A grand gathering marking the nation’s poverty alleviation accomplishments and honoring model poverty fighters was held in the Great Hall of the People on Thursday morning. President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, delivered an important speech to honor model poverty fighters with medals, certificates and plaques. Xi announced that China has secured a “complete victory” in its fight against poverty through the joint efforts of the whole Party and the people of all ethnic groups at the monumental moment of the 100th anniversary of the founding of the CPC.

The Thursday’s gathering presented awards to individuals and groups for their outstanding achievements in the fight against penury. Li Danzhou, Mayor and Deputy Party Secretary of Chunchi Town, Zhouning County, Ningde City, Fujian Province, and 2010 alumna of Huaqiao University (HQU), was honored with Outstanding Individual in National Poverty Alleviation and attended the gathering for the commendation in Beijing.

Site of the Grand Gathering (Photo from Xinhuanet)

Li studied at the HQU School of Humanities and Public Administration (SHPA), which is now renamed School of Political Science and Public Administration, in 2006-2020. During her college years, she assumed multiple responsibilities such as Vice Secretary of the SHPA Communist Youth League, cadre of HQU Communist Youth League, and part-time counsellor of the College of Information Science and Engineering. She also earned several awards including the National Encouragement Scholarship, Excellent Student Cadre in Fujian Province, and 2007 Outstanding Individuals in the Summer Vacation “Sanxiaxiang” Social Practice in Fujian, an activity designed to bring scientific and literacy knowledge and offer medical service to rural areas.

In 2010, Li graduated with honor. She declined job opportunities in the city or college, yet firmly put herself into the grass-root work in her hometown as a Selected Graduate, and joined the frontline of the fight against poverty, devoting herself to poverty alleviation.

Li expressed her deep gratitude to HQU for the four-year education. She said she used to be an introvert in the secondary school, but it was HQU’s culture, “One-culture Oriented, Multi-culture Integrated, Diversities but Harmony”, that encouraged her to be more positive, cheerful, and adventurous. Especially when she shouldered the responsibilities in the university, she was allowed to pursue betterment, improvement and commitment. “Today I take pride in Huaqiao; one day I shall make her proud of me”, Li said, “I have always kept this graduation oath in mind after graduation. I will stick to my beliefs and take my responsibilities wherever I go.”

Li Danzhou at the Grand Gathering