| On Wednesday afternoon, Xi heard a report on the work of the Shanghai Municipal Committee of the CPC and the Shanghai Municipal Government. He recognized all the work done by the local authorities and said he hopes that Shanghai will continue to be a pioneer in the country's reform and opening-up as well as its innovation-driven development. Xi stressed that China is still in a period of historic opportunity, with a bright future but tough challenges ahead. As long as China maintains its strategic resolve and focuses its attention on its own things, the country is set to meet its targets, he said. Shanghai should develop itself while serving the whole country as it occupies an important position in the overall work of the Party and the state, Xi said. Xi ordered Shanghai to better serve the country's overall reform and development. Shanghai should properly fulfill the country's three new major tasks: expanding the Shanghai Pilot Free Trade Zone, launching a science and technology innovation board on the Shanghai Stock Exchange and experimenting with a registration system for listed companies. Shanghai should exert all efforts to serve the Belt and Road Initiative, the Yangtze River economic belt, and play a leading role in promoting higher quality growth and integration of the Yangtze River Delta to ensure it becomes the country's strong and robust growth pillar, Xi said. Xi called on Shanghai to improve economic productivity, optimize the allocation of global resources and achieve major breakthroughs in key technology fields to make innovation a strong momentum for high quality development. Xi also urged for pushing forward reforms in key areas and deepening capital market reform to attract and nurture more home-grown tech firms. Shanghai should build a world-class business environment, promote all-round and high-level opening-up to lay a solid foundation for long-term development, take a lead in supporting private businesses and build for them a good institutional environment. Xi also called for the enhancement of innovation in social governance to address major public concerns including employment, education, healthcare and elderly care. The quality of basic public services must be raised to ensure a stronger sense of fulfillment, happiness and security among Chinese people, he said. Party building was also highlighted by Xi, who called for imposing strict governance over the CPC, prioritizing political performance, enhancing the study of the Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, nurturing and inviting competent professionals, strengthening primary-level party organizations and emphasizing ideological work. During his inspection, Xi also met with senior military officers stationed in Shanghai and extended greetings to all the soldiers there. | 
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