The Forestry Department in Gongliu County, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, is using drones to feed tens of thousands of migratory birds drawn to the county by warm weather.
In the vast fields of unplanted farmland surrounding Gongliu County, more than 6,000 grey cranes are roosting and foraging upon arrival. Meanwhile, in the nearby Sazilek Wetland, nearly 10,000 egrets, mallards, and other birds have built nests for their breeding season.
Affected by the recent cold wave, the vegetation has not sprouted new buds in the area, leaving the birds facing a seasonal "food shortage." The local forestry department has been monitoring the birds' foraging times and habitat ranges in advance and has used large drones to precisely deliver feed to the foraging areas.
The local authorities' plans provide about one ton of feed for migratory birds during this breeding season.
Forestry staff in Xinjiang use drones to feed migratory birds
A Vietnamese naval fleet arrived in Fangchenggang of south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region on Monday, marking the start of the 10th border defense friendship exchange between China and Vietnam.
The event is set to take place in designated areas and ports in Guangxi of China and Vietnam's Quang Ninh province, as well as waters in the Beibu Gulf during this week.
At 09:00 on Monday, Vietnam's frigates Tran Hung Dao and Ly Thai slowly entered a port in Fangchenggang City. The Vietnamese officers and soldiers received warm welcome from Chinese counterparts of frigates Hengyang and Enshi.
After the welcome ceremony, the Vietnamese fleet commander boarded the Hengyang frigate for a tour, where the two sides held discussions and exchanged souvenirs.
In the coming days, the two sides will organize naval vessel visits, cultural and sports exchanges, and will also form a fleet for the 40th China-Vietnam joint patrols and training exercises in the Beibu Gulf.
They will also hold medical consultations and cultural events with civilians in the border areas.
The China-Vietnam border defense friendship exchange, first held in 2014, is a concrete measure to implement the important consensus reached by leaders of the two parties and countries.
The event will further enhance the traditional friendship between the two countries and their armed forces, strengthen exchanges and mutual trust among personnel at all levels, deepen practical cooperation, and improve their joint ability to safeguard border and related maritime security.
China, Vietnam start 10th border defense friendship exchange
