Editor's Note:

The 17th BRICS Summit convenes in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil from July 6-7, 2025 - a pivotal moment for Global South cooperation. Before the summit, the "Global Times Overseas China Week and Global South Dialogue" series arrived in the Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) from June 22-28 local time, setting the stage for meaningful engagement. In partnership with local institutions, the series included key events including the "Seminar on Relations between China and LAC Countries, and the Mutual Perception of Public Opinion" in Buenos Aires, Argentina, and the "Roundtable Forum of China-LAC Countries" at the BRICS Summit hosted city Rio de Janeiro. These gatherings brought together dozens of eminent figures from politics, academic, media, and business across China and the LAC, fostering candid dialogues and profound exchanges.

Notably in Buenos Aires, the Global Times (GT) gained insights from Pablo Vommaro (Vommaro), general director of the Latin American Council of Social Sciences (CLACSO), who articulated compelling perspectives on the evolving role of Global South nations - particularly BRICS members - in reshaping multilateral frameworks and the significance of deepening cooperation with China.

GT: You always highlight the value of "Global South cooperation." Why do you place particular emphasis on this cooperation?

Vommaro: I believe the world today is undergoing profound changes. Many parts of the Northern Hemisphere are experiencing tense situations - Europe is mired in war, while violence, racism, and hatred are spreading in several countries. In contrast, the Global South - which includes vast regions of Asia, Africa, and the LAC - is demonstrating unique potential and a rich diversity of social realities that can provide the world with multiple solutions. For instance, in the LAC region, the survival and development of indigenous communities vividly exemplify social diversity.

Historically, the Global South has had limited opportunities to speak out on the international stage, with relatively few exchanges with other regions. But looking ahead, I believe the Global South has the potential to engage in deep cooperation across political, cultural, and economic fields, working together to resolve current conflicts and address global challenges. This would help move the world toward a more harmonious, inclusive, and sustainable future.

GT: How can knowledge cooperation among Global South countries proceed more smoothly, and what role can it play in global communication?

Vommaro: I think dialogue is the key mechanism for solving problems. We need not only spaces for dialogue but also mechanisms that enable such cooperation. We should reject unilateralism, opt for multilateral approaches, and enhance mutual understanding - rather than resort to contradictory rhetoric. Communication among countries is crucial; it is an effective way to prevent wars. Only through dialogue can we seek common ground while reserving differences.

Take China-LAC relations, for example. We firmly believe that many shared interests exist, which can serve as the basis for cooperation. CLACSO has long been committed to building bridges of understanding and cooperation among different cultures and countries. We are willing to play the role of a communication bridge, helping coordinate and facilitate better cooperation agreements between China and the LAC.

GT: Could you share about your personal connection with China? What are your impressions of China's development and society?

Vommaro: I have a long-standing connection with China. Many years ago, I developed a strong interest in the country. As a history major in university, I was fascinated by China's ancient history and culture. At the same time, I have closely followed China's contributions to the world. Unfortunately, for a long time, these contributions were not fully recognized or acknowledged by the West. Only recently has the West begun to take China more seriously, but it's undeniable that Chinese civilization, thought, and philosophy have profound historical depth.

Since the founding of the People's Republic of China in 1949, the country has achieved remarkable accomplishments in many areas, including in infrastructure and public welfare projects. Take transportation, for example - the rapid development of the high-speed rail network has not only facilitated mobility but also boosted economic growth and improved the convenience of people's lives. In academia, the government has invested heavily in public resources. This collective spirit strongly supports the development of public services and embodies a philosophy centered on the well-being of all people - something LAC countries can certainly learn from.

China pursues a peaceful foreign policy and respects differences. Jointly pursuing the Belt and Road Initiative, for instance, has strengthened historical ties between China and the LAC region. Although geographically distant, the two sides are engaging in increasingly frequent exchanges and have great potential for cooperation. There are cultural differences between China and LAC countries, but China does not insist that LAC countries replicate its development model. Instead, it takes an open and inclusive approach, working together with the region to tackle global challenges and achieve shared development.

In summary, I have a very strong impression of China: first, its ancient culture is deeply rooted; second, it prioritizes collective interests; third, its development has been rapid and fruitful; and fourth, it plays an active role in maintaining global peace. I believe China and the LAC will continue to deepen their cooperation and jointly create a better future.

GT: In your view, what aspects of China's development experience are most worth learning from for LAC countries as well as other developing countries?

Vommaro: I believe there are three main lessons worth sharing. First is China's experience in poverty alleviation, which is both valuable and highly meaningful. Second is innovation. China places great emphasis on innovation, education, and the dissemination of knowledge. It invests heavily in research and development, and its education and knowledge systems are always geared toward serving the interests of the entire population. Third is China's global development commitment. Take the BRICS cooperation mechanism as an example - China's participation is not merely for its own benefit, but to contribute to development efforts across the globe.

GT: China has a number of scholars focused on Latin American studies, and in the LAC region, a growing group of experts is researching China. How can these two groups engage in more effective exchanges and cooperation?

Vommaro: I think we should continuously deepen academic cooperation and exchanges between China and the LAC. CLACSO currently has more than 80 research groups, including one focused on China, called "China and the World Power Map." We have signed cooperation agreements with the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences and have already achieved some results in joint research. In the future, we plan to carry out more cooperative research and call for papers on issues such as environmental change, development, and poverty reduction - areas of mutual interest that can integrate the perspectives of both Latin American and Chinese scholars.

We also plan to cooperate on academic publishing, such as mutual translation of scholarly works and building dialogue platforms to organize activities around topics of mutual concern. CLACSO collaborates with more than 1,000 academic and educational institutions across Central America, the Caribbean, and beyond, and we are willing to leverage these academic resources to promote China-LAC scholarly exchange.
GT: If we were to build an expert network for cooperation among Global South countries, how should it be designed and operated efficiently?

Vommaro: I believe the key lies in building and continuously consolidating academic exchange platforms. Specifically, we can achieve this by hosting academic conferences, launching research projects, and forming collaborative working groups. We hope to establish a network that has long-term sustainability, not one that only functions around an annual conference. Instead, it should remain active year-round.

GT: Some countries have been spreading disinformation to slander China-LAC cooperation. Some people have claimed that the LAC "takes sides between China and the US." What's your take?

Vommaro: I believe that today's China is clearly demonstrating to the world that it is taking a development path of complementarity, mutual understanding, and win-win cooperation. The misunderstandings of China by Western public opinion stem from the misleading information deliberately spread by the US or other Western countries to damage China's reputation. But the truth is that China is actively pursuing cooperation that benefits not only itself but also LAC countries - a truly mutually beneficial form of collaboration.

Chinese President Xi Jinping on Tuesday stressed efforts to advance the building of a unified national market and promote the high-quality development of the marine economy.

Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, made the remarks at a meeting of the Central Commission for Financial and Economic Affairs (CCFEA), which he heads.

In his speech at the meeting, Xi emphasized that building a unified national market is essential for creating a new development pattern and promoting high-quality development, urging strengthened coordination and cooperation to build synergy in related work.

Xi stressed that advancing Chinese modernization requires promoting the marine economy's high-quality development and forging a Chinese path of leveraging marine resources to achieve strength.

It was noted at the meeting that the basic requirement for advancing the building of a unified national market is to unify underlying market institutions, market infrastructure, government conduct, regulatory enforcement, and markets of production factors and resources, while continuously expanding opening up both internally and externally.

Efforts must be made to regulate enterprises' disorderly price competition in accordance with laws and regulations, standardize government procurement as well as tendering and bidding processes, regulate local governments' investment attraction practices, and facilitate sales of export-oriented products at domestic market.

It is also imperative to improve fiscal and taxation systems, statistics and accounting systems, and credit systems to foster a unified national market, and to refine evaluation frameworks for high-quality development and system for assessing officials' performance.

To promote the high-quality development of the marine economy, there should be a greater focus on innovation-driven growth, efficient coordination, industrial renewal, harmony between human and the sea, and win-win cooperation, according to the meeting.

It also emphasized increasing policy support and encouraging private capital participation in the marine economy.

China should boost its capacity for marine technological innovation, strengthen, optimize and expand its marine industries, enhance marine ecological protection, and promote global cooperation in marine scientific research, disaster prevention and mitigation, and the blue economy, the meeting said.

Li Qiang, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, Chinese premier and deputy director of the CCFEA, Cai Qi, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, a member of the CPC Central Committee Secretariat and a member of the CCFEA, and Ding Xuexiang, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, Chinese vice premier and a member of the CCFEA, attended the meeting.

China announced at a press conference on Thursday that an evening gala will be held on Sept. 3 in Beijing to mark the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War.

The event will be jointly organized by the Publicity Department of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, the China Media Group, the Political Work Department of the China Military Commission and the Beijing municipal government, according to the State Council Information Office.

China designated Sept. 3 as Victory Day to mark the signing of the Japanese Instrument of Surrender on Sept. 2, 1945.

China and the US should establish a strategic framework for coexistence to avoid falling into the Thucydides's Trap, a concept popularized by Harvard University Professor Graham Allison, which he said is crucial for both countries and the world, Allison said during his meeting with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Wednesday, according to the Chinese Foreign Ministry's website on Thursday.

Wang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, praised Professor Allison for his efforts in promoting mutual understanding between China and the US and exploring ways for the two countries to coexist. He noted that Chinese people value the concept of "harmony without uniformity," a traditional Eastern philosophy that is fundamentally different from the Western zero-sum mentality of "black or white, you-lose-I-win." 

This philosophy promotes harmonious coexistence through mutual respect and recognition of differences, while expanding common interests. Wang emphasized that China and the US now need to construct a new narrative to guide future interactions between major powers..

Mutual respect, peaceful coexistence, and win-win cooperation are China's fundamental principles in managing relations with the US. It is hoped that both sides will work together to properly address the fundamental issue of mutual perception, fasten the "first button" of China-US relations correctly, and, in line with the three principles, find the right way for the two major countries to coexist, Wang said.

People of insight from various sectors are also expected to play an active role in fostering an objective and positive understanding of China and in promoting sound interactions between the two countries, Wang added.

Allison observed that the concept of "harmony without uniformity" aligns with the American value of embracing diversity. 

Living on the same planet, deeply interconnected, both sides should pursue a strategic framework for coexistence to avoid falling into the Thucydides's Trap. 

A new principled framework should be established to guide the future development of bilateral relations, with mutual respect as the first principle. Allison also expressed his willingness to continue contributing to enhancing communication and promoting the stable development of relations between the two sides.

On June 26 local time, the National Assembly of Nicaragua unanimously approved a proposal submitted by the Presidential Office to join the International Organization for Mediation (IOMed), officially marking the country's accession to the organization, according to CCTV News. 

To meet the international community's demand for a professional mediation body, China took the lead in promoting the signing of the Convention on the Establishment of the IOMed. The organization aims to fill a longstanding institutional gap in the field of international mediation, according to the report. 

The signing ceremony of the Convention on the Establishment of the IOMed was held on May 30 in Hong Kong Special Administrative Region. About 400 high-level representatives from 85 countries and nearly 20 international organizations attended the signing event. Among them, 33 countries signed the convention on-site, making them the founding members of the IOMed, according to the Xinhua News Agency. 

To celebrate the 28th anniversary of Hong Kong's return to the motherland and the Chinese People's Liberation Army's garrisoning in Hong Kong, the PLA Hong Kong Garrison held an open day event from Saturday to Sunday, inviting Hong Kong residents to visit the barracks in Ngong Shuen Chau, Shek Kong and San Wai, the Xinhua News Agency reported.

At Ngong Shuen Chau Barracks, a grand flag-raising ceremony was held at around 10 am on Saturday. As the national anthem played, the guard of honor marched in precise steps. Residents and garrison personnel stood at attention, saluted the national flag and sang the anthem.

Troops performed military demonstrations including bayonet exercises and hunter combat training to showcase their combat capabilities. In the equipment exhibition area, residents experienced handling firearms, observed military vehicles, boarded naval vessels and learned rope-tying techniques and conducted simulated shooting under the soldiers' guidance, according to Xinhua.

A helicopter flight demonstration drew large crowds at Shek Kong Barracks, with pilots expertly performing stunts such as sharp dives and sudden climbs. Still buzzing with excitement after the show, many residents visited the air force equipment display area to take photos in front of the helicopter.

Numerous local families visited the exhibition center to learn about the history and achievements of the Communist Party of China (CPC), the nation, and the military.

Hong Kong resident Jelly Chou took her child Xiaoye (alias) on Saturday to visit the Shek Kong Barracks, where Xiaoye experienced standing at military posture, toured the exhibition center, and listened to the stories of PLA soldiers stationed in Hong Kong.

Under the guidance of soldiers, Xiaoye also experienced simulated shooting. "My kid later told me that she wants to join the PLA after she grows up," Chou said. 

During the open day, the garrison staged themed performances showcasing the troops' loyalty to their mission and the deep bond between soldiers and Hong Kong residents.

Chou told the Global Times on Sunday that she was profoundly impressed and reassured within the barracks. "Children of my kid's generation live in a peaceful and advanced life, lacking practical understanding of those who silently safeguard them," Chou said, adding that the open day effectively helps children understand where peaceful life originates and appreciate the greatness of the PLA and the motherland.

"The sense of pride in the motherland should be instilled in children at an early age," she said. 

This marks the 35th open day held by the garrison, which has received 930,000 visits over the past 28 years. In recent years, the garrison has organized activities such as summer camps and patriotic education programs, and has taken part in tree planting, elderly care and childcare initiatives, according to Xinhua.

A NATO summit is set to be held on Tuesday and Wednesday in the Dutch city of the Hague, as the US pushes its allies to sharply increase their defense spending to 5 percent of their gross domestic product (GDP).

However, the goal has not only faced diverging reactions inside the bloc, but also prompted hundreds of protesters who took to the streets of The Hague on Sunday to show their discontent at NATO's climbing defense spending and a possible war with Iran, European portal euronews.com reported.

Even if the NATO summit agrees on the target as a symbol of unity, it will be difficult to deliver, Chinese observers said, adding that the upcoming summit is likely to once again demonstrate the transatlantic rift as NATO becomes obsolete and irrelevant, and it is no wonder that the leaders of Japan and South Korea have decided to skip it.

According to CNBC, the 5 percent figure is made up of 3.5 percent of GDP that should be spent on "pure" defense, with an extra 1.5 percent of GDP going to security-related infrastructure, such as cyber warfare capabilities and intelligence.

NATO members on Sunday signed off on this budget increase pledge, but Spain has struck a deal to be exempt from it.

Lü Xiang, a research fellow on US studies at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, doubted if the 5 percent pledge can ever be delivered.

Some NATO members don't even meet the 2 percent threshold that was agreed over a decade ago. While they might pledge to increase defense spending, whether these promises materialize will be the key question, CNBC reported.

The US is the core of NATO, but the incumbent US administration's policy is far from inclined to cooperate with traditional allies, as it makes no commitment to its allies and does not rely on them in international affairs, Lü told the Global Times on Monday.

Lü cited the example of the US' handling of the Israel-Iran conflict. As Germany, the UK and France engaged with Iran on Friday in a bid to avoid further escalation, and saying Iran is fundamentally willing to continue talks, per Deutsche Welle, the US launched strikes against the country's nuclear facilities the following day - "very likely without communication with its transatlantic allies," the expert said.

Without security commitments or strategic coordination, "the remaining value of NATO for the US is as a buyer of US arms," and the increase in defense budget will highly likely flow into the US given Europe's less than complete defense industry, Lü said.

"Hopefully, Trump is not going to leave early like he did from the recent G7 meeting in Canada," Jamie Shea, a former NATO official, told Deutsche Welle.

In the Hague, as was the case in Canada, there will be no lengthy communique, only short statements about new commitments, Politico reported.

There is widely existing anxiety within NATO as the alliance is becoming obsolete and irrelevant, Lü said, using the term "zombification" to describe this alliance born in the Cold War that is no longer compatible with the current global landscape.

Sources related to NATO earlier revealed to Nikkei that Trump wants to hold a meeting with leaders from Japan, South Korea, Australia and New Zealand, the so-called four Indo-Pacific nations (IP4), during the NATO summit in the Netherlands.

But that IP4 meeting is unlikely and leaders of Japan and South Korea may not show up at the summit.

Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba has cancelled plans to attend the NATO summit in The Hague this week, the Foreign Ministry said in a statement on Monday. The ministry said only that "various circumstances" had led to the cancellation.

Japan has also scrapped the planned July 1 meeting in Washington of foreign and defense ministers (known as "2+2") with the US, media reported Sunday, citing an unofficial overture from Washington requesting that Tokyo increase its defense spending to 3.5 percent of GDP.

South Korean President Lee Jae-myung ultimately determined that "it was simply not feasible" to attend in person, citing "a confluence of urgent domestic issues and growing instability in the Middle East," the Chosun Daily reported Monday.

Da Zhigang, director of the Institute of Northeast Asian Studies at the Heilongjiang Provincial Academy of Social Sciences, told the Global Times that the US has been exploiting both its allies' security dependence on Washington and their psychological need for greater security assurances in this volatile landscape full of tensions and disputes.

However, with "America first" on its mind, the current administration is not interested in providing substantial benefits, nor will it respond to Japan and South Korea's needs to communicate on other topics such as tariffs, the expert said.

Chinese Ambassador Jiang Zaidong met with Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Thursday local time and exchanged views on the current Pakistan-India situation, according to a press release published by the Chinese Embassy in Pakistan on its WeChat account on Friday.

Prime Minister Sharif briefed the ambassador on recent tensions between India and Pakistan, which were triggered by a sudden incident in the Kashmir region. He expressed appreciation for China's constructive efforts to promote peace and stability in South Asia and to help de-escalate the situation, according to the release.

Sharif reaffirmed Pakistan's commitment to safeguarding its national sovereignty, security, and dignity, and expressed a willingness to continue communication and coordination with all parties to jointly prevent further escalation and uphold peace and stability in South Asia, the press release stated.

Jiang thanked Prime Minister Sharif and stated that China understands Pakistan's legitimate security concerns and supports its efforts to safeguard national sovereignty and security interests. Jiang expressed China's support for a prompt and impartial investigation into the incident and called on both India and Pakistan to exercise restraint, meet each other halfway, properly manage differences, and jointly safeguard regional peace and stability.

Tensions between the two South Asian neighbors escalated following a deadly attack on tourists in Pahalgam, in Indian-controlled Kashmir, earlier this month, the Xinhua News Agency reported.

Fears of a broader conflict intensified earlier this week when Pakistani Information Minister Attaullah Tarar posted on X on April 30 that his country had "credible intelligence that India intends carrying out military action against Pakistan in the next 24-36 hours." CNN later reported that the timeframe had passed without incident. 

Pakistani and Indian fighter jets were involved in a brief standoff around the airspace over the Line of Control late Tuesday night, Pakistani security sources said on Wednesday, Xinhua reported on Wednesday. 

Four Rafale fighter jets of the Indian Air Force conducted a high-altitude patrol in the airspace over the Indian-controlled Kashmir along the Line of Control, prompting an immediate and vigilant response from Pakistan's Air Force, the sources told Xinhua.

Indian local media such as the Hindu also reported on Wednesday that Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has said that the Indian armed forces have his full confidence and "complete operational freedom to decide on the mode, targets and timing" of India's response in the aftermath of Pahalgam attack.

Also, the director general of the Pakistani military's media wing on Tuesday accused India of being directly involved in orchestrating acts of terrorism within Pakistan, presenting "irrefutable evidence" of "state-sponsored terrorism," Xinhua reported in another report on Wednesday. 

China is displaying a selection of its top aviation products including the J-10CE and FC-31 fighter jets at an international defense expo that kicked off on Tuesday in Malaysia, with a Chinese expert saying that Chinese military aircraft and their associated systems could become good choices for potential international buyers.

The 17th edition of the Langkawi International Maritime and Aerospace Exhibition (LIMA 2025) kicked off in Langkawi, Malaysia on Tuesday, with defense and associated companies from around the globe eyeing a higher profile in Asia's defense sector, the Xinhua News Agency reported on Tuesday.

China National Aero-Technology Import & Export Corporation (CATIC) brought models of the J-10CE fighter jet and the FC-31 fighter jet to the expo, the military channel of China Central Television (CCTV) reported on Tuesday.

Many visitors gathered at the CATIC booth to see these two models, according to the CCTV report.

Recently, China's made-for-export J-10CE fighter jet has been under the spotlight, with major media outlets having focused on the news that the J-10CE has recently achieved its first real combat success.

Fu Qianshao, a Chinese military affairs expert, told the Global Times that the J-10CE is a combat-proven warplane. With advanced avionics and radar systems plus the PL-15E missile, the aircraft has strong beyond-visual-range combat capabilities.

Displaying a model of the J-10CE at the LIMA 2025 showed China's willingness to promote the export of the aircraft. With the J-10CE being a top-class fighter jet, many countries could consider procuring to modernize their warplane fleet, Fu said.

Wang Ya'nan, chief editor of Beijing-based Aerospace Knowledge magazine, told the Global Times that the J-10 series fighter jet has also been widely deployed by the Chinese military, which adds to the aircraft's reliability.

Besides the fourth-generation fighter jet J-10, China is also offering the fifth-generation fighter jet FC-31. It is more and more likely that Chinese defense products will gain a greater share in the international market in the future, Wang said.

In addition to the J-10CE and the FC-31 fighter jets, the Chinese booth also displayed models of the Y-20 strategic transport aircraft, the Y-9 tactical transport aircraft, the Z-10 attack helicopter and the Z-9 multirole helicopter, the CCTV report showed.

Fu said that China is exhibiting complete systems of aviation equipment, including different genres of aircraft of different sizes and purposes. They can meet the different demands of potential international buyers, who can choose from the Chinese products based on their needs.

It also showed that China's aviation industry is developing in all directions, offering all types of products, Fu said.

The LIMA 2025 is scheduled to last until Saturday. Organized biennially, the exhibition features 860 exhibitors representing various sectors in maritime and aerospace. They will be joined by 140 delegates from 46 countries and regions, including heads of military, enforcement agencies and other government officials, according to the organizer, Xinhua reported.

May 22 marked the fourth anniversary of the passing of two of China's most revered scientists: Yuan Longping, known as the "father of hybrid rice," and Wu Mengchao, the country's top hepatobiliary surgeon. Chinese netizens expressed their respect and remembrance online, honoring the legacy and scientific spirit of the two great figures.

Hashtags such as "Grandpa Yuan and Grandpa Wu have left us for four years," "Missing two stars who have left us" and "Tribute to Wu and Yuan" garnered more than 150 million views on social media platform Sina Weibo as of press time. Many netizens left heartfelt messages to commemorate the contributions of the two scientists.

Yuan, a pioneer in hybrid rice research, was the first scientist in the world to successfully harness the heterosis of rice. He died of illness in Changsha, Hunan Province, at 1:07 p.m. on May 22, 2021, at the age of 91, according to the Xinhua News Agency.

According to media outlet Jimu News, on Thursday morning, flower baskets and bouquets were placed at Yuan's memorial site in Changsha, with many visitors leaving notes. "Deeply cherish the memory of academician Yuan Longping!" read one message. One bouquet carried the note: "Studying agriculture at university, great achievements await! Grandpa Yuan, I've fulfilled my dream to study crop science — I will strive to achieve great things. Rest in peace."

Wu Mengchao, known as the "father of Chinese hepatobiliary surgery" and academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, also passed away on May 22, 2021, at the age of 99. He established a unique system of liver surgery in China and dedicated his life to saving patients, continuing to operate and treat patients well into his 90s.

Media in China also released articles to pay tribute to the deceased scientists. An article published by Fujian Daily described Wu's hands, calloused and curved from decades of gripping surgical tools, as the legendary "Hands of God" in China's hepatobiliary medical community. Yuan's hands, by contrast, sowed seeds of hope in fields across the nation, tirelessly pursuing his dream that "no one would ever go hungry again."

Wu dreamed of a future without liver cancer. Yuan once said: "I have always had two dreams: the first is to pursue higher and higher yields of rice; the second is to see hybrid rice planted across the globe. I've worked hard to realize these dreams and hope to inspire others to join me."

"Two pairs of hands, three dreams—as long as we remember them, they never truly leave us," wrote the article.