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Top Communist Party of China (CPC) and state leaders Xi Jinpingand Liu Yunshanmeet with county-level Party secretaries who are honored for their outstanding work in Beijing, capital of China, June 30, 2015. (Xinhua/Lan Hongguang)
BEIJING, June 30 (Xinhua) -- President Xi Jinping has called on secretaries of Communist Party of China (CPC) committees at county level to be loyal to the Party, take the initiative in economic development and serve the people wholeheartedly.
Xi made the remarks on Tuesday when meeting with 102 individuals selected or their outstanding work from the more than 2,800 county-level Party secretaries across the country.
While congratulating them, the president extended greetings to all Party members ahead of the 94th anniversary of the CPC on Wednesday.
"When counties are well governed, the world is at peace," Xi said, quoting an ancient Chinese saying. "In our Party's organizational structure and the country's regime structure, the county is a key part that links higher and lower levels as well as a significant foundation for economic development, people's livelihoods and social stability."
According to the president, honoring outstanding county-level Party secretaries aims to set an example for all Party members and officials.
"A county-level Party committee is a frontline headquarters for the CPC's governance, and a Party secretary is the commander in chief," Xi said, acknowledging the huge pressures placed on them.
He urged these officials to follow Party codes of conduct and adapt themselves to China's plateauing economic growth.
"County-level Party secretaries should be trailblazers for development... take hold of the reform drive and guide the people to contribute to social and economic development together," Xi said, underlining poverty relief work.
He also called on Party committees and organization departments to lend more support to grassroots Party officials.
Also at the meeting with outstanding secretaries, Liu Yunshan, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, said more quality officials are needed to serve the Party's cause. He vowed promotions for those who perform well.
Liu stressed firm Party belief, sincerity toward the people, discipline to resist corruption, and a strong sense of responsibility as the key qualities exemplified by these honored secretaries.
HOPE ON GRASSROOTS OFFICIALS
This year's honors come 20 years after the last celebration of 100 outstanding county-level CPC chiefs, many of whom have since been promoted to higher ranks.
Many stories of those honored in 1994 have been been featured prominently in domestic media, mostly involving poverty relief, reform, social stability and battling natural disasters and emergencies.
"Xi's words fully reflect the CPC Central Committee's focus on county-level governance and its special care for grassroots officials, and will surely boost our passion for work," said Wang Xinjun, one of the honored and Party chief of the Lankao County in central China's Henan Province.
Among those recognized on Tuesday, many have over 10 years of experience working in key grassroots posts in villages and towns.
"Officials are best trained at the frontline. Many of those honored today started their careers low done the ladder and were promoted step by step, showing how the CPC Central Committee pins its hopes on the grassroots," Xin Ming, professor with the Party School of the CPC Central Committee, told Xinhua.
Xin called for a system in which outstanding higher-level officials are sent to the grassroots to hone their abilities while spotting talent among local officials.
Underlining the CPC's emphasis on grassroots governance, the Organization Department of the CPC Central Committee has launched a campaign to train all county-level Party chiefs by the end of 2017.
In January, Xi himself gave a lecture to the first batch of trainees, urging them to "always bear in mind the Party, the people, responsibility and caution."
"Managing and using county-level Party chiefs well directly benefits the Party's prosperity and also consolidates the foundation for the Party's development," Xin said.
