Chinese President Xi Jinping, during an inspection tour of the southwestern province of Yunnan, called for opening up new space for development in the spirit of Chinese-style modernisation.
On Wednesday, he visited a modern floral industrial park in the city Lijiangwhere he learned about rose cultivation and the production chain. He stressed the importance of building the whole flower industry chain for the local people.
He also visited Old Town of Lijiang, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and called for a balanced approach between the protection of cultural heritage and its development.
On Thursday in the provincial capital Kunming talked to local officials about the future direction of development. He stressed the need for technological innovation, support for future and strategic industries, tourism development and plateau-specific agriculture.
Xi also called for taking advantage of the province's strategic location as a gateway to South and Southeast Asia and for strengthening cooperation with neighboring countries in the fields of economy, science, health and culture - in line with the Belt and Road.
He concluded by recalling the importance of ecological protection and ethnic stability in this multinational border region.
