Category: Uncategorized

SHENZHEN, China, Nov. 12, 2024 /Xinhua-AsiaNet/–

An agreement on the establishment of the International Mangrove Center (IMC) was officially signed on November 6 in Shenzhen, south China’s Guangdong Province. Delegates from 18 contracting parties to the Ramsar Convention attended the signing ceremony.

In September 2023, a proposal to establish the world’s first IMC in Shenzhen was approved by the Standing Committee of the Ramsar Convention at its 62nd meeting. Establishing the IMC is a concrete step toward improving global environmental governance and building a global community of shared future. The center will be a platform for China to deepen exchange and cooperation with member states of the Ramsar Convention, promote global action for mangrove protection, enhance the quality and stability of mangrove ecosystems, and thus bring more benefits to people across the world.

The data from the Urban Planning and Natural Resources Bureau of Shenzhen Municipality show that Shenzhen boasts 36,100 hectares of wetlands, 45% of which are under protection. Among them, mangroves cover 296 hectares, and 61% of the wetlands have been designated as protected conservation areas. Notably, the Futian Mangrove Wetland, recognized as one of international importance, represents the only original one of its kind located in the center of a city in the world. Together with the Mai Po and Inner Deep Bay wetlands, also an ecosystem of global significance, it promises to safeguard the vital flyways of migratory birds worldwide. Since 2021, Shenzhen has created 15.48 hectares of mangrove forests and restored 103.08 hectares of existing mangrove forests. Moreover, significant breakthroughs have been achieved in mangrove protection, wetland restoration, and biodiversity conservation.

Prioritizing mangrove conservation, China has enacted a wetland protection law and supporting regulations, improved a nature reserve system centering on national parks, and implemented national wetland protection plans and special action plans for mangrove restoration. Today, China has a total mangrove area of 30,300 hectares, an increase of approximately 8,300 hectares compared to the beginning of the century, placing China among the few nations with a net increase in mangrove coverage.

Source: Urban Planning and Natural Resources Bureau of Shenzhen Municipality

Caption : The establishment agreement signing ceremony of the International Mangrove Center was held in Shenzhen on November 6.

–BERNAMA

KUALA LUMPUR, NOV 8 (Bernama) — China and Vietnam issued a joint statement to announce the official operation of the China-Vietnam Detian-Ban Gioc Waterfall Cross-Border Tourism Cooperation Zone on Oct 14.

Meanwhile, the People’s Government of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region of China and the People’s Council of Cao Bằng Province jointly hosted a ceremony for the official operation of the cooperation zone on Oct 15.

The cooperation zone started trial operation on Sept 15, 2023. Through tour group reservation, fixed travel route, limited time spent across the border, limited number of cross-border visitors, as well as entry and exit only in tour groups, tourists from both China and Vietnam can visit each other’s country.

As of Oct 10, the cooperation zone has received 1,232 China-Vietnam cross-border tour groups, totalling 17,991 visitors, and after said zone goes into official operation, the Publicity Department of Daxin County said in a statement it will further optimise the aforesaid cross-border travel model .

The first is to expand the scale of the cross-border visitor limit from 500 to 1,000 persons from each side, and adjustments will be made accordingly based on the number of such one-day cross-border tourists, while the second is to extend opening hours, allowing tour groups to spend a maximum of six hours instead of five hours across the border.

The third is to optimise border entry and exit procedures. For instance, the country’s first “face-scan” permit application model allows visitors to use the Guijing Tongban WeChat Mini Program to realise identity verification and visit registration, as well as “processing in one window” services related to organs in charge of entry and exit, household administration, and traffic police.

Meanwhile, visitors holding valid passports won’t need to acquire other documents, and they can travel in the cooperation zone via tour groups arranged by authorised operating parties.

The fourth is to simplify the declaration of belongings, in which new technologies and techniques will be employed to inspect visitors and their belongings so as to simplify procedures for the declaration of personal items like camera and camcorder commonly carried by tourists, providing a new experience in touch-free customs clearance.

The fifth is to quicken the inspection process whereby Vietnamese visitors who book to travel in and entering and exiting China with tour groups are entitled to the “three exemption” (exempt from fingerprint collection, border control stamping, and filling alien entry card) policy for improved convenience.

On the other hand, Chinese visitors are given “manual + express” dual customs clearance mode and border control stamp-free customs clearance convenience. These measures represent a new height in service quality.

— BERNAMA

KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 4 (Bernama) — The recently launched 2024 Beijing Chaoyang International Light Festival has illuminated the Liangma River Cultural and Economic Belt under the theme “Following Light, Beautiful Shadows”.

The festival featured over 50 lighting installations as well as staged over 10 entertainment and consumption events across three key areas, namely the Liangma River International Water Front with the sub-theme of “Flowing Light and Color”, Chaoyang Park (“A Light Adventure”), and Junwangfu (Mansion of Commandery Prince Shuncheng), where visitors can access these attractions either on water or on land.

Starting from the Yansha Wharf, an “AI Dancer” gracefully performs on building facades, showcasing a dance projection called “Light Dance of Blossoms”, created using artificial intelligence (AI) technology, according to a statement.

At Liangma Port, the Bogong Lock features a rich display of light and shadow effects, combining naked-eye projection, laser drawing, and mechanical movements with a strong national style.

Meanwhile, at SOLANA Wharf, the “Magical Night: Music Box” light show combines music with visual art, creating a lively atmosphere that feels like a magical stage.

The Liangma River connects the major shopping districts of Sanlitun, Yansha, and SOLANA, and is lined by nearly 10,000 high-rated shops, including five-star hotels, Michelin restaurants, cafes, tea houses, bookstores, and theatres.

This integration of leisure and culture highlights the unique characteristics of a riverside zone with interconnected commercial areas, making it Beijing’s only waterfront economic belt that gathers cultural, commercial, and tourism factors.

As a “golden business card” for Beijing’s cultural and tourism industries, the Liangma River Cultural and Economic Belt is highly favoured by residents and domestic and international visitors alike.

In the future, Chaoyang will upgrade this economic belt, introducing emerging industries and digital art activities and creating avant-garde cultural spaces and popular destinations for cultural, commercial, tourism, and sports consumption that appeal to youths and lure more international visitors to enjoy the beautiful night scenery by boat.

— BERNAMA