In a tour of Wuhan Xinxin Semiconductor Manufacturing Corp, he got a close look at the production line of integrated circuits and learned about the intelligence-driven production of chips.

China is facing unprecedented opportunities and challenges alike, and people working in key posts and for crucial industries should have a strong sense of duty, Xi said.

The city has a huge potential for future growth, since it has a large number of universities, and the lineup of talent there should be reinforced, since brainpower will play a decisive role in development, Xi said.

Also on Thursday, he visited people in a residential area that came about in 2015 after shanty houses there were renovated.