Xi stresses need for innovation

Chinese President Xi Jinping called for more innovation in the equipment manufacturing sector to accelerate China’s drive toward becoming a manufacturing powerhouse and bolster the real economy.

Xi made the remarks during a two-day inspection tour of Xuzhou, east China’s Jiangsu Province. 

“Innovation is the source of business core competitiveness,” Xi said after being briefed about Xuzhou Construction Machinery Group Co’s intelligent assembly lines and Big Data platform. Thanks to self-developed heavy-duty machines, XCMG is swiftly increasing its share in the global market.

China should ramp up investment and channel more energy into research and development to spur the development of the equipment manufacturing sector, Xi said. “Many core technologies cannot be bought.”

Xi urged a shift from “Made in China” to “Created in China,” stressing more emphasis on quality rather than speed, and encouraging homegrown manufacturers to build their own brands.

Highlighting the role of state-owned enterprises, Xi said they should serve as a major force in the supply-side structural reform, aiming for international standards and leading domestic industries to move up global value chain.

Founded in 1943, XCMG is the world’s fifth-largest construction machinery producer.

Xi said he hopes the company will expand its technological advantage to grab a bigger market share and generate more social benefits.

After leaving XCMG, Xi visited a wetland park which used to be a subsidence coal mining area. Ecological restoration has transformed the abandoned mine into a popular scenic area.

Xi stressed economic restructuring in regions running out of natural resources and said the new concept of green development should be strictly followed.

While inspecting Mazhuang Village near the wetland park, Xi encouraged Party members to play an active role in studying and implementing the spirit of the Party’s 19th National Congress.

Party organizations at grassroots levels should be strengthened to promote the Party’s policies and decisions, lead the governance at the primary level, unite the masses and facilitate reform and development, said Xi.

During the inspection, Xi bought a handmade sachet from an elderly villager and asked officials to improve the transparency of village affairs and information services.