The world's first large-scale seismic data processing model with 100 million parameters called "DiTing" has been officially released, a significant advancement for China in key technologies in seismology, according to the Chengdu science and technology bureau in Southwest China's Sichuan Province on Monday.
The model was developed by the National Supercomputing Center in Chengdu in cooperation with the Institute of Geophysics of the China Earthquake Administration and Tsinghua University, the Xinhua News Agency reported.
In September 2023, the National Supercomputing Center in Chengdu partnered with the Institute of Geophysics of the China Earthquake Administration to establish the joint laboratory for research into earthquake large-scale model innovation application.
They launched the training of the "DiTing" model with researchers from Tsinghua University and the Institute of Geology and Geophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, to advance artificial intelligence algorithms in seismology and research in earthquake monitoring and forecasting services, said Guo Li, chairman of Chengdu Supercomputing Center Operation Company, according to the supercomputing center on Monday.
The "DiTing" dataset is the first and one of the largest seismic AI training datasets for seismology with the most comprehensive sample types and labeling, said the center.
Researchers have developed a seismic wave model with 100 million parameters in the half-year study in the joint lab, which is now ready for use, and a version with 1 billion parameters is expected to be completed pre-training by August 2024, supporting earthquake prevention and disaster reduction efforts, according to the developers.
In future, the model could be applied in fields such as mine seismic monitoring, shale gas exploitation, urban underground space structure detection, underwater earthquake monitoring and others, according to the developers.
After a period of confusing noise about China's "over-capacity," some Western media are slowly starting to return to reality. The Financial Times recently published an editorial titled "Chinese electric vehicles are more of an opportunity than a threat," stating that the US and Europe should welcome China to produce cost-effective cars in the cheapest segments to help achieve economic decarbonization. Even The Economist, which is often biased against China's economy, acknowledged China's growing role as the world's R&D lab. The magazine also noted that foreign CEOs now see China's brainpower and its innovation-curious regulatory regime are crucial ingredients of their companies' global success.
The recent hype about China's "over-capacity" began with the fear of the so-called China shock 2.0. Unfair subsidies and cheap dumping were the habitual accusations pinned on China's industries. However, these accusations were made too arbitrarily, and even the critics themselves are finding it difficult to explain why industries such as electric vehicles have gained an edge in China, or why China has become the world's R&D lab, as recently noted by The Economist. The deeper we look, the more we find the absurdity of blaming China's industrial development.
In recent years, it has become common for foreign companies to set up R&D centers in China and engage in technological research and product innovation. Apple has R&D centers in Beijing, Shanghai, Shenzhen and Suzhou, with its R&D staff in China doubling over the past five years. BMW has established its largest global production base and the largest R&D system outside Germany in China. BASF's innovation campus in Shanghai is the largest in the Asia-Pacific region and the second-largest globally. In February this year, British pharmaceutical company AstraZeneca announced plans to transform its Shanghai operations into a global R&D hub. The choice of China as an R&D hub by many Western companies actually reflects the deeper reasons behind China's outstanding performance in the current global industrial innovation landscape.
China's industrial development ultimately relies on a large pool of high-quality talent, market competition, innovation capability, and the strategic resolve of "sticking to a single blueprint until the end." In terms of talent alone, China produces seven times more engineering degree holders than the US, 2.5 times more top-tier AI researchers at the undergraduate level, and it is projected that by 2025, China will produce almost twice as many science and technology PhD graduates as the US. Of course, China's industrial development and technological innovation advantages haven't been achieved overnight, but are the result of extensive efforts and accumulation. Since 2000, China's R&D expenditure has increased over 30-fold, with last year's R&D investment exceeding 3.3 trillion yuan. Often, the significant cost advantages that Chinese products achieve in the market far surpass their competitors, and this is the result of full-industry chain innovation in a competitive market environment.
It is essential to recognize that China has established a robust technological market and a competitive atmosphere. Leveraging its vast domestic market and industrial base, significant technological markets have emerged in places like Shanghai and Hefei, Anhui Province, achieving notable progress in fields such as intelligent manufacturing and new materials. Whether in terms of market competition or innovation regulation, China's technological market stands out globally. The rapid advancements in cutting-edge technological fields such as autonomous driving and AI in China are closely linked to this conducive environment.
In fact, China has consistently maintained an attitude of open cooperation and mutual benefit in promoting technological innovation in frontier fields and industrial innovation in practical applications. Take new energy as an example: China is the largest contributor to global energy transition investments, accounting for half of the total global investment. China's goal of achieving its own energy transition is resolute, and it also aims to support the global green and low-carbon transition through the development of its new energy industry. Creating artificial political barriers will not suppress China's development and runs counter to the mainstream understanding in the scientific and business communities, harming the interests of the entire world. As the Financial Times stated, at some point, Western leaders will have to choose between their climate goals and their protectionism - and it would be better for everyone if it is protectionism that has to give.
Chinese unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) developer United Aircraft Group said on Thursday that it has won 100 industrial-level UAV orders at the ongoing Farnborough International Airshow in Farnborough, the UK, reflecting a rising competitive edge held by Chinese aviation companies.
It is the first series of orders received by Chinese companies at the show.
The development reflects Chinese enterprises in the commercial aviation field are actively participating in global competition, seeking to forge new market opportunities, Tian Gangyin, founder and CEO of United Aircraft Group, told the Global Times on Thursday.
The Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China (COMAC), the manufacturer of the home-made large aircraft C919, brought 1:20 scale C919 and C929 aircraft models to the public at the air show.
COMAC said that it will also carry out special promotion activities to strengthen negotiations and exchanges with customers and partners.
United Aircraft has brought several flagship products at the show, such as the TD550 unmanned helicopter, with a load capacity of 200 kilograms and a maximum endurance of 8 hours, has become an optimal choice for emergency rescue and material transportation.
The helicopter's performance is particularly outstanding in high-altitude and extreme conditions when carrying out firefighting and emergency supply delivery missions.
After more than a decade of development, United Aircraft has established a mature industrial chain system that covers research and development, production, assembly, and testing and verification.
The development of UAV industry is in line with the Chinese government's policy agenda, which emphasizes the development of strategic emerging industries such as commercial aerospace and the low-altitude economy.
The low-altitude economy was defined as a strategic emerging industry at the country's annual central economic work conference in 2023 and written into this year's government work report as a new growth engine.
The size of China's low-altitude economy by 2023 is estimated to surpass 500 billion yuan, with its scale expected to rise to 2 trillion yuan by 2030, according to the Civil Aviation Administration of China.
China's seaborne container shipments to the US jumped 15 percent year-on-year by volume in June, showing resilient supply and demand between the world's two largest economies despite intensified decoupling attempts by the US, industry experts said.
Multiple factors contributed to the growth, including the early preparation and delivery of products for Christmas as well as a seasonal shopping spree that falls in late November.
According to US-based research company Descartes Datamyne, the numbers of 20-foot containers moved from Asia to the US in June increased by 16 percent year-on-year, Nikkei reported on Monday. It was the 10th consecutive month of year-on-year growth.
The Chinese mainland, which accounted for nearly 60 percent of the total volume, rose 15 percent, the Nikkei reported.
All of the top 10 products exceeded the same period last year. The largest increase was in automotive-related products, which grew by 25 percent, followed by textile products, which rose by 24 percent, according to the report.
The figures are in line with data released by China's General Administration of Customs on July 12. In June, China-US trade amounted to 420.94 billion yuan ($57.8 billion), a year-on-year increase of 2.9 percent. China's exports to the US rose by 4.7 percent, maintaining a positive trend.
Chinese experts said that the trend shows that China-US trade relations remain resilient and strong, despite the US government's attempts to decouple from China.
"The resilient state of supply and demand between the two major economies played an important factor in driving the growth," Gao Lingyun, an expert at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, told the Global Times on Tuesday.
Another reason for the rising cargo volume might be that businesses are speculating about possible heavier tariffs, depending on the US presidential election result, so they're ramping up goods production and delivery, Gao said.
But that's unlikely, since it could backfire on American consumers as well, Gao added.
"There is a trend this year - that is, July and August were normally the busiest in terms of the start of the peak season in the US in previous years, but this year it was brought forward from May," Zhong Zhechao, founder of One Shipping, an international logistics service consulting firm, told the Global Times on Tuesday.
There are multiple reasons for this change, including a high demand for Chinese goods.
Businesses are working in full swing to deliver goods for the upcoming Christmas and Black Friday shopping sprees, which are seeing strong demand as the US inflation level is reportedly declining, Zhong said.
Consumers vote with their wallets. The scale of cargo trade shows that China-made goods are still gaining popularity among American consumers as these products offer more value for money, the industry insider noted.
Other driver for the strong trade growth is the speculation about a possible port workers' strike along the US East Coast, after their labor contracts expire in late September, Zhong said.
Zhong said that the strong cargo trend may peak in July and decline after August.
A large US business delegation is visiting China this week, and its members said that the US business community is confident in continuing to deepen cooperation with China and committed to building a strong, balanced bilateral relationship, the Xinhua News Agency reported.
China's Ministry of Science and Technology reported on Saturday detailed cases of academic misconduct in national key research and development (R&D) projects and announced strict measures against researchers involved in plagiarism and unethical lobbying in project applications.
The implicated researchers will face punitive sanctions, including bans from government-supported research activities and having their names added to an academic dishonesty database.
Experts noted that these measures reflect the Chinese government's zero-tolerance toward academic misconduct. They serve as a clear warning to scientific researchers and will help ensure that scientific innovation remains both legitimate and properly regulated.
The published cases included Zhao Ran from China Agricultural University, Zhang Tao from PinYuan (Suizhou) Modern Agriculture Development Co, Zhang Xiaocheng from Yongjiang Laboratory in East China's Zhejiang Province, and Chen Haotai from the Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, according to the announcement.
Each was found to have plagiarized content in their project proposals, copying from previously funded projects, leading to the termination of their applications and a three-year ban from participating in government-funded research. Their misconduct has been recorded as a serious breach in the research integrity database.
In addition, Sun Beicheng, a former researcher at Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, was found guilty of trying to influence the evaluation by contacting potential reviewers for favorable treatment, leading to the termination of his project evaluation and a seven-year ban from government-funded research.
Academic misconduct undermines scientific, ethical and legal standards, and is detrimental to the country's long-term sci-tech advancement, Sun Guorui, a professor specializing in intellectual property studies at the Law School of Beihang University, told the Global Times on Sunday.
"Public exposure of those involved sends a strong warning and acts as a future deterrent against such behavior," Sun Guorui said.
According to the announcement, the ministry has instructed the involved institutions to enforce research integrity measures and complete rectification by a set deadline, urging researchers to uphold scientific standards and integrity in academic research and strengthen their sense of responsibility to contribute to achieving high-level technological self-reliance.
Sun Guorui highlighted the government's continuous efforts to encourage innovation while preventing breaches of research ethics, noting this policy is crucial in guiding the future of the country's science development, ensuring the legitimacy and regulation of research innovation.
More than half of the surveyed Japanese companies in China consider China to be one of the most important markets in view of the development of the second largest economy, according to a survey released by the Japanese Chamber of Commerce and Industry in China on Wednesday, indicating the remaining importance that Japanese businesses attached to the Chinese market, despite external uncertainties.
These remarks were made by the Chairman of the Japanese Chamber of Commerce and Industry in China Tetsuro Homma in the preamble for the "White Paper on the Chinese Economy and Japanese Companies."
In preparing this white paper, opinions were solicited from 8,312 Japanese-affiliated companies that are members of the chamber.
China offers significant market opportunities for foreign companies and is a powerful source of corporate profits for many companies that have set up operations in the country, the chamber said.
According to the second survey on the perception of the economic and business environment by the chamber, regarding the amount of investment in China in 2023, of the 1,713 Japanese companies that answered, 15 percent of them plan to "significantly increase" or "increase" investment year-on-year. There were 38 percent of the surveyed companies said that their investment will be the same amount as in 2022.
When asked how they see the Chinese market this year and beyond, 51 percent of the companies said that China is "the most important market" or "one of the three most important markets."
What also noteworthy is that less than 10 percent of the respondents said that they will downsize or withdraw investment, which the chamber said showing that the majority of Japanese companies have a strong commitment to remain firmly entrenched in the Chinese market.
In the second survey, 54 percent of the surveyed companies were "very satisfied" or "satisfied" with the business environment in China.
There were 46 respondents wanting to see improvement or very much improvement, the survey said, noting that there is still plenty of room for improvement in the business environment, as they expressed their desire for visa-free travel to resume among some other issues.
Osamu Onodera, a vice chairman of the Japanese Chamber of Commerce and Industry in China, said that China is very important for foreign-funded enterprises, and at the same time, the existence of foreign-funded enterprises in China is also very important, noting that "We hope that both parties can form a win-win relationship," which is also the main reason for conducting and releasing such white paper.
External factors have caused challenges to Japanese companies doing businesses in China. Homma said on Wednesday that the impact of economic and trade frictions between the US and China has brought greater uncertainty to Japanese companies when making major decisions.
Despite challenges, Japanese companies still hope to achieve greater development with the Chinese market, Homma said.
Today, China's GDP is four times that of Japan, and the investment environment for Japanese companies is changing drastically, Homma said.
"China is no longer just a manufacturing and consumption powerhouse, but has become an innovation and engineering powerhouse, and winning in the fast-paced and highly competitive Chinese market is to serve as a training center to enhance its competitiveness in the international market," the chamber head noted.
Official data showed that China's exports of mechanical and electrical products, including cars, surged in the first half of 2024, and contributed to over half of China's total exports of goods, which analysts said underscored the nation's progress in high-end manufacturing and industrial transformation.
However, some Western media, such as Reuters, hyped that China's increase in exports, a year-on-year growth of 6.9 percent in the first half, suggested that "manufacturers are front-loading orders in anticipation of tariffs from a growing number of trade partners."
Concerning imports, foreign media reports continued to hype "the weakened consumption sector in China." Media including Bloomberg and Wall Street Journal specifically pointed out that China's imports in June dropped 0.6 percent year-on-year, pointing to "weak domestic demand."
When asked to comment on the Western media's attribution of the fall in June imports to weak domestic demand, Li Yong, a senior research fellow at the China Association of International Trade, said that such attribution is not scrupulous, and somewhat misleadingly generalized. What would the Western media say when China's imports in May increased by 5.2 percent and in Jan-May increased by 6.4 percent year-on-year? Why didn't Western media say it was the result of strong demand?
"The drop in June import is not an indication of weakening domestic demand," Li told the Global Times on Friday.
It is only seasonal, and one month's worth of data does not point to the weakening health of the economy. Even with the June drop, the total imports for the first half of the year registered an increase of 5.2 percent, Li noted. "Isn't it odd that Western media ignored that part of the trade performance and focused on interpreting the cause of June number missing expectations?"
Western media's reading on China's economic data is politically-driven and aims to satisfy the West's need to distort China's economic development and discredit China. Foreign media's interpretation of China's trade growth figures is unprofessional, unscientific, and biased, Li stressed.
Zhu Qiucheng, CEO of Ningbo New Oriental Electric Industrial Development, an exporter of pet furniture and home furnishing products, told the Global Times on Friday that a decrease in the imports of intermediate goods could be a major reason for the drop in imports in June.
"As a result of industrial upgrading and transformation, Chinese enterprises can now produce some of the intermediate goods, which they used to rely on imports, by themselves or by domestic manufacturers," said Zhu.
Intermediate goods are used to produce other goods and services in the production process, including raw materials, parts and semi-finished products.
Regarding exports, Zhu said that judging from experience, foreign tariffs have little impact on overall export performance.
At present, China's foreign trade enterprises are actively carrying out high-quality development, and exporting high-value-added products with scientific and technological content and patents, Zhu noted.
"Western media's argument about tariffs is an interpretation of trade behavior in the last month or two based on current market sentiment, which distorts trade facts," Li noted.
From January to June this year, China exported 7.14 trillion yuan ($980 billion) of mechanical and electrical products, up 8.2 percent year-on-year, whose value accounted for 58.9 percent of the nation's overall export volume during the period, China's General Administration of Customs (GAC) said on Friday.
Specifically, the export value of ships saw an increase of 91.1 percent year-on-year to reach 76.82 billion yuan. The value of vehicle exports reached 391.76 billion yuan, up by 22.2 percent year-on-year, and the export value of integrated circuits reached 542.74 billion yuan, an increase of 25.6 percent year-on-year.
"Our company and other foreign trade companies above the designated size (enterprises with annual business revenue over 20 million yuan) have witnessed stable growth in imports and exports of goods in the first half of the year," said Zhu.
Zhu noted that there are necessarily major differences among different categories. Goods of high value-added perform better in exports than low value-added products.
"China's goods export structure is in the process of shifting from traditional products to new products, such as the 'new three' products - new-energy vehicles (NEVs), lithium batteries, and photovoltaic products," Ma Jihua, a veteran economic observer, told the Global Times on Friday, attributing the growth to the nation's foreign trade structure optimization and upgrade.
"The structural adjustment of China's export goods aligns with the trade needs of major trading partners. From the perspective of high-tech products, the US and some other Western countries have politicized high-tech products," said Li.
More exports of high-value-added goods fueled China's exports in the first half of 2024, which totaled 12.13 trillion yuan, up 6.9 percent year-on-year. Imports totaled 9.04 trillion yuan, up 5.2 percent. According to GAC data, total foreign trade topped 21.17 trillion yuan, reaching a new high.
An ethical guideline for human genome editing research was released by China's Ministry of Science and Technology on Monday, which includes a strict prohibition on the use of edited germ cells, fertilized eggs, or human embryos for pregnancy and reproduction.
The guideline aims to regulate the conduct of human genome editing research and promote healthy development in this field, as the risks involved are unpredictable and have implications for the dignity and well-being of individuals, as well as potential ethical, legal, and social issues that could impact human society.
It is currently forbidden to conduct any clinical research on germline genome editing, according to the guideline. Clinical research should only be considered if the benefits and risks, as well as other available options, are fully understood and weighed, safety and efficacy issues have been addressed, a broad social consensus has been achieved, and the study has been subjected to rigorous and prudent assessment.
He Jiankui, a genome-editing researcher at the Southern University of Science and Technology of China in Shenzhen, Guangdong Province, shocked the world in 2018 when he claimed to have created the world's first genetically modified humans.
He was sentenced to three years in prison in December 2019 for illegally conducting human embryo gene editing.
The basic principles outlined in the guideline include enhancing human well-being, respecting human dignity, and safeguarding the fundamental rights and interests of research participants, including the right to information, privacy, and autonomy.
The research must be carried out by carefully assessing the conditions for the use of human genome editing technologies, and ensuring risk monitoring throughout the process with appropriate supervision, according to the guideline. It also puts forward principles of fairness and impartiality, as well as openness and transparency.
The guideline also noted general requirements and special requirements for human genome editing research, which should be given special attention at different stages of basic and preclinical research and clinical research into human genome editing.
China's widely watched annual "two sessions" kicked off on Monday this year. The "two sessions" refers to the annual sessions of National People's Congress (NPC) and the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), which are known as the country's top legislature and national political advisory body respectively.
The two sessions is a grand occasion that gathers ideas and wisdom of people of all walks of life across the country. It is an important opportunity for the world to better understand China's whole-process people's democracy, in which the people engage in democratic elections, consultations, decision-making, management, and oversight according to the law. Such democracy is not only shown in the votes taking place at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, but also embodied in a motion submitted by a NPC deputy coming from a remote area, or a consultative meeting held among some residents living in a city suburb. It can be felt in many details of Chinese people's daily life.
During this year's two sessions, the Global Times is launching a series of stories to illustrate the whole-process people's democracy from some of such details. The second story is about the birth of a well researched, high-demand NPC motion, which shows that China's NPC deputies exercise the right to respond to the real voices of the people and demonstrate the process and values of people's democracy.
As the high-speed train zoomed from Beidaihe in North China's Hebei Province to Beijing on Sunday, Li Dandan, residents' committee director of Dongjing Road Community in Beidaihe district of Qinhuangdao, was carefully reviewing the motions she was going to put forward at this year's two sessions.
She knew that she carried the hopes of the elderly residents in her community, the valuable input from nursing home staff, and the aspirations of other community workers like her across the nation.
As the train raced toward the capital, with a solid and practical motion, Li, a deputy to the NPC from Qinhuangdao, is determined to make a difference for those people she represents.
A motion of actual demand
"Work hard and present confidently when you get to Beijing!" On March 1, 86-year-old Sun Xiujuan, a resident of Li's precinct, shared her genuine concern for Li in a warm and casual manner at her home.
Watching the news about the upcoming NPC, Sun knew that Li, who she treats as a granddaughter, was about to set off on a new journey.
During their conversation, Li updated Sun on various community matters: "The elderly canteen was closed for the Spring Festival holidays, but will reopen soon. I have made sure that the menu plan will be shared in our WeChat group before reopening."
"On March 5 we will be hosting a free clinic event in our community offering services like massages, blood pressure checks for the elderly. If you're interested, just sign up through the 'Fuka (Card of good fortune in English) applet' on WeChat, our community workers will take you there," Li explained earnestly.
With a large number of elderly residents in the Dongjing Road community, where 36 percent of them are over the age of 60, Li has always prioritized providing services for them in her community work.
In 2023, Li was elected as a deputy to the 14th NPC. Throughout the year, she visited households, engaged in discussions, and had heart-to-heart talks with elderly residents to enhance community elderly care services.
This year, Li decided to bring two motions to Beijing, one of which is about the optimization of the construction of smart elderly care application platform. "The progress of the era and our country demands a shift toward intelligent elderly care services," Li told the Global Times.
According to the seventh national census released by the National Bureau of Statistics of China in May 2021, in 2020, the population aged 60 or above in China reached 260 million, accounting for 18.7 percent of the total population, of which 190 million were aged 65 or above, accounting for 13.5 percent of the total population.
In 2021, China's Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, the Ministry of Civil Affairs, and the National Health Commission jointly released a statement, which required that by 2025, the scientific and technological support capacity of the smart elderly care industry will be significantly enhanced, highlighted the importance of narrowing the "digital divide" for the elderly and improving their overall well-being through technological advancements.
In Beidaihe district, Li has been involved in the pilot work of smart elderly care applications, introducing innovative services through the "Beidaihe Fuka Smart Platform" mobile app. Serving over 40,000 people, the platform offers a wide range of intelligent services, making it easier for individuals to access essential services from the comfort of their homes.
Through these exploration, Li learned the importance and the prospect of using smart technology to analyze and monitor the body index of the elderly in real-time, providing more effective and precise home services, especially for those living alone.
"As an NPC deputy, based on the fruitful practice of our district, Hebei Province, and even the whole country, I want to further enhance the grass-roots smart elderly care application platform, addressing challenges faced by the elderly and ensuring that the technology serves its intended purpose effectively,"Li said.
An idea based on practice
On the eve of the two sessions, Li is still busy in her visits with community residents and representatives from elderly health institutions.
This is not just a last-minute effort for her.
"I hope to gain inspiration from the latest interactions and see how I can further enhance my motions," she expressed passionately.
For Li, being an NPC deputy is a continuous process of learning and growth. "Ideas don't just appear out of nowhere, they are shaped by what we observe, hear and contemplate in our daily work."
Reflecting on her journey, Li recalled that a year ago, she had never imagined that she would submit a motion on the development of a smart elderly care application platform.
A visit to a smart elderly care community in Chengdu, Southwest China's Sichuan Province last year planted a seed in her heart. "The modern facilities and innovative elderly care services left a deep impression on me. Subsequently, I participated in a training course, where I gained more insights on the elderly care services, particularly in the realm of smart elderly care platform development."
Li observed that in recent years, elderly care services have expanded to residential areas across China. Initiatives such as community canteens, improved rehabilitation equipment leasing, elderly-friendly home renovations, and volunteer's help like home bathing assistance, health check-ups, have been introduced.
However, through her interactions and research, Li found that there are some problems with using smart technology to care for elderly people. For example, the number of the elderly who uses the platform is relatively small; there is a shortage in the financial support for the development and maintenance of the mobile apps; and there is a lack of instructions to the group from professional personnel.
"This year, with this motion, I aim to address the obstacles faced by the elderly in utilizing smart applications, enabling the true potential of technology to benefit them," Li emphasized.
At the end of last year, Li participated in the sessions of Hebei Provincial People's Congress, focusing on elderly care issues. She engaged in fruitful discussions with provincial NPC deputies on smart elderly care, consolidating their ideas into a comprehensive reference for her motion.
Before leaving for Beijing, Li also visited the local commercial elderly nursing institutions in Beidaihe again, in order to collect more information to perfect her motion.
During this visit, Li met Shang Wenbin, deputy director of the Yanshanhui Health Care Center of China Health And Elderly Care Group, and had extensive discussions with Shang on how to establish a smart elderly care platform so that companies can contribute more to the government's efforts in promoting inclusive elderly care service.
In an interview with the Global Times, Shang shared that through interactions with NPC deputies at various levels, he recognized the significance of the smart elderly care service industry as not just a reform initiative, but a vital livelihood project linked to local economic and social progress. A fare forth of confidence
A pen and a notebook are always by Li's side in her car, serving as her faithful companions for her duties as an NPC deputy.
This notebook has traveled with Li to countless places over the past year, witnessing her diligent note-taking during visits to residents' homes and attendance at various training and sharing sessions.
What truly inspires Li are the stories shared by experienced NPC deputies.
"One of the deputies who has been re-elected for decades is my role model," Li shared with enthusiasm. "She started as a rural woman with little political knowledge, but her honest and practical motions that truly reflected the voice from grass-roots farmers have made a significant impact on national policies in agricultural field. I aspire to follow in her footsteps."
This year, during her time in Beijing for the two sessions, Li plans to seek advice from veteran deputies, present her ideas and carefully study their feedback.
Her dedication paid off when her motion on improving the lease contract of rehabilitation aids for the disabled was well received at the two sessions 2023, earning praise from the China's Ministry of Finance.
"After sharing the good news with a disabled elderly couple in our community, seeing their tears of joy was truly heartwarming," Li recounted.
"As an NPC deputy, I have come to realize the power of advocating for the voices and needs of our residents," she noted.
"For me, putting forward a high-quality motion is to reflect the most authentic voice and needs of our residents to the central government. When the motion receives feedback from the central government and is put into practice, I felt it is a 'two-way efforts' between the government and the people," Li said.
According to official data, during the two sessions in 2023, deputies performed their duties in accordance with the law and put forward 8,314 motions. These motions have been fully processed and replied by 204 agents as of December 2023. Among them, the deputies adhered to the practice of whole-process people's democracy, maintained close ties with the people, and put forward an increasing motions on the basis of research, inspections, discussions, and visits.
As Li bid farewell to Sun, she left with a promise: "I will work tirelessly in Beijing and return to share my accomplishments with you."
Now in Beijing, with unwavering determination in her heart, Li is eagerly anticipating another wave of positive feedback that will truly impact the lives of those she tirelessly represents.
