ASEAN media delegation visits China's Guangxi to explore high-quality ecotourism development

A media delegation from ASEAN members visited Yangshuo County in south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region on Saturday to learn how the region is effectively protecting the local environment while developing its cultural and tourism industries and promoting rural revitalization.

The ASEAN Media Partners "China Up Close" Guangxi Tour is an important activity of the 2024 ASEAN Media Partners Cooperation Week, which started on Friday. It involves journalists from mainstream media outlets of seven ASEAN countries teaming up with China Media Group and local media reporters to conduct in-depth reporting on Guangxi's high-quality development and tell stories of China's modernization to the world.

As part of their visit, the media workers embarked on a cruise tour of the Lijiang River, which serves as a vital ecological and economic resource for the region. Its stunning karst landscape has made it a UNESCO World Heritage site and a symbol of natural beauty in China, attracting tourists and researchers alike.

"The experience of China using technology for water quality management is impressive. From my observation, the Lijiang River's water is crystal clear, a standard that Thai rivers may not reach. I've learned that China employs cameras and drones to monitor the river and ensure water quality. I believe the Thai government and organizations should strengthen cooperation with China to learn from its innovative practices in environmental protection," said Theechayudh Maetharzithiwaht, an editor at Thailand's TV5.

Aside from cruise tours, the media delegation also enjoyed aerial views of the landscape. In Yangshuo, local authorities are actively exploring low-altitude tourism, offering helicopter, hot air balloon, and paragliding experiences that leverage the area's rich tourism resources.

"Yangshuo is renowned for its beautiful natural scenery. In the past, we could only appreciate the views from the ground. Now, projects like paragliding and hot air ballooning allow tourists to enjoy the beauty of Yangshuo from various heights in the sky. This new perspective not only enriches the travel experience but also opens up a new revenue stream for local residents," said Jelberter Anak Robert, a reporter from Radio Televisyen Malaysia.

In the afternoon, the delegation visited kumquat orchards to experience fruit picking and learn about the development of the kumquat industry in Yangshuo. They also explored local guesthouses to understand how the homestay economy is becoming a new driving force for tourism development in the area.

ASEAN media delegation visits China's Guangxi to explore high-quality ecotourism development

The United States cannot legitimize an operation that attacked Venezuela and captured its president, a Chinese scholar said Sunday.

On Saturday, the United States launched a large-scale strike on Venezuela, during which Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and his wife were 'captured and flown out of Venezuela' according to a post by U.S. President Donald Trump on his Truth Social account.

Teng Jianqun, director of the Center for Diplomatic Studies at Hunan Normal University, said in an interview with China Global Television Network (CGTN) that the aim of this operation is to take full control of Venezuela’s natural resources.

"I don't think the United States can legitimize this operation to take custody of the president of Venezuela. And also I don't think the United States can legitimize its any action in taking the oil reserves of that country. This is actually a very dangerous game played by the Trump administration. And of course, the United States would like to take full control of that country and to take full control of the natural resources, especially the large reserve of oil in Venezuela," said Teng.

Teng said Venezuela is not an isolated case but a common practice by the United States. The United States launched an invasion of Panama on Dec. 20, 1989, which continued until January 1990, with the stated objective of capturing Panamanian strongman Manuel Noriega on charges of drug trafficking and organized crime.

"We still remember the so-called sentence of the former president of Panama in the late 1980s. And this time, the president of Venezuela will be under some judicial condition (judicial proceedings) for the so-called drug trafficking and some other crimes. So I think this is not a single case for the Venezuela country, but also this is actually a practice by the United States -- to use force, to use so-called justice under law against any leaders in Latin America and the Caribbean waters," he said.

US cannot legitimize operation against Venezuela: Chinese scholar