From 1982 to 1985, Xi Jinping served as deputy secretary and then secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Zhengding County Committee in Hebei Province.

Xi Jinping presided over the formulation of nine measures to attract talent in Zhengding, Hebei Province, March 1983. Hebei Daily published a front-page headline highlighting the initiative on March 29 of that year. (File photo)

Through his research, he identified that the key factor restricting Zhengding's economic development was the shortage of talents with expertise in business operations, management, and technology. He thus made talent development an urgent priority and strategic focus for revitalizing Zhengding.

Xi dedicated himself to cultivating and attracting talent, leveraging every possible method to perfect the "art of talent management." He made the most of local talent, brought in over 680 experts from elsewhere in just two years, and set up an advisory board for the county. By building bridges with universities and research centers and rolling out training programs, he steadily raised the skill level of the local workforce.

Yearning for talent, Xi often visited people with expertise in person. His nighttime meeting with Wu Baoxin is an often-told story. Wu was an engineer who had mastered a new technique to make foot powder.

Upon learning that Wu Baoxin was interested in coming to work in Zhengding, Xi wasted no time and decided to visit him that evening.

Xi and a colleague went to the neighborhood where Wu lived, but did not know his specific address.

When his colleague suggested trying again the next day, Xi said firmly, "No, we must find Wu Baoxin today. I will shout his name from south to north, and you from east to west."

The two of them called out Wu's name loudly until he finally hurried out from his building and grasped Xi's hand tightly, touched by their persistence.

That night, Wu decided to bring his technology to Zhengding. Within a year, this technology generated a net profit of 300,000 yuan.

Throughout the talent recruitment drive, Xi personally spearheaded the efforts. He proved himself to be both a strategist with vision and a doer with diligence.

(Compiled by Sun Tianren and Xu Zheqi)