China Distributes 300,000 TV Sets in Rural Areas

China, February 23: 300,000 television sets to people in the rural areas of the country in order to spread its propaganda deeper into the Chinese society. Also, the measure taken by the authorities is a step taken to tackle poverty in China's poor rural areas, The Telegraph reported. "Delivering television sets to local people enables us to feel the loving care of the Party and the country," Yuan Guanggen, from China's central Hubei province, who received a television, told the Xiangfan Daily newspaper.

"The scheme will help solve difficulties that impoverished families face in watching television and enrich their spiritual lives," said the Anhui Daily, the party mouthpiece newspaper in the eastern province of Anhui. "It will help to better disseminate Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era," the report added, referring to Chinese President Xi Jinping's political theory.

Xi became the most powerful Chinese leader since founder Mao Zedong when his theory was included in the Communist Party at its national congress meeting in Beijing last year. Tsinghua and Peking universities, China's top academic institutions opened new departments dedicated to Xi's political theory last month. Many Chinese universities are planning to launch research institutes, focussing on the new theory.

Red banners and posters espousing the 'Xi Jinping thought' have been erected on street corners, modern tower blocks and shopping centres across the country. Local authorities said the deliveries of the televisions to the rural areas were hampered due to 'poor weather conditions". An official said in a statement, "Local governments also took on the challenge and mobilised whatever transportation tools on hand - cars, tractors, motorbikes and even horses to deliver the televisions to households for installation."