On February 15, President Xi Jinping sent a congratulatory message to the 38th African Union Summit, extending warm congratulations to African countries and peoples. Xi Jinping pointed out that in the current international landscape intertwined with changes and turmoil, the "Global South," represented by China and Africa, has grown remarkably. Over the past year, the African Union, united and leading African countries, has vigorously promoted integration, actively responded to regional and global challenges, and collectively voiced "African opinions," continuously enhancing Africa's international standing and influence. He expressed sincere wishes for African countries and peoples to achieve new and greater successes on the path of independence, development, and revitalization. Xi Jinping emphasized that 2024 is a year of vigorous development for China-Africa relations. The successful China-Africa Cooperation Forum Beijing Summit marked a new stage for China and Africa to build an all-weather community of shared future in the new era, continuing to lead the trend of building a community with a shared future for mankind. He expressed his willingness to work with leaders of African countries to promote the implementation of the six major proposals for China-Africa joint modernization and the "Ten Cooperation Plans," bringing more tangible results to the over 2.8 billion Chinese and African people.
General Secretary Xi Jinping emphasized that the key to agricultural modernization is agricultural science and technology modernization. Currently, spring plowing and field management are progressively commencing across the country, with various regions focusing on strengthening the integration of agriculture and technology, promoting the upgrading of agricultural facilities and equipment, increasing the promotion of high-yield and efficient models, and solidifying the foundation of the "grain granary of a major country." Across the vast fields, a picture of "digital spring plowing" is slowly unfolding. In the granary of Northeast China, although still covered in white snow, airborne remote sensing satellites are assessing the soil moisture and snow cover conditions of the black soil. In the Huang-Huai-Hai wheat region, winter wheat has gradually entered the regreening period. This year, multi-spectral drone patrols combined with plant protection drone spraying have become the "main force" for technological field management. In the warm Hainan Nanfan Base, an identification model built using big data analysis and new-generation artificial intelligence technology is accelerating the breeding process, and these rice seeds, which are about to be harvested, will gradually be transported north for planting. General Secretary Xi Jinping has always attached great importance to agricultural science and technology. Whether holding symposiums or conducting on-site inspections and research, he has put forward a series of clear requirements on how technology can better support grain production. General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out that the development of agricultural science and technology should be given a more prominent position, vigorously promoting agricultural mechanization and intelligence, giving agriculture modernization the "wings" of technology. He emphasized the coordinated development of technological agriculture, green agriculture, quality agriculture, and brand agriculture. Last year, China launched the action to improve the large-area yield of grain and oil crops, achieving initial results, with the average grain yield per mu increasing by 5.1 kilograms compared to the previous year. This year, large-area yield improvement remains a key measure for China's grain production. Currently, various grain-producing areas have begun new explorations. This year, a batch of advanced models such as electric high-speed precision planters, hilly and mountainous tractors, and mountain corn planters are being rapidly deployed to the front lines of spring plowing. The rapid development of the low-altitude economy is also assisting in the quality and efficiency improvement of traditional agriculture. In Xuzhou, Jiangsu, the use of drone plant protection has expanded from young people to grain farmers aged 60. In Longyou, Zhejiang, drones have participated in the transportation of agricultural materials, greatly saving labor and logistics transportation costs. This year, China is building a matrix of agricultural science and technology innovation platforms and vigorously improving the level of agricultural science and technology equipment. In Hunan, a key step has been taken in the reform of the "Great Agricultural Research Institute" management system. At the provincial level, 21 agricultural research institutions and 2 research support institutions have been optimized and reorganized into 15 research institutions and 1 research support institution. By promoting large-span resource integration, the phenomenon of fighting independently has been changed, forming an agricultural science and technology innovation platform system for full-chain innovation in scientific research and development, achievement transformation, and industrial cultivation. This year, more leading technology enterprises are entering the agricultural field. In Shandong, this agricultural machinery enterprise's independently developed smart farm AI large model has become an "online agricultural technician" that can respond instantly in multiple pilot areas. This year, a series of policy measures focusing on increasing production through technology will also work together to promote joint research on urgently needed varieties such as high-oil and high-yield soybeans, high-protein corn, and salt-tolerant crops, support new agricultural business entities and state-owned farms in carrying out digital and intelligent transformation, and promote the construction of a sky-ground integrated agricultural observation network, integrating agricultural and rural data resources nationwide, and empowering high-quality agricultural development with data. With the further penetration of new technologies such as 5G, AI, and digital twins, this spring, China's vast fields will unleash greater potential, painting a new blueprint for modern agriculture.
The 9th Asian Winter Games successfully concluded in Harbin on the evening of the 14th. Premier Li Qiang attended the closing ceremony. Over the past eight days, more than 1,200 athletes from 34 countries and regions across Asia pushed their limits, showcased their prowess, achieved their dreams, and forged friendships, writing a new chapter of glory for Asian ice and snow sports with their superb athletic skills and tenacious fighting spirit. China upheld the "green, shared, open, and clean" concept in organizing the games, winning widespread praise from the Olympic Council of Asia family and the international community with its first-class venues and facilities and excellent organizational services. The Chinese sports delegation won 32 gold medals and 85 total medals, topping both the gold and medal tables. At the closing ceremony, Gao Zhidan, Chairman of the Harbin Asian Winter Games Organizing Committee and President of the Chinese Olympic Committee, and Timothy Fok, First Vice President of the Olympic Council of Asia, delivered speeches. Timothy Fok declared the 9th Harbin Asian Winter Games closed and extended an invitation to reunite in Neom, Saudi Arabia, for the 10th Asian Winter Games in four years. Subsequently, the Olympic Council of Asia flag handover ceremony was held. Neom, Saudi Arabia, presented an 8-minute spectacular cultural performance to the audience. After the short film "Ice and Snow When We Came, Spring When We Parted," ballerinas and children carrying ice lanterns danced gracefully in the main venue, while the main torch tower "Snow Rhyme Lilac" at the Harbin Ice and Snow World sub-venue slowly extinguished. The program "Spring Warms Asia" presented a lively "Asian Carnival," revisiting the history of previous Asian Winter Games and sending warm spring wishes to Asia. The atmosphere reached its climax with the closing song "On Sun Island." International dignitaries attending the closing ceremony included Mongolian Prime Minister L. Oyun-Erdene and Cook Islands Prime Minister Mark Brown. Wu Zhenglong and Chen Yiqin also attended the closing ceremony. Officials from the Olympic Council of Asia and others were present.
Li Qiang, Member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Premier of the State Council, conducted a survey in Heilongjiang on February 15. He emphasized the need to thoroughly implement General Secretary Xi Jinping's important directives on developing ice and snow sports and the ice and snow economy, focusing on meeting the people's needs for a better life, making good use of characteristic advantageous resources, enriching the supply of quality products, stimulating the vitality of the ice and snow economy, creating new highlights for service consumption and new economic growth points, and continuously improving people's well-being. Li Qiang first visited the Harbin Songhua River Ice and Snow Carnival, touring snow drifting and ice skating rinks. He said that local ice and snow resources should be further developed to create more participatory and interesting ice and snow projects. Li Qiang entered the "Erbin Gift" store to learn about the sales of Asian Winter Games commemorative products and local specialty products. He pointed out that Heilongjiang, this black land, is rich in products, and its ice and snow are also a "golden and silver mountain." He emphasized the importance of telling the story of the Asian Winter Games, organizing ice and snow consumption season and other activities, developing more new consumption scenarios and business formats, driving the expansion and quality improvement of service consumption, and better transforming characteristic resource advantages into development advantages. At the Harbin New Area Ice Sports Center, Li Qiang listened to introductions about venue construction and operation and learned about the promotion and popularization of ice sports. He pointed out that the recently concluded Asian Winter Games further stimulated the public's enthusiasm for participating in ice and snow sports, and this should be taken as an opportunity to widely carry out mass ice and snow sports. Li Qiang watched youth ice skating training, asked the children about their age and training duration, and encouraged venue managers and coaches to discover and cultivate more promising talents to promote the development of youth ice and snow sports. He stressed the need to innovate systems and mechanisms, give full play to retired athletes and all aspects of society, and encourage more ice and snow venues to open to the public. Li Qiang inspected ice and snow sports equipment, emphasizing the need to vigorously develop related industries, cultivate a number of well-known brands, and develop more equipment and materials that meet public needs. At Harbin Cultural Tourism Planning and Design Institute Co., Ltd., Li Qiang examined design achievements and cultural and creative products, and held a discussion with the design team. He emphasized that the development of the ice and snow economy focuses on leading and creating demand with high-quality supply. It is necessary to fully explore the profound heritage of ice and snow culture, deeply promote the integration of culture, sports, business, and tourism, and continuously enhance the attractiveness of ice and snow cultural and creative products. It is also important to further leverage the role of enterprises as innovators to create more charming and wonderful ice and snow products and services. He stressed strengthening international exchanges and cooperation to continuously enhance the influence and competitiveness of China's ice and snow sports and ice and snow economy. Li Qiang fully affirmed the hard work of the cadres and people in Heilongjiang Province, especially Harbin City, for the successful holding of the Asian Winter Games, and expressed hope that Heilongjiang would expand and strengthen its ice and snow economy, vigorously develop service consumption, and inject more new momentum into economic and social development. Wu Zhenglong accompanied the inspection.
After the Spring Festival, enterprises across the country have gradually resumed work and production. Among them, a group of advanced manufacturing enterprises are accelerating their start, seizing new opportunities, and planning for a new future. The humanoid robot training ground in Shanghai has been particularly lively these past two days. Among the more than 100 "new students" who recently arrived, some are practicing football, while others are learning Tai Chi. This place is equivalent to a vocational technical school for humanoid robots before they officially start working. Since the beginning of this year, humanoid robots have become a huge sensation, leading many enterprises to discover business opportunities in hardware equipment. In this new research and development institution in Suzhou High-tech Zone, research and development take place upstairs while mass production happens downstairs. In less than 10 days, a prototype of a lidar module for humanoid robots was completed. Its core circuit is only the size of a fingernail, but it can greatly improve the 3D measurement accuracy and perception capabilities of humanoid robots. Not only the robotics industry, but 80 advanced manufacturing industry clusters across the country have maintained rapid growth since the beginning of this year. The national policy on equipment renewal has also given wings to manufacturing enterprises, unleashing new potential. In Zhuzhou, Hunan, the country's largest cemented carbide industrial cluster, this enterprise has upgraded three green and intelligent production lines in one go this year, and 21 newly installed automatic robotic arms have officially been put into operation. This smart factory in Qingdao, Shandong, has started using artificial intelligence technology to drive production this year, with an average of about 10 smart refrigerators rolling off the production line every minute. Advanced manufacturing is climbing to new heights. Since the beginning of this year, many places have set new goals and expanded into new tracks. Guangdong will vigorously develop emerging industries such as integrated circuits, new energy vehicles, and artificial intelligence; Shandong will focus on promoting the clustered development of new-generation information technology, new energy and new materials, and bio-manufacturing; Zhejiang and Jiangsu have both proposed to promote the deep integration of modern service industries and advanced manufacturing, and strengthen the deep integration of scientific and technological innovation and industrial innovation. Advanced manufacturing is accelerating its start, creating a new future.
Reporters recently learned from the Ministry of Natural Resources that the "Wuhan City Territorial Spatial Master Plan (2021-2035)" has received national approval. With this, the territorial spatial master plans for all 22 megacities and supercities have been approved, marking the completion of the spatial blueprint for the future development of key cities in China. The Ministry of Natural Resources stated that through this round of planning, the role of megacities and supercities as regional development engines will be leveraged to guide the formation of a multi-center, networked, open, and intensive regional development pattern, and to promote the formation of a new urbanization pattern primarily in the form of urban agglomerations and metropolitan areas. It is understood that at present, the compilation and approval of territorial spatial master plans at all provincial, municipal, and county levels across the country have been basically completed, and territorial spatial planning has entered the stage of comprehensive implementation.
For rural revitalization, industrial revitalization is key. Spring is the time for new beginnings, and various regions are leveraging their unique resources and industries to promote comprehensive rural revitalization. In Heilongjiang, the Asian Winter Games has recently boosted ice and snow tourism, attracting tourists from all over to experience the northern scenery. Qing Shan Village, located at the foot of Yabuli Ski Resort, receives nearly 20,000 visitors daily during peak season, and its themed homestays, expanded using idle houses, are very popular. Currently, Qing Shan Village is accelerating the development of a cultural tourism leisure area that integrates micro-ski slopes, ice rinks, rooftop cafes, and specialty dining. Entering the Canna Lily Industrial Park in Huanghua Village, Gongzhuling, Jilin, the greenhouses are bustling with life. Flower farmers select leading varieties based on consumer demand and transport them to markets across the country, with daily sales reaching 300,000 yuan. Now, the offline cultivation and online sales model has driven employment for over 600 people in the surrounding area. This year, the local government is strengthening farmer technical training to further enhance industrial added value. In Sheqi, Henan, suburban fruit picking tours continue to be popular, providing tourists with rural enjoyment while also injecting new vitality into rural development. In Chongyi Township, Rongjiang, Guizhou, village cadres and wealth generators gathered to discuss enthusiastically how to leverage the "Village Super League" traffic into the villages. This year, the local government is utilizing the immense popularity brought by the "Village Super League" to integrate local agricultural products, handicrafts, and other resources to build an "online village market" platform. In Jingyan, Sichuan, the Morchella mushrooms in Jiti Village, Wangcun Town, have entered their harvesting period. Workers skillfully pick Morchella mushrooms from the beds and then sort them according to size, shape, and color. Some premium products are directly supplied to the market, while the rest are sent to drying boxes to be made into dried delicacies. The local government is taking agricultural scale as a breakthrough for industrial upgrading, diversifying the construction of characteristic planting bases, and driving increased income for villagers.
In 2024, China's service consumption supply accelerated its quality improvement and capacity expansion, and service consumption demand continued to be unleashed, driving rapid growth in the service industry and continuously demonstrating its supporting role in high-quality economic development. In 2024, service retail sales increased by 6.2% year-on-year, 3.0 percentage points higher than the growth rate of commodity retail sales during the same period. The per capita service consumption expenditure of national residents increased by 7.4% year-on-year, accounting for 46.1% of per capita consumption expenditure, an increase of 0.9 percentage points from the previous year. In 2024, modern service industries further deeply integrated with other industries, promoting the overall optimization and upgrading of the industrial structure. The added value of information transmission, software, and information technology services increased by 10.9% year-on-year, significantly improving the intelligent and digital level of industries such as manufacturing. The operating income of integrated circuit design and Internet production service platform enterprises both achieved growth of over 15%. In 2024, the added value of the national service industry increased by 5% year-on-year, contributing 56.2% to national economic growth and driving GDP growth by 2.8 percentage points. With the accelerated cultivation of new drivers and advantages in service industry development, the service industry's primary driving role in economic growth will be further strengthened.
Information released by the China Machinery Industry Federation indicates that in 2024, with the implementation and effectiveness of the "two new" policies and a package of policy measures, China's machinery industry achieved stable growth in various economic indicators. Among them, the industrial scale reached a new high. As of the end of 2024, the number of machinery industry enterprises above designated size reached 132,000, an increase of 11,000 from the previous year. In addition, value added achieved steady growth. In 2024, the value added of machinery industry enterprises above designated size increased by 6.0% year-on-year, 0.2 percentage points higher than the national industrial average. The value added of the five major national economic sectors primarily involved in the machinery industry all achieved growth. In terms of production and sales, among the 122 key machinery products monitored, the output of 72 products increased year-on-year. Foreign trade remained stable with progress. In 2024, China's machinery industry's total import and export volume, export volume, and trade surplus all reached new historical highs. The total import and export volume of goods trade in the machinery industry exceeded one trillion US dollars for the fourth consecutive year, reaching 1.17 trillion US dollars, a year-on-year increase of 7.5%.
Reporters learned from the National Health Commission that China's closely integrated county-level medical communities have been promoted in 2,188 counties nationwide. By the end of 2025, over 90% of county-level medical communities will meet the closely integrated standard, and full coverage will be basically achieved by the end of 2027. Various regions are actively building resource-sharing centers for medical testing and electrocardiogram diagnosis, vigorously promoting "distributed examination, centralized diagnosis," equipping grassroots with necessary digital equipment and facilities. Medical alliance imaging centers have covered over 70% of township health centers nationwide, promoting grassroots examinations, higher-level diagnosis, and mutual recognition of results. Nearly 90% of counties nationwide have achieved full coverage of county-level hospital personnel stationed in township health centers, and nearly 80% of village clinics have been included in medical insurance fixed points, further facilitating residents' medical treatment and reimbursement. At the same time, various regions are actively adapting to residents' health needs by carrying out extended services such as holiday clinics and traditional Chinese medicine rehabilitation, and continuously promoting more convenient and beneficial grassroots medical treatment measures to improve residents' medical experience.
On February 14, local time, the Chinese animated film "Nezha 2" officially premiered in North America. The film's pre-sale box office and screening volume both set new records for Chinese-language films in North America in nearly 20 years, with some cinemas even adding midnight screenings to meet audience demand. Audiences who watched "Nezha 2" that day generally praised the film's overall animation effects and production level. Some American audiences also believed that "Nezha 2" gave them a new understanding of Chinese mythological stories and the cultural values they embody. It is understood that "Nezha 2" was released simultaneously in over 770 cinemas across 400 cities in 48 states in the United States, and in Canada, it covered 42 cities in 10 provinces. In the Oceania region, "Nezha 2" officially premiered on February 13, with a screening scale of 124 cinemas, also setting a new record for Chinese-language films in nearly 20 years. Previously, new Chinese New Year films such as "Detective Chinatown 1900," "Creation of the Gods II," and "Operation Devil Fish" set concurrent box office and market rating records for Chinese-language films in regions like France, the United Kingdom, and Spain when they were released.
China launches logistics data open interconnection pilot in 16 cities. The reporter learned from the National Development and Reform Commission that China will select 16 cities, including Tianjin, Guangzhou, and Chongqing, as pilot cities to explore market-oriented open interconnection and operation models for multimodal transport data, carry out data integration applications between manufacturing, commerce, and logistics industries, promote data interconnection and sharing among national logistics hubs, and complete pilot construction by the end of the year. The "Measures for the Administration of Personal Information Protection Compliance Audits" will be implemented on May 1. The Cyberspace Administration of China recently formulated and promulgated the "Measures for the Administration of Personal Information Protection Compliance Audits," which details regulations on the conduct of personal information protection compliance audit activities, the selection of relevant agencies, the frequency of compliance audits, and the obligations of professional agencies. These "Measures" will take effect on May 1st this year. National railways have transported over 400 million passengers since the Spring Festival travel rush. Reporters learned today (February 15) from China Railway Group that from January 14, when the Spring Festival travel rush began, to February 14, national railways have cumulatively transported 413 million passengers. Today, return passenger flow remains high, with national railways expected to transport 15.5 million passengers and plan to add 1,145 passenger trains. Jiangsu's ship exports exceeded 100 billion yuan in 2024, ranking first nationwide. Reporters learned from Nanjing Customs that in 2024, Jiangsu exported various types of ships totaling 104.22 billion yuan, ranking first nationwide in export volume, a year-on-year increase of 59%. Among them, liquid cargo ships, container ships, and bulk carriers increased by 165.1%, 84.3%, and 18.3% respectively. China's first direct international passenger air route to Timor-Leste opened today. Today (February 15), China's first direct international passenger air route from Xiamen to Dili, Timor-Leste, officially opened. This route is scheduled to operate two flights per month, with a flight time of approximately 5.5 hours. The opening of this route is a tangible result of the signing of cooperation plans for the Belt and Road Initiative and multilateral cooperation in aviation transportation between the two sides. The number of overwintering black-necked cranes in Caohai, Guizhou, reached a new historical high. Researchers recently discovered that the number of black-necked cranes overwintering in the Caohai National Nature Reserve in Guizhou has reached 2,828, an increase of 231 from the same period last year, setting a new record high. The black-necked crane is a national first-class protected wild animal and a crane species endemic to plateaus. Its population has grown from approximately 6,000 in 1996 to about 17,000, with over 95% distributed in China's Qinghai-Tibet Plateau and Yunnan-Guizhou Plateau.
On the 14th, the 61st Munich Security Conference opened. German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier stated in his opening speech that the worldview of the new US administration disregards established rules, partnerships, and existing trust, a worldview that is not in the interest of the international community and cannot serve as a guiding principle for the world order, and parties should respond to it. US Vice President J.D. Vance, in his subsequent speech, criticized Europe for deviating from shared US-European values and disregarding the concerns of the European people. He said that Europe's biggest threat does not come from outside, but from within Europe. In addition, French President Emmanuel Macron stated in a media interview published on the 14th that Europe should strengthen its own defense and economic development to break away from external dependence.
The Russian Ministry of Defense stated on the 14th that over the past week, Russian forces had taken control of seven towns and settlements in the Donetsk region, conducted 14 cluster strikes on energy facilities used by Ukrainian military industrial enterprises, and intercepted multiple Ukrainian rockets, aerial bombs, and hundreds of drones. The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine stated on the same day that Ukrainian forces continued to repel Russian attacks in several directions. The fighting in the Pokrovsk direction was the most intense. Separately, US and Ukrainian media reported on the 14th that a US Congressional delegation attending the Munich Security Conference wished President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to sign a document, which Zelenskyy politely declined. The report stated that the document required Ukraine to authorize the US to own 50% of Ukraine's mineral resources. US and Ukrainian officials have not yet responded to this report.
Hamas and Israel Exchange Sixth Batch of Detainees Today. According to announcements by Israel and the Palestinian Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas), the two sides conducted the sixth round of detainee exchanges today (February 15). Hamas released 3 Israeli detainees, while Israel released 369 detained Palestinians. Since the Gaza ceasefire agreement took effect on January 19, Hamas and Israel have conducted five batches of detainee exchanges. Brazilian President Says He Will Respond in Kind to US Tariffs. Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva stated on the 14th that if the United States imposes additional tariffs on Brazilian steel and aluminum products, Brazil will file a complaint with the World Trade Organization and respond in kind. According to data from the US Department of Commerce, in 2024, Canada, Brazil, and Mexico were the top three sources of US steel imports. US Retail Sales See Largest Monthly Decline in 2 Years in January. Data released by the US Department of Commerce on the 14th showed that US retail sales decreased by 0.9% month-on-month in January, the largest monthly decline since March 2023. According to US media reports, various factors such as blizzards and low temperatures in many parts of the US in January, severe wildfires in California, and weakening consumer confidence affected retail sales. Some US analysts also believe that rising inflation pressure and the negative impact of US government tariff policies will further affect the retail industry. Mount Etna Erupts in Italy. Mount Etna, on the island of Sicily, Italy, recently experienced a violent eruption. Lava flows spread across snow-covered slopes, creating a scene of ice and fire. Local experts stated that there are no signs of an imminent catastrophic eruption from Mount Etna, and there is no immediate threat to surrounding residents. Mount Etna, with an elevation of over 3,300 meters, is Europe's highest and most active volcano.
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