China Media Group unveiled its selection of top 10 domestic news stories for 2024 on Sunday.
The Top 10 domestic news items for 2024 are as follows:
1. The Third Plenary Session of the 20th Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee outlines reform plans.
The 20th CPC Central Committee convened its third plenary session in Beijing from July 15 to 18.
The meeting adopted the Resolution of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China on Further Deepening Reform Comprehensively to Advance Chinese Modernization, outlining major policy measures for the next five years.
2. The 75th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China celebrated across the country.
A series of events were held across China to celebrate the 75th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China.
President Xi Jinping delivered a speech at a reception held at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on Sept 28. He said that the Chinese people will score more remarkable achievements and make greater contributions to the noble cause of peace and development of humanity.
An award ceremony presenting the highest state honors to 15 distinguished individuals was held in Beijing on Sept 29.
Xi and other CPC and state leaders presented flower baskets at the Monument to the People's Heroes in Tian'anmen Square in Beijing on Sept 30, paying their tribute to fallen national heroes on the country's 11th Martyrs' Day.
3. The Communist Party of China stresses Party discipline study and strengthens discipline building.
The CPC Central Leading Group for Party Building held a meeting on April 3 to study and implement Xi's important speeches and instructions on Party discipline. The group members studied and deployed relevant work on Party discipline learning and education, and decided to carry out a Party-wide campaign on CPC discipline education from April to July.
Xi delivered an important speech when chairing the criticism and self-criticism meeting of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, held on Dec 26-27, in which he stressed strengthening Party discipline and urged senior leaders to set an exemplary and leading role in observing Party rules.
He also praised the Party discipline education campaign, noting that it had produced significant results, as Party members and officials saw their awareness of discipline, rules, integrity and self-discipline enhanced and sense of responsibility strengthened.
4. A package of policies issued to guarantee fulfillment of China's annual main goals of economic and social development.
China's economy is on track to hit its key development targets for 2024, driven by a marked recovery in major economic indicators and improved social confidence, according to a press briefing by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) on Dec 16.
Data from the NBS showed that despite numerous difficulties and challenges so far this year, China's economy remains stable with strong fundamentals, abundant advantages, resilience and vast potential. The underlying conditions and long-term positive trends have not changed.
In response to new situations and issues in economic operations, the central government has made science-based decisions and acted promptly. The effects of a package of incremental policies have been unleashed in an accelerated way, leading to a notable recovery in economic performance. The main economic and social development targets for the year are expected to be achieved smoothly.
5. China produces 700 mln tons of grain in 2024, a new milestone.
China has produced a total of 700 million tons of grain in 2024, reaching a historical high, the National Bureau of Statistics said on Dec 13.
One reason for the impressive number is China's commitment to developing high-standard farmland. The country has over one billion mu (about 66.67 million hectares) of high-standard farmland currently, up from less than 400 million mu a decade ago.
6. China celebrates 25th anniversary of Macao's return to the motherland.
China held a series of activities marking the 25th anniversary of Macao's return to the motherland and the establishment of the Macao Special Administrative Region (SAR).
President Xi administered the inauguration of the sixth-term government of the SAR at a gathering during an inspection tour of the region from Dec 18 to 20.
During his three-day trip, Xi also visited the Macau University of Science and Technology, and inspected the Guangdong-Macao In-Depth Cooperation Zone in Hengqin, Guangdong Province.
7. China successfully hosts the 2024 summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC).
The FOCAC summit, which took place from Sept 4 to 6 in Beijing, was the largest diplomatic event hosted by China in recent years, with the highest attendance of foreign leaders.
Themed "Joining Hands to Advance Modernization and Build a High-Level China-Africa Community with a Shared Future", the three-day event aimed to strengthen friendship and outline future cooperation between the two sides.
President Xi delivered a keynote speech titled "Joining Hands to Advance Modernization and Build a Community with a Shared Future" at the opening ceremony of the summit on Sept 5.
8. China expands high-level opening-up for investment and people-to-people exchanges.
China has removed all market access restrictions for foreign investors in the manufacturing sector, a landmark move made by the world's second-largest economy as it opens its doors wider to the outside world.
The new edition of the national negative list for foreign investment took effect on Nov 1, scrapping the two remaining manufacturing-related items on the previous list.
The items on the latest negative list, which specifies fields that are off-limits to foreign investors, have been further slashed to 29.
China announced on Dec 17 a significant relaxation of its visa-free transit policy.
The National Immigration Administration said the permitted stay for eligible foreign travelers has been extended from the previous 72 and 144 hours to 240 hours, or 10 days.
The move, effective immediately, also includes a substantial expansion of designated ports and travel regions, enhancing flexibility for international visitors.
9. China achieves major breakthroughs in sci-tech innovation, represented by the return of the Chang'e-6 mission's soil sampling from the moon's far side, and the Qinling Station opening for Antarctic research.
Other achievements include the official commissioning of the Meng Xiang, China's first domestically designed and built deep-ocean drilling vessel with a maximum drilling depth of 11 kilometers, in the southern Chinese metropolis of Guangzhou on Nov17, and the opening to traffic of the Shenzhen-Zhongshan Link, a mega cross-sea passage in south China that features two bridges, two artificial islands, and an underwater tunnel, on June 30.
China's annual output of new energy vehicles (NEVs) surpassed the 10 million milestone this year, becoming the first country that has reached this annual output in the world, said the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers.
10. UNESCO inscribes Spring Festival on its intangible cultural heritage list.
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) inscribed the Spring Festival, social practices of the Chinese people in celebration of the traditional new year, on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity on Dec 4.
With this addition, China now has 44 cultural elements or practices recognized by UNESCO as Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.
China Media Group unveils top 10 domestic news for 2024
China Media Group unveils top 10 domestic news for 2024
