Stories from Beijing · China

The new rules establish a dual-track path involving both drug development approval and medical technology application. China is implementing dual oversight through ethical reviews and quality control to manage medical risks in stem cell treatments. Liu Zhengmin noted that treatment strategies must be adjusted for individual patients and that tertiary hospitals must meet specific thresholds to ensure safety during real-world technology verification. Clinical research is restricted to three designated hospitals to ensure safety and oversight. Violators face orders to refund fees, fines of up to five times the illegal gains, and potential suspension of operations. The regulations state that clinical use is permitted only when sufficient evidence of safety and efficacy is provided.

China is proactively opening its markets to assist African nations in overcoming economic challenges and achieving common development.

Chinese scientists have managed to breed eels in captivity for the first time. This meticulous process allowed for the successful cultivation of the species. The study focused on environmental factors and feeding patterns in natural habitats. Researchers successfully cultivated more than 3,000 breeding pairs, resulting in 3 million baby eels. The study was conducted to address the demand for eels, which are considered a delicacy. The eel population has declined by approximately 90% over the last 30 to 40 years due to overfishing and other factors. The species is currently considered endangered by the IUCN. Japan remains the largest consumer of eels, accounting for roughly 70% of the global catch. Professor Lee Baumgartner noted that eel trafficking is a global industry. In 2020, more eels were trafficked to Asia than drugs or guns.

Ten Chinese government agencies, including the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology and the Cyberspace Administration, have jointly issued the 'Measures for the Review of Artificial Intelligence Science and Technology Ethics and Services (Trial)'.

A prominent anti-fraud blogger has publicly accused a cancer research paper of academic misconduct.

China has begun legislating against replacing human workers with artificial intelligence. According to a report in the Chinese economic daily Kaixin, companies are now prohibited from justifying employee layoffs by claiming artificial intelligence can perform the tasks more effectively. This move aims to protect workers from being displaced by automated systems. New regulations in China prohibit clinical research institutions from charging subjects fees related to biomedical new technology clinical research. China has issued regulations prohibiting the collection of all fees, including consumables and testing costs, during the clinical research stage of gene therapy.

A doctor reported success treating a patient with precocious puberty using traditional Chinese medicine.

Four Chinese government departments have issued a directive to accelerate the high-quality development of technology insurance. Four Chinese departments have jointly released opinions regarding the implementation of high-quality technology insurance. Ten Chinese departments, including the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology and the Cyberspace Administration, have jointly issued the 'Measures for the Review of Artificial Intelligence Technology Ethics and Services (Trial)'. A trending financial report indicates an adjusted net profit of 39.166 billion yuan, representing a year-on-year increase of 4%. The company achieved a 76.02% year-on-year growth in adjusted net profit. Adjusted net profit reached 39.16 billion yuan, a 4% increase compared to the previous year.

China has removed export duties on certain raw materials to increase volumes of African minerals. At the Shenzhen Bay Port on May 1, trucks carrying 24 tons of South African fresh apples were processed through customs under rapid supervision. The discussion includes challenges in authoritarian one-party states where media is tightly controlled by those in power. The conference includes sessions on media independence and provides a forum for journalists to discuss government repression. Discussions also cover government support for media through equipment and computer imports. These measures are being applied via preferential tax rates. The policy aims to facilitate trade through reduced commodity costs. One Zhejiang-based company reported that the zero-tariff policy starting May 1 will reduce its monthly tariff expenditures by over 300,000 yuan.

The WorldSkills competition, representing top-tier global vocational skill development, will be held in mainland China for the first time.