Xi: A leader keeping children in mind (2)

Students practice wushu, or martial arts, on the playground at a primary school in Pingli county in Northwest China's Shaanxi province, Sept 7, 2020. [Photo/Xinhua]

A brighter future

"I am happy to see many of the children here don't wear glasses," Xi said when visiting students at a primary school in Pingli county in Northwest China's Shaanxi province on April 21, 2020.

"It is a concern that many children wear glasses these days, as is their physical wellbeing, which has been affected due to a lack of exercise. Sharpen your mind and toughen your body. What I mean by 'toughen your body' is exercise more," Xi told the pupils in the classroom.

After reading a newspaper article on the prevalence of myopia among students, Xi made an instruction in 2018 to urge more action to protect the eyesight of children.

In subsequent years, China's education authorities have rolled out measures to reduce the workload of students to allow children more outdoor time and restrict access to electronic devices.

By 2020, the rate of myopia among schoolchildren dropped by 0.9 percentage points compared with 2018.