Chinese President Xi Jinping said on Thursday that innovation is of the highest importance and Chinese enterprises must ensure key and core technologies are in their own hands.

Xi, also the general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, made the remarks at Sunward Intelligent Equipment CO., LTD., a local company in Changsha, the capital city of central China's Hunan Province, at the second day of his inspection tour there.

Chinese President Xi Jinping speaks to the staff during a visit to a local company in Changsha, Hunan Province, central China, September 17, 2020. 
Photo by Xinhua

The company, operating its businesses in both domestic and overseas markets, is mainly engaged in construction machinery manufacturing, capital construction business and airline operations. Its main products include piling machinery, mining machinery, drilling machinery and others.

Xi inspected the company's production line and learnt about the innovation, production and business operations.

President Xi visits a company producing intelligent equipment to learn about the development of advanced manufacturing industry, in Changsha, Hunan Province, September 17, 2020. 
Photo by Xinhua

"I'm very impressed by your innovative spirits," Xi said after he learnt the company has more than 200 kinds of products with independent intellectual property rights and core competitiveness.

Xi said innovation is the highest important "trait" for enterprises. "We must ensure key and core technologies are in our own hands, same for the manufacturing industry."

President Xi visits a cultural industry park to learn about the development of cultural industry in Changsha, Hunan, China, September 17, 2020. 
Photo by Xinhua

Xi also went to a cultural industry park in Changsha.

Calling it a "sunrise industry," Xi said cultural industry is a fast-growing sector that brings growth and jobs. He said cultural industry should keep to the "right" path in ideology, leading public opinions and innovation, so as to ensure the sector's sustainable and healthy development.