CGTN: Father’s Day: Three ‘treasures’ Xi Jinping gets from his father

BEIJING, July 19, 2021 /PRNewswire/ — Falling on the third Sunday of June, Father’s Day will be celebrated on June 20 this year.

https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1537072/Xi_Jinping_Xi_Zhongxun.jpg

Fathers always have a great influence on their children – the same applies to Chinese President Xi Jinping.

There are at least three characteristics that Xi has inherited from his father Xi Zhongxun (1913-2002), a leader of the Communist Party of China (CPC) and the state.

People-oriented philosophy

Many Chinese leaders started their careers from the grassroots, going through the difficulties ordinary people face and understanding the people’s needs, which lays a solid foundation for their practical and people-oriented approach in formulating national policies.

The people-oriented philosophy is one of the most important treasures Xi Jinping got from his father, who believed that officials and the masses are equal and they must always live among the people.

The father once told his boy: “No matter what your job title is, serve the people diligently, consider the interests of the people with all your heart, maintain close ties with the people, and always stay approachable to the people.”

Adhering to the path of “serving the people,” Xi Jinping visited China’s 14 contiguous areas of extreme poverty after becoming general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee in November 2012. He went to villages and households, and told communities that he is just “a servant of the people.”

During his domestic inspection tours, Xi Jinping always chatted with the locals, cared about their daily life and stressed the responsibilities of serving the people with other officials.

The Party has won the people’s wholehearted support because it has always served the people with heart and soul and striven for the well-being of all ethnic groups, Xi has said on many occasions.

Down-to-earth approach

Inheriting his father’s down-to-earth approach, Xi Jinping visited all the villages in Zhengding, Hebei Province during his tenure of county Party chief in the 1980s. Then in Ningde, Fujian, he visited nine counties within the first three months as secretary of the CPC Ningde Prefectural Committee, and traveled to most townships later on.

After he was transferred to east China’s Zhejiang Province in 2002, he visited all 90 counties in over a year. During his brief tenure in Shanghai in 2007, he visited all its 19 districts and counties in seven months.

The formulation of the country’s 14th Five-Year Plan (2021-2025) for Economic and Social Development and future targets for 2035 also reflected Xi Jinping’s adherence to investigation and research.

By convening and presiding over a number of symposiums, he listened to opinions and advices on the country’s economic and social development in the plan period from all walks of life.

Living a simple life

The Xi’s has a tradition of being strict with children and living a simple life. Xi Zhongxun believed if a senior Party official wanted to discipline others, he should begin first with himself and his family.

Xi Jinping and his younger brother used to wear clothes and shoes from their elder sisters. After Xi Jinping became a leading official, his mother called a family meeting to ban the siblings from engaging in business where Xi Jinping worked.

Xi Jinping has carried on his family’s tradition and been strict with his family members. Wherever he worked, he told them not to do business there or do anything in his name, or else he “would be ruthless.” Whether in Fujian, Zhejiang or Shanghai, he pledged at official meetings that no one was allowed to seek personal benefit using his name and welcomed supervision in this regard.

https://news.cgtn.com/news/2021-06-19/Father-s-Day-Three-treasures-Xi-Jinping-gets-from-his-father-11dOYnkTNYc/index.html

Photo – https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1537072/Xi_Jinping_Xi_Zhongxun.jpg

 

The Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi Boosts Tourism Recovery with Sojern’s Co-Op Marketing Solution

DCT Abu Dhabi has successfully navigated the challenges of COVID-19 to help hotels in the emirate drive direct domestic bookings

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates, June 20, 2021 /PRNewswire/ — Sojern, a leading provider of digital marketing solutions for travel, today announced an extension of their partnership with the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi) to drive further traveller demand into the Emirate using its Co-Op Marketing Programme. Following a successful pilot of the joint marketing programme, which has reached more than 3 million people so far, Abu Dhabi hotels have been able to increase direct bookings through a highly targeted, digital display and social media advertising campaign.

Logo, no tagline

The hospitality industry has been heavily impacted by the pandemic but DCT Abu Dhabi has worked closely with the UAE government to launch a series of stimulus initiatives to support the recovery of the tourism industry.

“We were looking for ways to support the hospitality industry and navigate the economic challenges presented by the pandemic, and the partnership with Sojern helps us do just that, by supporting hotels in Abu Dhabi to drive direct bookings and improve room profitability,” said HE Ali Hassan Al Shaiba, Executive Director of Tourism and Marketing at DCT Abu Dhabi. “DCT Abu Dhabi is committed to collaborative efforts between the private and public sectors within the local tourism industry to continuously support and drive tourism growth to the capital. Our efforts are aligned with the overall strategic objectives and vision — to support the evolution of Abu Dhabi into a world-class destination, while also reinforcing the capital’s position as a forward-thinking tourism destination.”

Sojern’s Co-Op Marketing Programme is designed to help Destination Marketing Organisations (DMOs) and their partners increase the effectiveness of their marketing initiatives through collaboration, and drive revenue for the travel industry, at scale.

“Hotels in Abu Dhabi were looking to improve their direct booking volumes and reduce commission from Online Travel Agencies through these challenging times,” said Stewart Smith, MD of MEA at Sojern. “As such, we are delighted to have worked with DCT Abu Dhabi, hotel partners, and Spark Foundry to design, build and deliver successful campaigns.”

The Q1 pilot program with DCT Abu Dhabi is a prime example of DMOs and their partner organisations combining resources to directly reach customers with multichannel digital advertising strategies across video, display, native, Facebook and Instagram.

Because of its success, DCT Abu Dhabi has expanded the partnership with Sojern through to the end of 2021 including rolling out the initiative to all eligible hotels in the city. This second phase will further support properties across Abu Dhabi and aims to attract incremental direct bookings from both domestic and international tourists for the rest of 2021.

About Sojern
Sojern is a leading digital marketing platform built for travel marketers. Powered by artificial intelligence and traveler intent data, Sojern provides multi-channel marketing solutions to drive direct demand. 10,000 hotels, attractions, tourism boards and travel marketers rely on Sojern annually to engage and convert travelers around the world.

About the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi:
The Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi) drives the sustainable growth of Abu Dhabi’s culture and tourism sectors, fuels economic progress and helps achieve Abu Dhabi’s wider global ambitions. By working in partnership with the organisations that define the Emirate’s position as a leading international destination, DCT Abu Dhabi strives to unite the ecosystem around a shared vision of the Emirate’s potential, coordinate effort and investment, deliver innovative solutions, and use the best tools, policies and systems to support the culture and tourism industries.

DCT Abu Dhabi’s vision is defined by the Emirate’s people, heritage and landscape. We work to enhance Abu Dhabi’s status as a place of authenticity, innovation, and unparalleled experiences, represented by its living traditions of hospitality, pioneering initiatives and creative thought. 

Logo – https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/249299/sojern_logo.jpg

CGTN: Shenzhou-12 astronauts become first Chinese to enter a space station

BEIJING, June 19, 2021 /PRNewswire/ — Three Chinese astronauts entered their country’s space station during the Shenzhou-12 mission, ending the history of no Chinese in space stations.

The trio, Nie Haisheng, Liu Boming and Tang Hongbo, entered the space station’s core module “Tianhe” from the Shenzhou-12 spacecraft launched on Thursday, according to the China Manned Space Engineering Office.

This came more than 20 years after the International Space Station (ISS) was launched, which does not allow Chinese astronauts to be onboard because of a U.S. law banning the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) from working with their Chinese counterparts.

As the ISS is retiring and Russia has decided to pull from the project, China has stood out to build a new space station and is inviting global cooperation.

The China space station, orbiting the Earth at a height of about 400 kilometers, is still under construction, as eight more missions including three manned ones are still being prepared.

Currently the station is composed of a core module named Tianhe, a supply ship Tianzhou-2 and the Shenzhou-12, which docked with the space station less than three hours before the entering.

Astronaut, cosmonaut or taikonaut?

Some Chinese are so proud of the latest achievements that they revived the topic of how to name people in space.

The naming problem emerged in the Cold War, when Soviet Union named their space heroes “cosmonauts” while the U.S. called theirs “astronaut.”

Later, the word “taikonaut” was coined using the Mandarin equivalent of the word space – taikong – and the common suffix “-naut”.

Oxford and Longman dictionaries listed the word taikonaut and said it means a Chinese astronaut.

The next steps

Now the three astronauts are unpacking the supplies on Tianzhou-2, setting up Wi-Fi connections and other equipment on the space station.

They will live in the station for at least three months and conduct various technology test and science experiments, during which spacewalks involving robot arms will also be performed.

https://news.cgtn.com/news/2021-06-17/Shenzhou-12-astronauts-enter-space-station-core-module-11aD1mmDQ1a/index.html

Video – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QINRV_S-Pkk

HRH Crown Prince Inaugurates 8 Housing, Medical Projects for Defense Ministry Personnel with Cost Exceeding SAR 4 Billion

Riyadh, His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz, Crown Prince, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defense, has inaugurated eight housing and medical projects for Ministry of Defense’s personnel in several regions in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, as part of new development projects implemented and carried out by the ministry recently with a total cost of more than four billion riyals.

The projects, inaugurated by HRH Crown Prince, included six housing projects with 3,797 housing units, including King Saud Air Base in Hafr Al-Batin housing project, the Armed Forces housing in the Northwestern Region, the housing project for families of King Salman Center for Mountain Warfare in Al-Taif, the Armed Forces housing project in Sharorah, in addition to the first phase of the Armed Forces housing project in Jazan and the second phase of the Armed Forces housing project in the Eastern Region.

HRH Crown Prince also inaugurated several medical development projects, such as the project to establish the cardiology center at the Armed Forces Hospital in the Northwestern Region with a capacity of up to 130 beds, expansion of Prince Sultan Armed Forces Hospital in Madinah, which will increase capacity to 100 beds, while the expansion will add 10 units for ICU, operations rooms equipped with the latest medical equipment and departments for emergency, radiology, laboratories, pharmacy and a blood bank.

Source: Saudi Press Agency

Indonesian Islamic Figures Hail Saudi Arabia’s Decision on Hajj 1442 AH

Riyadh, Fifty-seven Islamic figures from Indonesia have voiced support for the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s decision to limit the Hajj for this year to 60,000 citizens and residents inside the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia due to the COVID-19 pandemic, citing the move’s contributions to saving lives and ensuring that Hajj is performed in a safe manner.

They said that the decision reflects of Saudi Arabia’s concern for the safety of visitors and pilgrims of the Two Holy Mosques.

Source: Saudi Press Agency

Governor of Real Estate General Authority Receives Omani Minister of Housing and Urban Planning

Riyadh, Governor of the Real Estate General Authority Esam bin Hamad Al-Mubarak received here today Minister of Housing and Urban Planning of the Sultanate of Oman Dr. Khalfan bin Said bin Mubarak Al-Shu’aili and his accompanying delegation.

The Omani Minister toured the Real Estate General Authority’s facilities, and was briefed on the Real Estate General Authority’s action plan, which is being implemented in accordance with the comprehensive strategy for the real estate sector.

Dr. Al-Shu’aili praised the procedures and arrangements provided by the Real Estate General Authority to regulate the real estate sector in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and serve its beneficiaries, looking forward to further joint cooperation that is in the interest of developing the housing and real estate sector in both countries.

Source: Saudi Press Agency

Saudi Arabia Observes World Hydrography Day

Jeddah, The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia joins the world in observing the World Hydrography Day, which was adopted by the United Nations and observed annually on 21 June, to enhance the security and safety of navigation and maritime transport, especially in the protected international areas and seaports.

The International Hydrographic Organization (IHO) includes in its membership, besides the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, many other countries, as it works to coordinate the activities of the national marine survey offices, organize and coordinate marine maps and related documents, and choose effective and approved methods for the implementation and use of marine survey projects and their development, and technical methods used in marine sciences.

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia cooperates with organizations and bodies to provide marine maps and relevant data to facilitate navigation and port access, and to maintain the safety of navigation in marine areas, with the intensification of marine survey activities in light of public awareness of investing efforts in attracting national competencies and developing human resources to carry out its tasks and giving the marine survey the needed attention to attract high-level expertise.

Source: Saudi Press Agency

Chief of General Staff Thanks HRH Crown Prince on Inauguration of Eight Housing and Medical Projects for Defense Ministry Staff

Riyadh, Chief of General Staff Gen. Fayyadh bin Hamid Al-Ruwaili has extended thanks to His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz, Crown Prince, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defense, on the occasion of inaugurating eight housing and medical projects for the Ministry of Defense staff in a number of regions across the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

The projects comes as part of the new development programs carried out recently by the Ministry of Defense with a total cost of more than SR4 billion.

Al-Ruwaili stressed that the inauguration of these projects falls within the wider context of the comprehensive development the ministry experiences in particular and the whole Kingdom in general, during the flourishing reign of Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud and HRH Crown Prince.

Source: Saudi Press Agency

Egypt Condemns Houthi Militia’s Targeting Civilian Areas in Saudi Arabia

Cairo, Egypt has expressed its strong condemnation and denunciation of the Iranian-backed terrorist militia’s targeting of civilian areas in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia with a number of drones, successfully intercepted and destroyed by the Coalition Forces to Restore Legitimacy in Yemen.

In a statement issued today by its ministry of foreign affairs, Egypt affirmed its support and solidarity with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in the measures it takes to preserve its security, stability and safety of its citizens and residents on its territories

Source: Saudi Press Agency

KSrelief Supervisor General Meets with Japanese Ambassador

Riyadh, Advisor at the Royal Court and Supervisor General of King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center (KSrelief) Dr. Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al Rabeeah met in Riyadh today with Japanese Ambassador to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Iwai Fumio.

During the meeting, they discussed issues of mutual interest related to humanitarian and aid affairs and ways of enhancing them.

For his part, the Ambassador praised KSrelief’s distinguished humanitarian and relief projects and programs in different countries and peoples in need around the world. He also commended relations between the two countries.

Source: Saudi Press Agency

Syria participates in European Physics Olympiad

Damascus, Syrian Science Olympiad physics team on Sunday participated in the European Physics Olympiad EuPhO for 2021, organized remotely by Estonia.

The Distinction and Creativity Agency said in a statement to SANA that the Syrian team consists of 5 students, 3 of them participate in this Olympiad for the first time, adding that the Syrian participation takes place through 4 geographical centers in Damascus, Aleppo, Tartous and Lattakia.

The Syrian team won two bronze medals and two appreciation certificates in the last European Physics Olympiad.

Source: Syria Arab News Agency

Syria, Iraq to enhance land transport,commercial exchange of industrial products

Damascus Prime Minister Hussein Arnous on Sunday discussed with Iraqi Minister of Industry and Minerals, Manhal Aziz al-Khabbaz , means of boosting bilateral cooperation in the industrial sector, establishing joint investments, enhancing trade exchange for industrial products in addition to increasing trade coordination which serve common interests of the two countries.

Arnous said that Syria possesses the capabilities, infrastructure, industrial cities and the appropriate environment, and it provides the necessary facilities to establish investments.

He stressed readiness to take all measures that push relations forward at all levels, and the necessity of forming specialized committees from both sides to develop joint cooperation.

Arnous pointed out to the need for boosting land transport between Syria and Iraq, activating the exchange of goods and the importance of enhancing the role of economic and commercial activities in the process of trade exchange.

For his part, the Iraqi minister stressed the need to launch industrial cooperation between the two ministries of industry in Syria and Iraq, and his country’s readiness to overcome all difficulties encountering cooperation and trade exchange.

Source: Syria Arab News Agency