Chinese marine engineers have kept a close eye on the conditions of coral reefs in the South China Sea by conducting regular surveys to protect marine ecosystems.
The survey team at the Sansha Marine Center of the Ministry of Natural Resources have recently carried out a survey in the waters 14 kilometers away from the Yongxing Island of the Xisha Islands.
Although the forecast indicated fine sea conditions, the team was still troubled by rain at sea -- a common situation for marine operations.
Minutes later, the rainfall stopped, and the engineers had to catch the opportune time to carry out their tasks.
"Today, the first task is to conduct a coral reef survey, and the second is to do some maintenance on a set of underwater equipment," said Zhang Yuanzhou, a marine engineer.
Despite multiple difficulties caused by rain, the team members dived into the waters to take photos of coral reefs and maintain the equipment.
During underwater operations, the engineers should be cautious about reefs and guard against possible attacks from poisonous marine creatures and undercurrents. In such circumstances, they need to cooperate with their colleagues on board to ensure safety.
At last, the team completed the tasks smoothly, saying that every time they dive, the scenery in the waters will be different.
"There were many tasks so we had to swim quickly. It took a lot of oxygen to swim back and forth. Otherwise, we even didn't want to return," Zhang said.
The engineers' efforts in coral reef protection have paid off as China's five key coral clusters have registered recovery, according to a bulletin on China's marine ecological early warning and monitoring in 2025.
Coral reef ecosystems, hailed as the "tropical rainforest of the ocean," play a significant role in maintaining marine ecological balance and biodiversity.
Chinese marine engineers closely monitor conditions of coral reefs in South China Sea
Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and Chinese president, said on Monday that the relationship between China and the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) stands at a new historical starting point.
Xi arrived in the DPRK capital of Pyongyang earlier on Monday to begin a two-day state visit at the invitation of Kim Jong Un, general secretary of the Workers' Party of Korea and president of the State Affairs of the DPRK, marking his first trip to the country in seven years.
Delivering a speech at a welcome banquet hosted by Kim, Xi pointed out that China and the DPRK, linked by mountains and rivers and sharing a common future, have seen their traditional friendship passed down across generations and grow ever stronger over time through the test of the evolving international landscape.
This year marks the 65th anniversary of the China-DPRK Treaty of Friendship, Cooperation and Mutual Assistance, and the China-DPRK relationship stands at a new historical starting point, Xi said, noting that he has reached important consensus with Kim during his visit.
From the strategic perspective of the future and destiny of socialism, both leaders have agreed to seize the general trend of the times, respond to the shared aspirations of the two peoples, strengthen high-level exchanges, deepen strategic communication, expand practical cooperation, enhance people-to-people bonds, promote the high-level development of China-DPRK relations, jointly open up brighter prospects for the socialist cause of both countries, and contribute to the continuous progress of human society, Xi said.
The successful convening of the Ninth Congress of the WPK this year has made strategic plans and major arrangements for the long-term development of the Party and the country's cause, ushering in a new period of comprehensive development of the DPRK's socialist cause, Xi said.
As good neighbors, good friends and good comrades, the Chinese side sincerely wishes that, under the strong leadership of the Central Committee of the WPK headed by General Secretary Kim, the DPRK people will successfully accomplish the goals and tasks set by the Ninth Congress of the WPK and make constant new achievements in the socialist cause of the DPRK, Xi said.
On behalf of the WPK, the government and the people of the DPRK, Kim extended the warmest welcome to Xi on his visit. Kim said that Pyongyang was filled with an atmosphere of friendship on this special day as the DPRK's Party, government and people warmly welcomed their most distinguished guest.
Noting that Xi's first overseas trip of the year had brought him to the DPRK, Kim said this fully demonstrated the great importance Xi attached to developing relations between the two parties and the two countries, and constituted the most valuable support for the DPRK's socialist cause.
Noting the meeting with Xi came nine months after their previous meeting, Kim said that during this meeting, they reached important consensus on further advancing DPRK-China relations with new contemporary connotations in light of new changing circumstances, and exchanged views on international and regional issues of mutual concern, which will surely accelerate the development of the DPRK-China friendship with profound historical traditions, and contribute to peace and stability in the region and the world.
The DPRK people take heartfelt joy in the remarkable achievements made by the brotherly Chinese people, Kim said, expressing belief that under the leadership of the CPC with Xi at its core, the great Chinese people will surely create greater achievements in building a great modern socialist country in all respects, realizing the Second Centenary Goal, and completing the new journey toward the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation.
Xi says China-DPRK ties stand at new historical starting point
