Innholdsfortegnelse for Vol.67/No.37 i Beijing Review

With senior citizens aged 60 or over accounting for 21 percent of China’s population, more and more attention is being focused on healthcare. The government has pledged to build a healthy China by 2035, a goal that it aspires to meet by addressing regional disparities and bringing major health indicators up to par with those of high-income countries. China has long grappled with imbalances in the distribution of medical resources. Patients often need to seek treatment at large hospitals in major metropolises such as Beijing, where they can receive the best possible treatment. China’s healthcare reform has focused on channeling resources to local and regional hospitals to make high-quality care more accessible and affordable. Building regional medical centers is one reform initiative for this purpose, under which top-notch hospitals, usually…

Contrary to the West’s false and misleading information regarding repression of Uygur Muslims in Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, Islam is blossoming with all its religious colors and traditional fashion under the law. This is an eye-witness observation of a nine-member Pakistani media delegation that visited Urumqi and Yining cities from August 19 to 23. The delegation visited the Xinjiang Counter-Terrorism and Counter-Extremism Exhibition, Xinjiang Islamic Institute (XII), Xinjiang Art Theater Muqam Art Troupe, Xinjiang International Grand Bazaar, Shaanxi Mosque and other places. The delegation appreciated the local government’s steps to provide Islamic educational facilities to Uygur Muslims to learn the true teaching of Islam that is based on peace and shared development. Well-rounded development The legitimate rights and interests of the people of all ethnicities in Xinjiang have been protected…

At the age of 66, Zhang Mengdie (alias), a former nurse who had devoted her entire career to helping others recover, was diagnosed with lung cancer. After five years of undergoing multiple rounds of chemotherapy and taking heavy medication, she was dying in an intensive care unit, her body plugged into banks of machines through a maze of plastic tubes, her blood connected to bags of fluids, and her muted senses constantly stimulated by bright lights and loud alarms. Tormented by the relentless pain, Zhang began searching online for information about euthanasia—the practice of medically assisted dying, which remains illegal in China and most parts of the world. And it was during this search that she stumbled upon an unfamiliar field called hospice care. Following careful consultations with Guo Yanru,…

The Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) announced on August 31 it will further delay the implementation of tariff increases on Chinese-made products including electric vehicles (EVs), solar cells and semiconductors under Section 301. This is the second time that the USTR has delayed these tariff increases. Section 301 of the U.S. Trade Act of 1974 provides a statutory means by which the U.S. imposes trade sanctions. In May, U.S. President Joe Biden announced the tariff on Chinese EVs would be increased to 100 percent, and that on semiconductors and solar cells to 50 percent, as well as new 25 percent tariffs on lithium-ion batteries and critical minerals to make those batteries, steel and aluminum products and ship-to-shore cranes. The new tariffs were initially scheduled to take effect…

To Tugrul Keskin, a delivery robot he encountered in a hotel elevator in Shanghai on August 31 was really impressive. “It is an example of the progress of China’s technological revolution,” said Keskin, who is director of the U.S.-based China Global Strategic Research Institute. Keskin recently visited Shanghai, Yiwu and Wenzhou, three cities that are famous as pioneers in China’s economic transformation, together with nine other experts from the United States and European countries. They met with farmers, businesspeople, scholars and officials during the trip to gain a deeper understanding of the Chinese path toward modernization. Larry Catá Backer, a professor of law and international affairs at Pennsylvania State University, expressed admiration for China’s high-speed rail network. He said China has invested tremendous resources into building its high-speed rail system,…

Born in Paris, France, Clément Magar studied international economics at the Université Paris 1 Pantheon-Sorbonne. On the side, he also studied Chinese—an interest he developed in high school. To better master the language, he often visited the library and rented Chinese films, which developed into his second passion. “I was even more interested in film than in my actual major,” he told Beijing Review. Following his passion, when he had completed his master’s degree in international economics, he went on to pursue a master’s degree in filmmaking at the Escuela de Cine y Animation de Barcelona. Passion for film Wanting to see China in person, Magar, then a fresh graduate, arrived in the country in 2008. “Initially, I didn’t intend to work in the film industry, but I was also…

HEIRESS TAKES THE REINS OF BEVERAGE GIANT Zong Fuli, daughter of beverage giant Hangzhou Wahaha Group’s founder Zong Qinghou, has taken the helm, having inherited all the top positions held by her late father. The elder Zong, who founded Wahaha, headquartered in Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, in 1987, died in February. Zong Fuli, 42, is now the group’s legal representative, board chair and general manager. Zong Fuli joined Wahaha after graduating from Pepperdine University in the United States. She has since worked at different posts and became vice chair of the board in December 2021. Wahaha, which means “laughing child” in Chinese, mainly offers beverages including drinking water, protein drinks, and juices. The Zong family, worth 95 billion yuan ($13.1 billion), was ranked 31st on China’s rich list last year, according…

Tensions are rising and the risk of regional war looms over the Middle East. Diplomacy has yet to restrain escalation and prospects for peace unfortunately are dim at this time. The regional situation is complex. Israeli assassinations raise tensions In addition to the devastating Israeli incursion into occupied Gaza that began after the tragic events of October 7 last year, there is also increasing Israeli pressure on the occupied West Bank, continued Israeli assassinations of top-level Hamas and Hezbollah officials, the continuing Israeli air attacks on Lebanon and Syria, and also the Israeli intransigence at the negotiations over a ceasefire in Gaza. At the time of writing, Hezbollah had already made a response to the Israeli assassination of one of its top leaders in Beirut, Lebanon. Israeli intelligence and military…

A proverb believed to have originated from the African continent says: “If you want to go fast, go alone; but if you want to go far, go together.” This sentiment embodies the core of China-Africa relations. The white paper titled China and Africa in the New Era: A Partnership of Equals, released by China’s State Council Information Office in 2021, emphasizes that “nothing is more important than a true friend. China has always considered solidarity and cooperation with African countries to be an essential element of its foreign policy. This will never change, not even when China grows stronger and enjoys a higher international status.” From September 4 to 6, Beijing hosted a grand multilateral gathering, where representatives from China and more than 50 African countries met and discussed deepening…

The dense branches of wild locust trees shade residents from the scorching sun in Ping’an Village of Nangang Town in Zhengding of Hebei Province. The locust tree forest has become a new hotspot for camping. However, due to drought and declining groundwater levels, the tree branches had often drooped listlessly like dead vines until 2017, the start of a restoration project for the Hutuo River, along which the village is located. The Hutuo River, originating in Fanshi County of Shanxi Province, flows through both Shanxi and Hebei provinces before entering the sea. The main river stretches 588 km, with 205 km flowing through four urban districts and six counties under the administration of Shijiazhuang, capital of Hebei. It is the largest and primary flood control channel in Shijiazhuang and is…

German philosopher Hans-Georg Gadamer believed that culture is the blend of past and present. Other scholars have expanded on this, suggesting that individuals can reinterpret and innovate traditional cultural forms to meet current needs while preserving their classic aspects. This idea resonates with young Chinese people who are increasingly interested in reconnecting with their heritage and distinguishing themselves through cultural symbols. This trend is evident in the rise of guochao products, ranging from special gifts to everyday items like cosmetics and even toothpaste. Guochao, which literally means “national tide,” refers to products, from fashion to food, infused with traditional Chinese cultural elements. Recently, clothing with guochao elements has been categorized as xinzhongshi or neo-Chinese style. According to Xu Dong, founder of 23-year-old qipao brand Lingxifang in Beijing, neo-Chinese style combines…

When I arrived in Hefei, I was filled with the same kind of curiosity that has been a lifelong companion. Born in Brazil, with a mother who carries the rich traditions of Luxembourg and Germany, and a father rooted in the cultures of Treviso, Italy and Porto, Portugal, I’ve always felt like a citizen of the world. This diverse background has shaped my worldview, instilling in me a deep respect for different cultures and an insatiable desire to explore the world around me. Moving to Hefei has been an adventure filled with new smells, tastes, and stories—each day is a discovery. It’s a city that blends the old with the new, where ancient traditions meet modern innovations. I find myself wandering through its bustling streets, marveling at the harmony between…