HAIKOU — President Xi Jinping has called for accelerating the development of Hainan into a free trade port with Chinese characteristics and global influence.

Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, made the remarks during his inspection tour of South China's Hainan province from April 10 to April 13.

He demanded deeper reform and opening-up across the board, continued innovation-driven development, coordination between COVID-19 response and economic and social development, as well as a balance between development and security.

Xi said that Hainan will become a paradigm of reform and opening-up in the new era.

Xi went to the cities of Sanya, Wuzhishan and Danzhou.

While visiting a seed laboratory in Sanya on April 10, Xi said seed resources must be "firmly held in our own hands" to ensure food security.

He stressed achieving self-reliance in seed technology and ensuring that China's seed resources are self-supporting and under better control.

Xi then travelled to a research institute of the Ocean University of China to learn about the development in marine science and technology.

Via video link, Xi talked to the staff working on the Deep Sea No.1, the country's self-operated deep-water gas field, and extended greetings to them.

Calling for more ground-breaking sci-tech innovation, Xi said China must strive to exploit petroleum and natural gas resources with its own equipment to ensure the country's energy security.

During his inspection on April 10, Xi stopped by an evergreen tree which he planted 12 years ago and tended to it. He told local officials to make ecological conservation an important task.

On April 11, Xi went to an international duty-free shopping mall in Sanya to inspect the offshore duty-free policies. He stressed leveraging the advantages of China's huge market size, fostering a favorable market environment with the rule of law, and attracting customers with trusted business operations and quality services.

Inspecting a tropical rainforest national park in Wuzhishan, Xi highlighted the importance of tropical rainforest preservation, and the synchronized progress of ecological conservation, green development and people's well-being.

In the village of Maona, Xi visited the home of a family of the ethnic Li people, checking their courtyard, living room and bedrooms. At a tea-making workshop, Xi took part in frying tea leaves and bought two packets of tea.

While speaking with local officials, Xi said a contingent of competent officials, with a strong record of political integrity and excellent conduct, must be trained to assist in rural revitalization.

"We have attained a moderately prosperous society in all respects and will continue to promote common prosperity for all the people as we are developing a modern socialist country," Xi said at the village's public square, urging solid efforts to consolidate poverty relief achievements and align them with the full advancement of rural revitalization.

He said officials at all levels should spare no effort in ensuring good lives for the people.

During the trip to the Yangpu economic development zone in Danzhou on April 12, Xi visited an exhibition hall and a container terminal, where he learned about the development of the zone. Xi urged efforts to better serve the construction of the new land-sea transit routes for western China and the Belt and Road Initiative.

On the morning of April 13, Xi heard work reports from the provincial Party committee and the provincial government, acknowledged the progress made by Hainan and encouraged it to build the free trade port into a shining Chinese model in the world.

Xi described developing the Hainan free trade port as a complex and systematic project that requires long-term preparation and endeavors.