Xi calls for upholding "Lyuliang spirit" in poverty relief

President Xi Jinping said more should be done to end poverty and improve the standard of living in revolutionary base areas.

Xi, who is also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, made the remarks during a tour Wednesday of Lyuliang and Xinzhou, two revolutionary base areas in Shanxi Province.

Chinese President Xi Jinping laid a wreath at the Jin-Sui Border Region revolutionary memorial hall in Xingxian, Shanxi Province. During an inspection trip on Wednesday, President Xi called on the Chinese people to strive for China's revitalization with the revolutionary spirit of the region, which served as a wartime revolutionary base. [Photo: Xinhua]

On Wednesday morning, Xi visited Lyuliang revolutionary memorial museum in Xing County of Lyuliang City and left a basket of flowers in a mark of respect for the country's martyrs, the term used for war heroes.

Xi spoke highly of the "Lyuliang spirit" and said it should be used as motivation to "improve people's lives and to achieve the great rejuvenation of the nation."

During the tour, Xi spoke about how the poverty relief campaign related to the target of achieving a "moderately prosperous society in an all-round way" by 2020.

Also on Wednesday, Xi visited the village of Zhaojiawa, an impoverished area in Xinzhou City, where he talked with villagers and officials. 

Xi spoke of improving living conditions through relocation and called for better supporting measures that would ensure income sources for residents.

Chinese President Xi Jinping talked to veterans from the Jin-Sui Border Region in Xingxian, Shanxi Province on Wednesday during an inspection visit. President Xi said it was important not to forget China's revolutionary predecessors. [Photo: Xinhua]

The president also met with poverty-relief work teams, and praised their efforts.

Xi said sending officials to serve as first Party committee secretaries at the local level was not only conducive to the poverty eradication campaign, but also improved the competence of officials. He proposed that promising officials at this level should be considered for promotions.

The president vowed continued efforts to improve people's lives and asked everyone to "roll up sleeves and work harder together with the CPC Central Committee."