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Speakers:

Mr. Pei Jinjia, minister of veterans affairs

Mr. Ma Feixiong, vice minister of veterans affairs

Mr. Yu Jingsen, director general of the Department of Employment and Entrepreneurship of the Ministry of Veterans Affairs (MVA)

Mr. Li Guiguang, director general of the Department of Commendation and Commemoration of the MVA

Chairperson:

Mr. Chen Wenjun, director general of the Press Bureau of the State Council Information Office (SCIO) and spokesperson of the SCIO

Date:

July 28, 2023

Chen Wenjun:

Ladies and gentlemen, good afternoon. Welcome to this press conference held by the State Council Information Office (SCIO). This is the 23rd briefing in the series "Embarking on the New Journey — A Government Perspective," and the theme of this briefing is "comprehensively advancing the high-quality development of veterans affairs in the new journey of the new era." Today, we are glad to have invited Mr. Pei Jinjia, minister of veterans affairs. Mr. Pei will brief you on related information and take your questions. Also joining us today are Mr. Ma Feixiong, vice minister of veterans affairs; Mr. Yu Jingsen, director general of the Department of Employment and Entrepreneurship of the Ministry of Veterans Affairs (MVA); and Mr. Li Guiguang, director general of the Department of Commendation and Commemoration of the MVA.

Now, I will give the floor to Mr. Pei Jinjia.

Pei Jinjia:

Ladies and gentlemen, friends from the media, good afternoon. It is my pleasure to meet with you here today. First, on behalf of the MVA, I would like to express to you my heartfelt gratitude for your long-term interest and support toward the work concerning veterans affairs.

The 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China (CPC) has drawn up an inspiring blueprint for building China into a modern socialist country in all respects and advancing the rejuvenation of the Chinese nation on all fronts along a Chinese path to modernization. It has also made definite arrangements for the work concerning veterans affairs, and stressed the needs to "improve our national defense mobilization capacity and the development of our reserve forces " and "better motivate service personnel and their family members through military honors and do more to protect their rights and interests, provide better services and support to ex-service personnel, and consolidate and boost unity between the military and the government and between the military and the people. " The MVA has resolutely implemented the decisions of the 20th CPC National Congress, and grasped the far-reaching strategic considerations of General Secretary Xi Jinping's personal planning, directing and promoting of the establishment of veterans affairs management and support institutions. To ensure that the military profession and veterans are respected by the whole of society and better contribute to socioeconomic development and the cause of national defense and military forces, the MVA has upheld fundamental principles and broken new ground, made solid steps and strived to promote the high-quality development of veterans affairs.

First, the MVA has strengthened theoretical and political guidance. The MVA has taken uniting and leading veterans to follow the instructions and guidance of the Party and feel gratitude towards it as key political responsibilities. The MVA has improved the work mechanism of veterans' theoretical and political issues, and formulated regulations concerning veterans' theoretical and political education in the new era. It has promoted the regular, systematic and consistent learning and implementation of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era among veterans. The MVA has also launched a practical and educational series that strengthens the Party's leadership and promotes the guiding principles of the 20th CPC National Congress among veterans. It has also worked to timely communicate General Secretary Xi Jinping and the CPC Central Committee's care toward veterans, and develop veterans of the new era who embody firm beliefs, patriotism, dedication, enterprise, integrity and observance of the law.

Second, the MVA has proactively advanced reform and innovation. The MVA has improved the organization and management system, the workflow process, as well as policy and institutional arrangements. It has created the new occupation of "veterans affairs officer." It has also formulated regulations for the construction of veterans service centers and stations, and made notable progress in building such centers and stations covering six levels from the national-level to villages and communities. The MVA has thoroughly implemented opinions on improving the administration of veterans affairs in the new era , fully implemented legislation such as the Veterans Law , and carried out arrangements on supporting veterans for the 14th Five-Year Plan period. The MVA has also introduced a series of effective and practical legislation and regulations, and further eliminated long-standing institutional barriers and policy issues that previously hindered progress.

Third, the MVA has made comprehensive plans for the cause of veterans affairs. In accordance with the needs and characteristics of veterans, the MVA has strengthened employment training, ensured unimpeded employment information, expanded career channels, and led efforts to utilize related policies, in a bid to help veterans find jobs. It has also innovated and optimized resettlement policies for ex-service personnel, and worked to ensure the resettlement of military officers and veterans, encouraging them to contribute to socioeconomic development in all sectors of society. Focusing on the goals for the centenary of the People's Liberation Army in 2027 , the MVA has issued a guideline about serving for war preparedness and combat capabilities . It has also established and improved a quick response mechanism for emergencies and wartime within the nationwide military-civilian mutual support system as well as the military-civilian dual list system . The MVA has also completed the resettlement of veterans and soldiers with injuries, illnesses or disabilities, and strengthened the reform and development of military supply stations, glory hospitals and special care hospitals. The MVA has also made efforts to ensure the resettlement of military personnel's family members by providing job opportunities and schooling for their children, in a bid to better contribute to national defense and the development of military forces.

Fourth, the MVA has worked to create an environment where the public values veterans' contributions. The MVA has carried out publicity work based on role models, and inspires and encourages the public with the meritorious deeds of military heroes, soldiers, ex-service personnel and civilians who support the military. As the remains of Chinese People's Volunteers (CPV) martyrs have gradually been brought back to China from the Republic of Korea, the MVA has organized events to locate the relatives of these martyrs. It has also launched red education programs centered around the martyrs' memorial facilities, and held a nationwide narrator competition for martyrs' stories, in a bid to pass down the revolutionary genes to the younger generation. The MVA has organized an array of military-civilian mutual support activities, in order to consolidate the tight bonds between the military and the government and between the military and the people. The MVA has also enhanced preferential treatment for ex-service personnel and their family members. It has increased government subsidies for entitled groups for five consecutive years and issued preferential treatment certificates for those involved. The MVA has also launched activities to provide care and support for veterans, visiting and assisting veterans in need, with the aim of promoting a profound sense of respect and honor.

Fifth, the MVA has played the role of motivator and guide. The MVA has continued to regard veterans as an important force in the Party's governance of the country. We have rallied and guided them to take the lead in consolidating the achievements of poverty alleviation, rural revitalization, grassroots governance, stability in border regions and other major national strategies, thereby contributing to the glory of the Party and military with practical actions. Currently, there are more than 3.5 million veterans volunteering nationwide. Faced with various difficult and dangerous tasks, they respond promptly and take actions, building a Great Wall of steel to protect and serve the people, and displaying unwavering loyalty to the Party and country.

Ladies and gentlemen, friends from the media, the huge number of veterans have once dedicated themselves to national defense and armed forces building, making great sacrifices and contributions in safeguarding our national security. Following their military service, they have actively participated in the country's socioeconomic development, and are an important force in promoting the Chinese path to modernization. We will thoroughly implement the decisions and arrangements of the 20th CPC National Congress, and implement General Secretary Xi Jinping's important discourse on the work concerning veterans affairs. We will serve and guarantee the legitimate rights and interests of the huge number of veterans, give full play to their important role as valuable human resources and talents, and actively contribute to the construction of a strong country and national rejuvenation through the work concerning veterans affairs.

With Army Day approaching, on behalf of the veterans affairs system, I would like to extend warm regards and profound respect to all veterans. I wish you all good health, successful work and family happiness. Thank you.

Chen Wenjun:

Thank you, Mr. Pei. The floor is now open for questions. Please identify the news outlet you represent before raising your questions.

Legal Daily:

The Veterans Protection Law of China is a fundamental law in the field of veterans affairs. With its implementation, what changes have taken place in the field of veterans affairs? Could you provide insights into the new initiatives and arrangements planned with regards to improving the complementary legal and regulatory framework in the upcoming stages? Thank you.

Pei Jinjia:

Thank you for your questions, let me elaborate on this. The formulation and implementation of the Veterans Protection Law of China was a significant decision made by the CPC Central Committee. It is a concrete embodiment of the implementation of Xi Jinping Thought on the Rule of Law and provides a comprehensive legal basis for the work concerning veterans affairs in the new era. Since the implementation of the Veterans Protection Law, departments for veterans affairs at various levels have diligently studied, promoted and put the law into practice, resulting in positive achievements in the legal construction of work concerning veterans affairs.

First, we have further refined the policy and regulatory framework. Taking the enactment of the Veterans Protection Law as a catalyst, we have facilitated the development of a series of policies, regulations and systems. Over 100 policy documents related to veterans affairs have been successively issued, providing excellent policy and legal support for our various tasks. In particular, in line with local situations, various complementary measures have been introduced, enabling the preliminary formation of a coherent and coordinated policy and regulatory framework that connects different levels of veterans' work.

Second, we have safeguarded the legitimate rights and interests of veterans. We have taken a series of innovative measures to address key issues of concern among veterans, such as employment and resettlement, education and training, assistance for those in need, commendation for martyrs, and preferential treatment and compensation. These efforts have led to veterans enjoying more of the fruits of reform and development, and a resolute correction of behaviors that violate policy and regulatory provisions. We have also firmly investigated and punished various illegal conducts that infringe upon the honor of heroes and martyrs.

Third, we have improved administrative efficiency. The promulgation of the Veterans Protection Law, as well as the formulation of various policies and regulations, have established a fundamental framework guiding our work in veterans affairs. We have successively carried out initiatives such as the Year of Implementing Legal Policies, On-Site Inspections and extensive research efforts, which have further promoted the implementation of legal policies. At the same time, we have regarded the Veterans Protection Law as an important benchmark for administrative decision-making, management and supervision. We have developed a list of administrative law enforcement matters related to the work concerning veterans affairs, standardized the criteria for administrative discretion, and promoted strict, standardized, civilized and fair law enforcement.

Fourth, we have united our efforts. The Veterans Protection Law clearly stipulates that caring for and showing love to veterans is a shared responsibility of the whole of society. Since the promulgation of the law, through extensive publicity, various sectors of society have become increasingly concerned with the work on veterans affairs, and have actively worked to help solve practical difficulties facing veterans and other service personnel. It can be said that a positive situation has gradually formed, in which the Party, government, military and civilian sectors are jointly promoting veterans affairs.

Next, we will continue to uphold Xi Jinping Thought on the Rule of Law and adhere to General Secretary Xi Jinping's important discourse on the work concerning veterans affairs, and further improve various policies and regulations. Since the promulgation of the Veterans Protection Law, there are still several regulations and policies that need to be improved. In particular, we need to accelerate the formulation and revision of regulations and policies in the near-term, such as regulations on the commendation of martyrs, the placement of veterans and the preferential treatment of service personnel. We need to further improve the corresponding implementation measures and promote the implementation of various laws and policies. At the same time, we will guide all regions to creatively tailor the comprehensive implementation of laws and policies to local conditions. Thank you.

CCTV:

Demobilized military personnel are a valuable talent pool. What work has the MVA done to leverage the role of veterans? What have been the results of this work? What plans are there for the work going forward? Thank you.

Ma Feixiong:

Veterans are invaluable assets for the Party and the country. To give play to their role is an important responsibility entrusted to the veterans affairs system by the Party and the government. In recent years, we have been dedicated to making progress in three aspects:

First, to ensure that veterans remain a solid force in upholding the Party's people-centered principle. This involves recognizing model veterans and models of civil-military cooperation through high-profile commendations. We have continuously carried out publicity work based on role models, and launched a practical and educational series that strengthens the Party's leadership. We rolled out serial activities to consolidate veteran communities and let them know and understand Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era and the essence of the 20th CPC National Congress, among others, guiding veterans to better align with and follow the Party's leadership.

Second, to ensure that veterans remain an important force in socioeconomic development. For those who meet the conditions of employment, we place them in most suitable positions to fulfil their talents. For those who find jobs on their own , we provide policy support such as professional skills training and academic education so they can find desirable jobs or start their own businesses. For veterans from rural areas or urban veterans wishing to contribute to rural development, we encourage them to make contributions to rural revitalization and primary-level governance. At present, officials with a veteran background constitute 10.5% of the total number of rural Party secretaries, with 348,000 outstanding veterans worked in Party branch committees in villages and communities, as well as villagers committees and community residents committees.

Third, to ensure that veterans serve as backbone forces in emergency response efforts and crisis management. We have established volunteer service teams. In recent years, more than 3 million individuals have dedicated themselves to frontline emergency rescue and response work, especially in epidemic prevention and control. Right now, as we host this press conference at this afternoon, many veterans are tirelessly working in prevention and mitigation of typhoons, floods, and other disasters. They are truly admirable and respectable and should be held dear.

Going forward, we will provide more help for veterans to fulfil their talents. First, we will issue regulations regarding resettlement of veterans and employment and entrepreneurship of veterans, to provide policy support for them to put talents to use. Second, we will expand the functions of primary-level service centers for veterans to provide more support. Third, we will ensure that role-model veterans are included in local chronicles, invited to important occasions and provided with regular sanative recovery services, to make them feel their values are recognized and they are cared about. Thank you.

China Veterans:

As we are all aware, the CPC and the government hold deep concern for veterans and have provided them with special care and support. However, some individuals still face difficulties. What work has the MVA done in assisting veterans in need, and what arrangements will be made in the next step? Thank you.

Ma Feixiong:

As we all know, General Secretary Xi Jinping emphasized the need to care for veterans, who have made contributions to protecting our country. Now, some among them have encountered difficulties such as serious illness, domestic misfortune, and unemployment, and are currently facing the most difficult time of their lives and are in most need of help. Our country has a large population and weak foundations for development. This makes it financially difficult to take very good care of veterans. But still, we should prioritize their basic livelihoods and employment. Based on this understanding, we have mobilized the whole system to take practical steps and solve their problems with our heart and soul. Our work has focused on several aspects:

First, we conducted a thorough assessment, registered veterans in need and made regular visits to offer support. In the first half of this year alone, more than 2 billion yuan was invested across the country, and 7.49 million visits were made to help veterans in need.

Second, we made full use of existing policies, and earnestly ensured that basic living needs were met. For laid-off and unemployed veterans, we made sure they caught up on payment of basic pension insurance and medical insurance, benefiting more than 2.85 million veterans. For veterans having difficulty finding employment, we arranged training, built platforms, secured special posts for them and helped more than 2 million veterans find jobs. For those veterans facing difficulty in accessing medical services, we established a comprehensive support mechanism involving insurance, subsidies, assistance and preferential treatment.

Third, we mobilized social forces, including the China Veterans Support Foundation, and encouraged the society to care for and help veterans. We continued to carry out a program with the aim to warm their hearts by providing surgeries for veterans with cataracts and assistance to those with other diseases, especially hearing aids for those with hearing impairments. We also provided medical assistance to the children of veterans with congenital heart diseases. To prevent certain veterans' children from dropping out of school, we provided such help as student grants. 

The difficulties faced by veterans have always been our greatest concern and utmost care. Next, our focus will be on speeding up, expanding coverage, and maintaining sustained efforts. Speeding up refers to simplifying approval processes, reducing turnaround time, and ensuring timely assistance for veterans in need. Expanding coverage involves integrating resources from various sectors and mobilizing forces from all sides, enabling more veterans in need to benefit from a wider range of programs and higher standards of support. Sustained efforts involve exploring the establishment of institutionalized and standardized funding source mechanisms to ensure a more secure guarantee for assistance and relief work for veterans. Thank you.

Red Star News：

To our knowledge, the issuance of preferential treatment certificates for veterans has basically been completed, but there are differences in the content of preferential treatment in different places. With August 1's Army Day approaching, I would like to raise a question on behalf of the vast number of veterans. Does the MVA have any good news regarding expanding the usage scenarios and improving the sense of satisfaction for certificate holders? Thank you.

Yu Jingsen：

This question is very important. The use and issuance of preferential treatment certificates are related to the sense of gain and honor of veterans, and veterans are extremely concerned about it. The ministry's leading Party members group attaches great importance to this matter, and the Department of Support and Preferential Treatment of the ministry has actively responded to these concerns. We have met with the media earlier, and we would like to express our gratitude to all the journalists for their vigorous publicity and reporting. Recently, we have primarily accomplished two aspects of work. On the one hand, we have made efforts to enhance the value of the preferential treatment certificate. We have collaborated with 20 major enterprises, including the Industrial and Commercial Bank of China, China UnionPay, CNPC, and China Unicom. Additionally, we are working to continuously expand the scope of cooperation, mobilizing and encouraging enterprises and organizations that actively support and serve veterans to provide priority access and discounts in the areas of tourism, dining, shopping, and more for veterans and other entitled beneficiaries nationwide. Currently, we have already covered over 1,600 A-grade or above scenic spots. On the other hand, we have been focusing on improving the convenience of the preferential treatment certificate. We are actively developing an electronic preferential treatment certificate. Once the electronic preferential treatment certificate is launched, holders can download and use it on their phones. The electronic preferential treatment certificate consolidates various pieces of information, such as the content and items of the preferential treatment. This enables users to independently access and enjoy the benefits.

It should be noted that due to uneven development among different regions in our country, there are differences in the preferential policies and the extent of benefits offered. We hope that veterans can understand and support this situation. We firmly believe that with the development of the economy and society, through joint efforts of various regions and departments, the number and scope of preferential treatment programs will increase, and the standards of preferential treatment will also rise. Thank you.

Hong Kong Bauhinia Magazine:

Employment is pivotal to people's wellbeing and a core concern for veterans. May I ask what measures the MVA has taken to assist in the employment of veterans? What considerations are being made for the next steps? Thank you.

Pei Jinjia:

Thank you for your questions. As you just mentioned, employment is pivotal to people's wellbeing. General Secretary Xi Jinping attaches great importance to the employment of veterans. During his inspection trip to Inner Mongolia in June of this year, he specifically emphasized the need to focus on promoting employment for groups such as college graduates, veterans, and migrant workers. Earnestly implementing the important instructions of General Secretary Xi Jinping, the leading Party members group of the MVA has convened several specialized sessions to study and deploy related work. In line with this year's unique circumstances, a series of policy measures have been introduced, and various methods have been taken to promote the employment of veterans. Currently, the overall employment situation for veterans remains stable. We have primarily undertaken the following initiatives:

First, we have focused on employment training. We consider employment training as a fundamental task to improve the quality of employment. We have selected over 4,000 distinctive training institutions nationwide to organize various adaptive and skills training programs to enhance the employment capabilities of veterans.

Second, we have streamlined access to employment information. We have launched a special campaign called the Special Action for Employment Services for Veterans and established a dedicated website to promptly and accurately announce job vacancies, providing employment information to veterans. In total, we have organized over 7,000 job fairs, offering recommendations for 4.5 million employment positions.

Third, we have expanded employment channels. Veterans, who have received specialized education, training, and major tests in the military, are valuable human resources. We promote outstanding veterans to join village committees and Party branches and become part of the teaching staff in primary and secondary schools. Additionally, we have a special recruitment program for veterans in firefighter recruitment. We also encourage veterans to start businesses in their hometowns, creating employment opportunities for other veterans through their entrepreneurial endeavors.

Fourth, we have provided guidance to veterans to make good use of employment policies. With joint efforts from the Ministry of Education, we have opened channels for the elevation of veterans' academic qualifications. At the same time, we have also introduced some preferential tax policies together with relevant departments. These policies encourage veterans to engage in self-employment and more enterprises to hire veterans, which effectively promotes their re-employment rates.

At present, the international economic environment is grim and complex, and domestic demand is quite insufficient, so more efforts need to be made this year. Next, we will work with dedication to implement the guidance and requirements made by General Secretary Xi Jinping, especially to reinforce training programs to help veterans become better equipped. Meanwhile, we will ensure smooth access to employment information and broaden employment channels to provide more jobs for ex-service members. We also advise that retired service members transform their career mindsets, continue to demonstrate their hard-working and persevering spirit from the military, take root in all walks of life, shine in their new posts, and make substantial contributions to socialist modernization. Thank you.

China News Service:

Recently, the CPC Central Committee and the State Council released a set of guidelines aimed at boosting the growth of the private economy. What actions has the MVA taken to support veteran-led start-ups? Thank you.

Yu Jingsen:

General Secretary Xi Jinping attaches great importance to developing private economy. After the CPC Central Committee and the State Council issued the "31 measures" document, the leading Party members group of the ministry earnestly studied, deployed, and put forward task requirements for promoting the development and growth of self-employment and enterprises founded by ex-service members. We have done the following work:

One area of focus is developing a clear picture. Currently, there are 4.96 million enterprises established by ex-service members and self-employed individuals across the country. These include 2.59 million enterprises, of which 46,000 are above designated size , and more than 370 are listed enterprises. Collectively, they have created 5.86 million jobs for ex-service members. Last year, the output value of enterprises founded by ex-service members exceeded 1 trillion yuan, contributing more than 300 billion yuan in taxes. Enterprises founded by ex-service members have significantly contributed to economic and social development.

Second, we have enhanced policies related to entrepreneurship and start-ups. In collaboration with over 20 ministries and departments, including the National Development and Reform Commission, we have jointly issued guidelines to support entrepreneurship and innovation among ex-service members. This initiative provides policy support for those qualified and willing to launch their own businesses.

Third, we have built platforms for entrepreneurship. We have gathered and promoted the experiences from Guangdong province and other places to integrate various social resources to incubate enterprises founded by ex-service members. We have guided various locations to develop supportive platforms, resulting in the creation of 1,988 business incubation centers. In Shaanxi province, the first National Veterans Entrepreneurship and Innovation Exhibition and Fair was held, featuring more than 800 projects and products. The event attracted over 20 million online page views, and the on-site turnover exceeded 3 billion yuan.

Fourth, we have strengthened services related to entrepreneurship. Together with six ministries and departments, including the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security, we launched a month-long campaign to strengthen services for private businesses. Additionally, in collaboration with 13 ministries and departments, including the State Administration for Market Regulation, we launched another month-long campaign to strengthen services for self-employed individuals. We hope to boost confidence among ex-service members to establish enterprises and those self-employed through these measures. Thank you.

The Cover.cn: 

This year marks the 70th anniversary of the victory of the War to Resist U.S. Aggression and Aid Korea (1950-1953). Could you provide an update on the handover, return and burial of the remains of the Chinese People's Volunteer Army martyrs from the Republic of Korea (ROK), as well as the progress in locating the martyrs' relatives? Thank you.

Li Guiguang:

The work of welcoming back and burying the remains of the martyrs of the Chinese People's Volunteers in the ROK is related to the national image, the national sentiment, and the glory of the martyrs. The Party and the country have attached great importance to this work. Since the establishment of the MVA, we have thoroughly studied and implemented the important instructions of General Secretary Xi Jinping on commending martyrs, coordinated actively with the ROK side, worked closely with relevant military and civilian institutions, and welcomed back and buried a total of 324 martyrs for four consecutive years. In the process of welcoming back the remains of the CPV martyrs, we have continued to optimize the etiquette arrangements and adopted various means to express respect for martyrs from all walks of life. To be specific, the handover task was performed by the honor guards of the People's Liberation Army. The aircraft carrying the remains of the martyrs were welcomed with a water salute, the highest mark of respect in aviation, to pay tribute to heroes and martyrs. The remains of the CPV martyrs were carried by Y-20 transport aircraft and escorted by J-20 stealth fighter jets. The motorcade carrying the remains of the CPV martyrs was escorted by police motorcycles. Gun salutes, with the highest regulation of etiquette, were fired at the burial ceremony. We have also launched online and offline publicity and education activities themed on "welcoming back the heroes" to promote the great spirit of the War to Resist U.S. Aggression and Aid Korea.

This year marks the 70th anniversary of the signing of the Korean armistice agreement. More attention has been paid to the work concerning the handover, repatriation, and burial of the remains of the CPV martyrs in the ROK. We are actively making preparations and keeping close communication and negotiations with the ROK side to make arrangements for relevant work. We will disclose the follow-up progress to society in a timely manner. Meanwhile, we would also like to invite friends from the media to keep following the work on the handover, repatriation, and burial of the remains of the CPV martyrs in the ROK and jointly make good organization and publicity of this event. 

With the repatriation and burial of the remains of the CPV martyrs in the ROK, we have actively carried out activities to search for relatives of martyrs by extracting DNA information from the remains of 913 martyrs' remains returned over the past nine consecutive years, combined with clues providing pertinent information, such as seals in the relics returned, military records, military files, and related information. Authorities then looked for relatives, and conducted a comparison of DNA information to confirm their identities. With joint efforts, we have identified the identities of 10 CPV martyrs whose remains have been returned to China, and their relatives have been found. In the process of testing and comparison, we have continued to make breakthroughs in technologies and achieved major advances in identifying the possible relatives of martyrs and complicated kinship, and extracting DNA from the remains of martyrs wounded in war and buried for a long time.

Next, we will continue to carry out the work of searching for relatives of martyrs returned from the ROK, with an effort to find family members of additional CPV martyrs who have returned to China and identify more unknown martyrs. Thank you.

People.cn:

We know that memorial halls and martyrs' cemeteries serve as the repositories of the revolutionary legacy of the Party and the country, playing a critical role in fostering unity, and providing guidance in governance and educating the people. Could you please brief us on the latest updates concerning the work of protecting and managing memorial facilities for martyrs and commending martyrs? Thank you.

Li Guiguang:

Memorial halls, martyrs' cemeteries, and other memorial facilities for martyrs are a living history, a vivid teaching material, and, as you mentioned, the 'gene pool' of the revolutionary traditions of the Party and the country. At present, there are over 250,000 memorial facilities for martyrs, including the martyrs' tombs, more than 1,600 specialized protection and management institutions, and over 300 overseas memorial facilities from more than 50 countries. These are all important bases for carrying out programs promoting education on the history of revolution. We have been working on the protection and management of these memorial facilities with care, love, and various other efforts. We have mainly done the following work:

First, we have advanced the upgrading and renovation of memorial facilities for martyrs. We have worked with the National Development and Reform Commission to incorporate the upgrading and renovation projects of memorial facilities for martyrs above the city level into the program to support the social service facilities construction projects in the 14th Five-Year Plan period. We have worked with the Publicity Department of the CPC Central Committee and the Ministry of Finance to launch a special campaign to renovate, manage, and protect memorial facilities for martyrs at the county level and below. Since the latter part of last year, we have completed renovating and protecting over 200,000 memorial facilities for martyrs. At the same time, we have continued to optimize the exhibition and interpretative content of memorial halls, adding new research results of historical documents that embody the spirit of the current times to continuously strengthen the foundation for publicity and education on the history of revolution. 

Second, we have given play to the role of memorial facilities for martyrs in education on the history of the revolution. This year, we are organizing the third national competition for narrators in memorial facilities for heroes and martyrs with the theme of "Studying Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era and Paying Tribute to Heroes and Martyrs" and promote the heroic deeds at different stages of China's revolution, development, and reform, leading the whole of society to jointly follow the footprints of General Secretary Xi Jinping to visit 'red sites' and understand his deep love and respect for heroes. At the same time, the institutions responsible for protecting memorial facilities for martyrs have continued to adopt detailed supporting measures and optimize services such as services for families of martyrs who travel to the burial place of martyrs to perform tomb sweeping rituals, tomb-sweeping services for those who are not able to visit the cemetery in person, as well as online tomb-sweeping services, and continued to promote patriotic publicity and education. We have carried out publicity and education activities to celebrate the fifth anniversary of the implementation of the Law on Protection of Heroes and Martyrs and actively encouraged people from all sectors of society to go to nearby martyrs' cemeteries during important festivals and holidays, such as the Qingming Festival and the Martyrs' Day, to honor and pay tribute to martyrs.

Third, we have strengthened the management and protection of overseas memorial facilities for martyrs. In August last year, we formed a delegation with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to visit Zambia and hold a commissioning ceremony for the Tanzania Zambia Railway Memorial Park attended by Zambian President Hakainde Hichilema. In June this year, we organized a delegation to visit Laos and Myanmar to hold a commissioning ceremony for the memorial facilities for Chinese martyrs. With all these efforts, we have worked to foster a strong atmosphere of honoring martyrs and paying tribute to heroes and raised a profound love for the country from the people both at home and abroad.

Next, we will continue to advance our work in this regard and give better play to the role of memorial facilities for martyrs in commending martyrs and educating young people. Thank you!

China Review:

Last year, the new profession of veteran affairs officers was officially included in China's reference book for occupational classifications. Can you brief us on that? Thank you.

Ma Feixiong:

The new profession represents an initiative to implement General Secretary Xi Jinping's important instructions on establishing and improving veteran service and support systems. This new profession is specifically designed for those who work to offer service and support for veterans and falls under the management of the MVA. Veteran affairs officers mainly deal with routine work related to the ideological and political work of ex-service personnel, policy consultation and communication, benefits and settlement services, employment and entrepreneurship support, assistance to those in difficulty, reception of public complaints, and protection of rights and interests.

The veteran affairs officer is a totally new position and different from other professions. There are no previous examples for us to choose from or experiences to refer to. Therefore, we organized our best staff and spent over a year to formulate vocational standards, compile training courses, and form the first group of teaching staff. We have also launched pilot schemes in six prefectures and cities in provinces in the eastern, central, and western regions of the country earlier this month.

Promoting this profession helps improve veteran service and support efficiency, steadily increase community-level personnel, and enhance the competence and ethics of service providers to better serve veterans and develop high-quality veteran affairs work.

For the next step, we will prioritize three aspects of our work. First, we will focus on carrying out pilot programs. We will establish procedure-based mechanisms for training, evaluation, and incentives so as to gain successful experience at an early date and promote the mechanisms across the board. Second, we will fulfil our duties and tasks. We will build a large contingent of specialized and professional personnel to serve and support veterans. Third, we will ensure the quality of services. We will provide "one-stop" services that are more accessible, standardized, and caring. Thank you.

China Daily:

The 14th Five-Year Plan for Services and Support for Veterans is China's first national plan for veterans. It outlines plans and arrangements for the work on veteran affairs during the 14th Five-Year Plan period. How is it implemented? What are the next steps for this year? Thank you.

Pei Jinjia:

Thank you for your questions. Since the 18th CPC National Congress, General Secretary Xi Jinping has made a series of key remarks on veterans affairs, addressing fundamental questions of what to do, how to do it, and who will do the work. Following General Secretary Xi Jinping's major speeches, the plan comprehensively lays out how veterans affairs will be conducted during the 14th Five-Year Plan period. The leading Party members group of the MVA has prioritized and ensured the plan's implementation and taken three main initiatives.

First, we have made overall arrangements to promote the plan's implementation. We have formulated work allocation plans, made a specific roadmap and timetable, and identified responsible units and persons. Second, we have leveraged the strengths of exemplar practices. Under the coordination of the MVA leadership, suitable places have been encouraged to play an exemplar role in pioneering new practices based on local features. As a result, we have explored and summarized good practices worth promoting nationwide. Third, we have strengthened follow-up oversight to see real results. Based on our survey and research, we have launched targeted visits, formed inspection teams and visited local communities to learn about the plan's implementation and ensure that all tasks are fulfilled.

Recently, we have been organizing the mid-term assessment to comprehensively review the implementation of the 14th Five-Year Plan for Services and Support for Veterans. Next, we will summarize some good practices, especially those that could be copied and promoted nationwide, and promote and apply these practices. Second, in response to the problems identified in the assessment, we will adopt concrete measures to reinforce weak links and solve these problems. Third, we will work to build synergy. To implement the plan, we need to collaborate with all relevant departments and parties at both national and local levels. We will work with them and the military units to create a synergy for advancing the plan's implementation and ensure that all tasks are successfully completed. Thank you.  

Chen Wenjun:

Thanks to Mr. Pei and all the speakers. Thanks to friends from the media. Today's briefing is hereby concluded. See you.

Translated and edited by Zhu Bochen, Wang Qian, Liu Caiyi, Li Huiru, Yan Bin, Liu Sitong, Yuan Fang, Huang Shan, Xu Kailin, Wang Yanfang, Liu Qiang, David Ball, Tom Arnsten, and Jay Birbeck. In case of any discrepancy between the English and Chinese texts, the Chinese version is deemed to prevail.