Revitalizing Old Industrial Region: President Xi Jinping makes inspection tour in northeast China

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Chinese President Xi Jinping carried out an inspection tour of the country's northeast this week as part of efforts to revitalize what used to be one of China's most important industrial regions. During the four-day tour, he visited agricultural bases and manufacturing sites and addressed a symposium. Gary Anglebrandt has more.

Firm determination to revitalize the country's northeast.

Chinese President Xi Jinping started this week's inspection tour with a visit to Beidahuang Agricultural Machinery Center in Heilongjiang Province. There, he saw how an internet platform is being used to dispatch machinery for harvesting. President Xi urged local authorities to stick to the concept of green agricultural development.

He later visited the Agricultural Science and Technology Park, stressing that new technology is essential for the modernization of agriculture.

The northeast is not only well-known for its agriculture, but also as one of the country's important traditional industrial bases.

President Xi visited two large equipment manufacturing enterprises in Qiqihar, encouraging them to further open international market and contribute more to the Belt and Road Initiative. He stressed their importance for China's modernization, in reforming state-owned enterprises -- and China's position in a time of global change.

XI JINPING CHINESE PRESIDENT "Today, the unilateralism and trade protectionism are rising, and China needs to be self-reliant. China has to depend on itself if it wants to develop."

Xi Jinping also visited the Chagan Lake in Jilin Province. The lake is famous for its winter fishing, where locals catch fish by drilling through meter-thick ice. President Xi called for protecting the local ecology and maintaining sustainable development.

Addressing a symposium in the city of Shenyang, President Xi reiterated the points he made at his other stops on the tour, saying reform, innovation and improving people's lives are essential for reaching the goal of revitalization.

Gary Anglebrandt, CGTN.