China's ruling Communist Party has begun testing in villages the community loudspeakers, a popular mode of information in the 1960s and 70s which eventually lost space to television and mobile phones, to highlight its achievements and significance of a key party meet next week.
Villages across China have been testing their loudspeakers along the streets and lanes to carry the voice of the Communist Party of China (CPC) for the party's 19th National Congress, which will be held here from October 18, the state-run Global Times reported.
The twice-in-a-decade CPC meeting is expected to give a second five-year term to party leader and President Xi Jinping.
The CPC has been ruling the country ever since the People's Republic was founded in 1949.
It is significant that the CPC is resorting to the traditional communication mode despite the fact that China has the largest number of mobile phones -- 724 million -- and a vast majority of them connected to internet and social media.
These community speakers in villages were an easier way to inform the people than other media and could bring the CPC and the Chinese people together better, the newspaper quoted officials as saying.
The village loudspeakers, which were quite popular in the 1960s and 1970s were gradually phased out and eventually forgotten with the arrival of television, Shanghai's Oriental Daily News reported.
The loudspeakers can also be used to publicly appraise party members who have done well, and this, the authorities say, will make them more vigorous and keep them motivated, the newspaper noted.
The 19th Congress is considered significant as it is set to endorse a second term for President Xi, who is regarded as the most powerful leader of the party and the country since Chairman Mao Zedong.
Xi is expected to emerge more powerful from the Congress with appointment of loyalists in key positions.
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