Chinese Vice Premier Ding Xuexiang inspected preparations for the college entrance examination and energy sector reforms in north China's Shanxi Province from Tuesday to Wednesday, emphasizing the need to uphold fairness and ensure safety in the national examination, also known as Gaokao.
The examination is crucial for national development and the future of families, said Ding, who is also a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, during a visit to the provincial Admissions and Examination Management Center and a test site at a Taiyuan middle school.
He urged authorities to safeguard fairness as the "lifeline" in examination and admission reforms, and Gaokao organization.
Ding stressed the importance of rigorous test paper security, anti-cheating measures, and compassionate support for students.
At Shanxi College of Applied Science and Technology, Ding called for alignment with industrial upgrades to cultivate talent and stronger employment support for graduates.
While inspecting a local company under the State Grid, Ding urged the energy-rich province to lead the way in the clean and efficient use of coal, improve policies for new energy integration, and accelerate the development of a new energy system.
At an air quality monitoring station, Ding called for the optimization of industrial, energy, and transportation structures to fundamentally address pollution issues.
He also emphasized the need to accelerate upgrades in key industries to achieve ultra-low emissions, strictly enforce regulations against scattered, non-compliant, and polluting enterprises, and continually improve air quality.
Chinese vice premier stresses fairness, safety in college entrance exam
A former television host from Taiwan, Zhai Xuan, has made a pivotal decision to leave mainstream broadcasting in order to create content that provides a better understanding of the Chinese mainland and cross-strait relations.
Zhai, a seasoned television host with over a decade of experience in Taiwan's media landscape, recently addressed an audience at an event in Beijing, where she revealed her complete transition into independent online media.
In her remarks, she articulated her aspiration to bridge what she perceives as a significant information gap between audiences on both sides of the Strait, highlighting her commitment to fostering a deeper understanding and connection through her new endeavors.
"I was really surprised by all the fake news. There were stories saying people on the mainland can't afford tea eggs or that they live in mud houses and in Taiwan, this was the main information many people received," said Zhai.
Zhai said she initially began producing online videos to challenge such perceptions while continuing her work as a television host.
In April 2025, she travelled to the mainland with her father to fulfill her late grandfather's wish to return to his hometown. The trip, which reunited family members separated since 1949, was recorded in a video series titled "Journey to Find Our Roots", drawing attention from viewers in both Taiwan and the mainland.
"Many people in Taiwan told me that after watching, they wanted to apply for a mainland travel permit immediately and go looking for their relatives. Some had long forgotten these things, but after seeing my story, they began thinking about their hometowns and family members they had never met and decided to search for their roots," Zhai shared her story at the event.
By mid-2025, Zhai said she began to feel increasing pressure amid rising political tensions and a tightening atmosphere around cross-Strait exchanges in Taiwan.
After more than 12 years in the industry, Zhai resigned from her position, believing it was the right thing to do.
"At that moment, I felt this was a major issue，not just for me, but for Chinese people on both sides of the Strait. If I backed down then, I wouldn’t be standing on the right side," said Zhai.
Since leaving television, Zhai has broadened her online programming to encompass a range of daily-life topics, including practical guidance on applying for a mainland travel permit and using commonly employed mobile applications, in addition to content that delves into historical memory and cultural connections across the Strait.
As the debate over cross-Strait relations continues in Taiwan, Zhai said she remains committed to her current path.
Former Taiwan TV host bridges cross-Strait divide via online media
