Indholdsfortegnelse for Vol.67/No.49 i Beijing Review

A major shift has occurred in China’s demographic policy in recent decades. Priorities have switched from controlling runaway population growth to encouraging fertility, largely to address challenges such as a declining birth rate, an aging population and the economic ramifications of these trends. In late October, the Central Government doubled down on its efforts to foster a birth-friendly society, announcing new policies including strengthening support for families with multiple children to purchase homes and encouraging employers to adopt flexible working hours so that employees can better take care of their families. In recent years, local governments across China have put in place a series of stimulus measures, including financial incentives and extended marriage and maternity leaves. Some cities have reported year-on-year increase in births this year, reversing a downward spiral…

As neighboring countries connected by the ancient Silk Road, China and Kazakhstan share a long history of bilateral trade and cultural exchange. In a world of constant change, these enduring ties serve as a model for bilateral and multilateral cooperation. During a recent visit to Renmin University of China in Beijing, Erlan Karin, State Counsellor of Kazakhstan, engaged with Chinese representatives from academia, think tanks and media agencies. The discussions centered on the deeply intertwined connections between the two countries. Drawing on his extensive experience in politics and his background in the teaching of history and geography, Karin offered insights into the evolution of China-Kazakhstan relations in an interview with Beijing Review reporter Peng Jiawei. He also elaborated on China’s growing role in shaping a multipolar world. Edited excerpts of…

The 2024 World Internet Conference (WIC) Wuzhen Summit took place in the ancient water town of Wuzhen, Zhejiang Province, from November 19 to 22. China’s largest and most prestigious Internet conference, the event has been held in Wuzhen for 11 consecutive years. Themed Embracing a People-Centered and AIfor-Good Digital Future—Building a Community with a Shared Future in Cyberspace, this year’s summit attracted 665 exhibitors from home and abroad. Participants showcased cutting-edge technological achievements across the digital spectrum—from algorithm models and data computing abilities to application scenarios. Highlights included innovations in the low-altitude economy, intelligent connected vehicles, humanoid robots and digital cultural innovation. Progress and challenges “The Wuzhen Summit this year coincides with the rapid development of artificial intelligence (AI), which has brought unprecedented changes to social life through emerging applications,”…

Some argue that business in the digital age thrives on online traffic and trends, and recent events seem to support this notion. A TikTok video featuring Chinese products went viral in late November, thanks to a charismatic female employee greeting viewers with a cheerful “Hello boss!” Her distinct northeast Chinese accent and imperfect English captured widespread attention. The woman, whose TikTok handle is robert etong, presented her brand’s “space capsule” in just 40 seconds, pointing out 15 exclusive product features. This capsule is in fact a 40-square-meter aluminum alloy mobile prefabricated house, which includes smart locks and comes completely furnished. Designed as a compact homestay or residence, it offers functionality and style in equal measure. Ending the video with the phrase, “Do you like it? Contact me,” the host invited…

Meide Yanyuan, a courtyard in Beijing’s Changping District, is a studio for those seeking prosthetics and orthotics. Here, under the care of Georg Hoffmann-Kuhnt, a German prosthetist and orthotist, bodies and lives are given new strength. Many of its visitors arrive in wheelchairs and leave walking confidently on custom-fitted prosthetics. “I believe we can offer the right approach to supporting individuals after an amputation. It’s not just about providing a prosthetic leg—it’s about ensuring they find joy and empowerment throughout the process,” Hoffmann-Kuhnt told Beijing Review. Empowering the disabled Growing up in a family of surgeons in Munich, Germany, Hoffmann-Kuhnt developed an early fascination with medicine. Soon, he realized that majoring in prosthetics and orthotics combined his interest in medical science with his passion for craftsmanship. After earning a master’s…

As a master’s student at China Agricultural University, I have had the privilege of observing the remarkable work being done at the Shiyanghe Experimental Station and witnessing firsthand the techniques and strategies that have turned a harsh desert environment into a productive agricultural oasis. My journey to the Shiyanghe River Basin in Gansu Province was an eye-opening experience that illuminated the transformative power of agricultural innovation and water conservation in arid regions. I couldn’t help but draw parallels between the arid conditions of Shiyanghe and the northern regions of my homeland, Ghana. The insights gained here could be valuable in revitalizing northern Ghana’s agriculture and water management systems. Upon arriving at the Shiyanghe Experimental Station, I was struck by the stark contrast between the lush fields within the station and…

On December 10, 1948, in the wake of the horrors of World War II, nations around the globe came together to endorse the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR). This landmark document, adopted without opposition by any member state of the newly established United Nations, outlines a set of fundamental rights meant to apply universally to all people. The UDHR opens with the powerful declaration: “All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights. They are endowed with reason and conscience and should act towards one another in a spirit of brotherhood.” Notably, China’s Zhang Pengchun, then also Vice Chairman of the UN Commission on Human Rights, made considerable contributions to this text. He introduced the Chinese term liangxin (conscience) and stressed the idea of brotherhood, inspired…

On April 20, 1994, China made its first official full-function connection to the World Wide Web through a 64-kilobyte international leased line, marking the country’s formal entry into the global digital age. This year is the 30th anniversary of country’s entry into the Internet era. Over the past three decades, the Internet has also undergone a remarkable transformation. It has evolved from a primarily desktop-driven experience to a mobile-first technology, with content shifting from text and images to video and live streaming. Distribution methods are shifting from websites, forums and blogs to self-media platforms and algorithm-driven recommendations. The Internet is now powered by e-commerce and artificial intelligence (AI), giving rise to a profound and ongoing revolution in how we connect, communicate and consume. Throughout this transformation, online companies have ridden…

NEW CHAIRMAN OF CHINA INVESTMENT CORP. Veteran banker Zhang Qingsong has become the new chairman of China Investment Corp. (CIC), a sovereign wealth fund that manages part of the country’s foreign exchange reserves. Born in 1965, Zhang has worked in China’s banking system for more than three decades. He has held a number of senior roles including president of Agricultural Bank of China and president of Export-Import Bank of China. He took on the mantle of vice governor of the People’s Bank of China, the country’s central bank, in August 2022. Founded in 2007 to diversify China’s foreign exchange investments, CIC had total assets of $1.3 trillion as of December 31, 2023, and had logged an annual rate of return on investment of 6.57 percent over the previous 10 years,…

“Pessimism of the intellect, optimism of the will,” replied Immanuel Ness, Chair of the New York Peace Council and a professor of political science at Brooklyn College of the City University of New York in the United States, when asked about his take on the future of China-U.S. relations after Donald Trump takes over the U.S. presidency in January 2025, in a recent interview with Beijing Review reporter Ma Miaomiao. Edited excerpts of their conversation follow: Beijing Review: With Donald Trump reelected, and considering his hardline campaign rhetoric on China, how do you view the future of China-U.S. relations? Immanuel Ness: We live in a world that is becoming even more dangerous. We face possible nuclear wars and many other challenges like climate change, and we also have a world…

Zhu Mengdan, a 15-year-old from the Li ethnic group, grew up climbing betel nut trees and coconut palms. However, she had never imagined that the games she played with her friends would one day evolve into an official event at a national sporting competition. The coconut palm climbing race, a newly introduced event at this year’s National Traditional Games of Ethnic Minorities, originates from the traditional practices of local ethnic communities, particularly the Li and Miao ethnic groups of China’s southernmost island province of Hainan, who climb the palms to harvest coconuts. Zhu, the youngest competitor on Hainan’s team this year, competed in the coconut palm climbing race, which featured 11 teams comprising 33 men and 26 women from different sectors of society. She said the event is a showcase…

A spectacular performance featuring young acrobats was held in Beijing in late November. The 26 performers were selected from across China with an average age of 27. Comments to yanwei@cicgamericas.com…