UNEP welcomes China to international decarbonization initiative

An official with the United Nations Environment Programme has welcomed China’s participation in an international initiative that aims to decarbonize the building sector,saying it offers the opportunity for China to share its valuable experiences and insight on promoting green buildings.Jonathan Duwyn,program officer of UNEP’s buildings and construction cities unit,made the remarks in a recent interview with China Daily,following the launch of the Buildings Breakthrough on Dec.6at COP28United Nations climate change conference in Dubai,the United Arab Emirates.

"Australian Companies Remain Committed to the China Market"——Exclusive Interview with David Olsson,President and Chairman of Australia China Business Council

This year marks the10th anniversary of the establishment of the comprehensive strategic partnership between China and Australia,and the development of bilateral relations are getting back on the right track.Recently,David Olsson,President and Chairman of the Australia China Business Council,stated his comments,when accepting an exclusive interview with China's Foreign Trade.

Yu Xiangzhi:Presenting Working People's Enthusiasm and Dedication in the New Era via Paintings

In recent years,artist Yu Xiangzhi has focused on the new outlook of the working people in the new era and created a series of portraits called "Paean to Heroes",presenting working people's enthusiasm and dedication in the new era with paintings.He hopes that this series of works can resonate with the public,who will pay more attention to the life and working conditions of grassroots workers.Recently,this magazine has interviewed Yu Xiangzhi and talked about the story behind the creation of his "Paean to Heroes"series of oil paintings.

A Chinese Century

China’s reform and opening-up policy has brought what many generations had toiled for-prosperity,security,and their country’s rightful place in the world.FOR me,China’s reform and opening-up policy,which celebrated its 45th anniversary in 2023,is not an abstract concept.As a child,I spent a few weeks in China with my parents in the mid-1980s.Then in 2011,I made a four-week trip,and in January 2017,I flew in again for a job interview,followed by a mini holiday.

Facilitating Trade Across Borders

“The Government Work Report noted that‘development of the New International Land-Sea Trade Corridor will be accelerated’,”stated Wei Zhaohui,member of the Standing Committee of the 14th National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference(CPPCC)and director-general of the Guangxi International Expo Affairs Bureau,in an interview after the Second Session of the 14th National People’s Congress on March 5.

Strengthening Exchange and Mutual Learning Between China and the Rest of the World

CPPCC member Du Zhanyuan gives an exclusive interview to China Today on how to enhance international communication and tell positive stories of Chinese modernization.AS an ancient Chinese philosopher said,“Amity between peoples holds the key to sound state-to-state relations.”This is often cited by President Xi Jinping to emphasize the importance of exchanges and mutual learning of civilizations in the development of international relations.

German Überzeugt in China

In this exclusive interview,Michael Schumann,chairman of the Board of the German Federal Association for Economic Development and Foreign Trade,discusses Sino-German trade relations and the“out-of-proportion”debate on Xinjiang.

Therapeutic Communication Methods Targeting Families and Family Members: A Literature Review

Background and Purpose: Therapeutic communication is a new term in family health care nursing, defined by Hohashi (2019) as a method of family intervention, and characterized by inclusion of not only verbal conversation but also nonverbal interaction. However, specific therapeutic communication methods have not been systematized. The purpose of this study was to clarify therapeutic communication methods for families/family members from the perspectives of verbal communication and non-verbal communication through a review of existing literature. Methods: We conducted a search using the medical literature databases PubMed and Ichushi-Web using the keywords “therapeutic communication”. Analysis was performed on seven articles from PubMed and 14 articles from Ichushi-Web that described therapeutic communication methods performed by healthcare professionals for families/family members. Through directed content analysis, therapeutic communication methods were subcategorized, and classified into three categories: verbal communication, non-verbal communication, and verbal/non-verbal communication. Results: A total of 23 subcategories were extracted. Verbal communication included 11 subcategories, such as “asking questions using the communicatee’s words as they are”. Non-verbal communication included five subcategories, such as “noticing changes in the content of the communicatee’s story”. And verbal/non-verbal communication featured seven subcategories, such as “making the communicatee aware of one’s own beliefs”. Conclusion: Therapeutic communication methods included basic care/caring in family interviews/meetings, as well as verbal communication and non-verbal communication that act on family/family members’ beliefs. It is believed that changes in family/family members’ beliefs can be used to eliminate, reduce, or improve problematic conditions in the family. .

Higher Ambitions

This year marks the 65th anniversary of the establishment of the diplomatic relations between China and Sudan.The two countries have enjoyed friendly cooperation throughout these years,and have broadened engagements in various fields in recent years.In an interview with ChinAfrica,Sudan’s Ambassador to China Omer Mohamed Ahmed Siddig talks about the need to lift the relationship to a new high.Edited excerpts of the interview follow.

Participatory Forest Management and Gender Inclusiveness within the Community Forest Management Groups of Bhutan

Community forest management groups (CFMGs) in Bhutan exhibit participatory forest management practices that recognize the importance of community’s collective participation in the management of natural forest resources. This approach involves the community in the stewardship of designated forest areas and resources to ensure sustainable livelihoods and realization of forest conservation objectives. The increase of CFMGs in the country has been successful. However, research on the extent of gender-inclusive participation in CFMGs is either insufficient or missing vis-à-vis the allocation of decision-making power. Therefore, this study analyzes the factors influencing gender participation in CFMGs and their integration into decision-making processes. Primary data were collected from 12 study sites spanning 4 regions, complemented by secondary data from the Forest Department. Regression models were used to identify factors significantly influencing CFMG member participation in decision-making. The empirical results of this study reveal that gender is a significant factor influencing participation in CFMG decision-making. The study concludes that there is insufficient participation of women members in decision-making processes. Therefore, consideration of gender should be included in the development phase of the CFMG policy in addition to promoting awareness of inequity between gender and the promotion of leadership roles for women in CFMGs.

职面试小技巧

Prepare well before you go to a job interview.First,understand the company's goals.Then it will be easierto answer questions about them.Second,learn about the job.Third,practice answering common intervie wquestions.Fourth,wear nice clothes and arriveat your interview on time.And after the interview.

The Impact of Street Interviews on Chinese EFL Undergraduates’Intercultural Communicative Competence

The study adopts Byram’s Intercultural Communicative Competence(ICC)model as the theoretical framework,and structured interviews were conducted to explore the impact of street interviews on the participants’ICC.Analysis results revealed street interviews help students acquire knowledge in intercultural attitudes,intercultural knowledge,skills of discovery and interaction,and critical cultural awareness,aligning with the four components of Byram’s ICC model.Meanwhile,they have positive perceptions of street interviews.Therefore,street interviews have a positive effect on the development of participants’ICC.

The Psychosomatic Traits of“People with the Five Elements in Traditional Chinese Medicine”:A Qualitative Study

Objective To identify the representative attributes of the five elements of a person with a qualitative methodology and provide the basis for the clinical diagnosis and treatment of“people with the five elements in traditional Chinese medicine(TCM).”Methods Data collected from the literature review,two sessions of brainstorming of experts with related experience in“people with the five elements in TCM”from October 2020 to December 2020,and six rounds of in-depth interviews with 30 participants who had various attributes of the five elements from March 2021 to October 2021 were analyzed.Triangulation was used in this study,and theming and synthesizing were used to analyze the data.Results A total of 31 experts and 30 interviewees participated in this study.The median age of the experts and interviewees were 48.0 and 38.5 years,respectively;51.66%and 54.8%of experts and interviewees,respectively,were men.The descriptors of facial diagrams of“people with the five elements in TCM”were complexion,shape,distribution state of facial bones,convergence trend of facial muscles,and facial expression.A theoretical model of“people with the five elements in TCM”was shaped based on these findings.Conclusion The study suggests a possibility for bridging the gap between personality and bodily state,identifying an avenue for personality research from the perspective of TCM.

Prevalence of posttraumatic stress disorder following acute coronary syndrome and clinical characteristics of patients referred to cardiac rehabilitation

BACKGROUND Studies have demonstrated that patients who have experienced acute coronary syndrome(ACS)have an increased risk of developing posttraumatic stress disorder(PTSD)and experiencing worse survival outcomes than those who do not develop PTSD.Nevertheless,the prevalence rates of PTSD following ACS vary widely across studies,and it is noteworthy that in most cases,the diagnosis of PTSD was based on self-report symptom questionnaires,rather than being established by psychiatrists.Additionally,the individual characteristics of patients who develop PTSD after ACS can differ widely,making it difficult to identify any consistent patterns or predictors of the disorder.AIM To investigate the prevalence of PTSD among a large sample of patients undergoing cardiac rehabilitation(CR)after ACS,as well as their characteristics in comparison to a control group.METHODS The participants of this study are patients who have experienced ACS with or without undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention and are enrolled in a 3-wk CR program at the largest CR center in Croatia,the Special Hospital for Medical Rehabilitation Krapinske Toplice.Patient recruitment for the study took place over the course of one year,from January 1,2022,to December 31,2022,with a total of 504 participants.The expected average follow-up period for patients included in the study is about 18 mo,and currently ongoing.Using self-assessment questionnaire for PTSD criteria and clinical psychiatric interview,a group of patients with a PTSD diagnosis was identified.From the participants who do not have a PTSD diagnosis,patients who would match those with a PTSD diagnosis in terms of relevant clinical and medical stratification variables and during the same rehabilitation period were selected to enable comparability of the two groups.RESULTS A total of 507 patients who were enrolled in the CR program were approached to participate in the study.Three patients declined to participate in the study.The screening PTSD Checklist-Civilian Version questionnaire was completed by 504 patients.Out of the total sample of 504 patients,74.2%were men(n=374)and 25.8%were women(n=130).The mean age of all participants was 56.7 years(55.8 for men and 59.1 for women).Among the 504 participants who completed the screening questionnaire,80 met the cutoff criteria for the PTSD and qualified for further evaluation(15.9%).All 80 patients agreed to a psychiatric interview.Among them,51 patients(10.1%)were diagnosed with clinical PTSD by a psychiatrist according to Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders criteria.Among the variables analyzed,there was a noticeable difference in the percentage of theoretical maximum achieved on exercise testing between the PTSD and non-PTSD groups.Non-PTSD group achieved a significantly higher percentage of their maximum compared to the PTSD group(P=0.035).CONCLUSION The preliminary results of the study indicate that a significant proportion of patients with PTSD induced by ACS are not receiving adequate treatment.Furthermore,the data suggest that these patients may exhibit reduced physical activity levels,which could be one of the possible underlying mechanisms in observed poor cardiovascular outcomes in this population.Identifying cardiac biomarkers is crucial for identifying patients at risk of developing PTSD and may derive benefits from personalized interventions based on the principles of precision medicine in multidisciplinary CR programs.

Tree-based ecosystem services supply and multifunctionality of church forests and their agricultural matrix near Lake Tana,Ethiopia

Ecosystem services(ES)are the connection between nature and society,and are essential for the well-being of local communities that depend on them.In Ethiopia,church forests and the surrounding agricultural matrix supply numerous ES.However,the ES delivered by both land use types have not yet been assessed simultaneously.Here we surveyed both church forests and their agricultural matrices,aiming to quantify,compare and unravel the drivers underlying tree-based ES supply,density and multifunctionality.We found that almost all church forests and half of the agricultural matrices provided high ES densities.ES multifunctionality was higher in the agricultural matrices,suggesting that people deliberately conserve or plant multifunctional tree species.Furthermore,the supply of all categories of ES was positively correlated with church forest age(p-value<0.001)in the agricultural matrix,while the extent of church forest was positively correlated with the density of all categories ecosystem services score in the church forests(p-value<0.001).Our results can be used to prioritize conservation efforts at sites that provide high levels of ES supply,ES density and ES multifunctionality,and to prioritize restoration efforts at sites with low levels thereof.

Medical consultation in ulcerative colitis:Key elements for improvement

Ulcerative colitis(UC)is a chronic inflammatory disease with a high impact.In order to improve patient outcomes,the clinician-patient relationship in daily practice is critical.Clinical guidelines provide a framework for UC diagnosis and treatment.However,standard procedures and the medical content focused upon medical consultations in UC patients has not yet been defined.Moreover,UC is a complex disease,given that patient characteristics and patient needs have been proven to vary during clinical consultation since establishing the diagnosis and upon the course of the disease.In this article,we have discussed the key elements and specific objectives to consider in medical consultation,such as diagnosis,first visits,follow-up visits,active disease patients,patients on topical therapies,new treatment initiation,refractory patients,extra-intestinal manifestations,as well as challenging situations.The key elements have been mentioned to comprise effective communication techniques,motivational interviewing(MI),as well as information and educational aspects,or organizational issues.The key elements to be implemented in daily practice were reported to comprise several general principles like duly prepared consultations,in addition to honesty and empathy with patients,as well as effective communication techniques,MI,information and educational points,or organizational issues.The role of other healthcare professionals such as specialized nurses,psychologists,or the use of checklists was also discussed and commented on.

China’s Investors Demonstrate Confidence in Thailand——Exclusive Interview with Mr.Narit Therdsteerasukdi,Secretary General of BOI

China is a key strategic partner of Thailand and plays a vital role in the Thai economy through investment,trade,and tourism.This year marks a decade since the establishment of the Comprehensive Strategic Cooperative Partnership between the two countries.Recently,Mr.Narit Therdsteerasukdi,Secretary General of BOI,participated in an exclusive interview with China’s Foreign Trade magazine to share his views on bilateral investment and future prospects.

Views on Global Civilisation Initiative by Sinologists

Sinologists all over the world have spoken highly of the Global Civilisation Initiative since it was proposed by President Xi Jinping.They expressed their readiness to contribute wisdom and strength to the implementation of the Initiative.This article is composed of interview excerpts of 16 sinologists from 14countries.

New International Economic and Trade Rules Strengthens the Confidence of Foreign Investors

Entering 2023,direct investment from overseas enterprises and institutions has been shifting towards the service industry,which is now one of the most popular sectors for foreign investment.At a recent seminar themed“Benchmarking International Standards and Promoting Trade Facilitation”,Mr.Yu Bo,Managing Partner of integrated business consulting of PwC China,said in an interview that:“Expanding high-level opening-up of the service industry requires more active exploration into aligning with new international economic and trade rules,which can be done by early and pilot implementation in some areas.”

Rachel Wang(Wang Xiaorui):A Legend Who Never Gave Up On Her Dreams,Creating Bridges For Sino-Foreign Cultural Exchanges

“Life is like climbing a mountain,scaling one mountain after another.A person should never be satisfied and should always be ready to accept new challenges;there is no obstacle that cannot be overcome.Continuing our ascent and enjoying the stunning scenery from the perilous peaks gives our life meaning,”said Rachel Wang(Wang Xiaorui by Chinese),President of Hollywood Pictures International(Hong Kong)Ltd.,when talking about the secret of her business success in a recent exclusive interview with China’s Foreign Trade.