Chinese localities have been ramping up efforts to boost consumption, with increased policy support, including direct financial support, for trade-ins of consumer goods and equipment upgrades at companies, in line with a national campaign to bolster domestic demand amid economic recovery. 

The intensifying efforts come as domestic consumption, while holding vast potential, remains under pressure, and plays a critical role in China's overall economic growth. Experts said that the increasing policy support will not only help underpin stable growth in consumption in the short term, but also lay a solid foundation for overall economic development in the long run.  

In recent days, various Chinese localities, including Central China's Hunan Province, South China's Guangdong Province and East China's Shanghai Municipality, have issued detailed plans to boost consumption demand, according to a report by the China Securities Journal on Thursday.

In addition to expanding the coverage of trade-in policies and increasing support for trade-ins in areas such as automobiles and home appliances, the new measures from local governments also specifically mentioned the utilization of capital from ultra-long special treasury bonds, the China Securities Journal report noted. 

Among the highlights of the Shanghai action plan is increased financial support from both the ultra-long special treasury bonds and local counterpart funding, which exceeded 4 billion yuan ($563.3 million), Shanghai Observer reported. 

Another highlight is increased financial support for trade-ins of certain goods. For example, the subsidy for trade-ins of new-energy vehicles was increased from 10,000 yuan to 20,000 yuan, according to the Shanghai Observer report. The policy coverage was also extended to home appliances such as furniture and vacuum cleaners.

The Guangdong provincial government recently released an implementation plan to better utilize funds from ultra-long special treasury bonds to support trade-ins of consumers goods, which also increased financial support for trade-ins of products such as automobiles.

The local plans come after the National Development and Reform Commission and the Ministry of Finance in July issued a plan for equipment renewal and trade-ins of consumer goods, including a fund of 300 billion yuan from ultra-long special treasury bonds to support the campaign. 

City governments have also stepped up efforts to boost trade-ins. Shantou in Guangdong, for instance, said that since May, it has taken various steps to increase trade-ins of consumer goods, and as of July 10, the efforts have led to total consumption of 200 million yuan, the city government said in a statement sent to the Global Times on Thursday, adding that the city will hold various activities in districts and counties to further boost market vitality and create a favorable environment for consumption. 

Unleashing potential

The ramped-up policy support for trade-ins of consumer products and equipment renewal with the support of funds from the ultra-long special treasury bonds will help boost consumer confidence and unleash the vast potential of China's consumption, experts said. 

"The use of funds from the ultra-long special treasury bonds by various localities to promote trade-ins is an effort to increase consumers' desire to spend by leveraging subsidies, which can be effective in stimulating consumption demand," Tian Yun, a veteran economist based in Beijing, told the Global Times on Thursday. 

Tian said that the campaign to boost trade-ins of consumer goods and equipment renewal is conducive not only to boosting consumption, but also to promoting development in various industries. "This is not a short-term policy to boost consumption, but rather a long-term strategic arrangement," Tian said. 

Boosting consumption demand is critical in supporting the ongoing economic recovery amid external and internal pressure. In July, total retail sales of consumer goods, a broad gauge of consumption, reached 3.7757 trillion yuan, up 2.7 percent year-on-year, according to official data. 

Experts said that while the data showed that domestic consumption continues to recover, there is vast potential for further improvement in demand, and increasing efforts to promote consumption will have a profound positive effect on the economy as a whole.

"Consumer spending will lift domestic demand and promote economic development. On the other hand, trade-ins could lead to development in industries such as recycling, pollution reduction, as well as new momentum for economic development," said Pan Helin, a member of the Expert Committee for the Information and Communication Economy under the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology.

A worker is seen on the production line of Ultra High Molecular Weight Polyethylene Fiber Composite in Lianyungang, East China's Jiangsu Province on August 29, 2024. According to data from the National Bureau of Statistics, profits in China's high-tech manufacturing sector grew 12.8 percent year-on-year in the first seven months of 2024. Photo: VCG

A worker is busy filling international orders for LED chips at a factory in Suqian, East China's Jiangsu Province, on September 3, 2024. According to the General Administration of Customs, China's exports of high-tech products totaled 3.45 trillion yuan ($484.7 billion) in the first seven months of 2024, a 7 percent year-on-year increase. Photo: VCG

China's State Council, the cabinet, on Monday issued a guideline on high-level opening-up in the services sector, containing 20 specific measures including improving the negative list mechanism for cross-border trade in services.

The move further highlighted China's commitment to high-standard opening-up, and China's rapidly growing services market will offer greater opportunities for businesses from around the world, experts said, noting that the opening-up measures are also crucial to promote the high-quality development of China's services industry.

The guideline covers six areas, including promoting institutional opening-up in services trade, facilitating cross-border flows of resources such as talent and capital, advancing innovative development in key areas such as international shipping, and expanding the international market. 

Notably, the guideline said that China will fully implement a negative list for cross-border services trade and establish a corresponding management system. For cross-border services trade outside of the negative list, the principle of uniform treatment will be adopted in managing both domestic and foreign services providers, according to the guideline. 

China will further open up the services sector by giving full play at free trade pilot zones and the Hainan Free Trade Port, and strengthen regulatory coordination and compatibility with international trade rules so as to streamline approval procedures, improve regulatory and policy transparency, and reduce costs for cross-border services trade, the guideline said. 

"The guideline represents major measures in China's all-round opening-up," Li Yong, a senior research fellow at the China Association of International Trade, told the Global Times on Monday, noting the fast development in China's services industry.

The services industry plays an increasingly important role in China's high-quality development. In the first half of 2024, the value added of the services industry grew by 4.6 percent year-on-year, and contributed 52.6 percent of China's overall economic growth during the period. 

In terms of trade in services, total imports and exports by value jumped by 14 percent year-on-year, according to official data. 

Li said that as China has basically fully opened up the manufacturing industry to foreign businesses, the services sector is a critical area of China's continuous high-level opening-up. "Opening-up in the services industry will also be critical in China's efforts to attract foreign investment," he said. 

China has been steadily promoting opening-up in both the manufacturing and services industries. This year's Government Work Report, released in March, said that all market access restrictions on foreign investment in manufacturing will be abolished, and market access restrictions in the services sectors, such as telecommunications and healthcare, will be reduced.

Before the guideline on Monday, China in July announced a major step to further open up the services sector, allowing six cities, including Shenyang in Northeast China's Liaoning Province, Nanjing in East China's Jiangsu Province and Hangzhou in East China's Zhejiang Province, to offer greater market access for foreign services providers. 

For example, foreign investment will be granted greater access in the eldercare, travel, telecoms, entertainment and live performance businesses.

Li said the opening-up measures in the guideline on Monday cover a wide range of areas, including new emerging sectors such as cross-border data flows. "This is very significant in improving the business environment and creating greater opportunities for services providers," the expert said. 

According to the guideline, China will facilitate the effective, convenient and safe cross-border flows of data. China will also facilitate cross-border flows of talent, capital and technologies. 

In terms of services imports, China will increase imports of services in high demand, including healthcare, culture and entertainment. 

China will also promote international cooperation in the services industry through various platforms and initiatives, including the Belt and Road Initiative, the guideline said. 

In line with China's efforts to boost services cooperation, the 2024 China International Fair For Trade In Service will be held in Beijing from September 12 to 16, where more than 420 Fortune Global 500 and leading enterprises will participate, according to officials.

With the sweltering heat of summer gradually fading, the two-month-long summer travel season has come to a triumphant close, marking not just a feast for China's tourism market but also a display of the country's robust economic vitality.

From the bustling scenes at railway hubs to the packed scenic spots, from the soaring domestic tourism data to the influx of foreign visitors, the energy and activity can be felt in every corner of the country.

During the summer travel season from July 1 to August 31, China registered around 10.917 billion passenger trips in inter-regional movement, a daily average of 176 million trips, according to data released by China's Ministry of Transport. In particular, a staggering 887 million railway passenger trips were recorded nationwide, representing a 6.7 percent year-on-year increase and a daily average passenger flow exceeding 14.31 million, a record high, according to data from China Railway. 

These figures also serve as a vivid testament to China's immense potential for domestic demand and thriving consumption dynamics.

Tourism boom

As the summer draws to a close, multiple online travel platforms have released reports revealing substantial growth in both bookings and visitor numbers for summer travel products. 

Spring Travel said in a report sent to the Global Times that the number of domestic travelers during the summer of 2024 exceeded the same period in 2023. 

Data from other platforms such as Fliggy also revealed that both per capita bookings and spending increased year-on-year during the summer, with a more pronounced emphasis on immersive travel experiences.

Xu Fan, a tourism enthusiast from central China's Henan Province, who embarked on a journey to Southwest China's Guizhou Province, told the Global Times he was captivated by local handicrafts and unique souvenirs that encapsulated the essence of Guizhou's traditional heritage. "I was impressed by the diverse range of creative products available, which have expanded beyond traditional clothing and textiles. Some foreign tourists also showed a strong interest in the unique batik crafts, often taking photos and spending time admiring the intricate designs," Xu said.

In the vast desert areas of Northwest China, a romantic encounter with the stars and nature has also emerged as one of those immersive travel experiences. "Desert hotels," which allow visitors to spend the night observing the stars, experienced a year-on-year surge of 270 percent in searches on Meituan in early August. The search for "desert coffee" rose by an astonishing 518 percent.

Meanwhile, frenzy over China's hit game Black Myth: Wukong has also boosted tourism in places like North China's Shanxi Province, as the intertwining of gaming and its real-world settings breathed new life into ancient cultural sites. According to data from Trip.com Group, since the game was launched, the number of ticket orders for Xiaoxitian scenic spot, one of the filming locations, has increased by 261 percent year-on-year.

"The number of tourists has skyrocketed this summer, especially after the launch of the game. We went from about 1,500 visitors a day to over 5,000 in just a matter of days. The influx of tourists continued with visitors purchasing local products and cultural items. There were also some foreign tourists seen in the scenic spots," a staff member of the Xiaoxitian scenic spot told the Global Times on Sunday.

Facilitating policies

The presence of foreign tourists has added a unique dimension to this tourism extravaganza. With visa-free policies in place, China has increasingly become a popular destination for overseas travelers. 

"This is my first time visiting Beijing, and I am amazed by the scale of the city. Taking a taxi is incredibly convenient, something that's quite different from my experience in Perth," a tourist from Australia, told the Global Times on Sunday. 

"Famous attractions like the Temple of Heaven and Nanluoguxiang are bustling with visitors. I'm glad this surge has encouraged businesses to extend their hours and improve their offerings, making my evening strolls and shopping even more enjoyable," he said, adding that he has bought many traditional Beijing pastries and plans to visit Shanghai next.

Data from Trip.com Group showed that inbound travel orders during the summer surged by approximately 70 percent year-on-year, with South Korea topping the list of source countries. Thailand, Japan, Singapore, Malaysia, the US, Australia, Vietnam, the UK and the Philippines followed behind.

The Zhongyuan Festival, an occasion to pray for safety and express filial piety, falls on the 15th day of the seventh month of the lunar calendar. It happens to fall on Sunday this year.
Also known as the Ghost Festival, the Zhongyuan Festival is a significant event recognized in various East Asian cultures, particularly in Chinese communities. In ancient China, people commemorate the ancestors with food offerings, burning incense and releasing water lanterns.

The Zhongyuan Festival comprises three main elements: worshiping the spirits of the ancestors, religious activities and performances celebrating life. Even though this festival has been influenced by Taoist and Buddhist thought, the origin of Zhongyuan Festival bears a deep Confucian imprint.

It is likely that the festival originated from an ancient ancestor worship tradition. Up until the Wei (220-265), Jin (265-420), and Northern and Southern dynasties (386-589), the ancient rituals we now recognize as Zhongyuan and the Obon Festival were influenced by the growing presence of Buddhism and Taoism. These ancient customs honor and celebrate the lives of deceased family members and friends. Additionally, ancestor worship during this period became closely associated with enjoying seasonal autumn foods.

In ancient China, people started to harvest crops in the seventh month of the lunar year. A common ritual of the time was that of offering the newly harvested grains, fruits and vegetables to the ancestors.

This was also an occasion to get together with relatives, friends and neighbors, which remains a custom in a number of Chinese provinces.

The word "Obon" means to save the soul from distress. During the Tang Dynasty (618-907), the Ullambana Festival was introduced to Japan along with Buddhism and was later called Obon, or Bon. On this day, dead ancestors are believed to return to their living families, so people prepare for the reunion with the performance of Bon Odori, or a Bon dance, to welcome the spirits and pay homage to their sacrifices.

The Zhongyuan Festival is celebrated in different ways across China.

The sixth century classic "Family Instructions," a collection of teachings and advice on family life, ethics and moral conduct written by Yan Zhitui, a notable Confucian scholar of the Northern and Southern Dynasties period (386-589), reminds future generations to honor the Obon Festival, to repay their parents for their kindness and express filial piety.

After the sixth century, Taoism also named the 15th day of July "Festival of Zhongyuan." According to the Taoist philosophy, three basic elements make up everything in the world - heaven, earth and water, and these elements are worshiped on January 15, July 15 and October 15 respectively in the lunar calendar.

Taoists also believe that on this day, the King of Hell frees the spirits of the deceased from the lower realm of the underworld, while Buddhists take it as a day to ease suffering and honor the elderly.

In the Tang Dynasty, officials were granted one to three days of leave to celebrate the Zhongyuan Festival. While since the Northern Song (960-1127), the festival became more about folk customs.

Days before the Zhongyuan Festival, people start preparing paper paste offerings for the worship ritual. On the festival, vegetarian food is put on the offering table in the morning. Many families take time to visit the graves of their ancestors, offering food and incense. This act of remembrance emphasizes respect and the ongoing connection between the living and the dead. Additionally, the government holds a public memorial meeting to pay tribute to the soldiers who died on the front line.

In the evening, after a traditional ceremony, people enjoy watching performances that reflect beloved aspects of local folklore or walk through the night market. Later many gather around a lake, a river or some other water body and release floating water lanterns, also called lotus lanterns, usually made by pasting paper into a lotus shape. A lamp or candle is placed inside it and represents the concept of "yang" (the world of the living), and the lanterns are left floating on the water, which represents the opposite concept of yin (the underworld).

In some regions, traditional performances are also staged in open areas as entertainment for wandering spirits.

The festival is often celebrated at night, when ghosts are believed to be more active.

Finally, according to ancient Chinese customs, some activities that should be avoided during the Zhongyuan Festival. For instance, many people avoid swimming or traveling during this time due to the belief that spirits might cause misfortune.

No matter where you are in China, you can always witness some form of Zhongyuan Festival celebrations and marvel at its centuries-old integration of beliefs and customs derived from Buddhism, Taoism, Confucianism and folk traditions.

In commemoration of the National Day of Mexican Cinema 2024, the Embassy of Mexico in China will screen Cronos, a movie directed by Oscar-winning director Guillermo del Toro at the Beijing Yuan Museum on August 31. 

In 1536, during the Inquisition, an alchemist builds a mysterious and sophisticated device named Cronos to provide eternal life to the owner in Veracruz, Mexico. 

In the present day, antiques dealer Jesus Gris finds Cronos hidden inside an ancient statue while cleaning it with his granddaughter Aurora. 

He accidentally triggers the device and soon his wife Mercedes and he note that he has a younger appearance. 

Out of the blue, the stranger Angel de la Guardia visits Gris' shop and buys the old statue. On the next day, Gris finds his shop trashed and Angel's card on the floor. 

He pays a visit to Angel who introduces him to the eccentric millionaire De la Guardia that explains the healing power and the eternal life bestowed by Cronos. 

Angel is sent by De la Guardia to hunt down Gris to get Cronos no matter the costs.

Chushu, the 14th of the 24 solar terms of the traditional Chinese calendar, fell on Thursday. Meaning the "end of heat," the term gives hope to people in areas suffering from intense summer temperatures.
After Chushu, the climate starts to become dry and temperatures change drastically. This can lead to sore throats and dryness, making it essential to take measures to prevent pharyngitis.

Chushu begins when the sun reaches 150 degrees of ecliptic longitude. By this time, the hottest days of the year, known as Sanfu or dog days, are either ending or are winding down.

Ancient Chinese people divided the Chushu period into three pentads: in the first pentad, eagles, treated as a type of sacrificial bird, were hunted and displayed as sacrificial offering before being served as dishes; the second pentad saw plants beginning to wither; while the third marked the maturation of grains.

During the period of Chushu, the northeast and northwest regions of China start to cool down, while the Jianghuai area might experience heavy rainfall.

After Chushu, the cooling effect is noticeable especially in the morning and evening, with each rain bringing a little more relief from the summer heat.

Experts suggest that consuming less spicy and stimulating food, eating more vitamin-rich fresh vegetables and fruits, avoiding to stay up late and exercising appropriately are all valid ways to boost the body's immunity during Chushu.

Folk customs include adding duck to one's diet as duck is believed to be particularly nutritious after mid-July of the lunar calendar. Having duck is believed to replenish yin and benefit the blood, cooling down the body and strengthening the spleen at the same time.

Suanmeitang, or sour plum drink, is highly recommended to combat dryness. In North China, the drink is mostly made of hawthorn, while in the south of the Yangtze River, dried dark plum is used.

This solar term coincides with the harvest season. Ancient farmers worshiped the Land God, praying for good weather and a bumper harvest.

In coastal areas, Chushu also signals the start of the fishing season. Since 1998, China has celebrated the Fishing Festival, acknowledging its rich fishing culture. More and more people are aware of respecting oceans by celebrating this festival. This festival marks the end of the fishing moratorium in the East China Sea. The coastal areas of Zhejiang Province celebrate new fishing season and diners to enjoy a wide variety of seafood.

Yin Jifu is a senior engineer with the National Engineering Research Center of Dredging Technology and Equipment under the state-owned construction giant China Communications Construction Company (CCCC).

Yin, whole holds a doctorate degree, has been working hard.

"The recently concluded third plenary session of the 20th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China filled me with great confidence. The reform-centric resolution of the plenum led me to believe that now it is the right time to do big things," Yin told the Global Times.

According to a resolution adopted at the plenum, the country vowed to foster new quality productive forces, advance modern engineering technology, and establish mechanisms to ensure increased funding for future industry innovation, while enhancing the institutions and mechanisms for promoting the development of the marine economy.

For Yin, all these matters hold special significance. Spurred by top-down policy incentives and driven by a sense of urgency, he feels that there are many big things to do.

"For instance, to extract valuable metals from under the wild ocean waves could have huge implications for the lifeline of the nation's emerging new industries, and that's where our expertise can be of great use," Yin told the Global Times.

According to his estimation, each electric vehicle consumes 10 times the amount of rare metals as used by an internal combustion engine vehicle, so endeavoring to seek marine technology breakthroughs could power the country's future development.

Yin is not alone. The resolution adopted at latest CPC plenum has sparked renewed vigor in the hearts of those in the nation's marine engineering sector, from scientists in the lab to frontline workers on oil rigs and vessels at sea.

Marine engineering

Behind the story of Yin and many others is China's rapidly developing marine engineering sector - one of the fastest growing industries in the world.

After years of accumulating strengths and heavy investment devoted to solving tech bottlenecks, China's marine engineering sector has enjoyed meteoric development during recent years.

The nation has successfully rolled out its domestically manufactured large cruise vessel, large liquefied natural gas ship, the world's largest-capacity offshore wind turbine and a series of floating facilities used in offshore oil and gas exploration.

Marking one of the latest achievements, on August 12, a production facility in Qingdao, East China's Shandong Province under China National Offshore Oil Corporation completed and handed over the 17,000-ton, 24-story-building-high Marjan oil and gas collection and transportation platform - China's heaviest offshore oil and gas platform destined for overseas markets - to its clients from Saudi Arabia.

In the first six months of the year, China's marine economy expanded steadily, outperforming national GDP growth. The sector's gross output reached 4.9 trillion yuan ($678.55 billion), up 5.6 percent year-on-year, state broadcaster China Central Television reported on July 31, citing data from the Ministry of Natural Resources.

Notably, the growth rate of the marine economy was 0.6 percentage points higher than that of the overall economy from January to June.

Significantly, marine equipment manufacturing has witnessed a marked rebound, the ministry said, with multiple sizable deals clinched in the second quarter.

The new orders of marine engineering projects increased by 205 percent year-on-year, while the value of holding orders rose by 11.6 percent.

In the meantime, the country's shipbuilding capacity, marine traffic and cargo throughput all improved, with the foreign trade value of vessels and offshore wind turbine and parts increasing by 87.3 percent and 32.6 percent year-on-year, respectively, according to the ministry.

Analysts noted that the emerging marine engineering sector is set to make up a larger share of China's economy, as the sector has greater growth potential, featuring the use of new technologies.

Tech-driven growth

The third plenum resolution's emphasis on science-technology and innovation and digital technologies has led to a deep resonation with those in the marine engineering sector, whose job's prerequisite is the solid mastery of scientific knowledge and engineering expertise.

Zeng Nannuo, an oil worker at Shenhai Yihao, or Deep Sea No 1, China's first independently developed ultra-deepwater gas field, told the Global Times that the third plenum has injected renewed confidence across the industry, with the emphasis on fully implementing the strategy of invigorating China through science and education, the strategy of developing a high-quality workforce and the innovation-driven development strategy.

The platform, which has recorded an accumulated natural gas output of over 8 billion cubic meters, with its oil output exceeding 800,000 cubic meters as of May 3 this year, incorporates cutting-edge technologies such as 5G wireless telecommunication, digital twins, and Internet of Things technology.

"We will continue to implement innovation-driven development strategy, intensify the efforts in mastering key technologies and core parts, nurture the new quality productive forces in the marine energy sector, and further intensifying the digitalization of oil & gas production," Zeng said.

The emphasis by the resolution on scientific innovation is very heartening, CCCC's Yin said.

"Deep sea and deep earth probes require the pooling of resources from all sides, and the trend, which is already emerging, is expected to accelerate further," Yin said.

As part of a national push to foster scientific breakthroughs and break technological bottlenecks constraining the development of the fast-growing marine industry, a number of Chinese centrally administered state-owned enterprises are setting up a good number of innovation-driven consortiums to converge their scientific strengths. 

CCCC led and set up in July a marine engineering innovation consortium, with initial objectives such as mastering technologies for key equipment for large-scale offshore wind farms.

"Now it is time to do big things," Yin said. "I can't say we are going to do zero-to-one sort of deeds, but at least we are aiming to connect the dots between labs and the vast ocean."

Japan's Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO) has reportedly looked into the errors made in the preparation work for the test removal of nuclear fuel debris from one of the reactors at the crippled Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant after the discovery of a problem led to its suspension. 

Observers warned of a more severe pollution leak, saying the lack of transparency in handling dumping nuclear-contaminated wastewater has eroded trust in the Fukushima nuclear power plant, and called for effective transparency. TEPCO has been immersed in public concerns, and surging opposition has continued in the first year since Japan began dumping nuclear-contaminated wastewater.

The plant operator has been preparing to conduct a test retrieval of nuclear fuel debris from one of the plant's reactors that experienced meltdowns in 2011, according to Japanese media outlet NHK.

The debris, a mixture of molten nuclear fuel and parts of the reactor structure, is estimated to weigh around 880 tons, and the task of removal is considered to be the most challenging step in decommissioning the damaged power plant because of extremely high levels of radiation, as reported by NHK.

The suspension was implemented due to a problem discovered with the installation of a removal device, the NHK report said. 

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said on Friday that the more transparent and open Japan is on the issue, the easier it will be for Japan to alleviate international concerns. 

China once again calls on Japan to seriously respond to international and domestic concerns, fulfill its responsibilities and obligations, and offer full cooperation in setting up an independent international monitoring arrangement that remains effective in the long haul, Mao said.

Lü Chao, a research fellow at the Liaoning Academy of Social Sciences, told the Global Times on Friday that the test retrieval of nuclear fuel debris has prompted increasing opposition, particularly from Japanese citizens, due to concerns that it could result in a second, more severe pollution leak.

Given the frequent occurrences of accidents at the Fukushima nuclear power plant and public concerns, the lack of transparency in handling the related issues has eroded trust in the plant among both the Japanese public and the international community, Lü said.

The Global Times learnt from Japanese environmental NGO "Don't Contaminate the Oceans Anymore! Citizens' Council" that it will organize a 2024 global action on Saturday to raise voices from Japan and abroad in opposition to the dumping of the nuclear-contaminated wastewater from Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant and advocate for an end to the radioactive water dumping.

"The ocean is the source of all life. We cannot dump radioactive materials into it for human convenience. Moreover, ocean creatures cannot raise their voices. It is only us humans who can raise our voices in opposition!" said a representative from the Japanese NGO.

The NGO noted that during last year's global action in April before Japan officially discharged the contaminated water, they had received nearly 100 photos and powerful messages worldwide from countries including France, Canada, South Korea, Fiji and Solomon Islands against the dumping.