Chinese President Xi Jinping’s recent visit to Shaanxi and Gansu provinces has underscored the pivotal role of cultural rejuvenation in achieving rural revitalization and advancing China’s modernization efforts. On September 10 and 11, Xi toured the northwestern regions, rich in cultural heritage, to assess the protection of cultural relics, ecological preservation, and the development of modern specialty industries.
During his inspection, President Xi visited key sites such as the Bronze Ware Museum, an ecological park along the Weihe River, the Maijishan Grottoes, and a local apple production base. These visits highlighted the importance of integrating cultural preservation with economic development to enhance both material prosperity and cultural confidence among local communities.
The Communist Party of China (CPC) has outlined a strategic framework for rural areas to follow the path of socialist rural revitalization with Chinese characteristics. This strategy, aligned with the goal of building a moderately prosperous society in all respects, focuses on five key pillars: the revitalization of agriculture-related industries, local talent, culture, rural ecology, and rural organizations.
To achieve these goals, governments are encouraged to protect and preserve cultural heritage while transforming agricultural heritage resources into cultural capital. This approach not only improves the livelihoods of residents in heritage sites but also strengthens their commitment to conservation and sustainable development.
Moreover, institutional and policy frameworks are being established to support the integrated development of urban and rural areas. Reforms of the rural collective property rights system aim to safeguard the property rights and interests of farmers, promoting equitable growth and stability.
A crucial aspect of rural industrial prosperity lies in revitalizing ecological resources that have been overlooked during industrialization. By innovatively leveraging these assets, governments can facilitate the balanced flow of urban and rural resources, strengthen the collective economy, and boost incomes for local residents, particularly within the context of ecological civilization transformation.
This holistic approach rebuilds the economic foundation for sustainable rural development and effective governance. It plays a vital role in advancing agricultural supply-side reforms and establishing the economic groundwork for comprehensive rural revitalization.
