Xi promises CPC delegates to narrow regional development gap

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General Secretary of the CPC Central Committee Xi Jinping has vowed to resolve the development gap between rural and urban areas and build a prosperous and strong society.

Xi made the remarks during a panel discussion with delegates from southwest China's Guizhou Province on Thursday, a day after delivering a report at the opening session of the 19th CPC National Congress in which he tackled disparity in development, poverty alleviation efforts and equality between all members of the society.

CGTN Photo

In the report, Xi proposed a goal of developing China into a basically modernized country by 2035 and a prosperous, strong and democratic country by 2050.

He told delegates that "the principal contradiction facing Chinese society has evolved," noting that what Chinese people face now is "the contradiction between unbalanced and inadequate development and the people's ever-growing needs for a better life."

This is a "historic" shift, Xi said.

We will endeavor to resolve the problem of unbalanced growth and meet the people's needs, he said, promising to build a more prosperous society for everyone.

Grassroots officials from villages in Zunyi, Bijie and Liupanshui cities told Xi about poverty alleviation work at the local level.

Pan Kegang, secretary of the CPC branch in Liupanshui's Huamao Village, said they have launched a project to develop rural tourism and the livelihood of local farmers has improved remarkably.

Xinhua Photo

Xi applauded the change and hailed Guizhou's development, saying it has become a pioneer in poverty elimination ahead of other provinces.

Guizhou is one of the least developed regions in China, yet it has become a pioneer in big data development.

Guiyang Big Data Exchange, the first of its kind in China, started operation in April 2015.

Xinhua Photo

Apple Inc announced the opening of its first Chinese data center in the province in July. With an investment of one billion US dollars, the data center plans to offer iCloud services on the Chinese mainland.