Beijing's shorthand for its rural agenda is being recast as a theory. Sannong, meaning agriculture, rural areas and farmers, has anchored rural policy for three decades. Every No. 1 Central Document (notionally the first policy document issued each year) has, since 2004, been devoted to it.
food & agriculture
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25 Sep 2026
Two major events, eight days apart, mark a transition in the PRC property saga. On 20 August, the real estate tycoon Xu Jiayin 许家印 Evergrande Group founder, was given a life sentence; the Group and Evergrande Real Estate received combined fines of C¥15.82 bn.
economy
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18 Sep 2026
The algorithm that assigns a delivery rider’s next order is starting to leave a paper trail of its own. A State Council report submitted to the NPC Standing Committee on 28 August 2026 sets out Beijing’s strategy to regulate the algorithms managing the PRC’s 200 million gig workers (灵活就业人员) rather than making them formal employees.
labour & social security
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04 Sep 2026
In July 2026, eight polysilicon producers, representing more than 90 percent of effective capacity, pledged not to sell below a cost floor set by their industry association, rather than agree on a price among themselves. PRC competition law treats the two very differently; Beijing is now building an architecture on the gap between them.
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economy
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01 Sep 2026
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sannongology: from a policy term to a discipline
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what’s Beijing’s new property model?
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gig worker protection
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industry groups—anti-involution’s third axis
monitoring
recent commentary
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green agfood standardstraceabilityfood safety strategyfood consumptionpublic health...read more25 Sep 2026
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farm upscalingfarmlandthree ruralsag industrialisationnew ag operatorsag insurancefood security strategyfood production...read more24 Sep 2026
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growth modelconsumptionservices...read more24 Sep 2026
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business environmentSMEsM&Agoing globalexportsmarket accessinternational lawexternal lawprivate sector supporttech transfer, R&D...read more23 Sep 2026
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Ye JingzhongChina Agriculture University College of Humanities and Development Studies dean, professor
analysis
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