Tag Archives: PUB

PR Newswire

China.org.cn on Beijing 2022: Where passion and warmth sparkle

Leave a comment

BEIJING, Feb. 18, 2022 — A report from China.org.cn on Beijing 2022:

Here are some touching and positive stories on Beijing 2022.

American athlete Tessa Maud shared on her social platform a heartfelt moment at the opening ceremony when a volunteer greeted her with a loud "welcome to China", a gesture that literally moved her to tears.

The Canadian delegation’s operations staff wrote a letter to the Chinese staff working in their building, thanking them for their efficiency and warmth.

A Chinese netizen sent American-Samoan athlete Nathan Crumpton a cartoon image of him showing up shirtless at the opening ceremony. Later people found out that he had stuck the cartoon image to his skeleton.

Sportsmanship has been well displayed in these games. China’s curling team lost a match to the U.S., but Chinese players presented Bing Dwen Dwen badges to their American counterparts. Later, the American pair also sent gifts in return.

When Gu Ailing won gold at the Big Air event, she hugged the other two medalists and comforted French athlete Tess Ledeux as she wept. Then at the press conference, Gu Ailing said it was Tess who inspired her to go all-in on her last jump.

At this Olympics, many athletes were pushing their limits and competing against themselves, which won admiration and respect from audiences. Japanese skater Yuzuru Hanyu challenged himself to finish a quadruple Axel; Canadian snowboard athlete Max Parrot returned after recovering from cancer and chemo and managed to clinch a gold medal. German speed skater Claudia Pechstein is still on the ice rink at the ripe age of 49 despite her stellar Olympic CV. For them, the Olympics is about striving for their passion and sparing no efforts to continue their dreams. Just like what Mr. Coubertin said, "the most important thing in the Olympic Games is not winning but taking part."

Sports are not about politics but all about challenging human limits, and inspiring and including more people in these events. Let sports be just sports, and celebrate faster, higher, stronger, together at these Games. Enjoy!

PR Newswire

The Hairy Monkey: Hairy monkeys to celebrate the Spring Festival and to greet Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics

Leave a comment

BEIJING, Feb. 18, 2022 — A news report by China.org.cn on China’s intangible cultural heritage:

"Half an inch tall, these monkeys bring folk customs of the capital city alive." This poem describes the hairy monkey, a traditional handicraft in old Beijing. The hairy monkey simulates human movements and life scenes, reflecting the life of the city, and has derived a variety of widely loved art works.

 

Before the eve of the 2022 Spring Festivalr, in order to have a closer understanding of intangible cultural heritage and feel the charm of traditional Chinese culture, Mengli and Ma Zhuoran who are international students from Russia visited the Studio of Zhang Fengxia, the fourth generation inheritor of Beijing style hairy monkey. They learned how to make a hairy monkey from Zhang Fengxia and gained a better knowledge of the hairy monkey culture.

The hairy monkey originated in the Qing Dynasty, which is more than 100 years ago. According to legend, there was a traditional Chinese herbal medicine shop called "South Qing Ren Tang" located at Luomashi Avenue on the outside of Xuanwumen in Beijing. One day, the clerk of the medicine shop was told off by the shop owner for no reason at all and felt very depressed. At night, when he was studying the herbs, he found by chance that the shape of Flos Magnoliae resembles the shop owner’s big belly. He then found a cicada slough and used its nose as the head, its front legs as the lower limbs, and its back legs as the upper limbs, which formed a monkeyish figurine. And that marked the birth of the first hairy monkey. Soon, the handicraft spread in Beijing and became a favorite toy for children.

It seems to be simple to make a hairy monkey, but actually it takes a lot of time and effort. To create in a small scale is a great test for the energy and endurance of the craftsman. "I thought the art was very simple, but I had a lot of difficulties in doing it," Mr. Ma said. Under the patient guidance of Zhang Fengxia, the international students completed their own hairy monkeys step by step, from the selection of materials to the arrangement of scenery. "I think it’s a beautiful art that conveys a lot of emotions. I wish more people knew about this art." After the experience, Mengli expressed his love and admiration for the monkey making.

Today’s hairy monkey creation are no longer confined to the old Beijing market culture, it continues to innovate with the development of the times. In the showcase of Zhang fengxia’s works, you can see a hairy monkey artwork themed by the canal in her hometown, Tongzhou which is also a new work created for the Winter Olympics in Beijing. Behind these exquisite works is Zhang Fengxia’s original aspiration and adherence to this skill.

The experience of making the hairy monkey not only makes international students feel the unique charm of China’s intangible culture heritage, but also makes the hairy monkey culture known and loved by more people.

PR Newswire

Toshiba Group Publishes Sustainability Report 2021

Leave a comment

-Strengthened sustainability promotion system to accelerate ESG and SDG initiatives throughout corporate activities-

TOKYO, Feb. 18, 2022 — Toshiba Corporation (TOKYO: 6502) today published the English edition of Toshiba Group Sustainability Report 2021, an annual review of policies and initiatives to advance ESG and promote achievement of the SDGs.

Toshiba Group Sustainability Report 2021
Toshiba Group Sustainability Report 2021

Toshiba Group Sustainability Report 2021 is compiled and edited by Toshiba’s Sustainability Management Division, established in April 2021 as an independent division reporting directly to the President and CEO. This new organization integrates the former sustainability promotion department, and is responsible for bringing forward-looking sustainability perspectives into management, and for promoting and advancing ESG and SDGs initiatives in all corporate activities.

In addition to reporting on Toshiba Group’s ESG initiatives in FY2020, Toshiba Group Sustainability Report 2021 covers the work of the new division to date, the reinforcement of the sustainability management structure, the formulation of Toshiba Group Sustainability Policy, the re-identification of materiality, and the revision of Environmental Future Vision 2050. These measures are briefly explained below.

1. Strengthening the sustainability management structure

Toshiba has ensured that sustainability perspectives are brought into management by setting up the Sustainability Strategy Committee. It is chaired by the President and CEO, and its members are executives responsible for sustainability, the Presidents of key group companies, and managers responsible for promoting sustainability.

Three committees operate under the umbrella of the Sustainability Strategy Committee: The Sustainability Promotion Committee and the Corporate Environmental Management Committee (established in 1991) consider specific measures to advance plans and decisions made by the Sustainability Strategy Committee, including formulating action plans and monitoring their progress. The Non-financial Information Disclosure Committee approves disclosure of ESG information for inclusion in the annual Integrated Report and Sustainability Report.

Figure: Toshiba Group’s Sustainability Management Structure
Figure: Toshiba Group’s Sustainability Management Structure

2. Formulation of Toshiba Group Sustainability Policy

As a measure to raise corporate value over the medium to long term, the board amended the Board of Directors Rules to include responsibility for determining Toshiba Group Sustainability Policy. In October 2021, the board formulated the current policy.

Basic Commitment of the Toshiba Group, "Committed to People, Committed to the Future," reflects Toshiba’s unwavering determination to contribute to society’s development through business activities. Guided by this commitment, and as a member of a society facing issues that include energy shortages, resource depletion, and climate change, Toshiba does not simply pursue short-term profits, but considers the long-term impact of its corporate activities on society, and promotes initiatives that contribute to solving social issues.

Toshiba Group Sustainability Policy will further advance this approach and strengthen activities that contribute to social sustainability. The policy is positioned alongside Basic Commitment of the Toshiba Group, management policy and Standards of Conduct for Toshiba Group as a core policy, and efforts to promote widespread awareness and compliance of the policy in the front lines of business are now underway, in Japan and overseas.

3. Re-identification of Materiality

Toshiba Group have tackled the material issues identified in 2013 by regularly confirming their status. However, response to climate change is now required on a global scale, and social issues are changing according to various perspectives as seen in the SDGs adopted by the United Nations. Toshiba Group also reviewed its businesses. Accordingly, we re-identified new material issues in FY2021.

Before re-identifying material issues, Toshiba Group extracted and organized issues with reference to the SDGs, the Global Risks Report published by the World Economic Forum (WEF), and guidelines including the SASB (*1) Standards. They were then prioritized in respect of the Group’s core businesses, and narrowed down to those requiring further consideration.

<2021 Re-identification of Materiality>

Vision for 2030

Materiality

For the irreplaceable global environment in which we live

Promote corporate activities with full consideration for the global environment throughout our value chain, from design, procurement, manufacturing, logistics and sales, through to disposal.
  • Respond to climate change
  • Respond to the circular economy
  • Consider ecosystems

For respect of human rights, to nurture people and technology, and to give back to society

Encourage every Group employee to feel pride and fulfillment in their work, and to harness creativity and technology in collaborating with business partners to realize rich value.
  • Secure, retain and train human resources
  • Ensure employee health and safety
  • Promote respect for human rights
  • Promote sustainable procurement
  • Strengthen R&D to stimulate innovation

For further strengthening thorough governance

Practice transparent corporate governance and optimal internal controls; and execute management with integrity, trusted by stakeholders.
  • Strengthen governance
  • Strengthen cyber resilience

 

4. Revision of Environmental Future Vision 2050

Toshiba has revised Response to Climate Change in Environmental Future Vision 2050(*2), its long-term vision of environmental management from a global perspective including climate change and the circular economy, so as to further accelerate efforts to achieve carbon neutrality throughout the value chain.

Specific measures will include investments in energy-saving equipment in the Group’s business activities, the introduction of renewable energy equipment and expanded procurement of energy from renewable sources, and a focus of creating products and services that contribute to lower emissions of greenhouse gases (GHG). Among other measures, Toshiba will continue collaborations with suppliers that target lower GHG emissions derived from purchased products and services, and also promote businesses in climate change adaptation measures that aim to stabilize energy supply and strengthen resilience.

Guided by Basic Commitment of the Toshiba Group, while striving to strengthen ESG activities and information disclosure, Toshiba Group will continue to contribute to solving social issues such as the SDGs through technology advances and business activities.

– Overview of Toshiba Group Sustainability Report 2021

  1. Date of publication (English Edition): February 18, 2022
  2. Available for download at:
    https://www.toshiba.co.jp/sustainability/en/report/download.htm

Notes:
*1: Sustainability Accounting Standards Board. A non-profit organization that develops sustainability accounting standards. Founded by Jean Rogers in 2011.
*2: "Response to Climate Change" vision, formulated in November 2020: "Contribution through the entire value chain to achieve net zero GHG emissions in society (50% reduction across the Group’s value chain by FY2030)"
"Response to Climate Change" vision, revised in November 2021: "Achieving carbon neutrality throughout the entire value chain (70% reduction of GHG emissions by FY2030)"

PR Newswire

China Literature and Singapore’s Top Two Universities Launch Platform to Nurture Passionate Young Authors

Leave a comment

The online literature platform teams up with National University of Singapore and Nanyang Technological University to launch Global Author Incubation Project 2022, a platform designed to cultivate budding writers

SINGAPORE, Feb. 12, 2022 — China Literature (0772.HK), a leading online literature and intellectual property (IP) incubation platform in China, established the Global Author Incubation Project 2022 on February 11, 2022, as part of its ongoing commitment to providing creative guidance and policy support to online authors worldwide.

Five top authors were invited to the project’s first session, an event that took place in 2021. During the session, they delivered lectures that examined the history and development trends of online literature from different perspectives, including looking at what types of content are trending as well as how the business model is evolving. The winners of the Webnovel Spirity Awards Spring 2021 (WSA 2021) were also announced during the session, with Elyon, XIETIAN and KazzenIX each receiving the Gold Award and a cash prize of US$10,000. First launched in 2019 in Southeast Asia, WSA has been recognized as an important event in the booming online literature sector.

Since 2020, Webnovel(www.webnovel.com), a portal with global reach under the aegis of China Literature, has been collecting eye-catching original English-language works from authors worldwide while providing omni-channel traffic support as well as flexible and accurate matching of operational resources. As of June 2021, the platform had brought on board and provided visibility to nearly 190,000 creators from around the globe, many of whom are noteworthy budding authors who are also teachers, doctors or supermarket workers. To cite a few examples, the online author from the Philippines, KazzenlX, once worked as a kindergarten teacher and the female writer from Bangladesh, Flow07, has become economically independent through writing online novels.

Webnovel has been and continues to be committed to helping young authors grow by providing them with various forms of assistance. Webnovel funds young authors by providing a guaranteed income of US$800 for works that meet certain criteria set by the platform. Furthermore, authors on the platform can also increase their income through subscription revenue and rewards from readers. The platform also helps unlock authors’ creative potential while broadening their vision by guiding them in creating content through the provision of exclusive editing services.

PR Newswire

CGTN: Peng Liyuan encourages cultural exchanges between China and Ecuador

Leave a comment

BEIJING, Feb. 7, 2022 — Peng Liyuan, wife of Chinese President Xi Jinping, on Saturday met with Maria de Lourdes Alcivar, first lady of Ecuador, at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing. The conversation revolved around fighting the COVID-19 pandemic and the cultural exchanges between the two countries.

&amp;amp;amp;nbsp;

In a chamber decorated with China’s peonies and Ecuador’s roses, Peng warmly welcomed Alcivar, who accompanied Ecuadorian President Guillermo Lasso to the opening ceremony of the Beijing 2022 Olympic Winter Games on Friday.

Hailing Beijing’s efforts to host the Winter Olympics despite the COVID-19 impact, Alcivar expressed appreciation for China’s assistance to Ecuador in fighting the pandemic and wished the athletes of both countries success in the Games.

Knowing that Alcivar was interested in traditional Chinese culture, Peng arranged a Peking Opera show and introduced the long history and artistic features of Peking Opera to her. They enjoyed excerpts from classics "Sell Water" and "Drunken Concubine" together.

Alcivar praised the excellent performance of the artists and said she hoped to learn more about traditional Chinese culture in the future.

Peng said joint efforts can be made to deepen cultural and people-to-people exchanges and cooperation between China and Ecuador to enhance mutual understanding.

https://news.cgtn.com/news/2022-02-06/Peng-Liyuan-encourages-cultural-exchanges-between-China-and-Ecuador–17qlq5EaEAo/index.html 

Peng Liyuan encourages cultural exchanges between China and Ecuador
Peng Liyuan encourages cultural exchanges between China and Ecuador

 

PR Newswire

CGTN: World gathers for 2022 Winter Olympic Games in Beijing

Leave a comment

BEIJING, Feb. 5, 2022 — The opening ceremony of the 2022 Winter Olympic Games was held at the National Stadium in Beijing on Friday night.

Opening ceremony of the 2022 Winter Olympic Games at the National Stadium in Beijing, China, February 4, 2022. /Xinhua News Agency
Opening ceremony of the 2022 Winter Olympic Games at the National Stadium in Beijing, China, February 4, 2022. /Xinhua News Agency

Chinese President Xi Jinping declared the Winter Games open after the International Olympic Committee (IOC) Thomas Bach delivered a speech.

"This Year of the Tiger is also an Olympic Year," Bach said. "Both the Year of the Tiger and the Olympic Tiger stand for ambition, courage and strength. Today, thanks to this ambition, China is a winter sport country. Well over 300 million people are engaged in winter sports in about 2,000 ski resorts and ice rinks."

"Dear athletes," he added, "We are all standing with you. We are all supporting you. We are all cheering you on."

A part of the performance at the opening ceremony of the 2022 Winter Olympic Games at the National Stadium in Beijing, China, February 4, 2022. /Xinhua News Agency
A part of the performance at the opening ceremony of the 2022 Winter Olympic Games at the National Stadium in Beijing, China, February 4, 2022. /Xinhua News Agency

Zhang Yimou, who’s behind the epic opening ceremony of the Beijing Summer Olympics in 2008, was again the chief director for the 2022 Winter Games opening ceremony. Snowflakes were at the heart of his central idea for Friday night’s show, which featured them in two programs. The lighting of the Olympic flame also carried the same motif.

"Different snowflakes come to Beijing and assemble into a giant snowflake of humankind," Zhang said of his concept for the opening ceremony in an interview with China Media Group (CMG).

Delegations from over 90 countries and regions attended the ceremony, together with world leaders including Russian President Vladimir Putin, Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic, Argentine President Alberto Fernández, and UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres among others.

Athletes of Team China attend the parade at the opening ceremony of the 2022 Winter Olympic Games at the National Stadium in Beijing, China, February 4, 2022. /Xinhua News Agency
Athletes of Team China attend the parade at the opening ceremony of the 2022 Winter Olympic Games at the National Stadium in Beijing, China, February 4, 2022. /Xinhua News Agency

As part of the Olympic tradition, members of Team Greece were the first to enter the stadium during the parade of athletes, followed by Team Turkey. As the host of the Winter Olympics, Team China were the last to march. Speed skater Gao Tingyu and skeleton athlete Zhao Dan carried the Chinese national flag for the squad.

At the end of the ceremony, the Olympic Cauldron was lit at the center of the stadium by the torch that had passed through the hands of some 1,200 torchbearers, including Bach himself, during a three-day relay in the three competition zones of Beijing, Yanqing and Zhangjiakou.

In the following 16 days, some 2,900 athletes will compete in 109 events of 15 disciplines under seven sports at the 2022 Winter Olympics.

https://news.cgtn.com/news/2022-02-04/Beijing-2022-Winter-Olympics-opening-ceremony-begins-17nLl93I95S/index.html

 

PR Newswire

CGTN: China, Russia vow to turn mutual trust into cooperation in various fields

Leave a comment

BEIJING, Feb. 5, 2022 — China is celebrating the Chinese New Year and under a global gaze as it hosts the Winter Olympics, and the China–Russia relationship is also in the spotlight as Russian President Vladimir Putin paid a visit to Beijing on Friday.

&amp;amp;amp;nbsp;

Nearly three years after Putin’s last visit to China, the trip featured the 38th meeting between Chinese President Xi Jinping and the Russian president since 2013.

During the meeting, the two heads of state vowed to turn mutual trust between the two countries into cooperation in all fields.

Close communication maintained

Noting his attendance at the opening ceremony of the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi at the invitation of Putin, Xi said that they promised to meet again in Beijing eight years later.

"Your visit this time fulfills our promise," he said, adding that he hopes the meeting at the beginning of spring will inject more vitality into China–Russia relations.

"Lichun," the first of the 24 solar terms on Chinese lunar calendar, falls on February 4 this year and it is considered the beginning of spring.

Putin said the exchange of visits at the Olympics is a symbol and a good tradition of close relations between the two countries’ heads of state.

"The COVID-19 pandemic has not stopped me from maintaining close exchanges with President Xi in various ways," he said.

After the talks, Xi hosted a banquet for Putin and the two leaders attended the opening ceremony of the Beijing Winter Olympics.

Promoting all-round practical cooperation 

China and Russia will strengthen their strategic partnership in energy, steadily advance major oil and gas cooperation projects, and advance cooperation of scientific and technological innovation in frontier areas such as artificial intelligence, the Internet of Things and the International Lunar Research Station project, according to Xi.

The Chinese president also highlighted the promotion of bilateral cooperation in goods and services, agriculture, green trade, medicine and health, and the digital economy.

Russia is ready to deepen cooperation with China in economy and trade, energy, science and technology, finance and transportation, Putin said.

Meanwhile, the two leaders agreed to jointly announce the Years of Sports Exchanges between China and Russia.

The two countries also signed a series of cooperation documents in key fields.

Strengthening coordination in international affairs

Xi stressed China and Russia’s commitment to deepening back-to-back strategic coordination in the face of profound and complex changes in the international situation, and highlighted the importance of strengthening coordination with Russia within the framework of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization and BRICS.

Noting the joint statement on international relations in the new era and global sustainable development issued at the meeting, Putin said that it reflected the highly consistent position of Russia and China on major international issues.

Russia is ready to further strengthen strategic communication and coordination with China, firmly support each other in safeguarding sovereignty and territorial integrity, and firmly uphold the central coordinating role of the United Nations, he added.

https://news.cgtn.com/news/2022-02-04/Chinese-Russian-presidents-meet-in-Beijing-17nr7lbqo0w/index.html

 

PR Newswire

Xinhua Silk Road: Fujian Dehua speeds up ceramics brand building with business events and policy kit

Leave a comment

BEIJING, Jan. 30, 2022 — The first Dehua "Master IP+" product launch and business matching event recently kicked off in the China ceramics e-commerce logistics park in Dehua county of east China’s Fujian Province.

Exhibits shown at the first Dehua "Master IP+" product launch and business matching event
Exhibits shown at the first Dehua "Master IP+" product launch and business matching event

By introducing more than 300 ceramics products for the Year of the Tiger, this very first event of the newly-opened logistics park set the tone for building a "Mater IP+" business mode while enriching Dehua ceramics namecard with cultural heritage and added value.

Dehua, a ceramics manufacturing powerhouse in China, exports over 70 percent of its ceramic products to over 190 countries and regions worldwide. It was dubbed the "World Ceramics City" by the World Crafts Council in 2015.

It is noted that the output value of Dehua ceramics exceeded 45 billion yuan in 2021, with brand value reaching 108.6 billion yuan. 

Traditionally well-known for white porcelain, Dehua country has been actively pushing forward industrial upgrades and transformation along with brand building for improved market competitiveness and international recognition and influence. 

The county government has released series of measures such as giving support for ceramics related shows and exhibitions, ceramic design and technique competitions, exploring marketing channels, as well as developing ceramic cultural and creative products.

Eyeing on the goal of "small county with large e-commerce vision and whole business ecology", Dehua county is also working on building and improving the service platform for artistic ceramics, hosting product fairs and new product launch while helping to bridge masters and enterprises. 

See the original link: https://en.imsilkroad.com/p/326300.html

PR Newswire

CCTV+: Xi visits north China’s Shanxi ahead of Chinese New Year

Leave a comment

BEIJING, Jan. 27, 2022 — Chinese President Xi Jinping on Wednesday began his visit to north China’s Shanxi Province to learn about people’s livelihood ahead of the Spring Festival, or the Chinese New Year.

&amp;amp;amp;nbsp;

In two villages in Linfen City, Xi, also the general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, visited villagers’ homes and inspected the post-disaster reconstruction in areas affected by last year’s floods as well as local work in restoring farming, ensuring the public’s access to heating in winter, consolidating and expanding anti-poverty achievements and advancing rural vitalization.

For 10 years in a row, Xi has made it a tradition to visit people at the grass-roots level, especially the disadvantaged groups, ahead of the Spring Festival, the most important holiday on the Chinese lunar calendar and an occasion of family reunions.

The Spring Festival falls on Feb 1 this year.

Link: https://youtu.be/IhgaxxRcvWg

PR Newswire

Yuan Yuan’s Journey to Chinese Mainland Episode I – Beautiful Countryside

Leave a comment

BEIJING, Jan. 24, 2022 — A new report by China.org.cn on China’s countryside:

Hello everyone, my name is Yuan Yuan. I was born and grown up in Taiwan. My family has been telling me since I was a child, that I am Chinese. China is a big country. Taiwan region is separated from a relative called "Chinese mainland" by the sea.

&amp;amp;amp;nbsp;

What is the other side of the strait like? If you want to know, come with me on a trip to Chinese mainland!

Many people have the impression that Chinese mainland is poor and backward. But when I came to Chinese mainland, I was greeted by the wide and bustling streets of the city, the tall buildings lined up, the roads lined with traffic and the intertwined neon lights. People dress fashionably and avant-garde, happiness and confidence are on their faces.

Walking into the China’s countryside, you no longer see dirty streets and dilapidated village houses. After eight years of targeted poverty alleviation and five years of the battle against poverty, China has achieved a major victory in building a moderately prosperous society in all respects which impress the world.More than 9.6 million people have been completed poverty alleviation relocation, 832 designated poor counties got rid of poverty, nearly 100 million poor people have been lifted out of poverty. This is worthy of praise!

Nowadays, when you walk through the fields of China’s countryside, you can see the staggered delicate buildings, clean and tidy roads, and an endless sea of smoke connected to the blue sky. The "beautiful countryside" is in front of you.

China is not stopping there. Eliminating absolute poverty is the first step, the revitalization of the rural area is on the timetable. There is a Chinese jingle that if you want get rich, build a road first.

In China’s countryside, where villages are connected to large roads, trucks go straight to the village, transporting agricultural products out, bringing consumer goods in, making villagers richer, their lives better, and their faces always smiling.

What is life like for Compatriots in Chinese mainland now? Stay tuned for our next episode.I’ll tell you more!

Yuan Yuan’s Journey to Chinese Mainland Episode I – Beautiful Countryside

http://news.china.com.cn/txt/2022-01/21/content_78002884.htm