SIDELIGHTS ON SPECIAL BRIEFING SESSION“STORIES OF CPC: HENAN'S ACHIEVEMENTS IN PRACTICING XI JINPING THOUGHT ON SOCIALISM WITH CHINESE CHARACTERISTICS FOR A NEW ERA”

SHI SHUAI

Bureau of Public Information and Communication, International Department of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China

C o-organized by the International Department of the CPC Central Committee (IDCPC) and the CPC Henan Provincial Committee, the special briefing session “Stories of the CPC: Henan's Achievements in Practicing Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era” was held in Lankao County of Henan Province on June 28th. This special briefing session is the first one themed with rural revitalization that the CPC introduces to the political heavyweights of foreign countries the CPC's important policy deployment of promoting the development in rural area and winning poverty-alleviation battle as well as local practice. Nearly 300 political party leaders and representatives from over 30 countries attended the event.

In 2013, General Secretary Xi Jinping stressed at the Central Rural Work Conference that “if China wants to be strong, it must have strong agricultural foundation. If China wants to be beautiful, it must have beautiful rural areas.If China wants to be rich, its farmers must be rich.” It Shows that Xi Jinping attaches great importance to the work of “agriculture, rural areas, and farmers”. The 19th CPC National Congress convened in 2017 adopted major plans to implement the strategy of rural revitalization.

In 2019, at the sessions of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress and the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out when attending the deliberations of Henan delegation that, Henan as a major agricultural province as well as a populous province should do a good job in the work of agriculture, rural areas and farmers,which is of great significance. Thus, it is necessary to implement the strategy of rural revitalization and do a good job in planning and promoting the work of agriculture, rural areas and farmers in the overall situation of economic and social development. Lankao County is among the first group of national-level poverty-stricken counties that got rid of poverty. It is also the birthplace of Jiao Yulu Spirit. General Secretary Xi Jinping paid three visits here for on-the-spot investigation. As far as the theme of rural revitalization is concerned, Henan is typical and representative in China and Lankao, the same in Henan.

STRATEGIC DEPLOYMENT OF RURAL REVITALIZATION AND PRACTICE OF HENAN

Song Tao, Minister of IDCPC, in his address mentioned that the strategy of rural revitalization is an important part of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era. During the 19th National Congress of the CPC, major plans to implement the strategy of rural revitalization were made and a march order to win the battle against poverty was issued. At present, the CPC is carrying out the theme education on “staying true to our founding mission”. It is the founding mission of the CPC that the Chinese people can lead a better life. IDCPC held this special briefing session in Henan, a major agricultural province,and Lankao County, a microcosm of hard working in rural areas of Henan Province, in order to show the world the practice of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, as well as the concrete implementation and successful experience of CPC Henan Provincial Committee in advancing the strategy of rural revitalization in accordance with the decision making and deployment of the Central Committee of the CPC.

Song Tao, Minister of the International Department of the CPC Central Committee delivered remarks at the Briefing Session “Stories of CPC: Henan's Achievements in Practicing Xi Jinping Thought on Socialismwith Chinese Characteristics for a New Era” on June 28th, 2019.

Wang Guosheng, Secretary of the CPC Henan Provincial Committee delivered remarks at the Briefing Session “Stories of CPC: Henan's Achievements in Practicing Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era” on June 28th, 2019.

Song stressed that finding right ways of realizing rural revitalization and eliminating poverty is a common challenge faced by many political parties in the world, particularly those in developing countries. This special briefing session is aimed to solving this world problem by providing a Chinese scheme through the practice of Henan Province. The CPC is ready to strengthen exchanges of experience in governing with political parties all over the world and make joint effort in promoting rural revitalization and eliminating poverty all over the world.

Wang Guosheng, Secretary of CPC Henan Provincial Committee, introduced the thinking and practice of Henan Province in the work of agriculture, rural areas and farmers. The first one is how to build stronger agricultural foundation. Henan Province has made continuous efforts in developing the core area of national grain production. With 1/16 of cultivated land in the country, Henan produces 1/10 of the country's total amount of grain and 1/4 of that of wheat. Raw grain and manufactured products totaling 20 million kilograms are being exported each year. Henan has also made great efforts to deepen the supply-side structural reform of agriculture, and has made the agricultural products processing industry into the biggest pillar industry of the province. Nowadays, Henan has changed itself from “a granary to Chinese people” into “a kitchen for Chinese people”, and is enriching the world cuisine. The second one is how to make rural areas more beautiful. Henan Province has made continuous efforts in implementing projects for ecological protection and restoration in rural areas, carring out human settlements renovation, promoting “toilet revolution”,building “beautiful towns”, “beautiful villages” and “beautiful courtyards”,and accelerating the extension of urban infrastructure and public services to rural areas. The third one is how to allow the farmers to get richer. Henan Province has committed to creating a good environment for innovation and entrepreneurship with favorable policy,sentiments and good projects, which has brought back those who went out to work and formed a “tide of business start-up”. Over 1.3 million people came back to the province to start their own business, bringing about 8.14 million jobs. Henan Province also adheres to the inheritance and development of excellent rural traditional culture, allowing a new atmosphere of civilization in rural areas.

SIMPLE STORIES FROM THE GRASSROOTS

At the briefing session, Cai Songtao,Secretary of the CPC Lankao County Committee, Professor Guo Tiancai from Henan Agricultural University, Director Li Jie of Xintiandi Planting Cooperatives of Xingyang City, Wang Qian from Tuocheng County Rural E-Business Service Station, Director Sun Dehua from Wulidian Neighborhood Administration Office of Pingqiao District of Xinyang City and the Resident First Secretary Song Rui from Wanliushu Village of Lukou Township of Xixian County shared stories about rural revitalization at grassroots level from different aspects.

Cai Songtao affectionately recalled the story of Comrade Jiao Yulu leading the Lankao people to fight against wind and sand, water logging, salty and alkali soil. According to him, the large number of kiri trees planted by the people of Lankao led by Comrade Jiao Yulu for the purpose of preventing wind and fixing sand, has now become the “l(fā)ifesaving trees” for Lankao. These trees not only helped improve local ecological environment, but also contributed to the development of the musical instruments and furniture manufacturing industry in Lankao. As a result, Lankao got rid of the title of poverty-restricted county. Guo Tiancai is an agricultural research worker, who has been engaged in study of high-yield wheat cultivation technology for decades. He often stays in the field for long time, guiding the farmers to grow wheat scientifically. He said that the wheat output in Henan Province was totally different from what it used to be, which fully demonstrated the saying “science and technology is the primary productive force”. Li Jie said that the agricultural cooperatives identified all items and their cost in each link of “ploughing, planting, managing and harvesting” in grain production, so that farmers could save their efforts and energy in planting and at the same time reduced investment while increased returns. As the person in charge of the agricultural cooperatives, Li had a strong sense of achievement when she heard the farmers call her “l(fā)and-sitter”. Wang Qian talked about her own experience of starting a business. In 2016 when Henan Province issued a document for vigorously promoting the development of e-commerce, Wang gave up her highpaying job in the urban area and came back to her hometown to start her own business. After unremitting exploration and efforts, she became a wellknown entrepreneur in the region. The flourishing e-commerce has brought about tangible benefits to the villagers. As a result, more and more young people who used to work outside came back and joined the e-commerce. More than 300 villagers were employed and worked home. According to Sun Dehua,Haotang Village was once featured with shabby houses and waste land. In recent years, great efforts have been made to improve the livelihood and meanwhile preserve the beautiful environment.Nowadays, various types of farmyards not only provide comfortable shelters for the villagers but also attract large numbers of tourists. The villagers get rich as a result. Song Rui said, it was her first goal as the resident first secretary to win the battle against poverty and realize rural revitalization. For that purpose, she has been devoted to building a strong CPC party branch, leading the cadres of the village to clean the village,creating a “Morality Classroom”. Starting from changing the villagers' mind,she has helped motivate the villagers'aspiration and wisdom for casting off poverty.

As a side event of the briefing session,a theme exhibition was held, which showed the agricultural development achievements in an all-round way. The foreign guests took the opportunity to experience the rich Central Plain culture including Henan Opera, paper cutting and martial arts. After the briefing session, the foreign guests were split into groups and went to Jiaozuo, Xuchang and Zhengzhou respectively for field visits.

GUESTS FROM ASIA, AFRICA AND LATIN AMERICA DISCUSSED CHINESE SOLUTION FOR RURAL REVITALIZATION

Member of Central Committee of the Lao People's Revolutionary Party and Vice-President of the National Assembly of Laos Mr. Somphanh Phengkhammy,National Executive Secretary of the Mouvement Des Coeurs Unis and Former Prime Minister of the Central African Republic Mr. Sarandji Simplice Mathieu, Representative of Colombian Liberal Party and President of the House of Representatives of Colombia Mr. Alejandro Chacón delivered speeches at the briefing session.

Mr. Somphanh said, the Lao side gave high appraisal to the great socialist practice by Chinese people under the leadership of the CPC. In particular,the implementation of rural revitalization strategy has given a brand-new look to the broad rural areas in China,and has continuously improved farmer livelihood. China's practice has provided a “golden key” to the world for tackling poverty. Poverty alleviation is an arduous mission for both the ruling party and the government of Laos.Therefore, Lao need to learn from Chinese comrades, borrow their valuable experience and integrate it with the reality of Laos. Mr. Sarandji said,many farmers in Africa subject to backwardness in development had to leave their homeland for job opportunities in cities. The stories shared by Chinese friends offered us very good answers,and in addition allowed us to see with our own eyes the successful practice of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era. Mr. Chacón said, “We have all seen how CPC guides people with Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era to cast off poverty as well as the efforts made in promoting agricultural development and improving rural areas through technical innovation. China's achievements in rural revitalization are amazing”.

Scene of the story sharing session of the Briefing Session “Stories of CPC: Henan's Achievements in Practicing Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era”.

In the eve of the briefing session,IDCPC gave a thematic presentation on the starting point and mission of the CPC in Zhengzhou of Henan Province.Over 50 leaders and representatives of political parties from 19 countries attended the presentation. IDCPC Minister Song Tao along with comrades from the Central Party School and the Organizational Department of CPC Henan Provincial Committee respectively briefed on the important purpose,significance and major contents of the CPC's campaign themed “staying true to our founding mission”. This is the first time since its 18th National Congress that the CPC presents to foreign political party leaders and politicians the situation of a campaign within the party. This presentation serves as a strong support to the briefing session,which demonstrates to foreign political parties that “staying true to our founding mission” is both the solemn commitment and practical action of the CPC. It's a consensus among the foreign political party leaders and politicians that the rural revitalization strategy is indeed a success example of CPC's practicing its founding mission.

IDCPC has held a number of special briefing sessions on “the Story of the Communist Party of China: the Practice of Local Party Committee” since 2017, so as to promote a better understanding of the effectiveness of the implementation of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era among international community. Since the CPC's 19th National Congress, the special briefing sessions have been named “the Story of the Communist Party of China: Local Practice of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era”.

In May 2018, IDCPC worked together with the CPC Guangdong Provincial Committee to give a special briefing session themed “Reform and Opening-Up: A Key Step Determining the Fate of Contemporary China”, which gave an in-depth explanation of General Secretary Xi Jinping's strategic thought on deepening reform in an all-round way and the practical achievements of CPC Guangdong Provincial Committee since the Party's 18th National Congress. In November the same year, IDCPC and CPC Zhejiang Provincial Committee cohosted a special briefing session themed“Promoting High-Quality Development”, which introduced to foreign political party representatives about the concept of quality development in Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era and its successful practice in Zhejiang. The special briefing sessions have become important showcase and platforms for foreign political party leaders and politicians to know about CPC's experience in governing.