South China's Qinzhou City in Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region is hosting its 13th Oyster Festival since Friday, featuring a raft of vibrant activities, including a thrilling competition to crown the city's oyster king.
On the opening day, a king-of-oyster championship was held at the city's plaza, with 15 oyster farmers competing for the prestigious title. This year's oyster champion was a seven-year-old giant weighing nearly 2.4 kilograms, which is 164 millimeters long.
"The winning oyster is from the Qingcaitou sea area of Qinzhou Harbor. This is our seventh year participating in the king-of-oyster championship, and we finally got the first prize at the 13th competition (this year)," said Liu Xingfeng, general manager of Lanhaiyang Aquaculture Cooperation of Qinzhou City.
As China's leading producer of baby oysters, Qinzhou supplies over 70 percent of the nation's oyster aquaculture needs. Beyond the thrilling oyster king competition, the month-long festival aims to showcase the region's rich maritime culture and boost tourism.
Giant oysters highlight Guangxi's 13th Oyster Festival
Giant oysters highlight Guangxi's 13th Oyster Festival
Giant oysters highlight Guangxi's 13th Oyster Festival
China's steady economic growth is vital to global development and the path of China's development will help shape the future of the world, foreign experts said.
The official data released by China's National Bureau of Statistics showed that the country's gross domestic product (GDP) grew five percent year on year to reach 134.9084 trillion yuan in 2024, meeting the annual target of around five percent.
"The speed of growth in China is remarkable, innovative spirit, connecting countryside to the city side, high-levelly opening up, new quality productive forces. You've seen China focusing in technology, and where will the world be focusing in the next five to ten years? Technology will solve many problems," said Jack Perry, chairman of 48 Group Club.
"China reached an economic growth of 5 percent, which is impressive, especially compared with the European countries, because many of them hope to see the growth like this. For China, we are a reliable partner. We not only provide the world with products, but also advanced technologies and we are also expanding our market in China. The Chinese government has been encouraging bilateral trade, which is very important to Europe. I think, the path of China's development will help shape the future. We will make changes to the global economy, involve the Global South, and promote the prosperity of the humanity," said Bernd Einmeier, chairman of the German-Chinese Society for Economy, Education and Culture.
"It's been proven that when the Chinese economy is thriving, most African economies also thriving. We can look at the aspect of various economic and infrastructure developments that have taken place in the past," said Esther Banda, a Zambian economist.
"Africa will remain important to China, and I think South Africa must keep the channels between South Africa and China open because that (China) is an economy that will continue to grow very, very strongly. And it's very important for South Africa and for the world economy," said Dawid Roodt, a South African economist.
China's steady economic growth vital to global development: foreign experts
China's steady economic growth vital to global development: foreign experts
