China's State Council Sets Agendas on Safety, AI Compute, and Education

Chinese Premier Li Qiang chaired an executive meeting of the State Council to address pressing domestic priorities across industrial safety, technological infrastructure, and public services. The cabinet ordered stricter oversight to prevent industrial accidents following recent mishaps, while laying out directives to develop a coordinated national computing power network to support artificial intelligence. The meeting also approved a revised draft of regulations on charitable foundations, set plans for upgrading aging water reservoirs, and emphasized adjusting educational resources to navigate shifting school-age demographics.

The cabinet meeting touches critical pressure points spanning baseline industrial security and future growth engines. The directives link computing infrastructure directly to AI competitiveness while mandating green energy integration to balance massive power consumption. Simultaneously, addressing subcontracting abuses in work safety and adapting school capacities to shifting birth rates show Beijing balancing long-term technological ambition with immediate social and infrastructural stability.

Chinese Premier Li Qiang chaired an executive meeting of the State Council on September 11, outlining policy directives on workplace safety, artificial intelligence computing infrastructure, water conservancy, and educational adaptation, according to official state media reports. The cabinet first addressed workplace safety, noting that a series of recent industrial accidents served as profound lessons. Officials were instructed to analyze the root causes of these incidents, specifically targeting weak enforcement of safety rules, multi-tiered project subcontracting, and inadequate regulatory oversight. The State Council emphasized local accountability and strict adherence to workplace safety mandates, ordering routine inspections and stern punishment for violations to prevent major disasters and safeguard public safety. Turning to digital infrastructure, the meeting designated computing networks as the fundamental backbone for the development of artificial intelligence. Directives called for a balanced, orderly national rollout of computing infrastructure, along with accelerated research and application of key technologies and equipment. The State Council stressed the need to align computing capacity with electrical grids, urging the integration of green-power direct connections and generation-grid-load-storage projects. Officials also encouraged market-driven mechanisms to support corporate innovation and match computing supply with demand. Water infrastructure and environmental defense were also on the agenda. The meeting ordered comprehensive, tailored renovations of aging water reservoirs under a "one reservoir, one policy" framework. Authorities emphasized the need to raise engineering standards, improve daily operational management, and mobilize private capital to ensure flood control and broader social safety. In education, the State Council focused on adapting resources to shifts in the school-age population. The cabinet ordered coordinated adjustments to school seat allocations, teaching personnel distribution, and funding to accommodate fluctuating enrollment peaks across academic tiers. The meeting further highlighted the development of innovative talent aligned with strategic national demands, alongside holistic student well-being. Finally, the State Council reviewed and approved a revised draft of the Foundation Management Regulations, aiming to strengthen public trust, internal governance, and information transparency in the philanthropic sector through multi-departmental oversight.