CiCM 9th-10th March 2024

NEWS IN CHINA

Conclusion of the Second Session of the 14th CPPCC National Committee: The second meeting of the 14th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) was concluded on 10th March. The meeting urged all CPPCC participating units, organizations at all levels, and members to unite more closely around the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China with Xi Jinping as the core, emphasizing collective effort in creating a new era for CPPCC work. Chaired by Wang Huning, Chairman of the National Committee of the CPPCC, the meeting saw prominent figures such as Xi Jinping and other leading comrades of the Party and the country in attendance. Wang Huning announced the attendance of 2,085 members, meeting the stipulated number out of 2,162. During the meeting, resolutions were adopted, including those concerning the work report of the Standing Committee, the report on the work of proposals since the first session, and the review of proposals for the second session.
Gansu Introduces 58 Policies to Enhance Economic Growth: The province of Gansu has introduced several policy initiatives to consolidate economic growth. The provincial government issued a document titled, “Several Policies and Measures on Consolidating the Sustained Economic Situation and Promoting High-Quality Development”, which proposed 58 specific measures that deal with taxes, industrial output, subsidies, animal husbandry, consumer goods, education subsidies and other welfare measures. For instance, the provinces plans to introduce a one-time subsidy of 10,000 yuan for children from underprivileged families to attend university. It also proposes to speed up the pace of the regional highways and railways, establish 2,400 high-tech enterprises, identify 400 new talents and support “Gansu time-honored” food brands. The measures also focus on earthquake reconstruction after the Jishishan earthquake and optimize the quality of the business environment in the province to support private enterprise.
Implementation of "Kunlun 2024" Special Action by Ministry of Public Security: The Ministry of Public Security organized a meeting to deploy the "Kunlun 2024" special operation. Recognizing the Party Central Committee's emphasis on food, drug, and environmental safety, the meeting emphasized the need to crack down on crimes, in accordance with the law. The meeting included Ministry of Public Security agencies across the country and a special action leading group was established to coordinate tasks, enhance communication with relevant agencies, and strengthen collaboration between police departments. Emphasis was placed on addressing environmental protection issues, agricultural production, and crimes endangering wildlife and intellectual property rights. Attendees were urged to prioritize a people-centered approach and diligently implement the "Kunlun 2024" special action, emphasizing standardization of law enforcement, increased supervision, and effective publicity efforts. The campaign carried out in Sichuan was publicized and the Ministry provided details about the operation in 2023. Last year, Sichuan's public security organs investigated over 2,400 criminal cases, resulting in the transfer of over 1,900 cases for prosecution and the seizure of assets totaling 3.82 billion yuan.
The deputy head of China's National Health Commission (NHC) stated that China has restructured its disease control system in five key areas: Wang Hesheng, deputy head of China's National Health Commission and director of the National Disease Control and Prevention Administration (NDCPA), highlighted significant advancements in disease control since the establishment of the NDCPA in 2021. At a recent press conference, Wang emphasized the comprehensive overhaul of the disease control system, focusing on enhancements in five key areas: monitoring, emergency response, technological innovation, supervision, and health education. Notably, the average reporting time for infectious diseases has decreased from five days to four hours, leading to historic lows in disease incidence, including measles, epidemic encephalitis B, and epidemic meningitis. China's achievement of malaria-free status in 2021, certified by the World Health Organization (WHO), underscores its success in controlling various diseases, such as AIDS and hepatitis B. Addressing global health concerns, Wang emphasized the need for collective international efforts to combat emerging threats like "disease X," stressing that diseases transcend borders. China pledges collaboration with other nations and international organizations to contribute uniquely to global health initiatives, reaffirming its commitment to a healthier world.
Inauguration of Northwest China's First Agricultural Opening-up Cooperation Pilot Zone: China’s first national-level agricultural opening-up cooperation pilot zone took place in Jimunai County, Altay Region. Representatives from 11 companies from Kazakhstan, Guangxi, and other regions attended to solicit investments for five key projects. The pilot zone aims to facilitate agricultural product trade and logistics with neighboring countries, enhancing the import capacity for various agricultural products. It aspires to become a comprehensive agricultural import-export hub and cross-border logistics cluster, particularly facilitating trade with Kazakhstan, Russia, Mongolia, and other nations. Covering a planned area of 14.39 square kilometers in its core zone, the Jimunai Agricultural Opening Cooperation Experimental Zone focuses on agricultural and sideline product trade, warehousing, logistics, and import-export processing industries to cultivate leading sectors with agricultural characteristics. Additionally, the radiation zone, spanning 49.39 square kilometers, extends the modern agricultural product processing industry chain to attract high-quality agricultural resources from surrounding areas. Ma Zhigang, Deputy Director of the Foreign Economic Cooperation Center of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, emphasized that the pilot zone's establishment will foster fruitful agricultural exchanges and investment cooperation between China and Central Asian countries, contributing to the domestic and international dual-circulation development pattern and the joint construction of the 'Belt and Road.’
The minister of education announced that China will implement various measures to enhance basic education: Huai Jinpeng, Minister of Education, stated that China is committed to upgrading its basic education system and enhancing the overall quality of education, ensuring equitable access to educational resources for school-age children. To achieve this goal, the country will optimize the distribution of schools, ensuring a balanced allocation of educational resources between urban and rural areas. Additionally, improvements will be made to boarding schools in rural areas and disadvantaged schools in urban and town settings. Efforts will focus on enhancing conditions and capabilities in disadvantaged schools in China's central and western regions, while initiatives will be accelerated to bridge the gap in educational quality among different schools and regions. Furthermore, measures will be taken to improve the quality of education to foster the holistic development of students, alongside strengthening teacher competence. Huai Jinpeng highlighted China's extensive basic education system, comprising 487,900 primary and secondary schools and kindergartens, making it the largest in the world.
Study indicates that irrigation water consumption will increase in 60% of provinces over the next 70 years: Irrigated agriculture covers approximately 20% of the global cultivated land area and over 40% of grain production, with China boasting the largest area of irrigated farmland worldwide. The Institute of Aerospace Information Innovation of the Chinese Academy of Sciences recently released a study led by researcher Wang Shudong that uses a national-scale irrigation water consumption estimation model to indicate that, under varying greenhouse gas emission scenarios, irrigation water usage is projected to rise in approximately 60% of China's provinces over the next seven decades, particularly in the Northwest and North China regions. Published in Earth's Future, the study conducted in collaboration with domestic and international institutions underscores the critical role of accurate irrigation water estimation amidst mounting challenges to food security induced by climate change. The new model integrates high-precision satellite remote sensing products, meteorological factors, economic statistics, and numerical simulations to forecast irrigation water usage at the national scale and under future climate scenarios. The research anticipates a surge in national irrigation water demand by up to 17.1% by 2050 and up to 34.8% by 2100, accompanied by annual new costs of up to $3.91 billion and $6.5 billion, respectively. Wang Shudong emphasizes the urgency of sustainable water resource management, highlighting the model's potential applicability beyond China and its significance in informing agricultural water policies worldwide, ultimately guiding sustainable water resource management amid climate change and socioeconomic dynamics.

SOCIAL MEDIA CHATTER IN CHINA

29-year-old Chinese romance novelist Passes away after a three-year illness: Xia Shu, a beloved Chinese romance novelist, passed away at 29 after a courageous battle with syringomyelia, a rare neurological disorder. Renowned for her emotionally resonant novels like "I Won’t Love You" and "The Lenz’s Law," Xia's talent touched the hearts of many. Initially dismissing her symptoms as a common cold, she later received the devastating diagnosis of syringomyelia, which brought debilitating headaches, body pain, and sensory loss. Despite enduring misdiagnoses and the grim prognosis of her illness, Xia bravely shared her journey on Weibo, urging followers to cherish life and prioritize health. Fans, hopeful for her recovery, expressed support and encouragement, with one writing, "Your health is your most important asset. We await your return!" Xia's final messages emphasized self-care, urging others to eat well, sleep adequately, and exercise regularly. Following her passing, fans mourned her loss but found solace in her enduring legacy, with one expressing, "We will miss you and cherish our health as you told us to." Xia's profound impact lives on through her poignant novels and the enduring wisdom she imparted, inspiring readers to value their well-being and cherish each moment.

INDIA WATCH

With a massive population, harnessing the maximum potential of its human resource remains a challenge for both India and China. To address challenges facing the education system in India, the Indian government has implemented various initiatives such as the Right to Education Act, Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan, Mid-Day Meal Scheme, Rashtriya Madhyamik Shiksha Abhiyan, and digital literacy programs. These efforts aim to improve infrastructure, training, enhance curriculum quality, and ensure equitable access to education. India has made significant strides in elementary education, with enrollment rates showing substantial growth. Over 96% of children aged 6 to 14 are enrolled in school, according to the District Information System for Education (DISE) report. Additionally, the number of out-of-school children has decreased to approximately 2.5 million, signaling improved access to education nationwide as revealed by the Annual Status of Education Report (ASER).

Infrastructure development has also been a focus, with over 95% of schools equipped with basic facilities such as classrooms, toilets, and drinking water, according to the Unified District Information System for Education (UDISE) report. Moreover, India's literacy rate for the population aged 7 and above has risen to around 77%, according to the 2011 Census of India. Recent data from the UIDSE 2021-22 report indicates further progress, with the Gross Enrollment Ratio (GER) for the primary section improving from 101.3% in 2018-2019 to 104.8% in 2021-2022. Similarly, GER for secondary and higher secondary levels has also increased, indicating improved access to higher education.

Additionally, insights from the ASER 2023 Rural Report provide further understanding of the educational landscape in India. Overall, 86.8% of 14-18-year-olds are enrolled in an educational institution, with small gender gaps in enrollment. However, notable differences are visible by age, with older youth being more likely to be not enrolled, reaching 32.6% for 18-year-olds. Most youth in this age group were enrolled in the Arts/Humanities stream, with more than half enrolled in this stream at the Std XI or higher level. Additionally, only 5.6% of surveyed youth reported taking vocational training or related courses currently, with males being more likely to engage in employment other than household work. Among surveyed youth, nearly 85% can measure length using a scale when the starting point is 0 cm, but this proportion drops sharply to 39% when the starting point is moved. Moreover, close to 50% of youth can perform other common calculations such as calculating time and adding weights. Performance in basic literacy and numeracy tasks is higher among males and those enrolled in higher education levels. Interestingly, nearly 90% of all youth have a smartphone in their household, but only 9% have a computer or laptop at home, with females being less likely to know how to use a smartphone or computer compared to males.

Prepared By

Aachal Ashok Mishra

Aachal completed her graduation in Political Science from Banaras Hindu University. Currently she is pursuing her master's in Political Science from IGNOU. Her areas of interest revolve around international relations, foreign policy dynamics, defence and security. She has previously interned with the Council for Social Development and the Centre for the Study of Developing Societies.