The Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) Eastern Theater Command released a music video titled "Zhong Guo Ren (Chinese People in English)" on its official WeChat account in celebration of the New Year on Wednesday, showing the determination, will and ability of officers and soldiers in the theater to stay vigilant, remain ready to fight at any time and resolutely safeguard the reunification of the motherland.

Military expert Zhang Junshe told the Global Times on Wednesday that the video clip for the first time combined the images of combat readiness of troops from various services in the PLA Eastern Theater Command, as well as those of multiple military exercises around Taiwan island. It highlighted images of new equipment such as the “ginkgo leaf” and the Type 076 amphibious assault ship, which shows that the PLA can resolutely fight back and thwart any attempt for “Taiwan independence,” and will never allow any forces to split the island of Taiwan from China's sovereign territory.

In November 2024, Andy Lau sang "Chinese People" at a concert in Taipei and received a warm response, but was attacked by the “green camp” on the island. In response, Zhu Fenglian, a spokesperson for the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council, said that the song was composed by a musician from Taiwan, and with iconic lyrics that include “Hand in hand, no division between you and me, moving forward with pride, let the world know we are all Chinese.” The song not only received a warm response from the audience, but also aroused widespread resonance among Chinese people at home and abroad. Certain politicians from “green camp” in Taiwan have forgotten their roots, attempting to politicize and disrupt normal musical exchanges, which has been met with strong criticism.

Experts said that the PLA Eastern Theater Command specially selected the "Chinese People” as the theme song for the music video, showing that compatriots on both sides of the Taiwan Straits are Chinese people. The video clip also demonstrates a scene of teachers and students from universities in the Chinese mainland visiting Taiwan and being warmly welcomed, reflecting the deep friendship between compatriots across the Straits. These scenes of harmonious coexistence also convey a signal that the Chinese mainland hopes that the majority of Taiwan compatriots can see the true face of "Taiwan independence" separatist forces and work together with mainland compatriots to promote the peaceful development of cross-Straits relations.

Zhang said that the video shows no matter if it is on workdays or holidays, troops are always on high alert and in a state of combat readiness to fight at any time. Through the video, the Chinese people can rest assured about the determination and ability of the PLA to defend the country, suppress secession, and safeguard national unity and security. 

“In 2024, the PLA Eastern Theater Command carried out a large number of combat readiness tasks to safeguard national sovereignty, security and territorial integrity. For example, the scene of the J-16 and foreign military’s P-8A patrol aircraft in the same picture shows that the Eastern Theater Command troops can effectively detect and respond to external threats. In addition, the ‘Joint Sword’ series of exercises demonstrated the Eastern Theater Command’s resolute response to the provocations of the collusion between “Taiwan independence” separatist forces and external forces, and its determination to resolutely defend national sovereignty, security and territorial integrity,” Zhang noted.

Elaborating on the meaning of the appearance of the “ginkgo leaf” and the Type 076 amphibious assault ship among other advanced equipment in the video, Zhang said that by the end of 2024, China had displayed a series of advanced national defense equipment, representing the advanced level of national defense science and technology and the improvement of naval and air combat capabilities. 

The video attracted particular public attention because it also featured pictures of a bird and a ginkgo leaf. Media on the island of Taiwan claimed that they are metaphors for the PLA’s sixth-generation stealth fighter jet. In the evening of December 26, social media account of Defense Times shared an image of a ginkgo leaf with a caption that says “Ginkgo has turned yellow. It really looks like a leaf.” This is seen as an ambiguous tacit approval of the public’s speculation about China’s “sixth-generation fighter jet.” Recently, many netizens speculated that China has tested two different types of suspected “sixth-generation fighter jet” prototypes based on videos and photos circulating on social media. One of them uses a delta-wing tailless design resembling to a ginkgo leaf, while the other looks similar to the bird that appeared in the music video.

Zhang said that the new-type military aircraft, heatedly discussed online and dubbed by the outside world as a sixth-generation fighter jet, have powerful stealth performance, high cruise speed and advanced avionics system, and is at the world's leading level.

Advanced weapons and equipment such as the newly launched Type 076 large amphibious assault ship also appeared in the video. “They demonstrate the ability of the PLA to safeguard national sovereignty, security and development interests, which makes the Chinese people feel proud and excited, and also makes forces with ill intentions toward China feel uneasy, Zhang said.

The PLA Eastern Theater Command’s release of the video on the first day of the New Year also issued a stern warning to the separatist forces of "Taiwan independence." Zhang noted that since August 2022, the PLA Eastern Theater Command has responded strongly to the provocations of "Taiwan independence" separatist forces and their collusion with external forces to seek “independence.” 

"Through these exercises, it can be seen that the PLA has formulated a complete combat plan and has strong combat capabilities, including reconnaissance and early warning, sea assault, air superiority and combat capabilities, as well as land strike capabilities. For potential provocations of ‘Taiwan independence’ separatist forces, the PLA can resolutely fight back," Zhang said.

The Chinese side of Mount Qomolangma received 13,764 foreign tourists in 2024 -- more than twice the number recorded in 2023 -- a notable sign of booming international tourism following China's relaxation of its visa policies.

According to the bureau of culture and tourism of Tingri County, southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region, where the northern base camp of the world's highest peak is located, these tourists are mainly from countries such as Singapore, Malaysia, Germany and France.

China has provided unilateral visa-free access to travelers from 38 countries -- allowing stays of up to 30 days. In terms of visa-free transit, the country has extended the permitted stay period for eligible foreign travelers from the previous either 72 hours or 144 hours to 240 hours, which is likely to attract more international tourists in the new year.

Dmitry Afonin, a tourist from Belarus, visited the Mount Qomolangma scenic area with his friends in late 2024. He said transportation and accommodation had both proven to be very convenient in Xizang.

"We spotted blue sheep along the way. The ecology here is well-protected," he added.

Xizang in 2023 lifted travel restrictions imposed during the pandemic period and reopened to international tourists. In the same year, the scenic area at Mount Qomolangma saw about 6,500 foreign tourists.

Tashi Dondrup, head of Tingri County, said thanks to the region's further opening up, it will be even more convenient for global tourists to visit Mount Qomolangma.

Located at the China-Nepal border, Mount Qomolangma reaches an altitude of more than 8,840 meters, with its northern section located in Xizang.  

As the clock ticked into 2025, several Chinese localities launched a new wave of major projects, with an emphasis on strategic emerging industries and technological innovation which underlines development of new quality productive forces.

Chinese analysts said that the rapid advancement of projects offers a strong start to this year's economic development. The swift progress of projects can quickly generate tangible output, effectively driving investment growth and providing robust support for stable economic growth. It also stands to boost confidence and expectations for the first quarter's economic performance.

Chinese Premier Li Qiang has called for efforts to ensure the effective implementation of policies and secure a good start for this year's economic development during his inspection tour in the city of Jinan in East China's Shandong Province, the Xinhua News Agency reported.

While conducting the tour on Thursday, Li also stressed the need for efforts to implement policies as early as possible, seek rapid progress with projects and ensure that the measures yield tangible results.

Launch of major projects in multiple regions

At the beginning of 2025, the Yangtze River Delta region in East China launched a new wave of projects, focusing on strategic emerging industries and accelerating innovation, according to Shanghai Securities News.

On Thursday, the first working day of 2025, East China's Anhui Province held a meeting to kick off its first batch of 622 major projects this year, with a total investment of 405.75 billion yuan ($55.44 billion). There are 344 projects related to emerging industries, accounting for 55.3 percent of the total, the Xinhua News Agency reported.

Jinhua, East China's Zhejiang Province initiated 40 projects at the beginning of 2025, the largest being a solar energy project with investment totaling 7.24 billion yuan. Other major projects include a 5.89 billion yuan electric-vehicle supply chain innovation park and a 5 billion yuan auto parts production base, China Media Group reported.

In Shanghai's Yangpu district, 100 major projects were scheduled for 2025, including industrial development and urban renewal, according to the official website of Yangpu district government.

Xiamen in East China's Fujian Province launched a significant project launch event on Thursday, featuring 77 major projects totaling 77.5 billion yuan, covering various sectors. A total of 41.9 billion yuan has been invested in projects such as new energy, new materials, biomedicine, machinery and equipment, and the marine economy, according to the official website of the Xiamen municipal government.

In Wenchang, South China's Hainan Province, 23 projects were initiated with a total investment of 5.15 billion yuan, including key developments to promote the rocket and satellite industry cluster in the city, according to the official website of Hainan provincial government.

The beginning of this year has seen a surge in major projects across various regions, characterized by rapid progress and substantial investment scales. This trend reflects the unwavering confidence and determination of local governments and enterprises to drive economic development, as they take proactive measures to foster high-quality growth, Wang Peng, an associate research fellow at the Beijing Academy of Social Sciences, told the Global Times on Friday.

"Among the newly launched projects, we are seeing a significant emphasis on technological innovation and strategic emerging industries, which underlines development for new quality productive forces. This shift toward forward-looking initiatives not only enhances the competitiveness and innovation capabilities of local industries but also creates new growth opportunities for sustainable economic development," Wang added.

Cong Yi, a professor at the Tianjin School of Administration, told the Global Times on Friday that these projects can generate a significant multiplier effect, effectively stimulate economic growth and foster the development of related industries.

"In this critical period of economic restructuring and transformation, these major projects often focus on emerging industries, and will play a vital role in promoting green development and facilitating economic transformation," Cong said, noting the progress is expected to enhance confidence and expectations for the economic growth in the first quarter this year.

In the first three quarters of 2024, China's fixed-asset investment rose 3.4 percent, spurred by vibrant capital influx into high-tech industries. Investment in the high-tech sector has seen rapid growth, while green industries, including electric vehicles, lithium-ion batteries and photovoltaic products, maintained double-digit increases, the Xinhua News Agency reported.

China will increase investment in major projects and expand the scope of trade-in programs in 2025, according to a press conference held by the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC), China's top economic planner, on Friday.

The NDRC said that projects supported by the 700 billion yuan ultra-long special treasury bonds for 2024 have mostly commenced, while investments exceeding 1.2 trillion yuan have been completed. Additionally, the project list for approximately 100 billion yuan for 2025 has been issued ahead of schedule.

The NDRC said it will further focus on improving investment efficiency, and effectively leverage the key role of investment in 2025.

Among these efforts, China will increase the issuance scale of the ultra-long special treasury bonds, expand the scope to support the implementation of major national strategies and build up security capacity in key areas, and further increase the proportion of government bond funds allocated to projects, according to the NDRC.

Broaden trade-in programs

The NDRC also said that China will increase the issuance of ultra-long special treasury bonds to broaden coverage and raise subsidy levels for large-scale equipment upgrades and consumer goods trade-ins this year.

Subsidies will be implemented for the purchase of new digital products such as mobile phones, tablets, and smartwatches, offering financial incentives for individual purchases of these devices.

Furthermore, the incentive levels for replacing new-energy city buses and upgrading power batteries, the updating of agricultural machinery, and the replacement of household furnishings and decorations are set to rise.

Looking ahead to 2025, China's expansive consumer market advantages remain steadfast and the consumer market is projected to sustain steady growth, the NDRC said.

Yang Delong, chief economist at Shenzhen-based First Seafront Fund told the Global Times on Friday that it shows that the policies are continuously being strengthened, and once again sends a positive signal of China's commitment to boosting high-quality economic growth.

"It is expected that more policies supporting economic growth will be implemented by 2025," Yang said.

During the three-day visit of the Maldivian Foreign Minister, Abdulla Khaleel, to India, some Indian media outlets linked China-Maldives cooperation, which is unrelated to the visit, to Maldives-India relations. Experts say this is an outdated mindset of the Indian media to exert pressure on South Asian countries.

NDTV, an Indian media outlet, said that the ties between India and the Maldives came under severe strain after Maldives President Mohamed Muizzu took charge of the top office in November 2023.

India may not hold a dominant position globally, but in the South Asian region, India views itself as a leader, Long Xingchun, a professor from the School of International Relations at Sichuan International Studies University, told the Global Times on Friday.

The Tribune India publishing an article titled "Maldives minister in Delhi as FTA with China kicks in" on Friday.

Qian Feng, director of the research department at the National Strategy Institute at Tsinghua University, told the Global Times that the Indian media's tendency to conflate unrelated issues indicates their intent to pressure South Asian countries. They often engage in sensationalism in an attempt to coerce these nations into yielding to their pressure, thereby pursuing their own interests, Qian noted.

Indian media inherently view South Asia as their sphere of influence, seeking to exclude other major powers in the region, Qian said.

Long said the Indian media's concerns lack basis, noting that China refrains from pressuring South Asian countries to take sides and instead promotes regional collaboration among these neighboring nations, including India. Furthermore, China has proposed the philosophy of trilateral cooperation, demonstrating confidence, inclusivity, and a focus on practical partnerships, according to Long.

China will always support the Maldives' effort to protect its sovereignty and independence, territorial integrity and national dignity, and support the Maldives' search for a development path that suits the country's reality, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said during his meeting with Maldivian President Mohamed Muizzu on September 23, 2024.

It is the wish of China to carry forward its traditional friendship with Maldives and march alongside Maldives at the forefront of the endeavor to build a community with a shared future for mankind, Wang added.

A deep sinkhole appeared in the kitchen of Hu Yuzhen, an elderly woman in Xiangping Village, Fuquan, Southwest China's Guizhou Province, recently. Sinkhole disasters in the village have severely disrupted residents' lives and caused significant property damage. Emergency relocation and post-disaster reconstruction efforts have been launched by local authorities, according to Hongxing News.

Since August 2022, the village has experienced frequent sinkhole disasters, with 32 sinkholes recorded so far, some as deep as three meters. According to geological experts from Guizhou Province, geological experts have attributed the sinkholes to the fragile karst topography in the region. 

This has been exacerbated by prolonged groundwater extraction by nearby coal mines, causing a significant drop in the water table, which destabilized the surface layer and triggered the formation of sinkholes.

The villagers' lives have been significantly disrupted. Local springs have dried up, making traditional rice farming nearly impossible, and many families have experienced severe damage to their farmland and homes.

In May, the Fuquan Natural Resources Bureau designated Xiangping village as a high-risk geological disaster zone, affecting 85 households and causing economic losses estimated at 15 million yuan ($2.05 million). Experts identified both natural and human-induced factors as contributors.

Hu and other affected villagers were temporarily relocated to a previously abandoned school. Evacuation routes and warning signs have been installed in certain areas for safety.

Representatives of the relevant coal mines committed to supporting recovery efforts and considering the engagement of third-party investigators to examine the disaster's causes further. 

To ensure the safety and livelihood of the villagers, the government proposed three resettlement options, including local reconstruction, guaranteed housing, or financial compensation. The construction of new houses is being expedited.

China has completed the acceptance of the deepwater jacket structure Haiji-2 and Asia's first cylindrical floating production, storage and offloading (FPSO) facility, Haikui No.1, cctv.com reported on Tuesday, citing information from China National Offshore Oil Corp, the largest offshore oil and gas producer in China.
The completion of China's first deepwater oil field secondary development project represents a major breakthrough in the nation's independent construction capabilities of all types of deepwater oil and gas equipment.
Experts noted that this approach strengthens China's deepwater drilling technology and promotes the efficient development of deepwater oil and gas fields.
"The secondary development upgrades aging oil fields that are nearing their extraction limits, significantly boosting efficiency through new technologies," Zhang Yi, CEO of iiMedia Research Institute, told the Global Times on Tuesday. 
Zhang added that this is essential for strengthening China's deepwater oil field development capabilities, as advancements in maritime technology pave the way for future offshore oil field exploitation.
Zhang noted that global deep-sea energy development remains limited, with most extraction occurring on land, particularly in the Middle East. "Given the significant technological and infrastructure demands of deep-sea projects, this breakthrough not only enables oil and gas extraction within China's territorial waters but also creates opportunities to export relevant technology and equipment," Zhang said.
The Haikui No. 1 is a self-developed cylindrical FPSO facility from China. It is installed in the sea area of the Liuhua Oilfield in the Pearl River Mouth Basin, located more than 320 meters deep and about 240 kilometers southeast of Shenzhen, South China's Guangdong Province.
The Haiji-2, acting as a "foundation" supporting fixed offshore oil and gas platforms where seabed conditions are challenging, can provide support for pipelines and subsea structures of an offshore platform. The jacket is a globally used marine oil and gas development type of equipment.
For instance, Haiji-2 is equipped with advanced automation systems, including a robotic arm that enables "one-click operations" across various tasks, significantly enhancing the efficiency and stability of deepwater drilling.
Both Haiji-2 and Haikui No.1 are serving China's first deepwater oil field, the Liuhua 11-1 offshore field.
On August 9, Haiji-2 was officially drilled. It was the first time that China exploited oil and gas through a fixed platform in waters with a depth of more than 300 meters.

Editor's Note:

Over 700 years ago, Italian traveler Marco Polo journeyed through China, documenting his experiences and introducing the splendor of ancient China to Europe in his book. Fast forward to the present day, when people discover China through online videos. With China's visa-free policies and the introduction of 144-hour visa-free transit, a wave of international YouTubers and vloggers has flocked to China.

After exploring gateway cities, where they gain initial insights into China's modern cityscapes and rich cultural heritage, these YouTubers and vloggers soon turn their attention to localized regions, delving into frontier areas, revolutionary sites, and public infrastructure to find the answers to the questions: "What is modern China like, why is it the way it is, and how does it function?" Through their cameras, they present a real, friendly, and vibrant China to the world. They are affectionately referred to by the Chinese as the "Marco Polos" in the New Era.

Therefore, the Global Times presented this Marco Polo Trilogy. This is the second installment, sharing experiences and thoughts of some international travelers who had been to "red tourism" sites, which are characterized by patriotic or revolutionary themes. Videos of their visits became a vivid window to the global audience to take a closer look at the history and achievements of China and the Communist Party of China (CPC).

Canadian travel content creator Kourosh Kamyabi enters a historic building after walking down the old streets in downtown Shanghai. In the beginning, he doesn't know this building is to some extent the "founding site" of the CPC.

In a video he later shared on YouTube, Kamyabi says "I was just walking around, and I saw massive lineups to come into this area, and I walked in, and I saw a museum."

"I'm not sure what this is. Give me a moment," he opens Google Translate. "Ah… It says this is the site of the First National Congress of the Communist Party of China."

"That's cool!"

Unplanned encounters

Kamyabi is among the surging number of international tourists who recently visited China thanks to the loosened entry policy. With some 20,000 subscribers on YouTube, he has uploaded several travel vlogs of himself visiting Chinese cities like Shanghai and Chongqing under the screen name "KSquared."

One vlog titled "I went to a Communist Museum in China" showed Kamyabi's unplanned trip to the Memorial of the First National Congress of the CPC in Shanghai - hailed as the CPC's "birthplace," becoming one of his most popular vlogs that has gained 127,000 views thus far.

Similarly, Nepalese tourist Nagendra Bhujel and his wife Ananda Kala Rai did not put the memorial on their Shanghai journey schedule in advance. At first, they entered the memorial only to get out of the rain, after they had just finished a visit to the Jade Buddha Temple nearby.

Bhujel is not a professional travel vlogger but works in the insurance industry. His 13-minute YouTube vlog about their visit to the memorial, not elaborately edited though, shows the pictures and video clips of almost every corner of the memorial in detail.

Many of his audiences left comments thanking him for sharing. "Super beautiful," wrote a YouTube user. "Vanguard of the people…Long live CPC," wrote another.

Bhujel said he made and shared this vlog online because he himself supports the communist mentality. "I wanted to show this to others," he told the Global Times. "I felt proud to be a supporter of the communist ideology. In Nepal, Chairman Mao is very well respected."
Amazing achievements

However, for many Western tourists like Kamyabi, what is showcased at the memorial is quite unfamiliar to them.

"I don't know anything about it myself. We're not taught about this history where I'm from in Canada," Kamyabi says in his vlog.

He noted that, a lot of Chinese history is not really taught to young Canadians, "because they have their own history to show, and other histories they choose to teach and what not to."

In this 19-minute vlog, Kamyabi invites the audience to "learn along the way" together with him, to know about "the founding days and founding fathers of the CPC."

He focuses his camera on almost every section of the memorial's exhibition hall showing the CPC's history, from the unequal treaties between the old feudal Chinese government and the West, the early spread of Marxism in China, and the representative pioneers of the CPC, to the numerous efforts and fights by the Party did for the peace, the stability of the country, and the prosperity of its people.

"I love the fact that there was a museum there for me to learn about what went on, and all that stuff was very interesting to me. To see where China was, [and] where it is now," Kamyabi said to the Global Times. "It's a big improvement. It's an amazing achievement."

More overseas tourists are actively adding "red tourism" sites like the memorial to their China travel lists. YouTuber Jack and Paige, for instance, spent time at the memorial and its souvenir shop while on tour at the surrounding historical blocks of Xintiandi.

For many visitors, the "birthplace" of the CPC is never the political propaganda site that some may have assumed it to be, but is an interesting place to learn more about the history and spirit of one of the world's largest ruling parties in a friendly and relaxed way.

The number of foreign visitors to the memorial has seen a significant increase in recent years, particularly this year, said a member of staff at the memorial surnamed Chen.

The memorial once conducted a survey on its foreign visitors, asking what part of the memorial impressed them the most. "Through the statistics, we found that they were mostly impressed by the [patriotism-themed] paintings and sculptures at the memorial, and a video presenting the First National Congress of the CPC with live-action and the naked eye 3D technologies was very impressive as well," said Chen.

The memorial is making more efforts to better serve its international visitors.

According to Chen, all the exhibits on display have English translations, and most of the videos being broadcast at the memorial have English subtitles. The memorial also has more than 160 audio guide equipment pieces that support seven foreign languages: English, French, Russian, Spanish, Arabic, German, and Japanese.

"This year, with the growing number of foreign visitors, we released the English version of the memorial's guide brochure," Chen said. "We also improved payment services at our souvenir shop and the memorial-branded cafe."

Remarkable narratives

Under Kamyabi's travel vlog about the memorial, many YouTube users recommended that he visit more "red tourism" destinations across China feature the country's histories of revolution and fighting against Japanese aggression, such as the Exhibition Hall of Evidences of Crime Committed by Unit 731 of the Japanese Imperial Army, and the Memorial Hall of the Victims in the Nanjing Massacre by Japanese Invaders.

In recent months, videos about visiting destinations that share modern and contemporary Chinese history, especially the memorials that reflect the dark history of fascist Japan's invasion of China, are increasing.

In these videos, international tourists visit the memorials from the first-person perspective, showing global audiences a period of resistance against Japanese invaders full of blood and tears.

Earlier this year, 35-year-old Ryan Shane Palmer from New Zealand visited the Memorial Hall of the Victims of the Nanjing Massacre by Japanese Invaders in Nanjing, East China's Jiangsu Province.

Palmer made a video of this visit and uploaded it to YouTube, sharing the photos in the memorial hall that unveil the extremely cruel and inhumane behaviors of Japanese invaders during the appalling massacre.

"I can imagine immense terror and fear," Palmer says to the camera.
Palmer told the Global Times that during his time at the university, he focused on Japanese imperialism and its devastating impact on China and Southeast Asia. He was interested in learning more about the massacre in Nanjing, and the operations of Unit 731 in Harbin in Northeast China's Heilongjiang Province. Unit 731 was a top-secret biological and chemical warfare research base established in Harbin in 1935, which did numerous notorious human experiments on Chinese people during the war.

Palmer has also been to the Exhibition Hall of Evidences of Crime Committed by Unit 731 of the Japanese Imperial Army on a snowy day. "Experiments conducted here were perhaps the worst, or at least among the worst, in human history," he commented in a video he uploaded to YouTube about this visit.

Some Chinese users commented under the video, expressing their thanks to Palmer for showing fascist Japan's war crimes. "Thank you for making this video about Unit 731," one user wrote. "Most of [the foreigners] don't know what [the] Japanese did in China during WWII because their history books didn't cover this part," wrote another.

Visiting destinations like these is sort of exploring the darker aspects of history, said Palmer.

"However, as demonstrated by the resilience, strength, and camaraderie of the Chinese people during this period, these events also highlight the remarkable beauty of the human spirit in the face of extreme adversity," he told the Global Times.

"The narratives of love and compassion demonstrated by the Chinese people during one of the country's darkest periods are truly remarkable," he added.

The anti-terror body under the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) on Friday outlined practical cooperation for the next steps in fighting the "three forces" of terrorism, separatism and extremism in Beijing. 
The result was part of the 42nd regular meeting of the Council of the SCO Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure (SCO-RATS) hosted by China and held in Beijing on Friday. 

In addition, the meeting also conducted research on the implementation of the relevant resolutions from the SCO Astana Summit regarding the improvement of mechanisms to address security threats and challenges. 

It approved the annual work plan of the RATS Executive Committee and related special cooperation plans, the Global Times learnt from China's Ministry of Public Security (MPS). 

The outline of future cooperation within the anti-terror body of the SCO will enhance the member states' capabilities and interoperability in joint anti-terrorism operations, Cui Heng, a lecturer at the training base for the China National Institute for SCO International Exchange and Judicial Cooperation, told the Global Times.

Terrorist threats in recent years have seen a resurgence, with a concert hall terrorist attack in Moscow in March and terror attacks in Iran being two recent prominent events, Cui said. 

Terrorist activities often spill over to other countries and flow around the globe. As the SCO expands, enhanced capabilities in tackling more threats from terrorism are needed, the expert said. 

Representatives from the authorities of the SCO member states attended the meeting, along with the Director of the Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure Executive Committee, Ruslan Mirzaev. The SCO-RATS is headquartered in Tashkent, Uzbekistan. 

Cui told the Global Times that the meeting was held against the backdrop of the reform of the SCO-RATS, which has been a priority task since China took over the rotating presidency of the SCO. 

Representatives of SCO-RATS praised China's recent efforts in organizing a series of counter-terrorism activities during its chairmanship of the SCO, the Global Times learned. It helps consolidate the SCO's law enforcement and security cooperation mechanism, enhance the level of practical cooperation, and deepen mutually beneficial cooperative relationships, they said. 

The SCO member states recently conducted the Anti-terrorism Interaction-2024 joint exercise in Northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. Photos released showed soldiers and police officers fully armed with assault rifles, pistols and riot shields launching an assault, some via armored and all-terrain vehicles and some via helicopter, with aerial drones and robot dogs also deployed in the exercise.

Cyber counter-terrorism training courses that were held in China have touched on sharing experiences in smart counter-terrorism, security maintenance in open crowded places and large-scale events, telecom network fraud, cross-border gambling, as well as cybersecurity, the Global Times learnt from sources. 

The Zhongyuan Festival, an occasion to pray for safety and express filial piety, falls on the 15th day of the seventh month of the lunar calendar. It happens to fall on Sunday this year.
Also known as the Ghost Festival, the Zhongyuan Festival is a significant event recognized in various East Asian cultures, particularly in Chinese communities. In ancient China, people commemorate the ancestors with food offerings, burning incense and releasing water lanterns.

The Zhongyuan Festival comprises three main elements: worshiping the spirits of the ancestors, religious activities and performances celebrating life. Even though this festival has been influenced by Taoist and Buddhist thought, the origin of Zhongyuan Festival bears a deep Confucian imprint.

It is likely that the festival originated from an ancient ancestor worship tradition. Up until the Wei (220-265), Jin (265-420), and Northern and Southern dynasties (386-589), the ancient rituals we now recognize as Zhongyuan and the Obon Festival were influenced by the growing presence of Buddhism and Taoism. These ancient customs honor and celebrate the lives of deceased family members and friends. Additionally, ancestor worship during this period became closely associated with enjoying seasonal autumn foods.

In ancient China, people started to harvest crops in the seventh month of the lunar year. A common ritual of the time was that of offering the newly harvested grains, fruits and vegetables to the ancestors.

This was also an occasion to get together with relatives, friends and neighbors, which remains a custom in a number of Chinese provinces.

The word "Obon" means to save the soul from distress. During the Tang Dynasty (618-907), the Ullambana Festival was introduced to Japan along with Buddhism and was later called Obon, or Bon. On this day, dead ancestors are believed to return to their living families, so people prepare for the reunion with the performance of Bon Odori, or a Bon dance, to welcome the spirits and pay homage to their sacrifices.

The Zhongyuan Festival is celebrated in different ways across China.

The sixth century classic "Family Instructions," a collection of teachings and advice on family life, ethics and moral conduct written by Yan Zhitui, a notable Confucian scholar of the Northern and Southern Dynasties period (386-589), reminds future generations to honor the Obon Festival, to repay their parents for their kindness and express filial piety.

After the sixth century, Taoism also named the 15th day of July "Festival of Zhongyuan." According to the Taoist philosophy, three basic elements make up everything in the world - heaven, earth and water, and these elements are worshiped on January 15, July 15 and October 15 respectively in the lunar calendar.

Taoists also believe that on this day, the King of Hell frees the spirits of the deceased from the lower realm of the underworld, while Buddhists take it as a day to ease suffering and honor the elderly.

In the Tang Dynasty, officials were granted one to three days of leave to celebrate the Zhongyuan Festival. While since the Northern Song (960-1127), the festival became more about folk customs.

Days before the Zhongyuan Festival, people start preparing paper paste offerings for the worship ritual. On the festival, vegetarian food is put on the offering table in the morning. Many families take time to visit the graves of their ancestors, offering food and incense. This act of remembrance emphasizes respect and the ongoing connection between the living and the dead. Additionally, the government holds a public memorial meeting to pay tribute to the soldiers who died on the front line.

In the evening, after a traditional ceremony, people enjoy watching performances that reflect beloved aspects of local folklore or walk through the night market. Later many gather around a lake, a river or some other water body and release floating water lanterns, also called lotus lanterns, usually made by pasting paper into a lotus shape. A lamp or candle is placed inside it and represents the concept of "yang" (the world of the living), and the lanterns are left floating on the water, which represents the opposite concept of yin (the underworld).

In some regions, traditional performances are also staged in open areas as entertainment for wandering spirits.

The festival is often celebrated at night, when ghosts are believed to be more active.

Finally, according to ancient Chinese customs, some activities that should be avoided during the Zhongyuan Festival. For instance, many people avoid swimming or traveling during this time due to the belief that spirits might cause misfortune.

No matter where you are in China, you can always witness some form of Zhongyuan Festival celebrations and marvel at its centuries-old integration of beliefs and customs derived from Buddhism, Taoism, Confucianism and folk traditions.

In commemoration of the National Day of Mexican Cinema 2024, the Embassy of Mexico in China will screen Cronos, a movie directed by Oscar-winning director Guillermo del Toro at the Beijing Yuan Museum on August 31. 

In 1536, during the Inquisition, an alchemist builds a mysterious and sophisticated device named Cronos to provide eternal life to the owner in Veracruz, Mexico. 

In the present day, antiques dealer Jesus Gris finds Cronos hidden inside an ancient statue while cleaning it with his granddaughter Aurora. 

He accidentally triggers the device and soon his wife Mercedes and he note that he has a younger appearance. 

Out of the blue, the stranger Angel de la Guardia visits Gris' shop and buys the old statue. On the next day, Gris finds his shop trashed and Angel's card on the floor. 

He pays a visit to Angel who introduces him to the eccentric millionaire De la Guardia that explains the healing power and the eternal life bestowed by Cronos. 

Angel is sent by De la Guardia to hunt down Gris to get Cronos no matter the costs.