Xi urges advancing reform tasks

Meeting highlights developing western region, integrating AI with real economy

President Xi Jinping reaffirmed on Tuesday China's firm resolve to push forward implementation of the country's major reform measures, especially when faced with increasingly heavy tasks.

Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, made the remarks when chairing the seventh meeting of the Central Committee for Deepening Overall Reform in Beijing.

Xi, head of the committee, said many major reforms have entered a critical period and needed to be implemented soon, according to a statement released after the meeting.

It is important to stay headed in the right direction, focus on achieving substantial results and make all-out efforts to deal with difficulties, he said.

The statement said that reform should be pushed forward in a stable and orderly manner with thorough preparation to resolve possible difficulties.

The committee reviewed and passed eight guidelines on reform in various areas including the development of China's western region and the deep integration of artificial intelligence with the real economy.

It was decided at the meeting that the construction of the Belt and Road should play a leading and stimulating role in developing the western region in the new era.

To improve the region's infrastructure network, it was necessary to step up construction of transportation corridors to and from the region as well as enhance regional hubs.

Ecological environmental protection should be prioritized during the development of the western region in consideration of China's long-term interests, the statement said.

According to the statement, participants at the meeting noted that the development of the new generation of artificial intelligence should be market oriented and aim for industrial application.

Measures must be taken to deepen reform and innovation, as well as improve institutions and the environment in order to stimulate enterprises' vigor and motivation for innovation, it said. There also was a call for more concrete reform measures in areas that the public is most concerned about, such as finance, tax reduction, business climate, education, healthcare and employment.