Yearender: Xinhua top 10 China news events in 2019

BEIJING, Dec. 29 (Xinhua) -- The Xinhua chronicle of the top 10 China news events in the year of 2019 is as follows:

1. FOREIGN INVESTMENT LAW TO BOOST HIGH-LEVEL OPENING UP

The second session of the 13th National People's Congress on March 15 passed the foreign investment law, which will become effective on Jan. 1, 2020.

Adoption of the law is an important measure to implement the decision and arrangement of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee to expand opening up and promote foreign investment.

2. DIPLOMATIC EVENTS HOSTED TO SHOWCASE OPENING UP, WIN-WIN COOPERATION

The Second Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation, successfully held in Beijing from April 25 to 27, saw the participation of over 6,000 foreign guests from 150 countries and 92 international organizations, and opened a new chapter of high-quality joint building of the Belt and Road.

Then Beijing hosted the World Horticultural Exposition and Conference on Dialogue of Asian Civilizations, and Shanghai hosted the second China International Import Expo from November 5 to 10. All the diplomatic events were splendid and vividly illustrated China's expansion of opening up and deep integration with the world based on mutual benefits and win-win cooperation.

3. CPC LAUNCHES EDUCATION CAMPAIGN

An education campaign themed "staying true to our founding mission" among all members of the CPC has been carried out nationwide since it was launched on May 31.

The fundamental task of the campaign is to conduct in-depth studies on and implement Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, forge the political character of loyalty, integrity and a keen sense of responsibility, and unite the Chinese people of all ethnic groups and lead them to strive together for the realization of the great dream.

The campaign, especially targeting officials at and above the county level, is a major initiative to ensure full and strict Party self-governance and self-reform.

4. MAJOR REGIONAL STRATEGIES FURTHER DEVELOPED

On Sept. 18, Xi Jinping, general secretary of the CPC Central Committee, elevated the ecological protection and high-quality development of the Yellow River basin to one of China's major national strategies, which also include the coordinated development of Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region, development of the Yangtze River Economic Belt, construction of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, and the integrated development of the Yangtze River Delta.

2019 also saw China's progress in developing the Xiong'an New Area, building the pilot demonstration area of socialism with Chinese characteristics in Shenzhen and deepening reforms comprehensively in Hainan. The country also broke new ground in Western Development, promoted reform and innovation in the northeastern region, boosted the high-quality development in the central region, and advanced the trailblazing development in the eastern region. Furthermore, the country's coordinated regional development made further progress.

5. MAJOR PROJECTS SUCCESSFULLY IMPLEMENTED

Beijing Daxing International Airport opened to flights on Sept. 25, which is expected to realize a passenger throughput of over 100 million a year. China's first domestically-built aircraft carrier, the Shandong, was delivered to the People's Liberation Army Navy on Dec. 17.

New achievements have also been made in other major projects this year: 5G licenses for commercial use were granted; The Chang'e-4 probe made the first-ever soft landing on the far side of the moon; The Long March-5, carrying the Shijian-20 technological experiment satellite, was successfully launched; The length of China's railroad lines in service has exceeded 139,000 km, including 35,000 km high-speed rail, ranking first in the world.

6. GRAND CELEBRATION HELD FOR PRC'S 70TH FOUNDING ANNIVERSARY

A grand gathering to celebrate the 70th founding anniversary of the People's Republic of China (PRC) was held on Oct. 1 morning at the Tian'anmen Square in Beijing, where more than 200,000 people joined the celebrations in military parade and mass pageantry.

President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the CPC Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, delivered a speech and reviewed the troops. Xi also joined the public for an evening gala at the square.

7. KEY CPC SESSION HIGHLIGHTS STRENGTH OF CHINA'S SYSTEM, GOVERNANCE

The 19th CPC Central Committee held its fourth plenary session in Beijing from Oct. 28 to 31. The session reviewed and adopted the CPC Central Committee's decision on some major issues concerning how to uphold and improve the system of socialism with Chinese characteristics and advance the modernization of China's system and capacity for governance.

The decision summarizes the historic achievements in the institutional building of socialism with Chinese characteristics, outlines the notable strengths of China's state and governance systems, expounds on the fundamental, basic and important institutions that underpin the system of socialism with Chinese characteristics, specifies the targets and tasks concerning how to uphold and improve the system of socialism with Chinese characteristics and advance the modernization of China's system and capacity for governance.

8. CHINESE ECONOMY MAINTAINS STEADY GROWTH AGAINST HEADWINDS

The Central Economic Work Conference was held in Beijing from Dec. 10 to 12. It was agreed at the meeting that under the strong leadership of the CPC Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core, China has kept pursuing progress while ensuring stability, focused on its supply-side reform, promoted high-quality development, made solid progress in ensuring economic stability, and maintained healthy economic and social development. Meanwhile, the country's progress in achieving the major tasks of the 13th Five-Year Plan met expectations, and new major steps have been made toward finishing the building of a moderately prosperous society in all respects.

China's major annual development targets and tasks can be well completed, and its economic growth rate leads world's major economies. It is estimated that more than 10 million people and about 340 poverty-stricken counties have been lifted out of poverty in 2019.

9. CHINA, U.S. AGREE ON TEXT OF PHASE ONE TRADE DEAL

The economic and trade consultations between China and the United States had suffered major setbacks this year, with the U.S. side imposing rounds of additional tariffs on Chinese products which met firm opposition and forced countermeasures from the Chinese side.

On Dec. 13, the Chinese side announced that the two countries had reached agreement on the text of the phase one economic and trade deal on the basis of equality and mutual respect. The deal is expected to benefit the two countries and the whole world.

10. ADHERING TO "ONE COUNTRY, TWO SYSTEMS," OPPOSING EXTERNAL INTERFERENCE IN HONG KONG, MACAO AFFAIRS

On Nov. 14, Chinese President Xi Jinping made clear the stance and attitude on Hong Kong's situation, which was to bring violence and chaos to an end and restore order, while attending the 11th BRICS summit in Brazil.

On Dec. 16, Xi stressed again that "we have unswerving determination to safeguard China's sovereignty, security and development interests, implement the 'one country, two systems' principle and oppose any external force interfering in Hong Kong affairs," while meeting with Chief Executive of Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Carrie Lam, who was on a duty visit to Beijing.

On Dec. 20, a gathering marking the 20th anniversary of Macao's return to the motherland and the inauguration of the fifth-term government of Macao Special Administrative Region was held in Macao. Attending the event, Xi said China will not allow any external forces to interfere in Hong Kong and Macao affairs.