BEIJING, March 7 (Xinhua) — Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, said on March 5 that economic powerhouses should play a major role in successfully achieving the development goals of the country's 14th Five-Year Plan (2021-2025). Xi made the remarks when taking part in a deliberation with his fellow lawmakers from east China's Jiangsu Province during the third session of the 14th National People's Congress (NPC), China's national legislature. Jiangsu, an economic powerhouse, should take the lead in integrating technological innovation with industrial innovation, advancing in-depth reform and high-standard opening up, and implementing major national development strategies, Xi said, adding that it should set an example in pursuing common prosperity.
The deputies of Jiangsu delegation conducted their deliberations earnestly, creating a vibrant and lively atmosphere. Six deputies, including Zhao Jianjun, Xu Guanghui, Zhang Junjie, Li Xiaona, Miao Hangen, and Ke Jun, delivered speeches on various topics. Their presentations focused on accelerating the transition to green and low-carbon development, establishing industrial and technological innovation centers, promoting the development of translational medicine, building harmonious communities, advancing the development of traditional industries, and preserving and passing down traditional operas.
After listening to the deputies' presentations, Xi delivered a speech. He expressed approval of the government work report, affirmed what the province has achieved, and urged it to fulfill its pivotal responsibilities and strive for greater achievements.
Xi pointed out that technological innovation and industrial innovation constitute the fundamental pathways to developing new quality productive forces. To advance scientific and technological innovation, it is essential to modernize the industrial system and coordinate the development of education, science and technology, and talent cultivation, so that more sci-tech advances will be achieved and turned into concrete productive forces. To pursue industrial innovation, it is a must to ensure the foundational role of the real economy. The same importance must be attached to both advancing the transformation and upgrading of traditional industries and forging new tracks for strategic emerging industries and future industries. To integrate technological innovation with industrial innovation, it is imperative to build platforms, improve mechanisms and institutions, strengthen the principal role of enterprises in innovation, and achieve seamless alignment of the innovation and industrial chains.
Xi stressed that the bigger the economic size is, the stronger driving force it requires for its further development. It is imperative for Jiangsu to pioneer in development, seek all-round improvement, and constantly overcome obstacles and boost growth drivers through deepening reform and opening up. Jiangsu is urged to fully and faithfully apply the new development philosophy on all fronts, keep in mind both domestic and international imperatives, promote integrated urban and rural development and interaction among different regions, optimize the layout of productive forces, and strive to advance high-quality development. It is imperative for the province to deepen reform on market-based allocation of resources, and take the initiative to address issues such as local protectionism, market division and "rat race" competitions. It is essential to fully implement the guiding principles of the symposium on private enterprises held in February, treat all enterprises equally no matter what their ownership is, and make sustained efforts to improve the business environment. It is imperative to steadily expand institutional opening up and create more room for international cooperation.
Xi noted that economic powerhouses should shoulder greater responsibilities in implementing the country's major development strategies. He urged Jiangsu to take initiative and cooperate with others in development strategies including the integrated development of the Yangtze River Delta region and the development of the Yangtze River Economic Belt. It is important for Jiangsu to strengthen its strategic alignment with major national initiatives including the coordinated development of the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei Region and the development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, deeply integrate its growth into the high-quality development of the Belt and Road Initiative, and do a good job in pairing assistance to Xizang and Xinjiang. The province should fulfill its responsibilities in making sure that the line is never crossed when it comes to the protection of arable land, ensuring food security, safeguarding ecological environment, and guaranteeing water source safety for the South-to-North Water Diversion Project.
Xi stressed that major provinces with faster economic growth should blaze a new trail and play an exemplary role in promoting common prosperity. Jiangsu should make sustained efforts in advancing all-round rural revitalization and integrated urban-rural development, and consolidating and expanding achievements in poverty alleviation. The province was urged to intensify its practical work in extending basic, inclusive and safety-net public support for the wellbeing of residents, and adopt pragmatic approaches in addressing immediate concerns of the people. The province should improve its social security system and enhance the accessibility and balanced distribution of basic public services. Jiangsu must make greater efforts to ensure employment, which is the most fundamental aspect of people's livelihood, further advance the cultural and ethical progress in both urban and rural areas, and optimize the supply of cultural products and services to promote economic and social development through cultural progress.
Xi stressed that major economic powerhouses, while shouldering greater responsibilities, must uphold the Party's overall leadership and drive high-quality development through high-quality Party building. Party organizations at all levels must enhance their political and organizational functions. Officials and Party members must courageously shoulder heavy duties and forge ahead, adopt the style of doing work in a down-to-earth manner, and set a good example in abiding by disciplines as well as being clean and upright, so as to unite and lead the people in continuously opening up new prospects for economic and social development.
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, was present at the event.
Mu Hong and others also attended the event.
责任编辑：刘怿莎
