DAILY | HONG KONG EDITION Monday, August 23, 2021 | 3 TOP NEWS

Containment efforts 14th Five-Year Plan ready Epidemic control workers to boost HK’s green tech, prepare for the second round of nucleic acid testing at the gate of the Jielonghuayuan community in Shanghai’s Pudong New Area industrial automation on Saturday. The community was designated as a medium-risk By William Xu in Hong Kong Chong is confident that Hong Kong area for COVID-19 on Friday after [email protected] can capitalize on the trend to an Ethiopian mechanic, who enhance the environmental protec- provided services to foreign cargo Hong Kong’s young people working tion and green technology industry aircraft at Pudong International in Guangdong province have placed with the innovative ability of Hong Airport and lived in the commu- high hopes on the nation’s 14th Five- Kong people and the research edge nity, tested positive for corona-­ Year Plan (2021-25), saying that the of its universities and supporting virus that day. Since Friday, the Hong Kong Special Administrative policies from the government. city has reported five locally Region can bank on the plan to boost He suggested that as an interna- transmitted confirmed COVID-19 the development of green technology tional financial center, Hong Kong cases, all involving workers han- and industrial automation in the city. should establish more green finance- dling foreign cargo at the airport. Their confidence comes as the city related funds to bank on the oppor- SHEN CHUNCHEN / FOR CHINA DAILY has been encouraged to be an inter- tunities arising from the Chinese national innovation and technology mainland’s carbon reduction goals hub for the first time in the outline of outlined in the 14th Five-Year Plan. the nation’s latest five-year plan, which was approved in March. Emerging industry Along with that, the city was Lam Tsz-ho, 33, assistant general tasked to be a hub for arts and cul- manager of XR Intelligent Tech- tural exchanges between China and nology (GD) Co Ltd, set his sights the rest of the world and an interna- on the high-tech manufacturing tional aviation hub, in addition to its industry, a growth engine that the original standing as a global center national plan envisages. for finance and trade. Lam, who was in the finance trade Ken Chong Yat-chau, CEO of previously, switched his career track Guangdong Yikuai Envirotech Co, to industrial automation, as he is opti- Xi’an vows to ensure safety, which deals with food waste recy- mistic about the emerging industry. cling through green technology, said Lam is now working in Foshan, that Hong Kong has many privileges Guangdong, on developing industri- to give full play to its strengths in al robots. He has seen significant finance, trade, shipping, risk man- demand for industrial automation order of 14th National Games agement and legal service, as well as on the mainland, and it is an irresisti- art and culture, under the 14th Five- ble trend as labor costs keep rising. Year Plan and the development strat- Although Hong Kong is not a Expert: Event to enhance reputation of Provincial People’s Congress in egy of the Guangdong-Hong Kong- major player in industrial automa- January, the construction of 51 Macao Greater Bay Area. tion, Lam pointed out, it can con- city, Shaanxi, drive growth of tourism competition venues for the “If Hong Kong’s young people can tribute to the trend through its The National Games National Games — 10 more than grasp opportunities arising from integrated advantage in research By Xin Wen high-risk areas will be directly may be a window for originally planned — has been these industries and development and development, technology [email protected] placed in isolation to undergo completed, laying a solid founda- trends, I believe they will be sure to introduction and financing. nucleic acid tests and a 14-day observers from home tion for the competition to pro- benefit from the policy dividend,” He also called on the Hong Kong The upcoming quadrennial health monitoring. and abroad to see the ceed as planned. said Chong. SAR to increase investment in this National Games are poised to Starting from the end of last Three new Xi’an metro lines Chong started his company, which sector and promote exchanges ensure safety and order as its host month, some well-known tourist development of our opened in 2020, and 18,000 5G sta- specializes in researching edible between Hong Kong’s industrial city Xi’an, capital of Shaanxi spots in Shaanxi have been closed, sports industry and tions have been built, said Zhao. insects and organic fertilizer, in Hong robot companies and their counter- province, has recently tightened including the Emperor Qinshi- Baqiao district, in Xi’an’s eastern Kong in 2007. In 2019, he founded parts on the mainland. COVID-19 prevention and control huang’s Mausoleum Site Museum the effectiveness of our suburbs, where the major stadi- another company that uses insects to Yvonne Wong Lai-fong, deputy measures in preparation for the and the Huaqing Palace. epidemic prevention ums for the National Games are decompose food waste in Zhong- general manager of Qianhai Interna- country’s highest-level multi- Zhang Baotong, chairman of located, became this year the part shan, Guangdong province. Chong’s tional Liaison Services Ltd, also noted sport event in September. the Shaanxi Urban Economic and and control.” of the city with the densest subway project won a startup competition the importance of understanding the Xi’an prepared for a decade to bid Cultural Research Association, Zhang Baotong, chairman of the line configuration. and was one of the six teams that in nation’s 14th Five-Year Plan. for the opportunity of hosting the said measures such as the closure Shaanxi Urban Economic and Bai Yongxiu, an economics pro- 2019 earned a three-month training Only when young people have a 14th National Games with the of scenic spots have been taken to Cultural Research Association fessor at Northwest University’s stint in Berkeley SkyDeck, a leading grasp of Hong Kong-related con- expectation that the event would ensure the province has no prob- School of Economics and Manage- high-tech entrepreneurship startup tents in the plan, will they begin to further boost the development of lems leading up to the opening of ment in Xi’an, said thanks to the accelerator and incubator program think about how they can seize the the province — as well as China’s the 14th National Games. National Games, many sports and established by US universities. opportunities behind the words, central-western regions — and raise “As the first important national cultural and tourism facilities As an active promoter of circular said Wong, who is also vice-chair of the public enthusiasm for sports. sports gala after the Tokyo 2020 worthy of a major city, as well as economy that seeks to reduce waste in Y. Elites Association. All people going to the Games — Olympic Games, the National Shaanxi urban infrastructure projects, the circle of production to cut back With the whole world going digi- athletes, coaches, service staff and Games may be a window for have been able to secure funds for harm to the environment, Chong tal, Wong said she thinks the city’s spectators — will be required to observers from home and abroad construction. pointed out that circular economy in young people should strengthen take a nucleic acid test no more to see the development of our “Hosting the National Games Hong Kong is in its infancy. their own competitiveness by than 72 hours beforehand and sports industry and the effective- will enhance the reputation of Noting that the Chinese mainland improving digital readiness. anyone over age 12 is required to ness of our epidemic prevention Xi'an Xi’an and Shaanxi in the country,” is working toward the realization of have been vaccinated for the novel and control,” Zhang said. said Bai. “In the long term, the new United Nations Sustainable Devel- Kathy Zhang and Chen Shuman corona­virus no less than two Liu Tianqi, deputy director of competition venues will help boost opment Goals and carbon neutrality, contributed to this story. weeks before, organizers said. the medical treatment and public the development of the sports At a news conference in late health department of the Games’ CHINA DAILY industry not only in the province July, Ma Guanghui, deputy direct- organizing committee, said the but throughout China. or of the Shaanxi Provincial Games will keep athletes and department of the organizing “Sports is a multipurpose activity Bumper harvest Health Commission, said more media staff involved in the compe- committee, said the committee set that will drive the development of than 20,000 athletes and techni- tition in isolation. up a food warehouse for athletes to regional cultural tourism to facili- cal officials throughout the coun- Spectators will be allowed to store five categories of foods tate more people to know more try will go to Shaanxi for the enter the venues, and tickets for the designed for them, including pork, about the culture in Xi’an,” he added. competition. It is estimated that upcoming Games went on sale to beef, mutton, aquatic products, Residents of the ancient city are hundreds of thousands of specta- the public on Thursday. spices and seasonings. ready for the nation’s highest-level tors will attend the events, and the For the first time in the event’s “We will ensure the safety of all sports meeting. epidemic prevention and control 62-year history, the competition — foods and make sure that there are Wang Yawen, a 25-year-old stu- work cannot be lax. in 35 sports with 409 events — zero incidents of foodborne (athletic dent at Xi’an Jiaotong University, A meticulous set of COVID-19 con- from Sept 15 through 27 will be performance) stimulants,” she said. had as of July participated in over trol measures has been formed to held in China’s central and western The Games have brought some 10 training sessions for volunteer protect public health at the Games. regions. changes to Shaanxi. work at the Games. For inbound travelers to Earlier in August, residents in An overall work plan for the 14th “I feel fortunate to be a part of Shaanxi, a 21-day centralized quar- some areas of Xi’an were given National Games was released in the 14th National Games,” she antine plus seven days of isolation nucleic acid tests as a protective 2016, saying that 25 new and 16 said. “For me, it’s a once-in-a-life- in their hotel rooms — or home in measure for the Games. refurbished competition venues time opportunity, and I really the case of residents — will be The province has not had any new were scheduled to be completed, treasure it.” Farmers harvest water chestnuts, whose leaves cloak a river in green, in required, Ma said, as well as nucleic locally transmitted COVID-19 cases with total investment of about 20.2 “Many people say Xi’an is rich in Fenyi county, Xinyu, Jiangxi province, on Saturday. In recent years, the acid tests and point-to-point seam- since July 1, according to the Shaanxi billion yuan ($3.1 billion). its historical resources, but the county government has been vigorously promoting the development of less transportation services. People Provincial Health Commission. According to the government National Games are also helping the aquatic cultivation industry and helping farmers sell the products returning to Shaanxi from key bor- Jiang Min, deputy director of report delivered by Governor us to see the more advanced and through online and offline marketing channels. PROVIDED TO CHINA DAILY der provinces and medium- and the food and medicine safety Zhao Yide at the annual Shaanxi modern side of the city,” Wang said.

meetings to talk about the next steps animals that have captured the when this contract ends,” Smith said. hearts of so many,” she said. “It cub celebrates 1st birthday at US zoo As a public health precaution inspires people to learn about due to COVID-19, the zoo had been conservation, and also to help By ZHAO HUANXIN in Washington with his little paws, licking and suck- and hope. For us, you are a miracle, “One of the great things of working temporarily closed since March protect other animals as well.” [email protected] ing the frozen diluted apple juice. and that’s why you are called Xiao with pandas is a chance to work with last year, but it reopened in late The National Zoo has cooperated After about 45 minutes, the pair Qi Ji,” Qin said. our colleagues in China, and with a April this year when infection cases with China to study, care for and No one enjoyed a bigger birth- walked over to ’s cake — a “You have truly added a splash of pandemic, we haven’t been able to dwindled in Washington, DC. save the giant panda for nearly half day party than Xiao Qi Ji did in bigger one. It was adorned with a color to the exchanges between visit them in person,” Smith told Effective July 30, all visitors age 2 a century. Washington on Saturday. giant, red number 1 on top. The Chinese and American people,” the China Daily. and older are required to wear a Xiao Qi Ji is the fourth surviving While the COVID-19 pandemic cub’s father, Tian Tian, was in the envoy added. Instead, the zoo and Chinese col- mask in all indoor spaces at the zoo, cub born at the zoo in more than four has made gatherings almost impos- neighboring habitat. Brandie Smith, acting director of leagues had email exchanges and regardless of their vaccination status. decades since the first pair, Ling Ling sible, the giant panda cub drew Visitors enjoyed watching the the Smithsonian’s National Zoo and video calls. “The information goes Bryan Amaral, senior curator of and Hsing Hsing, arrived in April hundreds of visitors to the National mother and son tucking into the Conservation Biology Institute, back and forth, but it will be nice animal care science at the zoo, said 1972, weeks after then-US president Zoo to celebrate his first birthday. treats, with many streaming the said the panda cub is more like his when we can finally see our friends that the pandas will not have noticed Richard Nixon’s historic China visit. Xiao Qi Ji, or “Little Miracle”, first scene live on social media accounts, mother than , a cub that was again in person,” she said. much difference during the pandemic Over the next 20 years, that pair savored a specially made fruitsicle and the zoo screened the show for the born and lived at the zoo previously. Under a new agreement that the other than people wearing masks. produced five cubs, but none survived cake prepared for his mother, Mei public through its Giant Panda Cam. “He’s a lot more cautious, he’s a lot zoo signed with China, and “We’ve been really successful as more than a few days. Xiang, early in the morning at their Well-wishers included Qin Gang, more thoughtful. And it’s been so Tian Tian, the giant panda couple, far as how we’ve adapted to the pan- The arrival of Mei Xiang and Tian outdoor habitat. The frozen cake Chinese ambassador to the United great to see him develop and his per- will stay at the zoo along with their demic; nothing’s really affected us, Tian in 2000 changed the situation. was decorated with sweet potato, States, who made a special video sonality come out,” said Smith, who son for another three years, after an which is the great news,” he said. Since 2005, Mei Xiang, age 23 now, apple, carrot, pear, sugar cane, clip to wish Xiao Qi Ji a “very happy has worked at the zoo for 13 years, earlier deal inked in 2015 expired last Among the visitors was Karen has given birth to four surviving cubs. banana and bamboo. and fabulous birthday”. starting as curator of giant pandas. December, according to the zoo. Wille, who works for Pandas In China, the number of giant The cub apparently enjoyed the “You came into the world last Since the beginning of the pandem- “We signed a contract last year, and International, a US nonprofit pandas has increased from 1,100 in treat. Near the end of the first course year during the pandemic. At such a ic, the zoo staff members have been it kept pandas here. It keeps pandas organization, who said she has the wild 40 years ago to more than of his breakfast, he lay on his back and difficult time, your arrival and every working safely, wearing masks and here through 2023, and then we’ll start visited pandas in China eight times. 1,800 now. The species is no longer held the heart-shaped top of the cake bit of your growth have given us joy keeping a distance from one another. talking. Actually, we just began our “They’re just amazing, magical listed as “endangered”.