The US Embassy in the Philippines is located in a coastal area in Manila, which boasts the most beautiful beaches and waterfront promenades. A local tour guide told the Global Times that the US Embassy in the Philippines is one of the largest embassies among US missions abroad. It is closely connected to the Philippine Navy located in South Harbor in Manila and the Philippine Coast Guard Headquarters.

In March, the China National Nuclear Corporation (CNNC) announced it would open 10 of its nuclear technology research facilities and testing platforms, including China's new-generation "artificial sun" Huanliu-3 (HL-3) tokamak, to the world for the first time.

Editor's Note: The Philippines has escalated its battle against Beijing on the South China Sea issue by pushing fishermen to the frontline, collaborating with Western journalists to spread biased narratives, and conspiring with the US and Japan to contain China. Global Times reporters recently visited the Philippines to investigate the truth behind these provocations, engaging in conversations with local fishermen, ordinary citizens, politicians, and scholars. This is the first installment of the series, which sheds light on how Filipino fishermen have refused to be used as pawns by the current administration in the conflict.

A memorandum of understanding to establish friendly exchange relations was signed last week between Malaita Province of the Solomon Islands and East China's Jiangsu Province in Auki, the provincial capital of Malaita. This new chapter follows years of skepticism, indicating a pivot toward cooperation and mutual growth, analysts noted.

Brand Finance, the internationally renowned brand valuation agency based in London, recently released the "Global Soft Power Index 2024," which shows that the US and the UK have maintained their positions as the top two most influential countries in global soft power. It is noteworthy that China is the fastest-growing nation brand this year, surpassing Japan and Germany, and for the first time, ranking third in the soft power index, with the country's progress exceeding that of any other country.

The Safeguarding National Security Ordinance, a piece of legislation of Hong Kong's Basic Law Article 23 that took effect recently after being unanimously passed by local lawmakers, is another solid legal basis for maintaining stability and prosperity in the city after the implementation of national security law for Hong Kong. The bill is expected to play an essential role in preventing the US-led West's subversion, infiltration, incitement, and espionage activities in Hong Kong.

The world in 2024 is not peaceful. From great power competition to regional conflicts, to numerous global challenges, the global landscape seems to be changing every day. Will the confrontation between Russia and the West lead to a "Cold War 2.0" and the return of the "Iron Curtain" ? Is the temporary stabilization of China-US relations a true departure from the downward spiral trend, or just a short and fragile period of stability?

Some Western media outlets have been sparing no effort to smear China's cooperation with South Pacific Island Countries (PICs). In a recent move, 60 Minutes Australia released a video program entitled "China's dirty tactics to control Pacific" on March 24 to further smear normal exchanges and cooperation between China and Fiji. The video alleges that behind this cooperation are China and Chinese businesspeople who are "supporting drug trafficking organizations in Fiji" and are seeking as much influence as possible in the island nation.

In China, an increasing number of people are enjoying the companionship of pets and treating them as part of the family.

With the rapid development of AI technology, the"digital resurrection" of deceased loved ones is practically becoming an industry in the country, with controversies following close by, of course.

A Chinese proverb says, "The plan for a year lies in spring." Looking across the fertile countryside, regions everywhere are seizing on the agricultural season to carry out spring farming. With the advancement of science and technology, more and more new technologies are being applied in agricultural production, unveiling a scene of modern agricultural development across the vast fields of China.

The Philippines has been making a show of the South China Sea issue for a long time. It has repeatedly provoked China and created tension in the South China Sea region while turning a blind eye to historical facts. Seemingly suffering from a sort of histrionic personality disorder, the Philippines has not only staged many farces on the issue, but also colluded with anti-China forces in the US-led West to play the thief crying “stop thief.”

The President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev was sworn in for a new term in February. How will President Aliyev develop relations with China during the new term? How does relations with China play in Azerbaijan's overall foreign policy? Global Times reporter Xie Wenting (GT) recently talked to Assistant of President of Azerbaijan for Foreign Policy Affairs Hikmat Hajiyev (Hajiyev), who recently visited China to discuss bilateral cooperation. Hajiyev noted that the development of relations with China has been a top priority for Azerbaijan and the country fully supports the one-China policy. As Azerbaijan will host COP29 this year, the top diplomat said that the country seeks to build understanding and solidarity between the "Global North" and "Global South," and he praised China as a champion for green technology.

A violent incident at a concert venue on the outskirts of Moscow resulted in the death of at least 143 individuals and left over 100 injured. The assailants used automatic firearms during the incident and utilized an inflammable substance to start a blaze.

Every year, Professor Liu Yansui embarks on a journey that takes him to the heart of China's countryside. With each step he takes, Liu brings with him a wealth of knowledge, experience, and dedication that have made him a driving force in China's poverty alleviation and rural revitalization efforts.

Following Zibo and Harbin, Tianshui, an ancient Silk Road city in Northwest China's Gansu Province, became the latest place that has caused a nationwide craze thanks to its iconic dish malatang, a local street dish featuring a mix of fresh vegetables and meat boiled in a hot, spicy broth.

Recently disclosed information revealed that the CIA has been secretly operating on Chinese social media in recent years, attempting to shape public opinion about the Chinese government in targeted areas, which, analysts warned, not only demonstrates the modern application of Cold War-era strategies but also highlights the significance of information warfare in current global politics, undermining regional stability and normal development.

Pakistan takes "immense pride" in its unique and "time-tested friendship" with China. The two countries are not only connected by land, rivers, and mountains, but also by a heart corridor, founded on the shared values of mutual respect, trust, solidarity, and support, said Pakistani Ambassador to China Khalil-ur-Rahman Hashmi.

Industry insiders and experts reached by the Global Times revealed that behind the frequent accidents is the American hegemony that has fallen apart like scattered nuts and bolts on the floor. The serious safety problems of the head of the US aerospace industry and the world's leading manufacturer of civil and military aircraft have also made the US media, scholars and the public think of the long-standing systemic problems in the country's manufacturing industry, and reflect on the entire trajectory of "deindustrialization" and "re-industrialization" in the US.

China National Nuclear Corporation (CNNC) has opened ten of its nuclear technology research facilities and testing platforms, including China's new-generation "artificial sun" Huanliu-3 (HL-3) tokamak, to the world for the first time. The move will further enhance China's influence in nuclear science and technology globally, injecting strong "nuclear power" into promoting win-win cooperation worldwide, the Global Times learned from CNNC at a press conference on March 19 in Beijing during the 17th China International Nuclear Industry Exhibition.

The Global Times is launching a series of articles, telling the vivid stories about human rights protection in the new era. We expect this series to become a window through which more foreign readers will understand how Chinese people recognize human rights and what efforts they have made to fight for and fully enjoy human rights in their daily lives.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken is set to head to the Philippines on Tuesday to reinforce the American-Philippine alliance through cooperation and security matters, following a recent trade mission there by US Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo. This is seen as the latest move in US intervention in the South China Sea issue. But is the US support for the Philippines really as well-meaning and valuable as it appears? The answer may disappoint many Filipino politicians.

This is the second installment in the series, illustrating why China indisputably holds sovereignty over Ren'ai Jiao and its adjacent waters. Ren'ai Jiao has always been Chinese territory and is an integral part of China's Nansha Islands geographically, economically, politically, and historically.

"I'm extremely thankful that President Xi spent time to write to us. It was very touching he was able to hear about the amazing times on our trip," Seinna Stonking, a freshman at Muscatine High School in the central US state of Iowa, told the Global Times.

As spring arrives in March, bringing warmer weather and blossoming flowers, people across China step outside to fulfill a civic duty - planting trees.

The Swiss global financial group Cedrus Group announced the establishment of the QFLP Fund on Tuesday to focus on investing in mature, pre-IPO stage companies in the life sciences and agriculture sectors in China, and establishing joint ventures with foreign companies seeking to enter the Chinese market.

When Lucas Fan received his friend Jim in Beijing in June 2023, Lucas had to order a taxi for Jim every time he needed one as Jim, from Ireland, could not link his international bank card with WeChat or Alipay payment functions. As the two main social networking apps in China, WeChat and Alipay are virtually indispensable in nearly every aspect of daily life, from chatting, working to shopping, and from taxi-hailing to making electronic payments.

China is a main target of this restriction wave, although as a recent opinion piece in The Economist noted: "Chinese landholdings are both tiny and shrinking." Then how did the "China grabbing US land" fallacy come about?

Editor's Note: Since 2012, China has witnessed an extraordinary economic transition, with historic achievements in all aspects of the economy from its size to quality. Such an unparalleled feat does not just happen, especially during a tumultuous period in the global geo-economic landscape and a tough phase in China's economic transformation and upgrading process. It was Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era that guided the country in overcoming various risks and challenges, and in keeping the China economic miracle alive.

The Philippines has recently advanced the domestic legislation of the "Maritime Zones Act" in an attempt to put a legal veneer on its illegal claims and actions in the South China Sea.

Editor's Note: The second session of the 14th National People's Congress (NPC) and the second session of the 14th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) will conclude on March 11 and 10, respectively. The two sessions are a crucial window into China's whole-process people's democracy and will offer the world a window through which to observe the country's development and understand its policy direction for the following year. The Global Times has initiated a series of articles under the theme “understanding China through motions and proposals.” This article, the second installment of the series, glimpses into what kind of new social trends China is striving to create through the proposals and motions heatedly discussed in the two sessions.

China is playing an increasingly important role in the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER) project and it is due to the long-term attention and support of the country's industry and government to controlled nuclear fusion research, Duan Xuru, a senior expert on fusion who is also a member of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, told the Global Times.

The world's first 300-megawatt compressed air energy storage project in Yingcheng, Central China's Hubei Province, will be put into commercial operation soon, Song Hailiang, a member of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) and the Secretary of the Party Committee and Chairman of China Energy Engineering Corporation Limited (CEEC), told the Global Times.

March 8 marks International Women's Day. This year, the official theme of the United Nations observance of the day is "Invest in women: Accelerate progress."

"The highest priority for the development of artificial intelligence (AI) technologies in China is not to create explosive applications, but to accelerate the development of industrial systems and the real economy," said Xiao Xinguang, a member of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference and chief software architect from Chinese cybersecurity company Antiy.

The planning of large-scale scientific facilities and basic research requires long-term perspective and more investment, said Wang Yifang, director of the Institute of High Energy Physics (IHEP) of Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), who is also a deputy to the 14th National People's Congress.

During this year's two sessions, the Global Times is launching a series of stories to illustrate the whole-process people's democracy from some of such details. The third story is about the work diary of an NPC deputy from Northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. By following in her footsteps, we see how an NPC deputy truly brings the most grounded, warm, and vivid voices from the grassroots to the two sessions.

As the high-speed train zoomed from Beidaihe in North China's Hebei Province to Beijing on Sunday, Li Dandan, residents' committee director of Dongjing Road Community in Beidaihe district of Qinhuangdao, was carefully reviewing the motions she was going to put forward at this year's two sessions.

During this year's two sessions, the Global Times is launching a series of stories to illustrate the whole-process people's democracy from some of such details. The first story is about an ordinary workday of a grass-roots service site of a district-level political advisory body in Shanghai suburb. There, the reporters took a closer look at this consultation site's efforts in fulfilling the Chinese democracy through solving “little things” that matter the daily life of local residents.

The second session of the 14th National People's Congress (NPC) and the second session of the 14th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) will open on March 5 and 4, respectively. The two sessions are a crucial window into China's whole-process people's democracy and will offer the world a window to observe the country's development and understand its policy direction for the following year.

Compared with Japan in 1990s, China's economic growth potential is substantially greater. So, with the right policies, China should not end up like Japan, renowned British economist Martin Wolf, associate editor, and chief economics commentator at the Financial Times, told the Global Times in Beijing.

February 24, 2024 marked two years since the breakout of the Russia-Ukraine conflict, which now still shows no signs of abetting. How do ordinary Ukrainians live in the midst of the conflict? The Global Times recently interviewed several Ukrainians who said that while the supply of goods in Kiev is relatively adequate, many people have lost their jobs or seen a significant decline in income. Many have had to change their way of life to adapt to frequent air raids and explosions. The healthcare and education sectors have also been impacted.

This is an era filled with vitality and hope, where every landscape tells a different story, and every city reveals its unique charm. It is these diverse aspects that come together to form the grand tapestry of China. The Global Times is launching an “Impressions of the New Era” column, which is dedicated to showcasing the unique development and changes across the nation through a series of vivid and emotionally rich pictures. From the majestic mountains and rivers of the north to the hustling and bustling cities of the south, from the fishing villages along the eastern coast to the remote townships in the far west, this column hopes to take our readers to different places to explore their unique allure.

Apart from directly stirring up frictions in the South China Sea region, it has been found that the Philippines has cooperated with some US anti-China forces to launch a cognitive warfare that defames China on the South China Sea issue, to hurt China's international image, and drive a wedge between China and relevant countries in this region.

Since 2023, the Philippines has been dispatching batches of government vessels and fishing ships to intrude on and provoke disputes in the South China Sea, especially near China's Huangyan Dao (also known as Huangyan Island), under the pretext of "ensuring the security of Filipino fishermen."

A global survey conducted by the Global Times Research Institute at the end of 2023 showed that 31 percent of global respondents believed that the latest round of Palestine-Israel conflict that broke out on October 7 was very likely to escalate into a larger Middle East war, indicating growing concern across the world over the worsening situation as well as difficulties in successfully calling for a complete ceasefire, experts said.

China and Pakistan share a strong and enduring friendship that dates back to the 1950s, and the China-Pakistan relationship is a shining example of strong bilateral ties based on mutual respect and shared interests. The China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) is also a flagship project under the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) that aims to enhance connectivity and trade between the two countries. How will the CPEC develop in the next decade? How does Pakistan envision the development of ties with China? Global Times reporters Xie Wenting and Chu Daye (GT) spoke with Pakistani Ambassador to China Khalil-ur-Rahman Hashmi (Hashmi) on these and other crucial matters.

As a key birthplace and early adopter of Xi's ecological ideas, Xiamen has pursued systematicecological governance and contributed to high-quality development through marine ecological restoration for over 30 years, fostering harmony between man and nature.

There is overwhelming evidence that the Philippines is actually a large practitioner and exporter of cyanide fishing, while it continues to hype up accusations against Chinese fishermen using cyanide to fish around the waters of Huangyan Dao.

The Lantern Festival on the 15th day of the first lunar month marks the final stop of the Spring Festival and is also the first night when a full moon is visible during the lunar new year.

Nancy Tang sighs in frustration when seeing the negative result on the pregnancy test kit, again. She writes a private post on social media that is only visible to herself: "If I don't get pregnant soon, I'm gonna miss the 'dragon baby.'"

Chinese scientists have diffusion-induced lithium isotopic heterogeneity in olivines from peridotites of an oceanized mantle lithosphere the Tibetan Yunzhug ophiolite (central Xizang). The study supports that seawater lithium diffusion is one of the important factors for the heterogeneity of mantle lithiumi isotopes in ophiolites, the Global Times learned from the Institute of Tibetan Plateau Research (ITP), Chinese Academy of Sciences on Thursday.

China was the first country in history to start and continue to manage South China Sea islands and engage in related maritime activities. Successive Chinese governments in all dynasties have continuously and peacefully had jurisdiction over the South China Sea islands. China has indisputable sovereignty over Huangyan Dao and the waters adjacent to it. The Philippines disregards historical fact, distorts international law, and violates the consensus reached and repeatedly confirmed through negotiations between China and the Philippines to resolve disputes in the South China Sea, analysts pointed out.

I had assumed that Shanghai would be relatively quiet during this Chinese New Year holidays, when many migrant workers would leave for their hometowns during this annual family reunion season.

Every morning at the crack of dawn, Lin Fa-wei and his wife Wei Jinyan, kick off their day with a flurry of activity: Steaming sticky rice, prepping fillings, and wrapping mochi... And even during the 2024 Spring Festival holidays, there's no rest for the couple.

Over the last two months, the “shock therapy” implemented by the Milei government has had a tremendous impact on Argentine livelihoods and society. The working class has substituted beef with cheaper chicken on their dinner tables; the middle class has ceased dining out and started collecting discount coupons from newspapers; supermarket shelf stockers have had to frequently change price tags; and small business owners have lamented the increasing difficulty of doing business... Despite facing these challenges, and while some Argentines express concern that they do not know “what tomorrow will bring,” another segment of the population remains confident in Milei's reforms. What is the reason behind this? The Global Times interviewed several Argentine citizens, getting their accounts of the changes experienced in their lives over the last two months and their expectations for Argentina's future.

China and ASEAN countries have the ability and wisdom to reach a Code of Conduct in the South China Sea (COC) and safeguard peace and stability, freedoms of navigation and overflight, and the legitimate rights and interests of other countries in the region, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said at the 60th Munich Security Conference on Saturday.

The answer is pretty close to my own understanding of people from the province. In my 33 years, my parents constantly reiterated the surmountable nature of every challenge.

Returning to my hometown Hefei, an inland city that was once inconspicuous, after years of being away, I was surprised to witness a remarkable transformation. In the intervening time, it has become a bustling city of new energy and now boasts high-tech advancements, a testament to the power of progress and innovation.

Recently, Australian historian author John John Queripel wrote an article titled “China: learning from Canute,” published on Pearls and Irritations, which gained widespread attention as the article provides a keen analysis of Western smears against China as well as Australia's relations with China and US influence therein. Global Times reporter Xie Wenting (GT) conducted an exclusive interview with John Queripel to further explore his opinions on China's development and US influence on Australia's foreign policy, among other topics.

Whenever the Spring Festival approaches, people walking on the streets always discuss the “festive vibe.” “The festive feeling is fading,” some people would say, especially when one starts a conversation with a distant relative or a taxi driver. In the context of rapid change, people often lament the dilution of the festive spirit, worrying that the essence of traditional festivals is gradually dissipating amid the flood of modern living.

When it comes to North China's Shanxi Province, the first impressions are often "coal capital," "severe pollution," and "loess highland," with a perpetually dull skyline and miles of yellow soil. People have always believed that Shanxi was trapped in its monotonous identity as the "coal capital" and was unlikely to achieve innovation and reform. However, recent changes have provided evidence to the contrary. Shanxi, my hometown, with its cultural traditions and ancient heritage, now boasts new calling cards.

As the Chinese New Year of 2024 dawns, a wave of jubilation has swept across the globe, marking the commencement of "Happy Spring Festival" activities in different cities around the world. With the vibrant hue of "Chinese Red" illuminating celebrations, the world has come together to share in the festive joy, showcasing the rich tapestry of traditional Chinese culture through special songs and dances.

"I heard that the Chinese people are very passionate about winter sports. Switzerland also hopes to better promote its winter tourism resources," Swiss Federal Councilor and Foreign Minister Ignazio Cassis told the Global Times in Beijing on Wednesday.

Kathy Peng never imagined that her birthplace in Southwest China's Yunnan Province would be a production region for Scotch whisky. Kathy, a seasoned world traveler with a discerning palate for international delicacies, now resides in Sanlitun, Beijing's cosmopolitan heart. With the Spring Festival, or Chinese Lunar New Year, approaching, as every Chinese person would, she took to the internet, curating an array of goods for her family's festive celebration. To her astonishment, she discovered that what were once exotic imported foods have now found a home across China – Caviar from Southwest China's Sichuan Province has supplanted the Baltic delicacy, while goose liver, a luxurious staple in French cuisine, can be bought from Anhui Province in central China; South American prawns are sourced from the arid yet latitudinally similar Gansu Province in Northwest China; Matcha, Japan's signature flavor, now hails from Southwest China's Guizhou Province.

Shortly after the government of Papua New Guinea (PNG) announced that it was considering a potential security agreement with China, the US and Australia initiated a campaign to undermine this cooperation – the latest move in a series of ongoing efforts by the US and Australia to disrupt the partnership between China and South Pacific Island countries (PICs), experts said.

While China prepares for the Spring Festival, also known as the Chinese Lunar New Year, President Xi Jinping extended messages of good wishes, support, and confidence for 2024 to all Chinese people during his inspection tour in North China's Tianjin Municipality on January 1 and 2.

Diarra Boubacar, a traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) practitioner from Mali, Africa, and the first foreign doctor in China to obtain a doctoral degree in TCM, had a curious experience on his first day of official practice.

From January 31 to February 1, 2024, the "Joyful Dragon for a Happy Chinese New Year" events, as part of the "Happy Chinese New Year" cultural program, took place successfully in San Francisco.

The United Nations Human Rights Council's Universal Periodic Review (UPR) Working Group conducted a fourth review of China's human rights situation in Geneva on January 23. During the review, representatives from 161 countries requested to speak - the highest number in history. Among them, more than 120 countries positively evaluated the progress of China's human rights developments.

While the atmosphere to welcome the 2024 Spring Festival is rising, so is the atmosphere of scientific and technological innovation in Beijing.

The upcoming elections in Pakistan do not affect its interaction with the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) or other international organizations. The SCO works with states, regardless of the government in power, said Pakistan's Director General SCO at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Altamash Wazir Khan.

Iran's position and policy align in always strengthening cooperation and relations with neighboring countries, including Pakistan, Mehrdad Kiaei, the National Coordinator of the Islamic Republic of Iran to the SCO Secretariat, told the Global Times in a recent interview.

At the start of 2024, China's opening-up push made a distinctive stride in the financial sector. On January 25, UK-based multinational bank Standard Chartered was approved to set up business in Hefei, East China's Anhui Province. Days before, Chinese authorities said that 10 more foreign-funded institutions had been approved as lead underwriters or underwriters of debt financing instruments for non-financial enterprises.

Tsinghua University announced on Wednesday that scientists at the institution had made a breakthrough with the world's first patient brain-computer interfaces (BCI) rehabilitation trial on Monday, the same day Tesla CEO Elon Musk announced the success of a procedure to implant Neuralink's brain chip into the first human patient.

It is only about one week before the arrival of the 2024 Chinese New Year, or Spring Festival, which falls on February 10. Chinese people are busy preparing for this important traditional festival as a festive atmosphere has already spread everywhere, from bustling markets, elegantly decorated streets to crowded lantern shows.

If an employee continues to reply to job-related messages in off-duty hours, can this be counted as overtime? should the employers offer extra payment to their staff for working during this period of time? It is not easy to answer this question given the fiercely competitive environment in the Chinese job market, not to mention the context of the 9-9-6 work culture, to which many employees at internet giants are accustomed.

The construction of the world's most powerful solution-type medical isotope test reactor commenced on Tuesday in Southwest China's Sichuan Province, according to information obtained by the Global Times from the China National Nuclear Corporation (CNNC). This development aims to better address the diagnostic and treatment requirements of tens of millions of people in China.

Editor's Note: “Cognitive Warfare” has become a new form of confrontation between states, and a new security threat. With new technological means, it sets agendas and spreads disinformation, to change people's perceptions and thus alter their self-identity. Launching cognitive warfare against China is an important means for Western anti-China forces to attack and discredit the country.

As China strides forward in its aerospace endeavors, it simultaneously extends a collaborative hand to Africa's youth, fostering an environment in which their aspirations in aviation can take flight. This synergy of growth and cooperation highlights a mutual journey toward technological mastery and shared dreams, bridging the gap between continents and cultures through the universal language of sky aspirations.

China is intensifying its efforts to crack down on hidden corruption, as it risks undermining already realized national anti-corruption achievements and creating greater systemic financial risks at a larger scope as experts have warned.

It has been more than one month since Japanese ambassador to China Kenji Kanasugi arrived in December 2023. On January 18, Ambassador Kanasugi gave an exclusive interview to Global Times reporters Xing Xiaojing and Liu Xin (GT), his first interview with Chinese media, during which he described diplomatic work as a "long-distance relay race," and said that whoever holds the baton should run as far as possible. During his tenure as Japanese ambassador to China, he hopes to use his own experiences to promote mutual exchanges between Japan and China, and contribute to the improvement of bilateral relations.

From a high altitude overlooking Tong'an Bay in Xiamen, East China's Fujian Province, patches of greenery are embedded like emeralds in the azure sea on both sides of the bay's top bridge. Walking on the plank road in the Xiatanwei Mangrove Park, the largest artificially reconstructed mangrove-themed ecological park in Fujian, with the tide rising wave after wave, the mangrove forest gently sways, showcasing a successful example of ecological restoration in Xiamen Bay.

The recent landslide that occurred on Monday morning in Zhenxiong county, in the city of Zhaotong in Southwest China's Yunnan Province, and the earthquake on Tuesday in Wushi county in Aksu Prefecture, Northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, has touched everybody's hearts. The country reacted quickly and spared no efforts to rescue victims.

It is crucial to let more people outside China know about the Chinese economy and investments in China, and let them have the proper knowledge or expertise in the Chinese markets, Rani Jarkas, chairman of the Cedrus Group, said after attending the Davos 2024.

Sixty years ago, on January 27, 1964, the Xinhua News Agency and Agence France-Presse simultaneously issued a joint statement, making France the first major Western power to establish diplomatic relations with People's Republic of China. Looking back, what lessons can the development of China-France relations offer to Western countries in their relations with China?

Although the US and the Philippines have repeatedly provoked China in the South China Sea issue, weaponizing fishermen against China, the story of the People's Liberation Army (PLA) Navy rescuing foreign fishermen in the South China Sea continues to uphold the humanitarian principle of "search and rescue knows no borders."

There are "solid bits of evidence" proving that India supports terrorist forces in some Pakistani areas like Balochistan Province, providing them with money, weapons, and training, some sources close to the matter told the Global Times.

Editor's Note: On February 28, 2012, Tursun Talip, a resident in Yecheng county, Kashi Prefecture, Northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, lost his son Turghunjan, an auxiliary police officer who was hacked to death by nine terrorists, alongside another 12 killed and 16 injured. Tursun rushed to the scene and collapsed on the weeping bitterly in front of his son's pool of blood. “All I had in my mind was my son being hacked to death. I could even hear him crying out for me.”

In the heart of Cambodia, a nation scarred by the remnants of war, Liu Wenzhi, a retired military veteran turned demining specialist, has embarked on a dangerous, yet fulfilling mission of landmine elimination.

Recently, Global Times reporters Shan Jie and Lin Xiaoyi (GT) interviewed Fung Ming-chu (Fung), historian and former director of the Taipei Palace Museum from September 2012 to May 2016, to talk about the historical echoes and inspirations of the relocation of Chinese treasures in her eyes today, as well as her hopes for the resumption of cross-Straits cultural exchanges between the Palace Museums in the face of current geopolitical challenges.

Recently, Global Times reporters Shan Jie and Lin Xiaoyi (GT) interviewed Xu Wanling (Xu), the director of the Institute for Research on the Palace Museum Collection's Evacuation to the South, as she recounted this special history and its echoes and lessons for today.

The vast and diverse landscape of China offers unique travel experiences ranging from the snowy landscapes of the north to the sunny beaches of the south. In 2024, the trend of South-North cross travel saw a wave of enthusiasm for winter tourism in China, showcasing the diverse tourism resources across the country.

"It is idiotic to waste our dwindling carbon budget on war," researchers from the US and the UK warned in a recent report revealing that the US and the UK militaries owe huge sums in climate compensation as they continue to involve themselves in wars and conflicts globally. Such conflicts are accompanied by widening carbon footprints and serious environmental destruction.

Chinese Premier Li Qiang paid an official visit to Switzerland from Sunday to Monday at the invitation of President of the Swiss Confederation Viola Amherd, and Global Times reporter Zhang Changyue (GT) conducted an exclusive interview with Chinese Ambassador to Switzerland Wang Shiting. The ambassador talked about the main highlights and achievements of Li's visit, the visit's impact on China-Switzerland and China-Europe relations, and the future potential areas of cooperation for China and Switzerland.

Houthi rebels in Yemen said, on Monday, that they attacked a US ship in the Gulf of Aden after US launched airstrikes on Houthis. The situation in the Red Sea has grown increasingly tense in recent weeks, showing the spillover effect of the ongoing conflict in the Gaza Strip. What will possibly happen next? Is it possible for a larger conflict to happen in the Middle East? How will new tensions affect the ongoing Palestine-Israel conflict? Global Times reporters Xie Wenting and Bai Yunyi (GT) spoke with Yezid Sayigh (Sayigh), a senior fellow at the Malcolm H. Kerr Carnegie Middle East Center, on these and other pertinent issues.

The China-donated Integrated Center for Technological Training (CINFOTEC) Huambo, a vocational skills training center, was officially inaugurated in Central Angola's Huambo on January 12, and is expected to boost Angola's industrial and high-end technology development, the Global Times learned from the state-owned Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC) on Tuesday.

Over 2,000 years ago, traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) spread to the world along the ancient Silk Road. In the decade since the launch of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), TCM has continued to traverse the world, building "health bridges" and promoting exchanges and mutual learning among countries.

One day in the 1950s, in the dimly lit hall of a museum in the US, young James Cahill saw the Zhi Garden Album for the first time.

Construction of the world's highest-altitude pumped-storage power station kicks off Thursday in Southwest China's Sichuan Province.

In the face of the major opportunities and challenges brought about by a new wave of technological revolution and industrial transformation, innovation has become a topic of particular concern for all countries as it is a key factor in pushing forward a country's continued development.

Witnessed by 150 scientists from eight countries, the International PlateauPlus Association (PlateauPlus) was established Thursday in Beijing, during the PlateauPlus Workshop held by the Institute of Tibetan Plateau Research (ITP) and the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS).

The first installment in the series shines a spotlight on the nuanced history of China's medical aid teams in Africa over the last 60 years. During this time frame, China has dispatched medical professionals to 76 countries and regions worldwide, providing medical care to 290 million patients and earning widespread acclaim from the international community. Four groups of Chinese healthcare workers who contributed to various phases of aid in Africa shared with the Global Times their efforts in weaving together a lasting tapestry of friendship between China and Africa.

With the completion of the first trial voyage of China's first domestically built drilling ship, the Mengxiang (Dream in English), the country officially became the third country in the world - following the US and Japan - to possess its own professional ocean drillship, which is dubbed as the aircraft carrier in marine science.

Over the last 45 years, Menendez has experienced the ups and downs of China-US relations and the expanding economic and trade cooperation between the two countries. Currently, the development of China-US relations is at a critical juncture. Regarding the future direction of China-US relations and how the two countries can strengthen cooperation, Global Times reporters Xie Wenting and Zhao Juecheng (GT) recently interviewed Menendez to gain his perspective on these and more pertinent questions.

At the ping-pong table, US player Margaux Reppert asked her Chinese partner Liu Wanying about receiving skills before their doubles match began. Liu answered Reppert's questions in detail and gave her encouragement. The two 20-year-olds had relaxed and friendly smiles on their faces.

"National security is the foundation of national rejuvenation. In adhering to the overall concept of national security, we resolutely safeguard national sovereignty, safety, and development interests." On August 1, 2023, the official WeChat account of China's Ministry of State Security made its debut with these powerful words, becoming an important window, through which the whole society could gain an understanding of the work conducted by national security agencies.

Foreign internet influencers who were tagged as “propagandists for Communist Party of China (CPC)” in a report by a US government-funded think tank strongly hit back at such “hysterical” accusations, calling the report “comical and disappointing” while noting such move aims at trying to silence the truth about China.

At a commercial building on the busy Nanjing Road West in downtown Shanghai, two groups of people almost come to blows over a lease negotiation dispute. The situation threatens to escalate as angry lessees and lessors consider seeking redress at the courts if the conflict isn't resolved promptly.

"The new government, with a clear bias and ideological perspective, will cause serious harm to Argentina's economy," said former Argentine ambassador to China Sabino Vaca Narvaja in an exclusive interview with the Global Times on Thursday.

In this fifth installment of a series of articles, GT tells character stories based on ordinary people in Xinjiang who have found opportunities for self-realization and have grasped real happiness.

In this fourth installment of a series of articles, GT tells character stories based on multiple local young people who have realized their self-worth here with the continuous improvement of Xinjiang's economic industrial structure.

In 2023, China witnessed remarkable achievements in scientific and technology area despite of comprehensive competition pressure and unreasonable containment from the US-led West. China's first domestically made passenger plane C919 takes maiden commercial flight; China's first domestic large cruise ship sets sail; China launches Shenzhou-17 manned spaceship for new challenging works; China's gigantic telescope builds world's largest neutral hydrogen catalog; and world's largest single capacity offshore wind turbine gets successfully installed... In the past year, China's technological innovation has achieved new breakthroughs, with each blockbuster project stunningly appearing.

This is the sixth installment in the Global Times "Wish List" series, which tells the story of a former fisherman on the Yangtze River who has since transformed into a patrol officer, using the skills bestowed upon him by the river to give back to China's environmental protection efforts. The "guardians" of the Yangtze finless porpoise hope that these "smiling angels" will forever be good companions to the Chinese people, enjoying the country's lucid waters and lush mountains.

What is the similarity between a trotting horse lamp and an aero engine? Who helped transform Beijing's air quality and sky from hazy to crystal blue? How would AI change the way we live?... Answers to these questions and more were found at a New Year's Eve Event hosted by the Beijing Association for Science and Technology (BAST) as part of the association's New Year of Science project to welcome 2024.

In the season of heavy snow and freezing cold, the soldiers at the border frontlines remain steadfast while on duty in the snowy mountains, a testament not only to their spirit of sacrifice and dedication but also to the strong logistical support provided by the military. The widespread use of new-quality logistical support equipment demonstrates the care of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee for the soldiers at the border and reflects the PLA's determination to defend China's territory.

Xiao Long, a planetary geoscientist at the China University of Geosciences (Wuhan), estimates that the first human landing on Mars will occur in around 2050.

As the last magnet of China's High Energy Photon Source (HEPS) was successfully installed in the Huairou Science City in Beijing on December 11, 2023, the first step of the HEPS storage ring installation was officially completed. The HEPS, after completion, will stand as one of the brightest synchrotron radiation (SR) sources in the world and the first high-energy synchrotron radiation facility in China.

"The sun is an eternal challenge in the journey of human exploration," Wang Jingxiu, academician at the Chinese Academy of Sciences and researcher at the National Astronomical Observatories (NAOC), told the audience at the New Year of Science Eve Event.

"The trotting horse lamp happens to be the initial prototype for the jet engine!" At the 2024 New Year of Science Eve Event, Liu Daxiang, renowned Chinese aviation power expert, academician at the Chinese Academy of Engineering, and professor at the Beihang University, dismantled the carousel lantern while vividly explaining to the children present at the event that the working principle of the carousel lantern is similar to that of modern gas turbines, both of which generate thrust based on the rising of hot air.

What is the similarity between a trotting horse lamp and an aero engine? Who helped transform Beijing's air quality and sky from hazy to crystal blue? How would AI change the way we live?... Answers to these questions and more were found at a New Year's Eve event hosted by the Beijing Association for Science and Technology (BAST) as part of the association's New Year of Science project to welcome 2024.

The year 2023 witnessed many changes in the international landscape and also saw more voices from the Global South on the global stage. It was also a year in which the US continued to forcefully impose its ideology on other countries, Japan's nuclear-contaminated wastewater dumping was internationally condemned, and the Palestine-Israeli conflict broke out, all posing diverse risks to global peace and stability. Conversely, in 2023, China made great strides in economic recovery and diplomacy, and unveiled significant technological breakthroughs.

The development of China is an opportunity for Vietnam and the reform and opening-up in Vietnam is also an opportunity for China, Minister of the Vietnamese Embassy in China Ninh Thanh Cong told the Global Times on Tuesday.

In the country's efforts to promote balanced development in education, firm steps are being taken toward the robust development of China's young generation.

The end of the year and the start of a new one is a time for reflection and anticipation. Throughout 2023, the Chinese society has undergone various developments and changes, which manifest the exploration and practice of the Chinese path to modernization. In light of this, the Global Times is launching a series that elaborates on this unique path through the stories of ordinary people's New Year's wishes. These wishes serve as a window to the changes and achievements of Chinese society as Chinese modernization has brought Chinese people more concrete consensus, a more vibrant countryside, more imaginative innovation, more balanced education, a more dignified old age with stronger security, and a more confident civilization. This shows that Chinese modernization is the prerequisite and driving force for the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation.

The end of the year and the start of a new one is a time for reflection and anticipation. Throughout 2023, the Chinese society has undergone various developments and changes, behind which manifests the exploration and practice of Chinese path to modernization.

Over one-third of respondents from 20 countries expect the future relationship between China and the US to “maintain status quo,” in the coming year while nearly one-third hope for relations “to be eased.” Meanwhile, over half of respondents from 20 countries expressed great concern over the spillover effects of US domestic issues that might negatively impact the world, according to a recent survey conducted by the Global Times Institute (GTI) released on Saturday.

This is the second installment in the “Wish List” series, telling the story of a soccer player from the Village Super League in Southwest China's Guizhou Province who has realized his dreams through sports over the year and witnessed the tremendous changes in his hometown. As 2024 approaches, he makes a wish to score more goals with his teammates and lift the championship trophy. If possible, he also dreams of competing with world-class soccer stars. His wish portrays a more vibrant countryside brought about by Chinese modernization.

According to a survey conducted by the Global Times Institute on the opinions of participants across 20 countries in 16 languages, about 60 percent of respondents from foreign countries believe that China's global influence is rising. As of December 1, 2023, a total of approximately 17,000 valid questionnaires were collected. The Global Times invited several Chinese and foreign experts to analyze the survey results which cover a range of topics including China's role in the world, China-US relations, and risks facing the world, among others. Experts said that they believe that China's achievements in its unique modernization process have generated strong appeal and attraction worldwide, especially in Global South countries. This is the first installment of the survey.

“Ending life adrift at sea and settling down on land… I want to chase a better life with my diligent working and persevering spirit,” Lin Caizeng made this New Year's wish – simple, pure, and full of hope.

A bustling Lanzhou beef noodle soup stall was busy distributing noodles for free to the survivors beside a temporary resettlement camp for earthquake victims in Jintian village in Northwest China's Qinghai Province. With the steaming soup came gradually relaxed faces and unfolding smiles as the warmth comforted bellies and hearts in a temperature approaching -15 C. With the heat curling up, it was probably one of the warmest moments among people's memories from the disaster area.

China's economy faced serious downward pressure in 2023, but it still achieved impressive hard-won results in GDP growth, high-quality development, and so on. Behind this is scientific policymaking under Xi's leadership

With the conclusion of COP28, or the 28th session of the Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change on December 12, 2023, a "historic" climate deal was inked, which, for the first time, pledged to transition away from the use of fossil fuels while boosting renewable energy. Representatives from nearly 200 countries agreed, at the summit, to begin reducing the global use of fossil fuels, drawing worldwide attention. At the summit, China talked with every relevant party to find an acceptable solution to promote the success of the COP28. Over the years, the efforts that China has made in climate change have won wide recognition and the cooperation between China and the US is also of importance to the world. On the heels of COP28, Global Times reporter Xie Wenting (GT) spoke with Champa Patel (Patel), Executive Director for Governments and Policy at the Climate Group, an NGO dedicated to climate change, on issues related to COP28 and global cooperation on climate change among other topics.

The Group of Seven (G7) has been hyping the South China Sea issue synchronously under the US leadership. In the latest statement released earlier this month, the G7 once again claimed to oppose China's militarization activities in the South China Sea, and, not surprisingly, mentioned the so-called South China Sea arbitration.

Standing on the observation deck, one is easily captivated by the majestic view of the Xiaowan Hydropower Station (Xiaowan). The massive dam, standing tall and proud, stretches across the roaring Lancang River, creating a mesmerizing sight. It is hard to imagine how the model of an advanced Chinese hydropower station, known as the world's landmark double-curvature arch concrete dam, uses its slender body to generate an impressively large output of clean and sustainable electricity and benefit riparian countries along the Mekong River. As Lancang-Mekong River countries vowed to work together to promote regional prosperity at a recently concluded foreign ministers' meeting held in Beijing, Global Times reporters, together with envoys from many Mekong countries, visited Xiaowan, one of the leading hydropower stations along the Lancang River, to see how it brings practical benefits to downstream countries through flood control, water supply, power generation, and ecological protection.

In mid-December, Beijing was covered in heavy snow, while about 2,300 kilometers away, Hanoi remained a tropical summer. A visit brought the two places closer, and displayed a highlight moment in the China-Vietnam relationship.

Editor's Note: At the end of 2022, the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (SAR) Government announced the establishment of the Chief Executive's Policy Unit (CEPU), drawing significant global attention. This unit is also considered to be the "think tank" behind the SAR Chief Executive's policy-making. Nearly one year later, Global Times reporters Chen Qingqing and Bai Yunyi (GT) talked with Stephen Wong Yuen-shan (Wong), the head of the CEPU, at the top floor of the west wing of the HKSAR Government Headquarters.

A total of 23 rescued spotted seals were released into the waters off the coast of Dalian in Liaoning Province on Tuesday as part of China's continuous efforts to protect the endangered species.

The China Coast Guard (CCG) and the Vietnam Coast Guard (VCG) held the 7th high-level work meeting as well as a series of exchange activities in South China's Guangzhou from December 4 to 8, with both sides vowing to jointly crack down on maritime crime to further consolidate the traditional friendship between the two countries and deepen practical maritime cooperation and trust.

“Cognitive Warfare” has become a new form of confrontation between states, and a new security threat. With new technological means, it sets agendas and spreads disinformation, so as to change people's perceptions and thus alter their self-identity. Launching cognitive warfare against China is an important means for Western anti-China forces to attack and discredit the country. Under the manipulation of the US-led West, the “China threat theory” has continued to foment.

Choreographed based on a Northern Song Dynasty (960-1127) silk scroll paining A Thousand Li of Rivers and Mountains, "A Mere Touch of Green - A Choregraphed Portrait of A Panorama of Mountains and Rivers" has been staged over 300 times since its debut in 2021.

This year marks the 15th anniversary of the establishment of the China-Vietnam comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership. High-level interactions between the two countries have been frequent, and exchanges in various fields such as the economy and trade have been increasing.

This is the sixth installment in the series. In this installment, we invite Yang Yongchun, a chief expert in the Tibetan legal practice from relevant government agency, who holds doctorates in both Buddhist Studies and Law, to delve into this concept and give detailed explanation as to why so many people in the West are misled.

After three years of the pandemic, many pandas, whose returns were delayed due to epidemic prevention, have boarded planes back home this year. Statistics show that over a dozen pandas have returned to their native homeland from various parts of the world in 2023. Some of them reached maturity and are ready to mate.

Relevant polls and interviews with locals conducted by Global Times reporters indicate that people in Latin America particularly appreciate China's economic and technological development, and look forward to deepening cooperation and sharing development with China.

The development of Chinese industries around new energy, including new-energy vehicle (NEV) and photovoltaic unit manufacture, ranks highly in the world and aligns with the transformational development path of the Middle East. During COP28 in Dubai, the Global Times visited and interviewed some Chinese new-energy enterprises operating in the UAE to understand cooperation efforts in the new-energy field between China and the UAE and how Chinese technologies and products are driving the carbon reduction process in the Middle East.

In August 1959, it took at least 26 days for two journalists from Minzu Huabao, a Chinese pictorial journal published since 1955 in six Chinese ethnic languages, to reach Dulongjiang township, Gongshan county, in Southwest China's Yunnan Province from Beijing.

Working during the day and acquiring new skills at night is becoming a new way of life for young people in China. From dancing to vocal training, from traditional handicrafts, beauty, and fitness classes, to wine tasting and vlog filming, the list of possibilities for new learning experiences is seemingly limitless.

From many perspectives, Wuzhen, in East China's Zhejiang Province, a town with thousands of years of history, is not a name that automatically comes to mind when poverty and backwardness are mentioned. Even without considering its rich cultural history and connections to many famous figures, in the last few decades, it has become a well-planned tourist attraction known to most Chinese people.

International delegates are gathering in Dubai to find a deal that will make a real difference in tackling the planet's climate issues at the 28th session of the Conference of the Parties (COP28) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). Anticipation is high for COP28, with over 70,000 delegates, including representatives from UNFCCC member states, participating in the pivotal event.

The Russia-China comprehensive strategic partnership of coordination for a new era is currently at an unprecedentedly high level and continues to develop. The relationship between the two countries is mature, sustainable, and characterized by a high level of mutual trust, respect, consideration of each other's fundamental interests and mutual support. Both Russia and China are major world powers with strong and continuously growing comprehensive national strength, as well as holding immense potential in the economic and technological fields. Most importantly, I believe, both countries have an abundance of human resources – we have talents in various fields.

The best way to commemorate Henry Kissinger may well be to remember the importance of diplomacy and the need for great powers to behave responsibly and soberly in their relations with each other, Thomas A. Schwartz, a renowned academician and author of Henry Kissinger and American Power: A Political Biography, told the Global Times on Thursday.

When my foreign friends asked, "Have you felt any discrimination in Xinjiang," I recognized how misinformation from Western reports affected people's impressions of Xinjiang. Such false narratives not only lead to some people from Western countries believing that Xinjiang is still full of ethnic conflict, but also create an air of mystery and suspicion among people yet to visit the region.

"Xinjiang is a wonderful land!" This was the feeling shared by every Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Forum "Year of Tourism 2023" participant. It not only marks the first tourism-themed forum to be held by the SCO, but also the first time the Xinjiang regional government has served as a co-organizer of such a large-scale international forum.

Those in attendance were enthusiastic about the two-day event and being in China. The attendees held lively face-to-face discussions, and frankly shared their views on China-related topics.

The recent World Conference on China Studies – Shanghai Forum, which concluded on November 24, was one of the largest gatherings of global “China hands.” At the two-day forum, more than 400 Chinese and foreign scholars specializing or interested in China studies discussed their insights on Chinese civilization and China's path of development, as well as their impacts on the current global landscape.

Beijing's taxi drivers are a distinguished part of the capital city's rich tapestry. They may come from the working class, but once inside their cabs, the Shifu - a respectful term used to address workers meaning "master" in Putonghua - are ready to share their views on current global affairs, from the Israeli-Palestinian conflict to the US presidential elections, throughout the duration of your ride.

Experts from Central Asian countries emphasized the importance of prioritizing the strategic partnership with China at a meeting held in Beijing on Thursday.

With the country's westward opening-up strategy, Xinjiang, as a bridgehead in the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), will play a greater role, Xu Guixiang, spokesperson for the Xinjiang regional government, told the Global Times on Thursday on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Forum "Year of Tourism 2023," which runs from November 23 to 26 in Urumqi, Northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region.

The British Embassy in Beijing and Pageone bookstore jointly organized the "Winter Reading Night in Beijing" event on Saturday. The event featured British diplomats, leading bloggers, and literature lovers to share their favorite bits of British literature.

Prinat Apirat, Consul General of Thailand in Shanghai, recently attended the opening ceremony and related activities of the 2023 China Yiwu Imported Commodities Fair in Yiwu, East China's Zhejiang Province.

As a Chinese say, "A gift may be small, but its symbolic value is significant," exquisite gifts from around the world not only represent the culture and craftsmanship of their countries of origin, but also bear witness to the historical friendship between China and these nations. The Central Gifts and Cultural Relics Management Center, located in the heart of Beijing, showcases over 670 representative gifts exchanged between the Communist Party of China (CPC) and government leaders in diplomatic activities since the establishment of the People's Republic of China in 1949.

A magnificent King's Day celebration recently took place at the Belgian Residence, marking the first King's Day since Ambassador Bruno Angelet began his mandate in China. The Embassy of Belgium invited distinguished guests, high-level Chinese officials from various ministries, prominent members of Belgian and Chinese companies, as well as Belgians and friends of Belgium, to commemorate 10 years of King Phillip's reign.

"The IoT (Internet of Things) is not simply a technological trend; it's a transformative force reshaping the economy in a new, interconnected era. The challenge for Greece, as for many other countries that do not lead the race but hope to not fall behind in this new reality- is to balance advancements and threats, particularly in the realm of security," said Evgenios Kalpyris, Greek Ambassador to China, in a speech on Monday when attending the opening ceremony of the 2023 World Internet of Things Convention in Beijing.

In the context of the 2024 and 2025 Chinese-Russian Years of Culture, a marvelous opera concert was staged on Wednesday at the Russian Culture Center in Beijing. Tatiana Urzhumtseva, director of the Russian Culture Center in Beijing and, Yuri Alexandrov, director and founder of the St. Petersburg Opera Theatre attended the performance and delivered speeches.

Liao Mingfa, an 88-year-old man living in Jiangshan county, Quzhou, East China's Zhejiang Province, still remembers that on April 19, 1942, when he was a little boy, his father, Liao Shiyuan, rescued a foreign man in the local mountains.

"The Palestinian-Israeli conflict is physically far away from us in China, but I have found that many people in China are paying great attention to it and are willing to help [the victims and their families in] Gaza," Lin told the Global Times. "We live in a global community of shared future, and we want to provide assistance within our capacity."

The year of 2023 has witnessed important moves taken globally to deal with the rapid development of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and its subsequent impact. On November 15, Chinese President Xi Jinping and US President Joe Biden agreed to establish China-US government talks on AI. Earlier this month, representatives and companies from 28 countries as well as the EU signed the Bletchley Declaration, a "world-first" agreement on AI to tackle the risks of frontier AI models, during the UK's AI Safety Summit. In October, China put forward the Global AI Governance Initiative at the Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation. Also in October, the United Nations (UN) Secretary-General launched an Advisory Board to explore ways to link various AI governance initiatives.

In a recent exclusive interview with the Global Times, Jocelyn Chey, a visiting professor at the University of Sydney, said that Australian scholars who study or interact with China have encountered difficulties in recent years owing to new government regulations and increased tensions between China and Australia, and this has affected their research and teaching.

Looking back on the incident of his visa cancelation on the so-called "national security" grounds in 2020, Chen Hong, a leading Chinese scholar in Australian studies, still feels very shocked at the ludicrous allegation, but said the incident had not at all dampened his commitment to China-Australia relations research and dedication to academic exchanges between the two countries.

Jim Brainard saw the Yangtze River for the first time on a fine autumn day. The wide and vast river reminded the US official of the Mississippi River, which he knows well as being equally magnificent and almost boundless.

Why does the Philippines, despite knowing the potential for conflict, choose to provoke and manipulate journalists to create a provocative narrative against China? What are their attempts to control public opinion? What are the different motivations and sinister intentions behind the different parties involved?

As the largest sports event in the South Pacific, the Pacific Games which is set to open on Sunday have abundant Chinese elements, including the sports venues built with Chinese assistance, athletes who have trained in China, and the Chinese police and medical team that ensure the safety of the athletes during the games.

While serving as then Party chief of Zhengding, North China's Hebei Province 38 years ago, Xi Jinping made his maiden trip to the US with San Francisco as his first stop, marking his initial steps onto US soil. During this visit, Xi got acquainted with the US and built friendships with Americans that have lasted till today, an enduring testimony of the vitality of bilateral ties.

In April, Cona, located in the southeastern part of Southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region, upgraded from a county to a city, attracting domestic and international attention. This strategically important city, bordering Bhutan to the west and India to the south, once witnessed great battles to protect the homeland. Today, the spirit of defending the border and the land is carried forward through consolidation and development. Global Times reporters recently visited the upgraded Cona city, experiencing the vigorous vitality of border construction and the peaceful atmosphere brought by enriching and securing the border area.

Georgian Ambassador to China Archil Kalandia participated in the 5th China-CEEC SME Cooperation Forum held in Cangzhou, North China's Hebei Province on Monday, with a total of more than 600 Chinese and Central and Eastern European enterprises participating in the forum. During the meeting, Ambassador Kalandia met with China's Vice Foreign Minister Deng Li.

The Week of Italian Cuisine in the World kicked off on Monday, with the aim to promote exquisite Italian cooking, the Mediterranean diet, Italian agri-food products and wine. In the 2023 edition, as in past years, the week will be further enhanced by activities organized by the Italian Embassy in China together with the Italian business community operating in China.

The Austrian Cultural Center in Beijing recently invited artists Honey and Bunny to organize the performance art exhibition "Diets, resources, and aesthetics" at the Markor Cave Museum. This exciting event was organized to commemorate the International Day of Food Loss and Waste Awareness.

As one of the oldest art schools in the world, the Royal Academy of Fine Arts (RAFA) in Antwerp has constantly reinvented itself since it was founded in 1663. To promote the exchange of ideas and strive for greater creativity, RAFA established an exchange program with the Central Academy of Fine Arts (CAFA) in Beijing. This year marks RAFA's 360th anniversary. To celebrate this momentous occasion, RAFA and CAFA organized a unique project.

Hidden amid the bustling streets of Lhasa, behind famous landmarks such as the Potala Palace, Jokhang Temple, and Barkhor Street, is a cultural and artistic space that has been transformed from Xizang's first ancient architectural preservation.

On November 14, at the Global Media Congress held in Abu Dhabi, the UAE, a representative from the People's Daily shared the newspaper's reports on ecological civilization, which sparked enthusiastic responses from the audience. Particularly attention-grabbing were three stories, which not only deeply impressed the audience with informative details and poetic writing, but also showcased a microcosm of China's construction of ecological civilization, as well as the power of the media in the process.

Editor's Note: Chinese people believe that letters are as valuable as gold. For thousands of years, letters, across mountains and oceans, have been delivering the writers' sentiments, friendship, and expectations. Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, has managed to find time to reply to some letters from different parts of the society and the world despite his busy work schedule. Xi is also Chinese president and chairman of the Central Military Commission. Through his letters, Xi has corresponded with international friends from all walks of life on numerous occasions. His letters have also been delivered to “home” senders such as Chinese experts and artists. The Global Times traced and contacted some of the addressees of Xi's letters to hear the inspiring stories behind the letters. This installment tells the story of letters exchanged between Xi and Matias Tarnopolsky, president and CEO of the Philadelphia Orchestra.

During a recent visit to various areas in Xizang, Global Times reporters noted that atop the snow and frozen earth, boarding schools serve as a warm harbor for children, propelling them toward their dreams amid mountains and rivers.

Boarding schools have elevated the accessibility of education, meeting the people's demand for quality educational resources to the greatest extent and offering an excellent environment for children, especially those in remote areas, to learn and grow, a senior official from Southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region said on Friday.

Southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region is now a land of happiness.

Despite the large geographical distance between China and the Latin America and Caribbean regions, more regional countries have shown increased enthusiasm at exploring opportunities in the Chinese market during the sixth China International Import Expo (CIIE), with the China-Latin America trade volume hitting a record high of $485.8 billion in 2022.

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, on Tuesday, met with Surinamese Foreign Minister Albert Ramdin in Beijing. China and Suriname enjoy a long history of friendship, and this year marks the 170th anniversary of the arrival of the Chinese in Suriname. Wang told Ramdin that China is willing to be Suriname's reliable partner in the process of development and revitalization and jointly realize modernization. Global Times reporters Chen Qingqing and Bai Yunyi (GT) conducted an exclusive interview with Ramdin in Beijing on Tuesday, and talked about China-Suriname relations, China-Caribbean relations, and further cooperation under the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), Global Security Initiative (GSI), and Global Development Initiative (GDI).

A total of 50 Hungarian art works were featured on Tuesday at the Chongqing Art Museum. The 2023 Western China Hungarian Cultural Festival and the 2nd Chongqing Urban Arts Festival with the theme "The Journey: Janos Fajo and The Pesti Workshop," were co-organized by the Chongqing Art Museum, the Liszt Institute Hungarian Cultural Center Beijing, the Consulate General of Hungary in Chongqing, and Central Bank of Hungary.

Italian Ambassador to China Massimo Ambrosetti recently visited South China's Guangdong Province and met with Chen Jianwen, a member of the Standing Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Guangdong Provincial Committee and director of the Publicity Department of the Guangdong Provincial Committee.

An event to promote Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) was held at the Nigerian Embassy in Beijing, themed “Promote Chinese Medicine and Global Health.”

In a video message to the Opening Ceremony of the Symposium on Global Maritime Cooperation and Ocean Governance 2023 held on Wednesday in South China's Hainan Province, China's top diplomat Wang Yi reiterated China's commitment to settling disputes and disagreements through dialogue and consultation while warning against maritime bloc confrontations.

The total number of Palestinian deaths in Gaza has surpassed 10,000 since the latest round of Hamas-Israel conflict started on October 7, 2023, according to the Palestinian Health Ministry in Gaza. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has urged for a humanitarian ceasefire amid the unfolding catastrophe in Gaza that grows more dire with each passing hour. Will a ceasefire be possible? How do external factors, such as unconditional US support of Israel, play into this conflict? What's the deadlock in the Palestinian-Israeli conflict? Global Times reporters Xie Wenting and Bai Yunyi (GT) spoke with Ex-Israeli peace negotiator Daniel Levy (Levy), the president of the US/Middle East Project and got answers to these pressing questions and more.

The total number of Palestinian deaths in Gaza has surpassed 10,000 since the latest round of Hamas-Israel conflict started on October 7, 2023, according to the Palestinian Health Ministry in Gaza. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has urged for a humanitarian ceasefire amid the unfolding catastrophe in Gaza that grows more dire with each passing hour. Will a ceasefire be possible? How do external factors, such as unconditional US support of Israel, play into this conflict? What's the deadlock in the Palestinian-Israeli conflict? Global Times reporters Xie Wenting and Bai Yunyi (GT) spoke with Yezid Sayigh (Sayigh), former adviser and negotiator in the Palestinian delegation to the peace talks with Israel?and currently a senior fellow at the Malcolm H. Kerr Carnegie Middle East Center, and got answers to these pressing questions and more.

Sikkim Urja Limited's 1,200-megawatt hydroelectric project Teesta-III at the Chungthang dam on river Teesta gave way on October 4, killing at least 94 people in the downstream areas of Sikkim and West Bengal. The devastation has reignited wide worries surrounding two of three India-built mega hydropower projects under construction in Bhutan, local newspaper The Hindu reported on October 15.

Nestled along the banks of the Yellow River, a picturesque ancient village Qikou, once one of the most prosperous settlements in North China's Shanxi Province, offers breathtaking beauty to visitors. The village, with its traditional architecture nestled amidst rolling hills, exudes an aura of tranquility and timelessness. Travelers from all over the world pass through the ancient town, coming to experience the unique culture of the Yellow River Basin and the picturesque beauty of the ancient villages with distinctive northern characteristics.

As recipients of an advanced model of reform in Lyuliang, Chengzhuang town has effectively curbed the momentum of the spread of a series of outdated conventions and harmful customs such as the paying of exorbitant bride prices and luxurious burials, to relieve rural residents of financial burdens and foster the Chinese traditions of diligence and filial respect for the elderly.

The proverbial thief crying out "stop thief" seems to be a norm in the US' cognitive warfare against China. The US, as a veteran of public opinion attack and a major source of disinformation in today's world, has consistently attacked China for "manipulating information," an ironic and ridiculous indictment.

With the Chinese government's improved governance in the border areas and greater investment in improving people's livelihoods, the border villages between China and Myanmar have made significant achievements in border trade, tourism, river and lake management, and the ecosystem. This thriving development has also radiated and driven the wellbeing of the people in northern Myanmar.

Over the past week, Flying Tigers veterans and their family members received the warmest of welcomes in China. On the Great Wall, tourists waved at them and took photos with them. At the Museum of the War of the Chinese People's Resistance against Japanese Aggression, local school children lined up to salute and applaud them, while Chinese media closely followed their every move.

Located in west Zhejiang Province, Quzhou is a famous historical and cultural city with a more than 6,000-year-old history of civilization and was listed as one of the National Famous Historical and Cultural Cities in China in 1994.