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Speakers:

Liu Qi, secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Jiangxi Provincial Committee and chairman of the Standing Committee of the People's Congress of Jiangxi Province

Yi Lianhong, vice secretary of the CPC Jiangxi Provincial Committee and governor of the People's Government of Jiangxi Province

Shi Xiaolin, member of the Standing Committee of the CPC Jiangxi Provincial Committee and head of the Publicity Department of the CPC Jiangxi Provincial Committee

Chairperson:

Chen Wenjun, spokesperson of the Publicity Department of the CPC Central Committee

Date: 

May 14, 2021

Chen Wenjun:

Ladies and gentlemen, good morning. Welcome to this press conference held by the Publicity Department of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee. Jiangxi province is a land with revolutionary glories where the great revolutionary spirit of the CPC such as the great Jinggangshan Spirit and the spirit of the Soviet areas have been fostered. The great revolutionary spirit has been passed on and carried forward, inspiring generations of communists to stay true to the original aspiration, keep the mission in mind, and strive for greater achievements.

On the occasion of celebrating the 100th anniversary of the founding of the Party, we have organized this press conference and invited Liu Qi, secretary of the CPC Jiangxi Provincial Committee and chairman of the Standing Committee of the People's Congress of Jiangxi Province; Yi Lianhong, vice secretary of the CPC Jiangxi Provincial Committee and governor of the People's Government of Jiangxi Province; and Shi Xiaolin, member of the Standing Committee of the CPC Jiangxi Provincial Committee and head of the Publicity Department of the CPC Jiangxi Provincial Committee. They will brief you on issues related to "Jiangxi: Endeavoring to start new chapter with 100 years of glories" and answer your questions. Next, I will give the floor to Mr. Liu. 

Liu Qi:

Ladies and gentlemen, friends from the media, good morning.

This year marks the 100th anniversary of the founding of the CPC. It is a great pleasure to attend this press conference held by the Publicity Department of the CPC Central Committee and brief you on the situation of Jiangxi's old revolutionary base areas at this critical historic juncture. First of all, on behalf of the CPC Jiangxi Provincial Committee, the People's Government of Jiangxi Province and the more than 45 million people of Jiangxi, I would like to express my heartfelt gratitude to all of you for your long-term interest in, support for and assistance to Jiangxi.

Jiangxi is a place endowed with "rich resources, outstanding people and productive land." In ancient times, it was known as "the head of the Wu Kingdom and the tail of the Chu Kingdom," and "the portal of Guangdong province and the courtyard of Fujian province." It has distinct geographical advantages, connecting the east with the west and linking the south with the north. The "red color" (referring to revolutionary heritage) is the best-known brand of Jiangxi. The "green color" (referring to ecological environment) is the biggest advantage of Jiangxi. The "ancient color" (referring to ancient heritage) is the deepest historic holdings of Jiangxi. The red and green colors enhance each other, while the past and the present complement each other.

With regards to the Party's glorious history over the past century, as the Cradle of the Chinese Revolution, the Cradle of the People's Republic, the Cradle of the People's Army and the Birthplace of the Chinese Workers' Movement, Jiangxi, a piece of red land soaked with the blood of numerous revolutionary martyrs, has fostered the great Jinggangshan Spirit, the spirit of the Soviet areas and the Long March Spirit, and carried forward the original aspiration and mission of the Chinese Communists. The Chinese revolution started in Jiangxi and spread across the whole country, and from victory in this place to new victories across the nation. Under the leadership of the Party, the people of Jiangxi have forged ahead with determination and perseverance, and achieved historical advancements from isolation and backwardness to civility and progress, from lack of adequate food and clothing to a moderately prosperous society in all respects. This is a witness to the great strides that the Party has united and led the Chinese people to achieve: from standing up, to becoming rich and growing strong.

The CPC Central Committee attaches great importance to and cares greatly about Jiangxi. In February 2016, General Secretary Xi Jinping inspected Jiangxi, visiting local people and putting forward important requirements for the further development of the province. Three years later, in May 2019, General Secretary Xi Jinping made another inspection visit to Jiangxi and put forward the important target of "setting an example in speeding up the high-quality development of the old revolutionary bases and vying for the forefront in boosting the rise of the central region," and the important requirement of "advancement in five aspects," that is, to promote high-quality economic development, deepen reform and opening up, promote agricultural and rural modernization, promote innovation in social governance, and carry forward the revolutionary heritage. Bearing in mind General Secretary Xi Jinping's remarks, we have been working hard in gratitude, speeding up to achieve high quality and leapfrog development, and striving to depict a new picture of Jiangxi's reform and development in the new era. Since the 18th National Congress of the CPC in 2012, the province's GDP has grown by 8.7% annually, moving up from 19th to 15th place in the country in terms of its national GDP ranking. More encouragingly, the added value of high-tech industries and strategic emerging industries in the province has accounted for 38.2% and 22.1% of industries above designated size, respectively, increasing by 8.1 and 7.2 percentage points during the 13th Five-Year Plan period (2016-2020). The quality of development and people's wellbeing has been continuously improved. The sight of "strong industry, beautiful ecology, and rich people with fighting spirits" is gradually emerging in the great land of Jiangxi.

The drivers of innovative development are playing a bigger role. Jiangxi is a place where many development miracles have been created. China's first plane, first diesel-powered wheeled tractor, first military three-wheeled motorcycle and sidecar, and first coastal defense missile were all made here. We have deeply implemented the strategy of innovation-driven development and fully stimulated the vitality of creativity, innovation and entrepreneurship. The Poyang Lake National Independent Innovation Demonstration Zone, and the Ganjiang Innovation Academy under the Chinese Academy of Sciences, have been established. Part of the fuselage of China's self-developed C919 large passenger aircraft was made in Jiangxi. The technology of blue LED on silicon substrate was also invented in the province. We strove to work on the development of aviation, electronic information, equipment manufacturing, traditional Chinese medicine, new energy, new materials and other advantageous industries. Virtual reality, "03 special project," namely next generation broadband wireless mobile communications network, Internet of Things and other sectors of the digital economy have achieved rapid development. Nowadays, the land of Jiangxi is full of innovation and creation, surging with the tide of innovation, and gathering the powerful momentum of achieving high-quality and leapfrog development.

Jiangxi has achieved more and more fruitful outcomes in the pursuit of reform and opening-up. It has been a key exporter of trade along the Silk Road since ancient times. The Maritime Silk Road is also known as the Maritime Ceramic Road, and craftsmen traveled from all around to Jiangxi's Jingdezhen, China's porcelain capital, to make exquisite porcelain which sold well around the world. Comrade Deng Xiaoping was once demoted to Jiangxi to do manual labor, and the "Xiaoping Trail," a memorial park dedicated to him, has become an important symbol of his interaction with the general public and an exploration of the new road he helped China to take. Jiangxi spares no effort to promote the spirit of innovation, while continuously carrying out reform and openingup to tackle key problems and break new ground. Its e-government service platforms, such as "Gan Futong" and "Gan Zhengtong," have been improved. Meanwhile, it has become a national model region regarding its reform efforts to streamline administration and delegate power, as well as in its construction of "sponge cities" and its experience in rural house renovation in Yujiang district, Yingtan city. Jiangxi is also making efforts to build an inland opening-up pilot economic zone with high quality and standards, pressing ahead with the development of major opening-up portals, platforms, and business environment. The latter looks to feature the best policies, lowest costs, greatest services, and highest efficiencies. With the infinite vitality brought about by China's reform and opening-up, today's Jiangxi is exuding the energy of growth. Thus, the once-revolutionary base now exhibits a refreshing momentum for development.

Liu Qi:

Jiangxi's fine ecosystems and environment have progressively displayed prominent features. Green development and ecological conservation are Jiangxi's greatest assets, biggest strengths, and most important calling card. It is here that General Secretary Xi Jinping said "Mount Lu is famed for its tranquility, Mount Sanqing for its beauty, and Mount Longhu for its uniqueness." Poyang Lake, which is known as "the wetland of the world and the kingdom for migrant birds," is China's largest freshwater lake and is often referred to as "the lake that can breathe." As its water level varies each season, different views can be seen in the region throughout the year. The lake area during the rainy season spans 4,600 square kilometers, whereas in the dry season, it only makes up 200 to 300 square kilometers. In spring, the lake will transform into a sea of flowers, while in the summer it becomes misty and stretches to the horizon. During autumn, it becomes a vast grassland where herds of cows and goats can be seen. When winter falls, the lake will turn into a kingdom for migratory birds. Monitoring data in 2020 showed that a total of 680,000 wintering migratory birds across 63 species were found in the Poyang Lake region. This is echoed in a poetic expression that describes the huge number of birds here, which describes how the sun and moon are blocked by the birds when they fly and the grass by the lake can be barely seen when they land. Among these birds, more than 4,000 white cranes, which is also the "provincial bird" of Jiangxi, were found here last year. This means that over 96% of all white cranes in the world migrate to Poyang Lake during the winter. Bird watchers can get the closest views in the world of the white cranes at Poyang Lake. In the Wuxing Reclamation Farm in Nanchang city, a tourist town dedicated to the white cranes is being built. You are all welcome to visit Poyang Lake and enjoy the area's views, which embody the harmonious coexistence between man and nature. All these are a vivid showcase of Jiangxi's fine ecosystem. We have been working to preserve the environment like we protect our own eyes. We have also been working to establish a national pilot zone for ecological progress and resolutely tackle pollution, making Jiangxi's ecosystem and environment one of the best in China. Other efforts have been made to comprehensively improve both urban and rural environments, and to make Jiangxi a tidy, beautiful, harmonious, and livable place. Today's Jiangxi is a land of picturesque scenery, presenting a magnificent picture of blue sky, green land, clear water, and fresh air.

People in Jiangxi, the once-revolutionary base, have experienced growing prosperity. When General Secretary Xi Jinping visited Jiangxi on a recent inspection tour, he told us to think about the source of the river when drinking water. He urged us to keep in mind the revolutionary ideals and purpose, to remain true to the original aspirations and mission of the CPC and to remember the martyrs and folks from the then Central Soviet Area and other old revolutionary base areas. We have been carrying out an in-depth, people-centered development philosophy, making greater efforts to meet people's basic living needs and improve their livelihood and welfare. All 25 poor counties and 3,058 impoverished villages in Jiangxi have since shaken off poverty. This is a historic move to tackle Jiangxi's overall regional poverty. The per capita disposable income for urban and rural residents in Jiangxi has doubled since 2010, ahead of schedule. In addition, efforts have been made to proactively facilitate the modernization of Jiangxi's social governance system and capacities, which enables the province to win national-level prizes for excellence in comprehensive management for 16 consecutive years. People's lives in today's Jiangxi are more convenient, comfortable, and happier, and they are living a better life in this once revolutionary base.

The atmosphere of responsibility and hard work has been further developed in Jiangxi. Jiangxi is abbreviated as "Gan" in Chinese, which is homonymous with the Chinese character for "work." This is also highly consistent with our people's diligence, humility, responsibility and hard work, and their contemporary spirit. Guided by the Party's political building, we will comprehensively strengthen Party building in the new era, and vigorously carry forward the great Jinggangshan Spirit, the spirit of the then Soviet areas, and the spirit of the Long March. As such, government officials and the public in Jiangxi are inspired to carry out the Party's guidelines, are grateful for the Party's work, and follow the Party resolutely. We will pass the Party's revolutionary traditions from generation to generation and strive to build Jiangxi into a place with the most emphasis on Party spirit, politics, and loyalty. We also work to rectify problems relating to the unwilling or sluggish undertaking of responsibility, being dishonest, mediocre, lazy, and inefficient to work. We must resolutely and thoroughly eliminate the adverse effects of the Su Rong case (Su was Party chief of Jiangxi between 2007 and 2013 and was sentenced for life for corruption in 2017) and achieve new results in creating a clean and upright political ecosystem. Nowadays, Jiangxi is an entrepreneurial land with diligent people who roll up their sleeves and seize the moment to press ahead with their work.

Those who drink water should remember those who dug the well. Those who enjoy a happy life should remember what the CPC has done. Earthshaking changes that have taken place in Jiangxi fully demonstrate the great advantages of the leadership of the CPC and socialism with Chinese characteristics, and fully demonstrate the great strength and practicality of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era. Embarking on the new journey of the 14th Five-Year Plan, we will act upon Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, focus on the goal of "accelerating the high-quality development of the old revolutionary base areas, taking the lead in the rise of central China" and the important requirement of "advancement in five aspects." We will implement the new development philosophy in a complete, precise, and comprehensive manner. Meanwhile, we will also make efforts to learn the hundred-year-old history of the CPC and inherit its revolutionary traditions in a bid to pool strength to facilitate high-quality development and create a new chapter in Jiangxi's building of a modern socialist country in all aspects and implement reform efforts in the new era. Thank you.

Chen Wenjun:

Thank you, Mr. Liu. The floor is now open for questions. Please identify the news organization you represent before asking your question.