China maintains stable employment over the past 70 years: report

China has seen stable employment over the past 70 years, according to a report released on Tuesday by the National Bureau of Statistics.

The report noted that the number of employees increased from 180 million in 1949 to 780 million in 2018, of which 430 million were urban employees, 27.3 times that of 1949.

Job structure also improved. In 1949, urban jobs only accounted for 8.5 percent of all jobs in China, while the proportion of urban employment hit 56 percent in 2018. Last year, employees in the primary, secondary, and tertiary industries accounted for 26.1 percent, 27.6 percent and 46.3 percent, respectively.

The report indicated that non-public sectors have developed into the main channel for urban employment. In 2018, the proportion of urban jobs in non-public sectors increased from 0.2 percent in 1978 to 83.6 percent.

The quality of employment was also significantly improved. The average annual wage for employees in the urban non-private sector increased to 82,461 yuan in 2018, 134 times that of 1978, representing an average yearly increase of 13 percent.

From 2013 to 2018, more than 13 million urban jobs were created every year in China. In addition, the surveyed urban unemployment rate remained at a relatively low level of around 5 percent. The country also confined the registered urban unemployment rate to about 4 percent.

The report further noted that China still needs to work hard to achieve fuller employment and create better quality jobs as it is still an arduous, long-term task.

Cartoon companies facilitate industry development

A poster for Ne Zha (Photo/worker.cn)

October Meng Ma, an animation producer participating in post-production of the animated blockbuster Ne Zha, earned little profit from the film, which brought in 2.8 billion yuan in box office revenue after hitting cinemas.

October Meng Ma and other companies, all based in Suzhou, east China, completed 400 visual effect shots in Ne Zha. These other companies, like October Meng Ma, didn’t make much money.

Industry insiders said that the average profit of each sector of the film and television supply chain is more than 20 percent, but the post-production of special effects hovered in the region of 5 percent.

To climb out of this low-profit dilemma, Suzhou cartoon companies started to produce original animations with the support of investors instead of merely providing post-production services.

Statistics show that China’s animation industry saw 65 financing activities in 2018. Several cartoon producers in the Suzhou Xiangcheng film and television industrial park have raised funds from major enterprises such as Enlight Media and have made over 20 animated cartoons.

“It takes at least three years to design and release an animation. We need to take action to help upgrade the animation industry,” said Qiu Jiawei, head of October Meng Ma.

The Suzhou industrial park has also infused animations into the game industry, with over 100 cartoon game companies bringing an annual output value of 7.5 billion yuan.

Chinese museums see increased demand for cultural and creative products

Chinese museums have seen rapid growth in the market for cultural and creative products in recent years, according to a report released on Thursday.

(Photo/Xinhua)

Statistics from Tmall, China’s largest online retail platform, suggest that the transaction size of creative products with traditional cultural elements in 2019 quadrupled from 2017.

Chinese people are now more confident in their traditional culture with the rapid development of China and the rising of its international status.

Keyword searches related to traditional elements exceeded 12.6 billion on Tmall alone in 2018, the report said.

Online buyers of traditional Hanfu clothing increased by over 100 percent in 2018 compared with the previous year.

The report pointed out that many museums started to develop and sell their own cultural and creative products since the traditional operating model of merely displaying collections couldn’t satisfy the increasing demand.

As a forerunner in cultural innovation, the Palace Museum in Beijing received an income of 1.5 billion yuan by selling creative products back in 2017.

Vegetarian meat mooncakes to hit Chinese market

(Photo/Xinhua)

A mooncake stuffed with vegetarian meat will enter the Chinese market for the first time in September, Chongqing Morning Post reported.

The artificial meat, made from soy protein, is designed to imitate animal meat in its color, smell, taste and texture, said Li Jian, leader of the research team with Beijing Technology and Business University that co-developed the mooncake with Starfield, a plant-based meat brand.

The first batch of 3,000 mooncakes will be sold at Starfield outlets in Shenzhen, Guangdong province, during the Mid-Autumn Festival, which falls on Sept. 13 this year.

About 34.4 percent of the total 44,000 respondents said they would like to try the mooncake, according to a poll conducted on Weibo, a Chinese micro-blogging website.

Replacing animal meat with artificial meat will reduce the consumption of natural resources brought by animal husbandry and guide consumers towards a healthier diet.

Such substitutes are necessary because animal meat can’t suffice the growing global population, which is expected to reach 9.6 billion by 2050, according to United Nations estimations.

China rolls out policies to facilitate e-sports industry

The Chinese government has rolled out policies to encourage the e-sports industry to develop in a professional and healthy way.

A young female player competes in an e-sports event in Taicang, Jiangsu province.[Photo by Ji Haixin/China Daily]

Back in 2003, e-sports was included as a formal sports event by the General Administration of Sport. In 2017, the administration issued an official document to encourage Chinese cities to hold e-sports activities.

Reports confirmed that the industry is short of between 500,000 and 1 million professionals. To address the problem, the Ministry of Education incorporated e-sports as a major in universities.

From 2017 to 2018, the number of educational institutions running e-sports majors increased from 18 to 51. Meanwhile, e-sports operators and e-sportsmen were listed as new occupations by the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security earlier this year to encourage more talents in the industry.

The Shanghai government promised to provide funds and train talents in the e-sports sector. Moreover, Hainan province established a special fund of one billion yuan to support the industry.

Insiders pointed out that the government needs to optimize industry organizations, competition systems and rules, as well as improve certification procedures for practitioners to promote sustainable development of the industry.

In the first half of this year, the actual sales revenue of e-sports reached 51.3 billion yuan, and 440,000 people were employed in the industry.

Lebanese company introduces Chinese books to the world

Digital Future, a leading publishing company headquartered in Beirut, capital of Lebanon, has translated and published more than 200 Chinese books and sold a total of more than 1 million copies, contributing to the cultural communication between China and other countries.

These books, covering a variety of topics, including politics, economy, society, culture and education, have been translated into Arabic, English, French and German among others, said Mohamad Elkhatib, president of the company.

Elkhatib started to bring Chinese books to Lebanon and other Arab countries more than 10 years ago, when he first picked up a children’s storybook at a bookstore in Shenzhen, China’s Guangdong province.

He believes it’s necessary to translate Chinese books into Arabic since hundreds of millions of people in the world speak Arabic and more Arab readers are becoming interested in Chinese culture with the implementation of the Belt and Road Initiative.

Up to now, the company has cooperated with over 10 Chinese publishers, including China Renmin University Press and Anhui Children’s Publishing House.

The children’s books published by the company are popular among Arab kids. Some are even included on must-read lists created by primary and high school teachers.

The company is joining hands with educational institutions and schools in Arab countries to promote academic and educational Chinese books to the students, said Elkhatib.

Elkhatib also said that the company would translate and publish an encyclopedia about China in the near future, which he thinks will help Arab readers have an in-depth understanding of China. He hopes Arab countries can learn from the experience of China’s economic development through these books.

Concerted efforts required to curb game addiction

(Photo/pixabay.com)

China’s online game users reached 484 million by the end of 2018, according to a report released by the China Internet Network Information Center.

Alongside this surge in users, addiction to gaming has become a real problem, especially among teenagers, who often have less self-control than their adult counterparts. A study shows that 27.5 percent of teenagers aged between 12 and 16 years old suffer from gaming addiction.

A lack of other interests, outdoor activities and good communication with parents and schoolmates prompts teenagers to spend too much time playing games, reasoned Lu Lin, an academician with the Chinese Academy of Sciences.

Beijing Huilongguan Hospital established a specialized medical center in 2018 to treat teenagers addicted to video games. This year, the hospital set up rooms equipped with sports and recreation facilities to help patients beat addiction in a relaxed environment.

Experts pointed out that dealing with video game addiction requires the government, schools, families and gaming companies to work together.

The State Council encouraged gaming companies to develop both educational and enjoyable video games for teenagers in an official paper released in July. The document is intended to curb the number of online games available to children and limit their time playing games.

Parents should communicate more often with their children and keep them company. They could also help kids manage their time better and avoid overindulgence in video gaming. Schools need to teach students about the negative impacts of addiction and show them that playing video games isn’t harmful if done in moderation.

Commentary: Hong Kong rioters must be severely punished for beating reporter

A Global Times reporter who went to report on the current chaos in China’s Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (SAR) was tied up, insulted, and beaten by radicals in Hong Kong International Airport on the evening of Aug. 13.

The news provoked widespread outrage in China. Many Chinese lost sleep, worrying about the life of reporter Fu Guohao.

These rioters, who have thrown gasoline bombs at police, hurt tourists from the Chinese mainland, and brutally beaten this reporter, have defied every law and regulation. What they have done is appalling and intolerable.

In contrast to the savage acts of the rioters, Fu’s bravery and integrity were admirable. Facing the rioters who surrounded him, Fu shouted, “I support Hong Kong police, you can beat me now.”

When he was finally brought out of the airport, while lying on a stretcher, Fu said “I love Hong Kong, thank you, thank you,” which shows the love this reporter feels for his country and Hong Kong SAR despite the rioters.

Insulting and attacking a member of the press is unforgivable. The rioters have trampled on journalistic ethics and civil rights. They have broken the bottom lines of morality and the law. All rioters must be severely punished.

Stopping the violence, ending the chaos and restoring order is the priority for Hong Kong right now. Hong Kong police announced in a statement that “radicals have caused physical and mental damage to the victims”, and that “the Hong Kong police will carry out an in-depth investigation into the cases,” stressing that they “will be sure to bring the attackers to justice”.

It’s touching to see more and more people stepping out to say no to violence, rioters, and criminal acts. The power of justice is converging!

As the old saying goes, “Those whom the gods wish to destroy, they first make mad.” What awaits the mob is surely the punishment of the law.

The disgusting conduct of the radicals can neither frighten the people who have a sense of justice nor obstruct the determination of Hong Kong to maintain stability. Justice will prevail over evil. Hong Kong will see a better tomorrow!

Western China transported 7.6 billion cubic meters of natural gas to Hong Kong

Workers check the pipeline at a compressor station along the West-to-east Gas Pipeline. (Du Yanfei/People’s Daily Online)

By Aug. 11, 2019, China had transported a total of around 7.6 billion cubic meters of natural gas to its Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (SAR) via a project which ships natural gas from west to east, meeting the demand for natural gas in Hong Kong.

The amount of natural gas transported to Hong Kong via China’s project for shipping natural gas from west to east has increased year by year, with the annual volume of natural gas delivered to Hong Kong through the project rising from 390 million cubic meters in 2013 to 1.5 billion cubic meters in 2018.

The project for shipping natural gas from west to east, which is an iconic project of China’s western region development campaign, was launched in China in July 2002. Now the project includes a natural gas transportation pipeline network with a total length of 12,294 kilometers, benefiting nearly 400 million people in over 160 cities of 16 provincial-level administrative regions and Hong Kong SAR.

The primary natural gas transport capacity of the project’s pipeline network has reached 123.6 billion cubic meters per year, according to a relevant executive of PetroChina West-East Gas Pipeline Company, which is in charge of the construction of the pipeline as well as the production and operation of the project.

The project now has a pipeline network consisting of three main lines, nine branches, 12 interconnection lines, 18 subbranches, 178 compressor stations, 25 maintenance teams, 480 valve chambers, and two natural gas metering sub-stations, said the executive.

By Aug. 1, 2019, the company had sold 492 billion cubic meters of natural gas, disclosed the executive, explaining that this amount of natural gas can replace 639 million tonnes of standard coal equivalents, and reduce emissions of sulfur dioxide, fine dust, and carbon dioxide by 43 million tonnes, 349 million tonnes, and 453 million tonnes respectively.

China injects positive energy into building a world of universal security

“As a member of the Asian family and a responsible major country in the global community, China will continue to build peace, contribute to development and uphold order in the world, and work for a new type of international relations and a community with a shared future for mankind.”

This is the remarks made by Chinese President Xi Jinping at the Fifth Summit of the Conference on Interaction and Confidence-Building Measures in Asia (CICA) held in Dushanbe, Tajikistan.

With unprecedentedly active diplomatic activities in the first half of this year, China has embraced a further rise in its international influence, ability to inspire and power to shape.

On many bilateral and multilateral occasions, President Xi has made voices for safeguarding world peace and security, promoting mutual trust among major countries and neighboring security, and offering solutions that address both the symptoms and root causes of global problems.

He called on people of all countries to build an open, inclusive, clean and beautiful world that enjoys lasting peace, universal security and common prosperity, which showcased the sense of responsibility of the leader of a major country.

The world is undergoing unprecedented changes and adjustments. Human beings are faced with common challenges as instability and uncertainties are mounting and traditional and non-traditional security issues become more salient.

Based on a thorough insight into the human destiny and the trend of the times, President Xi proposed a vision of common, comprehensive, cooperative and sustainable security. He encourages countries to forge a new type of international relations featuring mutual respect, fairness, justice and win-win cooperation, follow the principle of consultation, cooperation and benefit for all in global governance, and inject positive energy into building a world of universal security.

China has made a loud and clear voice to build a world of universal security. At a China-France forum on global governance, Xi offered Chinese solutions to address the deficit of governance, trust, peace and development, stressing that all countries should shoulder their due responsibilities and take concrete actions to grasp the destiny of mankind.

At the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum, he highlighted sustainable development as a “golden key” to solving global problems.

During the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit held in Bishkek, capital of Kyrgyzstan, Xi said that SCO members should make the organization an example of common security. Besides, he stated that building a safe and stable Asia is the common objective of Asian countries at the fifth summit of the CICA.

Eying global peace and common development, President Xi has always attached great importance to the building of a world of universal security.

China has signed a joint communiqué with Italy to advance bilateral comprehensive strategic partnership and inked an agreement with France to jointly safeguard multilateralism and improve global governance.

The country vowed to strengthen contemporary global strategic stability in a joint statement it signed with Russia. Besides, it also reached agreements on further deepening comprehensive strategic partnerships with both Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan.

Furthermore, President Xi’s historic visit to the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) has promoted the political settlement of the Korean Peninsula issue and contributed to the peace and stability on the peninsula.

China will strengthen bilateral cooperation and focus on regional and global common security to enhance security with each party concerned.

Building a world of universal security is increasingly becoming a consensus of the international community. Some foreign experts said that the new security concept put forward by China is a feasible solution to disputes and would contribute to regional security and stability. They also said China’s practices of the new vision of security serve as a major force in maintaining peace and stability.

Learning China’s plans and actions to build a world of universal security, the world is more and more accepting the new vision of security proposed by President Xi.

This new vision reflects the characteristics of the international situation and the requirements of the development of the times. It is also in line with the common voice of all countries for peace, development and cooperation.

Since it was put forward in 2014, the vision has been brought up for multiple times at UN meetings. It has also been included in the multilateral cooperation documents such as the declaration of CICA summit and that of the Council of Heads of State of the SCO.

Human beings dwell on the same planet, and global countries are increasingly becoming a community with shared future that shares of weal and woe. To pursue common security and cooperative security is a natural demand for them.

President Xi has reiterated that China will firmly uphold the authority and stature of the UN, respect the sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity of other countries and adhere to the principle of non-interference in others’ internal affairs, encouraging countries in the world to jointly safeguard security through cooperation.

Russian President Vladimir Putin said that Russia and China should continue to strengthen coordination on major international and regional issues, jointly deal with the challenges of unilateralism and protectionism, and maintain global peace and stability.

Emmanuel Macron, President of France, said that France and the EU are willing to deepen mutual trust with China and shoulder the historic responsibility of promoting world peace, security and development together.

The tree of peace does not grow on barren land while the fruit of development is not produced amidst flames of war. Development is the foundation of security and also the largest guarantee of security. Only by promoting security through development can symptoms and root causes of problems both be addressed.

At the 2nd Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation, participating parties reached broad consensus on promoting high-quality construction of the Belt and Road initiative, and the win-win results delivered at the forum have injected new energy to the high-quality development of the world economy.

During Xi’s overseas trips, he repeatedly elaborated Chinese plans to address the development deficit, and the plans have been broadly accepted by the world, which contributed to the shaping of a new model in which sustainable security is promoted by sustainable development, and economic cooperation and security cooperation are having sound interactions and synchronized progress.

“United we stand, divided we fall.” In an era of globalization, no country can address alone the many challenges facing mankind; no country can afford to retreat into self-isolation.

It is a common aspiration of the people from all countries to build a world with universal security free from fear and create a security architecture featuring fairness, justice, joint contribution and shared benefits.

Offering Chinese wisdom to solving global security problems, China’s new security concept and practices are envisioning a bright prospect of long-term security and common prosperity for the world.