President Xi Jinping began his first domestic inspection tour in 2015.

More poverty reduction efforts needed, says Xi

During his visit, President Xi sought to rally support for a "tough battle" against poverty, and to speed up growth in the country's relatively underdeveloped ethnic regions.

Speaking of Yunnan's economic development, Xi called on authorities to accelerate poverty elimination efforts, to support the building of a moderately prosperous country by 2020. Xi highlighted poverty relief as the most arduous task and called for effective measures.

President Xi went first to Ludian County, which experienced a 6.5 magnitude earthquake in August last year. In Longtoushan Town, the epicenter of the quake, he reviewed post-disaster reconstruction efforts. Xi promised the locals that the government would continue to improve their standard of living, and increase investment in rural areas.

President Xi also called on local authorities to ensure environmental protection while developing its economy.

Xi also called for efforts to facilitate the economic and social development in ethnic regions, and urged Yunnan Province to be a model region of ethnic solidarity in the nation.