State Council Meeting on Budget Management, Tech, Education & Environment - What Protections do New Regulations offer Gig Workers? China Sanctions Philippine Defense Secretary
Here are the key reports and articles from the People’s Daily’s edition on Friday, June 12, 2026.
Page 1: There’s a report on the State Council executive meeting, which Li Qiang chaired. The report says that the meeting reviewed the rectification of problems identified in the audit of the execution of the 2025 central budget and other fiscal revenues and expenditures.
The meeting pointed out that problems uncovered through audits must be treated seriously and conscientiously. Lists of problems and rectification measures should be established according to category, with responsibility-bearing entities and deadlines specified item by item, to ensure that rectification is carried out in place. Audited units must proactively claim ownership of the problems identified and take their assigned places accordingly, and competent departments must strengthen rectification guidance and supervision. For problems involving multiple departments and regions, coordination efforts must be intensified to form a combined rectification force. It is necessary to draw inferences from one instance to others, address both symptoms and root causes, and promptly improve institutions and plug loopholes. It is necessary to take audit rectification as a handle to strengthen budget management, tighten financial and economic discipline constraints, deepen fiscal and taxation system reform, and improve the practical effectiveness of scientific fiscal management. 会议指出，要严肃认真对待审计查出问题的整改，分门别类建立问题和整改清单，逐项明确责任主体和时限，确保整改到位。被审计单位要对照问题主动认领、对号入座，主管部门要加强整改指导督办。对涉及跨部门跨地区的问题，要加大统筹协调力度，形成整改合力。要举一反三、标本兼治，及时完善制度、堵塞漏洞。要以审计整改为抓手，强化预算管理，加强财经纪律约束，深化财税体制改革，提高财政科学管理实效.
The meeting heard a report on the implementation of the spirit of the National Science and Technology Conference. The meeting pointed out that we must anchor the goal of building a science and technology power, efficiently organize and implement major national science and technology tasks, promote the efficient utilization of major facilities, strengthen the systematized and coordinated tackling of key problems by national strategic science and technology forces, and give full play to the strategic supporting role of scientific and technological innovation in the building of Chinese-style modernization. It is necessary to consolidate the foundations for building a science and technology powerhouse by further clarifying the main directions and key fields of basic research, improving diversified investment mechanisms, deepening reform of evaluation mechanisms, enhancing coordinated efforts in cultivating, attracting, and gathering talent, fostering a research ecosystem conducive to original innovation, and accelerating the realization of high-level scientific and technological self-reliance and self-strengthening. 会议听取关于贯彻落实全国科技大会精神情况汇报。会议指出，要锚定科技强国建设目标，高效组织实施国家重大科技任务，促进重大设施高效利用，强化国家战略科技力量体系化协同攻关，充分发挥科技创新对中国式现代化建设的战略支撑作用。要夯实科技强国建设根基，进一步明确基础研究主攻方向和重点领域，健全多元投入机制，深化评价机制改革，发挥协同育才引才聚才作用，营造有利于原始创新的科研生态，加快实现高水平科技自立自强.
The meeting reviewed and approved the 15th FYP for Educational Development. The meeting emphasised the need to adhere to the priority development of education, continuously deepen reform and innovation, focus on promoting fairness, optimizing structure, and improving quality, and advance the construction of a strong education system to a new level. We must implement major strategic tasks, shape a new pattern of fostering virtue through education, strengthen education’s supporting role for science and technology and talent, cultivate and forge a high-level teaching force, expand high-level opening up of education to the outside world, and comprehensively raise the quality and level of education public services. We must optimize the coordinated layout of educational resources, improve the educational resource allocation mechanism adapted to changes in the school-age population, strengthen investment guarantees, deeply implement quality-oriented education, and promote the healthy growth and all-around development of students. 会议审议通过《教育发展“十五五”规划》。会议指出，要坚持教育优先发展，持续深化改革创新，着力促进公平、优化结构、提高质量，推动教育强国建设迈上新台阶。要落实重大战略任务，塑造立德树人新格局，强化教育对科技和人才的支撑作用，培养造就高水平教师队伍，扩大高水平教育对外开放，全面提升教育公共服务质量和水平。要优化教育资源统筹布局，健全适应学龄人口变化的教育资源配置机制，强化投入保障，深入实施素质教育，促进学生健康成长、全面发展.
The meeting reviewed and approved the 15th FYP for Building a Beautiful China. The meeting stated that the construction of a Beautiful China is a systematic project. Priority tasks and key breakthroughs should be firmly pursued, including intensively fighting the battles to defend blue skies, clear waters, and clean land; comprehensively implementing actions for the governance of solid waste and emerging pollutants; coordinating efforts to optimize ecosystems; actively responding to climate change; and accelerating the formation of green modes of production and lifestyles. Coordination and cooperation should be strengthened, support systems improved, and a combined policy approach involving the rule of law, market mechanisms, science and technology, and public policy should be employed to continuously achieve new progress in building a Beautiful China. 会议审议通过《美丽中国建设“十五五”规划》。会议指出，美丽中国建设是一项系统工程，要抓好重点攻坚，深入打好蓝天、碧水、净土保卫战，全面实施固体废物和新污染物治理行动，统筹推进生态系统优化，积极应对气候变化，加快形成绿色生产生活方式。要加强协同配合，健全保障体系，打好法治、市场、科技、政策“组合拳”，推动美丽中国建设不断取得新进展.
The meeting discussed and in principle approved the Draft Revision of the Road Traffic Safety Law of the PRC, deciding to submit the draft to the NPCSC for deliberation.
Also on the page is a report on the publication of first and second volumes of selected works of Xi Jinping on diplomacy. The two volumes compile 134 pieces of the most important and fundamental works by Xi on diplomacy from January 2013 to November 2025. The entire second page of the paper is dedicated to excerpts from these.
Two other pieces to note on the page. First, there’s a report on Zhao Leji sending a message of condolence to the family of Yohei Kono, president of the Japanese Association for the Promotion of International Trade and former speaker of the House of Representatives, following his death. Xinhua reports that “Kono, a veteran Japanese statesman, was an old friend of the Chinese people who had long been committed to China-Japan friendship, Zhao said. He added that in 1993, Kono, then Japan’s chief Cabinet secretary, issued the Kono Statement on the ‘comfort women’ issue, which continues to exert a positive influence today.”
Another report is an interview with someone from the All-China Federation of Trade Unions, discussing the Guidelines for Consultation on Platform Labour Rules and Algorithms (Trial). I am sharing the full interview below. It’s really interesting that this issue features on the front page. This is a testament to how important the gig economy has become as an employment avenue for people in the country. In September 2025, The Economist had estimated that China is home to over 200 million gig workers, i.e., roughly 40% of the urban labour force. That’s a massive number. The policy experimentations that are underway in China, therefore, might also offer useful learnings for other countries, like India.
“Reader’s concern: I am a food-delivery rider. Sometimes I encounter situations such as long-distance order assignments or forced order assignments. How can platform algorithms be made more reasonable?
The official explained that the Guidelines break, at the institutional level, the platform enterprises’ complete dominance over algorithmic rules, so that ‘workers’ demands can receive greater attention.’ Issues such as how orders are allocated, how income and commission deductions are calculated, whether delivery times and routes are reasonable, and similar matters can all be included as topics for algorithm consultations. Both labour and platform representatives will participate in the consultations. Worker representatives may be recommended by trade unions or may volunteer independently. Platform companies will appoint representatives, including heads of algorithm-development and other relevant departments, to participate in the consultations. The consultations are not meant to be a mere formality; they are intended to produce practical results. The Guidelines require platforms to translate consultation outcomes into clear institutional provisions and management regulations and embed them throughout the entire decision-making and algorithm-operation process. In 2025, with active promotion by the All-China Federation of Trade Unions, 15 platform companies conducted consultations on algorithms and labour rules and signed special agreements, covering more than 20 million workers in new forms of employment.”
读者关切：我是一名外卖骑手，有时会遇到“就远派单”“强制派单”等情况，怎样能让平台算法更合理？该负责人介绍，《指引》从制度层面打破了平台企业对算法规则的完全主导，“劳动者的诉求能更受重视。”订单怎么分、收入和抽成怎么算、配送时间和路线合不合理等，都能纳入算法协商议题。协商由劳动者与平台双方选派代表参与：劳动者代表可由工会推荐，也可自主报名；平台方将选派算法研发等部门负责人参与协商。协商不是“走过场”，而是要真管用。《指引》要求平台必须将协商结果细化为明确的制度条文和管理规章，嵌入决策和算法运行全流程。2025年，在全国总工会积极推动下，15家平台企业开展了算法和劳动规则协商并签订专项协议，覆盖新就业形态劳动者逾2000万人.
Reader’s concern: What happens if a food-delivery rider is involved in a traffic accident? Is there a dedicated protection scheme?
Workers in new forms of employment may participate in the Occupational Injury Protection Scheme for Workers in New Forms of Employment. This new occupational injury protection is funded by the platforms themselves, with contributions paid on a per-order basis. Coverage is mandatory for every order and every worker, regardless of whether the worker is full-time or part-time, and individuals do not need to contribute. After an accident occurs, workers can submit a report through the platform with a ‘one-click reporting’ function. Once the claim is reviewed and confirmed, they may receive medical and other related benefits and protections. Since pilot implementation of the occupational injury protection scheme began in July 2022, cumulative enrollment has exceeded 27 million people. This year, the pilot will continue to expand, with full rollout across all 31 provincial-level regions and the XPCC.
读者关切：外卖骑手万一发生交通事故怎么办？有专门的保障吗？新就业形态劳动者可以参加新就业形态人员职业伤害保障。“新职伤”由平台出资、按单缴费，实行每单必保、每人必保，不区分全职兼职，个人无需缴费。发生事故后，劳动者可通过平台“一键报案”，审核确认后可享受医疗等相关保障和待遇。自2022年7月开展新就业形态人员职业伤害保障试点以来，目前累计参保超过2700万人，今年将继续扩大试点省份，在31个省份和新疆生产建设兵团全面推开.
Reader’s concern: Riders spend the entire year delivering orders. Resting and finding places to eat can be inconvenient. How is this being improved?
The official said that more than 150,000 Trade Union Service Stations have now been established nationwide. Most are located in commercial districts, residential communities, transportation hubs, and similar locations. They are open free of charge and do not require registration. In recent years, the services provided by these stations have become increasingly diverse. In addition to offering drinking water, charging facilities, places to rest, and places to eat, they also provide emergency medicines to meet basic needs. Some stations include multifunctional recreational and cultural spaces, while others periodically organize vocational skills training, policy briefings, legal-awareness programs, and similar activities. The official offered a special reminder: please everyone remember the 12351 trade union service hotline for workers. When the broad mass of workers have needs such as consulting on problems, service assistance, legal aid, and opinions and suggestions, by dialing this hotline they can obtain help.
读者关切：骑手常年跑单，休息、就餐不方便，这方面如何改善？该负责人说，目前全国建成工会驿站超15万个，多设在商圈、社区、交通场站等地，无需登记，免费开放。近年来，工会驿站服务日趋多元，除了能喝水、充电、歇脚、吃饭，还有应急药品可以用，解决大家的基本需求；有的驿站布置了多功能文体空间，有的驿站会不定期开展职业技能培训、政策法律宣讲等。该负责人特别提醒：请大家记住12351工会服务职工热线。广大劳动者有问题咨询、服务帮扶、法律援助、意见建议等需求，拨打这条热线，就能得到帮助.
Page 3: There’s a report informing that China has sanctioned Philippine Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. and his relatives. MoFA said:
“Gilberto Teodoro Jr. repeatedly made irresponsible remarks on China, which undermines China’s legitimate interests and sabotages China-Philippines relations. To uphold China’s sovereignty, security and development interests, China has decided to prohibit Gilberto Teodoro Jr. and his spouse and child from entering the Chinese mainland, Hong Kong and Macao, and not allow organizations and individuals in China to engage in any transaction, cooperation or other activities with him and his spouse and child”.
Page 4: There’s a report on Beijing hosting the 2026 Forum on Global Human Rights Governance. Propaganda chief Li Shulei spoke at the forum.
The two-day forum is themed Joint Development, Shared Human Rights: The 40th Anniversary of the Adoption of the Declaration on the Right to Development and a New Vision for Global Human Rights Governance, attracting over 400 participants from over 100 countries and international organizations, including the United Nations.
The report says:
The participants held that President Xi Jinping attaches great importance to respecting and safeguarding human rights. In 2023, he sent a congratulatory letter to the High-Level Forum on Global Human Rights Governance, putting forward the Chinese proposition of safeguarding human rights through security, promoting human rights through development, and advancing human rights through cooperation. 与会嘉宾认为，习近平主席高度重视尊重和保障人权，2023年向全球人权治理高端论坛致贺信，提出以安全守护人权、以发展促进人权、以合作推进人权的中国主张.
The participants said that the current international situation is marked by turbulence and transformation, and that the realization of human rights is facing severe challenges. Countries around the world should work together to promote the development and advancement of human rights civilization and jointly build a community with a shared future for mankind. It is necessary, on the basis of mutual respect, to jointly safeguard world peace and tranquility. Development should be placed in a prominent position, so that the fruits of development can benefit the peoples of all countries more extensively and more equitably. All parties should jointly observe the basic norms governing international relations and create a fair and reasonable international environment for the realization of human rights. It is necessary to uphold the spirit of unity and cooperation, respond to the common human-rights challenges facing all countries through practical actions, and truly translate the vision of human rights into reality. 与会嘉宾表示，当前国际形势变乱交织，人权的实现面临严峻挑战。世界各国应一道努力，推动人权文明发展进步，携手构建人类命运共同体。要在彼此尊重的基础上，共同捍卫世界和平与安宁。要把发展放在突出位置，让发展成果更多更公平惠及各国人民。要共同遵守国际关系基本准则，为人权的实现营造公正合理的国际环境。要秉持团结合作精神，以务实行动应对共同面临的人权挑战，真正把人权愿景落到实处.
During this event China also issued its National Human Rights Action Plan of China (2026-2030). If you are interested, the text of the plan is available on Pages 10 and 11.