Fujian urged to lead modernization

President Xi Jinping learns about dried seafood and the fishing harvest at a village in Dongshan county during an inspection tour in Zhangzhou, Fujian province, on Tuesday. (XIE HUANCHI/XINHUA)

President Xi Jinping has urged Fujian province to further deepen reform and promote high-quality development in all aspects, in a bid to play a pioneering role in the country's modernization drive.

He underlined the need for the coastal province in southeastern China to achieve greater progress in accelerating the construction of a modern economic system, make greater efforts to serve and integrate with China's new development paradigm, take bigger strides in exploring new paths for integrated development across the Taiwan Strait, and seek greater breakthroughs in creating a high quality of life.

Xi, who is also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, made the remarks during an inspection tour in Fujian on Tuesday and Wednesday.

The tour took him to Zhangzhou, where he visited a village, a memorial hall and a cultural park, learning about local efforts to advance rural vitalization across the board, carry forward revolutionary traditions and strengthen the protection of cultural heritage.

He told local farmers that China's countryside will surely have brighter prospects, and farmers will live a more prosperous life on the new journey in the new era.

Xi also traveled to Xiamen, where he visited the Xiamen Area of China (Fujian) Pilot Free Trade Zone, an important gateway for opening-up.

He pointed out that after more than 40 years of development, the Xiamen Special Economic Zone has undergone tremendous changes that were unimaginable in the past.

He emphasized the need for Fujian and Xiamen to adapt to the changing situation, steadily promote institutional opening-up, align with higher international standards, and make new contributions to further expanding high-level opening-up.

On Wednesday afternoon, Xi heard a work report by officials of the CPC Fujian Provincial Committee and the provincial government. He urged local authorities to blaze a trail in promoting the deep integration of scientific and industrial innovation.

It is essential to step up the establishment of a system to support comprehensive innovation, he said.

Xi also called for strengthening the construction of high-level scientific and technological innovation platforms, and implementing major actions for securing scientific and technological breakthroughs in key fields.

He underlined the need to enhance the role of enterprises in scientific and technological innovation, improve policies and mechanisms that facilitate financial support for technological innovation, and create a more conducive environment for innovation and talent development.

Furthermore, he emphasized the importance of promoting the development of the real economy and called for consolidating the strengths of traditional industries, vigorously promoting industrial transformation and upgrading, nurturing and expanding strategic emerging industries, and outlining strategic plans for future industries.

It is important to develop new quality productive forces tailored to local conditions and shape new advantages in industrial development, Xi added.

While emphasizing the need for Fujian to take the lead in comprehensively deepening reform and expanding high-level opening-up, the president called for focusing on key areas and crucial links with bolder moves.

He highlighted the importance of developing both the public and private economies to fully unleash the vitality of investment and entrepreneurship across society.

Prioritizing reforms in various aspects of people's livelihood is necessary, particularly those related to the immediate concerns of the public, he said.

Xi urged Fujian to implement the strategy of upgrading the pilot free trade zone, proactively align with major regional development strategies, deeply integrate with the high-quality construction of the Belt and Road, and build a demonstration zone for integrated development across the Taiwan Strait.

Efforts should be made to strengthen cultural exchanges across the Taiwan Strait to jointly promote Chinese culture, and to enhance Taiwan compatriots' sense of identity of the Chinese nation, culture and motherland, he added.

Xi urged Fujian to faithfully implement the decisions of the CPC Central Committee and strive for the better performance of economic operations in the fourth quarter, in order to meet the goals of economic and social development for the year.