On January 16, President Xi Jinping sent a congratulatory message to Zoran Milanović on his re-election as President of the Republic of Croatia. Xi Jinping pointed out that China and Croatia enjoy a profound traditional friendship, and the two countries are good friends and partners who respect and trust each other. In recent years, both sides have promoted high-quality Belt and Road cooperation and advanced cooperation in various fields in the spirit of openness, mutual benefit, and win-win outcomes, continuously demonstrating vitality in bilateral relations. I attach great importance to the development of China-Croatia relations and am willing to work with President Milanović to push the two countries to move forward hand in hand on their respective paths to modernization and open a new chapter in the China-Croatia comprehensive strategic partnership.
The State Council Information Office held a press conference today (January 17), where the National Bureau of Statistics released key indicators of national economic performance in 2024. The data shows that in 2024, China's economy operated generally steadily and made progress, with solid progress in high-quality development, and major targets and tasks were successfully achieved. Preliminary estimates show that the gross domestic product for the full year of 2024 was 134,908.4 billion yuan, an increase of 5.0% over the previous year at constant prices. By quarter, GDP grew by 5.3% in the first quarter, 4.7% in the second quarter, 4.6% in the third quarter, and 5.4% in the fourth quarter. In 2024, China's economic foundation became more solid. Grain output reached a new historical high, exceeding 1.4 trillion catties for the first time. Total primary energy production continued to increase, and energy supply was well guaranteed. At the same time, the advantages of China's super-large market and complete industrial system were further consolidated. In 2024, China's total retail sales of consumer goods and fixed asset investment reached 48.8 trillion yuan and 51.4 trillion yuan respectively, and the role of domestic demand as the main driving force continued to be exerted. In 2024, China's economy achieved new results in high-quality development. The industrial structure was optimized. The added value of industrial enterprises above designated size nationwide increased by 5.8% over the previous year. Among them, the proportion of added value of high-tech manufacturing and equipment manufacturing above designated size rose to 16.3% and 34.6% respectively, an increase of 0.6 and 1.0 percentage points over the previous year. In 2024, manufacturing technological transformation investment increased by 8% over the previous year, faster than all investment. In 2024, green digital transformation accelerated, and energy consumption per unit of added value in major energy-consuming industries above designated size, such as chemicals, building materials, and steel, all decreased compared to the previous year. By the end of the year, the numerical control rate of key processes in the raw material industry exceeded 75%, achieving the "14th Five-Year Plan" target ahead of schedule. Development drivers were updated. In 2024, the intensity of R&D expenditure continued to increase, reaching 2.68%, and basic research funding increased by 10.5%. In 2024, emerging industries represented by high-end equipment and artificial intelligence showed a good development trend, and new pillars of the industrial system are gradually forming. At the same time, the potential of new consumption models such as online sales and instant retail is accelerating. In 2024, online retail sales of physical goods increased by 6.5% over the previous year, driving express delivery volume to a new historical high. In 2024, China's new urbanization steadily advanced, and the urbanization rate of permanent residents reached 67% by the end of the year, an increase of 0.84 percentage points over the end of the previous year. At the same time, China made solid progress in guaranteeing and improving people's livelihoods. The national urban surveyed unemployment rate decreased by 0.1 percentage points over the previous year, and per capita disposable income of residents actually increased by 5.1%, in sync with economic growth. The scale of employment of people lifted out of poverty remained stable at over 30 million for four consecutive years, and new progress was made in education, medical care, elderly care, and other livelihood undertakings.
On January 17, the State Council held its third work conference on clean governance. Li Qiang, Member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Premier of the State Council, emphasized at the meeting that it is necessary to thoroughly study and implement the spirit of General Secretary Xi Jinping's important speech at the Fourth Plenary Session of the 20th Central Commission for Discipline Inspection and the strategic arrangements of the Party Central Committee for comprehensively strict Party self-governance, and unswervingly promote the building of clean government and the fight against corruption in depth. Ding Xuexiang, Member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Vice Premier of the State Council, presided over the meeting. Vice Premiers He Lifeng, Zhang Guoqing, and Liu Guozhong, and State Councilors Wang Xiaohong, Wu Zhaolong, and Chen Yiqin attended the meeting. Li Xi, Member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Secretary of the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection, was invited to attend the meeting. Li Qiang emphasized that it is necessary to truly unify thinking and action with the spirit of General Secretary Xi Jinping's important speech and the Fourth Plenary Session of the 20th Central Commission for Discipline Inspection, deeply understand the decisive significance of the "Two Establishments", and resolutely achieve the "Two Safeguards". It is necessary to deeply recognize that the current anti-corruption situation remains severe and complex, and continue to promote the fight against corruption with the tenacious perseverance of being always on the road. It is necessary to adhere to the combination of strict prevention and severe punishment, vigorously promote the investigation and treatment of unhealthy tendencies and corruption problems, and take multiple measures to eliminate the soil and conditions for the breeding of corruption. It is necessary to thoroughly correct "four undesirable work styles", strictly enforce financial discipline, manage and use public funds well, prevent and severely punish corruption in key areas, continuously deepen the rectification of unhealthy tendencies and corruption problems around the people, and strictly regulate fair and civilized law enforcement. Party groups of governments at all levels and Party groups (Party committees) of all departments must consolidate and tighten the primary responsibility for comprehensively strict Party self-governance, promote integrity through deepened reform, integrate integrity and diligence, creatively implement the decisions and arrangements of the Party Central Committee, and open up new horizons for reform and development in overcoming difficulties. The principal comrades in charge of the National Development and Reform Commission, the State Administration for Market Regulation, the Fujian Provincial Government, and the Sichuan Provincial Government made speeches at the meeting.
Premier Li Qiang presided over an executive meeting of the State Council on January 17 to study policies and measures to promote employment, hear a report on optimizing the layout and construction of grassroots medical and health institutions, and study the comprehensive reform pilot work for higher education. The meeting pointed out that employment is the foundation of people's livelihoods. It is necessary to prioritize employment, strengthen policy support, empower training, and assist services, and strive to promote high-quality and full employment. It is necessary to intensify efforts to tap and expand employment opportunities, focus on key areas such as advanced manufacturing, service consumption, and livelihood protection, promote the implementation of job creation plans, and enhance the employment driving force of economic development. It is necessary to increase employment support for key groups, raise the credit line for special loans for stabilizing and expanding employment, promote government financing guarantee systems to strengthen support for employment and entrepreneurship, and study expanding the scope of one-off employment expansion subsidies. It is necessary to carry out large-scale vocational skills training, increase support in training fund investment, facility construction, and enterprise participation, formulate training plans by industry and field, improve training levels and subsidy levels, and cultivate more talents needed for development. The meeting pointed out that grassroots medical and health institutions are the first line of defense for protecting people's health. It is necessary to coordinate the present and the long term, comprehensively consider factors such as urban-rural integrated development, population structure changes, and people's health needs, and optimize the construction layout according to local conditions to provide greater convenience for people to seek medical treatment nearby. It is necessary to focus on improving the level of basic medical services at the grassroots level, improve the setting of clinical departments and the allocation of medical equipment, expand the types of drugs used at the grassroots level, strengthen the training of medical personnel, and enhance the ability to prevent, treat, and rehabilitate chronic and common diseases. It is necessary to actively promote the construction of a tiered diagnosis and treatment system, leverage the regulatory role of medical insurance payments and prices, use information technology such as telemedicine, guide patients to seek initial diagnosis at the grassroots level, promote family doctor contract services, and provide comprehensive and full life cycle health services for residents. The meeting pointed out that the leading role in building an education powerhouse is higher education. It is necessary to coordinate and promote reforms in university talent cultivation models, scientific research paradigms, operating models, and governance systems, facilitate the virtuous cycle of education, science and technology, and talent, and provide strong support for Chinese-style modernization through the high-quality development of higher education. It is necessary to make optimizing the setting of disciplines and majors a reform priority, grant universities greater autonomy, and be guided by national strategies, market demand, and scientific and technological development to scientifically adjust discipline settings and talent training models, improve curriculum and textbook systems, promote interdisciplinary integration, and continuously enhance the alignment between higher education and the needs of economic and social development. It is necessary to give full play to the guiding role of the education evaluation system reform to create a good environment for universities to develop distinctive features and for teachers to dedicate themselves to teaching and research. The meeting also discussed other matters.
The National Organization Department Meeting was held in Beijing on the 17th. Cai Qi, Member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Secretary of the Secretariat of the CPC Central Committee, attended the meeting and delivered a speech. He emphasized the need to adhere to the guidance of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, fully implement the spirit of the 20th CPC National Congress and the Second and Third Plenary Sessions of the 20th CPC Central Committee, thoroughly study and implement General Secretary Xi Jinping's important thought on Party building and on the Party's self-revolution, deeply understand the decisive significance of the "Two Establishments," resolutely achieve the "Two Safeguards," consciously serve the overall work of the Party and the state, and integrate the spirit of reform and strict standards in governing the Party into all aspects and the entire process of organizational work, so as to provide strong organizational guarantee for comprehensively promoting the building of a strong country and the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation through Chinese-style modernization. Cai Qi emphasized the need to consolidate and expand the achievements of the thematic education, continuously promote the in-depth and practical application of the Party's innovative theories, and gather strong momentum for promoting reform and development. It is necessary to adhere to the Party's political construction as the guiding principle for leading group building, guide the orientation of entrepreneurship through the correct employment orientation, and promote high-quality development with a correct view of achievements, so as to comprehensively improve cadres' ability to build modernization. It is necessary to focus on enhancing the political and organizational functions of Party organizations and improving the effectiveness of Party building in leading grassroots governance. It is necessary to deepen the reform of the talent development system and mechanisms to fully stimulate the vitality of talent innovation and creativity. Organizational departments at all levels and the vast number of organizational cadres must strengthen their sense of responsibility, take the lead in strengthening work style construction, and continuously open up new prospects for work. Li Ganjie, Member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Minister of the Central Organization Department, presided over the meeting and made work arrangements, stating that it is necessary to unremittingly use Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era to solidify the Party's soul, select and appoint strong leading bodies, strengthen cadre education, management, and supervision, grasp the building of the Party's organizational system, improve the mechanisms for Party member education, management, and role-playing, cultivate and gather urgently needed talents, deepen the reform of Party building systems, and resolutely act as the vanguard of the "Two Safeguards" with practical actions. Jiang Xinzhi attended the meeting.
At the invitation of Klaus Schwab, Founder and Executive Chairman of the World Economic Forum, and the governments of Switzerland and the Netherlands, Ding Xuexiang, Member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Vice Premier of the State Council, will attend the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting 2025 in Davos, Switzerland, and visit Switzerland and the Netherlands from January 19 to 24.
A spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced on the 17th: At the invitation of the US side, Han Zheng, President Xi Jinping's special representative and Vice President of China, will attend President Trump's inauguration ceremony in Washington D.C. on January 20. China has always viewed and developed China-US relations in accordance with the principles of mutual respect, peaceful coexistence, and win-win cooperation. We are willing to strengthen dialogue and communication with the new US administration, properly manage differences, expand mutually beneficial cooperation, and jointly promote the stable, healthy, and sustainable development of China-US relations, embarking on a new path for China and the US to get along correctly in the new era.
Starting today (January 17), "Xinwen Lianbo" will launch a series of reports titled "Authoritative Interview: Seeking Development, Embarking on a New Chapter," documenting the ideas and measures taken by various regions to implement the spirit of the Central Economic Work Conference and promote high-quality development based on their actual conditions. Today, the first broadcast is an exclusive interview by CCTV reporter with Sun Shaocheng, Secretary of the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Regional Party Committee. In 2024, Inner Mongolia's new energy construction led the country, with 19.54 million mu of sand control and desertification prevention completed throughout the year. The cargo volume at land ports across the region exceeded 120 million tons, industrial added value crossed the trillion-yuan mark, and grain output exceeded 82 billion catties, achieving "21 consecutive bumper harvests." Sun Shaocheng stated that under the strong leadership of the Party Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping as its core, Inner Mongolia's economic and social development has accelerated into a virtuous cycle of high-quality development, achieving a transformation from an optimized economic structure, new drivers, and a favorable trend. The Central Economic Work Conference made arrangements and deployments for promoting economic and social development and comprehensive green transformation. It proposed to promote important achievements in the landmark battles of the "Three Norths" project and accelerate the construction of new energy bases in "sandy, rocky, and barren" areas. Sun Shaocheng stated that Inner Mongolia will be based on the bright color of "green," coordinate the promotion of carbon reduction, pollution reduction, greening, and growth, and strive to build a new engine for green development. In the new year, Inner Mongolia will adhere to ecological priority and green development, and continuously optimize its industrial layout. It will vigorously develop new energy and upstream and downstream industries, continuously promote scientific and technological "breakthroughs," accelerate the development of new quality productive forces, continuously enhance the supply capacity of high-quality agricultural and livestock products, and further expand opening up to the outside world.
Recently, the 2025 National Spring Festival travel rush officially began, and during the entire Spring Festival travel period, the Nenlin Railway, the only railway to Mohe, will become even busier. Among them, the Mengke Mountain section is located deep in the Greater Khingan Mountains, with temperatures as low as minus 50 degrees Celsius, making it the most dangerous section of the entire line. Today (January 17), we will follow "New Year Go to the Grassroots" reporters to meet a group of "post-00s" young men who are sticking to their posts in the mountains to ensure the safe and smooth operation of the Nenlin Railway. At around 7 am, the temperature was minus 30 degrees Celsius. The reporter followed the young men of the maintenance team to the work site. 24-year-old Zhai Minglang is an "old squad leader" who has worked for 3 years, the oldest and most experienced in the team, and he has always been trailblazing in front. Carrying nearly 200 catties of equipment, everyone walked with great difficulty. The Nenlin Railway connects Mohe, China's northernmost city. Freight trains, tourist trains, and the rural revitalization trains opened last year run alternately, putting great pressure on maintenance. There are no platforms in the Mengke Mountain section, and trains rush by. After the train passed, Zhai Minglang tapped the track with a hammer while listening intently. Small cracks can appear inside the joints between the tracks due to the impact of the wheels, affecting driving safety. For convenience, Li Boru casually took off his gloves. The experienced Zhai Minglang hurriedly came over and kept blowing warm air, slowly separating Li Boru's fingers from the track. The cold wind mixed with snow flakes occasionally hit their faces, feeling like knives. After completing the inspection, everyone returned to the work area in the evening. Parents far away were worried about their children in the ice and snow, and estimating that it was time to get off work, Zhai Minglang's mother immediately called. Zhang Chao, who is from Inner Mongolia, also joined the company last year. His mother was worried that her son would freeze, so she personally sewed him an old cotton trousers, using a full 3 catties of cotton, which was half a quilt. As the Spring Festival approaches, more and more people are traveling by train to Mohe for New Year's Eve or to reunite with their families. When trains pass through the snow-covered Mengke Mountain, few people realize that there is such a group of "post-00s" young men sticking to their posts in the severe cold outside the window. During the week-long interview, the reporter's biggest feeling was: cold and vitality. In the severe cold of minus 30 degrees Celsius, there are young faces and vigorous youthful power. They chose their first workplace in the depths of the mountains and the vast forest, measuring the railway with their footsteps and guarding the safety of thousands of families with their youth.
The earthquake relief efforts for the 6.8 magnitude earthquake in Dingri County, Tibet, are ongoing, with all parties accelerating resettlement work and fully ensuring the lives of the affected people. Currently, the earthquake-stricken area is fully transitioning from the temporary resettlement phase to the transitional resettlement phase. The construction of prefabricated houses is in full swing, with over 6,100 sets already built, and efforts are being made to complete all construction before the Spring Festival. At the same time, efforts are being made to organize and allocate heating supplies and fully ensure the supply of food and other materials. The search and rescue of property for the affected people are being intensified in 25 administrative villages in the earthquake zone. As of this afternoon (January 17), the fire department has helped the affected people clear 1,055 ruins and rescued over 85,000 pieces of property. The assessment of damaged houses and on-site clearance are being expedited. In Changsuo Township, Dingri County, the assessment of 817 damaged houses has been completed, providing a reference for subsequent reconstruction work. After the assessment, the clearing of house ruins is underway. Today, the "Public Welfare Winter Holiday Class" commenced at the Gurong Village resettlement site. More than 20 local teachers who voluntarily returned to their posts and university student volunteers are providing various types of courses for the children, including traditional culture, music, and art.
China Media Group's "2025 Spring Festival Gala" underwent its third rehearsal today (January 17). The four sub-venues in Chongqing, Wuhan (Hubei), Lhasa (Tibet), and Wuxi (Jiangsu) completed their first joint rehearsal with the main venue in Beijing. The programs from the four sub-venues presented local customs and traditions, as well as the new era's vibrant atmosphere. In the third rehearsal, song and dance, magic, martial arts, and creative fusion programs were innovatively presented, and the program arrangements and transitions were more natural and smooth. Next, the CMG Spring Festival Gala program team will meticulously refine every program and every detail to present a deeply emotional and richly flavored cultural "New Year's Eve dinner" to audiences at home and abroad.
China's Internet user base exceeds 1.1 billion, with an Internet penetration rate of 78.6%. The China Internet Network Information Center today (January 17) released its 55th "Statistical Report on Internet Development in China." The report shows that as of December 2024, China's Internet user base reached 1.108 billion, and the Internet penetration rate reached 78.6%, ranking first globally. In 2024, China's agricultural insurance premium scale exceeded 150 billion yuan. The latest data released by the Ministry of Finance shows that in 2024, China's agricultural insurance premium scale was 152.1 billion yuan, a year-on-year increase of 6%, providing risk protection of over 5 trillion yuan for 147 million households. Among them, the central government allocated 54.7 billion yuan in agricultural insurance premium subsidies to strengthen and stabilize farmers' grain cultivation income and ensure national food security. The positive rate of influenza virus in most northern provinces and some southern provinces in China has decreased. Reporters learned from the National Health Commission today (January 17) that currently, the influenza virus detection positive rate in most northern provinces and some southern provinces in China has begun to decline. Monitoring results show that the current winter and spring respiratory infectious diseases are caused by known pathogens, and no new infectious diseases have emerged. COVID-19, Mycoplasma pneumoniae, and other respiratory infectious diseases are all at low epidemic levels. The world's highest bridge under construction, Huajiang Grand Canyon Bridge in Guizhou, closes. Today (January 17), the Huajiang Grand Canyon Bridge on the Liuzhi-Anlong Expressway in Guizhou was successfully closed and is expected to open to traffic within 2025. The bridge has a total length of 2,890 meters, and once completed, it will become the world's highest bridge with a vertical height of 625 meters from the deck to the water surface. It will also be the world's largest span mountain bridge. The 2025 "Intangible Cultural Heritage Celebrates Spring Festival, New Year Pictures Enter Thousands of Households" event launched. The 2025 "Intangible Cultural Heritage Celebrates Spring Festival, New Year Pictures Enter Thousands of Households" national main event was launched today (January 17) in Hebei, with the participation of inheritors of 18 national intangible cultural heritage representative projects of New Year pictures, and 785 exquisite New Year pictures gathered together. During the Spring Festival, various regions will also carry out more than 20 "New Year Pictures Enter Thousands of Households" activities to enhance the festive cultural atmosphere. CMG's "Spring Festival Gala Overture, Global Watch Spring Festival Gala" event launched in New York. On January 16, local time, China Media Group's "Spring Festival Gala Overture, Global Watch Spring Festival Gala" event was launched in New York. The event revolved around the theme of "Human Intangible Cultural Heritage" and the Spring Festival, showcasing traditional Chinese Spring Festival customs and intangible cultural heritage representative projects, allowing more people to share the CMG Spring Festival Gala, an annual "cultural feast," in advance. "Leaders Talk" to broadcast exclusive interview with Grenadian Prime Minister Mitchell tonight. Tonight (January 17), CCTV News Channel's "Leaders Talk" will broadcast an exclusive interview with Grenadian Prime Minister Mitchell. Mitchell stated that China's development provides valuable experience for the world and looks forward to promoting fruitful results in practical cooperation between Grenada and China. This program will also be simultaneously launched on new media platforms such as CCTV News, Yangshipin, and CCTV.com.
After mediators announced a ceasefire agreement in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict on the 15th, several areas in the Gaza Strip were attacked by the Israeli army on the 16th. The Palestinian Gaza Strip civil defense department announced that the Israeli army's attacks resulted in 86 deaths, including 23 children, and over 250 injuries. The Israeli Defense Forces stated on the 16th that over the past day, the Israeli air force attacked approximately 50 military targets in the Gaza Strip, killing armed personnel from Hamas's elite forces. Israel states security cabinet plans to vote on ceasefire agreement today. The Israeli Prime Minister's Office issued a statement today (January 17), confirming that Israeli and Hamas negotiating teams have reached an agreement on the exchange of detainees. The statement said that Israel plans to hold a security cabinet meeting today to vote on the agreement. The Houthi armed forces in Yemen stated on the 16th that if Israel continues to attack the Gaza Strip, the organization will continue to launch attacks on Israel to support the Palestinian people.
Russia's Ministry of Defense announced on the 16th that Russian forces destroyed a key bridge on the Ukrainian supply line west of Kurakhove. The Russian Ministry of Defense also stated that Russian forces continued to advance deep into Ukrainian defenses in multiple areas, striking several Ukrainian military airfields, drone production workshops, and assembly and storage facilities. The Ukrainian side stated on the same day that Ukrainian and Russian forces continued fighting in the Kupyansk, Pokrovsk, and other directions. The Ukrainian side also stated that in the early morning of the same day, Ukrainian forces used drones to attack an oil depot in Russia's Voronezh region.
The Los Angeles County Medical Examiner's Office in California stated on the 16th that the death toll from multiple wildfires in the Los Angeles area has risen to 27. According to US media reports, as of the 16th, more than 170,000 people in Los Angeles County remained under evacuation orders or alerts, and some residents would have to wait at least a week to return to their homes. California power station catches fire, over a thousand evacuated. On the afternoon of the 16th, a power station in Monterey County, California, caught fire, and about 1,500 people were asked to evacuate, with part of California Highway 1 closed. According to US media reports, the fire broke out at Ritcher Energy's Moss Landing Power Plant, about 100 kilometers from San Francisco. The power station stores tens of thousands of lithium batteries, and the cause of the fire is currently unknown.
Iranian President Pezeshkian visits Russia. Iranian President Pezeshkian arrived in Moscow, the capital of Russia, today (January 17) to begin his visit to Russia. The Russian side stated that Russian President Putin will hold talks with Pezeshkian and sign a comprehensive strategic partnership treaty between the two countries. According to recent statements by Russian and Iranian officials, the treaty will cover cooperation in various fields such as trade and investment, energy, and cultural exchanges. US "Starship" rocket test flight fails, second stage disintegrates. SpaceX's heavy-lift rocket "Starship" conducted a test launch from Texas, USA, on the 16th. Shortly after liftoff, the rocket's second stage lost contact. SpaceX stated that the rocket's second stage disintegrated. Preliminary investigations show that the cause of the accident is related to fuel leakage. The US Federal Aviation Administration stated that the accident caused delays or diversions for some flights in the southern US.
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