国内英语新闻:Xi stresses poverty relief for old revolutionary base areas

BEIJING, Feb. 16 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping wants to end poverty in old revolutionary base areas and improve local people's standard of living.

Xi made the remarks on Feb. 13 on a tour of Shaanxi Province when he extended Spring Festival greetings to local people.

"A well-off society will be incomplete if people in old revolutionary base areas cannot shake off poverty," said Xi during a meeting with party chiefs of 24 counties and cities from Shaanxi and Gansu provinces and Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region.

Xi expects financial support and preferential policies to mean improved education, healthcare and infrastructure will bring prosperity to local people.

The president encouraged the regions to make the best of what they have and develop new industries, allowing local enterprises and brands to flourish, but with an absolute ban on pollution and excessive exploitation of resources.

Xi also met villagers from Liangjiahe, where he worked as a rural laborer during the Cultural Revolution.