Latest news with #14th Five-Year Plan
South China Morning Post
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- South China Morning Post
Building connections through cinema: The ASEAN Film Festival fosters ties between Hong Kong, its regional neighbours, and beyond
[The content of this article has been produced by our advertising partner.] Beyond economics, efforts to enhance connections focus on promoting people-to-people ties through cultural exchanges, and tourism. Cinema, in particular, serves as a powerful tool for cross- cultural connection. In line with China's 14th Five-Year Plan, which envisions Hong Kong as a global arts and cultural hub, the Hong Kong-ASEAN Foundation launched the ASEAN Film Festival (AFF) to elevate regional cinema and engage the city's youth. Now entering its third edition, AFF extends its scope beyond the ten ASEAN member states to include Belt and Road partners such as Egypt, Hungary, Kazakhstan, and Türkiye, supported by the Belt and Road Office of the Hong Kong SAR Government. An opening ceremony of AFF 2025 held in early August was attended by esteemed guests, including Mr Liu Guangyuan, Deputy Director of the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in the HKSAR, Mr Pan Yundong, Deputy Commissioner of the Office of the Commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People's Republic of China in the HKSAR, Miss Rosanna Law, Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism of the HKSAR and other government officials, and the Consuls-General or representatives of 14 countries along with representatives from co- presenters, venue partners, and supporting organisations. In her speech, Miss Rosanna Law, Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism of the HKSAR, said that the Festival served as a unique platform for dialogues and collaborations. She was pleased to see filmmakers, directors, and actors from some 10 featured films participating in the special sharing sessions, engaging with local youth and ASEAN students in Hong Kong. Such cultural exchange activities underscored Hong Kong's steadfast dedication to strengthening connections with countries along the Belt and Road region, solidifying its role as the 'super- connector' between the Mainland of China and the global community. Sharing Miss Law's sentiment, Mr Ong Siew Gay, Dean of the ASEAN Consuls-General said, 'We need more exchanges of ideas and more international and regional collaboration to foster understanding and trust.' He added, 'The Festival is instrumental in fostering a better appreciation of ASEAN societies and culture within Hong Kong, and this will position Hong Kong well in facilitating the development of China's relationship with ASEAN.'
Zawya
10-07-2025
- Business
- Zawya
China discovers 38 new mineral deposits this year
BEIJING -- China reported a surge in mineral discoveries in the first half of 2025, identifying 38 new deposits—up 31 percent year-on-year—including 25 classified as large or medium-sized, the Ministry of Natural Resources said on Thursday. The ministry also highlighted major breakthroughs in the exploration of important mineral resources. Among the most significant finds was China's first super-large uranium deposit, located in Heilongjiang province in the northeast, according to China Daily. In Xinglong county, North China's Hebei province, newly added rubidium resources amounted to 3.37 million metric tonnes, achieving a super-large scale and strengthening China's dominant position in rubidium ore. In Longhua county, also in Hebei, the newly added cobalt resources reached 27,000 tonnes, reaching a large scale. Songtao county in Southwest China's Guizhou province saw the addition of manganese resources totalling 22.85 million tonnes, reaching a large scale. In Tekes county, Northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region, the newly added gold resources amounted to 81 tonnes, with a cumulative find approaching 100 tonnes, representing a major breakthrough on a super-large scale. The ministry said most mineral exploration targets under the 14th Five-Year Plan (2021–2025) have already been achieved ahead of schedule. In addition, the national non-oil and gas mineral exploration investment reached 7 billion yuan ($975 million), a year-on-year increase of 23.9 percent, it said. It highlighted a growing enthusiasm among enterprises to engage in mineral exploration. Social funds invested 3.6 billion yuan, marking an almost 30 percent year-on-year increase and constituting nearly half of the country's total investment. Central and local financial funds combined reached 3.6 billion yuan, reflecting a 20 percent year-on-year increase. In terms of mineral types, exploration investments have surged in minerals such as tin, tungsten, copper and phosphate ores, as well as bauxite, showing year-on-year increases of over 50 percent. Exploration investments in coal, lead-zinc, molybdenum, gold, graphite and other minerals have also experienced varying degrees of growth. China also stepped up the issuance of exploration rights, granting a record 581 permits for strategic minerals in 2024. In the first half of 2025, 318 additional rights were issued.
