Hong Kong's Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor (3rd left) co-officiates at the opening ceremony in Beijing of the Oral Legacies-Intangible Cultural Heritage of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Exhibition at Prince Kung's Mansion Museum on Dec 15. Joining her as officiating guests are Xiang Zhaolun (2nd left), vice-minister of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism and Chen Tong (2nd right), director-general of the Intangible Cultural Heritage Department of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism. [Photo provided to China Daily] The much-anticipated development plan of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area is likely to be released early next year, providing firm policy support and fresh opportunities for the 11-city cluster, Hong Kong Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor revealed on Saturday. Lam said that with the development of the GBA entering a new level, the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region will tie its future closely to the country's overall development and more proactively seek opportunities within that context. The city's top official made the remarks to reporters before she left for Beijing on Saturday, for her annual duty visit. Lam noted that next year also marks the 70th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China. She said more opportunities lie ahead for Hong Kong and the SAR appreciates the continuous support from the central government. She added that Hong Kong will make full use of those opportunities. During her four-day visit to the capital, Lam will meet with President Xi Jinping and Premier Li Keqiang on Monday, to present them with details of Hong Kong's latest developments including political, economic and social affairs. Shortly after Lam's arrival in Beijing on Saturday, she co-officiated at the opening ceremony of an exhibition, The Oral Legacies: Intangible Cultural Heritage of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region. The exhibition will remain open until Jan 5. Lam extended thanks to the Ministry of Culture and Tourism for its great support in the conservation of intangible cultural heritage in Hong Kong. She acknowledged the ministry's efforts and guidance that made the exhibition possible. Speaking at the opening ceremony, Director of the Prince Kung's Mansion Museum Sun Xuguang said one purpose of the exhibition was to deepen the understanding among Chinese mainland visitors of Hong Kong's traditional culture, through the interactive, visualized exhibits. Sun added that the event presents new opportunities to increase cultural exchanges and cooperation between the mainland and Hong Kong. The exhibition, at the Prince Kung's Mansion Museum in Beijing, is the first thematic exhibition in the mainland featuring Hong Kong's intangible cultural heritage. A total of 20 items of intangible cultural heritage from Hong Kong are exhibited, including Cantonese Opera, the Tai Hang Fire Dragon Dance performed during Mid-Autumn Festival, Hakka Unicorn Dance and Hong Kong-style Milk Tea Making Technique. Also on display are hand-made lion head festive lanterns, Hong Kong-style cheongsam, Kwan Kwa Wedding costumes, and Cantonese Opera costumes. Visitors will have a taste of some authentic Hong Kong-style milk tea on Dec 16. Hong Kong's Leisure and Cultural Services Department disclosed the city's first intangible cultural heritage list in August 2017. The list is comprised of 20 items. Ten of those are part of the country's intangible cultural heritage list. silicone wristbandsrubber braceletsrubber band braceletsembossed-printed-wristbandcheap silicone wristbands for fundraising
A file photo of the People's Liberation Army Navy honor guard. [Photo/VCG] More than 60 countries will send naval delegations to participate in the 70th anniversary of the founding of the People's Liberation Army Navy in late April, a spokesman for the Ministry of National Defense said on Thursday. The celebration will showcase the progress of the PLA Navy and its growing capability in safeguarding China's overseas interests as well as regional and world peace, an expert said. The multinational naval event will take place in Qingdao, Shandong province, in late April, said ministry spokesman Senior Colonel Wu Qian. April 23 is the 70th anniversary of the PLA Navy's founding. The naval event will include high-level dialogues, an international fleet review, military band performances, cultural and sports exchanges as well as other activities, Wu said. Some nations will send military ships to participate in the fleet review, though details are still in the works and will be announced at a later date, he added. Senior Colonel Zhou Bo, director of the Center for Security Cooperation at the ministry's Office for International Military Cooperation, said that compared with other branches of the military, the PLA Navy plays a relatively larger role in protecting China's overseas interests and maintaining security in key sea lanes such as the Gulf of Aden and waters off Somalia. The PLA Navy is at the forefront of proving that the Chinese military is an open, cooperative and competent force for peace, he said, adding that the PLA Navy has frequently participated in humanitarian rescue missions, naval escorts, joint exercises and exchanges in past years. Through these non-war military operations, the Chinese Navy has also improved its capability and operability in distant waters, Zhou said. Many security issues around the world require global efforts, and as its capability improves, the PLA Navy can play a bigger part and contribute more to global maritime security. When asked about the United States' recent rhetoric about China threats and US military actions near the Taiwan Straits and the South China Sea, Wu said that Sino-US military relations are generally stable, but he asked the US to work with China to conduct practical cooperation, properly manage differences, and allow military-to-military relations to become stabilizing factors for bilateral ties. On Sunday, the US sent the Navy's guided-missile destroyer Curtis Wilbur and Coast Guard's cutter Bertholf through the Taiwan Straits. On March 13, two US B-52H bombers flew near Chinese islands in the South China Sea for the second time this month. Wu said China resolutely opposes the provocative actions by the US warplanes, and will continue to take necessary actions to safeguard national security. The facts have shown that the US is the one militarizing the South China Sea, he said. Regarding the US military's recent interactions with its Taiwan counterpart, Wu said China resolutely opposes any military interaction between the two sides, whether it involves arms sales to Taiwan or official military exchanges. The Taiwan question is a domestic matter for China, and it is related to China's core interests and the feelings of the Chinese people. It cannot be interfered with by outside forces, Wu said, adding that the one-China policy is a recognized consensus in international relations, and the political basis for Sino-US relations. Any attempt to undermine this principle is no different than trying to shake the foundation of Sino-US ties. This does not fit with the basic interests of either nation, and it is very dangerous, he said. liver cancer silicone braceletsanimal bracelets rubber bandschristian silicone wristbandssilicone bandpretty little liars bracelet custom<%2fcenter>