BEIJING, July 17, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — “I remember we were in a village in China for dinner recently. At the restaurant, the waiter could not speak English but we immediately found a young Chinese lady who helped us. And we ended up eating together, Chinese people, an Egyptian, my colleague from Switzerland, and people from other countries. How beautiful is this,” Maged Refaat Aboulmagd, an ambassadorial member of the Egyptian Council for Foreign Affairs, told the Global Times.

“We took a photo and started laughing, then she chose food for us. It was pleasant, simple, and dignified,” said Refaat. “She is like most Chinese people we’ve met in China… always smiling and willing to communicate. There is absolutely no barrier.“

Refaat was one of the guests invited to China to the Global Civilizations Dialogue Ministerial Meeting. Themed “Safeguarding Diversity of Human Civilizations for World Peace and Development,” the two-day event, which kicked off on Thursday, attracted over 600 attendees from 140 countries and regions.

Before Thursday’s meeting, international guests toured cities such as Shanghai, Hangzhou, Qufu, and Dunhuang to gain firsthand insight into the Chinese society. 

When he was visiting Shanghai, Gabriel Fischer, European Affairs Advisor to the Chairman of Voice-Social Democracy of Slovak and representative of the Slovak National Council to the European Union, said he not only visited the historical heritage parts of the city, but also the futuristic parts in the city’s business center complete with skyscrapers. 

Taking his trip to China as an example, Fischer recalled some biased reports on China by European media outlets. “It is absolutely crucial to see it with your own eyes, by coming into the country, experiencing the culture, and meeting with the people… We cannot influence the media’s representation of other countries, but we can enrich our experiences further by traveling and seeing other cultures. That’s why I would recommend visiting China to anyone to gain inspiration and return home more knowledgeable.”

A platform for exchange 

Chinese President Xi Jinping said on Thursday that China is ready to work with other countries in building a global network for dialogue and cooperation among civilizations, the Xinhua News Agency reported.

Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, made the statement in a congratulatory letter to the Global Civilizations Dialogue Ministerial Meeting.

He pledged that China will work with other countries to champion equality, mutual learning, dialogue and inclusiveness among civilizations, and implement the Global Civilization Initiative (GCI), in a bid to provide fresh impetus for advancing human civilizations and promoting world peace and development.

“The world is, in nature, a place of diverse civilizations,” Xi said in the letter. “History has shown us that exchanges and mutual learning among civilizations are essential for civilizations to flourish and human progress to be made.” 

President Xi put forward the GCI in March 2023, following the Global Development Initiative and the Global Security Initiative.

The initiative, as Xi pointed out in his speech, advocates respect for the diversity of civilizations, the common values of humanity, the importance of inheritance and innovation of civilizations, as well as robust international people-to-people exchanges and cooperation.

When talking about the significance of this conference to a world that is mired in conflicts, Fischer said, “I personally think that the reason of conflicts is usually the misunderstanding among civilizations, the misunderstanding of each other’s culture, and this meeting can provide us with the opportunity to learn from each other.”

Refaat said that a few days ago he took the bullet train to visit a place where science and innovation have been used in farming. He said he saw how the farmers learn to use machinery, automation technologies, and intelligent systems, to improve production efficiency, reduce labor intensity, and significantly enhance agricultural productivity.

“It was truly fascinating!” Refaat hailed. He said agro-industry is exactly what Egypt needs. 

At one of the sub-forums of the meeting, China’s Olympic champion in swimming, Pan Zhanle, shared a story between him and his strong competitor, Romania’s star swimmer David Popovici. He said that Popovici’s perseverance and determination have been a constant source of inspiration for him.

At parallel sub-forums on Friday, participants actively participated in discussions on the crucial role of inter-civilization exchange and mutual learning in building an inclusive world, and in promoting global development and prosperity, cultural inheritance and innovation.

David Ferguson, honorary chief English editor of the Foreign Languages Press, and a participant at the meeting, told the Global Times that the Ministerial Meeting of the Global Civilizations Dialogue reflects a broader strategy aimed at replacing conflict with dialogue, underscoring China’s serious commitment to fostering global understanding and cooperation.

Raphael Tuju, a former Kenyan Cabinet Secretary, told the Global Times that true civilization rests on “the ability to share, live together, and respect each other,” and expressed his hope that China would initiate more soft-power connections, including people-to-people exchanges, education, and cultural programs.

Building bridges

During the parallel sub-forums on Friday, Liu Jianchao, head of the International Department of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, said that China promotes people-to-people exchanges through the country’s commitment to openness and inclusiveness. 

“Traveling in China” and “Shopping in China” have become increasingly popular, said Liu, also giving the example of Black Myth: Wukong, Ne Zha, and Labubu, which have gained widespread popularity among young people around the world.

“I’d originally planned to bring some Labubu toys for everyone, but they were completely sold out. If anyone manages to find one, please help me buy one,” Liu joked.

Since the launch of the GCI, China has actively built platforms for international cultural exchange and cooperation, establishing a global network for dialogue among civilizations and effectively promoting mutual understanding and learning among diverse cultures, Zhang Yiwu, a professor of cultural studies at Peking University, told the Global Times.

Over the years, China has established a series of multilateral exchange platforms, such as the Conference on Dialogue of Asian Civilizations and the Conference on Dialogue Between Chinese and African Civilizations, and held a series of activities, including the China-ASEAN People-to-People Exchange Year and the Liangzhu Forum, building a platform for equal dialogue among different civilizations.

Many countries, especially those in the Global South, have responded positively and warmly to China’s GCI. This demonstrates that, even as the world stands at a crossroads, the forces that cherish peace and seek mutual learning among civilizations remain the mainstream of the international community, said Zhang.

At the “Story Sharing” segment of the opening session on Thursday, Kenyan student Jamlick Mwangi Kariuki from the Beijing Jiaotong University shared his story. He said that two years ago, he and 40 other Kenyan students wrote a letter to President Xi for the 10th anniversary of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). 

Thanks to the “Belt and Road” International Talent Joint-training Program, Kariuki and 100 other Kenyan youth got the opportunity to study in Beijing. 

After graduation, he joined the Chinese-built Mombasa-Nairobi Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) project and became a railway engineer. 

In 2023, he returned to Beijing Jiaotong University for further study, hoping to further deepen his railway technology expertise and help the rail transit in his home country achieve better development. After widely soliciting the ideas of other Kenyan students and alumni representatives, Kariuki took the lead in drafting a letter to President Xi, and attached a train ticket of SGR as a gift in the letter.

Kariuki said that the railway passes through the largest wildlife reserve in Kenya. 

Sitting on the fast-moving train, one can see animals such as elephants and zebras freely passing by along the way, thanks to the joint efforts of Kenyan and Chinese experts. 

“Lucid waters and lush mountains are invaluable assets,” Kariuki said solemnly in Chinese.

Ranko Ostoji from the Social Democratic Party of Croatia shared the story of a bridge with the Global Times. When touring near Nanpu Bridge in Shanghai last week before the meeting, Ostoji recalled the Peljesac Bridge, constructed by a Chinese consortium led by the China Road and Bridge Corporation in southern Croatia. Ostoji said Peljesac Bridge is now one of the most beautiful bridges in Croatia. 

“I believe that (Peljesac Bridge) won’t be the last bridge between us,” Ostoji said.

BEIJING, July 17, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, Chinese president, and chairman of the Central Military Commission, has stressed that the environment concerns the well-being of people in all countries. During his inspections, Xi has always paid great attention to ecosystems, spanning from cities to rural areas, and from enterprises to communities. 

Under the guidance of Xi’s thought on ecological civilization, China has been advancing the green transition of its economy over the last decade. Regions across the country are actively promoting the construction of ecological civilization and advancing Chinese modernization featuring harmony between humanity and nature. These efforts are creating a “Beautiful China.”

The coming five years will be critical to the building of a “Beautiful China.” The Global Times is launching a series of stories to explore the progress of ecological civilization projects that Xi is concerned with, delving into the positive environmental changes occurring now, and offering valuable insights and references for both national and global efforts. From these practical examples, we can see how Xi’s thought on ecological civilization is put into practice and further inspires public action.

In this installment, we turn our eyes to the southwest regions of China. Under the guidance of Xi Jinping Thought on Ecological Civilization, they have developed the birding site as an eco-friendly business model, showcasing grassroots efforts in China to conceive and practice innovative approaches to ecological conservation that also generate economic benefits.

As a small bird with a bluish beak and chestnut-colored plumage landed on a branch, birdwatchers in the hide quickly swung their cameras to capture the rare moment. The bird, known as the silver-breasted broadbill, is part of wildlife under second class protection in China, rarely seen in the wild. Yet in recent years, it has become a regular visitor to a birding site managed by Piao Hai, a 38-year-old Hani man, in Xishuangbanna Dai Autonomous Prefecture, Southwest China’s Yunnan Province.

According to Dr. Zhao Jiangbo from the Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden at the Chinese Academy of Sciences, birding sites are an innovative model that combines biodiversity conservation with community development. This approach has gained traction across China as a way to balance environmental protection with economic growth, CCTV reported.

Bird protection is an important component of Xi Jinping Thought on Ecological Civilization. The Party and government leaders attach great importance to bird conservation and have issued several critical instructions, emphasizing the importance of “implementation,” read an announcement on the website of China’s National Forestry and Grassland Administration.

The first volume of selected works of Xi on ecological civilization has been published and is available nationwide. Covering writings from December 2012 to April 2025, the book reaffirms Xi’s core philosophy: “Lucid waters and lush mountains are invaluable assets,” the Xinhua News Agency reported on July 6.

In practicing this vision, communities are exploring new forms of ecological protection like Piao’s birding site that can generate real economic benefits – integrating conservation with livelihood improvement.

From hunters to guardians

Years ago, local residents in Piao’s village viewed birds as little more than prey. “Catching birds used to be an everyday thing. We had no concept of protection,” Piao told the Global Times.

The shift began in 2019, when the Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden introduced the birding site economy to nearby villages. Experts guided villagers to create hospitable environments in areas with high bird activity to attract birds and provide opportunities for photography.

As a lifelong bird lover, Piao volunteered to be the village’s pioneer.

Combining his knowledge of bird behavior with expert guidance, he designed a tiered pond system fed by a spring and crafted a waterfall from bamboo. He built simple yet cleverly integrated hides with foldable stools and discreet camera slots. These measures quickly drew a variety of birds to feed, rest, and play.

Today, Piao can list the bird species that frequent his site by heart – over 90 in total. His camera has captured not just the silver-breasted broadbill, but also the endangered eared pitta, as well as other beautiful birds such as the puff-throated babbler and oriental white-eye.

“The Botanical Garden provided us with technical guidance and equipment,” Piao said. “They also promoted the birding site through their networks. Experts regularly visit to monitor progress and offer continued support.”

Over time, “Piaohai birding site” has become a popular destination. Visitors have come from across China and abroad, including the UK, Germany, and Spain. In 2024 alone, around 3,000 tourists visited the site to photograph birds.

“Most visitors are retirees passionate about bird photography, though some young hobbyists come in groups. Over the holidays, children’s research groups visit and experience life in the forest,” Piao said.

The number of birdwatchers in China rose from 140,000 in 2018 to 340,000 in 2023, a 142.9 percent increase. About 35 percent of those surveyed began birdwatching purely out of interest, according to a CCTV report in April 2025.

“When I first opened, a British visitor was eager to photograph our local birds. I hadn’t even built the proper hide yet, but he insisted. So I rigged up a simple cover for him. Despite the primitive setup, he stayed for two hours before finally rushing out,” Piao smiled.

Now prosperous, Piao’s family income surpassed 300,000 yuan ($41,857) in 2024. He explained that visitors pay between 100 and 300 yuan depending on the rarity of the birds. The village also benefits from revenue generated by food, lodging, and transportation. Piao also promotes local products like wild honey, tea, and mountain mushrooms to visitors.

“Ten percent of birding site income goes to the village, funding road repairs and community events. This wasn’t mandatory – I proposed it. These birds don’t belong to me. Sharing the rewards motivates everyone to join in protecting them,” Piao added.

Challenges and expansion

Despite the birding site model’s popularity, some concerns have surfaced on social media. Critics worry that monetized conservation may disrupt birds’ natural behaviors and habitats.

Piao acknowledged there may be some impact but believes the benefits outweigh the risks. “Some people are prejudiced, but once they engage, they often change their minds. We only do small-scale feeding within 20,000 mu (1,333 hectares) of forest – it’s far from disrupting bird habitats.”

Piao adds, “We also adjust our schedule based on bird habits. For example, we close during the breeding season in May and June. Raising awareness among villagers is the biggest gain. I also share bird pictures with the Garden for research.”

As his expertise grows, Piao has inspired more villagers to join. The village now has eight bird site operators, forming a small-scale bird pond economy. Conservation is no longer an abstract idea – it’s a shared value.

“Everyone now understands: Protect the birds, and the income keeps coming,” Piao said.

Inspired by similar ecological conditions, other parts of Yunnan are exploring birdwatching as an economic driver.

For instance, Yingjiang County in Yunnan is a well-known birdwatching site, home to over 600 bird species – out of China’s 1,500 – some of which are endemic. Because it cannot compete purely on visitor numbers without harming its ecosystem, Yingjiang has developed an alternative model. Through bird festivals, collaborations with birding organizations, and viral promotions via social media, it quickly became a birdwatching mecca, according to people.com.cn.

The county encourages farmers to form birdwatching cooperatives. This ensures proper management while allowing locals to retain most of the profits, enhancing their sense of ownership in conservation, said the report.

Yingjiang established hidden observation sites for researchers and birdwatchers. A researcher described it as “a virtuous cycle from hobbyist birdwatching to research-driven protection,” Xinhua reported.

Surveys conducted in 2023 found 26 hornbill nests in the reserve’s “Hornbill Valley.” Between 2022 and 2023, the hornbill population increased by over 20 individuals annually, Xinhua reported.

Exploring various new paths

Economic development should not be achieved at the cost of the ecology. The ecological environment itself is the economy. Protecting the environment is developing productivity, as Xi has said.

As ecological conservation concepts take root across China, various regions are exploring diverse approaches to protect bird habitats. These efforts not only safeguard biodiversity, but also enable more people to immerse themselves in nature, fostering new economic development opportunities.

The Hainan Changjiang Haiwei national wetland park in South China’s Hainan Province exemplifies this trend.

Recently, exciting news emerged from the park: An Oriental Darter (Anhinga melanogaster), listed as a endangered species, was spotted there. Confirmed by the Hainan provincial bird records center, this marks the first record of the species in the province, according to people.com.cn on July 11.

Xue Meili, deputy director of the Haiwei wetland park management center and the discoverer of the Oriental Darter, has been on the frontline of wetland development since arriving in Changjiang in 2019.

Over time, she’s captured images of rare species, not only filling gaps in Hainan’s ornithological research, but also bringing this once-overlooked corner into the national media spotlight. The story of the Haiwei wetland is now reaching more and more people.

More importantly, these efforts are gradually translating into drivers for ecological economic growth. The wetland park has launched educational programs, organizing on-site birdwatching and ecological lectures for schools, while improving infrastructure and planning orderly openings for tourists in the future. Additionally, a variety of cultural and creative products featuring wetland animals, such as fridge magnets, postcards, and tote bags, are being rolled out successively.

“We hope to showcase the beauty of biodiversity, helping more people understand the importance of conservation while bringing tangible benefits to the local area,” Xue told the Global Times.

According to Xinhua, in 2024, a total of 207 bird species had been recorded in the Haiwei wetland park, including 41 nationally protected birds and 3 national first-class protected animals. The wetland ecosystem and biodiversity are being effectively protected.

This transformation is not unique. Across the vast expanse of China, more places are using wetlands as platforms to build shared habitats for humans and birds, while exploring new paths to convert ecological advantages into development momentum.

These practices stem from national-level policy support, such as the release of the China Biodiversity Conservation Strategy and Action Plan (2023-2030). Moreover, Chinese procuratorial authorities have intensified efforts to combat poaching, enforce wildlife protection laws, and raise public awareness, according to the website of the Supreme People’s Procuratorate.

In Piao’s village, bird hunting is now a thing of the past. Piao plans to expand his bird sites and develop educational programs about bird species. He believes that as the number of birds grows, so too will the happiness of the people.