An ongoing exhibition about Han Dynasty (206BC-AD220) stone reliefs at the Art Museum of West Taihu Lake in Changzhou, East China's Jiangsu Province, has been a major draw during the Mid-Autumn Festival holidays.
The stone reliefs are unique artistic works from the Western and Eastern Han periods and were created to decorate tomb chambers, ancestral halls, mausoleum gates, stone coffins and cliff grottoes.
This exhibition brings together nearly 200 precious collections from about 20 cultural institutions and university research units across China. It collects the latest research achievements in Han Dynasty stone reliefs, featuring new archaeological discoveries from various regions, archaeological sketches, outstanding publications and literature.
The 2024 12th China Beijing International Magic Carnival and World College Magic Exchange Convention kicked off in Beijing's Changping district on Friday. The event features promotional activities, hiking tours, and performances by magicians from China, Germany, the US, and Argentina, offering a top-tier magical showcase.
“As a key platform of Beijing's role as a national cultural center and an international exchange hub, Changping aims to use magic culture as a medium to create a ‘golden business card’ for international cultural exchange,” said Zhi Xianwei, mayor of Changping district.
Zhi briefed Changping’s rich history and deep cultural heritage. He extended a warm invitation to artists and university students from around the world to visit Changping, encouraging magic as a medium for deeper cultural exchanges and collaboration.
During the event, a series of magic performances and cultural activities were presented, with magicians from various countries presenting their talents to an audience of university students.
At the close-up magic show, American magician Bill Bentz performed a magic trick using three ancient Chinese coins he collected during his first visit to Xiamen, Fujian Province. As the coins moved between his hands, the audience, particularly the students, watched in awe.
“When I first saw these three Chinese coins, I knew I wanted to use them in a performance in America. I’m proud to celebrate China’s traditional culture,” Bill said.
In recent years, the blending of disciplines has become more prevalent in cultural tourism. With its flexibility and adaptability, magic has seamlessly integrated into various cultural and tourism contexts into various cultural and tourism contexts.
Tang Yanhai, secretary of the Chinese Acrobats Association, noted that the magic carnival not only adheres to international standards by hosting high-level exchange activities but also explores new paths for industry integration, combining the magic experience with cultural and tourism consumption, and creating new cultural tourism experiences.
Jin Chutong, a Beijing-based folk magician and magic instructor, told the Global Times that Chinese folk magic is an important part of the country’s cultural heritage.
“Over the years, I’ve seen magic expand beyond theater into tourist attractions and cultural activities, offering audiences more opportunities for close-up experiences. This integration has created more performance opportunities and brought magic into everyday life,” Jin noted.
“Magic requires both innovation and preservation. I hope more young people will join the field and revitalize Chinese folk magic in the modern era,” he added.
Gao Gao the giant panda is 32 years old, equivalent to 112 years old in human age. Although he is in the sunset years of his life with some unavoidable age-related health issues such as abraded teeth, Gao Gao still lives in the Dujiangyan panda park of the China Conservation and Research Centre for the Giant Panda (CCRCGP) and has been nicknamed "Grandpa Gao."
Chen Rui, one of the breeders at the CCRCGP who is in charge of taking care of Gao Gao, told the Global Times that he still remembers when he first met the giant panda at the airport after returning to China from the US.
"The lovely 'grandpa' was a fussy eater at the time," Chen recalled, adding that it took a lot of efforts to transform Gao Gao's "addiction" to cookies, persuading him to accept a more balanced diet.
Such stories of giant pandas like "Grandpa Gao" and their breeders happening every day at the breeding base have been presented in a TV show called Panda's Family, recently released on Hunan TV and Mango TV, capturing how Chinese breeders guard giant pandas from cradle to grave and help them return to the wild, giving the public a new perspective on the interactions between humans and animals.
Netizens commented that they saw the cross-species affection between breeders such as Chen and Li Rong and the pandas in their care. These breeders, who are the closest humans to giant pandas, dedicate most of their time and energy to the work and become family to the giant pandas.
The team of panda breeders is growing larger. In the TV show, six younger interns gain experience as breeders and also build firm bonds with the pandas they are caring for. Ma Xiaoyu, one of the interns, told the Global Times that she is eager to take the mantle of caring for giant pandas after officially joining the team.
The program has since come to an end, but the story of the harmonious relationship between humans and giant pandas, as it extends into the natural world, lives on. Love and trust
Mornings at the breeding base are typically busy for Ma. She and other interns need to clean the colony houses for more than one hour and then prepare the giant pandas' breakfast on time, a basin of milk formula specifically formulated for panda cubs and fresh bamboo for the adult pandas.
They then monitor and record the situation of pandas every half hour to spot and rapidly respond to any abnormalities in the pandas' behavior. The collected data is then given to veterinarians and biological experts regularly to help safeguard the endangered animals' health.
"The feeding capability of panda cubs is not like that of the adults, so we need to care for the cubs skillfully and patiently," Li told the Global Times. She has been responsible for taking care of panda moms and their cubs.
The delicate nature of panda cubs also challenges Li's ability to observe and react. She said that they must take painstaking measures to prevent the cubs from contracting diseases as mild as influenza. "Accurately telling if panda cubs are ill usually relies on plenty of experience," Li noted.
Now Li has developed the "eye," instantly taking note of tiny dangerous factors as minute as a wooden thorn in a panda cub's toy.
Chen, who works in panda-related healthcare for aged pandas, has also expressed concern over the fragile state of giant pandas' health. He said that illness among old pandas is usually cumulative and he has to closely monitor surrounding pandas' excrement and movement to confirm if they are healthy.
Chen and Li both mentioned that their attitude to the work has transformed from just a responsibility to an indispensable part of life after becoming closely involved with pandas. Additionally, the pandas also display deep affection and trust in the breeders.
Destination in nature
"Tao Tao, as you walk into nature today, I wonder if we will have the chance to meet again in this lifetime. I hope you grow healthier and stronger in the wild and build your own family," Mou Shijie, the CCRCGP's breeder responsible for captive pandas' rewilding training and release, said to himself when staring at the first panda he trained and released running in the woods.
Chinese giant panda breeders not only care for captive pandas, but also try hard to help the endangered species return to the wild and maintain a wild population. Mou is a veteran member of the rewilding team.
Mou said that rewilding training work consists of two stages. The first is to build trust with panda moms and ensure that the nutritional needs of the cubs are met. When the cubs are about 1 year old, the mom and cubs are transferred to a broader area ready for training.
"The panda mother leads her cubs in the training area, where they can freely eat bamboo, find water sources, locate shelter, and learn crucial survival skills like avoiding predators. These are lessons only a panda mother can teach; we humans can't instill that wild instinct in them," Mou noted.
So far, the CCRCGP has successfully trained and released nine giant pandas back into the wild, which should ultimately be their true home.
The highly anticipated documentary The Sinking of The Lisbon Maru will be released publicly across China on Friday. The film tells a story interwoven with the cruelty of war, the brutality of the Japanese fascists, as well as the courage and humanitarian care of the ordinary Chinese people.
The truth about the sunken Lisbon Maru needs to be known by the whole world, said renowned Chinese filmmaker Fang Li, who directed and produced the documentary.
“I hope that every audience can further learn about the brutality of war through it, and cherish the peace we have today,” Fang told the Global Times on Thursday.
The documentary features the 1942 sinking of the “Lisbon Maru,” an armed Japanese cargo ship that participated in World War II. In October that year, Lisbon Maru transported more than 1,800 British prisoners of war (POWs) from Hong Kong toward Japan, without bearing a sign indicating it was carrying POWs – a violation of the Geneva Convention.
After being struck by the torpedo of a US submarine, Japanese soldiers cruelly battened the POWs down below deck, left them to drown, and even shot at them, leading to the deaths of 828 prisoners.
When the ship went down off the coast of Zhoushan Islands in East China’s Zhejiang Province, 384 POWs were fortunately rescued by local Chinese fishermen, who pulled them from the water risking their own life.
For decades, the Japanese authorities refused to acknowledge their atrocities committed in the Lisbon Maru incident. By chance, Fang, who is also an expert in geophysical exploration and marine technology, heard the story from some fishermen in Zhoushan in 2014, and later thought about making a documentary about it.
“I made the film to reveal the truth, for the young men who died in the Zhoushan Islands waters, and for the Chinese fishermen who helped rescue them,” Fang told the Global Times.
The film is not only for Chinese moviegoers, but audience from all over the world, particularly young people, he added. “I hope the film enables today’s youth to cherish their families, the people around them, and appreciate everything they own.”
Ahead of its nationwide release, The Sinking of The Lisbon Maru has already received many positive reviews in its preview screenings.
During the 26th Shanghai International Film Festival in June, several families of the POWs attended the documentary’s premiere. Denise Wynne, daughter of one of the survivors Dennis Morley, said that the heroism of the Chinese fishermen showed in the filmed impressed her a lot.
“My dad always said that the Chinese fishermen were heroes, and without them, I wouldn’t be here,” Wynne told the Global Times after the premiere.
Two trucks released a flock of more than 2,000 pigeons onto an expressway in North China's Hebei Province, leading to a semi-trailer's windscreen cracking as it navigated through the chaos, according to the traffic administration bureau of the Ministry of Public Security on Wednesday.
The two drivers, employed by a racing pigeon owner, transport over 2,000 racing pigeons from North China's Shanxi Province to Hebei for release, in order to test the time it takes for the pigeons to return to their breeding base in Shanxi.
They had planned to release the pigeons in a parking area, but since the area was not open, the two drivers were worried that the pigeons might die if they stayed in the vehicle beyond the release time. Consequently, they stopped at the ramp entrance and released them.
Over 2,000 pigeons burst into the sky within an instant, and the two even took out their cell phones to record the event, according to the report. Eventually, a heavy semi-trailer passing by was hit by a pigeon, causing its windscreen to crack.
The traffic police took action against the pigeon owner and the two drivers, and asked them to compensate the semi-trailer driver.
Recently, media representatives from China, Europe, and Africa, who were participating in the 2024 Media Cooperation Forum on Belt and Road, embarked on a journey to Leshan city in southwest China's Sichuan Province to explore the true essence of Emei. Forging friendship through martial arts
What happens when Emei martial arts, known for combining hardness with softness, intersects with submission grappling, which focuses on defeating opponents with skill?
In front of the main entrance to the Chinese Studies Hall of the Emei Kung-Fu Alliance, more than 30 young martial arts trainees were practicing martial arts moves. During a follow-up demonstration session, Emei martial arts practitioners showcased a range of martial arts techniques and equipment, drawing the interest of foreign media representatives who expressed a desire to become their apprentices and engage in skill-sharing.
"Emei martial arts, originating from Mount Emei, is known for its combination of hardness and softness, speed and slowness, and flexibility. It is recognized as one of the three main genres of martial arts in China," explained Wang Chao, an inheritor of the intangible cultural heritage of Emei martial arts.
"With its roots deeply embedded in Chinese culture, Emei martial arts embodies a harmonious blend of Confucianism, Buddhism, and Taoism, making it a highly inclusive practice," Wang elaborated. Inspired by the atmosphere, Per Markus Andersson, an editor with The Nordic Times, Sweden, and Isac Bomen, an editor with Nya Dagbladet, Sweden, teamed up to showcase submission grappling, earning warm applause from the spectators.
"Martial arts exchange fosters mutual learning among diverse civilizations. I have discovered that grappling and Emei martial arts share similarities. For example, both disciplines do not promote violence; rather, they are practiced to cultivate strength, encouraging individuals to develop self-discipline and a positive mindset," said Andersson. Bonding over craft
What happens when tea from Mount Emei meets coffee from Kenya?
Seated around a table, Yang Mei, a Chinese tea artist, and Agnes Mbithe Mwangangi, an editor with the Kenya Broadcasting Corporation (KBC), were presenting Chinese tea culture alongside the coffee culture of Kenya.
Warming the cup, observing the tea leaves, adding them to the cup, steeping, and brewing, all while listening to soothing music, a pot of Mount Emei tea was good to go.
"As the tea neared my nose, a refreshing aroma filled the air, I really enjoy the scent and taste of this tea," said Mwangangi. Kenya is famous for coffee production, and Mwangangi demonstrated the brewing method of Kenyan coffee.
"This one has a chestnut-like aroma when you drink it," said Yang.
"Coffee and tea can also be combined. We have partnered with a coffee shop to create a special blend of coffee and green tea. This unique blend has a fragrant and rich taste, offering a one-of-a-kind flavor experience," Yang added.
"In Kenya, many people also brew and drink tea using locally grown tea leaves. This exchange has brought us closer together," said Mwangangi.
United by artistry
In China, calligraphy is not just visual art but a reflection of deep cultural values, with its unique spirit and poetic essence.
"What does 'De Bu Gu' mean?" asked Cristina Andrade, a journalist from El Periódico de España after receiving a piece of calligraphy.
"It means virtuous people always find like-minded companions," explained a Chinese journalist.
"The Chinese characters represent harmony and kindness, values I strive to promote. If all countries embrace this, the world will be a better place," Andrade said, after knowing the meaning of the Chinese characters.
Foreign journalists gathered around the table of Lin Xu, an inheritor of Mount Emei finger painting, an intangible cultural heritage.
Emile Gankama, editorial director of Les Depeches De Brazzaville, Republic of the Congo, a painting enthusiast, joined Lin to finish the same work.
"Painting brings us closer together," Gankama said as he showed off the finished artwork.
"Our collaboration was seamless. I started with a portrait of a man, and Lin really got what I was going for, adding arms and a suit to round out the painting," he explained. As music started playing, Lilon Bongmatur from Vanuatu Broadcasting & Television Corporation, Vanuatu, pulled Chinese journalist Qiu Yue onto the dance floor to perform a traditional dance from the South Pacific island nation.
Gankama quickly joined in, followed by Lin.
As the music played, people from China and other countries formed a circle, clapping and dancing together, creating a lively atmosphere. Journalists from different countries exchanged invitations and well-wishes as they danced, fostering friendship.
China and ASEAN will eye more practical cooperation in digital technology and green economy, Chinese officials said on Wednesday, as the upcoming China-ASEAN Expo will add a new strategic theme, focusing on the development of new quality productive forces.
The expo is expected to shed light on the latest technological developments in digitalization, low-carbon transition, new energy and smarter internet-connected auto vehicles.
Vice Minister of Commerce Li Fei told a press conference that this year's expo, to be held in Nanning, South China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, from September 24 to 28, will showcase the latest achievements covering China's cooperation with ASEAN, focusing on promoting the construction of Version 3.0 of China-ASEAN Free Trade Area and their high-quality growth.
Li said that the expo will set up a high-tech products exhibition area from ASEAN countries, to display high-tech achievements from Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Vietnam, Indonesia, Cambodia and more, covering health, biomedicine, new energy and IT services, in order to support ASEAN's high-tech enterprises to explore new market shares in China and beyond.
"Both China and ASEAN are facing challenges relating to environmental protection and sustainable development, and there is extensive room for cooperation between the two sides in green infrastructure, green energy and green transport," Wang Peng, an associate research fellow at the Beijing Academy of Social Sciences, told the Global Times on Wednesday.
Moreover, there is huge potential for cooperation between the two sides in areas such as e-commerce, artificial intelligence, big data and smart cities, Wang said, noting that China's digital economy is among the world's largest, with the world's leading 5G network and a wealth of application scenarios.
"As an important platform for economic and trade cooperation between China and ASEAN, the expo has played an important role in promoting further cooperation between the two sides in emerging areas," Wang noted.
Li said that it will be the first time to invite some Gulf countries to participate in this year's exhibition, with the United Arab Emirates as a special partner to organize buyer groups to participate in the expo.
For the first time, the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) countries will be invited to participate in the fair, and some products from Kazakhstan and other SCO countries will be displayed. Australia, Japan and other RCEP members and the enterprises from Poland, Serbia and other Belt and Road partner countries will also participate in the exhibition, Li said.
China will support the expansion of trade with ASEAN in agricultural products and manufactured goods, and ramp up imports of products with specialties from ASEAN countries, Li noted.
The expo has gone through 20 years of development, and witnessed the rapid development of China's close partnership with ASEAN, Li said.
Since 2013, China's trade with ASEAN has grown at an average annual rate of 7.5 percent. China has remained ASEAN's top trading partner for 15 consecutive years, and ASEAN has been China's top trading partner for four consecutive years. China's bilateral trade with Vietnam, Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, Singapore, and other ASEAN members have all exceeded $100 billion. From January to July this year, China-ASEAN trade volume reached $552 billion, an increase of 7.7 percent year-on-year, accounting for 15.8 percent of the country's total foreign trade in the period.
In the first seven months, China's direct investment in ASEAN amounted to $12.96 billion, a year-on-year increase of 15.3 percent; ASEAN's direct investment in China reached $7.3 billion, up 14.1 percent.
With the implementation of RCEP and the accelerated negotiations on Version 3.0 of the ASEAN-China Free Trade Area, the level of regional trade and investment liberalization and facilitation has seen marked improvement, Li said.
"The constantly strengthening partnership between China and ASEAN will help shore up regional stability and prosperity, while create a more favorable environment for furthering cooperation," Wang noted.
China has proposed 10 measures to enhance global public security cooperation, focusing on joint collaborations to crack down on cross-border crime and worldwide terrorism, build peaceful, safe, and open cyberspace as well as deal with risks brought about by the development of artificial intelligence (AI), the Global Times learned from the Chinese Ministry of Public Security (MPS).
The measures were announced at the Global Public Security Cooperation Forum held in Lianyungang, East China's Jiangsu Province, from Sunday to Tuesday.
They are a vital part of a concept document on global public security cooperation formulated at the forum. Zeng Weixiong, the forum's president, told a press conference on Monday that the document lays out a global public security cooperation framework. "More specific cooperation and outcomes will come out in the future."
The concept document calls for the establishment and improvement of a global cybersecurity governance order and framework, addressing the differences in cyber governance issues between developing and developed countries, and building a consensus on cybersecurity governance.
It also called on more countries to enhance intelligence and information sharing to effectively monitor and prevent global terrorist activities. Developing countries should be provided with more technical training and equipment support to strengthen their counter-terrorism capabilities.
A research report on global public security index was a major topic of discussion during the forum. According to Zeng, the report is set to be published for the first time later this year to support sustained and long-term cooperation in the field of global public security.
A total of 2,100 experts, scholars, and personnel from law enforcement departments of 122 countries, regions and international organizations attended the forum in Lianyungang.
Under the guidance of the Global Security Initiative launched in April 2022, China has been enhancing its actions to make more contributions to promoting global public security.
At the opening ceremony of the forum, State Councilor and Minister of Public Security Wang Xiaohong announced that China would offer training to 3,000 law enforcement personnel from various countries in the coming year, part of the country's efforts to strengthen international cooperation to tackle global security challenges, media reports said.
About 100 senior law enforcement officials, principals of police academies and police experts from 19 countries and regions jointly launched a training plan (2025-2026) for talent in global public security during the forum.
Recently, at the invitation of MPS, six police officers from Serbia have visited China to undertake a one-month joint police patrol mission. According to the agreement between the two sides, Serbian police will collaborate with their Chinese counterparts to address the safety needs of Serbians in China and jointly foster a secure environment for tourism.
The 2024 Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) kicked off in Beijing on September 4. It takes place at a critical juncture when the world is grappling with various regional and global crises and there is a pressing need for countries from the Global South to join hands. How will this year's FOCAC elevate ties between China and Africa? What is the significance of building a high-level China-Africa community with a shared future? The Global Times (GT) interviewed a number of former officials and pundits from various African countries to share their insights and stories.
In the third article of this series, GT reporter Li Aixin interviewed Hisham El-Zimaity (El-Zimaity), secretary general of the Egyptian Council for Foreign Affairs and former ambassador of Egypt to Japan, Hungary, Slovenia and Pakistan.
GT: This year marks the 10th anniversary of the establishment of the China-Egypt comprehensive strategic partnership. How do you view the progress in China-Egypt relations over the past decade?
El-Zimaity: A decade is a just a part of the friendship between China and Egypt. Our relationship originally dates back to 1956. Egypt was the first country in the Middle East and Africa to establish diplomatic relations with China. Since then, our friendship has grown deeper and deeper. The elevation of our relations to a comprehensive strategic partnership, which happened just 10 years ago, was a natural and logical outcome of this deep bond.
The civilizations of China and Egypt have histories that stretch back thousands of years, unlike other countries that count their histories in the hundreds of years. China and Egypt each have a history of 5,000 years, perhaps more. The depth of these civilizations is deeply rooted in history, rich in experience and abundant in wisdom.
GT: How do you understand the idea of a "high-level China-Africa community with a shared future," which is a part of the theme in this year's FOCAC?
El-Zimaity: In this interconnected world and in this era of globalization, we are all in the same boat. While we may be geographically distant, we are united in our goal to develop our nations and benefit our people. We face significant challenges in education, health, industrialization and agriculture. We struggle with issues like water scarcity and diseases. Therefore, modernizing and building a strong China-Africa community with a shared future is essential. The populations of China and Africa together make up about one-third of humanity. Working together on issues and sharing a future is both natural and something we strongly support.
We should not forget the flagship initiatives introduced by China, such as the Global Development Initiative, which assists developing countries in meeting the UN Sustainable Development Goals and strengthens the understanding of development; the Global Security Initiative, which aims to bring countries together under a security framework governed by the principle of mutual non-interference; and lastly, the Global Civilization Initiative, which advocates for respect for the diversity of civilizations, rather than imposing ideas, such as universal values that are not universally agreed upon. If we add these three initiatives to what will be discussed by the leaders in Beijing, I believe we have a very rich agenda, which will contribute to the success of this forum.
GT: The FOCAC theme also focuses on modernization. How could China and Africa cooperate to join hands to advance modernization?
El-Zimaity: Modernization is the culmination of development. Development begins with establishing political stability and educating people. Additionally, infrastructure is crucial for attracting investments. While Chinese investments across the continent are most welcome, there is a need to attract even more. To achieve this, we must focus on improving education, healthcare and infrastructure, while maintaining political stability. Modernization is a goal in itself that will be achieved through the sustainable development goals.
During the pandemic, Egypt and China demonstrated a remarkable example of solidarity. While other countries were refusing to provide vaccines to Africa, China and Egypt worked together to supply vaccines to African nations. It's a wonderful example of our collaboration.
GT: How do the Egyptian public and businesses view the BRI?
El-Zimaity: Egypt was among the very first countries to join this important initiative. When I say "important," it's because it was a game changer - a game changer that addressed a significant gap in the field of development. This initiative was introduced by the Chinese president as something that would bring us together - not only China and Africa, but China and probably the rest of the world, as the initiative now involves more than 150 countries.
For the Egyptian business community and the public in general, this is a very welcome initiative, and will be fruitful. The initiative itself, as you know, focuses on infrastructure, such as developing ports, roads and industrial zones. It also includes health, the digital Silk Road and the educational Silk Road. It is a comprehensive initiative, where everyone stands to gain, and no one loses.
On the other hand, other [countries'] initiatives launched after the BRI have not materialized. The only initiative that is functioning properly is the BRI. What has greatly contributed to its success is the AIIB, which serves as the tool to implement agreements made among governments. This is something we greatly appreciate in Chinese thinking regarding the development of our region.
China's developmental experience, which managed to lift over 800 million people out of poverty through hard work, sacrifice and real efforts by everyone, is something we in Africa would like to learn from. Unfortunately, in Africa, we have around 600 million homes without electricity and about 900 million households without clean cooking energy. These are challenges that Africa hopes to address by learning from China's successful experience in reducing and alleviating poverty, and hopefully, one day, eliminating it completely from the developing world.
GT: From Egypt's perspective, what would an ideal world order look like? How can China and Africa collaborate to fulfill this vision?
El-Zimaity: It's a difficult question. We want a stable world where we can conduct business, trade, communicate, and exchange goods, services, and ideas. However, this ideal situation unfortunately does not exist.
What we need to do now is to try to pacify all parties. Let's do our best to achieve as much stability as we can. We need to stop further destabilization and the financing of terrorism by some actors. Terrorism has destabilized many countries in the Middle East and Africa. It's high time we cooperate to stabilize the world and address its problems.
It would be much better to resolve these issues at the negotiating table so that we can all benefit from the future. Egypt is not an enemy to anyone and wants to play a role in stabilizing the world, or at least our region, if possible. This includes solving the Palestinian issue by allowing Palestinians to establish their own state and live in peace. This is crucial for our stability, future and the development of our nation.
The 2024 Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) Summit is being held in Beijing from September 4 to 6. The theme of this year's summit is "Joining Hands to Advance Modernization and Build a High-Level China-Africa Community with a Shared Future." In light of this key event, the Global Times launches a series of China-Africa stories, including interviews with political leaders, stories of exchanges between young people from China and African countries, and intensive cooperation in various fields. Through these stories, we will see how China and Africa are deepening their ties and building a brighter future together.
The English adventure novel Robinson Crusoe, published in 1719, tells the story of a young man who gave up the conventional comforts of a middle-class life and embarked on a sea voyage to seek adventure.
Fast forward three centuries, Millennial Chinese national Cao Fengze, having graduated with a doctorate from China's prestigious Tsinghua University, is following in Crusoe's footsteps by leaving behind his secure career in China to pursue opportunities in Africa.
As he has worked on infrastructure projects in countries like Tanzania, Zambia, South Africa and Lesotho under the framework of the China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), Cao's endeavors sparked heated discussion online and inspired a new generation of young Chinese to consider Africa as a promising destination for realizing their own aspirations.
These ambitious individuals recognize that conventional overseas destinations like Europe and the US are no longer the sole gateways to success in today's evolving global landscape. Africa, with its dynamic opportunities and potential, has emerged as a beacon for those seeking new horizons.
By venturing into Africa, these forward-thinking youth are not only forging their own paths but also helping pave the way for the development of both China and other developing countries.
This journey is made possible through the deepening collaboration and strong bonds between China and Africa on the global stage, as well as Africa's increasingly prominent presence in China's social media landscape. Together, these interconnected elements form a network of young individuals transcending the confines of the traditional capitalist order, fostering a "community of shared future for mankind."
Across social media posts sharing people's experiences working in Africa, there's a prevailing belief among these young go-getters that "If you can tough it out, Africa is a goldmine waiting to be tapped." In those posts, Africa is no longer a synonym for poverty and underdevelopment, but is a continent seen as a land of opportunity and growth. With Chinese goods gaining popularity in Africa, young entrepreneurs are seizing the chance to make their own marks in sectors like e-commerce. Empowering small African traders
The active trade between China and Africa has created job opportunities for numerous foreign trade distributors. Among them, 24-year-old Fang Jing stands out for her focus on the emerging small wholesalers and African women running small businesses in this field, rather than the traditional large foreign trade clients.
Fang, the manager of trading company AKOMAPA, facilitates the direct sale and marketing of Chinese goods from factories to small-scale African wholesalers, with products ranging from diapers and mops to factory equipment.
With a turnover exceeding 10 million yuan ($1.4 million) in the past 12 months, Fang's company not only supplies goods but also offers free training to her African customers on selling products using a Chinese e-commerce mind-set.
For these emerging African small wholesalers and women looking to start their own businesses, finding the sources of authentic "Made in China" products. They face obstacles such as making sparse orders, language barriers, a lack of resources for on-site field research, difficulty in navigating online platforms, and troublesome after-sales services.
Fang told the Global Times that she addresses these needs by leveraging social media, where her vlogs showcase Chinese factories and product instructions, garnering significant interests from over 1,300 African retailers.
Fang's engaging videos, featuring the production process of items like diapers and slippers, resonate with African audiences via her down-to-earth personality and lively presentation style.
Her approach, inspired by Chinese e-commerce practices, intrigues many small-scale African retailers seeking to enhance their business strategies. Fang also provides online training on creating compelling product videos with a mobile phone and building customer groups for increased exposure and user engagement.
After quitting the high-paying and demanding IT industry and venturing into the uncharted territory of foreign trade with the Africans, Fang embarked on an adventurous journey two years after her college graduation.
She tirelessly braved the scorching sun to conduct surveys and investigations in various locations, seeking the ideal factory processing line that can manufacture products tailored to the daily habits and aesthetic tastes of African households. She fearlessly pursued debts across the ocean, risking bankruptcy, and burned the midnight oil scrolling through TikTok to grasp the consumption habits and cultural nuances of users in different African regions.
Witnessing the impact of her products, such as writing boards being used in African classrooms, Fang is filled with pride and satisfaction. She views herself as a mutually beneficial partner to her African customers.
In a shifting landscape where traditional manufacturing industries face pressure, young entrepreneurs like Fang are exploring new opportunities in Africa, attracting Chinese factories seeking to expand their presence in the African market. Fang's efforts have enabled her to ship an average of seven 40-foot containers overseas every month only one year after starting her business, showcasing the growing capabilities and confidence of Chinese youth in engaging with Africa. Strengthening small-scale farmers
Before venturing into Kenya to engage in farming and vegetable sales, 30-year-old Li Yi held a prestigious position as a consultant at McKinsey. Working in the firm's Los Angeles office at the time, creating presentations, and catering to clients from diverse industries, she did not even envision that within a few years, she would own a thousand-acre farm nestled at the foot of a mountain in Kenya, waking up at three in the morning to escort trucks to the market in the largest slum in Africa to sell tomatoes.
By the end of 2020, Li and her Kenyan partner had established an agricultural company named "FarmWorks," which primarily utilizes advanced planting techniques to empower local small-scale farmers. Li's company provides seeds, fertilizers, and standardized services such as spraying, while also handling backend crop procurement and sales to guarantee sales for farmers. They address the issues of "what to plant, how to plant it, and who to sell it to" for local small-scale farmers.
"Kenya's agricultural sector may have a modest starting point, but it boasts immense potential and a high ceiling," Li told the Global Times about her entrepreneurial journey.
"The African country struggles with low yields per acre, a scarcity of skilled labor, and limited local operational capabilities," she said. "Nevertheless, rapid population growth in Africa, land degradation due to climate change, and heavy reliance on imported staple foods have created a strong demand for agricultural advancements, particularly in high-yield, cost-effective farming utilizing superior seeds, fertilizers, and technology."
Embarking on a business venture in Africa is no easy feat. Issues such as imperfect social governance and law enforcement in Nairobi, along with incidents of theft by acquaintances and occasional demands for bribes from police and urban management officers are common occurrences.
Nonetheless, Li views starting a business in this enchanting African country as an exciting adventure, offering the opportunity to explore endless possibilities.
"For instance, in 2023, our farm collaborated with the International Potato Center to establish Africa's first solar-powered sweet potato storage facility, utilizing solar energy and a water circulation system for power generation. This innovative storage method enhances the quality of sweet potatoes," Li said, adding that this sustainable development experiment intriguing.
"From a purely financial standpoint, Africa may not yield immediate or substantial profits. For me, the satisfaction of tackling new challenges and making tangible impacts on local livelihoods is immensely rewarding. I believe this is invaluable," she noted.
Risky but enthusiastic
Hu Zhenxing, from Central China's Henan Province, became an internet sensation in October 2023 after a video, which showed him speaking English with a strong "Henan accent" in a meeting with a dozen employees in Africa, went viral.
Over the last 10 years, the scale of the hair products company Hu works for has gradually grown, and the wigs his company produced have sold well in the African market, while providing many jobs for the local people.
At present, the company's Ghana factory employs more than 1,200 people. Hu also graduated from the initial workshop director to the head of the Ghana plant. His career path is also a microcosm of Henan's export-oriented enterprises exploring opportunities in Africa.
Many find that working in Africa offers a less stressful and more fulfilling lifestyle, with opportunities to align their careers with local development goals. With the ongoing implementation of cooperation initiatives within the bilateral mechanism framework between China and Africa aimed at boosting youth exchanges, promoting import and export trade, and advancing China's assistance in agriculture, industry, and talent development in Africa, young people in China are eagerly seeking opportunities to pursue their dreams in the growing dynamic interaction of bilateral relations.
With the right mind-set and determination, these young entrepreneurs are carving out a niche for themselves in Africa's booming economy, actively engaging with the continent's macroeconomic development strategies and making their mark in the vibrant African business landscape.
While the allure of Africa's development potential is strong, venturing into unfamiliar territories do come with risks.
One of the biggest risks is the unfamiliarity with the local market and business environment. Cultural differences, language barriers, and a lack of understanding of local customs can make it difficult for Chinese entrepreneurs to navigate the African market.
Another major challenge is the lack of infrastructure in many African countries. Poor transportation networks, unreliable electricity supply, and limited access to internet and communication services can hinder the smooth operation of businesses. Chinese entrepreneurs may find it challenging to set up their operations and ensure efficient logistics in such environments. The danger of infectious disease is also part of the concern.
Moreover, political instability and corruption in some African countries pose significant risks to Chinese entrepreneurs. They may face challenges in dealing with government officials, obtaining necessary permits and licenses, and protecting their investments from potential expropriation or unfair treatment.
Even with great enthusiasm, several entrepreneurs who spoke with the Global Times still urge young Chinese people to carefully consider whether they are suitable to come to Africa for development after they have fully understood the situation. But they also welcome more people to join their ranks, as only by expanding can they jointly find opportunities within this emerging market in the process of the continent's modernization.
