Xi visits Gu Wenchang Memorial Hall during inspection in east China's Fujian

Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, visited the Gu Wenchang Memorial Hall during his current inspection of Dongshan County in Zhangzhou City, east China's Fujian Province on Tuesday, to learn about local efforts to carry forward the revolutionary traditions.

The memorial hall was built to honor Gu Wenchang, a model Party secretary of the county who dedicated his life to alleviating poverty in Dongshan County, which was once a barren, unproductive island in Fujian. Opened to the public in February 2004, the memorial hall houses a wealth of historical photographs of Gu and various items he used. These exhibits vividly illustrate his leadership in transforming the ecological environment and eradicating the backwardness of the county.

Gu led the local people to combat desertification, boost agricultural production, improve irrigation, and develop transportation infrastructure, converting the once-barren island into a thriving green oasis.

His commitment to reshaping the county's landscape laid a solid foundation for its comprehensive development and earned him a lasting reputation among the people.

Apart from the visit to the memorial hall, Xi also visited Aojiao Village of Chencheng Township, and the Guandi cultural industrial park in the county.

Xi visits Gu Wenchang Memorial Hall during inspection in east China's Fujian

Xi visits Gu Wenchang Memorial Hall during inspection in east China's Fujian

Xi visits Gu Wenchang Memorial Hall during inspection in east China's Fujian

Xi visits Gu Wenchang Memorial Hall during inspection in east China's Fujian

Xi visits Gu Wenchang Memorial Hall during inspection in east China's Fujian

Xi visits Gu Wenchang Memorial Hall during inspection in east China's Fujian

Iran held a funeral on Tuesday for senior commander of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) Abbas Nilforoushan, who was killed alongside Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah in an Israeli airstrike in Lebanon late last month.

The funeral ceremony, held in Tehran's Imam Hossein Square, was attended by Nilforoushan's family, Iran's President Masoud Pezeshkian, Judiciary Chief Gholamhossein Mohseni-Ejei, IRGC's Chief Commander Hossein Salami, and Commander of IRGC Quds Force Esmaeil Qaani as well as other high-ranking officials and military commanders.

At around 08:20 local time, Nilforoushan's body was brought to the square, where it was greeted by citizens with flowers. Attendees waved flags of Iran, Hezbollah, and Palestine and held pictures of Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, Nasrallah, and Nilforoushan, while chanting slogans against the United States and Israel.

Angry mourners condemned Israel's violence and above everything else, demanded the response from the international community.

"The international community has failed to perform its duties so far. The situation can't be any worse than it currently is," said Tehran resident Amir.

"We demand international organizations to help stop this war," said another resident Maryam.

Nilforoushan will be laid to rest in his hometown Isfahan on Thursday evening, according to the Iranian Students' News Agency.

Nilforoushan, 58, was killed on September 27 during a meeting with Nasrallah when Israel launched a large-scale targeted strike on Hezbollah's headquarters in Dahieh, a southern suburb of Beirut. It took days for rescue teams to discover his body under mountains of debris caused by the strike.

Prior to returning to Iran, Nilforoushan's body was first welcomed by his supporters in the Iraqi cities of Najaf and Karbala.

Nilforoushan had been serving as IRGC's deputy commander for operations since 2019. When confirming his death in a statement, the IRGC said he was serving as a "military adviser" in Lebanon.

Iran is now playing an active role in diplomatic efforts and negotiations with regional players.

"We have clearly said several times that the Islamic Republic [of Iran] is not seeking any further escalation of tensions. However, we are not afraid of war. We are fully prepared," Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi told reporters.

While a war of words continues between Tehran and Tel Aviv, the Iranian people are still waiting to see how serious a possible Israeli response would be to Iran's October 1st barrage of missiles, the largest direct attack Iran has ever mounted against Israel.

Iran holds funeral for slain senior commander