Chinese President Xi Jinping has said a prosperous and strong nation hinges on the happiness of the families and the improvement of hundreds of millions of people's lives.
The Qixi Festival marks the annual rendezvous between a fairy and a human whose love was forbidden in Chinese mythology. Also known as the Double Seventh Festival, it falls on the 7th day of the seventh month on lunar Chinese calendar.
The festival encapsulating the meanings of great romance and steadfast love, is now celebrated as Chinese Valentine's Day.
Qixi falls on Saturday this year. On this special day, let's take a look at the love story of Chinese President Xi Jinping and his wife Peng Liyuan.
Xi and Peng got married in September 1987. They had a simple dinner with a few colleagues and friends as celebration, instead of a traditional wedding ceremony.
Married for 37 years, Xi and Peng show the Chinese people what makes a good marriage.
Xi is widely known as a good leader determined to wholeheartedly serve the people, but he also is a great companion and a "responsible husband" in Peng's words.
"I have a very happy family. My wife and I both have our own careers, but we work together to build the family," Xi, then secretary of the Communist Party of China's (CPC) Zhejiang Provincial Committee, said in a television interview in 2004.
Although Xi and Peng were separated by their work duties much of the time, they shared a mutual understanding and concern for each other.
Having made appearances with hands together multiple times on the international stage, the love story of Xi and Peng have won admiration around the world.
During his state visit to Costa Rica in June 2013, Xi, together with Peng, visited a local farm family. He introduced Peng to them, saying "This is my wife." They shared a piece of biscuit together there.
"Don't cut off true love because of a great distance, never forget it in your busy daily life, don't ignore it during ceaseless work." This is what Xi said, and what he has been working on. "A prosperous and strong nation is embodied by the happiness of hundreds of millions of families... Our country and our Chinese nation can do well only after every single one of our families does well," he once said.
Xi stresses family happiness for prosperity of nation
Xi stresses family happiness for prosperity of nation
Xi stresses family happiness for prosperity of nation
Many vibrant activities were held across China on Tuesday to celebrate the 40th Teachers' Day, which falls on Sept. 10, honoring the contributions of teachers to students' personal development and their role in shaping the overall education system.
In Hangzhou, capital city of east China's Zhejiang Province, landmark buildings were lit up at night with warm wishes, expressing sincere gratitude to teachers.
A school in Bishan District of southwest China's Chongqing Municipality held a special ceremony to welcome new teachers, who vowed to abide by the instructors' code and ethics during an oath-taking session.
In Nanchang, capital city of east China's Jiangxi Province, outstanding teachers were commended for their efforts in fostering student development and improving their academic skills.
Students in Lanzhou, capital city of northwest China's Gansu Province, showed their gratitude to the teachers' hard work with various forms of performances, including a live drama on stage.
Meanwhile, Majiang County in southwest China's Guizhou Province kicked off an art festival featuring music and dance performances to mark the special day.
In interviews with China Global Television Network (CGTN), people from various professions recalled their fondest school memories, sharing the important roles teachers played in shaping their lives.
"When I was in the second year of high school, my grades dropped. My Chinese teacher encouraged me, saying that 'Even if you're not one of the best, you're still unique.' I've remembered his words till this day," said Yu Kangna who works as a nurse at a hospital in Deqing County of Zhejiang.
"I've always been poor at math, but my math teacher didn't give up on me. He offered me and others extra tutoring and told us to believe in myself. He told us that girls don't necessarily perform poorly in math and we can be as good as boys," said Yue Ziyi, a student at Jimei University in east China's Xiamen.
Others expressed gratitude to their teachers for nurturing them and acting as guardians.
"My most memorable teacher is my head teacher in high school. He treated every student with loads of patience. He believes every one of us is capable of learning," said Wang Chaobo, a worker at the gas production branch of the Daqing Oilfield, one of China's largest oil production bases in the northeastern Heilongjiang Province.
"To Teacher Li, thanks you. Thank you for protecting me when I was young and for making me feel that I was no different from other students. I wish you good health," said Qu Zimo, a badminton player and also a member of the Chinese delegation for the Paris Paralympics.
Over the past decades, China has built the world's largest high-standard education system, covering pre-school, compulsory, senior high, higher education, adult education, and special education.
The country now boasts nearly 19 million full-time teachers, double the number in 1985 when the first Teachers' Day was celebrated.
China celebrates 40th Teachers' Day with vibrant activities
China celebrates 40th Teachers' Day with vibrant activities
