Chinese President Xi Jinping has called for continuous efforts to build the manufacturing industry stronger to advance Chinese modernization during his recent tour of central China's Henan Province.
Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, also emphasized that Henan should focus on building a modern industrial system and strengthening its agricultural capacity, improving people's well-being and social governance, enhancing ecological and environmental protection, and promoting cultural prosperity, during his inspection tour of the cities of Luoyang and Zhengzhou in the province on Monday and Tuesday.
China is undergoing a profound transformation from being a major manufacturing country to becoming a manufacturing powerhouse. Accelerating the construction of a modern industrial system supported by advanced manufacturing is a key focus of concern of the Chinese president.
On Monday afternoon, Xi visited Luoyang Bearing Group Co., Ltd. Its predecessor was a factory established during China's inaugural five-year plan period (1953-1957). The five-year plan laid the industrial foundation via concentrated efforts to build "New China's" first steel production base and first auto manufacturer.
Xi visited the company's intelligent manufacturing plant to learn about the performance and applications of various types of bearing products. He inspected the intelligent production lines and had an amiable conversation with the workers.
He stressed that China must continue to strengthen the manufacturing sector, adhere to the principles of building self-reliance and strength, and master core technologies in key fields.
"China has always adhered to the path of developing the real economy. From the past reliance on imported matches, soaps and iron, to now becoming the world's largest manufacturing country with the most complete industrial categories, we have taken the right path. To achieve Chinese modernization, we must continue to improve our manufacturing industry, and hold the manufacturing technologies in our own hands. Only then can Chinese modernization truly be realized. Our hopes are placed on you," Xi told workers of the manufacturing group.
Xi then visited the White Horse Temple, originally built during the Eastern Han Dynasty (25-220), where he learned about the adaptation of Buddhism to the Chinese context and local efforts to preserve cultural relics.
He pointed out that the White Horse Temple has witnessed the introduction and development of the Buddhism, and its continuous adaptation to the Chinese context. History has proven that adhering to the principle that religions in China must be Chinese in orientation is entirely correct. Efforts should be made to actively guide religions to integrate with China's outstanding traditional culture and adapt to the socialist society.
At the Longmen Grottoes, an over 1,500-year-old UNESCO World Heritage site which also represents the pinnacle of Chinese stone carving art, Xi underlined the importance of preserving, inheriting and promoting these treasures of Chinese culture.
The integration of culture and tourism holds great potential, Xi said, requiring efforts to promote the high-quality development of the sector and turn it into a pillar industry that benefits the people and enriches their lives.
On Tuesday morning, Xi heard the provincial authorities' work report.
Xi emphasized that high-quality development is fundamental to advancing Chinese modernization. In the face of a complex external environment, China should unwaveringly focus on managing domestic affairs well and expanding high-standard opening up, he added.
Xi called for concrete efforts to maintain the stability of employment, businesses, the market and expectations.
As an economic powerhouse, Henan should strengthen its real economy as the bedrock of development and foster new quality productive forces tailored to local strengths, Xi said.
He also highlighted the need to enhance farmland protection and development, advance comprehensive rural revitalization through integrated urban-rural development, and strengthen the ecological conservation of key river basins.
Xi urged more efforts to strengthen social governance as Henan faces complex and diverse social issues due to its large population, high population density, and significant population mobility.
He also demanded the province enhance Party-building within new-type economic and social organizations and among groups in new forms of employment, emphasizing the need to improve public services, and forestall and defuse risks in key sectors to safeguard social stability.
Carrying out the education campaign to implement the Party central leadership's "eight-point decision" on improving work conduct is a major task for Party-building work this year, and the focus should be put on solving problems, Xi said.
As drought has lingered in certain regions of the country since the beginning of this year, Xi called for better water allocation to safeguard water supply for residents and meet agricultural irrigation needs.
Xi urged all regions to make thorough preparations for flood prevention and control as the flood season approaches.
Xi calls for stronger manufacturing industry to advance Chinese modernization
