Xi's Shanxi tour steps up war on poverty

President Xi Jinping (2nd L) inspects on poverty-relief work in Zhaojiawa village of Kelan county in Xinzhou city, North China's Shanxi province, June 21, 2017. Xi had a three-day inspection tour in Shanxi from Wednesday. [Photo/Xinhua]

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Lyuliang was just the latest stop on Xi's tour of the most needy regions since becoming general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee in 2012.

In Xi's mind, if rural China, particularly those impoverished areas, is left behind, there will be no "moderately prosperous society."

The CPC must put people first and use socialism to concentrate resources and accomplish big things, Xi said during the tour.

"The Party and government serve the people. It is our duty to give people better lives," he said.

At Zhaojiawa, Xi visited the office of the poverty-alleviation team.

The office is in an abandoned mud shack, once occupied by villagers who had left the village. On the wall were charts and analyses.

"The team work and live here. We will not leave until the village is free of poverty," said Jia Yuchun, the county official in charge of the work.

Like Jia, more than 770,000 officials from government, universities, state-owned enterprises and civil associations work hard in the countryside across the nation.

"The policies of the CPC Central Committee are in line with the situation. As long as we implement the policies, progress can be made," Jia said when responding to Xi's questions on the difficulties of the job.

At Songjiagou New Village in Kelan county, Xi trudged through the rain to see the new houses for those to be relocated. Roads, water, broadband and cable televisions are in place. Schools, clinics, public squares and libraries have been built.

"I lived in the shack with no water. Now I live in a new house without having spent any money," said villager Zhang Guiming. "The CPC cares for me. I will always stand by the CPC."

Xi said it was just the first step. People must really settle down and become comfortable after relocation.

"The CPC Central Committee can lead the people to unite to shake off poverty and become comfortable," Xi told the villagers and called on them to, "roll up your sleeves and work harder, together with the CPC Central Committee."