Author: jezzabellemente

CHENGDU, China, Sept. 30, 2026 /Xinhua-AsiaNet/–

On September 29, the 2026 Chengdu International Digital Light and Shadow Art Festival, hosted by Chengdu Dongfang Zhenghuo Culture Media Co., Ltd., officially opened at Eastern Suburb Memory. Bringing together 36 digital artworks from multiple countries worldwide, the festival adopts a dual-track model combining indoor immersive exhibitions and outdoor public light displays, covering architectural projection, interactive installations, digital performances and other categories. The exhibition will run throughout China’s National Day holiday.

In recent years, Chengdu has developed into a core city for China’s digital cultural and creative industries, with a cluster of original local IPs accelerating their expansion into overseas markets.

Animated feature films produced by Chengdu enterprises, “Ne Zha 2” and “All Wishes Come True”, have been released in overseas cinemas. They have won acclaim from local audiences with high production standards and distinctive Eastern cultural essence. At the end of August, “All Wishes Come True” was released in over 110 cinemas across Malaysia, with more than 600 daily screenings. “Ne Zha 2” claimed the number-one box office spot in Singapore for three consecutive weeks and topped Malaysia’s box office for two weeks running. In 2025, the core revenue of Chengdu’s digital cultural and creative industries reached 413.97 billion yuan. The city’s comprehensive industrial strength ranks among the nation’s top tier, and digital cultural creativity has become a vital cultural link connecting Chengdu with overseas markets.

Beyond cultural connections in the digital cultural and creative sector, Chengdu continues to draw global visitors with its abundant tourism resources. World Heritage sightseeing, Sichuan culinary experiences and all-season ice and snow sports are highly recognizable tourism offerings. Among these, year-round ice and snow experiences represent one of the fastest-growing categories.

According to the “China Ice and Snow Economic Vitality Report (2024-2025 Snow Season)”, Chengdu ranks ninth nationwide in terms of supply scale for its ice and snow economy. The city has built more than 60 winter sports venues. Ice and snow sports have evolved from seasonal winter activities into year-round diverse experiences.

The backbone supporting this year-round ice and snow layout is the mature operation of indoor ice and snow venues. The “2024-2025 China Ski Industry White Paper” notes that among the world’s top ten indoor ski resorts by snow area, Chengdu Sunac Snow Park in Dujiangyan boasts a snow area of 55,000 square metres, ranking fourth among them. Maintaining a constant indoor temperature all year round, the venue features seven ski runs of varying difficulty levels and operates year-round regardless of weather conditions. Visitors can enjoy skiing without waiting for winter. Tourists may also combine indoor skiing with visits to the Dujiangyan and Mount Qingcheng World Heritage Sites to create combined itineraries.

When winter arrives, Xiling Snow Mountain further enriches outdoor ice and snow experiences. As Southwest China’s first scenic area offering round-the-clock skiing operations during snow seasons, Xiling Snow Mountain rolls out distinctive consumption offerings including hot pot in the snow and tea tasting to extend visitors’ stays. During the 2024-2025 snow season, visitor numbers at Xiling Snow Mountain rose by 14.71% year on year, and weekend sell-out rates at surrounding hotels exceeded 90%.

To prepare for the upcoming surge in inbound tourist arrivals, Chengdu continues to optimize inbound facilitation services. Leveraging mutual visa exemption arrangements between China and countries including Thailand, Singapore and Malaysia, alongside the 240-hour visa-free transit policy at Chengdu Tianfu International Airport, the total number of inbound and outbound travellers through Chengdu ports is projected to hit 144,000, averaging approximately 18,000 people per day. Chengdu entry-exit authorities have opened dedicated green channels for tour groups. Major scenic sites have set up multilingual service stations, providing one-stop services including ticketing, guided tours and emergency support.

Source: Chengdu Dongfang Zhenghuo Culture Media Co., Ltd.

–BERNAMA

HONG KONG, Sept 29 (Bernama-GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — The Hong Kong Tourism Board (HKTB) and Informa Markets marked a significant milestone in their three-year Strategic City Partnership with Hong Kong through a high-profile presence at the Monaco Yacht Show from 23 to 26 September, widely recognised as the world’s leading superyacht exhibition. The participation underscores Hong Kong’s ambition to strengthen its position as Asia’s premier hub for yacht tourism, marine leisure and luxury business events, while introducing international industry leaders to the inaugural Festival of Connoisseurs (TFOC), a new flagship luxury lifestyle and business platform set to debut in Hong Kong this November.

As the first stop of a global promotional roadshow under the partnership, the Monaco Yacht Show provided a valuable platform to engage yacht owners, marine industry leaders, luxury brands, investors and high-net-worth travellers from around the world. The initiative reflects Hong Kong’s growing role as a gateway connecting international businesses with opportunities across the Chinese Mainland and the wider Asian market.

Under Informa Markets’ Strategic City Partnership with Hong Kong, HKTB will participate in a series of globally renowned luxury and lifestyle exhibitions, including the Monaco Yacht Show, Palm Beach International Boat Show, Basilia Jewellery & Watch Fair, Top Marques Monaco and the Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show. The partnership aims to elevate Hong Kong’s international profile among the global luxury, marine and lifestyle sectors while supporting the development of TFOC into one of Asia’s leading luxury business and lifestyle platforms.

At the Monaco Yacht Show, HKTB joined forces with the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office, Brussels, Airport Authority Hong Kong and AsiaWorld-Expo to form the Hong Kong delegation, showcasing the city’s combined strengths in tourism, aviation, business events and international trade.

Mr. Anthony Lau, HKTB Executive Director, said: ” The Monaco Yacht Show brings together the world’s most influential players in the yachting industry and provides an ideal platform for Hong Kong to tell its story to a highly valuable international audience. Beyond being a world-class destination, Hong Kong serves as a super-connector and super value-adder, uniquely linking global businesses, investors and brands with opportunities across the Greater Bay Area, the Chinese Mainland and Asia.

With a vibrant marine ecosystem, world-class infrastructure and a growing portfolio of international marine and sailing events, Hong Kong is well positioned to become a leading hub for yacht tourism and marine business in Asia. Through our partnership with Informa Markets and the launch of TFOC, we aim to create new opportunities for luxury tourism, business exchange and investment in the region.”

Informa Markets sees strong potential in Hong Kong for launching and growing new flagship experiences in the region. Hong Kong offers a compelling proposition for the global yachting and marine industry. Home to one of the world’s finest natural harbours and supported by extensive international air connectivity, the city provides direct access to the rapidly expanding wealth markets of the Greater Bay Area and Asia. Recent initiatives to streamline yacht entry procedures, alongside ongoing marina developments and investments in marine infrastructure, are creating new opportunities for yacht owners, operators and marine-related businesses seeking to establish a presence in the region.

The city’s growing calendar of international marine and sailing events, including SailGP and the Dragon World Championship, further enhances its appeal as a year-round destination for marine tourism, business networking and premium lifestyle experiences.

Looking ahead, Hong Kong will host the inaugural TFOC from 4 to 6 November 2026 at AsiaWorld-Expo. Embracing an innovative “city-as-your-showroom” concept, the event will extend beyond a traditional exhibition venue, transforming iconic locations across Hong Kong into immersive showcases for luxury and lifestyle experiences. Over three days, participants will explore nine curated themes spanning yachting, mobility, art, travel, wellness, gastronomy and beyond. Making its debut in Hong Kong this year, TFOC is set to evolve into a citywide flagship festival from 2027, further highlighting Hong Kong’s unique position as the world’s meeting place where global business, culture and premium lifestyle converge.

About Hong Kong Tourism Board
The Hong Kong Tourism Board (HKTB) is a Government-subvented body. Operating 15 offices around the world and representative offices in seven different markets, its primary mission is to maximise the social and economic contribution that tourism makes to the community of Hong Kong, and consolidate the city’s position as a world-class destination. The HKTB works closely with the Government, travel industry and other partners to promote Hong Kong worldwide, widen the range of tourism products and elevate service standards, as well as enhance the experiences of visitors during their stay.

About The Festival of Connoisseurs
The Festival of Connoisseurs (TFOC) is Asia’s premier luxury lifestyle show platform, debuting its soft launch in Hong Kong in November 2026. Organised by Informa Markets and supported by the Hong Kong Tourism Board and other strategic partners, the Festival showcases dynamic worlds of connoisseurship — including Marina, Marque, Vault, Galerie, Passage, Estate, Zenith, Vitalis, Culinaire and more — across Hong Kong’s iconic venues and destinations. “Where the World’s Finest Converge in Asia’s Most Dynamic City.” For more information, please visit https://www.tfochk.com/

For media inquiries, please contact:

Hong Kong Tourism Board
Ms Gloria Yam Tel: +852 2807 6255 Email: gloria.yam@hktb.com	Ms Annice Li Tel: +852 2807 6578 Email: annice.li@hktb.com
Outside office hours, please call 8200 7860.

Members of the media can download the photos from this link:
https://assetlibrary.hktb.com/assetbank-hktb/action/browseItems?CSRF=nhIMDXvntp9MwDOIxMPF&categoryId=2647&categoryTypeId=2&cachedCriteria=1

Photos accompanying this announcement are available at

https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/2d3ba041-8a91-45fc-b949-8de9ab675638

https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/81f7a5f1-ca9d-4d2e-a5a4-b93c65b1e9c9

SOURCE: Hong Kong Tourism Board

–BERNAMA

LOUDI, China, Sept. 22, 2026 /Xinhua-AsiaNet/–

More than 300 policymakers, researchers and industry leaders gathered this weekend in the lush hills of Xinhua County, Hunan Province, for the opening of the 4th “From Ziquejie Terraces To The World” Global Farming Culture Exchange and Mutual Learning Conference, held alongside the 10th East Asian Agricultural Cultural Heritage Symposium.

Attendees included representatives from the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations, delegates from Globally Important Agricultural Heritage System (GIAHS) sites worldwide, leading scholars from Chinese and foreign universities, and representatives from civil society groups and private enterprises.

Held under the banner “Technology Empowers Agricultural Heritage, Youth Co-creates the Future,” the conference featured keynote addresses that explored how cutting-edge innovation can breathe new life into centuries-old farming traditions.

Featured speakers included ‌Jérémy Mbiaramadji‌, Senior Coordinator of the GIAHS Secretariat at FAO; ‌Kazuhiko Takeuchi‌, Project Professor at the University of Tokyo’s Institute for Future Initiatives and Honorary Chairman of the East Asian Agricultural Heritage Studies Association; and ‌Lee Youn-Jae‌, Professor at Pusan National University and Co-Chairman of the East Asian Agricultural Heritage Studies Association. Their presentations spanned biodiversity conservation, the role of heritage sites in rural revitalization, and emerging models for integrating agriculture, culture and tourism – all grounded in the latest research and real-world case studies from across East Asia.

Carved into the mountainside over two millennia ago, the Ziquejie Terraces stand as a living monument to the fusion of southern China’s rice-farming civilization with the mountain hunting and fishing traditions of the Miao and Yao peoples. Recognized as one of China’s first World Heritage Irrigation Structures and a GIAHS-listed site, the terraces continue to sustain local communities to this day.

In recent years, Loudi City has deployed Internet of Things sensors, big data analytics and virtual reality to monitor and preserve the landscape. Innovative programs – from “adopt-a-paddy” schemes and blockchain-tracked rice farming to immersive agricultural study tours – have turned heritage conservation into a driver of economic opportunity, connecting local villages with global audiences eager to learn from millennia of sustainable farming wisdom.

Source: The 4th “From Ziquejie Terraces To The World” Global Farming Culture Exchange and Mutual Learning Conference

–BERNAMA

SINGAPORE, Sept. 21, 2026 /Xinhua-AsiaNet/–

On September 17, the Global Cooling Pledge Assembly, hosted by the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) Cool Coalition, was held in Singapore. At the event, Martin Krause, Director of the Climate Change Division at UNEP, presented the inaugural “Cool Leaders” individual award to Dong Mingzhu, Chairperson of Gree Electric Appliances.

The inaugural “Cool Leaders” awards were granted to two countries and one individual. The country awards went to Singapore and the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Grace Fu Hai Yien, Singapore’s Minister for Sustainability and the Environment, and Sharif Al Olama, Undersecretary for Energy and Petroleum Affairs at the UAE Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure, attended the event to accept the honors. Dong Mingzhu was the sole individual recipient, making her the first entrepreneur and the only Chinese representative to earn this distinction.

The “Cool Leaders” award is a global recognition initiative launched by the UNEP Cool Coalition to honor outstanding leaders who have driven the advancement of sustainable cooling and extreme heat resilience across areas such as policymaking, financial support, innovative practices, and project implementation. Dong Mingzhu’s receipt of the individual award not only highlights GREE’s robust capabilities and status as an industry benchmark in the cooling sector and sustainable development under her leadership, but also reflects the international community’s high recognition of China’s innovations in cooling technology and green practices.

Addressing pressing global environmental challenges in her speech, Dong Mingzhu noted that while proactive energy conservation can reduce energy consumption, it does not fundamentally resolve broader environmental issues. GREE has long been committed to technological breakthroughs, beginning research in 2012 on how to solve temperature control challenges without consuming conventional energy. From the inception of the first-generation photovoltaic (PV) air conditioner to today’s seamless integration of solar power, energy storage, and air conditioning, this decade-long endeavor has made near-zero-electricity-bill cooling a reality for households.

“Today, amidst the global call for energy conservation and emission reduction, the manufacturing industry bears an undeniable responsibility. Technological innovation is the only pathway to further lower carbon emissions and achieve our anticipated goals. For our company, innovation is the paramount mission,” Dong Mingzhu stated.

By 2050, the number of air conditioners worldwide is projected to reach 5.6 billion units, nearly triple the current level. Extreme heat has become one of the deadliest and fastest-growing climate risks globally. Against this backdrop, sustainable cooling requires concerted efforts from technology, industry, and the market. At the assembly, GREE officially joined the “Manufacturing Platform,” convened by the Cool Coalition and operated by UNEP. As a manufacturer representative, GREE pledged to accelerate the transition to inverter air conditioners and continuously improve product energy efficiency; expedite the phase-out of high-GWP (Global Warming Potential) refrigerants and promote the application of ultra-low GWP technologies; and vigorously research, develop, and promote energy-saving and carbon-reducing technologies.

Behind these commitments lies GREE’s years of technological expertise in the sustainable cooling sector. GREE’s “Zero Carbon Source” PV and energy storage air-conditioning system has undergone more than a decade of iterative upgrades. Relying on the world’s first PV direct-drive inverter core architecture, this technology achieves an ultra-high direct-current (DC) conversion efficiency of 99%, transforming cooling equipment from a “heavy power consumer” into a “green power generation unit.” To date, this technology has been deployed in 35 countries and regions worldwide. It is widely utilized in developing economies with scorching heat and abundant sunshine, capable of adapting to diverse and complex climate conditions. Projects deployed in the Middle East alone can reduce carbon emissions by 110,000 tons annually.

Notably, GREE’s product standards for PV air conditioners have been incorporated into the IEC (International Electrotechnical Commission) standard system. Today, GREE offers the world more than just standalone products and technologies; the company has secured a voice in international standard-setting, providing comprehensive, replicable, and scalable solutions for global building energy conservation and industrial low-carbon transitions.

Since proposing the vision “For the Clearer Sky and Greener Earth” in 2012, Gree Electric has closely aligned with China’s “Dual Carbon” strategy and energy-saving policy directives. Remaining committed to the green transition in manufacturing, GREE has continuously advanced energy conservation and carbon reduction innovations across its entire value chain, building a complete ecosystem that encompasses green equipment, smart energy, and low-carbon smart manufacturing.

Winning the inaugural “Cool Leaders” honor is not only a milestone in the company’s development, but also sets a new benchmark for China’s cooling industry on the global stage. It stands as an important testament to China’s active participation in global climate governance.

SOURCE: Gree Electric Appliances, INC. of Zhuhai

–BERNAMA

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 17 (Bernama) — QurCan Therapeutics (QurCan), a Toronto-based biotechnology company, has announced an exclusive research and collaboration agreement with Eli Lilly and Company (Lilly) for the treatment of diseases of the central nervous system (CNS) and peripheral nervous system (PNS).

Under the terms of the agreement, QurCan will receive an upfront payment and a strategic investment from Lilly, and is eligible to receive research support payments as well as research, development and commercial milestone payments of up to US$237 million per programme, alongside tiered royalties on global net sales of commercialised products. (US$1 = RM4.08)

QurCan Chief Executive Officer, Mohammad Ali Amini said collaboration with Lilly represents a validation of the company’s polymer-lipid nanoparticle (PLNP) technology platform and its potential to address some of the most challenging delivery problems in genetic medicine.

“The CNS and PNS remain among the most underserved areas in genetic medicine delivery, and we believe our non-viral approach offers a differentiated and versatile solution across various nucleotide cargos. 

“We are thrilled to work with Lilly, a company with unparalleled expertise in neuroscience drug development and commercialisation, to bring these therapies to patients who urgently need them,” added Mohammad Ali Amini in a statement.

QurCan and Lilly will collaborate on multiple research programmes focused on the development of PLNP-enabled genetic medicine therapeutics for CNS and PNS delivery.

Through this collaboration, QurCan will be responsible for optimising genetic medicine therapeutics using its TERP platform, while Lilly will be responsible for further research, clinical development and commercialisation of the selected programmes.

— BERNAMA