International students from around the world gathered in Beijing to celebrate the Mid-Autumn Festival, immersing themselves in centuries-old traditions through hands-on cultural activities.
The Mid-Autumn Festival is one of China's most treasured traditional festivals. Beneath the same moon and sharing its gentle glow, the festival centers on one powerful idea: reunion.
Though unable to be with her family, German student Stefanie spent a special Mid-Autumn Festival in Beijing. She gathered with classmates from around the globe to make mooncakes, practice Chinese calligraphy, make palace lanterns and guess lantern riddles, finding a different kind of reunion amid laughter and joy.
Her mooncakes went from shapeless to round and plump — just like the old Chinese saying: the moon has its waxing and waning. Different languages, yet kindred spirits; even far from home, Stefanie could still feel a sense of belonging.
The Mid-Autumn Festival, which is celebrated annually on the 15th day of the eighth month in the Chinese lunar calendar, fell on Friday this year. Around China, people celebrate the day by gathering for moon-gazing, eating mooncakes, and lighting colorful lanterns.
Int'l students mark Mid-Autumn Festival in Beijing with cultural activities
The UN Security Council held a meeting on refugee issues on Friday, where a Chinese envoy called on the international community to respond to the growing crisis with unity and cooperation.
Sun Lei, China's deputy permanent representative to the United Nations, noted that regional conflicts continue to drag on and recur, while humanitarian crises are erupting in multiple locations. He urged the international community to embrace the humanitarian spirit and work together to tackle refugee challenges.
Sun emphasized that the Security Council must live up to its primary responsibility of safeguarding international peace and security. He called on the Council to stick to the principle of resolving disputes peacefully and press the parties to conflicts to renounce violence and achieve lasting ceasefires as soon as possible.
The Chinese envoy also highlighted development as the key pillar and fundamental solution to refugee issues. He said the international community - developed countries in particular - should step up development assistance to help affected countries rebuild their economies and make improvements in employment, education and infrastructure. Such efforts, he noted, would strengthen these countries' capacity to cope with risks and lay the groundwork for durable solutions to the plight of refugees and displaced persons.
China calls for solidarity, development to address global refugee crisis
