Xi stresses striving for full revitalization of northeast China

Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, convenes a key meeting on striving for the full revitalization of northeast China in the new era and delivers an important speech, in Harbin, northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, Sept. 7, 2023. [Xinhua/Xie Huanchi]

HARBIN -- Chinese President Xi Jinping has stressed "writing a new chapter" in striving for the full revitalization of northeast China as he convened a key meeting in Heilongjiang Province earlier this week.

Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, made the remarks at the meeting held in the provincial capital Harbin on Thursday afternoon.

To revitalize northeast China in the new era, the president called for both increasing support and stimulating self-motivation. He emphasized the need to blaze a path of high-quality and sustainable development with more courage and concrete actions.

Cai Qi, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and director of the General Office of the CPC Central Committee, and Ding Xuexiang, also a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and vice premier of the State Council, attended the meeting.

Xi noted that the provinces of Liaoning, Jilin, and Heilongjiang and the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region have made new progress in revitalizing northeast China following a relevant meeting in 2018.

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.

To push for the full revitalization of northeast China, the real economy is the foundation, sci-tech innovation is the key, and industrial upgrading is the direction, he added.

It is also important to promote the digital and intelligent transformation of traditional industries and make them more internet-based, Xi said, calling for fostering sound industrial chains and 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.

Xi 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 to ensure that grain production and supply are abundant at regular times and reliable during extreme circumstances, said Xi.

Xi stressed advancing opening up and cooperation internally and externally, and called on the northeastern region to integrate closely into Belt and Road cooperation and play a bigger role in facilitating domestic economic flows and linking domestic circulation and international circulation.

Xi urged efforts to systematically lay out and develop a modern infrastructure system in northeast China, speed up the study and building of oil and gas pipelines, railway and high-speed railway networks, new-type power grids and power transmission channels, as well as new-generation mobile communications and data networks.

Xi stressed improving the overall quality of the population and supporting the full revitalization of northeast China with high-quality development of the population.

Vigorous efforts should go into developing public-interest childcare services and easing burden on families in childbearing, parenting and education while keeping the birth rate and population scale at a proper level, Xi said.

Policy support for fostering talent should be enhanced, and more entrepreneurship and innovation platforms should be established to help the northeastern region retain and bring in talent, Xi said.

Xi underlined more work to improve the political atmosphere, create a sound business environment, and spur enthusiasm for hard work and entrepreneurship.

Xi urged Party members and cadres to support the development of private companies, and proactively address their concerns and help them solve problems while ensuring no corruption emerges.

He underlined efforts to promote integrity and credibility, enhance the protection of intellectual property rights, and create a stable, transparent, regulated, and predictable legal environment for all business entities.

Work should be accelerated to defuse local government debt risks as well as address risks concerning medium-sized and small financial institutions to restore a healthy financial environment, Xi said.

He stressed that strengthening Party leadership and Party building is the fundamental guarantee for the full revitalization of northeast China.

Noting that parts of northeast China have been ravaged by severe flooding since the flood season started, Xi urged efforts to arrange post-disaster restoration and reconstruction, resume the order of production and life in the disaster-hit areas as soon as possible, and stay on high alert against the autumn flood season.

Ding Xuexiang called for studying and implementing the guiding principles of Xi's speech, making new breakthroughs in the full revitalization of northeast China to serve the country's overall development better.

Ding also stressed upholding the people-centered development philosophy and continuously enhancing people's sense of fulfillment, happiness, and security. 

Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, convenes a key meeting on striving for the full revitalization of northeast China in the new era and delivers an important speech, in Harbin, northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, Sept. 7, 2023. [Xinhua/Xie Huanchi]

Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, convenes a key meeting on striving for the full revitalization of northeast China in the new era and delivers an important speech, in Harbin, northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, Sept. 7, 2023. [Xinhua/Yin Bogu]

Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, convenes a key meeting on striving for the full revitalization of northeast China in the new era and delivers an important speech, in Harbin, northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, Sept. 7, 2023. [Xinhua/Xie Huanchi]