Xi stresses poverty eradication goal

Noting that the stable and long-term good prospects of Chinese economy remain unchanged, Xi instructed the officials to boost confidence and build up the country's real economy, especially in the manufacturing sector.

Xi stressed the importance of promoting infrastructure construction in areas such as 5G telecommunication technologies and artificial intelligence, enhancing investment in transportation, water projects and the energy sector, and improving infrastructure and public services in rural areas to resolve the problems of unbalanced and inadequate development.

He required the officials to promote reform and opening-up in inland areas, further integrate with the building of the Belt and Road, and speed up the construction of a trade and logistics hub connecting with Central Asian, South Asian and Middle Eastern countries.

Xi attached great importance to ecological and environmental protection, saying that the concept that "lucid waters and lush mountains are invaluable assets" must be upheld. He visited the Niubeiliang National Nature Reserve to learn about ecological conservation in the Qinling Mountains on the first day of his visit.

He said that the authorities should uphold a people-centered development philosophy, implement targeted measures to lift people out of poverty, make policies to prevent them from becoming poor again, and promote the employment of groups including college graduates, migrant workers and military veterans.

The fight against the outbreak is a big test that has demonstrated the great strength of Party organizations, but it has also exposed some problems such as inadequate leadership in some organizations and some officials' lack of capability and their dishonest work style, said Xi, who is also general secretary of the CPC Central Committee.

He instructed the officials to strictly implement the CPC Central Committee's eight-point rules on frugality, oppose formalism and bureaucracy, and promote the building of an anti-graft system that means officials dare not, cannot and will not be corrupt.