Editor’s Note: According to the latest news, the World Health Organization has announced that the latest COVID-19 variant has spread in 23 countries globally as of Wednesday. As the Covid 19 pandemic has broken out, prevailed, and co-existed with human being for two years, we witnessed the prejudices, political slanders as well as initiatives of international cooperation to construct the community of common health for mankind upheld by President Xi. Nevertheless, life still need to carry on and should lead to a positive and bright future. Today’s Global Focus will take you to have a glimpse of global reaction to Omicron COVID strain, Sino-African cooperation, as well as policies issued at home to improve quality education and technological innovation.

1. Chinese mainland reports 53 locally transmitted COVID-19 cases

The Chinese mainland on Wednesday reported 53 new locally transmitted COVID-19 cases, all in Inner Mongolia, the National Health Commission said in its daily report on Thursday.

Also reported were 20 new imported cases in eight provincial-level regions, according to the commission. One new suspected case arriving from outside the mainland was reported in Shanghai and no new deaths from COVID-19 were reported on Wednesday, it added.

2. Presidents to witness new rail link opening

President Xi Jinping, who is also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, will meet with Thongloun Sisoulith, general secretary of the Lao People's Revolutionary Party Central Committee and Lao president, via video link on Friday.

The two leaders will also attend a virtual ceremony to jointly witness the opening of the China-Laos Railway, according to Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying.

3. China aims high in informatization, industrialization integration in 2021-2025

China will take firm measures to push forward the deeper integration of informatization and industrialization in the next five years. The Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) Tuesday released a development plan on integrating its industrial sector with information technologies, specifying key goals and measures in the field for the 14th Five-Year Plan period (2021-2025).

Progress occurred in integrating informatization and industrialization during 2016-2020 with improving policy systems and infrastructure. It played a significant role in promoting the upgrade of traditional industries.

As new technologies, including big data, artificial intelligence, and blockchain, are triggering technological breakthroughs and industrial transformation, the manufacturing industry needs to deepen its integration with the new technologies to achieve high-quality development, noted Xie.

4. Xi's speech at FOCAC conference significant, draws blueprints for China-Africa ties, Chinese FM says

The speech by Chinese President Xi Jinping at the opening ceremony of the Eighth Ministerial Conference of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) on Monday is significant and draws blueprints for the development of China-Africa relations, said Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi.

Speaking to the Chinese press as the FOCAC conference concluded on Tuesday in Dakar, Senegal, Wang called the event another gathering of the big, friendly family of China and Africa since the Beijing Summit of FOCAC in 2018, the largest entity diplomatic activity abroad since the outbreak of COVID-19, and China's another major diplomatic event facing fellow developing countries. 

In this conference, President Xi and African leaders jointly discussed the development plan of China and Africa and guided the future development of China-Africa relations, which is of great significance to deepening China-Africa comprehensive strategic and cooperative partnership, promoting solidarity and cooperation among developing countries and global cooperation in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic, and making the international order and global governance system more just and equitable, according to the Chinese foreign minister. 

5. China to accelerate training of high-quality workers, skilled talent

China will speed up efforts to train high-quality workers and talent with technical skills, a State Council executive meeting chaired by Premier Li Keqiang decided on Wednesday.A plan for vocational skills training during the 14th Five-Year Plan period (2021-2025) was reviewed and approved at the meeting.

During the 13th Five-Year Plan period (2016-2020), great progress was made in vocational skills training, which played a key role in stabilizing and promoting employment, according to the meeting. Efforts should be stepped up to advance vocational skills training, which will remain employment-oriented and suit market demand during the 2021-2025 period, the meeting noted.

6. Omicron COVID strain now in 23 countries

The World Health Organization has announced that the latest COVID-19 variant has spread in 23 countries globally as of Wednesday. The UN Health agency chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said Omicron which was first detected by South African scientists has captured the world attention.

"At least 23 countries from five of six WHO regions have now reported cases of Omicron, and we expect that number to grow. WHO takes this development extremely serious," Tedros submitted during a press conference. He added that, this should not be surprising because that's the nature of the virus.

7. WHO urges 'rational' measures against Omicron variant

The number of confirmed COVID-19 cases worldwide has surpassed 263 million, with over 5.2 million deaths, the latest data from Johns Hopkins University shows.

Here is the latest:

The Chinese mainland recorded 73 confirmed COVID-19 cases on Wednesday, with 53 linked to local transmissions and 20 from overseas.

The United States has identified its first confirmed case of the COVID-19 variant Omicron in the state of California, health authorities revealed on Wednesday.

Japan has asked international airlines to stop taking new reservations for all flights arriving in Japan until the end of December, as the country further tightens border controls against the Omicron variant, the Transportation Ministry said on Wednesday.

8. Xi extends congratulations on 20th anniversary of the establishment of the United Russia party

Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, on Wednesday sent a congratulatory letter on the 20th anniversary of the establishment of the United Russia party.

As an important political force in Russia, the United Russia party is committed to uniting and leading the Russian people to implement the strategic policy by President Vladimir Putin of promoting domestic political stability, economic development and improvement in people's livelihood, Xi said. It enjoys wide support from the Russian society, he added. 

Noting this year marks the 20th anniversary of the establishment of relations between the CPC and the United Russia party, he said the continuous development of relations between the two parties has played a unique role in implementing the important consensus reached by the two heads of state. 

9. Chinese, European Mars probes complete in-orbit relay communication test

Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, on Wednesday sent a congratulatory letter on the 20th anniversary of the establishment of the United Russia party.

As an important political force in Russia, the United Russia party is committed to uniting and leading the Russian people to implement the strategic policy by President Vladimir Putin of promoting domestic political stability, economic development and improvement in people's livelihood, Xi said. It enjoys wide support from the Russian society, he added. 

Noting this year marks the 20th anniversary of the establishment of relations between the CPC and the United Russia party, he said the continuous development of relations between the two parties has played a unique role in implementing the important consensus reached by the two heads of state. 

10. Sino-Russian cooperation to bring ties to higher level

As this year also marks the 20th anniversary of the establishment of relations between the CPC and United Russia, Xi said that over the past two decades, the two parties have continuously developed their relations.

The CPC and United Russia have played a unique role in terms of implementing the consensus between heads of state, consolidating political and strategic mutual trust between the two countries, promoting all-around mutually beneficial cooperation, and deepening the two countries' strategic coordination, he said.

Xi said that the CPC cherishes its friendship with United Russia and hopes that the two parties can continue to strengthen institutionalized exchanges and cooperation and contribute their wisdom and strength to take China-Russia relations to a higher level and jointly build a community with a shared future for mankind.

Editor: Huang Yan