The president of the upcoming 2025 United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP30) praised the Global South for its leadership in tackling climate change, emphasizing the significant contributions of China and Brazil.
The COP30 will be held in Belem, Brazil in November, bringing world leaders together to discuss climate action and global commitments.
In an interview with China Global Television Network (CGTN) ahead of the meeting, COP30 President Andre Correa do Lago stressed the importance of collaborative effort in the global fight to address greenhouse gas emissions.
"I think that it's very important to work together. Because as we know, climate change affects everybody. If the emission is here in New York or if the emission is in Egypt, the effect on climate is going to the same. Countries like Brazil or countries like China, they are doing so much without international support. This is the reality, is that what we have achieved, we have achieved mostly thanks to internal effort. But this has allowed also our countries to become leaders in some areas," he said.
Correa do Lago, who is also a trustee at the Brazilian Center for International Relations, emphasized that each country is bringing different strengths to the table, particularly in terms of green technological development.
"So China is clearly the leader in batteries, in electric vehicles, in solar, in wind. And this is fantastic because China responded to the international call for the reduction of the emission, lowering the price of renewables in such a way that many countries now can afford them," he said.
"Brazil also has been working very strongly on that, and one example that is often mentioned is biofuels. We have proved already in the last 40 years that biofuels can have an amazing influence on reduction of emissions. So I think that what we see now is that the Global South is showing that when they decided to respond to the call, they are showing that they can be better even than all those who were calling us to do things. So it is a very interesting moment and we have to show the leadership of the Global South," said the COP30 president.
Global South countries emerge as leaders in addressing climate change: COP30 president
Global South countries emerge as leaders in addressing climate change: COP30 president
Shenzhen in south China's Guangdong Province saw a soaring number of visitors from abroad on Thursday, the first day of 2026 and also the opening day of China's three-day New Year holiday, as festive celebrations unfolded across the city.
Major border checkpoints in the city recorded peak inbound passenger flows, with large numbers of travelers from Hong Kong, Macao and overseas entering the city to experience its vibrant holiday vibes.
"I'm so happy 'cause this is the first day of 2026, and I'm bringing my friends to visit Shenzhen," said a visitor from Hong Kong.
International tourists also shared their excitement.
"It's a very modern city and it's interesting to see such a New Year Eve in such a city," said an overseas visitor.
The inbound passenger flow at Luohu Port peaked from 8:00 to 20:00 on Thursday, said an officer there, adding the average daily passenger flow during the New Year break is expected to reach about 240,000.
At the West Kowloon Station port, eye-catching red decorations themed around the upcoming 2026 Spring Festival which will mark the beginning of the Year of the Horse added to the festive mood.
As a key transportation hub of the Guangzhou-Shenzhen-Hong Kong Express Rail Link, the port also saw heavy two-way passenger traffic. Daily cross-border passenger flow there is expected to average around 100,000 during the holiday.
An Australian tourist said he was looking forward to his trip to south China.
"I am from Melbourne, Australia and I'm coming to Guangzhou and Shenzhen in China. I'm excited to see all the tall buildings, especially all the ones that light up and experience a new culture in China." said a tourist.
Outside the ports, celebrations were in full swing as the city prepared for rising visitor numbers.
A large-scale parade featuring more than 30 themed formations kicked off in the morning along the 1.6-kilometer Festival Avenue in Shenzhen's Futian District.
The event drew huge crowds with inflatable cartoon characters, lively drum performances, and traditional Yingge Dance -- a form of folk dance popular in south China's Guangdong Province that merges opera, dance, and martial arts.
Nearby commercial zones also rolled out special consumption coupons, allowing visitors to enjoy a one-stop experience combining festive celebrations and shopping.
"The atmosphere is really nice. We feel very welcomed here. It's a very, very international vibe", said an international visitor.
China continues to grow in popularity as a destination for overseas travelers. Data from online tourism platforms show that inbound flight bookings to China rose 20 percent year on year on the first day of the holiday, with Shenzhen ranking fifth among the country's most popular inbound travel destinations.
"On the first day of holiday, international flight ticket purchases to Shenzhen has increased by 52.5 percent while the international flight bookings to the city has grown by 33 percent," said Shi Ke, a researcher from big data research institute of Qunar, an online travel service provider.
Shenzhen embraces influx of visitors on first day of 2026
