A grand flag-raising ceremony was held Thursday morning at Tian'anmen Square in Beijing to mark the 77th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China.
Escorted by the Chinese People's Liberation Army Guard of Honor, the national flag entered the square amid a trumpet fanfare as crowds of spectators from across the country gathered since the early hours to witness the occasion.
The spectators sang along with the military band to the playing of the Chinese national anthem, many holding national flags.
The center of the square was decorated with an 18-meter-high flower basket. As this year marks the start of China's 15th Five-Year Plan (2026-2030) period, the decorative design this year features 15 types of flowers and five fruit designs chosen for their auspicious meanings, including the Chinese rose, peonies, peaches and persimmons.
Attending the daily flag-raising ceremony at Tian'anmen Square has become a major year-round tourist attraction for domestic visitors, taking on added significance during National Day celebrations on October 1.
The week-long National Day holiday, also known as the Golden Week from Oct 1 to 7, typically draws massive crowds of visitors from across the country to the square.
Flag-raising ceremony held at Tian'anmen Square on National Day in Beijing
The "World Dialogue on China Studies: Arab States Session" was held in Cairo on Tuesday, bringing together around 140 officials, experts, scholars and representatives from various sectors across China and Arab countries.
Participants said relations between China and Arab countries have flourished in recent years, setting an example of solidarity and cooperation for developing countries.
Noting that Chinese and Arab civilizations both have long histories and have enriched each other, they called on Chinese and Arab academic communities to deepen cultural, people-to-people exchanges and cooperation and contribute to building a higher-level China-Arab community with a shared future.
They urged Chinese and Arab academic communities to deepen exchanges and research on governance, and strive to develop systems of knowledge and discourse that reflect diverse forms of modernity and development.
The participants also encouraged Chinese and Arab academics to focus on high-quality Belt and Road cooperation and clearly explain the convergence of interests and policy priorities between China and Arab countries, helping to further align their development strategies.
They called on all sides to fully implement the Global Civilization Initiative and work together to advance the protection and study of cultural heritage, carry forward cultural traditions and sustain the continuity of civilizations through mutual learning.
The event was jointly organized by the Information Office of the Shanghai Municipal People's Government and the Shanghai Academy of Social Sciences, and co-hosted by Shanghai International Studies University, the China-Arab Research Center on Reform and Development, Cairo University, the Egyptian Council for Foreign Affairs, and the Al-Ahram Center for Political and Strategic Studies.
China-Arab dialogue on China studies held in Cairo
