Chengde -- Chinese President Hu Jintao on Sunday visited a county of ethnic minority in north China to inspect rural development and extend his New Year greetings.

Chinese President Hu Jintao chats with a villager during a visit to the Weichang Manchu and Mongolian Autonomous County in Chengde, north China's Hebei Province, December 31, 2006. The Chinese president the county of ethnic minority to inspect rural development and extend his New Year greetings.[Xinhua]

Braving chilly wind, Hu, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, came to the Weichang Manchu and Mongolian Autonomous County in Chengde, north China's Hebei Province.

At the Yudaokou village, Hu asked about the village economy, such as industrial development, the implementation of favorable rural policies, the assistance for poor families and farmers' medical conditions.

Hu also visited the home of Tang Xiuying, an elderly lady of Manchu ethnic group whose youngest son died while rescuing comrades in the army. Tang became blind for deep sorrow after her son's death.

After wishing Tang good health, Hu went to the home of Mongolian Liu Dianru and chatted with him for a while. Then he went to the sheepfold to feed Liu's sheep, making the yard full of joyous laughter.

The villagers' medical service became the concerns of the president. He came to the village clinic and inquired about medicine prices and supply and the charges from doctors. Hu encouraged village doctor Cao Jirong to keep improving his medical skills and better serve the villagers.

At a village boarding school, Hu praised the teachers for their dedication of teaching at the underdeveloped area and called for more support for rural teachers.

The village's country fair was held on Sunday, at which villagers bought food and other daily necessities. Hu chatted with some fair-goers and asked them about market supply.

The president also visited several local companies and stressed the importance of helping farmers get wealthy by bolstering industries with local characteristics.

After listening to provincial officials' working report, Hu said local governments should seize the current opportunities and achieve development with innovation.