Editor's note: Xin Ge, a special commentator on current affairs for CGTN, is an associate professor at the School of Public Economics and Administration, Shanghai University of Finance and Economics. The article reflects the author's opinions and not necessarily the views of CGTN. 

Chinese President Xi Jinping, who is also the general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, embarked on an inspection tour of east China's Jiangsu Province, with Suzhou being his first destination from July 5 to July 6.

During the "two sessions" in March 2023, President Xi stressed the "foremost task" of firmly grasping the task of achieving high-quality development while attending the deliberations of the Jiangsu delegation. Four months later, he paid this visit to Suzhou, where he explored industrial parks, technological innovation enterprises, and historical and cultural districts, demonstrating his unwavering focus on the "foremost task" of high-quality development.

High-tech parks play a crucial role in realizing advanced technological self-sufficiency, expediting the construction of a new development paradigm, establishing a modern industrial system, and promoting high-quality development. President Xi has on various occasions accentuated the significance of building high-tech parks. During his visit to Changchun New Area in May 2020, President Xi emphasized that high-tech parks should align with national strategic requirements, adhere to high-level planning and construction standards, and pursue efficient and inclusive development. 

In May 2023, in his congratulatory letter to the 2023 Zhongguancun Forum, President Xi highlighted the need for Beijing to accelerate the construction of world-leading science and technology parks, striving to take a leading position in frontier technology innovation and the development of high-end industries.

Suzhou Industrial Park (SIP) was established in 1994 with the endorsement of the State Council of China, representing a pioneering endeavor in the collaborative development of industrial parks between China and foreign nations. This flagship project, jointly initiated by the Chinese and Singaporean governments, has witnessed nearly three decades of growth and progress. Presently, the park is home to an impressive count of 2,489 domestic high-tech enterprises and boasts a roster of 62 publicly listed companies. Notably, the high-tech industry output and strategic emerging industry output contribute 74.8 percent and 58.5 percent, respectively, to the total industrial output value of scale-above industries within Suzhou. 

The cumulative industrial output value of Suzhou's expansive industrial sector has commendably soared to 4.36 trillion yuan ($600 billion), obtaining the second position among all cities in China. Furthermore, Suzhou is actively fostering intelligent transformation and digitalization across its vast spectrum of 12,000 large-scale industrial enterprises.

President Xi made his second stop at a high-tech enterprise. The pivotal role of innovation within the enterprise cannot be overemphasized. In April of this year, the first meeting of the Central Commission for Comprehensively Deepening Reform under the 20th CPC Central Committee deliberated and approved documents on strengthening enterprises' principal position in sci-tech innovation. This pivotal document underscored the need to increase support for enterprise-level innovation, actively foster and effectively guide the involvement of private enterprises in major national innovations, and amplify the role of enterprises in spearheading key core technological advancements and remarkable original breakthroughs.

Indeed, throughout this year, President Xi has conducted visits to several enterprises, meticulously evaluating their progress in technological innovation. These visits vividly reflect President Xi's profound emphasis on fortifying the position of enterprises as the primary driving force behind technological innovation.

The third stop on this trip is a historic and cultural block of Pingjiang Road of Suzhou, which is the most typical and well-preserved historical and cultural district in Suzhou. How to protect and inherit the city's history and heritage is also a matter of concern for President Xi. In recent years, the Pingjiang historical and cultural block has undergone renovation with the principle of "repairing old as it was, preserving its authenticity." It harmoniously combines the preservation of the original way of life of its nearly 8,000 residents with the enhancement of construction and public amenities within the block, thereby significantly elevating the overall living environment for its inhabitants. Such an approach has efficaciously achieved a transformative yet protective renewal for this ancient city.

As emphasized by President Xi during the deliberation of the Jiangsu delegation at the "two sessions" in March, the foundation and ultimate objective of high-quality development lie in meeting the growing aspirations of the people for an improved standard of living. The preservation of Pingjiang Block stands as a vivid illustration of a high-quality life that is collectively pursued alongside high-quality development.

In December 2017, shortly after the conclusion of the 19th National Congress of the CPC, President Xi visited Jiangsu and emphatically asserted the imperative for China's economy to undergo a transition from rapid growth to high-quality development. This crucial shift necessitates the active involvement of every industry and enterprise. During this visit to Jiangsu, President Xi's first stop was to inspect the construction and development of high-tech industrial parks, enterprise technological innovation, and the preservation of historical and cultural districts, offering further guidance for effectively grappling with the paramount task of achieving high-quality development.

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