Global Pulse

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  • Xinjiang guide forms deep bonds with Taiwan visitors

    Xinjiang guide forms deep bonds with Taiwan visitors

    In the vast, culturally rich landscapes of the Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region, 26-year-old local tour guide Dilinur Tursunjan has built far more than just professional relationships with her visitors — she has cultivated a deep, lasting emotional connection with a Taiwanese tourist family that transcends the narrow Taiwan Strait separating the two sides.

    Dilinur’s story catapulted her to national social media fame earlier this year, after a TikTok (Douyin) video of her talking about the groundbreaking Tianshan Shengli Tunnel went viral, racking up millions of views from viewers across China. The footage was captured by tourist Lin, who traveled with Dilinur on two separate trips: a tour of northern Xinjiang in October 2025, followed by a journey through southern Xinjiang this past March.

    In the heartfelt viral clip, Dilinur spoke from the heart about the engineering marvel that is the Tianshan Shengli Tunnel. “Because the people needed this accessible highway, our motherland could move mountains and redirect rivers,” she said. “It’s not that cutting through the Tianshan Mountains was ever easy — but on the other side of these peaks, there are people waiting for better lives.”

    Stretching across 2,500 kilometers, the Tianshan Mountains have historically separated northern and southern Xinjiang, creating long, dangerous travel routes between the two regions. The newly opened 22.13-kilometer Tianshan Shengli Tunnel, the longest expressway tunnel in the world, opened to traffic in December 2025. The mega project has cut a treacherous three-hour mountain crossing down to a smooth 20-minute drive, transforming regional connectivity and daily life for local residents.

    Work on the tunnel pushed the limits of engineering: construction teams lived and worked at altitudes above 4,000 meters, facing constant threats of oxygen deprivation, rock bursts, and sudden water inrushes. Even against these extreme challenges, Chinese engineering teams deployed cutting-edge innovative technologies to complete the full drilling process in just 52 months, finishing the project years ahead of early projections.

    For Dilinur, the tunnel’s story is not just a matter of national engineering pride — it is personal. Born and raised in Artux, she moved 1,500 kilometers to Urumqi to attend Xinjiang University of Finance and Economics. What once took an exhausting 18-hour drive by road now takes roughly 13 hours, a change that has made returning home to see her family far easier.

    “Now I can get home much faster, and tourists spend less time traveling on the road and more time enjoying all the beautiful attractions Xinjiang has to offer,” she explained. “That’s why I’m so deeply proud of this project — I’ve seen what it changed for people like me.”

    Lin, the Taiwanese tourist who filmed the viral video, first found Dilinur through the Douyin social media platform before booking their first trip. She said she was particularly moved when she realized the tunnel was built to lift up local communities, not just to claim a global engineering record. Over their two trips together, the group explored some of Xinjiang’s most iconic landmarks, from the stunning blue waters of Sayram Lake to the rugged heights of the Pamir Plateau and the centuries-old Kashgar Ancient City.

    The bond between Dilinur and Lin’s family deepened dramatically when Dilinur invited the group to her home for a traditional Uyghur meal featuring hand-pulled noodles, slow-cooked mutton, and homemade fig jam. The warm gathering stretched late into the night, leaving a lasting impression on the Taiwanese visitors.

    “It felt just like being with my own family at home,” Lin shared in a video of the gathering. “I’d only ever seen moments this warm and genuine on television before — I never got to experience it myself.”

    Today, the connection between the two sides is so strong that Dilinur has already invited the family to her future wedding, and Lin has already said she is eager to attend and even wear traditional Uyghur clothing for the celebration. Before the family departed on their second trip, the group even extended their stay to celebrate the Roza Festival (Eid al-Fitr) together at Urumqi’s bustling Grand Bazaar.

    Now boasting more than 500,000 followers on Douyin, Dilinur uses her growing platform to showcase the real, living culture and beauty of her home region to people across China and around the world. “I hope more people get to know the real Xinjiang, which is very different from the false narratives Western media often spreads,” she said.

    As Lin’s family prepared to leave Xinjiang, they already made plans for a third visit — sharing their hope that one day soon, they will be able to fly directly from Taipei to Urumqi, rather than transferring through Hong Kong as they must do today. For her part, Dilinur says her next big dream is to visit Taiwan in person, to taste the island’s fresh seafood and see its iconic mountain landscapes for herself.

  • BLCU aims to expand international student enrolment

    BLCU aims to expand international student enrolment

    One of China’s leading institutions for global language and cross-cultural education is pushing forward with ambitious plans to grow its international student population, building on explosive two-year growth that has already cemented its top national ranking. In an exclusive conversation with China Daily, Beijing Language and Culture University (BLCU) President Duan Peng outlined the institution’s rapid progress and long-term growth targets.

    Between 2023 and 2025, BLCU’s total international student enrollment jumped 350% to hit 12,000, data shared by Duan shows. Over that same two-year window, the number of international students pursuing full academic degrees at the university increased even faster, rising fivefold from 2023 levels. These gains have pushed BLCU to the leading position among all Chinese higher education institutions, holding the top rank nationally for both total international student enrollment and the size of its degree-seeking international student cohort.

    Looking ahead, the university is aiming for continued expansion through the end of China’s 15th Five-Year Plan period, which runs from 2026 to 2030. By the conclusion of that planning cycle, Duan said BLCU expects to grow its total international student population to 16,000, a further 33% increase from 2025’s record enrollment. The expansion aligns with broader national efforts to position Chinese higher education as a leading global destination for international study, strengthen people-to-people cultural ties between China and the rest of the world, and boost Beijing’s standing as an international education hub.

    As a university long focused on promoting Chinese language learning globally and fostering cross-cultural exchange, BLCU’s enrollment growth reflects rising international demand for access to Chinese higher education and academic opportunities, university observers note. The planned expansion is also expected to deepen the institution’s role as a bridge connecting Chinese scholars and students with global peers, supporting broader academic collaboration and cultural exchange initiatives.

  • Digital reading boom draws more Chinese into books

    Digital reading boom draws more Chinese into books

    NANCHANG — A sweeping surge in digital reading has unlocked new access to literary content across China, pushing more citizens to build consistent reading habits as national efforts to cultivate a book-loving society drive steady growth in overall reading engagement.

    New data released Monday during the fifth National Conference on Reading reveals that China’s overall adult reading rate climbed to 82.3 percent in 2025, with the average number of books consumed per capita across both print and digital formats rising to 8.39. The findings, pulled from a national reading survey and the 2025 China Digital Reading Report, confirm that digital formats have become a core driver expanding the country’s total reading population.

    The annual conference, hosted this year in Nanchang, the capital of East China’s Jiangxi province, opened alongside the inaugural launch of China’s first official National Reading Week, which will run through this coming Sunday. The week-long celebration is a key part of broader national initiatives designed to embed a strong reading culture in communities across the country.

    According to the national survey, 80.8 percent of Chinese adults now regularly interact with digital reading content, spanning e-books, serialized online literature, audiobooks, and short-form video book summaries. Researchers behind the data note that the flexibility of digital formats has been instrumental in growing participation: commuters can listen to audiobooks during daily travel, and mobile readers can access serialized fiction at any time, removing long-standing barriers to consistent reading.

    By the end of 2025, China’s total digital reading user base hit 689 million, marking a 2.95 percent year-over-year increase, while the total number of available digital reading works surpassed 70 million. Over the past five years alone, the overall market size of China’s digital reading industry has nearly doubled, expanding from 30.25 billion yuan (approximately 4.4 billion U.S. dollars) to 59.48 billion yuan, a clear indicator of robust growth on both the supply and demand sides of the market.

    Industry leaders attribute much of this market expansion to the evolution of online literature from a niche digital product into a pillar of the broader cultural economy. “The essence of reading is to allow stories to break through boundaries and enter everyday life,” explained Xie Lanfang, vice-president of Yuewen Group, China’s leading digital publishing platform. She added that digital reading content is increasingly expanding beyond online platforms to integrate with offline cultural consumption and interactive consumer experiences, creating new touchpoints for reader engagement.

    Chinese authorities have long prioritized reading as a core driver of national intellectual and ethical development, as well as a catalyst for broader innovation and creativity, spurring ongoing, coordinated efforts to build a nationwide book-loving society. To strengthen institutional support for these goals, a formal regulation on promoting nationwide reading entered into force this past February. The new policy outlines concrete measures to expand public reading facilities, improve public reading services, and strengthen long-term supporting mechanisms for reading promotion.

    Under the new regulation, the fourth week of April is officially designated as National Reading Week, marking 2026 as the first year the initiative has been observed nationwide. Over the course of the week, thousands of reading-focused events will be held across every region of China, including author lectures, book fairs, reading salons, and public book donation drives, all targeted at encouraging greater public participation in reading.

    “Reading service facilities have improved, and public awareness and satisfaction are relatively high,” noted Feng Shixin, president of the Chinese Academy of Press and Publication. He added that continued work is still needed to further improve accessibility for marginalized groups and upgrade the quality of public reading services nationwide.

    Even as digital formats continue their rapid growth, traditional print reading has remained resilient, with new data showing enduring public demand for immersive, long-form reading experiences. The national survey found that 45.9 percent of Chinese adults still prefer reading printed books, particularly full-length literary works, highlighting that digital growth has not displaced demand for traditional reading formats.

    Wu Shulin, chairman of the Publishers Association of China, emphasized that deep, focused reading remains the foundation for personal growth, professional advancement, and moral cultivation even in an increasingly digital age. He called for stronger public guidance to help readers navigate digital content and deepen a national culture of deep reading, encouraging audiences to move beyond superficial fragmented browsing to engage in more intentional, in-depth reading practices.

  • US mayor’s Shanghai visit renews cooperation

    US mayor’s Shanghai visit renews cooperation

    In a landmark move signaling renewed commitment to cross-Pacific people-to-people and institutional cooperation, San Francisco Mayor Daniel Lurie launched a two-day official visit to Shanghai on Sunday, marking his first international trip since assuming office in January 2026. The visit centers on deepening the 46-year-old sister-city relationship between the two major global metropolises, a bond that has served as a cornerstone of China-U.S. local exchanges for decades.

    Calling the choice to make Shanghai his first overseas destination deliberate, Lurie framed the visit as a defining milestone for his new administration. “This decision reflects the priority I place on this relationship and the deep respect I have for the Chinese-American community in San Francisco,” he told attendees at a sister-city reception during his stay.

    Leading a cross-sector delegation focused on advancing tourism, cultural exchange and partnership building, Lurie oversaw the signing of multiple memorandums of understanding (MOUs) with leading Shanghai-based cultural, educational and scientific institutions. The San Francisco delegation toured key local sites including the Shanghai Conservatory of Music, Shanghai Natural History Museum, and Shanghai Grand Opera House, with four formal partnership agreements sealed across these institutions.

    On Monday, Shanghai Mayor Gong Zheng held an official meeting with Lurie, where the two sides signed a new round of cooperation MOUs and outlined shared priorities for future collaboration. Gong emphasized that the newly signed agreements should serve as a fresh starting point to expand deeper joint work across trade and investment, urban governance, and cultural and artistic exchanges. He also encouraged leading enterprises from both cities to expand their market presence in each other’s jurisdictions to drive mutual economic benefit.

    For his part, Lurie articulated shared expectations for closer collaboration across a wide range of priority areas, including technological innovation, climate governance, sustainable development, urban management, culture, tourism, and grassroots people-to-people exchanges. “We are building on that foundation and investing in a future where science, education and sustainability remain at the center of our partnership,” Lurie said. “For us, this isn’t just about diplomacy. It’s about family, history and the neighborhoods that make our city what it is.”

    Cultural and artistic exchange emerged as a core highlight of the visit, with new agreements set to expand creative ties between the two cities. During a stop at the Shanghai Conservatory of Music, Lurie noted that the San Francisco Conservatory of Music has already hosted hundreds of Chinese students over the years, nurturing lasting creative connections between young artists on both sides. He expressed hope that San Francisco students traveling to Shanghai would build similarly enduring personal and professional bonds.

    A new partnership with the Shanghai Science and Technology Museum will clear the way for a major Chinese dinosaur exhibition to tour San Francisco. Additionally, the San Francisco Ballet has been scheduled to perform at the China Shanghai International Arts Festival in 2027, bringing one of the U.S.’s leading dance companies to Chinese audiences.

    David Stull, president of the San Francisco Conservatory of Music, emphasized the unique power of artistic collaboration to bridge cultural divides. “Music is a universal language. Young musicians will lose track of where they’re from and what language they speak because the only language they’re focused on is music,” Stull said, adding that both cities share a common “spirit of imagination, innovation and the future.”

    Tourism also remains a critical pillar of the bilateral sister-city relationship. Mike Nakornkhet, director of San Francisco International Airport, reported that annual passenger traffic between China and San Francisco rebounded to 700,000 last year, with 23 weekly flights connecting the city to four major Chinese destinations. Ongoing expansion of air connectivity is expected to further boost people-to-people exchanges in the coming years.

    Lurie summed up the visit by noting that the agreements signed during the trip represent a formal shared commitment to advance ongoing collaboration across culture, the arts, sports, and youth exchanges. The new partnership framework is built on a foundation of mutual respect and recognition of the complementary strengths of both cities. “San Francisco is the home of technology alongside arts and culture,” Lurie said. “The world looks at San Francisco as the global hub of innovation and technology. I know Shanghai is also cutting-edge, and we look forward to continuing these partnerships for many more decades to come.”

  • Truce on edge after Iranian ship seizure

    Truce on edge after Iranian ship seizure

    A fragile 14-day ceasefire between the United States and Iran is teetering on collapse following a contentious US seizure of an Iranian-flagged cargo vessel near the Strait of Hormuz and a swift retaliatory drone attack by Iranian forces, throwing the planned second round of bilateral peace talks scheduled for this week in Islamabad into uncertainty. Though cautious hopes for diplomatic progress persist, the escalating maritime confrontation has deepened divisions and raised global concerns over energy market stability.

    Pakistan, which has been mediating the peace process between Washington and Tehran, has deployed nearly 20,000 security personnel across Islamabad, putting the capital on high alert to secure the planned talks venue. Two anonymous Pakistani officials confirmed to The Associated Press on Monday that Iranian authorities have signaled willingness to send a negotiating delegation to the talks, though they declined to share further details on security grounds, warning that the scheduling of the meeting remains fluid and urging media to avoid unfounded speculation.

    The current crisis erupted Sunday, when former US President Donald Trump announced that US Navy forces had intercepted an Iranian cargo ship that attempted to evade a newly imposed US naval blockade of Iranian ports near the strategic Strait of Hormuz — the first such interception since the blockade was implemented a week prior. The seizure marked a blatant violation of the existing two-week ceasefire agreement, Iranian officials argued, labeling the action an act of “armed piracy” that proves Washington lacks good faith in diplomatic negotiations.

    In a direct retaliatory response, Iran’s joint military command launched drone strikes against US military vessels operating in the region. Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmail Baghaei emphasized that while Tehran has no immediate plans to proceed with fresh talks, it has not fully ruled out future diplomatic engagement. The Iranian government also released updated conflict casualty figures Monday, with the country’s forensic chief reporting that at least 3,375 people have been killed since armed conflict between the two nations began on February 28.

    Trump had previously announced Sunday that US negotiators would arrive in Islamabad Monday to resume talks, though Iranian officials offered no direct confirmation of the scheduling in the wake of the maritime confrontation. Pakistan has pushed forward with diplomatic preparations regardless: Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi, who was part of a Pakistani mediation delegation that traveled to Tehran last week, met Monday with Iranian Ambassador Reza Amiri Moghaddam to brief him on talks arrangements, just hours after holding a parallel briefing with US Charge d’Affaires Natalie Baker. A Pakistani ministry statement following the meetings reaffirmed both sides’ commitment to pursuing a sustainable, diplomatic resolution to de-escalate regional tensions.

    The ongoing standoff has already sent shockwaves through global energy markets, as blockades and security threats have disrupted commercial shipping traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, a chokepoint that carries roughly a fifth of the world’s daily oil supply. By Monday, global oil prices had surged more than 5%, with benchmark Brent crude trading above $95 per barrel — a jump of more than 30% since the conflict began in late February.

    In a social media statement, Iranian First Vice-President Mohammad Reza Aref framed the Strait’s security as a collective responsibility, noting that the international community faces a clear choice: “Either a free oil market for all, or the risk of significant costs for everyone.” He added that stable global fuel prices can only be guaranteed by a permanent end to all economic and military pressure on Iran and its regional allies.

    Beyond the maritime dispute, the decades-long standoff over Iran’s nuclear program remains a core sticking point in negotiations. Last week, Trump stated that the US is seeking a deal to have Iran remove all of its enriched uranium stockpile from the country. CNN, citing anonymous informed sources, reported that Washington is offering to unfreeze $20 billion in Iranian assets held abroad in exchange for the transfer. Iran’s Deputy Foreign Minister Saeed Khatibzadeh has already rejected the proposal as “impossible.”

    Alex Vatanka, a senior fellow at the Middle East Institute in Washington, told Al Jazeera that military escalation cannot resolve either the Hormuz shipping dispute or the nuclear standoff. He argued that the prospect of a sweeping, comprehensive grand bargain between the two sides in the short term is entirely unrealistic. “The best you can do is some kind of agreement of a basic framework, and then you have to go and quickly build on it. It will take at least months, if not years,” Vatanka explained.

  • Chad will deploy 1,500 troops to Haiti to help combat gang violence

    Chad will deploy 1,500 troops to Haiti to help combat gang violence

    N’DJAMENA, Chad – Amid spiraling gang-driven instability in Haiti, the Central African nation of Chad has formally announced plans to deploy 1,500 troops to the Caribbean country, joining the United Nations-endorsed multinational security mission tasked with quelling rampant organized violence, according to a formal correspondence from Chadian President Mahamat Déby Itno addressed to the national legislature.

    The president’s letter, delivered to sitting lawmakers on Monday, outlined that the deployment will be structured as two full battalions, each composed of 750 military personnel. The mission is scheduled to kick off this month and will run for an initial 12-month mandate, a response to an official request extended by the United Nations to boost the struggling anti-gang operation.

    Notably, a forward contingent of 400 Chadian soldiers has already been deployed to Haiti for the mission. President Déby emphasized that the deployment represents a point of national honor for Chad and its professional defense and security forces, who are stepping in to address a pressing global security crisis.

    This new contribution from Chad comes against a years-long backdrop of catastrophic insecurity that has crippled Haiti’s governing institutions. Last year, the UN Security Council greenlit an expansion of the Kenya-led multinational operation, officially dubbed the Gang Suppression Force, boosting its authorized troop strength from an initial 2,500 personnel to 5,500. The resolution also granted the expanded force new authority that its predecessor lacked: the power to arrest suspected gang members, a critical upgrade for targeting organized criminal groups.

    The original 2023 mission, led primarily by Kenyan police, was severely undermined from its launch by persistent shortfalls in both personnel and funding, leaving it unable to reverse the gang’s rapid territorial gains. Today, powerful and well-armed violent gangs control up to 90 percent of Port-au-Prince, Haiti’s capital, along with large swathes of the country’s central agricultural region.

    The crisis has already claimed countless lives and destabilized the country at the highest levels: in 2021, a team of armed assassins killed former Haitian President Jovenel Moïse in a brazen attack inside his private residence. Just last month, the security situation deteriorated further when one of Haiti’s most powerful criminal groups, the Gran Grif gang, launched a fresh large-scale assault on the central town of Petite-Rivière de l’Artibonite. Local human rights organizations confirm the attack left at least 30 people dead and dozens more unaccounted for, underscoring the urgent need for expanded international support to restore order.

  • Asia-Pacific warned of growing challenges

    Asia-Pacific warned of growing challenges

    As the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) launched its 82nd annual session in Bangkok on Monday, the agency released a stark new report warning that nations across the Asia-Pacific region are facing rapidly intensifying economic, social, and environmental threats driven by accelerating climate change and growing global geopolitical friction.

    Against a backdrop of unprecedented regional integration, the challenges facing Asia-Pacific economies have grown increasingly aligned, the report notes. These overlapping pressures range from muted post-pandemic economic growth and shifting global trade frameworks to the disruptive effects of rapid technological transformation. The five-day conference, centered on the theme “Leaving no one behind: Advancing a society for all ages in Asia and the Pacific”, brings together policymakers, academics, and stakeholders from across the region to address evolving demographic shifts and set shared socioeconomic priorities for the coming years.

    The report outlines that after weathering a prolonged period of sky-high global commodity prices and soaring interest rates, the region now faces new headwinds: rising tariffs, persistent economic policy uncertainty, and a cascade of knock-on effects that have fueled broader economic slowdown, accelerating trade fragmentation, and growing fiscal and debt vulnerability across multiple markets. Beyond economic pressures, the region is also navigating uneven demographic transformation: some nations are grappling with rapidly aging populations, while others continue to manage large, growing youth cohorts. This divergent shift creates a critical policy imperative: policymakers must create quality formal employment, boost labor productivity, and build cohesive, inclusive societies while adapting to major global megatrends including climate change, rapid urbanization, widespread digitization, and the rise of artificial intelligence.

    Despite these significant challenges, Armida Salsiah Alisjahbana, executive secretary of ESCAP, struck a cautiously optimistic tone in her opening remarks. “Despite external pressures, we have strong reasons for optimism as the Asia-Pacific is home to the world’s most dynamic economies and we have navigated past crises before and consistently emerged stronger,” she said. “Our leaders have demonstrated what is possible when countries learn from one another and co-develop solutions.”

    Alisjahbana called for deepened regional collaboration to co-design locally tailored development models that can better withstand unexpected external shocks. “Sustained progress hinges on joint capacity-building, knowledge exchange across national experiences, the scaling of context-appropriate innovations and forward-looking institution-building,” she added.

    In his keynote address to the opening session, Thailand’s Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul echoed the conference’s core theme, noting that the promise of leaving no one behind can only be fulfilled if all community members are empowered to reach their full potential. He emphasized the urgent need to reform regional education systems to build widespread adaptability, embedding lifelong learning as a universal social norm.

    Chinese Vice-Foreign Minister Ma Zhaoxu also addressed the gathering, noting that international peace and development face growing threats from rising unilateralism and power politics that undermine global stability. “ESCAP member countries should deepen solidarity and cooperation to help forge an open, inclusive and mutually beneficial Asia-Pacific community of shared destiny, uphold the purposes and principles of the UN Charter, support UN reform and enhanced effectiveness, and strengthen performance through regional mechanisms,” Ma said. He added that the global community must retain a steadfast commitment to openness and the rules-based multilateral trading system, urging regional nations to capitalize on opportunities to expand cooperation and knowledge exchange in innovation and technology, with a particular focus on new materials, clean energy, and artificial intelligence.

  • Murayama Statement honored

    Murayama Statement honored

    A memorial service for former Japanese Prime Minister Tomiichi Murayama, who passed away last October at the age of 101, brought together more than 400 political figures and peace advocates in Tokyo on Monday. The gathering centered on a shared call to honor Murayama’s landmark 1995 apology for Japan’s wartime aggression and push back against growing efforts to roll back the nation’s post-WWII pacifist constitutional framework, amid surging nationalist and militaristic rhetoric across the country.

    Attendees included sitting Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, former prime ministers Taro Aso and Yukio Hatoyama, and representatives from across Japan’s ruling and opposition political blocs, totaling around 450 guests. Murayama, Japan’s 81st prime minister and the first leader drawn from the Japan Socialist Party, died at his home in Oita Prefecture on October 17, 2025.

    Murayama’s most enduring legacy remains the historic cabinet-endorsed statement he released on August 15, 1995, the 50th anniversary of Japan’s surrender in World War II. In the document, widely known as the Murayama Statement, the government formally acknowledged that Japan had pursued a mistaken national policy that led it into war, triggering a catastrophic crisis for the Japanese people. It also admitted that Japan’s colonial rule and military aggression inflicted massive harm and suffering on populations across Asia and the world, offering official “deep remorse and heartfelt apology” for these wartime atrocities.

    Speaking at Monday’s memorial, Social Democratic Party leader Mizuho Fukushima emphasized the unshakable historical importance of the 1995 statement, recalling that Murayama repeatedly warned the Japanese public that the nation must “never again wage war.” Fukushima, who joined Murayama on a past visit to China, noted that in today’s fractious global climate, marked by intensifying domestic debates over constitutional revisions and security policy shifts, upholding and expanding the spirit of the Murayama Statement remains critical to keeping Japan out of conflict and preserving regional peace.

    Takakage Fujita, secretary-general of the Association for Inheriting and Propagating the Murayama Statement, told China Daily that the statement, paired with Japan’s post-war pacifist constitution, represents one of Japan’s most valuable political assets. This commitment to confronting historical wrongdoing has allowed Japan to rebuild trust with neighboring Asian nations and laid the groundwork for decades of constructive Japan-China friendship, he said, adding that its significance will resonate for generations to come.

    Fujita stressed that the statement is rooted in sincere, far-reaching reflection on the immense suffering Japan’s wartime aggression imposed on China and other Asian countries, serving as both a solemn pledge to never again initiate war and a formal declaration of peace for the entire Asia-Pacific region. “I will continue to uphold the spirit of the Murayama Statement and work tirelessly to promote Japan-China friendship,” Fujita added.

    Throughout his decades in public life, Murayama was a consistent, prominent voice pushing Japan to confront its wartime history honestly and build constructive, people-centered ties with China. Even shortly before his death, he sent a message to an international symposium marking the 80th anniversary of victory in the Chinese People’s War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War. In that message, he argued that Japan can only truly restore its national standing “through humble reflection on Japan’s past.”

    On the topic of bilateral relations, Murayama wrote that a peaceful, friendly Japan-China relationship forms the foundational bedrock of overall stability across Asia. He reaffirmed his long-held belief that building enduring friendship between the two nations and strengthening this core pillar of regional peace is the only correct path to protecting and advancing Japan’s own national interests.

  • Hong Kong’s Wang Fuk Court residents return to fire-ravaged units in batches for belongings

    Hong Kong’s Wang Fuk Court residents return to fire-ravaged units in batches for belongings

    HONG KONG — Nearly a year after a devastating large-scale blaze tore through Wang Fuk Court in Hong Kong’s Tai Po district, affected residents have begun the long process of returning to their fire-ravaged homes in organized, staggered groups to collect remaining personal belongings, with the first phase of the operation launching on Monday, April 20, 2026.

    To guarantee the safety of every resident entering the damaged building and coordinate the smooth execution of the retrieval operation, the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) government has mobilized a force of more than 1,000 personnel from multiple government departments and public service agencies. The carefully planned operation is scheduled to run through May 4, giving registered residents adequate time to collect items they left behind after the 2025 fire forced an emergency evacuation of the residential block.

    According to Cheuk Wing-hing, Deputy Chief Secretary for Administration of the HKSAR government, all residents participating in the retrieval process will receive full personal protective gear before entering the site, including safety helmets, disposable face masks, heavy-duty work gloves and other necessary equipment to guard against structural hazards and residual toxic smoke or debris. Every resident is escorted round-trip to their unit by trained personnel, either serving police officers or volunteers from the Civil Aid Service.

    Chris Tang Ping-keung, HKSAR Secretary for Security, further outlined the multi-layered safety arrangements put in place for the operation. To respond to any unexpected situation that may arise during the retrieval, dedicated police and Civil Aid Service personnel will be stationed on every floor of the residential block to provide on-demand, immediate assistance. Additionally, fully qualified medical teams and emergency response staff will remain on standby at the site throughout the operation, with multiple ambulances parked nearby to handle any medical emergencies quickly.

  • Australian organ donor remembered

    Australian organ donor remembered

    Eight years after their son Philip Hancock passed away in southwest China, his Australian family gathered in Sydney for a memorial symposium to celebrate the young man’s extraordinary act of humanitarian kindness that continues to connect communities across two nations.

    In May 2018, 27-year-old Hancock, an English teacher at Chongqing’s Southwest University who had built deep personal ties with China, died after failed medical intervention. In line with explicit wishes he had shared with his family years earlier, his parents made the decision to donate his liver, two kidneys, and pair of corneas. The selfless choice granted five Chinese recipients a second chance at life — restoring sight to two and saving the lives of three others. This act made Hancock the first Australian and seventh foreign national to complete an organ donation in China.

    Addressing attendees at the Sydney memorial, Peter Hancock, Philip’s father, reflected on the gravity of the choice his family made. “This was a very difficult decision for our family to make,” he said, noting that Philip’s clear long-stated intent softened the pain of their loss. “He said he would like his organs to be donated so that other people could benefit from them. He believed that this was a humanitarian thing to do and that everyone should have the same attitude toward organ donations.”

    Co-hosted by the Red Cross Society of China and the Chinese Consulate-General in Sydney, the symposium brought together diplomatic and community leaders from both China and Australia to honor Hancock’s legacy. Chinese Consul General in Sydney Wang Yu highlighted the profound meaning of the young teacher’s choice, noting that his story vividly embodies boundless humanitarian love, strengthens the deep-rooted friendship between the Chinese and Australian peoples, and illustrates the core value of a shared human future.

    He Wei, president of the Red Cross Society of China, emphasized that Hancock’s act of generosity transcends borders, race, and ideological difference, forging a living bridge of connection and friendship between the two nations. “The Australian’s name, his kindness and his invaluable spirit will always remain in the hearts of the Chinese people, standing as a most touching, precious and heartfelt testament to China-Australia friendship,” He said.

    Gary Cowan, CEO of the National Foundation for Australia-China Relations, echoed that sentiment, pointing to the dual impact of Hancock’s legacy. “It really reminds us of the very profound lifesaving ripple effect that organ donation has. And it also reminds us in a very tangible way of the very real value of people-to-people relationships between Australia and China and the long-term positive impact,” Cowan explained.

    For the five recipients who owe their renewed health and sight to Hancock, his legacy has become a deeply personal mission to carry forward his passion and kindness. After learning the young Australian was an avid music lover, the group came together to form “One-Man’s Band,” a musical ensemble named in his honor. The group performs at public events to raise awareness of organ donation, and donates 100% of proceeds from commercial shows to the Chongqing Red Cross Society to support public education campaigns.

    Over the eight years since Philip’s passing, the Red Cross Society of China has maintained consistent contact with the Hancock family in Australia, providing regular updates on the maintenance of Philip’s memorial site and the ongoing health of the five recipients. This steady connection has brought significant comfort to the grieving family, turning an act of tragic loss into a lasting bond between two nations.