Feel the Felt

An artist’s wool felt work exhibition attracts visitors during the Art Tour in Dreamland, one of a series of summer art activities held in Liwan District of south China’s Guangzhou City on July 8, 2023.

Zhang Yuxiu from Taiwan Province is playing on the Huiteng Xile Grassland of Ulanqab City in north China’s lnner Mongolia on July 8, 2023.On the same day, the lnner Mongolia division of the 20th Youth Summer Camp organized by the All-China Federation of Taiwan Compatriots opens at the lnner Mongolia University in Hohhot.

Tourists from across China visit Jinshan Deer Park in Yichun, Heilongjiang Province, to escape the heat and engage with sika deer on July 13, 2023.

Many local citizens enjoy a meal next to a lotus pool with lotus flowers in full bloom at a hotpot park in Chongqing Municipality, on the evening of July 12, 2023.

“70 years on, China-U.K.cooperation has brought each other tremendous opportunities for development, the essence of which is mutual benefit and win-win results.l hope that people of vision from all walks of life in China and the U.K.will carry on the icebreaking spirit, and promote China-U.K.friendly cooperation to constantly score new success, especially in economic and trade fields.”

Vice President Han Zheng said when attending an event on the 70th anniversary of the “lcebreaking Mission” in China-U.K.trade in Beijing on July 6, 2023.

“China and the U.S.need to start with specific steps to resolutely stop‘gray rhinos,’ properly handle ‘black swans’ and thoroughly remove ‘tigers blocking the way,’ thus creating conditions and removing disruptions for stabilizing China-U.S.relations.The U.S.needs to take a rational and pragmatic approach, work with China in the same direction, advance the consultation on the guiding principles of China-U.S.relations,expand the communication channel in diplomatic and security fields,improve the effectiveness of their communication, and promote smooth people-to-people exchanges.”

Director of the Office of the Central Commission for Foreign Affairs Wang Yi made these remarks when meeting with U.S.Secretary of State Antony Blinken in Jakarta at the request of the latter on July 13.

Xi Jinping Attends the 23rd Meeting of the SCO Council of Heads of State

On July 4, 2023, President Xi Jinping attended the 23rd Meeting of the Council of Heads of State of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) via video link and delivered a speech titled “Staying True to Our Founding Mission and Advancing Unity and Coordination to Realize Greater Development.”

In his address, Xi Jinping pointed out that 10 years ago, in view of the changes of the world, of our times, and of the trajectory of history, he put forward the notion that mankind, living in the same global village, are increasingly becoming a community with a shared future in which everyone’s interest is closely interlinked.Since then, the concept of a community with a shared future for mankind has gained extensive recognition and support from the international community,and has been transforming from an idea to action and a vision to reality.At the forefront of this trend is the SCO, upholding this very concept and the Shanghai Spirit to build an SCO community with a shared future.

Xi Jinping stressed that the world today is undergoing both transformation and upheaval;changes unseen in a century are unfolding at a fast pace, and human society is facing unprecedented challenges.Unity or split, peace or conflict, cooperation or confrontation —these are the questions raised again by our times.Xi Jinping said his answer is this: the people’s wish for a happy life is China’s goal, and peace,development, and win-win cooperation are the unstoppable trends of the times.The SCO member states must rise to the call of the times, keep in mind their founding mission, and maintain unity and coordination to bring more certainty and positive energy to world peace and development.

Xi Jinping made five proposals for SCO member states: to keep to the right direction and enhance solidarity and mutual trust; to maintain regional peace and safeguard common security;to focus on practical cooperation and expedite economic recovery; to strengthen exchanges and mutual learning and forge closer bonds between the people; and to practice multilateralism and improve global governance.

Concluding his remarks, Xi Jinping stressed that a just cause finds great support, and a journey with many companions goes far.The SCO’s development accords with the trend of the times and goes along with the direction of human progress.Through member states’joint efforts, the SCO will definitely grow from strength to strength.

The participating leaders spoke highly of the remarkable achievements the SCO has made throughout its development.All parties noted that the SCO has grown from strength to strength with rising international influence,making important contributions to deepening good-neighborliness, safeguarding the common interests of member states, promoting enduring peace and stability in the region and the world, and advancing sustainable development.The SCO has set a fine example of mutual trust,equal-footed dialogue, and mutually beneficial cooperation.

Li Qiang Meets U.S.Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen

Chinese Premier Li Qiang met with U.S.Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen in Beijing on July 7, 2023.

During the meeting, Li Qiang said last year, the two heads of state met in Bali and reached a series of important understandings, charting the course for China-U.S.relations.Mutual respect, peaceful coexistence,and win-win cooperation are the basic principles of state-to-state interactions, and also the right way for countries to get along with each other.

Li Qiang pointed out that the economic interests of China and the United States are closely intertwined.Mutual benefits are the essence of China-U.S.economic relations,and strengthening cooperation is the realistic demand of and right choice for both sides.He added that politicizing economic cooperation or overstretching the concept of security on such cooperation does no good for the economic development of the two countries and the whole world.

Li Qiang called on both sides to strengthen communication and seek consensus on important bilateral economic issues through candid, in-depth and pragmatic exchanges.China and the United States should strengthen coordination and cooperation, work together to cope with global challenges, and promote common development, Li said.

Yellen said the U.S.side does not seek to decouple or sever supply chains, and has no intention of hindering China’s modernization process.She expressed the willingness of the U.S.to implement the understandings reached by the two heads of state in Bali, strengthen communication, avoid misunderstandings caused by differences,strengthen cooperation on stabilizing the macro economy and addressing global challenges, and seek mutual benefits between the two economies.

Wang Yi Attends ASEAN Plus Three (10+3) Foreign Ministers’ Meeting

Director of the Office of the Central Commission for Foreign Affairs Wang Yi attended the ASEAN Plus Three (APT) Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in Jakarta, Indonesia, on July 13, 2023.

Wang Yi said that APT countries should enhance unity and strengthen cooperation to meet the challenges.He called on the regional countries to push for economic recovery and sustainable development.

Wang Yi put forward three proposals for the next stage of APT cooperation.First,uphold opening-up and cooperation, and accelerate regional integration.Second,uphold common security and improve the effectiveness of crisis response.Third, uphold the leading role of innovation and tap the potential of sustainable development.

The foreign ministers of Japan, the Republic of Korea, and ASEAN countries said that the APT mechanism has played a key role in helping regional countries to achieve a robust post-pandemic recovery and sustainable development, and has become a solid and reliable anchor of stability.

All the parties support an open and inclusive ASEAN-centered regional cooperation framework, adhere to multilateralism,and maintain regional peace, stability, and prosperity.

“We urge NATO to immediately stop smearing and lying about China.NATO must abandon the outdated Cold War mentality and zero-sum mindset, renounce its blind faith in military might and misguided practice of seeking absolute security, halt the dangerous attempt to destabilize Europe and the Asia-Pacific, and stop finding a pretext for its continuous expansion.We urge NATO to play a constructive role for world peace and stability.”

Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin indicated at a regular press conference on July 12, 2023.

“The whole world is paying close attention to what potential impact the Fukushima nuclear-contaminated water may have on the marine environment, food safety, and people’s health.The Japanese government,however, cares only about when it can ditch that trouble and little about how much work,resources, and risk-taking it will involve for other countries to deal with the impact of Japan’s discharge of nuclear-contaminated water.Despite overwhelming domestic and international opposition, Japan seems bent on proceeding with its discharge plan.This is selfish, irresponsible, and unpopular.China once again urges Japan to call off its ocean discharge plan and find a responsible way to deal with the issue.”

Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said at a regular press conference on July 10, 2023.

China’s Water Transport Industry Growing Steadily

China’s water transport industry has seen steady development in recent years.

A total of 12,000 ships in the Yangtze River Economic Belt have completed the renovation of their power facilities for clean and new energies.Additionally, 16 automated container terminals have been built, ranking first in the world, as part of the plan to build smart shipping lanes.

China to Cultivate Competitive AI Industry with Multiple Measures

The scale of China’s core artificial intelligence (AI) industry has exceeded RMB 500 billion so far, with the number of AI enterprises exceeding 4,300, according to data from the World Artificial Intelligence Conference (WAIC) 2023 held recently in Shanghai.Besides intelligent chips, AI development frameworks and other innovations also continue emerging.

A report issued by the 2023 WAIC showed that China has made remarkable progress in AI, ranking second globally in the past three years in terms of an AI innovation index, but more improvements in the building of its basic resources are still needed.

To further improve the AI ecosystem, China will guide the collaboration between upstream and downstream industries and support the construction of open source communities in a bid to build a globally competitive industrial AI ecosystem.

Hainan’s Offshore Duty-Free Shops See Soaring Sales Revenue in H1

The total sales revenue of offshore duty-free shops in south China’s island province of Hainan reached RMB 32.4 billion (about US$4.48 billion) in the first half of this year (H1), a year-onyear growth of 31 percent.

During the period, the number of shoppers for duty-free products in Hainan totaled 5.17 million, up 34 percent year on year, and more than 25.68 million duty-free products were sold, up 5.8 percent year on year.

Since the beginning of this year, Hainan has distributed nearly RMB 200 million worth of consumer vouchers, providing full support for offshore duty-free shopping and cultural tourism to rev up the recovery and expansion of its consumer market.

RMB 2.1 Trillion scale of China’s crossborder e-commerce in 2022

The scale of China’s cross-border ecommerce import and export in 2022 reached RMB 2.1 trillion, an increase of 7.1 percent compared to 2021.Cross border e-commerce not only injects new momentum into China’s foreign trade development, but also drives the transformation and upgrading of traditional industries and small and medium-sized enterprises; reshaping or even subverting traditional production methods and business models.

China Railway Fixed-Asset Investment Up 6.9 Percent in H1

In the first half of the year,China’s fixed-asset investment in railways came in at RMB 304.9 billion (US $42.2 billion),up 6.9 percent year on year, data from China State Railway Group Co., Ltd.showed.

During this period, China Railway Group strengthened weak areas and prioritized building supporting facilities amid the country’s efforts to build a modern railway infrastructure system.New progress has been made in the construction of a number of key projects.

In the next step, the group will effectively play its role in driving the economy through investment,and quickening the building of a modern railway infrastructure system in China.

Guidelines to Narrow Education Gap

China has banned schools and universities in more developed regions from poaching well-known teachers and principals from central, western, and northeastern areas, in a bid to bridge the education gap between areas, according to a new guideline.

The guideline, issued by the general offices of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and the State Council, aims to build a high-quality and balanced basic public education system by 2027.

Authorities will focus on school facilities, and more policy support will be offered to less-developed areas.All areas should work hard to build a high-quality teaching force and significantly increase the number of outstanding teachers.School principals and regular teachers need to participate in the rotation program and work in less-developed schools in the same area.

Meanwhile, better education services will be offered to orphans,children without support and care, children who are left behind in rural areas, and those living in difficult situations.Student financial aid will be adjusted according to the price level and living costs to make sure students with financial difficulties can complete schooling, the guideline added.

New Milestone in NEV Production

China’s 20 millionth new energy vehicle (NEV) rolled off the production line on July 3 in Guangzhou, capital of Guangdong Province, creating a remarkable milestone for the country’s NEV sector.

Feng Xingya, general manager of GAC Group, said that,since China registered its first NEV project in 1992, the country’s achievements in developing its NEV sector have been remarkable, as its current production and sales volumes for NEVs have both ranked first worldwide for eight years in a row.In the first five months of this year, the country had produced over three million units and sold 2.94 million units of NEVs, up 45.1 percent and 46.8 percent year on year,respectively, according to the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers.

Progress in Desertification Control

China pays great attention to desertification control, and has rolled out a number of programs over the past few decades.The largest among them include the shelterbelt forestation program in northeastern,northern, and northwestern China, the project to turn marginal farmland into forests and grasslands, and the project to control the sources of dust storms affecting Beijing and Tianjin.They have delivered remarkable results during the past 40 years.

Data collected by meteorological satellites show steady improvement in the ecoenvironment in northeastern,northern, and northwestern China over the 2007-2022 period.The environmental quality index in these regions rose by an average 0.4 percent year on year, and the parts with good or fairly good environments expanded from 19.9 percent to 34.4 percent in these territories.

According to scientists of the National Satellite Meteorological Center, these improvements are primarily attributed to an increase in vegetation coverage.In northeastern,northern, and northwestern China, the vegetation index has increased by 21.9, 15.7, and 10.4 percent respectively from the levels in the year 2000.

Work-Relief Program Continued

China has invested RMB 7.3 billion this year to support programs that provide work for people in need as a form of relief, the National Development and Reform Commission said in mid June.

The investment, which was jointly issued with the Ministry of Finance, accounted for more than 90 percent of the planned investment of 2023.It will be used to support more than 2,000 small and medium-sized rural infrastructure projects in more than 20 provincial-level regions in central and western China.

The work-relief programs are aimed at helping people in need, especially rural residents who have been lifted out of poverty, vulnerable individuals prone to returning to poverty,and migrant workers returning to their hometowns.The programs are designed to help them find work at home, the commission said.

After the project is implemented, it is estimated that more than RMB 2 billion of labor remunerations will be paid,drawing more than 200,000 people in need to participate in construction projects, and raise their average income by about RMB 10,000.