Briefly

Beijing to open new Great Wall section

Beijing's Great Wall section of Jiangjunguan, a historically strategic pass, will open to the public, authorities announced on Sunday. Following restoration work, emergency reinforcement and environmental improvement, the section in Pinggu district is scheduled to open as early as the end of 2026, according to the Beijing Municipal Cultural Heritage Bureau. The Great Wall in Beijing, primarily built during the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644), stretches over 500 kilometers across several districts. Pinggu district boasts rich resources with more than 200 sites spanning over 50 kilometers. The pass of Jiangjunguan is the first major gateway at the eastern end of the Ming Great Wall within Beijing. A critical thoroughfare historically, it was a strategically vital location contested by military forces.

Average age of nation's workforce nearing 40

The average age of China's workforce is approaching 40, according to a report from the China Center for Human Capital and Labor Market Research at the Central University of Finance and Economics on Sunday. The China Human Capital Report 2025, provides an in-depth analysis of this trend, underscoring the challenges posed by an aging population. In 2023, the average age of rural workers was 39.66 years. A closer look reveals that male rural workers averaged 41.6 years, while their female counterparts averaged 39.06 years. In urban areas, the average age for male workers was 40.26 years, and for female workers, it was 38.07 years. This marks a notable increase over the past few decades. From 1985 to 2023, the average age of China's workforce rose from 32.25 to 39.66 years.

Data standard issued to reduce leak risks

China has released a mandatory national standard regarding information erasure for electronic products to reduce data leak risks in the circulation of second-hand devices, authorities said on Saturday. According to the Office of the Central Cyberspace Affairs Commission, this standard aims to standardize technical methods for erasing data from electronic products and guide recycling operators to improve management and technical measures. The standard will come into force on Jan 1, 2027. Under the standard, manufacturers are required to provide built-in data erasure functions. If such functions cannot be developed, manufacturers must offer external erasure tools, inform users of available third-party tools, or provide free data erasure services.

China Daily - Xinhua