Xi urges Jiangsu to be pioneer
President calls on province to be pacesetter in country’s modernization drive during three-day inspection tour
President Xi Jinping has called on Jiangsu, an economically advanced province in East China, to act as a pacesetter in the country’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 remark during a three-day inspection tour to Jiangsu, which concluded on July 7.
During his tour, XI also reemphasized the importance of promoting scientific and technological self-reliance and developing the real economy in pursuing high-quality growth.
There are high expectations for Jiangsu because of its unique role in the nation’s overall economy. In 2022, Jiangsu’s GDP was more than 12 trillion yuan ($1.66 trillion), ranking second among all provincial-level regions. Jiangsu plays an important role in the integrated development of the Yangtze River Delta and is a vital cog in the overall high-quality development of the country.
During his inspection tour, Xi urged Jiangsu to set the pace and be a leader in the nation’s modernization drive. As Jiangsu enjoys a strong industrial base, abundant educational resources, a favorable business environment, and a huge market, Xi said the province has the capability and obligation to be a pioneer in advancing Chinese modernization.
He urged Jiangsu to continue to play an exemplary role in promoting reform, innovation and high-quality development, as well as in contributing to the country’s efforts to foster a new development paradigm.
The inspection tour took him to the cities of Suzhou and Nanjing, where he visited an industrial park, enterprises, a historical and cultural block, and a science laboratory. It was Xi’s fourth fact-finding inspection tour to Jiangsu since he became general secretary of the CPC Central Committee in 2012.
Analysts said that Xi’s choice of Jiangsu as the destination of his inspection tour at the midyear juncture is key to formulating development strategies, deploying economic work, and achieving the goals and tasks of economic and social development for the entire year.
It also demonstrates his unwavering focus on the “first and foremost task” of high-quality development as the nation embarks on a new modernization journey.
“Scientific and technological innovation” was one of the key phrases used by Xi during his tour, which he said was crucial to Chinese modernization.
He told local officials that Jiangsu should take the lead in making breakthroughs in scientific and technological innovation, creating an important national hub for industrial technological innovation, and promoting innovation-driven, high-quality development.
Last year, Jiangsu’s total R&D investment reached 370 billion yuan, according to the province’s Department of Science and Technology. There are more than 37,000 high-tech firms in the province.
Xin Ge, an associate professor of the School of Public Economics and Administration at Shanghai University of Finance and Economics, said he was impressed by Xi’s visit to
Suzhou Industrial Park and high-tech enterprises, where the president highlighted the pivotal role of innovation within an enterprise.
Xi’s first stop during his Jiangsu tour was aimed at inspecting the construction and development of the high-tech industrial park and technological
innovation at enterprises, offering further guidance for effectively achieving the task of high-quality development, Xin said.
On visiting the Suzhou Industrial Park on July 5, Xi emphasized the important role of high-tech industrial parks in achieving technological self-reliance. He called for strong integration of scientific and industrial innovation, enhancing collaboration between enterprises and universities and research institutions, and speeding up the application of scientific and technological achievements in industry.
In April, the first meeting of the Central Commission for Comprehensively Deepening Reform under the 20th CPC Central Committee deliberated and approved documents on strengthening the principal position of enterprises in sci-tech innovation.
The documents underscored the need to increase support for enterprise-level innovation, actively foster and effectively guide the involvement of private enterprises in major national innovations, and amplify the role of enterprises in spearheading core technological advancements in key fields.
In Suzhou, Xi visited HYC Technology, a global leader in providing automatic detection equipment and system solutions, where he observed product development, production, and testing processes.
In Nanjing, Xi toured Purple Mountain Laboratories, a major sci-tech innovation platform focusing on basic and frontier research on the internet. Established in 2018, the platform has more than 1,000 researchers and has achieved a series of world-leading results in future internet, 5G/6G communication and cybersecurity.
In the laboratories, Xi stressed the importance of innovation in the fastdeveloping field of information technology. He encouraged the researchers to contribute to achieving highlevel technological self-reliance.
Xi also stopped at NARI Group Corporation, a major manufacturer of power generation equipment, to learn about progress on scientific and technological breakthroughs, developing advanced manufacturing clusters and promoting high-quality development.
The president emphasized that energy security is crucial for the nation’s development and people’s well-being. Efforts should be made to accelerate the development of key technologies, and step up the application of new ways to enhance national energy security and supply capabilities, he said.
While addressing a meeting attended by Jiangsu officials, Xi also called for strengthening the real economy and building a modern industrial system, which, he said, are vital for a strong province.
He said it is necessary to consolidate the leading position of traditional industries and accelerate the development of strategic emerging industry clusters.
Promoting the deep integration of the digital economy with advanced manufacturing and modern service industries, and accelerating the construction of a modern industrial system with advanced manufacturing as the backbone are also necessary.
Xi stressed the need for Jiangsu to facilitate the “dual circulation” paradigm, actively remove barriers, take innovative measures to attract foreign investment, expand opening-up, and continuously consolidate and expand the international market.
During the meeting, Xi pointed out that building a modern civilization is essential for promoting Chinese modernization. He urged Jiangsu to strengthen the protection, inheritance and innovative development of fine traditional culture, and actively participate in building the national cultural parks of the Yangtze River and the Grand Canal.
Xi also required Jiangsu to take the lead in improving people’s livelihoods and promoting the modernization of social governance.