Astana residents pay tribute to Azerbaijan Airlines crash victims

Residents of Astana, capital of Kazakhstan, gathered at the Embassy of Azerbaijan on Thursday to pay tribute to the victims of the Azerbaijan Airlines plane crash, leaving behind a trail of flowers, candles, and heartfelt messages.

The Embraer 190 aircraft, flight J2-8243, crashed near Aktau Airport in Kazakhstan on Wednesday after taking off from Baku en route to Grozny

Of the 67 people on board, 38 were killed in the crash, and 29 survivors including two children were pulled from the wreckage, Kazakh authorities said on Wednesday.

In a display of solidarity, residents gathered to pay their respects to the victims of the plane crash, laying flowers and presenting mementos as a symbol of their sorrow and sympathy

"It is such a tragedy. Fortunately, we can unite and remove boundaries between our nationalities. I think such moments deserve special attention. Not forgetting that, first and foremost, we are human beings," said a resident.

The Embassy of Azerbaijan flew its national flag at half-mast in respect of those who lost their lives in the tragic plane crash

Foreign diplomats visited the embassy to convey their condolences and observed a moment of silence in honor of the victims. They also recorded messages of sympathy in a special condolence book, expressing wishes for strength and resilience.

"A friend who helps in times of need is a friend indeed. We have seen the solidarity of the people of Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan. Every day we receive letters of condolences to the Azerbaijani people via email. I'd like to express my condolences to the government of Kazakhstan, because six citizens of Kazakhstan also died in the crash," said Agalar Atamoglanov, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Azerbaijan to Kazakhstan.

"Azerbaijan sees Kazakhstan's quick response and assistance in the current difficult situation. As you know, our head of state expressed condolences and issued very serious instructions to provide maximum assistance to the survivors and to carry out all necessary work at the crash site," said Roman Vasilenko, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Kazakhstan.

Medical teams in Kazakhstan have conducted thorough assessments of the survivors' physical conditions and are working tirelessly to provide the necessary medical treatment and care to ensure their recovery.

In the aftermath of the plane crash, Kazakhstan has set up a government committee to investigate the cause of the tragedy, with investigators and criminologists working to piece together the events leading up to the crash.

Astana residents pay tribute to Azerbaijan Airlines crash victims

Astana residents pay tribute to Azerbaijan Airlines crash victims

Astana residents pay tribute to Azerbaijan Airlines crash victims

Astana residents pay tribute to Azerbaijan Airlines crash victims

Astana residents pay tribute to Azerbaijan Airlines crash victims

Attendees at a China Media Group (CMG) event expressed enthusiasm for the growing trend of Chinese brands moving up the global value chain, producing and marketing high-quality products that are redefining the image of China-made products.

The CMG's CCTV business channel recorded its New Year's Eve Speech program at the National Aquatics Center in Beijing on Thursday evening. The event invited business leaders from prominent Chinese manufacturing enterprises to share their experiences in expanding into global markets.

"When Chinese brands go global, what people truly experience is a transformation in their quality of life. In product development, we prioritize meeting consumer needs through technological innovation. Gree's slogan is 'Made in China, Loved by the World.' We want people to understand China through the use of our products," said Dong Mingzhu, chairwoman of Gree Electric Appliances, a leading home appliance giant.

Other speakers shared their insights on the globalization process of Chinese brands, emphasizing how innovation and quality have enabled Chinese companies to make a global impact and demonstrate their international competitiveness.

As part of this globalization process, Chinese enterprises are actively integrating into local communities and contributing to the development of local industrial chains.

"In recent years, we have focused on the domestic market while expanding internationally, working tirelessly to enhance the global influence of Chinese clothing brands and amplify China's voice in international fashion. With China's growing overall strength, Chinese brands are now accelerating their movement toward the mid-to-high end of global value chains. We firmly believe that in the future, more Chinese brands will step onto the global stage," said Gao Dekang, founder and chairman of Bosideng, one of China's leading clothing brands.

The program will be broadcast at 22:30 on December 31st, New Year's Eve.

CMG event highlights global competitive edge of Chinese brands