President Xi Jinping participates in a discussion with National People's Congress deputies from Hubei province on May 24, 2020 in Beijing. [Photo/Xinhua]

The president urged authorities to improve the environment in urban and rural areas, bolster public health infrastructure and promote health education and healthy lifestyles, including social distancing, wearing masks outdoors and trash sorting.

The people in Hubei and its capital, Wuhan, have made great contributions in the fight against COVID-19, Xi said, adding that he extended best wishes and thanks to the heroic people of Hubei and Wuhan.

He cautioned that disease prevention measures should be continuously enforced to prevent imported cases or a resurgence of COVID-19, given that the virus is still spreading widely overseas, cases still exist in some places in the nation and separate cases are confirmed in Hubei from time to time.

As the most hard-hit Chinese province that underwent the most restrictions for the longest time, Hubei is facing many difficulties in reactivating its economy, Xi said.

The CPC Central Committee has written policies to support the economic and social development of Hubei, he said, adding that local authorities should coordinate disease prevention work with development.

Xi instructed local officials to use targeted measures in communities, increase medical test coverage, speed up resumption of work and production and help enterprises resolve problems.

He stressed the importance of employing college graduates and migrant workers; providing help to resolve people's problems with pensions, healthcare and education; working hard to fulfill the poverty elimination goal; and paying attention to patients' psychological health.

Central authorities and State-owned enterprises should increase supportive measures for Hubei and implement those measures as soon as possible, he said.