Chinese President Xi Jinping has provided strategic guidance for enhancing the development of southwest China's Chongqing Municipality and the broader western region during his inspection tour of the city from Monday to Wednesday.
The tour marks Xi's third visit to Chongqing since the 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China in 2012.
On Monday afternoon, Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, inspected the Chongqing International Logistics Hub Park, the first stop of his inspection, where he learned about the progress of the New International Land-Sea Trade Corridor in the country's western region.
Calling the logistics sector the arteries and veins of real economy, Xi underscored the importance of the corridor in promoting the high-level opening up of China's western and inland regions.
He said that the construction of the corridor is of great significance to promoting the formation of an opening-up pattern featuring "building connections with other countries over land and sea while facilitating mutual assistance between eastern and western regions."
All related parties should make concerted efforts to do a good job in building and managing this signature project, so as to advance the high-level opening up in the western and inland regions, Xi said.
The hub park is the departure station for both China-Europe freight trains and rail-sea inter-modal trains of the New International Land-sea Trade Corridor in western China. The corridor, situated in the hinterland of China's western region, connects the Silk Road Economic Belt to the north, the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road to the south, and integrates with the Yangtze River Economic Belt, playing a vital strategic role in the coordinated regional development.
Xi then visited a railway container station, and had cordial exchange with drivers and other workers there. He underscored the significance of logistics in promoting greater openness and development of the western region, and encouraged the workers to continue working hard, achieving new progress and making more contributions.
Xi also heard reports on Chongqing's progress in promoting the development of the Chengdu-Chongqing economic circle, and watched an exhibition on the city's achievements in sci-tech innovation and industrial development.
When visiting Minzhu Village Community in the city's Jiulongpo District on Monday afternoon, an old residential community where renovation began in early 2022, Xi learned about the progress of the renovation work and services available for local residents.
Xi noted that as a major aspect of the urban renewal, renovation of old residential communities is a project that delivers real benefits to local people. It is important to summarize and promote experience in this regard to deliver more benefits to a larger number of community residents.
In the community's service center, Xi was briefed on the progress in improving community governance and reducing burden on grassroots management.
"People's livelihood is of utmost importance in Chinese modernization. All the work of the CPC is intended to ensure a happier life for the people. I wish you a happy and healthy life here, " Xi told local residents.
On multiple occasions, Xi emphasized that urban governance is an important part of accelerating the modernization of China's system and capacity for governance and efforts should be made to ensure scientific, precise and intelligent urban management,
On Tuesday morning, Xi visited Chongqing's digital urban operation and governance center, where he was briefed on local efforts to accelerate urban digital transformation and exploring new ways for megacity governance, and watched the demonstration of system application.
He stressed that it is necessary to scientifically plan and build big data platforms and network systems, strengthen joint command and coordination among all parties, and effectively improve execution capacity.
The development of the western region, which features extensive geographical expanse, is pivotal to China's overall development. Addressing imbalances and inadequacies in regional development in this area has been a major focus of Xi's agenda.
On Tuesday afternoon, Xi chaired a symposium on boosting the development of western region in the new era.
He stressed efforts to further form a new pattern of greater protection, openness, and high-quality development, and enhance the overall strength and sustainable development capability of the region.
On Wednesday morning, Xi listened to work reports from the CPC Chongqing municipal committee and the city's government.
Noting that Chongqing's manufacturing sector has a solid foundation, and its talent resources in science and education are abundant, Xi said that it is imperative for the city to build a modern industrial system with the advanced manufacturing sector as its backbone.
He called for efforts to further advance the building of the Chengdu-Chongqing economic circle, consolidate the ecological shields and further expand high-level opening up.
Xi noted that Chongqing should fully act on the principle that a city should be built by the people and for the people, and actively explore a new path of modernization in megacity governance.
He called for more efforts to make city governance smarter, more efficient and more targeted, to vigorously promote the integrated development of urban and rural areas, and promote new urbanization with focus on county (district) seats, and promote rural revitalization across the board.
Xi charts course for development in Chongqing, western region
