China’s Hottest New Show – My Sweet Home ABCF Week 12 Update

China’s hottest new show is a Sichuan-dialect micro drama set in the 1980s | South China Morning Post (scmp.com)
My Sweet Home has achieved phenomenal success by moving beyond the trashy tropes of China’s booming micro drama industry.

‘Two sessions’ 2025 key takeaways: insights into China’s economic strategy
Dear reader,
Beijing had just concluded its annual Two Sessions, a key event where China's top legislative and advisory bodies set the agenda for the year. To give readers a better understanding of how China’s leaders addressed the country’s challenges, the SCMP newsroom had partnered with the Asia Society Policy Institute’s Center for China Analysis to host a webinar delving into:
    • China's Economy: The current state of affairs and future outlook
    • The 14th Five-Year Plan
    • Dynamics among China's political elite
    • Developments in relations between China and the United States
Neil Thomas, Fellow on Chinese Politics, and Lizzi Lee, Fellow on Chinese Economy, both from the Asia Society Policy Institute’s Center for China Analysis, joined us. Together with our moderator, SCMP executive editor Chow Chung-yan, they discussed the significant aspects and outcomes of the two sessions.

Ex-China security guard becomes lawyer after 10 years auditing courses at Peking University | South China Morning Post (scmp.com)
A security guard in China has become a lawyer after 10 years auditing law courses at the prestigious Peking University.
Liu Zheng, 33, grew up in a rural family in Hebei province, northern China. His parents made a living growing grapes while also caring for his bedridden grandmother.
During his time at a private university, Liu worked multiple jobs to support himself, from construction sites to handing out fliers and helping at a barber shop.

Chinese woman seeks US$6,800 for chores, divorce court awards 5 times that, sparks delight | South China Morning Post (scmp.com)
A court in central China has gained overwhelming applause online after it awarded a 250,000-yuan (US$35,000) divorce settlement to a woman who had sought an initial amount of just 50,000 yuan (US$6,800).
Her financial claim was based on the amount of household chores she had to do during her time with her husband.

China automated noodle shop prepares food in 48 seconds for US$1.4, no tipping required | South China Morning Post (scmp.com)
A fully automated noodle shop in southeastern China serves a bowl of noodles in just 48 seconds, starting at 9.9 yuan (US$1.4) per bowl with no tip required.
Customers are queuing up at the Future Noodle Restaurant in the city of Shenzhen to experience the automated form of noodle-making.
The small, eight-square-metre restaurant offers more than 10 noodle varieties.

Chinese entrepreneurs’ philanthropy helps lure world-class scholars | South China Morning Post (scmp.com)
Fuyao University of Science and Technology, which began enrolling students this year, trumpets faculty’s international credentials.

China couple yearning for son have 9 girls, all named with character ‘di’, hoping for a boy | South China Morning Post (scmp.com)
A couple in eastern China have welcomed nine daughters, all of whom share the Chinese character di or “brother” in their names, reflecting their desire for a son.
The family’s story highlights a traditional preference for male children, particularly in rural areas. It has gained traction on social media in mainland China, as reported by the Shanghai Morning Post.
The nine sisters, with a 20-year age gap between the eldest and the youngest, were born and raised in a village in Huaian, Jiangsu province. Their father, surnamed Ji, who is now 81, chose names for all of them that end with di.

Chinese dad offers US$1.4 million reward to find abducted son, reunites after 24 years | South China Morning Post (scmp.com)
A man in China, who offered a staggering 10 million yuan (US$1.4 million) in his quest to find his son abducted 24 years ago, has finally been reunited with him.
During the reunion ceremony held in Shenzhen, southern China, on March 16, the father, Xie Yue, presented his son, Xie Haonan, with a Mercedes-Benz sedan valued at three million yuan (US$415,000) along with a bank card containing an undisclosed sum set aside for his education.
However, Xie junior declined the gifts, expressing that he does not need them at the moment as he is still pursuing his master’s degree. He emphasised that he believes his future “relies on himself,” as reported by the Southern Metropolis News.

China Daily on X 
Chinese electric vehicle maker #Nio signed a strategic cooperation agreement on Monday with battery giant #CATL

Forthcoming ABCF activities
The ABCF hosts a conference jointly with a visiting delegation from Yantai City, Shandong Province, China on the topic “Islands cooperation for a zero-carbon future” on Monday, April 7, 2025. Attendance is by invitation only.
The ABCF will celebrate its sixth anniversary with a bus tour of the island on May 25, 2025. Details will be forthcoming shortly.
The ABCF and the Returned Students Association of Barbados are inviting all past, current and prospective students of Chinese universities to join us for a special webinar on May 30/31 (Barbados/Beijing time) to share ideas about how our associations can better serve your needs.
The seventh in the series of joint youth forums organised by the ABCF and the Zhejiang International Studies University (ZISU) in Hangzhou, China takes place by Zoom on July 4/5 (Barbados/Beijing) on the topic of feminism.
Mark your calendar and stay tuned for details.

Remember - Invitation for Short Video on Barbados
For details see Week 10 Update at ABCF-BB.com.

This weekly newsletter is put together by DeLisle Worrell, President of the ABCF. Visit us at Association for Barbados China Friendship | (abcf-bb.com).
Thanks to everyone who sent contributions for this week’s Update. Please send items of interest to me via the contact page at ABCF-BB.com or to info@DeLisleWorrell.com