As the May Fourth Youth Day approaches, Xi Jinping, General Secretary of the CPC Central Committee, President of the People's Republic of China, and Chairman of the Central Military Commission, sent a reply letter to all members of the Frontier Service Volunteer Team of the Western Program at Xieyite Primary School in Harajun Township, Artux City, Kizilsu Kirghiz Autonomous Prefecture, Xinjiang. He extended holiday greetings to young people across the country and offered earnest expectations. In his reply, Xi Jinping said that by responding to the Party's call to teach and educate in the western border regions, they have played an active role in promoting local educational development, ethnic unity and progress, prosperity and enrichment of border areas, and consolidation of border defense. They have also gained experience and grown themselves. Xi Jinping emphasized that in recent years, more and more young people have chosen to volunteer in the west, in rural areas, and at the grassroots, selflessly dedicating themselves and demonstrating the vigorous spirit and responsibility of contemporary Chinese youth in building a strong nation. He expressed hope that the vast number of young people will strengthen their ideals and convictions, cultivate a deep love for their country and home, master excellent skills, carry forward the spirit of struggle, shine brightly where the country and people need them most, and contribute youthful strength to the building of Chinese modernization. Xieyite Primary School is a village-level school located 47 kilometers from the border, mainly composed of Kirghiz students. In August 2022, it became the first pilot school in Kizilsu Prefecture for the Western Program volunteers to provide full-school support. Recently, the Frontier Service Volunteer Team of Xieyite Primary School wrote a letter to General Secretary Xi, reporting on their experiences and insights from teaching in the border area and expressing their determination to take root in the west and serve the frontier.
General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out that the vast number of young people should unswervingly follow the Party, strive to be good young people of the new era who have ideals, dare to take responsibility, can endure hardship, and are willing to strive. They should demonstrate their youthful spirit, demeanor, and strength in advancing the great cause of building a strong nation and national rejuvenation. Young people in the new era should keep the General Secretary's earnest instructions in mind, live up to their youth, the era, and the people, and embrace their youth and pursue their dreams with a fighting spirit, taking on their responsibilities in the building of Chinese modernization. Fighters are in their prime. Currently, at the front lines of desertification control in the "Jiziwan" section of the Yellow River within the "Three Norths" project, young commando members are battling the sand sea, building a strong ecological security barrier. In the vast wheat fields of the North China Plain, young students from science and technology academies are meticulously cultivating, striving for higher yields. Young people in the new era are in sync with the motherland, taking the lead and serving as a vital force in rural revitalization, social services, and various fields. General Secretary Xi Jinping always cares deeply about young people. He pointed out that the surging energy and creativity of youth have always been the mighty force driving the Chinese nation to march forward bravely and stand tall among the nations of the world. Speaking of ideals, the General Secretary urged young people to bravely be pioneers, trailblazers, and contributors under the Party's leadership. Regarding hard work, he encouraged young people to maintain the courage of a newborn calf that is not afraid of tigers, to learn what they don't understand, to practice what they can't do, and to strive to create conditions when none exist. Speaking of growth, General Secretary Xi Jinping encouraged young people to measure the land of the motherland with their feet, discover the Chinese spirit with their eyes, listen to the voices of the people with their ears, and sense the pulse of the times with their hearts. These heartfelt exhortations and earnest expectations illuminate the coordinates and guide the course for young people. Young people are vibrant and the most dynamic and creative group in society. Towards the vast space, Tsinghua University's independently designed and built "Smart SkyNet" recently achieved China's first independent satellite network communication at Zhongshan Station in Antarctica, laying the foundation for network service guarantees for China's polar scientific expeditions. Towards the unknown deep sea, Ocean University of China's research vessel is breaking through waves, achieving fine measurements and data sampling at 10,000-meter depths in the Mariana Trench, providing Chinese solutions for global deep-sea scientific research. The booming artificial intelligence sector shows people the future; this is a young cause, and even more so, a cause for young people, and General Secretary Xi Jinping's message inspires young people to strive for it. Currently, at Xi'an Jiaotong University, a young research team is focusing on computer vision and pattern recognition, continuously tackling key problems in aerospace engineering, autonomous driving, visual big data, and other fields, continuously expanding the application areas of AI services. Letting the flower of youth bloom where the motherland needs it most, Chinese youth strive to take root downwards and grow robustly upwards.
Our station today (May 3) broadcast a CCTV rapid commentary titled "Contributing Youthful Strength to the Building of Chinese Modernization - Celebrating May Fourth Youth Day."
Today (May 3), the Central Committee of the Communist Youth League released key statistics on the Chinese Communist Youth League. As of the end of December 2024, there were 75.318 million Communist Youth League members and 4.397 million Communist Youth League organizations nationwide. Among them, school-based Youth League organizations accounted for 1.997 million with 38.502 million members; the remaining members and organizations were comprised of enterprises, government agencies and public institutions, urban and rural communities, social organizations, and other sectors. In 2024, 6.417 million new Youth League members were recruited.
During the May Day holiday, various regions presented a dazzling array of characteristic activities, and urban and rural specialty tours were popular, driving a holiday consumption boom. During the May Day holiday, West Lake Scenic Area in Hangzhou, Zhejiang, welcomed a peak flow of visitors. In the first two days of the holiday, West Lake Scenic Area received nearly 1.46 million visitors. The scenic area was adorned with rich flower beds and landscapes in core tourist areas. Tourists boated on the lake, enjoying the spring scenery where blooming flowers on the shore reflected the shimmering water. In Lhasa, Tibet, people went out together to the grasslands of Norbulingka Park, spread out blankets, and sat around, fully enjoying their holiday leisure time. In Taiyuan, Shanxi, Zhonglou Street became a popular check-in spot. Citizens and tourists came here to shop and enjoy delicious food, with an average daily foot traffic exceeding 100,000 during the holiday. In Handan, Hebei, Xiangtangshan Grottoes received over 10,000 visitors daily. In Yunyang, Chongqing, the World Geological Park attracted a large number of tourists every day to experience the marvels of nature. This May Day holiday, many places also launched new ways to play, injecting new vitality into the urban cultural tourism economy. Pinggu, Beijing, introduced a combination of "low-altitude exploration and natural ecology," with paragliding and fixed-wing aircraft experiences proving popular among tourists. Visitors could overlook the Yanshan Mountains from a height of 1,600 meters and enjoy the beautiful scenery of Pinggu, Beijing, and Xinglong, Hebei. The average daily reception at the camps increased by over 30% compared to weekdays. During the May Day holiday, various regional activities attracted numerous tourists. In Wuyuan, Jiangxi, street parades and stilt-walking performances were staged alternately in the streets and alleys, offering tourists unique experiences. In Linqing, Shandong, people listened to Peking Opera and enjoyed delicious food by the canal. In Wuzhou, Guangxi, people went to mud ponds to experience catching ducks and fish. In Yongchun, Fujian, a variety of colorful intangible cultural heritage activities attracted many tourists. Night tours in various places also provided richer choices for people's outings during this May Day holiday. Heyuan, Guangdong, held its first "Jianghu Yuhuo Taiping Night Market" fish lantern night tour event, where tourists could enjoy fishermen's songs, intangible cultural heritage fish lantern dances, and high-altitude light and shadow shows, and participate in a thousand-person fish lantern parade. In Anshun, Guizhou, the night tour of Huangguoshu extended tourists' stay, and the renovated Anshun Ancient City night economy themed street provided a good place for tourists to enjoy the night scenery. In Kaifeng, Henan, people boarded cruise ships for a night tour on the water, with both banks re-enacting Song Ci poetic moods with sound, light, and electricity technology, coupled with special cultural performances, attracting a large number of tourists.
Culture promotes tourism, and tourism highlights culture. In the first quarter of this year, China's cultural tourism industry achieved a high-level start, with a robust and continuously booming cultural tourism market. This spring, the national cultural performance market saw both strong supply and demand. The National Centre for the Performing Arts achieved a "good start," with box office revenue exceeding 100 million yuan in the first quarter, nearly two months earlier than in 2024. It also pioneered the "second venue" model of live broadcasts of its own performances across the country, utilizing ultra-high-definition and virtual reality technologies to broadcast a single performance simultaneously in over 100 theaters and cinemas nationwide, allowing audiences across the country to enjoy high-quality performances from national-level troupes at their doorstep. According to statistics, in the first quarter of this year, national performance box office revenue reached 2.336 billion yuan, a 17% increase year-on-year. In addition, national film box office revenue in the first quarter reached 24.4 billion yuan, a year-on-year increase of approximately 48%, setting a new historical high and firmly ranking first globally. Activities such as "Travel with Movies" and "China Film Consumption Year" transformed "film and television traffic" into "cultural tourism increment," continuously driving a surge in cultural tourism consumption. Data from the National Bureau of Statistics shows that in the first quarter of this year, operating revenue of cultural and related industry enterprises above designated size nationwide reached 3,393.9 billion yuan, an increase of 6.2% compared to the same period last year. The 16 sub-sectors with more distinct characteristics of new cultural formats achieved operating revenue of 1,484.6 billion yuan, an increase of 12.5% compared to the same period last year. The rapid development of new cultural formats has become a new growth point for the cultural industry.
With the continuous optimization of China's departure tax refund service, foreign tourists' shopping experience has been continuously improved during the "May Day" holiday, and the potential for inbound consumption has been continuously unleashed. On Qianmen Street in Beijing, a fan shop attracted many foreign tourists. The exquisite handmade fans, with their strong Chinese cultural elements, captivated Patricia from Portugal. According to the new policy, purchases over 200 yuan qualify for in-store tax refund services, which is equivalent to a 10% discount. During interviews, reporters learned that after the country optimized its departure tax refund policy, the cash refund limit was raised from 10,000 yuan to 20,000 yuan, leading to a general significant increase in sales at many tax-refund stores in Beijing. While the tax refund threshold was lowered, tax refund services were further optimized. At a "buy-and-refund" centralized refund point in Chengdu, Sichuan, e-wallets from 13 countries and regions can be used directly, and the tax refund can be credited to the account within minutes. Shenzhen pioneered the "one single, one package" convenient mode for departure tax refunds nationwide. One tax refund application corresponds to one sealed package of goods. When foreign travelers exit at ports, customs inspect the integrity of the sealed bag before clearance, significantly reducing waiting times. Driven by favorable policies such as departure tax refunds, sales of tourism commodities in many places have increased significantly. During the "May Day" holiday, China's inbound tourism orders increased by over 170% year-on-year, and the potential for inbound consumption is continuously being unleashed, injecting new vitality into the large market.
Reporters learned from the Ministry of Transport that today (May 3), the total cross-regional passenger flow across society is expected to exceed 280 million person-times, a year-on-year increase of 3.9%. Of this, national railways are expected to send 18 million passengers, with 1,563 additional passenger trains planned. During peak travel periods, railway departments are strengthening on-site service guidance at key locations such as security checks, ticket gates, and escalators, optimizing passenger boarding and alighting flows. They are also coordinating with municipal transportation departments to quickly and efficiently disperse passenger flow. On highways, passenger flow is expected to exceed 250 million person-times, with a mix of long-distance and short-distance traffic. Some expressway sections around popular tourist cities and expressways leading to popular scenic spots are experiencing heavy traffic. Drivers are advised to check road conditions and weather information before traveling to ensure safe driving. As water tourism gains popularity, water passenger volume continues to grow month-on-month, expected to reach 2.15 million person-times today. Maritime authorities are implementing dynamic monitoring of key waters to ensure orderly vessel navigation. In civil aviation, 2.08 million passengers are expected to be sent today. In the first three days of the holiday, the average daily passenger volume is expected to be 2.19 million person-times, an increase of 12.3% compared to the same period in 2024.
During the May Day holiday, many constructors remained at their posts, accelerating the construction of a number of major projects. On the Loess Plateau in Qingyang, Gansu, China's first multi-energy complementary integrated energy base with a capacity of 10 million kilowatts is accelerating its construction. Nearly 100-meter wind turbine blades were slowly hoisted and precisely connected to the nacelle at high altitude. Currently, the first batch of new energy sources at the base is ready for grid connection and is expected to be connected to the grid for power generation in the first half of this year. In Tiantai, Zhejiang, the rotor installation of China's largest single-unit pumped-storage power generation unit was recently completed. The hoisted component weighed 481 tons, and its precise placement laid the foundation for the first unit of the power station to be put into operation by the end of the year. Not only are energy projects being intensified, but a number of livelihood projects are also accelerating during the holiday. At the Yanjie Yangtze River Bridge in Hubei, more than 1,000 constructors are sticking to their posts, making a final sprint to smoothly complete the main cable erection of the entire bridge by the end of May. In Hunan, China's first batch of five 9,000-ton air-dome grain silos will be inflated soon. Once inflated, each silo can store enough grain to feed 23 million people for one day. From the roof of the world to the deep oceans, from scientific innovation to livelihood improvement, the sweat of constructors is transforming into tangible development achievements. Data shows that in the first quarter of this year, national fixed asset investment reached 10,317.4 billion yuan, a year-on-year increase of 4.2%, effectively supporting stable economic growth.
Currently, the prototype of the world's fastest high-speed train, the CR450 EMU, is undergoing type testing. In the rapid development process of high-speed rail, the braking system of trains has always been a focus of technological innovation. Our skilled workers have also conquered extreme challenges with exquisite craftsmanship and persistent research, continuously achieving breakthroughs. In today's (May 3) "Great Craftsmen," we will meet a CNC lathe operator, Zhang Hongbin. 6500 meters and 112 seconds - this is the braking distance and time that the world's fastest high-speed train, the CR450 EMU, must achieve to stop from 400 kilometers per hour. Zhang Hongbin is currently manufacturing a key component of the EMU's braking system: the brake disc hub. In 2012, the research and development of China's standard EMU, the "Fuxinghao," officially began. If conventional processes were used, machining the inner hole of the hub would require introducing high-precision grinding machines, as well as a period for debugging and preparation, which would greatly delay the trial production progress and thus affect the entire project. A bold idea was born in Zhang Hongbin's mind, who was only 26 years old at the time: could it be attempted with lathe technology? The precision of the hub needs to reach 0.005 millimeters, which is only one-sixteenth of a hair's thickness. Zhang Hongbin often stood by the lathe for more than ten hours, exploring cutting depths, adjusting rotational speeds, and even distinguishing the cutting status of the lathe by listening to the sound. After trying 7 different structural tools and changing 9 tool paths, three months later, they not only broke through the key technology of producing "Fuxinghao" brake disc hubs on a lathe, but also eliminated one process, doubling the efficiency compared to foreign grinding processes. If the hub is the "power担当" (power 담당 - responsibility/bearer) of the high-speed rail braking system, then the wedge pin is the "safety lock" when the train stops. During the trial production of the braking device for the CR450 EMU prototype, this small part, less than 5 centimeters high, surprised even the "battle-tested" Zhang Hongbin. The new material brought new challenges. Starting from the optimization and grinding of irregularly shaped tools, Zhang Hongbin innovated CNC technology for curved surface processing, fitting the new wedge pin perfectly into the brake caliper of the CR450 EMU prototype. From catching up to leading, China's high-speed rail has always refreshed records with a spirit of self-transcendence, and Zhang Hongbin and his team have pushed the precision in their hands to new heights time and time again.
"Made in China" Premium Products Going Global: Cumulative Procurement Intent Exceeds 16.7 Billion Yuan. Reporters learned from the Ministry of Commerce today (May 3) that as of May 2, 10 key provinces and cities including Shanghai, Sichuan, and Jiangsu have organized production and sales matchmaking activities such as the "Made in China" Premium Products Going Global campaign. Over 2,400 foreign trade enterprises and more than 6,500 buyers participated, reaching cumulative procurement intentions exceeding 16.7 billion yuan. At the same time, 15 major e-commerce platforms have connected with over 26,000 foreign trade enterprises. Nine e-commerce platforms have set up online special zones, and as of now, sales of products in these zones have exceeded 600 million yuan. Over 1.2 Million Mu of Mine Ecological Restoration Completed Since the "14th Five-Year Plan." Reporters learned from the Ministry of Natural Resources today (May 3) that since the "14th Five-Year Plan" period, China has continuously improved policies for mine ecological restoration, strengthened technical and financial guarantees, and deployed ecological restoration of historical abandoned mines in key regions such as the Yangtze River, Yellow River, Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, and the "Three Norths" areas. The restored and managed area has reached 1.2 million mu, effectively promoting the coordination of resource development and ecological protection, and driving the transformation and development of resource-based cities. 137th Canton Fair Attracts Over 180,000 Buyers from Belt and Road Countries. The third phase of the 137th Canton Fair's offline exhibition entered its third day. A total of 134 business organizations, including the China Chamber of Commerce in Argentina, have formed delegations to attend this Canton Fair. Among them, delegations from Belt and Road countries accounted for 51%, further expanding the breadth and depth of international cooperation for participating enterprises at the Canton Fair. As of May 3, the number of overseas buyers from Belt and Road countries attending the fair reached 183,448. China Media Group Launches Series of Special Programs for May Fourth Youth Day. As the May Fourth Youth Day approaches, China Media Group's CCTV News Channel will launch a special program titled "Striving Chapters, Youthful China" for two consecutive days starting May 4, telling the stories of young people's struggles in the new era and promoting patriotism. On May Fourth Youth Day, the Comprehensive Channel will launch "Ode to Youth - 2025 May Fourth Youth Day Special Program," telling the stories of young people in China's new era who are taking the lead and serving as a vital force in various fields. CCTV News will launch a special live program "Youth in Its Prime," exploring new professional groups and showcasing the spirit of contemporary youth responding to the demands of the times with a sense of responsibility. CCTV Video will broadcast the documentary "Gen Z Youth Talk (Season 2)."
According to US media reports on May 2, the American Apparel & Footwear Association this week sent a letter to the US government requesting tariff exemptions for footwear. The letter, signed by 76 footwear brands including Nike and Adidas, stated that increased tariffs have led to rising costs, and if the so-called "reciprocal tariffs" are not immediately lifted, a large number of companies will go out of business. The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) released a report on May 2, stating that global food prices rose by 1% month-on-month in April and 7.6% year-on-year, affected by factors such as US tariff policies. German chemical giant BASF Group warned on May 2 that unilateral US measures are undermining the stability of the industrial chain, leading to a decline in customer confidence and increased order volatility. A recent poll released by Germany's ZDF television on May 2 showed that the German public generally holds a pessimistic view of the country's economic prospects and believes that the current predicament is directly related to the trade protectionist policies pursued by the United States. Eurozone Economic Sentiment Index Falls to Lowest Since December 2024. Preliminary statistics released by Eurostat on May 2 showed that the Eurozone's inflation rate in April, calculated on an annual basis, was 2.2%, higher than expected. In addition, the Eurozone Economic Sentiment Index released by the EU recently for April 2025 dropped to 93.6, reaching its lowest level since December 2024.
According to the Syrian Arab News Agency on May 2, areas near the Syrian capital Damascus, central Hama province, and southern Daraa province were subjected to Israeli airstrikes that evening, resulting in at least four injuries. According to multiple Syrian media reports, Israeli airstrikes that night targeted a military hospital in Harasta, near Damascus. Additionally, from late night on May 1 to early morning on May 2, Israeli forces launched airstrikes on areas near the presidential palace in Damascus. The Syrian regime issued a strong condemnation in a statement on May 2. Israel confirmed on May 2 and 3 that it had struck targets near the Syrian presidential palace, a Syrian military site, and missile facilities, among others.
Russia-Ukraine Conflict Continues; US Sells F-16 Related Services to Ukraine. The Russian Ministry of Defense stated that on May 2, the Russian military shot down 8 Ukrainian "Storm Shadow" cruise missiles and 3 "Neptune" missiles in the Black Sea waters. The Russian Black Sea Fleet also destroyed 14 Ukrainian unmanned boats in the Black Sea waters. On May 2, Ukraine stated that Ukrainian forces continued operations in the Kursk and Belgorod regions. Ukraine reported that Kharkiv was attacked by Russian drones on the night of May 2, causing damage to buildings. Additionally, the United States announced on May 2 that it approved the sale of F-16 aircraft spare parts and related services to Ukraine. According to US media reports, the 310.5 million dollar transaction fee will be counted as a US investment in the US-Ukraine mineral development fund. US New Fiscal Year Budget Proposal Significantly Increases Defense Budget. The White House Office of Management and Budget submitted the US government's fiscal year 2026 budget proposal to Congress on May 2. The proposal plans to increase US defense spending by 13%, exceeding 1 trillion US dollars, reaching a new historical high. The proposal also plans to cut non-defense spending by 23%, with larger cuts in areas such as foreign aid, health, and education. Japanese People Rally to Commemorate Constitution Day, Calling for Peace Protection. May 3 is Japan's Constitution Memorial Day. Today (May 3), approximately 38,000 Japanese people gathered in Tokyo, holding signs that read "Protect the Constitution, Protect Peace," calling for vigilance against the Japanese government's attempts to amend the constitution and firmly opposing war. Participants in the rally stated that in the current context of Japan continuously expanding its military capabilities, strengthening its military forces, and inciting regional tensions, the importance of the peace constitution should be reaffirmed. 7.4 Magnitude Earthquake Occurs in Drake Passage, Felt in Chile. According to the China Earthquake Networks Center (CENC), at 20:58 Beijing time on May 2, a 7.4 magnitude earthquake occurred in the Drake Passage, between South America and Antarctica, with a focal depth of 10 kilometers. Southern Chile, approximately 220 kilometers from the epicenter, felt the tremor. Chilean disaster prevention authorities briefly issued a tsunami warning, which has since been lifted. No casualties or property damage have been reported yet.
Approximately 90,000 vessels enter and exit Chinese ports daily. At the end of the program, let's go to the ports and terminals to feel the strong momentum of the Chinese economy.
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