HOHHOT — President Xi Jinping has stressed acting on the people-centered philosophy of development and building the country’s northern border areas into a more beautiful place.

Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, made the remarks during an inspection tour to North China’s Inner Mongolia autonomous region from July 15 to 16.

He inspected the region’s work on economic and social development and building an ecological civilization. He also instructed the implementation of the CPC education campaign themed “staying true to our founding mission.”

The original aspiration and mission should be kept firmly in mind, he said, calling for more efforts to continuously enhance people’s sense of fulfillment, happiness and security.

Upon his arrival in the city of Chifeng on the morning of July 15, Xi visited a neighborhood in Songshan district, where people of different ethnic groups reside. Xi called for more efforts to promote ethnic unity and create a favorable environment where people of various ethnic groups can happily live and work.

The President applauded Ulan Muqir, a traveling art troupe performing for herdsmen in remote areas, as “down to earth” and “loved by the people,” while asking for more support and promotion of literary and artistic activities that serve the people.

After watching storytellers perform the “Epic of King Gesar” at a local museum, Xi stressed the protection and inheritance of ethnic culture.

He also emphasized the work to help develop an accurate understanding of history, country, ethnicity and culture among the public, so that the people of all ethnic groups can have greater sense of the Chinese national identity and sense of belonging to the motherland, as well as higher recognition of the path of socialism with Chinese characteristics.

Xi is very concerned about environmental protection in the region. On the afternoon of July 15, he hiked into a forest zone in Chifeng under the blazing sun.

Noting that China has made the world’s largest contribution to man-made forest coverage, Xi called for adherence to the path of green development that puts ecology first and efforts to build a beautiful China with green mountains and fresh air.

In the village of Ma’anshan, Xi said that the development of industries should focus on increasing the income of villagers. He asked the primary-level Party organizations in rural areas to be strengthened to better serve the rural people and agriculture.

During his visit to a local villager’s home, Xi said huge changes had taken place in the country since the founding of the People’s Republic of China 70 years ago, fully proving that it is correct for China to follow the path of socialism with Chinese characteristics.

Xi told local officials that by launching the “staying true to our founding mission” campaign it should be clear that the CPC must always seek happiness for the Chinese people and strive for the rejuvenation of the Chinese nation.

“Only by doing so can the Party maintain long-term governance, the country enjoy enduring peace and stability and the people live better lives,” he said.

On the morning of July 16, Xi paid a visit to the Inner Mongolia University, his first stop in Hohhot, capital of Inner Mongolia autonomous region.

He urged the students to study hard and contribute their wisdom and strength in the future to the rejuvenation of the Chinese nation.

Xi then went to the regional department of natural resources, where he gave instructions on the Party education campaign and asked for a deeper understanding of the Party’s original aspiration and mission, an accurate grasp and rectification of problems and assurance that leading cadres play exemplary roles.

On the afternoon of July 16, Xi listened to reports of the regional Party committee and government on their work and their efforts in carrying out the education campaign.

Noting uncertainties and challenges from the external environment as well as the arduous tasks at home, he stressed the importance of maintaining sustained and sound economic growth and social stability.

Xi underlined the important strategic status of Inner Mongolia, calling on the region to promote high-quality economic development and adhere to deepening the reform and opening up.

He said the region needs to promote the high-quality development of husbandry and the coordinated urban-rural development and give priority to environmental protection and green development.

Xi also required efforts to concretely ensure and improve people’s wellbeing and to focus the anti-poverty fight on areas of extreme poverty.

He stressed ethnic unity in the region, calling for efforts to see that people of all ethnic groups rally closely around the Party and make joint efforts in safeguarding the country’s border and creating better lives.

During the inspection, Xi also met with senior military officers stationed in the region and extended greetings to all the soldiers there.