Premier Li Keqiang, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, visited Guangyuan, Deyang, and Chengdu cities during his inspection tour to Southwest China's Sichuan province from April 19 to 20.

Premier Li said the policies and decisions of the CPC Central Committee and the State Council should be solidly implemented to expand reform and opening-up, and scientifically manage macro controls to keep the economy running within a reasonable range.

The economy should be consolidated to avoid sharp fluctuations, with more work to enhance guarantee of basic livelihood and promote high-quality development, according to the Premier.

At Qingling village of Guangyuan city, Premier Li checked the growth of rice and learned about grain production and profits.

He praised the farming on limited arable land and asked about working opportunities and incomes of the villagers.

Farmers in China are remarkable, Premier Li said, and they shoulder the nation's grain safety and economic development through hard work.

Premier Li encouraged them to keep farming while working to safeguard the nation's food safety and gain more income.

Out of concern for the well-being of those at the grassroots level, Premier Li visited a health center and a school in Shahe township, of Chaotian district in Guangyuan city.

At the health center, he inquired about the number of patients it serves and reimbursements for their medical expenses. While checking the drug supplies, the Premier urged local healthcare workers to build a strong line of defense for people’s health.

Speaking to local officials at the school, the Premier asked them to ensure that the salary of teachers in compulsory education is not lower than that of local civil servants. He also encouraged the students to study hard and make achievements in the future to give back to their hometown and society.

As China is still a developing country, the Premier said, the government should put intense efforts into safeguarding people’s basic livelihoods, including education, mainly compulsory education, healthcare, and housing.

He urged investing more in those areas, especially at the township and county levels, and improving them through development with the best efforts as local conditions allow.

The Premier also visited the Sanxingdui Ruins site in Deyang city to learn about the archaeological progress, and praised the team for their professionalism.

As their work involves multiple areas, archaeologists should make good use of modern technology and enhance international cooperation, Premier Li said, adding that he looks forward to new discoveries to help carry forward excellent Chinese culture.

Premier Li also inspected Sichuan Changhong Electric. The person in charge said diverse forms of mass entrepreneurship and innovation programs have spurred the emergence of fast-growing and job-making market entities.

The Premier also lauded some start-ups for recruiting several hundred college graduates in just over one year, and called for wide participation to boost innovation.

In the long run, scientific explorations require unremitting efforts to march forward, as well as solid steps to lay a stable foundation, the Premier said.

In Chengdu, Premier Li heard a report on Sichuan province's administration streamlining and talent introduction. He stressed that a market-oriented and law-based international business environment should be built to stimulate the vitality of market entities and social creativity, as well as to further unleash the potential of talents.

He also visited the Business & Innovation Center for China-Europe Cooperation (CCEC) in Chengdu and talked with entrepreneurs from European and Asian countries.

China will open its door wider, and will be an attractive investment destination in the long term, the Premier said. He encouraged the entrepreneurs to become bridges for cooperation and work together to maintain the stability of global industrial and supply chains and promote recovery of the world economy.

The Premier lauded Sichuan's economic and social development achievements, and called on the province to play a more important role in boosting development of the western region and the country.

State Councilor Xiao Jie and He Lifeng, head of the National Development and Reform Commission, also joined the inspection.