Xi Jinping, who was appointed secretary of the Shanghai
Municipal Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC) on March
24, visited Yinxing Street, a community in downtown Yangpu
District, shortly after taking office, to gain first-hand
information about Shanghai.
Walking up the street and shaking hands with residents, Xi was
visibly taking a citizen-centered approach.
Together with Mayor Han Zheng, Xi on Thursday visited places
including the community health service center on Yinxing Street and
the home for the aged, where he chatted with residents, including
centenarian Zhang Xiuqing.
Xi, 54, who previously served as Party secretary of Zhejiang,
also toured the venues of the first and second CPC congresses in
Shanghai.
He is not the only official to adopt such a style.
Li Jianguo, the newly appointed Party sectary of Shandong
Province, Zhao Hongzhu, the new Party secretary of east China's
Zhejiang Province, Zhao Leji, the new Party secretary of Shaanxi
Province in northwest China, Qiang Wei, the new Party secretary of
Qinghai Province, and Zhang Gaoli, the new party secretary of
Tianjin City, all appointed to their present posts in March, have
all visited grassroots units and sought to understand the opinions
and feelings of ordinary people.
Yin Jizuo, deputy chairman of the Shanghai Federation of Social
Sciences Community, commented: "All six regional Party secretaries
are practicing what they have said. They are putting their
commitment to pay close attention to people's livelihoods and to be
a good government employee into action," said Yin.
At the annual session of the National People's Congress last
month, Chinese President Hu Jintao urged officials to be
"well-prepared for crises, committed to their work and frugal" and
to maintain the highest possible standards in the performance of
their duties.
The six new regional Party leaders all pledged to remain clean
and honest, to take a no-nonsense approach to graft drive during
their tenures, and to press ahead with reforms and opening up.
(Xinhua News Agency April 7, 2007)