China Daily:

The white paper mentions the critical role of rural roads in poverty alleviation and supporting work relating to agriculture, rural areas and rural residents. Could you elaborate on this? Thank you.

Li Yang:

Thank you. I would like to invite Mr. Hou to answer this question.

Hou Zhenxing:

Thank you for your question. General Secretary Xi Jinping has emphasized that the high-quality rural roads initiative has brought vitality and prosperity to rural areas, particularly impoverished regions, while winning public support at the grassroots level for the Party. In recent years, the initiative has achieved remarkable results, enhancing rural residents' sense of gain, happiness and security. Rural roads have become pathways to prosperity, happiness, connection and revitalization for the people.

With the view to better serving the core task of economic development and the overall interests of the country, we have given full play to the foundational role of rural roads and expedited the development of rural transportation in poor areas. Since 2014, more than 1.4 million km of rural roads have been built or upgraded in previously poor areas, with more than 45,000 towns, townships and administrative villages obtaining access to bus services. All towns, townships and administrative villages where conditions allow had paved roads by 2019, and all such villages acquired bus services by 2020, fulfilling the promise that no region would be left behind because of inadequate transportation options on the journey towards prosperity. Our efforts can be summarized in three key points:

First, we have constructed better rural roads. After years of effort, we have built a rural transportation infrastructure network that connects villages, towns and townships, establishing an inclusive and equitable rural transportation service system. By doing so, we have ensured more comfortable and smoother passenger and freight transportation in rural areas, historically solving the problem of difficult road access in rural areas.

Second, we have made the countryside more beautiful. We have constructed high-quality rural roads that "are properly built, managed, maintained and operated," connecting urban and rural areas, shortening distance and travel times, as well as making efficient use of distinctive cultural and tourism resources in rural areas. By doing so, we have ensured that the vast countryside is finding greater prosperity and becoming more attractive, creating stronger momentum for rural revitalization. Such high-quality rural roads have also helped to improve the layout of villages and townships, retain local charm and nostalgia, enhance social etiquette and civility, bring significant changes in rural areas, and create a beautiful and harmonious countryside where people want to live and work.

Third, people who reside in rural areas have become better off. The steady improvement of transportation facilities in rural areas has attracted more capital, projects and talent to the countryside, creating more job opportunities and broadening avenues for income growth. People are now living a more prosperous life, bringing them closer to the Party. Through rural road construction projects, local governments have guided people who reside in rural areas to find jobs closer to their homes and to boost their incomes. As a result, high-quality rural roads have truly become projects that improve people's lives and win over people's hearts. Thank you.