Indholdsfortegnelse for Vol.67/No.51 i Beijing Review

Economic Policies A meeting of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, held on December 9 and chaired by Xi Jinping, General Secretary of the CPC Central Committee, confirmed that the main goals and tasks for economic and social development in 2024 will be successfully achieved. The meeting also said a more proactive fiscal policy and a moderately loose monetary policy will be implemented in the coming year. It stressed the need to expand and refine the policy toolkit, strengthen unconventional counter-cyclical adjustments, and intensify the coordination of various policies. The goal is to make macroregulation more forward-looking, targeted, and effective. China should stimulate consumption, improve investment efficiency and expand domestic demand across all sectors, according to the meeting. VAT Invoice Data The State Taxation…

In Beijing’s bustling northern district of Changping, Huitian, an acronym for Huilongguan and Tiantongyuan, is recognized as one of Asia’s largest residential areas, home to about 860,000 people. Once known as a “dormitory town” due to its large population of commuters and lack of local industries, the area is undergoing a revolution in community governance. In 1998, the Beijing Municipal Government designated Huilongguan and Tiantongyuan as new sites for affordable housing, attracting many to move there from the downtown areas as well as many newcomers to Beijing. However, the newly built mega-community initially lacked essential amenities. The lack of healthcare and educational facilities prompted many to relocate as soon as their financial situation allowed. Yi Ran is one of Huitian’s earliest settlers, moving to the Longzeyuan residential neighborhood in Huilongguan…

In just 12 days beginning on November 27, the Syrian Government, led by Bashar al-Assad, was overthrown by insurgent groups supported by a coalition of countries, a process rooted in the Syrian Civil War. This long-running conflict, which has been characterized by many political analysts as a U.S.-led proxy war, started in 2011 as an uprising against Assad’s rule, which quickly escalated into a violent and protracted civil war involving multiple factions and foreign powers. During this recent period, Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan took center stage, openly backing various factions, including Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), formerly known as the Nusra Front. These groups launched a heavily armed offensive that eventually overtook Syria’s capital, Damascus. Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu also claimed responsibility for the regime change, asserting from the Golan…

The Spring Festival, the oldest and most important traditional festival in Chinese culture, has been added to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) heritage list. On December 4, UNESCO announced its recognition of the Spring Festival, social practices celebrated by the Chinese people during the traditional lunisolar New Year, as an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity during the 19th Session of the Intergovernmental Committee for Safeguarding Intangible Cultural Heritage in Asunción, Paraguay. With this latest addition, China now boasts 44 cultural elements or practices on the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage list, the highest number in the world. According to Xiao Fang, head of the Department of Anthropology and Folklore Studies at Beijing Normal University, the inclusion of the Spring Festival on the list reflects global recognition and…

When Fuzhou, the capital city of southeast China’s Fujian Province, is mentioned, Chinese people recognize it as the only city in the country featuring the character fu, which means “blessing,” in its name. The city is celebrated for its rich fu culture, earning it the nickname “City of Blessings.” “Welcome to the City of Blessings” has become a heartfelt greeting among locals, extending warm hospitality to friends and tourists alike. However, Fuzhou holds another, lesser-known distinction: It is the birthplace of jasmine tea. This fragrant brew offers a sensory delight unique to the region. Interestingly, jasmine flowers are not native to Fuzhou. They arrived via the Maritime Silk Road during the Western Han Dynasty (206 B.C.-A.D. 25). By the Song Dynasty (960-1279), local craftsmen began pairing jasmine with green tea…

A staff member at the Xishuangbanna Asian Elephant Breeding and Rescue Center strokes a recovering elephant calf in Xishuangbanna Dai Autonomous Prefecture, Yunnan Province, on December 8. The male calf, rescued in August after being found injured in Dadugang Township, Jinghong City, has made a strong recovery following more than three months of treatment. He is now walking normally again. Since its establishment in 2009, the center has successfully rehabilitated 25 wild Asian elephants, a species listed under first-class national protection in China.…

FRANCE People gather outside the restored Notre-Dame de Paris cathedral in Paris on December 7. Five years after being devastated by a fire, the restored cathedral has now officially reopened to the public ISRAEL Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the Tel Aviv courthouse on December 10. He testified for the first time in his long-running corruption trial EGYPT People gather at the site of a collapsed residential building in Cairo on December 10. At least eight people were killed and three others injured following the collapse of a six-story residential building BELGIUM A panda nanny wipes away tears in front of a photo of three giant pandas—Tian Bao, Bao Di and Bao Mei—at Pairi Daiza Zoo in Brugelette on December 10, the day they began their journey back to China…

Legendary Asian-American entrepreneur Jensen Huang, the founder, President and CEO of U.S. tech multinational NVIDIA, now seems in need of reassessing his business strategy. His dilemma: How to strike a balance between aligning with the U.S. technology blockade against China and preserving profits in the Chinese market. NVIDIA is currently the industry leader in the field of advanced computing chips and is the world’s leading supplier of chips for artificial intelligence (AI). Currently, the company is in a golden age of rapid growth. According to its latest financial report, as of October 27, the company had achieved revenue of $35.08 billion in the third fiscal quarter, a 17-percent increase compared to the previous quarter and a new record in its history. However, NVIDIA is grappling with challenges beyond business. Since…

Fu Tang Long, a prominent figure in the livecommerce—a combination of livestreaming and e-commerce—scene in Macao Special Administrative Region (SAR) in south China, has achieved remarkable success online. In the past year, over $16 million worth of goods have been sold through his livestreaming programs in the region. Fu is now president of the Macao Digital Industry Research Institute and executive vice president of the Macao Live Streaming Association, and his journey has been one of resilience and determination. In 2014, at the age of 26, he turned down a secure civil service job in Macao to pursue entrepreneurship on the Chinese mainland. It was a bold decision. Back then, Macao’s youth had limited options for jobs that offered security, steady income and clear career paths. Often, it was a…

In an era where strategic thinking is more important than ever, Chinese ancient military strategist Sun Tzu’s The Art of War remains a timeless and influential guide. Written during China’s Spring and Autumn Period (770-476 B.C.), this seminal work has impacted both Western and East Asian philosophy and military thought. Its principles transcend their ancient origins, shaping practices in diverse fields globally. International perspectives continue to evaluate the enduring value of The Art of War and Sun Tzu’s cultural legacy across time and space. The work is considered not only an important window into understanding Chinese strategic culture and an inspiration for modern military strategy and operations, but also a valuable resource for resolving conflict through non-violent means—especially in the context of escalating regional tensions, noted Yu Yunquan, Vice President…

Domestic Violence Guidelines China on December 9 published new guidelines to help police more effectively prevent and address domestic violence. The guidelines were jointly issued by nine institutions, including the Ministry of Public Security, the Supreme People’s Court, the Ministry of Justice, and the All-China Women’s Federation. They clarify the conditions under which police can establish the facts of domestic violence. If the perpetrator does not dispute having committed the act of domestic violence, statements from both the perpetrator and the victim, or witness testimony, will be required. If the perpetrator denies the allegations, a statement from the victim or witness testimony, along with supplementary evidence, will be necessary, according to the guidelines. The list comprises eight types of supplementary evidence, including digital materials such as audio-visual recordings and telephone…

At the 47th WorldSkills Competition, held in Lyon, France, in September, 22-year-old Zhao Zhijun claimed the championship in the Electrical Installations event. Zhao was not only the third consecutive champion in this event to come from China, but also the third consecutive champion produced by Yancheng Technician College (YTC) in Yancheng, Jiangsu Province. Organized every two years, the international WorldSkills Competition highlights the value of vocational skills and education around the world. Craftsman’s spirit In 2017, Zhao did not perform well in the senior high school entrance exam. His score was only barely sufficient for entry into a regular high school and he instead chose a path that is becoming increasingly open to students his age. “I preferred to go to a technical school and acquire a skill,” he told…

The traditional textile spinning, dyeing, weaving and embroidering techniques of China’s Li ethnic group were added to the UNESCO-endorsed Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity on December 5. These techniques have been passed down for 3,000 years, with the Li women picking them up generation after generation without any written records. When their survival seemed to be under threat, these techniques were added onto the list of Intangible Cultural Heritage in Need of Urgent Safeguarding in 2009. In recent years, Hainan Province, where much of the Li population lives, has made efforts to encourage the passing on and progress of these techniques, as well as their promotion overseas. Their inclusion on the Representative List is a reflection of these efforts. The Chinese Traditional Culture Museum in Beijing…