CHANGCHUN - President Xi Jinping has stressed the importance of state-owned enterprises (SOEs) in the country's development during his three-day inspection tour in Northeast China's Jilin province.

Noting that the SOEs are an important force to advance modernization and safeguard people's common interests, Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, urged them to "unswervingly uphold the important position of SOEs in the national development."

Unremitting efforts should be made to ensure SOEs become stronger and more competitive, Xi said while inspecting a clutch production company under Northeast Industries Group Co. Ltd.

Xi stressed the important role of innovation, quality and management in SOE development, saying that reform in SOEs should be conducive to preserving or increasing the value of state-owned capital and help improve the competitiveness of the state-owned economy.

He urged vigorous promotion of the spirit of model workers, safeguarding the legitimate rights of workers and building harmonious labor relations.