As this year's traditional Dragon Boat Festival just around the corner, food workshops in Taiyuan -- capital of north China's Shanxi Province -- are busy making zongzi, a time-honored sticky rice dumpling that Chinese people eat during the public holiday.
The Dragon Boat Festival, also known as Duanwu Festival, is a traditional holiday in China. Celebrated on the fifth day of the fifth month on the Chinese lunar calendar, it will fall on May 31 this year.
At a heritage workshop in the city, the workers are making "Jinci Mizong," a city-level intangible cultural heritage made of sticky rice with honey-soaked dates. The name Jinci comes from the 1,600-year-old Jinci Temple located in the city.
The workers are all busy hand-wrapping up to 10,000 zongzi daily using centuries-old techniques. The glutinous rice parcels each filled with three honey-soaked dates and bound with broad bomboo leaves will sell out immediately after going out of the workshop gate.
"In the past few days, we have been able to make over 3,000 such zongzi every day. And during the peak period in the next three to four days, we can generate a daily output of 5,000 to 10,000 zongzi. They are sold out on the same day they are made. Before the Dragon Boat Festival, supply will not be able to meet demand," said Wu Liangen, a Jinci Mizong artisan.
In Tiayuan, the festival is observed to honor Tai Di -- an ancient flood control hero in Chinese mythology -- through customs like zongzi making.
Demand booms for sticky rice dumplings before traditional festival in north China's Shanxi
Demand booms for sticky rice dumplings before traditional festival in north China's Shanxi
Demand booms for sticky rice dumplings before traditional festival in north China's Shanxi
Visiting Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said Saturday China is willing to work with Lesotho to strengthen exchanges on governance experience, enhance coordination in multilateral affairs, and advance the China-Lesotho strategic partnership.
Wang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, made the remarks when meeting with Lesotho Prime Minister Sam Matekane in the capital of Lesotho.
During the meeting, Wang congratulated Lesotho on the 60th anniversary of its independence this year, and spoke highly of Lesotho government's efforts to prioritize economic development and steer the African country onto a path of sustainable growth. Since the Beijing Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) in 2024, the two sides have advanced cooperation under the 10 partnership action plans unveiled at the summit, successfully implementing a number of key projects to effectively promote Lesotho's development and revitalization, Wang said.
China stands ready to work with Lesotho to strengthen exchanges on governance experience, enhance coordination in multilateral affairs, and push for greater development of the China-Lesotho strategic partnership, he added.
Calling on the two sides to firmly support each other, Wang said that China will accelerate the implementation of its zero-tariff policy for African countries, including Lesotho, expand bilateral trade, investment and industrial cooperation, facilitate broader access of Lesotho's specialty products to the Chinese market, and continue to support Lesotho's national development.
China will continue to stand firmly with African countries, uphold justice for the Global South, including Lesotho, oppose unilateralism and acts of bullying, and work together to build a community with a shared future for humanity, Wang said.
On his part, Matekane said during the meeting that Lesotho cherishes its friendship with China and the strategic partnership between the two countries, and expressed gratitude for China's valuable support for the development of African countries, including Lesotho.
Lesotho firmly adheres to the one-China principle and resolutely supports China in safeguarding its core interests, he said, noting that his country stands ready to strengthen strategic mutual trust with China, expand people-to-people exchanges, jointly implement the outcomes of the FOCAC Beijing Summit, and deepen cooperation in areas such as infrastructure, manufacturing and energy.
Matekane stressed that China's zero-tariff policy for African products will inject new impetus into Lesotho's development. He also expressed Lesotho's willingness to strengthen solidarity and cooperation with China on multilateral platforms such as BRICS to jointly address global challenges.
On the same day, Wang also held talks with Lejone Mpotjoana, minister of foreign affairs and international relations of Lesotho.
China, Lesotho to strengthen exchanges, advance cooperation
China, Lesotho to strengthen exchanges, advance cooperation
