"Double Ninth Festival Stepping into Aerospace Institute, Care for the Elderly and Gratitude for Their Dedication" Nonprofit Cultural Activity Successfully Held in Beijing

China Association of Social Welfare and Senior Service  October 16th

On the Double Ninth Festival in 2021, the nonprofit cultural activity of "Double Ninth Festival Stepping into Aerospace Institute, Care for the Elderly and Gratitude for Their Dedication" was held in the performance auditorium of the first Academy of Astronautics. The event was hosted by the CASWSS, the Retired Work Department of the first Academy of Astronautics (China Academy of Launch Vehicle Technology) and Service Center for the Retired of Ministry of Culture and Tourism, undertook by Department of Retirement Work of the first Academy of Astronautics, Senior Cultural Services Branch Preparatory Section of CASWSS, and Orchestra of Old Artists of Ministry of Culture and Tourism. Feng Xiaoli, President of CASWSS, Zhang Weimin, Deputy Secretary of the Party Committee of the First Aerospace InstitutIion, and Jiao Changhua, Director of Service Center for the Retired of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, attended the event and delivered their speeches. Orchestra of Old Artists of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism. presented a rich and colorful artistic program to nearly 200 old scientists of the first Aerospace Academy.

President Feng Xiaoli of China Association of Social Welfare and Senior Service addressed herself.

In her speech, President Feng Xiaoli first conveyed the important instructions on the work of grey population from Xi Jinping, the General Secretary of CPC, the State President and Chairman of the Central Military Commission, in which he pointed out that the party committees and governments at all levels should attach great importance to carrying out the work of grey population well, implement the national strategy to respond to an increasingly aging population; with the integration of the concept of active aging and healthy aging into the whole process of economic and social development, building up institutional innovation, policy supply and financial investment, improving the aging work system, enhancing the allocation of community-level forces, and expediting the improvement of the social security system, senior service system and health support system. Xi Jinping stressed that we should vigorously carry forward the traditional virtues of filial piety and respect for the elderly, implement the preferential treatment policy for the aged, safeguard the legitimate rights and interests of the aged, play an active role in the elderly, and enable the elderly to share the fruits of reform and development and enjoy the happy old age.

President Feng Xiaoli said, it is a concrete action of great significance to implement the important instructions of General Secretary Xi Jinping through the nonprofit cultural activity "Double Ninth Festival Stepping into Aerospace Institute, Care for the Elderly and Gratitude for Their Dedication", in which we went into the Aerospace Institute to extend our regards to retired senior scientists. On behalf of the organizers of the event, she expressed her high respect to the developers, those who experienced and witnesses of the space industry attending the event, expressed her heartfelt thanks to the old artists who came to the site and cared about public welfare undertakings and devote their youth and righteous ardour to art, and sent festival greetings to the elderly-care colleagues who who heartedly provide high-quality services for the elderly. President Feng Xiaoli briefly introduced the achievements of the association in active cooperation with government departments to promote the development of senior service industry, innovative advancement of the implementation of national policies, carrying out the standardization, informatization and professional teams construction of the elderly care industry since its establishment ten years ago, and expressed the good anticipation to deep cooperation between the Association and the first Academy of Astronautics in the future, devoting full efforts to deliver high-quality services for the older generation of scientists and let them enjoy their happy old age in social care.

Zhang Weimin, Deputy Secretary of the Party Committee of the first Academy of Astronautics, delivered a speech

In his speech, Zhang Weimin, Deputy Secretary of the Party Committee of the first Academy of Astronautics, expressed his heartfelt thanks and warm welcome to CASWSS for organizing excellent old artists and old scientists in the field of Astronautics to gather together to enjoy the festival. He introduced the remarkable achievements made by the first Academy of Astronautics in the development of China's aerospace industry; he thought that the activity is of great significance to enrich the cultural life of the retired of the first Academy of Astronautics and feel great social care; and looking forward to taking this public welfare activity as an opportunity to further strengthen cooperation with CASWSS and provide high-quality and all-round senior services for old experts in the field of Aerospace Science and Technology.

Jiao Changhua, Director of Service Center for the Retired of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, delivered a speech

In his speech, Jiao Changhua, Director of Service Center for the Retired of Ministry of Culture and Tourism, on behalf of Service Center for the Retired, extended holiday greetings and good wishes to all the elders being present. He introduced the efforts to build a platform for old artists to continue to serve society, with the adherence of the core concept of respecting the elderly, devotion, pragmatism and dedication; and he deemed it an important demonstration of significance that the activity provides richer spiritual and cultural life for the elderly; and looking forward to cooperating with CASWSS to launch more cultural public welfare activities, so that the majority of old artists can give full play to their own advantages and bloom on the big stage of serving society.

The artistic performance kicked off with a song "Ode to the Red Flag" played by the orchestra of the old artist of the Ministry of Culture. The old artists from Service Center for the Retired of Ministry of Culture and Tourism, the 18 art teams of the first Academy of Astronautics and the Cultural Service Branch of CASWSS presented a rich cultural feast for everyone through orchestral music, songs, dances, operas, sketches, readings and other forms, which won bursts of applause from the audience.

The orchestra, old artists from the Ministry of Culture and Tourism delivered an on-site performance "Ode to the Red Flag" and other musical compositions.

National first-class actor Wang Haimin sang I love you, China

The 18 art teams of the first Academy of Astronautics performed the song and dance Jasmine Bloom

Renowned comedic artists Liu Quanhe and Liu Quanli performed

 the sketch Photography Lovers

Yue Caiguo, a national first-class actress, sang Velvet Flower

Lin Hong, a national first-class actor and Chen Jiancheng, a lover of literature and art,

performed the duet The Sunny Day of 1999

Song Yuzhen, a national first-class actor, sang the opera Harbor (excerpt)

Our Life is Full of Sunshine by children's fun of Le Tui ethnic

President Feng Xiaoli recited the poem The Days dubbed in background music

Ode to the Motherland from a passionate chorus on and off the stage

At the end of the cultural public welfare activities, the actors interacted with the audience and sang Ode to the Motherland in unison. The performance ended in a warm atmosphere.

The old scientists said excitedly that this year's Double Ninth Festival is of special significance, which brings us the love and warmth from society and the value of our astronauts. Although we have left our jobs, we are proud to be astronauts. We wish China's aerospace industry more brilliant and the motherland more prosperous.

(Source: China Association of Social Welfare and Senior Service)