Herders in Kunyu City at the foot of the Kunlun Mountains in northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region have begun a massive seasonal migration of their sheep to warmer pastures as the temperatures drop.
More than 70,000 sheep grazing at the foot of the Kunlun Mountains have set out on their journey to autumn pastures.
In the seasonal migration, the herdsmen have to drive their flocks from their summer site deep in the mountains, traversing several mountains ranges before traveling approximately 60 kilometers along rivers to reach the autumn settlement at lower elevations where the air temperatures are higher.
The sweeping herds wind their way along the foothills of the magnificent Kunlun Mountains, creating a majestic natural picture.
The herders said that this autumn migration will last about 20 days. Upon reaching the autumn pastures, they will perform artificial insemination on ewes to enhance reproductive efficiency, optimize the population, and prepare for the next breeding season.
Stretching more than 2,500 km in northwestern China, the Kunlun Mountains are one of Asia's longest mountain ranges.
Massive seasonal migration of sheep starts in Xinjiang as temperatures drop
China's Minister of Commerce Wang Wentao outlined the key priorities of the 32nd Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Ministers Responsible for Trade Meeting, which opened on Friday in Suzhou, East China's Jiangsu province.
In an interview with CGTN ahead of the two-day meeting, Wang said free trade, digital cooperation and green economy are high on the agenda of the meeting.
"The key areas include advancing regional economic integration and the Free Trade Area of the Asia-Pacific, supporting the World Trade Organization (WTO) in strengthening digital cooperation and developing green economy. At present, the international situation is marked by intertwined turbulence and chaos, with intensified geopolitical instability. The rise of unilateralism and protectionism poses serious challenges to the international economic and trade order, disrupting global and Asia-Pacific development. Against this backdrop, all parties have higher expectations for this trade ministers' meeting, hoping that it can build consensus and deliver outcomes," Wang said.
This year marks China's third time hosting the APEC meetings and the 35th anniversary of its membership.
By 2025, China had become the largest trading partner of 13 APEC economies. Trade between China and APEC economies reached 3.7 trillion U.S. dollars, accounting for 57.8 percent of China's total foreign trade.
China has signed 24 free trade agreements or economic and trade arrangements with 31 countries and regions, including 15 APEC economies. In recent years, China has also completed upgrades of free trade agreements with APEC economies such as Singapore and Peru.
The minister said that China has always been a firm supporter and an important contributor to APEC.
"We have actively shared our vast market and development opportunities with all parties. China's door to the world will only open wider and wider. Facing the common challenges, China will continue to fulfill its responsibilities as a major country, further deepen reform, expand high-standard opening-up, and continue to provide new opportunities for the Asia-Pacific region and the world with its new achievements in Chinese modernization," the minister said.
China's Commerce Minister outlines priorities for 32nd APEC trade ministers' meeting
