China Deepens Reforms for Agricultural and Rural Modernization
General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out that to comprehensively promote rural revitalization, reform must be utilized as a key tool. We must accelerate reforms in key areas and crucial links in rural areas to invigorate rural resources. The Third Plenary Session of the 20th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China made systematic arrangements for improving the integrated urban-rural development mechanisms, clarifying the key tasks of rural reform and providing important guidance for advancing rural reform on the new journey. Currently, various localities and departments are meticulously implementing key tasks of agricultural and rural reform to boost the momentum and vitality for comprehensive rural revitalization. This year, China's summer grain production increased by 7.25 billion catties, marking the largest increase in summer grain production in nearly nine years. The autumn grain acreage has seen stable growth. Over 1 billion mu of high-standard farmland have been built nationwide, with the average land quality reaching 4.76. The three-tier rural elderly care service network at the county, township, and village levels is accelerating its construction, and rural community comprehensive service facilities cover 80% of villages. Behind this series of changes lies the continuously deepening agricultural and rural reform, which has brought unprecedented brilliance and vitality to this ancient land. Since the 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, the Party Central Committee, with Comrade Xi Jinping as its core, has consistently prioritized addressing "San Nong" (issues concerning agriculture, rural areas, and farmers) as the most important task for the entire Party. It has guided the entire process and all areas of agricultural and rural reform and development with new development concepts, comprehensively deploying and systematically promoting agricultural and rural reform. Long-standing institutional and mechanism obstacles that restricted agricultural and rural development have been gradually overcome, and the vast countryside has burst with new vitality. The Third Plenary Session of the 20th Central Committee made systematic arrangements for "improving the integrated urban-rural development mechanisms," pointing out that "integrated urban-rural development is an inevitable requirement of Chinese modernization" and "it is imperative to coordinate new industrialization, new urbanization, and comprehensive rural revitalization," emphasizing "promoting common prosperity in urban and rural areas." Currently, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs has clarified three key tasks for agricultural and rural reform, and a series of reform measures centered on "promoting integrated urban-rural development" are gradually being explored. With the implementation of the policy extending the second round of land contracts by another 30 years, Anhui, Hunan, and Guangxi have launched provincial-level pilots. This year, 20 counties and districts in Hunan Province have seen their second round of land contracts expire. In Xinguang Village, Daoxian County, Yongzhou City, Hunan, 558 contracting households have signed their extended contracts. Sichuan's comprehensive reform pilot for integrated urban-rural development began in 2018 and is currently undergoing its third round of reform pilots, with county areas as a crucial entry point. In the new round of reform pilots, Sichuan is focusing on the "people, land, and money" three key points to address the issue of inefficient circulation of urban and rural factors. It is orderly guiding talent and capital to rural areas, ensuring full development and utilization of rural land resources. Xinguang Village in Qingshen County, Meishan City, Sichuan Province, is only 1 kilometer away from the county seat. Previously, it was a traditional village with few tourists. Half a year ago, through revitalizing idle courtyard resources, the village created the "Zhuli Daoxiang" (Rice Fragrance in Bamboo) project, making Xinguang Village a popular tourist destination for miles around. Looking across the country, as pioneers and leaders in rural reform, 65 rural reform experimental zones are conducting a series of reform explorations around improving the food security guarantee system, building a modern agricultural operation system, and deepening rural collective property rights system reform. This is gradually forming a batch of replicable and promotable reform experiences, promoting the overall development of rural reform. On the new journey, the pace of comprehensively deepening agricultural and rural reform is continuous, and a series of reform tasks focusing on key areas of agriculture and rural areas and activating resource elements are being implemented, inspiring hundreds of millions of farmers to march forward on the path of accelerating agricultural and rural modernization and comprehensive rural revitalization.
Central Lecture Group Promotes Spirit of 20th CPC Central Committee's Third Plenary Session Nationwide
Members of the Central Lecturing Group for the Study and Implementation of the Spirit of the Third Plenary Session of the 20th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China delivered lectures in Tibet and Gansu, and went deep into the grassroots to interact and communicate with cadres and the public. Tian Peiyan, a member of the Central Lecturing Group and Deputy Director of the Policy Research Office of the CPC Central Committee, recently delivered a lecture report in Lhasa. Tian Peiyan comprehensively lectured and profoundly expounded on the spirit of the Plenum from four aspects: understanding the determination of the conference theme and the drafting process of the "Decision," deeply recognizing the great significance and overall requirements of further comprehensively deepening reforms and advancing Chinese modernization, comprehensively and accurately understanding the major measures for further comprehensively deepening reforms proposed in the "Decision," and going all out to ensure the implementation of the Plenum's spirit. Tian Peiyan also visited the Shasasu Community in Barkhor Street, Chengguan District, Lhasa, to lecture on the spirit of the Plenum and interacted with cadres and the public. Shu Qiming, a member of the Central Lecturing Group and former Deputy Secretary-General of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, delivered a lecture report in Lanzhou. Shu Qiming closely focused on General Secretary Xi Jinping's important speech at the Third Plenary Session of the 20th Central Committee and the Plenum's "Decision," profoundly expounding and interpreting the Plenum's great contemporary significance and far-reaching historical impact, General Secretary Xi Jinping's decisive role in the drafting of the "Decision," deeply understanding major issues that need to be grasped in promoting reform, and major measures for further comprehensively deepening reforms. Shu Qiming also visited Lanzhou University to lecture on the spirit of the Third Plenary Session of the 20th Central Committee and held discussions with young teachers and students.
MEE: Accelerating Modernization of Harmony Between Humanity and Nature
The Third Plenary Session of the 20th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China emphasized the need to deepen reform of the ecological civilization system and comprehensively promote the construction of a beautiful China. How to deeply study and implement the spirit of the Plenum on the new journey? Let's hear from CCTV reporter's exclusive interview with Sun Jinlong, Party Group Secretary of the Ministry of Ecology and Environment. Chinese modernization is modernization featuring harmonious coexistence between humanity and nature. The Plenum proposed to "focus on building a beautiful China, accelerate the comprehensive green transformation of economic and social development, improve the ecological environment governance system, promote eco-priority, intensive and economical, green and low-carbon development, and foster harmonious coexistence between humanity and nature." Deepening the reform of the ecological civilization system is the fundamental driving force for promoting modernization featuring harmonious coexistence between humanity and nature. The "Decision" proposed a series of reform measures from three aspects: improving basic ecological civilization systems, strengthening the ecological environment governance system, and improving green and low-carbon development mechanisms. Sun Jinlong stated that building a beautiful China is an important goal in comprehensively building a modern socialist country, and efforts will focus on the following aspects to implement reform tasks and measures in the ecological environment field. The "Decision" requires improving institutional mechanisms for precise, scientific, and law-based pollution control. Sun Jinlong stated that as the battle against pollution continues to deepen, the contradictions and problems encountered are deeper and broader. On the new journey in the new era, it is necessary to continuously improve the modernization level of ecological environment governance and plan and promote ecological environment protection work with higher standards.
China Claims 3 More Golds at 33rd Summer Olympics
From yesterday evening (August 9) Beijing time until now, the Chinese sports delegation has achieved further success at the Paris Olympics, securing 3 golds, 2 silvers, and 3 bronzes. The Paris Olympic table tennis men's team final was contested between China and Sweden. All three matches went to five games, with the Chinese men's team ultimately winning three 3-2 matches for a 3-0 overall victory in this exciting and intense competition, securing their fifth consecutive Olympic men's team championship. Diving events are drawing to a close. In the women's 3m springboard final, Chinese athlete Chen Yiwen won the gold medal, while her teammate Chang Yani took the bronze. China achieved its tenth consecutive Olympic championship in this event. More good news came from the boxing arena. In the women's 50kg final, which concluded early this morning Beijing time, Chinese boxer Wu Yu defeated her opponent 4-1, earning the Chinese boxing team its second gold medal at these Olympics. In the women's 66kg boxing final, Chinese athlete Yang Liu won a silver medal. In the women's field hockey final, China won a silver medal after 16 years, equaling its best historical Olympic performance. Breakdancing made its Olympic debut, with Chinese athlete Liu Qingyi winning a bronze medal, securing China's first Olympic medal in breakdancing. In wrestling, Chinese athlete Hong Kexin won a bronze medal in the women's freestyle wrestling 57kg category. In track and field, Chinese athlete Song Jiayuan won a bronze medal in the women's shot put. In the synchronized swimming duet technical routine preliminary, Chinese "sisters" Wang Liuyi and Wang Qianyi performed exceptionally well, ranking first. The synchronized swimming duet free routine will take place early tomorrow morning Beijing time. The pair with the highest total score from both routines will win the gold medal.
China's Foreign Investment Structure Continues to Optimize
Since the beginning of this year, foreign capital has accelerated its investment in fields related to new quality productive forces and new industrialization, deeply integrating into the Chinese market and leading to further optimization of China's foreign capital utilization structure. This French-funded enterprise, which has been deeply rooted in China for 35 years, has recently made new moves. Beyond the tire manufacturing sector, the company has established four new subsidiaries, all of which have been set up in China, focusing on emerging fields such as high-tech materials. In recent years, with the landing of landmark foreign investment projects such as Toyota's fuel cell R&D and production project from Japan and Bosch's new energy vehicle project from Germany, more and more foreign enterprises are investing in advanced manufacturing and high-end service industries. Many foreign investors are also optimistic about China's industrial chain, supply chain, and innovation chain cooperation opportunities, and are accelerating the shift of their investment focus to upstream design and R&D segments. Currently, the National Development and Reform Commission, in conjunction with relevant departments, has initiated the revision of the Catalogue of Industries Encouraged for Foreign Investment, which will increase support for advanced manufacturing, modern services, high-tech, energy conservation, and environmental protection sectors. At the same time, China is vigorously developing new quality productive forces and strengthening open cooperation, increasing support for foreign investment in terms of market access, factor guarantees, and fair competition, providing broader space for foreign investment development. In the first half of this year, actual utilized foreign investment in high-tech manufacturing was 63.75 billion yuan, accounting for 12.8% of the total actual utilized foreign investment nationwide, an increase of 2.4 percentage points compared to the same period last year; manufacturing of medical instruments and meters increased by 87.5% year-on-year; meanwhile, professional technical services characterized by R&D centers increased by 43.4% year-on-year. From January to June this year, nearly 27,000 new foreign-invested enterprises were established in China, a year-on-year increase of 14.2%. China's foreign capital utilization structure continues to optimize.
Summer Tourism Booms with Diverse Products and Rich Experiences
As summer approaches, tourism markets across the country are bustling, with citizens and tourists eagerly experiencing new ways to beat the heat and enjoy the summer. This summer, the tourism market is becoming more diverse and autonomous. Lin'an District in Hangzhou, Zhejiang, is hosting a summer river travel event. Taking a kayak downstream along Heqiao Ancient Town, visitors can enjoy the fun of outdoor sports amidst natural beauty, attracting many outdoor enthusiasts. Summer has always been a peak season for study tours. This summer, study tour scenarios are constantly being "updated." Experiencing aerospace technology innovation on-site ignites primary and secondary school students' enthusiasm for exploring the mysteries of space. Exploring the footprints of prehistoric giants, experiencing intangible cultural heritage skills, and appreciating the beauty of cultural relics are some of the micro-themed study tours that have become popular attractions for students this summer. In Deyang, Sichuan, the Sanxingdui New Museum has received 890,000 visitors in its first summer since official operation. In Beijing, driven by the successful application for World Heritage status for the Central Axis, multiple tour routes featuring ancient capital culture and Beijing flavor culture are very popular. From July 1 to yesterday (August 9), Beijing municipal parks have received 184,600 foreign visitors, a 90% increase year-on-year. Comprehensive data from multiple tourism platforms shows that orders for cooling-related tourism products increased by over 100% this summer. Orders for tourism products in cool destinations like grasslands, lakes, and mountainous areas increased by over 20%. Niche destinations also attract a large number of tourists, with county-level tourism orders increasing by 22% this summer, and "post-00s" overall tourism orders increasing by 50%. According to news from the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, in the first half of 2024, domestic tourist trips reached 2.725 billion, a year-on-year increase of 14.3%. Total domestic tourist spending was 2.73 trillion yuan, a year-on-year increase of 19.0%. The number of inbound foreigners at various ports nationwide reached 14.635 million, a year-on-year increase of 152.7%, of which 52% entered visa-free, exceeding 8.5 million, mostly foreigners traveling to China.
China-Europe Freight Trains Make 11,403 Trips from January to July
The reporter learned from China State Railway Group Co., Ltd. (China Railway) that from January to July this year, the China-Europe Railway Express operated a total of 11,403 trains, sending 1.226 million TEUs of goods, representing year-on-year increases of 12% and 11% respectively. For three consecutive months, the monthly number of trains operated exceeded 1,700. Port transshipment capacity continues to improve. The Western, Central, and Eastern transport corridors saw China-Europe Railway Express operations increase by 15%, 22%, and 2% year-on-year respectively from January to July. The Trans-Caspian corridor's China-Europe Railway Express achieved regular operations. The scale of high-quality international logistics services has expanded. In addition to Xi'an and Chengdu, new full-schedule China-Europe Railway Express trains from Chongqing, Yiwu, Wuhan, and Guangzhou to Duisburg, Germany, and Lodz, Poland, have been added, with 17 trains operating stably every week. Railway departments of countries along the route are working closely together, actively utilizing new technologies such as Beidou satellite positioning and 5G, and strengthening full-process safety monitoring to ensure the safe and stable operation of the China-Europe Railway Express, providing strong transport guarantees for promoting China-Europe trade development and serving high-level opening up.
Domestic News Briefs
At the end of the second quarter, the balance of inclusive small and micro enterprise loans increased by 17.1% year-on-year. According to the latest statistics from the National Financial Regulatory Administration, at the end of the second quarter, the national balance of inclusive small and micro enterprise loans was 32 trillion yuan, a year-on-year increase of 17.1%; insurance company claims and benefits paid amounted to 1.23 trillion yuan, a year-on-year increase of 33.1%. The financial service capabilities of the banking and insurance sectors continue to strengthen. The asset quality of commercial bank credit remains generally stable, and the solvency of the insurance industry is sufficient. China successfully implements rewilding of Asian elephants. The reporter learned from the National Forestry and Grassland Administration's Asian Elephant Research Center that China recently successfully rewilded an Asian elephant in Xishuangbanna, Yunnan. The Asian elephant "A Bao" was successfully rescued in Pu'er, Yunnan in 2018, and began rewilding training in 2022. Currently, "A Bao" is in good physical condition, and its ability to forage independently and traverse in the wild has further improved. The 3rd National Exhibition of Excellent Quyi, Puppet, and Shadow Play Works is being held in Hebei. The 3rd National Exhibition of Excellent Quyi, Puppet, and Shadow Play Works is currently being held in Handan, Hebei. The exhibition showcases the achievements of inheritance and development in Quyi, puppet, and shadow play in China in recent years. This exhibition features 67 performing units from central directly affiliated and 27 provinces, autonomous regions, and municipalities, with over 1,400 artists and performers participating. The second season of "Intangible Cultural Heritage in China" airs tonight on CCTV General Channel. The second season of "Intangible Cultural Heritage in China," a large-scale cultural program co-produced by China Central Television and the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, will premiere tonight (August 10) at 8 PM on CCTV General Channel. This episode will comprehensively showcase the rich and diverse intangible cultural heritage formed by the multi-ethnic integration in Guangxi. The program will also be broadcast simultaneously online on CCTV.com and CCTV App.
Brazil Plane Crash Kills 61
Brazilian airline Voepass confirmed on August 9 that one of its passenger planes, carrying 61 people, crashed in the city of Vinhedo, São Paulo state, southeastern Brazil, with all on board killed. The aircraft was an ATR-72 turboprop plane, carrying 57 passengers and 4 crew members. The plane was originally flying from Cascavel, Paraná state, to São Paulo-Guarulhos International Airport on August 9. It crashed in a residential area of Vinhedo, about 80 kilometers from São Paulo city, that afternoon, but caused no casualties on the ground. Radar records showed a sudden drop in altitude for the aircraft. The São Paulo state government stated that security forces have transferred the first batch of victims' remains from the crash site. The Brazilian Air Force announced that the black box of the crashed plane had been found. The Brazilian Air Force stated that the black box of the crashed plane had been found, and the investigation into the cause of the crash is still in its early stages. The aircraft did not declare an emergency or report bad weather before crashing. The Brazilian Civil Aviation Agency stated that the aircraft operating the flight was in normal working condition, held valid registration and airworthiness certificates, and the crew members also held valid flight licenses. Brazilian President Lula signed a decree on August 9, declaring three days of national mourning for the victims of the São Paulo plane crash.
Israeli Attack on Gaza School Leaves Over 100 Dead
According to Palestinian media reports today (August 10), an Israeli military strike on a school sheltering displaced people in Gaza City, Gaza Strip, has killed over 100 people and injured dozens. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) stated today that the Israeli Air Force struck a command center of the Palestinian Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) located inside a school in Gaza City. The Fatah movement and Hamas strongly condemned the Israeli military's attack on the school. The foreign ministries of Iran, Lebanon, Egypt, Jordan, and other countries strongly condemned the Israeli military's attacks on civilians in the Gaza Strip, stating that Israel's continuous violation of international law is a deliberate attempt to sabotage the Israeli-Palestinian ceasefire process. Israeli military claims to have killed senior Hamas commander in Lebanon; Hezbollah forces claim to have struck Israeli military command centers. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) stated on August 9 that the Israeli military conducted an airstrike in the Sidon area of southern Lebanon, killing Haji, a senior Hamas commander in Lebanon. Hamas confirmed Haji's death in the Israeli strike. Hezbollah forces in Lebanon stated on August 9 that they used drones and rockets to strike Israeli military command centers and other targets on that day. Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps receives new cruise missiles. According to Iranian media reports on August 9, the naval forces of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps received over 2,600 domestically produced weapons and equipment on that day, including combat and reconnaissance drones, as well as new cruise missiles capable of inflicting heavy damage on large warships. Commander of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, Salami, stated that Iran must be capable of defeating enemies at sea. Deputy Commander of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, Fadavi, stated in a media interview on August 9 that regarding the assassination of Hamas leader Haniyeh in Iran, Iranian Supreme Leader Khamenei issued clear orders for punishment and retaliation against Israel, and these orders will be carried out, as it is Iran's responsibility.
Russia Claims Strikes on Ukrainian Targets in Kursk Border Region; Ukraine Reports Multiple Russian Attacks
The Russian Ministry of Defense stated that between the night of August 9 and the early morning of August 10, 32 Ukrainian attack drones were intercepted and destroyed over Kursk, Yaroslavl, and other regions. The Russian Ministry of Defense also stated that Russian Su-34 fighter-bombers struck Ukrainian personnel and equipment in the border areas of Kursk Oblast. The Russian National Anti-Terrorism Committee announced that an anti-terrorist operation regime has been imposed in Kursk, Belgorod, and Bryansk Oblasts. Russian media reported today (August 10), citing information from Russia's Rosatom, that the Kursk Nuclear Power Plant is currently operating normally. The Ukrainian side stated that from August 9 to 10, Kramatorsk in Donetsk and other areas were attacked by Russian forces, resulting in casualties; border areas such as Sumy Oblast continued to suffer from Russian airstrikes. In the Pokrovsk direction, Ukrainian forces repelled Russian attacks. Additionally, according to Ukrainian media reports, the Ukrainian side hit a Russian helicopter in the Kursk direction. Belarusian President states aerial targets from Ukraine were destroyed. Belarusian President Lukashenka stated today that on August 9, Belarusian air force and air defense units detected and destroyed multiple aerial targets, suspected to be attack drones, flying from the direction of Ukraine. Lukashenka said that the Ukrainian armed forces violated Belarusian airspace, and the Belarusian air force and air defense forces were placed on high alert that evening. The Ukrainian side has not yet responded to Belarus's statement.
IOC President Thomas Bach: Uphold WADA Authority, Protect Clean Athletes' Rights
In Paris, France, on August 9, International Olympic Committee (IOC) President Thomas Bach held a press conference to summarize the success of the Paris Olympics. He also responded to a question from a China Central Television reporter regarding the "US Anti-Doping Act" operating independently of the World Anti-Doping framework, which could pose a threat to clean athletes. Bach stated that this reflects the IOC's clear stance on anti-doping work, which is to uphold the authority and unity of the World Anti-Doping Agency while ensuring that all athletes participating in the Olympic Games can compete fairly without discrimination.
Germany's July Inflation Rate at 2.3%
Data released by the German Federal Statistical Office on August 9 showed that Germany's inflation rate in July was 2.3%, higher than 2.2% in June. The data showed that service prices in Germany rose by 3.9% year-on-year in July, with significant increases in prices for catering services and other industries.
International News Briefs
US media reported that a US military base in northeastern Syria was attacked by drones on August 9, with no casualties reported. Currently, the Syrian official side has not responded. On August 5, an air base in western Iraq, where US troops are stationed, was attacked by rockets, injuring several US military personnel. A 5.3-magnitude earthquake occurred in Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan. The Japan Meteorological Agency stated that a 5.3-magnitude earthquake occurred in western Kanagawa Prefecture on the evening of August 9. The earthquake caused three injuries, and the Tokaido Shinkansen was temporarily suspended, leading to widespread train delays. A 7.1-magnitude earthquake occurred in Miyazaki Prefecture, Japan on August 8, causing multiple injuries. Since then, multiple aftershocks have occurred in various parts of Japan. Protests continue in multiple locations in the UK, 741 arrested. For several consecutive days, protests against the government's immigration policy have continued in multiple UK cities, with some protests erupting into violent clashes. According to UK police on August 9, a total of 741 people have been arrested in the ongoing protests, with 302 of them charged with violent disorder. California's "Parker" wildfire remains largely out of control. According to US media reports on August 9, the "Parker" wildfire in northern California, which started on July 24, is still raging due to factors such as strong winds and dry weather. The latest data from the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection shows that as of August 9, the fire has burned an area of 1,735 square kilometers, with approximately two-thirds of the fire still out of control. Currently, the wildfire has destroyed hundreds of homes and forced thousands of residents to evacuate.
Traditional Chinese Festival: Qixi Festival
Today (August 10) is the Qixi Festival, a traditional Chinese holiday. To conclude the program, let's explore Qixi and experience Chinese-style romance. The formation of the Qixi Festival is a process from astronomy to humanities. In July, the Altair and Vega stars in the Northern Hemisphere sky echo each other across the Milky Way. The romance and imagination of ancient Chinese people gave these two unrelated stars names, stories, and emotions, leading to the legend of the Cowherd and the Weaver Girl meeting on the magpie bridge during Qixi. Love then became a major theme of the Qixi Festival. With moonlight like silk and a sky full of stars, it is a beautiful Qixi night. This is a romance that belongs to the Chinese people.