State honors President Xi Jinping on September 29 presented national medals and honorary titles of the People’s Republic of China (PRC), the highest State honors, to dozens of individuals ahead of the 70th founding anniversary of the PRC. Xi helped the awardees put on the medals and shook hands with them at a ceremony in the Great Hall of the People in Beijing. Addressing the event, Xi conveyed congratulations and respect to the heroes and role models who received the Medal of the Republic and honorary titles, and foreign friends who received the Friendship Medal. Bright future President Xi Jinping has stressed efforts to consolidate a strong sense of community for the Chinese nation, calling on people of all ethnic groups to unite and strive to achieve common prosperity and development and create a bright future. Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, said the national rejuvenation requires all ethnic groups to strive together, hand in hand and shoulder to shoulder. New airport Beijing’s Daxing International Airport opened for flights as a China Southern Airlines jetliner took off on September 25, after President Xi Jinping announced the official opening of the airport earlier in the day. The maiden flight flew from Beijing to Guangzhou. Following it, six other airlines started their respective first flights via the new airport. Located 46 km south of downtown Beijing, the new aviation hub is shaped like a phoenix spreading its wings. Its passenger throughput and cargo throughput are expected to reach 72 million and 2 million tons, respectively, by 2025. Jiuzhaigou recovering Remote sensing research shows that the Jiuzhaigou scenic spot in Southwest China’s Sichuan Province is recovering from an earthquake in 2017, according to the Chinese Academy of Sciences. Jiuzhaigou National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage site famous for its spectacular waterfalls, lush forests and serene plateau lakes, has been closed for reconstruction since it was hit by the earthquake in August 2017. (SD-Agencies) | 