FUZHOU -- Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, on March 23 said that health is the most important indicator of people's happiness.

Xi made the remarks when visiting a local hospital in the city of Sanming, East China's Fujian province.

Noting the continuous progress in public health since the founding of the People's Republic of China in 1949, Xi said China is now on a par with some developed countries in terms of average life expectancy.

But he pointed out that the development of medical services remains uneven between regions.

During the 14th Five-Year Plan period (2021-25), efforts should be made to put people and their lives first, continue to deepen the reform of the medical and health system, increase medical resources and optimize their distribution, so that people don't have to travel far to have their illness treated, according to Xi.

Xi visited Shaxian district of Sanming city on Tuesday during an inspection tour of East China's Fujian province.

Xi paid a visit to Shaxian General Hospital, Yubang village of Xiamao township, and the Shaxian rural property rights transaction center to learn about the reform of local medical and healthcare system, rural vitalization, and the reform of forest rights system.