Shanghai is entering a new phase of its development and willing to once
again assume a leading role in the country's reforms, said Xi Jinping, the newly
appointed Communist Party secretary of China's largest city, one week after
taking office.
The 54-year old Xi, who was appointed secretary of the Shanghai Municipal
Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC) on March 24, made the remarks
when inspecting Shanghai's Pudong new area, one of the showcases of China's
modernizing reforms.
Accompanied by vice mayors and other municipal officials, Xi visited the
Pudong exhibition hall, the General Electric (China) research and development
center, the China Unipay Shanghai information center and the Waigaoqiao bonded
zone.
Xi pointed out that Shanghai has the obligation to take a leading role in the
country's reforms and development.
The development of Pudong is a requirement of the CPC central committee and
the State Council and part of the nation's development strategy, said Xi, adding
that the municipality will speed up its development as an international
economic, finance, trade and shipping center.
He said that Shanghai would continue to innovate in the financial sector by
developing market systems, reinforcing financial supervision, safeguarding
financial security and nurturing staff.