Xi's Discourses on Chinese Modernization Published in Japanese
The Japanese edition of "Xi Jinping's Expositions on Chinese Modernization," translated by the Institute of Party History and Literature of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC), was recently published by Central Compilation & Translation Press and released both domestically and internationally. "Xi Jinping's Expositions on Chinese Modernization," compiled by the Institute of Party History and Literature of the CPC Central Committee, collects a series of important discourses by Comrade Xi Jinping on Chinese modernization. The Japanese edition, along with previously published English, French, Russian, and Arabic editions, is of great significance for foreign readers to deeply understand the theoretical system and practical requirements of Chinese modernization, to gain a deeper understanding of the new path to Chinese modernization successfully forged by the CPC, leading the Chinese people, the new form of human civilization created, and the new vision of modernization presented. It also aims to enhance the international community's shared understanding of jointly pursuing the path of modernization and achieving world modernization characterized by peaceful development, mutually beneficial cooperation, and common prosperity.
Xi Sends Condolences to ROK Acting President Over Plane Crash
On December 29, Chinese President Xi Jinping sent a message of condolence to South Korean Acting President Choi Sang-mok over the Jeju Air plane crash that caused heavy casualties. Xi Jinping stated, "I was shocked to learn of the Jeju Air plane crash in your country, which resulted in heavy casualties. On behalf of the Chinese government and people, I express my deep condolences to the victims and extend sincere sympathies to their families, and wish the injured a speedy recovery."
Our 2024: Chinese Culture Shines in New Era
General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out that the strength of a country and a nation is always supported by cultural prosperity. The realization of the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation is inseparable from a high degree of cultural confidence, and also from the flourishing and prosperity of culture. In 2024, guided by Xi Jinping Thought on Culture, adhering to the "two integrations," especially the "second integration," the Chinese cultural lineage continued, excellent traditional culture shone with contemporary brilliance, the spiritual and cultural lives of the people became richer, and the influence of Chinese culture continued to increase. Significant achievements were made in building a socialist cultural powerhouse, consolidating a powerful force for advancing Chinese modernization. 2024 was a year in which the cultural confidence of the Chinese people became even stronger. In July, the Central Axis of Beijing was inscribed on the World Heritage List, bringing China's total number of World Heritage sites to 59, ranking among the top in the world. In December, the "Spring Festival" was successfully inscribed on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, bringing China's total number of UNESCO intangible cultural heritage items to 44, continuously ranking first in the world. General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out that the vast and ancient China, with its incredibly long history and profound civilization, is the foundation of our confidence and the source of our strength. Over the past year, aiming at the strategic goal of building a cultural powerhouse and continuously developing socialism with Chinese characteristics in the new era, General Secretary Xi Jinping's cultural footprint has spread across the country, integrating cultural development into the great practice of governance with strong cultural awareness and historical responsibility. From the Third Plenary Session of the 20th CPC Central Committee to the 17th collective study session of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, from visiting Tianjin Ancient Culture Street and Changde River Street in Hunan, to inspecting the Baoji Bronze Ware Museum in Shaanxi, the Maijishan Grottoes in Gansu, and the Yunmeng County Museum in Hubei... General Secretary Xi Jinping made a series of important deployments on continuing the Chinese cultural lineage and building a cultural powerhouse, leading and promoting the deepening of the Sinicization and modernization of Marxism. Across the vast land of China, excellent traditional Chinese culture, revolutionary culture, and advanced socialist culture shine brightly, demonstrating vigorous vitality. 2024 was a year in which the Chinese people's cultural gains continued to increase. This year, China's cultural undertakings flourished, and the capacity for public cultural services and cultural product supply continued to improve. Bearing in mind General Secretary Xi Jinping's earnest instructions, a large number of literary and art workers adhered to creating for the people and speaking for the times, from stage art to film and television, a batch of excellent works rooted in traditional culture and reflecting the spirit of the times were widely praised. In Inner Mongolia, 75 Ulan Muqir troupes took root at the grassroots level, performing over 10,000 shows throughout the year, delivering "cultural feasts" to local people. In Beijing, the National Centre for the Performing Arts welcomed its busiest year in its 17-year history, presenting over 1,200 various performances, including operas and ballets, offering diverse and exquisite stage arts for audiences to enjoy the beauty of diverse cultures. The vibrant "Village Super League" and lively "Village Gala" promoted new customs and painted a harmonious picture of rural revitalization. From cities to rural areas, over 3,300 public libraries and more than 10,000 cultural centers and museums across the country met the diverse, multi-level, and multi-faceted spiritual and cultural needs of the people. By the end of 2024, nearly 40,000 new public cultural spaces had been built in China, covering various scenarios such as community streets and tourist attractions. 2024 was a year of rapid development of China's cultural industry, continuous flourishing of new cultural formats, and deeper integration of culture and tourism. This year, the lives of Chinese people had more and better "poetry" and "distant places." From trendy cultural and creative products to traditional-style markets, ancient culture integrated with modern design, and attractive creative products fueled new trends in cultural consumption. The National Museum of China, the Palace Museum, and other institutions transformed their collection resources into various cultural and creative products, showcasing Chinese aesthetics and bringing cultural relics to life. Relying on technological empowerment such as virtual reality and artificial intelligence, new cultural spaces and scenarios launched by places like Datang Everbright City and Longmen Grottoes allowed audiences to travel through the river of history and experience the contemporary charm of Chinese culture through immersive and interactive experiences. Data shows that in the first three quarters of this year, the operating revenue of cultural enterprises above designated size in China reached 9,966.8 billion yuan, a year-on-year increase of 5.9%. Among them, the operating revenue of new cultural formats reached 4,161.6 billion yuan, a year-on-year increase of 10.0%. 2024 was a year of continuous improvement in China's cultural soft power and the influence of Chinese culture. At the Paris Olympics, Chinese athletes not only won gold and silver but also showcased Chinese style and unique oriental aesthetics to the world. "Black Myth: Wukong," China's first AAA game, integrated traditional architecture, clothing, and mythological stories, and was widely praised at home and abroad for its innovative expression. 72 hours, 144 hours, 240 hours, China's transit visa-free policy continued to be relaxed and optimized. More and more foreign tourists came here to experience Chinese culture, feel the beauty of China, and see a credible, lovable, and respectable China. Today's China, with hundreds of millions of people united, undertakes the cultural mission of the new era, better building Chinese spirit, Chinese values, and Chinese strength, forging ahead with cultural confidence on the new journey towards the strategic goal of building a cultural powerhouse!
CMG Releases Top 10 Domestic and International News of 2024
China Media Group (CMG) today (December 29) released its Top 10 Domestic News and Top 10 International News for 2024. The Top 10 Domestic News for 2024 include: 1. The Third Plenary Session of the 20th CPC Central Committee made strategic deployments for further comprehensively deepening reform and promoting Chinese modernization, erecting a new milestone on the new journey of comprehensively building a modern socialist country. 2. A series of activities celebrating the 75th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China were grandly held, and Xi Jinping delivered an important speech. 3. The whole Party launched a Party discipline education campaign, strengthening discipline to forge the Party into an even stronger force. 4. A package of economic policies solidly promoted upward economic growth and structural optimization, with a sustained good development momentum, and major economic and social development goals and tasks for the whole year were successfully completed. 5. China's total grain output reached 1,413 billion jin in 2024, surpassing the new threshold of 1.4 trillion jin for the first time. 6. The 25th anniversary of Macao's return to the motherland, with "One Country, Two Systems" continuing to advance steadily. 7. The Beijing Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation achieved complete success, illuminating the "southern moment" for building a community with a shared future for mankind. 8. A series of measures, including the complete cancellation of foreign investment access restrictions in manufacturing, were introduced, striving to create a new situation of high-level opening up. 9. Chang'e-6 sampled the far side of the moon, the "Mengxiang" entered the sea, the Shenzhen-Zhongshan Link was completed and opened to traffic, the Qinling Station in Antarctica was opened, and the annual output of new energy vehicles exceeded 10 million units for the first time, with innovation leading China to new heights. 10. The Chinese Spring Festival was successfully inscribed on the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage List, making China's total number of intangible cultural heritage items rank first in the world. The Top 10 International News for 2024 include: 1. China's head-of-state diplomacy led the trend of peaceful development, cooperation, and win-win outcomes, promoting the building of a community with a shared future for mankind. 2. The spillover of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict exacerbated regional instability, and a regime change occurred in Syria. 3. The Russia-Ukraine conflict continued for over a thousand days, and Western aid to Ukraine "crossed the line," increasing the risk of escalation. 4. Political polarization and huge expenditures saw a "two Americas" showdown in the U.S. presidential election. 5. Europe's economic recovery was weak, and its political landscape became more "fragmented." 6. Global economic growth was stable but challenges remained, with China continuing to play an important engine role. 7. Artificial intelligence technology continued to accelerate its development, and the international community focused on its governance and regulation. 8. South Korea experienced a 6-hour "martial law controversy," and Yoon Suk-yeol became the third South Korean president to be impeached by the National Assembly. 9. 2024 will once again be the "hottest year" on record, and the UN Climate Change Conference reached a consensus on new collective quantified goals for climate finance. 10. The 33rd Summer Olympic Games were held in Paris, and Chinese athletes achieved their best results in overseas competitions.
China's Total Social Logistics Exceeds 320 Trillion Yuan in First 11 Months
The China Federation of Logistics & Purchasing announced today (December 29) that from January to November, the total social logistics volume nationwide, which is the total value of physical goods in economic operation, reached 320.2 trillion yuan, a year-on-year increase of 5.8%. Since the fourth quarter, the recovery trend of logistics demand has been evident. Among them, the scope of logistics recovery in the industrial sector continues to expand, with traditional manufacturing, high-tech manufacturing, and other fields showing good recovery momentum. In November, logistics demand related to the raw material manufacturing industry increased by 6.1% year-on-year, and logistics demand for high-tech manufacturing increased by 7.8% year-on-year. With the recovery and improvement of industrial demand, the operation of various links in logistics is orderly, and the industry's prosperity is steadily rising. From January to November, the total revenue of the logistics industry was 12.5 trillion yuan, a year-on-year increase of 4%, with the growth rate increasing for three consecutive months.
CR450 EMU Prototype Unveiled Today
Today (December 29), the CR450 EMU prototype was unveiled in Beijing, marking a major breakthrough in the "CR450 Science and Technology Innovation Project" and further consolidating and expanding China's leading position in high-speed rail technology worldwide. Reporters learned from China National Railway Group Co., Ltd. that the main indicators of the CR450 EMU prototype, such as operating speed, energy consumption, in-car noise, and braking distance, are internationally leading. The EMU has a test speed of 450 kilometers per hour and an operating speed of 400 kilometers per hour. Once put into commercial operation, it will further reduce travel time and space, making passenger travel more convenient and efficient. At the same time, comfort indicators are better, with in-car noise reduced by 2 decibels and passenger service space increased by 4%, providing passengers with diversified, convenient, personalized, and intelligent services. In 2021, the "CR450 Science and Technology Innovation Project" was officially launched, starting the research and development of the 400 km/h CR450 EMU and comprehensive high-speed rail infrastructure technologies. In 2022, technical condition parameter tests and a large number of simulation calculations for the CR450 EMU were carried out. After extensive technical and performance verification, the production of the prototype officially began in 2024. The successful rollout of the CR450 EMU prototype marks China's completion of exploration into the "unmanned zone" of 400 km/h commercial operation technology for high-speed rail.
Anchoring Modernization, Deepening Reform: Beijing Enhances Market Regulation Through Technology
The Third Plenary Session of the 20th CPC Central Committee pointed out the need to deeply promote law-based administration and enhance the comprehensive market supervision capacity and level. Beijing has digitally improved supervision efficiency through technological empowerment and institutional innovation, taking the lead in launching integrated comprehensive supervision centered on "scan code inspection" and "non-site supervision," striving to reduce burdens, break bottlenecks, and solve problems for enterprises. To reduce the burden on enterprises, Beijing launched the "scan code inspection" system. Before administrative inspections, regulatory departments only need to scan the "enterprise code" through the "Jingban" mini-program, and the entire inspection process will enter online management and be subject to public supervision. The system integrates data from 49 departments, 950 law enforcement entities, and more than 26,000 law enforcement personnel in Beijing, achieving information sharing and traceability, and avoiding repeated inspections through prompts that block duplicate checks. Enterprises can also view inspection results through the "Jingtong" mini-program. Currently, 227,000 "scan code inspections" have been carried out across the city. For some high-credit and low-risk quality enterprises, Beijing has also innovatively launched a "white list" pilot reform. For enterprises on the list, regulatory departments generally do not proactively implement on-site inspections, except in cases of complaints or reports. Currently, 105,000 enterprises have been included. Exploring the use of eight "non-site supervision" methods, such as video AI recognition, artificial intelligence, and big data screening, is an innovative measure by Beijing to enhance comprehensive market supervision capabilities through technological empowerment. Digital supervision not only improves the effectiveness and pertinence of supervision work but also solves the problem that manual on-site law enforcement could not cover all areas in the past. To address the regulatory challenge of "a large cultural market but a small law enforcement team" in the performing arts industry, Beijing's technologically empowered "non-site supervision" system can promptly detect inappropriate content in performances. Currently, Beijing is deeply promoting the integrated comprehensive supervision reform and exploring new models for digital transformation of supervision. Data from 31 departments and 846 regulatory items across the city have achieved cross-department sharing and common use. This has helped enterprises reduce the submission of 131,000 paper documents, striving to achieve "more government data running, less enterprise data running."
Ahead of New Year, Consumer Market Sees Abundant Supply, Strong Demand
As New Year's Day approaches, various regions and departments are enriching consumption supply, and the consumer market is vibrant and popular. According to big data monitoring by the Ministry of Commerce, on the eve of New Year's Day, the inventory of grain, edible oil, eggs, and pork in 200 large-scale agricultural product wholesale markets nationwide slightly increased compared to early December, and the supply of daily necessities in the national market was sufficient, with overall stable prices. In Beijing, major fresh food supermarkets are experiencing a procurement peak, with many stores seeing daily customer traffic exceeding 10,000. Hubei strengthened production-sales衔接, and the efficiency of daily necessities circulation increased by 10% compared to usual. In large agricultural product wholesale markets and key supermarkets in Guangxi and other places, the supply of daily necessities such as vegetables, fruits, eggs, and milk increased by 20%. At the largest fruit trading center in East China, domestic and international fruits are selling well, and the number of delivery and procurement vehicles before the festival reached over 6,000, more than double the usual. Equally popular are the major commercial districts before the festival, with various special exhibitions and promotional activities appearing one after another. The Confucius Temple business district in Nanjing, Jiangsu, created more than 40 sets of large lanterns, and Hanfu check-ins and special food experiences attracted 300,000 tourists. In Changsha, Hunan, old factories and former railway stations have been renovated, with coffee shops, exhibition halls, and cultural and creative markets moving in successively. In Mohe, Heilongjiang, several characteristic guesthouses and hotels have newly opened, and many stores have orders booked until next year's Spring Festival shortly after opening. In Xi'an, Shaanxi, several home appliance stores launched New Year promotions, with government subsidies stacking up to a maximum of 40% off. Data from the National Information Center shows that in December this year, the offline consumption heat index increased by 5.0% year-on-year; the living service consumption heat index increased by 10.6% year-on-year, among which, leisure and entertainment, catering, and tourism increased by 32.3%, 9.6%, and 9.0% respectively year-on-year.
Domestic News Briefs
General Administration of Customs Issues New Round of Measures to Support Integrated Development of Yangtze River Delta Today (December 29), the General Administration of Customs announced 16 new measures to support the integrated development of the Yangtze River Delta region. These include supporting pilot programs for cross-customs zone supervision of export cross-border e-commerce returns, and promoting cross-customs zone cooperation in "smart passenger inspection" at air ports. These measures cover five areas, including supporting the development of new quality productive forces and promoting logistics cost reduction and efficiency improvement. Overall Sufficient Seedling Supply in China for 2025 The latest data from the National Forestry and Grassland Administration shows that the overall seedling supply nationwide will be sufficient in 2025, with approximately 24 billion seedlings available for salida. Among them, the "Three North" regions are expected to need about 1.65 billion seedlings of drought-resistant, salt-tolerant, and barren-tolerant tree species next year, which is generally guaranteed. Sichuan-Chongqing UHV AC Project Completed and Put into Operation The Sichuan-Chongqing UHV AC Project, the first UHV AC project in China's southwestern region, was recently completed and put into operation. After operation, the inter-provincial power transmission capacity between Sichuan and Chongqing will increase by 4 million kilowatts, and the maximum annual power transmission will reach 35 billion kilowatt-hours, equivalent to the annual electricity consumption of 10 million households. Guangxi Qinzhou Longmen Bridge Opens to Traffic Today (December 29), the Longmen Bridge in Qinzhou, Guangxi, opened to traffic. The bridge is approximately 6.6 kilometers long and has six lanes in both directions. The main navigation bridge can meet the requirements for 20,000-ton cruise ships. After opening to traffic, the driving time between Fangchenggang and Qinzhou Port will be shortened from the original 1.5 hours to about 25 minutes. Guangzhou Metro Opens First Loop Line Yesterday (December 28), Guangzhou's first metro loop line, Line 11, officially opened for operation. The line passes through five central districts: Tianhe, Baiyun, Yuexiu, Liwan, and Haizhu. It is 44.2 kilometers long and has 31 stations, including 26 interchange stations, further facilitating citizens' travel. Five Departments Deploy "Warm Winter for the Disabled" Activities Recently, the China Disabled Persons' Federation, the Ministry of Civil Affairs, the All-China Federation of Trade Unions, and other five departments jointly deployed "Warm Winter for the Disabled" activities across the country during the New Year's Day and Spring Festival holidays. They will visit families of disabled people with severe difficulties and disabled persons' service agencies to understand their actual needs in production and life, rights protection, and care, and coordinate to solve urgent and difficult problems for disabled people. Proportion of Nursing Beds in China's Elderly Care Institutions Reaches 62.2% The latest statistics from the Ministry of Civil Affairs show that currently, there are 404,000 elderly care institutions and facilities of various types nationwide, with 8.093 million elderly care beds. The proportion of nursing beds has reached 62.2%, completing the "14th Five-Year Plan" target ahead of schedule. Large-scale Food Culture and Tourism Program "Three Meals and Four Seasons" Season 2 Premieres Tonight The large-scale food culture and tourism program "Three Meals and Four Seasons" Season 2 will premiere tonight (December 29) on CCTV-1. The first episode will go to Urumqi and Kashgar in Xinjiang, exploring diverse and integrated unique flavors and showcasing the full charm of ethnic cuisine. "China Science and Technology Innovation Ceremony" Broadcasts Tonight "China Science and Technology Innovation Ceremony" will be broadcast tonight (December 29) on CCTV-1. The ceremony invites several academicians from the Chinese Academy of Sciences and the Chinese Academy of Engineering, as well as industry leaders, to interpret "new quality productive forces" through scientific speeches, a grand display of scientific and technological achievements, and other forms, creating an audio-visual feast that gathers annual scientific and technological innovation highlights.
South Korean Plane Skids Off Runway, Catches Fire on Landing; 177 Dead
This morning (December 29), a passenger plane carrying 181 people crashed into a wall and caught fire upon landing at Muan International Airport in Jeollanam-do, South Korea. The South Korean Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport stated that the plane crash has resulted in 177 fatalities, two missing persons, and two crew members rescued. The Chinese Consulate General in Gwangju, South Korea, confirmed that there were no Chinese citizens on board the crashed plane. The crashed plane was Jeju Air flight 7C2216, traveling from Bangkok, Thailand, to Muan, South Korea, with 175 passengers and 6 crew members on board. The aircraft was a Boeing 737-800, 15 years old. According to South Korean media reports, the aircraft attempted to land for the first time but found it could not land properly and performed a go-around. During the second attempt at a "belly landing," it veered off the runway and crashed into a wall. The South Korean Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport stated today that the accident investigation committee has already found the aircraft's black box and plans to analyze it before releasing further information. The runway at Muan Airport, where the accident occurred, will be closed until 5:00 AM on January 1, 2025. Choi Sang-mok, acting president of South Korea, today declared Muan County, where the crash occurred, as a special disaster area.
Yemen's Houthis Claim Attack on Israeli Base; US, UK Reportedly Launch Two Airstrikes on Houthi Targets
Yemen's Houthi rebels issued a statement on the 28th, claiming they used a hypersonic ballistic missile to attack Israel's Nevatim Airbase in southern Israel, and the missile successfully hit its target. The Houthis also announced that day that they shot down a U.S. MQ-9 Reaper drone in Bayda province, southern Yemen. The Houthis stated that this was the 13th U.S. drone shot down by the group in its latest military operations to defend Yemen's sovereignty and support the Palestinian people. Yemen's Houthi rebels also claimed on the 28th that U.S. and British forces launched airstrikes on targets in Hajjah province, northwestern Yemen, that day. According to Israeli media reports on the same day, U.S. and British forces conducted two airstrikes on Houthi targets in northwestern Yemen. The United States and the United Kingdom have not responded to this. Palestine Says Israeli Attacks in Gaza Strip Killed 48 People; Israeli Military Says It Launched Military Operations in Beit Hanoun The Palestinian Health Ministry in the Gaza Strip issued a statement on the 28th, saying that Israeli attacks in the Gaza Strip killed 48 people in the past 24 hours. The Israeli Defense Forces said on the 28th that Israeli forces launched military operations in Beit Hanoun in the northern Gaza Strip that day. Before the forces entered the area, Israeli warplanes and artillery attacked multiple targets in the area. The Israeli military also said it intercepted two rockets launched from the Gaza Strip that day.
Russia Claims Downing US-Made Rockets; Ukraine Says Foiling Russian Offensive
Russia's Ministry of Defense stated on the 28th that over the past day, Russian forces struck Ukrainian manpower and equipment concentrations in 148 areas, destroying the infrastructure of one Ukrainian military airfield and one fuel depot. Russian air defense forces shot down four US-made HIMARS rockets and 104 drones. The Ukrainian Armed Forces stated on the same day that 82 battles took place in frontline areas, and Ukrainian forces prevented Russian advances in Kupyansk, Kurakhove, and other places. In addition, the Ukrainian military announced that on the 26th, it struck a Russian military facility in Oryol Oblast used for storing and maintaining drones. Russian presidential press secretary Dmitry Peskov said on the 28th that any country that maintains a neutral stance and engages in equal dialogue with Ukraine and Russia can become a negotiation platform, and Russia respects the efforts made by all countries for peace.
International News Briefs
Russian President and Azerbaijani President Discuss Plane Crash in Phone Call The Kremlin website announced on December 28 that at Russia's initiative, Russian President Vladimir Putin held a phone call with Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev. Putin apologized for the tragic incident involving an Azerbaijan Airlines aircraft in Russian airspace and once again expressed deep condolences to the families of the victims. According to the transcript of the call released by the Kremlin, the Azerbaijani aircraft, flying according to its schedule, had made several attempts to land at Grozny Airport in Russia. At that time, Grozny and other areas were under attack by Ukrainian drones, and Russian air defense systems were retaliated. According to the press service of the Azerbaijani President, Aliyev stated during the call that the aircraft experienced physical and technical interference in Russian airspace and flew towards the city of Aktau in Kazakhstan. The two leaders also discussed the need for a thorough and comprehensive investigation into the air disaster and holding those responsible accountable. UN Agency Says Over 470 Million Children Affected by Conflict The United Nations Children's Fund recently released a report showing that more than 473 million children worldwide currently live in conflict-affected areas, accounting for over one-sixth of the total child population. Data also shows that children account for 30% of the global population but about 40% of the total number of refugees. As of the end of 2023, approximately 47.2 million children worldwide were displaced due to conflict and violence; and as conflicts in various places intensify this year, this number will continue to rise. Multiple Tornadoes Hit Southern United States According to U.S. media reports, multiple areas in the southern United States were hit by tornadoes and other severe weather on December 28, causing at least two deaths and multiple injuries. Among them, the Houston area of Texas was hit by at least six tornadoes, damaging a large number of houses and blowing down trees and power poles. Flights at Houston's two major airports were affected. In Mississippi, severe weather at one point caused power outages for over 110,000 users.