The Embassy of the Czech Republic in China and the Czech-China Contemporary Art Gallery jointly inaugurated the exhibition "My Room," which was opened at the Czech Embassy in Beijing on August 20.
Featuring artists Feng Runde, Li Lang, Jiri Straka, Wu Zixian and Yang Yuzhe, the exhibition provides a platform for young artists from the Czech Republic and China to learn and exchange ideas, and has won unanimous praise from Chinese and foreign visitors.
The people-to-people exchanges between the Czech Republic and China are expected to continue to expand into new areas. The exhibition aims to help young artists and show the public their ideas and experiences in the face of a complex world independently.
"The works of the five artists have some common features that impress me: The appearance of their works is very different from the works of their elders; regardless of where they live, their art is close to the real life," said curator and artist Shu Yang.
The 2024 Shanghai Contemporary Theatre Festival (ACT) will run from September 6 to October 13, offering audiences a series of captivating performances.
This year's festival will be themed "The Field of Memory" and continue its focus on "contemporaneity" and "innovation."
In addition to Chinese productions, it has invited theater troupes and artists from Italy, Thailand, Greece, Portugal, Australia, and Croatia to participate.
The festival will feature nine performances, covering various genres such as drama, mime, experimental performance, and dance theater. Most of these productions are new works from leading international performance troupes, with three making their Chinese mainland debut and two having their first-ever showings in Asia.
The ACT is an annual international festival for the performing arts held at the Shanghai Dramatic Arts Centre and other partner venues since 2005. Its small theaters bring the audience very close to the stage for many face-to-face interactions.
In almost two decades, ACT Shanghai has cultivated a young, curious audience unique to Shanghai and become an important platform for connecting local and international artists with the Chinese audience.
As the 2024 Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC), set to be held in Beijing from September 4 to 6, draws near, the "debt trap" slander targeting China-Africa cooperation is becoming rampant again.
In fact, whenever the FOCAC is held, the West will always stir up a new round of smearing with absurd accussations against China.
The FOCAC was established in 2000. Over the past 20 years, China has truly promoted the modernization process in African continent through grant, investment, and trade, and has also won wide recognition and acclaim from African partners.
China has used interest-free loans to help Africa build much needed facilities such as hospitals and schools. Meanwhile, Chinese financial institutions have actively provided financing support to support infrastructure construction, such as railways, roads, and electricity facilities in African countries.
The China-Africa Development Fund, an equity investment fund managed by the China Development Bank, has provided financing totaling more than $6.6 billion to Africa and has facilitated Chinese companies to invest more than $31 billion in Africa.
The West is the main culprit behind Africa's debt crisis. Notably, in recent years, the West believes that the African economy has shown some signs of improvement, so they prematurely pushed Africa to the global capital market, leading to African countries borrowing excessively and causing the current high proportion of external debt faced by Africa. It can be said that the West has directly pushed Africa into a "debt trap."
Although China is not the main creditor of African countries, it actively participates in the resolution of debt issues faced by African countries and helps them explore solutions to promote development and ultimately solve their debts. China never uses debt collection as a pretext to seek private gain - this is the core difference between China's approach and that of the West in managing debt.
However, it needs to be acknowledged that the ultimate solution to the debt problem must rely on economic development. Only by helping Africa solve the bottlenecks that restrict African development, can African countries be fundamentally lifted out of the debt distress.
Currently, Africa urgently needs more development funds, as progress on several indicators of the UN's 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development remains slow. In light of this, China will continue to roll out a package of aid measures under the FOCAC to help Africa tackle their challenges.
China has never been the main creditor for African debt. Under the framework of the FOCAC, China has provided a package of assistance measures to Africa and offered support.
Through interest-free loans, concessional loans, and other development financing, China has provided significant support to back up Africa's development. A series of infrastructure projects and talent training have started, laying the foundation for poverty reduction and independent development in Africa.
China on Friday urged the US to stop official exchanges with China's Taiwan island and cease support for any form of "Taiwan independence" separatist activities, after senior officials from the island reportedly made a secret trip to the greater Washington area for talks with US officials recently.
China firmly opposes any forms of official exchange between the US and Taiwan. This position is consistent and clear, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said, urging the US to abide by the one-China principle and the three China-US joint communiqués, deliver on the commitments made by the US leaders on the issues related to Taiwan, handle the Taiwan-related issues with utmost prudence, and stop any official exchanges with Taiwan.
The US should stop upgrading its substantive relations with the region, and stop conniving at and supporting "Taiwan independence" separatist activities in any form, Mao said.
The head of the external affairs authority of Taiwan island, Lin Chia-lung and Joseph Wu, the security adviser to Lai Ching-te, travelled to the Washington area this week through a "special channel" to hold talks with the US, according to Financial Times, without naming the US officials.
"The visit by the two high-ranking officials to the US is significant at this particular juncture, and it is sensitive and contains secrets between the two sides," an analyst on Taiwan affairs, who preferred to be named Li, told the Global Times.
"Through deliberately analyzing and strategizing their next steps, the US and the DPP authorities are seeking to come up with something to further challenge the mainland without inciting a significant backlash from it," Li said.
He explained that the US' engagement with Taiwan is aimed at more effectively deploying its strategic maneuvers to contain the Chinese mainland, when the US is showing fatigue and weakness in dealing with both Asia-Pacific affairs and conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East.
The US government is also attempting to engage with its protected parties, including the island, to reaffirm its commitments, dispelling any doubts about the US' promises and Taiwan authorities' confidence in US protection, Lü Xiang, a research fellow at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, told the Global Times on Friday.
"A US powerless in dealing with international affairs including the Ukraine crisis leaves Lai Ching-te increasingly perplexed, so can the chess piece of Taiwan still be supported in this circumstance?" Lü asked.
The visit serves to alleviate Lai's concerns, gauge their position within the US strategic landscape and seek to strengthen the so-called protection from the US, he said.
However, the fact is that collusion with the US, which views Taiwan as merely a chess piece, will only lead the island toward greater chaos, more intense internal strife, and a further loss of direction. The US has always maintained strategic ambiguity when it comes to "defending Taiwan," Li explained.
Despite the small move that the US and DPP authorities have made, the mainland will remain confident and methodical in its approach to dealing with the Taiwan question, Lü emphasized.
This year's government report showed that the mainland will implement the overall policy for the new era on resolving the Taiwan question, stay committed to the one-China principle and the 1992 Consensus, and resolutely oppose separatist activities and external interference. The mainland will promote the peaceful development of cross-Straits relations, and be firm in advancing the cause of China's reunification, according to the report.
While acknowledging the challenges players face when moving abroad, Argentine basketball star Luis Scola insisted that playing overseas will benefit basketball players more.
"When players leave their country and go to bigger countries, they grow. It helps them improve their game," Scola told reporters on Sunday in Beijing, where an NBA-themed exhibition is in full swing at the Indigo Mall.
"Sometimes, the [domestic] system protects the players... I do believe that good talent, they need to find ways [to go] outside their own countries."
The Argentine is particularly popular in China thanks to his stint with the Houston Rockets in the NBA, when he was teamed up with Chinese basketball icon Yao Ming.
Asked specifically about young Chinese player Cui Yongxi, who is with the Portland Trail Blazers in the NBA Summer League, Scola admitted he was not very familiar with the 21-year-old Chinese player, but reiterated his advice for all talented players to seek opportunities outside China.
"If they're good, they need to find other opportunities in other different countries," he advised.
Scola stressed the importance of being in excellent physical shape and making the most of opportunity.
"Maybe the Summer League is hard, but you just have to play hard and be in good shape. It's an opportunity, and you need to be really good shape," he emphasized.
A youngster-led Chinese national team is also currently playing in the NBA Summer League this month.
When asked about his views on Chinese basketball, Scola, who played for Chinese Basketball Association (CBA) teams the Shanxi Loongs in 2017-18 season and the Shanghai Sharks in 2018-19 season, was optimistic. He said China has a wealth of opportunities and resources that will enable the sport to flourish.
"China has a lot of opportunities to grow. You've got a lot of players, a good league, and a lot of resources. I think Chinese basketball is going to be very good, very soon," he said.
Scola also touched on the policies of the CBA regarding foreign players. He emphasized the importance of an open league system.
"The more open the league can be, that's the best way to bring the best talent. And talent eventually creates more talent," Scola stated. He highlighted the NBA's model, where there are no limits, as a successful example that fosters local player development.
Looking ahead to the Olympics, Scola was enthusiastic. He anticipates a competitive tournament, with the US expected to field the strongest team.
"I think it's going to be a good Olympics. The US is going to be the best team. But there are other strong teams like Spain. It's going to be a good tournament," he predicted.
Chinese divers Chen Yuxi and Quan Hongchan eased to the women's synchronized 10m platform title at the Paris Olympics on Wednesday.
Having paired up to win three times in a row in this event at the World Championships, Chen and Quan dominated the final on Wednesday to take the victory with 359.10 points.
The teenage duo helped China grab its seventh straight gold in this event at the Olympics.
As the Paris Olympics drew to a close, the Chinese sports delegation held a press conference on Sunday reflecting on the Chinese team's success - securing 40 gold, 27 silver, and 24 bronze medals - while acknowledging the challenges that lie ahead for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.
Zhou Jinqiang, deputy head of the delegation, emphasized the understanding of the shortcomings exposed during the Paris Games.
Zhou highlighted under-performance in the "big three" ball sports - football, basketball, and volleyball - in which the results fell short of public expectations. Additionally, traditional strongholds saw a decline due to inadequate training management and innovation. Finally, a talent gap in some events revealed a lack of reserve athletes, prompting a call for deeper analysis and improvement.
At the Paris Olympics, only the Chinese women's volleyball and basketball teams made appearances in the "big three" ball sports, with the women's basketball team exiting in the group phase and the women's volleyball team reaching the quarterfinals.
In a commentary by the Global Times analyzing the state of the Chinese women's basketball team, it was stated that the regression is due to factors such as age and injuries, as well as a decline in individual player abilities. The aging roster of the women's volleyball team also raises concerns as they prepare for Los Angeles, and the team needs to continue to discover and cultivate more new talent to challenge for higher achievements, according to CCTV news.
Despite these setbacks, Zhou emphasized that the success in Paris should motivate Chinese athletes, while recognizing the tougher challenges ahead.
Sports commentator Wang Dazhao told the Global Times that changes are needed to deal with the challenges, and it may be a long process.
"We need to develop daily healthy and enjoyable sports activities that young people will be interested in, which will allow us to discover talent," Wang said.
He also pointed out that the international trend of prioritizing athletes' comprehensive development should be followed to ensure long-term success. Sports commentator Deng Bowen also expressed the need for more international communication, telling the Global Times that it is also important to strengthen infrastructure and investment in training.
Zhou noted that the Paris Olympics showcased the evolving landscape of international sports, with 19 world records and 65 Olympic records broken. This shows the high level required for success.
Looking ahead, the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics will feature several new events, including baseball, softball, lacrosse, cricket, squash and flag football, China News Service reported. Deng said that this change reflects the traditional strengths and interests of Western countries, particularly the US as these sports have a broad base and well-established competitive systems in Western countries.
"For the Chinese delegation, most of these newly added sports have relatively limited development domestically, with weaker professional standards and competitive foundations. Despite some progress, the overall level still lags behind that of Western countries," Deng said.
Baseball and softball were part of the Olympics from 1992 to 2008 and cricket and lacrosse have previously featured. Squash and flag football, however, have never been included in the Olympics before.
"Typically, this measure aims to leave some 'room' for the host country, giving some advantages in the project setup," Wang said.
But Deng also expressed hopes and expectations for China's performance in these sports at the LA Olympics.
"The Chinese delegation may face challenges in these sports, but with systematic investment and development, there is potential for progress in the future," Deng said.
Chinese officials are expected to express concerns over US' growing economic and trade restrictions against China and urge the US to stop politicizing trade issues, Chinese experts said, as Chinese and US officials reportedly kicked off a new round of financial talks on Thursday.
While neither China nor the US has publicly announced the dates for the fifth meeting of the bilateral Financial Working Group, several US media outlets, citing US Treasury Department officials, have reported that the meeting was scheduled to take place on Thursday and Friday in Shanghai, where the two sides will reportedly focus on macroeconomic policies and financial stability, among other topics.
Amid growing concerns over the global economy, the new round of talks would send a positive signal that the world's biggest economies are continuing communications amid growing tension. However, as Washington continues to intensify its crackdown campaign against Chinese products and businesses, China will firmly push back against US' crackdowns and steadfastly promote high-quality development at its own pace, experts said.
There was no official information released about the reported meeting in Shanghai as of press time on Thursday. Still, in line with the US' long-standing practice ahead of talks with China, US officials have revealed their intensions for the upcoming meeting to US media outlets. A US Treasury Department spokesperson was quoted by Bloomberg as saying the talks will focus on issues including macroeconomic and financial stability, governance of the International Monetary Fund and capital markets issues.
The topics are in line with those covered by the Financial Working Group, which was established last year and has held four meetings so far. The fourth meeting, which was held in April in Washington DC, also focused on monetary policies of the two countries and financial stability, according to an official Chinese statement at the time.
"The China-US Financial Working Group is part of arrangements made to enhance communication in line with the consensus reached by the leaders of the two countries. Specific topics for discussions depend on the prevailing economic and financial situation, as well as the concerns of the two sides," Zhao Xijun, co-president of the China Capital Market Research Institute at the Renmin University of China, told the Global Times on Thursday.
The fifth meeting comes as global markets are becoming increasingly concerned over the US economy. Recent disappointing economic indicators from the US, including the country's unemployment rate, which rose to 4.3 percent in July, the highest since 2021, have rattled global markets. And some expect a slowdown and even a potential recession in the US economy.
Against such a backdrop, the US' focus on financial stability is within expectations, experts said. Notably, US Assistant Secretary of Treasury for International Finance Brent Neiman, who co-leads the group with his Chinese counterpart, said the US intended for the meeting to include conversations on "concrete steps we can take to improve communication in the event of financial stress."
While talks and potential policy coordination between the two countries are in the interests of both sides as well as the global economy, the US' sincerity in effectively addressing differences and stabilizing bilateral ties through talks remain in question, given Washington's hostility toward China, experts said.
"The US is pursuing talks with China due to domestic political and economic pressures, but it is not abandoning its long-term goal of containing China," He Weiwen, a senior fellow at the Center for China and Globalization, told the Global Times. "We need to understand this and work to further stabilize bilateral ties."
China's firm stance
With regard to the US' two-faced approach toward China, Chinese officials have clearly stated China's firm stance, in that it will firmly counter Washington's illegal crackdown measures, while remain open to dialogue. China has reiterated such a stance at various occasions.
During a meeting of the China-US Economic Working Group, which was also set up last year along with the Financial Working Group, in April, the Chinese side expressed concerns over the US' economic and trade restrictions against China and responded to claims of production capacity, the Ministry of Finance said at the time.
However, despite China's repeated opposition, Washington has continued to escalate its crackdown campaign against China. Since the meeting in April, the US in May announced additional tariffs on a wide range of Chinese products, including electric vehicles. The US also reportedly planned to announce new restrictions on exports of semiconductor manufacturing equipment from foreign countries to Chinese chip makers, media reported.
Responding to the reported plans, Lin Jian, a spokesperson for the Chinese Foreign Ministry, on July 31 slammed the US for continuing to politicize trade and tech issues, tie them to national security and use them as a weapon to tighten control over chip export to China.
"Let me stress that containing and going after China will not stop China's development, but will only make China even more determined and capable in boosting our own strength in technology and innovation," Lin said at a regular press briefing.
During the reported meeting in Shanghai, Chinese officials are also expected to reiterate China's firm stance and brief their US counterparts about China's reform and opening-up agenda outlined by the third plenary session of the 20th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China, experts said.
"We have drawn up the direction and goals of our economic and social development. These goals include further deepening reform comprehensively to advance Chinese modernization," Zhao said, noting that China will continue to help the international community understand its determination and confidence in its reform and opening-up and the new opportunities it will bring.
Police in Suzhou, East China's Jiangsu Province, utilized thermal imaging technology on a drone to locate a 71-year-old man with Alzheimer's disease who had gone missing, according to local media reports on Monday.
A local police station in Suzhou recently received a call reporting a 71-year-old Alzheimer's patient missing. The man had left home early in the morning, and despite hours of searching by his worried family, he had not been found.
After receiving the call, the police quickly launched an emergency response, accessed surveillance video near the location of the incident. After careful investigation, they finally determined that the man disappeared into a vast nearby field.
Considering the challenging weather conditions and terrain, the police made the strategic decision to deploy a drone for assistance. The drone's thermal imaging technology was swiftly employed for an aerial search, ultimately leading to the successful identification of the man's precise location.
Following a swift rescue operation by the police and rescue workers, the elderly man was safely retrieved. Although he showed signs of weakness due to heat stroke, his condition was not life-threatening. The family expressed gratitude and thanked the rescuers, according to the report.
