Chinese President Xi Jinping has urged China's northwestern province of Gansu to deepen reform, innovation and thorough work to improve the welfare of the people and prosperity of the region, so that Gansu can write a chapter in China's modernisation.
Xi, who is also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, made the remarks during an inspection that took place from Tuesday to Friday.
Gansu should take decisive steps to improve environmental protection and restoration, accelerate ecological and low-carbon transition, further deepen reform and comprehensively open up and all-round promote rural revitalization, better safeguard people's livelihood and strengthen ethnic unity, Xi said during his inspection tour in Gansu province.
On Tuesday afternoon, Xi visited the Fuxi Temple in Tianshui to learn about the protection and preservation of cultural heritage. The temple is dedicated to Fuxi, the mythical ancestor of the Chinese nation.
It is necessary to protect and pass on precious cultural heritage so that the wisdom and creativity of the ancestors will continuously inspire future generations and strengthen national pride and self-confidence, Xi said.
On Wednesday morning, Xi heard a report on a local water diversion project and called for better maintenance and management of the project to play a bigger role in improving people's lives.
During a visit to the Huaniu apple production base, he stressed the importance of optimizing the cultivation of this variety and innovating marketing models to expand this specialty industry and help more people increase their income through it.
Xi then visited the Maijishan Grottoes, where he carefully inspected caves, sculptures and paintings dating back more than 1,600 years.
He called on cultural heritage workers to do more to promote the preservation and innovative development of traditional Chinese culture and strengthen its influence.
Xi arrived in the provincial capital of Gansu on Wednesday afternoon. In a local residential community, he stressed the need to focus on the practical needs of residents, especially the elderly and children, and to continuously improve community service.
During a visit to retired Party member Li Zongbiao, Xi said local authorities are working hard to provide elderly care, health care and community services, and that this work must continue and improve over time.
Speaking to local residents, Xi said that 2024 marks the 75th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China and the Chinese people should be more united and make greater efforts to create even greater achievements.
He wished residents a happy holiday ahead of this year's Mid-Autumn Festival, which falls on September 17.
Xi then toured a section of the Yellow River near the Zhongshan Bridge in Gansu and learned about the ecological protection of the country's "mother river." He called for joint efforts to protect the river so that it can benefit the people forever.
On Friday morning, Xi heard a report on the work of the CPC Gansu Provincial Committee and the provincial government.
Kan-su should promote new-type industrialization, accelerate the transformation and upgrading of traditional industries, build a major national manufacturing base for new energy and new energy-related equipment, and strengthen environmental security in the western part of the country, Xi said.
He stressed the need to deepen reforms and widen opening up with greater courage and commitment, and to effectively implement a people-centred new urbanisation strategy.
Xi stressed the need to strengthen the protection of cultural heritage and build Dunhuang Academy into a world-class example of cultural heritage protection and a centre for Dunhuang studies. He also called for efforts to speed up the construction of national cultural parks dedicated to the Great Wall, the Long March and the Yellow River.
He said efforts should be made to promote social progress and governance and to lay a solid foundation for shared prosperity for people of all ethnic groups.
On his way to Gansu, Xi visited the Baoji Bronzeware Museum in Baoji City, Shaanxi Province, on Tuesday afternoon. He praised China's bronze civilization and called for better protection, research and promotion of bronze cultural relics. Xi also toured a local river ecological park.
Accompanying Xi on the inspection trip was Cai Qi, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Director of the General Office of the CPC Central Committee.
On Thursday morning, Xi met with senior officers and representatives of soldiers and civilian employees of Chinese People's Liberation Army units stationed in Gansu.
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