Soundbites

Editor's note: The State Council Information Office held a group interview on Thursday themed "Strivers on the New Journey", bringing together representatives of first secretaries of the Communist Party of China stationed in villages to engage with the media on the theme of "fulfilling the mission to advance rural vitalization".

During my field visits, I found that wild forsythia, a medicinal plant, grows throughout the mountains in this area and is of excellent quality. However, for a long time, local residents had only gathered it in small quantities and had not turned this resource advantage into increased income. I reported to my school (Shaanxi University of Science & Technology) about my plan to develop an industry under the assistance program and applied to coordinate and obtain approval for 21 research projects.

Jiang Xingjian, first Party secretary and leader of the working team stationed in Jinsuoguan village, Jinsuoguan town, Yintai district, Tongchuan city, Shaanxi province

When I first arrived in the village to take up my post, the villagers were all talking about me. They said I was from a central State-owned enterprise, would leave after two years, and had only come to burnish my resume. What could I do? I came up with the approach of a pair of feet, a mouth and a heart. So I made a point of walking through the village and visiting homes every day, chatting with people in the fields about everyday things. Gradually, they began to speak frankly with me.

Wang Zhonglin, first Party secretary and leader of the working team stationed in Yingpan village, Longtoushan town, Ludian county, Zhaotong city, Yunnan province

I grew up in the countryside myself, so I know how hard farmers have it. For over a decade, I ate, lived and worked alongside the villagers, and we became family long ago. When I came back from the fields, I'd often find fresh vegetables or salted eggs quietly left at my door. When they learned I had rheumatism in both legs, they made me thick padded cotton trousers by hand.

Sun Guoliang, first Party secretary and leader of the working team stationed in Sishimutan village, Xinbu township, Yangyuan county, Zhangjiakou city, Hebei province

After a decade of dedicated, hands on effort, Qianhe has been completely transformed. Eleven kilometers of cement roads now connect every household, and the village collective's annual income has exceeded 300,000 yuan. Even more valuable is the transformation in the village's social and cultural atmosphere. Returning home to start businesses, taking on contracts to run greenhouses, and finding work close to home have become new trends.

Han Yunan, first Party secretary and leader of the working team stationed in Qianhe village, Machang town, Taikang county, Zhoukou city, Henan province

When I first arrived, many herding families were barely scraping by, and it really got to me. I was determined to do everything I could to help them live better lives. The biggest change is that the village now has a stable economic base, and people feel more secure about their future. In the past, herders raised sheep and cattle on their own, on a small and scattered scale. They had no steady income. So we set up a livestock cooperative. Herders contributed their animals as shares, and the cooperative managed and sold the livestock collectively.

Cairen Jizang, first Party secretary and leader of the working team stationed in Lari village, Duocai township, Zhidoi county, Yushu Tibetan autonomous prefecture, Qinghai province