Summary: Xi Jinping, General Secretary of the CPC Central Committee, President of the state, and Chairman of the Central Military Commission, sent a congratulatory letter on the 70th anniversary of the founding of the Central Institute of Socialism, praising its adherence to the principle that "the Institute of Socialism must uphold its socialist character" and its cultivation of non-CPC personages' representatives who have worked with one heart and one mind with the Communist Party of China. He urged the institute to take Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era as its guide, continuously strengthen political training, broadly consolidate political consensus, and better serve the overall work of the Party and the state. At the celebration conference, Wang Huning, member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and chairman of the CPPCC National Committee, delivered a speech, emphasizing the need to firmly grasp the correct political direction, strengthen political consensus education, and advance strict governance of the institute in all respects. Li Ganjie presided over the conference, with Wu Weihua and Ding Zhongli delivering addresses.
Summary: The article contrasts the Central Red Army's 12-month Long March from Ruijin to Yan'an with today's 11-hour-and-32-minute high-speed rail journey, highlighting the region's modernization. It quotes General Secretary Xi Jinping's 2022 Yan'an inspection remarks on improved transportation and villagers' lives, urging continued progress. The piece features Yan'an Station deputy station master Hou Xiaoting, 92-year-old resident Zhe Zhengqian, and cultural heritage official He Dongmei, who notes over 50 million visits to Yan'an in 2025. It also reports on Luochuan apple merchant Du Wangjun and company staffer Sun Dongqi, citing reduced transport losses and expanded market reach. The article concludes with infrastructure updates, including the Yan'an East Ring Expressway and the Yan'an-Yulin high-speed railway, framing the region's growth as part of China's broader advancement.
Summary: The article reflects on the 90th anniversary of the Red Army's Long March, framing the new journey under Xi Jinping's leadership as a "new Long March" requiring faith, truth, and unity. It highlights Xi's emphasis on ideals and convictions, the Party's spiritual pedigree, and the importance of the "Two Integrations" in adapting Marxism to Chinese conditions. The piece underscores the Party's commitment to serving the people, citing examples like the "half quilt" story and the Xi'an-Yan'an high-speed railway's extra investment for revolutionary base areas. It also discusses strategic coordination of domestic and international situations, including responses to technological blockades and trade barriers, and the upcoming Fifth Plenary Session's focus on Party self-governance. The article concludes with Xi's call to "walk the new Long March road with one heart and one mind" and create a brighter future.
Summary: Premier Li Qiang attended the 25th Meeting of the Council of Heads of Government of SCO member states in Dushanbe, chaired by Tajikistan's Prime Minister Kokhir Rasulzoda. Li stated that the world's destabilizing factors are increasing, and cited President Xi Jinping's call for the SCO to shoulder historical responsibilities and lead the course of history. He urged consensus at the "principles" level, including discerning the general trend of world multipolarity and economic globalization, and perseverance in unity and strategic focus. At the "practice" level, Li proposed enhancing operational efficiency, completing rules for the "four security centers," and funding training for 1,000 medical personnel from SCO countries in China. He also emphasized strengthening multilateralism, seeking common ground while reserving differences, and maintaining stable global industrial and supply chains, while participating parties pledged to implement summit outcomes and the Shanghai Spirit.
Summary: Ding Xuexiang, member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Vice Premier of the State Council, attended the founding conference of the National Data Group Co., Ltd. in Xiong'an New Area, Hebei, and unveiled the plaque for the company's establishment. He stated that the formation of the company is an important decision by the Party Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core, significant for seizing opportunities in artificial intelligence development, accelerating the building of a Digital China, and forging new advantages in national competition. He emphasized that the National Data Group must coordinate development and security, deepen services for data as a factor of production, accelerate data infrastructure construction, and strengthen research on core and key technologies. He also called for improved corporate governance, Party leadership throughout the enterprise's development, and joint efforts from relevant departments, localities, and enterprises to promote the data industry. Ding additionally conducted research at China Satellite Network Group Co., Ltd., the Xiong'an campuses of Beijing Jiaotong University and Peking University People's Hospital, and the Zhongguancun Science and Technology Park, stressing implementation of General Secretary Xi Jinping's instructions to advance relocation of Beijing's non-capital functions and promote high-quality development of the New Area.
Summary: The article highlights three distinctive features of China's economic performance: its role as a global anchor of stability, the results of innovation-driven development, and strengthened economic resilience. It notes that in the first three quarters, GDP grew by 4.6 percent year on year, maintaining a leading position among major global economies, with China's contribution rate to global economic growth around 30 percent. The piece emphasizes the development of new quality productive forces, citing General Secretary Xi Jinping's guidance and the release of central opinions on the matter. It also details how macro-control capabilities, infrastructure projects like the "six networks," and digital upgrades in manufacturing bolster resilience. The article concludes that China's economy, under the leadership of the Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core, will achieve a good start to the 15th Five-Year Plan.
Summary: General Secretary Xi Jinping sent a congratulatory letter on the 70th anniversary of the founding of the Central Institute of Socialism, emphasizing the need to "continuously strengthen political training and broadly consolidate political consensus" and to "better serve the overall work of the Party and the state." The article stresses that amid accelerating global changes and a critical period for Chinese modernization, ideological and political guidance must be strengthened, with institutes of socialism spreading political consensus to students. It highlights how members of democratic parties and private entrepreneurs are contributing through research and action, uniting in purpose and effort to pool strength for the national cause. The piece concludes that consolidating the common ideological and political foundation for united struggle is key to the Party's and people's success, enabling steady progress toward national rejuvenation.
Summary: The article, from the Ninth Edition, examines the internal logic and contemporary continuation of the Zhaojin Spirit, the Long March Spirit, and the Yan'an Spirit. It argues that these revolutionary spirits form a coherent historical and ideological chain, each building upon the other in the context of the Chinese revolution. The piece emphasizes their shared core values, such as unwavering faith and dedication to the people's cause. It concludes by discussing how these spirits are being carried forward in the present day to guide ongoing national development and party building.
Summary: The State Council Information Office held a press conference on October 20 to introduce the "15th Five-Year Plan for Cultural Heritage Protection and Inheritance," the first five-year plan in this field, which Hu Kaihong, Deputy Director of the Central Office for Cultural and Ethical Progress, described as an important achievement in studying and practicing Xi Jinping's cultural thought. The Plan emphasizes "five emphases" and "five efforts," focusing on comprehensive protection, clear surveys, strict measures, solid safeguards, and unified supervision, with Hu stating that implementation will advance legislation and enhance the authority of cultural heritage protection work. Deng Chao, Deputy Director of the National Cultural Heritage Administration, noted that museums grew from 5,788 to 7,188 during the 14th Five-Year Plan period, and outlined efforts to establish a management system for immovable cultural relics and advance archaeological projects to better understand Chinese civilization. Qin Haixiang, Vice Minister of Housing and Urban-Rural Development, said the Plan strengthens protection of famous historical and cultural cities, towns, and villages, with plans to repair 300 historical and cultural districts and 15,000 historical buildings, ensuring protection and urban renewal are organically integrated. Shan Gangxin, Director of the Department of Intangible Cultural Heritage, highlighted China's rich intangible cultural heritage resources, including 45 items on UNESCO lists, and stated that efforts will focus on consolidating protection foundations, enhancing inheritance capacity, and cultivating cultural ecology.
Summary: At a State Council Information Office press conference, Wang Weiming, chief engineer of the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, and Tao Qing, spokesperson for the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology and director of the Operation Monitoring and Coordination Bureau, introduced industrial economic data for the first three quarters. Tao Qing reported that the added value of industries above designated size increased by 5.3 percent year on year, with high-tech manufacturing increasing by 14.3 percent. Wang Weiming highlighted the importance of advanced manufacturing clusters and stated that the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology will increase support for these clusters through innovation platform layout and talent cultivation. The officials also noted significant growth in the equipment industry, including increased output in industrial robots, CNC machine tools, and new energy vehicles.
Summary: The article contrasts the Central Red Army's 12-month Long March from Ruijin to Yan'an with today's 11-hour-and-32-minute high-speed rail journey, highlighting the region's modernization. It quotes General Secretary Xi Jinping's 2022 Yan'an inspection remarks on improved transportation and villagers' lives, urging continued progress. The piece features Yan'an Station deputy station master Hou Xiaoting, 92-year-old resident Zhe Zhengqian, and cultural heritage official He Dongmei, who notes over 50 million visits to Yan'an in 2025. It also reports on Luochuan apple merchant Du Wangjun and company staffer Sun Dongqi, citing reduced transport losses and expanded market reach. The article concludes with infrastructure updates, including the Yan'an East Ring Expressway and the Yan'an-Yulin high-speed railway, framing the region's growth as part of China's broader advancement.
Summary: The article reflects on the 90th anniversary of the Red Army's Long March, framing the new journey under Xi Jinping's leadership as a "new Long March" requiring faith, truth, and unity. It highlights Xi's emphasis on ideals and convictions, the Party's spiritual pedigree, and the importance of the "Two Integrations" in adapting Marxism to Chinese conditions. The piece underscores the Party's commitment to serving the people, citing examples like the "half quilt" story and the Xi'an-Yan'an high-speed railway's extra investment for revolutionary base areas. It also discusses strategic coordination of domestic and international situations, including responses to technological blockades and trade barriers, and the upcoming Fifth Plenary Session's focus on Party self-governance. The article concludes with Xi's call to "walk the new Long March road with one heart and one mind" and create a brighter future.
Summary: Premier Li Qiang arrived in St. Petersburg on October 20 for the 31st regular meeting between Chinese and Russian heads of government, accompanied by State Councilor Wu Zhenglong. He was welcomed at Pulkovo Airport by Russian Deputy Prime Minister Chernyshenko and Chinese Ambassador to Russia Zhang Hanhui. Li noted that this year marks the 30th anniversary of the China-Russia strategic partnership of coordination and the 25th anniversary of the Treaty of Good-Neighborliness and Friendly Cooperation, highlighting their non-alignment, non-confrontation, and non-targeting of any third party. He said that under the strategic guidance of President Xi Jinping and President Putin, the relationship has grown more mature and resilient, and China is willing to promote deeper, more solid, and more resilient bilateral cooperation. Li arrived from Tajikistan, where he had concluded an official visit and attended the 25th Meeting of the Council of Heads of Government of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization.
Summary: At the 25th SCO Council of Heads of Government meeting in Dushanbe, Chinese Premier Li Qiang delivered remarks emphasizing the need for consensus on vision ("the Way") and effective action ("the Means") to fulfill the SCO's historical responsibilities. He called for upholding the Shanghai Spirit, advancing organizational reform, and implementing concrete cooperation projects in trade, energy, digital, and green fields. Li stressed the importance of seeking common ground amid differences, promoting economic integration, and enhancing people-to-people and cultural exchanges. He welcomed parties to join initiatives such as the Green Mineral International Economic and Trade Cooperation and the China-SCO Energy Cooperation Platform. China expressed readiness to support Pakistan's SCO presidency and work with member states to strengthen the organization's development.
Summary: Premier Li Qiang attended the 25th Meeting of the Council of Heads of Government of SCO member states in Dushanbe, chaired by Tajikistan's Prime Minister Kokhir Rasulzoda. Li stated that the world's destabilizing factors are increasing, and cited President Xi Jinping's call for the SCO to shoulder historical responsibilities and lead the course of history. He urged consensus at the "principles" level, including discerning the general trend of world multipolarity and economic globalization, and perseverance in unity and strategic focus. At the "practice" level, Li proposed enhancing operational efficiency, completing rules for the "four security centers," and funding training for 1,000 medical personnel from SCO countries in China. He also emphasized strengthening multilateralism, seeking common ground while reserving differences, and maintaining stable global industrial and supply chains, while participating parties pledged to implement summit outcomes and the Shanghai Spirit.
Summary: The article, authored by the chairperson of the Communist Party of Spain, argues that the Long March, led by the Communist Party of China, offers enduring lessons on balancing strategic focus with tactical flexibility. It emphasizes that China's development, including reform and opening up and poverty elimination, has embodied this combination of strategic continuity and policy adjustment. The author contends this experience is relevant for a world facing rapid change, where governance is susceptible to short-term pressures and longer-term perspectives are needed. Another lesson highlighted is the cohesion generated by a shared goal, suggesting that effective multilateral cooperation requires seeking common interests amid differences. The author concludes that the Long March's governance wisdom transcends eras and borders, offering valuable inspiration for coping with uncertainty.
Summary: The 25th Meeting of the Council of Heads of Government (Prime Ministers) of the SCO Member States was held in Dushanbe on October 19-20, 2026, chaired by Tajik Prime Minister Rasulzoda and attended by Chinese Premier Li Qiang alongside other member state leaders. The heads of delegations reaffirmed adherence to SCO principles, including the Shanghai Spirit, and stressed the need to implement consensus from the September 2026 Bishkek Summit while supporting Pakistan's upcoming rotating chairmanship. They emphasized economic and trade cooperation as a core direction, backing the Belt and Road Initiative and advancing work on the SCO Development Bank, local currency settlements, and a "Greater Eurasian Partnership." The communiqué also covered cooperation in energy, transport, agriculture, digital transformation, and people-to-people exchanges, while opposing unilateral coercive measures that violate the UN Charter. The next meeting will be held in Uzbekistan in 2027.
Summary: Wang Yi, member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Minister of Foreign Affairs, shared four observations from his trip to Europe and Asia while jointly meeting the press with Bulgarian Foreign Minister Petrova in Sofia. He attended the CICA summit as Special Representative of President Xi Jinping and visited Azerbaijan, Croatia, Montenegro, and Bulgaria. He stated that trust is the cornerstone of peace, friendship is a precious asset, cooperation is a solid driving force, and partnership is a common goal. China is willing to align the Belt and Road Initiative with the "Middle Corridor" and strengthen cooperation on new quality productive forces such as artificial intelligence and green transformation. He also expressed willingness to work with Europe to uphold multilateralism and free trade, and to promote China-EU win-win cooperation at a new and higher level.
Summary: He Lifeng, member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Vice Premier of the State Council, said while meeting members of the International Advisory Council of the National Financial Regulatory Administration that China will continue to unswervingly and steadily expand high-level opening up in the financial sector and accelerate the building of a financial powerhouse. He welcomed more foreign financial institutions to invest and do business in China and deepen cooperation. The council members expressed expectations for China's deepening of financial reform and opening up and optimism about China's economic and financial development prospects.
Summary: Cai Dafeng, Vice Chairman of the NPC Standing Committee, attended and addressed the opening ceremony of the Seminar for Legislators from Latin America in Beijing on October 20. He stated that under the strategic guidance of President Xi Jinping and leaders of Latin American countries, China-Latin America relations have maintained a momentum of rapid development. The NPC of China is willing to deepen friendly cooperation with legislative bodies of Latin American countries. He expressed a commitment to making positive contributions to promoting the development of bilateral relations and jointly building a China-Latin America community with a shared future.
Summary: Liu Haixing, Minister of the International Department of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China, met separately in Beijing on October 20 with a delegation of Italy's Five Star Movement led by its Deputy Leader and Vice Chair of the Senate Foreign Affairs Committee, Licheri, and a delegation of first-tier leadership talents from the United Arab Emirates led by Kabi, Acting Director of the Abu Dhabi Executive Office. They exchanged views on strengthening bilateral exchanges and cooperation and promoting the development of state-to-state relations.
Summary: At the COP17 meeting in Yerevan, Armenia, the "China Pavilion" opened on October 19, with Huang Runqiu, Minister of Ecology and Environment of China, stating in his opening address that global biodiversity conservation actions have not yet met expectations. He urged all parties to intensify efforts in implementing policy measures and conservation actions.
Summary: The article commemorates the 90th anniversary of the Red Army's Long March victory and the 105th anniversary of the Communist Party of China's founding, emphasizing General Secretary Xi Jinping's guidance on carrying forward the great Long March spirit. Xi is reported to have visited key Long March sites, including Yudu, Zunyi, and the Xiang River battlefield, and to have stressed treading well the new Long March road toward comprehensively building a modern socialist country. The piece details Xi's remarks on the spirit's connotations—ideals, truth-testing, people's awakening, and opening new situations—and his calls to inherit and practice it in the new era. It highlights efforts to protect Long March culture, such as building national cultural parks and memorial facilities, and to apply the spirit to current struggles, including technological self-reliance and rural revitalization. The article concludes that every generation must tread its own Long March road, urging continued struggle toward national rejuvenation.
Summary: The article highlights three distinctive features of China's economic performance: its role as a global anchor of stability, the results of innovation-driven development, and strengthened economic resilience. It notes that in the first three quarters, GDP grew by 4.6 percent year on year, maintaining a leading position among major global economies, with China's contribution rate to global economic growth around 30 percent. The piece emphasizes the development of new quality productive forces, citing General Secretary Xi Jinping's guidance and the release of central opinions on the matter. It also details how macro-control capabilities, infrastructure projects like the "six networks," and digital upgrades in manufacturing bolster resilience. The article concludes that China's economy, under the leadership of the Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core, will achieve a good start to the 15th Five-Year Plan.
Summary: The article argues that the Chinese spirit is rooted in the people's practice of struggle, cultural nourishment, and the preservation of patriotic sentiment, drawing on examples like the Red Army's Long March and the new high-speed railway from Ruijin to Yan'an. It cites General Secretary Xi Jinping's emphasis on carrying forward the Chinese spirit through patriotism and reform and innovation. The piece highlights how works like *The Kunlun Pact* and the documentary *Sonata of the Heavy Machinery City* reflect individual dedication to national needs, and how cultural products such as *Red Crag* and *Tiangong Kaiwu* foster emotional resonance and value identification. It stresses the need for spiritual inheritance to adapt to new challenges, with examples like Xi'an Jiaotong University's research team and the Saihanba builders, ultimately concluding that this spirit injects momentum into Chinese modernization.
Summary: The article is an on-site commentary from Ordos, Inner Mongolia, reporting on the city's transformation from a coal-dependent economy to a zero-carbon and innovation-driven model, exemplified by the world's first zero-carbon airport. It highlights how Ordos broke the "resource curse" by extending coal chemical chains, building smart mines, and cultivating zero-carbon industries, with non-coal industry value added reaching 30.8% in 2025. The commentary emphasizes the need to withstand pressure, turn resistance into momentum, and proactively seek change, using examples like the Kubuqi "Photovoltaic Great Wall" and coal workers transitioning to new energy roles. It concludes that China is promoting high-quality development under the new development philosophy, shifting from factor-driven to innovation-driven growth, a leap few economies have completed. The author is an editor of the Comment Department of this newspaper.
Summary: The article is a first-person account by a national master craftsman and chief engineer at Beijing Bei'an Times Innovative Equipment Installation Engineering Co., Ltd., reflecting on his 32-year career installing and maintaining elevators. He describes his growth from a technical school graduate to a national model worker, including pursuing further studies at Tsinghua University in 2024 as part of a training camp for master craftsmen of the nation. He emphasizes the importance of "delving deep" into one's work, citing innovations such as a pedestrian flow statistical analysis system and an intelligent monitoring and automatic alarm system for people trapped in elevator cars. He credits the state for providing learning platforms and notes that his studio has obtained more than 10 patents, all aimed at solving real problems. The piece concludes with his view that taking ordinary work to the extreme through deep study is a craftsman's salute to the era.
Summary: Since 2021, the first batch of national parks has achieved fruitful results, with a national park system with Chinese characteristics basically established and flagship species populations growing steadily. Assessments show that 75% of the ecological benefit evaluation indicators for the first batch of national parks have reached an excellent level, with core ecological services such as water conservation and carbon sequestration effectively enhanced. The report concludes with a poem celebrating the tiger and giant panda, and the dedication to guarding nature so that all creatures roam freely.
Summary: The article defends the Qinghai county government's emergency use of student dormitories to house nearly 500 stranded tourists during the National Day holiday, arguing that this was a necessary emergency response under urgent, sub-zero conditions. It acknowledges online criticism about privacy and the choice of venues but stresses that the local government consulted school representatives, protected students' belongings, and offered compensation afterward. The commentary urges more understanding and support for officials who act and take responsibility in emergencies, while also calling for improved forecasting, governance, and emergency planning to reduce reliance on ad hoc responses. It emphasizes that tolerance does not mean avoiding problems, and that both government and tourists should prepare better in ordinary times. The piece concludes that treating doers well and backing those who take responsibility will make grassroots governance warm, effective, and well-prepared.
Summary: The article discusses how China is advancing standards development to support cutting-edge innovation, citing examples like wearable electronics and brain-computer interfaces. It argues that standards must balance timely regulation with leaving room for technological exploration, and calls for improving supply models, update mechanisms, and rule application. The piece highlights China's ethical guidelines for brain-computer interfaces and revised standardization provisions as steps to keep pace with rapid iteration. It also notes that some countries use standards compliance as a containment tool, and that China is formulating compliance guidelines to help enterprises convert technological advantages into international competitiveness. The commentary concludes that aligning innovation with standards development will help China gain initiative in the new technological revolution.
Summary: Xinhua published a political commentary marking the 90th anniversary of the Red Army's Long March victory, reflecting on its historical significance and spiritual legacy. The article quotes General Secretary Xi Jinping on the enduring relevance of the Long March spirit and the need to walk the new Long March of Chinese modernization. It recounts episodes of sacrifice, discipline, and mass support, emphasizing that the victory was ultimately a victory of ideals and convictions. The commentary highlights the Zunyi Conference's establishment of Mao Zedong's leadership and frames Xi Jinping's core role as the contemporary continuation of that historical logic. It concludes that each generation must walk its own Long March road, drawing on the spirit to overcome current challenges.
Summary: The article highlights the enduring legacy of the Long March through artifacts displayed in exhibitions across China, which have drawn over 500,000 visitors since September 25. It features a wooden boat used by boatman Li Shengren to ferry Red Army soldiers across the Yudu River, symbolizing army-people unity, and an iron steelyard from Quanzhou County illustrating the Red Army's fair dealings with villagers. Three door panels from Xishui County, Guizhou, recall how locals helped build a pontoon bridge across the Chishui River, with the Red Army compensating them generously. A wooden bucket from Li County, Sichuan, tells of a wounded Red Army captain recuperating at a villager's home, later donated to the Sichuan Museum. The article emphasizes how these relics convey the Red Army's faith and the deep bond between the army and the people, with museums developing study courses to pass on revolutionary stories to younger generations.
Summary: At the 2026 Global South Academic Forum in Shanghai, Wang Shaoju, a national outstanding Communist Party member, recounted the 40-year poverty alleviation transformation of Chixi Village in Fujian Province, moving representatives from over 30 countries and regions. The forum, co-hosted by East China Normal University, the Tricontinental Institute for Social Research, and the University of Johannesburg, aimed to build an exchange platform for Global South countries on governance and modernization. Participants highlighted China's grassroots poverty-alleviation practices and whole-process people's democracy as a realistic solution to break the myth of "modernization equals Westernization" and deepen South-South cooperation. Vijay Prashad, director of the Tricontinental Institute, stressed the importance of China's achievement in eliminating absolute poverty and promoting mutual learning among civilizations to counter Western-centric discourse. Solly Mapaila, general secretary of the South African Communist Party, praised China's focus on improving people's livelihoods and the role of grassroots Party organizations in mobilizing the people, proposing that Global South countries pursue independent development paths serving the people.
Summary: A German Federal Ministry of Economics' Advisory Council report offers a rational response to European panic over the so-called "China shock," attributing Germany's industrial decline to locational factors and cost burdens rather than Chinese competition. The report warns that EU anti-dumping and anti-subsidy investigations into Chinese electric vehicles must not slide into trade protectionism, which would ultimately damage export-oriented economies. Siemens CEO Roland Busch, Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico, and Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez are cited as opposing tariffs and advocating cooperation with China. The article argues Europe's fundamental solution lies in self-reform, not erecting barriers, noting China-EU trade grew 14.2% year-on-year to $447.88 billion in the first half of 2026 despite protectionist countercurrents. It concludes that Europe must establish an objective perception of China and pursue innovation cooperation rather than defensive containment.
Summary: The "Foreign Media Dialogue with University Secretaries/Presidents" series, initiated by the All-China Journalists Association, was launched at Nanjing University on the 20th, with over 60 media reporters and student representatives from 26 countries engaging with Tan Tieniu, Secretary of the Nanjing University Party Committee and academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences. The dialogue focused on international talent exchange, university cooperation, and artificial intelligence, during which Tan introduced developments in China's AI field and universities' efforts in cultivating AI talent and strengthening international cooperation. Tan stated that deepening international exchange and cooperation benefits all parties, saying, "Educational cooperation is a long-distance race that requires traveling together as companions." The All-China Journalists Association launched the "Foreign Media Dialogue" series in March 2024, having previously held events with National People's Congress Deputies and Secretaries/Mayors in Beijing, Shanghai, Chongqing, and other places.
Summary: The IMF and World Bank 2026 Annual Meetings were held in Bangkok from October 12 to 18, where nearly 20,000 participants from 191 countries and regions discussed enhancing global economic resilience. The IMF's latest *World Economic Outlook* projected global growth of 3.1 percent in 2026, down from 3.5 percent in 2025, with inflation easing from 4.7 percent to 4.1 percent in 2027. The report attributed current growth to the twin factors of Middle East conflict-driven energy price rises and AI-related investment boosting trade and activity. IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva said AI investment has become an important force underpinning growth but warned that excessive reliance on a single driver could heighten economic fragility, urging countries to strengthen policy coordination. World Bank Group President Ajay Banga noted that 1.2 billion young people will enter the labor market over the next 10 to 15 years against only about 400 million expected jobs, calling for improved business environments and greater use of private capital.
Summary: The first Belarus-China Tourism Forum opened on October 20 in Brest, Belarus, with over 150 industry professionals from both countries discussing bilateral tourism cooperation potential. The forum aims to strengthen dialogue and cooperation between the two tourism industries, featuring panel discussions, B2B talks, and site visits through October 22. It is hosted by the Brest branch of the Belarusian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, with support from the Belarusian National Tourism Agency and the Embassy of Belarus in China. Under the strategic guidance of the two countries' leaders, China-Belarus relations have maintained a high level of operation, with deepening economic, trade, people-to-people, cultural, and local cooperation.
Summary: The 25th Meeting of the Council of Heads of Government (Prime Ministers) of the SCO Member States was held in Dushanbe on October 19-20, 2026, chaired by Tajik Prime Minister Rasulzoda and attended by Chinese Premier Li Qiang alongside other member state leaders. The heads of delegations reaffirmed adherence to SCO principles, including the Shanghai Spirit, and stressed the need to implement consensus from the September 2026 Bishkek Summit while supporting Pakistan's upcoming rotating chairmanship. They emphasized economic and trade cooperation as a core direction, backing the Belt and Road Initiative and advancing work on the SCO Development Bank, local currency settlements, and a "Greater Eurasian Partnership." The communiqué also covered cooperation in energy, transport, agriculture, digital transformation, and people-to-people exchanges, while opposing unilateral coercive measures that violate the UN Charter. The next meeting will be held in Uzbekistan in 2027.
Summary: The article comprises three reports on Long March heritage sites in China. In Tongzi County, Guizhou, villagers and "Little Red Docents" preserve the memory of the Red Army's battles at Loushanguan, with tourism now driving local incomes above 30,000 yuan per capita. In Hong'an County, Hubei, the revolutionary song "Osmanthus Blossoms Bloom All Over the Land in August" is celebrated through red tourism and school programs, with the county receiving over 16 million visitors in 2025. In Zoigê County, Sichuan, the "yellow grass flower" that Red Army soldiers ate to survive is contrasted with ongoing ecological restoration projects that have treated 244,000 mu of desertified land. The reports emphasize the passing down of the "red gene" from generation to generation through education, volunteer docents, and local development.
Summary: The article highlights how former Red Army Long March sites in Yudu, Jiangxi; Rucheng, Hunan; and Tongbai, Henan have developed thriving local industries tied to their revolutionary heritage. In Yudu, the Orchid Town has become one of China's largest orchid production bases, with over 1,700 varieties, an annual output of 38 million pots, and sales to Japan and South Korea. In Rucheng's Wenming Yao Township, honeysuckle, historically used to treat wounded Red Army soldiers, now supports over 2,000 grower households and a full industrial chain. In Tongbai County, the "Five-Star Flower" (cypress vine), said to have sprouted from seeds carried by Red Army soldiers, still blooms, and local schools integrate Long March stories into their curriculum. The piece frames these developments as the old revolutionary base areas carrying forward the red gene while striding toward a happy future.
Summary: The article reflects on the enduring legacy of the Long March, 90 years after the historic expedition, noting that its name is now borne by major national equipment, cultural parks, bridges, and villages across China. These widespread marks of the Long March are described as a tribute transcending time and space, an echo among the mountains and rivers, and a testimony to the red spirit. The piece was compiled by Wu Peipei.
Summary: The article uses the metaphor of flowers to reflect on the Long March's legacy, highlighting how blossoms like osmanthus and azaleas symbolize ideals, sacrifice, and endurance. It recounts the Red Army's 25,000-li march across harsh terrain, which tempered the Party and forged the great Long March spirit now embedded in the Chinese nation's bloodline. In the new era, the piece cites economic milestones—GDP exceeding 140 trillion yuan and per capita GDP surpassing US$13,000—alongside advances in space exploration, AI patents, and computing power as evidence of steady progress. It also notes environmental improvements and the construction of the Long March National Cultural Park to keep red culture vibrant. Concluding that the Long March continues, it urges perseverance through future challenges to realize the Chinese Dream of national rejuvenation.
Summary: The article examines the internal logic and contemporary relevance of the Zhaojin Spirit, the Long March Spirit, and the Yan'an Spirit as components of the spiritual pedigree of Chinese Communists. It details how each spirit emerged from distinct historical stages—the Zhaojin Soviet Area's founding, the Red Army's strategic transfer, and the Party's governance in Yan'an—while sharing commonalities in ideals, people's standpoint, and fighting character. The piece quotes General Secretary Xi Jinping on the Shaanxi-Gansu Border Revolutionary Base, the Long March Spirit, and the Yan'an Spirit, emphasizing their shared lineage and value origins rooted in the great founding spirit of the Party. It argues these spirits provide spiritual support for firming ideals, adhering to the supremacy of the people, seeking truth from facts, and advancing full and rigorous self-governance of the Party on the new journey. The author concludes by urging the integration of these spirits into practice through studying Xi Jinping Thought and achieving the unity of knowledge and action.
Summary: The article argues that advancing renminbi internationalization is both a need of China and a need of the world, citing General Secretary Xi Jinping's call to "Advance the internationalization of the renminbi in an orderly manner." It notes that Global South countries' share of the world economy has risen to about 41% in 2024, driving accelerated reform of the international monetary system, while the renminbi's proportion in China's cross-border receipts and payments has increased from 20% to over 60%. The author outlines five domestic measures to strengthen the renminbi, including encouraging its use in trade with Belt and Road and Global South countries, expanding bond market opening, and promoting cross-border digital renminbi payments. From an international perspective, the renminbi's global trading share has reached 8.5% and its weight in the Special Drawing Rights basket is 12.28%, with the People's Bank of China possessing sustainable capacity for currency output and liquidity provision. The author, a former Deputy Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund, concludes that seizing this historical window to accelerate renminbi internationalization is of great significance for stabilizing the world economy and finance.
Summary: The article argues that improving the rural living environment requires a shift from extensive to precise governance, addressing weaknesses such as homogenized plans and insufficient maintenance. It advocates for categorized governance tailored to local conditions, including establishing dynamic monitoring systems and differentiated plans for various village types. Efforts should concentrate on toilet renovation, sewage treatment, waste disposal, and village appearance, with examples like Zhoushan Town in Yongkang City, Zhejiang, reusing treated sewage for irrigation. A long-term management and maintenance mechanism is needed, with clear responsibilities, stable funding, and public satisfaction as a key evaluation metric. The author is a researcher at the Research Center for the Theoretical System of Socialism with Chinese Characteristics of the Party School of the Liaoning Provincial Party Committee.
Summary: The article recounts Xi Jinping’s February 2016 visit to Shenshan Village in Jinggangshan, Jiangxi, where he inspected party building and livelihoods, pledging that no poor family or person would be left behind. It describes the village’s transformation from a "hollow village" and "model of poverty" to a "vibrant village" and "showcase of revitalization" over ten years. Cadres and masses composed a song expressing gratitude for a "benefactor" and "good time," turning Xi’s instructions into driving force for development. The piece highlights concrete gains: per capita annual income rose from under 3,000 yuan to over 36,000 yuan, collective operating income broke one million yuan, and annual tourist visits exceeded 300,000. It concludes that the red gene and lucid waters and lush mountains shine together in harmony across Jinggangshan.
Summary: At an October 20 press conference, National Development and Reform Commission officials characterized China's economy in the first three quarters as "stable, new, and resilient," with GDP growing 4.6 percent year on year despite global geopolitical shocks and natural disasters. Deputy Director Zuo Gang outlined next steps including enhancing existing policy effectiveness and promptly introducing incremental policies, while also detailing plans to boost consumption, expand effective investment, and improve systems for expanding domestic demand. The commission is formulating an implementation plan for the strategy of expanding domestic demand (2026-2030) and has recommended 88 investment projects to private enterprises, planning to introduce 31.1 billion yuan of private capital. Deputy Director Ren Zhongbao emphasized developing new quality productive forces in light of local conditions, including rational planning, comparative advantages in project arrangement, and standardized support policies. The commission also launched the first batch of 136 landmark major application scenario projects to accelerate the maturation and application of new technologies.
Summary: The article reports on Ulanqab City in Inner Mongolia as a hub for green intelligent computing under the "East Data, West Computing" initiative, highlighting its abundant wind and solar resources, cool climate, and low-latency fiber-optic link to Beijing. Guo Xiaoling, director of the Ulanqab Municipal Big Data Administration, and Liu Junping, deputy director of the Chahar High-Tech Industrial Development Zone administrative committee, are quoted on green electricity advantages and scientific planning to prevent blind expansion. Mayor Liu Haiquan emphasizes extending the industry chain and fostering clustering, while project managers Chen Keqiang and Zhou Yiguang detail "computing-electricity coordination" and liquid-cooled technology at their respective bases. The piece also features local talent retention, with Zhang Yu and Huang Mingzhuo discussing employment and training, and Xu Pengfei praising the business environment. Ji Yongqian, secretary of the Ulanqab Municipal Party Committee, concludes by vowing to integrate the digital and real economies and implement the "AI+" action.
Summary: The China National Intellectual Property Administration and the General Administration of Customs issued the "Opinions on Strengthening Coordinated Protection of Intellectual Property Rights," proposing a long-term mechanism for data sharing and application cooperation while safeguarding data security. The intellectual property administration will provide customs with basic data such as trademarks and patents, along with information on well-known trademark confirmations, revoked or invalid trademarks, and administrative adjudication decisions in major patent disputes, to facilitate customs enforcement. The Opinions clarify mutual investigative assistance between customs and intellectual property management departments in cases involving imported or exported goods and detained goods suspected of infringement. They also require intellectual property management departments to encourage rights holders in key industries—including those with well-known trademark confirmations, geographical indication collective/certification marks, and the photovoltaic industry—to actively apply for customs intellectual property recordation.
Summary: In recent years, Shangge Town, Luoning County, Luoyang City, Henan Province, has adopted the "enterprise + farmer + base" model to build an apple production and sales base, enhance comprehensive benefits, and drive more members of the public toward increasing income and becoming prosperous. The photo, taken on October 20, shows workers using an intelligent sorting system to grade apples in the fruit-selection workshop of an enterprise in the town. Photo by Li Weichao (Image China).
Summary: The Gansu Provincial Forestry and Grassland Bureau and six other departments jointly issued the "Implementation Opinions of Gansu Province on Accelerating the Construction of Modern State-Owned Forest Farms." The document sets phased goals: by 2030, forest stock volume per unit area will increase by 4.75%, and by 2035, it will rise by 10.45%, with a modern state-owned forest farm system basically completed. It centers on modernizing four systems—ecological protection, distinctive industries, technical equipment, and operational management—and arranges 15 key tasks, including inventory and confirmation of rights of forest farm resources and assets.
Summary: The article reports on urban renewal efforts in Ma'anshan City, Anhui Province, highlighting the revitalization of existing spaces to improve the living environment. Residents like Xu Changjin enjoy renovated facilities at Beihu Park, which added pavilions, corridors, and benches, while the city has cumulatively built 146 pocket parks covering 961,200 square meters. Zhang Zhongxin, Secretary of the Party Committee and Director of the Housing and Urban-Rural Development Bureau, noted that 425 old residential communities have been renovated, benefiting over 157,000 households. The city has also completed 42 road connection projects since 2021, addressing issues like pedestrian-vehicle mixing and poor drainage, and built a standardized night market on Tiyu Road to improve business order. Additionally, the Xiushan Lake beach opened free of charge in late July, providing new waterside leisure space for citizens.
Summary: State Grid Huzhou Power Supply Company has deployed intelligent systems to protect ultra-high-voltage (UHV) corridors, including 90 sets of drone remote detection devices that proactively defend against low-altitude drone risks, as demonstrated by an incident where an illegally operating drone near the 500-kilovolt Changmiao 5P01 corridor was quickly identified and defused by operation and maintenance worker Cheng Wei. Ma Bo, a worker in the operation and inspection department, noted that autonomous drones compensate for the limitations of manual patrols in mountain-area corridors, enabling refined inspection and all-weather protection. In Moganshan, Deqing County, flexible interconnection dispatch devices have built a cross-regional power complementarity system to manage "tidal" electricity demand from over 4,000 homestays, with deputy director Zheng Yu stating that power security has upgraded from basic supply to quality expectations. For the Huzhou Leapmotor automobile production base, the company compressed the power delivery cycle from 8 months to less than 4 months through advance planning and optimized approvals. At Zhejiang Fugang Special Steel Sheet Co., Ltd., carbon-efficiency engineers implemented "peak shaving and valley filling" energy management, significantly reducing electricity costs as the enterprise enters international markets.
Summary: The 2026 Chishui River Forum, themed "Heaven and Earth in Harmony, Advancing with the Times," was held in Maotai Town, Renhuai City, Guizhou Province, gathering global liquor industry guests to discuss production area development, cultural exchange, industrial innovation, and sustainable development. The forum launched the "Chishui River Valley, China's Jiangxiang" regional brand think tank, the China Brands Global Tour, and the "Global Liquor Industry Sustainable Development Partnership Plan," with participants jointly releasing the "Global Liquor Industry Sustainable Development Partnership Initiative." Moutai highlighted its ecological efforts, including water quality monitoring and a 32.40% reduction in water consumption per unit of product in 2025 compared with 2023. The forum also released the "World Famous Liquor Sustainable Development Index Report (2026)," selecting 30 global liquor brands for a three-dimensional research system. Moutai aims to build a platform for industry exchange and civilizational dialogue, promoting Chinese liquor culture globally through open cooperation.
Summary: Chinese authorities have issued risk alerts warning job seekers against scams involving false "internal referrals" at central state-owned enterprises and state-owned enterprises. The alerts, issued by the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security, the Office of the Central Cyberspace Affairs Commission, the Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Public Security, and the State Council State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission, describe how lawbreakers fabricate recruitment information to attract traffic and collect fees under various pretexts. The scams primarily target fresh college graduates, exploiting their lack of experience and parents' anxiety about employment. Authorities advise job seekers to use official recruitment channels, verify account qualifications, and refuse any fee demands, while preserving evidence and reporting fraud to public security organs.
Summary: At a UN Human Rights Council session, experts discussed China's fifth National Human Rights Action Plan (2026–2030), which embodies the continuity of China's human rights development. The plans adhere to a people-centered approach, scientific planning, and inclusive sharing, focusing on livelihood improvements and specific group protections. China's practice demonstrates that human rights action matters more than commitments, offering a scarce institutional product in global governance. It combines universal human rights principles with China's realities, providing a reference for developing countries. The article criticizes countries that lecture others while ignoring their own human rights problems, contrasting China's stability and certainty.
Summary: The Beijing Municipal Human Resources and Social Security Bureau has launched a "Social Security Map" on the "Jingtong" app, integrating 17 district-level handling agencies, 342 subdistrict and township government service centers, and over a hundred bank cooperative outlets. The map introduces four convenience functions—"Smart Recommendation," "One-Touch Navigation," "One-Touch Call," and "Smart Q&A"—to enable "smart handling" and "conversational handling." The system automatically filters and recommends the most suitable nearby service outlet based on the user's real-time location and the type of social security matter. Users can access one-touch navigation directly on the page for precise route guidance without switching to another map.
Summary: The 2026 Bei'an Farmers' Harvest Festival and "Full Black Soil with Beans · Geese Famous in Bei'an" production and marketing promotion conference was held on September 23 in Bei'an City, Heilongjiang Province, showcasing the city's modern agricultural achievements with a focus on the soybean industry and its distinctive goose industry. Bei'an achieved its twenty-third consecutive bumper grain harvest, with total output expected to exceed 2.5 billion jin, and was included in the filing list for comprehensive rural reform pilot projects. The event featured five functional exhibition zones, a soybean digital IP "An Xiaodou" promotion via AI video, and a hundred-influencer livestream matrix, with signing amounts reaching 106.6 million yuan and on-site retail sales of 350,000 yuan. The Bei'an Municipal Bureau of Agriculture and Rural Affairs will continue advancing the systematic project of "building a solid foundation with good farmland, empowering with technology, revitalizing industry, and enriching farmers and increasing income" to promote quality improvement and efficiency enhancement of the soybean industry.
Summary: The 2026 Global People Annual Ceremony, themed "Toward the New · Resonance," was held in the Bazhong Economic Development Zone, Sichuan, where guests discussed topics including carrying forward the red gene, forging major national instruments of power, promoting traditional culture, and opening up new industrial tracks. Luo Yuan, former Deputy Director and Researcher of the World Military Studies Department, Academy of Military Sciences, spoke on the Long March spirit, citing Mao Zedong and British general Montgomery on its significance. Ren He, specially invited Vice President of the China Industrial Design Association, addressed industrial design innovation and the low-altitude economy, while Josef Gregory Mahoney, Professor at East China Normal University, discussed China's technological transformation and industrial upgrading. Other speakers covered historical research on ordinary people, AI and financial cycles, cultural inheritance, and Bazhong's development in sodium batteries and the low-altitude economy.
Summary: The 44th China Kaifeng Chrysanthemum Culture Festival is being held in Kaifeng, Henan Province, from October 18 to November 17. The festival aims to showcase the city's thousand-year Song Dynasty charm and stimulate economic vitality by transforming cultural tourism traffic into industrial empowerment. Alongside the festival, the city hosted the 2026 Kaifeng Industrial Investment and Cooperation Exchange Conference and the 2026 China Auto Supply Chain Conference. Kaifeng is currently focusing on high-quality development through advanced manufacturing, Zhengzhou-Kaifeng integration, and the expansion of its chrysanthemum industry. The city is also working toward building itself into an internationally renowned cultural tourism city.
Summary: The article reports that localities across China have tapped into local distinctive resources to cultivate industries through agricultural quality improvement, cultural-tourism integration, and ecological empowerment, advancing comprehensive rural revitalization. Foreign friends have used cameras to record the industrial transformation, cultural charm, and landscape beauty of villages throughout the country, experiencing the vitality of China's rural areas. The text was compiled and edited by People's Daily reporters Zhang Bolan, Yang Wenming, Shao Yuzi, Dou Hanyang, Tian Xianjin, Zhang Yunhe, and Zhou Huan.
Summary: The article reflects on the 90th anniversary of the Red Army's Long March victory, using bridge crossings along the route as symbols of the enduring Long March spirit. It contrasts historical hardships with modern achievements, citing General Secretary Xi Jinping on the Party's reliance on revolutionary spirit and desperate struggle. The piece highlights transformations in infrastructure and livelihoods, from Yudu to Luding and the Wei River, as evidence of putting the people first and rural revitalization. It concludes that the tangible and intangible bridges of spirit carry China's progress, urging continued effort on the new Long March road.
Summary: The article describes how five modern bridges over the Yudu River in Yudu County, Jiangxi, named "Red Army," "Long March," "Rally," "River Crossing," and "Victory," have replaced the pontoon bridges built by locals in 1934 to ferry 86,000 Red Army soldiers on the Long March, with officials like Zhong Min and Liu Jiasheng recalling the transformation. It also covers seven bridges spanning the Dadu River in Luding, Sichuan, including the historic Luding Bridge and the Chengnan Bridge, with docent Mao Jiayu and official Yang Kaichang highlighting improved transport and tourism. The Wujiang Extra-Large Bridge in Weng'an, built by China Communications Construction Company, is noted as China's largest-span concrete arch bridge on a single-track railway, with project head Lei Chaoyang framing it as a new-era "flying crossing" of the Red Army's forced river crossing. In Wushan County, Gansu, the Weihe River Bridge in Yuanyang Town supports local agriculture and red tourism, with deputy Party secretary Xian Shenghua emphasizing economic gains and cultural preservation. The piece ties these infrastructure achievements to the enduring Long March spirit, noting each generation faces its own challenges.
Summary: China's economy is moving toward the new and the superior, as evidenced by third-quarter data showing that high-end manufacturing, the digital-intelligence economy, and modern services contributed over 40 percent to economic growth. The equipment manufacturing sector has emerged as a prominent "ballast stone," contributing nearly 90 percent of the export increment in the first three quarters. Growth is being driven by the development of new quality productive forces, including significant capital investment increases in frontier fields such as artificial intelligence and humanoid robots. Additionally, the industrial structure is optimizing through the green and intelligent transformation of traditional industries and the implementation of major national projects. Despite a complex international environment, the report emphasizes maintaining strategic resolve to achieve high-quality development goals.
Summary: The article reports on Yudu County's development of a textile and garment industry, which now gathers over 3,850 enterprises, employs about 300,000 people, and exceeds 100 billion yuan in total revenue. It traces the industry's evolution from simple OEM work to diversified, functional, and fashionable products, supported by R&D platforms and digital-intelligent transformation. Production has shifted from hand sewing to smart manufacturing, with over 80 percent of enterprises above designated size completing digital-intelligence upgrades. The county is also pushing toward both ends of the value chain by fostering creative design and cultivating local brands, with 135 proprietary trademarks and a 42.2 percent self-created brand rate among garment enterprises above designated size. The article highlights the industry's historical roots, referencing the Central Red Army's 1934 crossing of the Yudu River and a sewing machine carried by a Red Army soldier, linking past and present.
Summary: The Shanxi Museum has launched a new cultural and creative product, the "Worry-Relieving Museum" assembly display piece, which reproduces the museum's architectural charm and features the Western Zhou bronze ritual vessel Jin Marquis Bird Zun at its center. The product uses traditional mortise-and-tenon craftsmanship and a cross-sectional design, blending ancient architecture, cultural relics, and trendy play styles to offer young consumers an experiential and immersive cultural and creative experience. Yao Xiang, head of cultural and creative products at Shanxi Jin Guan Cultural and Creative Development Co., Ltd., said young consumers are more willing to pay for experience and emotional value, and that the product aims to make museums "sanctuaries for healing body and mind" while breaking stereotypical labels of solemnity. The product was officially launched in July 2026 and became an instant hit, leading Shanxi's summer cultural and museum consumption market. Yao Xiang added that the team will use more scenario-based language and specific elements of museum cultural relics to build a "living hall" of the museum and stimulate stronger consumption vitality.
Summary: The article commemorates the Long March as a heroic epic of revolutionary faith, highlighting five enduring stories from the route: Chen Shuxiang's defense of his oath at the Xiang River, a quartermaster's self-sacrifice on snowy mountains, a half belt symbolizing faith in the grasslands, a half quilt warming hearts in Shazhou Village, and Red Army noodles forging military-civilian bonds in Shanjiacun. It urges readers to draw fervent faith and continuous spiritual vitality from these tales.
Summary: The article recounts a visit to the tomb of Red Army Division Commander Chen Shuxiang in Daoxian County, Hunan, who died in 1934 after being captured during the Xiang River battle and famously twisted off his own intestines. The author describes the Chen Shuxiang Red Culture Park, built starting in 2014, which includes an exhibition hall, cemetery, and martyr monument, where Chen's remains were reburied in 2019 alongside other Red Army martyrs. Local official Xiao Jiang accompanied the author, noting that county residents have preserved Chen's memory and that his head was displayed in Changsha while his body was secretly buried by locals. The author reflects on Chen's willpower and faith, and notes that visitors left cigarettes at his grave, connecting the gesture to Zhou Dunyi's lotus symbolism from Daoxian. The piece emphasizes the enduring reverence for Chen's sacrifice and the park's role in carrying forward his moral integrity.
Summary: The article recounts the author's visit to Xingguo County, Jiangxi, where Red Army wives sang folk songs about expanding the Red Army, prompting an old senior officer to tell the story of a quartermaster who froze to death while crossing snow mountains. The author then wrote "The Monument," a short piece published in the *PLA Daily*, which became his most widely influential work. In later campus speeches, students asked why the quartermaster gave his coat away, and the author answered that it was an ordinary act, linking it back to the folk songs and the spirit of sacrifice.
Summary: The article recounts the story of Zhou Guangcai, a Red Army soldier who kept half a cowhide belt as a memento of the Long March, later branding it with the characters "Record of the Long March." The author parallels this with their own military training experience of surviving three days in a remote mountain, where they faced blisters, rain, and difficulty starting fires. Zhou and his comrades, reduced to seven men, boiled leather from gun slings and shoe supports to survive, and agreed to carry the belt to Yan'an to see Chairman Mao. Six comrades fell, but the squad leader urged Zhou to take the belt out, and he ultimately reached Yan'an. The author's squad also completed their mission, carrying a dizzy comrade to the rendezvous point, reflecting on the endurance and solidarity of both past and present soldiers.
Summary: The article is a personal narrative by a native of Xiji, Ningxia, recounting how the Red Army's Long March through Shanjiaji taught locals to make potato vermicelli, which became known as "Red Army vermicelli." The author describes learning red stories from elders and martyrs' descendants, including how the Red Army was approachable and easy to get along with, giving salt, medicine, and silver dollars to locals. A fellow townsman, Xie Hongyi, built the Red Army Village Long March Spirit Experience Base using old cave dwellings, and the dish remains popular with tourists. The article notes that "Red Army vermicelli" is now sold nationwide as a calling card for the hometown, symbolizing an unbreakable thread connecting Xiji's past and present.
Summary: The article is a photo report featuring the "Great Expedition" section of the "Long March Sculpture Group" at the National Art Museum of China, created by Wu Weishan. It highlights the artistic representation of the Long March through sculpture. No officials, statements, or U.S.-related content are mentioned.
Summary: The article recounts the author's visits to Shazhou Yao Village in Hunan, centered on the "half quilt" story of three female Red Army soldiers who shared and then split a quilt with villager Xu Jiexiu in 1934, defining the Communist Party as those who "cut off half" their quilt for the common folk. The author describes the village's later poverty-alleviation efforts, including team leader Huang Fei's plans to blend red revolutionary resources, green ecology, and ancient culture, and Xu Jiexiu's grandson Zhu Xiaohong's rise from poverty through training and entrepreneurship. At the 2024 "village gala," the author reflects that the half quilt's warmth endures in the village's development and in every Communist Party member's heart.
Congratulatory Letter
On the occasion of the 70th anniversary of the founding of the Central Institute of Socialism, I hereby extend my congratulations!
Over the past 70 years, the Central Institute of Socialism has adhered to the principle that "the Institute of Socialism must uphold its socialist character," cultivating a large number of non-CPC personages' representatives who have worked with one heart and one mind (同心同德, tong xin tong de - "same, heart, same, virtue") with the Communist Party of China in united struggle, making important contributions to consolidating and developing the patriotic united front.
At this new starting point, I hope you will take Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era as your guide, firmly grasp the correct direction for running the institute, continuously strengthen political training, broadly consolidate political consensus, constantly raise the standards of teaching, research, and institute governance, further play your role in the training of united front personnel, theoretical research, and the dissemination of principles and policies, and better serve the overall work of the Party and the state.
Xi Jinping
October 20, 2026
(Xinhua News Agency, Beijing, October 20)
(People's Daily, Beijing, October 20) On the occasion of the 70th anniversary of the founding of the Central Institute of Socialism, Xi Jinping, General Secretary of the CPC Central Committee, President of the state, and Chairman of the Central Military Commission, sent a congratulatory letter to express his congratulations.
Xi Jinping pointed out in his congratulatory letter that over the past 70 years, the Central Institute of Socialism has adhered to the principle that "the Institute of Socialism must uphold its socialist character," cultivating a large number of non-CPC personages' representatives who have worked with one heart and one mind with the Communist Party of China in united struggle, making important contributions to consolidating and developing the patriotic united front.
Xi Jinping emphasized that at this new starting point, he hopes they will take Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era as their guide, firmly grasp the correct direction for running the institute, continuously strengthen political training, broadly consolidate political consensus, constantly raise the standards of teaching, research, and institute governance, further play their role in the training of united front personnel, theoretical research, and the dissemination of principles and policies, and better serve the overall work of the Party and the state. (The full text of the congratulatory letter is issued separately.)
The celebration conference marking the 70th anniversary of the founding of the Central Institute of Socialism was held in Beijing on the 20th. At the conference, Xi Jinping's congratulatory letter was read out. Wang Huning, member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and chairman of the CPPCC National Committee, attended and delivered a speech.
In his speech, Wang Huning stated that General Secretary Xi Jinping specifically sent an important congratulatory letter on the occasion of the 70th anniversary of the founding of the Central Institute of Socialism, fully affirming the achievements made and contributions rendered by the Central Institute of Socialism over the past 70 years, profoundly elucidating the direction and requirements for strengthening the construction of the institute and better playing its role on the new journey of the new era, fully reflecting General Secretary Xi Jinping's high regard for the cause of the united front and multiparty cooperation, and his warm concern for the Central Institute of Socialism, providing important guidance for doing the work of the socialist institutes well. We must earnestly study and comprehend it, and work to implement it thoroughly.
Wang Huning stated that over the past 70 years, the CPC Central Committee has always attached importance to and cared about the construction and development of the socialist institutes. In particular, since the 18th CPC National Congress, the CPC Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core, keeping in view the long-term development of the cause of the united front and multiparty cooperation, has made important arrangements for strengthening the education and training of united front personnel and the work of the socialist institutes, leading and promoting the socialist institutes to achieve new development in the new era. On the new journey, the Central Institute of Socialism must adhere to Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era as its guide, thoroughly study and implement General Secretary Xi Jinping's important thought on doing the Party's united front work well in the new era, firmly grasp the correct political direction that "the Institute of Socialism must uphold its socialist character," and guide trainees to profoundly understand the decisive significance of the Two Establishments (两个确立) and resolutely achieve the Two Upholds (两个维护). It must strengthen the principal responsibility and main business of political consensus education, continuously strengthen political training, and broadly consolidate political consensus. It must make every effort to raise the quality of education, and better promote the education and training of united front personnel. It must persevere in advancing strict governance of the institute in all respects, achieving strict governance of the institute, strict governance of teaching, and strict governance of learning.
Li Ganjie, member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and head of the United Front Work Department of the CPC Central Committee, presided over the conference. Wu Weihua, vice chairman of the NPC Standing Committee and president of the Central Institute of Socialism, and Ding Zhongli, vice chairman of the NPC Standing Committee and chairman of the Central Committee of the China Democratic League, each delivered addresses.
Leaders of the central committees of the democratic parties, the All-China Federation of Industry and Commerce, and representatives of non-CPC personages, responsible comrades of relevant departments of the central Party and state organs, principal responsible comrades of the socialist institutes of all provinces, autonomous regions, municipalities directly under the central government, cities with separate planning status, and the Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps, as well as representatives of trainees, faculty, staff, and veteran comrades of the Central Institute of Socialism, attended the conference.
Return to TopBy: 本报记者 张 铁 高 炳
How long does it take to travel from Ruijin, Jiangxi, to Yan'an, Shaanxi?
More than 90 years ago, the Central Red Army found the answer in "straw sandals": about 12 months. Today, a vibrant China writes a new chapter with the "Fuxing" high-speed train: 11 hours and 32 minutes.
In October 2022, General Secretary Xi Jinping noted during an inspection in Yan'an: "This visit to Yan'an, I see a scene of abundant and fruitful harvest, greatly improved transportation conditions, and undergoing tremendous changes" and "the villagers are living good lives, but they must continue to strive forward and make life even better."
Yan'an is a lamp that illuminated the deep darkness of the revolutionary era. Today, the old revolutionary base area in northern Shaanxi, bearing in mind General Secretary Xi Jinping's earnest instructions, has opened new journeys on thoroughfares and pursues its dreams in the new era.
At 22:34 on September 6, the first direct high-speed rail train from Ruijin to Yan'an, traversing more than 1,800 kilometers, slowly pulled into Yan'an Station. "The high-speed rail has broken through the barriers of a thousand mountains, linking the 'Red Capital' with the 'Holy Land.'" Hou Xiaoting, deputy station master of Yan'an Station under China Railway Xi'an Group, was deeply moved.
Ninety years have passed, and the great spirit of the Long March is becoming more vibrant with the passage of time.
From Yan'an to Xi'an, the initial train journey took 14 hours; today, the fastest high-speed rail trip takes only 68 minutes. Zhe Zhengqian, a 92-year-old Yan'an resident, has been closely following the progress of railway construction in the old revolutionary base area. At the end of last year, the Xi'an-Yan'an high-speed railway opened, ushering Yan'an into the "high-speed rail era."
"Building the high-speed rail through the Loess Plateau was no easy task, which is sharing the same origin or tradition with the great spirit of the Long March." Unable to contain his excitement, the elderly Zhe Zhengqian picked up his brush and wrote a poem: "Rainbow flies, rainbow flies, crossing mountains and ridges, the spring breeze blows..."
Riding the train to the holy land, there are both "old friends" and "young people."
Entering the Yangjialing Revolutionary Site in Yan'an, sunlight filters through the treetops and falls on the blue bricks and gray tiles of the Central Auditorium. Visitors from all over gather here to read together the "book that can never be finished reading."
"Stepping into the cave dwellings, looking at the desks and oil lamps, it feels as if I can touch the revolutionary years." Zhao Yuchen, 14, from Shangluo, Shaanxi, came to Yan'an specially with his parents for a visit. Here, he saw yellowed photographs, guns from the Long March, and patched military uniforms. "The knowledge in books suddenly became three-dimensional and vivid."
Red Yan'an is welcoming more "youthful figures": the "New Era Youth Yan'an Journey" social practice activity has become a "walking grand ideological and political course" for college students; the increasingly convenient transportation network has kept family trips and study tours steadily warming up...
As of the end of August this year, the "Go to Yan'an · Sanqin Students' Holy Land Journey" red education special train has served 98 universities and 41,000 teachers and students across Shaanxi Province.
"The revolutionary sites of Yan'an preserve the eternal red spirit." He Dongmei, executive deputy director of the Yan'an Municipal Cultural Heritage Bureau, said that in 2025, more than 50 million visits were made to Yan'an to experience its "red charm."
"Coming to Yan'an" opens its arms wide; "setting out from Yan'an" strides forward at a brisk pace. The people of the old revolutionary base area have walked out of the mountains and onto a broader stage.
In the autumn of northern Shaanxi, apple branches are bent low with fruit. Du Wangjun, a fruit merchant in Luochuan County, Yan'an, has entered his busiest season again.
"In the past, when out-of-town clients came to the orchards to see the fruit, I would drive to Xi'an to pick them up, a round trip of 5 hours," Du Wangjun said. Now, with the high-speed rail, it takes just 1 hour one way. "Clients can come and go in a single day, and costs have dropped significantly. I'm planning to expand partnerships in the Guanzhong region."
The improved road network has opened a "new channel" for Luochuan apples, making "picking in the morning, on the table by evening" a reality.
"In half a day, Luochuan apples can reach Xi'an and Beijing. Within 24 hours, they can reach the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area," said Sun Dongqi, a staff member of Luochuan County Yangang Economic and Trade Fruit Industry Co., Ltd. "The loss rate during transport has also dropped from the original 15% to below 2%."
Empowered by the high-speed rail, the people of the old revolutionary base area carry a good "golden carrying pole." In 2025, Yan'an's total apple planting area reached 3.321 million mu, with a production of 5.279 million tons, and the output value of the entire industrial chain exceeded 60 billion yuan.
A Yan'an on the move, embracing a broader world—
In July this year, the Yan'an East Ring Expressway opened to traffic, completing the "closed loop" of the ring expressway; the Yan'an-Yulin high-speed railway is progressing steadily, which will further link the two cities in northern Shaanxi and improve the regional high-speed rail network; Yan'an Airport has opened 21 routes covering 31 domestic cities, with a provincial-level accessibility rate of 80.7%...
More than 90 years ago, the Central Red Army arrived in northern Shaanxi, which was the final destination of the Long March. Today, the old revolutionary base area in northern Shaanxi is accelerating and picking up speed, merging into the surging "main artery" of China's onward march.
Return to TopBy: 本报记者 孙 振 邝西曦
The wheel of the times moves forward, and the echoes of history are long and resonant.
"The new journey is a new Long March" — in this major assertion of General Secretary Xi Jinping lies the consistent from beginning to end (一以贯之, yi yi guan zhi - "one through all") steadfastness of Communists, and the display of the great power of carrying forward the struggle.
Situated amid a century of transformation, facing risks and challenges, the "15th Five-Year Plan" that begins the grand blueprint — 16 major strategic tasks and 109 major engineering projects — is drawn, set in motion, and broken through, stroke by stroke, how solidly.
Just like that great expedition over 90 years ago that shook the world, crossing nearly a hundred rivers, scaling more than 40 high mountains and perilous peaks, seeking the way, moving and turning, breaking through encirclement, step by step, how resolutely.
Step by step, walking resolutely, crossing the long river of years, spreading out the splendid chapters of a flourishing age.
Looking back from the time node of the 90th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese Workers' and Peasants' Red Army's Long March, ninety years of surging storms — what has enabled generation after generation of Communists to go forward with determination and work together with one heart and mind (勠力同心, lu li tong xin - "exert strength, same heart")? How did we walk step by step to today, and on the new journey, how do we "walk the new Long March road with one heart and one mind"?
Reflecting on the past in light of the present (抚今追昔, fu jin zhui xi - "touch present, trace past"), there is enlightenment from history and the times.
Faith and Strength
One answer is written in the "great expedition of ideals and convictions."
"How many of those who survived the Long March are still alive? What did the Red Army soldiers rely on? What were they after?" Speaking of the Long March, General Secretary Xi Jinping once asked these questions with deep feeling.
Listen to history's answer.
Chen Shuxiang, a Red Army division commander only 29 years old, would rather have his intestines cut than break his backbone; the Xiangjiang Campaign that wrote a tragic epic — "every inch of land soaked with a thousand drops of Red Army blood, every step a heroic body"; on the 25,000-li march of the First Front Red Army, on average one Red Army soldier fell every 300 meters... Scene after scene deeply engraved in the national memory, the General Secretary has told them with emotion time and again.
Look at how the times write.
When the smoke of gunpowder dissipated, generation after generation of Communists stepped forward one after another to devote themselves to the "new Long March": "veteran of a hundred battles" Wang Zhanshan, "lamp-lighting principal" Zhang Guimei, "white-robed angel on horseback" Wuhasi Sulaiman, "alley housekeeper" Wu Yaqin... On the centenary of the Party's founding and the 105th anniversary of its founding, the General Secretary conferred upon them the Party's highest honor, the "July 1 Medal," emphasizing that "their deeds can be learned and emulated, and their spirit can be pursued and attained."
Observe by linking history and the present. From the "great Long March" to the "new Long March," from breaking through encirclement and pursuit to marching toward national rejuvenation, practice repeatedly confirms General Secretary Xi Jinping's profound exposition: "With faith in the heart, there is strength underfoot"; "As long as ideals and convictions are present, the Party's cause will surely succeed"...
The truer the faith, the greater the strength.
This also vividly explains why, in the new era of striving and forging ahead, the Party has been able to lead the people to green the deserts, build roads on the plateau, and break through thorns in scientific and technological research; why, in the face of technological blockades and trade barriers, under overwhelming pressure (泰山压顶, tai shan ya ding - "Mount Tai, press top") so many times, through so many storms and high waves, we have remained "unshakable as a mountain amid wind and rain," turning crises into opportunities and dangers into safety time and again.
The greater the strength, the deeper the faith.
At the 20th Party Congress, General Secretary Xi Jinping clearly proposed "carrying forward the spiritual pedigree of Chinese Communists with the great founding spirit of the Party as its source." Thus, on the new journey, the great founding spirit of the Party, the Long March spirit, the spirit of the battle against poverty... one glorious coordinate after another, like lamps and flames, broaden and lead the spiritual channel of national rejuvenation.
The power of faith is also the power of thought and the power of action.
Since the new era began, nine rounds of concentrated Party education, each time led by ideological education, closely linked (环环相扣, huan huan xiang kou - "ring, ring, interlock") and advancing step by step... always deeply cultivating the spiritual soil, "always keeping the forward direction on course." For this reason, consolidating the foundation of thought, the times have produced many old Party members like Zhang Fuqing and Zhang Liansheng, who believe in their faith for a lifetime and keep it for a lifetime, and countless builders who rushed to Xiong'an, "submitting to the needs of the Party, springing into action at the sound of the order."
The power of faith is also the power of struggle and the power of youth.
In the opening year of the "15th Five-Year Plan," Chinese modernization has entered a critical period of consolidating the foundation and exerting full force. At the celebration of the 105th anniversary of the founding of the Communist Party of China, the General Secretary issued the call to "strengthen confidence and continue the struggle" — this is also the call of the original aspiration that remains burning hot across a hundred years of wind and rain. From "a single red boat" to "a towering giant ship," walking upward step by step, every step of the stairs is soaked with the sweat of a generation, and every "Long March" embodies the strength of continuity.
In the Long March ranks, about 54% were under 24 years old; since the 18th Party Congress, among newly developed Party members each year, those aged 35 and under account for more than 80%. At this very celebration, the General Secretary again encouraged the youth to "run the historical relay well on the new journey."
The expectations are deep. From the "sparks of youth" on the Long March road to the "strength of youth" on the new journey, what changes is the road underfoot; what does not change is the light of faith.
Truth and Practice
One answer is written in the "great expedition of testing truth."
Greatness lies in the distance of the journey and the intensity of the battles, but even more in the tempering of thought and the turning of the tide. The "Resolution of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China on the Major Achievements and Historical Experience of the Party over the Past Century" evaluates the Zunyi Conference, this life-and-death great turning point in Party history, in these terms —
"It in fact established Comrade Mao Zedong's leading position in the Party Central Committee and the Red Army, began to establish the leading position of the correct Marxist line represented mainly by Comrade Mao Zedong in the Party Central Committee, began to form the Party's first generation of central leadership collective with Comrade Mao Zedong at its core, opened a new stage in which the Party independently solved the practical problems of the Chinese revolution, and at the most critical juncture saved the Party, saved the Red Army, and saved the Chinese revolution."
The great turning point — four weighty characters — condenses a momentous history. After the Zunyi Conference, our Party, with fearless practical spirit, tested truth in practice, corrected errors, and then "crossed the Chishui River four times with surprise troops" and "lured the tiger from the mountain to strike at Jinsha," breaking out of the ring of encirclement and also forging a new path of life and victory for the Sinicization of Marxism.
The great turning point guides the present and the future. Looking toward the new era's journey over mountains and waters, which step forward is not engraved with the distinct mark of being grounded in reality and rooted in practice? As General Secretary Xi Jinping has profoundly explained: "Truth can only be tested in practice, and truth can only be established in practice."
As practice advances one step, the understanding of truth deepens one level.
Facing sluggish global growth and the domestic "three-phase superposition," emphasizing "establishing consciousness and confidence in the new development philosophy"; facing the rise of economic anti-globalization, proposing that building the new development pattern "is a strategic layout and first move for grasping the initiative in future development"; facing the accelerated evolution of a new round of technological revolution and industrial transformation, profoundly answering major theoretical and practical questions such as "what new quality productive forces are, why we must develop them, and how to develop them"...
Continuously guiding new practice with new theory, a series of pioneering strategic deployments together weave the broad warp and weft of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, propelling the Party's innovative theory in the new era to achieve a "new leap."
The deeper the understanding of truth, the more unified the thought.
Look at each localized Marxism: the strategy of targeted poverty alleviation rewrote the history of poverty reduction for humanity; comprehensive rural revitalization spread out a new picture of common prosperity; "lucid waters and lush mountains are invaluable assets" transformed the concept of development... The power of one truth after another has taken root on the more than 9.6 million square kilometers of Chinese land and in the hearts of hundreds of millions of people.
That victory 90 years ago "realized unprecedented unity of the whole Party on the basis of pursuing truth and upholding truth"; 90 years later, striding forward on the new journey of comprehensively building a modern socialist country, new thought leads new practice, and the Two Establishments, the major political achievement of the Party in the new era, has become the greatest certainty, the greatest confidence, and the greatest guarantee for overcoming all difficulties and dangers and responding to all uncertainties.
Looking back, looking forward.
Ninety years of clouds and smoke pass before the eyes. One "new Long March" after another has crossed ten thousand mountains and rivers, "crossed over the erroneous ideological obstacle of regarding Marxism as an unchangeable dogma," and generation after generation of Communists have continued the struggle, combining the basic principles of Marxism with China's specific realities and with China's excellent traditional culture, opening up a new realm of the Sinicization and modernization of Marxism.
On the centenary of the Party's founding, General Secretary Xi Jinping clearly put forward the major thesis of the Two Integrations. The "second integration" is "another ideological emancipation," in which confidence in the path, confidence in theory, confidence in the system, and confidence in culture are all fused, guiding Communists of the new era to explore innovation in theory and institutions in a broader cultural space and field of practice.
Opening the report of the 20th Party Congress, "opening up a new realm of the Sinicization and modernization of Marxism" forms an independent chapter, writing the declaration that "practice has no end, and theoretical innovation has no end"; looking again at the Party's six excellent qualities, "resolutely pursuing truth and always keeping the forward direction on course" is placed first — the word "resolutely" is full of the writing of history and heralds the opening of a new road.
The 25,000 li trodden out by straw sandals that year wrote the end point of the great victory and also the magnificent opening chapter of the combination of truth and practice. Yan'an, the stopping point of the Long March, became the "starting point of victory."
Original Aspiration and Constant Aspiration
One answer is written in the "great expedition of awakening the people."
Among them, the well-known story of the "half quilt" carries the weight of time.
In September 2020, while inspecting Hunan, General Secretary Xi Jinping made a special trip to the home of Zhu Xiaohong, grandson of Xu Jiexiu in Shazhou Yao Village. Zhu Xiaohong told the General Secretary about the great changes in Shazhou Village, and his plain words voiced sincere feelings: "In the past, the Red Army gave us half a quilt; now the Party has brought us a happy life."
Looking at the happy family, the General Secretary responded: "The changes in your family also illustrate a truth: Communists always serve the people, and once they make a promise, they must fulfill it."
This promise originated at the time of the Red Boat's setting sail, spanning a hundred years of wind and rain, growing stronger with time. During an inspection in Jiangxi in May 2019, the General Secretary said with deep feeling: "To take the people's heart as one's own heart, to breathe the same breath as the people, share the same fate, and be heart to heart with them, is the Party's original aspiration and also the Party's constant aspiration."
From the "half quilt" to the "happy life," understanding the original aspiration and the constant aspiration, understanding the persistence that has remained the same for a hundred years as one day, one can also understand why this great expedition was able to awaken the people, and why it is said that "when the Red Army wins battles, the people are the mountain of support."
Because the original aspiration is as firm as a rock, because the constant aspiration is as strong as iron.
One road shows action. For the route selection of the Xi'an-Yan'an high-speed railway, it could have followed the river valley in a straight line, but instead chose to set up a station in Luochuan, Yan'an, Shaanxi, investing an additional 1.8 billion yuan and adding 9 kilometers of main line, all so that the people of the old revolutionary base area in northern Shaanxi could ride high-speed trains. Chinese modernization has never made the choice of "eliminating anyone" and has always upheld the promise that "not one can be left behind."
One chart shows warmth. Opening the outline of the "15th Five-Year Plan," among the 20 major indicators, 7 concern people's livelihood, and among the 109 major engineering projects, 25 are livelihood projects. In planning the work of the "15th Five-Year Plan" period, the General Secretary said with earnest words: "Take benefiting the people as the fundamental value orientation."
In the original aspiration lies the power of the people.
Take the compilation of the "15th Five-Year Plan" blueprint: there is the General Secretary's earnest concern — "extensively and deeply observe people's conditions, listen to people's voices, and gather people's wisdom" — and there is the small contributions accumulating into a great whole (涓滴汇海, juan di hui hai - "small drops, converge sea") of more than 3.11 million online suggestions from netizens.
Look again at the grand blueprint of Chinese modernization: the green miracle of Saihanba, the sustained, long-term effort of the Thousand-Village Demonstration and Ten-Thousand-Village Improvement Project, the vigorous growth of the "millennium city"... Which of these did not extensively mobilize the masses and firmly rely on the people? Just like that great expedition of yesteryear — the simple emotion of the "half quilt," the deep friendship of the "Yi Sea Alliance," the fish-and-water interdependence of "Seeing Off the Red Army Ten Times"... Which of these was not a case of military and civilians working together in unity (军民同心, jun min tong xin - "army, people, same heart"), winning people's hearts with the original aspiration and forging miracles?
Guiding the new journey, the General Secretary's words are full of historical philosophical insight: "The people are our Party's greatest confidence in governance, the solid foundation of our Republic, and the fundamental source of our Party's strength and our nation's prosperity."
In the constant aspiration lies the winning of the people's trust.
There are two observations. Ninety years ago, American journalist Edgar Snow interviewed in the northern Shaanxi Soviet area for several months, and in his book Red Star Over China he evaluated the Red Army: "China's only army that is politically made of iron"; ninety years later today, international figures discuss the new era's efforts to improve Party conduct and enforce discipline: "providing experience worth learning from," "the people's trust and support are continuously growing"...
As the years pass, one witnesses the enduring persistence spanning ninety years: from the "Three Main Rules of Discipline and Eight Points for Attention" during the war years, defeating the "Xi'an style" with the "Yan'an style," to the proposal of the "Two Musts" on the eve of the founding of New China, and then to the introduction of the Eight-Point Regulation in the new era and the "Three Musts" proposed in the report of the 20th Party Congress... A Party that "focuses on strengthening itself" is also a Party that is "deeply rooted in the people."
The upcoming Fifth Plenary Session of the 20th Central Committee of the Party will conduct in-depth study on "persisting in full and rigorous self-governance of the Party." The mission and responsibility of "offending thousands of people rather than failing 1.4 billion" originates from the resounding echo deep in history, merging into stage after stage of governing and strengthening the Party in the new era.
Overall Situation and Overall Picture
One answer is written in the "great expedition of opening up a new situation."
"What was traversed were high mountains and steep ridges, what was crossed were great rivers and dangerous shoals, what was passed through were grasslands and wastelands," General Secretary Xi Jinping reviewed this great expedition and profoundly pointed out that "every leg of the journey, every breakout, and every battle proceeded from the strategic overall picture."
One river bears witness to history. Back then, crossing the Chishui River four times, strategizing in a desperate situation, each crossing grasped the overall situation and examined the details, not confined to one city or one piece of land, and only thus turned passivity into initiative.
One road spreads out a new journey. The path of Chinese modernization, growing ever wider, breaks through and opens the way amid a century of transformation; each step, with far-reaching deliberation, not trapped by one moment or one domain, ultimately accumulates small victories into great victories.
Examining the past to know the future, one can better comprehend the power of thought: "To walk today's Long March road well, we must grasp the direction, command the overall situation, and coordinate the overall picture"; "On the new Long March road, we must base ourselves on the world situation, national conditions, and Party conditions, coordinate both the domestic and international overall situations, and coordinate the overall picture of the Party's and the nation's development"...
Coordinating both the domestic and international overall situations involves a strategic initiative.
In the face of external technological blockades, striving to break through, one "stuck neck" list after another has gradually become a research list and a results list; in the face of the countercurrent of protectionism, successively becoming major trading partners with 169 countries and regions, the concept that "being a partner with China means being a partner with opportunity" has taken deep root in people's hearts; in the face of global climate governance challenges, taking the initiative to propose the "dual carbon" goals, driving new energy industries such as photovoltaics and wind power to lead the world...
In the new era China, within the overall situation of "internal and external," there is the grasp of "time and momentum" and the transformation of "crisis and opportunity"; in the final analysis, it is transforming external pressure into reform momentum, transforming domestic advantages into international competitiveness, and planning and deploying "China's governance" within the broad coordinate system of "the world's transformation."
Focusing on the strategic overall picture of the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation involves a historical initiative.
Studying the outline of the "15th Five-Year Plan," the term "high-quality development" appears more than 30 times, becoming the distinctive theme of economic and social development, in the same vein as the outline of the "14th Five-Year Plan." In this adherence to "long-termism," there is the accelerated cultivation of new quality productive forces, the accelerated construction of a super-large-scale market, and the accumulation of strength across the whole industrial chain... Item by item, consolidating the foundation of development, strengthening the resistance to risks, and focusing on the future of national rejuvenation.
Every step under a century of transformation is grounded in the present and anchored in the long term. Just like over 90 years ago, the arduous trek and breakout from a desperate situation were for the purpose of going north to save the nation; that great strategic shift firmly grasped destiny in one's own hands and linked the resolution of the survival crisis with saving the nation from peril.
As time advances, in the planning of "overall situation and overall picture," the mission and responsibility of Communists remain the same. From this, one can better perceive the significance and value of being the pillar in the midst of the current. As Comrade Mao Zedong once pointed out: "Who made the Long March victorious? It was the Communist Party. Without the Communist Party, such a Long March would be inconceivable."
In Xi Jinping's thought on Party building, the Fourteen Commitments shining with the light of truth, the first article states its purpose at the outset: "Upholding the Party's leadership is the most essential feature of socialism with Chinese characteristics." From the expedition that broke a path to survival to the new journey that rides the momentum, the Party has always, with its leadership commanding the overall picture, united the creativity of hundreds of millions of people and advanced forward through wind and rain without pause.
Advancing forward, the Party, dedicated to the eternal cause of the Chinese nation, leads the country and the nation to advance in the logic of historical progress and develop in the trend of the times. General Secretary Xi Jinping's words are calm and powerful —
"We must stay true to the Party's original aspiration and founding mission, walk the new Long March road with one heart and one mind, and create an even brighter future."
Return to Top(People's Daily, Dushanbe, October 20) (Reporter Wang Zhou) On October 20, Premier of the State Council Li Qiang attended the 25th Meeting of the Council of Heads of Government (Prime Ministers) of Member States of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization in Dushanbe. Leaders and representatives of SCO member states, guests of the host country, and heads of relevant international organizations attended the meeting, which was chaired by Tajikistan's Prime Minister Kokhir Rasulzoda.
Li Qiang stated that this year marks the 25th anniversary of the founding of the SCO. The September Bishkek Summit achieved a series of important outcomes, adding new momentum to the promotion of peace and development. At the same time, the world's destabilizing and uncertain factors are still increasing. President Xi Jinping pointed out at the summit that, standing at a crossroads concerning the future and destiny of humanity, the Shanghai Cooperation Organization should bravely shoulder historical responsibilities and take the initiative to lead the course of history. This requires us to better build consensus at the level of "principles," such as vision, philosophy, and thinking, and to better take action at the level of "practice," such as operations and implementation.
At the level of "principles," we should have a clear understanding of some fundamental issues. We must have the vision to discern the general trend. Currently, various ideological trends are clashing and colliding internationally, but world multipolarity and economic globalization represent the general trend of the times (大势所趋, da shi suo qu - "great trend, what is taken"). We must have the breadth of having a broad, global vision (胸怀天下, xiong huai tian xia - "chest, hold, all under heaven"). The SCO should continue to carry forward the Shanghai Spirit, committing itself both to regional stability and prosperity and to contributing to the common development of the world. We must have the perseverance of acting with perseverance to achieve long-term goals (笃行致远, du xing zhi yuan - "sincerely act, reach far"). SCO countries share the common aspiration of jointly promoting friendship, jointly safeguarding security, and jointly seeking development, and they need to maintain strategic focus, stay in close unity, and move forward with courage and determination.
At the level of "practice," we should strengthen coordination and pursue pragmatic innovation. China is willing to work hand in hand with member states to enhance the organization's operational efficiency, solidify and strengthen cooperation projects, give play to a demonstrative and leading role, promote the higher-quality development of the SCO, implement the four global initiatives proposed by President Xi Jinping, and build a community with a shared future for mankind. China is willing to strengthen coordination with all parties to complete as soon as possible the establishment of rules and regulations for the "four security centers," and is willing to fund the training of 1,000 medical personnel from SCO countries in China, continuously improving the well-being of people in the region.
Li Qiang pointed out that in recent years, the international community's calls for strengthening multilateralism and reforming and improving global governance have been growing louder. The SCO should strive to unite more international partners and demonstrate positive action at the global level. It is very important to place greater emphasis on seeking common ground while reserving differences (求同存异, qiu tong cun yi - "seek same, preserve difference") and on converging common ground while dissolving differences. We should strengthen economic and trade cooperation amid differences in endowments, promote regional economic integration, build a stable and resilient international transport corridor system, and maintain the stable and smooth functioning of global industrial and supply chains. We should seek common interests amid differences in demands and work together to safeguard world peace and stability. We should promote harmonious coexistence amid cultural differences.
Participating parties stated that since its founding 25 years ago, the SCO has continued to grow and strengthen, with its international influence increasing day by day (与日俱增, yu ri ju zeng - "with, day, together, increase"). All parties should actively implement the outcomes of the Tianjin Summit and the Bishkek Summit, further carry forward the Shanghai Spirit, strengthen communication and coordination, promote the high-quality development of the SCO, and make greater contributions to peace and development in the region and the world.
After the meeting, Li Qiang, together with the leaders of member states attending the meeting, signed and issued a joint communiqué, approving cooperation documents in the fields of trade and investment, industry, and connectivity, as well as relevant resolutions on SCO institutional development.
Return to Top(Xinhua News Agency, Xiong'an, October 20) (Reporter Qi Zhongxi) The founding conference of the National Data Group Co., Ltd. was held on October 20 in the Xiong'an New Area of Hebei Province. Ding Xuexiang, member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Vice Premier of the State Council, attended the conference and unveiled the plaque for the company's establishment.
Ding Xuexiang stated that the formation of the National Data Group Co., Ltd. is an important decision and deployment made by the Party Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core from an overall and strategic height, and is of great significance for fully seizing the opportunities presented by the development of artificial intelligence, accelerating the building of a Digital China, and forging new advantages in national competition. It is necessary to take Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era as the guide, and, in accordance with the requirements of the Party Central Committee and the State Council, do a solid job in the company's formation and operation, striving to build a world-class data science and technology enterprise.
Ding Xuexiang emphasized that the National Data Group must strengthen its sense of mission and responsibility, coordinate development and security, deepen services for data as a factor of production, accelerate the construction of data infrastructure, strengthen research on core and key technologies, and strive to play a strategic, leading, and supporting role in the data field. It must improve corporate governance, focus on its main business and core responsibilities, and establish and improve operational and management systems and mechanisms. It must carry the Party's leadership through the entire process and all aspects of the enterprise's formation and development, and promote the deep integration of Party building and business operations. Relevant departments at all levels must increase their support, relevant localities must ensure the provision of essential factors, and relevant enterprises must cooperate and coordinate, forming a joint force to promote the development of the data industry.
Responsible comrades from relevant departments of the Central Committee and state organs, some provinces and cities, relevant enterprises, and research institutes attended the conference.
Ding Xuexiang also went to China Satellite Network Group Co., Ltd., the Xiong'an campus of Beijing Jiaotong University, the Xiong'an campus of Peking University People's Hospital, and the Zhongguancun Science and Technology Park in the Xiong'an New Area for research and inspection. He emphasized that it is necessary to conscientiously implement the spirit of General Secretary Xi Jinping's important instructions, firmly grasp the functional positioning of the New Area, more effectively and orderly advance the relocation of Beijing's non-capital functions and their reception, strengthen policy guarantees and services, and promote the high-quality construction and development of the Xiong'an New Area to reach a new level of development (迈上新台阶, mai shang xin tai jie - "step on, new, platform, level").
Return to TopBy: 金社平
"China's economy has pressed forward against pressure, moved toward innovation and excellence, and demonstrated strong resilience and vitality."
In the opening year of the 15th Five-Year Plan, China's economy withstood pressure and maintained an overall stable development trend with progress amid stability. In the first three quarters, GDP grew by 4.6 percent year on year, with economic growth remaining within a reasonable range and the growth rate maintaining a leading position among major global economies.
Viewing China's current economy from a global perspective and historical standpoint, three prominent features are becoming increasingly distinct: its role as a global anchor of stability is further highlighted, the results of innovation-driven development are further manifested, and economic resilience is further strengthened.
Under the strong leadership of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core, we build on our strengths, discern trends, grasp the overall situation, unswervingly handle our own affairs well, respond to various uncertainties with the certainty of high-quality development, strive to accomplish the year's goals and tasks, and achieve a good start to the 15th Five-Year Plan.
(1)
China and the world — an increasingly clear proposition for development.
The Pearl River surges; at Pazhou, ten thousand merchants gather, jointly attending the 70-year appointment of "China's No. 1 Exhibition."
Over 70 years, the Canton Fair, which has "never missed a session," itself constitutes a narrative: at a time when the international economic order is under severe impact, China is using high-quality development to inject more stability and positive energy into a world interwoven with change and turmoil.
Creating prosperity together with the world and sharing the world's concerns — this is precisely the responsibility of a major country demonstrated by China as the "global anchor of stability."
The "anchor of stability" comes from the stable operation of the "No. 1 engine."
Since the beginning of this year, compared with some major economies mired in huge debts, sluggish growth, and high inflation, China's economic performance has been outstanding, with its growth rate in the first three quarters maintaining a leading position among major global economies. Research shows that for every 1 percentage point of China's economic growth, the output level of other economies will increase by an average of 0.3 percentage points.
In recent years, China's contribution rate to global economic growth has remained at around 30 percent, exceeding the total of the Group of Seven, making it deserving of the title without question (当之无愧, dang zhi wu kui - "be, worthy of, no, doubt") as the "No. 1 engine."
The "anchor of stability" comes from the stability and reliability of "Made in China."
In Europe, Chinese air conditioners have become a "summer necessity" for residents to resist high temperatures; in the Middle East, Chinese photovoltaics have become an important engine for energy transition... As global turmoil intensifies, China's advantages of a complete industrial system and strong supply chain resilience are further brought into play, providing strong support for the smooth circulation of the world economy.
In the first three quarters, China's goods trade exports grew by 16.4 percent year on year, with intermediate goods accounting for more than half of total export value, effectively playing the role of a "stabilizing anchor" in the global production and supply chain.
The "anchor of stability" comes from the opening-up strategy of the "largest standard-bearer."
From the implementation of the newly revised Foreign Trade Law, to becoming the first major economy in the world to achieve full coverage of zero-tariff treatment for all African countries with diplomatic relations and all least developed countries with diplomatic relations, since the beginning of this year, China, as the "largest standard-bearer in promoting trade and investment liberalization and facilitation," is providing the world with broader and more diverse market opportunities, investment opportunities, growth opportunities, and sustainable development opportunities. In the first three quarters, China's total imports and exports with countries jointly building the Belt and Road Initiative grew by 17.1 percent year on year, and imports and exports with emerging markets such as ASEAN and Africa also achieved rapid growth.
General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out: "Under the new circumstances, China is willing to join hands with countries around the world to jointly uphold the multilateral trading system, ensure the stable and smooth operation of global industrial and supply chains, expand the space for mutually beneficial international economic and trade cooperation, promote universally beneficial and inclusive economic globalization, and continuously inject new momentum into world development and prosperity."
Looking to the future, China's economy presents distinct features of a solid foundation, multiple advantages, strong resilience, and great potential. The supporting conditions and basic trend of long-term improvement have not changed, and it will remain the most powerful, most stable, and most reliable source of power for global economic growth.
(2)
With a large economic volume, moving forward requires greater driving force.
In the first three quarters, new growth drivers represented by high-end manufacturing, digital intelligence economy, and modern services maintained a contribution rate of over 40 percent to China's economic growth.
In a quiet computer room on the Inner Mongolia grassland, rows of dark-colored machines emit a humming sound. This is the world's largest AI computing power super unit — the Ulanqab Xinghe Base, where Tencent is combining its cloud computing and AI capabilities to provide computing power support for applications such as Hunyuan large model training and the AI efficiency office agent (WorkBuddy).
Starting from here, the invisible "computing power" is driving the economy to run rapidly. From growing potatoes to "growing" Tokens, from "bleak grassland" to "hot land of intelligent computing," the transformation of Ulanqab comes from developing new quality productive forces in light of local conditions.
General Secretary Xi Jinping emphasized that "during the 15th Five-Year Plan period, developing new quality productive forces in light of local conditions must be placed in a more prominent strategic position." On October 9, the "Opinions of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China and the State Council on Developing New Quality Productive Forces" was publicly released, transforming General Secretary Xi Jinping's original theory into an action guide.
As new quality productive forces are continuously converted into momentum for economic development, the results of China's innovation-driven development are further manifested. "The rapid growth of new growth drivers is a prominent highlight of this year's economic development," said Mao Shengyong, spokesperson for the National Bureau of Statistics.
New growth drivers come from the intensive emergence and application of innovation achievements.
The "Jiuzhang-4" quantum computing prototype was unveiled, the first flight of the Long March 10B was successful, and new breakthroughs were achieved in high-speed two-way laser communication between the Earth and the Moon... In this opening year, China's scientific and technological achievements are accelerating their transformation and application at the industrial level. New track industries such as artificial intelligence, new energy, and new materials continue to maintain high growth, and the supporting role of innovation-driven development for economic growth continues to strengthen.
New growth drivers come from the vigorous advancement of transformation and upgrading.
A piece of ceramics demonstrates the myriad manifestations of new quality productive forces taking root and flourishing (落地生根, luo di sheng gen - "fall, ground, grow, root").
In Jingdezhen, Jiangxi, 3D printing technology is used in ceramic production, helping the industry accelerate upgrading and development, with output value exceeding the 100 billion yuan mark; in Chaozhou, Guangdong, AI technology penetrates every link of ceramic R&D, design, production, and marketing, promoting the transformation of the traditional ceramic industry toward intelligence, high-end development, and branding; in Yixing, Jiangsu, technological transformation and capacity expansion projects are being intensively advanced, and the ceramic industry is accelerating its march into high value-added fields such as semiconductors and new energy...
"Developing new quality productive forces does not mean ignoring or abandoning traditional industries"; rather, it is necessary to revitalize traditional industries (老树发新芽, lao shu fa xin ya - "old, tree, emit, new, bud"). Today, in light of local conditions and through differentiated development, traditional industries and sectors, through digital, intelligent, and green transformation and continuous upgrading, are accelerating their advance toward the high end and constantly radiating new vitality.
Anchored to development goals, maintaining conscious action, unswervingly using new quality productive forces to ignite a new engine for high-quality development, and continuing with unremitting effort (驰而不息, chi er bu xi - "gallop, and, not, rest") to push China's economy to move toward "innovation" and toward "quality" for the long term.
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As the century-old transformation accelerates, the resilience and confidence of China's economy can be better understood in the details.
In the golden autumn season, the fragrance of rice pervades the shores of Dongting Lake. Agricultural machinery operator Zhang Daixiang drives a combine harvester to rush-harvest rice in the paddy fields of Caowei Town, Yuanjiang City, Hunan.
The conflict in the Middle East, thousands of kilometers away, once tugged at his heart: each hour of agricultural machinery operation consumes about 18 liters of diesel, and a sharp rise in oil prices would inevitably mean losses.
"Fortunately, the state acted in time." In early April this year, at the critical moment of spring plowing, the refined oil product price adjustment mechanism exerted its force in a timely manner. At the end of September, during the busy autumn harvest, the adjustment policy continued to show effect. What warmed Zhang Daixiang's heart even more was that the local government promptly opened a green channel for oil use, allowing agricultural machinery to "drink its fill of oil and work with full vigor."
After calculating, this year's operating area increased by more than 2,000 mu compared with last year, and net income increased by nearly 15,000 yuan.
When storms strike and crises test, the true capability of China's economy is revealed.
Facing violent fluctuations in the global energy market, some countries suffer energy shortages and high prices. In contrast, China, relying on forward-looking planning, a deep foundation, and effective responses, has ensured the smooth operation of thousands of industries and orderly energy use for hundreds of millions of households. In the first three quarters, crude oil and natural gas output above designated size both hit record highs for the same period in history; the increase in domestic gasoline prices was far smaller than the increase in international crude oil prices.
As the international situation remains turbulent, China's economic resilience has been further strengthened, stemming not only from the profound advantages accumulated through long-term development, but also from the institutional advantages of socialism with Chinese characteristics, the advantages of a super-large market, the advantages of a complete industrial system, and the advantages of abundant human resources.
Economic resilience has been further strengthened because macro-control capabilities are becoming increasingly sophisticated.
To cope with investment pressure, China issued in advance the list of "two major" construction projects and the central budget investment plan. The issuance of 1.3 trillion yuan in ultra-long-term special treasury bonds has been successfully completed, with precise efforts supporting the "two major" construction and the "two new" work;
To stimulate consumption potential, China has adopted multiple measures to promote high-quality development of service consumption. In the first three quarters, service retail sales grew by 5 percent year on year, 4 percentage points faster than retail sales of goods;
To unleash the momentum of foreign trade, China has unswervingly expanded high-level opening up. The strong resilience of China's foreign trade continues to be demonstrated. Since the beginning of this year, exports have maintained double-digit growth, and import growth has reached over 20 percent...
Acting at critical moments, exerting force at key points. Facing cyclical, structural, and institutional problems as well as changes in the external environment, China adheres to the general principle of seeking progress while maintaining stability (稳中求进, wen zhong qiu jin - "stable, among, seek, progress") in its work, and enhances the precision and flexibility of macro-control in light of the times and circumstances, demonstrating the inherent capability of "responding quickly and adjusting smoothly."
More importantly, compared with some countries' short-term regulation that makes inconsistent or short-sighted adjustments (翻烧饼, fan shao bing - "flip, roasted, flatbread"), China's macro-control places greater emphasis on organic alignment with the five-year plans and medium- and long-term development strategies, ensuring that one blueprint is drawn to the end.
Economic resilience has been further strengthened because the potential for economic growth is continuously being unleashed.
Economic potential is the foundation of a country's development confidence. As a large developing country, China faces the problem of unbalanced and inadequate development, which also means more room for maneuver and space for growth.
At present, in Yunnan, the first deep shaft of the Central Yunnan Water Diversion Project has been successfully connected through; in Hubei, the new channel project of the Three Gorges water transport has entered a new stage of main construction; in Guangdong, the Qiong-Yue power grid interconnection project is being comprehensively advanced... Projects related to the "six networks" are accelerating their implementation, which will provide a more efficient, reliable, and resilient infrastructure foundation for economic circulation and effectively enhance economic autonomy and resilience against risks. It is estimated that this year alone, the investment scale in the "six networks" and related key areas will exceed 7 trillion yuan.
The Economist's website noted that many projects of the "six networks" are upgrades and renovations of existing facilities. "This is 'connotative growth' as opposed to 'denotative growth.' Infrastructure projects help boost domestic demand and enhance China's position in the global economy."
Economic resilience has been further strengthened by honing internal strengths and building up one's own capabilities.
The 100,000-spindle green intelligent factory of Yueda Textile Group in Yancheng, Jiangsu, was this year rated as the first "Lighthouse Factory" in the global cotton textile industry. Through digital and intelligent upgrading, the traditional textile scene of "a thousand people spinning, ten thousand people weaving" is long gone here, and overall labor productivity has increased by 421 percent.
"We must persist in focusing our work on honing internal strengths and building up our own capabilities." Suzhou's electronic information industry, Wuxi's integrated circuits, Changzhou's new energy... In today's Jiangsu, the number of national advanced manufacturing clusters ranks first in the country, and a "tropical rainforest-style" diversified industrial ecosystem builds strong dynamic adjustment resilience.
Making factories "smarter" and production more efficient, across the country, artificial intelligence and digital technologies are penetrating every link of manufacturing at an unprecedented speed. The country has cultivated and built 80 national advanced manufacturing clusters, covering six key fields including next-generation information technology, high-end equipment, and new materials. In the first three quarters, new industrial growth drivers represented by high-end manufacturing and digital manufacturing contributed more than half of the growth in industrial added value above designated size.
Huawei released the new-generation AI computing infrastructure Ascend 960 supernode, accelerating the training and inference of trillion-parameter large models; ChangXin Memory Technologies achieved mass production of its fifth-generation DRAM (dynamic random access memory) technology platform, strengthening the autonomous supply chain for memory chips; CATL rose to the top of the global battery patent rankings, continuously enhancing the technological advantages of domestic batteries... Facing uncertainty, honing internal strengths and building up one's own capabilities is the greatest certainty of China's economy.
"With lofty goals, there is also patience and resolve."
Keeping the overall situation in mind, looking far and wide, firmly adhering to strategic goals, clearly recognizing prominent features, grasping scientific laws, strengthening confidence in victory, making steady and solid progress (一步一个脚印, yi bu yi ge jiao yin - "one, step, one, footprint") and advancing firmly forward, pushing forward solidly stage by stage — the time and momentum belong to a striving China on its new Long March.
Return to TopBy: 王 翔
On the occasion of the 70th anniversary of the founding of the Central Institute of Socialism, General Secretary Xi Jinping sent a congratulatory letter expressing congratulations, emphasizing the need to "continuously strengthen political training and broadly consolidate political consensus" and to "better serve the overall work of the Party and the state."
The deeper the foundation of consensus, the more flourishing the tree of unity. At present, the century-old changes in the world are accelerating, and Chinese modernization has entered a critical period of consolidating the foundation and exerting full force. The more complex the situation and the heavier the tasks, the more necessary it is to strengthen ideological and political guidance. From the Central Institute of Socialism to local institutes of socialism, running a school is like sowing seeds, spreading political consensus into the hearts of every student.
The more substantive the transformation of consensus, the stronger the driving force for progress. Members of democratic parties conduct research in various localities, writing their profound and penetrating insights (真知灼见, zhen zhi zhuo jian - "true knowledge, burning insight") into policy recommendations; private entrepreneurs bravely shoulder their missions and actively act in tackling key scientific and technological problems and industrial transformation... All sectors of society are uniting in purpose and effort (心往一处想、劲往一处使, xin wang yi chu xiang, jin wang yi chu shi - "heart, towards, one, place, think; strength, towards, one, place, exert"), pooling together a mighty force for working together to accomplish a great cause (共襄伟业, gong xiang ye - "together, share, great, undertaking").
The support or opposition of the people (人心向背, ren xin xiang bei - "people, heart, towards, away") and the balance of strength are the keys to the success or failure of the Party's and the people's cause. By continuously consolidating the common ideological and political foundation for united struggle, uniting our hearts, gathering collective wisdom, and pooling the strength of all, we will surely be able to make steady progress to achieve long-term success (行稳致远, xing wen zhi yuan - "walk, steady, reach, far") and write a new chapter on the grand journey of national rejuvenation.
Return to TopTheory
The Internal Logic and Contemporary Continuation of the Zhaojin Spirit, the Long March Spirit, and the Yan'an Spirit
Ninth Edition
Return to TopBy: 本报记者 耿 磊
On the morning of October 20, the State Council Information Office held a series of press conferences under the theme "A Good Start for the 15th Five-Year Plan" to introduce the situation regarding the strengthening of cultural heritage protection during the 15th Five-Year Plan period.
Hu Kaihong, Deputy Director of the Central Office for Cultural and Ethical Progress and Director of the Office of the Central Cultural Heritage Protection Committee, introduced the basic situation of the "15th Five-Year Plan for Cultural Heritage Protection and Inheritance" (hereinafter referred to as the "Plan"). "This Plan is the first five-year plan formulated in the field of cultural heritage protection in our country. It is an important achievement in studying and practicing Xi Jinping's cultural thought, especially General Secretary Xi Jinping's important expositions on cultural heritage protection and inheritance. It is of great significance and far-reaching influence," Hu Kaihong said.
Building a Comprehensive Pattern for Cultural Heritage Protection
Our country possesses a vast number and diverse range of cultural heritage. The Plan adheres to the principles of protection first, rational utilization, and minimal intervention, and, centering on the main line of promoting the systematic protection of cultural heritage, proposes building a comprehensive pattern for cultural heritage protection, enhancing the capacity and level of cultural heritage governance, and strengthening supporting safeguards.
Hu Kaihong stated that the implementation of the Plan will focus on doing a good job in "five emphases" and "five efforts" —
In terms of protection objects, emphasize the word "comprehensive," and strive to improve the national cultural heritage protection system. Achieve the holistic, systematic, and coordinated protection of cultural heritage across all types, all elements, all time periods, and all regions.
In terms of surveys and investigations, emphasize the word "clear," and strive to ascertain the full picture of national cultural heritage resources. Establish a survey and investigation system covering immovable cultural relics, movable cultural relics, intangible cultural heritage, and other types of heritage, adhere to the principle of protecting all that should be protected, and promptly include protection objects in the statutory lists.
In terms of protection measures, emphasize the word "strict," and strive to demonstrate the national will to protect cultural heritage. Adhere to a problem-oriented approach and build a working chain that links resource surveys, legal safeguards, spatial control, safety monitoring, and supervision and accountability.
In terms of supporting safeguards, emphasize the word "solid," and strive to provide solid support in education, science and technology, and talent. Cultivate interdisciplinary and composite talents, enhance the level of digital and intelligent protection, carry out nationwide actions for cultural heritage protection, and make protection a conscious action of the whole society.
In terms of the supervision pattern, emphasize the word "unified," and strive to promote the systematic protection and unified supervision of cultural heritage.
Hu Kaihong stated that in the next step, the Office of the Central Cultural Heritage Protection Committee will coordinate the promotion of the organization and implementation of the Plan, advance the legislation of the Cultural Heritage Protection Law, organize and carry out supervision of cultural heritage protection, arrange and deploy important protection measures across departments, regions, and fields, and effectively enhance the authority, coordination, and binding force of cultural heritage protection work.
Comprehensively Intensifying Cultural Relics Protection Efforts and Running Museums That Satisfy the People
During the 14th Five-Year Plan period, the number of museums nationwide increased from 5,788 to 7,188, receiving a cumulative total of over 6.2 billion visitors, holding 224,000 exhibitions, and carrying out 2.251 million educational activities.
"'Traveling to a city for an exhibition' has repeatedly become a cultural phenomenon, and visiting museums has become an important part of the people's beautiful life," said Deng Chao, Deputy Director of the National Cultural Heritage Administration. "At the same time, the problem of unbalanced and insufficient development of museums is also increasingly apparent."
The Plan comprehensively intensifies cultural relics protection efforts and puts forward clear requirements such as improving the level of protection of immovable cultural relics, advancing archaeological work and research on the history of civilization, and comprehensively strengthening museum management and the protection of cultural relics in collections.
Deng Chao introduced that during the 15th Five-Year Plan period, a management system combining "comprehensive surveys, special investigations, spatial control, and dynamic monitoring" will be established, so that immovable cultural relics truly "do not move," remain rooted in urban and rural land for a long time, and carry forward the Chinese cultural lineage.
Deng Chao stated that during the 15th Five-Year Plan period, efforts will be anchored on the goal of "building an archaeology with Chinese characteristics, Chinese style, and Chinese manner, and better understanding the Chinese civilization that has a long and continuous history and is vast and profound in scope and depth," advancing the Project to Trace the Origins of Chinese Civilization, the Research Project on Xia and Shang Civilization, and the major project "Archaeology China," implementing the protection and enhancement project for national archaeological site parks, optimizing capital construction archaeology, promoting the deep integration of urban archaeology into urban construction, and coordinating the delineation of underground cultural relic burial areas and underwater cultural relic protection areas.
During the 15th Five-Year Plan period, efforts will be oriented toward "running museums that satisfy the people," focusing on improving museum management levels, improving the museum system layout, and improving the quality and efficiency of museum services. The Regulations on Museums will be revised, a second national survey of movable cultural relics will be carried out, and a restoration plan for precious cultural relics in collections will be implemented.
Enabling the Organic Integration and Mutual Enhancement of Historical and Cultural Heritage Protection and Urban Renewal
Doing a good job in historical and cultural protection is an inevitable requirement for promoting urban renewal with high quality and an important part of building a modern people's city. The Plan requires strengthening the effective protection and living inheritance of famous historical and cultural cities, districts, towns, and villages.
Qin Haixiang, Vice Minister of Housing and Urban-Rural Development, stated that during the 15th Five-Year Plan period, the protection of urban historical and cultural heritage should be comprehensively strengthened throughout the entire process and in all aspects of urban renewal, properly handling the relationships between protection and development, protection and utilization, and protection and people's livelihoods, so that historical and cultural heritage protection and urban renewal are organically integrated and complement each other to enhance brilliance.
As of now, there are 146 nationally famous historical and cultural cities, 312 famous historical and cultural towns, 487 famous historical and cultural villages, as well as 8,155 traditional Chinese villages, over 1,300 historical and cultural districts, and 72,000 historical buildings nationwide. "These precious historical and cultural heritages form a series of comprehensive carriers for inheriting the excellent traditional Chinese culture," Qin Haixiang introduced. During the 15th Five-Year Plan period, it is planned to implement protection and enhancement projects for famous historical and cultural cities, districts, towns, and villages, repair 300 historical and cultural districts and 15,000 historical buildings, continue to promote the construction of special protection areas for traditional villages, highlight distinctive features and styles, and continue the historical lineage.
On the premise of protection, all localities are encouraged to make rational use of historical and cultural heritage, promote historical and cultural districts and historical buildings to radiate new vitality and blossom with new charm. Establish a protection implementation mechanism with residents as the main body, so that residents living in old districts, old villages, and old alleys can live conveniently and comfortably, and so that historical culture and modern life are integrated into one.
Better Stimulating the Inheritance Vitality of Intangible Cultural Heritage
The Spring Festival, the flower-wreath hairpin, the Manau Zongge dance, traditional tea making... In recent years, a number of intangible cultural heritage projects have frequently made it to the hot search lists, and intangible cultural heritage has become deeply integrated into all aspects of the people's production and daily life.
Shan Gangxin, Director of the Department of Intangible Cultural Heritage of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, introduced that our country has rich intangible cultural heritage resources, with more than 100,000 representative items of intangible cultural heritage at all levels, and 45 items included in the UNESCO intangible cultural heritage lists and registers, ranking first in the world in number.
Shan Gangxin stated that during the 15th Five-Year Plan period, efforts will be made to further consolidate the protection foundation, enhance inheritance capacity, cultivate the cultural ecology, actively serve the national strategy, and effectively improve the level of systematic protection of intangible cultural heritage; strengthen the foundation and consolidate the base, improve the intangible cultural heritage protection and inheritance system, improve the dynamic adjustment mechanism for the list of representative items of intangible cultural heritage, and strengthen support and inheritance for intangible cultural heritage projects in urgent need of protection; deeply implement the intangible cultural heritage inheritance and development project, strengthen classified protection and targeted measures, and further enhance inheritance vitality; strengthen the overall protection of the cultural ecology, protect the cultural spaces on which intangible cultural heritage relies, such as villages, streets and alleys, stages, ancestral halls, and gardens, and promote the overall and coordinated protection of all types of cultural heritage with systematic thinking.
Return to TopBy: 本报记者 王 政 刘温馨
In the first three quarters, the added value of industries above designated size increased by 5.3 percent year on year, and industry's contribution rate to economic growth remained at around 35 percent. On the afternoon of October 20, the State Council Information Office held a press conference, where Wang Weiming, chief engineer of the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, and others introduced the relevant situation.
Added value of high-tech manufacturing industries above designated size increased by 14.3 percent year on year
"In the first three quarters, the growth coverage rate of industries exceeded three-quarters, and the average growth rate of the 10 major industrial provinces was about 7 percent. The PPI (Producer Price Index for Industrial Products) rose year on year for seven consecutive months," said Tao Qing, spokesperson for the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology and director of the Operation Monitoring and Coordination Bureau.
The industrial structure is moving toward the new and the superior, with key industries providing strong support. In the first three quarters, the added value of high-tech manufacturing industries above designated size increased by 14.3 percent year on year, and the proportion of the added value of equipment manufacturing industries in industries above designated size rose by 0.8 percentage points compared with the end of the previous year. The proportions of exports of mechanical and electrical products and high-tech products, denominated in RMB, in total export value rose by 3.8 and 4.9 percentage points respectively year on year. Industries such as electronics, automobiles, electrical machinery, general equipment, special equipment, and ships and marine engineering equipment grew rapidly, contributing more than 60 percent to the growth of industries above designated size.
Advanced manufacturing is advancing in depth and substance, and application scenarios and business forms continue to expand. The construction of intelligent factories is accelerating, with more than 13,000 advanced-level intelligent factories and more than 500 excellence-level intelligent factories built cumulatively. The adaptability of domestic computing power and large models continues to strengthen, forming more than 1,000 application scenarios in 20 industries including steel, automobiles, and pharmaceuticals, and selecting and promoting more than 100 industrial intelligent agents that embody the "experience of veteran masters." Green manufacturing is accelerating, with 8,336 national green factories cultivated cumulatively, and the energy consumption per unit of added value of industries above designated size continuing to decline. Intelligent terminals such as AI glasses and AI phones are constantly emerging, and the intelligent consumer equipment industry has achieved relatively rapid growth.
"We will focus on expanding effective demand, building innovation engines, cultivating growth momentum, and optimizing the development environment, continuously improving the quality and efficiency of industrial economic operations," Tao Qing said.
Supply capacity of high-end equipment strengthened
In the first three quarters, the equipment industry maintained a sound development trend, continuously improving quality and efficiency.
In terms of scale, "stability," the role of the equipment industry as a "ballast stone" continues to be consolidated. In the first three quarters, the added value of the equipment industry increased by 7.1 percent year on year, contributing 26.6 percent to industrial growth. The supply capacity of high-end equipment strengthened, with the output of industrial robots, CNC machine tools, and new energy vehicles increasing by 29.1 percent, 13.5 percent, and 11 percent respectively year on year. The national shipbuilding completion volume increased by 50.7 percent year on year.
In terms of products, "newness," innovative products present a wide variety of highlights (亮点纷呈, liang dian fen cheng - "bright spot, each, abundant, present"). Intelligent robots act as shop assistants making coffee and selling goods, and artificial intelligence is accelerating its application in livelihood scenarios; the second domestically built large cruise ship, the "Adora Magic City," is about to be completed and delivered; and the world's largest 271,000 cubic meter LNG (liquefied natural gas) carrier has begun construction in China.
In terms of manufacturing, "intelligence," production models are accelerating their restructuring. The "AI + Manufacturing" special action is being implemented in depth; enterprises are accelerating their exploration of future manufacturing models such as shared manufacturing for construction machinery, island-style manufacturing for automobiles, and agile customization for home appliances.
Wang Weiming said that efforts will be made to promote technological transformation and equipment renewal in key industries, unleash the potential of the existing market, expand the application of service and special robots, elderly care and rehabilitation equipment, ice and snow equipment, and new energy vessels for inland waterways, and actively cultivate new demand.
Increase support for advanced manufacturing clusters
"Advanced manufacturing clusters are an important vehicle for building a manufacturing power and an important lever for enhancing the overall competitiveness of the modern industrial system," Wang Weiming said. The development of China's clusters presents four distinct characteristics.
Broad coverage. The 80 national advanced manufacturing clusters are rooted in 26 provincial-level administrative regions, covering fields such as high-end equipment, new-generation information technology, new materials, and intelligent connected new energy vehicles, achieving full connectivity across key manufacturing industry chains and forming an industrial layout with clear tiers and coordinated differentiation.
Strong innovation. The clusters have gathered more than 1,700 national-level innovation carriers and more than 3,000 public service platforms, becoming a "strong magnetic field" for manufacturing innovation sources.
Rapid transformation. The clusters are anchored in the direction of intelligence, green development, and integration, making deep breakthroughs, generally building industry-level industrial internet platforms, cultivating 1,716 national green factories cumulatively, restructuring production processes with digital and intelligent technologies, and forcing process upgrades through green and low-carbon development, driving a significant improvement in total factor productivity.
Excellent ecosystem. The innovation chain, industrial chain, capital chain, and talent chain are deeply coupled, reshaping the organizational form of manufacturing. It can be said that behind a ship, an aircraft, or a complete vehicle is no longer the acting alone without any assistance or cooperation (单打独斗, dan da du dou - "single, strike, single, fight") of a single enterprise, but rather the efficient coordination of an industrial chain, the close linkage of an innovation network, and the joint support of an industrial ecosystem.
"The Ministry of Industry and Information Technology will implement policies by tier and category, guiding advanced manufacturing clusters to deepen cross-regional resource sharing, cross-field technology integration, and integrated development of upstream and downstream industry chains," Wang Weiming said. Support for advanced manufacturing clusters will be increased in terms of innovation platform layout, cultivation and introduction of high-end talent, and guarantee of factor resources, promoting the leap of clusters from physical agglomeration to systematic integration of core capabilities.
Return to TopBy: 本报记者 张 铁 高 炳
How long does it take to travel from Ruijin, Jiangxi, to Yan'an, Shaanxi?
More than 90 years ago, the Central Red Army found the answer in "straw sandals": about 12 months. Today, a vibrant China writes a new chapter with the "Fuxing" high-speed train: 11 hours and 32 minutes.
In October 2022, General Secretary Xi Jinping noted during an inspection in Yan'an: "This visit to Yan'an, I see a scene of abundant and fruitful harvest, greatly improved transportation conditions, and undergoing tremendous changes" and "the villagers are living good lives, but they must continue to strive forward and make life even better."
Yan'an is a lamp that illuminated the deep darkness of the revolutionary era. Today, the old revolutionary base area in northern Shaanxi, bearing in mind General Secretary Xi Jinping's earnest instructions, has opened new journeys on thoroughfares and pursues its dreams in the new era.
At 22:34 on September 6, the first direct high-speed rail train from Ruijin to Yan'an, traversing more than 1,800 kilometers, slowly pulled into Yan'an Station. "The high-speed rail has broken through the barriers of a thousand mountains, linking the 'Red Capital' with the 'Holy Land.'" Hou Xiaoting, deputy station master of Yan'an Station under China Railway Xi'an Group, was deeply moved.
Ninety years have passed, and the great spirit of the Long March is becoming more vibrant with the passage of time.
From Yan'an to Xi'an, the initial train journey took 14 hours; today, the fastest high-speed rail trip takes only 68 minutes. Zhe Zhengqian, a 92-year-old Yan'an resident, has been closely following the progress of railway construction in the old revolutionary base area. At the end of last year, the Xi'an-Yan'an high-speed railway opened, ushering Yan'an into the "high-speed rail era."
"Building the high-speed rail through the Loess Plateau was no easy task, which is sharing the same origin or tradition with the great spirit of the Long March." Unable to contain his excitement, the elderly Zhe Zhengqian picked up his brush and wrote a poem: "Rainbow flies, rainbow flies, crossing mountains and ridges, the spring breeze blows..."
Riding the train to the holy land, there are both "old friends" and "young people."
Entering the Yangjialing Revolutionary Site in Yan'an, sunlight filters through the treetops and falls on the blue bricks and gray tiles of the Central Auditorium. Visitors from all over gather here to read together the "book that can never be finished reading."
"Stepping into the cave dwellings, looking at the desks and oil lamps, it feels as if I can touch the revolutionary years." Zhao Yuchen, 14, from Shangluo, Shaanxi, came to Yan'an specially with his parents for a visit. Here, he saw yellowed photographs, guns from the Long March, and patched military uniforms. "The knowledge in books suddenly became three-dimensional and vivid."
Red Yan'an is welcoming more "youthful figures": the "New Era Youth Yan'an Journey" social practice activity has become a "walking grand ideological and political course" for college students; the increasingly convenient transportation network has kept family trips and study tours steadily warming up...
As of the end of August this year, the "Go to Yan'an · Sanqin Students' Holy Land Journey" red education special train has served 98 universities and 41,000 teachers and students across Shaanxi Province.
"The revolutionary sites of Yan'an preserve the eternal red spirit." He Dongmei, executive deputy director of the Yan'an Municipal Cultural Heritage Bureau, said that in 2025, more than 50 million visits were made to Yan'an to experience its "red charm."
"Coming to Yan'an" opens its arms wide; "setting out from Yan'an" strides forward at a brisk pace. The people of the old revolutionary base area have walked out of the mountains and onto a broader stage.
In the autumn of northern Shaanxi, apple branches are bent low with fruit. Du Wangjun, a fruit merchant in Luochuan County, Yan'an, has entered his busiest season again.
"In the past, when out-of-town clients came to the orchards to see the fruit, I would drive to Xi'an to pick them up, a round trip of 5 hours," Du Wangjun said. Now, with the high-speed rail, it takes just 1 hour one way. "Clients can come and go in a single day, and costs have dropped significantly. I'm planning to expand partnerships in the Guanzhong region."
The improved road network has opened a "new channel" for Luochuan apples, making "picking in the morning, on the table by evening" a reality.
"In half a day, Luochuan apples can reach Xi'an and Beijing. Within 24 hours, they can reach the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area," said Sun Dongqi, a staff member of Luochuan County Yangang Economic and Trade Fruit Industry Co., Ltd. "The loss rate during transport has also dropped from the original 15% to below 2%."
Empowered by the high-speed rail, the people of the old revolutionary base area carry a good "golden carrying pole." In 2025, Yan'an's total apple planting area reached 3.321 million mu, with a production of 5.279 million tons, and the output value of the entire industrial chain exceeded 60 billion yuan.
A Yan'an on the move, embracing a broader world—
In July this year, the Yan'an East Ring Expressway opened to traffic, completing the "closed loop" of the ring expressway; the Yan'an-Yulin high-speed railway is progressing steadily, which will further link the two cities in northern Shaanxi and improve the regional high-speed rail network; Yan'an Airport has opened 21 routes covering 31 domestic cities, with a provincial-level accessibility rate of 80.7%...
More than 90 years ago, the Central Red Army arrived in northern Shaanxi, which was the final destination of the Long March. Today, the old revolutionary base area in northern Shaanxi is accelerating and picking up speed, merging into the surging "main artery" of China's onward march.
Return to TopBy: 本报记者 孙 振 邝西曦
The wheel of the times moves forward, and the echoes of history are long and resonant.
"The new journey is a new Long March" — in this major assertion of General Secretary Xi Jinping lies the consistent from beginning to end (一以贯之, yi yi guan zhi - "one through all") steadfastness of Communists, and the display of the great power of carrying forward the struggle.
Situated amid a century of transformation, facing risks and challenges, the "15th Five-Year Plan" that begins the grand blueprint — 16 major strategic tasks and 109 major engineering projects — is drawn, set in motion, and broken through, stroke by stroke, how solidly.
Just like that great expedition over 90 years ago that shook the world, crossing nearly a hundred rivers, scaling more than 40 high mountains and perilous peaks, seeking the way, moving and turning, breaking through encirclement, step by step, how resolutely.
Step by step, walking resolutely, crossing the long river of years, spreading out the splendid chapters of a flourishing age.
Looking back from the time node of the 90th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese Workers' and Peasants' Red Army's Long March, ninety years of surging storms — what has enabled generation after generation of Communists to go forward with determination and work together with one heart and mind (勠力同心, lu li tong xin - "exert strength, same heart")? How did we walk step by step to today, and on the new journey, how do we "walk the new Long March road with one heart and one mind"?
Reflecting on the past in light of the present (抚今追昔, fu jin zhui xi - "touch present, trace past"), there is enlightenment from history and the times.
Faith and Strength
One answer is written in the "great expedition of ideals and convictions."
"How many of those who survived the Long March are still alive? What did the Red Army soldiers rely on? What were they after?" Speaking of the Long March, General Secretary Xi Jinping once asked these questions with deep feeling.
Listen to history's answer.
Chen Shuxiang, a Red Army division commander only 29 years old, would rather have his intestines cut than break his backbone; the Xiangjiang Campaign that wrote a tragic epic — "every inch of land soaked with a thousand drops of Red Army blood, every step a heroic body"; on the 25,000-li march of the First Front Red Army, on average one Red Army soldier fell every 300 meters... Scene after scene deeply engraved in the national memory, the General Secretary has told them with emotion time and again.
Look at how the times write.
When the smoke of gunpowder dissipated, generation after generation of Communists stepped forward one after another to devote themselves to the "new Long March": "veteran of a hundred battles" Wang Zhanshan, "lamp-lighting principal" Zhang Guimei, "white-robed angel on horseback" Wuhasi Sulaiman, "alley housekeeper" Wu Yaqin... On the centenary of the Party's founding and the 105th anniversary of its founding, the General Secretary conferred upon them the Party's highest honor, the "July 1 Medal," emphasizing that "their deeds can be learned and emulated, and their spirit can be pursued and attained."
Observe by linking history and the present. From the "great Long March" to the "new Long March," from breaking through encirclement and pursuit to marching toward national rejuvenation, practice repeatedly confirms General Secretary Xi Jinping's profound exposition: "With faith in the heart, there is strength underfoot"; "As long as ideals and convictions are present, the Party's cause will surely succeed"...
The truer the faith, the greater the strength.
This also vividly explains why, in the new era of striving and forging ahead, the Party has been able to lead the people to green the deserts, build roads on the plateau, and break through thorns in scientific and technological research; why, in the face of technological blockades and trade barriers, under overwhelming pressure (泰山压顶, tai shan ya ding - "Mount Tai, press top") so many times, through so many storms and high waves, we have remained "unshakable as a mountain amid wind and rain," turning crises into opportunities and dangers into safety time and again.
The greater the strength, the deeper the faith.
At the 20th Party Congress, General Secretary Xi Jinping clearly proposed "carrying forward the spiritual pedigree of Chinese Communists with the great founding spirit of the Party as its source." Thus, on the new journey, the great founding spirit of the Party, the Long March spirit, the spirit of the battle against poverty... one glorious coordinate after another, like lamps and flames, broaden and lead the spiritual channel of national rejuvenation.
The power of faith is also the power of thought and the power of action.
Since the new era began, nine rounds of concentrated Party education, each time led by ideological education, closely linked (环环相扣, huan huan xiang kou - "ring, ring, interlock") and advancing step by step... always deeply cultivating the spiritual soil, "always keeping the forward direction on course." For this reason, consolidating the foundation of thought, the times have produced many old Party members like Zhang Fuqing and Zhang Liansheng, who believe in their faith for a lifetime and keep it for a lifetime, and countless builders who rushed to Xiong'an, "submitting to the needs of the Party, springing into action at the sound of the order."
The power of faith is also the power of struggle and the power of youth.
In the opening year of the "15th Five-Year Plan," Chinese modernization has entered a critical period of consolidating the foundation and exerting full force. At the celebration of the 105th anniversary of the founding of the Communist Party of China, the General Secretary issued the call to "strengthen confidence and continue the struggle" — this is also the call of the original aspiration that remains burning hot across a hundred years of wind and rain. From "a single red boat" to "a towering giant ship," walking upward step by step, every step of the stairs is soaked with the sweat of a generation, and every "Long March" embodies the strength of continuity.
In the Long March ranks, about 54% were under 24 years old; since the 18th Party Congress, among newly developed Party members each year, those aged 35 and under account for more than 80%. At this very celebration, the General Secretary again encouraged the youth to "run the historical relay well on the new journey."
The expectations are deep. From the "sparks of youth" on the Long March road to the "strength of youth" on the new journey, what changes is the road underfoot; what does not change is the light of faith.
Truth and Practice
One answer is written in the "great expedition of testing truth."
Greatness lies in the distance of the journey and the intensity of the battles, but even more in the tempering of thought and the turning of the tide. The "Resolution of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China on the Major Achievements and Historical Experience of the Party over the Past Century" evaluates the Zunyi Conference, this life-and-death great turning point in Party history, in these terms —
"It in fact established Comrade Mao Zedong's leading position in the Party Central Committee and the Red Army, began to establish the leading position of the correct Marxist line represented mainly by Comrade Mao Zedong in the Party Central Committee, began to form the Party's first generation of central leadership collective with Comrade Mao Zedong at its core, opened a new stage in which the Party independently solved the practical problems of the Chinese revolution, and at the most critical juncture saved the Party, saved the Red Army, and saved the Chinese revolution."
The great turning point — four weighty characters — condenses a momentous history. After the Zunyi Conference, our Party, with fearless practical spirit, tested truth in practice, corrected errors, and then "crossed the Chishui River four times with surprise troops" and "lured the tiger from the mountain to strike at Jinsha," breaking out of the ring of encirclement and also forging a new path of life and victory for the Sinicization of Marxism.
The great turning point guides the present and the future. Looking toward the new era's journey over mountains and waters, which step forward is not engraved with the distinct mark of being grounded in reality and rooted in practice? As General Secretary Xi Jinping has profoundly explained: "Truth can only be tested in practice, and truth can only be established in practice."
As practice advances one step, the understanding of truth deepens one level.
Facing sluggish global growth and the domestic "three-phase superposition," emphasizing "establishing consciousness and confidence in the new development philosophy"; facing the rise of economic anti-globalization, proposing that building the new development pattern "is a strategic layout and first move for grasping the initiative in future development"; facing the accelerated evolution of a new round of technological revolution and industrial transformation, profoundly answering major theoretical and practical questions such as "what new quality productive forces are, why we must develop them, and how to develop them"...
Continuously guiding new practice with new theory, a series of pioneering strategic deployments together weave the broad warp and weft of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, propelling the Party's innovative theory in the new era to achieve a "new leap."
The deeper the understanding of truth, the more unified the thought.
Look at each localized Marxism: the strategy of targeted poverty alleviation rewrote the history of poverty reduction for humanity; comprehensive rural revitalization spread out a new picture of common prosperity; "lucid waters and lush mountains are invaluable assets" transformed the concept of development... The power of one truth after another has taken root on the more than 9.6 million square kilometers of Chinese land and in the hearts of hundreds of millions of people.
That victory 90 years ago "realized unprecedented unity of the whole Party on the basis of pursuing truth and upholding truth"; 90 years later, striding forward on the new journey of comprehensively building a modern socialist country, new thought leads new practice, and the Two Establishments, the major political achievement of the Party in the new era, has become the greatest certainty, the greatest confidence, and the greatest guarantee for overcoming all difficulties and dangers and responding to all uncertainties.
Looking back, looking forward.
Ninety years of clouds and smoke pass before the eyes. One "new Long March" after another has crossed ten thousand mountains and rivers, "crossed over the erroneous ideological obstacle of regarding Marxism as an unchangeable dogma," and generation after generation of Communists have continued the struggle, combining the basic principles of Marxism with China's specific realities and with China's excellent traditional culture, opening up a new realm of the Sinicization and modernization of Marxism.
On the centenary of the Party's founding, General Secretary Xi Jinping clearly put forward the major thesis of the Two Integrations. The "second integration" is "another ideological emancipation," in which confidence in the path, confidence in theory, confidence in the system, and confidence in culture are all fused, guiding Communists of the new era to explore innovation in theory and institutions in a broader cultural space and field of practice.
Opening the report of the 20th Party Congress, "opening up a new realm of the Sinicization and modernization of Marxism" forms an independent chapter, writing the declaration that "practice has no end, and theoretical innovation has no end"; looking again at the Party's six excellent qualities, "resolutely pursuing truth and always keeping the forward direction on course" is placed first — the word "resolutely" is full of the writing of history and heralds the opening of a new road.
The 25,000 li trodden out by straw sandals that year wrote the end point of the great victory and also the magnificent opening chapter of the combination of truth and practice. Yan'an, the stopping point of the Long March, became the "starting point of victory."
Original Aspiration and Constant Aspiration
One answer is written in the "great expedition of awakening the people."
Among them, the well-known story of the "half quilt" carries the weight of time.
In September 2020, while inspecting Hunan, General Secretary Xi Jinping made a special trip to the home of Zhu Xiaohong, grandson of Xu Jiexiu in Shazhou Yao Village. Zhu Xiaohong told the General Secretary about the great changes in Shazhou Village, and his plain words voiced sincere feelings: "In the past, the Red Army gave us half a quilt; now the Party has brought us a happy life."
Looking at the happy family, the General Secretary responded: "The changes in your family also illustrate a truth: Communists always serve the people, and once they make a promise, they must fulfill it."
This promise originated at the time of the Red Boat's setting sail, spanning a hundred years of wind and rain, growing stronger with time. During an inspection in Jiangxi in May 2019, the General Secretary said with deep feeling: "To take the people's heart as one's own heart, to breathe the same breath as the people, share the same fate, and be heart to heart with them, is the Party's original aspiration and also the Party's constant aspiration."
From the "half quilt" to the "happy life," understanding the original aspiration and the constant aspiration, understanding the persistence that has remained the same for a hundred years as one day, one can also understand why this great expedition was able to awaken the people, and why it is said that "when the Red Army wins battles, the people are the mountain of support."
Because the original aspiration is as firm as a rock, because the constant aspiration is as strong as iron.
One road shows action. For the route selection of the Xi'an-Yan'an high-speed railway, it could have followed the river valley in a straight line, but instead chose to set up a station in Luochuan, Yan'an, Shaanxi, investing an additional 1.8 billion yuan and adding 9 kilometers of main line, all so that the people of the old revolutionary base area in northern Shaanxi could ride high-speed trains. Chinese modernization has never made the choice of "eliminating anyone" and has always upheld the promise that "not one can be left behind."
One chart shows warmth. Opening the outline of the "15th Five-Year Plan," among the 20 major indicators, 7 concern people's livelihood, and among the 109 major engineering projects, 25 are livelihood projects. In planning the work of the "15th Five-Year Plan" period, the General Secretary said with earnest words: "Take benefiting the people as the fundamental value orientation."
In the original aspiration lies the power of the people.
Take the compilation of the "15th Five-Year Plan" blueprint: there is the General Secretary's earnest concern — "extensively and deeply observe people's conditions, listen to people's voices, and gather people's wisdom" — and there is the small contributions accumulating into a great whole (涓滴汇海, juan di hui hai - "small drops, converge sea") of more than 3.11 million online suggestions from netizens.
Look again at the grand blueprint of Chinese modernization: the green miracle of Saihanba, the sustained, long-term effort of the Thousand-Village Demonstration and Ten-Thousand-Village Improvement Project, the vigorous growth of the "millennium city"... Which of these did not extensively mobilize the masses and firmly rely on the people? Just like that great expedition of yesteryear — the simple emotion of the "half quilt," the deep friendship of the "Yi Sea Alliance," the fish-and-water interdependence of "Seeing Off the Red Army Ten Times"... Which of these was not a case of military and civilians working together in unity (军民同心, jun min tong xin - "army, people, same heart"), winning people's hearts with the original aspiration and forging miracles?
Guiding the new journey, the General Secretary's words are full of historical philosophical insight: "The people are our Party's greatest confidence in governance, the solid foundation of our Republic, and the fundamental source of our Party's strength and our nation's prosperity."
In the constant aspiration lies the winning of the people's trust.
There are two observations. Ninety years ago, American journalist Edgar Snow interviewed in the northern Shaanxi Soviet area for several months, and in his book Red Star Over China he evaluated the Red Army: "China's only army that is politically made of iron"; ninety years later today, international figures discuss the new era's efforts to improve Party conduct and enforce discipline: "providing experience worth learning from," "the people's trust and support are continuously growing"...
As the years pass, one witnesses the enduring persistence spanning ninety years: from the "Three Main Rules of Discipline and Eight Points for Attention" during the war years, defeating the "Xi'an style" with the "Yan'an style," to the proposal of the "Two Musts" on the eve of the founding of New China, and then to the introduction of the Eight-Point Regulation in the new era and the "Three Musts" proposed in the report of the 20th Party Congress... A Party that "focuses on strengthening itself" is also a Party that is "deeply rooted in the people."
The upcoming Fifth Plenary Session of the 20th Central Committee of the Party will conduct in-depth study on "persisting in full and rigorous self-governance of the Party." The mission and responsibility of "offending thousands of people rather than failing 1.4 billion" originates from the resounding echo deep in history, merging into stage after stage of governing and strengthening the Party in the new era.
Overall Situation and Overall Picture
One answer is written in the "great expedition of opening up a new situation."
"What was traversed were high mountains and steep ridges, what was crossed were great rivers and dangerous shoals, what was passed through were grasslands and wastelands," General Secretary Xi Jinping reviewed this great expedition and profoundly pointed out that "every leg of the journey, every breakout, and every battle proceeded from the strategic overall picture."
One river bears witness to history. Back then, crossing the Chishui River four times, strategizing in a desperate situation, each crossing grasped the overall situation and examined the details, not confined to one city or one piece of land, and only thus turned passivity into initiative.
One road spreads out a new journey. The path of Chinese modernization, growing ever wider, breaks through and opens the way amid a century of transformation; each step, with far-reaching deliberation, not trapped by one moment or one domain, ultimately accumulates small victories into great victories.
Examining the past to know the future, one can better comprehend the power of thought: "To walk today's Long March road well, we must grasp the direction, command the overall situation, and coordinate the overall picture"; "On the new Long March road, we must base ourselves on the world situation, national conditions, and Party conditions, coordinate both the domestic and international overall situations, and coordinate the overall picture of the Party's and the nation's development"...
Coordinating both the domestic and international overall situations involves a strategic initiative.
In the face of external technological blockades, striving to break through, one "stuck neck" list after another has gradually become a research list and a results list; in the face of the countercurrent of protectionism, successively becoming major trading partners with 169 countries and regions, the concept that "being a partner with China means being a partner with opportunity" has taken deep root in people's hearts; in the face of global climate governance challenges, taking the initiative to propose the "dual carbon" goals, driving new energy industries such as photovoltaics and wind power to lead the world...
In the new era China, within the overall situation of "internal and external," there is the grasp of "time and momentum" and the transformation of "crisis and opportunity"; in the final analysis, it is transforming external pressure into reform momentum, transforming domestic advantages into international competitiveness, and planning and deploying "China's governance" within the broad coordinate system of "the world's transformation."
Focusing on the strategic overall picture of the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation involves a historical initiative.
Studying the outline of the "15th Five-Year Plan," the term "high-quality development" appears more than 30 times, becoming the distinctive theme of economic and social development, in the same vein as the outline of the "14th Five-Year Plan." In this adherence to "long-termism," there is the accelerated cultivation of new quality productive forces, the accelerated construction of a super-large-scale market, and the accumulation of strength across the whole industrial chain... Item by item, consolidating the foundation of development, strengthening the resistance to risks, and focusing on the future of national rejuvenation.
Every step under a century of transformation is grounded in the present and anchored in the long term. Just like over 90 years ago, the arduous trek and breakout from a desperate situation were for the purpose of going north to save the nation; that great strategic shift firmly grasped destiny in one's own hands and linked the resolution of the survival crisis with saving the nation from peril.
As time advances, in the planning of "overall situation and overall picture," the mission and responsibility of Communists remain the same. From this, one can better perceive the significance and value of being the pillar in the midst of the current. As Comrade Mao Zedong once pointed out: "Who made the Long March victorious? It was the Communist Party. Without the Communist Party, such a Long March would be inconceivable."
In Xi Jinping's thought on Party building, the Fourteen Commitments shining with the light of truth, the first article states its purpose at the outset: "Upholding the Party's leadership is the most essential feature of socialism with Chinese characteristics." From the expedition that broke a path to survival to the new journey that rides the momentum, the Party has always, with its leadership commanding the overall picture, united the creativity of hundreds of millions of people and advanced forward through wind and rain without pause.
Advancing forward, the Party, dedicated to the eternal cause of the Chinese nation, leads the country and the nation to advance in the logic of historical progress and develop in the trend of the times. General Secretary Xi Jinping's words are calm and powerful —
"We must stay true to the Party's original aspiration and founding mission, walk the new Long March road with one heart and one mind, and create an even brighter future."
Return to Top(People's Daily, St. Petersburg, October 20) (Reporter Wang Zhou) On the evening of October 20 local time, at the invitation of Russian Prime Minister Mishustin, Premier Li Qiang of the State Council arrived at Pulkovo Airport in St. Petersburg by special plane, where he will hold the 31st regular meeting between Chinese and Russian heads of government. State Councilor and Secretary-General of the State Council Wu Zhenglong and other accompanying personnel arrived on the same plane.
Russian Deputy Prime Minister Chernyshenko and Chinese Ambassador to Russia Zhang Hanhui were at the airport to welcome the delegation.
Li Qiang stated that this year marks the 30th anniversary of the establishment of the China-Russia strategic partnership of coordination and the 25th anniversary of the signing of the Treaty of Good-Neighborliness and Friendly Cooperation between China and Russia. Looking back on the journey China and Russia have traversed hand in hand, the two countries have jointly explored a way of getting along that features non-alignment, non-confrontation, and non-targeting of any third party, continuously deepening cooperation in various fields, and setting a model of major-country relations characterized by permanent good-neighborly friendship, comprehensive strategic coordination, and achieving mutual benefits and win-win cooperation (互利合作共赢, hu li he zuo gong ying - "mutual benefit, cooperate, win-win"). In particular, in recent years, under the strategic guidance of President Xi Jinping and President Putin, the China-Russia relationship has become more mature and resilient, the foundation of political mutual trust has grown ever stronger, the pace of mutually beneficial cooperation has become ever more solid, and the bond of friendship between generations has grown ever tighter.
Li Qiang pointed out that at present, the world is undergoing major changes unseen in a century (百年变局, bai nian bian ju - "hundred, years, change, situation") that are accelerating. The heads of state of China and Russia have met twice this year, drawing a new blueprint for the development of bilateral relations. China is willing to work continuously with Russia to promote the development of bilateral cooperation in a deeper, more solid, and more resilient direction, to bring new abundant fruits to the China-Russia comprehensive strategic partnership of coordination in the new era, to bring more benefits to the peoples of both countries, and to inject valuable stability and certainty into world peace and development.
Li Qiang arrived in St. Petersburg after concluding his official visit to Tajikistan and attending the 25th Meeting of the Council of Heads of Government (Prime Ministers) of the Member States of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization. When departing Dushanbe, Tajikistan's First Deputy Prime Minister Kholiqzoda and Chinese Ambassador to Tajikistan Guo Zhijun were at the airport to see him off.
Return to TopBy: 中华人民共和国国务院总理 李 强
Your Excellency Prime Minister Rasulzoda,
Dear Colleagues,
I am delighted to join you in the beautiful city of Dushanbe. I thank Prime Minister Rasulzoda and the government of Tajikistan for the meticulous preparations and thoughtful arrangements made for this meeting.
This year marks the 25th anniversary of the founding of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), and is also the first year for implementing the SCO's development strategy for the next ten years. The Bishkek Summit in September produced a series of important outcomes, pushed forward the deepening of various work, and added new impetus to peace and development in the region and beyond. At the same time, the world today is still not tranquil, and factors of instability and uncertainty are still increasing. President Xi Jinping pointed out at the Summit that, standing at a crossroads that concerns the future and destiny of humanity, the SCO should bravely shoulder historical responsibilities and take the initiative to steer the course of history. How can we live up to such responsibilities? I believe we need to build stronger consensus at the level of "the Way" — in vision, philosophy, and thinking — and take more effective action at the level of "the Means" — in operation and implementation.
At the level of "the Way," we should have a clear understanding of some fundamental issues and always maintain a clear understanding of things (心明眼亮, xin ming yan liang - "heart, bright; eye, bright"). First, we should have the vision to discern the general trend. At present, various schools of thought are clashing and interacting on the international stage. In particular, some arguments that cling to zero-sum thinking and advocate power politics are clamorous and widespread rumors or opinions (甚嚣尘上, shen xiao chen shang - "very, noisy; dust, rise"), but the inherent logic of historical evolution and the fundamental trend of the times will not change. Multipolarity and economic globalization are the general trend of the times (大势所趋, da shi suo qu - "great, trend; what, follows"), and multilateralism and free trade remain the aspiration of the people. Second, we should have the broad-mindedness to embrace the whole world. All countries live in one global village, with intertwined destinies and sharing common interests and fates (休戚与共, xiu qi yu gong - "joy, sorrow; with, together"). Only when national and regional interests move in the same direction as the common interests of the international community can they be better realized, safeguarded, and developed. The SCO should continue to carry forward the Shanghai Spirit, committing itself to regional stability and prosperity while contributing to the common development of the world. Third, we should have the perseverance to act with steadfastness to achieve long-term goals (笃行致远, du xing zhi yuan - "steadfast, act; reach, far"). SCO countries share the common aspiration to promote friendship, safeguard security, and pursue development together, but the road to realizing this vision will not be smooth sailing without any obstacles (一帆风顺, yi fan feng shun - "one, sail; wind, smooth"), and will often encounter various risks, challenges, and even interference and disruption. The more so, the more the SCO should maintain its resolve, stay in close unity, and forge ahead with courage.
At the level of "the Means," we should strengthen coordination, be pragmatic and innovative, and continuously optimize and improve relevant working mechanisms. China is ready to work with all member states to promote higher-quality development of the SCO. First, we should enhance the efficiency of organizational operations. Member states should take the revision of the SCO Charter as an opportunity to advance organizational reform in a package, strengthen resource input and capacity building, optimize cooperation mechanisms in various fields and at various levels, improve and expand the functions of permanent bodies such as the Secretariat, and make the SCO architecture more rational and its operations more efficient. China is ready to strengthen coordination with all parties to complete as soon as possible the establishment of rules and regulations for the "four security centers" and lay a solid foundation for their high-level operation. Second, we should make cooperation projects more substantive and stronger. Only by implementing consensus and plans into concrete cooperation projects can value be truly released and benefits delivered to all parties. We should focus more on development and people's livelihoods, implement a number of key cooperation projects in trade, energy, digital, and green fields, and strive for early practical results. China is ready to work with relevant countries to build branch bases of the agricultural technology exchange and training demonstration center, and, relying on the China-SCO Metabolic Diseases Cooperation Center, fund 1,000 medical personnel from SCO countries to pursue further studies in China, so as to continuously improve the well-being of people in the region. Third, we should give play to the exemplary and leading role. The SCO has actively participated in international and regional affairs, accumulated rich experience, and demonstrated the Shanghai Spirit. We should strengthen dialogue and coordination with multilateral mechanisms such as the United Nations, BRICS, the Eurasian Economic Union, and ASEAN, and promote all parties to jointly implement the four major global initiatives and build a community with a shared future for mankind.
In recent years, the international community's call for strengthening multilateralism and reforming and improving global governance has been growing louder. During the Bishkek Summit, participating leaders conducted in-depth discussions on building a multipolar world, reached a series of important consensus, and demonstrated the SCO's sense of responsibility for the times. Under the current circumstances, the SCO should strive to unite more international partners and demonstrate positive actions at the global level. In this process, it is very important to pay more attention to seeking common ground while reserving differences (求同存异, qiu tong cun yi - "seek, same; keep, different") and to expanding common ground while resolving differences, so as to pool wisdom and strength to the greatest extent.
First, we should strengthen economic and trade cooperation amid differences in endowments. Different countries have their own strengths and weaknesses in resources, technology, and markets. This is not an obstacle to cooperation but a complementary advantage. The SCO should continue to promote regional economic integration, advance the building of an open world economy, and turn differences in national endowments into driving forces for win-win outcomes. We should work on market connectivity and industrial alignment. We should raise the level of trade and investment liberalization and facilitation, oppose "building walls and setting up barriers," and maintain the stability and smoothness of global industrial and supply chains. We welcome all parties to join the Initiative on Green Mineral International Economic and Trade Cooperation, strengthen cooperation on digital trade and investment, and jointly build the "Silk Road E-commerce" cooperation pilot zone and a smart customs partnership. We should build a stable and resilient international transport corridor system. We should strengthen the construction of corridors such as the Arctic shipping route and the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route, actively develop multimodal transport, improve transport capacity, and drive the development of industries along the routes. We welcome all parties to join the United Nations Convention on the Contract for the International Carriage of Goods by Road, so as to better leverage the efficiency of cross-border land transport logistics corridors.
Second, we should seek common interests amid differences in demands. It is normal for countries with different national conditions to have contradictions and differences in their interests and demands. The key is to hold the bottom line of mutual respect, adhere to equal consultation, and find the greatest common divisor while moving toward each other. The SCO should promote all parties to focus on common interests, replace confrontation with dialogue, resolve estrangement with inclusiveness, strive to find effective ways to solve problems, and work together to safeguard world peace and stability. At present, the international community's attention to energy security has increased. SCO countries should coordinate efforts to ensure traditional energy production and supply while accelerating the green and low-carbon transition. We welcome all parties to jointly build and share the China-SCO Energy Cooperation Platform and the Green Industry Cooperation Platform, and expand cooperation in green energy, new-type energy storage, and digital power grids.
Third, we should promote harmonious coexistence amid cultural differences. The history of human development is also a history of the development of diverse civilizations. The SCO should promote more people-to-people and cultural exchanges, dialogue, and cultural tourism cooperation among all parties, so that people of different countries can better understand and befriend each other, and different civilizations can learn from and inspire each other. China is ready to strengthen cooperation with all parties in talent cultivation, joint scientific research, and high-quality education cooperation across all stages of schooling, expand the coverage of the "Health Express Brightness Journey" to more countries, and better benefit the people of all countries.
Unity achieves great things, and cooperation opens up the future. Pakistan has assumed the rotating presidency of the SCO. China is ready to work with all parties to fully support Pakistan in implementing its presidency plan of "From Vision to Action" and continuously improve the quality and efficiency of the SCO's development. Let us work hand in hand to continuously strengthen and substantiate the SCO and jointly create a better future for humanity.
Thank you all!
(Xinhua News Agency, Dushanbe, October 20)
Return to Top(People's Daily, Dushanbe, October 20) (Reporter Wang Zhou) On October 20, Premier of the State Council Li Qiang attended the 25th Meeting of the Council of Heads of Government (Prime Ministers) of Member States of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization in Dushanbe. Leaders and representatives of SCO member states, guests of the host country, and heads of relevant international organizations attended the meeting, which was chaired by Tajikistan's Prime Minister Kokhir Rasulzoda.
Li Qiang stated that this year marks the 25th anniversary of the founding of the SCO. The September Bishkek Summit achieved a series of important outcomes, adding new momentum to the promotion of peace and development. At the same time, the world's destabilizing and uncertain factors are still increasing. President Xi Jinping pointed out at the summit that, standing at a crossroads concerning the future and destiny of humanity, the Shanghai Cooperation Organization should bravely shoulder historical responsibilities and take the initiative to lead the course of history. This requires us to better build consensus at the level of "principles," such as vision, philosophy, and thinking, and to better take action at the level of "practice," such as operations and implementation.
At the level of "principles," we should have a clear understanding of some fundamental issues. We must have the vision to discern the general trend. Currently, various ideological trends are clashing and colliding internationally, but world multipolarity and economic globalization represent the general trend of the times (大势所趋, da shi suo qu - "great trend, what is taken"). We must have the breadth of having a broad, global vision (胸怀天下, xiong huai tian xia - "chest, hold, all under heaven"). The SCO should continue to carry forward the Shanghai Spirit, committing itself both to regional stability and prosperity and to contributing to the common development of the world. We must have the perseverance of acting with perseverance to achieve long-term goals (笃行致远, du xing zhi yuan - "sincerely act, reach far"). SCO countries share the common aspiration of jointly promoting friendship, jointly safeguarding security, and jointly seeking development, and they need to maintain strategic focus, stay in close unity, and move forward with courage and determination.
At the level of "practice," we should strengthen coordination and pursue pragmatic innovation. China is willing to work hand in hand with member states to enhance the organization's operational efficiency, solidify and strengthen cooperation projects, give play to a demonstrative and leading role, promote the higher-quality development of the SCO, implement the four global initiatives proposed by President Xi Jinping, and build a community with a shared future for mankind. China is willing to strengthen coordination with all parties to complete as soon as possible the establishment of rules and regulations for the "four security centers," and is willing to fund the training of 1,000 medical personnel from SCO countries in China, continuously improving the well-being of people in the region.
Li Qiang pointed out that in recent years, the international community's calls for strengthening multilateralism and reforming and improving global governance have been growing louder. The SCO should strive to unite more international partners and demonstrate positive action at the global level. It is very important to place greater emphasis on seeking common ground while reserving differences (求同存异, qiu tong cun yi - "seek same, preserve difference") and on converging common ground while dissolving differences. We should strengthen economic and trade cooperation amid differences in endowments, promote regional economic integration, build a stable and resilient international transport corridor system, and maintain the stable and smooth functioning of global industrial and supply chains. We should seek common interests amid differences in demands and work together to safeguard world peace and stability. We should promote harmonious coexistence amid cultural differences.
Participating parties stated that since its founding 25 years ago, the SCO has continued to grow and strengthen, with its international influence increasing day by day (与日俱增, yu ri ju zeng - "with, day, together, increase"). All parties should actively implement the outcomes of the Tianjin Summit and the Bishkek Summit, further carry forward the Shanghai Spirit, strengthen communication and coordination, promote the high-quality development of the SCO, and make greater contributions to peace and development in the region and the world.
After the meeting, Li Qiang, together with the leaders of member states attending the meeting, signed and issued a joint communiqué, approving cooperation documents in the fields of trade and investment, industry, and connectivity, as well as relevant resolutions on SCO institutional development.
Return to TopBy: 何塞·森特利亚
The history of a nation is often written by key moments that transcend eras, and these moments become an important source of thought for later generations to understand reality and contemplate the future. The Long March, led by the Communist Party of China, is precisely such a piece of history. The Long March brought about a major turning point for the Communist Party of China and the cause of the Chinese revolution, embodying the ability to maintain strategic focus under extremely difficult conditions while continuously adjusting methods and paths in response to changes in reality. Ninety years on, the strategic wisdom embodied in the Long March still holds important implications for navigating today's highly uncertain international environment.
The Long March took place during a period of severe difficulty for the Chinese revolution. Chinese Communists did not waver in their fundamental goals because of temporary setbacks; instead, they made preserving and developing revolutionary strength and continuing to advance the revolutionary cause their primary strategic task. It was precisely this commitment to long-term goals that pointed the way through a series of difficult decisions during the Long March. But firm goals did not mean clinging to the original path. Along the march, the military situation was constantly changing, and the Red Army adjusted its marching routes, regrouped its forces, changed its methods of action, and made corresponding strategic and tactical choices in light of actual conditions. Being adept at learning from practice, correcting errors, and adjusting in a timely manner according to specific circumstances was an important reason the Long March overcame one difficulty after another. Thus, one important lesson revealed by the Long March is the organic unity of strategic focus and tactical flexibility.
China's development over the past several decades has, to a certain extent, embodied the combination of strategic continuity and policy adjustment. Reform and opening up, modernization, the elimination of absolute poverty, and the advancement of self-reliance and strength in science and technology — none of these was achieved except through the continuous adjustment of specific policies in light of the stage of development, the domestic and international environment, and actual conditions, all while long-term goals remained broadly stable. Historical processes never advance along a predetermined route; difficulties, setbacks, and unexpected changes are often hard to avoid. What truly matters is not envisioning a development path that is a smooth path without any setbacks, but rather always anchoring the overall direction in the face of difficulties and changes, and continuously strengthening the capacity to adapt and adjust. In this sense, resilience is not about passively enduring pressure, but about maintaining a long-term perspective on the basis of facing real difficulties squarely, and creating new possibilities through learning, innovation, and adjustment.
This experience also has practical relevance for a world undergoing major transformation. At present, the international environment is undergoing rapid and profound change: global supply chains are being deeply restructured, emerging technologies are accelerating changes in the way economies and societies operate, regional conflicts are intensifying the uncertainty of the international environment, and issues such as climate change, energy security, and uneven development require long-term cooperation among all countries. In this context, governance is increasingly susceptible to short-term pressures. Political cycles, market fluctuations, and the instant feedback brought by digital media can all make decision-making more focused on short-term results. Yet whether it is responding to climate change, promoting sustainable development and industrial transformation, or improving global governance, a longer-term perspective is needed. The experience of the Long March shows the world that in the face of complex changes, one must neither lose sight of the long-term direction because of short-term difficulties, nor refuse necessary adjustments because of adherence to long-term goals.
Another important lesson of the Long March is the powerful cohesion generated by a shared goal. The Long March was a collective undertaking of enormous scale, in which hundreds of thousands of soldiers made tremendous sacrifices under the guidance of a common ideal. Organizational cohesion, mutual trust, and identification with a shared cause were important conditions for overcoming one difficulty after another. Looking at the present, the international community likewise faces global challenges that no single country can address independently. Issues such as world economic recovery, climate change, food security, public health governance, and sustainable development all require countries to find space for cooperation amid their differences. Countries differ in history, culture, social system, and stage of development; these differences can neither be eliminated nor need to be. Truly effective multilateral cooperation does not require all participants to be fully aligned on every issue, but rather to seek common interests on the basis of mutual respect and to pool collective strength for action around shared goals.
The Long March belongs to China's history, but the governance wisdom and spiritual strength it embodies carry implications that transcend eras and national borders. As a European observer, I believe that the most valuable inspiration the Chinese Long March offers the contemporary world is precisely this capacity to cope with uncertainty: maintaining strategic direction without falling into tactical rigidity; holding fast to long-term goals while adjusting paths in response to changes in reality; remaining resilient in the face of setbacks and seeking cooperation amid differences. At a time when global uncertainty continues to rise and governance challenges are multiplying, this ability to strike a balance between firmness and flexibility, between the long term and the immediate, still carries important practical significance.
(The author is the chairperson of the Communist Party of Spain)
Return to TopOn October 19-20, 2026, the 25th Meeting of the Council of Heads of Government (Prime Ministers) of the Member States of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (hereinafter referred to as the "SCO" or the "Organization") was held in Dushanbe.
Prime Minister of the Republic of Belarus Turchin, Minister of Defense of the Republic of India Singh, First Vice President of the Islamic Republic of Iran Aref, Prime Minister of the Republic of Kazakhstan Bektenov, Premier of the State Council of the People's Republic of China Li Qiang, First Deputy Prime Minister of the Kyrgyz Republic Amangeldyev, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan Dar, Prime Minister of the Government of the Russian Federation Mishustin, Prime Minister of the Republic of Tajikistan Rasulzoda, and Prime Minister of the Republic of Uzbekistan Aripov attended the meeting.
President of the Republic of Tajikistan Rahmon met with the heads of delegations of the SCO member states.
The meeting was chaired by Prime Minister of the Republic of Tajikistan Rasulzoda.
SCO Secretary-General Yermekbayev, Director of the Executive Committee of the SCO Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure Sharsheyev, Chairman of the SCO Business Council Saliev, and Chairman of the SCO Interbank Consortium Council Nogaev attended the meeting as observers.
First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economic Development of Mongolia Enkhbayar and Deputy Prime Minister of Turkmenistan Gerdimeredov, guests of the host country of the meeting, attended the meeting as observers.
The heads of delegations highly commended the work done by the Kyrgyz Republic during its tenure as the rotating SCO chairmanship from 2025 to 2026, and stressed the need to effectively implement the consensus reached at the SCO Bishkek Summit on September 1, 2026. The parties expressed support for the work of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan as the rotating SCO chairmanship from 2026 to 2027.
In a friendly and pragmatic atmosphere, the heads of delegations discussed all aspects of cooperation in the economic, trade, and cultural fields, as well as issues concerning the improvement of SCO mechanisms and the finances and operations of its permanent bodies.
On the occasion of the 25th anniversary of the founding of the SCO, the heads of delegations reaffirmed that the member states will abide by the purposes and principles of the SCO Charter, the Treaty on Long-Term Good-Neighborliness, Friendship and Cooperation of the SCO Member States, the SCO Development Strategy for the Next 10 Years (2026-2035), and other SCO international treaties and regulatory documents.
The parties highly commended the achievements of the SCO and its enormous cooperation potential, stressing that the SCO plays an active role in consolidating neighborly friendship and cooperation (睦邻友好, mulin youhao - "neighbor, friendly, good, friend") among member states and deepening cooperation in various fields.
The heads of delegations reaffirmed that the member states always adhere to the SCO principle of not targeting other countries and organizations, advocate the peaceful settlement of disputes, uphold openness to the outside world, and conduct broad international cooperation on the basis of taking into account the interests of all parties.
The heads of delegations reaffirmed that the member states will abide by the purposes and principles of the SCO Charter and practice the Shanghai Spirit of mutual trust, mutual benefit, equality, consultation, respect for diversity of civilizations, and pursuit of common development, which was established when the Organization was founded 25 years ago.
The heads of delegations stressed that the member states respect the right of all countries to independently and democratically choose their own paths of political, economic, social, and cultural development in accordance with their own historical experience and national characteristics.
The heads of delegations stressed that the member states will continue to conduct constructive dialogue and deepen multilateral partnership by leveraging the SCO's enormous potential and growing international influence.
The heads of delegations noted that the member states will continue to commit themselves to maintaining regional peace, security, and stability and achieving sustainable development.
The heads of delegations reaffirmed that promoting the building of a new type of international relations featuring mutual respect, fairness and justice, and win-win cooperation and a community with a shared future for mankind, as well as conducting dialogue in accordance with the concept of "One Earth, One Home, One Future," is of important practical significance.
The heads of delegations stressed that the SCO has become a prestigious and efficient multilateral institution, an effective mechanism for equal and mutually beneficial partnership cooperation, has established a solid legal foundation, and has set up permanent bodies, cooperation mechanisms in various fields, expert and practical working platforms, and non-governmental institutions.
The heads of delegations noted that one of the major achievements of the SCO is the growing number of countries that have established cooperative relations with the Organization, the continuous expansion of the Organization's cooperation areas, the steady enhancement of its international influence, and the increasingly close ties with relevant countries and multilateral institutions.
The heads of delegations stressed that the SCO has made important contributions to maintaining regional peace, security, and stability, expanding economic and trade cooperation, and deepening people-to-people and cultural exchanges.
The heads of delegations noted that the SCO plays an important role in building a more just, equitable, and representative multipolar world with the United Nations at its core.
The heads of delegations stressed that the member states will commit themselves to building a broad and open economic space in the region, conducting equal and mutually beneficial cooperation, ensuring the effective operation of markets, supply chains, settlement and payment systems, transport corridors, and logistics routes, as well as the flow of investment, goods, services, and technology, and promoting cooperation in the energy sector. The parties noted that interested member states will cooperate on the initiative to establish a "Greater Eurasian Partnership."
The heads of delegations believed that the experience accumulated by the SCO and its growing potential have created conditions for the Organization to enter a new stage focused on practical results, enhanced connectivity, increased economic resilience, and improved well-being of the people.
I
The heads of delegations noted that the world economy is undergoing profound changes and faces risks and challenges such as fragmentation, disruption of traditional industrial and supply chains, and volatility in food and energy resource prices.
The heads of delegations stressed that the member states oppose unilateral coercive measures that violate the UN Charter and other norms of international law, and noted that such measures have a negative impact on achieving global economic growth and sustainable development goals.
The heads of delegations reaffirmed the great significance of improving the global economic governance architecture and continuously building an open, transparent, fair, inclusive, equitable, and non-discriminatory multilateral trading system based on internationally recognized principles and rules.
The heads of delegations advocated reforming and improving the global governance system, including formulating corresponding rules and norms to ensure equal participation, equal decision-making, and equal benefit for all countries in global governance. The parties stressed that the representation, role, and voice of developing countries in international economic and financial institutions and their governing bodies should be strengthened.
II
The heads of delegations regard economic and trade cooperation as one of the core work directions of the SCO. The parties noted that since the founding of the Organization, a multi-level cooperation system composed of relevant competent authorities, business communities, and expert institutions has been established, and multiple long-term plans and programs have been adopted, creating the necessary conditions for deepening practical cooperation.
The heads of delegations stressed the importance of continuously implementing the SCO Development Strategy for the Next 10 Years (2026-2035), the Program of Multilateral Economic and Trade Cooperation of the SCO Member States, and the SCO Economic Development Strategy until 2030, and instructed relevant mechanisms to coordinate the implementation of various action plans. To this end, the parties welcomed the approval of the Action Plan for the Implementation of the Program of Multilateral Economic and Trade Cooperation of the SCO Member States (2026-2030).
The heads of delegations stressed that the member states are committed to continuing to strengthen cooperation in trade, industry, transport, energy, finance, investment, agriculture, customs, digital economy, creative industries, innovation, and high technology. The parties attached great importance to the extensive promotion of measures for energy conservation and efficiency improvement.
The Republic of Belarus, the Islamic Republic of Iran, the Republic of Kazakhstan, the Kyrgyz Republic, the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, the Russian Federation, the Republic of Tajikistan, and the Republic of Uzbekistan reaffirmed their support for the Belt and Road Initiative proposed by the People's Republic of China and affirmed the work done by all parties for the joint implementation of the Belt and Road Initiative, including promoting the alignment of the Belt and Road with the Eurasian Economic Union.
The heads of delegations proposed deepening mutually beneficial cooperation in the banking and financial fields, exchanging information and advanced experience, and creating a favorable environment for the development of the financial services market.
The heads of delegations took note of the SCO Seminar on Infrastructure Project Financing in Central Asia held in Mumbai on October 8-10, 2026, and the first SCO Asian Economic Dialogue held within its framework, stressing that the above activities are of great significance for developing practical cooperation in investment and financing.
The heads of delegations reaffirmed that the relevant member states will continue to cooperate and gradually expand the share of local currency settlements.
The heads of delegations took note of the efforts made by the relevant member states to improve financial infrastructure.
Taking into account the potential of existing multilateral regional financial institutions and investment platforms, the parties stressed the importance of development financing, including mobilizing long-term and accessible financing for sustainable development projects.
The heads of delegations affirmed the progress made by the relevant member states in establishing the SCO Development Bank and stressed the importance of continuing to advance this work.
The heads of delegations believed that it is necessary to continue creating a stable, transparent, and predictable trade environment, continuously simplify trade procedures, expand the scale of bilateral trade in goods and services, and optimize the trade structure.
The heads of delegations reaffirmed that they will develop digital services, paperless trade, and e-commerce, expand electronic exchange of documents and data, attach importance to the protection of consumer rights and interests in e-commerce, and study online dispute resolution mechanisms for commercial disputes.
The heads of delegations advocated expanding all-round economic cooperation, further improving the investment and business environment, vigorously supporting joint ventures and investment projects, and exchanging information on national regulatory frameworks and investor support policies, including expanding the SCO database of economic preferential policies and building professional electronic platforms.
The heads of delegations highly commended the role played by the SCO Business Council and the Interbank Consortium in promoting practical cooperation, facilitating the exchange of project proposals, and conducting credit and investment cooperation, and believed that regularly holding business forums, exhibitions, and investment fairs is of great significance for the business community to establish direct contacts.
The heads of delegations stressed that micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises play an important role in creating employment, driving regional development, and enhancing economic resilience. The parties advocated further cooperation on measures to support business operations.
The heads of delegations noted that innovation is particularly important for SCO member states to maintain economic competitiveness in the digital age, supported the implementation of relevant initiatives to develop the SCO startup ecosystem and promote the integration of startups into international supply chains. The parties believed that capacity building in digital technologies for innovation clusters of SCO member states should be promoted.
The heads of delegations believed that joint research and development and vocational training should be promoted, and the possibilities for the establishment and development of cooperation among micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises should continue to be studied.
The heads of delegations advocated deepening collaboration to promote creative products and services and implement competitive projects. To this end, the heads of delegations welcomed the establishment of a special working group on the development of the creative economy.
The heads of delegations believed that industrial cooperation is an important condition for achieving economic diversification, consolidating industrial chains, and creating new job opportunities. The parties noted that industry exhibitions and business platforms play an important role in expanding practical cooperation in this field.
The heads of delegations reaffirmed that the member states will continue to exchange relevant experience in the construction of economic parks, industrial parks, and science and technology parks, jointly create production projects, achieve localization of cooperative industrial chains, and promote advanced technologies.
The heads of delegations approved the Regulations on the Database of Investment Projects in the Industrial Sector of the SCO Member States.
The heads of delegations listed the digital transformation of industry as a priority, including the application of artificial intelligence solutions and the development of green industries.
The heads of delegations regard sustainable agricultural development and ensuring food security as one of the priority directions of cooperation. The parties plan to expand cooperation in agricultural product trade and deepen collaboration in agricultural product processing, agricultural machinery manufacturing, breeding and seed industry cooperation, digitalization and smart agriculture, including establishing electronic platforms and supporting high-tech joint projects.
The heads of delegations attached great importance to ensuring sanitary and phytosanitary safety to prevent and respond to cross-border animal diseases, ensure food safety and stable supply, and will promote closer cooperation and information exchange among competent authorities and jointly hold activities in the above fields.
The heads of delegations believed that the SCO should continue to cooperate with professional international organizations, including UN specialized agencies, and hold agricultural forums, exhibitions, training, and joint research to improve agricultural production efficiency.
The heads of delegations believed that developing road, railway, aviation, and multimodal transport, and strengthening logistics centers and transport infrastructure construction, are among the most important directions of the SCO economic agenda.
The heads of delegations stressed the importance of fully unleashing the transit transport potential of the SCO region and improving the capacity of transport corridors.
The heads of delegations believed that it is necessary to continue to safeguard the technological sovereignty of member states, ensure energy security and energy market stability, and build a diversified energy system using multiple energy sources.
The heads of delegations stressed that SCO member states are committed to expanding practical cooperation in the energy sector, including implementing joint research projects, developing the hydropower potential of regional countries, building energy infrastructure, promoting investment and scientific and technological cooperation, introducing advanced energy technologies, training professional personnel, and exchanging experience.
The heads of delegations highly commended the work results of the customs authorities of the member states and noted that the parties have accumulated rich experience through years of cooperation in information exchange, improving customs management, personnel training, and anti-smuggling.
The heads of delegations reaffirmed that they will continue to advance the digitalization of customs procedures, implement the "single window" and "smart customs" mechanisms, conduct electronic exchange of information on goods and means of transport, improve risk management systems, and electronic verification of certificates of origin.
The heads of delegations noted that standardization, metrology, conformity assessment, and technical regulation are of great significance for reducing technical barriers to trade and simplifying trade procedures. Cooperation in this field should be aimed at improving product quality and safety and strengthening the exchange of information and experience in the digitalization of standards and conformity assessment procedures.
The heads of delegations believed that maintaining fair competition and improving antitrust regulation are important conditions for the sustainable development of the market. The parties will further strengthen the exchange of experience in law enforcement and commodity market analysis.
The heads of delegations noted that accurate statistical information is very important for assessing economic and social conditions and making decisions, and the parties will deepen cooperation among statistical authorities and exchange methods and experience in the digitalization of statistical work.
The heads of delegations stressed that in recent years digital transformation has become an important direction of SCO cooperation, and the digital divide among member states should be narrowed, and the ability of the general public, including residents of remote areas, and enterprises to access digital services should be enhanced.
The heads of delegations believed that digital transformation must be accompanied by strengthening information security, ensuring the reliability of digital infrastructure and data security, and enhancing digital literacy.
The heads of delegations noted that the right of all countries to equal use of the Internet in accordance with their national laws should be fully taken into account.
The heads of delegations believed that it is very important to conduct scientific and technological dialogue, promote international exchange of knowledge and best practices, strengthen personnel training, conduct joint scientific research and technological cooperation, increase support for talent, and exchange information on research funding and innovation projects.
The heads of delegations stressed that improving the well-being of the people is one of the most important goals of cooperation. The member states will exchange experience in implementing national poverty reduction and social support programs.
III
The heads of delegations noted that people-to-people and cultural cooperation is an important foundation for promoting mutual trust, neighborly friendship, and people-to-people bonds. The parties will enrich the people-to-people and cultural cooperation agenda and expand direct contacts among various institutions, professional groups, local and social organizations.
The heads of delegations reaffirmed the great significance of protecting cultural diversity and historical heritage, and believed that holding art festivals, exhibitions, culture days, film weeks, and joint film festivals, conducting cultural and artistic exchanges, as well as cooperation among cultural institutions such as museums, libraries, and theaters, can further bring people together.
The heads of delegations reaffirmed that the member states will continue to hold cultural activities, exchange experience in the restoration and protection of cultural heritage, including intangible cultural heritage, and cooperate in combating illegal excavation of historical sites and trafficking of cultural relics.
The heads of delegations supported the promotion and application of digital technologies and artificial intelligence in the fields of museums, libraries, and cultural heritage protection.
The heads of delegations believed that education is the foundation for the long-term development of member states and the enhancement of mutual understanding, welcomed the expansion of inter-school exchanges and academic exchanges including young researchers, jointly formulated educational cooperation plans, and held various conferences and academic seminars. The parties attached great importance to running the SCO University well, attracting more countries to participate, and cultivating professional talents urgently needed for the economic development of member states.
The heads of delegations noted that online education should be developed on the basis of modern information and communication and multimedia technologies, and experience in improving education quality should be exchanged.
The heads of delegations stressed that comprehensive, equal, and fair access to information and communication technologies should be ensured.
The heads of delegations noted that modern and sustainable digital infrastructure must be built, including data processing centers, high-performance computing facilities, and infrastructure for the research, development, and application of artificial intelligence technologies, and the exchange of relevant knowledge and experience should be strengthened. The heads of delegations stressed that, on the premise of respecting national interests and adhering to the principle of peaceful use of science and technology, equal access of member states to artificial intelligence technologies is very important.
The heads of delegations advocated further deepening cooperation in the health sector, including emergency medical assistance, health and epidemic prevention monitoring, drug and vaccine research and development, development of traditional (folk) medicine, ensuring food safety, and professional personnel training. The parties believed that competent authorities should work closely together, exchange information in a timely manner, and conduct joint scientific research.
The heads of delegations stressed that it is very important to advance the digitalization of healthcare, exchange modern medical technologies and advanced diagnosis and treatment methods, including exchanging experience in the application of mobile laboratories and responding to health and epidemic prevention risks.
The heads of delegations stressed that it is of practical significance for SCO member states to continue to work together in the fields of environmental protection, biodiversity conservation, maintaining ecological security, rational use of natural resources, and responding to the adverse effects of climate change, including mountain ecological degradation and accelerated glacier melting.
The heads of delegations noted that the risks of natural disasters and technological accidents are rising, advocated enhancing the SCO's disaster prevention and emergency response capabilities, and stressed that coordinated response to large-scale emergencies should be further strengthened.
The heads of delegations reaffirmed that the full and active participation of women in the economic, social, scientific, technological, cultural life, and public affairs of member states is very important, stressed that cooperation and experience exchange should be continued to empower women's development, support women's entrepreneurship, enhance women's professional skills, and create favorable conditions for the implementation of relevant initiatives.
The heads of delegations will promote the regular holding of women's forums, conferences, and exchange activities, and further promote deeper cooperation among state organs, social organizations, and other relevant institutions of member states.
The heads of delegations reaffirmed the importance of safeguarding and protecting the legitimate rights and interests of women and children, broadening channels for women and children to access quality education, healthcare, and social assistance, and consolidating the family institution.
The heads of delegations highly commended the important contribution of people's diplomacy institutions in enhancing mutual understanding and trust among the peoples of member states and consolidating good-neighborly relations, and will continue to promote the development of people's diplomacy institutions, including expanding contacts and exchanges and holding relevant activities.
The parties welcomed the holding of the SCO Civilization Forum in New Delhi on November 20, 2026.
The heads of delegations stressed that the sustainable development of remote, rural, and mountainous areas should be promoted, local infrastructure should be improved, modern digital solutions and technologies should be introduced, and favorable conditions should be created for the development of tourism, small and medium-sized enterprises, and border trade.
The heads of delegations believed that a comprehensive and objective understanding of the SCO's work, purposes, practical results, and cooperation potential should be fostered among the public, and welcomed exchanges among media, government press departments, and professional journalist groups.
The heads of delegations noted that youth play a special role in promoting the long-term sustainable development of member states and further deepening SCO cooperation, and are committed to creating favorable conditions for unleashing the potential of the younger generation, supporting youth entrepreneurship and startups, scientific and technological innovation, and volunteer activities, learning from each other's experience in promoting youth employment, and expanding cultural, educational, and sports exchanges.
The heads of delegations noted that sports can further enhance cohesion and welcomed further cooperation among the competent authorities and sports organizations of member states.
The heads of delegations supported the holding of joint sports events, including the "SCO Open Cup" international sports event with the participation of interested member states, closer exchanges among athletes, coaches, and professionals, and the sharing of experience and advanced practices in sports development and the organization of major events.
The heads of delegations believed that mutually beneficial cooperation in tourism should be deepened by leveraging the rich historical and cultural heritage and diverse natural resources of the SCO region, supporting the establishment of direct contacts among tourism enterprises, attracting tourism investment, and advancing the digitalization of tourism services.
The heads of delegations supported actively nominating SCO tourism and cultural capitals, holding themed celebrations, exhibitions, and implementing other joint projects.
The heads of delegations noted that the SCO Economic Think Tank Alliance and other expert analytical platforms play an important role in enhancing the level of the Organization's economic and trade cooperation and providing professional recommendations.
IV
The heads of delegations reaffirmed that the SCO will continue to collaborate with various countries and international organizations on the basis of equality and mutual respect. The parties noted that over the 25 years since the founding of the SCO, the scope of its external relations has expanded significantly, international cooperation has been continuously strengthened, and it has established its position in the multilateral international system.
The heads of delegations noted the importance of further improving the SCO's operational mechanisms, including improving the treaty and legal basis, cooperation mechanisms, and the operation of permanent bodies. The heads of delegations stressed that, in accordance with signed agreements and adopted resolutions, the legal and institutional framework for new and permanent bodies should be consolidated to ensure the launch of their work.
V
The heads of delegations reaffirmed that they will continue to build the SCO into a platform for mutual trust, good-neighborliness, equal cooperation, and common development.
The heads of delegations believed that this meeting of the Council of Heads of Government (Prime Ministers) of the SCO Member States held in Dushanbe will become an important milestone for the SCO to enter a new stage of practical cooperation. The achievements accumulated by the SCO over 25 years, its institutional experience, and the common interests of member states will lay a solid foundation for the implementation of the Organization's long-term goals.
The heads of delegations expressed gratitude to the Republic of Tajikistan for successfully hosting the 25th Meeting of the Council of Heads of Government (Prime Ministers) of the SCO Member States and for the warm hospitality extended to all parties.
The next meeting of the Council of Heads of Government (Prime Ministers) of the SCO Member States will be held in the Republic of Uzbekistan in 2027.
Prime Minister of the Republic of Belarus
Minister of Defense of the Republic of India
First Vice President of the Islamic Republic of Iran
Prime Minister of the Republic of Kazakhstan
Premier of the State Council of the People's Republic of China
First Deputy Prime Minister of the Kyrgyz Republic
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan
Prime Minister of the Government of the Russian Federation
Prime Minister of the Republic of Tajikistan
Prime Minister of the Republic of Uzbekistan
(Xinhua News Agency, Dushanbe, October 20)
Return to Top(Xinhua News Agency, Sofia, October 19) (Reporters Lin Hao, Yao Yulin) Wang Yi, member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Minister of Foreign Affairs, said on the 19th in Sofia while jointly meeting the press with Bulgarian Foreign Minister Petrova that during this visit, he attended the CICA summit as Special Representative of President Xi Jinping, and also visited Azerbaijan, Croatia, Montenegro, and Bulgaria. He took this opportunity to share four observations from this trip to Europe and Asia.
First, trust is the cornerstone of peace. The clear message China conveyed to all parties is: firm confidence, persevering unremittingly (锲而不舍, qie er bu she - "drill, and, not, stop"), dialogue and consultation, mutual understanding and concession (互谅互让, hu liang hu rang - "each other, understand, each other, yield"), rebuilding trust, and jointly building peace. China will always stand on the correct side of history, fulfill its responsibility as a major country, and play its due role in eliminating the trust deficit and resolving crises and conflicts.
Second, friendship is a precious asset. The friendly exchanges between the Chinese people and the peoples of the four countries, transcending time and distance, are a continuation of the spirit of the ancient Silk Road and a vivid practice of mutual learning among civilizations on the Eurasian continent. This precious friendship should be endowed with new meaning for the new era and continuously promoted and carried forward (发扬光大, fa yang guang da - "develop, expand, bright, large").
Third, cooperation is a solid driving force. China is willing to work with the four countries to tap potential and enhance efficiency, consolidate cooperation in traditional fields such as trade, investment, and infrastructure, actively align the Belt and Road Initiative with the construction of the "Middle Corridor," strengthen cooperation on new quality productive forces such as artificial intelligence and green transformation, and create new engines and inject new momentum for the development and revitalization of all countries.
Fourth, partnership is a common goal. China is willing to work with Europe to uphold the path of multilateralism, practice the concept of free trade, and jointly achieve China-EU win-win cooperation at a new and higher level. China-Central and Eastern European Countries cooperation conforms to the trend of the times and the development needs of regional countries, and is an important mechanism conducive to European integration. China is willing to take the 15th anniversary of cooperation next year as an opportunity to join together in a great undertaking (共襄盛举, gong xiang sheng ju - "together, participate, grand, undertaking") with regional countries and promote the upgrading of cooperation in quality and level.
Return to Top(Xinhua News Agency, Beijing, October 20) He Lifeng, member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Vice Premier of the State Council, said on the evening of the 19th while meeting members of the International Advisory Council of the National Financial Regulatory Administration at the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse that China is fully implementing the outline of the 15th Five-Year Plan, will continue to unswervingly and steadily (坚定不移, jian ding bu yi - "firm, steadfast, not, move") expand high-level opening up in the financial sector, and accelerate the building of a financial powerhouse. More foreign financial institutions are welcome to invest and do business in China, deepen cooperation with China, and provide high-quality financial services for Chinese modernization.
Members of the International Advisory Council of the National Financial Regulatory Administration said they are full of expectations for China's deepening of financial reform and opening up, are optimistic about the prospects of China's economic and financial development, and will continue to expand investment and cooperation in China.
Return to Top(Xinhua News Agency, Beijing, October 20) Cai Dafeng, Vice Chairman of the NPC Standing Committee, attended and addressed the opening ceremony of the Seminar for Legislators from Latin America in Beijing on October 20. He stated that under the strategic guidance of President Xi Jinping and leaders of Latin American countries, China-Latin America relations have maintained a momentum of rapid development. The NPC of China is willing to deepen friendly cooperation with legislative bodies of Latin American countries and make positive contributions to promoting the development of bilateral relations and jointly building a China-Latin America community with a shared future.
Return to Top(Xinhua News Agency, Beijing, October 20) On October 20, Liu Haixing, Minister of the International Department of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China, met separately in Beijing with a delegation of Italy's Five Star Movement led by its Deputy Leader and Vice Chair of the Senate Foreign Affairs Committee, Licheri, and a delegation of first-tier leadership talents from the United Arab Emirates led by Kabi, Acting Director of the Abu Dhabi Executive Office, exchanging views on strengthening bilateral exchanges and cooperation and promoting the development of state-to-state relations.
Return to Top(Xinhua News Agency, Yerevan, October 20) (Reporters Liu Shuchen, Gou Hongjing) The "China Pavilion" at the Seventeenth Meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (COP17) opened on the 19th in Yerevan, the capital of Armenia. Huang Runqiu, Minister of Ecology and Environment of China, said in his address at the opening ceremony that global biodiversity conservation actions have not yet met expectations, and all parties should intensify efforts to implement policy measures and conservation actions.
Return to TopBy: 本报记者 赵婀娜 金正波 李龙伊
A great journey, an immortal monument.
From October 1934 to October 1936, through two cycles of seasons, the Red Army traversed more than ten provinces, marched 25,000 li, and forged the great Long March spirit that shines through the ages.
General Secretary Xi Jinping profoundly pointed out: "This earth-shaking revolutionary feat is a magnificent epic written by the Communist Party of China and the Red Army, and a towering monument in the historical process of the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation." "Carrying forward the great Long March spirit and treading well today's Long March road is a major issue we face under the conditions of the new era."
The clearer the understanding, the more steadfast the action. From Yudu to the Xiang River, from Zunyi to Jiangtaibao, General Secretary Xi Jinping has time and again visited places along the Long March route, time and again warmly revisited the stories of the Long March, and time and again delivered important speeches, leading the entire Party and society to draw wisdom and strength from the glorious history and to tread well the Long March road of the new era.
On June 24 this year, when inspecting Dezhou City, Shandong Province, General Secretary Xi Jinping emphasized: "Now, we are striding forward on the new journey of comprehensively building a modern socialist country. We must work together with one heart to tread well the new Long March road, create a brighter future, and continuously satisfy the people's aspirations for a better life."
The strong passes are truly like iron, yet today we step over them anew from the start. Remembering the great achievements, carrying forward the great spirit, the Communist Party of China is leading the Chinese people, united as one, forging ahead on the new Long March road.
Leading a profound understanding of the great Long March spirit
"The great feat of the Long March in human history has left us the most precious spiritual wealth, namely the great Long March spirit forged by Chinese Communists and Red Army officers and soldiers with their lives and blood."
Today, how should we understand the great Long March spirit?
"The great feat of the Long March in human history has left us the most precious spiritual wealth, namely the great Long March spirit forged by Chinese Communists and Red Army officers and soldiers with their lives and blood." Following General Secretary Xi Jinping's affectionate narration, looking back at those eventful years, one can better understand the profound history and rich connotation carried by the great Long March spirit.
—The Long March was a great expedition of ideals and convictions.
These are the "three questions" of the Long March that probe the original aspiration.
"How many people survived the Long March? What did the Red Army soldiers rely on? What were they seeking?" On May 21, 2019, when presiding over a symposium on promoting the rise of the central region in Nanchang City, Jiangxi Province, General Secretary Xi Jinping asked three questions in succession.
The answer is engraved on the monument of history: "What they relied on was firm revolutionary ideals and convictions."
On the long journey, Red Army officers and soldiers fought more than 600 battles against the enemy, crossed nearly a hundred rivers, climbed over more than 40 high mountains and perilous peaks, traversed the vast grasslands, conquered the limits of human survival with tenacious will, and created a human miracle that shakes mountains and rivers.
—The Long March was a great expedition that tested truth.
A turning point of life-and-death importance, mentioned by General Secretary Xi Jinping on many occasions.
"The Zunyi Meeting convened by the Party Central Committee was a turning point of life-and-death importance in our Party's history," "We must make good use of the historical experience of the Zunyi Meeting and let the spirit of the Zunyi Meeting shine forever"...
In the old town of Zunyi, Guizhou, at No. 96 Ziyin Road, a two-story building stands quietly. On the gate tower, the six gilded characters "Site of the Zunyi Meeting" gleam brightly.
On June 16, 2015, General Secretary Xi Jinping visited the Site of the Zunyi Meeting and the Zunyi Meeting Exhibition Hall. The General Secretary listened to explanations, looked at artifacts, viewed pictures, and from time to time asked about the Red Army's Long March and the Zunyi Meeting.
General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out: "As an important meeting of great turning significance in our Party's history, the Zunyi Meeting left valuable experience and important inspiration in combining the basic principles of Marxism with China's specific realities, adhering to the path of independence, firmly upholding the correct political line and policies and strategies, and building a strong and mature central leadership collective."
After the Long March, the Party and the Red Army were not weaker but stronger, because our Party found the correct path for the Chinese revolution and the correct theory guiding this path.
—The Long March was a great expedition that awakened the people.
A story of deep affection between the army and the people, warmly revisited by General Secretary Xi Jinping.
On September 16, 2020, General Secretary Xi Jinping visited Shazhou Yao Village in Wenming Yao Township, Rucheng County, Chenzhou City, Hunan Province, and came to the special exhibition hall "The Warmth of Half a Quilt."
In November 1934, it was in this village that three female Red Army soldiers lodged in the home of villager Xu Jiexiu, and upon parting, cut half of their only quilt and left it for her.
General Secretary Xi Jinping said with deep feeling: "Every twig and leaf touches the heart! Our army is the people's army, and the bond between us Communists and the common people is the bond of sharing one quilt."
"Half a quilt" reflects the original aspiration. The history of our Party is a history of the Party and the people connected heart to heart, breathing together, and sharing a common destiny.
—The Long March was a great expedition that opened a new situation.
A battle of magnificent heroism, never forgotten by General Secretary Xi Jinping.
"The Xiang River Campaign was a tragic and heroic battle of the Red Army's Long March and an important historical event that determined the life and death of the Chinese revolution." In that battle, Red Army officers and soldiers fought with blood and courage, smashing the Kuomintang reactionaries' attempt to encircle and annihilate the Central Red Army east of the Xiang River.
Maozhushan Village, Caiwan Town, Quanzhou County, Guilin City, Guangxi, is about a 10-minute drive from the Memorial Hall of the Red Army's Long March Xiang River Campaign.
On April 25, 2021, General Secretary Xi Jinping came to Maozhushan Village for an inspection. The General Secretary walked to observe the village's appearance and visited villager Wang Deli at his home, sitting together with the family to chat about daily life.
Villagers who heard the news gathered at the door of Wang Deli's home. General Secretary Xi Jinping said to everyone: "The Red Army led by the Communist Party of China fought a bloody battle at the Xiang River, cut a bloody path through, and after arduous struggle, founded New China. Now, we have also achieved a moderately prosperous society in all respects. But we are not satisfied with this. The Communist Party of China takes the centenary of its founding as the starting point of a new journey, striving toward another centenary goal, that is, the centenary of the founding of the People's Republic of China, building our country into a great modern socialist country, and thereby realizing the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation."
Crossing the vicissitudes of history, looking back at the suffering and glory of more than 90 years ago, one can better understand the profound connotation of the great Long March spirit.
Viewed from the grand historical process of the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation, the great Long March spirit remains ever fresh and shines brightly—
On July 22 this year, the "Special Exhibition on the Chinese Workers' and Peasants' Red Army's Long March and March North to Resist Japan" opened at the Museum of the War of Chinese People's Resistance Against Japanese Aggression. With the theme "Long March Northward, Jointly Facing National Crisis," the exhibition led audiences to revisit that history of blood and fire.
In the era of the Red Army's Long March, China was in the dark depths of a semi-colonial and semi-feudal society, with social crises looming on all sides, brutal aggression by Japanese invaders, and the Kuomintang reactionaries, disregarding the survival of the nation, launching successive large-scale "encirclement and suppression" campaigns against the revolutionary base areas. The Communist Party of China and the Red Army were at a critical juncture, the Chinese revolution was at a critical juncture, and the Chinese nation was at a critical juncture.
Facing the severe test of life and death, a great Long March began.
General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out: "During the Long March, our Party, through arduous practical exploration, successfully linked resolving the survival crisis with saving the nation from peril, linked the general direction of the Long March with establishing forward positions for resistance against Japan, realized the transformation from the domestic revolutionary war to the national war of resistance against Japan, and laid a solid foundation for winning the War of Chinese People's Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and then winning the New Democratic Revolution."
Taking the victory 90 years ago as the starting point, a mighty force has gathered across the land of China, washing away a century of humiliation, and the dawn of the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation has begun to appear.
Viewed from the historical juncture of the 105th anniversary of the founding of the Party, the power of faith has traversed storms and remains surging as ever—
Since the Opium War of 1840, countless people of lofty ideals had searched hard but failed to find a fundamental way out to change the destiny of the Chinese nation. It was the birth of the Communist Party of China that gave the beleaguered China a backbone. And the Long March was precisely the key step by which the Party moved from immaturity to maturity and the Chinese revolution turned from danger to safety.
Starting from the end point of the Long March, our Party led the Chinese people in unfolding a magnificent new picture of the Chinese revolution.
A person without spirit cannot stand, and a country without spirit cannot be strong.
As an important part of the red gene and spiritual genealogy of Chinese Communists, the great Long March spirit has been deeply integrated into the blood and soul of the Chinese nation, becoming a powerful spiritual driving force that encourages and inspires the Chinese people to continuously overcome difficulties and advance from victory to victory.
Leading the inheritance and promotion of the great Long March spirit
"The great Long March spirit is a vivid reflection of the revolutionary demeanor of Chinese Communists. We must continuously inherit and promote it well in light of new realities."
The great Long March spirit needs to be guarded and inherited by generation after generation.
On September 8 this year, by the banks of the Yudu River, the themed interview activity "Carrying Forward the Long March Spirit, Forging Ahead on the Journey of Rejuvenation — Journalists Retrace the Long March Road" was launched. Journalists from across the country made in-depth visits to important landmarks along the Long March route and villages in old revolutionary base areas, tracing red footprints and recording the changes of the times.
Retracing the road is a return to the source of the spirit.
Turn the clock back to 2019. From June 11 to August 18, in the themed interview activity "Glorious 70 Years, Striving for a New Era — Journalists Retrace the Long March Road," more than 1,300 journalists followed the footsteps of the Red Army's Long March, covering a total of more than 16,000 kilometers and producing more than 10,000 vivid reports.
Behind these figures lies a collective look back at history and, even more, a spiritual root-seeking of the new era.
General Secretary Xi Jinping made important instructions on this themed interview activity "Journalists Retrace the Long March Road," emphasizing: "Vividly reproducing the stirring and earth-shaking revolutionary stories is of great significance for interpreting the great Long March spirit forged with life and blood."
In inheriting the great Long March spirit, General Secretary Xi Jinping has led by example and set a model—
On the morning of July 18, 2016, as soon as General Secretary Xi Jinping got off the plane at Liupanshan Airport in Guyuan City, Ningxia, he drove for more than an hour to Jiangtaibao in Xiji County, where he paid tribute at the Monument to the Red Army's Long March Forces Reunion, and visited the Memorial Park and Memorial Hall of the Red Army's Long March Forces Reunion. The General Secretary said with deep feeling: "The great Long March spirit is a vivid reflection of the revolutionary demeanor of Chinese Communists. We must continuously inherit and promote it well in light of new realities."
"My first stop on my inspection trip to Guangxi was here, with the purpose of, amid the Party-wide study and education on Party history, remembering the revolutionary martyrs, carrying forward the spiritual bloodline of Communists, strengthening ideals and convictions, and tempering revolutionary will." On April 25, 2021, General Secretary Xi Jinping came to the Memorial Park of the Red Army's Long March Xiang River Campaign in Caiwan Town, Quanzhou County, Guilin City, presented a flower basket to the Red Army martyrs of the Xiang River Campaign and bowed three times.
Time and again entering Long March landmarks, time and again remembering revolutionary martyrs, in root-seeking and tracing origins, educating the entire Party, uniting the entire Party, and inspiring the entire Party with revolutionary ideals, leading Party members and cadres to build a solid foundation of faith and replenish the calcium of the spirit.
Every pause and every gaze conveys a conviction: "No matter how far we go forward, we must not forget the road we have traveled."
In inheriting the great Long March spirit, General Secretary Xi Jinping has led efforts to protect Long March culture with greater intensity—
In Guanyang, Guangxi, stands the Red Army Memorial Park at Jiuhai Well of the Xinxu Blocking Action in the Xiang River Campaign. A Red Army tomb stands tall. On the tomb wall are engraved the names of martyrs, line after line.
In the Xiang River Campaign, many officers and soldiers sacrificed their lives at only fifteen or twenty years of age, some without even leaving their names.
General Secretary Xi Jinping has always been concerned about the revolutionary martyrs who sacrificed their lives in the Xiang River Campaign, and specifically made important instructions requiring that the work of collecting and protecting the remains of martyrs be done well and that memorial facilities be planned and built well.
Starting in November 2018, a rescue and protection effort began. By August 2019, Guangxi had completed the construction and protection of 68 memorial facility projects for the Red Army's Long March Xiang River Campaign. The Guanyang County work team went to Jiangxi, Fujian and other places to verify the names of martyrs, copying them character by character, and recovered a list of more than 2,000 names.
Giving names to the nameless, so that later generations will remember. A political party's attitude toward history and a nation's commitment to its heroes are all contained therein.
In the summer of 2026, the Long March National Cultural Park, spanning 15 provinces, welcomed a wave of visitors. At the Luding Bridge, people recalled the bloody charge to seize the perilous crossing; in Guiyang, more than 200,000 people visited the Guizhou Long March Culture Digital Art Museum...
Along the Long March route, a vast number and rich variety of Long March cultural relics and cultural resources remain, serving as living carriers for carrying forward revolutionary traditions and revolutionary culture, strengthening the building of socialist spiritual civilization, arousing patriotic fervor, and inspiring the national spirit.
General Secretary Xi Jinping has always been deeply concerned about building the Long March National Cultural Park well.
"Build the Great Wall, Long March, and Yellow River national cultural parks well, injecting strong spiritual strength into modernization." "Inherit and carry forward red culture, build the Changting and Ninghua Long March national cultural parks well, and deepen the research and interpretation of revolutionary historical materials and revolutionary cultural relics."
From the repair of a former site to the construction of a national cultural park; from remembering the deeds of martyrs to ensuring that the spirit has a place to be found, objects to rely on, and history to draw upon... protection is moving from emotional consciousness to institutional arrangement.
In inheriting the great Long March spirit, General Secretary Xi Jinping has on many occasions profoundly elaborated on its rich connotation—
The great Long March spirit is precious spiritual wealth obtained by the Party and the people at tremendous cost and through great struggles. We must remember the great Long March spirit, learn from the great Long March spirit, and carry forward the great Long March spirit for generations to come.
He spoke of the story of a quartermaster. "Our Party won one arduous struggle after another precisely by relying on the selfless dedication of thousands upon thousands of advanced elements with high political consciousness."
He spoke of the story of the hero Chen Shuxiang. "Division commander Chen Shuxiang was unfortunately captured. He tore open the wound on his abdomen, twisted off his intestines, and died a heroic death, fulfilling the oath of 'shedding the last drop of blood for the Soviet.'"
Wherever his journey took him, his thoughts reached. General Secretary Xi Jinping, leading by example and teaching earnestly, has let the great Long March spirit permeate people's hearts like spring breeze and rain.
"History has never gone far away; it lies in every cultural relic. Every time I explain to visitors, it is a spiritual baptism." Zhong Min, a member of the Party Leadership Group of the Yudu Central Red Army Long March Assembly and Departure History Museum, spoke from the bottom of her heart.
In May 2019, General Secretary Xi Jinping came to Yudu, Jiangxi, and listened to an introduction to the history of the Central Red Army's assembly and departure for the Long March.
Zhong Min still vividly remembers the scene at that time: "The General Secretary encouraged me to continue telling the red stories well and to inherit the red gene well, which made me feel a great sense of glorious mission."
General Secretary Xi Jinping's entrustment regarding telling the stories of the Long March well has led more and more ordinary Yudu people to join the ranks of storytellers.
At the Dongmen Ferry on the banks of the Yudu River, the scenario drama "Farewell" is performed from time to time. Wang Huiqun, a 70-year-old descendant of a Red Army soldier, likens participating in the scenario drama "Farewell" to "going to the battlefield," and she has participated in more than 800 of the more than 900 performances.
Memory continues without end, and the torch of the spirit burns forever. From conscious inheritance to active practice, the great Long March spirit has been integrated into every aspect of social life and has become the common spiritual foundation and value pursuit of the Chinese people.
Leading the in-depth practice of the great Long March spirit
"No matter what stage our cause develops to, no matter how great our achievements are, we must vigorously carry forward the great Long March spirit and continue to forge ahead courageously on the new Long March road."
The best tribute to history is to write a new history of struggle.
General Secretary Xi Jinping emphasized: "No matter what stage our cause develops to, no matter how great our achievements are, we must vigorously carry forward the great Long March spirit and continue to forge ahead courageously on the new Long March road."
Compared with the Red Army's Long March of those years, and compared with the new Long March road we have already traveled since reform and opening up, today's Long March, although differing or even greatly differing in environment, conditions, tasks, and forces, is in all cases a cause of pioneering, arduousness, and complexity.
—Practicing the great Long March spirit, advancing firmly along the correct direction.
The victory of the Long March was a victory of direction and path.
Before the departure of the Long March, due to the erroneous leadership of "Left" dogmatism within the Party, the Fifth Counter-Encirclement and Suppression Campaign of the Central Revolutionary Base Area failed, and other base areas also suffered setbacks. The Chinese revolution faced a choice of direction and path. Facing turbulent clouds and raging waves, our Party blazed a revolutionary path toward rebirth and victory through blood and fire.
General Secretary Xi Jinping once told this story: "When the Red Army was crossing the grassland, the cook, upon getting up, did not ask whether there was rice to cook today, but first asked whether we were heading south or north. This shows that in the Red Army ranks, even a cook understood that the question of direction was more important than what to eat."
In the great practice of revolution, construction, reform, and the new era, our Party has led the people through untold hardships and successfully blazed and adhered to the path of socialism with Chinese characteristics.
"Direction determines the future, and the path determines destiny."
Adhere to the Party's basic theory, basic line, and basic strategy, adhere to the Party's overall leadership and the centralized, unified leadership of the Party Central Committee, thoroughly implement Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, and strengthen confidence in the path, theory, system, and culture...
No matter how the situation and tasks change, no matter what raging waves are encountered, our Party always grasps the historical initiative, anchors the goal of struggle, and advances firmly along the correct direction.
The path does not change, and the will does not waver!
—Practicing the great Long March spirit, answering well the questions of "for whom" and "relying on whom" with a pure heart.
In October 1934, the Red Army crossed the Yudu River by night. The sons and daughters of Yudu dismantled their own door panels and bed boards and, united as one, built a pontoon bridge. Today, five bridges — "Red Army," "Long March," "Assembly," "River Crossing," and "Victory" — span the Yudu River, and the old appearance has long been transformed.
On the red soil, the lives of the villagers are getting better and better. The Red Army passed through here back then, and today the Party's care takes root here.
On May 20, 2019, General Secretary Xi Jinping walked into Tantou Village, Zishan Town, Yudu County, to inspect on the ground the progress of the battle against poverty and rural revitalization in the old revolutionary base area. The General Secretary said: "My visit to Jiangxi this time is to see the folks of the Soviet area, to see whether the lives of the folks have improved, and whether the old base area can be lifted out of poverty and removed from the list on schedule."
"Zishan Tantou, hardship at both ends; three sunny days, shoulders worn raw from carrying; three rainy days, water enters the stove" was a true portrayal of Tantou Village in the past.
Local cadres and the masses think with one mind, exert strength in one direction, and let sweat flow together, painting a vibrant new picture. Today, the village's selenium-rich vegetable industry and rural tourism continue to grow, and quality public services benefit every household...
"In the past, 'hardship at both ends'; today, sweetness reaches the heart. Life is really like sesame blossoms rising higher and higher!" villager Sun Guanfa said with emotion.
Ninety years of striving and forging ahead. Today, we have achieved the First Centenary Goal, built a moderately prosperous society in all respects on the land of China, historically resolved absolute poverty, and are now advancing toward the Second Centenary Goal of building a great modern socialist country in all respects.
Everything for the people, everything relying on the people.
From fighting the battles to protect blue skies, clear waters, and clean soil to building the world's largest education system, social security system, and medical and health system... Chinese modernization adheres to a people-centered approach, vividly interpreting that "the people's aspiration for a better life is our goal of struggle."
—Practicing the great Long March spirit, overcoming difficulties to break through the new "Loushan Pass" and "Lazikou."
The formidable passes of those years were among mountains and rivers; today's "defiles" are in invisible places.
Key core technologies cannot be asked for, bought, or begged for. General Secretary Xi Jinping emphasized: "The period of the 15th Five-Year Plan is a critical period of tackling key problems for building a strong science and technology country."
On July 10 this year, the Long March-10B carrier rocket was launched from the Hainan Commercial Space Launch Site, and thereafter, a wonderful "sea dance of arrow and ship" was staged. As the large net of the sea recovery platform, the ship "Pioneer," steadily caught the first-stage core of the returning Long March-10B rocket, China's aerospace industry once again made history.
A great national instrument, named "Long March." Generations of scientific and technological workers have worked hard, broken through barriers, and embarked on a new Long March toward the sea of stars.
From key core technologies being constrained by others to domestic chips striving to break through; from difficult travel through lofty mountains and ridges to the Sichuan-Tibet Railway extending to the snowy plateau; from "sky-high mooncakes" and "clubhouse unhealthy tendencies" eroding trust to the Central Committee's Eight-Point Regulation taking effect with resounding results... the great spirit illuminates the road of endeavor and becomes the source of strength for continuous struggle.
To achieve new progress in upholding and developing the great cause of socialism with Chinese characteristics, to achieve new results in advancing the great new project of Party building, and to achieve new victories in the great struggle with many new historical features, we still have many "snowy mountains" and "grasslands" to cross, and many "Loushan Passes" and "Lazikous" to conquer.
Struggling against difficulties is a contest of material strength and also a confrontation of spirit.
Every generation has its own Long March road, and every generation must tread its own Long March road well. Our country is in a critical period of realizing the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation, and we must fight bravely and face difficulties head-on with the spirit of advancing despite increasing danger.
The echoes of history traverse time and space, and the great spirit lives on endlessly.
In 2026, it happens to be the 105th anniversary of the founding of the Communist Party of China and the 90th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese Workers' and Peasants' Red Army's Long March. Standing at this special historical coordinate, opening once again the voluminous historical record of the Long March, the enlightenment of the times contained in that great expedition becomes ever clearer.
Back then, the Red Army measured China with their feet; today, we define China with our struggle.
Only by continuously carrying forward the great spirit can we break through barriers and create new historical achievements—
"We must vigorously carry forward the great Long March spirit, inspire and encourage the entire Party, the entire military, and the people of all ethnic groups across the country, especially the young generation, to work hard and strive to make a difference, and continue to push forward the great cause pioneered by the revolutionary predecessors"!
Return to TopBy: 金社平
"China's economy has pressed forward against pressure, moved toward innovation and excellence, and demonstrated strong resilience and vitality."
In the opening year of the 15th Five-Year Plan, China's economy withstood pressure and maintained an overall stable development trend with progress amid stability. In the first three quarters, GDP grew by 4.6 percent year on year, with economic growth remaining within a reasonable range and the growth rate maintaining a leading position among major global economies.
Viewing China's current economy from a global perspective and historical standpoint, three prominent features are becoming increasingly distinct: its role as a global anchor of stability is further highlighted, the results of innovation-driven development are further manifested, and economic resilience is further strengthened.
Under the strong leadership of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core, we build on our strengths, discern trends, grasp the overall situation, unswervingly handle our own affairs well, respond to various uncertainties with the certainty of high-quality development, strive to accomplish the year's goals and tasks, and achieve a good start to the 15th Five-Year Plan.
(1)
China and the world — an increasingly clear proposition for development.
The Pearl River surges; at Pazhou, ten thousand merchants gather, jointly attending the 70-year appointment of "China's No. 1 Exhibition."
Over 70 years, the Canton Fair, which has "never missed a session," itself constitutes a narrative: at a time when the international economic order is under severe impact, China is using high-quality development to inject more stability and positive energy into a world interwoven with change and turmoil.
Creating prosperity together with the world and sharing the world's concerns — this is precisely the responsibility of a major country demonstrated by China as the "global anchor of stability."
The "anchor of stability" comes from the stable operation of the "No. 1 engine."
Since the beginning of this year, compared with some major economies mired in huge debts, sluggish growth, and high inflation, China's economic performance has been outstanding, with its growth rate in the first three quarters maintaining a leading position among major global economies. Research shows that for every 1 percentage point of China's economic growth, the output level of other economies will increase by an average of 0.3 percentage points.
In recent years, China's contribution rate to global economic growth has remained at around 30 percent, exceeding the total of the Group of Seven, making it deserving of the title without question (当之无愧, dang zhi wu kui - "be, worthy of, no, doubt") as the "No. 1 engine."
The "anchor of stability" comes from the stability and reliability of "Made in China."
In Europe, Chinese air conditioners have become a "summer necessity" for residents to resist high temperatures; in the Middle East, Chinese photovoltaics have become an important engine for energy transition... As global turmoil intensifies, China's advantages of a complete industrial system and strong supply chain resilience are further brought into play, providing strong support for the smooth circulation of the world economy.
In the first three quarters, China's goods trade exports grew by 16.4 percent year on year, with intermediate goods accounting for more than half of total export value, effectively playing the role of a "stabilizing anchor" in the global production and supply chain.
The "anchor of stability" comes from the opening-up strategy of the "largest standard-bearer."
From the implementation of the newly revised Foreign Trade Law, to becoming the first major economy in the world to achieve full coverage of zero-tariff treatment for all African countries with diplomatic relations and all least developed countries with diplomatic relations, since the beginning of this year, China, as the "largest standard-bearer in promoting trade and investment liberalization and facilitation," is providing the world with broader and more diverse market opportunities, investment opportunities, growth opportunities, and sustainable development opportunities. In the first three quarters, China's total imports and exports with countries jointly building the Belt and Road Initiative grew by 17.1 percent year on year, and imports and exports with emerging markets such as ASEAN and Africa also achieved rapid growth.
General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out: "Under the new circumstances, China is willing to join hands with countries around the world to jointly uphold the multilateral trading system, ensure the stable and smooth operation of global industrial and supply chains, expand the space for mutually beneficial international economic and trade cooperation, promote universally beneficial and inclusive economic globalization, and continuously inject new momentum into world development and prosperity."
Looking to the future, China's economy presents distinct features of a solid foundation, multiple advantages, strong resilience, and great potential. The supporting conditions and basic trend of long-term improvement have not changed, and it will remain the most powerful, most stable, and most reliable source of power for global economic growth.
(2)
With a large economic volume, moving forward requires greater driving force.
In the first three quarters, new growth drivers represented by high-end manufacturing, digital intelligence economy, and modern services maintained a contribution rate of over 40 percent to China's economic growth.
In a quiet computer room on the Inner Mongolia grassland, rows of dark-colored machines emit a humming sound. This is the world's largest AI computing power super unit — the Ulanqab Xinghe Base, where Tencent is combining its cloud computing and AI capabilities to provide computing power support for applications such as Hunyuan large model training and the AI efficiency office agent (WorkBuddy).
Starting from here, the invisible "computing power" is driving the economy to run rapidly. From growing potatoes to "growing" Tokens, from "bleak grassland" to "hot land of intelligent computing," the transformation of Ulanqab comes from developing new quality productive forces in light of local conditions.
General Secretary Xi Jinping emphasized that "during the 15th Five-Year Plan period, developing new quality productive forces in light of local conditions must be placed in a more prominent strategic position." On October 9, the "Opinions of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China and the State Council on Developing New Quality Productive Forces" was publicly released, transforming General Secretary Xi Jinping's original theory into an action guide.
As new quality productive forces are continuously converted into momentum for economic development, the results of China's innovation-driven development are further manifested. "The rapid growth of new growth drivers is a prominent highlight of this year's economic development," said Mao Shengyong, spokesperson for the National Bureau of Statistics.
New growth drivers come from the intensive emergence and application of innovation achievements.
The "Jiuzhang-4" quantum computing prototype was unveiled, the first flight of the Long March 10B was successful, and new breakthroughs were achieved in high-speed two-way laser communication between the Earth and the Moon... In this opening year, China's scientific and technological achievements are accelerating their transformation and application at the industrial level. New track industries such as artificial intelligence, new energy, and new materials continue to maintain high growth, and the supporting role of innovation-driven development for economic growth continues to strengthen.
New growth drivers come from the vigorous advancement of transformation and upgrading.
A piece of ceramics demonstrates the myriad manifestations of new quality productive forces taking root and flourishing (落地生根, luo di sheng gen - "fall, ground, grow, root").
In Jingdezhen, Jiangxi, 3D printing technology is used in ceramic production, helping the industry accelerate upgrading and development, with output value exceeding the 100 billion yuan mark; in Chaozhou, Guangdong, AI technology penetrates every link of ceramic R&D, design, production, and marketing, promoting the transformation of the traditional ceramic industry toward intelligence, high-end development, and branding; in Yixing, Jiangsu, technological transformation and capacity expansion projects are being intensively advanced, and the ceramic industry is accelerating its march into high value-added fields such as semiconductors and new energy...
"Developing new quality productive forces does not mean ignoring or abandoning traditional industries"; rather, it is necessary to revitalize traditional industries (老树发新芽, lao shu fa xin ya - "old, tree, emit, new, bud"). Today, in light of local conditions and through differentiated development, traditional industries and sectors, through digital, intelligent, and green transformation and continuous upgrading, are accelerating their advance toward the high end and constantly radiating new vitality.
Anchored to development goals, maintaining conscious action, unswervingly using new quality productive forces to ignite a new engine for high-quality development, and continuing with unremitting effort (驰而不息, chi er bu xi - "gallop, and, not, rest") to push China's economy to move toward "innovation" and toward "quality" for the long term.
(3)
As the century-old transformation accelerates, the resilience and confidence of China's economy can be better understood in the details.
In the golden autumn season, the fragrance of rice pervades the shores of Dongting Lake. Agricultural machinery operator Zhang Daixiang drives a combine harvester to rush-harvest rice in the paddy fields of Caowei Town, Yuanjiang City, Hunan.
The conflict in the Middle East, thousands of kilometers away, once tugged at his heart: each hour of agricultural machinery operation consumes about 18 liters of diesel, and a sharp rise in oil prices would inevitably mean losses.
"Fortunately, the state acted in time." In early April this year, at the critical moment of spring plowing, the refined oil product price adjustment mechanism exerted its force in a timely manner. At the end of September, during the busy autumn harvest, the adjustment policy continued to show effect. What warmed Zhang Daixiang's heart even more was that the local government promptly opened a green channel for oil use, allowing agricultural machinery to "drink its fill of oil and work with full vigor."
After calculating, this year's operating area increased by more than 2,000 mu compared with last year, and net income increased by nearly 15,000 yuan.
When storms strike and crises test, the true capability of China's economy is revealed.
Facing violent fluctuations in the global energy market, some countries suffer energy shortages and high prices. In contrast, China, relying on forward-looking planning, a deep foundation, and effective responses, has ensured the smooth operation of thousands of industries and orderly energy use for hundreds of millions of households. In the first three quarters, crude oil and natural gas output above designated size both hit record highs for the same period in history; the increase in domestic gasoline prices was far smaller than the increase in international crude oil prices.
As the international situation remains turbulent, China's economic resilience has been further strengthened, stemming not only from the profound advantages accumulated through long-term development, but also from the institutional advantages of socialism with Chinese characteristics, the advantages of a super-large market, the advantages of a complete industrial system, and the advantages of abundant human resources.
Economic resilience has been further strengthened because macro-control capabilities are becoming increasingly sophisticated.
To cope with investment pressure, China issued in advance the list of "two major" construction projects and the central budget investment plan. The issuance of 1.3 trillion yuan in ultra-long-term special treasury bonds has been successfully completed, with precise efforts supporting the "two major" construction and the "two new" work;
To stimulate consumption potential, China has adopted multiple measures to promote high-quality development of service consumption. In the first three quarters, service retail sales grew by 5 percent year on year, 4 percentage points faster than retail sales of goods;
To unleash the momentum of foreign trade, China has unswervingly expanded high-level opening up. The strong resilience of China's foreign trade continues to be demonstrated. Since the beginning of this year, exports have maintained double-digit growth, and import growth has reached over 20 percent...
Acting at critical moments, exerting force at key points. Facing cyclical, structural, and institutional problems as well as changes in the external environment, China adheres to the general principle of seeking progress while maintaining stability (稳中求进, wen zhong qiu jin - "stable, among, seek, progress") in its work, and enhances the precision and flexibility of macro-control in light of the times and circumstances, demonstrating the inherent capability of "responding quickly and adjusting smoothly."
More importantly, compared with some countries' short-term regulation that makes inconsistent or short-sighted adjustments (翻烧饼, fan shao bing - "flip, roasted, flatbread"), China's macro-control places greater emphasis on organic alignment with the five-year plans and medium- and long-term development strategies, ensuring that one blueprint is drawn to the end.
Economic resilience has been further strengthened because the potential for economic growth is continuously being unleashed.
Economic potential is the foundation of a country's development confidence. As a large developing country, China faces the problem of unbalanced and inadequate development, which also means more room for maneuver and space for growth.
At present, in Yunnan, the first deep shaft of the Central Yunnan Water Diversion Project has been successfully connected through; in Hubei, the new channel project of the Three Gorges water transport has entered a new stage of main construction; in Guangdong, the Qiong-Yue power grid interconnection project is being comprehensively advanced... Projects related to the "six networks" are accelerating their implementation, which will provide a more efficient, reliable, and resilient infrastructure foundation for economic circulation and effectively enhance economic autonomy and resilience against risks. It is estimated that this year alone, the investment scale in the "six networks" and related key areas will exceed 7 trillion yuan.
The Economist's website noted that many projects of the "six networks" are upgrades and renovations of existing facilities. "This is 'connotative growth' as opposed to 'denotative growth.' Infrastructure projects help boost domestic demand and enhance China's position in the global economy."
Economic resilience has been further strengthened by honing internal strengths and building up one's own capabilities.
The 100,000-spindle green intelligent factory of Yueda Textile Group in Yancheng, Jiangsu, was this year rated as the first "Lighthouse Factory" in the global cotton textile industry. Through digital and intelligent upgrading, the traditional textile scene of "a thousand people spinning, ten thousand people weaving" is long gone here, and overall labor productivity has increased by 421 percent.
"We must persist in focusing our work on honing internal strengths and building up our own capabilities." Suzhou's electronic information industry, Wuxi's integrated circuits, Changzhou's new energy... In today's Jiangsu, the number of national advanced manufacturing clusters ranks first in the country, and a "tropical rainforest-style" diversified industrial ecosystem builds strong dynamic adjustment resilience.
Making factories "smarter" and production more efficient, across the country, artificial intelligence and digital technologies are penetrating every link of manufacturing at an unprecedented speed. The country has cultivated and built 80 national advanced manufacturing clusters, covering six key fields including next-generation information technology, high-end equipment, and new materials. In the first three quarters, new industrial growth drivers represented by high-end manufacturing and digital manufacturing contributed more than half of the growth in industrial added value above designated size.
Huawei released the new-generation AI computing infrastructure Ascend 960 supernode, accelerating the training and inference of trillion-parameter large models; ChangXin Memory Technologies achieved mass production of its fifth-generation DRAM (dynamic random access memory) technology platform, strengthening the autonomous supply chain for memory chips; CATL rose to the top of the global battery patent rankings, continuously enhancing the technological advantages of domestic batteries... Facing uncertainty, honing internal strengths and building up one's own capabilities is the greatest certainty of China's economy.
"With lofty goals, there is also patience and resolve."
Keeping the overall situation in mind, looking far and wide, firmly adhering to strategic goals, clearly recognizing prominent features, grasping scientific laws, strengthening confidence in victory, making steady and solid progress (一步一个脚印, yi bu yi ge jiao yin - "one, step, one, footprint") and advancing firmly forward, pushing forward solidly stage by stage — the time and momentum belong to a striving China on its new Long March.
Return to TopBy: 孟繁哲
Rooted in life, writing of struggle; moistening the heart with culture, consolidating consensus; preserving patriotic sentiment, gathering the soul of the nation; stirring the strength of endeavor amid reform and innovation
The power of the spirit traverses time and space, stirring the hearts of people.
Once, the Red Army's Long March from its starting point to its final destination took two full years—how tragic and stirring. Today, the direct high-speed railway from Ruijin, Jiangxi, to Yan'an, Shaanxi, the Fuxing train G3998, has been put into operation, achieving "same-day arrival."
A century ago, the "Three Questions of the Olympics" startled the ears and roused the mind (振聋发聩, zhen long fa kui - "shake deaf, emit sound"), full of bitterness. Today, the building of a sporting powerhouse advances with firm steps; at the 20th Asian Games, the Chinese sports delegation achieved its best result in overseas participation in the history of the Asian Games.
From one major national project after another, from one striving figure after another, one can read the national character of diligence, courage, and constant striving for self-improvement (自强不息, zi qiang bu xi - "self, strengthen, not, cease"). The spiritual tradition that has endured for millennia continuously presents fresh expressions as the era moves forward.
General Secretary Xi Jinping emphasized: "To realize the Chinese Dream, we must carry forward the Chinese spirit. This is the national spirit centered on patriotism and the spirit of the times centered on reform and innovation."
Studying Volume I and Volume II of Selected Cultural Works of Xi Jinping, grasping the clear orientation of cultural development that focuses on people and lands on people, one can better understand where this spiritual power comes from, and how it nourishes the soul, unites hearts, and inspires endeavor.
The people's practice of struggle is the deep soil in which the Chinese spirit grows.
Bi Shumin, drawing on her personal experience of frontier defense service, wrote The Kunlun Pact, writing into her work the sacrifice and dedication of plateau officers and soldiers guarding the nation's territory.
The documentary Sonata of the Heavy Machinery City goes into the workshops of China First Heavy Industries, recording the daily work of workers forging steel ingots and developing CNC probe systems.
From icy peaks and snowy plateaus to factory workshops, the perspectives of the works differ, but in every case the protagonists closely link personal endeavor with the needs of the nation.
Why are they willing to devote their youth to the country? Why do they refuse to retreat in the face of difficulties? And how do they open up new prospects through continuous exploration? Only by delving into these concrete choices can one understand the weight of the Chinese spirit.
By rooting oneself deeply in life, both discovering moving stories and excavating the convictions that support these choices, and bringing out the individual efforts behind great achievements, one can leave for the era flesh-and-blood spiritual memories and continuously enrich the contemporary connotation of the Chinese spirit.
A good work of art can often make different people empathize and move their hearts.
The drama Red Crag entered the university auditoriums of Changsha, Hunan, where retired teachers, college students, and middle school students watched together, each reading from their own life experiences the sacrifice and responsibility of the martyrs. People may not share the same lives, yet they can understand the same steadfastness and cherish the hard-won peace.
This resonance across generations pushes the feeling of family and country from story into the heart, and also gives people a deeper spiritual bond with one another.
Watching the dance drama Tiangong Kaiwu, vivid stories present the labor wisdom of the ancients, and audiences come to appreciate the preciousness of exploring the unknown through the experiences of Song Yingxing;
Listening to the Zuquan flowering tune New Breeze Blows the Peach Blossoms Red in Shanxi, "new-style weddings, simplified funerals" is woven into the melody of the Taihang folk song, guiding people to ponder the true meaning of happiness...
Adhering to the guidance of the core values of socialism, advancing creative transformation and innovative development, and integrating the spiritual pursuits in fine traditional culture with contemporary values.
When cultural immersion rises from emotional resonance to value identification, when commonly cherished principles become commonly observed norms of conduct, the Chinese spirit gains a deep foundation for uniting people's hearts.
The era constantly sets new examination questions, and spiritual inheritance must also write new answer sheets.
Carrying forward the spirit of the westward relocation, the research team of Xi'an Jiaotong University, oriented toward national needs, tackles key problems in fields such as space vision and space operation robots;
The young people of the "Benyu Volunteer Service Team" of Huazhong Agricultural University take up the baton of volunteer teaching in succession, offering courses such as "Play with Science" and "Art with Children" in the mountainous areas of Guizhou, expanding the space for children's growth;
In Saihanba, Hebei, a new generation of builders takes up the green mission of their predecessors, exploring the cultivation of mixed forests and using intelligent monitoring to protect the sea of trees...
Inheriting the spirit does not require repeating the road of the past, but one must understand the choices of those who came before. Reflecting on the past in light of the present (抚今追昔, fu jin zhui xi - "touch, present, pursue, past"), the pursuit of shouldering responsibility for the country and serving the people has been consistent from beginning to end (一以贯之, yi yi guan zhi - "one, by, penetrate, through"), while the methods of fulfilling the mission change with the times.
Facing new challenges, only with both the composure to fear no difficulty and the courage to blaze new trails, and by turning the aspiration to serve the country into actions that solve practical problems, can the spiritual wealth accumulated by history be continuously transformed into the strength to open up the future.
On what does the Chinese spirit stand? The answer lies both in the depths of history and in the everyday lives of hundreds of millions of people.
Rooted in life, writing of struggle; moistening the heart with culture, consolidating consensus; preserving patriotic sentiment, gathering the soul of the nation; stirring the strength of endeavor amid reform and innovation—we will surely gain greater aspiration and greater confidence, injecting powerful spiritual momentum into the advancement of Chinese modernization.
Return to TopBy: 彭 飞
Only by withstanding pressure, turning resistance into momentum, refusing to wait or rely on others, and proactively seeking change, can one find a way out amid winding mountains and rivers and see a new prospect after difficulties.
The plane landed at Ordos Ejin Horo International Airport in Inner Mongolia. My "dark imagination" of this coal-heavy city before departure was overturned and refreshed the moment I stepped into the terminal.
Not only was the fresh and elegant airport environment feeling relaxed and joyful, but more importantly, I learned from local residents that Ejin Horo International Airport is the world's first zero-carbon airport—clean energy accounts for over 90% of its supply, it consumes more than 21 million kilowatt-hours of wind and solar power annually, and it achieves zero fossil fuel use, zero Freon, and zero cooling water for energy supply.
From coal to zero carbon, this contrast holds the key to understanding this city.
Coal lies beneath 70% of the city's land, with coal reserves accounting for one-sixth of the national total and natural gas reserves one-third of the national total... My companions remarked that "heaven itself feeds us." But this "gift," if not used well, can become a burden instead.
In economics, there is a concept called the "resource curse," which refers to the phenomenon where abundant natural resources can instead lead to a single-industry regional economy and drag down long-term development. How to break the "curse," moving from passively being "fed until full" to actively "eating well"? How to forge a new path for the transformation of resource-based cities? The practice of Ordos offers insights.
With no retreat, a new path is forced open. For transformation and upgrading, one must first have the tenacity of finding a way out of a desperate situation.
Around 2012, plunging coal prices and mounting pressure in the real estate market served as a wake-up call for Ordos: the old path of relying solely on coal and pursuing extensive development would not work. Extending the coal chemical industry chain, building smart mines, cultivating zero-carbon industries... Under the guidance of the green development philosophy, the pace of transformation accelerated.
In 2025, the share of value added from non-coal industries above designated size reached 30.8%, the value added of the modern coal chemical industry grew by 62.4%, and the wind, solar, hydrogen, and energy storage industrial clusters are taking shape at an accelerating pace, with the "green content" and "innovation content" of industries rising steadily and rapidly.
Anyone may face a moment of being "cornered." Only by withstanding pressure, turning resistance into momentum, refusing to wait or rely on others, and proactively seeking change, can one find a way out amid winding mountains and rivers and see a new prospect after difficulties.
For a long time, the desert was seen as a burden on Ordos—desertification harmed the ecology, and combating it cost money. The Kubuqi "Photovoltaic Great Wall" changed this perception: solar panels spread across the rolling sea of sand, generating electricity above, growing grass below, and supporting livestock farming in between. The barren desert that people once avoided at all costs has become a treasure trove integrating power generation, desert control, and wealth creation for the people.
At present, frontier technologies and emerging industries are iterating rapidly, and localities in their transformation should also re-examine their own endowments, rather than measuring new things with old yardsticks. Saline-alkali wasteland can become fertile farmland, deep mountains and dense forests can incubate eco-cultural tourism, and cold and desolate Gobi can host computing centers... Limited resources are not frightening; what is frightening is self-imposed limits. Only by rebuilding the perception of endowments and reconstructing one's own advantages can new space for transformation be opened.
At the deepest level, transformation is about changing mindsets and reshaping interest structures. Letting the old embrace the new, and letting the new push the old, with mutual integration and shared interests, transformation tends to go more smoothly and with less pain.
In Ordos, one can observe a distinctive feature: many investors in new energy industries and practitioners in high-end coal chemicals were previously coal workers. At the enterprise level, the point is even more evident—China Coal Ordos has invested in a 100,000-ton liquid sunshine project, deeply coupling green wind and solar power, hydrogen production from water electrolysis, and coal chemicals; the coal-to-oil company in Ordos has developed coal-based special fuels that contributed to the successful maiden flight of the Long March 12 carrier rocket. The old nurtures the new, the new drives the old—where transformation points, there the people's hearts follow.
Whether it is transformation and upgrading or reform and development, in the final analysis, it is about uniting the strength of all parties toward one goal, enabling all to benefit and progress, and sharing the dividends in jointly enlarging the pie.
From one region, one can see the whole. Daring to break path dependence, proactively stepping out of comfort zones, and continuously tapping new growth space—today's China is precisely promoting high-quality development under the guidance of the new development philosophy.
Shifting from factor-driven to innovation-driven growth is a leap of greater scale and higher difficulty. Looking around the world, few economies have completed such a transition—some have stalled midway, and some have gone astray or followed the wrong path. China is pooling its long-accumulated industrial foundation, the institutional advantage of concentrating resources to accomplish major undertakings, the talent pool built up year by year, and the depth of its super-large market into a mighty force for upward ascent.
History only favors the strivers. A country that dares to move upward and forward will naturally walk out a magnificent and brilliant future.
(The author is an editor of the Comment Department of this newspaper.)
Return to TopBy: 陶建伟
I never imagined that I, a skilled technician, would have the opportunity to pursue further studies at Tsinghua University.
Riding an elevator — the small matter of "going up and down" within a cramped space — is also a major matter concerning the safe travel of thousands of households. For 32 years I have been installing and maintaining elevators, guarding this safety, and I am like an old practitioner of traditional Chinese medicine: observing the operating state, listening for abnormal sounds, inquiring about usage conditions, and examining the root of safety assurance. Relying on the consummate skill of "observation, auscultation, inquiry, and pulse-taking," I grew from a technical school graduate into a national model worker and a master craftsman of the nation, and I even went to study at Tsinghua University, publishing papers and applying for patents.
When I graduated back then, who could have imagined today? On the first day of my internship at the construction site, my master said to me at our first meeting: "In whatever line of work you do, you must love it; in whatever you love, you must delve deep into it!" I remember these words vividly.
What does "delving deep" mean? Taking simple things to the extreme. When I was an apprentice, I set myself "four diligences": diligent mouth, diligent eyes, diligent hands, and diligent legs. When my master repaired elevators, I would stand nearby and watch intently, engraving every movement into my mind. In those days conditions were poor, and there was only one set of original English-language technical drawings at the worksite. In order to consult them at any time, I hand-drew circuit diagrams on letter paper and marked them with Chinese annotations. Later, I also used my spare time to teach myself professional software. Learning while doing, doing while learning — within a few years of joining the company, I took first place in the company's technical competition.
How does one know when "delving deep" has been thoroughly achieved? Bringing new meaning to repetitive work. To aspire to be a master craftsman, it is not about arriving earlier and leaving later than others every day, but about understanding creative labor. Not learning mechanically, being good at thinking, being good at summarizing, and being capable of innovation — only then can one go far. Where does innovation come from? Breakthroughs are often found in something that has been seen so often it is no longer surprising (司空见惯, si kong jian guan - "four directions, empty, see, common") places and in inconspicuous problems.
Once, when I went shopping at a supermarket, I noticed that beside the exit of the escalator, everyone was pushing shopping carts, and if they hesitated and slowed down, congestion would easily occur. My team and I developed a pedestrian flow statistical analysis, early warning, monitoring, and management system, as well as a passageway congestion monitoring and management system, which can automatically alarm and initiate emergency response when congestion occurs.
On another occasion, my team and I went to a hospital project for a follow-up visit and thought of another detail. For special groups such as the elderly and people with disabilities, if they were trapped in an elevator and could not reach the alarm button or make a phone call, what would they do? We then developed an intelligent monitoring and automatic alarm system for people trapped in elevator cars to improve rescue efficiency.
Wherever the people feel discomfort, that is where we apply our efforts. Those seemingly fortuitous inspirations all originate from production and daily life. Over the years, our studio has obtained more than 10 patents, and none of them was done for the sake of doing a project or for the sake of innovation itself. If innovative achievements can solve real problems, that is the greatest recognition of our efforts.
When one delves deep on one's own, one inevitably feels that one's reserves are insufficient. Fortunately, the state has provided more and more learning platforms and opportunities, enabling more skilled talents to delve deep together and form a combined force. In 2024, I entered Tsinghua University to participate in the training camp for master craftsmen of the nation. That brief period of time gave me a firmer conviction about lifelong learning. Academicians in their eighties and nineties still stand at the forefront, explaining knowledge of artificial intelligence to everyone; at night, the laboratory lights are blazing, and teachers and students are still engaged in scientific research. Immersed in such a strong learning atmosphere, I thought to myself: the conditions in my own studio are not bad either. I cannot be a scientist, but I can be a skilled craftsman — when the wisdom of countless craftsmen is pooled together, the confidence for building a manufacturing powerhouse becomes even stronger.
Now, doing projects, solving difficult problems, and pursuing innovation, I am often extremely busy and constantly on the move (脚不沾地, jiao bu zhan di - "feet, not, touch, ground"). Although I am busy, these things can genuinely benefit the public, and that is what I love to do. Taking ordinary work to the extreme through deep study, and doing the career one loves for a lifetime — that is a craftsman's salute to the era.
(The author is a master craftsman of the nation and chief engineer at Beijing Bei'an Times Innovative Equipment Installation Engineering Co., Ltd.; this article was compiled by People's Daily reporter Wu Yue through an interview)
Return to TopSince 2021, the first batch of national parks has achieved fruitful results in their construction. The national park system with Chinese characteristics has been basically established, the quality of natural ecosystems in key regions has continued to improve, and the populations of flagship species have grown steadily. Assessments show that 75% of the ecological benefit evaluation indicators for the first batch of national parks have reached an excellent level, and core ecological service functions such as water conservation, carbon sequestration and oxygen release, and soil and water conservation have been effectively enhanced.
This is precisely:
The tiger's roar shakes the forest treetops,
In the bamboo sea lies the giant panda.
Guarding with unswerving dedication to hard work (不辞苦, bu ci ku - "not, refuse, bitter, hardship"),
All creatures roam freely in their own way.
Shen Qiuwen
Return to TopBy: 常言道
During this year's National Day holiday, Qilian County in Qinghai became a hot destination. On a single day, over 100,000 tourists poured into this small county town with a permanent population of only 50,000. Hotels were fully booked, guesthouses sold out, and help hotlines were overwhelmed. The county government decided to open up school dormitories, and cultural-tourism officials made beds overnight, properly accommodating nearly 500 stranded tourists. The local emergency response safeguarded tourists' safety and won praise.
However, some questioning voices also emerged online afterward: Why use student dormitories? Why not use public spaces such as gymnasiums? These voices contain an awareness of the boundaries of rights and well-intentioned expectations, and they also give the "Qilian County examination question" the significance of a sample for further improving governance. To correctly understand this incident, it is necessary to clarify right and wrong, refute fallacies, and distinguish the mainstream from the tributary.
First, one should see a basic fact: this was an emergency response under urgent conditions. Because Highway 9 became wildly popular, the number of tourists in Qilian County surged compared with previous years. Within just a few hours, more than 400 help calls came in; on a high-altitude county-town night when temperatures dropped sharply, several hundred tourists, including the elderly and children, had nowhere to be accommodated; the nearest county town was nearly 200 kilometers away... How to quickly accommodate the tourists was a public emergency rescue problem that had to be solved immediately.
Faced with an emergency, trying every possible means (想方设法, xiang fang she fa - "think, way, set, method") to quickly accommodate more than 500 stranded tourists and prevent them from sleeping on the streets in sub-zero temperatures reflected the responsible attitude of the local government. In the post-event review, some people emphasized that the tourists were spared frostbite and illness, while others stressed the students' informed consent and privacy — these are all necessary components of answering the "Qilian County examination question" well, but one must distinguish the principal contradiction from the secondary contradiction. Being overly demanding that every step of an emergency response be perfect and without any flaws (完美无瑕, wan mei wu xia - "perfect, no, flaw") could very likely delay rapid response under the same circumstances.
People who have nowhere to stay in the cold wind better understand the preciousness of a warm bed. The temperature in the student dormitories was guaranteed, whereas public venues such as gymnasiums lacked adequate heating and could not meet the safe overnight needs of the elderly and children. The local government was also not "disregarding privacy." The county government first consulted with the education bureau and school representatives; staff wrapped students' personal belongings in quilts to carry out "privacy isolation," and afterward distributed warm gift packages and thank-you letters to students, and issued a notice offering free replacement of toiletries and bedding items for students in need. Under sudden and unexpected circumstances, the local government did its best to balance the interests of all parties.
For those who act and take responsibility under emergency conditions, more understanding and support should be given. This is not only empathy for the emergency response itself, but also for establishing the orientation of taking responsibility for those who take responsibility and backing those who act. Only in this way can more goodwill be transformed into good governance, and more Party members and cadres dare to do things for the people and take responsibility for the people.
Of course, tolerance does not mean avoiding problems. If every peak in tourist flow has to be underwritten by emergency response, then the cultural-tourism industry cannot be said to have achieved high-quality development. For government departments, there is a need to continuously improve the scientific nature of forecasting, the effectiveness of governance, and the rule-of-law basis of handling, to be adept at forming cultural-tourism traffic forecasts through data such as social media heat, navigation route search volumes, and highway checkpoint traffic flows, and to make emergency plans more sound and thorough and comprehensive (周全, zhou quan - "complete, all-around"). For the broad body of tourists, there is also a need to act as the first person responsible for one's own safety, judging traffic flows in advance, booking hotels, and planning travel routes well, and to genuinely take responsibility for the safety of one's own travels.
Only by treating doers well, tolerating those who take responsibility, and putting effort into ordinary times can service to the people not be let down, and can grassroots governance be warm and effective, composed and well-prepared.
(Excerpted from the "People's Commentary" WeChat public account)
Return to TopBy: 李铭轩
In the field of wearable electronics, Chinese experts have taken the lead in formulating an international standard; in the field of brain-computer interfaces, the National Medical Products Administration has issued medical device standards for brain-computer interfaces, placing China at the international forefront... Recent achievements in standards development demonstrate China's proactive efforts to cultivate emerging industries and lay out future industries, and also raise a question: how can standards development better adapt to the needs of cutting-edge technological development?
Cutting-edge technology iterates rapidly, while standards development has a longer cycle. If standards are issued too late, safety hazards may remain; if standards are finalized too early, they may constrain innovative exploration. Only by improving the supply model, perfecting the update mechanism, strengthening the application of rules, and coordinating the encouragement of innovation with the prevention of risks can we promote the alignment of technology research and development, standards development, and industrial promotion.
Advance standards supply by category, leaving ample space for cutting-edge technological exploration.
Technologies at different stages of development and with different levels of risk should be supplied with standards at different times and in different ways. Where life and health and personal dignity are involved, bottom lines should be clarified first; where data quality and common testing methods are involved, verification should be strengthened and references established as early as possible; for technological routes still under exploration, openness should be maintained, leaving room for different approaches.
Taking brain-computer interfaces as an example, signal acquisition and decoding technologies are still evolving, but protecting human autonomy cannot wait. China's Ethical Guidelines for Brain-Computer Interface Research explicitly requires "respecting the informed consent rights and personal dignity of research subjects" and refines this into operable protective measures, helping to clarify the boundaries of research and application. Grasping the balance between "regulating too early" and "regulating too late" hinges on clarifying, based on the nature of the risk and the maturity of the technology, which requirements must be established first and which content can gradually form consensus through practice.
Improve the standards update mechanism to provide support for rapid technological iteration.
As new functions and new scenarios of cutting-edge technologies continue to emerge, standards development also needs to establish a complete closed loop from formulation, implementation, feedback, to revision. When new situations arise and original evaluation methods become ineffective, review and revision should be initiated promptly to keep standards applicable.
The Provisions on the Administration of National Standardization Guiding Technical Documents, revised in 2025, clarify that rules, guidelines, or characteristics are provided for standardization objects whose technologies are still under development. The series of standards for intelligent agent interconnection issued this year reserves ample space for compatibility among different technological routes. Only by combining standards development with pilot verification, providing timely feedback, and pursuing continuous improvement can standards keep pace with technological change.
Enhance the ability to apply rules to create conditions for participating in international competition.
At present, technical standards are increasingly closely linked to safety review, testing and certification, patent licensing, and other links, and some countries are attempting to use standards compliance as a tool of containment. In the face of unreasonable restrictions, it is necessary to actively formulate and apply rules to safeguard rights and interests, helping Chinese enterprises convert their technological advantages into competitiveness in the international market.
In recent years, China has taken the lead in formulating the Guidelines for the Effectiveness Evaluation of Compliance Management Systems and the Guidelines for the Capability Management of Compliance Management Systems, providing guidance and support for Chinese enterprises to respond lawfully to unreasonable restrictions in the standards field, and contributing Chinese solutions to global compliance governance efforts. Enabling more Chinese solutions to be elevated to international standards will better convert technological accumulation into rule influence and expand space for Chinese enterprises to participate in international competition.
By enabling technological innovation and standards development to work together in the same direction (同向发力, tong xiang fa li - "same, direction, exert, force"), and by enabling standards development to both respond to current needs and look toward future changes, we can convert more cutting-edge achievements into development advantages and gain greater initiative in the new round of technological revolution and industrial transformation.
Return to Top(People's Daily, Beijing, October 20) On October 20, Xinhua News Agency published a political commentary article titled "The Long March: Forever on the Road — Dedicated to the 90th Anniversary of the Victory of the Long March of the Chinese Workers' and Peasants' Red Army." The full text follows:
(1)
The river of history surges on without cease, and countless footprints are buried in the torrent of time. After ninety years of wind and rain washing, the "red ribbon" on the earth — the Long March of the Chinese Workers' and Peasants' Red Army — remains as bright as ever, stirring in our hearts a deep and enduring spiritual resonance.
In late autumn 1936, the north wind swept across the Loess Plateau. After a long and arduous journey, the First and Fourth Front Armies of the Red Army joined forces at Huining, and the First and Second Front Armies joined forces at Jiangtaibao, achieving the convergence of the three main forces of the Red Army. On the long march, Red Army officers and soldiers, with faith as their torch and flesh and blood as their shield, beat back more than a million ferocious pursuing and blocking enemies, conquered icy peaks and snowy ridges where the air was thin, traversed trackless swamps and grasslands, stood firm in desperate straits, and broke through encirclement in hardship. The Long March was one of the most important events of the 20th century capable of influencing the future of the world. It was a strategic shift undertaken by the Communist Party of China and the Red Army, bearing the hope of the nation, to march north to resist Japan. It realized the great turn of the cause of the Communist Party of China and the Chinese revolution from setback to victory, and had a very far-reaching impact on the historical process of the Chinese nation.
General Secretary Xi Jinping emphasized at the conference commemorating the 80th anniversary of the victory of the Red Army's Long March: "Although today's Long March differs — and in some ways greatly differs — from the Red Army's Long March of those years in environment, conditions, tasks, and strength, and from the new Long March we have already traversed since reform and opening up, all are undertakings of a pioneering, arduous, and complex nature." This important assertion connects history with reality and fully demonstrates the contemporary value of the great Long March spirit.
Ninety years have seen drastic changes (天翻地覆, tian fan di fu - "sky, turn; earth, overturn"). The perilous times of yesteryear, when the mountains and rivers were shattered and people suffered terribly from war and disaster (生灵涂炭, sheng ling tu tan - "living beings, flooded; charcoal, scorched"), are long gone, never to return. We carry forward the historical initiative spirit, firmly uphold confidence in our path, theory, system, and culture, and comprehensively advance the great cause of building a strong country and the rejuvenation of the nation through Chinese modernization. Risks and tests exist for the long term, and the steps of struggle never cease. Looking back at the Long March, understanding the Long March, and paying tribute to the Long March, we truly appreciate the power of faith, the power of leadership, the power of the people, and the power of struggle forged in the smoke of gunfire and stirred on the journey. We keep our bearings amid shifting winds and clouds, boldly open new prospects in breaking through barriers and seizing passes, and are determined to walk well the Long March road that belongs to our generation.
(2)
"I have already gone on a long expedition. When I will return home, I cannot predict. I hope my wife will honor my parents above and raise our children below, fulfilling my filial duties and responsibilities on my behalf. I have already resolved to devote myself to the revolution, and now the revolution has not yet succeeded, so I must continue to fight for it. If the revolution does not succeed, I will not return home. We will meet on the day of success."
By the Yudu River, in the Memorial Hall of the Departure of the Central Red Army's Long March, a family letter lies quietly on display. The one who left these words was Li Jun, a native of Yudu. In October 1934, the main force of the Central Red Army assembled here, then crossed the river and embarked on the long journey. At the moment of parting, Li Jun, a commander of the Third Army Corps of the Red Army, had no time to return home to bid farewell to his family in person, and could only entrust someone to deliver the letter to his wife Zhong Huaying. In January 1935, at the Battle of Qinggangpo, Li Jun died a heroic death while leading his troops to cover the main force's breakout.
The road ahead was long and distant — where would it end? The young commander Xiao Feng recorded the soldiers' confusion in his diary, and he could only encourage everyone like this: "Our two legs belong to the revolution; wherever the higher-ups order us to go, that is where we put our effort!" Even though the dawn of revolution was not yet visible, the conviction of rescuing the toiling workers and peasants and seeking liberation and emancipation never wavered. During the march, Tong Xiaopeng, secretary of the Political Security Bureau of the First Army Corps of the Red Army, wrote down this reflection: "The revolution is a long struggle, a process of bloodshed. Victory is the result of hardship, the total of difficulties... Use the spirit of enduring hardship of these six months to overcome it, and strive for the complete victory of great brightness!"
In 1936, Edgar Snow entered the Northwest Revolutionary Base Area to seek out Red Army officers and soldiers who had personally experienced the Long March. In his book Red Star Over China, he recorded his observations: "Adventure, exploration, discovery, courage and cowardice, victory and ecstasy, hardship, heroic sacrifice, and loyalty — the enduring enthusiasm, the unwavering hope, and the astonishing revolutionary optimism of these hundreds of thousands of young people ran through all of this like a flame. Whether before the power of man, or before nature, before God, or before death, they never admitted defeat." An ordinary Red Army soldier revealed the conviction in his heart like this: "Here everyone is equal, unlike in the White areas, where the poor are slaves of the landlords and the Kuomintang. Here everyone fights to help the poor and save China. The Red Army fights the landlords and the White bandits; the Red Army is anti-Japanese."
The victory of the Long March was, in the final analysis, the victory of ideals and convictions. With an unswerving revolutionary spirit that never regretted even unto death, the Red Army completed the great expedition that opened a new situation. General Secretary Xi Jinping clearly pointed out: "The Long March solemnly declared to all of China and to the whole world that the Communist Party of China and the people's army it leads are armed with Marxism and hold communism as their lofty ideal and firm conviction. The suffering, twists and turns, and death along the Long March tested the ideals and convictions of the Chinese Communists and proved to the world that the ideals and convictions of the Chinese Communists are unbreakable."
Once the torch of faith is lit, it will never be extinguished. From serving as a mainstay and stabilizing force in difficult times (砥柱中流, di zhu zhong liu - "pillar, middle; flowing, water") at the moment of national peril, to crushing opposition with irresistible force (摧枯拉朽, cui ku la xiu - "wither, dry; pull, rotten") to usher in the liberation of the mountains and rivers; from bringing about a radical and fundamental change (改天换地, gai tian huan di - "change, sky; exchange, earth") in building a socialist country, to bravely leading the way and being at the forefront (勇立潮头, yong li chao tou - "brave, stand; tide, head") in reform and opening up with keen enterprise, and then to achieving a great leap forward with confidence and self-reliance in the new era, Communists have advanced with courage and determination, carrying a burning original aspiration.
The conditions of the times have undergone profound changes. Today, the life-and-death tests of blood and fire like those of the war years are fewer, but the great struggle with many new historical features continues. Facing the arduous tests of a series of major challenges, major risks, major resistance, and major contradictions, we need to maintain a clear head at all times and further temper our perseverance and tenacity in overcoming difficulties.
"It is not easy to remain vigilant in times of peace after achieving success and fame, and to maintain the spirited state of mind of the early days of entrepreneurship; it is not easy to remain frugal and restrained after holding power, and to be reverent and consistent to the end; it is not easy to govern officials strictly, guard against corruption, and abstain from extravagance in times of peace and prosperity; it is not easy to follow the tide of the times and conform to the will of the people at critical moments of major transformation." General Secretary Xi Jinping's earnest admonition, grounded in the historical mirror of the rise and fall of political power, profoundly reveals the real tests that our Party must face in long-term governance. Without firm ideals and convictions, one will lose direction in the complex environment of swirling clouds, shrink back and flee under the enormous pressure of a mountain bearing down, and surrender and lay down arms under the relentless bombardment of sugar-coated bullets.
Chinese modernization is an unprecedented pioneering undertaking. It carries the pursuit of national strength of countless people of lofty ideals since modern times, embodies the rejuvenation dream that all Chinese sons and daughters hold dear, and has created a new form of human civilization. The greater the cause, the more it is fraught with difficulties and dangers, the more it requires hard struggle, and the more it requires pioneering and innovation. With faith in the heart, there is strength underfoot. Once the spiritual pillar is shaken and inner resolve cannot be held, the steps forward will hesitate and waver. Forging a firm ideal and conviction is an eternal subject that must not be relaxed for even a moment.
Without the powerful support of lofty ideals and convictions, achieving the victory of the Long March would have been unimaginable. The mighty power of faith tempered by the Long March is the solid support for Communists in the new era to temper their original aspiration, continue the struggle, and revitalize the nation through practical work.
(3)
"In a sense, this large-scale transfer was the most magnificent armed propaganda tour in history." Edgar Snow perceived the far-reaching significance of the Long March quite early and predicted that this "shining red star" of the Communist Party of China and the red revolution it led would not only illuminate China's northwest but would surely illuminate all of China.
In 1984, 76-year-old Harrison Salisbury embarked on a journey to "retrace the Long March." After more than 70 days of arduous travel and in-depth investigation, this American journalist wrote: "The Long March is an epic. This is not only because of the heroism embodied by the plain soldiers and their commanders." In Harrison Salisbury's eyes, this "crucible of the Chinese revolution" — the Long March — forged an entire generation and linked together the struggle to found New China.
The magnificent epic contains the core key to choosing the road ahead. The Long March was not only a military breakout to seek survival, but also an ideological breakout to calibrate the course. Our Party surmounted the erroneous ideological obstacle of treating Marxism as an immutable dogma, found the correct path for the Chinese revolution, and found the correct theory guiding this path.
The ideological breakout that calibrated the course was, in essence, a persevering and never-giving-up (锲而不舍, qie er bu she - "carve, and; not, abandon") search for truth. The Long March was a great expedition that tested truth. The lessons of blood and the tests of struggle made our Party clearly realize that only by combining the basic principles of Marxism with the concrete realities of the Chinese revolution and independently resolving the major issues of the Chinese revolution could the revolutionary cause be led to victory. Truth can only be tested in practice, and the correct line can only be established in practice. At one major juncture after another concerning the future of the revolution, our Party, with extraordinary courage, distinguished right from wrong in lines, cleared away ideological mists, and became stronger in the practice of struggle.
Any leading collective must have a core; a leading collective without a core is unreliable. "The broad ranks of cadres, seeing the repeated defeats since the fifth counter-encirclement campaign and now being on the verge of utter desperation, gradually came to realize, in contrast with the situation before the fourth counter-encirclement campaign, that this was caused by the rejection of the correct line represented by Comrade Mao Zedong and the implementation of the erroneous line. In the troops, suspicion, discontent, and an active demand for a change of leadership visibly grew." "After the Zunyi Conference, our army, reversing its previous situation, seemed suddenly to have gained new life, wheeling and turning, threading between the enemy, making the enemy think we were going east when we went west, making the enemy think we were crossing the river to go north when we made long-range counterattacks, taking the initiative everywhere, full of vigor and vitality, controlling the enemy." The two passages recorded by Marshal Liu Bocheng in his article "Reviewing the Long March" bring our thoughts back to those years of suffering and glory, and turn our gaze to the small building where the Party Central Committee held the Zunyi Conference. The Zunyi Conference in fact established Comrade Mao Zedong's leadership position in the Party Central Committee and the Red Army, began to establish the leadership position in the Party Central Committee of the correct Marxist line with Comrade Mao Zedong as the principal representative, began to form the Party's first generation of central leading collective with Comrade Mao Zedong at its core, opened a new stage in which the Party independently resolved the practical problems of the Chinese revolution, and at the most critical moment saved the Party, saved the Red Army, and saved the Chinese revolution. This was a matter of life and death (生死攸关, sheng si you guan - "life, death; have, connection") turning point in the Party's history.
The grand historical process reveals the ideological value of major propositions concerning the fundamentals, impelling us to continuously deepen our understanding of the internal logic of the flourishing and thriving of the Party's and the people's cause.
Since the 18th National Congress of the Party, facing the treacherous international environment and the arduous and heavy tasks of domestic reform, development, and stability, General Secretary Xi Jinping has led us in carrying out the great struggle with many new historical features, winning the heartfelt support of the entire Party, the entire military, and the people of all ethnic groups across the country in a series of major tests, and has become, as the consensus and support of the people (众望所归, zhong wang suo gui - "people's, expectations; what, return") and with full justification, the core of the Party Central Committee and the core of the entire Party. Profoundly understanding the decisive significance of the Two Establishments (两个确立) and resolutely achieving the Two Upholds (两个维护) is the inevitable conclusion drawn from drawing historical wisdom from this earth-shaking (惊天动地, jing tian dong di - "startle, sky; move, earth") revolutionary feat of the Long March.
The arduous exploration on the Long March road of breaking free from the shackles of "Left" dogmatism and finding a way out for the revolution demonstrated our Party's historical consciousness in promoting the combination of the basic principles of Marxism with the concrete practice of the Chinese revolution. The ideological leap in the midst of crisis eloquently proves that Marxism is not a rigid and unchanging dogma; only by taking root in Chinese soil and basing itself on China's national conditions can Marxism radiate powerful vitality.
Practice has no end, and theoretical innovation has no end either. As socialism with Chinese characteristics has entered the new era, Chinese Communists, with Comrade Xi Jinping as their principal representative, have adhered to combining the basic principles of Marxism with China's concrete realities and with China's excellent traditional culture, founded Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, and realized a new leap in the Sinicization and modernization of Marxism. Whether there is a strong leading core and scientific theoretical guidance is a fundamental issue concerning the future and destiny of the Party and the country and the success or failure of the Party's and the people's cause. Only with a strong core at the helm and scientific theory uniting hearts and minds can we stand firm and continuously compose more splendid chapters of national rejuvenation.
There is no ready-made answer on the road of Chinese modernization that can be copied. The revolutionary course of the Long March tells us that we must firmly grasp the great significance of testing and developing truth in practice and continuously guiding new practice with new theory for ensuring that the Party's and the people's cause advances in the correct direction, consciously use the Marxist stand, viewpoint, and method to analyze and solve practical problems, and guide new practice with Sinicized and modernized Marxism.
(4)
Tongluowan, Yudu, Jiangxi. In October 1934, the First Army Corps of the Red Army assembled and rested here. Learning that the local villagers had to go to the mountain outside the village to fetch water, the soldiers set to work digging a well. At the moment the well water gushed forth, the soldiers and civilians gathered together, cheering and rejoicing, as close as one family. A single well made the masses in the Soviet areas even more reluctant to part with this contingent that was about to set out on its expedition.
In old China, wars were frequent, and the common people turned pale at the mention of soldiers. Coupled with the Kuomintang's rampant spread of rumors, many people outside the Soviet areas harbored suspicion and fear of the Red Army. In December 1934, the Third Army Corps of the Red Army marched to Longsheng, Guangxi. Baimian Yao Village was utterly silent; all the villagers had hidden deep in the mountains. The Red Army found the local Yao chieftain and, through the night, explained to them the Chinese Communist Party's policy of ethnic equality. By the time the villagers returned home, the Red Army contingent, which had not committed the slightest violation of the people's property, had already set out again. "The Red Army absolutely protects the Yao people" and "Continue the struggle, seek light again" — the slogans on the cliff of Longshe Rock moved the Yao masses deeply. In the slogans, the previously derogatory character "Yao" used for the Yao people was rewritten by the Red Army as the respectful "Yao" denoting equal treatment.
The Red Army adhered to iron-like mass discipline. Soldiers slept under eaves and on doorsteps, preferring to endure rain and cold rather than knock on doors to disturb the masses; even while suffering hunger and cold themselves, they still distributed their dry rations and cotton-padded clothes to the poor. A secret telegram from the Kuomintang side to its frontline generals described the Red Army like this: "They cause no disturbance whatsoever to the people. If, driven by hunger, one takes a radish from the earth, for each one taken, he is sure to place a copper coin in the soil." Even the enemy had to admire the Red Army's strict discipline.
This was an army never before seen in China's thousands of years. The Red Army took safeguarding the vital interests of the toiling masses as its pursuit, showed compassion for the people's suffering, treated the masses of all ethnic groups as equals, and demonstrated its commitment to the people through every word and deed. The Long March was not only a strategic shift but also a broad social mobilization. It sounded the clarion call for the awakening and rising of the entire nation and sowed the seeds of revolution in the hearts of the toiling masses.
"Before, we only knew that our bitter fate was decreed by heaven. The Red Army made us understand that the suffering of the poor comes from an unjust world, and that we can fight for our own way to live!" The broad masses of the people came to deeply understand that the Communist Party of China is a party that works for the interests of the people, that the Red Army is the people's army and a true anti-Japanese force, and that the Long March is the bright road leading the people to liberation and emancipation.
When the Red Army won battles, the people were its mountain of support. Undaunted by the threats and intimidation of the reactionaries, the masses of the people gave full support to and protected their own army. They dismantled the door panels of their homes to build pontoon bridges for the troops crossing the river, scrimped and saved to send grain to ensure the army's needs on the march, and risked having their houses burned or even their entire families wiped out to carefully tend to wounded officers and soldiers. Wherever the Red Army went, it awakened the toiling masses by propagating revolutionary ideas and carrying out mass work. Inspired by revolutionary ideals, the masses of all ethnic groups along the route broke free from the shackles of old-system oppression and joined the Red Army ranks one after another. A history of the Red Army's Long March is a history of deep affection between the army and the people, as close as fish and water. The masses of the people helped the Red Army break through one pass after another and inspired the revolutionary ranks to advance. Our Party has always been rooted in the people, connecting with the masses, mobilizing the masses, arming the masses, uniting the masses, and relying on the masses. Through its own exemplary actions, it has won the sincere support and endorsement of the masses of the people. The broad masses of the people were the source of strength for the victory of the Long March.
Those who win the people's hearts win the world. The victory of the War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression was forged by the unity of the entire nation; the victory of the War of Liberation was won by the people's all-out support; the achievements of socialist construction were made by the people's own hands; the magnificent picture of reform and opening up was created by the people's fervent passion; the great achievements of the new era were carved out by the people's wisdom and hard work. History has fully proven that the people are always the fundamental reliance of our Party in advancing the great cause.
The question of for whom and relying on whom is the touchstone for testing the nature of a political party and a political regime. People-centeredness is the essential attribute of Marxism. Born for the people, thriving because of the people, always standing with the people, and fighting for the interests of the people — this is the fundamental starting point and ultimate goal of our Party's founding, growth, and strengthening.
General Secretary Xi Jinping profoundly pointed out: "To carry forward the great Long March spirit and walk well today's Long March road, we must put the people in the highest position in our hearts, adhere to doing everything for the people and relying on the people in everything, and strive with determination for the people to live a better life." Sharing weal and woe with the people, being connected by blood, and sharing life and death with them is the fundamental guarantee for the Communist Party of China and the Red Army to achieve the victory of the Long March, and it is also the fundamental guarantee for us to overcome all difficulties and risks.
The country is the people and the people are the country. Adhering to building the Party for the public good and exercising power for the people, consciously practicing the fundamental purpose of serving the people wholeheartedly, and standing with the people, thinking with the people, and working with the people, our Party possesses a solid foundation that no storm can shake.
(5)
This "red ribbon" of the Long March was dyed with the blood of countless Red Army soldiers. Overcoming innumerable difficulties and dangers and conquering the limits of human survival, this contingent, with its fearless and indomitable spiritual character, blazed a revolutionary road toward rebirth and victory.
Xinxu was the key point on the left flank for the Central Red Army's forced crossing of the Xiang River; if it fell, the entire army would be cut in two. Facing an enemy several times its strength, the Fifth Division of the Third Army Corps of the Red Army held the pass with their flesh and blood, and the division chief of staff and regimental commanders fell on the battlefield one after another. After completing the blocking mission, the division, having suffered heavy casualties, was reduced to a single regiment. Also in the Battle of the Xiang River, the Thirty-fourth Division of the Fifth Army Corps of the Red Army, which served as the rearguard, was surrounded on the east bank. The few commanders and fighters who broke out gathered on the spot and went into the mountains to wage an arduous guerrilla war against the enemy. With this fighting will to go through fire and water, the Red Army cut out one bloody path after another, staging a magnificent and awe-inspiring military drama in world military history.
In December 1934, the Twenty-fifth Army of the Red Army, which had moved to southern Shaanxi, was ambushed at Yujiahe. Army Commander Cheng Zihua was severely wounded in both hands and disabled, and Deputy Army Commander Xu Haidong was hit in the head by a bullet and remained unconscious for several days. The severely battered troops quickly reorganized their establishment, took root in the deep mountains, and opened up the Eyu-Shaanxi Revolutionary Base Area while fighting. In July of the following year, the Twenty-fifth Army of the Red Army marched north. In continuous contact with the enemy during the arduous march, Army Political Commissar Wu Huanxian died a heroic death in the Battle of Sipocun, Jingchuan, Gansu. After all its trials and tribulations, this contingent became the Red Army unit that completed the Long March and arrived in northern Shaanxi first. Advancing through fire, these iron-boned revolutionaries broke open a new world with a momentum that could swallow mountains and rivers.
"Why could the Chinese revolution succeed? The secret is that revolutionary ideals were higher than the sky, and that we persevered at the most difficult times. Only in this way could we continuously achieve miraculous victories. We should hold such a conviction of certain victory in realizing the next Centenary Goal and realizing the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation. No matter how great the difficulties, think of the Red Army's Long March, think of the bloody battle at the Xiang River." General Secretary Xi Jinping's important exposition is weighty and profound, powerfully interpreting the spiritual essence contained in the Long March and putting forward clear requirements for Communists in the new era to forge iron-like will.
The Long March tempered the people's army, honed the people's army, and made the people's army, opening a new starting point for the development of the people's army. The courage and valor that burst forth along the Long March were sublimated into the distinctive spiritual hallmark of the people's army.
Rising up to resist aggression, holding crude weapons, charging against aircraft and artillery, turning flesh and blood into a new Great Wall of the Chinese nation, and achieving the first complete victory against foreign invasion in modern times. Fighting the revolution to the end, preferring to die advancing one step rather than live retreating half a step — in one major battle after another, there was no difficulty that could not be overcome, no task that could not be accomplished, and no enemy that could not be defeated. Defending the homeland, holding positions under relentless bombing, charging into enemy ranks with explosive charges and demolition tubes in hand, enduring hunger and cold without ever retreating, standing immovable while flames consumed their bodies, and displaying awe-inspiring military might in the war to found the nation. Generation after generation of revolutionary soldiers, relying on the heroic resolve to face death, formed the great spirit of overwhelming all enemies and never being subdued by any enemy. On the road forward, the people's army must vigorously carry forward the spiritual quality of daring to fight and being certain to win, and maintain the high-spirited fighting will of revolutionary heroism at all times and under all circumstances.
In the early 1980s, a Western scholar, after visiting the Long March memorial sites of Zunyi, Loushan Pass, Anshunchang, and Luding Bridge, wrote in an article that understanding the Long March helps one gain more insight into the inner world of this nation and its leaders; the significance of the Long March is by no means merely an unparalleled heroic epic — it is also China's "necessary factor in overcoming backward things."
The tenacious quality perceived by this foreign observer did not fade away with the smoke of gunfire; the Long March will forever be the spiritual coordinate of the Chinese people. After the founding of New China, Li Jukui, who had led the First Division of the First Army Corps of the Red Army in the forced crossing of the Dadu River, became the first Minister of the Ministry of Petroleum Industry. He led the broad ranks of cadres and workers on the petroleum front to battle the Gobi wasteland with the indomitable will that had broken through natural barriers, striving to build the Karamay oilfield. Qian Xuesen, who had returned from overseas, firmly believed that the aerospace personnel would, like the Red Army, surmount one formidable pass after another, and he and his colleagues solemnly proposed naming China's first carrier rocket the "Long March 1." The Loongson team scaled the heights of independent innovation, and to express their high respect for the Long March, in 2006 and 2016, researchers assigned the engineering codenames CZ70 and CZ80 to two generations of self-developed chips respectively.
"For the sake of sacrifice, great aspirations arise; daring to make the sun and moon shine in a new sky." The lofty aspirations born of faith lifted the ragged, straw-sandaled revolutionary contingent out of encirclement and continue to inspire us as we march toward new journeys. Only by building well the republic that countless martyrs longed for, yearned for, fought for, and sacrificed for can we best honor them. Keeping the eternal cause pioneered by the revolutionary forebears forever vibrant and writing new chapters of glory — this is a weighty responsibility entrusted to us by history.
(6)
"The spirit is the soul on which a nation depends for long-term survival. Only when the spirit reaches a certain height can this nation stand firm and forge ahead in the torrent of history." General Secretary Xi Jinping's important exposition provides the intellectual guidance for us to comprehend the rich connotations of the Long March.
The most precious spiritual wealth the Long March has left us is the great Long March spirit forged by the Chinese Communists and Red Army officers and soldiers with their lives and blood — placing the fundamental interests of the people of the whole country and the Chinese nation above all else, firmly believing in revolutionary ideals and convictions, and firmly believing that the just cause is bound to triumph; fearing no difficulties or obstacles, and sparing no sacrifice, to save the country and the people; adhering to independence and self-reliance, seeking truth from facts, and proceeding from reality in everything; taking the overall situation into account, strictly observing discipline, and maintaining close unity; and closely relying on the masses of the people, sharing life and death with them, sharing weal and woe, and working hard.
This is a vivid reflection of the revolutionary style of the Chinese Communists and the people's army they lead, a concentrated display of the national character of the Chinese nation's unremitting self-improvement, and the highest embodiment of the national spirit with patriotism at its core. After ninety years of baptism, the great Long March spirit, this red gene, has been deeply integrated into the bloodline of the Chinese nation.
The rich spiritual mine of the Long March belongs to China and also to all humanity. People come to China from all over the world to seek the true meaning of the Long March and to understand why the memory of the Long March has been passed down from generation to generation on this land. Not long ago, an interview group composed of more than 30 foreign experts, overseas media professionals, overseas bloggers, Chinese and foreign youth representatives, Party history researchers, and descendants of Red Army soldiers embarked on a new journey of discovery. Starting from the banks of the Yudu River, the interview group traveled through the Xiang River, Zunyi, Jiajin Mountain, Luding Bridge, Lazikou, Hadapu, and Huining, finally arriving in Yan'an. The "cognitive puzzle" of Long March history became more complete with each step, and the understanding of the extraordinary significance of the Long March to the Chinese people also became more genuine with each step.
The memory of the Long March, spanning time and space, is preserved not only in historical sites and written records. The great Long March spirit deeply nourishes the spiritual home of the Chinese nation. With a strong historical consciousness, Chinese Communists in the new era use the Long March to reflect on reality and look toward the future, drawing the power of faith, the power of leadership, the power of the people, and the power of struggle from the rich accumulation of the Long March. The sincere commitment, the courage to win, the mass viewpoint, and the tenacious character tempered by the Long March are now flowing into the grand narrative of Chinese modernization and internalized in the vivid practice of governance.
On the new journey to realize the Second Centenary Goal, there are still "snowy mountains" and "grasslands" for us to cross, and "Loushan Passes" and "Lazikou" for us to conquer. The figures of Red Army officers and soldiers trudging through hardship have never faded away, and the towering monument forged by the great expedition illuminates the way for those who come after. The Long March is not only a manifesto, a propaganda team, and a seeder recorded in history, but also the ballast stone for our firm ideals and convictions, the guiding star for holding fast to the people's standpoint, and the textbook for tempering our ability to struggle.
Every generation has its own Long March road, and every generation must walk its own Long March road well. The Long March is forever on the road.
Return to TopBy: 本报记者 周 欢 李维俊 苏 滨 李凯旋
Since the "Great Expedition — Themed Exhibition Commemorating the 90th Anniversary of the Victory of the Long March of the Chinese Workers' and Peasants' Red Army" held at the Military Museum of the Chinese People's Revolution opened to the public on September 25, it has received more than 500,000 visitors. Recently, Long March-themed exhibitions across the country have seen a surge in visitors. Our reporters visited museums and memorial halls in multiple places, and from a wooden boat, an iron steelyard, three door panels, and a wooden bucket, they read the Red Army's unshakeable and indestructible (颠扑不破, diān pū bù pò - "overturn, fall, not, break") faith and felt the deep bond between the army and the people (鱼水深情, yú shuǐ shēn qíng - "fish, water, deep, affection") behind every stitch and thread.
A Wooden Boat Bears Witness to the Unity of Army and People
In the Memorial Hall of the Departure of the Central Red Army's Long March in Yudu County, Jiangxi Province, a wooden boat lies quietly on display, its hull mottled and weathered — the veteran boatman Li Shengren of Yudu County once used this boat to ferry Red Army soldiers across the Yudu River.
In October 1934, more than 86,000 men of the main force of the Central Red Army gathered on the banks of the Yudu River. The people of the Soviet areas donated boats, dismantled door panels, and removed roof beams to build pontoon bridges.
"In October 1934, at the Liyutan stretch of the Yudu River, Li Shengren, a fisherman who was fishing, was called to the shore by the Red Army, who said they needed to cross the Yudu River at night and hoped to borrow his fishing boat," said Xie Guilian, a docent at the memorial hall. "Li Shengren agreed immediately. Afterwards, he also took the initiative to contact his fellow villagers and gathered 20 fishing boats to jointly participate in the ferry support."
Over the years, the Li family has guarded this boat. Later, the relevant agency managing fishing boats in Yudu collected and received this ferry boat carrying red memories, and transferred it to the Memorial Hall of the Departure of the Central Red Army's Long March for permanent collection and display.
Leaving the memorial hall and walking about a hundred meters west, one arrives at the former site of the Long March Ferry Crossing. Standing on the bank and looking into the distance, five modern bridges on the river — the Red Army Bridge, the Long March Bridge, the Assembly Bridge, the River-Crossing Bridge, and the Victory Bridge — are very imposing. Smooth transportation has enlivened the movement of people, industrial linkages, and commercial circulation on both banks of the Yudu River.
From the original wooden boat and a section of pontoon bridge to today's five bridges, together they bear witness to the development of the old revolutionary base areas and the continuation of the deep bond between the army and the people from generation to generation.
An Iron Steelyard Measures the Original Aspiration and Founding Mission
"Back then, the Red Army used this steelyard to trade fairly with the common people in exchange for grain..." Walking into the Memorial Hall of the Red Army's Crossing of the Xiangjiang River during the Long March in Quanzhou County, Guilin City, Guangxi, docent Yang Shizhen was telling visitors the story of the "sixteen-liang steelyard."
In 1934, a logistics squad of the Central Red Army passed through Xinfudong Village in Quanzhou County on its way and bought grain from the villagers. Villager Liao Zengqiong, seeing that the Red Army soldiers were courteous to the common people, felt respect for them and brought out a bag of grain she had saved at home to give to the Red Army soldiers.
The Red Army soldiers absolutely refused to accept it and insisted on weighing it and paying for it, so Liao Zengqiong had no choice but to take out the family's heirloom sixteen-liang steelyard. After weighing, the Red Army soldiers handed the silver dollars to Liao Zengqiong, then continued on their way with the grain.
Later, descendants of the Liao family donated this iron steelyard to the Memorial Hall of the Red Army's Crossing of the Xiangjiang River during the Long March. Today, the red heritage has also extended from the display cases to the mountain paths and ancient trails.
In April 2025, the "Guilin Red Xiangjiang" red tourism bus special line was launched, linking the red landmarks of six counties in northern Guangxi. Visitors follow in the footsteps of the Red Army, looking back on the great expedition in red stories and drawing strength to forge ahead. To date, the Guangxi section of the Long March National Cultural Park has linked 296 kilometers of historical and cultural routes, and the "three parks and three halls" along the route have received more than 21 million visitors in total.
Red Army Door Panels Build a Bridge of Hearts
In the display case of the Memorial Hall of the Four Crossings of the Chishui River in Xishui County, Guizhou, three door panels are particularly eye-catching — two front door panels and one kitchen door panel. The door panels are rather crude, with nail marks of varying depths and grooves worn by ropes on their surfaces.
Going back to January 24, 1935, the Central Red Army entered Tucheng, Guizhou. Hearing rumors spread by reactionary armed forces, the local people fled into the mountains.
The next day, the Red Army reminded the people to go to the salt depot to receive a share of salt. The boatman Zheng Mingfu went over being half-believing and half-doubting (将信将疑, jiāng xìn jiāng yí - "take, trust, take, doubt"). At the salt distribution site, the Red Army broke the salt into pieces and handed it to the villagers. Zheng Mingfu also received a piece and was so moved he could not speak.
The news that the Red Army had strict discipline and opened the salt depot to distribute salt soon spread, and the people who had hidden away gradually returned home. The enemy also pressed close in pursuit. To help the Red Army escape its predicament, the people took the initiative to remove their own door panels and carry them to the riverbank, helping the Red Army build a pontoon bridge across the Chishui River.
"Zheng Mingfu jumped into the icy river and worked together with the Red Army soldiers to firmly secure the boats. One fishing boat after another, one door panel after another, built bridges of hearts between the army and the people," said Cao Xingyan, associate research librarian at the Memorial Hall of the Four Crossings of the Chishui River.
To prevent the enemy from pursuing, the Red Army did not have time to return the people's door panels and timber, so they compensated with silver dollars and goods far exceeding the market price, and then blew up the pontoon bridge.
After the Red Army left, Zheng Mingfu salvaged the three door panels that had not been destroyed by the explosion and used them for 71 years. In Tucheng, such door panels are affectionately called "Red Army door panels" by the people. In 2006, when the Memorial Hall of the Four Crossings of the Chishui River was being prepared for construction, Zheng Mingfu's son donated these three door panels to the memorial hall.
In Qinggangpo Village, Tucheng Town, the former battle site has been restored and protected and turned into a red study classroom. By developing red study routes and other measures, it promotes the integrated development of culture and tourism. To date, the village has hosted 789 sessions of Party spirit education and on-site red teaching in total, covering more than 62,000 trainees.
A Wooden Bucket for Carrying Water on One's Back Is Filled with the Bond Between the Army and the People
Not long ago, the themed exhibition "A Thousand Mountains and Ten Thousand Rivers, Deep Affection and Lasting Meaning — Ethnic Unity on the Long March Road" opened at the Sichuan Museum. In the exhibition hall, an old Tibetan-style wooden bucket drew the attention of visitors.
In June 1935, the Fourth Front Army of the Red Army arrived in Lifan County (today's Li County), Sichuan, having been pursued and intercepted all the way by Kuomintang troops. Wang Nengyi, then captain of the communications company of the 30th Army headquarters, had his right leg pierced by a bullet. The troops sent him to recuperate at the home of villager Yu Zhikun in Taoping Qiang Village and paid the corresponding fees.
After more than a month of careful care by the Yu family, Wang Nengyi's leg injury improved markedly. Unwilling to lie at home and cause trouble for the villagers, he got up early every morning to take the wooden bucket to the river to fetch water, until the water vat was filled. Three months later, the troops sent someone to take Wang Nengyi back to the ranks. Afterwards, this wooden bucket was carefully preserved by the Yu family. Later, the Yu family handed the bucket to Wang Nengyi's son Wang Shanping for safekeeping, and Wang Shanping in turn donated the bucket to the Sichuan Museum.
Xiang Heping, Party Secretary of the Sichuan Museum, introduced that a large part of the Long March's route passed through areas inhabited by multiple ethnic groups including Han, Yi, Tibetan, and Qiang peoples. How did the Party and the Red Army win the trust of the people of all ethnic groups? And how did this trust transform into the mighty force of relying on each other through life and death (生死相依, shēng sǐ xiāng yī - "life, death, mutually, rely") and sharing trials and tribulations together (患难与共, huàn nàn yǔ gòng - "hardship, disaster, with, share")? This is precisely what the themed exhibition hopes to tell its visitors.
Xiang Heping introduced that, relying on its rich cultural relic resources, the Sichuan Museum has developed a series of study courses for young people of different age groups, bringing revolutionary stories into the classroom and into children's hearts, and deeply cultivating feelings of love for family and country.
Return to TopBy: 本报记者 崔 寅
"The people of Chixi Village walked out of thatched huts and sweet-potato meals to a good life, relying on tenacious struggle, persistent effort that overcomes any difficulty (滴水穿石, di shui chuan shi - "drop, water, penetrate, stone"), and sustained, long-term effort!" At the scene of the 2026 Global South Academic Forum, Wang Shaoju, a national outstanding Communist Party member and a national advanced individual in the battle against poverty, emotionally recounted the 40-year vicissitudes of Chixi Village in Fuding City, Ningde, Fujian Province, known as "China's first village in poverty alleviation." This true story of throwing off poverty deeply moved the participating representatives from more than 30 countries and regions. Warm applause broke out at the scene, and everyone rose to pay tribute; some gave a high thumbs-up to the octogenarian Wang Shaoju, while tears glistened in the eyes of others.
From October 17 to 18, the Global South Academic Forum, themed "Political Forces of the Global South: Governance and Modernization," was held in Shanghai. The forum was co-hosted by East China Normal University, the Tricontinental Institute for Social Research, and the University of Johannesburg in South Africa, aiming to build an exchange platform spanning countries, political parties, and academic institutions. Party representatives, scholars, media, and youth representatives from Global South countries were gathering together in one place (会聚一堂, hui ju yi tang - "gather, assemble, one, hall"), exchanging practical experience and jointly exploring paths for building a more just and equitable global governance. Participating representatives generally believed that the grassroots poverty-alleviation practice and the exploration of whole-process people's democracy under Chinese modernization provide a realistic solution for the Global South to break the myth of "modernization equals Westernization," helping all parties join hands to deepen South-South cooperation and push the global governance system toward a more just and equitable direction.
Since reform and opening up, more than 800 million people in China have been lifted out of poverty. Wu Yiguo, Party branch secretary of Chixi Village, shared the village's grassroots governance practices at the forum: relying on Party building to unite the masses, building roads and managing water, resolving conflicts on the spot, coordinating development and protection based on local mountain and water resources, strengthening the ecological tea industry, and turning beautiful natural scenery (绿水青山, lv shui qing shan - "green, water, clear, mountain") into real money in the people's pockets. Ningde officials, drawing on cases such as the large yellow croaker aquaculture industry, explained the path of coordinated development between industry and ecological protection, interpreting the practical connotation of the concept that clear waters and green mountains are mountains of gold and silver. The governance logic of China's rural grassroots Party organizations—listening to the voices of the masses, leading them in continuous struggle, and implementing development blueprints through practical work—provides a referenceable path for the Global South to explore localized modernization.
"The poverty-alleviation stories from Fujian are exciting; we must compile these stories into a volume and publish them," said Vijay Prashad, director of the Tricontinental Institute for Social Research. Drawing on his visits to Ruijin, Jiangxi, China, and more than 70 Southern countries, he said: "We must attach importance to China's historic achievement in eliminating absolute poverty and the value of realizing whole-process people's democracy, promote mutual learning of experience and mutual learning among civilizations (文明互鉴, wen ming hu jian - "civilization, mutually, learn, reflect") among Global South countries, break the Western-centric discourse hegemony, and move forward together toward the goal of enhancing human welfare."
Solly Mapaila, general secretary of the South African Communist Party, said: "The foothold of China's development is improving people's livelihoods. Socialism must respond to the people's demands, and in China I have seen this. I have visited rural areas in Jiangxi and seen the key role played by local grassroots Party organizations in the transformation process of poverty alleviation. Most importantly, the people are fully mobilized to become the subjects of action in improving their lives, rather than merely passively receiving assistance—this has greatly inspired us." He proposed that Global South countries must take a modernization path of independent development serving the people, and that political parties must strengthen their own construction and take root among the people.
Busani Ncaweni, director of the Centre for Public Policy and African Studies at the University of Johannesburg in South Africa, said that countries differ in national conditions and systems, but governance experience can be mutually learned and referenced. The exploration of governance by the Communist Party of China provides inspiration for progressive parties in the Global South to maintain vitality and deepen theoretical construction.
Ghanaian Vice President Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang, attending the forum, believed that China has taken a modernization path rooted in its own history, institutions, and stage of development, and that long-term planning, industrialization, poverty-reduction achievements, and the leading role of the Party in national development are worthy of in-depth research and study by the Global South.
All parties look forward to more witnesses telling the vivid stories of Chinese modernization in poverty alleviation, wealth creation, and grassroots governance, and sharing China's experience. "The forum connects academic research, policy recommendations, and public communication, and will continue to build an international communication platform for the Global South to speak in concert," said Lü Xinyu, chair of the Global South Academic Forum and dean of the Institute of International Communication Studies at East China Normal University.
Return to TopBy: 刘 赫
In recent times, some European media outlets and think tanks have been discussing the impact of the so-called "China shock" on Europe. But rational voices are not lacking within Europe itself — the German Federal Ministry of Economics' Advisory Council recently released a trade policy assessment report, which, based on detailed economic data and industry research, offers a rational response to the current panic rhetoric about China prevailing within Europe.
The report interprets the so-called "China shock" as entering a "new stage of competition" in industries such as automobiles and machinery manufacturing, and clearly advocates upholding the principle of open markets: economic security should not be equated with isolating oneself from the outside world (闭关自守, bi guan zi shou - "close, gate, self, guard"), and countries should focus on their own comparative advantages. Regarding the marked decline of German industry since 2018, the report points out that the main crux lies in locational factors and cost burdens. The report has been evaluated by Germany's Der Spiegel magazine as offering a "different view" on the currently prevailing rhetoric, cooling down the heated discussions within Europe.
Much of European public opinion is accustomed to blaming China for its own manufacturing weakness and trade deficits, readily treating tariff barriers as a remedy for industrial problems. In comparison, this report gets to the essence of the problem: the relocation of manufacturing abroad, the slowdown in innovation iteration, high industrial costs, and lagging transformation pace — these are the deep-seated cruxes of Europe's own declining competitiveness. The report warns that the EU's anti-dumping and anti-subsidy investigations targeting products such as Chinese electric vehicles must not slide down the wrong path of trade protectionism; in the long run, trade protectionism will ultimately damage the foundations of an export-oriented economy.
This rational voice is not an isolated case. Siemens CEO Roland Busch publicly stated in an interview with European media that he opposes the EU imposing comprehensive tariffs on China; Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico, when meeting with European Council President António Costa, said bluntly that competitiveness does not come from raising tariffs or building barriers, and China must not be treated as an enemy; Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, during his attendance at the UN General Assembly in New York recently, stated that Europe needs to cooperate with China to address common challenges and manage differences, and that the EU should strive to reach agreements through negotiation rather than being dragged into destructive disputes. From think tanks to the business community, from member state governments to the market level, voices opposing wall-building and advocating cooperation are steadily accumulating.
In the final analysis, the fundamental way out of Europe's economic pressure lies in self-reform rather than erecting barriers externally. Faced with the enhanced competitiveness of Chinese mechanical, electrical, and new energy products, Europe's one-sided manufacturing of anxiety and panic, and providing excessive protection for its domestic industries, is in fact taking actions that solve immediate problems but cause greater harm later (饮鸩止渴, yin zhen zhi ke - "drink, poison, to, quench thirst") and overdrawing the future. Building high tariff walls will only mask one's own reform shortcomings, raise production costs for domestic enterprises, and stifle innovation vitality — in the end, it is Europe itself that pays the bill.
China-EU economic and trade ties are already deeply intertwined. The combined economic output of both sides exceeds one-third of the global total, bilateral trade volume has grown from $2.4 billion at the inception of diplomatic relations to $828.1 billion in 2025, and the stock of two-way investment exceeds $280 billion. In the first half of 2026, despite interference from protectionist countercurrents, the trade in goods between China and the EU still grew by 14.2% year-on-year, reaching $447.88 billion. Beyond the deeply integrated industrial and supply chains, the two sides still have broad space for cooperation in new fields such as artificial intelligence, carbon emission reduction, and climate governance.
To enhance competitiveness, the lessons left unlearned must ultimately be made up, and more critically, Europe must establish an objective and rational perception of China. Rather than expending effort on defensive containment, it would be better to extensively carry out innovation cooperation — the cake of China-EU common interests can be made even bigger.
Return to Top(People's Daily, Nanjing, October 20) (Reporter Shen Lin) The "Foreign Media Dialogue with University Secretaries/Presidents" series of activities, initiated by the All-China Journalists Association, was launched at Nanjing University on the 20th. More than 60 media reporters and student representatives from 26 countries engaged in exchanges with Tan Tieniu, Secretary of the Nanjing University Party Committee, academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, and dialogue guest for the first event, focusing on international talent exchange, university cooperation, and artificial intelligence.
Tan Tieniu introduced the overview of developments in China's artificial intelligence field, as well as the relevant situation of universities actively cultivating AI talent and strengthening international exchange and cooperation. Tan Tieniu stated that deepening international exchange and cooperation benefits all parties, saying, "Educational cooperation is a long-distance race that requires traveling together as companions."
It is understood that the All-China Journalists Association launched the "Foreign Media Dialogue" series of activities in March 2024, successively carrying out activities such as "Foreign Media Dialogue with National People's Congress Deputies" and "Foreign Media Dialogue with Secretaries/Mayors" in Beijing, Shanghai, Chongqing, and other places, inviting National People's Congress deputies and principal leading officials of local party committees and governments to engage in in person (面对面, mian dui mian - "face, against, face") dialogue with foreign media, conducting candid exchanges and clarifying doubts around hot topics of concern to foreign reporters.
Return to TopBy: 本报记者 张矜若
From October 12 to 18, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and World Bank Group 2026 Annual Meetings were held in Bangkok, Thailand, where nearly 20,000 participants from 191 countries and regions discussed how to enhance the resilience of the world economy and jointly address economic challenges. During the meetings, the IMF's latest World Economic Outlook report projected global economic growth of 3.1 percent in 2026, down from 3.5 percent in 2025, with growth expected to rebound to 3.4 percent in 2027; global inflation is projected to ease from 4.7 percent in 2026 to 4.1 percent in 2027.
The report holds that current global economic growth is affected by two factors working in tandem. On the one hand, conflict in the Middle East has driven up energy and other commodity prices, raising production costs and dampening economic activity; on the other hand, the rapid growth of investment related to artificial intelligence has boosted trade and investment activity, offsetting to some extent the adverse impact of the energy shock.
In the face of the energy challenges arising from the Middle East conflict, the International Monetary and Financial Committee issued a chair's statement on the 17th calling for enhanced support for countries hit by conflict and rising energy prices that face short-term financing difficulties. Mohammed Al-Jadaan, chair of the International Monetary and Financial Committee and Minister of Finance of Saudi Arabia, said at a press conference that finance ministries should formulate credible medium-term plans that rebuild policy buffers while protecting vulnerable groups and safeguarding growth-friendly investment.
IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva said the prospects for artificial intelligence are encouraging. AI investment has become an important force underpinning economic growth, but excessive reliance on a single growth driver could also heighten economic fragility. The IMF's latest Global Financial Stability Report also notes that financial markets remain broadly stable at present, but should the outlook for AI investment change, it could trigger adjustments in related asset prices and transmit through financial markets to other sectors. Georgieva believes that countries should strengthen policy coordination, promoting technological innovation while guarding against related risks.
As an important engine of global economic growth, the performance of Asian economies has drawn widespread attention. The IMF's latest report projects Asian economic growth of 4.8 percent in 2026, slowing to 4.4 percent in 2027. The report holds that rising demand related to artificial intelligence has boosted semiconductor exports, data center construction, and related investment in some Asian economies, but this growth driver is unevenly distributed across the region. At the same time, higher energy prices have increased production and transportation costs for energy-importing economies, further intensifying inflationary pressures. While demonstrating resilience, Asian economies also face challenges such as diverging growth drivers and intensifying external shocks. The IMF recommends that Asian economies enhance the resilience of energy supply, deepen regional trade and investment cooperation, and cultivate long-term growth drivers by raising labor productivity and strengthening skills training.
Participants at the meetings agreed that creating job opportunities is an important focus for promoting inclusive growth. World Bank Group President Ajay Banga said at the plenary session of the Annual Meetings that over the next 10 to 15 years, an estimated 1.2 billion young people worldwide will enter the labor market, while only about 400 million jobs are expected to be created over the same period. Faced with enormous employment demand, countries need to improve the business environment, expand investment in infrastructure and human capital, and better leverage the role of private capital in promoting economic development. The World Bank Group is promoting the combination of public funds with private investment, striving to translate development financing into actual job opportunities.
(People's Daily, Bangkok, October 20)
Return to Top(Xinhua News Agency, Minsk, October 20) (Reporter Chen Ting) The first Belarus-China Tourism Forum opened on the 20th in Brest, Belarus, with more than 150 industry professionals from the two countries discussing the potential for bilateral tourism cooperation.
The forum aims to strengthen dialogue and cooperation between the tourism industries of the two countries. Its agenda includes panel discussions, B2B talks, and tourism and cultural site visits, with activities continuing through the 22nd. The forum is hosted by the Brest branch of the Belarusian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, with assistance from the Brest Regional Executive Committee, and support from institutions including the Belarusian National Tourism Agency and the Embassy of Belarus in China.
In recent years, under the strategic guidance of the leaders of the two countries, China-Belarus relations have maintained a high level of operation, with continuous deepening of economic and trade, people-to-people and cultural, and local cooperation.
Return to TopOn October 19-20, 2026, the 25th Meeting of the Council of Heads of Government (Prime Ministers) of the Member States of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (hereinafter referred to as the "SCO" or the "Organization") was held in Dushanbe.
Prime Minister of the Republic of Belarus Turchin, Minister of Defense of the Republic of India Singh, First Vice President of the Islamic Republic of Iran Aref, Prime Minister of the Republic of Kazakhstan Bektenov, Premier of the State Council of the People's Republic of China Li Qiang, First Deputy Prime Minister of the Kyrgyz Republic Amangeldyev, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan Dar, Prime Minister of the Government of the Russian Federation Mishustin, Prime Minister of the Republic of Tajikistan Rasulzoda, and Prime Minister of the Republic of Uzbekistan Aripov attended the meeting.
President of the Republic of Tajikistan Rahmon met with the heads of delegations of the SCO member states.
The meeting was chaired by Prime Minister of the Republic of Tajikistan Rasulzoda.
SCO Secretary-General Yermekbayev, Director of the Executive Committee of the SCO Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure Sharsheyev, Chairman of the SCO Business Council Saliev, and Chairman of the SCO Interbank Consortium Council Nogaev attended the meeting as observers.
First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economic Development of Mongolia Enkhbayar and Deputy Prime Minister of Turkmenistan Gerdimeredov, guests of the host country of the meeting, attended the meeting as observers.
The heads of delegations highly commended the work done by the Kyrgyz Republic during its tenure as the rotating SCO chairmanship from 2025 to 2026, and stressed the need to effectively implement the consensus reached at the SCO Bishkek Summit on September 1, 2026. The parties expressed support for the work of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan as the rotating SCO chairmanship from 2026 to 2027.
In a friendly and pragmatic atmosphere, the heads of delegations discussed all aspects of cooperation in the economic, trade, and cultural fields, as well as issues concerning the improvement of SCO mechanisms and the finances and operations of its permanent bodies.
On the occasion of the 25th anniversary of the founding of the SCO, the heads of delegations reaffirmed that the member states will abide by the purposes and principles of the SCO Charter, the Treaty on Long-Term Good-Neighborliness, Friendship and Cooperation of the SCO Member States, the SCO Development Strategy for the Next 10 Years (2026-2035), and other SCO international treaties and regulatory documents.
The parties highly commended the achievements of the SCO and its enormous cooperation potential, stressing that the SCO plays an active role in consolidating neighborly friendship and cooperation (睦邻友好, mulin youhao - "neighbor, friendly, good, friend") among member states and deepening cooperation in various fields.
The heads of delegations reaffirmed that the member states always adhere to the SCO principle of not targeting other countries and organizations, advocate the peaceful settlement of disputes, uphold openness to the outside world, and conduct broad international cooperation on the basis of taking into account the interests of all parties.
The heads of delegations reaffirmed that the member states will abide by the purposes and principles of the SCO Charter and practice the Shanghai Spirit of mutual trust, mutual benefit, equality, consultation, respect for diversity of civilizations, and pursuit of common development, which was established when the Organization was founded 25 years ago.
The heads of delegations stressed that the member states respect the right of all countries to independently and democratically choose their own paths of political, economic, social, and cultural development in accordance with their own historical experience and national characteristics.
The heads of delegations stressed that the member states will continue to conduct constructive dialogue and deepen multilateral partnership by leveraging the SCO's enormous potential and growing international influence.
The heads of delegations noted that the member states will continue to commit themselves to maintaining regional peace, security, and stability and achieving sustainable development.
The heads of delegations reaffirmed that promoting the building of a new type of international relations featuring mutual respect, fairness and justice, and win-win cooperation and a community with a shared future for mankind, as well as conducting dialogue in accordance with the concept of "One Earth, One Home, One Future," is of important practical significance.
The heads of delegations stressed that the SCO has become a prestigious and efficient multilateral institution, an effective mechanism for equal and mutually beneficial partnership cooperation, has established a solid legal foundation, and has set up permanent bodies, cooperation mechanisms in various fields, expert and practical working platforms, and non-governmental institutions.
The heads of delegations noted that one of the major achievements of the SCO is the growing number of countries that have established cooperative relations with the Organization, the continuous expansion of the Organization's cooperation areas, the steady enhancement of its international influence, and the increasingly close ties with relevant countries and multilateral institutions.
The heads of delegations stressed that the SCO has made important contributions to maintaining regional peace, security, and stability, expanding economic and trade cooperation, and deepening people-to-people and cultural exchanges.
The heads of delegations noted that the SCO plays an important role in building a more just, equitable, and representative multipolar world with the United Nations at its core.
The heads of delegations stressed that the member states will commit themselves to building a broad and open economic space in the region, conducting equal and mutually beneficial cooperation, ensuring the effective operation of markets, supply chains, settlement and payment systems, transport corridors, and logistics routes, as well as the flow of investment, goods, services, and technology, and promoting cooperation in the energy sector. The parties noted that interested member states will cooperate on the initiative to establish a "Greater Eurasian Partnership."
The heads of delegations believed that the experience accumulated by the SCO and its growing potential have created conditions for the Organization to enter a new stage focused on practical results, enhanced connectivity, increased economic resilience, and improved well-being of the people.
I
The heads of delegations noted that the world economy is undergoing profound changes and faces risks and challenges such as fragmentation, disruption of traditional industrial and supply chains, and volatility in food and energy resource prices.
The heads of delegations stressed that the member states oppose unilateral coercive measures that violate the UN Charter and other norms of international law, and noted that such measures have a negative impact on achieving global economic growth and sustainable development goals.
The heads of delegations reaffirmed the great significance of improving the global economic governance architecture and continuously building an open, transparent, fair, inclusive, equitable, and non-discriminatory multilateral trading system based on internationally recognized principles and rules.
The heads of delegations advocated reforming and improving the global governance system, including formulating corresponding rules and norms to ensure equal participation, equal decision-making, and equal benefit for all countries in global governance. The parties stressed that the representation, role, and voice of developing countries in international economic and financial institutions and their governing bodies should be strengthened.
II
The heads of delegations regard economic and trade cooperation as one of the core work directions of the SCO. The parties noted that since the founding of the Organization, a multi-level cooperation system composed of relevant competent authorities, business communities, and expert institutions has been established, and multiple long-term plans and programs have been adopted, creating the necessary conditions for deepening practical cooperation.
The heads of delegations stressed the importance of continuously implementing the SCO Development Strategy for the Next 10 Years (2026-2035), the Program of Multilateral Economic and Trade Cooperation of the SCO Member States, and the SCO Economic Development Strategy until 2030, and instructed relevant mechanisms to coordinate the implementation of various action plans. To this end, the parties welcomed the approval of the Action Plan for the Implementation of the Program of Multilateral Economic and Trade Cooperation of the SCO Member States (2026-2030).
The heads of delegations stressed that the member states are committed to continuing to strengthen cooperation in trade, industry, transport, energy, finance, investment, agriculture, customs, digital economy, creative industries, innovation, and high technology. The parties attached great importance to the extensive promotion of measures for energy conservation and efficiency improvement.
The Republic of Belarus, the Islamic Republic of Iran, the Republic of Kazakhstan, the Kyrgyz Republic, the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, the Russian Federation, the Republic of Tajikistan, and the Republic of Uzbekistan reaffirmed their support for the Belt and Road Initiative proposed by the People's Republic of China and affirmed the work done by all parties for the joint implementation of the Belt and Road Initiative, including promoting the alignment of the Belt and Road with the Eurasian Economic Union.
The heads of delegations proposed deepening mutually beneficial cooperation in the banking and financial fields, exchanging information and advanced experience, and creating a favorable environment for the development of the financial services market.
The heads of delegations took note of the SCO Seminar on Infrastructure Project Financing in Central Asia held in Mumbai on October 8-10, 2026, and the first SCO Asian Economic Dialogue held within its framework, stressing that the above activities are of great significance for developing practical cooperation in investment and financing.
The heads of delegations reaffirmed that the relevant member states will continue to cooperate and gradually expand the share of local currency settlements.
The heads of delegations took note of the efforts made by the relevant member states to improve financial infrastructure.
Taking into account the potential of existing multilateral regional financial institutions and investment platforms, the parties stressed the importance of development financing, including mobilizing long-term and accessible financing for sustainable development projects.
The heads of delegations affirmed the progress made by the relevant member states in establishing the SCO Development Bank and stressed the importance of continuing to advance this work.
The heads of delegations believed that it is necessary to continue creating a stable, transparent, and predictable trade environment, continuously simplify trade procedures, expand the scale of bilateral trade in goods and services, and optimize the trade structure.
The heads of delegations reaffirmed that they will develop digital services, paperless trade, and e-commerce, expand electronic exchange of documents and data, attach importance to the protection of consumer rights and interests in e-commerce, and study online dispute resolution mechanisms for commercial disputes.
The heads of delegations advocated expanding all-round economic cooperation, further improving the investment and business environment, vigorously supporting joint ventures and investment projects, and exchanging information on national regulatory frameworks and investor support policies, including expanding the SCO database of economic preferential policies and building professional electronic platforms.
The heads of delegations highly commended the role played by the SCO Business Council and the Interbank Consortium in promoting practical cooperation, facilitating the exchange of project proposals, and conducting credit and investment cooperation, and believed that regularly holding business forums, exhibitions, and investment fairs is of great significance for the business community to establish direct contacts.
The heads of delegations stressed that micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises play an important role in creating employment, driving regional development, and enhancing economic resilience. The parties advocated further cooperation on measures to support business operations.
The heads of delegations noted that innovation is particularly important for SCO member states to maintain economic competitiveness in the digital age, supported the implementation of relevant initiatives to develop the SCO startup ecosystem and promote the integration of startups into international supply chains. The parties believed that capacity building in digital technologies for innovation clusters of SCO member states should be promoted.
The heads of delegations believed that joint research and development and vocational training should be promoted, and the possibilities for the establishment and development of cooperation among micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises should continue to be studied.
The heads of delegations advocated deepening collaboration to promote creative products and services and implement competitive projects. To this end, the heads of delegations welcomed the establishment of a special working group on the development of the creative economy.
The heads of delegations believed that industrial cooperation is an important condition for achieving economic diversification, consolidating industrial chains, and creating new job opportunities. The parties noted that industry exhibitions and business platforms play an important role in expanding practical cooperation in this field.
The heads of delegations reaffirmed that the member states will continue to exchange relevant experience in the construction of economic parks, industrial parks, and science and technology parks, jointly create production projects, achieve localization of cooperative industrial chains, and promote advanced technologies.
The heads of delegations approved the Regulations on the Database of Investment Projects in the Industrial Sector of the SCO Member States.
The heads of delegations listed the digital transformation of industry as a priority, including the application of artificial intelligence solutions and the development of green industries.
The heads of delegations regard sustainable agricultural development and ensuring food security as one of the priority directions of cooperation. The parties plan to expand cooperation in agricultural product trade and deepen collaboration in agricultural product processing, agricultural machinery manufacturing, breeding and seed industry cooperation, digitalization and smart agriculture, including establishing electronic platforms and supporting high-tech joint projects.
The heads of delegations attached great importance to ensuring sanitary and phytosanitary safety to prevent and respond to cross-border animal diseases, ensure food safety and stable supply, and will promote closer cooperation and information exchange among competent authorities and jointly hold activities in the above fields.
The heads of delegations believed that the SCO should continue to cooperate with professional international organizations, including UN specialized agencies, and hold agricultural forums, exhibitions, training, and joint research to improve agricultural production efficiency.
The heads of delegations believed that developing road, railway, aviation, and multimodal transport, and strengthening logistics centers and transport infrastructure construction, are among the most important directions of the SCO economic agenda.
The heads of delegations stressed the importance of fully unleashing the transit transport potential of the SCO region and improving the capacity of transport corridors.
The heads of delegations believed that it is necessary to continue to safeguard the technological sovereignty of member states, ensure energy security and energy market stability, and build a diversified energy system using multiple energy sources.
The heads of delegations stressed that SCO member states are committed to expanding practical cooperation in the energy sector, including implementing joint research projects, developing the hydropower potential of regional countries, building energy infrastructure, promoting investment and scientific and technological cooperation, introducing advanced energy technologies, training professional personnel, and exchanging experience.
The heads of delegations highly commended the work results of the customs authorities of the member states and noted that the parties have accumulated rich experience through years of cooperation in information exchange, improving customs management, personnel training, and anti-smuggling.
The heads of delegations reaffirmed that they will continue to advance the digitalization of customs procedures, implement the "single window" and "smart customs" mechanisms, conduct electronic exchange of information on goods and means of transport, improve risk management systems, and electronic verification of certificates of origin.
The heads of delegations noted that standardization, metrology, conformity assessment, and technical regulation are of great significance for reducing technical barriers to trade and simplifying trade procedures. Cooperation in this field should be aimed at improving product quality and safety and strengthening the exchange of information and experience in the digitalization of standards and conformity assessment procedures.
The heads of delegations believed that maintaining fair competition and improving antitrust regulation are important conditions for the sustainable development of the market. The parties will further strengthen the exchange of experience in law enforcement and commodity market analysis.
The heads of delegations noted that accurate statistical information is very important for assessing economic and social conditions and making decisions, and the parties will deepen cooperation among statistical authorities and exchange methods and experience in the digitalization of statistical work.
The heads of delegations stressed that in recent years digital transformation has become an important direction of SCO cooperation, and the digital divide among member states should be narrowed, and the ability of the general public, including residents of remote areas, and enterprises to access digital services should be enhanced.
The heads of delegations believed that digital transformation must be accompanied by strengthening information security, ensuring the reliability of digital infrastructure and data security, and enhancing digital literacy.
The heads of delegations noted that the right of all countries to equal use of the Internet in accordance with their national laws should be fully taken into account.
The heads of delegations believed that it is very important to conduct scientific and technological dialogue, promote international exchange of knowledge and best practices, strengthen personnel training, conduct joint scientific research and technological cooperation, increase support for talent, and exchange information on research funding and innovation projects.
The heads of delegations stressed that improving the well-being of the people is one of the most important goals of cooperation. The member states will exchange experience in implementing national poverty reduction and social support programs.
III
The heads of delegations noted that people-to-people and cultural cooperation is an important foundation for promoting mutual trust, neighborly friendship, and people-to-people bonds. The parties will enrich the people-to-people and cultural cooperation agenda and expand direct contacts among various institutions, professional groups, local and social organizations.
The heads of delegations reaffirmed the great significance of protecting cultural diversity and historical heritage, and believed that holding art festivals, exhibitions, culture days, film weeks, and joint film festivals, conducting cultural and artistic exchanges, as well as cooperation among cultural institutions such as museums, libraries, and theaters, can further bring people together.
The heads of delegations reaffirmed that the member states will continue to hold cultural activities, exchange experience in the restoration and protection of cultural heritage, including intangible cultural heritage, and cooperate in combating illegal excavation of historical sites and trafficking of cultural relics.
The heads of delegations supported the promotion and application of digital technologies and artificial intelligence in the fields of museums, libraries, and cultural heritage protection.
The heads of delegations believed that education is the foundation for the long-term development of member states and the enhancement of mutual understanding, welcomed the expansion of inter-school exchanges and academic exchanges including young researchers, jointly formulated educational cooperation plans, and held various conferences and academic seminars. The parties attached great importance to running the SCO University well, attracting more countries to participate, and cultivating professional talents urgently needed for the economic development of member states.
The heads of delegations noted that online education should be developed on the basis of modern information and communication and multimedia technologies, and experience in improving education quality should be exchanged.
The heads of delegations stressed that comprehensive, equal, and fair access to information and communication technologies should be ensured.
The heads of delegations noted that modern and sustainable digital infrastructure must be built, including data processing centers, high-performance computing facilities, and infrastructure for the research, development, and application of artificial intelligence technologies, and the exchange of relevant knowledge and experience should be strengthened. The heads of delegations stressed that, on the premise of respecting national interests and adhering to the principle of peaceful use of science and technology, equal access of member states to artificial intelligence technologies is very important.
The heads of delegations advocated further deepening cooperation in the health sector, including emergency medical assistance, health and epidemic prevention monitoring, drug and vaccine research and development, development of traditional (folk) medicine, ensuring food safety, and professional personnel training. The parties believed that competent authorities should work closely together, exchange information in a timely manner, and conduct joint scientific research.
The heads of delegations stressed that it is very important to advance the digitalization of healthcare, exchange modern medical technologies and advanced diagnosis and treatment methods, including exchanging experience in the application of mobile laboratories and responding to health and epidemic prevention risks.
The heads of delegations stressed that it is of practical significance for SCO member states to continue to work together in the fields of environmental protection, biodiversity conservation, maintaining ecological security, rational use of natural resources, and responding to the adverse effects of climate change, including mountain ecological degradation and accelerated glacier melting.
The heads of delegations noted that the risks of natural disasters and technological accidents are rising, advocated enhancing the SCO's disaster prevention and emergency response capabilities, and stressed that coordinated response to large-scale emergencies should be further strengthened.
The heads of delegations reaffirmed that the full and active participation of women in the economic, social, scientific, technological, cultural life, and public affairs of member states is very important, stressed that cooperation and experience exchange should be continued to empower women's development, support women's entrepreneurship, enhance women's professional skills, and create favorable conditions for the implementation of relevant initiatives.
The heads of delegations will promote the regular holding of women's forums, conferences, and exchange activities, and further promote deeper cooperation among state organs, social organizations, and other relevant institutions of member states.
The heads of delegations reaffirmed the importance of safeguarding and protecting the legitimate rights and interests of women and children, broadening channels for women and children to access quality education, healthcare, and social assistance, and consolidating the family institution.
The heads of delegations highly commended the important contribution of people's diplomacy institutions in enhancing mutual understanding and trust among the peoples of member states and consolidating good-neighborly relations, and will continue to promote the development of people's diplomacy institutions, including expanding contacts and exchanges and holding relevant activities.
The parties welcomed the holding of the SCO Civilization Forum in New Delhi on November 20, 2026.
The heads of delegations stressed that the sustainable development of remote, rural, and mountainous areas should be promoted, local infrastructure should be improved, modern digital solutions and technologies should be introduced, and favorable conditions should be created for the development of tourism, small and medium-sized enterprises, and border trade.
The heads of delegations believed that a comprehensive and objective understanding of the SCO's work, purposes, practical results, and cooperation potential should be fostered among the public, and welcomed exchanges among media, government press departments, and professional journalist groups.
The heads of delegations noted that youth play a special role in promoting the long-term sustainable development of member states and further deepening SCO cooperation, and are committed to creating favorable conditions for unleashing the potential of the younger generation, supporting youth entrepreneurship and startups, scientific and technological innovation, and volunteer activities, learning from each other's experience in promoting youth employment, and expanding cultural, educational, and sports exchanges.
The heads of delegations noted that sports can further enhance cohesion and welcomed further cooperation among the competent authorities and sports organizations of member states.
The heads of delegations supported the holding of joint sports events, including the "SCO Open Cup" international sports event with the participation of interested member states, closer exchanges among athletes, coaches, and professionals, and the sharing of experience and advanced practices in sports development and the organization of major events.
The heads of delegations believed that mutually beneficial cooperation in tourism should be deepened by leveraging the rich historical and cultural heritage and diverse natural resources of the SCO region, supporting the establishment of direct contacts among tourism enterprises, attracting tourism investment, and advancing the digitalization of tourism services.
The heads of delegations supported actively nominating SCO tourism and cultural capitals, holding themed celebrations, exhibitions, and implementing other joint projects.
The heads of delegations noted that the SCO Economic Think Tank Alliance and other expert analytical platforms play an important role in enhancing the level of the Organization's economic and trade cooperation and providing professional recommendations.
IV
The heads of delegations reaffirmed that the SCO will continue to collaborate with various countries and international organizations on the basis of equality and mutual respect. The parties noted that over the 25 years since the founding of the SCO, the scope of its external relations has expanded significantly, international cooperation has been continuously strengthened, and it has established its position in the multilateral international system.
The heads of delegations noted the importance of further improving the SCO's operational mechanisms, including improving the treaty and legal basis, cooperation mechanisms, and the operation of permanent bodies. The heads of delegations stressed that, in accordance with signed agreements and adopted resolutions, the legal and institutional framework for new and permanent bodies should be consolidated to ensure the launch of their work.
V
The heads of delegations reaffirmed that they will continue to build the SCO into a platform for mutual trust, good-neighborliness, equal cooperation, and common development.
The heads of delegations believed that this meeting of the Council of Heads of Government (Prime Ministers) of the SCO Member States held in Dushanbe will become an important milestone for the SCO to enter a new stage of practical cooperation. The achievements accumulated by the SCO over 25 years, its institutional experience, and the common interests of member states will lay a solid foundation for the implementation of the Organization's long-term goals.
The heads of delegations expressed gratitude to the Republic of Tajikistan for successfully hosting the 25th Meeting of the Council of Heads of Government (Prime Ministers) of the SCO Member States and for the warm hospitality extended to all parties.
The next meeting of the Council of Heads of Government (Prime Ministers) of the SCO Member States will be held in the Republic of Uzbekistan in 2027.
Prime Minister of the Republic of Belarus
Minister of Defense of the Republic of India
First Vice President of the Islamic Republic of Iran
Prime Minister of the Republic of Kazakhstan
Premier of the State Council of the People's Republic of China
First Deputy Prime Minister of the Kyrgyz Republic
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan
Prime Minister of the Government of the Russian Federation
Prime Minister of the Republic of Tajikistan
Prime Minister of the Republic of Uzbekistan
(Xinhua News Agency, Dushanbe, October 20)
Return to TopThe Never-Fading "Azalea"
People's Daily reporter Cheng Huan
Tongzi County, Zunyi City, Guizhou Province
The azalea, Zunyi's city flower, reflects the red gene passing on the torch from generation to generation (薪火相传, xin huo xiang chuan - "firewood, torch, pass from") in this "City of Transition."
In Shanping Village, Loushanguan Subdistrict, Tongzi County, Zunyi City, Guizhou Province, each season when the azaleas are in full bloom, layers upon layers of red dye the hillsides radiating brilliance or splendor (灼灼生辉, zhuo zhuo sheng hui - "burning, shining"). The vivid azaleas bloom year after year, bearing witness to the extraordinary hardships of those days and also reflecting the prosperity of today.
"When the Red Army was on the Long March back then, it passed through our village twice, and it was along this very road that it captured Loushanguan." Villager Luo Yunfa pointed toward the ridge on the southern side, where an old flagstone path came into view. Following the path onward, one reaches Loushanguan, known as "the foremost perilous pass in northern Guizhou."
In early 1935, the Central Red Army fought two fierce battles here, gunfire echoing through the valley. The two battles at Loushanguan respectively won precious time for the Zunyi Conference and opened up strategic space for the Four Crossings of the Chishui River, and moreover proclaimed with iron-clad fact — that the new collective leadership was leading this force, treading a path of rebirth out of desperate straits.
"The strong pass is like iron, yet today we cross it anew." Time has passed, the smoke of gunpowder has dissipated, and bullet scars have quietly receded into the moss. The "City of Transition," witnessed by blood and fire, has undergone earth-shaking changes. Today's Zunyi, with 358 Long March sites and relics bearing the red imprint, has become being worthy of one's reputation (名副其实, ming fu qi shi - "name, matches, actual, reality") as a "Red City."
Beside the flagstone path in Shanping Village, a new asphalt mountain road winds upward, bringing visitors from north and south. The Shanping Scenic Area, famed for its sea of flowers in all four seasons, was rated a national 4A-level tourist attraction in 2017. Today, the village's per capita annual disposable income has exceeded 30,000 yuan. "Relying on the natural scenery and red resources, we now make our living from tourism." Luo Yunfa has opened a farmhouse restaurant and runs rural guesthouses; the azaleas planted in his courtyard bloom vigorously and reassuringly red every spring.
At the Zunyi Conference Site and the Red Army Martyrs' Cemetery, volunteer docent Kong Xia, gentle yet resolute, speaks in a gentle and engaging manner (娓娓道来, wei wei dao lai - "softly, continuously, speak"), leading visitors to relive the stirring years of struggle. "The story of the Red Army deserves to be told generation after generation." As a descendant of Red Army soldiers, Kong Xia has been maintaining the same constancy for decades (数十年如一日, shu shi nian ru yi ri - "decades, like, one, day"), volunteering to explain the red history.
Red is the foundational color of Zunyi, and this gene is deeply integrated into the city's bloodline, passed down from generation to generation.
At the Zunyi Conference Memorial Hall, young Li Chenxi fluently recounts the red history to visitors. She attends Laocheng Primary School and, in her spare time, persists in giving explanations at the memorial hall. "The glorious deeds of our forebears must not be forgotten; we must let more people remember this history," said Li Chenxi.
In 2017, Zunyi launched the "Little Red Docents" cultivation program, training primary and secondary school students aged 8 to 14. Today, this team has grown to more than 2,000 members, becoming a vibrant calling card in the dissemination of local red culture.
From "City of Transition" to "Red City," on this scorching land, the red gene is passed on from generation to generation. Through the dust of history, clusters of azaleas take deep root in the fertile soil, bearing witness to the never-fading red memory and blooming with new splendor for the era.
"Osmanthus Blossoms Bloom All Over the Land in August"
Singing the New Look of the Old Revolutionary Base Area
People's Daily reporter Fan Haotian
Hong'an County, Huanggang City, Hubei Province
The classic revolutionary song "Osmanthus Blossoms Bloom All Over the Land in August," which accompanied the 25th Red Army as it set out from the Hubei-Henan-Anhui Soviet Area on the Long March, also bears witness through its singing to the old revolutionary base area full of vigorous life and vitality (勃勃生机, bo bo sheng ji - "surging, life, vitality").
Entering Bayi Village, Qiliping Town, Hong'an County, Huanggang City, Hubei Province, the former site of the Hubei-Henan-Anhui Soviet Area Soviet Government stands solemn and dignified, with red attractions such as the Soviet Grand Auditorium and the Martyrs' Square distributed in an irregular or staggered pattern (错落分布, cuo luo fen bu - "scattered, falling, distribute"). On Osmanthus Ridge, 1,481 martyrs rest in the Central Martyrs' Cemetery of the Hubei-Henan-Anhui Soviet Area, each monument silently telling the stories of heroes.
"This land is renowned for the classic revolutionary song 'Osmanthus Blossoms Bloom All Over the Land in August.'" Zheng Xizhong, Party branch secretary of Bayi Village, explained that in 1929, under the call of the CPC's Northeastern Hubei Special Committee, Huang'an County (today's Hong'an County) established a Soviet regime. "Osmanthus Blossoms Bloom All Over the Land in August," originally titled "Celebrating the Soviet," was precisely composed at that time to celebrate the founding of the Soviet government.
Hong'an is the birthplace of the Huangma Uprising and the core area of the Hubei-Henan-Anhui Revolutionary Base Area; the Fourth Front Army of the Red Army was born here, and the 25th Red Army was also rebuilt here. The Hong'an County Museum preserves a handwritten copy of revolutionary song lyrics, the first of which is "Osmanthus Blossoms Bloom All Over the Land in August." Museum curator Wu Guohong explained that in 1958, when the Hong'an County Revolutionary Museum (the predecessor of the county museum) was being established, a citywide collection of revolutionary cultural relics was carried out. Chen Longpu, who had served as a squad leader in the First Red Army, donated this handwritten copy dating from 1929 to 1930.
In November 1934, the 25th Red Army set out from the Hubei-Henan-Anhui Soviet Area on the Long March, and "Osmanthus Blossoms Bloom All Over the Land in August" became a battle song accompanying the soldiers on their long expedition, inspiring them to press forward. Zhou Dongping, then head nurse of the 25th Red Army hospital, once wrote in her memoirs that whenever they sang "Osmanthus blossoms bloom all over the land in August, the bright red flags are raised high," they would always win warm applause from their comrades. The imagery of blooming osmanthus embodied the military and civilian expectation for a bright revolutionary future and symbolized an unswerving in one's determination (矢志不渝, shi zhi bu yu - "aim, will, not, change") conviction of certain victory. In September 1935, the 25th Red Army arrived at Yongping Town (today's Yongping Town) in Yanchuan County, Shaanxi Province, becoming the first Long March force to reach northern Shaanxi.
As the years have passed, the osmanthus blooms every year, and the red songs ring out all year round. Today, "Osmanthus Blossoms Bloom All Over the Land in August" has become a required song in the music classes of many primary and secondary schools in Hong'an. At the Hong'an County Lenin Primary School, located in Qiliping Town, "Little Red Docent" Fang Yiting always sings this song when introducing the school's history to visitors.
"Our school was founded in February 1930, established by the CPC's Hubei-Henan-Anhui Special Committee. Revolutionary forebears such as Dai Xuefang, Zheng Weisan, and Wu Huanxian once taught here, and it has a glorious red tradition." Gao Maoyuan, vice principal in charge of moral education at Lenin Primary School, explained that the school has integrated the cultivation of "Little Red Docents" into its school-based curriculum and moral education system, allowing children to gain an in-depth understanding of Hong'an's glorious history through their explanations.
At specialty shops on Changsheng Street in Qiliping Town, products such as osmanthus tea, osmanthus wine, and osmanthus honey attract visitors to buy; at the Hong'an County Chu Opera Troupe, the dance drama "Osmanthus Blossoms Bloom All Over the Land in August," innovatively choreographed by young performers, is deeply loved by audiences... In recent years, Hong'an has continuously protected, explored, and utilized various red resources, developing a rich array of formats including red study tours, live performances, and rural red experiences. In 2025, the county received over 16 million visitors, with tourism revenue exceeding 10 billion yuan. The strands of osmanthus fragrance that traverse time sing the new look of the old revolutionary base area, bearing witness to the Dabie Mountains revolutionary old base area radiating vigorous vitality in the new era.
From the Former "Yellow Grass Flower" to the Vast Green Grassland
People's Daily reporter Li Kaixuan
Zoigê County, Ngawa Tibetan and Qiang Autonomous Prefecture, Sichuan Province
"Yellow grass flower," a wild vegetable the Red Army used to stave off hunger when crossing the grasslands, bears witness to the heroic years of fearing no hardship and being unswervingly committed to the revolution
The National Museum of China houses two unremarkable dried grass specimens. These are "yellow grass flowers" collected from the banks of the Gequ River on the Zoigê Grassland in northwestern Sichuan Province, and they were the "food" the Fourth Front Army of the Red Army used to stave off hunger during its third crossing of the grasslands.
"Back then, marching through the cold, marsh-covered Songpan Grassland, the Red Army faced the predicament of running out of food." Xu Shaoyong, deputy director of the History and Chronicles Center of Zoigê County, Ngawa Tibetan and Qiang Autonomous Prefecture, Sichuan Province, explained that at the critical moment of life and death, Commander-in-Chief Zhu De personally led cooks and local Tibetan compatriots to collect more than 60 kinds of wild vegetables, taste-testing and identifying them, and compiled a "Notice on Eating Wild Vegetables" that was distributed to the companies. "'Yellow grass flower' is toxic, but eating it poses no danger to life, so the soldiers boiled it repeatedly to fill their stomachs. Behind this 'using poison to stave off hunger' was the Red Army's conviction to unswervingly cross the grasslands and preserve the revolutionary flame," Xu Shaoyong said.
In July 1936, Liu Yi, a cadre of the Fourth Front Army, crossed the Songpan Grassland for the third time with his unit and preserved some of the "yellow grass flowers" he collected along the way. In 1975, Liu Yi donated the "yellow grass flowers" he had treasured for nearly 40 years to the state, writing in the donation statement: "Some of my comrades who gathered wild vegetables with me died gloriously for the Party and the people — starving, freezing, or falling in battle on the snowy mountains and grasslands..." The two grass specimens accompanied him through marching and fighting, bearing witness to those heroic years.
History has never receded into the distance. The grassland where the Red Army once trudged with difficulty now has a more familiar name — the Zoigê Grassland. Here, a new Long March toward green development has already begun.
On the Zoigê Grassland wetlands, due to climate change, overgrazing, and other reasons, land desertification was once severe. In 2022, the Zoigê Mountains-and-Waters Project officially commenced as a major national ecological project under the 14th Five-Year Plan.
"The results of ecological restoration do not come overnight; one must be nailed to the grassland like a nail." Bi Hongbin, a staff member of the Zoigê County Mountains-and-Waters Office, said. Undaunted by the extreme cold and unafraid of wind and sand, expert teams and staff anchored to the goal of "one year to block wind and fix sand, two years for vegetation recovery, three years for seedling survival, four years of continuous management, five years for shrub-grass integration," diagnosing and prescribing remedies for each of Zoigê's "capillaries." Abandoned mines have been covered with soil and revegetated, the water level of Huahu Lake has continued to rise, and the rodent infestation that once ravaged the grassland has been curbed... As winter gives way to spring, changes quietly occur.
Today's Zoigê, the grassland has regained its vitality. Look at the data — during the 14th Five-Year Plan period, Zoigê County invested a total of 500 million yuan in various funds, completed the treatment of 244,000 mu of desertified land, built 305 new ecological water-retention dams, implemented grassland ecological restoration of 743,000 mu through measures such as natural grassland improvement, degraded grassland improvement, and reseeding with native grass species, and carried out rodent and pest prevention and control on more than 5.8 million mu. Listen to the feelings — "The black-necked cranes have returned, and the tourists have increased." Herdsman Ruke and his fellow villagers have transitioned into ecological patrol officers, contributing to the protection of the grassland. The Mountains-and-Waters Project has cumulatively driven employment and income growth for the masses exceeding 12 million yuan, making the homes of farmers and herders more beautiful and their lives better.
The transformation of Zoigê is a microcosm of ecological civilization construction in Ngawa Prefecture. Taking the Zoigê Mountains-and-Waters Project as the starting point, the four counties of Ngawa, Zoigê, Hongyuan, and Songpan have coordinated their efforts, and ecological governance across Ngawa Prefecture has been fully rolled out. From the former "yellow grass flower" to the vast, vibrant green grassland, the Long March spirit is passed down from generation to generation, endless and continuous growth or life (生生不息, sheng sheng bu xi - "birth, birth, not, cease").
Return to TopYudu, Jiangxi: The Orchid Town Thrives
In October 1934, on the banks of the Yudu River in Jiangxi, more than 86,000 Red Army soldiers gathered and crossed the river, taking the first step of the Long March of ten thousand li. More than 90 years later, the Orchid Town, located in Hefeng Township, Yudu, has become one of the largest orchid production bases in China, where red memories and pastoral scenery are shining together in harmony (交相辉映, jiao xiang hui ying - "interact, reflect, shine").
With more than 1,700 orchid varieties, an annual output of 38 million pots of orchids, and participation of over 5,000 households in the township in the orchid industry, the annual output value exceeds 300 million yuan, with orchids sold to international markets including Japan and South Korea. Each orchid blossom is a vivid portrayal of the people in the old revolutionary base areas carrying forward the red gene and striding toward a happy future.
Rucheng, Hunan: Honeysuckle Blossoms on the Road to Prosperity
In 1934, after breaking through the second blockade line of the Long March, the Red Army entered Wenming Si (today's Wenming Yao Township) in Rucheng County, Hunan, for rest and regrouping, where local villagers used honeysuckle and other Chinese herbal medicines to treat and heal wounded Red Army soldiers.
Today, honeysuckle has become the "flower of prosperity" for local people. Relying on the advantages of the mountainous terrain, Wenming Yao Township has seen more than 2,000 grower households cultivate over 24,000 mu of honeysuckle, supported the development of 15 specialized cooperatives, and fostered 44 standardized processing plants, forming an industrial chain integrating production, supply, processing, and sales.
Tongbai, Henan: "Five-Star Flowers" Bloom Across the Mountains and Fields
In November 1934, the 25th Red Army set out from Hejiachong, Luoshan County, Henan, to begin the Long March, subsequently entering Laojie Village in Tongbai County. Flower seeds carried on the straw sandals, leggings, and caps of Red Army soldiers scattered across the mountains, and the following year they took root, sprouted, climbed, and blossomed. This is the cypress vine, also known as the cardinal climber, whose flowers bloom bright red and are shaped like five-pointed stars, hence the names "Five-Star Flower" and "Red Army Flower."
Today, in Tongbai County, the "Five-Star Flower" still blooms across courtyards, mountains, and fields. The locality has integrated the stories of the Long March into the curriculum of primary and secondary schools, organizing young people to visit the former revolutionary sites for on-site study, and to revisit red history through immersive experiences.
(Compiled by People's Daily reporters Yang Yanfei, Shen Zhilin, and Zhao Shuaijie)
Return to TopThe Long March, for today, is by no means merely the victory of an expedition 90 years ago. Across this land, from major national equipment to national cultural parks, from bridges to villages, many things bear the name "Long March." These marks of the Long March found everywhere (随处可见, sui chu ke jian - "follow, place, can, see") are not only a tribute that transcends time and space, but also an echo among the mountains and rivers, and a testimony to the red spirit.
(Compiled by Wu Peipei)
Return to TopBy: 卢 涛
Reading the Long March, this magnificent epic, "flowers" offer a unique perspective. The widely sung "Osmanthus Flowers Bloom Everywhere in August" sowed the seeds of ideals and convictions along the long journey; the azaleas that bloom year after year bear witness to the heroic nature of our forebears who fought bloody battles and feared no sacrifice; the "yellow flowers and grasses" eaten to stave off hunger while crossing the grasslands illustrate what it means to be enduring hardships to temper one's character (艰难困苦，玉汝于成, jian nan kun ku, yu ru yu cheng - "difficult, hard, hardship; jade, nurture, you, achieve"). In this expedition, flowers watered with life and blood bloom in the depths of history, marking where today comes from and inspiring the road ahead.
Flowers blooming along the Long March route reflect a stirring and powerful spiritual force. Traversing more than ten provinces, marching 25,000 li, conquering ice-capped mountains and snow-covered ridges, crossing marshes and grasslands, and repelling pursuing and blocking enemies, the Red Army soldiers created a magnificent and awe-inspiring (气吞山河, qi tun shan he - "breath, swallow, mountain, river") miracle on earth. Having undergone the rigorous training and tempering (千锤百炼, qian chui bai lian - "thousand, hammer, hundred, refine") of the Long March, our Party matured ideologically, consolidated its flesh-and-blood ties with the people, found the correct path for the Chinese revolution, and grew into the backbone of the Chinese revolution. The great Long March spirit surging within it has become deeply integrated into the bloodline of the Chinese nation and serves as an inexhaustible driving force for our courageous advance.
Walking on the Long March road of the new era, we are walking with heads held high and confident strides (昂首阔步, ang shou kuo bu - "raise, head, wide, step"), and "flowers" bloom all along the way. The total economic output has exceeded 140 trillion yuan, and per capita GDP has surpassed US$13,000; these impressive economic achievements bear the imprint of working in a steady and practical manner (脚踏实地, jiao ta shi di - "foot, tread, solid, ground"). From the Shenzhou spacecraft soaring into the sky and the Chang'e probes exploring the moon, to Chinese holdings of artificial intelligence patents accounting for 60 percent of the global total and computing power ranking second in the world, scientific and technological innovation is accelerating, demonstrating the responsibility to explore the unknown and lead the future. The sky is bluer, the mountains are greener, the waters are clearer, and the environment is more beautiful; the concept that lucid waters and lush mountains are invaluable assets has taken root, unfolding a happy picture of a Beautiful China. By strengthening the protection of cultural relics, improving thematic exhibitions, and optimizing cultural tourism experiences, localities are advancing the construction of the Long March National Cultural Park, and red culture is pulsating with the rhythm of the times. Miracle after miracle, transformation after transformation, mutually corroborating the great Long March spirit, inspire us to keep surmounting difficulties and to march from victory to victory.
"The Long March is always on the road." The road ahead is no smooth path; we will certainly have to "climb snow mountains" and "cross grasslands," and there will inevitably be "Loushan Pass" and "Lazikou." As we continue to work hard and persevere, forging ahead without cease, the new journey toward realizing the Chinese Dream of the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation is certain to be flourishing like brocade (繁花似锦, fan hua si jin - "flourishing, flowers, like, brocade") and radiant with splendor.
Return to TopBy: 王炳林
The spiritual pedigree of Chinese Communists, with the great founding spirit of the Party as its source, is an organic whole composed of the Party's great spirits formed in different regions and at different historical stages. During the Agrarian Revolutionary War period, the Zhaojin Soviet Area, as the first mountain revolutionary base in the Northwest, gave birth to the Zhaojin Spirit; the Chinese Workers' and Peasants' Red Army, enduring trials of life and death along the long march of strategic transfer, forged the Long March Spirit that shines brilliantly in the annals of history; after the Red Army's Long March arrived in northern Shaanxi, the Party Central Committee, with Yan'an as its general rear base, explored governance in a locally held area and tempered and formed the Yan'an Spirit. The Shaanxi-Gansu Revolutionary Base, developed from the Shaanxi-Gansu Border Revolutionary Base and the Northern Shaanxi Revolutionary Base, as the only intact revolutionary base surviving nationwide in the later period of the Agrarian Revolutionary War, the landing point for the Party Central Committee and all routes of the Long March Red Army, and the starting point for the main forces of the Eighth Route Army to march to the anti-Japanese front line, geographically linked these three spirits together. The Zhaojin Spirit, the Long March Spirit, and the Yan'an Spirit share the same lineage (一脉相承, yi mai xiang cheng - "one, thread, connect, together") and are deeply interconnected; they are important components of the spiritual pedigree of Chinese Communists, sharing commonalities in ideals and convictions, people's standpoint, and fighting character, while each having distinctive features in formation conditions, historical tasks, and practical arenas. Standing in the new era and on the new journey, deeply interpreting the historical lineage and core connotations of the three spirits, scientifically grasping their internal logic and status and role, and excavating their timeless contemporary value hold important theoretical significance and practical value for continuing the red lineage and drawing forth the strength to strive forward.
The Party's great spirits formed in different regions and at different historical stages
The Zhaojin Spirit, the Long March Spirit, and the Yan'an Spirit emerged from the historical practice of the Communist Party of China leading the Chinese revolution at different stages, each with distinctive features in formation conditions, specific connotations, and value positioning.
The Zhaojin Spirit is a revolutionary spirit formed during the initial founding of the Shaanxi-Gansu Border Revolutionary Base. General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out: "The Shaanxi-Gansu Border Revolutionary Base centered on Zhaojin wrote a glorious page in the history of the Chinese revolution." After the failure of the Great Revolution in 1927, white terror enveloped the North. Under extremely difficult circumstances, veteran revolutionaries such as Liu Zhidan, Xie Zichang, and Xi Zhongxun held fast to their faith, relied on the geographical advantages of the precipitous mountains and rivers of the Shaanxi-Gansu border and the deep mass foundation there, organized the Twenty-sixth Army of the Chinese Workers' and Peasants' Red Army, established the Shaanxi-Gansu Border Special Committee and the Shaanxi-Gansu Border Revolutionary Committee, and created the Shaanxi-Gansu Border Revolutionary Base centered on Zhaojin. With the heroic spirit of fearing no sacrifice and tenacious struggle, the courage to innovate through independence and self-reliance and pioneering enterprise, and a work style of proceeding from reality and maintaining close ties with the masses, the revolutionary forebears carried out arduous and extraordinary revolutionary struggle practice, nurturing and forming the great Zhaojin Spirit. Under circumstances where the enemy was far stronger than our forces, the Zhaojin Soviet Area survived with difficulty amid repeated seesaw battles. The Zhaojin Spirit is the spiritual crystallization of exploring the path of armed separation of workers and peasants in the difficult environment of a newly founded base with weak strength, embodying the spiritual traits of arduous exploration and boldly blazing new trails during the initial founding of a revolutionary base.
The Long March Spirit is an epic revolutionary spirit forged through strategic breakout. After the failure of the Fifth Counter-Encirclement and Suppression Campaign, the Central Red Army was forced to carry out a strategic transfer. From October 1934 to October 1936, the First, Second, and Fourth Front Armies of the Red Army and the Twenty-fifth Army carried out the great Long March. Red Army officers and soldiers completed the great strategic transfer at enormous sacrifice, forging the great Long March Spirit. General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out: "The great Long March Spirit is the spirit of viewing the fundamental interests of the entire Chinese people and the Chinese nation as above all else, firmly believing in revolutionary ideals and convictions, and firmly believing that the just cause is bound to triumph; it is the spirit of fearing no difficulty or obstacle and sparing no sacrifice to save the country and the people; it is the spirit of adhering to independence and self-reliance, seeking truth from facts, and proceeding from reality in everything; it is the spirit of taking the overall situation into account, strictly observing discipline, and maintaining close unity; it is the spirit of closely relying on the masses of the people, sharing life and death with them, sharing trials and tribulations (患难与共, huan nan yu gong - "suffering, hardship, and, together"), and working hard through arduous struggle." The Long March was not only a military strategic transfer, but also a great expedition of ideals and convictions, a great expedition of testing truth, a great expedition of awakening the people, and a great expedition of opening up new prospects. The Long March Spirit is a concentrated display of the Chinese nation's national character of constantly striving for self-improvement (自强不息, zi qiang bu xi - "self, strengthen, not, rest") and the highest embodiment of the national spirit with patriotism at its core.
The Yan'an Spirit is a systematic revolutionary spirit sublimated by our Party during the stage of local governance. General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out: "The fine traditions and work styles left by veteran revolutionaries and the older generation of Communists during the Yan'an period, and the Yan'an Spirit cultivated and formed thereby, are the precious spiritual wealth of our Party." With the victorious conclusion of the Long March, the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China arrived in northern Shaanxi, and Yan'an became the command center of the Chinese revolution. Facing the urgent situation of the Japanese aggressors pressing in step by step and national subjugation looming imminently, the Communist Party of China advocated and promoted the establishment of the anti-Japanese national united front, threw itself into the torrent of the whole nation's war of resistance, established anti-Japanese democratic political power, advanced the Sinicization of Marxism, and cultivated and formed the Yan'an Spirit with the main contents of a firm and correct political direction, the ideological line of emancipating the mind and seeking truth from facts, the fundamental purpose of serving the people wholeheartedly, and the entrepreneurial spirit of relying on one's own efforts (自力更生, zi li geng sheng - "self, power, more, live") and working hard through arduous struggle. The Yan'an Spirit is a mature spiritual form integrating ideals and convictions, methods of thinking, governing purposes, and work style building, and is the spiritual achievement of the revolution's stage of growing stronger and maturing.
Jointly enriching the scientific connotation and historical depth of the spiritual pedigree of Chinese Communists
The Zhaojin Spirit, the Long March Spirit, and the Yan'an Spirit differ in their formation environments, era tasks, and practical forms, but all are rooted in the Party's original aspiration and founding mission, unified in the historical process of the Sinicization of Marxism, embodying the spiritual pursuit of Chinese Communists in sharing the same lineage and advancing with the times, possessing the internal logic of shared value origins and historical progression, enriching and developing the scientific connotation of the spiritual pedigree of Chinese Communists, and playing an extremely important spiritual supporting role in the historical process.
The value homology of inheriting and carrying forward the great founding spirit of the Party. The core connotation of the great founding spirit of the Party is upholding truth and adhering to ideals, practicing the original aspiration and undertaking the mission, fearing no sacrifice and fighting bravely, and being loyal to the Party and faithful to the people.The Zhaojin Spirit, the Long March Spirit, and the Yan'an Spirit are the concrete presentations of the great founding spirit of the Party under different historical conditions and its inheritance and promotion in different arenas.
Upholding the ideal of communism and firmly believing in the inevitable victory of the revolution are the common faith foundation of the three spirits. In the Zhaojin Soviet Area, revolutionaries, under circumstances of extreme disparity in strength between the enemy and ourselves and repeated heavy setbacks, never gave up the value pursuit of establishing a base and liberating the toiling masses. Along the Long March, countless soldiers held fast to their faith amid hunger, cold, and the flames of war, never changing their original aspiration. During the Yan'an period, facing the Japanese army's "mopping-up" campaigns and the Kuomintang's blockade, our Party still insisted on fighting the war of resistance to the end and striving for national independence. Faith in Marxism and firm conviction in the future of the revolution are the soul of the three spirits.
Adhering to the supremacy of the people is the common fundamental standpoint of the three spirits. In the Zhaojin Soviet Area, our Party mobilized poor peasants to carry out the agrarian revolution, solving the fundamental interest problems of the masses. Along the Long March, the Party and the Red Army strictly observed discipline regarding the masses and relied on popular support to overcome countless difficulties and dangers. During the Yan'an period, our Party established the fundamental purpose of serving the people wholeheartedly, implemented streamlined administration, developed people's livelihood, and built an anti-Japanese border region integrating the military and the people. The three spirits jointly attest that the masses of the people are the source of strength for the victory of the revolution.
Adhering to seeking truth from facts and independence and self-reliance is the common ideological character of the three spirits. In the Zhaojin Soviet Area, Chinese Communists cast off the shackles of the "urban center theory" and explored armed separation of workers and peasants based on the mountainous regions of the Northwest. Along the Long March, the Zunyi Meeting corrected the "Left" dogmatist errors and independently resolved major issues of the Chinese revolution. During the Yan'an period, the Rectification Movement resolutely opposed dogmatism and established the ideological line of seeking truth from facts. The three spirits manifest the ideological consciousness of Chinese Communists in exploring paths based on China's actual conditions and upholding truth while correcting errors.
Adhering to fearing no sacrifice and working hard through arduous struggle is the common tenacious will of the three spirits. The Zhaojin Revolutionary Base repeatedly suffered "encirclement and suppression" and fell multiple times, with revolutionaries rebuilding through bloody struggle. During the Long March, on the 25,000-li journey of the First Front Army of the Red Army alone, on average one Red Army soldier sacrificed every 300 meters. During the Yan'an period, facing economic blockade, our Party launched the Great Production Movement, working with our own hands to achieve ample food and clothing. The three spirits are the concrete presentation of the spirit of Chinese Communists in fearing no sacrifice and fighting bravely under different historical environments.
The historical progression from initial exploration to victorious development. From the Zhaojin Spirit to the Long March Spirit and then to the Yan'an Spirit, this embodies the historical process of the Communist Party of China leading the Chinese revolution in continuous exploration, continuous breakthrough, and continuous maturation.
The Zhaojin Spirit manifests the revolutionary resilience of Chinese Communists in upholding their original aspiration and pioneering enterprise during the early stage of exploring the revolutionary path. As the first mountain revolutionary base in the Northwest during the Agrarian Revolutionary War period, although the Zhaojin Soviet Area was lost in the short term, revolutionaries soon opened up the Nangliang Revolutionary Base, preserving the revolutionary forces of the Shaanxi-Gansu border. In February 1935, the Shaanxi-Gansu Border Revolutionary Base and the Northern Shaanxi Revolutionary Base were unified into the Shaanxi-Gansu Revolutionary Base, providing a landing point for the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China and all routes of the Red Army's Long March and a starting point for the main forces of the Eighth Route Army to march to the anti-Japanese front line, playing an irreplaceable strategic role at the critical juncture of life and death for the Chinese revolution.
The Long March Spirit was formed at the historical juncture when the Communist Party of China and the cause of the Chinese revolution faced major setbacks, embodying the Party's historical initiative in preserving strength and opening up new prospects amid crisis. When the Central Revolutionary Base suffered severe losses and the revolutionary cause fell into a trough, the Long March achieved a great strategic transfer, preserving and tempering a group of revolutionary backbones. The struggle experience of the Central Revolutionary Base and the revolutionary practice of the Northwest region converged, injecting new strength into the development of the Shaanxi-Gansu Revolutionary Base and pushing the Chinese revolution into a new stage of development.
The Yan'an Spirit embodies the Party's systematic theoretical exploration in local governance. During the Yan'an period, the Party systematically summarized the experience and lessons of base area construction during the Agrarian Revolutionary War period, including the Zhaojin Soviet Area, summarized the experience of opposing "Left" dogmatism along the Long March, achieved ideological unity, political maturity, organizational consolidation, and work style tempering, realized the first historic leap in the Sinicization of Marxism, and laid a solid foundation for winning victory in the New Democratic Revolution.
Jointly enriching the contemporary value and historical depth of the spiritual pedigree of Chinese Communists. The Zhaojin Spirit, the Long March Spirit, and the Yan'an Spirit jointly link together the spiritual growth history of the Communist Party of China, enrich the spiritual pedigree of Chinese Communists, and are the precious spiritual wealth of our Party.
The Zhaojin Spirit manifests the extraordinary courage of Chinese Communists in establishing red political power in backward mountainous areas, bearing the exploratory and experimental character of the initial founding period. The Zhaojin Soviet Area preserved the revolutionary flame of the Northwest, cultivated a group of outstanding talents, and made major historical contributions to the Chinese revolution. Together with the Jinggangshan Spirit and the Soviet Area Spirit, the Zhaojin Spirit belongs to the spiritual products of exploring the revolutionary path of encircling the cities from the countryside and seizing state power by armed force, and, with the unique experience of northern mountain revolution, enriched the spiritual pedigree of Chinese Communists. The Shaanxi-Gansu Revolutionary Base it founded became the landing point of the Long March, giving it a special historical status connecting the revolutionary process from the Agrarian Revolutionary War period through the Yan'an period's War of Resistance Against Japan and the War of Liberation.
The Long March Spirit highlights ideals and convictions, discipline and unity, and strategic choices under desperate circumstances, bearing a turning-point and breakthrough character. Along the Long March, through arduous practical exploration, our Party successfully linked resolving the survival crisis with saving the nation from subjugation, linked the general direction of the Long March with establishing an anti-Japanese forward position, realized the transformation from the domestic revolutionary war to the anti-Japanese national war, and laid a solid foundation for winning victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japan and then victory in the New Democratic Revolution. As the most epic, foundational, and symbolic great spirit in the spiritual pedigree of Chinese Communists, the Long March Spirit provided direct practical groundwork and spiritual nourishment for the mature development of the Yan'an Spirit.
The Yan'an Spirit embodies the achievements of local governance, self-reliance, and the Party's political and ideological construction, bearing the character of systematic theoretical sublimation. The Yan'an Spirit is not merely a spiritual outlook, but also the spiritual guarantee for opening up a new path for the Chinese revolution. As an important chapter in the spiritual pedigree of Chinese Communists that carries forward the past and opens up the future and consolidates the foundation and nourishes the root, the Yan'an Spirit both summarized and sublimated the fine qualities of the Zhaojin Spirit and the Long March Spirit, and realized the systematization, theorization, and normalization of the revolutionary spirit, serving as a spiritual source for tempering Party character and rallying strength.
A powerful spiritual driving force that inspires and encourages the Chinese people in the new era to overcome difficulties and advance from victory to victory
Although the Zhaojin Spirit, the Long March Spirit, and the Yan'an Spirit were formed at different historical stages, the spiritual cores they contain—ideals and convictions, people's standpoint, and striving character—possess eternal value that transcends time and space and remains ever fresh through the ages. On the new journey of the new era, the more glorious the mission and the more arduous the tasks, the more we need the guidance and nourishment of great spirits.
The spiritual support for firming up ideals and convictions. The revolutionaries of the Zhaojin Soviet Area held fast to their faith under white terror, the Red Army officers and soldiers insisted that "revolutionary ideals are higher than heaven" along the arduous journey, and our Party firmly upheld the direction of the war of resistance amid blockade and predicament during the Yan'an period. The most core value connotation of the three spirits is firm ideals and convictions, absolutely pure political loyalty, and unswerving original aspiration and founding mission. At present, changes unseen in a century are accelerating, struggles in the ideological sphere are complex, and various risks and challenges are intertwined. The Zhaojin Spirit, the Long March Spirit, and the Yan'an Spirit help inspire Party members and cadres to always firmly uphold Marxist faith, the lofty ideal of communism, and the common ideal of socialism with Chinese characteristics, continuously strengthen the Four Consciousnesses (四个意识), firm up the Four Confidences (四个自信), and achieve the Two Upholds (两个维护), building a solid ideological foundation and pillar of faith for forging ahead.
The spiritual foundation for adhering to the supremacy of the people. From the revolutionaries of the Zhaojin Soviet Area taking root among the masses and relying on the masses, to the military and people sharing one heart and sharing trials and tribulations along the Long March, to the establishment of our Party's fundamental purpose of serving the people wholeheartedly during the Yan'an period, the Zhaojin Spirit, the Long March Spirit, and the Yan'an Spirit contain the deep affection between the Party and the masses of the people, as close as flesh and blood and sharing life and death. These spirits help guide our Party to always uphold its original aspiration and founding mission, always stand firmly on the people's standpoint, consciously practice the people-centered development philosophy, carry forward the fine work style of maintaining close ties with the masses, rectify malpractices such as formalism and bureaucratism, go deep into the grassroots and take root among the masses, listen to the voices of the masses, respond to the expectations of the masses, and solve the difficulties of the masses, so that the Party's cause always has the most solid mass foundation and the most profound source of strength.
The spiritual driving force for adhering to seeking truth from facts and working hard through arduous struggle. In the Zhaojin Soviet Area, Chinese Communists explored the base area path based on the mountainous regions of the Northwest. Along the Long March, our Party upheld truth, independently corrected erroneous lines, and found the correct path for the Chinese revolution. During the Yan'an period, the Rectification Movement broke the shackles of dogmatism and established the ideological line of seeking truth from facts. The precious enlightenment these spirits leave us is to always adhere to the ideological line of seeking truth from facts, proceed from reality in everything, independently explore development paths, not flinch before difficulties, dare to tackle hard problems, proactively shoulder post responsibilities, and undertake the mission of the times with an excellent work style.
The spiritual nourishment for persistently advancing full and rigorous self-governance of the Party. The integrity, honesty, and hard work of the revolutionaries of the Zhaojin Soviet Area, the strict discipline and unity of the Red Army officers and soldiers along the Long March, and the three fine work styles of integrating theory with practice, maintaining close ties with the masses, and criticism and self-criticism formed by our Party during the Yan'an period are all precious assets for full and rigorous self-governance of the Party and tempering the work style of cadres in the new era. The Zhaojin Spirit, the Long March Spirit, and the Yan'an Spirit help guide Party members and cadres to carry forward the fine work style of integrity, honesty, and strict self-discipline, consciously resist unhealthy tendencies such as formalism, bureaucratism, hedonism, and extravagance, continuously temper Party character cultivation, purify the political ecosystem, and forever maintain the Party's advanced nature and purity.
Inheriting and carrying forward the Zhaojin Spirit, the Long March Spirit, and the Yan'an Spirit on the Long March of the new era
On the new journey of the new era, the key to inheriting and carrying forward the Zhaojin Spirit, the Long March Spirit, and the Yan'an Spirit lies in strengthening theoretical arming, tempering excellent abilities, achieving the integration of learning, thinking, and application and the unity of knowledge, faith, and action, and transforming the great spirits into a powerful spiritual driving force for advancing Chinese modernization.
Adhere to using the Party's innovative theory to unite hearts and forge souls, and build a solid foundation of faith for inheriting and carrying forward the great spirits. The Party's innovative theory provides the ideological core and scientific guidance for the nurturing, development, continuation, and promotion of the great spirits. To inherit and carry forward the Zhaojin Spirit, the Long March Spirit, and the Yan'an Spirit, we must first deeply study and implement Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, achieving political firmness through theoretical clarity and guiding spiritual inheritance through ideological consciousness. Deeply study Party history, comprehend the deeds of the forebears, accurately grasp the contemporary connotations of the Zhaojin Spirit, the Long March Spirit, and the Yan'an Spirit, persist in tempering strong Party character, and transform loyalty to the Party and reverence for the great spirits into firm ideals and convictions and correct value pursuits, achieving faith in the heart and strength underfoot.
Temper excellent abilities and consolidate the foundation of competence for inheriting and carrying forward the great spirits. The inheritance and promotion of the great spirits must be grounded in enhancing capabilities and taking on responsibilities. The founding and defense of the Zhaojin Soviet Area manifested the extraordinary wisdom of the revolutionary forebears in daring to struggle and being good at struggle; the victory of the Long March was the result of Red Army officers and soldiers overcoming difficulties through tenacious will and excellent abilities; during the Yan'an period, the vigorous development of the Party and the national cause relied on the excellent work style of Chinese Communists in seeking truth and being pragmatic and working hard and doing solid work. In the new era, inheriting and carrying forward the great spirits requires both enhancing political identity, ideological identity, theoretical identity, and emotional identity, and tempering excellent abilities. Facing the various tasks of reform and development, we must continuously improve professional competence and performance capabilities, and always create extraordinary achievements in ordinary posts with an uplifting spirit and excellent abilities.
Adhere to the unity of knowledge and action (知行合一, zhi xing he yi - "knowledge, action, combine, one") and lay a solid practical foundation for inheriting and carrying forward the great spirits. Unity of knowledge and action and earnest practice are the best tribute to and inheritance of the great spirits. Only by transforming spiritual strength into conscious action can we truly activate the contemporary vitality of the great spirits. Practice the Zhaojin Spirit, the Long March Spirit, and the Yan'an Spirit in our own posts, closely integrate inheriting and carrying forward the great spirits with daily work, key tasks, and serving the people, establish a progressive consciousness of solid work, responsibility, and striving to be first, overcome difficulties with a down-to-earth and practical (脚踏实地, jiao ta shi di - "foot, step, solid, ground") and earnest and solid work style, and let the great spirits truly merge into our blood, manifest in action, and transform into practical results.
Time does not fail the mountains and rivers, and the spirit illuminates the road ahead. The Zhaojin Spirit, the Long March Spirit, and the Yan'an Spirit are spiritual torches that traverse time and space and an inexhaustible driving force inspiring us to forge ahead bravely. We must inherit, carry forward, and practice the Zhaojin Spirit, the Long March Spirit, and the Yan'an Spirit well, walk the Long March of the new era with firm ideals and convictions and a pragmatic attitude of striving, and contribute strength to comprehensively advancing the building of a strong country and the great cause of national rejuvenation through Chinese modernization.
(The author is a specially invited researcher at the Beijing Research Center for Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era)
Return to TopBy: 朱 民
The internationalization of the renminbi is an important component of advancing high-level opening up. General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out in the report to the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China: "Advance the internationalization of the renminbi in an orderly manner." The outline of the 15th Five-Year Plan proposes: "Advance the internationalization of the renminbi, and expand the use of the renminbi in international trade and investment and financing." Advancing the internationalization of the renminbi is both a need of China and a need of the world.
At present, global geopolitical risks continue to rise, the world economy is undergoing profound structural changes, and the share and influence of Global South countries in the world economy, trade, and capital flows are continuously increasing. The "Global Development Report 2025" released by the China International Development Knowledge Center points out that the share of Global South countries in the world economy has risen from about 25% in the 1980s to about 41% in 2024, and their contribution rate to world economic growth has risen from less than 40% in the 1980s to about 80% in recent years. With sustained development since reform and opening up, China's economic aggregate accounts for about one-sixth of the global total, its goods exports account for more than 14%, and its manufacturing value added accounts for nearly 30%, making it the world's second-largest economy. These data show that the trend toward multipolarity in the world economy is becoming increasingly evident.
Changes in the global economic landscape are driving accelerated reform of the international monetary system. Over the past decade or more, the internationalization of the renminbi has made great progress. It has not only gained institutional recognition through the Special Drawing Rights of the International Monetary Fund, but has also, relying on the support of China's huge economic and trade scale, formed a strong advantage in the fields of trade invoicing and local currency settlement in emerging markets and developing countries. The proportion of the renminbi in China's cross-border receipts and payments has increased from 20% to over 60%, and the proportion of the renminbi in goods trade settlement has increased from 10% to about 30%. But from a global perspective, the proportion of renminbi use overseas is still relatively low, and the renminbi's international monetary functions such as pricing, payment, investment and financing, and reserves still need further development and improvement. Promoting the internationalization of the renminbi is both a need of China's high-quality development and a need of the stability of international financial development.
From a domestic perspective, China's high-quality development needs the support of renminbi internationalization. Whether it is strengthening scientific and technological innovation, building a modern industrial system with advanced manufacturing as the backbone, comprehensively improving the quality, efficiency, and competitiveness of the service industry, or promoting green development and facilitating enterprises going global, none of this can be separated from the support of the renminbi at the international level. This includes renminbi trade payments, renminbi cross-border financing and capital flows, and industrial chain financing support. A strong renminbi is not only conducive to lowering financing costs, enhancing exchange rate flexibility, and expanding macro policy space, but is also conducive to China's participation in international economic governance and its active response to international shocks.
At present, China has broad space for advancing renminbi internationalization and making the renminbi bigger and stronger. First, encourage the use of the renminbi in international trade settlement, especially in trade with countries jointly building the Belt and Road Initiative and Global South countries; at the same time, China is a major importer of resources such as oil, gas, and mineral products, and should support the use of the renminbi for pricing and payment in commodity transactions. Second, make greater use of the renminbi for payment, settlement, and financing in industrial chains led by China, and make greater use of the renminbi in cross-border investment and financing. Third, strengthen the construction of onshore and offshore renminbi markets, such as expanding the opening up of the bond market, facilitating the inflow of foreign capital, and improving the renminbi international bond yield curve and derivatives market, so as to provide more convenience for international holders of the renminbi to invest in Chinese assets. Fourth, steadily advance institutional opening up at the macro level, further improve the capital management framework, and support renminbi internationalization. Fifth, promote cross-border payment of the digital renminbi, further improve China's payment system, and make the Cross-Border Interbank Payment System, the digital renminbi cross-border infrastructure, and China's mobile payment market bigger and stronger.
From an international perspective, advancing renminbi internationalization is also a global need. In terms of economic strength, China already possesses strong economic and trade strength and scale, the fundamentals of long-term sound economic growth have not changed, and the political, economic, and financial stability of the renminbi can well meet the international demand for renminbi use; in terms of value anchor, the renminbi has already been accepted by the world market as having a stable internal and external value anchor. The global foreign exchange market survey report released by the Bank for International Settlements shows that the renminbi's global trading share has reached 8.5%, and the renminbi's weight in the Special Drawing Rights currency basket of the International Monetary Fund is 12.28%. At the same time, the People's Bank of China possesses sustainable capacity for currency output and liquidity provision, the support of the Cross-Border Interbank Payment System and the global network services of Chinese commercial banks, and a macro-prudential management framework. All of these constitute the foundation of the renminbi's stability and trustworthiness, and are precisely what the development of the world economy and finance needs. Seizing this historical window of opportunity and accelerating the internationalization of the renminbi is happening at exactly the right moment (正当其时, zheng dang qi shi - "correct, just, its, time"), and is of great significance for stabilizing the world economy and finance.
(The author is a former Deputy Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund)
Return to TopBy: 李冬梅
Improving the rural living environment is a key task in advancing the comprehensive revitalization of rural areas, and it bears directly on the tangible well-being of farmers and the masses. General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out: "Continue to advance the improvement of the rural living environment and build beautiful villages." At present, China's efforts to improve the rural living environment are being continuously intensified and have achieved phased results, yet some weaknesses and shortcomings remain. For example, some regions fail to accurately grasp their local natural endowments and cultural characteristics, leading to homogenized governance plans; there is a tendency to emphasize construction over management and maintenance, and the consolidation of improvement results is insufficient; and so on. To continue advancing the improvement of the rural living environment, it is necessary to focus precise efforts on weaknesses and shortcomings and achieve a shift from extensive governance to precise governance.
Advance categorized governance in light of local conditions. Rural areas are vast, with significant differences in natural conditions, economic levels, and customs and culture, and rural living environment problems exhibit diverse and differentiated characteristics. It is necessary to adhere to the principle of acting in light of local conditions and advance categorized governance. For example, on the basis of preliminary investigation and research, a dynamic monitoring system for the rural living environment can be established, with the county as the unit, focusing on investigating key areas such as domestic sewage, domestic waste, village appearance, and black and odorous water bodies, establishing a living environment database of "one file per town, one account per village," refining problem lists, responsibility lists, and task lists, and clarifying governance priorities, precedence, and time nodes to provide data support for precise policy implementation. As another example, scientific classification of types and clarification of governance standards can be carried out, and differentiated governance plans and improvement pathways can be formulated based on village location, resource endowments, and development positioning. For villages located in urban-rural fringe areas, efforts can be made to promote the integration of urban and rural sanitation services; for traditional villages, attention should be paid to the preservation of traditional features and ecological restoration, fully mobilizing the initiative of villagers and adhering to the principle of giving equal weight to improvement and protection; for villages slated for relocation and consolidation, efforts should focus on treating leftover waste, polluted soil, and abandoned houses, concentrating on environmental cleanup and ecological restoration. Efforts to research, develop, and promote technologies for improving the rural living environment should be intensified, and advanced, applicable, and easy-to-operate governance technologies and equipment should be promoted for environmental problems in different regions and different types of villages.
Anchor key areas and concentrate efforts. Promote the precise matching of governance measures with the actual needs of rural areas, focusing efforts on the four major areas of toilet renovation, sewage treatment, waste disposal, and village appearance. Advance toilet renovation to fill the sanitation shortfall, accurately selecting toilet renovation technology models based on the climatic conditions, water resource conditions, and economic levels of different regions, promoting the organic integration of toilet renovation with domestic sewage treatment, encouraging joint construction and shared use of manure treatment facilities by multiple households and multiple villages, and improving governance benefits. Treat domestic sewage to improve the water environment, adhering to the model of categorized treatment, nearby treatment, and resource utilization. For example, Zhoushan Town in Yongkang City, Zhejiang, has piloted the use of rural domestic sewage resource utilization treatment terminals and rural unconventional water intelligent irrigation technology, deeply treating rural domestic sewage and then using it for farmland irrigation, achieving efficient reuse of water resources. Rationally lay out waste collection points, transfer stations, and treatment facilities to reduce collection and transport costs and improve disposal efficiency, advance the source reduction and resource utilization of rural domestic waste classification, explore simple and easy-to-implement classification models suited to rural characteristics, and guide farmers to carry out source separation. Improve village appearance, pay attention to protecting pastoral landscapes and rural characteristics, guide villagers to green and beautify their courtyards, and at the same time improve village infrastructure such as lighting and drainage.
Strengthen management and maintenance to consolidate improvement results. Management and maintenance are the guarantee for enhancing governance effectiveness. It is necessary to establish and improve a long-term management and maintenance mechanism to ensure that improvement results are continuously consolidated. In accordance with the principle of "those who benefit, maintain; those who maintain, are responsible," the responsibility for maintaining rural living environment infrastructure should be assigned to specific units and individuals. Precisely guarantee management and maintenance funds, broaden investment channels, establish a funding mechanism of "government subsidies, self-funding by the masses, and social participation," ensure a stable supply of management and maintenance funds, and focus on guaranteeing expenditures for facility operation and maintenance and routine cleaning. Build a strong management and maintenance team and enhance professional capacity, giving priority to hiring local villagers as cleaners and facility maintenance workers to ensure a stable management and maintenance workforce, while strengthening regular training for management and maintenance personnel to enhance their operational capacity and professional level. Strengthen supervision and assessment and consolidate work responsibilities, incorporating rural living environment improvement and management and maintenance work into the performance assessment system for local governments and cadres, strengthening the guiding role of assessment, regularly conducting surveys of public satisfaction, and taking public satisfaction as an important basis for evaluating the effectiveness of management and maintenance work. Organically integrate rural living environment improvement with the building of civilized rural customs, guide farmers to change their mindsets and enhance their awareness of environmental hygiene, guide farmers to participate in the entire process of rural living environment improvement, management and maintenance, and supervision, and enable farmers to become participants, builders, and beneficiaries of environmental governance.
(The author is a researcher at the Research Center for the Theoretical System of Socialism with Chinese Characteristics of the Party School of the Liaoning Provincial Party Committee)
Return to TopIn February 2016, amid the cold there brewed a rich sense of spring. General Secretary Xi Jinping followed the rugged mountain paths to Shenshan Village, Maoping Township, Jinggangshan City, Jiangxi Province, inspecting party branch construction, entering farmhouse courtyards, reviewing industrial plans, and inquiring about the people's livelihoods. The General Secretary told the villagers that our Party is a party that serves the people wholeheartedly, and will continue to strongly support the development of the old revolutionary base areas, so that the villagers' lives get better and better. On the road to poverty alleviation, not a single poor family can be left behind, nor a single poor person abandoned.
The spark of the old revolutionary base areas' undergoing a complete transformation (破茧成蝶, po jian cheng die - "break cocoon, become butterfly") ignited from Jinggangshan and spread across the land of China.
Ten years of enduring hardships and continuous effort (砥砺, di li - "grind, sharpen"), and drastic changes through the passage of time (沧桑巨变, cang sang ju bian - "mulberry fields, mulberry fields, huge, change"). From a "hollow village" to a "vibrant village," from a "model of poverty" to a "showcase of revitalization," cadres and the masses composed a three-character song themselves: "Met a benefactor, met a good time, chapter of revitalization, good opportunity, heart filled with warmth, surging with gratitude." They have turned the General Secretary's earnest instructions into an inexhaustible driving force for cutting through mountains, opening roads, and pursuing their dreams.
The original aspiration on the red soil has grown inch by inch into vigorous and thriving vitality (勃勃生机, bo bo sheng ji - "surging, surging, life, energy") covering the mountains and fields. Listen — drones carrying green bamboo break through the air; taste — red training tempers spiritual character; look — ancient courtyards rebuilt take on a brand-new appearance. The once-isolated mountain hollow has now changed its face: asphalt roads like silver ribbons threading through the clouds, white walls and dark tiles built along the ridges; bamboo stretching to the sky, tea waves rolling, understory economy activating the green engine; young talents returning to their hometowns to start businesses, bringing brand-new concepts and technologies. What sweat has watered is not only fields and orchards, but also the ladder to happiness. This answer sheet written by hard work is solid and rich: per capita annual income has risen from less than 3,000 yuan to over 36,000 yuan, village collective operating income has grown from zero to breaking through one million yuan, and tourists have gone from few and far between to over 300,000 visits per year... Life is getting better and better, and the villagers' smiles are as sweet and clear as tea flowers.
Deep in Jinggangshan, the red gene and lucid waters and lush mountains shine together in harmony (交相辉映, jiao xiang hui ying - "interact, each other, shine, reflect"). Where the original aspiration illuminates, a thousand mountains are already draped in splendor, and ten thousand ravines are bathed in sunlight.
(People's Daily reporters Li Ge, Zhang Wujun, Yang Yanfei, photo report)
Return to TopBy: 本报记者 刘志强
In the first three quarters, China's economy moved forward under pressure, making steady progress while maintaining stability (稳中有进, wen zhong you jin - "stable, yet progressing"), demonstrating strong resilience and vitality. How should the current economic situation be viewed? How should economic work be carried out in the next step? On October 20, the National Development and Reform Commission held a press conference to interpret some hot economic issues.
How should the next step of economic work be carried out?
Further enhance the effectiveness of implementing existing policies, and promptly introduce pragmatic and effective incremental policies
In the first three quarters, in the face of shocks such as intensified global geopolitical conflicts and frequent natural disasters, China's gross domestic product grew by 4.6 percent year on year. At the meeting, Zuo Gang, deputy director of the Department of Comprehensive Economic Affairs of the National Development and Reform Commission, summarized the characteristics of China's economic operation with three words: "stable, new, and resilient."
Stable, that is, the macroeconomy is moving forward steadily. This is mainly reflected in economic growth remaining within a reasonable range, the overall stability of the employment and price situation, continued improvement in development benefits, and some improvement in market expectations.
New, that is, new drivers of growth are accelerating. This is mainly reflected in the continuously strengthening role of new drivers in driving growth, the accelerated emergence of innovation achievements, and the continuous optimization of the industrial structure. From the perspective of key areas, breakthroughs have been made in tackling key core technologies in integrated circuits, with mature-process production capacity ranking first in the world; the cumulative global downloads of AI (artificial intelligence) open-source large models have exceeded 10 billion; humanoid robot shipments account for more than 90 percent of the global total; in the first three quarters, outbound technology licensing of innovative drugs reached 130 billion U.S. dollars, close to the total for the whole of last year; and the penetration rate of new energy vehicles reached 53.6 percent.
Resilient, that is, economic resilience has been consolidated and strengthened. In recent years, China has continuously increased investment in the construction of major projects under the "two major" initiatives, strengthened the reserve of important materials and the building of the production and supply chain system. Since the beginning of this year, the security guarantees for grain, energy, and production and supply chains have been effective and forceful.
"In accordance with the decisions and arrangements of the Party Central Committee and the State Council, the National Development and Reform Commission, together with relevant departments, has promptly introduced and implemented incremental policies, promoted the coordinated force of existing policies and incremental policies, given play to the integrated effect of macro policies, and strived to achieve a good start for the 15th Five-Year Plan," Zuo Gang introduced from two aspects.
On the one hand, further enhance the effectiveness of implementing existing policies. Coordinately promote the commencement of construction of major engineering projects under the 15th Five-Year Plan and the implementation plans for the "six networks," and make high-quality preparations for projects. Stimulate the vitality of private investment by introducing private capital into major nuclear power, hydropower, and water conservancy projects. Further optimize and implement policies such as promoting the development of key industries across the entire chain and optimizing the layout of computing power facilities. Comprehensively and systematically advance the investigation, evaluation, and upgrading of old reservoirs, accelerate the commencement of construction of projects implemented in the early stage, and continuously promote the construction of high-standard grain depots and the upgrading and renovation of existing warehouses.
On the other hand, promptly introduce pragmatic and effective incremental policies. Do a good job in implementing the incremental policies recently introduced, such as lowering the interest rate of pledged supplementary lending, increasing the quota of relending, providing interest subsidies on loans for residents' home purchases, and supporting the development of the service industry with financial support, and promote their rapid implementation and effectiveness. At the same time, do a good job in economic monitoring and early warning and in policy research and reserve, and promptly introduce new incremental policies as needed to ensure that economic operation remains within a reasonable range.
How to effectively expand domestic demand?
Vigorously boost consumption, actively expand effective investment, and improve the systems and mechanisms for expanding domestic demand
Since the beginning of this year, domestic demand has continued to play its role as the main driver and stabilizer of economic growth. In the first three quarters, the contribution rate of domestic demand to economic growth reached 74.8 percent. In terms of consumption, goods and services have become more abundant and diverse, and new scenarios and new business forms have continued to emerge. In the first three quarters, the total retail sales of social consumer goods and services increased by 2.6 percent year on year. In terms of investment, the structure has continued to optimize. In the first three quarters, investment in intellectual property products increased by 9.3 percent year on year.
"The aspiration of more than 1.4 billion people for a better life and the continuous iterative upgrading of industries harbor enormous potential for domestic demand," Zuo Gang said. The National Development and Reform Commission is studying and formulating an implementation plan for the strategy of expanding domestic demand (2026-2030), and will accelerate the promotion of its issuance and implementation. "In the next step, we will, together with relevant departments, effectively expand domestic demand with greater efforts and more practical measures."
Adhere to combining benefiting people's livelihoods with boosting consumption, and vigorously boost consumption. Coordinate the promotion of employment, increasing income, and stabilizing expectations, reasonably increase the proportion of public service expenditure in fiscal expenditure, and increase the intensity of inclusive policies that directly reach consumers. Promote the expansion and upgrading of commodity consumption, and promote the consumption of goods such as new energy vehicles and smart products. Adapt to the needs of different groups to expand the supply of quality services, improve consumption of life services, expand elderly care consumption, support childcare consumption, and promote the development of industries such as cultural performances, tourism services, and sports events. Clean up and cancel unreasonable restrictive measures on consumption.
Adhere to the close combination of investing in things and investing in people, and actively expand effective investment. Strengthen the coordinated promotion of the 109 major projects in the outline of the 15th Five-Year Plan and the planning and construction of the "six networks," and organize the demonstration of coordinated scenarios of the six networks. Make good use of ultra-long-term special treasury bond funds, accelerate the investment and use of funds from new policy-oriented financial instruments, and increase support for making up shortcomings and strengthening strengths in areas such as social livelihood, scientific and technological innovation, industrial upgrading, and security and resilience. Improve the long-term mechanism for private enterprises to participate in major projects, improve the layout of infrastructure and public service facilities, and promote the urban renewal action with high quality.
Improve the systems and mechanisms for expanding domestic demand, and promote the efficient and smooth circulation of supply and demand. Issue regulations on the construction of the unified national market, unify basic institutional rules such as property rights protection and market access, improve statistical, taxation, and assessment systems conducive to the construction of the unified national market, and clean up and optimize unreasonable restrictive measures. Continue to deepen reforms in local government investment and financing models, residents' income distribution systems, and other aspects.
Stabilizing investment, especially expanding private investment, is an important aspect of expanding domestic demand. Recently, the National Development and Reform Commission publicly recommended to private enterprises 2 batches of 88 investment projects in total, planning to introduce 31.1 billion yuan of private capital. Liu Dan, deputy director of the Private Economy Development Bureau of the National Development and Reform Commission, said that in the next step, while normalizing project recommendation, it will play a combined set of "policies + projects + scenarios," continuously break down hidden barriers, strengthen factor guarantees, and promote the opening of scenarios, so that private enterprises can invest with confidence, invest effectively, and participate more.
How to develop new quality productive forces in light of local conditions?
Adhere to scientific rationality in planning and layout, give play to comparative advantages in project arrangement, and pursue standardization and precision in support policies
Not long ago, the "Opinions of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China and the State Council on Developing New Quality Productive Forces" was publicly released. "In practice, we must carry out the principle of acting in light of local conditions throughout the entire process of developing new quality productive forces." Ren Zhongbao, deputy director of the Department of Innovation and High-Tech Development of the National Development and Reform Commission, interpreted the principle of acting in light of local conditions from three aspects.
Adhere to scientific rationality in planning and layout. When various localities plan and lay out key industries for development and plan and propose major engineering projects, they should fully demonstrate whether the corresponding basic conditions exist in their regions. The National Development and Reform Commission will, in accordance with relevant regulations, do a good job in connecting special plans in fields such as national and provincial future industries and emerging pillar industries, and consolidate the control and connection of provincial development and reform departments over the compilation of special plans at the city and county levels.
Give play to comparative advantages in project arrangement. The state and localities should conduct in-depth demonstration when organizing projects to avoid blind investment and wasteful spending. For example, recently, in response to the problem of overheated investment in some segments of the hydrogen energy sector, the National Development and Reform Commission is formulating a plan that comprehensively considers factors such as national strategic needs, the degree of technological maturity, and factor support conditions, rationally lays out major projects, and guides localities to find their proper positioning and develop with differentiation.
Pursue standardization and precision in support policies. In practice, localities will be urged to use policies in accordance with laws and regulations in accordance with the requirements of the construction of the unified national market, and not to touch the policy red lines drawn by comprehensive rectification of "involution-style" competition and rectification of vicious investment attraction.
Cultivating and opening up scenarios is an important measure for developing new quality productive forces. A few days ago, the National Development and Reform Commission, together with relevant departments, launched the first batch of 136 landmark major application scenario projects.
"The purpose of launching these projects is to further implement scenario cultivation and opening as specific tasks through a project-based and list-based approach, providing a carrier for policy support, factor aggregation, and the joint participation of all parties," introduced Li Chao, deputy director of the Policy Research Office and spokesperson of the National Development and Reform Commission. These projects are intended to promote the accelerated maturation, transformation, and application of new technologies, new products, and new business forms, support various business entities in sharing development opportunities, and provide models for application on a larger scale. For example, scenarios related to the field of smart mines will activate the scenario resources of more than 2,800 mines, providing verification space for cloud computing, industrial Internet of Things, intelligent perception, and unmanned driving, and accelerating the transformation into efficient and safe new modes of mine production.
Return to TopBy: 本报记者 冯春梅 张 枨 吴 勇
In October, the chill deepens in Ulanqab, Inner Mongolia. Inside the Chahar High-Tech Industrial Development Zone, the surging momentum of green computing power is palpable: in the computing-power data center machine rooms, server matrices stand in neat rows, indicator lights blink ceaselessly, and massive volumes of data converge here before surging onward to the whole country.
As an important component of the national computing-power hub nodes under the "East Data, West Computing" initiative, Ulanqab City leverages its comparative advantages, actively promotes the development of the green computing-power industry, advances the computing-power industry toward clustering into chains and scaling into strength, ensures the green and sustainable development of the computing-power industry, and fosters a sound environment for enterprises and talents of all kinds to start businesses and pursue careers.
Promoting the computing-power industry toward clustering into chains and scaling into strength
In the exhibition hall of the Chahar High-Tech Industrial Development Zone, Guo Xiaoling, director of the Ulanqab Municipal Big Data Administration, introduced: "Here, wind and solar resources are abundant, green electricity is sufficient and affordably priced, which can well meet the green, low-cost electricity needs of the computing-power industry. The average annual temperature is low, and there are nearly 10 months of natural cold source each year, greatly reducing the energy consumption of computing-power cooling."
Electricity comes from green power, heat dissipation relies on the climate — with both ends practicing green and low-carbon approaches, the green computing power is true to its name (名副其实, ming fu shi shi - "name, matches, actual, reality").
With ample green electricity, a cool climate, an advantageous location, stable geology, low latency on the direct fiber-optic link to Beijing, and industry-leading power usage effectiveness in data centers... Ulanqab's green computing-power industry is developing rapidly. At present, the city has signed contracts for over one hundred data center projects, with operational computing power reaching 190,000 PFLOPS (quadrillions of floating-point operations per second), with intelligent computing accounting for over 90 percent.
The development of the computing-power industry hinges first and foremost on scientific planning and strict prevention of blind expansion.
"Before computing-power projects are launched, we make overall assessments of key factors such as land, green electricity, and reclaimed water, adhere to in light of local conditions and scientific planning, practice the principle of determining production by water and determining production by electricity, meticulously calculate the account of factor guarantees, evaluate the carrying capacity ceiling of regional resources, hold the bottom line of resources, and lay out subsequent computing-power projects in an orderly manner," said Liu Junping, deputy director of the administrative committee of the Chahar High-Tech Industrial Development Zone.
At present, Ulanqab is accelerating the construction of a complete computing-power industry chain: upstream, supporting enterprises such as those for cabinets, power equipment, and server recycling have successively taken root; midstream, more than one hundred large data center projects led by leading internet companies have clustered together, providing diversified computing-power supply; downstream, new business forms such as data annotation, operations and maintenance training, and artificial intelligence applications are continuously growing.
"We will actively extend the industry chain, vigorously introduce front-end equipment manufacturing and back-end application enterprises, accelerate the cultivation of digital-intelligence talent, deepen the integration of industry, academia, research, and application, and promote the computing-power industry toward clustering into chains and scaling into strength," said Liu Haiquan, mayor of Ulanqab City.
Ensuring the green and sustainable development of the computing-power industry
At the CICC Data Ulanqab Zero-Carbon Computing-Power Base in the Chahar High-Tech Industrial Development Zone, wind turbines turn on the hillsides, photovoltaic panels collect sunlight at the foot of the mountains, and green electricity is delivered directly to the base through dedicated transmission lines.
This is the country's first "source-grid-load-storage" integrated project with direct green electricity connection for data centers, with a total installed capacity of 300,000 kilowatts of wind and solar power, supported by 45,000 kilowatts of energy storage, capable of providing approximately 848 million kilowatt-hours of self-generated, self-consumed green electricity each year.
"Relying on the intelligent integrated joint-operation energy dispatch and control platform, we achieve real-time linkage of wind, solar, storage, and computing. When wind and solar resources are abundant, we fully dispatch computing power; surplus green electricity is stored; and when there is no wind or sun, stored energy supplements the power supply, truly realizing 'computing-electricity coordination,'" said Chen Keqiang, project manager of the CICC Data Ulanqab Computing-Power Base. Since the project was put into operation in July last year, the supply of new energy has remained stable, strongly supporting multiple intelligent-computing businesses and promoting the local consumption of green electricity.
In recent years, Ulanqab City has made every effort to advance "computing-electricity coordination," explored the model of "incremental distribution networks plus direct green electricity supply," and the proportion of green electricity in newly built data centers has stably exceeded 86 percent.
At the 21Vianet Ulanqab Cloud Intelligent Computing Center Base No. 1 in the Chahar High-Tech Industrial Development Zone, multiple machine-room buildings have been completed, and for most of the year, outdoor cold air is used directly for natural heat dissipation, with spray-assisted cooling activated only during high-temperature periods in summer.
"On the basis of air-cooled heat dissipation, we have deployed high-power-density liquid-cooled cabinet technology in a supporting manner, greatly reducing water evaporation and wastewater discharge during the cooling process and strictly controlling water resource consumption," said Zhou Yiguang, director of the 21Vianet Ulanqab Computing-Power Base.
Fostering a sound environment for enterprises and talents of all kinds to start businesses and pursue careers
For 26-year-old Zhang Yu, choosing to return to his hometown to join the computing-power industry after graduating from Central South University two years ago was a wise decision.
"I majored in computer science, and at the time I faced the choice of staying in a big city or returning to my hometown. Seeing that Ulanqab's computing-power industry was developing rapidly, I returned home to find employment with the mindset of giving it a try. I never expected that there would be so many opportunities here, allowing me to grow quickly," Zhang Yu said. "Our operations team has nearly 700 people, and local young people account for about 60 percent. Everyone doesn't have to leave their hometown to seek a living (背井离乡, bei jing li xiang - "carry, well, leave, village, depart, hometown"), and the income and benefits are quite good."
Local colleges and universities have also opened training classes in computing-power operations and maintenance, giving more young people the opportunity to return to their hometowns and deepen their involvement in the computing-power industry.
"We have signed cooperation agreements with local universities to cultivate computing-power operations and maintenance talent in a targeted manner, offering courses such as data center operations and maintenance, network support, and machine-room facility practical training. At present, several hundred trainees have successfully taken up posts, continuously supplying Ulanqab's computing-power industry with local professional talent," said Huang Mingzhuo, deputy director of the Zhonglian Group Ulanqab Computing-Power Center.
A sound business environment is equally an important factor in attracting enterprises to establish operations, and Xu Pengfei, director of infrastructure operations and maintenance at Kuaishou's data center, has deep feelings about this: "Throughout the entire process of project coordination, we have truly felt the excellent business environment here."
From project site selection and construction approval to later-stage operations, the administrative committee of the Chahar High-Tech Industrial Development Zone provides professional assistance and agency services. As long as an enterprise's business registration materials are complete, it can complete the process in one day. The city has also set up a dedicated project task force to expedite procedures, effectively safeguarding project investment and construction.
"We will make every effort to promote the deep integration of the digital economy and the real economy, thoroughly implement the 'AI+' action, extend and expand the industry chain, and continuously transform computing-power advantages into development advantages," said Ji Yongqian, secretary of the Ulanqab Municipal Party Committee.
Return to Top(People's Daily, Beijing, October 20) (Reporter Gu Yekai) The China National Intellectual Property Administration and the General Administration of Customs recently issued the "Opinions on Strengthening Coordinated Protection of Intellectual Property Rights." The Opinions propose establishing a long-term working mechanism for data sharing and application cooperation on the basis of safeguarding data security. The China National Intellectual Property Administration will periodically provide the General Administration of Customs with basic data information such as trademarks and patents, facilitating intellectual property rights holders in completing customs recordation; it will share information on the confirmation of well-known trademarks, information on trademarks that have been revoked or declared invalid, and information on administrative adjudication decisions in major patent infringement disputes, to assist customs enforcement.
In terms of strengthening investigative assistance, the Opinions clarify that when intellectual property management departments handling trademark or patent infringement cases involving imported or exported goods request assistance from customs, customs shall provide such assistance. When customs investigates goods detained on suspicion of trademark or patent infringement and requests assistance from intellectual property management departments, the latter shall provide such assistance.
In terms of strengthening protection in key areas, the Opinions require that intellectual property management departments encourage rights holders in key industries—including those with records of well-known trademark confirmation, collective trademarks/certification marks registered as geographical indications, and the photovoltaic industry—to actively apply to customs for intellectual property recordation.
Return to TopIn recent years, Shangge Town, Luoning County, Luoyang City, Henan Province, has adopted the "enterprise + farmer + base" model to build an apple production and sales base, enhance comprehensive benefits, and drive more members of the public toward increasing income and becoming prosperous (增收致富, zeng shou zhi fu - "increase income, become wealthy"). The photo, taken on October 20, shows workers using an intelligent sorting system to grade apples in the fruit-selection workshop of an enterprise in the town.
Photo by Li Weichao (Image China)
Return to Top(People's Daily, Lanzhou, October 20) (Reporter Song Chaojun) The Gansu Provincial Forestry and Grassland Bureau and six other departments recently jointly issued the "Implementation Opinions of Gansu Province on Accelerating the Construction of Modern State-Owned Forest Farms."
The implementation opinions make systematic arrangements for the construction of modern state-owned forest farms in Gansu Province over the next 5 to 10 years, clarifying phased construction goals: by 2030, the management system of state-owned forest farms across the province will be further improved, forest resources will grow steadily, forest stock volume per unit area will increase by 4.75%, a system of distinctive industries will be basically formed, and a smart forest farm system will be basically established; by 2035, the ecological quality of state-owned forest farms across the province will be comprehensively improved, the green industry system will be more complete, the management system and operational mechanisms will be more efficient, forest stock volume per unit area will increase by 10.45%, and a modern state-owned forest farm system will be basically completed, providing solid support for consolidating the national ecological security barrier in the western region.
The implementation opinions, centering on the modernization of four systems of state-owned forest farms—ecological protection, distinctive industries, technical equipment, and operational management—systematically arrange 15 key tasks, including carrying out inventory and confirmation of rights of state-owned forest farm resources and assets.
Return to TopBy: 本报记者 田先进
At Beihu Park in Ma'anshan City, Anhui Province, some residents stroll and jog along the lakeside path; under the pavilions and corridors, several elderly people sit chatting about everyday matters. "I exercise here in the morning, and in the afternoon I come back to sit and take a leisurely walk," said Xu Changjin, a citizen who lives nearby.
In the past, some facilities at Beihu Park had aged, and the space under the trees was underutilized. Through renovation, the park has added pavilions, corridors, and benches, improved sports venues, and left more space for residents to relax and keep fit.
As an industrial city, Ma'anshan once faced problems such as outdated infrastructure and aging community parks. How can existing space be revitalized, urban functions improved, and the living environment enhanced? Since 2021, Ma'anshan has systematically advanced urban renewal, successively improving institutional systems such as implementation measures and technical guidelines.
Renewal begins with the spaces around the people. Street-corner vacant lots, old green spaces, and school gate areas — some spaces that were underutilized in the past have been reopened. The city has cumulatively built and opened 146 pocket parks, covering a total area of 961,200 square meters.
Renewal focuses on the issues residents care about. Ma'anshan has cumulatively collected more than 50,000 resident survey questionnaires, explored "one building, one strategy" and "property owners vote to decide the plan," and incorporated roads, rainwater and sewage pipe networks, and parking spaces into the scope of renovation. "As of now, Ma'anshan has cumulatively renovated 425 old residential communities, benefiting more than 157,000 households," said Zhang Zhongxin, Secretary of the Party Committee and Director of the Housing and Urban-Rural Development Bureau of Ma'anshan City.
Urban renewal must not only improve the city's appearance, but also fill the functional shortcomings that affect urban operations and people's lives. At the end of March this year, Zixia Road, which connects the central urban area, completed its overall renovation. In response to past problems such as pedestrians and vehicles mixing in traffic (人车混行, ren che hun xing - "person, vehicle, mix, travel"), damaged streetlights, and poor drainage, the project re-laid the road surface and improved sidewalks, ramps, and traffic signs. Since 2021, the main urban area of Ma'anshan has completed 42 road connection projects.
Urban renewal is also creating new living scenarios. Tiyu Road, adjacent to the Xiushan Campus of Anhui University of Technology, once had problems such as occupying the roadway for business and noise disturbing residents due to the gathering of mobile vendors. To this end, the local government used idle land to build a standardized night market, retaining the city's vibrant atmosphere while improving business order.
At Xiushan Lake, traditional public waters are becoming a new waterside space for citizens. At the end of July this year, the Xiushan Lake beach opened to the public free of charge, with supporting facilities such as smart lockers, sand-washing pools, and leisure lounge chairs. "The holidays now have a great place to take the kids. It's wonderful," said citizen Yu Aimei.
According to the plan, Ma'anshan will continue to advance the renovation and renewal of old residential communities and old neighborhoods, so that the fruits of urban renewal are more reflected in the details of daily life that people can feel and access.
Return to TopBy: 本报记者 刘军国
In Huzhou City, Zhejiang Province, beside the 500-kilovolt Changmiao 5P01 transmission corridor, an illegally operating drone kept approaching the high-voltage lines. Had a collision occurred, it would have affected electricity supply for production and daily life across a large surrounding area.
Intelligent detection devices deployed on site activated capture, quickly locking onto information such as the drone's position and flight trajectory. "The intelligent terminal immediately pops up an alert, and the approximate location of the drone operator can also be seen." Cheng Wei, an operation and maintenance worker at State Grid Huzhou Power Supply Company, arrived at the scene based on information pushed by the system, promptly persuaded the operator to leave, and defused the potential risk.
Ultra-high-voltage (UHV) corridors are key to ensuring energy transmission. Along the UHV "Huzhou Corridor," the Jintang Corridor, and the Zhejiang-Fujian Corridor, State Grid Huzhou Power Supply Company has deployed 90 sets of drone remote detection and identification devices, establishing a demonstration zone for proactive defense against low-altitude drone external damage risks on important UHV transmission corridors.
"Mountain-area corridors span long distances, and relying on manual patrols makes it hard to keep risks firmly in view. Intelligent equipment has made up for this shortcoming." Ma Bo, a worker in the operation and inspection department of State Grid Huzhou Power Supply Company, explained that drones can take off and land autonomously, completing tasks such as refined inspection, infrared temperature measurement, and corridor inspection, weaving an all-weather, three-dimensional protection network.
While safeguarding the security of the power grid, digital and intelligent means have also become one of the important ways to resolve mismatches between electricity supply and demand across regions.
In Moganshan, Deqing County, bamboo forests stretch on endlessly, with lush, verdant mountains with overlapping peaks (层峦叠翠, ceng luan die cui - "layers, mountains, overlap, green"). Every peak tourist season, electricity demand in the homestay area forms an obvious "tidal" fluctuation. Through flexible interconnection dispatch devices, the local area has built a cross-regional power complementarity system, opening up power channels between industrial parks and cultural-tourism areas, ensuring reliable power supply for more than 4,000 homestays and cultural-tourism projects.
"Power security has upgraded from solving the basic need of 'whether there is supply' to meeting the quality expectation of 'whether it is stable and good.'" Zheng Yu, deputy director of the Moganshan Power Supply Station of State Grid Huzhou Power Supply Company, said.
Earlier this year, the Huzhou Leapmotor automobile production base project was about to commence production. Under the traditional process, the project's power delivery cycle would have taken 8 months. State Grid Huzhou Power Supply Company intervened in planning in advance, made multiple on-site surveys, repeatedly optimized plans, and compressed the approval and construction stages, bringing the actual power delivery cycle to less than 4 months.
In Nanxun District, in the production workshop of Zhejiang Fugang Special Steel Sheet Co., Ltd., batches of high-end special steel products are coming off the production line in an orderly manner. As the enterprise enters the international high-end market, its energy demand has also risen alongside increasing prosperity (水涨船高, shui zhang chuan gao - "water, rise, boat, high"). Carbon-efficiency engineers from State Grid Huzhou Power Supply Company conducted on-site energy-saving diagnostics, tailored a whole-chain energy-use optimization plan for the enterprise, and through "peak shaving and valley filling" intelligent energy management, the enterprise's electricity costs have been significantly reduced.
From safeguarding the safe operation of UHV corridors to solving peak-valley electricity challenges in cultural-tourism areas, from ensuring rapid production start-up for manufacturing enterprises to helping new-type enterprises transform efficiently, digital and intelligent technology is continuously reshaping the capability boundaries of the power grid.
Return to TopFrom October 16 to 18, 2026, the 2026 Chishui River Forum, themed "Heaven and Earth in Harmony, Advancing with the Times," was held in Maotai Town, Renhuai City, Guizhou Province. Guests from the global liquor industry, international organizations, and the cultural and academic fields gathered by the banks of the Chishui River to exchange views and discuss topics including production area development, cultural exchange, industrial innovation, and sustainable development. This year's forum released multiple outcomes, pooling strength for deepening exchange and cooperation in the global liquor industry.
Joint Brand Building: Rooting in the Production Area to Lay Foundations, Synergistic Innovation to Add Vitality
Brand building is an important support for enterprises to enhance development resilience and improve market competitiveness. For liquor brands, the production area is the source that guarantees product quality and an important foundation for forming brand characteristics. The unique natural ecology of the Chishui River basin, the micro-ecology formed through long-term brewing, and the brewing techniques and cultural heritage passed down through generations together constitute the distinctive identity of "Chishui River Valley, China's Jiangxiang." Rooted in this land, Moutai adheres to combining enterprise brand building with coordinated development of the production area, deepening brand value while safeguarding the shared roots.
At this year's Chishui River Forum, the "Chishui River Valley, China's Jiangxiang" regional brand think tank was officially established, bringing together professional forces in industry, culture, and communication to provide intellectual support for production area value research, brand expression innovation, and regional coordinated development. Using the production area as a bond, further clarifying the intrinsic connection between the ecological environment and brewing quality, and telling well the contemporary story of technique inheritance and industrial development will help consolidate consensus in the production area, polish the regional name card, and promote different brands each showing their own strengths (各展所长, ge zhan suo chang - "each, display, what, excels") and growing together.
These explorations are highly consistent with the brand practices Moutai has long adhered to. Moutai takes the natural ecology, micro-ecology, and cultural ecology as important supports, continuously consolidating the foundation of quality; applies modern technologies such as microbiome science and flavor chemistry to deepen understanding of brewing mechanisms, using technological innovation to support the inheritance and development of traditional brewing techniques; and connects markets and consumers through digital platforms, expanding brand expression and consumption scenarios. From safeguarding the quality of a cup of liquor to jointly shaping the reputation of a production area, Moutai adds development vitality through innovation, amplifies production area value through coordination, and continuously enhances the brand influence of "China's Jiangxiang."
Shared Responsibility: Based on Ecological Protection, Focused on Cooperative Development
A sound ecology is the foundation for the sustainable development of the liquor industry. As an enterprise nurtured by the Chishui River, Moutai has always integrated ecological protection into the entire process of production and operation, continuously advancing water conservation and carbon reduction, clean production, and resource recycling, and striving to achieve harmonious coexistence between enterprise development and ecological protection. In recent years, Moutai has continuously improved its ecological monitoring system covering elements such as water, soil, air, and organisms, setting up 3 automatic water quality monitoring stations at the Moutai section of the Chishui River, with more than 200 monitoring points covering 35 indicators; in 2025, Moutai's water consumption per unit of product decreased by 32.40% compared with 2023. Moutai's concrete actions, item by item, provide support for safeguarding the ecology of the Chishui River and consolidating the foundation of product quality.
At this year's Chishui River Forum, the China Brands Global Tour and the "Global Liquor Industry Sustainable Development Partnership Plan" were officially launched. Representatives of international organizations and Chinese and foreign liquor enterprises jointly released the "Global Liquor Industry Sustainable Development Partnership Initiative," building consensus around cultural inheritance, green development, technological innovation, responsibility, intergenerational vitality, and global cooperation, advocating deepened cooperation in standards, technology, and culture, and proposing action directions for the global liquor industry to jointly address common issues.
The "World Famous Liquor Sustainable Development Index Report (2026)," also released at the same time, selected 30 representative liquor brands globally and constructed a three-dimensional research system of "quality, momentum, and voice," observing the long-term value of world-famous liquors through 20 indicators, providing a reference for the sustainable development of the industry. From corporate green practices to joint action by global peers, Moutai promotes the transformation of responsibility concepts into practical actions through open cooperation, contributing to the sustainable, high-quality development of the liquor industry.
Cultural Exchange: Building Platforms for Industry Mutual Learning, Bridging Civilizational Dialogue
Cultural inheritance and exchange are important driving forces for the sustainable development of the liquor industry. Liquors from different countries and different production areas embody their respective natural endowments, brewing wisdom, and life traditions. Conducting dialogue through the medium of liquor helps enhance mutual understanding and expand common language, and also opens broader space for Chinese liquor culture to go global.
This year's Chishui River Forum centered on topics such as terroir, techniques, mutual learning among civilizations, and lifestyles, sharing development experiences of different production areas through multi-level dialogue. Events such as the "Mao Prize Writers' Moutai Gathering" and the release of outstanding works under "Moutai and Me" were held concurrently, enriching the expression of liquor culture through literature and art, allowing historical traditions and contemporary life to mirror each other. Guests from different countries and regions gathered together, experiencing "each beauty in its own way" through exchange and promoting "beauty shared by all" through mutual learning.
Moutai created the Chishui River Forum with the aim of building a platform for industry exchange and also bridging civilizational dialogue. In recent years, Moutai has continuously explored the ecological value, craft value, and cultural value of the Chishui River production area, telling the story of Chinese baijiu in a more approachable and more easily understood manner; at the same time, it respects the cultural individuality of different liquor types and different production areas, sharing experiences and seeking cooperation through exchange and mutual learning. From showcasing products to introducing the production area, from disseminating traditional techniques to sharing lifestyles, Moutai continuously expands the breadth and depth of cultural exchange, promoting Chinese liquor culture to better reach the world.
In the future, Moutai will continue to take root in the Chishui River production area, adhere to quality as the foundation, culture as the core, and ecology as the priority, pool industry strength with a more open mind, let the brewing wisdom from the Chishui River Valley reach the world through exchange and mutual learning, and join global peers in brewing a better future for the liquor industry.
Data source: Kweichow Moutai
Return to TopBy: 本报记者 李林蔚
It is currently the peak season for job seeking and recruitment. Some lawbreakers are using the names of central state-owned enterprises (SOEs) and state-owned enterprises to publish false recruitment information to attract traffic, under the guise of "internal referrals" and "direct signing with guaranteed admission," and even forging recruitment and hiring materials to induce job seekers to pay high fees, seriously infringing on the legitimate rights and interests of job seekers and disrupting the order of the human resources market.
The Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security, the Office of the Central Cyberspace Affairs Commission, the Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Public Security, and the State Council State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission, among others, have issued risk alerts, reminding the broad body of job seekers to enhance their awareness of risk prevention and beware of being deceived.
Using persuasive language to attract traffic and exploiting job-seeking anxiety
The relevant departments have cautioned that when committing fraud, lawbreakers often first use the names of central SOEs and state-owned enterprises to fabricate false recruitment information to attract traffic, publishing on social media, livestreaming, and short-video platforms, or in online groups, internet forums, and communication communities, using slogans such as "employment at central SOEs and state-owned enterprises," "guidance on central SOEs and state-owned enterprises," and "planning for central SOEs and state-owned enterprises," and posting false or exaggerated information such as "China ×× Group urgently hiring tens of thousands of people," "no major restrictions, basically anyone who signs up can get in," and "annual salary of ×× ten-thousand yuan, with official establishment," using persuasive language to attract traffic and draw in job seekers for consultation.
Thereafter, they fabricate "internal referral channels" to gain trust. For example, they claim to have internal connections in corporate human resources departments, hinting that they hold "a small number of internal quotas" and "have resources such as internal referrals and internships that can be connected," falsely claiming that "ordinary online resume submissions cannot pass screening, and only paid internal referrals can give you direct access to interviewers," playing up the urgency that positions are limited and that missed opportunities will not come again. Some even fabricate chat records and success cases, and even forge labor contracts and employment agreements, leading job seekers to mistakenly believe that they have "background" and "connections."
Ultimately, they invent false pretexts or excuses (巧立名目, qiao li ming mu - "skillfully, set up, name, item") to collect fees and commit fraud. The ultimate goal of the lawbreakers is to defraud people of money, and they will collect fees under various names such as "internal referral service fees," "interview greasing fees," and "deposits." After receiving payment, they often use excuses such as "policy changes" and "leadership adjustments" to delay and stall, or even disappear entirely.
Attracting traffic on public platforms and converting on private domains, exploiting information asymmetry to commit fraud
The relevant departments have cautioned that lawbreakers committing fraud mostly target fresh college graduates as their primary victims. College graduates lack job-seeking experience and are unfamiliar with formal recruitment procedures, making them susceptible to being induced by false promises; parents are especially concerned about their children's employment and are easily influenced by anxiety, readily believing in talk of "pulling strings and using connections."
Currently, lawbreakers mostly adopt the covert model of attracting traffic on public platforms and converting on private domains. They publish "central SOE and state-owned enterprise recruitment" information through websites, mini-programs, and apps, often first attracting traffic by sharing experience, interpreting policies, and providing guides, then luring job seekers to follow up with free materials and mock interviews as bait, and then guiding job seekers through private messages, bullet comments, comment sections, or livestream links into social groups or one-on-one consultations. Through layer upon layer of persuasive inducement, they ultimately guide job seekers to private domains to achieve paid conversion, thereby evading supervision and review on public platforms. Once they succeed, they disband the groups or block and disappear.
The relevant departments have reminded the public that central SOEs and state-owned enterprises have formal procedures for selecting and employing personnel. Some central SOEs and state-owned enterprises have also publicly stated that they have not authorized any other websites, social media, or individuals to publish any recruitment information, and that recruitment does not involve any fees. Job seekers should master the correct channels for obtaining recruitment information and understand the recruitment procedures of central SOEs and state-owned enterprises, to prevent lawbreakers from exploiting information asymmetry to commit fraud.
Choosing formal channels to protect one's legitimate rights and interests
The relevant departments have reminded the public that when seeking jobs online or offline, job seekers should choose the official websites of central SOEs and state-owned enterprises, public employment service institutions, campus recruitment activities held through formal channels, or formal job intermediaries with lawful qualifications. Job seekers can check information on human resources service institutions through channels such as the National Human Resources and Social Security Government Service Platform, the electronic social security card, and the 12333 mobile app, and give priority to service institutions or recruitment platforms with high credibility and standardized operations.
For information published on online platforms and self-media, job seekers should pay attention to verifying account qualifications and, by comparing with official websites and other means, verify the authenticity of position information from multiple angles. They can find authoritative recruitment information through recruitment websites built by human resources and social security, education, and state-owned assets departments, such as "Employment Online," the "National College Student Employment Service Platform," the "Central SOE and State-Owned Enterprise Recruitment Platform," and the "China Public Recruitment Network."
Where fees are demanded under names such as "paid internal referrals" for arranging employment or internships, job seekers should resolutely refuse. Formal recruitment by central SOEs and state-owned enterprises does not charge registration fees, handling fees, material fees, referral fees, service fees, or any other fees.
Job seekers should pay attention to retaining relevant chat records, agreement texts, and transfer vouchers, to preserve evidence for possible disputes. If they fall victim to paid internal referral fraud, they should report the case to public security organs at the first opportunity; at the same time, they can report illegal human resources service activities to the labor inspection agencies of human resources and social security departments, and report false online recruitment information to the Central Cyberspace Affairs Commission's Reporting Center for Illegal and Harmful Information, to protect their legitimate rights and interests.
Return to TopBy: 黎 娟
In June 2026, the National Human Rights Action Plan (2026–2030) was released, marking the fifth national human rights action plan formulated and implemented by the Chinese government. China's practice is drawing the attention of the world. During the 63rd session of the United Nations Human Rights Council, multiple Chinese and foreign experts gathered in Geneva, focusing on China's fifth national human rights action plan, and conducted in-depth discussions on the Chinese experience of national human rights action plans and their implications for global human rights governance. The successive formulation and implementation of five national human rights action plans collectively embody the continuity and stability of the development of China's human rights cause, providing a unique and reliable window for the world to observe and understand how China transforms human rights protection commitments into human rights governance practice, and further into human rights governance effectiveness.
The Chinese Experience of National Human Rights Action Plans
The national human rights action plan is not only a national planning document that promotes the development of China's human rights cause, but also an important institutional arrangement for systematically advancing human rights protection. China's national human rights action plans, grounded in the country's national conditions and focused on tangible benefits for people's livelihoods, collectively showcase the development experience of China's human rights cause in the new era.
The formulation and implementation of the national human rights action plans have always adhered to a people-centered approach (以人为本, yi ren wei ben - "take, people, as, foundation") and striving for practical results (务求实效, wu qiu shi xiao - "strive, seek, actual, effect"). In terms of philosophy, China upholds the people-centered human rights concept, adheres to the principle that "a happy life for the people is the greatest human right," regards the right to subsistence and the right to development as the primary basic human rights, runs human rights protection through the entire process of Chinese modernization, thoroughly abandons human rights perceptions that are detached from reality and empty and abstract, and continuously promotes innovation in human rights theory and practice through the successive formulation and implementation of national human rights action plans. In terms of practice, China focuses on the most concerning and most pressing livelihood demands of the people, continuously makes precise efforts in key areas such as the battle against poverty, basic education, healthcare, employment services, and social security, works hard and deeply, steadily advances various livelihood undertakings, completes the goals and tasks of multiple action plans on schedule, truly transforms the people-centered human rights concept into perceptible tangible results in livelihood protection, and continuously enhances the people's sense of gain, happiness, and security regarding human rights protection.
The formulation and implementation of the national human rights action plans have always adhered to scientific planning and an action orientation. At present, the problem of unbalanced and inadequate development in China remains prominent, the uncertainty and instability of the turbulent and intertwined international environment have markedly increased, and technological development and industrial transformation have given rise to new rights demands. In terms of planning, China has always adhered to forward-looking planning and gradual progress, based on the reality of economic and social development, on the basis of comprehensively summarizing the experience of previous action plans, scientifically assessing the new demands and new tasks for human rights protection under the new circumstances, and actively guiding the healthy development of emerging human rights fields. In terms of implementation, China adheres to a pragmatic action orientation, refines macro human rights development goals into quantifiable and assessable specific task indicators, clarifies phased goals, key tasks, and advancement measures, and provides clear action guidelines for carrying out human rights protection work. At the same time, China improves the joint conference mechanism and third-party evaluation mechanism for national human rights action plans, strengthens implementation and supervision, guarantees the implementation of national human rights action plans in an all-round and multi-level manner, organizes phased research and evaluation, and strengthens situation tracking, risk assessment, and experience exchange.
The formulation and implementation of the national human rights action plans have always adhered to equal development and inclusive sharing. Human rights are not privileges enjoyed by a portion of people or a minority, but rather inclusive human rights enjoyed by the broad masses of the people. China adheres to the broadness of the subjects of human rights, pays attention to responding to the differentiated needs of different groups within universal protection, incorporates the protection of the rights and interests of specific groups such as ethnic minorities, women, children, the elderly, and persons with disabilities into the key tasks of each national human rights action plan, provides equal protection and special assistance through special measures and institutional arrangements, and continuously expands the scale and coverage of the protection of the rights and interests of specific groups; at the same time, it coordinates the advancement of development in ethnic regions and the cause of ethnic unity and progress, and guarantees the rights of all ethnic groups to equal participation and equal development. Through the continuous advancement of five national human rights action plans, the various rights and interests of all citizens have received inclusive protection, the level of protection has steadily improved, and the fruits of development have been made to benefit every person more and more equitably.
The Global Implications of China's National Human Rights Action Plans
From a comparative perspective, the universal significance of China's successive formulation and implementation of national human rights action plans is increasingly prominent. It combines the universal principles of human rights with China's specific realities, providing Chinese wisdom for advancing the domestic human rights protection cause and resolving the dilemmas of global human rights governance.
Human rights action matters more than human rights commitments. The measure of the actual effectiveness of a country's human rights cause lies not in what human rights commitments have been made or how loud the voice of human rights commitments is, but in whether human rights commitments can be realized stably and continuously and transformed into tangible human rights results. Looking at the world, this certainty of continuously putting human rights commitments into practice, this predictability of drawing one blueprint to the end, does not exist universally; on the contrary, it is a relatively scarce institutional product in current global human rights governance. China has not only successively formulated and implemented five national human rights action plans, but has also aligned national human rights action plans with national development plans, consolidated political consensus and social consensus, and persistently and consistently advanced the cause of human rights protection.
The human rights cause must be advanced with an attitude of seeking truth from facts. Human rights are historical, concrete, and realistic; the level of human rights protection must be improved in light of specific national conditions. On the one hand, the Chinese government has successively implemented multiple national human rights action plans, the relevant goals and tasks have been effectively implemented, and the level of human rights protection in China has significantly improved; on the other hand, standing at a new starting point, the development of China's human rights cause now has a more solid foundation and more favorable conditions, and the people expect higher-quality development and more comprehensive human rights protection. In the practice of advancing the development of the human rights cause, China adheres to combining the universal principles of human rights with China's specific realities, promotes the development of the human rights cause from the country's national conditions and the people's demands, has blazed a path of human rights development that conforms to the trend of the times and suits China's national conditions, and provides a useful reference for global human rights governance in properly handling the relationship between the universality and particularity of human rights.
At present, some countries are keen to act as "human rights defenders" or "teachers" in the international community, readily engaging in gossiping or making critical remarks (说三道四, shuo san dao si - "speak, three, path, four") and interfering or meddling in others' affairs (指手画脚, zhi shou hua jiao - "point, hand, draw, foot") regarding the human rights issues of other countries, while turning a blind eye to (视而不见, shi er bu jian - "look, but, not, see") the deteriorating human rights problems within their own borders. They not only fail to seriously consider how to improve their domestic human rights protection, but instead attempt to divert domestic contradictions and shirk development responsibilities through foreign wars, "color revolutions," economic and trade frictions, and other means. This has not improved the human rights situation in the relevant countries or regions; on the contrary, it has brought severe human rights or humanitarian disasters to them. China, with its national human rights action plans characterized by scientific planning, successive implementation, a people-centered approach, and a focus on practical results, has injected rare stability and certainty into the development of the world's human rights cause, provided development experience that developing countries can draw upon, and contributed tangible public goods to global human rights governance.
(The author is a research fellow at the Human Rights Research Center of Central South University)
Return to Top(People's Daily, Beijing, October 20) (Reporter Pan Junqiang) To make it convenient for enterprises and the public to handle social security matters at nearby locations, the Beijing Municipal Human Resources and Social Security Bureau has launched a "Social Security Map" on the "Jingtong" app, bringing together 17 district-level social security handling agencies across the city, 342 subdistrict and township government service centers, and over a hundred bank cooperative service outlets, and introducing four major convenience service functions — "Smart Recommendation," "One-Touch Navigation," "One-Touch Call," and "Smart Q&A" — creating a new service model with Beijing characteristics featuring "smart handling" and "conversational handling," so that social security matters can be inquired about online, handled nearby, and checked with precision.
According to the introduction, members of the public no longer need to compare outlets on their own or guess whether a matter can be handled; the system will automatically filter and intelligently recommend the most suitable nearby service outlet based on the person's real-time location, combined with the type of social security matter to be handled. After selecting a nearby outlet, there is no need to copy an address or switch to a map; one can directly click one-touch navigation on the page for precise route guidance, and following the directions will lead directly to the handling location.
Return to TopIn the golden autumn season, the black soil yields gold. On September 23, the 2026 Bei'an Farmers' Harvest Festival and the "Full Black Soil with Beans · Geese Famous in Bei'an" production and marketing promotion conference was held in Bei'an City, Heilongjiang Province. The event, themed "Harvest Opens a New Chapter, Solid Work Promotes Revitalization," was based on the achievements of the national modern agriculture demonstration zone, focused on the core advantageous soybean industry, also gave consideration to the distinctive goose industry, and adopted a linked model of "offline production-marketing matchmaking + live-scene exhibition and sales experience + whole-region e-commerce livestreaming," centrally showcasing the achievements of Bei'an's modern agricultural development and helping high-quality development of agriculture and comprehensive rural revitalization.
In 2026, Bei'an was included in the filing list for the implementation plans of pilot and experimental projects related to comprehensive rural reform, successfully hosted the Eighth Soybean Seed Industry High-Quality Development Conference, and multiple provincial-level agricultural conferences were held in Bei'an, with agricultural and rural work achievements ranking among the forefront of the province. This year, Bei'an achieved its twenty-third consecutive bumper grain harvest, with total output expected to exceed 2.5 billion jin, and per-mu yields of corn and soybeans reaching new highs, delivering a substantial harvest report card.
Bei'an is a major production area for non-genetically modified soybeans nationwide and a leader in China's dryland farming, with the soybean industry continuously upgrading toward the full chain of intensive processing. The city's annual soybean processing capacity is 800,000 tons, and its annual supply of improved soybean seeds is 240,000 tons, accounting for 40.8 percent of the province's soybean production seed usage. At the event, the soybean digital IP "An Xiaodou" carried out a special promotion in the form of AI video, vividly showcasing the advantages of black soil germplasm resources, improved seed breeding achievements, and intensively processed soybean products, with technology empowering soybean brand promotion and winning unanimous praise.
This event set up five functional exhibition zones, with emphasis on strengthening the soybean industry exhibition zone, where multiple seed industry and soybean processing enterprises appeared together, fully displaying Bei'an's whole-industry-chain strength in soybean breeding, planting, and intensive processing. Various townships, supply and marketing cooperatives, and agriculture-related enterprises of Bei'an participated in group exhibitions, with each booth equipped with a livestreaming mini-station, and a matrix of a hundred influencers simultaneously carrying out online livestream pre-sales, creating a "unified exhibition and broadcast" promotion scene to push improved soybean seeds and soybean products to a broader market. During the same period, food tasting activities were held, with a tofu banquet centrally showcasing soybean-derived delicacies, allowing on-site audiences to share in the development dividends of the soybean industry.
The event adhered to the principle of building the stage through festivals and performing economy and trade, with the signing ceremony achieving a series of cooperation agreements around directed improved seed breeding, intensive processing of agricultural products, and production and sales of specialty products, with total signed amounts reaching 106.6 million yuan and on-site retail sales of 350,000 yuan, achieving a dual breakthrough in investment attraction and signing and offline sales, effectively broadening the production and marketing channels for soybeans and other agricultural products and accumulating momentum for the implementation of industries in the national modern agriculture demonstration zone. Fun garden activities were simultaneously set up on site, creating a strong harvest atmosphere.
This event was a concentrated external promotion of Bei'an's soybean industry. In the next step, the Bei'an Municipal Bureau of Agriculture and Rural Affairs will rely on the construction achievements of the national modern agriculture industrial park, continue to advance the systematic project of "building a solid foundation with good farmland, empowering with technology, revitalizing industry, and enriching farmers and increasing income," adhere to whole-industry-chain thinking, promote quality improvement and efficiency enhancement of the soybean industry, continuously improve the production and marketing connection system, drive farmers to increase income and enterprises to increase efficiency, and strive to write a new chapter in Bei'an's modern agricultural high-quality development.
Data source: Bei'an Municipal Bureau of Agriculture and Rural Affairs
Return to TopOn October 16, the 2026 Global People Annual Ceremony, themed "Toward the New · Resonance," was held in the Bazhong Economic Development Zone, Sichuan. Guests in attendance exchanged views on topics including carrying forward the red gene, forging major national instruments of power, promoting traditional culture, and opening up new industrial tracks, consolidating the foundation while upholding fundamental principles and forging ahead through innovation.
Carrying Forward the Long March Spirit Stirring the Strength to Strive
Luo Yuan, former Deputy Director and Researcher of the World Military Studies Department, Academy of Military Sciences
Practice has proven that the Red Army was an invincible force, and this strength includes: faith is strength, courage is strength, exploration is strength, unity is strength, fraternity is strength, discipline is strength, and optimism is strength. The Long March tempered the great Long March spirit. Along the long journey, our Party and the Red Army found a revolutionary path that belongs to Chinese Communists themselves.
When discussing the great significance of the Long March, Mao Zedong profoundly pointed out: "The Long March is the first of its kind in the annals of history. The Long March is a declaration, the Long March is a propaganda team, the Long March is a seeder." Montgomery, the famous British general of World War II, once commented that the Long March was the greatest military epic of the 20th century, an astonishing feat demonstrating unwavering and persistent (坚韧不拔, jian ren bu ba - "firm, tenacious, unyielding") spirit.
The Long March is not merely a historical monument; it is also a precious spiritual asset for contemporary people to remember the path they came from, forge ahead bravely, and walk well the Long March of the new era. Xu Xiangqian wrote in his recollection of the Battle of Baizhang Pass: "The cries of battle shook the fields, corpses lay in disarray, and blood flowed across the ground." Reading these words, I deeply concur with the widely circulated saying: Is it bitter? Think of the Red Army's 25,000-li march; is it tiring? Think of the revolutionary elders.
Only by constantly measuring ourselves against the great Long March spirit, examining ourselves, and motivating ourselves can we continue to forge ahead with determination.
Innovating Industrial Design Jointly Building a New Future for Aviation
Ren He, specially invited Vice President of the China Industrial Design Association
The development of design innovation has undergone an evolution from imitation to optimization, from product design to brand design, and from product-centric to customer-centric. Early design focused on aesthetic beautification, then extended to the service level, with forms of expression continuously expanding.
The evolution of design innovation confirms the underlying logic of human problem-solving progressing layer by layer: relying on science to explore laws and judge truth from falsehood; relying on design to consider applicability and aesthetics; relying on technology to find implementation paths; engineering integrates science and technology, weighing trade-offs under the constraints of time and resources, and determining whether things can be realized. From identifying problems to finding solutions, humanity has been advancing along this very logic.
As a large aircraft engineer, I know well that industrial design must balance applicability, aesthetics, ergonomics, and ease of use and maintenance; it is a fusion of technology and art. We pursue designs that are safer, more economical, more environmentally friendly, and more comfortable, serving all of humanity with aviation technology.
The experience of large aircraft can also provide a reference for the low-altitude economy. Low altitude is not equivalent to simple "low-altitude flight." The development of the low-altitude economy must grasp several principles: the market is the foundation, airspace is the key, policy is the guarantee, technology is the support, and safety is the bottom line. Looking ahead, the low-altitude economy will become new infrastructure for smart cities and a new engine for the digital economy, reshaping the way people work and live.
Transforming Technological Achievements into Development and Governance Effectiveness
Josef Gregory Mahoney, Professor at the School of Politics and International Relations, East China Normal University
In my view, contemporary China is independently producing a series of science and technologies, and using them to drive the coordinated development of all sectors of society, including education, industry, public health, and culture, transforming technological achievements into development and governance effectiveness.
China's industrial upgrading in recent years has not been a leapfrog breakthrough achieved overnight, but rather a gradual progression along the industrial chain: from assembly and manufacturing toward independent design, from scale expansion toward standard building. In the process of step by step solving the challenge of domesticating key equipment, China is undergoing a transformation from "Made in China" to "Created in China."
In the global economic landscape, China's role is changing: the goods and equipment China exports are increasingly provided to other countries as means of production, rather than merely finished products sitting on shelves competing with local products. The affordable batteries and photovoltaic modules produced in China have reduced the cost of energy transition for many countries; joint production by multiple countries has also created employment opportunities locally.
The instructive aspect of China's development path lies in anchoring core tasks, concentrating resources, correcting errors in a timely manner, and balancing rational analysis with the values of the masses.
Of course, challenges still exist, but China possesses the sobriety and resolve to face problems directly and continuously adjust itself, which has become an important force for continuing to develop step by step.
Everyone Can Become a Recorder of History
Wang Di, Liberal Arts Chair Professor at Sichuan University
The resilience and warmth of civilization sometimes manifest in how it treats the ordinary people who left no names in history. In today's context of the rapid proliferation of artificial intelligence, this judgment deserves our consideration.
The reason civilization should pay attention to ordinary people is, in essence, that it values the unique life experience of each human being. The hardships people endure, the emotions they generate, and the choices they make cannot be entered into databases, nor can they be generated by algorithms; these are precisely the qualities that current artificial intelligence finds difficult to replicate. Therefore, the more powerful technology becomes, the more valuable the value of human beings themselves. This also reminds us that today's education and self-cultivation should focus more on judgment, perception, creativity, choice, and empathy, rather than mere knowledge storage.
Innovation values seeing people, and the warmth of history lies in the lives of ordinary people. Private memories, family stories, and local knowledge are important components of the development of civilization.
Historical research should step out of the ivory tower, out of the study, and toward the public. Everyone can become a recorder of history: preserving an oral history for one's elders, committing family memories and stories to writing, and recording one's own experiences amid the torrent of the times. These records may seem fragmentary, but when millions upon millions of records converge, they condense into the vivid, authentic collective memory of this era.
Promoting Technology Implementation Concentrating Efforts on Efficiency Improvement
Liu Hongwei, Deputy Director of the Local Finance Research Office, International Monetary Institute, Renmin University of China
I analyze the impact on China's economy from the three major cycles of geopolitics, technology, and capital.
At the geopolitical cycle level, global uncertainty is increasing, and business entities prioritize security in their decision-making, tending toward closed development. At the technology cycle level, we are currently in the midst of the fourth industrial revolution, with multiple cycles converging between 2025 and 2026. At the capital cycle level, technological innovation cannot be separated from capital support, and high-risk, long-cycle technological innovation relies heavily on the direct financing system. Looking back at China, an important change occurred in 2025: among new financing that year, the scale of direct financing exceeded indirect financing for the first time. This marks the gradual formation of a financial system that is suited to China's modern industrial system and capable of supporting the growth of innovative industries.
Regarding the "AI (artificial intelligence) bubble" issue that everyone is currently concerned about, we compared the internet bubble around 2000 with the current round of the AI boom and reached this judgment: overall, AI is a genuine technological transformation, and the so-called "bubble" refers to the excessively high valuations generated during the capitalization process of some enterprises in the AI track.
If a large amount of resources is concentrated in AI, how to implement AI technology in other industries, truly empowering all walks of life and improving production efficiency, is the test that needs to be faced next.
Settle Down and Do Things Carefully, Refined, and Strong
Liu Xiao Ling Tong, performing artist and actor who played Sun Wukong in the 1986 version of "Journey to the West"
The "Journey to the West" I starred in has been broadcast for 40 years and has influenced generation after generation. Forty years have passed, and countless viewers still support this work with great enthusiasm. Receiving everyone's recognition is our honor, but this achievement is not because we individuals are so remarkable; rather, it is rooted in the vast and profound in scope and depth (博大精深, bo da jing shen - "broad, great; profound, deep") traditional Chinese culture.
I often tell foreign friends that if you want to understand China, you might as well read "Journey to the West." Previously, the game "Black Myth: Wukong" became popular, and we took this as an opportunity to create new cross-dimensional content. Many overseas friends, curious about the original story because of "Black Myth: Wukong," went back to watch the 40-year-old "Journey to the West," unexpectedly sparking a new wave of Journey to the West culture fever.
The inheritance of classics cannot be separated from continuous innovative expression. I also enjoy scrolling through short videos now and appreciating netizens' secondary creations. Young people are getting close to the classics in their own way, and this is precisely the rebirth of traditional culture.
The principle of this classic inheritance is also the life creed my father taught me: the value of life lies in choosing one thing and devoting a lifetime to it. Once you have chosen a career, settle down and do it carefully, refined, and strong, to the utmost, and that is success. A person's life is like Sun Wukong's pilgrimage for scriptures: only by diligently practicing the seventy-two transformations can one face the eighty-one tribulations with a smile.
Carrying Forward the Red Gene Accumulating Deep Confidence
Zhao Jianren, Member of the Standing Committee of the Bazhong Municipal Party Committee and Head of the Propaganda Department
Bazhong is a land steeped in the red gene. In the 1930s, the Red Army fought bloody battles here, and the red flame took root and was passed down here. The Red Army motto born from this — "wise and brave, firm; overcoming difficulties through innovation; united and striving; never stopping until victory" — has transcended the years, remaining ever fresh, and has been distilled into the city spirit of Bazhong, continuously inspiring the people of the old revolutionary base area to forge ahead bravely.
Bazhong is also a land full of vitality and life (生机盎然, sheng ji ang ran - "life, overflow, lush"). The city's forest coverage rate reaches 63.2%, with lush trees and fresh air, making it a natural oxygen bar and leisure vacation destination worthy of its name (名副其实, ming fu qi shi - "name, match, reality"). The unique natural advantages (得天独厚, de tian du hou - "get, heaven, uniquely, favor") of its natural ecology nourish this land, and while safeguarding the lucid waters and lush mountains, they have accumulated deep confidence for Bazhong to advance green development and cultivate the eco-cultural tourism industry.
Bazhong is even more a fertile industrial land moving toward the new. It is a region rich in both oil and gas "dual resources" with large-scale development value, with outstanding energy resource endowments; it has been selected as one of the first batch of low-altitude flight pilot cities in Sichuan Province, ushering in development opportunities for the low-altitude economy; it has taken the lead in the province in laying out the sodium battery industry, and in the future will focus on building an important sodium battery industry base in western China, seizing the initiative on the new materials track.
Various resources, factors, and cutting-edge ideas continue to converge in Bazhong, expanding cooperation space for the old revolutionary base area, activating development momentum, and helping Bazhong write a new chapter of the times of moving toward the new and resonating in unison on emerging tracks.
Seizing Transformation Opportunities Opening a New Chapter for Industry
Li Gan, Member of the Party Working Committee and Deputy Director of the Management Committee of the Bazhong Economic Development Zone
From the perspective of sodium ion performance, sodium-ion batteries have excellent safety performance, outstanding low-temperature performance, and abundant resources; from the policy perspective, the state has exempted sodium-ion batteries from consumption tax until 2028, included sodium-ion batteries in the "15th Five-Year Plan" for the development of the new battery industry, and established an independent customs code for sodium-ion batteries. With multiple policy dividends stacking up, the industry has entered a window period.
Based on the opportunities of the new energy industry transformation, Bazhong, relying on its local resources, location, and industrial foundation advantages, is making every effort to seize the new sodium battery track, taking sodium batteries as the key breakthrough point for the advanced materials industry and forging a distinctive path of industrial upgrading.
In terms of the development path, we are taking three steps —
First, focusing on attracting chain leaders. Adhering to chain-based investment attraction and attracting business through business, we focus on attracting and cultivating leading sodium battery enterprises, supplementing the chain and gathering enterprises around positive and negative electrode materials, electrolytes, battery cells, energy storage integration, and other links, and giving play to the leading and driving role of chain leaders.
Second, focusing on building the ecosystem. We will build industry-university-research and public testing platforms, open up technology transformation channels, and cultivate a complete industrial ecosystem of materials-cell-application.
Third, focusing on strengthening safeguards. We will coordinate land, energy consumption, financing, talent, and other factors, provide full-lifecycle services for projects, and support the steady agglomeration and development of the industry.
Developing the Low-Altitude Economy on Multiple Dimensions
Zhao Zezhong, Deputy Director of the Bazhong Airport and Railway Hub Comprehensive Support Center
In developing the low-altitude economy, Bazhong follows the development path of "scenario traction, industrial agglomeration, digital empowerment, and safe and controllable," and systematically advances it around the four dimensions of "fly up, strengthen up, use up, and manage up."
First, focusing on "fly up," we innovate systems and mechanisms to expand the space for low-altitude development. We plan to establish an industrial development fund for the low-altitude economy to inject financial momentum into the industry. We will coordinate the advancement of infrastructure system construction to support various low-altitude aircraft in carrying out flight activities.
Second, focusing on "strengthen up," we adhere to building the ecosystem and strengthening the chain, cultivating differentiated industrial advantages. Based on the characteristics of mountainous terrain, we take a differentiated development path and strengthen the system integration and operation and maintenance service links.
Third, focusing on "use up," we open up government affairs and commercial application tracks, exploring the "Bazhong experience" for low-altitude operations in mountainous areas.
Fourth, focusing on "manage up," we strictly adhere to the safety bottom line and build a solid low-altitude safety defense line. We will upgrade the integrated low-altitude digital operation management platform, open up data links for airspace, meteorology, flight monitoring, and other areas, improve the supporting facilities for site security and countermeasures equipment, achieve visibility, manageability, and adjustability of aircraft, solve the problem of refined management of mountainous airspace, and create a safe and controllable model for the low-altitude economy.
Exploring Sodium Battery Advantages Consolidating the Safety Foundation
Wang Qingsong, Researcher at the University of Science and Technology of China
Sodium-ion batteries have two core advantages. First, resource and cost advantages: sodium is abundant in the earth's crust and can support large-scale industrial development. Both the positive and negative electrode current collectors of sodium-ion batteries can use aluminum foil, while lithium-ion battery negative electrodes require copper foil, resulting in lower material costs. Second, excellent low-temperature performance: sodium-ion batteries can operate normally at minus 40 degrees Celsius, with obvious advantages in high-altitude and cold-region applications.
In terms of safety protection, sodium-ion battery systems cannot directly adopt the core parameters of lithium-ion battery protection systems. At the thermal management level, the normal charge-discharge heat generation power of sodium-ion batteries is higher than that of lithium iron phosphate batteries, and the heat dissipation system requires a larger medium flow rate to quickly conduct heat away. At the early warning level, the expansion and breathing effects of sodium-ion batteries during charge and discharge are stronger than those of lithium-ion batteries, and the expansion characteristics before thermal runaway are particularly significant. In terms of firefighting and extinguishing, sodium-ion batteries release high-temperature flammable gases and induce combustion during thermal runaway, and cooling the interior of the battery is the core of extinguishing. Therefore, it is necessary to establish a safety protection system adapted to sodium-ion battery systems.
Since 2020, we have continuously carried out safety research on sodium-ion batteries, with research covering thermal runaway mechanisms, early warning, firefighting technology, emergency response, and risk assessment. Relying on a series of experimental studies, we have gradually improved the battery safety protection technology system, consolidating the safety foundation for the industrial implementation of sodium-ion batteries.
Technology and Culture Intertwined Lighting Up the City Night Sky
Shi Zheyuan, Chairman of Shanghai Qianji Innovation Culture and Tourism Technology Group Co., Ltd.
On the low-altitude economy track, drone swarm performances are the application scenario closest to the public. When AI (artificial intelligence) large models, intelligent swarm algorithms, and airspace scene-building capabilities meet, the night sky becomes a narrative theater that can be generated in real time, and urban humanistic stories, historical contexts, regional customs, and cultural IP (intellectual property) can all be "translated" into flowing light formations across the sky. Therefore, drone performances are never just a flight control technology; they are also a digital art form that carries cultural expression. Without cultural depth, even the most sophisticated algorithms can hardly possess the vitality to move people's hearts.
Drones empowering culture and tourism are also breaking out of the model of one-off landmark light shows. With the help of AI's perception and analysis of passenger flow, consumption preferences, and urban temporal data, low-altitude performances are shifting from temporary hotspots to normalized, iterable cultural tourism products, continuously gathering foot traffic, activating nighttime consumption, and forming a growth mechanism that promotes the long-term operation of cities.
With the continued development of low-altitude culture and tourism, we hope to further build "links in the sky": using an AI low-altitude digital foundation to connect core landmarks and key scenic spots across the country, weaving scattered single-scene sky shows into a cross-city, cross-scenic-area low-altitude narrative network. The value of drone performances is no longer limited to the visual shock of highlight moments, but is a continuously growing urban low-altitude digital asset.
Data-Driven Building New Low-Altitude Infrastructure
Ren Bin, Chairman of Chengdu Zongheng Automation Technology Co., Ltd.
The low-altitude digital economy is the foundation and the only way forward for the low-altitude economy, and it is also the core application scenario for industrial drones. Drones collect high-precision spatiotemporal big data, empowering scenarios such as power inspection, land surveying and mapping, emergency inspection, water conservancy and environmental monitoring, smart cities, and low-altitude route planning, and provide demand justification for the layout of communication, navigation, takeoff and landing sites, and other infrastructure driven by clear missions, avoiding blind investment. When their large-scale, normalized operation is verified as safe, reliable, and efficient, they provide a data cornerstone and commercial validation for the entire low-altitude economy system, and also create a mature and reliable development environment for the two application scenarios of low-altitude logistics and low-altitude transportation.
We are anchoring on the low-altitude digital economy track and have formed a series of development plans. We adhere to the principle of the low-altitude digital economy taking the lead, supporting system construction with measured terrain and airspace data, and avoiding blindly laying out hardware facilities divorced from actual scenarios. Taking this as a breakthrough, we will accelerate the filling of shortcomings in low-altitude economic infrastructure. In addition to communication, navigation, surveillance, and meteorological support, the core carriers also include drones, unattended systems, cloud management and control platforms, and industry application systems built on AI (artificial intelligence), exporting digital capabilities to all walks of life. In the future, we will gradually cultivate the low-altitude logistics industry on this basis and promote the realization of high-quality development in the domestic low-altitude transportation field.
(Text for this page compiled by Chen Jiali, reporter for Global People magazine, with Cai Xiaohui participating in the reporting and writing)
Return to TopChrysanthemum fragrance permeates the charm of the Song Dynasty, and the entire city is filled with blossoms. In the golden October of autumn, Kaifeng City in Henan Province is covered in gold everywhere, with 3.3 million pots of chrysanthemums of various colors competing for brilliance and beauty (争奇斗艳, zheng qi dou yan - "compete for brilliance, fight for beauty"), attracting visitors from all directions coming in large numbers in quick succession (纷至沓来, fen zhi ta lai - "disorderly, arrive in succession") to immersively experience the thousand-year Song Dynasty charm and autumn splendor unique to this Central Plains city.
The 44th China Kaifeng Chrysanthemum Culture Festival is being held in Kaifeng from October 18 to November 17. "Song Charm in Kaifeng, Chrysanthemum Fragrance Across China" — this two-way rendezvous between a flower event and a city is both a cultural feast for Kaifeng, the ancient capital of eight dynasties, to inherit its thousand-year cultural lineage, and an industrial gathering for modern Kaifeng to stimulate economic vitality. It is also a warm invitation extended by Kaifeng to the world in its high-quality effort to build itself into an internationally renowned cultural tourism city.
Kaifeng's Chrysanthemums Are Exceptionally Fragrant
As one of the first batch of nationally renowned historical and cultural cities, Kaifeng's history of chrysanthemum cultivation can be traced back to the Northern and Southern Dynasties, flourished in the Tang and Song Dynasties, and reached its peak in the Ming and Qing Dynasties. "Every household's chrysanthemums are all yellow, yet the Liang Garden alone is as white as frost." This poem by Tang Dynasty poet Liu Yuxi is the most vivid record of Kaifeng's "chrysanthemum planting and appreciation." During the Northern Song Dynasty, Kaifeng's chrysanthemum varieties, quantity, and cultivation techniques were unrivaled across the land. China's first monograph on chrysanthemums, Liu's Chrysanthemum Manual, came into being during this period, and Dreams of Splendor of the Eastern Capital records the grand occasion of the Double Ninth Festival chrysanthemum gathering in Bianjing City. The Song people's love for chrysanthemums is even more reflected in Song lyrics; in the Complete Song Lyrics, there are 89 lyrics directly about chrysanthemums, and the imagery of "yellow blossoms" appears 340 times. Every autumn, every household displays, appreciates, and recites verses about chrysanthemums, integrating into a folk tradition that has continued for a thousand years, making this city being worthy of the name (名副其实, ming fu qi shi - "name, matches, reality") of "China's Famous Chrysanthemum City."
Chrysanthemum fragrance permeates, and the entire city is filled with Song charm. Kaifeng is an ancient capital of eight dynasties on the banks of the Yellow River, with a history of more than 4,100 years of city-building. The Northern Song Dynasty established its capital here for 168 years, nurturing "Song culture" that inherited from the Han and Tang Dynasties, inspired the Ming and Qing Dynasties, and had a profound and far-reaching influence. The painting Along the River During the Qingming Festival vividly displays its bustling urban life. Spanning a thousand years, in today's Kaifeng, the Yimen Gate of Daliang City from the Warring States period still stands, the central axis of Tang Bianzhou City still exists, and the street corners and alleys recorded in Dreams of Splendor of the Eastern Capital remain.
"It's not that I favor chrysanthemums among flowers; it's that after these bloom, there are no more flowers." The chrysanthemum's character of blooming in the cold and defiantly flourishing against frost aligns perfectly with Kaifeng's resilient character of standing tall through Yellow River floods and the baptism of war, serving as a vivid reflection of the Kaifeng people's unyielding and indomitable (坚强不屈, jian qiang bu qu - "strong, firm, not, yield") spirit and striving for progress with great vigor (奋发进取, fen fa jin qu - "strive, advance, take, progress").
A city and a grand event, a two-way rendezvous of mutual prosperity. In 1983, Kaifeng designated the chrysanthemum as its city flower and has held a Chrysanthemum Culture Festival every year since, successfully hosting 43 editions to date. The Chrysanthemum Culture Festival has become a well-known festival brand for Kaifeng.
As another door Kaifeng opens to the world, the Chrysanthemum Culture Festival uses flowers as its medium, transforming the festival's "traffic" into "retention" of talent, capital, information, technology, and consumption. It has beautified the city, empowered cultural tourism, and nurtured industries, becoming a platform for inheriting historical cultural lineage, promoting industrial integration, and improving people's livelihoods, injecting a continuous stream of momentum into showcasing Kaifeng's Song charm culture, elevating the city's quality, driving cultural tourism consumption, and empowering high-quality development. On the occasion of the opening of this year's Chrysanthemum Culture Festival, two major industrial development events — the 2026 Kaifeng Industrial Investment and Cooperation Exchange Conference and the 2026 China Auto Supply Chain Conference — were held successively in Kaifeng.
In recent years, Kaifeng has expanded its chrysanthemum culture, strengthened its chrysanthemum industry, and optimized its chrysanthemum brand, with more than 2,300 chrysanthemum varieties and the establishment of a major domestic chrysanthemum germplasm resource base. Through comprehensive development of the chrysanthemum's edible, beverage, medicinal, and brewing values, it has developed a series of products including tea, wine, cakes, honey, porcelain, and embroidery, connecting the entire industrial chain of cultivation, ornamental use, processing, and sales, with products selling well both domestically and internationally.
Year after year of flower events, this autumn brings new splendor. This year's Chrysanthemum Culture Festival upholds the exhibition concept of "integrating city and scenery, one scene across the entire city," coordinating citywide landscaping, scenic area linkage, community extension, and benefits shared by the people, painting an autumn picture of a famous city where "chrysanthemums are seen upon entering the city, scenery changes with every step, the city lies in a sea of flowers, and people wander within a painting."
From a profusion of beautiful flowers (花团锦簇, hua tuan jin cu - "flower, cluster, brocade, cluster") in streets and alleys to immersive cultural experiences, chrysanthemum culture has long been integrated into the urban fabric of Kaifeng, becoming an important part of the spiritual home of the Kaifeng people, and also allowing visitors from afar to understand the city's cultural depth and feel its unique charm while enjoying the scenery.
Integrating Culture and Tourism to Appreciate Song Charm
As night falls, dragon boats cruise across the Bian River, their oar sounds and lantern reflections filled with chrysanthemum fragrance; in the Qingming Riverside Landscape Garden, chrysanthemums and Song-style architecture complement each other to create interest (相映成趣, xiang ying cheng qu - "reflect, each other, become, interest"), and visitors dressed in Song attire wander among the chrysanthemum clusters, "people walking among flowers, as if strolling through a painting"; at the Meridian Gate Square, the vitality of street dance and the charm of storytelling spread along with the chrysanthemum fragrance, as citizens and visitors either stop to admire or take photos and interact, with the city's chrysanthemum fragrance filled with the liveliness and joy shared by all.
Coming to Kaifeng in late autumn, one can not only encounter a specially crafted romance but also engage in a deep dialogue with the thousand-year Song charm.
Because of a festival, people journey to a city. Kaifeng's profound cultural heritage and the agglomeration effect of its festival brand have made the Chrysanthemum Culture Festival a powerful engine for "gathering popularity, attracting traffic, and boosting consumption." The number of tourists received by Kaifeng has maintained double-digit growth for many consecutive years. In 2025, the city received more than 116 million tourist visits, with comprehensive cultural tourism revenue exceeding 87 billion yuan, and it was successfully selected as a key tourism city in the "15th Five-Year Plan" for Building a Strong Tourism Country.
Kaifeng adheres to shaping tourism with culture and highlighting culture through tourism, deeply cultivating the roots of Song charm, leveraging momentum for development, accelerating the construction of an internationally renowned cultural tourism city, and transforming cultural resource advantages into cultural development strengths, with integrated cultural tourism development achieving outstanding results. Focusing on the goal of "hosting one event, beautifying one city," Kaifeng fully amplifies the platform advantages, traffic advantages, and communication advantages of the Chrysanthemum Culture Festival, promoting its extension from a single season of popularity to year-round splendor, and its transformation from cultural tourism traffic generation to industrial empowerment. It deeply advances "cultural tourism + all industries" and "all industries + cultural tourism," leveraging the Chrysanthemum Culture Festival to connect the city's cultural tourism resources, distinctive commercial districts, and internet-famous streets, fully integrating tourism with intangible cultural heritage, traditional Chinese medicine, folk customs, night markets, and cuisine, driving the quality upgrading of commerce and trade, cultural creativity, accommodation, and catering, accelerating the iterative upgrading of cross-sector scenarios such as culture-commerce-tourism, culture-sports-tourism, and agriculture-culture-tourism, making efforts in inbound tourism and expanding international cultural trade, and truly building the cultural tourism industry into a pillar industry, a livelihood industry, and a happiness industry.
Kaifeng integrates the promotion of "Song culture" into the entire cultural tourism industrial chain, making every effort to shape the city IP of "One City of Song Charm, Dreams of Splendor of the Eastern Capital." The live performances at the Qingming Riverside Landscape Garden make "Song culture" concrete as tangible and touchable everyday life; the citywide immersive NPC (non-player character) interactions at Wansui Mountain Martial Arts City allow visitors to move from "watching performances" to "entering the world of the drama"; the Yellow River Hanging River Culture Park and Shuntianmen Site Museum, opened and completed this year, use digital light and shadow technology to let visitors immersively experience the wonders of the "hanging river," "city upon city," and "central axis"; Kaifeng City Wall and Zhouqiao Site strengthen distinctive study tours, using diverse scenarios to vividly interpret the thousand-year Song elegance...
Kaifeng adheres to "protection first," "integration of city and scenery," and "sharing between hosts and guests," investing meticulous effort ("embroidery work") to improve the level of refined urban management. It advances the urban renewal of the ancient city's "four wards and twenty lanes," using "darning-style" and "acupuncture-style" micro-renewal to polish the seven corners, eight lanes, and seventy-two alleys; implements a project for the concentrated, contiguous protection and utilization of 163 ungraded immovable cultural relics, revitalizing distinctive streets and scenic areas such as Bookstore Street, Song Capital Imperial Street, and Fuxing Lane; renovates backstreets and alleys, creating "flower streets" and parks, so that citizens and visitors can together enjoy the beauty of all four seasons and share the Song-style "slow life" and "leisurely time."
The Ancient Capital Renews Itself with Vitality
In the past, Kaifeng was renowned across China for its thousand-year Song charm; today, Kaifeng shines anew through innovative development. With the accelerated rise of the central region, the in-depth implementation of major strategies such as ecological protection and high-quality development of the Yellow River basin, and the accelerated implementation of provincial strategies such as Zhengzhou-Kaifeng integration, Kaifeng is continuously releasing development momentum, and the thousand-year ancient capital is radiating new vitality and vigorous vigor of modernization.
Pioneering a "new blue ocean" in advanced manufacturing. Kaifeng highlights the development of automobile manufacturing as its primary industry, transforms and develops the advantageous chemical new materials industry, cultivates and strengthens the distinctive high-end equipment industry, and elevates the development level of producer services. In the field of automobile manufacturing, one-fifth of the province's complete vehicles are "made in Kaifeng," with every effort made to build a "hundred-billion-yuan automobile city"; in the past five years, it has cultivated 19 national single-category champions in subdivided fields within the chemical new materials sector; Tongxu County has built the country's largest production and processing base for hot and sour noodles.
Activating the "new engine" for accelerated Zhengzhou-Kaifeng integration development. Taking the "six strengthenings" as its starting point, Kaifeng works in the same direction as Zhengzhou, advancing at full speed the construction of the Zhengzhou-Kaifeng integration demonstration zone, comprehensively integrating into the coordinated development of the Zhengzhou metropolitan area, jointly building automobile, new materials, and cultural tourism industrial clusters and a science and innovation corridor, building at a high level the Zhengzhou-Kaifeng integration pilot zone, and exploring new paths in regional coordinated development.
Building a "new highland" for higher-level inland opening up. Guided strategically by integrating into the unified national market, Kaifeng builds at a high standard national-level opening platforms such as the pilot free trade zone and the comprehensive bonded zone, blazing a new path for high-quality development of an export-oriented economy in an inland city. Kaifeng International Land Port has been basically completed, and the National Cultural Export Base and the Cross-border E-commerce Comprehensive Pilot Zone have been successfully approved.
Creating a "new model" of a first-class business environment. Kaifeng's comprehensive supporting reforms of the business environment continue to deepen, and it has been successfully selected for the fifth batch of national social credit system construction demonstration zones. The case of "optimizing business environment reforms and enhancing the level of investment and trade liberalization and facilitation" at the Kaifeng Economic and Technological Development Zone was selected for the China Development Zone Business Environment Top 100 Cases (2025). Kaifeng has established a "worry-free consumption insurance" mechanism and was successfully approved as a pilot city for cultivating entities promoting worry-free consumption.
Opening a "new situation" of comprehensive rural revitalization. Kaifeng solidly advances the construction of modern distinctive agricultural demonstration zones, with the city's total grain output remaining stable at around 6 billion jin; consolidating and expanding the achievements of the battle against poverty has remained in the province's first tier for five consecutive years; it promotes the clustered and full-chain development of eight distinctive industries — chrysanthemum, wheat, garlic, hot and sour noodles, peanuts, slaughtering, dairy, and watermelon — fully demonstrating its exemplary and model effect in promoting the integrated development of thriving industries, strong counties, and enriched people.
Kaifeng is named for "opening" (kai), advances through "pioneering" (kaituo), and prospers through "opening up" (kaifang). The gene of "opening" has long been integrated into the city's bloodline. Striving forward in the 15th Five-Year Plan period, Kaifeng bears in mind its mission, advances with gratitude, vigorously inherits and promotes the spirit of Jiao Yulu, deeply carries out the activities of "strengthening capabilities, transforming work style, and improving efficiency," answering with practical action and submitting results with real performance, and is moving forward with courage and determination (勇毅前行, yong yi qian xing - "brave, resolute, move forward") toward the goal of building a modern Kaifeng that is stronger, more vibrant, happier, more beautiful, safer, and more upright, striving to be at the forefront in writing a new chapter of Chinese modernization in the Central Plains.
Data source: Publicity Department of the CPC Kaifeng Municipal Committee
Return to TopIn recent years, localities across China have deeply tapped into local distinctive resources, actively cultivated industries that enrich the people through agricultural quality improvement, cultural-tourism integration, and ecological empowerment, and solidly advanced the comprehensive revitalization of rural areas. Foreign friends have used their cameras to record the industrial transformation, cultural charm, and landscape beauty of villages throughout the country (大江南北, da jiang nan bei - "great, river, south, north"), experiencing the vigorous vitality of China's rural areas with thriving industries, flourishing cultural tourism, beautiful ecology, and prosperous people.
(This page's text was compiled and edited by People's Daily reporters Zhang Bolan, Yang Wenming, Shao Yuzi, Dou Hanyang, Tian Xianjin, Zhang Yunhe, and Zhou Huan)
Return to TopBy: 金 言
"The golden sands beat against the clouds and the cliffs are warm; the iron chains spanning the Dadu Bridge hang cold" and "The soldiers' feet traversed the world, four crossings of the Chishui River produced miraculous troops"... In the extremely familiar (耳熟能详, er shou neng xiang - "ear, familiar, can, know well") poems of the Long March, the imagery of crossing bridges is commonplace or ubiquitous (比比皆是, bi bi jie shi - "compare, compare, all, are").
On the Long March of ten thousand li, a thousand mountains stood as barriers and ten thousand rivers as obstacles. Along the long journey, Red Army officers and soldiers fought more than 600 battles and campaigns against the enemy and crossed nearly a hundred rivers. Bridge after bridge over rivers, connecting history and reality, has become a vivid footnote to this great feat in human history.
This year marks the 90th anniversary of the victory of the Long March of the Chinese Workers' and Peasants' Red Army. From the five bridges erected on the banks of the Yudu River and the daring crossing of the natural barrier at the Wujiang ferry, to the magnificent transformation of the Luding iron chains and the long rainbow lying across the waters of the Wei River... Following the footsteps of the Red Army to retrace the Long March route, looking back at the Long March crossing bridges along the way, in the contrast between old and new and the dialogue between past and present, the Long March spirit shines brightly and has become becoming stronger and more resilient over time (历久弥坚, li jiu mi jian - "long time, still, increasingly, firm").
Retracing the Long March route, what does one "bridge" see?
From the transformation of the bridges' form, one sees the spirit of overcoming great difficulties and challenges (攻坚克难, gong jian ke nan - "attack, key position, overcome, difficulty").
In Yudu, Jiangxi, wooden pontoon bridges and steel bridges face each other, forming a city skyline; in Luding, Sichuan, 700 meters downstream from the Luding Bridge, traffic on the Chengnan Bridge is heavy and continuous traffic (车流如梭, che liu ru suo - "vehicle, flow, like, shuttle"); in Wushan, Gansu, beside the monument to the forced crossing of the Wei River, the Wei River Bridge stands tall... Ninety years of braving all kinds of weather and hardships (风雨兼程, feng yu jian cheng - "wind, rain, simultaneously, journey"), from the assembly point to the rendezvous point, from breaking through artillery blockades and escaping surrounding and intercepting an enemy (围追堵截, wei zhui du jie - "surround, pursue, block, intercept") in the past, to conquering technical difficulties and turning natural barriers into thoroughfares today, the form of the bridges has changed, but the fighting spirit that fears no hardship and surmounts all obstacles has never changed.
General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out: "The reason our Party has remained vigorous and thriving after a hundred years of trials and tribulations, and has endured hardships without ever ceasing, is precisely because it relies on that powerful spirit of revolution plus desperate struggle." Stabilizing the economy and promoting development, fighting poverty and building a moderately prosperous society, controlling epidemics and resisting major disasters, responding to changing situations and resolving crises... Leveling the bumps into a broad road, and setting out again after overcoming dangers, it is precisely by carrying forward the Long March spirit of "fearing no difficulties or obstacles, and sparing no sacrifice" that China in the new era has been opening a way through mountains (逢山开路, feng shan kai lu - "meet, mountain, open, road") and building bridges across waters, continuously writing new development miracles through one breakthrough and crossing after another.
From the transformation of the two banks of the bridges, one sees the original aspiration and founding mission of putting the people first.
More than 90 years have passing by in a flash (倏忽而过, shu hu er guo - "sudden, moment, and, pass"), and along the ten-thousand-li Long March route, the crossing bridges stand quietly and the rivers remain as before; but the human world has long since changed into a new heaven: in the Dadu River valley, rainbows of bridges span the gorge, clean energy generates wealth on the spot, and the digital economy grows vigorously; at the natural barrier of the Wujiang River, highways and railways run side by side, rich mineral resources come out of the deep mountains, and the pockets of the mountain villagers bulge; a single bridge connects the two banks of the Wei River, revitalizing red cultural tourism resources and driving the masses to increase income and become prosperous... From the beacon-fire Long March road to the road of comprehensive rural revitalization, in two great marches spanning time and space, the original aspiration and founding mission of "seeking happiness for the people" has been carried through from beginning to end.
"When the Communist Party of China leads the people to seize and hold state power, what it holds is the people's hearts." Building the world's largest social security system, establishing a basic medical and health system covering both urban and rural areas, and enabling hundreds of millions of children to enjoy better and fairer education... Everything for the people, firmly relying on the people, inheriting the Long March spirit of "placing the fundamental interests of the people of the whole country and the Chinese nation above all else," the people's continuously growing sense of gain, happiness, and security unfolds as the livelihood answer sheet of China in the new era.
The transformation of roads and bridges reflects the transformation of the times and of development, and is moreover a vivid epitome of the Long March spirit being passed down from generation to generation, endless and continuous (生生不息, sheng sheng bu xi - "birth, birth, not, cease"). Retracing the old and new bridges along the Long March route, we can better appreciate the great rejuvenation power of the century-old Party: the tangible bridges over rivers connect natural barriers and bridge chasms; the intangible bridges of spirit carry on the bloodline and unite strength. The overlapping of tangible bridges and intangible bridges has walked out the progress and development of today's China.
Looking back at the road traveled is for the sake of setting out better. "Every generation has its own Long March road, and every generation must walk its own Long March road well." On the new Long March road, there are still many "natural barriers" to cross and many "Loushan Passes" and "Lazikou" to conquer. Carrying forward the great Long March spirit, keeping in mind the original aspiration and founding mission, and firmly believing in our ideals and convictions, continuing to march forward bravely on the new Long March road — what once led us to success will surely lead us to continued success!
Return to TopFive bridges over the Yudu River —
The bridge names together form a "history of the Long March"
People's Daily reporter Yang Yanfei
In Yudu County, Ganzhou, Jiangxi, standing at the East Gate Ferry Crossing, a pontoon bridge made of several small wooden boats and door planks is clearly visible.
"In the past, the Yudu River flowed swiftly, and there was not a single bridge over the river." Zhong Min, director of the Yudu County Red Resources Protection and Development Center, recalled that in 1934, 86,000 Red Army soldiers crossed the river at night to set out on the expedition, and the people of Yudu dismantled the door planks and timber from their homes overnight to build five pontoon bridges, sending the Red Army soldiers off on their long expedition.
As time has passed, pointing at the calm river surface, Zhong Min's tone carried excitement: "Look, now there are five large bridges over the river!"
The pontoon bridges used by the Red Army when crossing the river on the Long March have been "transformed" into the five modern bridges before our eyes. Named "Red Army," "Long March," "Rally," "River Crossing," and "Victory," they stand in succession, spanning both banks, and the bridge names together form a "history of the Long March," bearing witness to the tremendous transformation of this red land as it moved from "rallying and crossing the river" to "victory."
The Long March Bridge, quietly resting near the ferry crossing at the foot of the former West Gate Tower, was the first bridge over the Yudu River since the reform and opening up. Before the bridge was opened to traffic, only two diesel-engine boats shuttled between the north and south of the county seat, each carrying at most 20 people, and ferry service stopped at nightfall.
Building a large bridge became the long-cherished wish of the people of Yudu. To achieve this goal, the county and people from all walks of life spontaneously donated 8.3 million yuan.
In 1997, on the day the Long March Bridge was completed and opened to traffic, the entire county seat was extremely noisy and bustling (锣鼓喧天, luo gu xuan tian - "gongs, drums, noisy in the sky"). Liu Jiasheng, now 55 years old and a drummer at the time, still clearly remembers sitting on a decorated float beating the drum to conduct, while a 100-person suona ensemble played "Without the Communist Party, There Would Be No New China" together. After the bridge opened to traffic, ferry crossings withdrew from history. Today, traffic flows ceaselessly over the bridge, and on the south bank, high-rises stand in rows in the Gongjiang New District, presenting a scene of a new city.
As night falls, lights gradually brighten along the banks of the Yudu River. On the south bank of the Red Army Bridge, a night market stretching two kilometers comes alive, with a continuous stream of people (人流络绎不绝, ren liu luo yi bu jue - "people, flow, continuous, not stopping"). Before this bridge, which leads directly to the Zhalin Industrial Park, was opened to traffic, enterprises struggled to recruit workers due to inconvenient transportation. After the bridge opened to traffic in 2003, factory buildings rose in contiguous clusters, and the textile and garment industry took off. Today, Yudu County has more than 3,850 textile and garment enterprises, with output value exceeding 100 billion yuan.
The Rally Bridge, located between the Long March Bridge and the River Crossing Bridge, was completed and opened to traffic in 2023, helping the Gongjiang New District grow rapidly. Ding Linhua used demolition compensation to buy a commercial apartment in the new district, transforming from a "villager" into a "city resident": "A few steps out the door is a school, around the corner is a hospital, and the commercial center is not far either."
In 2024, the Victory Bridge was completed and opened to traffic, connecting red landmarks such as the Memorial Park of the Central Red Army's Long March Rallying and Departure Point and the Long March Academy. In the Long March Grand Theater, the house lights dim, the prologue slowly opens, and "The First Crossing of the Long March" leads the audience into an immersive experience of that magnificent and stirring great Long March road. Since its premiere in 2023, the work has been performed more than 700 times, attracting over 400,000 viewers from across the country.
During the National Day holiday that just passed, on the banks of the Yudu River, beneath the Rally Bridge, the crowd gathered and sang "My Motherland" in unison, the classic melody echoing for a long time.
"Back then, my grandfather dismantled his door planks to build a pontoon bridge for the Red Army; now, a large bridge has been built where the pontoon bridge once stood." Liu Zhiming, 75, a descendant of a Red Army soldier, watched a video on his phone in Beijing and his eyes reddened: "The wish my grandfather made beside the pontoon bridge — 'if only there could be sons who build bridges and pave roads' — has also come true. My son is now a bridge design engineer!"
The Red Army's promise back then — "we'll come back and build a bridge once we win" — has been transformed into a rainbow over the blue waves, holding up the happy lives of the people on both banks.
From the Luding Bridge to the Chengnan Bridge —
Seven bridges span the Dadu River
People's Daily reporter You Yi
In late autumn, in Luding, Sichuan. The Dadu River surges down from the snow-capped mountains, splitting open the gorge, waves crashing against the cliffs, the roar of the torrent never ceasing day or night.
Standing at the head of the Luding Bridge, looking up, the iron chains hang across the sky; looking down, white waves roll. Mao Jiayu, 24, a docent at the Memorial Hall of the Red Army's Daring Capture of the Luding Bridge, is leading a group of tourists onto the bridge.
Reaching the middle, the bridge body sways gently with each step, and the river roars below. Her voice lowered: "On May 29, 1935, the Red Army fought from the west bridgehead, where we came onto the bridge, toward the east. The bridge planks had been stripped away by the enemy, leaving only 13 iron chains. Twenty-two warriors crawled forward clinging to the bare iron chains, machine guns strafed from the opposite bank, and the defending enemy set a great fire at the east bridgehead, scorching the iron chains red-hot."
"The battle was so urgent at the time that no complete roster of names could be kept." Mao Jiayu said that 22 stone pillars stand before the monument, with only 5 names carved on them. "The names of many warriors have still not been confirmed to this day."
From the memorial hall to the Luding Bridge, one guided tour takes more than an hour. Mao Jiayu goes up and down the bridge every day, and she has walked this route countless times. "In the past, the Luding Bridge was the only way across the natural barrier of the Dadu River. Now it's different — I take the Chengnan Bridge to and from work, very convenient."
About 700 meters downstream along the Dadu River, traffic flows ceaselessly over the Chengnan Bridge. In 1991, the first-generation Chengnan Bridge was opened to traffic, and the Luding Bridge withdrew from its social transportation function, allowing the red landmark to be preserved.
From the Luding Bridge to the Chengnan Bridge, and then to the Xingkang Extra-Large Bridge on the Ya'an-Kangding Expressway, the bridges are "growing taller" and the roads are getting faster. Yang Kaichang, director of the office of the Luding Branch Center of the Ganzi Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture Highway Construction Service, remembers that when she first came to Luding, returning to her hometown of Li County required a detour through Chengdu, taking more than 10 hours by car. "Now the expressway gets me home in four and a half hours." In the more than ten years since she came to Luding, Yang Kaichang has watched the bridges over the Dadu River multiply one after another.
In 1935, the Luding Bridge was the only bridge over the Dadu River; today, in Luding's urban area alone, as many as seven bridges span the Dadu River. The transformation of transportation has brought transformation in development: peppercorns, peaches, red cherries, and other specialty agricultural products have come out of the deep mountains; large numbers of tourists come following the footsteps of the Red Army's Long March, and villagers are earning a living from tourism right at their doorsteps.
From iron chains to steel truss girders, from foot traffic to vehicular traffic, the bridges are changing and the roads are changing, but the guardianship has remained consistent from beginning to end (一以贯之, yi yi guan zhi - "one, through, connect, always").
The river wind carries Mao Jiayu's voice far away. In the wind, she is still telling the story of those 22 warriors, even though most of their names have been lost to history. For years, Yang Kaichang and her colleagues have kept watch over the roads and bridges on the Ganzi plateau day after day, just as she put it: "Building bridges and protecting roads is the new era Long March road that our generation must walk."
As we left, dusk crept over the gorge. The iron chains of the Luding Bridge trembled slightly in the wind, the crimson bridge towers of the Xingkang Extra-Large Bridge lit up, and further away, another railway bridge was under intensive construction.
Multiple bridges, spanning different eras, cross the same stretch of the Dadu River. Back then, the Red Army fought a path of survival on iron chains with flesh and blood; today, people build thoroughfares across the gorge with steel and concrete. Iron chains may rust, but the courage of "seizing the bridge" has always been there. "The Long March has no end point; every generation has its own Luding Bridge to cross." Mao Jiayu's tone was resolute.
The Wujiang Extra-Large Bridge —
"Forced crossing" has now become "bridge crossing"
People's Daily reporters Liu Wenxin and Han Xin
"No matter where you roam under heaven, none is harder to cross than the Wujiang ferry."
The Wujiang River, the largest tributary on the south bank of the upper reaches of the Yangtze River, has been known since ancient times as a "natural barrier" for its swift currents, numerous shoals, and narrow gorges. In golden October, standing at the Jiangjiehe Ferry Crossing in the Weng'an section of the Wujiang River, history and reality converge here — looking up, the main arch ring of the Wujiang Extra-Large Bridge hangs over the river surface like a crescent moon; not far away, the site of the Red Army's forced crossing of the Wujiang River at Jiangjiehe stands quietly.
On January 1, 1935, the Central Red Army launched the battle to break through the Wujiang River in three columns, lashing bamboo rafts and building pontoon bridges, breaking through the surging Wujiang River amid a hail of bullets. On the 7th, the Central Red Army occupied Zunyi, ushering in the great turning point of the Chinese revolution.
Mountains and rivers are silent, but time leaves its marks. More than 90 years after the Red Army crossed the river, on the same Wujiang River, over the same stretch of water, a new group of "river crossers" has arrived.
In March 2025, the project team of the Eighth Bid Section of the Weng'an-Maochang Railway of China Communications Construction Company Road and Bridge Construction raised a steel dragon over the Wujiang River — the Wujiang Extra-Large Bridge. The bridge has a total length of 520.92 meters, a main span of 337 meters, and a deck about 200 meters above the river surface, making it the concrete arch bridge with the largest span on a single-track railway in China.
Building a bridge across a "natural barrier" is no easy task. "Ninety-one years ago, the Red Army was breaking through a life-and-death barrier; today, we are passing the ecological barrier and the technical barrier." Lei Chaoyang, head of the project team of the Eighth Bid Section of the Weng'an-Maochang Railway of China Communications Construction Company Road and Bridge Construction, said with emotion.
The bridge is located in a national scenic area and a second-class drinking water source protection zone of the Wujiang River, with extremely high environmental protection requirements; the cliff slopes at the bridge site are as steep as 85 degrees, with a relative elevation difference of 400 meters and water depths of 100 meters, making it almost "impossible to enter"... Facing the harsh construction conditions, the project team innovatively adopted a "tunnel-style access road" scheme, building a 245-meter tunnel to replace traditional large-scale mountain excavation, minimizing disturbance to the gorge's original landforms; for the sheer cliffs and unstable rock environments on both banks, methods such as "horse caravan" material transport and "spider-man" slope netting protection came into play, providing strong support for bridge construction.
Breaking through one barrier after another, at the end of May this year, the steel girder installation of the Wujiang Extra-Large Bridge succeeded: the tunnel "spat out" a steel girder about 50 meters long, which was hoisted by cable crane to a height of about 200 meters above the water, precisely positioned over the gorge. "After decades of working on engineering projects, seeing that scene was still utterly awe-inspiring!" Lei Chaoyang said excitedly.
The same natural chasm, the same "advancing into danger" — in the relay spanning more than 90 years across two generations, the spirit of facing difficulties head-on and pressing forward without flinching has remained unchanged.
"Under conditions of treacherous terrain and stringent environmental protection requirements, connecting the two banks of the Wujiang River with a steel rainbow." In Lei Chaoyang's view, today's builders have taken up the Red Army's "relay baton" — is this not also a kind of "flying crossing" of the new era.
From bamboo rafts and wooden boats to a steel rainbow, two ways of crossing, but the original aspiration and founding mission of "seeking happiness for the people" has been consistent from beginning to end.
For a long time, Weng'an, Fuquan, and other places have been rich in phosphorus, aluminum, coal, and other resources, but because of the high mountains and deep gorges and the lack of export channels, this has been a major constraint on local economic and social development. As a control project of the north-south extension line of the Weng'an-Maochang Railway, after the completion of the Wujiang Extra-Large Bridge, a new channel for the exchange of goods between the southwest, northwest, and south China regions has been opened, accelerating industrial upgrading and improvement of people's livelihoods along the route.
The Wujiang River surges on, and mountains and rivers have undergone tremendous changes. Carrying forward the Long March spirit, the old saying "none is harder to cross than the Wujiang ferry" is being quietly rewritten by the strivers of the new era.
The Weihe River Bridge in Yuanyang Town, Wushan County, Gansu —
Cultural tourism heats up by the "Long March Bridge"
People's Daily reporter Song Chaojun
"I'm going to the north bank of the river to buy some sow thistle and chives, and make a vat of fermented vegetable water when I get home!" Yang Shengping, 72, from Yuanyang Village, Yuanyang Town, Wushan County, Tianshui City, Gansu, has walked this Weihe River Bridge for decades; crossing the Weihe River has become part of his daily life.
Beside the Weihe River Bridge, the monument to the First Front Army of the Red Army's forced crossing of the Weihe River during the Long March stands quietly, drawing time back more than 90 years.
In September 1935, the Central Red Army was reorganized into the Shaanxi-Gansu Detachment and marched north. The Kuomintang army built more than 30 blockhouses along the Weihe River, attempting to annihilate the Red Army on the south bank of the Weihe River. Over more than a year, the main forces of the First, Second, and Fourth Front Armies of the Red Army successively forced crossings of the Weihe River at ferry crossings such as Yuanyang Town and Luomen Town within Wushan County, marching north and ultimately achieving the great convergence of forces.
Crossing the river back then was fraught with every kind of difficulty. On some stretches, Red Army soldiers rolled up their trousers and waded through the icy Weihe water; on some dangerous sections, they used local materials to build simple wooden plank pontoon bridges, seizing time and braving the natural barrier to cross the river northward overnight.
Crossing the river today is smooth and convenient. In the 1970s, the local cement plant funded the construction of the early Weihe River Bridge. In 2017, the brand-new Yuanyang Town Weihe River Bridge was completed and opened to traffic, with a smooth deck — wheels roll over it steadily.
Breaking through difficulties and surmounting perils, one bridge connects the two banks of the Weihe River, and a new picture of forging ahead boldly unfolds —
One bridge has prospered the production and living activities on both banks. In recent years, the area has developed a regular rural market, held on the 2nd, 5th, and 8th days of the lunar month, drawing people from all the surrounding villages together. Fruits, vegetables, meat, eggs, local agricultural products, and daily necessities present a dazzling array of beautiful things (琳琅满目, lin lang man mu - "fine jade, fill, eyes"), gradually developing into a large vegetable and agricultural trade base radiating to the surrounding areas.
One bridge has released greater vitality for regional development. In the area around the Yuanyang Town Weihe River Bridge, National Highway 310, the Lianyungang-Horgos Expressway, the Longhai Railway, and other transportation arteries converge or pass nearby.
"In the past, vegetables grown and medicinal herbs harvested on the north bank were a huge effort to transport across the river, and on rainy days they simply couldn't be shipped out at all. Now large trucks drive directly across the bridge, merchants come to the door to collect goods, and they're shipped directly to all parts of the country — specialty products sell at good prices." Xian Shenghua, deputy secretary of the Party Committee of Yuanyang Town, spoke with genuine feeling.
Relying on the convenience of the bridge, peppercorns, Chinese medicinal herbs, and facility-grown vegetables are no longer blocked by the Weihe River, and truckload after truckload of agricultural goods are shipped out smoothly. Today, the town's vegetable cultivation area has reached 7,300 mu, with 5,500 mu of Chinese medicinal herb planting. Local products that could previously only be sold sporadically in the area are now, following the road network, quickly walking out of the ridges, beams, gullies, and hollows to be sold across the country.
Safeguarding the red roots, activating red resources, and refining red cultural tourism. Today, at the south end of the Yuanyang Town Weihe River Bridge, the monument to the First Front Army of the Red Army's forced crossing of the Weihe River during the Long March stands tall; north of the bridge, in the Feijiashan Red Tourism Scenic Area, attractions such as the Red Culture Square and the Long March Poetry Corridor are widely distributed like stars or chess pieces (星罗棋布, xing luo qi bu - "stars, scattered, chess, pieces"). Relying on the resources along the Weihe River, since 2024, the local government has been building a red cultural tourism zone, and the red relics originally scattered on both banks, connected by the bridge, have been strung into a complete red tour route. In recent years, the town has received more than 8,000 person-visits of red study tours annually, directly driving an increase of over 750,000 yuan in people's incomes.
"The precious spiritual wealth left by the Red Army has coalesced into the driving force for promoting the comprehensive revitalization of rural areas on the new journey." Xian Shenghua said.
Return to TopBy: 王云杉
In this year's third-quarter "report card" on national economic performance, two sets of data stood out as particularly striking.
One set comes from growth momentum: new drivers of growth represented by high-end manufacturing, the digital-intelligence economy, and modern services continued to contribute more than 40 percent to economic growth in the first three quarters. Another set comes from foreign trade exports: in the first three quarters, the total value of imports and exports of goods grew 18.8 percent year on year, with the equipment manufacturing sector playing a prominent leading role and contributing nearly 90 percent of the export increment.
New quality productive forces continue to grow and thrive, and the "ballast stone" role of the equipment manufacturing sector has become prominent. Looking at the two sets of data together, each has its own focus, yet they corroborate each other, jointly outlining the clear trend of China's economy moving toward the new and the superior.
The "new" is reflected in the transformation of growth momentum. Industrial vertical large models have entered steel plants and ports, converting process experience into intelligent solutions and optimizing production processes; humanoid robots have been deployed in batches on auto parts production lines, moving from "pilot verification" to "normalized operations"; the C919 large aircraft made its maiden flight on the regular international route from Beijing to Ulaanbaatar, as domestically produced high-end equipment strides toward the global market... One vivid scene after another, one bustling industrial site after another, bears witness to the change in momentum and outlines the lively picture of innovation achievements accelerating their landing.
Real scenes and data corroborate each other, revealing the clear direction of momentum transformation. Relevant data show that in the third quarter, capital investment in frontier fields such as artificial intelligence and humanoid robots grew 184.1 percent year on year, and in September grew 198.7 percent year on year. The pace of the sequential transition between old and new drivers of growth has accelerated, new drivers of growth continue to grow and strengthen, and they are striving to shoulder the main burden of the economy.
The "superior" is reflected in the optimization of the industrial structure. To observe China's economy, one must look not only at the growth rate but also at the quality of development. In the first three quarters, the added value of the equipment manufacturing sector grew 10.2 percent year on year, and the added value of high-tech manufacturing grew 14.3 percent, respectively 4.9 and 9.0 percentage points faster than the added value of all industries above designated size. The forces supporting industrial growth are accelerating their concentration in segments that are more technology-intensive and of higher added value, and the pace of industry's advance toward the mid-to-high end has become more solid.
Turning our gaze to traditional industries, the ceramics industry has applied 3D printing technology to accelerate upgrading and development; coal enterprises have used intelligent systems to monitor underground operations, raising production efficiency by 30 percent... One traditional industry after another is releasing new drivers of growth and radiating new competitiveness through green and high-end transformation. The superiority of the industrial structure lies in the steady pace of upgrading toward the high end and in the surging vitality of transformation toward intelligence. It is believed that as the transformation and upgrading of traditional industries advances in depth, the overall efficiency of the industrial system will be further released.
The trend toward the new and the superior is reflected not only in the steady and forceful pace of current development but also inseparable from forward-looking layout and moves. In recent times, we have had deployments to promote upgrading — in September, the National Advanced Manufacturing Conference was held, clarifying the deep integration of scientific and technological innovation with industrial innovation and promoting the upgrading of manufacturing toward intelligence, green development, and integration; we have had measures to add momentum — in October, the Opinions on Developing New Quality Productive Forces was issued, deploying 19 key measures across 5 aspects, drawing an action roadmap for accelerating the development of new quality productive forces; we have had support that benefits the long term — a batch of major national projects has achieved breakthroughs and come online one after another: the Pinglu Canal, the first canal connecting rivers to the sea built since the founding of New China, opened to navigation; the largest desert oilfield in China produced more than 26 million tons of ultra-deep oil and gas; the main structure of China's first offshore carbon-injection and gas-increase platform was completed... From policy deployment to landing practice, one practical measure after another has been implemented in succession, continuously converging into a solid force driving the sustained improvement of the economy, making the confidence of China's economy in high-quality development ever more ample.
There are fewer than 80 days left before the end of 2026. China's economy operated smoothly in the first three quarters, with new drivers of growth flourishing and new vitality continuously released, laying a solid foundation for accomplishing the year's economic and social development goals.
Although the current domestic and international development environment remains complex and changeable, the more we face overcoming difficulties and challenges (爬坡过坎, pa po guo kan - "climb slope, cross hurdle"), the more we must strengthen confidence and maintain strategic resolve. China's industrial system is complete, its innovation potential is abundant, and its policy tools are ample; the real economy has strong resilience, great potential, and abundant vitality, and there are many favorable conditions and solid supports for achieving the year's development goals. As long as we persist in developing new quality productive forces in light of local conditions, bring into play all our advantageous conditions, and implement every policy deployment in detail, we will surely gain the initiative in responding to challenges and continue to propel the great ship of China's economy forward through the waves.
Return to TopBy: 本报记者 周 欢
In October 1934, more than 86,000 men of the main force of the Central Red Army crossed overnight in haste (星夜渡过, xing ye du guo - "star, night, cross, pass") the Yudu River and set out on a long march of ten thousand li.
In the Yudu Museum of the History of the Central Red Army's Long March Assembly and Departure, a mottled, faded hand-cranked sewing machine sits quietly on display. In those years, Ge Jiediao, a Red Army soldier from Yudu, carried it on his shoulder as he marched with the army, bearing witness to the sincerity with which the masses of the Soviet area supported the Red Army with meticulous and painstaking effort (一针一线, yi zhen yi xian - "one, needle, one, thread").
A single strand of yarn links history and the present.
From simple work clothes to guofeng qipao, from manual sewing to smart workshops, from OEM labeling to brands going overseas... In recent years, Yudu has focused on developing the textile and garment industry, gathering more than 3,850 related enterprises, driving employment for about 300,000 people, with total industry revenue exceeding 100 billion yuan. It has been awarded titles such as China's Famous City for Brand Garment Manufacturing, the National Fashion Garment Featured Industry Cluster Area, and one of the National Top Ten Featured Industrial Clusters for the Textile and Garment Industry.
Changes in Products
From basic ready-made garments to diversified apparel
Stepping into the sample room of Ganzhou Huaxin Knitting Co., Ltd., on one side are the ordinary knitted sweaters and basic base-layer garments the company produced when it first settled here—single in style, monotonous in color; on the other side are the fashionable jacquard knitted sweaters, high-elasticity skin-friendly base-layer tops, and thick autumn-winter wool-blend sweaters now offered to the market—varied in silhouette and novel in design.
In the 14 years since putting down roots in Yudu, the company's annual production has grown from more than 10 garment styles to more than 500, and annual revenue has increased fivefold, reflecting the growth trajectory of Yudu's textile and garment industry as it continuously iterates and develops in a diversified direction.
Starting at the end of the last century, large numbers of Yudu people went out to work elsewhere. Over nearly 20 years, a force of about 300,000 "Yudu tailors" took shape in Guangdong, Fujian, and other places, honing their skills and accumulating capital. Around 2010, as coastal industries underwent gradient transfer, Yudu seized the opportunity to attract the "Yudu tailors" working outside to return home and start businesses, developing a local textile and garment industry.
"Quite a few people came back, and there were some orders, but the supporting industries just couldn't keep up. The local supply of garment fabrics and accessories was weak—zippers and buttons all had to be bought from elsewhere. Most factories didn't dare take complex or new-style orders, and the whole industry could only produce few garment styles and a narrow range of categories." recalled Duan Xianyou, director of the Yudu County Textile and Garment Industry Development Center.
In earlier years, Peng Minhua had been working in Guangdong. In 2012, he founded Huaxin Knitting in his hometown of Yudu. "At first, the factory had just over 100 workers. We relied entirely on the client for patterns and on transporting raw materials from elsewhere, making the simplest, most basic ready-made garments with razor-thin profits," Peng Minhua said.
"At bottom, the industry's scale was small and its foundation weak. The industrial chain and ecosystem hadn't taken shape, product categories and market expansion were limited, and the industry's growth was blocked," Duan Xianyou said.
Change began in 2017—Yudu positioned the textile and garment industry as its number-one industry. On the basis of undertaking industrial transfer, it anchored the goal of a "hundred-billion-yuan cluster," laid out the full industrial chain, and focused on strengthening, extending, and reinforcing the chain, moving toward cluster-based development.
Around every link—production, R&D, packaging, and so on—Yudu successively introduced leading upstream and downstream enterprises such as Jiangxi Weimian, Feili Wende, and Yingjia Fashion. At the same time, it built ten major industrial service platforms, including a fabric and accessories market, a quality inspection center, a washing industrial park, and a garment college, working to fill the supporting gaps in knitting yarn, stretch fabrics, special accessories, washing and setting, and other areas.
"Now, most accessories are supplied locally, and inspection and washing services are all things being present and complete (一应俱全, yi ying ju quan - "one, should, all, complete"). We have the conditions and the capability to make new styles and fine products," Peng Minhua said. Today the company produces more than 2 million knitted garments of various kinds a year, with products sold to many countries and regions.
R&D empowerment expands product categories, and differentiated apparel opens up segmented markets.
In the production workshop of Jiangxi Zaiyiku Garments Co., Ltd., needles and thread shuttle and fly, and cut pieces flow through in sequence. In the shipping area, a batch of thickened jeans is neatly stacked, about to be transported to Ganzhou International Land Port and sent by China-Europe freight train to Russia.
"These aren't ordinary jeans—put them on and they can withstand temperatures of minus 30 degrees Celsius," said Xiao Rihui, the company's chairman, picking up a pair of jeans and turning over the pant leg. "The secret is in this layer of heating fabric, custom-developed for the extreme-cold market through independent R&D. It blocks wind and locks in warmth—we sell 800,000 pairs a year in the Russian market alone."
Like Huaxin Knitting, Zaiyiku also started with low-end OEM work. After coming into contact with Russian procurement channels in 2020, the company quickly set up an R&D team, developed heating denim fabric, and won orders for cold-weather apparel. Since then, Zaiyiku has successively developed new products such as a thermal denim series and functional denim vests for children, holding more than 30 authorized patents. Today, Zaiyiku's products are sold to many countries and regions, with foreign trade orders growing steadily.
In recent years, Yudu has built a series of R&D and design platforms, including the Jiangxi Provincial Garment Industry Technology Research Institute (Yudu), the Yudu Industrial Design Innovation Research Institute, and the Denim Industry Research Institute. About 40 percent of textile and garment enterprises above designated size have established their own R&D and design teams.
Fashion denim, high-end women's wear, sportswear sets, functional apparel... Relying on the support of the industrial chain, R&D, and markets, the garments Yudu produces are moving from simple and basic toward differentiated, functional, and fashionable, with market space continuously expanding.
Changes in Production
From hand sewing to intelligent manufacturing
Stepping into the intelligent production workshop of Yudu County Hongxun Garments Co., Ltd., overhead hanging rails are arranged in a grid-like pattern (纵横排布, zong heng pai bu - "vertical, horizontal, arrange, layout"), and hangers with embedded chips drag semi-finished trouser pieces rapidly through the air. On one side of the workshop, an automatic cutting table completes fabric cutting in a single pass according to digital patterns... In front of an electronic screen, Ge Jiuchang—grandson of Ge Jiediao and a production team leader at the company—keeps a close eye on the various operating data.
"In the past, everything depended on people—it was all about quick hands and feet. Now the machines arrange work for themselves," said Ge Jiuchang, 50, who has witnessed the iterative transformation of the garment industry from handcraft to industrialization and then to intelligence.
In Ge Jiuchang's memory, in the past his grandfather made clothes with just an old sewing machine, cranked by hand and pedaled by foot, taking two or three days to make one garment. In 1993, he went to work in a garment factory in Guangdong and used an industrial lockstitch machine. As the needle rose and fell at high speed with the motor, ready-made garments came off the line in batches—"dozens of times more efficient than the old sewing machine!" Ge Jiuchang exclaimed at the time.
Years later, in his hometown's garment workshops, the speed of the industry's leapfrog upgrading continued to exceed his imagination. In 2021, Hongxun Garments launched a digital-intelligence transformation, introducing an intelligent hanging system, automatic cutting tables, and more, raising production capacity by 40 percent. "When I was working away from home, I used to think: can the machines go a little faster? I never imagined it would actually come true," Ge Jiuchang said.
Such changes are not confined to the garment workshop; the supporting links up and down the industrial chain are upgrading in tandem.
Sixty spinning frames stand in neat rows; thousands of spindles spin at up to 25,000 revolutions per minute; fine white yarn rises continuously upward, bit by bit or in fine strands (丝丝缕缕, si si lu lu - "silk, silk, thread, thread") winding into cones... Stepping into the spinning workshop of Zhifang Yunlian (Jiangxi) Textile Co., Ltd., the roar of machinery mixed with a faint smell of cotton material hits you in the face.
"Every spindle is fitted with a sensor that captures the state of the yarn in real time. If an abnormality such as a break occurs, the central control room immediately receives the fault information," said Chen Geng, the company's general manager. In 2025, the company built a "5G+AI visual digital twin" smart spinning platform, with virtual models and the workshop's real scene synchronized and linked, covering the entire process from raw material to finished yarn, raising production efficiency by more than 80 percent and reducing production costs by 30 percent.
At Jiangxi Xinyilong Textile and Garments Co., Ltd., industrial vision equipment precisely identifies defects in woven fabric printing; at Jiangxi Shunlong Garment Washing Co., Ltd., an intelligent system controls the washing of denim fabric in real time; at CNTAC Standard (Jiangxi) Testing Co., Ltd., instruments rapidly complete tests of fabric strength and other indicators... In Yudu, the supporting links of the industry other than ready-made garments—spinning and weaving, fabric printing, quality inspection, and so on—are all being fitted with "digital brains."
The production lines you can see are changing, and the management links behind the scenes that you cannot see are also being reshaped by digital technology.
"In the past, production scheduling relied on experience and running around the site; now it relies on systems," said Li Jian, administrative vice president of Jiangxi Feili Wende Fashion Co., Ltd., whose "5G+" smart factory is driven by a production information management system that keeps the workshop running efficiently. "All the workshop's equipment is networked at the touch of a button, and production progress, workstation efficiency, order completion rates, and equipment faults are all visualized."
"Before the intelligent transformation, we threw large numbers of workers at orders, and production capacity often couldn't keep up. After the transformation, the workshop expanded, capacity increased, the production cycle shortened by 30 percent, and the product rework rate fell from 15 percent to below 5 percent," Li Jian said.
From a single strand of yarn to data chains one after another, a new picture of the industry is being woven with digital warp and weft. In recent years, Yudu has vigorously promoted enterprises' "intelligent transformation and digital conversion." More than 80 percent of textile and garment enterprises above designated size have completed digital-intelligence transformation; one factory was included in the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology's 2024 5G Factory list, and one factory was named a 2025 Ministry of Industry and Information Technology typical case of digital transformation.
Changes in Value
From midstream manufacturing to creating value at both ends
For a long time in the past, Yudu's garment enterprises worked hard with one's head down (埋头, mai tou - "bury, head") at OEM processing. Production capacity was considerable, but profits were razor-thin, and they remained for a long time at the middle and low end of the value chain.
What to do? Keep pushing hard toward both ends of the "smile curve" and drive the industry to upgrade and break through—Yudu grasps creative design at one end and brand cultivation at the other, raising product added value and burnishing the "Yudu Garments" regional industry brand.
Design—the "core" of product upgrading.
"Foreign buyers took a liking to 28 women's wear styles independently designed by the company, we established contact with more than 10 design institutions, and we absorbed cutting-edge design concepts!" In May this year, the 2026 China Good Creativity·National Women's Wear Design Competition and CFDT (Yudu) Women's Wear Design Trade Fair were held in Yudu. Xiao Zhiyong, general manager of Jiangxi Maidong Intelligent Manufacturing Fashion Industry Development Co., Ltd., led the company's four groups of eight designers to participate and came away with a full harvest.
The competition's physical display group received 679 works from 137 institutions through online solicitation; the on-site creative group brought together 377 teachers and students from 50 institutions nationwide to compete on the spot; 125 exhibitors took part; and the event facilitated more than 300 design copyright cooperation agreements and the settling of 20 independent designer brands.
Use competitions to promote innovation, use fairs to gather business. In recent years, Yudu has continuously held garment design competitions, industry exhibitions, expos, and other events, and has launched a "competition first, factory behind; exhibition first, factory behind" model—at the front end, competition venues and exhibitions showcase original designs and conduct business matchmaking; at the back end, local factories are linked in to take over and land the work, so that creative ideas on paper are quickly converted into orders and products.
In addition, Yudu has built public platforms such as a fashion industry complex, created designer spaces, and introduced university resources from Beijing Institute of Fashion Technology, Wuhan Textile University, and others, so that designers and factories can connect face to face and the channel for converting design results into ready-made garments is continuously opened up. Yudu has also issued supportive policies, providing financial subsidies and rewards for enterprises that build their own design centers or participate in fashion weeks and garment design competitions, pushing more enterprises to shift from OEM processing to independent design and production.
Brand—the weight on the scale of product value appreciation.
In the garment workshop of Ganzhou Hexin Garments Co., Ltd., embroidery machines clatter away. As the needles rise and fall, colored threads wander and wind across the fabric, and a qipao front panel with exquisite pankou knots gradually takes shape.
"Now that we make qipao ourselves, the profit margin is bigger than when we did OEM work in the past," said Xie Pingxiang, the company's chairman. "The secret lies in choosing the right track and building up a brand." In 2019, Xie Pingxiang saw the incremental market brought by the rise of the guochao trend, delved deep into guofeng aesthetics, improved the traditional qipao silhouette, and founded the "Laisu" brand. "The brand's plain, simple, and unadorned meaning, the fitted waist, the moderate slit, and the skin-friendly fabric have won the qipao favor in the market."
In April this year, at the sixth China International Consumer Products Expo, Jiangxi Feili Wende Fashion Co., Ltd. held a garment runway show presenting the latest designs of its fashion women's wear brand; Zaiyiku Garments showcased various denim garments that don't fade, are highly elastic, and resist wrinkling... In Yudu, a batch of local enterprises have begun pursuing two different methods simultaneously (两条腿走路, liang tiao tui zou lu - "two, leg, walk, road")—on one hand, taking orders from well-known brands to hone their craftsmanship; on the other, cultivating their own brands and proactively opening up markets.
At present, Yudu's textile and garment enterprises hold 135 proprietary trademarks and 21 Jiangxi famous-brand products, and the rate of self-created brands among garment enterprises above designated size has reached 42.2 percent. "We will promote the two-way joint effort of the 'Yudu Garments' regional brand and enterprise brands, continue to push OEM enterprises to transform into brand-based enterprises, cultivate a batch of distinctive local brands, and raise the added value of the industry," Duan Xianyou said.
Return to TopBy: 本报记者 马睿姗
Square in form, like a dou grain measure or a ding bronze vessel, the "miniature museum" that reproduces the architectural charm of the Shanxi Museum is exquisite and distinctive. The cultural relic owl-shaped you wine vessel, clad in theatrical costume, beats a drum, while the Jin Marquis Bird Zun stands steadily in the C-position, quietly poised... Stepping into the cultural and creative exhibition hall of the Shanxi Museum, the newly launched "Worry-Relieving Museum" assembly display piece is bright and eye-catching. This cultural and creative product, which can be assembled, admired, and collected, integrates the wisdom of ancient architecture, thousand-year-old cultural relics, and trendy play styles, allowing the profound culture of Shanxi to step out of the display cases and into daily life, offering young consumers a new cultural and creative experience.
In the exhibition hall on the second floor, visitors pause to examine the treasured collections, with the Western Zhou bronze ritual vessel Jin Marquis Bird Zun being particularly eye-catching (引人注目, yin ren zhu mu - "pull, person, attention, gaze"). As the crown jewel of the Shanxi Museum and a major artifact in the "Soul of Jin" basic exhibition, this ritual vessel was unearthed from the Jin Marquis cemetery in Quwo, Shanxi, bearing the profound heritage of Shanxi civilization. The phoenix bird on the vessel turns its head and raises its gaze, with round, clear, and spirited eyes, while the elephant trunk curls gracefully inward, forming a three-point stable support with the vessel's two feet, combining mechanical ingenuity with Chinese aesthetics. The neck, belly, back, and tail of the vessel are covered with fine feather patterns, and the two wings and feet are adorned with elegant cloud motifs, with intricate, exquisite, and well-layered ornamentation. The small bird perched on the phoenix's back serves as the handle for the vessel's lid; lifting the lid reveals the inscription "The Marquis of Jin made this precious ritual vessel for the Grand Hall" clearly visible on the inner wall, bearing the imprint of civilization spanning a thousand years.
In recent years, the domestic 3A game Black Myth: Wukong and the domestic animation The Little Demon in Langlang Mountain have popularized "ancient architecture tours" in Shanxi. As cultural and museum consumption continues to heat up, young people have become the main force in cultural and creative consumption. Market demand has shifted from simple commemorative collecting to emotional needs for experience, and the cultural and creative market has moved from an explosive phase into a stage of deep cultivation, with increasingly fierce market competition.
"Today's young consumers are more willing to pay for experience and emotional value, which provides new opportunities for innovation in cultural and museum creative products. Experiential and immersive cultural and creative consumption has become a brand-new track," said Yao Xiang, head of cultural and creative products at Shanxi Jin Guan Cultural and Creative Development Co., Ltd.
The essence of Shanxi's history is not only sealed within display cases; its rich ancient architectural resources are equally a highlight of historical and cultural heritage. The design team has gradually shifted its research and development focus toward ancient architecture-themed cultural and creative products, abandoning the traditional model of simple shape replication and championing the brand-new experience of "hands-on assembly," allowing consumers to understand the beauty of Chinese ancient architecture construction through the process of assembling with their own hands. At the same time, the product's target audience has become younger, breaking out of the established framework of previous cultural and museum creative products and striving to shatter the stereotypical labels of museums as solemn, serious, and weighty.
"Museums are not only classrooms for learning history but also sanctuaries for healing body and mind," Yao Xiang said. Through repeated brainstorming sessions for creative planning, the research and development team was inspired to build a new cultural and creative IP (intellectual property) around the theme of "relieving worries," adding a sense of relaxation to busy daily life — hence the name "Worry-Relieving Museum."
The creative transformation of the "Worry-Relieving Museum" cultural relics balances ancient charm with modern trends. In structural design, the product as a whole continues to use traditional mortise-and-tenon craftsmanship, authentically reproducing the construction wisdom of Chinese ancient architecture. The team innovatively adopted, for the first time, a cross-sectional design to present the architectural form of the Shanxi Museum's main hall, with a shape like a dou measure or ding vessel, projecting outward layer by layer, vividly interpreting the aesthetic conception of "like a bird soaring, like a pheasant in flight." Inside the miniature venue, the main exhibition areas of the "Soul of Jin" basic exhibition are reproduced, with the crown jewel Jin Marquis Bird Zun at the center, faithfully restored to its original appearance and fully displaying ancient charm; outside the venue, classic collections such as the jade deer, jade pendant set, pottery figurines, and bronze bells have been given lively and playful new designs; on the roof, the bronze owl-shaped you vessel, draped in traditional theatrical costume, raises its hand to beat a drum, ingeniously blending Shanxi's bronze culture with its opera culture.
After more than a year of repeated refinement, the "Worry-Relieving Museum" assembly display piece was officially launched in July 2026 and became an instant hit upon release, leading Shanxi's summer cultural and museum consumption market. "What young people gain is not just a display piece, but also a 'museum you can take away.' In today's fast-paced lifestyle, they can slow down during the assembly process. Finally seeing the 'museum' they 'hand-crafted' themselves brings a sense of accomplishment, giving cultural and museum consumption both cultural value and emotional value," Yao Xiang said.
"This cultural and creative product has completely changed my preconceived impression of museum souvenirs. It's beautiful, and you can experience it with your own hands — it's especially meaningful!" After trying it, one visitor suggested adding QR code explanation functions at the corresponding cultural relic locations to make it easier for everyone to learn the historical stories behind the artifacts. In response, the cultural and creative team said they would seriously consider the suggestion and optimize and upgrade it in subsequent product iterations.
From cultural relics displayed in silence for a thousand years to a movable "miniature museum" at home, cultural and creative products have become a vehicle connecting historical culture with artistic life, integrating into ordinary people's lives through a new narrative language. "We will break out of the traditional model of single-artifact narration, use more scenario-based language and specific elements of museum cultural relics, and build a 'living hall' of the museum, generating more consumer demand and stimulating stronger consumption vitality in the cultural and creative product market," Yao Xiang said.
Return to TopThe Long March is a heroic epic written with hot blood and faith. Along the great Long March route, many deeply moving or soul-stirring (撼人心魄, han xin ren po - "shake, human, heart, soul") and touching and inspiring (可歌可泣, ke ge ke qi - "can, sing, can, weep") stories occurred, which still inspire us to forge ahead bravely today. Looking back on that journey through the flames of war, the Red Army officers and soldiers, bearing revolutionary ideals higher than the sky, held firm in desperate straits, shouldered responsibility amid hardship, and forged their original aspiration into the ten-thousand-li journey. As the years pass, the spirit endures. Today, this page revisits and seeks out five stories from the Long March route: Chen Shuxiang, who defended his oath with his life in the bloody battle at the Xiang River; the quartermaster who, sacrificing personal interests for the common good (舍己为公, she ji wei gong - "abandon, self, for, public") on the snowy mountains; the half belt glowing with the light of faith deep in the grasslands; the half quilt that warmed the people's hearts in Shazhou Village; and the Red Army noodles in Shanjiacun that forged a bond of military-civilian affection in a single bowl. Let us draw from these the fervent faith of our forebears and absorb the endless and continuous vitality (生生不息, sheng sheng bu xi - "birth, birth, not, cease") of spiritual strength.
—Editor
Return to TopBy: 邓跃东
When the Red Army fought a bloody battle at the Xiang River, the remaining personnel of the 34th Division, which was responsible for the rearguard, did not have time to cross the river. They were surrounded layer upon layer by the enemy and were almost completely wiped out. Division Commander Chen Shuxiang was captured and sacrificed himself in Daoxian County in southern Hunan. In the autumn sun, I followed the Xiao River to Daoxian County, Yongzhou City, Hunan Province. Along the way, the river water was clear and blue, and the earth was strikingly red. I have lived in the south for many years and have never seen such red earth.
I wanted to go and see Chen Shuxiang's grave.
He is not alone! Xiao Jiang, who was transferred to civilian work in Daoxian County, told me that the people of Daoxian County have not forgotten him. Since he sacrificed himself here, they had to build his grave properly, so that his moral integrity could be carried forward and everyone would remember this name. Beginning in 2014, the county started building a new martyrs' memorial park. In 2019, Chen Shuxiang's martyr grave was moved into the park. Later, the remains of many Red Army martyrs were also reburied there, and the names of martyrs that had been verified were inscribed on the tombstones.
Xiao Jiang accompanied me to a mountain in Guitou Village, Meihua Town, north of the county seat. From afar, I could see a stretch of extremely solemn and respectful (庄严肃穆, zhuang yan su mu - "solemn, serious, majestic") buildings. Xiao Jiang said this was the Chen Shuxiang Red Culture Park, which contains an exhibition hall on the life and deeds of martyr Chen Shuxiang, a cemetery, a monument to revolutionary martyrs, and a wall listing the names of martyrs.
I got out of the car and entered the park. Tall trees stood throughout, green shade covered the ground, and small winding paths led into deep, secluded places. It truly had the atmosphere of a quiet literary garden. Entering the exhibition hall on the life and deeds of martyr Chen Shuxiang, I was immediately faced with his sculpture at the entrance. The statue is 2.9 meters tall, symbolizing his 29 years of life; the outer perimeter of the main exhibition hall is 34 meters long, representing the designation of the 34th Division. On the wall behind the statue are the words "Breaking the intestines to declare one's resolve, casting a loyal soul."
The name Chen Shuxiang is no longer unfamiliar to people. He was born in Changsha County, Hunan Province, in 1905. He had studied and done hard labor, participated in the Northern Expedition with Ye Ting's forces, and went up to the Jinggang Mountains after the Autumn Harvest Uprising. During the Long March, he served as division commander of the 34th Division. To cover the Central Organ and the main force of the Red Army in safely crossing the Xiang River, the 34th Division was almost entirely annihilated. Chen Shuxiang was wounded and captured. He used his fingers to tear open the wound in his abdomen, pulled out his intestines, and twisted them off. He bled out and died.
Ninety-two years have passed, and Chen Shuxiang's heroic feat has not been buried in the dust of history. Instead, like a bright flash of lightning, it has pierced through the storms of the years and illuminated the earth and the world of men.
A group of people stood before an oil painting depicting Chen Shuxiang's heroic feat and voluntarily took off their hats. Someone sighed softly, "So tragic and fierce — what kind of person must he have been!" Looking at the man in the painting, I subconsciously tried to imagine the act of twisting off the intestines: pulling them out, winding them around two fingers, and yanking hard with the other hand — how much strength would that have taken? How could one's hand not falter? That brute force, that endurance of pain — how strong must one's will have been to do it?
Will is the support of a person's actions, like the skeleton of the human body; if the bones are soft, the body collapses.
Chen Shuxiang died clear-headed and died clean. A person who dies in his own faith has not lived in vain.
After Chen Shuxiang died by breaking his intestines, his head was cut off and sent to Changsha, where it was hung on the city wall at Xiaowumen as a public display. His body was left at the foot of the mountain in Daoxian County. The common people risked danger to collect his remains and buried them in a mass grave in Feixia Mountain, by the bank of the Xiao River outside the city. No tombstone was erected before the grave. Every year during the Qingming Festival, ordinary people who came to the mountain to tend graves would also burn paper money at his grave in sacrifice, and his story has been passed down ever since. Local people said that from childhood, parents taught their children that in the grave lay Red Army Division Commander Chen Shuxiang, their benefactor.
The martyr grave of Chen Shuxiang is located on a high slope behind the exhibition hall. Climbing the slope, I could see from afar a tombstone that was not tall, inscribed with red characters: "Grave of Martyr Chen Shuxiang, Commander of the 34th Division of the Red Army." Facing the tombstone, I straightened my clothing and bowed three times.
After walking a full circle around the grave, I came to the front of the tombstone and found two cigarettes inserted in the gap beneath it, printed with a lotus flower pattern. What a thoughtful person! Zhou Dunyi, the author of the timeless masterpiece "On the Love of the Lotus," was from Daoxian County. Throughout his life, Zhou Dunyi was of lofty and pure character. In his later years, he retired to Lianxi, and his reputation became purer as he distanced himself from worldly affairs (香远益清, xiang yuan yi qing - "fragrance, far, even more, pure"), standing tall and pure like a lotus (亭亭净植, ting ting jing zhi - "lofty, upright, clean, planted"). Only noble souls can attract and meet one another. The people of this place who came later have practiced the spirit of the lotus in their own way.
I finally understood why this place, which gathers the souls of so many warriors and soldiers, is called a cultural park. It is proper and upright, with long-lasting expectations.
Return to TopBy: 李本深
That year, I accompanied an old senior officer from the cultural department on an interview trip to the old revolutionary base area of Xingguo County, Jiangxi. In a small mountain village surrounded by red-earth hills, in that wooden building upstairs where the floorboards creaked underfoot, seven or eight Red Army wives with having very white hair (白发苍苍, bai fa cang cang - "white, hair, old, old") had gathered, and they sang the old Xingguo songs of expanding the Red Army. They sang one song after another; those aged voices flowed out from their very bloodlines. When they sang at a high pitch, their hands, and even their whole frail bodies, would sway unable to help oneself (情不自禁, qing bu zi jin - "emotion, not, self, restrain"), and in those pairs of eyes surrounded by wrinkles, there seemed to flicker a light of faith that would never go out. Back then, it was precisely by singing these very folk songs that they had sent their own fathers and brothers into the ranks of the Red Army.
In the evening, the moonlight was like water. The old senior officer and I strolled in the bamboo grove, our hearts unable to settle for a long time. We were deeply moved by the thought that the fathers and brothers of those several Red Army wives had all followed the Red Army away, and in the end not a single one came back alive. What an enormous sacrifice this was. Amid our sighs, the old senior officer suddenly remembered something, and he told me a true story. He said that when the Red Army troops were crossing the snow mountains, the weather was bitterly cold and the troops' equipment was very poor. On the way, an old veteran soldier froze to death alive, and when they made inquiries, this old veteran soldier turned out to be none other than the quartermaster in charge of the troops' cotton-padded clothing. The old senior officer's words froze me in place...
Moonlight streamed through the window, insects chirped, and my heart churned like rolling waves. unable to sleep at night (夜不能寐, ye bu neng mei - "night, not, can, sleep"), so I threw on my clothes and sat up, writing feverishly at a desk (伏案疾书, fu an ji shu - "prostrate, desk, fast, write"), and wrote out the story of the quartermaster. In an instant, in my mind's eye there was a bitter wind howling like a knife cutting, snow falling in profusion (大雪纷飞, da xue fen fei - "big, snow, fluttering, flying"), and an extremely exhausted (疲惫不堪, pi bei bu kan - "tired, exhausted, not, endure") troop, nearly driven into a desperate situation, trudging with difficulty through the treacherous great snow mountains. The footprints they left in the snow froze into strings of hard ice shells. The ration bags on each of them were almost all flat and empty, yet that unswerving until death (至死不渝, zhi si bu yu - "until, death, not, change") conviction showed through in their resolute gazes. I believe that what echoed unceasingly in their ears at that time must have been the Xingguo folk songs those several Red Army wives had sung: "Ai ya lai, comrade elder brother, expand an iron Red Army of a million, charge bravely forward to kill the enemy..." I think that it was precisely amid the lingering echoes of these folk songs that the quartermaster quietly merged into one with the snow mountain, silently transforming into a crystalline ice sculpture, into a spiritual monument standing forever on the land of China.
The snow peaks were silent, the mountains stood tall, and a vast heroic spirit spread and rose between heaven and earth. The troop continued forward, and the countless footsteps trudging hard over ice and snow seemed to be uttering one and the same voice: "If victory does not belong to such a troop, to whom else could it belong?"
Yes, that last sentence was almost shouted out from the depths of my soul. In an instant, tears streaming down one's face (热泪潸然, re lei shan ran - "hot, tears, falling, falling").
The moon had climbed to the middle of the sky, and I had no trace of sleepiness. I wandered in the flower pavilion, sighing that countless revolutionary martyrs had already turned into the star clouds of the heavenly palace. Yet the memory of the great snow mountains will never fade, and we will remember and pay tribute forever.
I sent the finished manuscript to the PLA Daily, and it was published immediately. Thinking carefully about it, "The Monument," this work of fewer than a thousand characters, should be the shortest piece among the millions of characters of work I have created, and it is precisely this piece that has spread the widest and had the deepest influence.
Later, I gave speeches about "The Monument" on many campuses, and the naive and innocent (天真烂漫, tian zhen lan man - "heaven, true, unrestrained, overflowing") students raised one question after another. For example: What was the name of that quartermaster? I said I did not know either. He gave his cotton-padded coat to his comrade-in-arms — did he not know that he himself would freeze to death? I said he should have known. Then, faced with this a matter of life and death (生死攸关, sheng si you guan - "life, death, have, connection") question, what exactly was he thinking at the time? I said perhaps at the time he was not thinking much at all; in his eyes, that was an utterly ordinary matter. Then why did he do it? A good question — why? Whenever I answer this question, my thoughts always return to that old wooden building in the Xingguo countryside of Jiangxi, and in my ears there ring the folk songs of expanding the Red Army that those several Red Army wives sang...
Return to TopBy: 胡国栋
In a display case at the National Museum of China, half a cowhide belt was once exhibited. One end of it had been cut through, and at the cut the leather had been worn into a new pointed tip. On the back were three characters: "Record of the Long March."
The man who donated the belt was Zhou Guangcai, a soldier of the 274th Regiment of the 93rd Division of the 31st Army of the Fourth Front Army of the Red Army. In July 1936, when he crossed the Songpan grasslands for the third time, he kept this half belt. When I read "crossing the grasslands," I suddenly thought of a nameless, remote mountain—where I once had a similar experience.
Before entering the mountain, each of us was issued a dagger, an entrenching shovel, and a military canteen. Each group was also given a pot, a magnesium rod, and three eggs. The instructor spread out a map and said gravely: "The content of this training is to survive in this area for three days, and within three days to reach the finish point along the route marked on the map. Remember, during the mission you have no rear-area resupply!" The mountain paths twisted and turned; to complete the task on time, we calculated that we needed to cover more than 20 kilometers each day. Some sections were only wide enough for one person, so we lined up single file, our steps following closely on one another's heels. From time to time, the person at the front passed back the word, "Loose rocks ahead," and those of us behind could avoid them in advance.
But how did Zhou Guangcai and his comrades, 90 years ago, manage to avoid all kinds of dangers?
When crossing the grasslands, only seven men remained in Zhou Guangcai's squad. After their food ran out, they searched for wild vegetables, dug up grass roots, and even stripped bark from trees. Gradually, there was nothing left to be found, so they had to look on their own bodies for something to fill their stomachs: first the leather gun slings, then the leather supports nailed to the soles of their shoes.
Having left home to go on the Long March, they were only young men a little taller than their rifles.
Looking at their comrades beside them who were too weak to go on, at the grasslands stretching as far as the eye can see (一望无际, yi wang wu ji - "one look, no end"), and at their pots and bowls completely empty (空空如也, kong kong ru ye - "empty, empty, like also"), they silently unbuckled the belts at their waists, preparing to boil and eat them.
For us, by the second day, our steps were already somewhat heavy, and blisters had formed on the soles of our feet. During one rapid march, I suddenly felt a chill on the sole of my foot—a blister had burst, soaking most of my sock. To my surprise, I found that without the blister, I was actually faster. It also rained on and off that day, and it was hard to find dry grass or wood along the way; our attempts to start a fire failed several times. After many tries, we huddled together, not letting the slightest draft through. It was not until dark fell that a small flame finally leapt up, dancing in the night. "Steady, steady! Quick, get the grass! It's going out, it's going out! Blow! Blow hard!" At last, a clump of bright red flame steadied itself with difficulty and rose up. The squad leader in charge looked at us and laughed heartily: "Look at us now—shoes and legs all covered in mud, and in a moment we'll choke on a couple of puffs of black smoke, just like a bunch of wild boars." The whole squad burst into hoarse laughter. The squad leader pulled a handful of dandelions he had picked during the day from his pack and called to everyone: "Set up the pot, let's have some tea!"
The dandelions spread out in the water, tumbling about like noodles being boiled. What was the 14-year-old Zhou Guangcai thinking, as he watched the belt, cut into thin strips and put into the pot to cook? I picked up a dandelion and put it in my mouth—it was a bit bitter, with a touch of astringency. "There's still one day to go tomorrow. We must reach the rendezvous point on time! Put your backs into it!" The squad leader had made up his mind.
Cherishing the hope of victory for the revolution, Zhou Guangcai and his comrades agreed with one another: keep this half belt as a memento and bring it to Yan'an to see Chairman Mao! Later, one by one, the six comrades in the squad fell. Before he breathed his last, the squad leader gripped Zhou Guangcai's hand and said over and over: Take it out, you must... you must take it out!
At last, he reached Yan'an.
Zhou Guangcai used a red-hot iron chopstick to brand three characters onto the belt: "Record of the Long March." That single character "record" stirs in later generations endless remembrance.
When I woke up, the burst blister actually began to sting, and walking felt like needles piercing me. It was fine as long as I didn't stop; but once I rested for a while, the pain when I started walking again was piercing to the bone. When we reached a stretch of flat ground at lower elevation, we stopped and repeatedly confirmed our position: about 8 kilometers remained, and there was still plenty of time. Unexpectedly, however, when our group set out again, one of my comrades stood up and suddenly felt dizzy; it took him a good while to recover. "Can you still walk?" the squad leader asked, his face full of anxiety. "I can." "Really?" "Really!" But not long after we set out, he became dizzy again. "Carry him on our backs. Loop the pack rope around our shoulders twice, and take turns carrying him!" "I can still walk, squad leader. I... I don't need—" "Don't talk!" The squad leader paused. "I will definitely get you out!" And so the three of us took turns carrying him on our backs. When it was my turn, after walking a few hundred meters, water dripped onto the back of my neck. I turned my head to look—he was lying on my shoulder, tears streaming down his face. I tightened the pack rope, hoisted him up a little higher, and kept pace with the others.
Zhou Guangcai made it out, with his half belt. We made it out too, whole and complete.
Return to TopBy: 单小花
As a native of Xiji, Ningxia, I grew up listening to stories of the Red Army's Long March. When I was in school, every Qingming Festival, our teacher would hold up a red flag and carry a wreath, leading us to the Revolutionary Martyrs' Cemetery on the northern hill of Xiji to pay respects to the martyrs. We bowed, saluted, and remembered the fallen heroes. The teacher taught us that the five-starred red flag was dyed red with the blood of countless martyrs, and that our ability to sit quietly in the classroom and study was bought with the lives of countless martyrs.
Later, I visited Shanjiaji many times, touring the former residence where Chairman Mao stayed, and also went to Jiangtaibao, where I saw old artifacts left behind by the Red Army back then—large sabers, carrying poles, and kerosene lamps. Years later, I developed a love for literature. I visited local elders and descendants of martyrs, writing down one by one the red stories I heard, so that more people could learn about the Red Army's stories in Shanjiaji. Among these stories, the one I remember most vividly begins with a dish of vermicelli and potatoes.
One late autumn evening, I fell asleep on the heated brick bed in the kitchen. When I woke up, the kitchen was filled with steam, and the smell of cooking oil mixed with the smoke of firewood made me cough without stopping. My mother stood by the stove, busy at work. Hearing my cough, she turned her face toward me and smiled slightly: "Hungry, are you? I've made a pot of vermicelli, and I'm stir-frying it with some potatoes."
"You made vermicelli—when it's done, give me a big serving." As I spoke, I slid off the bed and opened the kitchen door and windows wide, driving the cooking fumes out.
After a while, the meal was ready. I called my father and older brother over, and the family gathered around the low table on the bed, eating and chatting with laughter. Looking at the translucent vermicelli, I couldn't help asking my mother: "Mom, this vermicelli is really delicious. Who taught you to make it?"
"It was your aunt—more precisely, the Red Army." My mother put down her chopsticks, her gaze falling into the bowl, as if through that bowl of vermicelli she could see a place far away. "During the Long March, the Red Army passed through Shanjiaji three times. Every time they came, they didn't disturb the people, didn't take anything from the common folk, and sometimes even gave the salt, medicine, and silver dollars they carried to the local people. Seeing that the Red Army was approachable and easy to get along with (平易近人, ping yi jin ren - "level, easy, approach, person"), the common folk each sent the boiled potatoes they had cooked at home, the millet-flour bowls they had made, and cloth shoes into the Red Army's hands. In time, everyone became as close as one family. Whenever the Red Army had free time, they taught the common folk knowledge and life skills. Seeing that Xiji was rich in potatoes, they taught the common folk hand by hand how to make potato vermicelli. Anyone from Xiji can almost all make vermicelli and tell Red Army stories. To remember the Red Army and to thank the Red Army, the people of Xiji renamed potato vermicelli 'Red Army vermicelli,' the place where the Red Army stayed was called Red Army Village, and the spring the Red Army dug was called Red Army Spring."
My mother talked on, talking incessantly and with great enthusiasm (滔滔不绝, tao tao bu jue - "surging, not, cut off"), and it was only then that I realized a single bowl of vermicelli held so many stories.
My fellow townsman Xie Hongyi, like me, grew up listening to red stories. He returned to his hometown and, relying on the old cave dwellings left by the Red Army during the Long March, built the Red Army Village Long March Spirit Experience Base. With the government's sustained support and extensive promotion, the Red Army Village of those days gradually took on its present form, its reputation spreading far and wide, and tourists from all over arriving in large numbers and in quick succession (纷至沓来, fen zhi ta lai - "scattered, arrive, rush, come"). Today, the most popular dish at the Red Army Village restaurant is still vermicelli stir-fried with potatoes. As visitors eat the "Red Army vermicelli," they listen to docents tell the Red Army's stories. The vermicelli is still made the way it was back then—chewy, smooth, and translucent. After eating a bowl of vermicelli, it feels as though a piece of history has been committed to memory.
With potato yields rising, more vermicelli factories have opened in my hometown. "Red Army vermicelli" is now sold across the country, becoming a new calling card for my hometown. I have remembered the taste of that bowl of vermicelli for many years. Only later did I gradually come to understand that what I remembered was not just the flavor of the vermicelli, but the light in my mother's eyes as she told the story—in that light were the Red Army, the common folk, and an unbreakable thread connecting Xiji's past and present. That bowl of vermicelli still tastes the same, but the days in which we eat it have already changed into a whole new world.
Return to TopThe "Great Expedition" section of the "Long March Sculpture Group" at the National Art Museum of China, created by Wu Weishan.
Return to TopBy: 志在飞
In early 2017, I first set foot in Shazhou Yao Village, Rucheng County, Hunan Province. I had come for the story of the "half quilt."
That year, the village road in Shazhou Village was being rerouted and paved with asphalt. Excavators rumbled loudly, extending their long arms to dig drainage ditches along the roadside, while villagers busied themselves laying stone blocks, leaving the road a stretch of mud. The "Warmth of the Half Quilt" special exhibition hall was also under construction. Everything carried a kind of nascent, somewhat untidy vitality.
The story of the "half quilt" dates back to the winter of 1934.
That year, three female Red Army soldiers lodged at the home of villager Xu Jiexiu. Xu Jiexiu's household was extremely poor or destitute (一贫如洗, yi pin ru xi - "one, poor, like, wash"). The house had only one bed, covered with straw and tattered cotton wadding. The three female Red Army soldiers and Xu Jiexiu and her child squeezed together on that small bed, sharing the single military quilt. On cold nights, they tucked the quilt more tightly around the elderly woman and the child, while they themselves huddled at the edge of the bed. When they were about to leave, they wanted to leave the quilt with Xu Jiexiu. Xu Jiexiu flatly refused to accept it — she knew these three young women still had a long road ahead, through wind and rain. As they pushed it back and forth, one of the female Red Army soldiers pulled out a pair of scissors, cut the quilt in two, left one half with Xu Jiexiu, and took the other half away. She said: "Elder sister, when the revolution is victorious, we will bring you a new quilt."
Xu Jiexiu later repeated one sentence to the villagers again and again: "What is the Communist Party? The Communist Party is people who, even when they have only one quilt, will cut off half of it to give to the common folk."
This story has been passed down from generation to generation in Shazhou Village. When the villagers speak of it, it is not like telling a distant tale, but rather like talking about a matter of their own household — those three female Red Army soldiers seem like their own daughters, their own sisters. That bond between the army and the people, like a seed, was buried in this soil, buried in the heart of every villager.
Later, I visited Shazhou Village many times and watched this seed take root, sprout, and grow into a great tree.
I saw poverty-alleviation team leader Huang Fei, traveling in haste and covered in dust (风尘仆仆, feng chen pu pu - "wind, dust, travel, travel"), on the construction site. He told me about the plans, about industry, about the village's approach of combining agriculture with tourism. He said that what Shazhou Village needed to do was not merely to shake off poverty, but to blend its red revolutionary resources, green ecology, and ancient local culture together, so that this land could grow strength of its own. I saw Fuxing Park, Fuxing Bridge, and other projects rise up, and homestays and specialty shops open for business. Zhu Xiaohong, who was then still a household registered as impoverished and is Xu Jiexiu's grandson, together with his wife, took part in the fruit and vegetable cultivation and chef skills training organized by the village, grew fruit with their own hands, and opened a local restaurant and an inn. He told me: "Grandma's half quilt was warmth given by the Red Army. Now this warmth has to be caught with our own hands."
In 2024, I was invited to take part in Shazhou Village's "village gala" and came to Shazhou Village once again. This was the second time the "village gala" was held. The villagers were the protagonists — they wrote and directed it themselves, performed in it themselves, and enjoyed it themselves. They sang about things close at hand and performed stories about people around them. That evening, the villagers' laughter rippled out into the night sky. Although the weather was cold, I felt a strange warmth in my heart. That warmth was not the heat of charcoal fire, nor the dryness of air conditioning, but a temperature that slowly seeped out from the soil, from people's hearts, from memory. It was like the soft warmth of the cotton wadding that Xu Jiexiu felt in her palm when she accepted the half quilt given by the three female Red Army soldiers, and like the tenderness that welled up in the hearts of those three soldiers when, on a cold night, they shared their only warmth with the common folk.
I suddenly recalled that, in front of the old residence of Xu Jiexiu, a docent had said: "Where is the half quilt? It is not only in the museum; it is also in the heart of every Communist Party member." Yes, it is in the ancient buildings of Shazhou Village, in the smiling faces of the villagers, in the cooking smoke of every "happiness canteen," and in every field of "red + green." The half quilt warmed Xu Jiexiu for her entire life, and it will also warm the long road of a nation marching toward rejuvenation.
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