CCTV9英语新闻：President Xi visits East China province, urges further reform

During a four-day visit to East China’s Anhui province, Chinese President Xi Jinping has urged local government officials to intensify supply-side reform measures to ensure continuous economic growth and improve people’s livelihoods.

Chinese President Xi Jinping greets villagers in Xiaogang Village of Fengyang County, Chuzhou City, east China's Anhui Province, April 25, 2016. Xi made an inspection tour in Anhui from April 24 to 27. [Photo: Xinhua]

In Sunday’s drizzling rain, Xi visited a mountainous area of Anhui, which was one of the birthplaces of the Chinese revolution more than 80 years ago.

Xi called in on a low-income household to see how the central government’s poverty alleviation policy is being implemented. He told the family the government will do all it can to follow through on its promise to eliminate poverty by 2020.

“I hope the local government can implement the central government’s poverty alleviation policies and serve the people with devotion, so as to boost economic development in the old revolutionary base areas,” Xi said.

On Monday, Xi visited Xiaogang Village, where, 38 years ago, peasants met in secret to parcel out communal land to individual households, making the start of China’s economic reforms.

The president urged local officials to remember this historical episode and to continue reforming in the same spirit.

On Tuesday, Xi headed to the University of Science and Technology of China in the provincial capital Hefei. He examined exhibitions of high-tech products including intelligent robots, drones, energy cars, and artificial intelligence appliances. He said he hoped the students could help make China a world power in science and technology.

“The university days are crucial to you. I hope you can focus on your studies now and prepare well before graduation to contribute more to the people and to our country,” Xi said.

During his visit, Xi also reviewed a provincial government work report. He urged the local authorities to intensify their supply-side structural reform to tackle the downward pressure on the economy.

Xi also stressed the need to improve people’s livelihoods by creating more jobs and providing support during the economic reforms.

Chinese President Xi Jinping (R front) inspects the solar power station installed under a poverty alleviation project in Dawan Village of Huashi Township in Jinzhai County, Liuan City, east China's Anhui Province, April 24, 2016. Xi made an inspection tour in Anhui from April 24 to 27. (Xinhua/Li Tao)

Chinese President Xi Jinping visits the family of villager Chen Zeping in Dawan Village of Huashi Township in Jinzhai County, Liuan City, east China's Anhui Province, April 24, 2016. Xi made an inspection tour in Anhui from April 24 to 27. (Xinhua/Li Xueren)

Chinese President Xi Jinping inspects the growth of wheat in Xiaogang Village of Fengyang County, Chuzhou City, east China's Anhui Province, April 25, 2016. Xi made an inspection tour in Anhui from April 24 to 27. (Xinhua/Li Xueren)