Officials of Wuyi New Area in southeast China were due to meet on the evening of March 18, Saturday, to discuss upcoming projects that aim to boost Fujian Province’s economy. 

Liao Junbo, vice mayor of Nanping City where Wuyi is located, sat with his wife briefly for a serving of rice that he scarfed down. He set off on the road to the meeting in the pouring rain.

After the meeting, Liao was due to check on the progress of several construction sites in Wuyi. He’d had worse days, and it was all par for the course for dedicated Party members like him.

But the meeting that night, he would miss. The inspections, he would never make.  

At around 8:00 p.m., Liao died in a car accident. He was 48.

“Just one night before the accident, Liao Junbo sent me pictures of the construction site and reported to me the progress of the projects,” said Yuan Yi, Party Secretary of the Nanping Municipal CPC Committee.

“On March 18, he insisted on rushing back to the new area for a night meeting after having spent the whole day conferring work with other officials. I didn’t expect such a tragedy would happen to him."

The Congress of Party Representatives of Nanping City decided to set up the Wuyi New Area in October 2016, and planned to start relocating administrative functions by the end of 2018. 

On top of his regular work as vice mayor, Liao, a standing committee member, was Secretary of the Party Working Committee of the Wuyi New Area—a heavyweight assignment few others would accept.

The inevitable success of the Wuyi New Area would add to Liao’s already-long list of accomplishments in public service. Liao was known for his efficiency.

Under his leadership, a project for the development of lightweight aluminum carriage and logistics vehicles in Fujian Province took only 69 days to complete, and the establishment of the Zhigu Software Park, just 100 days. 

Liao was also instrumental in the construction of the Nanping Aerospace Experience Museum, which opened on April 20, 2016. The project was done in cooperation with the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corp. It was completed in just 80 days. Liao went to Beijing five times to negotiate the project.

“In the world of Kung Fu, it's all about speed,” Liao often said, according to those close to him.

In October 2007, Liao became a director of the Ronghua Mountain Industrial Group. With his help, the firm that started with just 20 million yuan (2.9 million US dollars) was able to build an industrial park worth billions of yuan.

"We are located in northern Fujian," said Liao. "Even though we live in poverty, we cannot think in poverty. Instead, we should stand high and think new. We should learn the ideas and practices from developed areas in China."

In the four years that followed, Liao traveled for 360,000 kilometers across Shanghai and the provinces of Zhejiang and Guangdong. During that time he had no holidays, barely took days off, and met with businessmen.

During the extended road trip, Liao earned the nickname “mayor on wheels.”

“We always had a blanket in the car for him,” his driver Lin Jun said. "He would sleep while we were travelling, and during his meetings, it would be my turn to rest."

All these cost Liao time with his family. But those who loved him said he made every moment count. He’d spend his rare days off helping his mother in the kitchen or playing chess with his father. His daughter said he never missed a word she would say to him.

In June 2011, Liao was nominated Party secretary of the CPC Committee of Zhenghe County, where he helped engineer an economic boom.

Realizing that the lack of access to financing was one of the main hurdles for local development, Liao convinced Postal Savings Bank of China to offer customized credit solutions for farmers, backed by a 2 million yuan (290,000 US dollars) deposit by the government. In the three years that followed, 60 million yuan (8.7 million US dollars) in loans had been provided to support the agriculture sector, benefiting 700 families. 

The village of Shizhen west of Zhenghe also owed its economic transformation to Liao.  

Liao proposed to turn the village into a tourist destination, a plan Yuan Yunji, then director of the local committee of the Women's Federation, had challenged.

"You follow the idea, and manage it by yourself. If you have a problem, tell the government,” Yuan recalled.

Thanks to Liao’s proposals, ancient homes were refurbished, a nearby river drenched, bike lanes paved, and tea houses and restaurants opened.

A leisure garden where tea tours were held was also completed. In 2016, the village’s revenues from tourism topped 1 million yuan. Many former residents who had moved out found their ways back home.

Yuan was shocked upon hearing the bad news. “We haven’t even invited him to have a meal in our courtyard."

Prior to the accident, Liao spent the day in meetings before having a quick dinner with his wife. “It’s pouring outside. Can you put off this meeting?” his wife asked.

Ever a man of his word, Liao refused. “I have already arranged the work. A deal's a deal.”  

And that was the last time she saw him.

Chinese President Xi Jinping said Liao should be an example for all public servants across the country. He has also urged the local government to take care of his family.

Liao didn't stop serving his country till his death.