President Xi Jinping has encouraged college students to get to know their country and achieve their true value as the nation comes "closer than ever" to its goal of rejuvenation.

Xi made the remarks on Tuesday in a letter replying to college students who took part in the third China College Students' "Internet Plus" Innovation and Entrepreneurship Competition.

The students wrote to Xi earlier this year about how they used business startup programs to address local need for development and help boost efforts in eradicating poverty in Yan'an, Shaanxi province.

Yan'an was once a home to China's revolutionary bases before the founding of the People's Republic of China in 1949, and it has been underdeveloped.

In April and July, around 100 groups taking part in the competition went to Yan'an to help local people eliminate poverty and live a well-off life.

In the reply to the students on Tuesday, Xi said he is glad to know that the students have achieved progress and received inspiration during their stay at the hometown of China's revolution.

The students have integrated their dreams of youth into the Chinese Dream, and have projected the upbeat look of the modern Chinese youth when they followed the paces of revolutionary predecessors there, Xi said.

"As long as the younger generation of the country have ideals, pursuits and shoulders, there will be endless power of youth supporting the Chinese nation's rejuvenation," Xi wrote.

It is hoped the students will improve their talent and abilities via innovation and entrepreneurial activities and strengthen their willpower through hard work, Xi said.

As the country has set the goal of eliminating poverty by 2020, Yan'an reduced its registered population of poor residents to 10,200 people as of the end of last year, according to the city's information office.

zhangyunbi@chinadaily