Anhui's key role in national strategies highlighted

President Xi Jinping has urged Anhui province to leverage its role in multiple national development strategies to build itself into a significant hub for promoting scientific and technological innovation, fostering emerging industries, driving reform and opening-up, and pioneering green transformation.

He also underlined the need for the province in eastern China to make greater progress in integrating into the new development paradigm and promoting high-quality growth amid the nation's modernization drive.

Xi, who is also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, made the remarks during an inspection tour in Anhui on Thursday and Friday.

Anhui is the only province covered by the major national strategies of the integrated development of the Yangtze River Delta, the high-quality development of the Yangtze River Economic Belt, and the rise of Central China.

The inspection tour took Xi to Anqing, where he visited Liuchi Alley, a historical cultural site in Tongcheng, where he learned about locals' efforts in carrying on traditional Chinese culture.

At the site, Xi noted that the alley embodies the historical wisdom of Chinese people in pursuing neighborly harmony and resolving disputes, and he called for efforts to properly address problems affecting people's well-being and foster a harmonious social environment.

He also traveled to Hefei, the capital of Anhui province, where he visited Hefei Binhu Science City, a scientific and technological innovation park.

While emphasizing that science and technology should be at the forefront in advancing Chinese modernization, he urged researchers and corporate leaders to take bold steps to achieve self-reliance in science and technology.

On Friday morning, Xi heard a work report by officials of the CPC Anhui Provincial Committee and the provincial government.

He urged local authorities to accelerate technological innovation and industrial transformation and upgrading, and strive to build an advanced manufacturing cluster with international competitiveness.

Xi underlined the need for Anhui to further advance reform and high-level opening-up, foster a world-class, market-oriented business environment governed by a sound legal framework, and build a landscape of all-around opening-up.

While promoting the integrated development of the Yangtze River Delta, Xi said that Anhui should make efforts to drive the coordinated development of various regions within the province, and play a greater role in the national development strategies of the Yangtze River Economic Belt and the rise of Central China.

He also urged the province to actively participate in the high-quality construction of the Belt and Road, take solid steps to promote reform in the integration of domestic and international trade, make greater efforts in attracting and stabilizing foreign investment, and accelerate the cultivation of new growth drivers for foreign trade.

Xi called for efforts to build a new pattern of integrated urban-rural development. Highlighting the role of Anhui in ensuring food supply, he said that the province should improve policies that are supportive for farmers, and stimulate their enthusiasm for grain production.

He emphasized the need for Anhui to further promote the integrated development of culture and tourism, and make cultural tourism a pillar industry.

Xi also urged Anhui to faithfully implement the decisions of the CPC Central Committee and strive for the better performance of economic operations in the fourth quarter, in order to meet the goals of economic and social development for the year.