Henan village head begs for funding in Beijing  

河南80后村主任在王府井街头举牌为村里招商(图)

最近，一条“河南村主任到北京街头举牌为村招商”的微博引起众多网友关注。原来，这名村主任是个80后小伙儿，名叫柴波波，现任焦作武陟县小董乡北耿村的村委会主任，村里的养羊合作社缺少资金，为了救活合作社才想起到北京街头举牌招商。[查看全文]

(ECNS) -- A young village leader in central China's Henan province was seen Thursday holding up a sign in downtown Beijing in the hopes of attracting investment for a sheep farm in his village.

A photo of the young man holding a sign saying "Village Head Invites Investment" in Beijing's popular Wangfujing pedestrian street soon made the rounds on China's social networking sites.

Netizens have had mixed attitudes about it. Some praised the man for being a dedicated village head, while some suspected he just wanted to achieve fame.

The man in the photo named Chai Bobo is the head of Beigeng village in Xiaodong township of Henan province.

Chai led his villagers to set up a co-operative sheep farm, but the venture failed due to a lack of money. "Since I am the village head I have to do something, even though I am reduced to begging," he told reporters.

Chai had already raised his sign in front of big department stores in Wangfujing and Sanlitun, but was forced to leave by guards. "I don't feel ashamed of what I'm doing," he said.

"I have tried other means, but they didn't get much attention. Holding up my sign here is better than waiting at home."

It is not the first time that Chai has sought attention in crowded places. Last winter, he appeared at a famous resort site in Zhengzhou, the capital of Henan province. Several investors showed interest, but no deals were struck.

The Xiaodong township office has confirmed that Chai is the head of Beigeng village.

Chai Xuejun, an official in the township, commended Chai Bobo for quitting his job at a local telecommunications bureau and working to help the villagers.

Chai Bobo told reporters on Sunday that three enterprises had contacted him and would visit the farm.