Since Beijing announced a new visa to attract young science and technology graduates, a backlash has erupted online, forcing the government to respond.
The conference was billed as a celebration of China’s achievements in supporting women. But the government has mostly wiped out independent advocacy groups.
The church’s pastor, Ezra Jin Mingri, turned Zion Church into one of China’s largest unofficial congregations, even as government pressure on Christianity increased.
The snowfall buried tents and reduced visibility. The local authorities said that they were in contact with the hikers and that rescue efforts were underway.
The bipartisan delegation said more conversations were necessary to avoid accidental “miscalculations and misunderstandings” that could lead to conflict.