Harbin International Ice and Snow Festival kicks off

 

The opening ceremony of the 41st China Harbin International Ice and Snow Festival is held in Harbin, capital city of Northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, on January 5, 2024. Photo: VCG

 

 The 41st China Harbin International Ice and Snow Festival kicked off at Harbin Ice-Snow World in Harbin, capital city of Northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, on Sunday. Themed "Dream of Winter, Love among Asia," the festival offers visitors a diverse range of activities, some of which are related to the upcoming 9th Asian Winter Games, further enriching the festival's cultural legacy, according to a press release the local publicity department sent to the Global Times on Sunday.

During the opening ceremony, Harbin Ice-Snow World was bustling with crowds. 

Sun Zemin, a deputy director of the Sales and Marketing Department of Harbin Ice-Snow World Park Co, Ltd, told the Global Times that this year's Harbin Ice-Snow World is larger than it has ever been and features the greatest number of ice sculptures in its history. 

According to Sun, the scenic spot covers an area of 1 million square meters and uses 300,000 cubic meters of ice and snow. The design and planning of this edition focus on the 9th Asian Winter Games, meticulously creating iconic landscapes from 42 countries and three regions. 

Also on Sunday, the official song of the 9th Asian Winter Games, "Light Up Asia" was released. The song closely adheres to the theme of the festival, further promoting the vigorous development of ice and snow sports in Asia. 

One of the standout events of the festival is the 41st public ice and snow collective wedding set to take place at the park on Monday. One of the key activities of the festival, this collective wedding tradition is the first wedding ceremony in China to use ice and snow as a medium. Successfully held for 41 years, it has attracted 1,320 newlywed and anniversary couples from over 20 countries across the five continents, showcasing its international influence, the press release noted.

Li Chen, the director in charge of the event, told the Global Times that for this iteration, a total of 42 couples from 17 provinces and regions across China, including the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region in South China and East China's Jiangsu Province, are participating in the wedding ceremony.

"Many young couples nowadays prefer to have destination weddings, and this public collective ice and snow wedding offers them a unique experience. Many of them are drawn to the symbolism of 'pure love' behind an ice and snow wedding," Li said, adding that in just over 30 days, the 9th Asian Winter Games will be held. The couples will hold the mascots of the 9th Asian Winter Games - "Binbin" and "Nini" - as they make their promises of love.

Su Xin, a local citizen, told the Global Times on Sunday that Harbin, his hometown, is also offering many new travel products to attract tourists from around the world. For example, the K5197 train from Harbin to Yabuli South, the first train under the China Railway Harbin Group to take ice and snow tourism as its theme, started operation on Thursday. 

"The train ticket is only 20 yuan [$2.70], and I could see many passengers dressed in different costumes taking photos in cabins sporting different themes," he said.

According to the China Ice and Snow Tourism Development Report (2025) released on Sunday, in the 2024-25 ice and snow season, the number of ice and snow leisure tours is expected to reach 520 million, with tourism revenue anticipated to exceed 630 billion yuan. The report also notes that during the 2023-24 ice and snow season, the number of ice and snow leisure tours was 430 million, with tourism revenue hitting 524.7 billion yuan. This highlights a significant stimulation effect in ice and snow tourism consumption. 

Li noted that Harbin's ice and snow tourism boasts a history of over 40 years, giving it a rich tourism foundation. The local government and residents' emphasis and maintenance of their hometown's ice and snow tourism brand have made Harbin a top-level destination for winter tourism in China.

"I can truly sense that an increasing number of locals are taking the initiative to contribute to the development of our hometown's ice and snow brand. The atmosphere is incredibly harmonious," Li remarked. 

He further noted that Harbin is actively sharing its winter tourism expertise with other cities in China that are developing their own tourism models, adopting an "open and inclusive attitude."

The China Harbin International Ice and Snow Festival is the first international festival in China's history to focus on ice and snow activities and has become the world's longest-running ice and snow festival. It is not just a festival but a symbolic event for Harbin's winter tourism, attracting a large number of domestic and international tourists each year, the press release noted.

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Exclusive: HMPV 'not a new virus'; China's respiratory infection within usual range, says WHO

Exclusive: HMPV 'not a new virus'; China's respiratory infection within usual range, says WHO

 

The headquarters of the World Health Organization (WHO) in Geneva, Switzerland. File Photo:Xinhu

As respiratory diseases enter a peak period in winter, multiple foreign media outlets have been exaggerating reports of a surge in human metapneumovirus (HMPV) cases in China, claiming that it has overwhelmed local hospitals. Commenting on the matter, the World Health Organization (WHO) told the Global Times exclusively on Wednesday that Hmpv is not a new virus, but a common one which usually causes symptoms similar to the common cold. 

China's reported levels of respiratory infections are within the usual range for the winter season. Authorities report that hospital utilization is currently lower than this time last year, and there have been no emergency declarations or responses triggered, the WHO said. 

In recent days, foreign media including CNN, BBC, and the Washington Post have reported a spike in HMPV cases in China, alleging that it has overwhelmed hospitals, with some attempting to draw parallels to the COVID-19 pandemic.

In response to media inquiry on the seasonal spike, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun said on Tuesday that the Chinese government has and will continue to release information about infectious diseases in a timely and transparent way in accordance with law.

The WHO also responded to the concerns, noting that based on what has been reported by the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention (China CDC) and meetings between WHO and Chinese authorities, there has been a rise in the number of common respiratory infections in the country, as expected during winter.

The organization assured that China has a sentinel surveillance system for influenza-like illnesses and severe acute respiratory infections. According to China CDC data, the pathogens causing these infections are known ones, and they include the seasonal influenza virus, RSV (respiratory syncytial virus), HMPV, and SARS-CoV-2 (the virus that causes COVID-19).

Among the pathogens reported by China CDC, seasonal influenza is by far the most common and is increasing. WHO's Global Influenza Surveillance and Response System (GISRS) has registered rising trends in influenza in the Northern Hemisphere, where it is currently winter, across parts of Asia, Europe, Africa and a few countries in the Caribbean.

Regarding HMPV, the WHO said the virus is first discovered in 2001 - it is a common virus that circulates in winter and spring, usually causing respiratory symptoms similar to the common cold. In some cases, it can lead to more severe diseases like bronchitis or pneumonia. The youngest and the oldest are most at risk, along with those who are immunocompromised, that is, those who have weakened immune systems.

The positivity rate for influenza viruses is continuously rising, with more than 99 percent being influenza A, predominantly the A(H1N1) pdm09 subtype, according to the latest data from the China CDC. Traditional Chinese medicine methods are among the approaches recommended for flu prevention, said an expert at a press conference held by the National Health Commission on Sunday.

The level of influenza activity varies across regions, with a more noticeable rise in northern provinces, although it remains lower than the same period last year, showed the latest data released by China CDC for the week from December 23 to 29, 2024.

"Over the past two years, awareness of HMPV infections in China has grown despite the virus being first identified more than 20 years ago, and has been circulating among people for as long as 60 years. The increase of awareness is primarily due to the improvement in our country's respiratory pathogen detection capabilities and the increased public attention toward respiratory infectious diseases," Li Tongzeng, the chief physician of the infection department at Beijing You'an Hospital, told the Global Times.

After the COVID-19 pandemic, nucleic acid testing technology for respiratory pathogens has been significantly promoted in China, and many medical institutions can now conduct such tests, leading to an increase in detection rates for HMPV as well as other pathogens, Li said.

The expert added that another significant advancement in China regarding respiratory infections post-pandemic has been the establishment of a large number of sentinel hospitals to monitor respiratory pathogens. 

"As a result, we are now able to see regular updates from the China CDC on the types of respiratory pathogens circulating. Additionally, drug stockpiles have significantly improved over the past two years," Li noted.

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Harbin International Ice and Snow Festival kicks off

Positive views towards China doubled

China	Malaysia
Diplomatic mission
Chinese Embassy, Kuala Lumpur	Malaysian Embassy, Beijing
Envoy
Ambassador Ouyang Yujing	Ambassador Norman Muhamad

China–Malaysia relations
Traditional Chinese	中馬關係
Simplified Chinese	中马关系

 PETALING JAYA: Malaysians’ favourability towards China has almost doubled from 39% in 2022 to 77% this year, according to a survey by the research firm Merdeka Center.

The survey reveals that among Malays, the favourability towards China soared from 28% in 2022 to 73% in 2024.

Among the Chinese community, it went from 67% in 2022 to 90% in 2024.

The public opinion survey, titled “Perception towards China: Foreign Affairs, Current Issues, Diplomacy and Economy”, was conducted between May 17 and June 10 to mark the 50th anniversary of Malaysia-China diplomatic relations.

“On the issue of perceived relationship, the percentage rose from 70% in 2022 to 84% in 2024 and 62% say the overall impression of China is better in 2024 with only 34% in 2022,” said Merdeka Center in a statement.

It said 84% viewed the relationship between China and Malaysia as positive now compared to 70% in 2022.

“On the perception of Chinese investment, the positive percentage increased from 70% in 2022 to 82% in 2024,” it added.

The Merdeka Center conducted telephone interviews with 1,225 respondents aged 18 and above, selected through a random stratified sampling method based on ethnicity, gender, age and state, with a margin of error of plus or minus 2.94%.

Among 10 industries, respondents chose collaborations in the digital economy as the topmost field in which Malaysia and China should work together.

This was followed by infrastructure development, tourism, manufacturing and electric vehicles.

In 75 years, China has become increasingly prominent in driving global development

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October 1st 2024 marks the 75th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China

A view of flower basket themed "Blessings to the Motherland" in Beijing on September 25, 2024 Photo: VCG

The 75th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China is a momentous occasion, not only for the over 1.4 billion Chinese people but also with global significance and historical importance. 

Over these 75 years, the journey of Chinese modernization has profoundly transformed China and influenced the world, truly realizing that "our work will be written in the annals of human history." 

This year also marks the 70th anniversary of the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence. Amid a changing international landscape, China has steadfastly maintained an independent and peaceful foreign policy, upholding international fairness and justice. As China increasingly approaches global center stage, it continues to make new and greater contributions to the cause of peace and development for humanity.

Seventy-five years ago, when this ancient nation in the East opened a new chapter in its history, the world was just beginning to recover from the devastation of two wars. From a struggling agricultural country, China has evolved into the world's second-largest economy, the world's leading manufacturing power, the top trader of goods, and the holder of the largest foreign exchange reserves. This historical elevation in national strength matches China's significant contributions to global development. 

From 1979 to 2023, China's average annual contribution to global economic growth reached 24.8 percent, with an average of over 30 percent from 2013 to 2023. For 12 consecutive years, China's outbound direct investment in foreign countries has ranked among the top three globally, holding over 10 percent of the global share for eight years. China's "new three items" - electric vehicles, lithium-ion batteries, and solar cells - are facilitating the globe to accelerate their green and low-carbon transitions, while its infrastructure projects span over 190 countries and regions worldwide. Today, averagely speaking, China engages in approximately 80 million yuan ($11.4 million) worth of trade with the world every minute, invests approximately 112 million yuan abroad every hour, and attracts about 3.377 billion yuan in foreign investment daily. The development of China is intricately linked with global progress, achieving mutual success, and driving the world toward greater progress and prosperity.

A great nation with over 5,000-year-old civilization stands majestically in the East, as over 1.4 billion people stride forward on the path to modernization. Such a vast scale itself is one of the main powerful driving forces for the progress of the entire world and human society. The practices of Chinese modernization teaches us that development is the key to solving all problems. China has proposed the Global Development Initiative to support the development and revitalization of countries in the Global South. By the end of 2023, China's direct investment in countries participating in the Belt and Road Initiative had exceeded $300 billion. Chinese companies have built the first ultra-high voltage direct current transmission line in the Americas, the first electrified railway, the first digital mine, and numerous infrastructure and livelihood projects in Africa, making an indelible contribution to global infrastructure construction.

From "seek knowledge even if you have to go as far as China" to "seek peace even if you have to go as far as China," peace is a valuable public good that China offers to a turbulent world. Over the past 75 years, China has never initiated any war or conflict and has never occupied an inch of another country's territory. In the face of numerous international security challenges, China has proposed the Global Security Initiative. It has mediated the reconciliation between Saudi Arabia and Iran, facilitated a historic reconciliation among Palestinian factions, and promoted a political resolution to the crisis in Ukraine. Today, China has become the second-largest contributor to the UN regular budget, the second-largest contributor to peacekeeping operations, and the largest troop-contributing country among the permanent members of the UN Security Council. China has always been committed to promoting world peace and development.

To leave behind achievements worthy of being engraved in world history, a nation and its people must not only be judged by their material accomplishments but also by the amount of spiritual wealth they have contributed. The latter often holds more profound significance than the former. 

In today's world, where the destinies of nations are closely intertwined, China has proposed the Global Civilization Initiative, advocating cultural exchanges that transcend estrangement, mutual learning that transcends clashes, and coexistence that transcends feelings of superiority. It addresses significant questions, such as how different civilizations can coexist and where human civilization is headed, offering Chinese wisdom and solutions to promote cultural exchanges and the advancement of human civilization.

Over the past 75 years, China has demonstrated an uncommon empathy in the political arena of major powers throughout human history. From proposing the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence, emphasizing equality and non-interference in other countries' internal affairs, to the new era's initiatives like jointly building the Belt and Road Initiative, building a community with a shared future for mankind, and the promotion of solidarity and cooperation among the Global South, China has advocated that the sovereignty of all countries are equal regardless of size on global arena while showing respect and support for the development of other countries. 

China has provided the worldview of "shared future" and the methodology of "jointly building and win-win cooperation" for all mankind, breaking the nearly 500 years of narrow perspective of the West in viewing the world and building order from the perspective of "hegemonic hierarchy," "center-periphery" and "cultural monism." This is rare in the history of human civilization and is urgently needed in today's world. 

The 75-year journey through challenges has underscored the invaluable role China plays in global peace, development and progress. The modernization China has promoted, which embodies justice, openness, mutual benefit, people-first policies, diversity, inclusiveness, eco-friendliness, and peace and security, will only become more significant and valuable to the world as time progresses.

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Looking to China’s 5G success

      

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Malaysia wants to learn from China's success in 5G ...

  

Fahmi: We can learn a lot from them on improving connectivity

BEIJING: Malaysia is attracted by the success of 5G implementation in China, which currently covers over 90% of populated areas and has led to improved connectivity, especially in rural areas.

Communications Minister Fahmi Fadzil (pic) said this is especially so with the country implementing a dual network model of 5G high-speed Internet to provide quality and inclusive telecommunications services to the people.

This was among the matters discussed by Fahmi at a bilateral meeting with China’s Industry and Information Technology Minister Jin Zhuanlong here on Thursday.“During the meeting, we had the opportunity to discuss various topics, including the implementation status of the 5G network in China and Malaysia, the challenges encountered and key improvements or insights we can learn from each other.

“One of the main challenges we face in Malaysia, particularly in the remote, rural, island and hilly areas, is where fibre installation as a backhaul solution poses significant difficulties,” he told Bernama after the meeting.

Fahmi said the discussion also touched on “direct-to-cell” technology involving low earth orbit (LEO) satellites, which are seen as a potential solution to address Internet problems in remote areas and regions without Internet connection.

According to data from China’s Industry and Information Technology Ministry, the number of 5G base stations in the nation exceeded 4.04 million as of August.The figure accounts for 32.1% of the total number of mobile base stations across China, with the number of 5G mobile subscribers reaching 966 million nationwide.In Malaysia, a total of 7,191 5G sites have been developed across the country with 564 in Sabah and 551 in Sarawak, while the coverage level is now 81.9% in populated areas.

Fahmi said that during the meeting, they also discussed the 5G innovation challenge, which saw vendors as providers of equipment facilities for 5G in adapting and producing innovation.“This is interesting and I request MCMC (Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission) to conduct more in-depth talks, including on matters such as the use of submarine cables,” he added.

Fahmi said he hoped that the meeting could strengthen the relationship between the two ministries, thereby helping agencies such as MCMC to obtain useful input in the implementation of the 5G network.

This was the second meeting between the two leaders. The first was in Putrajaya in June last year.

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