On the first working day of 2016, Premier Li Keqiang made his first domestic visit to Taiyuan, Shanxi province. In fact, the 2016 New Year visit was not an exception. Since 2014, the Premier has made domestic visits during each of the New Year period. The visits highlighted “family”, “innovation”, and “reform”, respectively, as part of his efforts to bring changes to the country.

Family

“Family” was the keyword for Premier Li’s visit in Shaanxi province on Jan 26, 2014, not long before Spring Festival, the traditional Chinese New Year.

On the train to Shaanxi, the Premier called a meeting to kick-start work on poverty alleviation before visiting the people in poor areas.

He met with migrant workers who just returned to their homes in Ankang, Shaanxi province, saying that Spring Festival is the most important holiday for Chinese and they should enjoy the reunions with family after a year’s hard work in cities.

During his stay in a village in Ankang, he also visited the family of a 12-year-old left-behind child whose father is a migrant worker working far away from home.

“Migrant workers not only made great contributions to your families but also to the country,” the Premier said on the phone to the child’s father.

Premier Li visited Chaihuo Maker Space in Shenzhen, on Jan 4, 2015.[Photo/China News Service]

Innovation

On the first working day of 2015, Premier Li went to Shenzhen in Guangdong province, visiting WeBank, Huawei, and a maker space called Chaihuo.

During his stay in WeBank, the Premier witnessed the first loan issued by the country’s first Internet bank, saying that he hoped the bank’s experience can serve as an example for other enterprises and trigger reforms in traditional financial institutions.

At the Huawei lab, the Premier praised the innovations made by the technological company and noted that technological innovation cannot be made without institutional innovation.

He also stressed mass entrepreneurship and innovation during his stop at Chaihuo Maker Space.

Premier Li inspected the Guandi Mine of the Shanxi Coking Coal Group in Taiyuan, Shanxi province, on Jan 5, 2016.[Photo/Xinhua]

Reform

At the beginning of 2016, Premier Li started his visit in Taiyuan, Shanxi province, to show the government’s determination for reform.

The once fast-developing and resource-abundant province is now faced with the challenges of overproduction and overcapacity.

He visited the Taiyuan Iron and Steel Corp (TISCO) and Guandi Mine of the Shanxi Coking Coal Group, stressing structural reforms and cultivation of new industries amid downward pressures.

“I believe you will overcome the difficulties. It takes effort to forge high-quality steel, and superior capacity should prevail. I hope TISCO will rejuvenate with your ‘stainless’ spirit and wisdom,” he said to the TISCO workers.