79th session of U.N. General Assembly opens

China

79th session of U.N. General Assembly opens

2024-09-11 15:11 Last Updated At：18:57

The 79th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) was declared open at the U.N. headquarters in New York on Tuesday by Philemon Yang, the General Assembly's new president.

Yang was sworn in and declared the opening of the new session, following the announcement by Dennis Francis, president of the 78th session of the UNGA, of the closure of the previous session at its 109th plenary meeting earlier in the day.

In his address, Francis expressed gratitude for the support by developing countries including China and called on the international community to unite and practice multilateralism.

Later on Tuesday, the 79th session of the UNGA held its first plenary meeting, where Yang called on the international community to strengthen cooperation in addressing global challenges.

"We deeply believe in the power of dialog and the necessity of listening to all voices, ensuring that every member state is heard and valued. To this end, I will work tirelessly to not only fulfill the promise of our aspirations but will [also] exceed them," Yang said.

In his opening remarks, U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres stressed the current severe global situation, highlighting the need for concrete solutions to end poverty, eliminate inequality and address climate catastrophe.

The United Nations remains an indispensable platform for seeking multilateral solutions, he said.

According to a resolution adopted earlier this year by the UNGA, Palestine can sit among the member states starting from the 79th session of the UNGA. Representatives from various countries congratulated the permanent observer of Palestine to the U.N. Riyad Mansour.

Mansour hailed it as "a historic moment" in an interview with the China Media Group (CMG) after the meeting.

"I feel great. This is a historic moment, and it is a significant step in acquiring our right, legal right and natural right, to become a full member," said Mansour.

After the General Assembly's new session, the U.N. entered its busiest period of the year, with the Summit of the Future 2024 and high-level debates set to commence starting Sept. 22. Leaders and heads of government from countries around the world are expected to gather at the U.N. headquarters to exchange views on global issues.

Celebration events held around world for Chinese Mid-Autumn Festival

2024-09-17 21:53 Last Updated At：22:17

Featured traditional folk activities have been held in various countries to celebrate the Chinese Mid-Autumn Festival, which fell on Sept 17 this year.

The Mid-Autumn Festival, celebrated on the 15th day of the eighth month of the Chinese lunar calendar, has traditionally been a cherished occasion for family reunions.

In Mauritius, an island country in the Indian Ocean, a Mid-Autumn Festival cultural performance was held at the Mahatma Gandhi Institute in Moka on Saturday, with over 700 guests, including Mauritian Vice President Eddy Boissezon and Chinese Ambassador to Mauritius Zhu Liying, attending the event.

Meanwhile, in London China town -- one of the largest Chinatowns in Europe -- a celebration was held to honor the grand Chinese festival on Sunday. Over 200 overseas Chinese and British locals enjoyed shows including dragon and lion dances, as well as traditional Chinese opera.

Lord Mayor of Westminster Robert Rigby also said the celebration of traditional Chinese festivals has made the cultural exchange of the region more profound and colorful.

"It is wonderful to be here today to be celebrating what is really an important day here in the Chinese community, which is, of course, celebrating the Mid-Autumn Festival. The Chinese community in Westminster is a deeply valued part of our wonderful city, from residents who have lived here for years to visitors, I am sure a lot of you are visitors, will enjoy the sights of the city, as part of our vacation. They all bring wonderful, unique perspectives and history that enrich the cultural tapestry of Westminster," he said.