University of Science and Technology of China, host city thrive in coordination, with full support to each other

China

University of Science and Technology of China, host city thrive in coordination, with full support to each other

2024-09-18 17:32 Last Updated At：19:27

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The prestigious University of Science and Technology of China (USTC) and its host city of Hefei in east China's Anhui Province have developed a close bond featuring mutual support and assistance over the past few decades since the USTC's relocation to the city.

Hefei, capital city of Anhui Province, has given full support to the development of the USTC while the university has played a significant role in driving the city's innovative development with its cutting-edge sci-tech achievements.

The relationship between USTC and Hefei dates back to 1969, when the university moved out from Beijing where it was established in September 1958. Hefei vacated the campus of a local university and even laid the city's first dedicated heating pipeline for the USTC.

Over the years, the city has supported the USTC's development in terms of both policy and finance. When the university wanted to expand its campus, the local government of Hefei allocated land in the city's high-tech zone to support its construction and development. Now, the USTC has six campuses in the city. Thanks to support from the central and local governments, the scientific research conditions of the USTC have been greatly improved. With as much as 19 national-level scientific research institutions, the university has made major breakthroughs in various sectors, including quantum information, high-temperature superconductivity and thermonuclear fusion. Hefei's support for the USTC has also received huge rewards. The university has been leading the city's innovative development, helping the city become a national-level sci-tech innovation pilot city and contributing to the establishment of various sci-tech institutions in the city, such as the national high-tech industrial base for electronic information and the Hefei Comprehensive National Science Center. Nearly half of the 13 national-level large-scale scientific and technological research facilities in Hefei are led by the USTC. "The USTC and Hefei share a same destiny, and we develop in coordination. The USTC provides Hefei with cutting-edge research achievements, while Hefei aids the USTC's development with logistics support. More and more talents cultivated by the USTC choose to settle down in Hefei," said Li Chen, director of the Science Center Office with the Hefei Municipal Development and Reform Commission. Hefei's Yunfei Road, which was inconspicuous 10 years ago, now is home to dozens of quantum technology companies. Relying on the role of the USTC, Hefei has become an important highland of quantum technology domestically and internationally, which is one of the best majors of the university. The development of the USTC has in turn driven the development of Hefei. In 2023, Hefei's economic output in aggregate reached 1.27 trillion yuan (about 177.8 billion U.S. dollars), of which the added value of high-tech industry accounted for 67.1 percent. Over the past two years, the USTC and Hefei have also jointly established the Grand Union of Innovation (GUi) around the leading campus of the USTC. Known as the silicon valley of the USTC, it groups more than 50,000 entrepreneurs and employees and is home to nearly 55 percent of the city's aerospace information companies and 50 percent of biomanufacturing companies.

UNGA calls for end to Israeli occupation in Palestine within a year

2024-09-19 06:05 Last Updated At：07:17

The United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) passed a non-binding resolution on Wednesday demanding an end to Israel's occupation of Palestinian territory within the next 12 months by an overwhelming margin.

The resolution was adopted with 124 votes in favor, 14 against and 43 abstentions, during the UNGA's 10th emergency special session considering Israeli actions in occupied East Jerusalem and the rest of the Occupied Palestinian Territory.

The resolution demanding that Israel comply with all its legal obligations under international law, including advisory opinions by the International Court of Justice, was introduced by the State of Palestine on Tuesday and was co-sponsored by more than two dozen nations.

By the newly adopted resolution, the UNGA "demands that Israel brings to an end without delay its unlawful presence in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, which constitutes a wrongful act of a continuing character entailing its international responsibility and do so no later than 12 months from the adoption of the present resolution."

The UNGA also demands that Israel comply without delay with all its legal obligations under international law, including as stipulated by the International Court of Justice.

In remarks before the vote, Mohamed Issa Abushahab, the permanent representative of the United Arab Emirates to the United Nations, said the humanitarian tragedy in Gaza must be addressed through unimpeded access to those in need, a ceasefire deal and the full implementation of all related Security Council resolutions.

A credible peace process must be relaunched to work towards a two-State solution to diffuse this conflict, he said, expressing support for the State of Palestine's full statehood and UN membership. "The time has come to end the suffering," he noted.

Introducing the draft resolution on Tuesday, Riyad Mansour, the permanent observer of the State of Palestine to the United Nations, called for the establishment of an independent and sovereign State of Palestine on the 1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital.

He said the Palestinian people have been steadfast in the pursuit of their inalienable rights, just like all other citizens worldwide who seek self-determination.

"The Palestinians want to live, not survive -- they want to be safe in their homes, they want their children to go to school without fear. They want to be free in reality as they are in spirit," said Mansour.