President says developing real economy crucial for China

President Xi Jinping highlighted the importance of developing the real economy on Tuesday during his first inspection tour since the Party's 19th National Congress ended in October.

Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, visited Xuzhou Construction Machinery Group Co, a leading part of China's construction machinery industry, based in Xuzhou, Jiangsu province.

As a big country, China must keep emphasizing development of the real economy, Xi said, adding that manufacturing is essential to the real economy, which should be driven by innovation and key technologies.