CiCM 22nd May 2024

NEWS IN CHINA

Chinese Foreign Minister Meets Iran’s Deputy Foreign Minister: In light of the recent passing of the Iranian President and Foreign Minister, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi met with Iran’s Deputy Foreign Minister Mahdi Safari in Shanghai. This meeting occurred during the Council of Foreign Ministers, hosted by the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation. Upon reiterating condolences, Wang Yi assured the Iranian minister that Chinese support would remain steadfast and that bilateral ties would remain unaffected. Deputy Foreign Minister Safari expressed gratitude and affirmed the importance of Iran-China relations. He further confirmed that Iranian foreign policy will remain unchanged ties will remain stable and secure. Lastly, Deputy Foreign Minister Safari commended Iran and China’s strategic cooperation and friendship, and appreciated Chinese efforts to reconcile Iran and Saudi Arabia.Lastly, Deputy Foreign Minister Safari commended Iran and China’s strategic cooperation and friendship and appreciated Chinese efforts to reconcile Iran and Saudi Arabia.

Village Subsidises Childbirth to Boost Birthrate: Bangdong village in Guangdong province has introduced a plan to boost birthrate within its administrative boundaries. Under this plan, the government will release 10,000 yuan for every second child and 30,000 yuan for every third child that is born to a couple. The Village head, Gu Quankai, revealed that the plan had been voted on and received an affirmative response from a significant majority of villagers. He further stated that this was in response taken to correct the village’s declining birth rate. The government anticipates an expenditure of about 500000 yuan per year, which is expected to increase the birth rate by 10 babies. Through this subsidisation on children, the government hopes to alleviate some of the economic burden that comes with having a child dependent in a family, thereby encouraging families to have more babies. The president of the Guangdong Sociological Association was optimistic about the outcome of this subsidy plan, notingto its success in regions across the world. This comes as a part of China’s three-child policy in the face of an increasingly aging population. The subsidy plan will come into effect starting June, 2024.

University Graduate Employment Campaign Launched by China’s Ministry of Education: China’s Ministry of Education has launched an employment promotion campaign to assist newly graduated university students. An estimated 11.8 million students are anticipated to join the workforce in 2024. The campaign has been launched to make employment easily available to students. The Party is organising recruitment events on the national employment service platform to create an avenue for interactions between recruiters and job-seeking graduates. The platform will enable recommendations customised to the graduate. Furthermore, students in need of financial assistance and/or with disabilities are urged to find employment so that the government can specifically tailor assistance packages to their needs. Other activities include nation-wide on-campus recruitment and policy promotions. Over 10,000 businesses have been organised by the government to participate in this campaign. This campaign will run until August 2024.

Shanghai releases the “Shanghai Pass” for Tourists: The Shanghai government has released a prepaid travel card called the “Shanghai Pass” for citizens. This multipurpose card enables quick and easy payments for public transport (buses, trains, ferries) and major tourist attractions. It was developed by Shanghai City Tour Card Development Co. Ltd. so that Chinese authorities can ensure tourists have a smooth experience. This card was primarily developed for the purpose of tourism. It can be issued at Hongqiao and Pudong airports, as well as certain major subway stations. With an upper limit of 1000 yuan, tourists can now easily navigate payments compared to relying on cash or mobile payments. Not only is the card balance refundable, it is also functional in certain other Chinese cities like Beijing and Guangzhou. This measure has been taken in response to the unprecedented influx of tourists into Shanghai. The Shanghai Municipal Administration of Culture and Tourism anticipates a total of 5 million tourists in 2024. The Administration hopes to be able to streamline the payment process and thereby encourage tourism by making it a smooth experience.

Foshan Adjusts Natural Gas Price Linkage Mechanism: Foshan city in Guangdong province issued a new notice regarding the linkage between non-resident prices and the pipeline natural gas. The Foshan Development and Reform Bureau has released an announcement welcoming public opinion on the matter. The Bureau is accepting opinions and suggestions from all citizens through letters and government website. This readjustment is being conducted because of the expiration of the previous linkage mechanism that was instituted in 2019. As per the Foshan Reform and Development Bureau, a rise in the price of natural gas in the area will result in a similar rise for non-residents. The price will be officially readjusted for the subsequent five years. The government is accepting public opinion till May 30^th, following which on June 1^st the plan will be in effect.

SOCIAL MEDIA CHATTER IN CHINA

Viral Video of Chinese Girl Yelling at Her Father Sparks Outrage: The footage of a Chinese girl yelling at her father for not purchasing an iPhone for her went viral on Chinese social media. The clip has garnered nearly 91 million views on Weibo. Filmed by a passing pedestrian, the father kneeled in embarrassment and apologised. The girl, who remains unidentified, was heavily criticised by Chinese netizens. Viewers posted their reactions and opinions. They expressed outrage at the daughter’s behaviour and sympathy for the father. There was also some criticism for the father’s behaviour of letting go of dignity and pride. The girl’s actions were called out as unreasonable, disrespectful, and entitled. This incident also sparked discourse online about rising consumerism and vanity amongst Chinese youth. This viral video is part of a common trend across Chinese media wherein posts disrespecting parental figures garner severe criticism from netizens.

INDIA WATCH

People’s Daily Analyses Income Inequality in India: People’s Daily recently published an article discussing income inequality in India, citing a report from the European think tank, the “World Inequality Laboratory.” According to the report, the gap between the wealthy and the impoverished in India is staggering, with nearly 40 percent of the nation’s wealth concentrated in the hands of just 1 percent of the population. Drawing upon data from the World Bank and the Global Multidimensional Poverty Index, the article underscores the alarming prevalence and upward trend of poverty across the country. In addition to these findings, the article referenced reports by the World Hunger Relief Organisation and Focus on the World, both European NGOs, to highlight issues such as malnourishment, inadequate education and substandard living conditions in India. The piece also addressed the challenges of accessing affordable healthcare in the country, attributing these struggles to the absence of a robust livelihood security system and the inherently capitalistic nature of India’s economy, which fosters widespread wealth accumulation. Overall, the article attempts to paint a picture of the dire state of income inequality in India, emphasizing the urgent need for systemic reforms to address these pressing social and economic issues.

Prepared By

Akshata Nair

Akshata is an undergraduate student majoring in International Studies at FLAME University. Her primary interests lie in research and cultural perspectives in politics.