CNAD-#110- China's ??????????????????Updates about ????+(?????????????????????????????????????????????????????) &????

Everyday Briefing: 2024-07-10

????China Internal??

??China's State Flood Control and Drought Relief Headquarters has activated a Level-IV emergency response to flooding in Chongqing Municipality, southwest China. Heavy rainstorms are expected to hit the Sichuan Basin from Monday to Tuesday, with some parts continuing through Saturday. The Level-IV response is the lowest in China's four-tier emergency response system. Meanwhile, China has allocated an additional 848 million yuan (about 118.9 million U.S. dollars) to support local flood rescue efforts in central, eastern, southern, southwestern, and northeastern regions, including Hunan, Jiangxi, Hubei, and Guangdong. The MOF will prioritize water facility repair and hidden risk removal efforts. Earlier this year, The funds were allocated in batches to assist local authorities with disaster relief work. China's emergency response measures to repair a breach in a dike at Dongting Lake in Hunan Province have paid off, with 219 rescue workers and 72 fire-fighting trucks dispatched to assist local authorities.

???China's central authorities have launched a patriotic and socialist education campaign to enrich college students' spiritual world. The campaign requires colleges to use resources related to the Communist Party's history and patriotic education, with at least three activities in 2024. The campaign, which came into force on Jan. 1, 2024, aims to strengthen the national spirit and promote a stronger China.

?? Chinese President Xi Jinping, the chairman of the Central Military Commission, has awarded the "Model Rocket Artillery Company" to an army company of the Chinese People's Liberation Army, which has participated in historic battles and fulfilled important missions. The order urges the entire armed forces to learn from the unit, strengthen political loyalty, intensify troop training, and promote a fearless fighting spirit.

?? Chinese Premier Li Qiang held a symposium on the economic situation, urging all-out efforts to tackle economic troubles. He stressed the need for factual analysis and scientific decisions, urging the solid implementation of macro policies and enhancement of their effectiveness. He emphasized the need for innovation-driven development to consolidate economic recovery momentum, giving full play to enterprises' role and strengthening targeted policy support for enterprises to achieve breakthroughs in core technologies. He also urged efforts to reform unreasonable systems, boost enthusiasm, initiative, and creativity, and better utilize China's vast innovation resources. He hoped entrepreneurs would focus on innovation and offer practical suggestions.

??Science and Technology??

??Scientists from the Hefei Institutes of Physical Science (HIPS) have developed a wristwatch that can measure essential chemicals in body sweat. Sweat contains electrolytes, primarily potassium, sodium, and calcium, which are crucial for muscle function, nerve health, and regular heartbeat. Sweat loss can impact heart function and neuromuscular activity, while depletion of sodium ions can cause fatigue, dizziness, and muscle cramps. The wristwatch collects sweat from the skin and analyzes it in real time using a sensor chip with an ion-sensitive membrane. The wristwatch's solid interface ensures long-term reliability, consistently monitoring the three ions in human sweat for over six months. The study measured the sweat composition of these chemicals in endurance athletes running long distances on a treadmill, with an accuracy of approximately 95 percent compared to the standard detection method.

???The Queqiao-2 relay satellite, launched on March 20 by a Long March-8 rocket from the Wenchang Space Launch Site in Hainan Province, China, will conduct multiple scientific exploration missions in orbit. The satellite, also known as Magpie Bridge 2, will provide Earth-moon communications services. Its three payloads include an extreme ultraviolet camera, a two-dimensional-coded energetic neutral atom-imager, and an Earth-moon very long baseline interferometry (VLBI) experiment system. A scientific payload manager will manage the instruments. These payloads will be crucial for the future Chang'e-7 mission, aiming to advance research in space Earth science, space astronomy, and deep space exploration technology. The extreme ultraviolet camera can capture unique "photos" of space around Earth, allowing scientists to study solar activity, Earth's magnetic field, and predict solar activity events. The two-dimensional-coded energetic neutral atom-imager can also provide observational data for studying Earth's magnetic storm processes and substorm injection triggering mechanisms.

??Business China??

??Airbus has delivered its 700th A320 family aircraft at its A320 Family Final Assembly Line Asia (FALA) in Tianjin, China. This marks the third Airbus A320 aircraft in China coming from Airbus Tianjin, underlining Airbus's strong commitment to the Chinese aviation market and continuous development. The A320neo, featuring 180 economy class seats, was handed over to Chengdu Airlines, which currently has 50 Airbus aircraft. The FALA, established in 2008, has been a role model for successful China-Europe cooperation. Airbus has been expanding its industrial footprint in China, integrating its supply chains with China, leading to an increasing presence of Chinese elements in Airbus aircraft. China's civil aviation passenger transport handled 2.7 million flights in the first half of 2024, up 14.8% YoY.

??A delegation of Hong Kong consular corps and business communities has departed from the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) for a 5-day visit to Hainan Province, south China. The delegation aims to explore the broader synergy between the two export hubs, focusing on strengthening the Hainan Free Trade Port and Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area. The New Zealand Chamber of Commerce chairman, David Whitwam, expressed interest in the Hong Kong market's demand for New Zealand's farm produce and beverages. Whitwam is impressed by Hong Kong's rapid changes and vitality, particularly its new preferential policies, such as allowing non-Chinese permanent residents to apply for special travel permits to enter the mainland. The delegation will visit several cities in Hainan from Monday to Friday.

?? A groundbreaking ceremony was held for a battery gigafactory by Chinese group Envision AESC in Navalmoral de la Mata, Spain. Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez praised Envision AESC for its initiative, stating it is a "victory against relocation and industrial decline." The project represents Spain's commitment to reindustrialize in a green and digital way, attracting foreign investment and ensuring stable, decent, and quality employment. The ceremony was attended by Spanish Minister of Industry and Tourism Jordi Hereu.

??China's benchmark gold transaction prices for spot interbank transactions increased on Tuesday, with gold that is 99.95 percent pure or above at 558.9 yuan per gram, 2.9 yuan higher than the previous trading day. The price for gold that is 99.99 percent pure or above rose 1.26 yuan from the previous day to 559.22 yuan.

????South Sudan's President Salva Kiir inaugurated the new headquarters of the Bank of South Sudan, built by Chinese firm Shandong Hi-Speed Group Co (SDHS), as part of the country's Independence Day celebration. The 12-storey building is an iconic gift to the people of South Sudan and is expected to improve economic growth and promote peace and social harmony. Chinese Ambassador Ma Qiang attended the ceremony, affirming China's support for the South Sudanese government and people to explore their development path. The new building will improve service delivery efficiency, attract foreign investment, and stabilize the financial sector. Construction of the central bank's headquarters began in February 2022.

??China's deep-sea heavy-duty mining vehicle, "Pioneer II," has successfully completed a sea trial at a depth exceeding 4,000 meters, marking a significant breakthrough in the country's deep-sea mineral resource development technology. The vehicle, developed independently by Shanghai Jiao Tong University, completed five diving and seabed mining operations, including a record-breaking dive to 4,102.8 meters. The vehicle has pioneered several innovations in China, including high-mobility deep-sea navigation over complex seabed terrains and composite drilling and mining of multiple types of deep-sea minerals. The success of the sea trial signifies that China will receive more technical and equipment support for deep-sea scientific research, resource exploration, and environmental preservation.

??The 8th China-South Asia Expo will take place from July 23 to 28 in Kunming, China's capital, from July 23 to 28. The event, jointly hosted by the Ministry of Commerce and the Yunnan provincial government, is a significant event for economic and trade exchanges between China and South Asian nations. The expo, first held in 2013, is expected to showcase industries with potential for cooperation with South Asian countries, including green energy, modern agriculture, medical care, culture, and tourism. Nearly 2,000 companies have registered to participate, with nearly half being overseas. An additional South Asia pavilion will be set up to accommodate South Asian enterprises, and over 2,300 buyers will be invited to facilitate business deals. The expo also features a pavilion for the coffee industry, highlighting Yunnan's reputation as China's leading coffee producer.

???China-Foreign Affairs??

????Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi met with Belarusian Foreign Minister Maksim Ryzhenkov in Beijing to discuss the China-Belarus strategic partnership. Wang expressed willingness to work with Belarus to implement the consensus reached by the two heads of state and promote the continuous deepening of the partnership. He also expressed readiness to take the rotating presidency of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) as an opportunity to work with all parties to build the SCO's common home into solidarity, mutual trust, peace, tranquility, prosperity, development, good-neighborliness, friendship, fairness, and justice. Ryzhenkov expressed Belarus's importance to Belarus-China relations and thanked China for supporting Belarus in joining the SCO. They also discussed the Ukraine crisis and the six-point consensus proposed by China and Brazil.

????Chinese Defense Minister Dong Jun met with Brazilian Army Commander Tomás Ribeiro Paiva in Beijing to discuss the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between China and Brazil. Dong emphasized the strong foundation for cooperation and shared interests, calling for enhanced exchanges and learning from each other. Paiva expressed the Brazilian army's willingness to strengthen communication and cooperation in various fields.

????China Wu Yi (Kenya) Precast Company Limited has built a factory in Athi River, Kenya, specializing in new building technologies. The factory, established in 2016, produces precast materials such as concrete slabs, steel beams, and columns for modern house construction. The complex, which includes a supermarket and living quarters, has attracted local youth like Brian Calisto Kariuki, who has secured gainful employment and gained insight into precast building technology. Precast technology allows developers to assemble columns and slabs on site, shortening construction time and maintaining quality. The technology is all-weather, allowing for construction in rain or sunshine. China Wu Yi has constructed landmark buildings using precast technology, including the Central Bank of Kenya pension towers and the Rose Avenue shopping center building in Nairobi. Kariuki credits his Chinese supervisor for improving his technical and managerial skills.

????China's commerce ministry has criticized a European Union official's claim that China has not sought consultations on electric vehicle tariffs, despite the EU's attempts to engage for months. China has expressed strong opposition since the EU launched its anti-subsidy probe into Chinese EVs in October 2023. The ministry cited bilateral exchanges and expressed hope that the European side will make joint efforts to push forward the consultation process and reach a mutually acceptable solution. China believes trade protectionist measures are detrimental to global green industries and cooperation in the automotive industry. China opposes unilateralist and protectionist practices that politicize or weaponize trade issues and will take necessary measures to safeguard its own interests in response to any actions that abuse the rules.

????Iran's Foreign Ministry Spokesman Nasser Kanaani has stated that the country's relations with China will be strengthened under the next administration in Tehran. Kanaani stated that Iran's foreign policy is based on promoting constructive interaction with countries that are willing to work towards the expansion of bilateral ties. He expressed hope that Iran's relations with friendly countries, including China, would be further promoted. Pezeshkian, a reformist and former health minister, was declared Iran's new president after a runoff election.

????China's deputy permanent representative to the United Nations, Geng Shuang, has called for the cessation of fighting among armed groups in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). He praised the new government's inauguration and the need for unity among all parties. In the past three months, over 500 civilians have been killed by armed groups and 7.3 million have been forcibly displaced. Geng condemned the attack on a Chinese company in the DRC, which resulted in several deaths and disappearances of Chinese citizens. He urged all armed groups to withdraw from occupied areas and commended the DRC government for concluding ceasefire agreements and engaging in bilateral security cooperation with Uganda and Burundi. He called on the international community to constructively assist in maintaining security and stability and improving the humanitarian situation.

????Chinese Vice Premier Zhang Guoqing has expressed strong momentum for the China-Russia "Northeast-Far East" cooperation, under the strategic guidance of the two heads of state. Zhang co-chaired the fifth meeting of the Intergovernmental Commission for Cooperation of Northeast China and the Far East Region of Russia with Russian Deputy Prime Minister Yury Trutnev. This year marks the 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Russia. Zhang said China is willing to work with Russia to implement the consensus reached by the two heads of state, deepen strategic alignment, expand trade and investment cooperation, enhance connectivity, and foster closer people-to-people exchanges. Trutnev emphasized the importance of deepening mutually-beneficial cooperation between Russia and China, stating that Russia is willing to strengthen practical cooperation in areas such as trade, investment, transport, tourism, and culture.

??China is willing to offer new opportunities for Africa's development and promote modernization, according to Chinese Vice Premier Liu Guozhong. He highlighted the deepening and consolidating relations between China and Africa, stating that the two sides have entered a new stage of jointly building a high-level China-Africa community. Liu stressed the need for stronger solidarity and cooperation, urging local governments to treat each other as equals for mutual benefit and win-win results. He called on both sides to speed up green transformation and uphold inclusiveness and mutual learning to boost people-to-people exchanges. China is ready to promote alignment between the high-quality joint construction of the Belt and Road, the Global Development Initiative, the Global Security Initiative, the Global Civilization Initiative, the African Union's 2063 Agenda, and the development strategies of African countries.

????China's top political advisor, Wang Huning, met with Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in Beijing. Under the strategic guidance of the two countries' leaders, China and Bangladesh have respected and treated each other with equality, setting a good example of friendly coexistence and mutually beneficial cooperation. China is ready to deepen practical cooperation with Bangladesh in various fields and push the strategic cooperative partnership to a new height. Bangladesh will adhere to the one-China principle and deepen all-round cooperation with China to work for more outcomes in bilateral ties.

?? According to a foreign ministry spokesperson, China aims to continue its open-hearted approach to the world and foster more energy and enthusiasm for people-to-people exchanges. China has become a popular destination for foreign tourists, with "China Travel" becoming a top trending search term on global social media platforms. In the first half of this year, China received nearly 14.64 million foreign travellers, up 152.7 per cent YoY, with over 8.54 million entering China visa-free, up 190.1 per cent YoY. As more countries benefit from the visa-free policy and China adopts measures to ease cross-border travel, "on-a-whim travel" to China is becoming a reality. The government expects more foreigners to travel to China in the second half of this year. The "China travel" boom is attributed to China's unique charm, open and inclusive society, warm and hospitable people, and high-standard opening up.

??Cultural??Insights ??

????Myanmar has declared Chinese New Year a public holiday in the 2025 calendar, similar to other ASEAN member countries, to strengthen its "Paukphaw" (fraternal) friendship with China. The state government announces public holidays in advance, including religious and unique historical days, to ensure the country's cultural and historical significance.

????The Chinese Library of Barcelona in Hospitalet de Llobregat, located in northeastern Spain, aims to introduce local Spaniards to Chinese culture. Founded by Xuefeng Ma, a resident of Hospitalet for six years, the library offers a free lending service and is the first of its kind in Barcelona. Ma curated the collection, importing books directly from China, after dedicating her retirement savings. The library's director, Ma, aims to provide an opportunity for Chinese children and local residents to explore and appreciate Chinese culture. The library's collection includes Spanish literature translated into Chinese, allowing Chinese readers to learn about Spain and fostering cultural exchange between China and the West. The library also serves as a gateway for approximately 4,000 Chinese residents in the Barcelona area, part of the 54,000-strong Chinese community.

???Over 1,000 youth representatives from the Taiwan Strait have gathered in Hangzhou, China, to promote closer bonds and integrated development. Senior Taiwan affairs official Song Tao pledged to create better conditions and opportunities for the growth and success of youths from both sides of the Strait. He called on youths to oppose separatist activities and external interference and promote cross-Strait exchanges and cooperation. Former chairperson of the Chinese Kuomintang party Hung Hsiu-chu expressed the hope that youths from across the Strait could enhance mutual trust and friendship, contributing to cross-Strait peace, national reunification, and rejuvenation. The forum, which runs through Friday, also offers workshops on cultural, economic, and social development, including intangible cultural heritage, e-commerce live broadcast, and sci-tech innovation.

A forum on promoting the traditional culture of the 24 Chinese solar terms in Taiwan and China was attended by nearly 100 participants. The Taiwan branch of an alliance for the protection and inheritance of Chinese solar terms was officially launched, and participants discussed topics like holding a cultural and art exhibition in Taiwan and building an exhibition hall dedicated to the culture in Fujian Province. This year marks the eighth anniversary of the 24 solar terms' inclusion in the UNESCO Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.

??Chinese video game "Black Myth: Wukong" has topped the wishlist chart on Steam, a global digital distribution platform for video games, indicating China's expanding cultural footprint beyond traditional boundaries. The game's popularity is attributed to its blend of Chinese cultural elements with cutting-edge communication technologies, creating a "Chinese digital flow" that is capturing the attention of Generation Z worldwide. This digital transformation is not an isolated event, as Chinese cultural exports have gained international acclaim, including the literary success of "Three-Body Problem" novels, the cinematic achievements of "The Wandering Earth" series, and historical dramas like "Story of Yanxi Palace." Chinese online games, such as "Genshin Impact," are expanding this influence, particularly among younger audiences. The game's "Liyue" region features architecture inspired by classical Chinese buildings, and characters' costumes incorporate traditional Chinese Hanfu clothing designs. These cultural elements foster a deep connection with players globally, enriching their gaming experience.

??China's giant panda, "Yuanzi," encountered the Olympic torch relay during the Loir-et-Cher department of Paris. The zoo director, Rodolphe Delord, was the first torchbearer, and he was supposed to hand over the torch to Maud Fontenoy. However, Yuanzi, feeling "something unusual," dropped the bamboo and ran to a hidden spot, observing the situation. Despite the keepers' efforts, he refused to participate in the historic moment. Delord acknowledged that giant pandas always do as they please, but such moments are always touching. Carrying the torch at Beauval Zoo is a great honor and a significant moment, as it symbolizes peace and friendship between China and France, especially on the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries. The connection between China and France regarding pandas dates back over a century.

????The Chinese Cultural Center in Mongolia hosted an event titled "Nihao China!" to promote culture and tourism in Zhangjiajie, China's Hunan province. The event, co-organized by China's Ministry of Culture and Tourism and the Chinese Embassy in Mongolia, highlighted the importance of tourism in enhancing cultural affinity between the two countries. Zhangjiajie, known for its stunning mountains, pristine waters, and rich cultural heritage, was also a filming location for the movie 'Avatar.' The event included a presentation on Zhangjiajie's key attractions and a photo exhibition.

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