Yang Chongyong, executive vice-governor of Hebei province, emphasized last week the need for a structural adjustment in the iron and steel industries during an inspection tour in the Tangshan city in the province.

Yang aimed to get, through the trip, first-hand information on the latest development in the sector in this important iron city, underscoring the importance the provincial leaders placed in this regard.

The province was trying to get some support from the central government to accelerate adjustment in the sector, said Yang, adding that the National Development and Reform Commission, the country’s economic planning agency, had offered some guidance.

Yang urged the iron and steel industry to focus on industrial chains and industrial upgrades, as well as reorganization, layout optimization, and overall quality improvement.