Day: August 4, 2019

(Xinhua)10:50, August 01, 2019

ADDIS ABABA, July 31 — African experts and policymakers have commended Chinas growing support to African institutions in the public health sector, with particular praise to its contribution towards the institutional and technical development of the much-needed African Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC).

CHINAS CONTINUED SUPPORT TO AFRICA CDC

The blossoming China-Africa public health cooperation on Tuesday, in particular, marked a notable milestone when African and Chinese officials revealed the imminent launch of constructions at the Chinese-supported future headquarters of the Africa CDC — the African Union (AU)s specialized technical agency in the healthcare sector.

Amira Elfadil, the AU Commissioner for Social Affairs, who joined Ethiopian government officials as well as diplomats from the Chinese mission to the AU to observe the special site where construction of the Africa CDC headquarters will soon commence, said that China has continued to send medical experts here, including their CDC personnel.

Elfadil also disclosed that construction of the CDC headquarters was expected to commence by 2020. Upon completion, the Africa CDC would be the best facility for disease control and prevention in the African continent.

The Africa CDCs future headquarters is expected to rest on an area of 90,000 square meters on the outskirts of Ethiopias capital Addis Ababa with close proximity to the AU headquarters.

John Nkengasong, Africa CDC Director, told Xinhua recently that, as part of Chinas support to the Africa CDC, two Chinese experts are currently working together with African experts at the headquarters of Africa CDC to develop the center.

CHINA HELPS AFRICA TO COMBAT AGAINST HEALTHCARE THREATS

The Africa CDC, which was officially launched in January 2017, has been undertaking various activities, with which it has been able to support at least 9 AU member countries to effectively respond to 12 Ebola virus outbreaks, according to figures from the Africa CDC.

Nkengasong, noting the centers various crucial supports in terms of epidemiological, laboratory, logistics and other forms of supports during Ebola outbreaks across the continent, also commended Chinas contribution to Africas efforts in taming such public health hazards problems.

China has significantly contributed to Africas ongoing combat against Ebola outbreak as well as to the development of the Africa CDC, the director told Xinhua.

China has deployed experts in neighboring countries of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Nkengasong said, as he described Chinas contribution as an important support to detect and stop the spread of the Ebola virus.

He also noted that China has been supporting the Africa CDC which has been taking various activities as part of the response efforts to the latest Ebola outbreak in the DRC.

The Chinese government has deployed experts in neighboring countries in Uganda and other countries where it is very important that we are focusing not only in the DRC but we are also focusing in the neighboring countries, just in case the virus escapes, said Nkengasong.

The ongoing Ebola outbreak in the DRC was recently declared by the World Health Organization as a public health emergency of international concern.

In West Africa, where the Ebola outbreak wreaked havoc in 2014, China immediately sent medical workers and communicable disease experts to Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone to help the three nations overcome the crisis.

By FredericByumvuhore (Peoples Daily Online)16:45, August 01, 2019

(Photo provided byFrederic Byumvuhore)

As China continues with reform and opening up, Chinese has become one of the most widely used languages in the world. The language has been introduced in foreign schools, and many training centers have been established to teach the language in various parts of the world.

Rwanda has several schools and centers that have already embraced the Chinese language into their programmes.

It might be in everyone’s best interest to learn Chinese for future opportunities. As China expands business in foreign countries, the language is becoming more heavily spoken around the world.

As a result of China-Africa cooperation, more Africans are now being offered study tours, long-term visits, training in technology and scholarships in China. Such opportunities enable the beneficiaries or participants to explore more about Chinese culture and communicate at the market or hospital here in China.

Chinese people and business are also moving around the world. Thus, whoever speaks Chinese can work with Chinese people not only in Rwanda but also in other countries.

(Photo provided by Frederic Byumvuhore)

Exhibition events have been attracting more foreigners, including Rwanda, to showcase their locally made products in China.

Therefore, it is an excellent opportunity for me, as part of a group of 49 journalists from African countries and the Asia Pacific, to learn Chinese at the Beijing International Chinese College as part of a 10-month programme designed to enable participants to discover Chinese society and culture.

The advantages that come with mastering a foreign language are undeniable. Some people will give you reasons why you should cut your interest in learning the language saying that it is too hard and will take up a lot of your time.

Strictly, China has one of the oldest writing systems in the world. Chinese characters seem challenging to master. No language is easy to learn; it depends on the learner’s interest, efforts and thirst for it.

Frederic Byumvuhore, the author is a reporter with The New Times Rwanda, and is currently participating in China Africa Press Center 2019 program in Beijing.

(Peoples Daily Online)17:43, August 01, 2019

Participants of the Chinese culture-themed workshop show their Chinese calligraphy works.

A calligraphy workshop was recently held in Library Ixelles in Belgium, with support from the local Confucius Institute.

This event marked the first time that the library held a Chinese culture-themed workshop.

In the four-day workshop, participants experienced the charms of Chinese calligraphy and painting with access to the basics of Chinese characters and traditional Chinese paintings.

More Belgians are developing a greater interest in Chinese culture with China鈥檚 growing global position, said a person in charge of the library. She added that the library wished to build a platform for the public to learn about China through its culture.

One attendee, who is currently studying sinology in the Marie Haps Faculty of Translation and Interpreting, or the Institut Libre Marie-Haps, said she is obsessed with Chinese calligraphy. She postponed her summer travel plans to attend the workshop.

She told People鈥檚 Daily that one could learn more about the spiritual connotations of Chinese culture via learning and appreciating Chinese calligraphy and paintings.

The Chinese cultural craze is spreading from major cities to medium and small cities in Belgium, said LuXiaohong, Chinese director of the Confucius Institute at the University Liberty of Brussels. Local schools and communities are seeking cooperation with the Confucius Institution in co-organizing Chinese cultural activities.

By FredericByumvuhore (Peoples Daily Online)17:48, August 01, 2019

(Photo/Xinhua)

The most impressive thing in Beijing, in my opinion, is the level of technology. Everything has gone digital. When I first arrived in Beijing, it seemed challenging, but over time you become familiar with this type of progress.

Seeing has become believing in China, contrary to what I knew before I visited the country.

Many people around the world, including on the African continent, have got distinctive perceptions about the People’s Republic of China. News about the country comes from Western media, which sometimes misleads its audience.

During my six months in Beijing, I have toured various provinces, cities, cultural sites and attended cultural events. All have sharpened my understanding and perception of the real China.

I’m from Rwanda, a land of a thousand hills with a population of 12 million people. This is my first time in China, a country with a population of about 1.4 billion people. Beijing alone, with over 20 million people, is almost twice as populated as my entire country. I was curious to personally experience life in the most populous nation and the second-largest economy in the world.

My love for the country and its people was awakened on the day I was warmly welcomed by Chinese friends who came to receive us at the airport on the evening of February 21st, shortly after I landed at Beijing International Airport.

My first three weeks in Beijing were somewhat puzzling. At the time, I could not say anything in Chinese except “Ni hao.” It was the first time I ever used a subway, and if not for the guidance of my friends, I would have got lost.

Now, here in Beijing, I have begun to understand what the word technology means, after experiencing how services in the city have been digitalized.

Within a matter of days, my Rwandan friend came to help me explore some parts of Beijing. He accompanied me to the market to show me where to buy food. As we arrived in winter, he also took me to the market to buy more suitable clothing.

Moreover, he took me to the subway, where I found everything is digitalized. I was excited when I bought a subway ticket by myself without any support.

As time went on, I was also advised to buy things online. My colleagues helped me to open a Wechat Pay account that linked to my Chinese bank account. They kept telling me that Wechat can be used everywhere in China.

It was a good experience when I first ordered goods on Taobao. No matter how puzzling the language, my order was successful. Now, there is no need for me to walk to the market to buy things. This is just one app, and China uses thousands of apps to make life more convenient. Take Didi, for example, a taxi app which can call you a cab within minutes.

In China, life is exciting and convenient. I like the way Chinese people preserve their culture. Learning the Chinese language has accelerated my love for China. China is no longer only home to Chinese people, but to people from all over the world.

Frederic Byumvuhore, the author is a reporter with The New Times Rwanda, and is currently participating in China Africa Press Center 2019 program in Beijing.

(Xinhua)10:55, August 02, 2019

BEIJING, Aug. 2 — Chinese animated film Ne Zha continued to dominate the Chinese mainland box office on Thursday, its seventh day of screening, the China Movie Data Information Network said Friday.

The domestic full-length animated feature grossed nearly 172 million yuan (about 24.8 million U.S. dollars) on Thursday. Its total box office reached nearly 1.47 billion yuan, becoming the highest-grossing domestic animated film.

Telling the life tale of Nezha, a beloved Chinese mythical figure, the film features a daring overhaul of Nezhas appearance and depicts him more as a mischievous boy instead of the hero kid in previous cinematic works.

The first Chinese feature film putting spotlight on firefighters, The Bravest, ranked second in the daily box chart, generating 116.55 million yuan.

Chinese family drama Looking Up came third, raking in 8.86 million yuan.