67 years ago today, February 27, 1958 (January 10, 1958 in the lunar calendar), national literacy work reached a climax. Farmers participate in literacy studies in the fields On February 27, 1958, the Ministry of Education, the Central Committee of the Communist Youth League, the All-China Federation of Trade Unions, the All-China Women's Federation, and the National Association for the Eradication of Illiteracy jointly held a representative meeting of advanced literacy units in 18 provinces and municipalities in Beijing, and commended the advanced units. When the meeting was held, a mass literacy upsurge was taking shape across the country. Nearly 30 million people had been eradicated from illiteracy across the country, and more than 4000 units had emerged in 15 provinces and cities to basically eradicate illiteracy among young people (or young people). Chen Yi, Vice Premier of the State Council and President of the National Association for the Eradication of Illiteracy, delivered a speech at the meeting. He said: "Literacy work is a work that opens the eyes of 600 million people. If we want to build a modern and powerful socialist country, we must read as soon as we start. From literacy literacy, cultural literacy, to science literacy, only in this way can China change its poor and white appearance." He called for a cultural "atomic explosion." Representatives attending the meeting put forward suggestions to the whole country to basically eliminate illiteracy among young and middle-aged people across the country within five years.