On a recent inspection tour in east China’s Fujian Province, Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, Chinese president, and chairman of the Central Military Commission, emphasized the need for the province to fully implement the guiding principles of the 20th CPC National Congress and the Third Plenary Session of the 20th CPC Central Committee. He stressed the importance for the province to comprehensively implement the new development philosophy and uphold the general principle of pursuing development while ensuring stability. Xi also underscored the importance for Fujian to steadfastly pursue the goals of creating a new Fujian characterized by dynamic mechanisms, thriving industries, prosperous communities, and a beautiful environment, focusing its efforts in translating these objectives into realities. He called on Fujian to make new progress in accelerating the building of a modern economy, make greater achievements in serving and integrating into the new development paradigm, gain even greater strides in blazing a new path for integrated cross-Strait development, and achieve substantial breakthroughs in enhancing quality of life. He urged the province to deepen reforms across the board, promote high-quality development comprehensively, and strive for a leading role in China’s modernization drive.
From Oct 15 to 16, Xi, accompanied by Zhou Zuyi, secretary of CPC Fujian Provincial Committee and Provincial Governor Zhao Long, conducted an inspection and fact-finding tour in multiple sites including a rural area, a revolutionary education base, a cultural heritage site under government protection, and a free trade pilot zone in the cities of Zhangzhou and Xiamen.
On the afternoon of Oct 15, Xi first inspected Dongshan County in Zhangzhou City. The village of Aojiao, located in Chencheng Town in the southeast part of the county, is surrounded by the sea on three sides. In recent years, the village has found a new path of development by leveraging the sea to revitalize and develop itself. Xi walked around Aojiao Bay, inspecting the coastal environment and the appearance of the village, and he inquired in detail about the trading of dried seafood and fish products. Xi was glad to learn that many seafood products are in high demand, resulting in increased income for the villagers. Speaking to the villagers and fishermen who gathered around him, he said, “I visited your village 23 years ago, and it left a deep impression on me. Seeing the significant changes here today makes me feel gratified and emotional.” He said that rural areas will undoubtedly have a brighter future, and farmers will enjoy a more vibrant life on the new journey in the new era. He urged the village Party committee to play a leading role, guide villagers to make good use of the sea, and strive forward in achieving rural revitalization and common prosperity.
Xi then visited the Gu Wenchang Memorial Hall, where he learned about the inspiring deeds of Comrade Gu Wenchang and was briefed about how revolutionary traditions were carried forward. During the visit, he also engaged in cordial exchanges with representatives of teachers and students from Gu Wenchang Official Training College. Xi pointed out that public recognition is the key gauge to evaluate an official’s performance, calling on leaders and officials at all levels to learn from Comrade Gu, have a correct understanding of what it means to perform well, and bring benefits to local people during their term in office. He also asked the officials to engage in down-to-earth and persistent work to make achievements in the long run, and build a good reputation in the hearts of the people. “Learning from Gu’s example requires not only admiration, but deeds to follow his example in behaving and performing their duties,” Xi said.
At the Guandi cultural industrial park, Xi was briefed about local efforts in strengthening the protection of cultural heritage and promoting cultural exchanges across the Taiwan Strait. He stressed that cultural heritage is a precious legacy left by our ancestors and should be protected and inherited well.
On the morning of Oct 16, Xi inspected the Xiamen Area of China (Fujian) Pilot Free Trade Zone. He visited an exhibition showcasing the achievements in the construction of the pilot free trade zone, and was briefed about local work in further expanding reform and opening up, as well as in exploring a new path for integrated development across the Strait. He also talked with the staff at a comprehensive service hall. Over more than 40 years of development, Xiamen Special Economic Zone has experienced tremendous changes that were once unimaginable, he said. Today, the requirements for reform and opening up, both in depth and breadth, are higher than ever before. Fujian and Xiamen need to adapt to the changing situation, steadily advance institutional opening up, align with international high standards, and achieve more institutional and policy outcomes to contribute to the expansion of high-level opening up, Xi said.
On the afternoon of Oct 16, Xi listened to work reports from the CPC Fujian Provincial Committee and the provincial government. He affirmed what Fujian has achieved in various areas of its work and put forward clear requirements for the province’s work in the future.
Xi noted the need to explore new pathways for the deep integration of technological and industrial innovation. He called on the province to accelerate the building of a comprehensive innovation support system, promote the integrated reforms in education, technology, and talent systems in a coordinated manner, and strengthen the building of high-level scientific and technological innovation platforms. He also emphasized the importance of implementing major technological initiatives, enhancing the role of enterprises as major players in innovation, and improving financial policies and mechanisms that support technological advancement, so as to create a better environment for innovation and attracting talent.
He urged the province to firmly safeguard the real economy, consolidate the strengths of traditional industries, vigorously promote the transformation and upgrading of industries, cultivate and expand strategic emerging industries, make plans for future industries, develop new productive forces according to local conditions, and shape new advantages in industrial development.
Xi stressed efforts to comprehensively deepen reform and expand high-level opening up. He called for continued efforts to boldly practice and explore and reform on its own, with a focus on key sectors and links and economic structural reform as the spearhead. It is imperative to unswervingly consolidate and develop the public sector and unswervingly encourage, support, and guide the development of the non-public sector, and innovatively develop the “Jinjiang Experience” to fully stimulate the whole society’s vitality for investing and starting businesses. It is essential to prioritize reforms aimed at improving the people’s well-being, with a focus on what the people are thinking of and expect. Xi also called for efforts to further upgrade pilot free trade zones, align with major regional strategies, further integrate into high-quality cooperation under the Belt and Road Initiative, build a core zone of the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road, and consolidate and expand the important roles of the province as a link and channel in the interplay between domestic and international economic flows. He urged Fujian to build itself into a demonstration zone for integrated development across the Taiwan Strait.
Xi noted that Fujian should set an exemplary role in promoting coordinated regional development and integrated urban-rural development. It is imperative for the province to advance the mechanism for collaboration between mountainous and coastal areas, further coordinate their development and strengthen the complementarity of their functions. It is essential for Fujian to advance the building of the National Ecological Civilization Pilot Zone, build a great pattern of protection and governance from the mountains to the sea, strengthen overall governance in key areas, river basins and coastal regions, and expand the capacity of the ecosystem. Xi called for efforts to strengthen coordinated integration of comprehensive rural revitalization and new urbanization, as well as to expedite integrated urban-rural development. He highlighted the necessity to bolster the county-level economy, speed up the revitalization and development of former revolutionary bases, consolidate and further expand the achievements of the poverty alleviation. It is imperative to strictly abide by the red line of arable land, adopt an all-encompassing approach to food and agriculture, and forge specialty-based agricultural clusters. Xi also underscored the importance of deepening the collective forest tenure reform, developing forest foods and under-forest economy, thus continuously exploring the forest’s potential in boosting the economy and grain production. Xi also urged accelerated efforts to develop the cities of Fuzhou and Xiamen as national-level marine economic development demonstration zones, as part of the wider endeavor to expand and strengthen the marine economy. He also stressed the imperative to guard against natural disasters, such as typhoons and earthquakes, and strengthen the capacity for disaster prevention, mitigation, and relief.
Xi urged continued effort to extend Fujian’s cultural influence and present its fresh image. He called on the province to inherit and carry forward the revolutionary traditions, commit to the construction of national culture parks for the Long March in Changting and Ninghua, as well as deepen the research and interpretation of revolutionary historical materials and relics. He underlined the necessity to strengthen the protection and inheritance of cultural heritages, and commit to the work to cultivate people with culture, and actively transform outmoded habits and customs. He also stressed in-depth integrated development of culture and tourism, developing the culture and tourism sector into a pillar industry. Xi urged continued efforts to promote cross-Strait cultural exchanges, jointly carry forward Chinese culture, and boost the sense of national and cultural identity of Taiwan compatriots. Relying on the bonds of kinship, ancestral land culture, and other ties, Fujian is urged to rally support of all overseas Chinese for the country’s development.
Xi pointed out that Party members and officials should be educated to inherit the best of traditions, carry forward our revolutionary heritage and the pioneering and innovative spirit of daring to think big and fighting to win big, to forge ahead with fortitude, and make further achievements. All Party members and officials should have an understanding of performing their duties to serve the people, never forget the original aspiration, take on responsibilities, be honest and clean in performing duties, and always maintain the political integrity of Communists. It is imperative to fight against pointless formalities, and take further steps to ease the burdens on grassroots. He urged efforts to implement the practices of going into communities to communicate the Party’s lines and policies, carry out fact-finding missions, address people’s complaints, and conduct field work, follow the Party’s mass line in the new era, and raise the effectiveness of Party-building-led governance at primary level.
Xi stressed the necessity to conscientiously implement the decisions and arrangements of the CPC Central Committee, spare no efforts to do a good job in the economic work of the fourth quarter, and strive to achieve the economic and social development objectives for the whole year.
He Lifeng and leading officials of relevant central Party and state departments were also on the inspection tour.
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