Xi stresses striving for full revitalization of northeast China

Chinese President Xi Jinping stressed during his ninth inspection tour this year that northeast China must firmly grasp its important missions in efforts to write a new chapter in striving for the region's full revitalization.

Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, made the instructions during the inspection in northeast China's Heilongjiang Province from Wednesday to Friday.

On Wednesday afternoon, Xi arrived in the city of Mohe in the Dahinggan Mountains to inspect the natural forest of a forest farm. He examined the growth of the natural forest, observed a display of crops growing under trees, and learned about the local efforts in aspects including deepening the reform of forest asset management.

Xi noted that equal emphasis must be placed on afforestation and forest protection, and it is urgent to make preparations in advance to preempt possible risks in order to make sure that the achievements made in decades, centuries and millennia will not be ruined overnight.

Subsequently, Xi rode to the northernmost village Beijicun, or North Pole Village, a riverside border village, where he was briefed how tourism with local characteristics was developed and how the locals turned their ecological advantages into development impetus. Xi also visited a local homestay courtyard and talked with local villagers.

Xi noted that forests are a great treasure trove that combines reservoirs, grain depots, bank vaults and carbon pools. He stressed the awareness that larger green coverage and forests mean stronger strengths and more wealth, calling for measures to enable people to increase their income through "under-forest economy" on the basis of ecological conservation.

He noted the importance of tourism sector in achieving high-quality development, stressing the protection of the Dahinggan Mountains, which boast unique tourism resources.

He urged policy support from local CPC committees and governments to ensure the development of both "under-forest economy" and tourist industry, in a bid to generate more income for local people from the local snow and ice resources.

Concerned with the post-flood reconstruction and living conditions of those affected, Xi on Thursday morning went to Longwangmiao Village in Shangzhi City of the provincial capital Harbin, where he checked the damage to rice crops and the reconstruction of damaged buildings, and visited a local household.

It is necessary to ensure the affected people have a warm and safe home through the winter, and it is imperative to speed up the repair of damaged houses, accelerate post-disaster reconstruction, minimize agricultural losses caused by disasters, and ensure the security of the affected people, Xi said.

On Thursday morning, Xi went to Harbin Engineering University to learn about the university's development and its contributions to China's national defense science and technology, and to observe its teaching and research achievements.

Xi urged Harbin Engineering University to carry forward the fine traditions of its predecessor People's Liberation Army Military Institute of Engineering, and meet the requirements for building a great modern socialist country and a strong military by doing a good job in work related to education, science and technology and talent, so as to make new contributions to building China into a leading country in education, science and technology and talent.

On Thursday afternoon, Xi convened a key meeting on promoting the full revitalization of northeast China. At the meeting, Xi stressed that northeast China must firmly grasp its important missions in efforts to write a new chapter in striving for the region's full revitalization.

To revitalize northeast China in the new era, the president called for efforts to focus on the primary mission of high-quality development and the strategic task of creating a new development pattern, ensure both development and security, and increase support and stimulate self-motivation. He emphasized the need to blaze a path of high-quality and sustainable development with more courage and concrete actions.

Noting that northeast China boasts rich resources, solid industrial foundations, favorable geological locations, and significant development potential, Xi pointed out that the region is now faced with new and great opportunities.

It is important for the region to push for industrial innovation via scientific and technological innovation, and accelerate the modernization of its distinctive industrial system, said Xi.

He urged faster transformation of local traditional manufacturing in a digitalized, internet-based, and smart manner, as well as formation of relatively complete industrial chains and industrial clusters.

He stressed the importance of cultivating emerging strategic industries, including new energy, new materials, advanced manufacturing, and electronic information, and accelerating the development of clean energy such as wind power, photovoltaic power, and nuclear power.

He called on the region to accelerate the modernization of agriculture and rural areas, saying that northeast China shoulders the main responsibility for ensuring stable production and supply of grain in the country.

It is imperative for northeast China to always place ensuring national food security as the top priority, improve overall grain production capacity, and ensure that grain production and supply are abundant at regular times and reliable during extreme circumstances, he said.

On Friday morning, Xi inspected the 78th Group Army headquartered in the country's northeast, where he called for comprehensively enhancing the troops' combat readiness.

Xi was then briefed by the CPC Committee of Heilongjiang Province and the provincial government on their work. Xi stressed that the Heilongjiang Province must firmly grasp its strategic position in the overall national development, and strive to open new ground for high-quality development.