New Ideas Guide New Journey: Bountiful China Depicts New Vision for Rural Revitalization
Today (September 22) marks the Autumn Equinox, as well as the seventh "Chinese Farmers' Harvest Festival." General Secretary Xi Jinping emphasized that advancing Chinese modernization must involve persistent efforts to strengthen the agricultural foundation and promote comprehensive rural revitalization. Since the beginning of this year, China has fully implemented a new round of actions to boost grain production by 50 billion kilograms, accelerating the building of a strong agricultural nation and promoting agricultural and rural modernization, thus painting a new picture of rural revitalization. In this golden autumn, vast fields are filled with golden waves of rice and bountiful harvests of various grains. In the Northeast Plain, 330,000 mu of soybeans at Beidahuang Group's Heshan Farm in Heilongjiang are ready for harvest, with 53 high-horsepower harvesters working day and night to seize the good weather. In the Yellow-Huai-Hai region, corn harvesting has successively begun. In the southwestern region, rice harvesting is nearing its end. Potato harvesting in Ordos, Inner Mongolia, is in full swing, with newly introduced combine harvesters enabling fully mechanized harvesting of potatoes. These vibrant harvest scenes encapsulate the hard work and dedication of hundreds of millions of farmers. General Secretary Xi Jinping attaches great importance to "agriculture, rural areas, and farmers" work and promoted the establishment of the "Chinese Farmers' Harvest Festival," which is the first festival at the national level set up for farmers. On the occasion of the seventh Chinese Farmers' Harvest Festival, General Secretary Xi Jinping extended festive greetings to all farmers across the country and comrades working on the "agriculture, rural areas, and farmers" front. He emphasized the need to make every effort to promote increased agricultural efficiency, increased farmer income, and increased rural vitality, ensuring that farmers can feel and benefit directly. Food security is a "matter of national importance." General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out that this year, despite overcoming adverse impacts such as relatively severe natural disasters, we achieved an increase in summer grain production and stable early rice production, and a good harvest is expected for the entire year's grain, providing strong support for consolidating and enhancing the economic recovery and positive trend, and promoting high-quality development. Since the beginning of this year, China has focused on four major crops – corn, soybeans, wheat, and rapeseed – and has made efforts in seven areas, including variety renewal, technology integration, and agricultural machinery support, to deeply advance large-scale single-yield improvement actions, contributing to the new round of 50-billion-kilogram grain production capacity increase. The "Green Rural Revival Program" (Qianwan Project) is a major decision personally planned and promoted by General Secretary Xi Jinping during his tenure in Zhejiang. Since the beginning of this year, various regions have learned from and applied the experience of the "Qianwan Project," effectively and efficiently promoting comprehensive rural revitalization, and continuously achieving new progress in building livable, workable, harmonious, and beautiful villages. Nowadays, all eligible townships and administrative villages across the country have paved roads, the rural tap water penetration rate has reached 90%, the proportion of administrative villages with 5G coverage exceeds 90%, and the level of basic public services such as education, medical care, and elder care continues to improve. Farmers' self-organized cultural activities are rich and colorful, and the broad masses of farmers have gained a greater sense of achievement, happiness, and security in rural revitalization. Since the beginning of this year, China has continued to consolidate and expand the achievements of poverty alleviation and effectively link them with rural revitalization. Focusing on key areas such as 160 national key counties for rural revitalization support and 35,000 relocation areas for poverty alleviation, a batch of projects to address shortcomings and promote development have been implemented, ensuring that poverty-stricken areas and people are not left behind in comprehensive rural revitalization and the modernization process, and can catch up and share the fruits of rural revitalization and modernization. A bountiful China is full of vitality. General Secretary Xi Jinping hopes that the broad masses of farmers and all sectors of society will actively take action, step by step, to turn the beautiful blueprint of comprehensive rural revitalization into reality, laying the foundation for achieving agricultural and rural modernization and building a strong agricultural nation.
Golden Autumn Season: Various Regions Celebrate "Chinese Farmers' Harvest Festival"
In this golden autumn, the land of China is abundant with golden grains and fragrant fruits. Today (September 22), people across the country are celebrating the Chinese Farmers' Harvest Festival in various forms, sharing the joy of harvest. Today, the main venue event for the "Chinese Farmers' Harvest Festival" was held in Lankao County, Kaifeng City, Henan Province. The event was divided into three sections: Paying Tribute to Harvest, Paying Tribute to Farmers, and Paying Tribute to Agricultural Civilization, with each section meticulously designed with rich and colorful activities. During the Harvest Festival, characteristic agricultural products from 16 cities in Shandong showcased new achievements in rural revitalization. In Yunnan, a series of harvest celebration activities, including "Rural Revitalization: You and I Go Together," were launched. In Anhui, new agricultural varieties and new agricultural machinery attracted many farmers to visit. In Heilongjiang, the activities revolved around six aspects: "Reporting the Harvest, Displaying the Harvest, Tasting the Harvest, Aiding the Harvest, Enjoying the Harvest, and Celebrating the Harvest," comprehensively demonstrating the tremendous achievements in the "agriculture, rural areas, and farmers" sector and the thriving scene of rural revitalization.
Striving on the Path to a Strong Nation, Striding Towards a New Journey: China's Aerospace Achieves Historic High-Quality Leapfrog Development
"Chang'e" embraced the moon, "Zhurong" explored Mars, "Xihe" pursued the sun, "Beidou" guided the way, and "Tianhe" roamed among the stars. In the 75 years since the founding of New China, China's aerospace industry has grown from nothing to something, from weak to strong, achieving historic, high-quality, and leapfrog development. In this golden autumn, China's aerospace industry is bustling. From the northernmost Populus euphratica forests to the southernmost coconut trees, from manned spaceflight to commercial launches, various types of rockets are successively entering the launch sites, with launch pads ready for departure. This year, China's space launches are expected to reach 100, setting a new historical high. Compared to ten years ago, the number of space launches has increased by six times. The significant increase in launch capabilities has led to the continuous expansion of China's aerospace stage. Going back 54 years, on April 24, 1970, China's first artificial earth satellite, "Dongfanghong-1," built with national efforts, was successfully launched. As "The East Is Red" resonated in space, it also marked the beginning of China's aerospace journey. Today, the number of China's in-orbit satellites has exceeded 900, a nine-fold increase compared to ten years ago. The average daily usage of Beidou navigation exceeds 600 billion times, and direct satellite connection for mobile phones is no longer a dream. Chinese satellites serve thousands of industries and millions of households in areas such as communication, navigation, and remote sensing. Today, innovation is becoming the primary driving force for the development of China's aerospace industry. Since the 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, major aerospace projects represented by manned spaceflight, lunar exploration, and Mars exploration have reported frequent successes, including "Tianwen" exploring Mars, "Chang'e" embracing the moon, "Xihe" pursuing the sun, and "Tianhe" roaming among the stars. Currently, the Chinese Space Station has been operating safely and stably in orbit for over 1200 days, and the Chinese people's dream of exploring space continues to advance. Today, China's aerospace industry is continuously generating new space achievements. Space rice is expected to achieve high-quality and increased yields, space cucumbers, space tomatoes, and other vegetables are well-received, space breeding contributes to an annual increase of approximately 2.6 billion kilograms of grain, and over 4,000 space application achievements are widely used in various industries. Today, China's aerospace industry is continuously injecting new momentum. Hainan, Anhui, Shaanxi, Shanghai, Beijing, and other places have successively introduced policies to encourage the formation of commercial aerospace industry clusters. Since 2017, the annual growth rate of China's commercial aerospace market size has remained above 20%. This year, the size of China's commercial aerospace market is expected to exceed 2.3 trillion yuan. Looking ahead, China's aerospace industry has planned an even grander blueprint. This year, two new types of Chinese rockets will make their maiden flights, the "New Generation Commercial Remote Sensing Satellite System" is accelerating construction, multiple satellite constellations will accelerate networking, and over 300 spacecraft will be sent into space.
Learning and Implementing the Spirit of the Third Plenary Session of the 20th Central Committee of the CPC: Lecture Halls Enter Grassroots, Plenum Spirit Deeply Rooted
In recent days, lecturing teams in Chongqing, Sichuan, Fujian, Ningxia, and other regions have gone deep into grassroots levels, innovated lecturing methods, and emphasized classification and differentiation, bringing the spirit of the Third Plenary Session of the 20th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China to the masses. Chongqing has combined municipal-level lecturing teams with grassroots cadres and群众 (masses) lecturing teams, going deep into universities, communities, enterprises, and factories. Through concentrated lectures, study exchange meetings, and online interactions, they have promoted the spirit of the Third Plenary Session of the 20th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China to be deeply rooted in people's hearts. Sichuan Province has formed 17 provincial-level lecturing teams, including those from provincial-level units, experts and scholars, model workers, and skilled craftsmen, to lecture on the spirit of the plenary session at the grassroots level. They have comprehensively, systematically, and vividly expounded the spirit of the Third Plenary Session, focusing on key areas such as deepening comprehensive education reform and improving the institutional mechanisms for integrated urban-rural development. Lecturing teams at all levels in Ningxia have brought in various talents, including social science theorists, young experts, and rural prosperity leaders, to conduct targeted, differentiated, and interactive lectures at the grassroots level using easy-to-understand language, ensuring wide coverage of the plenary session's spirit. In Fujian, lecturers from different industries and fields across the province have drawn on frontline material, transforming the Party's innovative theories into popular and accessible expressions through methods such as leading cadres explaining policies, neighbors telling stories, and young talents sharing their struggles, thus promoting the spirit of the plenary session to be deeply understood and internalized.
Wang Xiaomo, Recipient of the "People's Scientist" National Honorary Title: Dedicated His Life to Building "All-Seeing Eyes" for the Motherland
Renowned radar expert Wang Xiaomo led China in achieving the leap from ground radars to airborne early warning and command aircraft. He proposed a world-first innovative early warning aircraft scheme and broke through over 100 key technologies. This year, he was awarded the national honorary title of "People's Scientist." Although he has now passed away, the cause he pioneered continues to flourish. Wang Xiaomo was born in 1938 during a period of war, an experience that instilled in him the desire to serve the country through military industrial development. In 1961, Wang Xiaomo was assigned to the 14th Research Institute of the Ministry of National Defense, where he successively developed China's first automated three-coordinate radar and first radar with both medium and low-altitude capabilities, and later undertook the argumentation and development of China's early warning aircraft equipment. Early warning aircraft are the core of modern air combat systems. In the 1970s, China had initiated the development of early warning aircraft, but it was unsuccessful due to limited national strength and a weak technological foundation at the time. In 1990, the state decided to address the urgent need for early warning aircraft through international cooperation. Wang Xiaomo served as the Chinese chief designer, presiding over the overall system design. Facts proved that Wang Xiaomo's foresight played an important role later. In 2000, under the obstruction and pressure from a major Western power, the foreign party unilaterally tore up the cooperation contract. At this critical moment, when China's early warning aircraft development faced a crossroads, some suggested directly purchasing from abroad, but Wang Xiaomo insisted on independent research and development and vigorously promoted domestic project approval. With Wang Xiaomo's persistence and continuous breakthroughs in one technical difficulty after another, the state decided to fully independently develop a more advanced early warning aircraft. On October 1, 2009, China's early warning aircraft made its public debut before a global audience. The "KJ-2000" created nine world firsts in the history of early warning aircraft development and broke through over 100 key technologies. Today, in addition to the "KJ-2000," China also possesses advanced early warning aircraft such as the "KJ-200" and "KJ-500," and they are still being continuously improved and upgraded.
Promoting High-Quality Development Series Press Conference: Tax Services Further Enhance Efficiency for High-Quality Development
The State Council Information Office held a series of press conferences on "Promoting High-Quality Development" on the 20th, where relevant officials from the State Taxation Administration introduced new achievements in tax services supporting high-quality development. The relevant officials from the State Taxation Administration stated that since the beginning of this year, tax authorities have adhered to organizing tax and fee revenue in accordance with laws and regulations, and have meticulously implemented tax and fee preferential policies. From January to August, the current major policies supporting scientific and technological innovation and manufacturing development have resulted in tax and fee reductions and refunds exceeding 1.8 trillion yuan. Relying on tax big data, various tax and fee preferential policies have been precisely pushed to 360 million person-times, and the unified and standardized new electronic tax bureau has been launched nationwide, reducing tax processing time by 20% year-on-year. At the same time, efforts have continued to focus on people's livelihoods, promoting the full release of tax policy dividends. Data from the individual income tax reconciliation and payment concluded at the end of June this year show that in 2023, the special additional deduction standards for individual income tax for "the elderly and the young" were raised, benefiting approximately 67 million people and reducing taxes by over 70 billion yuan. In the next step, the State Taxation Administration will further deepen tax reform, implement structural tax and fee reduction policies, maintain economic operating order and national tax security, and better serve high-quality development.
Large-Scale Equipment Upgrades Accelerate Implementation Tailored to Local Conditions
Reporters learned today (September 22) from the National Development and Reform Commission that the two batches of 150 billion yuan from the ultra-long-term special national bonds supporting large-scale equipment upgrades have all been allocated to projects. Various regions are accelerating policy implementation in fields such as education, construction, and industry, benefiting enterprises and the people. Currently, as the new autumn semester begins, new desks, chairs, and folding beds have entered primary and secondary schools in Zhejiang, allowing students to take a "lying nap" at school. In universities, laboratories have welcomed a batch of new scientific research equipment, among which high-precision and cutting-edge equipment with a single price exceeding 500,000 yuan is an important focus of this round of equipment upgrades. As the heating season approaches, Heilongjiang and other places are stepping up the insulation and heating system equipment upgrades for old residential areas. Utilizing the construction window period before winter, in Hunan, the renovation and upgrading of underground pipelines are further expanding, enhancing the city's flood control and drainage capabilities. In Jiangsu, the upgrade of elevators in old residential areas is accelerating. In the industrial sector, manufacturing giants Shandong and Guangdong are accelerating the green transformation of production lines in key energy-consuming industries such as steel, ceramics, and textiles, and upgrading key energy-consuming equipment such as boilers, motors, and transformers. Since the beginning of this year, China's industrial energy utilization efficiency has further improved. The National Development and Reform Commission recently stated that with the full allocation of the 150 billion yuan from the ultra-long-term special national bonds supporting large-scale equipment upgrades to projects, it will further support equipment upgrades and recycling in more than 10 fields, including industry, transportation, and logistics. It is estimated that over 2 million sets of equipment will be upgraded, which will further inject new vitality into equipment investment in related fields.
Domestic News Snippets
National Mandarin Promotion Week Activities Held in Kashgar, Xinjiang
The 27th National Mandarin Promotion Week activities, jointly organized by the Ministry of Education, the Publicity Department of the CPC Central Committee, and nine other departments, were held today (September 22) in Kashgar, Xinjiang. This year's promotion week is themed "Strengthening Mandarin Promotion, Solidifying the Language Foundation for a Strong Nation." During the week, various activities will be held nationwide, including Mandarin promotion achievement exhibitions and "Classics Illuminating China" themed reading events, to foster a stronger sense of community for the Chinese nation.
China's Steady-State High Magnetic Field Breaks World Record for Water-Cooled Magnets
Today (September 22), China's High Magnetic Field Center announced that its independently developed water-cooled magnet generated a steady-state magnetic field of 42.02 Tesla, setting a new world record. This provides a powerful experimental platform for studying the phenomena and laws of how material properties change under strong magnetic fields.
2024 "Writing the Chapter of Youth on the Land of the Motherland" Grand Ideological and Political Education Class Held at Nankai University
Yesterday (September 21), the 2024 "Writing the Chapter of Youth on the Land of the Motherland" Grand Ideological and Political Education Class was held at Nankai University in Tianjin. The event invited renowned teachers, Olympic champions, industry models, grassroots volunteers, and other young role models to join young netizens in a grand ideological and political education class. They used vivid Chinese stories, stories of the Communist Party of China, and stories of the new era to unite and inspire young people, encouraging them to "strive to write a youthful chapter of bravely undertaking responsibilities for Chinese modernization."
The 11th Silk Road International Film Festival Opened Last Night
The 11th Silk Road International Film Festival, jointly hosted by China Media Group, the People's Government of Shaanxi Province, and the People's Government of Fujian Province, opened last night (September 21) in Xi'an, Shaanxi. This year's film festival continues the theme of "Silk Road Connects the World, Light and Shadow Illuminate Chang'an" and features a series of special screening activities. A record-breaking 2065 works from 136 countries and regions worldwide registered for this year's film festival, with 24 Chinese and foreign films nominated to compete for the "Golden Silk Road Award."
The 34th "Feitian Award" for TV Dramas and the 28th "Starlight Award" for TV Literary and Art Programs Held in Xiamen
Last night (September 21), the awarding ceremony for the 34th "Feitian Award" for TV Dramas and the 28th "Starlight Award" for TV Literary and Art Programs was held in Xiamen, Fujian. Sixteen TV drama productions, primarily focusing on realistic themes, including "Wen Cangmang," "A Lifelong Journey," "Blossoms Shanghai," and "The Three-Body Problem," won the "Feitian Award." Fourteen works, including "The Most Beautiful Central Axis," won the "Starlight Award."
Largest Red Mountain Culture Jade Dragon Discovered in Inner Mongolia Archeological Excavation
Today (September 22), reporters learned from the National Cultural Heritage Administration that the largest piled stone mound of the late Hongshan Culture has been discovered in Aohan Banner, Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region. The architectural remains are "south altar, north mound," combining burial and sacrificial functions. Over a hundred jade artifacts were unearthed, including a jade dragon approximately 15.8 centimeters long, which is the largest Hongshan Culture jade dragon unearthed in China's archaeological excavations.
2024 "Chinese Farmers' Harvest Festival Gala" to Air Tonight
The 2024 "Chinese Farmers' Harvest Festival Gala" will air tonight (September 22) on CCTV-1 (General Channel) and CCTV-17 (Agriculture and Rural Channel), with simultaneous broadcasts on new media platforms such as CCTV.com and Yangshipin. The gala will feature a main venue in Xiantao City, Hubei Province, and a sub-venue in Youyang Tujia and Miao Autonomous County, Chongqing Municipality, showcasing the joyful atmosphere of celebrating the harvest season across various regions.
Israeli Army Conducts Multiple Strikes on Southern Lebanon; Hezbollah Attacks Israeli Airbase
According to a statement released by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) on September 21, the Israeli military launched multiple rounds of strikes on Hezbollah targets in southern Lebanon that day, with dozens of warplanes destroying approximately 400 rocket launchers. Early this morning (September 22), air raid sirens sounded in multiple locations in northern Israel. Lebanese Hezbollah announced today that its fighters carried out strikes on northern Israel, targeting the Ramat David Airbase near the northern city of Haifa for the first time, in retaliation for recent Israeli attacks on Lebanon. According to Lebanese media reports, the Israeli military immediately launched new airstrikes on multiple areas in southern Lebanon. According to data from Lebanese government departments, the death toll from Israel's missile strike on Beirut's southern suburbs on September 20 has risen to 45. Lebanese caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati canceled his trip to New York to attend the United Nations General Assembly on the 21st. He stated that the most important thing currently is to stop Israel's massacres and prevent Israel from escalating the war. The U.S. State Department issued a travel warning on the 21st, urging American citizens to leave Lebanon. The Jordanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates issued a circular, calling on its citizens to temporarily avoid traveling to Lebanon, and requesting Jordanian citizens already in Lebanon to leave as soon as possible.
Israeli Bombing of Gaza City School Kills at Least 22
The Palestinian Gaza Strip Health Ministry issued a statement on September 21, saying that the Israeli army bombed a school sheltering a large number of displaced people in Gaza City, northern Gaza Strip, on that day, killing at least 22 people and injuring 30, most of whom were children and women. The Israeli military, however, claimed that it struck a command center of the Palestinian Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas). Separately, according to Qatar's Al Jazeera, the Israeli army raided Al Jazeera's office in Ramallah, West Bank, Palestine, today (September 22), and demanded its closure for 45 days.
Russia Claims Destruction of Ukrainian Command Posts; Ukraine Claims Downing Dozens of Russian Drones
The Russian Ministry of Defense stated on the 21st that Russian forces, using high-precision weapons and attack drones, destroyed Ukrainian targets including US-made weapons, personnel shelters, and field ammunition depots in various directions. The Russian Air Force also destroyed a Ukrainian command post near the border of Russia's Kursk region. Ukraine stated on the 22nd that the frontline situation remained severe over the past day, with Ukrainian forces repelling 28 Russian attacks in the Pokrovsk direction. Ukrainian air defense units also shot down 71 Russian attack drones in multiple locations early this morning (September 22). Russia Says It Will Not Participate in Second Ukraine "Peace Summit"
Russian Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Maria Zakharova stated on the 21st that the second so-called Ukraine "peace summit" is essentially aimed at promoting an utterly unfeasible Ukrainian plan and has nothing to do with mediating the crisis. Russia will not participate in such a meeting.
International News Snippets
France Unveils New Government Lineup
The French presidential palace announced the new government lineup on the evening of the 21st, primarily comprising centrist and right-wing figures. Bruno Retailleau, head of the Republican group in the Senate, was appointed Minister of Interior, Jean-Noël Barrot, Minister Delegate for European Affairs in the previous government, was appointed Minister of Foreign Affairs, and Sébastien Lecornu, the previous Minister of Defense, retained his position.
4 Dead in Alabama Shooting, US
A shooting incident occurred in Birmingham, Alabama, US, on the evening of the 21st, resulting in at least 4 deaths and dozens injured. Police stated that multiple gunmen opened fire. Details such as the number of gunmen, their motives, and whether the gunmen were driving by and shooting are still under investigation, and no suspects have been arrested yet.
Dozens Killed in Iran Coal Mine Explosion
According to Iranian media reports, a coal mine in the Tabas region of South Khorasan Province, Iran, exploded on the 21st due to methane leakage. The accident has caused at least 30 deaths, 17 injuries, and 22 missing. Rescue operations are underway. The specific cause of the accident is still under investigation.
Twenty-Four Solar Terms: Autumn Equinox
The Autumn Equinox is the sixteenth of the twenty-four solar terms and the fourth solar term of autumn. Since 2018, the Autumn Equinox day has also been the Chinese Farmers' Harvest Festival. At the end of the program, let's step into nature, admire the vibrant autumn colors, and feel the joy of harvest. As the Autumn Equinox arrives, the sky is high, the clouds are light, and the wind is gentle. Large trees shake their branches, making rustling sounds as they bid farewell to yellow leaves. Each leaf is a brushstroke of time, outlining the changing seasons. The Autumn Equinox folds time in half; autumn is exactly halfway over, and day and night, cold and warmth, are in a balanced state. The autumn wind sweeps across the fields, bringing songs of harvest. Rice grains have ripened, apples have turned red, and grapes have turned purple... The Autumn Equinox is a busy season for "three autumns" (autumn harvest, autumn plowing, and autumn sowing). From south to north, the scene of harvest shows the majestic power of nature, signaling another year of good harvest.