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
A former television host from Taiwan, Zhai Xuan, has made a pivotal decision to leave mainstream broadcasting in order to create content that provides a better understanding of the Chinese mainland and cross-strait relations.
Zhai, a seasoned television host with over a decade of experience in Taiwan's media landscape, recently addressed an audience at an event in Beijing, where she revealed her complete transition into independent online media.
In her remarks, she articulated her aspiration to bridge what she perceives as a significant information gap between audiences on both sides of the Strait, highlighting her commitment to fostering a deeper understanding and connection through her new endeavors.
"I was really surprised by all the fake news. There were stories saying people on the mainland can't afford tea eggs or that they live in mud houses and in Taiwan, this was the main information many people received," said Zhai.
Zhai said she initially began producing online videos to challenge such perceptions while continuing her work as a television host.
In April 2025, she travelled to the mainland with her father to fulfill her late grandfather's wish to return to his hometown. The trip, which reunited family members separated since 1949, was recorded in a video series titled "Journey to Find Our Roots", drawing attention from viewers in both Taiwan and the mainland.
"Many people in Taiwan told me that after watching, they wanted to apply for a mainland travel permit immediately and go looking for their relatives. Some had long forgotten these things, but after seeing my story, they began thinking about their hometowns and family members they had never met and decided to search for their roots," Zhai shared her story at the event.
By mid-2025, Zhai said she began to feel increasing pressure amid rising political tensions and a tightening atmosphere around cross-Strait exchanges in Taiwan.
After more than 12 years in the industry, Zhai resigned from her position, believing it was the right thing to do.
"At that moment, I felt this was a major issue，not just for me, but for Chinese people on both sides of the Strait. If I backed down then, I wouldn’t be standing on the right side," said Zhai.
Since leaving television, Zhai has broadened her online programming to encompass a range of daily-life topics, including practical guidance on applying for a mainland travel permit and using commonly employed mobile applications, in addition to content that delves into historical memory and cultural connections across the Strait.
As the debate over cross-Strait relations continues in Taiwan, Zhai said she remains committed to her current path.
Former Taiwan TV host bridges cross-Strait divide via online media
