|
 |
|
SCHWEIZER
BOTSCHAFT IN BEIJING
EMBASSY OF SWITZERLAND IN BEIJING
AMBASSADE DE SUISSE EN CHINE |
Der wöchentliche
Presserückblick der Schweizer Botschaft in der VR China
The Weekly Press Review of the Swiss Embassy in the People's Republic
of China
La revue de presse hebdomadaire de l'Ambassade de Suisse en RP
de Chine |
 |
|
|
| Table of
contents |
|
DPRK
Mongolia
^ top ^
|
| Switzerland |
Giant panda-themed art exhibition held in Chengdu (Global Times)
2021-05-18
A giant panda-themed art exhibition kicked off at the Chengdu Giant Panda Research Base on Tuesday, amid the 45th International Museum Day and the reopening of China's first international panda art center following almost eight months of closure because of the COVID-19 epidemic. Young artists from China and Switzerland were involved. The exhibition aims to demonstrate the cross-cultural and trans-regional communication of the giant panda culture, and to explore the diverse and fashionable artistic expression of young artists from different cultural backgrounds, so that young people in China and abroad can feel emotional resonance from cultural exchange activities. Works by three artists are being displayed in three exhibition halls and one multimedia hall. Five works by Antonio Wehrli from Switzerland are being displayed in the first hall, including oil paintings that took several months to be completed, one employee at the base told the Global Times. There are 19 paintings by Chinese artist Mutou in the second hall, focusing on the childhood of giant pandas. Four paintings by Chinese artist Lü Yadong are on display at the third hall. The painting method is special, using fire and soot. The exhibition also includes historical recordings about giant pandas in the multimedia hall. Well-known Chinese vlogger Li Ziqi and famous pianist Lang Lang have recommended the exhibition in video clips. ^ top ^
Global luxury brands stand a better chance of weathering China's nationalistic consumer fervour, says Credit Suisse (SCMP)
2021-05-16
International luxury brands are less likely to be affected by the "China Pride" phenomenon that is gripping the country's consumer market, as they tend to be well established and produce better quality goods, according to Credit Suisse. The research team believes famous high-end brands are less affected than their more downmarket peers by the bloom of "Guochao" – the trend that is drawing Chinese consumers towards domestic brands at the expense of Western rivals. "The brand strength of these international high-end brands remains high [in China], and this is because they are long-established and they have relatively better quality products," said Jesalyn Wong, China consumer analyst at the investment bank. "In three to five years, although the domestic brands will move to the higher end of the market, it may still be difficult for them to confront the international luxury brands. However, we cannot exclude the possibility that the local brand could catch up one day." Chinese consumers, especially young ones, are increasingly opting for domestic brands amid a wave of patriotism recently exacerbated by a row over cotton produced in the Xinjiang region. They are also drawn by the local brands' stronger digital and marketing capabilities, Credit Suisse said. "Domestic brands are more down to earth, especially in how they leverage the online short-form video platform. They are able to react quicker to consumers," said Edmond Huang, head of China securities research at Credit Suisse in a media briefing on Thursday. "More local brands manage to express their own personality as well." Chinese sportswear brand Li-Ning has gained significant momentum in recent years, with its sales increasing by about a third in 2019 from the previous year. Local cosmetics brands enjoyed a 15 per cent gain in market share between 2010 and 2019. […] Despite the drastic fall in global luxury spending, China was the only region to report growth in 2019, with its domestic luxury market expanding by 45 per cent to reach €44 billion (US$53.4 billion) as tourists shifted to buying in their home markets, Bain's report revealed. ^ top ^
|
| Foreign Policy |
Chinese president to address global health summit (People's Daily)
2021-05-21
Chinese President Xi Jinping will attend the Global Health Summit and deliver a speech via video in Beijing on Friday, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying announced on Thursday. Xi was invited by Mario Draghi, prime minister of Italy that holds the G20 presidency, and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, Hua said. ^ top ^
China ready to join Senegal for stronger mutual support on core interests: FM (Xinhua)
2021-05-21
China is ready to work with Senegal to step up mutual support on issues concerning their respective core interests, said Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Thursday. In his telephone conversation with Senegal's Foreign Minister Aissata Tall Sall, Wang said China and Senegal are important partners and co-chairs of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC). Under the guidance of the two heads of state, bilateral cooperation is running at a high level and has seen rich fruits, said Wang, adding that China always views and develops bilateral ties from a strategic perspective, firmly supports the efforts of Senegalese President Macky Sall and the Senegalese government to maintain stability and promote development. Wang said that in the face of the pandemic, China and Senegal have weathered the difficulties together, adding that Chinese President Xi Jinping and President Sall jointly proposed last June the Extraordinary China-Africa Summit on Solidarity Against COVID-19, which has effectively promoted anti-pandemic cooperation between the two sides and around the world. The Chinese side, an important trade, investment and financing partner of Senegal, has made great efforts to overcome the impact of the epidemic, said Wang, adding that Chinese-funded enterprises in Senegal have completed a series of projects that are helpful for the African country to improve its national economy and people's livelihood. China, said Wang, will make joint efforts with Senegal to overcome the challenge of the pandemic, support the acceleration of industrialization in Senegal, improve its independent development capability, and continue to provide assistance to the country's fight against the outbreak. Wang said that China and Africa jointly launched the Initiative on Partnership for Africa's Development at the UN Security Council High-level Meeting on Peace and Security in Africa: "Addressing root causes of conflict while promoting post-pandemic recovery in Africa" on Wednesday, which has achieved good results. China is ready to join hands with African countries including Senegal to encourage more countries to join the initiative, strengthen the call for the international community to jointly support Africa's development, and come up with concrete measures to implement the initiative during the FOCAC gathering in Dakar, said Wang. He added that China fully supports Senegal in hosting a successful new session of the FOCAC so as to maintain the sound momentum of China-Africa solidarity and cooperation. Aissata thanked China for its strong support to the African continent and Senegal in fighting the pandemic, saying that a series of measures and suggestions put forward by China during the Extraordinary China-Africa Summit On Solidarity Against COVID-19 held in June last year have benefited Africa a lot. Noting that President Sall will assume the rotating presidency of the African Union next year, Aissata said Senegal supports and is ready to work with China to implement the Initiative on Partnership for Africa's Development. As the co-chair of the FOCAC, Senegal attaches great importance to the coming FOCAC meeting and is willing to work closely with China to make full preparations and push for greater development of Africa-China relations, she added. ^ top ^
Xi, Putin witness launch of joint nuclear energy project, high-quality China-Russia cooperation boosted (People's Daily)
2021-05-20
Chinese President Xi Jinping and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin on Wednesday witnessed the ground-breaking ceremony of a bilateral nuclear energy cooperation project, Tianwan nuclear power plant and Xudapu nuclear power plant, via video link. Xi arrived at the main venue of the Great Hall of the People at around 5:00 p.m. Beijing time and waved to Putin, who had joined in from the main venue of the Kremlin. He Lifeng, vice chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference and head of the National Development and Reform Commission, co-chaired the ceremony with Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak. Heads of relevant departments, local officials and constructor representatives of China and Russia attended the ceremony from the sub-venue of Tianwan nuclear power plant in Lianyungang City, east China's Jiangsu Province, sub-venue of Xudapu nuclear power plant in Huludao City, northeast China's Liaoning Province, and two Russian sub-venues. The heads of the companies of both countries reported on the progress of the project to the two heads of state. Xi and Putin delivered their speeches respectively. Speaking at the ceremony, Xi extended congratulations on the launch of the China-Russia nuclear energy cooperation project and paid high respect to the constructors from the two countries. Noting that this year marks the 20th anniversary of the signing of the China-Russia Treaty of Good-Neighborliness and Friendly Cooperation, Xi said that he and President Putin have agreed to advance the development of bilateral relations to a higher level and expand the ties to broader fields. In the face of the COVID-19 pandemic unseen in a century, China and Russia have firmly supported each other and cooperated closely and effectively, which is a vivid demonstration of the China-Russia comprehensive strategic partnership of coordination for a new era, he said. Xi stressed that energy cooperation has always been the most important area of practical cooperation which generates the largest achievement and covers the widest scope between the two countries. Noting that nuclear energy is the strategic priority for bilateral cooperation and a series of major projects have been completed and put into operation, Xi said the four nuclear power units that kicked off construction on Wednesday mark another major landmark in China-Russia nuclear energy cooperation. Xi put forward a three-point proposal at the ceremony. First, he called on both sides to adhere to the principle of safety first and set a model for global nuclear energy cooperation. It is necessary to construct and operate the four units with high quality and high standards, create a global benchmark in nuclear safety, give full play to complementary advantages, expand and deepen bilateral and multilateral cooperation on nuclear energy, and contribute more to the development of the global nuclear energy industry, he said. Second, Xi suggested the two countries deepen scientific and technological cooperation on nuclear energy by sticking to the driving force of innovation. He urged deepened cooperation on the basic research, key technology research and development, and transformation of innovative achievements in the field of nuclear energy, such as nuclear environmental protection, nuclear medicine, nuclear fuel and advanced nuclear power technology, so as to promote the deep integration of the nuclear energy industry and the new generation of digital technology, and contribute more wisdom to the innovative development of nuclear energy globally. Third, he called for adherence to strategic collaboration to promote the coordinated development of the governance system of the global energy industry. He said that it is necessary to promote the building of a global energy governance system featuring justice, equity, balance, inclusiveness, openness and shared benefits, and contribute more solutions to global energy governance. "Responding to climate change is a common task for all countries," Xi said, adding that China and Russia should promote more low-carbon cooperation projects and play a constructive role in achieving global sustainable development goals. For his part, Putin expressed warm congratulations on the start of the construction of the Tianwan nuclear power plant and the Xudapu nuclear power plant. He said that Russia has the confidence to work with China to smoothly and safely advance the project's construction. Noting that this year marks the 20th anniversary of the signing of the Treaty of Good-neighborliness and Friendly Cooperation between the two countries, Putin said Russia-China relations reached their best level in history. He added that the consensus reached between President Xi and himself has been well implemented with increasingly broader cooperation areas. He said cooperation on the peaceful use of nuclear energy marks a significant part of the comprehensive strategic partnership of coordination for a new era between the two countries, and it is believed that the start of the four nuclear power units will not only inject new vitality into the further development of Russia-China relations but also help achieve the goals to peak carbon dioxide emissions and achieve carbon neutrality. It will also contribute to coping with global climate change and realizing the sustainable development of humanity, Putin added. The Chinese representatives at the sub-venue of the Tianwan nuclear power plant and the sub-venue of the Xudapu nuclear power plant then reported to the two heads of state that preparations for the start of construction are completed. President Xi issued the instruction "Start!" After the Russian representatives reported to the two heads of state that the equipment is ready to be installed, President Putin issued the instruction "Start!" The project was officially launched as the first tank of cement was poured at the construction site of the power plants. Yang Jiechi and Wang Yi attended the ceremony. […] ^ top ^
China's EU deal set for the freezer, as parliament heads for crunch vote (SCMP)
2021-05-19
The European Parliament will vote to halt any discussion of the EU's investment deal with China until Beijing lifts the sanctions it imposed on European individuals and entities in March. A vote will be held on Thursday morning with the backing of all the major groupings in the parliament, sources within the parties said. A joint motion seen by the South China Morning Post dated May 18, was supported by all major parties, including the European People's Party (EPP), a centre-right, pro-business grouping which had previously been on the fence about rejecting the deal. The text shows the rejection of the Comprehensive Agreement on Investment (CAI) as part of a broad package of resolutions aimed at hitting back at China on human rights and political issues. These include the crackdown in Hong Kong, "crimes against humanity" in Xinjiang, the detention of European citizens like Hong Kong-Swedish bookseller Gui Minhai, the spreading of "disinformation in public debates" and muzzling academic freedom in Europe by sanctioning researchers. The motion says "any discussion on ratification by the European Parliament, have justifiably been frozen because the Chinese sanctions are in place", adding that Beijing must "lift the sanctions before dealing with CAI, without prejudice to the final outcome of the CAI ratification process". It also demands the commission "use the debate around CAI as a leverage instrument to improve the protection of human rights and support for civil society in China". It was first reported by Politico. China bit back at the parliament's plans on Wednesday, with foreign ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian saying "EU politicians who have long been involved in Xinjiang -related lies, false information and personnel sanctions are in line with their own interests". "The CAI is a balanced, mutually beneficial and win-win agreement. It is not a gift from one party to the other, but is mutually beneficial. Early approval is in the interests of both parties," he said, adding that he hoped "the EU will deeply reflect and stop interfering in China's internal affairs". European Commission figures, speaking privately about the deal after it was reached in December, were keen to separate the commercial aspects from those of human rights. Brussels had come in for criticism over perceived weak labour chapters in the face of allegations of widespread forced labour in the Western Chinese region of Xinjiang. Sources are confident the package will pass through parliament. "We support the final outcome – as we've said before, as long as sanctions are there, CAI is off the table," said a source within the EPP, which co-signed the lengthy joint motion. Bernd Lange, the Socialists and Democrats Group's chair of the parliament's trade committee, said the deal was unlikely to be "unfrozen" until the EU had rolled out other legislation to help "level the playing field" for EU businesses in China. "I'm totally convinced that the freeze will not be open before all the elements will be in force or near to force, so that this overall package is ready," he said, adding that the package showed "the expression of values is now really a cross-party issue". The CAI was concluded on the last day of Germany's presidency of the EU Council on December 30, at a ceremony involving the leaders of China, France and Germany. It continues to be processed technically – translation and legal scrubbing are under way. The original plan was to send it to parliament and the EU Council – the leaders of the 27 member states – for ratification in 2022. But those plans appear to be dead: it has been largely downhill since January. Some member states felt blindsided by a deal they felt was rushed through without due consultation, with Belgium and Poland both lodging complaints on this front. It captured the imagination of activists at a time when images of detained Uygurs in Xinjiang were being beamed across Europe and when businesses were coming under severe pressure to cut cotton and other Xinjiang products out of their supply chains. As Beijing's crackdown on Hong Kong intensified in January, diplomats speaking privately about the deal said they felt it like "a slap in the face", as it came just a week after Chinese President Xi Jinping had taken the online stage with his counterparts Angela Merkel and Emmanuel Macron in a show of strength for multilateralism. But the straw that broke the camel's back were the retaliatory sanctions issued in March, which came following the EU's first sanctions on China since the Tiananmen Square massacre of 1989. Scores of MEPs vowed to block the deal's passage in parliament, with major groups eventually agreeing on the text of this passage on Tuesday evening. While Brussels' top officials have been unable to whip all 27 members to issue statements and conclusions on Hong Kong due to Hungary's successive blocking, parliamentarians have taken measures into their own hands. The package "reaffirms that fundamental freedoms, freedom of expression, free participation in decision-making processes, academic freedom and the defence of human rights are pillars of our democracies and that these values will never be compromised in EU-China relations ". The text adds that "intimidation attempts are futile and that, as elected Members of the European Parliament, we will continue to actively and unabatedly denounce and work on human rights violations and breaches of international law". "The vote is Thursday, but it looks as if we got a majority in parliament behind our demand not to start debating the CAI as long as we are under sanctions by China," said Hannah Neumann, a Green Party MEP who was sanctioned as vice-chair of the subcommittee on human rights. "Human rights and democracy are valued more than any potential. ^ top ^
Chinese envoy urges efforts to oppose technological hegemony (Xinhua)
2021-05-18
Zhang Jun, China's permanent representative to the United Nations (UN) and president of the UN Security Council for May, on Monday called for efforts to oppose technological hegemony and to give special attention to the use of emerging technologies in armed conflicts. "Unilateralism, protectionism and technological hegemony should be firmly opposed. We need to uphold international fairness and justice, promote equal and mutually beneficial cooperation, and avoid blockades and barriers to technology," Zhang told an Arria-formula meeting on "the Impact of Emerging Technologies on International Peace and Security," co-hosted by the permanent UN missions of China, Egypt, Kenya, Mexico, South Africa and the United Arab Emirates. "We need to promote innovation-driven development, and comprehensively improve the development and application of science and technology in all countries to narrow the digital divide," said Zhang, who chaired the meeting, which was the first ever Arria-formula meeting on emerging technologies. "All countries must be fully engaged in the process of global technological development, to ensure that the advances in science and technology benefit all, especially the developing countries. We need to strengthen capacity building through the application of emerging technologies to raise all countries' capability to fight the pandemic, tackle climate change, and maintain food, energy and data security," said Zhang. "We need to create favorable conditions to encourage healthy competition and prevent the monopoly on technology. All countries should pursue open development, and meet the challenges in the process of development," the ambassador added. Zhang called for efforts to strengthen global governance to better regulate the development and application of emerging technologies. "We should practice multilateralism, encourage active participation of multiple stakeholders, and increase dialogue and cooperation to jointly formulate international norms and rules on emerging technologies." The envoy urged efforts to fully recognize the potential risks and challenges of emerging technologies to better maintain international peace and security. "We must prevent emerging technologies from falling into the hands of terrorist groups or being used to spread disinformation and hate speech. It is necessary to strengthen the use of emerging technologies in UN peacekeeping operations," he said. He voiced hope for strengthened coordination to support the central role of the UN. "The UN should pay more attention to emerging technologies, and further study and explore the establishment of a democratic, transparent, and inclusive framework for international cooperation and governance from the perspectives of peace, development and security," he added. Arria-formula meeting is a flexible and informal mechanism for Security Council members to exchange views with UN member states and interested parties on issues of common concern. ^ top ^
China puts forward four-point proposal regarding Palestine-Israel conflict (Global Times)
2021-05-17
China puts forward a four-point proposal regarding escalating Palestine-Israel conflict, Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi said on Sunday. Wang made the remarks when chairing the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) open debate on "The Situation in the Middle East, including the Palestinian Question" via video link. Wang said that the escalating conflict between Israel and Palestine had resulted in a large number of casualties, including women and children. The situation is extremely critical and severe, and a ceasefire and cessation of violence is urgently needed. The international community must move forward with urgency to prevent the situation from further deteriorating, to prevent the region from falling again into turmoil, and to protect the lives of local people, Wang said. He said that the Palestinian question has always been the core of the Middle East issue. Only when the Palestinian question is resolved comprehensively, fairly and permanently, can the Middle East truly achieve lasting peace and universal security. In response to the current tense situation, Wang put forward a four-point proposition: First, ceasefire and cessation of violence is the top priority. China strongly condemns violent acts against civilians, and once again urges the two sides to immediately stop military and hostile actions, and stop actions that deteriorate the situation, including airstrikes, ground offensives, and rocket launches. Israel must exercise restraint in particular. Second, humanitarian assistance is an urgent need. China urges Israel to earnestly fulfill its obligations under international treaties, lift all the blockade and siege of Gaza as soon as possible, guarantee the safety and rights of civilians in the occupied Palestinian territory, and provide access for humanitarian assistance. The international community must provide humanitarian assistance to Palestine, and the UN must play a coordinating role to avoid serious humanitarian disasters. Third, international support is an obligation. The UNSC must take vigorous action on the Palestine-Israel conflict, reiterate its firm support for a "two-state solution," and push the situation to cool down at an early date. The UNSC has failed to make a unanimous voice due to the obstruction of one certain country. China calls on the United States to shoulder its due responsibilities, adopt a fair stand, and support the UNSC in playing its due role in easing the situation, rebuilding trust, and political settlement. China also supports the UN, the League of Arab States, the Organization of Islamic Cooperation and other countries that have an important influence on the region to play a more active role. Fourth, a "two-state solution" is the fundamental way out. China supports the two sides resuming peace talks based on a "two-state solution" as soon as possible, to establish an independent State of Palestine that enjoys full sovereignty with East Jerusalem as its capital and based on the 1967 border, and fundamentally realize the peaceful coexistence of Palestine and Israel, realize the harmonious coexistence of the Arab and Jewish nations, and realize lasting peace in the Middle East. Wang said that, since China assumed the rotating presidency of the UNSC, it has made responding to the current tensions in the Middle East a top priority and pushed the UNSC to deliberate on the Palestinian question many times. "China will continue to intensify efforts to promote peace talks, and fulfill its duties as the rotating presidency of the UNSC," said Wang, adding that China reiterates its invitation to peacemakers from Palestine and Israel to hold dialogue in China, and welcomes negotiators from the two countries to hold direct talks in China. Wang urged unity; siding with peace, justice and fairness; standing by the right side of history; and practicing the real multilateralism, to push for the comprehensive, fair and permanent settlement of the Palestinian question at an early date. For the part of the attendees, they thanked China for chairing the event, and called for an immediate ceasefire and cessation of violence between Israel and Palestine, as well as cooling down of the situation while abiding by relevant UNSC resolutions and international laws. They also believed the UNSC members and the international community should speak with one voice to fairly promote the Palestine-Israel peace talks and the realization of peaceful coexistence between Palestine and Israel. ^ top ^
Chinese FM to chair UNSC Middle East debate (Xinhua)
2021-05-17
Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi will on Sunday chair the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) open debate on "The Situation in the Middle East, including the Palestinian Question" and deliver remarks via video link, Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Hua Chunying announced here Sunday. China, as the rotating presidency of the UNSC in May, has pushed the UNSC to hold two rounds of urgent consultations on the Palestine-Israel conflict and drafted a UNSC press statement, Hua said. In recent days, the conflict between Palestine and Israel has caused many casualties, and regional tensions have further escalated, Hua said. Through this open debate, China hopes to encourage all parties to stop hostilities immediately and resume political dialogue as soon as possible, said Hua. China also hopes the meeting will push the international community, especially the Security Council, to play an active role in easing tensions and resolving the Middle East issue through political means, she added. ^ top ^
|
| Domestic
Policy |
|
China's tech self-reliance push puts awards system for scientists under microscope (SCMP)
2021-05-21
Chinese Vice-Premier Liu He has called for further reform of the country's controversial honours system for top scientists as it prioritises self-reliance amid its trade and tech rivalry with the United States. Liu met top science academics in Guangzhou on Tuesday to discuss the progress of reform of the country's most prestigious awards system for top scientists, known as yuanshi, or academicians. While noting improvements since reforms were first mooted nearly a decade ago, Liu said more needed to be done. "There needs to be a strict threshold on the quality of selection of academicians, and a focus on the exclusive and the academic nature [of the awards], so the system could play its role for the nation's strategic needs," Liu was quoted as saying by state news agency Xinhua. Claims of cronyism and corruption have amplified calls for change in how Chinese scientists are promoted. This year's nomination of Wang Li, chief engineer of Kweichow Moutai – maker of a brand of baijiu, China's national spirit – for one of Guizhou province's top academic accolades sparked debate over whether producing liquor merited such an honour. Wang was not shortlisted, but it again raised questions about the opaque selection process. The state's elite research institutions, such as the Chinese Academy of Engineering (CAE) and the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), are influential bodies, often asked by the top leadership to provide suggestions and proposals. Members of those academies can influence government strategy, and are held in higher esteem than their Western counterparts but are prone to corruption. Liu said he expected academicians to be the "critical few" in China's pursuit of self-reliance in science and technology, driving innovation with a "start from scratch" attitude. The personal push from Liu, whose responsibilities as vice-premier include science and technology, highlighted the importance Beijing places on innovation. It has vowed to become self-reliant in the next decade and a half in science and key technologies – one of the most contentious areas of its relationship with Washington. The academies select candidates for honours from nominations by existing academicians, government departments or national-level academic institutes. The lifelong titles, awarded every two years, not only confer membership of an exclusive group but come with official and unofficial privileges including research funding and influence over national policy. The CAE's rules state that only those making "significant and creative achievements" in engineering, including major inventions or contributions to theory, or breakthroughs in important projects, will be chosen. This year, the CAE will recognise up to 88 new academicians, while the CAS will choose 73. Official calls for reform began in 2012 following the previous year's infamous selection of Xie Jianping – dubbed the "tobacco academician" – for his research into refining low-tar cigarettes. Zhong Nanshan, China's leading respiratory diseases expert and an academician, argued against the selection but Xie was given the CAE title. The unsuccessful 2019 nomination of Robin Li Yanhong, chief executive of search engine giant Baidu, triggered a firestorm of criticism on social media, citing company scandals including a failure to screen out fraudulent advertisements. Meanwhile, Tu Youyou, the first mainland Chinese scientist to win a Nobel Prize in a scientific category, for her work on a cure for malaria, has never been made a CAS academician. Sun Wenkai, a research fellow with Renmin University, said reforming the academician system was challenging, given the ingrained bureaucracy. He called for a more academic focus, and expansion of the vetting process to eliminate small circles that may encourage corruption. "Competition in science and tech has become the source of our long-term rivalry with the US, and improving our systems in the field will raise our ability in that competition," Sun said. "China should invest more in nurturing the younger generation, instead of only directing resources to academics with prestigious titles." A researcher at Harbin Institute of Technology, who requested anonymity due to the sensitivity of the topic, said it would be "very difficult" for reform to succeed. "It is very unlikely those with academic achievements but not the correct network will become academicians," he said. "Academicians are influential because it is more than just an honour; they are very powerful in academia. "There is still no new system to replace the current one to elect, review and supervise academicians, so reform is bound to be very challenging." ^ top ^
Xi shines light on key events in Party's revolutionary history (People's Daily)
2021-05-20
This year marks the centennial of the Communist Party of China (CPC). The first 28 years of the Party's history, before the founding of the People's Republic of China (PRC) in 1949, are known as the revolutionary period, marking its journey from birth to power. Xi Jinping, general secretary of the CPC Central Committee, has said the revolutionary history is the best textbook for Chinese Communists. The following are some of the key events in the Party's history that Xi, also Chinese president and chairman of the Central Military Commission, has spoken of during his visits to various revolutionary sites. "Never forget why you started, and you can accomplish your mission," Xi told the Party while addressing the 19th CPC National Congress in 2017. A week after the national congress, Xi led the top CPC leadership to the sites where the first CPC national congress was held in Shanghai and Jiaxing, revisiting the Party's founding history. In July 1921, about a dozen young people started the first congress in a brick-and-wood building in the French concession area of Shanghai. "Comrade Mao Zedong compared this site to the cradle of the CPC. It is a vivid metaphor. I see the site as an anchor of the souls of Chinese Communists," Xi said. After being harassed, the delegates moved to a boat on Nanhu Lake in Jiaxing, east China's Zhejiang Province, to continue their meeting. There, they discussed and passed the Party's first program and resolution. In the documents, the CPC committed itself to upholding Marxism-Leninism, which laid the direction and cornerstone of the Party, Xi said. The Nanhu boat is now known as the Red Boat, which "sparked the flame of the Chinese revolution and started the century-spanning voyage of the Party," Xi said. After 100 years, the CPC has grown from a small party to the world's largest Marxist ruling party with over 91 million members. An iconic event in the CPC revolutionary history is the epic Long March. From October 1934 to October 1936, the Red Army trekked 12,500 km across the country, repelling more than 1 million enemy troops bent on pursuing it and eventually establishing a revolutionary base in northwest China. From there, China's revolution has been on the path to victory. Xi, who described the Long March as an enormously significant event in the Party's history, has visited many sites along the Long March routes. In May 2019, during a visit to Yudu County in east China's Jiangxi Province, Xi paid tribute to a monument marking the departure of the Central Red Army on the Long March. Relying on firm faith and strong will, the Party and the Red Army emerged from one impossible situation after another, and secured the final victory, Xi said. In April 2021, he visited a memorial park in south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, commemorating the Battle of the Xiangjiang River during the Long March, which Xi described as a "life-or-death event" for the revolution. "Revolutionary ideals rise above all else. That is why the Red Army can conquer all enemies and also the secret to the success of the Chinese revolution," Xi said. In the Long March, the Red Army engaged the enemy more than 600 times, crossed almost 100 rivers, scaled more than 40 peaks -- including more than 20 snow-capped mountains with elevations above 4,000 meters, and traversed vast marshlands and grasslands known as "death traps." "Every generation has its own long march, and every generation must see that march through," Xi said. "The long march of our generation is to realize the Chinese Dream of national rejuvenation." Xibaipo, a township about 350 km from Beijing, is an old revolutionary base, where the CPC leadership stationed from May 1948 to early 1949 to draw the blueprint of a new country and prepare for the CPC's new role as the ruling party. In March 1949, the CPC leadership decided to leave Xibaipo for Beijing. Mao Zedong compared the trek to "going for a big exam in the capital city." Mao called on the whole Party to remain modest, prudent and free from arrogance and rashness in their style of work, and preserve the style of plain living and hard struggle. Xi said he had been to Xibaipo many times. "Each time, I came with a lot of respect and left with many thoughts," said Xi while inspecting the township in 2013. During the visit, Xi also urged the whole Party to draw positive energy from the history and stand the tests of the people. In September 2019, a few days ahead of the 70th founding anniversary of the PRC, Xi visited a revolutionary memorial site in suburban Beijing, where the CPC briefly settled down after leaving Xibaipo. He again mentioned the relevance of the "big exam" 70 years ago. The CPC members should always maintain their enterprising spirit, ensure the Party's purity and advanced nature, and pass the test of the new era, Xi stressed. "Looking ahead, China has very bright prospects for development," Xi said. ^ top ^
Chinese legislators to inspect enforcement of Enterprise Bankruptcy Law (Xinhua)
2021-05-19
The Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (NPC) on Tuesday launched an enforcement inspection of China's Enterprise Bankruptcy Law. From late May to mid-June, inspection teams will be dispatched to several provinces, including Hebei, Shanxi, Zhejiang and Shandong, according to the first plenary meeting of the inspection teams held in Beijing. The NPC Standing Committee will also entrust legislatures in several provincial-level regions with inspecting the enforcement of the law in their own regions. During the inspection, the teams will check on the promotion of the law and its application in court, as well as the implementation of several mechanisms related to bankruptcy that are included in the law. The NPC Standing Committee will then revise the law according to the inspection results. The inspection teams will discuss the law-enforcement inspection report in July and report to the NPC Standing Committee in late August. ^ top ^
Xi sets tone for future of mega water project (China Daily)
2021-05-18
President Xi Jinping set the tone for the future development of China's mega water diversion project at a symposium on Friday, a meeting analysts said will pave the way for the construction of a national network of water resources and stronger water conservation measures in the next five years. Xi convened the symposium on advancing the follow-up development of the South-to-North Water Diversion Project in Nanyang, Henan province, during which he set out requirements for the next phase of the diversion project. China must accelerate steps to develop a national network of water resources and improve the nation's capacity to ensure water security across the board in the next five years, said Xi, who is also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission. He highlighted the need for the nation to refine its system of allocating water resources as well as its flood prevention and disaster relief system in different river basins in order to provide a strong guarantee of water security for its modernization drive. The development of a national water supply network is one of the major infrastructure programs outlined in the nation's 14th Five-Year Plan (2021-25). […] Xi has closely followed the progress of the water diversion project in recent years, presiding over meetings to study the issue of water security and issuing a number of important instructions in this regard. He visited a hydraulic facility in Yangzhou, Jiangsu province, in November, where he stressed the importance of continuing with the project, refining its construction plans and making the eastern route essential to the better allocation of water resources and ensuring water security. The symposium on Friday was held after Xi traveled to the Danjiangkou Reservoir and surveyed the construction, management and operations of the central route of the project. The construction of the first phase of the South-to-North Water Diversion Project－which transfers water from the Yangtze River and its tributaries to irrigate arid regions in the north－was started in 2002 for the project's eastern route and in 2003 for its central route. The central route began supplying water to northern China in 2014, and the eastern route became operational in 2013. So far, they have diverted over 40 billion cubic meters of water to northern China and directly benefited 120 million people. The central route has now become the pillar of water supply for Beijing, Tianjin and major cities in Hebei and Henan provinces, improving water quality and helping to replenish excessively exploited groundwater, according to the Ministry of Water Resources. During the symposium, Xi underlined the need for China to get stronger in water resources as the nation enters a new development stage, implement a new development philosophy, foster a new development paradigm, endeavor to establish a national unified market and promote coordinated growth between northern and southern China. It is important to maximize the comprehensive efficiency of projects, determine the scale and overall distribution of projects based on the long-term demand and supply of water resources and resolutely guard against threats to environmental security, he said. Xi reiterated the significance of prioritizing water conservation, saying that saving water should be the fundamental solution for areas that receive diverted water supplies. He called for measures to coordinate project investment and efficiency, with stronger measures to compare different plans in order to minimize land acquisition and resettlement. Zhang Yongqiang, a researcher on hydrology and water resources at the Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research with the Chinese Academy of Sciences, said the South-to-North Water Diversion Project will provide a fundamental solution to the water shortage in North China, especially in areas along the Yellow River. He noted that there is still immense potential for water conservation in the agricultural sector as irrigation takes up the majority of water use in northern provincial areas, adding that the use of water-saving agriculture technology and adjustments in crop structure could help reduce water wastage. Zhang said the symposium on Friday could expedite the planning for the long-awaited western route of the mega project, which seeks to divert water from the upper reaches of the Yangtze River to drought-ridden northwestern China. Wang Guangqian, an academician in the Chinese Academy of Sciences and professor on the regulation of rivers at Tsinghua University, said in an interview in March that the western route, upon its completion, could divert about 40 billion cubic meters of water to the Yellow River to quench the thirst for water in its river basin areas. The western route, which must traverse high mountains and areas with complex geographical conditions in the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, could require a total investment of 1.1 trillion yuan ($170.8 billion) over 15 years, he said. However, the diverted water will help transform the deserts and sandy barren lands in the upper reach of the Yellow River into arable land and unleash the potential for cities along the river to become megacities, he said. ^ top ^
The Challenge of Keeping China From Shrinking (Caixin)
2021-05-17
China's once-in-a-decade census showed an ultra-low fertility rate, a shrinking labor force and a rapidly aging population, alerting policymakers of the urgent need for significant changes to reverse or at least ease a dramatic plunge in population that could sap economic growth. The numbers herald drastic demographic changes for China in coming decades. At present, the world's most populated country still adds 12 million newborns every year. However, in the long run, it may be difficult to reverse the trends of an increasingly aging population and a shrinking workforce. This is a global challenge. By 2050, one in six people in the world will be over age 65, up from one in 11 in 2019, and the global fertility rate — which fell from 3.2 births per woman in 1990 to 2.5 in 2019 — is projected to decline further to 2.2 in 2050, the United Nations predicted in 2019. Countries including Germany, Japan and South Korea are already having negative population growth. China's transition to this stage has been particularly rapid. In a national population development plan issued in 2016, the State Council said China's pace of aging was significantly higher than the world average. In terms of fertility rate, the 1.3 reading in the most recent census is lower than that of many developed countries such as Japan with 1.4 and the United States with 1.6. According to the United Nations, maintaining a population requires a fertility rate of 2.1. "The fertility rate is so low that we have entered the stage of ultra-low fertility," said Wang Guangzhou, a researcher at the Institute of Population and Labor Economics at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences. China's 1.3 fertility rate suggests a "low-fertility trap," a concept first raised by the Austrian demographer Wolfgang Lutz, who observed that no country whose fertility rate fell below 1.5 has reversed that trend. The impact of fertility on economy growth will appear in two decades, said Huang Wenzheng, a demography expert at the Beijing-based Centre for China and Globalization, a think tank. What is more alarming is that China's fertility rate will continue to decline, as the current number includes the gradually fading accumulation effect from the implementation of China's two-child policy, according to Liang Jianzhang, a co-founder of online travel platform Trip.com Group Ltd. and a population economist. Since China in 2015 abolished the one-child policy, which was introduced in 1980 to reduce the number of hungry mouths to feed, the willingness to have a second child was released over a short period of time. Many women who were about to pass out of their prime childbearing ages rushed to have a second child as soon as the policy was lifted, which amplified the national fertility rate for a time, Liang wrote in an article. After taking into account the accumulation effect, the natural fertility rate is only 1.0–1.1, Liang estimated. When the one-child policy was lifted, experts and policymakers predicted a surge in births and a gradual recovery of the fertility rate to about 1.8. In 2015, Wang Peian, then a deputy director of China's family planning commission, projected more than 20 million newborns in 2017 and 17 million to 19 million births a year through 2020. Instead, after rising to 17.9 million in 2016, births fell in each subsequent year. One major reason for the declining fertility rate is that the number of women of childbearing age, who were mostly born in the 1980s and 1990s, fell sharply from their parents' generation as a result of the one-child policy. Women ages 15 to 49, defined as those of childbearing age, currently number about 300 million, down 20% from 2010. According to existing demographic data, the number of women ages 22 to 35, who contribute the most to the fertility rate, will decline more than 30% over the next decade. However, the birth control policy is not solely to blame. The impact of economic, social and cultural factors on people's willingness to have children has also come to play a significant role. The lifting of the one-child policy has had only a limited effect on young couples. Among married couples who already have one child, only 30% said they want to have a second one, according to a 2016 survey by a team led by Chen Wei, a professor of demography at the Center for Population and Development Studies at Renmin University of China. […] Extremely high housing price-to-income ratios in big cities, increasing educational pressure and cost and a less-friendly fertility environment all have further dampened Chinese people's fertility desire, Liang said. "The data leads us to conclude that urban China has the highest child-rearing costs of anywhere in the world, in turn leading to the lowest fertility rates in the world," Liang wrote. Compared with other countries that have low fertility rates, China has been relatively slow in policy response. In a paper comparing countries' birth policies, Mao Zhuoyan, a researcher at the think tank China Population and Development Research Center, wrote that Japan, South Korea and Singapore all had years of neutral or moderate policies before they implemented pro-birth policies. […] When newborns continued to decrease in 2017 and 2018 even after the one-child policy was lifted, many demographers argued that the two-child policy effect had not been fully realized and still recommended conservative policies. Many experts partially attribute the low fertility rate in 2020 to people's delay in having children during the Covid-19 pandemic. Without the pandemic, China's fertility rate should be around 1.48 and should fluctuate around 1.4 in the next few years, estimated Zhai Zhenwu, a professor at the China Population and Development Research Center. In April, Wang, former deputy director of China's family planning commission and now a member of the Communist Party's political advisory body, called for a significant adjustment of population policy in favor of measures to encourage births. But he acknowledged that it won't be easy. "Today, the difficulty to encourage people to have more children is no less than or is even greater than the birth control task 40 years ago," Wang said after the census. In its14th Five-Year Plan for 2021–25, China vowed to actively implement a strategy to cope with the aging population and the low fertility rate, proposing measures to develop an affordable child care system and reduce childbearing and education costs. Some of these policies are still in the research stage and some have been introduced, but the implementation is lacking, Wang said. "For example, policies and regulations to extend maternity leave and provide paternity leave are in place, but there is still the problem of how to push forward the implementation," he said. Liang suggested that the government offer parents 1 million yuan ($156,000) for each newborn child in a bid to shore up the country's declining birth rate. Education and housing reforms to reduce childbearing costs take long periods to show an effect, while the most immediate solution would be to increase family incomes by giving families with children "real money," he said. Liang said his research showed that it would cost 10% of China's GDP to raise the fertility rate from the current 1.3 to the replacement level of 2.1. That amounts to 1 million yuan per child and could be allocated in the form of cash, tax relief or housing subsidies, he said. Experts might disagree on how to solve the population puzzle, but the consensus is that even if China starts to take measures now, it will be difficult to quickly reverse the trends of aging population and fewer births. In a 2019 paper analyzing Japan's aging process and pro-birth policy, Wang Wei, a researcher at the Institute of Japanese Studies, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, pointed out that even after nearly three decades of implementation of pro-birth measures since the 1990s, Japan is still mired in the low-fertility trap. ^ top ^
COVID-19 control cranked up after sporadic cases reported (Xinhua)
2021-05-17
The more than 100,000 people who were given nucleic acid tests in Feixi County in east China's Anhui Province on Saturday tested negative for COVID-19. The countywide nucleic acid tests took place after one more locally-transmitted COVID-19 case was reported on Friday. It was the second case in Feixi and the third in Anhui since the first confirmed case of a 29-year-old female in Lu'an City was reported on Thursday. Meanwhile, large-scale nucleic acid tests aimed at covering all 500,000 people in Bayuquan District, Yingkou City, northeast China's Liaoning Province, continued on Saturday. The second round of nucleic acid tests in this district, where most of the new cases emerged, will be launched on Sunday. As of 7 p.m. Saturday, a total of six confirmed COVID-19 cases were reported in Liaoning Province, according to the provincial health commission. Nine residential communities and villages in Yingkou have been upgraded to medium-risk areas for COVID-19 and put under closed-off management, the city government said. The city government has ordered to cap visitor flow under 50 percent of the designed capacity in public places such as shopping malls, supermarkets, theaters, museums and restaurants. The Liaoning provincial health authority has sent a team of 30 experts to Yingkou to guide COVID-19 prevention and control efforts, including epidemiological investigation and source tracing. National capital Beijing has traced 28 close contacts of the reported COVID-19 cases in Anhui, the municipal center of disease prevention and control announced Saturday. The close contacts, which include a driver of a ride-hailing platform, were found in 11 districts of the city from Thursday to Friday. The driver has tested negative for COVID-19, according to the center. A total of 167 secondary close contacts have also been found, the center added. So far, 24 close contacts and 141 secondary close contacts, as well as 231 samples from their surroundings, have given negative results after nucleic acid testing. The rest of the samples are being examined. ^ top ^
Update: 12 Dead, Hundreds Injured as Tornadoes Hit Central, Eastern China (Caixin)
2021-05-15
Ten people died and hundreds more were injured as tornadoes swept through two Chinese cities on Friday night, according to Chinese media reports. Serious damage occurred in the central city of Wuhan, where high winds caused the deaths of eight people and wounded 280, the local government said during a press conference Saturday. Separately, gusts in the eastern city of Suzhou killed four people and injured 149, according to national broadcaster CCTV. Tornadoes are relatively rare in China, but sometimes occur in the early summer as annual weather patterns known as the "plum rains" trigger storms in southern and central regions. In Wuhan, winds collapsed 85 homes, damaged a further 400, and brought down two large construction cranes, Changjiang Daily reported. Rescue workers and local officials have arrived on the scene, and temporary shelters covering some 8,000 square meters have been set up, the newspaper added. In Suzhou, rescue work finished at 5 a.m. Saturday morning. Of the four people who died, one was killed at the scene, two died in hospital after sustaining severe injuries, and one who had initially gone missing died in hospital after being found, CCTV said. Some 19 people in the eastern city had "light" injuries and 130 were "very lightly" wounded, the broadcaster said, adding that the winds damaged 84 rural homes and 17 businesses. ^ top ^
Xi extends congratulations on China's first Mars landing (People's Daily)
2021-05-15
Chinese President Xi Jinping on Saturday extended congratulations on the successful landing of China's first probe on Mars. On behalf of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, the State Council and the Central Military Commission (CMC), Xi, also general secretary of the CPC Central Committee and chairman of the CMC, extended warm congratulations and sincere greetings to all members who have participated in the Mars exploration mission, Tianwen-1, in a congratulatory message. Xi said in the message that the landing marks an important step in China's interstellar exploration and a leap from the exploration of the Earth-Moon system to interplanetary exploration. "The landing left a Chinese mark on Mars for the first time. It is another landmark progress in China's space industry development," said Xi. "Thanks to your courage in face of challenges and pursuit of excellence, China is now among the leading countries in planetary exploration," Xi said in the message. "The country and people will always remember your outstanding achievements." Xi stressed organizing and implementing the roving and scientific exploration on Mars carefully, adhering to the self-reliance in sci-tech development, and pushing forward major space projects including planetary exploration. He also called for boosting China's strength in space technology and making new and greater contributions to exploring the mysteries of the universe and promoting the noble cause of peace and development of humanity. Vice Premier Han Zheng, also a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, witnessed the landing at the Beijing Aerospace Control Center. Vice Premier Liu He, also a member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, read out the congratulatory message. Tianwen-1, consisting of an orbiter, a lander and a rover, was launched from the Wenchang Spacecraft Launch Site on the coast of southern China's island province of Hainan on July 23, 2020, with the aim of completing orbiting, landing and roving on the red planet in one mission. The spacecraft entered the Mars orbit in February 2021 and spent about three months surveying the planet. The successful landing marks China's first landing on an extraterrestrial planet and makes it the second country of a successful Mars landing. The China National Space Administration has cooperated with international space organizations like European Space Agency and the national space agencies of Argentina, France and Austria. ^ top ^
|
| Beijing |
Beijing 'very close' to become 1st Chinese city with herd immunity: experts (Global Times)
2021-05-19
More than 80 percent of Beijing residents over the age of 18 have received their first shot of COVID-19 vaccine, a move amid an accelerated national campaign that has delivered at least 400 million vaccine doses. Experts reached by Global Times said that Beijing is very close to become the first Chinese city achieving herd immunity, however, self-protection is still needed. Local media said on Monday that more than 15 million residents had received COVID-19 vaccines in the Chinese capital in the past five months. About 12.3 million residents out of a total of 21 million residents have finished the two-dose vaccination process. Beijing started its vaccination project on January 1. Of Beijing's 16 districts, 11 have inoculated at least 80 percent of their residents so far. The rates in Daxing and Shunyi districts, which house two international air hubs, have exceeded 90 percent. The vaccination rates of employees in various industries such as healthcare, express delivery, tourism, hotels and other services have also exceeded 90 percent in Beijing, media reported. About 2 million residents aged over 60 have received at least one dose of vaccine, among whom the oldest was 100 years old, and more than 20,000 foreigners have also been vaccinated, the Beijing Daily reported. Yang Zhanqiu, a deputy director of the pathogen biology department at Wuhan University, told the Global Times on Tuesday that Beijing is very close to achieving herd immunity. However, the process is yet to be completed, so people still need to protect themselves from potential infections through wearing masks and taking vaccines. Feng Duojia, president of the China Vaccine Industry Association, told the Global Times on Tuesday that at the current pace, herd immunity is expected to be achieved in the Chinese mainland in June 2022, as scheduled. China is pushing its national vaccination campaign with an average of more than 10 million doses given per day. The daily number has increased, especially after a new case was discovered in East China's Anhui Province on May 13, as more people realize the importance of vaccines in self-protection. Administered doses nationwide exceeded 15 million on Monday, a new daily high. Shao Yiming, a leading physician-scientist and immunologist at the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, said on Tuesday that China's vaccine supply is sufficient, and production capacity and demand for vaccine will also increase gradually. As long as there is demand, the vaccination can surpass 20 million doses per day, Shao said in an interview with CCTV. Anhui has seen a willingness among its residents to get vaccinated soar over the past few days, since the first confirmed local case was discovered in Lu'an several days ago. The province has administered 17 million doses and daily inoculations exceeded 1 million doses as of Sunday. ^ top ^
|
| Shanghai |
Shanghai to roll out vaccination for those 76 and above (China Daily)
2021-05-16
Shanghai will soon include residents aged 76 and above in its voluntary and free COVID-19 vaccination program, the city government announced on Saturday. Like individuals between 18 and 75, the current population eligible for the vaccination program, people aged 76 or above who are healthy and are not allergic to the vaccines can reserve for inoculation at their neighborhoods starting from Monday and get vaccinated at designated sites. The Shanghai Health Commission reminded that people of this age bracket should be accompanied by family when getting the vaccines. Sun Xiaodong, deputy director of the Shanghai Municipal Center for Disease Control and Prevention, said the elderly people, especially those with underlying disease, such as cardiovascular diseases, hypertension, and diabetes, are more susceptible to the virus and stand a higher possibility of developing into severe cases. "Such individuals ought to get protection through the vaccination. The premise is that his or her underlying diseases are in a stable state rather than in a period of acute attack," he said. Regarding those who have gone surgical operations, Sun suggested that they reserve for the vaccination after their health situations become stable and obtain a nod from the doctors in charge of their cases. By the end of 2020, Shanghai's population aged 60 and above reached 5.34 million, accounting for 36 percent of the permanent residents, up 3 percent from the previous year. Among them, 2.33 million were aged 70 and above, and 825,000 were 80 or older. ^ top ^
|
| Guangdong |
Guangdong Bars Range of Nonfinancial Data From Social Credit Ratings (Caixin)
2021-05-20
China's southern Guangdong province outlined a new social credit regulation Tuesday restricting the data that merchants can collect on consumers and the sanctions that can be imposed on those with poor credit. Under new rules going into effect next month, merchants and market credit information collectors are prohibited from collecting information on an individual's religion, blood type, diseases, medical history and biometrics. For people and entities with low credit ratings, the regulation includes a list of permitted restrictions on consumption and bars businesses from other measures. The new rules reflect a backlash against situations in which someone with poor credit may be denied access to air tickets and luxury hotels and even job opportunities and certain schools. Guangdong province is developing a list of allowed incentives for trustworthy individuals and entities and a list of permitted sanctions for the untrustworthy, said Huang Huadong, chief economist of the Guangdong provincial development and reform commission, at a press conference. After a national list is released, the province will update its own list, he said. Local governments in China are gearing up to roll out scoring mechanisms to evaluate residents' social credit under a Beijing initiative to set up social credit rating systems. Some people have found that their social credit can be hurt by a wide range of behaviors, such as skipping train fares, smoking in smoke-free public places and running red lights. Such practices have raised concerns about fairness as critics argue that local authorities have extended the concept of social credit ratings too broadly beyond people's financial credibility by wrapping in too much nonfinancial data. ^ top ^
Shaking of Shenzhen skyscraper sends people fleeing, leading to evacuation and official investigation (SCMP)
2021-05-19
A landmark skyscraper in downtown Shenzhen started to shake for unknown reasons on Tuesday afternoon, leading to an emergency evacuation of thousands of people. The Shenzhen Emergency Management Bureau said it had received reports that the SEG Plaza, a 20-year-old, 79-floor building with a height close to the Empire State Building in New York, was wobbling and that relevant authorities were still investigating the matter. The bureau said that there had not been an earthquake in the city when the shaking took place at around 1:50pm. The local weather report also showed a wind speed in Shenzhen of around 27km per hour, a speed unlikely to cause the shaking of high-rise buildings. The SEG Plaza is the fifth-tallest building in China's boomtown and is at the heart of Huaqiangbei, the world's largest bazaar of hardware and electronics components. According to video clips on Chinese social media, many people were seen rushing from the building. There have been no reports of casualties, injuries or property losses. Chen Wei, a hard drive vendor at the SEG Electronics Market attached to the SEG Plaza, said he had not felt any shaking but was told to leave the building with others. "One of my friends was in the [high rise] building and noticed that the water bottles on the desk started to shake," Chen said. Chen said there were also evacuations of nearby buildings and road traffic was temporarily blocked. Ji Jialin, a manager at Segmaker Space located on the 14th floor of the Plaza, told the South China Morning Post that the emergency happened during her lunch break. "The shaking didn't seem strong from the 14th floor... we all escaped with others by taking the stairs," said Ji. By 6pm ground traffic surrounding the Plaza had resumed but barricade tapes were still in place and many people could be seen taking pictures of the building from the outside. Lu Jianxin, a chief engineer at China Construction Science and Industry Corp, was quoted by local newspaper Shenzhen Special Zone Daily on Tuesday as saying that the shaking could have been caused by "resonance" effects. "If there was no earthquake today, it would be unusual for SEG Plaza to have such a situation," Lu was quoted as saying. "Judging from the currently available information, this could be an accidental frequency coincidence, that is, resonance." Lu added that it would be down to the official investigation to confirm the reasons behind the shaking. Experts said it was rare for buildings to wobble in a way that people can sense. The building remained closed to entry on Tuesday afternoon and fire trucks were parked outside the building. A police officer told the Post said she had not received any message about when the building would reopen. The building is owned by Shenzhen SEG, a listed company controlled ultimately by the Shenzhen state-owned asset supervision commission. The share price of Shenzhen SEG lost 1.66 per cent on Tuesday. ^ top ^
|
| Tibet |
Last tunnel completed on new highway in Tibet (China Daily)
2021-05-19
Workers on a major highway project connecting Pad township in Nyingchi, Tibet autonomous region, with the region's Metog county completed digging the highway's last tunnel on Sunday morning. Construction of the road, the Paimo Highway, started in 2014 by the China Huaneng Group Co. It took the company almost seven years to complete, with an estimated investment of more than 2 billion yuan ($310 million) poured into the project. After the highway opens to traffic in September 2022, the distance from urban areas of Nyingchi to Metog county will be reduced to 180 kilometers from 346 km, with travel time reduced to about four hours from the previous 12. The highway is the second major route linking Metog county with the outside world. The county was once an isolated "island" that was first connected to the country's highway network in 2013. It was China's last county to connect with the road network. ^ top ^
|
| Xinjiang |
Foreign diplomats laud Xinjiang's stability, development (Xinhua)
2021-05-15
Ambassadors and envoys of Latin American and Caribbean countries have lauded the Chinese government's efforts in promoting the stability and development of northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. During a meeting held on Friday as part of their visit to Xinjiang, the diplomats noted that China's efforts have brought about significant improvements to the living standards of people in the region. Representatives from Xinjiang showed the real conditions of the region and helped debunk the lies of so-called "genocide" and "forced labor" concocted by anti-China forces in the West during the exchanges with the visitors. Carlos Miguel Pereira, Cuban ambassador to China, said Xinjiang is an indispensable part of China and Cuba is against the politicization of the Xinjiang issues as well as the smearing of China under the guise of human rights. The ambassador added that he had been to Xinjiang previously and could see how China's people-centered development had greatly improved the living standards of local people. He vowed that Cuba will continue to strengthen the cooperation with China. Paulo Estivallet de Mesquita, the Brazilian ambassador to China, said the Chinese government has made great contributions to Xinjiang's development and has achieved significant results. Drawing attention to the great opportunities in the region, he said the Brazilian side hopes to forge cooperation with Xinjiang in more fields in the future. ^ top ^
|
| Hongkong |
Hong Kong stock exchange suspends trading in Next Digital after founder and top shareholder Jimmy Lai's assets frozen (SCMP)
2021-05-17
The Hong Kong stock exchange suspended trading of Next Digital shares before the market's opening on Monday, two days after the Security Bureau froze nearly HK$500 million (US$64.4 million) in assets belonging its controlling shareholder, Jimmy Lai Chee-ying. The temporary suspension was revealed just before the jailed media tycoon, facing three charges under the Beijing-imposed national security law, arrived at court to face unauthorised assembly charges relating to a 2019 National Day protest. According to the Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing website, trading in Next Digital shares was to be "temporarily suspended" from 9am. Lai holds 71.26 per cent of shares in the company, which publishes local tabloid-style newspaper Apple Daily, according to Hong Kong stock exchange filings. The authorities on Friday froze Lai assets including his shares in Next Digital, marking the first time a listed firm has been targeted under the sweeping security law. The tycoon is currently serving 14 months in prison for taking part in other unauthorised assemblies connected to the anti-government protests of 2019. On December 11, police also charged Lai with collusion with a foreign country under the national security law, and brought two further charges of conspiracy last month. Executive Councillor and barrister Ronny Tong Ka-wah on Monday told an RTHK radio show he believed there was a variety of reasons that could justify a temporary halt in trading, and urged the public not to panic over the freezing of Lai's assets. "The existing laws allow authorities to freeze property if it is related to criminal acts… The national security law also just granted new powers specifically to the secretary for security to execute [asset freezes]," he said. ^ top ^
|
| Macau |
Moody's maintains Macao SAR's 'Aa3' credit ratings (China Daily)
2021-05-18
International rating agency Moody's Investors Service on Monday affirmed the Macao Special Administrative Region's (SAR) long-term issuer ratings at "Aa3" with a "stable" rating outlook, according to a press release published by the agency. Moody's pointed out that Macao SAR's strong fiscal and external positions as well as high per capita income would continue to provide material buffers against shocks to support its credit ratings. Meanwhile, Moody's maintained the "stable" rating outlook because it expected Macao's economic activity to be restored to pre-pandemic levels by 2024. "Aa3" is the fourth highest rating. According to Moody's rating definitions, ratings in the "Aa" category are high investment grade and are subject to very low credit risk. ^ top ^
|
| Taiwan |
Mainland willing to aid Taiwan compatriots on COVID-19: spokesperson (People's Daily)
2021-05-18
A Chinese mainland spokesperson on Monday expressed the mainland's willingness to provide assistance to Taiwan compatriots in quickly defeating the COVID-19 epidemic. Zhu Fenglian, a spokesperson for the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council, was responding to a media query on a recent appeal from Taiwan's New Party and other social groups to the Democratic Progressive Party authority regarding the receipt of COVID-19 vaccines from the mainland. Expressing the mainland's concern over Taiwan's recent severe epidemic situation, Zhu said she hoped Taiwan compatriots would be able to contain the virus as soon as possible and return to normal life. It is urgent to remove political obstacles on the island so that Taiwan compatriots can gain access to the vaccine and their health and well-being can be guaranteed, Zhu said. ^ top ^
|
| Economy |
China's Coal Production on the Rise as NDRC Calls for Market Approaches to Reduce Pollution (Caixin)
2021-05-19
Coal production rises 11.1% in first four months China produced 1.294 billion tons of raw coal from January to April, up 11.1% from the same period last year, according to data released Monday by the National Bureau of Statistics. In April, the country's coal production totaled 322.22 million tons, down 1.8% year-on-year but up 4% from the same time in 2019. China imported 90.13 million tons of coal, down 28.8% year-on-year. EVE Energy invests $73 million in battery material joint venture A unit of EVE Energy (300014.SZ) plans to invest 469 million yuan ($72.8 million) to take a 24% stake in a subsidiary of BTR (Jiangsu) New Material Technology Ltd., the Shenzhen-listed company said. EVE plans to form a joint venture to produce high-nickel ternary cathode materials for use in lithium batteries. The deal is part of a share placement by Changzhou BTR New Material Technology Ltd., which will increase the company's registered capital from 5 million yuan to 1.95 billion yuan. Changzhou BTR's parent will invest 997 million yuan for 51% of the stake, along with SK innovation Co., which will take the remaining 25% with a 489 million yuan investment. The joint venture will build production facilities with designed annual capacity of 50,000 tons. PowerChina reports 40% rise in contract sales in January – April Power Construction Corp. of China Ltd. (601669.SH), a state-owned electricity infrastructure builder, said contracts signed from January through April amount to 270 billion yuan ($41.9 billion), up 41.85% from the same period a year ago. About 216 billion yuan of contracts were made domestically, up 64.85%, while overseas deals declined 8.79%. China to launch green technology exchange in Zhejiang The National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC), China's top economic planner, approved the establishment of the National Green Technology Exchange Center in Zhejiang. To be built on the basis of the Innovative and Entrepreneurial Center of State Grid Zhejiang Electric Power Co. Ltd., the new entity will focus on energy conservation and environmental protection, clean production, clean energy, ecological protection and restoration, green infrastructure in urban and rural areas and ecological agriculture. The Exchange Center will also serve as a platform for technology exchange, R&D, technology application, industrial finance and international cooperation. NDRC urges local authorities to study emission quota allocation The NDRC is pushing local authorities to study a quota allocation and compensation system for emissions and pollution in an effort to leverage market-oriented mechanisms to encourage environment protection. ^ top ^
China Promotes Private Retirement Savings to Shore Up Strained Pension System (Caixin)
2021-05-18
China will soon launch a new pilot program for private pension funds as part of efforts to overhaul its strained system for retirement savings. The country's top insurance regulator proposed a new product after policymakers vowed to make private pension funds the crucial "third pillar" (第三支柱) of the national pension system, as a number of officials and economists worry about the financial sustainability of the current state-dominated system, warning that it might soon run short of funds. The "special commercial pension insurance" (专属商业养老保险) program will be tested out in East China's Zhejiang province and the southwestern municipality of Chongqing starting on June 1, according to a notice Saturday from the China Banking and Insurance Regulatory Commission. The program will allow workers to open their own individual pension accounts at one of six participating insurance companies, which include PICC Life Insurance Co. Ltd., China Life Insurance Co. Ltd. (601628.SH) and Taiping Life Insurance Co. Ltd. Unlike state-run pension systems, individuals don't have to contribute to these accounts on a regular basis. Their money will be invested on their behalf by the insurance company. After account holders turn 60, they will be able to start dipping into the accounts. However, they will have to take the payouts over a period of at least 10 years. The idea is that the flexibility of these accounts will help workers who are self-employed or do not have regular full-time jobs — such as those in the emerging gig economy — to prepare for retirement, according to the product plan. China has as many as 200 million people under-covered by the current pension system, many of whom do not have regular full-time jobs, analysts at Guotai Junan Securities Co. Ltd. wrote in a Sunday note. This fact might be why regulators have them in mind for this program, the analysts said. China's pension system is currently dominated by the state-run "first pillar," which is basic pension insurance funds that are generally managed by provincial-level governments. As of 2018, the first pillar funds accounted for 74.7% of the total pension funds in China, while the funds in enterprise annuities and occupational annuities — the "second pillar" — made up 25.3%, according to a report last year from state-backed think tank the National Institution for Finance and Development. Alarming signs have emerged. Last year, China's social insurance funds reported the first annual deficit on record. The Insurance Association of China (IAC) estimated last year that the country could suffer an 8 trillion yuan ($1.2 trillion) to 10 trillion yuan pension shortfall over the next five to 10 years. It said the third-pillar pension system is underdeveloped and needs support policies, such as preferential tax and subsidy policies, to help it grow to the point where it can help shore up the country's broader pension system. ^ top ^
China urged to push ahead with controversial property tax as 'inevitable' solution to local debt crisis (SCMP)
2021-05-17
China's latest move to introduce a controversial property tax represents a fresh crackdown on property speculation and a curb on runaway home prices, but analysts believe it is also an "inevitable" solution to help solve the nation's debt crisis and ensure financial stability. A new scheme, like many Western countries, would eventually cover ordinary Chinese households. At the moment, taxes and fees are mainly collected only at land auctions, or in the property development or trading process, with few additional costs for residential homeowners. However, the real estate tax has not been put on the legislation agenda for this year, with Beijing warned to exercise caution because it has the potential to impact a wide range of industries and households, as well as the country's financial and social stability. A joint symposium on Tuesday, which included the Ministry of Finance and Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development, heard opinions from municipal officials and experts about the current real estate tax reform pilot programme, further increasing speculation on the outlook for property taxation in more Chinese cities. "There's no doubt that it will be levied," said Cai Chang, a tax professor at Central University of Finance and Economics. "The only issue is how." Beijing's proposed taxation on property owners has received strong opposition for the past decade due to the lack of availability of housing information systems as well as questions about the legitimacy of such a move, as the land which a house is built on is already owned by the state. Previous discussions often involved a number of exemptions for ordinary households, particularly those living in the only flat they own, to facilitate early implementation. "The best time [to levy such a tax] should have been 20 years ago when home prices were low. Now it faces strong opposition," said Larry Hu, chief China economist of Macquarie Capital, who nevertheless believes more cities will be added to the pilot programme. The current programme in Chongqing and Shanghai mainly target villas and high-end property owners, with big cities with runaway home prices in line to be added, including the technology hub of Shenzhen. […] Beijing's amplified tone, with property tax legislation mentioned in the 14th five-year plan and in an article by Finance Minister Liu Kun last week, came as the Politburo headed by Xi Jinping bombarded property speculation in well-regarded school districts of big cities at its meeting last month. Previous government endeavours concentrated on purchase restrictions and mortgage availability for buyers, land auction and financing restrictions for developers and the government's affordable housing programme. However, Yi Xianrong, a former researcher with the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, believes policymakers intend to create a solution to the mountains of local government debt, particularly for many low-tier cities which are finding it much harder to sell land to raise funds. Once a prime source of income, these cities are now seeing their debt levels snowball. "The core notion is to bring a stable stream of fiscal revenue for local governments and accordingly help solve the debt crisis," he said. While the Finance Ministry has prioritised solving local debt risks, property taxes are part of its policy design to empower local financial strength, through the wider distribution of national tax revenue and the creation of more local taxes. "The old [real estate driven] growth model can no longer last. Housing is everywhere, but who dares to buy?" said Yi. Local authorities rely heavily on land sales revenues, which have nearly tripled in the past 10 years to 8.4 trillion yuan (US$1.3 trillion) in 2020. Guiyang, the capital city of the Western province of Guizhou, said its net revenues incurred from land sales totalled 61.7 billion yuan (US$9.6 billion) last year, while its general budget revenues were only 39.8 billion yuan. Although land auctions in big cities remain fierce, with the top 50 cities netting around half of the national land revenue, they also increase pressure on home prices. Real estate has been a pillar industry since home privatisation in 1998, and despite repeated efforts to lower the reliance, it still accounted for 26.8 per cent of the national fixed-asset investment last year. Outstanding real estate related loans, including lending to developers and mortgages for individuals, hit a high of 50 trillion yuan (US$7.7 trillion) at the end of March, accounting for 28 per cent of total outstanding loans. ^ top ^
|
| DPRK |
US-South Korea summit: will North's nukes or China top agenda when Joe Biden meets Moon Jae-in? (SCMP)
2021-05-20
North Korea' s denuclearisation and how Seoul can navigate ties with both the US and China will loom large as South Korean President Moon Jae-in heads to Washington this week to meet US leader Joe Biden. The meeting follows the completion of a US policy review that called for a focus on practical diplomatic steps to reduce tensions on the Korean peninsula while maintaining the final goal of removing the North's nuclear weapons. Biden, in his first address to a joint session of Congress last month, signalled a tougher line, saying he would work with allies to address threats from North Korea and Iran through "diplomacy" and "stern deterrence". But Washington is expected to keep with the agreement struck in 2018 between then-US president Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un at their summit in Singapore, in which both sides pledged "to work toward complete denuclearisation of the Korean peninsula". They never agreed on what they meant by denuclearisation and there were no tangible steps for Kim to reduce his arsenal. Kurt Campbell, Biden's Asia coordinator, said in a written interview with Yonhap News published on Wednesday that the US policy review had taken "a careful look at everything that has been tried before". "Our efforts will build on Singapore and other agreements made by previous administrations," Campbell said. Moon, who is serving the last year of his five-year term, has made the revival of long-stalled talks with North Korea a priority to cement his legacy. In a speech earlier this month, he said: "Now, the time for long deliberations is also coming to an end. It is time to take action." "We will restore dialogue between the two Koreas and between the United States and North Korea and find a way to step once again toward peaceful cooperation by more closely coordinating policies toward North Korea", he added. The US has reached out to North Korea for dialogue to explain the outcome of its recently concluded North Korea policy review, but Pyongyang remains unresponsive, according to Josh Rogin, a foreign-affairs columnist for The Washington Post. Frank Jannuzi, head of the Maureen and Mike Mansfield Foundation that seeks to promote understanding of US-Asia relations, said Biden seems to strike a balance between former President Barack Obama 's "too passive" approach towards the North, known as "strategic patience", and Trump's "mercurial, aggressive but nonetheless innovative" way of doing things that saw the pendulum swing from "maximum pressure, fire and fury" to "attention and the almost idolisation" of Kim, the North's leader. "The concerns I have about the Biden approach is that North Koreans may not cooperate with the patient, diplomatic incremental approach" that his administration seems intent on pursuing, Jannuzi said in a webinar last week. […] Moon is the second foreign leader to have face-to-face talks with Biden after the latter met Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga in Washington last month. South Korea and Japan host the bulk of US troops in Asia, and Biden has been seeking help from the allies in security concerns posed by China and North Korea, with talk of Seoul being invited to join the Quad – a US-led grouping which includes Japan, Australia and India. Beijing has increasingly voiced concern about the expansion of what it calls an anti-China clique and has also pursued warmer ties with South Korea, with a plan for President Xi Jinping to visit Seoul for his first overseas state trip of the year. Ahn Ho-young, a former South Korean ambassador to the US, said some Koreans believe Seoul should not explicitly take sides in the growing rivalry between China and the US, and instead maintain "strategic ambiguity" by keeping its cards close to its chest. "That would not work too well" as it would only deepen the impression that South Korea is the "weakest link" in the US network of alliances in the region, Ahn said, adding that it would also see South Korea "losing credibility both with the US and China". "Strategic ambiguity is not the way to go. It should be strategic clarity", he said at the webinar. But Jannuzi praised Biden's alliance-first concept, which he said was not only rooted in US-South Korea relations but also facilitated coordination with China and Japan. "In contrast with the Trump administration, Biden's team uses China not as a spoiler in these efforts but as a vital partner in the efforts to bring peace on the Korean peninsula, a partner with whom the US does not share all of our interests but does have sufficient common ground to work together on North Korea", he said. Moon Chung-in, a former special adviser on foreign affairs and security to the current South Korean president and head of the Sejong Institute, said he could not agree with the view shared among many conservatives that if South Korea maintains its strategic ambiguity of relying on the US for national security and on China for its economy, it would ultimately be abandoned by Washington. […] ^ top ^
|
| Mongolia |
Mongolia-EU future cooperation discussed (Montsame)
2021-05-20
Chair of the Parliamentary Group of the State Great Hural for relations with the European Parliament, MP Mrs.Ts.Munkhtsetseg, and Chair of the European Parliament's Delegation for Central Asia and Mongolia (DCAS), MEP Mr. F.Martuschello held a virtual courtesy meeting on May 18, 2021. The meeting was also attended by H.E. Mr. O. Och, Ambassador of the Mission of Mongolia to the European Union, H.E. Mr. T.Hristea, Ambassador of the EU Delegation to Mongolia, representatives of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Mongolia and the EU Delegation to Mongolia. During the meeting, the two sides noted with satisfaction the expanding cooperation and relationship between Mongolia and the European Union and exchanged views about future cooperation, the establishment of an EU-Mongolian Committee in the European Parliament and the organization of the annual inter-parliamentary consultation meeting, which was postponed due to the coronavirus pandemic restrictions. Member of Parliament Ts. Munkhtsetseg briefed about the results of the measures taken by the Government of Mongolia to prevent and control the spread of the pandemic, the vaccination campaign progress and the Government's comprehensive plan of 10 trillion MNT aimed for economic recovery and health protection. MP Munkhtsetseg also emphasized the importance given to the cooperation and relationship with the EU and its member states under Mongolia's "third neighbour" foreign policy. Hence, pointing the crucial role of establishing an EU-Mongolia Cooperation Committee in the European Parliament to provide parliamentary scrutiny of the Partnership and Cooperation Agreement to enhance further cooperation in relevant mutual interests. MP Mrs. Munkhtsetsetseg also pointed out that the Law on the Legal Status of Human Rights Defenders has been adopted in Mongolia. Taking the opportunity, Mrs. Munkhtsetsetseg expressed the wish that once the pandemic situation is mitigated, Mongolia would be happy to host the 14th Inter-Parliamentary meeting between the State Great Hural and the European Parliament in Ulaanbaatar. Mr. Fulvio Martuschiello, Chair of the European Parliament's Delegation for Central Asia and Mongolia, reaffirmed his commitment to expand cooperation between the EU and Mongolia and discussed about the possibility of holding the 14th Inter-Parliamentary Consultation meeting in November 2021. At the end of the meeting, Ambassador T. Hristea noted that the cooperation between the EU and Mongolia has been actively expanding in many fields over the past years and underlined that the EU multi-annual indicative programme for Mongolia for the year of 2021-2027 would continue with at the same level of commitment from the EU in line with Mongolia's long-term development policy Vision 2050. ^ top ^
Mongolia is leading the world in cryptocurrency adoption (Montsame)
2021-05-15
Today, nine-tenths of the world's money is just numbers on a computer. In Mongolia alone, about seven percent of all money is stored in banknotes in cash and the remaining 93 percent in non-cash or digital format. We all know that digital money in people's accounts can be a means of payment, even if it is not real. So what is the next evolution of digital money? More and more economists say that electronic algorithms based on cryptocurrency or blockchain technology will replace fiat currency soon. It has already started with more than 4,200 cryptocurrencies currently listed on CoinMarketCap, the largest crypto database platform globally. ArdCoin, a Mongolian loyalty reward project based on blockchain technology, has climbed to the top 500 of this list. The main reason for the project's success is that it has opened up numerous opportunities for Mongolians that were not feasible before. Such as: Listings on international crypto exchanges. Ability to trade ArdCoin for fiat currencies such as MNT, USD, and other cryptocurrencies such as bitcoin, ethereum. Through ArdCoin, Mongolian nationals living abroad can access financial services from Mongolia. Anyone can invest from anywhere in the world ArdCoin opened up several new ways to earn alternative income and build wealth for many Mongolians. These came at the most fortunate time for many people, whose businesses had stagnated for a long time due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Furthermore, it is becoming increasingly clear that demand and value will increase as ArdCoin's liquidity and uses increase. Also, ArdCoin is the most widely used blockchain-based loyalty program in the world. For example, Ard estimates that one in three Mongolians own ArdCoin. ^ top ^
|
|
Embassy of Switzerland
|
The Press review is a random selection
of political and social related news gathered from various media
and news services located in the PRC, edited or translated by
the Embassy of Switzerland in Beijing and distributed among Swiss
Government Offices. The Embassy does not accept responsibility
for accuracy of quotes or truthfulness of content. Additionally
the contents of the selected news mustn't correspond to the opinion
of the Embassy.
|
|
|
|
