Amid a critical period for economic recovery, China's top leadership has been busy traveling across major manufacturing cities to diagnose the health of the country's economy.

The result of these pulse-taking moves, led by Premier Wen Jiabao's recent visits to six cities in both northern and central China, proves an earlier judgment by the State Council that the country's economy is showing signs of stabilizing and is at a critical phase of recovery.

In Qinhuangdao, a major port city close to Beijing, where Premier Wen visited during June 19-20, he was told that coal shipping at the port had steadily climbed in recent months. The premier called it "a proof of the country's economic recovery".

"China will carry on with the proactive fiscal and moderately loose monetary policies," Wen reiterated on his tour to Tangshan and Qinhuangdao.

Despite a positive attitude toward the economy, China's top leadership has also shown great concern for manufacturers and also on employment issues.

The premier urged manufacturers to rely on technology and innovation for further growth after visiting some leading manufacturers including Tangshan Railway Vehicle Company, one of China's biggest railway transportation equipment manufacturers and Tangshan Iron and Steel Company.

"The steel industry faces a huge task of structural adjustment. And this adjustment should include technology upgrade, cutting back on outdated capacity and merger and reshuffling," Wen said.

Employment is also a top concern for the leaders.

During a previous visit to Hunan province in central China, Wen toured three job fairs and talked with students on their job-seeking difficulties.

"Employment will expand as long as the economy starts to recover," he said.

(China Daily June 23, 2009)