Chinese President Xi Jinping has urged efforts to make solid progress toward the strategic goal of building China into a leading country in education.
Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, made the remarks at a national meeting on education held in Beijing from Monday to Tuesday.
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Xi stresses building China into leading country in education
Xi stresses building China into leading country in education
Xi stresses building China into leading country in education
Xi stresses building China into leading country in education
Xi stresses building China into leading country in education
Tuesday marks the 40th Teachers' Day in China. On behalf of the CPC Central Committee, Xi extended his greetings to teachers and others working in the education sector across the country.
Xi said it was decided to speed up the drive to modernize education after the 18th CPC National Congress in 2012 and a goal has been set to build China into a leading country in education by 2035.
This goal will bolster China's efforts to build a great country and advance national rejuvenation on all fronts through Chinese modernization, he added.
Xi described building a leading country in education as a complex and systematic endeavor, which requires focusing on education's fundamental task of fostering virtue.
Xi emphasized the need to enhance innovation capacity in developing the education sector, and promote the development of basic and emerging disciplines and interdisciplinary subjects, as well as the cultivation of top-tier talent.
He also called for strengthening collaboration between universities and enterprises in scientific research.
Xi underscored the significance of improving the inclusiveness, accessibility and convenience of education as a public service.
He stressed the need to develop high-quality and balanced compulsory education and narrow gaps between urban and rural areas, regions, schools, and social groups.
Xi called for continued efforts to advance the national education digitalization initiative to broaden access to quality educational resources.
He urged the cultivation of a high-caliber teaching workforce, stressing the need to raise teachers' status, pay, and welfare to make teaching one of the most respected professions.
Xi also emphasized the importance of further opening China's education sector to the world, including expanding international academic exchanges and broadening cooperation in education and scientific research.
The meeting was presided over by Li Qiang and attended by Zhao Leji, Wang Huning, Cai Qi, and Li Xi. Ding Xuexiang delivered the concluding remarks.
Before the meeting, Xi and other leaders met with representatives attending an award ceremony honoring model teachers and outstanding groups and institutions in the education sector.
Xi stresses building China into leading country in education
Xi stresses building China into leading country in education
Xi stresses building China into leading country in education
Xi stresses building China into leading country in education
Xi stresses building China into leading country in education
A festive atmosphere is building up as people across China have been making preparations to ring in the Spring Festival next week, with lights and decorations set everywhere, and with New Year goods markets all seeing booming sales.
The Spring Festival, which marks the start of the Chinese Lunar New Year, is the most important annual holiday in China, when people across the country return to their hometowns for Chinese Lunar New Year celebrations and family reunion.
In Xi'an City of northwest China's Shaanxi Province, a grand lantern show is in its final stage of preparation before opening to the public ahead of the eve of the 2025 Chinese Lunar New Year. To be lit up on Wednesday, the large light sets presented at the event will draw numerous visitors, with lanterns that replicate 38 cultural relics as the highlight.
Buying New Year flowers has been a custom for Chinese people. In Yancheng City of east China's Jiangsu Province, various flowers which have auspicious meanings are already in high demand.
This year, tulips bred locally have been put on sale, and quickly become a favorable choice for many customers.
"I have never seen this kind of flower before. I think it is really bright-colored. Therefore, I decided to buy some to enhance the festive atmosphere at home," said Zhang Jinjian, a local resident.
The Anchang ancient town in Shaoxing City of east China's Zhejiang Province has a time-honored custom of making aired sausages and spiced duck.
As the Spring Festival draws near, plenty of visitors and tourists choose to purchase these local delicacies as ingredients for their Chinese New Year feast.
"The number of tourists has been increasing, so the sales of our spiced meat have been quite good. Compared with the same period of last year, our sales is expected to increase by about 50,000 yuan (about 6,835 U.S. dollars). We will earn an additional 200,000 to 300,000 yuan (27,335 to 41,000 U.S. dollars) in sales during this whole winter," said Yang Jing, owner of a local spiced meat shop.
In southwest China's Yunnan Province, the "Tiaocai dance" is a time-honored tradition of the Yi ethnic minority group. The dance is presented in the form of serving dishes while dancing to the rhythm. It usually happens on a joyous or grand occasion.
Since the most significant annual festival is around the corner, Yi people have dressed up in traditional costumes, and got ready to welcome the arrival of the Chinese Lunar New Year with the special dance.
People across China make preparations to welcome Spring Festival