As the rotating presidency of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) for 2024-2025, China pledges to work with other SCO members to advance the organization to a new stage of high-quality development featuring greater unity, coordination and energy, Vice Foreign Minister Sun Weidong said at a press briefing in Beijing on Monday.
The briefing held by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs was attended by foreign diplomats and representatives of domestic and foreign media outlets.
China took over the work as the rotating presidency of the SCO for 2024-2025 at the Astana summit held in July, and will host the 25th meeting of SCO Heads of State Council in China next year, Sun said.
"The summit next year will be the most important event within the framework of the SCO, and will be the centerpiece of all activities throughout China's rotating presidency. China will host a friendly, united, and fruitful SCO summit, which will build consensus among all parties and map out a blueprint for development. And China will also run over100 meetings and activities within the SCO framework, covering fields of politics, security, economy and culture and people-to-people exchanges, and more," Sun said.
China is to send a clear signal to the region and beyond, which is, the SCO is not to function as a "house for empty chats," but is to be a real doer, according to Sun. China will work with all parties to carry forward the Shanghai Spirit and enhance practical cooperation in various fields with more practical actions.
The Shanghai Spirit, which features mutual trust, mutual benefit, equality, consultation, respect for diverse civilizations and pursuit of common development, has stimulated the member states to cooperate and ensured the development of the SCO.
"We are considering to issue a declaration with other member states, which will emphasize that all countries are firm to uphold the UN-centered international system and the international order based on international law, adhere to the SCO member states' original mission to consolidate good-neighborly relations and friendship and to maintain peace and development, and utter common voice of all the member states on major international and regional issues. We will also compile a development strategy of the SCO for the next stage, based on the member states' consensus and desire on practical cooperation, so as to steer and map the path for future SCO cooperation in various areas," Sun said.
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The rising popularity of Guochao, also known as the trend of "China-chic", has contributed to a consumption boom and more diversified consumption scenarios ahead of the Mid-Autumn Festival.
China-chic refers to fashion trends native to China, which incorporates unique native cultural elements into the latest trends.
For this year's Mid-Autumn Festival, the brand-new event "The Empress's Mid-Autumn Feast" at the Mingtang Tiantang Scenic Area in the National Archaeological Site Park of Sui-Tang Luoyang City in central China's Henan Province has attracted many visitors.
Through interactive experiences such as the performance of court music and dance, and the Empress Wu Zetian bestowing incense, it recreated the Mid-Autumn Festival celebrations in the Tang Dynasty (618-907) palace, allowing visitors to fully immerse themselves in the festive atmosphere of the holiday.
The "Hanfu craze" in Luoyang City has led to an increase in the number of tourists visiting scenic spots and has extended the overall economic chain. This trend has boosted the popularity of services such as Hanfu rental, makeup and styling, and professional photography, making them widely popular.
In Luoyang's Luanchuan County, activities such as the "Fairy Palace Moon Viewing Party" at the peak of the Laojun Mountain, which stands over 2,000 meters above sea level, have driven a surge in business for the Hanfu stores at the mountain's summit, leading to a peak in consumer activity.
"This year's Mid-Autumn Festival is witnessing an increase of over 50 percent in Hanfu rentals and sales, as well as travel photography services, compared with the same period last year. With such beautiful scenery as a backdrop, the demand for traditional China-chic consumption remains strong," said Jin Ge, owner of a Hanfu store atop the Laojun Mountain.
Driven by the rise of China-chic, creative cultural products are continuously updated with new offerings.
At a glazed glass workshop in Zibo City, east China's Shandong, skilled workers were busy crafting creative glassworks featuring lively jade rabbits, a symbol of the Mid-Autumn Festival.
As soon as the products hit the market, they quickly became popular both online and offline.
"While inheriting tradition, we've been exploring something new, developing creative products that better meet current market demands, thus winning the favor of a wide range of consumers," said Liu Jianhua, deputy general manager of Xiye Workshop.
The Mid-Autumn Festival, celebrated on the 15th day of the eighth month in the Chinese lunar calendar, is a cherished occasion for family reunions in China. It falls on September 17 this year.
China-chic boom fuels consumption for Mid-Autumn Festival
