Xi urges deepening reform, opening-up during Guangdong inspection tour

GUANGZHOU -- Chinese President Xi Jinping has called for comprehensively deepening reform and opening up for high-quality development, and advancing the development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area with sustained efforts.

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 in Guangdong on Friday and Saturday. He hailed the southern province as a pacesetter, pioneer and pilot zone of reform and opening up.

While visiting the Ye Jianying memorial park in Meizhou city on Friday afternoon, Xi noted that all of China's great achievements today are built on the foundation laid by Mao Zedong and other older generation revolutionaries, calling for efforts to educate and guide officials and the public, especially young people, to carry forward revolutionary traditions.

In Meizhou, Xi also toured a pomelo growing base where he was briefed on Guangdong's efforts to step up support for old revolutionary base areas and advance all-around rural revitalization, among others.

He pointed out that developing rural specialty industries is fundamental to promoting comprehensive rural revitalization, calling for greater efforts to boost farmers' incomes.

On Saturday morning, Xi inspected the exhibition of the province's achievements in the integrated development of technological and industrial innovation in the provincial capital, Guangzhou. After this, Xi heard a work report from the Party committee and government of Guangdong Province.

Xi noted that studying, publicizing and implementing the guiding principles of the fourth plenary session of the 20th CPC Central Committee is a major political task for the whole Party and the entire country at present and in the period to come.

Guangdong, as an economic powerhouse and a developed region, should take the lead, set an example and play a major role in the formulation of the 15th Five-Year Plan (2026-2030) for national economic and social development, Xi said.

Xi emphasized that for Guangdong to create new advantages and achieve new breakthroughs, it is necessary to vigorously carry forward the spirit of reform and opening up and the spirit of the special economic zones, and promote high-quality development through comprehensive deepening of reform and opening up.

Xi also urged the province to focus on developing new quality productive forces, strengthen the deep integration of technological and industrial innovation, and build a modernized industrial system with international competitiveness.

The development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area means a huge responsibility for Guangdong and also presents a rare development opportunity for the province, Xi noted.

He urged efforts to deepen cooperation among Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macao, and to support Hong Kong and Macao to better integrate into as well as serve the country's overall development.

Xi stressed that it is imperative to strengthen Party leadership and advance full and rigorous governance of the Party. He called for coordinated efforts to ensure officials do not dare, are not able, and have no desire to commit corruption, and create a sound development environment through clean and earnest governance.

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, accompanied Xi on the inspection tour.