Chinese President Xi Jinping has been stressing the important roles of teachers and education in shaping China's future development, as shown by his speeches at meetings and during his inspections to schools.
China Media Group (CMG) has published a collection of his speeches at such meetings and during his inspections ahead of the country's Teachers' Day, which falls on Sept. 10.
"What does the rejuvenation of the Chinese nation depend on? It depends on the highly-civilized spirit of the Chinese nation, with education as its basis," said Xi during an inspection to a middle school in Suide County of northwest China's Shaanxi Province on Sept. 14, 2021.
"Teachers are a mirror reflecting the students' growth in ethics. To become a good teacher, one must abide by ethics and have lofty ideals. Teachers' influence on students is based on the teachers' knowledge and ability, and even more on their values on principles of behaving and engaging with the world, on the country and the people, and on public interests and personal interests. Today's students are the major driving force for realizing our Chinese dream of the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation. Teachers are dream builders, undertaking the mission to forge a 'dream team'," said Xi during a visit to Beijing Normal University on Sept. 9, 2014.
"Being a teacher for the people is glorious beyond compare," Xi said at a national education conference in Beijing on Sept. 10, 2018.
Xi highly values teachers, education
Iran is willing to keep strengthening bilateral relations and enhancing cooperation with China, President Masoud Pezeshkian told reporters on Monday in the capital Tehran.
Pezeshkian made the remarks during his first news conference since taking office in late July.
Iran was admitted to the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) as a member state in 2023 and has achieved full membership in the BRICS group from January 1, 2024.
When asked how he views the prospect of China-Iran relations, Pezeshkian hailed China's successful mediation that led to the reconciliation between Iran and Saudi Arabia while eying deeper bilateral cooperation with China.
"Iran has always maintained good relations with China. Chinese mediation to resolve Iran-Saudi disputes marks a big step towards regional harmony. Iran is a comprehensive strategic partner of China. We will work to strengthen [bilateral relations] and implement relevant agreements. We hope to advance that cooperation," he said.
When it comes to tensions in the Middle East, Pezeshkian accused Israel of trying to drag Iran into the conflict and undermining regional peace by assassinating former Hamas political leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran. Iran has remained restrained but reserves the right to self-defense under specific conditions, he stressed.
The Iranian president also condemned Israel for committing war crimes and genocide against Palestinians, urging the international community to condemn and stop these actions.
On relations with the United States, Pezeshkian noted that Iran seeks peace instead of war, and has no plans to develop nuclear weapons. However, the United States has torn up the 2015 nuclear deal, formally known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) and imposed comprehensive sanctions against Iran.
The improvement of U.S.-Iran relations depends on whether the United States will remove its hostility towards Iran and lift the sanctions, he said.
He called on countries in the region to strengthen solidarity, bridge differences, and stop the crimes committed by Israel. Iran stands ready to continue enhancing cooperation with friendly countries such as China within the framework of multilateralism to achieve win-win results, said Pezeshkian.
Iran stands ready to strengthen bilateral ties with China: president
