The spirit of Youyu people

Youyu is a county located in northwestern Shanxi Province. In the early 1950s, there were only 5.3 square km of forests – a forest coverage rate of 0.3 percent. Some environmental scholars described Youyu one of the worst possible places for human habitation. For decades the local people have dedicated themselves to afforestation endeavors in a drive to improve the harsh natural conditions. Today, the local forest coverage rate has risen to 54 percent, and once-barren lands have been turned into pleasant areas of greenery.

During his inspection tour to Shanxi in June 2017, Xi Jinping talked about the spirit of the Youyu people. He praised the local officials for their commitment to governing for the public good, and for providing leadership to the local people in changing their living conditions through hard work, perseverance, resilience, and a deep respect for science.

右玉精神

右玉縣地處山西省西北端。新中國成立初期,全縣只有5.3平方千米殘林,森林覆蓋率僅有0.3%,當時有環境專家將右玉列入“最不適宜人類生存的地區”。為了改善生存環境,右玉縣干部群眾自力更生、艱苦奮斗,堅持植樹造林不動搖,改善自然環境不動搖,終于把塞外不毛之地變成了“塞上江南”。右玉的自然環境得到了根本改善,森林覆蓋率達到54%。

在這個過程中,當地人民逐步形成了“執政為民、尊重科學、百折不撓、艱苦奮斗”的右玉精神。2017年6月,習近平在山西視察工作時強調,右玉精神是寶貴財富,一定要大力學習和弘揚。