CiCM 19th December, 2024

NEWS IN CHINA

Youth Job Market in China Shows Steady Recovery: China's youth employment situation showed significant improvement last month, with the surveyed unemployment rate continuing to decrease, according to the National Bureau of Statistics' latest data. In November, the unemployment rate among urban youths aged 16 to 24 fell to 16.1 percent. This marked a steady decline since September, when the rate was 17.6 percent, and October, when it dropped further to 17.1 percent. The figures represent a notable improvement from the peak of 18.8 percent recorded in August. These statistics excluded students currently enrolled in educational institutions, focusing solely on individuals actively seeking employment. For young adults aged 25 to 29, the unemployment rate was 6.7 percent in November, remaining relatively stable compared to the preceding two months. Meanwhile, the surveyed unemployment rate for the 30 to 59 age group remained at a low 3.8 percent, reflecting steady employment levels for the more experienced workforce. Like the youth data, these calculations excluded campus-based students. This downward trend in youth unemployment signals a recovery in the job market for China's younger generation, aligning with broader economic stabilization efforts. It highlights the government's ongoing initiatives to address employment challenges and create job opportunities for the country's urban youth.
Xi Commends Macao's Achievements in Past 5 "Extraordinary" Years: Chinese President Xi Jinping lauded the Macao Special Administrative Region (SAR) for its progress over the past five "extraordinary" years during a welcome dinner on the eve of Macao's 25th anniversary of returning to China. Amid global transformations and the pandemic, the fifth-term SAR government has led Macao through challenges, ensuring economic recovery and advancing social welfare. Xi highlighted progress in economic diversification and improving people’s well-being, emphasizing Macao’s strengthened political and social foundation rooted in love for the nation and the region. The achievements are credited to the implementation of the "one country, two systems" policy, support from the central government, and the dedication of Macao’s people. Xi encouraged Macao to align with national strategies like the Greater Bay Area and embrace openness, innovation, and reform to boost development. Outgoing Chief Executive Ho Iat Seng expressed confidence in his successor, Sam Hou Fai, to lead Macao in continuing the successful implementation of "one country, two systems." Senior officials, including Cai Qi, attended the event.
Central Rural Work Conference Held in Beijing, Focuses on Rural Revitalization: The Central Rural Work Conference, held in Beijing from December 17 to 18, outlined plans for addressing rural challenges and advancing the "three rural" agenda in 2025. Xi Jinping emphasized protecting farmland, boosting agricultural technology, ensuring food security, and fostering rural industries to improve livelihoods and consolidate poverty alleviation. The conference highlighted the importance of sustainable rural development, governance, and infrastructure upgrades, drawing lessons from the "10 million project." Leaders called for prioritizing agriculture, deepening reforms, and mobilizing efforts to build a strong agricultural foundation and prosperous rural communities.
Chinese and Japanese Experts Hold New Round of Dialogue on Fukushima Nuclear Contaminated Water Discharge: On December 19, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian announced that experts from China and Japan held the third technical dialogue in Beijing on December 18 regarding the discharge of contaminated water from the Fukushima nuclear power plant into the sea. This ongoing dialogue is part of a series of discussions aimed at addressing international concerns over the environmental and health impacts of the water discharge. During the meeting, both sides engaged in in-depth and constructive discussions focused on establishing long-term international monitoring arrangements. The dialogue also covered the need for independent sampling and monitoring to be conducted by China and other stakeholders to ensure transparency and accountability in the process. The discharge of treated radioactive water from the Fukushima plant has been a contentious issue, drawing strong reactions both domestically in Japan and internationally. China's concerns over the potential environmental impacts have led to calls for greater oversight and stricter safeguards. This dialogue represents a significant step in fostering bilateral cooperation on environmental issues and ensuring that the discharge is carefully monitored to prevent any adverse effects on the surrounding regions.
China, CEEC Agree to Strengthen Political Party Cooperation: The 2024 Communist Party of China (CPC) in Dialogue with Political Parties of Central and Eastern European Countries (CEEC) event was held in Beijing, where China and the CEEC agreed to advance political party cooperation to improve bilateral relations. Liu Jianchao, head of the CPC Central Committee's International Department, highlighted that the 2021 China-CEEC Summit had already laid out a roadmap for deeper collaboration. He emphasized that the CPC is eager to work closely with CEEC political parties to enhance strategic dialogue, improve theoretical exchanges, and explore untapped cooperation opportunities to elevate the quality and impact of China-CEEC partnerships. Foreign delegates expressed their recognition of China’s development model, which they believe offers an alternative approach to global growth, and reiterated their interest in strengthening ties with the CPC to foster greater mutual understanding. The event, themed "China’s Modernization and New Opportunities for China-CEEC Relations: Contribution of Political Parties," gathered nearly 50 representatives from 19 political parties across 12 CEEC nations. This dialogue represents an ongoing effort to boost political, economic, and cultural exchanges, and to align political party strategies for more robust, long-term cooperation between China and Central and Eastern Europe.

SOCIAL MEDIA CHATTER

Netizens on Weibo Discuss Apple AI Launch: Weibo discussions are buzzing with speculation about the imminent launch of Apple AI. Reports suggest that Apple's talks with Baidu have fallen through, with Tencent now emerging as the most likely partner. Insiders note that Tencent’s proactive approach and strong AI capabilities make it a favorable choice, especially as it seeks to counter Huawei’s growing influence. ByteDance, another potential contender, is reportedly out of the running due to regulatory risks linked to U.S. policies on TikTok. Baidu’s exclusion stems from issues with its AI model’s accuracy in understanding user needs and its insistence on retaining user data for training—both conflicting with Apple’s privacy standards. As Apple AI’s launch nears, netizens are closely watching how this potential partnership with Tencent could shape the future of AI in China.

INDIA WATCH

China, India Reach Six-Point Consensus on Border Issue: During the 23rd meeting on the boundary question in Beijing, China and India reached a six-point consensus aimed at promoting peace and stability along their border. According to the author, the meeting, the first in five years, reaffirmed both countries' commitment to safeguarding tranquility in border areas and fostering stable bilateral relations. The consensus includes continued efforts to find a fair, reasonable solution to the boundary issue, in line with the political guiding principles established in 2005. Both sides agreed to refine border management rules, build trust, and enhance cross-border exchanges, including the resumption of Indian pilgrims' visits to China's Xizang. China’s special representative Wang Yi and India’s National Security Adviser Ajit Doval emphasized the importance of a stable China-India relationship for regional peace. They expressed a shared interest in peaceful coexistence and mutual development, with Doval noting that past efforts had helped resolve border issues. The two sides agreed to hold the next meeting in India next year, continuing efforts to strengthen dialogue and cooperation on the boundary issue.

Prepared By

Manushka Sharma

Manushka Sharma is a dedicated second year student currently pursuing a Bachelor of Arts in Chinese (Hons.) at Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU). With a keen interest in international relations, particularly in the dynamics of India-China relations, Manushka brings a unique perspective to understanding cross-cultural connections and geopolitical issues. Alongside academic pursuits, Manushka aspires to make significant contributions to global affairs, leveraging linguistic skills and cultural insights to bridge gaps and foster dialogue. She can be reached at manushka82006@gmail.com.