国内英语新闻:Xi Focus: Xi requires new advances in rise of central China

NANCHANG, May 22 (Xinhua) -- President Xi Jinping has required efforts to enhance the comprehensive strength and competitiveness of the country's central region and to make new advances in the rise of the central region.

Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, made the remarks during his inspection tour of Jiangxi Province from Monday to Wednesday.

During the inspection, Xi presided over a work symposium on the rise of the central region and delivered a speech.

NEW LONG MARCH

Xi's first stop in Ganzhou City of Jiangxi was JL MAG Rare-Earth Co. Ltd. Visiting the company Monday, he underlined scientific and technological innovation to raise the technological level of exploitation of rare earth, which is strategically important but nonrenewable.

Arriving at Yudu County on Monday afternoon, Xi paid tribute to a monument marking the departure of the Long March by the Central Red Army and met families of the Red Army veterans and revolutionary martyrs.

Noting that China is on "a new Long March," he said that the country will depend on firm faith and strong will of the whole Party and all people to overcome major challenges at home and abroad and secure new victories in building socialism with Chinese characteristics.

Visiting a local vegetable farm, Xi reiterated the original aspiration of the CPC, which was to fight for the people's wellbeing and national rejuvenation.

At Tantou Village in Zishan Township, Xi called on Sun Guanfa, a villager and veteran, at his home. Carefully checking the kitchen, bedroom, backyard and toilet, Xi was pleased with the improvement in housing and hygiene conditions of Sun's family.

He demanded every region and department make more efforts to secure decent lives for the people in old revolutionary bases at the decisive stage of poverty alleviation.

When he was to leave the village, villagers gathered at the exit to see him off and some of them shed tears.

RISE OF CENTRAL CHINA

At the symposium in Nanchang on promoting the rise of China's central region on Tuesday afternoon, Xi said that the rise of central China is a crucial step toward completing the process of building a moderately prosperous society in all respects and realizing socialist modernization.

China must be clear-headed about the long-term and complex nature of both domestic and international unfavorable factors and well-prepared for any difficult circumstances, Xi emphasized, adding that the most important thing for China is to do its job well.

He made an eight-point instruction on the development of central China, which consisted of facilitating high-quality growth of the manufacturing industry, enhancing innovation capability in key fields, improving business environment, undertaking the layout and transfer of emerging industries, expanding high-level opening-up, sticking to green development, improving people's livelihood, and optimizing policies and institutions.

On Wednesday morning, Xi heard a work report from the Jiangxi provincial authorities and called on them to set an example in speeding up the high-quality development of the old revolutionary bases and vie for the forefront in boosting the rise of the central region.

Describing Jiangxi as a land full of revolutionary history and memories, Xi called for a deep understanding of the hard-earned establishment of the political power of the CPC, the People's Republic of China and socialism with Chinese characteristics, and demanded greater efforts to carry forward the revolutionary spirit and traditions.