President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, joins deliberation with deputies from Central China's Henan province at the second session of the 13th National People's Congress in Beijing, March 8, 2019. [Photo/Xinhua]
In addition to poverty reduction, Xi also stressed the importance of rural vitalization during his talks with NPC deputies from Henan.
The general goal of rural vitalization is to modernize agriculture and rural areas, Xi said. The government should take measures to promote the mutual flow of talent and capital between urban and rural areas, he added.
Yao Jinbo, CEO of 58.com, China's largest online classified marketplace, said the government's rural vitalization strategy has brought great opportunities for his business. Yao said his company plans to build online classified ad platforms in more than 40,000 rural towns. Through these platforms, farmers will be able to release such information as job vacancies and sales of agricultural products, he said.
"The infrastructure in rural areas is becoming better and better," he said.
President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the CPC Central Committee and an NPC deputy of the Inner Mongolia autonomous region, greets another deputy of the Inner Mongolia delegation during a panel discussion on the sidelines of the annual session of the National People's Congress in Beijing on March 5. XIE CHUANCHI/XINHUA
In his talks with NPC deputies from Inner Mongolia, Xi told the government to maintain its strategic focus on protecting the environment and never seek economic development at the cost of destroying the environment.
Tom Harper, doctoral researcher at the University of Surrey in the United Kingdom, said China has tried to improve its international status through green development.
"China is unquestionably trying to enhance its credibility as a green nation," he said.