To listen while you read, we recommend ‘My People, My Country’ by Faye Wong (王菲), an iconic song from the 1980s, which in turn was used by the movie of the same name.
Geopolitics
China reiterated its advocacy of the creation of an independent State of Palestine as a solution to the Palestinian crisis
When asked about the U.S. announcement to send even more ammunition and military equipment to Israel, Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Mao Ning stated that dialogue and negotiation are the way out of this critical situation; in an official statement, the Chinese government asserted that the only solution to the crisis is the creation of a Palestinian state
Total trade between Russia and China increased by 32% between January and August, totaling more than US$ 155 billion in goods
In Manzhouli (Inner Mongolia), where China’s largest land port is located, it was necessary to extend operating hours from 12 to 24 hours a day; Chinese imports of goods from Russia increased by 14% to over US$ 83 billion and exports doubled compared to last year, reaching US$ 72 billion
National Politics
The cultural axis was added to Xi Jinping’s Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for the New Era
Xi’s thoughts on culture, which covers propaganda, communication, and public opinion, form the sixth pillar of the series of ideas that seeks to adapt Marxism to the Chinese context, presented in 2017 and incorporated into the Party’s Constitution; the other pillars are economy, diplomacy, armed forces, environment, and legal affairs
“New jobs” workers participate in the 18th National Congress of the All-China Federation of Trade Unions
Representatives of workers in the 84 million-strong sector will present proposals to improve protection of the group’s legal rights and interests; one-fifth of the more than 2,000 delegates to the congress, which is held every five years, are workers in new jobs, such as delivery, e-hailing, and truck drivers
Economy
Domestic tourism exceeds pre-pandemic levels for the first time during Golden Week, but per capita spending fell by 2%
With 826 million people traveling and revenues of 753.4 billion yuan (US$ 103 billion), domestic tourism exceeded 2019 levels by 1.5% and 4.1% (respectively, 130% and 71% higher compared to 2022); the popularity of patriotic activities and products has increased, with the movie Volunteers: Off to War grossing 100 million yuan (US$ 13.9 million) in two days
Unoccupied high-level office rates in China are higher now than during the zero-COVID policy
Vacancies in Shenzhen reached 27%, the worst figure among the four major cities, and the rate in Guangzhou reached a 10-year high of 20.8%; many companies continue to implement home offices after the pandemic but, however, some cities prevent the conversion of these buildings into housing or hotels
Agriculture and Environment
China issues new measures to improve energy demand management
The new document requires provinces to reduce between 3% and 5% of their maximum electricity demand by 2025; the National Energy Administration, in turn, seeks to improve the gas use policy for the winter, when the fuel reaches its maximum utilization
Science and Technology
Geologists find new niobium ore reserve in Inner Mongolia, key to steel and semiconductor industry
Alloys made from niobium are used to manufacture construction materials, oil, and gas pipelines; China imports 95% of its niobium, which in the future could replace lithium in the production of batteries, as they last 10 times longer and can be charged in just 10 minutes
People’s Life and Culture
The 19th Asian Games ended in Hangzhou, with China topping the gold medal tally for the eleventh consecutive time
15 world records, 37 Asian records, and 170 Asian Games records were accomplished, in which China surpassed 200 gold medals for the first time, with Japan second and South Korea third in the medal tally; more than 3 million tickets were sold, generating more than 600 million yuan (US$ 85 million) in sales
Breakdancing is becoming increasingly popular in China, which won its first title at the Asian Games
Liu Qingyi, 17, won breakdancing gold for China and qualified for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, while in the men’s competition, China’s Qi Xiangyu won bronze; in Zhejiang province alone, there are more than 20,000 breakdancers, although it still encounters some resistance from parents who prioritize academic studies
Liu Qingyi, also known as B-Girl 671, competing at the 19th Asian Games in Hangzhou [Hangzhou2023]
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