KUALA LUMPUR, July 28 (Bernama) — An international media delegation visited Aba Tibetan and Qiang Autonomous Prefecture in Sichuan Province from July 23 to 27 to explore the region’s ecological conservation, rural development and ethnic cultural heritage.
The “Discover China: International Media Tour of Aba” brought together 10 journalists from mainstream media outlets in nine countries, including Azerbaijan and Kyrgyzstan. The tour was organised by the News and Information Center of Xinhua News Agency under its international communication initiative “Discover China”.
During the visit, journalists explored emerging highland industries, including low-altitude aviation, ecological tourism and yak dairy production. In Ruoergai County, the delegation visited a low-altitude flight centre showcasing applications such as cultural tourism sightseeing, ecological monitoring, emergency rescue and aviation education.
The delegation also visited the Western Yak Industry Group, where journalists learnt about the region’s yak milk processing industry and efforts to transform local livestock resources into speciality products. The company has established a milk collection network covering a 300-kilometre radius to support highland animal husbandry development.
According to the organiser in a statement, the media tour highlighted Aba’s ecological conservation efforts at the First Bend of the Yellow River, where grassland restoration and wetland protection initiatives are being integrated with tourism development.
Journalists also visited the Huanglong Scenic and Historic Interest Area, a UNESCO World Heritage Site known for its colourful travertine pools. The site has implemented conservation measures to protect its natural terraces, including the restoration of more than 40,000 square metres of travertine formations.
At the Ancient Qiang City of China in Mao County, the delegation experienced traditional Qiang culture through rituals, performances and heritage displays. Mao County has promoted the preservation of Qiang traditions through cultural tourism initiatives.
Located on the southeastern edge of the Qinghai-Xizang Plateau, Aba Tibetan and Qiang Autonomous Prefecture covers 84,200 square kilometres and is home to nearly 900,000 people. The region is recognised for its diverse ethnic heritage, ecological significance and natural attractions, including Jiuzhaigou Valley and Huanglong.
KUALA LUMPUR, July 29 (Bernama) — The a2 Milk Company, a dairy nutrition company, has announced new clinical and preclinical research examining infant growth and safety, protein utilisation and gastrointestinal biomarkers, and digestive tolerance associated with A1- and A2-type beta-casein proteins.
Presented at NUTRITION 2026, the annual meeting of the American Society for Nutrition, the research included studies conducted by The a2 Milk Company as well as company-funded research by investigators from Purdue University and Nova Southeastern University.
The company presented results from a randomised, double-blind controlled trial evaluating infant formula made with milk free from A1-type beta-casein protein (A1PF) in healthy term infants.
The Growth Monitoring Study, which was required by the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for new infant formulas, found that infants fed the A1PF formula experienced normal growth throughout the 16-week study period, meeting the FDA’s predefined non-inferiority criteria compared with a commercially available infant formula.
Additional analyses showed that infants receiving the A1PF formula recorded about six per cent greater average weight gain, around 6.6 per cent greater length gain, and higher weight-for-age and length-for-age z-scores at 16 weeks.
A separate preclinical study presented by The a2 Milk Company Senior Global Research Manager, Kirsty Armstrong, examined the protein component of A1PF infant formula using the Association of Official Analytical Collaboration (AOAC INTERNATIONAL) Protein Efficiency Ratio (PER) Official Method 960.48.
Key findings included higher adjusted PER, elevated antioxidant status, reduced gastrointestinal inflammatory markers, improved intestinal barrier function markers, and increased lactase gene and protein expression.
The company said the findings suggest that A1PF milk in infant formula may support improved protein quality and a more favourable gastrointestinal environment for nutrient utilisation, although further research is needed to determine the clinical significance of these findings.
Researchers from Purdue University also investigated the role of A1- and A2-type beta-casein in digestion and metabolism, while Nova Southeastern University examined how naturally occurring differences in milk proteins may influence inflammation in the gut and brain, contributing to ongoing research into the links between nutrition, inflammation, digestive health and cognitive function.
BEIJING, July 28 (Bernama-GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — CGTN published an article exploring the China Travel boom. As a growing number of global travelers head to China in search of cooler destinations, the article explores the country’s boom in inbound tourism this summer, and highlights how China’s expanding visa facilitation policies and foreigner-friendly services are driving this travel trend.
As extreme heat grips much of Europe, a new travel trend is taking shape. Increasingly, travelers are looking beyond their own borders in search of cooler summer destinations, and China is emerging as one of their top choices.
With its cool climate and picturesque landscape of green hills and clear waters, Liupanshui City, known as China’s “cool city” in southwest China’s Guizhou Province, has emerged as a favored destination for foreign travelers escaping the heat. During this summer vacation, more than 20 themed events, including music festivals and rural garden fairs, are taking place across the city, drawing visitors from around the world.
Touring the city this summer, Max Slonim, an American tourist, was impressed by the cool and comfortable weather. “Whenever you go to scenic and beautiful places, you can really experience nature and the peaceful atmosphere without huge crowds and long queues,” he said.
The broader momentum behind “China Travel” continues to build. During the first half of 2026, China recorded more than 22.91 million inbound visits, up 20.4% year on year. Traditional summer destinations such as Yunnan, Guizhou and Hunan provinces have topped international travelers’ summer wishlists.
Booming China Travel
In Zhangjiajie, a tourist city in central China’s Hunan Province known worldwide for its dreamlike landscape, the peak season for inbound visitors has arrived. Tourists from Europe, Southeast Asia and beyond venture into its UNESCO-listed sandstone mountains, where cool breezes and lush forests offer a natural retreat.
Benefiting from China’s 240-hour visa-free transit policy, the city has opened over 10 passenger air routes linking eight countries and regions. Fast-track immigration procedures and entry to major attractions with just a passport have made traveling in the city more seamless than ever for international visitors.
Since the beginning of July, family summer trips to the Zhangjiajie Grand Canyon Scenic Area have surged, with daily visits approaching 10,000 and inbound tourists accounting for over 50% of the total.
China’s cooler coastal destinations are also seeing rising popularity. Qinhuangdao, a seaside city in north China’s Hebei Province, has introduced a diverse lineup of summer activities, including sailing, speedboat rides, intangible cultural heritage performances and immersive VR experiences at the Great Wall Museum.
The city received 43,000 inbound visits during the first half of this year, up 50% year on year, while the average stay of overseas tourists doubled from seven days to fifteen.
The trend is especially noticeable among European travelers. European countries account for nearly 30% of China’s top 20 inbound source markets for this summer. Travel bookings have surged 275% year on year, while attraction ticket orders have increased by 20 times. Visitors from Britain, France and Germany alone account for nearly 42% of all European arrivals.
Why China?
Behind the tourism boom is China’s steadily expanding visa facilitation policy. China currently offers unilateral visa-free entry to nationals of 50 countries and has signed mutual visa exemption agreements with 29 countries. Meanwhile, nationals from 55 countries can now utilize the 240-hour visa-free transit program to enter China via 65 designated ports.
International accessibility has also improved significantly. Direct flights now connect overseas destinations with 160 Chinese cities, while more than three-quarters of inbound travelers now enter the country visa-free.
Meanwhile, travel services have become increasingly foreigner-friendly. Multilingual ticketing machines, AI-powered translation devices and customer support in English, French, Spanish and other languages are now widely available at tourist attractions and on major travel platforms.
Yet one detail repeatedly highlighted by foreign visitors is surprisingly simple: air conditioning. From airports and subway stations to shopping malls, hotels and tourist attractions, reliable cooling has become an essential part of China’s summer travel experience, supported by one of the world’s largest and most reliable power systems.
Across social media, videos of foreign travelers sharing their summer adventures in China have become windows through which global audiences are rediscovering the country. Increasingly, visitors are venturing beyond Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou and Shenzhen to explore ancient towns, mountain villages and lesser-known cities. What they are finding is more than just a cool place to escape the summer heat – they are discovering a China that is increasingly accessible, welcoming and vibrant.
The 2026 Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Digital and AI Ministerial Meeting, alongside other events of the Digital Week, was held in Chengdu, Sichuan Province.
KUALA LUMPUR, July 24 (Bernama) — The 2026 Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Digital and AI Ministerial Meeting and related Digital Week activities are being held in Chengdu, Sichuan Province, from July 16 to 29, highlighting the city’s growing role in digital innovation and regional cooperation.
The Chengdu Municipal People’s Government, the organiser of the event, said in a statement that the event serves as a platform for advancing exchanges in digital and artificial intelligence (AI) development across the Asia-Pacific region while showcasing Chengdu’s capabilities in technology, manufacturing and the digital economy.
Organised around four key themes — AI innovation, industrial achievements, Tianfu culture, and economic and trade cooperation — the Digital Week features activities aimed at promoting high-quality growth in Chengdu’s manufacturing sector and digital economy.
The meeting’s location in Chengdu marks the first time the APEC digital event has been held in China’s inland region, reflecting efforts to expand digital cooperation beyond traditional coastal centres. Leveraging China’s “Eastern Data, Western Computing” initiative, Chengdu has developed digital infrastructure to support innovation and international collaboration.
Chengdu has established a strong digital economy ecosystem, with its core AI industry exceeding 150 billion Chinese yuan in scale and growing about 39 per cent year-on-year. (100 Chinese yuan = RM60.39)
The city has built more than 80,000 5G base stations and developed computing infrastructure integrating supercomputing, intelligent computing, general-purpose computing and edge computing.
The city is also home to major industrial clusters in electronic information and equipment manufacturing, while its digital cultural and creative industries have gained international attention. The Chengdu-produced animated film Ne Zha 2 surpassed 10 billion Chinese yuan in box office revenue, demonstrating the integration of technology and cultural innovation.
Beyond technology, Chengdu is promoting international cooperation through its cultural heritage, transport connectivity and open urban environment. The city, known for landmarks including the Dujiangyan Irrigation System, giant pandas and Sichuan cuisine, continues to position itself as a bridge connecting traditional culture with digital transformation.
Through the APEC Digital and AI Ministerial Meeting, Chengdu aims to showcase how digital technologies can support economic growth, industrial upgrading and broader cooperation across the Asia-Pacific region.
KUALA LUMPUR, July 27 (Bernama) — The second International Conference on Climate Leadership, held in Harbin from July 18 to 20, gathered more than 300 experts and scholars from 111 universities and research institutions across 23 countries and regions.
According to a statement, the three-day conference was co-hosted by the Business School, Harbin Institute of Technology (HIT), the Bartlett School of Sustainable Construction, UCL, and the Chinese Economic Association UK/Europe.
With representatives from international organisations such as the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), businesses, and leading academic journals, participants explored cutting-edge developments and global practices in climate leadership, contributing Chinese wisdom and solutions to global climate governance.
The Climate Leadership Initiative, jointly proposed by HIT and UNDP, was officially launched at the conference, highlighting the role of science, technology, and business disciplines in connecting climate technology innovation, business practices, and governance decision-making.
It calls for stronger collaboration among business schools, science and engineering faculties, research institutions, and enterprises, marking HIT’s significant step in leveraging its unique disciplinary strengths to help Chinese universities shift from participants to leaders in global climate governance.
In addition, the conference also featured a world-class academic lineup, with keynote speakers including fellows of the Royal Society of Canada, the Academy of the Social Sciences in Australia, the European Academy of Sciences, and the Royal Society of Edinburgh.
Distinguished experts also included a former deputy director of the Regional Cooperation Division at the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), an executive council member of the China Energy Research Society, and an assistant resident representative of UNDP in China.
Editors-in-chief from leading journals also gathered at the Journal Editors Session to discuss emerging trends, while five international organisations, namely UNDP, UNEP, WWF, WRI and CBI, participated extensively. UNDP also organised its first dedicated joint session, highlighting the conference’s international influence.
As a leading university integrating science, technology, and business education, HIT has built an international platform for collaboration. Through co-hosting the conference and launching the Climate Leadership Initiative, HIT demonstrated that Chinese universities can serve not only as participants, but also as agenda setters and drivers in global climate governance.
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