Xi Jinping Delivers Important Speech at CPPCC 75th Anniversary Celebration, Emphasizing Fuller Role of Political Advantage for Stable, United Political Landscape
The Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC) and the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) solemnly held a conference on the morning of the 20th at the CPPCC Auditorium to celebrate the 75th anniversary of the founding of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference. Xi Jinping, General Secretary of the CPC Central Committee, President of the People's Republic of China, and Chairman of the Central Military Commission, attended the conference and delivered an important speech. He emphasized that we must be more firm in our confidence in the path, theory, system, and culture of socialism with Chinese characteristics, and give full play to the significant political advantages of the CPPCC in developing whole-process people's democracy, so as to continuously consolidate and develop a vivid, lively, stable, and united political situation. Li Qiang, Zhao Leji, Cai Qi, Ding Xuexiang, and Li Xi, members of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, and Han Zheng, Vice President of the People's Republic of China, attended the conference. Wang Huning, member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Chairman of the CPPCC National Committee, presided over the conference. The conference began with the majestic national anthem. Xi Jinping delivered an important speech. He pointed out that the practice of the past 75 years has fully demonstrated that the CPPCC is a great achievement of the CPC in combining the Marxist-Leninist theory of the united front, party theory, and democratic politics theory with China's specific reality and with China's excellent traditional culture. It is a great creation of the CPC in leading various democratic parties, non-partisans, people's organizations, and people from all ethnic groups and all walks of life in the political system. It has a profound cultural foundation, theoretical foundation, and practical foundation, with distinct Chinese characteristics and significant political advantages. It is a scientific, effective, and useful institutional arrangement, and has unique political value in the history of the development of human political systems. Xi Jinping emphasized that since the 18th CPC National Congress, we have adapted to the situation and tasks of the new era of socialism with Chinese characteristics, promoted theoretical innovation of the CPPCC on the basis of practical innovation, and continuously deepened our understanding of its laws. This mainly includes: adhering to the overall leadership of the CPC over the CPPCC, adhering to the nature and positioning of the CPPCC, adhering to the role of the CPPCC as a specialized consultative body, adhering to and improving China's new type of socialist party system, adhering to great solidarity and unity, adhering to strengthening ideological and political guidance and extensively building consensus as the central link, adhering to performing duties and responsibilities focusing on the central tasks of the Party and the State, adhering to the CPPCC for the people, adhering to strengthening the responsibilities of CPPCC members, and adhering to promoting capacity building for performing duties with a spirit of reform and innovation. These 10 points constitute our Party's important thought on strengthening and improving the work of the CPPCC. They are a concentrated embodiment of the experience in the development of the CPPCC over the past 75 years, especially since the new era, and are the fundamental guidelines for doing a good job in the CPPCC's work in the new era and on the new journey. They must be implemented completely, accurately, and comprehensively, and continuously enriched and developed in practice. Xi Jinping pointed out that consultative democracy is an important component of whole-process people's democracy, a unique form and distinctive advantage of China's socialist democratic politics, and an important embodiment of the Party's mass line in the political field. In the new era and on the new journey, we must always adhere to the correct political direction, coordinate and improve the consultative democratic system, strive to improve the consultative democratic mechanism, continuously expand consultative methods and platforms, actively create a good atmosphere and conditions, and continuously promote the extensive, multi-level, and institutionalized development of consultative democracy. Xi Jinping emphasized that in the new era and on the new journey, the CPPCC must carry forward its fine traditions, bear in mind its political responsibilities, adhere to the organic combination of Party leadership, the united front, and consultative democracy, give full play to its role as a specialized consultative body, and broadly gather hearts, consensus, wisdom, and strength for promoting Chinese modernization. Xi Jinping pointed out that adhering to and developing socialism with Chinese characteristics is the main axis for consolidating the common ideological and political foundation, and Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era is the overall guiding principle for the CPPCC's work. The CPPCC must deeply understand the distinct political attributes of the CPPCC system and organization, deeply study and implement the Party's innovative theories, continuously consolidate the common ideological and political foundation for unity and struggle, and promote further political unity and cooperation, ideological common progress, and coordinated actions among all parties, organizations, ethnic groups, and people from all walks of life. Xi Jinping emphasized that the CPPCC should leverage its advantages in gathering talents and intellect, deeply promote consultation and deliberation on key, difficult, and hot issues related to advancing Chinese modernization, further comprehensively deepening reform, promoting high-quality development, and maintaining social harmony and stability. It should leverage the advantages of consultative supervision to help the implementation of major Party and State decisions and deployments. Xi Jinping pointed out that the CPPCC should improve the working mechanism for playing the political role of the united front in gathering hearts and strengths, strengthen political guidance for non-CPC intellectuals, non-public economic entities, new social strata, and religious figures, and widely unite and connect with overseas Chinese, striving to draw the largest concentric circle for building a strong country and national rejuvenation. Xi Jinping emphasized that it is necessary to improve the CPPCC's working system and mechanism, strengthen the coordination of CPPCC consultations with other forms of consultation, improve the mechanism for in-depth consultative interaction, full expression of opinions, and broad consensus building, strengthen the mechanism for reflecting social conditions and public opinion, connecting with the masses, and serving the people, and do more work that understands public sentiment, solves public concerns, and warms public hearts. Xi Jinping pointed out that building a team of CPPCC members who understand the CPPCC, are skilled in consultation, good at deliberation, and adhere to discipline, rules, and integrity, is an important guarantee for the CPPCC's high-quality performance of duties. The broad masses of CPPCC members should cherish their political identity, temper their political character, improve their political ability, strengthen their mission and responsibility, and consciously engage in the practical work of gathering hearts and minds, providing decision-making consultation, consultative democracy, and national governance. Xi Jinping emphasized that Party committees at all levels must strengthen their leadership over the CPPCC's work and support the CPPCC in performing its functions. The CPPCC Party Group must play a good leading role in setting directions, managing the overall situation, and ensuring implementation, and improve the organizational system and institutional mechanism for implementing the CPC's leadership over the CPPCC's work. It should comprehensively promote the Party building of the CPPCC under the guidance of the Party's political construction, and create a good political ecosystem that is clean and upright, and encourages hard work and entrepreneurship. Wang Huning pointed out when presiding over the conference that General Secretary Xi Jinping's important speech highly praised the historical contributions of the CPPCC, profoundly elaborated on the distinct Chinese characteristics and significant political advantages of the CPPCC, put forward clear requirements for continuously promoting the extensive, multi-level, and institutionalized development of consultative democracy, and made comprehensive arrangements for doing a good job in the CPPCC's work in the current and future period, pointing the way forward and providing fundamental guidance for the high-quality development of the CPPCC in the new era and on the new journey. The speech is highly insightful, profound, and rich in content, with strong political, ideological, and guiding significance. We must conscientiously study, understand, and comprehensively implement it. We must deeply study, understand, and practice General Secretary Xi Jinping's important thought on strengthening and improving the work of the CPPCC, profoundly grasp the decisive significance of "two establishments," consciously achieve "two safeguards," adhere to the organic combination of Party leadership, the united front, and consultative democracy, and strive to make new contributions to the development of the Party and State undertakings. Members of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Secretaries of the Central Secretariat in Beijing, some Vice Chairmen of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, State Councilors, President of the Supreme People's Court, Procurator-General of the Supreme People's Procuratorate, Vice Chairmen of the CPPCC National Committee, and veteran comrades who had served as leaders of the CPPCC National Committee attended the conference. About 800 people attended the conference, including principal responsible comrades from relevant departments of the central and state organs, relevant people's organizations and units, leaders of central committees of various democratic parties, the All-China Federation of Industry and Commerce, representatives of non-partisans, members of the Standing Committee of the CPPCC National Committee in Beijing, and representatives from relevant circles.
People's Daily Editorial: Upholding and Advancing the CPPCC System - Celebrating the 75th Anniversary of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference
Today (September 20), the People's Daily published an editorial titled "Upholding the CPPCC System and Advancing the CPPCC Cause - Celebrating the 75th Anniversary of the Founding of the CPPCC."
Xi Jinping Holds Welcoming Ceremony for Malaysian King
Chinese President Xi Jinping held a welcoming ceremony for His Majesty Sultan Ibrahim Iskandar, the Supreme Head of State of Malaysia, for his state visit to China, at the North Hall of the Great Hall of the People on the afternoon of the 20th. A 21-gun salute was fired in Tiananmen Square. Wang Yi, Member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Director of the Office of the Central Foreign Affairs Commission, attended the welcoming ceremony. Accompanying Sultan Ibrahim on his visit to China were a prince, the Minister of Transport, and the Minister of Housing and Local Government. The military band played the national anthems of Malaysia and China. Sultan Ibrahim, accompanied by Xi Jinping, reviewed the guard of honor of the Chinese People's Liberation Army. The two heads of state returned to the reviewing stand to watch the march past of the guard of honor. Sultan Ibrahim is on a state visit to China at the invitation of Xi Jinping.
Xi Jinping Holds Talks with Malaysian King
On the afternoon of September 20, Chinese President Xi Jinping held talks with His Majesty Sultan Ibrahim Iskandar, the Supreme Head of State of Malaysia, who is on a state visit to China, at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing. Xi Jinping pointed out that China and Malaysia face each other across the sea, and the friendship between the two countries has been passed down for a thousand years. Since the establishment of diplomatic relations in 1974, China and Malaysia have always coexisted amicably and helped each other, setting an example of mutual achievement and win-win cooperation between countries. This year marks the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Malaysia and the "China-Malaysia Friendship Year," which is an important year for China-Malaysia relations to inherit the past and usher in the future. China is further comprehensively deepening reform and promoting high-level opening up, which will bring new impetus and opportunities for cooperation between China and Malaysia. China is willing to work with Malaysia to inherit and carry forward fine traditions, be close neighbors with generational friendship, sincere partners for common development, intimate friends like brothers, and important forces for promoting peace, deepen strategic cooperation in their respective modernization journeys, and continuously elevate the building of a China-Malaysia community with a shared future to new heights. Xi Jinping emphasized that China is willing to work closely with Malaysia to strengthen high-level exchanges, enhance strategic communication, and support each other on issues concerning each other's core interests and major concerns. China supports Malaysia's "Malaysia Madani" concept, and is willing to share governance experience with Malaysia, strengthen the alignment of development strategies, jointly build the "Belt and Road" with high quality, jointly implement key projects such as the "Two Countries, Twin Parks" and the East Coast Rail Link, strengthen cooperation in agriculture and poverty reduction, and explore the potential for cooperation in high-tech industries such as new energy and digital economy, so as to assist their respective modernization processes. The two sides should deepen exchanges and mutual learning between Chinese and Islamic civilizations, strengthen cooperation in fields such as higher education and joint scientific research, enhance mutual understanding and affinity between the peoples, and cultivate successors for the cause of China-Malaysia friendship. As important members of the Asia-Pacific, developing countries, and emerging market economies, China and Malaysia should play an exemplary and leading role, and endow the China-Malaysia community with a shared future with richer contemporary connotations and global significance. China supports Malaysia's chairmanship of ASEAN next year, and is willing to work with Malaysia to promote East Asian cooperation and regional economic integration, and strengthen communication and coordination on important hot spots and international issues, so as to contribute to maintaining regional and world peace and stability. Sultan Ibrahim stated that he was deeply honored to make his first state visit to the great China as the Supreme Head of State of Malaysia. Under the leadership of President Xi Jinping and the diligent efforts of the Chinese people, China has achieved remarkable development achievements that have attracted worldwide attention, becoming an important engine of the world economy and setting an example for developing countries such as Malaysia. Malaysia was one of the first ASEAN countries to establish diplomatic relations with New China, and also one of the first ASEAN countries to establish a comprehensive strategic partnership with China. Malaysia-China relations are built on mutual trust and respect. Malaysia appreciates the Chinese government's people-centered development philosophy, supports the Global Development Initiative, the Global Security Initiative, and the Global Civilization Initiative proposed by President Xi Jinping, views China as a trustworthy partner, and is committed to developing a strong partnership with China for common progress, becoming fellow travelers on each other's modernization paths. Malaysia has benefited greatly from the Belt and Road Initiative, and is willing to work with China to jointly build the Belt and Road, deepen cooperation in economy and trade, investment, infrastructure, connectivity, culture and education, and promote Malaysia-China relations to a higher level. Malaysia is willing to work with China to make constructive contributions to maintaining peace and stability in the South China Sea. As the rotating chairman of ASEAN next year and the coordinator for ASEAN-China relations, Malaysia is willing to play an active role in promoting the development of the ASEAN-China comprehensive strategic partnership. Malaysia highly appreciates China's fair and just stance on the Palestinian issue, and is willing to strengthen communication and coordination with China in international and regional affairs. Before the talks, Xi Jinping held a welcoming ceremony for Sultan Ibrahim at the North Hall of the Great Hall of the People. A 21-gun salute was fired in Tiananmen Square, and honor guards lined up to salute. The two heads of state ascended the reviewing stand, and the military band played the national anthems of China and Malaysia. Sultan Ibrahim, accompanied by Xi Jinping, reviewed the guard of honor of the Chinese People's Liberation Army and watched the march past. That evening, Xi Jinping held a welcoming banquet for Sultan Ibrahim in the Golden Hall of the Great Hall of the People. Wang Yi participated in the above activities.
Single Volume of Xi Jinping's "Working Together to Advance Modernization and Build a Community of Shared Future - Keynote Speech at the Opening Ceremony of the FOCAC Beijing Summit" Published
The single volume of President Xi Jinping's keynote speech "Working Together to Advance Modernization and Build a Community with a Shared Future - Keynote Speech at the Opening Ceremony of the FOCAC Beijing Summit" has been published by the People's Publishing House and is now available nationwide at Xinhua bookstores.
Li Qiang Meets with Chinese Sports Delegation for 17th Paralympic Games
Li Qiang, member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Premier of the State Council, met with all members of the Chinese sports delegation to the 17th Summer Paralympic Games at the Great Hall of the People on the afternoon of the 20th. He emphasized that at the Paris Paralympics, you competed tenaciously and bravely, achieving excellent results of "double firsts" in both the gold medal tally and the medal tally, realizing a double harvest of competition results and spiritual civilization. On behalf of the Party Central Committee and the State Council, Li Qiang extended warm congratulations and sincere condolences to all athletes, coaches, and staff members. Li Qiang stated that sports competitions are about physical and technical abilities, but more importantly, about willpower and spirit. Our disabled athletes kept in mind General Secretary Xi Jinping's care and entrustment, vigorously carried forward the Chinese sports spirit and the Paralympic spirit, bravely surpassed themselves and challenged limits. Your outstanding performance and spiritual outlook made everyone very excited, deeply proud, and greatly inspired. The excellent results achieved by the Chinese Paralympic delegation fully reflect the great progress in China's disability cause and fully demonstrate the strength, spirit, and image of China in the new era. Li Qiang emphasized that currently, China is comprehensively advancing the building of a strong country and the great cause of national rejuvenation through Chinese modernization, which requires all walks of life to create extraordinary achievements with soaring spirits. He hoped that everyone would redouble their efforts and, with more enthusiastic endeavors, win more honors for the motherland and the people. He hoped that the vast number of people with disabilities would give full play to their wisdom and talents, become strivers in the new era and dream chasers on the new journey, and work together with the people of the whole country to create a more beautiful life. He hoped that the whole society would care about the development of the disability cause, further improve the social security system and care service system for people with disabilities, create better development conditions for them, and enable them to have a wonderful life just like others. Li Shulei, Tie Ning, Wu Zhenglong, Chen Yiqin, Zhu Yongxin, and Yang Xiaodu attended the meeting.
Li Qiang Meets with Malaysian King
Premier Li Qiang met with His Majesty Sultan Ibrahim Iskandar, the Supreme Head of State of Malaysia, who is on a state visit to China, in Beijing on the 20th. Li Qiang stated that China and Malaysia are working hand in hand towards building a community with a shared future for the two countries. President Xi Jinping and Sultan Ibrahim Iskandar held talks and had in-depth exchanges on continuously deepening China-Malaysia relations and cooperation. China is willing to work with Malaysia to implement the important consensus of the two leaders, maintain close high-level exchanges, strengthen the alignment of development strategies, and deepen exchanges and cooperation in economy, trade, infrastructure, humanities, and other fields to achieve more practical results. China is willing to work with Malaysia and other Asian countries to maintain ASEAN's central position in regional cooperation and jointly build a peaceful, stable, prosperous, open, and interconnected Asia. Sultan Ibrahim stated that Malaysia highly appreciates and actively participates in the Belt and Road Initiative, and looks forward to further deepening bilateral exchanges and cooperation, strengthening constructive dialogue, and jointly turning the South China Sea into a sea of peace, friendship, and cooperation. Wu Zhenglong participated in the meeting.
NPC Standing Committee Party Group Holds Meeting to Study, Implement Spirit of Xi Jinping's Important Speech at 70th Anniversary of NPC; Zhao Leji Presides and Speaks
The Party Group of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (NPC) held a meeting on the 20th to study and implement the spirit of General Secretary Xi Jinping's important speech at the conference celebrating the 70th anniversary of the founding of the National People's Congress. Zhao Leji, member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, Chairman of the NPC Standing Committee, and Secretary of its Party Group, presided over the meeting and delivered a speech. The meeting held that General Secretary Xi Jinping's important speech at the conference celebrating the 70th anniversary of the founding of the National People's Congress was far-reaching and inspiring, enriching and developing General Secretary Xi Jinping's important thought on upholding and improving the system of people's congresses. It provided scientific guidance and fundamental principles for fully leveraging the role of the fundamental political system of the state, upholding and developing whole-process people's democracy, and advancing the modernization of the national governance system and governance capacity in the new era and on the new journey. The meeting pointed out that the NPC should deeply study and implement the spirit of General Secretary Xi Jinping's important speech, profoundly understand the glorious journey of the Party leading the people in establishing and improving the system of people's congresses, the significant political advantages of implementing the system of people's congresses, the innovative achievements of the system of people's congresses in the new era, the mission and tasks of the NPC in comprehensively advancing Chinese modernization, and its functions and roles in developing whole-process people's democracy. It should promote in-depth and practical study and implementation, and continuously improve the quality and level of NPC work in the new era and on the new journey. The meeting emphasized the need to grasp implementation, give full play to the important role of the NPC in ensuring the comprehensive and effective implementation of the Constitution and laws, its leading role in legislative work, the important role of NPC supervision in the Party and state supervision system, and its leading role in maintaining close ties with the people, and to uphold, improve, and effectively operate the system of people's congresses. It is necessary to effectively strengthen the self-building of the NPC and its Standing Committee in accordance with the requirements of "four organs." It is also important to strengthen research and publicity, maintain a firm and clear stance on fundamental issues concerning the path, system, and direction, strengthen the publicity and interpretation of whole-process people's democracy, and promote the fundamental political system of the state to deeply rooted in the hearts of the people.
Zhao Leji Meets Cambodian King and Queen Mother
Zhao Leji, Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, met with Cambodian King Norodom Sihamoni and Queen Mother Norodom Monineath Sihanouk in Beijing on the 20th. Zhao Leji stated that China and Cambodia are ironclad friends who share joys and sorrows and help each other. President Xi Jinping and King Sihamoni have jointly led the construction of a China-Cambodia community with a shared future into a new era of high quality, high level, and high standards. China is willing to work with Cambodia to continue implementing the strategic consensus of the two leaders, enrich the connotation of the "Diamond Hexagon" cooperation framework, promote the construction of the "Industrial Development Corridor" and the "Fish and Rice Corridor," and push for deeper and more practical China-Cambodia strategic cooperation to better benefit the two peoples. King Sihamoni and Queen Mother Monineath warmly congratulated the People's Republic of China on its 75th anniversary, highly appreciated the major concepts and initiatives proposed by President Xi Jinping, and stated that Cambodia adheres to the One-China principle and is willing to deepen practical cooperation with China in various fields, jointly build a Cambodia-China community with a shared future, and ensure that the traditional friendship between Cambodia and China is passed down from generation to generation.
Han Zheng Meets Maersk Group Chairman
On September 20, Chinese Vice President Han Zheng met with Robert Maersk Uggla, Chairman of the A.P. Moller – Maersk Group, in Beijing. Han Zheng stated that since China's reform and opening up, Maersk Group has engaged in mutually beneficial cooperation with Chinese shipping companies, achieving tangible results. The economies of China, Denmark, and Europe are highly complementary, laying a good foundation for deepening economic and trade cooperation. The Third Plenary Session of the 20th CPC Central Committee outlined a grand blueprint for further comprehensive deepening of reform and advancing Chinese modernization. China will further expand high-level opening-up and create a first-class business environment that is market-oriented, law-based, and internationalized. China welcomes enterprises from all countries, including Maersk Group, to deepen cooperation with China and achieve better development in China. Robert Maersk Uggla highly praised China's economic and social development achievements, stating that Maersk Group attaches great importance to cooperation with China and will continue to deeply cultivate the Chinese market, promoting more mutually beneficial cooperation between the two sides in areas such as green shipping.
Huang Zongde, Recipient of the "Medal of the Republic": A Decorated Veteran Forever Loyal to the Party and the People
Huang Zongde, recipient of the "Medal of the Republic," joined the army at the age of 17 to participate in the revolution. He successively participated in the Crossing the Yangtze River Campaign, the Suppression of Bandits in Jiangxi, and the War to Resist US Aggression and Aid Korea, repeatedly achieving military merits in multiple campaigns and battles. Now, at 93 years old and suffering from bladder cancer and various old-age diseases, he still insists on being a transmitter of red genes, practicing his infinite loyalty to the Party and the people with practical actions. The old man currently recounting his combat experiences to students is Huang Zongde. At 93 years old, although he suffers from bladder cancer, high blood pressure, coronary heart disease, and other various diseases, and even still has three bullet fragments in his body that cannot be removed, he frequently goes to troops, government agencies, schools, and enterprises to tell his combat stories. In 1948, during the Huaihai Campaign, at the age of 17, he eagerly joined the Chinese People's Liberation Army. In subsequent battles, he was brave, tenacious, and not afraid of sacrifice, enduring the test of combat and successively being awarded one first-class merit and one second-class merit. In a battle during the War to Resist US Aggression and Aid Korea, he alone captured 22 prisoners and was awarded the title of First-Class Hero of the Chinese People's Volunteer Army and Second-Class Combat Hero. More than 70 years have passed, yet those battles and charges have not faded from his heart; whenever he thinks of his comrades who depended on each other for life and death, Huang Zongde cannot control his emotions. After returning from Korea, Huang Zongde successively served as company instructor, regimental political commissar, and division deputy political commissar, and participated in many major national and military celebrations and activities. Whenever he received honorary medals, he always said, "I am a survivor, they are the heroes."
Domestic News Briefs
China Successfully Launches 6 Jilin-1 and 4 Tianqi Constellation Satellites. Today (September 20), China successfully launched Jilin-1 Gaofen 02B01-06 satellites and Tianqi Constellation 29-32 satellites into their predetermined orbits, using a Long March 2D carrier rocket at the Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center and a Kuaizhou-1A carrier rocket at the Xichang Satellite Launch Center, respectively. Both launch missions were a complete success. Qiantang River Experiences Its Largest Tide in Nearly Three Years. Today (September 20), the Qiantang River witnessed its largest tidal bore in nearly three years. Affected by astronomical tides, the Qiantang River's abundant water year, and the increased capacity of the river channel, today's Qiantang River tide was surging and magnificent. The great tide flowed upstream for more than a hundred kilometers from the starting point, presenting spectacular tidal views such as the single-line tide, the turning tide, and the returning tide. China Media Group and Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs Sign Strategic Cooperation Framework Agreement. On the eve of the seventh Chinese Farmers' Harvest Festival, China Media Group (CMG) and the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs signed a strategic cooperation framework agreement in Beijing today (September 20). The two sides will leverage resource sharing and complementary advantages to jointly promote cooperation in areas such as "agriculture, rural areas, and farmers" publicity, writing a new chapter for the comprehensive revitalization of rural areas on the new journey. "Leaders Talk" to Broadcast Exclusive Interview with Congolese President Sassou Tonight. Tonight (September 20), CMG's CCTV News Channel program "Leaders Talk" will broadcast an exclusive interview with Congolese President Denis Sassou Nguesso. Sassou highly praised the FOCAC Beijing Summit and commended President Xi Jinping's "Ten Cooperation Plans for China-Africa Partnership in Modernization" as opening a brand new chapter for China-Africa relations. This program will also be simultaneously launched on new media platforms such as CCTV News, CCTV Video, and CCTV.com.
Hezbollah Leader Says Israel's Detonation of Communication Devices in Lebanon Tantamount to Declaration of War
Lebanon's Public Health Ministry stated on the 19th that explosions of communication devices in several parts of Lebanon on the 17th and 18th have caused 37 deaths and 2,931 injuries. Hezbollah leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah said on the 19th that Israel would be punished for the explosions. Hezbollah leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah stated in a televised speech on the 19th that Israel detonated a large number of communication devices in Lebanon, with some explosions occurring in civilian areas such as hospitals and pharmacies. He called this action a violation of all rules and laws, a major aggression against Lebanon's sovereignty and security, and could be called a war crime or a declaration of war, and that Israel would be punished for it. During Nasrallah's speech, Israeli warplanes flew over the Lebanese capital Beirut, creating sonic booms. On the same day, Iranian Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Commander Hossein Salami stated that Israel would face a "strong response from the resistance front." Media: Lebanon Claims Explosives Were Pre-planted in Communication Devices. According to multiple media reports on the 19th, Lebanon's Permanent Mission to the United Nations stated in a letter to the UN Security Council that preliminary investigations found that explosives had been pre-planted in the communication devices before they arrived in Lebanon, and that someone detonated them by sending electronic messages to these devices. The letter claimed that Israel planned and carried out these attacks. Border Clashes Between Lebanon and Israel Continue; Israeli Defense Minister Says Hezbollah Will Pay More. On the 19th, border clashes between Lebanon and Israel continued. Hezbollah's armed wing claimed to have used drones, rockets, and other weapons to strike Israeli military headquarters and other targets. The Israeli military stated that it had air-raided about 100 rocket launch sites and other infrastructure of Hezbollah's armed wing. In addition, Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant held a meeting with senior Israeli military officials on the 19th to assess military operations on the northern front, stating that the war had entered a new phase and that Hezbollah would pay more. Today (September 20), air raid sirens sounded in northern Israel and the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights. Delta Air Lines stated on the 19th that it had suspended flights from New York to Tel Aviv, Israel, due to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East. On the same day, Lufthansa announced an extension of its suspension of flights to and from Tel Aviv, Israel, Tehran, Iran, and Beirut, Lebanon.
Russia Claims Strike on Ukrainian Military Radio Communication Center; Ukraine Claims Weakening Russian Offensive
The Russian Ministry of Defense stated on the 19th that Russian forces struck Ukrainian troops in various directions, including Kharkiv and Zaporizhzhia. Russian forces also attacked a radio communication center of Ukrainian military intelligence and shot down 41 Ukrainian drones. The Ukrainian side stated on the 19th that it had weakened the offensive potential of Russian forces in the Donetsk region. European Parliament Adopts Resolution Calling for EU to Allow Ukraine to Use Western Weapons to Strike Inside Russia. The European Parliament adopted a resolution on the 19th, calling on EU countries to allow Ukraine to use Western weapons to strike targets inside Russia. Russian Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Maria Zakharova stated today (September 20) that if Western countries allow Ukraine to use long-range weapons to strike Russian territory, they are playing with fire, and such erroneous decisions could lead to the conflict escalating to a completely different scale.