A population of Glossy Ibis, a rare bird species under first-class national protection in China, has been recently recorded for the first time in Gongshan Dulong and Nu Autonomous County, southwest China's Yunnan Province.
The birds were spotted during a routine patrol by rangers from the Bingzhongluo Management Station of the Gaoligongshan National Nature Reserve.
Known for its iridescent plumage and high sensitivity to environmental conditions, Glossy Ibis is widely regarded as an important indicator species of wetland health.
As the world marks the World Environment Day which falls on June 5, this rare sighting offers a glimpse into the benefits of long-term ecosystem conservation.
As habitat conditions continue to improve, wildlife monitoring has documented an increasing number of rare bird species in the county's Bingzhongluo area.
Since 2019, conservationists have recorded various rare birds, including Black Stork and Black-necked Crane.
"The first recorded appearance of Glossy Ibis in this region reflects the continued improvement of the local ecosystem and provides further evidence of the biodiversity conservation achievements," said Xiong Qinggang, head of the Bingzhongluo Management Station, Gongshan Branch of the Gaoligongshan National Nature Reserve.
Rare Glossy Ibis recorded for first time in Yunnan Province
About 150 scholars from around the world gathered at a forum in Dunhuang, northwest China's Gansu Province, on Thursday to discuss the significance of Chinese modernization to shared global development.
The forum was held as a parallel session of the World Conference of Sinologists, which took place from Tuesday to Thursday, with discussions focusing on poverty elimination, technological innovation, green transition, and social governance.
During the event, many participants said that China offers valuable experience to countries pursuing their own paths to modernization, not only in terms of economic development, but also the balance between development and social stability.
"I would also emphasize the significance of China's social modernization. How China developed so fast without creating social strains and without polarizing society, for many countries, this is a challenge. Again, it's clear that every country is unique, you cannot simply copy, you cannot cut and paste the Chinese experience. But definitely, it's worth coming here and study the specific models, specific algorithms of the Chinese development to utilize it back in your country," said Andrey Kortunov, former director general of Russian International Affairs Council.
Saheli Chattaraj, an associate professor of China Studies at Somaiya Vidyavhar University in India, said Chinese development shows that modernization does not necessarily mean following a Western path. That idea has attracted growing attention among developing countries, she noted.
"We should not always confuse westernization with modernization in terms of implementation of policy. We adopt the policies based on our national requirements. But at times, the implementation part of the policy becomes a challenge for us. So I think in this part, also, the Chinese model of governance is a very useful lesson for developing countries on the Global South," Chattaraj said.
Hosting the forum in Dunhuang, a historic hub on the ancient Silk Road, provided a fitting backdrop for these discussions. The location served as a reminder of the long history of exchange and learning between cultures. The forum highlighted that sharing experiences and understanding different approaches to development remains essential for global cooperation.
Sinologists discuss global significance of Chinese modernization at Dunhuang forum
