Xi Jinping, who was appointed secretary of the Shanghai Municipal Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC) on March 24, visited Yinxing Street, a community in downtown Yangpu District, shortly after taking office, to gain first-hand information about Shanghai.

Walking up the street and shaking hands with residents, Xi was visibly taking a citizen-centered approach.

Together with Mayor Han Zheng, Xi on Thursday visited places including the community health service center on Yinxing Street and the home for the aged, where he chatted with residents, including centenarian Zhang Xiuqing.

Xi, 54, who previously served as Party secretary of Zhejiang, also toured the venues of the first and second CPC congresses in Shanghai.

He is not the only official to adopt such a style.

Li Jianguo, the newly appointed Party sectary of Shandong Province, Zhao Hongzhu, the new Party secretary of east China's Zhejiang Province, Zhao Leji, the new Party secretary of Shaanxi Province in northwest China, Qiang Wei, the new Party secretary of Qinghai Province, and Zhang Gaoli, the new party secretary of Tianjin City, all appointed to their present posts in March, have all visited grassroots units and sought to understand the opinions and feelings of ordinary people.

Yin Jizuo, deputy chairman of the Shanghai Federation of Social Sciences Community, commented: "All six regional Party secretaries are practicing what they have said. They are putting their commitment to pay close attention to people's livelihoods and to be a good government employee into action," said Yin.

At the annual session of the National People's Congress last month, Chinese President Hu Jintao urged officials to be "well-prepared for crises, committed to their work and frugal" and to maintain the highest possible standards in the performance of their duties.

The six new regional Party leaders all pledged to remain clean and honest, to take a no-nonsense approach to graft drive during their tenures, and to press ahead with reforms and opening up.

(Xinhua News Agency April 7, 2007)