Xi appeals for efforts to boost northeast

President Xi Jinping has called for fresh business creation efforts to revive China's flagging northeastern region, once a major heavy industrial hub, while highlighting the importance of State-owned enterprises in the country's development.

Xi made his remarks during an inspection tour of Jilin province from Thursday to Saturday, urging the region to strive for breakthroughs while adapting to slower economic development.

"More efforts should be made to push forward the innovation drive ... to boost the vigor of the whole of society in innovation and business startups," Xi said.