China's Economy Embraces "New" Development, Starts Q1 Strong
General Secretary Xi Jinping emphasized that developing new quality productive forces is an inherent requirement and an important focus for promoting high-quality development, and it is imperative to continue to innovate and accelerate the development of new quality productive forces. Since the beginning of this year, China has attached great importance to cultivating and developing new quality productive forces. Under a series of comprehensive and systematic national deployments, various regions have successively introduced policies and measures to support enterprise innovation, accelerate industrial upgrading to form new quality productive forces, and help China's economy achieve a good start. In China this spring, from production workshops to R&D facilities, and from the vast oceans to outer space, there is a surge of enthusiasm for developing new quality productive forces. The latest statistics show that in the first quarter of this year, the added value of high-tech manufacturing above designated size in China increased by 7.5% year-on-year, driving the growth of added value of industries above designated size by 1.1 percentage points. Investment in high-tech manufacturing and high-tech services increased by 10.8% and 12.7% respectively, demonstrating the strong impetus and support of new quality productive forces for high-quality economic development. General Secretary Xi Jinping has repeatedly emphasized the importance of developing new quality productive forces. From first proposing new quality productive forces during his local inspections, to deploying the development of new quality productive forces at the Central Economic Work Conference; from systematically expounding on new quality productive forces during a collective study session of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, to emphasizing the development of new quality productive forces tailored to local conditions at the Two Sessions, General Secretary Xi Jinping has continuously expanded and deepened the theoretical connotations and practical requirements for developing new quality productive forces. Not long ago, during his inspection in Hunan, General Secretary Xi Jinping once again emphasized the need to lead industrial innovation with scientific and technological innovation, actively cultivate and develop new quality productive forces, and made new deployments and requirements for the development of new quality productive forces. Since the beginning of this year, the "Action Plan for Promoting Large-scale Equipment Renewal and Trade-in of Consumer Goods" has initiated a trillion-yuan market, and the reduction in reserve requirements has released about 1 trillion yuan in long-term liquidity, with a combination of macroeconomic policies working in synergy. As the policy effects continue to be released, new quality productive forces have become the biggest driving force for China's economic transformation and high-quality development. Scientific and technological innovation achievements are emerging at an accelerated pace. The maiden commercial voyage of China's first large cruise ship and the online operation of the third-generation independent superconducting quantum computer are among a series of major projects that have reported good news. New drivers and new advantages continue to grow. General artificial intelligence represented by large models continues to iterate, and big data, the Internet of Things, and other technologies continue to develop and be applied, accelerating industrial transformation and upgrading. Not long ago, FAW Group began to apply its latest research and development of large models to enterprise decision-making and production. New products and new industries are growing rapidly. From attaching car logos in factories to folding clothes for household services, these humanoid robots have recently achieved new applications in various scenarios such as industrial manufacturing; in workshops, a new energy vehicle rolls off the production line every 53 seconds, and at ports, fully loaded roll-on/roll-off ships are ready to set sail. In the first quarter of this year, various new products continued their rapid growth momentum: service robots increased by 26.7%; new energy vehicle production and sales increased by 28.2% and 31.8% respectively, and exports increased by 23.8%. New investments and new infrastructure are accelerating their implementation. The total number of 5G base stations exceeds 3.5 million, new infrastructure such as "East Data West Computing" and optical fiber communications continues to accelerate, and the added value of the digital economy's core industries exceeded 12 trillion yuan in 2023, accounting for about 10% of GDP.
Li Qiang Meets with Overseas Purchasers at 135th Canton Fair
Premier Li Qiang held a symposium with representatives of overseas purchasers participating in the 135th China Import and Export Fair in Guangzhou on the 17th. Heads of more than 10 overseas enterprises, including Inter IKEA, attended. The representatives of overseas purchasers shared their experiences of strengthening cooperation with China through the Canton Fair, expressing full confidence in China's economic development prospects and their willingness to continue expanding their operations in China using the Canton Fair as a platform, contributing actively to promoting free trade and maintaining global supply chain stability. Li Qiang listened carefully to their speeches and expressed appreciation for their long-term active participation in the Canton Fair and vigorous economic and trade cooperation with China. Li Qiang stated that many overseas enterprises forged ties with China through the Canton Fair and grew stronger with China's development. The history of the Canton Fair is also a history of enterprises from various countries sharing China's opportunities and achieving mutual benefit and win-win results, serving as a microcosm of China's continuous expansion of opening-up and active integration into the international market. Looking ahead, China will unswervingly expand high-level opening-up, promote trade and investment liberalization and facilitation, and continue to inject more stability into global trade and the world economy with the certainty of its own development, while also providing broader space for the development of enterprises from all countries. Li Qiang pointed out that for a long time, overseas enterprises have made active contributions to promoting economic and trade cooperation between China and the world, connecting "Made in China" with overseas markets, and facilitating efficient matching of global supply and demand. He expressed hope that they will continue to deeply cultivate the Chinese market, expand their business in China, better share China's super-large market demand and opportunities for open development, and act as friendly envoys to enhance mutual understanding and mutually beneficial cooperation between China and foreign countries. China will continue to expand market access, implement national treatment for foreign-invested enterprises, strengthen service guarantees for foreign investment and intellectual property protection, earnestly safeguard the legitimate rights and interests of foreign-invested enterprises in China, and provide more support and convenience for international business personnel exchanges and foreigners working and living in China. Wu Zhenglong attended the symposium.
Han Zheng Meets with Slovenian Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister
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3. Vice President Han Zheng met with Slovenian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign and European Affairs Tanja Fajon at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on the 17th. Han Zheng stated that since the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Slovenia, bilateral ties have developed healthily and steadily. President Xi Jinping and President Nataša Pirc Musar have exchanged messages multiple times, charting the course for the future development of bilateral relations. China highly values developing friendly and cooperative relations with Slovenia and is willing to work with Slovenia to implement the important consensus reached by the two heads of state, intensify exchanges, consolidate political mutual trust, continuously expand the depth and breadth of bilateral practical cooperation, and strengthen international coordination to achieve common development. Slovenia is a good friend and partner of China within the European Union, and China believes that Slovenia will play an active and constructive role in promoting China-EU relations and cooperation. Fajon stated that Slovenia values developing relations with China and always regards the One-China policy as the cornerstone of bilateral relations. Slovenia is willing to further deepen cooperation with China in various fields, including politics, economy and trade, culture, and multilateral affairs.
Multiple Measures Promote Sustained Economic Recovery
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4. The State Council Information Office held a press conference today (April 17), where a responsible official from the National Development and Reform Commission, in interpreting the current economic situation and relevant policies, stated that multiple strong measures will be taken to promote a sustained economic recovery and improvement. These include increasing the intensity of macroeconomic policy implementation, coordinating the implementation of policies in industries, investment, consumption, employment, and prices, and accelerating the implementation of major deployments such as equipment renewal and trade-in of consumer goods. Efforts will be made to actively expand domestic demand and accelerate the allocation of central budget investment and the issuance and use of local government special bonds. As of now, over 200 billion yuan of central budget investment plans have been allocated, accounting for over 30% of the annual total. At the same time, a batch of major projects with ultra-long-term special government bonds will be accelerated, promoting the smooth implementation of national major strategies and significantly enhancing security capabilities in key areas.
Financial Sector Boosts Support for High-Quality Manufacturing Development
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5. The National Financial Regulatory Administration and two other departments recently issued a notice clarifying the key tasks for financial support to the manufacturing industry in the next phase. These include focusing on supporting the safety and stability of industrial and supply chains, increasing financial support for basic components and materials; supporting the innovative development of high-tech enterprises and "specialized, refined, distinctive, and innovative" small and medium-sized enterprises; strengthening long-term financial support for equipment upgrades and technological transformation in traditional manufacturing; enhancing financial services in areas such as intelligent equipment and digital infrastructure; and vigorously promoting green finance development. The three departments also require financial institutions to establish separate credit plans for manufacturing and develop credit products and services tailored to the characteristics of the manufacturing industry.
High-Quality Seeds and Methods Aid Spring Farming
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6. Currently, spring plowing and field management are proceeding in an orderly manner, and the promotion and application of a series of improved varieties and good practices are laying a solid foundation for increasing grain production and achieving a bumper harvest throughout the year. Intensive cultivation and improved varieties are key. Bengbu, Anhui, is a major wheat producing area in the Huang-Huai-Hai region. In the wheat breeding experimental fields in Huaiyuan County, each rectangular plot contains new wheat varieties, and seeds that have been tested and approved will be widely planted and propagated in farmland. Following this selection and breeding method, Bengbu has promoted 6 self-bred new wheat varieties this year, covering an area of nearly 12,000 mu, with an estimated yield increase of nearly 10%. This year, Honghe Farm in Heilongjiang Production and Construction Corps is trying out "Tianxiang No. 1" rice, an experimental result of space breeding, for the first time. It is characterized by plump grains and high yield. Currently, improved varieties of major crops in Heilongjiang Province have basically achieved full coverage, rice seed soaking and germination are largely completed, and rice seedling cultivation is nearly 90% complete. High grain yields are inseparable from efficient planting methods and scientific guidance. In Meihekou City, a major rice producing area in Jilin, 423,000 mu of rice have entered the large-scale seedling cultivation period. Mechanized seedling cultivation and precise control of rice seed germination throughout the process save labor costs and improve seedling efficiency by nearly two times. Currently, the amount of rice seeds soaked in Jilin can supply 10.38 million mu of paddy fields, and rice seedling cultivation has been completed over 97%. In Wangwa Village, Lijin County, Shandong, wheat planted on 2,200 mu of saline-alkali land is in the jointing stage and growing well. Lijin County is located in the heart of the Yellow River Delta and has a high degree of salinization. The local area continues to carry out saline-alkali land improvement by burying small-hole drainage pipes 0.8 to 1.5 meters below the surface, combined with irrigation and leaching, to drain salt. This renovation method can achieve land preparation and planting in the same year. This year, Shandong will implement the transformation of 3.56 million mu of moderately and mildly saline-alkali land in the Yellow River Delta region. In Henan, over 85 million mu of wheat are successively entering the heading and flowering stages, which is a critical period for wheat yield formation. Henan's agricultural science system has organized 69 science and technology service teams to go deep into the front lines of spring production.
Shenzhou-18 Spaceship and Rocket Transferred to Launch Area
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7. This morning (April 17), at the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center, the Shenzhou-18 spacecraft-rocket combination, supported by the mobile launch platform, rolled out of the Vertical Assembly and Test Building and moved steadily towards the launch pad via vertical transfer. After approximately two hours of vertical transfer, the Shenzhou-18 spacecraft-rocket combination was transferred to the launch area and is scheduled for launch this month. Currently, the launch site facilities and equipment are in good condition, and various pre-launch functional checks and joint tests will be carried out subsequently.
National Railway Fixed-Asset Investment Reaches 124.8 Billion Yuan in Q1
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8. Reporters learned from China State Railway Group Co., Ltd. (China Railway) that in the first quarter, national railway fixed asset investment reached 124.8 billion yuan, a year-on-year increase of 9.9%. A number of key railway construction projects listed in the national "14th Five-Year Plan" have made positive progress. In the first quarter, a number of new lines, including the Hefei-Wuhan section of the Shanghai-Chongqing-Chengdu High-speed Railway along the Yangtze River, the Zhangzhou-Shantou High-speed Railway, the Pingliang-Qingyang Railway, and the Wenshan-Mengzi Railway, as well as key projects such as the Fuchimen Bridge of the Ningbo-Zhoushan Railway, began construction. Full track laying commenced for the Shanghai-Suzhou-Huzhou Railway and the Chongqing-Yibin section of the Chongqing-Kunming High-speed Railway. Joint commissioning and testing started for the Lanzhou-Wuwei section of the Lanzhou-Zhangye High-speed Railway, and trial operations and preparations for opening commenced for the Chizhou-Huangshan High-speed Railway. Next, China Railway will actively promote the construction of key projects such as high-speed railways along the Yangtze River and coastal areas, new western land-sea corridors, and logistics infrastructure, to promote regional interconnectivity. It will fully leverage the pulling effect of railway construction investment to further consolidate and strengthen the positive momentum of economic recovery.
Major Projects for Chengdu-Chongqing Economic Circle Steadily Advance
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9. Since the beginning of this year, major projects for the Chengdu-Chongqing Economic Circle have been steadily progressing. The Chongqing section of the Sichuan-Chongqing 1000 kV UHV AC project has been fully connected, the third phase of the North-South Avenue in Sichuan-Chongqing Gaozhu New Area has officially opened to traffic, and the west runway of Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport's quality improvement and renovation project has been completed and put into operation. As of the first quarter, 300 major projects for the co-construction of the Chengdu-Chongqing Economic Circle have completed an annual investment of 110.87 billion yuan, with an annual investment completion rate of 25.4%, achieving a successful "good start." These major projects cover seven key areas, including infrastructure, scientific and technological innovation, ecological environmental protection, and public services, and will help the Chengdu-Chongqing area further clear arteries, strengthen industrial chains, and optimize living circles.
135th Canton Fair: Expanding Intermediate Goods Trade, Strengthening International Cooperation
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10. Today (April 17) marks the third day of the 135th Canton Fair. At this Canton Fair, exhibiting enterprises brought more intermediate goods and capital goods. By expanding trade in intermediate goods, they are accelerating the cultivation of new drivers for foreign trade and further strengthening international cooperation. Among the products displayed at this Canton Fair, the proportion of intermediate goods and capital goods increased to 12%. Through platforms like the Canton Fair, Chinese enterprises are participating more closely in international cooperation, while also assisting countries, especially developing countries, in achieving industrialization.
Paris Olympics: 100-Day Countdown, China Secures 165 Quotas
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11. Today (April 17) marks 100 days until the opening of the Paris Olympic Games. Currently, various Chinese sports delegations are in the final sprint of their preparations, striving to achieve excellent results at the Paris Olympics. The Paris Olympic Games features 32 major sports, 48 disciplines, and 329 events. Approximately 75% of the qualification spots for the Paris Olympics have been confirmed, and China has already secured qualification for 165 events across 20 major sports, with 128 of these events having full quota. In May this year, the first Olympic Qualifier Series will be held in Shanghai, where Chinese athletes will compete on home turf for qualification in emerging sports such as BMX freestyle, breaking, skateboarding, and sport climbing. All Olympic qualifying competitions and tournaments will conclude by the end of June, and the Chinese team will also strive to secure more qualification spots in sports such as cycling, judo, and tennis.
CMG Releases Integrated Media Communication Plan for Paris Olympics
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12. China Media Group (CMG) today (April 17) released its integrated media communication service plan for the 2024 Paris Olympic Games. As the host broadcaster and the international media organization that won the most broadcasting projects for the Paris Olympics, CMG will establish a multi-channel, multi-terminal integrated media matrix to provide comprehensive and立体 coverage of the Paris Olympic Games.
Domestic News Snippets
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13. Key Areas for 2024 Medical Insurance Fund Special Governance Announced: The National Healthcare Security Administration announced that it will work with the Supreme People's Court, Supreme People's Procuratorate, Ministry of Public Security, Ministry of Finance, and National Health Commission to carry out a nationwide special crackdown on illegal and irregular issues related to medical insurance funds. This will severely crack down on fraudulent behaviors such as false diagnoses, fraudulent drug purchases, and reselling of medical insurance drugs. The special crackdown will focus on key areas such as orthopedics, hemodialysis, cardiology, examinations, laboratory tests, and rehabilitation physiotherapy, and will carry out comprehensive self-inspection and self-correction. China Fully Promotes Green Mine Construction: Recently, seven departments including the Ministry of Natural Resources and the Ministry of Ecology and Environment issued a notice requiring all regions to promote green mine construction for new, expanded, and operating mines. By the end of 2028, 90% of large mines and 80% of medium-sized mines with valid permits and in production must meet green mine standards. Computer Software Copyright Registrations in 2023 Hit a Five-Year High: China Copyright Protection Center recently announced that since computer software copyright registrations first exceeded 1 million in 2018, they have remained above 1 million for six consecutive years, showing a continuous growth trend. In 2023, the number of software registrations was nearly 2.5 million, a year-on-year increase of 36%, both new highs in the past five years. Three-Year Action Plan for Root Cause Governance of Housing and Municipal Engineering Safety Launched: The Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development recently announced that a three-year action plan for root cause governance of safety production in housing and municipal engineering has officially been launched. According to the requirements, all regions should inspect ongoing housing and municipal engineering projects "enterprise by enterprise, project by project, and equipment by equipment," complete at least two rounds of full coverage hazard investigation each year, and include major accident hazards found during inspections into the national housing and municipal engineering major accident hazard database to promote dynamic zeroing of major accident hazards. 2024 China Space Day Main Event to be Held in Wuhan: The China National Space Administration announced today (April 17) that the ninth China Space Day main event will be held in Wuhan, Hubei, on April 24. This year's theme is "Reaching for the Stars, Sharing the Cosmos," and over 50 foreign guests from countries, regions, and international organizations will participate. At the same time, nearly 500 activities, such as space open days and science popularization lectures, will be held around China Space Day across the country, and relevant aerospace exhibition halls and facilities will be collectively open to the public. Jinshou UHV Project Transmits Over 400 Billion kWh for the First Time: China State Grid announced that the Jinshou (Jinping-Suzhou) Ultra-High Voltage DC transmission project, one of China's "West-to-East Electricity Transmission" arteries, has accumulated a transmission volume of 400.3 billion kilowatt-hours as of today (April 17), becoming the first UHV DC transmission project in China to transmit over 400 billion kilowatt-hours. This fully verifies the advantages of China's UHV DC transmission technology in "large capacity, long distance, and high efficiency." China's FAST Telescope Discovers Over 900 New Pulsars: The National Astronomical Observatories of the Chinese Academy of Sciences announced that as of now, the 500-meter Aperture Spherical Radio Telescope (FAST), known as "China Sky Eye," has discovered over 900 new pulsars, including more than 120 binary pulsars, over 170 millisecond pulsars, and 80 faint sporadic pulsars. These discoveries have greatly expanded the limits of human observation of the universe and played an important supporting role in continuously producing scientific research results. 2024 Zhongguancun Forum Annual Conference to be Held in Beijing in Late April: The State Council Information Office announced at a press conference today (April 17) that the 2024 Zhongguancun Forum Annual Conference will be held in Beijing from April 25 to 29. The annual conference, with the theme of "Innovation: Building a Better World," will feature five major sections: forum conferences, technology transactions, achievement releases, cutting-edge competitions, and supporting activities, and will host nearly 120 events. Over 100 countries and regions, and more than 150 foreign government departments and international organizations have been invited to participate. Liaodong Bay Spotted Seal Population Reaches New High: The latest data shows that in the Liahe Estuary National Nature Reserve in Liaoning, the number of spotted seals observed increased from 181 in 2021 to 393 this year, setting a new historical high for the population. The spotted seal is a national first-class protected animal and a flagship species in the Bohai Sea and Yellow Sea marine ecosystems. In recent years, coastal areas have vigorously carried out "returning aquaculture to wetlands" work, creating a good breeding and habitat environment for spotted seals.
International Figures Confident in China's Q1 Economic Performance, Expect High-Quality Development
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14. People from various countries have expressed that China's strong economic start has boosted global confidence. They are full of expectations for China's high-quality development. Many international figures stated that China is committed to developing new quality productive forces and adhering to a high-level opening-up, continuously creating opportunities for global development, and they look forward to deepening cooperation with China.
Iranian President Vows Strong Retaliation Against Israeli Attacks; Israeli Military Pledges Response to Iran
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15. Iran held an Army Day parade in its capital, Tehran, today (April 17). Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi stated at the parade that Iran's military action against Israel was limited and a "punishment" for Israel's attack on Iran's embassy building in Syria. He added that if Israel carried out any further attacks on Iranian territory, it would be met with a severe response from Iran. The Israeli military stated on the 16th that Israel would respond to Iran's attack on Israel, but that Israel was not seeking escalation. On the 16th, Jordanian Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi, who was visiting Germany, stated that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was escalating confrontation with Iran to divert attention from the Gaza Strip, and that the international community should prevent it.
Israeli Military Strikes Gaza Strip; Palestinian Armed Groups Fire Rockets at Southern Israel
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16. According to Palestinian media reports today (April 17), Israeli forces conducted airstrikes on parts of Gaza City in the northern Gaza Strip, killing at least 13 people. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) stated on the 16th that it struck Hamas targets in central Gaza, destroying tunnels and other facilities. Hamas stated on the 16th that its members clashed with Israeli forces in Beit Hanoun in northern Gaza. Palestinian armed groups also fired rockets into southern Israel. UN agency states over 10,000 women killed in Gaza: The UN Human Rights Office said on the 16th that Israel was still imposing "illegal restrictions" on humanitarian aid entering the Gaza Strip. UN Women stated on the 16th that since the outbreak of the new round of Israeli-Palestinian conflict, more than 10,000 women have been killed in the Gaza Strip, and 19,000 children have been orphaned. Israeli military claims killing senior Hezbollah commander; Hezbollah claims striking multiple Israeli military targets: The Israeli military stated on the 16th that its forces carried out airstrikes in southern Lebanon on that day, killing two senior commanders of the Lebanese Hezbollah armed group. Hezbollah stated on the 16th that it used rockets and other means to strike multiple Israeli military targets.
International News Snippets
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17. Russia claims downing Ukrainian cruise missiles; Ukraine claims repelling Russian attacks: The Russian Ministry of Defense stated on the 16th that Russian forces destroyed multiple Ukrainian ammunition and fuel depots, and shot down British-made Storm Shadow cruise missiles and US-made HARM anti-radiation missiles. Ukraine stated on the same day that Ukrainian forces repelled Russian attacks in areas such as Avdiivka. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky signed a military mobilization bill aimed at alleviating troop shortages on the 16th. In addition, Russian Security Council Secretary Nikolai Patrushev stated on the 16th that investigations showed that the direct perpetrators of the Moscow Oblast terrorist attack were linked to Ukrainian nationalists. Earlier, Ukraine had repeatedly denied involvement in the terrorist attack. 16th World Future Energy Summit Focuses on Energy Transition: The 16th World Future Energy Summit, a three-day event, began in Abu Dhabi, UAE, on the 16th. The summit's main objective is to discuss advancing global energy transition, promoting investment in clean and renewable energy, and improving energy efficiency to accelerate the achievement of the "UAE Consensus" reached at COP28 last year and create a sustainable future. CELAC Holds Summit to Discuss Mexico-Ecuador Diplomatic Spat: On the 16th, the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC) held an online summit of heads of state to discuss the recent diplomatic spat between Mexico and Ecuador. Brazilian President Lula stated at the meeting that CELAC countries need to help resolve this crisis without interference from countries outside the region, and the challenge now is to find ways to rebuild trust and dialogue. Oman and UAE Hit by Heavy Rainfall, 20 Dead: Several areas in the Middle Eastern country of Oman have recently experienced heavy rainfall, leading to floods, which have so far caused 19 deaths. Many communities were submerged, road traffic was severely disrupted, and schools in most parts of Oman were closed. In the UAE, the strongest rainfall since local meteorological records began in 1949 occurred on the 16th, killing one person. In Dubai, the airport, main roads, residential areas, and commercial centers were temporarily flooded.