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, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China or CPC Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, made the remarks during a two-day inspection tour in Xuzhou, eastern China's Jiangsu Province.
Xuzhou Construction Machinery Group Co., Ltd. or XCMG, a leading homegrown manufacturer, was his first stop on Tuesday.
XCMG has the world’s most advanced intelligent chassis production line, which supplies more than 50% of the country’s cranes.
Zhu Changjian, a technical expert, recalled the moment when President Xi opened the door of the driver’s cab where he was seated. He was sitting in the cab of a 5-axis all-earth crane that is developed by XCMG from international collaborative research and development and boasts the world's highest lifting performance.
Zhu said President Xi made a detailed inquiry into the particular details from the market price to intelligent driving detection system, and the operation of the various buttons in the crane.
"Innovation is the source of business core competitiveness," Xi said after being briefed about XCMG'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.
Wang Min, chairman of XCMG, recalled the moments when President Xi examined the exhibition board and made a detailed inquiry into the company’s operation, independent innovation, international cooperation, talented training, the party construction and other issues, adding that the company is emboldened from all aspects. Wang said he felt the sense of excitement and responsibility as well.
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. Cao Zhi, CPC secretary of the Jiawang district committee, said the President gave the thumb up when he was told that the former mining subsidence area has been transformed into a national wetland park with lake-wide-view through ecological restoration.
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 19th CPC 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 hand-made sachet from an elderly villager and asked officials to improve the transparency of village affairs and information services.
Wang Xiuying, a woman in her 80s, said she has had her confidence bolstered after the President gave her the encouragement. With Wang taking the lead, more than 200 villagers are engaged in sachet business which generates 6 million yuan a year from online sales.
Impressed by the villagers' clapper talk performance, Xi stressed the cultural-ethical development in rural areas.
Promoting material wellbeing and raising cultural-ethical standards are both essential to the implementation of rural revitalization strategy, according to Xi.
On Wednesday afternoon, Xi visited a memorial for martyrs and the Museum of the Huaihai Campaign between November 1948 and January 1949, which was among the decisive campaigns in the War of Liberation.
The campaign showed that winning a war may not only depend on the weaponry or manpower, but also on troop strategy and tactics, confidence and courage, as well as the support and assistance from the people, which often serve as more important factors, said Xi.
