Flower breeding and cultivation bases across China are actively promoting new and healthier varieties of flowering trees and plants, helping create a brighter future for the country's famous springtime scenery.
In a peach blossom scenic area in Changde City of central China's Hunan Province, more than 50 varieties of peach blossoms are in full bloom, attracting flocks of visitors.
The varieties in the area come from the national peach germplasm resource bank in the city. Through artificial cultivation, not only are the varieties of flowers increasing, but the flowering period is also being extended.
According to researchers, one of the star varieties, noted for its rich color, took nearly 16 years to cultivate and promote in the scenic area.
"Its biggest feature is its strong resistance to gummosis. We can see that although a branch like this is damaged, there is no gummosis, so it has a long lifespan and can be used in gardens for a longer time," said Wang Yan, professor of the province's Changde Vocational and Technical College.
Gummosis is the formation of gummy substances on the surface of the trees, which often result from dead tissue.
At Phalaenopsis World, the country's largest phalaenopsis tissue culture center in Suqian City in east China's Jiangsu Province, technicians are cutting phalaenopsis seedlings into thin slices and planting them one by one in transparent bottles, allowing them to multiply exponentially.
"The breeding cycle is short, and the light, temperature and humidity can be freely adjusted artificially. The phalaenopsis bred using this technology have high uniformity and fast growth rate," said Wang Yanting, a plant inoculation specialist at the cultivation center.
Researchers said that the planting center uses more than 200 smart sensors and 5G technology to accurately control growth factors such as temperature, humidity, light, and ventilation to achieve "timed flowering."
"In fact, the natural flowering period of phalaenopsis should be from the beginning of the Chinese New Year to early May, and this is its natural state. Now we can intervene with technology and make it bloom any day we want. Phalaenopsis blooms through temperature regulation. At this time, we need to use air conditioning equipment, constant temperature equipment and dehumidification equipment," said Cao Guofeng, director of the cultivation base.
Breeding bases across China promote new spring flower varieties
A Chinese representative urged parties to abide by a ceasefire agreement, and de-escalate tensions in Syria as soon as possible at a United Nations Security Council meeting held in New York City on Thursday.
Sun Lei, China's deputy permanent representative to the UN, said over the recent period, the situation in Syria's Aleppo and the northeastern part of the country had changed significantly, drawing wide attention from the international community.
China noticed that a ceasefire agreement had been reached, and hoped that the agreement will be observed, tensions will be de-escalated as soon as possible, and peace and stability will be restored in Syria at an early date, said Sun.
China hopes that all parties in Syria will promote political reconciliation through dialogue and negotiation and find out a national reconstruction solution that is in the interests of the Syrian people, Sun said.
"China reiterates its support for Syria's sovereignty, independence, unity, and territorial integrity, and opposes external interference. We are willing to work with the international community to play a constructive role in helping Syria achieve security, stability, and development," said Sun. Syria's defense authorities announced on Tuesday a four-day ceasefire across all operational sectors of the Syrian army, effective from 8:00 p.m. local time (1700 GMT), as part of efforts to support recently reached understandings with the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF).
The ceasefire was declared in commitment to the agreements reached with the SDF and in pursuit of national efforts aimed at preserving security and stability, said a statement carried by Syrian state media.
Syrian officials have described the pause in military operations as a confidence-building measure intended to facilitate dialogue and allow space for the implementation of agreed-upon mechanisms, while preventing further escalation on the ground.
One year into Syria's post-Assad transition, nearly 3 million refugees and internally displaced people have returned home, a sign of cautious progress, said UN News in an online post on Thursday.
UN officials warned that continued incursions by Israel in southern Syria undermine the country’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, and risk further destabilizing an already volatile environment.
Against this fragile backdrop, the situation in northern and northeastern Syria has deteriorated sharply in recent weeks.
China calls for abiding by ceasefire agreement, deescalating tensions in Syria
