.
Li Faxiu said: "In the activity of bringing intangible cultural heritage into the classroom, primary school students, middle school students, and college students are all very interested in panxiu. This generation of young people is educated, can promote, can design, and can lead everyone forward. I just hope to let the children pass panxiu down from generation to generation."
One thread coils, one thread stitches, embroidering a thousand years and embroidering the future. From a dowry "kept at the bottom of a trunk" to an industry that "fills the money bag," on the land of the Tu countryside, more and more embroiderers are using the needles and thread in their hands to embroider their own better lives and also to embroider the vigorous vitality of comprehensive rural revitalization.
Return to TopIntangible cultural heritage is a vivid testimony to the continuous inheritance of Chinese civilization, and a crystallization of the wisdom and spiritual symbol of the Chinese nation. On September 14, the scheduling announcement conference for the humanistic documentary program City of Intangible Cultural Heritage: Guardian Season, produced by Youku and exclusively title-sponsored by Hujihua Ancient-Method Peanut Oil, was held in Beijing. With the theme "Guarding the Craft of Intangible Cultural Heritage, Reviving the New Life of Ancient Methods," the conference brought together four forces — "guidance from competent authorities, content creation by platforms, participation of cultural figures, and practice by industrial entities" — to jointly explore a development path for intangible cultural heritage skills from "being protected" to "being needed."
A Major Humanistic Documentary IP Takes Root
Telling Stories of Intangible Cultural Heritage Inheritance Through Urban Narratives
City of Intangible Cultural Heritage: Guardian Season is a city-based intangible cultural heritage humanistic documentary IP that Youku has made a key focus. With "one city, two intangible cultural heritage items" as its main creative framework, the program goes deep into multiple cities, using documentary footage to record the current state of intangible cultural heritage skills, unearthing the stories of perseverance and innovation among inheritors, and bringing ancient folk crafts scattered among the people back into the public eye.
City of Intangible Cultural Heritage: Guardian Season has invited cultural scholars to serve as the program's "full-journey cultural navigators," drawing on decades of accumulated experience in cultural heritage protection work to enhance the program's professionalism and cultural depth. The program steps beyond the perception that "intangible cultural heritage means museum collection pieces," taking its cameras through old streets and alleys of the city, to the wooden press tools of old oil workshops. Starting from the pressing craft of a single peanut, and entering through the inheritance of a single handicraft, it retrieves intangible cultural heritage scattered throughout daily life, vividly telling stories of intangible cultural heritage inheritance in warm language, and bringing audiences to feel the survival wisdom etched into everyday life.
City of Intangible Cultural Heritage: Guardian Season has invited young actors to serve as "intangible cultural heritage youth translators," using the aesthetic context and life perspectives of Generation Z to change the stereotype of intangible cultural heritage skills as "old-fashioned and niche." The program starts from the Eastern aesthetics of a cork-carving hair ornament, enters through the hometown flavor of a spoonful of peanut oil, translating the craftsman's skill and heart into everyday expressions with which contemporary young people can more readily empathize. It asks questions on behalf of every young person unfamiliar with intangible cultural heritage skills, and also leads audiences to discover the value of "old crafts" — value that can be tasted in the mouth, worn on the body, and hidden in every familiar detail of daily life.
City of Intangible Cultural Heritage: Guardian Season draws on the complementary perspectives of its regular cast to tell intangible cultural heritage stories, striving to build a communication matrix for intangible cultural heritage culture that is deep, warm, and influential.
City of Intangible Cultural Heritage: Guardian Season relies on authoritative interpretation by competent authorities, the reach of media matrix communication, and the cultural empowerment of experts and scholars, witnessing the implementation of industrial entities and the living inheritance of skills. Multiple forces resonate in unison, jointly advancing the protection of intangible cultural heritage from a single cultural undertaking to a shared proposition of cultural governance.
A Century-Old Craft Passed Down Through Generations
Building a Solid Foundation for Intangible Cultural Heritage Inheritance Through Industrial Practice
Hujihua, the title sponsor of City of Intangible Cultural Heritage: Guardian Season, is a brand under Yihai Kerry Food Marketing Co., Ltd. that focuses on peanut oil, upholding the living inheritance of intangible cultural heritage skills and achieving "the ancient-method fragrance of the old oil workshop."
The origins of Hujihua's intangible cultural heritage skills can be traced back to 1918. In that old oil workshop at No. 90 Liaoning Road, Qingdao, the dull thud of wooden press tools striking mixed with the mellow aroma of oil, passing from year to year through the everyday life of Jiaodong. Over more than a century of changing times, the appearance of the old oil workshop has changed several times, yet the craft of ancient-method oil pressing has never been interrupted. In 2015, "Hujihua Ancient-Method Oil Pressing Craft" was included in the representative project list of Qingdao's intangible cultural heritage; in 2021, "Ancient-Method Peanut Oil Pressing Craft" was included in the representative project list of Shandong Province's intangible cultural heritage. From a livelihood craft passed down by word of mouth (口耳相传, kou er xiang chuan - "mouth, ear, pass, pass") among neighbors, to a cultural treasure bearing historical memory, this step across is both a recognition of the value of a century-old craft and a well-deserved affirmation of the silent perseverance of generation after generation of craftsmen.
Hujihua insists on keeping intangible cultural heritage skills in the hands of craftsmen and passing them down from generation to generation through industrial practice. As the main body of productive protection practice for provincial-level intangible cultural heritage skills, Hujihua has always upheld the long-termist philosophy of "only making peanut oil," building a complete intergenerational inheritance system: establishing a training institute for ancient-method oil pressing skills, carrying on the master-apprentice training model that has been passed down for thousands of years, with the fifth-generation intangible cultural heritage inheritors as the main body of skill inheritance, personally guiding young craftsmen in honing their craft and comprehending the craftsman's heart. The older generation holds fast to the roots of the craft, while young people apply the craft to modern production lines — not becoming disconnected from the times, nor losing its authentic essence — forming a virtuous cycle of "old craftsmen passing on skills to new craftsmen, and new craftsmen guarding the ancient methods."
Holding Fast to the Essence of Ancient-Method Craftsmanship
Passing On the Authentic Ancient-Method Fragrance of the Old Oil Workshop
To truly make good peanut oil, Hujihua has chosen to take a slow path — using intangible cultural heritage skills as its measure, taking no shortcuts, and devoting itself single-mindedly to passing on that authentic ancient-method fragrance of the old oil workshop.
The thirteen procedures handed down by the older generation each contain the measure and wisdom of the ancient methods. Hujihua has distilled this craftsmanship into the "Six Ancient Methods," with every step preserving the essence of ancient-method skills. Hujihua Ancient-Method Small-Press Peanut Oil uses small presses for pressing; at the same output, it takes about ten times as long as an ordinary large press, but it better preserves the peanut flavor. It insists on taking only the first-pressed essence, solely to preserve the pure, original fragrance. Without cutting corners, without taking shortcuts, and without sacrificing flavor for expedience, Hujihua retains its authentic "foolish effort," safeguarding the rich, mellow fragrance of peanut oil.
This insistence on "slowing down to guard the craftsman's heart" has also earned Hujihua Ancient-Method Small-Press Peanut Oil the Best Product Flavor Award at the 2024 Global Food Industry Awards. For Hujihua, the living inheritance of intangible cultural heritage skills has never been a slogan shouted aloud, but rather the quality hidden in every drop of oil and the care contained in every procedure.
Content and Industry in Resonance
Bringing Intangible Cultural Heritage Skills into Daily Life and to the World
The moving core of intangible cultural heritage skills can be the fragrance of peanuts that greets you when opening a bottle, or the familiar warmth of everyday life when cooking — in essence, it is the wisdom of life hidden in every meal and passed down for a hundred years.
The creative core of City of Intangible Cultural Heritage: Guardian Season is precisely to pull intangible cultural heritage skills back from cultural symbols to the hustle and bustle of everyday life. The cameras pass over the wooden press tools of the old Qingdao oil workshop, recording the perseverance of inheritors who have maintained the same constancy for many years (十年如一日, shi nian ru yi ri - "ten, years, like, one, day"); they also enter modern production workshops, presenting how ancient-method skills are broken down and reassembled in detail to achieve standardized implementation. The program does not merely tell intangible cultural heritage stories — it also conducts a vivid cultural popularization: old crafts can be integrated into the fabric of contemporary life in new forms.
Hujihua insists that intangible cultural heritage skills should be tasted and chosen, integrated into three daily meals, and achieve transformation and application. From intangible cultural heritage stories on screen to authentic fragrance on the dining table, from the wooden press craftsmanship of the old oil workshop to modern production processes, the cooperation between Hujihua and City of Intangible Cultural Heritage: Guardian Season is both an innovative exploration of communication models for intangible cultural heritage culture and a practical sample of "content IP + industrial entity" jointly guarding intangible cultural heritage skills — the program renews public awareness through content, the brand implements living inheritance through industry, connecting in both directions and resonating with each other, allowing intangible cultural heritage skills to be fully integrated into life.
As a national brand inheriting intangible cultural heritage skills, Hujihua uses a bottle of peanut oil as its vehicle, transmitting the Eastern life wisdom of following the seasons, guarding the original flavor, and the principle that meticulous work yields high-quality results (慢工出细活, man gong chu xi huo - "slow, work, produce, fine, work") to ever farther places, offering consumers not only a rich peanut fragrance but also the life wisdom hidden in everyday life.
Intangible cultural heritage is about persevering through repetition and taking every detail to the extreme. Inwardly, it roots itself in the everyday; outwardly, it sets out with warmth, transmitting the faint light of culture. With the mellow fragrance of ancient methods, Hujihua opens a new chapter for national enterprises in upholding the living inheritance of intangible cultural heritage skills.
Data source: Yihai Kerry Food Marketing Co., Ltd.
Return to TopOn September 21, 2021, President Xi Jinping proposed the Global Development Initiative at the General Debate of the 76th Session of the United Nations General Assembly. Over the past five years, the Initiative has evolved from a Chinese proposition into an international consensus, expanded from aligning goals to enriching practice, and won broad acclaim and active participation from the international community. China has carried out more than 2,000 cooperation projects with various parties, trained over 200,000 personnel of various kinds, and benefited people in more than 120 countries, injecting strong impetus into accelerating the implementation of the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
This edition invites domestic and international experts to explain the practical foundations, contemporary value, and cooperation outcomes of the Global Development Initiative, demonstrating China's sense of responsibility in upholding multilateralism, improving global governance, and promoting the common development of all countries.
Zhu Xufeng (Dean of the School of Public Policy and Management, Tsinghua University)
Li Sifan (Resident Representative of the United Nations Development Programme in China)
Teka Ntahub (Former State Minister of Trade and Industry of Ethiopia)
Evandro Carvalho (Professor of International Law, Fluminense Federal University, Brazil)
The core concepts and principles of the Initiative are a distillation and elevation of China's long-term development experience
Zhu Xufeng: The Global Development Initiative is deeply rooted in the long-term practice of the Communist Party of China in uniting and leading the Chinese people to advance modernization. The CPC has always treated development as the top priority in governing and rejuvenating the country, adhered to a people-centered development philosophy, and ensured that the fruits of development benefit all the people more and more fairly.
China's development is built upon a governance system capable of translating long-term goals into consistent policies and then converting those policies into tangible results. The CPC plays its leadership core role in exercising overall leadership and coordinating the efforts of all sides, maintains the continuity of national development strategies and public policies, and continuously advances tasks requiring long-term investment, such as infrastructure development and improvement of people's livelihoods.
The Global Development Initiative extends to the international level the CPC's philosophy of pursuing development for the people, relying on the people, and sharing development fruits among the people, reflecting the CPC's global vision of promoting the common development of all humanity, and providing a new option and useful reference for developing countries to independently explore their own paths to modernization. The core concepts and principles of the Global Development Initiative — namely development first, people-centered approach, universal and inclusive benefits, innovation-driven growth, harmony between humanity and nature, and action orientation — are a distillation and elevation of China's long-term development experience.
Evandro Carvalho: Long-term, close observation has led me to recognize that China's development achievements are the result of the coordinated advancement of infrastructure construction, scientific and technological innovation, improvement of people's livelihoods, and green transformation. The continuously expanding high-speed railway network has connected regions more closely, creating more development opportunities for small and medium-sized cities and rural areas; the rapid spread of digital payments and e-commerce, coupled with convenient transportation networks and people-benefiting public policies, has created more opportunities for employment and income growth for more people.
China's development demonstrates distinct sustainability. From ecological civilization and a Beautiful China to comprehensive rural revitalization, China has placed increasing emphasis on the coordinated development of the economy, society, and environment, focusing both on improving the lives of the present generation and on considering the long-term impact of development on future generations. Infrastructure, digital technology, public services, and green transformation support one another, enabling the fruits of development to better benefit people's daily lives. Adhering to a people-centered approach and focusing on long-term development constitute important features of China's development practice and have also laid a solid foundation for the proposal of the Global Development Initiative.
Teka Ntahub: China's development is a long-term, comprehensive process encompassing practical exploration, institutional adjustment, accumulation of human resources, infrastructure construction, industrial upgrading, technological progress, and integration into the global economic system. Through its own practice, China has proven that countries can explore development paths suited to their own characteristics based on their national conditions, strengthening the confidence of developing countries in achieving self-directed development.
The most valuable aspect of China's experience worth learning from is its firm resolve and systematic approach to solving development problems: establishing priorities for long-term development, investing heavily in human capital and infrastructure, supporting the development of productive sectors, drawing lessons through policy experimentation, continuously enhancing technological capabilities, and maintaining the continuity of development strategies. The Global Development Initiative advocates mutual learning and adaptation in light of local conditions, transforming common development principles into development practices that conform to the realities of each country.
Li Sifan: China's development trajectory shows that a country's development and global development can reinforce and strengthen each other. The stronger a country's economic level, institutions, and innovation capacity, the better positioned it is to contribute to global development through financing, technology, and knowledge sharing. On the premise of upholding international cooperation, development can bring both greater domestic prosperity and enhanced capacity to support global sustainable development.
China has benefited from international cooperation in its development process and is now increasingly becoming an important contributor to global development. Through South-South cooperation and cooperation with UN agencies, including the United Nations Development Programme, China shares resources and experience in areas such as poverty reduction, green development, and digital transformation. The Global Development Initiative continues and embodies this process, transforming common development aspirations into tangible development outcomes through practical cooperation that is oriented toward partner countries' priorities and development visions, draws on international good practices, and is based on the principles of the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
It both clarifies the value goals of development and answers questions of development momentum, implementation pathways, and criteria for results
Li Sifan: Problems such as widening inequality, climate change, biodiversity loss, demographic shifts, and accelerating technological change are becoming common challenges faced by all countries. At the same time, many countries still face huge financing gaps and constrained fiscal space, limiting their capacity to invest in solutions and advance sustainable development.
Against this backdrop, placing development at the center of the international agenda is of paramount importance. The Global Development Initiative emphasizes development first, universal and inclusive benefits, and action orientation, helping to steer international development cooperation toward solutions that produce tangible results and bridge the gap between development commitments and measurable outcomes on the ground. The Global Development Initiative is highly aligned with the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and its 17 Sustainable Development Goals, helping to bring together partnerships, development resources, and practical solutions to support countries in advancing toward global goals while pursuing their own sustainable development priorities and realizing their development visions.
Zhu Xufeng: In the face of a widening development deficit, the Global Development Initiative advocates placing development at the core of the international agenda. The Initiative upholds development first, responding to the problems of insufficient development momentum in some countries and the marginalization of development issues; upholds a people-centered approach and universal and inclusive benefits, responding to the problems of poverty, inequality, and imbalanced distribution of development fruits; upholds innovation-driven growth and harmony between humanity and nature, providing ideas for addressing problems such as the weakening of traditional development momentum, the widening digital divide, and pressure for green transformation; and upholds action orientation, helping to bridge the gap between development commitments and actual results.
The Global Development Initiative both clarifies the value goals of development and answers questions of development momentum, implementation pathways, and criteria for results, organically combining equity, green development, innovation, and pragmatism, transcending the traditional approach of measuring development solely by economic growth rates, and providing a systematic solution to problems such as development imbalance and insufficient momentum. The Initiative supports the implementation of the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, injecting new momentum into the development and revitalization of all countries, especially countries of the Global South, through political consensus, resource pooling, and practical action.
Evandro Carvalho: Eliminating social inequality, advancing industrialization, improving infrastructure, accelerating digital transformation, and achieving green development are common aspirations of developing countries. One of the most significant contributions of China's development practice is proving that modernization does not equate to Westernization. For the Global South, what matters is to more firmly proceed from its own realities and explore modernization paths suited to its own national conditions.
The Global Development Initiative respects the right of the people of all countries to independently choose their development paths, responding to developing countries' emphasis on development autonomy and policy space. Global South countries need not only funding, technology, and infrastructure, but also more equal participation in international agenda-setting, rule-making, and allocation of development resources. The Initiative upholds the central role of the United Nations in international affairs, helping to enhance the representation and voice of the Global South in global development governance and enabling different countries to translate common development principles into diverse development practices.
Teka Ntahub: Many African countries possess abundant resources, large young populations, and vast markets, but converting these advantages into sustained momentum still requires partnerships capable of creating jobs, nurturing industries, promoting technological progress, and enhancing capacity for self-directed development.
The Global Development Initiative reinforces and is reinforced by global and regional development agendas such as the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the African Union's Agenda 2063. The Sustainable Development Goals provide a global framework, regional agendas reflect the development visions of different regions, and the Global Development Initiative helps African countries translate visions into action through cooperation in areas such as poverty reduction, food security, vocational training, clean energy, infrastructure, industrialization, and digital transformation. Development agendas at different levels complement one another, helping to pool international resources and partner strength to accelerate the implementation of common development goals while respecting countries' development autonomy.
China-proposed, multi-party participation, demand-oriented — translating shared concepts and development consensus into concrete actions
Zhu Xufeng: In the five years since the Global Development Initiative was proposed, it has evolved from conceptual propositions into institutionalized, project-based international cooperation practice, gradually forming a cooperation system in which concepts, platforms, projects, and capacity support one another. China has established the Global Development and South-South Cooperation Fund, supported the development of the Global Development Initiative project pool, and carried out cooperation with UN agencies and developing countries, promoting the implementation of a number of projects in poverty reduction, food security, public health, green development, and digital inclusion.
The Global Development Initiative leverages the UN framework to pool the strength of all parties, translating the international community's development consensus into concrete actions. At present, more than 130 countries and international organizations support the Initiative and participate in cooperation, and nearly 100 countries and international and regional organizations have signed cooperation documents with China on the Initiative, fully demonstrating that the consensus on development first has taken deep root. The Group of Friends of the Global Development Initiative has expanded to 88 countries, and the UN Initiative Advancement Working Group has attracted the active participation of more than 20 development agencies. This cooperation model of China-proposed, multi-party participation, and demand orientation supports the United Nations in playing a central role in global development affairs and also embodies the principle of extensive consultation, joint contribution, and shared benefits and true multilateralism. China not only provides funding and project support, but also focuses on combining project implementation with technology sharing, talent training, policy exchange, and capacity building, helping partner countries strengthen their endogenous development momentum, enriching the supply of international public goods through concrete actions, and making positive contributions to solving problems such as the fragmentation of development resources, insufficient alignment of demand, and slow project implementation.
Li Sifan: The important value of the Global Development Initiative lies in translating shared concepts and development consensus into concrete actions. The United Nations Development Programme and China have jointly implemented more than 35 development projects funded by the Global Development and South-South Cooperation Fund, covering 24 countries in Asia, Africa, Eastern Europe, and Latin America, directly benefiting more than 18 million people.
Among them, the "Livelihood Support Project for Urban Poor Communities" implemented in Bangladesh is a typical case. The project was designed according to local priority needs, providing both immediate support to vulnerable families and vocational training, entrepreneurship support, and livelihood opportunities to help them strengthen their development resilience. As of June this year, the project has covered approximately 387,000 people in six cities, with more than 800 beneficiaries having received productive assets to start or expand micro-enterprises and obtain sustainable income. The project also works through local governments, community organizations, and volunteers to strengthen local implementation capacity and strive to ensure that the benefits continue after the project concludes. This project demonstrates that when development funding, professional capacity, and national ownership are precisely applied to local priorities, good development outcomes can be achieved. The combination of China's development resources and practical experience, the professional capacity and global networks of UN agencies, and the leadership capacity of partner countries themselves helps ensure that solutions are adapted to local realities, locally owned, and responsive to community needs, and translates international cooperation into measurable, tangible improvements in people's lives.
Teka Ntahub: China's experience in industrial parks, manufacturing clusters, supply chain improvement, and industrial upgrading provides a useful reference for Global South countries. Countries can, in light of their own realities, promote better integration of raw material production with local processing and manufacturing, strengthen links between vocational and technical education institutions, universities, and industry, and enhance local technological capacity through joint research, local assembly, and technical training. The core of cooperation is not to copy the Chinese model, but to help countries form development solutions suited to their own national conditions through knowledge sharing, policy experimentation, and capacity building, so that development outcomes continuously empower local industries, employment, technology, and innovation.
Evandro Carvalho: Cooperation between Brazil and China in trade, investment, science and technology, and other fields shows that China's products, technologies, and innovation achievements can create jobs and income for partner countries. The significance of cooperation lies not only in the scale of trade and investment, but also in creating new development opportunities, bringing innovative resources, and enhancing industrial capacity. Combining bilateral cooperation with local development needs helps achieve mutual reinforcement between corporate growth and the economic and social development of the host country.
Whether it is the Juncao technology helping global poverty reduction or the sustainable development satellites sharing data synchronously, the achievements of the Global Development Initiative have brought tangible well-being to the people of many developing countries. Looking ahead, the leading role of the Global Development Initiative should be further brought into play, the articulation between bilateral cooperation, regional cooperation, and South-South cooperation should be strengthened, multilateral mechanisms such as BRICS cooperation should be fully utilized, and mature experience in infrastructure, scientific and technological innovation, and green development should be shared with more countries. By transforming the outcomes of individual projects into sustainable and replicable development experience, the Global Development Initiative can provide practical pathways for more Global South countries to implement the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and advance modernization.
(Compiled and edited by People's Daily reporters Song Yiran, Li Xinyi, and Shen Xiaoxiao)
Return to TopBy: 董 煜
For some time now, "K-shaped divergence" has become a high-frequency term in the online public opinion arena and in some market interpretations. Some analyses directly interpret the differences in industry fortunes, regional speeds, and individual gains and losses that have emerged during China's economic transformation as a solidified bifurcation of the economy into two poles, a permanent cleavage between strong and weak, and even paint a pessimistic picture of confrontation between new and old industries, divergence between large and small enterprises, and a continuously widening gap between rich and poor. Such views confuse phenomena with essence, and short-term fluctuations with long-term trends, equating the phased "temperature differences" of the transition period with trend-level "cracks." This is a one-sided understanding of the logic of how China's economy operates, and it needs to be examined by eliminating falsehoods to restore the original truth (正本清源, zheng ben qing yuan - "correct the origin, clear the source").
Looking at the conceptual origin, the "K-shaped recovery" was proposed by Wall Street institutions after the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, corresponding to a scenario in which capital accelerates its concentration in the financial sector and among leading enterprises, while the middle class relatively shrinks. In some Western countries, after the crisis, large enterprises, tech giants, and high-income groups rapidly recovered along the upper arm of the "K," while small and medium-sized enterprises, traditional industries, and ordinary wage earners kept sliding along the lower arm of the "K," and such divergence, within the solidified institutional structures of the West, may show a self-reinforcing tendency, evolving into social and economic cleavages that are difficult to bridge.
Using such a "Western ruler" to measure China's economy is itself a methodological case of applying theories or methods mechanically without flexibility (生搬硬套, sheng ban ying tao - "vividly copy, rigidly apply"). Over more than 40 years of reform and opening up, China's economy has achieved a historic transformation from extensive growth based on scale and speed toward intensive growth based on quality and efficiency. Using "K-shaped divergence" to describe these changes in China's economy involves at least the following three biases:
The first bias is allowing partial, localized perceptions to obscure the overall, overarching situation. In assessing the macroeconomy, one cannot simply substitute the warmth or coldness of individual industries, individual regions, or individual groups for the judgment of the overall operational situation. Looking at core indicators, the foundation of China's economy remains stable: in the first half of the year, GDP grew by 4.7% year-on-year, within a reasonable range; new drivers of growth represented by high-end manufacturing, the digital-intelligent economy, and modern services contributed more than 40% to economic growth, with the economy's characteristics of moving toward the new and toward quality being very pronounced and the trend accelerating; the surveyed urban unemployment rate averaged 5.2%, with the overall employment foundation basically stable; the bottom lines of food security, energy security, and industrial and supply chain security have been firmly held. The International Monetary Fund also raised its forecast for China's economic growth in July this year. Focusing such an overall picture on the "descending" side is clearly drawing general conclusions from biased or incomplete evidence (以偏概全, yi pian gai quan - "take the partial, cover the whole").
The second bias is underestimating the capacity of traditional industries to undergo a complete and fundamental transformation (脱胎换骨, tuo tai huan gu - "shed the fetus, change the bones") and upgrade. Because China attaches great importance to promoting digital transformation, intelligent upgrading, and green transition, a large number of traditional enterprises are, through technological innovation, process optimization, and business model innovation, reducing costs and increasing efficiency, expanding markets, and achieving a leap from low-end, extensive operations toward high-end, high-quality operations. The accompanying clearing of outdated production capacity and elimination of inefficient models are positive changes of industrial metabolism, quality improvement, and efficiency enhancement. If one only captures the painful fragments of adjustment while ignoring the overall efforts of transformation and upgrading, the conclusions drawn are bound to be distorted.
The third bias is ignoring China's economy's powerful endogenous capacity for convergence, rebalancing, and repair. The "K-shaped divergence" presupposes that the dividends of emerging industries can only settle in a few leading enterprises anda few high-end segments, and that divergence will only grow wider and become permanently solidified. Such analysis fails to see that, supported by China's complete industrial system, super-large market, and smooth economic circulation, the dividends of new drivers have never been confined to emerging industries alone: they spread along the industrial chain through supporting collaboration to the vast number of small and medium-sized enterprises, transmit through technology spillovers and talent mobility to more fields, and extend through the opening of application scenarios to lower-tier markets, ultimately manifesting as a broad improvement in the vitality of business entities, the income of workers, and the consumption capacity of residents. In other words, the more robust the new drivers become, the broader the coverage of growth dividends.
On the question of how to view "K-shaped divergence," there is a key starting point, namely, that China possesses an institutional advantage that Western economies do not, and places greater emphasis on the fairness and inclusiveness of development. The starting point of economic work is to improve people's living standards, but not by flattening reasonable industrial differences or abolishing the market's process of natural selection or survival of the fittest (优胜劣汰, you sheng lie tai - "superior wins, inferior is eliminated"). To avoid the phenomenon of "winner takes everything" (赢家通吃, ying jia tong chi - "winner, eats all") during the growth of new drivers, one can, through antitrust enforcement, fair competition review, and support policies for small and medium-sized enterprises, prevent leading enterprises from excessively squeezing supporting enterprises by virtue of their technological and capital advantages; at the same time, supported by a normal wage growth mechanism and the expansion of social security coverage, promote the gradual conversion of industrial dividends into income growth for urban and rural residents. As long as we adhere to and implement the people-centered development philosophy, we will certainly be able to prevent, at the source, the problems of class solidification, industrial cleavage, and social tearing seen in the pathology of the Western-style "K."
Of course, clarifying the myths about "K-shaped divergence" by no means implies avoiding contradictions. We clearly see that the problem of unbalanced and inadequate development still needs to be continuously addressed. By unswervingly deepening reform and expanding opening-up, continuously cultivating new quality productive forces, transforming and upgrading traditional industries, smoothing economic circulation, and optimizing income distribution, the fruits of high-quality development will surely benefit all the people more extensively and more fairly.
(The author is Executive Vice President of the China Institute for Development Planning at Tsinghua University and Vice President of the China Private Economy Research Association.)
Return to TopBy: 本报记者 方 敏
Walking through the villages of eastern Henan, the calm of daily life is not without its small disturbances. An elderly person falls and breaks a bone; a roof is torn off by the wind; a villager's electric bicycle is stolen... These items listed on insurance companies' payout ledgers reflect the most authentic daily reality of ordinary rural China.
The living conditions of farmers are the most direct yardstick for measuring the effectiveness of comprehensive rural revitalization. Our reporter recently visited Qi County, Kaifeng City, Henan Province on several occasions, and simultaneously sorted through 6,640 payout records for "comprehensive governance household property insurance" (综治家财险) paid by multiple insurance companies from January 1, 2025 to June 30, 2026, to observe the real risks, resilience, and ongoing changes in China's rural areas today.
Personal injury accidents account for approximately 88% of all incidents, with the elderly and children becoming the high-incidence groups for accidents.
From January 1, 2025 to June 30, 2026, PICC Property and Casualty, Zhongyuan Agricultural Insurance, and China Life Insurance paid out a total of 6,640 claims under "comprehensive governance household property insurance" in Qi County."Comprehensive governance household property insurance," full name "household property insurance under comprehensive social security governance," differs from commercial insurance in that it is a benefit-oriented insurance program led by the Henan Provincial Political and Legal Affairs Commission, spearheaded by local Party committees and governments, with premiums subsidized by fiscal funds and operated by insurance companies on a market basis. Taking the household as the unit, paying 100 yuan covers the entire family, encompassing 39 types of claimable items including theft, robbery, accidental injury, and death. In Qi County, over 32,600 farmer households have taken out this insurance.
Among the 6,640 claims, personal injury accidents account for approximately 88.4% — falls, sprains, cuts, burns, and cat scratches and dog bites being the main types. In Qianlicheng Village, Yanggu Town, an 81-year-old elderly person surnamed Chen suffered a fracture from a fall and has been bedridden until early August; in Xizhai Township, a 5-year-old child fell and injured his head while playing, still wearing bandages... Worth noting is the age structure of the injured population: those over 60 and children under 14 together account for approximately65%.
Liu Qingyong, Party branch secretary of Wuqicheng Village, remarked, "The elderly fall, children get scratched by cats or bitten by dogs — these happen frequently."In Zhongcheng Village, 81-year-old Grandma Liu injured her leg in a fall last year."If it weren't for this insurance, I would have had to bear the cost myself," she said.
Liu Ali, deputy general manager of PICC Property and Casualty's Qi County branch, introduced:"In 2025, our total premium income was 1.36 million yuan, and claims paid totaled 1.38 million yuan, putting us in a state of slight loss, but we insist on putting social interests first and providing protection and support (保驾护航, baojia huhuang - "protect, guard, escort") for economic and social development."
"In the past, when accidents occurred, the masses' losses had nowhere to be compensated, making it extremely easy for them to shift their grievances onto others or the government, giving rise to conflicts."Teng Yongzhong, director of the Institute of Agricultural Economics and Rural Development at the Henan Academy of Agricultural Sciences, stated that the payouts of "comprehensive governance household property insurance" have, in a sense, become a form of compensation substitution: when family care capacity is weakened by the outflow of labor, the social insurance mechanism assumes this portion of risk costs."
Shortcomings in rural infrastructure have seen improvement, but room for enhancement still remains.
Qi County is located on the eastern Henan plain and is susceptible to natural disasters such as strong winds. On the payout ledger, approximately120 cases are related to these, mostly involving"roof tiles blown off,""solar water heaters torn down,""leaking roofs and damaged walls,"and the like. During visits to Weizhuang Village, Hezhuang Village,and other villages, our reporter saw several roofs that had just been repaired. Meanwhile, the construction standards and disaster resistance capacity of old rural houses remain relatively low. On the payout ledger, phrases such as"aging wiring,""short-circuited wiring,"and"unstable voltage"appear repeatedly.
Over the course of a year and a half, there were 147 fire-related claims, accounting for only 2.21% of total claims by number, but the cumulative payout amount reached 355,400 yuan, representing 11.49% of the total payout amount, with an average single payout of 2,418 yuan — making fire the risk with the greatest loss per single incident."Once a fire breaks out in rural areas, the losses are enormous and can easily trigger a return to poverty. Villager Hou Yongjian's home, for instance, caught fire due to aging wiring; the house became uninhabitable and had to be converted into a chicken farm."Hou Shejian, Party branch secretary of Weizhuang Village, said.
Rural areas face significant hidden dangers from wind and fire disasters, but there are still some shortcomings in the progress of dilapidated housing renovation, power grid upgrading, and rural fire protection facility configuration across multiple villages. A village cadre noted:"Village cadres are few but tasks are many, so it's easy to just tackle whichever task is most urgent, and some work inevitably lags behind."
Reassuringly, claims for other types of social security risks such as collisions and explosions totaled only24 cases, accounting for 0.36% of total claims. This reflects that the overall social security environment in Qi County's rural areas is sound, with extremely rare occurrences of major vicious public security incidents.
The number of theft cases has dropped significantly, with police officers, grid workers,and other forces deployed to the grassroots playing an important role.
On the payout ledger, 18 theft cases were recorded. Jia Baobiao, a villager from Wuqicheng Village, said:"Now the villages have surveillance cameras installed too — who would still dare to steal?"
The deployment of police forces to the grassroots was a phenomenon our reporter observed while visiting multiple villages in Qi County. Many larger villages have police service rooms established. Villages without police service rooms have all arranged for police officers assigned to cover the village. This sinking of police forces has both prevented conflicts from escalating and deterred lawbreakers.
Many claim cases also present one characteristic: the remarks column almost always reads"police have been notified.""This is a design feature of the 'comprehensive governance household property insurance.'"Liu Ali introduced,"We link insurance claims with the police reporting procedure, which both facilitates claims processing and encourages villagers to enhance their legal awareness."
In the past, many villagers were reluctant to report to police, believing that for many minor cases,"reporting to police is useless,"but claims processing has objectively promoted the standardized registration of rural public security incidents. As a result, grassroots police stations have gained more complete baseline data on social security, which also aids in solving theft cases.
Besides police officers, the most numerous force deployed to the grassroots is grid workers. Among the 6,640 claims, phrases such as"neighbor reported the case"and"village Party member reported the case on behalf"appear repeatedly. Liu Xiaoguang, deputy director of the Organization Department of the Qi County Party Committee, introduced that the county has promoted the establishment of Party branches on the grid, setting up 268 grid Party cells, with over 1,300 Party member central households connecting and serving more than 4,000 households of people in difficulty, elderly living alone,and other such groups.
Among all claim cases, some payout records are marked with"delayed reporting""unable to report, ultimately reported on behalf by grid workers, neighbors, or Party members."For this segment of the population, village cadres have become"quasi-claims adjusters" — filling out forms, running procedures, making phone calls on their behalf."This, to some extent, has increased our workload, but it has also brought cadre-mass relations closer."Liu Qingyong said.
In the first half of this year, the total number of claims paid decreased by22.23% year-on-year, indicating that grassroots governance exploration has achieved results.
Compared with the same period in 2025, in the first half of 2026, the number of claims dropped from 1,970 to 1,532, a decrease of22.23%, and the total payout amount decreased by27.4%. Overall, this presents a trend of"dual decline in both case numbers and payout amounts."
"We also feed back the data registered from claims to departments such as public security, human resources and social security, and medical insurance. Under the coordination of the organization department, much work has been done in advance, some hidden dangers have been eliminated, and the probability of accidents occurring has also decreased."Liu Ali said.
"Doing work in advance" — what exactly has been done? Fire-prone areas are reported to fire departments, promoting rectification of fire safety in those areas; theft-prone areas are fed back to public security departments, optimizing the monitoring layout of the village's"Sharp Eyes Project"surveillance system... In Sumu Township, after the fire department obtained data showing the township's dense concentration of fire-related claims, it placed the township on its priority inspection list and conducted"double random"spot checks on key venues within the township. After fire inspections and rectification, the incidence of fires in Sumu Township has dropped significantly.
The data outlines some achievements in grassroots governance, but also exposes some shortcomings. For example, the protection structure does not match the risk structure: for risks with relatively high single-incident losses, such as fires and natural disasters, the current level of protection remains insufficient. In Nigou Township, a villager's house was reduced to ashes by a fire."A payout of a few thousand yuan is far from enough."This villager said. The average single payout for fire-related claims is only2,418 yuan, far below the actual losses of rural household fires, and unable to effectively cover the major property losses caused by extreme risks.
The capacity to prevent a return to poverty in the face of extreme risks also still needs further improvement. Claims of 2,000 yuan or more account for only8% of cases, but contribute33% of the total payout amount; such cases mostly correspond to major property losses and medical expenses of rural households, constituting the main risk source causing farmers to return to poverty. However, the current insurance protection provides insufficient coverage for such extreme risks and cannot effectively cover the household economic losses caused by major risks."The 'comprehensive governance household property insurance' is only one link in the institutional system for preventing a return to poverty. To truly hold the line against large-scale returns to poverty, it is also necessary for institutional mechanisms such as monitoring of risks causing poverty return, medical security, social assistance, and industrial support to work in concert."Teng Yongzhong said.
Carrying out rural governance requires not only relying on the strength of rural areas themselves, but also the input of more resources and the articulation of more institutions. As these forces continue to converge, the path of comprehensive rural revitalization will be walked with greater stability.
Reporter's Notes
"Four ounces" can indeed move "a thousand pounds"
Cat scratches, dog bites, falls and fractures... These accidents are very common in rural areas. In the past, few people managed such problems, and small matters turned into big ones, triggering conflicts among neighbors, family members, cadres and masses. Today, the payouts of the"comprehensive governance household property insurance," evolving from a mere economic compensation tool into a mechanism deeply embedded in grassroots governance, participating in risk prevention and conflict resolution, have become a"new key"to unlocking social governance difficulties.
Reassuringly, the insurance company's payouts exceed its premium income; although operating at a slight loss, it still carries out this work solidly. This is precisely the embodiment of the people-centered approach in financial work, and it has indeed played the role of"moving a thousand pounds with four ounces."This value orientation of putting the interests of the masses first has guided the formation of a social governance mechanism capable of effectively enhancing social resilience, resolving grassroots conflicts, and promoting fairness and justice.
Of course, to fully leverage the role of this"key," it is also necessary for the government to strengthen guidance, refine management, increase support, improve the adaptability of products and services, and for all sectors of society to participate jointly, so as to better build a new governance pattern of joint contribution, joint governance, and shared benefits.
Return to TopBy: 吕俊彦
To advance manufacturing from "made" to "intelligent," it is necessary to carry the principle of "investing in people" through the entire process of transformation and upgrading, enhance workers' ability to adapt to and master new technologies, and enable intelligent manufacturing to better serve human development and meet the people's needs for a better life.
At present, a new round of technological revolution and industrial transformation is accelerating, with artificial intelligence, industrial internet, intelligent robots, and other technologies integrating into manufacturing at a faster pace, driving profound changes in production methods, organizational forms, and job structures. The development of intelligent manufacturing depends not only on advanced equipment, industrial software, and digital infrastructure, but also on high-quality workers who can master, apply, and improve technology. The more advanced the technology and the more complex the system, the more necessary it is to emphasize "investing in people," continuously enhancing workers' knowledge, skills, and innovation capacity, so as to expand human development space through technological progress and better promote the free and comprehensive development of the human person.
From manufacturing to intelligent manufacturing, what changes primarily is the way people participate in production. Marxist political economy holds that workers are the most dynamic factor among the productive forces. The intelligence of machinery cannot be separated from human knowledge, experience, and creativity; equipment must be researched, developed, and designed by people, systems must be operated and maintained by people, and processes must be continuously improved by people. In traditional manufacturing, workers are more engaged in direct operation and repetitive labor; in the intelligent manufacturing stage, more and more proceduralized and standardized tasks are handed over to machines, and workers increasingly shift toward technological R&D, system control, process optimization, and production organization. The role of people is shifting from operating machines toward, to a greater extent, commanding the entire production system. Only when people's capabilities improve in tandem can advanced equipment truly be used well and used flexibly, thereby being transformed into real productive forces.
From manufacturing to intelligent manufacturing, the purpose is to better promote human development. In analyzing the labor process, Marx regarded tools and machines as the "active organs" of people, holding that they extend people's natural limbs and enhance people's ability to transform nature. As intelligent manufacturing continues to develop, more and more repetitive, high-intensity, and high-risk labor can be undertaken by machines, thereby reducing workers' direct exposure to hazardous working environments and creating better conditions for safeguarding labor safety. As of the end of 2025, China has cumulatively built more than 35,000 basic-level, more than 8,200 advanced-level, more than 500 excellence-level, and cultivated 15 leading-level intelligent factories, with the numerical control rate of key processes in key industrial enterprises rising from 52.1% in 2020 to 68.6% at the end of 2025. In the first half of this year, basic-level intelligent factories have increased to more than 56,000, and intelligent manufacturing is accelerating its transition from pilot demonstration to large-scale promotion. As robots and intelligent systems enter the production front line in greater numbers, working conditions and the operating environment continue to improve, providing workers with more space to upgrade skills, participate in innovation and creation, and achieve career development.
Looking to the future, to advance manufacturing from "made" to "intelligent," it is necessary to carry the principle of "investing in people" through the entire process of transformation and upgrading, enhance workers' ability to adapt to and master new technologies, and enable intelligent manufacturing to better serve human developmentand meet the people's needs for a better life.
On the one hand, accelerate the cultivation of high-quality workers around intelligent manufacturing. Persist in deeply implementing the "artificial intelligence+" action, accelerate the digital-and-intelligent transformation of manufacturing, promote artificial intelligence to empower key industries, and drive the continuous emergence of new occupations and new job types. It is necessary to promote the deep integration of the industrial chain, innovation chain, education chain, and talent chain, deepen the integration of industry and education and cooperation between schools and enterprises, so that specialty settings, course content, and practical teaching keep pace with technological change in a timely manner. When enterprises carry out intelligent transformation, they can simultaneously arrange personnel training, job conversion, and skill upgrading, providing workers with a stable channel for on-the-job learning, skill improvement, and career development. At the same time, it is necessary to cultivate strategic scientific-and-technological talent and outstanding engineers, expand the ranks of highly skilled talent and a new type of industrial workforce, further improve skill evaluation, job promotion, and income distribution mechanisms, so that workers' knowledge, skills, and innovation contributions are better reflected, forming a talent support system commensurate with the development of intelligent manufacturing.
On the other hand, the effectiveness of intelligent manufacturing development must ultimately land on meeting the people's needs for a better life. As people's consumption demands rapidly shift from "whether one has it" to "whether it is good," manufacturing must also better adapt to quality-oriented, diversified, and personalized demands. It is necessary to leverage the technological advantages of intelligent manufacturing, promote more precise product design, more flexible production organization, and more reliable quality control, and on the basis of accelerating the deep integration of advanced manufacturing and modern service industries, better meet the consumption needs of different groups and different scenarios. Adhering to people's needs as the guide, threading together technological innovation, product upgrading, service expansion, green development, and consumption quality improvement, promoting more high-quality products and services to enter daily life, transforming technological progress into improvement in quality of life, transforming industrial upgrading into enhancement of people's wellbeing, only then can the development achievements of intelligent manufacturing benefit the people more and more fairly, and better serve the comprehensive development of the human person.
The essence of modernization is the modernization of people. In measuring the quality of intelligent manufacturing development, it is necessary not only to pay attention to the improvement of production efficiency and industrial competitiveness, but also to attach importance to whether workers' development opportunities have increased and whether people's quality of life has improved. Paying greater attention to "investing in people" means enabling human development to move forward in the same direction (同向而行, tong xiang er xing - "same, direction, and, walk") as technological progress and industrial upgrading, so that the fruits of innovation better benefit the broad masses of workers and consumers.
(The author is a research fellow at the Research Center for Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era of the Party School of the CPC Central Committee (National Academy of Governance))
Return to TopBy: 李君强
To carry forward the spirit of scientists, we need not only solemn commemoration, but also to tell well the concrete, living people and their stories in everyday life.
Looking up while strolling through a shopping mall, the huge billboard features not a celebrity spokesperson, nor a new-product promotion, but the faces of scientists such as Qian Xuesen, Deng Jiaxian, Yuan Longping, and Yu Min. Recently, such scenes, starting from Heze, Zibo and other places in Shandong, have successively appeared in Hulunbuir, Inner Mongolia; Hefei, Anhui; Hangzhou, Zhejiang and other places, with passing citizens stopping to admire and "check in" with photos. The large commercial screens in city centers have taken the initiative to leave their most prominent positions to scientists.
Why does a poster of a scientist make so many people stop, take photos, and share it?
The historic achievements of China's science and technology endeavor are inseparable from the successive generations of scientists following one another (前赴后继, qian fu hou ji - "go forward, follow behind") and continuing the struggle. In 1958, Deng Jiaxian, aged 34, accepted the task of developing nuclear weapons, and from then on concealed his true identity (隐姓埋名, yin xing mai ming -"hide surname, bury name") for 28 years, bit by bit chewing through the hard bone of the theoretical design of the atomic bomb. Huang Xuhua was selected to participate in the development of nuclear submarines, tackling the challenge from scratch for 30 years, and personally took part in the ultimate deep-dive test, displaying the heroic spirit of "a foolish old man in his sixties, aspiring to explore the Dragon Palace; amid terrifying waves, finding joy within." Generation after generation of scientists integrated personal choices into the needs of the nation, and also gave the scientist spirit of patriotism, innovation, seeking truth, dedication, collaboration, and nurturing talent its concrete and moving annotations.
Our country has always had the fine tradition of respecting and upholding science. Today, scientific and technological innovation increasingly ventures deep into "uncharted territory," walking paths no one has walked before, which especially requires carrying forward the spirit of scientists to the whole society, particularly young people. This time, the public-welfare initiative of lighting up city screens with scientists, spontaneously joined by mall operators, yields commercial value to non-commercial value, allowing names that were already very familiar to people's ears (耳熟能详, er shu neng xiang -"ear, familiar, can, know") to leap out of textbooks and documentaries and appear amid a scene of heavy, continuous traffic (车水马龙, che shui ma long -"cart, water, horse, dragon") and the hustle and bustle of everyday life, becoming presences that can be felt and known in people's daily lives. The commercial big screen is originally the liveliest place in a city, where advertising is densest; the appearance of scientists' images there creates a sharp contrast and also evokes the respect that has long existed in people's hearts.
Since the beginning of this year, the ways in which various places carry forward the spirit of scientists have become more diverse. The Beijing Association for Science and Technology has formed lecture teams to carry forward the spirit of scientists, and the number of university student lecture teams has reached 165. Jinan, Shandong has innovatively launched a themed subway train on Line 4 dedicated to the spirit of scientists, allowing citizens to feel the scientific atmosphere during their daily commutes. Shenyang and Dalian in Liaoning have invited Huang Daoqun, daughter of Huang Weilu, a meritorious pioneer of the "Two Bombs, One Satellite" project, and Xin Yeyun, former work assistant of Yuan Longping, father of hybrid rice, to deliver themed reports for young people, telling stories of concealing one's identity and toiling in the fields. The stories of scientists have moved from exhibition halls into campuses, from historical materials onto stages, and the vehicles of dissemination are becoming increasingly rich.
What a society upholds is often reflected in what is frequently seen and what stories are repeatedly told in daily life. Thinking on a deeper level, the spontaneous dissemination by shopping malls this time shows that society does not lack recognition of scientists; to let the spirit of scientists take root and become firmly established (落地生根, luo di sheng gen -"land, ground, grow, root"), we need to find modes of dissemination that are close to ordinary people, so that people are willing to stop, learn about, and share the stories of scientists. Short-video platforms, mall big screens, public transit, subways, and other online and offline public spaces can all serve as vehicles of dissemination. A child sees the story of a scientist on the subway; a young person, while scrolling through short videos, learns about the years of steadfast perseverance behind a research breakthrough—these seemingly trivial encounters may not immediately change anyone's choices, but they will, bit by bit, shape the value orientation of society. To carry forward the spirit of scientists, we need not only solemn commemoration, but also to tell well the concrete, living people and their stories in everyday life. This enlightens us that, in telling the achievements of scientists, we must also tell of their perplexities and hardships in the pursuit of knowledge; while recording their "highlight" moments of breakthroughs, we should also present their long, steady daily perseverance.
The power of role models reaches straight into the soul. When those who create knowledge receive attention commensurate with the value of knowledge, when those who advance social progress receive respect commensurate with their contributions, becoming a scientist becomes the conscious aspiration of more and more young people—this will inject a more solid value foundation and talent support into building a powerful nation in science and technology.
Return to TopBy: 本报记者 吴月辉
The starry sky is vast and boundless, and exploration knows no end. Faster interconnection, more precise perception, and more reliable safeguards support our country's aerospace endeavors in advancing toward deeper and more distant frontiers.
The outline of the 15th Five-Year Plan proposes moderately front-loaded construction of new infrastructure, advancing the construction and intensive, efficient utilization of information and communication networks, a nationally integrated computing power network, and major science and technology infrastructure, as well as advancing the upgrading and digital-intelligent transformation of traditional infrastructure. With satellite constellations, space communications, and on-orbit computing power as important carriers, new space infrastructure is not only a new track for technological competition but is also expected to become a new foundation for the digital economy.
How can Earth-Moon communication be made more efficient, and how can satellites weave a "celestial network"? This edition launches the "Getting Close to New Space Infrastructure" series of reports, introducing the cutting-edge technologies of our country's aerospace development and exploring new industrial opportunities in the pursuit of the starry sky.
— Editor
Spanning deep space of approximately 400,000 kilometers, a beam of laser light shuttles between Earth and lunar orbit, like an invisible, intangible optical fiber, establishing a two-way high-speed laser communication link between Earth and the Moon. Recently, our country's scientific research team successfully completed an Earth-Moon two-way high-speed laser communication experiment, becoming the second country in the world to master deep-space laser communication technology. This major breakthrough marks the official advancement of our country's space laser communication from near-Earth orbit into cislunar space.
A Beam of Light, Erecting an Invisible Broadband Between Earth and the Moon
What is Earth-Moon laser communication? Simply put, it uses laser light as the carrier to complete data exchange between Earth and satellites orbiting the Moon.
"The role this beam of light plays is the same as the network cable installed at home — both are carriers of information transmission. It is like pulling an invisible optical fiber broadband between Earth and the Moon, enabling data to be transmitted at high speed over a distance of approximately 400,000 kilometers, which is why it is vividly likened to a 'space network cable.'" said Yang Lei, a researcher at the Technology and Engineering Center for Space Utilization of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and head of the laser communication experiment research team.
For a long time, our country's deep-space exploration has relied mainly on microwave communication for data return, but microwave communication has limited bandwidth, like an ordinary road with limited lanes — once a probe generates large volumes of images and observational data, the channel is highly prone to congestion. "The probe can fly out, but the precious data cannot come back" has become a major practical bottleneck plaguing deep-space exploration.
Compared with traditional microwaves, laser communication can increase the data rate by 10 to 100 times, and the concentrated beam is not easily intercepted, offering stronger confidentiality; at the same time, the onboard terminal equipment is small in size and light in weight, making it better suited to the stringent payload conditions of aerospace missions.
On this point, Yang Lei further explained: "Microwave communication is like an ordinary road with limited lanes, where traffic volume easily reaches saturation; laser communication is like a multi-lane highway that can accommodate more information racing or progressing alongside others at the same pace (并驾齐驱, bing jia qi qu - "side by side, drive together") without interfering with each other."
A set of intuitive data can convey the leap in speed: an uncompressed 8K panoramic photo of the lunar surface has 33 million pixels, with raw data of approximately 1.2 gigabits. The traditional Earth-Moon microwave communication rate is only a few megabits per second (Mbps); transmitting this image in full would take 4 to 5 minutes. This experiment achieved a downlink communication rate of 100 Mbps, and transmitting an equally high-definition image takes only 12 seconds.
Erecting an invisible broadband between Earth and the Moon requires surmounting three technical "mountains" — difficult aiming, weak signals, and slow transmission.
"Deep-space transmission distances are often hundreds of thousands of kilometers, imposing exacting requirements on beam aiming precision; after laser signals travel long distances to the ground, attenuation is extremely severe, and the signals become so weak as to be difficult to capture; high-speed transmission technology is constrained, and transmission speed has also been unable to improve." Yang Lei said.
Ultra-long-distance precision aiming was the primary challenge overcome in this experiment. Earth-Moon communication is like "threading a needle across ten thousand li": it is equivalent to precisely passing an extremely fine beam of light through a high-speed-moving "needle eye" at a distance of approximately 400,000 kilometers. Even an extremely tiny angular deviation at the transmitting end will produce a positional error of several kilometers by the time it reaches the vicinity of the target.
To this end, the research team innovatively proposed a two-way acquisition and tracking scheme suitable for ultra-long-distance, extremely weak signal conditions.
"Through calculation and systematic calibration of multiple factors such as satellite orbit, telescope installation and deformation errors, atmospheric refraction, and laser flight time, we keep the satellite in the sky and the telescope on the ground always aligned during motion, ensuring that the laser can accurately illuminate the predetermined position." said Zhan Yueying, associate researcher at the Technology and Engineering Center for Space Utilization of the Chinese Academy of Sciences.
After overcoming the aiming challenge, the challenge of extremely weak signal identification came in quick succession (接踵而至, jie feng er zhi - "follow heels, arrive"). When the laser crosses approximately 400,000 kilometers and reaches the ground, the signal has already attenuated to only a few remaining photons, and the ground telescope can receive very little signal. At the same time, moonlight, starlight, city lights, and other signals also mix in, interfering with the laser signal and making the discrimination of valid signals even more difficult — like accurately hearing the sound of a needle dropping in a noisy, bustling marketplace a thousand li away.
To address this challenge, the research team employed an "ultra-sensitive detector" capable of detecting single photons and developed a complex signal recognition algorithm to precisely filter through massive noise, extract valid signals, and successfully break through the bottleneck.
On the basis of achieving stable signal reception, the team continued to tackle difficulties and greatly improved data processing efficiency. This experiment preliminarily achieved communication rates of 1.25 Mbps uplink and 100 Mbps downlink.
Harder Than the Experiment Itself Was Perseverance During the Low Period
Hardware delivery was merely the beginning of breaking through the barriers. The entire on-orbit testing lasted more than two years, and in Yang Lei's words, it was almost like experiencing a series of numerous and arduous challenges (九九八十一难, jiu jiu ba shi yi nan - "nine nines, eighty-one difficulties").
In December 2021, the team received the development mission, leaving only two years for the development cycle of the onboard payload. At that time, there was no mature domestic experience to draw upon. To meet the satellite launch window, the team worked in two shifts, pushing forward integration and testing around the clock. In December 2023, the payload was delivered on schedule, and everyone breathed a sigh of relief, looking forward to its journey into space to conduct the experiment.
However, no one had anticipated that an unexpected incident would occur during the satellite launch phase — the solar panels were damaged, and the satellite could only "report for duty while injured."
Yang Lei still clearly remembers that moment. When the news came, he had just gotten off the plane and into a taxi. "At that moment, I couldn't help the tears from flowing."
More than two years of day-and-night hard work felt like a student who had studied diligently for years only to be told, before even entering the examination hall, that the exam was canceled. A tremendous sense of despair enveloped the entire team.
A few days later, news came from the special task group that satellite rescue efforts had achieved results and that there was still a possibility of conducting the experiment. But the cost of the damage was extremely heavy: the original experiment time was drastically reduced.
"The valid experiment windows were concentrated only in a few days at the beginning and middle of the lunar month. Sometimes, after finally waiting for a qualifying day, the ground might encounter rainy or overcast weather, and the experiment would be forced to be canceled." Zhan Yueying said.
For every hard-won experiment opportunity, the team stood ready in full battle array (严阵以待, yan zhen yi dai - "strict formation, await"). Half of the personnel set off half a month in advance to the Yunnan ground station for preparations, while the other half remained at the Beijing Flight Control Center. After each experiment, they immediately reviewed all data, iteratively optimized software models and ground equipment, and quietly waited for the next window.
The experiment itself was difficult, but harder than the experiment was perseverance during the low period. As time slipped away bit by bit, by the end of 2025, the on-orbit experiment still had not achieved a breakthrough. The long wait and repeated failures left many team members feeling dejected, sensing that success was feeling that the expected time is far off or unlikely to arrive (遥遥无期, yao yao wu qi - "distant, distant, no period").
Yang Lei kept encouraging the team: "We previously completed two high-risk aerospace missions. At the initial stage, everyone felt they were almost impossible to achieve, but in the end, both were completed successfully. Now, in every experiment, we have obtained valid data, and the system is continuously iterating and improving. As long as we persist, our efforts will eventually be rewarded."
"Though the road is long, walking it will bring arrival; though the task is difficult, doing it will bring success." During those most difficult days, Yang Lei forwarded this saying to the team's work group chat, and it became everyone's spiritual support. No one chose to give up; they persisted in cycling through analysis, verification, and optimization, enduring countless all-nighters, and finally welcomed the high-light moment when the link was successfully established. Afterwards, a colleague frankly admitted that without this persistence, the team would have found it hard to hold on until the moment of success.
This experiment was the first time internationally that two-way laser communication was completed on a special strategic orbit between Earth and the Moon. Objectively speaking, compared with the mature deep-space laser communication of some countries, our country still has a gap in communication rate and maximum communication distance.
"At present, our primary goal is to verify the autonomy, controllability, and systemic integrity of the entire system, not to blindly pursue extreme indicators." Yang Lei said that this breakthrough completed the leap "from 0 to 1," formally bringing our country's space laser communication from near-Earth orbit into cislunar space and placing it in the world's first tier.
Paving the Information Foundation for Future Deep-Space Exploration
Opening up the first Earth-Moon laser communication link is only the starting point for building our country's deep-space information infrastructure. Facing the practical needs of crewed lunar landing and lunar research station construction, Yang Lei stated that the team still has a series of clear goals to tackle.
Continuing to increase the rate is the primary task. At present, the onboard hardware already possesses the capability to reach internationally leading rate indicators, and the team plans to conduct rate upgrade experiments within the year. "But ground experiments are greatly constrained by weather; cloud cover and atmospheric conditions all affect the conduct of experiments, and specific execution will depend on the meteorological conditions at the ground station." Yang Lei frankly stated that besides running faster, they must also run more steadily.
In addition, most experiments are currently limited to nighttime, as sunlight causes strong interference. The team is concentrating efforts on tackling new technologies, hoping to break the nighttime limitation, explore the possibility of conducting communication under daytime and complex meteorological conditions, enhance the system's ability to resist strong light and atmospheric turbulence, reduce the probability of link interruption, and strive toward long-duration continuous and stable communication, making space communication as smooth and dropout-free as ground broadband.
More importantly, the Earth-Moon distance is only the starting point. Zhan Yueying stated that the high-precision tracking, weak-signal detection, and high-speed single-photon signal processing technologies verified this time can be further extended to Mars, asteroids, and even more distant deep-space missions, providing strong support for our country's deep-space exploration to achieve more original scientific results.
And the grander long-term blueprint is to evolve from "a single road" into "a network."
"Wherever our missions go, the information pathway must be laid there." Yang Lei said that this experiment is equivalent to completing the first step of network construction — first opening up a single link, then, with laser communication as the core, interweaving multiple links to build a complete Earth-Moon information network. At present, relevant departments are already demonstrating a routine Earth-Moon backbone communication network.
Looking back on this major technological breakthrough, Yang Lei and Zhan Yueying share the same insight: core technology has never been something waited for; it is something done and fought for. "Facing a domestic technological blank, we cannot shrink back and stop just because the road ahead is difficult. On the path of independent innovation, conviction and practical effort are both indispensable. We must dare to challenge world-class problems, and we must also be being down-to-earth and practical in one's actions (脚踏实地, jiao ta shi di - "feet, step on, solid, ground"), tackling real difficulties one step at a time." Yang Lei said.
Return to TopBy: 赵东元
Basic research requires setting aside utilitarian motives; truly valuable work often comes from long-term pursuit of the scientific questions themselves.
From zeolite molecular sieves to activated carbon, humanity's exploration of porous materials has spanned more than a century. Microporous materials with pore sizes smaller than 2 nanometers have been demonstrating great skill or ability (大显身手, da xian shen shou - "greatly, display, body, hand") in fields such as catalysis and adsorption, but the conversion and transport of large molecules require larger channels. Porous solids with pore sizes between 2 and 50 nanometers—mesoporous materials—thus entered scientists' field of vision. Their most prominent feature is an extremely high specific surface area and well-ordered pore channel structures, allowing large molecules to "shuttle" freely.
Our team has been working with mesoporous materials for 30 years. Early research was mostly concentrated in the field of inorganic mesoporous materials, and one problem that had long remained unsolved was: can mesoporous materials be extended from inorganic to organic polymers and even carbon materials? The difficulty lies in the fact that polymer polymerization and self-assembly into ordered mesopores must be achieved simultaneously, making this topic extremely challenging. In the end, we found a new way of doing things (另辟蹊径, ling pi xi jing - "separately, open, small, path"), adopting a "stepwise method"—first self-assembly, then polymerization—and successfully synthesized mesoporous polymers, which were further carbonized to obtain mesoporous carbon, thereby proposing a new pathway of "organic–organic self-assembly." Looking back now, this idea did not appear out of nowhere (凭空而来, ping kong er lai - "from, empty, air, come"), but rather originated from long-term accumulation and sustained reflection on fundamental questions in chemistry.
Basic research sits at the starting end of the scientific research chain. Only when basic research is firmly laid can the "edifice" of achievement transformation and production application be built high. Mesoporous carbon, by virtue of its structural advantages, quickly found a place where one can exercise their skills (用武之地, yong wu zhi di - "use, martial, place") in the energy field. Taking silicon-carbon anodes as an example, silicon undergoes a volume expansion of about 4 times during charge-discharge cycles, which can easily cause the battery to "bulge." We used mesoporous carbon as a scaffold to support silicon, using the pore channels to reserve space for silicon's expansion, significantly improving battery energy density. In the petrochemical field, the mesoporous-zeolite composite catalyst we developed in cooperation with Sinopec has achieved thousand-ton-scale production, converting heavy oil and residual oil into high-grade gasoline and diesel, which is of great significance for safeguarding national energy security.
The synthesis of mesoporous materials still cannot yet be described as "precise." Compared with atomically fine crystalline materials, mesoporous materials are relatively "rough" at the atomic scale and possess surface defects. How to achieve the "precise synthesis" of materials that possess both the fine structure of atomic crystals and the large specific surface area of mesopores is the main challenge at present. We are also continuing to explore the synthesis of crystalline mesoporous materials with atomic-level precision, as well as the construction of breathable, plastic, biocompatible mesoporous materials in biological systems, for use in cell culture, drug screening, and even simulating life processes. These explorations are still far from application, yet that is precisely the charm of basic research.
Receiving the 2026 Future Science Prize in "Physical Science" is recognition of the 30 years of work by me and my team, and it has also made me realize all the more that basic research requires setting aside utilitarian motives—truly valuable work often comes from long-term pursuit of the scientific questions themselves. Some tendencies in the current research environment, such as "papers only" and "titles only," place considerable pressure on young researchers. This makes it necessary to further optimize the innovation environment so that they can devote themselves wholeheartedly to research (潜心钻研, qian xin zuan yan - "submerge, heart, drill, study"). In particular, in certain frontier fields, they should be provided with more relaxed, longer-cycle support. Chemistry is an important science for creating matter, and we look forward to more young people joining it, pursuing research goals and realizing the value of life.
(The author is an academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and a professor at Fudan University, and recipient of the 2026 Future Science Prize in "Physical Science"; compiled and edited by Gu Yekai and Lü Zeying)
Return to TopBy: 龚曙光
On reflection, the haste and anxiety of these days need not be so. If one wishes to live more gently, calmly, and solidly, there are always ways and opportunities to be found. Some require a bit of thought to discover; others are encountered by chance, and it suffices to cherish them.
One day, while sorting through old belongings, I inadvertently found a clay pot with a brown body and green glaze, likely from Tongguan Kiln. I cannot recall which trip to the old street it was when I picked it up on a whim. Thinking it could be used to grow something, I did not throw it away, but washed it and placed it on the desk by the window. At first, I thought of growing lotus flowers, then of arranging sunflowers. But the thought of flowers blooming and withering reminded me of the transience of life, and having that before my eyes made me uneasy, so in the end I grew nothing. A pot of clear water sat there, almost forgotten, left to let the sunlight outside the window shine in and recede.
In just over ten days, strands of moss had grown in the pot. Fine, long, and verdant green. The moss threads floated on the water's surface, sunlight penetrating to the bottom, seeming to move yet not, like a pot of settled days. Each day I added some clear water, but the moss did not seem to grow, or grew so slowly that it always appeared as fine strands of verdant green, just as before. After gazing at it for a long while, my heart unconsciously sank to the bottom of the water, and the years soaked into stillness and slowness...
There was also a cat, born in the woods, with no one to care for it. But unlike other wild creatures in the mountains, it had no fear of people from a young age. It was in spring, during the rainy season when the plums were about to turn yellow, that I saw a small white cat from the floor-to-ceiling window of my study, white as a clump of snow, walking over from the gray misty rain, heading straight toward me behind the glass, without a trace of fear. It raised its front paw, its paw pads a soft pink, pressing against the glass without moving, as if waiting for me to hold it. I reached out and pressed my hand against it, palm to palm, as if truly holding it. I saw its eyes, very round, blue as seawater, boundless. It looked at me with a naive gaze, and there was a magnetic pull, as if it could draw away one's soul. In an instant, the world fell silent, like a silent film with no sound to be heard; even the rain and wind quietly ceased, and time condensed into a transparent block of ice. All the worries of reality vanished in a flash, leaving only the small cat and me, in confrontation and reconciliation with this still world.
Later, I often saw this cat. When I did, I would give it some food. The small cat would always carry the food into the woods, and after eating, lick its paws and lips clean, then slowly walk back to me. Either it would extend its paw to touch my hand, like a child playing a hand-clapping game, or it would lie at my feet, close its eyes, and sleep. Its flesh-colored nostrils fluttered, and it emitted a faint snore. Its ears would occasionally twitch, as if about to wake, but then it would continue sleeping soundly. Its tail would suddenly stiffen, swaying left and right, as if greeting someone in a dream.
Perhaps I could have domesticated it into a house cat, or even a pet, but I could not bear to. In this world, there are too many docile and adorable pet cats, but it is rare to find a small creature with the wild spirit of the wilderness that has wandered into the human world. Being with it, one could forget the disturbances and anxieties of these days.
The Selaginella uncinata in the courtyard, I brought from a friend's village. At first, I planted several kinds of grass, but either they feared drought or waterlogging, turning green in patches and yellow in others, never pleasing to the eye no matter how I looked. Especially under the shade of trees, nothing I planted survived more than a hundred days, and in the end, it was still bare yellow earth. When people were in the courtyard, they would see it the moment they opened their eyes, and the moment they saw it, they would feel vexed. From morning to night, from spring to winter, the lawn became a worry the whole family could not shake off. Once, when I visited my friend's Yunshe Village, I saw a kind of grass growing in the woods, dense and thick, colorful and varied. Upon asking, I learned it was Selaginella uncinata, a plant that naturally loves shade, and even in the deepest mountain ravines, it could grow like a carpet.
So I dug up a cartload and brought it over, planting it clump by clump under the shade of trees and along the base of walls. Every morning, I would water it, then crouch down to observe whether it had survived and grown. I watched the fine, slender vines of the Selaginella uncinata grow out, creeping forward a little each day, slowly becoming like a piece of natural lace; I watched the leaves on the vines emerge, small and round. Today they were emerald green, tomorrow light purple, and the day after, a vivid red. Each leaf seemed to have its own mood, and this mood changed every day. Even under the same shade, in the same season, the color of each leaf of the Selaginella uncinata was different. Like colorful and multi-colored (五颜六色, wu yan liu se - "five, colors, six, colors") little flowers, scattered like stars, densely packed (密密匝匝, mi mi za za - "dense, dense, tightly, packed") into a large expanse. No matter how vexed or restless I felt, as long as I crouched down to observe the Selaginella uncinata, watching how its vines stretched and how its leaves changed color, time would slow down and my mood would calm. After tending to plants for a long time, I discovered that tending to plants is also tending to one's mind and one's life. As the Selaginella uncinata is nurtured vine by vine and leaf by leaf, so too are the days nurtured spring by spring and autumn by autumn.
As for the disturbances of today, most come from mobile phones. News that need not be read, I read; invitations that need not be accepted, I accepted; videos that should not be scrolled through, I scrolled through... Time is sliced up, emotions are pulled in all directions, life is directed, and life is wasted, and this has become a great trend under heaven, seemingly unchangeable. Yet this matter, which seems so difficult, only requires pressing the power-off button, or switching to silent mode, and life, both living and livelihood, can immediately become a different thing. Such an easy change, yet few people even think to try it—truly incomprehensible. To be honest, in the lives of ordinary people, there are not so many news items that must be known the moment they are issued, commands that must be answered the moment they are called, or appointments that must be kept the moment they are made. Much of our haste and anxiety comes from the ringtone of the mobile phone seizing the right to command our time. Whether by legal principle or by the logic of affairs, the right to command one's time can belong to oneself. My phone has not rung for twenty years now, and even during work, I do not check it at all times. Looking back, I have not delayed any important matters, missed any opportunities, or offended any friends.
Many people, whenever they have nothing in hand, stare at their phones, waiting for others to send them messages. To live with ease, one must have a sense of territoriality over one's time—my days are mine to decide, whether good or bad, lived fully, not waiting for others to fill them. This requires having daily hobbies that one can persist in, feeling that there is something to do each day, so that the heart does not feel empty or anxious. Take me, for example: at home in the evenings, I always put down my phone to read, and at the end, I will find a classic by a famous author, flip to a piece, and set about revising it. Sometimes I revise a great deal, sometimes I cannot change a single word, but the process of reading and revising has still taken place. It is hard to say how much benefit this brings, or how great a construction it is for one's life; it is just a habit, and when time is spent reading and revising, the heart feels settled. Of course, over a long period, one's ability to read, judge, and even write texts will certainly improve somewhat. But for me, what matters more is that this period of time belongs to me, not being led around by external things like the phone.
Let me also mention a habit: I love cooking. These days, fewer young people know how to cook, and even fewer enjoy it. Order takeout, and you can eat whatever you want. But that is just eating a meal; once it is finished, it is done. Cooking is different: every day, there is planning the menu, visiting the market, changing flavors, and the whole process of picking vegetables, washing them, chopping them, and stir-frying them. Cooking each dish is almost a project of innovation. Moreover, those who truly love cooking must love visiting the vegetable market. Often, you have thought of what dish you want to make, but the market happens not to have it, or it is too tender, too old, or not fresh—in short, you cannot approve of it. And what you had not thought of buying or making, you happen to encounter, and it is of excellent appearance, so that you love it so much you cannot let it go (爱不释手, ai bu shi shou - "love, not, release, hand"), and you must buy it and take it home. A single meal, because of visiting the market, can give rise to many regrets and delights. When a new dish is successfully made and eaten up, it brings more joy than any reward. It is like writing an article: when it is published, shared, and commented on, one's mood can be lifted for a good while. In a person's life, the great creations, great successes, and great joys number only a few. In ordinary days, having these small interests, small innovations, and small blessings gives life some meaning and adds some flavor.
It is often said that as days go by, life gets busier, rougher, and duller. In fact, days are also nurtured as they pass. Cherish the unexpected blessings a little more, hold fast to cultivated habits a little more, and reject unwarranted intrusions a little more—then the days will naturally become calm, solid, and full, and will become interesting and flavorful.
As for the days themselves, it seems that you nurture them, but in truth, they nurture you.
Return to TopBy: 刘成明
What is meant by "a favor done with the current"? It generally refers to the act of taking advantage of a situation that is highly likely to succeed, doing a small kindness to go along with the inevitable or current trend (顺水推舟, shun shui tui zhou - "follow the water, push the boat") and helping others to achieve their good intentions (成人之美, cheng ren zhi mei - "complete, person's, of, beauty"), thereby winning goodwill or benefits. In real life, many people hold a tolerant attitude toward this: it is not a deliberate pursuit of private gain beforehand, and the process requires no great effort, yet it can make the person making the request being extremely grateful (感恩戴德, gan en dai de - "feel, gratitude, wear, virtue") — something that is clearly beneficial and should be done (何乐而不为, he le er bu wei - "what, joy, and, not, do")?
According to the History of the Song Dynasty, Li Fang, a renowned minister of the Northern Song, once oversaw the recommendation and appointment of officials. At the time, a scholar came to request a recommendation. Although Li Fang knew the man was exceptionally learned and a talent worth employing, he still refused with a stern face, and only afterward recommended him according to the rules. The man ultimately received an appointment from the court. In response, Li Fang said: "Employing the worthy is the affair of the sovereign; if I accepted his request, that would be trading private favors. Therefore I rejected him sternly, so that the credit for the favor returns to the sovereign."
From a worldly perspective, if Li Fang had been willing to help, it would have been a classic case of doing "a favor with the current," and he could readily have agreed. The person seeking recommendation already met the conditions for appointment; a few kind words and a bit of support along the way would not have counted as a violation of rules or overstepping bounds. Yet in Li Fang's eyes, recruiting talent for the state was his proper duty; the person selected should feel gratitude toward the state, and he himself could not use this to claim merit or curry favor. What he refused to his face was a private request; what he recommended was the talent's own ability.
Li Fang's action reveals an important principle for holding office and wielding power: handling public affairs according to the rules is an eternal truth or an absolute principle (天经地义, tian jing di yi - "heaven, classic, earth, righteousness"). Public power is conferred by the masses; public officials, as exercisers of public power entrusted by the masses, have only the obligation to act impartially, and no qualification to use the opportunity to grant favors or profit from it.
In some people's view, giving "a favor with the current" is easy to carry out and carries less risk: for matters that can be handled according to the rules, one might as well say a few good words as a push; for results that are already settled, one can exaggerate the difficulties and inflate one's own role to claim the credit; even if the matter does not succeed, one can use the excuse of "I did my best." And the person making the request, in order to achieve his aim, is also willing to accept this favor. Seen this way, whether it is "giving with the current" or "receiving with the current," it is in essence still speculation for profit, by no means any "normal human sentiment."
The greatest deceptiveness of "a favor with the current" lies in the appearance that it is not "deliberately done" and involves no obvious violation of discipline, rules, or law, and therefore this kind of conduct is not harmful. Little do people realize that the loss of work style often begins with a single small accommodation or a single compromise of principle for the sake of personal ties; once a small breach is torn in the line of defense, principles will continually give way.
In history, there are many examples of neither giving nor receiving "favors with the current." In 1955, the people's army implemented a system of military ranks. At the time, Peng Dehuai's nephew Peng Qichao was a cadre-student at the Harbin Military Engineering Institute; under normal circumstances he should have been uniformly assessed as a lieutenant, but if measured by his seniority and achievements before enrollment, he could also have been awarded the rank of senior lieutenant. Since there was room in the policy, Peng Dehuai needed only to nod in tacit approval, and this fine matter would have been accomplished. However, Peng Dehuai did not "go with" this current; he insisted on not assessing at the higher rank, and Peng Qichao was ultimately awarded the rank of lieutenant. Later, in a letter to his nephew, Peng Dehuai wrote: "Think of those who sacrificed their lives for the revolution — will you still fret over one more star or one fewer star on your shoulder? As the saying goes, having a situational advantage due to proximity (近水楼台先得月, jin shui lou tai xian de yue - "near, water, tower, platform, first, obtain, moon"), but from me, this rule must be changed — that is, those near the water tower do 'not' get the moon first." Reading this, Peng Qichao was deeply moved.
Not doing "favors with the current" does not mean severing all human feeling and righteousness in the world. Since ancient times, the Chinese have valued treating others with kindness and goodwill (与人为善, yu ren wei shan - "with, people, act, good"); neighbors supporting one another and close friends helping each other — this human sentiment is originally the warmest undertone of the world. But once human sentiment steps into the domain of public power, its nature quietly changes. Many people always feel that rules are rigid while people are flexible, and that giving a slight push to matters that comply with the rules does not count as favoritism. Yet when the benefits of the system are credited to private charity, over the long run what people look up to will only be reliable connections, leading to the declining moral standards of society (世风日下, shi feng ri xia - "world, style, day, down").
Human sentiment is like water: it can nourish all things, but it can also overflow the embankment and cross the banks. Mutual appreciation and assistance between individuals is naturally a fine tale, but before public instruments one must not drift with the tide or follow the crowd without principle (随波逐流, sui bo zhu liu - "follow, wave, chase, current"). Li Fang's unwillingness to trade private favors and Peng Dehuai's insistence on not assessing at the higher rank were both, in essence, holding fast to this one embankment. Only by safeguarding one's personal character and official virtue, clearly distinguishing the boundary between public and private, and refraining from exploiting public power for personal gain, can the law and regulations benefit the masses and radiate pure light.
Return to TopBy: 张金凤
I accompanied my son to get his tooth filled. He went into the treatment room, and I found a quiet corner with few people and sat down to wait.
A middle-aged woman walked over. Her large eyes looked at me with candor and a hint of shyness, asking if I was Teacher Zhang. I nodded and said yes. She gave her name and added, "I am your student. You taught me music." I suddenly remembered—not long after I started working, I had taught her. She was the arts and entertainment committee member and performed very well in music class, following the teacher throughout the entire lesson without ever losing focus. But the woman before me was being completely different from someone else (判若两人, pan ruo liang ren - "judge, as if, two, people") from the thin, quiet little girl in my memory. She was a bit taller, her face bore the traces of the years, and her eyes held a certain weariness. Yet when she gave her name, I still remembered her immediately.
She and I chatted quietly in a corner of the hospital corridor, recalling together the campus days of 30 years ago. Back then she was innocent and I was young, and together we happily embraced our dreams in music class. She always dared to take the initiative to challenge the most difficult part of the lesson, and even when she did not succeed and was laughed at by her classmates, she still smiled generously and openly. She was almost the finishing touch that brings something to life (点睛之笔, dian jing zhi bi - "dot, eye, of, brush") of the music class.
When the conversation turned to work, she was a little shy, saying she used to have a job but had been at home for the past few years. I quickly said that working for oneself was also good. Our exchange became somewhat awkward. "I have not achieved anything, and I am sorry to have disappointed your expectations. You were so good to me back then."
I suddenly felt a sense of mission. I said, "You made me very satisfied when you were in school, and you still do now. It is normal for a teacher to have expectations of students, but that does not mean students must necessarily achieve eminence or rise above others (出人头地, chu ren tou di - "out, person, head, ground"). The vast majority of people are ordinary. It is very good for a person to live being open, aboveboard, and honorable (光明磊落, guang ming lei luo - "bright, light, upright, open") and to get through life plainly and peacefully. Managing one's own family well and raising one's own children well is already wonderful." Her originally timid eyes suddenly lit up, and her back straightened a little.
At that moment, I felt I had become her teacher again, still able to ignite the flame within her and dispel the shadows in her heart.
In this small county town, having stood at the lectern for more than 30 years, I could be said to be having students spread far and wide (桃李满天下, tao li man tian xia - "peach, plum, full, heaven, below"). By rough calculation, I have taught more than 7,000 students, but very few of them have come to recognize me after graduation. Once, when I walked to the entrance of a residential compound, a security guard in uniform called out "Teacher" to me. I had no impression of that face at all, but my heart was filled with happiness and emotion. I responded with a radiant smile, as if I remembered him.
Not long ago, while eating at a restaurant, I noticed that a server in one of the private rooms bore a striking resemblance to a student I had taught. More than twenty years ago, she was a chubby little girl who spoke a bit quickly and had a very cheerful demeanor. She seemed to recognize me too, but there was a hint of avoidance in her eyes and brows. I could not help asking her in a low voice. She chuckled, called out "Teacher," and then shyly went off to do other things. Perhaps she felt that being a hotel server in her thirties made it awkward to acknowledge her teacher. Finally catching an opportunity, I said to her, "You are one of my favorite students. I can remember only a few of my students. You were very lively and adorable back then, and now you have even more depth." A flash of surprise crossed her eyes, and she took a deep breath.
I have always felt that, whether for parents or teachers, our educational goal is not to make everyone achieve eminence. As long as they can work with full confidence in their respective ordinary posts and live healthy, happy lives, that is enough to bring comfort. If I could teach my students one more lesson, I would plant these very words once again in their hearts.
Return to TopBy: 胡容尔
What a beautiful solar term, White Dew
Like parents in the prime of their years
Faces clean, eyes bright and spirited
At that time, Father had already been transferred from the army
We lived in a small town in Jiaodong
Mother simmered porridge by the stove
The aroma of pumpkin filled the entire morning
She sprinkled a spoonful of white sugar into the porridge
Saying that at White Dew one must taste sweetness
Only then would life have no bitterness
The jujube tree beyond the courtyard wall had reddened on one side
Father raised a pole to knock them down
The jujubes landed in the winnowing basket
Thumping, thumping
Like days, one by one
Falling into the places where they should fall
In the evening we sat in a circle
Shelling newly bought peanuts
The shells cracked with crisp sounds
Like time at the fingertips
Breaking off segment by segment
And like seeds in the palm
Awakening one by one
Night deepened, Father rose to close the window
Mother refilled his cup with hot water
Their bearing, like two crops standing side by side
adapting easily to any circumstances (随遇而安, sui yu er an - "follow, encounter, then, peaceful")
I, at eighteen, stood in the courtyard
Watching White Dew condense on the leaves, glistening
The earth brimmed with the scent of harvest
Holding aloft the clear radiance of all things
Return to TopThe oil painting Guilin Mountains (《桂林山中》), by the artist Wu Guanzhong, is in the collection of the National Art Museum of China.
Return to TopBy: 田洪生
Autumn has arrived, and it is again the time to go home and pull corn.
Before dawn had broken, I had already set foot on the journey home. Fog crept up from the surface of the Wu River, swallowing whole the steep cliffs and the winding mountain roads. I looked through the car window toward the mountain peak — that was the direction of home; even the suspension bridge nearby left only a blurry outline. But I could hear the cheers when the Mayang River met the Wu River, the rustling sounds when wind passed through the bamboo grove, and the sharp whistles of black leaf monkeys, sent over layer upon layer from the depths where clouds gather.
By the time the car passed through the clouds and mist, the setting sun had already sprinkled warm-toned light over the mountain ridges. Every time we crossed a mountain, it was like turning a page of a book, and within the pages were silhouettes of the Tujia people singing songs and dancing wild dances during the autumn harvest. In the corn fields, men pulled off corn ears one by one and tossed them into the bamboo baskets on their backs. In the main room of the house, women were using screwdrivers to peel off the outer husks of the corn layer by layer. From the kitchen came a "bang bang bang" sound like the beat of a drum — that was someone pounding glutinous rice cakes. With every fall of the mallet, the fragrance of sticky rice mixed with the smell of wood smoke poked its head out from between the roof tiles of the stilted houses, soaking the whole stockaded village in a soft, chewy warmth.
I pushed open the car door, stood at the edge of the courtyard, waved my hand and shouted "Gong." "Gong" is what we call grandfather.
At 5 o'clock in the morning, I woke from Xiao Pang's calls and the chirping of cicadas outside the window. Xiao Pang started the car, and its headlights were like torches lit by the moon, leading us toward the corn field. I leaned against the car window and saw that where the headlights swept past, the corn stalks stood straight, the tassels hung low, giving off fine, crackling sounds of collision.
Parking the car at the roadside, Xiao Pang, wearing a white sleeveless undershirt, plunged headfirst into the corn field. The jagged blades of the corn leaves, like sharp swords, left scratches on his body that were then soaked through by sweat, leaving only a few red streaks. I asked him: "Does it hurt?" He said this was the medal bestowed on him by the land — among people he knew well, as long as he raised his hand, they would know he had been out pulling corn.
I followed Xiao Pang and crawled in. The corn stalks were covered with dew, every single one cold as if just pulled out of a well. Pulling corn has its technique: hold the root of the corn ear with the left hand, press down hard with the right hand, and when you hear a dull "crack," the corn ear falls into your palm, heavy with weight, carrying the fresh fragrance of the snapped stalk. That smell rushed into my nostrils and pressed down all the perfume, disinfectant, and exhaust fumes I had accumulated from the city over these ten-plus years, leaving only the crisp, clear chill that belongs solely to the land.
Fog again climbed from the valley floor up to the mountainside, creeping into the corn field.Xiao Pang and I loaded the pulled corn into big sacks, one in front, one behind, running back and forth seven or eight trips within the white gauze curtain of mist.
The two of us, in 4 hours, pulled all the corn in that field home in one go. I remember when I was little, six people, each carrying a bamboo basket on his back, had to spend several days to finish pulling it all. Now, the road has been built directly up to the field, and we have a car, so pulling corn no longer requires walking such a long way anymore.
Gong will be eighty next year, and his hearing is not very good. I sat beside him and asked in a loud voice:"At such an old age, why do you still plant so much corn?" Gong did not answer me. He spread his palm open to show me five fingers — every single joint bulged like a corn kernel, and the dirt wedged in his fingernails could not be washed out. In the twilight, Gong rose and walked out toward the door of the main room, walking very slowly, every step he placed was very steady. The corn was piled in the middle of the main room, golden and gleaming, like a small mountain.
Return to TopBy: 简 默
When I entered the randomly assigned room, I was pleasantly surprised to find that the room faced directly toward the Xiaolangdi Water Control Project main dam.
The floor-to-ceiling glass window framed the scene outside — amid encircling green mountains and lush trees, a long inclined earth-core rockfill dam stretched across, extending into the distance. The dam was brown throughout, and on its body three large, neat, white hollow-cut characters read: Xiaolangdi. Staying indoors without going out (足不出户, zu bu chu hu - "foot, not, exit, house"), I could watch the sun rise in the east and admire the moon climb the western tower, but my gaze could never cross the dam to look down upon the world within it.
But birds with wings could — swiftlets, for instance.
Near noon, the outdoor temperature was 36 degrees Celsius, and I took a turn under the blazing sun. Passing through the lobby, I stood before the window. A swiftlet, across the glass, unexpectedly charged straight at me, emitting a dull thud. Just as I began to worry about this swiftlet, it flew even higher.
At first they came in twos and threes; gradually, the swiftlets grew more numerous. Swiftlets are never solitary — with so many companions flying together. I worried over them with unnecessary or groundless anxiety (杞人忧天, qi ren you tian - "Qi person, worry, heaven"), wondering: can they endure this rolling heat? Will their nimble bodies sweat? Yet the swiftlets seemed deliberately to have chosen such weather, fully savoring this heat. Sunlight rested upon their wings, and their steel-blue feathers gleamed brilliantly.
In the middle reaches of the Yellow River lie the Yellow River Three Gorges, and the swiftlets built their nests in the crevices of the precipitous Baxia Gorge. Here the riverbed was narrow, the current swift, and the thunderous crash of waves against boulders was extremely loud and deafening (震耳欲聋, zhen er yu long - "shake, ear, desire, deaf"). The water surged through Baxia Gorge, flowed on to Xiaolangdi, where the riverbed suddenly widened, the current slowed, able only to curl up layer upon layer of small ripples. In truth, where the swiftlets built their nests seemed hardly to matter — apart from needing nests to reproduce, they spent nearly their entire lives in flight; the sky was their nest.
I turned around, and the swiftlet had already flown across the dam. I knew that beneath its wings lay water as clear and translucent as sapphire — perfectly calm and still water (水波不兴, shui bo bu xing - "water, wave, not, rise"), smooth as a mirror, able to reflect the green mountains and embankments, and also to reflect its own flying figure. It was like a lively cursor, gracefully skimming across the glass-like water, flying over the vast Xiaolangdi Project management area. Here, apart from water, there was vegetation: tall trees like white poplar, glossy privet, and cedar were so lush and green that it seemed to drip (苍翠欲滴, cang cui yu di - "verdant, green, desire, drop"); shrubs like photinia, pittosporum, and coral tree were lush, thick, and verdant (郁郁葱葱, yu yu cong cong - "luxuriant, lush, thick, thick"); the lawn was dense as a green carpet, with forest and grass coverage reaching 73.7%. As the water surface grew larger and clearer, and the vegetation grew deeper and denser, birds multiplied — the management area now housed over 300 species of birds. Sometimes, as the swiftlets flew along, a line of egrets would pass through their midst in neat formation, heading toward the distant heights.
The swiftlet flew to the old course of the Yellow River behind the dam. This place had been transformed into a broad lake, with green mountains and trees on both banks flanking a stretch of green water, anda nine-bend bridge wound its way connecting the north and south shores. The swiftlet flew over the former Manfen Beach — this had been the sand quarry during the original construction of Xiaolangdi; when the sand was exhausted, over a dozen large pits remained, which were then possessing unique ingenuity or creativity (匠心独具, jiang xin du ju - "craftsman, heart, uniquely, possess") transformed into an ecological reserve, named Cuilü Lake. The lake surface was shimmering or sparkling light on water (波光粼粼, bo guang lin lin - "wave, light, shimmering, shimmering"), surrounded by clustering greenery, and soon attracted swiftlets to visit. It patrolled its paradise, flying and feeding, so delighted that it forgot to leave.
The most spectacular sight at Xiaolangdi remained the water-and-sediment regulation each June and July. Beneath the dam, those orifice discharge tunnels, surface discharge tunnels, and sediment discharge tunnels that remained silent for much of the year would, at this time, first surge forth white water dragons, then spew yellow dragons, flowing rapidly and powerfully over a vast distance (一泻千里, yi xie qian li - "one, pour, thousand, li"), with water thundering loudly. The swiftlet plunged into the water and sediment that shot skyward; it had always possessed the skill to dart through water currents time and again to return to its nest, but now, witnessing this spectacle, it grew extraordinarily excited, chirping loudly to cheer itself on; some swiftlets had their heads and wings splattered with sediment, yet these beauty-loving birds never forgot to seek out a pool of clear water, diving down again and again to wash the mud away.
Having stayed in one place for too long, the biological clock dormant within the swiftlet's body would remind it that it was time to fly away. It flew south once a year and then returned. It was playful at heart, occasionally straying off course, flying along the direction where the great river emptied into the sea. In the air, it looked down upon the lower reaches of the great river, vast, grand, and imposing in scale (浩浩荡荡, hao hao dang dang - "vast, vast, grand, grand"); reaching the river-mouth delta, wetlands stretched endlessly, ten thousand mu of reeds and rushes swayed in the wind, and hundreds of birds gathered in a grand spectacle…
The swiftlet joined the bird-waves that, like the Yellow River's waves, ceaselessly surged and shifted into ever-changing shapes, merging into the great chorus of hundreds of birds along the Yellow River. Before long, it would spread its wings and fly back on the road to Xiaolangdi.
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