Showcasing the creations of over 100 artists from across the country, an exhibition titled Origin and Innovation - (China) Western Art Biennale kicked off on Friday in North China's Tianjin Municipality.

Hosted by the Tianjin Academy of Fine Arts, the exhibition is being held at three major venues: the Tianjin Art Museum, Tianjin Academy of Fine Arts Museum, and Tianmei Art District. It brings together works by more than 100 artists from cities such as Beijing, Tianjin, Xi'an, Hohhot and Shenzhen, covering a variety of mediums including painting, sculpture, installation art, technological art, and animation.

According to the organizers, the exhibition closely connects the rich cultural heritage of China's western regions with the artistic ecosystems of eastern and coastal areas. During the exhibition, a series of academic forums are also being held. Experts and scholars will discuss topics such as urban cultural development, the current state of contemporary art and social aesthetic education.

"Read ten thousand books, and your pen will be guided as if by the gods" is an ancient Chinese idiom that can be seen in students' textbooks. China's Ministry of Education has published an action plan to further promote reading among students across the nation. With new and diverse book recommendations, the reading scene is expected to be revived not only at schools, but also across society. To contribute to this endeavor, the Global Times launched "My Reading Life" essay contest for middle school students.

Please pick up a pen and share your stories with us at reading@globaltimes.com.cn

Participants will be rewarded once the article has been selected.

Throughout my life, reading has been an integral part of my personal and intellectual development. It has bestowed upon me infinite pleasure while expanding my horizons and amplifying my lexical resources. In this essay, I aim to discuss the impact of reading on my life, the multiple forms of literature I enjoy, and the reasons why I firmly believe that reading is an indispensable component of everyone's life.

First and foremost, reading has brought me much happiness. I have always loved delving into the magical realms that exist between a book's pages. I feel proud and fulfilled after finishing a book and understanding it completely.

When I was younger, I enjoyed reading comics, adventure novels, and fairy tales. These stories captivated my attention and gave me an opportunity to temporarily escape the strain of everyday life, which are too great for a child to handle. I developed an appreciation for more complex literature as I got older, including novels, poems, and essays. I tried to feel what the characters are feeling and to sympathize with them. These pieces continue to intellectually and emotionally challenge me even now.

Reading has made it possible for me to understand and sympathize with the hardships and victories of people from a variety of backgrounds. For example, I was able to understand the inequality that prevailed in the US in the 1930s after reading Harper Lee's To Kill a Mockingbird.

Through the character development in this novel, I gained a deep understanding of the discrimination and oppression faced by African Americans in the society during that time. This work made me aware of the importance of racial equality and justice, and sparked my reflection on social fairness and equality.

Reading has enhanced my vocabulary repository and linguistic competencies, which enables me to cultivate a comprehensive understanding of various contexts, fostering my analytical abilities.

As I encountered new words and phrases in my reading materials, I learned their meanings and applications in my writing and conversations which has yielded a tremendously advantageous impact, particularly in relation to my academic endeavors and the preparation for various kinds of English exams.

By incorporating those newly learned vocabulary and phrases into my writing and oral communication, the quality of my expression had been elevated, and the recognition from my mentor was gained. Additionally, reading has opened up numerous personal and academic opportunities for me by improving my language skills.

Moreover, reading has shaped my values and worldview. Through the wisdom and insights of prominent thinkers, I have gained a deeper understanding of ethics, philosophy, and social issues. Reading has equipped me with encyclopedic knowledge and unwavering motivation that aren't accessible through other means, endowing me with the competence and fortitude to navigate social life and contribute meaningfully to the world.

In conclusion, reading has had a transformative force in my life. It has brought me joy, expanded my vocabulary, enhanced my global outlook.

I firmly believe that reading is essential for everyone, as it has the power to offer individuals inspiration and a pleasurable psychological experience. In today's fast-paced world, where technology and social media dominate our lives, reading remains a timeless and invaluable pursuit. It is my will that more people will embrace the joys of reading and discover the immense benefits it offers.

The author is a student at the Experimental High School attached to Beijing Normal University

The launch ceremony for the nationwide tour of the original Broadway musical Chicago was held on Friday at the Century Theater in Beijing. The two female leads, dressed in iconic black outfits, performed two of the most representative songs and dances from the show, instantly immersing the audience in the rich jazz flavor of Broadway.    

At the event, the actors first performed the song "My Own Best Friend." Afterward, they showcased Chicago's most famous duet, "Hot Honey Rag."

Starting in October, the musical will tour at least 11 cities across China, and bring 74 performances to audiences. From November 14 to 24, the show will come to Beijing's Century Theater for a 14-performance run. 

Since its Broadway debut in 1975, Chicago has enjoyed nearly 50 years of continuous performances. The musical has won six Tony Awards, two Olivier Awards, and one Grammy Award.

China's National Medical Products Administration has given market entry approval to a monkeypox virus nucleic acid test kit developed by a medical diagnostics company in South China's Guangdong Province, marking the first approval of its kind in China, according to a statement published by medical products administration in Guangdong on Thursday.

The approved monkeypox test kit, developed by Daan Gene, will be mainly used in vitro qualitative detection of the monkeypox F3L gene in suspected cases, skin lesion samples of other individuals requiring monkeypox virus infection diagnosis or differential diagnosis, and throat swab samples, said the statement.

According to the statement, many listed companies are actively preparing for monkeypox test kits and other related products. To respond to the needs of overseas markets, many products developed by these companies have received the European Union's certification, exported to a number of overseas countries.

The World Health Organization (WHO) on August 14 declared the monkeypox surge a public health emergency of international concern -its highest alert level and urged manufacturers to ramp up vaccine production to rein in the spread of a more dangerous strain of the virus.

China's General Administration of Customs also announced that it would begin screening people and goods entering the country for monkeypox over the next six months. People arriving from countries where outbreaks have occurred, who have been in contact with monkeypox cases, or display symptoms will be required to declare this information to customs authorities when entering the country, adding that vehicles, containers, and items from areas with monkeypox cases should be sanitized.

As of July, a total of 99,176 laboratory-confirmed cases of monkeypox, including 208 deaths, have been reported to the United Nations health agency from 116 countries in all WHO regions, according to the UN News.

WHO spokeswoman Margaret Harris urged manufacturers to scale up monkeypox vaccine production, according to a report from Agence France-Presse (AFP) on August 17. 

The WHO also called for countries with monkeypox vaccine stockpiles to donate them to countries with ongoing outbreaks, according to the AFP.

Meanwhile, the replication-deficient monkeypox vaccine developed by the China National Pharmaceutical Group Corporation and Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention passed the clinical trial application phase in July of 2023, making it the earliest domestically developed monkeypox vaccine to enter the clinical research stage in China.

China's Pang Runzhi, 17, won the Singapore Ladies Masters by a single shot over compatriot Cai Danlin, becoming the first Chinese female golfer to win in Singapore. This was also the only tournament in China's premier women's golf circuit held outside the country in the 2024 season.

The Singapore Ladies Masters, supported by the Singapore Tourism Board, is a significant event on the China Ladies Professional Golfers' Association (CLPGA) calendar. The tournament was held outside China to provide a platform for top female golfers from the region  to compete.

Pang's victory came after weather disruptions forced her to play 33 holes on the final day. She made four consecutive birdies in the morning and held steady in the final round to clinch the title. 

"I played 33 holes today and it was mentally and physically exhausting. But I took it all in stride and I'm really happy I managed to get my breakthrough in just my fourth start in the CLPGA," said the 17-year-old.

Cai Danlin finished second. Leading in the first and second rounds, Cai lost a chance to force overtime after missing an 8-foot birdie putt.

"I could not hit my shots as far as I wanted to toward the end of the round as it was a very long and tiring day. But congratulations to Pang for being a worthy champion," said Cai.

 India's Hitaashee Bakshi secured third place. Other notable performances included those from Malaysia's Jocelyn Chee and Thai golfers Chonlada Chayanun, Patcharajutar Kongkraphan, and Kultida Pramphun, who tied for fourth.

The Chinese Olympic delegation at the Paris Olympic Games is off to a golden start, securing two gold medals on the first morning of the 16-day competition. 

Chinese shooting pair Huang Yuting and Sheng Lihao clinched the first gold medal by defeating their South Korean counterparts, Keum Ji-hyeon and Park Ha-jun, in the 10-meter air rifle mixed team gold medal match. 

Chinese athletes' remarkable achievement also won a congratulatory message from State Councilor Shen Yiqin, on behalf of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC) and the State Council.

"We are thrilled to hear that our athletes Huang and Sheng have won the first gold medal for the Chinese delegation at the Summer Olympics in the 10m air rifle mixed team event," Shen wrote in the message. 

"On behalf of the CPC Central Committee and the State Council, I extend warm congratulations to the winning athletes and the Chinese sports delegation."

"We hope that the Chinese sports delegation will remember its mission and live up to the expectations of the Party and the people... Work hard to bring greater honor to our country and people and make further contributions to building China into a sporting powerhouse," said Shen.

Nearly half an hour later after the shooting duo's win, female diving pair Chang Yani and Chen Yiwen added another gold for China with a convincing performance in the women's synchro 3-meter springboard final, scoring 337.68 points.

Chinese fans took to social media to express their delight over the athletes' achievements, but they also found shooter Sheng's Weibo username particularly interesting. 

The 19-year-old's Weibo name, "guangkao ganfan jiu," literally means "winning just by eating." This has now gone viral, with topics like "win a gold medal just by eating" trending widely.

Diver Chang, 22, a five-time world champion, had been missing an Olympic gold medal until today. Recovering from a major shoulder injury earlier this year, she delivered a stellar performance alongside her teammate, winning the event with a 23.04-point lead over US divers Sarah Bacon and Kassidy Cook.

However, the morning wasn't all good news for China. Veteran fencer Sun Yiwen, the defending Olympic women's epee champion, was eliminated in the first round by Japan's Miho Yoshimura with a score of 14-13. 

Despite this, Chinese fans erupted in support for the veteran.

"That's how competitive sports is! She has already won a gold medal in this event! No matter what, she is still an Olympic champion in my heart!" a Weibo user, Lingdong Weixu, commented.

China's Li Yuehong claimed the gold medal in the men's 25m rapid-fire pistol event at the Paris Olympics, with his teammate Wang Xinjie winning bronze. This marks China's 20th gold medal at these Games.

As a three-time Olympian and world record holder, 34-year-old veteran Li had previously won two Olympic bronze medals. This year's competition was particularly tough, featuring top competitors.

In the qualification round, Li and Wang ranked second and fourth, respectively, after the first stage. Both scored 294 points in the second stage, with Li finishing first in qualification with a total score of 588 and Wang second with 587.

"This breakthrough belongs to everyone in our team. The feeling of achieving it is about not letting down the trust everyone placed in us," Li said in a post-competition interview.

Li won bronze medals at both the Rio and Tokyo Olympics and is also a two-time Asian Games gold medalist and the world record holder in the men's 25m rapid-fire pistol event.

At the 2023 World Shooting Championships, Li won his first individual gold medal in the men's 25m rapid-fire pistol event, securing a spot for the Chinese shooting team at the Paris Olympics. He also won gold medals in both individual and team events at the 2023 Hangzhou Asian Games.

Li believes shooting is very similar to Confucian thought. "We need to focus on our own inner selves and compare ourselves to our own standards, rather than trying to surpass others. The goal is to overcome ourselves," he said.

"This breakthrough belongs to every member of the team. I'll give the gold medal as a birthday gift to my wife; she'll love it," Li added.

Chinese weightlifter Li Wenwen wins women's +81kg at Paris 2024

China is ramping up efforts to boost its manufacturing prowess with investment in technological transformation in the manufacturing industry surging 10.9 percent in the first seven months of 2024, continuing a double-digit growth trend, thanks to the country's push for industrial upgrade and equipment renewal, according to a media report on Saturday.

China has introduced an array of measures since the start of the year to supercharge its large-scale equipment renewal campaign, which is aimed at propelling its green, low-carbon transition and unleashing domestic demand potential.

The National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) has allocated nearly 50 billion yuan ($7 billion) from the first batch of ultra-long special treasury bonds to support large-scale equipment renewals, and has fast-tracked new project approvals, China Media Group (CMG) reported on Saturday.

In addition, the NDRC has signed re-loan contracts exceeding 50 billion yuan for equipment renewal, with over 15 billion yuan allocated for energy-efficient upgrades in commercial and industrial sectors, according to CMG.

Analysts said that this is not just a boost for investment but also a critical part of China's efforts to revitalize domestic demand and advance its green transition.

The NDRC also vowed to further streamline approval procedures to support projects.

By relaxing restrictions and expanding the scope of eligible projects, local governments are set to accelerate project implementation, said Wen Hua, deputy director of the resource conservation and environmental protection department at the NDRC.

The NDRC will also promote the use of more energy-efficient, low-carbon equipment, so as to advance the industrial upgrade and support the green transition, Wen noted.

In March, China unveiled an action plan to promote the large-scale renewal of equipment and the trading-in of consumer goods, aiming to unleash a vast market potential worth trillions of yuan.

On July 25, the NDRC, together with the Ministry of Finance, announced the issuance of around 300 billion yuan in ultra-long special treasury bonds to increase support for the large-scale renewal of equipment and the trading-in of consumer goods.

Officials have also vowed to help businesses tackle challenges and accelerate a nationwide shift toward high-tech and green industries by ramping up investment and encouraging more companies to upgrade their equipment.

Since the start of 2024, investment in technological transformation of the manufacturing industry has maintained double-digit growth.

Official data showed that in the first half of 2024, spending on technological transformation jumped 17.3 percent year-on-year, boosting a 2.1 percentage point increase in fixed-asset investment growth, a trend that revamped traditional industries and accelerated the ascent of advanced manufacturing, according to the CMG report.

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi kicked off his four-day trip to Southeast Asian countries on Wednesday, with a visit to Myanmar and then traveling to Thailand to co-chair the ninth Lancang-Mekong Cooperation (LMC) Foreign Ministers' Meeting, where he is also set to attend the Informal Discussion Between the Foreign Ministers of China, Laos, Myanmar and Thailand.

Chinese analysts said that Wang's visit is a demonstration that China, as a responsible power, is always devoted to promoting in-depth cooperation on economic, social and security issues with equality and mutual benefit with neighboring countries under the concept of a community of shared future for mankind.

In the context of external interference in and distraction over South China Sea issue, analysts noted that Wang's visit will further strengthen communication and coordination between China and ASEAN countries, which highlights the common aspiration of regional countries to pursue peace, stability and prosperity.

Constructive role
Wang met with Myanmar leader Min Aung Hlaing in Naypyitaw on Wednesday, according to the Chinese Foreign Ministry.

As a friendly neighbor, China opposes turmoil and war in Myanmar, opposes interference in Myanmar's internal affairs by external forces, and opposes any attempts to sow discord in China-Myanmar relations and smear China, Wang said.

The Myanmar leader said that Myanmar attaches great importance to its relations with China, is committed to developing bilateral friendship. It firmly adheres to the one-China principle and is willing to remain a friendly neighbor that China can trust forever.

Myanmar is also willing to continue to cooperate with China to jointly crack down on transnational crimes such as telecom fraud, and will never allow any act that undermines China's security and interests, Min Aung Hlaing said, according to the Chinese Foreign Ministry.

On Wang's visit to Myanmar, a Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson said on Tuesday that it is aimed at deepening bilateral mutually beneficial cooperation in various fields, cementing the close bond of friendship between the two peoples, and advancing the building of the China-Myanmar community with a shared future. As a friend and neighbor of Myanmar, China strictly follows the principle of non-interference in other countries' internal affairs, supports Myanmar's efforts to uphold stability, grow the economy and improve people's livelihoods, and provides constructive help for parties in Myanmar to properly address differences through political consultation within the framework of the constitution and other laws, the spokesperson added.

In response to an inquiry regarding Deng Xijun, Chinese special envoy for Asian affairs, has arrived in Nay Pyi Daw, Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said on August 9 that "We have been committed to, in our own way, encouraging and urging relevant parties in Myanmar to stop the fighting, resolve issues through dialogue and consultation, and work to realize ethnic solidarity as well as stability and development of the country at an early date. China will continue to actively promote talks for peace and provide support and assistance to Myanmar's peace process to the best of our capability."

Wang's visit to Myanmar showcases that China hopes to play a positive and constructive role on the peace and stability in Myanmar, said Zhu Feng, director of the Institute of International Studies at Nanjing University, noting that the three global initiatives put forward by China emphasize sustainable cooperation, development and peace.

Xu Liping, director of the Center for Southeast Asian Studies at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, told the Global Times that although China may provide some constructive help, the key to the solution lies in whether the political parties in Myanmar have real sincerity to negotiate a cease-fire and bring the country back to a normal track.

Common aspiration

After his visit to Myanmar, Wang will head to Thailand to co-chair the ninth LMC Foreign Ministers' Meeting. Analysts said that further enhancing the LMC will be the focus of Wang's trip as China and regional countries will also further deepen cooperation in non-traditional security.

According to the Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson, the LMC is an innovative type of regional cooperation mechanism among China, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand and Vietnam featuring collaboration, consultation and shared benefit. Since its launch in 2016, the mechanism has delivered fruitful results, contributing effectively to the economic and social development of the six Lancang-Mekong countries, and bringing tangible benefits to their peoples.

The spokesperson said that all countries in the Mekong region are engaged in building a community with a shared future both bilaterally with China and multilaterally under the LMC mechanism.

China hopes to work with Mekong countries at the LMC Foreign Ministers' Meeting to review the progress of cooperation, take stock of past experience, and plan the next steps to advance the LMC, to build the Lancang-Mekong region into an exemplar for high-quality Belt and Road cooperation, a pacesetter for implementing the Global Development Initiative, a pioneer for implementing the Global Security Initiative and a frontrunner for implementing the Global Civilization Initiative, and form an even closer community with a shared future for Lancang-Mekong countries, the spokesperson added.

On the sidelines of the LMC meeting, at the invitation of Thailand, Wang will attend the Informal Discussion Between the Foreign Ministers of China, Laos, Myanmar and Thailand to exchange views on the regional situation, and on jointly combating cross-border crimes and other issues, the spokesperson said.

"The LMC is already a complete cooperation mechanism," said Xu.

Wang's visit to Southeast Asia comes amid heightened tensions between China and the Philippines over the latter's continuous provocation in the South China Sea. On August 8, despite China's goodwill efforts to calm tensions, the Philippines dispatched a military aircraft to illegally enter the airspace over China's Huangyan Dao, and issued a complaint later on August 10 over the professional and legitimate actions by the Southern Theater Command of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) in response to its intrusion.

The visit is, to a large extent, also aimed at strengthening communication and dialogue between China and ASEAN countries on the South China Sea issue and further elaborate China's position and policy, Zhu said. "It is also expected that ASEAN countries and China would strengthen their coordination and unity."

China and Indonesia held their first Senior Officials' Meeting of the Joint Foreign and Defense Ministerial Dialogue on Tuesday.