Chinese smartphone company climbs technology ladder with self-developed chip

By Liu Ningning and Li Xiao

STOCKHOLM,March 6(Greenpost)– Xiaomi, one of China’s leading smartphone manufacturers, released its first independently developed smartphone chip on Tuesday, making it the fourth cellphone company in the world that can independently develop processor after Apple, Samsung and Huawei.

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Pengpai S1, the fingernail-sized chip, cost Xiaomi over 1 billion yuan ($145 million) in research and development. “Chip is the apex level of cellphone technology. To become a great company, Xiaomi must master the core technology,” Lei Jun, founder and CEO of Xiaomi said on the release conference.

China is a big smartphone manufacturer. Nearly 70 percent of the cellphones around the world are produced by China, but only 5 percent of these phones are equipped with chips independently developed by China.

The innovation of chips, as the heart of smartphones, is the top priority during the R&D process.

But for the manufacturers, their product development and market plans were often affected by the chips, and a new cellphone line even cannot be designed until the chip is delivered. The passive manufacturers found that the chips they offered always fell behind the needs of customers and the market.

After Chinese cellphone companies stepped up self-development and innovation in the core technology in recent years, they have fundamentally improved the quality and influence of “Made in China” and charted the course for enterprise transformation.

In 2012, Huawei successfully launched its first commercial cellphone chip Haisi K3V2 and the Kirin series afterwards underwent constant upgrade. Now, the company is among the frontline of chip development across the globe.

Last year, Huawei released the 1,000-yuan Honor 5C, which carries its own Kirin 650 chipset, building a sharing platform between high-end chipset and 1,000-yuan cellphones chipset and offering better customer experiences.

The People’s Daily, in a signed article under the title “Let Chinese Chips Make New Waves” on March 1, defined chip development as a marathon, saying that product iteration always faces challenges and risks. However, a sparkle of innovation can lead to a wild fire.

“Independent innovation, represented by chip development, adds sufficient horsepower to enterprises like a brand-new engine while pointing out the direction of the transformation of the manufacturing industry,” the paper added.

(People’s Daily)

Chinese ‘Taobao villages’ create more than 840,000 job opportunities

By Du Yifei from People’s Daily     Editor Xuefei Chen Axelsson from Green Post.

STOCKHOLM, March6(Greenpost)–Thanks to the rapid development of China’s e-commerce industry, over 1,000 “Taobao villages” across the country are turning poor communities into huge online retail hubs, creating more than 840,000 job opportunities.

Picture1

Villagers of Wantou Village, Boxing county in east China’s Shandong Province make crafts. The banner on the wall reads “Welcome to join Taobao”. (Photo by official website of Boxing county)

These villages are so-named because at least 10 percent of the population living in these rural communities makes its living by selling products online—mostly on Taobao.com, the Alibaba-owned consumer-to-consumer marketplace. The e-commerce annual turnover of each village is no less than 10 million yuan.

By selling crafts online from their hometown of Wantou Village, Boxing county in east China’s Shandong Province, villagers made online sales of over 300 million yuan ($43.5 million) last year.

Similarly, villagers of the Shuanglongqiao Village in Nanchong, southwest China’s Sichuan province, have allured flocks of tourists, including foreigners, to stay and experience the star-level accommodation at their houses, via e-commerce platforms.

These villages offer a glimpse into how e-commerce industry spurs the rural economic growth and the farmers’ benefits.

Online retail sales of China’s farm produce are estimated at 220 billion yuan ($32 billion) in 2016, up over 46 percent over the previous year, the Ministry of Agriculture said.

The latest figures from Aliresearch showed that there were 1,311 Taobao villages across China, and over 840,000 jobs were created by the clusters.

Experts said that popularity of Internet and improvement of rural infrastructure have to some extent removed the bottlenecks restraining their information communication and logistics. The market potential and demands of the central and western part of China, especially those remote areas, was leveraged as a result.

They added that rural areas have been constrained by labor outflow, poor infrastructure, low incomes and lack of competitive advantages, while an e-commerce development will help optimize market environment, upgrade industrial structure and absorb more labors.

The profitability of e-commerce has attracted a rising number of rural residents to return home, according to statistics. Thanks to the development of e-commerce, about 12 million people left for brighter futures have come back to build up the local economy.

The development of e-commerce, as experts believe, can be attributed to favorable policies and the rising market demand.

The recently-released first policy statement from the central authorities for 2017, usually an indicator of policy priorities, emphasized the importance of supply-side structural reform in the agricultural sector, urging the development of e-commerce industry in rural areas.

At the same time, e-commerce and traditional businesses have cast their eyes to the rural areas. So far, Alilbaba has expanded its services to over 23,000 villages nationwide.

Days earlier, a strategic cooperation agreement to boost rural e-commerce was inked by Sichuan province, Alibaba Group and Ant Financial Services Group, the mobile payment affiliate of Alibaba.

Alibaba CEO Jack Ma said that his company hopes to offer a training on e-commerce and Taobao villages to those county officials of the province, explaining that their rising awareness to develop e-commerce will guarantee the business success of the province.

中国“淘宝村”创造就业岗位超过84万个

北欧绿色邮报网报道(主编陈雪霏)据人民日报记者 杜一菲报道:山东省博兴县有个著名的淘宝村。

作为有名的“淘宝村”,山东省博兴县锦秋街道湾头村的传统老手艺草柳编工艺品卖得红火,2016年网上销售额达到3亿元;四川南充市西充县凤鸣镇双龙桥村将乡村旅游与电子商务融合,让民宿走上“星级服务”,网络订单纷至沓来,还有不少外国游客光顾……

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“淘宝村”是指活跃网店数量达到当地家庭户数10%以上、电子商务年交易额达到1000万元以上的村庄。“淘宝村”现象是电子商务促进中国农村经济发展和农民增收的一大标志。中国农业部预计,2016年中国农产品网络零售交易总额可达2200亿元,同比增长46%。阿里研究院最近发布的报告显示,中国“淘宝村”数量达到1311个,并创造了超过84万个就业岗位。

有专家表示,随着互联网的普及和农村物流网络的完善,制约农村物流的信息不畅、物流基础薄弱等瓶颈一定程度上得到缓解,中西部特别是偏远地区的发展潜力被更好地挖掘,消费需求得到有效释放。

基础设施落后、收入低、缺乏竞争优势等因素一直以来是困扰农村发展、造成劳动力外流的重要原因。农村电商对农村市场环境优化、产业结构升级、富余劳动力转移具有巨大促进作用。数据显示,致富项目让返乡人越来越多,农村电商的发展使外出人口减少约1200万人。

政策和市场是驱动农村电商发展的双轮。2017年中央一号文件聚焦农业供给侧结构性改革,其中明确提出要推进农村电商发展。另一方面,电商企业和传统企业纷纷涉足农村电商。不久前,四川省与阿里巴巴集团、蚂蚁金服集团签署战略合作协议。阿里巴巴集团董事局主席马云表示:“发展农村电商,我希望阿里在四川为县委书记、县长们做一次农村电商及村淘的培训。县委书记、县长的理念提升了,农村电商的成功率将大幅提升。”目前,阿里巴巴农村淘宝已经覆盖全国23000多个村。

在山东省博兴县锦秋街道湾头村,几名农民正在编织传统草柳编家居用品。墙上贴有“欢迎加入农村淘宝”的宣传条幅。图片来源:博兴县综合门户网站

 

 

 

 

 

 

Chinese ‘Taobao villages’ create more than 840,000 job opportunities

By Du Yifei from People’s Daily

 

Thanks to the rapid development of China’s e-commerce industry, over 1,000 “Taobao villages” across the country are turning poor communities into huge online retail hubs, creating more than 840,000 job opportunities.

 

These villages are so-named because at least 10 percent of the population living in these rural communities makes its living by selling products online—mostly on Taobao.com, the Alibaba-owned consumer-to-consumer marketplace. The e-commerce annual turnover of each village is no less than 10 million yuan.

 

By selling crafts online from their hometown of Wantou Village, Boxing county in east China’s Shandong Province, villagers made online sales of over 300 million yuan ($43.5 million) last year.

 

 

Similarly, villagers of the Shuanglongqiao Village in Nanchong, southwest China’s Sichuan province, have allured flocks of tourists, including foreigners, to stay and experience the star-level accommodation at their houses, via e-commerce platforms.

 

These villages offer a glimpse into how e-commerce industry spurs the rural economic growth and the farmers’ benefits.

 

Online retail sales of China’s farm produce are estimated at 220 billion yuan ($32 billion) in 2016, up over 46 percent over the previous year, the Ministry of Agriculture said.

 

The latest figures from Aliresearch showed that there were 1,311 Taobao villages across China, and over 840,000 jobs were created by the clusters.

 

Experts said that popularity of Internet and improvement of rural infrastructure have to some extent removed the bottlenecks restraining their information communication and logistics. The market potential and demands of the central and western part of China, especially those remote areas, was leveraged as a result.

 

They added that rural areas have been constrained by labor outflow, poor infrastructure, low incomes and lack of competitive advantages, while an e-commerce development will help optimize market environment, upgrade industrial structure and absorb more labors.

 

The profitability of e-commerce has attracted a rising number of rural residents to return home, according to statistics. Thanks to the development of e-commerce, about 12 million people left for brighter futures have come back to build up the local economy.

 

The development of e-commerce, as experts believe, can be attributed to favorable policies and the rising market demand.

 

The recently-released first policy statement from the central authorities for 2017, usually an indicator of policy priorities, emphasized the importance of supply-side structural reform in the agricultural sector, urging the development of e-commerce industry in rural areas.

 

At the same time, e-commerce and traditional businesses have cast their eyes to the rural areas. So far, Alilbaba has expanded its services to over 23,000 villages nationwide.

 

Days earlier, a strategic cooperation agreement to boost rural e-commerce was inked by Sichuan province, Alibaba Group and Ant Financial Services Group, the mobile payment affiliate of Alibaba.

 

Alibaba CEO Jack Ma said that his company hopes to offer a training on e-commerce and Taobao villages to those county officials of the province, explaining that their rising awareness to develop e-commerce will guarantee the business success of the province.

 

 

Pic:

 

Villagers of Wantou Village, Boxing county in east China’s Shandong Province make crafts. The banner on the wall reads “Welcome to join Taobao”. (Photo by official website of Boxing county)

China is firm to oppose THAAD deployment: People’s Daily

By Hu Zexi from People’s Daily

STOCKHOLM,March 6(Greenpost)–China is firm in its resolve to oppose the deployment of the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) system and will never be hesitate in taking necessary actions to safeguard its own security interests, People’s Daily stressed in a commentary published on Saturday, criticizing the ROK government and its business’s stubborn persistence in THAAD deployment.

 

The editorial under the pen name of Zhongsheng, which is usually used to voice China’s stance on foreign affairs, came amid pouring anger and blames from Chinese government and media against the ROK government and Lotte Group, the country’s fifth-largest conglomerate.

 

Lotte put itself on fire after it agreed on a land swap deal to enable an early deployment of the US-backed missile shield system. The swap, which gives the ROK defense ministry the Lotte Skyhill Country Club in Seongju County, North Gyeongsang Province, for the deployment of the THAAD system, paves way for a speedy installation of the system by late June at the earliest.

 

Lotte’s latest decision trapped itself into a complicated strategic game in Northeast Asia. The panicky local media, in recent days, have been busy with guessing whether the retail giant will be sanctioned by China.

 

It is true that the decision of Seoul and Washington to deploy the THAAD system last July has severely damaged the public foundation of China-ROK cooperation, the article pointed out, indicating that the political estrangement has been spilled to economic, trade and cultural exchanges.

 

It is predictable that bilateral cooperation will definitely meet more icebergs if the ROK is stubborn on its decision, the paper stressed.

 

China welcomes foreign companies investing in the country and will always protect their rights and interests, but their operation should be in compliance with laws and regulations, a Foreign Ministry spokesman said in a recent conference while responding a question regarding whether China would take punitive measures against Lotte.

 

“Chinese market and consumers will determine whether a foreign company is successful in China,” the paper reiterated the stance, refuting ROK media’s groundless claims that China is sanctioning the retail giant.

 

Lotte’s agreement on the land swap deal is pushing ROK government towards a wrong path since the THAAD deployment will not only damage the strategic security interests of its neighbors, but also deteriorate regional crisis, the paper commented.

“Chinese consumers’ resolute and voluntary fight back never crosses the line of law, and it is a natural outcome that the company should have predicted before it made the decision,” it added.

Though some ROK public labeled what Lotte did with “patriotism”, the article noted that it is a kind of “fake patriotism” since the decision to pave way for THAAD installation will surely endanger the country.

“It cannot help with the process to denuclearize the Korean Peninsula, but create more conflicts and confrontations”, the article analyzed, warning that water on the whole peninsula will be meddled as a result.

What’s worse, if the ROK is kidnapped to a war chariot by the US, it would lose its rights to make a decision, the People’s Daily said, concluding that the country will certainly suffer from heavy losses once clashes break out.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

《人民日报》评论文章批评乐天集团协助韩国军方部署“萨德”

北欧绿色邮报网报道(主编陈雪霏)– 据人民日报记者 胡泽曦报道:

韩国乐天集团同意就“萨德”反导系统部署用地与韩国军方签署协议以来,中国政府和媒体加大了对韩国政府与乐天集团的批评力度。3月4日,《人民日报》发表评论文章称,中国反对在韩部署“萨德”系统的意志是坚定的,采取必要措施维护自身安全利益也不会有丝毫含糊。

这篇署名“钟声”的评论发表在4日《人民日报》的3版。“钟声”是人民日报就外交事务发表评论时常用的署名。

文章称,韩国企业乐天集团近日同意就“萨德”反导系统部署用地与韩国军方签署协议,意味着其主动挤入东北亚战略博弈的复杂局面。韩国一些媒体连日来热衷于揣测中国是否“封杀”乐天,是因为他们心里很慌。去年7月美韩决定在韩国部署“萨德”以来,中韩合作的民意基础明显受到了损害,中韩不仅政治关系遇冷,而且经贸、人文等各领域交往也受到了影响。可以预见的是,随着韩国继续执意推进“萨德”部署,两国间各领域合作势将遭遇更大困难。

针对一些韩国媒体批评中国“封杀”乐天集团,该文章指出,中国欢迎外国企业来华投资兴业、依法保障有关企业在华合法权益,但外国企业在华经营成功与否,最终却要由中国的市场和中国的消费者来决定。乐天集团主动选择配合“萨德”部署,就是把韩国政府往损害邻国战略安全利益、恶化地区局势的错误方向推。中国消费者自发地在法律允许的范围内对乐天做出坚决回应,这是事物发展的必然规律。

文章还针对部分韩国舆论认为乐天“爱国”这一现象指出,乐天给“萨德”入韩铺路的决定,是典型的误国之举。此举不仅无助于朝鲜半岛无核化进程,还制造了新的冲突点,令整个半岛局势进一步恶化。况且,绑上美国反导“战车”的韩国,很多事情将由不得自己做主了。一旦爆发激烈冲突,韩国不可能不受重创。

李克强:中国今年经济增速目标设为6.5%左右 China sets 2017 growth target at around 6.5%

北欧绿色邮报网报道(主编陈雪霏)– 据人民日报记者 万宇报道,中国国务院总理李克强5日作政府工作报告时指出,2017年发展的主要预期目标是:国内生产总值增长6.5%左右,在实际工作中争取更好结果;居民消费价格涨幅3%左右;城镇新增就业1100万人以上,城镇登记失业率4.5%以内;再减少农村贫困人口1000万以上;进出口回稳向好,国际收支基本平衡;居民收入和经济增长基本同步;单位国内生产总值能耗下降3.4%以上,主要污染物排放量继续下降。

去年,中国国内生产总值达到74.4万亿元人民币,增长6.7%,对全球经济增长的贡献率超过30%。李克强指出,今年的经济增长预期目标,符合经济规律和客观实际,有利于引导和稳定预期、调整结构。稳增长的重要目的是为了保就业、惠民生。去年就业增长超出预期,城镇新增就业1314万人,年末城镇登记失业率4.02%,为多年来最低。今年城镇新增就业预期目标比去年多100万人,突出了更加重视就业的导向。从经济基本面和就业吸纳能力看,这一目标通过努力是能够实现的。

此前,联合国在2017年《世界经济形势与展望》报告中,也预测中国未来两年的经济增速都是6.5%。报告认为,“中国经济在2016年呈现了稳定的增长,缓解了各方短期内对其增长将急剧放缓的担忧。在稳健的国内需求和具支持性的财政措施的推动下,中国经济在2017年和2018年每年预计将增长6.5%。”

China sets 2017 growth target at around 6.5%

By Wan Yu from People’s Daily

 

China aims to expand its economy by around 6.5 percent in 2017, Chinese Premier Li Keqiang said in his government work report on Sunday, but vowed that the country will pursue better results in actual economic work.

 

In the annual government work report delivered at the opening meeting of the annual session of the National People’s Congress (NPC), China’s top legislature, Li also promised to keep the 2017 increase of CPI,  a main gauge of inflation, at around 3 percent.

 

More than 11 million urban jobs will be created, and the registered urban unemployment rate will be kept within 4.5 percent, the report said, adding that another 10 million impoverished people in rural areas will be lifted out of poverty.

 

The country will also strive for a recovery of exports and imports, a balance of payment, a parallel growth of resident income and economic growth, the premier pledged.

 

China also plans to cut its energy consumption per unit of GDP by at least 3.4 percent, and lower the emission of key pollutants to ensure a cleaner sky.

 

The target China sets is realistic and objective, Li stressed, pointing out that it will  help steer and steady expectations and restructure economy.

 

Last year, China posted GDP growth at 6.7 percent year-on-year to 74.41 trillion yuan. Though the number was lowest in 26 years since 1991, it dwarfed other major economies of the world . It contributed over 30 percent to world economic expansion.

 

“One important reason behind the decision to stabilize growth is to ensure employment and improve people’s livelihood,” the premier underlined.

 

China registered a better-than-expected employment last year by creating 13.14 million new jobs for urban residents. The registered unemployment rate in Chinese cities stood at 4.02 percent at the end of 2016,  a record low in years.

 

This year’s target for urban job creation means an 11 million increase compared with last year, but Li explained that it underlined China’s greater emphasis on employment.

 

The premier reassured China can achieve this goal with  efforts based on current economic fundamentals and absorption capacity of the market.

 

The UN, in its previously released 2017 report of World Economic Situation and Prospects, said that Chinese economy is projected to grow by 6.5 percent in 2017 and 2018.

 

The growth is supported by strong domestic demand and effective fiscal policies, the report said, adding that the stable growth China secured in 2016 eased the worries of outside world over its dramatic slowdown in short run.

 

习近平:希望中国广大知识分子积极投身创新发展实践Xi Jinping urges Chinese intellectuals to devote to innovation-driven development

北欧绿色邮报网消息(主编陈雪霏)–据人民日报记者  赵成 报道 3月4日下午,中共中央总书记、国家主席、中央军委主席习近平在看望参加全国政协十二届五次会议的民进、农工党、九三学社委员,并参加联组会听取意见和建议时提出,希望中国广大知识分子积极投身创新发展实践,想国家之所想、急国家之所急,紧紧围绕经济竞争力的核心关键、社会发展的瓶颈制约、国家安全的重大挑战,不断增加知识积累,不断强化创新意识,不断提升创新能力,不断攀登创新高峰。

 

习近平强调,全社会都要关心知识分子、尊重知识分子,营造尊重知识、尊重知识分子的良好社会氛围。要为广大知识分子工作学习创造更好条件,加快形成有利于知识分子干事创业的体制机制,遵循知识分子工作特点和规律,让知识分子把更多精力集中于本职工作,把自己的才华和能量充分释放出来。

 

习近平指出,今年是实施“十三五”规划的重要一年,是供给侧结构性改革的深化之年,有不少问题需要深入研究、妥善应对、合力攻坚。大家要紧扣“十三五”规划实施和全年经济社会发展目标,就保持经济平稳健康发展和社会和谐稳定深度调查研究,提出务实管用的对策建议。

 

“总书记回应了我的建言!”会后,在联组会上发言的委员们纷纷表示。

 

在会上发言的全国政协委员、民进中央委员、上海作协副主席赵丽宏在接受人民日报记者采访时表示,中国的文化工作者,应该贯彻落实总书记重要讲话精神,发挥知识分子的作用,做好本职工作,自强不息地创造出属于中国的精湛独特的作品,让世界欣赏甚至惊叹,真正感受到中国文化的魅力。

 

同样参加了联组会的全国政协常委、江苏省政协副主席、农工党江苏省委会主委周健民在接受人民日报记者采访时指出,现在科技发展得很快,我们应该意识到,我国在原始创新方面还存在差距和不足,我们知识分子要积极投身创新发展实践,为国家作出应有的贡献,建设社会主义创新强国。

 

 

Xi Jinping urges Chinese intellectuals to devote to innovation-driven development

By Zhao Cheng from People’s Daily

 

Chinese President Xi Jinping on Saturday exhorted the nation’s intellectuals to commit themselves to innovation-driven development and play a bigger role in contributing to a better nation.

 

Xi made the remarks when joining a panel discussion with political advisors from the China Association for Promoting Democracy (CAPD), the Chinese Peasants and Workers Democratic Party (CPWDP) and the Jiu San Society at the fifth session of the 12th National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC).

 

The Chinese President, who is also General Secretary of the CPC Central Committee and Chairman of the Central Military Commission, said that intellectuals should increase knowledge accumulation, strengthen innovation awareness and improve innovation capacity by focusing on the core links of economic competitiveness, the bottlenecks restraining social development and the major challenges of national security.

 

The interests of the country and nation should be put at the first place, he added, encouraging the intellectuals to take the initiative and help make nation a great scientific power.

 

The whole society should care for and respect intellectuals and cultivate a favorable environment that honors knowledge and intellectuals, Xi said, adding that authorities must create better conditions, speed up the mechanism-building and follow the work features of intellectuals so that they can concentrate on their duties and fully unleash their talent.

 

Defining this year as an important year for the “13th Five-Year Plan” and a year to deepen the supply-side structural reform, Xi said that in-depth research, proper solution and joint efforts are required to meet all the challenges.

 

“Everyone should stick to the implementation of the ‘13th Five-Year Plan’ and goals for economic-social development around the year and make in-depth research on maintaining the stable and healthy development of economy as well as social harmony before proposing practical and effective solutions,” the President emphasized.

 

“The General Secretary responded to my advice!” said the advisors after the joint panel discussion.

 

Zhao Lihong, member of the CPPCC National Committee, member of the CAPD Central Committee and Vice President of Shanghai Writers Association told People’s Daily that China’s culture intellectuals should implement the spirit of Xi’s important speech and create excellent works that belong to China to let the world appreciate or even marvel at the Chinese culture.

 

Zhou Jianmin, member of the CPPCC National Committee, Vice Chairman of CPPCC Jiangsu Provincial Committee and Chairman of CPWDP Jiangsu Committee, pointed out that given the rapid development of technology, we should notice that China still lags behind in primary innovation.

 

“We intellectuals should actively devote to innovation-driven development and make due contribution to the country so as to build a major socialism country of innovation,” added Zhou, who also spoke at the joint panel.

 

来源:人民日报

Rural China braces for new betrothal tradition

By Liu Junguo from People’s Daily

Instead of asking for onerous cash gifts, Liu Kang’s in-laws, who in the northwestern province of Gansu, decided to abandon the long-held convention. Netizens in China lauded the generous gesture after it was reported by the media.

The example set by Liu’s in-laws embodies the changing mind-set in some rural regions, and is a victory for China’s efforts to simplify marriage affairs.

Before the wedding, Liu learned that the betrothal price in his hometown was around 130,000 yuan ($18,853), even though in 2016 the average annual per capita disposal income of rural residents in China was 12,363 yuan and 8,452 yuan in poverty-stricken areas. He managed to collect the money by borrowing from friends.

To his surprise, Liu’s future father-in-law did not give him a hard time about the money. “You two will soon start a new life. We don’t care about gifts,” he said. So Liu just offered 8,888 yuan. However, on the wedding night, his mother-in-law found a way to give the money back.

In traditional Chinese nuptial customs, the groom should give the bride betrothal presents, which is a form of engagement with a moral obligation. Meanwhile, this culture also embodies the wishes for respect, a bright future and a lasting marriage.

This traditional custom still prevails, especially in some rural areas, and the cost has become a heavy burden in some places.

The presents have become onerous for many ordinary families, with young people in rural areas unable to afford to wed.

Analysts pointed out that other than the traditional concepts of demanding money to support parents and compensation for losing a source of free labor for the bride’s family, anxiety over future nursing costs and keeping up with their neighbors have contributed to rising betrothal prices in some rural areas.

In recent years, the Chinese government has strengthened guidance, advocated simplifying marriage affairs, and opposed arranged marriage, illegal early marriage and extortion of property through marriage, yielding sound results.

China’s Shandong and Henan provinces, where families lay great emphasis on the wedding price, have founded non-governmental organizations on marriage and funeral affairs, to curb high-price gifts and undesirable customs.

It is this type of changes in ideas and conventions that make it easier for people like Liu to not worry too much about the money when proposing a marriage.

从中国农村婚礼看中国社会的进步

北欧绿色邮报网报道:据人民日报记者 刘军国报道,最近,中国甘肃省一场婚事中引出的彩礼问题吸引了媒体的普遍关注。

刘康和妻子都来自甘肃省平凉市的农村,家境都不太好。结婚前,刘康打听得知老家彩礼市场价是13万元(2016年,中国农村居民人均可支配收入12363元,贫困地区农村居民人均可支配收入8452元),于是他努力向朋友和同学筹来了彩礼。没想到上门提亲时,说到彩礼,老丈人摆了摆手:“日子是你们的,咱不管那一套,表个心意就行。”刘康于是象征性地给了8888元。新婚之夜,岳母又将这些钱巧妙地还给了小伙子。

这个故事一经媒体披露,女方父母表现出的开通、宽容、理解,顿时激起众多中国网友心中的暖意。

在中国的传统婚俗文化中,男方在定婚时须向女方赠送聘金、聘礼,俗称“彩礼”。彩礼也是民间的一种“婚约”,通过彩礼建立婚姻契约,产生道德约束力乃至法律作用。同时,彩礼文化中也蕴含了尊重对方、祈福未来、白头偕老的意愿。

作为一种传统习俗,彩礼文化流传至今,特别在农村地区还很盛行。然而,在一些地方,彩礼的“含金量”也日益上涨,从上世纪50年代的几尺花布,到改革开放后的“三转一响”(自行车、手表、缝纫机和收音机),再到如今一些地方用百元钞票“称斤论两”,不断加码的彩礼将一些普通家庭压得喘不过气来,不少农村青年哀叹“彩礼太高,娶不起媳妇”。

有分析指出,除了女方家有索取抚养费和劳动力输出补偿费的传统观念外,盲目攀比、养老焦虑等,也是助推农村彩礼水涨船高的重要原因。

近年来,中国各级政府加强引导,倡导婚事简办,反对包办婚姻、违法早婚、大操大办和借婚姻索取财物,收到了较好的效果。“彩礼”之风较盛行的山东、河南等地还成立了诸如“红白理事会”“红娘协会”的民间组织,以乡规民约遏制高价彩礼,倡导新风良俗来破除人情陋俗。正是通过观念更新、移风易俗,像文章开始提到的甘肃小伙刘康那样不用彩礼就娶回妻子的现象,才会越来越多。

编辑陈雪霏评论:这篇文章让我想起五十年代的小二黑结婚。年轻人自由恋爱,互相帮助互相爱护,本来是爱情婚姻的本质。想通过婚姻来赚取第一桶金是旧观念,因为结婚让家里父母伤筋动骨是不对的。一定要量力而行,提倡独立自主的新风尚。

 

Anti-corruption tops hottest topics at China’s 2017 ‘two sessions’

By Huan Xiang from People’s Daily

STOCKHOLM, March.6(Greenpost)–Corruption crackdown, social insurance, medical care reforms, employment and resident income, and equal access to education are among the hottest topics of the annual sessions of National People’s Congress (NPC) and Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPC), also referred as the “two sessions,” a poll conducted by People’s Daily Online, Xinhua, and other mainstream news websites showed.

 

China’s anti-corruption campaign shifted up a gear following the 18th CPC National Congress in late 2012. After years of efforts, the spread of corruption has been effectively contained and the battle against corruption has gained crushing momentum.

 

Data showed that since 2012, a total of 240 central-government administered officials have been investigated, with 223 receiving punishments, while another 150 were transferred to judicial authorities for investigations. During the past year, 57,000 party members took the initiative to confess their wrongdoing.

 

China is now also reforming its supervision system, in an innovative attempt to realize an all-round supervision of the civil servants by pooling accessible resources.

 

China also stepped up its efforts to extend the coverage of social insurance. The country plans to, by 2020, provide comprehensive medical care across the country, improve public healthcare service system, and build a complete drug supply system as well as a scientific management system of medical care institutions.

 

The over 10 million new urban jobs created each year verified China’s remarkable accomplishments in employment.  But challenges remain. The market has to digest 15 million new job hunters each year, while both the employers and job hunters face difficulties to find their matched partners. In addition, those having a job also expect more incomes for sake of a better life quality.

 

According to its national plan on education, China plans to, by 2020, accelerate urban-rural integration of compulsory education, ensure equal access to compulsory education at local schools for the children of migrant workers, and establish a balanced compulsory education system in county seats and villages. To realize the goals, the Chinese government has set objective to optimize resource allocation and improve the quality of education products.

 

两会召开之际,反腐倡廉依然是群众关心的最热话题

北欧绿色邮报网报道:据人民日报记者宦翔报道–两会前夕,人民网、新华网等多家中国主流网络媒体开展了2017年两会热点话题调查,排在前五位的热点话题依次为反腐倡廉、社会保障、医疗改革、就业和收入、教育公平。

自2012年中共十八大以来,中国共产党强力推进党风廉政建设和反腐败斗争,腐败蔓延势头得到有效遏制,反腐败斗争呈压倒性态势,党内政治生活呈现新气象。十八大以来在中央一级管理的干部中,共立案审查240人,处分223人,移送司法机关105人。2016年有5.7万名党员干部主动交代违纪问题。当前,中国正在进行国家监察体制改革,这是中国共产党整合反腐败资源,实现对公职人员监察全覆盖的一次创新。

中国社会保障覆盖面正在持续扩大,待遇集中提高。到2020年,将普遍建立比较完善的公共卫生服务体系和医疗服务体系、比较健全的医疗保障体系、比较规范的药品供应保障体系和综合监管体系、比较科学的医疗卫生机构管理体制和运行机制。另一方面,中国已经进入老龄化社会,作为一个人口众多的发展中国家,答好医改这道题,积极应对挑战,在今年的两会上势必引发更多关切。

近年来,中国城镇每年新增就业人口超过1000万,保就业成绩显著。但同时,稳定就业面临各种新压力。比如,劳动力市场需要消化每年新增加的1500万就业人口,招工难与就业难存在结构性矛盾。就业解决后,收入的多少成为日子好坏的一项硬指标。让手上票子更多,让生活品质更高,成了老百姓实打实的期盼,这也是当下最真切的民生心态“天气表”。

根据中国政府制定的国家教育发展规划,预计到2020年,城乡二元结构壁垒基本消除,义务教育与城镇化发展基本协调,中国将逐步解决“乡村弱、城镇挤”的难题。实现上述目标,中国政府将优化教育资源配置,提高教育产品质量,给受教育者提供更多、更好的选择。

瑞典绿色轿车协会确立目标:2030年马路上汽车交通减少30%

北欧绿色邮报网报道(记者陈雪霏)– 大城市的通病就是交通拥挤,车辆会越来越多。如果不采取措施,这种状况是不可持续的。

photo (16)

斯德哥尔摩生物柴油混合动力车。   陈雪霏拍摄

瑞典自然保护局的一份报告介绍了加拿大温哥华的经验。温哥华的目标是到2040年,马路上的车辆减少三分之一。那么瑞典呢,要比加拿大好一点,2030年,减少三分之一。

大斯德哥尔摩省道路交通研究院研发负责人伊萨克松说,斯德哥尔摩地区需要一个减少汽车的目标。我们现在看到的发展趋势不可持续。具体减少多少,需要认真计算。

大斯德哥尔摩省确立了增加公共交通和骑自行车的人数的目标。

根据温哥华的经验,政府把从汽车收来的汽油费税用于公共交通。人们停止再修建公路了。斯德哥尔摩决定增加摩托车的运力。

绿色轿车协会确立的目标是到2030年,汽车交通要比2010年减少30%。

交通局的报告认为,不仅要增加公共交通,还要鼓励各种其他办法,比如拼车,比如加税等等。否则,难以实现到2020年减少22万8千吨的温室气体排放目标。

斯德哥尔摩在2010年成为欧洲绿色首都,一个主要原因是2006年实施了交通拥堵费。这个措施目前依然在实行着。人们进城出城都要付交通拥堵费。但是,从目前的情况看,可能人们已经习惯了,加上交通费在提高,人们可能要未雨绸缪。

编者的话:

斯德哥尔摩的空气质量确实不错,上周,记者到伦敦去度假,尽管住的是最南边的水晶宫附近,但是,乘公共汽车时依然能感到汽油味儿。和斯德哥尔摩相比,斯德哥尔摩的公共汽车都是用的生物燃气或者酒精,因此,没有汽油味儿。感觉空气新鲜。在伦敦空气质量也不错,交通方便,汽车有时一分钟停一次,速度只有每小时20公里。从便民服务角度讲,非常好。非常方便,但同时,从能源利用角度讲还需改进。

斯德哥尔摩已经做得不错了,斯德哥尔摩就是采取在市中心不再增加停车位的措施。现在进一步提出不许再增加车辆,甚至到2030年要实现比2010年减少三分之一的目标。这种远景目标值得学习。

现在北京正在召开两会,希望北京也应该积极讨论这样的问题,看看到底人们能不能克服雾霾的问题。

葛优谈论电影文化产业成为支柱产业,很幽默风趣,很好,但是谈到雾霾问题时,询问口罩的标准问题。其实这是个好问题。但是,如果我们能够稍微提高一点儿标准,或者说最好的标准应该是人们不需要带口罩。出来进去,总是要带口罩,而且还要来回比谁的口罩好,只能说是目前的中国特色。理想状态是不需要带口罩。如果说提出一个目标,比如此前有人说到2025年出现拐点,那么,这个目标是否能如期实现,或者是否这个可以提前点儿实现。人们应该进行充分地讨论,仁者见仁,智者见智。

但从斯德哥尔摩,加拿大和伦敦的实践来看,还是在各个行业各个部门把这个问题提到议事日程上来。它需要两桶油的配合,需要汽车的配合,需要人们少开车的公民意识的配合。同时,需要环卫部门的配合。

例如,记者看到北京的环卫工人就是把树叶用土埋上。不知道是否可以倒过来呢?如果让树叶把土埋上,效果会怎么样呢?大树林里的小草,不用都铲出,让那里多生出些杂草看看会怎样呢?要注意生物多样性的保护。这一点,我觉得伦敦做得很好。当然,因为那里雨水多。但是北京也不该成为沙漠。要想尽办法收集雨水,千万不要浪费雨水。这是老天爷赐给我们的最好资源。

 

我的目送

陈雪霏

作家龙应台写的小说目送给我留下很深的印象。她就是写的自己如何在目送中看着孩子长大,然后,又看着自己的双亲如何衰老。我们对于父母来说,是他们目送我们,然后,我们再目送儿女。我小时候奶奶总是给我讲大雁和小燕的故事。说大雁一口一口地喂小燕食物。也说不养儿不知父母辛。

两次目送孩子上学,深深地感同身受。上一次孩子想自己上学的时候还是在秋天呢。她说班里有同学不用父母送,是自己来上学了。

第二天,我送她上学到乌登广场。在地铁上,我接到一个电话。刚说一句,就到站了。正在我说话时,孩子说,妈妈,我自己走。说着就走了。眼看着她上了滚梯,我打完电话,赶紧追。等我出来时,她已经走远了。我使劲看看通往学校的那个红绿灯路口,没看到她。我只好自己回来。到家还和老公说,孩子今天第一次要自己上学了。他也很感慨,是啊,她长大了。当时,还差两个月9周岁。

从那以后,有很多次都是爸爸送她到门口的车站,甚至不用等她上车,就是说,你不要跟在后面观察,她自己会排队上车的。

随着天气变得越来越短,越来越黑,孩子又有点儿担心,于是当天气经常下雨的时候,她又接受了爸爸送她到下汽车。然后,她自己走到学校。接还是我们来接。

今天早上,她爸爸要到乌普萨拉开会,自然是我来送她上学。我看她在英国皇后饭店住的时候早餐吃的非常好,就是大陆早餐,有水果,面包,鸡蛋等。她每次吃完两片面包后,肯定会把一小杯水果都吃掉。她也曾让我学习为她做早餐水果。因此,今天早上我就给她做两片面包,她只吃了一片,切了一个苹果,做成水果萨拉,她吃了多半碗,再吃一个煎鸡蛋。感觉很好。然后,我们就去坐车。

她说,妈妈,你必须给我先往卡里续钱,本来3月3日就到期了,今天都3月6日了。于是,我们先去杂志店续费。在瑞典,地铁或火车站旁边的杂志店都是可以买票的地方,你当然可以在检票口买,但也可以在机器上买,或者在店里买。现在地铁票也涨价了。成人月票从790克朗涨到了830克朗,儿童票从450克朗涨到了550克朗。

然后,我们乘公共汽车。正好车来了。一路无话。到乌登广场,我们下车。一下车,她就说,妈妈你从哪儿走?意思是,你怎么回去,我不用你送了。我说我再过一个红绿灯就走。她立即说,再见!

于是,自己很自信地大步往前走了。我目送着她,但是,快到离学校最近的那个红绿灯时,我使劲地瞪眼看着,可是已经看不到她了。微风中,一行热泪流了下来,不知道是沙眼还是傻眼了。心里想,孩子,再怎么说不用说为你好,妈妈这颗心还是不能停止为你担着。

孩子曾经很自信地说,妈妈你看,你需要我,我不需要你。说着无意,听着有心。仔细想真是我需要她比她需要我更多。我感觉我倒是一直很依赖她。这次到伦敦,回来的早上,她按时起床,提前收拾好自己的书包。临出发时,问爸爸,你什么都带好了?

出来走20分钟的路没有一声抱怨,在火车站等一个小时,她也心甘情愿。一切都很顺利。

但是,晚上睡不着觉的时候,也不管几点,她会大叫,妈妈。妈妈也会从梦中惊醒,然后,给她按摩手掌,安抚她再次睡着。

就是这样,父母为儿女操心也是为了弥补自己的愿望吧。