Xi calls for efforts to boost innovation ability in economic and social development

Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, visits an industrial park of Wanhua Chemical during an inspection tour in Yantai, east China's Shandong Province, June 13, 2018. (Xinhua/Xie Huanchi)

President Xi Jinping has called for efforts to implement a new vision of development in order to achieve high-quality growth, boost the ability of innovation in economic and social development, and satisfy people's ever growing needs for a better life.

Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, made the remarks during an inspection tour in east China's Shandong Province from June 12 to 14.

When visiting a national laboratory on marine science and technology in the city of Qingdao on Tuesday, Xi underscored the importance of understanding the ocean and accelerating the pace of innovation in marine science and technology to develop China into a major maritime power.

At a residential community in Licang District, Qingdao, Xi visited the community's canteen and talked with residents. He asked local authorities to provide more space for people's leisure activities and exercise, and improve services to residents by allocating more resources to the community level.

In Weihai City, Xi visited a battery relics and the museum of the Sino-Japanese war of 1894-1895. He talked with Party members taking a training course there and museum staff, saying that Chinese people must draw lessons from history and work hard to build China into a better and stronger nation.

When inspecting an ecological restoration project, Xi stressed that good ecological environment is an important basis for sustainable and healthy economic and social development. He urged authorities to give higher priority to ecological conservation.

On Wednesday, Xi visited the city of Penglai, once a starting point of the ancient Maritime Silk Road. He asked officials to learn from history and enhance protection of cultural relics.

While visiting the industrial park of Wanhua Chemical in Yantai city, Xi stressed the importance of independent innovation to make breakthroughs in the development of key technology.

Xi visited the Yantai base of CIMC Raffles and inspected submerged oil drilling platform and other marine engineering equipment manufactured by the firm.

Xi talked with company officials and workers, and stressed that state-owned enterprises (SOEs), especially central SOEs, must strengthen their independent innovation capacity and develop more advanced equipment for the country.

On Thursday morning, Xi made a trip to a high-end fault tolerant computer production base of the Inspur Group in the high-tech zone of Jinan, capital of Shandong Province.

He inspected the assembly line and was briefed by company officials on their efforts in building an intelligent factory and improving products quality and efficiency.

Xi stressed that it is very important to set specific target and path for a country's development, while reiterating the importance of innovation.

After leaving the Inspur Group, Xi visited Sanjianxi Village, Zhangqiu District in Jinan, where he stressed the importance of talent to realize rural vitalization.

For agricultural and rural work, the key point lies in increasing farmers' income, Xi said while visiting the home of one of the villagers.

On Thursday afternoon, Xi heard the work report by the Party committee and government of Shandong Province.

He urged the province to implement the spirit of the Party's 19th National Congress and the thought on socialism with Chinese characteristics for a new era and stick to the underlying principle of pursuing progress while ensuring stability.

With the supply-side reform as the main clue, reforms should be made to improve quality, boost efficiency and upgrade the driving force of economic development, Xi said.

He also called for efforts to advance industrial upgrading, innovation-driven growth and infrastructure upgrading, build Shandong into a strong maritime province, enhance opening up and reform and make progress in realizing high-quality growth.

As a major agricultural province, it is Shandong's responsibility to ensure grain security of the country, Xi said, calling for efforts to ensure grain production, optimize agricultural structure, increase farmer's income, win the battle against poverty, implement the rural vitalization strategy, and develop Shandong into a model of rural vitalization.

Xi underlined the importance of improving people's well-being, which is the fundamental purpose of development. Solid efforts should be made to address social issues such as employment, education and social security to ensure social justice.