The central government appointed Cui Jianchun, the former Chinese ambassador to Nigeria, as Chinese foreign ministry (FM)'s commissioner in Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) on Wednesday. 

The Hong Kong SAR Chief Executive John Lee welcomed the appointment on Wednesday, saying that with the support of the ministry and the Commissioner's Office, the city has consistently developed its external affairs in accordance with the Basic Law, expanding Hong Kong's external exchanges and cooperation to enhance its international influence and competitiveness. 

Cui previously served as Chinese ambassador to Nigeria. According to official records, Cui, born in July 1964, holds a Master's degree in business administration. 

He had a long tenure with the China National Nuclear Corporation and served as the director of the international cooperation and development department for the organization in 2010.

Starting in 2011, Cui transitioned into the diplomatic system, holding positions such as Minister Counselor at the Chinese Embassy in France, Chinese ambassador to Kuwait, Deputy Director-General of the Consular Affairs Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Since 2016, he worked as Chinese ambassador to Guyana.

In April 2021, Cui was appointed the Chinese Ambassador to Nigeria.

Liu Guangyuan, the former commissioner of the Chinese FM in Hong Kong, was appointed as deputy director of the central government's liaison office in Hong Kong in July 2023. 

The Commissioner's Office also provides consular protection and appropriate assistance to Hong Kong residents encountering issues overseas.

Cui is an experienced diplomat with extensive experience accumulated during his postings abroad, and Lee firmly believes that under Cui's leadership, the Commissioner's Office will continue to work closely with the HKSAR government to advance various initiatives, Lee said. 

The HKSAR government will continue to align with the overall strategy of the ministry, providing accurate explanations of the latest developments in Hong Kong to overseas audiences, and effectively conveying the stories of Hong Kong and the One Country, Two Systems principle, Lee said. 

On Sunday, Chinese AI experts slammed a report issued by Microsoft as it claimed that China is using Artificial Intelligence (AI) technology to manipulate elections in other countries. The report is politically motivated and lacks both evidence and authority, analysts said.

China will attempt to disrupt elections in the US, South Korea and India this year with artificial intelligence-generated content, the US tech firm Microsoft said in a report on Friday. 

Microsoft said that "at a minimum" China will create and distribute through social media AI-generated content that "benefits their positions in these high-profile elections." However, the company also said that the impact of AI-made content was minor.

AI experts said that Microsoft's report fails to provide solid evidence to prove the authenticity of the related social media accounts and their connection to the Chinese government. 

"From a technical perspective, the use of AI to generate text content is already very common around the world, so why is China to blame? This report has been speculating without evidence," Zhu Rongsheng, an assistant researcher at the Center for Strategic and Security Studies, Tsinghua University, shared his insight with the Global Times on Sunday.  

When answering a query regarding the US presidential election in January, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin said that the presidential election is the domestic affair of the US. China, committed to the principle of non-interference in others' internal affairs, would never interfere in the US presidential election.

A technology company releasing a politically motivated report without evidence lacks authority, experts say. With no evidence, this report from Microsoft proves that US companies and the US government have formed a chain of interests, Yang Xiyu, a senior research fellow at the China Institute of International Studies, told the Global Times. 

When US companies need to use political means to suppress their competitors, the US government can go beyond market mechanisms to suppress companies from other countries. US companies can also use reasons related to national security to curb the development of their competitors. This report demonstrates that in the fiercely competitive field of AI, US companies seek to discredit and suppress their competitors through improper means, Yang pointed out.

This is not the first time Microsoft has released such a report. On September 7, 2023, Microsoft researchers said on a blog that they found what they believe is a network of fake, Chinese-controlled social media accounts seeking to influence US voters by using artificial intelligence.

"In recent years, some Western media and think tanks have accused China of using artificial intelligence to create fake social media accounts to spread so-called 'pro-China' information," Liu Pengyu, spokesperson for the Chinese Embassy in Washington, said in 2023 in response to an email to CNN when asked for comment on the Microsoft report. "Such remarks are full of prejudice and malicious speculation against China, which China firmly opposes," he added.

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi met with Vietnamese Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son in South China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region on Thursday, calling for the proper managing differences, accelerating maritime cooperation and consultations on the Code of Conduct (COC) in the South China Sea to resolve conflict, and warning to be vigilant against engaging in camp confrontation and "small cliques" to undermine regional peace and stability.

China-Vietnam relations have enjoyed rapid development last year since the top leaders of the two parties jointly announced the building of a China-Vietnam community with a shared future that carries strategic significance, giving a new meaning to the line "so profound is the friendship between Vietnam and China, because we are both comrades and brothers," Wang said.

The Chinese side called on enhancing high-level strategic communication, accelerating the development of strategic alignment, and continuously expanding cooperation with Vietnam in areas such as economic affairs and trade investment, the digital economy, green development, new energy, and critical minerals.

The two sides should also jointly safeguard international fairness and justice, practice true multilateralism, and continue to support each other on issues of major interest to both sides.

They should properly manage differences, accelerate maritime cooperation and consultations on the Code of Conduct (COC) in the South China Sea to resolve conflict, Wang said.
The meeting took place as the Philippines continued making provocations on the South China Sea issue under the instigation of the US. Reuters reported that defense forces of the US, Japan, Australia and the Philippines will conduct "maritime cooperative activity" on Sunday.

The Vietnamese diplomat said that Vietnam adheres to the one-China policy, firmly supports China's position on matters related to Taiwan, Xinjiang, and Xizang, and opposes the use of human rights and democracy to interfere in the internal affairs of other countries.

Vietnam will strengthen multilateral coordination with China to protect common interests, and is willing to implement the consensus of the high-level leadership of the two countries, properly manage differences, actively promote maritime cooperation and consultations on the COC in the South China Sea, and maintain peace and stability in the South China Sea, Bui Thanh Son said.

Every year on April 1, the call sign "81192" is remembered by many Chinese. Do you remember the name Wang Wei? Do you remember the number 81192? 

According to a news release by the Southern Theater Command on its WeChat official account on Monday, on April 1, 2001, a US military reconnaissance plane illegally entered China's South China Sea airspace. Chinese military dispatched two aircraft to track and intercept the US plane, but the US plane suddenly veered at a wide angle toward the Chinese planes, and then rammed one of the Chinese planes, causing it to lose control and plunge into the sea, according to Xinhua news report in April 2001.

The pilot Wang Wei parachuted from his stricken plane and was missing.

"81192 Copy. I have been unable to return, please proceed!" were Wang Wei, the pilot's last words. 

Tens of thousands of soldiers and civilians searched for him for 14 days and nights but could not find him, The People's Daily reported on Monday.

23 years have passed, but people have not forgotten him. Every year on this day, Wang's statue is adorned with gifts - models of J-15, J-20, Y-20, the Shandong aircraft carrier... People place aircraft and aircraft carrier models in front of the hero's tomb to pay tribute to his spirit.

The Southern Theater Command reported in news release that to inspire soldiers to inherit the hero's will and cultivate a fighting spirit, on the eve of April 1, or Sunday, a naval aviation unit in the Southern Theater Command held a memorial ceremony at the "Sea-Air Guardian" Wang Wei Hope Primary School. 

With the solemn national anthem played, everyone stood in silence in front of the martyr's statue, paying deep respects to Wang. Soldiers and representatives from the school laid flowers in front of Wang's statue, expressing deep remembrance and respect. They signed a banner pledging to defend the country.

According to the Southern Theater Command, in recent days, a naval aviation unit has continued to carry out flight training across the day and night, targeting the pilot's shortcomings and weaknesses, continued to carry out the training of instructors, and the new generation of pilots' first solo flight and follow-up mission recovery training, paying tribute to heroes with practical actions.

Many netizens on social media mourned the martyr. 

One user wrote, "Hero's spirit lasts forever." Another said, "23 years! We have never forgotten. Martyr Wang Wei, your spirit is forever engraved in the country's sea and sky! Salute." The topic about "81192" continues to gain popularity, accumulating over a billion reads on Sina Weibo.

"To defend the motherland's vast sea and sky with the most advanced fighter jets is my greatest wish." Wang Wei had a firm belief in serving his country since his high school days, according to the People's Daily news report.

After joining the navy, he was deployed to the country's southern gateway. Among his peers, he was the first to fly over a thousand hours in the most advanced domestically produced fighter jet, becoming an "all-weather" first-class pilot capable of flying in four different weather conditions. He had the most combat take-offs and executed the most critical missions among his peers.

In 2024, a new generation of young people followed in Wang's footsteps, joining the military to defend the country.

The People's Daily revealed that Wang's son has become a proud naval officer. In 2022, Wang's nephew Jiang Yufan who was born after 2000 became a flight student through rigorous selection. Jiang hopes to become the fourth pilot in the Wangs family through hard work.

University graduate Zhang Yuan was inspired by Wang's story to join the military. He once wrote a letter placed at Wang's grave, "The Chinese nation has never lacked backbone. In the past, now, and in the future, we will never lack it! Now, it is our turn to take over from you."

23 years later, the hero's long-cherished wish has come true. 

When his comrades were sorting through Wang's belongings, they found a painting he had personally drawn called Long Cherished Wish. In the painting, a pilot is taking off from an aircraft carrier, a scene Wang had always dreamed of. Wang once told his wife that his greatest wish was to fly a fighter jet from an aircraft carrier.

Today, Wang's wish has become a reality. 

According to the People's Daily, on September 25, 2012, the Liaoning aircraft carrier was delivered and commissioned to the People's Liberation Army (PLA) Navy, ending China's history without an aircraft carrier; on December 17, 2019, the first domestically produced aircraft carrier, the Shandong, was officially commissioned to the PLA Navy at a military port in Sanya, South China's Hainan Province; on June 17, 2022, China's third aircraft carrier, the Fujian, was launched.

Heroes never fade into irrelevance, and we will never forget. "81192, your mission is complete, please return immediately! Please return immediately!"

Members of a Chinese cross-departmental joint working group and Chinese diplomats in Pakistan on Friday mourned the five Chinese nationals killed in a terrorist attack while visiting a hospital here.

Laying flowers to their portraits, head of the joint working group Bai Tian and Chinese Ambassador to Pakistan Jiang Zaidong led all the personnel to stand in silence and bow three times.

Ma Mingwei, head of a working group from Energy China and China Gezhouba Group Corporation, said that the five demised compatriots are excellent representatives of the company's overseas projects and witnesses of China-Pakistan friendship. Their sacrifice have enriched the deep China-Pakistan friendship.

Bai, also chief of the Department of External Security Affairs of the Chinese foreign ministry, and Jiang conveyed the care and solicitude of the Chinese government to the company's workers, encouraging them to work together to overcome the difficulties.

Five Chinese and one Pakistani national were killed on Tuesday in a terrorist attack on the way to the Dasu Hydropower Project in northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province from Islamabad.

The Boao Forum for Asia (BFA) convened its annual conference in Boao, South China's Hainan Province on Tuesday, with officials and other participants calling for unity and cooperation in Asia and around the world to jointly tackle rising regional and global challenges, ranging from trade protectionism to geopolitical tension.

In a flagship report released on Tuesday, the BFA, which is often referred to Asia's version of the World Economic Forum in Switzerland, projected a substantial upswing in economic growth of around 4.5 percent in 2024 and that Asia's economic integration remains unchanged, while warning of challenges. The report pointed out China's major contribution to global economic growth with its vast market, highlighting China's critical role in not just Asia, but also the world.

This year's BFA drew representatives from more countries and regions than last year's edition, underscoring the rising influence of not just the BFA itself, but also the host nation - China. Many foreign guests in Boao highlighted China's solid economic fundamentals and improving business environment, echoing a resounding message from global business executives at the China Development Forum (CDF) in Beijing that concluded just a day before the BFA opened.

The BFA and the CDF are two back-to-back forums held by China after the two sessions, the annual meetings of the top legislature and top political advisory body, where it set social and economic development goals for the year. The high-level forums are a critical window for global CEOs to gauge China's economic outlook and policy priorities. They are also a reliable barometer for China's attractiveness among countries and regions and multinational corporations.

This year's BFA annual conference will be attended by nearly 2,000 representatives from more than 60 countries and regions, Li Baodong, secretary general of the BFA, said at a press conference on Tuesday morning, which officially kicked off the four-day event. While the number of participants is about the same as that of last year's meeting, the number of countries and regions represented increased to more than 60 from last year's number of about 50.

At the press conference, the BFA released two flagship annual reports: one on the Asian Economic Outlook and Integration Progress and the other on sustainable development in Asia, setting the stage for dozens of panel discussions on topics ranging from economic development to technological innovation.

"In 2024, global economic turbulence and divergence will persist. Faced with a severe external environment, many Asian economies will also encounter significant internal challenges. Nevertheless, the region's economic growth and regional integration continue to show promising momentum," the Asian Economic Outlook report said, projecting a "substantial" growth of 4.5 percent in 2024.

The report also noted that the overall trend of merchandise trade integration advancing among Asian economies remains unchanged, while also calling for collaboration on common challenges of various uncertainties, in line with the theme of this year's annual conference: "Asia and the World: Common Challenges, Shared Responsibilities."

"The problems the world currently faces are numerous and complex. Only when the international community jointly meets the challenges, shoulders responsibilities and strengthens cooperation can the world remain on the track of peace and prosperity," Li said at the press conference.
Cooperation vs protectionism

At the panel discussions and in the conference halls that host the BFA on Tuesday, there was general consensus on the need to safeguard multilateralism and bolster win-win cooperation championed by China, and a clear rejection of protectionism spearheaded by some US and EU politicians.

Many forum participants highlighted China's strong economic prospects and its critical role in helping boost economic development in Asia and around the world.

"I think China is playing a very important role in trying to develop the rest of Asia. And that's in the interest of China because if Asia grows, China grows," Shamshad Akhtar, former under-secretary-general of the United Nations, told the Global Times on Tuesday in Boao, adding that globally, China is also playing a "phenomenal role" in lifting different countries by offering capital through initiatives such as the Belt and Road Initiative.

This is also reflected in the BFA's report released on Tuesday morning, which noted that China will remain a major contributor to global economic growth, with the entire world benefiting from its massive market.

Beyond its vast market, China's commitment to expand opening-up and improve business environment to attract foreign investment was also highlighted at the BFA.

"I think it's getting more attractive to invest in China, as China is making changes, such as working on their intellectual property protection. Chinese laws have improved a lot," Carl F. Fey, professor of Strategy at BI Norwegian Business School in Oslo, Norway, told the Global Times on Tuesday on the sidelines of the BFA annual meeting, noting that China still has to work to let people around the world know that its laws have improved given misperceptions around the world.

Through platforms such as the BFA and the CDF, China is sending a clear message that it welcomes global investors and will improve the business environment. Pointing to such an effort, high-level Chinese officials met with various global business leaders after the CDF, reaffirming China's commitment to high-quality development and high-level opening-up.

Meanwhile, the US' approach of protectionism is also rejected at the BFA. That was very clear at a panel discussion on confronting fragmentation in global trade on Tuesday afternoon, where panelists, though not mentioning the US by name, criticized various actions by the US. Long Yongtu, China's former chief negotiator for entry into the World Trade Organization (WTO), blasted the West for crippling the WTO that they created.

Wong Kan Seng, former deputy prime minister of Singapore, highlighted the need for maintaining economic openness, saying closed markets benefit no country, according to a Chinese transcript of the panel provided by the BFA. Meanwhile, former US commerce secretary Carlos Gutierrez was more straightforward, saying that the US should bear the blame for the de-globalization situation, according to the same transcript.

Since the administration of former US president Donald Trump, the US has actively undermined the WTO, issued a series of protectionist policies, including imposing tariffs and handing out discriminatory subsidies, and is seeking to decouple the Chinese and US economies through moves such as restrictions on businesses. Meanwhile, the EU appears to be following in the US' wake by calling for "de-risking," which is seen as another name for "decoupling."

"Decoupling would be damaging for both, but worse for Europe than for China. That's why we, European politicians, are rethinking whether this is a good idea to do it," Michele Geraci, former undersecretary of state at the Italian Ministry of Economic Development, told reporters from the Global Times and other media outlets in Boao on Tuesday, noting China's decreasing reliance on exports and Europe's increasing reliance on exports.

China's public security authorities have cracked down on illegal "spiritual practices" and relevant illegal activities, with 77 key cases detected and 269 individuals criminally dealt with in accordance with the law since 2018, according media reports.

Authorities have been focusing on illegal training activities related to "spiritualism" and organized special forces to deal with a number of organizations who are engaged in illegal training activities under the cover of "spiritual healing," "stimulating potential," "alien civilization," and "energy to change life." 

Authorities have investigated and dealt with a number of illegal training institutions offering "spiritual cultivation" services across China, with individuals involved in these cases sentenced to between five to 17 years of imprisonment for illegal business operations, the use of superstitious beliefs to undermine the implementation of the law, the crime of fraud, the crime of rape and other crimes.

Officials explained that this type of illegal training activity misused concepts related to psychology, success and modern technology to promote the so-called spiritual cultivation. It implements mind control through closed training, using methods including cutting off contact with the outside world, hypnosis, brainwashing, psychological suggestion and self-denial.

Such illegal organizations also expand their teams by means of joining, distribution, advancement and even pyramid schemes, in many cases amassing huge sums of money. Some illegal training activities also subjected trainees to unlawful detention, rape, molestation and other physical assaults, and engaged in collective obscene activities in the name of physical and mental liberation.

Public security authorities have called for the public to recognize the nature and harm of illegal training activities, and to consciously resist such activities of "spiritualism." 

Editor's Note:

Chinese people believe that letters are as valuable as gold. For thousands of years, letters, across mountains and oceans, have been delivering the writers' sentiments and conveying friendship and expectations.

Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and Chinese president, has managed to find time to reply to some of the letters sent to him from different sectors of the society and different parts of the world despite of his busy work schedule.

Through his letters, Xi has corresponded with people from all walks of life on numerous occasions, part of a series of excellent China stories in the new era.

The Global Times traced and contacted some of the recipients of Xi's letters, to hear the inspiring stories behind the letters and their communications with the Chinese president.

In this installment, the Global Times speaks with teachers and students from Muscatine High School in Iowa, the US, who shared their experiences and insights from their visit to China for exchanges after being invited by President Xi, as well as their hopes for future youth exchanges between China and the US.

"I'm extremely thankful that President Xi spent time to write to us. It was very touching he was able to hear about the amazing times on our trip," Seinna Stonking, a freshman at Muscatine High School in the central US state of Iowa, told the Global Times.

This spring, Stoneking felt inspired and fruitful. She, together with more than 20 other students from her school, received a special gift - a letter from Chinese President Xi Jinping after they concluded their visit to China, which they considered as a "life-changing" and "eye-opening" journey.

On February 24, which marked the Chinese Lantern Festival of the Year of the Dragon, Xi replied to a letter from the students of Muscatine High School who visited China in late January and sent them New Year cards in return.

In the letter, the Chinese president encouraged the Muscatine High School students to revisit China and encouraged more American youths to come to China for exchanges and study, where they can get first-hand experience of a real China in a multi-dimensional and comprehensive manner, foster genuine friendship with the Chinese youth, and learn from each other so that they can jointly contribute to a stronger friendship between the people of the two countries.

Over the years, notwithstanding setbacks in China-US relations, Xi has consistently championed people-to-people exchanges with the US. He has written letters to Americans, stressing that the hope of the China-US relationship lies in the people, its foundation is in grass-roots connections, its future depends on the youth, and its vitality comes from subnational exchanges.

In tandem with the fervent hopes of the Chinese people, an increasing number of young Americans are immersing themselves in the vibrant tapestry of China. They're not merely visiting the nation, but also securing this chance to embrace the country's rich culture, and feel a profound connection between the two countries.

'Dear Grandpa Xi'

In an interview with the Global Times, students from Muscatine High School weren't bashful about their gratitude to President Xi.

"In my and my classmates' letter to President Xi, we wanted to highlight how eye-opening this trip truly was. To add on to this, how grateful we were to be able to have this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity," Stonking said.

With Xi's support, several Muscatine High School students paid an exchange visit to Beijing, Shanghai, and Hebei Province, among other places in China from January 24 to 30, becoming the first group of American students to visit China under a program Xi announced at Welcome Dinner by Friendly Organizations in the US, in San Francisco during his visit to the country in November 2023. The program aimed at inviting 50,000 American youths over the next five years to China for exchanges and study.

One of their gifts to Xi upon their arrival in Beijing was a school flag of Muscatine High School with the words "Grandpa Xi, Here We Are" written in Chinese.

Behind the phrase "Here We Are" was the excitement most students feel when coming to China for the first time, where they climb the Great Wall, visit the Forbidden City, and experience traditional Chinese culture such as writing Chinese calligraphy and weaving Chinese knots.

"It was a new experience for me; it was life-changing and I loved the Great Wall and Shanghai. I had a great time meeting all the teachers and students," Leo Regennitter, a sophomore at the school, told the Global Times.

"The most memorable experience for me will always be the opportunity I got to make a connection with many students I met. All the students and teachers were so unbelievably kind and hardworking. The many places I went to like the Great Wall or the Shanghai Tower took my breath away and were so beautiful," Stonking recalled.

On January 28, before the end of our visit to China, the children discussed what gifts they could give President Xi, to express their gratitude for inviting them to visit China and share with him the joy of their visit, Heidi Kuo, a Chinese language teacher at Muscatine High School, told the Global Times.

Then, a letter featuring beautifully written Chinese characters to "Dear Grandpa Xi" was born.

"Many students poured their heart into their letters, sketching the awe-inspiring highlights of their China journey. From the majestic Great Wall to the cuddly panda, each illustration breathed life into their experiences. There was also a vivid strokes of a hand-painted Chinese dragon in the letter that truly captured their belief in its symbolic representation of China," shared Kuo.

"China is really huge, just like the US. Thank you for giving us the opportunity to come to China," said the letter signed by over 20 students, with hearts drawn next to their signatures.
According to Muscatine Journal, on February 28, during their monthly work session, the Muscatine School Board had the opportunity to hear directly from some of the students and chaperones who visited China for a week, where both Regennitter and Stoneking had the chance to speak about some of their experiences.

Regennitter shared the wonderful experiences the group had at the Shijiazhuang Foreign Language School, which is Muscatine's sister school, where they played table tennis and learned to make Chinese knots. The group also had the opportunity to celebrate Chinese New Year at the Zhang Yuan Garden, where they were joined by college students from the US.

"I told so many people in my life it was an amazing experience that I'll never forget. If any student was thinking of going and was unsure, I would them to go for it and they won't regret it," Stoneking told the Global Times. "It's a completely different experience to see China in person," she emphasized.

While also citing the Chinese saying "seeing is believing" in his reply letter, Xi said the warm and friendly American people he met during his first visit to the US in 1985 have given him an indelible impression.

The same touching experience has happened after three decades, among a group of high school students.

"While in China, I've never felt safer and did not view the country as it can sometimes be portrayed in American media," Stoneking said.

Many US media outlets reported that the students' trip to China came amid increased tensions between the US and China in the wake of a series of fractious actions.

However, American students who come to China see that Chinese and American students have forged deep friendships and are eager to communicate with and learn about each other.

"From what I experienced, the people of the US and China are more similar than different and we can learn a lot from each other," Stonking stressed.

Stonking said she felt the trip to China was "so motivating," and encouraged her to learn more about the Chinese language and the culture, "If I get the opportunity I would love to go to college in China and I hope to be a fluent speaker (of Chinese) someday."

Friendship continues to flourish

Muscatine is honored to have sent the first batch of students in the youth exchange program. The encouragement of interactions between the young people of the two countries is a continuation of the nearly 40-year friendship between Xi and the people of Muscatine, American entrepreneur Gary Dvorchak told the Global Times.

In the spring of 1985, Xi, at that time a county leader in Zhengding, in China's northern province of Hebei, took his initial steps on US soil.

From then on, Xi never forgot his American friends and believes that people hold the key to state-to-state relations.

During his trip to the US in November 2023, Xi recalled the story of this friendship with his old friends, mentioning that the house number during his stay was No. 2911 Bonnie Drive.

Today, 2911 Bonnie Drive, just two kilometers from Muscatine High School, has a more familiar name among locals - Sino-US Friendship House.

Dvorchak, owner of the house, and son of Eleanor and Thomas Dvorchak, the family that hosted Xi during his 1985 visit to Muscatine, believed that President Xi's warm response to the school students shows the value he sees in having young people from both countries getting to know each other personally and better understanding the values we share as human beings.

Dvorchak believes that the 50,000 young people exchange program and the Sino-US Friendship House getting more attention shows that people-to-people exchanges are all signs of building positive momentum.

"My hopes are high that the level of interaction will grow, producing tighter bonds among the people of our two great countries. This effort is critical to improving the relations between our countries," he said.

Kuo, in her seventh year of teaching Chinese at Muscatine High School, has witnessed a remarkable shift in student interest toward China and its rich culture. From once being unfamiliar, more and more students now eagerly embrace the allure of China.

Excitingly, the school is gearing up to send more students on a trip to China this coming April.

"After returning from our trip and watching the videos we captured, many students expressed a strong desire to visit China," Kuo shared.

Some Chinese schools also expressed their interest in fostering a sister school relationship with Muscatine High School. "We are eager to see students from both countries build even stronger bonds of friendship," she said.

Editor's Note:

The world recently celebrated a splendid Chinese New Year, welcoming the Year of the Dragon.

During the holidays, Global Times reporters returned to their hometowns where they were reacquainted with old traditions and introduced to new post-pandemic experiences. To share their experience, we have launched the "Hometown Diary" series. Spanning from north to south, east to west, six articles will focus on different provinces, exploring the development and evolution from traditional to modern, and from economic to cultural dimensions.

This series is not only a comprehensive review of China's vast territory and diverse regional cultures but also a profound reflection of how different areas across the country maintain their identity and embrace changes.

Through the lens of hometown observations, we hope to touch the hearts of our readers, allowing everyone to find resonance in these stories and feel the warmth and vitality that hometowns provide, regardless of changes brought about by time.

This is the third installment in the series, in which we gain a fresh perspective into understanding how Fuzhou has transformed to become a bridgehead for the integrated development of both sides of the Taiwan Straits, and how Shanghai serves as an attractive opening-up portal to the outside world.
I had assumed that Shanghai would be relatively quiet during this Chinese New Year holidays, when many migrant workers would leave for their hometowns during this annual family reunion season.

To my surprise, I witnessed a very lively Shanghai. People of different colors flooded every landmark, park, and shopping mall, posing for photos, tasting Shanghai-style snacks, chatting with their friends and families in various languages, and enjoying the city's surprisingly warm festive season weather.

It's common to see foreigners in Shanghai, as one of the most open and international metropolises in China. I was, nonetheless, a little amazed at the increasing number of foreign faces I encountered on the streets over the Chinese New Year period. I realized that many of them were tourists, probably visiting Shanghai for the first time.

Obviously, since the Chinese government announced temporary visa-free entry policies to more countries and regions, this time-honored and rapidly developing eastern country is becoming a new first-choice destination for global tourists.

First stop for expats to explore China

For many international tourists, Shanghai is an obvious first stop on a journey to explore a charming and mysterious China, especially during the Chinese New Year. With a perfect combination of traditional culture and international development, this city enables newcomers to wonderfully experience China's traditional festival customs without many language or lifestyle barriers.

The Yuyuan Garden in downtown Shanghai, a 450-year-old classical garden with exquisite architecture and tranquil landscapes, is a must-visit for foreign visitors. During the Chinese New Year holidays each year, visitors have the added luck of enjoying its gorgeous temporary New Year-themed lantern show.

On social media, Elon Musk's mother, Maye Musk, recently shared photos and videos of her at the garden. "When in Shanghai, I saw the most magnificent displays for [the] Year of the Dragon," she wrote on X, wishing a Happy New Year to her Chinese friends. Later Elon Musk replied, "More people should visit China."

Armenian violinist Astrid Poghosyan told me that she had also been to Yuyuan Garden. Dressed in an elegant Shanghai-style qipao, she posed for photos in front of the windows of a traditional attic, with colorful lantern lights hanging out of the windows as a beautiful backdrop.

Poghosyan had spent many Chinese New Year holidays in Shanghai since settling in this city in 2009. In the Spring festival, she would go to theaters and shopping malls, and celebrate the festival with her Chinese friends.

She shared some places across the city that she would recommend to foreign visitors to explore, from popular tourist attractions such as the Xujiahui historic area, to Wukang Road, both of which show Shanghai's charms from different angles.

Moreover, to better experience the festive atmosphere, Poghosyan said she suggests that expats in Shanghai spend the Chinese New Year with Chinese families.

"I would always spend the Chinese New Year with my Chinese friends, and I was very impressed by eating sunflower seeds and watching chunwan (the Chinese New Year gala) on TV," she smiled. "These were some very typical [Chinese New Year experiences]."

A window to nation's high-level opening-up

To many foreign visitors, Shanghai is not only the first stop on their China trip, but also an important window to closely experience China's modern development and its high-level opening-up.

Data showed that Shanghai received a total of 16.7595 million tourists over the eight-day Chinese New Year holidays this year, an increase of 50 percent year-on-year.

In Shanghai, "high-level opening-up" is never just a slogan. It can be found in many details of the city. I still remember how excited I was one day in November, when I saw a small board at a downtown restaurant that read "Visa, Master now available." The restaurant owner told me that just days before, they had updated the payment system under the city government's guidance.

Many foreign visitors have noticed and celebrated this improvement in payment methods. On February 8, two days before this year's Chinese New Year holidays, I randomly talked to a few foreign tourists at the Shanghai Railway Station. One of them was a Japanese university student who planned to have a week-long stay in Shanghai.

"In the past, I used Alipay's English version. Now in Shanghai I can't wait to directly pay with my master card; that's much better and convenient for us international visitors," a a Japanese university student nicknamed Ai told me at the Shanghai Railway Station, who planned to have a week-long stay in Shanghai.

Improvement in payment methods is just a small part of Shanghai's efforts. In recent months, Shanghai has worked incredibly hard to let expats in the city, both tourists and residents, feel at home.

On January 1, the Shanghai government unveiled a new online expat service provision portal, introducing the beta version of its English website alongside accounts on social media including on Facebook and X. The portal, which will later be available in eight other languages, is designed to provide expats in Shanghai with authoritative information and interactive services in areas such as business and job-seeking, in addition to studying, traveling and shopping.

Prior to that, Shanghai released a handbook named International Services Shanghai: A Guide to Shanghai for Expats in September 2023, which contains the most useful information including on public transportation and medical care.

Some expats told me that the handbook has become their "second passport in Shanghai."

Having come to Shanghai as far back as 2009, Poghosyan joked that she is sort of "envious" of the newcomers, who can enjoy many more conveniences that Shanghai now offers international visitors compared to years before. "The service website, and the visa and master payment methods, are very good examples that show the big progress Shanghai has made in this aspect," she said.

The last time I saw Poghosyan in person was at the closing ceremony of a painting exhibition "Foreigners, But Not Outsiders" in November 2023. At the time, China had just implemented policies that extend visa-free entry to travelers from six countries - France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain, and Malaysia - for a stay of 15 days.

Poghosyan applauded the visa-free entry policy. "This is a very good step forward," she said to me. "I very much welcome people, not only from the six countries included in the policy but also from all over the world, to come to China, and take a closer look at the real China."

Having been living in Shanghai for decades, I have fully felt the charms of this "second hometown" to domestic and foreign migrants, global tourists, as well as international enterprises. I believe that Shanghai, as a bridgehead for China's high-level opening-up, will continue attracting more people to come, experience, and even settle here with its openness, inclusiveness, and diversity.

It is crucial to let more people outside China know about the Chinese economy and investments in China, and let them have the proper knowledge or expertise in the Chinese markets, Rani Jarkas, chairman of the Cedrus Group, said after attending the Davos 2024.

The Cedrus Group is a Swiss-owned global private investment bank that has been in China for more than 15 years. It was founded in 2001 specializing in offering private wealth management, investment management, and financial advisory services with a focus on life sciences, technology, natural resources, and nanotechnology industries.

This year's annual meeting of the World Economic Forum (WEF) took place in Davos, Switzerland, from January 15 to 19. Under the theme of "Rebuilding Trust," the event attracted nearly 3,000 leaders from 120 countries.

Regarding the topics that impressed him the most during the annual event, Jarkas said that one was about China and its growth. "I found that many people were not informed about the Chinese economy, talking about China and its economy from the outside in a vacuum without any proper knowledge or expertise in the Chinese markets."

"Being the bridge between China and Switzerland, and Europe in general, Cedrus helps Chinese companies to expand in the European markets and for European companies to operate in China successfully," the chairman added.

Another important topic was about artificial intelligence (AI): Whether AI is going to be a leading technology for the future or harmful for human beings. I felt that the atmosphere was split between negative and positive sentiments on AI and its prospects, Jarkas said.

Regarding which areas would be the highlights of global economic development, he pointed out that Quantum AI, computing, semiconductors, and clean technology are going to be very important for the future. "I think those terms will be with us for many years. And I believe that China will be a leader in many of these technologies going forward."

"We always invest in high growth companies, like I mentioned before, in terms of life sciences and innovative technology. That's been our focus for over 3 years, and I will continue to enhance this expertise and looking at great companies to invest in globally."