#China #Xi Jinping #Guizhou #High-quality development

Xi Jinping's Inspection in Guizhou

On March 19, 2025, China Global Television Network (CGTN) reported on President Xi Jinping's significant inspection trip to Guizhou province, located in southwest China. This visit came during the annual sessions of China's legislative and political advisory meetings, where the overarching theme was high-quality development. This trip reiterated the country's unwavering commitment to advancing high-quality growth, seen as essential for achieving modernization.

From Monday to Tuesday, Xi Jinping visited various areas in Guizhou, urging continued efforts towards high-quality development through deepening reforms and extensive opening up to the world. He emphasized that high-quality development is a fundamental requirement for the advancement of Chinese modernization.

High-Quality Development: A Cornerstone of Modernization

During his visit, Xi highlighted that the quest for high-quality development must remain relentless. He called for strengthening the provincial economy, fostering innovation, transforming traditional industries, and protecting the ecological environment. Guizhou has made remarkable strides, especially bearing in mind its past reputation as one of China’s poorest provinces. Over a decade, it has lifted more than 9.2 million people out of poverty, and by 2024, its GDP reached 2.27 trillion yuan ($311.6 billion), representing a 5.3% increase from the previous year, surpassing the national average growth rate of 5%.

Guizhou has emerged as a central hub for big data in China and is the country’s first national comprehensive pilot zone for big data development. The province currently houses 47 big data centers, highlighting its commitment to using data as a key driver of economic and social progress.

Ecological Preservation and Environmental Progress

Notably, Guizhou is home to the largest rocky desertification area in China, and the province has made considerable efforts towards ecological protection. By the end of 2023, forest coverage had risen to 63%. Additionally, air quality standards were commendable, with 99.1% of days in major cities meeting excellent air quality standards in 2024, illustrating the region's dedication to environmental sustainability.

Cultural Heritage and Economic Development

President Xi underscored the rich historical, communist, and ethnic culture of Guizhou, stressing the importance of maintaining traditions and enhancing cultural confidence as a means to foster economic and social development. During his visit to the Dong ethnic village of Zhaoxing, Xi engaged with local villagers around a fire, discussing overall rural revitalization in a drum tower, emblematic of Dong architecture and community gathering.

He urged areas with significant ethnic minorities to conserve and promote their unique cultures by integrating these cultural assets into tourism development. The tourism sector has flourished, becoming a vital part of the rural economy.

In recent years, Zhaoxing Dong village has seen substantial growth in tourism, establishing over 400 hotels, guesthouses, and restaurants, while supporting more than 60 traditional handicraft businesses. This boom has created job opportunities for over 2,000 individuals. In 2024, the village attracted over 1 million visitors—an increase of 63.4%—and generated 1.02 billion yuan in tourism revenue, marking a 63.8% rise. The collective economic income for the village reached 2.45 million yuan, with the disposable income per capita for residents rising to approximately 41,600 yuan, reflecting a 12.3% increase.

Conclusion

Xi Jinping's inspection has indeed spotlighted Guizhou’s developmental journey and highlighted the balance between economic growth and cultural preservation, setting a crucial template for other regions aiming to achieve high-quality development.