"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 January 21.
It was also a big surprise for local leaders of Henan Province
who accompanied 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."
(Xinhua News Agency January 23, 2004)