Month: October 2024

Many tribes regard salmon as a sacred symbol and have long advocated for the removal of dams. Recently, operators agreed to this after finding that the maintenance costs for the dams were simply too high. According to U.S. wildlife officials, this week marked the observation of the first salmon making its way upstream to historic habitats since the removal of four dams on the Klamath River. It is believed that this is the first time since 1912 that salmon have returned from the ocean to these waters, prompting tribal leaders to exclaim, “They remember their home.”

In 2016, officials from California and Oregon signed an agreement to dismantle four hydroelectric dams on the Klamath River, a significant step in one of the largest river restoration projects in U.S. history. Previously, these dams had blocked salmon from migrating from the Pacific to spawn upstream, with the dismantling process recently completed.

A report from the San Francisco Chronicle noted that wildlife officials announced on the 17th that a Chinook salmon had been spotted in an upstream tributary of the Klamath River, indicating that the fish had successfully navigated through the former dam areas and was returning to its historical spawning grounds.

The news sparked excitement among officials, conservationists, and scientists, leading to extensive discussions in the community.

“Salmon remember where they come from,” said Frankie Myers, a leader of the Yurok Tribe, expressing his enthusiasm over the event.

The four dams on the Klamath River were built in the early 1900s, significantly hampering the salmon’s migratory patterns and reproduction, leading to drastic population declines.

Officials reported that the Chinook salmon traveled 230 miles (370 kilometers) from the Pacific Ocean to the Klamath River basin in Oregon, believed to be the first of its kind to return to this area since 1912.

This Chinook salmon is part of the fall-run population, the largest salmon group in the Klamath River, and holds great significance for California’s fisheries.

The journey from advocating for the dam removals to seeing them come to fruition has been a challenging and prolonged effort. Many tribes consider salmon to be a sacred symbol and consistently lobbied for the dams’ removal, ultimately leading operators to agree due to high maintenance costs.

Collaboration has been key, with the federal government, state agencies, tribes, conservation organizations, and scientists all working closely to monitor salmon passing through the former dam sites.

The monitoring team employed sonar cameras and video stations for their assessments. Initially, many expected salmon to take longer to reach these newly accessible waters because sediment left in the river after the dam removal had clouded the water.

On October 3, scientists first observed a salmon swimming past the southernmost point of the now-removed Iron Gate Dam through sonar cameras. Since then, dozens of Chinook salmon have successfully crossed that area.

Bob Pagliuco, a habitat restoration expert with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), stated that Chinook salmon typically live in the ocean for two to three years before returning to their birthplace to spawn. Their survival instincts enable them to adapt to environment changes and thrive in new locations, which is why he wasn’t surprised to see the fish venture into unfamiliar waters.

“What surprises me is how quickly this process is unfolding,” Pagliuco said, noting that he had anticipated a longer period before the salmon began exploring the newly opened areas.

Additionally, on the 15th, field workers discovered a dead salmon that had spawned upstream from the Iron Gate Dam, along with a fish nest found among gravel in the creek, indicating signs of spawning and confirming that salmon may already be in the process of reproduction.

While the Chinook salmon are gradually returning to their native waters, most scientists believe that it could take three to five generations—approximately ten years or longer—for the fish populations to fully restore the ecosystem to what it was over a century ago.

More than 94,000 birds have died at Tule Lake wildlife refuge in northern California, its worst recorded epidemic
Douglas MainWed 16 Oct 2024 06.00 EDTShareAn ongoing outbreak of botulism, a bacterial illness that causes muscle paralysis, has killed more than 94,000 birds at Tule Lake national wildlife refuge in northern California, the worst such outbreak at the lake ever recorded, according to the US Fish and Wildlife Service.
Affected birds often cannot control their muscles and suffocate in the water, said biologist and ornithologist Teresa Wicks with Bird Alliance of Oregon, who works in the area. “It’s a very traumatic thing to see,” Wicks said.
Though local in scale, the outbreak and catastrophic die-off are tied to global problems including declining wetlands, increasing demand for limited water resources, hydrological diversions and a warming climate.
These kinds of outbreaks can happen around the world and the phenomenon seems to be on the rise, according to Andrew Farnsworth, a scientist at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology who studies bird migration.
“Given warming temperatures, droughts, then intense periods of rain followed by drying … the hallmarks of climate change are all over this,” Farnsworth said.
The pestilence is caused by a toxin produced by a specific type of bacteria (Clostridium botulinum) that thrives in the area’s warm, stagnant, low water levels. Botulism can also affect people, though no human cases have been reported in this instance. Other outbreaks have been reported around the world, but generally cause far fewer deaths. A botulism outbreak in 2020 caused by similar conditions killed an estimated 60,000 birds at Tule Lake.
The Klamath Basin, of which the refuge is a part, has been disrupted by human-made dams and irrigation canals for more than a century. The developments and diversions eliminated more than 90% of the area’s wetlands.
View image in fullscreenA bird skull sits on the ground at the Tule Lake national wildlife refuge on 2 October in the town of Tulelake, California. Photograph: Justin Sullivan/Getty ImagesTule Lake is an ancient water body, whose levels swelled and ebbed but always remained, for hundreds of thousands of years. Historically, the lake and nearby wetlands would fill with water during the winter rains. Now the water supply comes almost entirely from irrigation canals.
In 2021, the lake dried up entirely for the first time in recorded history. In October 2023, local drainage districts and the US government’s Bureau of Reclamation released water into the lake. Birds quickly returned.
But this summer, water levels declined again and avian influenza killed hundreds of birds. Then the botulism outbreak began.
In response to an outcry from advocacy groups, the bureau delivered more than 5,000 acre-feet of water to the lake, slowing the outbreak. But no more was delivered and by late August, more than 1,000 birds were dying every day. Similar numbers died throughout September and into October. The death toll is almost certain to surpass 100,000.
Scientists say they are hopeful the outbreak will cease once cold, freezing weather returns, hopefully later in October.
“Although botulism is naturally occurring, the scope of this outbreak is disheartening,” said John Vradenburg, supervisory biologist with the Klamath Basin national wildlife refuge. “Wetlands are declining across the western US due to changes in the climate, alteration in ecosystem function and increasing demand on limited water resources.”
Tule Lake and nearby water bodies provide a vital stopping point on the Pacific flyway, which millions of birds migrate along every year. According to Ducks Unlimited, a conservation and hunting group, the numbers of birds using the flyway in California are down 25% this year compared with 2023, and down 30% from recent historical averages.
Many types of migratory waterbirds and shorebirds have died, including northern shovelers, pintails and American widgeons. Mallards, gadwalls, coots, sandpipers and wading birds including avocets, black-neck stilts and long-billed dowitchers have also been killed.
Wildlife rehabilitators Marie Travers and January Bill and their organization Bird Ally X have treated about 1,500 affected animals in a field hospital for birds, and successfully released more than 900. There is no cure for the botulism toxin, but given supportive care and a low-stress environment, most birds can recover over the course of a week or so, they said.
The group had to quit collecting birds to treat on 5 October with the start of duck-hunting season.
Forgotten epidemic: with over 280 million birds dead how is the avian flu outbreak evolving?Read moreIn the long term, a return of wetlands and a more sustainable, natural flow of water will be necessary to prevent this from happening again, Wicks said. Several large dams have now been removed from the Klamath, and discussions are taking place about improving the system, which mostly means letting it function as it did before human meddling.
The conversations “make it feel more hopeful that we can find a solution to the problem”, Wicks said.
As it is now, however, Tule Lake and surrounding wetlands have the most junior water rights, below agriculture and other human uses. “Such an important refuge for migratory birds has just been allowed to disappear” at times, Bill said.
“There aren’t enough people that can advocate for the birds getting the water they need to stay alive,” Travers said.
This story is co-published with the New Lede, a journalism project of the Environmental Working Group

Interim SpacesThe new Commercial Road Studios can be used by artists from Shepton MalletAn empty Somerset office block that was once a registry office has been turned into studios for 15 artists run by a charity.
Somerset Council granted charity Interim Spaces use of the former registry office for births, deaths and marriages in Shepton Mallet, which has been closed since 2017.
The new Commercial Road Studios can be used by artists from Shepton Mallet and the surrounding area, around the clock, at what has been described as "affordable rent".
Dan Simon, director of Interim Spaces, said: "We are truly delighted to boost the local artist scene in Shepton Mallet with these new studios, where artists can work together."
Mr Simon added the charity hoped to "unlock" potential for many local artists and designers who were previously working from home.
"We are excited to see how these studios catalyse more culture in our wonderful town," he said.
Jack Greenwood, one of the artists using the new space, said: "Having access to a local, affordable studio in Shepton Mallet is something I never dreamed would happen and has already benefited me hugely."
He added he had already got more visibility for his work.
"It’s been great for my mental health and confidence as an artist to be out of the house and working in a dedicated space," Mr Greenwood added.
"It’s invaluable to be part of a thriving art community. It has given my art career a boost and a new direction, and I think it’s a great thing for Shepton Mallet as a whole."
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On October 16, the Guangxi Beibu Gulf International Port Group (referred to as Beibu Gulf Port Group) announced the successful launch of the “Pearl River – Xijiang Express Shuttle Bus” at the Guigang Port terminal. This new service aims to streamline the entire logistics chain, significantly reducing logistics costs for enterprises in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area and enhancing domestic and international market connectivity.

As the largest inland river port in western China, Guigang Port boasts an annual cargo throughput capacity, shipbuilding capacity, and freight shipping capacity that each accounts for over 50% of Guangxi’s totals. It serves as the most convenient route for the southwestern region of China to access the sea.

The “Pearl River – Xijiang Express Shuttle Bus,” initiated by Beibu Gulf Port Group in collaboration with Guangzhou Port Group, will operate daily. This shuttle service will transport goods via barge to the Nansha Port area for customs clearance and export. The waterway system connecting Nansha Port, the shuttle bus service, and Pearl River Delta terminals will provide robust support for seamless integration of container operations and data exchange.

The introduction of the “Pearl River – Xijiang Express Shuttle Bus” addresses significant challenges faced by Guigang’s foreign trade exports, such as high road transport costs, long waits for vessels, and insufficient frequency of foreign trade routes. The new shuttle service offers businesses an improved logistics solution, increasing speed and efficiency between Guigang Port and Guangzhou Port while reducing transit distances. Compared to traditional methods, companies can save approximately 1,000 RMB per container in logistics costs.

Currently, Beibu Gulf Port Group operates seven regular container routes from Guangxi cities to the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, along with four foreign trade routes that extend to Vietnam and other regions. These routes effectively connect with markets in Europe, America, Southeast Asia, and Japan and South Korea.

On October 11, renowned American contemporary composer Andy Akiho took the stage at the Zhongshan Park Music Hall, presenting a mesmerizing audio-visual experience for audiences attending the Beijing International Music Festival.

Akiho’s monumental chamber work, “7 Pillars,” is his largest composition to date, spanning 80 minutes and consisting of 11 movements. The seven string quartet movements symbolize the seven “pillars,” while the four solo movements are custom-tailored to reflect the unique personalities of each member of Sandbox Percussion. This intricate work features a palindrome structure, creating a dialogue between movements that showcases Akiho’s profound grasp of musical form and structure. Notably, it received two Grammy nominations in 2022 for Best Contemporary Classical Composition and Best Chamber Music/Small Ensemble Performance.

The performance opened with a tense, atonal atmosphere created by low drums, wooden blocks, and rim shots, immersing the audience in the thrilling intensity of a percussion ensemble. As the piece progressed, a variety of timbres entered the mix; the percussionists integrated instruments like the vibraphone, marimba, and glockenspiel with innovative playing techniques. Akiho’s compositions are characterized by experimental approaches to timbre and rhythm, featuring both precision-driven fast passages and delicate, gem-like melodies that provided an intricate auditory experience for attendees.

Additionally, Akiho and Sandbox Percussion collaborated with 11 video artists, each commissioned to create unique visual content for the individual movements. These videos encompassed dance, animation, experimental narratives, and time-lapse photography, perfectly complementing the music and merging auditory and visual artistry.

As a leading figure in contemporary music, Andy Akiho’s works are celebrated not only in the United States but also have resonated with Chinese audiences. His collaborations include performances with prestigious organizations such as the Beijing International Music Festival, New York Philharmonic, and Shanghai Symphony Orchestra. His 2015 premiere of “Ping Pong Concerto” at the Beijing International Music Festival continues to be fondly remembered by music lovers to this day.

In recent weeks, various overseas Chinese communities have implemented a series of healthcare initiatives aimed at serving expatriates. These efforts include the establishment of health service centers, the launch of online consultation platforms, and medical teams providing home visits, all designed to deliver comprehensive medical services to overseas Chinese citizens.

“I used to have to take my family members to big hospitals in other cities, but now everything can be resolved right in our hometown,” said Ms. Chen, an expatriate from Qingtian, who recently returned from Spain to accompany her mother through a successful total knee replacement surgery at the Qingtian County People’s Hospital. Ms. Chen’s mother had been suffering from knee issues, and due to the family’s long-term overseas residency, they were unable to assist her in seeking timely medical care. The local expatriate health service center had invited specialists from Shanghai to perform the surgery, sparing the family from unnecessary travel.

In addition to outpatient services, hospital admissions, and health checkups, the Qingtian County health center has also launched an online consultation platform to provide medical advice and medication suggestions to overseas expatriates. This past July, Qingtian County People’s Hospital’s “Health Manager” program began collaborating with ten overseas Chinese associations, assigning a doctor and contact person to each association. Zhou Jianhong, president of the Qingtian Association in Barcelona, shared in an interview: “With over 50,000 Qingtian expatriates in Barcelona, the ‘Health Manager’ program allows us to receive timely and professional remote medical services.”

In Jiangmen, Guangdong, the Jiangmen Federation of Returned Overseas Chinese, in partnership with local hospitals, has established the “Health Service Center for Expats.” This center offers a green channel for medical visits, health check-ups, online consultations, and wellness seminars. For underprivileged returnees and their families, the center also provides discounts or waivers on certain medical fees.

Zheng Haiyan, deputy president of the Venezuelan newspaper “Wiguo Chinese Post” and a native of Enping City in Jiangmen, expressed, “The health service center allows us to better understand our health status and facilitates early detection and treatment of diseases. The online consultation service makes it easy for us to communicate with doctors and receive professional medical advice while overseas.”

Ms. Wang, an expatriate in Japan, shared her experience, saying, “After acupuncture treatment, my headaches have significantly improved. I’m thankful for the traditional Chinese medicine team that came to provide free consultations.” Wang has struggled with sleep issues, often suffering from dizziness and headaches. During a recent free clinic event, part of the “Caring for Overseas Chinese” initiative, she experienced the benefits of traditional Chinese medicine.

From late September, a Chinese medicine team formed by the Anhui Federation of Returned Overseas Chinese, together with Anhui University of Traditional Chinese Medicine and its affiliated hospitals, organized five health lectures and seven health services in Japan and Korea. Wherever they went, the Chinese medicine experts provided consultations for expatriates, sharing knowledge on traditional wellness practices. In Korea, the team offered free consultations in the Chinese community of Anyang, where local expatriates appreciated the doctors’ patience, professionalism, and detailed explanations.

“Is there a way in traditional medicine to control blood sugar?” and “What can I do about persistent eczema?”—queries raised by Malaysian expatriates during the recent “Tianfu Cloud Medical·Rongqiao Health” event, where they connected with doctors from Chengdu’s Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine Hospital through video calls. Since its establishment last year, the remote medical service station has hosted eight consultation events, catering to overseas expatriates.

Local communities are also inviting expert doctors to engage in free clinics and offering support. In Kunming, Yunnan, the first volunteer medical service team consisting of healthcare professionals and representatives from the expatriate community has been formed to conduct health checks and distribute commonly used medications. Similarly, the Jiangsu Federation of Returned Overseas Chinese collaborated in July with the Jiangsu Provincial Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine and Nanjing University of Traditional Chinese Medicine to launch the “Jiangsu Traditional Chinese Medicine Benefit Program,” resulting in numerous wellness events across cities like Changzhou and Taizhou. The Hainan Federation of Returned Overseas Chinese has established a special fund for major illness relief, aiming to support grassroots expatriate populations effectively.

As services targeting expatriates continue to improve, the first overseas health tourism center was inaugurated in September in Quanzhou, Fujian. This center integrates traditional Chinese medical services with cultural and tourism resources, offering diverse experiences tailored for expatriates.

Shu Shaotang, a committee member of the Philippine Federation of Chinese Associations and one of the first visitors, shared, “At the health tourism center, we experienced a blend of traditional Chinese medicine and modern technology in health services, enjoying a rejuvenating time for both body and mind. The continuous rollout of initiatives based on the needs of expatriates has made us feel both secure and cared for.”

Jannik Sinner secured his seventh title of a remarkable year with victory over Novak Djokovic in the final of the Shanghai Masters. Sinner, who is already guaranteed to finish the season as world No 1, was too strong for Djokovic, making it four wins from his last five matches against the Serbian with a 7-6 (4), 6-3 triumph. “Playing against Novak is one of the toughest challenges we have and I’m obviously very, very happy how I handled the situation”, said the Italian. “I’m very happy with the performance throughout this whole tournament. It’s obviously a very special one”

Jannik Sinner downs Novak Djokovic to win seventh title of the year in Shanghai

Footage courtesy of ATP Tour
Source: Tennis Media NetworkSun 13 Oct 2024 10.05 EDTLast modified on Mon 14 Oct 2024 07.33 EDTShare

On October 13, during the 87th anniversary celebration of Renmin University of China, an academic report conference was held to showcase a series of representative academic achievements.

In his opening remarks, President Lin Shangli emphasized that building a strong education system in a new era calls for organized scientific research. He stated that the university is dedicated to inheriting and innovating while fostering interdisciplinary dialogue. The goal is to collaboratively develop a vibrant and creative academic brand for Renmin University. He described the academic conference as a crucial platform for advancing the systematic and theoretical integration of the Communist Party’s innovative theories, constructing an independent knowledge system in China, and serving the governance of the Communist Party of China. He also highlighted its role in actively promoting Chinese voices, theories, and thoughts, aimed at answering pressing questions from China, the world, the people, and the era. This initiative seeks to contribute to the construction of a strong educational foundation and the modernization in a Chinese style.

The conference featured experts and scholars from various faculties at Renmin University, including the School of Economics, School of Information Resource Management, Law School, School of History and Party Building, School of International Relations, and the School of Chemistry and Life Resource Management, who delivered academic reports and thematic speeches.

Professor Feng Huailing, former Executive Vice President and a faculty member at the School of Information Resource Management, presented on “Digital Memory: Memories Across Time and Space.” He described digital memory as a new cultural memory form that saves digital forgetfulness, constructed from historical cultural resources and digital technologies. With features such as unlimited capacity, multidimensional media, and all-time-space dissemination, digital memory exists globally at various levels. The university has developed projects like the “Beijing Memory Digital Resource Platform” and “Four-Dimensional Digital Reconstruction of Beijing,” which blend rich cultural connotations with exciting digital presentations.

Former Vice President and Professor Yang Huilin from the School of Arts addressed “The Civilization History of ‘China in the World’ and Dialogic ‘Chinese Narratives’.” He argued that “China in the World” serves as a fundamental perspective for narrating civilization history, bridging the narratives surrounding Chinese civilization. Dialogue-based research that draws from both Eastern and Western perspectives is essential for “resolving the disputes between ancient and modern East and West.” This approach reinterprets the unique texture of Chinese civilization through comparison, inspiring a revisit to traditional values and providing possibilities for entering Western knowledge systems.

The Academic Week at Renmin University began on September 23, featuring over 30 specialized academic reports and more than 40 lectures and seminars covering major topics such as the theoretical construction of Chinese-style modernization, new productive forces, independent knowledge systems, educational strength, national security, the community of shared future for mankind, as well as cutting-edge discussions on large model artificial intelligence and life resources.

In a recent discussion on the intersection of culture and national identity, the importance of cultural confidence was highlighted as a crucial issue concerning the destiny of a nation, cultural security, and the independence of national spirit. Building robust cultural confidence requires ongoing, in-depth research into our country’s cultural development. General Secretary Xi Jinping emphasized that “Socialist culture with Chinese characteristics originates from the excellent traditional culture nurtured over 5,000 years of Chinese civilization, forged through the revolutionary culture and advanced socialist culture created by the Party leading the people through revolution, construction, and reform, and is rooted in the great practice of socialism with Chinese characteristics.” As we embark on a new journey, it is essential that we deepen our understanding of the historical context, essence, and practical significance of socialist culture with Chinese characteristics to strengthen cultural confidence and advance cultural development.

Culture is a complex, diverse, and interconnected organic whole that has continuously accumulated and evolved over the course of history. Cultural research is characterized by its diachronic, empirical, and systematic nature. The diachronic aspect emphasizes the study of the origins, development, and changes in culture throughout history, tracing the flow of national spirit. The empirical aspect requires solid research methodologies to establish a fundamental understanding of what culture is. Lastly, the systematic aspect links cultural studies with political, economic, and social contexts, analyzing various factors that influence cultural development while seeking to discover and summarize the laws governing cultural evolution. To enhance our cultural research, we must prioritize these characteristics and consistently tackle new questions, construct new theories, and create innovative paradigms.

A commitment to deeply understanding and implementing Xi Jinping’s cultural thought will help us form scientific research methodologies. China, with its rich historical cultural heritage, possesses an unparalleled array of cultural legacies that have thrived continuously. Since its founding, the Chinese Communist Party has actively led and practiced advanced Chinese culture while faithfully inheriting and promoting excellent traditional culture. In recent years, General Secretary Xi has introduced a series of new thoughts, viewpoints, and assertions in cultural development, culminating in Xi Jinping’s cultural thought. This rich and profound framework serves as a fundamental guideline for enhancing cultural research. For instance, General Secretary Xi’s innovative concept of the “two combinations,” particularly the “second combination,” represents a significant ideological breakthrough that guides cultural research. Additionally, his advocacy for the creative transformation and innovative development of excellent traditional culture provides key insights on how to properly embrace our cultural heritage while adapting it for contemporary relevance.

By adhering to a problem-oriented approach, we can build an autonomous knowledge system for cultural research. Innovation begins with identifying and addressing original questions within cultural studies. Current pressing issues in the field—such as the integration of Marxist principles with excellent traditional Chinese culture, the origins and development of Chinese civilization, the evolution of regional cultures, and the defining characteristics of the Chinese spirit—warrant thorough investigation. Tackling these topics will be significant as we assume new cultural responsibilities in today’s era. We aim to maintain a problem-oriented approach, facilitating dialogue between ancient and modern, East and West, while distilling key concepts and categories that lead to new understandings and perspectives.

To deepen our analysis, we must uncover the profound meanings of culture. While cultural evolution can be described, its deeper significance needs comprehensive analytical interpretation. We should not limit our research to merely understanding social and cultural phenomena; we must explore their underlying meanings. By conducting thorough explanations behind social activities, we can reveal the deeper significance of cultural endeavors and appreciate the values they embody. A robust analytical framework should incorporate methods of cultural analysis, interpretation, and significance to probe social life phenomena effectively—addressing what they are, why they occur, and their hidden cultural implications.

Updating our research paradigms is crucial for enhancing our interpretive capabilities. Research paradigms consist of specific perspectives, concepts, and propositions that form a theoretical framework. Revamping these paradigms involves shifting research standards and perspectives—moving from causal analysis to significance interpretation, investigating cultural phenomena through the lens of cultural construction, and extracting the cultural meaning from historical events. Modernizing research paradigms will undoubtedly expand the field of cultural studies and enhance our interpretative capacity.

To advance integrated development, it is essential to capitalize on the synergies of multidisciplinary collaboration. Given the multifaceted nature of the cultural research object, collaboration across disciplines is necessary. Interdisciplinary approaches can dismantle academic silos and enable a comprehensive examination of culture through the lenses of economics, politics, history, society, and ecological civilization. By merging concepts, theories, and methodologies from fields such as history, political science, economics, sociology, anthropology, and psychology, we can carve out new research domains and provide fresh explanatory avenues, fostering innovative developments in research perspectives and methodologies.

(Author: Zuo Yuhua, Researcher at the Historical Theory Research Institute of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences)
《People’s Daily》(October 14, 2024, Page 09) 【Editor: Zhang Ziyi】

On October 16, the sixth edition of the “Building Friendships and Sharing Knowledge” cultural exchange program officially launched in Xiamen, China. This initiative, co-hosted by the Xiamen People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries and Huaqiao University, specializes in enhancing math teaching skills for secondary school educators from Brazil and Indonesia.

Among those attending the opening ceremony—both in person and virtually—were Ceará State Governor Lúcio Gonçalves de Freitas, Consul General Lan Heping from the Chinese Consulate in Recife, and Consul General Xu Yong from the Chinese Consulate in Surabaya. Additionally, Huang Shaorong, Deputy Director of the Foreign Affairs Office of Fujian Province, Zhang Quan, Director of the Xiamen Foreign Affairs Office, and Lin Hongyu, Vice President of Huaqiao University, were also present.

Governor Freitas emphasized the importance of this training program in enhancing Brazilian educators’ understanding of China’s foundational mathematics education system, thereby creating a valuable platform for knowledge exchange among teachers from both countries.

This year marks the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between China and Brazil. Consul General Lan highlighted that this training initiative is a concrete manifestation of cultural exchange under the BRICS cooperation framework. It symbolizes the strengthening ties between Fujian Province and Ceará State, as well as between Xiamen and Fortaleza.

Consul General Xu pointed out that the “Building Friendships and Sharing Knowledge” program significantly fosters cooperation and goodwill between Xiamen and Surabaya. It has become a new platform for various sectors of Surabaya to gain a deeper understanding of China.

Deputy Director Huang expressed her enthusiasm for the online courses, noting that they are a beneficial response to the trend of global educational exchange. They aim to promote shared teaching resources and further enhance educational and cultural cooperation between Fujian, Brazil, and Indonesia.

Vice President Lin shared details about Huaqiao University and the project’s curriculum. He hopes this training will deepen collaboration between Chinese and foreign educators and contribute to the global development of foundational mathematics education.

The “Building Friendships and Sharing Knowledge” program, developed jointly by the Xiamen People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries and Huaqiao University, focuses on citizens of friendly cities and faculty and students from partner schools. It aims to showcase the achievements of China’s modernization in a multi-faceted manner and has successfully held five sessions to date.

With support from the Chinese Consulates in Recife and Surabaya, along with the Fujian Foreign Affairs Office, this iteration of the program has attracted participation from 3,070 math teachers from Brazil’s northeastern states and 217 high school math teachers from Indonesia. Its goal is to promote development and lifelong learning while aligning with the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goal 4 (SDG-4), which focuses on improving global education governance and enhancing the quality of foundational mathematics education worldwide.