Chinese President Xi Jinping on Monday expressed his hope that private enterprises can develop boldly with confidence.
Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, made the remarks when visiting a food processing zone for luosifen rice noodles, a local specialty, during his inspection tour of the city of Liuzhou in south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region.
"We encourage the development of private businesses. When they encounter difficulties, the Party and the state give them support, and when confusion arises, guidance is offered, with the hope that they can develop boldly and with confidence," Xi said.
Luosifen, also known as river snail rice noodles, is known of its pungent smell. It has gained popularity in China and abroad in recent years thanks to e-commerce and has become one of the city's pillar industries with an annual output value of over 9 billion yuan ($1.38 billion).
Official data also showed the luosifen industry has created more than 250,000 jobs and has also driven the development of upstream and downstream industrial chains in areas of agriculture, food processing and e-commerce, among others.
Chinese President Xi Jinping visits a food processing zone for luosifen rice noodles, in Liuzhou City, south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, April 26, 2021. /Xinhua
Xi also underscored reform and innovation in equipment manufacturing industry when visiting machinery manufacturer Guangxi Liugong Group Co., Ltd., also in Liuzhou.
Noting that high-quality development is the chosen road during China's 14th Five-Year Plan (2021-2025) period, Xi highlighted the importance of developing the equipment manufacturing industry.
He stressed that innovation is the key to achieving high-quality development and was the only way for businesses to make themselves strong and more competitive to reach the top rank.
Xi called for adherence to the path of independent innovation and for persistent efforts to scale new heights.
Xi on Monday also visited a scenic park in Guilin, where he called for efforts to take proper care of the southern city's beautiful landscape.
He described the scenery as world-renowned and said the city's natural endowments are a treasure and must be cherished.
He called on the city to be committed to a people-centered approach, improve its tourism service and strive to build itself into a world-class tourist city with a pleasant living environment.
(Cover: President Xi Jinping visits machinery manufacturer Guangxi Liugong Group Co., Ltd., in Liuzhou City, south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, April 26, 2021. /Xinhua)