Xi Jinping tells China’s economic powerhouse to ‘leverage huge opportunity’ of Greater Bay Area
- President also vows to continue reform and opening up as country’s ‘correct path’
- Xi again tries to reassure small and medium-sized enterprises struggling in a slowing economy
President Xi Jinping on Thursday told China’s southern economic powerhouse of Guangdong to leverage the “Greater Bay Area” to take forward its reforms, on the final day of a four-day visit to the province.
State media released details of his remarks during the trip in the evening, with the president also vowing to continue China’s reform and opening up as its “correct path”, and telling small and medium-sized private businesses that they had Beijing’s support.
In his meeting with Guangdong authorities in the afternoon, Xi tasked cadres and officials to build the province’s free-trade pilot zone, which comprises the Nansha, Hengqin and Qianhai areas, into a high quality gateway to open up to the world.
But he also told officials to ensure development was balanced in the impoverished backwaters of the province, and to step up environmental protection and the pollution battle along with Hong Kong, Macau and neighbouring provinces.
State television also reported that Xi reaffirmed Guangdong’s role as a pioneer and test bed of China’s reform programmes – a role which has been blurred in recent years as the country’s economy grew more sophisticated after 40 years of reform.