BEIJING, Sept. 9 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping has extended greetings to teachers and educators across the country ahead of Teachers' Day, which is celebrated annually on Sept. 10.
In a congratulatory message, Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, called on teachers nationwide to enhance their professional competence and capabilities, and foster a new generation of young people to shoulder the mission of realizing national rejuvenation.
Over long periods of time, teachers across the country have devoted themselves to education, imparting knowledge and nurturing young minds, said Xi, commending their significant contributions to the cause of the Party and the state.
Xi emphasized the importance of carrying out the basic task of fostering virtue through education and cultivating a high standard of professional integrity and conduct on the new journey.
He also called for fostering public respect for educators, encouraging support for education, and bringing together all efforts to make China a leading country in education.
China boasts the largest education system in the world, having roughly 440,000 schools at all levels and of all types, with 280 million students and 18.7 million teachers. ■
