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Last time we spoke about Japan's preparations for War. In late 1936, tensions soared in China as Nationalist General Chiang Kai-shek was detained by dissenting commanders who were frustrated with his focus on communism instead of the growing Japanese threat. Faced with escalating Japanese aggression, these leaders forced Chiang into a reluctant alliance with the Chinese Communist Party, marking a pivotal shift in China's strategy. Despite this union, China remained unprepared, lacking sufficient military supplies and modern equipment. Conversely, Japan, wary of Chinese modernization efforts, pushed for a preemptive strike to dismantle Chiang's regime before it could pose a serious threat. As aggressive military exercises intensified, Japan underestimated Chinese resilience. By spring 1937, both nations found themselves on the brink of war, with Japan's divided military leadership struggling to formulate a coherent strategy. Ultimately, these miscalculations would lead to the full-scale Sino-Japanese War, altering the course of history in East Asia.   #154 The Marco Polo Bridge Incident  Welcome to the Fall and Rise of China Podcast, I am your dutiful host Craig Watson. But, before we start I want to also remind you this podcast is only made possible through the efforts of Kings and Generals over at Youtube. Perhaps you want to learn more about the history of Asia? Kings and Generals have an assortment of episodes on history of asia and much more  so go give them a look over on Youtube. So please subscribe to Kings and Generals over at Youtube and to continue helping us produce this content please check out www.patreon.com/kingsandgenerals. If you are still hungry for some more history related content, over on my channel, the Pacific War Channel where I cover the history of China and Japan from the 19th century until the end of the Pacific War. Here we are at last, the beginning of the absolute cataclysm between China and Japan. Now as many of you know I run the Pacific War week by week podcast, which technically covers the second sino-japanese war, nearly to a T. So for this podcast I want to try and portray the event from the Chinese and Japanese point of view, but not in the rather dry manner of the other podcast. In the other podcast I am hampered by the week by week format and can never dig deep into the nitty gritty as they say. On the same hand I don't want to simply regurgitate every single battle of this conflict, it would be absolutely nuts. So bear with me friends as we fall down in the rabbit hole of madness together, who knows how long it will take to get out. On the night of July 7, 1937, at approximately 19:30, the 8th Squadron of the 3rd Battalion of the 1st Regiment of the Hebian Brigade of the Japanese Army, stationed in Fengtai and led by Squadron Leader Shimizu Seiro, conducted a military exercise, heading toward Lungwangmiao, approximately just under a mile northwest of the Marco Polo Bridge The exercise simulated an operation to capture the bridge. As you may have guessed it was named after the Italian explorer Marco Polo, who described it in his travels, the bridge is renowned for its intricate carvings of lions and other sculptures. However after 1937, the Marco Polo Bridge would be far less known for its history dealing with the venetian explorer and more so with an event that many would contend to be the start of WW2. At that time, troops from Japan, Britain, France, and Italy were stationed near Peiping in accordance with the Boxer Protocol of 1901. The Japanese China Garrison Army, comprising around 4,000 soldiers and commanded by Lieutenant-General Tashiro Kan'ichirō, was based in Tientsin. Its mission was to "maintain communication lines between Peiping and the seaports in the Gulf of Chihli and to protect Japanese citizens living in key areas of North China." The protocol also permitted the garrison forces of the signatory nations to conduct field drills and rifle practice without notifying the Chinese authorities, with the exception of cases involving live fire. During this period, Japanese troops were conducting nightly exercises in anticipation of a scheduled review on July 9. The night maneuver was within the army's rights under the Boxer Protocol and was not an illegal act, as later claimed by the Chinese. However, the Japanese army had courteously informed the Chinese authorities about its training plans in advance. Despite this, the atmosphere was charged with tension, and the Japanese decision to use blank ammunition during their night exercise further escalated the already volatile situation. Earlier that evening, Captain Shimizu Setsurö, a company commander, arrived at the banks of the Yungting River, where the maneuver was to take place. He noticed that the site looked different since the last exercise had occurred; Chinese troops had recently constructed new trenches and parapets from the embankment to the Lungwangmiao shelter. While eating his dinner and surveying the area, Shimizu felt a sense of unease, harboring a premonition that “something might happen that night.” After completing the first stage of the maneuver around 10:30 PM, several live rounds were fired into the assembled company from the direction of the riverbank. Shimizu immediately conducted a roll call and found one soldier missing. He promptly sent a messenger to inform the battalion commander. The exercise was then called off, and the company moved eastward to await further orders at Hsiwulitien. Battalion Commander Itsuki Kiyonaho, upon receiving the report, deemed the situation serious. Aside from the gunfire heard in the darkness from an unknown source, he expressed concern over the soldier's disappearance and sought permission from Regiment Commander Mutaguchi Renya, an absolute moron, if you listen to the pacific war podcast, well you know. Anyways to relocate the battalion to the area where the shots had been fired and to establish surveillance. As dawn approached, the troops heard several more gunshots. Within twenty minutes of the soldier's disappearance, he returned to his ranks, but Shimizu did not report this update until four hours later. Meanwhile, midnight negotiations included a Japanese request for permission to search the city of Wanping, leading both sides to believe the incident was significant. Around 11:00 PM, the Japanese forces falsely reported that one of their soldiers had gone missing during the drill and demanded permission to enter the city for a search. This request was firmly denied by Ji Xingwen, the commander of the 219th Regiment of the 37th Division of the Chinese Army. In response, Japanese troops swiftly surrounded Wanping County. To prevent further escalation, at 2:00 AM the following morning, Qin Dechun, deputy commander of the 29th Army and mayor of Beiping, agreed with the Japanese to allow both sides to send personnel for an investigation. While Matsui, the head of the Japanese secret service in Peiping, was negotiating with North Chinese authorities based on unverified reports from Japanese troops in Fengtai, Ikki Kiyonao, the battalion commander of the Japanese garrison in Fengtai, had already reported to his regiment commander, Mutaguchi Lianya. The latter approved orders for the Japanese troops in Fengtai to “immediately move out” to the Marco Polo Bridge.  On July 8, a large contingent of Japanese troops appeared at Lugou Bridge. Shen Zhongming, the platoon leader of the 10th Company of the Reserve Force of the 3rd Battalion of the 219th Regiment of the 37th Division of the 29th Army, was assisting in guarding the bridgehead. He jumped out of the trench, stood in front of the bunker, and raised his right hand to halt the advancing Japanese troops. However, the Japanese military threatened to search for their missing soldiers, pushed forward, and opened fire. Shen Zhongming was shot and died on the spot. At 4:50 AM, the Japanese army launched a fierce assault on Wanping County, capturing Shagang in the northeast of Wanping and firing the first shot of the siege. Unable to withstand the aggression, the Chinese defenders mounted a counterattack. That day, the Japanese army assaulted Wanping City three times, targeting the Pinghan Railway Bridge and the Chinese defenders at the Huilong Temple position on the left. He Jifeng, the commander of the 110th Brigade of the Chinese defenders, issued a resolute order to “live and die with the bridge” and personally commanded the front-line battle. The Chinese defenders engaged in fierce combat, fighting valiantly despite exhausting their ammunition and resorting to hand-to-hand combat with swords against the Japanese soldiers. Tragically, over 80 Chinese defenders from two platoons were killed at the bridgehead. On the same day, the Beijing authorities instructed the garrison to hold firm at the Marco Polo Bridge. Song Queyuan sent a telegram to Chiang Kai-shek to report the true events of the Marco Polo Bridge Incident. The National Government's Ministry of Foreign Affairs lodged a verbal protest with the Japanese ambassador regarding the incident. Additionally, the CPC Central Committee issued a telegram urging all Chinese soldiers and civilians to unite and resist Japanese aggression. The Japanese cabinet, in a bid to mislead global public opinion, proposed a so-called policy of “resolving the incident locally without escalating it,” aiming to paralyze the KMT authorities and buy time to mobilize additional forces. In the wake of the Marco Polo Bridge Incident, generals of the 29th Army, including Qin Dechun, Feng Zhian, and Zhang Zizhong, convened an emergency meeting. Following their discussions, they issued a statement demanding that their troops withdraw from the Marco Polo Bridge to de-escalate tensions. However, they expressed deep concerns about national sovereignty, stating, “We cannot simply back down. If they continue to oppress us, we will do our utmost to defend ourselves.” Concurrently, the 29th Army commanded the troops defending the Marco Polo Bridge: “The Marco Polo Bridge is your grave. You must live and die with the bridge and must not retreat.” Brigade Commander He Jifeng reinforced three directives for the defenders:  1. Do not allow the Japanese army to enter the city;  2. Firmly counterattack if the Japanese invade;  3. You are responsible for defending the territory and will never yield. If you abandon your position, you will face military law. On July 9, the 29th Army successfully eliminated a Japanese squadron and reclaimed control of the railway bridge and Longwang Temple. A temporary lull settled over the Marco Polo Bridge battlefield, during which the Japanese military made false claims that "missing Japanese soldiers had returned to their units" and described the situation as a misunderstanding that could be resolved peacefully. Subsequently, Chinese and Japanese representatives in Beijing and Tianjin engaged in negotiations. The Beijing authorities reached an agreement with the Japanese forces, which included:  (1) an immediate cessation of hostilities by both parties;  (2) the Japanese army withdrawing to the left bank of the Yongding River while the Chinese army retreated to the right bank; and  (3) the defense of Lugou Bridge being assigned to Shi Yousan's unit of the Hebei Security Team. However, the following day, while the Chinese army withdrew as agreed, the Japanese army not only failed to uphold its commitments but also dispatched a significant number of troops to launch an offensive against the Chinese forces. Reports on July 10 indicated that the Japanese army had arrived from Tianjin, Gubeikou, Yuguan, and other locations, advancing toward the Lugou Bridge with artillery and tanks, and had occupied Dajing Village and Wulidian, signaling that another outbreak of conflict was imminent. On July 11, the Japanese Cabinet decided to deploy seven divisions from the Kwantung Army, the Korean Army, and Japan to North China. On the same day, the Beiping-Tianjin authorities reached a localized agreement with the Japanese army, which entailed:  (1) a formal apology from a representative of the 29th Army to the Japanese forces, along with assurances that those responsible for the initial conflict would be held accountable;  (2) a ban on anti-Japanese activities conducted by the Communist Party, the Blue Shirts Society, and other resistance groups; and  (3) an agreement ensuring that no Chinese troops would be stationed east of the Yongding River. Concurrently, the Japanese army positioned their forces at strategic points in Wuqing, Fengtai, Wanping, and Changping, effectively encircling the city of Beijing and continuing to advance troops into its surrounding suburbs. Starting on July 11, the Japanese army began bombarding Wanping City and its surrounding areas with artillery, resulting in numerous casualties among the local population. Following the injury of regiment commander Ji Xingwen, residents were evacuated to safer locations outside the city. The conflict then spread to Babaoshan, Changxindian, Langfang, Yangcun, and other areas, with the 29th Army being deployed to various locations to confront the enemy. The Japanese military also dispatched aircraft for reconnaissance and strafing missions, leading to intermittent fighting. On July 13, Mao Zedong urged "every Communist Party member and anti-Japanese revolutionary to be prepared to mobilize to the frontline of the anti-Japanese war at any time" from Yan'an. By July 15, a CPC representative presented the "Communist Party Declaration on Cooperation between the Kuomintang and the Communist Party" to Chiang Kai-shek, proposing that this declaration serve as the political foundation for cooperation between the two parties and be publicly issued by the Kuomintang. Zhou Enlai, Qin Bangxian, and Lin Boqu continued negotiations with Chiang Kai-shek, Shao Lizi, and Zhang Chong in Lushan. Although Chiang Kai-shek recognized the Shaanxi-Gansu-Ningxia Border Region, disagreements remained regarding the reorganization of the Red Army. On July 16, the Five Ministers Conference in Tokyo resolved to mobilize 400,000 Japanese troops to invade China and to enforce a policy aimed at rapidly destroying the entire country. The following day, more than 100 Japanese soldiers arrived in Shunyi and Changping, where they reinforced fortifications on the city wall of Changping. On July 18, the Japanese army invaded Changping, Tongzhou, and other counties in the pseudo-border areas by maneuvering through various passes of the Great Wall. Japanese plainclothes teams were reported to be active in the Xiaotangshan area of Changping, raising alert levels within the Chinese army. On July 20, the Kuomintang Military and Political Department became aware that the Japanese army intended to first occupy strategic locations such as the Indigo Factory, Wanshou Mountain, and Balizhuang in the Pingxi area, before cutting off the Pingsui Road and controlling the route from Beiping to Changping. On July 21, the Japanese army violated the agreement by bombarding Wanping County and the garrison at Changxindian.  On the night of July 25, a confrontation took place at the railway station in Langfang, located between Peiping and Tientsin. The clash involved Chinese troops and a Japanese company dispatched to repair telegraph lines. General Kazuki promptly sought Tokyo's permission to respond with military force, believing that the situation required immediate action. Without waiting for authorization, he ordered a regiment from Tientsin to engage the Chinese forces and issued an ultimatum to Sung Che-yuan, stating that if the 37th Division did not completely withdraw from Peiping by noon on July 28, the Garrison Army would take unilateral action. The 77th Infantry Regiment of the 20th Division was dispatched with the Gonoi Squadron to escort a repair team to Langfang Station. Stationed near Langfang were the headquarters of the 113th Brigade of the 38th Division, along with the main force of the 226th Regiment, led by Brigade Commander Liu Zhensan and Regiment Commander Cui Zhenlun. Although the leadership of the 29th Army adopted a passive stance in the war of resistance, the forces in Langfang prepared for conflict in an organized manner. They not only evacuated the families of servicemen and relocated the regiment headquarters, but also built fortifications and deployed plainclothes teams at Wanzhuang Station, Luofa Station, and Langfang Station to swiftly destroy the railway if necessary. Despite their preparations, the commanders of the 38th Division adhered to Song Queyuan's directives. When the 5th Company, stationed at Yangcun, observed Japanese supply units continually moving toward Lugou Bridge, they sought permission to engage the enemy. However, the 38th Division later reassigned this company. The Bac Ninh Line, established after the Boxer Protocol, had granted the Japanese the right to station troops, placing the 38th Division in a vulnerable position and preventing them from stopping the Japanese before they reached Langfang. Upon the arrival of Japanese forces at Langfang Station, Chinese guards initiated negotiations, requesting the Japanese to withdraw quickly after completing their mission. The Japanese, however, insisted on establishing camps outside the station, leading to repeated arguments. As tensions mounted, the Japanese began constructing positions near the station, ultimately forcing Chinese troops to retreat and escalating the conflict. The situation reached a boiling point around 11:10 pm, when fierce gunfire and explosions erupted near Langfang Station. The Japanese army claimed they were defending the station from an attack by Chinese forces armed with rifles, machine guns, and mortars throughout the night. According to Cui Zhenlun, the head of the 226th Regiment, it was the 9th and 10th companies that could no longer tolerate the Japanese provocation and fired first, catching the enemy off guard. As the battle intensified, reinforcements from the main force of the 77th Infantry Regiment “Li Deng Unit” arrived at the scene after receiving reports of the skirmish and gradually joined the fight after 6:30 am on July 26. When dawn broke, Japanese troops stationed at Langfang began to rush out to counterattack, seeing their reinforcements arrive. Recognizing they could not eliminate the Japanese presence at the station quickly, the 226th Regiment faced heavy bombardment from the Japanese Air Force later that morning. Consequently, the headquarters of the 113th Brigade and the primary forces of the 226th Regiment hastily retreated to Tongbai Town, suffering significant losses in equipment during their withdrawal. That night, Kazuki made the unilateral decision to abandon the policy of restraint and decided to use force on July 28 "to punish the Chinese troops in the Peiping-Tientsin area." On the morning of July 27, the army high command endorsed his decision and submitted a plan to the cabinet for mobilizing divisions in Japan. The cabinet agreed, and imperial approval was sought. At that time, the Chinese army was gathering in significant numbers in Baoding and Shijiazhuang in southern Hebei, as well as in Datong, Shanxi. They had effectively surrounded the Japanese army on all sides in the Fengtai District. Meanwhile, newly mobilized units of the Kwantung Army and the Japanese Korean Army were en route to the Tianjin and Beiping areas. The 2nd Battalion of the 2nd China Garrison Infantry Regiment, commanded by Major Hirobe, was dispatched with 26 trucks to the Japanese barracks within the walls of Beiping to ensure the protection of Japanese residents. Prior discussions had taken place between Takuro Matsui, head of the Special Service Agency, and officials from the Hebei–Chahar Political Council regarding the passage of troops through the Guang'anmen gate just outside Beiping. The mayor, Qin Dechun, had granted approval for this movement. However, when Major Tokutaro Sakurai, a military and political advisor to the Council, arrived at Guang'anmen, a famous gate to Beiping, around 6:00 pm to establish contact, he found that the Chinese troops on guard had closed the gate. After further negotiations, the gates were opened at approximately 7:30 pm, allowing the Japanese units to begin passing through. Unfortunately, as the first three trucks crossed, the Chinese opened fire on them. Two-thirds of the units managed to get through before the gate was abruptly shut, leaving a portion of Hirobe's troops trapped both inside and outside. As they faced unexpectedly heavy fire from machine guns and grenades, efforts by Japanese and Chinese advisors to pacify the Chinese troops proved futile. By 8:00 pm, the Japanese launched a counterattack from both sides of the gate. The Chinese received reinforcements and encircled the Japanese forces. Despite a relief column being dispatched by Brigadier Masakazu Kawabe, commander of the brigade in the Fengtai District, by 9:30 pm, negotiations with the Chinese yielded a proposal for de-escalation: the Chinese army would maintain a distance while the Japanese inside the gate would relocate to the grounds of their legation, and those outside would return to Fengtai. Fighting ceased shortly after 10:00 pm, and at approximately 2:00 am the following day, Hirobe's unit successfully entered the barracks in the legation. The total casualties reported for the Japanese army during these confrontations were 2 dead and 17 wounded. Both fatalities were superior privates. The wounded included one major, one captain, one sergeant, two superior privates, one private first class, seven privates second class, two attached civilians, and one news reporter. Additionally, the interpreter accompanying Tokutaro Sakurai was also killed in action. On July 27, the Japanese army launched attacks on the 29th Army garrisons in Tongxian, Tuanhe, Xiaotangshan, and other locations, forcing the defenders to retreat to Nanyuan and Beiyuan. At 8:00 am on July 28, under the command of Army Commander Kiyoshi Kozuki, the Japanese army initiated a general assault on the 29th Army in the Beiping area. The primary attacking force, the 20th Division, supported by aircraft and artillery, targeted the 29th Army Special Brigade, the 114th Brigade of the 38th Division, and the 9th Cavalry Division stationed in Nanyuan. Overwhelmed by the Japanese assault, Nanyuan's defenders struggled to maintain command, leading to chaotic individual combat. Meanwhile, the main Japanese garrison brigade in Fengtai advanced to Dahongmen, effectively cutting off the Nanyuan troops' route to the city and blocking their retreat. The battle for Nanyuan concluded at 1:00 pm, resulting in the deaths of Tong Lingge, deputy commander of the 29th Army, and Zhao Dengyu, commander of the 132nd Division. As this unfolded, elements of the 37th Division of the 29th Army launched an attack on the Japanese forces in Fengtai but were repulsed by Japanese reinforcements. On that day, the Japanese Army's 1st Independent Mixed Brigade captured Qinghe Town, prompting the 2nd Brigade of the Hebei-Northern Security Force, stationed there, to retreat to Huangsi. The Japanese also occupied Shahe. In the afternoon of July 28, Song Qeyuan appointed Zhang Zizhong as the acting chairman of the Hebei-Chahar Political Affairs Committee and director of the Hebei-Chahar Pacification Office, as well as the mayor of Beiping, before leaving the city for Baoding that evening. The 37th Division was ordered to retreat to Baoding. On July 29th, a significant mutiny broke out at Tongzhou. If you remember our episode covering the Tanggu truce, Tongzhou had become the capital of the East Hubei Anti-Communist Autonomous Government headed by Yin Jukeng. In response Chiang Kai-Shek had established the East Hebei Administrative Affairs Committee, chaired by Song Queyuan. In Tongzhou, Japanese troops were stationed under the pretext of protecting Japanese residents, as stipulated by the Boxer Protocol. Initially, a unit was intended to be stationed in Tongzhou; however, Vice Minister of the Army Umezu Yoshijiro strongly opposed this plan, arguing that placing forces in Tongzhou, far from the Beiping-Tianjin Line was inconsistent with the spirit of the Boxer Protocol. Consequently, this unit was stationed in Fengtai, located southwest of Beiping. At the time of the Tongzhou Incident, the main force of the Japanese Second Regiment, which was responsible for defending Tongzhou, had been deployed to Nanyuan, south of Beijing. Consequently, only non-combat personnel remained in Tongzhou. Japan regarded the Jidong Anti-Communist Autonomous Government Security Force as a friendly ally. Back on July 27, the primary forces of the Japanese Army stationed in Tongzhou, comprising the Kayashima Unit and the Koyama Artillery Unit, received orders to advance toward Nanyuan, Beiping, leaving Tongzhou significantly under-defended. The following day, the Japanese launched a substantial attack on Nanyuan, employing aircraft to bomb Beiping. Sensing a critical opportunity, Zhang Qingyu conferred with Zhang Yantian and Shen Weigan to initiate an uprising that very night. The insurgent force included elements from the first and second corps and the teaching corps, totaling approximately 4,000 personnel. Zhang Qingyu orchestrated the uprising with a focused strategy: the first corps was divided into three groups targeting Japanese forces in Xicang, the puppet government, and various establishments such as opium dens, casinos, and brothels operated by Japanese ronin. Meanwhile, the second corps secured key intersections and facilities in Chengguan, and the teaching corps managed defenses against potential reinforcements at vital stations. At dawn on July 29, the gunfire signaling the uprising erupted. The second unit of the first corps launched an assault on the Xicang Barracks, which housed 120 troops and non-combat personnel, including the Tongzhou Guard, Yamada Motor Vehicle Unit, a Military Police Detachment, and a host of military and police units, totaling about 500 individuals. At around 3 a.m. on July 29, the sound of gunfire filled the air as the insurgents engaged the Japanese forces. Although equipped with only four field guns, several mortars, and a few heavy machine guns, the uprising's numerical superiority enabled simultaneous attacks from the east, south, and northwest. Despite their well-fortified positions and rigorous defense, the Japanese troops struggled against the relentless onslaught. For over six hours, fierce fighting ensued. The uprising troops escalated their firepower but failed to breach the Xicang Barracks initially. More than 200 members of the Japanese security forces lost their lives in the conflict. Concerned that reinforcements might arrive and flank the uprising, Zhang Qingyu ordered artillery assaults around 11 a.m., prompting a shift in the battle's dynamics. The artillery targeted a Japanese motor vehicle convoy transporting supplies and munitions, leading to the destruction of all 17 vehicles, triggering explosions that scattered bullets and shrapnel across the area. Subsequently, nearby fuel depots ignited, engulfing the surroundings in flames and creating chaos among Japanese ranks. The insurgent infantry capitalized on this confusion, wiping out most of the remaining Japanese forces, with only a handful managing to escape. As the uprising signal rang out, another faction of insurgents swiftly blocked access to Tongzhou, disrupting traffic and occupying the telecommunications bureau and radio station. They encircled the offices of the Jidong puppet government, capturing traitor Yin Rugeng, who was taken to the Beiguan Lu Zu Temple. Despite being urged to resist the Japanese, Yin hesitated and was subsequently imprisoned. The third group then targeted the Japanese secret service agency in Nishicang. Hosoki Shigeru, residing a mere lane away from the pseudo-office, responded to the gunfire by mobilizing a contingent of secret agents to confront the uprising. However, the insurgents swiftly overtook the secret service agency, resulting in Shigeru's death and the annihilation of all secret personnel. At 4:00 p.m. on July 29, the Japanese command dispatched reinforcements, compelling the insurgents to retreat from Tongzhou. The Japanese Chinese Garrison ordered air attacks on the uprising forces, with over ten bombers targeting Tongzhou. Concurrently, the Japanese Fengtai Infantry Brigade and the Second Regiment were mobilized for a rescue operation, arriving on the morning of July 30. The Japanese headquarters issued a night defense order requiring all units to be on high alert. By 5:30 p.m., commanding officers assembled to devise a strategy. With the uprising forces still positioned around the eastern, southern, and northern walls of the barracks, Tsujimura's troops implemented strict measures: all units were instructed to fortify defenses throughout the night, with the Tongzhou Guard directly protecting the barracks and the Yamada unit securing the warehouse and supply areas. They enforced silence, prohibiting any lights at night, coordinating operations under the code name "plum cherry." As the Japanese planes repeatedly bombed the area, the insurgents, lacking anti-aircraft defenses, could only mount futile counterattacks with machine guns, leading to disorder among their ranks. Many insurgents abandoned their uniforms and weapons and fled, prompting Zhang Qingyu to make the difficult decision to evacuate Tongzhou before Japanese reinforcements arrived, regrouping in Beiping with the remnants of the 29th Army. In the late hours of July 29, the security team retreated to Beiping in two groups. Upon arrival, they discovered the 29th Army had already evacuated, forcing them to retreat to Changxindian and Baoding. En route, they encountered part of the Suzuki Brigade of the Japanese Kwantung Army near Beiyuan and Xizhimen, where they faced concentrated attacks. Officers Shen Weigan and Zhang Hanming were both killed in the subsequent battles as they led their teams in desperate fights for survival. Amid the confusion, Yin Rugeng managed to escape when the convoy escorting him was broken up by Japanese forces. In a last-ditch effort, Zhang Qingyu ordered the army to split into small groups of 50 to 60, navigating through Mentougou to regroup with the 29th Army. By the time they reached Baoding, only about 4,000 personnel remained. On the morning of July 30, over a thousand troops from the Sakai Army entered Tongzhou City. They rounded up all men they encountered, searching residences for insurgents, and exhibited intentions of massacring the local population. By 4 p.m., the Kayashima Army arrived and sealed all city gates, deploying surveillance units to oversee the city and "restore public order." The Tsujimura Army removed perimeter defenses and concentrated their forces in barracks and storage facilities. Japanese troops combed through residences based on household registries, detaining those they deemed suspicious, with many later executed. As reported by the puppet county magistrate Wang Jizhang, roughly 700 to 800 individuals were executed within a few days. This brutal retaliation instilled terror throughout Tongzhou City, leading many to flee and seek refuge, often in American churches. The pervasive atmosphere of fear lasted for two to three months. The Japanese authorities framed their violent suppression as "restoring stability to East Asia" and derided the legitimate resistance of Chinese citizens as "communist harassment" and "treason." In response to the uprising, the Japanese embassy, concerned that it could trigger a repeat of the Temple Street Incident and instigate political upheaval at home, acted without government instructions. They appointed Morishima Morito to oversee negotiations with Chi Zongmo, who had replaced Yin Rugeng as the head of the "Hebei Anti-Communist Autonomous Government." On December 24, 1937, Chi submitted a formal apology to the Japanese embassy, committing to pay a total of 1.2 million yuan in reparations, with an immediate payment of 400,000 yuan, while the remaining 800,000 yuan would be disbursed by the "Provisional Government of the Republic of China." Furthermore, the Japanese demanded that the "Hebei Anti-Communist Autonomous Government" relinquish the territories where Japanese nationals had been killed and take responsibility for constructing "comfort towers." They compelled Chinese laborers to build these structures at the former site of the Governor's Office of Canal Transport in Shuiyueyuan Hutong, Nanmenli, and the northeastern corner of Xicang Square to commemorate Japanese casualties from the uprising. Additionally, they forcibly uprooted ancient trees from the Temple of Heaven, transplanting them around the "comfort towers." The Japanese military also demolished white marble guardrails at the Confucian Temple to erect a monument honoring their soldiers, resulting in the destruction of centuries-old cultural artifacts. On the morning of July 29, the Japanese Army's 11th Independent Mixed Brigade attacked Beiyuan and Huangsi. The Hebei-Northern Security Force, stationed in Huangsi, engaged the Japanese forces until 6:00 PM before retreating. Meanwhile, the 39th Independent Brigade, garrisoned in Beiyuan, fought the Japanese before withdrawing to Gucheng, eventually returning to Beiyuan. On July 31, this brigade was disarmed by the Japanese army, while the Independent 27th Brigade in the city was reorganized into a security team to maintain public order, later breaking through to Chahar Province a few days later and being assigned to the 143rd Division. Meanwhile, the 38th Division of the 29th Army, stationed in Tianjin, proactively attacked Japanese troops in Tianjin early on July 29, capturing the Japanese garrison at Tianjin General Station and launching an assault on the Japanese headquarters at Haiguang Temple and the Dongjuzi Airport. Initially, the battle progressed favorably; however, due to counterattacks from Japanese aircraft and artillery, the Chinese forces began to retreat around 3:00 PM, leading to the fall of Tianjin. Later that afternoon, the rebel forces evacuated Tong County and advanced toward Beiping. En route, they were attacked by the Japanese army north of the city and subsequently retreated to Baoding. As the 37th Division of the 29th Army received orders to retreat southward, the 110th Brigade covered the army headquarters and the Beiping troops from Wanping to Babaoshan, eventually retreating southward through Mentougou. After completing their task, they withdrew to Baoding on July 30. By the end of the 30th, the Japanese army had occupied both Beiping and Tianjin. The Japanese Independent Mixed Brigade No. 1 and the garrison brigade occupied high ground west of Changxindian and the area near Dahuichang on the evenings of the 30th and 31st, respectively. With this, the battles in Beiping and Tianjin effectively came to a close. China and Japan were at war. I would like to take this time to remind you all that this podcast is only made possible through the efforts of Kings and Generals over at Youtube. Please go subscribe to Kings and Generals over at Youtube and to continue helping us produce this content please check out www.patreon.com/kingsandgenerals. If you are still hungry after that, give my personal channel a look over at The Pacific War Channel at Youtube, it would mean a lot to me. It has finally happened, China and Japan are officially at war. From 1931 until now, it had been an unofficial war between the two, yet another incident had finally broke the camel's back. There was no turning back as Japan would unleash horror upon the Chinese people. The fight for China's survival had begun. China was completely alone against a fierce enemy, how would she manage? 

As external uncertainties continue to escalate, consumption, particularly in the services sector, is poised to assume an increasingly important role in underpinning the Chinese economy this year, analysts said.分析人士指出，随着外部不确定性持续加剧，消费特别是服务消费将在今年中国经济中扮演愈发重要的支柱角色。A high-level meeting convened by China's top leadership in late April placed high premiums on efforts to boost services consumption and strengthen the role of consumption in driving economic growth.今年4月下旬召开的中央高层会议明确提出，要着力扩大服务消费，进一步增强消费对经济增长的拉动作用。The meeting held by the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee also called for a swift removal of restrictive measures in the consumption sector.中共中央政治局会议还要求，抓紧破除消费领域存在的限制性措施。Before the tone-setting meeting, Commerce Minister Wang Wentao said in mid-April that "expanding services consumption will be instrumental in further tapping into untapped consumption potential and in creating a crucial engine to drive consumption growth, both in the near term and the longer run."在此次定调会议之前，商务部部长王文涛（Wang Wentao）4月中旬曾表示，“扩大服务消费，扩大服务消费将有助于进一步挖掘未开发的消费潜力，推动形成消费新引擎，拉动短期和长期的消费增长。”International evidence suggests that when a country's per capita GDP reaches around $15,000, its consumption structure transitions from being goods-dominant to being services-driven. Given that China's per capita GDP has already surpassed $13,000, the country's services consumption is now in a rapid growth stage, Wang said in a published article in Qiushi Journal, the flagship magazine of the CPC Central Committee.王文涛在中共中央机关刊《求是》杂志撰文指出，国际经验表明，当一国人均GDP达到1.5万美元左右时，消费结构会从以物质消费为主转向以服务型消费为主。中国人均GDP已超过1.3万美元，服务消费正处在快速发展阶段。In the first quarter of this year, retail sales of services grew by 5 percent year-on-year, outpacing the growth rate of goods retail by 0.4 percentage point, data from the National Bureau of Statistics showed.国家统计局数据显示，今年一季度，服务零售额同比增长5%，增速较商品零售快0.4个百分点。Analysts believe that services consumption will be a primary area of focus in the government's forthcoming policy initiatives.分析人士认为，服务消费将成为政府后续政策发力的重点领域。"The country's trade-in policies have predominantly targeted the consumption of durable goods, which might front-load future demand," said Xu Tianchen, senior economist at the Economist Intelligence Unit.经济学人智库高级经济学家徐天辰（Xu Tianchen）表示：“当前国家实施的以旧换新政策主要针对耐用消费品，这可能提前释放未来需求。”Services consumption not only has a higher frequency of usage, but also presents substantial untapped potential that can be cultivated through focused policy initiatives, Xu said, adding that trade-ins could be extended to cover the service sector.他指出，服务消费不仅使用频次更高，且存在大量待开发潜力，通过针对性政策可有效激发，他还建议将服务领域纳入以旧换新政策覆盖范围。In mid-April, the Ministry of Commerce, along with eight other government departments, jointly issued an action plan for improving services consumption this year, covering established areas like catering, accommodation, healthcare and tourism, as well as new consumption formats such as sightseeing trains, skydiving and micro-dramas.今年4月中旬，商务部等9部门联合出台促进服务消费年度行动方案，涵盖餐饮住宿、医疗旅游等传统领域，以及观光列车、跳伞体验、微短剧等新兴业态。According to data from the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, the five-day May Day holiday period saw 314 million domestic tourist trips across China, an increase of 6.4 percent compared to the same period last year. Domestic tourists also spent a total of 180.269 billion yuan ($25 billion) during the holiday, up 8 percent year-on-year.据文化和旅游部统计，五一假期5天全国国内旅游出游人次达3.14亿，同比增长6.4%；国内游客出游总花费1802.69亿元（约合250亿美元），同比上升8%。Compared to the relatively mature goods consumption market, China's services consumption market still has some key areas that need to be strengthened, said Lian Ping, head of the Guangkai Chief Industry Research Institute.广开首席产业研究院院长连平表示，相较于较为成熟的商品消费市场，中国服务消费市场仍存在若干亟待补强的关键领域。"On the demand side, it will be important to take multiple measures to increase residents' disposable incomes, improve the social protection system and enhance consumers' services consumption abilities," Lian said.连平表示：“在需求端，需要多措并举提升居民可支配收入，完善社会保障体系，增强消费者服务消费能力。”Finance Minister Lan Fo'an said in a published article in Qiushi Journal on May 1 that China is emphasizing the integration of improving people's livelihoods and promoting consumption.财政部部长蓝佛安（Lan Fo'an）5月1日在《求是》杂志撰文指出，中国正着力推动民生改善与消费促进有机结合。Key measures include appropriately increasing pension levels, raising the standards of basic medical insurance for rural and urban nonworking residents, issuing child care subsidies, and expanding the scale of student financial aid, all aimed at strengthening consumers' spending power and willingness to consume, Lan added.蓝佛安称重点举措包括适度提高养老金水平、上调城乡居民基本医保标准、发放育儿补贴、扩大学生资助规模等，旨在增强居民消费能力与消费意愿。Meanwhile, Lian from the Guangkai Chief Industry Research Institute noted that expediting the urbanization process and boosting the consumption capabilities of migrant populations will be crucial in unleashing the potential of services consumption.连平同时强调，加快城镇化进程、提升流动人口消费能力，将成为释放服务消费潜力的关键所在。external uncertainties外部不确定性services consumption服务消费unleash/ʌnˈliːʃ/v.使爆发; 发泄; 突然释放trade-ins/treɪd ɪnz/n. 折旧贴换交易;以旧换新

President Xi Jinping interacts on Tuesday with staff at the Shanghai Foundation Model Innovation Center, a large-model incubator, in Shanghai's Xuhui district.周二，国家主席习近平在位于上海市徐汇区的上海基础模型创新中心与工作人员亲切交流。这个创新中心是一家大型模型孵化器。President Xi Jinping has called on Shanghai to accelerate efforts to build itself into a pacesetter for scientific and technological innovation, saying that the municipality should strive to be at the forefront of artificial intelligence development and governance.国家主席习近平要求上海加快建设科技创新强市，并表示上海要努力走在人工智能发展和治理的前列。Xi, who is also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, made the remarks during a fact-finding trip on Tuesday to the financial and industrial powerhouse of Shanghai.同时也是中共中央总书记、中央军委主席的习近平周二在对上海的金融和工业集团进行调研时发表了上述讲话。The visit came just days after Xi, during a group study session of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, emphasized the need for the country to promote self-reliance and strength in AI development.就在几天前，习近平在中共中央政治局集体学习期间强调，要推动人工智能发展自主创新、自主发展。During a trip to the Shanghai Foundation Model Innovation Center, an incubator for AI startups, Xi said that as AI technologies are rapidly evolving with explosive growth, it is important for Shanghai to summarize its successful experiences and expand its exploration in order to set an example for AI development and governance.在参观作为人工智能创业孵化器的上海基础模型创新中心时，习近平表示，当前人工智能技术发展日新月异、呈爆炸式增长，上海要总结成功经验，拓展探索，为人工智能发展和治理做出表率。As Shanghai is establishing itself as a global hub for AI and building the world's largest AI incubator, the city's market scale of AI industry surpassed 450 billion yuan ($61.9 billion) in 2024, according to the municipal government.上海市政府表示，随着上海打造全球人工智能中心，打造全球最大的人工智能孵化器，到2024年，上海人工智能产业市场规模已突破4500亿元人民币（619亿美元）。The Shanghai Foundation Model Innovation Center, established in 2023 as China's first specialized incubator for AI foundation models, has attracted more than 100 enterprises, leading to the clustering of nearly 400 enterprises in the AI sector to Shanghai's Xuhui district.上海基础模型创新中心成立于2023年，是中国首个专注于人工智能基础模型的专业孵化器，目前已吸引百余家企业入驻，带动近400家人工智能企业在上海徐汇区集聚。Addressing a group of young entrepreneurs who were attending a discussion session there, Xi said that AI is a young endeavor and also a pursuit for young people.习近平在与参加座谈会的青年企业家们座谈时表示，人工智能是一项年轻的事业，也是属于年轻人的追求。"We are striving to build China into a great modern socialist country in all respects, and advancing the rejuvenation of the Chinese nation on all fronts. Now is the time for the younger generation to showcase their talents and excel. The hope of realizing the great dream of the Chinese nation rests on you," he said, encouraging the young people to make contributions to Chinese modernization.“我们正在全面建成社会主义现代化强国，全面推进中华民族伟大复兴。现在正是青年一代大显身手、出人头地的时候。实现中华民族伟大梦想的希望就在你们身上。”习近平鼓励青年们为祖国现代化建设贡献力量。Xi also walked into an AI product experience store, where he learned about the features and sales of various innovative products and tried on a pair of smart glasses.习近平还走进人工智能产品体验店，了解各类创新产品的功能和销售情况，并亲自试戴智能眼镜。Noting that China has abundant data resources, a complete industrial system and a huge market and broad prospects for AI development, Xi called for efforts to roll out more supportive policies, cultivate more talented people, and strive to develop more safe, reliable and high-quality products.习近平指出，中国拥有丰富的数据资源、完备的产业体系、巨大的市场空间和广阔的人工智能发展前景。要加强政策支持，培养更多人才，努力开发更多安全、可靠、高质量的产品。Hamza Boukili, a math teacher at the Shanghai Jiao Tong University Paris Elite Institute of Technology, said, "I feel fairly happy and honored to have the opportunity to exchange and share ideas with President Xi.上海交通大学巴黎卓越工程师学院的数学老师哈姆扎·布基利表示：“能有机会与习近平主席交流分享，我感到非常高兴和荣幸。”"He is warm, natural, without any sense of distance, making this communication extremely pleasant and unforgettable," Boukili added.“习近平主席热情自然，没有任何距离感，使这次交流非常愉快，令人难忘。”布基利补充道。Xi mentioned his visit to a technology research institute in the southern French city of Nice in the 1980s, Boukili said.布基利说，习近平主席提到了自己上世纪80年代访问法国南部城市尼斯一家技术研究所的情景。The math teacher also said that Xi told him that for Shanghai, being at the forefront of the world in terms of technological innovation is not only an opportunity, but also a responsibility.这位数学老师还提到，习近平主席告诉他，上海要在全球科技创新中走在前列，不仅是机遇，更是责任。According to Boukili, Xi emphasized that technological development should truly serve society, improve people's livelihood and achieve a safer and fairer future.布基利表示，习近平主席强调，科技发展要真正服务社会、改善民生，实现更加安全、更加公平的未来。Dai Guohao, a professor at Shanghai Jiao Tong University's School of Artificial Intelligence, said that President Xi's inspection of AI enterprises in Shanghai and his focus on scenarios of technological applications highlighted the importance of deep integration of academia, industry and research.上海交通大学人工智能学院的教授戴国浩表示，习近平主席此次考察上海人工智能企业，并重点关注技术应用场景，凸显了产学研深度融合的重要性。"As educators, we should concentrate on basic research, attempting to make breakthroughs in frontier challenges," Dai said. "Meanwhile, we should align with national strategic demands to drive the deep empowerment of AI in fields such as healthcare, manufacturing and finance."“作为教育工作者，我们应该专注于基础研究，努力突破前沿挑战，”戴教授说道，“同时，我们应该对接国家战略需求，推动人工智能在医疗、制造、金融等领域的深度赋能。”pacesetter/ˈpeɪsˌsetər/n.引领者，先行者incubator/ˈɪŋkjəˌbeɪtər/n.孵化器rejuvenation/rɪˌdʒuːvəˈneɪʃən/n.复兴；恢复活力empowerment/ɪmˈpaʊərmənt/n.赋能；增强能力

An article by Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, on unswervingly consolidating and developing the public sector and unswervingly encouraging, supporting and guiding the development of the nonpublic sector was published on Sunday, sending a clear message again that the country remains committed to bolstering the growth of the private economy.中共中央总书记习近平《关于毫不动摇巩固和发展公有制经济，毫不动摇鼓励、支持、引导非公有制经济发展的重要论述》一文于周日发表，再次发出了国家继续致力于促进民营经济发展的明确信号。The article by Xi, who is also Chinese president and chairman of the Central Military Commission, came nearly one month after he held a special symposium on private enterprises on Feb 17, aiming to boost private businesses. It was published in this year's sixth issue of Qiushi Journal, the flagship magazine of the CPC Central Committee.国家主席、中央军委主席的习近平在2月17日召开民营企业座谈会近一个月后发表了这篇文章，旨在促进民营企业发展。这篇文章发表在中共中央的旗舰杂志《求是》杂志今年第六期上。The article highlighted that China's basic economic system, in which the core principles and policies of the Party and the country regarding the development of the private economy are laid out, has been incorporated into the Constitution of the People's Republic of China and the Party Constitution. The system "will not and cannot be changed", the article said.文章强调，中国的基本经济制度是党和国家关于发展民营经济的核心方针政策，已写入《中华人民共和国宪法》和《中国共产党章程》。文章说，这一制度“不会也不能改变”。The Party and the country ensure that economic entities under all forms of ownership have equal access to factors of production in accordance with the law, can compete on a level playing field, and are protected by the law as equals. This enables them to complement each other and develop side by side, facilitating the healthy development of the nonpublic sector and those working in it, according to the article.党和国家保障各种所有制经济实体依法平等使用生产要素、公平参与竞争、同等受到法律保护。文章称，这使它们能够取长补短、共同发展，促进非公有制经济和非公有制经济人士的健康发展。Both the public and nonpublic sectors are important components of the socialist market economy and an important basis for China's economic and social development, it noted, adding that the two sectors should complement each other and develop in tandem.报告指出，公有制经济和非公有制经济都是社会主义市场经济的重要组成部分，都是中国经济社会发展的重要基础。China's consistent commitment to the development of the private economy, which has been demonstrated in various forms such as policy announcements and high-level meetings, comes at a time when debates on the relationship between State-owned enterprises and private businesses have gained traction.中国对民营经济发展的一贯承诺，已通过政策发布和高层会晤等各种形式表现出来，而此时，关于国有企业与民营企业之间关系的讨论正日益引人关注。In the 1980s, China's private economy started from scratch, but it experienced rapid growth over the past four decades.20世纪80年代，中国民营经济从零起步，但在过去40年中经历了快速发展。In terms of the role of the private economy, Xi's article said that for a long time, the rapid expansion of China's private sector has played an important role in stabilizing growth, powering innovation, increasing employment and raising people's living standards.关于民营经济的作用，习近平在文章中指出，长期以来，中国民营经济快速发展，在稳定增长、推动创新、增加就业、提高人民生活水平等方面发挥了重要作用。Official statistics show that private businesses contribute approximately 50 percent of the country's tax revenue, 60 percent of GDP and 70 percent of technological innovation, and they account for 80 percent of urban employment.官方统计数据显示，私营企业贡献了全国约50%的税收、60%的GDP和70%的技术创新，并占城市就业的80%。Paul Frimpong, executive director and senior research fellow at the Ghana-based Africa-China Centre for Policy and Advisory, said the Chinese government's effective partnership with the private sector has been central to the country's economic success through enhancing prosperity, employment and livelihoods.总部设在加纳的非中政策与咨询中心执行主任兼高级研究员保罗-弗林蓬（Paul Frimpong）说，中国政府与私营部门建立了有效的伙伴关系，通过促进繁荣、就业和生计，对加纳经济的成功起到了核心作用。"By driving GDP growth, creating jobs and fostering innovation, private enterprises underpin the nation's economic resilience," Frimpong said. "By fostering a dynamic and inclusive private economy, China can sustain high-quality growth, improve living standards and enhance global competitiveness."“通过推动国内生产总值增长、创造就业和促进创新，民营企业支撑着国家经济的韧性，"弗林蓬说。“通过培育充满活力和包容性的民营经济，中国可以保持高质量增长，提高人民生活水平，增强全球竞争力。However, China's private enterprises have faced mounting challenges in the past few years, including financing difficulties and concerns about fair competition and legal protections, which, to some extent, have thwarted the confidence of private businesses.然而，在过去几年中，中国民营企业面临着越来越多的挑战，包括融资困难、对公平竞争和法律保护的担忧等，这在一定程度上挫伤了民营企业的信心。To address these challenges, the Chinese government has introduced several key measures since 2023 to enhance the institutional environment for private enterprises. They include a 31-measure guideline to boost the private sector, the establishment of the private economy development bureau of the National Development and Reform Commission, and legislative progress on a law to promote the private economy.为应对这些挑战，中国政府自2023年以来推出了多项重要措施，以改善民营企业的制度环境。这些措施包括31条促进民营经济发展的指导意见、国家发展和改革委员会民营经济发展局的成立以及民营经济促进法的立法进展。Speaking in February at the symposium, which was attended by the nation's leading private entrepreneurs, Xi emphasized that the current difficulties and challenges facing the private sector are partial and temporary, rather than holistic and long-term, and "they can be overcome".今年2月，习近平在全国知名民营企业家座谈会上强调，当前民营经济面临的困难和挑战是局部的、暂时的，不是整体性、长期性的，“是可以克服的”。He also mentioned that this is an opportune moment for private enterprises and entrepreneurs to showcase their talent and significantly contribute to the country's development.他还提到，现在正是民营企业和民营企业家施展才华、为国家发展作出重要贡献的大好时机。Djoomart Otorbaev, former prime minister of Kyrgyzstan and a professor of the Belt and Road School of Beijing Normal University, said the high-level symposium, the first of its kind hosted since 2018, took place amid the complexities of emerging global economic challenges, including heightened geopolitical tensions and regulatory overreach against some of the country's corporate giants.吉尔吉斯斯坦前总理、北京师范大学“一带一路 ”学院教授德约马特-奥托尔巴耶夫表示，此次高级别研讨会是2018年以来举办的首次此类会议，是在全球经济新挑战错综复杂的背景下召开的，这些挑战包括地缘政治紧张局势加剧以及针对该国一些企业巨头的监管过度。"What is certain is that the symposium communicates a clear message of support for private sector entrepreneurs at the highest level, which will inspire much-needed spirit and optimism for renewed growth in China, particularly in its tech sector," Otorbaev said in an article published on the website of the China Global Television Network.“奥托尔巴耶夫在中国环球电视网网站上发表的一篇文章中说："可以肯定的是，此次座谈会传达了最高层支持民营企业家的明确信息，这将激发中国亟需的精神和乐观情绪，促进中国经济的恢复性增长，尤其是在科技领域。According to the Government Work Report delivered by Premier Li Qiang at the annual session of the National People's Congress, the nation's top legislature, on March 5 in Beijing, China will encourage private investment by implementing new mechanisms for public-private partnerships in a well-regulated manner and guiding more private investment toward major infrastructure and public well-being projects, thus creating more opportunities for the development of private capital.根据国务院总理李强3月5日在北京举行的全国人民代表大会（中国最高立法机构）年度会议上所做的《政府工作报告》，中国将鼓励民间投资，规范实施公私合营新机制，引导更多民间投资投向重大基础设施和民生工程，为民间资本发展创造更多机会。Observers said the Chinese government's engagement with private entrepreneurs, as well as ongoing policy refinements, reflect a pragmatic approach aimed at fostering an environment where State-owned and private businesses can thrive together.观察家们认为，中国政府与民营企业家的接触以及不断完善的政策，反映了一种务实的态度，旨在营造一个国有企业和民营企业共同发展的环境。Rather than retreating, the private sector is being empowered to take on new opportunities in sectors such as advanced manufacturing, the digital economy and international trade, they said.他们说，私营企业非但没有退缩，反而在先进制造业、数字经济和国际贸易等领域获得了新的机遇。Huang Hanquan, director of the National Development and Reform Commission's Academy of Macroeconomic Research, emphasized the importance of faithfully implementing the measures to boost the private economy.国家发展和改革委员会宏观经济研究院院长黄汉权强调了认真落实促进民营经济发展措施的重要性。"Many supportive policies have been in place," Huang said in an interview with China Media Group. "The key, however, is to ensure their implementation. It is essential to enable private enterprises to truly feel tangible benefits, to genuinely experience the value and specific advantages of national policies."“许多支持性政策已经出台，”他在接受中国传媒集团采访时说。“但关键是要确保落实。要让民营企业真正感受到实实在在的好处，真正体会到国家政策的价值和具体优势。”reiteratevt.反复地说,重申n.反复地说,重申sectorn. 部门；部分；防御地段；防区；扇形，扇区；象限仪；函数尺holisticadj.全部的infrastructuren.基础设施;基础结构

Global attention will turn to Beijing next week with the start of the two sessions, China's biggest annual political event, through which the people's voices will be heard by policymakers, while the country's development priorities will be discussed.With the people's well-being in mind, President Xi Jinping, who is also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, has since 2013 leveraged the two sessions to hold discussions with grassroots-level lawmakers and political advisers from across the country, listening to their suggestions on the country's development.Two sessions refer to the annual gatherings in Beijing of the deputies to the National People's Congress, the nation's top legislature, and the members of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, the nation's top political advisory body.As an embodiment of whole-process people's democracy, the two sessions have become a strong bond linking the Chinese leader and people at the grassroots level.At discussions during the two sessions about the country's development priorities, Xi has touched upon a variety of topics, including efforts to promote high-quality growth, foster new quality productive forces, enhance innovation in science and technology, and strengthen ecological conservation.He has always highlighted the need to make every effort to enable China's 1.4 billion people to lead a better life on the path to Chinese modernization.When he took part in deliberations with NPC deputies from the delegation of Jiangsu province last year, Xi emphasized the need to adhere to the people-centered development philosophy. "We must steadily enhance the level of livelihood security through development, and guide and motivate our people to create a happy life with their own hands," he said.People-centered development has been at the core of Xi's governance philosophy. When he has conducted inspections nationwide, he has always visited rural areas and urban communities to see how people are faring in their lives.Last year, he spent a total of more than 30 days on inspection tours, visiting 12 provinces, municipalities and autonomous regions as well as the Macao Special Administrative Region. He visited farmers' homes, orchards and farm fields, as well as urban communities, seaports and high-tech industrial parks."As far as Chinese modernization is concerned, the people's well-being is prioritized," Xi told local residents when visiting a rural community during his inspection tour of Chongqing in April. "All the work of the Party and the government is aimed at ensuring a happier life for the ordinary people," he added.On Jan 22, ahead of Chinese New Year, Xi braved the cold to visit people who had been affected by floods in the village of Zhujiagou in Huludao, Liaoning province. He visited villagers who had moved into their new houses and inquired about the quality of the reconstructed homes and whether their daily necessities were adequate.Wang Lili, Party chief of the village, said that what Xi cares about most is whether the villagers affected by the floods live a good life."President Xi's care brings warmth and happiness to our hearts," she said.According to the Ministry of Finance, 70 percent of government expenditures in 2024 went toward ensuring the people's well-being.In his 2025 New Year message, Xi said: "Of all the jobs in front of us, the most important is to ensure a happy life for our people. ... We should work together to steadily improve social undertakings and governance, build a harmonious and inclusive atmosphere, and settle real issues, big or small, for our people. We must bring more smiles to our people and greater warmth to their hearts."Regarding the Chinese president's visit in 2018 to Liangjiahe, a village in Shaanxi province, where Xi had stayed for seven years as an "educated youth" in his teens, Faustin-Archange Touadera, president of the Central African Republic, said that he was impressed by Xi's strong connections with the people."Xi is deeply rooted in the people, always standing with the people and serving the people," Touadera said in an interview with China Global Television Network.Under Xi's leadership, the Party has made it a major task of Chinese modernization to ensure and improve people's livelihood through development.The third plenary session of the 20th CPC Central Committee, which was held in July, adopted a resolution on further deepening reform comprehensively to advance Chinese modernization, with a focus on enhancing people's quality of life, improving the income distribution system, promoting an employment-first policy, strengthening the social security system and deepening reform of the healthcare system.Guo Jianning, a professor at Tsinghua University's School of Marxism, said that putting people first underpins the governance philosophy and core values of the Party.Ensuring that the people lead better lives serves as both the starting point and the ultimate goal of the Party to further deepen reform on all fronts, Guo said in an article published by China Education News.While striving to improve the well-being of its own people, China, led by Xi, has also been committed to promoting the world's common development to ensure a better life for people in all countries."On the path toward modernization, no one and no country should be left behind," Xi said at the 2024 Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation in September, calling on China and Africa to join hands to boost the modernization of the Global South to contribute to peace, security, prosperity and progress around the world.

President Xi Jinping has reiterated China's commitment to boosting the private sector through concrete efforts to implement supportive policies and measures.Xi, who is also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, made the remarks on Monday in Beijing at a symposium on private enterprises. The gathering of high-profile participants came years after the previous such symposium was presided over by Xi in 2018.Among the attendees were Huawei's Ren Zhengfei, BYD's Wang Chuanfu, New Hope's Liu Yonghao, Will Semiconductor's Yu Renrong, Unitree Robotics' Wang Xingxing and Xiaomi's Lei Jun. The six business leaders put forward their opinions and advice on the development of the private sector.Speaking to a roomful of senior officials and private entrepreneurs, Xi said the government's basic principles and policies concerning the development of the private economy have been incorporated into the system of socialism with Chinese characteristics and will consistently be upheld and fulfilled."They cannot and will not be changed," he said, noting that obstacles should be removed in order to facilitate private enterprises' equal access to factors of production and market opportunities in accordance with the law.Xi said that as the world's second-largest economy further reforms and opens up, the enormous market with a population of over 1.4 billion will bring new opportunities for the greater development of private enterprises."On the new journey in the new era, the prospects for the development of the private economy are broad and promising. It is a prime time for private enterprises and entrepreneurs to give full play to their capabilities," he said.As of the end of September last year, China had over 55 million registered private companies, accounting for 92.3 percent of all businesses. They contribute more than half of the country's tax revenue, over 60 percent of GDP and over 80 percent of urban employment.Regarding the difficulties and challenges currently facing the private sector's development, Xi said that these have generally emerged during the process of reform and development and industrial transformation."They are partial rather than general, temporary rather than long-term, and surmountable rather than unsolvable," Xi said, stressing the need to stay focused on growth, maintain confidence in development and face up to the challenges with optimism.Since the 18th National Congress of the CPC in 2012, the CPC Central Committee and the State Council have rolled out a series of policies and measures to spur the growth of the private sector.China is also moving closer to its first basic legislation specifically focused on the development of the private sector, as the draft law was submitted to the Standing Committee of the 14th National People's Congress for deliberation in December.During the symposium, Xi also called for continuous efforts to see that the competitive areas of infrastructure are open to market entities in a fair manner, to resolve the difficulties private enterprises face in accessing affordable financing, and to resolve overdue payments to private enterprises.The government will earnestly protect the legitimate rights and interests of private businesses and entrepreneurs in accordance with the law, Xi said.But he noted that China is a socialist country ruled by law, and no type of illegal activities by enterprises, despite their form of ownership, can avoid investigation and punishment.Xi also stressed the role of private enterprises in advancing China's broader goals in terms of technological innovation, promoting rural vitalization and improving people's well-being. He urged entrepreneurs to focus on high-quality development, invest in their main businesses, strengthen their capacities for innovation, and increase their core competitiveness.It is hoped that the vast number of private enterprises and entrepreneurs will take the lead in promoting common prosperity, thus making new and greater contributions to advancing Chinese modernization, he said.reiterate /riˈɪtəˌreɪt/(v.)—— 重申commitment /kəˈmɪtmənt/(n.)—— 承诺，坚定支持boost /buːst/(v.)—— 促进，推动implement /ˈɪmplɪˌmɛnt/(v.)—— 贯彻，实施supportive /səˈpɔːrtɪv/(adj.)—— 支持的，鼓励的

China held a massive meeting in Zunyi, Guizhou province, on Wednesday to mark the 90th anniversary of the Zunyi Conference, a crucial turning point during the Long March (1934-36) that marked the maturity of the Communist Party of China.1月15日，纪念遵义会议90周年大会在中国贵州省遵义市隆重举行。遵义会议是长征（1934-1936年）期间的一个重要转折点，标志着中国共产党的成熟。Li Shulei, a member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and head of the Publicity Department of the CPC Central Committee, attended the conference and addressed nearly 1,000 participants from central departments, Guizhou authorities and the People's Liberation Army.中共中央政治局委员、中宣部部长李书磊出席会议并讲话。中央有关部门、贵州省、中国人民解放军有关同志共约1000人参加。Attendees noted that the Zunyi Conference was a historic moment in the Party's history. They called for careful study and implementation of General Secretary of the CPC Central Committee Xi Jinping's remarks on summarizing and using the historical experience of the Zunyi Conference, so that people can gather wisdom and strength from the Party's history to help them on their own "Long March" in the new era.会议指出，遵义会议是共产党历史上的一个历史性时刻，要认真学习并贯彻中共中央总书记习近平关于总结运用遵义会议历史经验的重要论述，从党的历史中汲取智慧力量，奋力走好新时代的长征路。Participants also called on the Chinese people to stick to Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, enhance confidence and determination in pursuing Chinese modernization and national rejuvenation, uphold the revolutionary tradition of bravely struggling, and pool strength to overcome difficulties and keep fighting.会议强调，中国人民要坚持习近平新时代中国特色社会主义思想，坚定推进中国式现代化、实现民族复兴的信心决心，发扬敢于斗争的革命传统，凝聚攻坚克难、勇毅前行的强大力量。In January 1935, an enlarged meeting of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee was held in Zunyi to resolve the most critical military and organizational issues of the time. The participants reviewed the causes behind the Kuomintang's defeat in its fifth encirclement campaign and discussed the next steps to be taken by the Party and the Chinese Workers' and Peasants' Red Army, the PLA's predecessor.1935年1月，中共中央在遵义召开政治局扩大会议，以解决当时具有决定意义的军事和组织问题。会议分析了反对国民党第五次“围剿”失败的原因，并讨论了党和中国工农红军（中国人民解放军的前身）的下一步行动。The meeting also restructured the Party's top leadership, recognized Mao Zedong's key role in the Party and pointed the Chinese revolution in the right direction.会议还对党的最高领导层进行了重组，确认了毛泽东同志在党中央的领导地位，为中国革命指明了正确方向。predecessorn.前辈；前身

Upholding the spirit of reform and deepening the Communist Party of China's self-reform are keys to the Party's leading all walks of life in advancing Chinese modernization and achieving national rejuvenation in the new era, experts said.They emphasized that while facing difficulties and challenges on the path to modernization and rejuvenation, it is even more crucial for the Party to firmly uphold the spirit of reform and continuously intensify self-reform, as the Party's self-improvement is a political guarantee for social development.They made the comments after the 20th CPC Central Commission for Discipline Inspection concluded its fourth plenary session in Beijing last week.Xi Jinping, general secretary of the CPC Central Committee, delivered an important speech at the session, stressing the significance of rigorous Party governance with the spirit of reform and reiterating that the battle against corruption is an unceasing endeavor.Xi, who is also Chinese president and chairman of the Central Military Commission, noted that it is imperative to make greater progress in governing the Party to ensure that the Party will continue to be the strong leadership core in building socialism with Chinese characteristics and to guarantee the steady advancement of Chinese modernization on the new journey in the new era.Since the 18th CPC National Congress in 2012, Xi has highlighted on multiple occasions the implementation and improvement of rigorous governance of the Party, and unprecedented anti-corruption efforts have been made across the country.In January 2023, when the 20th CCDI, the country's top anti-corruption watchdog, opened its second plenary session, Xi stressed the need for ceaseless efforts to promote full and rigorous Party self-governance.In October last year, when conducting an inspection tour in Anhui province, Xi emphasized the need to uphold Party leadership, clarifying that it is necessary to consistently strengthen Party building.According to the latest data released by the CCDI, a total of 73 officials at minister level or above were placed under disciplinary and supervisory investigation last year, with cases also filed against 104,000 current or former village committee heads or at the grassroots level. A year ago, at the third plenary session of the 20th CCDI, Xi pointed out that leading the great social revolution is the fundamental purpose of advancing the Party's self-reform, which he said should be promoted so that its governance will better serve its main tasks.Zhuang Deshui, deputy head of Peking University's Research Center of Public Policy, said, "The current task of the Party is to advance Chinese modernization and national rejuvenation, which is also our country's ongoing social revolution."Whether the task can be accomplished and whether the social revolution can succeed depend on the Party," Zhuang said. "Specifically, it's up to the Party to arrange the work of various industries, gather the force of all sectors and solve problems in different fields on the way to modernization."Therefore, the Party must optimize its own governance through self-reform, with sustained efforts to eradicate the soil for corruption. Only in this way can the Party be the 'backbone' of the people in the social revolution."Zhuang praised the spirit of reform that was highlighted by Xi last week, saying that it is consistent with the self-reform that Xi has repeatedly emphasized in recent years.In Zhuang's view, the spirit of self-reform will be more conducive to the Party solving difficulties and challenges at home and abroad in the new era."The more difficulties the country encounters, the more it must unswervingly exercise full and rigorous Party governance, because the Party's self-improvement is a political guarantee for the realization of social revolution," Zhuang added.Yang Weidong, a law professor at China University of Political Science and Law, said that the spirit of reform will be more helpful to the self-improvement of the Party and thus enable it to lead the people in overcoming difficulties in various areas.More rigorous governanceThe two experts also noted that the increasingly rigorous governance of the Party has played a bigger role in ensuring that Party members and officials do not dare to, are unable to, and have no desire to indulge in corruption."For example, the disciplinary supervision of Party members and officials was previously limited to their working hours, but now it has been extended to include outside working hours and their families," Zhuang said.A documentary recently aired in China showed that Tang Yijun, former governor of Liaoning province and minister of justice, used companies controlled by his wife, Xuan Minjie, as a cover-up for his corrupt activities to present them as market operations.Based on clues and thanks to big data, the investigators uncovered shadow companies, suspected proxies and bribe givers linked to Xuan, who had extensive experience in finance and economics and ventured into business in 2005, after holding a senior position at a State-owned enterprise.In October, the Supreme People's Procuratorate approved the arrest of Tang on suspicion of accepting bribes. He was expelled from the Party and dismissed from public office earlier.Zhuang said that such extensive investigation is necessary to regulate the behavior of Party members, noting that the Party's self-governance has also been improved by disciplinary education, amendments to the disciplines and campaigns against misconduct closely related to people's well-being.According to data released by the CCDI, 768,000 cases of misconduct and corruption that directly affected people's daily lives, including school meals and medical insurance, have been handled since 2022, with 628,000 individuals disciplined."All the efforts mean that the standards or requirements for Party members and officials have been increased, and are higher and more rigorous," Zhuang said.Yang, the law professor, said that self-improvement as well as self-reform will make the CPC more confident and capable in solving problems on the journey of Chinese modernization and in promoting the people's sense of fulfillment, happiness and security in the new era.reiteratev.反复地说；重申conduciveadj.有利的，有益的

When recalling the visit made by President Xi Jinping to the Premier School Affiliated to Hou Kong Middle School in Macao, Chao Lin-chai said she didn't realize that it had already been five years.Chao was then giving an open class in history to first graders at the school auditorium, ahead of the 20th anniversary of Macao's return to the motherland.The topic was to explore the reasons behind the strong vitality of the "one country, two systems "principle, an institutional arrangement for ensuring sustained prosperity and stability in the Hong Kong and Macao special administrative regions after their return to the motherland."I remember President Xi walked up to the students and said that history is the best subject, because by knowing our history, we can understand where we started from, what path we have taken, where we are now, where we are headed for and what the future holds," Chao said.Xi also praised the students for being quick-witted, and expressed his confidence that the young people of Macao will mature into "a capable generation of which we are proud of" and serve as the backbone of both Macao and the country, Chao said.Starting on Wednesday, Xi will be in Macao again to attend a gathering marking the 25th anniversary of Macao's return to the motherland. He will also conduct an inspection tour during his three-day stay."We are all very happy about President Xi's visit, which reflects his care and support for Macao. We also look forward to more opportunities for cooperation with the mainland that this trip might bring," Chao said, adding that local residents believe that Macao will continue to develop further and their quality of life will continue to improve.This is the seventh time in 25 years that Xi will set foot on Macao, which has a total area of 33.3 square kilometers.On June 10, 2000, less than half a year after the establishment of the Macao Special Administrative Region, Xi, then governor of East China's Fujian province, visited Macao to hold discussions on further strengthening the economic and trade cooperation between the province and the SAR.A year later, on Oct 23, Xi led a delegation to visit Macao and reached broad consensus with Ho Hau-wah, then chief executive of the SAR, on in-depth cooperation between Fujian and Macao.On Jan 19, 2005, Xi, then secretary of the Communist Party of China Zhejiang provincial committee, led a delegation to visit Macao for an event on economic and trade cooperation.Amid the global financial crisis in 2009, Xi, who was then Chinese vice-president, made a visit to Macao with the purpose of inspiring local people and helping them tide over the situation. During that trip, he announced that the central government had decided to commence the official development of Hengqin Island, Guangdong province, located less than 200 meters from Macao at its closest point.In 2014 and 2019, Xi attended gatherings marking the anniversaries of Macao's return to the motherland as Chinese president.Five years ago, in his speech marking the 20th anniversary of Macao's return to the motherland and the inauguration of the fifth-term government of the Macao SAR, Xi said that over the past two decades, the SAR government and the region's people had worked closely to usher in Macao's best period of development in history.Noting that the world is undergoing changes unseen in a century and Macao is facing new internal and external dynamics, Xi urged the SAR government and all sections of society to "build on what Macao has accomplished and take all undertakings in the SAR to the next level".New accomplishmentIn the past five years, the SAR government has received strong support from the central government to overcome challenges, including the COVID-19 pandemic, and launched a series of innovative measures to promote economic development, social stability and cultural inheritance, achieving remarkable results.Last year, as the robust resurgence in tourism propelled Macao's economy to grow 80.5 percent year-on-year, the SAR was ranked fifth-wealthiest among regions globally, according to a report published by Global Finance magazine in May.In the first three quarters of this year, Macao's GDP increased 11.5 percent year-on-year to reach 301 billion patacas ($38 billion), data from the Statistics and Census Service showed.Macao was primarily relying on its casino industry to drive economic growth. However, the SAR government is now making dedicated and determined efforts to diversify Macao's industrial structure to reduce its dependence on the gaming sector.Xu Chang, a professor with the "One Country Two Systems "Research Centre at Macao Polytechnic University, said that Macao has revised its gaming law and regulations to strengthen supervision of casino operations and tackle gambling-related crimes in recent years."Such efforts are of great significance for guiding this traditional lifeline industry toward legal, orderly and healthy development," he said.Last year, the SAR government released a development plan for Macao's economic diversification from 2024 through 2028. It is the first such plan drafted for Macao.The document outlines the"1+4"appropriate diversification development strategy that aims to enhance Macao's function as "One Centre "for integrated tourism and leisure, while facilitating the development of "four emerging industries", namely the traditional Chinese medicine and the health sector, modern financial services, high-tech industries, and cultural, sports and convention services.According to Xu, a series of public service facilities to improve people's well-being, such as government housing units for the elderly and low-income residents, in addition to convenient traveling options between Macao and Zhuhai, Guangdong, via new ports and a light railway link, have substantially enhanced the quality of life for Macao residents."All these will help carry forward the fine tradition of loving the motherland and loving Macao, and speed up the SAR's integration into the modernization process of the motherland, thereby ensuring the steady implementation of the 'one country, two systems' principle," Xu said.When meeting with Sam Hou-fai, Macao's incoming chief executive, in Beijing last month, President Xi said the central authorities will stay committed to fully and faithfully implementing the "one country, two systems" principle and ensure there is no deviation or distortion in its implementation.The principle has proved to be the best answer to the question of Macao left by history and the best institutional guarantee for the long-term prosperity and stability of Macao after its return to the motherland.Wang Yu, a professor with the Faculty of Law at the University of Macau, said it is necessary to have a clear understanding of the principle as an unprecedented pioneering cause."That's why President Xi has once and again emphasized that it must be applied without deviation or distortion to ensure Macao's steady and long-term progress," Wang said.Xu, from Macao Polytechnic University, said the fact that fellow compatriots in Macao can truly feel the care and concern of the motherland serves as the fundamental foundation for implementing the "one country, two systems "principle without deviation or distortion.Guarantee of progressIn recent years, the central government has launched a series of policies and measures that benefit Macao and its people, continuously injecting new impetus into the SAR's long-term prosperity and stability and fully demonstrating the central government's care and love for Macao.In 2021, the central authorities decided to build the Guangdong-Macao in-depth cooperation zone in Hengqin, making the island an important new growth point for Macao's economy.As the nation moves to advance Chinese modernization, it was outlined in the resolution adopted at the third plenary session of the 20th CPC Central Committee in July that efforts need to be made to improve relevant mechanisms to see Hong Kong and Macao playing greater roles in China's opening-up to the outside world.During their meeting in Beijing, Xi told Sam that this expression has pointed out the direction for Macao to integrate into Chinese modernization and achieve better development, creating a new historical opportunity for the SAR's development.Xu, from the polytechnic university, said that Macao should leverage its advantages in terms of location to advance China's reform and opening-up.The region should also use its traditional relations with Portuguese-speaking countries, convenient customs clearance in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area and the unique policy advantages of "one country, two systems" to make pioneering contributions to exploring the successful path toward Chinese modernization, he added.

President Xi Jinping called on Monday for constant efforts to achieve new accomplishments that will stand the test of history and time and fulfill the expectations of the people, amid China's drive to build a strong country and advance national rejuvenation.Xi, who is also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, made the remarks while addressing a meeting held at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing to mark the 100th anniversary of the birth of late top legislator Qiao Shi.Xi praised Qiao's outstanding contributions to the Party and the country, and called for learning from his revolutionary spirit and noble character.Qiao was a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee. He served as head of the CPC Central Commission for Discipline Inspection from 1987 to 1992, promoting the building of a clean Party and improving anti-corruption laws and rules.Widely known as a champion of rule of law, Qiao served as chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, China's top legislature, from 1993 to 1998. He supervised revisions to the Constitution, which saw the theory of building socialism with Chinese characteristics written into the Constitution as a guiding principle. He also oversaw legislative work on a series of economic laws so that the legal framework of the socialist market economy could take shape.In his speech on Monday, Xi said that generations of outstanding communists have emerged in the great process of China's revolution, construction and reform, and he stressed that Qiao was one of them.Xi said that commemorating Qiao is for the purpose of learning from him in maintaining a noble character of upholding firm beliefs and ideals, promoting better Party conduct with strict Party discipline, serving the people with the original aspiration in mind, and carrying out bold reforms with great political courage.He also emphasized the need to learn from Qiao's unwavering pursuit of respecting and enforcing the rule of law and his practical and realistic work style.While highlighting the need to firm up the communist ideal, Xi urged upholding the overall leadership of the Party as well as the centralized and unified leadership of the CPC Central Committee.It is important to steadfastly exercise full and rigorous governance over the Party, vigorously improve conduct and combat corruption in strengthening the Party, in order to maintain the Party's advanced nature and integrity, he said.Xi also underscored the necessity to always adhere to the fundamental purpose of wholeheartedly serving the people, uphold people-centered development, effectively safeguard the fundamental interests of the people and ensure that the achievements of modernization benefit all the people more fairly.He called for further deepening comprehensive reform and advancing high-level opening-up, and emphasized the need to build a modern socialist country on the track of rule of law.It is crucial to resolutely oppose formalism and bureaucratism, focus on promoting development and take solid steps to advance Chinese modernization, Xi added.

China is planning a fresh set of policies to propel growth in the equipment manufacturing sector, focusing on nurturing new growth engines such as new energy vehicles and low-altitude aircraft, amid the country's concerted efforts to promote industrial upgrading and enhance global supply chain resilience, said officials and experts.The move mirrors the directive to nurture technological innovation to boost the development of new quality productive forces and the establishment of a modern industrial system, which was mapped out at a meeting of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee on Monday.The meeting, which was presided over by Xi Jinping, general secretary of the CPC Central Committee, anchored China's key focal points for next year's economic development, as the nation is in a pivotal process of changing its development paradigm from quantity-driven to quality-driven.The vision is backed by China's ever-stronger equipment manufacturing capability, as reflected in the fact that annual production of new energy vehicles passed the milestone of 10 million units on Nov 14, according to the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, making China the only nation to realize such an achievement.It took only six years for this figure to grow from 1 million to 10 million, showcasing the nation's unwavering commitment to innovation-driven development."Innovation stands as a pivotal force propelling the high-quality advancement of the manufacturing sector, and companies are increasingly assuming central roles in driving innovation," said Li Jinghong, an academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and a professor at Tsinghua University.To date, China has built nearly 10,000 digital workshops and smart factories, of which over 400 have developed into national-level intelligent manufacturing demonstration factories. Artificial intelligence, digital twins and other cutting-edge technologies have been applied in more than 90 percent of these demonstration factories, according to a report released at the 2024 World Internet Conference.In the first 10 months of this year, total output of high-tech manufacturing businesses grew 9.1 percent year-on-year, surpassing the average growth rate of businesses from all industries by 3.3 percentage points, according to the National Bureau of Statistics.Businesses are also stepping up efforts to promote green transformation. NBS data showed that the proportion of nonfossil energy consumption increased 2.6 percentage points in the first three quarters, compared with the same period last year, while coal consumption decreased 1.9 percentage points and petroleum use fell 0.9 percentage point."Despite China's rapid advancement in the manufacturing sector, challenges persist, notably in balancing innovation investments with operational demands," said Li, the CAS academician. "The substantial investments required for technological innovation exert significant operational pressures on companies, posing dilemmas between long-term innovation and short-term financial sustainability."Xin Guobin, vice-minister of industry and information technology, said at a recent conference that the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology's upcoming policies to further boost manufacturing are expected to strengthen the implementation of large-scale equipment upgrades and trade-in programs for consumer goods to stimulate consumption of major commodities like automobiles.Xin said that policies are also underway to proactively foster new growth drivers such as intelligent connected NEVs, low-altitude aircraft and service robots, as well as major technological projects such as machine tools and smart manufacturing systems."It is crucial to unlock the innovation capabilities of companies and make full use of the leading role of industry front-runners in research investment and the fostering of practical technologies. Further efforts are also expected to enhance the collaboration among businesses, academia and research institutes," Li said.Shan Zenghai, chief engineer and vice-president of the listed arm of construction equipment maker Xuzhou Construction Machinery Group, said that promoting the renewal of construction machinery equipment can foster new growth points for related businesses such as electronic components and software development, and further propel the high-quality development of the manufacturing sector.It is expected that policy support for the renewal of construction machinery equipment will be accelerated, while the transformation from traditional fuel-powered construction machinery to equipment powered by new energy sources will be encouraged, the market environment will be continuously optimized, and the coordinated development of the industrial chain will be promoted, he said.Zhang Xiaolun, chairman of China National Machinery Industry Corp, underscored the importance of machine tools as the foundation of the manufacturing sector. Despite China's dominance in global production and consumption of machine tools, a gap exists in high-end manufacturing in this specific sector, compared with international rivals. Efforts are required to foster a robust industrial ecosystem and propel technological progress, Zhang said.

Top policymakers pledged on Monday that China would adopt an even more proactive fiscal policy and a moderately loose monetary policy in 2025, as part of broader moves to boost the recovery of the world's second-largest economy and strengthen the living standards of the people.The pledge came as the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, the Party's core leadership, met to map out economic priorities and plan anticorruption efforts for next year.Xi Jinping, general secretary of the CPC Central Committee, presided over the meeting.Analysts noted that China's policymakers have signaled a greater resolve to stabilize growth, in order to embrace uncertainties next year with enhanced policy measures.The meeting vowed to roll out more proactive and effective macro policies to boost domestic demand and spur sci-tech innovation, highlighting the need to ensure the stability of stock markets and the real estate sector.The prevention and defusing of risks in key sectors and external shocks were also stressed by policymakers, aiming to stabilize expectations and stimulate the vigor of the economy.They also pledged to enrich and improve the policy toolkit, strengthen "unconventional countercyclical adjustments", intensify the coordination of various policies, and make macro regulation more forward-looking, targeted and effective.Zhang Jun, chief economist of China Galaxy Securities, said the nation's embracing of a "moderately loose monetary policy", a major shift in stance since 2011, could entail greater strides in rate cuts and reductions in the reserve requirement ratio by the People's Bank of China next year.Meanwhile, an even more proactive fiscal policy could point to a greater emphasis on consumer spending and the real estate sector, Zhang said.The meeting reaffirmed the importance of lifting consumption and improving investment efficiency, saying that domestic demand should be expanded across the board.The role of sci-tech innovation must be better harnessed to lead the development of new quality productive forces and develop a modern industrial system, the policymakers said.They also called for the leveraging of reforms in the economic systems and implementation of landmark reform measures.China's economy has shown growing signs of recovery in recent months after the central government rolled out wide-ranging stimulus measures since late September.The official purchasing managers index for the manufacturing sector rose from 50.1 in October to 50.3 in November, remaining above the 50 mark that separates expansion from contraction for the second consecutive month and hitting a seven-month high.Meanwhile, the Monday meeting also signaled that Beijing will continue to expand high-level opening-up and try to stabilize foreign trade and the inflow of foreign investment.The policymakers also stressed the need to carry out stronger regional strategies to unleash regional development potential, while pledging to take coordinated actions in cutting carbon emissions, reducing pollution and expanding green initiatives.They required steps to scale up measures in guaranteeing and improving public well-being to bolster the stronger senses of gain, happiness and security for the people.Monday's meeting was held three days after the CPC Central Committee held a symposium to solicit advice from non-CPC personages on the economic performance and economic priorities for next year.While presiding over the meeting on Friday, Xi said it is of paramount importance to firm up confidence, adding that the Chinese economy remains on a firm footing, underpinned by abundant advantages, strong resilience and vast potential.The fundamental drivers and long-term positive trajectory of the economy remain unchanged, he explained.He stressed that achieving next year's economic goals would require the concerted efforts and hard work of the entire Party and society.Anti-graft driveThe fourth plenary session of the 20th Central Commission for Discipline Inspection of the Communist Party of China will be held from Jan 6 to 8 next year, according to a decision made at a key Party meeting on Monday.The meeting of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee signaled that the Party will continue with its unrelenting momentum in fighting corruption and advance the anti-corruption campaign with greater depth and intensity next year.The top anti-graft body is set to include the implementation of major reform initiatives in the scope of inspections to ensure reforms progress smoothly under rigorous scrutiny, said a statement issued after the meeting.The anti-graft campaign will continue to tackle corruption and misconduct at the grassroots level, ensuring that the benefits of reform and development are distributed more equitably among the people, the policymakers said.

President Xi Jinping, who is also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, is greeted by military representatives on Wednesday during an inspection of the Information Support Force of the People's Liberation Army.President Xi Jinping has called for efforts to build a strong and modernized information support force and to realize leapfrog development of the Chinese military's network information system.Xi, who is also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, made the remarks on Wednesday when making his first inspection of the newest branch in the Chinese military.Known as the Information Support Force of the People's Liberation Army, the newly established unit, which reports directly to the Central Military Commission, was inaugurated in April by Xi, who described it as a vital power in modern warfare.The establishment of the new force is a major decision made by the CPC Central Committee and the CMC that aims to build a strong PLA, and a strategic step to establish a new structure of services and improve the military system with Chinese characteristics.Speaking to the force's officers and soldiers on Wednesday, Xi said the network information system in modern warfare now plays an unprecedentedly prominent role, as a new round of rapid development in technological and military revolutions is taking place with forms of warfare evolving at an accelerated pace.Noting that the PLA Information Support Force is first and foremost a combat force, Xi stressed that the unit must speed up the construction of the network information system, which is extremely important for building a strong military, and urged the unit to build up its capabilities to provide service support for enhancing combat preparedness.Xi said the new force should focus on its capabilities to fight and win, improve its methods of providing information service, steadily advance the building of a public service platform for network information, and make good use of various data and information in an integrated way.He also required the unit to pay high attention to network information security and take the lead in innovating the mode of command and transforming combat methods.As the Information Support Force is newly established, Xi stressed the need for it to reinforce its foundation of development and remain committed to the Party's absolute leadership over the people's armed forces.It is necessary to strictly enforce discipline and combat corruption to ensure that the military remains absolutely loyal, absolutely pure and absolutely reliable, he said.

Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, underlined the importance of turning China into a cultural powerhouse by 2035, as he presided over a group study session of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee on Monday.This strategic goal serves as the bedrock of building China into a great modern socialist country in all respects and advancing national rejuvenation, he said, calling upon the entire Party and society to actively pool strength for achieving this shared mission.China has made it a priority in national governance, since the 18th National Congress of the CPC in 2012, to advance cultural progress.In the resolution adopted at the third plenary session of the 20th Central Committee of the CPC in July, "developing a strong socialist culture in China" was outlined as one of the objectives to further deepen reform, reflecting its important role in advancing Chinese modernization.Speaking at the group study session on Monday, Xi called for efforts to ignite the cultural creativity of the entire nation, which is a central task of deepening reform in the cultural sector.Writers, artists and scholars should be supported in immersing themselves in real life and dedicating themselves to their craft, in order to drive continuous bursts of cultural innovation and creativity, he said.Xi emphasized seeking an effective mechanism to integrate culture with technology to enable cultural progress through digital empowerment, thus turning cultural resource advantages into strengths for cultural development.Noting that cultural progress is aimed at meeting the people's diversified intellectual and cultural needs, Xi said the country's capabilities to provide cultural services and products must be improved to enhance people's sense of fulfillment and happiness.He called for efforts to refine the country's mechanisms for selecting, training and utilizing talented people in the field of culture, as well as for the formulation of policies that can better identify, value and respect talented people.Xi also highlighted the significance of the creative transformation and innovative development of traditional Chinese culture, saying that the treasures of Chinese civilization that have endured through history must be carefully preserved and carried forward.The systematic protection and unified regulation of cultural heritage should be conducted with respect for history and a deep love of culture, and by upholding principles such as prioritizing preservation and minimum intervention, he said.Xi also said efforts are needed to enhance China's cultural soft power and the appeal of Chinese culture, and to promote Chinese culture and carry out various forms of cultural exchange and cooperation with other countries.

Not content to leave it with the PBOC's Oprah-fest of rate cutting, China's central authorities announced what's being called a massive stimulus push. The response has been near-euphoria in Chinese and other stocks, but the opposite in more crucial markets and places. All the more curious given how much other "stimulus" is being offered around the world, central bank rate cuts that are accelerating. Eurodollar University's Money & Macro AnalysisThe Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee held a meeting to analyze and study the current economic situation and economic work.https://www.gov.cn/yaowen/liebiao/202409/content_6976686.htmReuters Exclusive: China to issue $284 billion of sovereign debt this year to help revive economyhttps://www.reuters.com/markets/asia/china-issue-284-bln-sovereign-debt-this-year-help-revive-economy-sources-say-2024-09-26/https://www.eurodollar.universityTwitter: https://twitter.com/JeffSnider_EDU

The Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee has pledged more support for the property market, businesses and job seekers(01:06). The United Nations chief has called on the Security Council to broker peace(13:30). And China's eastern city of Hangzhou and the Western Greece region take their ties further with an MoU at the Global Mayors' Dialogue(20:17).

After decades of urbanization that have brought remarkable progress, propelling China to become the world's second-largest economy, the government is ramping up efforts to achieve more balanced, coordinated development to narrow the gap between urban and rural areas amid the nation's modernization drive.On the eve of the seventh Chinese Farmers' Harvest Festival, which fell on Sunday, Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee,reiterated the nation's commitment to building a more prosperous countryside.He also extended festive greetings and sincere regards on behalf of the CPC Central Committee to farmers and comrades working on agricultural and rural fronts across the country.Xi, who is also Chinese president and chairman of the Central Military Commission, called on Party committees and governments at various levels to make every effort to enhance the economic benefits of agriculture, increase farmers' incomes and inject greater vitality into the countryside, in order to bring tangible benefits to farmers.Furthermore, he said it is imperative to persistently consolidate the foundation of agriculture and promote comprehensive rural vitalization to advance Chinese modernization, and he urged farmers and people from other sectors to take actions to transform the blueprint for rural vitalization into reality.Meanwhile, despite the recent increase in rural income resulting from extensive poverty alleviation efforts, rural residents continue to lag economically.According to the National Bureau of Statistics, the per capita disposable income of rural residents was 21,691 yuan ($3,076) last year, approximately half the national average.Wu Haitao, a researcher of poverty issues at Zhongnan University of Economics and Law, said, "The urban-rural disparity is also reflected in the access to various social welfare benefits."Urban areas outperform rural regions in almost every aspect, including infrastructure, public services and social security provisions, such as elderly care and the pension fund system.In August, authorities set a goal to increase the proportion of urban residents to 70 percent of China's population within the next five years, and to reform the two-track urban-rural household registration system as part of the country's "people-centered" urbanization initiative.Without local household registration documents, known as hukou, tens of millions of rural migrants often face limited access to public services in the cities where they work.The commitment to advance new urbanization was emphasized at the third plenary session of the 20th Central Committee of the CPC, held in Beijing from July 15 to 18.Traditionally pivotal in the decision-making of the CPC leadership, the third plenary sessions are considered to be "steering wheels" in China's economic reforms and serve as a crucial platform for adjusting top-level decisions and building consensus.The communique from the recent third plenary session described the integration of urban and rural areas as essential to the country's modernization goals.Jiang Quanbao, a professor of demography at Xi'an Jiaotong University, said the integration was proposed to narrow the gap in the living standards between urban and rural areas while preserving the unique characteristics of rural regions during the merging process."This aims to enable residents in both areas to gradually lead a different but equal life," he said.The communique emphasized the importance of aligning "new industrialization, new urbanization, and comprehensive rural vitalization", and it called for the enhancement of urban-rural planning, construction and governance integration.It also stressed the necessity of equal resource exchanges and two-way flows between urban and rural areas to reduce disparities, foster common prosperity and promote development.Jiang noted that barriers remain to establishing a unified national market, such as the enduring spatial isolation between urban and rural areas, which obstructs the smooth two-way flow of resources."At the macro level, the State must eliminate institutional barriers and focus on breaking down the urban-rural binary structure," he said.For a long time, cities have been drawing resources, particularly labor, away from rural areas. Wu, the researcher, said that instead of this one-way flow, capital, technology and management expertise from urban regions should also be directed toward rural areas."The purpose is to achieve optimal resource allocation and promote the overall coordinated development of the urban and rural economy and society," Wu said.While migrant workers primarily work in cities, their needs for social support such as elderly care and child-rearing are predominantly rural concerns.Jin Xiaoyi, a professor at Xi'an Jiaotong University's School of Public Policy and Administration, said the old approach had equated urbanization solely with urban construction."It neglected the transformation of rural migrants in aspects such as employment, social security and public services as they move from the countryside to the city," she said.Jin highlighted the mismatch of two sets of figures.Between 2006 and 2019, the annual growth of land in urban areas was about 1.7 times the growth of permanent residents, which the professor said was proof that old-fashioned urbanization was more "land-centered".While 63.89 percent of China's population were permanent urban residents in 2020, only 45.4 percent held urban hukou. This indicates that hundreds of millions of rural migrants have yet to receive equal treatment compared with urban residents.The third plenary session held in July called for enhancing institutional mechanisms to advance new urbanization.Jiang, the professor of demography, said: "The new urbanization model focuses on people and quality improvement. The key is to effectively address issues such as the education of children of rural migrant workers, housing and social security."

Zhao Shengliang, a lifelong scholar of Dunhuang art, stood side by side with President Xi Jinping as they carefully inspected caves, sculptures and paintings that date back more than 1,600 years.It was Zhao's second time accompanying Xi on such a cultural inspection, yet the moment struck him just as profoundly as the first time, as it reaffirmed the president's unwavering dedication to preserving China's rich heritage.As part of Xi's four-day trip to Gansu province last week, Zhao accompanied the president on a fact-finding trip to the Maijishan Grottoes, one of China's four major grottoes sites. The other three are the Mogao Grottoes in Dunhuang, Gansu; the Yungang Grottoes in Datong, Shanxi province; and the Longmen Grottoes in Luoyang, Henan province.Xi, who is also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, encouraged cultural heritage professionals to remain dedicated to safeguarding the nation's treasures and to contribute greater efforts to the preservation and innovation of China's rich cultural heritage, while strengthening China's cultural influence on the global stage.The Maijishan Grottoes feature 221 caves connected by elevated walkways and house more than 10,000 clay sculptures. Known as the "Oriental Sculpture Museum", it is a significant landmark along the ancient Silk Road.China's vast landscape is home to nearly 6,000 cave temples, and the Chinese president lauded the nation's major grottoes as "treasures of Chinese civilization" that hold significant historical and cultural value.Xi previously visited the Mogao Grottoes in August 2019, a trip for which Zhao also served as part of the entourage, and the Yungang Grottoes in May 2020.Zhao, who is also Party secretary of the Dunhuang Academy, said: "The strongest impression I have is President Xi's deep respect for China's outstanding traditional culture. He has shown great concern for cultural heritage sites that represent Chinese civilization, such as the Mogao and Maijishan grottoes, and he has dedicated considerable attention to the preservation of these cultural relics."The president was also very attentive as he visited with art workers who were restoring the cave paintings at the complex, Zhao said."I believe it is essential for more people today to learn about the Maijishan Grottoes, especially artists, who can draw inspiration from its sculptures to create new works that contribute to modern socialist culture," he added.Ning Qiang, dean of Beijing Foreign Studies University's School of Art and Research, said that the grottoes stand as a testament to the cultural exchanges between China and other civilizations, and they embody the spirit of inclusiveness, adaptation and innovation of Chinese culture, another key factor underlying the president's keen interest in cultural heritage.The Maijishan Grottoes site is one of those on the UNESCO World Heritage Site "Silk Road: Chang'an-Tianshan Corridor Road Network", which spans China, Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan."It was the shared beliefs and lifestyles of the people in these regions that led to the creation of the caves as a common cultural achievement," Ning added.Since being elected general secretary of the CPC Central Committee in 2012, Xi has issued more than 170 important directives on cultural relics, archaeology and intangible cultural heritage, and has conducted on-site investigations of over 100 historical and cultural heritage sites."Historical and cultural heritage is a valuable resource that is neither renewable nor replaceable, and its protection should always be given top priority," Xi said when visiting the Yungang Grottoes in Shanxi.During the inspection of Gansu last week, Xi expressed his support to the Dunhuang Academy in building an example of world cultural heritage protection and a center of Dunhuang studies.Zhao, the scholar, highlighted the need to understand the distinctive features of the Maijishan Grottoes."In order to enhance the influence of the Maijishan Grottoes, the key is to adhere to the approach of using culture to shape tourism and tourism to highlight culture," Zhao said.The conservation efforts applied to Dunhuang culture have been extended to the Maijishan Grottoes, Zhao said, adding that a complete monitoring and early warning system has been put into place, with each grotto being monitored for air quality, temperature and humidity. Nationwide, China is also making major strides in the preservation of its grottoes and other similar cultural heritage.Digital collections have been completed for eight cave temples of the Maijishan Grottoes, and many murals and colored sculptures have been restored, with conservation efforts still underway, he said.The Dunhuang Academy, which boasts cutting-edge technologies in preserving cave paintings, is backed by strong funding and staff support from the government."We are now applying the method to cultural heritage sites beyond the local boundaries. We believe that the ideas and technologies employed to protect the caves will offer valuable insights for tourism development and the rational use of cultural heritage sites worldwide," Zhao said.Reporter: Ma Jingna, Xu Wei and Zhao Jia

Chinese lawmakers on Friday voted to adopt a decision on gradually raising the statutory retirement age in the country, marking the first adjustment in the arrangement since 1950s.9月13日，全国人大常委会会议表决通过了关于实施渐进式延迟法定退休年龄的决定，这是自20世纪50年代以来对这一规定的首次调整。According to the decision adopted at the 11th session of the Standing Committee of the 14th National People's Congress, the statutory retirement age for men will be gradually raised from 60 to 63 in the course of 15 years starting 2025, while that for women cadres and women blue-collar workers will be raised from 55 to 58 and from 50 to 55, respectively.根据在第十四届全国人民代表大会常务委员会第十一次会议通过的决定，从2025年期，我国将用15年时间，逐步将男职工的法定退休年龄从原60周岁延迟到63周岁，将女职工和女性蓝领工人的法定退休年龄从原50周岁、55周岁，分别延迟到55周岁、58周岁。Starting 2030, the minimum year of basic pension contributions required to receive monthly benefits will be gradually raised from 15 years to 20 years at the pace of an increase of six months annually.从2030年开始，领取月度福利所需的最低基本养老金缴费年限将逐步从15年提高到20年，每年增加半年。Meanwhile, people will be allowed to voluntarily retire by no more than three years in advance after reaching the minimum year of pension contributions. But it is not allowed to retire earlier than the previous statutory age.同时，达到最低养老金缴费年限后，人们可以选择自愿提前退休，但提前退休的时间不得超过三年。但是，不能在达到原定的法定退休年龄之前退休。The new policies will also allow individuals to postpone retirement to an even later date if they reach an agreement with employers, but such a delay should be no more than three years.新政策还将允许个人在与雇主达成协议后推迟退休，但延迟期限不得超过三年。The decision also specifies measures to refine the old-age insurance incentive mechanism, implement the employment-first strategy, ensure the basic rights and interests of workers who have passed their statutory retirement age, and improve elderly care and childcare services.该决定还明确了完善养老保险激励机制、实施就业优先战略、保障已过法定退休年龄工人的基本权益以及改善老年人护理和儿童保育服务的措施。The document includes specific provisions on welfare for unemployed old-age workers and on earlier retirement for those in special professions.文件中还包含了对失业老年工人福利和特殊职业提前退休的具体规定。The 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China (CPC) and the third plenary session of the 20th CPC Central Committee made clear arrangements on gradually raising the statutory retirement age in the country.中国共产党第二十次全国代表大会和第二十届中央委员会第三次全体会议明确了逐步提高法定退休年龄的安排。The plan passed by lawmakers on Friday was formulated on the basis of a comprehensive assessment of the average life expectancy, health conditions, the population structure, the level of education and workforce supply in China. 在全面评估中国的平均预期寿命、健康状况、人口结构、教育水平和劳动力供应的基础上，会议代表于13日通过了该决议。 Cadresn.（尤指共产党的）党务工作者，干部Provisionsn.法律协议的条纹，条款，规定Postponev.推迟；延期

President Xi Jinping has urged efforts to make solid progress toward the strategic goal of building China into a leading nation in education, as the country celebrated the 40th Teachers' Day on Tuesday.Xi, who is also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, made the remarks at a national meeting on education held in Beijing on Monday and Tuesday.On behalf of the CPC Central Committee, Xi sent greetings to teachers and others working in the education sector across the country.He emphasized that building China into a leading nation in education has been a long-cherished dream of the Chinese nation in modern times, and it serves as the leading task, solid foundation and strategic support for building China into a strong country and realizing national rejuvenation through Chinese modernization.Since the 18th CPC National Congress in 2012, China has been working to fully implement the strategy of invigorating the country through science and education and speeding up the drive to modernize education. It aims to achieve the goal of building a leading nation in education by 2035.Xi said that the socialist country strong in education with Chinese characteristics that China aims to become should possess strong ideological and political leadership, strong talent competitiveness, strong scientific and technological support, a strong capacity for ensuring people's livelihoods, strong power in social coordination, and strong global influence.He said that building a nation strong in education is a complex and systematic endeavor that requires focusing on education's fundamental task of fostering virtues.Xi underlined the importance of coordinating the implementation of the strategies for invigorating the country through science and education, building a strong nation through talent development, and driving innovation-driven development.It is essential to advance education development, scientific and technological innovation and talent cultivation in an integrated manner, with a focus on enhancing innovation capabilities based on the nation's strategic demands in the development of science and technology, he said.Xi called for improving mechanisms for readjusting disciplines and talent cultivation modes in higher education institutions, strengthening basic disciplines as well as emerging and interdisciplinary disciplines, and cultivating top-notch talent.He underscored the need to enhance collaboration between universities and the corporate sector in scientific research, and accelerate the transformation of more research achievements into industrial applications.It is important to establish a vocational education system that integrates vocational and general education, and vigorously cultivate skilled workers, craftsmen and high-level skilled talent, he added.While emphasizing people-centered education, Xi called for enhancing the inclusiveness, accessibility and convenience of public services in the education sector to ensure that the benefits of education reform and development reach all the people more fairly and broadly.He stressed the need to optimize the allocation of educational resources in different regions, promote the high-quality and balanced development of compulsory education, and gradually narrow the urban-rural gap in education.To cultivate and foster a high-caliber team of teachers for the new era, it is essential to elevate the political and social status of teachers, enhance their benefits and safeguard their professional dignity and legitimate rights and interests in order to ensure that teaching is one of the most respected careers, Xi said.He also called for efforts to deepen opening-up in the education sector, continuously enhance the global influence and competitiveness of China's education, expand international academic exchanges and education cooperation, and actively participate in global governance in education.Before the meeting, Xi and other leaders met with representatives attending an award ceremony honoring model teachers and outstanding groups and institutions in the education sector.

A key meeting of the Communist Party of China pledged on Tuesday to step up macroeconomic support in the second half of this year, with greater focus on expanding domestic demand, cultivating emerging sectors and widening opening-up in a bid to meet the nation's annual growth target for 2024.7月30日，习近平总书记主持召开中共中央政治局会议，分析研究当前经济形势，部署下半年经济工作。会议作出的一系列重要部署指引各地各部门各方面坚定发展信心，保持战略定力，积极主动应对问题和挑战，进一步全面深化改革，增强经济持续回升向好态势，为推动高质量发展汇聚强大合力。The economic priorities were set out as the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee held a meeting to analyze the performance of the world's second-largest economy.此次中央政治局会议指出，今年以来“经济运行总体平稳、稳中有进，延续回升向好态势”。Xi Jinping, general secretary of the CPC Central Committee, presided over the meeting, two weeks after the third plenary session of the 20th CPC Central Committee adopted wide-ranging policy measures to forge ahead with the nation's reform and opening-up drive.中共中央总书记习近平主持了此次会议。7月18日，中国共产党第二十届中央委员会第三次全体会议通过了《中共中央关于进一步全面深化改革 推进中国式现代化的决定》（以下简称《决定》）。According to a statement issued after the meeting, the CPC leadership highlighted challenges including mounting negative factors from the external environment, lack of effective demand domestically, lingering risks in key sectors and "growing pains in the transition between old and new growth drivers".会议同时指出，当前外部环境变化带来的不利影响增多，国内有效需求不足，经济运行出现分化，重点领域风险隐患仍然较多，新旧动能转换存在阵痛。"We must enhance our awareness of risks and worst-case scenarios, come up with proactive responses, maintain strategic resolve, and strengthen our confidence in development," the statement said.《决定》声明，面对严峻复杂的国际环境和艰巨繁重的国内改革发展稳定任务，坚持稳中求进工作总基调，统筹发展和安全，着力推动高质量发展。The policymakers required fully leveraging the role of economic structural reform as the spearhead and promptly introducing a series of reform measures that are "mature, effective and achievable".此次中央政治局会议强调，要以改革为动力促进稳增长、调结构、防风险，充分发挥经济体制改革的牵引作用，及时推出一批条件成熟、可感可及的改革举措。They emphasized the need to encourage entrepreneurship and move faster to help Chinese companies become world-class through reform, innovation and fair competition.着力营造更加公平、更有活力的市场环境，推动更多中小企业成长为瞪羚企业和独角兽企业。More effective macroeconomic policies must be consistently carried out, focusing on the issuance and use of special-purpose bonds, improvement of the fiscal expenditure structure and financial support for the real economy, the statement said, adding that the exchange rate of the renminbi should remain generally stable at an adaptive, balanced level.面对下半年繁重的改革发展稳定任务，会议明确指出，宏观政策要持续用力、更加给力。要加强逆周期调节，实施好积极的财政政策和稳健的货币政策，加快全面落实已确定的政策举措，及早储备并适时推出一批增量政策举措。Provincial-level regions serving as economic powerhouses should continue to take the leading role in economic development, the policymakers said.会议强调要切实增强宏观政策取向一致性，并提出继续发挥好经济大省挑大梁作用。To boost domestic consumption, they also said economic policies should focus on increasing the incomes of residents through multiple channels and spurring spending in sectors such as tourism, elderly and child care, housekeeping and other services.会议提出“要多渠道增加居民收入，增强中低收入群体的消费能力和意愿”“支持文旅、养老、育幼、家政等消费”。While calling for cultivating more emerging industries and future-oriented industries, they warned against "vicious competition" among peer companies.“要有力有效支持发展瞪羚企业、独角兽企业”“要强化行业自律，防止‘内卷式'恶性竞争”，会议的部署引人关注。They required removing all market access restrictions for foreign investment in the manufacturing sector and promoting trials and demonstrations for expanding opening-up of the service sector, in order to stabilize the inflow of foreign investment.“进一步营造市场化、法治化、国际化一流营商环境，稳步扩大制度型开放”“推出新一轮服务业扩大开放试点举措，促进利用外资企稳回升”Regarding the real estate sector, the meeting stressed efforts to ensure the delivery of housing projects and accelerate the development of a new model for the sector.会议指出，房地产业应进一步做好保交房工作，加快构建房地产发展新模式。It called for steps to improve and implement comprehensive local debt resolution plans and create conditions to expedite the mitigation of debt risks associated with local government financing platforms.会议还对防范化解地方政府债务风险作出部署，明确提出“要完善和落实地方一揽子化债方案，创造条件加快化解地方融资平台债务风险”。"We must strengthen assistance and support for low-income populations and develop a tightly woven social safety net," the statement said.此外，会议强调“要统筹防风险、强监管、促发展，提振投资者信心，提升资本市场内在稳定性”。The meeting also reviewed a set of provisions on rectifying formalism to alleviate the burden on the grassroots level, emphasizing that pointless formalities and bureaucratism that affect the implementation of the Party Central Committee's decisions and plans must be firmly rectified.会议还审议了关于整治形式主义为基层减负专项工作机制的相关文件，强调深化整治形式主义为基层减负，必须坚持以改革精神破解顽瘴痼疾。Prior to the meeting, the CPC Central Committee held a symposium on Friday with non-CPC personages to seek opinions and suggestions on the country's current economic situation and economic work for the second half of the year.7月26日，中共中央召开党外人士座谈会，习近平主席主持并就当前经济形势和下半年经济工作发表重要讲话。Xi, who presided over the symposium, said the difficulties and challenges that China's economic development is currently faced with are problems that arise during the process of economic development and transitioning, and can certainly be overcome through persistent efforts.习近平主席强调，当前我国经济发展遇到一些困难和问题，是发展中、转型中的问题，经过努力是完全可以克服的。China has targeted its economic growth at around 5 percent for 2024. Official data showed that the country's gross domestic product grew 5 percent year-on-year in the first half of the year.我国2024年经济目标是将经济增长率保持在5%左右。官方数据显示，上半年，我国GDP同比增长5.0%。Looking to the next half of the year, Zhou Maohua, a researcher at China Everbright Bank, said the policy focus will be on stabilizing growth, preventing risks and deepening reforms.光大银行宏观市场部研究员周茂华展望下半年，我国政策重点将放在稳增长、调结构、防风险等系列改革上。Citing measures mapped out by the key meeting, such as speeding up the issuance of local government special bonds and driving large-scale equipment upgrades and trade-in deals for consumer goods, he said the moves will help stimulate market vitality and strengthen the growth momentum for consumption and domestic demand.要加快专项债发行使用进度，用好超长期特别国债，支持国家重大战略和重点领域安全能力建设，更大力度推动大规模设备更新和大宗耐用消费品以旧换新……会议围绕实施好积极的财政政策作出具体部署。Li Daokui, director of Tsinghua University's Academic Center for Chinese Economic Practice and Thinking, said the country is on track to meet its annual growth target of around 5 percent this year, as the country is poised to launch a number of policy measures to support growth in the remainder of the year.清华大学中国经济思想与实践研究院院长李稻葵表示，今年下半年，我国将推出一系列政策措施来支持经济增长，有望实现今年5%左右的年增长率目标。Li said he remains "quite optimistic about China's economic growth in 2024", and he expects to see gradual stabilization in prices and recovery in confidence among businesses, investors and consumers amid strong policy stimulus in the next half of the year.他表示仍然“对2024年中国经济增长保持乐观”。预计在下半年的政策刺激下，物价将趋于稳定，企业、投资者和消费者的信心也将有所提振。As the broader economy still faces headwinds, he said a package of measures is needed to defuse local government debt risks, boost consumer sentiment and stabilize the housing sector.由于整体经济仍面临动荡，我国需要采取一揽子措施来化解地方政府债务风险，提振消费者信心，稳定房地产行业。Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committeen.中央政治局non-CPC personagesn.党外人士Tsinghua University's Academic Center for Chinese Economic Practice and Thinkingn.清华大学中国经济思想与实践研究院

Does China keep opening its doors further, or closing them? What does the resolution adopted at the 3rd plenum of the 20th CPC Central Committee say about it? Host Liu Xin sits down with Jeffrey Sachs, director of the Center for Sustainable Development at Columbia University and president of the UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network. And, a U.S. business delegation visits China right after the same meeting. We have an exclusive interview with Roberta Lipson, founder and vice chair of United Family Healthcare and a member of the delegation.

Enjoy a discussion on the ongoing reforms in China. This diverse panel of young guests bring unique perspectives on the resolution adopted at the third plenary session of the 20th CPC Central Committee. On the show: Niu Honglin, Ian Wong, student of Yenching Academy, Peking University, Daniel Barbosa, student of Yenching Academy, Peking University, and Dr. Nazmus Sakib, pediatrician with Peking University First Hospital.

The 20th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China has released the full text of its resolution called Further Deepening Reform Comprehensively to Advance Chinese Modernization.The resolution outlines China's policy direction for the next five years and beyond and is considered the most important outcome of the Third Plenary Session of the 20th CPC Central Committee.The resolution states that China is working to become a high-standard socialist market economy in all respects by 2035. It also introduces over 300 reforms across various fields, with economic structural reform as the spearhead.What are the priorities of China's reform agenda? How will deeper reform foster the Chinese economy and modernization? Why does CPC third plenum matter to global investors? Host Xu Yawen joins Wang Dan, Chief Economist of Hang Seng Bank China, Josef Mahoney, Professor at East China Normal University, and Caglar Kuzlukluoglu, Turkish Economist and Strategist.

The resolution of the 3rd Plenum of the 20th CPC Central Committee on further deepening reform comprehensively to advance Chinese modernization has put opening-up as a "defining feature". Will China make it easier for foreign businesses to operate here in the country? China's foreign trade reached new heights in the first half of this year, what does it mean to the world?

Representatives from various Palestinian factions have met in Beijing to discuss reconciliation and strengthen unity (15:19). U.S. business leaders in China are sharing their thoughts on Beijing's reform plans following the conclusion of the 20th CPC Central Committee's Third Plenum meetings (01:08). And Paris is aiming to host the greenest Olympic Games ever when the events kick off later this week (22:36).

Editor's note: The third plenary session of the 20th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China has unveiled a road map for further comprehensively deepening reform in various sectors to advance Chinese modernization in the new era. China Daily is running a series of stories focused on specific reform measures and the implementation of the measures in different sectors and localities.编者的话：中国共产党第二十届三中全会公布了对进一步全面深化改革作出系统谋划和部署。《中国日报》将重点关注具体改革措施及这些措施在不同部门、地区的实施情况。China cut key interest rate benchmarks on Monday, demonstrating policymakers' strong commitment to strengthening macroeconomic policy support and putting into effect the measures outlined last week at a key meeting of the central leadership of the Communist Party of China, economists and analysts said.经济学家、分析人士表示，我国7月22日将多个关键利率下调，展现出货币政策呵护经济回升的决心，是对二十届三中全会“坚定不移实现全年经济社会发展目标”要求的积极响应。With the top-level meeting having mapped out reforms to bolster financial support for the real economy, they said China will likely take more action soon to enhance the effectiveness of interest rate adjustments and strengthen the capital market's ability to serve innovative enterprises as well as investors.通过我国高层政治制定，目前已加强对实体经济支持的改革方案，将提高利率调整的有效性，并加强资本市场为创新企业和投资者服务的能力。On Monday, the People's Bank of China, the nation's central bank, lowered the interest rate on seven-day reverse repurchase agreements or reverse repos — which serves as the short-term policy benchmark of interest rates — from 1.8 percent to 1.7 percent. The seven-day reverse repo is a central bank tool to inject liquidity.根据央行7月22日公告，公开市场7天期逆回购操作采用固定利率、数量招标，操作利率由1.8%调整为1.7%。Loan prime rates, China's market-based lending rate benchmarks, also dropped on Monday. The one-year LPR came in at 3.35 percent, after staying at 3.45 percent for 11 months. The over-five-year LPR, on which lenders base their mortgage rates, was lowered by 10 basis points to 3.85 percent.贷款市场报价利率也有所下降。中国人民银行7月22日授权全国银行间同业拆借中心公布，1年期LPR下调为3.35%，5年期以上LPR下调为3.85%。Analysts said the move will help boost investment and consumption by easing financing costs, as basic calculations indicate that Monday's cut can save about 55 yuan ($7.55) in monthly payments for a new homebuyer taking out a 30-year, 1-million-yuan mortgage and thus help improve homebuying demand.分析师表示，此举将有助于通过降低融资成本来提振投资和消费。此次降息后购房者月供大约可减少55元，帮助改善购房需求。The cut aligned with the call from the third plenary session of the 20th CPC Central Committee, which concluded on Thursday, to remain firmly committed to accomplishing the goals for this year's economic and social development.此次减息呼应了7月18日结束的中共二十届三中全会，即努力实现全年经济社会发展目标。To achieve this year's fiscal spending target, Zhang Bin, a senior researcher at China Finance 40 Forum, a top think tank, said that China needs to issue additional government bonds in the second half beyond its initial plan, either as central or local government bonds.CF40资深研究员、中国社科院世界经济与政治研究所副所长张斌表示，广义财政政策应该更加积极一些，下半年需要额外新增发债才能实现目标。This is because local governments' difficulties in generating adequate revenue have impeded the country's fiscal spending, which has in turn exacerbated the challenge of insufficient demand, said Zhang, who is also a national political adviser.特别是今年要尽一切可能完成年初制定的政府支出目标，由于税收收入、地方政府卖地收入下降，完成年初目标面临很大困难。Guo Kai, executive president of the CF40 Institute, a research institute affiliated with the think tank, said there remains more scope for interest rate cuts to counter slowing economic momentum, adding that Monday's cut also marks a step forward in market-oriented monetary policy transmission.中国金融四十人研究院（CF40）执行院长郭凯表示，为应对经济势头放缓，降息仍有更多空间，此次降息也标志着以市场为导向的货币政策向前迈进一步。The resolution adopted by the plenary session called for accelerated efforts to improve the central bank system and the monetary policy transmission mechanism, as part of wider financial system reform.本次全会通过的《中共中央关于进一步全面深化改革、推进中国式现代化的决定》（以下简称《决定》）提出要完善货币政策传导机制，提高资金使用效率，为经济持续回升向好和高质量发展营造良好的货币金融环境。Lou Feipeng, a researcher at Postal Savings Bank of China, said future reforms in monetary policy are needed to clarify the short-term interest rate corridor and its mechanism for transmission to long-term rates."Central bank transactions in treasury bonds are also likely to start and expand in response to market conditions to manage the treasury bond yield," Lou said.中国邮政储蓄银行研究员娄飞鹏表示：“各国国债的央行交易也可能根据市场状况开始并扩大，以限制美国国债收益率。”。未来需要对货币政策进行改革，以明确短期利率及其向长期利率传导的机制。Capital market reform would also be a focus of the upcoming financial system reform, analysts said, especially as the resolution has called for improving the functions of the capital market to give balanced weight to investment and financing.分析人士表示，资本市场改革也将是即将到来的金融体制改革的重点，全金融消费者保护和打击非法金融活动机制，构建产业资本和金融资本“防火墙”。Yan Xiang, chief economist at Huafu Securities, said that it can be learned from the resolution that reform will be deepened in the capital market, aiming to boost investors' confidence, enhance market efficiency and lower risks in the entire economic system."The capital market plays a significant role in serving the real economy, nurturing technology innovation and supporting new quality productive forces. It is for these reasons that the resolution has stressed the need to complete the capital market's basic mechanisms," he said.华福证券首席经济学家燕翔指出，资本市场是支持科技创新、推动加快发展新质生产力的重要力量。《决定》提出要“防风险、强监管，促进资本市场健康稳定发展”以及“建立增强资本市场内在稳定性长效机制”，目的就是要通过改革，建立中国资本市场长远稳定发展的内在制度根基。Liu Tao, deputy head of the Guangkai Chief Industry Research Institute, said that, specifically, bars may be raised for floating on the A-share market's main board and ChiNext at the Shenzhen bourse. Meanwhile, differentiated delisting rules may be introduced for different boards.广开首席产业研究院副院长刘涛认为，在A股市场主板上市和在深圳证券交易所上市的创业板可能会上调柱线，不同的董事会也将出台差异化的退市规则。Guangkai Chief Industry Research Instituten.广开首席产业研究院Postal Savings Bank of Chinan.中国邮政储蓄银行

A pivotal four-day meeting of the 20th CPC Central Committee concluded on Thursday with the adoption of a resolution to further deepen reform in China. The 3rd plenum, held every five years, took place this week in Beijing. The resolution outlines a comprehensive plan to deepen reforms and advance modernization.

A group of U.S. heavyweight executives from companies like Goldman Sachs, Starbucks, Nike, and Qualcomm are arriving in China this week. Their visit coincides with China's recent commitments to further deepen comprehensive reform and create a more transparent, stable, and predictable environment for foreign businesses, announced during the third plenum of the 20th CPC Central Committee.

President Xi Jinping has urged all-out rescue and relief efforts to safeguard people's lives and property after the collapse of a highway bridge in Shaanxi province.习近平主席对陕西商洛市柞水县境内一高速公路桥梁发生垮塌作出重要指示，要求全力抢险救援，强化巡查排险。Xi, who is also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, made the instruction after the bridge, located in Zhashui county in the city of Shangluo, collapsed at around 8:40 pm on Friday due to flash floods caused by heavy rain.7月19日20时40分许，陕西商洛市柞水县境内一高速公路桥梁因山洪暴发发生垮塌。灾害发生后，中共中央总书记、国家主席、中央军委主席习近平高度重视并作出重要指示，According to a preliminary estimate, 17 cars and eight trucks had fallen into the river. As of 7 pm on Sunday, rescue workers had recovered 15 bodies, China Central Television quoted the National Fire and Rescue Administration as saying. Efforts were underway to locate the remaining missing people, according to the administration.据CCTV报道，国家消防救援局初步估计，有17辆汽车和8辆卡车坠河。截至7月21日晚7时，救援人员已经找到了15具尸体，目前正在努力搜寻其余失踪人员。Xi said in the instruction that the immediate priority is to carry out rescue operations, make every effort to search for the missing, and minimize casualties. He also called for efforts to assist the families of those affected by the collapse.习近平主席强调，当务之急是全力抢险救援，千方百计搜救失联人员，最大限度减少人员伤亡，并妥善做好家属安抚等善后工作。Xi emphasized the importance of well-planned rescue efforts and the prevention of secondary disasters.要注意科学施救，细致排查周边安全隐患，严防次生灾害。He said that as the critical period of flood control approaches, it is imperative for regions and relevant departments to be extra vigilant, fulfill their duties diligently, improve monitoring systems and early warning mechanisms, strengthen inspections, and implement various measures meticulously to guarantee the safety of people's lives and property.习近平强调，当前正值“七下八上”防汛关键期，各地区和有关部门要高度重视、压实责任，加强监测预警，强化巡查排险，落实落细各项措施，切实保障人民群众生命财产安全。Premier Li Qiang, who is also a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, has given instructions to spare no effort in searching for and rescuing the missing people, investigate the cause promptly, and take measures to prevent secondary disasters.中共中央政治局常委、国务院总理李强作出批示，要尽一切努力搜救失联人员，尽快查明原因，妥善做好善后工作，并抓紧排查处置险情，严防次生灾害。Vice-Premier Zhang Guoqing, who also is a member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, has led a working team to the site to guide rescue efforts.中共中央政治局委员、国务院副总理张国清率有关部门负责同志赶赴现场指导救援处置工作。

The 20th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC) adopted a resolution on further deepening reform comprehensively to advance Chinese modernization at its third plenary session held here from Monday to Thursday.The Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee presided over the meeting. General Secretary of the CPC Central Committee Xi Jinping delivered important addresses, according to a communique released Thursday.At the session, the Central Committee heard and discussed a report on the work of the Political Bureau, presented by Xi on behalf of the Political Bureau, and considered and adopted the Resolution of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China on Further Deepening Reform Comprehensively to Advance Chinese Modernization. Xi delivered explanatory remarks on the draft version of the resolution.The overall objectives of further deepening reform comprehensively are to continue improving and developing the system of socialism with Chinese characteristics and modernize China's system and capacity for governance, according to the communique."By 2035, we will have finished building a high-standard socialist market economy in all respects, further improved the system of socialism with Chinese characteristics, generally modernized our system and capacity for governance, and basically realized socialist modernization," it said.All of this will lay a solid foundation for building China into a great modern socialist country in all respects by the middle of this century, it noted.The reform tasks laid out in the resolution shall be completed by the time the People's Republic of China celebrates its 80th founding anniversary in 2029, said the communique.The Central Committee made systematic plans for further deepening reform comprehensively, it added.In building a high-standard socialist market economy, the role of the market must be better leveraged, with a fairer and more dynamic market environment to be fostered and resource allocation to be made as efficient and productive as possible. Restrictions on the market will be lifted while effective regulation will be ensured to better maintain order in the market and remedy market failures, said the communique.In promoting high-quality development, the communique urged deepening supply-side structural reform, improving incentive and constraint mechanisms for promoting high-quality development, and creating new drivers and strengths for realizing growth."We will improve the institutions and mechanisms for fostering new quality productive forces in line with local conditions, for promoting full integration between the real economy and the digital economy, for developing the service sector, for modernizing infrastructure, and for enhancing the resilience and security of industrial and supply chains," it stated.In supporting all-around innovation, the Party will deepen comprehensive reform in education, structural scientific and technological reform, and institutional reforms for talent development.In improving macroeconomic governance, the communique urged pursuing coordinated reforms in the fiscal, tax, financial, and other major sectors and enhancing the consistency of macro policy orientation, with the national strategic planning system and policy coordination mechanisms to be improved.On integrated urban and rural development, the Party must promote equal exchanges and two-way flows of production factors between the cities and the countryside, so as to narrow the disparities between the two and promote their common prosperity and development, according to the communique. Reform of the land system will be deepened, it added.Describing opening up as a "defining feature of Chinese modernization," the communique said that the Party will "steadily expand institutional opening up, deepen the foreign trade structural reform, further reform the management systems for inward and outward investment, improve planning for regional opening up, and refine the mechanisms for high-quality cooperation under the Belt and Road Initiative."On developing whole-process people's democracy, it said: "We must firmly stay on the path of socialist political advancement with Chinese characteristics and uphold and improve our country's foundational, basic, and important political systems."On the rule of law, efforts were demanded to ensure full implementation of the Constitution and uphold its authority, coordinate the reforms to promote sound legislation, law enforcement, administration of justice, and observance of the law, and improve the mechanisms for ensuring that all are equal before the law.The communique urged boosting cultural confidence and working to develop advanced socialist culture, promote revolutionary culture, and carry forward fine traditional Chinese culture.In ensuring and enhancing the people's wellbeing, the Party will improve the income distribution system, the employment-first policy, and the social security system, further reform the medical and healthcare systems, and improve the systems for facilitating population development and providing related services.On ecological conservation, the communique said: "We must improve ecological conservation systems, take a coordinated approach to carbon cutting, pollution reduction, green development, and economic growth, actively respond to climate change, and move faster to improve the systems and mechanisms for applying the principle that lucid waters and lush mountains are invaluable assets."On national security, it noted that the Party must fully apply a holistic approach to national security, improve the institutions and mechanisms for safeguarding national security, and ensure that high-quality development and greater security reinforce each other, so as to effectively safeguard the country's stability and security over the long term.On national defense, the communique urged maintaining the Party's absolute leadership over the people's armed forces and fully implementing the strategy of strengthening the military through reform to provide a strong guarantee for realizing the goals for the centenary of the People's Liberation Army in 2027 and achieving basic modernization of national defense and the armed forces.In improving the Party's leadership, it said: "We must acquire a deep understanding of the decisive significance of establishing Comrade Xi Jinping's core position on the Party Central Committee and in the Party as a whole and establishing the guiding role of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era."The communique stressed that Chinese modernization is the modernization of peaceful development. "In foreign relations, China remains firmly committed to pursuing an independent foreign policy of peace and is dedicated to promoting a human community with a shared future," it noted.Studying and implementing the guiding principles from the session represent a major political task for the entire Party and nation both at present and for some time to come, according to the communique.The session conducted an analysis of the present situation and the tasks the Party faces, urging firm commitment to accomplishing the goals for this year's economic and social development.Both development and security must be ensured, with various measures to be implemented for preventing and defusing risks in real estate, local government debt, small and medium financial institutions, and other key areas, the communique said.According to the communique, the session decided to accept Comrade Qin Gang's resignation from the Central Committee, and confirmed the Political Bureau's earlier decision to expel Li Shangfu, Li Yuchao and Sun Jinming from the Party.A total of 199 members and 165 alternate members of the Central Committee attended the session.

A meeting of China's CPC Central Committee has issued a communique after adopting a resolution on deepening reforms to advance Chinese modernization (01:08). Reports indicate that Palestinian officials have rejected a U.S.-Israeli proposal for a ceasefire in Gaza (12:04). The Athletes' Village for the Paris Olympics officially opens on Thursday, just over a week ahead of the Games' opening ceremony (23:52).

Structural reforms to boost technological innovation and drive industrial upgrading will be among the key priorities of China's policymakers to foster new quality productive forces and promote high-quality development over the next few years, said economists and entrepreneurs.经济学家和企业家表示，为促进技术创新和推动产业升级进行的结构性改革，是未来中国培育新质生产力、推动高质量发展的优先事项之一。They said the country will likely further deepen structural reforms and expand high-standard opening-up to revive confidence in its long-term economic trajectory, which will help tackle economic woes, foster new competitive edges and deal with pressures and headwinds from a more complicated external environment.中国将进一步深化结构性改革，扩大高水平对外开放，重振长期经济的信心，解决经济困境，培育新竞争优势，应对日益复杂的外部环境。Their comments came as the market is eagerly awaiting clues about major economic strategies for the next few years from the ongoing third plenary session of the 20th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China, which is being held in Beijing from Monday to Thursday.我国经济市场正翘首以盼着7月15至18日在北京举行的中共第二十届三中全会有关未来几年经济发展的相关战略。President Xi Jinping shed light on the likely economic priorities as he chaired a symposium in May in Jinan, Shandong province, that was attended by representatives from businesses and academia.中国国家主席习近平于5月在济南市出席研讨会，与来自各大企业、学术界的代表讨论了未来经济发展的优先级。Xi, who is also general secretary of the CPC Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, stressed the need to further deepen reform across the board, with efforts centering on advancing Chinese modernization.中共中央总书记、中央军委主席习近平强调，要进一步全面深化改革，重点推进中国现代化建设。He said that China should take resolute steps to remove the ideological and institutional barriers hindering the advancement of Chinese modernization, and double down on its efforts to resolve deep-seated institutional challenges and structural issues.中国应果断消除阻碍现代化进程的思想、制度障碍，解决深层次的制度性挑战和结构性问题。Jeremy Zook, lead analyst for China at Fitch Ratings, said the country will primarily focus on reemphasizing many of the policy themes that have already been laid out by the central authorities for the medium term."These are a sustained focus on developing new high-value-added industries through investment and domestic technological innovation and enhancing domestic supply chain resilience," Zook said.惠誉评级（Fitch Ratings）中国首席分析师杰里米·祖克（Jeremy Zook）表示：“这些都是持续关注投资和创新发展的高附加值产业，能够增强国内供应链的弹性。” 中国将主要侧重于中央已规划制定的政策。Robin Xing, chief China economist at Morgan Stanley, said China will likely sustain the economic framework that has taken shape in recent years, prioritizing choke points in supply chain self-sufficiency and tech innovation.摩根士丹利首席中国经济学家邢自强（Robin Xing）表示，中国可能会维持近年来形成的经济框架，优先考虑供应链自给自足和技术创新层面的瓶颈。Senior China researchers and analysts said they believe the metric of China's success will be total factor productivity with a highlighted focus on new quality productive forces and new technologies.中国高级研究人员和分析人士表示，衡量中国成功的标准将是全要素生产率，重点关注高质量生产力和新技术。Joe Ngai, chairman of management consultancy McKinsey China, said that he believes innovation will remain the biggest driver boosting China's economic growth in the long term."Innovation and technology will have to drive the future. And for us, these are the new quality productive forces," he said.麦肯锡中国区总裁倪以理表示：“创新和技术必须推动未来。对我们来说，这些都是新质生产力。”从长远来看，创新仍将是推动中国经济增长的最大驱动力。In an article published in early June in Qiushi Journal, the flagship magazine of the CPC Central Committee, Xi said the relations of production must be adapted to the requirements for developing productive forces, adding that new quality productive forces are providing powerful impetus and support for high-quality development.6月初，习近平主席在《求是》上发表的一篇文章中说道，生产关系必须适应生产力发展的要求，新质生产力正在为高质量发展提供强大的动力和支持。He said that China needs to further reform the economic structure and scientific and technological systems to remove the bottlenecks impeding the development of new quality productive forces. And it also should expand high-standard opening-up and work to create a favorable international environment, he said.中国需要进一步改革经济结构和科技体系，消除制约高质量新生产力发展的瓶颈；同时，要扩大高水平对外开放，为发展新质生产力营造良好国际环境。Sun Xuegong, director-general of the department of policy study and consultation at the Chinese Academy of Macroeconomic Research, said,"We need to reform the scientific and technological system, education systems and talent systems to develop new quality productive forces and drive innovation."中国宏观经济研究院决策咨询部主任孙学工表示：“我们需要改革科技体系、教育体系和人才体系，培育新质量生产力，驱动创新。”Sun said he expects to see the accelerated building of a modern industrial system and a more enabling environment to foster leading companies featuring high technology, high efficiency and high quality, in a bid to boost advanced productivity freed from traditional economic growth modes and productivity development paths.他期待看到现代工业体系的建设加快，为培育高科技、高效率、高质量的龙头企业创造更加有利的环境，提高摆脱传统经济增长模式和生产力发展道路的先进生产力。Tian Xuan, associate dean of Tsinghua University's PBC School of Finance, highlighted the need to address the pressing issues of hidden restrictions on market entry, regional protectionism and market segmentation, saying that more steps are needed to speed up the building of a more unified national market, promote the free flow of production factors such as talent, capital and data and provide a more level playing field for domestic and foreign companies alike."Such a series of institutional arrangements will help drive scientific and technological innovation, and leverage China's strength as a large economy with an ultra-large domestic market and a complete industrial system."清华大学五道口金融学院副院长田轩强调：“这样的一系列制度安排，将有助于推动科技创新，并发挥中国作为拥有超大国内市场和完整产业体系的大经济体的实力。”需要解决市场准入隐性限制、区域保护主义和市场分割等紧迫问题，需要采取更多措施加快建设更统一的国内市场，促进人才等生产要素的自由流动，需要提供资本和数据为国内外公司提供更公平的竞争环境。Zhu Guangyao, former vice-minister of finance, said that China needs to deepen reform and opening-up to promote innovation and facilitate the development of its private sector, to further unleash growth potential in new energy and artificial intelligence industries, leveraging its existing advantages."The country should provide more support to the private sector and deepen reform that encourages sci-tech research and industrial applications," Zhu said.财政部原副部长朱光耀表示：“国家应为民营企业提供更多支持，深化改革，鼓励科技研究和工业应用。”中国需要深化改革开放，促进创新，促进民营企业发展，进一步释放新能源和人工智能产业的增长潜力，发挥现有优势。Anu Rathninde, president of Johnson Controls Asia-Pacific, hailed China's ongoing efforts to deepen reform and expand opening-up, saying that "as China's economy grows, the foreign enterprises grow and benefit equally".江森自控亚太区总裁朗智文（Anu Rathninde）对中国持续深化改革和扩大开放的努力表示赞赏，称：“随着中国经济的增长，外企也在从中受益。”He said that as long as the government is committed to supporting enterprises in innovation and upgrading through reforms and creating an environment where foreign and local companies can compete on a fair and equal footing, it will generate increasing growth opportunities for stakeholders both domestically and internationally, thereby boosting China's long-term development.他表示，只要政府致力于通过改革支持企业创新升级，使外企和国企在公正、平等的基础上竞争，为更多国内外的企业家创机会，推动中国的长足发展。third plenary session of the 20th Central Committee of the Communist Party of Chinan.中国共产党第二十届三中全会

China's new round of financial reform is expected to focus on improving the financial system's ability to better support the country's modernization drive, with a priority on bolstering technological innovation and the broader real economy, said financial experts and executives.Also expected to be high on the agenda of the unfolding reform are intensifying financial regulation and strengthening the crackdown on violations to fend off financial risks, as well as deepening financial opening-up to improve resource allocation efficiency, they said.Their comments come at a juncture when the market eagerly waits to see how China will set the tone for the road map for future financial reform and opening-up at an upcoming vital reform meeting — the third plenary session of the 20th Communist Party of China Central Committee, which is scheduled to be held in Beijing from Monday to Thursday.Early this year, President Xi Jinping urged efforts to accelerate the building of a modern financial system with Chinese characteristics at the opening of a study session at the Party School of the CPC Central Committee (National Academy of Governance).Xi, who is also general secretary of the CPC Central Committee, emphasized that the path of financial development with Chinese characteristics adheres to the fundamental purpose of serving the real economy and takes preventing and controlling risks as the eternal theme of financial work.Tian Xuan, associate dean of Tsinghua University's PBC School of Finance, said that one of the core objectives of China's financial reform should be building a modern financial system that efficiently serves the real economy, especially when it comes to financing innovative emerging sectors at lower costs, in order to support technological innovations and nurture new quality productive forces.He said the country's financial reform is expected to feature strengthened regulation to fend off any systemic risks, with the focus being on financial fraud crackdown in the capital market as well as on deficiencies in the supervision and governance of small and medium-sized financial institutions."Our financial markets are still developing and not yet mature. We need the government to play its role well to correct market failures," said Tian, who is also a deputy to the National People's Congress, the country's top legislature.Tian said he expects the upcoming plenary session to introduce reform measures aimed at further developing venture capital — investment funds that invest in startups for long-term growth and are among key accelerators of technological innovation.A meeting on April 30 of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, which was presided over by Xi, called for efforts to actively develop venture capital and strengthen "patient capital", or investment that generates healthy returns in the long run.The emphasis on venture capital has reflected China's broader efforts in capital market reform. China's financial system is now dominated by the banking industry, yet the capital market is seen as more capable of supporting innovation activity. This makes further capital market development an integral step for China, in order to ensure that the financial system becomes more capable of serving its modernization pursuit, experts said.In April, the State Council, China's Cabinet, released a guideline that rolled out nine measures to promote high-quality development of the capital market, drawing up a blueprint for the market and featuring an intensified crackdown on securities violations and strengthened investor protection.Wu Xiaoqiu, dean of Renmin University of China's National Academy of Financial Research, said the guideline has set the right tone for future capital market reform, urging "tough laws and harsh punishments" to stem violations and address the prominent issues of fraudulent listings and false disclosures.The compensation system for small investors affected by those malpractices and induced delistings should also be improved on both the civil and judicial fronts, Wu said.China's A-share market rallied on Thursday, with the benchmark Shanghai Composite Index rising 1.06 percent on Thursday to close at 2,970.39 points, following a policy measure issued on Wednesday to restrict short-selling.At the Central Financial Work Conference in November, Xi called for giving full play to the pivotal role of the capital market, advancing the registration-based initial public offering system and steadily expanding institutional opening-up in the financial sector.Experts also underlined the need for China to widen opening-up to strengthen the financial system's ability for resource allocation, expecting the upcoming reform meeting to call for ensuring a transparent, predictable regulatory environment for foreign investors and reinforcing the role of Hong Kong as an international financial hub.Zhang Xiaoyan, a chair professor of finance at Tsinghua University's PBC School of Finance, said she expects the country to further drive financial opening-up to attract more foreign institutional investors, whose global perspective and investment expertise will help channel more resources to technological companies with real strength.Thierry Leger, CEO of Paris-based global reinsurer SCOR, said that China's step-by-step financial opening-up has helped shape a high level of confidence, and it is important for the country to continue to build a stable regulatory environment for foreign investors.Eugene Qian, China country head of UBS and chairman of UBS Securities, said the Swiss financial giant, having benefited from China's capital market reform and opening-up, will continue to leverage its international experience and local expertise to support China's further reform in the capital market.Reporter: Zhou Lanxu, Liu Zhihua, Ouyang Shijiaresource allocation efficiency资源配置效率the path of financial development with Chinese characteristics中国特色金融发展之路market failures市场失灵

China's recent move to deepen economic structural reform is an attempt to cultivate new quality productive forces and foster high-quality development in the long run, offering increasing growth opportunities for stakeholders both at home and abroad, said experts and entrepreneurs.专家和企业家表示，中国最近深化经济结构改革的举措是为了培养新质生产力，促进长期高质量发展，为国内外利益相关者提供越来越多的增长机会。They said that China's pro-reform efforts will mainly focus on key areas including technological innovation and industrial upgrading, which will help resolve economic woes, create new growth drivers and inject strong impetus into the world's second-largest economy.他们表示，中国支持改革的努力将主要集中在包括技术创新和产业升级在内的关键领域，这将有助于解决经济困境，创造新的增长动力，为世界第二大经济体注入强大动力。Their comments came after President Xi Jinping said in late May that reform should originate from real needs and address the most urgent issues to improve the socialist market economy, with the president calling for efforts to deepen theoretical innovation and promote institutional innovation during the process of solving practical problems.在他们发表评论之前，习近平主席在5月下旬表示，改革应该从实际需要出发，解决最紧迫的问题，以完善社会主义市场经济。主席要求在解决实际问题的过程中，努力深化理论创新，促进制度创新。"Deepening reform, particularly institutional reform, will help remove obstacles and difficulties hindering the development of new quality productive forces, and promote optimal allocation and free flow of production factors including capital, technology and labor," said Liu Quanhong, director of the industrial and technological economics research institute of the Chinese Academy of Macroeconomic Research.中国宏观经济研究院产业经济与技术经济研究所所长刘泉红说：“深化改革，特别是体制改革，将有助于消除阻碍新质生产力发展的障碍和困难，促进资本、技术和劳动力等生产要素的优化配置和自由流动。”Liu Dian, a researcher at the China Institute of Fudan University, said that China's economy is currently grappling with still-weak demand, prompting calls for further economic structural reform. "The imperative of such reform lies in igniting internal dynamics through institutional innovation, breaking barriers to economic circulation, and restoring market confidence."复旦大学中国研究院的研究者刘典说，中国经济目前正在努力应对仍然疲软的需求，这促使人们呼吁进一步进行经济结构改革。“这种改革的当务之急是通过制度创新激发内在动力，打破经济流通的障碍，恢复市场信心。”He noted that China is facing bottlenecks in its path to high-quality development, such as slow progress in industrial upgrading and overcapacity in some sectors, alongside inadequate high-end supply.他指出，中国在实现高质量发展的道路上面临瓶颈，例如产业升级进展缓慢，一些行业产能过剩，以及高端供应不足。"Market vitality is hampered by financing difficulties faced by small and medium-sized enterprises coupled with high operational costs," he said. "There's a pressing need to enhance innovation capabilities and streamline the technology transfer process, amid a complex external environment impacting domestic circulation and industrial chain security."“市场活力受到中小企业面临的融资困难以及高运营成本的制约，”他说。“在复杂的外部环境影响国内流通和产业链安全的情况下，迫切需要提高创新能力，简化技术转让过程。”In an article published recently in Qiushi Journal, the flagship magazine of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, the National Development and Reform Commission said the country will speed up the process of deepening reform of the economic structure and build a high-level socialist market economy system. The key focus will be on fields including building of a high-standard market system, removing obstacles and difficulties in the development of new quality productive forces, and building a higher-level open economic system.在中国共产党中央委员会机关刊《求是》杂志最近发表的一篇文章中，国家发展和改革委员会表示，国家将加快深化经济体制改革的进程，建立高水平的社会主义市场经济体制。重点是建立高标准的市场体系，消除新质生产力发展的障碍和困难，建立更高水平的开放型经济体系。"China is racing to create a favorable institutional environment for nurturing new quality productive forces, which is conducive to advancing Chinese modernization," said Liu, from the China Institute of Fudan University.复旦大学中国研究院的刘典说:“中国正在努力为培育新质生产力创造一个良好的制度环境，这有利于推进中国的现代化。”According to a meeting of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee held in late April, the third plenary session of the 20th CPC Central Committee to be held in Beijing in July will focus on further deepening reform and promoting the modernization of China amid challenges at home and complexities abroad.根据4月下旬召开的中共中央政治局会议，将于7月在北京举行的中共二十届三中全会将重点关注在国内挑战和国外复杂情况下进一步深化改革和推进中国现代化。Robin Xing, chief China economist at Morgan Stanley, said, "We believe the policy focus will remain on enhancing technology innovation and supply chain self-sufficiency in terms of a push for economic reform and a concerted focus on key strategic sectors."摩根士丹利首席中国经济学家邢自强表示:“我们认为，在推动经济改革和共同关注关键战略行业方面，政策重点仍将是加强技术创新和供应链自给自足。”Wang Peng, a researcher at the Beijing Academy of Social Sciences, said the government will introduce more policy measures to support the development of new quality productive forces, including financial subsidies, tax incentives and targeted measures to optimize the business environment.北京市社会科学院研究员王鹏表示，政府将出台更多政策措施来支持新质生产力的发展，包括财政补贴、税收优惠和优化商业环境的定向措施。Highlighting that the concept of new quality productive forces is fully in line with his company's growth strategy, Ye Weiguo, chief operating officer of Gyre Pharmaceuticals, a Beijing-based manufacturer of drugs for organ fibrosis, said the company will continue to invest in new drug development and consistently utilize emerging technologies and new materials to boost its growth.北京的器官纤维化药物制造商康蒂尼药业的总经理叶卫国强调，新质生产力的概念完全符合公司的发展战略，他表示，公司将继续投资于新药开发，并不断利用新兴技术和新材料来促进增长。Gyre Pharmaceuticals, with two plants in Beijing and Cangzhou, Hebei province, invested 104 million yuan ($14.4 million) in research and development activities in 2023, accounting for 13 percent of its annual sales revenue.康蒂尼药业在北京和河北省沧州有两家工厂，2023年在研发活动上投资1.04亿元人民币(1440万美元)，占其年销售收入的13%。Xu Linxiao, president of Changzhou Hongbang New Energy Technology Co, an electric equipment manufacturer based in Changzhou, Jiangsu province, that has more than 150 employees, said the company has intensified its efforts to make innovative products to address market pain points.常州洪邦新能源技术有限公司是一家位于江苏常州的电气设备制造商，拥有150多名员工。公司总经理徐林肖表示，该公司已加大力度开发创新产品，以解决市场痛点。Changzhou Hongbang's export value reached 22.94 million yuan in the first four months of 2024, an increase of 2,521.8 percent year-on-year, data from Nanjing Customs showed.南京海关的数据显示，2024年前四个月，常州洪邦的出口额达到2294万元，同比增长2521.8%。With the global trend of restructuring and upgrading value chains becoming increasingly apparent, innovation-driven growth has become the fundamental approach for Chinese exporters to gain competitiveness and secure a higher position in the world's value chain of high-tech industries, he added.他补充说，随着全球价值链重组和升级的趋势日益明显，创新驱动的增长已成为中国出口商获得竞争力和在世界高科技产业价值链中获得更高地位的根本途径。Global executives hailed China's attempts to further deepen reform and foster new quality productive forces, saying that these measures will create more growth opportunities and help in the transformation of the domestic economy.全球高管对中国进一步深化改革和培育新质生产力的尝试表示欢迎，称这些措施将创造更多增长机会，有助于国内经济转型。Merck China President Marc Horn said, "I think China is very resilient and has shown that it can transform very rapidly and is on a good transformation trajectory."默克中国总裁何慕麒表示，“我认为中国非常有弹性，并且已经表明它可以非常迅速地转型，并且处于良好的转型轨道上。”Zhang Ying, managing director of Dassault Systemes Greater China, said, "With an unwavering commitment to further deepen reform and advance opening-up, China's influence in global industrial, supply and innovation chains has notably increased, providing new opportunities for multinational corporations like Dassault Systemes to tap into its market potential."达索系统大中华区总裁张鹰表示:“中国坚定不移地致力于进一步深化改革，推进开放，在全球工业、供应和创新链中的影响力显著提升，为达索系统这样的跨国公司提供了挖掘市场潜力的新机遇。”new quality productive forces新质生产力economic structural reform经济结构改革

President Xi Jinping said on Thursday that China's military should improve its strategic capabilities in emerging spheres, during a meeting with lawmakers from the nation's armed forces.Xi, who is also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, told national legislators from the People's Liberation Army and the People's Armed Police Force that strategic capabilities in emerging spheres — new frontiers originating from innovation and applications of science and technology — are closely related to the country's socioeconomic development, national security and military power, and are of great significance to modernization efforts and national rejuvenation.The CPC Central Committee has called for the accelerated growth of new quality productive forces since the 20th CPC National Congress, and that provides valuable opportunities for the building of strategic capabilities in emerging spheres, Xi said, asking the armed forces to integrate the new quality productive forces and new-type combat power and strengthen their mutual development.The president stressed that the military must prioritize key projects and fully implement related plans.He called for the integrated planning of naval operations, maritime rights protection and the marine economy in order to boost the nation's sea power.He also called for the improvement of the nation's space capabilities and the formation of a cyberspace defense system, which can help to safeguard the country's internet security.Research of intelligent technologies will be given more attention, and such technologies will be further promoted, according to Xi.He said members of the armed forces should be confident in their creative capacities. They should strive to bolster independent innovation and give momentum to new quality productive forces and new-type combat power, he added.Xi said that emerging spheres will be crucial fields when the military deepens its comprehensive reform, calling for a supportive atmosphere and an optimized policy system.He also noted that the defense technology sector should be further reformed to suit the needs of and developments in emerging spheres.Before addressing the uniformed lawmakers, Xi listened to thoughts and suggestions shared by six military deputies who spoke about topics such as maritime awareness capabilities, artificial intelligence and the management and use of space-based assets.There are 271 national legislators from the armed forces attending the second session of the 14th National People's Congress, which opened in Beijing on Tuesday.Reporter: Zhao Lei

China's top political adviser, Wang Huning, called on Monday for the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference to make full use of its role as a specialized advisory body, focusing on providing wisdom for the country's modernization goals.Wang, chairman of the 14th CPPCC National Committee, made the remarks while delivering a work report to around 2,100 national political advisers at the opening of the second session of the 14th National Committee of the CPPCC in Beijing, raising the curtain on this year's two sessions, China's biggest annual political event.President Xi Jinping, who is also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, and other Chinese leaders attended the opening meeting, held at the Great Hall of the People. At the meeting, the agenda for the session was reviewed and approved.This year marks the 75th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China and the CPPCC, and it is a crucial year for achieving the goals of the 14th Five-Year Plan (2021-25).Wang said that upholding the leadership of the CPC has always been the fundamental political principle of the CPPCC since the political advisory body was founded, and it remains the fundamental guarantee for the development and progress of its cause.He stressed the need for the CPPCC to act as a specialized consultative body, closely focusing on the major decisions and initiatives of the CPC Central Committee, national strategic needs and significant practical issues in its advisory role."The CPPCC should leverage its group advantages, conduct extensive investigations and research, and gain a deep understanding of the vivid experiences created in practice, the desires and demands of the people, as well as the difficulties and obstacles in policy implementation," he said.Over the past 12 months, the CPPCC National Committee conducted 94 consultations for advisers and officials to exchange ideas.Wang also emphasized the role of the CPPCC in external exchanges and in promoting the concept of building a community with a shared future for mankind, telling China's stories and spreading the country's voice to the world.After listening to the report, Zhang Yi, a national political adviser and a lawyer from Shanghai, said, "I was greatly encouraged, especially by the call for us advisers to provide suggestions in line with the central tasks of the Party and the country and fulfill our duties for the people."Zhang said that this year's conference is crucial for achieving the goals set in the 14th Five-Year Plan, particularly in relation to China's economic development and legal construction.He said that he would make suggestions regarding the effective regulation of artificial intelligence through legislation, after conducting research over the past year.Tsoi Wing-sing, a national political adviser from the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, said that in-depth research is crucial in formulating proposals, and this year he would propose a way to leverage Hong Kong's advantages in promoting China's experience in green finance on the global stage.Reporter: Zhang Yi, Yang Yang

China's policymakers pledged on Thursday to further invigorate the economy, prevent and defuse risks and improve social expectations as they deliberated on the draft of the Government Work Report before the opening of the national legislature's annual session next week.The Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, the Party's core leadership, highlighted at a meeting the need to build up the momentum of the nation's economic recovery and make sustained efforts to push for the quality and reasonable growth of the economy.The meeting was presided over by Xi Jinping, general secretary of the CPC Central Committee.The draft of the report, which set out priorities for the central government's work this year, will be reviewed by national lawmakers during the upcoming second session of the 14th National People's Congress, which is due to open on Tuesday.The report was also deliberated in February at a plenary session of the State Council, China's Cabinet.Premier Li Qiang also presided over a meeting in January to solicit opinions from experts, business leaders and representatives from sectors such as education, scientific research, culture, health and sports on a draft of the report.The policymakers underscored on Thursday China's accomplishments over the past year, highlighting the challenges posed by a complex international landscape and the substantial tasks of reform, development and stability.The nation has navigated external pressures and internal difficulties, making concerted efforts to achieve a stable transitioning in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, securing economic recovery and substantial progress in high-quality development, said a statement issued after the meeting.Official statistics showed that China's GDP expanded 5.2 percent year-on-year in 2023 to 126.06 trillion yuan ($17.53 trillion), surpassing the government's preset annual growth target of around 5 percent.The nation created 12.44 million new jobs last year, with its surveyed unemployment rate in urban areas standing at 5.2 percent.With this year marking the 75th founding anniversary of the People's Republic of China and being a critical year for fulfilling the goals set out in the 14th Five-Year Plan (2021-25), the policymakers emphasized accelerated steps to foster a new development pattern, advance high-quality development and further deepen reform and opening-up.They also called for steps to work toward a high level of self-reliance in science and technology, bolster macro regulation and coordinate measures in boosting domestic demand and deepening supply-side structural reform.The government's proactive fiscal policy must be moderately intensified toward greater quality and efficiency, while the nation's prudent monetary policy should be flexible, moderate, precise and effective, the policymakers said.The meeting highlighted the necessity to maintain the consistency of macroeconomic policy orientations to create a stable, transparent, and predictable policy environment.The nation must vigorously promote the construction of a modern industrial system and accelerate the development of new productive forces, which feature high technology, high efficiency and high quality, and are aligned with the country's new development philosophy, the policymakers stressed.More steps will be taken to boost domestic demand, deepen reform, expand high-level opening-up, and effectively prevent and defuse risks in key sectors, they added.The meeting reiterated the nation's commitment to work related to farmers, the agricultural sector and rural areas, saying that rural vitalization and urban-rural integration must be advanced.The nation will continue to bolster its efforts in building an ecological civilization and pushing forward green and low-carbon development, the policymakers said. They also underscored the need to continue improving the public's well-being and innovating social governance.It is important to strengthen the government's self-improvement, combat formalism and bureaucracy, and strive to fulfill the economic and social development goals for the year, they added.Reporter: Xu Wei

The Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee met to discuss a draft government work report, which will be submitted by the State Council at the top legislature's annual session in March for deliberation.

The Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC) has released regulations on studying the Party's history. It outlines the key objectives and principles embedded in the newly introduced regulations, emphasising the need for regular, long-term study of the Party's history. Comprising six chapters and 34 articles, the document outlines general principles, leadership structures, responsibilities, content, and methods for the study of the Party's history. In this episode of All Things Policy, Rakshith Shetty quizzes Manoj Kewalramani on the History Learning Regulations by the Party. Manoj also talks about the key objectives of the regulation and, on a broader scale, explains why history and historical narratives matter to the Party.  Do check out Takshashila's public policy courses: https://school.takshashila.org.in/courses We are @‌IVMPodcasts on Facebook, Twitter, & Instagram. https://twitter.com/IVMPodcasts https://www.instagram.com/ivmpodcasts/?hl=en https://www.facebook.com/ivmpodcasts/ You can check out our website at https://shows.ivmpodcasts.com/featured Follow the show across platforms: Spotify, Google Podcasts, Apple Podcasts, JioSaavn, Gaana, Amazon Music Do share the word with your folks  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

China reiterated on Monday its determination to persist with the key strategy of reform and opening-up in order to address the risks and challenges faced on its development path, as a key meeting set the tone for the overall deepening of reforms this year.President Xi Jinping, who is also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, made the remark when presiding over the fourth meeting of the central commission for deepening overall reform of the 20th CPC Central Committee, which he heads.It was stressed at the meeting that China will continue to work on reform measures to expand domestic demand, boost confidence, ensure the public's well-being and fend off risks, according to a statement released after the meeting.Efforts should be focused on resolving the most crucial and pressing issues through reforms to remove barriers hindering the smooth advancement of Chinese modernization, it said.It was agreed at the meeting that this year's primary task is to plan for further steps to advance the overall deepening of reforms.Efforts must be made to fully mobilize enthusiasm for reform throughout society, further consolidate the consensus on reform and rally the entire Party and the whole nation to carry forward and complete major reform tasks, the meeting said.The meeting reviewed and adopted guidelines regarding land administration system reform, promoting the overall green transition of China's socioeconomic development, enhancing the grassroots emergency management capacity, and accelerating the formation of fundamental systems supporting comprehensive innovation.Xi said at the meeting that a land administration system that can better coordinate macro policies with regional development should be established in order to improve the accuracy and efficiency of the allocation of land resources.Noting that the comprehensive green transition of socioeconomic development is the fundamental strategy for addressing issues relating to resources, the environment and the ecology, Xi underscored the importance of making coordinated efforts to reduce carbon emissions, reduce pollution, expand green areas and promote economic growth.The concept of green development must be considered during the whole process of socioeconomic development, he said.Xi added that it is necessary to enhance emergency management capabilities at the primary level to prevent and mitigate major safety risks, so that various disasters and accidents could be handled in a prompt and effective way.Reporter: Mo JingxiXinhua contributed to this story.

As the Chinese people prepare for family reunions to be held during the upcoming Spring Festival, their most important holiday of the year, President Xi Jinping conveyed messages of good wishes, support and confidence for the Lunar New Year.The messages were extended to Chinese at home and abroad as Xi, who is also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, made a two-day fact-finding trip to Tianjin starting on Thursday, during which he surveyed a disaster-hit village, a bustling ancient street and a museum.The practice of visiting grassroots families, long upheld by the nation's top leader, showcases a people-oriented development philosophy and the strong emphasis of the nation's leadership on improving the people's well-being, analysts said.Braving freezing temperatures, Xi visited the village of Diliufu, where farmland was hit by devastating floods in late July and early August.It was the third time that the president has visited the flood-hit households since September, as he highlighted the need to ensure that the families have a warm winter.In the village, Xi spoke with vegetable farmers whose facilities were damaged in August, before sitting down for talks with a family of four generations living under one roof.While expressing his delight at the progress of the village's post-disaster recovery, Xi told the villagers that the Party's central leadership has "made a resolution to improve the livelihood of the people by striving to enhance the construction of water conservancy and flood control projects".The message from the president resonated strongly with the villagers of Diliufu.Zhang Caiyun, a 64-year-old resident, said the president's visit has "given the village a festive atmosphere before the arrival of Spring Festival", which falls on Saturday.She said that for her, the visit was filled with touching moments, as Xi patiently inquired about the villagers' daily lives."I didn't expect that the general secretary would visit and that he would pay such particular attention to matters of our concern," she said.The fact that Xi assured the residents that the nation's top leadership would scale up its investment in water management projects gave a lift to villagers like Zhang.She said the flooding in August hit the village extremely hard, as farmers saw their rice paddies and greenhouses damaged. Part of the flooded farmlands has now been planted with wheat and vegetables, with a majority of the greenhouses already repaired.Du Zixi, an entrepreneur who has invested in a tourism program in Diliufu, said the president not only conveyed warmth to the residents, but also extended confidence to businesses.She said the flooding last year nearly washed away years' worth of her company's investment in the village.As the president delivered assurances that more steps would be taken to improve water management projects for the public's well-being, Du said her company will continue to invest in the village and create more jobs for local residents.Han Qiang, dean of the School of Marxism at Beijing Foreign Studies University, said that during the trip, the president rallied the public to have "full of confidence" for the new year."Strong confidence is the key to overcoming the difficulties facing the economy. It is also a must for the nation as it navigates through a complex global landscape to secure its second centenary goal," he said. The second centenary goal is to turn China into a modern socialist country that is prosperous, strong, democratic, culturally advanced, harmonious and beautiful by the time the People's Republic of China celebrates its centenary in 2049.Since he was first elected as general secretary of the CPC Central Committee in November 2012, Xi has made it a regular practice to visit families ahead of the Lunar New Year, especially rural households and groups with difficulties.Between 2013 and 2022, Xi visited rural families in Gansu, Shaanxi, Jiangxi, Hebei, Sichuan, Yunnan, Guizhou and Shanxi provinces and the Inner Mongolia autonomous region before the festival, underscoring the Party's unwavering commitment to boosting rural development.Families that have been affected by natural disasters such as earthquakes and floods are another priority for Xi when choosing the destinations for his trips ahead of the Lunar New Year.In Shanxi, he visited the home of a family that had been hit by floods in 2021 and learned about their living conditions. In 2018, he visited Yingxiu, a township in Wenchuan county of Sichuan province, which was the epicenter of a major earthquake that killed tens of thousands in 2008.Ma Liang, a professor of public administration at Renmin University of China, said Xi's visits to disaster-hit families before Spring Festival showed the strong level of support from the top leadership when the families needed it the most.The trip to Tianjin again reflected the president's high regard for the people and their well-being, he said."It also sent a message to Party and government officials that they must care for the people, make every effort to solve their livelihood issues, and truly put the people at the center during the most important holiday of the year," he said.Reporter: Xu Wei, Yang Cheng Zhang Yu contributed to this story.

Xi Jinping Thought on Culture was formally put forward at a national meeting on work related to public communication and culture, which was held in Beijing on Saturday and Sunday.President Xi Jinping stressed the need to foster a stronger sense of cultural confidence, uphold openness and inclusiveness, and strive to break new ground while upholding fundamental principles, in a recent instruction made for work that is related to public communication and culture.The instruction made by Xi, who is also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, was conveyed at the two-day meeting in Beijing.During the meeting, Xi Jinping Thought on Culture was put forward as part of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era.In the instruction, Xi underlined new situations and tasks on the front of public communication and culture, as well as the need for fresh approaches and accomplishments, with the world undergoing major changes unseen in a century and the nation's great rejuvenation entering a crucial period.He highlighted the need to focus on arming the Party with innovative theories and educating the people, and to continue promoting cultural prosperity, building a nation that is strong in culture, and developing modern Chinese civilization from a new historical starting point.Xi stressed steps to enhance the Party's leadership over public communication and culture, develop a socialist ideology that has the power to unite and inspire the people, and cultivate and apply socialist core values.It is important to carry forward Chinese cultural heritage, promote the creative transformation and innovative development of fine traditional Chinese culture, and promote the prosperity of the cultural sector, he said.The president reiterated the need to enhance the nation's capacity in international communication, promote exchanges and mutual learning between civilizations, and fully stimulate the creativity and vitality of the entire nation in the cultural sector.The goal is to keep enhancing the soft power and influence of Chinese culture and provide strong ideological assurance, powerful spiritual strength and favorable cultural conditions for building a modern socialist country and advancing the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation, he said.Participants in the Beijing meeting highlighted that Xi Jinping Thought on Culture has made clear the road map and letter of assignment for the development of culture in the new era.It marked a new height for the CPC in its level of confidence over its history and culture and will serve as a powerful spiritual weapon and scientific playbook for work related to public communication, ideology and culture in the new era and on the new journey, they said.Cai Qi, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and a member of the Secretariat of the CPC Central Committee, spoke at the two-day meeting.The meeting followed a decadelong effort from the CPC to build up the level of the nation's confidence regarding its culture and make the country more united and cohesive, as the world's second-largest economy forges ahead against various headwinds."We must not slacken or weaken the ideological work at any time while focusing on economic growth," Xi emphasized during a national meeting on public communication in 2013.Han Qiang, dean of the School of Marxism at Beijing Foreign Studies University, said the establishment of Marxism at the guiding position in the ideological field has charted the right direction for the nation's course of public communications, ideology and culture.The new ideas and judgments about cultural development in the new era put forward by Xi have enriched and developed Marxist cultural theories and led to Xi Jinping Thought on Culture, he said."With the nation's traditional culture being revitalized, the level of cultural confidence among the people has been brought to an unprecedented level, and the unity among society has been lifted," he said.Meanwhile, Han observed that China's soft power in the world has also increased over the past decade, especially in the developing world."As the world's largest Marxist ruling party, the leadership of the CPC has been widely lauded by the international community, and the global recognition over Chinese culture has also been increased," he said.In the eyes of many analysts, Xi has taken the imperative to pool strength from the nation's traditional culture and raise it to an unprecedented height, calling for the integration of basic tenets of Marxism with fine traditional Chinese culture, also known as the "second integration".Building on the CPC's "first integration" theoretical synthesis — integrating the basic tenets of Marxism with China's specific realities, the "second integration", many analysts said, will pave the way for the building of China's own discourse system on civilization and help the nation firm up its confidence amid the complex international landscape.Wang Huiyao, president of the Beijing-based think tank Center for China and Globalization, said that pooling strength from China's traditional culture, which emphasizes the value of harmony, family, education and diligence, coupled with the modern market system, will give rise to strong cohesive power and productivity in the nation.He noted that the nation's deep-rooted Confucian culture is also shared by many other countries in East and Southeast Asia, and that amplifying elements from the culture will help promote the building of an Asian community with a shared future.Stephen Ndegwa, executive director of South-South Dialogues, a development communication think tank based in Nairobi, Kenya, said China's cultural soft power "has been understated and underestimated because of its nonaggressive policies".Xi Jinping Thought on Culturen.习近平文化思想Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Eran.习近平新时代中国特色社会主义思想South-South Dialoguesn.南南对话

President Xi Jinping has called for efforts to build higher-level pilot free trade zones with an emphasis on institutional innovation to further promote institutional opening-up on par with advanced international standards and rules.Xi, who is also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, made the remarks in a recent instruction on advancing the construction of pilot FTZs.The instruction was read by Vice-Premier He Lifeng at a symposium on the 10th anniversary of the nation's construction of pilot FTZs, which was held in Beijing on Tuesday.In the instruction, Xi pointed out that building pilot FTZs is an important strategic step that the CPC Central Committee has taken to promote reform and opening-up in the new era.He spoke highly of the role of the pilot FTZs in China's development in the past decade, saying that they have implemented the decisions and deployments of the CPC Central Committee, adhered to innovation and introduced a large number of fundamental and pioneering measures for reform and opening-up.They have made many landmark and exemplary achievements in institutional innovation, effectively playing a role as a comprehensive experimental platform for reform and opening-up, he said.Xi emphasized that on the new journey, the nation should implement the strategy of upgrading the pilot zones based on a comprehensive summary of experience in building the pilot FTZs over the past 10 years.Efforts should be made to forge ahead with a pioneering spirit, overcome difficulties, conduct explorations in a broader range of fields and at a deeper level, and strive to build pilot FTZs at a higher level, he added.Xi called for efforts to focus on institutional innovation, coordinate development and security, align with advanced international economic and trade rules and promote innovative development of the entire industrial chain, in order to enable the pilot FTZs to better play an exemplary role.Participants of the meeting include officials from relevant central departments as well as those from the 21 provinces, municipalities and autonomous regions where the FTZs are located.Since China's first pilot FTZ was established in Shanghai in 2013, the nation has built 21 FTZs nationwide. Up to 302 institutional innovations have been nurtured in these areas and promoted nationwide, according to the Ministry of Commerce.Exemplary英/ɪg'zemplərɪ/美/ɪɡ'zɛmpləri/adj.模范的

Since the weekend, Beijing has impressed observers with separate series of intense, high-level consultations with Washington and Moscow, one after another.上周末以来，中国与美国、俄罗斯分别进行了一系列密集、高级别磋商，给观察家留下了深刻的印象。Senior Chinese diplomat Wang Yi completed two days of talks with United States National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan in Malta on Sunday, and he arrived in Russia on Monday for a four-day China-Russia consultation on strategic security.中国外交部长王毅于周日（9月17日）在马耳他完成了与白宫国家安全顾问沙利文两天的会谈，王毅周一（9月18日）抵达俄罗斯进行为期四天的中俄战略安全磋商。Analysts said the two series of talks — one closely following the other — are part of China's efforts to carry forward its regular two-way dialogues with influential major countries and help shore up nations' concerted efforts to stabilize the Asia-Pacific region.分析人士说，这两场时间联系紧密的系列会谈是中国努力推进与有影响力的主要国家定期双向对话的一部分，并帮助支持国家共同努力稳定亚太地区。Both China and the US described the weekend series of consultations as "candid, substantive and constructive" in official readouts released on Sunday. As part of the talks' outcomes, the two sides agreed to hold three China-US consultations — on the Asia-Pacific region, maritime affairs and foreign policy.中美双方在周日（2023.9.17）发布的官方报道中都将周末系列磋商描述为“坦诚、实质性、建设性”。作为会谈成果的一部分，双方关于亚太地区、海洋事务和外交政策进行了三次中美磋商。On Monday morning, Beijing announced that Wang, a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and director of the Office of the Foreign Affairs Commission of the CPC Central Committee, will hold the 18th round of China-Russia strategic security consultations in Russia from Monday through Thursday.周一（9月18日）上午，中国宣布，中共中央政治局委员、中央外事工作委员会办公室主任王毅将于周一至周四在俄罗斯举行第18轮中俄战略安全磋商。Diao Daming, a professor at Renmin University of China's School of International Relations, said the common background of the two series of talks is that the world today is in turmoil and chaos, the global economy has a long way to go in recovering in the post-pandemic era, and the world has widespread expectations of an improved international order.中国人民大学国际关系学院教授刁大明表示，两场系列会谈的共同背景是，当今世界动荡混乱，后疫情时代全球经济复苏任重道远，世界对国际秩序改善有广泛期待。During the weekend talks, China and the US also discussed the Asia-Pacific region, the Ukraine crisis and the Korean Peninsula situation, among other international and regional issues.在周末会晤中，中美双方还讨论了亚太地区、乌克兰危机和朝鲜半岛局势等国际和地区问题。"China has retained its steady pace and resilience against various changes when navigating its major-country diplomacy, and it earnestly looks to shape relations with major countries in order to improve the region's situation and the world's trajectory," Diao said.刁大明表示：“中国在进行大国外交时，一直保持着应对各种变化的稳健步伐和韧性，认真寻求建立好大国关系，改善地区局势和世界轨迹。”"What China wants is to work with the international community to rise to the challenge, and it has always tried to inject the world with a steady stream of positivity and certainty," he added.他补充说：“中国期望与国际社会合作，积极迎接挑战，并一直努力稳定地为世界注入积极性和确定性。”Wang and Sullivan previously met and talked in Vienna, Austria, in May. Before that, high-level strategic communication between China and the US took place over the past two years in such places as Zurich, Rome and Luxembourg.王毅和沙利文此前曾于5月在奥地利维也纳会晤面谈。前两年中美两国的高层战略沟通一直在苏黎世、罗马和卢森堡等地进行。During the talks with Washington, the Taiwan question and the US perception of China's development were high on the agenda.在与美国的会谈中，台湾问题和美国对中国发展的看法都被提上议程。An unnamed senior official with the Foreign Ministry who took part in the weekend talks said the multiple rounds of consultations as a whole "exceeded 12 hours in total", and "the Taiwan question consumed the longest time".一位参加周末会谈的外交部匿名高级官员说，多轮磋商“总共超过12小时”，“台湾问题花费时间最长”。The official told Chinese media that Wang said the most essential status quo is that both sides of the Taiwan Strait belong to one China, and the tension across the Strait originates from the increasingly rampant "Taiwan independence "activities by Taiwan's Democratic Progressive Party.官方告诉中国媒体，王毅表示最本质的现状是台湾海峡两岸属于一个中国，两岸的紧张局势源于台湾民进党日益猖獗的“台独”活动。The right path for peaceful resolution of the Taiwan question is "resolutely objecting to 'Taiwan independence' and supporting the peaceful reunification of China", Wang said.王毅表示，和平解决台湾问题的正确路径是“坚决反对‘台独'，支持中国和平统一”。China has always rejected attempts to use competition to define the whole of China-US ties, and it opposes economic decoupling under the pretext of "de-risking", Wang told Sullivan.王毅告诉沙利文，中国一直拒绝用竞争来定义整个中美关系，也反对以“去风险”为托词的经济脱钩。Wang expressed serious concerns over the US suppressing and frustrating China in terms of science and technology and over the US' unilateral, unreasonable sanctions on Chinese businesses, institutions and individuals.王毅严重关切美国在科技方面打压、挫败中国，以及美国对中国企业、机构和个人实施单边、不合理的制裁。Su Xiaohui, deputy director of the Department of American Studies at the China Institute of International Studies, said the "several rounds "indicate the intensity of the negotiations and "the large number of agenda items between Beijing and Washington".中国国际问题研究院美国研究所副所长苏晓晖说，“多轮”表明了谈判的密集程度以及“中美之间的议程项目数量庞大”。"And Beijing's message is clear — not to cross the line over the Taiwan question and stop suppressing and encircling China," she said.她说：“中国的态度很明确--不要在台湾问题上越界，停止压制和包围中国。”"Washington is expected to work toward the same goal alongside China and take more positive moves in response to China's message," she added.“美国应与中国一起朝着同一目标努力，并积极回应中方的态度，”她补充说。Meanwhile, the previous round of consultation under the China-Russia strategic security consultation mechanism took place in Fuzhou, Fujian province, in September last year. The mechanism was established in 2005.与此同时，中俄战略安全磋商机制下的上轮磋商于去年9月在福建省福州市举行。该机制成立于2005年。Observers noted that the mechanism is part of the evolving China-Russia comprehensive strategic cooperation in the new era.观察者注意到，该机制是新时代中俄全面战略合作演进的一部分。The trip to Russia this week by Wang, who was invited by Nikolai Patrushev, secretary of the Security Council of the Russian Federation, for the 18th round of consultation is "a routine activity within the framework of the China-Russia strategic security consultation mechanism", Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning said on Monday.王毅本周受俄联邦安全委员会秘书长尼古拉·帕特鲁舍夫邀请的的俄罗斯之行，对于第18轮磋商是“中俄战略安全磋商机制框架内的一次例行活动”，外交部发言人毛宁周一（2023.9.18）说。The trip to Russia "aims to implement the important consensus reached by the heads of state of the two countries, promote the development of bilateral relations and carry out in-depth communication on important issues related to the strategic security interests of the two countries", Mao said.毛宁说，此次俄罗斯之行“旨在落实两国元首达成的重要共识，推动双边关系发展，并就涉及两国战略安全利益的重要议题进行深入沟通。”She pointed to both countries' shared identity as permanent members of the United Nations Security Council and major emerging market economies.她指出两国同为联合国安理会常任理事国和主要新兴市场国家。"The two countries have always maintained close communication on major, strategic and overarching issues of common concern," she added.她补充说：“两国一直就共同关心的重大战略性、全局性问题保持密切沟通。”Chinese Ambassador to Russia Zhang Hanhui said that "China-Russia strategic cooperation is the 'mainstay' of maintaining international peace and security", and "the significance and impact of China-Russia relations go far beyond the bilateral context".中国驻俄罗斯大使张汉晖说，“中俄战略合作是维护国际和平与安全的‘中流砥柱'”，“中俄关系的意义和影响远远超出双边范畴”。In an interview published last week on the People's Daily website, Zhang said the two sides "work closely together in the international arena", resolutely oppose hegemony and power politics, and adhere to genuine multilateralism.在人民日报网站上周发表的一篇访谈中，张汉晖说双方“在国际舞台上密切合作”，坚决反对霸权和强权政治，坚持真正的多边主义。Maritime英/'mærɪtaɪm/美'mærɪtaɪm/adj.海事的turmoil 英/'tɜːmɒɪl/美/'tɝmɔɪl/n.混乱，动乱

As international competition increases for cutting-edge technologies and talented people, and particularly amid some countries' attempts in recent years to suppress China's development, the Chinese leadership has emphasized building the country into a leader in education, which in turn will contribute to a stronger nation.President Xi Jinping, who attaches great importance to the country's progress in the sectors of education, science and technology, and human resources development, has pointed out that making the nation a leader in education will serve as a strategic precursor to building a great modern socialist country in all respects."Building a leading country in education is an important support for achieving greater self-reliance and strength in science and technology, an effective approach to promoting common prosperity for all, and a fundamental project to advance the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation on all fronts through a Chinese path to modernization," he said.Xi, who is also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, made the remarks at a group study session of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee on May 29.The speech that Xi gave at the group study session was published on Saturday in the 18th issue of Qiushi Journal, the flagship magazine of the CPC Central Committee.Xi's remarks on education came as the world is undergoing a new round of technological evolution and industrial transformation. Against such a backdrop, China is facing increasing challenges arising from geopolitical competition and attempts by United States-led Western countries to suppress and blockade its economic and technological progress.On many occasions, including his inspection tours nationwide, Xi has highlighted the importance of seeking scientific and technological independence and strength in advancing the nation's modernization drive in all respects.In a reply letter sent on Friday to the faculty and students at Northeastern University in Shenyang, Liaoning province, which celebrated its 100th anniversary on Saturday, Xi expressed the hope that the university could cultivate more high-caliber talent based on the country's strategic needs, expand its leading edge in strong disciplines, and continue to produce high-level scientific research results.In the speech published on Saturday by Qiushi Journal, Xi explained how China will make itself a leader in education. "Only when basic education enjoys sound development, can we make steady progress in building up our country's strength in education and sustaining its momentum," Xi said.He emphasized that higher education is the key to China's becoming a leading nation in the field of education. "Priority must be given to the building of world-class universities and superior disciplines, and the development of basic, emerging and interdisciplinary subjects must be strengthened.""Education in science and technology and engineering should be furthered. Greater efforts should be made to nurture China's top-notch and innovative talent on our own to provide support for achieving breakthroughs in core technologies in key fields," Xi said.Since the 18th CPC National Congress in 2012, the CPC Central Committee has considered education to be of great significance to the future of the country and the Party. It also has made important decisions to accelerate the modernization of education and develop the country as a leader in this regard.The CPC Central Committee and the State Council, China's Cabinet, released an education modernization plan in February 2019, outlining blueprints for the sector's modernization and development by 2035, the year by which the country is determined to basically achieve socialist modernization and become an education powerhouse.Yu Yongyue, a professor at Wuhan University's School of Marxism, said that to accelerate the development of China as a leading country in education, the focus should be fixed on the process of the nation's modernization drive."We need to comprehensively consider the challenges and opportunities brought by the world's major development, transformation and adjustment to the nation's modernization in the education sector, while aligning with national strategies of building a technology powerhouse, developing a quality workforce in the new era and promoting rural vitalization," Yu said.China has established the largest education system in the world and joined the ranks of upper- to middle-level countries in terms of the overall level of modernization in education. China ranks 23rd in a global education index, up 26 spots from 2012, with the fastest progress in the world.Advancement英/əd'vɑːnsm(ə)nt/美/əd'vænsmənt/n.进步Marxism英/ˈmɑ:kˌsɪzəm/美/ˈmɑrkˌsɪzəm/n.马克思主义

President Xi Jinping said on Thursday that China will better utilize Beijing's advantages as an ancient capital and national cultural center to strengthen cultural exchanges with people from all over the world and enhance mutual learning among different civilizations.Xi made the remark in a congratulatory letter sent to the 2023 Beijing Culture Forum, which opened in the capital on Thursday. Themed "Inherit cultural legacies, promote exchanges and cooperation", the two-day event is jointly hosted by the Publicity Department of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, the CPC Beijing Municipal Committee and the Beijing municipal government.Xi said the Chinese nation has a time-honored, fine traditional culture featuring openness and inclusiveness, noting that the Chinese civilization has always valued mutual understanding and respect among different civilizations.Beijing, with its long history and continuous cultural heritage, serves as a powerful testament to the continuity, innovation, unity, inclusiveness and peacefulness of Chinese civilization, he said.China will take better advantage of Beijing's strengths to promote exchanges with the rest of the world, in an effort to promote cultural prosperity and development, protect cultural heritage, and implement the Global Civilization Initiative, injecting profound and enduring cultural strength into the building of a community with a shared future for mankind, Xi said.Cai Qi, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and a member of the Secretariat of the CPC Central Committee, said that people should take guidance from Xi's congratulatory letter to build the modern Chinese civilization at a higher level and carry out wide-ranging exchanges and mutual learning among different civilizations.Cai expressed the hope that the forum will produce fruitful results and have a bigger presence.More than 600 officials and notable cultural figures from home and abroad are expected to gather at the forum, giving over 50 speeches and taking part in roundtable dialogues. An evening gala was held at the Big Air Shougang — a landmark of the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics — on Thursday. Several industry reports would also be released and international cultural cooperation projects signed."By inviting key actors from within the cultural world and beyond, I'm convinced that this forum will bring new shared knowledge, strengthen partnerships, and renew our commitment to invest in culture," said Tamara Rastovac Siamashvili, chairperson of the executive board of UNESCO.Egyptian Minister of Culture Nevien El Kilany said that she views taking part in this forum as a continuation and strengthening of her country's friendship with China.She said cultural relations serve as an important bond between China and Egypt. The countries, two of the oldest civilizations in human history, both advocate a culture of equality and mutual benefit, and respect cultures of other countries, she added.Egypt is the first country in Africa and the Middle East to offer Chinese language courses in universities. Ain Shams University in Cairo established a Chinese language department in 1958. Similarly, Cairo is also home to the region's first Chinese cultural center, which was built by China in 2002, she said.Christos Dimas, Greek deputy minister of culture, said cooperation between Greece and China has made important contributions to the development of world civilizations.Greece and China have signed a series of memoranda of understanding and cooperation in the cultural field.They have carried out a wide range of exchanges centered on their rich and glorious ancient cultural heritage, modern and contemporary literature, poetry, books, drama, and other creative fields, through exhibitions, performances and academic seminars, he said.For example, in 2017, an exhibition on the art and culture of ancient Greece featuring more than 500 artifacts was held at the National Museum of China. In the same year, a number of exhibitions featuring China's art and culture, including the Terracotta Warriors, were held at the Acropolis Museum in Athens.During the opening ceremony of the 2023 Beijing Culture Forum, a list of 10 major events held in 2022 to build Beijing into a national cultural center was released. The events included the opening and closing ceremonies of Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics and Paralympics and the completion of the headquarters of the China National Archives of Publications and Culture.Following the opening ceremony, Chinese and overseas cultural officials and influential figures shared their insights and experience in fields such as urban development, culture and tourism development, literature and gala directing.Feng Yuanzheng, president of the Beijing People's Art Theatre, said that Xi's congratulatory letter has clearly pointed out future directions for Beijing to lead the inheritance and development of Chinese culture, and spread awareness about the city's temperament and culture.The forum is a great opportunity to gather experts and insiders from multiple sectors of the industry to discuss further improvement and innovation of cultural works, he added.Maitri Sharma, an Indian participant who has been living in China for almost 11 years, said that platforms like the forum bring together people from all walks of life and various cultural backgrounds."What matters is that we all come together and share the same platform, and we are working for the shared humanity," she said. "I feel that we are going on the right track and this is how we will come together and the world will be united."Civilization英/ˌsɪvəlaɪˈzeɪʃn/美/ˌsɪvələˈzeɪʃn/n.文明Exchange英/ɪksˈtʃeɪndʒ/ 美/ɪksˈtʃeɪndʒ/n.交流，互访

China's top leadership held a meeting on Thursday to study and arrange work on flood prevention, disaster relief and post-disaster recovery and reconstruction, emphasizing the need to put people's lives and property first.8月17日，中共中央政治局常务委员会召开会议，研究部署防汛抗洪救灾和灾后恢复重建工作，强调要把人民群众生命财产安全放在首位。Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, presided over the meeting of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and delivered an important speech.中共中央总书记习近平主持中共中央政治局常务委员会会议并发表重要讲话。The meeting came as some regions in northern and northeastern China have been hit by severe flooding after heavy rainfall brought by Typhoon Doksuri and Typhoon Khanun earlier this month.这次会议是在本月初台风“杜苏芮”和台风“卡努”带来强降雨，中国北部和东北部部分地区遭受严重洪涝灾害之际召开的。The disaster has caused major casualties and property losses in parts of Beijing and Hebei, Jilin and Heilongjiang provinces. Thousands of people had to leave their homes and many infrastructure facilities were destroyed.北京部分地区以及河北、吉林和黑龙江省遭受了重大人员伤亡和财产损失。成千上万的人被迫离开家园，许多基础设施被毁。Participants in the meeting commended the concerted efforts of people from various sectors in flood control and disaster relief, saying that the nation has made major achievements in flood control and rescue operations.与会者赞扬了各界人士在防汛救灾中的共同努力，认为国家在防汛救灾行动中取得了重大成果。They pointed out that the country is still in the flood season, various regions across China remain prone to disasters such as heavy rains, floods and typhoons, and some river basins continue to face the risk of flooding.会议强调，当前，我国仍处于主汛期，全国多地暴雨、洪涝、台风等灾害仍然高发，一些流域仍存在洪涝灾害风险。As some mountainous areas in northern and northeastern China still face the high risk of mountain torrents and geological hazards, they stressed the need to remain highly vigilant, do well in all aspects of flood prevention and disaster relief work, and give top priority to the safety of people's lives and property.华北、东北部分山区土壤含水量已经饱和，山洪地质灾害风险高，依然不能有丝毫放松。各有关地区、部门和单位要始终把人民生命财产安全放在第一位，慎终如始做好防汛抗洪救灾各项工作。The meeting's participants highlighted the importance of precise early warning and called for strengthening links between this and emergency response.会议指出，要精准预警响应，进一步加强气象预警与灾害预报的联动。Priority should be given to preventing large-scale flooding in river basins, while flood-control work should be well planned and implemented, they said. Comprehensive preparations should be made for emergency response teams, materials and the use of flood storage areas to ensure the security of major rivers during the flood season, they added.要突出防御重点，流域性大洪水始终是防汛工作的重中之重，要把江河流域的防洪调度工作谋划好、落实好，全面做好预案、队伍、物资和蓄滞洪区启用准备，保障大江大河安全度汛。The meeting's participants also emphasized the importance of decisive actions at critical moments, saying that people in dangerous areas should be decisively and thoroughly evacuated.要果断转移避险，关键时候果断撤离转移危险地带群众，进一步细化人员转移避险预案，确保应转尽转、应转早转。Efforts should be made to carry out emergency rescue operations and coordinate the deployment of the national rescue team, the People's Liberation Army, the People's Armed Police Force, State-owned enterprises and other social rescue forces in order to ensure efficient and scientific rescue efforts, they said.会议强调，要全力抢险救援，统筹调度国家综合性消防救援队伍、解放军和武警部队、中央企业和社会救援力量等各类救援力量，确保高效救援、科学救援。All-out efforts should be made to ensure the livelihoods of affected populations, and environmental disinfection and hygiene measures as well as market stabilization efforts should be strengthened to restore the normalcy of work and life in disaster-stricken areas, they added.要千方百计保障好受灾群众的基本生活，做好环境消杀和卫生防疫工作，强化市场保供稳价，尽快恢复灾区正常生产生活秩序。The meeting's participants stressed the need to effectively utilize disaster relief funds, accelerate recovery efforts and prioritize the restoration of transportation, communication and power infrastructure.会议指出，要用好救灾资金，加快恢复重建，抓紧抢修交通、通讯、电力等受损基础设施。The restoration and reconstruction of public facilities such as schools, hospitals and nursing homes should be expedited, they said, adding that financial institutions should simplify related procedures, provide credit support and insurance claims for the affected areas, and assist affected populations and businesses in overcoming difficulties.要加快推进学校、医院、养老院等公共设施恢复重建，金融机构要优化简化相关程序，加强对受灾地区的信贷支持和保险理赔，同时持续做好风险隐患排查，努力帮助受灾群众和经营主体渡过难关。Reconstruction英/ˌriːkənˈstrʌkʃn/美/ˌriːkənˈstrʌkʃ(ə)n/n.再建，重建Restoration英/ˌrestəˈreɪʃ(ə)n/美/ˌrestəˈreɪʃn/n.恢复，重新实施

President Xi Jinping emphasized the need to maintain strategic resolve to advance ecological progress while calling on the whole society to vigorously promote and act as role models in practicing the concept that lucid waters and lush mountains are invaluable assets.Xi, who is also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, made the remarks in instructions released on Tuesday, China's first National Ecology Day.He said efforts should be made to maintain strategic resolve to advance ecological progress on the new journey of building China into a modern socialist country in all respects, urging efforts to enhance environmental protection while promoting high-quality development.The Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, China's top legislature, decided at a session in June to designate Aug 15 as National Ecology Day to promote the construction of an ecological civilization.In his instructions, Xi said that ecological conservation is of vital importance for the sustainable development of the Chinese nation.He described ecological conservation as "a major political issue" that concerns the mission and purpose of the CPC as well as "a major social issue" that bears on the well-being of the public.With a focus on achieving the goals of carbon peak and carbon neutrality, the country should facilitate the gradual transition from dual control over the amount and intensity of energy consumption to dual control over the amount and intensity of carbon emissions, he said.Xi urged consistent efforts to promote the transition toward green and low-carbon production methods and lifestyles, accelerate the advancement of modernization featuring harmony between humans and nature, and build a Beautiful China in all respects.He called for concrete and constant efforts throughout society to make greater contributions to jointly build a clean and beautiful world.An event to mark National Ecology Day was held on Tuesday in Huzhou, Zhejiang province, the place where Xi first put forward the concept of "lucid waters and lush mountains are invaluable assets" during an inspection tour in 2005 of Yucun, a village in Anji county of Huzhou.Xi's instructions were conveyed by Vice-Premier Ding Xuexiang, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, at the opening ceremony of the event.Md Qumruzzaman Chowdhury, a professor in the Department of Forestry and Environmental Science at Shahjalal University of Science and Technology in Bangladesh, told Xinhua News Agency that China's National Ecology Day will enhance public awareness and actions to protect the ecological environment.China's successful efforts to build an ecological civilization have come as a big boon to the global green agenda amid climatic shocks worldwide, Chowdhury said."Successful implementation of the ecological renewal model in China now offers great lessons to the countries and regions striving to restore degraded habitats and strengthen the resilience of communities vulnerable to climate-induced calamities," he added.

Expanding effective housing demand and improving market expectations will be among the top priorities of policymakers to stabilize the property market, a sector key to reviving the recovery of the world's second-largest economy, experts said.专家表示，扩大有效住房需求和改善市场预期将是政策制定者稳定房地产市场的首要任务之一。房地产市场是重振全球第二大经济体复苏的关键领域。The real estate sector, which accounts for about 7 percent of the nation's GDP and about 60 percent of urban households' assets, serves as the pillar industry with spillovers to other segments of the economy. Thus promoting the stable and healthy development of the sector will play a key role in stabilizing economic growth, they said.房地产行业约占全国GDP的7%，约占城镇家庭资产的60%，是外溢性较强的国民经济支柱产业。专家表示，由此，促进该行业的稳定健康发展将在稳定经济增长方面发挥关键作用。Considering the policymakers' more supportive stance, they said that targeted property sector easing is in the offing, such as easing purchase restrictions for people wanting to buy a second house and reducing down payment ratios for first-time homebuyers in first-tier and second-tier cities. More efforts will also be made to guard against risks in the property market and explore a new development model for the realty sector.考虑到政策制定者更支持的立场，他们表示，有针对性的房地产行业宽松政策即将出台，比如放宽对希望购买第二套房子的人的购买限制，降低一线和二线城市首次购房者的首付比例。政府将更注重进一步防范房地产市场风险，探索房地产行业新的发展模式。Earlier, President Xi Jinping emphasized the importance of ensuring the stable development of the property sector.早些时候，习近平主席强调了确保房地产行业稳定发展的重要性。In an article published in February in Qiushi Journal, the flagship magazine of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, Xi, who is also general secretary of the CPC Central Committee, said the property sector has a significant impact on economic growth, employment, government revenue, public wealth and financial stability. He called for efforts to effectively forestall and defuse systemic risks arising in the property sector.在2月发表于中国共产党中央委员会主办的旗舰杂志《求是》的一篇文章中，中共中央总书记习近平表示，房地产对经济增长、就业、财税收入、居民财富、金融稳定都具有重大影响。他提出要努力有效地阻止和化解房地产行业出现的系统性风险。A meeting of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee on July 24, which set the policy tone for the second half of the year, said it is imperative to adjust and improve property policies in a timely manner and make use of the targeted policies in different cities, considering the fundamental change in the supply-demand situation in the real estate sector.7月24日的中共中央政治局会议定调下半年的政策，表示必须适时调整优化房地产政策，因城施策用好政策工具箱，适应我国房地产市场供求关系发生重大变化的新形势。Xiong Yuan, chief economist at Guosheng Securities, said policymakers will prioritize better meeting residents' demand for basic housing and their need for improved housing with more targeted efforts, as the overheating risk has subsided and the property sector is facing deteriorating demand.国盛证券首席经济学家熊园表示，随着经济过热风险消退，房地产行业的需求恶化，决策者需因城施策用好政策工具箱，更好满足居民刚性和改善性住房需求。Data from the National Bureau of Statistics showed that investment in property development fell nearly 8 percent year-on-year in the first half of this year. Investment in the residential segment was down more than 7 percent year-on-year in the same period.国家统计局的数据显示,今年上半年全国房地产开发投资同比下降近8%。住宅投资同比下降超7%。Amid worsening growth prospects in the property sector, Zheng Houcheng, chief macroeconomist at Yingda Securities, said it is necessary to roll out new rounds of policy adjustments and optimizations, which will significantly boost market confidence and promote a gradual improvement in property investment. Zheng said he also expects to see a further reduction in the over-five-year loan prime rate, on which lenders base their mortgage rates.在房地产行业增长前景不断恶化之际，英大证券研究所所长郑后成表示，有必要推出新一轮的政策调整和优化，这将显著提振市场信心，促进房地产投资逐步改善。他还预计5年期贷款市场报价利率还将继续下调，其贷款人基于抵押贷款利率。China has repeatedly pledged efforts to stabilize the housing market. The People's Bank of China, the country's central bank, has vowed to further tamp down interest rates and down payment ratios of new mortgages while guiding banks to adjust the interest rates of existing mortgages.中国一再承诺要努力稳定房地产市场。中国人民银行称将进一步降低利率和新抵押贷款的支付比率，同时指导银行调整现有抵押贷款的利率。Ni Hong, minister of housing and urban-rural development, recently called for fully implementing favorable measures, including lowering down payment ratios and mortgage rates for first-time homebuyers, and qualifying buyers owning no home as first-time homebuyers.住房和城乡建设部部长部长倪虹近日强调要全面实施优惠措施，进一步落实好降低购买首套住房首付比例和抵押贷款利率，“认房不用认贷”等政策措施。Xiong from Guosheng Securities said some existing restrictive measures in first-tier and second-tier cities will be eased in the near term.国盛证券首席经济学家熊园表示，近期将放宽一二线城市现有的一些限制性措施。Bai Wenxi, chief economist at IPG China, said that China should drive the transformation of the property sector from the old model of "three highs" — high leverage, high debt and high turnover — to a new development model, which requires strengthening land supply management, promoting integrated urban-rural development, advancing the housing system reforms, and increasing efforts to construct and develop the rental market.IPG中国首席经济学家柏文喜表示，中国应推动房地产行业从高杠杆、高负债推动高周转的旧模式，转向加强土地供应管理、促进城乡一体化发展、推进住房制度改革、加大力度建设和发展租赁市场的新发展模式。Looking into the future, Bai said that China will likely move ahead with the pilot property tax scheme with the gradual recovery in the housing market.展望未来，柏文喜表示，随着房地产市场的逐步复苏，中国可能会推进房产税试点计划。Entrepreneurs said the era for large-scale construction and demolition was over, adding that the focus has shifted to meeting the functional requirements of cities and there are many areas where property companies can seek new opportunities.企业家们表示大拆大建的时代已经结束，并补充说，重点已经转移到满足城市功能需求上，在许多领域房地产公司可以寻找新的机会。Wang Shi, founder of China Vanke Co, told a meeting held in late July that entrepreneurs must shift their perspective and consider future trends, such as integrating sports facilities, kindergartens and other amenities into office buildings.万科集团创始人王石在7月底举行的一次会议上表示，企业家必须改变自己的观点，考虑未来的趋势，比如将体育设施、幼儿园和其他设施整合到办公楼中。Estate英/ɪ'steɪt/美/ɪ'stet/n.房地产Morgage英/'mɔːgɪdʒ/美/'mɔːgɪdʒ/n.抵押贷款