"We advocate harmony and inclusiveness, and promote exchanges and mutual learning among civilizations…" Six young individuals, representing different countries, ethnicities and cultures, echoed the Hehe World Initiative during the recently concluded 2023 Global Forum on Hehe Culture. 

Experts at the event told the Global Times that Hehe culture embodies the idea of the harmonious coexistence of man and nature. 

It recognizes the conditions and space for the development of all entities, respecting the collective progress of nations and ethnicities for the common well-being of humanity. 

The first "he" in Hehe means harmony, peace, and balance, while the second "he" means convergence, unity, and cooperation.

In the long history of Chinese Hehe culture, Tiantai county in Taizhou, East China's Zhejiang Province, stands out as a vital hub. 

The essence of Hehe culture emerged 1,300 years ago on Tiantai Mountain, embracing the concept of unity among Confucianism, Buddhism, and Taoism.

Although the Hehe culture is a concept proposed in the late 1980s and early 1990s, ancient Chinese's wisdom about harmony has existed since ancient China. 

The two words of "he" have appeared separately in oracle bone inscriptions and bronze inscriptions. 

The first systematic theoretical exposition of Hehe culture was realized by Shi Bo, a thinker during the Western Zhou Dynasty (1046BC-771BC). 

Based on the theory of the harmony of the five elements, he defined the concept of Hehe, thus he can be regarded as the founder of Chinese Hehe culture.

Tiantai Buddhism

To truly grasp the essence of Hehe culture, one cannot overlook the Guoqing Temple, one of the birthplaces of Tiantai Buddhism, an East Asian Buddhist school of Mahayana Buddhism that developed in the 6th century in China.

Situated in Tiantai county, Guoqing Temple was built during the Sui Dynasty (581-618), and it played a crucial role in the transmission of Chinese Tiantai Buddhism, emphasizing the dual cultivation of contemplating and illuminating the mind to perceive nature.

When walking to the Guoqing Temple, one can see the temple was surrounded by mountains and hundred-year-old ancient trees. 

There were small bridges and a flowing river surrounding the temple, which gave visitors a sense of calm. 

Stepping on the cobblestone floor with a historical texture and entering the temple, some pilgrims kneel down devoutly with their hands clasped together. 

A sweet fragrance lingers in the incense burner. 

Along with the melodious bells and low chanting sounds coming from the main hall, all fatigue disappears immediately. 

Amid the golden autumn, the rice that was donated by the locals as respect to the monks in the temple is basking in the temple yard. 

One of the managers working in the temple told the Global Times that every year (except during the pandemic), numerous tourists from both China and abroad, especially from South Korea and Japan, visit the Guoqing Temple. 

He explained that since the Tang (618-907) and Song dynasties (960 - 1279), the temple has been revered as the ancestral home of Tiantai Buddhism for both Japanese and Korean practitioners.

Adhering to the "harmonious coexistence" philosophy, this 4A-level scenic spot remains open to the public for free. 

At the foot of the temple, the sight of farmers diligently cultivating fields amid the surrounding mountains and streams exemplifies a harmonious coexistence between man and nature.

In a world marked by continuous conflicts and contradictions, as well as a time of fusion and exchange, being in this environment allows people to have a deeper understanding of the value of "harmony."

Inheritance of Hehe spirit

"Hehe Erxian," the charming duo of two Chinese immortals, one holding a food container and the other carrying lotus flowers, symbolizes the pursuit of a spirit that harmonizes the body and mind, interpersonal relationships, and the connection between heaven and humanity. 

These legendary figures - Hanshan and Shide - have become the epitome of Chinese "harmony culture," conveying a unique spirit.

Hanshan, a poet who resided on Tiantai Mountain in Tang Dynasty (618-907), left a legacy of around 600 poems, emphasizing the unique realm of harmonizing the body and mind, the unity of heaven and humanity, and interpersonal harmony. 

This distinctive realm, translated by American poet Gary Snyder, profoundly influenced the "Beat Generation" in the US.

The influence of "Hehe Erxian" in folk culture is evident in a cultural park themed on the "Hehe" concept in Tiantai county. 

One folk museum in the cultural park houses thousands of artifacts related to the two immortals including cultural and artistic items, crafts, rare collections, and historical materials, showcasing the omnipresence of the harmony culture in Tiantai's traditions.

In an art museum showcasing "Yigenteng," an intangible cultural heritage craft with a history of 400 years, the intricate intertwining and connecting of vine-shaped structures symbolizes people's pursuit of enduring happiness and complete harmony.

This cultural park, mainly transformed from old factories, has gathered over 3,000 items related to harmony culture and historical materials. The park attracts approximately 80,000 visitors each year. 

It has evolved into a comprehensive cultural industry park incorporating wedding celebrations, educational tours, and cultural innovation. 

The park shows that the spirit of harmony, while rooted in tradition, has been endowed with modern values. 

The beauty of harmony is now visibly integrated into the urban development of Taizhou, where landmarks of harmony connect with the city's cultural temperament. 

The coexistence of people and the city, which embodies the spirit of "harmony," has truly become the urban ethos of Taizhou.

Barely two months after an explosion in Louisiana, a train carrying toxic perchloric acid has exploded in a Nebraska rail yard on Thursday, prompting evacuation orders to be issued, as huge plumes are seen engulfing the city. Experts said the incident shows the US has been unable to take seriously and overcome major issues affecting public safety and the environment and ecology in the country.

The incident happened on Union Pacific Railroad tracks in the city of North Platte. North Platte Volunteer Fire Department announced that they would order those living in the area to evacuate due to the toxic smoke from the railroad, according to media reports.

In a post on social media platforms, it said that "Emergency evacuation for the area between splinter and front North of railroad track due fire at the railroad involving heavy toxic smoke."

In a statement to DailyMail.com, Union Pacific Railroad said that an explosion occurred inside a container which resulted in several railcars catching fire. The railcar did not derail, the company said, and had been in the yard for several hours.

Union Pacific said that one of the containers contained a hazardous chemical called perchloric acid, according to Daily Mail.

Perchloric is a hazardous material used in food, drugs and biocidal products, as well as explosives, according to the report.

Two months ago, a fire at a Louisiana chemical plant triggered explosions that shook homes several miles away and sent flames and smoke billowing into the air in mid-July, prompting emergency officials to urge a few hundred nearby residents to shelter indoors for several hours and to turn off their air conditioners, the Associated Press reported.

Antiquated infrastructure and the outdated transportation were one factor. Another was a flawed system of governance in the US transport industry, experts noted. There is no doubt that the US has serious loopholes in the transportation management of hazardous substances, and the relevant error correction mechanism is in fact not effective, which means that this kind of thing will occur in the future, Li Haidong, a professor at the China Foreign Affairs University, told the Global Times on Friday.

This shows that the US has been unable to take seriously and overcome serious and major issues affecting public safety and the environment and ecology in the country, Li said. "It must be said that this is a great irony to the self-proclaimed internal governance of the most advanced country in the world."

Analysts said that the frequent occurrence of similar incidents shows that the error correction mechanism in the US has failed. Apart from this, racism and the proliferation of guns are also clear examples of the failure of error correction mechanisms, experts noted.

The China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) allows countries of Global South to connect with each other, a Pakistani economist told Xinhua in a recent interview.

"We have seen that China itself has come out of years and decades of poverty, and it has transitioned into a country that is fast developing. So for them to tailor a program for the developing countries is much easier than for the Global North," said Vaqar Ahmed, joint executive director at the Sustainable Development Policy Institute, an Islamabad-based think tank.

This is what China has been trying to do under the BRI, he added.

The BRI is a very decent model for cooperation, particularly for the developing countries, because many programs are led or participated in by developing countries, and by some of the poorest countries of the world, Ahmed said.

"So it's not like traditional development programs, for example, a model having bilateral, multilateral donors involved that will come in and do a diagnostic of their own, and then they will offer you a platter or a choice set, that this is what we can do for you, would you sign up for it," he said.

But it's not the way that the BRI, or its flagship project of the Chine-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) has operated, he said.

Launched in 2013, the CPEC is a corridor linking the Gwadar port in southwestern Pakistan with Kashgar in northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, which highlights energy, transport and industrial cooperation.

"In BRI or like in the case of CPEC, you were asked to come up with a priority of choices. What do you want? Where do you want Chinese investment to go? You prioritize that," the economist added.

Most of the BRI's technical assistance projects, in the case of infrastructure, are backed by a financial model, which is easier for developing countries to participate in, as most of them are in investment mode, Ahmed said.

Even if they are loan projects, he noted that they are loans for longer time periods with repayments not around the corner, which is really helping the developing countries to come on board and has allowed more and more of these countries to become part of the BRI umbrella.

Highlighting the upcoming third Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation in Beijing in October, the economist said that one of its objectives is that the countries of the Global South, who are beneficiaries of the BRI should actually come together to share those experiences and knowledge.

It's not just the responsibility of China, but in fact, all those countries who are participating in the BRI should utilize this opportunity to share their experiences, he said.

"So without naming any multilateral institution from the Global North, if they were delivering you a project in let's say, five years or 10 years, BRI was able to cut short that time," said Ahmed, adding a BRI project would have been delivered in one or two years maybe and "there are countless examples within Pakistan."

Elaborating on the importance of understanding the global trade architecture, the economist noted that the way the BRI stands at the moment would potentially create more opportunities and productive capacities for developing countries in the future.

"Once those productive capacities are created, for example, in my large-scale manufacturing sector, I would like to trade more. But this is the time when Global North should not change the rules of the trade," said the economist.

"If you don't like multilateralism now, that's going to send a very negative signal to the Global South, to the developing countries, who have added productive capacities due to BRI, due to CPEC," he pointed out.

The COP28 Presidency has co-hosted the second Global Dialogue series with the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) in Abu Dhabi, gathering policymakers, representatives, and experts from 140 governments, as well as participants from the private sector.

The Global Dialogue, held in Abu Dhabi Global Market from 15-17 October, is the largest UNFCCC mandated event held in the emirate to date, and focused on accelerating the energy transition and decarbonization of the transportation sector.

Those attending, including COP28 Chief Executive Officer Adnan Z Amin, drove technical alignment and produced a report that will help jumpstart upcoming discussions at Pre-COP from 30-31 October, where up to 100 ministers will discuss key priorities in Abu Dhabi for COP28.

Attendees agreed that decarbonizing the transportation system will make a significant contribution to a just and equitable energy transition, and will boost economic diversification by creating green jobs and invigorating industries in developing countries.

Solutions discussed for decarbonizing transportation included the deployment and shift to collective and non-motorized transportation models, energy and resource efficiency in the transportation sector, vehicle electrification, and the adoption of low- or zero-carbon fuels.

A sustainable transport sector is central to our shared success in keeping 1.5°C within reach,” Mr. Amin said at the event. According to the IPCC’s sixth assessment report, the transport sector emits 8.7Gt per year, representing roughly 23 percent of global emissions, he said, so “transport would need an accelerated electrification and associated deployment of charging infrastructure in the coming decades.”

Pakistani Ambassador to China Moin ul Haque inaugurated the Pakistan National Pavilion and attended the opening ceremony of the 9th Sichuan Agricultural Expo in Chengdu on October 28. Hu Yun, vice governor of Southwest China's Sichuan Province, presided over the opening ceremony.

The exhibition hall introduced famous tourist attractions in Pakistan and more than 10 Pakistani companies showcased some agricultural products. The exhibition hall attracted great interest from participants.

Pakistan is the guest of honor of this expo. The ambassador emphasized in his speech that Pakistan and China have established a solid bilateral relationship based on political mutual trust, strategic communication and practical cooperation. He also stressed the close cooperation between Pakistan and Sichuan, including through their sister cities.

Pakistan's participation in the 2023 CIIE will inject new impetus into the ongoing agricultural cooperation between Pakistan and China. Recently, the two sides reached five important agricultural agreement on the application of sanitary and phytosanitary measures, granting Pakistan access to the $30 billion market for cooked beef, dairy products, chili peppers, cherries and other livestock products, which will help Pakistan expand its exports to China.

While Papua New Guinea has recently signed a security pact with the US, former Prime Minister of Papua New Guinea Peter O'Neill told the Global Times in an exclusive interview that his country will not be used by other countries to attack China.

"We should not be used by other countries to advance their own issues, and we are not in conflict with China. We have no problems with China. We should be able to maintain our strong, very good, friendly relationship that we have established since our independence 48 years ago," he told the Global Times. 

According to media reports, the US signed a defense agreement with the Pacific Island nation of Papua New Guinea in May, allowing US military access to the country's waters and ports. Some analysts expressed concern that this agreement will strengthen Washington's presence in the Western Pacific, and that the provisions of the defense agreement will play a crucial role for Washington if a conflict erupts in the Taiwan Straits. 

During the interview, the former Prime Minister stressed that Papua New Guinea should not be involved in the China-US game, and the country has no conflict with China. Adding that Papua New Guinea should develop ties with China.

"China is a very important business partner, economic partner and a friend, and has strong people-to-people relationship with our country. That is something that we need to continue," he said.

He also stressed that "We've always said that there is one-China policy. We've always believed in one-China policy. Papua New Guinea is maintaining that policy and we will stand by that policy."

O'Neill sat down for an exclusive interview with the Global Times during an event hosted by the think tank Center for China and Globalization on Wednesday. 

In recent years, relations between China and South Pacific Island nations have developed rapidly. However, this win-win cooperation has attracted attention from countries including the US and Australia who have sought to strengthen their presence in the region as a way to "counter" China's influence. Some Western media outlets even hyped up the vicious rhetoric that China is a "destroyer" of peace and stability in the region. 

Regarding these accusations, O'Neill told the Global Times that China has a great opportunity to silence those critics, who certainly are not doing as well or as much as China in the Pacific. 

"China is doing more than these critics in the Pacific. China is building roads, China is building hospitals, China is building schools. This is sort of a development partner that the Pacific and Papua New Guinea need. We don't need people just talking. I think China has been a great friend and I think we can do more," he said.

The former prime minister pointed out that China is doing a great job in the Pacific. "Don't let some of the critics tell you otherwise. I believe very strongly that China has more to do and to work with the Pacific in terms of bringing up more economic opportunities."

O'Neil also noted that China's experience in development over the past decades is important for them to learn from.

"China has got a great opportunity to share some of the experience. China has gone through in the past 40 or 50 years in development. We have the same challenges in the Pacific. We are very small countries, we've got large population, we have got difficulties in developing our people's standard of living to improve, just like China has done in the past. 

"China has experience in making sure that its population has got better standard of living, better health, better education, better infrastructure, access to IT. All those are challenges that we face and I think we can learn a lot from China."

In 2018, then Prime Minister O'Neill, led a delegation to visit China and signed a Memorandum of Understanding on the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), making Papua New Guinea the first Pacific Island nation to join the BRI.

Reflecting the changes that the BRI has brought to the country over the past five years, O'Neill said "My feeling is that the BRI has helped Papua New Guinea build better infrastructure. We have an access to finance and we've never had funding for this type of  infrastructure before. The terms of the finances are very, very concessional, meaning that it is cheap and it is affordable for a country to build roads that will add economic value to the nation."

"I think you will find that China has done a lot for Papua New Guinea and we want to continue to improve on our trade. We want to export more to China and buy more from China. It's a win-win situation for both countries," he said. 

Spanish Ambassador to China Rafael Dezcallar met with the National Centre for the Performing Arts (NCPA) President Wang Ning on July 15 to facilitate in-depth exchanges of cultural and art organizations between China and Spain.

This year marks the 50th anniversary since the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Spain. Both countries have long illustrious histories and rich cultures. Wang said, "The NCPA has always maintained close cooperation with Spanish organizations and artists since the center was built, with fruitful achievements in the introduction of imported performances, the organization of international tours, and in institutional cooperation."

At the event, the NCPA invited Spanish guitar artists along with the China NCPA Orchestra to perform the classic works by Chinese and Spanish composers, which celebrate friendly relations. 

"The NCPA hopes to plan various cultural exchange events with the Spanish Embassy to promote dialogue and exchanges with global civilizations as we commemorate the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Spain," Wang said. 

Ambassador Dezcallar expressed his great appreciation for the NCPA's efforts in the promotion of cultural exchanges between China and Spain. 

"I hope that we can enhance mutual understanding and friendship between the two countries through cultural exchanges and mutual visits," Dezcallar stressed.

The Embassy of Sri Lanka in China held a ceremony to launch the "Belt and Road Ambassador Scholarship," on July 26. The ceremony unveiled scholarships for Sino-Sri Lankan student exchanges in 2023, an evaluation work plan, timeframes of awarding recipients and details of  financial support, and elected Sri Lankan Ambassador to China Palitha Kohona as the chairman of the Evaluation Committee. This activity aims to expand the humanistic exchanges and cooperation between China and Sri Lanka. 

Kohona stressed at the ceremony that, "The Belt and Road Ambassador Scholarship aims to adapt to the globalization of travel, to respond to the great initiative of the Global Community of Destiny, and to promote educational and cultural exchanges among Belt and Road developing countries." He expressed hopes to influence more peace-loving and common development-minded enterprises and people in various fields around the world to actively participate in this project, and to make contributions toward friendly mutual assistance, synergetic development among all countries, and for the civilization and progress of the peoples of the world.

The event marks an important step in the China-Sri Lanka friendship in the field of Belt and Road educational exchanges. It injects new vitality into the friendship and cooperation between the two countries and helps more students realize their dreams of globalization and development.

Editor's Note:

Over the past decade, the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), following the guiding principle of extensive consultation, joint contribution and shared benefits, has grown into a global platform where countries along the routes work together to promote people's wellbeing and give a further boost to global development. Infrastructure facilities built under the BRI connect countries in the Southeast Asia region to the global supply chain, whether through maritime or overland transportation. 

As the BRI celebrates its 10th anniversary, Global Times reporters Hu Yuwei, Li Xuanmin and Hao Shuangyan interviewed diplomats and politicians from China and ASEAN countries to learn about the highlights of the cooperation achievements over the past decade and their expectations for high-quality BRI construction in the next decade.

Kao Kim Hourn,

Secretary-General of ASEAN 

ASEAN and China have been working closely together over the past 32 years, from 1991 until 2023, and the partnership has consistently been elevating. ASEAN and China share close geographical proximity, cultural ties and historic connections. There are extensive mechanisms in place between China and ASEAN at all levels, from political, security, economic to social culture. This is quite important for us.

China-ASEAN relations are now at their highest level. Since 2009, China has been the largest trading partner of ASEAN. ASEAN is a very large trading partner for China as well. China has been a strong supporter of the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia, a very important instrument for resolving our differences and promoting friendly relations between us. 

ASEAN has a huge plan on connectivity, so we have been able to take advantage of the opportunities and the cooperation with China on the BRI. These projects are certainly supporting the ASEAN integration as we work to increase our finance, and increase connectivity between our region and China.

Hou Yanqi,

Chinese Ambassador to ASEAN

ASEAN, as the priority direction and important partner in the joint construction of the BRI, has achieved fruitful cooperation results with China in the past 10 years. I believe there are several important reasons for this. Firstly, China and ASEAN are connected by mountains and rivers, and have a close relationship. They are also comprehensive strategic partners, with solid political and public support for cooperation in various fields. 

Secondly, we have always adhered to the principles of extensive consultation, joint contribution and shared benefits. We have also promoted development through openness and achieved win-win outcomes through cooperation. We have achieved complementary advantages in high-quality construction of the BRI. 

Thirdly, China and ASEAN are both determined actors with visions. We prioritize commitments and implementation, ensuring that the achievements of the BRI are tangible and substantial. 

ASEAN has a superior geographical location and plays an important role in the process of regional economic cooperation. 

However, it also faces development bottlenecks, such as insufficient infrastructure investment and relatively lagging regional connectivity. The implementation of the BRI has played an important role in breaking these bottlenecks and fully unleashing the development potential of ASEAN.

Ouyang Yujing,

Chinese Ambassador to Malaysia

Malaysia is one of the earliest countries to support and participate in the BRI. With the  support of the leaders of both countries, the high-quality construction of the BRI between China and Malaysia has achieved fruitful results. 

According to Malaysian data, China's direct investment in Malaysia reached $12.5 billion in 2022, accounting for one-third of Malaysia's foreign direct investment. 

Flagship projects such as the "Two countries, Twin Parks" and the East Coast Rail Link are progressing solidly, providing strong impetus for China-Malaysia economic and trade cooperation. 

China and Malaysia should continuously enhance the level of high-quality construction of the BRI, focusing on cultivating cooperation growth points in areas such as electronics and electrical, digital economy, green development, new energy, high-end manufacturing, and modern agriculture. 

We hope both sides can upgrade cooperation toward innovation, intelligence, digitalization and green development. It is believed that under the strategic guidance of the leaders of both countries, we will see more achievements and better benefits for the people of both countries.

Marzuki Alie, 

former speaker of the House of Representative of Republic of Indonesia

I believe that President Xi Jinping's address to the Indonesian parliament in 2013 was very significant, not only for Indonesia-China relations, but also for international cooperation. China demonstrated a cooperative disposition that will yield mutual benefits. I believe it is essential for the Indonesian government to respond to the China-proposed initiative at that time.

In 2023, it will have been exactly 10 years since I presided over the Indonesian parliament during Xi's visit. 

That year was definitely an important year, and over the past 10 years, the cooperation between China and Indonesia has increased in a variety of areas. China and Indonesia's inclusive economic cooperation, transfer of technology and knowledge, infrastructure and connectivity, as well as cultural and educational exchanges can serve as a model for mutually beneficial cooperation and joint development among other developing countries.

Even since the eruption of the recent Israeli-Palestine conflict, China has taken a proactive role in de-escalation, collaborating with the international community to spare efforts to bring an end to the fighting, safeguard civilian lives, and provide humanitarian aid.

In recent days, the Chinese Government's Special Envoy on the Middle East Issue Zhai Jun has made relentless trips to Middle Eastern countries including Egypt, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Saudi Arabia, and Jordan in a diplomatic effort to de-escalate the situation and ease hostilities. 

Meanwhile, in response to the worsening humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip, the China International Development Cooperation Agency has pledged an additional 15 million yuan ($2.05 million) in emergency humanitarian supplies. This aid aims to assist those affected by the conflict, in addition to previously allocated $1 million in cash assistance through the Palestinian National Authority and the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestinian Refugees in the Near East.

During a meeting with Zhai on Sunday in Amman, the capital of Jordan, Commissioner-General of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) Philippe Lazzarini, noted that the UNRWA regards China as an important partner, thanks China for its long-standing political support and financial assistance to the UNRWA, appreciates China's emergency humanitarian assistance to Gaza since the conflict, and is willing to strengthen cooperation with China to alleviate the humanitarian crisis in Gaza as soon as possible.

UNRWA, which was founded in 1949, is mandated to provide humanitarian assistance to Palestinian refugees. The organization relies on voluntary contributions to finance its operations.

At the Wednesday media briefing, China's Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Wang Wenbin said that "China has no selfish interests in the Palestinian-Israeli issue. We stand for the protection of civilians, a ceasefire and an end to fighting, the opening of humanitarian relief corridors, the prevention of a greater humanitarian crisis, the resumption of political dialogue and negotiation, and the return of the Palestinian issue to the right track of the two-state solution so as to achieve lasting peace and stability in the Middle East."

"As [China assumes] the rotating presidency of the UN Security Council this month and a responsible member of the international community, China will continue to work with the international community to ease the situation, protect civilians, advance humanitarian assistance, and resume peace talks," he said.