A series of international winter sports events will be held in Beijing in the upcoming weeks as the host city of the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics continues to enjoy a stellar Olympic legacy.
As the 2023-24 ISU World Cup Speed Skating is scheduled to be held from November 17 to 19 at the National Speed Skating Oval, the city's competition venues for the Beijing 2022 Winter Games will once again welcome the world's elite athletes.
Li Yang, vice chief of China's winter sports governing body, said that the packed schedule for international winter sports events underlines a growing enthusiasm toward winter sports after the sensational Winter Olympics of 2022.
"The piling up of major competitions is a reflection of the utilization of the legacy of the Winter Olympics," Li told reporters at a news conference on November 14 ahead of the speed skating competition. "Winter sports have not lost their popularity since the Winter Olympics, but rather have become more popular."
The short track speed skating competition, a World Cup event under the International Skating Union, is set to be held at the Capital Indoor Stadium from December 8 to 10. It remains the most popular among the winter sports competitions set to be hosted in Beijing.
Tickets for the penultimate and ultimate days of the competition have been sold out since they were made available on November 13, according to Chen Jie, vice chief of the Beijing Municipal Bureau of Sports.
The reason for this popularity may lie in China's star-studded competition line-up squad, which features naturalized Olympic champions Lin Xiaojun, as well as brothers Liu Shaolin and Liu Shaoang.
The 'fastest ice'
The National Speed Skating Oval has been hailed as the "fastest ice" due to its state-of-the-art ice rink conditions. It witnessed three new world records during the 2022 Olympics.
The ice rink has been regenerated for the first time since the Olympics.
Gao Tingyu, an Olympic gold medalist in the men's 500-meter speed skating category, has returned to compete after a 21-month-long hiatus due to a waist injury.
"This home game is a test of training over the last six months for not only me, but also the whole speed skating team," Gao told reporters, stressing that "though I am not in my best form, I will still do my best on the 'fastest ice.'"
As it is only weeks before the New Year, the competition schedule has had to contend with timing conflicts. The speed skating races will be held concurrently with the bobsleigh and skeleton World Cup at the National Sliding Centre in Beijing's suburb Yanqing, while the Grand Prix of Figure Skating Final will clash with the popular short track World Cup race.
Shen Xue, a former Olympic figure skating champion and now head of China's figure skating governing body, was once an athlete who competed at the Grand Prix of Figure Skating Final held in Beijing in 2004. She admitted that the figure skating national squad is currently in a slump and needs more support.
"In competitive sports, peaks and slumps are intertwined. Currently, figure skating is at a low ebb, but as time passes, I believe we will be back at the top," Shen said. Growing popularity
Hosting the Winter Olympics has not only ignited a passion for winter sports but has also left a lasting impact on the development of winter sports in China. Regions in southern parts of China, such as Chongqing and Shanghai, have already hosted skating competitions this year, exemplifying the concept of expanding winter sports from the traditional northern regions to the south.
Earlier this year, Harbin in the northeast won a bid to host the 2025 Asian Winter Games, which is expected to further fuel the popularity of winter sports in the region, and is considered to be the greenhouse of China's winter sports athletes. A new generation of athletes is emerging onto the scene, fuelled by the inspiration of witnessing the pinnacle of winter sports on home soil.
China has witnessed the involvement of 300 million people in ice and snow activities, resulting in a significant increase in participation in winter sports.
Domination by a younger demographic paves the way for broader talent development in China's winter sports, said Mao Jiale, a sports commentator based in Chengdu.
"Winter sports are no longer confined to the northern regions, as evidenced by the popularity of ice events in southern provinces," Mao told the Global Times. "The 300 million people committed to engaging in ice and snow activities have contributed to a surge in interest and participation, expanding the footprint of winter sports across the country."
Thanks to the growing popularity of winter sports, several southern provinces and regions, such as Sichuan, Chongqing, and Guangdong, have constituted their winter sports teams for the first time in history.
They are aiming to compete at the National Winter Games, which will be held in February 2024 in Hulun Buir in North China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region.
The number of winter sports participants is expected to grow further, according to Mao.
"Hosting the Winter Olympics is just the starting point of China's rise in winter sports," Mao said. "The massive attention to winter sports thanks to the Beijing Olympics has energized a wide fan base across the country. The popularity will surely grow in the years to come."
The death toll from a strong earthquake that struck Morocco Friday night has risen to 820, said the country's Interior Ministry on Saturday.
The earthquake has also injured at least 672, according to the latest update from the ministry.
A 6.8-magnitude earthquake hit Morocco Friday at 11:11 p.m. local time (2211 GMT) at a depth of 18.5 km, said the U.S. Geological Survey.
The epicenter of the earthquake was near the town of Ighil in Al Haouz Province, some 70 km southwest of Marrakesh.
The earthquake was felt in many cities across Morocco, including Rabat and Casablanca. Many houses collapsed in the cities of Taroudant and Marrakesh, local media reported.
The earthquake damaged many buildings in the old city of Marrakesh, the nearest big city to the epicenter, and many residents had to spend the night in the open space for fear of potential aftershocks, said Zhang Kai, an overseas Chinese living in Marrakesh.
Xinhua correspondents at Ouarzazate, about 190 kilometers southeast of Marrakesh, saw residents taking shelter in an open space after the earthquake.
"There have been earthquakes before, but none of them were as strong as this one," said a resident in Ouarzazate who requires anonymity.
On the way from Ouarzazate to the epicenter, rocks and rubbles from the mountains and buildings were seen scattered along the road.
Rescuers have been sent to the quake-hit areas to search for survivors, local media reported.
One Chinese national has been killed and another injured, the Chinese Embassy in Thailand confirmed late Tuesday night after a shooting incident which left two dead and five injured at one of the most popular shopping malls in Thailand on Tuesday afternoon.
The embassy said it activated its emergency response mechanism to verify the situation in the wake of the incident and has confirmed the identities of the victims, adding that the injured individual has received medical treatment and remained in stable condition.
Thai Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin visited the injured Chinese national at the hospital, the embassy confirmed. Both the prime minister and Parnpree Bahiddha-Nukara, the deputy prime minister and minister of foreign affairs, respectively made phone calls to Chinese Ambassador to Thailand Han Zhiqiang to express their condolences to the deceased Chinese national on behalf of the Thai government.
They vowed to quickly deal with the case to ensure a safe and reliable environment for the Chinese nationals in Thailand.
A chaotic scene unfolded at the Siam Paragon mall in Bangkok, Thailand on Tuesday afternoon as gunshots rang out near an upscale retail area. According to National Police Chief Torsak Sukvimol, at least two people were killed and five others injured in the shooting and the police has arrested the suspect, a 14 years old suffering from a mental illness.
On Wednesday, Thai Police filed five charges against the suspect, including intentional homicide, commission of homicide, unlawful possession of a firearm, carrying a firearm into a public place without authorization, and discharging a firearm in a public place without authorization.
Thai police said the other victim was from Myanmar and the four injured included a Laotian and three Thai people.
According to local media, the 34-year-old Chinese female surnamed Zhao was shot dead when walking through the Siam Paragon building. A Chinese netizen named “Chloe Wan” wrote on China’s Twitter-like social media platform Sina Weibo that the shooter began shooting at the female toilet on the second floor, killing her acquaintance and injuring her mother.
“Aunt Zhao is a nice person. We three families, including Zhao’s husband and twin daughters, travelled to Thailand together. I didn’t know how she was hurt. I only saw her fainted on the ground with blood flowing out of her mouth. Her five-year-old children didn’t know about this. They were staying with their dad,” wrote the netizen, as quoted by Shangyou News.
The hashtags including “A Chinese visitor shot dead in Siam Paragon” had received more than 290 million views and comments on Sina Weibo as of Wednesday morning, and some netizens have expressed safety concerns on travelling to Thailand.
In September, the Thai government announced a temporary tourist visa exemption scheme for Chinese and Kazakh travelers to boost tourism.
Australia's Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has conceded defeat in the country's landmark referendum on an Indigenous Voice to Parliament, and vowed continued efforts to address disadvantages faced by First Australians.
Speaking in Canberra on Saturday night hours after polls closed, Albanese said it was clear a majority of Australians had voted against changing the constitution to establish an Indigenous advisory body to the federal parliament.
"My fellow Australians, at the outset, I want to say that while tonight's result is not one that I had hoped for, I absolutely respect the decision of the Australian people and the democratic process that has delivered it," he said.
"I never imagined or indeed said that it would be easy. History told us that only eight out of 44 had done so," he said, adding that "and of course, when you do the hard things, when you aim high, sometimes you fall short. And tonight we acknowledge, understand and respect that we have."
In order to be successful, the "yes" vote needed to achieve a double majority, meaning more than 50 percent of Australia's 17.6 million enrolled voters as well as a majority in at least four of the country's six states needed to vote in favor of changing the constitution.
With 60 percent of votes counted by the Australian Electoral Commission (AEC) as of 10 p.m. Australian Eastern Daylight Time (AEDT) (1100 GMT) on Saturday, 59 percent of Australians had voted "no", including a majority in all six states.
Albanese, an advocate of the Voice since it was first proposed in 2017, said it was time for Australians to come together to address disadvantages faced by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, including lower life expectancy and higher rates of incarceration, disease and suicide than the non-Indigenous population.
"A great nation like ours can and must do better for the First Australians," Albanese said.
"We intend as a government to continue to do what we can to close the gap, to do what we can to advance reconciliation, to do what we can to listen to the First Australians."
Peter Dutton, the leader of the opposition Coalition parties and a leading campaigner for the "no" vote - said the result was "good for our country."
"The Coalition, local Australians, wants to see Indigenous disadvantage addressed. We just disagree on the Voice being the solution," he said in a speech to a campaign event, "and while Yes and No voters may hold differences of opinion, these opinions of difference do not diminish a love for our country or our regard for each other."
A series of activities titled "Sensing Beijing for Chinese Envoys" was held at the Beijing University of Chinese Medicine (BUCM). Fifteen diplomats from more than 10 countries, including Grenada, Serbia, Singapore, Nepal, Kazakhstan, Saudi Arabia, Zambia, Chad, and Dominica, experienced the traditional Chinese medicine(TCM) in an immersive way.
The event was co-hosted by the Foreign Affairs Office of the Beijing municipal government and the Beijing University of Chinese Medicine.
For the first time, the diplomats gained a systematic understanding of the historical background and cultural connotation of the TCM. The diplomats were amazed by TCM and said it was " amazing!" They also visited the TCM exhibition hall at the BUCM to experience the profound culture and witness its progress and development in recent years. The diplomats also experienced Tuina (Chinese therapeutic massage), acupuncture, cupping, moxibustion, and other forms of TCM treatment.
No matter whether it was the secessionist force or the novel coronavirus, knots between young people in the Chinese mainland and the island of Taiwan have never been cut off.
In the 1980s, it was icons from the island of Taiwan's popular culture, like the boy band The Little Tigers and the Elvis-like Fei Xiang, who captured the hearts of countless mainland fans. The millennial generation grew up listening to songs by Jay Chou and Mayday, and watching TV series like the "Princess Returning Pearl," which were collaborations between both sides of the Straits. Today, with increased cross-Straits exchanges and advanced internet connectivity, Generation Zers are learning about each other through more diverse avenues.
According to media reports, from 2019 to 2022, Douyin (TikTok) and Xiaohongshu (Little Red Book) became some of the most popular apps in Taiwan island's mobile app stores. Many young people from the island have picked up on the latest memes shared by their peers on the mainland.
Moreover, post-pandemic recovery has facilitated exchanges and cross-Straits visits among young people, allowing them to genuinely understand and experience each other's customs and traditions.
Despite warnings and resistance from separatist forces on the island, the young generation of the island today is willingly and spontaneously engaging with simplified Chinese characters, traditional culture, and mainland lifestyle through social media apps like Xiaohongshu and Douyin.
The underlying essence behind this lies in the strong sense of identity that flows through their veins, enabling young people from both sides to come together and connect across the Straits through online platforms.
'Xiaohongshu generation'
Before setting off, Sun Chiao-hsuan did some fact finding on Xiaohongshu and Douyin, learning about scenic spots to visit, local snacks to try, and gifts and trinkets to buy for family and friends.
Sun, a postgraduate student from the political science department of Chinese Culture University in the island of Taiwan, took part in a national summer camp in early July, and a trip to Beijing and Tianjin.
"On Douyin, people all say that children in Tianjin can play allegro after they are born, which I think sounds very interesting," Sun said.
After thorough research, she decided to pick dim-sum bought in Beijing's famous dessert shop Fuhuazhai as the perfect gift before returning to the island.
Sun said that half of her friends in the island of Taiwan use mainland applications on a daily basis.
She particularly uses mainland apps such as Xiaohongshu, Douyin, and Bilibili, and has follows many content creators on said platforms. Some of her favorite channels include Caishuxueqian, a hardcore handcraft vlogger, and Moyun, a music vlogger who plays zithers.
"I was impressed by a video uploaded by Caishuxueqian, in which the content creator creates a replica of a golden mask that was previously uncovered in the Sanxingdui Ruins in Southwest China's Sichuan Province. That was really impressive," she said.
Huang Chien-chia, who is in his second year of a master's degree at the Hwa Hsia University of Technology in the island, told the Global Times that he is a fan of browsing through Chinese mainland social media apps a lot.
"On Douyin, I usually consume travel video content from which I get tips while preparing to travel to the mainland. I also follow and learn from some handmade videos on Xiaohongshu with my girlfriend, on how to create handicrafts such as wool knitwear," he said.
Far from this being the preserve of college students in the island of Taiwan, Chinese mainland apps enjoy popularity among other demographics including many younger students in elementary and high school, who have become seasoned users.
According to a survey on internet social communities released by the Taiwan Fund for Children and Family in May, despite suppression attempts by Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) authorities, multiple Chinese mainland social networking apps have made it into the top ten favorite social apps used by children and teenagers in the island.
During the "Sunflower Movement" period, the DPP continually expanded its influence and defined the island's younger generation as a generation that was "naturally pro-independence." However, with time, the post-95, post-00, and post-05 generations in the island have demonstrated different perspectives.
According to a report by the Taipei-based China Times on July 10, over 65 percent of users from the island of Taiwan who downloaded Xiaohongshu from the Google Play Store were female, with the highest user percentage seen among those aged between 18 and 24.
The China Times, which has been closely following the trend, pointed out in a 2021 article that the younger generation in the island of Taiwan, previously labeled as "naturally pro-independence," has shown a potential pro-reunification inclination under the influence of the Chinese mainland's rising soft power. This emerging group is even referred to as the "Xiaohongshu Generation."
Breaking information bubble
Recently, there have been heated discussions on the island's PTT forum about local young people's love for Xiaohongshu and Douyin. A high school student stated, "The mainland I see through Xiaohongshu and Douyin is completely different from what the older generation talks about." This remark turned the PTT forum into a battleground, with over a thousand comments within six hours, leading to intense debates from all sides.
Analysts have noted that through apps such as Xiaohongshu, the island's young generation has been exposed to a more approachable, concrete, and relatable image of the Chinese mainland, which has, to some extent, influenced their perception of the mainland.
However, the DPP is indeed employing the concept of "cognitive warfare" to suppress mainland apps that are popular in the island.
In December 2022, the island's newly established digital development "department," which had been in operation for less than six months, announced a strict ban on the use of mainland apps such as Douyin and Xiaohongshu by "government" agencies in the island.
Some DPP authorities also accused the Chinese mainland of using social media platforms to "infiltrate young people" in the island of Taiwan and engage in "cognitive warfare" against the island.
As spokesperson Zhu Fenglian of the Chinese mainland's Taiwan Affairs Office pointed out, many young people in the island of Taiwan enjoy using mainland apps like Xiaohongshu and Douyin because of their user-friendliness and entertainment value. In a way, these apps contribute to improving their quality of life and overall happiness.
"The politicians from the DPP, with their grandiose claims, only demonstrate their proficiency in political maneuvering while having drifted far from the lives of the people in the island and abandoning their interests and well-being," she said.
The estrangement between the Chinese mainland and the island of Taiwan, due to the antagonism and confrontation created by secessionist forces in the island by disseminating false information to residents in the island, made people across the Straits misunderstand each other, said Yang Yizhou, vice president of the All-China Federation of Taiwan Compatriots.
"Nowadays, these misunderstandings are gradually being unraveled in the face of modern technology as Douyin and Xiaohongshu are becoming effective communication tools for youngsters in the island of Taiwan to understand the mainland," Yang said.
The underlying cause of the popularity of mainland apps on the island of Taiwan is that both sides of the Straits live in the same Chinese cultural sphere. Residents of the two sides share similar life experiences and lifestyles, and it is easy for them to grow closer and find resonance with the other side, Yang told the Global Times.
If young people in the island of Taiwan were to continue being trapped in an information bubble within the island, it would be very terrible, as false narratives will cause increased confrontation and hostility between the two sides.
He said that exchanges among residents of the Chinese mainland and those of the island of Taiwan should be further encouraged, hoping that more youngsters can come and visit the mainland more frequently.
Increasing offline exchanges
The recent visit of a delegation from top Chinese mainland universities by faculty and students to the island of Taiwan has drawn media attention on both sides of the Straits.
According to reports, a group of 37 faculty and students from five mainland universities - Peking University, Tsinghua University, Fudan University, Wuhan University, and Hunan University - arrived at Taiwan's Taoyuan International Airport on the July 15, commencing their exchange and visit program.
On the same evening, former chairperson of the Chinese Kuomintang Ma Ying-jeou hosted a banquet to welcome the youth delegation from the five mainland universities, and he had a meeting with the delegation led by Peking University's Party Secretary, Hao Ping.
Ma expressed that the successful visit by the mainland students was the most significant cross-Straits youth exchange activity in recent years and the best birthday gift for him at the age of 73. This marks the first time in over three years that a group of Chinese mainland universities have visited the island for exchanges, which holds positive implications for the promotion of the restoration of bilateral exchanges between both sides.
Ding Ning, an Olympic champion and member of the visiting delegation expressed her eagerness at interacting with her peers from Taiwan, particularly those in sports. Besides the well-known pineapple cakes, she expressed her love for pastries like glutinous rice and mochi.
Ding served as the delegation team leader and quickly bonded with young people from both sides of the Straits. During a bus tour, she also shared various interesting anecdotes about playing sports around the world.
In early July this year, an offline Youth Summer Camp organized by the All-China Federation of Taiwan Compatriots was also launched in Beijing to improve exchanges between over 1,000 youth from the Chinese mainland and island of Taiwan, and encourage students from Taiwan to witness the new changes and achievements that have been made in the economic and social fields during their trip to the Chinese mainland.
Moreover, since 2004, more than 20,000 youth from the island of Taiwan have participated in these summer camp activities, making it one of the key projects in cross-Straits youth exchanges.
In July and August this year, related summer camp activities will be held in 28 provinces, autonomous regions, and municipalities on the mainland, as well as the Hong Kong and Macao special administrative regions and overseas regions.
"The re-opening of this summer camp offline after the epidemic has provided young people on both sides an opportunity to sit down and talk about their ideals, and jointly discuss the realities and problems we are facing now," Yang said. "I think the youth exchange between the two sides is a very good beginning and also provides a very good foundation for our future exchanges between the Chinese mainland and the island of Taiwan."
The crisis in Ukraine has escalated dramatically over the past year, with ongoing hostilities inflicting enormous trauma on both parties involved - Ukraine and Russia. In mid-July, Gao Zhikai, vice president of the Center for China and Globalization, a Beijing-based nongovernmental think tank, visited Kiev, the capital city of Ukraine. During a recent interview with Global Times reporters Chen Qingqing and Bai Yunyi, Gao shared his observations and experiences in Kiev, as well as his interactions with Ukrainians from various fields. Gao said he hopes for an early end to the crisis and wishes for the Ukrainian people to lead peaceful, harmonious, progressive and prosperous lives. "Peace will not come easily," he said, "but it is worth every effort to strive for."
This story is a part of the Global Times' series of "Witness to history," which features first-hand accounts from witnesses who were at the forefront of historic moments. From scholars, politicians and diplomats to ordinary citizens, their authentic reflections on the impact of historical moments help reveal a sound future for humanity through the solid steps forward taken in the past and the present. Three air raid alarms within 36 hours
Gao's journey was somewhat complicated due to the no-fly zone over all of Ukraine: He had to first fly from Beijing to Warsaw, Poland, then take a train to the Polish-Ukrainian border, and from there catch another train to Kiev. He only spent 36 hours in Kiev, but the round trip took him four days in total.
What struck him the most was that during his 36-hour stay in Kiev, he experienced three air raid alarms. The first was at noon and was quickly lifted, so he didn't pay it much mind. The second occurred at 4 am in the dark of night when the alarm suddenly sounded, prompting him to quickly put on his helmet and rush to the second basement level of the hotel, which has since been turned into a "shelter" since the outbreak of the conflict.
He then noticed that the decent-sized hotel only had five or six guests. Everyone was silent yet tense, and they waited in the silent, anxious atmosphere for over an hour.
The third air raid warning occurred at noon the next day, just as he finished a working lunch with Ukrainian officials and was about to board a car. Suddenly, the alarm sounded again over the entire city of Kiev, and every person's phone also buzzed with an alert, making it seem as though the entire world was booming.
Many people ran past Gao in a panic, and the streets quickly emptied. Gao said his Ukrainian friend quickly pulled him into the basement of the restaurant, telling him that during an air raid warning, anything moving above ground could potentially become a target of attack for both sides.
Gao said his Ukrainian friend told him that since the outbreak of the conflict, almost all underground spaces in Ukraine have been turned into shelters: City subway stations have become the largest "air-raid shelters" - due to the influence of the Soviet era, Ukraine's subway stations are very deep underground, so they are relatively safe.
Many restaurants, office buildings, and hotel basements, first, and second floors have also been converted into shelters, but many are quite "basic" and it's hard to guarantee safety. As soon as an air raid warning sounds, everyone must immediately seek shelter in the nearest bunker.
Gao said that although he experienced three air raid warnings during his 36 hours in Kiev, the main target of Russia's military action is not actually Kiev. The frequent air raid warnings during this time were mainly because the NATO summit was taking place in Vilnius, Lithuania, and Russia was trying to express its dissatisfaction and display its "toughness" through air raids on the Ukrainian capital city.
'Hardly see faces of adult men'
While the frontlines are mostly concentrated in Eastern Ukraine, the traces of the crisis are very evident in and around Kiev.
Heading north out of Kiev, one can see that the suburban roads are still heavily patrolled with numerous roadblocks and iron fences set up to impede the progress of tanks.
Gao said that he noticed that Ukraine's preparations are strict, with the rigorous inspection of people and vehicles at each checkpoint, and the tense atmosphere is palpable.
The destruction of suburban buildings is severe: Some buildings are half-destroyed, revealing their contents like pianos, furniture, and even children's backpacks hanging on the walls inside; there are also half-collapsed shopping malls, the insides of which are in disarray. Life inside Kiev is much calmer. Aside from the occasional air raid siren and nightly curfews, people can generally continue to work, shop, and eat normally. In Kiev's supermarkets and shops, aside from medicine, Gao said he didn't notice any significant signs of shortages, and prices were stable. Prices for grains, vegetables, and fruits were even slightly cheaper than in Beijing and neighboring Poland, though imported goods were more expensive. Most restaurants were operating normally, and the one in which he had his working lunch was almost "packed."
However, in downturn Kiev, the exteriors of all major institutional buildings are tightly surrounded by makeshift defensive barriers made of sandbags and bricks. The doors are tightly sealed and guarded by soldiers to prevent sudden infiltration, and military vehicles and personnel are visible everywhere on the roads. On his first day in Kiev, Gao saw a long row of ambulances standing by at the train station, perhaps waiting for the arrival of injured personnel from afar.
What he will never forget are the faces he saw on the streets of Kiev: There were women, children, and the elderly, but very few adult men, and it was the same on the train from the border to Kiev. Once, while he was walking on the street, a soldier in uniform came out from barrier behind to check on him. Upon closer inspection, Gao noticed that the soldier was a boy of 15 or 16 years old. His face was rosy and still had some baby fat. Gao believed that perhaps most adult men in Ukraine have already gone to the frontlines.
Regrettable process of 'de-Russification'
During his trip, Gao had conversations with the Ukrainian government personnel, military officials, and ordinary citizens about their perspectives on the future of the crisis. Every Ukrainian he encountered essentially held a "resist to the end" mentality. The Ukrainian government displays Russian tanks and weapons captured during the conflict in some squares to boost morale.
However, most Ukrainians, including those in the military and government, still place their hopes of "victory" on NATO, Gao said. They like to talk about "if NATO approves Ukraine's membership, this or that could happen," or "if NATO provides us with more weapons, we could do this or that," despite the US clearly stating that it won't admit Ukraine into NATO before the end of the conflict.
Some Ukrainians place their hopes on political changes within Russia. One member of the Ukrainian military told Gao, "The key to Ukraine's ultimate victory may not lie in the battlefield, but in Moscow." Since the outbreak of the conflict, the process of "de-Russification" has become increasingly apparent throughout Ukraine. This trend began in 2014, but the outbreak of conflict undoubtedly accelerated it. Nowadays, it's rare to see statues or symbols from the Soviet era or related to Russia in the streets of Kiev and other cities. Not only were statues or monuments of Soviet politicians like Stalin and Zhukov toppled, but also the statues of Russian writer Pushkin and Soviet writer Gorky were gone.
Ukraine is also renaming streets and villages, eliminating any associations between place names and Russia. Moreover, the government has issued orders that effectively ban the use of Russian in newspapers and broadcasts.
From the perspective of an outsider like Gao, all of this evokes a sense of regret. For many foreigners, it's hard to distinguish between Russians and Ukrainians when walking on the street, and to his ears, Russian and Ukrainian sound as similar as the Beijing dialect and the Tianjin dialect. The intertwined histories and cultures of the two countries are so deeply entwined.
Importance of China's role
How do Ukrainians view China's role? China and Ukraine established diplomatic relations on January 4, 1992, built a comprehensive friendly cooperative relationship in 2001, and jointly announced the establishment of a strategic partnership in 2011. The two countries have fostered friendly and mutually beneficial relations across various fields, with rapid cooperative development.
During Gao's visit, he had this discussion with many Ukrainians and sensed a kind of "complex" feeling among Ukrainians toward China.
On one hand, over the years, American media and public opinion have had a great influence on the Ukrainian public. Since the outbreak of the conflict, American narratives have attempted to demonize Russia, while also portraying China as a "complicit party."
Today, many Ukrainians have been blinded by the American narrative, believing that the US is helping them achieve independence and freedom, while China is "assisting Russia," which is a clear misinterpretation of China's real stance.
China is neither the creator of the Ukraine crisis nor a party involved. On the issue of the Ukraine crisis, China has always stood on the side of peace, and its core position is to promote peace and encourage dialogue.
On the other hand, they have expectations for China - they are very aware of China's significance in promoting peace and talks.
"For instance, a Ukrainian government official once suggested to me that China could act as a 'middleman' in taking care of the prisoners of war from both Russia and Ukraine. Currently, both sides have captured a large number of prisoners, who are being treated very poorly with frequent reports of abuses," Gao noted.
In the eyes of Ukrainians, the relationship between the West and Russia has deteriorated to a freezing point, and no Western country can play this role.
Only China might be able to help the prisoners on both sides to receive humanitarian treatment. This shows the importance Ukrainians attach to China's role, as well as their complex yet expectant feelings toward China, Gao said.
Upon leaving Ukraine, Gao said that he kept thinking that Ukraine is a country rich in resources, its people are hard-working, kind, intelligent, and brave.
With proper governance, Ukraine can certainly become a prosperous country on the Eurasian continent. And the beautiful future of Ukraine firstly lies in ending the current crisis and restoring peace as soon as possible.
China attaches great importance to promoting gender equality and also has great concern for women's rights in Afghanistan, but it will not threaten to cut off aid to Afghanistan as have many Western countries to exert pressure, which would only exacerbate conflict, said Zhao Haihan, Chargé d'Affaires of the Chinese Embassy in Afghanistan.
Since the establishment of the Taliban interim government in Afghanistan, a series of policies restricting women's access to education and employment has been implemented, attracting much attention from the international community.
Zhao said that Chinese government through the embassy in Afghanistan has also made inquiries about this issue to Afghan officials and received a response that Afghanistan is establishing relevant committees to study and tackle issues such as the creation of a women's education curriculum, and they will reinstate access to higher learning once such provisions are in place, after existing internal disagreements are resolved.
Some Afghan officials reached in the course of finding a resolution said that they do value the protection of women's rights. After the Taliban took over, they immediately banned the prevalent practice of child marriage and fought for equal inheritance rights for women, especially widows. However, these positive changes have been ignored by the international community, especially by the US and other Western countries.
The approach taken by some Western countries, including issuing threats to cut off aid to Afghanistan to pressure to force the Afghan government hand are unlikely to exert effect as the government has a strong sense of sovereignty and consistently opposes foreign interference, said Zhao.
"We prefer to work in ways that are in line with Chinese traditional culture and diplomatic principles. We will initiate full and patient communication to persuade them to adapt to the development trend of the times and the expectations of the people, and make positive changes themselves. This approach may be more effective," said Zhao.
It is also important to emphasize that while women's rights are important, they are only part of the many issues in Afghanistan. Moreover, the unfair treatment of Afghanistan, such as the imposition of unjust sanctions and asset freezes, should not be ignored. The international community needs to comprehensively, objectively, and fairly address and resolve issues in Afghanistan, without selective disregard for certain aspects, said Zhao.
In history, Tashkent, the capital of Uzbekistan, was once an important hub along the ancient Silk Road, with notable figures such as China's envoy Zhang Qian, and pilgrims Faxian and Xuanzang leaving their footprints here. Due to its harsh climate and geographical conditions, those who embarked on this route in different eras were often bestowed titles like "explorers," "warriors," and "pioneers."
Today, the Silk Road still attracts such trailblazers, but the Silk Road Economic Belt under the China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) has changed dramatically from its predecessors. One by one, major projects designed and built by China have left a unique and beautiful mark along the Silk Road in the new era.
Recently, Global Times reporters explored the super projects undertaken by Chinese enterprises in Uzbekistan to witness the embodiment of Chinese technology, quality standards, and wisdom, as the grand projects have brought about tremendous changes to the socio-economic landscape of Central Asia.
A modern town part of national 'heritage'
When looking into the distance from the heights of Tashkent, a mushrooming of modern sports stadiums appears. The Olympic Town of Uzbekistan constructed by the China CAMC Engineering Company, which will be the largest sports complex in the entire Central Asia region upon its completion, is just one of the grand sports-related projects under construction. Two years hence, in 2025, the Olympic town will play host to the 4th Asian Youth Games and the 5th Asian Youth.
"You guys came a little too early. By the middle of September, the structures of the five main stadiums will have been completed," Han Xueli, business project manager at China CAMC Engineering Company, told the Global Times on August 17.
The Olympic Town project is a large sports complex covering an area of 100 hectares, including 5 main stadiums and 15 outdoor sports fields. It is the first large-scale cooperative project to be jointly undertaken by China and Uzbekistan after the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Samarkand summit in 2022.
Han explained that the design, construction, and quality assurance have all adopted Chinese standards, integrated high-end technology with green elements. For example, the project will install a rooftop photovoltaic system with a total capacity of 7 megawatts. All the roofs of parking lots and sports facilities, such as the ball sports complex, will be covered with solar panels. This will not only facilitate the entry of new energy vehicles but also meet the daily electricity needs of the entire sports complex.
Fully utilizing the existing terrain, the project has two landscape water systems that are both aesthetically pleasing and practical thanks to their rainwater storage capacities. Considering the local climate, the project has embedded pipes capable of drip irrigation, replacing the previous flood irrigation system in Tashkent. Additionally, the Olympic Town incorporates 5G technology to achieve smart venues and intelligent operations.
However, completing such high-quality project within two years is not an easy task. The Uzbekistan-based China CAMC Engineering Company team has contributed a lot toward meeting the deadline.
In the eyes of many Uzbeks, many of these Chinese concepts and standards have surpassed their expectations. Moreover, under the difficult environment of both extreme heat and cold, it is not easy to complete a project of this scale without compromising on quality in just two years' time and realize its completion by the end of 2024. However, the Chinese contractor has always actively looked for ways to solve problems and work with the Uzbek side to actualize the ambitions completion goal.
"During summer, we usually do the construction work in the morning and early evening, so as to avoid the hottest time at noon; water pipes crack easily in winter, so we strive to complete the upper steel structure lifting before the arrival of winter," said Han.
In order to realize the real-time follow up of the project, we also introduced China's Building Information Modeling (BIM) technology, Han said proudly. BIM modeling allows users to create and view a virtual model of intelligent 3D objects, which can help with visualization, quantification, and simulation of design, construction, and other tasks related to the building process.
The quality and construction speed of the Olympic City project has also been applauded by Uzbeks. This is Uzbekistan's first world-class Olympic facility and we are creating new standards thanks to Chinese companies. Such projects will boost the economic development of the country, Vadim Akhmadiev, Technical Project manager of the Ministry for Sport and Youth Policy of Uzbekistan, told the Global Times.
Akhmadiev said the Olympic City project will become a part of Uzbekistan's "heritage." "It is not only important for my generation, but also for the next generation."
Making history on open road
In the bazaars of Tashkent, fresh and succulent pomegranates and tomatoes from the Fergana Valley entice consumers. However, locals told the Global Times that such scenes were a rarity a decade ago. Hindered by the Tianshan Mountains, it was not easy for people from Eastern Uzbekistan's Fergana region to access the capital city. They would often resort to detouring through neighboring Tajikistan, which would take as much as an entire day.
However, this predicament has been completely transformed by a railway tunnel - the Qamchiq Tunnel. This is currently the longest railway tunnel in Central Asia, spanning 19.2 kilometers, which is also a crucial project that connects the Angren-Pap railway line, a key transportation route between the eastern and western parts of Uzbekistan.
The Qamchiq Tunnel project undertaken by the China Railway Tunnel Group (CRTG) began construction in 2013. The main tunnel was completed in February 2016, and was officially opened to traffic in June of the same year. In other words, it took only 900 days for Chinese contractors to complete what's considered to be a wonder - constructing a train tunnel through which trains can traverse the mountains in just 900 seconds.
"The construction of the tunnel was very difficult," Zhou Xiaoguang, project manager of the Qamchiq Tunnel project from CRTG, told the Global Times.
The tunnel passes through the mountain at an altitude of 1,200 meters, with a maximum depth of the buried main line of 1,300 meters, which has to pass through seven geological fault zones and nearly 10 kilometers of rock burst zones.
Such a long tunnel not only needs to excavated, but needs the addition of safety access points including inclined shafts and contact access, further complicating the engineering process.
In the eyes of Deng Wei, a technician who once participated in the construction of the Kamchik Tunnel, frequent rock falls were the biggest problem encountered during the tunnel's construction that year.
"There were more than 3,000 rock falls of moderate intensity and above, and the most serious one caused the tunnel to collapse for a length of 2,000 cubic meters, posing a great threat to the safety and even the psychology of construction workers," Deng told the Global Times.
In order to overcome the perplexing problem of rock falls, the CRTG contractors organized several multinational expert meetings and conducted joint scientific research with Chinese domestic universities to develop sound scientific methods.
Thanks to the timely research and proper technological applications, no injuries were suffered from rock fall in the nearly 10-kilometer long rock explosion zone, Deng recalled proudly.
The harsh environment was another major difficulty encountered in the construction. Zhou still remembers that in January 2014, a rare heavy snow storm which lasted for two weeks caused an avalanche on the mountain near the tunnel, which was 7-8 meters thick and more than 40 meters long, effectively enclosing the construction team within the construction site, and cut access to outside production and amenities transportation channel. "Later, workers used large machines for three days to reopen the lifeline," Zhou lamented.
"It is because of the 'Chinese spirit' of overcoming adversity that we were able to complete this super project in 900 days, which was once estimated to take as long as 25 years to complete by experts during the Soviet Union period," he said.
Further enhanced mutual trust
The successful launch and development of China's mega projects overseas reflects the further enhanced of political mutual trust between China and Central Asia in recent years.
Han told Global Times that whenever there are problems in the construction of the Olympic Town, various departments such as the Uzbekistan Ministry of Sports, Customs Committee, and city government of Tashkent always appear to help China coordinate efforts to solve the problems.
"For example, Uzbekistan's President Shavkat Mirziyoyev even personally signed a presidential decree to open a 'green channel' for us to import a large amount of construction materials and equipment, ensuring that the imported supplies for the project could clear customs with zero tariffs and were delivered to the site quickly," Han said. "The high level of trust and support from the Uzbek side toward China is an important reason why mega projects like the Olympic Town are able to progress so rapidly."
Additionally, the acceleration of the internationalization process of the Chinese Yuan has also become an important driving force for more Chinese mega projects to go global. Taking the Uzbekistan's Olympic Town as an example, the project adopted the RMB loan model, with the Export-Import Bank of China providing RMB loans. This is also the first international engineering project in Uzbekistan to be financed by a sovereign commercial loan denominated in RMB. Observers noted that compared with financing through European and American capital markets, RMB loans have lower costs and are more economically beneficial to the financing country.
At the same time, China's mega projects are also reshaping the geopolitical landscape of Central Asia. Taking the Qamchiq Tunnel as an example, the completion of this railway tunnel has not only eliminated the need for long detours through other countries, but also has the potential to become a new transportation hub and important international transit channel along the China-Central Asia-Europe transportation corridor.
"In the last two years, the construction of the future operation of the China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan railway project has been made a priority. If this railway can be successfully built, trains departing from China in the future will enter Uzbekistan through Kyrgyzstan, pass through the Qamchiq Tunnel to Tashkent, and then continue through Turkmenistan and the Middle East to Europe. This route will be the shortest and fastest route for the Eurasian continent," said Zhou.
The BRI is transforming Uzbekistan from a landlocked country into an important transportation hub in the region, and promoting the integration of Uzbekistan and other Central Asian countries into the global economy and the world's logistics system, said Saidmukhtar Saidkasimov, former deputy prime minister and former foreign minister of Uzbekistan, in an exclusive interview with the Global Times.
In Han's view, all the hard work today is worth it, because he expects that after the completion of the project, the people of Uzbekistan will usher in their own country's era of high-standard and modern venues, and become another bright "Made in China" calling card in Central Asia.
On September 20, the 2023 China-Europe Seminar on Human Rights was held, co-hosted by a Chinese think tank, the China Society for Human Rights Studies (CSHRS), and the Faculty of Law at Sapienza University of Rome in Italy. Global Times reporters attended the seminar in Rome and talked with Chinese and international experts with many of them agreeing that although the human rights cause is facing the challenges of politicization and instrumentalization, the strong desire for exchanges between Chinese and Western political and academic circles has always been there.
More than 130 human rights experts, officials, and representatives from political parties and social organizations from different countries, including China, Italy, Greece, the UK, the US, Germany, the Netherlands, Spain, Switzerland, Austria, Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Norway, Poland, Portugal, and Serbia attended the 2023 China-Europe Seminar on Human Rights in Rome, Italy, on September 20 and shared their perspectives on human rights.
Long before the seminar was held, it attracted international attention due to its theme on human rights and its timing as the US had beefed up its onslaught against China by attacking its human rights situation and the Italian government was mulling over a potential withdrawal from the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).
On September 15, for instance, an Italian media outlet, Decode39, said in a report that the delegation of more than 50 Chinese scholars and officials scheduled to attend the human rights seminar in Rome were part of Beijing's efforts to "gear up for human rights propaganda" just as Italy "gears up to exit" the BRI.
The narrative that China is working to alter the definition of human rights to confront the US and the West has been routinely spread in recent years together with intensified scrutiny on seminars held by Chinese universities and think tanks. But such chatter has not stopped Chinese scholars' enthusiasm in having exchanges with global experts as they believe that only communication can dispel the misunderstanding surrounding China's human rights situation and promote global human rights governance.
Seeking consensus
During the seminar in Rome, Chinese scholars and officials spoke of their understanding of human rights more openly and confidently. In his opening address, Baima Chilin, President of the CSHRS, called on countries to promote positive progress in global human rights governance through solidarity and cooperation, and promote the free and comprehensive development of all people in the process of modernization.
All countries should also join hands to find solutions to problems and challenges that exist in the field of global human rights, said Baima. He also welcomed more international visitors to China for a closer look at China's human rights development.
Tang Xianwen, Secretary-General of the CSHRS, said at the seminar that people-oriented thought runs through the political history of China and affects the Chinese civilization and modernization.
The immutable goal of the Chinese modernization drive is to meet the people's aspirations for a better life, Tang noted, adding that the Communist Party of China (CPC) is dedicated not only to pursuing happiness for the Chinese people, but also to human progress and global harmony. China is a staunch supporter of globalization and international cooperation. The China-Europe Railway Express under the BRI is a good example.
"Looking forward, I hope we can harness the wisdom and strength of our two great civilizations, shedding a light on the mutual objectives of China and Europe in the field of human rights, and advancing human rights causes in the world," said Tang.
The Chinese Ambassador to Italy Jia Guide also attended the seminar and called for the promotion of the healthy development of the international human rights cause, which requires unity, not division, and cooperation, not confrontation.
"In February this year, China and the EU held the 38th Human Rights Dialogue in Brussels. Today we are holding an online and offline China-EU seminar on human rights here, which has further enhanced mutual understanding among all parties," said Jia.
China is willing to work with the international community to abide by the purposes and principles of the United Nations Charter and conduct human rights exchanges and cooperation on the basis of equality and mutual respect, said Jia.
The ambassador also called for the international community to oppose the politicization and instrumentalization of human rights issues, and promote global human rights governance in a fairer, more just, reasonable, and inclusive direction moving forward, promote the construction of a global community of shared future, and jointly build a better world.
Echoing Jia, many foreign scholars also expressed their worries over the alarming trend of weaponizing human rights topics.
Nako Stefanov, Head of the Bulgarian National Peace Council and Director of the Bulgarian Institute for Strategic Studies, said at the seminar that the neoliberal and capitalist model of the US has become the American global economic and political platform to implement American globalization, which has affected the global democratic system as any countries in the world that dare to oppose the US could be accused of violating democracy and human rights, and be punished accordingly.
"We have witnessed the largest inequality in the human world and we hope to overcome the problems brought by liberalism and to truly follow the principles of social justice, equality, and social solidarity in order to overcome poverty and respect the rights to development and decent human life," said Stefanov.
Fabio Marcelli, former director of the Institute for International Legal Studies, National Research Council of Italy, criticized some countries of using human rights causes as tools to contain other countries' development, including imposing sanctions or employing stigmatization.
Marcelli mentioned that the claim of so-called genocide in China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region is no more than propaganda and related topics have been instrumentalized. As for the Xinjiang region, the outside world can see China's measures in prioritizing its underdeveloped regions. If people promote development in the same way it has been in the region, many underdeveloped places around the world will benefit greatly.
Unity, not division
The Global Times reporters witnessed exchanges everywhere at the seminar, from official meetings to coffee breaks. To accommodate unfinished speeches, the opening ceremony in the morning was extended by a full hour.
During the seminar, mutual understanding and respect were stressed despite different views.
For example, in his speech, Wang Wen, executive director of the Chongyang Institute for Financial Studies at the Renmin University of China, mentioned that the sanitation conditions in some European cities, especially Paris, Madrid, and Milan had made an impression on him, pointing out that such poor conditions violate people's right to live comfortable lives in cities.
The high commodity prices and the crumbling infrastructure also perturbed Wang as he questioned whether Europe is indeed paying attention to human rights.
"The President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen is a bit like the Empress Dowager Cixi in the late Qing Dynasty (1644-1911). She is leading Europe into an infinite abyss," said Wang.
Wang noted that Europe may be suffering from the arrogance, ignorance, and laziness of some politicians and their lack of understanding of China's human rights development.
Wang's remarks led to some laughter and applause.
The seminar was also open to guests who had viewed China's human rights cause with prejudice.
The Global Times reporters learned that two staffers at the US Embassy in Italy were also present at the seminar that day. One of them was a counselor and the other was the first secretary in charge of human rights work.
The two staffers at the US Embassy in Italy registered and received confirmation from the organizer although they were not invited. They may have seen the invitation letters published by other invited guests, Hu Lanbo, chairperson of the Rome 9 China-Italy Economic and Cultural Exchange Center, who is in charge of conference affairs, told the Global Times.
At the seminar venue, Hu met an Italian journalist who had authored many articles criticizing China and another who had accused China of trying to eliminate the universality of human rights.
In a conversation with the reporter, Hu said, "Some people say that you are the enemy of the Chinese, but I don't believe that there are absolute enemies. Let's talk about China when we have time." The reporter agreed, after which the two took a photo at the venue.
Such scenes were also common at the previous China-EU seminars as the mechanism, which started in 2015 and has been held seven times in various cities in China and Europe, has become an important platform for Chinese and overseas scholars to exchanges views on human rights and dispel misunderstandings.
However, due to the influence of some anti-China politicians in the EU and the US, the anti-China stance has become "politically current" in the West, posing barriers in communication between China and Europe, analysts said.
It was not also an easy task to make this year's seminar happen, Hu said, noting that it took a total of three months of preparation to ensure the successful conclusion of the conference.
Due to the prejudice of certain political forces against China's human rights cause, the preparations work was at a standstill at times, according to Hu.
The Global Times also learned from some experts who attended the seminar that some of them have faced personal safety threats because they were accused of being "too close to China."
"Human rights have indeed been politicized. In 2015 and even before, the West 'liked' to talk to us about human rights. Later, when we used Chinese understanding to explain our view of human rights, the West suddenly felt that it was a challenge to their value system. They felt that 'China has inserted its ideology' and do not allow it. It is a pity that Europe is so unsure of its own values," Zhang Yonghe, executive director of the CHRS and executive director of the Human Rights Institute of Southwest University of Political Science and Law, told the Global Times.
"However, the more difficult we are in a situation, the more valuable the communication becomes. Human rights are an open concept, meaning that the development of human rights should be discussed by everyone," Zhang said.
Zhang also emphasized that Chinese and foreign scholars discussing human rights in Rome would also help more people to understand the essence of human rights under the view of the development of all humanity.
