Chinese media pay tribute to late Fujian official

BEIJING - Over the past week, Chinese media have been releasing stories and commentaries in tribute to Liao Junbo, a late former official in China's southeastern Fujian province.

Liao was the former vice mayor of the city of Nanping, and also served as a member of the Communist Party of China (CPC) standing committee of the city.

Reputed for his loyalty to the Party, enthusiasm for work, and earnestness with the people, Liao died at the age of 48 in a traffic accident on his way to preside over a meeting on March 18.

His death triggered a number of memorial articles from major Chinese media, most of which called him a role model for Party members.

Xinhua News Agency praised him for staying true to the mission and loyal to the Party, and for setting a bar for CPC members on issues including the operation of power, starting up businesses for the people and keeping faith in his duty.

"We should always remember Comrade Liao's loyalty and contribution to the Party and the people," a commentary wrote on June 7.

"CPC members must always hold the people in the top position of their minds, and try their best to carry out the Party's policies among the people," another article said.

The articles came after June 6, when the CPC Central Committee decided to posthumously honor Liao as an "outstanding CPC member."

The People's Daily, flagship newspaper of the CPC, described the title as the utmost appreciation of his identity as a Party member.

"He is a diligent 'woodman' who will live in our memories forever," the newspaper said in a commentary on Friday, referring to Liao's screen name on the instant messaging app WeChat. "The Party needs more members like Liao in order to improve its cohesive force and effectiveness."

"All Party members can learn from Liao to take joy in their duties," the People's Daily said in another commentary on Monday. "Only by that can we fully dedicate ourselves to work."

China National Radio hailed Liao for the Party spirit he illustrated throughout his life.

"Party spirit stands for the strong faith in communism, the great love for the people, and the absolute loyalty to the CPC," a commentary noted in April.

"Whenever their names were mentioned, their Party spirit would always be the brightest spot that came up in our minds," the article continued, referring to other Party members who gave their lives to their duty.

Before becoming the vice mayor of Nanping, Liao was the Party chief of Zhenghe County, where he made a name for himself.

In then the poorest county of the province, he pushed forward economic development that increased the fiscal revenue of the county by 290 million yuan (42.7 million US dollars), and eventually lifted over 30,000 people out of poverty in less than five years.