Media representatives from 21 countries witnessed firsthand the development of northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region during a nine-day tour from April 8 to 16.
The 26 representatives, hailing from participating countries of the initiative of the Silk Road Economic Belt, participated in seminars and visited the rapidly developing cities of Urumqi, Kashgar, and Korla for exchanges.
In Urumqi, the group visited the Xinjiang Islam Institute to learn about local efforts in religious belief, cultural integration, and multi-ethnic exchanges. In Kashgar, they celebrated Nowruz, or the Persian New Year, and explored the exhibition trade center for cross-border e-commerce imports and exports in the Kashgar Comprehensive Bonded Area, discovering its role as a vital gateway to the West.
"This has been a wonderful journey. When I return to Morocco, I will encourage my friends to visit Xinjiang. I've seen the real Xinjiang for myself, and it has changed my perspective. The reports in Western media do not align with the facts," said Bou Said, a columnist for Le Matin (Morocco).
In Korla, delegates visited a local kindergarten and several technological farms, engaging in discussions with locals and participating in forums and seminars.
The tour members said the experiences helped them gain an objective understanding of life in the region.
"I will present the real news to our audience, just as I witnessed it. Cities in Xinjiang are developing well," said Muhammad Riaz, director at the News channel control room of Pakistan Television Corporation Ltd.
Int'l reporters experience Xinjiang's development firsthand
Chinese tech giant Alibaba has restored archives celebrating women who made Olympic history, just as the 2024 Paris Olympics achieves a milestone of gender parity among participants.
For the first time in its 128-year history, the Olympic Games will achieve gender parity, with equal numbers of male and female athletes competing.
It has been a long journey to reach this milestone, and the 2024 Paris Olympics marks a significant chapter in the increasing participation and recognition of women in sport.
Women first stepped onto the Olympic stage in Paris in the 1900s, making up just 2.2 percent of the athletes. By the 1924 Paris Games, their representation had only slightly increased to 4.4 percent.
The International Olympic Committee's (IOC) push for gender equality has led to a dramatic increase in the participation of female athletes.
Nawal El Moutawakel, a trailblazer as a former 400-meter hurdles champion and one of only two female vice presidents of the IOC, shared her perspective.
"I'm sure with all these women that have been also elected today, as IOC members, will collectively work very hard and tirelessly to bring uplift women to a higher level," she said.
On Wednesday, Nawal El Moutawakel and Argentina's Gerardo Werthein were elected as IOC vice presidents. Their terms will begin on August 10, following the conclusion of the 142nd IOC Session, when the terms of John Coates and Ser Miang Ng end.
Women now make up 42.3 percent of IOC members, with 47 women among a total of 111.
To commemorate the achievement, the IOC has partnered with Chinese tech company Alibaba to use AI in bringing historic photographs of female Olympians to life.
At the Alibaba Evening event on Wednesday night, the company and the IOC jointly launched a short film titled "To the Greatness of HER." This eight-minute video pays tribute to the evolution of gender equality in sports since the 19th century and highlights the significant challenges faced by female athletes.
From being entirely shut out to fighting for inclusion and ultimately striving for equality, each generation of female Olympians has pushed boundaries and empowered the next.
The film features inspiring stories of three prominent female athletes, including Zhang Shan, who won a gold medal in the mixed-gender skeet shooting event at the 1992 Barcelona Olympics. By reliving that moment, she hopes to encourage others to pursue their passions in sports.
"Although I didn't have the chance to compete in the Olympics again, I was delighted to see more female athletes getting opportunities. The number of women who could participate in shooting events at the Olympics increased from 12 to 32. As our civilization progresses, women definitely have their place in society and on the Olympic stage," she said.
Chinese tech giant pays tribute to female Olympians with AI-powered archive restoration
