Over the past three decades, Xi had visited the United States six times, from the cornfields of Iowa to the Annenberg Retreat at Sunnylands in California. (Photo : Reuters)
In an effort to greet locals across the nation for the coming Spring Festival, Chinese President and Central Committee General Secretary Xi Jinping recently visited the people of Liangjiahe Village, in the township of Yanchuan County, Yan'an, northwest China's Shaanxi Province and was dismayed by the reeking poverty of the old revolutionary base.
While meeting with the local villagers, Xi recalled his life in the village working as a laborer during the Cultural Revolution in the time of Chairman Mao Zedong.
During a meeting with party chiefs in 24 counties and cities from Shaanxi and Gansu provinces as well as Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, the chairman showed his disappointment and made encouraging remarks for the local people.
"A well-off society is be incomplete if people in old revolutionary base areas cannot shake off poverty," said Xi.
The chairman encouraged the counties to maximize their resources and develop new and sustainable industries, but without harming the environment. The president said that local people should allow local enterprises and brands to flourish, creating steady income for the villages.
Xi urges Party sets and groups to outpour support to the former revolutionary bases. The president said that the revolutionary bases were the roots of the Party and the People's Army. These bases should never be forgotten as former wells of wisdom for the hundreds of cadres who patrolled its streets and integrated with the local peasants.
Xi added that as a valuable part of Chinese history, the revolutionary bases should not be left out as China marches on to the future.
Xi said: "Without the development of old revolutionary bases, we will not be able to achieve a moderately prosperous society."
Party committees and local governments were urged to develop the said areas so the people could reap the benefits and live in relative comfort and security.
Xi expects that the support and preferential policies catered to the former revolutionary bases would bring prosperity to its local residents.
