Shenzhen to drive coordinated reform in economy, education, sci-tech, talent

The southern Chinese city of Shenzhen is set to deepen coordinated reforms across key sectors, including the economy, education, science and technology, and talent, according to a press briefing held by the State Council Information Office on Thursday.

Officials from the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC), the country's top economic planner, and the Shenzhen municipal government elaborated on a set of guidelines issued Tuesday by the general offices of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and the State Council.

The guidelines introduce a new batch of reform measures to dismantle institutional barriers in education, sci-tech, and talent development. They call for closer integration of innovation, industrial, capital, and talent chains while exploring new models and platforms for cooperation within the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA), to shape Shenzhen into a globally oriented, innovation-driven city.

"The guidelines support joint efforts between universities and enterprises to train well-rounded engineering talent, and promote deeper integration of vocational training with the upgrading of advanced manufacturing clusters. The guidelines also allow eligible GBA-based firms, which have already been registered on the Chinese mainland and already listed on the Stock Exchange of Hong Kong, to list on the Shenzhen Stock Exchange," said Li Chunlin, deputy director of the NDRC.

The guidelines also roll out several measures to explore future-looking outcomes in emerging areas such as artificial intelligence and the low-altitude economy.

"[Shenzhen] will explore new reform paths in areas like AI-assisted medical devices and low-altitude airspace management. The city will also push forward full-scenario, full-domain, round-the-clock AI applications across industries, while expanding low-altitude economy scenarios in logistics, sightseeing, emergency response, agricultural services, and so on," said Qin Weizhong, mayor of Shenzhen.

Shenzhen is one of China's earliest special economic zones, spearheading the country's reform and opening-up policy over the last 47 years. It has transformed from a paddy rice border town into an influential metropolis and global technology hub.

Shenzhen to drive coordinated reform in economy, education, sci-tech, talent

Protesters filled Mexico City's Paseo de la Reforma on Saturday, rallying in solidarity with Venezuela and denouncing U.S. influence in Latin America.

The United States launched a large-scale military operation against Venezuela in the early hours of Jan 3, taking by force Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores.

Holding numerous flags and banners while chanting slogans intermittently, a huge crowd of protesters criticized U.S. military actions against Venezuela and the unlawful control over President Maduro and his spouse, calling for respect for national sovereignty and regional peace.

"We oppose the U.S. intervention and hegemony towards the countries in Latin America. The United States has flagrantly trampled on international law, bombed Caracas and kidnapped the Maduro couple. The U.S. interventionism has become extremely blatant. We must firmly oppose and be highly vigilant, because this is not only related to a certain country, but also to all countries," said a protester.

"We demand that the United States stop interfering in Venezuela's internal affairs. The country must immediately cease its exploitation and plundering of the countries in Latin America," said another protester.

Protest erupts in Mexico City over US military operation in Venezuela