Before the Spring Festival, President Xi Jinping headed to Jinggangshan in Jiangxi Province for poverty alleviation projects, according to a report by China Daily. His three-day itinerary also included trips to Ji'an and Nanchang, the capital of Jiangxi Province.
According to Xi, efforts to alleviate poverty must be precise and "spot on" to address the issue's primary causes.
"Measures and work to alleviate and eliminate poverty must be precise. Policies should be made according to the (needs of) households and individuals," said Xi as he visited homes in Shenshan village on Tuesday, Feb. 2.
Almost 90 years ago, Jinggangshan was the home of the first rural base established by China's revolutionary forces. It's not the first time Xi went to the city, as he made trips to Jinggangshan in 2006 and 2008.
In the reports, 13 out of 54 households in Shenshan are still experiencing poverty. Among the households Xi visited was the home of Zuo Xiufa, a local who runs a bamboo arts-and-crafts business.
In his visit, Xi applauded the family's spirit and encouraged them to continue their business.
To achieve moderate prosperity, said Xi, old revolutionary bases must change with the tides and move simultaneously, adding that "no one should drop out."
After visiting homes, Xi addressed the public to deliver good tidings and greetings for the Year of the Monkey. He also met with local provincial officials to discuss upgrades on industrial structure.
Upgrading and optimizing industrial structure in the region can pave the way for the development of new and emerging industries, as well as modern service sectors. Additionally, production capacity will be more efficient, with more resources available to help newer industries.
"Poverty alleviation will be the most important of the top priorities in the next five years, otherwise expected moderate prosperity nationwide will be a blank check, or an empty promise," said Zhu Lijia, a professor of public management at the China National School of Administration, in an interview with China Daily.
Aside from precise policies, the government must also introduce categorized reform measures that are already streamlined before being announced to the public, said Zhu. Policies prioritizing groups should also shift their focus to individuals.