Guests from 30 countries wrap up discussions on exchanges of civilizations in Zhejiang

Guests from over 30 countries wrapped up their discussions on exchanges among civilizations at a cultural forum concluded Sunday in east China's Zhejiang Province.

The forum, themed "Hehe Culture and New Model for Human Progress," aims to facilitate dialogue and exchange among civilizations.

Hehe culture, believed to have originated in the Tiantai Mountain in Taizhou, is a valued component of traditional Chinese culture. The term "Hehe" consists of two different Chinese characters: the first "he" represents harmony, peace and balance, while the second refers to convergence, unity and cooperation.

During the forum, the organizing committee named three new Hehe Culture ambassadors.

Additionally, Taizhou, along with 14 international friendship cities, launched the "Initiative for Cultural Economic and Trade Exchange and Cooperation among Sister Cities."

During one of the forum's sub-events, guests from both home and abroad took high-speed train to visit various sites including the Blue Circle project -- a new marine waste recycling pattern awarded the 2023 Champion of the Earth for Entrepreneurial Vision, one of the United Nations' highest environmental honors.

The Global Forum on Hehe Culture was first created in 2021 in Taizhou. Since then, the county has actively created an international communication product matrix around the forum, effectively enhancing the global communication and influence of Chinese civilization, according to the organizers.

Guests from 30 countries wrap up discussions on exchanges of civilizations in Zhejiang

External financial assets of China's banking sector exceeded 1.56 trillion U.S. dollars at the end of September, according to official data released on Thursday.

The banking sector's external financial liabilities stood at about 1.5 trillion dollars at the end of September, resulting in 61.3 billion dollars of net external assets, according to the State Administration of Foreign Exchange.

Among the external financial assets, deposit and loan assets totaled 953.7 billion dollars, accounting for 61 percent of the total; bond assets stood at 238.2 billion dollars, accounting for 24 percent of the total; and other assets, including equity, were 238.2 billion dollars, accounting for 15 percent of the total.

Among the external liabilities, deposit and loan liabilities were 712.9 billion dollars or 47 percent of the total; bonds investment reached 379.7 billion dollars, accounting for 25 percent of the total; and equity and other liabilities were 410.3 billion dollars or 27 percent of the total.

Banking sector's external financial assets exceed 1.56 trln USD