Category Archives: Indepth

China, Chinese circle, Indepth, Life, Scientific Research

2018’s Sjöberg Prize awarded for unique treatment that cures a once fatal cancer

Leave a comment

ByXuefei Chen Axelsson

Stockholm, Feb. 6 (Greenpost)–The Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences has decided to award the Sjöberg Prize 2018 to

Zhu Chen, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, China,Anne Dejean, Institut Pasteur and Inserm, Paris, France andHugues de Thé, Collège de France, Paris, France“for the clarification of molecular mechanisms and the development of a revolutionary treatment for acute promyelocytic leukaemia.”

The Sjöberg Prize 2018, worth one million US dollars, is awarded to cancer researchers Zhu Chen, Anne Dejean and Hugues de Thé. They have succeeded in curing one of the deadliest forms of cancer using a unique treatment method that is based on arsenic and retinoic acid. This method shows how cancer treatment is becoming more targeted as we learn more about the mechanisms responsible for the disease.

The Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences has decided to award the Sjöberg Prize 2018 toZhu Chen, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, China,Anne Dejean, Institut Pasteur and Inserm, Paris, France andHugues de Thé, Collège de France, Paris, France“for the clarification of molecular mechanisms and the development of a revolutionary treatment for acute promyelocytic leukaemia.”

Using the treatments available in the 1980s, more than 75 per cent of patients with acute promyelocytic leukaemia died within two years. With the current treatment, nine out of ten patients are cured. Illustration: Mattias Karlén, the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences.
Using the treatments available in the 1980s, more than 75 per cent of patients with acute promyelocytic leukaemia died within two years. With the current treatment, nine out of ten patients are cured. Illustration: Mattias Karlén, the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences.

This year’s Sjöberg Laureates have developed a new and targeted treatment for a specific form of blood cancer called acute promyelocytic leukaemia. It was once one of the deadliest forms of cancer, but it is now possible to cure nine out of ten patients who receive the new treatment.

The treatment is unique because it is the first standard treatment for acute leukaemia that does not include chemotherapy. Instead, a combination treatment is used, which consists of a form of vitamin A, “all-trans retinoic acid”, also called ATRA, along with arsenic trioxide.

The idea of using arsenic comes from traditional medicine, but this method has been scientifically tested and proven in this form. The Laureates have made this revolutionary development possible by methodically mapping the molecular mechanisms responsible for the disease. By identifying a specific genetic mutation and aiding the destruction of a faulty protein in specific cells, it was possible to stop the process that resulted in death for three out of four patients. This treatment means the cancer cells disappear because they lose the ability to renew themselves.

These discoveries have been made in stages since the 1980s, and the treatment’s effects have been confirmed in numerous scientific studies. In many countries, this treatment combination is now the first choice of treatment for acute promyelocytic leukaemia.

The three Laureates remain very active in the field of cancer research. Anne Dejean now primarily dedicates her research to continuing her studies of liver cancer, and to investigating the significance of protein modification in how cancer develops. Hugues de Thé is interested in the potential for producing treatment methods for cancer that combine stimulating the cancer cells’ maturation and blocking their ability to renew themselves, while Zhu Chen is investigating genetic and molecular changes in other forms of leukaemia.

The hope is that the Sjöberg Prize, which mainly comprises research funding, will pave the way for further progress, leading to cures for more forms of cancer.

“It is really a great honour for me to share with Dr. de Thé and Dr. Dejean the prestigious 2018 Sjöberg Prize, which recognises important contributions to cancer research,” says Professor Zhu Chen, Shanghai Jiao Tong University.

“This prize means not only the glory, but even more importantly a responsibility, a responsibility for me, my team and our collaborators to continue efforts in the understanding of disease mechanisms of other types of haematological malignancies and to develop innovative, effective therapeutic strategies against those diseases through collaboration with other partners,” Professor Zhu Chen concludes.

Anne Dejean, Professor at Institut Pasteur and Research Director at Inserm, comments on the Prize:

“I feel deeply honoured and, at the same time, very privileged to join the company of the prior recipients, whom I hold in great esteem.”

“This is a wonderful recognition of our contribution to the understanding of the molecular and cellular basis for a severe form of leukemia and its efficient cure, that will foster future development of highly effective oncogene-targeted therapies founded on similar approaches.”

Hugues de Thé, Professor at Collège de France:

“This is the recognition of thirty years of work that ends up in daily clinical practice, as well as more than twenty years of tight collaboration and friendship with the Chinese group.

“This prize also recognizes a certain vision of medicine, shared with Zhu Chen, that is based on curiosity and goes from clinical observations, uncompromising basic science and feedback, to patient care. Freedom to search is one of the founding values of Collège de France, my home institution.”

The Laureates

Zhu Chen, Professor at Shanghai Jiao Tong University, China, Ph.D. in 1989 from Saint-Louis Hospital, Paris Diderot University, France. Born in 1953 in Shanghai, China.
Zhu Chen, Shanghai Jiao Tong University

Anne Dejean, Professor at Institut Pasteur and Research Director at Inserm, Paris, France, Ph.D. in 1983 from Institut Pasteur, Paris, France. Born in 1957 in  Cholet, France.
Anne Dejean, Institut Pasteur

Hugues de Thé, Professor at Collège de France, Paris, France, Ph.D. in 1989 from Université Paris VI, France. Born in 1959 in Marseille, France.
Hugues de Thé, Collège de France

Further information about the prize

The prize is awarded by the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences and funded by the Sjöberg Foundation. The foundation was founded in 2016 by businessman Bengt Sjöberg, who donated two billion Swedish krona for the purpose of promoting scientific research that focuses on cancer, health and the environment.

 

Exchange, Indepth, News

Global arms industry: First rise in arms sales since 2010, says SIPRI

Leave a comment
 Xuefei Chen Axelsson
STOCKHOLM, Jan. 22(Greenpost)– Global arms sales increased 38 percent since 2002, according to Stockholm International Peace Research Institute report issued in December.

Global arms industry: First rise in arms sales since 2010, says SIPRI

The F-35 Lightning II, produced by Lockheed Martin Corporation, the company at the top of SIPRI’s Top 100. Photo: Flickr/Jasper Nance.

Sales of arms and military services by the world’s largest arms-producing and military services companies—the SIPRI Top 100—totalled $374.8 billion in 2016, according to new international arms industry data released today by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI).

The total for the SIPRI Top 100 in 2016 is 1.9 per cent higher compared with 2015 and represents an increase of 38 per cent since 2002 (when SIPRI began reporting corporate arms sales). This is the first year of growth in SIPRI Top 100 arms sales after five consecutive years of decline.

US companies increase their share of total arms sales in 2016

At a combined total of $217.2 billion, arms sales of US companies listed in the SIPRI Top 100 grew by 4.0 per cent in 2016. US military operations overseas as well as acquisitions of large weapon systems by other countries have driven this rise. Arms sales by Lockheed Martin—the world’s largest arms producer—rose by 10.7 per cent in 2016, which was decisive to the increase in the USA’s share of overall SIPRI Top 100 sales to 57.9 per cent. ‘With the acquisition of helicopter producer Sikorsky in late 2015 and higher delivery volumes of the F-35 combat aircraft, Lockheed Martin reported significant growth in its arms sales in 2016,’ says Aude Fleurant, Director of SIPRI’s Arms and Military Expenditure Programme.

The rise in sales and the number of US military services companies ranked in the SIPRI Top 100 are noticeable trends in 2016. Some of these companies have increased their sales through the acquisition of the military services divisions of larger arms producers. This was the case for Leidos, for example, which acquired Lockheed Martin’s information technology and technical services businesses in 2016.

Arms sales by companies in Western Europe remain stable, but trends diverge

The combined arms sales of companies in Western Europe listed in the SIPRI Top 100 remained stable in 2016 at a total of $91.6 billion—an increase of 0.2 per cent compared with 2015. However, the trends for arms sales in the largest arms-producing countries— namely the United Kingdom, France, Italy and Germany—displayed clear divergences. There were overall decreases in the arms sales of Trans-European, French and Italian companies, while companies in the UK and Germany recorded overall increases.

‘Germany’s 6.6 per cent increase in arms sales for 2016 is mainly due to the growth in sales of armoured vehicle producer Krauss-Maffei Wegmann (12.8 per cent) and land systems producer Rheinmetall (13.3 per cent),’ says SIPRI Senior Researcher Pieter Wezeman. ‘Both companies have benefited from demand for arms in Europe, the Middle East and South East Asia.’

The UK’s decision to withdraw from the European Union did not seem to have an impact on the arms sales of British companies, which rose by 2.0 per cent in 2016. The arms sales of BAE Systems, the fourth largest arms producer globally, remained stable (up by 0.4 per cent). The highest growth in arms sales by a British company (43.2 per cent) was recorded by GKN, an aerospace components manufacturer.

Russian arms sales grow, but pace of increase slows

The combined arms sales of Russian companies listed in the SIPRI Top 100 increased by 3.8 per cent, amounting to $26.6 billion in 2016. Russian companies accounted for 7.1 per cent of the overall total. ‘The major economic difficulties experienced by Russia in 2016 have contributed to a slowdown in the rate of increase in the arms sales of Russian companies,’ says SIPRI Senior Researcher Siemon Wezeman.

Among the 10 Russian companies listed in the SIPRI Top 100, the trends in arms sales are mixed: five companies recorded sales growth, while the other five showed decreases. The highest ranked Russian company in the SIPRI Top 100 for 2016 is United Aircraft Corporation, which is placed 13th. Its arms sales grew by 15.6 per cent compared with 2015 due to increased deliveries to the Russian armed forces and higher export volumes.

 South Korea dominates arms sales by emerging producers

SIPRI’s ‘emerging producers’ category covers companies based in Brazil, India, South Korea and Turkey. The trend in this category for 2016 is dominated by the 20.6 per cent overall increase in the arms sales of South Korean companies, with total sales amounting to 8.4 billion. ‘Continuing and rising threat perceptions drive South Korea’s acquisitions of military equipment, and it is increasingly turning to its own arms industry to supply its demand for weapons,’ says Siemon Wezeman. ‘At the same time, South Korea is aiming to realize its goal of becoming a major arms exporter.’

 Falling Japanese arms sales drive decline in other established producers’ total

SIPRI’s ‘other established producers’ category covers companies based in Australia, Israel, Japan, Poland, Singapore and Ukraine. The combined arms sales of companies in these countries fell by 1.2 per cent in 2016, largely driven by an overall decrease in the arms sales of Japanese companies (–6.4 per cent). Japan’s largest arms companies experienced sharp falls in 2016: Mitsubishi Heavy Industries’ arms sales decreased by 4.8 per cent, while those of Kawasaki Heavy Industries and Mitsubishi Electric Corporation declined by 16.3 and 29.2 per cent respectively.

 The SIPRI Arms Industry Database

The SIPRI Arms Industry Database was created in 1989. It contains financial and employment data on arms-producing companies worldwide. Since 1990, SIPRI has published data on the arms sales and employment of the 100 largest of these arms-producing companies in the SIPRI Yearbook.

‘Arms sales’ are defined by SIPRI as sales of military goods and services to military customers, including sales for domestic procurement and sales for export. Changes are calculated in real terms and country comparisons are only for the same companies over different years.

China, Chinese circle, culture, Energy, Environment, Exchange, Green-tech, Indepth, News, Scientific Research, Sport

Long Yuxiang Meets SCEA President Zhang Qiaozhen in Stockholm

Leave a comment

By Xuefei Chen Axelsson

STOCKHOLM, Jan. 16(Greenpost)—Visiting CPPCC member and Executive Director of China International Cultural Communication Center Long Yuxiang has met Zhang Qiaozhen, President of Sweden-China Entrepreneur Association in Stockholm on Jan. 13, 2018. They have exchanged ideas on promoting cooperation between China and Sweden in cultural, economic and sports sectors especially in ice hockey.

Zhang Qiaozhen has expressed warm welcome and deep gratitude  to Long Yuxiang’s visit. She said that SCEA is an information exchange platform for Swedish and Chinese entrepreneurs and was established on November  2015.  It mainly focuses on  environmental protection, energy saving technology, clean energy, biomedicine, life science, electronic information etc.

Zhang Qiaozhen said SCEA will try its best to provide a friendship bridge across the border and cultures between the two sides. It is a platform for scientific research, finance, trade and talented people. In the areas of  winter sports in particular ice hockey, China has made a great leap forward development in recent years and are looking forward to 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics.

Zhang said SCEA hopes to be able to join hands with China International Cultural Communication Center to do its best in ice hockey cooperation and 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics.

Long Yuxiang has thanked Zhang Qiaozhen for her contribution in pushing forward  exchanges and cooperation between the two sides. He said Sweden is an important country in Europe and the largest country in Nordic region. It has advanced economic and technological development. Its Swedish Model in social governance is well-known in the world.

Long said Sino-Swedish friendship has had a long history and Sweden is the first western country in the world to establish diplomatic relations with China.  In recent years, Sino-Swedish relations developed steadily and cooperation in various fields are deepened. As an important window for China to conduct cultural exchange with foreign countries, China International Cultural Communication Center has been engaged in making national cultural brand, holding the responsibility of attracting foreign culture towards the future, and established friendly relations with 130 countries in the world.

“President Xi Jinping has paid important attention to ice hockey development and made a series of directories for hosting 2022 winter Olympics. Kunlun Red Star Ice Hockey Club was established on June 25, 2016 witnessed by both Chinese and Russian Presidents. It symbolizes the birth of the first Chinese World class Ice Hockey Club. Since its establishment, it has seriously implemented Xi Jinping’s important mandate in order to promote Chinese Ice Hockey team to achieve excellent achievements in Winter Olympics. It has made great progress in improving Chinese ice hockey teams’ overall level. It also takes “belt and road” initiative as its mission to promote sports and culture exchanges. ”

Long Yuxiang said his center is more than willing to exchange and cooperate with Sweden-China Entrepreneur Association in promoting bilateral cultural , economic and sports especially ice hockey exchange and cooperation.

Yue Xinyu, founder of Beijing Kunlun Red Star Ice Hockey Club, Zhang Shouting, Nordic Sustainable Development Association, Zhang Shaobin, President of Shenzhen Kong Wah Real Estate Group, Zhang Shenhua, President of Shenzhen Xinyu Fund and Zhang Luping, General Manager of Rongtai Investment AB were also present at the meeting.

Photo/text Xuefei Chen Axelsson

Exchange, Indepth

Video: Sweden-China Cultural Economic Sports Summit Forum held in Stockholm

Video Leave a comment

By Xuefei Chen Axelsson

STOCKHOLM, Jan. 14(Nordicchineseonline) — Sweden-China Cultural Economic Sports Summit Forum was held in Stockholm on Jan. 13, 2018. The following are the main part of the forum.

Huang Sisi and Zhang Yue introduce guests.

Sweden-China Entrepreneurs Association President Zhang Qiaozhen welcomes guests.

Chinese Ambassador Gui Congyou made a keynote speech at the forum.

Swedish Djurgården IF Hockey Club Vice CEO K.G. Stoppel.

Long Yuxiang, Executive Director of China International Cultural Communication Center made a keynote speech about China’s preparation on 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics and China’s will to cooperate with Sweden.

Filmed by Xuefei Chen Axelsson

 

 

Business, China, Energy, Environment, Exchange, Indepth, News, Scientific Research, World News

SIPRI Expert on chances and challenges on cooperation of Ice Silk Road

Leave a comment

By Xuefei Chen Axelsson

STOCKHOLM, Jan. 11(Greenpost)– Chinese President Xi Jinping has put up forward a proposal about cooperation in Ice Silk Road along arctic routes as the ice in the arctic is melting faster and faster.

Greenpost has a chance to have a  written interview with Ekaterina Klimenko, Researcher and SIPRI expert on Arctic Security. The following is the Q & A.

1.     What are the chances and challenges in the cooperation of this ice Silk Road, or Northern Sea Route for China?

 Traditionally, Russia has been reluctant to allow non-Arctic states to play a strong role in Arctic region, including in economic projects. However, a number of factors have shifted Russia’s policies, among them significant shifts in the world energy markets and sanctions. This allowed for great China’s involvement, first of all, into oil and gas development in the Russia Arctic zone. Moscow and Beijing has significantly expended Chian’s investments in to the joint project on the Yamal peninsular, Yamal LNG.

 The Russian government officials and the President Putin personally have on a number of occasions encourages Asian partners, and China in particular, to look at the Northern Sea Route as a possible alternative shipping route. However, over the last couple years China, and other Asian states, is also seen as investors into the construction of the NSR infrastructure. E.g. in a Joint Statement signed by Chinese Premier Li Keqiang and Russian Prime Minister Medvedev in December 2015, it was highlighted that the two sides would cooperate in developing the NSR into a competitive commercial sea route in the future. On several occasions Dmitry Rogozin, the head of Russia’s State Commission for Arctic Development, has mentioned that Russia and China are discussing cooperation on the NSR.

 Among the major challenges at the moment remains the fact that the Russian Government has still not defined the future of many infrastructure projects along the NSR. It is therefore unclear whether any of the projects will actually be implemented. Thus, despite the evident enthusiasm of Russian officials for fostering Chinese participation in infrastructure projects, this type of cooperation remains ‘on paper’ and does not go further than official statements and signed MOUs.

2.     How will this affect the Arctic countries?

It is too early to say at the moment how Russia China cooperation on the Northern Sea Route would affect the other Arctic states, as there is not much progress with it. I think we will see much more in the next 5-10 years.

 3.     How will it affect the environment?

Expansion of any economic activity in the Arctic brings the risks for environment. Growing shipping along the NSR, especially shipping of hydrocarbons creates significant risks for oil spills.

 4.     How can China participate in projects along the route?

 We have already 2 examples of how China can participate in the projects: the construction of the Belkomur railway and the deep-water harbour in Arkhangelsk. In 2015 Chinese Poly Technologies Inc. signed an agreement to invest in the development of the Belkomur railway and in the future to be responsible for its operation. . The project is believed to have a cost frame of more than 200 billion roubles (€2.67 billion). Poly Technologies has reportedly also expressed an interest in participating in construction of the new deep-water harbour in Arkhangelsk.[1]

I think we will see more of this type of partnerships.

Thank you. 

 

China, Chinese circle, Exchange, Indepth, News, Opinion

Kinesiska ambassadör Gui Congyou: Att främja den traditionella vänskapen för att fördjupa vår gemensamma nytta

Leave a comment

STOCKHOLM, Dec. 14(Greenpost)– Gui Congyou, Kinesiska ambassadören  i Sverige har skrivit en artikel om relation mellan Kina och Sverige.  Han kom till Sverige den 18 i augusti, 2017.

Att främja den traditionella vänskapen för att fördjupa vår gemensamma nytta

 Jag är ärad för att bli den tjugonde kinesiska ambassadören i Sverige.

Fast Kina och Sverige är geografiskt långt ifrån varandra, är vår vänskap lång och väletablerad. Så tidigt som 1739 kom kinesiskt porslin, silke och te längs den maritima sidenvägen till Sverige, när Ostindiefararen Götheborgs seglade till Kina. Vi kommer alltid ihåg att Sverige inte deltog i västmakternas invasion och plundring när Kina var svagt sårbart. Vi kommer alltid ihåg att Sverige var det första västlandet som upprättade diplomatiska förbindelser med Folkrepubliken Kina. Det politiska modet och den strategiska visionen av dåtidens svenska ledare var beundransvärt. Vi kommer ihåg att Sverige stöttade Kinas rättsliga plats i FN. Och efter Kinas reform och öppnande, blev Sverige en gång till det första västlandet som undertecknade handels-och investeringsavtalet med Folkrepubliken Kina och därefter aktivt utförde ekonomiska och tekniska samarbeten, vilka bidrog mycket till Kinas ekonomiska och samhälleliga utveckling.

Nuförtiden har relationen mellan Kina och Sverige ständigt utvecklats. Juni 2017 besökte Sveriges statsminister Stefan Löfven Kina för World Economic Forum, där han träffades med Kinas president Xi Jingping och premiärminister Li Keqiang och nådde viktiga överenskommelser om att vidare fördjupa kännedom och pragmatiska samarbete med hänsyn till principer av respekt och jämlikhet. Sådana viktiga överenskommelser kommer att utforma framtidens kinesiska-svenska förhållande. Samtidigt finns frekvent bilaterala besökt på alla nivåer, i år har 6 svenska minister besökt Kina och 30 kinesiska delegationer över vice-ministers nivå kommit till Sverige.

Sakliga samarbeten mellan Kina och Sverige håller fart. I många år har Sverige varit Kinas främsta affärspartner i Norden och Kina Sveriges största i Asien. Från januari till augusti i år steg handelssiffran mellan Sverige och Kina med 19.3%, och uppgick till 12.17 miljarder US Dollar. Samtidigt ökade Sveriges export till Kina med 27.9% med en överskott av 690 miljoner US Dollar. Volvo och Geely har skapat tiotusentals jobb i och blivit ett gott exempel på samarbete mellan Kina och Sverige till och med Europa.

Kina och Sverige har skapat 31 par vänorter, mellan städerna stärkts utbyte och samarbete djupare. Enligt SCB:s statistik är antal hotellövernattningar av kinesiska turister i Sverige 203 000 i 2014, 258 000 i 2015, 323 000 i 2016 och 336 000 från januari till oktober i år. Kinesiska turister är nu den största kundgruppen av tax-free handel i Sverige. Juni 2017 undertecknades det första utbildningsavtal mellan två stater och nu finns det över 8000 kinesiska gäststudenter i Sverige. Det kinesiska kulturcentret i Stockholm spelar en viktig roll i att förmedla den kinesiska kulturen och traditionell konst.

Sedan jag anlände till Sverige den 18 augusti i år har jag haft omfattande kontakt med den svenska regeringen och samhället. Jag känner att den goda relationen mellan Kina och Sverige ännu kan förbättras, och står inför viktiga möjligheter.

Vi har liknande utvecklingslinjer och är ekonomiskt komplimenterande till varandra. Den 19:e nationella kongressen för det kinesiska kommunistiska partiet har framgångsrikt avslutats av nya utvecklingsambitioner fastställts. Under President Xi Jingpings stadiga ledarskap har Kina sjösatt 5 nya utvecklingskoncept som är innovation, balanserad tillväxt, en grön ekonomi, öppnande och inkluderande utveckling. Det kinesiska folkets önskemål för det goda livet kommer att förverkligas och arbetet för moderniseringen av Kina skall träda intill en god period.

De närmaste fem åren kommer Kina att importera mer än 8 biljoner dollar av varor, och investera mer än 750 miljarder dollar utomlands. Antal turister som reser utomlands kommer att vara fler än 500 miljoner. Under de kommande tio åren planerar Kina att investera nästan 600 miljarder dollar i den gröna ekonomin. The Belt and Road initiativet kommer att öppna upp en ny betydelsefull möjlighet för att utveckla samarbete mellan     Kina och Sverige.

Våra två länder har omfattande överenskommelser och mycket gemensamma intresse när det gäller internationella frågor. Vi är fast beslutna att upprätthålla det globala frihandelssystemet. Vi motsätter oss protektionismen och främjar en öppen världsekonomi. Vi aktivt deltar i multilaterala handlingarna för klimatfrågan och främja genomförande av Parisavtalet. Vi är starkt engagerade i världsfred, stabilitet och säkerhet, förespråkar dialog som verktyg för att lösa problem och vi är båda starkt mot alla former av terrorism.

Att främja en sund, stabil och hållbar utveckling av förbindelserna mellan Kina och Sverige handlar inte bara om de två länderna och dess folk, utan också att främja en allsidig utveckling av förbindelserna mellan Kina och EU samt världsfred, stabilitet och välstånd.

Relationen mellan Kina och Sverige står inför en ny historisk utgångspunkt. Som Kinas ambassadör till Sverige vill jag tillsammans med mina svenska vänner implementera våra ledares viktiga överenskommelser på grund av principer av ömsesidigt respekt och jämlikhet samt gemensam nytta. Vi skall fördjupa samförstånd och vidga samarbeten, främja kulturella utbyten och stärka överläggningar i globala och regionala frågor. Tillsammans skapar vi en bättre framtid för det kinesiska svenska samarbetet, och ett bättre liv för våra folk.

Redaktör Xuefei Chen Axelsson.

Indepth, Life, News, World News

Swedish Chinese TV: 2017 Right Livelihood Prize issued in Vasa Museum

Video Leave a comment

By Xuefei Chen Axelsson

STOCKHOLM, Dec. 1(SCT, Greenpost) –2017 Right Livelihood Prize has been issued to Robert Bilott (USA), Colin Gonsalves (Indien), Khadija Ismayilova (Azerbajdzjan) and Yetnebersh Nigussie (Etiopien) by Kenya Human Rights activist and UN rapportage Maina Kiai. Khadija ISmayilova from Azerbajdzjan could not come out, but she showed up in video on Dec. 1. The issuing ceremony was held in the beautiful Vasa Museum.

Filmed by Xuefei Chen Axelsson

 

China, Chinese circle, culture, Exchange, Indepth, Life, News, Scientific Research

Top story: China-Sweden 2017 The Belt and Road Acupuncture-Moxibustion and Chinese Medicine Forum held in Stockholm

Leave a comment

By Xuefei Chen Axelsson

STOCKHOLM,  Nov. 25 (Greenpost) —  China-Sweden 2017 The Belt and Road Acupuncture-Moxibustion and Chinese Medicine Forum was held in Stockholm on Saturday.  Over 100 Chinese medicine and Acupuncuture-Moxibustion experts and practitioners participated in the forum.

Gui Congyou, Chinese Ambassador to Sweden spoke at the opening ceremony.  Photo by Lyu Cheng.

Gui said Chinese President Xi Jinping has pointed out in his 19th CPC National Congress report that China should insist on paying attention to both Chinese and western medicine, carrying forward Chinese Medicine. Xi stressed that people should take Belt and Road Initiative as a key starting point to introduce western expertise to China  and go out to discuss further cooperation with the west, consolidating innovation capability and opening up for cooperation to form an all dimension opening up pattern  along both land and sea routes.

Gui said Chinese Medicine is one of the finest parts of Chinese culture and an important part of  exchanges between China and countries along Belt and Road Initiative routes.  It is conducive to communicating with the people of those countries.

Chinese medicine is an important part of Chinese health cause and can be a good reference for people’s health demand. There is a great potential for Chinese medicine to develop.  He hopes that this forum will push forward Sino-Swedish Traditional Chinese Medicine  cooperation into a new stage.

Liu Baoyan, Chairman of the World Federation of Acupuncture-Moxibustion Societies said the forum today is particularly important when China actively advocates strengthening China-Nordic cooperation and promoting the development plan of “the Belt and Road“.

Today over 180 countries are beginning to use TCM. In recent years, we have established 16 overseas TCM centers along “the Belt and Road”.

Meanwhile, the Chinese government has also signed agreements about TCM with over 80 countries along “the Belt and Road”. More than 13,000 international students come to China each year to study TCM.

At present, there are over 200,000 acupuncturists working in the countries along “the Belt and Road”, and some of these them are local persons. Meanwhile, more than 30 countries now have hundreds of training institutes, centers, schools and so on.
Acupuncture-Moxibustion is the essence of core of TCM. In 2010, acupuncture-moxibustion was included in the list of representatives of the World Intangible Cultural Heritage and became the intangible cultural heritage of the world. Acupuncture-Moxibustion widely used in various countries, it can be said in more than 180 countries so-called TCM applications is mainly acupuncture-moxibustion. WFAS is an international joint organization for acupuncture-moxibustion in dozens of countries. Over 30 years ago, WFAS has include nearly 200 societies in more than 50 countries. There are already more than 90 societies that are along “the Belt and Road”.

“Last year, we held a conference in Sweden which is “the Belt and Road” promotion for Acupuncture-Moxibustion. We also made some exchanges and trainings on the diagnostic and therapeutic techniques of TCM acupuncture–moxibustion. Now we will confirm that Young’s Acupuncture and TCM (Sweden) Research Institute, as the Swedish “the Belt and Road” TCM Acupuncture-Moxibustion Joint Education Base, works closely with Swedish medical research institutes such as Karolinska Institute. I believe they will make greater contribution at clinical practice, education and scientific research of acupuncture-moxibustion and TCM. The base will also research new medicine and develop new technology by combination of TCM and Western medicine. I believe the base will contribute powerful force for the Swedish people and the world people’s health, ” said Liu.
It is the common vision of all of us to inherit the venerable history and cultural traditions of TCM, to carry forward and improve TCM, and to make benefits to human health. Let us work together, to make greater contribution for the countries along “the Belt and Road” by acupuncture-moxibustion and TCM.

The Forum was presided over by Yang Chungui, Presient of Acupuncture Science Association Sweden .

Hanna Angerud, Chairwoman of Swedish Acupuncture Association talked about promotion of Acupuncture Legislation.

Professor Liao Fulong spoke at the opening ceremony. He marked that Chinese Nobel Winner in Medicine Tu Youyou is a good example of the combination between Chinese and western medicine.

Professor Liu Baoyan,  Yang Chungui, President of Acupuncture Science Association Sweden and Dean of Yangs Acupuncture and TCM Institute Sweden and Chinese Ambassador Gui Congyou opens the Belt and Road Joint Education Base on Acupuncture-Moxibustion-Sweden.

Yang Chungui presented certificates to the experts of Yangs Acupuncture & TCM Institute Sweden.

Liu Baoyan present certificates to the experts of Joint Education Base in Sweden.

President Yang declared the establishment of the Assessment Board of International Acupuncture Doctor Test.

In the afternoon, Gustav Foghammar, Consultant Psychiatrist of Karolinska Hospital talked about etablising a new medical platform of integrated Western & Traditional Chinese Medicine for Treatment of Pain and Fatigue. Foghammar said he knew TCM many years ago when he was sent to participate in a TCM meeting and had access to Chinese Medicine. Since then he even use TCM in his psychiatrist field and he himself often experiences the acupuncture.

DoctorZhang Hongxia presented what she is studying about– the Application of Medical Information in Clinic Medicine and Research.

Wang Jingjing presented Acupuncture Treatment on Pain and Psychosomatic Disease.

Professor Liao Fulong presented his discovery in Acupuncture, Chinese Herbal Medicine Investigated from the Angle of Microcirculation and Biomechanopharmacology.

Professor Wu Hanqing presented TCM Triangular Needling Method for Soft Tissue and Bone Disorders.

Professor Wu Hanqing also did treatment for some patients while teaching some young doctors.

TCM Doctor Zhang Dongqing presented his clinic experience of Acupuncture agaisnt irritable Bowel Syndrome in Sweden.  TCM Doctor Yang Chungui presented his exploration and practice of Yangs Yi Gong Acupuncture in Chinese and Western Medicine.

Lin Defeng talked about Burning Acupuncture against pain and Li Jian presented his application of modern medicine and TCM on the treatment of knee osteoarthritis.

About 100 TCM doctors, experts and practitioners from China, Sweden, US and other European countries participated in the world-level forum. Han Xiaodong, Counselor of Commerce and Pu Zhengdong, Counselor of Culture from the Chinese Embassy also attended the opening ceremony.

Text/Xuefei Chen Axelsson, Photo/ Li Yanan, Lyu Cheng.

 

 

China, Chinese circle, Indepth, Life

China Special Series–Chinese wears better than ever before

Leave a comment

By Xuefei Chen Axelsson

STOCKHOLM, Nov. 12(Greenpost)–No matter you travel in the subway or in a bus, you will see beautiful boys and girls wearing beautiful clothes.

 

Even in the countryside, the free market sells various kinds of beautiful clothes and the prices are not expensive.

All the people no matter old or young, they just wear very good clothes. In other words, very new clothes.

When I was a child, we learnt from Lei Feng, a role model for youth. He said he wore a pair of socks for 9 years. Nowadays people have a lot of clothes and people begin to change a lot too.

Women change much more than men. But some men are also good at changing and buying new clothes.

Some women even go to another extreme to have too much clothes.

Children’s clothes are also in a great variety.  China’s export actually started with textile industry.

In Marx’s words, clothes, food, house and travel are not a problem now.

According to Xi Jinping’s report at the 19th CPC National Congress,  among 1.3 billion people, now there are still four percent of the total population living under poverty line. That translates into 40 million people and that is four times more than the whole Swedish population.

Xi has promised that China will wipe out poverty in three years by 2020. That is a great goal and that will really mark China to enter a new era.

I was so glad to see this when I was in China two weeks ago.

China has changed greatly and is experiencing the great transformation. Green environment is the goal people strive for.

 

 

Business, China, Chinese circle, Environment, Indepth, Life, News, Opinion

Chinese Special Series–Chinese Housing enough for the next generation

Leave a comment

By Xuefei Chen Axelsson

STOCKHOLM, Nov. 12(Greenpost)– To be honest, I came from a poor farmer’s family. But now those who live in the countryside enjoy big house, bigger space.

My brother and sister both have about 100 square meters apartment.
Recently a woman from Qingdao, Shandong province told me that they live in a 150 square meters apartment just for two persons.

Many civil servants have bigger office areas and enjoy two or three apartments.

Even those who came from the countryside and later lived in the city can enjoy very big apartment, not just one.

China has built so many buildings, so many cars and so many bikes.

A great change now is that people live much better.

Beijing attracts architeks from all over the world and it is a test site for all the vanguard builders. I saw an instrument type of building in Chaoyang district.

The famous CCTV building is even more protruding.  Skyscrapers are everywhere. And in many provinces, counties and cities, there are many buildings built.

Many people in local areas even have much more houses than those in bigger cities.  Chinese people enjoy far better material enjoyment now than ever. But their time of course is much tighter than before. They work harder than before.

Business, Energy, Environment, Exchange, Green-tech, Indepth, Scientific Research

Solvatten–An Innovative Tool to Achieve Climate and Development Goals 

Leave a comment

By Xuefei Chen Axelsson

STOCKHOLM, Nov.7(Greenpost)– Climate change is a reality and people from developing countries – specially women and children – are suffering the most. How can technology support governments to overcome these challenges?  Getting ready for the future. Credit: Solvatten. 

Here we have an interview between Analice Martins, independent writer, activist for women’s rights and founder of Internacionalidade and David Wadström focusing on an innovation called Solvatten.  The following is the details of Q and A.

Hej, David! Thanks for having me here! Can you tell me more about Solvatten?
Hej Analice! Sure! Solvatten – which means “Sun Water” in Swedish – is a jerry can that uses solar energy to purify contaminated water. After a few hours exposed to ultraviolet (UV) light, specifically UV-B, the water is free from the pathogens that cause diseases such as dysentery, salmonella and cholera. We created a durable design that stands intense heat and sunlight for many years and it has the capacity to process up to 40 liters of water per day, all we need is sunshine!

Sounds very promising! And how is Solvatten addressing global challenges such as poverty, inequality and climate change?
Billions of people still use firewood to cook, heat and boil water in order to make it cleaner. There are numerous social and environmental consequences of this practice; for instance, burning firewood causes harmful indoor air pollution, releases greenhouse gas emissions, and impact the lives of many girls and women who need to walk dozens of miles every day to fetch water and firewood.
A typical household used to spend up to three hours a day to generate energy to water needs. Solvatten saves time and allow people to pursue more economically productive activities. Additionally, decreasing firewood burns is beneficial to both the household’s members as well as the trees in the local environment.

In which ways is Solvatten supporting governments and organizations to achieve their climate and development goals?
Solvatten is both a short and long-term solution. In the short term, Solvatten is a powerful relief tool for communities affected by natural disasters. Governments and International Organizations can use Solvatten in areas suffering from water contamination. In the long-term, Solvatten has been proven to be a change maker: it empowers women, increases girls’ attendance in schools, changes hygienic behaviors, and transforms its users into true climate heroes! Families have saved thousands of hectares of forest and a million trees by using Solvatten. That is real climate Action!
 

Solvatten works with governments but also green-minded companies, please tell me more about that? 
We work in partnership with governments, local organizations and corporations to provide Solvatten to millions of people living off-grid. Since 2007, we have initiated 45 projects reaching out over 300.000 people living in more than 20 developing countries. For instance, the Solvatten CSR and Climate Project provides companies and partners an opportunity to connect social and environmental impact with their business needs. An increased use of Solvatten can also improve the way a responsible company is doing business in East Africa and other emerging markets. It can really add value to their supply chains in agro-business. 

 

Can you give me an example of a successful partnership? 
Yes, good examples are the partnerships we have with sugar and coffee grower cooperatives. Solvatten plays a key role in improving the farmer’s lives at the same time it can be a practical way to offset the carbon emissions that the business contributes to. Solvatten is also being used by corporations like Axfood, International Organization such as the UN-Habitat, and environmental foundations like myclimate. 

 

It’s really inspiring! Now, to finalize, what is your biggest dream? 

My dream is to live in a world where everyone has access to safe and clean water, just as we do here in Sweden. I also hope that Solvatten shall inspire other entrepreneurs and innovators to raise their voice and come up with great solutions to address climate change! 

China, Chinese circle, Indepth, News, World News

A wave of discussing the 19th CPC Congress arises in Sweden

Leave a comment

By Xuefei Chen Axelsson

STOCKHOLM, Oct. 31(Greenpost)– A craze discussing the 19th CPC Congress has arisen in Sweden beginning with a grand seminar held by Institute of Security and Development Policy.

Gui Congyou, Chinese Ambassador to Sweden gave a keynote speech at the opening of the seminar.

“The successful convening of the 19th CPC congress has arounsed world wide attention.  The CPC national congress has analysed the domestic and international situation, made such an important judgement that China’s Socialism with Chinese Characteristics  has entered a New Era, elected a new term of leaders of the  CPC central committee and mapped out new policies and strategic deployment . It is of great significance for realizing Chinese people’s dreams of a good life and the common development together with the world people, it is a blessing for both the Chinese and world people. ”

Gui Congyou said the Communist Party of China will not forget its mission of leading the Chinese people to live a better life.  It’s first goal is to secure a decisive victory in building a moderately prosperous society in all aspects and the second goal is to build a modernized socialist China by 2035.

Gui Congyou said during this process, China has gradually entered the center stage of the world and China will shoulder greater responsibilities for example in peace-keeping forces, in coping with the climate change, anti-terrorism and poverty elimination.

According to the CPC’s goal, in three years, China will completely wipe out the extreme poverty of its 1.3 billion population. Currently the poor is still accounting for 4 percent of the total population or about 40 million which is about four times of the Swedish population.

Gui Congyou said China loves peace and insists on the peaceful coexisting principle and will not interfere in other countries’ domestic affairs. It also opposes  interference in other country’s domestic affairs. China will never seek hegemonism. China opposes nuclear proliferation.

Gui Congyou said his mission to Sweden is to make friends and facilitate to deepen bilateral relations between China and Sweden and China will never forget that Sweden was the first western country that established diplomatic relations with China and has always been actively developing relations with China, in which made great contribution to China’s development.

He welcomes Sweden to further cooperation with China in innovation, green economy, energy saving and environmental protection, intelligence manufacturing and many other aspects such as in the United Nations.

He said China under the leadership of the CPC is a builder of the world peace, a contributor of the global development and obeying the world order and rules.

The host of the seminar was Ambassador  Per Eklund who is a board member of the ISDP.

The panalist of the seminar was Li Junfeng, Political Counselor of the Chinese Ambassy to Sweden, Dr. Oskar Alman from Uppsala University,  Lora Daalman, director of China and Global Security Program of Stockholm International Peace Research Institute or SIPRI and Dr. Kristina Sandklef,  Director of Sandklef Asia Insight.

Dr. Alman said he was a little bit worried about the election procedures in China but after the congress he felt not that worried. On the other hand, he also felt the concentration of power might be better for implementing environmental protection policies for example, so it depends on how you look at it and there is a lot of tradeoffs.

Dr. Kristina Sandklef said she held that there will be more cooperation opportunities if China holds its promise of giving the same treatment of foreign enterprises, or as generous as Sweden in giving market access to Chinese companies.

Lora Saalman, Director of China and Global Security Program of SIPRI said she noticed China’s strengthening of combat capability and modernization of its weapons, but in general, China’s number of armed forces is not on the increase.

The panelists also discussed about gender equality issue, election procedures and many other aspects.

In the evening, Stockholm Chinese Assistance Center led By James Wang Jianrong also held a seminar discussing the 19th CPC National Congress.

Meanwhile, in Sveavägen 41 in Stockholm, ABF hosted a seminar on a book titled Mao i Sverige or Mao in Sweden–1963-1986 written by a Phd student  Ingrid.

She said she had lived in China for a few years and spoke very fluent Chinese. She found there were many Mao followers since 1963 when famous Swedish journalist Myrdal wrote a lot of books and reports about China and was received by Mao.  But by 1986, the leftists almost died out.  In fact, there are still many people who are very much interested in talking about China and caring about China.

According to ABF news, there will be another seminar titled China after the Communist Party Congress on the evening of November 9 in ABF.

Sinologists Börje Ljunggren,  former Swedish Ambassador to China and author, Torbjörn Loden, professor emeritus in Chinese language and culture and Malin Oud, chinese friend and chief of Raoul Wallenberg’s Institute’s Stockholm Office will be the panelists.

Sources say on Thursday, Chinese leaders in Sweden will also hold a seminar discussing about the 19th CPC National Congress and the Xi Jinping Thought on China entering new era of Socialism with Chinese Characteristics.

It cannot be root out that there will be more such seminars in the near future.

The 19th National Congress of the Communist Party of China has mapped out a new blue print for the next stage of development. That is to wipe out poverty by 2020 and to basically become a modern society by 2035.  By 2050, China will comprehensively become a modern and beautiful country in all aspects.

 

 

chenxuefei@greenpost.se

wechat: chenxuefei7

bankgiro: 840-7157

Indepth, News, World News

Nobel Lareates in Physiology interviewed

Leave a comment

By Xuefei Chen Axelsson

Stockholm, October, 2 (Greenpost)

As usual, Nobel Laureates were interviewed by the Nobel Media right after the announcement.

 

The phone call reached Hall’s home.

“You’ve reached me where I’ve lived for many years in the middle of nowhere, Maine, rural Maine. Also known as Central Maine. In the extreme north east of this great country of ours. It is physically beautiful, including, I’m looking out the window, it’s a very beautiful day today, which is often is. Not quite yet but it’s still green as can be but it’s, because Maine is not like Arizona.

What is Hall’s reaction to the prize?

JH: Yes, correct. That was about half of our work, during my time when I was employed, had to do with circadian rhythms, indeed. That became amongst our most well-known research achievements, if any. Usually, and, relentlessly co-authored with Rosbash with whom you’ve already spoken. So he and I joined forces in the early mid-eighties and imagined that we might, or we might not as the case may be, go onward and upward doing research together in that arena. Which often involved crucially, what I call AIs – actual investigators – like students, post-doctoral supervisees, from the two labs working very closely together, even day by day. So that was enjoyable, it wasn’t that either lab was way out on its own limb. We had a lot of mutual support, I think it’s fair to say.

Hall and Rosbath were actually teaching in the same university.

JH: This was based in large part on becoming close personally at the beginning where our research interests in very general terms were in genetics, writ large. It was only after six, seven, or eight years that we started to work things together and imagine that possibly our backgrounds and our skills, if any, might be complementary. The key reason that we got into that kind of relationship was because we were personally close. We had mutual interest in low culture stuff like sports and rock and roll music and abusable substances and stuff. And so we spent a lot of time just carousing or sitting together in misery at local sports stadiums. We have also certain, many similar interests, even in the pre-rhythm research days. He as a molecular geneticist, I as a straight up fruit fly geneticist.

AS: And that brings us onto flies. We should say a word for flies on this day of all days because once again the power of the fly as a model organism has been demonstrated.

JH: That’s right, this is something I’ve always … I was taught when I was a graduate student about a phrase, it’s known as the law of drosophila. To know about the deep history going all the way back to the 1920s, and the 40s and the 90s and now the second decade of the current century. It’s just one of a zillion examples of how basic research on a supposedly irrelevant organism can have broader significance than, with regard to what’s going on in terms of that organism itself. And this has been true of fruit fly research, which has been a major contributor for decades. For well over a century actually.  The key fourth awardee here is, as some of us call them, the little fly. So the little flies deserve another tip of the hat, I think, in terms of what has happened today.

When Michael Young was interviewed, he was busy answering phone calls.

M Young: I don’t know. Somehow, somehow, it’s just all spinning around in my head that this has happened. You know about these things and you can see possibilities on the horizon but you never really…Has this really happened?! [Laughs.] I’m still at that stage.

I mean this was … You know, I had gone to Stanford to learn how to use this technology, it was brand new in the 70s. And starting up my lab at Rockefeller I had worked a little bit on this problem, circadian rhythms, thanks to these tremendous mutants that Seymour Benzer and his student Ron Konopka had found. And I just thought it was a terrific problem and maybe the toughest thing I could try to tackle because it was behaviour; you know, what could we learn about a fairly complicated behaviour that we all exhibit, which was most easily represented by sleep wake cycles. And frankly I thought we might find out maybe a little bit. I never thought we would really understand what the motor behind this was, at the time. We were very lucky, we managed to find genes that fit together like puzzle pieces to explain how this thing worked. And the techniques and the approaches kept changing and I kept … I was very lucky I kept getting students and post docs that were extremely good and just did everything right. And the other piece of this was, you know, there was sort of a race going on in the early years. My colleagues Jeff Hall and Michael Rosbash and we kind of pushed each other along because … I mean most of it was independently done but we did have to collaborate from time to time, but we worked on slightly different problems but the solutions to those problems all, as I was saying, fit together like puzzle pieces, that kind of bring the picture into view. It was, it’s been really quite satisfying. This really pushes it way, way, over the top. It’s really quite incredible. And I couldn’t … yeah, this is terribly exciting as you can imagine.

How did

 

 

Environment, Green-tech, Indepth, News

World Bank research shows poor sanitation and lack of clean water cause poverty

Leave a comment

By Xuefei Chen Axelsson

STOCKHOLM, Sept.9（Greenpost）– World Bank has issued a report during the recent world water week in Stockholm titled Reducing inequalities in water supply, sanitation and hygiene in the era of the sustainable development goals.

The report calls for drastic change in the way countries manage resources and provide key services, starting with better targeting to ensure they reach those most in need, and tackling inefficiencies to make sure public services are sustainable and effective.

Guangzhe Chen, Senior Director of the Water Global Practice of the World Bank speaks at the high level panel at the opening of the World Water Week. Photo by Xuefei Chen Axelsson

“Millions are currently trapped in poverty by poor water supply and sanitation, which contributes to childhood stunning and debilitating diseases such as diarrhea. To give everyone an equal chance at reaching their full potential, more resources, targeted to areas of high vulnerability and low access, are needed to close the gaps and improve poor water and sanitations services.  This report provides  a roadmap for closing that gap,” said Guangzhe Chen, Senior Director of the Water Global Practice of the World Bank.

Offering a comprehensive analysis of water and sanitation indicators, the research spans 18countries around the world and for the first time, pinpoints specific geographic regions within countries that have inadequate WASH services. It sheds light on major disparities in water supply and sanitation services between rural and urban poor and non poor areas.

Craig Kullmann, specialist and Luis Andres, Lead Economists at Water Global Practice, World Bank. Photo by Xuefei Chen Axelsson

The research finds a particularly stark contrast between urban and rural areas. Across the 18 countries, 75% of people who lack improved sanitation live in rural areas, and only 20 % of rural inhabitants have access to improved water. This report provides policymakers with a baseline and guidance on how to better target investments to ensure that basic services reach the poorest communities and households.

In Nigeria, over 60% of the rural population live more than 30 minutes away from a working water source.

In Indonesia, only 5 percent of urban wastewater is safely treated and disposed of  and children living in communities with open defecation during the first three years of life are 11 percentage points more likely to be stunned.

In Bangladesh, there is E.coli contamination  in water in  tap as well as in pond.  In Ecuador， about a quarter of population drinks contaminated water, and in Haiti, 67 percent of people drink bad water.

Today diarrhea is the second leading cause of death in children under 5. thus water and sanitation services need to improve dramatically. otherwise we are risking the future of our children, says Rachid Bennmessaoud, country director of Nigeria.

The report stressed that the services didn’t go to the poor is due to poor implementation, not due to poor policy.