Xi eyes revival of northeastern China heavy industrial hub

 President Xi Jinping has urged Jilin Province to seek new energy to revive the country's northeastern region, once a major heavy industrial hub but now lagging behind in development.

Xi made the remarks during an inspection tour to the Jilin from Thursday to Saturday, where he urged the region to strive for breakthroughs while adapting itself to the new normal of slower economic development.

Stressing the optimization and upgrade of industrial structures, Xi urged the province to step up its efforts to foster emerging industries and boost service industry while intensifying infrastructure construction.

"More efforts should be made to push forward the innovation drive so as to boost the vigor of the entire society in innovation and business start-ups," Xi said, underlining an innovation-backed economic growth mode.

Meanwhile, Xi stressed environmental protection during economic development, calling for manufacturing with minimum pollution, clean water and more green coverage.

Calling for "saving, efficient, safe and sustainable modern agricultural development," Xi also urged the region to maintain various policies to benefit rural residents, with better efforts to accelerate modern agriculture and boost farmers' incomes.

"People's livelihoods are the compass in our economic and social development. We should consolidate the material basis for improving people's livelihoods while stimulating effective demands with better livelihoods," Xi said, calling for high-precision poverty relief that incorporates efforts from all walks of life.

The president also stressed the role of leading officials at all levels in guiding lower-level officials and citizens to contribute to healthy economic and social development, exerting earnest effort to implement various reform policies and uphold an incorrupt work style.

"Reform plans for key fields should be made, with fast and steady implementation. It's unacceptable to miss reform opportunities or delay its progress by waiting and looking on," Xi warned officials.