Letter writer: Jiang Xintong, a teenage girl who lives in a migration replacement community in Shaanxi province.

Date: February 25, 2014

Keywords: Ecological and environmental protection

Jiang Xintong handed her letter to Premier Li on Jan 26, during his visit to Shaanxi province.

Premier Li said in his reply that it is ‘complicated’ to balance development and the environment. He continued: “China has done its utmost over many years to lift more than 600 million people out of poverty. However, just as you said in your letter, we should also “show concern for Mother Nature”. We are looking for the best answer to the problem. China aims to develop in an eco-friendly way, allowing people and nature to coexist harmoniously. Let’s work together for our country’s development, with beautiful scenery everywhere.”

Letter writers: Shi Ji, Huang Hesong, Hefei, capital of Anhui province.

Date: March 4, 2014

Keyword: Development

Shi Ji and her friend Huang Hesong created a cartoon for Premier Li in February. They sent it together with a letter.

The Premier replied on Mar 4, praising the rapid development of Hefei and Anhui, and conveying his wishes for a better tomorrow for everyone.

Letter writers: Teachers and students, Li Zhai Middle School, Shanxi province.

Date: June 12, 2014

Keyword: Education innovation

Three decades ago, when Premier Li was the standby secretary of the Secretariat of the Central Committee of the Communist Youth League, he visited Li Zhai Middle School, and called the school’s extracurricular activities “practical education activities”.

On May 23 this year, all the teachers and students of Li Zhai Middle School wrote to the Premier to tell him about the successes achieved through practical education activities. The Premier replied on Jun 12, encouraging them to carry on this good tradition, continue exploring new ways of running a school in a mountainous area, and carefully implement course reform. Li also encouraged them to cultivate more talents for society, and accumulate experiences for education development in the country’s central and western regions as well as in its rural areas.

Letter writer: Gulimire Mitwula, a Xinjiang Uygur teenage girl, Jiangpu Senior High School, Jiangsu province, and her “father in Nanjing”.

Date: August 15, 2014

Keyword: National unity

Gulimire Mitwulam, a Uygur from Xinjiang, wrote to Premier Li in April to express her outrage at recent events and her determination to resist terrorism.

The Premier invited Gulimire and four other student representatives from her school to visit Beijing in June. She wrote to the Premier after realizing her “Beijing dream”, saying that she hoped to be an envoy for ethnic unity. In August, Li wrote to the teenager, praising her and saying that every ethnic group is part of the nation — and there would be more harmony among China’s ethnic groups if everyone plays a role.

Li also praised Gulimire’s “father in Nanjing” Zhou Youguang, and Liang Jun who takes care of the teen in the absence of her parents. “National unity is the eternal theme, we must all make unremitting efforts,” he wrote.

Letter writers: Volunteers of Jilin University Bethune Volunteers Association.

Date: September 23, 2014

Keyword: Volunteer

The year 2014 marked the 20th anniversary of Jilin University Bethune Volunteers Association. In July, over 5,000 volunteers wrote to the Premier to tell him about the association’s achievements over the past 20 years.

Premier Li replied on Sept 23, saying that volunteer service is important for the advancement of society. And he said he hoped the volunteers continue to help those in need, and devote themselves to study and maintaining their integrity.

Letter writers: Teachers and students, Hope Primary School, Anhui province.

Date: October 28, 2014

Keywords: Project Hope

Hope Primary School in Jinzhai County is the first such school in China.

At the beginning of 1990, when Premier Li was secretary of the Secretariat of the Central Committee of the Communist Youth League, he went to Jinzhai county to select a site for the school, so as to launch Project Hope, a Chinese public service project which aims to establish schools — and improve education — in poverty-stricken rural areas.

On the occasion of the school’s 25th anniversary, representatives wrote a letter to the Premier on Oct 26 to tell him about its development, and they also enclosed some photos of the school.

Li replied soon after receiving the letter. He stressed the importance of Project Hope, saying that though it is difficult to eliminate poverty, everyone should always enjoy equal rights.

Letter writer: Bai Yunying, Li huimin, Thai students at Peking University.

Date: December 11, 2014

Keywords: culture exchange

Li and Bai met Premier Li in Thailand on Oct 13, 2013, and they wrote letters to him in October, expressing their love for China and its culture.

Li replied on Dec 11, and encouraged them to make new friends with young people in China, experience Chinese society and learn more about Chinese culture. He said that the cultures of China and Thailand are connected, and he hoped that the two students would try to promote cultural exchanges and friendly ties between the two countries.