By Aidoghie Paulinus
The General Secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, Chinese President and Chairman of the Central Military Commission, Xi Jinping, took part in the deliberation with his fellow deputies from the delegation of Jiangsu Province to the Second Session of the 14th National People’s Congress on the afternoon of March 5, 2025, in Beijing, China.
During the meeting, Xi emphasized the need to firmly focus on the primary task of high-quality development and develop new quality productive forces according to local conditions.
He stated that facing the latest round of scientific and technological revolutions and industrial transformations, the Chinese nation must seize opportunities and step up efforts to make innovations.
“We must also cultivate and strengthen emerging industries, arrange the development of industries for the future in advance, and improve the modern industrial system. To develop new quality productive forces doesn’t mean ignoring or abandoning traditional industries. The endeavours in this regard should never be in a mad scramble, and bubbles should be prevented. We should also avoid the domination of a single model,” Xi said.
Xi further said localities should adhere to the principle of proceeding from reality, building the new before discarding the old, taking measures in line with local conditions, and giving differentiated guidance.
“They must selectively cultivate new industries, business models and growth drivers in the light of their resource endowment, industrial foundation and scientific research conditions, among other factors. They must transform and upgrade traditional industries with new technologies and take rigorous actions to make industries higher-end, smarter, and more environmentally friendly,” Xi also said.
The deliberation was carried out in a warm and lively atmosphere within the delegation.
Cui Tiejun, Gao Jifan, Song Yan, Wu Huifang, Wu Xinming and Sun Jingnan, the six deputies of the delegation, made presentations on how to achieve great self-reliance and strength in science and technology, promote the high-quality development of the country’s photovoltaic industry, strengthen the protection and inheritance of cultural heritage, build happy villages featuring common prosperity, support the integrated development of the Yangtze River Delta, and promote craftsmanship.
The Chinese President joined their talks from time to time, exchanging opinions with his fellow deputies.
After listening to the deputies’ presentations, Xi delivered a speech. He expressed his approval of the government work report, fully acknowledging the new progress and achievements made in Jiangsu’s economic and social development.
He expressed the hope that Jiangsu will have greater confidence, exert its utmost, and shoulder greater responsibilities to make even more contributions to the nation.
Xi stressed that Jiangsu possessed favorable conditions and capabilities for developing new quality productive forces.
He highlighted the importance of building a modern industrial system with advanced manufacturing as the mainstay, saying that it is essential for scientific and technological innovation to play a leading role in coordinating the upgrading of traditional industries, the expansion of emerging industries, and the nurturing of industries for the future.
“It is imperative to intensify the integration between scientific and technological innovation and industrial innovation, and reinforce the leading position of traditional industries. It is important to accelerate the building of internationally competitive clusters of strategic emerging industries, and make Jiangsu a major locality for the development of new quality productive forces,” Xi stated.