[New Ideas Lead the New Journey] Accelerating Rural Revitalization to Propel Chinese-style Modernization
General Secretary Xi Jinping emphasized that the depth, breadth, and difficulty of fully implementing the rural revitalization strategy are on par with poverty alleviation efforts. It is essential to strengthen top-level design and push forward with more powerful measures and stronger forces. At the beginning of the New Year, various regions and departments have been actively developing industries that promote wealth for the people, constructing livable and business-friendly villages, and significantly advancing the overall revitalization of rural areas, bringing vibrant energy to the vast countryside.
Just after the Spring Festival, the Guizhou Jinping Badminton Industry Park was bustling with activity. On average, more than 10,000 shuttlecocks, totaling over 100,000, are produced daily and flown out to the world. This has created employment opportunities for nearly 1,000 people from poverty-stricken areas and opened up new income avenues for 16,000 goose farmers.
Expanding the county-level industries that enrich local populations has become a highlight of the rural revitalization efforts at the start of the year. Across the country, tailored approaches are being used to expand income-generating channels for farmers, enabling more small-scale farmers to board the “express train” of modern agriculture.
For the nation to thrive, rural areas must be revitalized. General Secretary Xi Jinping has always approached agricultural, rural, and farmer issues from a broad historical perspective, strategizing for comprehensive rural revitalization. At the Third Plenary Session of the 20th Central Committee, it was proposed to apply the “Million Project” experience to improve the long-term mechanisms for promoting rural revitalization. At the end of last year, the General Secretary made important instructions for the 2025 “Three Rural” tasks, calling for continued urban-rural integration, deeper rural reform, improved support systems for agriculture, and comprehensive rural revitalization. During inspections across various regions, the General Secretary has repeatedly visited rural revitalization projects, conducting in-depth research on strengthening agriculture, beautifying rural areas, and enriching farmers. He stressed that each region should leverage its own strengths and pursue revitalization paths suited to their circumstances.
Targeting goals, accelerating reforms, and expediting the design of top-level systems, the Central Committee of the Communist Party and the State Council recently issued the “Rural Comprehensive Revitalization Plan (2024–2027),” detailing key work for the upcoming period. A series of more precise and powerful measures are also rapidly being implemented.
Enhancing Rural Industry Quality and Efficiency
This year, the government will build a batch of leading industrial parks, industry clusters, and robust towns, guiding the formation of a new development pattern for rural industries with moderate scale, competitive order, and differentiated development. Local areas are focusing on their regional advantages to identify key breakthroughs in industrial development.
Located on the southern edge of the Taklamakan Desert in Xinjiang, Hetian is filled with vibrant spring within its 1,000 greenhouses, where strawberries and ginseng fruits are ready for harvest. The local area is utilizing abundant solar energy resources to develop efficient water-saving agricultural facilities in the desert, boosting farmers’ incomes while safeguarding the desert’s edges.
In Sichuan, the traditional advantage of the rapeseed industry is being leveraged to open up new leisure and tourism opportunities. Flower field hotpots and sightseeing trains have attracted numerous visitors for flower viewing. This spring, rural industries are blooming in a wide variety of forms, with a surge in the popularity of “rural tourism” and “village-themed” IPs.
Consolidating and Expanding Poverty Alleviation Achievements
This year, efforts are focused on optimizing and improving monitoring and support mechanisms to prevent the return of poverty. Guangxi has allocated special funds to develop a big data platform to prevent poverty, integrating data from 20 departments for comprehensive online and offline monitoring and assistance. This platform enables timely screening and early warning, mitigating risks of falling back into poverty.
Yunnan has adopted a “combined approach” to assist the industrial and employment needs of those lifted out of poverty, providing internal driving forces for sustainable development. In the relocated settlement area of Yili Street, commercial spaces along the street are being transformed into “workshops at people’s doorsteps.”
Accelerating the Construction of Livable and Business-Friendly Villages
This year, the country will deepen the implementation of rural construction initiatives, with funds and projects focusing on essential infrastructure such as village roads and sanitary toilets that address urgent needs of farmers. Public services for the elderly and children, such as senior dining halls and small rural schools, will continue to be strengthened.
With the rapid acceleration of rural revitalization, the foundation of agriculture will be more robust, rural areas will thrive, and farmers’ lives will prosper, providing strong support for the construction of a socialist modernized nation.
Opinions on Further Deepening Rural Reform and Steadily Advancing Comprehensive Rural Revitalization Released by the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China and the State Council
Recently, the “Opinions on Further Deepening Rural Reform and Steadily Advancing Comprehensive Rural Revitalization” issued by the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China and the State Council was officially released.
The “Opinions” emphasize that to achieve Chinese-style modernization, the acceleration of comprehensive rural revitalization is essential. The more challenges and risks faced, the more critical it becomes to strengthen the foundation of the “three rural” issues—agriculture, rural areas, and farmers. To effectively address the “three rural” tasks for 2025 and the upcoming period, it is necessary to uphold Xi Jinping’s Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era as the guiding principle, fully implement the spirit of the 20th Party Congress and the Second and Third Plenary Sessions of the 20th Central Committee, deeply apply General Secretary Xi Jinping’s important instructions on “three rural” issues, and strengthen the comprehensive leadership of the Party over these matters. The strategy also involves adhering to the new development philosophy, maintaining the overall tone of progress while ensuring stability, prioritizing agricultural and rural development, promoting urban-rural integration, and upholding both innovation and tradition. The goal is to firmly anchor efforts in advancing rural revitalization and building a strong agricultural nation. Reform, opening up, and technological innovation will be key drivers, consolidating and improving the basic management systems for rural areas and ensuring national food security, preventing large-scale poverty, and improving rural industries, construction, and governance. This will enhance agricultural efficiency, invigorate rural vitality, and increase farmers’ incomes, all serving as a foundational support for advancing Chinese-style modernization.
The “Opinions” call for continuous enhancement of food security and the supply of other key agricultural products. It advocates for the large-scale increase in yields of grain and oil crops, supports the stable development of animal husbandry, strengthens the protection and quality improvement of arable land, promotes collaborative efforts in agricultural scientific research, and builds disaster reduction capabilities in agriculture. It also outlines the establishment of a comprehensive policy framework for food production and support systems, coordinates agricultural product trade and production mechanisms, creates a diversified food supply system, and implements long-term mechanisms for food conservation.
The “Opinions” emphasize the importance of solidifying and expanding the achievements of poverty alleviation. A strict line must be drawn to prevent large-scale poverty and regression. The policy calls for the creation of mechanisms that prevent rural poverty and stratified, targeted assistance for low-income populations and underdeveloped regions, alongside the long-term management of national assets generated through poverty alleviation investments.
The “Opinions” stress the importance of expanding county-level industries that benefit the population, developing rural characteristic industries, improving mechanisms to link farmers to markets, and broadening income channels for farmers.
It also calls for the promotion of rural construction by coordinating urban and rural planning at the county level, extending infrastructure to rural areas, raising the quality of basic public services in rural regions, and strengthening ecological governance of rural environments.
The “Opinions” highlight the need to improve rural governance systems by reinforcing grassroots Party organizations, reducing formalism that burdens local authorities, enhancing civil behavior in rural areas, promoting changes in rural customs, and maintaining rural stability.
Further, the “Opinions” stress the need to enhance the protection of resources and optimize allocation systems. This includes stabilizing and improving rural land contract relationships, efficiently managing rural resources, innovating rural revitalization investment mechanisms, improving talent cultivation and development systems in rural areas, and advancing reforms in forestry, agricultural reclamation, and supply cooperatives.
Over 9 Billion Cross-Region Trips During China’s Spring Festival Travel Rush
The 40-day Spring Festival travel rush has come to an end, and data released today (February 23) by the 2025 Comprehensive Transportation Spring Festival Work Task Force shows that the number of cross-region trips made during this period reached 9.02 billion, showcasing the vitality of a dynamic China.
Several records were broken. During the 40-day travel period, the total number of cross-region trips reached 9.02 billion, with over 513 million passengers transported by rail, 90.2 million by air, and 31.21 million by water—setting all-time highs.
Self-driving trips remain the dominant mode of transport during the rush. Over 71.7 billion trips were made by private vehicles, accounting for 79.4% of all cross-region trips. National railway police dynamically adjusted their force deployment based on passenger flow, addressing over 54,000 urgent issues for travelers.
The travel rush also activated new consumption patterns. Over 3,100 kilometers of new railway lines made their debut during the travel period, boosting tourism along the routes. Over 4.6 million kilometers of rural roads turned remote villages into popular destinations for both domestic and international tourists. Additionally, niche tourism activities such as “ice and snow tourism,” “island tourism,” and “traditional cultural tourism” significantly increased the flow of tourists.
The strength behind this convenient travel is the robust support of the comprehensive transportation system. During the travel period, over 14,000 trains, 650,000 passenger vehicles, and more than 4,100 aircraft were deployed across the national transportation system. The integration of air-rail transport covered 78 key hub cities, allowing the largest and most modern integrated transportation network in the world to meet the diverse travel needs of passengers.
China’s Offshore Engineering Equipment Market Holds Global Lead for Seven Consecutive Years
Today (February 23), China’s independently developed fourth-generation offshore engineering installation vessel was successfully completed. Currently, China continues to make breakthroughs in the offshore engineering equipment sector, with its market share maintaining the global lead for seven consecutive years.
The “Zhigao” vessel is capable of lifting wind power equipment weighing up to 3,600 tons, with an accuracy error of no more than 10 centimeters. Meanwhile, the “Zhiyuan” vessel can steadily operate in waters as deep as 70 meters. Together, these two vessels represent the latest generation of wind power installation ships in the world.
China’s offshore engineering equipment continues to innovate. According to the China Shipbuilding Industry Association, in 2024, China secured contracts for 108 various offshore engineering vessels, valued at approximately 18.6 billion USD, accounting for 69.4% of the global market share, maintaining its position as the world leader for the seventh year in a row.
At the same time, the “newness” and “green” aspects of China’s offshore equipment are steadily improving. In 2024, China captured 78.5% of the international market share for new green ship orders, achieving full coverage of mainstream ship types.
China’s Banking and Insurance Sectors Continue to Grow in Total Assets
The latest data released by the National Financial Supervision and Administration Bureau shows that by the end of the fourth quarter of 2024, the total assets of China’s banking institutions reached 444.6 trillion yuan, while the total assets of insurance companies and insurance asset management companies reached 35.9 trillion yuan, reflecting year-on-year growth of 6.5% and 13.9%, respectively, with both sectors maintaining steady asset growth.
In terms of supporting the real economy, the banking and insurance sectors have strengthened financial services. By the end of the fourth quarter of 2024, the loan balance for small and micro enterprises in the banking sector reached 81.4 trillion yuan, with inclusive loans for small businesses increasing by 14.7% compared to the previous year. Throughout 2024, insurance companies paid out 2.3 trillion yuan in claims and benefits, a 19.4% year-on-year increase.
As for asset quality, the non-performing loan ratio for commercial banks stood at 1.5% by the end of the fourth quarter, a slight decrease of 0.05 percentage points from the previous quarter, maintaining overall stability in credit asset quality. Meanwhile, the insurance sector remains financially strong, with the comprehensive solvency ratio for the insurance industry standing at 199.4% by the end of the fourth quarter, indicating robust solvency and stability.
China’s Spring Irrigation Area Exceeds 10 Million Acres
As spring irrigation and planting season begins across China, the Ministry of Water Resources recently announced that the area for spring irrigation has surpassed 10 million acres.
Since last winter, the country’s average precipitation has been more than 50% below normal, causing some areas to experience mild soil moisture deficits. Currently, localities are scientifically adjusting water sources to ensure precise irrigation.
In Anyang, Henan Province, the local area utilizes two complete irrigation systems along the East and West lines, quickly introducing water from the Yellow River and the Wei River to irrigate over 400,000 acres of wheat fields in 12 towns along the lines. Currently, the total volume of water used for spring irrigation has reached 10 million cubic meters.
In Zoucheng, Shandong, more than 500,000 acres of wheat fields have entered the greening phase. This year, the local area has invested in over 4,600 new irrigation devices, including mobile sprinklers, replacing traditional flood irrigation methods. This not only conserves water but also improves the soil environment.
Currently, parts of the Yellow River Basin in Shanxi, Shandong, and Shaanxi provinces have begun to pump water for spring irrigation, while regions along the Yangtze River are accelerating winter repairs of agricultural water facilities, ensuring smooth water flow during spring irrigation.
[Representative’s Work Story] Zhang Yuzhen: Advancing Ecological Construction to Brighten the “Green Mountains and Clear Water” Foundation
In today’s (February 23) “Representative’s Work Story,” we focus on Zhang Yuzhen, a National People’s Congress representative from Fujian Province who has been dedicated to ecological environmental protection.
Zhang Yuzhen has worked in the field of ecological protection since the 1980s. Over the 12 years she has served as a National People’s Congress representative, she has submitted nearly 70 proposals, most of which focus on ecological environmental protection.
At last year’s National People’s Congress, Zhang proposed suggestions to strengthen rural space optimization, rural solid waste management, and agricultural pollution control to support the construction of beautiful villages. The Ministry of Ecology and Environment responded that it would coordinate with relevant departments to establish a mechanism for managing agricultural pollution and supervision, and would undertake tasks such as survey monitoring, designating priority areas for remediation, systematic governance, and evaluating effectiveness. Fujian Province has also implemented related policies to address issues such as livestock and aquaculture pollution, with the Wukou Reservoir area now undergoing a green transformation with its 1.3 million square meters of fish farming.
Rural groundwater, as a vital source of drinking and irrigation water, impacts the lives of countless families. Recently, Zhang Yuzhen visited an underground water monitoring site in Shanghang County, Fujian Province, to conduct research. At this year’s National People’s Congress, she will focus on strengthening the monitoring network for rural groundwater and make further proposals for the development of such systems.
Blossoming Spring and the “Spring Economy” Flourishing with Vitality
As early spring arrives, flowers are in full bloom, and people step outdoors to enjoy the beauty of nature, soaking in the delightful springtime moments, which in turn boosts the vitality of the “spring economy.”
Flowers are blooming, and the spring landscape is picturesque. Across the country, flower-watching seasons are beginning. In Beijing, the wax plum flowers at the National Botanical Garden are beautifully complemented by the ancient red walls and green rooftops, attracting numerous visitors. In Wuhan, Hubei, plum blossoms have reached their peak, with mountainsides blanketed in vibrant blossoms. In Luzhou, Sichuan, cherry blossoms are in full bloom, creating breathtaking vistas. In Jiangjin, Chongqing, over 8,000 cherry trees in the local cherry blossom garden are blooming in succession, drawing a steady stream of visitors. The region has combined its cherry blossom garden with tea plantations, creating a comprehensive cultural tourism destination that offers flower viewing and tea culture experiences. On average, the site hosts around 5,000 visitors daily, with a projected 350,000 visitors in 2025.
Leveraging flowers as a medium, the “spring economy” is flourishing. In Shexian, Anhui, the village of Meihua has a stunning blend of plum blossoms, green mountains, and local homes, creating a beautiful rural scene. The area has developed tourism while also building a bonsai base, which now generates annual sales of over 26 million yuan. In Wangtan Town, Shaoxing, Zhejiang, the town utilizes its expansive plum groves to host plum-viewing and plum-tasting activities, helping local farmers increase their income. In Kunming, Yunnan, the cherry blossoms attract many tourists, who can also enjoy local specialties such as flower cakes and flower honey, savoring the “taste of spring” while wandering through the floral sea. In Xiamen, Fujian, the fields of canola flowers are a stunning sight. The region has integrated rural tourism with agricultural industry, hosting events like the rice noodle cultural festival to boost the sales of local agricultural products.
National News
Five Major Actions to Strengthen Technological Innovation in Ecological and Environmental Sectors
Recently, the Ministry of Ecology and Environment, along with 16 other departments, jointly released the “Implementation Opinions on Strengthening Technological Innovation in Ecological and Environmental Sectors to Promote the Construction of Beautiful China.” The initiative proposes five major actions, including enhancing basic research, tackling key technologies, transferring and transforming technological achievements, optimizing innovation platforms, and improving high-level talent development. By 2035, the goal is to achieve self-reliance and strength in green and low-carbon technologies.
Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal Water Supply Starts for Full Line Completion in 2025
The Ministry of Water Resources announced the launch of a comprehensive water supply project for the Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal, aiming for the full line to be completed by 2025. The water supply plan will continue through the end of June, focusing on the section of the canal north of the Yellow River, covering Beijing, Tianjin, Hebei, and Shandong provinces, and passing through 8 prefecture-level cities and 31 counties.
China Issues 231 Million Green Power Certificates in January
In January, the National Energy Administration issued 231 million green power certificates, a 2.25-fold increase year-on-year. Additionally, 53.1 million green power certificates were traded across the country. The rapid issuance of green power certificates is driving the country’s transition toward a greener energy future.
Initiative to Accelerate Smart Computing Power Development
The Ministry of Industry and Information Technology recently launched the “Computing Power Strengthening Initiative,” focusing on key areas such as computation, storage, networking, and applications. This initiative aims to discover enterprises with core technological capabilities and strong innovation capacity, in order to advance key technologies, products, and solutions in the computing industry, including smart computing management, acceleration, and the integration of computing with various sectors.
Shenzhen Leads Mainland Cities in Private Enterprise Import and Export Scale
According to Shenzhen Customs, in 2024, nearly 47,000 private enterprises in Shenzhen participated in foreign trade, with total imports and exports reaching 3.16 trillion yuan, a 24.2% year-on-year increase. This represented more than 70% of the total value of Shenzhen’s foreign trade, marking the first time that the share exceeded 70%, making Shenzhen the leader in both number and scale among mainland cities.
Shanghai Pudong Launches Major Livelihood Projects with Investment of 64.8 Billion Yuan
On February 22, 99 major livelihood projects in Shanghai’s Pudong New Area broke ground, with a total investment of approximately 64.8 billion yuan. These projects span seven key areas, including ecology, housing security, healthcare, and elderly services. Among them, 67 projects focus on the ecological environment, including the construction of the Outer Ring Canal, which will further increase the city’s ecological space.
China Successfully Launches Zhongxing-10R Satellite
On February 22, China successfully launched the Zhongxing-10R satellite from the Xichang Satellite Launch Center using a Long March 3B rocket. The satellite will provide efficient satellite network transmission services for countries participating in the Belt and Road Initiative.
Fujian Opens First Direct Sea Route to East Timor
On February 23, Fujian’s Quanzhou Port launched a direct sea route to Dili Port in East Timor. The route takes just seven days, cutting the transportation time by 15 days compared to traditional transshipment methods. This is currently the fastest sea route from China to East Timor and will significantly promote bilateral trade and economic exchanges.
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“Traveling China through Movies” Injects New Vitality into Tourism Market
With the global success of Chinese films such as Nezha: Birth of the Demon Child, Detective Chinatown 1900, and The Gods: War of the West, the National Film Bureau and China Central Television have hosted a “Traveling China through Movies” promotion in Hong Kong and Macau. This initiative has attracted widespread attention from local residents and expatriates. Similar promotional activities have also been carried out in the U.S., Russia, France, Saudi Arabia, Brazil, and South Africa, breathing new life into the inbound tourism market.
Cold Air Weakens Next Week, Temperatures Rise in Central and Eastern China
According to the Central Meteorological Observatory, as cold air weakens, temperatures in central and eastern China will rise next week, with some regions seeing a temperature increase of over 10°C. In Northeast China, North China, and parts of the Yangtze River region, temperatures may rise by more than 15°C. A new cold front will move southward in early March, and the public is advised to stay informed about weather changes.
International News Highlights
Russia Claims New Control of Settlements, Ukraine Says It Downed 82 Russian Drones
On February 22, the Russian Ministry of Defense reported that Russian forces had targeted Ukrainian military airports, drone storage facilities, and drone operator training centers over the past day. Russian forces claimed to have taken control of the settlement of Novolyubivka in the Luhansk region.
Ukraine, on the other hand, stated that its military struck an oil pumping station in Russia’s Krasnodar Krai, which had been supplying Russian forces. Additionally, Ukraine reported that between the evening of February 21 and February 22, Russian forces launched 162 drones at Kyiv and other cities, and Ukrainian forces successfully downed 82 of them.
Russian President Prioritizes Supply of Military Equipment for Special Military Operation
In a video address on February 23, marking the “Defender of the Fatherland Day,” Russian President Vladimir Putin reaffirmed Russia’s strategic stance of strengthening and developing its armed forces in response to a rapidly changing world. He emphasized that ensuring the supply and equipment needs of forces engaged in the special military operation is the nation’s top priority.
Hungarian Prime Minister Says Ukraine Will Remain a Buffer Between NATO and Russia
On February 22, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán stated that Ukraine will not become a NATO member and, after the end of the Russia-Ukraine conflict, will continue to serve as a “buffer zone” between NATO and Russia. Orbán further declared that Hungary would block Ukraine’s EU membership if it harms Hungary’s interests.
Israel Delays Release of New Batch of Palestinian Detainees
On February 22, the Palestinian Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) transferred six Israeli detainees to the International Committee of the Red Cross in Gaza, and the individuals have since returned to Israel. Under the ceasefire agreement, Israel was supposed to release over 600 Palestinian detainees on the same day, but on February 23, Israel delayed the release, citing Hamas’ violation of certain terms of the agreement.
The Israeli Defense Forces announced on February 23 that they had deployed tanks to the West Bank in Palestine to expand their military operations in Jenin.
Germany Holds Federal Election Today
Germany’s federal election is taking place today, February 23. According to the latest polling data released by German polling agencies on February 21, the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) and the Christian Social Union (CSU) hold a 29% support rate, maintaining the lead. The Alternative for Germany (AfD) party and the ruling Social Democratic Party (SPD) are in second and third place, with 21% and 15% support, respectively. German media reports indicate that economic issues are at the forefront of voters’ concerns, with many hoping the new government will reverse Germany’s economic downturn.
Protests and Clashes in Bulgaria Against Euro Adoption
On February 22, over a thousand members of Bulgaria’s opposition party, Revival, held protests in Sofia, demanding that the country cancel its plans to join the Eurozone. During the protest, demonstrators clashed with police outside the EU Commission’s office, leading to the arrest of six individuals. Bulgaria’s newly formed government, which took office in January, has made joining the Eurozone a key priority.
Bulgaria, a member of the European Union since 2007, has been told that if certain conditions are met, it could join the Eurozone by 2025.
Virginia Shooting Leaves Three Dead
According to the Virginia Beach Police Department, a shooting occurred on February 21, resulting in the deaths of three people, including two police officers. Police stated that the two officers were conducting traffic enforcement when they got into an argument with a suspect, who opened fire, killing the officers. The suspect was later found dead at another location from an apparent suicide. On the same day, a shooting at the Kirtland Air Force Base in New Mexico resulted in the death of one pilot and the injury of another, though further details have not been released. Both cases are under investigation.
Space Exploration Company Confirms Rocket Debris Fell in Poland Due to Malfunction
Recently, several locations in Poland reported the falling of unidentified objects. On February 22, SpaceX confirmed in a statement that its Falcon 9 rocket experienced a malfunction during its deorbiting process on February 19. Rocket debris entered European airspace and fell in Poland. SpaceX is collaborating with the Polish government to locate the debris. The Polish Space Agency had initially determined that the debris found in multiple locations across Poland was from the Falcon 9 rocket. Polish Defense Minister Mariusz Błaszczak stated that the Ministry of Defense would assist Polish citizens in seeking compensation if any damages occurred due to the incident.