China has spent huge sums of money educating its rural population as part of its national development strategy. One key investment has been in teachers, especially those working in poorer regions. In today's episode of The Core Issue, CGTN's Huang Yue talks to two college students in Beijing who want to return home and give something back to their hometowns.

Twenty-one-year-old Xiong Guojin is a sophomore at Beijing Normal University.

Born and raised in a remote village that only overcame poverty three years ago, Xiong says he's received a lot of love and care from his teachers over the years.

And that's why he dreams of becoming one himself, to help more children just like him.

Xiong says he's been studying hard at school, doing everything he can to get qualified.

XIONG GUOJIN Student Beijing Normal University "I participated in a voluntary project last summer vacation. Our team went to a high school in a remote county. From preparing classes to marking homework, I put what I learned into practice. And from that experience I was even more determined in my choice to become a teacher."

Xiong is only one of the students enrolled in a special program at Beijing Normal University designed to train teachers from rural areas.

His classmate Zhang Ran is from Xinjiang, and is also determined to return to her hometown and make an impact after graduation.

ZHANG RAN Student Beijing Normal University "I've wanted to be a teacher since I was a child because my mother is also a rural teacher. She's my role model. When I was in middle school, one of my teachers also came from Wuhan, and I felt so touched that she came from so away to support Xinjiang's education."

In July last year, seven students from the program, including Xiong and Zhang, wrote a letter to Chinese President Xi Jinping to tell him what they'd learned since they'd enrolled in the program. They also vowed to serve at the grassroots after graduating.

Xi replied to the letter, encouraging the students to study hard, cultivate their character, improve their teaching capabilities and serve in places where the country and people need them most.

XIONG GUOJIN Student Beijing Normal University "I never imagined President Xi would reply to us. When the teacher read his letter to us, I felt so excited and proud. I remember feeling the power of words and a sense of responsibility on my shoulders."

China has invested significantly in nurturing rural teachers.

Latest data shows the central government allocated nearly three billion U.S. dollars in subsidies to 1.3 million rural teachers from 2015 to 2020.

And more has been spent on training programs.

HUANG YUE Beijing "In 2021, China launched a program to train about 10,000 teachers each year to work in over 800 underdeveloped counties in central and western regions of the country. The goal is to improve the quality of primary and secondary school teachers in these areas. College students who enroll in the program are exempt from tuition and accommodation fees, and receive subsidies for living expenses. Huang Yue, CGTN, Beijing."