Zhang Laiming visits Jimnay County, Xinjiang to inspect pilot programs of CDRF

From 17 to 20 July 2023, Zhang Laiming, Vice President of Development Research Center of the State Council visited Jimnay County, Altay Region, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, to inspect the child development programs carried out by the China Development Research Foundation (CDRF), and investigate rural revitalization efforts and high-quality development of border areas. Yu Jun, Deputy Secretary General of CDRF, Kulinu Nuerlali, member of the Altay Regional Committee, Wang Xiongjun, Deputy Director of the Research Office of the People's Government of Xinjiang Autonomous Region joins the delegation.

Zhang joined the China REACH’s home visitor into households to observe home visits activities, and spoke with the project personnel and local families to learn about the current development of the program. China REACH has been implemented in Jimnay since 2017, covering 7 towns in the county, employing one county-level supervisor, eight township supervisors and 33 home visitors, and benefiting more than 2,000 children in total. According to the baseline and final surveys conducted in 2017 and 2018 respectively, the China REACH in Jimnay has increased the proportion of local children with normal development by 8% and reduced the proportion of children with abnormal development by nearly 6%,indicting a significant improvement in family childcare quality.

In a village bordering Kazakhstan, Zhang investigated the One Village One Preschool (OVOP) program for children aged 3-6, examined the conditions of the preschool facility, listened to the teacher's report, and interacted with the children. Jimnay OVOP was launched in 2012. Now with a total of 17 preschools, the pre-school enrolment rate in Jimnay has increased from 78% in 2012 to 100% in 2017, achieving full coverage for children of age in the county, and ensuring that local children have access to high-quality development opportunities.

In addition to the child development project, Zhang also investigated Jimnay County trade port, Jimnay International Trade City, Mutual Trade Zone, and local companies, listened to the report of the relevant personnel, and learned in detail about the rural revitalization and high-quality development of Jimnay as a border area and area with concentrations of ethnic minorities, and discussed the relevant issues in depth with the local personnel. Zhang suggested that Jimnay should play to its strength - border trade and history and culture, find the right positioning to seek a high-quality development path with local characteristics.

Zhang also said that child development is a fundamental measure for the comprehensive development of human beings, and that carrying out child development projects such as China REACH and OVOP is to put into practice the principle of "supporting Chinese modernization with high-quality development of the population", as proposed by General Secretary Xi Jinping. CDRF and Jimnay’s work is forward looking, and he hopes that both sides will work together to promote the quality development of children in the border areas.