Beijing: Chinese President Xi Jinping on Wednesday urged east China’s Jiangsu Province, an economic powerhouse, to play a major role in the country’s overall development. Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, made the remarks when taking part in a deliberation with his fellow lawmakers from Jiangsu during the third session of the 14th National People’s Congress (NPC), China’s national legislature.

According to Agence Kampuchea Presse, Xi emphasized that Jiangsu should take the lead in integrating technological and industrial innovation, advancing in-depth reform and high-standard opening up, and implementing major national development strategies. He suggested that the province should set an example in pursuing common prosperity.

Xi highlighted that technological and industrial innovation are fundamental pathways for developing new quality productive forces. He underscored the importance of modernizing the industrial system and coordinating education, science and technology, and talent cultivation to advance technological innovation. He urged Jiangsu to achieve more scientific and technological advances and transform them into concrete productive forces.

Additionally, Xi called for the province to deepen reform and opening up by considering both domestic and international imperatives. He encouraged efforts to promote urban-rural integration and regional coordination, optimize the layout of productive forces, and strive for high-quality development. Equal treatment for enterprises under all forms of ownership and improvements in the business environment were also stressed.

Xi also urged Jiangsu to engage proactively in the integrated development of the Yangtze River Delta, the development of the Yangtze River Economic Belt, and the implementation of other development strategies. The province should align with strategies such as the coordinated development of the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region and the development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, and participate deeply in high-quality Belt and Road cooperation.

He further emphasized the need for continuous efforts in promoting all-around rural revitalization and integrated urban-rural development, as well as in consolidating and expanding the achievements of poverty alleviation. Cai Qi, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and director of the General Office of the CPC Central Committee, was present at the event.