Xi Jinping's Lunar New Year tradition

In a village greenhouse in the municipality of Tianjin, northern China, vegetables and fruits are ready to be harvested and shipped to a local dining table. This village is known as Beijing’s main source of vegetables and fruits and will be providing agricultural products to megacities during the upcoming Spring Festival, also known as the Chinese New Year.

In light of this, Chinese President Xi Jinping recently visited Diliubu Village on a two-day inspection tour of Tianjin. This visit was particularly focused on connecting with villagers affected by severe floods last summer and understanding the recovery of local agricultural production.

As part of his desire to celebrate the Chinese New Year with ordinary people, President Xi expressed that he wants to ensure the safety and warmth of local officials and members of the public. This reflects a tradition he has upheld for years, in which he visits ordinary people, especially disadvantaged groups, in the lead-up to the Spring Festival.

In his 2024 New Year message, President Xi listed issues that remain a top priority, including areas impacted by floods, typhoons, earthquakes, or other natural disasters. When he visited the flood-affected people in Diliubu Village, he once again made clear his concern for this group, reassuring them that the CPC Central Committee always thinks about their safety and well-being.

President Xi’s commitment to upholding traditional culture was also evident during his visit to ancient culture street in Tianjin. Here, he emphasized the importance of preserving traditional Chinese culture, something he has also echoed in previous visits to Tianjin. According to him, China’s modernization would not be possible without the inheritance and promotion of China’s beautiful traditional culture.

During his visit, President Xi also called for efforts to protect and make good use of historical and cultural blocks in Tianjin to showcase the city’s great characteristics and charm, highlighting the importance of these elements in building a modern metropolis. In the context of maintaining a vibrant culture, President Xi’s visit to Tianjin’s ancient culture street and local villages is part of his effort to connect with the people during an important traditional celebration like the Spring Festival.