China Outlines Nine Priorities of Global Governance Reform - New Plan for Urban Renewal
Here are the key reports and articles from the People’s Daily’s edition on Friday, May 29, 2026.
Page 1: There are three reports of letters and exchanges by Xi Jinping. First, Xi replied to a letter from Chinese and American students participating in ‘A Shared Voyage: China-US Youth Friendship Program’.
Xinhua says:
“Since the launch of the initiative of inviting 50,000 young Americans to China for exchange and study programs in a five-year span in November 2023, over 50,000 young Americans have visited China, achieving the target two-and-a-half years ahead of schedule, Xi said, adding that through these interactions, young people from both countries have reached out to each other, deepened mutual understanding, forged profound friendships, and opened a new chapter in friendly exchanges between the two peoples. Noting that young people, full of vitality and dreams, represent the future and hope of China-U.S. relations and of the world, Xi called on more Chinese and U.S. youth to take up the baton of friendship, learn from each other, progress together, and become ‘envoys of friendship’ bridging the Pacific.”
Next, Xi and Austrian President Alexander Van der Bellen exchanged congratulations on the 55th anniversary of diplomatic ties between the two countries. Xinhua says:
“Since the establishment of diplomatic relations, China-Austria relations have braved winds and rains, and maintained sound and steady development, Xi said in his message. He recalled that in 2018, he and Van der Bellen established the China-Austria friendly strategic partnership, opening a new chapter in bilateral relations. Last May, a new pair of ‘panda ambassadors’ made their public debut in the Austrian capital of Vienna, further deepening the friendship between the two peoples, he added. In a fluid and turbulent world, Xi said that China and Austria, both as promoters of world peace, supporters of multilateralism and defenders of free trade, should jointly uphold mutual respect, trust, openness, inclusiveness and win-win cooperation. Xi also said that he attaches great importance to the development of bilateral ties and stands ready to work with Van der Bellen to take the 55th anniversary of diplomatic ties as an opportunity to elevate China-Austria relations to a new level and make greater contributions to world peace and development.”
Xi also exchanged a congratulatory message with Surinamese President Jennifer Simons on the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two countries. Xinhua says:
“Noting that the friendship between China and Suriname has a long history and remained strong over time, Xi said that over the past half-century, the two sides have always respected each other and treated each other as equals, firmly supporting each other on issues concerning their respective core interests and major concerns. He added that the two countries have continuously deepened mutually beneficial cooperation, bringing tangible benefits to both peoples. Xi said that he attaches great importance to the development of China-Suriname relations and is willing to work together with President Simons to take the 50th anniversary of diplomatic ties as a new starting point to enhance strategic mutual trust, carry forward the traditional friendship, promote more achievements in practical cooperation across various fields, and jointly write a new chapter in the China-Suriname strategic partnership of cooperation.”
Also on the page is a report on the new State Council plan for urban renewal (full plan here). This outlines key targets, major tasks and projects, as well as policy measures for the country’s urban renewal efforts during the 15th Five-Year Plan period. The report says:
“The Plan emphasises the need to adhere to the guidance of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era; completely, accurately, and comprehensively implement the new development philosophy; adhere to the general principle of seeking progress while maintaining stability; adhere to a people-centred approach; adhere to a systems perspective; adhere to planning as the guide; adhere to coordinating development and security; adhere the principle of protection first, protecting everything that should be protected, and promoting protection through utilisation; proceeding according to local conditions and providing differentiated guidance; doing one’s utmost while acting within one’s means; establishing sustainable institutional mechanisms and policies and regulations for urban renewal; and advancing high quality urban renewal so as to provide a solid foundation for building modern people-centered cities.” 《规划》强调，坚持以习近平新时代中国特色社会主义思想为指导，完整准确全面贯彻新发展理念，坚持稳中求进工作总基调，坚持以人民为中心，坚持系统观念，坚持规划引领，坚持统筹发展和安全，坚持保护第一、应保尽保、以用促保，因地制宜、分类指导，尽力而为、量力而行，建立可持续的城市更新体制机制和政策法规，高质量推进城市更新，为建设现代化人民城市提供坚实基础.
“The Plan proposes that by 2030, important progress will have been achieved in urban renewal actions; initial results will have emerged in the transformation of urban development and construction methods; the foundations for safe development will become more secure; service efficiency will continue to improve; the living environment will improve markedly; the transformation between old and new growth drivers will accelerate; cultural heritage will be effectively protected; distinctive urban styles and characteristics will become more prominent; governance capacity will be substantially enhanced; and cities will become spaces that support a high-quality life for the people.”《规划》提出，到2030年，城市更新行动取得重要进展，城市开发建设方式转型初见成效，安全发展基础更加牢固，服务效能不断提高，人居环境明显改善，新旧动能加快转换，文化遗产有效保护，风貌特色更加彰显，治理水平大幅提高，城市成为人民群众高品质生活的空间.
“Benchmarking against the goals of building innovative, liveable, beautiful, resilient, civilised, and smart modern people-centered cities, the Plan deploys six major task areas:
fostering and strengthening new drivers of urban development;
creating high-quality urban living spaces;
promoting the green and low-carbon transformation of urban development;
enhancing urban safety and resilience;
promoting the prosperity and development of urban culture; and
improving urban governance capacity and standards.
It also proposes seven policy measures:
improving implementation mechanisms for urban renewal;
building sustainable investment, financing, construction, and operational systems for urban development;
providing greater support for revitalizing existing land stock;
establishing a full life-cycle housing safety management system;
building multi-stakeholder collaborative participation mechanisms;
improving legal, regulatory, and standards systems; and
strengthening the supporting role of science, technology, and talent.
In addition, the Plan specifies 14 major projects and initiatives, including the construction and renovation of ‘good housing’, the expansion, quality improvement, and efficiency enhancement of complete community development; the renovation and upgrading of old neighbourhoods and factory districts; and the upgrading of municipal infrastructure.”《规划》对标创新、宜居、美丽、韧性、文明、智慧的现代化人民城市建设目标，部署培育壮大城市发展新动能、营造高品质城市生活空间、推动城市发展绿色低碳转型、增强城市安全韧性、促进城市文化繁荣发展、提升城市治理能力水平6方面重点任务，提出健全城市更新实施机制、构建可持续的城市建设运营投融资体系、更大力度支持盘活存量土地、建立房屋全生命周期安全管理制度、构建多主体协同参与机制、健全法律法规标准体系、强化科技人才支撑作用7方面政策举措。同时，明确了“好房子”建设改造、完整社区建设扩面提质增效、老旧街区厂区改造提升、市政基础设施提升等14项重大工程和行动。
Page 2: There’s a report on Shen Yiqin visiting Shandong, where she went to enterprises, communities, employment service institutions, university student innovation and entrepreneurship incubation bases, and recruitment event sites, among other locations, to assess the employment situation. The report says that “she investigated conditions related to labour demand in key industries, grassroots employment and entrepreneurship services, employment assistance for key groups, and vocational skills upgrading and training.” 5月26日至28日，谌贻琴先后来到济南市、淄博市，深入企业、社区、就业服务机构、大学生创新创业孵化基地和招聘活动现场等，调研重点行业用工、基层就业创业服务、重点群体就业帮扶、职业技能提升培训等情况.
“Shen Yiqin pointed out that employment is the greatest livelihood concern. At present, the overall employment situation is stable. It is necessary to continuously strengthen the employment-first orientation; accelerate the implementation of actions to stabilise jobs, expand capacity and improve quality; effectively stimulate the job-driving effect of entrepreneurship; and continuously achieve new progress in high-quality and full employment. It is necessary to weave a denser employment service network, strengthen the summarisation and dissemination of local experience, promote the integration of the ‘15-minute employment service circle’ with the ‘15-minute convenience life-circle’, support community-level ‘micro-employment’ and ‘micro-entrepreneurship’, strengthen digital and intelligent employment services, and help workers find good employment and do well in their employment close to home. It is necessary to do a good job in employment policy support and service guarantees for university graduates and other youth groups, strengthen targeted assistance for migrant workers and people facing employment difficulties, and continuously enhance people’s livelihood and well-being. It is necessary to deepen large-scale vocational skills upgrading and training, strengthen the industry-education-evaluation, order-based, and project-based training models, further enhance the targeted nature and effectiveness of training, support workers in upgrading skills and increasing incomes, and better serve the overall situation of economic and social development.” 谌贻琴指出，就业是最大的民生。当前就业形势总体稳定，要持续强化就业优先导向，加快推进稳岗扩容提质行动，有效激发创业带动就业效能，不断推动高质量充分就业取得新进展。要织密就业服务网络，加强地方经验总结推广，推动“15分钟就业服务圈”与“一刻钟便民生活圈”融合，支持社区“微就业”、“微创业”，加强数智就业服务，帮助劳动者在家门口好就业、就好业。要做好高校毕业生等青年群体就业政策支持和服务保障，加强农民工、就业困难人员精准帮扶，不断增进民生福祉。要深化大规模职业技能提升培训，强化产教评、订单式、项目制培训模式，进一步提升培训的针对性和有效性，支持劳动者提技增收，更好服务经济社会发展大局.
Also on the page is a report on Zhang Guoqing speaking at the launch of China’s annual workplace safety month in Beijing. He called for “efforts to identify and address all types of risks and hidden hazards that threaten workplace safety.”
“Zhang Guoqing emphasised that General Secretary Xi Jinping attaches great importance to work safety and has continuously issued important instructions and directives, requiring close attention to and firm implementation of work safety responsibilities, proper investigation and rectification of risks and hidden dangers in key industries and sectors, strengthened public safety management, and ensuring the safety of people’s lives and property. All regions and departments must deeply learn lessons from accidents, truly put themselves and their work into the problem, vigorously implement work safety responsibilities and safety management measures, and firmly uphold the bottom line that development must not come at the price of sacrificing safety. He said that it is necessary to improve standards for determining major accident hazards, strengthen on-site supervision, underground mine supervision, and all-around supervision, enhance the professionalism and penetrative power of inspections, and maintain close attention to problems and hidden dangers, identifying both responsible individuals and specific matters, so as to ensure rectification is completed in a closed-loop manner. It is also necessary to launch strong crackdowns on illegal and non-compliant activities, strictly investigate and severely punish illegal and unlawful acts such as concealed working faces in coal mines, falsification of safety monitoring data, black dens of hazardous chemicals, and fireworks and firecracker enterprises exceeding personnel limits, exceeding explosive-material limits, and exceeding the scope of their permits, and strengthen the connection between administrative and criminal enforcement, forming a powerful deterrent. It is necessary to conduct science popularisation, skills training, and risk-avoidance drills on a regular and routine basis, promote the strengthening of risk awareness across the whole society and the cultivation of a safety culture, and firmly build the people’s defensive line of work safety. 张国清强调，习近平总书记高度重视安全生产工作，连续作出重要指示批示，要求盯紧压实安全生产责任，抓好重点行业领域风险隐患排查整治，加强公共安全管理，确保人民群众生命财产安全。各地区各部门要深刻汲取事故教训，真正把自己摆进去、把工作摆进去，狠抓安全生产责任落实和安全管理措施落地，牢牢守住发展不能以牺牲安全为代价这条底线。要完善重大事故隐患判定标准，强化进场监管、下井监管、全方位监管，提升排查的专业性和穿透力，对问题隐患紧盯不放、见人见事，确保闭环整改到位。要重拳“打非治违”，严查严惩煤矿隐蔽工作面、安全监控造假、危化品黑窝点、烟花爆竹企业超人数超药量超许可范围等违法违规行为，强化行刑衔接，形成有力震慑。要常态化开展科普宣传、技能培训、避险演练，促进全社会增强风险意识、培育安全文化，筑牢安全生产人民防线.
Finally, there’s a report (English report) that SAIC Motor has become the first Chinese carmaker to surpass 100 million cumulative vehicle sales and production. The company marked the occasion in Shanghai by delivering its 100 millionth vehicle—an IM LS9 Hyper extended-range sport utility vehicle from its electric vehicle subsidiary IM Motors—to its client.
Page 3: Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi is in New York, where he met with representatives from the United States strategic and business communities while chairing the United Nations Security Council high-level meeting. The English readout says:
“Wang Yi noted that during the Security Council high-level meeting he chaired in New York, the unanimous call of the participants was to revisit the founding vision of the U.N. Charter, reinvigorate the authority of the U.N., and practice multilateralism. To reinvigorate the U.N., the priority is to reinvigorate the Security Council, and the key lies in coordination and cooperation among its permanent members, among which the direction of China-U.S. relations is of crucial importance. Facts have shown that China-U.S. relations transcend the bilateral scope and affect world peace and the future of humanity. Achieving the sound, steady and sustainable development of China-U.S. relations is the common expectation of the international community and the mission that China and the U.S. should fulfill.”
“Wang Yi said that the Chinese and U.S. presidents held a historic meeting in Beijing, where they had candid, in-depth, constructive and strategic communication on major issues concerning China-U.S. relations and world peace and development, and reached a series of important common understandings. The two sides agreed to define a constructive relationship of strategic stability as the new positioning of China-U.S. relations and expressed the hope to work in the direction of cooperation as the mainstay, competition within proper limits, manageable differences, and expectable peace, and jointly explore the right way for major countries to get along in the new era.”
“President Xi Jinping pointed out that the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation and making America great again can go hand in hand and reinforce each other, bringing benefits to the world. The two sides also achieved generally balanced and positive outcomes in economic and trade cooperation, and agreed to support each other in hosting the APEC Economic Leaders’ Meeting and the G20 Summit.”
“To ensure a sound China-U.S. relationship, the two sides need to meet each other halfway, effectively manage differences, lengthen the list of cooperation and shorten the list of problems. Wang Yi stressed that ’Taiwan independence’ and cross-Strait peace and stability are as irreconcilable as fire and water. Only by upholding the one-China principle and the spirit of the three China-U.S. Joint Communiqués can peace across the Taiwan Strait be safeguarded and conflict and confrontation avoided. Wang Yi stated that China is ready to work with the U.S. to implement the important common understandings reached by the two presidents, take concrete actions, and work to bring a constructive China-U.S. relationship of strategic stability into reality at an early date. He expressed the hope that those present would make active efforts to this end and help build broader public consensus.”
Earlier, Wang met with Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez Parrilla. The readout of that meeting has Wang telling him that “it is essential to respect the sovereignty and independence of all countries and oppose all forms of power politics and bullying. The Cuban people, united as one, firmly safeguard their legitimate rights and interests, demonstrating a strong will to oppose external blockade and interference, which has earned the respect of the international community. China will continue to stand up for justice for Cuba, support the just cause of the Cuban people, and assist Cuba in its economic and social development.”
The Cuban FM “thanked China for inviting Cuba to the Security Council High-Level Meeting, stating that the world today is facing turmoil and disorder. Only China is capable of convening such a meeting, building consensus among the international community, and safeguarding the legitimate rights and interests of the Global South. Cuba is experiencing its most severe situation since the revolution, the root cause of which is the U.S. blockade and sanctions against Cuba. Cuba appreciates China’s firm support for its sovereignty and security, as well as the assistance and vocal support provided during difficult times. This fully demonstrates the special friendship between Cuba and China.”
Next, Wang attended a Group of Friends of Global Governance at United Nations headquarters. Foreign ministers and representatives from more than 60 countries attended the meeting. Wang told them that GGI “has received support and positive responses from nearly 160 countries and international organizations. The ‘Group of Friends of Global Governance’ has successively been established in New York City, Geneva, and Vienna, with membership reaching more than 60 countries.”
“Wang Yi emphasised that, regarding the reform and improvement of global governance, the Chinese side has proposed the following nine directions for reform:
promoting reform and greater efficiency in the United Nations
enhancing the authority and capacity of the Security Council
promoting the modernisation and advancement of peacekeeping operations
building international consensus on accelerating development
correcting the direction of international human rights governance
deepening reform of the economic and financial system;
establishing rules for the governance of artificial intelligence
strengthening governance in new frontiers such as cyberspace and outer space
promoting civilisational exchanges and achieving inclusiveness and mutual learning”
王毅强调，改革完善全球治理，中方提出以下九个改革方向：第一，推动联合国改革增效；第二，提升安理会权威和能力；第三，促进维和行动与时俱进；第四，凝聚加快发展的国际共识；第五，校正国际人权治理方向；第六，深化经济金融体系改革；第七，建立人工智能管理规则；第八，加强网络、外空等新疆域治理；第九，促进文明交流，实现包容互鉴。
Importantly, this autumn, the Chinese side will host the Global Governance Forum in Xiong’an. So Xi Jinping also gets to showcase his city of the future while talking about the future of the world.
The meeting also issued a joint communique. It says that:
“Members of the group held that the world today has entered a period of turbulence and transformation, the pressures facing the United Nations and the multilateral system are growing by the day, and the global governance deficit is continuously expanding. All parties welcomed the Global Governance Initiative (GGI) proposed by Chinese President Xi Jinping and its five core concepts—adhering to sovereign equality, observing international rule of law, practising multilateralism, advocating a people-centred approach, and emphasising an action orientation. They appreciated that the GGI is in line with the purposes and principles of the UN Charter, and that it aims to defend and practise multilateralism and to strengthen the central role of the United Nations in international affairs.
Group members affirmed the efforts made by the Group since its establishment on issues related to global governance, conducted in-depth exchanges on how to reform and improve the global governance system, and reached broad consensus. To jointly respond to global challenges, Group members called on the international community to undertake the following efforts:" 小组成员认为，当今世界进入动荡变革期，联合国和多边体系面临的压力与日俱增，全球治理赤字不断扩大。各方欢迎中国国家主席习近平提出的全球治理倡议及其五大核心理念——奉行主权平等、遵守国际法治、践行多边主义、倡导以人为本、注重行动导向，赞赏全球治理倡议与联合国宪章宗旨和原则一脉相承，旨在捍卫和践行多边主义，加强联合国在国际事务中的核心作用。小组成员肯定小组成立以来在全球治理相关问题上所作努力，并围绕如何改革和完善全球治理体系进行了深入交流，达成广泛共识。为携手应对全球性挑战，小组成员呼吁国际社会作出以下努力:
Safeguard the authority of the United Nations. Recognize that the United Nations is an important outcome of victory in the Second World War, and affirm the irreplaceable and important contributions it has made over more than 80 years since its founding to safeguarding world peace, promoting sustainable development, and protecting and advancing human rights. Firmly safeguard the international system with the United Nations at its core, and emphasise that the role of the United Nations can only be strengthened, not weakened, especially that unilateral actions or politicized and selective means must not be adopted. ——维护联合国权威。认识到联合国是二战胜利重要成果，肯定其成立80多年来为维护世界和平、促进可持续发展、保护和促进人权所作不可替代的重要贡献。坚定维护以联合国为核心的国际体系，强调联合国的作用只能加强、不能削弱，尤其是不能采取单边行为或政治化、选择性手段.
Defend the international rule of law. Uphold multilateralism based on international law in order to strengthen international peace and security, develop friendly cooperative relations among countries, and uphold the basic norms of international relations based on the purposes and principles of the UN Charter, including respect for the sovereign equality of states, territorial integrity, and political independence, non-interference in the internal affairs of other countries, the non-use of force or threat of force in international relations, and the peaceful settlement of disputes. Emphasise that neutrality, dialogue, and confidence-building measures contribute to safeguarding peace and security. ——捍卫国际法治。维护以国际法为基础的多边主义，以加强国际和平与安全，发展各国友好合作关系，并维护以联合国宪章宗旨和原则为基础的国际关系基本准则，包括尊重国家主权平等、领土完整和政治独立，不干涉他国内政，在国际关系中不得使用武力或以武力相威胁，和平解决争端。强调中立、对话和信任措施有助于维护和平安全.
Strengthen solidarity and cooperation. Practice true multilateralism, rebuild bilateral and multilateral mutual trust, strengthen dialogue and consultation, develop international partnerships, deepen cooperation between the United Nations and relevant regional organisations, and jointly respond to urgent and emerging global challenges such as peace and security, sustainable development, AI governance, and the adverse impacts of climate change. Emphasise an action orientation, produce practical outcomes in global governance, and respond to the expectations of the peoples of all countries. ——加强团结合作。践行真正的多边主义，重建双边和多边互信，加强对话协商，发展国际伙伴关系，深化联合国同有关地区组织合作，共同应对和平安全、可持续发展、人工智能治理、气候变化负面影响等紧迫和新兴的全球性挑战。注重行动导向，形成全球治理务实成果，回应各国人民期待.
Improve global governance. Promote the United Nations to better adapt to changes in the international situation. Through means such as reforming the global governance architecture, including the international financial institutions, enhance the voice and representation of countries of the Global South; create an international environment and global partnerships conducive to development; better reflect the legitimate aspirations of the broad developing countries; and support the United Nations to improve quality and efficiency through reform so as to better fulfil the mandate conferred on it by its Member States. Call on the international community to address the challenges, constraints, and needs faced by developing countries—particularly countries in special situations, African countries, Least Developed Countries, Landlocked Developing Countries, and Small Island Developing States—including the impacts caused by unilateral coercive measures, such measures not being in conformity with the purposes and principles of the UN Charter and international law. ——完善全球治理。推动联合国更好适应国际形势变化。通过改革国际金融机构在内的全球治理架构等手段，增强全球南方国家的发言权和代表性，创造有利于发展的国际环境和全球伙伴关系，更多反映广大发展中国家的正当诉求，支持联合国通过改革提质增效，更好履行会员国赋予的授权。呼吁国际社会解决发展中国家特别是特殊处境国家、非洲国家、最不发达国家、内陆发展中国家和小岛屿发展中国家面临的挑战、限制和需求，包括单边强制措施造成的影响，此类措施不符合联合国宪章宗旨原则和国际法.
Members of the group agreed that it is necessary to value sentiment/human emotion and uphold righteousness (重情尚义), and in establishing oneself help others establish themselves, closely linking one’s own future and destiny with the future and destiny of the peoples of all countries, strengthening unity and coordination, and expanding partnerships. It is necessary to uphold fundamental principles while pursuing innovation, and to remain open and inclusive, strengthen dialogue and coordination on issues related to global governance, and continuously improve the building of the group’s mechanisms. 小组成员同意，要重情尚义、立己达人，将自身前途命运同各国人民前途命运紧密联系在一起，加强团结协作，扩大伙伴关系。要守正创新、开放包容，在全球治理相关问题上加强对话协调，不断完善小组机制建设。
Members of the group thanked the Chinese side for the efforts made in hosting this meeting, and expressed the expectation of strengthening unity and cooperation, promoting the building of a more just and reasonable global governance system, and creating a shared bright future of peace, security, prosperity, and progress. 小组成员感谢中方为举办本次会议所作努力，期待加强团结合作，推动构建更加公正合理的全球治理体系，开创和平、安全、繁荣、进步的共同美好未来.