Love is tied to this strategic location, current affairs news | Xi Jinping visited Rizhao, Shandong for inspection

Shandong is a large maritime province. The coasts, seaports and islands here have left the footprints of General Secretary Xi Jinping many times.

In March 2018, during the National Two Sessions, the General Secretary said to the Shandong delegation, "The ocean is a strategic location for high-quality development. We must accelerate the construction of world-class ocean ports, a complete modern ocean industry system, and a green and sustainable marine ecological environment. , and contribute to the construction of a maritime power.”

On May 22 this year, the General Secretary went to Rizhao, Shandong for an inspection. From a deep-water port to a coastal greenway, he cared about the strategic location of the ocean and drew a magnificent picture of China's seascape.

Rizhao City, Shandong Province, located on the coast of the Yellow Sea, is known as the place where "the sun rises on the sea and the dawn shines first". The name "Rizhao" is said to come from this.

It faces Japan and South Korea across the Yellow Sea to the east, Qingdao to the north, and Lianyungang, Jiangsu Province to the south. The superior geographical location has given birth to Rizhao Port, a natural deep-water port with wide bay, deep water, no freezing and no siltation.

Rizhao Port is the first stop of General Secretary Xi Jinping’s inspection in Shandong.

The port started construction in 1982 and opened for operation in 1986. It has opened more than 80 domestic and foreign trade container routes and is an important global energy and bulk raw material transfer base. The throughput of seven cargo categories: iron ore, soybeans, petroleum coke, wood chips, logs, coke and sewage metallurgical coal ranks first in the country.

Five years ago, four port groups including Qingdao Port, Rizhao Port, Yantai Port and Bohai Bay Port were integrated to form Shandong Port Group. According to the plan, Shandong will build a development with Qingdao Port as the center, Rizhao Port and Yantai Port as two wings, Weihai Port, Weifang Port, Dongying Port, Binzhou Port and other ports as support, and close cooperation and interaction with Tianjin, Hebei, Jiangsu and Liaoning ports. pattern.

Last year, the total cargo throughput of the four port groups exceeded 1.7 billion tons, ranking first in the world.

In recent years, the General Secretary has visited the port for inspections many times. Why attach so much importance to ports? He talked about it many times during his research.

In April 2017, when talking with terminal workers at Tieshan Port in Guangxi, the General Secretary said that we often say that if we want to get rich, we must first build roads, and if we want to get rich in coastal areas, we must first build ports.

In January 2019, during an inspection at Tianjin Port, he pointed out that in order for the economy to develop and the country to be strong, transportation, especially maritime transport, must first be strengthened.

In March 2020, during an inspection at Ningbo Zhoushan Port, the General Secretary said that the port is a basic and hub facility and an important support for economic development. He pointed out that Ningbo Zhoushan Port plays an important role in national strategies such as the joint construction of the "Belt and Road", the development of the Yangtze River Economic Belt, and the integrated development of the Yangtze River Delta, and is a "hard core" force.

Rizhao Port, which the General Secretary visited this time, undoubtedly also carries a "hard-core" mission.

In Rizhao Port, what did the General Secretary focus on?

This time at Rizhao Port, General Secretary Xi Jinping focused on understanding the local situation of promoting the smart and green construction of the port and expanding opening to the outside world.

Let’s first look at the focus on smart and green construction of ports.

During an inspection at Tianjin Port in 2019, the General Secretary pointed out, “We must aim at thousands of miles and strive to build a world-class smart port and green port.”

"Smart" and "green" are the characteristic labels of Rizhao Port that the General Secretary visited this time.

It is not only a state-supported smart green demonstration port for bulk dry bulk cargo, but also the world's first shore-side open fully automated container terminal. The single-machine efficiency has been increased by 50% and can reduce carbon emissions by more than 9,000 tons per year.

"Current Affairs News Eye" learned that Shandong Port Group also has a team called "the pioneers of China's smart ports": the "Liangang Innovation Team".

Since its establishment in 2013, this team, under the leadership of leader Zhang Liangang, has solved technical problems, established technical standards, built a fully automated terminal with independent intellectual property rights, and has also overcome a number of world-wide technical problems. In 2020, they were awarded the title of "Model of the Times" by the Propaganda Department of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China.

Let’s look at the focus of expanding opening up to the outside world.

Ports play a vital role in the national opening-up strategy. By building ports, managing routes, and creating a port "circle of friends", China's ports are connecting the world and writing a new chapter of the Maritime Silk Road.

The Rizhao Port visited by the General Secretary this time is not only a major node of the New Eurasian Continental Bridge Economic Corridor, but also an important hub of the “One Belt, One Road” initiative. Two 1,000-kilometer heavy-haul railways, the Wari Railway and the Xinhe-Yanri Railway, directly connect the port to the Yellow River Basin, the Central Plains and the Guanzhong City Group. The central and western regions and areas along the Yellow River have convenient access to the sea. Rizhao Port has become an important bridgehead.

Hong Kong prospers and connects the world. The rapid development of China's ports will provide more solid support and guarantee for jointly building the "Belt and Road" and promoting high-level opening up.

Coastal Ecological City, Oriental Sun City. Blue sky, blue sea and golden beach have become synonymous with sunshine. This is not only the important birthplace of "Longshan Culture", but also the origin of the sun culture in ancient China.

At the second stop of the Rizhao inspection, General Secretary Xi Jinping came to the Sunshine Coast Greenway here.

The Sunshine Coast Greenway starts from Taigong Island Park in the south and ends at Liangcheng Hekou National Wetland Park in the north, with a total length of approximately 28 kilometers. It will be fully opened to the public in July 2020.

This is a Sunshine Coast Zone with complex functions and diverse vitality, connecting 13 scenic spots along the coastline including Wanpingkou Scenic Area, Ocean Park, Ocean Aesthetics Museum, and Taohua Island Scenic Area, as well as 8 coastal folk villages such as Wangjiazao and Zhangjiatai. There are also viewing platforms, sports trails, tourist rest squares, etc. built.

The sound of waves is the drumbeat of running, and the rolling waves are the cheers of nature. Walking and running here can be said to be walking in the air and wandering in the middle of a painting. This greenway connecting nature and humanity has now become a happy road for local people and tourists to enjoy a better life. More than 20 cycling, walking and other competitions are held here every year.

This greenway is hard-won. The construction of the greenway follows the concept of "relying on the original appearance and on-site design", leaving no black pine, no rock, and no beach.

During the construction of this greenway, ecologically weak areas such as abandoned shrimp ponds and wastelands along the greenway were also repaired and upgraded, and more than 5,000 meters of coastal zone were restored. In 2021, the north extension project of the greenway has started. The ecological and scenic belt with a total length of more than 60 kilometers will benefit more than 15,000 people.

What inspiration does the Sunshine Coast Greenway bring?

At the Sunshine Coast Greenway, General Secretary Xi Jinping focused on understanding the local situation of strengthening coastal ecological protection and restoration and improving people's quality of life.

The General Secretary attaches great importance to the marine ecological environment. In July 2013, when presiding over a collective study session of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, he said that the construction of marine ecological civilization should be included in the overall layout of marine development, and that equal emphasis should be placed on development and protection, and pollution prevention and ecological restoration should be given equal emphasis. He emphasized that “a coastline protection and utilization plan must be formulated as soon as possible.”

In April 2019, at a meeting held in Qingdao, the General Secretary declared to the world that “China attaches great importance to the construction of marine ecological civilization, continues to strengthen the prevention and control of marine environmental pollution, protects marine biodiversity, and achieves the orderly development and utilization of marine resources. Leave a blue sea and blue sky for future generations.”

The day when the General Secretary went to Rizhao for inspection was the International Biodiversity Day. The Sunshine Coast Greenway in Rizhao has brought useful inspiration to how to protect and restore coastline ecology.

Another revelation is contained in the general secretary’s concern for people’s livelihood when he investigated the greenway.

The General Secretary has emphasized many times that a good ecological environment is the fairest public product and the most universally beneficial people's livelihood and well-being.

In August 2022, during an inspection along the Xiaoling River in Jinzhou, Liaoning, the General Secretary said that the construction of ecological civilization can significantly enhance the people's sense of gain, and the people have the most profound experience. He pointed out that we must persist in promoting the integrated management of mountains, rivers, and cities, scientifically and rationally plan the city's production space, living space, and ecological space, and build more public places for leisure, fitness, and entertainment for the people.

From the banks of the Fen River in Taiyuan, Shanxi, to the banks of the Xiaoling River in Jinzhou, Liaoning, from the Fu Road in the suburbs of Fuzhou, Fujian, to the embankment of the Yangtze River in Jiujiang, Jiangxi... In these years, the General Secretary has walked many greenways and trails, and there are many greenways and trails wherever he goes. Deep meaning.

To ensure high-level protection and create high-quality life, the two are organically combined and complement each other.

In June 2018, General Secretary Xi Jinping said during an inspection in Qingdao, Shandong Province, “To build a maritime power, we must further care about, understand, and manage the ocean, and accelerate the pace of marine scientific and technological innovation.”

Coming to the seaside of Shandong again, the General Secretary saw a port and a greenway, and he was still thinking about the big article Xianghaituqiang.

Reporters丨Wang Pengfei, Zhang Xiaopeng, Duan Dewen, Fan Kailu, Xinyu Yao Yao, Zhao Hua, Li Jincheng, Guo Hongfan Yiming, Liu Qi, Shi Cheng, Lu Hongyu