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Canton Fair facilitates, improves payment options for foreign attendees

Mobile payment Photo:VCG

“I was informed of several ways to change money by staffers at the airport. They also taught me how to make mobile payments through Alipay. I can’t wait to experience digital payments,” Sophie, a first-time Canton Fair purchaser from Germany, told the Global Times on Sunday at Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport in South China’s Guangdong Province.

Sophie is among foreign arrivals to the 135th session of the China Import and Export Fair, commonly known as the Canton Fair, which is being held from Monday to May 5, who will enjoy improved payment services during their stay in Guangzhou. Improving payment services is part of China’s opening-up to welcome foreign guests.

Liu Qing, a senior manager of the Personal Digital Finance Department at the Bank of China (Guangdong Branch), told the Global Times during a group interview that the bank has placed more than 120 point-of-sale (POS) terminals that accept foreign bank cards in the venues of the Canton Fair.

“We focus on providing more convenient foreign currency exchange services, covering all branches in Guangdong. We also provide self-service exchange machines in the province. A total of 46 foreign currency exchange points have been set up in hotels, ports, exhibition halls and other places where foreigners often visit when coming to Guangdong,” said Liu.

In order to facilitate digital payments for foreign visitors to the Canton Fair, Alipay, a major mobile payment platform in China, launched an “International Visitors Service Zone,” a multi-function platform designed for foreigners in Guangdong.

It functions under the mini program “OneStop” with 16 languages provided.

The zone provides more than 30 digital application services in English, including purchasing local phone cards, taxi booking, hotel booking, car and ship ticket booking, takeout and express delivery, the Global Times learned from the Canton Fair organizer.

The biannual Canton Fair welcomes hundreds of thousands of overseas exhibitors and purchasers. As of Saturday, more than 144,000 purchasers from 215 countries and regions had completed registration for the event, the Global Times learned from the organizer.

Guangdong is an important destination for foreigners coming to China, the People’s Bank of China, the country’s central bank, said on April 1 when holding meetings on optimizing payment services in Guangdong’s Guangzhou and Shenzhen.

The PBC asked relevant departments to cooperate to increase POS terminals that accept foreign bank cards and ATMs that allow withdrawals with foreign cards.

China is improving the payment experience, especially for digital payments, for foreigners traveling or doing business in the country.

The Ministry of Commerce (MOFCOM) has been making efforts with relevant departments and has released the “Guide to Working and Living in China as Business Expatriates” to help cross-border business personnel exchanges so that the world can share China’s vast market, an official from the MOFCOM said on March 27 during a press conference.

As mobile payments cover all aspects of life in China, including food and transportation, providing payment convenience for foreign nationals in China is a major undertaking, the MOFCOM official said.

On March 7, China released a guideline to better meet the payment needs of foreigners and the elderly, calling for coordinated efforts by various authorities to promote the acceptance of foreign bank cards, guarantee the use of cash, improve mobile payment convenience, and further protect consumer rights while choosing payment methods and optimizing account services.

Unbreakable bonds span decades

Wuhan and Duisburg bear a lot of similarities. Wuhan is located at the confluence of the Yangtze River and the Han River in central China. It is an important industrial city with an excellent geographical location and convenient transportation by land, water, and air.

Duisburg is also a significant industrial city in the Ruhr area of western Germany. Situated at the confluence of the Ruhr River and the Rhine River, it is a crucial water and land transportation hub in Europe.

The two cities joined hands in 1982 to become the first pair of sister cities between China and Germany. Decades have passed, and people continue to remember, celebrate, and renew this enduring friendship.

Manila violating commitments, denying previous agreement and abandoning understandings escalate Ren’ai Jiao tensions: Chinese FM

This photo taken on November 10, 2023 shows Philippine coast guard personnel and journalists sailing onboard a rigid inflatable boat (left) as they head back after filming the BRP Sierra Madre grounded at Renai Jiao in South China Sea. Photo: AFP

If the Philippines truly wants to ease tensions at Ren’ai Jiao through dialogue and communication, it needs to honor the commitments and understandings and stop provocations, spokesperson of Chinese Foreign Ministry Mao Ning said at a press conference on Thursday.

Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Monday called on China to talk to prevent more incidents like ramming vessels and the use of water cannons in the South China Sea, Voice of America reported.

The Philippines continues to talk with China, and is exhausting all options to speak to Chinese leadership so as not to heat up tensions in the waterway, Marcos claimed, according to media report.

In response, Mao reiterated on Thursday China’s indisputable sovereignty over the Nansha Islands, Ren’ai Jiao included, and their surrounding waters.

She stressed that China has always been committed to managing the on-site situation of Ren’ai Jiao through dialogue and consultation with the Philippines.

Mao reiterated that on how to deal with the current situation at Ren’ai Jiao, China’s position is clear-cut. First, by keeping its warship grounded at Ren’ai Jiao for decades running, the Philippines has been violating China’s sovereignty and the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea (DOC), especially Article 5 which says refraining from action of inhabiting on the presently uninhabited islands and reefs. We demand that the Philippines tow away the warship at once and restore the Ren’ai Jiao’s state of hosting zero personnel and facilities.

Second, before the warship is towed away, if the Philippines needs to send living necessities, out of humanitarianism, China is willing to allow it if the Philippines informs China in advance and after on-site verification is conducted. China will monitor the whole process.

Third, if the Philippines sends large amount of construction materials to the warship and attempts to build fixed facilities and permanent outpost, China will not accept it and will resolutely stop it in accordance with law and regulations to uphold China’s sovereignty and the sanctity of the DOC.

The recent attempts by the Philippines to permanently occupy Ren’ai Jiao and Tiexian Jiao (Tiexian Reef) have seriously violated Article 5 of the DOC, said Lei Xiaolu, a professor of law with China Institute of Boundary and Ocean Studies, Wuhan University.

In 1999, the Philippines illegally grounded the “BRP Sierra Madre” warship on Ren’ai Jiao under the pretext of “mechanical failure” and promised to tow it away. However, in recent years, the Philippines has acted in bad faith, claiming to build permanent facilities on Ren’ai Jiao.

The Philippines believes the South China Sea arbitration case gives it a legal basis for the illegal occupation of Ren’ai Jiao, but in fact, the arbitral tribunal in the South China Sea arbitration case has no jurisdiction to handle sovereignty disputes over Ren’ai Jiao as part of the Nansha Islands. Tiexian Jiao is an uninhabited high-tide feature within 12 nautical miles of Zhubi Jiao (Zhubi Reef) and is part of the Nansha Islands, according to Lei.

If the Philippines’ activities are tolerated, the dispute settlement mechanism established in Article 5 of the DOC will be weakened, potentially reopening the “Pandora’s Box” of new round of island occupation by some countries, which will have a negative impact on regional peace and stability, Lei noted.

China and the Philippines established several channels of communication on the South China Sea issue, the most important one being the Bilateral Consultative Mechanism (BCM) established in 2016, noted Yan Yan, Direct of Research Center for Oceans Law and Policy, National Institute for South China Sea Studies.

The hotline between China and the Philippines coast guards was established after then Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with China on cooperation between the two countries’ coast guard in 2016 and is the most direct means of communication between the maritime law enforcement agencies of the two countries. In August 2023, Philippine Coast Guard spokesman Jay Tarriela announced the abandonment of this hotline mechanism, saying they will no longer be communicating directly with their Chinese counterpart.

In January of this year, the 8th meeting of the BCM was held in Shanghai. China and the Philippines agreed to “further improve the sea-related communication mechanism, continue to properly manage sea-related conflicts and differences through friendly consultations, and deal with maritime emergencies.”

However, the Philippines’ actions on Huangyan Dao and Ren’ai Jiao have not been curtailed despite the consultation. It seems that the Philippines’ strategy is to use action instead of words and dialogue, to show its presence and attempt to change the status quo in the South China Sea, Yan stressed.

China and ASEAN Foreign Ministers signed the DOC in November, 2002.

For the past 22 years, the DOC has served as a crucial political consensus and cornerstone for maintaining peace in the region. China and ASEAN countries have successfully engaged in various constructive maritime cooperation, including marine environmental protection, scientific research, safety of navigation and communication at sea, search and rescue operations, and combating transnational crime, in accordance with Article 6 which allows for cooperative activities pending a comprehensive settlement of disputes, said Yang Xiao, Deputy director of Institute of Maritime Strategy Studies at China Institutes of Contemporary International Relations.

Article 6 regulates cooperative activities among the parties concerned. These may include the following: marine environmental protection; marine scientific research; safety of navigation and communication at sea; search and rescue operation; and combating transnational crime, including but not limited to trafficking of illicit drugs, piracy and armed robbery at sea, and illegal traffic in arms.

However, beyond the positive momentum of promoting cooperation between China and most ASEAN countries, there has been some sort of noise off and on for some time, especially the Philippines which has repeatedly violated its commitments and obligations, Yang pointed out.

There is no doubt that “cooperation” is the most approved axiom paved by DOC for peace and development in the South China Sea … Any actions or intentions that undermine these commitments and cooperation should be firmly opposed by all parties to DOC and by nations dedicated to peace and prosperity, Yang noted.

Global Times

Japan should be wary in chip cooperation with hegemonic US: analysts

A chip manufacture machine Photo: VCG

Japan should be wary in its semiconductor cooperation with the US, which is seeking hegemony, Chinese observers said on Wednesday. If it tries to hit China at the bidding of the US, Japan’s industries risk being victimized, analysts noted.

The remarks came as Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said on Tuesday (US time) that he saw opportunities for more collaboration with the US in next-generation computer chips. Kishida and US President Joe Biden are scheduled to meet on Wednesday.

Major agreements expected to come out of the meeting include a $2.9 billion deal by US tech giant Microsoft to expand its cloud and artificial intelligence infrastructure in Japan, and a partnership between Japanese chip foundry venture Rapidus with a US company in the research and development of next-generation chips, according to Reuters.

Although not mentioning China directly, Kishida said on Tuesday that “it is increasingly important for our two countries to build resilience in our economies and together drive growth for the global economy.”

Japan’s pledge for closer semiconductor cooperation with the US was coupled with its push to produce chips domestically and Washington’s escalating crackdown and containment strategy against China in the field of semiconductors by pushing its allies.

In a recent move, the US is reportedly pushing Netherlands-based chipmaking giant ASML to stop servicing some equipment it has sold to Chinese customers, in blatant violation of business contracts.

However, Chinese observers said Japan needs to be careful in its chip cooperation with the US or risk facing consequences.

Ma Jihua, a veteran telecom observer, told the Global Times on Wednesday that the US has been trying to woo its allies including South Korea and Japan to join its crackdown on the Chinese semiconductor sector.

South Korean chip companies have become victims of the US containment of China, seeing a sharp drop in the export value of semiconductor tooling machines while Japanese and Dutch exports to China rose in 2023, according to South Korean newspaper Dong-a Ilbo.

Chinese analysts said that any cooperation between Japan and the US should not target any third party, and efforts in strengthening high-tech industry supply chain resilience should not become a disguise for technology containment against China.

Da Zhigang, director of the Institute of Northeast Asian Studies at Heilongjiang Provincial Academy of Social Sciences, told the Global Times on Wednesday that it seems apparent that Japan’s partnership with the US in the high-tech field has a target in mind, which is regrettable.

Da said that if detailed curbs or export technology bans emerge from its partnership with the US, Japan will face mounting risks in its trade with China, which totaled $317.99 billion in 2023 per customs data.

“For Japan, its interests lie in enhancing mutually beneficial trade and economic ties with its Asian neighbors, rather than colluding with external forces to crack down on its major trading partner,” Da said.

Japanese semiconductor companies at the upstream of the industrial chain may suffer if the Japanese government chooses to work with the US to disrupt global semiconductor industrial and supply chains, noted Da.

Why I confidently believe China can deal with every challenge it faces

Illustration: Xia Qing/Global Times

Among the books predicting that China has reached its peak and is in a period of upcoming decline, the first one I remember was by Gordon Chang. This goes back probably over 20 years, and the book was titled
The Coming Collapse of China. He was even quite specific, saying that by 2011, China would have collapsed. Obviously, that turned out to be dead wrong.

The most recent book is
Danger Zone: The Coming Conflict with China. It basically says that China is facing a number of very difficult challenges, such as lack of consumer confidence, issues with neighbors, an aging population, property problems, underperforming state-owned enterprises and others that China may struggle to address.

Let’s start with why I’m confident that China can and will deal with these challenges. First, China’s track record speaks for itself when it comes to overcoming challenges. China has lifted 850 million people out of poverty without engaging in any external wars, which is quite impressive.

Anyone who questions China’s ability to meet the challenges they face is not looking at history. There isn’t any major country on the globe today that has faced the challenges that China has faced from 1949 up until the present and delivered more effectively. Moreover, over the same period, China has been able to grow its GDP to a level significantly higher than any other major country.

If you look at the underlying assumption between the books that are critical of China, they assert that China’s leadership is not going to be flexible, talented or courageous enough to deal with these changes.

However, if you tear apart the way China governs itself, it’s like a very successful corporation. China has a strong leader, and an equivalent of a board of directors to provide oversight. China has people who have advanced meritocratically, based on their education and accomplishments in the outside world. China has a long-term strategic view that gets converted into industrial policy. China has been very effective at prioritizing resources and initiatives that are most successful in the marketplace.

Another advantage that China has is that the best and brightest in China aspire to government service. The people who hold senior positions in government are highly educated, have been tested in various professional settings, and have been successful.

Moreover, from the 24-point action plan that came out of the State Council to the commitment President Xi Jinping has made to a number of visiting CEOs, it’s evident that China is serious about opening up its market and reforming.

In addition, the people are behind the Chinese government, and Confucian values provide a level of identity and cohesion to the Chinese people.

While some Westerners say Confucian values are a thing of the past, my experience with young Chinese people in America and China shows that these values are very much alive. Delving deeper into Confucian values, my favorite is “work hard to get ahead.” Self-improvement through hard work and education is prioritized not for individual benefit, but for the betterment of family and society.

In conclusion, China is the country with a proven track record of achieving goals, governance led by high-quality leaders and strategic decision-making that yields results through effective execution. Additionally, China boasts a cohesive, large population that is supportive of national goals. The reality is that the domestic market in China consists of 1.4 billion people. China does not necessarily rely on the rest of the world to develop a strong economy; rather, it needs to boost consumer confidence so that people spend more in China and save less. This is a much easier challenge than attempting to change fundamental behaviors.

The author is a speaker on China-US relations and author of the book Powerful, Different, Equal: Overcoming the misconceptions and differences between China and the US. [email protected]

Key facts clearer by comparing China-Europe, US-Europe interactions: Global Times editorial

Illustration: Liu Rui/GT

High-level interactions between China and Europe have been relatively frequent recently. Chinese Commerce Minister Wang Wentao is on his Europe tour, visiting France now and Italy on April 12. A few days later, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz will travel to China with a large business delegation.

Meanwhile, it has also been noticed that there are quite a few interactions between the US and Europe lately. The US-EU ministerial meeting of the Trade and Technology Council just concluded, and a US government official, who’s responsible for implementing export controls, is reportedly visiting the Netherlands on Monday local time. Although China’s development of relations with Europe has always had its own pace, some foreign media outlets will always create the narrative that both China and the US are “courting” Europe.

Comparing the interactions between China and Europe with those between the US and Europe may not necessarily be a bad thing. On the contrary, it helps us see some key facts more clearly.

According to the European edition of US magazine Politico, during the recent ministerial meeting of the Trade and Technology Council, Washington was pushing to “put China in the text every two sentences,” said one European diplomat who spoke anonymously. “It kept hammering on the Chinese nail.” At the same time European capitals pushed to tone down the language against a country with which they’re eager to keep business ties. Although China was only mentioned three times in the final joint statement, it was clear that this process left Europe feeling uncomfortable.

As for the US export policy official visiting the Netherlands, it was not for friendly discussions as Western media used the term “pressure.” For the Dutch government, whether to comply with US demands to stop providing after-sales services of certain products to Chinese customers is a “diplomatic and commercial dilemma.” If this is considered the US “courting” Europe, then it is clearly a position of superiority. The US is causing pain to Europe, equivalent to cutting flesh in terms of interests, which is also humiliating in terms of diplomacy. The US may be aware that its actions could create rifts in its ties with Europe, but it continues to go on its own way, and the reasons behind this are even more intriguing.

China, of course, also values its relationship with Europe, but the goal is to expand cooperation between China and Europe, which is not targeted at any third party. At the same time, efforts are being made to address differences between the two sides with dialogue and communication. China has never demanded that Europe “put US in the text every two sentences.”

Between China and Europe, there is a relationship of mutual respect and equality. China will not allow Europe to feel “being caught in the middle.” Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte’s recent visit to China was very pleasant. He visited the Dashilan in Beijing and stated that “decoupling” is not an option for the Dutch government. Some details have been deliberately ignored by certain American media outlets in their reporting, but Europe is aware of them.

Just a couple of days ago, US Trade Representative Katherine Tai reminded Europe in Brussels, proclaiming the need to jointly address the “challenges” posed by China’s economic model to the US and Europe economic system. This is a typical rhetoric from Washington, hypocritically referring to Europe as its ally while shaping China as their common adversary, ultimately aiming to make Europe a stepping stone in its strategy toward China. Has Washington ever truly treated Europe as its ally? Previously, there was the trade war initiated by the Donald Trump administration against Europe, and now there’s the Biden administration’s Inflation Reduction Act. Has Europe not suffered enough from the US?

As for the interaction between China and Europe, there is competition, however, cooperation far outweighs competition; there are differences between them, but consensus is far more common than differences. China has great patience in properly handling its differences with Europe and always seeks to enhance understanding through constructive dialogue. Despite the EU’s unreasonable initiation of an anti-subsidy investigation into Chinese electric vehicles (EVs), China still actively communicates with Europe and promotes the resolution of some specific issues with a proactive attitude, which itself represents goodwill and a responsible attitude. There are no fundamental conflicts of interest or geopolitical strategic contradictions between China and Europe. The correct positioning of China-Europe relations should be that of partners. It is the US that has been pushing Europe toward becoming a strategic competitor with China, as it is least interested in Europe having strategic autonomy.

Some people in the US and Europe always say that China is trying to “divide” the US and Europe, which is ridiculous. If the “de-risking” pursued by the US and Europe targets the part of China-Europe cooperation and mutual benefit, then China certainly has reason to oppose it. Some in Europe suggest whether this can be an opportunity to compel China to “make concessions” in China-Europe relations. This view is also shortsighted, as it underestimates the scope of China-Europe cooperation. There is vast potential for China-Europe cooperation, and we hope that the European side will meet China halfway, quickly overcoming the obstacles in China-Europe relations. This is not only about the interests of China and Europe but also concerns world peace, stability and prosperity.

GT Voice: China remains vital for German firms despite rising competition

Illustration: Liu Xiangya/Global Times

Some Western media outlets are keen to hype the competition faced by Volkswagen in the China market, but this is not the whole story. The German carmaker remains by far a giant in China’s car market. This offers a new perspective on competition from Chinese automotive brands, and companies in the broader manufacturing sectors.

It should be noted that pressure is unavoidable in any country. Given the intense competition for limited market space, business activities are constantly accompanied by arduous efforts. Citing Volkswagen Group CEO Oliver Blume’s interview with German newspaper FAZ, Reuters reported on Friday that Volkswagen wants to avoid setting “utopian” goals for its market share in China. So, anything above 10 percent was “very respectable” given the intense competition.

The tone reflects the anxiety of the West over the increasing competition in the manufacturing sector. However, more importantly, it is hoped people can see from Blume’s words the rational attitude and unremitting efforts of Volkswagen in maintaining its market share in China, which reflects the importance of the fast-growing China market for the German carmaker.

According to data compiled by Bloomberg, BYD leapfrogged Volkswagen as China’s bestselling car brand for the first time in the first quarter of 2023. Previously, Volkswagen had been reportedly the bestselling brand among automakers in China since at least 2008, when data from the China Automotive Technology and Research Center became available. Although Volkswagen faces fierce competition from local brands in China, it would not change the fact that Volkswagen still enjoys high brand awareness among Chinese consumers, while China is also an important market for the German carmaker.

In the late 1970s, China’s auto manufacturing industry was weak, but auto consumption had begun to increase. Against this backdrop, China constantly opened up its market and encouraged multinational enterprises, including Volkswagen, to invest in the country. In the following decades, Volkswagen’s sales in China grew rapidly.

When the global financial crisis of 2007-09 hit, followed by the European sovereign debt crisis of 2010-12, the consumption of automobiles in the US and Europe was negatively affected.

The China market provides tremendous opportunities for Volkswagen and holds an important position in Volkswagen’s global strategy, laying the solid foundation for its performance in the global market. According to Reuters, Volkswagen said in February that group deliveries rose 13.3 percent in January to 698,200 vehicles, with China the leading growth region.

In recent years, China’s manufacturing industry, especially electric vehicle manufacturing, has developed rapidly, but China’s commitment to high-level opening-up has remained unchanged. Foreign investment is welcome and the door to China will only open further.

However, in the US and Europe, trade protectionism is on the rise. Some Westerners are trying hard to contain China’s manufacturing rise and smear China’s economy. They amplify the competition faced by Western companies in China while deliberately overlooking the opportunities offered by the Chinese economy.

According to Western media reports, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz will visit China in mid-April. It’s not at all surprising that some Western media outlets have tried to hype the competition faced by Volkswagen ahead of Scholz’s reported visit. However, a closer look at Volkswagen’s performance in the China market shows that the opportunities outweigh competition. Despite fierce competition, China is still a key market for Volkswagen.

The German government in July 2023 presented a strategy for relations with China that pointed to a need to reduce the risks of economic dependency. This proves that there are more than a few political elites in Germany who are trying to push for “de-risking” from China.

However, this is not the whole picture of public opinion. According to media reports, Germany’s top corporate brass will join Scholz when he visits China later this month, showing that German companies attach great importance to economic and trade cooperation with China. It is hoped Scholz’s reported visit can elevate China-Germany economic relations to new heights and enhance mutual understanding.

Second-tier artistic swimming squad grabs 6 golds at World Cup

Photo: Courtesy of organizers

Team China totaled six gold and three silver medals at the Beijing stop of the World Aquatics artistic swimming World Cup, with the young Chinese athletes setting their sights on a major international stage.

Although Team China did not win any gold medals in three events on Sunday, two silver medals are enough to keep the team at the top of the medal table in a competition that attracted nearly 100 elite artistic swimmers from 14 countries and regions.

Among the 11 medal events at stake, host China competed in all the events, but the top-level swimmers of the national team only participated in the Team Free event, while the second-tier national team members competed across the rest of the 10 events.

Sisters Wang Liuyi and Wang Qianyi, reigning world champions, are the new faces in China’s Team Free squad. Guo Muye, aged 15, is the youngest athlete in the squad but contributed one gold medal in the mixed duet technical with 15-year-old partner Ji Heyue and one silver medal in men’s solo technical.

“For the first-team athletes, it is important to build upon the foundation of the worlds and make adjustments based on the revised rules, including artistic impressions and difficulty of execution,” China’s head coach Zhang Xiaohuan told reporters.

“We are also looking forward to receiving valuable feedback from the judges in this competition. We hope to receive better recognition in terms of artistic impressions.”

Team China achieved its best-ever performance at the worlds this year, winning seven golds, one silver, and one bronze medals across 11 events at the world championships in Doha in February.

As the Olympics approach this year, international events are considered one of the best ways to evaluate athletes’ training results. Zhang remains cautious about China’s prospect at the Paris Olympics.

“Some moves that were possible in Doha will not be seen again,” Zhang told reporters, referring to the rule modifications in the sport. “This change presents a challenge for the team.”

She noted, however, that Chinese athletes are far from getting complacent in the sport.

“Our team currently has a strong sense of crisis and we need to set higher standards for ourselves,” Zhang noted.

“Our main focus at this stage is to improve the quality of our routines under the revised new rules and to prevent injuries and illnesses for the athletes.”

Swimmer Wu Jingyan is among the second-tier squad members who debuted at the World Cup. She told the Global Times that having the opportunity to compete in international competitions motivates her to put even more effort into training.

“It is a great honor to represent China in such an international competition,” the 24-year-old said after Sunday’s Team Acrobatic race. “Participation in the events helped us identify where there is room for improvement, and I think it will boost the whole team to train harder.”

The Water Cube, the venue for swimming events of the 2008 Summer Olympics and redesigned for curling events for the 2022 Winter Olympics, is one of the prominent aquatics venues in China.

The World Aquatics Artistic Swimming World Cup 2024 series has four legs this season. After the Beijing event, the series will travel to Paris in France from May 3 to 5, then Markham, Canada, from May 31 to June 2, followed by a Super Final in Budapest, Hungary, from July 5 to 7.

Team China is expected to send their first-team squad to the Paris leg of the event, as the venue of the World Cup event, which was unveiled earlier this week, will also be the venue for the Paris Olympics.

Beijing has previously hosted 35 World Aquatics events, including two editions each of the artistic swimming World Cup events in 2018 and 2019. The city will host the World Aquatics Championships in 2029.

Encountering Phayre’s leaf monkeys in Yunnan

Well-known for its rich biodiversity, Southwest China’s Yunnan province serves as an important genetic reservoir for both animal and plant species. The province is currently home to 542 species of wild plants and 386 species of wildlife that are under first-class state protection.

In the lush forests of Mangshi, a county-level city in Yunnan, lives a troupe of Phayre’s leaf monkeys, totaling around 320. This is currently the largest known population of Phayre’s leaf monkeys in a single region within the country.

Phayre’s leaf monkeys, characterized by their petite size and gentle nature, are under first-class state protection. An array of protection measures have been taken since their discovery, creating a favorable living environment for the monkeys.

Watch the video to find out more about these cute creatures.

Tag: china