China's Ministry of Ecology and Environment released 38 outstanding cases in the construction of "Beautiful Rivers and Lakes" on Tuesday.
These 38 exemplary cases highlight the efforts of local authorities in preserving the surrounding environment, water resources, and water ecology, while maintaining harmony between humanity and water bodies.
Among these, the Qinghe River in Beijing and the Mangdaohe River in Yangzhou City, east China's Jiangsu Province, stand out for their focus on a coordinated approach to water resource protection. These efforts aim to establish a new paradigm for preserving the water ecological environment.
In Xuancheng City, east China's Anhui Province, and Foshan City, south China's Guangdong Province, local authorities have transformed ecological advantages into economic benefits by exploring the value of ecological products. This has promoted high-quality development along the Qinggejiang River and the Gaominghe River.
Additionally, the Tongbohe River, jointly governed by Chongqing Municipality and Sichuan Province in southwestern China, is recognized for its integrated governance system that connects the upstream and downstream sections of the river.
This year, the Ministry of Ecology and Environment announced that 2,573 water bodies under national monitoring have been included in the "beautiful rivers and lakes" initiative. It is estimated that 40 percent of these water bodies will meet the program's requirements by 2027, featuring clear waters, green banks, and abundant fish in a harmonious living space. Since the launch of the "beautiful rivers and lakes" initiative in 2021, a total of 94 outstanding cases have been highlighted.
China highlights 38 exemplary cases in Beautiful Rivers, Lakes project
The Gaza ceasefire negotiations are continuing in Doha, the capital of Qatar, but there is no clear end in sight, Majed bin Mohammad Al Ansari, spokesman for Qatar's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said on Tuesday at a regular press briefing.
The spokesman said that relevant parties have been discussing the ceasefire in Gaza and hostage exchanges at a technical level, but the exact timeline for reaching an agreement remains uncertain.
Al Ansari also expressed his disappointment over the deteriorating humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip caused by the protracted negotiations, and once again urged relevant parties to work closely with mediators, including Qatar and Egypt, to reach a ceasefire agreement as soon as possible.
"We keep hitting rock bottom. And every time we think we've had rock bottom in the crisis in Gaza, we see other bottoms opening up. As a result, the humanitarian situation in Gaza is something that is going to be a shame on this generation in the international community. We have not been able to deal with it. We have not been able to solve it. And the crisis only continues and widens," said Al Ansari.
According to reports from Israeli media, the Israeli negotiating team that was in Qatar for ceasefire and hostage exchange talks returned to Israel on Tuesday evening for internal deliberations and discussions on negotiation details with senior Israeli officials, the Prime Minister's Office said.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Monday that the negotiations had made some progress.
Israel launched a large-scale offensive against Hamas in the Gaza Strip to retaliate against an attack by the former on the southern Israeli border on Oct. 7, 2023, during which about 1,200 people were killed and about 250 taken hostage.
The Palestinian death toll from the ongoing Israeli attacks on the Gaza Strip had risen to 45,338, with 107,764 others injured, the Gaza-based health authorities said in a statement on Tuesday.
Gaza ceasefire talks continue with no end date in sight: Qatari FM
