Xi’s ‘two sessions’ messages stress high-quality development
Chinese President Xi Jinping has shone more light on the country’s source of confidence for high-quality development by expounding on a wide range of topics at this year’s “two sessions,” a key political event slated to close today.
Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, joined national legislators in deliberations and participated in discussions with national political advisors, making a raft of remarks on issues including new quality productive forces, environmental protection, overall reform and coordinated regional development.
In this crucial year for fulfilling the objectives and tasks set out in the 14th Five-Year Plan (2021-2025), Xi stressed that efforts must be made to sustain and reinforce the positive momentum of economic recovery, and boost confidence in development across society. Key messages from Xi at the sessions provided an insight into the trajectory of the world’s second-largest economy.
Xi has stressed developing new quality productive forces amid China’s accelerated efforts to foster new growth drivers and promote high-quality development.
First put forward by Xi in 2023, the concept was highlighted at a key meeting on economic work last December, and became the subject of a group study session of the CPC leadership this year.
With innovation playing the leading role, new quality productive forces mean advanced productivity that is freed from the traditional economic growth mode and productivity development paths, features high-tech, high efficiency and high quality, and comes in line with the new development philosophy.
Joining deputies from the Jiangsu Province delegation in a deliberation on March 5, Xi underscored the importance of developing new quality productive forces based on local conditions.
Developing new quality productive forces does not mean neglecting or abandoning traditional industries, he said, noting that it is necessary to prevent a headlong rush into projects and the formation of industry bubbles, and avoid adopting just a single model of development.
Xi stressed the need to strengthen basic research in applied sciences, achieve breakthroughs in core technologies in key fields, and foster new drivers for developing new quality productive forces when participating in a joint group meeting of national political advisors on March 6.
Citing achievements in transportation as an example, he said that China is a global leader in automobile production and sales, excels in new energy vehicles, boasts the longest expressway network, and has successfully introduced highspeed railways and urban rail transit systems internationally, alongside the development of large aircraft.
Craftsmen are important for these successes, he stressed, calling for enhancing vocational education, fostering a culture of meticulous craftsmanship, and nurturing generations of master craftsmen at the forefront of production.
“The master craftsmen are the backbone. Without a diamond, you can’t handle porcelain,” Xi pointed out.
Attending a plenary meeting of the delegation of the People’s Liberation Army and the People’s Armed Police Force on March 7, he said the drive to accelerate the development of new quality productive forces has provided rare opportunities for the development of strategic capabilities in emerging areas. He called for enabling new quality productive forces and new quality combat capabilities to effectively integrate with and boost each other.
Reform has been a key word in China over the years.
At the deliberation on March 5, Xi stressed the necessity of planning major measures to further deepen reform on all fronts, so as to continuously inject strong impetus in promoting high-quality development and advancing Chinese modernization.
To build a high-level socialist market economy, it is imperative to accelerate the improvement of basic systems underpinning the market economy, such as those for property rights protection, market access, fair competition, and social credit, Xi said.
He stressed that it is essential to improve and implement the institutions and mechanisms to unswervingly consolidate and develop the public sector and encourage, support and guide the development of the non-public sector, and facilitate the growth of the private sector.
The reform of systems involving science and technology, education and professional personnel should be deepened, and barriers obstructing the development of new quality productive forces should be removed, Xi said, stressing creating