Yangzom and her son pose for photo in Yumai, on Oct. 29, 2017. Her son is the first college student of Yumai. (Photo/Xinhua)
Zhoigar and Yangzom, two women from a herding family in Southwest China's Tibet autonomous region, received President Xi Jinping's reply on Saturday.
Their family is based in Yumai, China's smallest town in terms of population, which sits at the southern foot of the Himalayas, where steep slopes and rugged paths make access difficult.
Zhoigar and Yangzom wrote a letter to Xi while the 19th National Congress of the Communist Party of China (CPC) was in session in Beijing. They told Xi their experiences in safeguarding the border area and the development of their township over the years.
In his reply, Xi acknowledged their efforts to safeguard the territory, and thanked them for the loyalty and contributions they have made in the border area. He also encouraged them to set down roots in the border area, safeguard the Chinese territory and develop their hometown.