Innehållsförteckning för Vol.68/No.10 från Beijing Review

At a symposium on private enterprises held in Beijing on February 17, Chinese President Xi Jinping emphasized the pivotal role of the private economy in driving scientific and technological innovation, as well as industrial upgrading. He called for stimulating private enterprises through policy support and institutional guarantees. The symposium was yet another important gathering focused on private enterprises, following a similar meeting Xi had proposed and chaired in November 2018, highlighting his strong commitment to the private sector’s development. In China, private enterprises account for over 92 percent of all businesses, and they make up more than 92 percent of the country’s hi-tech companies. This highlights the central role private businesses play in driving the country’s economic growth, establishing the private economy as an essential part of the nation’s economic…

From globally popular video game Black Myth: Wukong, which has garnered a dedicated player base around the world, to DeepSeek, an artificial intelligence (AI) model developed at an impressively low cost that rivals U.S. company OpenAI’s ChatGPT, and the perfectly synchronized robotic ensemble performing with precision at this year’s China Central Television Spring Festival Gala, a Chinese New Year’s Eve extravaganza that aired on January 28—these big tech breakthroughs have risen to prominence one after another, generating massive buzz. While seemingly unrelated, they do have one thing in common: They are all the creations of private startups based in Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province in east China. The three groundbreaking innovations emerged from Game Science, DeepSeek and UniTree Robotics, respectively. Recently, they have come to be known by a shared name—“Six Tigers…

The United Nations Security Council on February 24 passed a resolution, proposed by the U.S., calling for “a swift end to the conflict” between Ukraine and Russia and urging for “a lasting peace” as the world marked the third anniversary of the war that same day. The resolution was approved with 10 votes in favor, none against and five abstentions from France, the United Kingdom, Denmark, Greece and Slovenia. The resolution also mourns the loss of life in the war. The document reiterates that the UN’s principal purpose, as expressed in the UN Charter, is to maintain international peace and security, and peacefully settle disputes. Acting U.S. Ambassador to the UN Dorothy Shea told the council that this resolution is not a “peace deal,” but “a path to peace.” “It…

The world is currently navigating a period of profound uncertainty, a time some visionary thinkers have called “changes unseen in a century.” Global challenges seem to multiply daily, leaving many to question: Where are the solutions? I consider myself incredibly fortunate to have had a unique opportunity in January 2025—an invitation to participate as a distinguished foreign guest at Hubei Province’s local “two sessions.” This experience allowed me to witness firsthand how China is preparing to confront these turbulent times. As a researcher from a developing country, I found the insights from the session particularly valuable—not just for understanding China’s approach but for identifying lessons that could help my own country and other developing nations navigate such challenging times. The strategies and policies outlined in the report serve as a…

NEW PRESIDENT OF SOUTHEAST UNIVERSITY Geological resources and engineering expert Sun Youhong was recently appointed president of Southeast University, a leading comprehensive university located in Nanjing, Jiangsu Province. Sun, 59, specializes in drilling engineering, focusing on theoretical research, technological innovation and the development of advanced equipment. He began his career as a lecturer in the Exploration Engineering Department at Changchun Institute of Geology in Jilin Province, which is now known as the College of Earth Sciences at Jilin University. He later became a professor and held managerial positions at several universities. Before assuming the new position, he had served as president of China University of Geosciences Beijing since 2019. Sun was elected as a member of the Chinese Academy of Engineering in 2021. Rustic Retreats Economic Daily February 18 To…

At a symposium on private enterprises in Beijing on February 17, President Xi Jinping underscored the importance of promoting the healthy and high-quality development of the private sector and reiterated the government’s supportive policies. In an exclusive interview with Beijing Review reporter Zhang Shasha, Shi Jinchuan, Chairman of the Center for Research of Private Economy at Zhejiang University, explored the key signals from Xi’s speech and the role of the government in supporting the private economy. Edited excerpts of the interview follow: Beijing Review: What are the key takeaways and signals from Xi’s remarks at the symposium? Shi Jinchuan: The symposium took place at what is a critical historical juncture, as China’s economic development enters a new phase. The defining characteristic of this new stage is the focus on advancing…

On February 18, while U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov were in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, discussing efforts to secure a ceasefire in the Russia-Ukraine conflict, diplomats from Ukraine and European Union (EU) countries were noticeably absent from the talks. This absence was expected, as Keith Kellogg, the U.S. special envoy for Ukraine and Russia, had previously stated that Europe would not be included in negotiations. For Europe, this situation is quite humiliating. Throughout the three-year Russia-Ukraine conflict, the EU and its member states have provided over 134 billion euros ($140.3 billion) in aid to Ukraine, nearly matching the $177 billion provided by the U.S. However, with U.S. President Donald Trump’s return to power, U.S.-Russia relations began to show signs of a rapid thaw within…

U.S. carmaker Tesla’s new Megafactory in Shanghai, dedicated to manufacturing energy-storage batteries known as Megapacks, began production on February 11. The new plant is the company’s second major facility in Shanghai and the first of its kind outside the United States. Covering about 200,000 square meters, the project involved a total investment of 1.45 billion yuan ($200 million). Up to 10,000 Megapack storage units are scheduled to be produced there annually. This was not the only good news for Tesla, though. On February 20, Chinese authorities introduced an action plan for expanding high-standard opening up and ensuring foreign investment stability, to improve expectations of foreign-funded enterprises seeking expansion in China, including the electric vehicle giant. The new action plan, with 20 specific measures in four categories, includes further expanding market…

Bryde’s whales have now become regular visitors to Weizhou Island in Beihai, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region. Every November, these marine giants, measuring 8 to 12 meters in length, appear in the surrounding waters to give birth and nurture their young, staying until April of the following year. As one of the world’s most mysterious baleen whales, Bryde’s whales were first monitored on Weizhou Island in the spring of 2018. Previously, due to overhunting and marine ecological degradation, their population had declined to critically endangered levels, making sightings in Chinese waters extremely rare. Currently, the number of Bryde’s whales around Weizhou Island has increased from an initial six to over 60. This region is now the only known stable feeding and nursery ground for Bryde’s whales in China. Every year during…

I have long believed in the soft hum of destiny—a gentle yet persistent voice that calls us to parts unknown. In 2021, that melodic invitation first led me to Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region in northwest China, a land so vast it joins deserts and grasslands, mountains and skyscrapers, all within a single, breathtaking sweep. On my very first day, I set out to interview some Uygur locals for a social media video, hoping to unearth the genuine spirit of Xinjiang. Spotting a group of carefree young folk, covered with tattoos, sipping beer, I felt a little unease—would they be wary of foreigners here in Xinjiang after all the bad press from abroad? As I approached them, it turned out the surprise was all theirs: They exclaimed that I was the…

Cyberspace Law Enforcement China has strengthened efforts to clean up its cyberspace environment, with the Cyberspace Administration of China on February 25 announcing that over 10,000 illegal websites had been shut down in 2024. Last year, cyberspace authorities nationwide prioritized combating violations in cyberspace, including infringement on minors’ rights, online violence and the spread of disinformation. As part of this initiative, they summoned representatives from 11,159 websites and online platforms to talks, and issued warnings or fines to 4,046 that were found to have committed related violations. They also focused on improving the online business environment, and penalized websites, online platforms and online accounts disseminating illegal information or disrupting online communication. Additionally, the cyberspace authorities strengthened law enforcement in areas such as cybersecurity, data security and personal information protection, and…

A shockwave echoed across the artificial intelligence (AI) industry in January as Chinese AI startup DeepSeek launched DeepSeek-R1, an open-source AI model that could match the capabilities of leading American chatbots. At a seminar held at Renmin University of China (RUC) in Beijing on February 23, Beijing Review reporter Peng Jiawei spoke to several Chinese scholars to discuss the potential impacts of the rise of DeepSeek on the tech world, global geopolitics and humanity as a whole. Edited excerpts of the interviewees’ perspectives follow: From a technical point of view, apart from the fact that it is open source and requires less than $6 million worth of computing power, what does DeepSeek say about where generative AI with the ability to create original content is headed? Zhao Xin (professor at…

On February 23, China unveiled its “No.1 Central Document” for 2025, marking the first policy statement issued by the country’s central authorities this year. This document once again emphasizes the importance of agriculture, rural areas and rural residents, proposing comprehensive reforms to further deepen rural development and promote revitalization efforts across the board. This is the 13th consecutive year that the No.1 Central Document has prioritized agriculture, rural areas and rural residents. This consistent focus highlights the central authorities’ enduring commitment to advancing rural revitalization and underscores their determination to enhance agricultural development. China’s rural revitalization, a strategy introduced at the 19th Communist Party of China National Congress in 2017, aims to promote the economic prosperity and overall development of rural areas. It builds on the success of the nationwide…

Even in freezing winter, the offices of Yinghua Swimwear Manufacturing Co. Ltd. in Xingcheng were buzzing with activity. Under bright lights, livestreaming hosts enthusiastically showcased the company’s latest swimwear to online audiences on retail platforms like Taobao and Douyin. “This is our brand’s new Chinese-style collection,” one host exclaimed, “featuring pearl and coral patterns—perfect for relaxing at a hot spring during the Spring Festival holiday (January 28-February 4) !” A quick search for “swimsuits” on popular retail platforms reveals that many originate from Xingcheng, part of Huludao in Liaoning Province. Xingcheng was once defined by its traditional heavy industries, like petrochemicals and non-ferrous metals, and few then could have predicted its rise as a fashion center. Secret of success The city has many swimwear producers. Tian Shu, General Manager of…