The 16th session of the Standing Committee of the 14th National People's Congress, which concluded on Friday, voted to remove Miao Hua from his position as a member of the Central Military Commission (CMC), according to the Xinhua News Agency on Friday. 

China Central Television reported on November 28, 2024 that Miao, also director of CMC's Political Work Department, was suspended from his post due to suspected serious violations of discipline.

China strongly condemns the US attacks on Iran and bombing of nuclear facilities under the safeguards of the International Atomic Energy Agency, a Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson said on Sunday.

The spokesperson made the remarks when asked to comment on US President Donald Trump's announcement that the United States carried out strikes on three nuclear facilities in Iran.

The actions of the United States seriously violated the purposes and principles of the UN Charter and international law, and have exacerbated tensions in the Middle East, the spokesperson said.

China calls on the parties to the conflict, Israel in particular, to reach a ceasefire as soon as possible, ensure the safety of civilians, and start dialogue and negotiation, the spokesperson said.

China stands ready to work with the international community to pool efforts together and uphold justice, and work for restoring peace and stability in the Middle East, the spokesperson said.

On June 21, 2025, the summer solstice bathes Mohe - China's northernmost city nestled at the northern tip of China's "rooster-shaped" map in Heilongjiang Province - in over 21 hours of daylight.

Tucked beneath the northern slopes of the Great Khingan Mountains, this region - China's northernmost and highest-latitude borderland, encompassing Mohe and six other counties - boasts the unique allure of being the "Arctic of China" or "the city of extreme cold."

Known for its "northernmost" distinction and frigid winters that can dip to -53 C, Mohe enjoys cool summers with average temperatures below 20 C. A viral song "Mohe Ballroom" has thrust this remote city into the spotlight, drawing travelers to witness the aurora, experience polar day, and step into the iconic ballroom. Here, the "Arctic of China" shines as a vibrant hub of cultural exchange, a city that "never sleeps."
A song opens a window to the world

As evening falls, the sky in Mohe remains aglow. At the polaris square in Mohe, perched atop 153 steps at the city's highest point, the "North Star sculpture" welcomes visitors from afar. Along the bustling commercial street below, buildings with rounded or pointed rooftops evoke an exotic charm.

On the basement floor of a commercial street in the bustling downtown area, the melody of "Mohe Ballroom" rings out every hour, narrating a timeless love story. Under the flicker of a disco ball, dancers sway in a hall frozen in the nostalgic style of the 1980s and 1990s.

The song weaves the tale of an elderly man in Mohe who dances alone in the Mohe Ballroom, a place where couples used to sway together when they were young. Under the name Zhang Dequan, he dedicates his solitary dance to his late wife, a passionate dancer who died in a devastating forest fire in Mohe in 1987.

From May 6 to June 2, 1987, the Great Khingan Mountains in Heilongjiang Province experienced the most devastating forest fire since the founding of the People's Republic of China. The blaze consumed 1.01 million hectares, with nearly 70 percent being forested land, destroying over 800,000 cubic meters of timber in storage yards and forests. More than 50,000 people were affected, 211 lost their lives, and 266 were injured, with direct economic losses exceeding 500 million yuan ($69.5 million), according to data released by the Chinese government.

"This soulful song has become a cultural window, lifting our quiet border town into the world's gaze," said Li Jinbao, the ballroom's operator. As the song gained traction, visitors flocked to the town. Once a modest venue for local dance enthusiasts, the hall now buzzes during peak seasons, hosting hundreds daily, including foreign tourists.

Li flips through his phone, showing videos of travelers from diverse backgrounds dancing and singing together. "Last time, a group from South Africa joined us in a circle dance - so lively!" he recalled to the Global Times. "We may not share a common language, but the connection flows through the music and movement."

On global social media, the song transcends borders, with English, Russian, Spanish, and Japanese versions resonating widely. A Brazilian netizen shared translated lyrics on TikTok, marveling, "Such powerful words! What kind of snow-covered land births such fervent emotions?" The song's reach is fueling Mohe's vitality.

Local tourism data shows a surge in inbound visitors over the past year, especially from Europe, the US, Japan and South Korea. Seizing the moment, Mohe has launched the "Aurora and Melody" travel routes, which blend visits to dance halls, aurora viewing, and experiences of forest culture.

"Before, we had clear off and peak seasons. Now bookings pour in year-round, with many requesting the Mohe Ballroom," Du Chunyan, a local travel agency operator, told the Global Times.

French backpackers Emily said, "The song's tale of a distant, heartfelt northern China drew us here. Standing in the real dance hall, imagining that lone dancer who never stops, feels like touching the song's soul."
A bakery bears witness to cultural harmony

Long before Mohe gained its current fame, this border town was no stranger to cultural exchange - stories of the blending of Chinese and foreign cultures had been unfolding on its soil for decades.

A 130-kilometer drive north from the city leads to Beihong village, a hamlet cradled by mountains. Home to 256 residents across 131 households, including 119 descendants of Russian ancestry, the village exudes Russian flair, according to local government.

Along a riverside path by the Heilongjiang River, matryoshka dolls dot the scenery, and villagers with "foreign faces" speak fluent local dialect. The low, staggered wooden cabins, built in the Russian "mukeleng" style - a term blending Chinese and Russian for log-framed houses - stand as proud relics.

Village elders recount Beihong village's origins in the late Qing Dynasty (1644-1911), when a gold rush drew settlers, forming a natural community. Proximity fostered Chinese-Russian intermarriages, blending customs and architecture.
Li Chunhua, 73, a doctor at the village clinic for 53 years, who has a tall bridge on her nose and deep-set eyes, descends from Russian grandmothers. "As a child, I loved the Basque Festival that marks the resurrection of Jesus. Families made delicacies, danced, and sang together - it was pure joy," she recalled. "My grandmother danced gracefully to the harmonica, teaching me her steps."

Daily life here merges traditions of Northeast China with Russian elements, especially in cuisine - Russian-style jams, pickled cabbage and suba soup pair delightfully with steamed buns and local dishes.

Near Beihong village's main street, there is a cartoon statue of "Bakery Auntie." Inside the "Russian Bakery," the aroma of sweets fills the air as Zhao Yinhua, nearly 60, busies herself by the oven. "Many families here know how to make Russian lieba (the Chinese transliteration of rye bread in Russian)," she told the Global Times, showing her ingredients.

"My mother-in-law who has Russian ancestry taught me to gather wild hops in autumn frost for authentic, additive-free lieba," she said. Her bread, loved by locals and tourists, sells over 200 loaves daily at peak times. "It's labor-intensive - fermenting overnight, adding flour every few hours. Even in Russia, this craft is rare now," Zhao told the Global Times. "I want to keep it alive as a testament to our shared heritage."

'Mixed-style' homestays offer warm cultural exchange

In the famed Arctic village, landmarks like "Northernmost Home," "Northernmost Dumpling House," and "Northernmost Post Office" delight visitors seeking the "farthest north." Across the Heilongjiang River, Russia's Ignashino village lies in view, its "mukeleng" houses echoing those on China's side.

Sun Cuirong, a third-generation Chinese-Russian villager, runs "Russian Home" homestay. She pours steaming black tea and serves rye lieba slices for the reporters. "Winters used to be our only season for running the homestay business, but now we're busy year-round. Guests love our 'mixed' vibe - it's authentic and memorable," she said. The family-recipe Russian snacks like large dumpling pies and burdock pickles, paired with iron-pot stews, offer visitors a distinct cultural experience.

Such homestays, embracing this fusion, have been flourishing in the village in recent years. At another homestay, host Li Na greets cyclists from Central China's Hunan Province. Her rooms blend Chinese amber and Hezhe fish skin art with Russian samovars and Northeast floral curtains. Hezhe ethnic group, which was once the only fishing and hunting community in northern China, traditionally used fish skin and bones to make clothes, shoes and decorations due to their long-standing fishing heritage.

In Li's homestay guestroom, amber and purple-gold ornaments in Chinese aesthetic style adorn the table, a fish-skin painting by the Hezhe ethnic group hangs on the wall, a vintage Russian samovar stands in the corner, and the flower-patterned cloth curtains commonly seen in northeast China form an interesting contrast with the Russian-style lace tablecloths.

"Sleeping in a 'mukeleng' room and waking to China's northernmost forests is poetic," she said.

Shanghai visitor Chen and his family recently stayed there. Morning light filtered through Russian-patterned window frames, carrying the scent of fresh lieba. "The kids were thrilled to brew tea in a samovar. At night, by the fireplace, the host played the accordion and taught us the famous Russian song 'Katyusha' under a tranquil sky," Chen told the Global Times. His wife admired the details: "Russian dolls alongside paper-cut window decorations commonly used in Northeast China, lieba with corn porridge - it sparked our kids' curiosity beyond any textbook."

Leaving a note in the guestbook, they wrote: "Pine-scented log walls and Russian folk tunes from an old radio blur time's boundaries. Outside, a Chinese national flag flies at the northernmost outpost. This fusion warms the heart."

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Monday urged China and Germany to deepen mutually beneficial cooperation and jointly oppose unilateralism and protectionism.

Wang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, made the remarks during his phone call with German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul.

Wang congratulated Wadephul on assuming office, saying that China-Germany relations carry significance beyond the bilateral scope and exert an important influence on global economic development and strategic stability.

Noting that China and Germany share a comprehensive strategic partnership, Wang expressed his hope that the new German government will maintain this position and pursue a rational and pragmatic policy towards China.

Emphasizing that the Taiwan question concerns China's core interests, Wang said he believes that the German side will firmly adhere to the one-China principle, just as China has supported Germany's reunification.

For China and Germany, whose economies are highly complementary, industries deeply intertwined and interests closely integrated, deepening mutually beneficial cooperation is a natural choice, said Wang, stressing that both sides should prevent the undermining of normal bilateral cooperation in the name of so-called "de-risking."

This year marks the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between China and the European Union (EU), which is an important juncture bridging the past and the future, said Wang, expressing his hope that Germany will play an active role as a core major country of the EU, and inject fresh momentum into the development of China-EU relations through high-quality China-Germany cooperation.

China expects that the EU will work with the Chinese side in the same direction, properly resolve the anti-subsidy case involving Chinese-made electric vehicles (EVs) at an early date, and promote the upgrading of China-EU cooperation in both quality and scale, he said.

China and Germany should shoulder their responsibilities as major countries, jointly advocate and uphold free trade, jointly oppose unilateralism and protectionism, safeguard the security and stability of global industrial and supply chains, practice true multilateralism and uphold the international system with the United Nations at its core, he added.

For his part, Wadephul said that the relationship between Germany and China is of great significance to the world economic development and the future of the international community, adding that the new German government attaches great importance to relations with China and is willing to pursue a proactive policy towards China.

Germany has firmly adhered to the one-China policy and will continue to do so, and is willing to be a reliable and predictable partner of China, he said.

Taking a leading role in the EU, Germany is willing to devote itself to resolving differences through dialogue and consultation, and supports the EU and China in resolving issues such as the anti-subsidy case against China's EVs through negotiations, Wadephul said.

The two sides also exchanged views on the Ukraine crisis. Wang said that China has been committed to promoting peace talks and supports reaching a fair, lasting and binding peace agreement through direct dialogues.

Wadephul said he hopes that China will exert its influence to push for a ceasefire and bring the Ukraine crisis to an early end.