General Secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee Xi Jinping, also Chinese president and chairman of the Central Military Commission, hears a work report from the Party committee and government of Inner Mongolia and delivers an important speech in Hohhot, north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, June 8, 2023. [Photo/Xinhua]

HOHHOT -- Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, has called on north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region to adhere to its strategic position, pursue green development, and strive to write a new chapter of Chinese modernization.

Xi, also Chinese president and chairman of the Central Military Commission, made the remarks during an inspection tour in Hohhot, the capital of the autonomous region, on Wednesday and Thursday.

During his visit to the Zhonghuan industrial park on Wednesday afternoon, Xi said green development is the path that must be taken. The top priority of Inner Mongolia's development lies in transforming and upgrading the traditional energy industry, vigorously developing green energy, and strengthening the country's major energy base.

Xi also stressed the need to carry out high-level opening up and engage in win-win cooperation with the rest of the world.

On Thursday morning, Xi heard a work report from the Party committee and government of Inner Mongolia and spoke approvingly of their achievements.

Inner Mongolia is the country's important base of energy and strategic resources, its important production base of agricultural and livestock products, and a vital gateway for opening up to countries and regions north of China, Xi said.

Inner Mongolia should improve its industrial structure based on these characteristics and strategic positioning, strengthen its distinctive industries, explore new paths of transformation and development suitable for resource-rich regions, and speed up the construction of a modern industrial system that displays its unique features and advantages, Xi said.

The autonomous region should take an active part in the joint development of the Belt and Road Initiative as well as the China-Mongolia-Russia economic corridor, and elevate the level of opening up, Xi said.

He also urged Inner Mongolia to boost its connectivity with the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region, the Yangtze River Delta, the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, and China's northeastern provinces.