The Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in Barbados hosted a grand reception on Thursday, September 25 at the Hilton Barbados Resort to celebrate the 76th Anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China. China’s Ambassador to Barbados Zheng Bingkai described his country’s remarkable journey since 1949, transforming China into a global leader in economic development, technology and social progress. Representing the Government and people of Barbados the Honorable William Duguid brought warm congratulations to the Government and people of China, highlighting the important role China has played in supporting Barbados’ development.
Guests at the reception were treated to a performance by the Henan Acrobatic Troupe, a programme entitled “Charm of the East · Dance with the World.” The Henan Acrobatic Troupe is renowned worldwide, having set a Guinness World Record and toured extensively, performing in over 50 countries and regions.
China ‘big-eyed baby’ dies from heart disease at 237 days old, becomes body donor for research | South China Morning Post
Tiny ‘little angel’ stages lifelong battle against illness, undergoing numerous operations; mother pens heartbreaking farewell letter to her son.
A 237-day-old baby in Eastern China has died from congenital heart disease, making it one of the youngest body donors in the country.
According to the mainland media outlet Hangzhou Daily, the infant boy from Hangzhou was nicknamed Xile, which means happiness and joy.
Xile’s heart condition caused improper blood flow from the pulmonary veins, which should normally drain into the left atrium, leading to severe breathing difficulties and heart failure.
His doctor, Shi Shanshan, said that tiny Xile underwent multiple rounds of surgery due to frequent respiratory failure.
World’s most powerful flying wind turbine launched in western China | South China Morning Post
China has successfully flown the world’s largest and most powerful airborne wind turbine, a milestone that could bring cheaper, more reliable green energy and strengthen the country’s leading role in the global clean energy transition.
Between September 19 and 21, the airship-like S1500 – about the size of a basketball court and as tall as a 13-storey building – became the first turbine of its kind to generate one megawatt of power during a test flight at a desert site in China’s western Xinjiang region.
The trial involved assembly in desert conditions, pressure checks, and launch and retrieval in strong winds both day and night. “All planned goals were achieved,” according to Beijing-based start-up Sawes Energy Technology, one of the project’s main developers.
Press Release - Heartland Connect for Trade & Investment.docx
The inaugural Heartland Connect for Trade & Investment, held on August 25, 2025 in Chicago, IL, convened business executives, government officials, agricultural innovators, and healthcare leaders from the United States and China for a landmark day of meaningful dialogue and actionable collaborations.
Co-organized by the U.S. Heartland China Association (USHCA) and China General Chamber of Commerce - Chicago (CGCCC), this premier bilateral gathering built on the success of the annual U.S.-China Agriculture Roundtable and expanded its focus to three critical sectors driving the economic vitality of America’s Heartland: agriculture, food, and healthcare.
Over 150 attendees convened at the historic Union League Club of Chicago–many flying in from across the Heartland to participate, with 17 states and Washington D.C. represented. The event hosted a large Chinese delegation of local government leaders, policy makers, and business representatives totaling 45 from Beijing, Shanghai, Henan, Liaoning, and Shaanxi…
Sinocism Live: Dispatches from China with Afra Wang and Jasmine Sun
Thanks everyone for tuning into my live video with afra Wang and Jasmine Sun. We had a great conversation about their recent trip to China, the differing views of AI in the US and China, and the ongoing narrative/vibe shift about China.
I highly recommend their newsletters, and specifically the two essays that prompted this discussion:
Afra Wang - Topology of "China AI"
Jasmine Sun - America Against China Against America
Plumes, Booms, and Brand Bruises - by Zichen Wang
Arc’teryx meant to venerate the mountains. Instead, it detonated a lesson in how not to do marketing in China. On September 19, the Canadian outdoor label—owned since 2019 via Amer Sports by a consortium led by China’s ANTA Sports—co-produced a fireworks spectacle with the artist Cai Guo-Qiang on a Himalayan ridge in Gyangze, Shigatse. Two days later came the comedown: official apologies, government investigations, and official scorn—from Xinhua to People’s Daily. In the space of a weekend, “awe of nature” became an avalanche of blowback.
The timeline is damningly brisk. Videos of Cai’s 升龙 “Ascending Dragon” pyrotechnics raced across Chinese platforms on September 20. By the early hours of September 21, the Shigatse authorities announced an investigation and pledged to handle the matter according to law. Arc’teryx and Cai both issued statements of contrition the same day, promising third-party environmental assessments and “remedial action.” Promotional posts vanished. Reverence turned to recklessness in a single news cycle, and the brand discovered the difference between stunt and sin.
An American Ceramist in Jingdezhen: Code, Clay and Community
"I sold everything... I was all in. I put in all my chips." With this leap of faith, American ceramic artist Michael May left behind his life in the United States and arrived in Jingdezhen, China's porcelain capital, a year and a half ago. Having traveled to nearly 20 countries, the seasoned artist ultimately chose Jingdezhen as his creative base.
In the latest episode of "Trending in China", Michael shares his unique journey from Oklahoma City to Jingdezhen with host Yolanda Lu and co-host Belinda Chen. With a background in traditional techniques and a passion for innovation, he now blends 3D printing technology with traditional pottery, creating works that marry form with function.
What's The Weirdest Way to Say "River" in China?
I bet you never really thought there WAS a weird way to say “river”. Well there is. There are a lot of weird ways actually.
Do you want to get really nerdy about Chinese history and geography and rivers together with me? Yes? No? Okay, I don’t blame you…I know this will not be everyone’s cup of tea. I initially really only set out to write a small article about the new hydropower project in Tibet. I thought I would check what the name of the river means in Tibetan and accidentally got shunted into a week-long research mission to understand Chinese historical river naming conventions. Before I knew what was happening, I had written this pseudo-academic treatise on Chinese river history and I needed to share it with someone!
Xin Zhilei: Always there is the desire urging, always the convention restraining
Xin Zhilei, a 39-year-old Chinese actor, won the best actress award at the Venice Film Festival on September 6, 2025, for her role in The Sun Rises on Us All, directed by Cai Shangjun. She is the first Chinese woman in 14 years to take the Golden Lion trophy, a feat that quickly became a source of national pride.
Her win has set social media abuzz with accounts of her unlikely rise. Born into poverty in a rust-belt city in China’s north-east, Xin has made a career out of defying expectations. In a widely shared 2018 speech, translated below, she confronted head-on the labels attached to her—an actor “full of desire”—and argued that ambition was not shameful. Regardless of gender, everyone has the right to persevere, strive, and hold on firmly for what they aspire to, she said.
Inside China’s 7.48 million ride-hailing drivers - rdelw72@gmail.com - Gmail
Against the backdrop of economic headwinds and structural shifts, ride-hailing has become an important employment buffer in China. By 2024, the number of licensed ride-hailing drivers nationwide had reached 7.48 million — a figure roughly equal to the entire population of Hong Kong. Earlier this month, the China Research Center on New Forms of Employment (CNFE) released a comprehensive report on the country’s ride-hailing workforce. The study draws on 5,417 questionnaires collected from drivers across 13 provincial-level regions in July 2025, supplemented with big data analysis and in-depth interviews.
The findings paint a detailed picture of this rapidly growing labor group. According to the report, 62.8 percent of drivers are the sole breadwinners in their families, 77 percent entered the profession after losing a previous job, and 7.4 percent are recent graduates from 2024 onwards. The average driver is around 40 years old, and men make up the overwhelming majority. The report also compares ride-hailing drivers with other blue-collar occupations, including delivery workers, truck drivers, couriers, manufacturing production workers, and construction workers.
Picturing a Chinatown Family Across Twenty-two Years | The New Yorker
More than two decades ago, the Lams invited Thomas Holton, a photographer, to their apartment for dinner. He’s been part of the family ever since.
This weekly newsletter is put together by DeLisle Worrell, President of the ABCF. Visit us at Association for Barbados China Friendship | (abcf-bb.com).
Thanks to everyone who sent contributions for this week’s Update. Please send items of interest to me via the contact page at ABCF-BB.com or to info@DeLisleWorrell.com
The ABCF mission is to build a deeper understanding between the Chinese people and Barbadians and Caribbean people from all walks of life. The association’s focus is on personal experiences, people-to-people contact, cultural exchanges and exchanges of ideas, and the facilitation of travel, business and study. From the outset we aim to learn from and build on the experiences of the Caribbean and China, and to develop mutual understandings and support that will be to the benefit of both sides.
