HEAD OF NEW GOVERNMENT BODY

HEAD OF NEW GOVERNMENT BODY

Wang Zhengpu has been appointed head of the National Administration for Rural Vitalization， the new government body for the promotion of rural vitalization. It was announced on February 25.

The newly established agency succeeds the State Council Leading Group Office of Poverty Alleviation and Development.

Its debut marked the transition of the policy priority from poverty alleviation to comprehensively promoting rural vitalization.

Wang， 58， was a member of the Standing Committee of the Communist Party of China （CPC） Sichuan Provincial Committee and President of the Party School of the CPC Sichuan Provincial Committee in southwest China. Since January， he has served as a member of the Central Rural Work Leading Group.

Anti-Addiction System

Guancha.gmw.cn February 24

According to data from the China Internet Network Information Center， by December 2020， there were 989 million Internet users in China， with under-19s accounting for nearly 17 percent. In addition， there are over 500 million online gamers.

As early as 2007， the government issued a circular on the promotion and implementation of an anti-addiction mechanism in all computer games for the youth. In 2019， the National Press and Publication Administration issued a set of guidelines， detailing how to limit underage users excessive online gaming time. Following the lead， major online game platforms such as Tencent have launched anti-addiction mechanisms.

The mechanism requires compulsory real name registration and limits the time and money underage users can spend on games.

However， promoting the anti-addiction mechanism requires further efforts by local governments， families and schools. Internet companies also need to strengthen their online management and upgrade technology.

Hydrogen Vehicles

China Newsweek March 1

China is the worlds largest market for newenergy vehicles， which include battery electric vehicles as well as plug-in hybrid and hydrogen fuel cell vehicles （HFCVs）. It currently has a fleet of more than 7，000 HFCVs， such as cargo vans and trucks for commercial use， accounting for over half of the worlds total. Moreover， over 1，000 hydrogen filling stations are expected to be built by 2030.

Despite a late start， China has made rapid progress in hydrogen development， mastering core hydrogen fuel cell technologies. Last year， new policies were rolled out to improve the HFCV industrys supply chains and technologies.

However， hydrogen is highly explosive and notoriously difficult to store or transport， which has hampered the development of the hydrogen energy industry. Besides， while a hydrogen fuel cell generates carbon-free power， producing it is energy-intensive and some parts of the process create carbon emissions. In addition， battery performance is a difficult point for carmakers.

The hydrogen power challenge requires local governments and companies to build a more mature supply chain and business model for the industry. They need to prove their joint projects can lower the price of hydrogen fuel， increase the number of charging stations， enlarge HFCV fleets and improve related technologies.

Rural Consumption

Economic Daily February 24 The Central Governments No.1 Document for 2021， released on February 21， stresses efforts to comprehensively promote rural vitalization and accelerate the modernization of agriculture and rural areas.

The measures outlined in the document include tapping the consumption potential of the rural market to expand domestic demand.

Internet-based e-commerce should be harnessed to spur rural consumption. E-commerce has facilitated agricultural products market entry and faster development of rural industries.

Attracting more urban residents to consume in rural areas is also a good way to encourage rural consumption.

The government has been encouraging rural areas to develop tourism and leisure agriculture for years. The development of rural tourism could be combined with ecological， cultural and fashion industries. It would promote rural consumption in an all-round way， and the integrated effect of urban and rural residents consumption would become more substantial.

With the new dual circulation development pattern， the potential of the rural market is expected to be released at an accelerated pace， which would become an important support for Chinas economic development.

97-YEAR-OLD ROLE MODEL IN POVERTY ALLEVIATION

Xia Sen， a 97-year-old former researcher from the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences， received the honorary title of role model in Chinas poverty alleviation campaign during a grand gathering to mark poverty alleviation accomplishments and honor model poverty fighters on February 25.

Xia has been promoting childrens education in poverty-stricken areas. After retiring in 1982， she donated 2.03 million yuan （$320，000） to improve teaching conditions in schools in poor rural areas in Shaanxi Province in the northwest and Jiangxi Province in the east. In 2013， she set up the Xia Sen Grant Program to assist impoverished college students. She also sponsored 182 students from disadvantaged families to enroll in universities.

“Are we really better off if we take the Chinese domestic market away from U.S. companies？ What Id like to see is a strong engagement by the administration with the leadership of China in ways that can build a sustainable future.”

Jeff Immelt， former General Electric CEO， in an interview with The Washington Post on March 1

“Beijings agenda has always been clear， that is， to maintain the ‘one country， two systems policy. In line with this policy， the ways of running Hong Kong will remain capitalist， and the people in Hong Kong will enjoy its prosperity， as well as stability.”

Huang Ping， Executive President of the Chinese Institute of Hong Kong， in an interview with CGTN on March 3

“Attempts to boycott the Beijing 2022 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games are in vain and doomed to fail. We believe such actions will not win the support of the international community.”Guo Weimin， a spokesperson for the Fourth Session of the

13th National Committee of the Chinese Peoples Political Consultative Conference， during a news conference on March 3

“While the northeast still grows at a slower pace than the national average， key factors such as investment， industrial growth and employment are continuing to pick up， highlighting the regions potential and vitality.”

Li Kai， Vice President of the China Academy of Northeast Revitalization， in an interview with Xinhua News Agency on March 2