The United Nations office in Geneva on Tuesday celebrated the Chinese New Year with an event promoting Chinese culture and multilateralism.
The Chinese New Year, also known as the Spring Festival, falls on Feb 17 this year and marks the start of the Year of the Horse, the seventh animal in the 12-year Chinese zodiac cycle. The celebrations kicked off with a multinational orchestra playing traditional Chinese music, which was followed by a group of children performing traditional dance. After the performances, Jia Guide, China's new Ambassador to the UN in Geneva, addressed the audience. "We are here to show the trust to the partners. We are here to celebrate as a whole family. China proposed the Global Governance Initiative, offering Chinese perspectives and solutions, while reinforcing the central role of the United Nations," Jia said. Jia also said the Spring Festival embodies the enduring Chinese values of peace, harmony and unity. Joining him in the celebrations was China's ambassador to the World Trade Organization (WTO) Li Yongjie and China's Ambassador to Disarmament Shen Jian. "Since both the UN and the World Trade Organization are important multilateral platforms, I also wish all the colleagues working on the multilateral platforms a very successful year," said Li Yongjie. After the speeches, the ambassadors took the opportunity to meet and greet foreign diplomats attending the event. Notably on display at the event were traditional Chinese dress, ceramics and art pieces that embody Chinese culture. Guests were able to try their hand at Chinese art and other interactive activities as they learnt about the Year of the Horse. Chinese New Year celebrations are a popular occasion at the UN in Geneva, aimed at bringing nations together to promote multilateralism and understanding among civilizations.
UN office in Geneva celebrates Chinese New Year with cultural event
South China's Guangdong Province is accelerating its transformation into an international medical tourism hub, positioning itself as a destination for patients worldwide seeking affordable, high-quality care.
The push follows a joint initiative announced in late March by nine Chinese government departments, including the Ministry of Commerce, aimed at boosting spending by foreign tourists and enhancing exports of tourism services as part of broader efforts to expand the country's service sector.
Every day, some of the most complex surgeries are performed here. Li Zilun, deputy director of the division of vascular surgery at the First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat‑sen University, is among the doctors capable of carrying out these intricate procedures.
He recently completed surgery on a patient with an aortic aneurysm, a condition often described as a "time bomb" in the body’s main artery, increasingly common in aging societies around the globe. Li also specializes in highly difficult and pioneering procedures, including repairing leaks caused by failed grafts.
"This was a very challenging case. And then, we implanted the covered stent to eliminate the endoleak. Actually, the outcome was pretty good. The patient will be discharged today," said Li Zilun.
The ability to handle such complex cases -- combining international techniques with domestically produced devices -- is drawing patients from around the world to seek treatment. In addition, high safety standards and low costs are also major draws.
"Our government is encouraging innovation. So, lots of physicians -- including our vascular surgeons -- we are actively involved in the innovation that helps to increase the effectiveness and safety, and also bring down the cost," said Li.
This hospital is one of the first in Guangdong to be designated by the provincial health commission as a pilot site for building an international medical service hub.
The growing number of patients has pushed the hospital to explore new ways to transform every step -- from treatment to payment and everything in between -- into a seamless experience, reducing waiting times and delivering better care for patients.
"I think it's fast. When the patient come here for just about, I think, one week, you can solve the problem," said Xiao Haipeng, president of the First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University.
The hospital is also deepening its international cooperation with top-tier medical institutions, including those at Harvard University.
"Not just for China, for the whole globe, we are facing health care challenges -- emerging infectious disease and chronic, lung infectious diseases, and also the aging population, also the shortage of healthcare workforce," said Xiao.
In response to these challenges, China is promoting its own solutions, including aggressive innovation in artificial intelligence (AI)-driven workflows, while stepping up research and development investment and global engagement along the way.
"In recent years, the innovation in Western medicine is dramatically growing. An example of my hospital -- in the past few years, we have 140 innovations and seven of them are international leading innovations," said Xiao.
As global demand for medical tourism grows, China is positioning itself as a new destination. Official data shows that the number of foreign patients in Guangdong increased by 20 percent last year. Among them, the growth in inpatient admissions was even faster, rising by 76 percent.
Guangdong fast-tracks pilot for int'l medical service hub
