Innehållsförteckning för Vol.68/No.19 från Beijing Review

Industrial Profits The combined profit of China’s major industrial enterprises went up 0.8 percent year on year in the first quarter (Q1) of 2025, a reversal of the 3.3-percent decline in 2024, the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) said on April 27. The growth ended the profit downturn that had persisted since the third quarter of last year. Industrial firms with an annual main business revenue of at least 20 million yuan ($2.8 million) saw their combined profits reach 1.51 trillion yuan ($207 billion) in Q1. Profits increased in nearly 60 percent of China’s major industrial sectors during the period, with 24 out of 41 major industrial categories registering year-on-year profit growth. The manufacturing sector showed remarkable improvement, with its profit climbing by 7.6 percent year on year in the…

The annual China International Consumer Products Expo (CICPE) is the largest consumer expo in the Asia-Pacific region. Held in Haikou, capital of Hainan Province, on April 13-18, the 2025 CICPE again showcased China’s dynamic consumer landscape. Over 1,700 companies and 4,100 brands from more than 70 countries and regions participated in the expo, the largest participation since its first edition in 2021. The event also attracted over 60,000 professional buyers, a more than 10-percent increase compared to the fourth edition last year. Amid external volatility, China is looking to rebalance its economic drivers by stimulating domestic demand to sustain stable growth. Xu Hongcai, Deputy Director of the Economic Policy Commission at the China Association of Policy Science, told Beijing Review that China’s economic performance in the first quarter of 2025…

While much of the world’s attention is currently focused on the economic fallout of the tariffs imposed by the United States on allies and designated adversaries alike, they are only one part of a much wider strategy aimed at what U.S. policymakers themselves claim is a bid to maintain the U.S. as “the world’s dominant superpower.” These were the words used by now White House advisor Peter Navarro, who, in 2023, wrote the “Chapter 26: Trade” for the Heritage Foundation’s Project 2025 policy paper now being put into policy under the Donald Trump administration. The Heritage Foundation, a Washington-based conservative American think tank that anticipated Trump’s victory in the 2024 presidential election, released the plan aimed at restructuring the U.S. federal government and centralizing executive power in April 2023. As…

Beijing Language and Culture University (BLCU), specializing in Chinese language and culture studies, is often referred to as a “mini-United Nations.” Every year, more than 9,000 international students from some 140 countries and regions study at BLCU, according to its official website. On April 26, the university hosted the 20th BLCU World Culture Festival, where students from around the world showcased their cultures at exhibition booths and in parades and performances. Their Chinese schoolmates and community members also joined them in dancing and singing. The BLCU World Culture Festival was first held in 2003 and has since become a platform for dialogue between Chinese and international youth, as well as for the exchange of world civilizations. Comments to weiyao@cicgamericas.com…

The Blue Whale, a cutting-edge high-speed submersible unmanned surface vessel, is launched in Zhuhai, Guangdong Province, on April 28. Its launch is a major step forward in the development of intelligent ocean equipment. Developed to operate both above and below the water’s surface, the vessel can reach surface speeds of 36 knots (66.7 km/h), dive to avoid extreme weather such as typhoons and remain submerged in static suspension for over a month. It will be used for rapid emergency response and in meteorology, underwater mapping, photography, water sampling and infrastructure inspections. Under construction since June 2024, the vessel is now undergoing internal debugging, mooring trials and further sea tests, with its operational debut anticipated to come in 2026.…

ITALY A ceremony in honor of the 80th anniversary of Liberation Day is held at the Vittoriano Monument in Rome on April 25 IRAN Emergency personnel work to contain a fire at the site of an explosion in Bandar Abbas, Hormozgan Province, on April 26. At least 46 people had been killed and 1,200 others injured as of April 29, after the massive explosion rocked the Shahid Rajaee Port KAZAKHSTAN The eighth Eurasian Book Fair in Astana on April 23. The fair was held from April 23 to 27 RUSSIA President Vladimir Putin listens to a briefing by Chief of the General Staff Valery Gerasimov in Moscow on April 26, regarding the military’s completion of an operation to regain control of the border region of Kursk REPUBLIC OF KOREA Lee…

Two of China’s major international trade events of the year have highlighted the vibrancy of the country’s consumption and trade sectors. The Fifth China International Consumer Products Expo (CICPE) ran from April 13 to 18 in Haikou, Hainan Province, attracting over 4,100 brands from over 70 countries and regions, including a record-breaking 65 Fortune 500 companies. The event is China’s only national-level exhibition focused on consumer goods and this year’s edition emphasized innovation and global collaboration. The 137th China Import and Export Fair, or Canton Fair, opened in Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, on April 15 and will run through May 5 in three phases. The first phase, which concluded on April 19, attracted 148,585 overseas buyers from 216 countries and regions, a 20.2-percent increase from the same period during the 135th…

Spring is the season of blossoming flowers. The Chinese enthusiasm for admiring flowers dates back thousands of years. Renowned Song statesman and poet Ouyang Xiu described in his work On the Peonies of Luoyang: “In spring, every Luoyang resident, noble or commoner, adorned themselves with peonies. When the flowers bloomed, the entire city took to the streets to celebrate. Spontaneous flower markets sprouted in ancient temples and even abandoned gardens, where tents were pitched and music filled the air.” Located in Henan Province, Luoyang was the capital of several dynasties in Chinese history including the Sui (581-618) and Tang (618-907). This vivid account captures not only the folk customs of the time but also the economic activity surrounding floral festivities—a tradition that continues to thrive in modern China. “At its…

U. S. President Donald Trump’s recent tariff pressures and isolationist measures are quickly uniting China, Europe and Central Asia. “Solving the issue of U.S. import duties requires cooperation between Europe and China,” head of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen stated during a telephone conversation with Chinese Premier Li Qiang on April 8. According to her, the European Union (an economic and political union between 27 European countries—Ed.) and China, as some of the largest global markets, must take responsibility for maintaining a strong and reformed trading system. Searching for solutions Von der Leyen emphasized that the current situation should be resolved through negotiations and that efforts must be made to prevent further escalation. During the conversation, the parties discussed structural solutions to restore the balance of bilateral relations,…

On April 10, a tulip festival officially opened at Keukenhof Manor in Yuelong Town of Ninghe District in northeast Tianjin Municipality. Under the bright spring sky, over 100 varieties of tulips, displayed in garden beds, pots and as fresh-cut flowers, captivated visitors with their beauty. The industry behind the tulip Keukenhof Manor is both a tourist attraction and Tianjin’s only national-level nursery facility specifically designed for the testing and introduction of imported plant varieties. Most of the tulip varieties grown here are imported from the Netherlands. A sign reading “Quarantine Testing Nursery” hangs at the entrance, indicating that this facility is where all imported plant materials are sampled and tested for pests and diseases before they are allowed into the country. During the festival’s opening ceremony, Shi Yingxue, General Manager…

Centenary Gathering A grand gathering was held in Beijing on April 28 to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the founding of the All-China Federation of Trade Unions and honor model workers and exemplary individuals. Chinese President Xi Jinping made remarks at the gathering, calling for pooling the strength of the country’s working class and the broad masses of working people, and translating the grand blueprint of realizing the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation through hard, down-to-earth work. A total of 1,670 people were honored as national role model workers, and 756 were recognized as exemplary individuals. On behalf of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, Xi congratulated the honorees and extended his greetings to workers, farmers, intellectuals and other working people from all backgrounds and ethnic groups, as…

A quick tap on your phone on your way to work has your usual coffee arriving at the office before you do. Preparing for an evening event, a new foundation shade arrives in under 30 minutes, no store visit required. At a weekend picnic, pet treats show up from across town just as easily as lunch. Wake up at 2 a.m. with a sick child? Medicine is at your door within minutes. This is life with China’s rapidly developing sales model known as instant retail. Instant retail is an evolution of traditional food delivery, expanding the concept from meals to virtually anything consumers might need. By integrating online ordering with rapid local fulfillment, it connects digital platforms with brick-and-mortar stores and leverages efficient delivery networks to bring goods to consumers…

With just 9 percent of the word’s arable land, China must feed nearly 20 percent of the global population. This is a major reason why the country has long prioritized food security. Chinese President Xi Jinping has called on citizens to protect farmland as a national treasure, just like the giant panda is protected. He has also stressed the importance of self-sufficiency—ensuring that “the Chinese bowl is filled with Chinese grain,” keeping food security firmly in the nation’s own hands. Beijing Review recently interviewed Gao Yun, a research fellow at the Institute of Agricultural Economics and Development, the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, on safeguarding China’s food supply. Edited excerpts from the conversation follow: Beijing Review: Traditionally, China has considered starches such as grains, beans, potatoes and sweet potatoes to…

A translator is both a matchmaker and a traitor. This vivid metaphor by Qian Zhongshu (1910-1998), acclaimed Chinese writer and literary scholar, captures translation’s nature as a cultural bridge that brings people closer, yet risks betraying the original text. For over half a century, solving this paradox has been the goal of many translation scholars. Amid rapid advancements in translation technology and talent cultivation, new solutions are emerging. At the 2025 annual conference of the Translators Association of China (TAC), translators, business leaders, policymakers, and scholars gathered to assess the industry’s latest breakthroughs and chart its future course. Launch of major projects This year’s edition saw the launch of the Four Translation Projects, a groundbreaking initiative encompassing the development of expert networks, cultural outreach, research hubs and training, designed to…