The New Zealand Asia Pacific Film Festival (NZAPFF) 2024, showcasing films from China, South Korea, Japan and New Zealand, was launched on Friday night.
Chairman of NZAPFF Bo Li stressed the festival’s commitment to diversity in his opening speech.
“At this year’s festival, we have maintained strong international inclusion, inviting filmmakers and artistic panels from all backgrounds to share their unique stories. This commitment to diversity enriches our festival and deepens our understanding of the world through the lens of the film,” Li said.
Glen Katu from the NZ Maori Tourism said the festival is “a remarkable celebration of the diverse cultures and stories that shape our vibrant Asia Pacific region.”
“Storytelling is foundational in both Maori and Asian cultures, serving not only as a bridge between generations but also as a heritage. This connection is visible tonight as we gather to share stories, a universal language that transcends boundaries and brings us all together,” said Katu.
The opening ceremony concluded with lucky draws and a film screening of the award-winning movie “A Place Called Silence.”
This year marks the 12th anniversary of the NZAPFF. It also features the first New Order Youth International Film Festival (NOYIFF), which is the brand of the NZAPFF short film unit to encourage young filmmakers to participate in the event and discover their talent. The NOYIFF has received 5,691 submissions from 120 countries, with the award to be given at the closing ceremony of the NZAPFF next week.
The New Zealand Asia Trust, the New Zealand Culture and Arts Foundation, and the New Zealand Maori Tourism co-organized this year’s festival. The opening ceremony was attended by over 600 people including representatives from the Maori Tourism Board, diplomatic envoys, community leaders, movie lovers, celebrities and artists.
Yang Jianian shows a painted sculpture at a gallery of Yang’s painted sculpture in Longde County, northwest China’s Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, on Oct. 31, 2024. (Xinhua/Mao Zhu)
Yang Jianian is the representative inheritor and the fifth generation descendant of Yang’s painted sculpture, a national intangible cultural heritage with a history of more than 200 years. Yang learned the craft from his father and has since restored numerous clay sculptures and grotto statues.
Influenced by Yang Jianian, the inheritors have innovated the craft while preserving traditions, giving new life to traditional folk arts and promoting local cultural industries.
“In the future, we will bring Yang’s painted sculpture to schools and classrooms to preserve and develop the craft,” Yang said.
Yang Jianian shows a pen container at a gallery of Yang’s painted sculpture in Longde County, northwest China’s Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, on Oct. 31, 2024. (Xinhua/Mao Zhu)
Yang Jianian shows a tool bag used by his predecessors at a gallery of Yang’s painted sculpture in Longde County, northwest China’s Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, on Oct. 31, 2024. (Xinhua/Mao Zhu)
Yang Jianian introduces the procedure of making painted sculpture at a gallery of Yang’s painted sculpture in Longde County, northwest China’s Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, on Oct. 31, 2024. (Xinhua/Mao Zhu)
Yang Jianian (L) guides a student at a factory of Yang’s painted sculpture in Longde County, northwest China’s Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region on Oct. 31, 2024.(Xinhua/Mao Zhu)
Yang Jianian designs patterns for painted sculptures at a gallery of Yang’s painted sculpture in Longde County, northwest China’s Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, on Oct. 31, 2024. (Xinhua/Mao Zhu)
This photo taken on Oct. 31, 2024 shows a clay sculpture at a gallery of Yang’s painted sculpture in Longde County, northwest China’s Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region. (Xinhua/Mao Zhu)
This photo taken on Oct. 31, 2024 shows painted sculptures at a gallery of Yang’s painted sculpture in Longde County, northwest China’s Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region. (Xinhua/Mao Zhu)
This photo taken on Oct. 31, 2024 shows a painted sculpture at a gallery of Yang’s painted sculpture in Longde County, northwest China’s Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region. (Xinhua/Mao Zhu)
Kemi Badenoch was elected the new Conservative Party leader of the United Kingdom (UK) on Saturday, becoming the first black woman to lead a major political party in the UK.
Badenoch, former secretary of state for business and trade, won 57 percent of the votes, beating Robert Jenrick, former minister of state for immigration, the Conservative backbench 1922 Committee Chairman Bob Blackman announced.
The Tory leadership race was triggered by former Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s announcement of his intention to resign on July 5 after the Conservatives lost to the Labour Party in the country’s general election.
On July 29, the 1922 Committee announced six contenders had met the requirements to enter the leadership race: Robert Jenrick, Kemi Badenoch, James Cleverly, Priti Patel, Mel Stride and Tom Tugendhat.
The list was whittled down to the final two through several rounds of voting among Tory MPs (Members of Parliament) before the Conservative Party members were asked to cast their votes between Oct. 15 and Oct. 31 to decide the ultimate winner.
Badenoch said in her victory speech that the Tories need not only clear “Conservative pledges that appeal to the British people,” but also “a clear plan to change this country by changing the way that government works.”
The new Tory leader also asked her party members to “be honest about the fact that we’ve made mistakes.”
“The time has come to tell the truth, to stand up for our principles, to plan for our future, to reset our politics and our thinking, and to give our party and our country the new start that they deserve,” she said.
UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer congratulated Badenoch on her election victory on social media platform X, saying that “the first black leader of a Westminster party is a proud moment for our country.”
Bultosa Hirko, deputy head of the Oromia Regional State Education Bureau, speaks at the first annual seminar on Chinese language education in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia’s capital, on Nov. 1, 2024. Xinhua/Michael Tewelde)
The first annual seminar on Chinese language education was held Friday in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia’s capital, emphasizing the need to promote Chinese language education across the East African country.
The event, which brought together Chinese and Ethiopian language instructors and experts, focused on establishing an effective Chinese language education system in Ethiopia and addressing challenges in the process.
Speaking at the seminar, Zhang Yawei, cultural counselor at the Chinese Embassy in Ethiopia, said the conference aimed to share experiences, build on successes, address issues and jointly advance Chinese language education in Ethiopia.
“With globalization accelerating and cultural exchanges between China and Ethiopia increasing, expanding Chinese language education in Ethiopia is essential. It helps Ethiopian students understand Chinese culture and history and opens more opportunities for them in the future,” Zhang said.
Noting that Chinese language education in Ethiopia faces challenges such as a shortage of teaching staff and resources, Zhang said that a significant number of Ethiopian students are now studying Chinese at the undergraduate and postgraduate levels in both Ethiopian and Chinese universities.
Bultosa Hirko, deputy head of the Oromia Regional State Education Bureau, said Chinese language education is gaining popularity in Ethiopia, unlocking economic opportunities, promoting cultural exchange and fostering mutually beneficial cooperation between the two countries.
“Ethiopia and China have developed a robust partnership over the years, marked by collaboration across various sectors, including education, infrastructure, trade, investment and development assistance,” Hirko said. He added that China’s rising global influence has underscored the importance of learning and understanding the Chinese language worldwide.
“The Chinese government has been instrumental in supporting the implementation of the Chinese language curriculum in Ethiopia, recruiting and training teachers, and providing essential curriculum materials,” Hirko added.
The seminar also featured presentations of research papers on Chinese language learning in Ethiopia, the recognition of Chinese as a global language, and the strengthening strategic partnership between China and Ethiopia.
With Ethiopia’s strong economic ties to China and the growing presence of Chinese companies, especially in road, railway and industrial zone development, the demand for Chinese language education has surged in Ethiopian universities and colleges.
Zhang Yawei, cultural counselor at the Chinese Embassy in Ethiopia, speaks at the first annual seminar on Chinese language education in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia’s capital, on Nov. 1, 2024. (Xinhua/Michael Tewelde)
The first annual seminar on Chinese language education is held in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia’s capital, on Nov. 1, 2024.(Xinhua/Michael Tewelde)
An aerial drone photo shows a section of the Phnom Penh-Sihanoukville Expressway in Kampong Speu province, Cambodia. (Cambodian PPSHV Expressway Co., Ltd./Handout via Xinhua)
The number of users of the Chinese-invested Phnom Penh-Sihanoukville Expressway in Cambodia had hit 10 million during the first two years of its operation.
The Cambodian PPSHV Expressway Co., Ltd., which is the operator of the 187-km expressway, marked the motorway’s second anniversary on Friday, awarding a gift to the 10 millionth user of the road.
According to the company, Chhum Sophearun, a 42-year-old taxi driver, became the 10 millionth user of the Phnom Penh-Sihanoukville Expressway on Oct. 2 and was given free travel for one year on the expressway.
Speaking at the event, Cambodian Minister of Public Works and Transport Peng Ponea said the expressway, the first of its kind in Cambodia, has become a key strategic route, linking the first economic powerhouse of Phnom Penh with the second economic powerhouse of the coastal province of Sihanoukville.
“This expressway has been providing great benefits to Cambodia’s socio-economic development and tourism,” he said. “It has played a crucial role in improving the efficiency of travel and goods transport.”
Ponea said the motorway was one of the major achievements in Cambodia under Belt and Road cooperation, in addition to the Sihanoukville Special Economic Zone, the Siem Reap Angkor International Airport, and the Morodok Techo National Stadium.
“These achievements are a solid testament to our joint efforts in building a Cambodia-China community with a shared future,” he said.
Chinese Ambassador to Cambodia Wang Wenbin said the expressway was a landmark project of China-Cambodia cooperation under the BRI.
“It is a vivid example of China-Cambodia joint efforts in building a high-quality, high-level and high-standard community with a shared future in a new era,” he said.
The ambassador said the expressway has significantly contributed to creating job opportunities, promoting regional development and improving the well-being of local people.
Wang added that he had traveled on the expressway many times and was impressed with the road’s high quality and sound management.
Speaking to Xinhua at the event, Sophearun said he was excited to be contacted by an expressway staff member to inform that he had become the 10 millionth expressway user.
“Usually, I travel on the expressway from Phnom Penh to Sihanoukville and vice versa, carrying tourists from Europe, China or Indonesia,” he said.
Sophearun said traveling on the expressway saves a lot of time, as it takes only two hours to go from Phnom Penh to Sihanoukville, while traveling on the National Road 4 takes up to five hours at the same distance.
“Traveling on the old road (National Road 4) takes a lot of time and costs a lot of money on fuel and car maintenance due to uneven road surface, so in sum, the expense for traveling on the old road is higher than that on the expressway,” he said.
“The expressway is the best choice,” he said. “I would like to urge all drivers to use this expressway because it is quite safe and very convenient to travel.”
An aerial drone photo taken on Sept. 25, 2024 shows a toll station of the Phnom Penh-Sihanoukville Expressway in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. (Cambodian PPSHV Expressway Co., Ltd./Handout via Xinhua)
Invested by the China Road and Bridge Corporation under the build-operate-transfer (BOT) model in the amount of 2 billion U.S. dollars, the Phnom Penh-Sihanoukville Expressway is the first-ever freeway in Cambodia and is the largest single project under the Belt and Road Initiative.
With two lanes for traffic in each direction plus an emergency lane on each side, vehicles can reach their destinations within two hours through the expressway instead of five hours on National Road 4.
Teng Sokhen, a 25-year-old toll collector at the Phnom Penh-Sihanoukville Expressway, said the expressway has provided a safe, convenient, and efficient travel option for all drivers.
“I’m really happy to work at this expressway because this road has contributed to Cambodia’s social development, economic growth and tourism, and has provided a lot of benefits to the people of Cambodia,” she told Xinhua.
“As a staff member, I’m glad to be a contributor to the society,” she said.
According to Sokhen, more than 10,000 vehicles ply the expressway on average per day.
Chinese Premier Li Qiang will attend the opening ceremony of the seventh China International Import Expo (CIIE) and relevant events, and deliver a speech, a spokesperson announced Sunday.
The seventh CIIE will be held from Nov. 5 to 10 in Shanghai, said He Yadong, a spokesperson for the Ministry of Commerce.
Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
The China-Kazakhstan Horgos International Border Cooperation Center in Ili Kazakh Autonomous Prefecture of northwest China’s Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region is experiencing a surge in cross-border tourism and shopping. According to an official, as of November 1, the Center has recorded over 6 million entries and exits this year, reflecting a 75-percent increase year on year.
Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
BEIJING, Nov. 3 — Chinese Premier Li Qiang will attend the opening ceremony of the seventh China International Import Expo (CIIE) and relevant events, and deliver a speech, a spokesperson announced Sunday.
The seventh CIIE will be held from Nov. 5 to 10 in Shanghai, said He Yadong, a spokesperson for the Ministry of Commerce.
South Korea’s court denied the second request for extension of the arrested President Yoon Suk-yeol’s detention, multiple media outlets said Saturday.
The prosecution’s special investigative headquarters requested Yoon’s extended arrest from the Seoul Central District Court early Saturday, just hours after the court rejected the first request on Friday night.
The court ruled that the prosecution had no right to conduct a supplementary investigation into Yoon’s case, referred by the anti-corruption agency which had already investigated the case, as the prosecution is only required to decide whether to indict Yoon.
The prosecution was expected to indict Yoon under detention for insurrection and other charges this weekend.
A warrant to keep Yoon in custody for up to 20 days, including the arrest period, was issued by another Seoul court on Jan. 19, making Yoon the country’s first incumbent president to be formally arrested.
Yoon was apprehended in the presidential office on Jan. 15, becoming the country’s first sitting president to be arrested.
The motion to impeach Yoon was passed through the National Assembly on Dec. 14 last year and was delivered to the constitutional court to deliberate it for up to 180 days, during which Yoon’s presidential power is suspended.
Yoon, who was named by investigative agencies as a suspected ringleader on an insurrection charge, declared martial law on the night of Dec. 3 last year, but it was revoked by the National Assembly hours later.
Bultosa Hirko, deputy head of the Oromia Regional State Education Bureau, speaks at the first annual seminar on Chinese language education in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia’s capital, on Nov. 1, 2024. Xinhua/Michael Tewelde)
The first annual seminar on Chinese language education was held Friday in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia’s capital, emphasizing the need to promote Chinese language education across the East African country.
The event, which brought together Chinese and Ethiopian language instructors and experts, focused on establishing an effective Chinese language education system in Ethiopia and addressing challenges in the process.
Speaking at the seminar, Zhang Yawei, cultural counselor at the Chinese Embassy in Ethiopia, said the conference aimed to share experiences, build on successes, address issues and jointly advance Chinese language education in Ethiopia.
“With globalization accelerating and cultural exchanges between China and Ethiopia increasing, expanding Chinese language education in Ethiopia is essential. It helps Ethiopian students understand Chinese culture and history and opens more opportunities for them in the future,” Zhang said.
Noting that Chinese language education in Ethiopia faces challenges such as a shortage of teaching staff and resources, Zhang said that a significant number of Ethiopian students are now studying Chinese at the undergraduate and postgraduate levels in both Ethiopian and Chinese universities.
Bultosa Hirko, deputy head of the Oromia Regional State Education Bureau, said Chinese language education is gaining popularity in Ethiopia, unlocking economic opportunities, promoting cultural exchange and fostering mutually beneficial cooperation between the two countries.
“Ethiopia and China have developed a robust partnership over the years, marked by collaboration across various sectors, including education, infrastructure, trade, investment and development assistance,” Hirko said. He added that China’s rising global influence has underscored the importance of learning and understanding the Chinese language worldwide.
“The Chinese government has been instrumental in supporting the implementation of the Chinese language curriculum in Ethiopia, recruiting and training teachers, and providing essential curriculum materials,” Hirko added.
The seminar also featured presentations of research papers on Chinese language learning in Ethiopia, the recognition of Chinese as a global language, and the strengthening strategic partnership between China and Ethiopia.
With Ethiopia’s strong economic ties to China and the growing presence of Chinese companies, especially in road, railway and industrial zone development, the demand for Chinese language education has surged in Ethiopian universities and colleges.
Zhang Yawei, cultural counselor at the Chinese Embassy in Ethiopia, speaks at the first annual seminar on Chinese language education in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia’s capital, on Nov. 1, 2024. (Xinhua/Michael Tewelde)
The first annual seminar on Chinese language education is held in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia’s capital, on Nov. 1, 2024.(Xinhua/Michael Tewelde)
Source: The Conversation – Africa – By Charlie Shackleton, Professor & Research Chair in Interdisciplinary Science in Land and Natural Resource Use for Sustainable Livelihoods, Rhodes University
Alongside a national flag, anthem and coat of arms, most countries have one or more plant and animal species that they designate as national symbols. The national animal of China, for example, is the giant panda, a nation-wide source of pride and diplomacy. Americans salute the bald eagle as a symbol of strength and freedom.
But how do South Africans relate to their official national symbols? Do they even know what they are? It’s a country with an enviable variety of ethnicities, cultures, languages, histories, landscapes and biodiversity. It’s also a country fractured by colonialism and apartheid.
South Africa is still in the process of building a unified and national identity as it moves beyond apartheid, an oppressive system of legislated racial division that formally ended with the advent of democracy in 1994.
The process of nation building includes developing a shared history, identity, pride and values of what it means to be South African. One dynamic in this process is the shaping of a collective identity around particular national icons, symbols, activities and personalities. The national anthem, flag, sports stars, artists and the like. Things that make citizens proud of their country and its people, despite a divided past.
King protea.Carol Phillips/iStock/Getty Images
Reflecting its mega-biodiversity status, South Africa boasts five national animal and plant symbols. These are the national animal (springbok), fish (galjoen), bird (blue crane), flower (king protea) and tree (real yellowwood). Yet, their usefulness in helping build a national identity depends on South Africans actually knowing what they are. Sadly, this seems not to be the case.
As environmental scientists we’re intrigued by the relationships between humans and nature. Environmental scholars Ondwela Tshikombeni, Monde Ntshudu and I recently conducted a study to find out how much South Africans know about the five biodiversity symbols. We found that only a tiny fraction could name all of them. The level of knowledge about them was generally low.
This indicates that these symbols can’t be effectively used to help build a common South African identity. Nor will they add value to biodiversity conservation campaigns in a time when the need to protect nature increases due to the impacts of human development and climate change.
National animals and plants
The process of choosing a species as a national symbol is different depending on the country and may even be contested. In Turkey, for example, the national animal is the grey wolf. It can be a symbol of pride or be rejected because it’s the controversial name of a rightwing political group.
Many national symbols are rooted in history and could stem from the emblems of the political, colonial or economic elites of the past. Or they may be more recent and based on lobbying by certain groups or even via public vote. Britain, for example, asked the public to choose a national bird. The robin won.
Galjoen.Biodiversity Heritage Library/Wikimedia Commons, CC BY
The first national animal to be used as a symbol in South Africa was the springbuck (or springbok), proposed in 1906 as a name for the country’s rugby team ahead of a tour of Europe. The most recent addition was the galjoen in 1992.
Our study
We surveyed 382 urban dwellers in four towns spanning three provinces: Mossel Bay, Kariega (formerly Uitenhage), Gcuwa (formerly Butterworth) and Kokstad. In each town we set out to interview 25 adults across low-, medium- and high-income areas and the central business district.
Blue crane.Knowsley Hall/Wikimedia Commons
As part of the survey, we asked people to name each of the five national biodiversity symbols. After that, we presented them with photos of four different species (one of which was the national one) and asked them to correctly identify the national species.
What we found
Only 11 of the respondents (3%) could name all five symbols, while almost half (48%) could not correctly name a single one. The most widely known were the springbok (40%) and the king protea (40%), perhaps because they correspond to the names of national sporting teams. The blue crane was mentioned by only 16% of the respondents and the galjoen (8%) and yellowwood (6%) fared even worse.
The numbers were slightly better when respondents were asked to identify each species from a photo of four choices – 58% identified the protea, 51% the blue crane, 45% the springbok, 26% the galjoen and 16% the real yellowwood.
Real yellowwood.Abu Shawka/ Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA
To benchmark these knowledge levels, we also asked a few questions about the national flag and coat of arms. Only eight people knew the meaning of the phrase at the base of the coat of arms (ǃke e꞉ǀxarraǁke, meaning “diverse people unite” in the |Xam language of the country’s original inhabitants). Only 29% correctly knew that the Y-shape in the middle of the national flag was green. This indicates that the low knowledge of national symbols is not limited to just biodiversity symbols.
What can be done about it
It’s clear that a great deal more effort is needed to popularise the national biodiversity symbols if they’re to be used to help shape a national identity in South Africa. They could be promoted in schools where other national symbols, like the flag and anthem, are common.
The South African National Biodiversity Institute and the Department of Sport, Arts and Culture could promote them during September’s heritage month celebrations. They could engage the public by popularising their names in the different official languages of the country and their roles in folklore and indigenous knowledge. They could also be featured in national and international tourism promotions.
Ondwela Tshikombeni and Monde Ntshudu contributed to this article
– Only 3% of South Africans can name all five national animals and plants. Why these symbols matter – https://theconversation.com/only-3-of-south-africans-can-name-all-five-national-animals-and-plants-why-these-symbols-matter-241284
Source: The Conversation – Africa – By Charlie Shackleton, Professor & Research Chair in Interdisciplinary Science in Land and Natural Resource Use for Sustainable Livelihoods, Rhodes University
The springbok is best known, thanks to it being a name for sports teams.A Oosthuizen/iStock/Getty Images
Alongside a national flag, anthem and coat of arms, most countries have one or more plant and animal species that they designate as national symbols. The national animal of China, for example, is the giant panda, a nation-wide source of pride and diplomacy. Americans salute the bald eagle as a symbol of strength and freedom.
But how do South Africans relate to their official national symbols? Do they even know what they are? It’s a country with an enviable variety of ethnicities, cultures, languages, histories, landscapes and biodiversity. It’s also a country fractured by colonialism and apartheid.
South Africa is still in the process of building a unified and national identity as it moves beyond apartheid, an oppressive system of legislated racial division that formally ended with the advent of democracy in 1994.
The process of nation building includes developing a shared history, identity, pride and values of what it means to be South African. One dynamic in this process is the shaping of a collective identity around particular national icons, symbols, activities and personalities. The national anthem, flag, sports stars, artists and the like. Things that make citizens proud of their country and its people, despite a divided past.
King protea. Carol Phillips/iStock/Getty Images
Reflecting its mega-biodiversity status, South Africa boasts five national animal and plant symbols. These are the national animal (springbok), fish (galjoen), bird (blue crane), flower (king protea) and tree (real yellowwood). Yet, their usefulness in helping build a national identity depends on South Africans actually knowing what they are. Sadly, this seems not to be the case.
As environmental scientists we’re intrigued by the relationships between humans and nature. Environmental scholars Ondwela Tshikombeni, Monde Ntshudu and I recently conducted a study to find out how much South Africans know about the five biodiversity symbols. We found that only a tiny fraction could name all of them. The level of knowledge about them was generally low.
This indicates that these symbols can’t be effectively used to help build a common South African identity. Nor will they add value to biodiversity conservation campaigns in a time when the need to protect nature increases due to the impacts of human development and climate change.
National animals and plants
The process of choosing a species as a national symbol is different depending on the country and may even be contested. In Turkey, for example, the national animal is the grey wolf. It can be a symbol of pride or be rejected because it’s the controversial name of a rightwing political group.
Many national symbols are rooted in history and could stem from the emblems of the political, colonial or economic elites of the past. Or they may be more recent and based on lobbying by certain groups or even via public vote. Britain, for example, asked the public to choose a national bird. The robin won.
Galjoen. Biodiversity Heritage Library/Wikimedia Commons, CC BY
The first national animal to be used as a symbol in South Africa was the springbuck (or springbok), proposed in 1906 as a name for the country’s rugby team ahead of a tour of Europe. The most recent addition was the galjoen in 1992.
Our study
We surveyed 382 urban dwellers in four towns spanning three provinces: Mossel Bay, Kariega (formerly Uitenhage), Gcuwa (formerly Butterworth) and Kokstad. In each town we set out to interview 25 adults across low-, medium- and high-income areas and the central business district.
Blue crane. Knowsley Hall/Wikimedia Commons
As part of the survey, we asked people to name each of the five national biodiversity symbols. After that, we presented them with photos of four different species (one of which was the national one) and asked them to correctly identify the national species.
What we found
Only 11 of the respondents (3%) could name all five symbols, while almost half (48%) could not correctly name a single one. The most widely known were the springbok (40%) and the king protea (40%), perhaps because they correspond to the names of national sporting teams. The blue crane was mentioned by only 16% of the respondents and the galjoen (8%) and yellowwood (6%) fared even worse.
The numbers were slightly better when respondents were asked to identify each species from a photo of four choices – 58% identified the protea, 51% the blue crane, 45% the springbok, 26% the galjoen and 16% the real yellowwood.
Real yellowwood. Abu Shawka/ Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA
To benchmark these knowledge levels, we also asked a few questions about the national flag and coat of arms. Only eight people knew the meaning of the phrase at the base of the coat of arms (ǃke e꞉ǀxarraǁke, meaning “diverse people unite” in the |Xam language of the country’s original inhabitants). Only 29% correctly knew that the Y-shape in the middle of the national flag was green. This indicates that the low knowledge of national symbols is not limited to just biodiversity symbols.
What can be done about it
It’s clear that a great deal more effort is needed to popularise the national biodiversity symbols if they’re to be used to help shape a national identity in South Africa. They could be promoted in schools where other national symbols, like the flag and anthem, are common.
The South African National Biodiversity Institute and the Department of Sport, Arts and Culture could promote them during September’s heritage month celebrations. They could engage the public by popularising their names in the different official languages of the country and their roles in folklore and indigenous knowledge. They could also be featured in national and international tourism promotions.
Ondwela Tshikombeni and Monde Ntshudu contributed to this article
Charlie Shackleton received funding from the National Research Foundation under the SARChI Chairs programme for this work.
Part of the mirror platform for scientific experiments at China’s space station. [Photo/China Media Group] A mirror platform for scientific experiments at China’s space station has entered the official operation stage, which will provide important support for scientific experiments on the space station, according to the Technology and Engineering Center for Space Utilization (CSU) under the Chinese Academy of Sciences. The mirror platform is equipped with 14 science experiment cabinets and corresponding public support equipment for information, power distribution, and fluid cooling inside and outside the cabin. It operates as a scientific experiment system on the ground parallel to China’s space station. The extensive scientific experiments the Shenzhou-19 crew is about to conduct have already undergone matching and verification experiments. “Through the platform, we have conducted ground verification for the experiments that the Shenzhou-19 crew will perform, as well as for the experiment payloads, related software, and spare parts before the launch,” Zhong Hongen, a researcher at CSU, told China Media Group. The mirror platform has three main functions as an important ground science experiment infrastructure of the national space laboratory. First, before the scientific payloads carried by the Shenzhou and Tianzhou spacecraft are launched, they must undergo final confirmation testing there, where astronauts can also receive operational training for scientific experiments. Second, scientific experiment plans conducted on the space station can be verified there in advance, allowing for troubleshooting and solution verification in case of any faults that occur in orbit. Lastly, it supports Earth-to-space comparison experiments, enabling comparative analysis and research between the scientific experiments conducted at the space station and on the mirror platform. “Earth-to-space comparison experiments involve conducting experiments in space while simultaneously on the ground. This allows for a comparison under similar conditions, differing only in microgravity, to observe how the two different gravity factors affect the experimental results,” said Zhong.
Tech leaders gather at the AI Creators Conference in Beijing, Oct. 30, 2024. [Photo courtesy of the organizer]
The AI Creators Conference, hosted by Chinese tech media company Pingwest, convened Wednesday in Beijing’s Zhongguancun subdistrict to explore practical applications of artificial intelligence.
Pingwest founder Luo Yihang introduced this year’s theme, “AI for Real,” emphasizing how AI can enhance daily life and provide practical services. The event spotlighted AI applications in mobile phones and VR glasses, drawing industry leaders, including Vivo Vice President Zhou Wei and Xreal founder Xu Chi.
Zhou detailed Vivo’s journey since launching its Global Research Institute in 2018, which is dedicated to integrating AI technology with smartphones. In 2023, the company introduced BlueLM, its proprietary technology designed to enhance AI-smartphone integration for improved user interaction and personalized services.
Zhou emphasized that smartphones act as a bridge between people and the digital world, describing them as potential personal butlers. He outlined five key AI agent capabilities: perceiving user intentions, sharing experiences and memories, assisting in decision-making, autonomously operating applications and managing user affairs.
These AI-powered devices will offer proactive intelligence and personalized services. Smartphones will be able to understand various languages, including minority ones, recognize speakers’ emotions and take autonomous actions like restaurant reservations, according to Zhou.
The Vivo executive described the shift as “services finding people” instead of “people finding services.”
The guide emphasizes standardizing evaluation methods for AI products while promoting the integration of large language models into practical applications. Zhou said smartphone manufacturers, including Vivo, will discuss in November how to establish industry standards for integrating AI agents into smartphones, aiming to facilitate collaborative innovation.
Xreal founder Xu Chi shared his vision for AR glasses at the conference, predicting they could replace smartphones as the primary terminal device within a decade. While current models lag behind smartphones in efficiency, AI integration will simplify their use.
Xu envisions future AR glasses with AI assistants providing personalized support and services, aligning with Vivo’s approach. Xu compared the concept to “Iron Man’s suit,” where users control their AI assistant through simple hand gestures.
China’s domestically developed large passenger aircraft C919. [Photo/Xinhua]
China Eastern Airlines (CEA) has successfully replaced the first engine for the world’s first delivered C919 aircraft, filling a gap in the maintenance capability for the country’s homegrown large passenger aircraft.
The engine replacement is one of the most complicated tasks in aircraft maintenance. The main purpose of the engine replacement was to verify the feasibility of the C919’s engine replacement process to improve aircraft safety.
The CEA maintenance engineers completed 60 routine tasks and more than 10 non-routine tasks over nine days, with all test parameters normal, successfully completing the first engine replacement of the C919 aircraft numbered B-919A.
The engine replacement “will ensure the sustainable operation of the C919 aircraft in CEA in the future and enhance its performance,” said Dong Haoyang, manager of the C919 engine replacement project at China Eastern Xibei Airlines as cited by CCTV+.
The CEA has seven C919 aircraft in operation, serving five commercial routes connecting Shanghai with Beijing, Chengdu, Xi’an and other cities.
Other airlines, including Air China and China Southern Airlines, have also conducted commercial operations with the aircraft.
Hong Kong recorded nearly 32.6 million visitor arrivals in the first three quarters of this year, marking a year-on-year increase of nearly 40 percent, data from the Hong Kong Tourism Board showed Thursday. Among the total arrivals, over 25.2 million were from the Chinese mainland, increasing by some 35 percent year on year, while visitor arrivals from elsewhere surged by 59 percent during the period. In September alone, Hong Kong recorded nearly 3.1 million visitor arrivals, reflecting a 10-percent rise compared to the same month last year, with approximately half of these arrivals consisting of overnight visitors. Notably, in the first three quarters, the number of visitor arrivals from South Korea exceeded 592,000, representing a year-on-year increase of 171.3 percent, while visitor arrivals from France surpassed 93,700, representing a year-on-year growth of 73.6 percent.
Attendees take part in the “Science and Technology for Risk-Informed Sustainable Development” thematic session at the 2024 World Science and Technology Development Forum (WSTDF), in Beijing, Oct. 24, 2024. [Photo courtesy of WSTDF] The 2024 World Science and Technology Development Forum (WSTDF) held a thematic session in Beijing on Oct. 24 focused on “Science and Technology for Risk-Informed Sustainable Development.” Leading representatives of policymakers, scholars and private sector took part in the event, discussing how to mobilize science and technology to navigate emerging global risks and build a safer, more inclusive and sustainable future. The session was hosted by the Integrated Research on Disaster Risk (IRDR), the International Society for Digital Earth (ISDE) and the International Research Center of Big Data for Sustainable Development Goals (CBAS), and supported by the International Science Council (ISC) and the U.N. Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR). Salvatore Arico, CEO of the ISC, and Marco Toscano-Rivalta, head of UNDRR’s Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific, co-chaired the event, and it was co-moderated by IRDR Executive Director Yang Saini and Senior Science Officer Han Qunli. Collaboration and shared solutions for global risks As climate change accelerates and disaster risks become more complex, the importance of international scientific cooperation grows ever more crucial. Wu Guoxiong, an academician at the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) and a researcher at the CAS Institute of Atmospheric Physics, highlighted the significance of international cooperation in early warnings for disasters. He pointed to the Sub-seasonal to Seasonal (S2S) Prediction Project as a successful model of global collaboration. Countries including China, the United Kingdom, the United States and Japan participate in the project, which allows real-time comparisons of their climate prediction models, improving collective capacity to address climate-related disasters. Rajib Shaw, chair of the UNDRR Asia-Pacific Scientific and Technical Advisory Group, emphasized the need for increased global cooperation to bridge technological divides. He noted that technologies such as artificial intelligence and drones are vital for disaster risk reduction, yet many Global South countries lack access to these advanced tools, making the collaboration essential. Manon Burger, biochemistry publishing director for Elsevier, underlined the importance of open access to scientific research in fostering global knowledge sharing. “We publish more than 3,000 journals, many of which are available open access, ensuring that researchers worldwide can stay updated on the latest scientific advancements,” Burger said. She also introduced Elsevier Foundation, which has partnered with over 100 institutions in 70 countries since it was established in 2005, offering approximately $16 million in funding for initiatives supporting climate action and inclusive health care. Josephine Ngaira, professor of geography (climatology) in the School of Disaster Management and Humanitarian Assistance at Masinde Muliro University of Science and Technology in Kenya, stressed the need to address the specific challenges of grassroots communities and vulnerable populations in disaster risk management. She advocated for inclusive models that ensure technological benefits reach all levels of society, advancing sustainable development worldwide. DRR education and empowerment of young professionals Young people are a driving force behind technological innovation and sustainable development. Shabhaz Khan, director of the UNESCO Regional Office for East Asia, stated that the youth is highly recognized by the United Nations, and can be mobilized and engaged in pilot disaster research activities. Salvatore Arico, CEO of the ISC, underscored the importance of interdisciplinary training for young researchers. He pointed out that current education systems often remain siloed within single disciplines, whereas solving complex global issues requires interdisciplinary research and training. He advocated for education reforms to provide young scientists with more diverse learning opportunities and to encourage cross-sector exploration. Khamarrul Azahari Razak, director of Malaysia’s Disaster Preparedness and Prevention Center, emphasized the importance of investing in human resources and listening to the voices of young people. Meanwhile, professor Christopher Garimoi Orach from the School of Public Health at Makerere University in Uganda, highlighted the need to strengthen disaster risk management education in developing countries, particularly at the higher education level. He noted that training specialists in disaster risk reduction is crucial for future global risk preparedness. Building social resilience through government policies In tackling global risks, national policies and government support are the keys. Robert Walker, fellow of the Royal Society of Arts and the Academy of Social Sciences Academy of UK and professor at the University of Oxford, stated that social policy should focus on enhancing social resilience by providing people with a sense of security, thus reducing their anxieties and enabling them to contribute to disaster risk reduction. Walker praised China’s efforts in promoting social security and resilience through advancing common prosperity, poverty reduction and energy transition. Salvatore Arico further emphasized that collaboration between governments, communities and scientists is essential for addressing global challenges such as climate change, land degradation and declining water quality. He noted that considering the practical applicability of scientific methods from the beginning of policy design would help enhance implementation effectiveness and ensure technology-driven progress. Rajib Shaw called for greater adaptability in governance mechanisms. Given the existing gap between sci-tech advancements and governance structures, he suggested policy adjustments from governments to facilitate adaptive governance, thus ensuing effective application of scientific tools in disaster risk reduction and management.
Death toll from a house collapse in south China’s Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region has risen to four after one more body was pulled out, local publicity authority confirmed on Sunday morning. According to the publicity department of the Binyang County, the collapse occurred at approximately 2 p.m. on Saturday in Nanguan Village. The bodies of four people have been recovered as of 9:10 a.m. Sunday. Rescue work is ongoing as rescuers are trying to search for one more person who could possibly be buried. The house collapse followed an explosion, but cause of the accident is still being investigated.
“I’m going to work on extreme light for medical and energy fields,” Nobel laureate Gérard Mourou said on Friday, speaking on plans for his work in China. The French physicist, who joined Peking University’s School of Physics as chair professor last month, made the remarks on the sidelines of this year’s Beijing Forum, a global academic forum on innovation and human progress. At the opening ceremony of the annual forum, he outlined the applications of ultra-high intensity lasers in such areas as medicine and nuclear energy. In 2018, Mourou shared the Nobel Prize in Physics with Arthur Ashkin and Donna Strickland “for groundbreaking inventions in the field of laser physics.” He is expected to assist in the establishment of a new institute for scientific research and international cooperation in the fields of laser physics, particle physics, nuclear physics, medical physics and astrophysics, according to a statement from Peking University. As China invests heavily in developing science and education, talent is arriving from around the world at an increasing pace. Fields Medal winner Caucher Birkar has been teaching mathematics full-time at Tsinghua University since 2021. Structural biologist Yan Nieng returned to China from Princeton University in the United States in 2022 to found a medical academy in Shenzhen. Yan also delivered a keynote speech at this year’s Beijing Forum. And about one week after Mourou joined Peking University, a symposium celebrating the 50th anniversary of the discovery of the J particle brought several notable individuals to China: Nobel laureates Samuel Chao Chung Ting, Sheldon Glashow and David Gross, as well as Luciano Maiani, former director-general of the European Organization for Nuclear Research. “Achievements of the Chinese efforts are truly remarkable,” Gross told the media, explaining why the event was taking place in China despite the fact that the J particle was not discovered in the country. Though the initial discovery was made elsewhere, all 30 newly identified members of the J particle family were found at the Chinese Academy of Sciences’ Institute of High Energy Physics, Ting said. Mourou praised China for its scientific and technological advancements over the past decades. “I knew some of the scientists,” he said. “And they are interested about what I’m doing.” He joked that those scientists had been “smart enough” to convince him to join the university and start a new institute for ultra-high intensity lasers. Mourou said that he has been impressed by Chinese students, noting that they excel in innovation — not just in their coursework, as is often the stereotype. More than 500 scholars and experts from over 30 countries and regions are taking part in the 2024 Beijing Forum. Topics include sustainable development, the environment and health, and digitalization and artificial intelligence. “The best is yet to come,” Mourou said on the future applications of his research.
At the invitation of Chinese Premier Li Qiang, foreign leaders including Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, Uzbek Prime Minister Abdulla Aripov, Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico, Kazakh Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov, Mongolian Prime Minister Luvsannamsrai Oyun-Erdene and Serbian Prime Minister Milos Vucevic will attend the opening ceremony of the 7th China International Import Expo (CIIE) and relevant events, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning announced Sunday.
The 7th CIIE will be held in Shanghai from Nov. 5 to 10. Enditem
Replicas of Sanxingdui relics are on display at the Memor Museum in New York.[Photo provided by Mingmei Li/China Daily]
Spanning millennia, the history and mystery of Sanxingdui’s ancient civilization is reaching international audiences through modern digital platforms.
The exhibition Sanxingdui Encounter: A Global Tour of 12K Micro-viewing of National Treasures opened on Oct 11 at the Memor Museum in New York, offering visitors an opportunity to have an immersive virtual experience of the relics and also see the physical replicas of these treasures.
The display will last until Jan 19.
Sanxingdui, an archaeological site located in modern-day Guanghan, Southwest China’s Sichuan province, illustrates the civilization of the ancient Shu kingdom, which flourished over 3,000 years ago. Sanxingdui was not discovered until the 1920s, and ongoing archaeological efforts continue to reveal discoveries.
By the end of 2022, fieldwork on six newly uncovered sacrificial pits was nearly complete, yielding a wealth of precious artifacts. Over 4,000 items, including jade, stone and pottery, were unearthed during this phase of excavation. Archaeologists are piecing together the history of the ancient Shu civilization and presenting these findings to the public.
The Shu kingdom, which arose in the Sichuan basin during the Bronze Age, was a key hub for early-stage Chinese civilization. Its people produced finely crafted bronze, jade, gold and ceramic artifacts, depicting mythical creatures, rulers, gods and shamans with exaggerated features such as bulging eyes and enlarged ears.
“Sanxingdui’s rich heritage deserves international attention, with its vast cultural significance needing to be shared with a broader audience,” says Willa Ao, director of the Memor Museum.
“We want to present the relics through a blend of digital and physical experiences.”
One example Ao gives is a bronze figure, which strikingly resembles the stance of an American fitness coach performing a dead lift. Additionally, a bronze tree is adorned with numerous small hanging artifacts, reminiscent of ornaments used to decorate Christmas trees.
Sanxingdui’s unearthed bronzes were previously showcased at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in 2002 as part of a broader exhibition on bronze artifacts, but Ao says this time, she wanted to provide New Yorkers a new and interactive way to feel the relics.
This is done through 1:1 replicas from the Sanxingdui Museum’s collection, using ultra-high-definition 12k technology, artificial intelligence interaction and virtual reality immersion, which required three years of preparation.
Visitors will have the opportunity to view the famous Bronze Mask with Crown and Protruding Eyes, a rare artifact that provides insight into the ceremonial and spiritual practices of the ancient Shu people.
Also on display is the striking Bronze Head Wearing a Gold Mask, first unearthed in 1986, which illustrates a unique blend of social status and ritual significance.
“Although they are replicas, they remain highly valuable,” Ao says. She explains that these reproductions of the Sanxingdui Museum’s collection were crafted using identical materials to faithfully replicate the original artifacts.
Visitors will be able to explore the relics using VR technology, which brings large artifacts like the Large Standing Man and the Bronze Sacred Tree into the gallery through virtual exploration.
The exhibition also employs 12K video capture to document smaller artifacts, delicate bronze bells and bird sculptures, magnifying them for a closer look.
Sanxingdui is an important archaeological discovery, not just within Chinese archaeology, but within the world of archaeology, says Kristen Martucci, the exhibition’s translator.
Martucci, 26, has been studying Chinese since high school and pursued East Asian studies, particularly ancient Chinese history, at Harvard University.
She primarily helps translate materials into English in a way that is approachable for American and international audiences.
She says her work is also a learning process in both Chinese and history while uncovering the “mystery”.
“I learned about Sanxingdui in my graduate school courses, but even for me, seeing these replicas and using this exhibition and VR to experience it — that’s new to me, so it’s really exciting,” she says.
A drone photo shows tourists enjoying the sunrise scenery in Fuyuan City, northeast China’s Heilongjiang Province, Oct. 12, 2024. [Photo/Xinhua]
As Chinese people rub their hands for yet another annual “Double 11” online shopping spree, e-commerce platforms like Taobao are no longer the only places they dwell upon.
Attracted by exclusive “Double 11” hotel packages — usually heavily discounted multi-night stays at boutique hotels, resorts and guesthouses — people are spending more time on the country’s leading online travel agencies, such as Fliggy and Ctrip.
Fliggy felt the heat firsthand when it kicked off sales of this year’s “Double 11” tourism packages on the evening of Oct. 21. Its revenue exceeded 1 billion yuan (about $140 million) in just 53 seconds — a dramatic acceleration from 13 minutes last year — and surpassed last year’s first-day sales total in just 52 minutes.
After a customer secures a holiday package, they can select any check-in date within that package’s validity period, which is usually several months, and their payment will only go through once they confirm the dates of their stay.
These packages meet Chinese consumers’ growing demand for good-value products and services, and as the time they have to make decisions is often limited, flexibility and convenience are increasingly significant when it comes to travel accommodation, according to a report from commercial property information provider Meadin.
For hotels, “Double 11” sales are another arena in the country’s booming tourist market.
During the seven-day National Day holiday last month, China recorded 765 million domestic tourist trips, a year-on-year increase of 5.9 percent on a comparable basis, according to data from the Ministry of Culture and Tourism.
The total spending of domestic tourists exceeded 700 billion yuan during the period, up 6.3 percent year on year and 7.9 percent from 2019, the data shows.
Notably, tourist demand for customized trips and exclusive experiences has been booming, stimulating a surge in county tourism and the rise of boutique homestays, which saw the highest growth rate in terms of quantity among all holiday accommodation types in September, according to the Meadin report.
A report released by bed and breakfast (B&B) booking platform Xiaozhu shows that during the National Day holiday, its B&B bookings increased by 37 percent compared to the same period last year.
“The competition has been fierce in the tourism market this year, and businesses are facing great challenges,” said Shuai Mengting, who is in charge of Fliggy’s “Double 11” sales, which she believes present an important opportunity for hotels in the upcoming off-season.
To take full advantage of the opportunity and secure more reservations for the off-season, hotels have been expanding their package sales channels by livestreaming and inviting influencers to promote their products.
Following that trend, Fliggy is also expanding its sales channels. During this year’s “Double 11” sales, the company’s marketing input on popular social media platforms like WeChat, Xiaohongshu and Weibo doubled compared to last year, Shuai said.
“In terms of value, the travel products for this year’s ‘Double 11’ are arguably the best we’ve had in recent years,” she said.
Bond issuances in China hit 7.6 trillion yuan (about $1.07 trillion) in September this year, data from the country’s central bank showed.
Specifically, issuances of treasury bonds came in at 1.36 trillion yuan, while local government bond issuances amounted to 1.28 trillion yuan, according to the People’s Bank of China.
Financial bond issuances stood at 764 billion yuan, and corporate credit bond issuances reached 1.19 trillion yuan.
Outstanding bonds held in custody came in at 169.9 trillion yuan at the end of September.
Speaker of the Hungarian National Assembly Laszlo Kover will lead a delegation to visit China from Nov. 5 to 12, at the invitation of Zhao Leji, chairman of the National People’s Congress Standing Committee.
Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
Main venue for 7th CIIE fully decorated
Updated: November 3, 2024 20:13Xinhua
A panoramic drone photo taken on Nov. 2, 2024 shows the west entrance of the National Exhibition and Convention Center (Shanghai), the main venue for the 7th China International Import Expo (CIIE), in east China’s Shanghai. The center has been fully decorated to welcome the upcoming 7th CIIE, which is scheduled to take place in Shanghai from Nov. 5 to Nov. 10. [Photo/Xinhua]This photo taken on Nov. 2, 2024 shows the south square of the National Exhibition and Convention Center (Shanghai), the main venue for the 7th China International Import Expo (CIIE), in east China’s Shanghai. [Photo/Xinhua]An aerial drone photo taken on Nov. 2, 2024 shows the National Exhibition and Convention Center (Shanghai), the main venue for the 7th China International Import Expo (CIIE), in east China’s Shanghai. [Photo/Xinhua]This photo taken on Nov. 2, 2024 shows the south square of the National Exhibition and Convention Center (Shanghai), the main venue for the 7th China International Import Expo (CIIE), in east China’s Shanghai. [Photo/Xinhua]This photo taken on Nov. 2, 2024 shows the south square of the National Exhibition and Convention Center (Shanghai), the main venue for the 7th China International Import Expo (CIIE), in east China’s Shanghai. [Photo/Xinhua]
Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
JIUQUAN, Nov. 3 — China’s Shenzhou-18 manned spaceship separated from the space station combination at 16:12 on Sunday, and the astronauts aboard — Ye Guangfu, Li Cong and Li Guangsu — are returning to Earth, according to the China Manned Space Agency (CMSA).
The CMSA said that prior to the separation, the Shenzhou-18 crew, with the assistance of the ground staff, completed various tasks such as setting the status of the space station combination, processing and transmitting the experimental data, and transferring remaining supplies, and then carried out handover work with the Shenzhou-19 crew.
China launched the Shenzhou-19 crewed spaceship on Oct. 30, sending three astronauts Cai Xuzhe, Song Lingdong and Wang Haoze to its space station for another six-month mission.
Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
JIUQUAN, Nov. 4 — The three astronauts of the Shenzhou-18 manned mission — Ye Guangfu, Li Cong and Li Guangsu — were all out of the return capsule that touched down at the Dongfeng landing site in north China’s Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region on Monday.
They are all in good physical condition, and the mission is a complete success, according to the China Manned Space Agency.
Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
In this combo photo, astronauts Ye Guangfu, Li Cong and Li Guangsu (from L to R) are out of the return capsule of the Shenzhou-18 manned spaceship at the Dongfeng landing site in north China’s Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, Nov. 4, 2024. The three astronauts are all in good physical condition, and the mission is a complete success, according to the China Manned Space Agency. [Photo/Xinhua]
JIUQUAN, Nov. 4 — The Shenzhou-18 crew consisting of three Chinese astronauts returned to Earth safely in the early morning on Monday, after completing a six-month space station mission.
Shenzhou-18’s return capsule, carrying astronauts Ye Guangfu, Li Cong and Li Guangsu, touched down at the Dongfeng landing site in north China’s Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region at 1:24 a.m. (Beijing Time). The crew had all left the return capsule by 2:15 a.m., according to the China Manned Space Agency (CMSA).
The three astronauts, after staying in orbit for 192 days, were all in good health and the Shenzhou-18 manned mission was a success, the CMSA said.
Ye, the Shenzhou-18 mission commander, has become the first Chinese astronaut with an accumulative spaceflight time of more than a year, setting a new record for the longest duration of stay in orbit by a Chinese astronaut.
He served as a crew member in the Shenzhou-13 mission from October 2021 to April 2022.
“Chinese astronauts have flown to space in successive missions. I believe that the record of the duration in orbit will be broken in the near future,” Ye said.
Li Cong, who has just completed his first-ever space adventure, said that the crew was united as one and worked closely with the ground team, which ensured the extravehicular activities implemented smoothly and the scientific research and experiments advanced successfully.
“We have all enjoyed the unique experience of weightlessness. It is exciting to return to Earth, but we are also unwilling to part the wonders of the space,” said Li Guangsu, who has just returned from his first spaceflight.
At 12:34 a.m., the Beijing Aerospace Control Center issued a return command through the ground station, and the return capsule of the Shenzhou-18 manned spaceship separated from its orbiting capsule. The brake engine then ignited, and the return capsule separated from the propulsion capsule.
The ground search team arrived at the landing site soon after the return capsule landed.
INTENSIVE SCIENTIFIC TASKS
China launched the Shenzhou-18 manned spaceship on April 25, 2024. During the mission, the Shenzhou-18 crew utilized the scientific experiment cabinets and extravehicular payloads to carry out dozens of experiments in the fields of basic physics in microgravity, space material science, space life science, space medicine and space technology.
They replaced the burner for the gas experiment in the combustion experiment cabinet and test samples in the fluid physics experiment cabinet as planned. They also conducted in-orbit training on spacecraft rendezvous and docking.
The Shenzhou-18 astronauts carried out extravehicular activities twice. Their first spacewalk in May set a new record for the longest single spacewalk by Chinese astronauts.
Assisted by the space station’s robotic arm and a team on Earth, they worked for about eight-and-a-half hours during their first extravehicular activities, and completed multiple tasks, including the installation of space debris protection devices.
The crew also carried out emergency decision-making research. By utilizing the computer and corresponding software, they completed a series of assessments, including tests on basic cognitive ability, risk perception, decision-making style, as well as comprehensive decision-making tasks.
The ground personnel then used the test results to thoroughly evaluate the astronauts’ emergency decision-making ability in orbit and study the influence of the factors such as the duration of stay in orbit, emotional state and workload on their ability.
During the mission, the crew also conducted regular medical check-ups as required, including routine examinations and dynamic monitoring of the heart rate and blood pressure. These procedures helped comprehensively monitor the astronauts’ physical state.
JOYFUL SPACE JOURNEY
During their space adventure, the Shenzhou-18 trio also experienced some special joy brought by the space “aquarium” and “garden” in the Tiangong space station.
The three astronauts created a space “aquarium” using zebrafish and algae to study how the space environment affects their growth and system balance. It was also a breakthrough in the field of raising vertebrates in space.
The astronauts discovered that zebrafish exhibited abnormal orientation behaviors in microgravity, such as upside-down swimming, spinning and circling.
Scientists will later utilize the returned water samples, fish eggs and other specimens, in conjunction with videos of the zebrafish’s spatial movement behaviors, to conduct research on the impact of the space environment on the growth, development and behavior of vertebrates and to provide support for the study of material cycling in a closed space ecosystem.
The Shenzhou-18 astronauts were also busy cultivating plants in the “space garden” during their stay in orbit.
According to a video clip released by the CMSA, astronaut Li Guangsu said that they grew two types of plants — cherry tomatoes and lettuce — and they had harvested some lettuce leaves for food.
“Being able to eat fresh vegetables in space is truly a blessing. These green plants have also brought a touch of green and good cheer to our busy work,” Li said.
Planting in space could also help analyze the changes in the function and gene expression of plant stem cells in the microgravity environment, and provide theoretical support for designing crops that can adapt to outer-space conditions.
Before their return to Earth, the Shenzhou-18 crew completed the removal of some module plants, replenishing water and other operations for the “space garden,” in preparation for the new batch of plant seeds brought into space by the Shenzhou-19 astronauts.
They also planted a new batch of lettuce for the Shenzhou-19 crew, who were lifted off aboard the Shenzhou-19 spaceship and entered the Tiangong space station on Oct. 30.
In 2025, China’s manned space program will launch the Shenzhou-20 and Shenzhou-21 crewed missions, and the Tianzhou-9 cargo craft for in-orbit supplies, the CMSA said.
Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
Chinese premier stresses strengthening vocational education, nurturing skilled workers
Chinese Premier Li Qiang, also a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, visits the WorldSkills Museum in Shanghai, east China, Nov. 3, 2024. Li made the trip to Shanghai to research the city’s work on vocational education and cultivation of skilled workers on Sunday. [Photo/Xinhua]
SHANGHAI, Nov. 4 — Chinese Premier Li Qiang on Sunday urged efforts to strengthen vocational education and nurture skilled workers in order to meet the needs of the country’s economic and social development.
During a trip to Shanghai to research the city’s work on vocational education and cultivation of skilled workers, Li, also a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, said that fostering more high-caliber skilled workers will provide solid support for high-quality development and high-quality life.
When visiting the Shanghai Nanhu Vocational & Technical College, Li said that it is necessary to deepen the integration of industry and education as well as the cooperation between colleges and enterprises, optimize the setting of college disciplines and majors based on the needs of the society and industries’ actual development and strengthen hands-on skill practice, adding that more skilled teachers are needed to innovate the models and methods of teaching.
Noting that there are ever-growing demands for elderly care, childcare and medical care, Li urged efforts to strengthen the training of skilled workers in the related fields.
When visiting the WorldSkills Museum, Li said governments at all levels should continue to refine support policies for the cultivation of skilled workers by strengthening institutional innovation and investment.
Efforts should also be made to improve the systems of development planning and services for skilled workers with a view to broadening their development channels and enhancing their incomes, Li addeed.
Chinese Premier Li Qiang, also a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, visits the Shanghai Nanhu Vocational & Technical College in Shanghai, east China, Nov. 3, 2024. Li made the trip to Shanghai to research the city’s work on vocational education and cultivation of skilled workers on Sunday. [Photo/Xinhua]
Secretary-General of ASEAN, Dr. Kao Kim Hourn, yesterday delivered pre-recorded remarks at the Opening Ceremony of the World Internet of Things Convention (WIOTC), in Beijing, People’s Republic of China. In his remarks, Dr. Kao underscored that the rapid adoption of the Internet of Things (IoT), artificial intelligence (AI), and big data analytics will drive profound transformation across industries. He highlighted that these technologies will pave the way for new, innovative business models, helping to advance toward economic prosperity and sustainable development between ASEAN and China.
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