The establishment of the Shibadong Rural Development Foundation. (Photo courtesy of the organizer)

On November 3, the Shibadong Rural Development Foundation was established in Huayuan County, Hunan Province. It was China's first county-level rural development foundation.  

In accordance with the general requirements of "building rural areas with thriving businesses, pleasant living environments, social etiquette and civility, effective governance, and prosperity", the foundation will focus on the purpose of developing new agriculture, building new countryside, and cultivating new farmers who have knowledge on e-commerce, and prioritize industrial revitalization, pleasant living environments, and human development. 

In terms of industrial revitalization, the foundation will advance its exemplary role and talent training in parallel as the two wheels. In terms of pleasant living environments, the foundation will improve living conditions through urban-rural environment comprehensive treatment and beautiful countryside construction. Disaster relief for small and medium-sized natural hazards and projects on disaster prevention and mitigation will be implemented to enhance rural areas’ ability to tackle natural disasters. These will help make rural living environments safer, more convenient, and more beautiful. In terms of human development, projects on education, health, and providing care to special groups will be carried out. Efforts will be made to promote the development of public welfare sector, support social organizations to participate in rural revitalization, and implement public welfare partner supporting projects. More public participation will be called for rural revitalization and public welfare. 

The foundation was initiated by the CPC Huayuan County Committee and the Huayuan County People’s Government. The original fund amount was 4 million yuan, which was earmarked by the county finance authority and donated by companies. At the founding ceremony, 80 enterprises, foundations, and resident units at provincial and prefectural level in villages donated money and materials to the foundation, and the amount of the fund has increased to 54.6585 million yuan. 

This article is from Hunan Provincial Government www.enghunan.gov.cn. 

Translator: Xiao Juan 

Chinese source: Hunan Channel of People’s Daily