Many young people dedicate themselves to high-quality development in Xinjiang

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Many young people are dedicating themselves to the border areas and serving at the grassroots level, contributing their youthful energy to the high-quality development of various sectors in northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region.

Xu Shaolei, a graduate student from Shandong University in the better developed Shandong Province in east China, is a volunteer under the country's "Go West" Program. He serves as a chemistry teacher at the Third Middle School in Yining County. Faced with unfamiliar students, Xu has employed various approaches to connect with their inner worlds.

"This semester, I have focused my efforts on educating students. It's just like growing a tree. If you give it a little support, it may grow straighter," Xu said in an interview with China Central Television prior to the 70th anniversary of the founding of the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, which falls on October 1.

Xu frequently organizes science outreach activities and encourages the students to create short videos. His thoughtful efforts have enriched the students' lives and made them more vibrant.

"He has broadened our horizons and helped us gain more confidence. When I grow up, I also want to be a teacher like these educators who volunteer to teach," said a student.

Since the 18th CPC National Congress in 2012, Xinjiang has continuously improved its youth talent development mechanisms with strong support from the government, which not only enhances the abilities of young people but also helps them find their own value through serving at the grassroots level.

"Rooted in grassroots-level work, I want to serve as a bridge for communication between Guangdong and Xinjiang" said Yang Xiaohua, a staff member of Hexie sub-district office in Kashgar City.

"With my humble efforts, I'm willing to contribute everything I can to the development of local healthcare," said Geng Yuexia, deputy chief physician of the Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine Dermatology, First People's Hospital in Korla City.

A powerful winter storm swept through Toronto and surrounding areas on Thursday, causing school closures and travel delays as heavy snowfall reduced visibility and affected transportation services.

Meteorological authorities warned that heavy snowfall would greatly reduce visibility, while local transportation officials reported that several roads had been completely closed and major surface transit routes were operating at reduced speeds due to the storm.

Toronto Pearson International Airport officials announced Thursday that air traffic control measures had been implemented due to severe weather, affecting several inbound and outbound flights. Meanwhile, several local school boards in Toronto fully suspended classes, while others enacted partial closures in response to the storm.