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Translation. Region: Russian Federation –

Source: People's Republic of China in Russian – People's Republic of China in Russian –

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Source: People's Republic of China – State Council News

HARBIN, Jan. 13 (Xinhua) — As China vigorously develops its ice and snow economy to boost consumption, domestic winter sports gear and equipment makers are seeking to rapidly grow their sales and catch up with foreign brands that have long dominated the sector.

This trend was on full display at the 2026 Harbin International Ice and Snow Economy Expo, which lasted three days and brought together more than 300 winter sports equipment and gear manufacturers from over 20 countries and regions.

Amid the excitement, it has become clear that Chinese companies are leveraging local manufacturing expertise and a rapidly growing domestic market to boost their competitiveness.

The exhibition concluded in Harbin, the capital of Heilongjiang Province, northeast China, last Thursday. Domestic manufacturers from the country's burgeoning winter sports sector showcased high-performance gear and equipment, ranging from futuristic driverless snow blowers and carbon fiber skis to solid-state batteries resistant to low temperatures.

Li Zhibo, CEO of Harbin-based Qianmao Snow Dragon Sports Equipment Co., Ltd., unveiled a sleek black snowboard at the exhibition. "This is a competition board we specially designed for athletes on the Chinese national team," he said.

According to him, the new snowboard model is made of aerospace-grade composite materials, making it lighter and more durable, and half the price of imported equivalents. The new model is expected to debut at the Winter Olympic Games in Milan and Cortina, which will be held from February 6 to 22 this year.

Founded in 2002, Qianmao Snow Dragon Sports Equipment Co., Ltd.'s full range of ski products is available at 80 percent of China's ski resorts.

Li Zhibo also noted that government support for the development of the ice and snow economy, as well as the Asian Winter Games being held in Harbin in 2025, present excellent growth opportunities for domestic manufacturers of winter sports equipment and gear.

At the exhibition, Bingxuehuanteng Sports Equipment Technology /Harbin/ Co., Ltd. introduced 13 new products using aerospace-grade carbon fiber, which makes them lighter than similar products without compromising strength, which attracted the attention of many ski enthusiasts and industry insiders.

Qin Wenbao, the company's product manager, said the company has established partnerships with Chinese R&D centers and universities such as the Harbin Institute of Technology to enhance its competitiveness.

Yu Yang, president of Beijing Carving Ski Sports Development Group Co., Ltd., said that China is a newcomer to the global winter sports equipment and gear industry, so it will take time for domestic companies to establish themselves in the global market.

Despite the presence of TechnoAlpin, the world's leading snow removal machine manufacturer, at the exhibition, Yu Yang noted that the Chinese company had nevertheless found a market niche for its new product – an energy-efficient and environmentally friendly snow removal machine.

The global supply chain is also looking to exploit new opportunities amid China's winter tourism boom.

Italian company TechnoAlpin, which holds about 60 percent of the global market for manual and fully automatic snowmaking systems, reported that about 90 percent of China's ski resorts use its snowmaking machines.

Shen Yumei, marketing director of the company's China division, pointed out that the winter sports boom in China gives global enterprises greater confidence in the market.

"We plan to build the world's fourth-largest equipment and gear center in China, which will serve other Asian markets. The company's advanced technologies and expertise in ice and snow will contribute to the rapid development of the winter sports industry in China," he added.

According to a report by the China Tourism Academy, published at the Winter Tourism Development Forum in Harbin earlier this week, ice and snow tourism in China is entering a "new stage of sustainable development." The organization estimates that by the end of 2025, the sector will have over 14,000 enterprises, an 11 percent increase year-on-year.

In 2025, the scale of China's ice and snow economy will exceed 1 trillion yuan (about 143 billion US dollars), which is almost 4 times the 2015 volume of 270 billion yuan. -0-

Please note: This information is raw content obtained directly from the source. It represents an accurate account of the source's assertions and does not necessarily reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

Translation. Region: Russian Federation –

Source: People's Republic of China in Russian – People's Republic of China in Russian –

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Source: People's Republic of China – State Council News

Beijing, January 13 (Xinhua) — The Russian State Academic Choreographic Ensemble "Beryozka" named after N. S. Nadezhdina gave a captivating concert from January 9 to 10 in Zhuhai, southern China's Guangdong Province, concluding its anniversary tour, which marked the 70th anniversary of the ensemble's first tour to China in 1955.

According to Chinese media, the ensemble's tour this time included three Chinese cities: from January 2nd to 3rd, they performed at the National Center for the Performing Arts of China (known as the National Grand Theater of China) in Beijing; from January 6th to 7th, in Nanchang (the capital of Jiangxi Province, eastern China); and then from January 9th to 10th, in Zhuhai, a key city in the economically vibrant Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area in southern China. Audiences in each city warmly welcomed the artists, bestowing thunderous applause and expressing genuine admiration for their Russian performing skills.

The Beryozka Ensemble has a long history of friendly ties with China. During its first visit to China in 1955, the ensemble gave 28 concerts in Beijing, Shanghai, and other cities, sparking a boom in the popularity of Russian art in China. The Beryozka Ensemble then visited China again in 1965, creating a memorable episode in the annals of Sino-Soviet friendship. In 2018, the ensemble's round dances graced the stage of China Central Television's traditional Lunar New Year gala concert, leaving a lasting impression on Chinese audiences.

As reported, during their recent tour of China, the dancers of the Beryozka ensemble were able to participate in cultural events and excursions in their free time. Specifically, in the Chinese capital, they visited the Beijing Dance Academy and interacted with the Youth Dance Troupe of this "Chinese cradle of choreographers." In a relaxed and focused atmosphere, the dancers from both countries overcame the language barrier and used "sign language" to initiate a sincere artistic dialogue. In Zhuhai, they visited the ancient cultural and historical village of Tangjia, where they held an interactive training session with artists performing the authentic Guangdong Yueju opera.

The Beryozka Ensemble was founded in 1948, when it gave its first professional performance at the Moscow Hermitage Summer Variety Theatre, performing the Russian girls' round dance "Beryozka." The ensemble was created by Soviet ballet master and choreographer Nadezhda Nadezhdina, who created such choreographic compositions as "The Swan," "The Chain," "The Spinning Top," and "Sudarushka"—more than 40 folk-based stage works in total.

According to Russian publications, the Beryozka ensemble has performed in more than 80 countries worldwide. It has been calculated that, over the years of the ensemble's concert activity, its round dances, with their famous "floating" step, have traveled a distance greater than the equator (more than 40,000 km).

Please note: This information is raw content obtained directly from the source. It represents an accurate account of the source's assertions and does not necessarily reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

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Source: People's Republic of China in Russian – People's Republic of China in Russian –

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Source: People's Republic of China – State Council News

BEIJING, Jan. 13 (Xinhua) — China's position on maintaining the stability and security of global supply chains for key minerals remains unchanged, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said on Tuesday, adding that at the same time, China believes all parties share responsibility for this.

Mao Ning made the statement at a regular departmental press conference in response to a request to comment on the report that G7 finance ministers on Monday agreed on the need to speed up the reduction of dependence on China for key minerals. -0-

Please note: This information is raw content obtained directly from the source. It represents an accurate account of the source's assertions and does not necessarily reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

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Source: People's Republic of China – State Council News

NANJING, Jan. 13 (Xinhua) — A total of 915 China-Europe/Asia freight trains carried a total of 75,030 standard containers from the China-Kazakhstan logistics base at Lianyungang Port in east China's Jiangsu Province in 2025, maintaining its leading position in the province.

Officially commissioned on May 19, 2014, the China-Kazakhstan Logistics Base at Lianyungang Port is the first concrete project under the Belt and Road Initiative between China and Kazakhstan, and a key international logistics hub at the eastern starting point of the new Eurasian transcontinental bridge.

According to data, during the 14th Five-Year Plan period (2021-2025), the total number of China-Europe/Asia freight train departures from this base increased from 2,994 during the 13th Five-Year Plan period to nearly 4,000, achieving an average annual growth rate of over 10%. It has now become a key logistics hub linking East Asia, Central Asia, and Europe through five major border crossings in the western region of the country, including Khorgos, Alashankou, and Kashgar (Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, Northwest China). In addition, this base serves six routes to five Central Asian countries and provides services to over 100 cargo terminals across Eurasia.

Since the beginning of 2025, the aforementioned base, focusing on the services of the aforementioned trains, has been steadily working to create stable and efficient bilateral logistics corridors. Specifically, the first dedicated train for transporting photovoltaic modules departed from here, and an innovative model for transiting wheat from Kazakhstan using end-to-end container delivery was applied here. Furthermore, thanks to the intermodal transport data platform within the new Eurasian land-sea transport corridor, real-time visual tracking of freight trains was ensured in 16 countries in Asia and Europe. These efforts contribute to the smooth and stable operation of production and supply chains between countries participating in the Belt and Road Initiative.

Westbound freight trains deliver mechanical engineering equipment and electronics to Central Asian markets, while eastbound freight trains transport new types of cargo, such as gold concentrate and chrysotile asbestos. In particular, transit shipments of potassium chloride and urea firmly hold leading positions in the country in terms of volume, contributing to the development of the cross-border transport architecture "Central Asia – Lianyungang – Japan, Southeast Asia, and the Republic of Korea."

Please note: This information is raw content obtained directly from the source. It represents an accurate account of the source's assertions and does not necessarily reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

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Source: People's Republic of China in Russian – People's Republic of China in Russian –

An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

Source: People's Republic of China – State Council News

BEIRUT, Jan. 13 (Xinhua) — The United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) said late Monday that Israeli tanks fired shells at peacekeepers in southern Lebanon, calling the move a serious violation of UN Security Council Resolution 1701.

A UNIFIL statement said peacekeepers observed two Israeli Merkava tanks advancing from an Israel Defense Forces (IDF) position in Lebanon near the town of Sarda into Lebanon earlier on Monday. Despite the peacekeepers' demands to halt their advance, the Israeli tank fired three shells, two of which landed approximately 150 meters from the peacekeepers.

According to the statement, when UN personnel retreated for safety, they "continued to be targeted by the tanks' laser designators." The tanks retreated after approximately half an hour, and no casualties were reported.

UNIFIL said it had informed the IDF in advance of the activity in the area in accordance with standard patrol procedures near the Blue Line, and that such attacks on clearly designated peacekeeping forces carrying out their tasks were becoming more frequent.

UNIFIL called on the IDF to ensure the safety of peacekeepers and stop attacks on them, noting that such actions undermine regional stability.

Please note: This information is raw content obtained directly from the source. It represents an accurate account of the source's assertions and does not necessarily reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

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Source: People's Republic of China in Russian – People's Republic of China in Russian –

An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

Source: People's Republic of China – State Council News

Astana, January 13 (Xinhua) — The availability of clean drinking water in Kazakhstan's populated areas has reached 100 percent, Deputy Minister of Industry and Construction Kuandyk Kazhkenov announced at a government meeting. This was reported by the Kazinform news agency on Tuesday.

According to the Deputy Minister, the target set by the head of state to ensure full access to drinking water by the end of 2025 has been achieved as a result of comprehensive efforts to develop water supply infrastructure. Since 2021, approximately 835 billion tenge has been allocated from the budget for the implementation of more than 1,600 projects.

As K. Kazhkenov explained, centralized and decentralized water supply systems currently cover all 90 cities and 6,087 rural communities in the country, with a population of approximately 7.5 million. Of these, 96 percent of the rural population is served by centralized water supply, while the remainder relies on water treatment units, individual wells, or water delivery to sparsely populated and remote villages.

The government also announced that work to modernize water supply and wastewater disposal systems will continue as part of the national project "Modernization of the Energy and Utilities Sectors" for 2025-2029. Approximately 1.9 trillion tenge in investment is planned for these purposes, including budgetary funds and debt financing. As a result, by 2030, the depreciation rate of water supply networks is expected to be reduced to 33 percent, and that of wastewater disposal networks to 41 percent.

Particular attention is being paid to the digitalization of the industry. According to the Deputy Minister, the country plans to install more than 3.6 million smart water meters between 2026 and 2028. At the same time, the National Water Resources Information System is being developed, which will integrate data from 11 state information systems and ensure digital water resource management.

Please note: This information is raw content obtained directly from the source. It represents an accurate account of the source's assertions and does not necessarily reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

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Source: People's Republic of China in Russian – People's Republic of China in Russian –

An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

Source: People's Republic of China – State Council News

BEIJING, January 13 (Xinhua) — China is closely monitoring the developments in Iran and will take all necessary measures to ensure the safety of Chinese citizens in that country, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said at a regular ministry press conference on Tuesday.

On Monday, the US State Department called on its citizens to leave Iran immediately. In response to the request, Mao Ning stated that China hopes Iran can maintain national stability and supports the country in its efforts to do so.

"China always opposes interference in the internal affairs of other countries and the use or threat of force in international relations. China hopes that all parties will do more to promote peace and stability in the Middle East," she added.

Please note: This information is raw content obtained directly from the source. It represents an accurate account of the source's assertions and does not necessarily reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

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Source: People's Republic of China in Russian – People's Republic of China in Russian –

An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

Source: People's Republic of China – State Council News

Beijing, January 13 (Xinhua) — China's position on tariff-related issues is crystal clear: there are no winners in tariff wars, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said at a regular ministry press conference on Tuesday.

China, she said, will firmly defend its legitimate rights and interests.

The Chinese diplomat made the statement after US President Donald Trump said on Monday that any country doing business with Iran would pay a 25 percent tariff on any transactions with the US. -0-

Please note: This information is raw content obtained directly from the source. It represents an accurate account of the source's assertions and does not necessarily reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

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Source: People's Republic of China – State Council News

HEFEI, Jan. 13 (Xinhua) — Volkswagen Group delivered 2.69 million vehicles to the Chinese market last year, accounting for about 30 percent of the company's global sales, according to the automaker.

In 2025, Volkswagen sold 2.57 million internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles in China and delivered a batch of next-generation electric and intelligently connected vehicles, including the Audi Q6L, e-tron and AUDI E5 Sportback.

According to Volkswagen Group China, last year the company successfully implemented its export strategy and delivered its first batch of products to the Middle East market. Volkswagen reportedly plans to further expand its export business to ASEAN, the Middle East, Central Asia, Latin America, and Africa.

By 2026, Volkswagen Group China plans to introduce more than 20 models of fully electric vehicles, plug-in hybrid electric vehicles, and extended-range electric vehicles equipped with advanced driver assistance systems to the Chinese market. -0-

Please note: This information is raw content obtained directly from the source. It represents an accurate account of the source's assertions and does not necessarily reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

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Source: People's Republic of China in Russian – People's Republic of China in Russian –

An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

Source: People's Republic of China – State Council News

Beijing, January 13 (Xinhua) — Renowned Tajik fashion designer Umed Kuchkaliyev showcased his collection at the 12th Harbin International Fashion Week, which has been underway since January 9 in Harbin, the capital of Heilongjiang Province, northeast China.

According to the Heilongjiang Daily, designers from over 30 countries, including China, the UK, Germany, France, Tajikistan, and others, are participating in this international fashion week. They present collections that harmoniously blend centuries-old cultural traditions with global trends. Through a seamless blend of clothing, music, lighting, and fashion shows, viewers are treated to exclusive premieres distinguished by their vibrant visual expression.

The organizers have developed three key themes: "Professional Fashion Week," "Fashion Journey on Ice and Snow," and "Citywide Consumption Festival." Through a comprehensive program—four fashion show categories, two creative salons, two competitions, a city tour, and a shopping festival—Harbin showcases its dynamic energy as a "fashion capital" and "city of charm."

Please note: This information is raw content obtained directly from the source. It represents an accurate account of the source's assertions and does not necessarily reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.