China Daily signed an international communication strategic cooperation agreement with the Propaganda Department of the Yunnan Provincial Party Committee

 On August 7, China Daily and the Propaganda Department of the Yunnan Provincial Party Committee signed an international communication strategic cooperation agreement in Kunming. Qu Yingpu, president and editor-in-chief of China Daily, and Zeng Yan, member of the Standing Committee of the Yunnan Provincial Party Committee and director of the Propaganda Department, attended the signing ceremony. Zhu Baoxia, editorial board member and secretary-general of China Daily, and Lai Yong, full-time deputy director of the Information Office of the Yunnan Provincial People's Government, signed a cooperation agreement.

China Daily and the Propaganda Department of the Yunnan Provincial Party Committee signed an international communication strategic cooperation agreement in Kunming. (Photo by Hu Yuya)

At the signing ceremony, the two parties stated that the strategic cooperation between China Daily and the Propaganda Department of the Yunnan Provincial Party Committee is an important measure to jointly implement Xi Jinping's socialist ideology with Chinese characteristics in the new era and deepen thematic education. In the next step, we must thoroughly study and implement General Secretary Xi Jinping's important exposition on strengthening and improving international communication work under the new situation and examine the spirit of Yunnan's important speech, focus on the core, tell good stories, and demonstrate Yunnan's ability to learn and implement Xi Jinping's new era of socialism with Chinese characteristics Fruitful results; highlight key points, empower technology, and jointly do a good job in the communication work for South and Southeast Asia; face the future, lay a solid foundation, and build a high-quality team that can meet the needs of international communication in the new era.

According to the agreement, the two parties will carry out practical cooperation in the fields of international communication, investment promotion, cultural exchanges in South Asia and Southeast Asia, big data and artificial intelligence, and cultural industries, so as to better serve and integrate into the "Belt and Road" construction and the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership. Agreement" (RCEP), to create a good public opinion atmosphere for Yunnan's high-quality leapfrog development.

Qu Yingpu, President and Editor-in-Chief of China Daily (second from left), and Zeng Yan, member of the Standing Committee of the Yunnan Provincial Committee of the Communist Party of China and Director of the Propaganda Department (second from right), attended the signing ceremony of an international communication strategic cooperation agreement between China Daily and the Propaganda Department of the Yunnan Provincial Party Committee. Zhu Baoxia (first from left), editorial board member and secretary-general of China Daily, and Lai Yong (first from right), full-time deputy director of the Information Office of Yunnan Provincial People's Government, signed the agreement. (Photo by Hu Yuya)

On the same day, the launch ceremony of the overseas social media account "Bridging South Asia and Southeast Asia" in Yunnan Province was also held. Yunnan and China Daily have joined hands to build the main propaganda front of overseas social media platforms. By actively setting topics, strengthening user interaction, responding to concerns, and guiding public opinion, it will fully demonstrate to overseas audiences the unique resources of Yunnan Province, the location advantages of internal and external links, Open and inclusive cultural heritage and interconnection with South Asian and Southeast Asian countries, etc., tell the story of Yunnan Province's construction of a national unity and progress demonstration area, the vanguard of ecological civilization construction, and China's radiation center for South Asia and Southeast Asia, and realize the "14th Five-Year Plan" for Yunnan Province The high-quality leap-forward development of the period creates new power and new engines.

Relevant persons in charge of China Daily, the Propaganda Department of the Yunnan Provincial Party Committee, and Yunnan Daily Newspaper Group attended the signing ceremony.

Resurgence of China's Outbound Tourism: A Strong Rebound in International Travel

 

China's Outbound Tourism Market Surges with Over 40 Million Trips in First Half of the Year

The outbound tourism market in China has witnessed a remarkable recovery, with over 40.37 million trips made from the Chinese mainland to various international destinations during the first half of this year, as reported by China Tourism Academy's official WeChat account.

The recovery of outbound travel began with short-distance trips, with a substantial 93.9 percent of tourists choosing destinations in Asia, according to the report released on Sunday.

East Asia and Southeast Asia emerged as the top choices for outbound travelers, with East Asia attracting the largest number of tourists from the Chinese mainland, accounting for an impressive 83.92 percent of the total outbound trips.

In the first six months of this year, passenger traffic on international routes rebounded to approximately 23 percent of the levels observed in 2019, indicating a steady recovery in international travel.

Notably, June witnessed a significant surge in international passenger traffic, bouncing back to 41.6 percent compared to the same period in 2019, according to data from the Civil Aviation Administration of China.

Among the favored overseas destinations, Thailand and Japan stood at the forefront, each receiving more than 10 percent of the outbound Chinese tourists.

In the second tier of popular destinations, Singapore and South Korea garnered their share of travelers, with 5 percent and 10 percent of the Chinese mainland's outbound tourists, respectively.

The major sources of outbound tourists were primarily concentrated in economically developed provinces and cities of the Chinese mainland. Key contributors to the outbound tourism market were Guangdong, Shanghai, Beijing, Jiangsu, Zhejiang, and Fujian, as they formed the primary driving force behind the surge in outbound travel.

The revival of China's outbound tourism market indicates a positive trend and highlights the country's gradual return to pre-pandemic travel levels, reflecting growing confidence among Chinese tourists in exploring international destinations once again.

Deputy Chief of International Affairs, Defense Ministry of China

China vehemently opposes the United States' decision to provide military assistance to Taiwan and calls for an immediate halt to any military interactions with the island, as stated by a spokesperson from the Defense Ministry.

Senior Colonel Tan Kefei, spokesman for the Ministry of National Defense.

Senior Colonel Tan Kefei, speaking from Beijing, expressed that the planned military aid from the US represents a significant interference in China's internal affairs. This action poses a grave threat to China's sovereignty, security, and overall peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait.

"We firmly denounce this move and have formally conveyed our objections to the US government," Tan emphasized.

The spokesperson underlined that the Taiwan issue is of utmost importance to China, representing a red line that must not be crossed in China-US relations. Tan further criticized certain elements within the US for perpetuating a hegemonic and Cold War mindset, engaging in harmful actions such as arms sales, military assistance, and joint training with Taiwan. These activities are seen as attempts to bolster military ties with the island and incite pro-Taiwan independence factions, exacerbating tensions and confrontation across the Taiwan Strait.

China urgently calls upon the US to desist from any form of military collaboration with Taiwan and to refrain from advancing along a misguided and perilous path.

"The historical momentum towards China's reunification cannot be halted by any single country or external force. The People's Liberation Army remains vigilant and watchful over the situation in the Taiwan Strait, ensuring that our national sovereignty and territorial integrity are resolutely protected. We are firmly committed to maintaining peace and stability in the region," Tan asserted.

The White House recently announced its intention to provide Taiwan with military assistance amounting to $345 million.