GUANGZHOU, April 30 (China News Service) — The first report meeting of the 2024 "Veterans Always Follow the Party — Veteran Speakers" national tour, together with the Guangdong Province Veteran Speakers "Seven Entries" series of activities, was held on the 29th at Sun Yat-sen University in Guangzhou. At the report meeting, seven outstanding veterans from across the country shared their inspiring stories.

Li Xianbao, Beijing's "Most Beautiful Veteran," told the story of how he went from being a peacekeeping soldier to an ordinary security guard, and then to leading a Chinese security team abroad to protect the motherland's merchant ships; Huang Guocai, a "First-Class Merit" recipient and retired military cadre, recounted his journey from despair to regaining confidence in life after being disfigured while fighting a mountain fire; Xie Binrong, a senior colonel and officer who chose her own career path, reviewed her experience as a volunteer teacher in the Daliang Mountains of Sichuan, interpreting the spirit of selfless dedication to Yi children; 76-year-old veteran Liu Kunde affectionately told the moving story of how, as a capital construction engineer, he devoted himself to the construction of Shenzhen and, after retirement, helped 1,800 veteran cataract patients regain their sight.

Appointment ceremony for representatives of members of the National Veteran Speakers Delegation. Photo courtesy of the Guangdong Provincial Department of Veterans Affairs.

Suolang Dajie, a "Model Veteran" from Tibet, who has stood fast at the Pumajiangtang border police station at the highest altitude in the motherland, letting his youth shine in a life-forbidden zone — his sense of responsibility is admirable; Hao Duo, winner of the "National May 1 Labor Medal," set five "China speed" records in high-speed rail track laying, contributing his youth and strength to building a strong transportation country and national rejuvenation; Shang Xiaodong, "National Most Beautiful Veteran," led his team to successfully develop the world's fastest-response ocean temperature sensor, realizing the dream of serving the country through science and technology.

Suolang Dajie, member of the National Veteran Speakers Delegation. Photo courtesy of the Guangdong Provincial Department of Veterans Affairs.

It is reported that since the "Veteran Speakers" practical activity was launched more than two years ago, it has become an innovative practice in the construction of civilization in the new era that gives play to the exemplary role of veterans and leads social civilized trends. Its political and social effects have continued to expand, and it has won unanimous praise from the broad ranks of veterans and all sectors of society.

At this event, relevant officials presented certificates to representatives of members of the national and Guangdong provincial veteran speakers delegations.

The event was hosted by the Ministry of Veterans Affairs and organized by the Office of the Leading Group for Veterans Affairs of the CPC Guangdong Provincial Committee, the Publicity Department of the CPC Guangdong Provincial Committee, the Guangdong Provincial Department of Veterans Affairs, and the Political Work Bureau of the Guangdong Provincial Military Command.