Community secretary brings trust to Xiong'an residents

Each morning at about 8:30, Wang Weixiao begins her day with a brief meeting before heading out into the neighborhoods she serves in Xiong'an New Area, Hebei province.

The 34-year-old is the general Party branch secretary of Nanwenying Community. She leads a 14-member team responsible for around 8,000 residents.

"Our workstations are not in the office, but in the residential grids," she said. "Only by going out can we find problems."

Since taking the role in 2021, Wang has focused on day-to-day community needs rather than large-scale initiatives. Her team spends mornings visiting households, checking on elderly residents, and responding to practical concerns.

"It's about small things — a broken light or help with pension paperwork—but these affect people's quality of life," she said.

Nanwenying Community is home to relocated residents from surrounding areas and newcomers from across the country, reflecting the broader changes in Xiong'an, a State-level development zone established in April 2017 about 100 km southwest of Beijing.

Wang said close contact with residents has built strong trust. "When your heart is with the people, they respond with warmth," she said, noting that some elderly residents greet her like a family member.

In one case, she helped a couple who had recently moved to the area find cleaning jobs within the community, allowing them to work close to home.

Xiong'an has been designed as a "15-minute living circle", where essential services are within easy reach. According to Wang, it takes only five minutes to reach the kindergarten, 10 minutes to reach the vegetable store and primary school, and 15 minutes to reach the middle school. Health service stations, elderly care stations, and large parks are all around.