Innehållsförteckning för Vol.67/No.39 från Beijing Review

China’s education sector is undergoing reform as part of the nation’s commitment to fostering a more innovative and equitable learning environment. At a national education conference on September 9-10, President Xi Jinping outlined efforts needed to build China into an educational powerhouse by 2035. These changes aim to address longstanding issues such as a weak innovation capacity and regional disparities. One of the most notable aspects of the reform is its emphasis on combining the development of education with scientific and technological innovation and the cultivation of a highly qualified workforce. This calls for a more integrated approach, encouraging critical thinking, problem-solving skills and creativity. The effort is expected to produce individuals better equipped to meet the demand of China’s ongoing economic restructuring toward innovation-driven growth. Additionally, the reform aims…

The People’s Liberation Army (PLA) Navy dispatched a Marine Corps detachment to take part in the Operation Formosa 2024 multilateral exercise following an invitation from the Brazilian military. It was the first time for Chinese marines to visit South America. The annual exercise, which took place in mid-September near the city of Formosa in Brazil, also included contingents from the United States, France, Italy, Mexico, Argentina, Nigeria, Pakistan, the Republic of the Congo and South Africa. However, due to tensions between China and the United States in recent years, and the United States regarding South America as its “backyard,” the debut of Chinese troops in the region has attracted the attention of the international community and even aroused some unnecessary speculation regarding whether China will seek a military presence in…

Over the past decade, Qingdao, a coastal city in east China’s Shandong Province, has seen extensive progress in industrial innovation, ecology and residential well-being. In 2023, the city’s gross domestic product (GDP) hit $219.44 billion, a 5.9-percent increase compared to 2022. GDP is important because it serves as a comprehensive measure of overall economic health and performance within a given period. Investments in infrastructure, hi-tech industries, strategic emerging industries and manufacturing increased by 38 percent, 27.6 percent, 24.5 percent and 10.8 percent, respectively. The city is also making swift progress in cutting-edge fields such as genomics, cell technology, networking, artificial intelligence (AI), deep-sea exploration and aerospace. A tech hub Marco Lovati, a professional who has worked in Austria, Finland and Switzerland, continues to seize opportunities that enhance his career development.…

FRIENDSHIP MEDAL LAUREATE Dilma Rousseff, President of the New Development Bank (NDB) and former Brazilian President, has been granted the Friendship Medal, China’s highest state honor for foreigners. On September 13, Chinese President Xi Jinping signed a presidential order to recognize the contributions of Rousseff and 14 Chinese individuals on the eve of the 75th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China. Rousseff is the first woman to have held the Brazilian presidency, and maintained close relations with China during her tenure. She became president of the NDB, a multilateral bank established by the original BRICS group (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa) in 2015, in March 2023. BRICS is now a 10-member group of emerging economies. The Friendship Medal honors international figures who have made…

At the 11th Beijing Xiangshan Forum running from September 12 to 14, He Lei, former Vice President of the Academy of Military Sciences of the People’s Liberation Army (PLA), had an informal conversation with U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense Michael Chase, who led the U.S. Department of Defense delegation to the forum, reflecting the recent momentum in China-U.S. military interactions. He presented Chase with a badge from the PLA Academy of Military Sciences, featuring images of the Great Wall and an olive branch. “The Great Wall symbolizes defense, signifying that China adheres to a national defense policy that is defensive in nature and will not invade any country,” He explained. “The olive branch, of course, represents peace.” The conversation between He and Chase exemplifies the mission of the Beijing…

Recently, meikuyingchi, a saying describing the older generation’s choice to endure unnecessary hardship, and meifuyingxiang, which describes the younger generation trying their best to enjoy life and have fun despite their limited resources, have generated widespread discussion online. For example, while some senior citizens might walk 3 km to the nearest bus stop and risk heat stroke to save a taxi fare, some young people, who earn a low salary, might enjoy the feeling of splurging on fruit they’ve never tasted before, despite it being sold at a high price. Of course, the two groups have the freedom to choose their desired way of life, but most people believe it’s better not to go too far in their respective direction. Otherwise, the old might ruin their health and the young…

Industrial Output China’s value-added industrial output, an important economic indicator, expanded 4.5 percent year on year in August, official data from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) showed on September 14. Industrial output measures the activity of enterprises with an annual main business turnover of at least 20 million yuan ($2.8 million). On a monthly basis, this output edged up 0.32 percent in August from the previous month. Addressing a press conference, NBS spokesperson Liu Aihua said nearly 80 percent of industries and over 50 percent of products registered year-on-year increases. The equipment manufacturing sector contributed 47.9 percent to overall industrial output growth, she said. In August, the output of electronic and communication devices saw a double-digit year-on-year increase for 10 consecutive months. The value-added output of smart unmanned aircraft…

Apple and Huawei, the two tech giants from the U.S. and China, both released their latest smartphones on September 10. The biggest selling point of the iPhone 16 series, aside from its globally leading 3-nanometer chip, is its Apple Intelligence feature. Apple claims it is the world’s first native artificial intelligence (AI) smartphone. Meanwhile, Huawei’s Mate XT is hailed by the company as its most innovative and disruptive product, being the world’s first mass-produced tri-foldable phone. When fully unfolded, the display reaches 10.2 inches, with its thinnest point measuring just 3.6 mm, offering a user experience comparable to that of a small tablet. The Huawei Mate XT has an initial price of 19,999 yuan (about $2,810), three times the starting price of the iPhone 16 series. However, even before its…

Just before the Mid-Autumn Festival, which fell on September 17 this year, a bombshell announcement rocked China’s online sphere: The long-debated raising of the country’s statutory retirement age had finally arrived, stirring a wave of reactions. Shortly after the official announcement, the topic surged to the top of the trending list on China’s popular microblogging platform Weibo, igniting widespread public discussion about the policy shift. After more than one decade of deliberation, Chinese lawmakers on September 13 voted to adopt a decision to gradually raise the statutory retirement age, marking the first adjustment since the 1950s. According to this decision, adopted at the 11th session of the Standing Committee of the 14th National People’s Congress, the country’s top legislature, the retirement age for men will be extended from 60 to…

Ronald McDonald House in Beijing was filled with warmth and laughter as it celebrated its third anniversary on September 9. A group of children, along with their parents and many volunteers, gathered in this warm and caring charitable organization to mark the occasion. Ronald McDonald delighted the kids with carefully chosen gifts, while volunteers organized a variety of engaging games. They all enjoyed cakes together, in an atmosphere of joy. These children, mostly aged 5 to 10, radiated an undeniable innocence, and their faces beamed with smiles. Behind the smiles lies the strength of their fight against serious illnesses. Some attended in hospital gowns, with intravenous needles still in their arms. Tangible charity September 9 is the “99 Giving Day,” an annual nationwide charity event launched by Tencent Foundation, a…