China's top legislator Zhao Leji met with visiting Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Store in Beijing on Monday.
Zhao, chairman of the National People's Congress (NPC) Standing Committee, said this year marks the 70th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Norway, adding that China is willing to work with Norway to deepen strategic mutual trust, respect each other's development path, core interests and major concerns, strengthen exchanges and cooperation in green and low-carbon development, culture and tourism, so as to push for steady and long-term growth of bilateral relations.
The NPC is willing to strengthen exchanges and cooperation with the Norwegian parliament, give full play to the functions of legislative bodies, and learn from each other's experience in legislation and oversight, so as to provide legal guarantee for the practical cooperation between the two countries.
Noting that Norway adheres to the one-China principle, Store said Norway is willing to deepen practical cooperation with China in fields of economy and trade, green transformation and maritime affairs and to jointly cope with global challenges.
He said that the Norwegian side stands ready to strengthen exchanges with China's legislative bodies and promote the development of bilateral relations.
At the invitation of Premier Li Qiang, Store is on an official visit to China from Sept 9 to 11.
China's top legislator meets Norwegian PM
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
