Innehållsförteckning för Vol.67/No.22 från Beijing Review

Real estate, one of the pillars underpinning the world’s second largest economy, has been a focus of the Chinese Government’s macroeconomic policy. As part of the latest efforts to shore up this sector, the authorities unveiled a package of supportive measures on May 17. These include lowering the minimum down payments home buyers need to secure a loan and cutting mortgage rates. Over the past two decades, the property market has been one of the major drivers of China’s economic growth. However, the investment frenzy, accompanied by high levels of debt, led to mounting risks. An array of policies aimed at curbing speculation, such as restricting second home purchases and regulating property industry financing, were introduced. These policies helped cool the market. At the same time, with tighter financing rules…

Russian President Vladimir Putin visited China on May 16-17, his 23rd trip to the country for state visits or international events. During the visit, he engaged in extensive discussion with Chinese President Xi Jinping, focusing on bilateral relations as well as international and regional issues of mutual interest. The documents signed and the itinerary arranged during this visit conveyed its special significance and led to fruitful results, enriching the cooperation between the two neighboring countries across all fields and levels. Setting the tone This year is the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations between China and Russia. To commemorate this milestone, the two heads of state signed and issued a joint statement on deepening the China-Russia comprehensive strategic partnership of coordination for the new era. The statement covered a wide range…

Borut Pahor, who served as prime minister of Slovenia from 2008 to 2012 and then president of the country from 2012 to 2022, is a strong advocate of positive relations between China and Slovenia. Shortly after the establishment of diplomatic ties between China and Slovenia in 1992, Pahor, then a member of the Slovenian parliament, led a parliamentary delegation to China and has made multiple subsequent visits. In an exclusive interview with Beijing Review reporter Li Wenhan in late May, Pahor shared his views on the evolution of China-Slovenia relations over the past three decades. He emphasized the significance of cultural exchanges and how these interactions can foster a deeper understanding between diverse societies. During the discussion, Pahor also detailed the future trajectory of bilateral relations and China-EU relations as…

On May 13, the Ministry of Natural Resources and the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs jointly issued a guideline on optimizing the management of areas under marine aquaculture production. The new guideline is part of China’s ongoing efforts to ensure food security. During his inspection tour of Guangdong Province in April 2023, President Xi Jinping underlined the importance of using both land and sea for food production. In his view, the sea has the potential to become a “blue granary” with fish and other marine products grown in aquaculture becoming a cornerstone of the Chinese diet. To build a blue granary, it is imperative to sustainably increase the output of marine ecosystems with the use of science and technology to provide food and other products. China’s area under marine…

As many graduating students are still busy hunting jobs, Liu Jiayun, a senior at the Shanghai University of Engineering Science (SUES), has already secured one that is a good match for her education. Liu has found a job with Shanghai Elderly Care Service Association. She told China Youth Daily that by working for the organization, she will have the chance to work with more than 1,000 member organizations and gain a better understanding of the development of the city’s elderly care industry. In 2020, Liu chose to take the newly introduced Elderly Service Management major at the SUES School of Management. During her four years in the program, Liu has gained an understanding of the elderly care industry, its related laws and regulations and how to manage elderly care institutions.…

AUSTRALIAN SINOLOGIST CELEBRATES 60TH ANNIVERSARY Colin Mackerras, an Australian Sinologist, celebrated his 60th anniversary of teaching in China with a commemorative seminar held in Brisbane, capital of Australia’s northeastern state of Queensland, on May 16. Mackerras, an emeritus professor at Griffith University, first visited China in 1964 and taught at the Beijing Foreign Languages Institute, now known as the Beijing Foreign Studies University, until 1966. Over the past 60 years, he has been engaged in Sinology research, promoting exchanges and cooperation between universities and cultural institutions in China and Australia, and contributing to the study of China and the promotion of Chinese culture. In September 2014, Mackerras was awarded the Friendship Award by the Chinese Government, the country’s highest award for professionals from overseas who have made significant contributions to…

A helicopter carrying Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi made a hard landing in the northwestern province of East Azarbaijan of Iran on May 19, killing Raisi and other senior officials, including Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, East Azarbaijan’s Governor Malek Rahmati and a Friday Prayer leader Tabriz Mohammad Ali Ale-Hasehem. In a message of condolence sent to Iran’s First Vice President Mohammad Mokhber on May 20, President Xi Jinping expressed deep condolences and extended sincere sympathies to Mokhber, the family of Raisi, and the Iranian Government and people. Raisi’s tragic death is a great loss to the Iranian people, and the Chinese people also lost a good friend. He said that Raisi had made positive efforts to consolidate and deepen the China-Iran comprehensive strategic partnership, noting that with the joint efforts…

Amid the ongoing tensions and the threat of further escalation in the Middle East, a distinct player has emerged: China, bringing its unique and stabilizing approach to the region. In the ongoing Palestinian-Israeli conflict in the Gaza Strip, the United States has refused to assume any mediator role, frustrating the international community’s efforts to forge a peaceful resolution at the UN. However, there are alternative pathways worth considering. China presents a distinct model that emphasizes leveraging international organizations to quell tensions. The Asian country has actively worked to empower these organizations as platforms for dialogue and peace building. China has already built a solid track record as a major provider of humanitarian aid, a champion of development and integration and, most notably, a broker of an unprecedented rapprochement between Saudi…

The Wooden Pagoda in Yingxian County, Shanxi Province, had been on the travel list of 26-year-old Beijing resident Xiong Miao since 2022, and she finally got to visit it during the May Day holiday (from May 1 to 5 this year). A fan of ancient architecture, Xiong had long wanted to see this pagoda up close. Built over 900 years ago without the use of nails, this architectural marvel, also known as the Pagoda of Fogong Temple, stands as the world’s oldest and tallest wooden pagoda. It has withstood its fair share of earthquakes and other natural disasters over the centuries, solidifying its iconic status. “This pagoda has been gaining fame among the younger generations, especially in the last two years,” she told Beijing Review. “Quite a few friends have…

Cuipi nianqingren, which literally translates to “crispy skin youth” or “fragile youth” in English, has been a trending topic on Chinese social media since last year. Many young people have been sharing their experiences of fragile moments online, posting gems like “I was stretching a little and strained my neck” or “I was going downstairs to pick up my food order and my feet cramped up.” The term “crispy skin youth” refers to the current generation of young people, especially college students, who, despite being in the prime of their lives, are surprisingly prone to a host of physical issues. It’s a humorous way to highlight how easily they get injured or fall ill. But while self-deprecatingly labeling themselves as “fragile,” these youngsters are actually displaying an interest in building…

“Taiwan Independence” Speech Lai Ching-te has taken a more radical stance seeking “Taiwan independence” in his speech upon assuming the role of the Taiwan region’s new leader, a Chinese mainland spokesperson said on May 21. “Full of hostility and provocation and made up of lies and deception, Lai’s Monday speech is a confession of “Taiwan independence,” said Chen Binhua, a spokesperson for the State Council Taiwan Affairs Office, in response to a media query for further comments on Lai’s speech. Not only did he fail to address the fundamental question of the nature of cross-Straits relations, but he also attempted to change the nature of the relations, which poses a serious challenge to the one-China principle, he said. Chen reminded Lai of the fact that Taiwan is an inalienable part…

On May 16, Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin attended the opening ceremony of the China-Russia Years of Culture and a special concert celebrating the 75th anniversary of China-Russia diplomatic ties in Beijing. On the same day, during Putin’s two-day state visit to China, the leaders held meetings to reflect on the 75 years of diplomatic relations and to exchange views on major international and regional issues. Since 2013, the two leaders have met over 40 times, with bilateral ties reaching historic heights. A key to this achievement is that both countries have built their relationship on the basis of the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence, proposed and adhered to by China in its dealings with all nations. The Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence, a significant milestone…

Youth serve as a major economic asset for a country, and can help propel its growth and development endeavors to new heights. Given China’s push for a series of technological and industrial upgrades, there is enormous room to spur new employment opportunities, which in turn will advance technological progress. China has benefited from continuous growth among its young, job-seeking population, with its new college graduates expected to reach 11.79 million this year. Emerging sectors such as new-energy vehicles (NEVs) and artificial intelligence provide new market opportunities and platforms for young employees to show their talents. For instance, many employers are already targeting talent with knowledge and understanding of logistics and modern manufacturing. These are sectors that demonstrate a forward-looking vision for development and value-added growth. By aligning skillsets with emerging…

Atransnational “cloud surgery” took place in Preah Ket Mealea Hospital in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, on April 29 for a patient suffering a brain hemorrhage. It is the country’s first-ever robot-assisted neurosurgery. The surgery was conducted under the remote guidance of Professor Hou Lijun from the Second Affiliated Hospital of the Naval Medical University in China and with the on-site support of an associate chief physician from China, utilizing a neurosurgical mini robot navigation system developed by Sinovation (Beijing) Medical Technology Co. Ltd. (Sinovation). The surgical team used high-precision robots to draw out 15 ml of dark accumulated blood, relieving the pressure on the nerves caused by the hemorrhage. On the first day after the surgery, the paralysis caused by the hemorrhage was significantly alleviated. An MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) showed…

‘Gentleman No.1, a 28-year-old professional from a company in Jingyuan, Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region; Gentleman No.2, a 34-year-old entrepreneur from Tianshui, Gansu Province…” These are the kinds of introductions you’ll hear from Ma Juan, the host of a Douyin livestream room dedicated to matchmaking. These livestream rooms in the Chinese version of TikTok and other social media platforms are virtual spaces where content creators can broadcast live to their followers. Content can range from musical performances and makeup tutorials, to personal vlogs and, as mentioned here, trying to help people find their forever love. The rooms often feature real-time interactions, where viewers can comment, send virtual gifts and engage directly with the streamer. Ma’s setup features eight guests and one matchmaker, the lively host, arranged in a nine-grid on the…