Following the recent passing of assessments by China’s first corgi police dog, his “smell of work”— a term coined by Chinese netizens to describe the exhaustion often felt by people in the workplace— captured public interest, with many humorously commenting that “even a dog has it in the workplace.”
This follows the recent sharing of a photo by the Beijing Municipal Public Security Bureau, showing Fu Zai post-certification as a police dog.
Many netizens commented that they could see the intense “smell of work” in his eyes, suggesting that there are many stories to be told from his gaze, especially in comparison to his previously iconic happy expression.
Fu Zai, who has attracted people’s attention with his iconic happy face, officially moved from reserve status to a fully certified role this month, according to the public security bureau in Weifang in East China’s Shandong Province.
In accordance with the assessment standards and Fu Zai’s individual capabilities, the police tailored the evaluation to match his abilities. Under the guidance of his trainer, Fu Zai successfully completed assessments on obedience, luggage and vehicle searches, room searches, and obstacle navigation. Many netizens also sent their best wishes to him following the good news.
After making his debut in March at the open day event held at a police camp in the city of Weifang, Fu Zai went viral thanks to his iconic smiley face, cute short legs, and impressive skills in bomb search, according to the Xinhua News Agency.
The National Bureau of Statistics is set to launch a nationwide sampling survey on 2024 population changes beginning on Friday, with multiple regions recently releasing specific survey procedures.
Demographers told the Global Times that as China undergoes a significant demographic transition, this survey holds increasing importance. There was an expectation of a slight baby boom in the Year of Dragon and this survey in some extent can help verify that expectation.
The annual survey is crucial for formulating national economic and social development plans, improving relevant policies, and promoting high-quality population development, demographers said.
Three percent of Beijing's 21.8 million residents will be surveyed. The survey will be conducted either through in-home registration by surveyors or by residents filling out the information independently via a WeChat mini-program. Surveyors, equipped with official identification, will visit homes to conduct the survey to carry out their work, Beijing Daily reported citing Beijing Municipal Bureau of Statistics.
To accurately reflect the population changes, the Liaoning provincial government increased the sample size for the population change survey from 0.1 percent to 0.5 percent this year. In 2023, Liaoning recorded a net inflow of 86,000 people from other provinces, reversing the trend of continuous net outflow that had persisted since 2012, the Liaoning Daily said.
The survey will be conducted by households, and the survey content was the basic information of the population and households, including name, citizen ID number, gender, age, ethnicity, education level, migration and mobility, work, marriage, childbirth, death and housing, Liaoning Daily reported.
This annual population change sampling survey, launched by the National Bureau of Statistics in the late 1980s, involves sampling one-thousandth of the national population to calculate and publish various demographic indicators each year, Chen Wei, a professor at the Center for Population and Development Studies, Renmin University of China, told the Global Times.
As China undergoes a significant demographic transition, with rapid changes in marriage, fertility, and population structure, this survey has gained increased importance. It provides essential foundational data for monitoring these shifts, analyzing population trends, and evaluating fertility support policies, Chen noted.
According to the National Census Regulations, a national population census is conducted every ten years, and typically, a one percent population sampling survey is conducted midway between censuses, usually in years ending in 5. In other years, a 0.1 percent population sampling survey is conducted.
Additionally, Chen mentioned the survey could help determine whether 2024, known as the Year of Dragon in the Chinese lunar calendar, will see a modest increase in births as many demographers forecasted.
However, since the survey was conducted in November, births from November and December, months that often see high birth rates, were only partially included. January of next year will also fall within the Year of the Dragon, he added.
"The Year of the Dragon ushered in a baby boom. Guangzhou Women and Children's Medical Center is presenting special commemorative envelopes for 'Dragon babies,'" Yangcheng Daily reported earlier in October.
Zhai Zhenwu, a professor at Renmin University of China, said that the Chinese population holds a special fondness for the ''Dragon'' zodiac sign. During the last Dragon Year in 2012, there was a slight peak in birth rates. A modest increase in births is anticipated for 2024.
While zodiac sign preferences can influence birth rates, their effect on broader population trends is relatively minor, demographer Yuan Xin told the Global Times. He said the key lies in enhancing young people's willingness to marry and have children, as well as significantly reducing the burden of childbearing and upbringing on families.
The obesity rate among Chinese adolescents surged from 0.10 percent to 8.25 percent during the 34 years from 1985 to 2019, with adolescents from rural areas facing greater nutrition and health risks, the Global Times learned from a research team of the Institute of Child and Adolescent Health (ICAH), Peking University, on Tuesday.
According to the team's latest study, which was published online by The Lancet on Monday, from 1985 to 2014, the average obesity prevalence among urban children and adolescents was consistently higher than that of their rural counterparts. With the exception of 1985 and 1995, rural children persistently exhibited greater prevalence of thinness compared with their urban counterparts.
The study predicts that the prevalence of childhood and adolescent obesity will continue to rise nationwide in both urban and rural areas.
Our projections indicate that the increasing prevalence of childhood obesity in rural and lower socioeconomic status areas will dominate a future pandemic of obesity among Chinese children and adolescents. China will gradually exhibit similar patterns of nutritional inequality as seen in some industrialized high-income countries, Dong Yanhui, a corresponding author of the study from the ICAH, told the Global Times.
Obesity and underweight during childhood and adolescence have a profound impact on health in adulthood. Over the past 30 years, there has been a global shift in the nutritional patterns of children and adolescents from predominantly undernutrition to predominantly overnutrition, a phenomenon closely related to socioeconomic development, Dong said.
In China, obesity of adolescents has also been a major concern of Chinese parents and relevant Chinese authorities in recent years. The National Health Commission recently released China's first authoritative guideline for multidisciplinary diagnosis and treatment of obesity in order to further improve the standardization of obesity diagnosis and treatment in the country, People's Daily reported on October 23.
According to People's Daily, from 2015-2019, the overweight rate and obesity prevalence among Chinese adolescents aged 6 to 17 are 11.1 percent and 7.9 percent, respectively, while the overweight rate and obesity prevalence among children under 6 years old are 6.8 percent and 3.6 percent, respectively.
Previous studies have revealed narrowing obesity gap between adolescents in urban and rural areas. But there still lacks recent data regarding contemporary nutritional inequities among children and adolescents, particularly in relation to urban-rural residence and regional socioeconomic status, according to Dong.
Our study revealed that, children and adolescents in underdeveloped regions face significant nutritional and health risks, marking them as a particularly vulnerable group. Notably, these risks are now more closely associated with obesity rather than underweight. Considering this, there is an urgent need to take action to eliminate the potential health inequalities related to obesity among current and future Chinese children and adolescents, which requires more comprehensive and extensive preventive health investments, Dong noted.
The study of the ICAH focused on children and adolescents aged 7-18 years in China. It covered 1,677,261 participants from 30 provincial-level regions, the Global Times learned.
Citing two senior defense officials, Reuters reported that "fearing China will deploy hypersonic weapons to sink ships in the Pacific," the US Navy is moving forward with a plan to arm some of its vessels with Patriot interceptor missiles. Chinese military experts said on Sunday that the US is using the so-called Chinese missile threat as an excuse to pursue "absolute military superiority."
According to the Reuters report, one industry official said putting the highly agile Patriot Advanced Capability-3 Missile Segment Enhancement (PAC-3 MSE) interceptors, used primarily in the US by the Army, aboard Navy ships anticipates advances in Chinese missile technology, including the use of highly maneuverable hypersonic weapons.
Integrating the Lockheed Martin-made missiles with ships' air defenses comes amid simmering tension in the "Indo-Pacific region" as China rapidly modernizes its military, the report said.
Zhang Junshe, a Chinese military expert, told the Global Times on Sunday that in order to ensure absolute military superiority against its opponents, the US military has been putting in a lot of efforts in recent years to develop various missile attack and defense systems. "Previously, the US military had worked to transfer the vessel-based Tomahawk cruise missile system to land, enhancing its missile strike capabilities against other countries from land. Now, it is attempting to deploy land-based missile systems at sea to improve missile air defense capabilities," Zhang said.
However, Zhang noted that if the US does not provoke war, no country would take the initiative to strike US vessels. "This precisely demonstrates that the US military is using the so-called threat of China's missile development as an excuse to continuously enhance its missile strike capabilities across land, sea, and air, seeking absolute military superiority," Zhang said.
Zhang said that the US Navy's plan to arm some of its vessels with Patriot interceptor missiles means it must first address some technical issues.
Currently, the main surface combat vessels of the US are the Ticonderoga-class guided missile cruisers and the Arleigh Burke-class destroyers, which primarily use the Aegis combat system for intercepting intercontinental ballistic missiles at sea, employing the Standard Missile-3, Zhang said. "These two missile systems differ in terms of their operational command and control systems, fire control radar systems, and missile launchers."
In a world increasingly turning to holistic approaches for health and wellness, traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) stands out as one of the oldest and most enduring medical systems, with practices like acupuncture, cupping, moxibustion, therapeutic massage, and herbal medicine gaining popularity across the globe.
As TCM continues to evolve and adapt to modern society, it offers a rich tapestry of healing techniques that have been refined over thousands of years.
On Monday, a new center for TCM was inaugurated in the town of Panagyurishte, Bulgaria, which aims to enhance patient care as well as share the heritage of ancient Chinese medical practices, according to a Xinhua News Agency report.
The center in Bulgaria is an epitome of the growing popularity of TCM across the globe. Statistics from the National Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine (NATCM) showed that foreign exchanges of TCM have spread to 196 countries and regions. China has signed specialized cooperation agreements on TCM with more than 40 foreign governments, regional authorities, and international organizations.
On Tuesday, various activities were held across China to celebrate World Traditional Medicine Day. Students in many schools got a precious opportunity to learn more about TCM on this day. Designated at the International Conference on Traditional Medicine held in Beijing in 1991, World Traditional Medicine Day falls on October 22 every year.
In 2023, China's 93,000 TCM specialized medical institutions recorded 1.54 billion medical visits. China also boasts 41,700 TCM clinics and over 99 percent of community- and township-level medical institutions are capable of providing TCM services, as reported by Xinhua in September.
To better promote TCM, the NATCM released a three-year plan for further standardizing TCM on July 31. According to the plan, a total of 180 domestic standards and 30 international standards for TCM should be formulated by the end of 2026.
The plan seeks to enhance the integration of standardization with the development of TCM, offering robust support for the modernization, industrialization, and high-quality advancement of the TCM industry.
As TCM evolves, many new practices and technologies are being actively integrated. For many young people, trying TCM drinks has become a trendy alternative to bubble tea, as they are perceived to be healthier. These herbal brews are sold in stylish cups at various pharmacies and shops in shopping malls.
Besides this, technologies such as artificial intelligence and big data are being explored to facilitate the sharing of TCM data and to create a more digital and intelligent approach to TCM.
Sixty years ago, China successfully detonated its first atomic bomb. Relying on their own strength, the Chinese people achieved a major breakthrough in cutting-edge national defense technology. Recently, the Global Times interviewed several retired personnel from the nuclear military base who participated in this historic event, listening to their stories of dedication and perseverance during those passionate and unforgettable years.
This story is also part of the Global Times' "Witness to History" series, which features first-hand accounts from individuals who were at the forefront of historic moments. From scholars, politicians, and diplomats, to ordinary citizens, their authentic reflections on the impact of historical moments help reveal a sound future for humanity through the solid forward steps taken in the past and the present. "Five, four, three, two, one… ignite!"
On October 16, 1964, at precisely 3 pm Beijing time, at the nuclear test base in Lop Nur located in Northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, head operator Han Yunti pressed the button that would change history.
A massive fireball, akin to a second sun, soared into the sky. Then it fused with a rising dust column, creating a spectacular mushroom cloud.
Later that day, a radio broadcast echoed, and extra editions of People's Daily were passed around, as people took to the streets to celebrate the historic event - China had successfully detonated its first atomic bomb.
In the early years of the People's Republic of China, faced with a complex international environment, the government sought to ensure peace and stability for domestic development. On January 15, 1955, the Secretariat of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China held an expanded meeting, making the strategic decision to establish and develop China's atomic energy industry, according to Science and Technology Daily.
Late Chairman Mao Zedong once declared that China does not only need more planes and cannons; it needs the atomic bomb. "In today's world, to avoid being bullied, we cannot be without this thing," Xinhua reported.
In less than 10 years, China achieved this miracle.
Behind the successful explosion were countless individuals who worked in silence, overcoming immense challenges. In the 1950s, a group of nuclear industry pioneers embarked on a difficult journey in the vast Gobi Desert of Northwest China. Starting with just a tent, they built research institutes and factories, laying the foundation for China's nuclear industry. Despite harsh conditions, they established China's first nuclear industrial base, which formed the bedrock for both the country's nuclear weapons and energy development.
Today, China's nuclear industry continues to grow steadily. Starting from the scratch to a comprehensive system, the industry contributes to ensuring energy security, protecting the environment and promoting high-quality economic growth while moving forward into the Chinese modernization.
An unforgettable day
On that special day exactly 60 years ago, Wang Changjian noted it as "The Most Unforgettable Day" in his journal.
He still vividly remembers that his team leader told him an important announcement would be made that evening and instructed him to wait at a square.
At the time, Wang was a worker at Plant 404, a nuclear engineering base that emerged from the barren Gobi Desert in Northwest China's Gansu Province. Because of strict confidentiality, many employees, like Wang, had no idea what their work was ultimately contributing to, and they never asked or discussed about it.
Wang arrived at the square at 9 pm, where a crowd had already gathered, buzzing with speculation. At 10 pm, a loudspeaker broadcast the news: "China has successfully detonated its first atomic bomb!"
At first, people couldn't believe their ears, and the announcement was repeated several times. When the government officially confirmed the successful test, the entire "nuclear city" of Plant 404 erupted in celebration.
"Some people even ran home to grab drums and Chinese national flags for the celebration - it was a sleepless night," said Wang.
What shocked him even more was learning about his own connection with the news. "We manufactured the components of the bomb, but it wasn't until the night of the explosion that we finally knew the truth," he said.
Wang emphasized the strict adherence to secrecy at the time: "Those who knew didn't talk, and those who didn't know didn't ask." This simple rule was rooted in their minds.
"We understood that any leak could have devastating consequences. Working in such a highly confidential environment, we felt both pressured and motivated," he added.
This success was not just a technical breakthrough, but a huge morale boost for nuclear industry workers. "After three years of hard work and dedication, we finally stood tall. Victory belonged to every one of us!" Wang said with deep emotion.
Wang Baodou, a recipient of the National May 1st Labor Medal, was also involved in the manufacturing of China's first atomic bomb.
Recounting the preparations leading up to the bomb's test, Wang Baodou mentioned that Plant 404 launched the "Great Effort of 80, 90, 100 Days" campaign to ensure all equipment was installed, tested, and repaired before the nuclear test. Given the operation's top-secret nature, everyone had to strictly abide by confidentiality regulations.
"We didn't know the exact timeline or the full scope of the task. Our duty was to follow instructions and complete the mission," Wang Baodou said.
Much of the equipment at Plant 404 had to be independently developed and installed by workers after Soviet experts withdrew. Wang Baodou remembered the installation of the electrolysis fluorine equipment - a crucial step in producing nuclear materials. Due to incomplete designs, workers relied on their own ingenuity to overcome numerous obstacles.
During the most critical phases, workers took turns remaining at the site, with no time to go home and rest. Wang Baodou and his colleagues would sleep on leather coats spread on the ground and lean against the wall to get some sleep. "Despite being tired, everyone was in high spirits because we knew we were doing this for our country, and we had to get it done," he said.
In addition to the successful detonation of the atomic bomb, there was other exciting news for the Chinese people during those years: On June 17, 1967, China successfully tested its first hydrogen bomb. On April 24, 1970, China launched its first artificial satellite into space. An ironclad oath
After graduating from a technical school, Wang Changjian, along with dozens of classmates selected through rigorous requirements, headed to Plant 404 in the Gobi Desert.
"Our slogan was - respond to the Party's call, go where the country needs us most, and go to the toughest places. This was the loudest voice of the time, and to young people, it was like an ironclad oath," he said.
What Wang Changjian remembered most was the sense of unity and collaboration. Technicians, workers, and officials worked closely together, living and working side by side as they tackled technical challenges. "There was a deep sense of responsibility and honor. It was considered a privilege to contribute to the country," he said. This spirit of selfless dedication enabled them to complete the task under such difficult conditions.
Wang Baodou also described the harsh environment in the Gobi Desert where the nuclear base was located. Many workers, single and far from home, endured isolation as their families couldn't join them for many years. Despite the tough living conditions and the inhospitable environment, they persevered.
One vivid memory Wang Baodou shared with the Global Times was an impromptu soccer match they organized. However, a sudden Gobi windstorm sent sand flying, making it impossible to see. The sand grains, as large as fingernails, pelted them, forcing everyone to take cover in nearby sand pits until the wind had died down so they could continue the game.
Today, Plant 404 has grown into a comprehensive nuclear industry base. When reflecting on being awarded the National May 1st Labor Medal, Wang Baodou considered the honor not just his, but a tribute to all his silent and dedicated colleagues. He paid special tribute to several workers who sacrificed their lives for the cause, including Fu Hongju, Zhang Dinghua, and Zhang Weihao, calling them his eternal heroes.
"Whenever we think of the success of the first atomic bomb, we remember these colleagues. Their sacrifices inspire deep respect and reflection. They contributed far more than any individual achievement," he said.
New story in Gobi Desert
The nuclear industry in China is also eyeing the future.
Exactly 560 meters beneath the Gobi Desert lies a modern underground laboratory - the Beishan Underground Research Laboratory, a key to securing China's long-term nuclear industry development.
Wang Ju, the chief scientist in the field of radioactive waste disposal at the China National Nuclear Corporation, stood at the entrance of the laboratory and marveled, "When we discovered this intact granite formation, I almost knelt down to thank nature. Such a flawless rock formation, nearly crack-free, is the perfect natural barrier for the safe geological disposal of high-level radioactive waste."
In 1992, Wang Ju was a geologist focusing of the study on uranium geology when he realized that the safe disposal of high-level radioactive waste was a global challenge for the nuclear industry. For more than 30 years, Wang Ju and his team have been searching in the Gobi Desert for a suitable site to safely isolate this waste.
They eventually found a granite formation as large as half the size of Beijing.
The Beishan Underground Research laboratory is expected to be the largest and most advanced facility of its kind in the world when it is completed in 2028. It will provide full support for the technical development of geological disposal of high-level radioactive waste, ensuring safety for tens of thousands of years.
Sixty years ago, China solemnly declared to the world its confidence and capability to maintain stability and defend peace. The heroic predecessors, accompanied by the Gobi Desert and yellow sands, processed vast amounts of data using only an abacus and a slide rule, inspiring the Chinese younger generation to be self-reliant and forge ahead courageously.
Industrial robots carry out welding operations in an intelligent workshop of an automobile manufacturer located in Jiangdu Hi-tech Industrial Development Zone, Yangzhou, East China's Jiangsu Province, on October 18, 2024. China's GDP grew 4.8 percent year on year in the first nine months of 2024, data from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) showed on the day. Photo: VCG
Voting for the sixth-term chief executive election of China's Macao Special Administrative Region (SAR) started at 10 a.m. local time on Sunday.
Members of the Chief Executive Election Committee arrived at the polling booth located at the China-Portuguese-speaking Countries Commercial and Trade Service Platform Complex to cast their secret ballots. Votes will be counted and announced immediately after voting.
Sam Hou Fai, former president of Macao's Court of Final Appeal, was the only candidate running for the sixth-term chief executive.
According to Macao's Chief Executive Election Law, an election is valid only if two-thirds of all members of the election committee are present to vote. To be elected, a candidate must receive support from more than half of the total members of the committee, which is at least 200 votes.
The elected candidate will become the chief executive designate of the Macao SAR, pending appointment by the Central People's Government. The sixth-term chief executive is expected to take office on Dec. 20.
Zhang Xin still remembers the complaints she saw on social media some years ago: "In winter, you can't see the sun clearly in the city of Urumqi," and "The snow is all black."
Zhang, who works in the ecology and environment bureau of Urumqi, capital of northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, used to participate in the air-pollution prevention and control work for a long time.
Urumqi is among an economically vibrant urban cluster located on the northern slope of the Tianshan Mountains, which also contains parts of Changji Hui Autonomous Prefecture and the cities of Wujiaqu and Shihezi. The urban cluster is collectively referred to as the Wu-Chang-Shi area by locals.
For a long time, Wu-Chang-Shi has been a key and challenging area for air-pollution prevention and control in Xinjiang due to its heavy industrial and coal-dominated energy structure.
However, 2023 was the year with the most significant improvement in air quality in the past decade for the urban cluster, thanks to the concerted and unremitting efforts made by the local ecology and environment authorities, enterprises and scientists.
The transformation of Wu-Chang-Shi is a microcosm of China's air-pollution control efforts. Following the introduction of an action plan to prevent and control air pollution in 2013, China became the first developing country in the world to impose large-scale efforts to reduce PM2.5 density.
China has announced that it will peak its carbon dioxide emissions by 2030 and achieve carbon neutrality by 2060.
Improved Air Quality
Years ago, the Chinese government began publishing air quality rankings in major cities, and the cities in Wu-Chang-Shi, such as Urumqi, often ranked at the bottom of the list.
"Surrounded by mountains on three sides, Urumqi has poor conditions for diffusion in both horizontal and vertical directions. According to an assessment, Urumqi's self-purification capacity in winter is only one-tenth of that in summer," said Zhang.
In winter, when temperatures often drop to minus 20 to 30 degrees Celsius, residents in Urumqi relied heavily on coal-fired heating, which led to more pollutant emissions.
Zhang said that with the central government funding, Urumqi has initiated projects, such as clean-energy heating. "The city has begun to improve its heating structure, from centralized heating and cogeneration to clean heating for all bulk coal users, which is a particularly effective experience in air-pollution control," she added.
In 2012, the central urban area of Urumqi completed the transformation from coal to gas for large-scale coal-fired heating boilers. In October 2023, the city completed the treatment of the remaining villages and households in rural areas that were using bulk coal for heating, making it among the first cities in China to achieve full coverage of clean-energy heating.
From Oct. 10, 2023 to April 10, 2024, Urumqi boasted 144 days of good air quality, an increase of 33 days year on year. The average concentrations of six major air pollutants, including PM2.5, decreased by 8.8 percent to 22.7 percent, reaching the best level since the monitoring began.
Social media, which acts as an unofficial "air quality monitoring station," also reflects the effectiveness of air-pollution control measures.
In recent years, Zhang noticed some positive changes on social media -- residents in Urumqi often post photos and videos of the blue skies of the city.
Key Industries, Targeted Measures
Located in the city of Shihezi of the Wu-Chang-Shi area, Tianwei Cement Co., Ltd. is a major cement-producing company in the city.
China is among the world's largest producers and consumers of cement. However, due to factors such as large emissions during production, the cement industry is also a major contributor to carbon emissions.
In 2023, the regional government of Xinjiang proposed to spend three to five years to completely solve the air-pollution problem in Wu-Chang-Shi. Various departments have implemented pollution control measures in key enterprises in the area.
Tianwei Cement is among the 135 industrial enterprises in Wu-Chang-Shi that have been given priority treatment, which altogether account for more than 92 percent of the total pollutant emissions in the area.
According to the ecology and environment bureau of Shihezi, in terms of the comprehensive management of air pollution, the city has implemented a performance-based grading system of key industries to cope with heavy-pollution weather, in sync with other regions across China.
The four-tier grading system, involving 39 key industries including steel and chemicals, is a measure to implement differentiated control in response to heavy-pollution weather, with A representing the highest and D the lowest. When heavy-pollution weather occurs, Class-A enterprises can take measures independently based on their actual situations to reduce emissions without stopping or limiting production.
To attain the Class-A rating as quickly as possible, Tianwei Cement has collaborated with the city's ecology and environment bureau to develop a tailored pollution control plan. Measures have been taken during various processes of production, including the installment of dust-reduction devices in its warehouses.
Last year, the company obtained the Class-A rating after completing the ultra-low emission transformations. Thanks to the upgrades, the company made a profit of over 80 million yuan (about 11.34 million U.S. dollars) in 2023.
Meanwhile, Shihezi's air quality in 2023 reached the best level since 2017, data shows.
Building Talent Base
Sitting in an office of the air-pollution prevention and control center of Changji, Ma Tong can oversee the pollutant emissions in the entire prefecture in real time through a large screen, which displays data and charts, such as the forecast and dynamic control of heavy-pollution weather. However, she still worries.
"A lot of data has been integrated into the platform, but the problem is how to effectively utilize it. We lack skilled personnel who can use the platform and information equipment," she said.
Ma is an expert from the Chinese Research Academy of Environmental Sciences. Five years ago, she came to Xinjiang to provide intellectual support for local air-pollution control. "Changji is already at the forefront of Xinjiang in terms of air-pollution treatment through sci-tech means, but compared with the whole country, the prefecture lacks equipment and talent," said Ma.
Since last year, the regional government of Xinjiang has pooled 10 billion yuan in funding to establish the Xinjiang talent development fund, which is used to introduce talent from other parts of China, among other objectives.
In early 2024, the Urumqi-based Xinjiang University introduced Huang Haibao, an air-pollution control expert from Sun Yat-sen University in south China's Guangdong Province.
"In addition to cultivating talent ourselves, we have also introduced a group of scholars from universities including Beijing University of Chemical Technology," said Huang.
Within six months, Huang and his colleagues have established the air-pollution control and research center at the university. He is working to establish the Xinjiang environmental science society, which will serve as a gathering place for the top scientific research talent in Xinjiang and a platform for international cooperation and exchange.
He also stresses the importance of collaboration between academia and industry. "Ultimately, emission reduction needs to be implemented at the enterprise level," he said, adding that his team has visited over 10 companies to strengthen cooperation in terms of technology and scientific research.
"We will try to bring in the technologies, talent and companies from across the country to contribute to air-pollution prevention and control work in Xinjiang," he said.
