In Qiqihar, Xi inspected facilities of China First Heavy Industries and a subsidiary of China Railway Rolling Stock Corp on Wednesday morning.

Xi noted that the country is closer than ever to making its two centenary goals a reality. Yet the last leg of a journey can be the most demanding part, and it has never before met so many challenges and difficulties as now.

Equipment manufacturing is the pillar of the nation as well as an important component of the real economy, he said. It is important for the sector to leverage its strengths, seize opportunities to become stronger, do better and grow bigger.