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China highlights green achievements at COP30 side session
The event, held at the China Pavilion under the theme on ecological civilization and the practice of building a “Beautiful China,”, brought together senior Chinese officials and top United Nations climate leaders.
China’s Minister of Ecology and Environment (MEE) Huang Runqiu said at the event that the country has placed ecological civilization at an “unprecedented height” since 2012, integrating carbon reduction, pollution control, ecosystem restoration, and high-quality growth.
“China has created remarkable ecological and green development miracles,” he said, adding that the country will continue advancing ecological civilization with broader vision and stronger measures while implementing its national strategy and promoting the Global Development Initiative, Global Security Initiative, Global Civilization Initiative, and Global Governance Initiative, for tackling climate change, to help address climate change.
Other keynote speakers included the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) Executive Secretary Simon Stiell, the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) Executive Director Inger Andersen, Selwin Hart, Special Adviser to the UN Secretary-General on Climate Action and Just Transition, and China’s special envoy for climate change Liu Zhenmin.
Li Gao, China’s COP30 delegation head and vice minister of MEE, chaired the opening remarks session.
Li said China remains a “determined actor and major contributor to global green development,” and will continue constructive engagement in multilateral climate processes while upholding the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities. He called for strengthened unity to build “a clean, beautiful and sustainable world.”
Stiell described China as “a cornerstone of global climate action,” emphasizing its long-standing role in South-South cooperation and sustained commitment to dialogue under the Paris Agreement framework. He said China’s practical contributions have advanced international climate governance.
UNEP’s Andersen said China’s guiding concept that “lucid waters and lush mountains are invaluable assets” reflects “deep development wisdom.” She noted China’s global leadership in multiple sectors, including electric vehicle production and sales, declining energy intensity per unit of GDP, and the rapid expansion of its national carbon market. These achievements, she said, offer “valuable lessons to countries charting their own green transitions.”
Hart stressed that COP30 must become a “turning point” in humanity’s response to the escalating climate crisis. The first decade under the Paris Agreement has shown that climate goals are achievable, he said, urging nations to adopt stronger collective action over the next 10 years to bring global climate governance back on track.
Climate envoy Liu Zhenmin underscored the symbolic timing: the 10th anniversary of the Paris Agreement and the fifth year since China announced its carbon peaking and neutrality pledges. He highlighted China’s new nationally determined contribution unveiled on Sept. 24, which for the first time outlines economy-wide net emissions reductions after reaching carbon peak and details major accompanying actions. The updated commitments, he said, send a “strong signal of China’s firm resolve” to tackle climate change.
During the event, two reports that highlight China’s ecological civilization progress and its updated climate policy roadmap were released, providing new data and case studies on green development and climate action. In parallel, a public-interest song promoting environmental awareness was launched globally.
Hosted by the MEE and the Xi Jinping Thought on Ecological Civilization Research Center, the session aimed to share experience, build consensus, and support the COP30 agenda.
China News Network is a co-organizer of the side session.
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GoTyme Bank becomes the first digital bank in the Philippines to enable Apple Pay, expanding secure and seamless digital payments for 10 million customers
MANILA, PHILIPPINES – Media OutReach Newswire – 18 August 2026 – Paymentology, the leading global issuer processor, today announced the successful launch of Apple Pay for GoTyme Bank in the Philippines. Through this launch, GoTyme becomes one of the first issuers in the Philippine market to enable Apple Pay, giving 10 million customers an easy, secure and private way to pay using their Apple devices.
As one of the country’s fastest-growing digital banks, GoTyme continues to accelerate its digital payments strategy by expanding secure, seamless and convenient payment experiences for Filipino consumers. Customers can now securely add their GoTyme debit card to Apple Wallet and make contactless payments in stores, within apps and online wherever Apple Pay is accepted.
Apple Pay uses industry-leading tokenisation technology, meaning card numbers are never stored on devices or shared with merchants. Instead, a unique Device Account Number is assigned, with every transaction authenticated through Face ID, Touch ID or a device passcode, providing an additional layer of security while delivering a fast, frictionless checkout experience.
Nate Clark, President and CEO at GoTyme Bank commented: “At GoTyme Bank, we’re constantly looking for ways to make banking simpler, safer and more rewarding for our customers. Bringing Apple Pay to GoTyme Bank customers in the Philippines gives them an easy and secure way to pay wherever they shop while continuing to earn rewards points on all their transactions. This is another step in our commitment to making everyday banking more beautiful and convenient for our customers.
The launch comes as digital payments continue to reshape the Philippine economy. According to the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP), digital payments now account for more than half of all retail payment transactions, as consumers increasingly embrace mobile-first banking and contactless payments. Meanwhile, smartphone penetration continues to rise, supporting growing demand for digital wallets and tokenised payment experiences. As digital commerce accelerates, enabling secure mobile payments through services such as Apple Pay is becoming an increasingly important differentiator for financial institutions.
Minh-Ha Truong, Head of Growth, APAC at Paymentology, added: “As a long-standing partner to GoTyme, we’re proud to support another significant milestone in its growth journey. Bringing Apple Pay to market demonstrates how modern, cloud-native issuer processing enables digital banks to rapidly deliver innovative payment experiences while maintaining the highest standards of security, scalability and performance. Together, we’re helping shape the future of digital payments in the Philippines.”
The launch further strengthens GoTyme’s position as one of Southeast Asia’s leading digital banks and highlights the value of Paymentology’s cloud-native issuer processing platform in helping banks and fintechs rapidly introduce innovative payment capabilities that meet evolving customer expectations.
Hashtag: #Paymentology
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New Documentary Under the Hakka Liugdui Sun From Discovery to Debut on August 20 in Southeast Asia
Set against the sun-drenched landscapes of southern Taiwan, Under the Hakka Liugdui Sun highlights how the people of Liugdui have thrived alongside the land for over 300 years. Following local scholars, farmers, and artisans, the documentary explores how this community adapts its deep-rooted traditions—from water stewardship to food heritage—in response to environmental and economic change, offering vital modern insights on sustainability, rural revitalization, and cultural continuity.
Across three episodes—Water, agriculture, and food—the documentary explores how the people of Liugdui blend tradition with modern innovation. Viewers meet groundwater experts, farmers pioneering sustainable crops, and artisans repurposing local materials like betel nut, alongside culinary practitioners who preserve Hakka identity through ancestral rituals, communal feasts, and family traditions that unite generations.
Audiences will discover a community that views tradition not as something fixed in the past, but as a living legacy that continues to evolve. From innovative groundwater management and botanical dyeing to ritual feasts and modern interpretations of Hakka cuisine – the documentary celebrates the creativity, resilience, and values that have sustained Liugdui for centuries.
Under the Hakka Liugdui Sun premieres in Southeast Asia on Discovery Channel, Thursday, August 20 at 7:10pm; TLC Channel, Monday, August 24 at 7:10pm; and Discovery Asia, Tuesday, August 25 at 9:25pm.
Hashtag: #Discovery
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About Discovery Channel
The launch press conference broke away from tradition with a vibrant runway show featuring celebrity “Hot Spring Travel Navigators,” including acclaimed chef Edward Lee from Netflix’s Culinary Class Wars, visual identity creative director Yen Po-Chun, TSUTAYA BOOKSTORE Taiwan Chairman Kazuma Otsuka, and actor-host Andrew Chau. Together with local businesses, they showcased regional agriculture, specialties, and lifestyle products.
The official launch celebration kicks off on September 4 at Guguan Park in Taichung, featuring a themed parade with over 500 participants and the lighting ceremony for the Lishan–Guguan Light Art Festival, which stars a massive eight-meter “OhBear” light installation. The festivities continue on September 5 with a guided tribal trekking tour in Guguan, offering participants an exclusive NT$500 accommodation discount.
To promote four-season wellness tourism globally, the campaign partners with the East Asia Hot Spring Association for an international symposium on September 4. Key promotions also include complimentary LINE POINTS for new followers, curated packages starting at NT$299, and a flash sale of 800 limited NT$1 Hot Spring Vouchers for the Double 11 Shopping Festival. Furthermore, cross-sector collaborations offer half-price entry to national forest areas, limited-edition Taiwan Railway bento boxes, and Guanziling mud spring skincare products to enrich the travel experience.Hashtag: #TaiwanFourSeasonSprings
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