The 42nd Weifang International Kite Festival, an annual kite gala, opened on Saturday in Weifang City, east China's Shandong Province.
At the kite flying field, an array of colorful kites in various forms dots the sky, offering a visual feast to viewers.
This year's festival features an expanded lineup of 56 events, including kite competitions, cultural exhibitions, sports tournaments, tourism promotions, and business exchanges.
A total of 257 teams from 51 countries and regions will participate in the kite-flying competitions.
Known as the "kite capital of the world," Weifang is the birthplace of kites and famous for its long history of kite-making and features exquisite craftsmanship.
It has been home to the Weifang International Kite Festival since 1984.
42nd Weifang Int'l Kite Festival opens
With China assuming the rotating presidency on Friday, the United Nations Security Council will focus its work in May on revitalizing the authority of the UN Charter and the role of the United Nations, while advancing the political settlement of the Middle East issue, and promoting the stability and development of African countries.
Briefing reporters on the Security Council's priorities for May, Fu Cong, China's permanent representative to the United Nations and president of the Security Council for May, made the statement on Friday.
In recent years, the world has been witnessing growing turbulence in the international landscape, with conflicts increasing, divisions widening, and the multilateral system, along with international law, under considerable strain, he said, urging the international community to take urgent actions to uphold the authority of the UN Charter and strengthen the role of the United Nations to prevent the world from "relapsing into the jungle" and "to save succeeding generations from the scourge of war".
In this context, Fu said, the Security Council will convene a high-level open debate in May under the theme of upholding the purposes and the principles of the UN Charter and strengthening the UN-centered international system.
Security Council to focus on UN's role, Middle East, Africa in May: Chinese envoy
