Chinese President Xi Jinping on Thursday stressed efforts to make new major breakthroughs in the integrated development of the Yangtze River Delta and enhance the region's leading and exemplary role in pursuing Chinese modernization.

The Yangtze River Delta, one of the most vibrant, open and innovative city clusters in China, has reaped major benefits and matured into a pacesetter of high-quality development from its integrated development – which was elevated as a national strategy by Chinese President Xi Jinping five years ago.