上海花千坊爱上海

Song Tao, head of the Taiwan Work Office of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council, and Ma Ying-jeou, former chairman of the Chinese Kuomintang, attended the opening ceremony of the cross-Straits youth ice and snow festival in Harbin, Northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, on Thursday, China Central Television (CCTV) reported.

During the opening ceremony, Ma noted that the festival offers Taiwan youth a rare and valuable life experience. Despite the icy and snowy external environment, the exchanges between youth from both sides of the Taiwan Straits are warm and vibrant — a phenomenon we hope to see,Ma said.

Ma emphasized that such enthusiastic interactions can melt even the hardest ice and snow, deepening friendships and paving the way for a brighter future across the Straits, according to the report.

A delegation of young people from China's Taiwan island led by Ma is in Harbin for a nine-day cross-Straits youth exchange program running from December 18 to 26.

The cross-Straits youth ice and snow festival, scheduled to take place from December 18 to 24 in Harbin and other cities in Heilongjiang, is featuring a range of activities, including the screening and awarding of short videos created by young people from both sides of the Straits, alongside immersive winter sports experiences. 

About 1,000 individuals from Taiwan, primarily young people, are expected to participate in the event, the Xinhua News Agency reported.

Wang Ping-chung, a Taiwan political news commentator and former spokesperson of the New Party, told the Global Times that through exchanges between young people on both sides of the Taiwan Straits, it is increasingly important for them to realize that people on both sides share a close kinship, and that the future of Taiwan is closely intertwined with the rejuvenation of the Chinese nation.

Through Ma's visit, more people in Taiwan are expected to learn about the city of Harbin, and a wave of enthusiasm for ice and snow is expected to rise on the island in the future, Wang said.

Apart from attending the opening ceremony of the cross-Straits youth ice and snow festival, the delegation led by Ma visited Harbin Electric Corporation on Thursday. They listened to the introductions of the latest developments in China's energy industry and technological advancements, the Global Times learnt at the scene.

On Thursday morning, Song and Ma experienced snow carving and participated in the building of an "Ice Great Wall" in Harbin. Ma and young people from Taiwan also recited a poem about snow from the Tang Dynasty (618-907).

Ma and his delegation are expected to visit Southwest China's Sichuan Province on December 22 after the trip in the northeastern region, according to udn.com.

The visit to mainland provinces of Heilongjiang and Sichuan is Ma's third visit to the mainland in two years. In April 2024, Ma took along some Taiwan youth to the mainland for a trip he described as "journey of peace."

An elder has spent some 500,000 yuan ($68,000) online purchasing counterfeit collectibles, as live-streamers marketed the items with claims of miraculous effects and high value, exploiting reputations and emotional appeals for sales. The police have initiated an investigation into the live-streamed collectible scams targeting the elderly.

According to Liu Dan, the daughter of the elder, the products her mother purchased mainly fall into two categories. One includes amulets, ornaments, and jewelry with auspicious meanings, while the other consists of calligraphy, paintings, coins, porcelain, and stamp albums. Both types of items were sold for prices ranging from a few dozen to several thousand yuan (approximately several to hundreds of dollars).

For instance, an ordinary scroll, labeled with a "pawnshop seal" and identified as a "painting master’s scroll," was sold for 899 yuan ($123) during the live broadcast. Similarly, a piece of jade encased in a cloth bag was sold for 999 yuan ($137) after being attributed with auspicious meanings.

According to Liu's estimates, her mother has spent over 300,000 yuan ($41,000) on the collectibles. Additionally, she was later deceived out of more than 200,000 yuan ($27,000) under the guise of "recovering the collectibles." In total, she was defrauded of over half a million yuan ($68,000).

During pre-sale activities, live-streamers build a “positive energy” image by sharing emotional stories of helping resolve disputes and mediating family conflicts. Afterwards, they affectionately refer to the elderly as "dad and mom" or "uncle and aunt," thereby bridging the gap between themselves and the elderly, laying the groundwork for fraud.

Once they have earned the trust of the elderly, live-streamers start recommending a variety of products. For instance, when selling items like bracelets, they claim miraculous benefits, such as promoting family health, well-being, and career success. When promoting jade, coins, and bronze artifacts, they allege those items have significant potential for appreciation.

Live-streamers claim that purchasing those items is just for the elderly to preserve them, promising future exhibitions where the items would be bought back at higher prices. However, the high buyback prices advertised by the live-streamers are nothing more than a deceptive lure. They use the tactic to extract high fees for exhibition tickets and appraisals.

Liu has taken her mother to the police to report the fraud. Police authorities are investigating the case, categorizing it as a fraud targeting the elderly.

The National Supervisory Commission (NSC) carried out in-depth probes into vanity projects, leading to the rectification or suspension of over 700 "unnecessary landscaping" projects, said a report shared during the most recent session of the National People's Congress (NPC) Standing Committee, according to People's Daily on Monday.

On Sunday, the committee's 13th session of the 14th NPC Standing Committee heard a report about addressing corruption and misconduct that directly affects the general public, from Liu Jinguo, director of the NSC.

The report said the NSC focused on efforts to tackle formalism and bureaucratism, aiming to ease the burdens on grassroots governance. It highlighted the NSC integrated approaches of improving disciplinary mechanisms, strengthening oversight and rectification, and publicly disclosing typical cases. The NSC conducted on-site inspections and unannounced visits across 13 provinces, regions, and municipalities.

The report detailed stringent investigations into excessive and frequent inspections and vanity projects, with 32 cases publicly disclosed. Nationwide, over 700 "blindly pursued landscaping" projects were halted or rectified as a result of these efforts.

One case in the report described how Xixian county in Xinyang, Central China's Henan Province, mandated the trimming of roadside weeds and wild trees to an exact height of about 10 cm during rural environmental improvement efforts, sparking significant public outrage.

The NSC conducted covert inspections and direct oversight, culminating in punitive measures against nine officials, including the Vice Mayor of Xinyang and the Secretary of Xixian County Committee of the CPC. The case was publicly disclosed nationwide.

In other cases, the NSC severely dealt with problems such as Liu Kewen, former Secretary of Hejing County Committee of the CPC in Northwest China's Xinjiang, who wasted resources by invalidly painting rural roadside walls white, and Cheng Zhiyi, former Secretary of Jiangjin District Committee of the CPC in Southwest China's Chongqing, who delayed addressing substandard drinking water quality in towns and villages, resulting in its deterioration over time. 

The NSC emphasized that these cases underscore the need for cultivating a proper perspective on governance and metrics of success among officials. 

Iris photography has emerged as a popular trend among youngsters, with many netizens and vendors posting related photos online, according to a report from China Youth Daily on Wednesday. However, experts cautioned that the new trend should be approached with care from both a legal and health perspective.

The process of capturing iris photographs is similar to eye exams conducted in hospitals. Individuals rest their chins on a tray while strong lights on either side illuminate their pupils. A camera positioned directly in front then takes a close-up shot of the iris, producing a unique image of the person's iris.

However, there are also concerns about the safety. "The iris, like a fingerprint, contains unique personal information through its texture," said Xu Ming, a professor at the college of cybersecurity at Hangzhou Dianzi University. 

Also, it is recommended to avoid strong light as much as possible and not to stare at light sources while taking photos, said Yu Pingping, director of the ophthalmology department at the Second Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University School of Medicine.

The Global Times has learned that the commerce ministers of China and the US will hold talks soon. They will exchange in-depth views on China-US economic and trade relations, and key issues regarding the economic and trade to both sides, including restrictions on electric vehicles (EVs), a topic of widespread concern.

The talks are a mechanism-based dialogue and communication between the two countries' commerce departments. The communication will help promote the stable development of China-US economic and trade relations and create favorable conditions for mutually beneficial cooperation. 

Recently, China has engaged in intensive discussions with the US and the European Union (EU) on trade issues, including EVs.

Chinese Commerce Minister Wang Wentao visited Italy, Germany, Belgium and the EU headquarters, and held in-depth and friendly talks with the heads of the counterpart departments, especially with European Commission Executive Vice President and Trade Commissioner Valdis Dombrovskis on the EU's anti-subsidy case against China's EVs. The two sides reached a preliminary consensus on the negotiation direction for a proper resolution of the case. 

Currently, technical teams from both China and the EU are engaged in intensive consultations.

US electric vehicle maker Tesla announced on Saturday that it has shipped its 1 millionth made-in-China vehicle from its Shanghai plant. Experts say the milestone reflects China's strong and complete industrial supply chains. 

A batch of Tesla Model 3 vehicles was shipped from Shanghai's Nangang Port to Britain on Saturday, marking the milestone of 1 million China-made Tesla vehicles have been exported in less than four years, the Global Times learned from the company.

"Today, the one-millionth exported China-made Tesla car sets sail from Shanghai's Nangang Port. In just four years since the first batch of vehicles was exported, Tesla cars made in China have been sold in Europe, Asia-Pacific, Australia, and New Zealand, earning high recognition in overseas markets," Tao Lin, Tesla's vice president, wrote on Weibo.

The speed of Tesla's production shows the high quality and efficiency of China's manufacturing capabilities to produce products that are in high demand internationally. 

Tesla said that its Shanghai Gigafactory is a key global export hub and production base, playing a vital role in China's manufacturing sector. An entire new vehicle rolls off the assembly line at around every 30 seconds.

On January 7, 2019, Tesla's Shanghai Gigafactory broke ground in the Lingang New Area, and on December 30 that same year, the first batch of vehicles was delivered. From groundbreaking to delivery, Tesla's Shanghai Gigafactory took less than one year, Xinhua News Agency reported at that time.

Tesla's Shanghai Megapack energy storage plant in the Lingang New Area is also progressing rapidly. 

By the end of September 2024, the construction of the main factory building has been completed by over 60 percent, with plans in place to officially commence production in the first quarter of 2025, Tesla told the Global Times on Saturday in a statement. 

The gigafactory plans to produce 10,000 Megapacks annually, with a total storage capacity of nearly 40 GWh. The new factory aims to supply the global market and further establish Chinese intelligent manufacturing as a prominent brand on the international stage, Tesla said.

Editor's Note:

China and Portugal enjoy an ever-deepening comprehensive strategic partnership. As this year marks the 45th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two countries, Portugal was among a group of countries that set up an independent booth for the first time at the 2024 China International Fair for Trade in Services (CIFTIS) in Beijing, seeking opportunities to deepen bilateral trade in services. The Global Times (GT) reporter Chu Daye recently conducted an exclusive interview with Portuguese Ambassador to China Paulo Jorge Nascimento (Nascimento), during which the envoy shared his views on the win-win nature of bilateral economic and trade cooperation. The ambassador also noted the potential of the two countries to develop the green economy, energy transition and jointly address climate change.

GT ：China-Portugal economic and trade ties have maintained a stable growth momentum. What opportunities does the enhanced China-Portugal economic and trade cooperation bring to Portuguese companies?

Nascimento: Over the past 12 to 15 years, China has been an important investor in Portugal, initially through M&A and recently with greenfield and brownfield investments from many Chinese companies in Portugal. In this respect, I think this has proven to be a very good experience for both Chinese and Portuguese companies involved, and therefore for both Portugal and China.

This positive experience is now the basis also for new investments. In 2023, nearly 70 percent of announced foreign direct investment in Portugal came from Chinese companies, which is highly significant. We believe that in the future there will be opportunities to increase that level of investment. It is in fact one of the main objectives for our participation at CIFTIS show this year - to show up the case of Portugal as a destination for Chinese investment.

We hope the good results achieved with Chinese companies in Portugal will endure and serve as a reference for new companies looking to invest in Portugal.

Also, we look forward to increasing our trade in services alongside our trade in goods. There is still an important difference between both trade in goods and trade in services. We believe that there is huge room to increase the bilateral trade in services.

GT: China and Portugal are partners of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). What are some of the latest achievements in BRI cooperation? 

Nascimento: Portugal has been one of the first European countries, particularly among EU countries, to adhere to the BRI. Since then, we have been following closely the developments of the BRI. Furthermore, we believe that Portugal, due to its geographic location, may act as a good partner and enabler within the BRI, namely in trade with South America and Africa. That's the framework upon which we position ourselves in the BRI.

GT: What opportunities exist between Portugal and China in green development?

Nascimento: We believe that the expertise and market-oriented frameworks of both Portugal and China regarding the greening of our economies constitute major opportunities and a path to explore on implementation of joint projects, investments and scientific and technological advances. Those are fundamental to carry on the path of the new economy and the shared efforts to fight climate change. Green development is clearly a framework for cooperation that we must explore together to tackle the common threat of climate change.

Portugal and China can complement each other. While China has scale and huge green-energy needs compared to Portugal, Portugal has been proving to be one of the leading green transition countries in Europe. In fact, over the past several years, we have been perfecting this sector by leveraging new technological developments and expertise.

Last year, 61 percent of all energy used in Portugal came from renewable sources. Wind energy and hydropower plants alone were responsible for 25 percent and 23 percent, respectively. This allowed Portugal to close its last coal power plant at the end of 2021.

We sincerely believe that green development can be a win-win cooperation for both Chinese and Portuguese companies, as it is the case in other sectors where Chinese and Portuguese companies are closely working together.

The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) government on Wednesday strongly condemned and rejected a report on academic freedom in Hong Kong published by US-based infamous NGOs, noting that its content is all malicious smears and sweeping remarks.

The HKSAR government has noticed that most of the interviewees of the report published by the so-called Human Rights Watch and Hong Kong Democracy Council have used pseudonyms, a tactic frequently adopted by anti-China forces, making it difficult to ascertain if the interviewees truly exist. The authenticity and credibility of the report is questionable, the HKSAR government said in a statement.

As regards the report containing fabricated content and irresponsible remarks that academic freedom has declined in Hong Kong, the statement stressed that academic freedom is an important social value treasured in Hong Kong and the cornerstone of its higher education sector.

In the statement, the HKSAR government said the fundamental rights and freedoms of Hong Kong residents have all along been guaranteed at the constitutional level by the Basic Law, adding that the laws of Hong Kong to safeguard national security attach special importance to human rights.

The Hong Kong National Security Law (HKNSL) and the Safeguarding National Security Ordinance (SNSO) have clearly stipulated that human rights shall be respected and protected in safeguarding national security in the city and that the rights and freedoms its residents enjoy under the Basic Law and the provisions of the International Covenant on Civil & Political Rights and the International Covenant on Economic, Social & Cultural Rights as applied to Hong Kong shall be protected in accordance with the law, the statement said.

Any measures or enforcement actions taken under the relevant laws must observe this principle, it added.

After the implementation of the HKNSL, Hong Kong residents continue to enjoy various rights and freedoms, including the freedom of academic research, literary and artistic creation and other cultural activities, freedom of expression, freedom of assembly and freedom of association.

According to Article 137 of the Basic Law, educational institutions of all kinds may retain their autonomy and enjoy academic freedom. Hong Kong residents can exercise their freedom of expression legitimately, including criticizing government policies or decisions made by officials.

Since the implementation of the NSL, academics or post-secondary education institutions in Hong Kong continue to conduct normal exchange activities between their foreign or external counterparts.

The HKNSL and SNSO complement each other, providing a strong framework for safeguarding national security in Hong Kong. This allows all sectors, especially higher education, to flourish in a safe and stable environment, enabling scholars and students to pursue their studies and research in a stable, secure, and inclusive setting, the statement noted.

With 94 gold, 76 silver, and 50 bronze, China once again topped both the gold medal tally and the overall medal table at the 17th Paralympic Games that concluded on Sunday, marking the sixth consecutive time to do so since the 2004 Athens Paralympics.

On top of that, Chinese athletes have broken 20 world records. Swimming, athletics, table tennis, and wheelchair fencing contributed the largest number of medals to Team China's tally.

The State Council - China's cabinet - on Sunday sent a congratulatory letter to the Chinese Paralympic team following these achievements to encourage them to continue embodying the spirit of perseverance and excellence.

"Generations of Chinese athletes have consistently delivered exceptional performances on the Paralympic stage, and this has become a tradition. This confidence is not only the athletes' personal belief but also a reflection of our nation's self-assurance as a global sports power," Luo Le, a Beijing-based sports scholar, told the Global Times.

Luo noted that Paralympic athletes' greatness lies in their extraordinary determination and perseverance despite physical challenges. Their stories inspire the world and demonstrate the boundless potential of humanity. Therefore, Paralympians deserve more support and encouragement, and Paralympic sports should receive greater attention.
Continued legacy

In Paris, the Chinese sports delegation participated in 19 major events and 302 minor events at the 2024 Paralympics, claiming a total of 220 medals - 94 gold, 76 silver, and 50 bronze.

The Chinese wheelchair fencing team competed in all categories, securing 10 gold medals in 16 events. The badminton team participated in 14 events, increasing their gold medal count from five at the previous Paralympics to nine this time. Team sports such as sitting volleyball, wheelchair basketball and goalball all advanced to the semifinals and won medals.

In the swimming events, Chinese swimmers won two golds, three silvers, and two bronzes in a single day. In the mixed 4x50m relay, Chinese swimmers won the final with a time of 2:24.83, breaking the world record. This marked the 600th gold medal for the Chinese delegation in the history of the Summer Paralympics.

In athletics, Chinese players won four golds, three silvers, and four bronzes. Wen Xiaoyan broke the Paralympic record in the women's 100m T37 to win gold; Jin Hua set a new Paralympic record in the men's 800m T54 to claim the top spot; and Wu Qing broke the Paralympic record in the women's shot put F33 to take gold.

Li Yujie, who won China's first Paralympic gold in taekwondo, told the media that she hopes more people will take the time to understand Paralympic sports and realize that people with disabilities are not a burden to the society, as they are striving for excellence like anyone else.

"I treat every match at the Paralympics as if it were my last, trying hard to achieve the results I desire," Li said. Her lifelong passion for sports and rigorous training has led to her impressive achievements in both domestic and international competitions.

"China has consistently dominated top spot on the Paralympic podium, now regularly surpassing 200 medals. I believe that the brilliant performances of Chinese Paralympic athletes reflect the enduring sports spirit of China," Deng Bowen, a frequent spectator of the Paralympics, told the Global Times.
An indispensable role

"China has consistently supported the training and competition of Paralympic athletes, whose achievements serve as important role models, inspiring people with disabilities nationwide in their rehabilitation and pursuit of an active life," Luo Chaofan, a rehabilitation therapist from the National Health Commission, told the Global Times.

According to reports, China has integrated Paralympic sports into its national sports strategies. As sports services for people with disabilities are increasingly accessible in communities and homes, more people with disabilities are engaging in sports for rehabilitation and fitness purposes.

Since the third National Games for Persons with Disabilities in 1992, this event has become part of the national sporting calendar. This has marked a transition toward the institutionalized and standardized development of Paralympic sports.

Luo Chaofan said the Paralympics has become a crucial part of promoting public health and social inclusivity in China.

According to Qiushi Journal, over 10,600 fitness demonstration sites for people with disabilities have been established across China, with 125,000 social sports instructors for people with disabilities graduating from training programs over recent years. Fitness programs for people with severe disabilities have provided services to 434,000 households.

Luo Chaofan noted that the country is increasingly investing in rehabilitation technologies and assistive devices for the disabled.

"Today, high-tech prosthetics, smart wheelchairs, and other advanced equipment are helping athletes with disabilities enhance their ­performance and improve their daily rehabilitation training," he said.

US Vice President Kamala Harris and former US president Donald Trump faced off in Philadelphia on Tuesday night local time in their first presidential debate ahead of the November election, clashing over a wide range of issues including abortion, immigration, the economy and foreign policy in a showdown that lasted one hour and 45 minutes.

Describing the event as "one of the highest-stakes national debates in a generation," CNN said the fundamental question is whether -and how-one of them can deliver a compelling message to swing voters while bolstering the confidence of their respective bases. 

For the first question, Harris was asked on the US domestic economy. She outlined her plan to increase child tax credit and offer tax deductions for small business startups. She said Trump left the Biden-Harris administration with the worst unemployment level since the Great Depression and the worst attack on the US' democracy since the Civil War, a reference to the Capitol riot on January 6, 2021.

Trump said he's in favor of imposing tariffs, in some cases, "substantial tariffs," and went on to say undocumented immigrants are taking jobs from Black and Hispanic Americans.

In terms of tariffs, Harris said that Trump "invited trade wars," while also attacking Trump's plans to impose broad tariffs on foreign importers as a "sales tax" on everyday goods that the American people will ultimately pay.

Responding to an inquiry that both candidates mentioned the US imposing tariffs on China, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said on Wednesday that US presidential elections are the US' own affairs, and she has no comment on that. However, China is opposed to making China an issue in US elections, Mao added.

The two candidates also trade barbs on foreign policy, including Russia-Ukraine conflict and Gaza War.

When asked about the Ukraine crisis, Trump said he wanted the war to stop without directly answering whether he wanted Ukraine to win its war with Russia. Harris accused Trump of being willing to abandon US support for Ukraine to "curry favor with Russian President Vladimir Putin," media reported.

When debating the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, Trump said Harris "hates Israel," while also claimed Harris "hates the Arab population," because the whole region is going to be "blown up," to which Harris said it's "absolutely not true" that she hates Israel, while calling Trump "weak and wrong" on foreign policy.

Shortly after the debate, Trump told Fox News Digital that he thought it was his "best debate ever," while a New York Times analysis claimed that "throughout the night, Trump found himself in a defensive crouch."

According a post-debate poll from The Washington Post, a group of uncommitted, swing-state voters interviewed thought Harris performed better, regardless of how they plan to vote in November. In another CNN poll of debate watchers conducted by SSRS, registered voters who watched Tuesday debate broadly agree that Harris outperformed Trump.

As having been much anticipated among Democrats, Taylor Swift, one of America's most celebrated pop-culture icons and has an enormous following across the world, endorsed Harris late Tuesday after Harris's debate against Trump.