CiCM 15th September 2023

NEWS IN CHINA

Ministries issued notices to standardize ticketing to boost cultural tourism consumption: The Ministry of Culture and Tourism and the Ministry of Public Security have jointly issued a notice to improve the management of large-scale commercial performance activities and revive the performance market. The upscale of the performance market this year, with music festivals and concerts, has been positive for entertainment and local economies. However, ticket scalping by "scalpers" and refund conflicts has been highlighted as an important issue to be looked at. To address concerns, the notice mandates that at least 85% of approved audience tickets must be sold to the market. Organizers must establish a refund system with reasonable charges, ensuring consumers can refund tickets whenever necessary. This includes the interests of all parties, the organizers, and consumers. To enforce these measures, the notice introduces disciplinary actions against entities involved in ticket reselling and illicit ticket transactions, branding them as untrustworthy market participants. Strict implementation of these measures is crucial for orderly ticketing, safeguarding consumer rights, and maintaining a cultural tourism market. Ultimately, these actions aim to encourage consumer spending and boost the cultural tourism sector's value.
Important article by Xi Jinping released in “Qiushi” on “Construction of an Educational Power”: The 18^th Issue of the “Quishi”, the leading official theoretical journal and news magazine of the Chinese Communist Party will release an important article by Xi Jinping titled “Solidly Promoting the Construction of a Powerful Country in Education.” The article emphasized on the role of education in the prosperity, strength, and self-reliance for the country especially in promoting the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation through modernization project. It additionally emphasized that the Party Central Committee has insisted on treating education as a major plan for the country and the Party has made some major decisions that must be fully implemented to accelerate “people-centered development” and the process of building a socialist education power. Some elements of the plan included how and what kind of people to train to cultivate a generation of socialist successors who will ensure the Party commitment to building a powerful and modern socialist country[AN1] . Second, emphasis on high-quality development of all types of education and at all levels to speed up the construction of a high-quality education system. Third was a commitment to improving the quality of services for development of education. Fourth, an emphasis on stimulating this development through a qualitative reform and innovation. Fifth, to enhance the international influence of Chinese education and focus of the strategy of education opening to the outside world which must coincide with ‘bringing in’ and ‘going out’ and effectively utilise the educational resources and make the country an important world education center. Last was a focus on the most important element, cultivating high-quality teachers with noble ethics, proficiency and vitality to strengthen the most basic work to build an educational power.
Xi sends congratulatory letter to Cross-Strait Youth Development Forum: Xi Jinping sent a congratulatory letter to the sixth Cross-Strait Youth development forum that opened on the 15^th of September in Hangzhou City, Zhejiang Province. In the letter he emphasized the vital role the youth played for the future of the nation hailing the forum as an important platform to harbor mutual understanding. Xi also expressed his hope for more young people across the Taiwan Strait to be partners to work for a better future. He called upon people to pursue and fulfill their dreams on the mainland. All this while asking people to remember the goal to safeguard Chinese unity and rejuvenation and stay committed to a path of development for stability for Chinese on both sides of the Strait.
Xi meets Zambian President Hichilema: On September 15^th President Xi Jinping held talks at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing with the President Hicehilema of Zambia who was in the country for a state visit. They announced that they would upgrade the relations to a comprehensive strategic cooperative friendship. Xi reiterated the all-season friendship between the two and mentioned the Tanzania-Zambia Railway project, a representative of this friendship. China has committed to nurturing this bond and wanting to turn it into a catalyst for mutual beneficial cooperation in the new era elevating bilateral relations to new heights. The Chinese side also emphasized its support for Zambian sovereignty, security and development efforts and offered to enhance inter-party exchanges and governance experiences. Another element heavily emphasized was diplomatic extension of cooperation through the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) especially in the areas of infrastructure, agriculture, mining, clean energy and trade. There was focus on increasing Zambian exports to China to ultimately increase Chinese investments in Zambia. Lastly, people to people cultural and educational exchanges were also held as equally important between the two states.
Over 75,000 China-Europe freight trains transported goods worth $340 billion: Data released by the National Development and Reform Commission revealed that over the past decade 77,000 China-Europe freight trains have been in operation. The NDRC released this data following the China-Europe Freight Train International Cooperation Forum held in Lianyungang, Jiangsu province on Friday. These trains highlighted the role played by these trains in fostering global commerce and deepening ties and have transported an impressive 7.31 million TEUs of goods, with a total estimated value exceeding $340 billion. This extensive transportation network has connected 217 cities in 25 European countries, solidifying its role as a vital bridge for international economic and trade cooperation.

SOCIAL MEDIA CHATTER IN CHINA

Rapper Cardi B joins opens accounts on Chinese social media causing a frenzy among fans: U.S. rapper Cardi B launched accounts on Chinese social media causing a frenzy on social media with over 600k followers on Douyin already. In her first video, she asked whether fans would like to see her “try, like, Chinese food.” The rapper gained popularity in China after condemning use of the term “Chinese virus” in 2020. Netizens have expressed their excitement and joked that the platforms are likely sweating as her lifestyle could be very different to what the norms are in China. Users on Weibo commented under her post asking her to show more of her daily routine but to tread carefully with aspects like language to not get banned highlighting the role of heavy censorship in the entertainment industry in China.

INDIA WATCH

China’s growing ties with Africa represent the challenges India faces in cementing closer ties with the continent. The recent attempt by New Delhi to integrate African leadership more deeply in international organizations groups for instance the G20 expanding its membership to include the African Union as a full member highlights the difference in leadership and cooperation India presents as a leader of the Global South in contrast to its biggest bloc rival, China. Beijing’s diplomatic ties with Africa date back in time to the Jiang Zemin era. He first visited the region and diplomatic ties have been established since 2000. Currently, Beijing has invested much through its BRI diplomacy and trade to try to be a leader in the region. China is the leading partner for the African Continent and dominates trade in the sub-Saharan region it is also one of the biggest lenders of loans to many states, with a number of them being in deep economic crisis. Although Beijing might have had a head start, New Delhi must take on the chance to deepen relations as Africa’s third-largest trading partner after China and the EU ahead of the United States. Areas of interest such as oil, energy, infrastructural developments, agriculture, food security could be strengthened. Shared cooperation on global threats like Climate change must also be tackled together. India must also focus on being active in regional forums and expanding on already existing channels of cooperation to strengthen ties. In a report titled “India-Africa Partnership: Achievements, Challenges and Roadmap 2023,” presented by the Africa Expert Group (AEG) established by the Vivekananda International Foundation that discusses the trajectory of India-Africa highlight some suggestions to improve bilateral ties. Some of those suggestions include the need to restore periodic leaders’ summit through the India-Africa Forum Summit and launch an annual strategic dialogue between the chairperson of the African Union and Delhi’s External Affairs Minister, the report also mentioned the integration of AU as a member into the G-20 which has already occurred. Building on common cultural elements like that of anti-imperialism, anti-racism, and the joint history of the Non-Aligned Movement could also be used to indulge in trade that will only elevate the South-South cooperation. India also provides a chance for African states to diversify in cooperation and reduce dependence on China as a “provider”. Thus the prospects for cooperation remain plenty and could prove to be crucial in India’s quest to lead the Global South.

ORCA's Daily Conversations in Chinese Media (CiCM) Newsletter will be on a brief hiatus due to the upcoming Global Conference on New Sinology (GCNS), to be held on the 25th and 26th of September 2023 in New Delhi. To register for the event, please visit gcns.orcasia.org.

Prepared By

Priyanka Raman

Priyanka Raman is a final-year student at Shiv Nadar University Noida, with a major in international relations and a minor in communications. Through her degree, she has had the opportunity to pursue multiple courses relating to Chinese politics and is deeply interested in politics of the Party media and knowledge dessimination. Her research interests surround topics of propaganda media and politics, gender and international relations and refugee politics.