Xi stresses opening new ground for Heilongjiang's high-quality development

HARBIN - Chinese President Xi Jinping has called on the northeastern province of Heilongjiang to firmly grasp its strategic position in the country's overall development, and strive to open new ground for its high-quality development.

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 in the province from Wednesday to Friday.

Xi stressed that Heilongjiang should turn its strengths into new development impetus and build and strengthen itself as an important national commodity grain production base and a heavy equipment manufacturing base, an important energy and raw material supplier, a vital guardian of ecological security in northern China, and a pivotal gateway for the nation's northward opening up.

He urged the province to play an active part in safeguarding national defense, food, ecology, energy, and industrial security.

At a forest farm in Mohe in the Dahinggan Mountains on Wednesday afternoon, Xi underscored that afforestation and protection of forests should be given equal priority, urging precaution against potential dangers to ensure that long-term achievements will not be swept away overnight.

At the Beijicun, or "North Pole Village," a riverside border village, he stressed the importance of increasing green coverage and protecting forests, calling for measures to enable people to increase their income on the basis of ecological protection.

Noting the importance of tourism sector in achieving high-quality development, Xi urged policy support to ensure that local scenery and snow and ice tourism resources generate more income for local people.

Concerned with the post-flood reconstruction, Xi on Thursday came to a village in Shangzhi City of Harbin, which bore the brunt of the recent flooding, where he checked the damage to rice crops and the reconstruction progress of damaged buildings.

Xi said that he felt reassured seeing that reconstruction was proceeding smoothly and that life and work are ensured.

Urging efforts to make sure those affected by the floods could stay warm during the winter, Xi asked the local authorities to make detailed and sound plans as soon as possible on all matters related to people's livelihood such as food, accommodation, employment, education and health, leaving no loopholes.

He called on the authorities to accelerate post-disaster reconstruction, minimize the agricultural losses caused by the disaster, and guarantee the disaster-stricken people relief and security.

At Harbin Engineering University, Xi underscored the work in education, science and technology and talent, and called for more accomplishments in building China into a leading country in those respects.

In light of the upcoming Teachers' Day, Xi extended festival greetings to faculty members of the university as well as all teachers across the country.