The Chinese city of Ningbo is using books to deepen cultural ties with its Japanese sister cities at the 2025 World Expo in Osaka.
Ningbo of east China's Zhejiang province on Sunday hosted a friendship city dialogue and presented reprinted works by Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) philosopher Wang Yangming -- whose teachings once inspired Japan's modernization.
"Wang Yangming's Confucian ideas show how much our cultures share. Such wisdom is valuable for today's world," said Nakakoji Kengo, mayor of Nagaokakyo.
Guests shared how his ideas still resonate, encouraging people in both countries to connect and learn from each other.
"By sharing books, we hope China and Japan can draw strength from our shared cultural heritage," said Gong Yingyan, a professor at Ningbo University.
"'Unity of Knowledge and Action' guides how I lead my company," said Kazuo Yamamori, chairman of Kyokuto Die-Casting Co., Ltd.
By gifting these classic works, Ningbo hopes to keep its legacy as a cultural bridge alive -- building deeper trust and exchange with Japan.
Osaka Expo 2025 runs from April 13 to October 13. The China Pavilion, one of the largest foreign self-built pavilions at the event, officially opened on April 13.
Ningbo uses books to strengthen East Asian cultural ties at World Expo Osaka
Russian air defense system intercepted and shot down 269 Ukrainian drones over multiple Russian regions in 12 hours, the Russian Defense Ministry said on Sunday.
During the day, from 08:00 to 20:00 Moscow time, air defense systems intercepted and destroyed 269 Ukrainian fixed-wing drones, the ministry said in a statement.
A day earlier, Russian President Vladimir Putin noted that over the past 40 days, the Ukrainian Armed Forces had persistently launched attacks on Russian civilian and logistics facilities using missiles and drones, which he described as "another gamble" by Ukraine and its Western backers aimed at inflicting a strategic defeat on Russia.
Putin said that Russian troops were not only continuing offensives along all fronts but also stepping up military pressure, and expressed confidence in accomplishing the goals of the special military operation.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Sunday that Ukraine expects 30 billion euros from the European Union (EU) this year to help fund its fiscal deficit, while the country faces 27 billion U.S. dollars of defense budget deficit.
He also said that holding elections is impossible under the country's current conditions, adding that elections right now would be a tsunami for the country that would tear Ukraine apart.
His strategy is to bring the country to the end of the war and preserve an independent and sovereign state, Zelensky told reporters.
Ukraine would be ready to discuss holding possible elections only if its partners provide specific guarantees that the vote could be held safely, legitimately and democratically, without strikes or shelling, Zelensky said.
Former Ukrainian Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov recently said that Ukraine should find a legal and safe way to hold elections even during the conflict.
A presidential election was expected to be held in 2024 but was postponed due to the country's martial law, which has been in effect since the escalation of the Ukraine crisis.
Russia downs 269 Ukrainian drones; Ukraine faces 27 bln US dollars defense budget deficit
