Xi stresses economic restructuring in northeast tour
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E-mail Xinhua, May 26, 2016
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Chinese President Xi Jinping visits an Ecological Economic Development Zone in Yichun, northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, May 23, 2016. Xi Jinping made an inspection tour in Heilongjiang from May 23 to 25. [Photo by Li Tao/Xinhua] |
President Xi Jinping pledged firm action on economic restructuring during a three-day inspection tour of northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, traditionally a center of heavy industry.
As he visited several cities in Heilongjiang from Monday to Wednesday, Xi stressed pushing forward the supply-side reform to bring a significant upgrade of industrial structure and productivity, urging Heilongjiang to be fully committed to upgrading old industries and nurturing new ones.
During the tour, Xi visited a tree plantation, rice cooperative, Heixiazi Island, Hezhe minority village, technology companies and other places.
He also called for bolstering agricultural development and food safety, improving quality of life for all ethnic groups and ensuring national cybersecurity.
Economic restructuring
At a critical stage of economic restructuring, but a time of bright prospects, only supply-side reform will bring a significant upgrade of industrial structure and productivity, Xi told a meeting of senior Heilongjiang officials.
"If we hesitate in making decisions and do things halfway, we will lose this rare opportunity," he said, stressing that it is important to actually carry out the policies.
Heilongjiang cannot afford to be half-hearted in upgrading old industries and nurturing new ones, he said. While maintaining the dominant position of state-owned enterprises, non-public sectors should be encouraged and supported, he added.
With vast areas of dense forest, the provincial lumber industry is feeling the effects of a full ban of logging. Visiting Yichun, a city in the forest, the president restated the importance of environmental protection and demanded concerted efforts to establish new industries other than logging.
Impressed by blueberry plantations in Yichun, Xi told local government and businesses to be aware of changes in the market and diversify their business models.
At a state tree plantation, Xi visited plantation employee Liu Yangshun, his family and neighbors. He assured them that the government would help them through the difficulties brought by restructuring, but encouraged them to seek new ways to make a living through their own determination and resources.
Better life for all
Amid complex domestic and international economic conditions, it is crucial to protect and improve people's quality of life through more public funding to address concerns such as employment, education, healthcare, housing, pensions and poverty, Xi said during the tour.
He also stressed that public policies and measures should have a stronger basis in research and reflect public opinion, saying the public must be kept fully informed of policy.
China will definitely become more prosperous and quality of life will definitely improve if all ethnic groups pull together, Xi said while visiting a Hezhe minority village.
China's 56 ethnic groups are one family and none will be left behind on the road to prosperity, according to Xi.
The Hezhe is one of China's smallest ethnic groups with a population of only 5,000, mostly in Heilongjiang.
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