Recently, Professor Lyu Jie, Dean of the School of Agricultural and Rural Development at Renmin University of China, led a delegation to Taihe County, Anhui Province for field research. As part of the visit, the delegation paid a special visit to Mr. Xu Zongxiang, recipient of the honorary title “Role Model of the Times” and Party Branch Secretary of the Modern Agricultural Science and Technology Experiment and Demonstration Base in Taihe County.

 

During the visit, the two sides conducted in-depth discussions on thoroughly implementing General Secretary Xi Jinping’s important discourses on agriculture, rural areas, and farmers (“Sannong” work), as well as the spirit of Xi Jinping’s important letter in reply to Xu Zongxiang.

 

Recently, the Publicity Department of the CPC Central Committee awarded Mr. Xu Zongxiang the honorary title of “Role Model of the Times,” highlighting his exemplary deeds. On behalf of the school, Dean Lyu Jie extended heartfelt congratulations to Mr. Xu and expressed high admiration for his dedication to agriculture, technical expertise, and innovative practices in grain production. He also introduced the school’s recent achievements in disciplinary development, talent cultivation, scientific research, and contributions to major national strategies.

 

Dean Lyu emphasized that food security is fundamental to national prosperity, people’s well-being, and social stability. In alignment with national strategic needs, the school has been carrying out high-level research. He expressed the hope to further learn from grassroots practices, strengthen collaboration between academia and industry, and enhance the role of exemplary figures like Mr. Xu in nurturing future talents in agricultural and rural development. The school looks forward to launching joint learning and cooperation initiatives to contribute collectively to safeguarding national food security.

 

 

Xu Zongxiang extended a warm welcome and heartfelt thanks to Dean Lyu Jie and his delegation for their special visit. He fondly recalled General Secretary Xi Jinping’s visit to Zhanghuai Village in April 2011 and the moment in June 2022 when he received a personal reply letter from the General Secretary. Mr. Xu shared how he has earnestly followed the instructions of the General Secretary in recent years by leveraging the advantages of large-scale farming, actively adopting modern agricultural technologies, and helping smallholder farmers grow more and better grain. He expressed his appreciation for the School of Agricultural and Rural Development at Renmin University of China, which enjoys a strong reputation in the field of “Sannong” research, and conveyed his hope for deeper exchanges and cooperation with the school to jointly contribute to food security and the safeguarding of China’s rice bowl.

 

Prior to the visit, Dean Lyu Jie attended the Annual Conference of the China Rural Development Society and the China Rural Development Forum in Hefei, where he delivered a keynote speech at the “National Symposium on Disciplinary Development of Rural Studies” entitled Disciplinary Development of China’s Rural Studies from the Perspective of Sannong Science.