Hope this works: (from left) Ng, Khor, Lee and Chung seen at the waterfront. — LIM BENG TATT/The Star
GEORGE TOWN: Centuries ago, when maidens in China could not freely socialise, Chap Goh Meh – the 15th and last day of Chinese New Year (CNY) festivities – was the only evening when they could step out of their homes without being closely chaperoned.
As they went out, dressed in their Sunday best, to temples to pray for a blessed future, young men would be out on the streets too – because this was about the only time of the year when they could openly admire the lasses of their villages.
If a young lady stole their heart at first sight, a young man would then seek the services of a matchmaker to make the proper enquiries and hopefully, introductions.
That is how Chap Goh Meh became to be known as the Chinese equivalent of Valentine’s Day, while in Penang and other parts of Malaysia, another tradition was added to it.
Sometime in the 19th century, single Chinese ladies went out in groups to the seaside on Chap Goh Meh and tossed out mandarin oranges which, just like throwing coins into a well, would hopefully bring them good luck in the form of the man of their dreams.
This tradition has stuck around to this day and for Jess Ng, 26, and her three gal pals, the new in-thing for them is to do it by themselves instead of being stuck in a crowd.
“I never threw mandarins for Chap Goh Meh before because I didn’t like the traffic jams and the large crowd of people.
“This year, we decided that since this is our first time celebrating Chinese New Year together since the Covid-19 pandemic, we should try this mandarin-throwing,” Ng said with a laugh.
Ng, Star Khor, 22, Rachel Lee, 20, and Kelly Chung, 28, are all hairdressers who had their fair share of troubles during the pandemic, as hair salons were among the last types of businesses to be allowed to resume normal operations.
Ng said she did not currently have a boyfriend nor did she believe that throwing mandarins into the sea would really help her find one.
“But I wanted to do it just to celebrate the last day of CNY. I pray that the Year of the Rabbit would be a happy one for the world. Everyone has been through a lot and I hope this year, we will all find blessings,” she said.
Unlike Ng, Lee went ahead and scribbled her phone number with a permanent marker on her mandarins before throwing them.
“I wouldn’t know what to do if someone actually calls me and say they found my mandarin,” Lee laughed.
After three years of the COVID-19 pandemic, global businesses were glad to see Chinese visitors once again arriving at
their local tourist attractions and shopping malls over the just concluded Spring Festival holidays. The recovery of Chinese outbound
tourism has ...
China sees a vigorous Spring Festival holiday after three years. -Passenger flow is expected to reach 2.095 billion-Overseas travel orders: up 540% y-o-y
-Box office: 6 billion yuan
This Chinese New Year-inspired bucket list involves travelling the world to see sculptures or statues of all the 12 characters of the Chinese zodiac.
THE Chinese zodiac is represented by 12 characters. In order, the characters are: Rat, Ox, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Goat, Monkey, Rooster, Dog and Pig.
On the first day of the Lunar New Year (also known as Chinese New Year here), which typically falls between late January and February, the new Chinese zodiac year begins. Today is the last day of the year for the Water Tiger; the Water Rabbit will begin its cycle tomorrow.
The Chinese zodiac predates China’s Qin Dynasty (221–207BC), and the cycle of the 12 creatures was established before or during the Eastern Han Dynasty, according to ancient documents found years ago.
Each zodiac character or animal (obviously, the dragon isn’t an animal but many centuries ago, people believed in its existence on Earth) has its own unique traits. These traits are then said to be an indication of what the year will be like. For example, the rabbit is the symbol of longevity, peace, and prosperity in Chinese culture, so 2023 is predicted to be a year of hope for many.
Of course, there is no real science behind all these narratives, so many people don’t really believe in the predictions, or just take them with a pinch of salt.
By now, you have probably seen a handful of stories which recommend destinations you should travel to in 2023 based on your Chinese zodiac sign. Do remember that most of these are just articles written in jest, and should not be taken too seriously.
However, if you do wish to add some elements of the Chinese zodiac into your travel, here are some places around the world you can visit that feature sculptures or statues of the animals.
RABBIT
Locations: Japan (Miyazaki and Kyoto), Wales (Lland-udno), Germany (Friedrichshafen)
The Rabbit is the fourth animal in the Chinese zodiac and this year is its time to shine. In Friedrichshafen, a city in south Germany, there is a fountain featuring bronze sculptures of animals created by German sculptor Gernot Rumpf.
The fountain, Buchhornbrunnen, is said to be one of the city’s main tourist attractions, alongside the Zeppelin airship, which was founded there. The sculptures around the fountain feature funny-looking animals, including the water-spouting female bunny (pic) with a braid. It is said that Rumpf commonly adds braids to his sculptures of female animals.
In Japan, there are several locations in which you can find rabbit statues.
In Miyazaki Prefecture on Kyushu island, there is a stone rabbit statue in the Udo Shrine, which is located in the Nichinan coast. Don’t be surprised to find many coins scattered around the statue as most visitors will place them there. They will also touch or rub the rabbit’s head, as they believe that this will bring them good luck.
Meanwhile, in Kyoto there is a pair of black and white rabbit statues located within the Okazaki Shrine. Visitors who come here, especially those wishing to conceive, will splash the black rabbit’s tummy with water for good luck.
In northern Wales, there is a town called Llandudno where you can find a huge wooden statue of a rabbit. It is actually the White Rabbit from Alice In Wonderland, Lewis Carroll’s famous novel. It is said that Carroll (whose real name was Charles Dodgson) based the “Alice” character on a real-life girl named Alice Liddell. The Dodgsons and Liddells were close family friends, so one summer, Charles reportedly joined Alice and her family to their summer holiday home in Llandudno.
It is speculated that Charles was inspired by Alice and her many adventures in Llandudno. Even though there are no official documents to prove this, the White Rabbit statue was put up by the local council in 1933 to support
this speculation. Visitors can also find other statues and Alice In Wonderlandthemed trails in town.
RAT
Location: Malaysia (Penang)
Located in Ayer Itam, Penang, the Kek Lok Si Temple is the largest Buddhist temple in Malaysia. The temple is a significant place of pilgrimage for Buddhists here, as well as those from neighbouring countries including Singapore, Thailand, Hong Kong and the Philippines. The complete temple complex was constructed between 1890 and 1930 thanks to an idea from the abbot at the time, Beow Lean.
Somewhere in the temple grounds, you can find a large statue of the Rat, which actually looks kind of cute.
OX
Location: Hong Kong
In Hong Kong, the Wong Tai Sin Temple is not just a well-known Taoist temple but a popular tourist attraction too. It honours Wong Tai Sin, a Taoist deity known in several regions including Hong Kong as a great healer. The temple receives millions of worshippers and visitors each year as supposedly it is the best place to go to get your wishes and prayers granted, through the ancient practice of fortune telling or “kau chim”.
Once you’re done with the kau chim, take a walk around the temple to search for a statue of the human-bodied Ox holding a large sword.
TIGER
Location: Norway (Oslo)
In Oslo city, the capital of Norway, one of the first things you will see upon arrival at the train station is the statue of a tiger. Yes, this tiger at the Oslo Central Station is definitely popular not just with international tourists but with locals too.
The statue was gifted to the city by a property management company called Eiendomsspar in 2000, when Oslo celebrated its 1,000th year. The local council had requested for a tiger sculpture as the city’s nickname is “Tigerstaden”, or Tiger City.
The 4.5m-tall bronze sculpture was created by artist Elena Engelsen.
DRAGON
Location: Thailand (Nakhon Pathom province)
Wat Sam Phran in Thailand is one of those handful of amazing places of worship that you just have to visit. Located about 40km from Bangkok, in the Nakhon Pathom province, the temple is famous for the majestic red and green dragon sculpture that wraps around the building’s 80m-high cylindrical edifice.
Oh, and the edifice is pink. The temple has been around since the 1980s, and is sometimes referred to as the “Dragon Temple”.
SNAKE
Location: Thailand (Ratchaburi and Bueng Kan provinces)
Also in Thailand are two places where you can find snake statues. One is in the Khao Ngu Stone Park in Ratchaburi province. Khao Ngu means “snake mountain” in Thai, so you can pretty much figure out what you can find in abundance here. In fact, as you arrive at the park, you will walk past a large cobra statue that doubles as a water fountain.
Meanwhile, in Bueng Kan, you won’t just find a statue of a snake, but a whole cave that resembles a snake! The Phu Langka National Park, which lies in the Bueng Khong Long district, is home to the Naka Cave (also known as the Naga Cave). Naka is “snake” in Thai and it refers to the texture of some of the stones nearby, which resemble the scaly skin of a snake.
HORSE
Location: Spain (Barcelona)
At the Lluis Companys Olympic Stadium in Barcelona, Spain, you can find two bronze sculptures of a chariot being pulled by horses, made by artist Pablo Gargallo.
You can also find a similar statue at the 12ha Can Drago park. In fact, you can find many beautiful horse sculptures and statues in Barcelona and other major cities in Spain. The country has a long history in equestrian, and horses are considered an important part of the Spanish culture.
Some of the statues in Barcelona were commissioned for the Barcelona International Exposition in 1929, and the Summer Olympics in 1992.
There’s also a funny-looking black horse statue at the airport, and another one upon which Raimundo Berengario III the Great, once the count of Barcelona and other regions, rides.
GOAT
Location: Republic of Ireland (County Kerry)
Ever imagined seeing a statue of a goat wearing a crown? Well, you can if you visited a little place called Killorglin Town in County Kerry, Ireland.
This statue of a male goat, which is also known as a puck (the statue is nicknamed “King Puck” as the goat is wearing a crown), is the symbol of one of Ireland’s oldest festivals, the Puck Fair.
The celebration begins on Aug 10 each year, and lasts for three days. During Puck Fair, a wild puck is captured and crowned the “king of the town” for a whole three days before he is returned to his regular life in the hills. The four-legged king is brought to the town square where he is crowned by the “queen”, which, surprisingly (or maybe not) is a local girl and not a female goat.
The king is then put on his “throne”, which is basically a cage placed on a raised platform so that he can see what his “subjects” are doing at all times. Or at least for the duration of his reign.
At the end of Puck Fair, the goat is relieved of all his kingly duties, and released back into the wild.
Though this story seems unlikely, it is actually true. We definitely recommend visiting Killorglin Town in August just for the Puck Fair.
Monkey
Location: Indonesia (Bali)
Folks who have been to Bali would have probably visited the Sacred Monkey Forest Sanctuary or Mandala Suci Wenara Wana in Ubud, home to more than 1,000 long-tailed macaques.
Commonly known to tourists as the Ubud Monkey Forest, the place is the native habitat of these macaques, which are revered by the locals. There are three temples in the sanctuary: Dalem Agung Padangtegal, Holy Spring, and Prajapati.
On each of the temples you can find several statues and sculptures of monkeys, some of which symbolise ancient stories and myths.
Look for the three monkeys holding these poses – see no evil, hear no evil and speak no evil!
Rooster
Location: Turkiye (Denizli)
In Turkiye, there is a breed of rooster called the Denizli that is native to ... the city of Denizli. This rooster is known for its beautiful colourful feathers as well as its distinct crowing. It has been associated with the city since the Ottoman times and is regarded as a symbol of Denizli.
Naturally, this is also where you can find many statues and sculptures of the fowl around the city. Among the more popular ones are the glass statue (said to be the largest glass statue of a rooster in Turkiye) that’s located in the town square, and the 27m-tall iron statue situated on a hill. In 2019, the statue was still under construction and so far there has not been an update on whether it is finished or not.
However, a local report states that authorities are hoping for it to be included in the Guinness Book of World Records for being the largest statue of a ... rooster. Good luck, Denizli!
Dog
Location: Japan (Tokyo)
You have probably heard or read of the story of Hachiko, the incredibly loyal Japanese Akita who waited at the train station for nine years for his owner to return.
Or maybe you saw the heartbreaking movie depicting this story starring Hollywood actor Richard Gere.
As the story goes, Hachiko would wait for his owner Hidesaburo Ueno to come home from work every day at Tokyo’s Shibuya Station. After Hidesaburo’s death, Hachiko continues to wait for him at the station, probably wondering what’s taking the guy so long to come home. Local commuters began to realise this, and started caring for Hachiko, but he refused to be taken in by anyone.
After nine years of living on the streets, Hachiko, too, dies.
In April 1934, a bronze statue in Hachiko’s likeness was placed permanently at Shibuya Station. But during World War II the statue was seized by the military to be repurposed – possibly melted and turned into a weapon.
A new statue was then made in 1948 by Takeshi Ando, the son of the original sculpture, Teru Ando. This statue remains at Shibuya Station to this day, and is in fact one of the top “meeting spots” in the city.
For those who are looking for more Hachiko adventure, head to the Odate Station in Odate City, Akita Prefecture, where another Hachiko statue (created in 1932) can be found. Odate is said to be Hachiko’s “hometown”.
In 2004, a separate Hachiko statue was created and placed in front of the Akita Dog Museum in Odate.
Pig
Location: Italy (Florence)
Il Porcellino, or “piglet” in Italian, is a bronze fountain of a boar in Florence, Italy that was sculpted in 1634. It is said that traditionally, visitors who wish to return to Florence or who are just looking for a bit of luck would rub the boar’s snout. Because of this, the original boar sculpture was moved to the Bardini Museum in 1998 to preserve it, and replaced with an identical bronze recast at the original site, which is the Piazza del Mercato Nuovo (the New Market) in Florence.
In addition to rubbing the snout, it is also customary to put a coin in the boar’s mouth. If the coin falls under the fence, you will have good luck, but if it falls outside of it, you should be wary of your surroundings.
- The Star Malaysia21 Jan 2023 By CASSANDRA VICTOR and MELODY L. GOH lifestyle@thestar.com.my
We must let the elderly live a happy and good life at their old age.
Respecting and caring for the aged is one of the virtues of the Chinese.
Whether a society is happy depends very much on whether the elderly are
happy." Wise CNY words from President Xi Jinping.👍👍👍
We must let the elderly live a happy and good life at their old age. Respecting and caring for the aged is one of the virtues of the Chinese. Whether a society is happy depends very much on whether the elderly are happy." Wise CNY words from President Xi Jinping.👍👍👍
Inspired by walking on the Dingbu Stone Bridge in East China's Zhejiang, dance drama "Stepping Stones" aroused the longing for lucid rivers & lush mountains and memory of hometown. Behind its huge popularity is people's love for the poetic water towns and our beautiful China.
China's Fendouzhe (Struggler) deep-sea manned submersible made history by completing 10 consecutive hours of operations at the deepest point of the Diamantina Trench in southeastern Indian Ocean and was successfully retrieved by
the scientific research ship Tansuo (Exploration) -1 on Sunday.
Despite the difficulties and challenges ahead, we are always
inspired by this spiritual power. Such a national spirit has been fully
manifested in the Spring Festival Gala.
Sailors
in the fashion clothing pose in front of the aircraft carrier Shandong for the street style photos. Photo: Courtesy of Glory Made
Editor's note:
China's first white paper published recently on its youth describes its young generation as "confident, aspirant and responsible". According to the document, Chinese youth possess a global vision and stand at the forefront of the times bursting with commitment: pursuing lofty ideals with a firm belief in socialism with Chinese characteristics. Young people are also described in the paper as full of patriotism, displaying the sterling quality of living up to responsibilities and striving to be contributors to the country's development.
Wednesday marks the national Youth Day, which falls on May 4 to honor the patriotic youth movement - the 1919 May Fourth Movement that began 103 years ago. On this special occasion which also marks the 100th anniversary of the founding of the Communist Youth League of China, the Global Times
presents a series of stories about four prominent figures of the young generation, who were nourished in great times with ample opportunities and have been sparing no efforts in promoting Guochao, also known as Chinese trends or "China chic", to the international stage. Looking ahead to the new era, their stories fully showcase that youth is the most active and vital force in society and the hopes of a country and the future of a nation lie in their hands. This is the second part in the series in which we can get to see these young faces, a young designer who is helping popularize China's aircraft carrier culture centering the Shandong vessel.The rest stories are Gen-Z director amazes world with ancient dancing show, pledges to be cultural promoter, and Young Chinese culture promoter presents traditional handicrafts to Oxford Uni and Milan Fashion Week.
It was April 23, the PLA Navy Day in China, and 24-year-old Tang Ziwei was even busier. The designer behind the fashion line of the Shandong, China's first domestically designed and built aircraft carrier, had to catch up for new products to meet the enthusiasm among young people for China's own fast developing naval culture.
"Not only the whole team including me but also thousands of China's navy fans are so excited about the day, when we can cheer for China's navy," the 1998-born Tang told the Global Times. "What's more, I feel even prouder to part of it, being able to contribute to the country's own navy culture with my talent and the understanding of China's culture".
Three years after the Shandong vesselwas launchedin 2017, the Glory Made, the studio that Tang works at, released the first culture products for the ship from baseball cap hats to toy models. "It turned out to be a great success among young public, who show great interest in the Shandong
vessel and our navy," recalled Xie dahuan, who runs the studio. "All sold out. People need to make orders first and wait for weeks before receiving them."
Sailors in the fashion clothing pose in front of the aircraft carrier Shandong for the street style photos. Photo: Courtesy of Glory Made
Passion for PLA Navy
The passion and pride for China's own homemade aircraft carrier influence ordinary people who are willing to get close to it, but also the designers like Tang who make it their own dream to getting more people fall in love with China's own naval culture.
In order to achieve
that goal, the Glory Made released the fashion clothing line in the summer of 2021, which includes T-shirts, jackets, shorts and even the popular flight jackets full of China's own design languages and culture elements.
"You see the logo that we designed, the Chinese characters as well as the pandas graphic designs ... they are unique and represent our young people's cultural confidence," said Tang, who visited the Shandong ship for inspiration only months after joining the studio.
Having been fully prepared to see such a large ship, 300 meters at length and over 20 floors tall, she was still stunned to stand in front of the 75,000-ton sea giant. "It is too spectacular. Words can't even express my feelings that time: pride, excitement, joy and more," she recalled.
Claiming she wasn't a military fan herself, the young girl fell in love with the ship after the trip. "Stepping on the ship and talking with these young people, soldiers, pilots, most at my age, help me make up the mind to introduce to more people with the pride feeling, passion and positive energy that I learned from them and experienced myself," she said. Even her PC's wallpaper is a picture of the Shandong vessel.
Photo: Designer Tang Ziwei
Chinese aesthetic culture
How to make young people be attracted to these cultural products has been something that Tang and her colleagues started to plan from the very beginning. Every detail has been carefully added with China's elements like propitious clouds embroidery on the baseball cap.
To Tang, create things with Guochao or China chic style is the reason why she started. "Staying true to my original heart means that I need to apply these inspirations that our own culture brings and show the cultural confidence that wearing these
products can bring," she said. Tang hopes to spread traditional culture among her peers especially those born after 1995.
As one of them,
Tang knows better than anyone else. "We are growing up during the country's fast developing period and witnessing the strength of China. So we are eager to tell the world about our sincere patriotic feelings and cultural pride."
Clothing is the best carrier of that cultural onfidence. In Tang's designs, the name of the Shandong ship in Chinese characters is embroidered on the front of their most popular flight jacket, bring a feeling of "fancy and high class"; "Serve the People," the Chinese writing of the Communist Party of China's motto is also attached on several styles of T-shirts that both young people and sailors on the Shandong ship love to wear.
A series of street-style photo shoots that the sailors and pilots in these clothes posed in front of the ship has been widely covered by both Chinese media outlets and overseas ones like CNN.
According to Tang, the T-shirts imprinted with the image of a robot panda are also popular with young sailors due to the design which they find cool, half of the lovely beast in the suit of a jet pilot and the other half in the X-rayed mechanical structure while its claws being boosted with jets.
Besides, due to the safety requirement on the ship, these sailors have to wear clothes made of pure cotton in some occasions. "Xinjiang cotton, one of the best in the world has been wildly used on the whole clothing line. It feels soft and comfortable," she added.
From the raw material and designs, Tang and her colleagues are choosing the best of the best of the Shandong cultural products. "Young people like me, who refuse the idea of tangping (lying flat), are working in every area to let the world see the strength of Chinese people, the power of Chinese design and feel the warmth of Chinese culture," Tang said.
Since 1987, China has sent 30 batches of seeds into space and cultivated over 700 space crops. China
is the world's leader in crop diversity and application of space cultivation, creating more than 200 bln yuan ($30.5 billion) in economic
...
AH, it’s my turn in the Chinese zodiac to make my presence felt in the world of humankind. `
Some of you have treated me in a negative light – fierce and dangerous, a beast that stalks in the night, a fearsome icon. ` I am so glad I do have fans who see me as a symbol of strength, with sturdy leadership, as the king of the jungle. You can learn a lot from me if you can spare the time ... yes, time for the tiger to teach you a thing or two! ` Let’s start with times when you feel a bit down, when you lack confidence: Now picture yourself as a cat looking into a mirror and seeing the image of a tiger there. That’s it, straighten your posture, give a stern look from the eyes, radiate power from the body. Then get up, stride steadily out, and face the world! ` There may come a time this year when someone tries to bully you with a word or act. Well, just picture the tiger’s majestic look in your head and stay nonchalant, show you have no time for such company and walk away with your head held high. `
I heard someone say “A tiger doesn’t lose sleep over the opinion of sheep” – so discerning! My leadership qualities are validated! Yes, do not be misled by those not qualified to participate in your projects or aspirations. ` Mark your territory and guard it well – keep pretenders and parasites away! You don’t want delaying distractions (though you should not leap into action too hastily either). ` When things are not going well, someone may say or imply you are a loser. Remind them it’s the year of the tiger – let my fiery energy rub off on you and persevere. With new challenges there may be pain and hardship – just accept it, learn from it, lick your wounds and keep moving. We tigers are known for our survival skills. ` Unlike lions and some others in the wild, we tigers are known to share our kills with other tigers. Likewise, when you do well, be quick to share with and care for those less privileged. You will be enriched by a grateful heart that exudes a generous spirit. ` Last but not least, tigers do know how to enjoy life too – we love to swim and play in the water. So you too should occasionally take time off from work. Relax in a peaceful setting, have more time for a good sleep, leisurely meals, with good company or none at all, as your mood moves you. `
Even if you were not born in the year of the tiger, be inspired by my courage and strength. With the strong attitude of a tiger (tigritude?!), you should have a roaring tiger year! I’m with you, tiger! `
(Perhaps this is a good time to make a plea for a greater effort in saving the Malayan tiger, our national animal, which is on the verge of extinction. Tigers appear on the country’s coat of arms, on emblems of private companies and logos of clubs and societies, in folktales and proverbs, and even the national football team is named Harimau Malaysia. We should actively campaign for more publicity and support for protecting the tiger.) `
TAN LING SUAN, `Kuala Lumpur
CNY in space: Three taikonauts will enter the Lunar New Year in China’s space station, which will continue orbital construction in the year. —
AP
In 2012, Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, visited the exhibition "The Road of Rejuvenation." He described it as a retrospective on the Chinese nation, a celebration of its present and a declaration on its future. #XiJinping
The things taking place in China these days would have been unimaginable a century ago.
In 2022, Beijing, where invading imperialists wreaked havoc more than 100 years ago, will host the Olympic Games for a second time, a chance for the world to stand stronger and together in solidarity.
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In space, three Chinese taikonauts will enter the Lunar New Year in China’s space station, which will continue orbital construction in the year.
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China’s journey to national rejuvenation is one of Chinese Communists leading 1.4 billion Chinese people in an unyielding struggle against all obstacles and challenges.
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The Communist Party of China (CPC) in July last year celebrated the 100th anniversary of its founding, and this year it will convene its 20th national congress.
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It is necessary to maintain a stable and healthy economic environment, a secure and safe social environment, and a clean and righteous political environment.
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Last year marks the critical juncture where the time-frame of China’s two centenary goals converge – to complete building a moderately prosperous society in all respects by the time the CPC celebrates its centenary, and to start building a great modern socialist country in all respects by the time the People’s Republic of China celebrates its centenary in 2049.
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On the new journey, Xi Jinping, general-secretary of the CPC Central Committee, Chinese president and chairman of the Central Military Commission, is undoubtedly the core figure in charting the course of history.
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“We must always keep a long-term perspective, remain mindful of potential risks, maintain strategic focus and determination, and ‘attend to the broad and great while addressing the delicate and minute’,” Xi said in his 2022 New Year address on Friday.
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Xi paid tributes to the Chinese people who have been hard at work and looked back at the extraordinary journey travelled by the CPC.
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“I sincerely hope all the sons and daughters of the Chinese nation will join forces to create a brighter future for our nation,” he said.
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China is walking on a model of modernisation characterised by innovative, coordinated, green and open development path that is for everyone. It is a model leading socialist China out of a development trap reliant on extensive and inefficient growth at the cost of ecological damage, shifting the country to high-quality development, and avoiding situations where the rich become richer and the poor poorer.
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China’s economy is estimated by some international organisations to have grown 8% last year to reach 110 trillion yuan (RM72 trillion).
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How to “divide the pie” is a world challenge and also one that China is committed to tackling.
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Nationwide, measures have been taken to prevent runaway expansion of capital, maintain order in the market, galvanise market entities of all types, especially micro, small, and medium enterprises, and protect the rights and interests of workers and consumers.
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China’s “common prosperity” initiative “is meant to end monopolies, increase innovation and competition, and give fairer opportunities, so now is the best time to invest in China’s hinterland”, said Shaun Rein, founder and managing director of the China Market Research Group, a strategic market intelligence firm.
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Zhejiang province, an economic powerhouse in east China, has drawn up detailed plans to achieve common prosperity, including labour remuneration will account for more than 50% of its GDP by 2025, and the ratio of residents per capita disposable income to per capita GDP will continue to increase during the period.
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Modernisation also reaches less developed regions such as the southwestern province of Guizhou, which has become the front-runner of China’s big data industry since being approved to build the country’s first national big data comprehensive pilot zone in 2016.
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Tech giants including Apple and Microsoft have established their cloud computing and big data centres and their regional headquarters in the province.
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Leveraging its accommodating climate, clean air and geography, Guizhou is now one of the regions with the highest number of mega-data centres in the world.
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The rejuvenation spans more than just material goods such as high-speed trains or an emerging fleet of new energy cars. By 2035, China is set to basically achieve socialist modernisation.
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China is also aiming to have CO2 emissions peak before 2030 and achieve carbon neutrality before 2060. A top-level design document has been released towards the ambitious goal.
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The Party has established Xi’s core position on the Party Central Committee and in the Party as a whole and defined the guiding role of Xi’s Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era.
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This reflects the common will of the Party, the armed forces and Chinese people of all ethnic groups, and is of decisive significance for advancing the cause of the Party and the country in the new era.
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Today, the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation has entered an irreversible historical process, but it will not be easy, as Xi said on Friday: It will not happen overnight.
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China’s economic development is facing pressure from demand contraction, supply shocks and weakening expectations, and the external environment is becoming increasingly complicated and uncertain.
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China also faces an ageing population.
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In deepening reform and opening up, certain deep-seated institutional problems and impediments from vested interests became increasingly evident.
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China’s reform thus entered a critical phase fraught with tough challenges.
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Some elements in the world still deem themselves superior and always want to impose their own will on others: They throw out arbitrary rules and use human rights and other high-sounding excuses to smear China and many other developing countries.
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State Councillor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi said China must not compromise or back down.
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“Instead, we must face them head-on, and pull together with most countries to defend fairness and justice,” Wang said on Thursday.
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In its continued engagement with the world, China upholds and practises true multilateralism, urging countries to resolutely uphold the authority and standing of the United Nations, jointly oppose division and confrontation, stand together against zero-sum games and make constant efforts for greater democracy in international relations.
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As Xi said on Friday, “Only through unity, solidarity and cooperation can countries around the world write a new chapter in building a community with a shared future for mankind.” — Xinhua
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In Japan, the customer service agent was extremely nice and friendly, but declined his request politely, saying it was against the policy. In Japan, you are rude if you try to change your appointment when the prearranged date is near.
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In Korea, the customer consultant was not particularly friendly, but she changed the delivery date for him anyway. In fact, in Korea it is possible to change your appointment even until the last moment. Koreans are quite flexible about such things. Besides, Koreans are well known to do things quickly, too. Indeed, everything is so fast in Korean society that it surely is convenient to live there.
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Then the journalist wrote that in the United States he could not even talk to the customer service representative. Presumably, when he called, the answering machine put him on hold forever. In my recent experience, I had to wait about 40 minutes before I was finally able to talk to a customer service representative. Although it varies depending on the companies and calling hours, putting a customer on hold for about half an hour seems to be common in the United States these days.
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The Korean correspondent’s comparison of Japan, South Korea and the United States made me smile because it revealed the radical differences among the three countries. Indeed, Japan is a country where people are polite and friendly, and yet they do everything “by the book”. Additionally, in Japanese society it is seriously frowned upon to put someone to much trouble or to take up much of anyone’s time. You should not make yourself an annoyance or nuisance, either.
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South Korea is a country where the people do not always live by the book strictly and thus can be flexible. Although such elasticity may cause problems sometimes, it certainly is convenient for ordinary people’s everyday lives. In addition, Korean society is speedy. Everything is so fast, so you do not need to wait for a long time. Some foreigners like it so much that they decide to live in Korea much longer than they originally planned.
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Compared with Korea, everything is so slow in the United States. For example, when you apply for a driver license or transfer from another state’s license, it usually takes a month to receive the license by mail. In South Korea, you can get your driver license within 10 to 15 minutes. When you submit a paper to an American journal, it takes at least a year to get published. In Korea, it takes only a few weeks.
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Recently, an American friend of mine called a company to paint his house. The company told him that the paint job had to wait for about a year. He also called an electrician to repair an electrical problem in his study. The electrician informed him that he had to be on a waiting list which stretched for about three months. Granted, the Covid-19 pandemic and the current housebuying boom in the United States has had significant effects on supply and demand, but it still is too long to wait.
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In Korea, painters or electricians would come right away when you call them. As for a doctor’s office in Korea, one can drop in anytime, even without an appointment. In the United States, you may have to wait for several months unless it is an emergency.
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In the 1970s, when I lived in the United States, America was a truly advanced country. Everything was so admirable and commendable. At that time, the social system of America was superb, and American society was reasonable and rational. Living in the United States at the time was indeed convenient and pleasurable.
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Half a century has passed. The problem is that the American system has not changed much since then, while other countries have changed rapidly and radically to suit the hyperspeed electronic era. As time goes on, therefore, the once-efficient and impeccable American system has become relatively inefficient and slow.
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Perhaps the American people may not realise it because they have been living in such an environment for a long time. However, in the eyes of young foreigners who are used to speedy procedures and dynamic changes in their country, obviously many things seem to be very slow in the United States.
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In America, when you are a regular customer, not a new one, things are much better. For example, when my toilet began leaking a few days ago, the plumbing company initially set up an appointment to install a new one two weeks later. When notified of the urgency, however, a technician came immediately and took care of it. Thus, it all depends.
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By such comparisons, we can learn many intriguing things about other countries. – The Korea Herald/Asia News Network
Former Malaysian PM Mahathir Mohamad had referred to the continued use of chopsticks by the Chinese community in Malaysia.PHOTO: ST FILE
The outdated worldview and narrow thinking expressed by former Malaysian prime minister Mahathir Mohamad in his new book cannot be allowed to undermine the country's race relations, said Malaysian Chinese Association (MCA) secretary-general Chong Sin Woon.
Datuk Chong urged all Malaysians not to be easily swayed by the words of the former premier.
"Instead, commit ourselves to be more open-minded, progressive and accepting of others' cultures so that we can build a more united Malaysia together.
"We do not want to see Malaysia's precious multiracial ties get strained because of his new book and his remarks, which propagate racial division and extremism," he said in a statement yesterday.
Mr Chong noted that Malaysians should discuss nation-building from a progressive and diverse perspective.
At a book launch on Sunday (Dec 12), Tun Dr Mahathir had referred to the continued use of chopsticks by the Chinese community in Malaysia.
"The Chinese eat with chopsticks, they don't eat with their hands. They have not adopted the Malaysian way of eating food.
"They retained the chopstick, which is an identity from China, not Malaysia, and many other things," he reportedly said.
Mr Chong said MCA has been expending all efforts to protect and preserve the cultural diversity and rights of each ethnicity, including the freedom to learn one's mother tongue as provisioned under the federal Constitution, as well as the prevailing principles of moderation, freedom and democracy.
As a former prime minister who led the country and achieved economic success during his tenure in the 1990s, Dr Mahathir had his fair share of contributions and failures, Mr Chong said.
"And yet, after so many years, he is still unable to break free from the extreme, racial mindset.
"At 96, one would expect Tun Mahathir to have a more seasoned outlook and come up with wiser approaches to current affairs.
"Regrettably, the nonagenarian remains unchanged in his old ways, still bitter and critical about the specifics of the ethnicity and cultures of others," he said.
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MCA vice-president Tan Teik Cheng also criticised Dr Mahathir's remarks, saying the Langkawi MP's narrow and racist values "have no place in Malaysia's multicultural society".
"Despite the full awareness of Malaysia's multiracial composition and having served as our nation's premier twice, Dr Mahathir remains besotted with inciting differences in the rakyat's ethnic culture, language and lifestyle as his political capital.
"How ironic and contradictory from a disposition expected from Malaysia's most senior political figure," he said in a statement.
Datuk Tan said Dr Mahathir's remarks betray his preference that other ethnic groups must assimilate.
"Undermining national unity and instigating racial sentiments by stirring one against another, in this aspect, taking the examples of eating with hands versus eating with chopsticks is un-Malaysian and unhealthy," he said.
Whether the Malaysian Chinese eat with their hands, chopsticks, or forks and spoons or knives, Mr Tan said their Malaysian identity and citizenship cannot be changed or denied.
Another former prime minister, Najib Razak, took to his Facebook page to aim a jibe at Dr Mahathir, posting an old photo of the 96-year-old using chopsticks to toss yusheng.
Hope this works: (from left) Ng, Khor, Lee and Chung seen at the waterfront. — LIM BENG TATT/The Star
Politeness rules: Japanese players bowing towards fans after a rugby match in Scotland. Japan is a country where people are polite and friendly – and where everything is done by the book. Deviating from the norm is seriously frowned upon. – Reuters
