Three Chinese taikonauts have been sent to space aboard the Shenzhou-15 manned spaceship late Tuesday in a mission to wrap up the last stage of China's space station construction and kick off its initial application and development.
A see-off ceremony for three Chinese astronauts of the Shenzhou-15 manned space mission is held at the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwest China, Nov. 29, 2022. (Xinhua/Liu Lei)
The latest developments in China's manned space programs, which illustrate the country's growing technological prowess, have added footnotes to the Chinese Dream.
Put forward by Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, 10 years ago, the Chinese Dream envisages the brilliant future of the Chinese nation.
GREAT DREAM
"National rejuvenation has been the greatest dream of the Chinese people since modern times began," Xi said when visiting the exhibition titled "The Road of Rejuvenation" on Nov. 29, 2012, shortly after assuming the Party's top post.
The exhibition recounted Chinese history since the Opium War of 1840, after which China was gradually reduced to a semi-colonial, semi-feudal society due to the aggression of Western powers and the corruption of feudal rulers.
Since its founding in 1921, the CPC has shouldered the historic mission of national rejuvenation. In 1949, the People's Republic of China was founded. In 1978, the country began to implement the reform and opening-up policy. Following the Party's 18th National Congress in 2012, socialism with Chinese characteristics entered a new era.
The CPC Central Committee, with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core, has been steering the gigantic ship of the Chinese nation steadily toward national rejuvenation.
Transformations are taking place all across the country as a result of the great dream.
Close to 100 million poor rural residents have been lifted out of poverty, the per capita disposable income nationwide rose by 78 percent in real terms from 2012 to 2021, and more than 130 million urban jobs were created in the past decade.
Other achievements over the past 10 years included making significant progress in the Global Innovation Index ranking, and reducing its carbon emission intensity by 34.4 percent.
DREAM CHASERS
"Running such a huge country is a grave responsibility, and it entails arduous work," said Xi, also Chinese president and chairman of the Central Military Commission. "I will fully commit to the people and never fail them. I am ready to put aside my own interests and devote my all to China's development."
The remarks have galvanized hundreds of millions of Chinese people to pursue their dreams, pooling efforts for national rejuvenation.
Zou Bin is one of the dream chasers. The young Chinese man started off as a bricklayer and went on to win the Medallion for Excellence in bricklaying in the WorldSkills Competition held in Brazil in 2015, setting a record for China in this field.
"This is an era in which everyone has the opportunity to shine," Zou said.
Zhang Guimei (C), the principal of the Huaping Senior High School for Girls, watches as her students study at school in Lijiang, southwest China's Yunnan Province, Dec. 1, 2020. (Xinhua/Chen Xinbo)
There are also heroes who help others in the pursuit of their dreams. Zhang Guimei, the principal of a senior high school for girls, has been educating and aiding students in need.
The school in mountainous Yunnan Province has created a miracle, with more than 2,000 graduates -- most of whom come from low-income rural families -- admitted to colleges and universities. Many of them later became teachers, doctors and civil servants, fulfilling their aspirations.
CHINESE ETHOS
Shi Basan is a resident of Shibadong, an ethnic Miao village tucked away in the Wuling Mountains.
On Nov. 3, 2013, Xi walked into her home during an inspection tour in central China's Hunan Province. "What should I call you?" asked Shi as she welcomed Xi. "I am a servant of the people," Xi said, introducing himself and greeting Shi as an elder sister.
Thanks to the targeted poverty alleviation drive which Xi put forward during that trip and the concerted efforts of cadres and villagers alike, numerous villages shook off poverty by developing rural industries tailor-made to local conditions.
In Shibadong, villagers have increased their incomes through developing tourism, mountain spring business, ethnic embroidery as well as growing kiwi fruits and other farm specialties. Houses in the village take a new look and Shi, who used to live in a dilapidated house, now stands proudly in her renovated new home, greeting tourists from across the country.
Ma Huihuang (L), then head of the poverty alleviation work team in Shibadong, promotes local products via live-streaming together with villager Shi Linjiao in Shibadong Village of Xiangxi Tujia and Miao Autonomous Prefecture, central China's Hunan Province, May 15, 2020. (Xinhua/Chen Sihan)
A nation's rejuvenation requires material strength, as well as strong spiritual support.
Today, a national spirit to which patriotism is central has been carried forward across society. Cultural confidence, innovation, exchanges and mutual learning with other civilizations, have all seen a boost.
Meng Man, a professor at the School of History and Culture, Minzu University of China, said that she has observed a firmer sense of purpose, fortitude and self-belief among the Chinese people.
"The Chinese people are more inspired than ever to forge ahead, more resolved than ever to work hard, and more confident than ever of securing success. They are filled with a stronger sense of history and initiative," Xi said.
NEW JOURNEY
The blueprint for the Chinese Dream has been drawn up.
To build China into a great modern socialist country in all respects, the CPC has adopted a two-step strategic plan: basically realizing socialist modernization from 2020 through 2035, and building China into a great modern socialist country that is prosperous, strong, democratic, culturally advanced, harmonious, and beautiful from 2035 through the middle of this century.
It was also stressed at the Party's 20th National Congress in October that national rejuvenation will be advanced on all fronts through a Chinese path to modernization.
The Party congress also set an array of objectives and tasks for the next five years, including achieving greater self-reliance and strength in science and technology, making new strides in reform and opening-up, ensuring that personal income grows basically in step with economic growth, and substantially improving urban and rural living environments.
Leading the Party's new top leadership to meet the press on Oct. 23, Xi said that China, having completed its building of a moderately prosperous society in all respects, is now taking confident strides on a new journey to turn China into a modern socialist country in all respects.
"The new journey ahead will be a long one filled with glories and dreams," Xi said.
