Hu Fuming, a professor at Nanjing University, publishes the article "Practice is the Sole Criterion for Testing the Truth" in the Guangming Daily on May 11, 1978. [Photo/Xinhua]

Four outstanding people from Wuxi, Jiangsu province won the honorary title of "reform pioneer" at a meeting to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the reform and opening-up held in Beijing on Dec 18.

One attendee, Hu Fuming, a professor at Nanjing University, published the article "Practice is the Sole Criterion for Testing the Truth" in the Guangming Daily on May 11, 1978. It ignited a nationwide debate on the standards for seeking truth, was the "first spring thunder" that awakened the Chinese and heralded the emancipation of the Chinese people's minds.

"The meeting surely will greatly propel the whole Party and the people of all ethnic groups to continue to push forward reform and opening-up in the new era," the 83-year-old professor said, adding that he was deeply encouraged by President Xi Jinping's high appraisal of the achievements as well as his summary of the past 40 years' reform and opening-up and deployments for the future.

During Hu's stay in Beijing, he plans to visits his alma maters -- Peking University and Renmin University of China.

When he studied in Peking University, he wished to be a journalist. Before graduation, he was advised to further his study in the Philosophy Research Class at Renmin University of China. Actually, Hu had studied philosophy at an elective course in 1956, and the article was considered a "lever" of reform and opening-up from the perspective of philosophy.

"Wuxi is a place propitious for giving birth to great men. I hope more innovation talents and brave pioneers will emerge there," Hu added.

Wu Renbao (1928-2013),former Party secretary of Huaxi village, made a crucial contribution to its success. The village located in Jiangyin city, Wuxi, Jiangsu province, has been called the top village in the country. It is also a name card of Wuxi, known for its success in opening up and realizing common prosperity.

The name "Huaxi" is well-known for it is not only famous as one of the richest villages in China, and also brings to mind the Jiangsu Huaxi Group Corp, a company specialized in diversified operations with total assets of over 50 billion yuan ($7.32 billion).