CHENGDU (Kyodo) —The Japanese government said Wednesday that it has tapped popular Japanese boy band Arashi as a goodwill ambassador to promote cultural and sports exchanges with China ahead of the 2020 Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics.
During his stay in China from Monday, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe told Chinese leaders about the decision to ask Arashi — also popular in China — to play a key role in accelerating people-to-people exchanges between the two neighbors.
CHANGSHA (Xinhua) — One week before the end of her course at a university for the elderly, Wu Yue’e carefully made notes for her speech at the closing ceremony as a student representative.
Wu, 72, has been a student for more than 10 years at Changsha Senior Cadre University in central China’s Hunan Province, where she learned a number of new skills including reading and writing Chinese pinyin, using traditional Chinese medicine and playing the erhu.
Heading back to school for further study and cultural enrichment is becoming a choice of many Chinese senior citizens.
Self-Improvement
Wu, an active participant in all facets of school life, felt the greatest regret that she had not received a full education when she was young.
“I have always loved literature even though I dropped out of school very early,” Wu said. Before retirement, Wu was a textile worker who insisted on reading in her spare time. Her favorite book is “The Count of Monte Christo.”
After her retirement, she was able to fulfill her dream of studying at the university for the elderly. “I felt the elderly should keep up with the pace of social development, and I haven’t done well enough,” said Wu, adding that she hopes to improve herself through learning and set a good example for her children.
Yin Jianlin, 57, echoed Wu’s views. Five years ago, Yin had just retired from an enterprise where she worked for decades and was unable to adapt to her retired life. “Once a person stops working, the sense of loss comes,” Yin said.
In 2015, Yin was enrolled in the university for the elderly to study folk dance and mental health. With the help of the mental health class, Yin accepted her new role in life and learned to control her emotions.
“I used to take care of my family as my sole responsibility. Now I have learned to take care of myself, too,” Yin said, adding that whenever she took her schoolbag and headed off for class, she was filled with confidence. “Although we are old, we feel like we are still teenagers when dancing with our classmates.”
A Taiji master is teaching Taijiquan at a university for the elderly in central China’s Hunan Province in Oct., 2019. (Photo provided to Xinhua)
Caring Family
Although an increasing number of seniors are heading off in pursuit of self-fulfillment, a large percentage of the elderly in China remain the primary caregivers of their grandchildren, whose parents are tied down with their busy work schedules.
Liu Yanping, a 37-year-old psychological consultant, has run parenting education and positive discipline courses for children and parents in primary schools with her team in Changsha since 2014. Liu found that many children rely on their grandparents rather than their parents for learning about the world.
In 2017, Liu and her team set up a course of alternate-generation education at Changsha Senior Cadre University.
Huang Qijian, 60, who attended the alternate-generation education class, has a pair of twin grandchildren. How to properly educate and guide them has become his major concern.
“My educational method is outdated,” Huang said. By learning advanced educational concepts and methods in the alternate-generation education class, many old people, like Huang, have learned how to balance the relationships between themselves, their children and their grandchildren. “Having practiced the knowledge learned from the classes, I’ve found the atmosphere of our family has become warmer and closer,” Huang said.
People are busy with rehearsals for the Chongyang Festival, equivalent to China’s Seniors’ Day on Oct. 16, 2018 in Changsha City, central China’s Hunan Province. (Xinhua/Zhang Xiaoyu)
Policies Taking Shape
Since China entered an aging society at the end of the 20th century, the number of elderly and their proportion in the total population have continued to grow.
From 2000 to 2018, the elderly population aged 60 and above increased from 126 million to 249 million, and the proportion of the elderly population in the total population increased from 10.2 percent to 17.9 percent.
It has become a trend for Chinese seniors to enrich their spare time and improve the quality of life in their later years by attending classes in universities for the elderly and participating in community activities.
Statistics from the China Association of Universities for the Elderly show that by the end of 2018, China had 62,000 universities and schools for the elderly, with more than 8 million students attending classes and more than 5 million students participating in distance learning.
In November, the Communist Party of China Central Committee and the State Council jointly unveiled a medium- and long-term plan for responding proactively to aging population, proposing to build a social environment marked by filial piety, respect for the elderly and the protection of the aged.
The plan highlights improving the effective supply of labor in an aging society, which requires improving the quality of new members of the labor force, establishing a lifelong learning system for senior citizens, and striving to achieve fuller employment and create better quality jobs.
Yin Jianlin and her classmates were sketching the image of perfect grandparents during a class. After counting more than a dozen qualities representing perfection, all the students gathered to share their feelings.
Some said that perfect grandparents should be literate and good-tempered, while others said a decent appearance is also indispensable. Yin, however, had a different perspective, saying, “there are no perfect grandparents, we can only try our best to be better.”
A store manager arranges Christmas products at a MINISO store in Warsaw, Poland, Dec. 24, 2019. (Xinhua/Zhou Nan)
FRANKFURT/HANGZHOU (Xinhua) — In the holiday season in December, people across Europe may have different ways to celebrate, but their celebrations have one thing in common: made-in-China products are increasingly making their most important festival merrier.
Thanks to direct freight train service between China and Europe, Chinese businesses, with an intimate knowledge of the European market, have stepped up their game in Europe’s Christmas economy by means of innovation and new designs.
Market Expertise
The latest data from Germany’s Federal Statistical Office show that in 2018, the country imported 17,720 tons of Christmas items worth around 143 million euros (159 million U.S. dollars). Nearly three quarters of them were from China.
In fact, from decorative LED lights to automated Santa toys, more than 60 percent of the world’s Christmas-related merchandise come from the eastern Chinese city of Yiwu, some 260 km south of Shanghai. The great variety of holiday products there have earned the place a nickname: China’s Christmas Village.
“European customers prefer simple and elegant designs for Christmas trees, green pine trees with snow, and a couple of jingle bells would be enough,” said Zhu Zhijuan, who went on about different regions’ preference regarding the choice of a Christmas tree.
Based in Yiwu, her company Xintean Arts & Crafts have been making artificial Christmas trees for 15 years. Its annual revenue amounts to 100 million yuan (14.3 million dollars), and is expected to grow 10 percent this year, Zhu said.
Christmas decorations are seen at a souvenir shop in the Old Town of Warsaw, Poland, Dec. 23, 2019. (Xinhua/Zhou Nan)
In Yiwu, the section of Christmas goods alone boasts 15,000 varieties. The manufacturers have their own organization — Yiwu Christmas Products Industry Association — and follow regularly-published market indicators.
Local commerce bureau has listed 333 exhibitions around the globe as recommendations for local businesses to attend. Shortly after the holiday season, in January or February each year, for example, Zhu will go to Frankfurt Consumer Goods Trade Fair in Germany to get prepared for the coming year.
“We go to exhibitions everywhere every year,” Zhu said. “In the past, we entrusted foreign trade companies to do business for us. Now we take orders directly from customers and learn their different demands, improve our products, and expand the market.”
Jin Zhixun is also a frequenter of trade fairs. His company Fuye Toys specializes in Santa Claus toys and exports products to European markets including Britain, Germany, Italy, Portugal and Norway.
His signature product this year is a Santa Claus toy that could make dance moves to the tune of any song the customer chooses, be it in Spanish or English. “Even the pattern of the clothes is patented,” he said.
Jin said they have their samples made using 3D printing and then modify details. “Yiwu’s local design companies and 3D printing companies have provided good support for innovation, and the entire innovation ecosystem has been established,” he said.
A cargo container on a China Railway Express train is unloaded at Eurokombi terminal in Hamburg, Germany, May 29, 2018. (Xinhua/Shan Yuqi)
“Smart” Gift Choices
Apart from Christmas decorations, more and more Chinese products have made their way into the shopping lists of European households in the holiday season.
In downtown Brussels, Kam Yuen Supermarket, the largest Asian supermarket in Belgium, local residents were bustling for Christmas shopping.
“Kam Yuen used to be a small shop for Chinese people, now 70 percent of the customers are non-Chinese,” said Liu Jingrui, CEO of Kam Yuen Investment. “They not only buy Chinese products, but also start to embrace the Chinese culture,” Liu said.
In Warsaw, Chinese retailer MINISO has become one of the most popular places for Christmas gift-shopping, and their best-seller this year is a stuffed snowman imported from China.
Piotr Piorkowski, the shop’s manager, said that the customers like the original design of the Christmas products sold there and the quality they get for the price they pay.
For Anna Godlewska, co-owner of Amko Toy Store in central Warsaw, which imported 90 percent of their products from China, people’s love for Chinese toys are obvious: Two days before Christmas, all the products in the store like dollhouse, stuffed animal and baby shoes were sold out.
“People love to buy products from China for Christmas because they have reasonable price and really good quality,” said Godlewska.
Customers are seen at a store of Chinese technology company Xiaomi at a shopping center in Budapest, Hungary, Dec. 21, 2019. (Photo by Attila Volgyi/Xinhua)
In Budapest, a lot of Hungarians turn to Chinese tech products for Christmas gifts for their beloved.
“I bought Xiaomi smart lamps,” Tamas Sos, a 40-year-old entrepreneur told Xinhua, noting that the lights are extremely helpful as his pregnant wife has to get up at night in a house with narrow corridors and steep stairs.
According to Extreme Digital, a leading Hungarian online marketplace, their best-selling products during Christmas this year were the Chinese sandwich maker and a smart fitness watch produced by Huawei.
Logistic Support
This year marks the fifth anniversary of the launch of direct freight train service between Yiwu and Madrid, an important logistics center in Europe.
The China-Europe freight train not only delivers Chinese goods to Europe but also brings back overseas items to Yiwu, where they are then sold across the country, said Liu Mingming of the Yiwu Tianmeng Industrial Investment, a private operator of the service.
Photo taken on April 16, 2018 shows cargo containers of China Railway Express at Duisburg Intermodal Terminal (DIT) in Duisburg, Germany. (Xinhua/Luo Huanhuan)
Cargo that travels 30-40 days by sea between China and Spain only takes half that time by train, allowing more flexibility to manage inventories for businesses along the route.
The freight trains made 168 round trips in 2017 and 320 in 2018, and are expected to make 500 this year, according to Liu.
Furthermore, the city of Yiwu has set up five logistic distribution centers and eight warehouses in cities along the Belt and Road, including Madrid, Duisburg and London, to facilitate trade.
Customs data show that Yiwu’s exports and imports between January and November this year amounted to 265.76 billion yuan (37.99 billion dollars), topping the figure for the whole year of 2018.
Meanwhile, more than 50 Chinese cities have launched China-Europe direct freight train services. The ever closer bilateral trade ties have prompted Liu Jingrui, who owns the supermarket in Brussels, to come up with a new year wish.
“We look forward to the conclusion of the investment agreement between China and the European Union,” said Liu. “We also hope that free trade negotiations could start as soon as possible so that the potential of the two markets covering nearly 2 billion consumers can be fully unlocked.”
Pope Francis looks at the crowd after he delivered the Urbi et Orbi (Latin for 'to the city and to the world' ) Christmas' day blessing from the main balcony of St. Peter's Basilica at the Vatican, Wednesday, Dec. 25, 2019. Photo: Alessandra Tarantino / AP
VATICAN CITY (AP) — Pope Francis offered a Christmas message of hope Wednesday against darkness that cloaks conflicts and relationships in large parts of the world from the Middle East to the Americas to Africa.
The pope told tens of thousands of tourists, pilgrims and Romans gathered in St. Peter’s Square for the annual Christmas Day message that “the light of Christ is greater” than the darkness “in human hearts” and ‘’in economic, geopolitical and ecological conflicts.”
The traditional “Urbi et Orbi’’ (“to the city and to the world’’) Christmas message has become an occasion for popes to address suffering in the world and press for solutions. Francis was flanked by Cardinal Renato Raffaele Martino, president of the papal council for migrants, and Cardinal Konrad Krajewski, the pope’s official almsgiver.
The pope cited the Syrian people “who still see no end to the hostilities that have rent their country over the last decade’’ as well as Israel, where Jesus “was born as the savior of mankind and where so many people — struggling but not discouraged — still await a time of peace, security and prosperity.’’
Francis also called for an easing of the crisis in Lebanon, social tensions in Iraq and “a grave humanitarian crisis’’ in Yemen.
He noted that a number of countries in the Americas “are experiencing a time of social and political upheaval,’’ citing “the beloved Venezuelan people, long tried by their political and social tensions.”
The pope also noted migrants forced by injustice “to emigrate in the hope of a secure life.’’ Instead of finding acceptance, Francis said injustice continues along their journey, where they often face abuse, enslavement and torture in “inhumane detention camps” and death during dangerous sea and desert crossings.
And once migrants arrive in “places where they might have hoped for a dignified life’’ … they “instead find themselves before walls of indifference,” he said.
The pope offered prayers of hope for the people of Africa, including those in Congo “torn by continuing conflicts’’ and the people of Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger and Nigeria, where people have been “persecuted for their religious faith.’’
And in an extraordinary message, Francis along with two other religious leaders urged the rival leaders of South Sudan to maintain a pledge to form a coalition government early next year. A peace deal to end a 5-year civil war that killed close to 400,000 people was signed last year, but a November deadline to form a coalition government was extended to February as key aspects of the peace deal still need to be resolved.
The message, issued separately from the traditional papal Christmas address, was signed by the leader of the Anglican church, Archbishop Justin Welby, and the Rev. John Chalmers, ex-moderator of the Church of Scotland.
The religious leaders offered assurances “of our spiritual closeness as you strive for a swift implementation” of peace agreements and prayers “for a renewed commitment to the path of reconciliation and fraternity.”
The leaders also expressed a desire to visit the East African nation.
A screencap from an anime adaptation of "Attack on Titan"
TOKYO (Kyodo) — The total circulation of popular Japanese manga series “Attack on Titan” in print and e-books has topped 100 million worldwide, publisher Kodansha Ltd. said Wednesday.
Known as “Shingeki no Kyojin” in Japanese, with 30 volumes published as of December, its story revolves around protagonist Eren and his battle against giant creatures called Titans that have overrun the world.
Notre Dame cathedral is pictured in Paris, Tuesday, Dec. 24, 2019. Notre Dame Cathedral is unable to host Christmas services for the first time since the French Revolution, because the Paris landmark was too deeply damaged by this year's fire. Photo: Thibault Camus / AP
PARIS (AP) — The rector of Notre Dame Cathedral says the Paris landmark is still so fragile that there’s a “50% chance” the structure might not be saved, because scaffolding installed before this year’s fire is threatening the vaults of the Gothic monument.
Monsignor Patrick Chauvet said restoration work isn’t likely to begin until 2021 — and described his “heartache” that Notre Dame couldn’t hold Christmas services this year, for the first time since the French Revolution.
“Today it is not out of danger,” he told The Associated Press on the sidelines of Christmas Eve midnight Mass in a nearby church. “It will be out of danger when we take out the remaining scaffolding.”
“Today we can say that there is maybe a 50% chance that it will be saved. There is also 50% chance of scaffolding falling onto the three vaults, so as you can see the building is still very fragile,” he said.
The 12th-century cathedral was under renovation at the time of the accidental April fire, which destroyed its roof and collapsed its spire. With no more roof to keep the massive stone structure stable, the cathedral’s surviving vaults are crucial to keeping it standing, but they are vulnerable.
Some 50,000 tubes of scaffolding crisscrossed the back of the edifice at the time of the fire, and some were damaged. Removing them without causing further problems is one of the toughest parts of the cleanup effort.
“We need to remove completely the scaffolding in order to make the building safe, so in 2021 we will probably start the restoration of the cathedral,” Chauvet said. “Once the scaffolding is removed we need to assess the state of the cathedral, the quantity of stones to be removed and replaced.”
Priest Jean-Philippe Fabre celebrates the christmas mass, in Saint-Germain l’Auxerrois church, in Paris, Tuesday, Dec. 24, 2019. Notre Dame Cathedral is unable to host Christmas services for the first time since the French Revolution, because the Paris landmark was too deeply damaged by this year’s fire. Photo: Thibault Camus / AP
Chauvet estimated it would take another three years after that to make it safe enough for people to re-enter the cathedral, but that the full restoration will take longer. President Emmanuel Macron has said he wants it rebuilt by 2024, when Paris hosts the Olympics, but experts have questioned whether that time frame is realistic.
Another reason it’s still too dangerous to host religious services inside Notre Dame: The fire released tons of toxic lead dust, and authorities are working to clean it up and assess related health risks.
Notre Dame’s symbolism reaches far and wide. Church officials estimated 2 million people from around the world visited the cathedral during the holiday season.
Tourists can photograph it from nearby embankments, but they can no longer hear its organs or get a close view of its stone carvings and masterpiece rose windows. The vast forecourt is barricaded, barren of its Christmas tree.
But its congregation, clergy and choir are keeping its spirit alive, and decamped Christmas celebrations to the Saint-Germain l’Auxerrois Church across from the Louvre Museum instead.
Parishioners shared sorrow about the fire, but also a feeling of solidarity.
“I remember my mother told me that she was watching TV, and that there was a fire at Notre Dame. I told her ‘it’s not possible,’ and I took my bike, and when I arrived I was crying,” said Jean-Luc Bodam, a Parisian engineer who used to cross town to attend services at the cathedral.
“We are French, we are going to try to rebuild Notre Dame as it was before, because it is a symbol,” he said.
Party lovers can’t afford to miss this! Bid farewell to 2019 and welcome the new decade at “2020 NEON ROOFTOP COUNTDOWN” to be held at ABar Rooftop and Sky Garden on the 37th and 38th floors of the Bangkok Marriott Marquis Queen’s Park on December 31, 2019 from 8pm to 2pm on every first day of year 2020.
First reason one should not miss this exclusive party of the meaningful night is because it take place on the rooftop of a high-rise building. The atmosphere will be uniquely enjoyable. Setting under the sky with glittering stars, the party’s neon lights just enhanced the scene of twinkling lights of Bangkok metropolis. The spectacular firework will create a memorable evening.
In addition, music is another reason to come and celebrate at the party. DJs and dancers will be at the party. It is the event not to be missed by lovers of EDM-Electronic dance music. Among the DJs spinning at the party are DJ Jason Herd, DJ Jon White, DJ Windy and DJ Lady Sweet Secret.
The party is second to none in term of drinks and beverages. There are many drinks to choose from, especially “Gin” because ABar Rooftop is home to more than 50 kinds of Gin with Mixologist creating special cocktails to enjoy all night. Those reserving as a group or VIPs can enjoy free-flow drinks including champagne, wine, vodka and beer as well.
More importantly, this is a very exclusive party as ABar Rooftop and Sky Garden can accommodate only 60 and 70 people respectively. This means the party is designed for very special guests. Those interested to bid farewell to 2019 in style can buy early bird tickets at only 2,500 baht per person.
“2020 NEON ROOFTOP COUNTDOWN” – moving forward to the next decade together on December 31, 2019 from 8pm onwards until 2am on January 1, 2020 at ABar Rooftop and Sky Garden on the 37th and 38th floors of the Bangkok Marriott Marquis Queen’s Park.
As the New Year is approaching, it’s time to celebrate the festive season in style. ABar, the exclusive cocktail bar on 37th Floor, Bangkok Marriott Marquis Queens Park Hotel, invites you to indulge yourself in fine drinks and jazz music as you count down to the new decade in the “Glamorous Gatsby” theme.
ABar, decorated in vintage style, brings you back to the glorious days. Dark-colored wood decoration and vintage leather chairs give the bar a mysterious yet modern look and feel. The bar is famous for its dark spirit, great whiskies, rum and cognac from all over the world as well as classic cocktails prepared by experienced mixologist.
On the last day of the year, ABar will bring you back to the glorious days of 1920s in the “Glamorous Gatsby”-themed party. Guests will be dressed up in lavish and glittering outfit, dancing to the live jazz music, and let the light at the party overshadow the city night light and New Year fireworks, making the party a memorable moment.
ABar prepares five special menus for the night, plus free flow drinks, from 19.00-23.00 hrs. on the New Year’s Eve. After the meal, the real enjoyment begins at Sky Garden and ABar Rooftop on the 38th floor and lasts until 02.00 hrs of the 1st of January 2020. Only 108 seats are available. Special price for early bird is only 13,999 baht. Book now!
Booking a hotel with a restaurant on the Chao Phraya River enables you to enjoy all the sights along the main waterway of Bangkok. You’ll be able to enjoy alfresco dining and see the constantly changing sights as boats and ships of all sizes glide past you.
Riverside Transportation Hub of Bangkok
The Chao Phraya River has for centuries been the riverside transportation hub of Bangkok, connecting to cities, towns, and villages all over central Thailand. With the advent of the canals that crisscross the central plains of the country, Bangkok soon established itself as a vast transfer area for Thai manufactured goods and crops beings shipped overseas from Thailand.
The river also served as the quickest distribution route for trade goods being shipped in from foreign countries. The products came on huge ships, were transferred to smaller freighters, and finally to small boats owned by the vendors that plied the canals of Thailand selling these overseas goods.
Rice and other produce are still sent down the river by barge from the rice paddies, fields, and orchards further upriver. You can see these ponderous, slow-moving barges as they head for the ships that will deliver Thailand’s bounty to the world.
Enjoy an Alfresco Riverside Dining Experience
You can sample some of the country’s agricultural bounty as you watch the boats come and go along the river by booking a hotel with a restaurant on the Chao Phraya River. It’s an excellent way to enjoy the evening breezes, sample some of the world-famous cuisine of Thailand, and take in the bustling activity of the river.
Relax and enjoy a cocktail before being enticed by the aromas of coming off the grills of fresh fish, chicken and meats. Feasting on a buffet of Thai delicacies in the fresh air is the perfect way to introduce yourself to the magic of Thai cuisine.
Plan Your Sightseeing Trip
By booking a hotel with a restaurant on the Chao Phraya River, you’ll also have a convenient place to meet for breakfast and plan the day’s sightseeing trip. Seeing all the ferries and water taxis going by will inspire you to set off and explore the sights along the river.
There are many piers along the river that the water taxis all serve on a regular route. These piers offer convenient access to the most famous sights along the river, including The Grand Palace, Wat Pho, and the Temple of the Dawn.
You can buy a one-day, sightseeing pass and spend the day touring Bangkok by boat. The piers also offer convenient access to a wealth of shopping malls and centres. Asiatique and Iconsiam are just two of the many worthwhile shopping experiences along the river.
Booking a hotel with a restaurant on the Chao Phraya River is also the perfect way to end your day of sightseeing in Bangkok. Talk about the sights you saw over snacks and drinks while you make plans for tomorrow’s adventures.
Charoen Pokphand Foods PLC (CPF) Chairman of the executive committee, Mr. Adirek Sripratak revealed the company’s plan to further expand overseas business and expressed confidence that CPF’s financial performance will meet targets thanks to positive returns from investments in Thailand and 17 countries.
His statement echoed a belief that amid weakening purchasing power, food business will thrive due to persistent demands especially for the products that are safe, traceable, as well as environmental- and community-friendly. This explains why CPF’s food products have been warmly welcomed by worldwide consumers.
“CPF is the producer of reasonable protein-rich food, be they chicken, pork, shrimps, fish and eggs which are all people’s main staples. Importantly, CPF adopts an integrated production process. I’m confident that CPF’s business will experience no negative impacts and will flourish as always,” he said.
Mr. Adirek revealed that in 2020, CPF will maintain its focus in growing business which entails additional investments in potential countries including the 17 countries where CPF’s businesses have been located. Among the destinations with high growth opportunities are China, Vietnam, India, the Philippines, Russia and the United States.
CPF’s business growth has been driven mainly by overseas investments in 17 countries, which constitute over 70% of the company’s revenue worth more than Bt500,000 million. The revenue generated in Thailand is approximately 27-28% of the revenue while exports from Thailand constitute only 5%. Though exports are affected by dollar-baht exchange rate movements, the imports of raw materials balance the foreign exchange impacts.
Mr. Adirek admitted that drought, anticipated to be more severe next year, may negatively affect Thailand’s agricultural sector which relies heavily on water. However, CPF’s livestock business is supported by abundant water sources but the company may face a slight increase in production cost due to the cyclical adjustment in raw material prices. Amid this situation, CPF will maintain its emphasis on production efficiency, cost management, and the quality of products and services.
