The Chinese military has ceased most of its commercial activities, and is on target to end all such activities by the end of the year, according to Xinhua News Agency.By the end of last month, 100,000 out of 106,000 commercial programs undertaken by the People's Liberation Army had ended, marking an achievement in the PLA's decommercialization efforts, Xinhua reported on Wednesday.The report quoted a PLA department in charge of the work as saying that the Central Military Commission pays great attention to the decommercialization efforts, adding that 26 central government departments and nine commission agencies have been working together to push forward the objective.Plans for the remaining commercial activities, which are sophisticated or sensitive, are being made in accordance with related policies, while issues pertaining to legal affairs, employees, assets and debts have been properly handled according to agreed-upon schedules, the department added.It noted that inspectors will be sent to PLA units to examine whether commercial activities have ceased and whether employees have been adequately compensated. Members of the PLA or the public are also welcome to report concerns via a hotline or email, according to the report.The Chinese military started running its own businesses in the mid-1980s to offset a sharp decrease in the defense budget ordered by then-leader Deng Xiaoping.In 1992, the Central Military Commission officially approved commercial activities by the PLA and the People's Armed Police Force.In February 2016, the commission ordered the PLA and the Armed Police Force to eradicate all commercial activities within three years.Last month, the general offices of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, State Council and Central Military Commission jointly published the Guidelines on the Complete Halt of the Military's Commercial Activities, requesting that units of the PLA and the Armed People Force cease all commercial activities by year-end.The document also stipulates that all property, land and reception facilities owned by the military that have been used for commercial purposes will be directly administered and allocated by the Central Military Commission. how to make silicone bracelets24 hour braceletsrubber bracelet makerfestival wristbandsballer bandsblack rubber braceletslivestrong bracelet
Hong Kong tycoon Li Ka-shing presents an award to Huang Yanting, one of the most outstanding graduates at Shantou University this year, at the Guangdong-based university's graduation ceremony on Friday. [Photo by CHEN CHENGXIAO/FOR CHINA DAILY] When it comes to speeches during graduation season, few are quite as buzzworthy as the one by Hong Kong tycoon Li Ka-shing at Shantou University on Friday. At a commencement ceremony filled with laughs and tears, Li also announced he is stepping down as honorary chairman of the university, which he established 38 years ago, and his son Richard Li Tzar-kai will continue his mission. Li Ka-shing, who will turn 90 in July, recalled at the ceremony where we are now was a swamp 38 years ago. Many mocked me that this was but a fool's dream. I believe then, as I believe now, that only through education can we fulfill the promise we hope for the future. He has attended the university's commencement and delivered a speech for 17 consecutive years. It is also the latest position he has resigned since announcing his retirement from his companies, CK Hutchison and CK Asset, in May. His charity, Li Ka Shing Foundation, has invested almost HK$10 billion ($1.3 billion) in the university in Guangdong, where Li was born before he moved to Hong Kong. At the campus' 60,000-square-meter indoor gym, the billionaire gave a speech entitled Searching for Better to more than 2,600 graduates. The college has 22,000 students and 110,000 alumni. The modern milieu is very different. The world of new challenges calls for the need to find variables with values. The uninitiated like only to bask in the comfort zone, which leads them nowhere. Things won't be disrupted unless you ask how they could be done differently, remarked Li. The entrepreneur, affectionately dubbed superman by Hong Kong residents, advised students to be creative with their talents to make a change in the world, but also stressed a functioning conscience matters as much as having talent. After his speech, students sang the school anthem and many burst into tears. Jiang Hong, president of the university, said Li has been taking care of the school since the very beginning and devoted his deepest love. She also mentioned that a book with Li's remarks will be sent to graduating students as a gift this year.
