China Responds After Ukrainian Politician Claimed to Help US Fight Against China
China Responds After Ukrainian PM Claimed to Help US Fight Against China | South Korean Tourists to China Increases Over 900% | China Vows to Enhance Fire Safety after Catastrophe in Nanjing Killed 15
Hello from Shanghai, China. Here’s our pick for today’s news：
China Responds After Ukrainian Politician Claimed to Help US Fight Against China
South Korean Tourists to China Increases Over 900% as Travel Demand Rebounds
China Vows to Enhance Fire Safety after Recent Catastrophe in Nanjing Killed 15
1. China Responds After Ukrainian Politician Claimed to Help US Fight Against China
On February 26, China's Foreign Ministry spokesperson responded to Oleksiy Goncharenko's claim in a regular press conference. Goncharenko, a member of the Ukrainian parliament, said in an interview recently that Kiev is ready to support the US in a fight against China, North Korea, Iran, or any other country. " One important lesson from the Ukraine crisis is that bloc confrontation cannot bring security," said the spokesperson Mao Ning. Mao stressed that China "will continue to play a constructive role" in resolving the crisis for being a "responsible major country".
The response aligns with the statement made by China's top diplomat. Wang Yi, head of the Foreign Ministry, met with his Ukrainian counterpart Dmytro Kuleba earlier on the sidelines of the Munich Security Conference. Notably, Wang appreciated again the Ukrainian side for helping Chinese nationals evacuate in the emergency two years ago, saying the Chinese people will never forget. Wang also stressed that China doesn't sell lethal weapons to the parties involved, and committed that the country will continue to play "a unique constructive role in promoting peace", which is credited with its close relations with Russia and is irreplaceable by the more confrontational Western countries. Despite Goncharenko's aggressive provocation recently, China has insisted on its position of restoring peace "as long as there is a glimmer of hope", as Wang said.
2. South Korean Tourists to China Increases Over 900% as Travel Demand Rebounds
According to China's state media reports on February 26, the number of South Korean tourists visiting China last month exceeded 140,000, marking a staggering 908% increase compared to the same period last year. As reported by South Korea's Yonhap, China ranks among the top four preferred tourist destinations for travelers. Data from the Chinese travel platform Ctrip also reveals that Korean tourists ranked third in tourism orders during the Spring Festival holiday period in early February. To meet the growing demand of Korean tourists visiting China, various South Korean airlines are gradually resuming previously suspended routes due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
South Korean tourists have shown a particular fondness for Zhangjiajie, a city known for its mountainous geopark with pillar-like formations. According to data from a South Korean travel agency, since the beginning of this year, consumers under the age of 60 accounted for 66% of the bookings for Zhangjiajie tourism products. The city's official statistics indicate that in 2023, Zhangjiajie received 687,400 inbound tourists, with over 280,000 of them coming from South Korea, accounting for 41% of the total number.
Besides natural attractions like Zhangjiajie, there has been a noticeable increase in the demand for urban tourism and recreation, with more Korean tourists choosing to visit cities such as Shanghai and Qingdao which are relatively close to South Korea. Yet, with the further progress of the visa-free policy for entry into Hainan, the southernmost island province of China, travel packages in the region have garnered significant attention from South Korean tourists.
3. China Vows to Enhance Fire Safety after Recent Catastrophe in Nanjing Killed 15
On February 26, the Secretary of the Party Committee and Minister of the Ministry of Emergency Management, Wang Xiangxi, presided over a meeting of the Party Committee and the Ministry Affairs Committee. The meeting emphasized the importance of adopting more targeted and pragmatic measures to ensure a stable safety situation in preparation for the successful convening of the upcoming "Two Sessions," the annual meetings of the national legislature and the top political advisory body.
The conference underscored the determination to prevent and contain major accidents, drawing profound lessons from recent fire incidents. It urged local authorities to focus on "three types of venues" and high-rise residential buildings, to thoroughly investigate and rectify all kinds of fire safety risks and hidden dangers. The meeting also called for concentrated efforts to address prominent issues such as banning electric bicycles from entering buildings and residential units.
On February 23, a fire broke out in an apartment in Nanjing, 15 people were killed. The cause of the fire was later identified as a failed battery on an electric bicycle.
