With a remarkable 37-year military career, Shi Bingqi returned to his hometown of Dazhuang village in Hejian city, North China's Hebei province, after retirement in 2018.

Over the past seven years, Shi has rooted himself in the countryside, leading Dazhuang onto the prosperous path as the village's Party secretary.

"I am a soldier at heart no matter where I am. I stand ready to serve the people as always," he said.

Shi joined the army in 1978 at the age of 18 with a fervent desire to serve the country. The resolute spirit and selfless dedication became ingrained in his very being ever since.

Driven by a deep-rooted passion to uplift his hometown, Shi moved back to the village with his wife in 2018 and embarked on a new chapter of service to his community.

Shi Bingqi, a deputy to the National People's Congress (NPC), attends a plenary meeting of the Hebei province delegation at the third session of the 14th NPC in March 2025. [Photo provided to npc.gov.cn]

Shi seamlessly transitioned into his role as a village leader, embodying the same steadfast commitment to serving the people. Under his leadership, Dazhuang village transformed from a struggling community to a shining model of rural vitalization.

Shi's vision for the village centered around enhancing agricultural productivity and increasing farmers' incomes. Through initiatives such as land consolidation and the establishment of a village agricultural product showcase center, he propelled the village’s collective economy to new heights.

By spearheading reforms in collective property rights and establishing an agricultural cooperative, Shi catalyzed the transition from traditional vegetable farming to large-scale cultivation and marketing. In 2024, the collective economic income of Dazhuang exceeded 200,000 yuan ($27,843).

Shi Bingqi, Party secretary of Dazhuang village in Hejian city, North China's Hebei province, and a deputy to the National People's Congress, works in an orchard in his village. [Photo provided to npc.gov.cn]

Beyond economic development, Shi focused on holistic improvements in the village, including comprehensive upgrades in infrastructure, landscaping and community unity and harmony. Thanks to his efforts, Dazhuang village witnessed harmonious resolution of disputes, economic prosperity and an overall enhancement in residents' well-being and sense of security.

Since he was elected as a deputy to the 14th National People’s Congress (NPC) in 2023, Shi recognized the broader challenges facing rural communities and embarked on a mission to advocate for high-quality rural development and the cultivation of a skilled workforce.

Through extensive visits to over 200 villages, he found that while the rural economic growth gained a good momentum, there are still issues restraining agricultural and rural development, such as weak collective economies, a lack of competitiveness and talent shortages.

"Rural vitalization is a relay race. We should not only solve current challenges but also pave the way for future generations,” Shi said, adding that talent is the most crucial factor in rural vitalization.

He noted that building a high-quality talent pool in rural areas is not only a practical requirement for rural vitalization but also an aspiration from the grassroots population.

Shi Bingqi (center), Party secretary of Dazhuang village in Hejian city, North China's Hebei province, and a deputy to the National People's Congress, talks with his fellow villagers about the growth of wheat. [Photo provided to npc.gov.cn]

Based on the opinions and suggestions he collected from local residents through field visits and research, Shi submitted suggestions at this year's NPC session to comprehensively promote high-quality development of rural collective economies, strengthen talent cultivation to boost high-quality rural vitalization and nurture social etiquette to foster new cultural norms within rural communities.

"We need to attract a wide range of villagers and industry professionals to boost rural collective economies, and continuously optimize talent structure. Attracting talent is not enough, we also need to find a way to retain them, and encourage more outstanding individuals to engage in rural vitalization," Shi said.

He also stressed the necessity to develop new types of rural collective economies tailored to local conditions, broaden new growth paths and explore new pathways for rural development.

Shi's commitment to rural vitalization is unwavering, as he continues to lead Dazhuang village towards a brighter future. "I will fulfill my duty as an NPC deputy and bring more voices from the grassroots to NPC sessions,” he said.

Shi Bingqi (center), Party secretary of Dazhuang village in Hejian city, North China's Hebei province, and a deputy to the National People's Congress, visits his fellow villagers. [Photo provided to npc.gov.cn]

Zhang Weiqi and Zha Wei contributed to this story.