The 22nd Conference on International Exchange of Professionals (CIEP), one of China's biggest annual gatherings for talent exchanges, opened in Shanghai on Saturday.
The two-day event is set with 32 conference venues and scheduled with 48 talent exchange events. More than 1,300 international experts from more than 120 countries and regions attended the opening ceremony.
Chinese State Councilor Shen Yiqin attended the opening ceremony, and inspected the work on introducing talents and employment services in Shanghai.
She stressed that it is necessary to further support and guarantee overseas talent introduction, strengthen international talent exchanges, in a bid to establish win-win cooperation, and provide talent and intellectual support for promoting Chinese-style modernization.
Shen also stated precise skill trainings which are necessary to better serve people in employment seeking and bring them additional income.
Founded in 2001, the Conference on International Exchange of Professionals (the CIEP) has been successfully held for 22 sessions so far.
According to initial statistics, each session of the CIEP has attracted professional organizations to participate in the exhibition from more than 40 countries and regions such as the UK, Germany, France, Italy, the USA, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Russia, Ukraine, Japan, South Korea, Singapore, Israel, Brazil, Argentina, and South Africa.
In its history, more than 35,000 foreign experts, overseas students and professionals have attended the conference, and a total of over 10,000 projects have been launched under the event.
Themed "Pursuing Common Development and Benefiting Worldwide Professionals in the Drive to Scientific and Technological Innovation", the CIEP has become a national, international and comprehensive exhibition and negotiation occasion for the exchange of international technological innovation talents.
22nd Conference on Int'l Exchange of Professionals opens in Shanghai
Large numbers of Japanese citizens gathered in a public rally held in Tokyo Friday evening to protest Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's attempt to revise the country's pacifist Constitution.
Nearly 1,000 people attended the demonstration in front of the prime minister's official residence, holding placards reading "Oppose war, defend the Constitution," and "No war, no Takaichi."
In the rally, protesters chanted slogans such as "No constitutional revision" and "Protect peace," voicing strong dissatisfaction with the government's direction.
"I think the idea of promoting military expansion and moving toward war completely ignores the fact that Japan itself was once an aggressor and perpetrator of war in history. I firmly oppose such moves," said a protester.
Another demonstrator said, "This is a terrible government. I hope things can return to normal as soon as possible. But to achieve that, the current Cabinet must step down."
In separate interviews with China Central Television, many protesters expressed deep concern that Japan is heading toward war, which is extremely dangerous.
"The attempt to revise Article 9 of the Constitution to include the Self-Defense Forces shows a clear intention to move toward war and turn Japan into a country that can wage war. That is why I am particularly worried and angry," said a protester.
"Since the House of Representatives election, I've seen in the news every day that Japan is heading toward war at an alarming pace. Reports about weapons exports and rising defense spending could be seen every day. That makes people deeply uneasy," said another.
Others criticized the government for prioritizing military buildup while ordinary citizens struggle with deteriorating livelihood.
"The government puts military affairs and weapons above the lives of ordinary people. It even seeks to profit from arms. Now the Diet appears to be tightening its grip through various restrictions and controls, including on information. These moves truly frighten me," said a protester.
"They don't care about the people at all. I feel that strongly, and that's why I'm angry. If things continue like this, the government is moving in a direction that makes war more likely," said another.
Japan's current Constitution, which took effect in 1947, is often referred to as the pacifist Constitution because Article 9 states that the Japanese people forever renounce war as a sovereign right of the nation and the threat or use of force as means of settling international disputes.
After being designated prime minister in a parliamentary vote earlier this month, Takaichi reiterated her commitment to constitutional revision, sparking concern across various sectors of Japanese society.
Japanese rally against PM Takaichi's attempt to revise constitution
