Indholdsfortegnelse for Vol.68/No.2 i Beijing Review

The inheritance, innovation and development of culture is a multifaceted process that spans history, society, economy, science and technology. It is deeply tied to the identity and historical memory of a nation or society, while also addressing the cultural needs of individuals and enhancing their sense of fulfillment and wellbeing. This process serves as a driver of social progress and the advancement of civilization. As a country with a culture dating back several millennia, China has made great achievements in the inheritance, innovation and development of its culture. As of December 2024, China had 44 items of UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage, more than any other country or region worldwide. The country has over 100,000 intangible cultural heritage items at national, provincial, municipal and county levels, according to official statistics. Protecting…

China conducts an economic census every five years. On December 26, 2024, the country published the results of its fifth national economic census, conducted in 2023. Figures showed that China’s employment structure has changed considerably since the previous census: The number of people employed in secondary industries decreased, while the number in tertiary industries increased. By the end of 2023, more than 164 million people were employed in secondary industries, a decline of 8.26 million or 4.8 percent from late 2018; the number of employees in tertiary industries reached roughly 265 million, rising by 54.01 million, or 25.6 percent. China is a major manufacturing country, and secondary industries have been a main provider of jobs in the country. Therefore the drop of the number of employees in secondary industries has…

—The border issue should be resolved through peaceful and friendly means, rather than resorting to force or threat of force. The two countries will work on the basis of the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence, proceed from the political perspective of the overall bilateral relations and seek a fair, reasonable and mutually acceptable solution to the issue through consultations on an equal footing. —In the spirit of mutual respect and understanding, the two countries will make meaningful and mutually acceptable adjustments on our respective claim on the issue, so as to find a package solution. We will take into consideration each other’s strategic and reasonable interests and the principle of equal security for both. —We will take into account both sides’ historical evidence, national sentiments, actual difficulties, legitimate concerns, sensitive…

Winter adds a sense of tranquility and vastness to the wetlands, making the red-crowned cranes stand out even more elegantly. It is currently peak season for wintering birds. Located on the coast of the Yellow Sea, the Yancheng Wetland Rare Birds National Nature Reserve in east China’s Jiangsu Province is the country’s largest coastal nature reserve and a vital habitat along the East Asian-Australasian Flyway, one of the world’s nine major bird migration routes. Every year, during this period, it welcomes millions of visitors from afar. From November to March, 400 to 600 wild red-crowned cranes choose to spend the winter there, where they frolic, forage and soar. Crane story, her story Wetlands are the foundation for the survival of red-crowned cranes. “Cranes, especially red-crowned cranes, have high requirements for…

Tang Wensheng, 81, typed a question into the dialog box of Chinese search engine Baidu’s artificial intelligence (AI) chatbot service, Ernie Bot: How do I install drivers for a printer and a scanner on a desktop computer? Within seconds, the answer popped up. Tang followed the step-by-step instructions and successfully installed the two drivers on her own. “I did this out of necessity. Installing drivers may be a piece of cake for younger people, but I have to ask for help. AI is really helpful,” Tang told Beijing Review. Tang is no stranger to new technology and trends. A retired interpreter who also had experience in international communication, she stays up to date by learning new knowledge and skills, even in her 80s. “I believe learning may help slow down…

On December 25, 2024, Japanese Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya embarked on a diplomatic mission to Beijing, the first visit by a Japanese foreign minister to China in 20 months since Yoshimasa Hayashi’s visit in April 2023. Set against a backdrop of prolonged tensions in Sino-Japanese relations, the visit was a carefully orchestrated effort to address the complexities with the bilateral relationship. The discussions encompassed a wide array of issues, from trade agreements to people-to-people exchange initiatives, representing a renewed commitment to collaboration. The visit unfolded amid a confluence of international challenges, with both nations grappling with economic recovery and navigating uncertainties stemming from shifts in U.S. foreign policy under its incoming administration. For both nations, the visit was more than a gesture, it formed part of a broader strategy to…

China’s anti-graft campaign maintained its powerful momentum throughout 2024, achieving solid results. Data from the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection (CCDI) of the Communist Party of China (CPC) and the National Commission of Supervision (NCS) have revealed that in the first three quarters of 2024, discipline inspection and supervision authorities nationwide filed approximately 642,000 cases, involving 58 ministerial- and provincial-level officials, an increase from the previous year. “These rising figures demonstrate the intensified anti-corruption efforts and their improved effectiveness, sending a clear signal that the high-pressure campaign remains unwavering,” stated Peng Xinlin, a criminal law and anti-corruption professor at Beijing Normal University, in an interview with Xinhua News Agency. He further emphasized the “grave and complex reality” of the struggle, underscoring the need to continue to eliminate the conditions that…

NEW MINISTER OF NATURAL RESOURCES Senior official Guan Zhiou has been appointed China’s minister of natural resources, according to a decision made by the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress, the country’s top legislature, in late December 2024. Guan, 55, a native of Shenyang, Liaoning Province, started his career in 1995 after graduating from the Shenyang Agricultural University with a master’s degree in ecology. He served in several positions in his hometown and Shandong Province. He was deputy mayor of Shenyang from January 2013 to July 2015, head of the Liaoning Federation of Trade Unions from January 2017 to March 2018, and a member of the Standing Committee of the Communist Party of China Shandong Provincial Committee from March 2018 to May 2020. Prior to this latest appointment, he…

Jimmy Carter, the 39th President of the United States, passed away at the age of 100 on the final Sunday of 2024. Media outlets extensively covered his life and achievements. People around the world paid their respects to this centenarian, who had retired from politics over 40 years ago but remained committed to advancing world peace and human rights. Carter was a promoter and decisionmaker in the establishment of China-U.S. diplomatic relations and had long made important contributions to advancing the development of China-U.S. relations as well as the friendly exchanges and cooperation between the two countries, Chinese President Xi Jinping wrote in his message of condolence. On Chinese social media, a video of Carter reading the China-U.S. Joint Communiqué on the Establishment of Diplomatic Relations 46 years ago has…

Being two ancient civilization-states in Asia, China and India, the world’s two most populous developing countries, enjoy historical interactions that have transcended even the formidable barrier of the Himalayas. However, the border issue between them has persisted unresolved, hindering bilateral cooperation and triggering widespread concerns about its negative effects on regional peace and stability. Encouragingly, both sides made good progress toward reaching a fair, reasonable and mutually acceptable solution in 2024. Chinese President Xi Jinping and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi had their first meeting in five years on the sidelines of the BRICS Summit in Kazan, Russia, last October. The face-to-face interactions between the leaders set the stage for a narrowing of differences, greater consensus-building, ease, cooperation, peace and tranquility in the border areas, Zhang Yongpan, a researcher with…

In China, there’s a traditional custom called zhuazhou, celebrated on a child’s first birthday. During this event, various objects are placed around the child—such as a book, a mirror, food, a stethoscope, a seal and even an abacus. The belief is that the item the child selects first offers a clue about their future career or life direction. “When my child did zhuazhou, he reached for a small gavel—the kind a judge uses to make a final ruling. It was interpreted as a sign that my child might one day become a judge,” Li Gen, chief designer at Caibai Jewelry, a Chinese gold jewelry brand, told Beijing Review. Li and his team transformed these traditional zhuazhou objects into gold pendants, each carrying a meaningful, cultural symbol. For example, the seal…

Recently, Shanghai announced a pilot program to introduce a “family-friendly position” employment model. This initiative encourages employers to designate roles with flexible working hours, adaptable work arrangements and supportive environments as family-friendly positions. The primary target audience for these roles are employees responsible for children under 12 years old. The authorities urged efforts to promote this model in industries such as manufacturing and hospitality, as well as in emerging sectors like the digital economy, to increase the availability of family-friendly roles. Prior to this, provinces like Fujian, Shandong and Heilongjiang had experimented with flexible work policies, mostly for women, through the concept of “mom positions.” Shanghai’s new initiative removes gender limitations, ensuring that fathers can also benefit from policies that help balance work and childcare responsibilities. Su Mo (Workers’ Daily):…