At a new assembly line of Angang Steel Co. Ltd., the first steel producer founded by the People's Republic of China, Hu inquired about its business perspective.

"As a leading company in our steel industry, we hope you to take the advantage of your technology and scale to contribute to the country's economic growth," he said.

Hu expected these state-owned enterprises to focus more on research and development so that they could develop more core technologies, maintain a technical advantage and catch up with the world leading level.

Export-oriented enterprises were widely affected by the global financial crisis.

The president was concerned about their conditions and visited two companies during his stay here.

Visiting a joint venture clothing manufacturer in Yingkou city of Liaoning, he learned that the number of overseas orders it received for next year dropped month after month.

"I hope you to be more confident in face of difficulties," he said. "While maintaining the traditional markets (Europe and U.S.A.), you may try to explore new markets."

This undated photo shows Chinese President Hu Jintao (C) talks with a job provider at the human resource market of Shenyang, capital of northeast China's Liaoning Province. Hu inspected the province from Dec. 12 to Dec. 14, 2008. [Xinhua]

At Shenyang Yuanda Aluminium Industry Engineering Co. Ltd, Hu was glad to learn that the company's revenue reported a year-on-year rise of 72 percent in the first ten months this year and the value of overseas orders increased by 1.5 times.

"This was very rare and commendable in a shrinking international market," he said. "I hope you will continue the strategy to win clients through quality products."

Hu inspected a metal research institute and a high-tech company during his visit, to show the importance the central government attached to enhancing the capacities for independent innovations.

The Institute of Metal Research under the Chinese Academy of Sciences had an outstanding lab on titanium alloy research and SIASUN Robot & Automation Co. Ltd. was a national research center on Robotics, as well as a base for its industrialization.

This undated photo shows Chinese President Hu Jintao (3rd,L) talks with workers at a factory of Angang Iron and Steel Co., Ltd. in northeast China's Liaoning Province. Hu inspected the province from Dec. 12 to Dec. 14, 2008. [Xinhua]

The president also expressed great concerns about common people's lives under a condition of economic slowdown.

"Next year's employment market will be very serious, affected by the international financial crisis," Hu said upon visiting an employment service organization.

The country would adopt a "even more active" policy to increase employment, he said, adding that all staff in employment service should work harder.