Vice Consul of the US Consulate in Shanghai Visited HPI China Anhui Project Area

Mr. Matthew Towner, the Vice Consul of US Consulate in Shanghai visited the cow-raising and goat-raising communities at Hexian County and Shouxian County in Anhui Province during Mar. 3-4. The trip aimed at enhancing the understanding of the current situation in Chinese rural areas, the challenges they are confronting and the efforts input to improve their living.

Accompanied by Li Ruilin, HPI China Anhui Office Director, Mr. Towner visited the goat farms of Jia Qifu, a recipient of HPI Project of Jilong Hill Forest, Su Xingyou of Ousu Village at Shanhou Township and other 2 recipients. Hearing Jia built a new farm with the help from HPI funds, Mr. Towner was very delighted and asked Jia, "You are rich now. Are there many people coming to borrow money from you?" Jia answered: "I'm only better off. I wouldn't call myself a rich person." Knowing Su and other 2 recipients' goats increased from 20 to 80-odd, Mr. Towner asked, "Are you still seeking jobs in the cities?" They answered: "We earn 10,000 to 20,000 yuan a year raising goats, which is no less than the amount we earn from an urban job." The Vice Council remarked: "HPI projects plan a positive role in stabilizing the countryside" and proposed to have a picture taken with the farmers.

Back to Shanhou Township, Mr. Fan Rulong, Director of HPI Hexian County Office presented Mr. Towner the video of project progress and experts' assessment. Towner asked: "When was the video shot?" "In the year of 2003", replied by Fan. Towner gave a positive comment on the achievements made by Hexian County Project Office and happily received a tele-interview by Hexian County TV Broadcasting Station.

The next stop was at Shou County. The Vice Consul went to Jiagou Project Area, looking at HPI Project Technical Service Center, listening to reports on HPI project technical training and service from HPI volunteers, chairs of the Township Cow-raising and Goat-raising Associations and animal specialists, and inspecting the artificial insemination equipment and fine breed Boer Goats. The Vice Consul also went to Heilong Village to have a meeting with women recipients and visits to families. Meng Xinxiang, the governor of Shouxian County met with Mr. Towner, welcoming the distinguished guest and asked Towner to forward the gratitude from the whole county to US donors.

The trip though very short, impressed Mr. Towner who concluded: "I am very impressed to see in the project area, governments at all levels attach great importance to HPI projects. Your coordination is wonderful and the projects are very successful. I will introduce more friends to visit this area. I will write to the HPI headquarters on the severe flood disaster in Huaihe River watershed in 2003. Wish you a splendid career in the future. I will make another visit here before I leave the US Consulate in Shanghai."