China's small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) demonstrated strong business performance in the first quarter of this year, with the SME development index reaching its highest level since 2020, according to the China Association of Small and Medium Enterprises (CASME) on Thursday.
The index, based on a survey of 3,000 SMEs from eight major industries, came in at 89.5 in the first quarter, up 0.5 points from the previous quarter.
SMEs in sectors such as social services, industry, transportation, and information technology led the way in performance.
Over the first three months of the year, the operational rate of SMEs continued to rise, with the proportion of fully operational enterprises increasing by 11 percentage points compared to Q4 of last year.
"The index has grown for two consecutive quarters, reaching its highest level since Q1 of 2020. The improvement can partially be attributed to the enduring effects of a series of policies introduced during last year's meeting of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee. In addition, the boost in holiday consumption and proactive measures taken by local authorities to support a strong start have also played a role in the accelerated recovery of SME operations in Q1," said Ma Bin, executive vice-president of the association.
According to the association, SMEs' development expectations continued to improve in Q1, with a slight decrease in costs contributing to a noticeable improvement in business performance.
In terms of the market index, five of the eight sectors surveyed, including information transmission and software, social services, wholesale and retail, transportation, and industry, saw significant increases, reflecting steady market demand.
Furthermore, investment sentiment improved in five sectors including social services and construction.
China's SME development index hits new high since 2020
A civil group in Japan held a study session on Saturday to tell the historical truth about the Nanjing Massacre and called on the Japanese government and society to reflect on history and avoid repeating the tragedy of war of aggression.
Saturday marks China's 12th National Memorial Day for the Victims of the Nanjing Massacre which took place when Japanese troops occupied the then-Chinese capital on Dec 13, 1937, killing approximately 300,000 Chinese civilians and unarmed soldiers in one of the most barbaric episodes of WWII over the course of six weeks.
"Japan's army committed a brutal atrocity -- the Nanjing Massacre 88 years ago in 1937. Today, on this important day, let us observe a moment of silence for 30 seconds for the victims," said an organizer of the study session.
This study session was led by Jomaru Yoichi, a former journalist with the Asahi Shimbun, a Japanese daily newspaper. Yoichi compiled numerous articles published in Japanese newspapers after the Nanjing Massacre. Among them, an article published on December 24, 1937 detailed the atrocities committed by the invading Japanese army in China.
"Around 08:00, about 400-500 defeated Chinese soldiers fled. The Japanese soldiers drove them into houses and bamboo groves, setting fires on all sides. Many of them were driven out by thick smokes. The Japanese soldiers killed them one by one with rifles and bayonets. The Japanese soldiers lost track of how many they had stabbed and killed all of them by 16:00," Yoichi recounted.
Many Japanese citizens said the Japanese government and society must confront the truth of history, and it's important to disseminate accurate historical information in contemporary Japan.
"The Nanjing Massacre is a real incident. The remarks that 'The Nanjing Massacre didn't exist' or 'The Japanese army was powerful and righteous' ignore historical evidence and deny the facts outright. I believe these are all attempts to hide the truth of history. I think these are all wrong. Facts are facts, and we must face history squarely," said a participant at the study session.
"I used to teach history in high school. In 1988, I spent two weeks in China and visited for the first time the site documenting the war crimes of the invading Japanese army. On the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II, the social atmosphere in Japan is gradually becoming strange. We must seriously examine Japan's past history, and disseminating accurate history has become even more important," said another participant.
Some expressed their concern that the Japanese government's historical revisionism, its attempt to cover up the truth of history, and its path towards military expansion will prevent Japan from facing the future.
"The fact that the Japanese army's war of aggression is not taught in social studies or history courses. I have no choice but to learn this myself even now at my age. The idea of upholding the pacifist constitution is becoming increasingly strong. Current Japanese politicians are pursuing a military expansion strategy, which I find incomprehensible," said another participant.
In 2014, China's top legislature designated December 13 as a national memorial day for the massacre victims.
Japanese civil group calls for remembrance of Nanjing Massacre victims
