During an inspection tour in Northeast China's Jilin Province, Chinese President Xi Jinping on Thursday visited the research and development headquarters of automaker FAW Group in the city of Changchun. 

Chinese President Xi Jinping learns about the reform and development of state-owned enterprises at the R&D headquarters of automaker FAW Group in Changchun, Northeast China's Jilin Province, July 23, 2020. (Photo: Xinhua)

He learned about the automaker's technological research and development, as well as the latest models of its auto brand Hongqi.

Founded in 1953 in the northeastern city of Changchun, FAW Group is China's first and leading automaker.

The company is known as the cradle of China's auto industry.

FAW owns brands including Hongqi, Jiefang and Bestune. It also has joint ventures with foreign carmakers. 

The company has produced and sold more than 45 million vehicles.

On October 1, 2019, during the celebrations for the 70th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China, President Xi reviewed the armed forces in a Hongqi limousine.

Meaning "red flag" in Chinese, the first Hongqi car was made in 1958. Since then, the Hongqi sedan has long been featured in parades during major national celebrations, and has become one of China's iconic sedan brands.

Chinese President Xi Jinping reviews the armed forces during the celebrations for the 70th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China in Beijing, capital of China, Oct. 1, 2019. (Photo: Xinhua)

Today, the biggest test facing FAW is how to improve its independent innovation capacity.

President Xi has long encouraged enterprises to be ambitious in making independent innovations.

When he visited Guangdong Province in October 2018, President Xi said innovation is the core of the manufacturing industry and is critical for developing the real economy.

For manufacturers, innovation entails mastering key and core technologies through self-reliance as well as independent innovation, Xi said, urging all enterprises to work toward this end. 

A worker checks the quality of cars in an assembly workshop at a Hongqi vehicles plant of China FAW Group Corporation in Changchun, Northeast China's Jilin Province, June 19, 2020. (Photo: Xinhua)

President Xi has long attached importance to China's car industry.

Back in January 2011, when Xi visited FAW Group nine years ago, he stressed the development of high-tech industries and strategic emerging industries.

This April, when he visited the Shaanxi Automobile Holding Group in Shaanxi Province, President Xi called state-owned enterprises the "key to resuming production" and urged companies to innovate more to "turn challenges (brought by the coronavirus) into opportunities." 

In recent years, FAW has vigorously developed its brands including Hongqi, Jiefang and Bestune and its self-developed engine.

President Xi has repeatedly called on businesses to build their own brands. He stressed that companies need to shift from Made-in-China to Invented-in-China and focus on quality instead of speed. 

China's car industry has grown rapidly in recent years. In 2019, China produced 25.72 million cars and sold 25.76 million cars, ranking first in the world for eleven consecutive years.

Chinese auto companies have turned their eyes to new energy vehicles in recent years. BYD, FAW and other companies have launched their new energy vehicle brands, providing a green and sustainable option in the industry.

In May 2014, when he visited the technology center of Shanghai Automotive Industry Corp. (SAIC MOTOR) during an inspection tour in Shanghai, President Xi said that new energy vehicles would be a path for China to become a strong automotive manufacturer.

One year later, in Wuzhen, Zhejiang Province, he learned about the development of self-driving cars.

Today, testing of the driverless cars is underway in Beijing, Shanghai, Chongqing and other cities.

All in all, new energy vehicles and automatic cars both have everything to do with technological innovation, which has always been on President Xi's mind.

(Compiled by Liu Xiaochi. Original stories from Xinhua, CCTV and People's Daily app)