Following a two-day inspection of the northeast’s Jilin province, Premier Li Keqiang has said he is really worried about the economic performance of the entire region. The economic growth-rates of Heilongjiang, Liaoning and Jilin provinces all ranked in the bottom five last year and continued to slide further for the first quarter of this year.

Premier Li said that local governments should keep track of changing economic patterns, and fine-tune policies through reform and innovation to steady growth. After an inspection trip to a local rail transit vehicle company, the Premier encouraged Chinese equipment-makers to integrate resources and seek international cooperation to enhance their competitive edge. The Premier also paid a visit to a local lamp-wire producer, that supplies products to several multi-national companies. He said supporting enterprises is necessary to promote industrial development and they should reduce costs and improve quality through efficient management and technological innovation to earn a bigger market share. Premier Li then went to a local university and the employment service center, where he suggested college students prioritize study while engaging in more social practices, such as internships or entrepreneurship.