European Central Bank (ECB) President Christine Lagarde Wednesday lauded strong cooperation between the European Union's central bank and the People's Bank of China (PBOC), highlighting joint work on digital currencies and climate finance as key examples of a fruitful partnership.
In an exclusive interview with China Global Television Network (CGTN) on the sidelines of the 2026 World Economic Forum (WEF) gathering in the Swiss Alpine town of Davos, the ECB chief pointed to China's early lead in developing a central bank digital currency (CBDC) as a catalyst for significant technical exchange.
"There has been a steady and solid, good cooperation between the ECB and the PBOC and it has been productive, fruitful," she said.
Beyond digital currencies, collaboration extends to the critical area of sustainable finance. Lagarde said that cooperation on climate-related financial taxonomy and disclosure rules has been "very close."
"When it comes to taxonomy and climate change, we have also cooperated very closely and I know that the disclosure mechanisms for instance is very much a mirror of what we have adopted over here in Europe. So the cooperation is strong. As you know we have a swap line between us and we continue to exchange views, compare notes, talk about development and it's a good relationship," she said.
Under the theme "A Spirit of Dialogue," the five-day WEF event opened Monday, drawing nearly 3,000 leaders and experts from around the world to discuss five pressing global challenges, including enhancing cooperation, unlocking new sources of growth and deploying innovation at scale and responsibly.
ECB president hails steady, solid cooperation with China's central bank
Cities across China are experiencing a significant tourism boom as the three-day Qingming Festival holiday coincides with the first-ever student spring breaks in multiple cities, creating an extended travel period for many families.
Qingming Festival, or Tomb-Sweeping Day, falls on April 5 this year. It is a traditional Chinese festival for honoring the deceased and paying tribute to ancestors. The holiday also provides a short break for Chinese citizens as they engage in outdoor activities and sightseeing. The Qingming Festival holiday will last from April 4 to 6.
In addition, primary and secondary school students in several regions are going to enjoy their first-ever spring break to head beyond the classroom for travel and engaging in a wide range of activities. In some areas, the spring break takes place just before the three-day Qingming Festival in early April, while in others it extends into the five-day May Day holiday, allowing students to combine leave into six- to eight-day mini-breaks.
With spring in full bloom, many families are venturing into nature to enjoy the spring scenery and experience the spring atmosphere in mountains and fields.
At Maoshan Forest World, a scenic spot in Changzhou, east China's Jiangsu, families from surrounding cities such as Nanjing, Nantong, and Zhenjiang are coming in groups. They interacted with adorable animals and experienced digging for bamboo shoots. Under the guidance of the staff, children identified and dug bamboo shoots, experiencing the joyful moments of labor.
"I want my child to get closer to nature, feel the breath of spring, and experience the joy of labor," said Deng Jie, a tourist.
During the holiday, traveling to famous destinations featured in textbooks has become a popular choice for many families.
In east China's Zhejiang Province, several scenic spots have introduced free admission for primary and secondary school students. At the Yanguan Ancient Town in Haining, many students can experience the spectacular sight of magnificent tidal waves of Qiantang River described in textbook.
"We just rode a bamboo raft and are going to watch the Qiantang River tidal bore tomorrow," said Zhao Ziyu, a tourist.
Integrating educational content with holiday vibes, study tours remain popular during the holiday.
At the Wujiangzhai Scenic Spot in Zunyi, southwest China's Guizhou Province, after watching an ethnic performance, many young visitors went to a lantern shop to experience making intangible cultural heritage lanterns. From constructing bamboo frames to pasting paper and coloring, a teacher guided them step by step, and the visitors incorporated the scenic area's landscapes and their own life expectations into their creations.
In Liangdancheng (city of nuclear bombs), the site where China's first atomic and hydrogen bombs were designed, in Zitong County of Mianyang, southwest China's Sichuan Province, a large number of students visited the local aerospace science and technology museum. In the interactive experience area, students operated simulated spaceflight equipment, acting as little astronauts exploring a virtual universe. By wearing Mixed Reality (MR) glasses, they can observe the mysteries of planets up close.
Spring break coincides with Qingming holiday, fueling tourism boom across China
