China's Jilin strives for high-quality development amid revitalization drive

Provincial officials of northeast China's Jilin Province attend a press briefing on striving for new breakthroughs to revitalize Jilin in the new era in Beijing, capital of China, April 22, 2024. (Xinhua/Jin Liangkuai)

BEIJING, April 22 (Xinhua) -- Northeast China's Jilin Province, one of the country's breadbasket provinces and old industrial bases, is optimistic about its future prospects thanks to its revitalization efforts centered on high-quality development.

Hu Yuting, governor of the province, told a press briefing in Beijing that Jilin has been in the "fast lane" of revitalization and high-quality development, resolutely shouldering the mission of safeguarding food security, industrial security, energy security, ecological security and national defense security of the country.

In the new era, Jilin boasts great potential for comprehensive revitalization, with a focus on achieving breakthroughs in five key areas: industrial and scientific innovation, agricultural modernization, green development, further opening up and strengthened talent support.

The fundamental approach for Jilin to safeguard national food security is to nurture new quality productive forces in agriculture sectors, according to the governor.

In 2023, Jilin's grain output reached approximately 41.87 billion kg, ranking fourth nationwide in total output and ranking first among major grain-producing provinces in terms of yield per unit area.

As part of the national grain production expansion efforts, Jilin will undertake one-fifth of the national target, aiming to increase production by 10 billion kg, said Hu, adding that the province's expected grain output in 2024 is 44 billion kg, and that of 2030 is anticipated to exceed 50 billion kg.

Jilin has been striving to upgrade its industries by fostering innovation and shed its image of an old-fashioned heavy-industry base.

According to Li Guoqiang, vice governor of Jilin, the province is assisting traditional industries to go digital and smarter, and develop an array of emerging and future-oriented industries.

"Our goal is to complete a round of digital transformation of industrial enterprises above the designated scale in about three years," Li said.