As the first rays of sunlight pierced through the winter chill, thousands of people from across the country gathered at Beijing's Tiananmen Square on Wednesday morning to witness the first national flag-raising ceremony of 2025, sharing their dreams in the new year and sincere blessing for the motherland.
The solemn ceremony drew participants from all walks of life, including students, tourists, and overseas Chinese, who braved the cold to watch the Five-Star Red Flag being hoisted against the backdrop of the rising sun.
"This scene is amazing. All people gathering in the square are watching the five-star red flag rising and I feel everyone's love for the motherland. I will carry on my studies with this love. Dreams are far away, but we can get them eventually as long as we chase. In the New Year, I will try my best to keep working towards my goal," said Mak Hio Kuan, a young resident from Macao.
"Throughout the process my eyes were filled with tears. As an overseas Chinese student, I feel very proud to see the strength of my motherland, as a strong motherland is the most powerful backing for us to live safely and smoothly abroad! I hope I'll be able to dedicate myself to the motherland's development," said Guo Fengyang, a student studying in Germany.
The ceremony also inspired young professionals to contribute to national development.
Yang Jingxuan, a research assistant at the China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, expressed his commitment to advancing traditional Chinese medicine (TCM).
"Countless laborers, builders and entrepreneurs are fighting for their dreams. As a student of a medical experimental center, I hope to inherit our traditional Chinese medicine along with other traditional culture, and contribute to the medical cause of our motherland," Yang said.
A tourist from the distant Xizang Autonomous Region in southwest China said that he made this trip to educate his children.
"I think watching the flag-raising ceremony at the Tian'anmen Square allows the children feel the strength and prosperity of the motherland. Linzhi is very good now, and there are many tourists from across the country. The people there live in harmony, peace and unity. Their life is relatively prosperous," said Yuan Jiabin, a tourist from Xizang.
"This is the third time I've come to see the flag-raising. We are all very excited that our motherland has been so powerful and prosperous. Our country's new energy vehicle (NEV) annual output has exceeded 10 million units in 2024. As a college student majoring in automation, I'm inspired by this and I hope that I can contribute to such an industry in the future," said Hu Yan, a student from Zhengzhou University.
The event particularly resonated with those serving the public. "his is my first time watching a flag-raising ceremony, and I witness how powerful our motherland is. As a firefighter at the grass-roots level, I will work hard to improve my skills and charge forward when people need me most," said Zhang Shenzhou, a firefighter from northwest China's Gansu Province.
"We've just watched the first flag-raising ceremony of 2025 at the Tian'anmen Square. The moment when we sang the national anthem in unison, I was deeply touched and that feeling was beyond words. In the New Year, I wish my dear motherland flourishing and invigorating," said Chen Meihui, a student from the Harbin Institute of Technology.
Flag-raising ceremony kindles patriotic zeal as China ushers in 2025
Business leaders from Chinese manufacturing sector shared their insights for Chinese brands to go global at a China Media Group (CMG) event, highlighting the role of cutting-edge technology and the importance of high-quality products.
The CMG's business channel recorded its New Year's Eve Speech program at the National Aquatics Center in Beijing on Dec 26, with business insiders from leading Chinese enterprises discussing their thoughts on expanding into global markets.
Yang Dongsheng, the chairman of Chinese construction machinery manufacturer Xuzhou Construction Machinery Group (XCMG), highlighted the power of heavy equipment.
As the world's third-largest producer by share of construction equipment sales worldwide, the XCMG has exported its products to over 190 countries and regions, covering more than 95 percent of the areas along the Belt and Road Initiative routes, Yang said, making it a representative of China's major industrial equipment reaching the global stage.
"The AI technology expands the boundaries of human intelligence, while the construction machinery enhances human strength, allowing us to continually push the limits of physical power. The machinery made by the XCMG has left a solid and shining footprint on the global stage, and was used in the projects including the large-scale wind power bases in Europe, the world's largest single refinery, the Pan-Asian Railway, the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, Saudi Arabia's futuristic city NEOM, and the world's largest iron ore mine in Simandou, drawing a grand blueprint for human interaction and integration," said Yang.
Apart from going global, Yang said the company is also stepping up efforts in the development of autonomous driving technology, and taking the lead in the digital transformation of construction machinery industry.
"There is an open-pit coal mine with an annual production capacity of 35 million tons by the Yimin River in Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region. At the coal mine, the coal transport trucks operate in an orderly and efficient manner. And the trucks have no driver, nor driver's cabin. Such equipment not only improves the safety of mining operations, but also contributes to reducing carbon emissions," said Yang.
Dong Mingzhu, the chairwoman of China's household appliance giant Gree, emphasized the quality of the products in her speech at the event.
In 2021, Gree launched its "10-Year Guaranteed Repair Policy" for air conditioning products. Dong said that while the policy presented challenges for the company, it also motivated Gree to produce high-quality products that could earn and maintain customers' trust and confidence.
Dong said the company values both domestic customers and global buyers. She noted that over 600 million Gree air conditioners worldwide have been in use for more than 10 years, and the company is now offering a trade-in service to consumers globally.
"More than a decade ago, when people talked about 'made in China', what did they think of? Products with low price and low quality. At the same time, we also know that in some countries, the products they made for domestic use are of good quality, and the products they export to other countries aren't as good and are made with different standards. We strive to make all our products with the same standards around the world. We want all consumers to enjoy the most advanced technology, and hold ourselves to the highest standards," said Dong.
Chinese manufacturers highlight technology, quality for brands going global
