Chinese Premier Li Qiang, on an inspection tour in southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region on Friday and Saturday, urged the remote plateau region to give priority to ecological protection and development of competitive industries in accordance with local realities.
During the inspection, Li, also a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, called for efforts to advance high-quality building of major national-level projects, promote economic and social development, and improve the people's well-being in Xizang.
At a Sichuan-Xizang Railway tunnel construction site in Nyingchi, Li spoke highly of the workers who had overcome complex geological and climate conditions to resolve difficulties in fulfilling the project.
Li said the Sichuan-Xizang Railway carries great significance to the development of Xizang and to the improvement of the livelihood of the local population.
Quality and safety should be put first, Li stressed, highlighting adherence to science-based and orderly construction of the project.
Li called for an accelerated construction of supporting infrastructure, such as power and communication facilities, so as to ensure smooth progress of the project.
The premier also visited a hydropower station dam and a wetland in Nyingchi, inspecting construction sites and hearing the work report on the execution of a hydropower project in the lower reaches of the Yarlung Zangbo River, and on local efforts in ecological and environmental protection.
Li said the huge hydropower project needs a long construction duration and carries profound influence, emphasizing the need to use advanced technologies, equipment, crafts and materials to ensure high-quality work and promote scientific, technological and industrial innovation in the relevant fields.
He underscored a special focus on ecological protection to make sure that the ecological environment will be prevented from damage.
Detailed efforts should be made in resident relocation and resettlement for the project, Li said, urging synergy between the building of the project and the increase of people's incomes.
In the regional capital city of Lhasa, Li visited a national demonstration area for modern agriculture, learning about development of Xizang's agriculture and animal husbandry and the Institute of Plateau Biology. Fruits, vegetables and other foods produced in the area were displayed to Li.
Li highlighted the need to strengthen the promotion of new agricultural and husbandry technologies, urging efforts to make breakthroughs in plateau seed breeding and to enlarge the scale and promote the development of competitive brands of local agriculture and animal husbandry based on modern industrial parks and characteristic industrial clusters.
He called for the cultivation of more well-trained farming human resources adept in knowledge of science, technology and management, highlighting innovation in building mechanisms for interaction with farmers to help them to get rich.
Appreciating the region's achievements in economic and social development, Li urged local officials to focus on the four main tasks of ensuring stability, facilitating development, protecting the eco-environment, and strengthening the development of frontier areas to advance the building of a modern socialist Xizang.
Chinese premier highlights ecological protection, competitive industry development in Xizang
