Senior Chinese leader Jia Qinglin has called on Beijing to take a coordinated approach in its economic and social development and to take the lead in achieving modernization goals and staging an excellent Summer Olympic Games in 2008.

Jia, member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Chinese Communist Party Central Committee, said Beijing should balance urban and rural development and be strong in seeking for common development, while constantly improving the quality of life of farmers in the rural parts of the capital.

Earlier this week, Jia, chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, inspected Zhongguancun Science and Technology Park in the urban areas as well as Shunyi and Huairou districts on the outskirts of Beijing.

He also visited Beijing Hyundai Motor, a joint venture between two auto companies from China and the Republic of Korea, Yanjing Beer Group, and a heavy-duty automobile plant in his inspection tour in the capital.

(Xinhua News Agency February 26, 2004)