Visit by Xi bolsters youths' confidence

Li Junpei, a doctoral graduate of the highly regarded University of Science and Technology of China in Hefei, Anhui province, has had significant achievements in the past year, after he met with President Xi Jinping at his alma mater in April 2016.

"Xi has been a great teacher and mentor. His handshake was warm and powerful, and his smiles were radiant. He emphasized that Chinese college students should have cultural confidence, and become people who are earnest and dependable," Li said.

Li majored in chemistry and, in 2015, founded a company that specializes in healthy and environmentally friendly new materials products, aided by the nurturing atmosphere for entrepreneurship at the university. In the past year, he obtained financing of over 30 million yuan ($4.5 million) from investors.