Xi's Remarks in Henan Spark Warm Response for China's Modernization Drive
When inspecting Henan recently, General Secretary Xi Jinping emphasized that in the new era and on the new journey, Henan must conscientiously implement the strategic deployments of the CPC Central Committee regarding the accelerated rise of the central region and the ecological protection and high-quality development of the Yellow River Basin. It should strive to write a new chapter in advancing Chinese modernization in the Central Plains through high-quality development and efficient governance. The broad masses of cadres and people expressed that they should follow the spirit of General Secretary Xi Jinping's important speech, comprehensively deepen reform and opening up, and continuously promote high-quality development to open up new prospects and achieve new results in efficient governance. The first stop of General Secretary Xi Jinping's inspection was Luoyang Bearing Group Co., Ltd. The company, formerly Luoyang Bearing Factory, was built during the "First Five-Year Plan" period and still holds multiple records in China's bearing industry. The General Secretary stated that manufacturing is an important pillar of the national economy, and advancing Chinese modernization must maintain a reasonable proportion of manufacturing. He encouraged employees to embrace the spirit of ownership, be proactive, and contribute more to the company's development. The White Horse Temple was first built during the Eastern Han Dynasty. General Secretary Xi Jinping learned in detail about the sinicization of Buddhism and the protection of temple cultural relics there. He pointed out that history proves that adhering to the direction of sinicizing religions in China is entirely correct, and it is necessary to actively guide religions to integrate with excellent traditional Chinese culture and adapt to socialist society. The Longmen Grottoes, with a history of over 1,500 years, are an important World Cultural Heritage site, with 2,345 numbered caves and niches, nearly 110,000 statues of various kinds, and over 2,800 inscriptions. General Secretary Xi Jinping visited the site to inspect the overall layout and appearance of the grottoes, as well as representative caves and statues. Tourists were delighted to see the General Secretary and greeted him. The General Secretary cordially interacted with the cultural relic protection workers on site. He emphasized the importance of protecting, inheriting, and disseminating these treasures of Chinese culture. General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out that cultural and tourism integration has broad prospects, and it is necessary to promote the high-quality development of the cultural and tourism industry, truly making it a pillar industry, a people's livelihood industry, and a happiness industry. General Secretary Xi Jinping emphasized that high-quality development is an inevitable requirement for Chinese modernization. Facing a complex external environment, it is necessary to use the certainty of high-quality development to cope with various uncertainties. From further consolidating the foundation of the real economy to strengthening cultivated land protection and construction, and then to persistently strengthening ecological protection and governance of key river basins, the General Secretary pointed out the direction for Henan's high-quality development in the new era and on the new journey. General Secretary Xi Jinping stressed that Henan has a large total population, high population density, and significant population mobility, so social governance must be strengthened in a down-to-earth manner. Currently, Henan is guided by Party building to promote the downward transfer of resources, services, and management. Over 5200 communities across the province are equipped with over 500,000 full-time and part-time grid managers, and 49,000 social organizations and 14 million volunteers participate in grassroots governance. General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out that the CPC Central Committee's eight-point decision is a move to establish credibility, and it is a landmark measure for governing the Party in the new era. Efforts should be made to integrate learning, investigation, and rectification to ensure effective learning, vigorous investigation, and tangible results. This year, some regions in China have experienced droughts. General Secretary Xi Jinping emphasized the need to strengthen water dispatching to ensure water supply for urban and rural residents and agricultural irrigation. Where there is drought, there may be floods, so rapid transitions from drought to flood must be strictly prevented. To implement the General Secretary's requirements, various regions are actively responding to the drought while strengthening preparations for flood prevention and control to ensure adequate contingency plans.
15th Five-Year Plan Draft Seeks Public Input Online
General Secretary Xi Jinping recently issued important instructions on the compilation of the "15th Five-Year Plan," emphasizing the need to adhere to scientific, democratic, and law-based decision-making to complete the plan compilation with high quality. To implement the spirit of General Secretary Xi Jinping's important instructions, online public consultation for the "15th Five-Year Plan" compilation work was recently launched. According to reports, this online public consultation activity has set up "15th Five-Year Plan" suggestion columns on the official websites and news clients of People's Daily, Xinhua News Agency, China Central Radio and Television, as well as the "Xuexi Qiangguo" learning platform, where netizens can submit their suggestions. The online public consultation activity will last for one month, and relevant opinions and suggestions will be summarized and provided to the central government for decision-making reference. The "15th Five-Year Plan" period serves as a crucial link in the process of achieving basic socialist modernization in China and holds significant importance. Therefore, the economic and social development for the "15th Five-Year Plan" period must be scientifically planned. Currently, the CPC Central Committee is organizing the formulation of proposals for the economic and social development plan for the "15th Five-Year Plan" period.
China's Industrial Resilience, Development Potential Evident in April
With the continuous exertion and effectiveness of various macro policies, in April, China's industrial economy continued its positive and improving development trend, with strong support from the equipment manufacturing industry, the accumulation and growth of new kinetic energy, and continuous enhancement of industrial resilience. In April, China's industrial production maintained a relatively fast growth momentum, with 36 out of 41 industries achieving year-on-year growth in added value, reaching a growth rate of 87.8%. The industrial structure continued to improve, and the "ballast" role of the equipment manufacturing industry became prominent. In April, the added value of equipment manufacturing industries above designated size increased by 9.8% year-on-year, contributing 55.9% to the growth of all industries above designated size. The high-end, intelligent, and green development of the manufacturing industry continued to advance. The added value of high-tech manufacturing industries above designated size and digital product manufacturing industries increased by 10% year-on-year. Among them, driven by large models, server orders and output nearly doubled, while the output of robot reducers and industrial robots increased by 81% and 51.5% respectively. New energy vehicles, lithium-ion power batteries for automobiles, and solar cells, the "new three," performed remarkably, with stable growth in output. In the next stage, the state will continue to introduce measures, expand and improve the "two new" policies, and strengthen the implementation of "two major" constructions; accelerate the "AI+" action to cultivate and strengthen new quality productive forces; and continuously expand the scale of effective investment to promote the sustained improvement of the industrial economy.
Regions Accelerate Tourism Upgrades, Enrich Cultural and Tourism Offerings
Currently, various regions are actively accelerating the upgrading and renewal of the tourism industry, continuously enriching the supply of cultural and tourism products, and stimulating summer cultural and tourism consumption vitality. This summer, the "tourism + sports" consumption model brings new travel experiences to many tourists. In Fuzhou, Fujian, the recently opened Dragon Boat Theme Park attracts numerous citizens and tourists with its vibrant training sessions and competitions. The park's developed dragon boat-themed catering, cultural and creative products, and inland river cruise routes have become new growth points for the local cultural and tourism economy. New tourism scenarios are being created through "good ecology + good business formats." In Xixinan ancient village in Huangshan, Anhui, new projects such as forest coffee, bamboo rafts, and sightseeing small trains have been added to enrich tourists' sightseeing experience. Yuanjiang, Hunan, revitalized the ecological resources around Nandongting Lake, launching over 20 distinctive cultural and tourism projects such as shrimp fishing, fruit and vegetable picking, and wetland bird watching, leading to a nearly 30% year-on-year increase in rural tourism reception. Product supply is being enriched, and service experience is being optimized. In Kecheng District, Quzhou, Zhejiang, by integrating piano performances and other cultural events with urban public spaces, catering, and markets, a new summer cultural and tourism consumption landmark has been created. Since the activity started, the average daily passenger flow has exceeded 5,000, and surrounding catering and accommodation consumption has increased by 22% month-on-month. Harbin, Heilongjiang, with the theme of "lilac flowers," launched double-decker sightseeing buses, subway special trains, and river cable cars, and introduced lilac-themed tourism souvenirs in characteristic attractions like Central Avenue, allowing people to immerse themselves in the romantic atmosphere of the ice city in summer.
Forging 'Jinggangshan' Brand to Boost Old Revolutionary Base Area's Rural Revitalization
On the new journey of rural revitalization, Jiangxi is building agricultural product brands such as "Jinggangshan" and developing characteristic agricultural industrial clusters, making "local specialties" a "golden key" for the people in old revolutionary base areas to increase income and become rich. In the Jinggangshan Green Food Industrial Park, workers at a tea company are rushing to produce orders for Dubai and Cambodia. After obtaining the "Jinggangshan" regional public brand certification, their tea successfully entered first-tier domestic cities and opened up overseas markets. Ji'an, where the revolutionary holy land Jinggangshan is located, has rich ecological agricultural products, but for many years, scattered farming and breeding by farmers led to inconsistent standards and unstable quality, which also prevented good prices. To address this, the local government has created the "Jinggangshan" agricultural product regional public brand, allocating 200 million yuan in special funds annually to promote standardized, scaled, and branded agricultural development. For the eight key industries, Ji'an has successively released 96 standards covering the entire industry chain before, during, and after production, and has established 97 standardized brand bases. After this rice planting base was incorporated into the "Jinggangshan" brand management, the production methods changed. Field water and fertilizer management and pest control are all managed by big data, and when entering the processing stage, each grain of rice undergoes 15 detailed processing steps, with the broken rice rate controlled within 4%. Nowadays, in Ji'an, more and more agricultural and sideline products are going out of the mountains and into the world with the help of the "Jinggangshan" regional public brand. According to statistics, in 2024, the sales of "Jinggangshan" brand agricultural products reached 13.078 billion yuan, driving an average per capita income increase of over 6.8% for farmers.
China, ASEAN Conclude Free Trade Area 3.0 Negotiations
On May 20, China and the ten ASEAN countries comprehensively completed the negotiations for the China-ASEAN Free Trade Area (CAFTA) 3.0 version, taking a crucial step towards the goal of signing the upgrade protocol by the end of the year. The 3.0 version will create an inclusive, modern, comprehensive, and mutually beneficial free trade agreement. The 3.0 version includes 9 new chapters, covering digital economy, green economy, supply chain connectivity, and more. This will facilitate broader and deeper regional economic integration between the two sides under new circumstances, significantly promote the deep integration of bilateral production and supply chains, and holds important pioneering significance. At the same time, the construction of the 3.0 version is a landmark achievement for both sides in jointly safeguarding and deepening free trade. In a global trade environment facing significant challenges, it will inject greater certainty into regional and global trade and serve as a leading example for countries to adhere to openness, inclusiveness, cooperation, and win-win outcomes. Next, both sides will actively advance their respective domestic signing and approval procedures to promote the formal signing of the CAFTA 3.0 upgrade protocol by the end of the year.
4th China-Africa Economic and Trade Expo to Be Held in June
The State Council Information Office held a press conference today (May 21). A responsible official from the Ministry of Commerce introduced that the 4th China-Africa Economic and Trade Expo will be held in Changsha, Hunan, from June 12 to 15. This expo closely aligns with the industrial needs of China and Africa, featuring exhibition areas for smart mining technology and equipment, clean energy, energy conservation and environmental protection, modern agricultural machinery, and construction machinery. For the first time, it has planned special exhibition contents such as the China-Africa Cooperation Renowned Brands Exhibition, African Goods Exhibition, and China-Africa Fashion Industry Exhibition. As of now, over 12,000 people from 44 African countries, 6 international organizations, and others have registered to participate. The Ministry of Commerce stated that it will support all least developed countries that have diplomatic relations with China, including 33 African countries, to fully utilize the preferential policy of zero tariffs on 100% of tariff items, sharing the development opportunities brought by China's vast market.
State Council Information Office Holds Press Briefing on 'Strugglers on the New Journey'
Today (May 21), the State Council Information Office held a press conference for Chinese and foreign journalists titled "Strivers on the New Journey." At the meeting, five representatives from the field of natural resources met and exchanged views with Chinese and foreign journalists on the theme of "promoting harmony between humanity and nature," sharing their stories of achieving harmony between humanity and nature through their practical actions in cultivated land protection, geological surveying, rural planning, polar research, and forest protection.
21st ICIF Set to Open, Preparations Complete
The 21st China (Shenzhen) International Cultural Industries Fair (ICIF) will open tomorrow (May 22), and all preparations are now complete. This year's ICIF will have 3,300 offline exhibitors, an increase of 224 from the previous session. All 31 provinces, autonomous regions, municipalities directly under the Central Government, Hong Kong, Macao, and Taiwan regions are participating, and 305 exhibitors from 65 countries and regions worldwide are also attracted to participate. Continuing the exhibition model of "comprehensive exhibition + specialized exhibition," this year's ICIF will feature eight exhibition halls, showcasing over 120,000 cultural products, and more than 4,000 cultural industry investment and financing projects will be displayed and traded on-site. An artificial intelligence exhibition area will be set up for the first time. The number of participating countries along the "Belt and Road," global cooperation organizations, and the variety of exhibited products have all reached historical highs.
Domestic News Briefs
National General Public Budget Revenue Exceeds 8 Trillion Yuan in First Four Months
Latest data released by the Ministry of Finance show that from January to April, national general public budget revenue was 8,061.6 billion yuan. Central government revenue in April grew by 1.6%, marking the first positive monthly growth this year; local government revenue increased by 2.2%, maintaining the same growth rate as the first quarter. From January to April, national general public budget expenditure was 9,358.1 billion yuan, a year-on-year increase of 4.6%, with key areas of expenditure well-guaranteed.
Total Electricity Consumption up 4.7% in April
Data released by the National Energy Administration show that in April, total electricity consumption across society was 772.1 billion kilowatt-hours, a year-on-year increase of 4.7%. Among them, electricity consumption in the primary and tertiary industries grew faster, increasing by 13.8% and 9.0% year-on-year, respectively; electricity consumption in the secondary industry and for urban and rural residents' lives increased by 3.0% and 7.0%, respectively.
Shenzhou-20 Astronauts to Conduct First Extravehicular Activity Soon
According to the China Manned Space Agency, the Shenzhou-20 astronaut crew will conduct their first extravehicular activity (EVA) at an opportune time in the near future. The astronauts have completed on-orbit installation of the nodal module radial hatch protective device, extravehicular suit inspection and testing, and EVA preparations. Currently, the Shenzhou-20 astronaut crew is in good condition, and the space station complex is operating stably, meeting the conditions for EVAs.
China Adds Three Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems
Yesterday (May 20), the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) officially recognized three heritage systems in China as Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems: the Gaolan Shichuan Ancient Pear Orchard System in Gansu, the Deqing Freshwater Pearl Composite Culture System in Zhejiang, and the Fuding White Tea Culture System in Fujian. As of now, China has 25 Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems.
Yangshan Special Comprehensive Bonded Zone Celebrates 5th Anniversary, Accumulated Import and Export Value Exceeds 1 Trillion Yuan
Reporters learned today (May 21) from Shanghai Customs that since its establishment in May 2020, the Yangshan Special Comprehensive Bonded Zone has accumulated an import and export value of 1.05 trillion yuan, with an average annual compound growth rate of 22%; the number of enterprises in the zone has increased from 300 to over 1,500. In the first four months of this year, the Yangshan Special Comprehensive Bonded Zone achieved imports and exports of 102.62 billion yuan, a year-on-year increase of 16.1%, setting a new record for the same period.
"Guardianship Under the Sun" Rule of Law Public Security Theme Promotion Event Launched
The "Guardianship Under the Sun" Rule of Law Public Security theme promotion event was launched today (May 21). During the event, the Ministry of Public Security will organize learning and education, thematic interviews, and other activities to collectively showcase the new responsibilities and achievements of the public security force. At the same time, it will vigorously carry out law enforcement training and practical drills to continuously improve law enforcement capabilities and standards.
Lijian-1 Y7 Carrier Rocket Successfully Launched
At 12:05 PM today (May 21), the Lijian-1 Y7 carrier rocket was successfully launched from the Dongfeng Commercial Aerospace Innovation Test Area, successfully sending 6 satellites, including Taijing-3 04, into their predetermined orbits. The flight test mission was a complete success.
China Successfully Launches Zhongxing-3B Satellite
Yesterday (May 20) at 7:50 PM, China successfully launched the Zhongxing-3B satellite using a Long March 7A carrier rocket from the Wenchang Space Launch Site. The satellite successfully entered its predetermined orbit. The satellite is mainly used to provide voice, data, and broadcast television transmission services to users.
28th International Commission on Large Dams Releases "World (Chengdu) Declaration"
Today (May 21), the 28th Congress of the International Commission on Large Dams (ICOLD) released the "World (Chengdu) Declaration" in Chengdu. The Declaration focuses on the role of dams in energy transition and climate change adaptation, fully incorporating China's water governance ideas and concepts, and elaborating on the important role of reservoirs and dams in mitigating and adapting to climate change.
9 "Bay Area Standards" to Be Implemented Tomorrow
Today (May 21), the State Administration for Market Regulation, together with relevant departments from Guangdong, Hong Kong, and Macao, announced in Guangzhou that 9 "Bay Area Standards" will be officially implemented starting tomorrow. These standards focus on the Bay Area's scientific and technological achievements and cutting-edge technologies, cross-border government and business affairs, and unique cultural customs of the Greater Bay Area. As of now, the total number of "Bay Area Standards" has reached 235, covering fields such as transportation, medical care, food, and elderly care.
Temperatures Drop in North, Widespread Rainfall Expected in South
Affected by a cold front, today (May 21), the high-temperature areas in most parts of northern China gradually decreased, and their intensity weakened. Over the next three days, central and eastern regions will experience a round of widespread rainfall, with tomorrow being the strongest period of precipitation. Some areas in Hubei, Hunan, Jiangxi, Guangxi, and other places will experience heavy to torrential rainfall of 100-110 mm, accompanied by severe convective weather. The China Meteorological Administration has upgraded the emergency response status for heavy rain from Level IV to Level III.
Over Half of US Businesses Raise Prices Due to Tariffs: Survey
A survey report released by Allianz Group of Germany on May 20 showed that 54% of U.S. companies are responding to increased costs caused by U.S. tariff policies through price increases. According to U.S. media reports on May 20, influenced by U.S. tariff policies, rising costs and compressed profit margins may lead U.S. large retailer Home Depot to discontinue certain product lines. The report stated that U.S. consumers, concerned about the inflationary impact of tariff policies, are reducing large-scale renovations.
Fed Official Warns U.S. Tariff Policies May Significantly Impact Near-Term U.S. Economic Outlook
Alberto Musalem, a senior Federal Reserve official and president of the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis, warned on May 20 that even if U.S. tariff policies are adjusted, uncertainty remains high and could still significantly impact the near-term U.S. economic outlook. Domestic concerns in the U.S. about the negative impact of U.S. tariff policies persist. A lawsuit filed by 12 U.S. states jointly suing the U.S. government over the illegality of its tariff policies is scheduled to open today (May 21).
Russia Claims Strikes on Ukrainian Personnel, Equipment; Ukraine Reports Repelling Russian Attacks
The Russian Ministry of Defense stated on May 20 that Russian forces struck 147 Ukrainian military targets in various locations, including Kharkov and Donetsk. Russian air defense forces shot down multiple U.S.-made guided aerial bombs and 89 drones. The Kremlin announced that Russian President Putin inspected Kursk Oblast on the night of May 20, his first visit since Russian forces regained control of the region. The Ukrainian military stated on May 21 that Ukrainian forces repelled dozens of Russian attacks in the directions of Pokrovsk and Kursk. Ukrainian forces also shot down 71 drones.
Russian Mission to EU Vows Strong Response to New Sanctions Against Russia
The European Union and the United Kingdom announced new rounds of sanctions against Russia on May 20, with the EU's being the 17th round, focusing on Russia's energy, military, and financial sectors. The Russian Mission to the EU issued a statement saying that unilateral sanctions violate international law and Russia will respond decisively. The statement also said that the new round of sanctions is "devastating" for the EU itself, and sanctions have become an important factor leading to the deterioration of the economies of EU member states. In addition, according to U.S. media reports on May 20, U.S. President Trump said the previous day that he would not strengthen sanctions against Russia.
Israeli Military Strikes Gaza; UN Official Warns 14,000 Infants at Risk of Death
According to Palestinian media reports, Israeli forces attacked Jabalia in northern Gaza, as well as several areas in the central and southern parts, from May 20 to 21, resulting in dozens of deaths. The Israeli military stated on May 20 that it destroyed multiple buildings and killed dozens of Hamas militants in northern Gaza. Tom Fletcher, UN Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs, warned on May 20 that about 14,000 babies in the Gaza Strip could die within the next 48 hours due to lack of food and medical support under the Israeli blockade. According to Israeli media reports on May 21, former Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert stated that the war Israel is waging in the Gaza Strip has led to the deaths of large numbers of Palestinians and Israeli soldiers, almost amounting to war crimes.
U.S. Media: Israel Preparing to Strike Iranian Nuclear Facilities
According to a CNN report on May 20, multiple U.S. officials revealed that intelligence obtained by the U.S. indicates that Israel is preparing to strike Iranian nuclear facilities, and the likelihood of such a strike has significantly increased in recent months. Neither Israeli nor Iranian officials have responded to this.
International News Briefs
"Endless Life" Palace Museum Cultural and Creative Exhibition Debuts at UN
The opening ceremony of the "Endless Life - Palace Museum Cultural and Creative Exhibition at the United Nations" and the stamp issuing ceremony for the 100th anniversary of the Palace Museum were held at the United Nations Headquarters in New York on May 19. UN Under-Secretary-General Khaled Khiari stated that the Palace Museum has made outstanding contributions to protecting China's historical treasures and giving them contemporary expression, promoting exchanges between Chinese civilization and other civilizations of the world.
UN Official Stresses Multilateralism in Addressing Climate Change
Ana Toni, CEO of the 30th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP30), stated on May 20 that the U.S. withdrawal from multilateral agreements to address climate change has negative impacts on both the U.S. itself and the region. She emphasized that adherence to multilateralism is the only feasible path for global climate governance.
Heavy Rainfall Triggers Flooding in Southeastern France
On May 20, several areas in the Var department of southeastern France experienced thunderstorms and heavy rainfall, leading to widespread flooding. According to French media reports, the severe weather has resulted in 3 deaths. Local officials stated that some areas received up to 250 millimeters of rain in less than an hour. The floods caused rapid rises in river levels, submerged roads and houses, damaged bridges, and disrupted road and rail traffic.
Mexico Says Training Ship Was Under Command of New York Pilot During Bridge Collision
Mexican Navy Secretary Rafael Ojeda Durán confirmed on May 20 that the Mexican Navy training ship was under the command of a New York Harbor pilot when it collided with the Brooklyn Bridge on May 17. Ojeda Durán stated that according to international norms, vessel operations in the waters around the Brooklyn Bridge must be directed by local official professional pilots. Therefore, the operations of the Mexican training ship from its departure to the collision incident were all carried out under the command of the local pilot.
24 Solar Terms: Xiaoman (Grain Full)
Xiaoman is the eighth of the twenty-four solar terms. At the end of the program, let's appreciate the natural charm and cultural connotations of the Xiaoman solar term. "Xiaoman, where things reach a small fullness." By Xiaoman, rainfall significantly increases in southern regions, and rivers gradually fill up; in northern regions, winter wheat and other summer-harvested crops gradually become plump and mature. "Wheat ears are first neatly aligned like tender children, mulberry leaves are plump, and silkworms are full." During Xiaoman, silkworm cocoons are formed, and new silk is reeled. The Jiangsu and Zhejiang regions usher in the Silkworm Worship Festival, where people engage in rich and colorful folk activities to appreciate nature's bounty and pray for a bountiful silkworm harvest. China's sericulture and silk weaving techniques have also been inscribed on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, and there are over 70 national intangible cultural heritage items related to silk weaving and embroidery to date.