President Xi Jinping has underlined high-quality growth as the primary task for China in building itself into a modern socialist nation in all respects, saying that the nation must unswervingly deepen reform and opening-up and pursue in-depth transformation in its model of development.

The president, who represents Jiangsu province as a deputy to the 14th National People's Congress, told his fellow deputies from the province during a deliberation on Sunday that the nation must accelerate steps to attain a high level of self-reliance in science and technology, a requirement for promoting high-quality growth.

He also stressed the need to translate the outcomes of growth into improvements in the people's living standards and continue enhancing the sense of gain, happiness and security for the general public.

Xi, who is also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, was elected by unanimous vote as a deputy to the NPC at the first session of the 14th Jiangsu Provincial People's Congress in January.

He spoke after hearing deliberation from six deputies, including Xu Kunlin, governor of Jiangsu, calling upon the province, a key economic powerhouse and manufacturing hub, to lead the nation in high-quality development.

For China to forge new drivers and strengths in its growth, the key is to rely on innovation in science and technology, he said, adding that sci-tech self-reliance is also the key for China to build itself into a modern socialist country in all respects.

It is important to promote in-depth collaboration between industries, academic institutions and research institutes, strengthen the development of major innovation platforms for science and technology and support leading scientists in achieving breakthroughs, he said.

Businesses must be encouraged to take up the principal role and move forward the integration of innovation chains, industrial chains, funding and talent, Xi said.

The nation must integrate the strategy to boost domestic demand with its deepening of supply-side structural reform and accelerate the building of a modern industrial system, he said.

The president reiterated the need to focus on the real economy in pursuing growth, saying that China must move forward new industrialization and step up the reengineering of its industrial foundation and research projects on major technologies and equipment.

He encouraged the province, which accounted for 10 percent of China's GDP and 12.9 percent of its foreign trade volume last year, to build up its manufacturing sector, promote the growth of strategic emerging sectors and accelerate the growth of the digital economy.

A strong agricultural sector is the foundation for a modern socialist country, and agricultural modernization is required to attain high-quality growth, Xi said.

He called for steps to protect arable land, stabilize grain acreage and bolster the establishment of high-quality farmland in an effort to ensure the stability and security of the supply of grain and key agricultural produce.

The vitalization of rural industries is a top priority, and it is important to expand agricultural industrial chains, develop new industries and business models in rural areas and continue expanding the channels of income for farmers, Xi said.

He highlighted the imperative to coordinate the development of rural infrastructure and public service systems, promote initiatives to improve the living environment in rural areas and accelerate the building of a beautiful and harmonious countryside that is desirable to live and work in.

The ultimate goal for the nation in pursuing high-quality growth is to ensure the people's happiness and well-being, the president said.

He noted that grassroots governance and public well-being are matters of immediate concern to the general public and are fundamental projects for promoting common prosperity and ensuring high living standards for the people.

Xi urged authorities to focus on issues of pressing concern to the public, adopt more measures that could enhance public well-being and refine the basic system of public services.

More work must be done to help key groups find jobs, improve the social security system and strengthen elderly care and child care services, he added.