Wei Zhenling, the deputy chief procurator of the People's Procuratorate of Liuzhou and a member of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, speaks during the fourth session of the 13th CPPCC National Committee. [Photo/Hechi Daily]

Huanjiang Maonan autonomous county in Hechi, Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region has gone through huge changes thanks to China's completed victory over extreme poverty.

"I thought my hometown would never be connected with the outside world unless miracles happened," said Wei Zhenling, the deputy chief procurator of the People's Procuratorate of Liuzhou and a member of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, who is originally from Huanjiang county.

Maonan county is one of the 28 ethnic minority areas with the smallest population in the country - the population of Maonan county is just 107,000.

During the fourth session of the 13th CPPCC National Committee, Wei said that the rugged environment had limited Maonan people's imagination and their pursuit of a better life.

The village in Huanjiang that Wei came from was very remote. People had to go over mountains to travel to more urban areas. The village was also short of water resources - people had to go and fetch water from deep holes.

"When he was 12, my father used to carry his luggage and walk all the way, alone, to the middle school in the downtown area, from sunrise until sunset," added Wei.

Currently, flat and wide roads have connected all villages in Huanjiang and each household has gained access to clean tap water. Improvements have been made in local education and medical institutions.