NANNING, Dec. 15 (Xinhua) -- President Xi Jinping has urged Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region to free the mind, innovate, promote ocean-oriented economy, and further opening up and development during an inspection tour to the southern Chinese region from Thursday to Friday.

Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, urged the coastal region to write its chapter in advancing Chinese modernization.

On Wednesday, Xi returned to China after a state visit to Vietnam. From Thursday to Friday, he went to places including Nanning, capital city of the region, and Laibin City.

Inspecting the China-ASEAN Information Harbor Co., Ltd. in Nanning, Xi pointed out that the building of the China-ASEAN Information Harbor is an important measure to promote Belt and Road cooperation, as well as to enhance connectivity between China and ASEAN countries.

Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, communicates with residents while inspecting the Panlong community in Liangqing District, Nanning, capital of south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Dec. 14, 2023. (Xinhua/Yan Yan)

Visiting the Panlong community in Nanning, Xi said that communities are the basic units of grassroots self-governance, as well as the foundation of the country's governance system.

Xi said that Guangxi's efforts to build a demonstration zone for forging a strong sense of community for the Chinese nation should start from the community level, calling on the region to further enhance ethnic unity.

Upon leaving the community, Xi said that it will further benefit Guangxi's opening up and development to build a China-Vietnam community with a shared future of strategic significance.

Noting that Guangxi is an autonomous region with the largest population of ethnic minorities in China, Xi said that no ethnic group should be left behind in the building of a modern socialist country in all respects.

Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, inspects a sugarcane base in Laibin, south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Dec. 14, 2023. (Xinhua/Wang Ye)

On Thursday afternoon, Xi inspected the city of Laibin. While visiting a sugarcane base in the city, he noted that Guangxi, the country's major sucrose production base, should further develop its characteristic sugar industry so as to play a bigger role in ensuring national sugar security and increasing sugarcane farmers' income.

He also urged more efforts in building modern agriculture industrial parks.

China's sugar industry is faced with fierce international competition, Xi said while visiting a local sugar company, calling for efforts in boosting sci-tech innovation, extending the industrial chain and increasing added value to promote the high-quality development of the industry.

On Friday morning, Xi heard a briefing on the work of the regional Party committee and government.

Xi said Guangxi should modernize the industrial system at a faster pace, and build several pillar industries featuring local characteristics and strengths, a rather large scale and strong radiation effect. The region is urged to give full play to its geographic advantage and boost maritime economy and port industry.

The region should put scientific and technological innovation in a more prominent position, constantly expand opening up to the domestic and international markets, and build a more dynamic open economy, Xi stressed.

Xi urged greater efforts to build Guangxi into an important strategic hinterland of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area.

It is necessary to jointly build the New International Land-Sea Trade Corridor and implement a number of major transportation infrastructure projects, the president said.

He called on Guangxi to actively serve the building of a China-ASEAN community with a shared future, and deeply integrate into the joint construction of the Belt and Road.

Noting that rural revitalization is a basic project for building up China's strength in agriculture, Xi said Guangxi should implement related plans and make solid progress.

He also urged Guangxi to give full play to its advantages of rich resources and vigorously develop modern characteristic agricultural industries.

Xi urged the region to carry out all its work with a focus on forging a strong sense of community for the Chinese nation and to continue taking a pioneering role in promoting ethnic unity and progress.

To promote the common prosperity for all, it is imperative to steadily narrow the gaps between urban and rural areas, and among various regions and ethnic groups, Xi added.

Xi pointed out that the key to delivering solid outcomes in all areas of work lies in upholding and strengthening the Party's overall leadership.

At the turn of the year, Party committees and governments at all levels must work to ensure a safe and joyful holiday for the people, Xi stressed.

Noting that widespread moderate to heavy snowfalls have occurred in regions such as North China and Yellow and Huaihe river basins, affecting both production and daily lives of the people, Xi called on all localities and relevant departments to closely monitor the situation and strive to minimize the impact.

Cai Qi, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and director of the General Office of the CPC Central Committee, accompanied Xi on the inspection tour.

On Friday morning, Xi met with senior officers of the armed forces stationed in Nanning. Zhang Youxia also attended the meeting.