CiCM 27th June 2024

NEWS IN CHINA

China to Push Ahead with 5G-A Deployments: China is trying to commercialize 5G Advanced, or 5G-A, technology. At the opening ceremony of Mobile World Congress 2024 in Shanghai, Zhao Zhiguo, chief engineer of the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, stated that strengthening the integration of 5G with emerging information technologies, particularly AI, is crucial. By the end of May 2024, China achieved impressive progress in 5G infrastructure, holding 60% of the world's total of 3.837 million 5G base stations. Building a smart computing network, promoting the next generation integrated intelligent sensing and computing internet, and optimizing computing power value were all the important points highlighted by China Unicom chairman Chen Zhongyue. The executive director of Huawei Technologies Co., Wang Tao, stressed that 5G-A is an unambiguous industry route safeguarding current investments while generating new commercial prospects. Artificial Intelligence presents new potential for the telecom sector as 5G-A speeds up its commercial rollout.
Xi Calls for Promoting Common Prosperity in Ethnic Areas: In regions with sizable populations of ethnic minorities, President Xi Jinping has called for persistent efforts to foster high-quality growth and shared prosperity. Xi made this comment on Tuesday through a letter in response to Jingning She Autonomous County residents in Zhejiang province, East China. The She ethnic group is among the 56 ethnic groups in China and is estimated to number 746,000 people according to statistics. Jingning, the only autonomous county consisting of the She ethnic minority in China, was founded in 1984. The County's party and government leaders highlighted Jingning's achievements over the last 40 years in a recent letter to President Xi, pledging to promote shared prosperity for ethnic communities. Xi praised the county's achievements and expressed his happiness that people from various ethnic backgrounds are living better lives. He urged Jingning to keep up its noble customs, fortify ethnic harmony, and make use of its special characteristics to open a new era in its growth.
Chinese Researchers Develop the First Open-Source Brain-On-Chip Interface System: The world's first open-source "brain-on-chip" interface technology has been created by Chinese researchers. Research teams from the Southern University of Science and Technology and Tianjin University collaborated to build this interface system. Through "mind control," the method can teach a robot to track, avoid obstacles, and grip. The system makes use of an artificial brain grown in vitro, or as a "brain-like organ." When combined with electrode chips, this "brain-like organ” interacts with outside data by encoding, decoding, and providing sensory feedback. Brain-on-chip is a significant new field in brain-machine interactions which promises to further the creation of innovative technologies such as hybrid intelligence. About important components like intelligent foundations and intelligent communication, the technology is still in its infancy. According to a study team at Tianjin University, the brain-like organ still confronts obstacles including low development and insufficient food supply, even if its shape and function are comparable to those of the human brain.
Chinese Airlines Seek to Expand Flight Network, With More Routes to Europe: As the summer travel season approaches, Chinese airlines are exploring new flight networks both domestically and internationally to Europe as a significant source of traffic. China Southern Airlines launched its inaugural trip from Guangzhou, in the Guangdong Province of South China, to Budapest, Hungary, on 27^th June. China Southern Airlines currently runs 53 international routes, including 11 to Europe. The opening of this route will aid in promoting bilateral trade, tourism collaboration, and cross-cultural interactions. Chinese airlines have a significant portion of the market share for China-Europe routes, leading to a slower recovery of European airlines' on the same route compared to the Chinese airlines. The Civil Aviation Administration of China pledged to recover 80 per cent of the international routes; however, several airlines have stated that their recovery rate is quicker than the stated objective. The extension of the Europe routes is also a reflection of the regulator's ambition. There will be 1,000 more flights to Kashi, Xining, and Yinchuan cities on China Southern Airlines' schedule which explains their expansion on the domestic aviation front.
China, Germany Sign MOU to Strengthen Cooperation on Cross-Border Data Flow: China and Germany signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to strengthen their collaboration on cross-border data sharing. Chinese observers noted that the action demonstrates China's ongoing efforts to open to the EU, despite the latter's threat to levy further taxes on Chinese-made electric cars (EVs). Chinese observers say there remains optimism for stronger economic and commercial cooperation between China and the EU in the future. They also mentioned that China and the EU are more likely to negotiate solutions to their issues while taking each other's interests and concerns into account. China and Germany will establish a discussion mechanism within the MOU framework to improve communication over cross-border data transfers and create an equitable business environment for both nations. It is anticipated to be the first in terms of seamless cross-border data transfer between China and a European nation if put into effect. He Yadong called on the EU to meet China halfway to boost positive progress of consultations and achieve a result acceptable to both sides to prevent an escalation of their trade frictions, as there is vast potential for cooperation in the green industry.

SOCIAL MEDIA CHATTER

China’s ‘Fastest Delivery Man’ Qualifies for Paris ‘People’s’ Marathon in Olympics: A Chinese delivery worker has been selected to participate in the Paris 2024 Mass Participation Marathon, which will be the first amateur Olympic competition. Luan Yushuai, 39, was chosen in a draw amongst 40,048 people, after accumulating enough sports credits to qualify for the event. The organisers created an opportunity to run a public marathon so that as many people as possible can attend the historic sporting event. In 2017, Luan began running marathons after receiving a free coaching offer from a sports club owner, one of his customers. He won a half-marathon competition in Beijing in 2021. After accruing 100,000 points by the end of the previous year, he was eligible to move on to the drawing lots stage. 10th August is when the marathon is planned to happen. “He is so inspiring. From his story, I know that there are opportunities in every corner of our life,” a Weibo online observer wrote.

INDIA WATCH

India’s Probe Agency Arrests Two in Question Paper Leak Case: An article from Xinhua reports, two people were detained by India's Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on 27^th June for allegedly actively participating in the leak of the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (Undergraduate), or NEET-UG, question paper that was used for medical entrance exams in May. Following extensive questioning by CBI agents, the two individuals, known as Manish Prakash and Ashutosh, were taken into custody in Patna, the capital city of the Eastern state of Bihar. The article further states that for more than three weeks, the national conversation has been engulfed in the NEET-UG question paper leak issue. On 22^nd June, the Federal Ministry of Education assigned the CBI to conduct a thorough investigation into the purported NEET-UG question paper leak, following a great deal of protest from students and academics. The police had detained nine people for their alleged involvement in the question paper leak case before the CBI was given the assignment.

Prepared By

Diksha Takale

Diksha is currently an undergraduate student at FLAME University, Pune. She is pursuing her degree in BA with a major in Literary and Cultural Studies and minor in Sociology. Writing is a part of her primary focus in building her career and one way to cater to that is by diversifying her academic reach in a field such as international relations. She is an avid reader and writes fiction in her leisure time.