Diamond System Behind An Innovation Powerhouse
China Economic Weekly Issue No. 21, 2016
Chinese President Xi Jinping proposed in his speech delivered at the United Nations Sustainable Development Summit on September 26, 2015 a discussion on establishing a global energy network to facilitate efforts to meet the global power demand through clean and green alternatives.
The strategic concept of a “global energy network” is propped up by the successful practices of the State Grid Corporation of China in ultrahigh voltage (UHV) technology. An industry representative of Chinas originality, UHV has been honed in every respect, from technology to business model, over past years.
UHV has evolved in China into a globally competitive technology and industry, and formed a vigorous industrial cluster that gives theπnation a competitive advantage. Moreover, it plays a crucial role in the global energy network that is a major global force in tackling climate change. But this raises the question – what kind of system supports UHV?
A multifarious project, UHV power transmission requires a broad range of research, advancement, and innovation of technologies and equipment.
In January 2009, the Jindongnan-Nanyang-Jingmen 1,000 kV UHV AC transmission demonstration project, which China independently designed and constructed, was completed. It is the worlds first commercial UHV project. Later, in July 2010, the Xiangjiaba-Shanghai ±800kV UHV DC project was completed and went into commercial operation. Their smooth running proves the projects feasibility, safety, economic efficiency, and advantage as regards developing UHV power transmission.
Since the first UHV project went into commercial operation seven years ago, the State Grid has built seven more, and 11 projects are under construction. The projects have transmitted more than 500 billion kWh of electricity, and become main channels for large-scale transmissions of hydropower in southwest China, and of coal power, wind power, and solar power in western and northern China.
The UHV AC Transmission Key Technology, Complete Set of Equipment and Engineering Application won the National Award for Science and Technology Progress in January 2013. China holds proprietary intellectual property rights for, and is the first in the world to master this technology. According to the International Electrotechnical Commission, Chinas building of the AC power transmission project with the highest voltage class and greatest transmission capacity marks a significant milestone in the development of the electric power industry. The country has thus established its leading status in the field of UHV power transmission.
Survey on Rural Finance
Economy & Nation Weekly Issue No. 11, 2016
Inclusive finance was a highlight of the Third Plenary Session of the 18th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China, as well as of the countrys 13th Five-Year Plan. Particularly since the beginning of this year, the central government has urged for speedier establishment of a multilevel, extensive, and sustainable rural financial service system.
Although the shortage of financial institutions in rural areas has been largely alleviated in the past decade, nearly 1,000 or so towns and townships throughout the country still have no access to such institutions. On top of that, the number of financial institutions dealing with rural business and financial products related to agriculture occupy minor proportions of the countrys financial system as a whole.
How may financial resource allocation in rural areas be optimized to facilitate farmers access to the same modern financial services as urban residents? How can the difficulties farmers experience in applying for loans be resolved? Moreover, how can finance concepts be popularized among farmers while advancing the rural financial environment and financial infrastructures?
With these questions in mind, reporters visited several provinces to interview authorities and financial institutions and seek solutions to the problems of enhancing and supervising rural finance.
Yang Jiang: The Tale of the Three of Us
Life Week
Issue No. 23, 2016
Though always humble, Yang Jiang (1911-2016), widow of the late Chinese novelist Qian Zhongshu, enjoyed decades of fame by virtue of her writing talent and profound knowledge.
After the pair married, Yang accompanied Qian when he went to study at Oxford University in the U.K. and later in Paris. From 1943 to 1945, several of the comedies Yang wrote were performed on the Shanghai stage to great acclaim. In the 1950s, she started learning Spanish with the aim of translating Don Quixote de la Mancha into Chinese. Her novels and prose works published in the 1980s and 1990s were rapturously received.
In the last years of her life, Yangs focus was on reading and sorting out Qians notes and papers in preparation for their publication. Day after day, she devoted herself to the 70,000 or more pages of manuscripts her husband had left. By the end of 2015, the last section of the Manuscripts of Qian Zhongshu was eventually published.
Yang once said that she would escape from the mortal world when her husband passed away. But she was aware that she had to stay and fulfill her duties to “clear the site.” Having carried them out, she left peacefully on May 25, 2016.
Better Comprehend the Post-2000s Generation
South Reviews Issue No. 12, 2016
The world of the post-2000s generation is relatively independent of and contradictory to that of adults. What they like and dislike, the way they talk and think – all indicate what kind of people they are becoming. In a sense, they are the most important variable for the future society.
When trying to understand this generation, we are usually faced with two obstacles. On the one hand, our minds are not on the same wavelength, which makes it difficult to comprehend their way of thinking and inner world. On the other, we tend to prioritize retaining our authority over them rather than trying to see things from their point of view.
We have observed from the post-2000s generation many factors that will undoubtedly propel social changes in the future. Although they have impressive qualities, such as open-mindedness and innovation ability, at the same time they are inevitably affected by economic and civic issues that could evolve into new social problems. Endless possibilities exist for this generation, so understanding them is the priority to see their potential.
Therefore, drawing closer to what is in their hearts and sharing an affinity with these young people would be tremendously meaningful, as it would enable us to see more clearly the true significance of family, education, and social matters.
Automobile Industry Crossover Era
Caijing Magazine Issue No. 51, 2016
For automobile industry entrepreneurs, this is an era wherein the industry chain is simplifying. Electric cars are on the rise as the industry chain continues to shorten, and the production cycle keeps accelerating.
Meanwhile, this is an era closely entwined with the Internet. Knowledge and information are now more easily accessible than ever before. The way to acquire capital is changing from individual wealth accumulation, or obtaining loans, to attracting investment worldwide on the strength of impressive business models. Technologies are overflowing from previously closed systems, and the flow of quality personnel worldwide can rapidly equip a nascent company with expertise in a specialized field.
Although most crossover car makers are still at the initial stage of the financing necessary to realize their ideas, these brand new concepts constitute a challenge to the traditional automobile industry in being completely different from old business models. Though faced with a revolutionary wave, traditional car giants nonetheless adhere to steady development and sustainable innovation, and continue to dominate the worlds automobile industry. However, unless substantial changes and breakthroughs in products and models are made, they might experience a drop in status to contract workers for new crossover car makers.