It was a regular Friday in the U.S. but the most special day of the year in China and other Asian communities. The Cleveland Cavaliers paid tribute to their Chinese fans by celebrating Chinese New Year, educating and engaging local fans with Chinese culture. This was the second annual celebration for the Cavs and the NBA's sixth year with official organized events.

The American withdrawal from the Trans-Pacific Partnership trade agreement has opened the door to China to try and strike a pose as the leading defender of liberalized trade and globalization. The public face of this new push is none other than China’s president. This month, Xi became the first Chinese president to speak at the World Economic Forum in Davos where he set forth the case for continuing to expand global trade.

With six million Chinese tourists expected to travel abroad over the Lunar New Year break, China’s Jan. 27 to Feb. 2 holiday is crucial for Taiwan tour agency operator Li Chi-yueh, who relies on mainland visitors for a third of his revenue. [...] Though Tsai says Taiwan wants peace with China, Beijing suspects she seeks formal independence. “China uses its sightseeing tourists as a diplomatic weapon,” said Li. 

The 1,860.5 kilometer-long Tazara railway spanning from Tanzania's commercial center Dar es Salaam to Zambia's Central Province represents one of China's largest foreign aid projects. A tripartite agreement was signed in September 1967 to build the railroad and construction began in 1970. The railway opened in 1975 and in July 1976 was officially transferred to the governments of Tanzania and Zambia, with the Tanzania-Zambia Railway Authority undertaking operations.

Paramount Pictures said Friday it has inked a co-financing deal with two Chinese companies for the Hollywood studio’s slate of movies over the next three years. Under the terms of the deal, Shanghai Film Group and Huahua Media will also set up an office on Paramount’s lot later this year, the studio said in a statement. [...] It’s the latest China-Hollywood tie-up, as both sides aim to beef up their presence in each other’s movie industries.

The Minister for Sports and Culture Julienne Uwacu has expressed confidence that the Rwanda-China cultural exchanges are growing from strength to strength. [...] “We appreciate the embassy of China in Rwanda for having organised such a wonderful event. Cultural exchanges between Rwanda and China will continue. They (Chinese) will also be inviting our artistes to go and perform in China showcasing our culture there,” she said.

In celebration of the Year of China in South Africa 2015 the UJ's Confucius Institute aimed to promote further expansion and deepening of existing political, economic, scientific, technological and cultural exchanges between the two countries. Relations between the two countries and the respective institutions have strengthened across many fronts ever since.  Prof Jiangao's work is to promote Mandarin language teaching and the Chinese cultural experience for UJ staff and students, the public, business and government. 

iSoftStone, which is providing technical support to this Bangladesh project, is a global leader in digital city technologies based in Beijing. It has developed smart city strategies for over 100 municipalities and has implemented more than 50 related digital solutions. The organisation provides comprehensive end-to-end solutions to governments, industries and enterprises with urban management, industrial application, services for livelihood improvement and city innovation.