At around 2:10 AM on May 1, a landslide occurred on the Chayang section of the Meida Expressway in Meizhou City, Guangdong Province. As of 3:30 PM on May 2, the disaster had resulted in 48 deaths and 30 injuries. Following the disaster, Xi Jinping, General Secretary of the CPC Central Committee, President of China, and Chairman of the Central Military Commission, attached great importance to the incident and issued important instructions, stating that the landslide on the Chayang section of the Meida Expressway in Guangdong had caused heavy casualties. He emphasized the need to spare no effort in on-site rescue, treating the injured, and properly handling post-disaster arrangements. He also stressed the importance of promptly repairing damaged roads and restoring traffic order as soon as possible. With the "May Day" holiday underway, there is increased public travel and large movements of people. Some regions are also expected to experience widespread rainfall and severe convective weather, making various accidents and disasters prone to occur. All regions and relevant departments must adhere to a bottom-line mindset, consolidate work responsibilities, strengthen monitoring and early warning, improve emergency plans, and promptly investigate and address risks and hidden dangers in key areas and critical sectors to ensure the safety of people's lives and property and overall social stability. Li Qiang, Member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Premier of the State Council, issued instructions, calling for all-out efforts to rescue the injured, meticulously carry out post-disaster work, search for trapped individuals by all means, and strictly prevent secondary risks. He noted that the "May Day" holiday is currently a peak period for public travel, and some areas will experience widespread rainfall. All localities and relevant departments must further strengthen the implementation of safety responsibilities, particularly by investigating risks and hidden dangers in roads, scenic spots, and public facilities caused by prolonged rainfall, effectively implementing safety management measures, and making full efforts to prevent various accidents and disasters. In accordance with Xi Jinping's instructions and Li Qiang's requirements, Zhang Guoqing, Member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Vice Premier of the State Council, led relevant departmental officials to the site to guide rescue and response efforts. Key leaders of the Guangdong Provincial Party Committee and Provincial Government also rushed to the site to personally direct frontline emergency response work. Guangdong Province and Meizhou City established an on-site command center and multiple working groups to fully carry out on-site search and rescue, treating the injured, traffic diversion, and post-disaster arrangements. Currently, relevant work is underway.
General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out: "Grand artisans are the cornerstone and pillars of our Chinese nation's edifice." On the new journey of comprehensively building a socialist modern country, China's intellectual, skilled, and innovative workforce is growing stronger. Various types of skilled talents are active on the production frontline and at the forefront of innovation, with grand artisans emerging one after another, becoming the strong foundation for forging the Chinese Dream of the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation. These days, new progress continues to be made in the aerospace field, with the Shenzhou-18 manned spacecraft docking with the space station complex, and Chang'e-6 preparing for its lunar mission. From supporting China's aerospace exploration of the stars and chasing dreams in space, to creating the shining brand of "China High-Speed Rail," from capturing the "three pearls" of shipbuilding—aircraft carriers, large cruise ships, and LNG carriers—to constructing super projects like the Baihetan Hydropower Station and the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge, behind each major national instrument and each high-precision technology, there are grand artisans diligently studying and challenging limits. Cultivating grand artisans and highly skilled talents has always been a concern for General Secretary Xi Jinping. From emphasizing that "China's economy needs to be supported by the real economy, which requires a large number of professional technical talents and a large number of grand artisans," to pointing out the need to "encourage more workers, especially the younger generation, to embark on a path of achieving success and serving the country through skills, and cultivate more highly skilled talents and grand artisans to provide strong talent guarantees for comprehensively building a socialist modern country," General Secretary Xi Jinping has repeatedly profoundly clarified the great significance and objectives of building a highly skilled talent team. During this year's "Two Sessions," while participating in the deliberation of the Jiangsu delegation, General Secretary Xi Jinping once again emphasized, "Grand artisans are the cornerstone and pillars of our Chinese nation's edifice." Since the 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, the Party Central Committee, with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core, has deeply implemented the strategy of strengthening the country with talent, making a series of decisions and deployments to strengthen the construction of a highly skilled talent team in the new era. The report of the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China for the first time included grand artisans and highly skilled talents into the national strategic talent force. Currently, China has over 200 million skilled workers and more than 60 million highly skilled talents. Various industries have recognized 112 grand artisans, over 9,200 provincial-level artisans, and more than 45,000 municipal-level artisans. They all, with a spirit of dedication, precision, meticulousness, and pursuit of excellence, have created extraordinary achievements in ordinary positions, becoming the strong foundation for realizing the Chinese Dream of the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation. Today, closely following the pace of China's accelerated construction of a modern industrial system, grand artisans are continuously breaking through innovation, surpassing themselves, dedicating themselves to the intelligent and digital transformation of manufacturing, and promoting the development of new productive forces. Before "May Day," Han Chao, China's first-generation ROV pilot, was operating an underwater robot to complete the laying of umbilical cables for deep-water oil and gas fields. Today, China is vigorously implementing the Skilled China Action and the High-Skilled Leading Talents Cultivation Program, having formed a skilled talent development policy system with over 20 interconnected policies, nurturing a fertile ground for the growth of grand artisans and highly skilled talents. The country has established 1,066 national-level high-skilled talent training bases and 1,335 master artisan studios, and 100 artisan colleges are being successively established. The "New Eight-Level Worker" professional skill grading system has opened up promotion channels for skilled talents, with over 3,000 special technicians and chief technicians having been cumulatively appointed nationwide. The "integration of work and study skill talent training model" is being widely promoted in vocational and technical schools across the country, which will enable more young students to become skilled workers and master craftsmen with both virtue and exquisite skills. Achieving success and serving the country through skills is a brilliant life path. Batches of grand artisans are promoting the artisan spirit, undertaking major responsibilities and achieving great accomplishments in their respective industries and fields, providing surging动力 for China's construction of a modern industrial system and promotion of high-quality development.
Wufeng Tujia Autonomous County in Hubei Province is located in the mountainous region of western Hubei. There, a passenger driver named Deng Lanzhou has been traveling daily between mountain villages and market towns for 16 years, serving as both a driver and a delivery man, voluntarily helping villagers along the route transport goods. Every morning at 6:00 AM, Deng Lanzhou departs punctually from Maizhuang Village in Wufeng Town, heading to a market town 40 kilometers away. With the "May Day" holiday approaching, the amount of goods Deng Lanzhou needs to carry has increased. Wufeng Tujia Autonomous County is located in the mountainous area of western Hubei, characterized by vast mountains and sparse population, with inconvenient transportation. Most young people from the villages go out to work, leaving behind mostly elderly people and children. In 2008, Maizhuang Village in Wufeng Town launched its first rural passenger bus, and 23-year-old Deng Lanzhou became a bus driver, responsible for the route from the market town to Maizhuang Village. It was from then on that carrying goods became an unspoken understanding between Deng Lanzhou and the villagers. Every day after departure, he would collect local chickens, eggs, dried bamboo shoots, dried pumpkins, and other goods that villagers wished to sell, taking them to various collection points in the town. Upon arriving at the Wufeng Town bus station, Deng Lanzhou would then go shopping for the villagers. On the return journey, he would call the villagers in advance to notify them to pick up their goods. For those with limited mobility, he would even deliver the goods to their homes after the bus arrived at the stop. Over the past 16 years, he has cumulatively helped villagers along the route transport over 100,000 items free of charge. He has dedicated his most beautiful youth to the mountains. From 23 to 38 years old, from one person to a group of people, now, inspired by Deng Lanzhou, the drivers of the other seven rural passenger bus routes in Wufeng Town have voluntarily formed the "Deng Lanzhou Team," benefiting over 30,000 people.
The hope of the nation lies in its youth, and the future of the nation rests with its youth. Every year, as Youth Day approaches, the Central Committee of the Communist Youth League and the All-China Youth Federation commend outstanding young people and groups from various sectors. This honor also inspires the award-winning youth to bravely shoulder responsibilities and continue to strive in the construction of Chinese-style modernization. At Zhejiang University, Wu Dan, a recipient of last year's China Youth May Fourth Medal from the School of Biomedical Engineering and Instrument Science, has led her team to continuously achieve breakthroughs in scientific research. Recently, the ultra-high gradient brain-specific imaging system they spearheaded has made new progress. This holiday, in Jiangmen, Guangdong, Li Jianyun, a police officer with the municipal public security bureau, and his colleagues are taking turns on duty, operating new police drones to patrol and monitor coastal areas. In 2021, during an operation to apprehend smuggling suspects, Li Jianyun lost his left leg, but with his strong will and love for his police career, he returned to the frontline of combating crime. He led a drone specialized team, exploring and forming a tactical method of integrated land, sea, and air operations using drones. Since last year, he has assisted in solving 50 smuggling cases. With a sense of mission, the award-winning youth interpret the May Fourth spirit through their actions, demonstrating the youthful vigor of contemporary youth who are "idealistic, daring to take responsibility, capable of enduring hardships, and willing to strive."
During the "May Day" holiday, various regions launched a series of special activities to enrich people's holiday lives. During the "May Day" holiday, people indulged in nature, enjoying the magnificent landscapes of the motherland. Major scenic spots and parks in Beijing welcomed a peak in visitors. The Temple of Heaven Park has received over 100,000 visitors daily in the past two days, a year-on-year increase of more than 40%. The number of visitors who booked to ascend the Badaling Great Wall in Beijing today (May 2) reached 80,000, and the scenic area opened the emergency exits on the south and north lines to facilitate visitors' descent. In the transition from spring to summer, the Huangshan Scenic Area, with its peaks, strange pines, and grotesque rocks, appears indistinctly in the sea of clouds, attracting numerous tourists to climb the steps, stroll through the mountains, or stop to enjoy the scenery. In Shapotou, Zhongwei, Ningxia, activities such as Yellow River rafting, sandboarding, and camel riding brought joy to tourists. The underground cave complex of Benxi Water Caves in Liaoning is exquisite and elegant, and visitors enjoyed boating in the caves, experiencing geological wonders. Gulangyu Island in Xiamen, Fujian, was packed with people. By 10 AM today, the number of people on the island had exceeded 15,000, about three times the usual number. The scenic area promptly took measures to divert and guide visitors to ensure their safe and orderly enjoyment. During the "May Day" holiday, folk cultural activities were rich and colorful. In Mojiang County, Pu'er, Yunnan, ethnic groups formed more than 20 performance squares, allowing tourists from all over the country to experience colorful folk customs and enjoy a wonderful time. In the center of Urumqi, Xinjiang, a horse team composed of purebred Akhal-Teke horses conducted a parade led by professional riders, attracting citizens and tourists to stop and watch. In Luobulingka Park, a World Cultural Heritage site in Lhasa, Tibet, a series of activities such as cultural and creative markets allowed visitors to feel the charm of culture. In Xuzhou, Jiangsu, the newly renovated Wenmiao Temple was opened to tourists for free, with the ancient building complex integrating with the surrounding commercial district, attracting tourists and citizens to take photos and check in. By the Daming Lake in Jinan, Shandong, willows were lush and flowers bloomed, and people enjoyed boating on the lake, reveling in the holiday scenery. Honoring model workers and praising labor: Shaanxi organized university students to enter enterprises and workshops, where model workers and artisans imparted knowledge and skills on the production line, allowing university students to experience the charm of labor up close. In Gao'an, Jiangxi, children entered the Yuan Dynasty Blue and White Porcelain Museum to experience the fun of archaeological excavation and cultivate their hands-on abilities. During the "May Day" holiday, as the lights came on, energy surged. Along the Haihe River in Tianjin, a series of waterfront concerts were splendidly performed, allowing citizens and tourists to enjoy the night view while immersing themselves in the charm of culture and art. In Wuhan, Hubei, "Night Tour of the Yangtze River" became a popular tourist attraction, with brilliant light shows illuminating thousands of buildings along the river, presenting a dazzling urban panorama. This holiday, the Ministry of Culture and Tourism released 82 "Seasonal Scenery, Free Countryside" national rural tourism精品线路, leading tourists to experience the unique charm of mountains and rivers. Data showed that national rural homestay bookings increased by nearly 50% year-on-year, making rural tourism a holiday highlight. Nanyang, Henan, connected sites such as the Yisheng Ancestral Temple and Laojieling, allowing tourists to stroll through the countryside and explore the connection between solar terms, intangible cultural heritage, folk customs, and agricultural food. Chagan Lake in Jilin ushered in its opening season, and the local area hosted a fish feast to entertain guests from all directions; in Cailing Village, Chenzhou, Hunan, and Ansheng Town, Liangping, Chongqing, people played parent-child games, experienced making pottery, and enjoyed a leisurely holiday.
The reporter learned today (May 2) from the Ministry of Transport that on the second day of the "May Day" holiday, the total cross-regional movement of people is expected to exceed 285 million person-times, an increase of 33.6% compared to the second day of the "May Day" holiday in 2019. Rail passenger traffic maintained a high level, with national railways expected to send 17 million passengers today. This year's "May Day" holiday saw a significant increase in the number of tourists traveling to third- and fourth-tier cities compared to previous years. The number of inbound and outbound passengers at the Erenhot railway port increased by more than 50% compared to weekdays. The railway department, in conjunction with customs and border inspection, provided "one-stop" customs clearance services, significantly reducing the time for passengers to clear customs. The railway department also strengthened coordination with local transportation and cultural tourism departments to increase bus or shuttle services directly from stations to scenic spots. On the road, the cross-regional movement of people is expected to exceed 265 million person-times today, and road network traffic continues to operate at a high level. This year's "May Day" holiday, in addition to visiting popular scenic spots, rural tourism became a more popular choice for many. Local traffic management departments increased guidance at major intersections to improve traffic efficiency. In the road networks around Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei and the Yangtze River Delta, there is a large demand for charging new energy vehicles. Service areas in Baoding, Hebei, Huaian, Jiangsu, and Xiaoshan, Zhejiang, increased mobile charging facilities to improve emergency charging service capabilities. In civil aviation, the civil aviation passenger volume is expected to reach 1.87 million person-times today, and airports and airlines are orderly ensuring flight support services.
In the first quarter, national inter-regional power transmission increased by 3.7% year-on-year. The reporter learned from the China Electricity Council that in the first quarter, the national inter-regional power transmission reached 195.2 billion kilowatt-hours, a year-on-year increase of 3.7%. Among them, the power transmitted from the Northwest accounted for 77.7 billion kilowatt-hours, a year-on-year increase of 11.2%, representing 39.8% of the national inter-regional power transmission. China's inter-regional power regulation capacity has steadily improved. Ministry of Commerce Releases "Digital Business Three-Year Action Plan (2024-2026)". The Ministry of Commerce recently released the "Digital Business Three-Year Action Plan (2024-2026)," proposing 20 specific measures in five aspects: cultivating new consumption, promoting the digital development of logistics in the commercial circulation sector, vigorously developing digital trade, strengthening digital industrial chains and supply chains, and expanding "Silk Road E-commerce" cooperation space, to promote the sustained innovation and development vitality of China's e-commerce. Two Departments Support and Guide the Digital Transformation and Upgrade of Highway and Waterway Transportation Infrastructure. The Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Transport recently issued a notice stating that starting this year, over approximately three years, they will support around 30 demonstration areas to create a number of integrated network demonstration corridors and networks, supporting and guiding the digital transformation and upgrade of highway and waterway transportation infrastructure. The Ministry of Finance will provide rewards and subsidies based on a certain percentage of the total investment approved by the Ministry of Transport, with the subsidy ratios for eastern, central, and western regions being 40%, 50%, and 60%, respectively. The 135th Canton Fair Supply and Demand Matching Activity Achieves Intentional Procurement of Approximately US$290 Million. The 135th Canton Fair is currently underway. As of today (May 2), more than 234,000 overseas purchasers from 215 countries and regions have attended the fair, an increase of 25% compared to the same period in the previous session, setting a new historical high. As of now, more than 240 global supply and demand matching activities have been held during this Canton Fair, with an intentional procurement amount of approximately US$290 million. Poyang Lake's Water Area Connected to the Yangtze River Increases to 3,000 Square Kilometers. Affected by recent heavy rainfall, the water level of Poyang Lake has risen rapidly. Today (May 2), the water area of the lake connected to the Yangtze River increased to 3,000 square kilometers, an increase of 1,700 square kilometers compared to the same period last year. In addition, the water level at the lake's outlet to the Yangtze River exceeded 16 meters, and relevant departments initiated flood season water traffic control, conducting real-time supervision of passing vessels and reminding oversized vessels to take on water for loading to ensure safe passage. CMG Releases 2024 Arts and Culture New Products. China Media Group recently released its 2024 arts and culture new products. The press conference, themed "New Chapter for the Future," launched ten innovative programs, including "Ode to the Nation," "Splendid World," and "Olympics On The Move," focusing on time nodes and important events such as the 75th anniversary of the founding of New China and the Paris Olympic Games, which will bring a brand new audio-visual experience to the audience. Large-scale Documentary "Fuzhou Naval Academy" Premieres. China Media Group's CCTV Documentary Channel (CCTV-9) will begin airing the six-episode documentary "Fuzhou Naval Academy" at 8 PM tonight (May 2), and it will also be simultaneously launched on the Yangshipin client. The program tells the little-known story of China's first French-style university, the Fuzhou Naval Academy, and reflects its important role in promoting Sino-French cultural exchange and people-to-people connectivity. CMG's CGTN French Channel and other platforms will also broadcast documentaries tracing the history of the Fuzhou Naval Academy and China's earliest students who studied in France in the coming days.
Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić recently granted an exclusive interview to China Media Group (CMG) in Belgrade. He stated that Serbia warmly welcomes President Xi Jinping's return visit. He believes this visit will bring wonderful opportunities to Serbia. Vučić expressed his belief that President Xi Jinping's series of initiatives can truly contribute to achieving lasting global peace and are in the common interests of all countries worldwide.
The 2024 "Encountering China" Chinese Culture Theme Exhibition opened on May 1 at the Paris International Fair in France. The exhibition, themed "From Cultural Classics to a Better Life," features four main exhibition areas: the Chinese Civilization Exhibition Area, the Central Activity Area, the Beijing Culture Exhibition Area, and the Featured Culture Exhibition Area. It combines cultural exhibits, artistic performances, cultural and creative product sales, and entertainment experiences to showcase the long history of the Chinese nation, the unique charm of Chinese culture, and the modern achievements of Chinese civilization.
On May 1, the Israel Defense Forces stated that its aircraft conducted airstrikes on targets belonging to the Palestinian Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) and other Palestinian armed groups. The Al-Qassam Brigades, Hamas's armed wing, stated that they continued to strike Israeli forces in the "Netzarim Corridor" in the Gaza Strip using missiles and heavy-caliber mortars. Israel says agreement with Hamas does not affect Rafah offensive, Hamas says it will stop negotiations if Israel attacks Rafah. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on May 1 that reaching an agreement with Hamas does not mean that an Israeli offensive on the southern Gaza city of Rafah can be avoided. Hamas said on the same day that they were still studying Israel's new proposal for a ceasefire and release of detainees. If Israel attacks Rafah, they will stop negotiations. Separately, several foreign media outlets reported that Israeli Chief of Staff Herzi Halevi said near the temporary border between Israel and Lebanon on May 1 that the Israeli army was preparing for an offensive in the northern region.
Russia Claims Intercepting Ukrainian Guided Bombs, Ukraine Claims Striking Russian Training Ground. Russia's Ministry of Defense stated on May 1 that Russian forces repelled Ukrainian attacks in directions such as Kupyansk and Avdiivka. Russian forces also destroyed Ukrainian tanks, drones, and intercepted Ukrainian guided bombs and multiple rockets. Ukraine stated that its forces used missiles to strike a Russian training ground in the Luhansk region. Ukrainian forces also conducted strikes on Russian personnel and military concentration areas, drone control stations, and other targets. Manasseh Sogavare Elected Solomon Islands Prime Minister. The Solomon Islands Parliament convened this morning (May 2) and voted to elect Foreign Minister Jeremiah Manasseh as the new Prime Minister of the Solomon Islands. The Solomon Islands held new parliamentary elections on April 17, and the "Our Party" led by Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare won 15 seats, the most seats, but did not reach the more than half of the seats required to form a government independently. Sogavare stated on April 29 that he would not participate in the new government's prime ministerial election, and at the same time announced that multiple political parties supported Manasseh's candidacy for prime minister. Cuba Holds May Day Rallies, Condemns US Sanctions. On May 1, rallies were held across Cuba to celebrate May Day and oppose the US blockade against Cuba. On that day, about 200,000 people gathered in Havana's Plaza de la Revolución to condemn the severe negative impact of unilateral US sanctions on the Cuban economy and call on the Cuban people to unite to overcome difficulties and achieve economic recovery. Thousands of international individuals from various countries also participated in the rally that day to express support for Cuba. Slowed Growth Coupled with High Inflation: US Maintains Interest Rates. According to US media reports on May 1, persistently high inflation continues to burden American households, and the Federal Reserve decided on the same day to maintain the target range for the federal funds rate at 5.25% to 5.5%. The Federal Reserve statement said that US inflation has eased over the past year but remains high. US media reports stated that maintaining high interest rates will bring the risk of suppressing economic activity, and slowed US economic growth coupled with high inflation creates pressure for the Federal Reserve's policy decisions. The reports said that the risk of persistent failure to curb inflation in the US may be increasing.
Museums carry history and embody memories. "Museums are important halls for protecting and inheriting human civilization." Today (May 2), in "Cultural China Tour," let us walk into museums and art galleries across the country and experience the long history of Chinese culture.
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