Coffee producers in Timor-Leste benefit from Chinese assistance

Organic coffee produced in a demonstration coffee plantation in Timor-Leste has started to gain wider recognition thanks to the help of Chinese experts.

The plantation, located in Quirilelo Village of Aileu Municipality, is a collaboration between the Chinese government and the Timor-Leste Coffee Association established in 2021 to enhance local coffee production and quality.

With guidance from Chinese experts organized by the Chinese Embassy in Timor-Leste, coffee producers in the village have doubled their output.

"Before we received assistance from the Chinese embassy, many of our coffee trees were too old and not yielding much. After the trees were pruned and grew again, we can now harvest five to six kilograms of coffee fruit from each tree, compared to only two or three kilograms in the past. We used to collect all the coffee fruit, whether it was ripe or not, but now we only pick the ripe ones which are of better quality and heavier," said Da Costa Rui, head of Quirilelo Village.

The local coffee growers association has been cooperating with Chinese coffee producers and enterprises, and Chinese experts have been offering advice and technical assistance.

Chen Lisong, the Chinese consultant who works most closely with the association, has been visiting the plantation regularly over three years to offer support to the farmers.

"We mainly offer technical instructions, like how to prune the coffee trees, and how to increase the fruit yield. During harvest seasons, we also advise the coffee farmers how to pick fruits and process the coffee," said Chen.

China and Timor-Leste signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for cooperation under the framework of the Belt and Road Initiative in 2017. Since then, China has been supporting the Southeast Asian country's infrastructure, interconnectivity, and agriculture, including the coffee industry.

"We signed an agreement that we'd sent some of our farmers, youngest farmers, to go to there to learn and come back to implement. And I think this is very, very good. We can raise the income of our farmers, can help them to improve their livelihood. Cooperation in terms of the development of the coffee industry is very important. Because it's a win-win cooperation, it is very important for us. The principle of the Belt and Road [Initiative] brings people together, working closely, help each other, and then moving together to prosperity," said Afonso de Oliveira, the deputy chair of Timor-Leste Coffee Association.

Coffee is the among the most valuable exports in Timor-Leste. China has been assisting the counrty since the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries in 2002, with a focus on agriculture.

Coffee producers in Timor-Leste benefit from Chinese assistance

A time-honored alleyway in the heart of Kuala Lumpur's Chinatown is brimming with renewed energy around this year's Mid-Autumn Festival, thanks to an innovative makeover that is rekindling the passion for traditional Chinese Opera.

Once a faded part of the city, the Kwai Chai Hong, literally meaning "Little Demon Alley," has emerged as a popular sightseeing spot among locals, especially younger generations, blending colorful murals, interactive art installations, and live performances that transform this historic neighborhood into a dynamic modern cultural space.

With the arrival of the Mid-Autumn Festival, one of the most important traditional holidays for Chinese descendants, the latest installation in the alley is highlighting Chinese Opera, a once-thriving art form that's in decline in recent years.

"The Chinese Opera in the 1980s in Malaysia was recorded to have over 100 Chinese Opera troupes. Unfortunately, in year 2022, the record shows that there's less than 10 left. It's a very sad truth for us," said Zeen Chang, co-founder of Kwai Chai Hong.

The performers putting on a show here are from one of the last remaining troupes, led by a master originally from Hong Kong.

粤语已核对 "When I innovate within Cantonese opera, I ensure that the original essence of the art form is preserved. Then I incorporate elements from foreign and other theatrical works. I take the best aspects and blend them together, adapting to the times," said Kam Sin Kiew, a grand master of Chinese Opera.

Among the dazzling installations is one inspired by the headdresses worn by the opera performers. It's interactive too, giving visitors a chance to do shadow play for their social media. Some of the murals now also feature augmented reality.

The latest installation's combination of lights and color, the ancient and the modern is drawing enthusiastic crowds to the Kwai Chai Hong alleyway and to the whole Chinatown.

"What we hope to do with Kwai Chai Hong right now that we have the ability is to at least rejuvenate the interest of Chinese Opera and plant a curiosity seed to everyone," Chang said.

The transformation of this alleyway is aimed at turning this once-faded part of Kuala Lumpur into a must-see attraction, not only during festivals, but year-round.

For Chinese people, the Mid-Autumn Festival is of special ethical significance, and family reunion on this occasion lying deep in their consciousness has been a sentiment and mindset for hundreds of years. This year's Mid-Autumn Festival falls on Tuesday.

Revived traditional opera brings new life to Kuala Lumpur's Chinatown