Chinese President Xi Jinping on Monday called on China and South Africa to beef up solidarity and cooperation in a new era and on a new journey, which meets the shared aspirations of the two peoples.
Xi made the remarks when having talks with visiting South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, who is in Beijing for the 2024 Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) and a state visit.
Xi said that he had paid more visits to South Africa than to any other African country, and President Ramaphosa is the first African head of state he has received for a state visit to China before the FOCAC summit, which once again demonstrates the high-level bilateral ties and friendship between the two countries.
"This year marks the 75th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China, and also the 30th anniversary of the new South Africa. Despite changes in the international landscape, there has been no change to the mission of China and South Africa to pursue modernization, no change to their commitment to promoting China-Africa cooperation, and no change to their aspiration to improve global governance. In a new era and on a new journey, greater unity and cooperation between China and South Africa meets the expectations of the two peoples," Xi said.
Ramaphosa pledged his country's adherence to the one-China policy, and its firm support to China in promoting mutually beneficial cooperation.
"I reaffirmed that our political rapport and relationship is a foundation of an unwavering and valuable friendship. We remain committed to the one-China policy. Our two countries share many common objectives. Building on the firm foundation of solidarity, we continue to provide support and promote our interests," he said.
Xi calls for stronger solidarity, cooperation with South Africa
Xi calls for stronger solidarity, cooperation with South Africa
Xi calls for stronger solidarity, cooperation with South Africa
The Mid-Autumn Festival Gala, to be held by China Media Group (CMG), will provide a stunning visual feast through the ingenious combination of state-of-the-art technologies and picturesque landscape scenery, aiming to impress the audience via delicate stage designs in romantic and aesthetic settings.
The Mid-Autumn Festival falls on Tuesday this year. CMG has announced that the gala is going to take place in Shenyang City, capital of northeast China's Liaoning Province.
The stage for the upcoming gala has been set on the lakeside of Dingxiang Lake in Shenyang City as the event is aimed to present an impressive "beautiful, sincere, lyrical, and romantic" artistic vision.
Nestled against the lake, the circular stage featuring a 360-degree panorama highlights the integration of art and modern technologies.
The biggest highlight and innovation of the stage design is a movable "full moon". With a diameter of 12 meters, the moon weighing 10 tons sits on the main stage and casts light on the rippling water.
"The use of water is a feature of the Mid-Autumn Festival Gala. We hope that the mutual reflections of the images will evoke longing for family reunion. These buildings with styles of Ming and Qing dynasties, the typical and simple Chinese moon gate, we hope that through graphics, modeling, physical scenery set and the overall structural setting of the stage, we can combine Chinese aesthetics with modernity and infuse the Chinese aesthetics in the Mid-Autumn Festival stage creation, so as to present them to Chinese people around the world," said Wang Chen, director of stage art of the gala.
"When I got here and saw it today, I thought the stage setting is so beautiful. The big moon delivers an artistic conception. And there is a pavilion by the water. When a performer stands inside and sing, it looks like a beautiful painting. This time I will sing a very beautiful song, and I'll also dance in my performance. I hope people will like it," said Jin Chen, a performer.
In addition to the theme of family reunion, this year's Mid-Autumn Festival Gala also incorporates patriotism, as well as precious video clips showcasing the development of the country.
The Mid-Autumn Festival is a significant traditional Chinese festival celebrated on the night when the moon reaches its fullest and brightest on the 15th day of the eighth month on the Chinese lunar calendar.
During the festival, family members would come together, share mooncakes while admiring the moon, and light up lanterns to enjoy the happiness of family reunion.
CMG unveils moon-shaped, dreamlike stage of Mid-Autumn Festival Gala
