Communities across China marked the Chongyang Festival with festive events honoring the elderly, highlighting a nationwide emphasis on respect and care for senior citizens.
Also known as the Double Ninth Festival or Seniors' Day, the Chongyang Festival is a traditional Chinese holiday observed on the ninth day of the ninth month in the Chinese lunar calendar. It fell on Wednesday this year.
In Tai'an City in east China's Shandong Province, seniors climbed the historic Mount Tai, ascending its ancient stone steps to enjoy panoramic views of the city and embrace the traditional custom of "climbing high" on this day.
In Fuzhou City in east China's Fujian Province, laughter filled the air at a lively senior-friendly fun sports event. Games such as "bouncing ping-pong balls" and "water-bottle bowling" not only brought smiles to senior participants' faces, but also helped improve their hand-eye coordination.
In Jianshi County in Enshi Tujia and Miao Autonomous Prefecture in central China's Hubei Province, around 1,000 elderly residents danced to upbeat rhythms in a vibrant performance of the Tujia ethnic group's traditional "Baishou Dance", showcasing the energy and spirit of China's aging population in the new era.
Long-table banquets brought warmth to seniors in Pinghu City in east China's Zhejiang Province and in Huainan City in east China's Anhui Province. Gathered around steaming plates of Chongyang cake, a symbolic treat for longevity and good health, elders shared stories and cherished the company of friends and neighbors.
In Shanghai's Minhang District, seniors immersed themselves in hands-on experiences of intangible cultural heritage, including rice cake pounding, paper cutting, and bamboo weaving.
In Bei'an City in northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, medical teams visited local nursing homes to offer free health check-ups and consultations to the elderly.
Looking to the future of elderly care, Chengdu City in southwest China's Sichuan Province unveiled more than 100 innovative smart elderly care products designed for a wide range of applications, including medical assistance, rehabilitation training, and daily companionship.
Beijing launched its first "senior-friendly smart technology experience center", featuring smart home solutions such as height-adjustable sinks with grab bars and fall-detection alert systems. The center provides a comprehensive, real-life demonstration of how technologies can deliver comfortable, safe, and convenient support for older adults in everyday life.
China marks Chongyang Festival with nationwide events honoring seniors
Multiple Middle Eastern countries have recently called on the United States and Iran to resume dialog to solve their differences and work toward de-escalating regional tensions as the U.S. continues to exert pressure on Iran.
During a phone call with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian on Tuesday, Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud said that Saudi Arabia always respects Iran's sovereignty and will not permit any party to use its airspace or territory to launch military operations or attacks of any kind against Iran, regardless of the intended targets.
Saudi Arabia supports all efforts to resolve differences through dialog to promote regional security and stability, he said.
The United Arab Emirates (UAE) on Monday reaffirmed its commitment not to allow its airspace, territory or waters to be used in any military actions against Iran, according to a statement issued by the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
The ministry added that the UAE will not provide any logistical support for hostile military operations against Iran.
Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty on Wednesday made separate phone talks with Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi and U.S. President Donald Trump's special envoy Steve Witkoff on the recent regional developments amid the escalated tensions.
Abdelatty stressed the necessity to intensify efforts to reduce escalation and ease tensions, working to prevent the region from sliding into new cycles of instability, according to an Egyptian Foreign Ministry statement.
Abdelatty also stressed the importance of prioritizing diplomatic channels to reach sustainable political solutions that support regional security and stability.
Also on Wednesday, Qatari Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al-Thani held a phone conversation with Secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council Ali Larijani, emphasizing Qatar's support for resolving differences through peaceful means and easing regional tensions by promoting political solutions to maintain regional security and stability.
Attacking Iran would be wrong and would risk reigniting war, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said, adding that diplomacy remains viable and that Tehran is ready to re-engage on its nuclear file.
"Attacking Iran is wrong. Restarting the war is wrong," Fidan said in an interview with Al Jazeera, parts of which were aired on Wednesday. "When you begin negotiations, Iran is ready to renegotiate the nuclear dossier," he said.
Fidan said he has consistently advised U.S. officials to address issues with Iran step by step, beginning with the nuclear file.
He said that he visited Iran two months earlier and held frank discussions with the Iranian side, emphasizing the need for Tehran to build trust in the region.
Middle Eastern countries urge US, Iran to resolve differences through dialog
