May 21 marks the first anniversary of China's adoption of a guideline to further reduce the excessive burdens of homework and after-school tutoring for primary and junior middle school students. President Xi Jinping has spoken about the importance of quality education for all-round development on multiple occasions. Xi is also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission. Edited excerpts of Xi's speeches on this topic since 2013 follow: 

Excerpts from Xi's video message for the first anniversary of the UN Global Education First Initiative on September 25, 2013

 Excerpts from Xi's speech at the National Education Conference on September 10, 2018

Excerpts from Xi's speech at the National Education Conference on September 10, 2018

Excerpts from Xi's speech at the National Education Conference on September 10, 2018 

Excerpts from Xi's speech at the National Education Conference on September 10, 2018

Excerpts from Xi's report to the 19th CPC National Congress on October 18, 2017

Sources: Xi Jinping: The Governance of China (I&III), Beijing Review and Ycwb.com