Chinese President Xi Jinping has stressed efforts to secure a decisive victory in building a moderately prosperous society in all respects and eradicating poverty.

Xi made the remarks during a recent inspection tour in northwest China's Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region.

It was Xi's latest inspection tour in China this year, following visits to Yunnan, Beijing, Hubei, Zhejiang, Shaanxi and Shanxi.

Xi underscored fully implementing the decisions and plans of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, working hard to overcome the impact of COVID-19 and giving priority to ensuring stable employment and people's livelihood.

Efforts are needed to continue building a beautiful new Ningxia with economic prosperity, ethnic unity, beautiful environment and well-off residents, he said.

During the tour from Monday to Wednesday, President visited places including the cities of Wuzhong and Yinchuan to learn about the region's efforts to coordinate epidemic control and economic and social development, advance poverty alleviation, strengthen ecological protection of the Yellow River, and promote ethnic unity.

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Xi Jinping inspects poverty alleviation and ecological protection in NW China's Ningxia

President Xi Jinping inspects agriculture and ecological protection on second day in NW China's Ningxia

On Wednesday morning, Xi also heard the work reports of the CPC Ningxia Hui Autonomous Regional Committee and the regional government.

Push forward poverty alleviation

During the meeting with local government officials, Xi underscored efforts to resolve the prominent problems in assuring the food and clothing needs of the rural poor population are met and guaranteeing they have access to compulsory education, basic medical services, and safe housing, referred to as the "two assurances and three guarantees," to ensure that the target of eradicating poverty is met as planned.

He also called for further support to the poverty alleviation relocation policy so that relocated people are able to settle down, get rich, and not fall back into poverty.

On Monday afternoon, Xi visited a cardboard packaging workshop in the village of Hongde in the city of Wuzhong.

After hearing that the workshop has offered stable local jobs, President Xi pointed out the purpose of setting up poverty alleviation workshops is to help the poor and the priority should be given to ensure poor people's employment.

Compared with migrating to cities to work, the villagers employed near their homes may not earn as much, but they can save on accommodation, food, and transportation costs and are able to take care of their families, Xi added.

The participation of enterprises in the establishment of poverty alleviation workshops also shows the significance of the richer bringing along, the less rich, he added.

Xi on Monday also visited a Hui nationality villager's house whose family was a move to a relocation site and got rid of poverty in 2017.

The best is yet to come, Xi said and hoped villagers could give full play to their enthusiasm, initiative, and creativity, and create a better new life with their own hands.

Enhance environment protection, high-quality development

Xi also stressed efforts to enhance ecological protection and high-quality development of the Yellow River basin during the inspection.

He reiterated that lucid waters and lush mountains are invaluable assets when talking to local officials on Wednesday, adding that the region should continue to fight against pollution of air, water, and soil.

Unremitting efforts should be made to promote high-quality development, Xi said, calling for speeding up the growth model and replacing old growth drivers with new ones.

He added policies aiming at reducing the tax burden of companies, boosting consumption demand should be well implemented.

The effects of major projects' investment should be given to full play, so companies' difficulties in work resumption can be timely resolved, according to Xi.

He also urged to give full play to the role of innovation and speed up the development of modern agriculture to bring more distinctive Ningxia agricultural products to markets.

President Xi required new breakthroughs in reform and opening-up by strengthening the evaluation and effectiveness of reform measures, accelerating the cultivation of competitive markets, and stimulating the vitality of various market players.

He also hoped the region could seize the opportunities from the Belt and Road initiatives, develop an open economy, create a good open environment for the economy to promote higher-level opening-up and higher-quality development.

On Monday afternoon, he visited a section of the Yellow River in the city of Wuzhong and inspected the dike project to learn about efforts to strengthen the ecological protection of the river. It is the fourth visit by Xi to China's "Mother River" in a year.

He urged to improve the Yellow River's environmental management with systematic and comprehensive measures and an emphasis on addressing the root causes of issues.

The red lines (a limit that should not be crossed) for ecological protection of the Yellow River should be set, Xi added.

President Xi on Tuesday also visited a rural ecotourism park and vineyard in Helan County, Yinchuan City, and learned about ecological protection in the Helan Mountains.

Noting that the Yellow River has been a source of life for the people of Ningxia, Xi urged locals to optimize their agricultural planting structure and develop water-saving agricultural techniques to increase the additional value of crops and protect water resources.

With the continuous improvement of people's living standards, the wine industry has great prospects, President Xi said, adding that Ningxia should coordinate the development of the wine industry with the strengthening of Yellow River basin ecological management.

He encouraged the local wine industry to advance technology, increase the cultural connotation, expand the publicity, build its own famous brand to improve products' added value, and comprehensive benefit.

Improve people's livelihoods

President Xi also stressed people-centered development in Ningxia inspection, calling for earnestly solving issues of public concern to improving people's livelihoods.

"We should do our best to help key groups including laid-off workers, migrant workers, graduates, veterans to find jobs," he noted.

Xi also urged that more efforts should be made to ensure the balanced development of compulsory education in rural and urban areas and accelerate the construction of the public health system.

The Chinese president also called for the adherence to the Party's basic principles in the religious work, as well as more efforts to promote the implementation of the civil code.

When speaking to residents in the square of Wuzhong's Jinhuayuan Community on late Monday afternoon, Xu said all ethnic groups are part of the big family of the Chinese nation and no ethnic group should be left behind in the country's fight against poverty, in its building of a moderately prosperous society in all respects and its drive toward modernization.

"With the continuous efforts of the Party and the government as well as the tireless endeavors of the people, the days ahead will surely be better and happier," he added.

When visiting the rural ecotourism park in Yinchuan on Tuesday afternoon, Xi also stressed putting the interests of farmers first in developing modern agriculture and cultural tourism.

(With input from Xinhua)