On the occasion of International Children's Day, celebrated in China on June 1st, the care for the youngest generation remains one of the issues that Chinese President Xi Jinping has consistently given exceptional attention.

From eyesight and physical fitness to overall development, Xi Jinping repeatedly emphasizes that a strong country needs a healthy and capable younger generation. He believes that children should study diligently, exercise regularly, and develop not only their knowledge but also their physical fitness. He is convinced that the future of the country is closely linked to the growth and development of young people.

His concern for the health of children has been repeatedly demonstrated during visits to schools throughout the country. In April 2020, during an inspection trip to Shaanxi Province, he visited a primary school in Laoxian Township, Pingli County. During a conversation with fifth-grade students, he was interested not only in their studies and daily lives but also in their health. When he noticed that relatively few children were wearing glasses, he expressed concern and pointed out that the increasing number of children with vision problems has long been a source of worry for him. At the same time, he pointed out the deterioration of physical fitness due to lack of exercise.

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Xi Jinping urged children to develop both their minds and bodies, emphasizing that good physical fitness is an essential prerequisite for healthy development. On International Children's Day in 2023, he visited the Yuying School in Beijing, where he watched students playing basketball, jumping rope, and during physical education classes. According to him, physical development is crucial for children and adolescents, and sports are the most effective way to build a healthy and strong body.

He also emphasized the need for a sufficient number of qualified physical education teachers and called on families, schools, and society as a whole to create conditions for improving children's physical fitness.

This emphasis on sports and a healthy lifestyle has also translated into specific measures. In 2024, Chinese authorities issued a directive requiring primary and secondary schools to promote physical activity during breaks. Schools are also required to include a daily 30-minute block of physical activity to help reduce eye strain and vision problems. In many schools, breaks have been extended from ten to fifteen minutes to give children more space to spend time outdoors and exercise.

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According to a survey by the Chinese Ministry of Education in 2024, the rate of myopia among students has been decreasing for the fourth consecutive year. In 2024, it reached 50.3 percent, meeting the target of an annual reduction of half a percentage point.

Xi Jinping's expectations for children extend beyond the area of physical health. He supports the development of moral values, intellectual abilities, physical fitness, aesthetic sensibility, and work skills. He also encourages young people to study in order to contribute to the building of a strong country and national rejuvenation, and to fulfill the expectations of their parents, the Communist Party of China, and society as a whole.

During a meeting with students at the Beijing Haidian Minzu Primary School before International Children's Day in 2014, he quoted an old Chinese saying: "Heroes are born among young people."

CMG