New Ideas Guide New Journey: Erhai Lake Governance Shifts from "Lake-Centric" to "Ecological" Approach
General Secretary Xi Jinping emphasized that we must protect the ecological environment like we protect our eyes, and in ecological environmental protection, we must consider the long-term and overall picture. By Erhai Lake in Dali, General Secretary Xi Jinping instructed local cadres and the public to protect Erhai Lake well. In the past decade, keeping the General Secretary's instructions in mind, and focusing on Erhai's protection, governance, and basin transformation development, the local area has shifted from "lake-centric governance" to "basin-centric governance" and "ecology-centric governance," forging a path of high-quality sustainable development through comprehensive water ecological environment management. In Dali, Yunnan, large patches of water caltrop flowers are blooming on the surface of Erhai Lake, attracting many tourists. Water caltrop flowers are considered "water quality indicator organisms." More than 20 years ago, Erhai Lake experienced several large-scale blue-green algal blooms due to declining water quality, and water caltrop flowers were rarely seen. The changes in Erhai Lake are mainly due to comprehensive governance in the past decade. In January 2015, General Secretary Xi Jinping inspected Yunnan. By Erhai Lake, the General Secretary emphasized that economic development should not come at the cost of environmental destruction. Ecological environmental protection is a long-term task that requires sustained effort. Erhai Lake must be protected well. Keeping the General Secretary's instructions in mind, Dali has adhered to the concept that lucid waters and lush mountains are invaluable assets, making great efforts to address Erhai's pollution problems. Er'yuan County, the source of Erhai Lake, contributes more than half of Erhai's surface runoff. To ensure a continuous flow of clean water to Erhai, the local government has built over 30,000 mu of artificial wetlands and upgraded them through substrate restoration, plant optimization, and other measures. The water quality entering Erhai has improved from Class IV to Class II and III. The improvement in water quality has made large-scale growth of water caltrop flowers possible and has also shown local governments business opportunities for farmers to increase their income. Today, water caltrop flowers are a specialty dish that many tourists sample in Dali's restaurants, and during peak tourist season, demand even outstrips supply. With a unified blueprint and overall planning, at the Erhai Lake Protection, Governance, and Basin Transformation Development Command Center, reporters saw that in addition to the source of Erhai Lake being managed, the entire Erhai basin has built over 5,700 kilometers of sewage pipelines, 20 reclaimed water plants, and 25 organic waste collection points, achieving full coverage and collection of sewage and waste, creating a huge ecological protection network for Erhai. Today, along the 129-kilometer ecological corridor around Erhai Lake, there are numerous lakeside buffer zones and wetlands of various sizes, forming a physical isolation green ecological barrier for Erhai. After ecological restoration, the beautiful Erhai scenery has also brought more bustling business to surrounding guesthouses and restaurants. Protecting Erhai Lake has become a consensus among local villagers. The continuous improvement of Erhai's ecosystem is attracting more and more tourists to Dali. In the first half of this year, Dali Prefecture received over 51 million tourists, a year-on-year increase of 10.87%.
Li Qiang Concludes Foreign Visit, Returns to Beijing
On the evening of August 23, Premier Li Qiang returned to Beijing by chartered plane after concluding his official visit to Belarus. State Councilor and Secretary-General of the State Council Wu Zhenglong and other accompanying personnel arrived on the same flight. Before leaving Minsk, Li Qiang and Belarusian Prime Minister Roman Golovchenko jointly inspected the China-Belarus Industrial Park. Upon departure for China, Belarusian Prime Minister Roman Golovchenko and Chinese Ambassador to Belarus Xie Xiaoyong saw them off at the airport.
Authoritative Interview: Deepening Financial System Reform, Accelerating Construction of a Financial Superpower
The Third Plenary Session of the 20th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China made forward-looking and systematic top-level designs for financial system reform. How to deepen financial system reform and better contribute to advancing Chinese modernization? Today (August 24) on "Authoritative Interview," we bring you a special interview with Pan Gongsheng, Governor of the People's Bank of China. Pan Gongsheng stated that the first task in the financial system reform arrangements of the Third Plenary Session of the 20th Central Committee of the Party is to accelerate the improvement of the central bank system. The People's Bank of China will accelerate the establishment of a modern central bank system, focusing on its responsibilities such as monetary policy and preventing systemic financial risks. Pan Gongsheng said that this year, the People's Bank of China has implemented three significant monetary policy adjustments, providing precise and strong support for economic recovery and improvement. In the next step, it will strengthen counter-cyclical and cross-cyclical adjustments, focus on supporting stable expectations, boosting confidence, and supporting the consolidation and enhancement of the economic recovery trend. Pan Gongsheng stated that currently, China's financial system is generally stable, and financial risks in key areas are being resolved in an orderly manner. Pan Gongsheng also stated that the People's Bank of China will further implement the "five key articles" on technology finance, green finance, inclusive finance, elderly care finance, and digital finance, enhance the transparency, stability, and predictability of financial opening-up policies, and continuously promote high-level financial opening-up.
Cultural China Tour: Min Opera Sings of Prosperous Times, Ancient Charm Spreads New Sounds
Min Opera, a unique opera art of Fujian, was listed as one of the first batch of national intangible cultural heritage items in 2006. Today, Min Opera, which has been sung for hundreds of years, is experiencing a spring of development. Located on Fuzhou's central axis, Yantaishan has become a popular tourist destination for many young people due to its diverse styles and beautiful modern Chinese and Western architecture. Today (August 24), traditional opera and a trendy street had a wonderful encounter. Min Opera, also known as Fuzhou Opera, is an opera genre performed and spoken in the Fuzhou dialect, with a history of over 400 years. The Min Opera class, established in 1958, is known as the "cradle of Min Opera." By the 1980s, the Min Opera faced a development slump due to a lack of people, money, and excellent scripts. In the 1990s, the Fuzhou Municipal Government decided to intensify efforts to protect the inheritance of Min Opera, and its development saw a turning point. In 1991, Fuzhou allocated 1 million yuan to solve the difficulties of the Min Opera class and build a new teaching building for it. In 1993, the Min Opera class resumed enrollment, and Min Opera began to create a number of excellent works such as "Swan Feast" and "Soul of Painting," taking a solid first step in revitalizing Min Opera. Lin Ying was one of the first students after the resumption of enrollment. Today, the former Min Opera class has been officially renamed the Fuzhou Art School, enrolling nearly a hundred students to study Min Opera each year, continuously supplying talent to Min Opera and injecting new impetus into its development and inheritance. In recent years, several Min Opera programs and performances have won national awards, and five individuals have won the Chinese Drama "Plum Blossom Award." Before the summer vacation, college students at the second classroom of Minjiang University had close contact with Min Opera. After more than 400 years of passage, Min Opera has carried the changes of Fuzhou and its cultural heritage, and it is a living historical scroll, recording the customs and folklore of this land.
Promoting High-Quality Development Series Press Conference: New Achievements in High-Quality Development of Housing and Urban-Rural Construction
The State Council Information Office held a press conference on high-quality development on the 23rd. Responsible officials from the Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development introduced the new achievements in the high-quality development of housing and urban-rural construction. The responsible official from the Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development stated that as of the end of 2023, the per capita housing building area in China's urban areas exceeded 40 square meters, with a cumulative construction of over 64 million units of various types of affordable housing and shantytown renovation resettlement housing, fulfilling the dream of stable housing for over 150 million people. Basic housing security has been achieved for low-income and difficult-to-house families. In the first seven months of this year, 2.35 million units (rooms) of affordable housing and urban village renovation resettlement housing have been started or raised nationwide, with an investment of over 440 billion yuan. At the same time, new progress has been made in high-quality urban development. As of the end of 2023, China's urban built-up area reached 64,000 square kilometers, and the permanent resident urbanization rate reached 66.16%, with over 930 million people living in urban areas. The Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development stated that in the next step, it will continue to increase the construction and supply of affordable housing, guide local governments to prioritize the arrangement of affordable housing in areas with convenient transportation and relatively complete public facilities, and promote the balance between work and residence. It will continue to do a good job in the renovation of old urban residential areas, make great efforts to solve difficult problems such as elevator installation, parking, and charging. This year, the national plan is to complete the renovation of more than 50,000 old residential areas. At the same time, focusing on good standards, good design, good materials, good construction, and good services, it will accelerate the construction of green, low-carbon, intelligent, and safe "good houses."
Passenger and Cargo Boom: July Civil Aviation Transport Sets New Monthly Record
The reporter learned from the Civil Aviation Administration of China that in July, China's air transport production showed a "boom in both passenger and cargo." The entire industry completed a total transport turnover of 13.63 billion ton-kilometers, a year-on-year increase of 19.9%, and the scale of civil aviation transport reached a monthly historical high. In terms of passenger transport, civil aviation completed 69.136 million passenger trips in July, a year-on-year increase of 10.8%. Among them, the scale of domestic passenger transport increased by 19.5% compared to the same period in 2019, and the scale of international passenger transport exceeded 6 million person-times, reaching 6.13 million person-times, recovering to 93% of the same period in 2019. In terms of cargo transport, the entire industry completed 752,000 tons of cargo and mail transport, a year-on-year increase of 25.1%. The scale of domestic and international cargo transport increased by 5.4% and 55.2% respectively compared to the same period in 2019.
China's Telecom Business Volume Maintains Steady Growth from January to July
Data from the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology shows that from January to July this year, the operation of China's telecommunications industry was generally stable, with the total telecommunications business volume increasing by 11.2% year-on-year, and telecommunications business revenue reaching 1.0354 trillion yuan, a year-on-year increase of 3%. Driven by new applications such as artificial intelligence and large models, demand for data and computing services surged. Emerging businesses such as cloud computing and big data maintained double-digit growth, with cumulative revenue reaching 258.4 billion yuan. As of the end of July, a total of 3.996 million 5G base stations had been built and put into operation, accounting for over 30% of all mobile base stations.
Policies Help Gazelle Companies Accelerate
Gazelle enterprises refer to high-growth technology-based small and medium-sized enterprises with strong innovation capabilities, new professional fields, and great development potential. Since the beginning of this year, China has accelerated the establishment of a tiered cultivation system, from policy support to financial empowerment, to help gazelle enterprises accelerate their development. A gazelle enterprise in Jurong, Jiangsu, independently develops and produces core components for new energy vehicle motors, which has not only achieved domestic substitution but also saw exports increase by over 30% in the first half of this year. Currently, their order book extends to 2033, and they urgently need to expand production capacity. However, like most small technology companies, they face certain financing difficulties. In addition to offering preferential loan interest rates, local governments also provide tangible financial support to gazelle enterprises that can drive regional economic development. Currently, numerous gazelle enterprises have emerged in China in fields such as new energy, biotechnology, software services, health technology, and artificial intelligence. These enterprises are accelerating the transformation of scientific and technological achievements into productive forces. To enable gazelle enterprises to run faster and jump higher, since the beginning of this year, a series of policies and measures have been introduced from national to local levels to create a better innovation ecosystem. The People's Bank of China, together with the Ministry of Science and Technology and other departments, has established a 500 billion yuan re-lending facility for technological innovation and technological transformation, of which 100 billion yuan is specifically used to support initial loans for start-up and growth-stage technology-based small and medium-sized enterprises. Central government funds further support the high-quality development of specialized, refined, unique, and innovative small and medium-sized enterprises. At the same time, multiple provinces and cities, including Liaoning, Shandong, Jiangxi, Jiangsu, and Hubei, have carried out "gazelle to unicorn" enterprise growth tiered cultivation, and clarified policies such as financial support, taking gazelle enterprise groups as an important抓手 for promoting regional economic vitality. In the next step, China will continue to foster a good development environment that encourages innovation, support and encourage gazelle enterprises to increase efforts in tackling key core technologies, seize new opportunities brought by new technologies, enhance core competitiveness, and inject new impetus into high-quality economic and social development.
Multiple Global New Products Debut at 2024 World Robot Conference
The 2024 World Robot Conference is being held in Beijing. Over 60 new products making their global debut are being released at the expo, of which 12 are new core components. This robot, standing 1.6 meters tall and weighing only 43 kilograms, can perform high-difficulty movements like splits and seated forward bends, and can also squat with a load of 145 kilograms. Such a combination of strength and flexibility comes from independently developed robot-specific joints with the world's highest power density, which is nearly 2.5 times that of traditional joints. This dexterous hand, independently developed by a startup team, integrates hundreds of tactile sensing units on extremely small fingertips, allowing the robot to perceive pressure, friction, temperature, and material. From breakthroughs in core joints to innovations in dexterous hand tactile units, to force sensors, radar, and positioning navigation, nearly 50 core component enterprises are exhibiting at this robot conference, accounting for one-third of the exhibitors. The integration of robot software and hardware is accelerating its upgrade, and the industry chain and ecosystem are gradually improving. Data shows that as of July 2024, China holds over 190,000 valid robot-related patents, accounting for approximately two-thirds of the global total.
Rescue and Relief Efforts Intensify in Disaster-Stricken Liaoning
In recent days, various emergency rescue and disaster relief efforts have been intensifying in the disaster-stricken areas of Liaoning. Last night (August 23), Huludao City, Liaoning, held a press conference on flood control and disaster relief. The comprehensive intensity of the heavy rainfall in Huludao was classified as special level one, the highest level of rainstorm intensity, affecting 188,000 people. Since the disaster occurred, Huludao City has cumulatively relocated over 50,000 people. A total of more than 1,580 professional rescue teams from transportation, electricity, and communication sectors have been assembled across the city to fully repair and clear vital access routes. Today (August 24), all national and provincial trunk highways and rural roads connecting various administrative villages within Huludao City have been cleared. All 10-kilovolt power lines have been restored, and all villages have achieved at least emergency power supply. On the 23rd, the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Emergency Management pre-allocated 50 million yuan in central natural disaster relief funds to support Liaoning Province in its flood control and disaster relief work, focusing on search and rescue, relocation and resettlement of affected people, emergency disposal such as danger removal, investigation of secondary disaster risks, and repair of damaged houses, to minimize disaster losses.
High Temperatures Persist in Parts of Southern China
In some parts of southern China, despite the end of the dog days of summer today (August 24), high temperatures continue, with maximum temperatures in some areas reaching 37-39 degrees Celsius, and locally exceeding 40 degrees Celsius. The Central Meteorological Observatory issued an orange alert for high temperatures at 6 PM. In Chongqing, high temperatures have persisted for many days, prompting the local authorities to issue this year's first red alert for forest and grassland fire risk, with several scenic spots and forest parks temporarily closed. Shaanxi issued a yellow alert for high temperatures, and local authorities have adopted measures such as staggered work shifts, rotational operations, and increased rest periods for outdoor workers to ensure their safety. In Mianyang, Sichuan, Ningbo, Zhejiang, and other places, numerous "love stations" have been set up for outdoor workers to cool down and seek shelter from the heat.
Domestic News Snippets
2024 Global Entrepreneur Summit Held in Beijing. From August 23 to 25, the 2024 Global Entrepreneur Summit is being held in Beijing. The summit includes entrepreneurship competitions, forums, exhibitions, and project signings. The entrepreneurship competition attracted 7,406 entrepreneurial projects and 9,700 entrepreneurial talents from 124 countries and regions, focusing on artificial intelligence, high-end equipment, and other areas. The summit has achieved several important collaborations. 2024 National Service Consumption Season Launched. The 2024 "Service Consumption Season" was launched yesterday (August 23) in Shanghai. This activity is a national consumption promotion event with the theme of service consumption, organized by the Ministry of Commerce. The event will run from August until the end of the year, with an estimated 12 national key activities and over 110 consumption promotion activities. China to Build a Group of World-Class Aviation Enterprises and Hubs by 2050. Recently, the Civil Aviation Administration of China and the National Development and Reform Commission jointly issued the "Guiding Opinions on Promoting the Construction of International Aviation Hubs." The "Guiding Opinions" outlines three stages of development goals for the construction of China's international aviation hubs, including the goal of building a group of world-class aviation enterprises and first-class aviation hubs by 2050, with a further improved international aviation hub functional system. China's First Bohai 100-Billion-Cubic-Meter Gas Field Produces Over 1 Billion Cubic Meters of Natural Gas. The reporter learned today (August 24) from China National Offshore Oil Corporation (CNOOC) that China's first 100-billion-cubic-meter gas field in Bohai Sea - Bozhong 19-6 Gas Field - has cumulatively produced over 1 billion cubic meters of natural gas, effectively ensuring gas supply for the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region and the Bohai Rim. The Bozhong 19-6 Gas Field has proven natural gas geological reserves of over 200 billion cubic meters and proven oil geological reserves of over 200 million cubic meters, with 6 offshore oil and gas platforms built. Zhangjiashan Tunnel, a Key Project of Yu-Xiang High-Speed Railway Chong-Qian Section, Completed. Recently, the Zhangjiashan Tunnel, a key controlling project of the Chongqing to Qianjiang section of the Yu-Xiang High-Speed Railway, was successfully completed. The Zhangjiashan Tunnel is approximately 6.5 kilometers long and spans the Nan'an District and Banan District of Chongqing's main urban area. The Chongqing to Qianjiang railway section is 265 kilometers long and is an important part of the national medium- and long-term railway network plan and the main channel of the Xiamen to Chongqing high-speed railway in the "Eight Verticals and Eight Horizontals" high-speed rail network. First Shield Tunnel Section of Guangzhou-Huadu Intercity Railway Completed. Recently, the first shield tunnel section of the Guangzhou-Huadu Intercity Railway, a key project for integrated rail transit construction in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, has achieved dual-line completion. The Guangzhou-Huadu Intercity Line starts from Guangzhou East Station and ends at Huadu Huacheng Street Station, with a length of 39.6 kilometers and a design speed of 160 kilometers per hour. The entire line is expected to be completed in 2026. China Intangible Cultural Heritage Exhibition Hall Opens in Huzhou, Zhejiang. China's first exhibition hall showcasing important intangible cultural heritage from all provinces nationwide - the China Intangible Cultural Heritage Exhibition Hall - opened today (August 24) in Huzhou, Zhejiang. The exhibition hall takes the central media's large-scale cultural program "Intangible Cultural Heritage in China" as its main theme, creating an immersive experience that links the program with the exhibits through physical displays combined with digital special effects. The second season of "Intangible Cultural Heritage in China" (Zhejiang chapter) also premiered simultaneously.
Israeli Military Bombs Southern and Central Gaza Strip Today; Palestinian Armed Factions Report Fierce Clashes in Multiple Areas
According to the Palestinian News Agency today (August 24), Israeli forces bombed Khan Younis in the southern Gaza Strip, the Nuseirat refugee camp in the central Gaza Strip, and the Deir al-Balah area today, killing 37 people and injuring dozens. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) stated on the 23rd that they struck a command and control center of the Palestinian Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) in the Zeitoun neighborhood of Gaza City in the northern Gaza Strip. The IDF also stated that one Israeli soldier was killed and seven were injured in clashes with Hamas militants that day. Palestinian armed factions claimed on the same day that they engaged in fierce battles with Israeli forces in Gaza City, Rafah, and other areas, causing casualties among Israeli soldiers. UN Calls for 7-Day Ceasefire in Gaza Strip to Vaccinate Children Against Polio. UN Secretary-General's spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric said on the 23rd that UN agencies are calling for a temporary 7-day ceasefire in the Gaza Strip to vaccinate children under 10 against polio. The WHO confirmed on the 22nd that an unvaccinated Gaza infant was diagnosed with the polio virus, the first case in the Gaza Strip in nearly 25 years. Lebanon Says Israeli Attack in South Killed 3, Israeli Army Says Over 40 Aerial Targets Entered Israeli Territory. On the same day, cross-border firing continued along the Israeli-Lebanese border. Lebanon's Ministry of Public Health said on the 23rd that Israeli attacks on Meis Ej Jabal and other areas in southern Lebanon killed 3 people and injured 3 others. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) stated on the 23rd that it monitored over 40 aerial targets entering Israeli territory from southern Lebanon that evening.
Russia Claims Control of Several Settlements in Donetsk Region; Ukraine Reports Striking Russian Logistics Systems
The Russian Ministry of Defense stated on the 23rd that over the past week, the Russian military carried out 16 cluster strikes using high-precision weapons and attack drones against Ukrainian military airfields, air defense missile depots, and reserve troop gathering points, and seized control of several settlements in the Donetsk region. The Russian side also released a video on the same day, claiming that the Russian military used "Iskander-M" missiles to strike a US-made multiple rocket launcher position of the Ukrainian army in Ukraine's Mykolaiv region. The Ukrainian side claimed on the same day that Ukrainian forces struck Russian personnel, equipment, and logistical systems in Kurakhove and other areas. In Pokrovsk, where the fighting was most intense, the Ukrainian army repelled dozens of Russian attacks. Russia Claims to Have Foiled Ukrainian Attacks in Kursk; Ukraine Claims Military Operations Still Underway in Kursk. The Russian Ministry of Defense stated on the 23rd that in the Kursk region, the Russian army thwarted Ukrainian attacks on several settlements, including Borki, and eliminated Ukrainian sabotage groups attempting to penetrate Russian forest areas. The Ukrainian side claimed on the same day that Ukrainian operations in Kursk are still ongoing, and Ukrainian forces continue to strike Russian personnel, tanks, air defense missile systems, and other targets.
International News Snippets
UN Commemorates International Day for the Abolition of the Slave Trade. August 23rd marks the International Day for the Remembrance of the Slave Trade and its Abolition. The President of the 78th session of the United Nations General Assembly, Dennis Francis, and UNESCO Director-General Audrey Azoulay issued separate statements, calling on people to remember the victims of the slave trade and those who fought against the brutal practice of human trafficking, and to ensure that such atrocities never happen again. From the 16th to the 19th centuries, large numbers of Africans were forcibly taken to the American continent and enslaved. In the United States, slavery was "legally" practiced for one-third of its history as a nation. Canadian Freight Drivers' Union to Strike; Railways Continue to Be Affected. Local time on the 23rd, the Canadian Freight Drivers' Union issued a statement announcing that it had issued a strike notice to Canadian National Railway Company, with the strike set to begin on the morning of the 26th, local time. Earlier, due to a deadlock in labor negotiations, Canadian National Railway Company and Canadian Pacific Kansas City Railway Company halted operations on the 22nd. According to Canadian media reports, the halt not only stopped freight transportation but also affected the travel of tens of thousands of commuters in several Canadian cities. Train Collision in Colorado, US; Bridge Damaged. According to US media reports on the 23rd, two freight trains collided and derailed in Colorado, US, on the evening of the 22nd, resulting in injuries to two crew members, damage to a bridge, and fuel leakage. Due to on-site investigations and fuel cleanup, surrounding roads were closed for several hours. The specific cause of the accident is currently unknown.