From Oct. 31 to Nov. 1, Gao Jingsheng, deputy secretary of the municipal Party committee and acting mayor, conducted research in Yuanling County on rural revitalization and the development of the cultural and tourism industry, inspected water transport safety, and carried out river and forest patrols. He stressed the need to thoroughly study and implement the guiding principles of the Fifth Plenary Session of the 20th CPC Central Committee and the important speeches, instructions and directives of General Secretary Xi Jinping on the work of Hunan province; build on local resource endowments, strengthen distinctive industries, uphold the bottom line of safety, and advance all-round rural revitalization with solid efforts, so that more people benefit from the fruits of development. Lin Hua, secretary-general of the municipal government, accompanied Gao on the inspection tour.

In Er’you Miao Ethnic Township, Gao learned in detail about efforts to build the “China’s Book Mountain” cultural tourism brand. He then took a boat from Er’you Mountain Wharf to Yuanling county seat, inspecting water transport safety and conducting a river patrol along the way. At the Yuanling County Museum, he also learned about the protection and transmission of intangible cultural heritage. In Jiemuxi Township, Gao visited Jiemuxi Village, the ancient village of Qiantangwan and Jiemuxi National Nature Reserve to learn about the work of the studio serving Party congress representatives, people’s congress deputies and CPPCC members, as well as rural revitalization efforts. He heard about the protection of traditional villages and the results of assistance provided by China COSCO Shipping Group, inspected fire safety in wooden houses, and learned about the development of the forest-based wellness industry. He also carried out a forest patrol and oversaw forest fire prevention and control. In Guanzhuang Town, Gao visited Xinwuchang Village to learn about rural revitalization work, then went to the Chenlongguan Tea and Tourism Integration Industrial Park to learn about the development of the integrated tea and tourism industry.

During the inspection tour, Gao stressed the need to advance all-round rural revitalization with solid efforts, improve regular assistance mechanisms, consolidate and expand the achievements of poverty alleviation, strengthen distinctive industries based on local resource endowments, and improve mechanisms linking farmers to industry development so that rural residents can continue to increase their incomes. He called for deeper integration of agriculture, culture and tourism; stronger development of competitive sectors such as tea and forest-based wellness; better use of cultural IPs such as China’s Book Mountain; a richer range of cultural tourism offerings; and greater industrial competitiveness. He also called for effective protection and utilization of traditional villages, with better supporting facilities while preserving their historic character, so that these villages can thrive anew. Gao stressed the need to firmly uphold the bottom line of safety, rigorously ensure water transport safety, strictly fulfill safety responsibilities, strengthen the management of vessels and crew members, thoroughly identify and address risks and hazards, and ensure fire safety in traditional villages. He called for river chiefs to earnestly fulfill their responsibilities, for systematic governance and ecological protection of rivers, lakes and reservoirs to be strengthened, and for the protection of clean water and green banks. He also called for full implementation of the forest chief system, effective forest fire prevention and control, and firm protection of forest resources.

(Translated by Yang Hong)