China welcomed an initial shipment of 22 tons of avocados imported from South Africa on Tuesday in Shanghai, Chinanews.com reported on Thursday.
The first shipment of imported South African avocados will also be displayed at this year's China International Import Expo (CIIE) in November, according to cnstock.com.
South Africa has become the third African country after Kenya and Tanzania to gain access for exporting fresh avocadoes to China, according to the report from Chinanews.com.
Agricultural products remain one of the most important exports from Africa to China. Strengthening cooperation in popular items such as avocados will not only boost bilateral trade but also introduce more high-quality and affordable commodities to meet the growing demand in China, Song Wei, a professor at the School of International Relations and Diplomacy at Beijing Foreign Studies University, told the Global Times on Thursday.
Agriculture was a focal point at the 2024 Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation held in September in Beijing, where multiple cooperation agreements were signed, further strengthening collaboration.
For instance, China will grant duty-free treatment to 100 percent of the tariff lines of products from least developed countries in Africa with diplomatic ties with China; sign framework agreements on economic partnership for shared development with interested African countries; and strengthen cooperation on inspection and quarantine and standards, and expand access for agricultural exports from Africa, according to the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation Beijing Action Plan (2025-2027).
Various measures to support agricultural exports from Africa to China are conducive to streamlining trade with optimized procedures, which will help ensure the freshness of agricultural products like avocados with shortening customs clearance time, Song noted.
More Chinese consumers will be able to learn about African products with their advantages as the products have opportunities to be displayed at expos such as CIIE, according to Song.
In the first eight months of the year, China imported 28.47 billion yuan ($4.02 billion) worth of agricultural products from Africa, a 4.8 percent year-on-year increase.
Border control authorities on the Chinese mainland recorded about 13.57 million inbound and outbound trips during the National Day holiday from Oct. 1 to 7, according to the Ministry of Public Security.
They also recorded 606,000 vehicles crossing the border during the seven days, one of the longest public holidays on the mainland, according to a statement released by the ministry on Monday.
The number of criminal cases and public security incidents reported on the mainland during the holiday decreased by 5.7 percent and 20.4 percent, respectively, compared to the same period last year, according to the statement.
A daily average of 580,000 police and auxiliary police officers worked to protect tourists from public security threats during the holiday, it added.
In his nearly four years in office, US President Joe Biden will finally set foot on the African continent ahead of the November presidential election as his presidency approaches its conclusion. While the White House is keen to portray Biden's trip to Angola as fulfillment of "a commitment" to go to Africa, analysts view it as symbolic, saying that it once again exposes US' lack of regard for the continent's call for development and it is merely focused on vying for US influence against China.
Biden will travel to Luanda, Angola, from October 13 to 15 after spending three days in Germany. This will mark his first trip to an African country as president and the first visit to the continent by a sitting US president since 2015, according to media reports.
On Monday, while answering a question why Biden's trip to Angola needs to be in October, not in December or January before he leaves office, White House spokesperson Karine Jean-Pierre said that "there's not a lot of time… the president had made a commitment and a promise to go to Africa, to continue to show his commitment to that relationship." In December 2022, Biden held a summit with African leaders in Washington, DC and promised to visit the continent.
Biden has chosen to visit Angola less than a month before the US presidential election to address criticism about his lack of attention to Africa during his presidency, aiming to bolster support for the Democratic Party. Moreover, the US values Angola's geopolitical significance, regional influence and its rich oil and mineral resources, Song Wei, a professor at the School of International Relations and Diplomacy at Beijing Foreign Studies University, told the Global Times on Tuesday.
Biden's trip to Angola has garnered media attention, with some Western outlets reporting that it aims to strengthen ties with Africa and counter the growing influence of China and Russia in the continent.
Song said that as Biden approaches the end of his presidency, he is finally acknowledging his "commitment" to Africa, yet this last-ditch visit cannot change US' consistent arrogance toward the continent.
"The trip is more symbolic than it is capable of bringing any concrete benefits to Africa's development," Song said, noting that African countries are well aware that their core development needs are rarely a priority for the US, which only offers empty promises when vying for influence against Russia and China.
During the National Day holidays, Xixian county in the city of Linfen, North China's Shanxi Province, ended up under the spotlight due to its role in inspiring the art design of popular video game Black Myth: Wukong. The county's Xiaoxitian Temple served as one of the key inspirations for the suspended sculptures of the Buddhist kingdom the player's character, The Destined One, enters in the game.
However, long lines triggered frustration among tourists. Fortunately, the local authority quickly responded by introducing a series of measures to solve the problem. Experts said it is necessary to create a provincial-level information sharing platform to provide tourists with up-to-date information, so they can make informed decisions in advance.
Located atop Fenghuang Mountain, Xiaoxitian is a national key cultural relic protection unit. The scenic area has long attracted flocks of tourists.
The scenic area posted a thank you letter to tourists on Monday, promising that visitors with a ticket purchase voucher for the Mid-Autumn Festival to the National Day holidays can return to visit for free before the end of this year.
The Director of the Xiaoxitian Scenic Area Service Center Liu Xiaogang told the Global Times on Monday that the daily peak number of tourists to the temple reached 17,626. A total of 88,619 tourists were received in the first six days of the National Day holidays.
It is notable that the main hall of Xiaoxitian Temple, the core viewing area with nearly 2,000 Buddha statues, is just 169 square meters in size. Its colorful suspended sculptures are regarded as treasures in the history of Chinese sculpture art.
Right before the Golden Week, the service center established a tourism guarantee headquarters, which developed work and emergency plans for the peak tourism period to deal with volumes of 5,000 people, about 10,000 people, and above 15,000 people.
The service center stretched opening hours to as early as 6:30 am, which helped prevent too high a concentration of visitors. The center also adopted a reservation system so that visitors could book specific time slots, Liu said.
Measures were quickly taken after many tourists gave the visitor experience at the scenic spot bad reviews.
On Wednesday, many tourists were reported to have been shouting "Xiaoxitian, chaping!" or "Bad review for Xiaoxitian." In response to the situation, the Xixian County Bureau of Culture and Tourism circulated a letter to visitors on Thursday morning asking for tolerance.
It noted that, as an agricultural county, the county is stepping up efforts to transform into a tourist location thanks to the trust of tourists.
Three parking lots were arranged, offering free shuttle buses, with parking areas of government departments, enterprises and institutions in the county open for visitors as well during the holidays, the letter mentioned.
The letter also stated that the county has been working hard to re-plan a one-way tour route and setting up a pedestrian area on Fenghuang Street.
In a video clip posted on social media platforms on Monday, Liu Wei, a deputy director of the Xixian Public Security Bureau, can be seen speaking to tourists through a speaker: "Everyone has put forward their opinions, and we will make rectifications immediately. But the safety of the people comes first. No matter how much you complain or scold, your safety must come first!"
Lü Xuehui, a deputy county magistrate of Xixian, could also be seen in the video singing for tourists at the scenic area.
Media reports said that the Party secretary of the Xixian Communist Party of China (CPC) Committee and major government officials of all departments canceled their vacations so they could stand duty on the front lines.
Huang Shenghui, director of the Xixian Public Security Bureau, went to the scenic spot and explained to tourists, "Please give me half an hour and I will solve the problem." He then walked into the crowd to direct tourists, "For everyone's safety, don't crowd each other."
Jiang Yiyi, a deputy dean of the sports, leisure and tourism school at Beijing Sport University, told the Global Times on Monday that local authorities need to implement more measures to manage tourist volume.
"A booking system is needed for local tourism management, so that people will learn about availability before they get to the location and understand what to expect," Jiang said.
Jiang noted that tourists were following the buzz about the location created online, but, by contrast, the county level scenic area has limited capacity to receive visitors.
To deal with this challenge, cultural and tourism departments need to encourage tourists to be more rational in choosing where to go and what to do during the holidays.
"For provincial tourism departments, it is imperative to create a real-time information sharing platform to let the tourists know which scenic areas still have openings for bookings and parking spaces," she stressed.
To avoid long wait lines, it would be helpful to provide tourists information about where else they can visit, dine or rest, Jiang said.
The Ministry of Education of China announced plans to add 39 new soccer sports majors at universities on Friday. This highlights the current scarcity of soccer programs in higher education and underscores the pressing need for the development of Chinese soccer. While the impact of this initiative may take time to materialize, it represents a promising long-term strategy for the sport's advancement in China.
Recently, following the national team's consecutive losses to Japan and Saudi Arabia, numerous football fans, media personalities, and authoritative bodies have voiced their opinions and proposed solutions. Eventually, the idea of establishing soccer majors gradually emerged.
This initiative provides a new platform for children passionate about soccer to focus on their athletic development without fear of academic compromise.
It allows students to balance soccer training with their studies, treating soccer as a means of learning and personal growth.
For students aspiring to become professional soccer players, the establishment of soccer majors offers a clear career path and development opportunities.
The initiative also has the potential to enhance the sport's visibility and broaden its audience.
Parents may be inspired to introduce their talented children to soccer, recognizing that the existence of such majors indicates a commitment to and support for soccer education.
The majors will promote soccer on a wider scale and advance soccer culture in China. Through systematic learning and training, even students who do not become professional players will acquire valuable soccer knowledge and skills, contributing to the long-term development and talent pool in the sport.
Wang Dazhao, a soccer commentator and member of the News Committee of the Chinese Football Association, told the Global Times that the key to advancing Chinese soccer is fostering children's interest in the sport.
"Those soccer powerhouses did not establish specialized soccer majors. Their success often relies on a well-developed soccer system and cultural tradition rather than academic programs," he noted.
Wang emphasized that the development of Chinese soccer should not be rushed or forced. Instead, the focus should be on creating conditions for children to develop their interests willingly.
"To truly inspire children's love for soccer, it's crucial to provide them with proper facilities and professional guidance. Only when children receive systematic training in a positive environment will their interest be sparked, and they will seek more opportunities," Wang said.
He pointed out that every country has its strengths and weaknesses in sports. In China, where soccer is relatively underdeveloped, it is not necessary to force it to become mainstream immediately. Instead, gradual progress and scientific development should be the focus.
By improving infrastructure, cultivating youth interest, providing professional guidance, and increasing resource investment, a solid foundation for the long-term development of Chinese soccer can be established.
It is important to respect the natural development of sports and allow soccer to grow and progress under appropriate conditions. Only through this approach can the development of Chinese soccer be better promoted.
A recent research project led by the Nanjing Institute of Geology and Palaeontology of the Chinese Academy of Sciences has unearthed a new firefly fossil preserved in 100 million-year-old Burmese amber in Hukawng Valley, northern Myanmar, offering new insights into the evolution of bioluminescence.
The fossil, dating back to the mid-Cretaceous period, represents a new genus and species of firefly. The research team, led by professor Cai Chenyang, has named the species Flammarionella hehaikuni. The teams findings have been published in the biological journal Proceedings of the Royal Society B.
"This ancient firefly presents a distinctive feature - a set of elongated antennae with triangular serrations, equipped with oval-shaped sensory receptors," Cai told the Global Times in an interview on Monday.
He added that while this is not the first firefly fossil discovered from the Cretaceous, the higher degree of morphological differentiation in this specimen suggests that multiple firefly species existed during that period.
Measuring less than 1 centimeter in length, this ancient firefly specimen had long antennae, transparent wings, and a bioluminescent organ near the end of its abdomen, much like fireflies do nowadays.
The fossil clearly displays this light-emitting organ, indicating that fireflies possessed bioluminescence as far back as the Cretaceous, and that the bioluminescent organ has remained largely stable through evolution.
Additionally, the firefly's antennae feature elliptical sensory receptors, which the research team has stated were likely specialized olfactory organs used to find mates at night.
"Based on the detailed analysis of the fossil, we speculate that the bioluminescent organ of this Cretaceous firefly was used not only for attracting mates, but also for communication between individuals," Cai said.
In 2021, a team of Chinese, Czech, and British paleontologists discovered an ancestral firefly in Burmese amber from the same period.
The Chinese research team at the time was also led by Cai. During that study, over 20,000 pieces of amber were examined, leading to the discovery of a well-preserved male firefly ancestor which was classified under the family called Cretophengodidae.
It's worth noting that while today's fireflies emit light from the end of their abdomen, this ancient specimen's light-emitting organ was located closer to the front of the abdomen.
The Chinese Foreign Ministry expressed deep concerns on Wednesday over the turmoil in the Middle East, stressing that China opposes the violation of Lebanon's sovereignty, security and territorial integrity and opposes moves that fuel antagonism and escalate tensions. This statement follows Israel's launch of ground military operations in southern Lebanon on Tuesday and Iran's military strikes against Israeli territory early on Wednesday.
China calls on the international community, especially major countries with influence, to play a constructive role and avoid further turmoil. China believes that the protracted fighting in Gaza is the root cause of this round of turmoil in the Middle East, and all parties need to work urgently for a comprehensive and lasting ceasefire, a spokesperson from the Chinese Foreign Ministry stated in the statement.
Iran launched nearly 200 ballistic missiles at Israel on Tuesday in what Tehran said was retaliation for the recent killings of top Hezbollah and Hamas officials. Analysts view the attack as the latest escalation of the regional tensions at a time when this round of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict has dragged on for nearly a year, with a greater potential to spill over to regional multi-point conflicts.
Iran's Islamic Revolution Guards Corps said in statements on Tuesday that it launched dozens of ballistic missiles on strategic centers in Israel in retaliation for Israel's assassinations of Hamas Politburo Chief Ismail Haniyeh, Hezbollah Secretary-General Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah, and senior IRGC commander Abbas Nilforoushan, as well as its intensification of "malicious acts" with the US support in its offensives against Lebanese and Palestinian peoples, Xinhua reported.
Iran's forces used hypersonic Fattah missiles for the first time, and 90 percent of its missiles successfully hit their targets in Israel, the Revolutionary Guards said, according to Reuters.
The Israel Defense Forces said it conducted a "large number of interceptions." Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told Israelis that Iran "made a big mistake" and "will pay" for launching a missile attack on the country Tuesday, according to CNN.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi posted on social media platform X early on Wednesday that Iran exercised "self-defense" against Israel and its action is concluded unless the "Israeli regime decides to invite further retaliation," Reuters reported. "Our action is concluded unless Israeli regime decides to invite further retaliation. In that scenario, our response will be stronger and more powerful," Araqchi added.
Jordan, Iraq, and Lebanon have announced the closure of their airspace on Tuesday evening after the Iranian missile attack.
Meanwhile, 55 people were killed and 156 were injured in Israeli airstrikes on Lebanon in the past 24 hours, according to the Lebanese health ministry on early Wednesday.
With war ramping up across the Middle East on Tuesday, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres appealed for the violence to end now. "I condemn the broadening of the Middle East conflict, with escalation after escalation," he said in a tersely worded statement. "This must stop. We absolutely need a ceasefire."
Iran's move is a response to a series of recent developments in the region, experts said. "Recently, evaluations from both Iran and the international community suggest that Iran is in a rather unfavorable situation," Liu Zhongmin, a professor at the Middle East Studies Institute of Shanghai International Studies University, told the Global Times on Wednesday.
Iran has endured pressure for a long time, and this move may intend to reverse the increasingly disadvantageous situation for Iran over the past few months, Liu said.
According to the Washington Post, US Vice President Kamala Harris said Tuesday she condemned Iran's attack on Israel "unequivocally" and "fully support[s]" President Joe Biden's order for the US military to shoot down Iranian missiles aimed at Israel.
According to AFP, Hezbollah said Wednesday it clashed with Israeli soldiers who tried to infiltrate into Lebanon, and also targeted Israeli troops across the border.
Experts warned that the regional situation is at high risk of escalating into multi-point conflicts. The US continues to indulge Israel and tacitly allows it to take any unrestricted military action, Sun Degang, director of the Center for Middle Eastern Studies at Fudan University, told the Global Times on Wednesday.
"The US has sent the wrong signals to the wrong allies at the wrong time, leading to an escalation of the situation that is out of control and spreading. Therefore, it is likely that multi-point conflicts will inevitably erupt next," Sun said.
Experts also noted that the difficulty faced by the US to maintain its balancing policy in the Middle East will increase.
The US aims to maintain comprehensive support for Israel while hoping to avoid being drawn into a new round of conflict, which could affect its strategic contraction in the Middle East and the global shift of focus toward great power competition, Liu said.
Therefore, the US has adopted a strategy of dynamic military adjustments. Whenever the crisis escalates, it enhances its military presence in the Middle East to demonstrate support for Israel and deter the Iran-led axis of resistance, Liu noted. "However, as tensions between Israel and Iran escalate, achieving this balance will be increasingly challenging."
According to the Department of Consular Affairs of China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, 146 Chinese citizens in Lebanon and five foreign family members safely arrived in Beijing on Wednesday on a charter flight operated by Air China, following 69 Chinese citizens in Lebanon, along with their 11 foreign family members, on Tuesday safely arrived in Cyprus aboard the vessel Xin Xia Men of China Ocean Shipping Group.
All Chinese citizens who wished to evacuate have now safely left Lebanon. The Chinese embassy in Lebanon will continue its work and remain on duty, the department said on Wednesday.
A new exhibition "Hemei Shengong" at Beijing's He Art Museum is putting on display over 200 works from 75 Chinese artists and intangible culture heritage inheritors, providing visitors with a journey through China's arts and crafts history spanning time and space. The new exhibition includes five sections, encompassing pottery, painting, weaving and more.
A celebration of the achievements of Chinese arts and crafts, the exhibition also aims to create an exchange platform for artists that promotes the integration of tradition and innovation.
According to Song Shaobo, director of the He Art Museum, arts and crafts are an important part of Chinese culture and have profound historical and cultural value.
"We hope that through such an exhibition, arts and crafts will get closer to modern life and will keep flourishing in today's society," added Song.
China has long been committed to addressing global climate change and promoting sustainable development through technological innovation and international cooperation. Recently, the Global Times reporter Shan Jie (GT) interviewed Guo Huadong (Guo), an Academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and the Director-General of the International Research Center of Big Data for Sustainable Development Goals (CBAS), to discuss the role of big Earth data in helping Small Island Developing States (SIDS) achieve sustainable development and improve their disaster response capabilities. GT: How do you view the role of big Earth data in helping SIDS to achieve sustainable development goals and enhance disaster response capabilities? What kind of support can the CBAS provide to these countries?
Guo: We have been done a lot of work in the field of big data technology, and it is widely recognized that big data plays a crucial role in helping SIDS achieve their sustainable development goals and address the challenges of natural disasters.
Moreover, resources are also changing. Through big Earth data, we integrate various data sources, including satellite remote sensing, meteorology, and ecology, to offer a comprehensive, timely, and accurate means of monitoring and analyzing ecological environments and natural disasters. This plays a significant role in facilitating sustainable development goals.
The challenges faced by SIDS make big data especially important. Our research center can contribute significantly in several ways. First, these countries lack data in their development processes, whereas our center has abundant big Earth data resources. Second, these countries also lack methodologies, but we have established a scientific big data platform and identified that our satellite data resources have significant advantages in terms of technological tools and model development. Third, these countries lack the relevant talent, and we can provide training.
Our center has five major missions, with the fourth and fifth missions focusing on training talent in developing countries. The Small Island Developing States Capacity Building Workshop on Utilizing big Earth data for Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) is one such example of our specific efforts in this regard.
In conclusion, big Earth data provides strong support for SIDS in addressing climate change and promoting sustainable development. We are committed to continuing to drive technological innovation and capacity building in this area, supporting these nations achieve safer and greener development.
GT: In September, you and your team released a series of data products for SIDS covering marine and land heatwaves, coral bleaching thermal stress, and etc. What new products will be released in the future?
Guo: Climate change has triggered a series of disasters, which are key global concerns and have a significant impact on sustainable development. Our big Earth data research focuses on greenhouse gases, particularly carbon dioxide and methane emissions, as well as the carbon sequestration capacity of natural ecosystems. In terms of natural disasters, we monitor global floods, droughts, heatwaves, and other disaster types, and analyze the impact of these disasters on populations and economies using spatial information. The released global mangrove remote sensing product has already played a role in combating climate change and promoting sustainable development.
To address global climate change and disaster challenges, we have made contributions in greenhouse gas emissions and natural disaster monitoring. For example, despite the increasing trend of global meteorological droughts, severe drought impacts have decreased due to human irrigation efforts, which shows the vital role of irrigation in mitigating drought. Looking ahead, climate change will continue to pose a long-term threat to humanity.
Recently, we collaborated with scholars worldwide and published an article in Innovation from the perspective of global governance, proposing a synergy between climate change responses and sustainable development goals, aiming to enhance efficiency and reduce costs. GT: You have witnessed the development of China's remote sensing technology alongside the nation. Could you share your observations and insights?
Guo: The development of remote sensing has been synchronized with China's reform and opening-up. China's reform began in 1978, the same year we started large-scale airborne remote sensing experiments, such as the Tengchong Airborne Remote Sensing Experiment, which used domestically developed payloads to observe resources in Tengchong, Southwest China's Yunnan Province. This experiment marked the beginning of China's remote sensing history.
After that, our remote sensing communities conducted environmental remote sensing in the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region in North China, followed by remote sensing for site selection for the Ertan Hydropower Station in Southwest China's Sichuan.
We refer to these three projects as the "three major battles," which officially opened the chapter of China's remote sensing history.
At the same time, China's reform and opening-up also unfolded. Therefore, I have always believed that remote sensing has progressed in tandem with China's reform and opening-up. Over the last 46 years, China's remote sensing technology has made significant advances. In satellite remote sensing, China has developed meteorological satellites, ocean satellites, resource satellites, and environmental satellites, and even sustainable development satellite and other scientific satellite systems, with commercial satellites developing rapidly as well. The progress is not only in spaceborne remote sensing but also in airborne remote sensing and remote sensing data processing software.
These remote sensing technologies have been applied extensively in resources, environment, energy, and other fields, achieving significant progress. China has become one of the global leaders in remote sensing technology, which has played a crucial role in monitoring resources and the environment, supporting national economic construction, social development, and national security.
International cooperation has also been integral to the development of remote sensing. In 2016, I initiated the Digital Belt and Road program(DBAR), aimed at leveraging digital technology to promote the Belt and Road Initiative. Initially, 28 countries participated, and it has now expanded to 59 countries with nine international excellence centers. Remote sensing has played a vital role in advancing global cooperation and development.
I also launched the "ABCC Plan," a comparative study of climate change remote sensing involving Australia, Brazil, China, and Canada. The aim of this plan is to utilize these countries' remote sensing capabilities to analyze and compare the impacts of global climate change.
GT: After years of working with remote sensing satellites as your "eyes" to observe the Earth, how do you view the improvement of China's ecological environment?
Guo: The improvements are clear. We often refer to remote sensing satellites as the "eyes in the sky," which offer a broader perspective than our human eyes. Remote sensing technology can observe objects across the full spectrum of electromagnetic waves, enabling effective observations even at night. For example, remote sensing satellites can detect not only the presence of water, but also analyze its transparency. High-resolution satellites can even accurately determine how many solar panels and wind turbines are installed in China.
Every year from 2019, we write a report entitled Big Earth Data in Support of Sustainable Development Goals. These reports provide detailed assessments of progress toward sustainable development goals through big data analysis. For example, in 2023, we found that China had achieved more than half of the total environment-related sustainable development goals ahead of schedule, with over 52 among 92 indicators showing significant improvement. This is especially impressive given the global context of climate change, the pandemic, and economic slowdowns.
GT: What role do you think digital Earth plays in global sustainable development? What are the main challenges in its practical application and promotion?
Guo: The concept of digital Earth was proposed at the first International Symposium on Digital Earth in 1999. When a journalist asked me how I would describe digital Earth, I replied: "Digital Earth is about putting the Earth into a computer." Digital Earth gives us a comprehensive view of the Earth. As the concept of big data has evolved, digital Earth has entered the era of big data.
Big data offers a new paradigm for digital Earth. Its primary task is to use various algorithms and tools to extract knowledge from diverse, massive, and complex Earth data, develop relevant theories, and explain the mechanisms of social and physical systems to ensure the protection and sustainable development of the Earth. This is critical for achieving global sustainable development goals.
The challenges mainly lie in several areas: First, we need to strengthen research on theories, technologies, and methodologies to drive science and technology development through data. Second, with the rapid development of artificial intelligence and deep learning, data processing technologies must continuously innovate. Furthermore, it is essential to make our scientific platforms and data model resources accessible globally, especially for developing countries. In the future, we will build think tanks that leverage global resources to accelerate the realization of sustainable development goals.
GT: How does CBAS contribute to national and international sustainable development progress?
Guo: Since its inception, the center has achieved numerous accomplishments. We successfully launched China's first sustainable development science satellite, equipped with thermal infrared, glimmer, and multi-band imagers. The satellite data has been well utilized, with users from 104 countries worldwide downloading our data through SDGSAT-1 Open Science program, continuously promoting global data sharing.
Our data is already being used by several United Nations agencies, including the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). Additionally, our reports on Big Earth Data in Support of the Sustainable Development Goals arereleased by state leaders at international events. For instance, the 2019 report was one of four official documents submitted by China's delegation to the 74th session of the United Nations General Assembly.
The center has made significant contributions to international cooperation as well. We have signed memoranda of understanding with various UN agencies, such as UNEP and FAO. The center's SDGSAT-1 has been highly recognized by the central government and is listed as one of China's seven major actions to implement the 2030 Agenda.
We have also initiated the Internaional Forum on Big Data for Sustainable Development, Goals (FBAS) which has now been held for four years and has become a high-level think tank in the field of sustainable development around the world. The center has established a global cooperation network, attracting eight international institutions and six domestic partners. We also formed a Fellowship program comprising internationally renowned scholars, including former presidents of the UN General Assembly and former directors-general of UNESCO, which has greatly enhanced the center's international influence.
In 2023, Csaba Krösi, the President of the 77th United Nations General Assembly, visited the center and said he saw the most advanced technologies and achievements, and found like-minded partners. He said that his dream had come true that day, which was a great recognition of our work.
GT: What is the state of global data sharing? Are there still barriers?
Guo: In terms of data sharing, we have always believed that if data cannot be effectively shared, the potential of big data cannot be realized. Therefore, since the center's inception, we have attached great importance to data sharing. Our first sustainable development satellite has achieved global open sharing, and 104 countries are now using our data.
I want to emphasize that while our satellite investment is not large, it has already provided significant data support to many countries. For instance, out of the 193 UN member states, 104 have used our data. More than 100 research papers have been published using our data, which is also a recognition of the scientific value of our work.
Moreover, based on these data, we have released several reports for the United Nations and signed cooperation agreements with several international organizations to promote global data sharing and application.
GT: What replicable and scalable experiences can be drawn from the SIDS training program?
Guo: Although the number of SIDS is limited, they face common challenges, especially the threats posed by climate change and rising sea levels. The United Nations places great importance on these countries. In facing these challenges, they have a strong need for data and technical support.
We provide data support and technical training for small island countries. For instance, we promise to offer the data they need and help them compile relevant reports. Through the training workshops, they have learned how to access and analyze big Earth data, enhancing their capacity to respond to climate change and disasters. This training model can be extended to other developing countries.
Overall, the experiences from the SIDS training program can serve as valuable references for other developing nations, helping them address climate change and achieve sustainable development through data-driven solutions, capacity building, and international cooperation.
Fossils of pterosaurs, stegosaurs, plesiosaurs, and more - this dinosaur fossil site in Southwest China's Sichuan Province showcases numerous prehistoric creatures that surpass the diversity seen in the Jurassic World movies.
It is the Dashanpu Middle Jurassic Dinosaur Fossils Site, located in Zigong, a city in southern Sichuan Province. As one of the world's most renowned dinosaur fossil sites, it has an excavated area of nearly 3,000 square meters, uncovering tens of thousands of fossilized bones from over 200 individual dinosaurs and other vertebrates from 160 million years ago.
At the recent 37th International Geological Congress held in Busan, South Korea, the Dashanpu Middle Jurassic Dinosaur Fossils Site was listed as a Geological Heritage Site by the International Union of Geological Sciences (IUGS).
"The richness in number, diversity of species, concentration of burial, and the preservation quality of dinosaur and other vertebrate fossils at the site is unmatched globally," Jiang Shan, director of the research department at the Zigong Dinosaur Museum, told the Global Times.
Scientific value
The Dashanpu site was once a lake-delta environment during the mid-Jurassic period. This lush and water-rich landscape combined with warm and humid climatic conditions provided a perfect environment for dinosaurs and other vertebrates to thrive.
When dinosaurs died on a large scale for various reasons, periodic large floods swept their bodies into the area. As water flow slowed at the lake's entrance, many dinosaur carcasses settled and were quickly buried, undergoing petrification over millions of years. Over time, the accumulation of fossils created a vast and spectacular dinosaur graveyard.
The fossil site boasts the most concentrated dinosaur fossil deposits, many of which are well preserved. Among the notable finds are the best-preserved eusauropoda known to date and the most complete primitive stegosaur globally.
"This site not only fills a significant gap in the sparse mid-Jurassic dinosaur fossil record, but also provides extremely valuable materials for the study of early dinosaur systematics," said Zeng Xiaoyun, director of the Zigong Dinosaur Museum.
The site also features the richest assemblage of mid-Jurassic terrestrial vertebrate fossils. Prior to this discovery, mid-Jurassic dinosaur fossils were sporadically found in North Africa, East Asia, Western Europe, and Australia, leaving a limited understanding of dinosaurs from this period.
The discovery at Dashanpu opens a window into the mid-Jurassic terrestrial fauna. During this time, the Dashanpu area was home to a variety of carnivorous and herbivorous dinosaurs, as well as fish, amphibians, crocodiles, and flying pterosaurs, forming a highly concentrated and diverse mid-Jurassic dinosaur fossil community.
The application process for the second batch of 100 geological heritage sites recognized by the IUGS began at the beginning of 2023. A total of 10 geological heritage sites from China were submitted, of which three were selected. After more than a year of evaluation by experts, the final list was announced by competing against 174 candidate sites from 64 countries.
"The inclusion of the Dashanpu Middle Jurassic Dinosaur Fossils Site highlights the scientific value and research standards of the site, as well as the international recognition of the protection measures implemented by the Zigong Dinosaur Museum," Jiang said. Digitalized preservation
In 1987, the Zigong Dinosaur Museum was established on the fossils site, which is currently the most comprehensive museum in the world for showcasing mid-Jurassic dinosaur fossils. It has served as the core of the Zigong Global Geopark, recognized by UNESCO as a key site for geological and paleontological research.
The museum's collection primarily features Mesozoic dinosaur specimens, covering paleontology, petrology, and mineralogy, including many of the finest specimens from the Dashanpu site, ranging from large and complete dinosaur skeletons to the smaller fossilized remains of other vertebrates.
Among its treasures are a preserved dinosaur fossil area of 1,350 square meters, world-class specimens of significant scientific value, such as the most complete and primitive stegosaur, and China's first stegosaur skin impression fossil.
"These invaluable fossils provide crucial material for research on dinosaur classification, physiological traits, and evolutionary history," Huang Xinyue, deputy director of the office at the museum, said.
The museum has used digital technology to enhance its preservation and research efforts. According to He Xu, a senior engineer at the museum, it has digitized its collections, creating 3D models of its key fossils to ensure that they are accessible to researchers around the world.
"We will continue to strengthen the preservation and utilization of cultural and natural heritage, using modern technologies such as artificial intelligence, big data, and virtual reality to establish a digital dinosaur museum," said Zeng, the museum director.
Since the Zigong dinosaur fossils first traveled to Hiroshima, Japan in 1989, they have been exhibited in more than 30 cities across nine countries and regions, including Japan, Thailand, Denmark, the US, South Africa, South Korea, Australia, New Zealand, China's Hong Kong SAR, and the island of Taiwan.
The museum also hosts international academic conferences and collaborates with foreign universities and research institutions to promote the study of dinosaur evolution and mid-Jurassic ecosystems.
According to Jiang, the museum has been strengthening collaboration with domestic and international universities and research institutions, such as Stony Brook University in the US, the University of Bonn in Germany, the University of Hong Kong, the China University of Geosciences (Beijing), and the Institute of Vertebrate Paleontology and Paleoanthropology at the Chinese Academy of Sciences.
"Through synergistic innovations involving museums, universities, and research institutes, the museum aims to support the advancement of dinosaur fossil research and preservation," Jiang noted.
