Xi's bond with Fujian province

"I dedicated the prime of my life to Fujian, fostering a profound bond with every blade of grass and tree," President Xi Jinping remarked. Commencing his service in Fujian at 32 in June 1985, he concluded his tenure over 17 years later at 49 in October 2002.

During his two-year assignment in Ningde prefecture, then among Fujian's most impoverished regions, Xi extensively toured 123 out of its 124 townships, including three with no paved road access. Xiadang, situated deep in the mountains of Shouning county, was one such township.

On his initial visit in July 1989, traversing rugged mountain paths took Xi approximately three hours by vehicle and two on foot. Undeterred by the challenging terrain, he revisited Xiadang within a week.

Recognizing the imperative of enhancing accessibility for development, Xi initiated the construction of a highway. The road to Xiadang was completed in January 1991.

During an inspection of Fujian in March 2021, Xi encountered tourists from neighboring Jiangxi province who marveled at the swift 22-minute train ride to Wuyi Mountain, a renowned summer retreat in Fujian.

"Witnessing sustained development in the place you once worked is the pinnacle of happiness," Xi once said.