Premier Li Qiang has urged Guangdong province to stay focused on promoting high-quality development, keep firmly in mind its mission in the overall national development strategy, further strengthen its advantages in innovation-driven growth, and take the lead in reform and opening-up.

Li, who made the remarks during a fact-finding trip to the province from Saturday to Monday, called on Guangdong to work with a strong sense of urgency to advance all aspects of economic and social development and strive to secure a solid start for the 15th Five-Year Plan (2026-30) period.

Located in southern China, the province has been the pacesetter, pioneer and pilot zone of China's reform and opening-up, housing three of the country's first four special economic zones. Data showed that Guangdong's GDP surpassed the milestone of 14 trillion yuan ($2 trillion) in 2024.

In Shenzhen, Li was briefed on the planning and development of the Hetao Shenzhen-Hong Kong Science and Technology Innovation Cooperation Zone. He emphasized the importance of reinforcing the principal role of enterprises in innovation, improving policy, financial and talent support, and leveraging the strengths of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area.

The premier also visited the Shekou Cruise Homeport, a helicopter base in Shenzhen, and the Robot Valley, the city's concentrated hub of robotics innovation, to learn more about the development of China's low-altitude economy.

Underscoring that the vitality of science and technology lies in their application, Li called for further improving the industrial ecosystem, expanding application scenarios, exploring effective business models, and accelerating the iterative upgrading of new technologies.

While traveling through the Shenzhen-Zhongshan Link, a mega cross-sea passage in southern China, he emphasized making full use of advanced technologies to effectively manage and utilize major transportation arteries, ensure safe and smooth operations, and better promote connectivity and development in the Greater Bay Area.

In Foshan, Li said that companies should accelerate research, development and production of high-quality products and foster a virtuous cycle in which demand guides supply and supply creates new demand.

At Foshan International Land Port, he learned about the development of cross-border e-commerce and bonded logistics. He underscored the need for unwavering effort to expand high-level opening-up, better integrate "hard connectivity" of infrastructure with "soft connectivity" of rules and standards, and expand digital and green trade.

mojingxi@chinadaily.com.cn