Xi chats with impoverished villagers, migrant workers

Chinese leader Xi Jinping visited impoverished villagers and migrant workers during a tour of northwest China's Gansu Province that lasted from Saturday to Tuesday.

The inspection tour by Xi, who is general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, came just before the Spring Festival holiday, which begins on Feb. 9.

He visited villages, enterprises and urban communities in Jiuquan, Dingxi, Linxia and Lanzhou to get first-hand information regarding the improvement of local residents' well-being, the development of western regions and the improvement of local officials' work styles.

During his visit, Xi extended Spring Festival greetings to all Chinese people.

Xi visited elderly CPC members and impoverished villagers in the village of Yuangudui in the city of Dingxi, as well as the village of Bulenggou in the Linxia Hui Autonomous Prefecture.

Both regions are known for their barren land and poor natural conditions.

He shook hands with local residents, inquiring about their food supply, access to medical services and schooling for their children.

Xi said central authorities attach high importance to poverty alleviation and the development of areas inhabited by ethnic minorities, assuring greater government support to help local people get out of poverty.

Concerned about the water shortage problem that has challenged Gansu's economic and social development, Xi visited a major water diversion project in Weiyuan County Sunday morning.

He told officials that scientific planning and well-coordinated construction efforts should be made to ensure the project's success.

On Sunday afternoon, Xi toured a reconstruction site in Dongxiang County, where ground fissures and subsidence have been spotted following a landslide that occurred in March 2011.

Xi listened to reports about the reconstruction efforts and visited workers, urging efforts to ensure personnel safety and the project's quality.

During chats with migrant workers, he said the contributions and commitments made by migrant workers have aided China's efforts to build a moderately prosperous society.

Xi called for more care for migrant workers and more efforts to guard their legitimate rights and interests, saying "migrant workers' wages should not be defaulted on or embezzled."

While visiting a cafeteria in a senior citizens' center in Lanzhou, Xi served food and extended Spring Festival greetings to the seniors present.

With the Spring Festival holiday around the corner, Xi toured a local vegetable market, inquiring about supplies of festival goods for vendors and customers. He asked local officials to guarantee supplies in order to ensure a pleasant holiday.

While learning about the development of the Lanzhou New Area, Xi said propelling development with innovation will be crucial for transforming China's economic growth mode, as well as boosting its international competitiveness.

He said enterprises should make greater efforts to innovate and compete in fields related to state-of-the-art technology.

During a meeting with Gansu provincial government leaders, Xi asked the province to speed up social and economic development and stressed that officials at all levels should maintain a sound working style.

Xi further stressed that a good working style and personal integrity should be the criteria for selecting, promoting and managing officials so that those who are close to the people can be credited.