Premier pays surprise call on new year eve
( 2004-01-23 09:51) (Xinhua)
"I have never dreamed that the Premier would pay a New Year
call to us on the eve of the Spring Festival," Ji Changrui, 80-year-old villager
in central China's Henan Province, said with excitement, holding the hands of
visiting Premier Wen Jiabao on Wednesday.
Chinese Premier Wen
Jiabao greets an elder villager in central China's Henan Province
Wednesday, Jan. 21, 2004. [Xinhua] | It was also a
big surprise for local leaders of Henan Province who accompanied Chinese Premier
Wen Jiabao on his tour to the central China's province on the eve of the Chinese
lunar New Year, Spring Festival, which falls on Jan 22. Wen just ordered his car
stopped at the Zhaodi Village of Langgongmiao Town when visiting Xinxiang
county.
Braving the freezing winter cold, Wen asked villagers whether they had made
enough preparations for Chinese New Year celebrations, and questioned on grain
prices and encouraged them to grow more food.
At the home of Qushui villager Jing Huaimin, Wen asked about his family's
annual income, health care and children's schooling. After informed that most
villages have taken part in the government-sponsored rural medical cooperative
scheme, the premier said "The program should be continued and carried out well,
because it's directly related to the interests of villagers."
Besides Xinxiang County, Wen also visited factories, government
establishments, railway stations and police stations of Zhengzhou City
accompanied by provincial Party chief Li Keqiang and Henan governor Li Chengyu.
On the eve of the Spring Festival, Wen came to home of retired worker Li
Huanchang at 9:00 pm.
"I am grateful to the Party and the government, who sent me rice, flour,
cooking oil and subsidies," 74-year-old Li told the premier.
A community office staff said that as a veteran Party member, Li has also
asked the government to switch subsidies he was given to others who is in worse
need.
"You are thinking of others even when you're in difficulty yourself, and it
is natural that the government should take good care of you," Wen said, holding
the hands of the old man.
Wen told officials with him that the "government should never forget people
in difficulties." Enditem
|
