Xi makes video calls to people across China, extending festive greetings ahead of Year of Rabbit
BEIJING, Jan. 18 (Xinhua) -- President Xi Jinping on Wednesday extended festive greetings to all Chinese people when he held virtual talks in the Great Hall of the People in Beijing with the general public from across the country ahead of the Spring Festival.
Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, spoke with medical workers at a hospital, senior citizens in a welfare home, workers on an outlying oilfield, travelers and staff members at a high-speed railway station, vendors and customers at a wholesale market, and people in an ethnic minority village via video link.
Xi wished Chinese people of all ethnic groups healthy and happy lives in the Year of the Rabbit and expressed his hope that the country will enjoy prosperity and the people live in a safe and peaceful nation.
This year's Spring Festival, or the Chinese New Year, falls on Jan. 22.
Li Qiang, Cai Qi and Ding Xuexiang -- who are members of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee -- were also present during the virtual talks.
Speaking with medical workers and an elderly patient at the First Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University in northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, Xi said that facing this latest wave of COVID-19 infections, medical workers have worked long hours under heavy pressure and with an excessive workload to treat patients.
Acknowledging their great contributions to protecting people's lives and health, Xi extended festive greetings to medical workers across the country.
"We have now entered a new phase of COVID-19 response. Tough challenges remain, but the light of hope is right in front of us. Perseverance means victory," he said.
The country had made "the right choice" to deal with the COVID-19 epidemic with strict measures over the past nearly three years, Xi said, adding that China has thus withstood several rounds of outbreaks of virus mutations.
China has lowered the proportion of severe cases and the case fatality rate to the greatest extent possible, protected people's lives and health, and bought precious time for the later moves to optimize response and downgrade the management of COVID-19, Xi said.
The focus of the current COVID-19 response has shifted from infection prevention to medical treatment, with protecting people's health and preventing severe cases being the priority, said Xi, noting that hospitals are now undertaking more arduous tasks.
Xi demanded efforts to increase medical resources and the supply of medical services and drugs, and to prepare for medical treatment of severe cases in particular.
While talking via video link with older people and staffers at a welfare home in Fuzhou, capital of east China's Fujian Province, on the same day, Xi said stricter epidemic prevention and health management measures should be taken at nursing homes and welfare facilities to prevent clusters of infection, as older people are the top priority in the current COVID-19 response stage.
As China's population aging is becoming more prominent, Xi called for the proactive development of elderly care programs and industries, state-run elderly care institutions and more affordable elderly care services.
Special efforts should be made to guarantee the provision of elderly care services for those most in need, including people with financial difficulties, of advanced age or unable to care for themselves, he said.
During another virtual talk, Xi stressed the importance of stable energy supply and price.
"Energy security concerns the overall economic and social development of our country. It is one of the most important security issues," Xi told employees of the Tarim oilfield in northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region.
Noting that winter is the peak season for energy use in China, Xi said that no efforts should be spared to ensure the supply of coal, electricity, petroleum and natural gas, and to keep their prices stable.
He stressed the importance of being fully prepared to deal with possible extreme cold waves, guaranteeing energy supply and ensuring people stay warm this winter.
Noting the important role of state-owned enterprises directly under the central government, Xi asked them to make all-out efforts to increase output and ensure supply to meet the energy consumption needs of economic and social development.
Located in the Taklimakan Desert, Xinjiang, the Tarim oilfield of the China National Petroleum Corporation is a major natural gas source for the country's West-to-East gas pipelines. It provides natural gas for residents in southern Xinjiang and provinces, regions and municipalities along the pipelines.
Through video link, Xi extended his festival greetings to passenger railway staff at Zhengzhou East Station -- one of China's largest high-speed railway stations -- in the central Chinese city of Zhengzhou, and talked with passengers on the station platform.
He asked the passengers if they were heading back home for family reunions or out traveling and reminded them of safety awareness during their trips.
Xi underscored the importance of the Spring Festival travel to people's immediate interests, economic development, and social stability.
He said this year's Spring Festival travel rush is the first after the country entered a new phase of COVID response, with a major recovery of passenger flows. He urged efforts to ensure safe and sound trips for the people and smooth and orderly flows of essential supplies.
Xi called for efforts to strengthen the monitoring and early warning of extreme weather conditions and carry out safety overhauls to prevent major safety accidents.
Xi demanded strict implementation of anti-COVID measures to reduce infection risks to the minimum.
Xi also extended his holiday greetings to vendors and customers at the Xinfadi wholesale market, a major fresh-produce marketplace in Beijing.
To his delight, Xi heard that the food price was stable and the provision of various produce was sufficient.
Xi urged the wholesale market to expand its suppliers and the diversity of products, maintain good quality, and step up food safety examination and market management.
Xi stressed redoubled efforts to ensure sound production, sale, and supply of essential commodities such as grain, edible oil, meat, eggs, milk, fruits, and vegetables.
A smooth delivery, sufficient and diversified provisions, and the stable market price of these commodities should be guaranteed during the holiday so that people can have a happy and sound Chinese New Year, Xi said.
Speaking with villagers and tourists in Shiyi Village in southwest China's Sichuan Province, Xi called on them to strive for common prosperity to make their lives better.
Shiyi Village is one of the villages rebuilt after being heavily stricken by the Wenchuan earthquake in 2008.
Xi extended festive greetings to the villagers and tourists, and he also sent Spring Festival wishes to all rural residents across China and those working hard on the frontline in the country's rural revitalization cause.
He asked local officials and tourists about the village's tourism. Hearing positive feedback, Xi stressed the role of agricultural specialties and rural tourism in the rural revitalization of the new era.
Xi said he was primarily concerned about rural areas and rural residents after the country adjusted its COVID-19 response measures.
Xi stressed efforts to improve medical care for those most vulnerable to the virus in rural areas, and ensure the health of rural residents and their normal running of work and life to the maximum extent possible.
At the end of the virtual talks, Xi delivered an important speech.
"As we greet the Spring Festival, I care more about my fellow people and officials working at the primary level," Xi said.
Xi said this year's virtual talks enabled him to speak with people from across the country. He said that he could feel the happiness and joy of the people, even from behind the screen.
"My heart is always with you all and people of all ethnic groups across the country," Xi said. "My biggest wish is that we all have a happy Spring Festival."
He ordered sound implementation of COVID response measures in the new phase and effective prevention of emergencies and accidents so that people across the country will have a joyful and safe Spring Festival.
The past year was extraordinary but not easy, Xi said. "We have overcome all kinds of difficulties and challenges, making new achievements on all fronts."
For the year ahead, Xi called for concerted efforts to make more progress and greater contributions to the country.
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New sector added to CPPCC members with focus on environmental development
Upcoming two sessions to underscore China’s most important political event returning to normal following COVID adjustment: experts
The list of the members of the 14th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) was unveiled with a new sector - the environment and resources sector - added, which some experts said has great significance as environmental protection constitutes a fundamental part in pursuing Chinese modernization.
Meanwhile, with the adjustment and optimization of the country's epidemic prevention and control measures, this year's "two sessions," one of the most important annual political events, is expected to return to normal, experts said.
There are 2,172 members from 34 sectors, with 85 from the newly established environment and resources sector, media reported on Wednesday.
The first session of the 14th National Committee of the CPPCC will start on March 4 and the 14th National People's Congress will kick off its first session on March 5, the country's top legislature announced on December 30.
In line with the guidelines of enhancing and improving the work of the CPPCC issued by the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC), the 13th National Committee of the CPPCC has been pushing forward the establishment of the environment and resources sector.
In recent years, some regional committees of the CPPCC began adding this new sector and regional committees across the 31 provinces, autonomous regions and municipalities have added the new sector, called the environment and resources or resources and the environment.
"No matter whether it's about the comprehensive economic and social development or Chinese modernization, environmental and resource protection, as an important part of the Five-Pronged Overall Approach since the 18th National Congress, conveys great significance," Zhu Lijia, a professor of public management at the Chinese Academy of Governance, told the Global Times on Wednesday.
To pursue Chinese modernization, environmental protection and construction is fundamental, and setting up this new sector could help policy makers and advisors play bigger roles in formulating environment-related policies and measures, Zhu said.
Li Zhenhan, a member of the regional committee of the CPPCC in East China's Shandong Province, was quoted as saying in media reports on Wednesday that setting up this new sector could help allocate resources and bring members with various backgrounds in the environment, resources and energy who used to work in different sectors together.
Environmental protection will continue being a major focus of the work of the CPC in the future. In a report delivered by General Secretary of the CPC Central Committee Xi Jinping to the 20th National Congress of the CPC in October 2022, Xi pointed out that we will advance the Beautiful China Initiative and take a holistic and systematic approach to the conservation and improvement of mountains, waters, forests, farmlands, grasslands and deserts.
"We will carry out coordinated industrial restructuring, pollution control, ecological conservation and climate response, and promote concerted efforts to cut carbon emissions, reduce pollution, expand green development and pursue economic growth, he said. We will prioritize environmental protection, conserve resources and use them efficiently, and pursue green and low-carbon development," Xi said.
This year's two sessions will also be the first annual gatherings for the country's two main political bodies to set priorities and plans involving the economy, military, trade, diplomacy and the environment for the next year since the country downgraded its COVID-19 management.
Some experts believed that as the country's social and economic activities have been brought gradually back to normal following the adjustment and optimization of the epidemic prevention and control measures, the country's most important annual political activities are also expected to go to back to normal.
Some experts considered that the economic recovery and China's population decline would be major focuses of this year's two sessions, especially when many observers and analysts remain bullish on China's economic prospects. Also, the Chinese mainland's population declined for the first time in 61 years, which attracted the world's attention.
Among 2,172 members, there are 124 from the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) and 29 from the Macao SAR. Junius Ho Kwan-yiu, a Hong Kong Legislative Council member who is also the member of the 14th National Committee of the CPPCC from the HKSAR, told the Global Times that he will focus on proposals such as legal services exchanges between the mainland and Hong Kong, high-tech development and energy-saving and environmental protection during this year's meetings.
"This year's two sessions will mainly focus on the economic recovery, including how to accelerate the production resumption and push forward high-quality growth," Zhu said. In terms of the declining population, Zhu said that it's a common question that many developed countries and developing countries face after economic and social development reaches a certain level.
"How to turn China's demographic dividend into a talent dividend will also be a major focus of this year's meetings," he said.Source: https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202301/1284039.shtml
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Traditional folk performances have created a festive atmosphere in central China's Henan as people are celebrating the Spring Festival. #GLOBALink
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During China's Spring Festival, Xinhua's Wu Zhi and his friend Daniel Cotterall were invited to Zhengjiabang, a remote village in China's Hubei Province to learn about how the village shakes off poverty with green development.
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BEIJING, Dec. 27 (Xinhua) -- A meeting of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee has stressed striving in unity to implement the major decisions and plans made at the 20th CPC National Congress.
Xi Jinping, general secretary of the CPC Central Committee, delivered an important speech when presiding over the meeting of criticism and self-criticism held from Monday to Tuesday.
The meeting was themed on fully implementing the Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era; developing a deep understanding of the decisive significance of establishing Comrade Xi Jinping's core position on the Party Central Committee and in the Party as a whole and establishing the guiding role of the thought; strengthening the consciousness of the need to maintain political integrity, think in big-picture terms, follow the leadership core, and keep in alignment with the central Party leadership; staying confident in the path, theory, system and culture of socialism with Chinese characteristics; upholding Comrade Xi Jinping's core position on the Party Central Committee and in the Party as a whole and upholding the Party Central Committee's authority and its centralized, unified leadership, and uniting and leading Party officials in implementing with great effort and determination the major decisions and plans made at the 20th CPC National Congress.
It was stressed at the meeting that this year was an extremely important year in the history of the Party and the country.
In the face of an international environment featuring high winds and choppy waters and the challenging and arduous tasks of reform, development and ensuring stability at home, the CPC Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core has united and led the whole Party and the Chinese people to tackle the challenges head on, ensuring overall economic and social stability, according to the meeting.
The economy has maintained positive growth over the year, with overall stability in employment, stable prices and good performance on the balance of international payments, the meeting noted.
China's grain output has exceeded 650 million metric tons for the eighth year in a row, with food security, energy security and people's wellbeing effectively ensured. The country has also successfully hosted the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics and Paralympics, according to the meeting.
All the achievements did not come easily and should be dearly cherished, the meeting noted.
It was unanimously agreed by members of the Political Bureau that the past year has proved the decisive significance of establishing Comrade Xi Jinping's core position on the Party Central Committee and in the Party as a whole and establishing the guiding role of the Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era.
Xi commented on the self-assessment remarks by the members of the Political Bureau one by one, put forward requirements for each of them, and made summing-up remarks.
He said the meeting was successful and very effective, which is beneficial to enhancing the unity, readiness to meet challenges and cohesion of the CPC central leadership.
"Implementing the guiding principles of the 20th CPC National Congress is the primary political task for the whole Party, both at present and in the near future," Xi stressed.
He noted that upholding the centralized, unified leadership of the Party Central Committee is one of the founding principles of a mature Marxist ruling party.
Xi called on members of the Political Bureau to maintain a high degree of unity with the Central Committee, keep following the banner, the course, and the will of the Party, and maintain absolute loyalty to the Party at all times and under all circumstances.
He asked members of the Political Bureau to promptly request instructions from and submit reports to the Central Committee regarding major decisions and issues, as well as important matters in their work.
Citing the political ability as the most important competence for members of the Political Bureau to perform their duties, Xi urged them to continuously improve their capacity for political judgment, thinking and implementation.
He asked members of the Political Bureau to constantly improve their competence in pursuing high-quality development, serving the people, and guarding against and defusing risks.
Xi pointed out that to make the grand blueprint envisioned at the 20th CPC National Congress come true requires officials of all levels to take on responsibilities and make contributions.
Officials must carry forward the fighting spirit, dig deep to surmount the difficulties and challenges on the road ahead, and harness the indomitable fighting spirit to open up new horizons for our cause, Xi stressed.
He urged the members of the Political Bureau to take the lead in strengthening systems thinking and enhancing political awareness, keep the whole country in mind and act in line with the overall interests of the Party and country.
They are also asked to guard against and oppose self-centered behavior, decentralism, behavior in disregard of the rules and a silo mentality.
Officials of the Political Bureau must examine themselves according to and steadfastly implement the newly revised measures of the central Party leadership's eight-point decision on improving conduct, to tackle the chronic problems with an emphasis on pointless formalities and bureaucratism, Xi said.
Xi stressed that the Party has always represented the fundamental interests of all Chinese people. It has never represented any individual interest group, power group or privileged stratum.
Members of the Political Bureau should set an example in abiding by the code of honest conduct and taking the lead in fulfilling the political responsibility for governance of the Party, Xi underscored.
Xi said the members of the Political Bureau should be strict with their family members, relatives and those around them, and never allow them to seek illegitimate interests by taking advantage of their power and influence.
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European Council president to visit China!
BEIJING, Nov. 28 (Xinhua) -- At the invitation of Chinese President Xi Jinping, President of the European Council Charles Michel will visit China on Dec. 1, Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying announced Monday.
Source: Embassy of The People's Republic of China in Georgia
