Professional Documents
Culture Documents
China Daily USA - April 6 2018
China Daily USA - April 6 2018
D
evelopments in campuses and even climb yuan ($25) in March 2006 “I could barely imag- artificial intelligence and
See UN, page 3 smart voice-recog-
nition software are
skyscrapers to drum up busi-
ness. He quickly realized that 160 yuan to record and transcribe dis-
cussions during a two-hour
ine such an income when
I was starting out,” said Li,
smart voice-recording soft-
ware is threatening their
drying up demand being a freelance stenogra- fee for Li Zhengjie’s first job seminar in Beijing. Li and 36, who now leads a team industry.
for stenographers, as Zhang pher is hard work — even his wife, also a stenographer, of 12 stenographers cov- “I’m kind of worried wheth-
Yue reports. before you’ve landed a client. made about 1,800 yuan a ering events across the er this job will still exist in the
At the start of his career, Twelve years on, the job month that year, but today Chinese capital. years ahead,” said Pan Li, who
Li Zhengjie would scour the is still hard, but at least his Li’s first client was a pro- they can earn up to 30,000 However, some in the busi-
streets, wander university income has increased. fessor who paid him 160 yuan a month. ness fear breakthroughs in See Typing, page 4
Friday-Sunday, April 6-8, 2018 C H I N A DA I LY USA
2 ACROSS AMERICA
COMMENTARY
A
to China. The US has not only bright spot world analyzing and testing sun patterns. Wheeler gushed with obvious enthusi- Trump’s White House trade House,” he said.
failed to address this but moved appeared We believe this location will be optimal asm. “This will not just give us world- adviser Peter Navarro and Paal believes it would be
in the opposite direction with among the in terms of sun collection,” company wide exposure but through the universe National Economic Council good for President Xi to reit-
more discriminatory policies gathering spokesman Dexter Chong III. as well.” Director Larry Kudlow both erate at the Boao Forum for
against China, both in trade and clouds of trade wars last Then Chong added, “When our com- The piling on continued with Wheeler indicated that a solution will Asia on April 8-11 what Pre-
investment. Chris week from, of all places, pany thinks of collecting solar rays, we adding: “This is monumental for eastern be found through negotiation. mier Li Keqiang said at the
And it’s impossible for the Davis Kankakee County, think of eastern Kankakee County. Most Kankakee County. For us to land a proj- Navarro said that there recent National People’s Con-
US to demand that China, the New York Illinois, a patch of flat locals don’t realize how much sunshine ect of this scale is fabulous. We’ve been will be discussions between gress: that China will not allow
world’s largest developing coun- Journal farmland about 50 you have here.” looking for a project to put us on the US Trade Representative Bob forced technology transfer, will
try, solve its problems overnight. miles south of Chicago. And that’s when something about the map, and I truly believe this is the one.” Lighthizer, Treasury Secretary protect intellectual property
What is important is that And this spot prom- story started to not seem right. Rural Illi- Wheeler said they were looking for a Steven Mnuchin and Chinese and cut tariffs.
China is moving in the right ised to be so bright it would be visible nois is known for big storms, corn, harsh name for the project and may name it officials. “This would undercut a sub-
direction. It has been steadily from outer space. winters, corn, endless highways that after the company’s acronym — F.O.O.L.S. He told CNBC that the stantial portion of the justifi-
improving its protection of intel- The Kankahee Daily Journal reported never bend, and corn. But sunshine? A solar panel expert from Sunny Skies meeting is “to try to get some cation for Section 301 tariffs,”
lectual property rights, a key ele- that China-based solar and wind power Chong then told the Daily Journal’s Tech, Ekoj Rof Sredaer, said the county place, where China stops doing Paal said.
ment for creating an innovation company Fields of Opportunity & Orna- Lee Provost that construction on the would become the national leader for what it is doing in terms of Marcus Noland, executive
-driven society. mental Land Structures had proposed project could begin in two and a half energy derived from gas. its aggressive attack on our vice-president and director
Chinese leaders have pledged a massive $4.01 billion, 777-acre solar weeks, and farmers would be notified to Talk about gas. economy”. for studies at the Peterson
further reform and opening-up. farm to straddle unincorporated county prevent them from buying seeds. “To say the area has hit a home run “We are in conversation. Institute for International
President Xi Jinping is expected townships. A few reasonable sounding details fol- is understating the importance of this It’s all part of the discussion. Economics, said the Trump
to roll out new measures at the The story, under the headline: “Chi- lowed. The array could have as many as development,” Sredaer said. “I can’t even Let’s not jump to the worst- administration has not really
Boao Forum for Asia next week. nese solar farm to hit region”, ran a 123 6-by-3-foot panels per acre, meaning put it into words.” case conclusion,” Kudlow told articulated its goal, the mech-
After all, this year marks the picture of a distant complex of buildings as many as 95,500 panels covering form Allow me. the media Thursday morning anism or the timeline.
40th anniversary of China’s floating above a sea of solar panels. farm fields. The first clue was the price of the proj- when asked about a negative “They seem to be going
reform and opening-up drive, The caption read: “Like this village in With government regs requiring that ect: $4.01 billion, as in $April 1st billion. impact on US farmers and off on a trajectory where
which has brought phenome- China, eastern Kankakee County will be one worker cannot monitor more than The second clue was the acronym for workers in a trade war. they are going to act tough,”
nal progress to the country and covered in solar panels when construc- 117.25 solar panels in any given 24-hour the company Fields of Opportunity & “We don’t have a tariff Noland said. “They’re not
benefited the world, including tion of the $4.01 billion solar farm is period, they would need at least 800 Ornamental Land Structures: FOOLS. enacted yet,” he said, adding going to have clear goals.
the US. It’s in China’s interest to completed.” workers, who would also be housed. And finally, spell solar panel expert that the end game is economic They’re not going to have a
continue on that path. Fields of Opportunity & Ornamental The fuzzy math seemed to stack up. Ekoj Rof Sredaer’s names backwards and growth by tearing down barri- clear mechanism for resolv-
So it’s really time for Trump to Land Structures reportedly did surveys “The development will be so large, you get: Jokes For Readers. ers and playing by rules. ing the issues, and they really
give up the useless tariff weapon worldwide to find regions with optimal astronauts orbiting Earth in the Interna- Congrats to the Daily Journal for the Douglas Paal, vice-president seem to be heading in a direc-
and come to the negotiating sun and wind exposure. It had farms tional Space Station will be able to clearly bright spot of a little humor. Happy April for studies at the Carnegie tion of imposition of mea-
table. pumping out renewable energy in Swit- see the reflection,” Provost wrote. We Fools Day. Endowment for International sures that are supposed to
zerland, Germany and China, with devel- checked. That’s 254 miles up. Peace, said White House offi- address some kind of issue
The author is deputy editor of opments pending in Russia and Iceland. “Talk about putting Kankakee on the Contact the writer at chrisdavis@ cials are sending confusing and end up just being a per-
China Daily USA. “We have obviously been around the map,” country board chairman Andy chinadailyusa.com. signals. manent feature.”
Friday-Sunday, April 6-8, 2018 3
Soybeans:
UN: Too After a snowfall mainly targeting the coun-
try’s grand “Made in China
2025” plan. The list also
ners have suffered.
Last but not least, the US
officials that drafted the pro-
Escalation shows a desire to “contain” posed list claim to be “mini-
many
would hurt
China’s high-tech industries.
Of course, China’s high-
tech industries are not the
mizing” its negative effects
upon US consumers by seek-
ing substitutes of products
primary cause of the US exported from China.
people
From page 1
trade deficit with China, so
the containment measures
won’t help the US narrow
The problem is, it is hardly
possible to find substitutes
for all the Chinese products
are left
export volume to China
was too big,” China’s Vice-
Minister of Finance Zhu
the deficit.
Second, it should also be
noted that the list, even if
exported to the US, and US
consumers are likely to suffer
from their government’s
Guangyao said on Wednes- eventually implemented, is newly proposed tariffs. In a
behind
day in Beijing.
“Chinese farmers have
petitioned industry associ-
far from triggering a total
“trade war” as fierce as that
seen between the US and
word, the US move hurts
both the Chinese and US pop-
ulations, and we hope Wash-
From
ations,pagesaying 1 that US gov- Japan in the 1980s — a bitter ington can reconsider the
ernment subsidies hurt conflict in which the US measures before it is too late.
Chinese
“And sosoybean growers,
the international required Japan to limit its
and China must
framework thatrespect
governs its exports to the US. However, if The author is a researcher at
farmers’
global demands.”
trade is of course of trade frictions between China National Institute of Inter-
Jon Taylor,
extreme importance.professor” of and the US continue, there national Strategy, Chinese
political
As a truesciencebeliever at the
in free might be more uncertainties Academy of Social Sciences.
University
trade as a key ofcontributor
St. Thomas to
in Houston,
global said the
prosperity, Guterrestrade
dispute
said
brought
could still get ugly
globalization
betweenenormous China and benefithe
US. it also has losers and vic-
but
has
ts,
The Jiankou section of the Great Wall in Beijing’s Huairou district is blanketed in snow on Thursday due to the strong cold front sweeping
Canadians pay
He For
tims. warned of theincome
example, politi-
tribute in Nanjing
through many parts of the country since Wednesday. WANG JING / CHINA DAILY
cal repercussions
inequality has increased,of escala-and
tion. For
many example,
people have beenthe tariffleft
would hurt Iowa, a key in
behind.
presidential
“The answer
“If we go
problem
tainedisperiod
ism,
elections.
is into
to this
a long, sus-
not protection-
of low prices,
not isolationism,
Hainan cultivating high-tech agriculture By CANG WEI in Nanjing
cangwei@chinadaily.com.cn
call on the Canadian govern-
ment to proclaim Dec 13 as
Nanjing Massacre Com-
it will
but impact
the answer some farmers’
is interna- Shortly before Tomb memorative Day, and the
abilitycooperation,
tional to stay on the and farm,”
the TIDES OF another 960 tons of fresh vege- graduating from a university of winter white chrysanthe- Sweeping Day, which fell on motion passed by the Toron-
Kirk Leeds,
Agenda 2030 can CEObe of the
a very tables were sold to Hong Kong, in Nanjing, and then returned mums accounts for over half of Thursday, many overseas to City Council in December
CHANGE
Iowa Soybean
important Association,
instrument for according to official statistics. to Changtang, his home vil- the country’s total and is grow- Chinese and foreigners visit- 2016 — which was intro-
told ”the
that, Des Moines Regis-
he said.
IN HAINAN Xu Yun, director of the Hain- lage, in 2007. At the time he ing at 20 percent a year. ed the Memorial Hall for the duced by Councilor Jim
ter.The
IowaUNis2030the top Agendaproduc- for an provincial department of convinced his fellow villagers The 733-hectare Lingshui Victims of the Nanjing Mas- Karygiannis — to recognize
er of soybeans
Sustainable in the US. is
Development By MA ZHIPING agriculture, said the province to try cultivating sweet pota- modern agriculture demon- sacre by Japanese Invaders the Nanjing Massacre as a
Taylor said
a blueprint managing
for eradicating and LIU XIAOLI in Haikou is restructuring its agricultural toes instead of the traditional stration zone on the east coast, in Nanjing, Jiangsu prov- historical event.
China-USworldwide
poverty trade relations by the is sector by reducing low-effi- lower-profit rice. launched in 2015, has played ince, to remember the dead “We were interfered with
a major
year 2030. challenge facing Hainan province is increas- ciency industries and products Sweet potato fields have an active role in showcasing and call for peace. by the government when we
theGuterres
Trumpsaid administration,
“it’s extreme- ingly working to hasten agri- such as sugar cane and euca- expanded to 1,800 hectares in the importance of technology During a visit organized held exhibits about the Nan-
which
ly important “wouldfor us to bebe well able cultural supply side structural lyptus. Instead, it is expanding Qiaotou, a town of 22,000 resi- in farming. A vertical farming by Canada’s Nanjing Fellow jing Massacre in Toronto
served
to haveby changing
a fair its pro-
globalization reforms, speed up the develop- higher quality produce varie- dents, and a research institute system introduced from Sing- Association, about 100 years ago,” Wang said. “It
tectionist
for approach”.
the Agenda 2030 to be ment of the sector’s moderni- ties such as winter vegetables developing virus-free seed- apore can now produce 27.5 Canadians of Chinese origin said that Canada is a peace-
William Zarit,
implemented, leavingchairman
no one zation and strengthen tropical and melons, sweet potatoes, lings there is helping promote tons of vegetables per mu wore violet cress-shaped ful country and cannot have
of the American
behind Chamber
for global injustices agriculture. pineapples, grapefruits and better farming practices. Out- (0.066 hectare) a year versus badges as symbols of peace such ‘bloody’ exhibitions.
of Commerce
to be corrected, in and
China, forsaidthe Before it was upgraded to a cherry tomatoes. put value from sweet potato output from traditional farm- while paying tribute to the But now the government has
he hopes Washington
possibility of establishing and province in 1988, about 80 per- Chengmai, about 60 kilome- harvesting reached 360 mil- ing of just 4 tons. victims. Wang Haicheng, invited us to hold exhibits.”
aBeijing
community will of nota sharedfollow cent of its grain and animal ters from the provincial capi- lion yuan ($57 million) last Xu, the agricultural official, president of the association, The Nanjing Massacre, in
through onintheir
prosperity “threats”.
the world as husbandry products was sup- tal of Haikou, is one of the year. About 310,000 tourists said Hainan will accelerate presented three original which more than 300,000
Instead, they
President shouldusually
Xi Jinping work plied from outside. But it is regions that has reaped bene- visited Qiaotou in 2017 to agricultural standardization documents to the memorial Chinese were killed in a six-
toward a . “serious negotia-
mentions” now becoming the country’s fits from restructuring local enjoy digging up sweet pota- to realize comprehensive high hall, including the motion week rampage starting on
tion”, TheChina
He said Associated
has been Press
an biggest fruit and vegetable farming. “Our Qiaotou brand toes for themselves last year. efficiency production. It will introduced by Huang Sumei Dec 13, 1937, took place
reported
active on Wednesday.
builder of multilateral- producer in the winter, con- sweet potatoes sell well in Bei- The Qiaotou model of intro- cultivate 30 leading sectors in — the first Chinese-Canadi- when Japanese troops cap-
ism Soybean
and involved futuresin allfellforms as tributing 4.8 million metric jing and Shanghai, as well as ducing high-efficiency farm- planting, aquaculture and an woman elected to the tured Nanjing.
much
of globalas 5 percent on
governance. tons of vegetables to the markets in Japan and Cana- ing is being copied across the processing while developing Ontario regional parliament Wang, also curator of the
Wednesday,
“We welcome theirthat biggest
fact domestic market last year. da,” said Wang Wenke, head of island. 30 key products to upgrade — to designate Nanjing Mas- World War II Asian Memorial
intraday
as a positive losscontribution
since July A total of 430 tons of litchee, Changtang village in Qiaotou Dongfang, on Hainan’s the competitiveness of quality sacre Commemorative Day Museum of Canada, said that
2016,the
for andworld,”
went onheto said. close longan, mango, paw paw and town, Chengmai — an area southwest coast, now has Hainan farm produce. to remember the victims. the museum has collected
down by 4 percent. green oranges were exported known for its rich soil and the large fields of red flesh dragon The other two were a more than 1,000 relics and
Contact the writers at wan- from Hainan to Canada, the longevity of its locals. fruit and white chrysanthe- Contact the writers at statement by Jenny Kwan, pictures related to the massa-
Paul Welitzkin in New York
glinyan@chinadailyusa. United Kingdom and the Unit- The 40-year-old village head mums after converting waste- mazhiping@ Member of Parliament of the cre to let more people know
contributed to this story.
com ed States last year, while made a living in cities after land into farmland. Its export chinadaily.com.cn New Democratic Party, to about the historical event.
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4 CH INA Friday-Sunday, April 6-8, 2018 C H I N A DA I LY USA
S
demand for such skills would soar worked for several months for a Beijing shortly after completing his tenographers are
over the following decade. local ad agency. But he was not hap- training. Stenographers typically among the people I
The prediction was correct, and py with the salary. start by transcribing audio files and problem since 2010, and I used to have met most regu-
all three have so far enjoyed decent “Then I saw a newspaper ad for a then progress to conferences, which worry my job may one day no longer larly during my seven
careers. Yet as demand begins to stenography training school that are high pressure but pay about 300 exist,” he said, adding that voice-rec- years working as a reporter.
drop due to new technologies, so are said the industry would be one of the yuan an hour. Li started working ognition software like that produced On many occasions while
incomes. most promising for the next 10 years conferences in 2008. by iFlytek is the No 1 reason why covering seminars and
Li mostly now works conferences, and promised high salaries,” he Ma from Hebei relocated to the I’m the main bread- demand from journalists for tran- forums, I have relied on them
seminars and forums, but in 2006 he recalled. “At that time, none of my capital in 2006 for the same reason winner in my family scription services is drying up. for when I can’t split myself
was receiving a lot of business from friends and relatives had ever heard as Li. “Most of my clients were intro- “When the conversation takes in two to hear speeches being
journalists who wanted quick tran- of such a job.” duced by friends in the same indus-
try, and I was usually hired to do
because this job allows place in a very quiet environment
and all the speakers are talking loud-
given at the same time at dif-
ferent venues.
transcripts of media interviews,” the me to earn more mon- ly and clearly, such apps work better Sometimes I have observed
32-year-old said. and more efficiently than us the look of concentration on
Before long, she was regularly ey than my husband. humans,” he conceded. the faces of the stenogra-
working in the studios of China Cen- Yet he said he feels confident that phers sitting in front of me or
tral Television, the State broadcast- What’s more, it keeps such technology will not replace nearby, their fast-moving fin-
er, and Beijing TV, and by 2010, she conference stenographers, at least gers a blur as they type on
had helped produce transcripts of a me connected with the not in the short term. their shorthand machines.
number of high-profile shows, “I’ve never doubted the necessity Based on my experience,
including CCTV’s Legal Report.
outside for a human stenographer because they seldom talk to anyone,
“Those were the most exciting
experiences of my 20s,” she said,
world.” only we can recognize who is speak-
ing when, so we can record the cor-
no matter how bustling a
forum or conference might
laughing. “I didn’t know what a TV Ma Ruijuan, rect order of speakers,” Li said. “Plus, be. But I approached a stenog-
interview was like until I stepped stenographer in the environments at forums and rapher during a break at one
into a TV studio.” Hebei province conferences are usually too noisy for event because I was curious to
Ma eventually moved back to her voice translation apps to work effi- know how fast they can type
hometown with her husband and ciently.” and the rate of accuracy.
children, but she continues to work last month that will not only record Ma agrees, and added that most It was then that I learned
on interviews by receiving and send- court hearings, but also aid judges in interview recordings she works on about the structure and prin-
ing files through the internet. reviewing criminal cases. are also conducted in noisy environ- ciple involved in using their
“I’m the main breadwinner in my “We’re now able to use AI to help ments such as on streets or in res- shorthand machines.
family because this job allows me to judges review four types of cases, taurants. A stenotype has only 24
earn more money than my hus- namely homicide, theft, telecom Li said he ultimately believes his keys. The basic principle is
band,” she said. “What’s more, it fraud and illegal fundraising,” he said job can coexist with AI systems. almost the same as typing
keeps me connected with the out- at a news conference on March 5. As “It’s like radio versus television,” with a standard qwerty key-
side world.” he spoke, his words appeared on a he explained. “When TV arrived and board, as the input language
screen beside him almost instantly, became popular in every household, is pinyin. The difference is
Coexisting with AI demonstrating the speed and accura- many people were saying radio was that multiple keys can be
Courts are a major source of work cy of the company’s technology. a dying industry. Yet both are run- used simultaneously to spell
for stenographers, who record pro- Stenographer Li Zhengjie said the ning well today and simply have out entire words or phrases,
ceedings for the public record. How- rapid developments seen in AI in adjusted to cater to varying custom- saving a lot of time.
ever, tech tycoon Liu Qingfeng is recent years have raised concerns er demand. Stenographers are argua-
hoping to change that. about the future of his profession. “Such coexistence will also be bly little noticed, but they
Liu’s company, iFlytek — which is “I’ve been thinking about this seen between stenography and AI,” have an impact on many
headquartered in Hefei, Anhui prov- he added. industries, including those
ince, and makes language that affect our daily lives.
input software and voice- Contact the writer at My interview with Ma Rui-
recognition programs — zhangyue@chinadaily.com.cn juan, a stenographer based in
unveiled an AI system Handan, Hebei province, took
some time to complete for this
story due to her heavy work-
load. Not only do many of her
freelance assignments come
with tight deadlines, but she
also has two children and is
occupied much of the time
with housework.
Yet the 32-year-old told me
that, spiritually, she gains a
lot from the recordings she is
paid to transcribe. She has
spent hours listening to law-
yers, professors, reporters,
TV hosts and sometimes
celebrities. She told me
repeatedly that “this is some-
thing that truly attracts me to
the job”.
“If I didn’t choose to learn
this skill, probably I would
never have gone to Beijing. I
would not be able to meet
and hear from so many inter-
esting people on so many
exciting topics. I would not
have had the chance to step
onto a China Central TV stu-
dio set or even get to see how
a TV program is produced,”
she said. “All these are mil-
lions of miles away from my
native village.”
She barely thinks about
what effect the developments
in artificial intelligence
might have on her profes-
sion, she said, adding, “I’ll
continue to do this as long as
there is a demand.”
Her words reminded me of
my interview with Li Zheng-
jie, a stenographer in Beijing
with 12 years of experience. I
asked him whether he is con-
cerned about his profession
in the long run.
“I don’t think stenography
will be the only type of job
affected by the development
of AI. Many jobs will be
affected in the process of
transformation,” he said.
“Yet what’s important is
that the job has helped me
open a much more exciting
world, and I have moved my
life to a city such as Beijing.
I’m grateful for the change
and ready to face any poten-
tial changes in my career
with confidence and an open
LI MIN / CHINA DAILY mind.”
C H I N A DA I LY USA Friday-Sunday, April 6-8, 2018 C H I NA 5
AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE
SEOUL — The Republic of dential press center, and Yun The meeting was aimed at how many times he and Moon
PHILIPPINES Korea and the Democratic Kun-young, director for the ironing out the protocols, would meet on that day and
Tourist island People’s Republic of Korea on government situation room. security measures and media also whether parts of their King remembered
Thursday started talks to dis- The DPRK delegation was coverage of the summit, the meeting would be broadcast
ordered closed cuss security and protocol led by Kim Chang-son, an offi- ROK’s presidential office said. on live television.
President Rodrigo Duterte issues for the inter-Korean cial from the State Affairs “We had sincere talks for The two sides have agreed to
has approved the closure of summit later this month, the Commission. four hours straight,” said hold a working-level dialogue
the tourist island of Bora- ROK’s presidential office said. The working-level dialogue Kwun. on Saturday on communica-
cay for up to six months aft- The five-member ROK dele- came ahead of the first sum- He declined to give details, tions between Moon and Kim.
er saying the waters off its gation was led by Kim Sang- mit between ROK President saying the two sides will meet The leaders of the countries
famed white-sand beaches gyun, a senior director of the Moon Jae-in and top DPRK again for further discussions agreed to set up a direct hotline
had become a “cesspool” National Intelligence Service. leader Kim Jong-un scheduled on a date yet to be fixed. and have their first phone con-
due to overcrowding and Four other Blue House offi- for April 27 at Peace House, a The countries will need to versation before the meeting.
development. Tourism cials attending the meeting are Panmunjom building con- decide how Kim will arrive at A summit between Kim and
undersecretary Frederick Cho Han-ki, protocol secretary trolled by the ROK. the venue, including whether United States President
Algre said the shutdown to the president, Shin Yong- Kim would become the first he would cross the military Donald Trump is also antici-
will start on April 26. wook, a deputy chief for presi- DPRK leader to step onto ROK demarcation line by foot in a pated by the end of May. People take part in a silent rally on the National Mall to mark the
dential security service, Kwun soil since the 1950-1953 Kore- symbolic gesture. The coun- 50th anniversary of the assassination of civil rights leader Martin
AP—REUTERS—AFP Hyuk-ki, director of the presi- an War ended in armistice. tries also need to determine XINHUA—AP—AFP Luther King Jr. in Washington, on Wednesday. REUTERS
6 XINJIANG
From left: Zhang Hongying gives a herdsman a checkup; Yelxat slips and falls on a icy slope; Zhang Hongying asks a pregnant woman how she feels lately.
MEDICINE
IN THE
MOUNTAINS
A health center in the Bozader pastoral district
set up in 1978 is still going strong
The four doctors from the health center in the Bozader pastoral district in the Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region: Ashat, Zhang Hongying, Yelxat and Seysen (from left).
Photos by JIANG WENYAO To do this, they set out from the foot of the
Xinhua mountain, hunchbacked, moving slowly with
reins of the horse in one hand.
T
he Bozader Winter Pasture in Tekes Then, after reaching a certain height, they
county, Ili Kazak autonomous prefec- press their bodies against the cliffs and move
ture, in the Xinjiang Uygur autono- forward, because the edge of the abyss is too
mous region is renowned for its close for comfort.
pasture, but it is also notorious for its hazard- One often feels dwarfed by the sheer scale of
ous paths. So, if you are not familiar with the the place. And it is essential for the doctors to
terrain, you can easily get confused by the watch out for each other.
hoofprints on the snow slopes. Yelxat takes the lead, with Zhang Hongy-
Steep mountains separate the pasture from ing in the middle, followed by Ashat and
the rest of the world. Seysen.
However, a health center in the Bozader pas- The four doctors in the clinic are all dressed
toral district set up in 1978 has been kept going in coats and hats. And, with bronze horse
for the past 30 years. whips in hand, they look like herdsmen. Only
The average altitude in the region is more than the red cross on the saddle bags identifies
2,500 meters. And there are mountains and val- them as medical personnel.
leys between one household and the next. So, in This team has men and women, young and
order to send medicines to every household, the old, Kazakh and Han.
clinic team need to constantly unlock new “dark
alleys”. - ZHANG LEI
Seysen delivers medicine to herdsmen.
The clinic team crosses over somewhere deep in the Tianshan Mountains, which is 4,000 meters above sea level.
C H I N A DA I LY USA Friday-Sunday, April 6-8, 2018 Focus | SHANGHAI 7
By XU JUNQIAN in Shanghai an equally ambitious plan.
xujunqian@chinadaily.com.cn The 30-year-old’s company,
China's wine market is expected Lady Penguin, was one of the top
L
ocated in Roussillon, a to be worth $23 billion by 2021. performers on Taobao.com last
PROVIDED TO CHINA DAILY
Catalan region in southern year, raking in 50 million yuan in
France that borders Spain, sales. She is confident of hitting
the famous Domaine de 100 million yuan by the end of
Rombeau winery is surrounded by this year. In fact, she even said
rolling mountains and the Mediter- that “it would be an easy goal to
ranean Sea. accomplish”.
Averaging 2,500 hours of sun- The Beijing native, who grad-
shine and no more than 600 mil- uated from Brown University in
limeters of rainfall every year, the the US, developed an interest in
region’s terroir allows the vine- wine while moonlighting at a
yard, which dates back to the early three-star Michelin restaurant
18th century, to produce a variety in New York. Her interest led
of grapes with a remarkably high her to spend one year learning
level of sweetness. The result is an about wine in France.
exquisite wine that tastes similar Wang later rose to fame in the
to sherry and is well-received by virtual world after producing
consumers. Philippe Raspaud, the short videos about wine appre-
sixth-generation owner of the his- ciation that were accompanied
toric winery, calls this le gout du by hilarious narrations. In her
soleil, which means “the taste of videos, she would candidly com-
the sun”. pare the tastes of different wines
The wines produced in Roussil- to “an international hooker from
lon account for 80 percent of the Las Vegas” or “the hope of a devel-
total in France, but Raspaud wants oping country”. Her videos, which
a larger share of the global market. are uploaded to her Sina Weibo
China, he said, is key to achieving account, have an average viewer-
that goal. ship of 600,000. She currently
“ We want to sell to China runs a team of 70 people that have
because, in today’s world, you produced 200 videos.
simply cannot be absent from this “I think people like watching
market if you want to be qualified my videos because I’m not tech-
as a global brand,” said the 35-year- nical or pretentious. I speak in
old, who was in Shanghai before terms people would understand,”
he participated in the 98th China said Wang.
Food and Drink Fair in Chengdu, “Young people in China, espe-
C
hina’s use of natural gas
surged by 19 percent in
2017, as areas across north-
ern China switched to this
CHANGE IN THE AIR to natural gas and electricity in the
Beijing area was successful in nearly
eliminating the sulfur dioxide pollu-
tion from coal, but little progress had
been made against nitrogen oxides.
Chen Songxi, a professor at Guan-
relatively clean fossil fuel and away ‘Dramatic improvement' as use of more natural gas, and less coal, brings more blue skies during winter ghua, described the conclusions of a
from highly polluting coal in resi- forthcoming publication: “The move
dential heating and industrial uses, from coal to natural gas is reflected
according to data from the Ministry in the dramatic, roughly 50 percent,
of Environmental Protection. falls in sulfur dioxide levels through-
This enabled Beijingers and those out the region since 2013. This was
in surrounding areas to enjoy many true in highly industrialized towns
clear, blue-sky days this past winter, as well as in Beijing. Beijing’s level
in sharp contrast with the heavy air already reached single digits in 2016,
pollution seen just a year ago. in the summer and spring, which is
Increased use of natural gas is very close to European cities.”
an important component of plans Liu Baoxian, deputy director of the
to reach the national priority goals Beijing Environmental Monitoring
of creating an ecological civilization Center, says, “The average annual
and higher-quality growth. These concentration of sulfur dioxide saw
goals were stressed at the recent two a historical low of only 8 micrograms
sessions meetings of the National per cubic meter” — far below the
People’s Congress and the Chinese national standard of 60.
People’s Political Consultative Confer- On the other hand, Chen says, “The
ence in Beijing. other component of PM2.5 is nitro-
Air pollution in northern China gen oxides, mostly from car emis-
is usually worse in the winter, but sions. We have seen little change in it.
this past winter saw unprecedented The other thing we see in the region
improvement. Largely due to the is that the ozone level has been going
policy decision to shift to natural gas up significantly. The number of cars
for heating and many industrial uses, in Beijing has pretty much leveled off
the average concentration in Beijing but is not being decreased.”
of the most hazardous small particu-
late matter, PM 2.5, fell in January by Supply sources
70 percent year-on-year to 34 micro- The winter of 2017 was a perfect
grams per cubic meter, the then storm for natural gas. For example,
Beijing Environmental Protection The National Centre for the Performing Arts and the Great Hall of the People under a blue sky in 2017. JIN LIANGKUAI / XINHUA gas shipments from Turkmenistan
Bureau said in a statement. It was fell by 32 percent from September to
the first time the figure was under November, which could not be made
the national standard safe level of Natural gas consumption in China policy of upgrading industrial trans- up by volume from Uzbekistan and
35, the bureau said. However, this Unit: billion cubic meters formation. Kazakhstan, according to China’s
month has seen many days of high “If you think about where China is customs authority. In addition, a
air pollution, although coming weeks at right now, there is a need to scale large Sinopec liquefied natural gas
are forecast to be clear. down construction and the reliance terminal in Tianjin did not become
From October to January, all 28 on infrastructure projects and real ready for commercial shipments
cities in the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei estate to drive growth. At this point, until this month.
region, also known as Jing-Jin-Ji, and training some of the people in the Domestic production of natural
surrounding areas saw their winter construction sector to do retrofits gas increased by 10.5 percent, while
air quality improve. For example, Shi- 73.0 84.1 92.6 111.2 137.1 150.7 171.9 188.4 194.6 210.3 250.0 would make an enormous amount imports made up the difference,
jiazhuang, the capital of Hebei prov- 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017* of sense,” Myllyvirta says. growing by 28.9 percent. As of 2016,
ince, saw a decrease of 52.4 percent. China’s gas came from 60 percent
Jining in neighboring Shandong Fewer accidents, too domestic production and 40 percent
province saw the smallest decrease, Growth rate of natural gas consumption in China The most direct beneficiaries of imports, but the central government
8.4 percent. Unit: y-o-y percent the switch from coal to natural gas expects imports to grow to 50 per-
“The dramatic improvement in 20.0 19.0 for rural heating and industry are the cent by 2020.
air quality mainly resulted from villagers and workers who no longer Imports consist of liquid natural
effective and extra-strict controls 15.0 23.3 have to work with coal or breathe its gas, imported by ship, and pipelines,
on emissions and advantageous 10.0 emissions. currently mostly from Central Asian
weather to disperse pollutants,” 9.6 Michal Meidan, vice-president countries. A new pipeline from Rus-
says Li Xiang, director of air qual- 13.9 for research at Energy Aspects, a sia is expected to bring natural gas to
ity management at the capital’s 10.1 3.4 London-based energy consulting Northeast China and to Shanghai by
environmental protection bureau. 8.0 company, says: “Natural gas is a big 2020. However, LNG is abundantly
Restrictions covered many sources, improvement over coal in terms of available and can provide flexible
such as factories, vehicles and the pollution but also in terms of worker supply — especially once receiving
2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017*
burning of coal, she says, adding safety. Worker accidents and mining terminals and underground storage
that more than 11,000 polluting * Estimate extrapolated from January to November data. accidents all have been rampant and capacity are completed.
Source: Ministry of Environmental Protection
companies were closed or moved. LI YI / CHINA DAILY
a source of concern for many years. In 2017, LNG took a bigger share
In 2013, Premier Li Keqiang By switching to natural gas, you get of the imports. China imported 68
announced goals to reduce pollution fewer accidents in the industrial million metric tons in 2017 — of
throughout the country. This was Average annual PM 2.5 in Beijing workplace. You don’t need the big which 38 million tons was LNG and
a fundamental change of direction Unit: micrograms / cubic meter piles of coal you did to fuel furnaces.” 30 million tons was from pipelines.
from the previous emphasis solely on Myllyvirta, of Greenpeace, says: “In The previous year, the total was 54
rapid GDP growth. Since then, poli- the winter, we know that heating is million tons, of which 26 million tons
89.5
cies to shift toward cleaner industry 85.9
80.6
Natural gas is a big an important source of outdoor pol- was LNG and 27 million tons from
and energy brought down the aver- lution affecting cities and so on. But pipelines, according to Meidan, of
age concentration of PM2.5 by almost 73.0 improvement over coal the biggest health impact of heating Energy Aspects.
40 percent from 2013 in the Jing-Jin- with coal is the indoor pollution of China’s LNG imports surpassed
Ji region. In Beijing, the average con-
58.0 in terms of pollution people living in houses where coal those of South Korea to become the
centration of PM2.5 went down from
89.5 micrograms per cubic meter in
but also in terms of is used for heating and cooking. Bei- world’s second-largest after Japan.
jing’s average PM2.5 is now around According to Marc Howson, director
2013 to 58 mcg per cu m for the entire worker safety.” 60 (micrograms per cubic meter). If of the LNG market at S&P Global
year of 2017 — below the target of you heat with coal, you easily have Platts, a further increase to 50 million
Michal Meidan, vice-president for
60 set out when the campaign was research at Energy Aspects several hundreds or even more than metric tons is expected in 2018. Aus-
launched and 36 percent below the 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 1,000 inside your house.” tralia is the major supplier, followed
2013 level of 90. Throughout China, According to the World Health by Qatar, Malaysia, Indonesia and
Source: Beijing Municipal Environmental Protection Bureau
338 cities saw an average reduction LI YI / CHINA DAILY
Organization, local smog in general Papua New Guinea.
of 6.5 percent from 2016 levels. That is the sector where natural gas — which leads to increased risk of The US Energy Information Agen-
Recent research by the Energy restart a coal-fired power plant that centrate natural gas use in residential makes most sense in China. If you stroke, heart disease, asthma, and cy estimates that China has huge sup-
Policy Institute of Chicago estimates had been shut down in March last and industrial uses, where it makes look at what happened in the last lung cancer — consists of sulfur diox- plies of unconventional shale gas,
that the reductions in air pollution year. the most difference in reducing pollu- winter, the local policies were very ide, nitrogen oxides, dust and other about equal to those of the US and
since 2013 add 3.3 years to life expec- Natural gas prices soared in tion. The modern ultra-supercritical focused on gas. In the next years, particles. Also, carbon dioxide emis- Canada combined. However, extrac-
tancy in Beijing and, in Hebei prov- December. The price of liquefied coal-fired electrical power plants that the policy is more balanced between sions lead to global warming, though tion of that gas is still in the early
ince, 4.5 years in Baoding and 5.3 natural gas in China jumped from China is building are not as clean as geothermal, biomass, electric heat- they are not locally harmful. stages.
years in Shijiazhuang. 4,000 yuan ($605) per metric ton to natural gas turbines, but they are far ing and gas. I definitely think that Sulfur dioxide is created mostly “Sinopec is developing shale with
more than 10,000 yuan per ton. How- cleaner than the very small burners, broader mix, including emissions- by burning coal. Nitrogen oxides, quite good results in Chongqing,
Winter shortages ever, the price was brought down to so it is seen as making sense to con- free sources as well, will be better and and the ground-level ozone that producing 5 billion to 7 billion cubic
This year’s rapid shift from coal 5,613.6 yuan per ton by mid-January, centrate coal mostly in electrical might avoid some of the problems is created when they interact with meters of gas, quite a good accom-
to natural gas has led to shortages. according to data from the National power generation, as is now done we saw this winter.” sunlight, come mostly from motor plishment,” says Meidan. “However,
According to the then ministry of Bureau of Statistics. in developed countries. He also says that the govern- vehicles. Dust and other particles are the geology is still unclear, and there-
environmental protection, around Han Xiaoping, chief information Lauri Myllyvirta, a coal and ment’s 2021 heating plan, made airborne largely by construc- fore the technological needs and the
100,000 families and some schools officer of China Energy Net Con- air pollution expert at which stiffens building tion, truck traffic or wind from desert pricing environment are all open
temporarily lacked heat in December. sulting, said the current natural Greenpeace in Bei- insulation standards, areas. questions.”
The government stepped in with a gas shortage is due to insufficient jing, says: “Shifting will require retrofit- Natural gas is much cleaner than Natural gas use is expected to grow
combination of measures, including domestic gas resources and the lack small boilers or house- ting the insulation of coal, both globally and locally. Local- to 10 percent of China’s total energy
allowing some additional use of coal of distributed gas storage infrastruc- hold heating rural houses, so ly, it produces almost no sulfur diox- mix, up from around 7 percent now.
and moving natural gas from indus- ture, especially underground storage from coal to gas demand ide and less nitrogen oxides than is Combined with an even stronger
trial uses to residential and from tanks. gas definitely from heating created by gasoline or diesel engines. emphasis on anti-pollution enforce-
southern China to the north. The In addition to building more natu- leads to big will decline. This Recent analysis by a team at ment, it will be a key component
National Development and Reform ral gas infrastructure, the strategy for air qual- ties in with Peking University’s Guanghua School of a cleaner mix of energy use and
Commission also ordered Beijing to alleviating future shortages is to con- ity gains. the broader of Management concluded that, by upgraded industry.
The Qiniandian of the Temple of Heaven Park in Beijing is seen in the smog in 2016. JIN LIANGKUAI / CHINA DAILY
10 P E O P LE Friday-Sunday, April 6-8, 2018 C H I N A DA I LY USA
ENVIRONMENT
T
argeted conservation- their knowledge and
related policies and reg-
ulations, together with resources to reach
consistent funding for
research, have set China on the
sustainability goals.”
path toward reining in pollution. Liu Jian, chief scientist of the United
Africa can learn from this, help- Nations Environment Programme
ing it meet sustainable goals and
reduce pollution-related deaths,
says Liu Jian, the chief scientist of
the United Nations Environment
Programme.
Pollution has become the world’s
No 1 killer, jumping to the top of power the world six times over.”
the priority list, says Liu. Accord- Africa is yet to exploit its hydro
ing to a World Health Organiza- power potential on its two biggest
tion report, at least 12.6 million rivers, the Congo and the Nile, he
people died in 2012 of environmen- says. It has huge bio-mass potential
tally related deaths. Air pollution in addition to a young, educated
accounted for half of these deaths. and cheaper workforce as the rest
Nevertheless, China’s strong of the world enters the aging phase.
leadership and commitment are “This is the land of hope,” he
reversing the trend, while promot- says. “There is no reason Africa
ing investment in the green econ- cannot do better in green economy.
omy. During the third UN Envi- There is already a blueprint, and
ronment Assembly Forum, held in some countries, such as Kenya, are
December, Chinese environmental already setting the pace. Other-
projects and one individual won the wise, the continent will replicate
UN’s top environmental awards. previous mistakes.”
The winners were Saihanba Affor- Efforts should be made in con-
estation Community, Mobike and trolling car emissions by setting
Wang Weibao, chairman of Elion standards on car exhausts, and
Resources Group, who won the China is already doing it, Liu says,
Lifetime Achievement award. adding that such moves need
“Private business has a key role courage. This should start from
to play in cutting pollution,” Liu increasing investment in research,
says. In its efforts to transform the he adds.
country into “Beautiful China”, the Previously in China, there were
government has worked closely discrepancies between investment
with scientists and corporate enter- in science and technology and eco-
prises. nomic growth. In 1987, a nation-
Such cooperation within the al program called the National
UNEA is long overdue, says Liu. Knowledge Innovation Program
During the previous session, the was launched, thus increasing
private sector was left out, and Liu investment in science and technol-
was determined to change this. ogy to about 10 times that of the
Only a year into his job, it fell upon previous 20 years.
him to organize a forum that would “China is now knocking on the
discuss achievable ways of cutting door as an innovative country. Its
emissions. longterm investments are show-
“I wondered whether the policy- ing benefits in the economy. It has
makers and scientists were enough a competent team that meets the
to meet our green solution goals,” needs of the economy,” says Liu.
he says. Africa, and particularly Kenya, is
Liu was aware of the Emissions Liu Jian says air pollution can only be curbed by solutions designed from the source. PROVIDED TO CHINA DAILY in the best position to build such a
Gap Report, produced by the UNEP team, he says. “Not necessarily to
and released in 2017. It said joint cover every aspect, but to support
efforts between the government triggered several green investment reach sustainability goals. Most of First, environmental conserva- nies such as IBM and Philips are the essential part of the economy
and the scientific community can opportunities,” he says. them are surprisingly on our side tion needs to be prioritized in glob- highly receptive, he says. that holds a comparative advan-
only meet one-third of the com- Therefore, the dynamics of the and have proved to be farsighted al business forums, he says. “Dur- “We are keen to expand this con- tage, similar to what Denmark
mitments made in the Paris Cli- UN Global Science-Policy-Business and visionary. Look at the solu- ing the recent World Economic versation to nonstate actors, and and the Netherlands have done.
mate Agreement. Partnership with Forum on the Environment on Dec tions they are implementing in Forum in Davos, only two heads of hence the need for a new name. Investing in science is costly but
the business sector was therefore 2 and 3 had changed. “We creat- developing countries, and most of state — India’s Prime Minister Nar- We are still consulting but we are rewarding.”
urgently needed. “Unless business- ed an opportunity for the private them agree that green is the avenue endra Modi and French President thinking of naming it the World Among the most discussed top-
es change their water utilization, sector to engage with the policy- toward sustainability. Emmanuel Macron — addressed Environmental Forum, to give a ics during the UNEA 3 forum was
energy production using coal, and makers and scientists in seeking “They say that if you are not environmental issues. The environ- voice to everyone and also promote the Belt and Road Initiative and
soil management, pollution will to enable policies and attractive turning green then your business ment is important, since it dictates leadership in innovation.” the effect the huge infrastructure
persist. No one is to be left out in incentives that will increase green is facing a dead end, with no hope. sustainable development,” he says. On Africa, he says the continent project will have on the environ-
this campaign,” says Liu. investments for new businesses,” That is why I believe the popularity Second, scientists need to proac- is in the pole position to be the ment. Liu says countries will have
Since 2006, Achim Steiner, the says Liu. of the forum will increase, especial- tively identify sources of pollution launchpad of a green revolution. to implement different approaches
former executive director of the Enthusiasm was high in the busi- ly among the business community. and solutions in terms of innova- “Africa is the land of hope. It has and policies to increase the success
UNEP, has promoted the green ness community. Only 400 people We are learning from the World tion and technology, linking with more potential than China and rate of the initiative.
economy concept, says Liu, adding were expected to take part, but Economic Forum but not limiting entrepreneurs for implementation. India, and even the US and Europe. “Strategies around conserved
that the idea started to catch on. Liu’s team received around 1,900 ourselves,” he says. “Only when you put these three Comparisons can be made on per sites such as national parks and
"This concept is a paradigm shift, application. Only 800 participants During UNEA 3, participants groups together will results be capita net resources, and Africa water bodies will be different from
since it forces all players to address were allowed, with an emphasis on agreed that, for the world to have seen,” says Liu. ranks first in water, for example, those for bare land and will thus
pollution from the source and not the private sector. The forum was cleaner air, $18.6 billion of invest- He says that his office is work- followed by China, then India. Afri- need site-specific designs. The one-
the end. Air pollution can only be self-financed. ment is needed. Liu says that, for ing with the governments of the ca is rich when it comes to renew- model-suits-all approach will not
curbed by solutions designed from “The private sector are decent this to happen, there is a need for United States, China, Europe and able energy potential. Research work. Plans will have to adjust to
the source. and smart and it is time to tap into stronger political, intellectual and India to reach out to the business shows that a solar farm covering the socioeconomic needs of host
“This is revolutionary and has their knowledge and resources to entrepreneurial leadership. community. Multinational compa- a third of the Sahara desert could countries, too.”
ART
News in review
Monday, April 2 to Friday, April 6
1 2 3 4 5
Beijing home market fast nearing stable phase Meituan acquires Mobike for $2.7 billion Manufacturing activity sped up in March
The residential property mar- supply and transaction volume China’s online-to-offline cater- independent brand. The man- Manufacturing activity of was the lowest during the past
ket in Beijing will reach a rela- compared with previous years. ing company Meituan-Dianping agement team will remain Chinese enterprises gathered four months.
tively stable level amid downside “The government wants to sta- acquired bike-sharing firm unchanged, with Wang Xiaofeng, speed in March, indicating Despite the slightly weak-
risks this year, according to an bilize home prices, especially in Mobike, Meituan CEO Wang Hu Weiwei and Xia Yiping con- that the nation’s economy con- ening demand, manufactur-
industry expert from Savills, an Beijing,” said Anthony McQuade, Xing said in an internal letter, tinuing to serve as the company’s tinued to maintain momen- ers still remained upbeat on
international real estate consult- managing director of Savills for according to a report by tech. CEO, president and CTO respec- tum in the first quarter of this business prospects for the rest
ing company. the Northern China market. sina.com.cn. tively,” Wang, who will be chair- year, latest data said. of the year, with the indus-
In 2017, both supply and “There might be some tweaking A source close to the deal said man of Mobike, said in the letter. The Caixin China manufac- trywide confidence hitting
demand in the residential prop- at the edges, but they will not the price of the acquisition is $2.7 The acquisition was approved turing PMI for March showed the highest point in a year.
erty market in Beijing were stimulate the market too much.” billion, 65 percent of which will by a vote at Mobike’s sharehold- that the index dropped by 0.6 Expectations are rife that the
restrained because of tighten- “Fundamentally, there is be paid in cash while 35 percent er meeting held Tuesday night, percentage point from the expansion of production will
ing regulatory policies, resulting still a strong demand,” he said. will be paid by Meituan’s stake, according to a report by tech. previous month to 51, but was be facilitated by stepped-up
in a yearlong decline in market (Photo 1) the report said. In addition, $320 ifeng.com. still well above the 50-point investment, improvement
million of the $2.7 billion will be According to a report by Lan- mark that separates growth in market expectations and
Alibaba, Tencent rivalry moves to online food delivery used as a future liquidity supple- jinger, the valuation of Mobike from contraction on a month- the launch of new products.
ment for Mobike. after its previous round of fund- ly basis. However, the reading (Photo 4)
The duel between China’s control of the platform for $9.5 “Mobike will continue to raising was $3.45 billion.
business conglomerates Alibaba billion. Previously, Alibaba and operate independently as an (Photo 3) HIV self-test kits on sale at Shanghai universities
and Tencent is moving to online Ant Financial had invested
food ordering services. $2.25 billion to acquire about China looks to lead large int’l science projects Three universities in Shanghai drawer in the machine.
On Monday, Alibaba and its 30 percent of Ele.me. started offering HIV self-test kits The student can view the
financial arm, Ant Financial, Alibaba will integrate Ele.me’s China aims to organize and influence in the science and in vending machines on Tuesday results online by entering a spe-
signed an agreement with businesses to compete with Mei- launch a series of large inter- technology field, the Ministry to promote HIV testing on cam- cific code number. The whole
online food ordering platform tuan, a Tencent-backed online national science projects in the of Science and Technology said. pus while protecting privacy. process is anonymous.
Ele.me to buy out and take full lifestyle platform. coming years to solve impor- According to a plan by the Students at Shanghai Lixin It is part of a program jointly
tant problems in science. ministry, China will develop University of Accounting and launched by the Chinese Asso-
China will organize and more large science projects to Finance, Shanghai Universi- ciation of STD and AIDS Preven-
Tuesday April 3
launch one or two large inter-
national science projects and
foster three to five projects by
improve its abilities in scien-
tific and technological inno-
vation and play an important
ty and Tongji University can
buy a kit for around $4.80,
take a urine sample, and
tion and Control and the Bill
and Melinda Gates Foundation
to address HIV transmission on
2020. An additional six to 10 role in international science return the kit to a deposit campus.
BoC provides $4.8 billion for winter sports large projects will be cultivat- and technology by the middle
ed by 2035 to increase China’s of the century.
Bank of China, the first offi-
cial partner of the 2022 Olympic
and Paralympic Winter Games,
host Summer and Winter edi-
tions of the Olympic Games. BoC
is the only bank in China to have
Friday April 6
announced its Winter Olympics served both the 2008 and 2022
action plan by providing $4.8 Olympics. More tax reductions for businesses
billion for China’s winter sports Since its launch in February
and industry from now to 2024. 2017, Beijing 2022’s marketing China will issue additional construction, basic telecommuni-
With the theme of “Taking part program has received consider- policies to further cut $63.8 bil- cations services and farm produce
in winter sports together”, BoC’s able attention and interest from lion of tax this year for manu- from 11 percent to 10 percent.
action plan aims to encourage 30 different sectors. Beijing 2022 facturing enterprises, following “This round of tax reform will
million Chinese families and 100 has signed five official partners the announcement of value- focus on supporting the manufac-
million Chinese people to take so far, including Bank of China, added tax reform, the Ministry of turing industry, as it is an impor-
part in winter sports and give a Air China, Yili Group (dairy Finance said. tant part of the real economy and
boost to the sports industry. products), Anta (sports apparel), According to the plan, the tax also the foundation of overall
Beijing will be the only city to and China Unicom. rate for manufacturing will be economic development,” said Xu
lowered from 17 percent to 16 Hongcai, assistant minister of
World’s first cloned cashmere goat gives birth in China percent, and for transportation, finance.
The world’s first cloned cash- 20 female goats and most were Online travel agency granted license for car-hailing service
mere goat has sired two kids impregnated.
in North China’s Inner Mongo- The superfine cashmere fiber Ctrip, China’s largest online launched car-hailing services in
lia autonomous region, it was from the goat is less than 13.8 travel agency, has become the Shanghai. In January, Chinese
announced. micrometers thick, much finer latest entrant to the nation’s automaker Geely announced
The two kids, born last week than the average of 15.8 microme- booming car-hailing market. its ride-hailing brand Cao Cao
after a natural reproduction pro- ters on the famous Erlang Moun- Ctrip, which provides ser- had completed its first round of
cess, are strong and in good con- tain goats in Inner Mongolia. vices for booking online funding, raising $159 million.
dition, according to researchers. The successful breeding of flights, hotels and tailored “The revenue of the opera-
“The successful breeding will the cloned billy goat with natu- trips, announced that it had tors in the domestic car-hailing
accelerate the application of clone rally born females could vastly been granted a license by the market is considerable, and the
technology in cashmere goat hus- improve the quality of cashmere transport authority in Tianjin threshold to enter the market
bandry,” said a researcher at the in the wool industry, with huge to operate ride-hailing services is low, and that has attracted
animal breeding base where the implications for producers, nationwide, after preparing to new entrants to the sector,”
kids were born. according to the breeding firm launch such services for three said Cheng Shidong, director
The father, the world’s first Zhongke Zhengbiao Biotech China on Tuesday released 47 rare milu deer into the wild in the years. of the Urban Traffic Office at
cloned cashmere goat, was born Company. wetlands around Poyang Lake to improve biodiversity and protect the In late March, Meituan- the Institute of Comprehensive
in December 2016. To test its The billy goat was genetically ecosystem of the country’s largest freshwater lake. This was the first Dianping, China’s largest Transportation of the Nation-
breeding capabilities, research- engineered to produce finer and release of milu deer into the wild in the region in East China’s Jiangxi online platform for ordering al Development and Reform
ers let it mate with more than softer wool. (Photo 2) province where the species disappeared around 1,000 years ago. food and booking restaurants, Commission.
NUMBERS Quote:
718,270
The number of people in China with
HIV/AIDS as of June 2017, according We have the
to official data
confidence and
50 percent
The percentage of funerals in China
capability to
respond to any
set by the Ministry of Civil Affairs that
would be “green” by 2020 (Photo 5)
US protectionist
measures.”
2.2 million
The number of shared bicycles in
Lu Kang, Ministry of Foreign
Affairs spokesman
Beijing
137 million
The number of primary and
secondary school students in China
who attended after-school training
institutions in 2016
About 4.8 million creeping phlox blossoms bloom in Tianwang township in Zhenjiang, East China’s Jiangsu province. The pink, carpetlike
flowers draw thousands of visitors. The flowers will not fade away until early May. PHOTOS BY DAI XIANING AND WAN LINGYUN / CHINA DAILY
Friday-Sunday, April 6-8, 2018 C H I N A DA I LY USA
12 SECOND THOUGHTS
Looking ahead when many don’t
O
ne of the most striking forum an immediate lift. many of the ideas underpinning Ian Goldin, former economics
aspects about China, It was the event’s 19th China’s new direction. adviser to Nelson Mandela when
particularly to outsiders, installment. What makes the discussions he was South Africa’s president,
is the level and quality of It is always the first State-level interesting are the very big con- is now a professor of globaliza-
debate that takes place here. international conference held cepts and ideas that tend to get tion and development at Oxford
This was after the two sessions. ignored in the routine daily news. University.
particularly Many who attend are veterans Nicholas Stern, a British econ- He first came to China in 1982
the case at the of the forum. Stephen Roach, the omist and climate change spe- and predicted that the country
China Develop- well-known China expert and cialist from the London School would have an annual per capita
ment Forum, a senior fellow at the Jackson of Economics, said the next 20 income of $35,000 at today’s
which recently Institute for Global Affairs at years are vital for human civiliza- prices, putting it firmly among
concluded in Yale University, was attending his tion if we didn’t want to see cata- the world’s high-income nations.
Andrew Beijing. 18th forum. strophic environmental damage, Not all jobs will have been
Moody “There is no It is the one time in the year which would result in London replaced by robots, and Chinese
equivalent to that many of the experts truly being next into the sea or snow people will be working in their Xu Guiyuan, a prospect with the Baltimore Orioles, is shown at a Major League
this forum in engage with China, and they sit vanishing from the Himalayas. 70s and 80s. Baseball development center in July 2015. CAO JIANJIE / XINHUA
the world,” said Apple CEO Tim like the College of Cardinals as During this time the world The world economy will also
Cook at the conclusion of his
address to the final session.
And it has to be said there are
not many events that one attends
Chinese ministers and other key-
note speakers deliver speeches
and presentations.
One of the speeches that
economy is set to double, with an
average global GDP increase of
3 percent. Infrastructure invest-
be very different, with 80 percent
of it made up by emerging mar-
ket nations — China being chief
China looks to hit a
ment is also expected to double. among them.
where every second person you
meet seems to have won a Nobel
Prize or is head of Google, BP,
attracted a lot of interest was by
Yi Gang, the newly appointed
governor of the People’s Bank
Stern said that everything
might depend on China’s Belt
and Road Initiative deploying
What makes the forum attrac-
tive to many of those who attend
is that there is a sense that China
home run in baseball
Total, Baidu or any other house- of China, who spoke about the the latest green technology in in its new era feels like a place
P
hold-name corporations you care country’s further opening its building new infrastructure. that is looking forward in a eople colors and ethnicities — with the
to mention. financial sector. What China will be in 2050 world that too often now seems often ask, notable exception of women and
The arrival of proper spring The theme of this year’s forum as it passes the centenary of the to be looking backward. “What mainland players of Chinese descent
weather in the sumptuous sur- was “China in the New Era”, founding of the People’s Republic is the — are in the majors.
roundings of the Diaoyutai State which provided an opportunity in 1949, including becoming a Contact the writer at meaning of life”? Two notable pioneers from China
Guesthouse, with temperatures for intellectuals to engage — modern socialist country in all andrewmoody@chinadaily.com. Jokingly, my were both of American heritage.
over 20 C at last, gave this year’s some for the first time — with respects, was also discussed. cn Keith response almost One, Henry Lees “Harry” King-
Kohn always is, “Choco- man, played for the New York
late mousse”. Yankees in 1914. But he was born to
CONTACT US:
Call us at 212-537-8888
Email: readers@chinadailyusa.com
Friday-Sunday, April 6-8, 2018 13
IN
STEP
WITH THE
STEPPE
Some of Inner Mongolia’s pastoral herders,
whose ancestors led nomadic lives, are raising
livestock in modern ways
By SATARUPA BHATTACHARJYA Wangchuge says somewhere on his farm he has set up tanks with drink-
in Ordos, Inner Mongolia ing water for his sheep that automatically adjust temperatures.
satarupa@chinadaily.com.cn He is keen to develop an earmark but doesn’t specify if it would be digital.
V
“After a sheep is born and earmarked, we will be able to keep daily logs
ast stretches along Expressway 216, which connects urban on its intake of grass and water. This will make consumers feel safe about
Ordos to its rural Otog Front Banner, lie uninhabited. More Traditional methods of raising sheep buying the meat,” he says.
animals than people can be found in this part of the Inner The banner is among 33 such administrative subdivisions in Inner Mon-
Mongolia autonomous region where trucks carrying coal are
have disappeared (in his village). ... golia where livestock production is a major economic activity.
often the only sighted vehicles on the highway.
Other than its coal reserves, which are among the world’s largest, the
The use of technology has helped “We are trying to develop modern animal husbandry and agriculture that
are both eco-friendly and profitable,” a senior local official says, adding that
region produces mutton, milk and wool. It has iron ore and rare earth, and reduce both labor and time.” the industries generated 2.2 billion yuan ($348 million) in 2016.
among more modern industries, wind and solar power. Lately, it has gotten He didn’t want to be identified by name as he was speaking on behalf
into data mining. Wangchuge, resident of the Otog Front Banner of his team.
China Daily’s recent interviews with local pastoral herders and officials An ecological concern has been the degradation of the grasslands, partly
in two villages of the Otog Front Banner suggest that the modernization of owing to overgrazing.
livestock production and management is underway. Alongside, traditional In 2013, the region launched some protection measures and since has
lifestyles of the once nomadic people are changing. made from a woolen fabric and wood. Many years ago, nomadic groups in tried to restrict active grazing to nine months in a year.
The prefecture-level city of Ordos, located in the region’s south, has an the region would dismantle them and carry along the parts from place to Matching up
area of more than 85,000 square kilometers but a population size of just place as they explored the steppe. Bixiriletu, a 40-year-old resident of Angsu, another village in the Otog
2 million or so. With a dominant Han population, and around 11 percent The present-day yurts in the banner, for instance, have concrete bases and Front Banner, grew up watching his parents herd their sheep to grasslands
Mongolian, the ethnic mix includes Manchu and Hui groups. serve as hotels in summer where visitors can experience Mongolian culture. far from home. In the past few years, he had to wake up nightly to check
Ethnic Mongolians comprise 30 percent of the banner’s population of Sheep on screen on his animals.
78,000, with the majority estimated to be involved in raising livestock and It is late afternoon in Tabantaolegai village when Wangchuge decides to Now, he has the tools — a camera and a smartphone.
agricultural activities. The banner, which was established in 1980, has 68 survey the grounds on which his sheep are grazing. But instead of walking Bixiriletu worked at a coal mine in the banner for much of his adult life.
villages and four towns. through sandy fields to gather the animals from different corners, he moni- In 2012, he watched a TV program on artificial insemination in sheep. The
More than 2 million domestic animals, mostly sheep, are raised each year, tors them on a TV screen from inside a modern yurt. show, he says gave him the idea of visiting a breeding facility in Ulanqab,
according to local government officials. The herder, who runs a family business of raising sheep for meat and which is also located in the region’s south.
The outside world has long associated Inner Mongolia with images of wool, says he sells an average of 300 sheep a year. US tech giant Apple Inc is reportedly looking to set up a cloud hub in the
wild horses running through the grasslands. But horse racing, the popular A video camera he has placed on the roof of his house provides him with city, its second in China after the southwestern province of Guizhou.
recreational sport in the region, appears to be more relevant to the tourism real-time feed of animal movements on his plot of land, which is large. “The donors (sperm) are foreign,” he says of the meat-producing Dorper,
industry today than to society. “Traditional methods of raising sheep have disappeared (in his village),” the South African hybrid sheep that was developed for arid conditions
The banner had 2,913 horses in 2016. In 1975, there were more than 2 Wangchuge, 41, says as he slices salted mutton, a Mongolian delicacy. similar to Ordos.
million horses in the region. “The use of technology has helped reduce both labor and time.” The mixing of foreign and local breeds, Bixiriletu says, has meant shorter
The annual Naadam festival has kept Inner Mongolia’s equestrian tradi- He owns six cows as well, but mainly for milk. waiting periods.
tion alive though. This village in the Otog Front Banner has 175 permanent resident families,
A similar story is that of yurts, or the tent dwellings, which used to be many of whom keep sheep and grow corn and a variety of rice. Lin Hong contributed to this story.
14 DINING Friday-Sunday, April 6-8, 2018 C H I N A DA I LY USA
ISLAND PARADISE
From the ruins in Sigiriya and the temple in Kandy, to an elephant orphanage,
Xu Lin offers visitors a mixed experience in Sri Lanka
I
t’s almost dusk. And I can just Starting from there, a series of vertigi-
about see the bats hanging If you go nous staircases on a large rock take me to
upside down on trees far away. the upper palace — the best place to enjoy
Gradually, the trees seem more It’s convenient to charter a vehicle for a beautiful sunset.
white as flocks of egrets arrive to roost. the whole trip and the driver will take It’s not uncommon to bump into mon-
The bats then fill the sky, signifying a you wherever you like. Please bargain keys or stray dogs during the climb.
change of shift. The bats and the egrets when you hop into a tuk-tuk, or an auto From Sigiriya, we head to the city of
seem to take turns to rest on the trees. rickshaw. Wear a mask to avoid dust Kandy which is famous for the Sri Dalada
The site is close to Yala National Park, during the safari tour. Carry sunblock Maligawa temple where the Sacred Tooth
Sri Lanka. And I am amazed by the beau- and mosquito repellent. Relic of Lord Buddha is kept.
ty of the wildlife even before my safari The temple’s grand festival, Kandy Esa-
tour in the park. la Perahera, is held in July and August
The next day, I wake up at 5:30 am and annually.
carry my breakfast to a vehicle. home to injured and maimed elephants The Royal Botanical Gardens, Peradeni-
Our tour guide has sharp eyes, so it’s and abandoned baby elephants. ya, in Kandy boasts exotic species of plants
easily to spot wild boar, crocodiles, pea- It is noon when we get there. And a such as orchids, spices and palm trees.
cocks, lizards, elephants and deer. herd of elephants are crossing a road aft- From Kandy to Nuwara Eliya, I take a
It’s better to carry a pair of binoculars er taking a shower in the lake, while a train to enjoy views of the tea plantations
to see different species of birds. policeman directs traffic. and forests on both sides.
The park has one of the highest leop- Besides watching elephants shower My next stop is the old town of Galle
ard densities in the world. and feeding them, tourists can also buy and its fortifications, which in 1988 was
But seeing one really depends on your notebooks and postcards made from ele- designated as a UNESCO World Heritage
luck, as a large cat can appear and vanish phant dung. Site.
in an instant. About two hours’ drive from there is A sea port for trade during the 14th
On the trip, my friend suddenly spots a Sigiriya, or lion rock, one of the finest century, Galle has now become a popular
black leopard descending from a tree. We examples of ancient urban planning. destination for tourists from home and
then try to track it down for about half an It was listed as a UNESCO World Heri- abroad.
hour, but never see it again. tage Site in 1982. Its architecture is typically European
More Chinese tourists are traveling to The fortress complex, built by King due to its colonial history, when it was
Sri Lanka for encounters with animals, Kashyapa during the 5th century, controlled by Portugal, the Netherlands
the sea and its cultural heritage. includes the ruins of an ancient palace on and Great Britain.
The prices also make a difference. the flat-topped summit of an enormous Galle now has churches, old hotels and
For example, it’s much cheaper to do a rock about 200 meters high. stores that sell jewelry, spices and tea.
wild safari in Sri Lanka than in Africa. After the king’s death, the site was used And local children practice cricket on
For most travelers, their first stop in Sri as a Buddhist monastery until the 14th the playgrounds.
Lanka is Negombo, home to Bandara- century. It’s pleasant to walk along the well-pre-
naike International Airport. There, I am fascinated by the gardens served Galle Fort and enjoy the breeze
At Negombo’s fish markets, fishermen and ponds and their symmetry. from the Indian Ocean.
unload their catch and vendors hawk It’s breathtaking to climb the spiral Finally, on a train from Galle to Colom-
seafood. stairs attached to sheer walls that lead to bo, the country’s commercial capital, I
Also, fish are arranged in an orderly the colorful frescoes. am excited to see the Indian Ocean just
manner on straw mats along the beach to Then, I come to a small plateau and see beyond the windows.
be dried. a pair of gigantic lion’s paws carved into That train journey also marks the end
For those who love elephants, a visit to the bedrock. of my satisfying trip to Sri Lanka. From top: At Negombo’s fish markets,fish are arranged in an orderly manner on straw mats
the Pinnawela Elephant Orphanage is a It was an entrance originally built in along the beach to be dried; a monkey at Sigiriya, or lion rock, a fortress complex built by
must. The orphanage, established in 1975 the form of a lion but its upper parts have Contact the writer at King Kashyapa during the 5th century; elephants play with each other at the Pinnawela Ele-
by the Sri Lanka Wildlife department, is been destroyed. xulin@chinadaily.com.cn phant Orphanage.
From left: Meera Mosque in Galle Fort; a railway station in Sri Lanka; local residents at the Royal Botanical Gardens, Peradeniya; Damro Tea Plantation. PHOTOS BY XU LIN / CHINA DAILY
LONG
AND
Besides Chinese fans, the Beatles
have also been a great inspiration
for Chinese singer-songwriters.
Beijing-based indie band, The Life
WINDING
Journey, traveled to London to record
their new album, titled Always Be
There, at Abbey Road Studios last
year, as a tribute to the Beatles.
They have collaborated
with Scottish musician
and producer Howard
Bernstein, professionally
known as Howie B, who has
By CHEN NAN worked with artists like U2.
chennan@chinadaily.com.cn The four members of the band
also took a picture outside the
O
n March 22, 1963, the studio, imitating the cover pho-
ROAD
Beatles released their to of the Beatles Abbey Road
debut album, Please album, which is regarded as
Please Me. Recorded in one of the most iconic imag-
EMI’s Abbey Road studio, it reached An exhibition, titled The Beatles, es of pop history.
the top of the British album charts in Tomorrow, is currently under way at “There were lots of
May of that year and remained there the Today Art Museum in Beijing. tourists taking photos on
for 30 weeks before being replaced Kicking off on March 24 and run- the road. Because of the
by their second album, With the ning until May 27, the exhibition dis- Beatles, people make the
Beatles. It also started the journey of plays posters, newspaper articles, pilgrimage to London to fol-
arguably the most legendary and rev- album cover art, famous quotes, vid- low in their footsteps. We
olutionary rock bands of all time, eos, audio clips and more than a were deeply impressed,” says
brought into being by its four mem- hundred photos of the Beatles, from Kong Yang, the band’s lead
bers — Paul McCartney, John Len- behind-the-scene shots to live vocalist.
non, George Harrison and Ringo shows, spanning from 1963 to 1972 “When we were working in the
Starr — in Liverpool in 1960. and shot by photographers from Abbey Road Studio, we felt close to
Fifty-five years later, from March Britain’s The Mirror newspaper. songs and realized why they influ- not only the Beatles but also to
22, 2018, 28 famous Beatles albums “The first time I read about the enced so many people,” says Zhang. George Martin, who produced many
including Abbey Road, Sgt. Pepper’s Beatles was in a youth magazine in “They invented a new sound for a of the Beatles’ classic albums,” adds
Lonely Hearts Club Band and The the 1980s when I was a student at rock band. I particular enjoyed guitarist Huang Zijun. “Producing an
Beatles 1962-1966, have been made the Central Academy of Drama in their impeccable vocal harmonies.” album is like doing experiment in a
available on major Chinese streaming Beijing,” recalls renowned music We admire the As he grew up, Zhang became a lab. It’s the achievement of all four
services, such as QQ Music, Kugou critic Zhang Youdai in Beijing at the big fan of the Beatles and bought the members of the Beatles and George
and Kuwo. exhibition’s opening ceremony. Beatles’ creative band’s albums on his travels around Martin.”
To mark the 55th anniversary of “Their name was literally translated the world. One of his favorite songs The band was founded by lead
the release of the band’s debut into Chinese as jia ke chong. The
songwriting. It’s from the band is called Carry That vocalist Kong and guitarist Huang
album, a Chinese documentary
titled Here Comes the Beatles, has
article said that the band influenced
a whole generation of young people
amazing to think that Weight, which was written by Len-
non and McCartney and was
when they were about 16 years old.
In 2005, they moved from their
been launched on three online in the 1960s and I was curious about 50 years later we are released as a single from their hometown, Liuzhou, in South Chi-
na’s Guangxi Zhuang autonomous
streaming music services under them and their music.” album Abbey Road in 1969.
Tencent Music Entertainment Then Zhang asked one of his looking back on their “I particularly like the lyrics: ‘Boy, region, to the capital to pursue their
Group-QQ Music, Kugou and classmates, a Japanese student, to you’re gonna carry that weight, Car- music dream. So far, they have
Kuwo. With one episode being buy him a cassette during a trip to music, which is still ry that weight a long time’. When I released eight studio albums.
streamed online each week, the Hong Kong at that time. Unfortu- listened to that song in my 20s, I was “We admire the Beatles’ creative
documentary, which has five epi- nately, his classmate bought a cas- vibrant and overwhelmed then and I am over- songwriting, which evolved along
sodes, has veteran Chinese singer- sette by a band from the Philippines whelmed even today,” says Zhang. with their personal growth. It’s
songwriters and music critics covering Beatles’ songs. pioneering.” “Undoubtedly, they are one of the amazing to think that 50 years later
sharing their memories of the Beat- “When my Japanese classmate greatest bands in the world and we are looking back on their music,
les and discussing the bands endur- finally bought me the legal record- Kong Yang, lead vocalist of Beijing- their legacy can still be felt today which is still vibrant and pioneer-
based indie band The Life Journey
ing influence. ing of the Beatles, I listened to their around the world.” ing,” says Kong.
“WHEN CHINA
GOES BIG, THEY
GO MASSIVE;
THERE IS
NOTHING IN
HISTORY LIKE
THIS.”
Bay McLaughlin,
co-founder of Brinc, discussing
the Belt and Road Initiative
CHINA TECH
SHINES
By MAY ZHOU in Austin
AT SXSW “This system is the modern version of
mayzhou@chinadailyusa.com A flying car and hyperconnected megalopolis were among the stories told at the Silk Road. Already 68 countries have
A
signed up, which represents 65 percent
flying car certainly got some the annual event in Texas attended by some 60 Chinese companies of the entire world population and 40
attention at SXSW 2018. percent of the world’s GDP. When China
“It feels so futuristic,” a goes big, they go massive; there is noth-
member of the audience com- drones and flies one person at a time. amazing sight.” showers often occur? Martin suggested. ing in history like this,” he told the crowd.
mented after Derrick Xiong, Ehang was one of more than 60 Chinese The secret of the sharing economy is China was being discussed by more than “This is the China century; we are just
co-founder and chief marketing officer of companies that attended SXSW this year, a using a fixed amount of assets to serve lots just Chinese. Bay McLaughlin, co-founder living in it.”
Ehang, finished presenting the company’s big jump from last year’s 15. of consumers to maximize use of one dura- of Brinc, told people at SXSW: “The Great- Zhang Peng, founder and CEO of China’s
latest development. Xiong said the biggest challenge the ble product, Martin explained. In Mobike’s er Bay is in China, not Silicon Valley.” GeekPark, said that more and more Chi-
Ehang, a Guangzhou-based company company faces is not technology or regula- case, one bicycle gets used by five to 10 McLaughlin spent 10 years in the Bay nese tech companies are capable of devel-
specializing in automated flying, was tions but people’s mindset. people a day. Area, including eight at Apple. Four years oping their own core technologies and
founded in 2014 and has been developing “People fear for their safety. People don’t It’s important to develop a computer ago he moved to Hong Kong. have the ability to expand globally.
passenger drones in earnest ever since. feel comfortable flying in this,” he said, algorithm to run the system efficiently. McLaughlin introduced China’s Guang- Beijing-based GeekPark is one of China’s
Dubbed an autonomous aerial vehicle adding that to allay those fears, all of the “Efficiency is what makes share econo- dong-Hong Kong-Macao Bay Area: 11 cities largest internet and technology innova-
(AAV), the Ehang 184 represents the com- executives in the company will commute my profitable,” Martin said. in the Pearl River Delta region, includ- tion platforms. For the second year, the
pany’s most advanced technology. in an Ehang 184 every day. The sharing economy can help change ing Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Zhuhai and company organized Chinese companies to
“The traffic system we have right now “If you still find us alive in three years, cultures, too, Martin said. Huizhou. exhibit at SXSW.
is all 2-D, and we have all been caught in you probably will feel much more comfort- “Singapore was launched in May last China’s bay area represents 67 million Other Chinese companies were there.
traffic jams. The only way out is the sky, able,” he said. year. It is super humid, rich, got a great people with GDP of $1.4 trillion a year, Alibaba’s senior director Paul Fu discussed
and Ehang 184 is the answer,” said Xiong. Xiong said the company was ready to metro system, Uber is everywhere, and McLaughlin said. the company’s two successful shopping
Ehang 184 is designed with fail-safe release a new product later this year: a roads don’t get too clogged up. It didn’t When the bullet train system under con- festivals. He said the company plans to
redundancy — eight propellers and four drone for two. He also announced that the seem likely. Now we get several hundred struction is completed in a couple of years, make future shopping more personally
arms — to ensure safety, Xiong said. The company will soon begin a global demo rides a day; the culture changed visibly,” the commute between the cities will be tailored, and there was much room to grow
company has extensively tested Ehang 184 tour to attract investors. Martin said shortened to less than an hour. in that area.
in deserts, densely populated cities, in rain, “We believe in the future, which is com- Martin experienced the change first The hyperconnected region forms a Leung Shanying, design director of Ant
in fog and in force 7 typhoons, more than ing very soon. We want to work together hand. Living in Shanghai, he changed jobs super cluster, with each city focusing on a Financial, a subsidiary of Alibaba, showed
1,000 times. with others,” Xiong said. when Mobike started to come out. Origi- major area: Hong Kong on fintech, Shen- how Alipay helps to break the barrier of
Recently it completed more than 40 China’s flying car was not the only thing nally, he was planning to move to accom- zhen on electronics and IoT, Guangzhou international borders, revolutionize retail
flight tests with passengers onboard. that caught people’s attention at SXSW. In modate his job change, but soon he real- on auto and fashion and tech, and Macau sales and give people equal access of
“Vice-mayors of Guangzhou and Xi’an a discussion about Mobike’s business mod- ized that with Mobike, he didn’t have to. on gaming and virtual reality. payment.
flew in an Ehang 184. Some of our inves- el, Chris Martin, vice-president of global “It took about 25 minutes to commute “China has made the structure to make Zou Xiaowu, CEO of Yeahmobi, China’s
tors flew in it. That’s me in the drone,” expansion, faced an audience eager to [by bicycle]. Soon on weekends I found this super cluster work for a long time. The leading mobile marketing platform, pre-
Xiong said pointed to the video playing learn the secrets of the “sharing” business. myself going to coffee shops and restau- government provides grants and incen- sented China’s important role in mobile
on the screen. Martin presented the big picture of rants on a bike. After a couple of months, tives to people who want to be part of it. It’s apps in the global market — about 60,000
The image of Xiong riding in the Ehang Mobike: In the two years since it launched I gained this larger feeling of being outside where the convergence comes. When you apps are from China.
184 was selected as one of the sharpest sci- in 2016, the company raised $1 billion, all the time, moving all the time, and it have that many people working toward Nikita Huang, marketing manager at
ence images in February by Nature, along reached 200 million users, owns 8 million showed the distance I traveled and calories the same direction, it will be big,” said DataMesh, discussed how to mix big data
with pictures of the take-off and landing of bikes in 230 cities in 17 countries and con- burned,” Martin said. McLaughlin. with reality in real time to produce inter-
Space X’s Falcon Heavy rocket. ducts about 30 million transactions a day. How can the model be used for some- While the Greater Bay will have more active video programs such as creating a
With a top speed of 130 kilometers/hour, “I flew in from Santiago, Chile this thing else? someone in the audience asked. impact on people in the next two to three fire-breathing dragon or dancing with a
Ehang 184’s longest tested range is 8.8 km morning,” Martin said. “Thousands of Find something that people use often but years, China’s Belt and Road Initiative virtual avatar. The company enthralled the
with a designed range of 30 km. The flying people riding Mobike bikes in the cen- not all the time. Maybe umbrella share in makes the Greater Bay look like nothing, visitors with its interactive program at the
car is remotely controlled just like smaller tral financial district of Santiago — it’s an large cities in tropical areas where sudden McLaughlin said. SXSW trade show.
Digital era
helps old
foodmaker
in delivery,
expansion
By ZHENG YIRAN
Yili bakes up Western recipe for success 10 times, and the growth rates
in the fifth and sixth-tier cities
were the most obvious, reach-
ing eight times and 10 times
By ZHENG YIRAN and Chinese style delicacies, period (2016-20), Beijing Yiq- Yili also invites consumers to respectively.
including cakes, light refresh- ing Group plans to launch a visit its bread factory, where it “The fast-developing e-com-
For a good example of how ments, fast food and salads. total of 300 Yili chain stores. offers lessons in making merce retail industry in China
China’s time-honored brands Its brand elements can be The new direction for Yili is breads and cakes. has injected new growth
are embracing new retail found everywhere, including already winning raves from At the Yili factory in the points into the time-honored
channels, consider Century the logo of Beibingyang soda customers. Daxing district in Beijing, vis- brand,” said Cheng Wenhua,
Yili, a bakery that’s long been — a white bear — printed on “In the past, we could only itors can learn about the deputy general manager of
famous for its delicious pas- wall hangings. buy Yili bread in supermar- time-honored brand, which Beijing Daoxiangcun Food-
tries and breads. “This is our first chain store kets, and the category was enjoys a history of 112 years. stuff Co Ltd.
Finding itself up against with Western style, and we quite limited. Now, physical Walking down the corridor of “Back in 1985, we used old-
competition with new brands plan to launch more such chain stores offer a variety of selec- the factory, with old pictures fashioned scales to weigh the
selling Western-style cakes, stores in Beijing in the future,” tions, both Chinese and hanging on the wall, consum- Visitors take pictures in front of the Beijing Century Yili Grocery pastry, and consumers lined
Yili is now offering its prod- said Ma Chunying, director of Western, and the quality and ers gain a better understand- Co Ltd factory. QIAO JIAN / FOR CHINA DAILY up outside the store during
ucts in brick-and-mortar Beijing Century Yili Grocery Co taste is just the same as I had ing of the brand’s origin, and peak hour.
cafes, including one in Shu- Ltd of Beijing Yiqing Group. in my childhood,” said Zhang how the company evolved festivals, numerous visitors ing the ‘new retail’ era by join- “Now, with the online plat-
angjing, the southeastern The new outlet is one of Min, a consumer from Bei- over time. come to our factory. During ing hands with many forms, consumers can enjoy
part of Beijing, that wouldn’t more than 120 chain stores jing who had just visited the “Not only kids, but adults the busy season, we get more ecommerce platforms, such the delicacies more easily, and
be out of place in, say, Europe across Beijing, and the growth chain store. and the elderly are attracted than 1,000 arrivals per day,” as Tmall.com, JD, miss- many of the young generation
or North America. rate of its annual sales revenue Apart from launching to the factory to experience said Li Qi, general manager of fresh.cn and Womai.com, fur- have become our fans. We see
The 150-square-meter cafe is greater than 20 percent. chain stores, to realize operat- the charm of the time-hon- Beijing Yiqing Group. ther expanding its tremendous room for develop-
encompasses both Western During the 13th Five-Year Plan ing transformation, Century ored brand. Especially during In addition, Yili is embrac- distribution channel. ment,” she said.
Friday-Sunday, April 6-8, 2018 C H I N A DA I LY USA
20 IN DEPTH
later, OpenAI’s policy and eth- AlphaGo 100 games to zero. ‘Automata Studies’ becomes ‘Artificial
ics adviser Michael Page told The machine learning Intelligence’ and a new science is born
a reporter with futurism.com branch of AI turns out to be
about his job of looking at “the particularly good at visual
long-term policy implica- tasks, such as picking a face In 1956, John McCarthy, an The objective was to
tions of advanced AI”. out of a crowd or guessing a American computer scientist explore ways to make a
“I want to figure out person’s age, but, as Cambridge pioneer and inventor, called machine that could reason
what we can do today, educated mathematician for research on “Automata like a human, and was
if anything,” he David Foster points out, “these Studies”. But few people capable of abstract thought,
said. “It could be are not the kinds of problems understood what he meant, problem-solving and self-
that the future that most businesses are trying so he came up with another improvement. McCarthy
is so uncertain to solve”. phrase for the research he believed that “every aspect of
there’s noth- Foster, who co-founded the was promoting: artificial learning or any other feature
ing we can London-based consultancy intelligence. of intelligence can in principle
do.” Applied Data Science, advises While teaching be so precisely described that
Protecting clients on things like predictive mathematics at Dartmouth a machine can be made to
the future models for customer behavior, College in Hanover, New simulate it.”
means pre- price optimization and build- Hampshire, in 1956, McCarthy, a professor
dicting the ing their own data teams. McCarthy was the principal emeritus of computer science
future, and Their service, he said in an organizer of the Dartmouth at Stanford University, died in
no one is email, is driven by the three Conference on Artificial October 2011 at his home in
there yet. key aspects of any data science Intelligence, the first California. He was 84.
One of project: the business problem academic conference on the
the big to solve, the data that’s avail- subject. CHINA DAILY
problems able and the desired outcome.
with AI is AI is getting hyped and he
that the term thinks that’s not such a good Global market for AI: $37 billion by
is increas- thing: “The label ‘AI’ itself is 2025, 26% of China’s GDP by 2030
ingly thrown beginning to carry the value,
around to rather than the underlying
embrace just technology. There is a real dan- The global market for AI Communist Party of China
about anything ger of businesses being sold is projected to reach $37 (CPC). It largely confirms
that happens in the ‘triple A’ technique of AI, billion in revenue by 2025, a previously announced
the digital universe. without really understanding 57-fold increase from $644 plans for AI research, giving
YouTube picks your exactly what is being invested million in 2016, according to itself a target to become an
next video, the hiking in. And these things don’t tend a new report from Tractica, “innovation center” by 2030.
boots you were looking to end well.” a Boulder, Colorado-based According to the
at yesterday appear in a market intelligence firm that International Federation of
banner ad. focuses on human interaction Robots, China will lay claim to
“It took me a whole with technology 40 percent of total worldwide
book to describe what For China, AI-related robotic sales by 2019.
AI is and isn’t,” said industries are expected to China is the biggest
Meredith Broussard, We are so eager generate up to 26 percent of shareholder of the robotic
an assistant professor its gross domestic product global market, with a net
at the Arthur L. Carter to do everything by 2030. The largest sector worth of $30 billion.
Journalism Institute at gains will likely be in retail, It is No. 1 in sales for
New York University. digitally — hiring, financial services and industrial robots. South
Her new book, Arti- driving, paying healthcare. Korea and Japan are
ficial Unintelligence: Last year, President Xi ranked second and third,
How Computers Misun- bills, even choosing Jinping outlined the nation’s respectively. The US is
derstand the World (MIT technological ambitions in fourth.
Press), comes out at the end romantic partners.” his opening address to the
of the month. 19th National Congress of the LINDA DENG
YE LU / CHINA DAILY “When people talk about Meredith Broussard, author,
artificial intelligence some- Artificial Unintelligence
times they mean ‘machine Merging drones, AI to help clean energy
learning’ and sometimes they The “triple A” sales pitch is a hum along: the ultimate integration
mean Hollywood imaginary reference to the financial crash
things like The Termina- of 2008, where top-drawer AAA
THE AI RACE
data,” she said, “you can make understanding what technolo- R&D team in Seattle and is transportation, robotics and
really, really good guesses gies and techniques constitu- looking for fast development AI production”.
about things using computa- ent commercial AI today. of the team in the next two On Jan 23, the company
tional methods.” “With any kind of gold rush, years. announced a new $5 million
there are a lot of charlatans,” Clobotics has developed A+ round of financing led
Apparent edge Broussard said. “I would cau- the world’s first computer- by KTB Network, the largest
The race for dominance in artificial intelligence is heating Here China’s edge again tion people to be very clear vision based wind turbine venture capital firm in
up, especially between China and the United States, but becomes apparent. Liu Qing-
feng, chairman of speech-rec-
about what computers can and
can’t do, because it’s very easy
blade inspection service
using UAV drones. It takes
South Korea, and followed
by GGV Capital and Capital
as one report says, AI “is still largely shrouded in mystery’’, ognition software developer at
iFlyTek, told the South China
to get carried away with what
we imagine what AI might be.”
pictures of wind turbine
blade surfaces, and then
Development Investment
Fund (CDIF) in China. This is
reports Christopher Davis from New York. Morning Post, “China has the China’s recent use of facial uses computer vision to Clobotics’ second round of
most internet users. And the recognition technology to spot inspect the images on the financing in its first 12 months
Chinese government’s determi- fugitives in crowds offers a per- cloud. The system notifies of inception.
I
t’s the hottest thing in Plan”, setting benchmarks for development of chips, China nation to push the application fect example of the difference maintenance personnel of “If you look at how China
technology now, but the AI industries and allocating looks to close the gap fast. of AI forward is unmatched in between machine learning and damages, deterioration and and even the government
co-founder of Google through 2030 a gross output But where it is all heading any other country.” AI. Showing the machine thou- other early warning signs, look at its growth, it is very
said: “I didn’t see it com- of $151 billion for the core AI remains anyone’s guess. “Machine learning” and its sands and thousands of pairs which are critical for reducing clear that combining the
ing, even though I was sitting industry and $1.5 trillion for Before he died recently, offspring “deep learning” are of faces, it becomes better and maintenance costs. AI technologies with the
right there”. related industries. They aim to physicist Stephen Hawking behind most of the stunning faster than humans at mak- GGV Capital, a US-Chinese traditional industries is where
“It’’ is artificial intelligence be No. 1. warned that the emergence of headlines that stir excitement ing a match. That’s machine venture capital firm, is the government wants to take
– AI. Last year, Russian President AI — computers that “can, in about the emerging technol- learning. leading a $5 million financing it. It is amazing,” Yan said. “In
“I didn’t pay attention to it Vladimir Putin put an ominous theory, emulate human intel- ogy: AI translates news from When the machine makes round to get Clobotics off the next 15 years AI will change
at all, to be perfectly honest,” spin on AI, saying that it raised ligence, and exceed it” — could Chinese to English in real time the decision to make an arrest, ground. the looks of the traditional
Google’s Sergey Brin said in a “colossal opportunities and be the “worst event in the his- as well as any bilingually fluent that’s AI. With something like Clobotics was one of industry.”
session at the World Economic threats that are difficult to pre- tory of our civilization”, if we human can. Computer teaches that, Foster said, “There is a 16 startups taking part in
Forum’s annual meeting in dict now”. But Putin did predict don’t find a way to control it. itself to distinguish cats from lot more to be wary of and the the Microsoft Accelerator LINDA DENG
Davos last January. that: “The one who becomes Heavyweight scholars dogs. Google uses AI to help ethical dilemmas start multi-
But now everyone seems to the leader in this sphere will be and tech leaders are form- the Air Force analyze drone plying.” What if the “fugitive” driving, paying bills, even choos- are other judgment calls that
be jumping on the bandwagon, the ruler of the world.” ing groups in places like the footage. is wrongly arrested, who takes ing romantic partners — that we only humans can — or should
yet many aren’t exactly sure SpaceX/Tesla founder Elon Harvard Kennedy School of Google Deep Mind’s Alpha- the blame for the error — the have stopped demanding that — make.
where it’s going. As Brin said: Musk responded with the Government’s Future Society Go, having digested a huge data programmer? The police? The our technology actually works,” Writing in the current issue
“What can these things do? We tweet: “China, Russia, soon all and the Max Tegmark Future base of expert and amateur Go AI itself? she writes. of The Atlantic about the recent
don’t really know the limits. It countries w(ith) strong com- of Life Institute to envision games, estimates its next best She has coined the term “tech- tragic death of a woman hit by
has incredible possibilities. I puter science. Competition for ways to protect mankind from moves and beats the hitherto Not so fast nochauvinism” to describe the an experimental self-driving
think it’s impossible to forecast AI superiority at national level a menace that seems to loom undefeated world champion In her new book, Brous- belief that technology holds the Uber car, Broussard said, “An
accurately.” most likely cause of WW3…” but remains elusive. three out of four games. But sard makes the case that the key to everything and warns overwhelming number of tech
A recent Boston Consul- The highest-profile cabal wait. wild enthusiasm for applying that “we should never assume people (and investors) seem to
tants-MIT Sloane survey of Finish line is probably the handsomely AlphaZero comes along and computer technology to every that computers always get want self-driving cars so badly
3,000 international business China and the US, the recog- endowed non-profit OpenAI, teaches itself the game from aspect of life has produced a things right”. that they are willing to ignore
executives found that 84 per- nized leaders in the field, are founded in 2015 by — who else? scratch, exploring just the rules lot of poorly designed and per- Both Broussard and Foster evidence suggesting that self-
cent think that over the next locked in a race to the finish — guru of the future Elon Musk and discovering new ways to forming systems. agree that, as the cyborg revolu- driving cars could cause as
five years, AI will give them a line, whatever that finish line (who has since had to recuse beat itself. It then turns around “We are so eager to do tion, where AIs suddenly gain much harm as good.”
competitive advantage, and 72 may be. himself over possible conflicts and beats its older brother everything digitally — hiring, consciousness and enslave man- Again, the blind optimism
percent of respondents from A recent study from with his car company). The kind, isn’t coming anytime soon. she calls techochauvinism. “In
the telecom, media and tech Oxford University’s Future of group’s list of board members Artificial Intelligence Revenue, a self-driving car, death is an
industries said they expect AI Humanity Institute gave Chi- still reads like a Who’s Who of World Markets: 2016-2025 Toaster revolt? unavoidable feature, not a bug,”
to have a significant impact on na a score of 17 for its overall Silicon Celebs. $40,000
“There’s currently as much she writes.
their business and products. capacity to develop AI technol- chance of this happening as your “One of the problems with
The catch is, few of them are ogies; the US scored 33. Human extension $35,000 toaster and microwave starting self-driving cars is they can’t see
sure exactly how. As the report Of the main drivers of AI In its mission statement, $30,000
a revolution from your kitchen,” the things that humans do.”
says, “The field is still largely development — hardware, OpenAI says it believes “AI Foster said. China has prioritized devel-
shrouded in mystery.” research, talented scientists should be an extension of indi- $25,000
Driverless cars are probably oping sensors and positioning
($ Millions)
Funding for AI startups in and their algorithms and raw vidual human wills.” $20,000 the best example of a genuine AI technologies for self-driving
the West has been making data — China trails the US in all The statement goes on to technology that has the poten- vehicles, and the rush to put AI
$15,000
quantum leaps and bounds — but data, and that, with more say: “It’s hard to fathom how tial to affect daily life, according in the driver’s seat in Silicon Val-
from $4 billion in 2016 to more than a billion smartphone much human-level AI could $10,000 to Foster. ley seems to be a flat-out sprint.
than $14 billion in 2017. Silicon users and 750 million internet benefit society, and it’s equally $5,000
There is little doubt that the The whole AI race brings to
Valley is awash in AI backing. users, it has a mountain of. hard to imagine how much it machine learning underpin- mind the great last line of Jack
In July 2017, China’s State Combined with strong could damage society if built $-
2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025
ning driverless tech is superior Kerouac’s classic On the Road:
Council announced a “New government support, aggres- or used incorrectly.” to human judgment at keep- “Whither goest thou, Ameri-
Source: Tractica
Generation AI Development sive recruitment of talent and N o w, t h r e e y e a r s ing a car on the road. But there ca, in thy shiny car in the night?”