Xi Jinping Replies to Gala Village Villagers, Encouraging National Unity and a Better Life
Recently, Xi Jinping, General Secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, President of the People's Republic of China, and Chairman of the Central Military Commission, replied to all villagers of Gala Village, Nyingchi Town, Bayi District, Nyingchi City, Tibet, expressing his earnest expectations. In his reply, Xi Jinping said that upon receiving their letter, he recalled his trip to Gala Village four years ago, and the beautiful and tidy village and warm and honest villagers left a deep impression on him. He was pleased to learn that the village has undergone new changes in recent years and that the villagers' incomes have increased. Xi Jinping emphasized that what everyone said in the letter is good: following the North Star prevents getting lost, and following the Communist Party leads to happiness. He hoped that under the guidance of the Party's excellent policies for enriching the border areas and benefiting the people, they would effectively safeguard national unity, create an even happier and more beautiful life, protect the natural beauty of the snowy plateau, further burnish the "Peach Blossom Village" brand, and contribute to the construction of a prosperous and stable border region of the motherland. In July 2021, General Secretary Xi Jinping visited Gala Village to visit and express condolences to the villagers during his inspection tour in Tibet. Gala Village is famous for its wild peach blossoms. Following the direction guided by General Secretary Xi Jinping, the village has achieved new progress in recent years in developing rural tourism, strengthening the collective economy, and promoting national unity, earning honors such as "National Model Collective for National Unity and Progress." This year marks the 60th anniversary of the establishment of the Tibet Autonomous Region. All villagers of Gala Village recently wrote to General Secretary Xi Jinping, reporting on the village's development and changes and expressing their determination to be grateful, forge ahead, and create a better life.
CCTV Quick Comment: Upholding Ethnic Unity, Creating a Better Life
Our station today (June 29) broadcast CCTV Express Commentary "Effectively Safeguard National Unity and Create a Happier and More Beautiful Life."
Remembering History, Honoring Martyrs: Yan'an, Shaanxi - From Revolutionary Holy Land to Happy Homeland
From 1935 to 1948, the Shaan-Gan-Ning Border Region, centered in Yan'an, was the seat of the CPC Central Committee, serving as the political guidance center for the Chinese people's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the general rear area for the Chinese people's liberation struggle. Today, Yan'an, the sacred revolutionary site, is solidly promoting comprehensive rural revitalization, accelerating the construction of a modern industrial system, and driving high-quality development in the old revolutionary base area. During this period, Yan'an, the sacred revolutionary site, has welcomed a large number of tourists who trace the red footprints and experience the revolutionary spirit. The Shaan-Gan-Ning Border Region, centered in Yan'an, was the destination of the Party Central Committee and the Red Army's Long March, as well as the starting point from which the Party led the people's army to the front lines of the anti-Japanese war and towards New China. The Eighth Route Army, led by the Communist Party of China, set out from here to the front lines of the anti-Japanese war in North China and successfully established various anti-Japanese bases behind enemy lines. On this red land, revolutionary pioneers forged the great Yan'an Spirit with their blood and lives. A large number of military and political cadres went to the front lines from here, and many popular literary and artistic works were created here, influencing the entire nation and inspiring people, composing a magnificent song for the entire nation's war of resistance. Since the 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, with the support of various policies introduced by the state and Shaanxi Province, Yan'an has vigorously developed characteristic industries such as ecological agriculture, equipment manufacturing, and red tourism, completely eradicating absolute poverty in 2019. Today, Yan'an's apple planting area exceeds 3.3 million mu, with an annual output of over 5 million tons, forming a whole industrial chain worth over 50 billion yuan, driving an increase in income for 800,000 farmers across the city. Currently, it is a critical period for the management of mountain apples on the Loess Plateau. In Nangou Village, Ansai District, Yan'an City, villagers are busy in the orchards, fully preparing for this year's harvest. During this period, Yan'an is further carrying out comprehensive environmental improvement of mountain gullies. In recent years, Yan'an has cumulatively invested over 2 billion yuan in the systematic treatment of 32 gullies, including Baota Mountain. The once old and dilapidated gullies have become smooth and clean roads, with scattered cave dwellings and residential buildings on the hillsides, and pocket parks and fitness facilities dotted throughout. Inheriting the red gene and drawing strength for progress. Once a remote city nestled among loess gullies, it is now connected to various places by expressways, high-speed railways, and flights. Various industrial clusters are accelerating their rise, the digital economy is flourishing, 5G base stations are widely covered, and Yan'an has successfully joined the ranks of national gigabit cities. This year, Yan'an City has planned 350 key projects with a total investment of 310 billion yuan, and the industrial layout of new materials, new energy storage, and advanced manufacturing is gradually improving. Along the Yanhe River, a modern new city is accelerating its growth.
China's Total Social Logistics Up 5.3% in First Five Months
The latest data released today (June 29) by the China Federation of Logistics & Purchasing shows that from January to May this year, China's logistics operations maintained overall stability with further optimization of structure. Among them, industrial product logistics demand showed steady growth, while demand for consumer goods logistics accelerated. From January to May, the national total social logistics volume, which is the total value of physical goods in logistics operations, reached 138.7 trillion yuan, a year-on-year increase of 5.3%. Driven by both industrial upgrading and policy efforts, in May, logistics demand in most subdivided fields of industrial products maintained resilient growth. Among them, equipment manufacturing contributed over 50% to the growth of logistics demand. Logistics demand in industries such as automobile manufacturing, computer, communication, and other electronic equipment manufacturing all grew by over 10%, with equipment renewal policies significantly boosting the logistics volume of motor, shipbuilding, and other equipment manufacturing. Driven by policies for upgrading consumer goods and the holiday economy, consumer logistics demand accelerated. From January to May, the total logistics volume of units and residents' goods increased by 6.4% year-on-year, 0.5 percentage points higher than from January to April. New consumption formats such as instant retail are maturing, and online retail sales of physical goods increased by 6.3% year-on-year. In addition, from January to May, the total revenue of the logistics industry was 5.6 trillion yuan, a year-on-year increase of 4.2%, and the scale of the logistics market continued to expand. The guarantee capabilities for air cross-border logistics and railway international transportation have significantly strengthened, effectively supporting the stable operation of industrial and supply chains.
Over 48,000 Pocket Parks Built Nationwide
Reporters learned today (June 29) from the Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development that as of the end of last year, over 48,000 pocket parks and more than 128,000 kilometers of greenways have been built nationwide. 360 prefecture-level and above cities have implemented open sharing of park green spaces, rotating the opening of over 18,000 hectares of lawns and adding over 180,000 pieces of fitness equipment. At the same time, more and more cities are exploring innovative practices such as "park + cultural and creative," "park + sports," and "park-style" shopping malls by utilizing urban corners and under-bridge spaces, adapting to local conditions to stimulate park vitality and better meet the needs of citizens. The Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development stated that in the future, it will further promote localities to actively expand new spaces for open sharing of park green spaces, increase accessible and experiential activity venues, improve supporting service facilities, and enhance the diversified service functions of parks.
Party Flag Flying High at Grassroots: Addressing Community's Small Matters
In urban grassroots governance, old residential communities face many difficulties and pain points. The Bajiaozhongli Community in Shijingshan District, Beijing, leads grassroots governance through Party building, solving urgent, difficult, and anxious problems for residents at their doorstep and creating a livable community. Every morning, 75-year-old Party member Xu Baiyun calls a few neighbors to help the elderly Liu Sumin, who lives alone, with outdoor rehabilitation exercises. Xu Baiyun, with over 40 years of Party membership, was elected secretary of the second Party branch of Bajiaozhongli Community after retirement. Every day, she checks the buildings she is responsible for, promptly discovering unexpected situations. Each of the 16 Party branches in Bajiaozhongli Community has a dedicated and responsible branch secretary like Xu Baiyun. As an old residential community built in the 1980s, Bajiaozhongli Community has old facilities and a high degree of aging among its residents. Among its permanent population of over 5,900, one-third are elderly people over 60, and 162 households are elderly people living alone. To promptly discover and solve the urgent, difficult, and anxious problems of the elderly, the community Party committee has divided the 33 buildings into 16 grids, with each grid having a Party branch. Public display boards for grid members are visible everywhere along the community roads and in the corridors. The community Party committee has also organized over 500 retired Party members to form various volunteer service teams, such as mutual aid elderly care groups, to constantly pay attention to and respond to residents' demands. At the community Party-Masses Service Center, reporters saw such a video. Not long ago, the mutual aid elderly care group of the twelfth Party branch noticed something unusual in the home of an elderly person living alone during a patrol and immediately reported it to the community Party committee, activating the emergency plan. After entering the home, they found that the elderly person had a sudden illness and fainted at home. Under the call of the community Party committee, over 280 in-service Party members also joined the ranks of volunteer services, responding to the needs of the masses and providing free small item repairs, emergency stretchers, and other services, diligently handling every small matter. With the efforts of the community Party committee and Party members, community neighbor relations are more harmonious, dead ends have been transformed into green spaces; parking spaces have been planned, solving the parking difficulty; and automated garbage sorting has been implemented, giving the community a brand new look. Now, convenient service stations and elderly care canteens are also about to be completed, making the community a warm haven for residents.
RCEP Helps Chinese Foreign Trade Enterprises Expand Development Space
Since the beginning of this year, with the deepening implementation of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) agreement, tariff levels between regions have continuously decreased, industrial chain collaboration has become closer, and policy dividends have helped foreign trade enterprises open up new development spaces. The latest data shows that from January to May this year, China's goods trade with RCEP member countries reached 5.5 trillion yuan, a year-on-year increase of 3.9%, 1.4 percentage points higher than China's overall foreign trade growth rate during the same period. Increasingly frequent port routes, railway services, and road freight are accelerating the process of economic integration in the RCEP region. This is currently the peak season for ASEAN fruit production. Thanks to customs clearance facilitation policies, sweet, fresh, high-quality, and affordable ASEAN fruits are entering China through Guangxi and reaching domestic consumers' tables at a faster pace. This year, the China-Laos-Thailand freight train service has achieved normalized operation. The train departs from Chongqing, passes through Mohan Port in Yunnan, Vientiane in Laos, and arrives in Rayong, Thailand. The entire station-to-station transit time has been reduced from 8 days to 5 days, and overall logistics costs have decreased by 15% year-on-year. RCEP member countries are continuously seeking opportunities for complementary cooperation in stable, efficient, and convenient trade. In this foreign trade home textile enterprise, rows of machines are operating at full capacity to rush orders. As the tariff reduction under RCEP expands year by year, the enterprise's export volume to RCEP countries has increased year by year. RCEP is the world's largest free trade agreement, including China, Australia, Japan, South Korea, New Zealand, and the 10 ASEAN countries. This year marks the fourth year of RCEP's official entry into force. According to the agreement, the 15 member countries will continue to cut tariffs for different industries and commodities.
New Energy Vehicles Boost Rural Consumption Vitality
With the launch of this year's new energy vehicle promotion campaign in rural areas, various regions are increasing efforts to tilt quality resources towards rural areas, accelerating the removal of "blockages" in new energy vehicle penetration in the countryside, and stimulating new vitality in rural consumption. These days, in major 4S stores in Rugao, Jiangsu, many villagers from surrounding towns and townships are coming to learn about the performance and preferential policies of new energy vehicles. Liu Yongjian, a villager who runs a small supermarket, frequently travels between towns and Nantong for freight transport. He wants to choose a model that can accommodate both his life and business needs. Reporters observed that this year's new energy vehicle models for rural areas are more tailored to the usage needs of rural consumers. For example, for consumers who want to start a freight business and get rich, many models offer extra-large cargo space, significantly reducing transportation costs; for consumers with large families, many models provide options for 5, 6, or 7 seats. Various regions are also collaborating with car companies to provide more targeted services. This year, the new energy vehicle promotion campaign in rural areas is synergizing with policies to address shortages in charging and swapping facilities in county-level areas. A total of 75 pilot counties for charging and swapping facility补短板 have been set up, accelerating the construction of charging and swapping infrastructure in rural areas. In Zhuji, Zhejiang, for instance, this year alone has seen an addition of 450 public charging piles, a nearly 50% increase year-on-year.
Cultural China Tour: Wushi Ancestral Temple in Jiaxiang, Shandong - Chinese Civilization on Stone Carvings
Located in Jiaxiang County, Jining City, Shandong Province, the Wushi Ancestral Temple houses China's largest and most complete existing collection of Han Dynasty steles and stone reliefs. In today's (June 29) "Cultural China Tour," we will visit the Wushi Ancestral Temple together to explore the Chinese civilization on the stone carvings. Bamboo and silk are hard to preserve, but metal and stone last forever. Over 1,800 years ago, steles and stone carvings meticulously crafted by Han Dynasty artisans have survived to this day. In the late Eastern Han Dynasty, the Wushi family of Jiaxiang, who served as officials for generations, built the Wushi Ancestral Temple, which included at least three ancestral halls, as well as tombs, steles, stone pillars, and stone lions. Among them, the only ancestral hall whose owner can be confirmed is called Wuliang Ancestral Hall; Wuliang was a scholar who lived in seclusion in the countryside. The Wuliang Ancestral Hall is the essence and core of the entire Wushi Ancestral Temple. On its stone walls, there are the earliest known pictorial records of the Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors, accompanied by captions, using a combination of images and texts to showcase the images of ancient emperors, who were also the founders of Chinese civilization. The Yellow Emperor, the ancestral founder of the Chinese nation, whose image in the Yellow Emperor Mausoleum in Shaanxi uses the image blueprint from Wuliang Ancestral Hall. The entire Wushi Ancestral Temple has more than 40 Han Dynasty stone reliefs, ranging from myths and legends to historical stories and real-life scenes, reflecting the aesthetic taste and cultural heritage of the Eastern Han Dynasty. "Confucius Meets Laozi" - a famous meeting in cultural history, this scene was repeatedly carved on various stone walls during the Han Dynasty. The clear depiction preserved in the Wushi Ancestral Temple reproduces the historical scene of the two founders of Confucianism and Taoism exchanging ideas. There are also multiple depictions of Confucius's disciples among the Wushi Ancestral Temple's stone reliefs, showcasing the fruitful results of Confucius's education. The "faith" of Lin Xiangru returning the jade intact to the State of Zhao, the "benevolence" of Yang Gong providing free drinks for passersby - each story depicts the ideals and pursuits of scholars. Lu Xun praised: "Only Han stone carvings possess a profound and magnificent spirit." He collected a large number of rubbings of the Han Dynasty stone reliefs from the Wushi Ancestral Temple. One of them is exhibited in the Lu Xun Museum in Beijing, and it still conveys the grandeur of the Han Dynasty. Rubbings related to the Han Dynasty stone reliefs of the Wushi Ancestral Temple have always been popular when exhibited. The wisdom and civilization they record have attracted numerous researchers from home and abroad. In 2021, the Capital Normal University Library initiated a restoration project for its collection of Wushi Ancestral Temple rubbings, which has now been completed, bringing ancient art back to life. In the vast river of history, the stone carvings of the Wushi Ancestral Temple reflect the brilliant light of Han Dynasty social culture, from which one can not only appreciate the charm of traditional culture but also feel the enduring and long-standing spiritual power of the Chinese nation.
Domestic News Briefs
National Disaster Relief Emergency Response for Guizhou Floods Raised to Level III. In response to the recent severe floods in Qiandongnan Prefecture, Guizhou Province, and other areas, the National Disaster Reduction, Relief and Aid Commission urgently raised the national disaster relief emergency response level to Level III on June 28. A working group has been dispatched to the disaster area and, in conjunction with relevant departments, has urgently allocated 15,000 pieces of central disaster relief materials to Guizhou Province. The National Development and Reform Commission has urgently allocated an additional 100 million yuan in central budget investment to support the post-disaster emergency restoration of transportation, water conservancy, medical and health, education, and other facilities in the affected areas of Guizhou. Gigabit 5G User Scale Continues to Expand in First Five Months. Data from the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology shows that from January to May this year, the telecommunications industry operated steadily. As of the end of May, the three basic telecom operators had 223 million fixed internet broadband users with gigabit and above access speeds, accounting for 32.7% of the total users; 5G mobile phone users approached 1.1 billion, accounting for over 60% of the total mobile phone users. China to Further Improve Credit Repair System. Reporters learned from the National Development and Reform Commission that the "Implementation Plan on Further Improving the Credit Repair System" was recently released. It will further improve the credit repair system by unifying credit information disclosure and clarifying credit repair channels, resolving issues such as complex application materials and unclear handling responsibilities encountered by enterprises during credit repair. At the same time, it will severely crack down on illegal activities by third-party credit platforms, such as paid deletion and public display of false information. China Completes 408.97 Billion Yuan in Water Conservancy Construction Investment in First Five Months. Reporters learned from the Ministry of Water Resources that from January to May this year, water conservancy infrastructure construction across the country progressed smoothly. There are 31,000 ongoing water conservancy projects, and water conservancy construction investment reached 408.97 billion yuan, maintaining a high level of investment in water conservancy construction. China's First Power Generation-Specific Large Model Released in Beijing. Reporters learned from China Energy Investment Group that China's first power generation-specific large model, "Qingyuan," was released in Beijing. It covers multiple business domains such as engineering construction and production operation for thermal power, hydropower, and new energy power generation industries, dozens of key application scenarios, and more than a hundred intelligent bodies, providing a "super brain" for safe, efficient, green, and smart power generation. "Ningxia-Hunan" Power Transmission Project Completes Trial Operation and Begins Power Transmission. Today (June 29), the Ningxia to Hunan ±800 kV UHV DC power transmission project completed trial operation and officially began power transmission. The project starts in Zhongwei, Ningxia, passes through Gansu, Shaanxi, Chongqing, and Hubei, and ends in Hengyang, Hunan, with a total line length of approximately 1,616 kilometers. Qinghai's "Dato-Jiyang" Project Fully Completed and Put into Operation. Today (June 29), Qinghai's largest inter-basin water transfer project, the Dato-Jiyang Project, was fully completed and put into overall operation. The Dato-Jiyang Project diverts water from the Datong River, crosses the Daban Mountains into the Huangshui River basin, with an annual water supply capacity of 526 million cubic meters. Its supply area covers 75 townships and towns in 5 counties (districts) of Xining and Haidong cities, benefiting over 3 million people. "Northbound Travel for Hong Kong Vehicles" Exceeds 1 Million Vehicle-Trips This Year. Reporters learned from Gongbei Customs that as of June 28 this year, the number of "Northbound Travel for Hong Kong Vehicles" entering and exiting through the Zhuhai Highway Port of the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge exceeded 1 million vehicle-trips, 72 days earlier than last year. Since the implementation of the "Northbound Travel for Hong Kong Vehicles" policy on July 1, 2023, the number of inspected "Northbound Travel for Hong Kong Vehicles" entering and exiting has exceeded 2.84 million vehicle-trips. First Test Event for 2025 World Humanoid Robot Games Held in Beijing. The first test event for the 2025 World Humanoid Robot Games – Robot Football Match – was held last night (June 28) in Beijing. During the test, all robots perceived through vision systems, made decisions through AI, and competed autonomously. The 2025 World Humanoid Robot Games will be held in Beijing from August 15 to 17.
Iran to Take Legal Action Against US-Israeli Aggression
Iranian Vice President for Legal Affairs, Ansarim, announced on June 28 that Iran would use all legal means to uphold its rights. The Iranian government decided to establish a special legal working group to pursue accountability against Israel and the United States for their aggressive actions at the international level, including investigating violations of the International Atomic Energy Agency's statutes concerning attacks on peaceful nuclear facilities, and pursuing war crimes related to attacks on residential areas, educational and medical institutions, media, and public infrastructure. On June 28, Iran held a state funeral in Tehran for over 60 individuals who died in the conflict between Israel and Iran, including former Chief of Staff of the Iranian Armed Forces Bagheri, former Commander-in-Chief of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Salami, and Iranian nuclear scientists.
Gaza Strip Hit by Strikes, Israel Claims Senior Hamas Member Killed
According to Palestinian media reports, from June 28 to 29, Israel continued to launch attacks on Gaza City in the northern Gaza Strip, as well as Khan Younis and Rafah in the south. The Gaza Strip Health Ministry stated on June 28 that Israeli military operations resulted in 81 Palestinian deaths and over 420 injuries in the past day. The Israel Defense Forces and the Israel Security Agency issued a joint statement on June 28, stating that the Israeli military killed Hakam Issa, one of the founders of the operational arm of the Palestinian Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas), in an airstrike on Gaza City on June 27. Hamas has not yet responded to this claim. Lebanon says Israeli airstrikes hit southern Lebanon; Israel says it killed important Hezbollah members. According to a statement from the Lebanese Ministry of Public Health, Israel launched two airstrikes on southern Lebanon on June 28, resulting in 3 deaths and several injuries. The Israel Defense Forces stated on June 28 that their forces killed two important members of the Hezbollah armed group. The Israeli military also stated that it would continue to take action to eliminate any threats to Israel. Yemen's Houthi rebels claim to have attacked targets in southern Israel. Yemen's Houthi rebels stated on June 28 that they launched a ballistic missile toward a "sensitive target" in Beersheba, southern Israel. The group also stated that it would continue its supportive military operations until Israel stops its aggression against the Gaza Strip and lifts the blockade. The Israeli military said it successfully intercepted a Houthi missile on the same day.
Russia Claims Strike on Ukrainian Drone Storage, Ukraine Reports Large-Scale Russian Attack, F-16 Lost
The Russian Ministry of Defense stated on June 28 that over the past day, Russian forces struck Ukrainian ammunition and material depots, drone production workshops, uncrewed boat storage sites, and other targets in 142 areas, and Russian air defense systems shot down 252 drones. Russian forces also took control of the settlement of Chervona Zirka in the Donetsk region. Russian media reported that controlling this settlement would facilitate the Russian advance into the Dnipropetrovsk region. The Ukrainian side stated that on June 28, Ukrainian forces destroyed a Russian logistics center warehouse in the Bryansk region. Additionally, Ukrainian drones attacked a military airfield in Crimea overnight from June 27 to 28, destroying a Russian Pantsir-S1 air defense system and three helicopters. The Ukrainian side also claimed that starting the night of June 28, Russian forces launched a massive attack on Ukraine using 477 drones and 60 missiles. During the interception operation, Ukrainian forces lost one F-16 fighter jet.
International News Briefs
German Chancellor Says Germany Will Promote the Construction of a Modern Bundeswehr. German Chancellor Merz stated on June 28 that Germany must take more measures to protect its security and needs a modern Bundeswehr capable of addressing real challenges, as well as an efficient leadership structure. Germany will significantly increase defense spending in the coming years and vigorously promote its defense industry. German Defense Minister Pistorius stated earlier this month that the German Bundeswehr needs to increase its active-duty soldiers by approximately 50,000 to 60,000 to meet NATO's expansion plans. Currently, the German Bundeswehr has over 180,000 personnel. Germany's defense spending accounts for about 2% of its GDP. Several European Countries Experience Heatwave, Temperatures Exceed 40 Degrees Celsius in Many Places. Several parts of Europe are experiencing high temperatures. On June 28, Rome, Milan, and 17 other Italian cities issued the highest level of red alerts for high temperatures. Seville, a popular tourist destination in Spain, reached 42 degrees Celsius on June 28. Additionally, most parts of the country are expected to experience temperatures exceeding 40 degrees Celsius. Two-thirds of Portugal entered a state of high alert for extreme heat and forest fires on June 28. France has also experienced several days of high temperatures. Local media reported that temperatures in most parts of the country would reach between 38 and 40 degrees Celsius from late June to early July.