Jiang Shikun makes survey on pepper cultivated by new technology in Qinglong county. [Photo/gog.cn]

Jiang Shikun, the former Party secretary of Qinglong county, Guizhou province, passed away due to cardiac arrest on April 12.

During his tenure, Jiang worked tirelessly to alleviate poverty in the county, which is home to some of the most impoverished people in the country. The average annual income there is less than 1,200 yuan ($182.88).

It was under Jiang's guidance that the county underwent rapid urban expansion, the “Qinglong Model” of poverty alleviation matured and the tourism industry emerged from obscurity into a strong sector.

Statistics show that during the implementation of the 12th Five-Year Plan from 2011 to 2015, the county’s impoverished population was reduced by 86,000 and the urbanization rate reached 33 percent, comparing to 23.5 percent in 2011.

Much of Qinglong's karst landscape suffers from soil erosion and rock exposure, known as stony desertification, resulting in a shortage of arable farming land and an acute shortage of water.

Prior to the start of Jiang’s tenure as Party secretary in 2011, the county had only 1.7 square kilometers of available farmland, yet a population of over 20,000. To make matters worse, roads in the county were narrow and outworn, and there was a servere water and electricity shortage.

“In my term, the county‘s population must have a growth of 20,000,” pledged Jiang Shikun when he assumed the top governmental position in the county.

However, the extraordinary changes required in the province brought with it an insurmountable amount of work, which took its toll on the late secretary’s health.

“Secretary Jiang travelled nearly 90,000 kilometers each year to investigate the county's development and paid numerous visits to impoverished households. He finally broke down from constant work day and night,” said Zhu Lijia, who had been Jiang's driver for six years.

Qinglong people now live a much better life compared with five years ago. Their beloved Party secretary might have all but departed from this world, but his selfless dedication has not departed from their hearts and minds.