A 28-year-old post-graduate returning from abroad swept the elections for village chief in Yong Jia County, East China's Zhejiang Province at the beginning of this August, marking the first of those with his background nationwide, Guang Ming Daily reported.

Zhang Wenqiong is seen in this undated photo. [Wenzhou Economic Daily]

Zhang Wenqiong, a native of the village he heads, studied accounting and finance in London for five years in his early twenties before returning to his hometown, which he left at the age of seven for schooling.

"I will devote my utmost enthusiasm and new concepts and thoughts to the village," Zhang said in his policy platform he delivered after he was elected.

Xiao Keng is a small village with an annual income of 2,281 Yuan (US$ 286.20) per capita. Zhang contributed all of his savings of more than 1 million Yuan from part-time jobs at home and abroad to the village this April before he quit his job in the city.

Zhang explained he had not decided to run for village chief when he donated the money. There were suspicions that he made the financial contribution in bid to get attention before the vote. "I gave away my money merely because my hometown needs it," he said.

Three hundred and eighty five of the 405 villagers attending the vote cast their ballots for Zhang. "We are very happy to have a young man educated overseas voluntarily return and join in the construction of the village," said one voter, who traveled for more than one hour to place his vote. .

The former village chief, 62, was only too willing to step down. "I am too old and not in good health. I have been looking for a capable young man to replace me," he said.

"Nothing will be more substantial than my contribution to my hometown," Zhang said, refuting the idea that being a village head may be a waste of his talent in an interview with the Wenzhou Economic Daily.

"If my work is recognized by the villagers and I am able to make further contributions to the village, I will remain here for years," he told the Wenzhou Economic Daily.