Walking into the Embassy of Ireland in China, one can see banners of Irish writers including George Bernard Shaw, Eva Gore-Booth, William Butler Yeats and Seamus Heaney, and their famous quotes. This is also the event venue for the "Discovering Ireland" open day held on July 4-5 to celebrate the charm, culture and beauty of the country. 

In the yard, poetry reading, children's chorus, Irish foods and beverages were displayed alongside local music. Irish Ambassador to China Nicholas O'Brien delivered opening remarks for the event, saying that despite differences in scale and geographical distance, Ireland and China have strong cultural ties that forge a bond between the two countries. 

"We both are home to ancient civilizations that date back over 5,000 years and we both share a deep respect for community, family and tradition. Many Chinese companies have made Ireland their European base, and many Irish companies are here in China," he said. 

China is Ireland's largest trading partner in Asia and the last decade has seen a significant growth in economic ties and people-to-people contacts. Discovering Ireland is a tangible reflection of this relationship, said O'Brien.

The ambassador welcomed visitors with Céad Míle Fáilte, a phrase in Irish, which means "One Hundred Thousand Welcomes." 

Irish people's pride for their literature and poetic tradition can also be seen at the embassy's reading corner, where visitors can spend a moment with an Irish classic. 

Deputy Head of the Mission, Barry Mulligan, recalled the Chinese parable of the "blind men and the elephant" to express his willingness to truly understand China. "One cannot look at just a single point or dimension, I look forward to continuing to explore all that China has to offer," Mulligan said. 

One might expect a diplomat to refer to history books or policy white papers, but "I must confess that recently, a part of my cultural immersion has come from a slightly different screen. I have been spending my downtime playing the Chinese game Black Myth: Wukong," he said. 

Nothing quite teaches one the intricate depths of classical Chinese mythology, the epic scale of Journey to the West, or the value of sheer, stubborn resilience quite like getting repeatedly battered by a giant, mythological yaoguai or demons while armed only with a staff! It is a brilliant window into the folklore that shapes so much of the cultural mindset in China, according to Mulligan. 

"Beyond gaming, watching the sci-fi blockbuster The Wandering Earth gave me a brilliant sense of China's forward-looking, collective problem-solving mentality, while reading Peter Hessler's 'River Town' [Two Years on the Yangtze,] helped provide a fantastic ground-level view of the Chinese society," he shared. 

With direct flights from Beijing and Shanghai to Dublin, it is now easier than ever for Chinese and Irish travelers to explore each other's homeland. And Mulligan also gave some cultural tips to Chinese travelers who want to make a trip to Ireland. He suggested a mix of the classics and the contemporary voices that show them what Ireland looks like today:

"Dubliners" by James Joyce is an accessible collection of short stories, and an ideal starting point for those who would like to understand the historic heartbeat of Irish capital. 

"Normal People" by Sally Rooney is for people to understand modern, contemporary Ireland and the social dynamics of Irish current generation. 

"100 Poems" by Seamus Heaney is recommended because one cannot visit Ireland without a bit of poetry. Heaney's work will make travelers appreciate the bogs, the persistent rain, and the rugged landscape in a way that feels almost magical, Mulligan told the Global Times.

Chinese President Xi Jinping has urged full efforts in search-and-rescue operations after a fire at a shoe factory caused major casualties Thursday in Jinjiang City, east China's Fujian Province.

Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, said in an instruction that efforts must be made to identify the cause of the accident and hold those responsible strictly accountable.

Noting that multiple major workplace safety accidents have occurred in the country since the beginning of this year, Xi required all regions and relevant departments to draw profound lessons from these accidents, better coordinate development and security, and remain constantly vigilant about workplace safety.

Efforts must be made to thoroughly identify and root out all types of safety risks and hidden hazards, ensure that workplace safety measures are implemented meticulously, resolutely prevent major and serious accidents, and effectively safeguard people's lives and property.

Premier Li Qiang, also a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, urged the Office of the Work Safety Commission under China's State Council to guide local authorities to conduct thorough inspections on workplace safety risks and hazards and take resolute steps to prevent major and serious accidents.

By press time, confirmed deaths from the fire have reached 28.

The Ministry of Emergency Management has dispatched a work team to the site to guide rescue efforts, while the provincial authorities of Fujian have mobilized resources to treat the injured and carry out on-site response efforts.

A nine-year-old boy hovered on the brink of death after his family consumed highly toxic wild mushrooms that an Artificial Intelligence (AI) identification app had marked as non-toxic, domestic media outlet China News Service reported. 

A boy named Xiao Ao went mountain hiking with his family, where they picked a batch of wild mushrooms that closely resembled Termitomyces mushrooms, a popular edible wild fungus in China.

To avoid potential risks, the family used an AI‑powered identification app to determine whether the mushrooms they had picked were toxic. After receiving a "non‑toxic" result, they cooked and ate the mushrooms without worry, China News Service reported.

Shortly after eating the mushrooms, Xiao Ao and his parents began suffering from vomiting and severe gastrointestinal discomfort. Xiao Ao's mother made him drink salt water to induce vomiting. His symptoms eased slightly afterward, so he went to bed without seeking medical treatment.

By the early hours of the next day, all three began vomiting and rushed to the hospital, the report said.

After admission, Xiao Ao's condition kept deteriorating. He was transferred to the pediatric intensive care unit for emergency treatment that same afternoon. Examinations confirmed that the boy had developed to the severe and dangerous Grade IV mushroom poisoning, the most severe classification of the illness, per the report. 

The toxic mushrooms triggered multiple life-threatening complications including acute liver failure, hepatic encephalopathy, and pleural and peritoneal effusion, leaving him in critical condition.

Fortunately, after eight days of hospital care, Xiao Ao fully recovered and was discharged home, the report said.

Experts warn that AI identification results can only serve as a reference, urging the public to stay away from wild mushrooms and refrain from picking or eating any wild mushrooms of unknown origin.

Chinese President Xi Jinping on Wednesday hailed the 105-year history of the Communist Party of China (CPC) as the "most magnificent epic" of the Chinese nation and urged the Party to press ahead to build China into a modern socialist country on schedule.

Addressing a gathering marking the CPC's 105th founding anniversary in Beijing, Xi, also general secretary of the CPC Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, called on Party members to remain steadfast in their convictions and work tirelessly to fulfill the Party's missions in the new era and on the new journey.

Founded in 1921 against the backdrop of a weak China plagued by foreign humiliation and poverty, the CPC has grown from a small group of just over 50 members into the world's largest governing party with tremendous global influence.

Xi underscored the importance of meeting the goal of fully realizing socialist modernization by the middle of the century.

"Time stops for no one, and neither does history," he said.

CREATE HISTORIC FEATS

The whole Party must adhere to its basic theory, basic line and basic policy to "remain undaunted by passing clouds and stay on course through wind and waves," Xi said.

Stressing that the Party must rely closely on the people to create historic feats, Xi urged Party members to "further reinvigorate the enterprising spirit for getting things done."

He also called on the whole Party to actively respond to risks and challenges on the path ahead.

"China's development is now in a period where strategic opportunities coexist with risks and challenges, and where uncertain and unpredictable factors are on the rise. We must always be prepared to withstand major tests of high winds and raging waves, and even violent storms," he warned.

As profound changes unseen in a century accelerate, the world has entered a new period of turbulence and transformation, with humanity once again standing at a crossroads of choice, Xi said.

"We must continuously promote the building of a community with a shared future for humanity," he said.

Xi also stressed advancing full and rigorous Party self-governance with sustained efforts to win "the tough, protracted and all-out battle against corruption."

"It is imperative that all of us in the Party never forget our original aspiration and founding mission, that we always stay modest, prudent, and hard-working, and that we have the courage and ability to carry on our fight," he added.

According to the latest statistics, the CPC now has nearly 101.29 million members and over 5.43 million primary-level Party organizations.

At the gathering, Xi conferred the July 1 Medal, the Party's highest honor. Eight individuals received the honor this year, including a grassroots mediator, a veteran, a village Party official, a rural doctor, a community worker, an agricultural specialist, a mechanical engineering expert, and a petroleum refining engineering expert who was honored posthumously.

Outstanding Party members, Party workers, and primary-level Party organizations from across the country were also honored at the 3,000-strong gathering.

The event was attended by Li Qiang, Zhao Leji, Wang Huning, Cai Qi, Ding Xuexiang, and Li Xi -- all members of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee -- as well as Vice President Han Zheng.

FINE QUALITIES

In his address, Xi said the CPC boasts fine qualities with no parallel among other political parties and political forces.

He said the Party's endeavors over the past 105 years have fundamentally transformed the future of the Chinese people, blazed the right path toward the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation, demonstrated the strong vitality of Marxism, had a profound influence on the course of world history, and made the CPC a powerful Communist Party.

Under the CPC's leadership, China has become the world's second-largest economy, emerged as one of the world's fastest-rising innovators, raised the average life expectancy of its people to more than 79 years, and established the world's largest education, social security and healthcare systems.

The Party remains committed to seeking truth and always adheres to the right direction, Xi said, adding that it is deeply rooted in the people and always boasts a solid foundation.

He said the CPC courageously rises to its historic missions and always maintains the strategic initiative. It follows the trend of development and always remains at the forefront of the times.

Xi also praised the Party's courage and ability to fight, its unwavering confidence in victory, and its commitment to continuous self-improvement.

Having led the country to eradicate absolute poverty, the CPC has mapped out a blueprint to basically realize modernization by 2035 and build China into a great modern socialist country in all respects by the middle of the century.

Stressing the need to uphold the Party's absolute leadership over the armed forces, Xi urged efforts to achieve the goals for the centenary of the People's Liberation Army in 2027 and elevate the people's armed forces to world-class status at a faster pace.

He also called on the military to resolutely defend China's sovereignty, security and development interests, and make greater contributions to safeguarding world peace and development.

Promoting the long-term prosperity and stability of Hong Kong and Macao is essential to realizing national rejuvenation, Xi said.

Resolving the Taiwan question and realizing China's complete reunification are a historic mission and an unshakable commitment of the CPC, he said.

He pledged resolute actions to fight secessionists seeking "Taiwan independence," oppose external interference, and advance national reunification.

Four minors under 14 involved in a widely circulated stray dog abuse case in Jieyang, South China's Guangdong Province have been sent to specialized education facilities, local authorities said in a statement on Tuesday.

According to the statement, the Xinheng government launched investigations after videos showing minors abusing stray dogs in the town circulated online on Monday.

According to videos circulating on Weibo and shared by several media outlets and individual users, four children allegedly carried out a series of violent acts against a mother dog and her puppy, resulting in their painful deaths.

The statement said that local education authorities have ordered schools to strengthen education for the minors, while the parents or guardians of those involved have been urged to fulfill their supervisory responsibilities.

The authorities also called on the public to stop spread information related to the case, citing the involvement of minors, and urged netizens to refrain from cyberbullying, according to the statement. 

In addition to the cash assistance that China has provided to Venezuela, the Chinese government has decided to provide emergency supplies worth of 100 million yuan ($14.7 million) as donations that will be soon delivered to Venezuela in support of its disaster response and reconstruction effort, a Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson said on Monday.

A strong aftershock jolted Venezuela early Monday following last week's devastating back-to-back earthquakes, as civilians and emergency responders kept combing through the ruins of fallen buildings for survivors, the Associated Press reported. 

The ‌death toll from last week's twin earthquakes in Venezuela approached 1,500 people as foreign rescue teams poured into La Guaira, the hardest-hit state of the country, per Reuters on Sunday.

"Rescue and recovery efforts are ongoing," said Venezuelan Acting President Delcy Rodriguez on Sunday, adding that they have recovered people alive and operations are not being suspended. 

"We always maintain hope," Rodriguez said, after announcing a presidential commission that would determine the habitability of buildings, according to Reuters.

When asked about what disaster relief assistance China has provided to Venezuela as the death toll and injuries caused by the devastating earthquakes continues to rise, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun noted at the Monday press conference that China also provided satellite imagery to the quake zones for disaster response operations. Guo added that Chinese companies and associations of overseas Chinese in Venezuela voluntarily provided urgently needed machinery and medical supplies and set up rescue teams to actively search for survivors. 

Overseas Chinese in quake-hit Venezuela have donated relief supplies, according to the Chinese Embassy in Venezuela. The supplies were donated by the Federation of Chinese Associations in Venezuela and other Chinese community groups. The supplies, including bottled water, biscuits, diapers, milk, rice, sugar and fish, have benefited nearly 10,000 families affected by the disaster, Xinhua News Agency reported on Sunday. 

Xu Guocheng, secretary-general of the Federation of Chinese Associations in Venezuela, said that the federation has collected more than 500 tons of relief supplies to date, Beijing Daily reported on Monday.

Disaster relief supplies are primarily being sent to hard-hit areas in La Guaira State, where water, electricity and internet services remain cut off, Xu was quoted as saying.

Xu also said that the federation prioritized rescue efforts from the very start, adding that over 30 volunteers took part in relief work on Sunday, with the youngest being just 13 years old.

China's Ministry of Natural Resources organized a marine environmental survey in waters under China's jurisdiction east of China's Taiwan island from June 16 to 18 to gain a full understanding of the natural ecological conditions of the country's jurisdictional sea areas, Xinhua reported. According to Yuyuantantian, a social media account affiliated with China Media Group, this operation signifies that China's "nearshore governance model" now encompasses the natural resources sector, and that China is preparing for territorial spatial planning of the waters east of Taiwan island.

The survey is designed to assess the natural resources of the waters east of Taiwan island and lay the foundation for the development and conservation of marine territorial space. In the past, China's marine research activities in these waters were mostly one-time, specialized missions; however, this survey is being carried out as an annual routine survey, which in itself is a concrete measure for China to exercise its jurisdiction over these waters and take stock of all national natural resources. A full resource stocktaking will lay the groundwork for territorial spatial development and conservation.

As reported by Yuyuantantian, the operation featured China's first targeted surveys of avian and cetacean species in the area. This signals a shift from broad general surveys to detailed surveys targeting specific species and regions. It is foreseeable that more such in-depth surveys will be carried out in the years ahead.

Yuyuantantian cited experts as saying that future marine development will span marine industries, oil and gas exploration and development, and marine biopharmaceuticals and bioproducts. For conservation work, it will include marine ecological and environmental protection, source control of marine environmental hazards, and integrated governance of key sea areas.

Moving forward, authorities will also advance multi-dimensional tiered planning for marine economic utilization, including marine aquaculture at the surface-water and water-column levels, as well as cross-sea bridges, undersea cables and pipelines, and undersea tunnels at the seabed and subsoil levels.

The report noted that China is systematically carrying out and entrenching its lawful rights in the waters east of Taiwan island in line with exclusive economic zone provisions. The relevant waters east of Taiwan island and its affiliated islands fall within China's exclusive economic zone. All activities carried out by China in these waters are entirely legitimate acts within the scope of its sovereignty.

In recent times, China's approaches to exercising jurisdiction over these waters have kept expanding, including joint island encirclement drills, China Coast Guard law enforcement patrols, special maritime traffic law enforcement organized by the Ministry of Transport, to hydrographic surveys as well as regular resource surveys conducted by the Ministry of Natural Resources. The routine surveys conducted by the Ministry of Natural Resources serve the specific purpose of exercising China's sovereign rights over natural resources.

It is noteworthy that Japan and the Philippines recently bypassed China in launching the so-called maritime delimitation talks, which attempts to manipulate matters within the framework of exclusive economic zones. Through bilateral arrangements, the Philippines and Japan seek to establish fait accompli within China's waters and violate China's legitimate maritime rights and interests.

In addition, as reported by Yuyuantantian, during the routine surveys, certain forces even attempted to interfere with China's normal survey operations. Experts note that the PLA Navy and China Coast Guard serve as strong backing, and that various departments are coordinating their efforts to ensure the surveys proceed safely and in an orderly manner.

Yuyuantantian said that the Coast Guard undertakes maritime law enforcement tasks, while the Ministry of Natural Resources oversees resource and ecological management; each fulfills its respective duties and works in coordination to incorporate the waters east of Taiwan island into routine, systematic management. In the future, this coordinated governance model will be further refined, ensuring that every activity in the waters east of Taiwan island is conducted in a manner that is more lawful, compliant, standardized, and orderly, thereby providing solid support for safeguarding the nation's maritime rights and interests and promoting high-quality maritime

China's door to communication with Lithuania remains open. We hope Lithuania will take action as soon as possible, decisively correct its mistakes, return to the right track of adhering to the one-China principle, and create conditions for the normalization of China-Lithuania relations, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun said on Monday. 

He made the remarks when asked to confirm whether Lithuania has allowed China to establish a charge d'affaires office and whether relevant embassy operations will soon resume, as well as whether China would consider restoring bilateral diplomatic relations.

Guo noted that China has repeatedly stated its position on China-Lithuania relations. The current difficulties and the crux of the issue in bilateral ties stem from Lithuania's violation of the one-China principle and its abandonment of the political commitments it made in the joint communique on the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries.

Earlier in February, 2026, Lithuanian Prime Minister Inga Ruginiene said that her country's 2021 decision to host a "Taiwanese representative office" was a strategic mistake, according to Lithuanian National Radio and Television.

At that time, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said that "we hope that Lithuania can translate its willingness to improving bilateral ties into real actions and correct its wrongdoings at an early date."

Faced with profound and complex shifts in the international landscape, China stands ready to work with other BRICS members to jointly tackle the pressing challenges confronting humanity and stay firmly on the right course of world historical development, the country's top diplomat Wang Yi said.

Wang, a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and director of the Office of the Central Commission for Foreign Affairs, made the remarks when attending the 16th Meeting of BRICS National Security Advisors and High Representatives on National Security, where attendees had in-depth exchanges of views on addressing non-traditional security challenges, counter-terrorism, cybersecurity and other issues.

Noting that BRICS cooperation over the past 20 years has turned the grouping into a key pillar for global peace, development and justice, Wang called for BRICS commitment to upholding the international order, promoting multilateralism and unequivocally rejecting unilateralism and protectionism.

Standing at the forefront of the Global South, BRICS members need to take the lead in speaking up for justice and delivering fair outcomes, and elevate their standing and role in international affairs, Wang added.

To break the security deadlock through consensus, efforts should be made to advocate the vision of common, comprehensive, cooperative and sustainable security, firmly advance the settlement of hotspot issues via political means, and actively explore effective ways to resolve disputes via dialogue and consultation, Wang said.

Wang urged BRICS responses to global challenges, including resolutely combating all forms of terrorism, clearly opposing the militarization of outer space, effectively tackling global energy and food security risks, strengthening cooperation on strategic mineral resources, and jointly responding to the Ebola outbreak in Africa.

BRICS wisdom should be pooled to improve governance in emerging sectors, Wang said, urging vigilance against risks brought by artificial intelligence (AI), guidance of AI development in a sound direction, and support for the United Nations as the primary channel to advance global cyberspace and digital governance.

Noting that the BRICS mechanism draws its vitality from equality and mutual benefit, and its strength from solidarity and mutual assistance, Wang said China, which will assume the rotating BRICS chairmanship next year, stands ready to work alongside BRICS partners to open up a future of peace and prosperity for all.

The participating sides spoke highly of the unique role and remarkable achievements of the BRICS cooperation mechanism, vowing to defend the shared interests of the Global South, and work together to build a multipolar world featuring peace, security, fairness, justice, prosperity and development.

The maritime areas that Japan and the Philippines have announced for delimitation are located east of the island of Taiwan, where China possesses exclusive economic zones and continental shelves, Zhang Han, a spokesperson for the State Council Taiwan Affairs Office, told a regular press conference on Wednesday. 

Japan and the Philippines have bypassed China and unilaterally initiated so-called maritime delimitation negotiations, which seriously violates international law, including the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), as well as the basic norms of international relations, and gravely infringes upon China's maritime rights and interests, added Zhang.

Zhang's remarks came in response to the recent claims by Lai Ching-te, leader of the Taiwan region, that China is not a coastal state, has no rights to intervene in the Japan-Philippines exclusive economic zone negotiations and that China's legal operations by authorities including the China Coast Guard have fueled regional anxiety. 

The relevant departments on the mainland conducting law enforcement patrols in these waters in accordance with the law is entirely justified and necessary, and it is a righteous action to safeguard national sovereignty and maritime rights and interests, the spokesperson said.

The DPP authorities have turned a blind eye and feigned deafness to the infringing actions of Japan and the Philippines; instead, they have seized the opportunity to vigorously spread "Taiwan independence" separatist fallacies, inciting "anti-mainland" and "resisting mainland" sentiments, noted Zhang, adding that they have already become accomplices of external forces in harming the overall interests of the Chinese nation — vile, shameless, and destined to be held accountable.