Chinese Vice Premier Ding Xuexiang has urged northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region to accelerate high-quality economic and social development by capitalizing on its unique strengths and fostering new growth drivers.
Ding, also a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, made an inspection tour in Xinjiang from Thursday to Friday.
At the Urumqi China-Europe Railway Express Hub, Ding reviewed the efforts to advance the core area of the Silk Road Economic Belt.
He said the China-Europe freight train service has helped build a new Eurasian transport network and created significant opportunities for Xinjiang's development.
He called for making full use of the region's geographical advantages to deepen economic and trade cooperation with neighboring countries and build Xinjiang into a golden corridor linking Asia and Europe and a gateway for China's opening up to the west.
Ding urged the region to develop multimodal transport, enhance the development of digital intelligence, and ensure the safe and stable operation of the China-Europe freight train service.
With the summer peak electricity demand approaching, Ding also visited the State Grid Xinjiang Energy Big Data Center to learn about energy supply and electricity transmission from Xinjiang to other parts of China.
He stressed the importance of ensuring stable energy production and supply by making better use of Xinjiang's abundant coal, oil, natural gas, wind and solar resources to meet local demand while helping ensure the country's summer power supply.
Ding also called for advancing the construction of a national strategic energy resource base, promoting well-planned renewable energy development and expanding power transmission capacity to facilitate the efficient delivery and consumption of clean electricity.
During a visit to Baosteel Group Xinjiang Bayi Iron and Steel Group, Ding urged greater efforts to develop and apply advanced technologies to support energy conservation, carbon reduction and the green transformation of industry in pursuit of the country's carbon peak and carbon neutrality goals.
When touring Xinjiang University and Xinjiang Industry Technical College, Ding learned about the development of higher education in ethnic minority regions.
He stressed leveraging Xinjiang's resources to advance the integrated development of education, science and technology, and talent cultivation. He called for deepened integration of production and education to support the development of new quality productive forces, while strengthening employment services and career guidance to encourage more graduates to build their careers and contribute to the region's development.
Ding also visited an exhibition marking the 70th founding anniversary of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, where he expressed hope that the region would make even greater progress on its new development journey.
Chinese vice premier stresses high-quality development during Xinjiang inspection
