The Ministry of Education of China announced plans to add 39 new soccer sports majors at universities on Friday. This highlights the current scarcity of soccer programs in higher education and underscores the pressing need for the development of Chinese soccer. While the impact of this initiative may take time to materialize, it represents a promising long-term strategy for the sport's advancement in China.
Recently, following the national team's consecutive losses to Japan and Saudi Arabia, numerous football fans, media personalities, and authoritative bodies have voiced their opinions and proposed solutions. Eventually, the idea of establishing soccer majors gradually emerged.
This initiative provides a new platform for children passionate about soccer to focus on their athletic development without fear of academic compromise.
It allows students to balance soccer training with their studies, treating soccer as a means of learning and personal growth.
For students aspiring to become professional soccer players, the establishment of soccer majors offers a clear career path and development opportunities.
The initiative also has the potential to enhance the sport's visibility and broaden its audience.
Parents may be inspired to introduce their talented children to soccer, recognizing that the existence of such majors indicates a commitment to and support for soccer education.
The majors will promote soccer on a wider scale and advance soccer culture in China. Through systematic learning and training, even students who do not become professional players will acquire valuable soccer knowledge and skills, contributing to the long-term development and talent pool in the sport.
Wang Dazhao, a soccer commentator and member of the News Committee of the Chinese Football Association, told the Global Times that the key to advancing Chinese soccer is fostering children's interest in the sport.
"Those soccer powerhouses did not establish specialized soccer majors. Their success often relies on a well-developed soccer system and cultural tradition rather than academic programs," he noted.
Wang emphasized that the development of Chinese soccer should not be rushed or forced. Instead, the focus should be on creating conditions for children to develop their interests willingly.
"To truly inspire children's love for soccer, it's crucial to provide them with proper facilities and professional guidance. Only when children receive systematic training in a positive environment will their interest be sparked, and they will seek more opportunities," Wang said.
He pointed out that every country has its strengths and weaknesses in sports. In China, where soccer is relatively underdeveloped, it is not necessary to force it to become mainstream immediately. Instead, gradual progress and scientific development should be the focus.
By improving infrastructure, cultivating youth interest, providing professional guidance, and increasing resource investment, a solid foundation for the long-term development of Chinese soccer can be established.
It is important to respect the natural development of sports and allow soccer to grow and progress under appropriate conditions. Only through this approach can the development of Chinese soccer be better promoted.
The inaugural Peiyuan Arts Festival, running from Friday to Sunday, aims to nurture young theater talent and promote original stage art.
This innovative event serves as a platform for showcasing and incubating original Chinese artistic works, infusing new vitality into the country's theatrical landscape.
A total of 20 pieces were publicly showcased in a "work-in-progress" format, covering various artistic forms including dramas, Yue Opera, children's theater, dance, musicals, script-based performances, sound theater, and installation theater.
The themes range from historical legends and future sci-fi to real-life experiences, magical realism, suspense, and existential issues.
The International Union of Geological Sciences (IUGS) has announced the inclusion of three Chinese geological heritage sites in its second batch of sites to be inscribed on the global 100 Geological Heritage Sites list. The recognized sites are the Permian vegetation of the Wuda Fossil Site, the Dashanpu Middle Jurassic Dinosaur Fossils Site, and the Guilin Karst landscape.
The announcement was made during the 37th International Geological Congress in Busan, South Korea. A press conference was held in China on Tuesday to announce the specifics of the inclusion.
"The three geological heritage sites from China that were selected this time are outstanding representatives of the country's geological heritage. Their scientific value and the quality of the research produced on them have been unanimously recognized by the international academic community, and their current conservation status has received high praise from the global community," said Zhang Jianping, vice chair of the IUGS International Commission on Geoheritage and a professor at China University of Geosciences (Beijing), at the press conference. The Permian vegetation of the Wuda Fossil Site in North China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region is often referred to as the "Pompeii of Plants." The coal-forming forest was preserved between two coal seams in the Wuda Coalfield in Inner Mongolia by volcanic ash that was deposited during its growth. High-precision zircon dating of the volcanic ash indicates that the age of this coal-forming forest is about 298 million years, making it the world's oldest Permian coal-forming forest. Plant remains are preserved in unusually complete forms, with some structural mineralization retaining internal features of the plants.
Research has uncovered over 50 species of plant fossils at this site, highlighting the high diversity and evolutionary level of the coal-forming forest during that period. The site was first discovered in 1998 but was not identified as volcanic in origin until 2003. The international scientific community continues to conduct in-depth research on this geological heritage site. The Dashanpu Middle Jurassic Dinosaur Fossils Site in Zigong, Southwest China's Sichuan Province, has unearthed over 200 dinosaur and vertebrate fossils from strata nearly 180 meters thick. Zeng Xiaoyun, director of the Zigong Dinosaur Museum, emphasized the site's critical role in filling gaps in the evolutionary history of dinosaurs. Guilin in South China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region is home to the world-famous karst landscape. As early as the 17th century, the renowned Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) geographer and explorer Xu Xiake explored 88 karst caves in the region.
Chen Weihai, vice chief engineer at the Institute of Karst Geology of the China Geological Survey, explained that the Guilin Karst is a representative example of continental tower karst, showcasing the coexistence and interaction of peak forest and peak cluster karst formations. It serves as an important reference for global karst studies.
These additions bring the total number of Chinese sites on the IUGS list to 10, following the inclusion of seven sites as part of the first batch of sites announced in October 2022.
Recently, several music pieces themed around Journey to the West have gone viral on social media platforms, both in China and abroad.
The theme song from the 1986 TV series Journey to the West, "Yungong Xunyin," has been rearranged, which not only enhances its fantasy feel but also gives it an epic sense of grandeur. Tracks such as "cyber sutra chanting" and Shaanbei-style storytelling have not only ignited passion among young Chinese audiences but have also attracted international listeners.
It can be said that along with the success of China's first triple-A video game Black Myth: Wukong, traditional Chinese music presented through digital means is also making its mark on the global stage.
The reason why these rearranged traditional Chinese music pieces such as "Yungong Xunyin" have garnered such global attention is primarily because they create a rising "digital ambiance." Here, "digital ambiance" refers to the concept of ambiance in traditional literary and artistic works, which, empowered by digital technology, is presented through more vivid and dynamic audiovisual imagery, creating a multi-dimensional and immersive effect. Supporting this "digital ambiance" is the implementation of relevant digital technology used to create "digital scenes," as represented by games like Black Myth: Wukong.
In today's media ecology, which is dominated by mobile internet mediums such as games, short videos, and livestreams, these "digital scenes" not only realize commercial value in the global market but also provide the technical foundation for "digital ambiance," effectively promoting the international dissemination of traditional Chinese culture.
An important but often overlooked step in the creative transformation and innovative development of traditional Chinese culture is its digitization. For instance, through advanced sound technology in "digital scenes" like games, the audio collected from replicas of the Zenghouyi chime bells (an ancient Chinese musical instrument with a history of more than 2,400 years) from the Hubei Provincial Museum can be presented almost in full detail to the public.
Moreover, by digitizing the musical notation of the guqin (an ancient Chinese zither), techniques that were once dependent on a few cultural inheritors can now follow clearer patterns. Through this process, digital technology is helping outstanding traditional Chinese culture, especially Chinese music, explore viable paths for digital transformation. In this light, Black Myth: Wukong offers an excellent example of how traditional Chinese culture can be effectively communicated through digital platforms, achieving meaningful international outreach. In another globally influential Chinese video game, Genshin Impact, the presence of Chinese opera and culinary traditions have both successfully created a melodious "digital ambiance" within the "digital scene" of the game.
As a "digital scene" with millions of daily active interactions, games are playing a crucial role in promoting the digitization of Chinese culture, not only preserving traditional culture in a "living" state but also helping it break through globally. This is a true reflection of modern Chinese civilization.
Currently, digital cultural industries have become the main driving force of China's cultural industry. As the fusion of culture and technology deepens, these industries are leading the charge, helping traditional Chinese culture integrate into modern Chinese civilization through digital means. Since the advent of the new era, China's rapid development in digital technology and infrastructure has spurred the flourishing of industries, including the cultural sector. These digital advancements, driven by market forces, are creating synergies that enhance cultural exchange.
The "digital ambiance" supported by "digital scenes" is promoting high-level dissemination of traditional Chinese culture, both domestically and globally. Through the advocacy of diversity among civilizations, equal dialogue, and mutual respect between different cultures, China is now equipped with new "digital tools" to contribute to the global conversation on civilization.
The Unspoken Mastery - Lin Gang's Centenary Art Exhibition opened on Wednesday at the Central Academy of Fine Arts (CAFA) Art Museum in China's capital Beijing.
According to CAFA, as Lin, an outstanding professor at CAFA and a prominent figure in China's oil painting community, enters his centennial year in 2024, this large-scale retrospective exhibition is being held to showcase his prolific artistic achievements.
Having studied in the former Soviet Union, Lin was awarded the Pushkin Medal by the Russian Ministry of Culture in 1999 and was appointed an honorary professor at the Ilya Repin St. Petersburg State Academy of Painting, Sculpture, and Architecture in Russia.
Lin applied his knowledge and insights to teaching, making significant contributions to the development of the oil painting education in China.
The exhibition features a vast collection of representative works from various periods of Lin's career, along with a wealth of related documents, creative notes, and other artistic materials. The exhibition will run until October 13.
The year 2024 ushers in the second golden decade of the joint building of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) after the initiative has already yielded many fruitful results worldwide. Looking forward to the new stage of high-quality Belt and Road cooperation over the coming 10 years, the Global Times Institute (GTI) recently conducted a public awareness survey of the BRI in 13 countries around the world to understand how people overseas view the BRI in relation to global affairs, their own country, and themselves, and to understand the future expectations of the overseas public for the Belt and Road cooperation.
The survey covered 12 Belt and Road partner countries in Asia, Europe, Africa, and Oceania, as well as one BRICS member state - Brazil, totaling 13 countries, and was conducted in 12 languages including English, Arabic, Russian, Kazakh, and Turkish.
The survey was conducted from May 27 to June 21, using online surveys, telephone interviews, face-to-face interviews, and other methods to collect data. Approximately 11,000 valid questionnaires in total were collected and the sample subjects were residents over 18 years old in each country. By GT staff reporters
In the annals of world history, the famous Silk Road once connected countries in Central Asia, the Middle East, Europe, Africa, and China. This route not only facilitated trade between the countries along its path but also promoted cultural exchanges and mutual learning of civilizations among different countries and regions.
Today, the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) proposed by China is promoting joint development and prosperity among the countries along the Eurasian and African routes. This initiative is allowing people from various countries to share a harmonious, peaceful, and prosperous life, continuing the legacy of connectivity and cooperation that the Silk Road symbolized centuries ago.
The latest survey conducted by the Global Times Institute (GTI) found out that a significant number of respondents had heard of the BRI. Compared with plans or initiatives proposed by other countries or international organizations, more respondents expressed optimism about the role that the BRI plays in the world across different countries and regions, ranking above the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor proposed by the US and the Global Gateway strategy proposed by the European Union.
Vietnamese respondents had the highest awareness of the BRI, with 87 percent knowing about it. Respondents from Laos and Indonesia generally have higher rates of agreement with the main concepts or practices of the BRI.
Laotian respondents have the highest positive agreements on the initiative actively sharing poverty alleviation experiences and emphasizing green development (both at 95 percent), while Indonesian respondents were most in agreement with the BRI increasing technological investment to improve resource efficiency (91 percent).
Pakistan also has the highest agreement rate for actively sharing poverty alleviation experiences; respondents from Saudi Arabia and Turkey are most in agreement with emphasizing green development; and Kenyan respondents also have a 90 percent agreement rate for increasing technological investment to improve resource efficiency.
Muhammad Zamir Assadi, editor at the Internews Pakistan, told the Global Times on Sunday that the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), one of the flagship projects under the BRI, has changed the overall economic landscape of Pakistan as it has successfully attracted the attention of other international community in addition to attracting foreign investment to the country.
"We have witnessed the interest of middle eastern countries to who have shown their intent to invest under the framework of CPEC that will again bring more positive impact to Pakistani economy in various fields," he said.
He told the Global Times that the BRI also had enormous impact on his personal career. Back in 2016, he was given his first opportunity to visit China under one of the BRI projects that opened new avenues for him to learn about China and the visit strengthened his professional skills and enabled him to get important position in Pakistan's news industry.
"I feel a pride for me to lead a dedicated team on China affairs and to act as a media guide for disseminating information on China affairs in Pakistan in various languages," he told the Global Times.
Respondents have confidence in China's future efforts to achieve greater success in promoting the BRI, and being part of the BRI and deepening cooperation receive strong support overall, the survey found.
The joint construction of the BRI will become one of the most important ways for China to fulfill its responsibilities as a major country in the international community, experts said.
A majority of respondents are happy to see more countries join the BRI, and look forward to its positive effects on promoting global development and narrowing the gap between rich and poor countries. Nearly half of the respondents would be pleased to see the US participate in the BRI.
The survey also showed that nearly 70 percent of Brazilian respondents support their country joining the BRI.
The long-term sustainability of Belt and Road projects is a priority for most respondents, with cooperation in infrastructure construction being the most anticipated in many countries.
In a new phase of the cooperation under the BRI, respondents are most looking forward to prioritizing cooperation on infrastructure construction, with 52 percent specifically mentioning this point; the proportion of those looking forward to cooperation in ecological environment protection, public health, daily life, and education fields is also around 40 percent. Assadi told the Global Times that Pakistan has prioritized its development needs as per the local requirements of the local people based on the national conditions aligning with their national interests.
"Pakistan is looking forward to the cooperation from China in the field of agriculture, industrialization, upgradation of the railway infrastructure as this is significant for the socio-economic development of Pakistan, investment in improvement of medical and education sector, artificial intelligence, cloud computing, internet of things, big data, the auto sector, science and technology, space sciences, logistics, aviation, oil and gas resources, and natural gas hydrate and others," he said.
Public benefits
The key to sound relations between countries lies in the affinity between their peoples. China announced at the third Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation in October 2023 that it will carry out practical cooperation under the BRI, promoting both signature projects and "small yet smart" quality of life programs, including 1,000 small-scale livelihood assistance projects.
When asked whether they look forward to and are willing to participate in future BRI projects related to their own quality of life, over 70 percent of respondents in the 13 countries surveyed provided a positive response, with over half expressing a willingness to participate.
In Kenya, Indonesia, and Vietnam, the proportion of respondents looking forward to such projects was close to or exceeded 90 percent, with at least 70 percent willing to participate.
Under the BRI cooperation framework, more than half of the respondents were willing to work for Chinese enterprises/institutions/projects established locally, while over 30 percent was open to the idea.
The primary reason cited was the opportunity to learn more professional skills, which was mentioned by nearly 60 percent of respondents on average across the 13 countries. Many respondents also cited higher income, better career development opportunities, and a more stable labor market and social benefits.
Cui Hongjian, a professor from the Country and Area Studies Academy with Beijing Foreign Studies University, told the Global Times that BRI projects have delivered tangible benefits to local areas, most notably by helping to solve employment issues.
Regarding cultural exchanges and cooperation under the BRI, respondents were more willing to participate in cross-border tourism/festival activities, followed by experiencing or learning about traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) cultural projects. Applying for Chinese scholarships, education funds, and participating in university/student exchange programs were also popular.
He Wenping, a research fellow from the Institute of West Asian and African Studies under the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, told the Global Times that "cultural exchanges should go hand in hand with infrastructure construction; wherever infrastructure projects go, cultural exchanges should follow."
Recently, "China Travel" has become a hot topic on overseas social media, with foreign YouTubers frequently visiting China. Not only have they gained views, but the realistic portrayals in their videos have also broken the longstanding information cocoon about China among foreign people.
Survey data shows that over 80 percent of respondents in the 13 countries were willing to visit China in the future, with 60 percent expressing a desire to travel to China, and over 20 percent willing to work, go on business trips, or study in China.
High hopes
Regarding the positive impacts the BRI can bring to the world, more than half of the respondents in the 13 countries expect the initiative to promote global development and narrow the international wealth gap.
Nearly half of the respondents hope that the BRI will unite countries, enhance mutual understanding and tolerance among people of different countries, promote cultural exchanges and integration, and foster a fairer world order.
Regarding media criticisms that the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) is "neocolonialism" and creates a "debt trap," 72 percent of respondents have a clear stance on this issue. Among them, an average of 13 percent of respondents across 13 countries believe these accusations are baseless attacks, 24 percent consider them misunderstandings, and 21 percent think they represent bias. Additionally, 28 percent view these claims as risk warnings.
When asked about the possibility of more countries joining the BRI in the future, 61 percent of respondents said they would welcome it, with particularly high proportions in Kenya (77 percent) and Brazil (73 percent).
Wang Youming, director of the Institute of Developing Countries at the China Institute of International Studies in Beijing, believed that the public confidence in the BRI stems from the tangible, visible, and substantial achievements made over the past 11 years.
"These achievements have taken root in the participating countries, bringing benefits to local economic development, employment improvement, and people's livelihoods," he said.
President Xi Jinping emphasized continuous efforts to uphold, improve and run the system of people's congresses, the country's fundamental political system, to good effect at a meeting held on Saturday to celebrate the 70th founding anniversary of the National People's Congress.
Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, stressed the need to further firm up confidence in the path, theory, system and culture of socialism with Chinese characteristics.
After Super Typhoon Yagi pounded South China’s Hainan Province, leading to power outages in many areas, a man was reported to have bathed in water collected from coconuts dislodged by the storm, Xiaoxiang Morning Herald reported on Tuesday.
The man mentioned that he used coconut water for almost everything from washing his face and brushing his teeth to cooking vegetables and preparing meals, according to media reports.
The man joked and referred it as “luxurious,” given that a tub of coconut water he used would normally cost up to 300 yuan ($42).
Many netizens were surprised at his innovative use of the fallen coconuts, though some questioned the practicality of his action.
Hainan has witnessed its production gradually resumed after Super Typhoon Yagi, according to Xinhua News Agency. China Southern Power Grid has deployed emergency power repair personnel and vehicles to support disaster relief and power restoration efforts in Hainan Province.
Chinese and international celebrities, including Jay Chou, Ye, and Mariah Carey, will perform in cities across China for the upcoming Mid-Autumn Festival holidays.
These singing events are expected to be major holiday economy drivers, especially in second- and third-tier cities.
Chou, a singer from the island of Taiwan, is scheduled to give singing events four days in a row in South China's Shenzhen from Thursday to Sunday. The tickets, on sale for up to 2,000 yuan ($280), were sold out only minutes after they were released.
Li Jian, a Chinese mainland singer best known for his poetic musical style, plans to sing on stage in Northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region on September 14 and 16.
In addition to Chinese artists, international celebrities are also planning to perform in China around the Mid-Autumn Festival holidays, which will be marked from Sunday to Tuesday. American rapper Ye, formerly known as Kanye West, was set to hold a "listening party" for his new "Vultures" studio album in South China's Hainan Province on Sunday. Ticket for Ye's performance, also up to 2,000 yuan, were snapped up as soon as they hit the market.
Wuyuan River Stadium, where Ye's singing performance is scheduled to be held, was damaged by typhoon Yagi, which struck Haikou in recent days. The Haikou tourism authority said on Thursday that it was racing against time to repair the stadium so that the singing performance can be held on Sunday as scheduled.
Mariah Carey, another American singer, will be performing in Beijing from Sunday to Monday.
In the first half of 2024, the total box-office revenue from singing events across China has reached 10.14 billion yuan, with the singing events with 3,000 seats or more generating 10.08 billion yuan. This represents an increase of 8.37 billion yuan compared to the first half of 2023, according to an industry report by an independent research institute.
China's top diplomat Wang Yi attended the 14th meeting of the BRICS high-ranking officials responsible for security matters and national security advisors, in St. Petersburg, Russia on Wednesday.
This is the first meeting of BRICS High-Ranking Officials responsible for security matters/National Security Advisors following the historic expansion of BRICS. Analysts said that BRICS, as a crucial platform for developing countries, will enhance cooperation among the Global South and contribute to global stability.
During the meeting, Wang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, said he welcomes new members to join the BRICS family, stating that the world today is entering a new period of turmoil and transformation, with various security threats intertwining and resonating. Against this backdrop, it holds special significance for BRICS countries to discuss cooperation plans and seek peaceful solutions together.
Wang proposed four initiatives for BRICS countries to jointly address security threats. BRICS countries should take the lead in practicing peaceful coexistence, and adhering to independence and autonomy. They should also be guided by true multilateralism, reject exceptionalism and double standards.
BRICS countries should firmly promote the political resolution of hotspot issues, and respect each other's legitimate concerns. They must take the lead in speaking out for justice and handling affairs fairly on the international stage, and jointly advocate for an equal and orderly multipolar world and a universally beneficial and inclusive economic globalization, Wang said.
The BRICS meeting in St. Petersburg is addressing security issues of shared concern in response to rising security threats and risks, which indicates that BRICS is expanding beyond economic matters to explore a broader scope of multilateral cooperation, said Cui Heng, a research fellow with the Center for Russian Studies of East China Normal University.
As the Global South is playing an increasingly important role in international affairs, particularly in security and development, China and Russia, along with other BRICS members, aim to deepen ties with these nations to further enhance international influence while addressing the challenges from Western countries, Cui said.
Stanislav Byshok, an expert from the Faculty of Political Science in Moscow State University, said that a key issue for the meeting is how to support each other despite existing barriers, adding that peace initiatives are also anticipated to address the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict.
