Foreign news
Xi in Sichuan: Chinese President visits farmers, cultural relics and college graduates
On Wednesday, Chinese President Xi Jinping paid a visit to southwest China’s Sichuan Province. The president met with local farmers, college students and toured a famous temple with deep roots in Chinese culture. The visit focused on learning local efforts in ensuring food security, cultural and environmental protection as well as the employment situation for college graduates. Xu XInchen has more.
“President Xi Jinping got off right here.”
Wang Yuanwei is a farmer from the village President Xi Jinping visited in Meishan, Sichuan Province. Wang is very proud that the Chinese President visited his farm.
WANG YUANWEI Farmer “It shows that the state is paying great attention to agriculture.”
Wang owns over 200 hectares of farmland. He uses one third as a test field to try out different types of crops.
In the past seven years, Wang’s harvest grew over 30 percent thanks to this method.
WANG YUANWEI Farmer “We test limited quantities of different seeds and crops to screen out those that are unsuitable. That gives us a collection of seeds that suit Meishan’s weather and soil.”
Wang’s village is called Yong Feng, which means “forever harvest.”
It has over 2,000 households, with an average disposable income of 4,100 dollars, ranking fourth in the province. Moreover, Yong Feng has fully achieved industrialized farming, and it is one of top high-standard farmlands in China, demonstrating a sustainable means for future agricultural development.
Inspecting local efforts in ensuring food security was one of many purposes of Xi’s visit.
The Chinese leader has said food security is a top priority for China and the country aims to build one billion Mu, that’s almost 70 million hectares of high-standard farmland.
To improve people’s quality of life through rural revitalization has been a key development strategy from Xi.
Meishan’s famous Sansu Temple also received a visit.
It is not a place to worship gods but the largest and best protected memorial hall for three scholars.
XU XINCHEN Sansu Temple, Meishan “Nearly 1,000 years ago, this was the residence of three notable literature scholars of the Song Dynasty, Su Shi, Su Zhe and Su Xun. These scholars showed great sympathy towards the poor. President Xi has also quoted Su Shi many times. For example, in governing a country, do not make trouble willfully, but do not fear trouble if there is any. Xi’s visit to Meishan not only bolstered confidence among the population but also revived enthusiasm in preserving Chinese historical and cultural heritage.”
Preserving cultural heritage and protecting the environment have been key elements in modern China’s pursuit of sustainability.
President Xi also visited Sanjiangkou, where the Jinsha and Minjiang Rivers converge into the Yangtze, to observe the ecological restoration and protection of the Yangtze River Basin.
“Clear waters and green mountains are as good as mountains of gold and silver.” A famous quote from the Chinese president has been widely passed on in China, showing increasing attention put on green development.
And fittingly at graduation season, Xi found time to speak with students from Yibin University.
In a country of 1.4 billion people, maintaining rapid economic development needs many more talented young people.
Something the Chinese leader definitely cares about.
XI JINPING Chinese President “I am happy to see all you young people taking bigger responsibilities. I think you should all have this sense of career, responsibility, achievement, and work hard for it.”
Xu Xinchen, CGTN, Sichuan Province.
Foreign news
NTAC Hails Tinubu; Volunteers Ready to Positively Impact Nigerians
Joel Ajayi
The Nigerian Technical Aid Corps (NTAC) has commended President Bola Tinubu for funding the Technical Aid Corps (TAC) Scheme.
The Director General (DG) of NTAC , Dr Yusuf Yakub, made the commendation during a ceremony to receive five returning TAC volunteers from Zanzibar, Tanzania on Tuesday in Abuja.
The returning volunteers also expressed readiness to impact knowledge gained from participating in the programme on Nigerians.
TAC is a mechanism for Nigeria’s foreign aid and technical assistance to African, Caribbean and Pacific countries through the use of Nigeria’s abundant trained manpower.
Yakub lauded Tinubu’s visionary leadership and steadfast support for the TAC Scheme.
Welcoming the volunteers who had discharged themselves as worthy ambassadors in Zanzibar, the D-G thanked them for their patriotism, dedication to service and for making Nigeria proud on the international arena.
The NTAC boss highlighted the importance of knowledge-sharing, while announcing that certificates of completion will be presented to the volunteers in line with the noble objectives of the service.
He also emphasised the volunteers’ crucial role in passing on the skills and experiences gained in Zanzibar.
He expressed optimism that their efforts would positively impact the lives of Nigerians across the country and shape the expectations and service-delivery of future prospective volunteers.
Earlier speaking, Amb. Zakari Usman, the Director of Programmes for NTAC, expressed gratitude to the D-G for his unwavering support and provision for the volunteers throughout their service period.
He said that the volunteers had so delivered on the mandate of the agency that citizens of Zanzibar did not want them to leave their country.
Popoola Adegoke, the Team Lead and a Mathematics Instructor for the batch of returning volunteers, was full of gratitude to the Federal Government for providing them the opportunity to participate in the scheme.
Adegoke said that Nigeria, was well blessed and had the abundance of both human and natural resources to contribute meaningfully to the development of many countries of the world.
He said that the need to continue the TAC Scheme was not negotiable, owing to its high impact and results.
Mohammed Salisu, a Physicist, said that the experience had broadened his horizon as his orientation during the last 24 months in Zanzibar, especially on the cultural exchange.
He lauded the government for the scheme, saying that Nigeria is seen and perceived to be higher in all ranking, especially in the standard of living and educational system.
He also appealed to the government to sustain the scheme to close the gaps both the educational and professional systems in the African, Caribbean and the Pacific Countries.
NAN
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