"The interest in our intangible cultural heritage is growing, and tourists flock to our site. Thank you for inspecting electrical hazards and ensuring a safe and reliable power supply for the heritage research base!" On August 27, Li Fei, manager of Xinjiang Desert Art Museum and a Uygur mulberry paper craft inheritor, expressed his gratitude to the members of the service team from State Grid Turpan Electric Power Supply Company.
Xinjiang's Turpan, a key town on the ancient Silk Road, boasts a cultural history spanning over four thousand years. Its numerous and diverse intangible cultural heritages shine brightly like stars.
Among these, the Uygur mulberry paper crafting technique stands out as one of the first batch of national-level intangible cultural heritage protection projects, with a history of over a thousand years.
In recent years, to promote the development and inheritance of intangible heritage, State Grid Turpan Electric Power Supply Company has prioritized these projects for power security, providing stable and reliable electricity services.
The Sangeqiao Village in Turpan leverages its ancient village setting to promote the mulberry paper intangible heritage project. The village enhances its e-commerce sales center by offering craft training and establishing a mulberry paper exhibition platform, creating an "e-commerce + intangible heritage" industrial base that drives local employment and entrepreneurship, thus using intangible heritage to boost rural revitalization and better promote and preserve its intangible cultural heritage.
As the electricity provider supporting the mulberry paper intangible heritage industry, State Grid Turpan Electric Power Supply Company tailors its power supply plans to the industry's growth and demand, enhancing the grid by upgrading and expanding transformer substation capacities by 6759 kVA, continuously improving the quality of electricity.
A "green channel" has been established to streamline the process for eight electricity customers in the intangible heritage industry, from application, meter installation, connection, to maintenance, simplifying procedures and expediting service to enable earlier and more efficient electricity usage.
Concurrently, the maintenance of power equipment and lines is intensified to promptly address any potential hazards or defects.
In 2023, State Grid Turpan Electric Power Supply Company constructed and renovated 1.56 kilometers of distribution lines and replaced six transformers with a total capacity of 2.4 MVA in Sangeqiao village, not only enhancing the reliability of the power supply but also making the village's distribution network smarter.
Additionally, employees of State Grid Turpan Electric Power Supply Company conducted 18 thermal inspections of lines, cable switchgear, and distribution boxes in Sangeqiao Village, promptly identifying and mitigating any external risks to the lines.
Today, powered by "electric dynamics," the intangible heritage projects in Turpan are thriving, breathing new life and vitality into traditional crafts.
"The village organized training for us in mulberry paper techniques. After mastering it, I began creating crafts and leading tourists in experiencing our intangible heritage. Last year, our family's annual income surpassed 60,000 yuan, a significant improvement from before," said Ayixianmuguli Yili.
In 2023, Sangeqiao village welcomed 74,500 visitors, generating tourism revenue of 164,000 yuan.
In the name of electricity, walking hand in hand with the intangible cultural heritage industry. State Grid Turpan Electric Power Supply Company, aligning with the needs of the mulberry paper industry, earnestly fulfills its social responsibilities, serving through its development and developing through its service, powering the high-quality growth of the intangible cultural heritage industry.
Today, the art of mulberry paper making in Tulufan has revitalized, painting a series of portraits of happiness.
The China Council for the Promotion of International Trade (CCPIT) stated that China-US business communities remain key defenders and contributors to bilateral relations despite global challenges, and it is hoped to deepen cooperation with the US business community and strengthen its role as a stabilizing force in China-US relation. Wang Linjie, spokesperson for the CCPIT, made the remarks on Friday, days after Ren Hongbin, chairman of CCPIT, recently led a Chinese business delegation to the US at the invitation of the US Chamber of Commerce and the US-China Business Council.
Wang recalled that in 1975, when CCPIT led its first Chinese trade delegation to the US after the Shanghai Communique was signed, the visit had played a key role in normalizing relations between China and the US.
The two visits, which were separated by nearly 50 years, have fully demonstrated that no matter how the international situation changes, the Chinese and American business communities have always been important contributors to the relations between the two countries, Wang said.
The CCPIT is willing to work with US counterparts and enterprises from the two countries to continue to deepen cooperation and firmly serve as a stabilizing force for bilateral relations, Wang added.
Wang said that during the four-day visit, the Chinese delegation took part in close to 20 trade-focused events, from expansive forums to close discussions with executives from Fortune 500 companies. They engaged in candid dialogues with the US business and political leaders.
Those delegates from the US business community said that they are optimistic about the Chinese market, and they said the two sides should meet more, communicate more, and cooperate more. They hope that relations between the two countries will stabilize, improve, and progress.
It is hoped that the US will actively promote trade and investment facilitation, reduce unnecessary restrictive measures on Chinese-funded enterprises, formulate a reasonable foreign investment review list, lower the entry threshold for Chinese-funded enterprises, and provide a fair, transparent, and non-discriminatory business environment for Chinese-invested enterprises in the US, Ren said during the visit.
Wang highlighted that there is vast potential between the Chinese and American business communities, not only in bilateral fields, but also on multilateral issues, citing an example that the CCPIT and the US business leaders jointly proposed cooperation principles for Asia-Pacific supply chain cooperation at the third session of APEC Business Advisory Council (ABAC) 2024.
The proposal, advocating for open collaboration and compliance with WTO rules to prevent trade distortions, was a highlight. It showcased strong opposition to supply chain decoupling and underscored robust multilateral cooperation between Chinese and American businesses, according to Wang.
"Despite attempts by some US politicians to undermine the relationship, China and the US remain each other's most vital trade partners. The undeniable economic complementarity between the two nations has forged a unique and unmatched partnership. This relationship is expected to grow stronger over time, even amid political disturbances," Bian Yongzu, executive deputy editor-in-chief of Modernization of Management magazine, told the Global Times on Friday.
"Even with political interference, trade exchanges, especially in major product categories, will not be significantly diminished," Bian added.
With the sweltering heat of summer gradually fading, the two-month-long summer travel season has come to a triumphant close, marking not just a feast for China's tourism market but also a display of the country's robust economic vitality.
From the bustling scenes at railway hubs to the packed scenic spots, from the soaring domestic tourism data to the influx of foreign visitors, the energy and activity can be felt in every corner of the country.
During the summer travel season from July 1 to August 31, China registered around 10.917 billion passenger trips in inter-regional movement, a daily average of 176 million trips, according to data released by China's Ministry of Transport. In particular, a staggering 887 million railway passenger trips were recorded nationwide, representing a 6.7 percent year-on-year increase and a daily average passenger flow exceeding 14.31 million, a record high, according to data from China Railway.
These figures also serve as a vivid testament to China's immense potential for domestic demand and thriving consumption dynamics.
Tourism boom
As the summer draws to a close, multiple online travel platforms have released reports revealing substantial growth in both bookings and visitor numbers for summer travel products.
Spring Travel said in a report sent to the Global Times that the number of domestic travelers during the summer of 2024 exceeded the same period in 2023.
Data from other platforms such as Fliggy also revealed that both per capita bookings and spending increased year-on-year during the summer, with a more pronounced emphasis on immersive travel experiences.
Xu Fan, a tourism enthusiast from central China's Henan Province, who embarked on a journey to Southwest China's Guizhou Province, told the Global Times he was captivated by local handicrafts and unique souvenirs that encapsulated the essence of Guizhou's traditional heritage. "I was impressed by the diverse range of creative products available, which have expanded beyond traditional clothing and textiles. Some foreign tourists also showed a strong interest in the unique batik crafts, often taking photos and spending time admiring the intricate designs," Xu said.
In the vast desert areas of Northwest China, a romantic encounter with the stars and nature has also emerged as one of those immersive travel experiences. "Desert hotels," which allow visitors to spend the night observing the stars, experienced a year-on-year surge of 270 percent in searches on Meituan in early August. The search for "desert coffee" rose by an astonishing 518 percent.
Meanwhile, frenzy over China's hit game Black Myth: Wukong has also boosted tourism in places like North China's Shanxi Province, as the intertwining of gaming and its real-world settings breathed new life into ancient cultural sites. According to data from Trip.com Group, since the game was launched, the number of ticket orders for Xiaoxitian scenic spot, one of the filming locations, has increased by 261 percent year-on-year.
"The number of tourists has skyrocketed this summer, especially after the launch of the game. We went from about 1,500 visitors a day to over 5,000 in just a matter of days. The influx of tourists continued with visitors purchasing local products and cultural items. There were also some foreign tourists seen in the scenic spots," a staff member of the Xiaoxitian scenic spot told the Global Times on Sunday.
Facilitating policies
The presence of foreign tourists has added a unique dimension to this tourism extravaganza. With visa-free policies in place, China has increasingly become a popular destination for overseas travelers.
"This is my first time visiting Beijing, and I am amazed by the scale of the city. Taking a taxi is incredibly convenient, something that's quite different from my experience in Perth," a tourist from Australia, told the Global Times on Sunday.
"Famous attractions like the Temple of Heaven and Nanluoguxiang are bustling with visitors. I'm glad this surge has encouraged businesses to extend their hours and improve their offerings, making my evening strolls and shopping even more enjoyable," he said, adding that he has bought many traditional Beijing pastries and plans to visit Shanghai next.
Data from Trip.com Group showed that inbound travel orders during the summer surged by approximately 70 percent year-on-year, with South Korea topping the list of source countries. Thailand, Japan, Singapore, Malaysia, the US, Australia, Vietnam, the UK and the Philippines followed behind.
China's first local standards on the setup and management of outdoor smoking areas was enacted in Shanghai on Sunday to regulate outdoor smoking behaviors in the municipality.
According to Shanghai Municipal Health Commission, Shanghai will set up 300 outdoor smoking demonstration sites by the end of 2024 in accordance with the municipality's requirements, chinanews.com reported on Sunday.
Based on this, Shanghai will further strengthen the advocacy of smoking only at designated areas and avoiding walking while smoking. In addition, the city will strictly enforce a thorough indoor smoking ban and strengthen regulatory enforcement.
With the summary of Shanghai's long-standing experience in tobacco control management and references of relevant international practices, the standards specify the requirements for the location, facilities, signage and health tips for outdoor smoking areas, and clarifies the management requirements for the daily patrol and inspection as well as maintenance of these areas, according to chinanews.com.
The implementation of the standard will help guide and regulate outdoor smoking, reduce health risks of outdoor secondhand smoke and protect the public's health. This is a significant step to further improving the effectiveness of smoke-free environment, promoting refined management on urban tobacco control.
Currently, there are no national standards or regulations on the setup and management of outdoor smoking areas.
Therefore, according to the Shanghai Municipal Health Commission, Shanghai has innovatively explored the requirements to provide professional guidance and technical support for the reasonable and standardized setting up and management of outdoor smoking areas.
Relevant departments also set up health tips about the hazards of tobacco and information on services for giving up smoking at the smoking areas, providing smokers with convenient channels to quit smoking.
Chinese athlete Cui Chenxi placed fourth in the Women's Street Skateboarding finals at the Paris Olympics on Sunday, setting the best historical performance for the Chinese delegation in this sporting event.
In the finals, despite lower scores in the run section, Cui performed outstandingly in the trick section, securing fourth place with 241.56 points.
Cui expressed her gratitude after her first Olympics experience, saying there were many spectators at the Olympic venue, and almost everyone cheered after she completed her moves. "Hearing them cheer, I was very excited. It was really great to receive so much applause in my first Olympics," Cui said, reported the China News Service.
During the finals, she was once in the top three, but Brazilian skateboarder Rayssa Leal overtook her to win the bronze medal in the last round. Many felt sorry for her as she narrowly missed a medal on her first Olympic stage, but the 14-year-old young girl said, "There aren't too many regrets."
Cui started roller skating at the age of 3 and began skateboarding at the age of 10.
After more than three years of practice, she gradually showed maturity and determination beyond her age. Last year, at the Hangzhou Asian Games Women's Street Skateboarding finals, Cui emerged as a star, winning the gold medal while becoming the youngest Asian Games champion in Chinese sports history.
Before the national team selection, Cui suffered from a severe ankle sprain and lost a tooth, but she never complained. "If a trick can't be done, I'll practice another one first and come back to it after a few days. It might work then." She is considered the most stable performer among Chinese skateboarders, with no obvious weaknesses in either the run or the trick section.
Skateboarding made its return at the Paris Olympics, four years after the sport's debut at the Games and, this year, the sport is showcasing some of the games' youngest competitors as well as some celebrated veterans.
The Chinese skateboarding team expanded its roster with three female athletes for this Olympics, including the other two Chinese athletes, Zhu Yuanling and Zeng Wenhui.
Another young competitor representing China is 13-year-old Zhu Yuanling. On August 6, the youngest member of the Chinese delegation, 11-year-old Zheng Haohao, will also compete in the Women's Park Skateboarding.
"I've already accomplished my goal by making it to the Olympics. My coach told me not to be too nervous and just to show up on the Olympic stage," Zhu said.
A 29-year-old woman surnamed He was detained by police for posting inflammatory as well as defamatory comments about athletes and coaches on Sina Weibo, following the table tennis women's singles final at the Paris Olympics, according to Beijing police on Monday.
The arrest came after Beijing police received reports from the public about the posts, which were found to be harmful due to their malicious and false nature. He has been placed under criminal detention while the investigation continues.
The arrest of the woman for defamatory comments about athletes at the Paris Games underscores the authorities' efforts to curb the negative impact of toxic fan culture and maintain the integrity of sports.
The arrest was preceded by an official crackdown on over 800 accounts of Chinese social media platforms that had been spreading negativity and fomenting conflict during the table tennis events at the Olympics, with more than 50,000 inappropriate fan posts being removed.
Chinese paddler Chen Meng defeated her teammate Sun Yingsha 4-2, winning the women's singles gold medal at the Paris Games, but the tantalizing all-Chinese final that deserved celebration turned into a shame when many fans on the stand showed favoritism toward Sun while booing Chen when Chen scored points and triumphed over Sun.
Both Chen and Sun are the victims of a distorted fan culture that centered on the idolization of a certain public figure, leading to selfish displays and toxic behavior that can harm the sports community and overshadow broader values such as patriotism and sportsmanship.
After China's easing past Egypt 3-0 to reach the quarterfinals of table tennis women's team event on Monday, Chen looked confident and shared her thoughts on the excellent teamwork of her fellow athletes.
"Our mutual trust is so deep that a simple glance can convey our feelings and intentions to each other," Chen said.
Deng Yaping, China's table tennis legend, advocates for maintaining the integrity and respect inherent in sportsmanship, emphasizing that while it's normal for fans to have their favorites, this shouldn't lead to hostility.
"Everyone has the right to like someone. You just need to show your affection; there is no need to attack other players," Deng said.
Deng said that the evolving nature of fan support in sports is a normal phenomenon.
"Traditionally, fans were drawn to table tennis because they loved the sport, and then they developed admiration for the players. However, nowadays, some fans are first attracted to specific athletes and then become interested in the sport itself."
Critics argue that such behavior should not be considered culture but rather a harmful "tumor" that needs to be rooted out.
Toxic fandom culture has even led to conflicts among fans, disrupting the harmonious atmosphere traditionally associated with sports. Instead of coming to appreciate the game, spectators often engage in aggressive cheering for their favored athletes while attacking competitor players, turning the sports arena into a battlefield, which represents a significant departure from the true spirit of sportsmanship.
The case highlighted the Chinese authorities' ongoing crackdown on inappropriate online behavior, and their efforts to preserve the spirit of sportsmanship and preventing the negative aspects of toxic fan culture from tarnishing the values that sports stand for.
Chinese badminton player He Bingjiao has retired from international badminton, the Badminton World Federation(BWF) announced on Tuesday. The 27-year-old won her career-best Olympic silver in women's singles at Paris2024 on August 5.
BWF has already removed He from women's singles world rankings.
This has garnered worldwide attention as netizens were impressed by the sportsmanship He demostrated by holding up a Spanish flag pin when she was awarded the medal on the podium. He had qualified for the final after Spain's Carolina Martin was forced to retire midway due to injury. Her gesture and her heartfelt wishes for Marin's speedy recovery resonated deeply with viewers.
Netizens left posts wishing her well and expressing gratitude for her efforts. "Thank you, He Bingjiao, for showing true sportsmanship and grace. Wishing you all the best in your future endeavors!" wrote an admirer.
He was born in 1997 and started playing badminton at the age of five. In 2014, He defeated Akane Yamaguchi winning the gold medal in women's singles badminton at the Nanjing Youth Olympic Games.
After joining the national team, He's achievements skyrocketed. In 2015, she won titles at the China Masters, Asian Junior Championships, BWF World Junior Championships, and the Indonesia Masters. In 2016, He claimed a total of five championship titles in both team and individual events.
Her performance continued to improve steadily, and she once reached fifth place in the world rankings. However, during the era dominated by the "Big Four" of women's singles, Tai Tzu Ying, An Se-young, Akane Yamaguchi and Chen Yufei, He found it difficult to break through further. At the 2024 Paris Olympics, He advanced all the way to the finals, ultimately losing to An Se-young and winning the silver medal.
Throughout her career, He has won four World Championship titles. In 2021 and 2023, she helped her team win the Sudirman Cup World Badminton Mixed Team Championship twice. In 2020 and 2024, she also helped her team win the Uber Cup women's team championship twice. In the Olympic singles competition, He finished fourth at the Tokyo Olympics and won the silver medal at the Paris Olympics.
China's General Administration of Customs (GAC) has issued a notice that it will tighten surveillance at ports of entry to prevent the spread of mpox in China, after the World Health Organization (WHO) declared on Wednesday that the mpox outbreak constitutes a public health emergency of international concern.
People coming from countries and regions affected by mpox outbreak, who have been exposed to mpox or have symptoms such as fever, headache, back pain, muscle pain, swollen lymph nodes and rashes, should declare their conditions to customs upon entry. Customs officials will take medical measures and conduct sampling tests according to prescribed procedures, the GAC said.
Transport vehicles, containers, goods, and items from countries or regions affected by the outbreak and potentially contaminated should undergo sanitary treatment according to prescribed procedures, the GAC noted.
The measures took effect immediately upon announcement on Thursday, and will be valid for six months, according to the GAC.
According to the Africa centers for disease control and prevention data on August 9, 13 countries in Africa have reported 17,541 cases of mpox, with 517 deaths.
China has effective capabilities to respond to the potential risks of the spread of mpox, Lu Hongzhou, head of the Third People's Hospital of Shenzhen, told the Global Times on Friday.
To prevent the spread of mpox, Lu suggested that people should avoid sexual contact with individuals of unknown health status, and stay informed about mpox outbreaks in destination countries and regions when traveling. Lu added that people should avoid coming in contact with animals such as rodents and primates that may carry the virus.
The recent report of 25 tons of radioactive water leaking from Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO)'s troubled Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant once again exposes TEPCO's internal management chaos. It also highlights the unreliability and risks associated with Japan's moves to dump nuclear-contaminated wastewater into the sea, analysts said.
Approximately 25 tons of water containing radioactive materials leaked into the spent fuel cooling pool of Reactor Unit 2 in the Fukushima plant. TEPCO has stopped water injection into the pool and is investigating the cause of the leak. To ascertain the precise location of the leak and its underlying cause, TEPCO plans to deploy robotic equipment for an inspection scheduled for this week, Japanese media NHK reported on Tuesday.
Although TEPCO claims that there has been no discharge into the outside environment, the report raises concerns about Japan's current practice of dumping nuclear-contaminated wastewater into the sea given TEPCO's notorious history of cover-ups related to the Fukushima disaster, analysts said.
This incident exposes TEPCO's internal management chaos and disorganization. Lü Chao, a research fellow at the Liaoning Academy of Social Sciences said that both TEPCO and the Japanese government bear major responsibility for handling the Fukushima nuclear-contaminated wastewater and should be transparent about any incident that has occurred in Fukushima.
Despite using the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)'s report as a shield, Japan continues to dump nuclear-contaminated wastewater into the ocean, disregarding objections from neighboring countries and calls for international oversight. If this attitude continues, it could lead to further catastrophic incidents, causing severe and irreversible damage to the ocean and the environment, Lü told the Global Times on Wednesday.
As of press time on Wednesday, IAEA has not responded to Global Times' inquiries on the incident.
This is not the first time this has happened in the Fukushima plant. In February, approximately 5.5 tons of wastewater, which may contain 22 billion becquerels of radioactive materials such as cesium and strontium have leaked from equipment at the nuclear power plant. Also, in October, 2023, five workers were accidentally splashed with liquid containing radioactive materials while cleaning at the Fukushima No. 1 nuclear power plant, according to Japanese media.
On August 7, despite persistent opposition at home and abroad, Japan started its eighth round of dumping of nuclear-contaminated wastewater into the Pacific Ocean. In response, the spokesperson for the Chinese Embassy in Japan said in a statement that Japan is irresponsibly shifting potential pollution risks onto the entire world. It is continuously discharging nuclear-contaminated wastewater into the ocean without addressing international concerns about the safety of the discharge, the long-term reliability of the purification equipment and the effectiveness of monitoring arrangements.
The spokesperson urged Japan to fully cooperate in establishing a comprehensive, independent and effective long-term international monitoring arrangement involving relevant stakeholders, including neighboring countries.
Friendly exchanges between China and Africa have enjoyed a long history and have deepened in recent years, covering various fields such as politics, the economy, and culture. The Global Times is launching a China-Africa Rhapsody series, aiming to showcase the profound human connections and development visions between the two peoples by sharing the true stories of Chinese people in Africa and African people in China. From touching stories of China-Africa cooperation and exciting collisions of youthful ideas, to debunking fallacies concocted by some Western sources about the China-Africa collaboration, this series hopes to promote closer cooperation and deeper understanding between the peoples of China and Africa.
In this installment, we turn our attention to the world of sporting arenas. The Paris 2024 Olympics successfully concluded on Sunday night, local time, with athletes from China and Africa showcasing their remarkable talents. Sports cooperation between China and Africa began in the 1950s, and in recent years, significant achievements have been made in this field, making sports exchanges an important bridge for cultural exchange and mutual understanding between the Chinese and African peoples.
We spoke with coaches, experts, and enterprises directly involved in China-Africa sports exchanges to hear about their rich and diverse experiences and insights from working in Africa. Sports have become a new link in China-Africa cooperation, bringing joy and numerous benefits to numerous people.
Sports exchanges between China and Africa began in the 1950s. In 1957, less than a year after China and Egypt established diplomatic relations, the Chinese table tennis team visited Egypt, marking the first Chinese sports delegation to set foot in Africa.
Since then, sports have played a vital role in bridging the two regions. The Chinese basketball and soccer teams have visited multiple African countries, while African teams like the Guinean and Moroccan national soccer teams have visited China.
These exchanges have deepened mutual understanding and trust, significantly contributing to the development of China-Africa relations.
In recent years, China has sent coaches for sports like badminton and table tennis to countries like Uruguay and has built or upgraded sports facilities in nations such as Guinea-Bissau. Additionally, China has provided technical training for large cultural and sporting events.
The 2021 White Paper "China and Africa in the New Era: A Partnership of Equals" released by the State Council highlighted that China has built 45 stadiums and 170 schools across Africa since 2000, training over 160,000 professionals, demonstrating the tangible benefits of the China-Africa partnership.
This growing "sports diplomacy" underscores the importance of cultural exchange and cooperation, enhancing the friendship between China and Africa.
The new home stadium
Wang Neng's initial impressions of Africa, aside from the scorching weather in West Africa, included the people's passion for soccer.
"Adults and children alike show off their soccer skills wherever they go," said Wang, 34, a project manager with the China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC) based in Cote d'Ivoire.
Wang first arrived in Africa in 2015. He told the Global Times that most of the fields here were simply patches of wild grass, slightly modified for use as main venues for Cote d'Ivoire's soccer league. Ordinary people and children played casually on hard, unpaved fields.
Wang has made friends with locals by playing soccer, but he and his colleagues have done much more than that.
In January 2024, the 34th Africa Cup of Nations kicked off in Cote d'Ivoire, with the Laurent Pokou Stadium in San-Pedro, built by the CCECC, drawing significant attention.
The Laurent Pokou Stadium, with a seating capacity of over 20,000 and more than 2,000 parking spaces, saw local cultural elements incorporated into its construction. The venue boasts a world-class field, athletic track, and lighting. The CCECC also installed solar photovoltaic technology to support the country's sustainability efforts.
Now, with the CCECC having completed the construction of the main stadium and four training grounds in San Pedro, the local demand for sports facilities has been greatly met. The stadium's construction has also spurred the development of surrounding infrastructure, including hospitals, hotels, universities, airports, and municipal roads, significantly enhancing the city's image, the Global Times has learned from the CCECC.
Moreover, at least three stadiums built by Chinese companies were used in the Africa Cup of Nations held in Cote d'Ivoire earlier this year.
Despite some biased criticisms and attempts by Western media to sow discord in China-Africa relations, China's aid to Africa has consistently demonstrated a genuine understanding of the continent's needs and has withstood various tests.
Even The New York Times acknowledged in a February article that "no country has invested more effort in integrating into Africa's sports scene than China."
Perhaps they do not need not worry on behalf of Africans.
Team Cote d'Ivoire chose Laurent Pokou Stadium for their first two warm-up matches as the host country. Their star player, Sébastien Haller, praised the stadium, "For me, [it is] the best turf is at San-Pedro."
On February 13, 2024, Haller scored the winning goal in the final, helping Cote d'Ivoire defeat Nigeria to claim the championship of the 34th Africa Cup of Nations.
Coach for better
In the China-dominated table tennis field, there are also more African players who, with China's assistance and support, travel tens of thousands of miles to receive training in China along with their Chinese peers.
In late July, Nasri Malissa from Algeria made a speech at the 7th China-Africa People's Forum, sharing her story of receiving table tennis training in China. In 2016, Malissa attended the International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) World Youth Championships held by the China Table Tennis College (CTTC) at the Shanghai University of Sport.
Malissa got the precious opportunity of being coached by renowned world champions including Zhang Yining during the championships. After that, Malissa said she made many excellent achievements in international competitions.
Malissa's experience has planted a seed in the hearts of more table tennis players in her home country, who dream of a similar journey to China. At an opening ceremony of the CTTC's summer school on July 1, 20-year-old Amdjed Oustani shared his excitement.
Oustani first heard of the CTTC from Malissa, who told him about the college's high-level coaches, first-class equipment, and an opportunity to meet the stars of the Chinese national table tennis team. "So, I was very happy and excited when I received the invitation from the CTTC," he said at the opening ceremony. "I'm super looking forward to learning more in the following month, and to become stronger in the world's number one table tennis country." The month-long summer school program in Shanghai was not easy for most international participants. Oustani, who finished the program and returned to Algeria last week, recalled that he had a few difficult times in the beginning, as he "was not used to training like this before."
"But the days became very good after that," Oustani told the Global Times. "I learned a lot in table tennis with this program, and also I learned from the serious discipline of the Chinese [table tennis teams], which is very important."
Oustani spent a wonderful month in Shanghai at the CTTC. He was coached by former members of the Chinese national team Feng Zhe and Zhang Qin. The latter used to coach Sun Yingsha, currently the world's top-ranked female table tennis player. Apart from training, Oustani visited tourist attractions across the city, from the most iconic The Bund and Yuyuan Garden, to the ITTF Museum and China Table Tennis Museum.
Oustani joked that he was born with a racket in his hands. His father was also a table tennis player, and he has been practicing the sport for 14 years. His favorite table tennis players are Ma Long, Wang Chuqin, and Xu Xin, all of whom are household names in China. "My goals in table tennis are to be an African champion and, why not [try to] beat some good and known players?" he told the Global Times.
Oustani participated in the CTTC's summer school program with the help of the college, the Chinese Embassy in Algeria, and the Algerian Chinese enterprises association.
Similar to what Malissa did at the China-Africa People's Forum, Oustani expressed his gratitude to China, which made this opportunity possible with joint efforts.
With the development of table tennis in Africa and the deepening of the China-Africa friendship, more African players are expected to receive training and learn advanced playing skills in China.
Sports for everyone
Of course, sports are not just for professional athletes - they're for everyone.
Today, in various locations across Africa, fitness parks built by Chinese companies have become popular destinations. These facilities, which are common in Chinese communities - simple yet durable and reusable fitness equipment - blend in seamlessly with the African landscape.
From 2016 to 2017, for example, under the organization of the Economic and Commercial Office of the Chinese Embassy in Senegal and the Association of Chinese Enterprises in Senegal, the China International Water and Electric Corporation (CWE) AIBD-Mbour-Thies Expressway in Senegal, in collaboration with over 20 Chinese companies, contributed to the construction of the Dakar Seaside Fitness Park and Kaolack Fitness Park.
These two fitness parks, spanning over 40,000 square meters, remain popular spots for daily exercise among local residents.
Since their completion, the Dakar Seaside Fitness Park and Kaolack Fitness Park have been widely appreciated and praised by the Senegalese government and citizens alike, greatly enriching the daily leisure activities of locals.
The Dakar Seaside Fitness Park, in particular, has become a beautiful evening attraction along the coast and is affectionately called the "China-Senegal Friendship Park" by locals, further strengthening the bond between the people of China and Senegal and establishing a positive corporate image. In recent years, Chinese civil organizations have also actively engaged in sports exchanges under frameworks like the BRI, BRICS, and the Shanghai Cooperation Organization.
Since 2014, the private Chinese company StarTimes has been expanding its sports content in Africa, consistently investing in the acquisition of broadcasting rights for world-renowned sporting events.
They have built eight high-definition sports channels to broadcast various sports, including soccer, boxing, basketball, tennis, e-sports, and racing, to audiences in sub-Saharan Africa.
Just as Wang expressed, "I hope to use the company's platform to build more beneficial projects for the African people and contribute to China-Africa friendship in a modest way." This sentiment echo the feelings of many who are engaged in China-Africa exchanges.
