Equipment manufacturing industry should take the trend and further advance itself, especially during a time when China has been pushing forward high-quality development amid the construction of Belt and Road Initiative, Chinese President Xi Jinping said on Wednesday. 

Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, talks with workers at Qixing farm, northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, Sept. 25, 2018. (Photos: Xinhua)

President Xi made the remarks while visiting CRRC Qiqihar Rolling Stock, a state-owned enterprise based in Qiqihar, second largest city in the northeast China's Heilongjiang Province.

As one of the key parts of this tangible economy, equipment manufacturing industry needs to continue its efforts in innovation, so as to keep the control in its own hands, Xi added.

The Chinese President also paid a visit to another major state-run enterprise in the area—China First Heavy Industries. The enterprise makes heavy equipment for nuclear power and petrochemical plants, among others.

"China has never been so close to realizing its two centenary goals and has never encountered so many challenges and difficulties," Xi said at First Heavy Industries. 

"Unilateralism and protectionism in the world are on the rise and force us to rely on ourselves and take the road of self-reliance. That's not a bad thing."

Later in the day, President Xi also took a look at fishing operations at Chagan Lake in Songyuan City, Jinlin Province during the second leg of his northeast China inspection.

Cover photo: Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, visits a workshop of China First Heavy Industries (CFHI) in Qiqihar, northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, Sept. 26, 2018.