Beijing unveils supporting policies to better meet young people’s needs

Beijing on Tuesday rolled out a set of supporting policies to strengthen services for young people, focusing on their needs in housing, entrepreneurship, growth, and public services.

The capital city has launched a youth talent development fund totaling 30 billion yuan (about 4.4 billion U.S. dollars) to reduce financing costs for youth entrepreneurs.

The city will allocate 30,000 youth apartments, providing affordable housing support that includes free short-term rentals and discounted long-term leases.

A total of 20 well-equipped and conveniently located youth talent activity zones will be established. In addition, three million square meters of discounted office space will be provided.

Moreover, 3,000 "service stewards" will be assigned to support young entrepreneurs, providing them with one-on-one services such as policy consultation and business facilitation.

"This year, Beijing will offer over 3,000 high-quality job opportunities for returning overseas Chinese students. The city attracts 30,000 young people annually for internships and practical experience. It will host events, such as the HICOOL Global Entrepreneur Summit and Entrepreneurship Competition, and the China-Europe Talent Forum, to attract young talents and promote cooperation through exchanges," said Liu Guangyi, deputy director of Beijing Talent Work Bureau.

An Oriental Darter has been spotted at Huizhou West Lake in south China's Guangdong, marking the first time the species has been recorded in the province.

The bird, also known as Anhinga melanogaster, has extremely strict habitat requirements, preferring freshwater lakes and rivers with clear water and abundant fish resources. Therefore, its appearance in Guangdong suggests that local ecological environment has greatly improved.

"This species is mainly native to Southeast Asia, and its global population is relatively small. It has not been spotted in China for many years, so seeing it on the bird island at Huizhou West Lake was quite unexpected," said a birdwatcher.