The United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres visited Syria on Saturday, pledging continued UN support for the country's recovery and reconstruction in the first visit by a UN chief to Damascus since 2009.
Speaking at a joint press conference with Syrian foreign chief Asaad al-Shaibani, Guterres said the Syrian people have endured many years of suffering, yet they have not lost their resilience, creativity and sense of belonging.
He said no country emerging from a severe conflict could rebuild on its own, calling on the international community to assist Syria.
He also reaffirmed the UN's position that the occupied Golan Heights are Syrian territory, and called for an end to all violations of Syria's sovereignty.
For his part, al-Shaibani described the visit as reflecting a new phase in Syria's relations with the UN.
The priority now is reconstruction, and that requires lifting all remaining restrictions, he said, adding that Syria is working to shift from humanitarian relief toward sustainable development.
He also noted that 3.5 million Syrians have returned to the country.
Earlier, Guterres held talks with Syria's interim leader Ahmad al-Sharaa.
Guterres makes 1st UN chief visit to Damascus since 2009, pledges recovery support
The summer animation box office boom has fueled creative industries and tourism consumption in Shanghai as movie goers swarm into cinemas and theme parks for All Wishes Come True and Toy Story 5.
Inspired by the legend of the Eight Immortals, the Chinese animated film All Wishes Come True has become a summer box-office hit, with the box office earning exceeding 600 million yuan (about 88.6 million U.S. dollars) in less than eight days after its release on July 18.
The story follows eight ordinary people who meet by chance and embark on an unexpected journey. Through a series of challenges, they gradually discover their strengths and eventually become the Eight Immortals known to generations of Chinese people.
The film mixes comedy, adventure and traditional Chinese visual elements and offers a new interpretation of a story that has been told for generations.
"It's fascinating and moving. The Eight Immortals crossing the sea I used to know about impressed me that the Eight Immortals might be really deities, but now I understand they seem to be actually mortals," said viewer at the UME cinema in Shanghai Xintiandi Plaza.
With innovative storytelling and high-quality production, the film has attracted a significant number of middle-aged and elderly viewers among the audience.
"Half of our six screening rooms are dedicated to All Wishes Come True. The overall production quality of domestic animations has improved dramatically. The animations are no longer just for young children, they appeal to all age groups now," said Lu Ying, assistant manager of the cinema.
At the cinema's retail section, many moviegoers purchase film-related souvenirs, boosting the cinema's revenue.
"On a daily basis, revenue from these merchandise sales now accounts for nearly 17 to 18 percent of our daily box office intake," said Zhao Heqian, duty manager of the cinema.
Beyond physical merchandise, animation IPs are extending their reach into tourism through cross-sector collaborations.
At Shanghai Disneyland's Toy Story Land, many visitors travel here specifically after watching the movie Toy Story 5 to immerse themselves in the world of the silver screen characters.
"I'm really drawn to the female image of Jessie, so I tried to imitate her today. My friend cosplays Woody here," said a visitor at Shanghai Disneyland.
The film, also released during the summer slot, has grossed over 280 million yuan in the Chinese mainland as of late July.
Summer animation box office boom fuels creativity, tourism consumption
