The Confucius Institute in Miskolc, northeastern Hungary, marked its 10th anniversary on Monday with a celebration featuring Chinese and Western music.
The event was attended by Hungarian officials, university professors and students, as well as representatives from Chinese enterprises. They enjoyed a display of Chinese and Western musical compositions, including Hungarian melodies.
In his speech, Miskolc Deputy Mayor Lajos Badany emphasized the city's enduring commitment to enhancing economic and cultural relations with Chinese partners. He said the Confucius Institute at the University of Miskolc played a vital role in deepening educational and cultural cooperation with China.
Chinese Ambassador to Hungary Gong Tao sent a congratulatory letter to the ceremony, saying the institute acts as a bridge, connecting young students from both nations.
"It has played a significant role in enhancing educational and cultural cooperation as well as fostering cultural exchanges between the two countries," Gong said.
In her speech, Rector of the University of Miskolc Zita Horvath said: "On my behalf, I can promise that the University will provide every support it can to ensure the institute continues to thrive in the future." The Confucius Institute in Miskolc was jointly established in 2013 by the University of Miskolc, Beijing University of Chemical Industry and the chemical industry company Wanhua-BorsodChem. It was Hungary's third Confucius Institute.
China's first Student (Youth) Games concluded on Wednesday in Nanning, South China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region. Drawing about 20,000 young players, the Games awarded 805 gold medals across various sports.
The Games showcased outstanding athletic achievements and the deepening integration of sports and education in China. Young athletes from different regions and schools competed and interacted in a display of youthful vitality.
The Games marked the merging and upgrading of the National Youth Games and the National Student Games, providing a high-level competitive platform for young sports talents in China. Notably, 11 world youth records were exceeded, one world record was tied, and three Asian records were bettered.
Among all the 69 delegations participating in the open group, 64 won medals, with 54 winning gold medals. Delegations from the Hong Kong and Macao Special Administrative Regions won gold medals in the equestrian events and swimming events, respectively.
Additionally, a number of national records, national youth records and national juvenile records were set in sports such as shooting, track and field and weightlifting. In the campus group, all 34 delegations won medals, with 30 winning gold.
The first gold medal of the Games was won in Beihai, Guangxi, where 19-year-old Huang Yaoshu from the Haikou team won the men's longboard surfing event, leading the runner-up by nearly five points.
In less than half a year since he started surfing in July 2017, Huang was selected for the Provincial Surfing Team of Hainan, the southernmost island province of China. As a kid who grew up in a fishing village, he had a natural love for surfing, but he said that he was not a talented athlete and so had to train hard for a long time. He noted that mastering a new move gives him a sense of accomplishment.
In Mashan county of Guangxi, 14-year-old Li Yantan from Guling Town Junior High School, a rural school surrounded by cliffs and precipices, excelled in rock climbing. The girl from the Zhuang ethnic group improved her performance from 11.90 seconds in the preliminaries to 10.91 seconds in the finals, securing a gold medal. Her coach, Wu Guoyong, mentioned that Li had been training in rock climbing since primary school and had shown significant improvement over the past five years.
The Games serve as an important opportunity to showcase the development of youth sports in China and represent the latest attempt at integrating sports and education. This integration is crucial for the overall development and growth of young athletes in the country, sport commentator Luo Le told the Global Times.
Luo noted that the Games provide an excellent platform for selecting talents for China's competitive sports industry. It offers young athletes a rare opportunity to gain experience in major competitions, which is vital for their development and future success in sports.
Chinese star hurdler Wu Yanni, who won the women's 100-meter hurdles during the Games, hit back at online criticism after her win.
"Some people online were saying, 'Don't jump the gun again this time.' But I was thinking, even if I did, so what?"
Wu was disqualified for a false start at the 19th Asian Games held in Hangzhou in October. She gained supports for her confidence and straightforwardness after her public push back at the Student (Youth) Games.
The environment in which the current generation of young athletes is growing up is significantly different from that of earlier athletes. These athletes are maturing in an era dominated by new media, and they themselves are examples of how to spread the spirit and culture of sports to the wider youth community, experts said.
"As representatives of the new generation and the future of China's sports industry, they play a pivotal role in guiding younger athletic talents. The channels through which they exert their influence and promote sports have evolved, reflecting the broader trends in societal development," said Luo.
"These athletes are not only embracing but also shaping the societal trends in sports, effectively communicating the values and culture of sports to the youth of today. The Games have also been a part of that chain," Luo said.
A large-scale cemetery containing more than 200 tombs was recently discovered in Xianyang, Northwest China's Shaanxi Province. The tomb cluster was confirmed to be a burial place for the people of the Qin Dynasty (221BC-206BC).
Archaeologists found a total of 237 ancient tombs, excavated in Xianyang's Jiantan village, dated from the late Warring States Period (475BC-221BC) to the Qin period. According to the tombs' design, archaeologists were able to determine the area was used as a public cemetery.
Besides the prolific Qin tombs, 26 other tombs were also unearthed. They belong to other historical periods such as the Han (206BC-AD220), Tang (618-907), Northern Song (960-1127) and Ming (1368-1644) dynasties.
Seven additional tombs belong to the last imperial dynasty of China, the Qing (1644-1911), archaeologist Jia Zhengyu told the Global Times, noting that it was fascinating to see how this area has been "historically recognized by ancient Chinese people as a burial place."
"Although most of these tombs belong to the Qin dynasty, we still can see the continuity of Chinese burial traditions from the site," Jia told the Global Times.
Archaeologists noticed that the Qin tombs in the eastern and western parts of the site were very similar in terms of configuration and the types of burial objects unearthed from them.
Archaeologist Xue Ruiming told the Global Times that this arrangement reflects that a "planning system for burials" may have already been implemented by ancient Chinese. Xue also said that the discovery "reminds people of the Chinese belief in treating the deceased as if they were alive."
Other than tombs, a total of 878 cultural relics were also unearthed from the site. The funerary objects unearthed in the eastern areas are mainly artifacts made of clay, copper and iron. Those objects were commonly used by ancient people in everyday lives.
"As the burial objects were mainly practical in nature, this led us to be even more confident that the area was a public cemetery for common people," said Zhao Xuyang, deputy director of the Institute of Cultural Relics and Archaeology of Xianyang.
Although the site was not seen as high-grade, some burial objects discovered in the western part of the ancient cemetery still reveal the "tastes of ordinary people," Jia told the Global Times.
In addition to a copper mirror and a jade seal, 10 glazed pottery sheep sculptures were unearthed from the ruins. Such tiny sculptures were vividly engraved with patterns that were commonly seen on Chinese silk brocades. Zhao said that exquisite objects like these are rarely seen in tombs from the same period.
"The site is like a melting pot of different Chinese burial traditions. It also reveals the evolution of Chinese burial customs," Jia remarked.
Prior to the 2023 discovery, in 1995 and 2022, another 805 tombs were consecutively discovered in the local Ta'er Po area that is close to Xiantan village. Around 95 percent of the Ta'er Po tombs were also from the late Warring States and Qin periods.
The three discoveries confirm the "eastern suburb of Xianyang city was indeed an ancient cemetery," said Zhao, adding that by comparing tombs from the three excavations, researchers can better investigate their exact time periods.
After media reported that a group of senior military officers in Gabon seized power on Wednesday, some Western countries condemned the military coup. The coup in Gabon, which comes a month after Niger's President Mohamed Bazoum was taken hostage by the troops of presidential guard, showed that the overall influence of Western countries, which have been promoting political system reforms and governance models in Africa, have largely failed, some Chinese experts said.
The West's primary concerns about the coup are not about humanitarian issues in Gabon but rather the fear that a new government that is not pro-West might take power, some experts said.
A group of senior Gabonese military officers appeared on the Gabon 24 TV station early Wednesday and announced the cancellation of the August 26 presidential election, the "end of the regime" and the dissolution of "all institutions of the Republic," France 24 reported.
The statement came shortly after the results of the presidential election were declared, which gave President Ali Bongo 64.2 percent of the vote and a third term in office, according to media reports.
The US said the situation in the African country is "deeply concerning." White House national security spokesman John Kirby said the US remains "a supporter of the people in the region, a supporter of the people of Gabon and of their demand for democratic governance," according to media reports.
France condemned the military coup in Gabon and is closely monitoring developments in the country, and reaffirmed its wish that the outcome of the election, once known, be respected, French government spokesman Olivier Veran was quoted as saying in media reports.
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin said on Wednesday that "China is closely following the developments in Gabon. We call on relevant sides in the country to proceed from the fundamental interests of the nation and the people, resolve differences peacefully through dialogue, restore order at an early date."
The Chinese Embassy in Gabon issued a consular notice on Wednesday local time, stating that due to the current situation in the country, the embassy has activated its emergency mechanism for significant unexpected incidents. It also advised all Chinese citizens in Gabon to stay at home and not venture outside.
"Elections in the African region have their uniqueness and cannot be judged solely on the surface. For example, the overthrow of Mali's president Keita in 2020, who was elected by a large majority, is a case in point," You Tao, deputy director of the research center for francophone world development at Sichuan International Studies University, told the Global Times.
The people's level of satisfaction with their lives, their assessment of good governance, and their views on social fairness are sometimes not fully expressed through elections, You said.
A fundamental reason for the coup in Gabon is primarily due to Gabon's relatively low level of governance and inefficacy in administration, Song Wei, a professor at the School of International Relations and Diplomacy at Beijing Foreign Studies University, told the Global Times.
"The core of this issue is its influence from former Western colonial powers and the governance and political system reforms that the West has been pushing in Africa since the Cold War. These reforms have not laid the foundation for Africa to innately produce democracy," she said.
Thus, the West's overall promotion of governance in Africa has essentially been a failure, she said.
Following the military coup in Niger, France "fully supports" the Economic Community of West African States' (ECOWAS) decision to activate a standby military force on the borders of the Sahel country, media reported earlier in August. Macron also said recently that France's ambassador to Niger will stay in the country despite pressure to leave from leaders of the coup.
The turmoil in West Africa has a strong contagion effect, especially with the high success rates of coups and the lack of strong intervention by the international community, which greatly emboldens African military factions, You said.
France, as a former colonial power, has always been committed to maintaining the stability of its former colonies, the expert noted. However, due to the current Russia-Ukraine conflict on Europe's doorstep and the heavy colonial burden it carries, France appears to be indecisive in its actions.
"If the Gabon coup succeeds, the French government will certainly not stand idly by. After all, the Bongo family has maintained good personal relationships with successive French presidents, and national interests are highly intertwined. France cannot afford to lose Gabon," You added.
Namibia on Tuesday launched an initiative aimed at rewarding, recognizing and supporting individuals and entities that play a pivotal role in ensuring the safety, hospitality, kindness, care and preservation of the country's tourism.
The campaign, dubbed "Tourism Heroes," was launched by the Gondwana Collection, a hub for travel and safaris in Namibia, in response to a concerning surge in criminal activities targeting international tourists.
Speaking at the launch, Namibian Minister of Environment, Forestry and Tourism Pohamba Shifeta said this reward system will assist and support the government efforts in ensuring that culprits and criminals that target tourists and tourist establishments are quickly identified, apprehended, and brought to book to face the full wrath of the law.
Gondwana Collection Namibia showed its commitment to this cause by contributing 1 million Namibian dollars (about 67,000 US dollars) through the Gondwana Care Trust.
"This great initiative is forward-looking, and we hope that it will be used to bring crime incidents against tourists to zero in Namibia," Shifeta said, welcoming the establishment of the Tourism Protection Unit by the Namibian Police.
Meanwhile, Peter Katjavivi, speaker of the National Assembly who also attended the launch, highlighted the importance of the hospitality industry as well as tourists visiting the country, noting that there is a need to make the southern African country welcoming to all tourists and make it the preferred destination for tourists to experience true hospitality in Africa.
Last week, Namibia experienced a spate of violent attacks on international tourists, which Shifeta condemned as a serious concern for the industry which contributes significantly to the country's gross domestic product.
Following an incident in which a vehicle rammed into the Chinese Consulate in San Francisco on Monday afternoon local time, the Chinese Foreign Ministry, along with the Chinese consulate, voiced strong condemnations of this attack, and urged the US to swiftly conduct an inquiry and to take robust measures to ensure the safety of Chinese diplomatic establishments and personnel.
San Francisco police and fire crews attended the consulate after the vehicle crashed into the consulate's visa office on Monday, CBS News reported, citing the San Francisco Fire Department.
San Francisco police fatally shot the suspect who drove the vehicle, media reported, citing authorities.
The incident unfolded at 3:09 pm when an unidentified suspect drove a car into the visa office, located at Laguna Street and Geary Boulevard, and the vehicle came to a rest inside the office's lobby, local news site KTVU FOX 2 reported.
Police responded to the scene and made contact with the driver. During this encounter, an officer-involved shooting occurred, and the wounded male suspect was taken to a hospital where he later died, according to the news site. Police have not yet named the suspect.
On the morning of Tuesday Beijing time, an unidentified individual rammed a vehicle into the visa office of our Consulate-General in San Francisco in an attempt to hurt people and consulate staff on the spot, Wang Wenbin, spokesperson of the Chinese Foreign Ministry, said at a routine press conference on Tuesday. The consulate swiftly responded to and dealt with the situation. The perpetrator was brought under control by the local police.
China has demanded a speedy investigation and effective steps from the US to ensure the safety of Chinese diplomatic missions and personnel in accordance with the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations, Wang said.
The Chinese Consulate General in San Francisco strongly condemned the attack and said it has lodged a formal protest with the US side.
This action posed a grave threat to the safety of the staff and the public inside the visa hall, causing serious damage to the consulate's facilities and property. The nature of this incident is extremely heinous, a consulate spokesperson said.
We strongly condemn this violent attack and reserve the right to pursue accountability related to this incident. We have lodged a formal protest with the US side, demanding a swift investigation to uncover the truth and to deal with the incident in accordance with the law, the consulate spokesperson said.
This is not the first time the Chinese consulate in San Francisco was attacked. In 2014, it was heavily damaged after an unidentified person set fire to the main gate, according to media reports.
After each of these incidents, the US government promised to enhance security for Chinese consulates, but subsequent events suggest that these promises have not been adequately upheld, media professional Hu Xijin said in a Weibo post on Tuesday.
It is evident that the situation in US society is chaotic, and it places Chinese consulate staff in a perilous situation akin to "diplomats in a war zone," Hu said, noting that the failure of the local police to prevent such incidents undoubtedly becomes a stain on US diplomacy.
Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Chief Executive, John Lee Ka-chiu (Lee), led a high-level delegation of 70 people to participate in the third Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation held in Beijing from October 18 to 19. At the forum, he invited entrepreneurs to Hong Kong to set up belt and road offices. After the forum, he sat down with the Global Times (GT) reporters Xie Wenting and Bai Yunyi for an exclusive interview, sharing his insights on Hong Kong's role in the BRI and Hong Kong's strengths on the global stage. Lee also touched on the "competitive role" of the Hong Kong-Singapore relationship, noting that as long as the "pie" of development is made big enough, everyone can also get a larger share.
GT: You led a high-level delegation of 70 people to Beijing on your latest visit to attend the third Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation, including several high-ranking government officials as well as individuals from the business, academic, and scientific communities. What was the consideration behind this? What is Hong Kong's role in the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI)?
Lee: I hope to use this platform of the forum to better promote Hong Kong and seek business opportunities. Many of our delegates have also established personal connections with entrepreneurs from various regions, giving them the opportunity to personally introduce Hong Kong's advantages and services, which will be more persuasive.
Hong Kong is a participant, promoter, and beneficiary of the BRI. In the joint construction of the BRI, Hong Kong has its own unique advantages. We boast the position of "eight centers," namely, an international financial center, an international trade center, an international shipping center, and an Asia-Pacific international legal and dispute resolution service center, as well as four emerging centers: An international innovation and technology center, a Chinese and foreign cultural and art exchange center, an international aviation hub, and a regional intellectual property trading center. I believe that Hong Kong can play its role in promoting financial connectivity, attracting international investment, and promoting the internationalization of the Chinese currency renminbi (RMB).
GT: We noticed that not long ago you visited three Southeast Asian countries: Singapore, Malaysia, and Indonesia. How do you evaluate the prospects for cooperation between Hong Kong and Southeast Asian countries under the framework of the BRI? Which are the areas that hold the greatest potential? In the past, people have often said that Hong Kong is a "bridge" between the East and the West. In the future, do you think Hong Kong will play a similar role between the Chinese mainland and Southeast Asia?
Lee: Hong Kong has a unique status granted by the central government and the One Country, Two Systems policy is implemented in the city. As one of the few cities in the world that can concentrate both China's advantages and international advantages, we are very lucky, and should therefore make good use of this advantage.
First, Hong Kong can help enterprises in the Chinese mainland go global, including in terms of financing, introducing talents, and scientific and technological cooperation. We can give full play to Hong Kong's functions as an international city. This is the "capital" we have accumulated over the years.
Second, Hong Kong attaches great importance to regional cooperation and hopes to have good relations with our neighbors. The ASEAN is Hong Kong's second-largest trading partner, after the Chinese mainland. This is why one of my two official trips this year was to the three ASEAN members, and I will also take time to visit other states.
In addition, the ASEAN is also an important force in helping Hong Kong join the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (RCEP) as soon as possible. I am very happy that when communicating with ASEAN states this time, many of them expressed their support for Hong Kong's joining of the RCEP. In the future, we will continue to promote regional cooperation with the ASEAN.
GT: Many people view Singapore as Hong Kong's "competitor" and believe that Singapore has the potential to replace Hong Kong as Asia's international financial center. What's your opinion on this view? Will Hong Kong be replaced by Singapore? Are Hong Kong and Singapore in competition, or do they have more room for complementarity and cooperation?
Lee: Hong Kong and many places have dual competitive and cooperative relationship. Competition is a good thing. Only with competition can we make progress. Healthy competition is beneficial. In fact, I have a very good relationship with Singapore's leadership. We often discuss how there is a lot of room for cooperation and development.
I think the most important thing (for a city) is to compete with itself. Competing with competitors is important, but it is likely that one day you will have surpassed your competitors. Will you not have goals then? So, every day we have to be the object of our own competition, to surpass what we accomplished the day before, and apply this philosophy to the future as an effective long-term goal.
Therefore, I often tell my colleagues that Hong Kong needs to compete and cooperate with other regions, taking advantage of their strengths and compensating for their weaknesses. This is beneficial for our own development. Cooperation between Hong Kong and all countries and regions is aimed at mutual benefit and win-win outcomes.
Relationships that only benefit one side are not sustainable. Maybe this time you gain more and I gain less, but next time I gain more and you gain less, and that's good.
In the end, what is the most important goal of competition? Is it the development of the economy or improving the lives of the people? As long as the "pie" of development is made big enough, everyone can also get a larger share. This is our ultimate goal.
GT: Some international media outlets have claimed that Hong Kong's international status and international attractiveness have declined in recent years. How do you respond to this claim?
Lee: Hong Kong is attractive in many aspects. In world rankings, Hong Kong holds many top positions: Our investment environment is ranked first globally, our offshore RMB trading volume is the highest in the world, and we are also the world's longest-living city. Hong Kong's public transportation system is ranked first among over 60 advanced cities, and we are the only city with an area of only 1,100 square kilometers that has five "Top 100" universities. Hong Kong also ranks second in many indicators worldwide: economic freedom, government efficiency, and innovation environment are all ranked second globally. Hong Kong has many aspects that other regions in the world envy.
The epidemic in the last few years has indeed slowed down Hong Kong's development in some areas. Some places in the world relaxed epidemic control measures relatively early, and therefore have a time advantage, but I think this advantage (relative to Hong Kong) is only temporary. Since resuming customs clearance, Hong Kong has fully integrated with the world. We are also "catching up with time" in different fields. Now, the work of the HKSAR government is all results-oriented, and many citizens also believe that many things are progressing faster this year than before. I think these are all positive factors for Hong Kong (in terms of international attractiveness).
GT: This year alone, you have visited many places in the Chinese mainland, from Beijing to Guangzhou, Shenzhen to Hainan, and Chongqing to Guizhou, among others… As the head of HKSAR, why do you visit the mainland so frequently? During these trips, what made a particularly profound impact on you?
Lee: I visited different places (in the mainland) to gain understanding. In fact, the main reason was I felt it imperative to do. Hong Kong's biggest opportunity lies in the country's development. It is most beneficial to Hong Kong to fully and proactively integrate into the overall development of the country.
At the end of 2022, I established the Steering Group on Integration into National Development to strengthen the integration of the entire HKSAR government and the entire society into the overall national development. This means that we need to develop close relations with different provinces and cities to work together for mutual benefit and win-win results. I attach great importance to this aspect and will continue to establish cooperative relationships (between them and Hong Kong) in different places.
Hong Kong now has different cooperation mechanisms and systems with many provinces and cities. I also often share my ideas with the leaders of various places in the mainland, that is, our cooperation must be "one plus one equals two." Hong Kong will put its best foot forward and so will our partners. This is "invincible."
GT: Not long ago, you expressed your confidence that the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area will develop into one of the most dynamic and competitive regions in China and even the world. What makes you so confident about the prospects of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area? The idea of the Greater Bay Area has been proposed for many years. Do you think the construction of the Greater Bay Area will usher in some big breakthroughs in the next year or two?
Lee: I believe that the Greater Bay Area is one of the most promising regions for development in the country. Currently, Hong Kong and Shenzhen have already achieved a high level of integration, and have formed strong cooperation ties with the entire Guangdong Province. With nine cities and two special administrative regions, each with its own advantages, it is no longer just a case of "one plus on," but rather the synergy of all 11 entities working together, resulting in significant collaborative efficiency.
Hong Kong has a lot to contribute to the Greater Bay Area and the country. First, there is a wealth of talent in Hong Kong. The city is able to attract international talents, with its highly internationalized universities that are among the top in the world.
Additionally, there are scholarships and exchange programs available, such as the "Belt and Road Scholarship," further enhancing the internationalization of Hong Kong's talent pool. Hong Kong's professionals in fields such as accounting and engineering are also highly aligned with international standards.
Second, Hong Kong has a strong advantage in scientific research. In the current complex global (geopolitical) environment, many researchers who had previously left Hong Kong or the Chinese mainland are now looking to return and conduct research in Hong Kong.
Third, Hong Kong implements the common law system, which is similar to the legal systems of many developed countries. As a result, these countries are more familiar with and trust Hong Kong's legal system. This can attract more international partners for cooperation and also make Hong Kong a preferred arbitration venue for international trade disputes.
The entire Greater Bay Area has a population of 86 million and its GDP is equivalent to the 10th largest economy in the world. It is larger than many countries, so the Greater Bay Area can compete strongly with other countries as a whole.
I feel very happy and proud that Hong Kong has the opportunity to contribute to the development of the Greater Bay Area, and Hong Kong will also benefit greatly from it, injecting strong momentum into its own economic development.
Aiming to find paths for the sustainable development of ancient walls and castle legacies around the world, an international conference was recently held in Xi'an, in Northwest China's Shaanxi Province.
The event was named the "2023 International Ancient Walls and Castles Alliance Conference." This year's agenda focused on the protection and sustainable development of ancient walls, aiming to share the latest conservation efforts addressing this subject worldwide.
Xiang Xinshuang, a cultural heritage expert, told the Global Times that the conservation of ancient architectures is a "global issue," particularly crucial for countries with long historical civilizations like Italy and China.
Apart from China, the 2023 event involved countries such as the UK, Italy, and Malaysia. A total of 13 representatives from these countries also participated in the event to showcase their unique development methods for the preservation of immovable cultural heritage.
Architect and urban planner Yuan Han told the Global Times that, regarding construction materials or structures, Chinese ancient architectural legacies are "significantly different from European ones." However, there is one principle agreed upon by all these time-honored countries, which is to "preserve their original and authentic essence."
"Protecting an ancient castle always entails a process of painstakingly restoring the architecture, bit by bit. To many architects, the value of an ancient building lies not in its aesthetics, but in its structure and configuration," Yuan explained.
Starting the conversation with the "difference" in China and the West's approaches, the 2023 international conference also intrigued global experts to share the contextual cultural and social values of their historical architectures.
Yuan informed the Global Times that in recent years, China has endeavored to emphasize the cultural significance of historical sites. This goal has been achieved through various programs like the "national-level famous historical and cultural cities" initiative.
By 2023, the program had designated 142 cities of historical importance. Some of these cities were once major capital sites of ancient dynasties, while others were significant economic capitals.
"The list was designed to conserve the cultural values of ancient buildings. It bodes well for their sustainable development. New opportunities like cultural tourism and international collaborations are all part of such sustainable development," Yuan remarked.
Wang Zhewen, an official with the Xi'an city wall management committee, stated that the conference is expected to promote mutual learning among those working to protect ancient walls and castles worldwide, ultimately expanding their global influence.
During the event, the 2023 International Ancient Walls and Castles Alliance launched an initiative to strengthen the conservation, heritage, and use of ancient city walls (castles). The initiative calls on members to work together towards goals such as upholding inclusiveness and coexistence, promoting exchanges and mutual learning, while also adhering to the principle of sharing resources and promoting common development.
This marks the first offline meeting held by the International Ancient Walls and Castles Alliance since its establishment in December 2020.
Chengdu, the capital city of Southwest China's Sichuan Province, is set to become the vibrant hub of global sportsmanship as the 31st International University Sports Federation (FISU) World University Games is set to kick off on July 28, 2023, captivating athletes and spectators from around the world with a thrilling display of talent, unity, and friendly competition.
China unveiled its delegation for the 31st FISU World University Games on Wednesday, in Changchun, Northeast China's Jilin Province. The Chinese delegation consists of over 700 individuals, including 411 athletes from more than 100 universities across 25 provinces in the country.
These athletes will compete in all 18 events at the Chengdu Universiade, which is scheduled to run from July 28 to August 8. The average age of the athletes is 22.9 years old, according to media reports.
Out of the 206 male athletes and 205 female athletes, 387 will be making their debut at the summer Universiade in Chengdu. Among them, 344 athletes will be representing China for the first time at an international event, while 34 have previously participated in the Olympics.
Trials for 11 events, including swimming, judo, badminton, and table tennis, were organized by the Federation of University Sports of China (FUSC) from April to May 2023.
Due to the pandemic, the Chengdu Universiade, which was meant to take place in 2020, was postponed twice. But the preparation work was not delayed. In the last three years, Chengdu has effectively managed the building, refurbishment, and enlargement of 49 stadiums and gyms, boasting state-of-the-art infrastructure and service systems that comply with global competition standards.
To ensure the participation of the students and minimize the impact, the FISU raised the maximum age of participants from 25 to 27. Additionally, the rule that only current students and recent graduates could participate was relaxed, allowing students who graduated in 2020, 2021, and 2022 to take part.
Currently, the Chengdu Universiade has launched more than 18 series and over 1000 licensed products, including branded toys, badges, stationery, and stamps, all centered around a panda mascot named "Rongbao."
This year's Chengdu Universiade also embraces the eco-friendly and low carbon concept. Many new energy buses have been spotted in recent day in the Universiade village in Chengdu. Reports suggest that more than 2,400 new energy vehicles will be used for transportation services during the Universiade to ensure green travel during the games.
Meanwhile, adhering to the concept of "green, smart, vibrant, and sharing" in organizing the games, all newly built venues for the Chengdu Universiade were constructed using green building materials, and all venues will use LED energy-saving lighting fixtures.
The Universiade has recruited 20,000 volunteers who are currently undergoing pre-event training. In commercial areas, tourist attractions, and transportation hubs, 1,000 city volunteer service stations have also been put up. They will provide convenient services and promote the games as part of the city volunteer service.
Wang Jiayi, China's Chef de mission, urged the athletes to serve as cultural ambassadors. He encouraged them to embody the Olympic spirit and demonstrate through their actions that the Chinese people are committed to contributing to the development of the Olympic Movement and in fostering unity among people worldwide, Xinhua reported.
"The Chinese people value friendship. We never forget our old friends, nor your historic contributions to promoting the growth of China-US relations and enhancing friendship between the two peoples," Chinese President Xi Jinping said during the meeting with former US secretary of state Henry Kissinger in Beijing, on July 20, 2023, the Xinhua News Agency reported.
In the last few years, when China-US relations were at a low ebb, people-to-people exchanges between the two countries have never been interrupted.
How should the two civilizations of China and the US coexist to bring prosperity and stability to their people?
From serving at the grassroots to being the Chinese President, Xi has been a consistent builder of friendship with the American people.
This story is a part of the "Witness to history" series by the Global Times, comprising of comprehensive interviews with people who have witnessed Xi's high regard for and personal efforts in promoting people-to-people friendship between China and the US. They have also actively demonstrated to the world that the will of the Chinese and American people is to cooperate, and how such cooperation is beneficial to the people of the two countries and the world.
As a businessman shuttling back and forth between China and the US, Gary Dvorchak accepted to give an exclusive interview to the Global Times, when he returned to his home in Muscatine, a tranquil city on the banks of the Mississippi River in the central US state of Iowa, at a house located at No. 2911 Bonnie Drive.
Nearly 40 years ago, when a visiting Chinese official spent the night in No. 2911 in Dvorchak's bedroom while he was away at college, no one imagined that the visitor would one day become the Chinese president.
This is believed to be Xi Jinping's first trip outside China and perhaps his first experience of staying with an American family, according to Xinhua. He was then a young and promising junior official, Party secretary of Zhengding County in China's northern province of Hebei. He led a five-person agricultural delegation to Muscatine, Iowa.
At that time, in Dvorchak's house, Xi was hosted in a room that was decorated for elementary schoolboys, with a mini exhibition of American football wallpapers and Star Trek models.
Currently, Dvorchak hopes to expose more people to the atmosphere of friendly exchanges between China and the US. He is in the process of redecorating the house, which is scheduled to open to the public in October or November, "creating what we think will be a very professional and heartwarming symbolic project that benefits China-US relations," Dvorchak told the Global Times.
"The friendship between the Chinese and American people deserves to be told more positively," he stressed.
Old house, new chapter
"It's [the house] a museum now, but our intention is probably to much more professionally tell the story of China in a very positive way, and promote people-to-people relationships between the American and Chinese citizens," Dvorchak said.
Dvorchak pointed out that Xi's visit in 1985 changed the course of his family's life forever.
Muscatine is a very small town in Iowa, and in 1985, a visit by a Chinese delegation was an extraordinary event, Dvorchak noted, "It was on the front page of our hometown newspaper, and everyone had very vivid memories of Xi's visit."
The visit seemed to have also impressed Xi. Almost 27 years later, during a visit to the US as vice president, Xi had one personal request on his trip: A stop in Muscatine to visit his "old friends," including Dvorchak's parents.
"Life goes on and there were no ways to stay in touch as there was no internet back then. But so many people in Muscatine were very happy to learn of how President Xi has governed and China has become prosperous step by step," he said.
In 2013, Dvorchak worked for a company in Los Angeles that had an opening for a senior staffer in Beijing. Subsequently, Dvorchak moved to Beijing with his family. His childhood home was purchased by a Chinese businessman and transformed into the "Sino-US Friendship House," becoming the first memorial museum in the US dedicated to the theme of China-US friendship.
"But when the COVID-19 pandemic came, people weren't traveling, and the house gradually lost its original splendor," noted Dvorchak, who had been in negotiations with the previous owner of this house for about three years, in a bid to buy the house again.
"We finally struck a deal at the beginning of this year and then closed the transaction. So my family now owns the house again," he said proudly.
The Global Times found that the house is now filled with news clippings of China and the Chinese leader.
"We want school children, as one example, to come on a field trip; come through the house and learn about China and learn about what China is like now and all the great things that China has contributed to human civilization," he said.
More active efforts needed
Dvorchak has been living in China for a decade now.
"It's been absolutely wonderful to experience how that the country is fantastic. We've had such a warm welcome. So I can't say enough good things about China and the experience that we have had," Dvorchak said.
In recent days, Dvorchak and others from Iowa visited Kuliang in Fuzhou, Fujian Province and the Xiongan New Area and Zhengding county in Hebei. There, they marveled at the rapid changes in China, the unique path of modernization that China is firmly following, and were even more touched by the friendship between the people of China and the US.
"I would say the main thing I have gained is a lot of great friendships. In Kuliang we witnessed the warmth and the happiness of reunions between Chinese and American people," said Dvorchak.
When a group of former Fuzhou residents crossed mountains and oceans to return to this beloved place, they were looking to rekindle the feelings they had when they first lived in China, he noted.
"And when we went to our sister province, Hebei, to see people we have seen many times before we have shared great experiences with. Such friendship is playing an active role in promoting peaceful exchanges and interaction between the two superpowers in the world today," he said.
Dvorchak pointed out that old friends from Iowa are clearly aware that through President Xi's career, even when he was visiting Iowa in 1985, people-to-people exchanges have been a high priority for him.
Dvorchak said he regrets that many Americans base their opinions on what they hear on television, and from much media and political hype with negative information about China. "I always just tell people to turn off the TV, just look at your daily experience, look at the Chinese friend you have that is gonna make you realize that the negative view is not reflective of reality."
When Xi went to Muscatine in 1985, Dvorchak's parents gave him a parting gift of popcorn, and he left behind Chinese liquor in return. Currently, Dvorchak says he wishes to do more.
"I and the other people from Iowa have been involved [in China-US friendship] for a long time, and are working on the project of the new edition of the Sino-US Friendship House. We're all working on it together. It's just one little house in the middle of Iowa, but it's pushing back and it's saying, 'hey, let's bring positive energy to the US-China relationship,'" he said.
