context: As with last month’s visit to Chongqing, Xi reiterated some familiar themes, while adding some more specific thoughts, including about economic development and the current international situation.
On a visit to Jiangxi 20-22 May, Xi Jinping 习近平 CCP General Secretary delivered a speech promoting the rise of the central region, toured a Ganzhou rare earth industry enterprise, and visited the Memorial Hall of the Long March of the Central Red Army in Ganzhou along with a nearby village. Accompanied by Liu Qi 刘奇 Jiangxi Party Committee secretary and Yi Lianhong 易炼红 Jiangxi governor, Xi inspected economic and social development, and poverty alleviation progress in historic revolutionary areas. Xi stated that China is still in an important period of strategic opportunity for development, but the international situation is becoming increasingly complex. We should have a clear understanding of the long-term, complex nature of various unfavourable factors at home and abroad, he noted, and make proper preparations for dealing with various difficult situations. The most important things, Xi argues, are to
- do our own work well
- coordinate research and deployment
- manage efforts to promote reform, development and stabilisation of various tasks
- work out a plan to move forward in the period to come
Xi affirmed that companies should increase investment in scientific research, devote themselves to scientific and technological innovation and pay attention to ecological restoration. He stressed that technological innovation is companies' lifeblood. Only by possessing independent intellectual property rights and core technology can we make products with core competitiveness and remain invincible in fierce competition, Xi emphasised. Rare earth is not only an important strategic resource, but also a non-renewable resource. We should intensify scientific and technological innovation, constantly improve the technological level of development and utilisation, extend the industrial chain, increase added-value, and achieve green and sustainable development.
During his visit to Duxian to pay a visit to the site of the Central Red Army's departure on the Long March, Xi noted that this year marks the 70th anniversary of the PRC's founding. We must bear in mind our red origins and how the new China was established, he said, cherishing the socialism with Chinese characteristics initiated by our Party, and strengthening self-confidence. Today, on the new Long March road, we must overcome all kinds of major risks and challenges from home and abroad and win the new victory of socialism with Chinese characteristics, still depending on the firm ideals, beliefs and strong revolutionary will of the whole Party and the whole people. Party committees and governments at all levels, Xi said, should take good care of old Red Army comrades who contributed to the Chinese revolution, as well as the descendants and families of revolutionary martyrs.
On his visit to Tantou village, Xi noted that he was inspecting the old soviet area in Jiangxi to see if lives had improved, and whether poverty could be defeated on schedule. Xi stated that efforts should be made to improve rural settlements, build spiritual civilisation, improve the rural governance system, renew the social atmosphere, and enable villagers to live an enviable pastoral life.
Xi hosted a symposium on promoting the rise of central China, and made eight suggestions
- promote high-quality manufacturing development
- improve indigenous innovation ability in key areas
- alleviate financing difficulties of private, small and medium-sized enterprises
- strengthen docking with eastern coastal areas and relevant international regions, actively participate in the Belt and Road Initiative
- do a good job fighting poverty, improving social security, and innovating social governance
- improve policy measures, working mechanisms, and overall coordination
Xi Jinping emphasised that the CCP Central Committee will soon deploy the ‘never forget the original intention and remember the mission’ project, and all departments in various regions should take this as part of the effort to resolutely rectify formalism and bureaucracy, and thereby let cadres devote more enthusiasm to the great cause of the rise of central China.
Xi stated that the general tone of the work is to
- strive for progress in a stable way
- implement new development concepts
- promote steady growth, reform, and restructuring to benefit people's livelihood
- prevent risks and maintain stability
- accelerate high-quality development of old revolutionary areas
Xi emphasised building of a new type of urban-rural relationship to promote modernisation of agriculture and rural areas.
Xi also noted the need to strengthen construction of mechanisms to prevent and resolve social contradictions, improve social grid governance, prevention and control, crack down on criminal activities according to law, and deepen the special struggle against gangsters and evil forces.
Party leaders including Ding Xuexiang 丁薛祥, Liu He 刘鹤, He Lifeng 何立峰 and others accompanied Xi.