A tourist surnamed Cao threw a Coke bottle at female giant panda Lanxiang in Chongqing Zoo on Sunday afternoon, causing her to be frightened. Cao claimed that he only intended to invite the giant panda to drink Coke. Cao is now suspected of disturbing public order and has been administratively punished by the public security authorities in accordance with the law, according to a release by Chongqing Zoo on Monday evening.
Lanxiang was lying on the ground enjoying bamboo when a drink bottle was suddenly thrown at her, causing her to scream and sit up instantly, according to a video of the scene provided by eyewitnesses, said the CNR on Monday.
As reported by CNR, nearby visitors then called for security and condemned Cao, for which he arrogantly retorted, "is it wrong for me to invite the giant pandas to drink Coke?"
The security personnel in the zoo immediately intervened upon noticing the incident, according to the release.
After the incident, the keepers promptly removed the Coke bottle from Lanxiang's activity area, and professionals conducted an examination and observation for her, said the statement, noting that Lanxiang is in good physical condition.
Cao is suspected of disturbing public order, and has now been administratively disciplined by the public security organs in accordance with the law, said the statement.
The zoo also said they will further strengthen security, set up a platform to expose uncivilized behavior, and establish a "blacklist" system.
A total of 126 people have been confirmed dead and 188 others injured as of 7 p.m. Tuesday, after a 6.8-magnitude earthquake jolted Dingri County in southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region on Tuesday morning.
Following a 6.8-magnitude earthquake that took a heavy toll after jolting a county in southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region Tuesday morning, Chinese President Xi Jinping made an important instruction, demanding utmost efforts to carry out search and rescue and provide medical treatment for the injured, Chen Binhua, a spokesperson for the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council, said on Wednesday.
Chen said residents from various sectors in Taiwan island have expressed their concern and condolences to the victims in the disaster area in multiple ways, reflecting the deep bond and mutual assistance between compatriots across the Taiwan Straits.
"We express our gratitude for this," according to Chen.
Chinese President Xi Jinping and his wife, Peng Liyuan, on Wednesday sent a New Year card in return to representatives of middle school teachers and students in the US State of Washington, extending their New Year wishes.
In the card, Xi and Peng said the year 2025 marks the 80th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War.
During the Second World War, China and the United States fought together for peace and justice, and the friendship between the two peoples stood the test of blood and fire and is growing ever stronger, they said.
The couple expressed their hope that the youth of China and the United States will continue to participate in China's initiative of inviting 50,000 young Americans to China for exchange and study programs in a five-year span, strengthen exchanges and interactions, enhance mutual understanding, carry forward traditional friendship, and contribute to the development of China-U.S. relations and world peace.
Earlier, the U.S.-China Youth and Student Exchange Association, as well as representatives of teachers and students from Lincoln High School and Stadium High School, who have visited China through the initiative, sent a New Year card to Xi, Peng and the Chinese people. More than 100 teachers and students signed the card.
They wrote in Chinese on the card to extend New Year greetings and wish for an everlasting friendship between China and the United States.
As of 10 pm on Friday, a series of earthquakes in Yinchuan, the capital of Northwest China's Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, which began on Thursday morning and continued into the early hours of Friday, resulted in six minor injuries, with no fatalities or structural collapses, local officials said on Saturday, China Central Television (CCTV) reported.
They also said that the recent increase in earthquake activities in the region does not indicate the likelihood of a major earthquake, but they do not rule out the possibility of noticeable aftershocks occurring in the original earthquake area and nearby areas in the coming days.
According to officials, the locations of the 4.8 and 4.6 magnitude earthquakes that occurred on Thursday align with the rupture zone of the 8.0-magnitude earthquake in 1739, which occurred just less than 300 years ago. The energy accumulated in this area remains insufficient to trigger a major earthquake. According to investigations, this rupture segment does not have the tectonic background necessary for a strong earthquake.
As for the recent spate of small earthquakes, local officials explained that seismic activity in a region often experiences fluctuations between calm and heightened activity. Therefore, since the seismic activity in the first half of 2024 was relatively subdued, there is a noticeable increase in seismic activity in the second half of the year.
According to the authorities, the seasonal pattern of increased earthquake frequency during winter and spring in Ningxia has also contributed to the recent rise in seismic activity.
In addition, the two earthquakes that occurred on Thursday marked the strongest seismic events in Ningxia since 1998. Generally, the energy accumulated from a larger earthquake cannot be released all at once; the residual energy will continue to be released in the form of smaller earthquakes, said officials, noting that due to the earthquakes’ occurrence in the Yinchuan Basin, which has relatively thick sedimentary layers, the seismic waves were amplified.
Since the activation of the level-4 earthquake emergency response on Thursday, local authorities promptly initiated their emergency market assurance plan. Currently, the city’s supply of essential goods and refined oil remains stable, officials said.
Chinese President Xi Jinping said Friday that the construction of the China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan (CKU) railway is a strategic decision made by the three governments to promote regional connectivity, prosperity, and stability. Xi made the remarks in his congratulatory letter to the commencement ceremony of the railway project.
Noting that the construction of the railway reflects the shared aspiration of the three countries to open up this strategic corridor, Xi said that the commencement ceremony marks the transition of the project from conception to implementation, taking a critical step toward the goal of completion and operation.
The commencement ceremony of the CKU railway project was held in Jalalabad, Kyrgyzstan on Friday. Kyrgyz President Sadyr Japarov was present at the event and Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev also sent a congratulatory message to the ceremony.
President Xi Jinping's Special Envoy and director of the National Development and Reform Commission, Zheng Shanjie, attended the launch ceremony of the CKU railway project in Jalalabad, Kyrgyzstan.
The launch ceremony marks a significant progress in its preliminary phase and lays a solid foundation for the project's construction at an early date, China Railway said in a statement sent to the Global Times on Friday.
The commencement of the long-anticipated connectivity project, which has been under planning for more than 20 years, will mark a new milestone in China-Central Asia cooperation and is a vivid display of how high-quality cooperation under the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) leads to mutually beneficial results based on the principle of equality and mutual benefits, according to analysts reached by the Global Times.
Once completed, the project could open a new Eurasian corridor connecting China, Central Asia, and even Europe. The new link not only carries strategic significance in boosting local trade, economic and industrial development, but also in facilitating the deeper integration of Central Asia as a whole and further elevating the region's influence on the global economy and supply chain, analysts said.
Based on the current progress, the project is scheduled to officially commence construction in July 2025, with a construction period of six years, the China Railway statement noted. The railway is a flagship BRI project promoted by the leaders of the three countries involved, and a strategic connectivity project between China and Central Asia, a spokesperson for China Railway was quoted as saying in the statement.
The CKU railway starts from Kashi, Northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, passes through the Torugart Pass into Kyrgyzstan, continues westward through the Kyrgyz border city of Jalalabad, and ends in the eastern Uzbek city of Andijan.
China will be responsible for the construction of the Chinese section, while Uzbekistan will be in charge of the upgrade and renovation of the Uzbek section. The CKU Railway Co, a joint venture established by companies authorized by the three governments, will be responsible for the financing, construction, and operation of the Kyrgyz section, according to China Railway.
According to the approved feasibility study report, the section in Kyrgyzstan will be a single-track railway operating with diesel locomotives with provisions for future electrification, with a designed speed of 120 kilometers an hour. It will have 20 stations, including Torugart station, Markmal transshipment station and Jalalabad station.
A decades-long dream realized
The project was first proposed in the 1990s, and China, Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan signed a memorandum of understanding on constructing the railway in 1997. Step by step, the project has moved from planning, discussion, and preliminary work to the launch ceremony.
Friday's launch marks the realization of a decades-old dream for Central Asia, which is largely made up of landlocked countries that want to be land-linked and become a strategic bridge between East and West, according to a Central Asia scholar.
Maryam Agharabi, a research coordinator at the China and Central Asia Studies Center in Kazakhstan, hailed the commencement as an "important, long-awaited and highly-anticipated development" from various perspectives. She told the Global Times that the project launch is a positive development not only for China, Kyrgyzstan, and Uzbekistan - which will see direct and immediate economic benefits - but also for the rest of the Central Asian states and even beyond.
It is said that the railway is projected to handle 15 million tons of cargo annually, as reported by qalampir.uz, a local media outlet.
Zhang Hong, a research fellow at the Institute of Russian, Eastern European and Central Asian Studies of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, told the Global Times on Friday that the railway represents a significant opportunity for enhancing cooperation between Asia and Europe, as it will probably offer the shortest route for transporting goods from China to Europe and the Middle East via the China-Europe freight train.
In December, the 100,000th China-Europe freight train arrived in Duisburg, Germany, underscoring the booming trade and economic exchanges across the Eurasian continent, which are set to jump further with the stepped-up implementation of BRI cooperation.
Across Central Asia, there is more growth potential to be tapped and unleashed, as geographic constraints such as high mountains and long distances that have long weighed on the Central Asian economy are expected to be gradually lifted, analysts said.
Li Hongchang, a researcher at the Sustainable Transportation Innovation Center and a professor from Beijing Jiaotong University, told the Global Times that the three countries involved - China, Kyrgyzstan, and Uzbekistan - each have their own comparative advantages in industries such as energy, minerals, processing, and markets. These advantages can create synergies with the CKU railway, playing a role in driving regional economic development.
According to Agharabi, the CKU railway project contributes to the cooperative approach within the Central Asian region, meaning that it not only helps diversify trade and transit by adding an extra route connecting Central Asian countries, but also demonstrates a commitment to the development of the region as a whole in the spirit of regional economic cooperation.
Regarding the benefits to China, Chinese analysts also noted that the construction of the CKU railway will undoubtedly inject vitality into the development of western China and the economy of Xinjiang, which borders a number of Central Asian countries including Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Tajikistan, and further facilitates the region's opening-up.
High level of mutual trust
In the congratulatory letter on Friday, Xi emphasized the need for close collaboration among the relevant departments and enterprises of the three countries to ensure high standards and high-quality progress in the construction of the railway.
Xi said that efforts should be made to build the railway into a new demonstration project for Belt and Road cooperation, so as to better contribute to the economic and social development and the improvement of people's well-being in the region along the route and to inject new momentum into building a closer China-Central Asia community with a shared future.
In July, during Xi's state visit to Kazakhstan, Xi and Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev jointly attended an opening ceremony of the Trans-Caspian international transportation route via video link in Astana, Kazakhstan.
The route is another landmark BRI connectivity project in Central Asia that connects Asia and Europe.
Li said that Friday's launch is built on the high level of political trust and solid cooperation results between China and Central Asia, and riding on the momentum, the railway will further consolidate the mutual political trust, while also promoting more pragmatic cooperation between China and Central Asia on agendas such as regional security and political stability.
Those BRI projects that span a long timeline provide a vivid display of China's sincerity in collaborating with Central Asian nations, and the process itself exemplified how BRI spearheads cooperation based on the principles of extensive consultation, joint contribution and shared benefits, Zhang stressed.
"The railway is not a geopolitical tool [as hyped by some Western media outlets], but a project for regional collaborative development. Both being developing countries, China understands Central Asian nations' development needs and challenges. China provides help to partner countries within its capacity in terms of financing, technology and construction, and sincerely works with Central Asian partners for mutual development," Zhang added.
Agibot, a Chinese robotics start-up launched in February 2023, has stirred significant excitement in the industry with its announcement of having already begun mass production of general-purpose robots, while Tesla, the US electric car giant, envisions launching mass production of humanoid robots by 2026.
"As 2024 closes, Silicon Valley startup Figure AI is delivering its first AI robots, and a Chinese startup coming directly for the Tesla Optimus is already mass producing advanced AI robots," wrote a tech blog mikekalil.com.
Titled "Commercial mass production ahead of Tesla? Agibot robot delivered nearly 1,000 general purpose robots by the end of the year," Chinese media 21st Century Business Herald wrote, highlighting the excitement in the industry for Agibot's announcement.
Agibot, also known as Zhiyuan Robotics, shared footage of its manufacturing facility on its official website, which reportedly has produced at least 962 humanoid robots so far.
In its 4:02-minute video, Agibot showcases various stages of the robotic production line at its Lingang Fengxian factory in Shanghai, including inventory shelving, component assembly, component testing, aging tests and performance testing. The production line features self-manufactured humanoid robots working in collaboration with human workers for tasks such as inventory shelving and component testing.
Moreover, the company has established what it calls a "data collection factory" for real-world data gathering. This includes training scenarios such as folding clothes, organizing, cleaning and doing the laundry.
Elon Musk, the founder and CEO of Tesla and SpaceX, said in an X post in July that "Tesla will have genuinely useful humanoid robots in low production for Tesla internal use next year and, hopefully, high production for other companies in 2026."
Agibot's mass production of robots has instilled confidence in its investors regarding high revenue projections for next year and signals an exciting development for the market, industry observer Hong Shaodun told the Global Times on Thursday.
He noted that humanoid robots have evolved from laboratory prototypes to tangible products, with this year's robots entering a phase of increased intelligence and versatility.
Robots' hardware has reached a notable level of standardization, according to Hong, who explained that whether from Tesla or other brands, multiple products have been showcased since the second half of the year. There are no significant differences in hardware among them. The only standout feature may be the dexterous hand.
Although Chinese robotics companies have announced mass production ahead of firms like Tesla, essentially, both nations, making the most significant progress in humanoid robotics, are advancing simultaneously, Wei Jiaxing from Beijing-based National and Local Co-built Embodied AI Robotics Innovation Center, told the Global Times.
US tech companies, such as Tesla and NVIDIA, have certain advantages in areas like precise upper limb manipulation and operational capabilities, as well as in high-end chip manufacturing and cloud computing services. Meanwhile, Chinese companies excel particularly in motion control and the exploration of advanced AI models, as well as a variety of application scenarios, Wei noted.
At the end of 2023, China's Fourier Intelligence became the first leading humanoid robot player to officially announce "mass production." This year, the company revealed that its first bipedal humanoid robot, the GR-1, has been delivered in over 100 units across dozens of scenarios, the 21st Century Business Herald reported.
Jiao Jichao, a vice president and executive dean of the Research Institute at UBTech Robotics, a Shenzhen-based maker of humanoid robots, disclosed that during the OEM training process for Walker S, preparations are underway for small-scale mass production by the end of the year.
Some industry insiders believed that the "mass production of humanoid robots" does not have a clear boundary. The key issue is whether customers truly have the willingness to purchase such robots, or whether there are scenarios that provide for the large-scale use of humanoid robots.
"We hope that the technology and products will achieve a level of maturity and excellence. Only on this foundation does it make sense to enhance real mass production capacity," Wei said.
Compared with other global competitors like the US, China is better positioned to achieve higher output of humanoid robots at lower costs, following the gradual maturation of technology and products in this field, as well as the advantages of its manufacturing supply chain, Wei said.
When asked about the impact of the technological blockade on China's industrial development amid the competition between China and the US, Wei stated that China is dedicating significant efforts to independent research and development in robotics.
He also mentioned that specialized chips designed for robotics are also one of targeted areas for his National and Local Co-built Embodied AI Robotics Innovation Center.
The focus for next year in this industry will be on expanding practical applications in specific scenarios, which could further enhance the generalization capabilities of humanoid robots, Hong told the Global Times. However, the industry insider noted that achieving rapid breakthroughs in a short time remains quite challenging due to technical hurdles, such as efficiency and stability issues that need to be addressed.
An incident recently occurred in Zhangjiajie National Forest Park where a tourist and a wild macaque attacked each other. The Park authorities responded by stating that neither party was injured.
According to the staff workers at the scenic spot, on December 12, a wild macaque approached a tourist, believing there was food in the tourist’s bag and tried to grab it. Unexpectedly, the tourist retaliated by throwing punches at the macaque.
Some netizens found the incident intriguing, while others expressed concerns, saying that the macaques in the tourist attraction could pose threats to people’s safety.
After the incident, the park issued a response, noting that the park is home to wild macaques. While they may seem cute in appearance, they can pose dangers to visitors.
The attraction department advised sightseers not to feed the macaques and maintain a safe distance.
The statement also noted that during the winter months, when food is scarce in the mountains, the park supplements the macaques’ diet with corn or dried fruits at designated locations.
Chinese President Xi Jinping often quotes an ancient saying on many diplomatic occasions: "No mountain or ocean can separate those who share the same aspirations." This powerful message underscores the undeniable force of friendship and cooperation in bridging hearts across nations, cultures, and civilizations. Inspired by President Xi's vision, people-to-people exchanges between China and the world have been flourishing.
People from diverse backgrounds and fields - united by common goals and dreams - traverse mountains and oceans to connect with each other. Through letters, face-to-face dialogues, and vibrant cultural events, they are collectively weaving a magnificent tapestry of building a community with a shared future for humanity.
The Global Times presents "Intertwined Destinies, Shared Paths," a series spotlighting the touching stories written by these "friendship ambassadors." They are scholars pushing the boundaries of research, diplomats advocating for deeper cooperation on the global stage, artists igniting imaginations with their creations, and ordinary people extending heartfelt love beyond national borders driven by genuine sincerity.
Their tales illuminate the spark of cultural exchange, the driving force of technological innovation, the bountiful harvest of economic cooperation and the enduring warmth of human connection - all contributing to a more peaceful, prosperous and open world. This is the third installment of the series. "Kuliang, Kuliang!" American resident Milton Gardner repeatedly whispered the word on his deathbed. As a place where Gardner spent the most joyful 10 years in his life, Kuliang was Gardner's childhood home in China that he failed to return to until his final hours.
At that time, Gardner's families still did not know what the word Kuliang meant, neither to mention the deep bond between Gardner and Kuliang. It was not until 1992 that a Chinese student in the US unveiled the story between Gardner with Kuliang, uncovering a century-long friendship between the people in China and the US to the world.
Since then, 32 years have passed. The small village of Kuliang in Fuzhou, East China's Fujian Province, has become a representative of the friendship between Chinese and American people.
Nowadays, the bond with Kuliang has inspired generations after generations of youngsters from both countries to carry forward the traditional friendship and bring the hearts of the two peoples closer.
To serve as a platform for the exchange of ideas between the China-US youth, the 2024 Kuliang Forum was officially held on Friday by the People's Daily Digital Communication and Global Times.
The forum, with theme of "Bridging Cultural Differences, Inheriting Friendship and Trust," brought together more than 150 political, academic, media, business, and youth representatives from both China and the US, as well as members of "Kuliang Friends" to engage in candid and in-depth discussions on how the peoples of China and the US can transcend differences in systems, cultures and languages to forge deep friendships, and find the correct path for these two great powers to coexist peacefully.
A century-long friendship
The heartwarming tale and its connections begin with a few special stamps that unveil a nostalgia spanning an entire century.
In April 1992, the People's Daily, a prominent Chinese newspaper, featured an article titled "Ah! Kuliang," which tells the poignant story of Milton Gardner, an American who spent his childhood in the southern Chinese town of Kuliang before returning to the US in 1911.
For decades, Gardner yearned to revisit his beloved hometown, but sadly, he never had the chance. In his last moments, he repeatedly whispered "Kuliang." His wife, Elizabeth Gardner, made several attempts to honor his wish by traveling to China, but she struggled to find Kuliang.
Eventually, while sorting through her husband's belongings, she found old stamps with postmarks indicating "Foochow, Kuliang." With assistance from a Chinese student, she learned that Kuliang is located in Fuzhou.
The touching narrative resonated with many people, including Xi Jinping, then secretary of the Fuzhou Municipal Committee of the Communist Party of China, who immediately had officials contact Gardner and invite her to Kuliang.
On August 21, 1992, she arrived in Fuzhou, and the next day, she finally visited the cherished place her husband had longed for.
On September 26, 1992, the People's Daily published Bond with Kuliang, documenting Mrs. Gardner's trip to China. In the story, she said: "Thanks to [the] People's Daily for its attention and support, thanks to the people of Fuzhou for their warm hospitality, and many thanks to everyone who made this dream come true."
In September 2012, two of Gardner's grand-nephews visited Kuliang, and the People's Daily once again recorded this enduring bond with Kuliang.
In a congratulatory letter to the "Bond with Kuliang: China-US People-to-people Friendship Forum" held in Fuzhou in 2023, Xi said amity between peoples holds the key to the relationship between countries, and the people are the cornerstone of its growth. "I hope that you will continue to write the Kuliang story and carry forward the special bonds, so that the friendship between our two peoples can stay forever strong and robust like the thousand-year-old cedar trees in Kuliang," Xi said.
In the letter, Xi said that in the following 30 years and more after 1992, members of the Kuliang Friends and people from various sectors of both countries have delved deep into the history of this town, actively spread its culture, and worked tirelessly to deepen mutual understanding and friendship between the Chinese and American peoples.
"Their stories have shown once again that the Chinese and American peoples can transcend differences in system, culture and language, and build profound friendship," said Xi.
Amity between the people
At the 2024 Kuliang Forum, many "Kuliang Friends" shared the stories of their search for their ancestors' life in Kuliang via videos, which touched many audiences.
"My family roots are deep in China. I was born in China. My father was born in China. My grandmother and grandfather spent all their working years in China… Thirteen members of our family came back to China," Priscilla Brewster, a member of the "Kuliang Friends" group, said in a video speech to the forum.
"It seemed like a miracle to be back again. When I tell my family and friends about my seven summers in Kuliang, I tell them about the house I lived in on the side of the mountain. I tell them about the slippery rock in back of the house where we would run and jump and play and where we would leap over the stream. I tell them about the whispering pines and the signal that we were back in our beloved place, a place of peace where all people would love to be, Kuliang," Brewster said, recalling the old days emotionally.
"As an American, I long for harmony in my country. Like the great cedar tree of a thousand years on Kuliang, our two people are intertwined wherever there is goodwill and the desire to understand each other's culture. It has become clear to me that distance, hardships, warfare, years, cannot separate me from the bonds of friendship forged by my ancestors and by my own experiences growing up in China, my beloved country," she said.
William N. Brown, professor at the Xiamen University School of Management, Touching China 2019 Person of the Year, and Fujian's first foreign permanent resident, told the Global Times at the forum that there are many touching stories between the people of China and the US, among which his favorite is the Kuliang story.
Brown said that previously he did not understand China until he came to the country, where he truly learned about and fell in love with the Chinese people.
The Kuliang story told us that, over a hundred years ago, foreigners and Chinese people had already joined hands in Xiamen to establish hospitals and schools together. I met some elderly people in the US who are nearly a hundred years old. They lived in Xiamen during the 1930s and 1940s, and they still love China. Even after leaving China for 60 years, they can still speak the Minnan dialect. They fell in love with China because of its people, Brown said.
Jeffrey Greene, Chairman of the Sino-American Aviation Heritage Foundation, shared the story of the Flying Tigers at the forum as another example of the enduring friendship among the peoples in China and the US.
During World War II, some young American Air Force soldiers came to China to assist the Chinese people in resisting brutal invaders. In December 1941, they successfully prevented Japanese bombers from bombing Kunming, and subsequently, the names and deeds of these American airmen spread worldwide.
The Chinese people affectionately referred to them as the "Flying Tigers." At the same time, during the Pearl Harbor incident, the Chinese people selflessly risked their lives to rescue American pilots.
The "Flying Tigers" are also a testament to the two peoples fighting side by side and jointly winning victory in World War II, highlighting the legacy of China-US friendship, Greene told the Global Times.
Greene said that, so far, his foundation has helped over 500 Flying Tiger veterans return to China.
Avery Jade Prewitt, an American student in Chinese Politics at Tsinghua University, told the Global Times at the forum that she was touched and encouraged by the bond and the friendship between Chinese and American people embodied in the Kuliang stories.
In November 2023, President Xi announced in San Francisco the plan to invite 50,000 American teenagers to come to China for exchange and study over the next five years.
Avery came to study in China under the initiative. She said that some people view China and the US as competitors and tend to be negative about the relations between the two countries, but she chooses to be optimistic after seeing the warm and frequent exchanges among Chinese and American students. To cross the bridge together
During her speech at the forum, Roberta Lipson, Chair of the American Chamber of Commerce in China (AmCham China), said, "Today, I stand here as AmCham China Chair, representing over 800 American companies operating in China. Through my work in AmCham China, I have witnessed the remarkable achievements resulting from US-China cooperation, and we recognize the significance of the economic relationship between our two countries."
"Addressing climate change and solving major global issues require the US and China to work together. I sincerely hope that the next administration in Washington will prioritize cooperation and facilitate our joint efforts," Lipson noted.
Jack Pinnick, a 16th Generation San Feng Pai Disciple, discussed the importance of communication in an interview with the Global Times at the forum. He believes that many people may learn about the relationship between countries through news, but some news reports fail to fully capture the true lives and realities of the local people. Thus, enhancing mutual understanding through personal stories is an effective approach.
Pinnick said, "My biggest dream is to spread the Wudang martial arts and traditional culture that I have learned here. I hope to pass this knowledge on to the next generation."
During the forum, a launch ceremony for the Initiative for Friendly Exchanges Among Chinese and American Youth was held to encourage youngsters to carry forward the bond with Kuliang and write new stories of China-US friendly exchanges in their own ways.
"The hope and foundation of the China-US relationship lie in the people, and its future lies in the youths. The bridge [of friendship] is already built. Now it's up to us, and the Chinese people, to cross it together," Avery said.
The story of Kuliang has spanned a century. Attendees at the forum shared a common wish that the friendship between the peoples of China and the US remains forever strong and robust, like the thousand-year-old cedar trees in Kuliang.
An employee used a manager's "like" on a social media post promoting company products during a break as evidence of overtime work to demand compensation after being dismissed, according to Guangming Online on Wednesday.
According to the report, after the employee surnamed Yang was denied annual leave in July 2018, Yang filed a complaint with the local social security department five days later over the company's insufficient social insurance contributions.
In August, the company terminated Yang's contract, citing a performance evaluation score of just 59 points for July.
The company claimed the termination complied with policy and argued that no compensation was required. However, Yang countered that a single month's evaluation should not reflect ongoing performance and deemed the dismissal illegal.
Yang also argued that the"like" on a social media post during personal time should count as evidence of overtime. The arbitration hearing finally ruled that the company had illegally terminated the contract and was required to pay both compensation and the overtime work.
