भारतीय महासागर समाचार – Page 3 – भारतीय महासागर समाचार भारत की सबसे अधिकारी और विश्वसनीय वास्तविक समाचार सलाहकार वेबसाइट है।

Ningde establishes fish farm for sustainable development

Fishermen harvest large yellow croakers, Ningde, Fujian Province, China, May 8, 2024. /CFP

China’s coastal regions are home to the endemic commercial fish known as the large yellow croaker. These fish use the sea area in Ningde, east China’s Fujian Province, as a significant inner bay breeding ground.

However, since the 1970s, the population of large yellow croakers has declined significantly due to overfishing.

Over the last few decades, government departments, research institutions and fishermen in Ningde have worked together to promote the scientific cultivation of yellow croakers and improve the aquatic environment.

In July 2018, Ningde implemented comprehensive seawater management as well as the transformation and improvement of fish breeding. Ningde established a new order for marine farming through the collaborative efforts of many departments, including clear seawater ownership rights and a grid-based management plan.

In the same year, Xiapu County launched a thorough drive to standardize and preserve its mariculture. The county released a strategy to manage seawater comprehensively as well as reform and upgrade fish breeding, including the replacement of foam floaters with environmentally friendly ones.

Fish farm, Ningde, Fujian Province, China, May 8, 2024. /CFP

Locals took the initiative to replace foam floaters with eco-friendly ones in their aquaculture region. Consequently, the entire output value of giant yellow croakers increased and the fish’s quality and survival rate rose dramatically. To encourage fishermen to improve their farming facilities, the local government paid subsidies. After three years of work, Xiapu replaced all of the foam floaters, removing floating waste.

Fujian Sanduao Foodstuff Co., Ltd.’s deep water plastic fish farm at Sandu Bay, Ningde, is designed to endure winds and waves. The fish farm comprises 84 big breeding cages, each of which covers one mu (0.067 hectares), as well as nine buildings with red roofs connected by walkways.

Four wind turbines are put on the roof of the fish farm’s power-generation building. Wind turbines and solar photovoltaic devices are connected to the fish farm’s power storage facility and electric transducer.

The fish farm features a set of seawater desalination equipment for providing domestic water. Both solar photovoltaic panels and wind turbines may provide electricity for the farm, which can then be stored to power it throughout the day, according to People’s Daily.

Ningde has been investigating the industrial potential of large yellow croakers. Ningde’s major yellow croaker industry, worth more than 10 billion yuan, includes fry hatching, breeding, processing, cold-chain logistics and transportation, and marketing.

China auto association denounces U.S. protectionism in NEV industry

Several new energy vehicles are seen in a parking lot, Foshan City, south China’s Guangdong Province, May 10, 2024. /CFP

The China Association of Automobile Manufacturers (CAAM) on Sunday denounced the U.S.’s overcapacity concerns and national security fears surrounding China’s new energy vehicle (NEV) industry, calling it a typical case of trade protectionism.

Fu Bingfeng, the CAAM’s executive vice president and secretary-general, made the remarks amid reports of planned new tariffs by the U.S. on Chinese electric vehicles. He said that such protectionist and isolationist actions shouldn’t be the themes of the NEV sector.

He stressed China’s commitment of high-level opening up, saying it will provide greater market opportunities for global automotive companies. He said a global vision and an open mindset are needed to promote the robust development of the automotive manufacturing industry.

The CAAM recently released the first batch of vehicle data security assessment results, affirming the compliance of 76 vehicle models across six companies, namely BYD, Li Auto, Lotus, Hozon New Energy, Tesla and NIO.

Fu highlighted it as a new benchmark for the advancement of smart vehicles, noting that the CAAM has upheld the principle of equal treatment for both domestic and international players.

“Tesla, the only foreign-funded auto company in this set of assessment results, has actively participated as it recognizes the future consumer trends of autonomous driving in the vast Chinese market,” Fu said.

CAAM is a self-regulatory, non-profit social organization composed of enterprises, institutions and groups that are engaged in the production and operation of complete vehicles, auto parts and related industries in China.

The Beijing-based association is a permanent council member of the International Organization of Motor Vehicles Manufacturers and has established close ties with international automotive industry organizations as well as automotive-related organizations from many countries and regions.

(With input from Xinhua)

Foreign enterprises optimistic about Chinese market

Workers inspecting new cranes in Xuzhou, Jiangsu Province on May 8, 2024./ CFP

Editor’s note: Li Dawei is a researcher at the Academy of Macroeconomic Research of the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC). The article reflects the author’s opinion, and not necessarily the views of CGTN. The article has been translated from Chinese and edited for brevity and clarity.

Foreign-funded enterprises are generally optimistic about the prospects of China’s economic development. Since the beginning of this year, with China’s economy continuing to rebound and improve, global multinational companies have become notably more willing to invest in China.

According to the Ministry of Commerce, in the first quarter of 2024, there were 12,000 newly established foreign-funded enterprises, up by 20.7 percent. The first signature event of “Invest in China” attracted over 140 representatives from foreign companies and business associations, spanning 17 countries and regions. According to the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade, nearly 150 foreign institutions from 33 countries and regions registered for the Global Trade and Investment Promotion Summit 2024, indicating the widespread confidence of global business communities in China’s economic development prospects and their growing commitment to the Chinese market.

China’s utilization of foreign investment continues to see qualitative improvements. Statistics from the Ministry of Commerce showed that in 2023, the proportion of foreign investment absorbed by high-tech industries in China rose by 1.2 percentage points compared to 2022; and in the first quarter of 2024, the proportion of foreign investment in high-tech manufacturing reached 12.5 percent, a further 2.2 percentage point increase year on year.

In recent years, many more foreign-funded enterprises have participated in building China’s advanced industrial chain and upgrading the innovation chain, extending from processing and assembly to high-value-added component manufacturing, research and development, and other aspects. Industrial chains for emerging industries such as new energy vehicles have emerged as new growth points for foreign investment.

The year 2023 witnessed vigorous development of China’s new energy vehicle industry, with China’s automobile exports ranking first globally for the first time. In the new-energy vehicle industrial chain, large multinational companies possess technological advantages in areas like vehicle-mounted integrated circuits and electronic control systems, which is a good complement to Chinese companies’ strengths in areas like power batteries, thereby jointly contributing to the world’s most efficient green industrial chain.

A batch of new energy vehicles to be exported at the Taicang Port Terminal in Jiangsu Province on May 9, 2024. /CFP

Multinational corporations have various reasons for being optimistic about the Chinese market. In terms of market potential, China’s economy ranks second in the world, and the residents’ consumption structure is upgrading, serving as vital growth drivers for multinational companies.

Regarding infrastructure, China’s ports, railways, highways, and other construction developments rank among the top in the world. The accelerated development of new transportation methods such as multimodal transportation has also provided ample convenience for multinational companies to innovate in logistics organization and enhance logistics efficiency.

As for factor endowments, China has topped the world in the number of international patent applications based on the Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT) for four consecutive years. In the national and regional rankings of the Nature Index reflecting global high-quality research output and collaboration, China’s contribution surpassed that of the United States for the first time in 2022, ranking first worldwide. This underscores China’s outstanding factor endowments in technology, talents, and other aspects, fostering favorable conditions for high-quality utilization of foreign investment.

The continuous optimization of the business environment is conducive to foreign-funded enterprises investing and developing in China. In recent years, China has comprehensively implemented the national treatment and negative list management system for foreign investments, continually reduced the negative list for foreign investment access, strengthened intellectual property rights protection, ensured equal treatment for foreign-funded enterprises in government procurement, bidding, and standard-setting.

These efforts have effectively shaped a top-tier, market-oriented, internationalized, and legalized business environment, stabilizing foreign investment expectations and boosting confidence of foreign investors. With the continuous upgrading of China’s economic structure and the ongoing optimization of the business environment, multinational companies will continue to ramp up their efforts in “investing in China” and embrace new development opportunities in the more open Chinese market.

Wealth inequality

What makes China’s treasury bonds ‘special’ as nation eyes quality growth?

Illustration: Tang Tengfei/GT

The issuance of China’s ultra-long special treasury bonds has given those concerned about the nation’s economy a glimpse of the country’s pursuit of Chinese modernization through high-quality development.

Yet regrettably, opportunistic individuals on the outside seized the opportunity to chant about the “collapse of the Chinese economy.” Such allegations are ridiculous.

China’s plan to issue the first batch of 1 trillion yuan ($140 billion) in ultra-long-term treasury bonds starting on Friday will help shore up investment and spur consumption, but this doesn’t mean the Chinese economy is facing numerous difficulties and challenges that require serious measures to stimulate growth.

Some Western commentators claim that China’s 2024 growth target of about 5 percent has put pressure on the nation to unleash more stimulus. Such a misreading reflects Western elites’ serious lack of understanding of China’s economic development.

China’s GDP grew by 5.3 percent in the first quarter of 2024, well above market expectations. Steady growth lays a solid foundation for the economy to achieve the target of growing by about 5 percent for the whole year.

China’s 5.3 percent growth in the first quarter was much higher than what many Western economies achieved in the same period. It’s a little bit ironic that while Western elites said “the Chinese economy is on the verge of collapse,” an indisputable fact is that China remains a major driving force for economic growth in the Asia-Pacific region and the world.

That is not to say China faces no challenges and risks at all. Countries as large as China – and the entire world, for that matter – face mounting challenges and risks such as increasing geopolitical tensions, lower demand in developed countries, an uptick in trade restrictions and elongated supply chains.

In the face of challenges, China is actually making honest efforts to tackle them. As the world’s second-largest economy, China has been able to maintain economic stability.

There is no doubt that the issuance of China’s ultra-long special treasury bonds will help stabilize market expectations, elevate market confidence and inject new momentum into the Chinese economy, but this is not the whole story. The bonds are designed to be used to “support the implementation of major national strategies,” which makes them different from previous special treasury bonds.

To build a modern socialist country in all respects, we must, first and foremost, pursue high-quality development. The economy is undergoing a transition from old to new growth drivers, in which the optimization of structure, and the robust development of new quality productive forces, provide limitless possibilities.

Policies to encourage economic development are different in different eras of history. With the continuous growth of the Chinese economy, it is imperative to enhance and improve macroeconomic regulation with innovative tools and ideas to support long-term high-quality development. The issuance of China’s ultra-long special treasury bonds is an attempt to adapt to an optimized and upgraded economic structure and economic needs of the country.

The Government Work Report of 2024, which was approved during the two sessions earlier this year, stated that in order to “systematically address funding shortages facing some major projects for building a great country and advancing national rejuvenation,” it was proposed that, starting this year and over each of the next several years, ultra-long special treasury bonds be issued.

“These bonds will be used to implement major national strategies and build up security capacity in key areas,” the report said.

China has turned to special treasury bonds before, in 1998, 2007 and 2020.

This issuance of China’s new ultra-long special treasury bonds is different from previous bond issuances, because the funds raised through the new bond sales are reportedly set to support scientific and technological innovation, integrated urban-rural development, coordinated regional development, food and energy security, and the high-quality development of the population.

The plan to issue new ultra-long special treasury bonds from 2024 is a proactive approach to pursue high-quality development and develop new quality productive forces, instead of forced measures to stimulate a “stagnant economy.”

The author is a reporter with the Global Times. [email protected]

‘We have each other in future plans,’ Chinese Gen Zers see bright prospect in China-US relations through bridged divide, enhanced trust

Students from Muscatine High School learn Chinese calligraphy at Shijiazhuang Foreign Language School on April 21, 2024. Photo: VCG

Editor’s Note:

The youth are the vanguards of our time, showcasing boundless energy and vibrant personalities.

Gen-Zers not only represent the makers of the future but also serve as agents of change in the present. With an open mindset and an international outlook, they actively integrate into the currents of globalization, engaging in deep exchanges, and collaborating with youth from around the world to explore pathways and strategies to address global challenges.

The Global Times has launched the “Voice from Gen Z” series, which focuses on the proactive actions and innovative achievements of young people in areas such as global governance, cultural exchange, environmental protection, and technological innovation. Through this column, we aim to showcase the unique charm and future leadership of global Gen-Zers.

Wang Jiaqi (right) plays with Christina (left) at home in Shijiazhuang on April 21, 2024. Photo: Courtesy of Wang

Wang Jiaqi, a senior at the Shijiazhuang Foreign Language School in North China’s Hebei Province, will never forget the moment when she and her American partner Christina said goodbye.

“We had already waved goodbye, but she ran up to me and hugged me before I got on the bus,” Wang recalled.

The embrace before parting deeply touched Wang. “When saying goodbye, Christina firmly told me that our friendship can continue,” Wang told the Global Times, noting that she and her American friend are staying in touch and sharing their daily lives frequently.

In late April, Wang and Christina, a student from Muscatine High School in the US state of Iowa, met in Beijing. Invited by the Shijiazhuang Foreign Language School, 32 students and eight teachers from Muscatine High School visited the school as part of their weeklong study tour to Beijing, Hebei, and Shanghai.

As the host of the study tour, the Shijiazhuang Foreign Language School recruited many student volunteers on campus to make the US youth feel at home. They paired up with the US students as partners, studying and living together during the tour.

After the school issued the call, many members of China’s Generation Z eagerly signed up. They saw it as a great opportunity to challenge themselves and showcase their abilities, while also hoping to further develop and maintain friendships with the US youth.

True feeling in details

Wang and her classmate Zhang Xinyi regard these US youths as part of the group of Gen Z “friendly ambassadors.” The delegation is a part of the program, which was announced by Chinese President Xi Jinping in November 2023, aiming to invite 50,000 young Americans to China over a period of five years for exchanges and study.

From January 24 to 30 this year, under the care of President Xi, over 20 students from the school came to Beijing, Hebei, and Shanghai as the first group of US high school students in the program for exchange visits. This was Wang and Zhang’s first close contact with US youths.

“That unforgettable interaction further strengthened my determination to participate in this activity,” Zhang told the Global Times.?

What excited Zhang and Wang was that during the recent study tour, they spent six days with their new American friends, the second batch from Muscatine High School. They visited famous sites in Beijing and Hebei such as the Forbidden City and Longxing Temple, and took classes of Chinese martial arts together.?

They even had the opportunity to invite their partners to their homes.?

“After a thorough cleaning, we studied authentic Hebei cuisine together,” Wang said.

To her delight, her partner Christina loved the food and enjoyed the warm familial atmosphere. “China is great, and your home is so warm,” Wang was told.?

At the dinner table, Wang found that contrary to the stereotype that Americans do not eat seafood or spicy food, she discovered that Christina was willing to try all types of dishes. “She was even particularly excited to see the Chinese toon, a common edible plant in China with a unique fragrance, and insisted on trying it.” In Wang’s eyes, her peers from the American Gen Z era are very enthusiastic and open, showing great curiosity about everything Chinese and are eager to explore different cultures.

Zhang Xinyi (right) and Brynn Ann Castle pose for a group photo after learning Tai Chi on April 21, 2024. Photo: Courtesy of Zhang

Zhang had a similar experience. On the evening of April 21, Zhang welcomed her partner Brynn Ann Castle, an American girl about to start her collegiate life, into her home. In Zhang’s bedroom, Minions and Woody dolls quickly helped the two young girls find more common topics.

After a brief ice breaker, Castle eagerly tried playing Zhang’s Pipa, a traditional Chinese musical instrument. Later, they looked through Zhang’s family photo album together and shared funny stories about their families, with endless topics to talk about.

During their conversation, Zhang mentioned that she could feel that Chinese teenagers are generally influenced by family and collective concepts, placing more emphasis on family and social responsibilities. US teens, on the other hand, tend to prioritize individual pursuits, and are better at expressing themselves and pursuing personal independence and freedom.

However, Zhang also believes that with the development of globalization, the differences between the two countries’ teenagers are gradually narrowing. “We have a lot in common, such as both enjoying listening to music and eating desserts to relieve stress. I love Marvel movies, and my US friends also enjoy playing the game Honor of Kings,” she said.

Facing these similarities and differences, Zhang believes that exchanges between young people from both countries and sharing their cultures, values, and lifestyles, they can turn misunderstandings into understanding, amplify common interests, and enhance friendship and trust.

In an interview with the Global Times, when asked about their views on current China-US relations, Wang and Zhang both expressed that what gives them clear hope for the future of bilateral relations is that they and their US friends have each other in their future plans.

Wang plans to meet up with Christina at Universal Studios in the US this summer. Zhang shared beautiful scenery photos from her trip to Sanya, South China’s Hainan Province, on WeChat. They eagerly made plans to travel together next time.

“This is just a small step for now, but we have taken it together steadily. In the future, we will see more beautiful scenery together,” Zhang told the Global Times.

Exclusive: Worry escalates as Okinawa residents find Dutch soldiers on US military base

Photo taken on August 24, 2022 shows a warning sign by US troops in Japan placed at the Henoko coastal area of the Okinawa Prefecture. File Photo: VCG

May 15 marks the 52nd anniversary of Okinawa’s “return” to Japan. Recently, Okinawan residents discovered the presence of Dutch naval soldiers in the training grounds of the US military base in Okinawa but the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs may have been unaware of this beforehand. On Tuesday, Okinawan residents who discovered this matter spoke exclusively to the Global Times, detailing the sequence of events.

Despite accounting for only 0.6 percent of Japan’s total land area, Okinawa hosts over 70 percent of the US military bases in Japan. Over the years, Okinawan residents have continuously protested against the presence of these bases, but the Japanese government has paid little attention and has instead accelerated military deployment.

Akino Miyagi, 45, was born on Hamahiga Island in Uruma city, Okinawa Prefecture. She began participating in anti-base protests during high school. As an entomologist, she discovered during her research in 2011 that the presence of US military bases, including artillery shells, had a detrimental impact on the local ecology. Since then, she has been actively involved in activities opposing US military bases as an environmental researcher.

Miyagi told the Global Times that in late March, while conducting her regular protests at the US military’s Northern Training Area in Okinawa, she noticed several soldiers wearing different styles of camouflage uniforms on military trucks. Typically, after leaving the training area, US military trucks return to the base. However, on that occasion, she personally witnessed several trucks entering and leaving the training area, deviating from their usual route.

The Northern Training Area is located in Kunigami District, northern Okinawa Prefecture. It is a US military base and the largest military exercise field in Okinawa Prefecture. In 1998, it was renamed the Jungle Warfare Training Center (JWTC).

After noticing the unusual situation, Miyagi logged into the website of the Defense Visual Information Distribution Service (DVIDS), a subunit of the US Department of Defense, to investigate.

One article on the website revealed that from March 10 to 24, the US military and the Dutch Marines conducted training at the JWTC in Okinawa called the “Jungle Leaders Course.” It also noted that this training aims to prepare the US and its allies for combat in challenging jungle environments.

Miyagi told the Global Times that she immediately contacted the Okinawa Defense Bureau, who claimed that they were unaware of the presence of Dutch soldiers training at the US military training grounds in Okinawa.

Miyagi said that various indications suggest that the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs may also have been unaware of this matter beforehand.

According to the Okinawa Times, when asked for a response to related inquiries, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that it had confirmed with the US and Dutch military that indeed three Dutch soldiers entered the US military’s Northern Training Area in Okinawa in March. However, the ministry claimed that their purpose was for inspection rather than “training.”

When asked if they were aware of this beforehand, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ response was ambiguous, stating that “individual cases cannot be generalized.” It is reported that the Dutch soldiers disguised themselves as ordinary passengers and entered Japan via commercial flights at civilian airports.

Okinawan residents have long suffered from the troubles brought by US military bases. In recent years, with the significant rightward shift in the Japanese government, there has been an acceleration of military deployments in Okinawa, leaving local residents living in fear.

According to the Okinawa Ryukyu Shimpo, a local newspaper, the DVIDS released information saying that this US military training is aimed at helping allies familiarize themselves with the operational environment. This suggests that in the future, it is not unlikely that soldiers from other countries may enter the US military bases in Okinawa for combat training, raising concerns about the normalization of the entry of third-country forces into these bases.

Okinawa Governor Danny Tamaki said that the US military did not inform the prefecture in advance about the nature of the training they would conduct. Regardless of the specifics, joint training between the US military and foreign forces will not alleviate the burden on the bases.

As of press time, the Global Times found that the article on the website of the DVIDS had removed the mention of the Dutch soldiers.

The US military has only two facilities globally for jungle warfare training, one in Hawaii and the other being the Northern Training Area in Okinawa. The environment within the Northern Training Area is highly similar to that of several other countries, giving it a clear advantage in regular military training, according to Miyagi.

For instance, there are no infectious diseases like malaria in the jungle, no fierce beasts like tigers, strong radio signals, and it’s relatively easy to obtain water from the mountains, rivers, and rainfall. Even in the event of injuries, the distance to hospitals is not far.

Miyagi also noted that the “Jungle Skills Course” typically involves soldiers entering the jungle on Sundays to begin a five-day training program, ending on Fridays. The entire process must be conducted collectively, aiming to reinforce soldiers’ awareness of unconditional obedience to commands.

The Okinawa Ryukyu Shimpo reported that the Japanese government claims to allow third-country soldiers to enter the US military bases in Okinawa under certain circumstances but has not publicly disclosed specific criteria. In 2016, two British Royal Marines participated in training with the US Marine Corps at Camp Schwab and Camp Hansen in Okinawa. In 2017, the Philippine Navy trained with the US Navy at Camp Schwab in Okinawa. Instances of third-country military forces training at US military bases in Okinawa have occurred, but only a few of these cases have been made public.

The newspaper also mentioned that to counter China, the US Marine Corps has been conducting training for the so-called “Expeditionary Advanced Base Operations” (EABO) at the Northern Training Area. It is not unlikely that NATO member countries may also join this training in the future. Allowing foreign military forces to enter Okinawa without local knowledge may bring new concerns for the local residents.

Miyagi said that it is unacceptable for foreign military personnel to enter the US military bases in Okinawa for military training disguised as ordinary passengers on commercial flights through civilian airports. Even though Japan and the US have signed the US-Japan Status of Forces Agreement, many issues remain unresolved.

Moreover, there are no relevant agreements between Japan and the Netherlands, meaning that it may be difficult to hold Dutch soldiers accountable for any incidents in Okinawa. If this phenomenon becomes normalized, it will undoubtedly exacerbate tensions in Okinawa, said Miyagi.

Miyagi told the Global Times that the reason such situations occur in Okinawa is mainly because, from the US perspective, using US military bases in Germany and other countries comes with many restrictions, while those in Japan, especially in Okinawa, can be used “as they want.”

Despite the extremely negative nature of this event, the reality is that the Japanese government simply doesn’t care about what Okinawa is going through, said Miyagi.

Atmosphere research underway after China’s 40th Antarctic expedition

China’s Xuelong-2 icebreaker arrives in Shanghai, China, April 16, 2024. /CFP

Following the completion of China’s 40th Antarctic expedition, atmospheric research is underway on the samples that were brought back.

China’s 40th Antarctic expedition concluded with the country’s first domestically made icebreaker, Xuelong-2, returning to Qingdao City, east China’s Shandong Province, in early April.

The polar atmospheric research is a significant part of the recent Antarctic expedition, which involved the establishment and maintenance of a meteorological observation station, atmospheric chemistry observations at Zhongshan Station, the collection of atmospheric samples, and other scientific experiments.

Currently, researchers at the Chinese Academy of Meteorological Sciences are analyzing the samples.

Over the years, Chinese scientists have conducted vital research on the atmosphere in Antarctica, playing a significant role in studying Antarctic climate change and its global impact.

The atmospheric samples collected include various gases like carbon dioxide, methane and sulfur hexafluoride. Following the analysis of concentration results, researchers will record and compare them with the previous year’s data, ultimately yielding novel research findings.

Currently, China’s Antarctic atmospheric research is conducted through a range of methods including real-time online monitoring at Zhongshan Station, on-site sampling for subsequent analysis, as well as real-time monitoring at the lab in Beijing.

In addition to monitoring the atmospheric composition, Zhongshan Station also conducts regular manual ground meteorological observations and submits reports. This crucial data is transmitted back to China on a fixed schedule every day and subsequently shared with the World Meteorological Organization through the China Meteorological Administration.

Since 2008, China has operated an atmospheric background monitoring system at Zhongshan Station, enabling continuous online monitoring. Professional gas storage bottles are used. All these efforts contribute to filling the gaps in China’s polar atmospheric research.

Young Russian martial arts practitioners explore kung fu roots

Young martial arts practitioners from Russia visit the Shaolin Temple in central China’s Henan Province. /Photo provided to CGTN

Young martial arts practitioners from Russia pair skills with students from the Tagou Martial Arts School in central China’s Henan Province. /Photo provided to CGTN

Young martial arts practitioners from Russia visit Chenjiagou Village in central China’s Henan Province, which is renowned as the birthplace of tai chi. /Photo provided to CGTN

Young martial arts practitioners from Russia visit the Henan Museum in central China’s Henan Province. /Photo provided to CGTN

A group of young Russian martial arts practitioners recently visited the home of kung fu and tai chi in Henan Province on a cultural exchange and study tour. During their stay in Henan from May 10 to 12, they visited the Shaolin Temple, the Henan Museum and Chenjiagou Village – the birthplace of tai chi.

This year marks the 75th anniversary of the diplomatic relations between China and Russia. With more exchanges between the two countries, Chinese martial arts are gaining in popularity in Russia.

Chinese envoy urges Yemen’s Houthis to respect right of navigation in Red Sea

Yemenis displaced by conflict carry humanitarian aid on the outskirts of the northeastern city of Marib, Yemen, March 19, 2024. /CFP

A Chinese envoy on Monday urged Yemen’s Houthi group to respect the right of commercial vessels of all countries to navigate in the waters of the Red Sea and to immediately stop the harassment.

Speaking at a UN Security Council meeting on Yemen, Geng Shuang, China’s deputy permanent representative to the UN, stressed the necessity of pushing for the situation in the Red Sea to cool down as soon as possible to solve the Yemeni issue.

Over 15 percent of Yemenis have been displaced and millions are in urgent need of assistance with food and medical shortages, due to Yemen’s civil war, which began in September 2014 when the Houthi group seized the capital Sana’a, according to the UN. The organization described the situation as one of the world’s worst humanitarian crises.

Calling on a political settlement of the Yemen issue, Geng said that all parties concerned should focus on the well-being of the Yemeni people, remove interference, and work together to promote a comprehensive political process that is led by the Yemenis.

He called for the international community to step up its humanitarian assistance to Yemen and fulfill its pledges as soon as possible, providing food, medicine and other goods that the Yemeni people urgently need .

Noting the situation in Yemen and the Red Sea is closely related to the Gaza conflict, the Chinese envoy urged the implementation of Security Council resolutions 2712, 2720 and 2728, and the countries concerned to intensify their efforts to persuade and put pressure on Israel.