CPPCC steps up efforts on integrated development of education, sci-tech innovation, talent: spokesman

Chinese political advisors have stepped up efforts to promote the integrated reform of institutions and mechanisms in education, science and technology, and talent, said Liu Jieyi, spokesman for the fourth session of the 14th Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) National Committee, on Tuesday.

The CPPCC, the country's top political advisory body, held a press conference in Beijing one day before its annual session.

Speaking at the press briefing, Liu elaborated on the CPPCC's support for the country's efforts to cultivate sci-tech talent over the past year.

"[The CPPCC] has carried out inspections, investigations, research, and consultations, submitting a total of 103 related proposals and having 65 pieces of public opinion information adopted. We put forward suggestions on strengthening the forward-looking layout of educational resources, accelerating the construction of world-class disciplines, strengthening the leading role of sci-tech innovation, improving the mechanism for independent talents cultivation, and promoting the integrated development of education, science and technology, talent cultivation. These have provided useful references for related departments to formulate policies," Liu said.

"CPPCC members in the field of education and science, based on their own positions, have leveraged their professional advantages, taken on the heavy responsibility in major sci-tech tasks and key core technology breakthroughs, explored new paths in the integration of industry and education as well as the convergence of science and education, taken the lead in reforming the talent cultivation model and innovating the evaluation mechanism, and built consensus and stimulate vitality in popularizing scientific knowledge and fostering an innovative culture. They actively contribute to the high-quality development of the education, science and technology, and talent cultivation," he said.

CPPCC steps up efforts on integrated development of education, sci-tech innovation, talent: spokesman

Deliberately targeting civilian service institutions in Iran by the United States and Israel is the biggest operational challenge facing humanitarian workers, according to Pir Hossein Kolivand, head of the Iranian Red Crescent Society.

The United States and Israel on Saturday launched strikes against Iran, plunging the war-torn Middle East into a new round of violent conflicts. Iran has retaliated with a series of counterattacks against Israel and U.S. targets across the region.

A large-scale offensive jointly conducted by Washington and Tel Aviv on Saturday struck a girls' elementary school in southern Iran's Minab, home to a military base of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, and killed over 160 pupils.

"The first attack targeted a girls' primary school in the city of Minab. It was a brutal and sad incident that was unprecedented in the history of humanity. More than 168 children aged 7, 8, and at most 9 and a half years old were martyred. The school was attacked in two phases, and unconventional weapons were used in this assault," Kolivand said.

At least seven hospitals and emergency stations in Iran, including Tehran's Gandhi Hospital, were struck by U.S. and Israeli attacks on Sunday night, causing widespread destruction and casualties.

The Iranian official framed these attacks as a fundamental violation of international laws.

"Our challenges are these direct attacks on the service providers. Just today, five of my colleagues were injured. And this is against humanitarian law, against the basic principles of the Geneva Conventions and against all international laws. One of our challenges is that international institutions are almost ineffective and we do not see any trace of it. That is, we do not feel any vital signs of it. These are our main challenges. We have no internal challenges," he said.

Iranian Red Crescent chief decries US-Israeli attacks on service institutions