President Xi Jinping has congratulated President-Elect of the US Donald Trump, said Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning at a regular press conference on Thursday.
Mao said President Xi Jinping pointed out that history tells us that both China and the US stand to gain from cooperation and lose from confrontation. A China-US relationship with stable, healthy and sus-tainable development serves the common interests of the two countries and meets the expectations of the international community, Mao added.
Hope the two sides will work in the principles of mutual respect, peaceful coexistence and win-win cooperation, to enhance dialogue and communication, properly manage differences and expand mu-tually beneficial cooperation, and to find the right way for China and the US to get along with each other in the new era to the benefit of the two countries and the world, Mao said.
According to the Xinhua News Agency, President Xi on Thursday extended congratulations to Donald Trump on his election as president of the United States, urging the two countries to find the right way to get along in the new era.
Xi called for the two countries to strengthen dialogue and communication, properly manage differences, and expand mutually beneficial cooperation, Xinhua reported.
On Wednesday, a spokesperson for Chinese Foreign Ministry said that China respects the choice of the American people and congratulates Mr. Trump on being elected as president of the US.
Customs officers in Luohu Port, Shenzhen city, South China's Guangdong Province, recently dealt with a marijuana smuggling case, intercepting 4.82 grams of the drug concealed in a passenger's shoe insoles.
The incident occurred around 7 pm when the customs officers noticed a traveler behaving nervously and displaying unusual behavior, raising suspicion that the individual might be carrying contraband.
During a thorough search, officers found a transparent plastic bag under the passenger's shoe insole containing a plant-like substance with a distinct odor. Preliminary testing confirmed that the substance was marijuana. The suspect has been detained, and the case is under further investigation.
This case serves as a reminder that Chinese customs maintain high alertness in the fight against smuggling, especially drug trafficking, and that attempts to smuggle illegal substances are likely to face detection and legal prosecution.
The Chinese Foreign Ministry on Monday expressed opposition to violating the sovereignty and undermining the security of other countries, as well as the abusing of force, when asked to comment on the recent situation in the Middle East, including Israel's attack on Iran on Saturday.
The tensions in the Middle East are running high. Relevant parties need to refrain from further increasing the overall security risks in the region, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said at a routine press conference, noting that the international community, especially major countries with influence, should take concrete actions to play a constructive role and create necessary conditions for the deescalation of regional tensions.
Iran requested a UN Security Council meeting, claiming that Israel violated international law with its direct strikes against it early Saturday, CNN reported.
According to Islamic Republic News Agency, Iran's President Masoud Pezeshkian said on Sunday that the Islamic Republic does not seek war, but will defend the rights of its people and will give a proportionate response to the latest Israeli aggression against the country.
Iran has sent a signal to the international community that it does not seek war and does not wish to become the focal point of conflicts in the Middle East, Sun Degang, director of the Center for Middle Eastern Studies at Fudan University, told the Global Times on Monday.
However, Iran has also reserved the right to retaliate against Israel, indicating that tensions between the two countries persist, but a large-scale war may be avoided, Sun said.
Sun noted that the US, Israel, and Iran have a tacit understanding that they do not wish for a full-scale war, and neither are they prepared for one. "The hardline stances they display are intended for domestic consumption," Sun said.
Echoing Sun, Zhu Weilie, distinguished professor of the Middle East Studies Institute of the Shanghai International Studies University, told the Global Times on Monday that a regional war is a scenario that the US, as well as the regional countries and the global community, wish to avoid. "Should a regional conflict erupt at this time, it would be detrimental not only for the nations involved but also for the world as a whole," Zhu said.
According to Reuters, the Swiss UN mission said the Security Council meeting scheduled on Monday had been requested by Iran with the support of Algeria, China and Russia.
The convening of the Security Council is timely, and what may be a matter of urgency is to work to achieve a prolonged ceasefire period, and allow humanitarian supplies to enter the region, Zhu said.
"If the Security Council does not press the pause button on the regional situation now, the spillover of ongoing conflicts and mutual misjudgments could occur at any time," Sun said, noting that the international community is in consensus in hoping to use the UN platform to promote a ceasefire and cessation of hostilities in the region.
The torch, medals and anthem for the 2025 Asian Winter Games in Harbin were officially unveiled on Wednesday.
The height of the torch is 735mm, with a top diameter of 115mm and a grip diameter of 50mm. The theme of the design, "Surging", aims to capture the vibrant and dynamic energy of life in nature. It symbolizes that the 9th Asian Winter Games will be filled with vitality and passion. The overall torch design incorporates international aesthetic features while blending classical and modern Chinese art.
The design takes the form of a blossoming lilac, integrating colors such as China Red, Lilac Purple, and Snow White, symbolizing the sincerity, warmth, openness, and inclusivity of Heilongjiang Province and the characteristics of the host city, Harbin.
The torch features a burner nozzle that combines a lilac floral design with a hollow center, creating a three-dimensional effect. The outer wall of the upper combustion chamber is designed with hollow snowflakes, harmonizing the beauty of order with the overall biomimetic natural aesthetic, blending culture and technology with natural artistry. The outer shell resembles a blossomed lilac, transitioning from transparent ice crystal to Snow White. The inner core transitions from China Red to Lilac Purple. When lit, the torch presents an effect of ice and fire merging, highlighting the radiant energy of winter sports that springs from challenge and passion. The medals for the Asian Winter Games, titled "Spirit of Speed", was also released on the same day. The front of the medals combines the streamlined shape of a racetrack with the emblem of the 9th Asian Winter Games, capturing the powerful and graceful motion of athletes in action. This design embodies the strength and beauty of competitive sports. The flowing curves of the racetrack incorporate the silhouette of the Harbin Grand Theatre, reflecting the city's unique aesthetic. The reverse side of the medal features a picturesque landscape of Yabuli, with mountain ranges and forests that mirror the terrain of the Greater and Lesser Khingan ranges, creating a vibrant portrayal of Heilongjiang's rich and bountiful landscape. At the center, the emblem of the Olympic Council of Asia is embedded with a rare Xunke red agate gem from Heilongjiang -- symbolizing the sun shining brightly over the vibrant land. The ribbon clasp at the top of the medal is inspired by the Sun Gate of Sun Island Scenic Area, adding a distinctive local character to the design.
The anthem for the Asian Winter Games is titled "Snow of Harbin", written by lyricist and director Wang Pingjiu and composed by renowned domestic music producer Chang Shilei. The lyrics and melody express the vision of unity, friendship, and a shared commitment to peace and development among the people of Asian countries and regions, working together to build a community with a shared future for mankind.
Chinese and foreign scientists launched an initiative to call on joint effort to promote the construction of open science infrastructure at a thematic session during the World Science and Technology Development Forum (WSTDF 2024) held from October 22 to 24 in Beijing.
The initiate, titled "Fostering Open Science Infrastructure Collaboration: A Vision for the Sciences Decade," suggest building a global network, implementing open principles, promoting sustainable development, and enhancing mutual trust to deal with the challenges currently existing in the construction scale, political economy, technical standards, legal ethics, and other aspects of shared collaboration in open science infrastructure, according to Huang Jinxia, a professor from the National Science Library, Chinese Academy of Sciences, when announcing the recommendations at the thematic session "Open Science Infrastructures: Building a Collaborative Platform for Sciences Decade (INFRASTRUCTURES) " during the WSTDF 2024.
Open science infrastructure is an important means to promote global scientific innovation and collaboration. Through a collaborative platform, the global scientific community can share data, resources, and technologies to jointly address global challenges such as climate change and energy crisis, Yang Wei, Professor from Zhejiang University, Academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), and Founding Chair of CAST UN Consultative Committee on Open Science and Global Partnership (CCOS), said at the session.
Open science infrastructure supports researchers in building upon existing work, validating results, and generating new academic insights by promoting the public sharing of research findings. It was acknowledged as one of the key pillars of shared research infrastructure (virtual or physical) by UNESCO Recommendation on Open Science.
In alignment with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and UNESCO's Strategic plan for the implementation of the International Decade of Sciences for Sustainable Development (2024-2033) (Sciences Decade), this initiative calls on the public, governments and infrastructure facilitators, to collaborate a highly open and high-quality network of open science infrastructure.
In August 2023, the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) adopted the resolution Sciences Decade. This resolution offers a distinctive opportunity for humankind to advance and leverage science in the pursuit of sustainable development and cultivate a new science culture - to engage everyone to advance science further and equally benefit from it.
As this year marks the first year of the resolution, the abovementioned thematic session was held to gather Chinese and foreign scientists to engage in in-depth dialogue focusing on open science infrastructure to promote global scientific collaboration, address major challenges, and advance sustainable development.
Director of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) Regional Office for East Asia Shahbaz Khan stressed in his speech at the session that open science is not only a key driving force for achieving global peace and sustainable development, but also an effective way to help scientists worldwide address global issues through the sharing of infrastructure, data, and knowledge.
Open science infrastructure is highly aligned with the United Nations SDGs, particularly in tackling major challenges such as climate change and food security, where open science has unique advantages, he noted.
Khan stressed the importance of international communication and cooperative platform like the WSTDF to promote the Sciences Decade. He said the key is to share knowledge with developing countries in the Global South to help them seek sustainable development, eliminate poverty and secure food safety.
"How can we promote such knowledge to where it is needed? For example, for countries in need from Africa, developing countries, which are the Belt and Road Initiative partners like Pakistan and Afghanistan, this forum can help bring the benefits of science and technology to them for better livelihoods," Khan told the Global Times.
Echoing Khan, Yang said that sustainable development is the goal. Most of the UN's SDGs focused on developing countries in the Global South. The level of sustainable development in these countries are relatively lagging behind.
"There are many reasons for this, including lack of openness in scientific and educational knowledge, lack of food as well as diseases and lagging education systems. We hope to help these countries achieve SDGs through technology and other means. This is why we are dedicated to promoting open science," Yang told the Global Times.
Participants to the session also noted that open science infrastructure is crucial and urgent for promoting research innovation and global collaboration. They stressed the necessity to develop inclusive strategies tailored to the needs of different countries and institutions, ensuring the long-term operation of infrastructure through support from government, business, and philanthropic funding. To maintain the effectiveness of this infrastructure, it is essential to strengthen research ethics and integrity, ensuring the responsible use of open data, they said.
