Latest news with #WangWei
South China Morning Post
05-07-2025
- Health
- South China Morning Post
How Chinese scientists cracked the secret of organ regeneration
Chinese scientists who successfully restored damaged outer ears in mice said their findings proved the existence of a genetic switch for organ regeneration, which meant it might also be present in other organs. Advertisement While the scientific journey to achieving organ regeneration in humans remains long and challenging, the study, published in the peer-reviewed journal Science, has offered the researchers hope. Last week, co-corresponding authors Wang Wei and Deng Ziqing published their findings that a mouse's inability to regenerate was due to its failure to produce enough retinoic acid , a derivative of vitamin A that regulates which cell type emerges during development and tissue repair. The scientists said they were able to reactivate the regeneration of the mouse ear by turning on an 'evolutionarily disabled genetic switch', which led to the complete restoration of lost tissues in a hole punched through their outer ear , including cartilage. Wang, an assistant investigator at the National Institute of Biological Sciences in Beijing, said the team would continue their research to determine when mice lost their ability to regenerate during evolution Advertisement 'The ability to regenerate appears to contribute to the survival of animals,' he said in an interview. 'Why was this ability lost as species evolved?'
South China Morning Post
05-07-2025
- Health
- South China Morning Post
How Chinese scientists cracked the secret of organ regeneration
Chinese scientists who successfully restored damaged outer ears in mice said their findings proved the existence of a genetic switch for organ regeneration, which meant it might also be present in other organs. While the scientific journey to achieving organ regeneration in humans remains long and challenging, the study, published in the peer-reviewed journal Science, has offered the researchers hope. Last week, co-corresponding authors Wang Wei and Deng Ziqing published their findings that a mouse's inability to regenerate was due to its failure to produce enough retinoic acid , a derivative of vitamin A that regulates which cell type emerges during development and tissue repair. The scientists said they were able to reactivate the regeneration of the mouse ear by turning on an 'evolutionarily disabled genetic switch', which led to the complete restoration of lost tissues in a hole punched through their outer ear , including cartilage. Wang, an assistant investigator at the National Institute of Biological Sciences in Beijing, said the team would continue their research to determine when mice lost their ability to regenerate during evolution 'The ability to regenerate appears to contribute to the survival of animals,' he said in an interview. 'Why was this ability lost as species evolved?'
Al Jazeera
18-06-2025
- Business
- Al Jazeera
A port CEO panned Trump's tariffs. Then a Chinese envoy's wife sent praise
As the head of the Port of Los Angeles was doing a flurry of media interviews warning of the damage caused by United States President Donald Trump's tariffs last month, he received an email filled with effusive praise from a notable city resident. Wang Wei, the wife of Chinese Consul General Guo Shaochun, wanted Port of Los Angeles CEO Gene Seroka to know that she found his views 'practical, well-reasoned, and very convincing'. 'I was pleasantly surprised to see your interview on Fox News this afternoon, where you shared your insights on the impact of the US-China tariff conflict on port trade,' Wang wrote in the email on May 6. 'Later, I browsed YouTube and discovered that you have recently been interviewed by several major networks, including CNN and CNBC etc. I just knew you are such a well-known celebrity and entrepreneur in the business field,' Wang continued. 'Thank you for actively speaking up and advocating for the development and exchange of US-China trade.' Seroka responded the next day, thanking Wang for her message. 'We will continue to champion world trade,' he wrote. 'There is so much we need to do together.' The emails, obtained by Al Jazeera through a public records request, provide an unusual insight into behind-the-scenes Chinese lobbying against Trump's trade war, which has been directed most intensely at Beijing. China has fiercely opposed Trump's tariffs, the most severe of which have been paused as Washington and Beijing work towards a comprehensive trade deal, accusing his administration of protectionism and 'unilateral bullying'. While the US government has grown sceptical of Chinese trade as it seeks to contain China's rise, state and local authorities – such as the Port of Los Angeles, a self-supporting department of the City of Los Angeles – are more inclined to see the benefits of business between the sides. In the week that Wang and Seroka exchanged emails, the Port of Los Angeles, the busiest seaport in the Western Hemisphere, announced that cargo had dropped 35 percent compared with the previous year. When contacted for comment by Al Jazeera, Seroka, who has argued in interviews that 'no one wins' from a protracted US-China trade war, said his exchange with Wang was typical of his work as port CEO. 'Having lived in China and other Pacific Rim countries, I have a wide range of international business relationships. Ms Wang Wei is one of many,' he said, adding that 'all are in the course of promoting business at the Port of Los Angeles'. China's consulate in Los Angeles and embassy in Washington, DC did not respond to requests for comment. Despite tensions between Washington and Beijing, a more pragmatic, pro-business view of ties is widely shared at the state and local level. Diplomacy between lower-level officials of the countries is not uncommon, as reflected in events such as the US-China Sister Cities Summit held last year in Tacoma, Washington state. Such engagement, however, has drawn scrutiny from Washington. In 2022, the US National Counterintelligence and Security Centre (NCSC) warned that China aimed to exploit 'subnational relationships' with local officials and legislators 'to influence US policies and advance PRC geopolitical interests'. The NCSC has more recently issued warnings about Chinese investment into US tech start-ups and efforts by intelligence agencies posing as consulting firms or think tanks to recruit current and former US officials. While foreign diplomats routinely have contact with local officials and businesspeople about government policy, it is unusual for their family members to weigh in on such matters, a former Western diplomat in China told Al Jazeera. 'Spouses or other family members of diplomats don't typically engage with host country counterparts on policy issues, unless there happens to be an established personal relationship,' the ex-diplomat said, speaking on condition of anonymity. 'In private social settings, family members do talk about policy with other diplomats and/or people from the host country, but in my experience it's unusual for a spouse to weigh in – even privately – with a host country counterpart on a policy issue.' A former US diplomat in China expressed a similar view. 'From just about any country in the world, it would be very unusual to have the spouse of a consul general comment in that way,' the ex-diplomat, who requested anonymity, told Al Jazeera. 'China, sometimes, can be different. Rarely, but sometimes, the spouse of a Chinese diplomat is also a government official. In those cases, they may engage in this way. Otherwise, it would usually be limited to comments on people-to-people or cultural programmes.' Still, US government warnings about Chinese engagement with state and local authorities are largely 'overblown', the former diplomat said, calling '90 percent' of such activity harmless. 'In most cases, it's innocuous. The problem comes when they start throwing money around,' he said.
Al Jazeera
18-06-2025
- Business
- Al Jazeera
A port CEO panned Trump's tariffs. A Chinese official's spouse sent praise
As the head of the Port of Los Angeles was doing a flurry of media interviews warning of the damage caused by United States President Donald Trump's tariffs last month, he received an email filled with effusive praise from a notable city resident. Wang Wei, the wife of Chinese Consul General Guo Shaochun, wanted Port of Los Angeles CEO Gene Seroka to know that she found his views 'practical, well-reasoned, and very convincing'. 'I was pleasantly surprised to see your interview on Fox News this afternoon, where you shared your insights on the impact of the US-China tariff conflict on port trade,' Wang wrote in the email on May 6. 'Later, I browsed YouTube and discovered that you have recently been interviewed by several major networks, including CNN and CNBC etc. I just knew you are such a well-known celebrity and entrepreneur in the business field,' Wang continued. 'Thank you for actively speaking up and advocating for the development and exchange of US-China trade.' Seroka responded the next day, thanking Wang for her message. 'We will continue to champion world trade,' he wrote. 'There is so much we need to do together.' The emails, obtained by Al Jazeera through a public records request, provide an unusual insight into behind-the-scenes Chinese lobbying against Trump's trade war, which has been directed most intensely at Beijing. China has fiercely opposed Trump's tariffs, the most severe of which have been paused as Washington and Beijing work towards a comprehensive trade deal, accusing his administration of protectionism and 'unilateral bullying'. While the US government has grown sceptical of Chinese trade as it seeks to contain China's rise, state and local authorities – such as the Port of Los Angeles, a self-supporting department of the City of Los Angeles – are more inclined to see the benefits of business between the sides. In the week that Wang and Seroka exchanged emails, the Port of Los Angeles, the busiest seaport in the Western Hemisphere, announced that cargo had dropped 35 percent compared with the previous year. When contacted for comment by Al Jazeera, Seroka, who has argued in interviews that 'no one wins' from a protracted US-China trade war, said his exchange with Wang was typical of his work as port CEO. 'Having lived in China and other Pacific Rim countries, I have a wide range of international business relationships. Ms Wang Wei is one of many,' he said, adding that 'all are in the course of promoting business at the Port of Los Angeles'. China's consulate in Los Angeles and embassy in Washington, DC did not respond to requests for comment. Despite tensions between Washington and Beijing, a more pragmatic, pro-business view of ties is widely shared at the state and local level. Diplomacy between lower-level officials of the countries is not uncommon, as reflected in events such as the US-China Sister Cities Summit held last year in Tacoma, Washington state. Such engagement, however, has drawn scrutiny from Washington. In 2022, the US National Counterintelligence and Security Centre (NCSC) warned that China aimed to exploit 'subnational relationships' with local officials and legislators 'to influence US policies and advance PRC geopolitical interests'. The NCSC has more recently issued warnings about Chinese investment into US tech start-ups and efforts by intelligence agencies posing as consulting firms or think tanks to recruit current and former US officials. While foreign diplomats routinely have contact with local officials and businesspeople about government policy, it is unusual for their family members to weigh in on such matters, a former Western diplomat in China told Al Jazeera. 'Spouses or other family members of diplomats don't typically engage with host country counterparts on policy issues, unless there happens to be an established personal relationship,' the ex-diplomat said, speaking on condition of anonymity. 'In private social settings, family members do talk about policy with other diplomats and/or people from the host country, but in my experience it's unusual for a spouse to weigh in – even privately – with a host country counterpart on a policy issue.' A former US diplomat in China expressed a similar view. 'From just about any country in the world, it would be very unusual to have the spouse of a consul general comment in that way,' the ex-diplomat, who requested anonymity, told Al Jazeera. 'China, sometimes, can be different. Rarely, but sometimes, the spouse of a Chinese diplomat is also a government official. In those cases, they may engage in this way. Otherwise, it would usually be limited to comments on people-to-people or cultural programmes.' Still, US government warnings about Chinese engagement with state and local authorities are largely 'overblown', the former diplomat said, calling '90 percent' of such activity harmless. 'In most cases, it's innocuous. The problem comes when they start throwing money around,' he said.
Korea Herald
04-04-2025
- General
- Korea Herald
Worship Ceremony for Yellow Emperor: Global Chinese Gathered to Strengthen Civilization Consensus
ZHENGZHOU, China, April 4, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- On March 31, 2025, the Ancestor Worship Ceremony of the Yellow Emperor in the Year of Yisi was held in Xinzheng, Zhengzhou City, Henan Province. The Chinese from the globe gathered at the Yellow Emperor's hometown to pray for national rejuvenation and share common hopes of world peace. The grand ceremony was themed "Same Root, Same Ancestor, Same Origin", paying homage to the Ancestor of Chinese Civilization. "The Yellow Emperor marks the beginning of Chinese civilization. A series of archaeological discoveries have confirmed that the Yellow Emperor's era was spanning from the origin to the initial formation of civilization," explained Wang Wei, former chairman of the Chinese Archaeological Society and director of the Henan Provincial Institute of Cultural Relics and Archaeology. Chen Linchun, chief director of the Ancestor Worship Ceremony, stated that the ceremony contains the codes of Henan civilization: Zheng-Han Ancient City was the capital of the Zheng and Han states during the Spring and Autumn and Warring States periods. The costume designs for this year's ceremony were inspired by styles from the Western Zhou, Spring and Autumn, and Warring States periods; while the ceremonial music and dance performances were choreographed based on stone carvings, murals, and reliefs unearthed at Henan archaeological sites. "While there were innovations, they were all based on historical and cultural evidence," he explained. The Ancestor Worship Ceremony serves as a spiritual bond that unites the Chinese nation. Wen Shanan, Secretary-General of the China-Thailand Cultural Exchange Association and President of the Wen Clan Association of Thailand, said, "As overseas Chinese, we have been promoting people-to-people exchange between the two countries, and we have kept in mind that Henan is our ancestral root." Dato' Seri Ang Lai Hee, a fourth-generation Malaysian Chinese, attended the Ancestor Worship Ceremony. He has long been committed to protecting the heritage of Yellow Emperor culture in Malaysia. Jason Dane Castleton, an American friend, was deeply moved when he saw the ceremony. He exclaimed, "Such Chinese culture is really amazing." Recently, parallel worship ceremonies have been held in Sydney, San Francisco, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region and other global cities. As global Chinese communities paid homage to their common ancestor, they not only reconnected with the roots of Chinese civilization but also built bridges for cross-civilization dialogue. During the event, Zhengzhou Radio and Television Station collaborated with nearly fifty Chinese-language media outlets worldwide to broadcast the Ancestor Worship Ceremony, sharing this significant moment with a global audience.
