Shanghai Cooperation Organization Women's Forum held in east China's Qingdao

China

Shanghai Cooperation Organization Women's Forum held in east China's Qingdao

2024-09-12 13:08 Last Updated At：17:47

The fifth Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Forum on Women officially opened in Qingdao City of east China's Shandong Province on Wednesday, bringing together 150 participants from both China and abroad.

Chinese President Xi Jinping sent a congratulatory letter to the three-day event starting from Tuesday, echoing the forum's focus on using digitalization to empower women.

Speaking at the opening ceremony of the event, China's State Councilor Shen Yiqin read out Xi's congratulatory letter and delivered a speech.

In the congratulatory letter, Xi said that women are important drivers of human civilization and social progress and have scored remarkable achievements in all walks of life. Since the forum's launch, women of various countries, upholding the Shanghai Spirit, have contributed to the building of an even closer SCO community of a shared future.

It is hoped that the forum can continue to play a positive role in promoting amity and people-to-people interconnectivity among various countries, injecting fresh impetus into forging closer cultural bonds of SCO, Xi said.

Xi added that China is willing to work with all other parties to promote scientific and technological innovation and the development of women's causes via digital empowerment, and to jointly build a better SCO family.

Uzbekistan's Deputy Prime Minister Zulaykho Makhkamova and newly appointed Iranian Vice President Zahra Behrouz-Azar are also among the speakers at the opening ceremony.

"Our opinion is that women's development should not be limited to the economic and digital fields, but women should be empowered through the development of digital economy, and then solve other social problems," said Zahra Behrouz-Azar, Iranian Vice-President for Women and Family Affairs, in an exclusive interview with China Global Television Network (CGTN).

The event is organized by All-China Women's Federation or ACWF, along with other government entities. ACWF's Vice-President Huang Xiaowei signed cooperation documents with representatives from SOC member countries Belarus, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan.

Initiated in 2018, the SCO Forum on Women is part of the broader efforts among SCO countries to strengthen cooperation, and build a community with a shared future.

For many foreign participants, the current forum gave them an opportunity to visit China for the first time. These in-person exchanges are laying the foundation for future cooperation.

Part 3 of CMG Mid-Autumn Festival Gala showcases diverse lineup of performances

2024-09-17 23:11 Last Updated At：23:37

The third part of China Media Group (CMG)'s Mid-Autumn Festival gala aired on Tuesday night blends traditional Chinese culture with international artistry in a diverse lineup, bringing the audience an unforgettable night of music performance and poetry recitation.

The annual gala broadcast, also known as "Qiuwan" in Chinese, was recorded in Shenyang City of northeast China's Liaoning Province, a 2,300-year-old city boasting three world cultural heritage sites and over 1,500 historical and cultural sites. The city is also one of the most well-known industrial cities in China.

Themed "Moon Bright", the third part of the grand gala features an array of classic songs, reunion-themed narratives, and touching performances. Highlights include a music adaptation of the famous Chinese poem Qing Ping Diao by Tang Dynasty Poet Li Bai (701-762), which captures the essence of ancient Chinese beauty and expression; and a middle-school chorus from the Macao Special Administrative Region, singing about their love for the country and hopes for a brighter future.

The third segment of the show also features celebrated French musician Richard Clayderman, who enchants the audience with his timeless A Comme Amour a breathtaking rendition of The Butterfly Lovers concerto. The concerto, inspired by the tragic love story of Liang Shanbo and Zhu Yingtai, is a modern classic that intertwines Chinese folklore with romantic Western composition techniques.

The Mid-Autumn Festival is a 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 lunar calendar. This year, the day fell on Tuesday (Sept 17). During the festival, families reunite, admire the moon, share the traditional festive pastry of mooncakes and light up lanterns.