They engaged in discussions aimed at enhancing bilateral cooperation between Sri Lanka and China. 

They explored ways to strengthen the social, cultural, and economic ties between the two nations, underlining the importance of long-standing friendship and mutual respect.

(President’s Media Division)

An 18-meter-high flower basket was placed at the center of the Tian’anmen Square on Sunday as an auspicious decoration for the upcoming National Day.

The giant basket holds artificial colorful flowers and vegetables such as pumpkins, pomegranates, calabashes, and moutan peonies, as well as Chinese roses. The splendid installation symbolizes good wishes for prosperity.

Flower belt will be placed around the bottom of the giant installation before Wednesday, when the complete floral display will make its official debut to the public.

Currently, flows of tourists have been drawn to the square to take photo with the flower basket.

Similar decoration has been a traditional attraction on the Tian’anmen Square around the National Day with the first one appeared in 2011.

China’s National Day falls on Oct 1 and its National Day holiday lasts seven days from Oct 1 to 7, a period when the Tian’anmen Square typically sees a large number of tourists from across the country come to celebrate the birthday of their motherland.

(CCTV)

Chinese National Flag-Raising Ceremony to Be Broadcast Live Tomorrow

A live broadcast of the Chinese national flag-raising ceremony at Tian’anmen Square in Beijing, marking the 75th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China, will take place tomorrow, October 1st, at 5:30 am Beijing time. The event can be viewed at www.srilankachinahotline.srilankamirror.com.

Given that no candidate secured more than 50 percent of the votes, the Election Commission counted the second and third preferences of the two leading candidates, the first time in the history of Sri Lankan presidential election.

Dissanayake obtained 5,634,915 votes in the first count and 105,264 preferential votes during the second count.

Harini Amarasuriya, a member of the NPP, took questions after briefing the media on the election results on Sunday. When responding to a question from a China Media Group (CMG) reporter, she said the new government looks forward to extending the friendly relationship with China.

“We’ve worked very closely with China in the past, and we will continue to do so. We look forward to having a good relationship with China, as we’ve had in the past,” said Harini.

Meanwhile, Chinese President Xi Jinping had also extended his congratulations to his Sri Lankan counterpart.

“I attach great importance to the development of China-Sri Lanka relations, and stand ready to work with you to jointly carry forward our traditional friendship, consolidate political mutual trust, achieve more fruitful outcomes on high-quality Belt and Road cooperation, so as to advance the sustained and steady growth of China-Sri Lanka strategic cooperative partnership based on sincere mutual assistance and everlasting friendship and bring more benefits to the two peoples,” President Xi had said.

Speaking during a media briefing in Beijing on Sep. 23, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman – Lin Jian had also extended the warm wishes of China.

“Sri Lanka’s presidential election was held successfully in an orderly manner on September 21. Mr. Dissanayake was elected as new president of Sri Lanka, and was sworn in. China extends heartfelt congratulations on that. President Xi Jinping has sent a message to President Dissanayake to congratulate him,” Lin said.

“China and Sri Lanka are friendly neighbors. We are willing to work together with President Dissanayake and the new government of Sri Lanka to champion the essence of the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence, and renew the traditional friendship between China and Sri Lanka. We will seek closer synergy between our development strategies, and deepen high-quality Belt and Road cooperation, so as to make new progress together in advancing the China-Sri Lanka strategic cooperative partnership featuring sincere mutual assistance and ever-lasting friendship,” he said.

The 11th typhoon of the year, Yagi, made landfall at 16:20 local time Friday in the Wengtian Township of Hainan’s Wenchang City, with ferocious wind speeds exceeding 234 kilometers per hour.

The typhoon has brought heavy rainfall across most of the island, with severe rainstorms pummeling many townships and villages. Around 20,000 firefighters, soldiers, and additional rescue personnel have gathered and are on standby to handle any emergency situations which may arise, while the relevant departments stocked up on relief supplies in advance.

As of 17:00 on Friday, more than 460,000 people have been evacuated and more than 500 relocation centers have been set up across Wenchang City. Efforts are also ongoing to assess geological hazards and conduct inspections of the rivers, lakes, and reservoirs deemed at risk.

As the typhoon approaches the southern Chinese province of Guangdong, efforts are also being stepped up to ensure emergency support for power, communication, and transportation.

The typhoon-induced suspension of all ferry services across the Qiongzhou Strait between Hainan and Guangdong led to over 3,000 trucks being left stranded in the Xuwen County of Zhanjiang City. Local authorities have dispatched specialized teams to direct people to specific emergency shelters.

Meanwhile, multiple cities in south China’s Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, including the popular coastal resort city of Beihai, have preemptively implemented various measures, including suspending business operations and closing schools, while more coastal regions are stepping up their preventive work.

Elsewhere, South China’s Hong Kong and Macao special administrative regions (SARs) have taken a variety of precautions for Super Typhoon Yagi. The stock exchange in Hong Kong was shuttered while schools remained closed on Friday. All ferries, buses and taxis have been suspended across the city, and subways are running on a reduced timetable.

Macao also proactively implemented a range of preventive emergency measures that encompassed transportation, water and electricity supplies, and municipal services.

(CCTV +)
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“I would like to reiterate and stress that Xianbin Reef is part of China’s Nansha Islands. On August 25, an official vessel of Philippines’ Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources, ignoring China’s firm opposition and repeated dissuasion, intruded into the adjacent waters of Xianbin Reef of China’s Nansha Islands, and acted dangerously by deliberately ramming the China Coast Guard vessel that was carrying out law enforcement operation. The responsibility of causing the collision fully lies with the Philippines. The China Coast Guard took necessary measures in accordance with domestic and international law. Its maneuvers at the scene were professional, restrained and appropriate,” Lin Jian, the spokesman, said at a press conference in Beijing.

“For some time, the Philippines has repeatedly sent coast guard vessels and official vessels to intrude into the adjacent waters of Xianbin Reef in an attempt to send supplies to the Philippine coast guard vessel, which has been anchoring in the lagoon of Xianbin Reef for a long time, and seek long-term presence there. The Philippines’ move seriously infringes on China’s sovereignty, violates the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea (DOC), and threatens the peace and stability in the South China Sea. China urges the Philippines to stop the infringement and provocation activities and withdraw the vessel immediately. China will continue to take resolute measures in accordance with law to safeguard its territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests and uphold the sanctity of the DOC,” Lin said.

(CCTV +)

Setting off from a military harbor in Dalian, northeast China’s Liaoning Province, Po Lang carried midshipmen and military personnel from the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) Dalian Naval Academy, who will undergo a series of skills training activities.

Po Lang will make a technical stop in Hong Kong, where activities such as a vessel open-day and deck reception will be held.

“This mission aims to enhance the professional competence of growing naval officer cadets, strengthen exchanges, cooperation and mutual trust with the navies of the visited countries, and contribute to the building of a maritime community of shared future,” said Ma Wenyong, a crew member of the ship.

Po Lang is a three-masted full-rigged sailing ship with a length of 86 meters, a width of 11 meters, a standard displacement of over 1,200 tons, a maximum sail range of over 2,600 square meters, and a maximum sailing speed of about 18 knots (about 33.3 km/h).

Po Lang is mainly used to cultivate the basic seamanship skills and traditional navigation skills of naval cadets. It also shoulders the tasks of carrying out military exchanges with foreign countries and promoting the unique culture of the navy.

“Po Lang is an important carrier for naval college students to understand and get close to the ocean. It focuses on exercises to enhance the students’ unwavering spirit, fearlessness of hardship, and determination to win. It is also to build team awareness among the trainees so that they can join efforts, collaborate, and proactively take their responsibilities in times of trouble,” said Wang Xiao, another crew member of the ship.

(CCTV +)

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“According to an annual plan, Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) Navy training ship Polang will embark on an ocean-going midshipmen training voyage from mid-August to late November, during which it will visit multiple countries, including Vietnam, Indonesia, Sri Lanka and Singapore, and make a technical stop in Hong Kong. The mission aims to enhance the professional capabilities of midshipmen, promote exchange, cooperation and mutual trust between the PLA Navy and the navies of the ship’s destination countries, and contribute to the building of a maritime community with a shared future,” said Zhang.

The Polang training ship is a three-mast full-rigged clipper measuring 85 meters long and 11 meters wide, with a maximum displacement of about 1,200 tons, a maximum sail area of 2,630 square meters and a maximum navigation speed of 18 knots. It can accommodate the training of 50 cadets at a time.

(Source : CCTV +)

The explosion occurred on the bow of a container ship named YM Mobility, sending flames and smoke across the area.

The ship is owned by Yang Ming Marine Transport Corporation.

An investigation into the incident is underway.

A powerful explosion has hit a container ship berthed at the Ningbo-Zhoushan Port in east China’s Zhejiang Province on Friday, Chinese media report

The explosion occurred at around 1:50 pm earlier today (Aug. 09).

After the explosion, local public security, fire and other departments have immediately mobilized and sent rescuers to the scene. 

The Ningbo Maritime search and rescue center had activated an emergency plan, sending coast patrol boats to the site to join the rescue operations. 

Preliminary investigations showed that the dock workers and crew members of the ship are all safe. 

(CCTV +)

The top official, who just attended the eighth China-South Asia Expo in Kunming, southwest China’s Yunnan Province, highlighted that the expo brings together enterprises from China and South Asia for trade opportunities while speaking in an exclusive interview with China Global Television Network.

“Last time we had only 80-odd participants. This time we had 126, or something like that, so the number of participants has increased considerably. The number one is gem and jewelry. Gem and jewelry is very popular and successful business in our country. Now they want to capture the Chinese market. The Chinese market is very attractive. The other thing was the garment industry. The garment industry is also is one of the lucrative businesses in the country. With this exhibition, I invite Chinese investors to come and invest in Sri Lanka in these fields, especially the tea, gem and jewelry, and garments,” he said.

Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena shared that the two countries will further cooperate under the Belt and Road Initiative, especially to advance flagship projects including the Colombo Port City and the Hambantota Port.

“Belt and Road Initiative is not a new thing for Sri Lanka. Thousands of years ago, there had been Chinese businessmen who did a lot of business in my country. Now, with this new approach, with the Belt and Road [Initiative], there is an ample opportunity, and it can expand unprecedentedly in our country. The port city is totally a Chinese investment, and Sri Lanka has recognized it. And in parliament, we have passed the legislation to give security for the investors. It’s a special law that is investor beneficial, investor friendly, and their investments are untouched,” he said.

The official also highly praised the medical aid offered by China for local cataract patients and expressed expectations that there will more exchanges in tourism.

“Those cataract operations were very successful and there was a big demand. And more than that, now China has given us a friendship hospital in Polonnaruwa. It’s for kidney patients. It’s an amazing investment, amazing donation to our country and which we appreciate very much. Tourism is also another industry that we develop in our country. There are very attractive sceneries, very attractive tourist offerings. If you can get 10 percent of your tourist influx to the country, that is more than enough for us to survive our industry. Chinese tourists are very well recognized and accepted by the Sri Lankan government and by the Sri Lankan people,” he said.

(CCTV +)

The bridge, located at Zhashui County in Shangluo City, collapsed at approximately 20:40 on Friday due to a sudden downpour and flash floods, according to the provincial publicity department.

By 10:00 on Saturday, rescue teams had recovered five vehicles that had fallen into the river.

Rescue operations are still underway.