Author: MIL-OSI Publisher

Translation. Region: Russian Federal

Source: People's Republic of China in Russian – People's Republic of China in Russian –

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Source: People's Republic of China – State Council News

Moscow, July 16 /Xinhua/ — The mass introduction of the digital ruble will begin in Russia on September 1, 2026. This was reported on Tuesday by the press service of the Bank of Russia /Central Bank/.

From now on, the largest Russian banks will have to provide customers with the opportunity to open digital wallets, as well as pay for goods and services, make transfers and carry out other transactions in digital rubles. Such transactions will become mandatory for trading companies with revenues of more than 120 million rubles, if they are serviced by the largest banks.

From September 1, 2027, these rules will become mandatory for other banks with a universal license and their clients from among trading companies with annual revenue over 30 million rubles. Other banks and sellers with revenue from 5 million to 30 million rubles per year must implement operations with the digital ruble by September 1, 2028.

The digital ruble is being created to become another means of payment and transfer that will not depend on bank restrictions in the form of commissions and limits. People will be able to open a digital wallet through the applications of banks connected to the digital ruble platform of the Bank of Russia. –0–

Please note: This information is raw content obtained directly from the source of the information. It is an accurate report of what the source claims and does not necessarily reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

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Translation. Region: Russian Federal

Source: People's Republic of China in Russian – People's Republic of China in Russian –

An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

Source: People's Republic of China – State Council News

HONG KONG, July 16 (Xinhua) — A collection of articles by Chinese President Xi Jinping on education and two other books printed in traditional Chinese characters were unveiled on Wednesday, the first day of the Hong Kong Book Fair in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (SAR).

The three books, “On Education,” “Thesis for Studying Xi Jinping Thought on Culture,” and “Xi Jinping Among the People: Warm Moments,” were published by Sino United Publishing (Holdings) Limited in Hong Kong. They aim to help readers in Hong Kong and Macao gain a deeper understanding of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era and strengthen their national cultural identity.

Hong Kong SAR Chief Executive Lee Jiachao /John Lee/ attended the presentation of these publications. -0-

Please note: This information is raw content obtained directly from the source of the information. It is an accurate report of what the source claims and does not necessarily reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

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Translation. Region: Russian Federal

Source: People's Republic of China in Russian – People's Republic of China in Russian –

An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

Source: People's Republic of China – State Council News

TIANJIN, July 16 (Xinhua) — Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Wednesday said the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) can play a bigger role in maintaining regional peace and stability and promoting development and revival.

Wang Yi, also a member of the Politburo of the CPC Central Committee, made the statement in the northern Chinese city of Tianjin during a meeting with SCO Secretary-General Nurlan Yermekbayev.

Expressing gratitude to the SCO Secretary General for his dedication since taking office, Wang Yi noted that Nurlan Yermekbayev has made an active contribution to promoting the implementation of the consensus reached by the leaders of the SCO member states, and has also established good working relations with various departments of China.

Wang Yi said that the SCO, which is the largest comprehensive regional organization in terms of population and geographic coverage and has great potential, has attracted more and more attention from the international community and can play a more important role in maintaining regional peace and stability and promoting development and revival.

The SCO can contribute to the formation of a new type of international relations and the building of a community of shared destiny for humanity, he added.

Wang Yi noted that the Secretariat is the most important permanent body of the SCO. According to him, under the leadership of the SCO Secretary General, the Secretariat will play a more significant role in ensuring the effective functioning of the organization, coordinating the actions of all parties and enhancing the authority of the organization.

China will continue to support and facilitate the work of the SCO Secretariat, he added.

Wang Yi said that China has hosted more than 90 events during its presidency. He called on the SCO Secretary-General to continue to support China's work during its SCO presidency and help China hold a friendly, united and fruitful summit.

Nurlan Yermekbayev stated that China has put forward and implemented a meaningful program of events, raising the level of cooperation between all parties to a new height.

The SCO Secretary-General said the Secretariat will continue to provide comprehensive support to China's chairmanship and work with China to prepare for the SCO Tianjin Summit to ensure fruitful results from the event. -0-

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Translation. Region: Russian Federal

Source: People's Republic of China in Russian – People's Republic of China in Russian –

An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

Source: People's Republic of China – State Council News

BEIJING, July 16 (Xinhua) — China's total electricity consumption stood at 809.6 billion kWh in May 2025, up 4.4 percent year on year, data from the National Energy Administration showed.

According to the agency, electricity consumption in the primary, secondary and tertiary sectors of the country's economy amounted to 11.9 billion kWh, 541.4 billion kWh, 155 billion kWh, increasing by 8.4 percent, 2.1 percent and 9.4 percent, respectively, while the volume of electricity consumption by the urban and rural population increased by 9.6 percent year-on-year to 101.3 billion kWh.

In January-May 2025, the total volume of electricity consumption in the country reached 3.97 trillion kWh, increasing by 3.4 percent year-on-year. -0-

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Translation. Region: Russian Federal

Source: People's Republic of China in Russian – People's Republic of China in Russian –

An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

Source: People's Republic of China – State Council News

BEIJING, July 16 (Xinhua) — Crates designed to store and transport exhibits that will be displayed at the upcoming exhibition of works by Russian artist Ilya Repin at the National Museum of China (NMC) in Beijing were unveiled on Wednesday after being transported long-distance to the Chinese capital.

In front of the press present, two canvases by I. Repin were carefully unpacked and checked – the sketch “Barge Haulers on the Volga” and “Rest. Portrait of Vera Repina, the Artist’s Wife”. Representatives from the two organizations shared with the media the history of these paintings and their features.

“Before Repin, there were Russian artists who tried to paint a picture on the theme of barge haulers’ labor, but none of them managed to reveal it on such a full scale as Repin did. He was the first Russian artist who touched upon a very important, interesting and curious topic. We are very glad that it was in China that this topic found such a response,” said Svetlana Kapyrina, head of the painting department of the second half of the 19th – early 20th century at the State Tretyakov Gallery.

At the exhibition, the creative team dedicated to the creation of “Barge Haulers on the Volga” will demonstrate portrait sketches of barge haulers, script sketches, oil sketches and other materials related to this most recognizable famous painting in China. This will provide viewers with a unique opportunity to deeply immerse themselves in the history of the birth of this masterpiece and feel how I. Repin step by step transformed the initial idea into a work that conquered the whole world, the NMC statement notes.

Moving on to the portrait of the artist's wife, Svetlana Kapyrina said: "My colleagues and I thought many years ago whether there were other examples in world art where a sleeping wife poses for her husband. However, when we x-rayed this painting, we saw that she had one /open/ eye – she was not sleeping."

“She got tired while posing and fell asleep, and the artist, with tenderness and love, did not wake her up,” added S. Kapyrina.

As one of the main events within the framework of the China-Russia Cross Years of Culture, this exhibition, jointly organized by the NMC and the State Tretyakov Gallery with the support of the State Russian Museum, will open on July 23 and run until January 11, 2026.

With 92 works to be displayed, the exhibition will be the largest and most representative exhibition of its kind ever held in China. It is worth noting that such famous masterpieces by Repin as “Tsarevna Sophia”, “Religious Procession in Kursk Province”, “They Didn’t Expect Him” and “Sadko” will be brought to China and presented to the Chinese public for the first time.

During the exhibition, NMK will also hold a number of thematic events, including lectures, educational excursions for teenagers and young people, and a visit to the exhibition via live broadcast. -0-

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Translation. Region: Russian Federal

Source: People's Republic of China in Russian – People's Republic of China in Russian –

An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

Source: People's Republic of China – State Council News

XI'AN, July 16 (Xinhua) — An Airbus A320 plane carrying 137 passengers departed from Xi'an Xianyang International Airport to Tashkent, the capital of Uzbekistan, at noon Wednesday, marking the opening of another direct air route between Xi'an and Central Asian countries.

Xi'an-Xianyang Airport, the largest air transport hub in the northwest of the country, is located in the city of Xianyang and is administratively subordinate to the city of Xi'an, the capital of Shaanxi Province.

Flight MU855/6, operated by China Eastern Airlines, operates on Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays. The flight is scheduled to depart Xi'an at 12:15 Beijing time and arrive in Tashkent at 14:50 local time. The return flight departs at 16:10 local time and lands in Xi'an at 00:05 the following day Beijing time.

On June 1 this year, the visa-free agreement between China and Uzbekistan came into effect, and since then, the movement of people between the two countries has become much more frequent. Previously, regular direct flights between Xi'an and Tashkent operated by Zhejiang Loong Airlines Co., Ltd. created a convenient air bridge between the two cities. The opening of the new passenger airline will promote trade, economic and cultural exchanges between China and Uzbekistan.

The direct flight between Xi'an and Tashkent is the fifth international route from Xi'an opened by China Eastern Airlines Co., Ltd. this year, following its passenger air routes from the same city to Kuala Lumpur, Sydney, Melbourne and Istanbul. -0-

Please note: This information is raw content obtained directly from the source of the information. It is an accurate report of what the source claims and does not necessarily reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

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Translation. Region: Russian Federal

Source: People's Republic of China in Russian – People's Republic of China in Russian –

An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

Source: People's Republic of China – State Council News

BEIJING, July 16 (Xinhua) — Chinese President Xi Jinping on Wednesday sent a message of condolences to Nigerian President Bole Tinubu over the death of former Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari.

On behalf of the Chinese government and people, Xi Jinping expressed deep condolences and sincere sympathy to the family of M. Buhari and the government and people of Nigeria. –0–

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