Cultural Depictions of Gold in Literature and Film and Their Effect on Trading Perceptions

China Matters’ Feature: Japanese Blogger “Challenges”
Zhongshan Baseball Players

Thirty-five years ago, Zhongshan was joyful to embrace Moriguchi
as its first international sister city. Time has witnessed extensive
exchanges between the two sides, among which the most remarkable
one is the exchange of teenagers who have studied and attended
sports events in the two places. Baseball, the most popular sport in
Japan for instance, is also highly popular and widely spread among
Zhongshan teenagers. Additionally, during the past decade, residents
of all ages in Zhongshan have become increasingly involved in this
sport.
What is the baseball history in Zhongshan and China? What kind of
baseball interactions did Japan and China previously have?
In this video, China Matters and Japanese blogger Rei Kubota head
towards Zhongshan International Baseball Town to uncover more
secrets about Chinese baseball. They are invited to visit Zhongshan
Dongsheng High School, where Zhongshan’s first baseball team was
established. Besides seeing how young players are trained on a daily
basis, they will also have a chance to "challenge" the school’s
baseball team.
Following that, they drive to the Panda Baseball Stadium, which is
named after the “Panda Team” coached by Liang Fuchu, the father
of Chinese baseball who was born in Zhongshan. The 9th Asian U12
Youth Baseball Tournament was held there as well. Standing on the

best baseball field in Zhongshan, Kubota feels it’s time to hit a home
run that he has been desperate for so long.
Will Kubota’s long-desired dream come true? How does he see the
unexpected, long-standing baseball tradition in Zhongshan?

Contact: Wu Xuanni
Tel: 008610-68996566
E-mail: chloefeng@foxmail.com

CICG:Visiting the “Sea of Flowers” in Zhongshan

On December 9, the visiting delegation consists of translation celebrities and foreign media hosted by the CICG Academy of Translation and Interpretation – “Experience the Vitality of Zhongshan Tour” visited the 2023 Xiaolan Chrysanthemum Fair.

It is said that the small chrysanthemum has witnessed the development and change of this land over thousands of years. Xiaolan people celebrate the tradition of admiring chrysanthemums, planting chrysanthemums, and appreciating chrysanthemums. As early as the Southern Song Dynasty, the Xiaolan people who have escaped the war began to plant chrysanthemums from the south of the Central Plains. In 1736, Xiaolan people held a “chrysanthemum test” to test each family’s chrysanthemum art, which has become the earliest prototype of the chrysanthemum fair. In 1782, Xiaolan organized the first chrysanthemum fair. Xiaolan holds a large chrysanthemum fair every 60 years since the Jiaxu Year of the Jiaqing Emporer in the Qing Dynasty (1814, 1874, 1934 and 1994). In the year of 1979 which ushered in China’s reform and opening-up, the “Chrysanthemum Fair” resumed in Xiaolan Town has attracted the overseas Chinese and compatriots of Hong Kong and Macao in Zhongshan, returning to their hometowns and beginning to invest in factories, giving rise to the first group of Sino-foreign cooperative enterprises as well as the “households with saving of ten thousand yuan” after the reform and opening-up, which have made an indelible contribution to China’s economic development. The 4th Chrysanthemum Fair held in 1994 attracted more than 6 million visitors at home and abroad. In 2006, the “Xiaolan Chrysanthemum Fair” was included in the first batch of “National Intangible Cultural Heritage” protection lists. Today, Xiaolan Chrysanthemum Fair is the most famous cultural and tourism event in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao GBA.

Inside the Xiaolan Chrysanthemum Garden, eight major exhibition areas such as the Chrysanthemum Art Scenic Area, the Famous Chrysanthemum Collection Area, the Sea of Flowers Area, the Cultural and Art Exhibition and Performance Area, the Cultural Exhibition Area, the Food Court Area, the Creative Market Area, and the Leisure and Cyber Celebrities Area are dazzling to the eye. More than 20 groups of chrysanthemum themed landscapes have been created, and more than 800 kinds of chrysanthemums combining poems, paintings, and shadows, further highlighting the cultural charm of chrysanthemums. Furthermore, about 12,000 square meters of the colorful sea of flowers are unforgettable for tourists.

In the chrysanthemum garden, tourists are interested in tasting the “chrysanthemum fair on the tip of the tongue”. The meat cooked with chrysanthemum, chrysanthemum wine, chrysanthemum ice cream and other Xiaolan delicacies, as well as the chrysanthemum culture display experience, all offered the tourists a real treat. “In Japan, chrysanthemum culture also has a long history, and Xiaolan Chrysanthemum Fair has really opened my eyes. After I return, I will recommend it to my media friends from all over the world, so that they can also experience and report on the Zhongshan Xiaolan Chrysanthemum Fair next year.” UENO TOMOKAZU a journalist from Japan, said excitedly.

The combination of brilliant Chinese chrysanthemum culture and modern civilization has given Xiaolan Chrysanthemum Fair a more unique connotation and a broad space for inheritance and development. Zhongshan continues to expand the “circle of friends” with flowers and to enhance the friendship with chrysanthemums, discussing the development and promoting the prosperity with various forces at home and abroad.

Contact: Zhang Yan

Tel: 008610-68994660

E-mail: zhangyan@cipg.org.cn

CICG: Experiencing the “Intelligent Production in Zhongshan”

On December 9, the visiting delegation consists of translation celebrities and foreign media hosted by the CICG Academy of Translation and Interpretation – “Experience the Vitality of Zhongshan Tour” visited the “Intelligent Production in Zhongshan” in-depth. In April 2022, the three Chinese astronauts who docked in orbit for six months for the first time returned to the earth and triumphed, making the world pay attention to them, and the equipment that “convoyed” them included “Intelligent Production in Zhongshan”: On the China Space Station, two aerospace microwave ovens that provided them with cooking services for three meals a day came from the Galanz Group Zhongshan Base; the “convoying chair” where the astronauts were lying after leaving the warehouse was also developed and manufactured by a Zhongshan Enterprise – Sitting Sense Technology Co., Ltd.

According to Chen Min, head of Sitting Sense Technology, the company’s R&D team spent half a year boldly innovating and developing this special chair in many ways, which can comprehensively and effectively cushion the head, neck, waist and hips of astronauts, playing a role in supporting the whole body, and helping astronauts who have lived in space for a long time to adapt to Earth’s gravity. Behind the “convoying” is the accumulated strength of this national high-tech private enterprise in the field of office seat R&D and manufacturing for more than 20 years.

“It doesn’t look any different from other chairs, but why is it so comfortable to sit on?” The members of the delegation praised an office chair after experiencing sitting on it. Chen Min said that unlike general office chairs, which are based on ergonomics, Sitting Sense Technology advocates re-designing office chairs from a medical perspective, researching and developing chairs based on human biomechanics theories such as rehabilitation and chiropractic to make them more suitable for human needs. Nowadays, Sit Sense Technology has been highly recognized by overseas consumers and has become a seat provider for many Forbes Top500 companies and large international conferences.

At the Galanz Group’s Zhongshan Base, the delegation visited its “smart factory” – a microwave oven production workshop up close: hundreds of robots waving its arms, after firmly “grabbing” parts with suction cups, quickly and accurately placed them in the corresponding position of the machine tool. After processing the parts, the next robot “took them away” to start the next processing stage. Zou Nengji, vice president of Galanz Group, said that since the transformation of the production of civil microwave ovens in the early 1990s, Galanz has accumulated the experience of research and development over more than three decades. After the long-term technological innovation, it has now broken through the technical barriers of foreign manufacturers, has many core technologies in the field of microwave ovens, and has achieved global leadership in the production and sale of microwave ovens.

From industrial city to strong industrial city to high-quality development, the “Intelligent Production in Zhongshan” has not only burst out the innovation vitality of the private economy in Zhongshan, but also a broader development platform.

Contact: Zhang Yan

Tel: 008610-68994660

E-mail: zhangyan@cipg.org.cn

China: An active participant in promoting human rights within the framework of global governance

Liu Huawen, executive director and researcher at Human Rights Research Center of Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, wrote a book review on Xi Jinping: On Respecting and Protecting Human Rights. He believes that the book provides a comprehensive review of President Xi Jinping’s approach to respecting and protecting human rights. The book also provides important insights into how China plays an active role in promoting human rights within the framework of global governance. Active participation in promoting human rights within the framework of global governance embodies an important approach and major milestone for China to achieve human rights-based development. In the book Xi Jinping: On Respecting and Protecting Human Rights, President Xi Jinping illustrated four points.

First, countries around the world should practice true multilateralism, and safeguard the international system with the United Nations at its core and the international order underpinned by international law.

In his speech at the general debate of the United Nations General Assembly on September 21, 2021, Xi said, “…we must improve global governance and practice true multilateralism. In the world, there is only one international system, i.e. the international system with the United Nations at its core. There is only one international order, i.e. the international order underpinned by international law.” He also stressed the importance of the UN to “advance, in a balanced manner, work in all the three areas of security, development and human rights.”

Second, all countries should emphasize the importance of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, and create a virtuous cycle where cooperation, development and human rights reinforce one another.

China is the first developing country to realize the United Nations Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), contributing over 70 percent to global poverty reduction. While managing its own affairs well, China is also an active player in driving global economic growth. An advocate and practitioner of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, China highly values the formulation and implementation of the United Nations development agenda.

Third, China has devoted serious energy to the development of developing countries and South-South cooperation.

Being the largest developing country itself, China faces the same or similar task with other developing countries along the path to survive and thrive through economic and social development. In fact, a basic principle in China’s foreign policy is to strengthen solidarity and cooperation with third world countries.

Fourth, every country should uphold the common values of humanity, playing an active role in the building of a global community of shared future.

Thanks to China’s efforts, the United Nations Security Council, the Economic and Social Council and the Human Rights Council have included the concept of building a global community of shared future in a number of resolutions, making it an increasingly significant component in international human rights discourse. The international community has achieved the consensus that human rights should be respected and protected, and that solidarity and cooperation should be strengthened. Promoting human rights within the framework of global governance is anchored in the common values of peace, development, fairness, justice, democracy and freedom illuminated by President Xi Jinping, and in the building of a global community of shared future.

Contact: Ms. Liu Yuhong

Phone: 008610-68995846

Email: 1542190629@qq.com

China Matters’ Features: An astrophile of “chasing” space station

On November 28th, China’s Tiangong space station has been photographed in its complete form for the first time. The space station’s main purpose is for scientific research.

In 1992, the Chinese government proposed a “three-step” strategy for aerospace engineering. Three decades later, from the Tianyan telescope, to the Tiangong space station, and the Tianwen-1 mission, China has steadily marched forward to unravel more mysteries of the universe.

Liu Boyang, a doctor of astrophysics, has been recording the changes of China’s space station as an astrophile. In April 2022, with self-developed optical tracking technology, Liu successfully captured a high-definition close-up image of the space station. Since then, he has traveled with his equipment to over 10 cities across the country, and photographed a total of 12 configurations.

In this video, China Matters portrays Liu Boyang’s latest and previous experience of photographing the configuration of Tianzhou-5 and Tianzhou-6 cargo spacecrafts, the largest configuration so far. Meanwhile, the story of why Liu Boyang took up his journey of chasing China space station and his dedicated efforts to record all kinds of configurations will be unveiled.

In what way is Liu Boyang going to continue his efforts about China’s space station? What plans does he have for this dedication?

Contact: Shao Dantong

Tel：008610-68996996

E-mail：shdt@cnmatters.com

Futian District in Shenzhen, China looking for FDI

Morgan Stanley, Siemens Energy, Starbucks, more than 156 of the Forbes global top 500 companies have invested in this region in China. The region is Futian District in Shenzhen, China.

Located in the central urban area of Shenzhen and with an area of 78.66 km² and a population of about 2.2 million, Futian District is the administrative, cultural, financial, business and international communication center of Shenzhen.

In recent years, Futian District has consistently ranked at the forefront of China’s districts and counties. By 2022, the regional GDP has exceeded 550 billion RMB. It will highlight the “three major industries” of science and technology, finance, and fashion, aiming at the “three major positions” of the Central Innovation District, the Central Business District, and the Central Dynamic District, striving to become one of the urban districts with a GDP of 600 billion RMB.

Futian District focuses on the development of strategic emerging industries and future industries. It has successfully built four clusters at a level of 50 billion RMB, such as digital creativity, new energy, software and information services, and intelligent terminals; several clusters at a level of 10 billion RMB, such as modern fashion, semiconductors and integrated circuits, biomedicine among others.

In August 2023, the State Council of China issued the Development Plan for the Shenzhen Park of the Hetao Shenzhen-Hong Kong Science and Technology Innovation Cooperation Zone, which tailored a national strategic blueprint for the cooperation between Shenzhen and Hong Kong upon scientific and technological innovation, clarifying the policies of the 15% personal income tax as well as corporate income tax taxation for specific enterprises and individuals, and “highly convenient entry and exit” for personnel and goods. At present, the Hetao Shenzhen-Hong Kong Science and Technology Innovation Cooperation Zone in Futian District has promoted more than 150 high-end scientific research projects and gathered more than 3,000 scientific researchers to further promote scientific and technological innovation cooperation. The development potential of this region in the future is immeasurable.

Innovative Futian District with entrepreneurial blessing. With the best resources, most facilitating policies, and optimal opportunities, Futian District will serve the vast number of enterprises, making endeavors in Futian so as to receive great harvest.

Contact: Wang Huang

Tel: 0086755-88910632

Email: ftinvest@szft.gov.cn

Empowering South Africa with Clean Energy

Within just two years, the largest clean energy power plant of South Africa has emerged out of nothing on the vast wilderness in Northern Cape. It is the 100MW Redstone concentrated solar thermal power plant constructed by POWERCHINA in South Africa, a country thousands of miles away from China.

Though miles apart, the people of China and South Africa enjoy a long-standing friendship. Thanks to Belt and Road cooperation projects such as the Redstone power plant, the two sides have deepened mutual understanding and come closer to each other through enhanced exchanges.

Relieving Power Shortage

In recent years, South Africa’s economic development has been constrained by insufficient energy supply. Power shortage has not only slowed down economic growth, but also caused the inconvenience of people’s daily life in the country.

In fact, South Africa is one of the countries most suitable for developing concentrated solar thermal power (CSP) projects in the world. Leveraging this advantage, SEPCOIII Electric Power Construction Co., Ltd. under POWERCHINA constructed the Redstone CSP project in South Africa, the largest renewable energy investment project in the country. It is estimated that the project will generate about 480GWh of electricity for the country’s grid each year after it is put into operation, meeting the power demand of 200,000 local households at peak time and substantially boosting trade, investment and economic development of South Africa.

On October 20, 2022, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa visited the construction site of the Redstone 100MW CSP project. He spoke highly of the project’s engineering quality, and expected the power project to begin operation as scheduled and further enhance friendship and mutual trust between China and South Africa.

Stimulating Local Development

John is an electric engineer at POWERCHINA’s Redstone project. Before joining the project, he was an electric technician in a small local company, and made a living on odd jobs. Since he began to work for the Redstone project, John has participated in vocational trainings on circuit analysis, circuit theory, electronic technology, and others. Soon, he grew from a grassroots technician into an indispensible electric engineer. With the increase of his income, his family’s living standards have greatly improved.

At present, there are nearly 1,000 local employees like John working with the Redstone project of POWERCHINA, which has created a large number of job opportunities for locals.

POWERCHINA actively implements a strategy of localization. Grounded on local resources in South Africa, it gives priority to local enterprises in terms of procurement and outsourcing. To date, the corporation has established partnerships with 50 sub-contractors in South Africa, forming a new industrial cluster in the locale.

Teaching Locals “How to Fish”

A Chinese proverb goes, “Give a man a fish, and you feed him for a day; Teach a man how to fish, and you feed him for a lifetime.” To enhance local employees’ vocational skills, POWERCHINA’s Redstone project set up a welder training base. In the future, POWERCHINA will join hands with local universities to launch the “Power Plant Lecture” program, with an aim to cultivate new energy talent for South Africa’s power development.

Moreover, POWERCHINA takes an active part in the development of local communities, and always offers a helping hand to those in need in the time of crisis. One time, the head of the project received a phone call from a local community: a fire broke out in their pasture, and they needed emergency assistance. The project head immediately mobilized all resources available, and sent two spraying vehicles carrying sufficient bottled water and bread to the spot to carry out disaster relief. Eventually, the crisis was solved through joint efforts. Some local residents gave warm hugs to Chinese employees contributing to the relief effort to express their gratitude.

With the deepening friendship between the two sides, local residents aspire to an early opening of this new energy power plant. They are clearly aware that the project will provide adequate clean energy for local communities, enabling them to reduce reliance on fossil fuel while profoundly changing their lives and creating a better and more sustainable development space for future generations.

Contact: Huang Xuelai

Tel: 008610-68996961

E-mail: huangxl@cnmatters.com

China Matters’ Feature: Hangzhou City Tour Guide for the Asian Games

During the 19th Asian Games, the charming city of Hangzhou once again gained widespread attention both domestically and internationally. During the Hangzhou Asian Games, 6 short video bloggers from the United States, France, Venezuela, and Slovakia embarked on their long-anticipated journeys, sharing stories of what they witnessed in Hangzhou during the Asian Games.The bloggers first visited China’s first lake-themed museum—the West Lake Museum, where they learned about the past and present of the Lake. Subsequently, blogger Jack went to the Liangzhu Museum to uncover the story behind the Asian Games’ mascot “Cong Cong”; Raz Galor visited the site of the Southern Song Dynasty Deshou Palace Ruins Museum and experienced being a tour guide for a day; Rafael Saavedra went to the China Cartoon and Animation Museum to understand why animation is so beloved by the younger generation; Ma Jia went to Qingshan Lake, relishing the leisure of boating amidst the trees; Li Ge went to the Asian Games skateboarding competition to cheer for the athletes; while Lila donned a cheongsam to take photos at museums and ancient villages.

Contact: Li Dixuan

Tel:008610-68996991

E-mail: lidx@cnmatters.com

Surrounded by sea on three sides, Xiangshan, by a glance, is just a small city in Zhejiang Province. In fact, it is home to some of the world’s top sailing enthusiasts, and almost every Xiangshan native is fond of sailing.

Here, sailing is not only a sport for athletes, but also a mass event. With the Asian Games underway, Xiangshan is trying every efforts to hold this great event successfully. Ying Haisong and his wife are among the people in Xiangshan who are sparing no effort to pursue their dream in the Asian Games: to promote sailing into thousands of households.

Ying Haisong, a native of Xiangshan, always considers himself as a man of the sea. Once an award-winning athlete of sailing, Ying is now a staff member of the Asian Games. China Matters explores the story of Ying Haisong about how he was engaged in sailing, led the team to win the gold medal for Xiangshan and now is preparing for the Asian Games. Our lens is also focused on Ying Haisong’s efforts with his wife Lin Feifei to train students so as to introduce sailing to the mass, especially children.

How does Ying Haisong see his hometown, Xiangshan and the on-going Asian Games? What is his expectation to the City of Sailing, and what can we, the audience, expect from Xiangshan?

Contact: Shao Dantong

Tel：008610-68996996

E-mail：shdt@cnmatters.com