As we bid adieu to 2021 and usher in 2022, our team would like to extend a message of thanks to all Beijing Review readers for your continued support. In keeping with the longstanding tradition of compiling a year-end overview, Beijing Review in this issue brings you 2021's most memorable events.

2021 was a significant one for China as the Communist Party of China (CPC) celebrated the 100th anniversary of its founding. The Party conducted the ceremony on July 1, and the Sixth Plenary Session of the 19th CPC Central Committee was held in November. The latter reviewed the Party's century-long struggle and called on its overall membership to play a leading role in the pursuit of a better life for the Chinese people. 

2021 marked a great year for humanity, as exploration of outer space achieved new progress: China's Mars rover Tianwen-1 landed on the red planet, so did the American Mars rover Perseverance. The United Arab Emirates' Hope spacecraft entered the Martian orbit. China's lunar probe Chang'e-4 continues to reveal what lies on the far side of the moon, and the nation's taikonauts have already been living and working in the country's own Tiangong space station, with more modules to be joined together to form the finished orbital outpost, expected to be completed in roughly one year.

2021 also proved extraordinary when the fight against COVID-19 remained a worldwide focus. Humans were forced to tackle one virus variant after another, from Alpha to Omicron, all damaging public health and posing threats to economic activities. Against that backdrop, China still achieved steady economic growth, contributing greatly to the stability of global supply chains. It provided nearly 2 billion doses of coronavirus vaccines to more than 100 countries around the globe.

Peace, cooperation, development, and mutual assistance will be China's key words throughout this new year. The nation will host the Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games Beijing 2022 and hold the 20th CPC National Congress. Cooperation and support are mandatory for the international fight against COVID-19. The Belt and Road Initiative will benefit more people from participating countries.

Humanity should look toward the 12 months ahead and think about how we will position ourselves in the world. It's never too late to change. It's never too late to heal.

(Print Edition Title: Onward and Upward)