Chinese President Xi Jinping attended the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region delegation's discussion and review meeting Monday afternoon. Xi is the General Secretary of the CPC Central Committee and Chairman of the Central Military Commission. As an NPC deputy, Xi is also part of this year's Inner Mongolia delegation. Among the key issues he talked about were innovation, high-quality economic development, and poverty alleviation.

Chinese President Xi Jinping has called for continued commitment to structural reforms in the pursuit of high-quality economic development.

He says the focus should be placed on transforming and upgrading industries, and that the real economy has to be strengthened and improved.

The Chinese leader made these remarks during a panel discussion with deputies from the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, at the first session of the 13th National People's Congress, China's top lawmaking body.

President Xi says the Chinese economy has transitioned from a phase of rapid growth to a stage of high-quality development.

He warns that the old way of thinking may lead China nowhere, and that opportunities may be missed.

The Chinese leader says the country needs to build a new modern industrial system that features diversity. He also says China needs to be more energy efficient, and take part in the global revolution in energy technologies.

According to the president, several industries require more investment. These include equipment manufacturing, new materials, bio-medicine, information, energy conservation, and environmental protection.

The Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region is in Northern China. It borders Mongolia and Russia. It's also adjacent to eight Chinese provinces.

President Xi says he wants to see the Autonomous Region play a leading role in opening up China's economy in the north.

He said the development of the region's industries should not only focus on sheep, coal, soil and gas.

Other issues the president touched upon are the need for the region to better protect the environment, and adhere to the rule of rest grazing. President Xi says Inner Mongolia needs to do more to combat desertification, protect wetlands, and build a green Great Wall in the north of China.

Eight deputies from the Autonomous Region shared their insights on improving the economy and fighting poverty. After hearing their report, President Xi also said more is needed to eliminate absolute poverty.

XI JINPING CHINESE PRESIDENT "We need to make up our mind to eradicate poverty. But at the same time, we should always keep the goal realistic. If we set a standard that is too high to reach, then people will feel discouraged to make it come true. A pony is unable to drag a big cart. The result of setting an unrealistic standard is that we cannot make anything in spite of good wishes."

As an NPC deputy, Xi is also part of the Inner Mongolia delegation this year.

Xi said that, during the election of deputies to the 13th National People's Congress, the Communist Party of China Central Committee proposed that the leading comrades of the Central Committee choose an ethnic minority border region to participate in the election. He then chose the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region -- a decision that reflects the Central Committee's commitment to win the battle against poverty.

During the panel discussion, Xi also emphasized key issues including innovation, unity, the defense of the nation's northern border, and building the area into a beautiful region.