CiCM 22nd January 2025

NEWS IN CHINA

Xi Jinping Visits Flood-Affected Villagers in Huludao, Liaoning: On January 22, General Secretary Xi Jinping traveled to Zhujiagou Village in Mingshui Manchu Township, Suizhong County, Huludao City, Liaoning Province, to visit and support flood-affected residents. Braving the bitter cold, Xi inspected recovery and reconstruction efforts following last year’s devastating floods. During his visit, Xi met with villagers who had moved into newly rebuilt homes before the onset of winter. He examined the quality of the reconstructed houses, ensuring they met safety and comfort standards, and inquired about daily living conditions and support systems. Xi’s visit highlighted the government’s commitment to aiding disaster-stricken communities, emphasizing resilience and support in rebuilding lives. Local officials briefed him on ongoing recovery measures, including infrastructure repairs and livelihood restoration initiatives. Villagers expressed gratitude for the timely assistance that allowed them to resettle in warm, safe homes before winter. Xi’s presence reinforced the importance of prioritizing people’s well-being and ensuring their safety in the aftermath of natural disasters.
Shanghai Launches First Policy for Migrant Children: Shanghai has released its first policy document focused on care services for migrant children, marking a significant step toward creating a supportive environment for these young residents. The "Shanghai Implementation Plan for Strengthening Care Services for Migrant Children" and the accompanying "Shanghai Basic List of Care Services for Migrant Children" outline 32 measures across four areas: understanding children’s needs, improving policies, enhancing care services, and ensuring protection. This plan establishes a regular monitoring mechanism to update information on migrant children every six months, focusing on minors under 16 who have lived in Shanghai for over six months. To kickstart this initiative, the city organized the "Lighting Up Micro Wishes" event, fulfilling New Year’s wishes for 300 migrant families. Families expressed gratitude, with one parent calling Shanghai their “second home.” The Municipal Civil Affairs Bureau emphasized continued efforts to support family guardianship, mental health, and urban integration services. Activities like these aim to improve migrant children's quality of life and promote their cultural and social growth in Shanghai.
Loan Amount for Real Estate "White List" Projects Reaches 5.6 Trillion Yuan: Xiao Yuanqi, deputy director of the State Financial Regulatory Administration, announced at a State Information Office press conference that as of January 22, loans for real estate "white list" projects had reached 5.6 trillion yuan. Xiao emphasized that the urban real estate financing coordination mechanism has established principles such as "all that should be entered should be entered," "all that should be loaned should be loaned," and "as early as possible." These guidelines ensure that all real estate projects meeting the "5+5" criteria are included in the "white list" management system. Commercial banks are actively supporting these projects, aiming to protect the legitimate rights of homebuyers and stabilize the real estate market. Xiao noted that this financing support plays a vital role in halting market declines and fostering stability in the sector. The initiative underscores the government’s commitment to strengthening financial support for real estate projects, ensuring steady market recovery, and safeguarding homebuyers' interests.
China Unveils Top 10 Sci-Tech Advances of 2024: China’s top 10 scientific and technological achievements of 2024 were announced in Nanjing, highlighting breakthroughs in lunar exploration, AI vision, and deep-sea drilling. Key milestones include the Chang’e-6 lunar probe collecting 1,935.3 grams of samples from the moon’s far side, a first in human history, offering insights into the moon’s and Earth’s evolution. In AI, Tsinghua University unveiled “Tianmouc,” a brain-inspired vision chip capturing visual data at 10,000 frames per second, with applications in autonomous driving and robotics. In November, China launched its first deep-ocean drilling vessel, "Meng Xiang," combining capabilities for scientific drilling, oil exploration, and natural gas hydrate research, advancing the nation’s marine science. Other highlights included the launch of the "Tianguan" satellite, development of the super microscope "RUSH3D," and extraction of the world’s longest ice core from the Qinghai-Xizang Plateau. Now in its 31st year, the top 10 selection, determined by China’s leading scientists and engineers, continues to showcase the nation’s advancements while inspiring public interest in science and innovation.
Heilongjiang prepares to Host 9th Asian Winter Games: With 15 days remaining until the 9th Asian Winter Games, Heilongjiang has completed all preparations, ensuring a successful event, according to the organizing committee. Scheduled to open on February 7, the Games will see a record 1,270 athletes from 34 countries and regions. Competitions begin February 3, with China debuting on February 4, and the first gold medal to be awarded on February 8. Thirteen venues, including five ice-sports facilities in Harbin and eight snow-event venues in Yabuli, 200 kilometers away, have passed safety and environmental checks following renovations and upgrades. Seventeen trial events have been held to assess operations, security, and emergency preparedness, as reported by Zhuang Shichao, deputy secretary-general of the organizing committee. Meteorological teams with automated tools will provide precise weather forecasts, ensuring smooth operations. A robust financial infrastructure is in place, featuring diverse payment methods and foreign exchange facilities. Thirteen foreign exchange agencies, 23 ATMs, and a currency exchange machine have been installed at venues, offering seamless transaction services.

SOCIAL MEDIA CHATTER

China Student Honored for Carrying Injured Classmate to Safety: A secondary school student in Yinchuan, Ningxia Hui autonomous region, earned widespread admiration after carrying an injured classmate on his back to safety during a 4.6-magnitude earthquake. Guo Qing, a student at Yinchuan Foreign Language Experimental School, instinctively rushed back to assist his classmate, who couldn’t move freely, as others evacuated. Surveillance footage showed Guo carrying the boy out of the classroom, ensuring both reached safety. Guo recounted a shaky yet determined escape, describing how, despite being frightened, he couldn't leave his classmate behind. The school recognized Guo’s heroism in a ceremony, awarding him the title of “Excellent Student,” exempting his tuition fees, and granting him a 9,000 yuan ($1,200) cash prize. Additionally, the school pledged to fund Guo’s university education in Germany if he excels in next year’s national entrance exam. Online, Guo’s actions inspired widespread praise, with netizens calling him a “remarkable example of kindness.” Many also commended the school for its generous rewards, highlighting the importance of recognizing Good Samaritans. Guo’s mother expressed pride in her son, while the headmaster emphasized the need for a society that values compassion and rewards acts of bravery.

INDIA WATCH

Op-ed in Chinese Media Downplays Quad Unity Amid Political Transition in the US: A recent Op-ed in the Global Times has portrayed the recent Quad foreign ministers' meeting in Washington, held a day after Donald Trump's inauguration, as disjointed and lacking in substance, aiming to exploit perceived divisions among Quad partners. The brief joint statement, emphasizing standard commitments to a "Free and Open Indo-Pacific" and regional security, was framed as indicative of confusion within the new US administration's foreign policy. By contrasting this meeting's limited output with earlier substantive Quad declarations, the op-ed suggested that the Trump administration is uncertain about continuing its predecessor's Indo-Pacific strategy. Highlighting the Quad as a geopolitical mechanism designed to counter China, the author of the article asserted that Trump's "America First" stance could lead to friction among allies as the US seeks to shift military and economic burdens onto its partners. Chinese media have regularly emphasized that the US strategy prioritizes extracting support from allies like Japan, India, and Australia while avoiding significant commitments to multilateral initiatives. This narrative seeks to highlight the Quad's challenges in maintaining cohesion under US leadership and to undermine trust within the alliance, positioning China as a stabilizing force in contrast to an allegedly declining US influence.

Prepared By

Manushka Sharma

Manushka Sharma is a dedicated second year student currently pursuing a Bachelor of Arts in Chinese (Hons.) at Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU). With a keen interest in international relations, particularly in the dynamics of India-China relations, Manushka brings a unique perspective to understanding cross-cultural connections and geopolitical issues. Alongside academic pursuits, Manushka aspires to make significant contributions to global affairs, leveraging linguistic skills and cultural insights to bridge gaps and foster dialogue. She can be reached at manushka82006@gmail.com.