BEIJING, Jan. 2, 2022 — China Media Group (CMG) President Shen Haixiong addressed the global audience on the first day of 2022, with the focus on the reflection of the CMG’s work over the past year and the group’s great roles in future news coverage.
 
"The New Year’s first ray of sunshine is illuminating the world. The new year is the Year of the Tiger on the Chinese lunar calendar. I would like to extend my best wishes from Beijing, wishing you a year full of prosperity and vitality!" Shen said.
Noting that the CMG has served as a witness to the remarkable past and recorded the country’s achievements through its dedicated work, Shen said that China’s overseas broadcasting services will continue this in 2022.
Shen also said that presenting China’s stories well to global audiences remains the CMG’s mission.
The CMG president said that reporting based on facts should be the fundamental principle of global journalists, and in the meantime, the group has debunked lies and myths in news stories regarding issues such as COVID-19 and Afghanistan.
He said the group has established a diverse and inclusive cooperation mechanism with international media partners.
The CMG president also referred to China’s scheduled hosting of the 2022 Winter Olympic Games and Paralympic Games – the world’s biggest sporting event of 2022.
Shen said China Media Group is ready to bring the event to global audiences, with cutting-edge technologies and its newly-launched Olympic Channel.
"During the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games, CMG broadcast the world’s first live coverage of Olympic events on a 4K Ultra HD channel. The channel attracted more than 400 million viewers within three months of its launch. In just over 30 days, the Olympic flame will once again be lit in Beijing, during Chinese New Year. With the technologies of ‘5G+4K/8K+AI’, CMG has set up a livestreaming carriage on the high-speed train from Beijing to Zhangjiakou, Hebei province. It’s the first tech solution in the world to record and broadcast with Ultra HD streaming on high-speed trains," Shen said.
Shen also said that in 2022, the CPC will hold its 20th National Congress to draw a blueprint for China’s future.
ATLANTA, Oct. 19, 2021 — Disney+, a world-renowned streaming application, and VIDAA, a Linux-based smart TV operating system, announced that Disney+ will be coming soon to VIDAA Smart OS-powered Hisense and Toshiba smart televisions, with the latest firmware version.
Disney+ is the dedicated streaming home for movies and shows from Disney, Pixar, Marvel, Star Wars, and National Geographic, along with The Simpsons and much more. In select international markets, it also includes the new general entertainment content brand, Star. The service offers commercial-free streaming alongside an ever-growing collection of exclusive originals, including feature-length films, documentaries, live-action and animated series, and short-form content. With unprecedented access to Disney’s long history of incredible film and television entertainment, Disney+ is also the exclusive streaming home for the newest releases from The Walt Disney Studios. And through Star, it offers a robust catalog from 20th Century Studios, Disney Television Studios, FX, Searchlight Pictures, and more.
VIDAA Smart OS is a Linux-based open smart TV operating system. The independent company VIDAA USA was established in 2019, and it has – in just two years – become a strong global contender in the smart TV platform space. In 2020, VIDAA introduced a completely new and revamped user interface named 4.0, which puts users and their way of consuming content at the core of the design. As of May 2021, the most advanced version on the market is VIDAA U5, which saw further improvements in user experience by implementing Google Assistant capabilities, its own voice service, the new VIDAA remote control smartphone application, as well as advertising and billing services in select markets. For more information, visit www.vidaa.com and follow VIDAA on Facebook.com/vidaatv, Twitter, and Instagram at @vidaatv.
Hisense was founded in 1969 in Qingdao, China and for five decades has been committed to developing innovative consumer electronics products. Today, Hisense is the 3rd biggest TV brand worldwide and a market leader in China, South Africa and Australia and one of the largest manufacturers of white and brown goods, offering a complete home solution under one roof. The company has built 54 overseas companies. Hisense also has 20 R&D centers and 29 industrial parks worldwide with the sole aim of delivering first-rate and affordable products that improve the lives of consumers.
"Our cooperation with The Walt Disney Company is a major milestone for our organisation, "said Guy Edri, EVP of VIDAA USA. "Bringing Disney+ to the VIDAA platform globally is just the first step. We’re looking forward to working with Disney on ways to expand our collaboration and opportunities to bring their full suite of streaming services to our customers in the future. Today marks not only the launch of an amazing service on a state-of-the-art platform, but a start of a long-term relationship between two companies, each a leader in its industry."
NEW DELHI, Oct. 1, 2021 — This Diwali, coocaa TVs has taken festivities to new heights. coocaa TVs has pledged to make one of its consumers a lucky winner of a brand new car!
From September 29th to November 4th (Big billion day and Big Diwali Sale), coocaa TVs & Flipkart have partnered together to gift one lucky shopper a brand-new car on buying any of coocaa’s TVs on Flipkart!
WIN a Car This Diwali with coocaa’s Massive Festive Celebration
As an innovative Internet TV brand, coocaa is well-recognised as 2013’s Guinness World Record holder for the largest Smart TV sales acquired in a single day, and ranking 2nd for the biggest sales volume in 2020 in the world.
Today, coocaa is a leading provider in smart TV technology and has successfully become a friend of today’s younger generation. In Hyderabad, coocaa owns two factories, which produce more than 3 million units for home appliances annually, winning itself rising fame and popularity in India.
This Diwali, coocaa introduces its champion products to its Indian fans. The all-new coocaa S6G Pro & S3U Pro Smart TV are now available with a BIG promotional campaign on Flipkart!
The S6G Pro (available in 43", 50" and 55"), following its recent campaign during the AFF Suzuki Cup 2020, has become a hit across the golden generation in Southeast Asia. Powered by Android 10, S6G Pro contains brilliant features such as One-click Google Assistant, with ultra-low lag and latency.
Just like the S6G Pro, The S3U PRO Smart TV ensures a pleasant screen-sharing experience by providing reliable connectivity. With S3U PRO’s extra-large screen bolstered by coocaa’s German Picture Quality Lab, intelligent noise reduction technology and Dolby Audio sound effects, you are guaranteed with a remarkable home-viewing and gaming experience.
Ready to WIN BIG? This Diwali promotion might be a golden chance for you to get a new car or even your first car! Don’t miss this coocaa & Flipkart promotion between September 29th to Nov. 4th, where YOU might be the chosen one to own a coocaa TV AND a car in one go! Shop right now at https://bit.ly/3iiL679 (Terms & conditions applied*)
TIP: Follow coocaa on Facebook (@coocaa) or Instagram (@coocaa_india) and join coocaa’s quiz session on FB, Instagram and Flipkart this month to win multiple prizes and vouchers for your new coocaa TV!
SHENZHEN, China, Aug. 14, 2021 — TCL Technology Group Corporation ("TCL Technology", Stock Code 000100.SZ), a publicly listed company focusing on the semiconductor display and materials industry, has announced its interim results for the six months ("the reporting period") ended 30 June 2021.
During the reporting period, the company achieved operating income of around USD11.45 billion, a year-on-year increase of 153.3%; net profit was around USD1.426 billion, a 7.65 times increase year-on-year; net profit attributable to shareholders was around USD1.04 billion, a year-on-year increase of 461.5%. The company’s two core industries, semiconductor displays and semiconductor photovoltaics, achieved significant growth over this period and the company’s annual budget target has been surpassed.
Furthermore, TCL CSOT, TCL Technology’s panel production subsidiary, achieved sales area of 17.792 million square meters with a year-on-year increase of 25.3%. The semiconductor display business of TCL CSOT achieved operating income of USD6.29 billion, a year-on-year increase of 93.6%; net profit was USD1.01 billion, a year-on-year increase of USD1.04 billion. In the second quarter of 2021, TCL CSOT achieved a net profit of USD649.15 million, a quarter-on-quarter increase of 76%. Through continuous expansion and optimization of product structure, TCL CSOT continued to increase its market share in various fields, including TV panels, interactive whiteboards, LTPS, etc.
Additionally, Zhonghuan Semiconductor, a subsidiary of TCL that focusing on semiconductors and new energy, also contributed to the Company’s profit growth in the first half of 2021. Zhonghuan Semiconductor achieved operating income of USD2.7 billion, a year-on-year increase of 104.1%, and net profit of USD291.42 million, a year-on-year increase of 160.6%. During the reporting period, the photovoltaic industry has developed rapidly. Over this time Zhonghuan Semiconductor’s accumulated technological advantages have emerged, the product structure has been transformed smoothly and the scale of production capacity has been continuously improved.
Looking ahead, TCL Technology will continue to optimize its business strategies focusing on semiconductor displays, semiconductor photovoltaics and semiconductor materials. Meanwhile, TCL Technology will continue its innovation-driven development, improve operational quality and efficiency, and accelerate global layout, to boost competitiveness and lead the global industry.
About TCL
TCL empowers customers to enjoy more. With a lineup of award-winning televisions, audio products, mobile devices, and appliances, TCL takes pride in delivering meaningful experiences by combining thoughtful design and the latest technology. As one of the world’s largest consumer electronics brands, our extensive manufacturing expertise, a vertically integrated supply chain, and state-of-the-art panel factory, helps TCL deliver innovation for all. For additional product information, please visit www.tcl.com for the full portfolio.
About TCL CSOT
TCL CSOT (TCL China Star Optoelectronics Technology Co., Ltd), is a company committed to developing new technologies and innovations in semiconductor display industry. TCL CSOT actively invests in future technologies such as Mini-LED, Micro-LED, OLED, and Ink-Jet Printing OLED. The company business includes large area display, small medium display and touch modules, interactive white boards, video walls, automotive displays, and gaming monitors, which contributes to the core competence in the global panel industry.
About Tianjin Zhonghuan Semiconductor
Zhonghuan Semiconductor takes new energy materials and semi-conductor materials as its dual main business to drive development, including the R&D, production and sales of semi-conductor wafers, semi-conductor devices, solar wafers and solar cell modules, as well as the construction and operation of photovoltaic power stations. On July 15, 2020, TCL acquired Zhonghuan Semi-conductor, achieving the significant presence and strategic reserve in the field of semi-conductors and new energy.
LUXEMBOURG, June 24, 2021 — The Asteroid Foundation’s annual Asteroid Day LIVE programme premiers Wednesday 30 June 2021 at 18:00 CET. With the help of leading experts, Asteroid Day Co-founder Dr. Brian May and the most engaging voices in science communications from around the world, the five hour programme will bring the solar system’s smallest worlds to vivid life for audiences of all ages and backgrounds.
This year, Asteroid Day LIVE celebrates the 25th launch anniversary of NASA’s NEAR-Shoemaker spacecraft, and the 2021 launch of three new asteroid missions, NASA’s Lucy, NEA Scout and DART – the world’s first mission to test an asteroid deflection technique – and much more.
There can be no mistake, interest in asteroids has never been greater. In the next three years alone, five new asteroid missions will be launched by NASA and ESA. Asteroid Day LIVE will explore this explosion of interest across five hours of new content that will answer everything from the most fundamental questions a beginner may have about asteroids, to the questions that tantalise the world’s leading researchers.
Asteroid Day LIVE 2021 is split into four distinct segments. The first will explore the titanic task of discovering and tracking the millions of asteroids that circle the Sun; the second will discuss the scientific work that allows us to investigate the true – and often surprising – nature of the asteroids. Segment three is dedicated to the rapid advances that are being made in how to defend our planet from potentially hazardous asteroids; and the final segment looks to the exciting role asteroids may play in the future exploration of space, and the creation of an ‘in space’ economy.
The programme focuses on telling the remarkable stories of asteroids and the people that research them. The show is moderated by leaders of the field, such as Mary Lynne Dittmar of Axiom Space, and expert science communicators such as astronaut Tom Jones and Lucie Green from University College London.
Anchored by RTL presenter Lisa Burke from Luxembourg’s Broadcasting Centre Europe, 2021’s Asteroid Day LIVE features a "Who’s Who?" of people involved in asteroid research. Programme highlights include:
Asteroid Day’s co-founder, and Queen guitarist, Brian May talking about his work making stereoscopic "3D" images to give researchers better views of their asteroid targets;
One of the principal architects of modern asteroid research, Andrew Cheng of Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory, discussing the astonishing discoveries made by the NEAR-Shoemaker mission and the groundbreaking work that NASA’s DART mission will undertake;
Naomi Murdoch from ISAE-SUPAERO, Toulouse, France, tells us how landing on an asteroid could be more like a splashdown than a touchdown;
University of Arizona’sDante Lauretta and Makoto Yoshikawa from the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency talking about the amazing successes of their space missions to retrieve rock samples from asteroids;
And we look to future missions such as NASA’s Psyche and Lucy and ESA’s Hera, with Lindy Elkin-Tanton of Arizona State University, Cathy Olkin of Southwest Research Institute, and Heli Greus of ESA.
Other high profile speakers and moderators this year include Pedro Duque, former ESA astronaut and Spain’s minister of science and innovation; American astronauts Ed Lu and Leland Melvin and cosmonaut Dorin Prunariu; private space traveler Anousheh Ansari; Patrick Michel, director of research at CNRS (Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique) and NEO-MAPP lead; Ruy Pinto, Chief Technology Officer of SES; Franco Ongaro, ESA’s Director of Technology, Engineering and Quality; Bill Nye, ‘the science guy’ and CEO of The Planetary Society; Elena Adams, Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory’s; "Internet Rocket Scientist" Scott Manly; and Asteroid Day’s Editorial Director, Stuart Clark.
The Planetary Society and Asteroid Foundation have co-produced a new video series titled ‘Meet the Asteroids’ that will premiere during Asteroid Day LIVE. Each specially produced video will highlight a famous asteroid’s unique characteristics and back story. Taken together this series demonstrates the remarkable diversity of asteroids and explains the fascination that now surrounds their study.
And at the heart of it all is the original purpose of Asteroid Day: to raise awareness that one day we will need to deflect an asteroid away from our planet. Through hard work and dedication, the global asteroid community is working to make this possible – and that puts the asteroid hazard in a class of its own, because uniquely among the natural disasters, asteroid impacts are preventable.
"Let’s all keep aware of the significance of Asteroid Day. Asteroids are still out there and we still don’t know all of them, so we need to be circumspect. We need to keep doing the research to safeguard the future of this planet, for our children and our grandchildren. Let’s keep Asteroid Day in mind. I’m very proud to be part of it" says Dr. Brian May.
Asteroid Day’s Luxembourg-based partners Broadcasting Center Europe (BCE) and SES, the leader in global content connectivity solutions, will make Asteroid Day TV available for millions to tune in via an SES satellite at 19.2 degrees East.
About Asteroid Day: Asteroid Day is held on 30 June each year to mark the date of Earth’s largest asteroid impact in recorded history, the Tunguska, Siberia event. Asteroid Day was co-founded by astrophysicist and famed musician Dr Brian May of the rock group Queen; Apollo 9 Astronaut Rusty Schweickart; Filmmaker Grig Richters; and B612 Foundation President Danica Remy, to educate the public about the importance of asteroids in our history, and the role they play in the solar system. In 2016, prompted by the leadership of the Association of Space Explorers (ASE), the United Nations declared Asteroid Day to be a global day of education to raise awareness and promote knowledge in the general public about asteroids. Thousands of independently-organised events have taken place around the globe, encompassing 125 of the world’s 195 countries.
A Media Kit including quotes, photos, video and B-Roll video is available in the Asteroid Day Newsroom. Photos from previous Asteroid Day events in Luxembourg are available on Flickr.
Asteroid Day TV – SES Broadcast Connection Details:
Europe/Middle East Service Name: Asteroid Day 2021 HD Service ID: 5711 Transponder: 1.068 Satellite: Astra 1M Orbital Pos: 19.2 East Downlink Frequency: 11778.00 MHz Polarization: Vertical Modulation: DVB-S2 QPSK FEC: 9/10 SR: 29.5 MSym/s
About Asteroid Foundation: Asteroid Foundation was formed in 2017 with a mission to promote worldwide awareness of asteroid opportunities and challenges, and the emerging space economy. The Asteroid Foundation undertakes programmes and activities to support scientists, engineers and students around the world providing free educational tools, newsletters, original articles and resources year round. Annually, the Foundation organizes events surrounding International Asteroid Day, a United Nations recognized day of education and awareness observed on 30 June. Visit their Flickr account to see pictures from previous events. https://asteroidfoundation.org/
About Association of Space Explorers Founded in 1985, the Association of Space Explorers (ASE) is an international nonprofit 510c3 professional and educational organization of more than 400 flown astronauts and cosmonauts from 38 nations. ASE’s Committee on Near Earth Objects (NEO), chaired by astronaut Tom Jones, works to promote global awareness of the asteroid impact threat. ASE delivers subject matter expertise and the astronaut perspective on key topics related to NEOs, including developments in planetary defense, advancements in NEO discovery and characterization, and impactor mitigation campaign design. ASE NEO Committee members also support the bi-annual IAA Planetary Defence Conference and the annual Asteroid Day event in Luxembourg. https://www.space-explorers.org/
About B612 Foundation B612 is dedicated to protecting Earth from asteroid impacts. It does this by driving forward science and technologies needed to protect the Earth from asteroid impacts through the Asteroid Institute. It educates the public, the scientific community, and world governments about asteroids through programs such as Asteroid Day. Since the organization’s inception in 2002, its work has been carried out entirely through the support of private donors. What started in 2002 as a visionary idea to develop the technology to deflect an asteroid has grown into a world-renowned organization and scientific institute with a key role in the emerging field of planetary defense. www.b612foundation.org
About Broadcasting Center Europe (BCE) Broadcasting Center Europe (BCE) is a European leader in media services, system integration and software development in the areas of television, online video, streaming, radio, production and postproduction, telecommunication and IT. With its extensive experience on the media market, our team provides high-quality services and will always find the solution that matches your project and budget. With more than 200 highly qualified and motivated people, BCE serves about 400 clients in various sectors, such as TV channels, radio stations, film distributors, producers, advertising companies, sports federations, fashion, events, institutions and telecommunications operators. www.bce.lu
About the European Space Agency (ESA) The European Space Agency (ESA) is Europe’s gateway to space. ESA is an intergovernmental organisation, created in 1975, with the mission to shape the development of Europe’s space capability and ensure that investment in space delivers benefits to the citizens of Europe and the world. ESA has 22 Member States. ESA’s programmes are designed to find out more about Earth, its immediate space environment, our Solar System and the Universe, as well as to develop satellite-based technologies and services, and to promote European industries. By coordinating the financial and intellectual resources of its members, ESA can undertake programmes and activities far beyond the scope of any single European country. It is working in particular with the EU on implementing the Galileo and Copernicus programmes as well as with Eumetsat for the development of meteorological missions.. http://www.esa.int
About Luxembourg Chamber of Commerce The main role of the Chamber of Commerce is to protect and promote the interests of businesses and the economy of Luxembourg. To enable it to fulfil this mandate, it has been granted the status of a public establishment, which comes with some significant prerogatives. Since membership of professional businesses is mandatory in Luxembourg, the Chamber of Commerce has high rates of affiliation, with 90,000 member companies, corresponding to 75% of the country’s total salaried employment and 80% of Luxembourg’s GDP, making it the biggest employers’ group in the country. It represents all businesses in Luxembourg except those in the artisanal and agricultural sectors. The Chamber of Commerce implements projects and infrastructures for sustainable and prosperous economic development and therefore consists of several entities, such as: House of Entrepreneurship Launched in 2016 by the Chamber of Commerce and the Ministry of the Economy as a single point of contact for existing and new entrepreneurs, the House of Entrepreneurship offers a wide range of services. House of Startups Innovation hubs, incubators, business accelerators and startup consulting services are all under one roof at the House of Startups (HoST), launched by the Luxembourg Chamber of Commerce in 2018. Several major hubs are already in place: the Luxembourg House of Financial Technology (LHoFT), the newly created Luxembourg-City Incubator (LCI), initiated by the Chamber of Commerce in cooperation with the City of Luxembourg, Groupe Crédit Agricole’s international incubator, and the International Climate Finance Accelerator (ICFA). House of Training Launched in 2015 by the Chamber of Commerce and the Luxembourg Bankers’ Association (ABBL), the House of Training trains thousands of people in a variety of fields such as banking and finance, entrepreneurship and management, law, industry marketing, human resources and many more. https://www.cc.lu
About Luxembourg Space Agency Luxembourg Space Agency (LSA) develops the space sector in Luxembourg by fostering new and existing companies, developing human resources, facilitating access to funding and supporting academic research. The agency implements the national space economic development strategy, manages national space research and development programs and leads the SpaceResources.lu initiative. Furthermore, the LSA represents Luxembourg within the European Space Agency and space-related programs of the European Union and the United Nations. https://space-agency.public.lu/
About OHB Systems OHB Systems is a European multinational technology corporation, headquartered in Bremen, Germany. They are and have been one of the leading companies in Europe’s space sector for the past 35 years, particularly in their core business comprising low-orbiting and geostationary satellites. They have been developing and executing some of the key projects of our times such as the Galileo navigation satellites, the SARah reconnaissance system, the MTG meteorological satellites, the EnMAP environment satellite, the TET-1 technology testing vehicle and the Hispasat H36W-1, ELECTRA and EDRS-C telecommunications satellites. https://www.ohb-system.de/
About The Planetary Society The Planetary Society is a non-profit organization with the mission of empowering the world’s citizens to advance space science and exploration. They introduce people to the wonders of the cosmos, bridging the gap between the scientific community and the general public to inspire and educate people from all walks of life, and they give every citizen of the planet the opportunity to make their voices heard in government and effect real change in support of space exploration. https://www.planetary.org/
About SES SES is a Luxembourgish satellite and terrestrial telecommunications network provider supplying video and data connectivity worldwide to broadcasters, content and internet service providers, mobile and fixed network operators, governments and institutions. With over 70 satellites in two different orbits, they combine a vast, intelligent network of satellites and ground infrastructure with industry-leading expertise to manage and deliver high-performance video and data solutions virtually everywhere on the planet. https://www.ses.com/
About Twitch TV Introduced in June 2011, Twitch TV is an American video live streaming service that focuses on video game live streaming, including broadcasts of esports competitions. In addition, it offers music broadcasts, creative content, and more recently, "in real life" streams. https://www.twitch.tv/
BEIJING, June 19, 2021 — In China’s fight against COVID-19, more than 39 million members of the Communist Party of China (CPC) fought the virus on the frontline while over 13 million volunteers rendered their services at the community level. Nearly 400 of them laid down their lives in the process of saving others.
United as one and determined to save every life at all costs, China has been one of the most successful in containing the virus.
This is one vivid example that demonstrates China’s commitment to a people-centered philosophy.
Rooted in history Adherence to a people-centered philosophy has been the key to CPC’s success in the past 100 years. From 57 members represented by 13 deputies at the first National Congress in 1921, the CPC has grown into a 91-million-strong entity that governs a country of 1.4 billion people.
Laying the basis of socialism with Chinese characteristics, the CPC led China to overcome obstacles in the way of its development, helping it stand on its feet and grow stronger till it eventually became the world’s second-largest economy.
"People are the creators of history. They are the fundamental force that determines our Party and the country’s future," said Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the CPC Central Committee.
Commitment to the world As COVID-19 continues to ravage the world, many countries have restricted grain exports. Resultantly, the number of people facing acute food insecurity hit 155 million last year – the highest in last five years.
However, China is doing its part to ensure global food security by reducing grain imports and moderately increasing the exports of wheat and rice. It also continues to assist other developing countries within the framework of South-South cooperation.
Domestically, China met its poverty alleviation target by the end of 2020, lifting nearly 100 million people out of poverty over the past eight years.
In the next five years, China plans to take a series of measures, such as improving people’s incomes, boosting employment and building a high-quality education system.
"To ensure that the people enjoy a happy life is the ultimate goal of all our work and is an important manifestation of our Party’s fundamental purpose of serving the people wholeheartedly," Xi said.
Xi has constantly urged the CPC members to stay true to the Party’s founding mission, which is to serve the people.
BEIJING, June 17, 2021 — Speaking a few days ahead of the Earth Day summit on climate change in April, American Secretary of State Antony Blinken acknowledged that the U.S. had fallen behind China in developing the technology needed to curb climate change.
CGTN:Long-term planning key to China’s continuous growth
China’s global dominance in renewable energy is no accident. It is the result of the type of long-range planning that has become a well-known characteristic of the nation’s governance system.
The bedrock of China’s economic planning has been its five-year plans that began in 1953 and were patterned initially after the centralized Soviet system. In the early years, the economic and production targets did not always go to plan, and officials made mistakes.
For instance, during the Great Leap Forward, an economic campaign in the late 1950s to transform China from an agrarian to an industrial economy, many targets were unmet because they were too ambitious. As a result, the campaign ended in disaster.
The country learned from that experience, devising attainable goals and consulting widely in subsequent years. It was not until the 1970s – and the unleashing of the groundbreaking "reform and opening-up" policies – that the world really sat up and took notice.
Since then, the CPC’s quinquennial strategic visionary planning has been widely credited with facilitating continuous economic expansion in China and underpinning its transformation into the world’s second largest economy.
The heavy centralization of the past has been modified in favor of widespread buy-in for the national development goals. Hence, they have a greater chance of succeeding. Input is sought from government ministries, state enterprises, provincial administrations, scholars and think tanks, grass-root level CPC delegates, non-CPC political parties and the private sector.
The upshot is that China’s economy grew from over $76 billion (493 billion yuan) in 1981 to almost $16 trillion (100 trillion yuan) in 2020. The country’s per capita GDP was comparable to that of India’s in 1978 at about $200 (1,280 yuan). Today, it is five times larger than that of its neighbor at $10,000 (64,000 yuan).
China’s leaders often stress that the market should be allowed to play a decisive role in allocating resources, and the country can never go back to a dominant centrally planned economy.
Five-year plans combine the visible hand of the government and the invisible hand of the market to turn China into the world’s second largest economy.
LUXEMBOURG, May 27, 2021 — The Asteroid Foundation will launch Asteroid Day TV on 1 June 2021 with digital video content from Discovery Science, TED, IMAX, BBC, CNN, The Planetary Society, the European Space Agency (ESA), independent filmmakers and other educational content producers. The programming will cover themes such as asteroid discovery, planetary defense, space resources, asteroid exploration missions and more. Asteroid Day is an official United Nations’ day of global awareness about the opportunities and challenges that asteroids present. Asteroid Day was co-founded by astrophysicist and famed musician Dr Brian May of the rock group Queen; Apollo 9 Astronaut Rusty Schweickart; Filmmaker Grig Richters; and B612 Foundation President Danica Remy to educate the public about the importance of asteroids in our history, the role they play in the solar system and how they could affect our future.
Asteroid Day TV will stream through the month of June, culminating with Asteroid Day LIVE on 30 June. This year’s Asteroid Day LIVE theme explores 25 years of dedicated asteroid missions, highlighting the anniversary of the 1996 NEAR-Shoemaker launch, and looks to exciting future discoveries. Read more about this year’s programme and see the confirmed LIVE participants on asteroidday.org. The Asteroid Day TV schedule will be updated weekly with new programme additions.
Twitch is Asteroid Day’s premiere online partner and will deliver Asteroid Day TV all month long via their global platform. In addition, Twitch’s science enthusiasts/educators DeejayKnight, EJ_SA, John "Das" Galloway, Dr Pamela Gay and the CosmoQuest crew, Scott Manley, Skylias, and others will host special live streams on Twitch during the month leading up to Asteroid Day on 30 June. The public can follow all these channels on Twitch to be notified of upcoming programs during June.
Asteroid Day’s Luxembourg-based partners Broadcasting Center Europe (BCE) and SES, the leader in global content connectivity solutions, will make Asteroid Day TV available for millions to tune in via SES satellite.
About Asteroid Day: Asteroid Day is held on 30 June each year to mark the date of Earth’s largest asteroid impact in recorded history, the Siberia Tunguska event. Asteroid Day was co-founded by astrophysicist and famed musician Dr Brian May of the rock group Queen; Apollo 9 Astronaut Rusty Schweickart; Filmmaker Grig Richters; and B612 Foundation President Danica Remy, to educate the public about the importance of asteroids in our history, and the role they play in the solar system. In 2016, prompted by the leadership of the Association of Space Explorers (ASE), the United Nations declared Asteroid Day to be a global day of education to raise awareness and promote knowledge in the general public about asteroids. Thousands of independently-organised events have taken place around the globe, encompassing 125 of the world’s 195 countries.
A Media Kit including quotes, photos, video and B-Roll video is available in the Asteroid Day Newsroom. Photos from previous Asteroid Day events in Luxembourg are available on Flickr.
Asteroid Day TV – SES Broadcast Connection Details:
Europe/Middle East Service Name: Asteroid Day 2021 HD Service ID: 5711 Transponder: 1.068 Satellite: Astra 1M Orbital Pos: 19.2 East Downlink Frequency: 11778.00 MHz Polarization: Vertical Modulation: DVB-S2 QPSK FEC: 9/10 SR: 27.5 MSym/s
About Asteroid Foundation: Asteroid Foundation was formed in 2017 with a mission to promote worldwide awareness of asteroid opportunities and challenges, and the emerging space economy. The Asteroid Foundation undertakes programmes and activities to support scientists, engineers and students around the world providing free educational tools, newsletters, original articles and resources year round. Annually, the Foundation organizes events surrounding International Asteroid Day, a United Nations recognized day of education and awareness observed on 30 June. Visit their Flickr account to see pictures from previous events. https://asteroidfoundation.org/
About Association of Space Explorers Founded in 1985, the Association of Space Explorers (ASE) is an international nonprofit 510c3 professional and educational organization of more than 400 flown astronauts and cosmonauts from 38 nations. ASE’s Committee on Near Earth Objects (NEO), chaired by astronaut Tom Jones, works to promote global awareness of the asteroid impact threat. ASE delivers subject matter expertise and the astronaut perspective on key topics related to NEOs, including developments in planetary defense, advancements in NEO discovery and characterization, and impactor mitigation campaign design. ASE NEO Committee members also support the bi-annual IAA Planetary Defence Conference and the annual Asteroid Day event in Luxembourg. https://www.space-explorers.org/
About B612 Foundation B612 is dedicated to protecting Earth from asteroid impacts. It does this by driving forward science and technologies needed to protect the Earth from asteroid impacts through the Asteroid Institute. It educates the public, the scientific community, and world governments about asteroids through programs such as Asteroid Day. Since the organization’s inception in 2002, its work has been carried out entirely through the support of private donors. What started in 2002 as a visionary idea to develop the technology to deflect an asteroid has grown into a world-renowned organization and scientific institute with a key role in the emerging field of planetary defense. www.b612foundation.org
About Broadcasting Center Europe (BCE) Broadcasting Center Europe (BCE) is a European leader in media services, system integration and software development in the areas of television, online video, streaming, radio, production and postproduction, telecommunication and IT. With its extensive experience on the media market, our team provides high-quality services and will always find the solution that matches your project and budget. With more than 200 highly qualified and motivated people, BCE serves about 400 clients in various sectors, such as TV channels, radio stations, film distributors, producers, advertising companies, sports federations, fashion, events, institutions and telecommunications operators. www.bce.lu
About the European Space Agency (ESA) The European Space Agency (ESA) is Europe’s gateway to space. ESA is an intergovernmental organisation, created in 1975, with the mission to shape the development of Europe’s space capability and ensure that investment in space delivers benefits to the citizens of Europe and the world. ESA has 22 Member States. ESA’s programmes are designed to find out more about Earth, its immediate space environment, our Solar System and the Universe, as well as to develop satellite-based technologies and services, and to promote European industries. By coordinating the financial and intellectual resources of its members, ESA can undertake programmes and activities far beyond the scope of any single European country. It is working in particular with the EU on implementing the Galileo and Copernicus programmes as well as with Eumetsat for the development of meteorological missions. http://www.esa.int
About Luxembourg Chamber of Commerce The main role of the Chamber of Commerce is to protect and promote the interests of businesses and the economy of Luxembourg. To enable it to fulfil this mandate, it has been granted the status of a public establishment, which comes with some significant prerogatives. Since membership of professional businesses is mandatory in Luxembourg, the Chamber of Commerce has high rates of affiliation, with 90,000 member companies, corresponding to 75% of the country’s total salaried employment and 80% of Luxembourg’s GDP, making it the biggest employers’ group in the country. It represents all businesses in Luxembourg except those in the artisanal and agricultural sectors. The Chamber of Commerce implements projects and infrastructures for sustainable and prosperous economic development and therefore consists of several entities, such as:
House of Entrepreneurship Launched in 2016 by the Chamber of Commerce and the Ministry of the Economy as a single point of contact for existing and new entrepreneurs, the House of Entrepreneurship offers a wide range of services.
House of Startups Innovation hubs, incubators, business accelerators and startup consulting services are all under one roof at the House of Startups (HoST), launched by the Luxembourg Chamber of Commerce in 2018. Several major hubs are already in place: the Luxembourg House of Financial Technology (LHoFT), the newly created Luxembourg-City Incubator (LCI), initiated by the Chamber of Commerce in cooperation with the City of Luxembourg, Groupe Crédit Agricole’s international incubator, and the International Climate Finance Accelerator (ICFA).
House of Training Launched in 2015 by the Chamber of Commerce and the Luxembourg Bankers’ Association (ABBL), the House of Training trains thousands of people in a variety of fields such as banking and finance, entrepreneurship and management, law, industry marketing, human resources and many more. https://www.cc.lu
About Luxembourg Space Agency Luxembourg Space Agency (LSA) develops the space sector in Luxembourg by fostering new and existing companies, developing human resources, facilitating access to funding and supporting academic research. The agency implements the national space economic development strategy, manages national space research and development programs and leads the SpaceResources.lu initiative. Furthermore, the LSA represents Luxembourg within the European Space Agency and space-related programs of the European Union and the United Nations. https://space-agency.public.lu/
About OHB Systems OHB Systems is a European multinational technology corporation, headquartered in Bremen, Germany. They are and have been one of the leading companies in Europe’s space sector for the past 35 years, particularly in their core business comprising low-orbiting and geostationary satellites. They have been developing and executing some of the key projects of our times such as the Galileo navigation satellites, the SARah reconnaissance system, the MTG meteorological satellites, the EnMAP environment satellite, the TET-1 technology testing vehicle and the Hispasat H36W-1, ELECTRA and EDRS-C telecommunications satellites. https://www.ohb-system.de/
About The Planetary Society The Planetary Society is a non profit organization with the mission of empowering the world’s citizens to advance space science and exploration. They introduce people to the wonders of the cosmos, bridging the gap between the scientific community and the general public to inspire and educate people from all walks of life, and they give every citizen of the planet the opportunity to make their voices heard in government and effect real change in support of space exploration. https://www.planetary.org/
About SES SES is a Luxembourgish satellite and terrestrial telecommunications network provider supplying video and data connectivity worldwide to broadcasters, content and internet service providers, mobile and fixed network operators, governments and institutions. With over 70 satellites in two different orbits, they combine a vast, intelligent network of satellites and ground infrastructure with industry-leading expertise to manage and deliver high-performance video and data solutions virtually everywhere on the planet. https://www.ses.com/
About Twitch TV Introduced in June 2011, Twitch TV is an American video live streaming service that focuses on video game live streaming, including broadcasts of esports competitions. In addition, it offers music broadcasts, creative content, and more recently, "in real life" streams. https://www.twitch.tv/
BEIJING, May 15, 2021 — China will press ahead with the world’s largest water diversion project and prioritize water conservation in the process.
 
As the country pursues green and high-quality development, efforts should be made to advance the South-to-North Water Diversion Project in a scientific manner and promote the effective and economical use of water resources, Chinese President Xi Jinping said Friday.
Xi made the remarks at a symposium on advancing the high-quality follow-up development of the project in Nanyang, central China’sHenan Province, following an inspection tour that began on Wednesday.
He called for safeguarding ecological security and promoting balanced spatial distribution of water resources in the country.
3,000 West Lakes, 120 million people
The South-to-North Water Diversion Project links the Yangtze River, the Huaihe River, the Yellow River and the Haihe River. It is aimed at providing a permanent solution to the water shortage in northern China by diverting water from the country’s water-rich southern regions.
The grand project consists of three routes, among which the first phase the eastern and middle routes went into operation in 2013 and 2014 respectively. The western route is still at a pre-construction stage.
As of early April, the project had transferred 41.8 billion cubic meters of water to the northern areas, which was equivalent to the water volume of nearly 3,000 West Lakes – a renowned scenic area in Hangzhou in east China’sZhejiang Province. More than 120 million people had directly benefited from the project.
Xi’s inspection tour and the symposium came at a time when China gears up for planning and implementing the next stage of the project. According to the Outline of the 14th Five-Year Plan (2021-2025) for National Economic and Social Development and the Long-Range Objectives Through the Year 2035, efforts will be made to advance the follow-up development of the eastern and middle routes of the project and the appraisal of plans for the western route.
Elaborating on how to advance the project in a scientific manner, Xi called for efforts to strengthen demand and supply management, maximize overall benefits of the project, prioritize water conservation and enhance the protection of ecological environment. He also called for accelerating efforts to build a national water network and ensure national water security.
Xi hails sacrifice by resettled residents
The place where President Xi chose to convene the meeting is of great significance to the water diversion project. Located in the southwest of Henan Province bordering Hubei Province, Nanyang is the starting point of the middle route, which carries water from Danjiangkou Reservoir in central China through Henan and Hebei provinces all the way to Beijing and Tianjin in the north.
More than 40 big and medium-sized cities receive water from the project, and in Beijing, around 70 percent of the tap water is pumped in through the middle route.
More than 345,000 people living in Danjiangkou Reservoir area have moved to more than 600 government-built villages to make way for the project. Xi went to one of those villages to visit the relocated residents on Thursday.
In the village of Zouzhuang in Xichuan County, he hailed the spirit of sacrifice of the villagers and wished them a better life. The resettled residents deserve the thanks from those who benefit from the project and people across the nation, he said.
At Friday’s symposium, Xi urged authorities to work out economical plans for the next phase of the project and minimize the number of people that need to be relocated.
Chinese President Xi Jinping has on many occasions stressed the need for greater efforts to protect the ecological environment, with Xi taking his inspiration from classic works and looking to promote the shift towards a greener, low-carbon lifestyle to ensure harmony between humans and nature.
Xi quoted from the ancient Chinese classical text ‘Zi Zhi Tong Jian’, or ‘Comprehensive Mirror in Aid of Governance’, first published almost a millennium ago, in a speech delivered at the opening of the Beijing Horticultural Expo back in April 2019.
During this speech, Xi acknowledged that: "industrialization, while generating unprecedented material wealth, has incurred serious damage to Mother Nature."
These remarks came against the backdrop of growing concern over the effects of climate change, as well as worries that fossil fuels could soon run out if humans continue to burn at the current rate, while key resources such as land, water and energy are all becoming more limited.
"’Well-measured use of natural resources’ is the key to ecological conservation," Xi told the expo.
"We need to promote a simpler, greener, and low-carbon lifestyle, oppose excessiveness and wastefulness, and foster a culture of living green and healthy," the president said.
"Looking up at night, we are awed by the many stars in the sky. Planet Earth is the only home for mankind. We must protect this planet like our own eyes, and cherish nature the way we cherish life," Xi said.
China’s latest five-year plan also paves the way for its promise of peaking carbon dioxide emissions by 2030 and achieving carbon neutrality by 2060. The 14th Five-Year Plan (2021-2025) vows to lower energy consumption per unit of gross domestic product (GDP) and carbon dioxide emissions per unit of GDP by 13.5 percent and 18 percent, respectively, during the next five-year period.
In the past 10 years, China has ranked first globally in terms of the increase in forest resources, with its afforestation area exceeding 70 million hectares. Meanwhile, 90 percent of terrestrial ecosystem types and 85 percent of key wild animal populations are under effective state protection. China has also pledged to increase the forest stock volume by six billion cubic meters by 2030 from the 2005 level and bring its total installed capacity of wind and solar power to over 1.2 billion kilowatts.
