Welcome to Fresh Start.

This is People’s Daily app. 

Here are today’s picks from our editors.

Chinese vice president attends DPRK's 70th anniversary reception

Chinese Vice President Wang Qishan said on Friday that China will work with the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) to implement the important consensus reached by top leaders of the two countries and push for greater development in bilateral ties.

Wang made the remarks at the reception celebrating the 70th anniversary of the founding of the DPRK jointly held by the Chinese People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries and the China-DPRK Friendship Association.

The DPRK stands ready to work with China to further promote the DPRK-China friendship in accordance with the important consensus reached by the top leaders of the two countries, said Chi Jae Ryong, the DPRK ambassador to China.

Top Chinese legislator Li Zhanshu, as a special envoy of President Xi, is in the DPRK for celebrations to mark the 70th anniversary of the country's founding. (CGTN)

China, Pakistan vow to push forward partnership to new high

While meeting with Pakistani Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi, Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi hailed the successful general elections in Pakistan in July, saying China respects the choice made by the Pakistani people on their own will.

As Pakistan's good friend, good partner and good neighbor, China will stand firmly with the Pakistani side, Wang said.

Noting that China highly appreciates the reaffirmation of Pakistan's new government to continue taking the development of ties with China as the cornerstone of its foreign policy, Wang said China will also continue to take the development of ties with Pakistan as a priority in its foreign policy and neighborhood diplomacy.

For his part, Qureshi said Pakistan and China are most reliable partners and friends, and their friendship will not be affected by the change of governments.

The new Pakistani government fully supports the unique Pakistan-China all-weather strategic cooperative partnership, and always views its relations with China as the cornerstone of Pakistan's foreign policies, he said. (Xinhua)

5.9-magnitude earthquake hit Yunnan 

About 14 people were injured as of 3 p.m. in an earthquake that hit Mojiang Hani Autonomous County, southwest China's Yunnan Province on Saturday, local authorities said.

According to the county government, the 5.9-magnitude quake damaged dozens of homes. 

The Ministry of Emergency Management has initiated an emergency response and dispatched working teams to the scene. More than 600 policemen, firefighters, medical workers are carrying out rescue operations. (Xinhua)

Jack Ma to unveil succession plan next week as Alibaba executive chairman

Jack Ma, the executive chairman of Alibaba Group Holding Ltd, will unveil a succession plan next Monday, South China Morning Post (SCMP) reported on Saturday.

Ma will remain the company’s executive chairman while carrying out the plan, denying a previous report on his retirement by the New York Times. The plan is scheduled to be made public on Ma’s 54th birthday, which will fall on Sept. 10 this year, an Alibaba spokesperson said. 

The succession plan has been 10 years in the making and aims to pave the way for younger talents to take over, SCMP report said. (People’s Daily app)

Scandal-hit Didi launches trial of new trip recording feature

China's ride-hailing giant Didi Chuxing on Saturday started rolling out a new feature that can record audio during a journey.

The move is part of the platform's ongoing safety review following the killing of a Didi passenger in August, the second such case since May.

The introduction of the new feature will be rolled out to its car-hailing and ride-sharing services to protect passengers and drivers. (China Plus)

Shanghai to issue bullying prevention cartoon brochure

The Shanghai High People's Court will issue 4,000 brochures on preventing campus bullying to middle school students in the city, according to thepaper.cn.

The cartoon brochures depict different types of campus bullying, bullying prevention, and the impact bullying has on victims.

Previous surveys conducted by the Court suggests most bullies are aged between 16 and 18, and mostly target their classmates and schoolmates. (China Plus)

Renowned Chinese violinist Sheng Zhongguo dies at 77

China's best-known violinist Sheng Zhongguo, who was famous for his musical interpretation of "Butterfly Lovers," died of heart disease at the age of 77.

As a national level soloist of the China National Symphony Orchestra, Sheng was among the first to win honors for China on international stages. He was dubbed "Chinese Menuhin" for his musical talents and named one of the “world’s greatest artists” by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation for his 1980 solo concert tour of the country.

He performed many classical pieces of Tchaikovsky, Mozart and Beethoven, and many Chinese works – influencing generations of Chinese people. (CGTN)

Thanks for listening and be sure to catch us tomorrow.

And now for the Question of the Day:

Who are the composers of Butterfly Lovers’ Violin Concerto?

(Answer: It was written in 1959 by two Chinese composers, He Zhanhao and Chen Gang, while they were students at the Shanghai Conservatory of Music.)

Today’s quote is from Spanish artist Pablo Picasso.

“The purpose of art is washing the dust of daily life off our souls.” 

 (Produced by Nancy Yan Xu, Ryan Yaoran Yu, Raymond Mendoza, and Da Hang.)