Chinese Vice President Xi Jinping this week has underscored the role of the ruling Communist Party of China (CPC) in combating the financial crisis and promoting economic development.

The success "hinges on the Party," Xi told local officials during a tour of eastern Jiangsu Province from Monday to Thursday, where he visited companies, ports, residential communities, the countryside and economic development zones to see how they were faring in the crisis.

Xi, also a member of the Standing Committee of the CPC Central Committee Political Bureau, called for redoubled efforts in party building at local levels so as to promote economic growth and improve living standards and social stability.

At the Lianyungang Port, Xi praised the local economic zone for raising foreign investment usage by 16 percent in the first quarter through changing policies and improving services.

He said first quarter figures showed China's national economy performed better than expected on the whole, which reflected the correct and effective macro control measures of the central government.

Touring a residential community in Nanjing and a village in Donghai County, Xi stressed Party building at the grassroots level.

He also visited former Premier Zhou Enlai's memorial hall in Huai'an, and asked people to learn from him.

(Xinhua News Agency April 24, 2009)