Chinese Vice Premier Ding Xuexiang called for deepened efforts to advance the high-quality development of basic education during an inspection tour in southwest China's Yunnan Province.
Ding, also a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, visited the province on Monday and Tuesday.
In Wenshan Zhuang and Miao Autonomous Prefecture, where he visited a kindergarten, a primary school and a middle school, Ding stressed that building China into a leading country in education begins with strengthening basic education.
As a border and ethnic minority area, Yunnan should make overall efforts to improve the quality of education, overcome the difficulties and solve the problems faced by small rural schools and left-behind children in rural areas, and provide education that satisfies people of all ethnic groups, Ding said.
At Yunnan Normal University, Ding learned about the training of teachers for basic education, and called on normal schools to focus on their primary mission of teacher education, deepen reforms to teacher training models, and continuously contribute high-quality teaching professionals. At the former site of the National Southwest Associated University (NSAU), a wartime institution of higher learning incorporating Peking (Beijing) University, Tsinghua University, and Nankai University from 1938 to 1946, Ding said education is closely linked to the future and destiny of a country. It's necessary to adhere to the original aspiration of serving the country through education, so as to build China into a great country and achieve national rejuvenation.
He also urged the highest sense of responsibility in organizing the national college entrance examination in Yunnan, which starts on Sunday, to ensure flawless operation through meticulous and comprehensive preparations.
Ding also visited the Dianchi Lake and a local company to inspect the ecological environment protection and governance work. He stressed the importance of prioritizing ecological conservation and pursuing green development, and called for further efforts to prevent and control pollution, and continuous efforts to protect plateau lakes and restore important ecosystems, so as to strengthen the ecological security barrier in China's southwest.
Chinese vice premier stresses high-quality basic education in Yunnan
