President Xi speaks during his visit to the village of Yongfeng in Meishan, Southwest China's Sichuan province, June 8, 2022. (PHOTO / XINHUA)
CHENGDU – President Xi Jinping stressed resolute implementation of the decisions and plans of the CPC Central Committee, carrying forward the great founding spirit of the Party, and being firm in the general principle of pursuing progress while ensuring stability during an inspection tour of Sichuan province.
Also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, Xi required full, accurate, and comprehensive application of the new development philosophy and actively serving and integrating into the new development paradigm.
Efforts should be made to coordinate COVID-19 response with economic and social development, to stabilize economic development, and to maintain overall social stability, so that the governance and development of Sichuan will be brought to a new level and a new chapter will be opened in the province’s development as a part of the new journey to building a modern socialist country in all respects, he said.
READ MORE: Xi stresses maintaining stable economic development
He called for concrete actions to set the stage for the success of the 20th National Congress of the CPC.
China should neither keep to itself, nor regard all from foreign countries as criterion. It must adhere to the path of socialism with Chinese characteristics
Xi Jinping, President, China
On June 8, Xi, accompanied by Wang Xiaohui, Party secretary of Sichuan province and Huang Qiang, governor of the province, made a fact-finding trip to Meishan, Yibin, and other places. Xi went to a village, a cultural relic protection site, a university, and a company.
During the visit, Xi has been concerned with the treatment of those injured in a 6.1-magnitude earthquake that struck Ya'an city on June 1 and how people lead their lives as well as how the production is in the earthquake-hit areas. He inquired about details on the disaster relief work, urging local authorities to ensure the injured are well attended to, to pay attention to people's psychological counseling, and make well-considered arrangements for the victims of the disaster and the consoling of the victims' family.
On the morning of June 8, Xi paid a visit to Yongfeng village in Dongpo district of Meishan city, for an inspection tour. Relying on its paddy and rice industry and technological advantages, the village established the largest experimental base featuring new rice varieties and new technologies in the province. At a high standard paddy field base, he learned about the general development of the village and affirmed the village's continuous efforts in helping safeguard national food security by planting grains.
The Chinese leader stressed that the Chengdu Plain has been lauded as a land of abundance since ancient times, that the area of farmland must be ensured and such a precious land for food production must be well protected. He also called for even greater efforts to bolster up grain production and build a higher-level "granary of heaven" in the new era.
Agricultural and technical staff members briefed the general secretary on the experimental paddy seed breeding and the promotion of planting.
READ MORE: Xi inspects southwestern Chinese city of Meishan
Advancing agricultural modernization requires efforts not only of experts but also those of all farmers, that the promotion and application of modern agricultural science and technologies and training of farmers must be strengthened, all big grain growers must be organized to actively develop green, ecological, and efficient agriculture, he said.
President Xi Jinping visits the village of Yongfeng to learn about local efforts in advancing high-standard farmland development, boosting grain production, promoting rural revitalization, maintaining effective COVID-19 prevention and control, in Meishan, Southwest China's Sichuan province, June 8, 2022. (PHOTO / XINHUA)
Xi walked along the roads to take a look at the sewage treatment tanks in Yongfeng village as well as its overall appearance. He also inspected a medical service center in the village to further learn about the improvement of villagers' living environment and the COVID-19 prevention and control work.
Xi stressed that the villagers are concerned about health care the most after they have enough to eat and wear. The building of a rural health care system must be advanced to ensure that all the people in rural areas have access to basic medical services.
He also called for efforts to build primary-level Party organizations well so that villagers can be united to further promote rural revitalization after bidding farewell to poverty.
During his visit to the San Su Ci temple in downtown Meishan city, Xi learned about the life experience, main literary achievements, and family precepts and traditions of the three masters, as well as the historical evolution of the temple and the research and inheritance of Dongpo culture. He highlighted that it is important to draw on ways of state governance from fine traditional Chinese culture and learn extensively from outstanding achievements of other civilizations.
Xi urged courage to face the hardships, adding that only by striving together can great accomplishments be made
China should neither keep to itself, nor regard all from foreign countries as criterion. It must adhere to the path of socialism with Chinese characteristics, Xi said.
Xi called for more emphasis on family traditions and education and on cultivating a strong sentiment to love families and the motherland among future generations so that young people will strive to grow into talent who can contribute to the development of the country and the society.
The same day, Xi made an inspection tour of Yibin city, the meeting point of the Yangtze River, Jinsha River, and Minjiang River. Xi was briefed about the ecological restoration and protection of the Yangtze River basin and implementation of the fishing ban in the river.
Xi pointed out that protecting the ecological environment of the Yangtze River basin is key to driving high-quality development of the Yangtze River Economic Belt and preserving the region as the cradle of Chinese civilization.
Xi paid close attention to the employment of college graduates as their total number is estimated to reach a record high of 10.76 million this year, up 1.67 million year on year. He chose Yibin University as a stop, watching the exhibition of creative works of excellent graduate students and learning about how the university helped graduates find jobs and start their businesses.
Noting that now is a key time for college graduates to get employed, Xi emphasized efforts to tap employment resources and provide pragmatic and careful guidance and services.
He urged colleges, employers, and related authorities to make sure more graduates sign employment contracts, particularly those from families that have just shaken off poverty, families receiving minimum living allowances, and families without a bread-earner, as well as those who have disabilities or did not get employed long after graduation.
Xi visited XGIMI Optoelectronic Co, Ltd where he was briefed about the company's efforts in independent innovation, product R&D and marketing, and job creation. He stressed the need to advance scientific and technological innovation and foster more top-notch enterprises in all sectors to have more "hidden champions" and form clusters of scientific and technological innovators.
On his inspection tour, he pointed out that all local governments and relevant departments must resolutely implement the decisions and arrangements of the CPC Central Committee.
The CPC Central Committee has always attached great importance to the employment of university and college graduates, and has taken a series of policies and measures, Xi said
Xi required that, abiding by the principle of making progress while maintaining stability, they should do a good job in all areas of reform, development and stability, with a view to maintaining a stable and healthy economic environment, a peaceful social environment, and a clean and righteous political environment, and thus create a good atmosphere for the convening of the 20th National Congress of the CPC.
He called on all local governments and departments to do a good job in coordinating epidemic prevention and control with economic and social development, and resolutely overcome challenges currently in the way of economic development.
Speaking of recent floods and geological disasters that occurred in some parts of China, Xi called for early contingency preparations by all localities and relevant departments to preempt major floods and other natural disasters and get well prepared for disaster relief.
Overall planning and coordination must be strengthened to make sure that hidden dangers of natural disasters can be detected in advance through careful patrol and inspection, Xi stressed.
The Chinese president called for efforts to resume production and people's normal life as soon as possible while doing a good job in rescue and disaster relief. He also called for a good job in providing support and aid to people affected by disasters, maintaining sanitation, and preventing epidemic from happening after natural disasters, so as to avert relapses into poverty as a result of disasters.
Ding Xuexiang, Liu He, Chen Xi, He Lifeng, and some other officials of the central authorities are also on the inspection tour.
On the morning of June 9, Xi met with the military officers above senior colonel level and major commanders of regiments in Chengdu. On behalf of the CPC Central Committee and the Central Military Commission, he extended sincere greetings to all the officers and troops stationed in Chengdu and had a group photo with them. Xu Qiliang was present at the meeting.