Xi Focus: Nurturing, encouraging China's children

Patriotism

Children are the future of the country and the hope of the Chinese nation, Xi said when celebrating International Children's Day with students at a primary school in 2014.

He encountered a group of students who were practicing calligraphy with the characters -- "Jing Zhong Bao Guo," which translates into English as "serving the nation with absolute loyalty."

The phrase comes from the story of Yue Fei, an ancient military commander known for his patriotism. Yue's mother tattooed these four Chinese characters on his back to remind him of the importance of unswerving loyalty to the nation.

Xi recalled that, as a child, he was very much inspired by the story of Yue, which he learned from a picture book his mother had given him.

"This (Jing Zhong Bao Guo) has become the pursuit of my life," Xi said as he called on the students to break new ground for China.