Xi highlights new development concepts in old revolutionary base area tour

Chinese President Xi Jinping (R, front), also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, talks with villagers while visiting revolutionary site in Jinggangshan, east China's Jiangxi Province, Feb. 2, 2016. Xi extended holiday greetings to all Chinese citizens and military personnel during a three-day tour in Jiangxi from Feb. 1 to 3. (Xinhua/Lan Hongguang)

NANCHANG, Feb. 3 -- Chinese President Xi Jinping has called for a change in local government development concepts on a visit to east China's Jiangxi Province.

Xi, also General Secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, made the remarks during a three-day tour of the revolutionary base areas from Monday to Wednesday, which took him to Ji'an, Jinggangshan and Nanchang, just days ahead of Spring Festival, or the Chinese Lunar New Year.

Chinese leaders traditionally visit ordinary people in both urban and rural areas ahead of the holiday. Xi visited Gansu Province and Beijing in 2013, north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region and northwest China's Shaanxi Province in 2015.

He asked officials to uphold and implement the newly identified development concepts -- innovation, coordination, green development, opening up and sharing, as well as to deliver structural reform on the supply side and industrial upgrades.

He also urged local governments to protect the environment and strike a balance between economic growth and conservation.

During his trip, Xi visited villages, businesses, schools, community groups as well as revolutionary base museums in Jiangxi, extending holiday greetings to all Chinese citizens.

He also met with senior military officers stationed in the province, two days after the People's Liberation Army (PLA) was regrouped into five theater commands.

NEW DEVELOPMENT CONCEPTS

Development concepts, which must be adjusted to the changing environment and conditions of development, should guide the development mode and practices, Xi said during his tour in Jiangxi.

Xi called on leading cadres at all levels to apply the new development concepts when pushing forward supply-side structural reform, boosting strong and emerging industries at the same time, upgrading traditional industries as well as developing modern service industries.

Initiatives should be taken to the upgrade of industrial structure by closing down backward production facilities and focusing more resources on new industries, Xi said.

Xi urged Jiangxi to make reforms, innovation and entrepreneurship engines for its development as the country's economy has entered a "new normal" featuring slower growth.

During his trip, Xi visited Jiangzhong Medicine Valley, which is affiliated with Jiangxi-based Chinese pharmaceutical firm Jiangzhong Group, hailing its effort on developing new products and strict attention to the quality of raw materials as well as products.

"Chinese medicine is a treasure of the Chinese nation. Therefore it is our duty to better protect it and tap its potential," Xi said, adding that all pharmaceutical enterprises must contribute to the health of Chinese people with quality products.

While visiting the National Engineering Technology Research Center for LED on Si Substrate under Nanchang University, Xi stressed the key role of higher learning institutes in technological innovation and talent training.

"Higher learning institutes must innovate their talent development schemes and teaching methods to cultivate more qualified personnel for the the country's development," said Xi.

Highlighting green development in the new concepts, Xi stressed environmental protection in Jiangxi's economic growth. "Jiangxi is a place boasting beautiful scenery. So it is a must to protect its ecological environment, which is the most important asset of Jiangxi," Xi said.

Meanwhile, he called for improving people's livelihood as "sharing" is one of the five new concepts in development. Xi called for continued effort in upgrading public services and ensuring everyone can share in services.

POVERTY ALLEVIATION

During his trip to Shenshan Village, a poverty-stricken village in Jinggangshan City, Xi met with villagers and the village party chief to learn about the progress that has been made in poverty relief through "precision" measures.

While visiting the house of Zuo Xiufa, offspring of a revolutionary martyr, Xi was glad to see that Zuo has shaken off poverty by using local bamboo resources to start his own processing business.

"Endeavors of poverty alleviation must be carried out in a precise manner, with different measures rolled out targeting different characteristics of different people and households," said Xi.

"The CPC serves Chinese people wholeheartedly. We are committed to supporting development of the old revolutionary base areas and making your life better day by day. Not a single family living in poverty is to be left behind on our path to combating poverty," Xi told the Shenshan villagers.

JINGGANGSHAN SPIRIT

During his stay in Jinggangshan, the President honored revolutionary martyrs and presented them with flower baskets in Jinggangshan Revolutionary Martyrs' Cemetery. Xi also visited former residences of late Chinese leader Mao Zedong and Zhu De.

"The Chinese nation is a nation that worships heroes, makes heroes and has numerous heroes in its history. The spirit of heroes still exists in the age of peace. We must uphold the spirit of heroes, who sacrificed their lives for the Party, the country as well as the Chinese people," Xi said when meeting with offspring of martyrs and moral models.

Xi stressed that Jinggangshan is regarded as the cradle of the Chinese Communist revolution and the Jinggangshan Spirit is the greatest legacy that the city's history has passed on to today's generation.

"We must carry forward the Jinggangshan Spirit in modern context," said Xi, calling on every and each Party member and leading official to take ideals and faith as a source of guidance in their daily work.

Party members and leading officials should never lose the traditional virtues of frugality and honesty and must strive to better serve the people, added Xi.

MILITARY LOYALTY

Xi, also chairman of the Central Military Commission (CMC), met with senior officers at local military units, urging the country's armed forces to follow the CPC.

Xi extended greetings to all military personnel in Jiangxi on behalf of the CPC Central Committee and the CMC.

Stressing the commitment to build a strong army, Xi called on all military units to promote political faithfulness, reforms and rule of law among China's armed forces.

Education and guidance should be enhanced to promote servicemen's awareness to listen to the Party and follow the commands of the CPC Central Committee and the CMC, Xi said, underlining the province's revolutionary tradition in forging the soldiers' spirit.

Also, the CMC chairman told the military to better support poverty reduction in the province's less-developed areas and advance the civil-military integration.

The People's Liberation Army was regrouped into five theater commands on Monday.

Xi presented military flags to top officers of the five theater commands at the inauguration ceremony on Monday morning, urging construction of a joint battle command system that is "absolutely loyal, resourceful in fighting, efficient in commanding, courageous and capable of winning wars."