As Macao celebrated the 25th anniversary of its return to the motherland on Friday, the city highlighted the vigorous development and achievements of its deepening integration into the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA).
With a population of approximately 87 million and a GDP exceeding 14 trillion yuan ($1.9 trillion), the Greater Bay Area is offering boundless opportunities for Macao, the Xinhua News Agency has reported. This year marks the fifth anniversary of the unveiling of the GBA Development Plan.
Today, Macao thrives as a vibrant hub of economic diversity, scientific innovation, youth dynamism, and cultural exchange.
Macao's rapid development is characterized by a diverse and vibrant industrial landscape, attracting high-end talent. It has emerged as a global hub for innovation and one of the most sought-after destinations for investment and tourism, steadily enhancing its international influence.
The Macao Special Administrative Region (SAR) government has actively pursued moderate economic diversification. In 2024, Macao unveiled its first comprehensive plan for this diversification, targeting rapid growth in key sectors such as health, modern finance, high-tech industries, trade exhibitions, and cultural sports. The Guangdong-Macao In-Depth Cooperation Zone in Hengqin is dismantling institutional barriers, facilitating Macao's economic diversification and enhancing its integration into the national development strategy.
Today, Hengqin is home to a plethora of innovation platforms. These platforms are attracting high-end manufacturing enterprises and research institutions that are breaking through critical technological barriers, while providing youth with a vibrant stage to pursue their dreams in Macao.
Technological innovation has also become a new engine for economic growth, with four state key laboratories producing high-level research results in fields such as traditional Chinese medicine, space science, and health sciences.
"Hengqin serves as a robust support platform for Macao's moderate diversification, featuring six youth entrepreneurship bases that provide opportunities for young people to enter the mainland market. Cultural exchanges are also flourishing, with activities showcasing the intangible cultural heritage of South China's Chaozhou in local schools, allowing students to experience the richness of Chinese culture," Lao Chi Long, vice president of the Macao Youth Federation, told the Global Times.
In 2024, local authorities organized educational exchanges that facilitated visits for high school students from Macao to Hengqin, enabling them to explore the latest developments and broaden their horizons. Over 2,000 students have participated in this initiative, according to the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao GBA official website.
Lao said that many young students in Macao have opportunities to study at renowned institutions on the mainland. They later return to share their experiences and foster a sense of national identity among their peers.
More, Macao's unique blend of Eastern and Western cultures, diverse culinary offerings, and distinctive architecture make its tourism sector a vital aspect of its moderate economic diversification.
The SAR government is dedicated to showcasing Macao's charm to the world, attracting visitors to experience the city's rich heritage. In 1999, only 7 million tourists visited Macao; by December 7 of 2024, that number had soared to around 32.55 million, according to official data.
Today, Macao boasts one of the highest concentrations of UNESCO World Heritage sites, striving to become a global tourism and leisure center.
According to a survey by the China Tourism Academy, Macao was rated as the most satisfying destination for mainland outbound tourists in the first quarter of 2024.
Events like the 2024 Macao International Parade, the Macao Arts Festival, and the Arts and Cultural Festival between China and Portuguese-speaking countries draw visitors from all over, while thrilling competitions like the Grand Prix showcase the city's vibrant sports culture.
The second installment in Yang Xiaoyan's Nanjing Massacre book series is set in 1937 and follows Wu An, a 12-year-old boy who is sold to a Chinese soldier hoping to disguise himself as a father and a civilian to evade the Japanese troops and rejoin the fight.
"'An' literally means 'safe' in Mandarin, as I wanted him to be safe. Wu is my grandma's surname," Yang said in an interview with Xinhua.
In November 1937, Yang's grandparents fled from Nanjing, then the Chinese capital, shortly before it was captured by invading Japanese troops on Dec. 13. Over six weeks, the invaders killed approximately 300,000 Chinese civilians and unarmed soldiers in one of the most barbaric episodes of World War II.
"I felt obliged to teach our next generation, in the form of children's literature, about the bitter past of our nation," she said, noting that she had read all available survivors' accounts of the massacre to write the series.
As the remaining survivors of these atrocities more than 80 years ago are now passing away, many like Yang are taking over the baton to disseminate the truth of this dark time in history. AFTER THEY LEAVE
Nanjing, located in east China's Jiangsu Province, was a prosperous city in 1937.
"There were people doing acrobatics in the streets, and people telling stories and selling snacks," massacre survivor Chang Zhiqiang recalled in an earlier interview. He was a happy 9-year-old boy when his life changed on Dec. 13, 1937, along with the lives of tens of thousands of others.
Chang witnessed the torture and killing of six of his family members in the Nanjing Massacre, including his infant brother, who was tossed into the air by Japanese soldiers using a bayonet.
His daughter, Chang Xiaomei, is now 65 but didn't learn the details of the tragedy her father had lived through until about 10 years ago, when a Japanese scholar visited the family.
"Childhood trauma had tormented him all his life, and I knew I had to do something for him," Chang Xiaomei said. After the visit, she began accompanying her father when he went to rallies, gave testament and took interviews, and she gradually grew to understand her family's past.
She found that many people didn't know about the Nanjing Massacre. Once when she was on a train, a young man asked her if 300,000 people had really been killed in Nanjing, she said.
"We must help generations of people to remember that period of history, remember our suffering and inspire us to move forward on the road ahead."
She began documenting her father's life in 2017 to share the impact the events had had on him with other people. Three years later, she published a book that was later translated into Japanese and English.
Chang Zhiqiang passed away in December 2022. Today, there are just 32 registered Nanjing Massacre survivors -- who have an average age of over 94 -- down from the 1,756 figure recorded when Nanjing counted survivor numbers for the first time in 1987.
"There are fewer and fewer survivors who can tell the story," said Chang Xiaomei, who was granted the official status of inheritor of historical memories of the Nanjing Massacre in 2022.
According to the Memorial Hall of the Victims in Nanjing Massacre by Japanese Invaders, there are currently 32 people who have been given this status, the youngest of whom is just 9 years old. These inheritors record the lives of the survivors, open social media accounts to spread the truth of this history, and pass that truth on over generations.
Chang Xiaomei often gives lectures in primary schools. She is now considering documenting her father's experiences in a picture book to help more children learn about this period in history. AFTER THEY GROW UP
Like Chang Xiaomei, author Yang Xiaoyan learned the specifics of her family's bitter past quite late -- shortly before her grandfather died in 1991. She learned that although her two uncles had managed to leave Nanjing before the massacre, they did not survive the war.
It was not until 17 years later, when she came across historical materials on the Nanjing Massacre in a library, that she had the idea to teach children about these events.
With great support from the press, the author and primary school English teacher has completed the first two books in her "Smile in the Thorn Bush" trilogy. And her first book, "Xiaocong," is set to be translated into Arabic.
Yang said that while doing her research, the history she was learning would sometimes plunge her into darkness. During meetings, she had to sit near the door so she could escape easily should she need to.
"I do wonder if children would be able to accept these stories," she said. "So I avoid direct depictions of bloody scenes. But I cannot completely avoid the violence that took place, otherwise the work would not be powerful enough."
Yang once met a young girl at a lecture she was giving who told her that her mother wouldn't allow her to read the books because she thought they were too scary. Yang remembers telling her to read them when she had grown up.
More often than not, Yang's feedback from readers is positive. During the COVID-19 pandemic, she was surprised to see a great number of people at a lecture she was giving during a book fair in Shanghai. Some parents even told her that they hadn't known much about the massacre before they had read her books, and that they would buy more books for their children to read.
In 2014, China's top legislature designated Dec. 13 as a national memorial day for the victims of the Nanjing Massacre. On that day each year, a siren sounds through the city and Yang teaches her students its simple lesson: If they had been in the same classroom more than 80 years in the past, the sound would signal that they couldn't stay in the school and learn. This lesson, she tells the children, teaches everyone to cherish the lives they can lead today.
"A nation without a past has no future," she told Xinhua. "Young people are in a period when their perceptions of the world and of life are being formed. I hope that they will read more history books."
The Memorial Hall of the Victims in Nanjing Massacre by Japanese Invaders, located at a burial site for massacre victims, opened to the public in 1985. Yang said that she had been impressed by the design of a contraption in the hall that releases a drop of water every 12 seconds, with each drop representing someone who was killed in the massacre and the number of seconds between drops reflecting the frequency of deaths during the tragic episode in Nanjing's history.
Since it became the main venue for the national memorial ceremony in 2014, the hall has attracted approximately 5 million visitors every year. It has received 125,278 comments from visitors so far this year, with a daily average of more than 400. Words such as "history," "peace," "remember" and "prosperity" appear frequently in these comments.
According to memorial hall statistics, about 70 percent of all users of its 11 online platforms are below 35 years of age. From 2014 to 2023, content including key words such as "national memorial" and "national memorial day" on its Sina Weibo account saw views increase from 2.03 billion to 32.2 billion.
MAY PEACE PREVAIL
The Nanjing No.12 Middle School was founded by U.S. missionary John Magee, who covertly recorded 105 minutes of footage documenting the barbarity of Japanese invaders in 1937. This footage is thought to be the only film record of the massacre.
Shi Xiaobing, vice president of the school, told Xinhua that the massacre is something that many adults in Nanjing know all about. When the siren wails on the national memorial day each year, his family stands on their balcony to mourn, he said.
"The future is to be carried by generations of children, who should shoulder their own responsibilities," said Shi, 43. "By learning the history we hope to teach them to love their motherland, and to understand the hardship through which the happiness they know today was achieved."
The school puts on a host of activities every December, including speeches, debates and singing competitions. One recent debate marked China's new visa-free policy for Japanese tourists.
Shi used to volunteer in the Memorial Hall of the Victims in Nanjing Massacre by Japanese Invaders, and he found that in recent years, knowledge of the Nanjing Massacre has increased among children and young people. "Children are confident enough amid the fast development of our country, and they can look our devastating history square in the eye."
Chen Baoyi, 16, will be the host of the school's mourning gathering on this year's national memorial day. She has known about the Nanjing Massacre since she was very young. Through education both at school and in the memorial hall, she has developed a rational view of the tragedy. "When it occurred, China was underdeveloped," she said. "So we now have the obligation to build a stronger country to avoid a repeat of such a tragedy."
Her classmate, 17-year-old Gao Jing, sees the study of the Nanjing Massacre as a way to commemorate its victims. Learning the truth about this history has not made her hostile to present-day Japan. Like many of her peers, she likes to watch animated Japanese movies like "Detective Conan," and she often buys cultural products associated with these films.
And that is what Shi Xiaobing likes to see. "Remembering history is not remembering hatred," he said.
Shi's views are shared by Yang Xiaoyan. "The message we would like to send is not that we should hate any particular country, but that we should hate war itself. In Japan, many people also lost their lives in the war," she said. Remembering history is not in conflict with traveling to Japan, she noted, and she herself is a fan of Japanese movie stars such as Yamaguchi Momoe.
"We hope that in the process of learning history, we can cultivate the critical thinking abilities of young people, so that they can gain a proper view of history. We would also like to see China and all countries in the world enjoy peace in the future."
To bring the history of the Nanjing Massacre to a broader international audience, Yang plans to translate her works into English. In addition to her "Smile in the Thorn Bush" trilogy, she has also authored "Ningsheng Ningsheng," which was inspired by a commemorative poster bearing the images of two children -- one from 1937 and the other from 2017 -- looking at each other across time.
At the end of the book, eponymous protagonist Ningsheng has become a college student and reads a comment in the memorial hall guestbook: "History is not horrible. What is horrible is the disregard for and oblivion of history. May peace prevail."
The inauguration of the Chancay Port in Peru, located near the capital Lima, in mid-November is of significant strategic importance in reshaping global trade.
Construction of the port began in 2019 when China's COSCO Shipping Ports Ltd acquired a 60 percent stake in the Chancay Terminal from Volcan Compania Minera. The investment allowed COSCO Shipping to develop the adjacent ocean area with exclusive rights as the terminal operator. Following the resolution of legal disputes regarding the surrounding port area, this infrastructure promises to cut travel time from China by more than 10 days, reducing it to 23 days. Departures from Shanghai, the world's largest port, will particularly benefit a lot. Products including mineral resources, fruits, soybeans, timber, and frozen fish from Peru will be exported to China through weekly connections.
Peru has long-standing ties with China, dating back to the 19th century when migration brought over 100,000 Chinese to the South American nation. Today, about 8 percent of Peru's population descended from those early immigrants. The cultural exchange is evident, with Chinese words integrated into Peruvian vocabulary, and in recent years, February 1 has been declared as Peru-China Fraternity Day.
These historical ties have paved the way for flourishing trade relations, especially since the signing of the comprehensive strategic partnership in 2013. Trade volume further surged from 2016 to 2023, growing at an average annual rate of 14.6 percent. In the first 10 months of this year, trade peaked at $35 billion, marking a 16.8 percent year-on-year increase. Notably, Peru boasts a GDP of about $270 billion and a per capita income of under $8,000 for around 33 million citizens. China's primary exports to Peru consist of consumer goods and machinery, while Peru exports agricultural products and raw materials such as copper.The Chancay Port, expected to become a major hub in South America, features a depth of around 18 meters, enabling it to accommodate advanced container ships with capacities of 18,000 TEUs. It is the only port of its kind along South America's southwestern coast. Mario de Las Casas, COSCO Shipping's external relations manager in Peru, said that the port is an opportunity not only for Peru but for all of South America.
The port will also benefit Brazil, as the two nations are connected by the Intraoceanic Highway, traversing key agricultural regions like Acre and Rondonia. This connectivity is particularly relevant as China's demand for soybeans continues to rise.
China's exploration of alternative trade routes can be likened to the historical endeavors of Admiral Zheng He during the Ming Dynasty (1358-1644), who explored new routes between India and Africa. Modern challenges such as prolonged geopolitical conflicts have necessitated strategies like the Chancay Port and the China-Europe freight train service launched in 2013.
Chile's mid-June request to join the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) underscores the region's economic transformation. Chile already benefits from a free trade agreement with China, facilitating the export of copper, lithium, wine, and fruit, including 377,000 tons of cherries in the 2023-2024 period.
By joining RCEP, Chile will connect its 33 existing trade agreements to the Asia-Pacific bloc, further enhancing China's economic footprint.
In 2023, trade within the RCEP region rose to $5.6 trillion. The region attracted $234 billion in greenfield investments. With anticipated protectionist policies in global trade, China's growing relations with Peru, Brazil, and Chile highlight its strategic pivot toward South America.
The Chinese national soccer team suffered a bitter second consecutive defeat in the World Cup Asian qualifiers as they were defeated by 10-man Saudi Arabia 2-1 on Tuesday in Dalian, Liaoning Province.
The defeat means China now stay at the bottom of the six-team group after they conceded seven goals in the first match against Japan. Chinese players have yet to score a single goal in the series.
An own goal from the Saudi defender Ali Lajami in the 14th minute got the home Chinese fans cheering, followed by a red card to Saudi player Mohammed Kanno in the 19th minute, giving Chinese players a one-man advantage.
But it was Saudi player Hassan Kadish who pulled an equalizer in the 39th minute before adding another goal shortly before the final whistle, denying China's hopes for a point in the qualifiers.
"It's really a pity that our team conceded two goals in set pieces. Our players did their best," said Branko Ivankovic, head coach of the Chinese team, through an interpreter at the post-match press conference.
The Croatian rejected the idea of resigning. He said it is not up to him and the Chinese team still has chance to finish in fourth place in the group.
Disappointed Chinese fans were bemoaning the performance of the team after the match, but some were also voicing their support for the Chinese team as they chanted "Fight till the end."
Due to the Chinese national team's previous 7:0 defeat to Japan last week, many were concerned about the turnout for the home match against Saudi Arabia. But the venue attendance surpassed 48,000 in the 63,000-capacity Suoyuwan Stadium.
Fans in the southern stands even displayed a massive red tifo that stretched from the top of the stands to the front row closest to the field with the words "Fight for the Country" before the game.
SOURCE / PRESS RELEASE State Grid Taizhou Electric Power Supply Company's 'Vision-Intelligent Obstacle Avoidance Inspection Pioneer' System Put into Use to Enhance Work Efficiency Published: Sep 16, 2024 07:28 PM
On September 9, staff from the Smart Operation and Inspection Center of State Grid Taizhou Electric Power Supply Company utilized the "Vision-Intelligent Obstacle Avoidance Inspection Pioneer" system mode mounted on drones to conduct inspection work on distribution network lines. Previously, from July 4 to 7, this project was exhibited at the 2024 World Artificial Intelligence Conference. This conference, jointly hosted by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, National Development and Reform Commission, Ministry of Education, and others, had the theme of "Promoting Sharing through Joint Consultation, Promoting Good Intelligence through Good Governance," and attracted over 1,500 exhibits from more than 500 enterprises in fields such as large models, computing power, robotics, and autonomous driving. In recent years, addressing the complex nature of distribution network inspection environments, State Grid Taizhou Electric Power Supply Company has researched a drone-mounted autonomous obstacle avoidance solution based on millimeter-wave radar and visual autonomous obstacle avoidance. This solution enables the identification of obstacles in distribution line corridors and the autonomous planning of obstacle avoidance routes, thereby avoiding situations where drones might collide with obstacles while flying outside the lines. Through deep learning and lightweight model technology, drones can detect trees and obstacles ahead in real-time during flight, and achieve optimal obstacle avoidance path planning through dynamic trajectory adjustment.
The "Vision-Intelligent Obstacle Avoidance Inspection Pioneer" system is equipped with purely domestically produced chips and ultra-strong computing power of up to 6T. Based on frontend recognition and autonomous obstacle avoidance technology, it can provide data support for the autonomous flight of drones conducting distribution network inspections. The system integrates three-phase orthogonal radar, enabling precise identification of details such as the main body of electrical equipment and transmission channels, and continuous identification of wires with a diameter of 1 centimeter within a 15-meter range, as well as potential hazards in the surrounding environment of the distribution network. By accumulating a database of defects and potential hazards, the system achieves iterative updates in algorithm types and depth, further enhancing the intelligence level and work efficiency of distribution line inspections.
Currently, this system mode has been used to conduct inspection work on 17 distribution network lines in the Taizhou region of Jiangsu province. After implementation, it has achieved good results, significantly improving the autonomy and intelligence level of distribution network inspection operations. This makes drone inspection operations safer and more efficient, reduces the labor intensity of operation and inspection personnel, and greatly lowers operation and maintenance costs.
A power supply company in Northwest China’s Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region has revolutionized the approach to power grid security with the integration of remote intelligent patrol technology. This advancement marks a significant leap in the surveillance and maintenance of substations, ensuring the reliability and safety of the power grid.
On August 12, Yang Mei, a maintenance worker at the Yuequan 110kV substation under the State Grid Ningdong Electric Power Supply Company, reported the successful operation of the intelligent inspection system, highlighting its seamless functionality. "The system is a testament to our commitment to innovation and safety," Yang Mei said.
At the core of this smart transformation is the intelligent inspection system, which employs high-definition cameras to monitor critical substation equipment. These cameras, positioned around circuit breakers, disconnectors, and other vital components, are programmed with preset points for equipment monitoring. This setup enables real-time surveillance, allowing operation and maintenance staff to issue inspection commands remotely, transforming the traditional inspection process.
The remote intelligent inspection technology has transitioned substation monitoring from reliance on human observation to an automated "electric eye" system. This shift has significantly increased the efficiency of risk identification and assessment, ensuring the equipment operates safely and stably, particularly during peak demand periods like summer.
Moreover, the system conducts frequent daily inspections of the substation's surroundings and internal environment, including the detection of floating debris, thereby enhancing the overall perception and security of the substation.
Looking ahead, the State Grid Ningdong Electric Power Supply Company is committed to expanding the use of remote intelligent patrols. This strategic move aims to elevate the quality and efficiency of power grid maintenance, solidifying the defense of power grid equipment and contributing to the continuous and stable delivery of electricity.
The integration of such technology not only fortifies the power grid against potential threats but also underscores the company's dedication to upholding the highest standards of safety and operational excellence in the energy sector.
In recent years, some Western politicians have intensified their rhetoric regarding "China's overcapacity." Meanwhile, some Western nations have embraced trade protectionism, imposing high tariffs on China's burgeoning green industries, such as new-energy vehicles (NEVs), photovoltaics and lithium batteries.
However, the strength of China's green industries stems from technological advancements, the clustering of industrial chains as well as robust domestic competition. As a matter of fact, the unfounded claim of "overcapacity" serves as a means to politicize and weaponize economic matters.
The development of China's green industries plays a crucial role in the global effort to combat climate change. China's industrial policies for green sectors adhere to the principle of competitive neutrality. In recent years, the policies have significantly driven the growth of the new-energy sector in China, while facilitating the development of new-energy industries in other countries too.
China was the key driver of the global decline in production cost for photovoltaics and wind turbines in 2022, with other markets experiencing a much more heterogeneous set of outcomes that saw costs increase, according to the report on Renewable Power Generation Costs in 2022, issued by the International Renewable Energy Agency.
From the perspective of sustainable development goals, global renewables production capacity still falls far short of market demand. In this context, China deserves recognition rather than criticism. The advancement of China's new-energy sectors has accelerated the global response to climate change, making it more efficient and less costly.
The issue of production capacity is a problem that arises amid the operation of the market. "Decoupling" and protectionist policies are not beneficial for resolving the issue. The US directly subsidizes domestic manufacturers through legislation such as the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), while discriminating against foreign manufacturers.
The green industry evolution in China is characterized by free and fair competition, and the Chinese market is steadily transitioning toward a more mature development phase now.
According to data from the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers, from January to July 2024, China produced 5.9 million NEVs, a year-on-year increase of 28.8 percent. During the same period, sales reached 5.9 million units, up 31.1 percent year-on-year.
The academic community has long pointed out that in promoting the use of clean energy, subsidies are needed to reduce the costs of new technologies and decrease market reliance on old technologies.
Researches by some countries have found that developed countries tend to use industrial policies more intensively. Goldman Sachs estimates that fiscal spending related to the US IRA will amount to $1.2 trillion, a figure three times more than what supporters initially claimed, according to media reports.
China emphasizes the importance of addressing the capacity issue and actively takes measures to promote global coordination on this matter. China adheres to a cooperative approach, continuously optimizing macroeconomic policies and achieving global policy coordination to enhance global macroeconomic governance. This approach aims to achieve better interaction between China's economic development and global economic growth.
The dependencies formed by trade relations are mutual, as the world relies on the Chinese market, and China equally relies on the world market. A healthy international division of labor and economic cooperation provide the foundation for the global economy to achieve faster recovery.
Protectionist policies will only increase economic costs and decrease economic efficiency for all economies, which cannot promote the balance of supply and demand on the market.
The development of China's manufacturing sector provides opportunities for cooperative development for more developing countries. Countries should strengthen cooperation and enhance mutual trust to jointly tackle global challenges, rather than exaggerating "threats" and adding instability.
As the 33rd Summer Olympics in Paris draws to a close, the popular youth business reality show Chinese Restaurant 8 returns to France. Its mission is to showcase Chinese cuisine and culture while also promoting the spirit of Chinese sports.
Chinese Restaurant 8 features the theme "Olympic Boost Week" and introduces a series of innovative dishes. The restaurant also hosts an Olympic-themed "Pride of China Knowledge Quiz," offering viewers both entertaining and culturally engaging activities.
The program has specially invited two Olympic athletes, Deng Yaping and Su Bingtian, who display their relaxed and confident demeanor. Through their personal stories, they highlight the legacy of Chinese sports, helping to create a harmonious blend of food and culture.
Chinese track and field athlete Su Bingtian brings hundreds of Chinese Dragon T-shirts to Paris, distributing them to local Chinese restaurant owners and friends who love Chinese culture. These shirts symbolize the wisdom and strength of the Chinese Dragon spirit.
A newly added "Takeaway Food Truck" offers Chinese snacks such as sour plum soup and colorful jelly on the streets of a small town, giving international visitors a unique taste of Chinese cuisine.
The "Cross-City Takeaway Team," consisting of Zhai Xiaowen, Dai Guangtan, Yu Shuxin, and Huang Xiaoming, delivers "spicy hot pot" to the town of Ault in the Somme department of Hauts-de-France.
The interior design of Chinese Restaurant 8 fully embraces Chinese aesthetics, featuring a majestic red dragon wall, porcelain dragon-scale decorations, and a "Panda Corner" photo spot, allowing diners to experience the diverse charm of Chinese culture.
The show also presents gifts such as Sichuan opera face-changing dolls, panda headbands, Chinese fans, dragon beard candy, and Jingdezhen porcelain cups, symbolizing the warm hospitality of the Chinese people and promoting continued friendly exchanges between China and France. The surprise visit of French artist Alain also injects fresh vitality into the China-France friendship.
The 23rd "Chinese Bridge" global finals for university students officially commenced in Nanping, East China's Fujian Province, on Friday. Featuring contests and immersive cultural experiences, the competition will span 21 days.
A total of 147 contestants from 130 countries and regions are participating in the competition, which has three phases: the Bridge Round, the Advancement Round, and the Grand Final.
The Grand Final will take place in early September in Pingtan, where the global champion, continental champions, and winners of the first, second, and third prizes will be selected. Individual awards will also be presented.
The first Bridge Round featured a written exam consisting of 40 multiple-choice questions covering topics such as China's national conditions, geography, history, economy, and culture.
Preliminary rounds were held earlier this year, from February to June. Winners of these rounds, vetted by the organizing committee, have traveled to China to represent their respective regions in the global finals.
Since its inception in 2002, the "Chinese Bridge" competition has attracted over 1.6 million participants from more than 160 countries and regions, with over 7,000 foreign students invited to China for the global finals, drawing a global viewership of hundreds of millions each year.
It aims to provide a platform for Chinese language learners from around the world to showcase their proficiency, exchange learning experiences, and assess their progress, while building bridges of friendship among participants.
After a concert Monday night at Shanghai Cultural Square theater, renowned Welsh musical theater actor and singer John Owen-Jones met his Chinese fans at the “More than Music” event hosted by the British Consulate-General in Shanghai on Tuesday to share his career experience, and celebrate the rich cultural exchanges between the UK and China.
John Owen-Jones, also known as JOJ, is most famous for his portrayals of Jean Valjean in Alain Boublil & Claude-Michel Schönberg's Les Misérables and the Phantom in Andrew Lloyd Webber's The Phantom of the Opera.
Shanghai is the second leg of his China tour covering Beijing, Shanghai, Nanjing and Changsha after a four-year hiatus. Tickets for the one-night Shanghai show sold out in less than seven minutes.
The Global Times reporter witnessed about 2,000 Shanghai audience members actively interacted with JOJ throughout the entire performance, immersing themselves in more than 25 classic musical theater scenes, including Nature Boy, Thunderball, Kiss of the Spiderwoman, This Is the Moment, Proud Lady and Love Changes Everything.
Besides his long-time partner John Quirk, special guest Chinese soprano Pan Hangwei also performed on stage with JOJ.
“This year I was very much concentrating on using local musicians and local talents, so whenever I travel to a new country, I much prefer to work with local artists because it brings a different dimension to my performance… And I thought it would be a great idea to put together Chinese instruments into the recording, and in that way, we celebrate the two musical cultures and the differences and combine them and make one unique thing,” JOJ told the Global Times on Tuesday.
Speaking of blending Western and Chinese instruments and making a very unique version of the Phantom of the Opera, which they performed during the China tour, JOJ said, “It's always one of the most exciting parts of the show for me because I get to see how the audience reacts to that, because cultural exchange is such a rich tapestry of different things all over the world that we can all learn from each other and make better art and make better music. And that's what's so exciting about being here in China. I think I'd like to explore more, so I definitely would like to integrate, explore more cultural opportunities between where I'm from, where you are from.”
JOJ’s remarks were echoed by the British Consul General in Shanghai Matt Burney. The consul general told the session that “Regardless of where we come from, music is this universal language, and it reminds us of that shared humanity and the things that bind us together emotionally and spiritually. Music really does have the ability to transcend all of the challenges that life presents us. It can take us back to the past, and it can also give us optimism.”
The consul general went on to introduce the “More than Music” campaign. “We wanted to use the media of music and through this project to bring people closer to the UK. We're bringing you a really exciting, UK music campaign that I really do hope that you will engage in and hope that through this campaign you can understand more about British music and British musicians.”
