Chinese Defense Minister Dong Jun on Friday called on countries to promote a multipolar world, stressing the importance of equality in handling international affairs.
In his keynote speech delivered at the opening ceremony of the 11th Beijing Xiangshan Forum in Beijing, Dong urged members of the international society to treat each other with sincerity and impartiality, and participate in the international affairs on an equal footing.
"This is a platform of sharing and equality. Instead of imposing hierarchy on the international community, countries here are treated equally, regardless of their geographical locations, whether from the East, West, North, or South - every country has a place here," said the minister.
"Both developed and developing nations, either large or small, should impartially participate in international affairs, equally express their request of interests, and safeguard their legitimate rights in a fair manner. In a multipolar global system, every country should find its suitable position and contribute to the overall advancement of human civilization," Dong continued.
Chinese armed forces will resolutely implement the Global Security Initiative, and stand ready to build a new model of security partnerships with militaries around the world, he added.
Themed "Promoting Peace for a Shared Future," this year's forum, which runs until Saturday, is attended by more than 1,800 guests from over 100 countries and international organizations.
Chinese defense minister stresses equality of countries in int'l affairs
China has seen a notable rise in cultural tourism and inbound travel over Mid-Autumn Festival period, which shows increased interests in both cultural and natural sceneries.
The time-honored Mid-Autumn Festival has always featured family reunions since ancient times, summoning people's craving for traveling vast distances to be with their families and loved ones.
According to China Mobile's Wutong Big Data, the average distance traveled for family reunion was 253 kilometers during this year's holiday that ran from Sept 15 to 17. Short-distance trips of under 200 kilometers were most common, comprising 63 percent of the total, while 27 percent of travelers journeyed between 200 and 500 kilometers, and 10 percent traveled over 500 kilometers, indicating a strong preference for shorter, more manageable trips among holidaymakers.
In addition to family reunions, the popularity of traditional activities such as moon gazing and lantern shows continued to rise. Themed night tours featuring lantern displays attracted significant attention to notable spots such as the Beijing Garden Expo Park, Guangzhou Cultural Park, Luogang Park in Hefei, Songgai Ancient Town in Chongqing, and Meiyuan Hengshan Scenic Area in Wuxi.
The holiday also marked a rise in inbound tourism, with a 22 percent increase in international visitors compared with last year. Southeast Asia, Europe, and Africa are the regions with the largest climb in inbound tourists.
The provinces of Shanxi, Jiangxi, Inner Mongolia, Guizhou, and Hunan experienced the highest increases in international arrivals, with some even more than doubling the numbers of the previous year.
As China continues to expand its tourism appeal, the upward trends in travel and cultural engagement are set to continue into future holiday seasons.
China sees surge in tourism market during Mid-Autumn Festival
