Innehållsförteckning för Vol.67/No.52 från Beijing Review

China has once again sent the world a clear signal that it will prioritize bolstering growth and opening up. At the Central Economic Work Conference, an annual meeting where policymakers outline the government’s economic agenda for the year to come, a host of pro-growth policies were agreed upon. Most notably, it was decided that China will adopt a more proactive fiscal policy and a moderately loose monetary policy. In contrast with China’s previous monetary policy, which was defined as “prudent,” the latest shift will see the central bank attempt to expand the supply of money to boost the economy. The aim is to make money less expensive to borrow and encourage spending. It is the first time China has adjusted its monetary policy in 14 years. A more proactive fiscal…

On December 4, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) inscribed the Spring Festival, social practices of the Chinese people in celebration of the traditional new year known in Standard Chinese as Chunjie, on its Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity at the 19th Session of the Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage in Paraguay. It is a moment of national pride and global cultural recognition, bringing the number of Chinese cultural practices to 44, more than any other country. The UNESCO inscription honors the Spring Festival not only as a symbol of China’s over 5,000-year-old civilization but also as a living tradition that transcends time, fostering familial bonds, social harmony and intercultural understanding. Its recognition is a testament to China’s…

Malatang, a Chinese dish originating from Sichuan cuisine in southwest China, is known for its flavorful yet almost tongue-numbing broth, which is cooked with a selection of ingredients, including meats, vegetables, tofu and noodles. A firm favorite among many residents of China, today, this spicy sensation is now gaining popularity far beyond the country’s borders. Chinese malatang has gone viral in Japan. Posts on major social media platforms such as microblogging platform Weibo show that numerous malatang restaurants in Japan have become bonafide culinary hotspots, often with long lines of eager patrons outside. Diners are drawn to the dish’s bold flavors and highly customizable options. Beyond malatang, other Chinese street foods, including hotpot, baozi (steamed buns) and jianbing (savory crepes), are also being embraced globally. Hotpot is a traditional Chinese…

The annual Central Economic Work Conference held in Beijing on December 11-12 mentioned that China is to address neijuan, or “ratrace” irrational competition. A rat race occurs when businesses focus their efforts on non-productive forms of competition, such as engaging in price wars, instead of finding new points of growth through innovation. This was not the first time that rat races had been touched upon at a senior policymakers’ conference. On July 30, at an economic conference held by the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, which consists of the Party’s highest-ranking officials, it was mentioned that actions would be taken to prevent rat-race style vicious competition among businesses. More and specific measures are expected to follow. Xin Haiguang (The Beijing News): In a market economy,…

The coming year is expected to be challenging for the Chinese economy, mainly due to weak domestic demand and deflationary pressures. A three-year downturn in the housing market has exacerbated these issues, significantly impacting consumer sentiment. Additionally, the ongoing fundamental restructuring of the economy, coupled with a complex geopolitical landscape characterized by multiple global crises and a change in the U.S. administration, necessitates thorough analysis, careful preparation for various scenarios, including unfavorable ones, and identification of possible proactive responses. Considering the expected complex internal and external shocks, Beijing has formulated several critical policy measures to support its economy in 2025. The new policy measures were announced following the annual Central Economic Work Conference, which sets the economic agenda for each coming year. The two-day conference in Beijing outlined several key…

Garlic, a common condiment, has unexpectedly become a hot topic in China-United States relations. On December 11, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2025, as it prohibits the sale of garlic from the People’s Republic of China in U.S. military commissaries. “Garlic could never have imagined it would pose such a ‘great threat’ to the United States,” Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning joked at a regular press conference the following day. Mao also advised certain U.S. politicians to exercise more common sense and rationality to avoid becoming a laughingstock. The situation left many Chinese puzzled as to why garlic was singled out in such an important U.S. legislative bill. Well, based on Western legends, only vampires are afraid of garlic. Florida…

From the futuristic gleam of the Year 3000 (Y3K) aesthetic to the rise of pet pampering and the allure of artificial intelligence (AI) love, 2024 has presented subtle undercurrents, striking visuals and unexpected twists that have redesigned China’s social landscape this year. Slow burn to bonfire The year kicked off with a slow burn of nostalgia, with the drama series Blossoms Shanghai leading the way. Set in the 1990s and directed by the legendary Hong Kong moviemaker Wong Kar-wai, the series took viewers inside the transformation of a sleepy city into a glittering metropolis. But the show, which first hit screens last December 27, became about more than the city—it captured the style of an era. On China’s lifestyle and e-commerce platform Xiaohongshu, users could be seen exchanging pointers on…

Green Electricity Green electricity generated from renewable sources in Xizang Autonomous Region will begin powering facilities in Beijing starting from January 1, 2025, according to a purchase deal reached on December 17. Four companies in Beijing purchased green electricity from 13 new-energy power generation enterprises in Xizang. Approximately 15 million kilowatt-hours (kwh) of electricity are expected to be transacted. It is the first deal of its kind reached between Xizang and Beijing. The green electricity will power Beijing’s landmark facilities, including the National Center for the Performing Arts, the Capital Library of China and the Capital Museum. Since the official launch of market-based green electricity trading in Beijing in 2021, green electricity has been channeled to the city from several other regions. In 2024, Beijing achieved transactions of 5.05 billion…

BADMINTON STAR BIDS FAREWELL TO NATIONAL TEAM China’s badminton legend Zheng Siwei leaves the national team on a high note, retiring after he and teammate Huang Yaqiong won the mixed doubles title at the Badminton World Federation World Tour Finals on December 15. The duo defeated Malaysian pair Chen Tang Jie and Toh Ee Wei in Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province. After finishing as runners-up at the Tokyo Olympic Games three years ago, Zheng and Huang won mixed doubles gold at the Paris Olympic Games in August. Born in Wenzhou, Zhejiang, in 1997, Zheng began playing badminton when he was in primary school. He was selected by the national team in 2013. Zheng announced his decision to retire from international badminton in November, citing a need for balance between career and family.…

During the visit of Nepal’s Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli to China from December 2 to 5, the two countries reaffirmed their commitment to deepening their high-quality cooperation under the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). Oli paid the four-day official visit at the invitation of his counterpart Premier Li Qiang. This is Oli’s first bilateral visit to a neighboring country since he returned to the prime ministership in July. The two expressed their commitment to strengthening connectivity in sectors including ports, roads, railways, aviation, power grids and telecommunications, to help Nepal transform from a land-locked to a land-linked country. Nepal joined the BRI, the Chinaproposed initiative to increase connectivity along and beyond the ancient Silk Road routes, on May 12, 2017. Since then, Nepal-China practical cooperation has been further enhanced,…

The Agreement Between China and the United States on Cooperation in Science and Technology has finally been renewed after more than a year of negotiation and two temporary extensions. According to China’s Ministry of Science and Technology, representatives of the Chinese and U.S. governments met on December 13 in Beijing and signed the protocol on amending and extending the agreement for another five years, beginning from August 27, 2024. The newly signed protocol narrowed the scope of cooperation, covering collaboration in fields including climate, oceanography, geology and the collection of influenza and air quality data, but excluding the work on critical and emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence, semiconductors and quantum computing. Accordingly, industrial insiders now see the pact as being limited by severe restrictions. Despite these restrictions, the renewal…

The aroma of sizzling spices and savory pork fills the kitchen of a restaurant in Chengdu’s Jinjiang District, located in the southwestern Chinese province of Sichuan. But there’s no human chef in sight. Instead, a cooking robot powered by artificial intelligence (AI) takes charge, effortlessly whipping up a plate of “fish-flavored shredded pork,” demonstrating its culinary prowess. After feeding the ingredients—shredded pork, bamboo shoots and wood-ear mushrooms into a box and a quick click on the “fish-flavored shredded pork” option, the robot goes to work. It swiftly preheats, adds oil and introduces the ingredients in a precise order, stir-frying with practiced ease. In just 63 seconds, the fragrant dish is ready to serve. “It tastes great, and service was really fast. If I hadn’t been told, I wouldn’t have known…