Striving to Write a New Chapter of Chinese Modernization: Xi Jinping's Governance Record This Year - Focusing on the Overall Construction of Chinese Modernization to Compose a Symphony of Development
General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out that to advance Chinese modernization, it is essential to comprehensively promote rural revitalization and resolve the issue of imbalanced urban-rural and regional development. Since the beginning of this year, General Secretary Xi Jinping has positioned, contemplated, and planned coordinated development within the overall framework of Chinese modernization, deeply implementing strategies for coordinated regional development and accelerating urban-rural integrated development, injecting strong momentum into Chinese modernization. The series of reports titled "Striving to Write a New Chapter of Chinese Modernization - A Chronicle of General Secretary Xi Jinping's Governance Since the Beginning of This Year" today (August 4) features "Focusing on the Overall Construction of Chinese Modernization, Harmonizing the Symphony of Development." Coordinated development emphasizes resolving issues of imbalanced development and promoting modernization for the common prosperity of all people. Promoting coordinated regional development has always been a major concern for General Secretary Xi Jinping. Since the beginning of this year, the General Secretary's inspection tours have covered the eastern, central, and western regions of China. He has successively presided over two symposiums, pointing the direction and outlining the blueprint for promoting coordinated regional development on the new journey. In March, less than a week after the conclusion of the "Two Sessions," General Secretary Xi Jinping visited Hunan and presided over a symposium in Changsha on promoting the rise of the central region in the new era. Connecting the east and west, linking the north and south, the central region is an important strategic hinterland for Chinese modernization. At the symposium on promoting the rise of the central region in the new era, the General Secretary put forward six requirements, ranging from actively cultivating and developing new productive forces to striving to enhance the security of grain, energy, and resources, making a systematic deployment for further promoting the rise of the central region. Two months after this symposium, the "Several Policy Measures to Accelerate the Rise of the Central Region in the New Era" was submitted to a Political Bureau meeting for deliberation, aiming to propel the central region to a higher starting point and strengthen its "backbone" through a series of concrete measures. The focus now shifts to the vast western region. This area accounts for over 70% of the national land area and encompasses 12 provinces, autonomous regions, and municipalities, playing a pivotal role in the overall reform, development, and stability of the country. In late April, General Secretary Xi Jinping visited Chongqing and presided over a symposium on promoting the large-scale development of the western region in the new era. This was the first symposium on the development of the western region presided over by the General Secretary since the 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China. From adhering to the development of characteristic advantageous industries as the main direction to upholding the forging of a strong sense of community for the Chinese nation, the General Secretary put forward the "six adherences" requirements. In June this year, General Secretary Xi Jinping once again visited the western region, inspecting Qinghai and Ningxia, emphasizing the need to firmly grasp their strategic positioning in the overall national development, combine local characteristics, and adhere to a strategy of "do something, do not do something." The General Secretary's on-site guidance has further propelled the western region to become China's ecological treasure house, development hotspot, security barrier, and open frontier. Planning a region from the overall perspective and serving the overall perspective with a region. Since the beginning of this year, General Secretary Xi Jinping has also made important deployments and put forward clear requirements regarding other major regional development strategies. In April, the General Secretary presided over a Political Bureau meeting to deliberate the "Opinions on Several Policy Measures for Continuously and Deeply Advancing the High-Quality Integrated Development of the Yangtze River Delta," promoting the Yangtze River Delta to better play a leading and exemplary role in Chinese modernization. In May, the General Secretary visited Shandong, encouraging the region to continue leading in promoting ecological protection and high-quality development of the Yellow River Basin. In June, the Shenzhen-Zhongshan cross-river channel was completed and opened to traffic. The General Secretary sent a congratulatory letter, calling for good management and utilization of the Shenzhen-Zhongshan Channel to promote market integration in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area. Under the guidance of General Secretary Xi Jinping, the Chinese land is achieving mutual assistance between east and west, coordinated development between north and south, and integrated land and sea management, with coordinated regional development making solid progress, and the "nation as a chess game" gradually reaching its optimal state. General Secretary Xi Jinping once pointed out that the biggest imbalance in China's development is the urban-rural development imbalance, and the biggest inadequacy is insufficient rural development. He emphasized that to accomplish the grand task of rural revitalization, the path of integrated urban-rural development must be followed. Since the beginning of this year, every time he has visited local areas, the General Secretary has emphasized the comprehensive promotion of rural revitalization and urban-rural integrated development. In Hunan, the General Secretary stressed that comprehensively promoting rural revitalization is the overall grasp of "agriculture, rural areas, and farmers" work in the new era and on the new journey. In Chongqing, the General Secretary pointed out that Chongqing integrates a large city, large rural areas, large mountainous areas, and large reservoir areas, and urban-rural integrated development must be vigorously promoted. In Ningxia, the General Secretary emphasized the need to conform to population flow trends, promote urban-rural integrated development, and facilitate the integration of urban and rural industrial development, infrastructure, and public services. Since the beginning of this year, all localities have followed the requirements of the Central Document No. 1, learned from the experience of the "Thousands of Villages Demonstration and Ten Thousands of Villages Renovation" project, and effectively and efficiently promoted comprehensive rural revitalization. In the first half of this year, the per capita disposable income of rural residents was 11,272 yuan, a real increase of 6.6%, 2.1 percentage points higher than the growth rate of urban residents' income. The active implementation of urban renewal actions and rural construction actions has effectively enhanced the sense of gain, happiness, and security among urban and rural residents. In July this year, the Third Plenary Session of the 20th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China clearly pointed out that urban-rural integrated development is an inevitable requirement of Chinese modernization. The "Decision" of the Plenary Session emphasized "improving the institutional mechanisms for urban-rural integrated development" and dedicated a specific section to its deployment. With ingenious craftsmanship, the landscape of the vast land is unfolding. Under the strong leadership of the Party Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping as the core, China is focusing on promoting coordinated regional development, with strong impetus from development power sources; and is focusing on promoting urban-rural integrated development, leading to common prosperity for cities and rural areas. Today's China, with its meticulously drawn "gongbi painting" of coordinated development, extending from subtle details to vast areas, is writing a new chapter of Chinese modernization.
Studying and Implementing the Spirit of the Third Plenary Session of the 20th Central Committee of the CPC: Central Lecture Group Delivers Speeches on the Spirit of the Third Plenary Session of the 20th CPC Central Committee Across Regions and Systems
Members of the Central Lecturing Group for studying and implementing the spirit of the Third Plenary Session of the 20th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China have recently delivered in-depth lectures across various regions and systems, engaging in interactive exchanges with grassroots cadres and the public, thereby ensuring that the spirit of the Plenary Session resonates deeply. Huai Jinpeng, a member of the Central Lecturing Group and Secretary of the Party Leadership Group and Minister of Education, delivered a lecturing report to the education system. In his report, Huai Jinpeng elucidated the historical context, strategic positioning, and mission of further comprehensively deepening reforms and advancing Chinese modernization in the new era, and comprehensively interpreted the new deployments and requirements regarding deepening comprehensive educational reform as stipulated in the Plenary Session's "Decision." Huai Jinpeng also visited Peking University to engage in exchanges with teachers participating in the collective lesson preparation meeting for ideological and political theory courses in Beijing universities, deeply studying and promoting the spirit of the Plenary Session. Zhang Yuzhuo, a member of the Central Lecturing Group and Secretary of the Party Committee and Director of the State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission (SASAC) of the State Council, delivered a lecturing report to the state-owned assets and central enterprises system. Zhang Yuzhuo closely focused on General Secretary Xi Jinping's important speech at the Third Plenary Session of the 20th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China and the Plenary Session's "Decision," deeply expounding on the great significance of the Third Plenary Session of the 20th Central Committee and specifically interpreting the major measures for deepening the reform of state-owned assets and state-owned enterprises proposed in the "Decision." Zhang Yuzhuo also traveled to Kashgar, Xinjiang, and visited central enterprises in Xinjiang to personally explain the spirit of the Plenary Session and interact with cadres and the public. Tang Fangyu, a member of the Central Lecturing Group and Deputy Director of the Central Policy Research Office, delivered a lecturing report in Nanjing. Tang Fangyu focused on General Secretary Xi Jinping's important speech at the Third Plenary Session of the 20th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China and the Plenary Session's "Decision," explaining the great significance of the Third Plenary Session, its theme, and the drafting process of the "Decision." He also elucidated the main issues that need to be grasped in advancing reforms and provided a key interpretation of the important reform measures proposed in the "Decision." Tang Fangyu also visited enterprises, universities, and laboratories, engaging in interactive lectures with cadres, employees, young teachers, students, and representatives of scientific and technological workers.
Authoritative Interview: Comprehensively Deepening Reforms to Provide Scientific and Technological Support for Chinese Modernization
The Third Plenary Session of the 20th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China emphasized the need to build institutional mechanisms that support comprehensive innovation. What measures will be taken next to further deepen the reform of the science and technology system and mechanisms and unleash the vitality of innovation and creation? Today (August 4), in "Authoritative Interview," we bring you an exclusive interview with Yin Hejun, Minister of Science and Technology, by a CCTV reporter. The key to Chinese modernization lies in scientific and technological modernization. The Plenary Session pointed out that education, science and technology, and talent are fundamental and strategic pillars for Chinese modernization. It is essential to deeply implement the strategies of invigorating the country through science and education, strengthening the country with talent, and innovation-driven development, coordinate the integrated reform of the education, science, and talent systems and mechanisms, improve the new nationwide system, and enhance the overall effectiveness of the national innovation system. Yin Hejun stated that the "Decision" highlights problem-oriented and goal-oriented approaches, requiring the science and technology sector to further comprehensively deepen reforms and remove institutional and mechanistic obstacles that hinder scientific and technological innovation. Anchoring the goal of building a scientifically and technologically strong nation by 2035, with high-level scientific and technological self-reliance and self-improvement as the main theme, Yin Hejun said that the "Decision" has made comprehensive and systematic deployments for the next steps.
The 33rd Summer Olympic Games: China Secures 3 More Golds, Achieves Historic Breakthrough in Tennis
From last night (August 3) Beijing time until now, the Chinese sports delegation at the Paris Olympics has won an additional 3 gold and 3 silver medals. Among them, Chinese tennis women's singles player Zheng Qinwen won China's first Olympic tennis singles gold medal, achieving a historic breakthrough. In the women's singles tennis final that concluded early this morning Beijing time, Chinese player Zheng Qinwen defeated Croatian player Vekic in straight sets, 6:2 and 6:3, to win the championship, achieving a historic breakthrough for Chinese players in Olympic tennis. Zheng Qinwen also became the first Asian athlete to stand on the highest podium in this Olympic event. In the badminton women's doubles final, the Chinese pair Chen Qingchen/Jia Yifan defeated their teammates Liu Shengshu/Tan Ning. After 20 years, China once again swept the gold and silver medals in badminton women's doubles. The table tennis women's singles final also took place between two Chinese players, with Chen Meng ultimately defeating Sun Yingsha 4:2 to successfully defend her title. The Chinese team achieved its tenth consecutive Olympic gold medal in this event, and this is also the fifth consecutive time and eighth time in history that Chinese women's table tennis has swept the gold and silver medals in this event. In addition, in the swimming mixed 4x100m medley relay final, the Chinese team, consisting of Xu Jiayu, Qin Haiyang, Zhang Yufei, and Yang Junxuan, set a new Asian record with a time of 3 minutes 37.55 seconds, winning a silver medal. In the boxing events, Chinese women's 50kg boxer Wu Yu and 66kg boxer Yang Liu both advanced from the quarterfinals, securing two medals for China. In the women's field hockey group stage, the Chinese team defeated France 7:1 to advance to the quarterfinals.
Promoting High-Quality Development Series Press Conference: Optimizing Fiscal Policy Supply, Deepening Fiscal and Tax System Reform
The State Council Information Office held a press conference on July 31 as part of the "Promoting High-Quality Development" series. Officials from the Ministry of Finance stated that in recent years, China has continuously optimized its fiscal policy supply, promoting effective qualitative improvement and reasonable quantitative growth of the economy. Data shows that since the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, China has cumulatively arranged an additional 11.35 trillion yuan in special bonds, supporting approximately 90,000 projects in areas that address weaknesses and benefit people's livelihoods, driving an increase in effective social investment. The 1 trillion yuan in additional national debt issued last year has mostly begun construction; this year, 1 trillion yuan in ultra-long-term special national debt has been arranged, focusing on supporting the implementation of major national strategies, the construction of security capabilities in key areas, and a new round of large-scale equipment upgrades and trade-ins for consumer goods. At the same time, proactive fiscal policy focuses on strengthening financial guarantees for basic livelihoods. In this year's budget arrangements, fiscal expenditures in education, social security and employment, agriculture, forestry, and water, and health sectors collectively account for nearly 50%; the central and local government fiscal relationship continues to be optimized, with central government transfers to local governments totaling approximately 30 trillion yuan from 2022 to 2024. The Third Plenary Session of the 20th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China made comprehensive deployments for deepening fiscal and tax system reforms, and the Ministry of Finance will continuously strengthen fiscal macro-control and deepen fiscal and tax system reforms.
Positive Progress Made in China's World Heritage Protection
World Cultural and Natural Heritage are important achievements in the development of human civilization and natural evolution. Since the 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, China has continuously strengthened world heritage protection, achieving positive new progress. The latest data shows that China has 59 World Heritage sites. World Heritage is divided into three types: cultural heritage, natural heritage, and mixed cultural and natural heritage. Recently, "Beijing Central Axis - The Masterpiece of China's Ideal Urban Order" was inscribed on the World Heritage List, increasing China's World Cultural Heritage sites to 40. At the same time, China also has 43 items inscribed on the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage List. Since the 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, the central government has invested 600 million yuan to support the monitoring of World Cultural Heritage, and a number of high-level protection, management, and exhibition projects have also been accelerated, effectively protecting China's World Cultural Heritage. With the inscription of "Badain Jaran Desert - Megadunes and Lakes" and "Migratory Bird Sanctuaries along the Coast of Yellow Sea-Bohai Gulf of China (Phase II)" on the World Heritage List, China's World Natural Heritage and Mixed Cultural and Natural Heritage sites have increased to 19. In recent years, China has continuously strengthened the construction of a natural protected area system with national parks as the main body, effectively protecting World Natural Heritage and Mixed Heritage sites. Currently, China's World Natural Heritage and Mixed Heritage sites cover an area of 79,000 square kilometers, encompassing national parks, nature reserves, and various types of natural parks, including hundreds of natural protected areas, achieving effective protection of important natural ecosystems and natural relics.
Summer Travel Sees Steady Growth, "Flowing China" Demonstrates Vitality
Since the start of the summer travel season on July 1, cross-regional personnel flow across society has steadily increased. Transportation departments have optimized and refined services to ensure convenient travel for passengers. Data from the Ministry of Transport shows that since the summer travel season began, cross-regional personnel flow across society has steadily increased, reaching an average of 170 million person-times per day, a year-on-year increase of 2.6%. A batch of new high-speed rail lines have been put into operation, meeting passengers' travel demands. Passenger flows for summer vacation travel, family trips, study tours, and graduation trips continue to grow. The Lanzhou-Zhangye High-Speed Railway Lanzhou-Wuwei section, which opened before the summer travel season, connected Wuwei, Gansu, to the national high-speed rail network. During the summer travel season, the number of railway passengers arriving and departing in the Wuwei area increased by nearly 60% year-on-year. The Chizhou-Huangshan High-Speed Railway, connecting Chizhou and Huangshan, links up the Yangtze River Delta high-speed rail loop, expanding the radiation radius of scenic spots in counties along the route. Railway departments have launched characteristic tourist trains based on local customs and traditions, providing more convenient and comfortable travel options for tourists. This summer travel season, the total passenger volume of civil aviation nationwide is expected to reach 133 million person-times, with an average daily passenger volume of 2.15 million person-times. With the increase in visa-free tourist destinations for China, the outbound tourism market is looking promising this summer. As of now, international passenger flights have recovered to nearly 80% of 2019 levels. Industry insiders state that the summer travel data indicates the huge potential of the consumer market, and with the full support of highway, railway, and civil aviation departments, "a flowing China" is full of vitality.
Domestic News Briefs
Ministry of Water Resources Accelerates Construction of Flood and Drought Disaster Prevention and Control System
Recently, the Ministry of Water Resources issued the "Implementation Opinions on Accelerating the Construction of a Flood and Drought Disaster Prevention and Control System," focusing on reservoirs, dikes, rivers, and flood detention areas, clearly defining prevention and control responsibilities item by item, and proposing to accelerate the establishment of a "three-in-one" flood and drought disaster prevention and control system that integrates responsibility implementation, decision support, and dispatching command, to enhance disaster prevention and reduction capabilities and levels.
China's Marine Gross Product Reached 4.9 Trillion Yuan in First Half of the Year
The latest data released by the Ministry of Natural Resources shows that China's marine gross product reached 4.9 trillion yuan in the first half of the year, a year-on-year increase of 5.6%. The marine shipbuilding industry continued its good development momentum, with new orders received for marine vessels, completed shipbuilding volume, and outstanding orders increasing by over 24%, 31%, and 23% year-on-year, respectively. The marine economy achieved stable and relatively fast development.
All Tunnels of the Middle Section of West-to-East Gas Pipeline III from Zhongwei to Zaoyang Completed
Reporters learned today (August 4) from China Oil & Gas Piping Network Corporation that with the completion of the Shangshan Tunnel, the last dedicated natural gas long-distance pipeline tunnel traversing the Qinling Mountains, which is 6.03 kilometers long, all 105 tunnels along the middle section of the West-to-East Gas Pipeline III from Zhongwei to Zaoyang have been completed. After this section is built and put into operation, it can transport 25 billion cubic meters of natural gas annually.
Lhasa Shoton Festival Opens Today
Today (August 4), Lhasa ushered in its annual traditional festival - the Shoton Festival. The Shoton Festival is one of the first batch of national intangible cultural heritage items. During this year's Shoton Festival, various cultural and sports activities will be held, such as traditional excellent Tibetan opera performances, horse racing, and yak racing, bringing a rich and colorful cultural feast to local residents and tourists.
Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps States Israel Will Be Severely Punished
Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) issued a statement on the 3rd, stating that the assassination of Hamas political bureau leader Ismail Haniyeh was designed and carried out by Israel with the support of the United States. The statement said that investigations showed the area of Haniyeh's residence was hit by a short-range projectile, which caused an explosion upon impact. The statement emphasized that Israel would be severely punished. Hamas issued a statement on the 3rd, saying it had begun the process of selecting a new leader and that the organization was working to continue resisting Israel.
Lebanon-Israel Conflict Continues; Many Countries Urge Citizens to Leave Lebanon
Hezbollah, the Lebanese armed group, claimed to have launched dozens of rockets into northern Israel early this morning (August 4). The Israeli military stated that it intercepted several rockets launched by Hezbollah and struck Hezbollah rocket launchers and other targets. The United States, United Kingdom, Sweden, Jordan, and other countries issued advisories on the 3rd, urging their citizens to leave Lebanon as soon as possible due to regional tensions.
Schools and Tent Camps in Gaza Strip Attacked; Many Casualties
Gaza's civil defense department said on the 3rd that an Israeli military attack on a school in Gaza City that day resulted in 17 deaths and many injuries. The Israeli military stated that it attacked a Hamas command center in the Gaza Strip that day. According to Palestinian media reports, the Israeli military also attacked a tent camp in Deir al-Balah in the central Gaza Strip, which housed displaced persons, causing at least 5 deaths and 15 injuries.
International News Briefs
Protests Erupt Across UK, Over 90 Arrested
According to British media reports, large-scale protests erupted in Liverpool, Bristol, Manchester, and other parts of the UK on the 3rd, opposing the British government's immigration policy. Some protesters clashed with police, leading to over 90 arrests. Reports indicate that British police have increased deployments in many areas to address potential ongoing protests.
Strong Winds and Dry Conditions Fuel Wildfires in Northern California, US
Affected by strong winds and dry weather, the "Parker" wildfire in Northern California, USA, continues to rage. The latest data from the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection shows that as of the 3rd, the fire had burned over 1,600 square kilometers, with less than 30% of the blaze contained. According to US media reports, "Parker" has impacted four counties and a national forest, destroying over 560 buildings, and has become the fourth-largest wildfire in California's history.