RTHK signed a memorandum of understanding with broadcaster Chengdu Radio and Television to carry out a series of events there next year, as well as step up people-to-people bonds and cultural connections between the two cities. Director of Broadcasting Angelina Kwan signed the MoU with Yang Xiaoyang, president of Chengdu Radio and Television and chair of the Chengdu Broadcasting (Group) Corporation, on Thursday during her visit to Sichuan's capital. “The two broadcasters will expand cooperation across a range of areas, including programme content exchanges, talent development and related exchanges, collaboration on new media platforms and the organisation of events,” they said in a statement. These include RTHK’s acclaimed signature projects – the “RTHK Vinyl Pop Up” – that will be staged in Chengdu in the second quarter of next year. It was previously held in Hong Kong, Qianhai and Shanghai. “RTHK expressed hopes that bringing the ‘RTHK Vinyl Pop Up’ to Chengdu would allow music to serve as a bridge for introducing Hong Kong's pop culture to a wider mainland audience, while helping to share the stories of both Hong Kong and Chengdu with the world,” the statement added. During the three-day visit that kicked off on Wednesday, the RTHK delegation also met with senior management of the Chengdu Media Group to exchange views and explore further opportunities for collaboration. Kwan said the Hong Kong broadcaster has long been committed to strengthening ties with media organisations across the mainland through broadcasting and cultural exchanges to foster people-to-people bonds between Hong Kong and the mainland. Edited by Aaron Tam

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The nation has allocated 50 million yuan in emergency disaster relief funds and earmarked another 30 million yuan for recovery efforts following a 7.0 magnitude earthquake in southwest Xizang Autonomous Region. The earthquake struck Baqen County of the city of Nagqu at 10.33pm on Thursday, leaving 16 people dead and 76 injured. President Xi Jinping has called for all-out rescue efforts. The Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Emergency Management jointly allocated 50 million yuan to support rescue operations and assistance to affected residents, while the National Development and Reform Commission earmarked the additional 30 million yuan from the central budget to help restore damaged infrastructure and public service facilities. The country has also upgraded its national earthquake emergency response from Level IV to Level III, while activating a separate Level-IV national natural disaster relief response. China's national comprehensive fire and rescue force has dispatched a total of 350 rescuers and 83 vehicles. The emergency management ministry has guided Xizang's emergency management department in arranging for Wing Loong drone deployment to the quake-hit area for disaster reconnaissance. As of early on Friday, 120 rescuers and 27 vehicles had arrived in the quake-hit area, while the remaining 230 rescuers and 56 vehicles from the Xizang fire and rescue corps were en route as reinforcements, having all entered Nagqu's administrative area. Earlier, as of 4.30am, authorities had mobilised relief supplies at the central, regional, municipal and county levels, and delivered them in batches to the affected area. These supplies included 1,000 prefabricated housing units, 3,239 tents, 2,821 folding beds and 4,280 quilts, among other essentials. (Xinhua) Edited by Aaron Tam