CHINESE TYCOON BUILDS NEW UNIVERSITY IN FUJIAN

　　The Heren Charitable Foundation， started by Cao Dewang， Chairman of Fuyao Group， recently announced a plan to invest 10 billion yuan （$1.54 billion） to build the Fuyao University of Science and Technology in Fujian Province.
　　The 65-year-old initiated the group in 1987， which eventually became the world’s second largest supplier of automotive glass. Cao and his wife decided in 2011 to donate 300 million shares of Fuyao Group， a market value of 3.5 billion yuan （$544.2 million）， for the creation of their own charitable foundation. The foundation， whose donation priorities include the educational sector， became the first privately held charitable foundation under State Council approval.
　　The program will focus on new ways of running a public university on the basis of being “high level， small scale， application-oriented， international and market-oriented.”

Fitness Industry

　　People.com.cn May 7
　　Ideas around fitness continue to undergo tremendous change. People’s perceptions of body health and image， too， are constantly transforming along with the booming fitness industry.
　　According to the 2020 China Fitness Industry Data Report released in March， there were 44，300 fitness clubs and stores in place across the nation by the end of last year. The number of people participating in fitness- related activities rose from 68.12 million in 2019 to 70.29 million last year.
　　But its evolution has been marked by complaints such as compulsory consumption， low entry thresholds for coaches， worries regarding protective measures， and gym operators running off with membership fees.
　　In addition， the prepaid mode of operation easily becomes unsustainable as soon as a drop in member attendance occurs， resulting in the consumer interest being compromised.
　　Both the fitness industry and the authorities need to adopt innovative ideas to manage the industry for further development.

Who Will Join the Labor Force？

　　Lifeweek May 3
　　China has maintained its position as the world’s largest manufacturing country for 11 consecutive years with the industrial added value reaching 31.3 trillion yuan（$4.84 trillion）， according to data released by the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology on March 1. The country’s manufacturing industry takes up nearly 30 percent of the global manufacturing industry.

　　Moreover， according to the Ministry of Education （MOE）， the recruitment of college students graduating this summer is currently in progress， with students majoring in equipment manufacturing emerging as popular candidates. This trend reflects the nation’s strong demand for a new workforce in manufacturing-related industries and vocational areas.
　　China is home to some 30.88 million students currently honing their skills across 11，300 vocational education institutions， according to statistics from the MOE. The ministry has approved 27 institutions offering vocational education at the undergraduate level since 2019， when the State Council released its plans to reform the vocational education system.
　　Challenged by an ever-changing market demand， tertiary institutes， too， are adjusting their original outlines. China’s vocational education is adjusting swiftly to the new market demand， and high-end skilled talents are becoming increasingly sought after. Currently， China features the world’s largest vocational education system， and the rise of vocational education is sure to help more Chinese youth fulfill their dreams.

Barrier-Free Accessibility

　　Economic Daily May 10
　　New regulations on the construction of a barrier-free facility environment in Shanghai will become effective in June. They clarify the construction and maintenance requirements for barrier-free facilities and encourage improving barrier-free public services to help the elderly and disabled break down communication barriers and get more involved in society.
　　China’s population of people over 60 currently stands at 260 million， according to data released by the National Bureau of Statistics on May 11. As China’s population is aging rapidly， there is a higher demand for a barrierfree environment， benefiting those 85 million who struggle with physical challenges as well.
　　The country has registered progress in improving overall accessibility for persons with disabilities or physical challenges since the release of a set of regulations on the initiative in 2012.
　　In the long run， public service providers in areas such as finance and telecommunications should extend the appropriate services to those in need. Social organizations， too， are encouraged to organize training sessions in a bid to help the disabled and elderly use smart technologies.

CHINESE OFFICIAL APPOINTED WTO DEPUTY CHIEF

　　Zhang Xiangchen， Vice Minister of Commerce of China， was appointed one of four deputy director generals （DDGs） of the World Trade Organization （WTO） by WTO Director General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala on May 4.
　　China welcomes the appointment of the four DDGs， said a spokesperson with the Ministry of Commerce on May 5， adding that Zhang’s appointment testifies to his own ability and confirms the active and constructive role China has taken on in the WTO over the years.
　　Zhang has had an extensive career of more than 30 years in international trade， and served as China’s permanent representative to the WTO from 2017 to 2020.
　　The other three are Angela Ellard of the U.S.， Anabel Gonzalez of Costa Rica， and Jean-Marie Paugam of France.
　　“Despite current tensions， the U.S. and China have simply become too interdependent and connected to withdraw from each other or to engage in any kind of prolonged conflict...We must find ways to dial down the temperature to reduce provocative or inflammatory rhetoric.”
　　Gary Locke， former U.S. Ambassador to China， at a virtual media roundtable on the sidelines of a virtual conference on U.S.-China relations， on May 12
　　“This marks a new chapter for China’s role in the global supply of public health goods， building on its R&D and manufacturing capacities， as well as its commitment to contributing substantially to global health.”
　　Gauden Galea， Representative of the World Health Organization in China， commenting on the organization’s decision to grant emergency use listing to a China-produced COVID-19 vaccine， on May 10
　　“We welcome legislators from different backgrounds， positions and views on the administration of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region （SAR） Government to participate in politics.”
　　Carrie Lam， Chief Executive of Hong Kong SAR， stressing that improving the electoral system does not mean the SAR will drive out diversity in the Legislative Council or forge it with “one voice，”in an interview with China Media Group， on May 10
　　“Over the years， we have seen that Chinese companies that have invested in building their brands are able to achieve sustainable， quality growth and find resilience during financially stressed times.”
　　Annabel Lin， Managing Director of China solution specialists and APAC international growth at Google， in an interview with China Daily at the 2021 China Brand Day Exhibition in Shanghai， on May 10