Responding to the call of Chinese President Xi Jinping from his New Year message for 2025, Chinese people have pledged all-out efforts in achieving progress in the new year.
In his New Year message for 2025 delivered on Tuesday, Xi said he visited many places across the country in 2024 and saw how the people enjoy their enriching lives, including a Huaniu apple production base in northwest China's Gansu Province, northern Tianjin's Ancient Culture Street, and a mixed-ethnic residential community in northwest China's Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region.
"Huaniu apples grew well in 2024 with high output. In the new year, we will refine precise management so as to enhance the scale and strength of Huaniu apple production, and increase incomes," said Wu Zhengquan, farmer with a Huaniu apple production base in Maiji District of Gansu's Tianshui City.
Xi visited the base on Sept 11, 2024.
"President Xi Jinping showed great care about better education for our children, great elderly care services, as well as better opportunities for development of us young people. Living in this era makes me feel particularly lucky. We are also full of energy in the new year. I believe that our days will be better and better," said Mu Fei, a resident in Tianjin.
Xi visited Tianjin's Ancient Culture Street on Feb 1, 2024.
"We will bear in mind the expectations of General Secretary Xi, ensure solid progress of services for residents in an in-depth and detailed manner, and deliver a better life for every household. I wish our motherland prosperity in the new year," said Ma Tao, employee of a residential community in Yinchuan City of Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region.
Xi visited the mixed-ethnic residential community on June 19, 2024, underscoring the importance of ethnic unity that can be seen in the residents living harmoniously and happily together.
Chinese people pledge efforts in achieving progress in 2025
Pakistani warplanes struck several locations across Afghanistan on Thursday night and Friday, killing at least six people, including a woman and a child, and wounding more than a dozen others, local officials said.
The strikes hit a fuel depot near the country's Kandahar Airport, areas in the capital Kabul, and the eastern Nangarhar Province.
A Pakistani security source said the strikes targeted hideouts belonging to the Pakistani Taliban, also known as Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP).
In Kabul's 21st police district, one of the areas hit, a market was left in ruins. Several cars were destroyed, and windows of buildings in the market and nearby areas were shattered. A crater caused by the Pakistani airstrikes was also visible.
"This is my car. I had parked it here, and it was the only way I could bring food to my family's table. It was my sole source of income and my only means of employment. Now my car is in this condition, and I have no other way to provide for my family," said Mohamad Ghulam, a taxi driver.
The airstrikes destroyed a house, killing four members of a single family. More than a dozen other households in the area reported their homes either fully or partially destroyed.
One of the victims was 22-year-old Hedayatullah, who had just been married. He was killed alongside his pregnant wife, as well as his brother and sister.
"Hedayatullah got married nine months ago. His brother was 18 years old. He himself was 22 years old, he also had a 12-year-old sister, and his wife was about 19 years old and was pregnant," said Ghulam Sakhi, a relative of the victims.
"This neighbor of ours was a family of five. Their mother was not present at the moment of the bombardment, but the rest of them lost their lives. It was Hedayatuallah's family. From my own family, two of my daughters, my sister-in-law, my brother, and two nieces got injured," said Mohamad Homayoun, a survivor.
In the past weeks, scores of people from both sides have been killed or injured in the conflict between Afghanistan and neighboring Pakistan, according to officials from the two countries.
The United Nations mission in Afghanistan has called for an immediate halt to cross-border clashes, warning that the escalating violence is driving a surge in civilian casualties and deepening a humanitarian crisis.
At least 6 killed, more than a dozen wounded in Pakistani airstrikes on Afghanistan: officials
