Indholdsfortegnelse for Vol.68/No.22 i Beijing Review

Private Sector Promotion Law China’s first fundamental law dedicated to promoting the private sector came into effect on May 20. The Private Sector Promotion Law, passed in late April, aims to optimize the development environment for the sector, ensure fair market competition and promote the growth of both the private economy and private entrepreneurs. It clearly states that the private sector is “an important part of the socialist market economy,” and promoting its sustained, healthy and high-quality development is an important and long-term policy. From ensuring fair market access and financing support to enhancing services and protection of original innovation, the 78-article law cements efforts to encourage, support and guide the growth of the private sector. Private firms make up more than 60 percent of China’s GDP, more than 90…

‘Zzzhhhhm” —a workshop is filled with the sounds of drones slicing through the air, sharp, electric and kinetic. Decked out in their black-and-white streetwear-inspired uniforms, students at the Yancheng Technician College in Yancheng City, Jiangsu Province, are putting their newly acquired remote piloting skills to the test at the on-campus drone training facility. “It’s about passion, a passion for cutting-edge technologies. I basically turned enthusiasm into action,” one student told Beijing Review while adjusting a drone’s rotor to give a demonstration of his high-flying abilities. In 2020, this powerhouse of higher vocational education, where cafeterias with neon-lit American diner-style signs are surrounded by sprawling sports fields and lush greenery, established the Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) Department, catering to the rapid rise of China’s low-altitude economy, which is defined as economic…

For millennia, the starry night sky has inspired a shared human desire to explore outer space. Today, activities in space such as satellite navigation, deep-space exploration and manned spaceflight are becoming increasingly frequent and widespread. The peaceful use of outer space is crucial to shaping a new pattern of development and a new security architecture. Upholding open cooperation and firmly opposing space hegemony is not only a basic position of the Chinese Government in fulfilling its international moral obligations but also reflects the shared interests of countries working together to realize the dream of space exploration. This stance is vital for the sustainable development of future space endeavors. Cooperation or zero-sum game? As the global space landscape evolves, open cooperation and zero-sum competition are often seen as two divergent paths.…

Shanghai Wareda Sunshade Equipment Co. Ltd. built its business on a niche but thriving export—recreational vehicle awnings favored by American buyers. The U.S. market had therefore long been a major source of profit for the company, but after U.S. President Donald Trump imposed new tariffs on imports from China in early April, customers pulled back—and exports plummeted. “Production stopped. Inventory piled up. The pressure on our cash flow was suffocating,” the company’s founder Ding Linfeng recalled. The business, once steady and optimistic, was suddenly paralyzed. At a moment when exporters were still reeling and unsure of what lay ahead, a joint statement from the China-U.S. trade talks in Geneva, Switzerland, was released on May 12. It outlined a series of tariff modification measures aimed at easing trade tensions between the…

Huzhou, a small city in Zhejiang Province, saw a surge in bookings for its boutique homestays in May. There, guests immersed themselves in the mountain retreats, picking tea leaves and river rafting by day, then gathering around firepits for tea and open-air cinema under the stars at night. Traditionally, travelers tend to stay in hotels close to famous tourist spots and spent their days ticking off must-see attractions. But in recent years, a new trend of opting for rural homestays has emerged, as more young travelers prioritize immersive experiences and off-the-beaten-path destinations over checklist tourism. This homestay economy has now become a powerful new engine driving the growth of the tourism economy. “I came across so many posts about Huzhou’s homestays on social media platforms such as lifestyle and e-commerce…

In Huangcun Town of suburban Daxing District in south Beijing, a unique space blends quietly into the community: the Shu Yong Museum of Modern Art. Local residents often drop by to view its vibrant exhibits, and sometimes, Shu Yong, founder and curator of the museum, greets them in person—guiding tours, explaining his artworks and listening closely to the visitors’ feedback. “We built this museum near residential areas so that their residents could immediately engage with high-quality art,” Shu told Beijing Review. “These interactions not only enrich their lives, but also help me a lot when drafting proposals for state administration as a member of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) National Committee.” The CPPCC National Committee is China’s top political advisory body. Golden bridge Shu, Vice President of the…

Guests attend the listing ceremony of Chinese electric vehicle battery maker Contemporary Amperex Technology Co. Ltd. (CATL) at the Hong Kong Stock Exchange in Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) on May 20. CATL was listed on the exchange that day, with share prices surging over 10 percent at market opening. In terms of funds raised, CATL’s initial public offering is the largest in HKSAR in recent years and the biggest globally so far this year. This demonstrates Hong Kong’s solid fundamentals in supporting large-scale financing projects.…

MALAYSIA Visitors take pictures of an aircraft flyover during the 17th edition of the Langkawi International Maritime and Aerospace Exhibition in Langkawi, on May 20. The event kicked off that day, with defense and associated companies from around the globe seeking a higher profile in Asia’s defense sector UNITED KINGDOM Prime Minister Keir Starmer (center), European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen (left) and European Council President Antonio Costa are seen ahead of the UK-EU summit in London on May 19. Britain and the EU reached a wide-ranging agreement that is expected to generate nearly $12.02 billion for the British economy by 2040 TÜRKIYE Delegations from Russia and Ukraine meet in Istanbul on May 16. They agreed to hold a new round of negotiations and conduct a large-scale prisoner exchange.…

Imagine learning how to take care of the elderly in a virtual nursing home—where your mistakes won’t hurt anyone, but your skills must be nothing short of perfect to advance. At Weiyang District Vocational Education Center, a vocational high school in Xi’an, Shaanxi Province, students train with virtual reality (VR) before serving a real senior, and the results are surprisingly good. In one scenario during a training session for the Smart Health and Senior Care program, students learn how to respond to an incident involving an elderly woman, who is 70 years old and has a 20-year history of high blood pressure. After she accidentally falls while leaving her room, a caregiver rushes to her side. The students are prompted to act as caregivers, following emergency response protocols. Once training…

Camping is becoming a new weekend lifestyle for many Chinese people, stimulating rapid growth along the entire outdoor equipment industry chain. In April, searches related to camping on Meituan, a leading Chinese product delivery and local service provider, soared more than 140 percent month on month. E-commerce giant JD.com announced the sales volume of camping lights increased 48 percent in April year on year, while sales of tents, camping tables and chairs surged 70 percent and 74 percent, respectively. Increased sales of this camping gear not only brings revenue to businesses, but also promotes technological innovation. For instance, many brands have introduced modular tents and lightweight cookware of better quality. In 2024, the revenue of China’s camping economy reached 213.97 billion yuan ($30 billion), and this figure is expected to…

Not long ago, a typical night out for young Chinese might have meant singing karaoke with friends or squeezing into a packed movie theater. Today, the vibes have changed. Now, you’re more likely to find them strolling through parks, joining a city walk, rolling out yoga mats on rooftops or binge-watching the latest hit drama series at home. According to the Report on Leisure Development in China, released by the China Tourism Academy last year, interest in low-key, mindful activities—such as park strolls, city walks and yoga—has soared, with some growing by over 200 percent in popularity compared to three years ago. In contrast, traditional entertainment venues like karaoke bars, nightclubs and cinemas have seen a sharp decline in popularity. This tradeoff between the serene and the sensory, the personal…

Crouching for hours and armed with an array of cameras, dedicated birdwatchers seek to capture the fleeting beauty of a small bird. Birdwatching is soaring in popularity among young people in China, who frequent parks and wetlands, wielding telephoto lenses, patiently awaiting their moment to get that perfect shot. Popular lifestyle and e-commerce platform RedNote’s Birdwatching Trend Report, released on April 27, revealed the extent of this phenomenon. Searches for “birdwatching” on the platform surged by 19 times year on year in May. Content creation is also booming, with birdwatching-related posts in the past year amounting to 1.2 times the total from the previous decade. Notably, the average age of these content creators has shifted dramatically. While users around the age of 35 dominated just two years ago, those around…

Residential Community Renovation China renovated 280,000 old residential communities from 2019 to 2024, benefiting more than 120 million people, Vice Minister of Housing and Urban-Rural Development Qin Haixiang said on May 20. The nationwide program has benefited 48 million households, Qin said at a State Council Information Office press conference on a set of guidelines regarding the country’s urban renewal efforts. The renovation program has upgraded 360,000 km of aging pipelines, added 3.87 million parking spaces and constructed 78,000 community service facilities for elderly care and childcare, according to official data. Local authorities have focused on addressing residents’ most pressing concerns. They also implemented energy-efficiency renovations covering 446 million square meters of residential buildings nationwide. As of late 2024, China’s urbanization rate had reached 67 percent, with 940 million people…

A particularly contentious aspect of the U.S. legal system is the regular attempts by its courts to assert jurisdiction over disputes occurring entirely or partially outside U.S. territory, and their application of U.S. law in these cases. In extraterritorial domains and areas of shared sovereignty—such as the high seas and outer space—U.S. courts have repeatedly claimed that U.S. law takes precedence over the legal authority of other nations. As a result, many foreign governments and transnational actors characterize the U.S. as a “judicial bully.” On March 7, Judge Stephen N. Limbaugh, Jr. of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri rendered a default judgment against the People’s Republic of China and eight other Chinese entities, ordering over $24 billion in compensation. The judgment was based on allegations…

The dual-level bar counter, Braille floor plan on the wall and sign language board collectively define the compact pub hidden in Shanghai’s Changning District—a space created for people including those with disabilities. Beneath the white-and-orange striped awning, a vibrant yellow plaque on the wall at its entrance declares its name: “Pub HandyCup.” Measuring less than 30 square meters, the venue has become a nighttime sanctuary where patrons gather. Patrons fondly call it an “accessibility utopia.” When founder Xia Yujie first opened the pub on May 20 last year, few could have anticipated how his vision for an inclusive place would blossom. Now celebrating its first anniversary, the pub stands as a model of inclusive urban spaces—proving that disability-friendly design can thrive. Beers as bridge Xia himself has a disability. In…

For many in China, starting the day with the aroma of coffee is becoming a morning ritual—and fueling a caffeinated revolution. Though China has long been a tea-drinking nation, a booming coffee culture is taking hold while driving a thriving industry. The coffee beans they consume are largely from Yunnan Province in southwest China. The region’s subtropical climate and high altitude create favorable natural conditions for growing high-quality beans. According to the provincial authorities, Yunnan’s coffee plantations covered more than 84,400 hectares and yielded an annual output of 146,000 tons in 2024, accounting for over 98 percent of China’s total coffee cultivation area and production, respectively. U.S. coffee chain Starbucks, which has operated in the Chinese mainland market for more than two decades, had opened 7,758 outlets across the Chinese…

In Yangzhou, a prefecture-level city next to Nanjing in Jiangsu Province, young people are flocking to a local traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) hospital, not for medical care, but for bread. The hospital has been gaining local fame since early April, when it launched a unique series of breads infused with Chinese medicinal herbs. The herbal bread series, developed by Yangzhou Hospital of TCM’s Preventive Treatment Center, blends culinary innovation with wellness culture and has captivated health-conscious youth and food enthusiasts alike. Herbs in the oven Zhao Wei, deputy director of the center and the mastermind behind the project, explained that the idea arose from observing a growing demand among young people for healthier lifestyles and foods that address suboptimal health conditions. “These breads cater to the rising trend of wellness-focused…

AI customer service is being introduced to solve problems but, unfortunately, is increasingly becoming a problem itself. Instead of enhancing efficiency, AI often merely creates an obstacle course of irrelevant responses separating consumers from the queue for a human agent. The Shanghai Municipal Administration for Market Regulation recently released data on consumer complaints during this May Day holiday (May 1-5), revealing that over 50 percent of the reports involved issues related to after-sales service quality and contract fulfillment. A big portion of these complaints concerned problems with e-commerce platforms’ customer service, including the lack of access to human agents. Similarly, national data from the State Administration for Market Regulation showed that intelligent after-sales service for e-commerce is drawing strong criticism, with the number of related complaints jumping 56.3 percent year…