Fishermen in Jilin and Sichuan provinces have begun netting their winter catches as many places across China has ushered in a fishing season with hopes for a bountiful harvest.
The 23rd Ice and Snow Fishing and Hunting Cultural Tourism Festival started on Saturday at Chagan Lake in Songyuan City of northeast China's Jilin Province.
Chagan Lake is one of China's largest freshwater lakes, renowned for its abundant fishery resources. Locals living near the lake have preserved the tradition of ice fishing, which involves hand-drilling holes through thick ice and casting nets into the freezing waters. Once a net is filled with fish, it is hauled out using a horse-powered capstan.
During the 40-day winter fishing season, skilled fishermen are expected to catch 1.5 million kilograms of fish. The time-honored tradition of winter fishing at the lake, recognized as a national intangible cultural heritage, has also become a signature tourism attraction for the city.
"This year, Chagan Lake was promoted to a national 5A scenic spot, and Chagan Lake winter fishing has become a renowned cultural tourism brand across the country," said Liu Dawei, deputy director of the management committee of the Chagan Lake Tourism and Economic Development Zone.
Meanwhile, fishermen have begun their winter operations at Shengzhong Lake in Nanchong City of southwest China's Sichuan Province.
Shengzhong Lake, one of the largest artificial lakes in southwestern China, is home to over 50 species of fish, including silver carps and bighead carps. This year's winter fishing season at the lake will continue until February next year.
Winter fishing season kicks off in Jilin, Sichuan
Nicaragua's co-foreign minister Valdrack Jaentschke has warned that militarism must never be allowed to rise again, as Japan's recent moves to lift its arms export ban and revise the pacifist Constitution continue to draw international concern.
This year marks the 80th anniversary of the opening of the Tokyo Trials, where Japan's Class-A war criminals from World War II were brought to justice.
In an interview with China Global Television Network (CGTN), Valdrack Jaentschke voiced his concern that today's world order is being undermined by interventionism and other challenges.
"It is necessary for us to remember that after the end of World War II, countries worked hard to build a new international order based on international law. However, regrettably, more than 80 years later, we are seeing that this once explored and attempted order is being challenged by interventionism, a confrontational mindset, and tendencies like 'might makes right.' These are precisely the conditions that gave rise to fascism and militarism in the past, which ultimately led to the tragedy of World War II," he said.
He said the international community has a responsibility to pursue a new international order -- one fundamentally grounded in peace.
"Looking back at the history more than eight decades ago and comparing it with today's reality, it is our responsibility to recognize that the world should, and must, build a new international order that is more just, fairer, rooted in international law, based on a logic of mutual benefit and shared success, and fundamentally grounded in peace," said the minister.
"Today, as we revisit the Tokyo Trials, it is meant to remind the world that such a tragedy must never be repeated -- and that we must do everything in our power to prevent it from happening again. We must stop that dark world -- born from militarism, interventionism, and fascism -- from ever returning," he said.
Nicaraguan FM warns of militarism revival
