Chinese Vice President Xi Jinping, also member of the Standing Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee Political Bureau and a member of the Secretariat of the CPC Central Committee, visits an industrial area to learn about employment situation in Taiyuan, during an inspection tour in north China's Shanxi Province, on May 26, 2009. (Xinhua/Lan Hongguang)

    Chinese companies should continue to improve their competence to ensure economic growth amid the global downturn, Vice President Xi Jinping has urged.

    Xi made the remarks during an inspection tour to north China's Shanxi Province, an old industrial base that is also resource-rich, from Sunday to Tuesday.

    To sharpen their competitive edge is companies' key mission to ensure national economic growth, said Xi .

    Xi urged companies to use new technology to conserve energy. He also stressed work safety, saying people's lives are the most precious of all.

    He called on companies to create more jobs for the disabled and broaden their employment "to the utmost."