By Staff Reporters

To push for the full revitalization of northeast China, the real economy is the foundation, sci-tech innovation is the key, and industrial upgrading is the direction. That's what President Xi Jinping said at a key meeting on striving for the full revitalization of northeast China in the new era, held recently in Heilongjiang province in northeast China.

Xi also said it is important for the region to push for industrial innovation via sci-tech innovation and accelerate the modernization of its distinctive industrial system.

He stressed the importance of cultivating emerging strategic industries, including new energy, new materials, advanced manufacturing and electronic information, and accelerating the development of clean energy such as wind, photovoltaic and nuclear power.

Sci-tech officials and experts in the three northeast provinces of Heilongjiang, Jilin and Liaoning, and Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region have expressed their understandings and suggestions on achieving the goals.

"We will go all out to promote industrial innovation via scientific and technological innovation, providing sci-tech support for achieving new breakthroughs in revitalizing the region," said Xu Aidong, deputy director-general of Liaoning's Department of Science and Technology.

Workers check equipment in a workshop of Harbin Electric Machinery Factory. (PHOTO: XINHUA)

Song Boyan, director of the Science and Technology Bureau of Harbin, Heilongjiang province said the city's focus is on transforming and industrializing sci-tech achievements. A key task is to attract leading enterprises to settle in the city. Song said thanks to the sound environment for innovation and entrepreneurship, the number of high-tech enterprises has grown rapidly in recent years.

The Heilongjiang Industrial Technology Research Institute is a platform for the transformation of sci-tech achievements, which has incubated a number of sci-tech enterprises.

Feng Xiating, an academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering and president of Northeastern University in Liaoning, said the university will focus on the requirements for industrial transformation and upgrading. It will establish high-quality research platforms and train high-level personnel to help build a modern industrial system in the region.

Vehicle engineering is a strength of the College of Automotive Engineering at Jilin University. Gao Zhenhai, dean of the college, expressed they have been making efforts to develop digital, intelligent and low-carbon vehicles to support the region's revitalization and the establishment of a robust transportation industry.

Tongliao city in eastern Inner Mongolia, has close ties with the three northeastern provinces. Bai Siqin, director of the Science and Technology Bureau of the city, highlighted their focus on producing and processing environmentally-friendly agricultural and livestock products, as well as developing new materials. They also aim to promote industry-oriented innovation, upgrading industries through innovation.